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FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 22 DHUL-QA'DA - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8671 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS

PM honours graduates of officer candidates Amir holds phone conversation Prime Minister handed over certificates to the 64 graduates from the officer candidates at the with Chairman of Ministry of Interior and Lekhwiya. Libya Presidential Council The qualifying course was held over five months, with the participation of 64 trainees from several QNA - DOHA departments in the MoI and the Lekhwiya Force. HH the Amir Sheikh MoI gave great importance to international Tamim bin Hamad changes and the country’s preparations to host Al-Thani held via tele- the 2022 World Cup. phone a conversation with HE Chairman of the Pres- idential Council of Libya QNA — DOHA Council of the Police College, Dr. Mohammed Al Menfi. directors of departments, senior The call pertained to Prime Minister and Minister of officers at the Ministry of bilateral relations and the Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Interior and Lekhwiya and means to enhance them, in Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani graduates’ parents. addition to discussing the attended the graduation The ceremony was held most prominent regional ceremony of the sixth qualifying amid precautionary measures and international develop- course for civil officer candi- to limit the spread of corona- ments of joint interest, par- dates graduated from civil virus (COVID-19). ticularly the developments universities, which was held in A number of Ministry of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani with other in Libya the Police Training Institute Interior officials affirmed the dignitaries attending the graduation ceremony, yesterday. yesterday morning. Ministry’s interest in training H E the Prime Minister and and qualification courses to course yesterday, they stated implemented over a period of great importance to interna- interest in providing security by Minister of Interior honoured achieve its strategy in building that raising the efficiency of the five months, with the partici- tional changes and the coun- effectively and flexibly con- the distinguished candidates national cadres capable of human cadre is the real bet to pation of 64 trainees from try’s preparations to host the fronting all possibilities arising and handed over certificates to meeting security requirements, achieve the strategy of the MoI several departments in the MoI 2022 World Cup, so it worked from challenges and threats in the 64 graduates from the preserving national gains, and 2018-2022 with its service and and the Lekhwiya Force. to raise the efficiency and skills all circumstances, adding that officer candidates at the Min- responding to future events, security aspects, and to achieve Undersecretary of the Min- of the human cadre in the min- this is what the Police College istry of Interior (MoI) and foremost of which is securing development goals and aspira- istry of Interior and Com- istry to be able to face the var- does when preparing students Lekhwiya of various the 2022 World Cup. tions, given that security is an mander of Lekhwiya Force iables and challenges facing the nominated from high school disciplines. In a press statements on the integral part of the development Major General H E Abdulaziz security system. graduates who are enrolled in it The ceremony was attended occasion of the graduation cer- system. bin Faisal Al Thani stated that Major General Abdulaziz or through the courses for grad- by members of the Supreme emony of the sixth qualifying The qualifying course was the strategy of the MoI gave also affirmed the Ministry’s uates of civil universities. `P2 Qatar reiterates support for Palestinian rights QP’s multi-tranche bond QNA — DOHA offer raises $12.5bn Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin THE PENINSULA — DOHA transaction on June 28, 2021, Abdulrahman Al Thani met yesterday with and met with over 130 interna- the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle Qatar Petroleum announced it tional investors over two days. East Peace Process, H E Tor Wennesland, has raised $12.5bn in a multi- These interactions resulted in during his visit to the country. tranche bond offering, marking significant interest from global During the meeting, they reviewed a significant achievement for insurers, asset managers, developments of the situations in Palestine an oil and gas company in the pension funds, and bank treas- and the mechanism for delivering aid to the international financial and uries, which resulted in a high- Palestinian people. They also discussed how capital markets. The proceeds quality order book, which saw to develop joint efforts between the State of from the bond offering will be participation from over 500 Qatar and the United Nations in this regard. used to support Qatar Petro- investors and demand peaking The Deputy PM reiterated Qatar’s firm leum’s ambitious growth plans, above $40bn. stance on the just cause of Palestine and particularly the North Field Al Kaabi added: “The North the legitimate rights of the brotherly Pal- expansion projects over the Field expansion projects will estinian people, including exercising their coming few years. solidify Qatar Petroleum’s religious rights and establishing their inde- The RegS/144A bond leading role in the LNG industry pendent state on the 1967 borders with Al offering (sales to investors as well as in the energy tran- Quds as its capital. outside the United States in off- sition. We take special pride in Wennesland renewed his thanks to Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin shore transactions) consists of the fact that investors recognized for its efforts that contributed to reaching the Abdulrahman Al Thani with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, 5-, 10- and 20-year conven- this role, the importance of our ceasefire agreement in Gaza Strip. H E Tor Wennesland in Doha, yesterday. tional tranches and a dual- LNG projects, and the bright listed 30-year Formosa future of our LNG industry, and tranche. Strong interest and that they have expressed over- favourable market conditions, whelming interest in this unique Qatar's labour reforms recognised in TIP Report Heroes 2021 together with its outstanding offering. `P3 credit ratings, allowed Qatar demonstrate an exceptional Petroleum to achieve the fol- commitment to fighting human lowing positive outcome, trafficking. 5-year $1.5bn at UST+50bps According to the press (Coupon: 1.375%), 10-year statement, Al Obaidly was hon- $3.5bn at UST+90bps (Coupon: oured for his leadership in 2.250%), 20-year $3.5bn at a spurring reforms to the spon- Yield of 3.15% (Coupon: 3.125%), sorship system and addressing and 30-year $4.0bn at a Yield labor abuses in Qatar. of 3.30% (Coupon: 3.300%). He initiated and carried out This is the largest US dollar many policies and programmes fixed-rate oil and gas offering, that have helped trafficking the largest corporate issuance victims in Qatar, including the in the MENA region, and the The RegS/144A creation of Labor Dispute Reso- largest corporate Formosa bond offering is lution Committees, elimination tranche raised globally. the largest US of exit permit requirements for Commenting on this dollar fixed-rate in Persons (TIP) Report were recognised as 2021 heroes. migrant workers, implemen- occasion, Minister of State for Hero, the US Embassy in Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign tation of a minimum wage, and Energy Affairs, and President oil and gas Qatar stated yesterday Affairs, on its official Twitter the abolition of the No Objection and CEO of Qatar Petroleum H offering, the in a press statement. handle, stated: “In recognition of Certificate. E Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, said: largest corporate Al Obaidly, with his efforts to reform laws and "The Department of State “The outcome of this offering issuance in the THE PENINSULA — DOHA seven other individuals regulations related to migrant applauds Al Obaidly’s persistence is a strong testament to Qatar from around the world were workers, the @StateDept in implementing labor reforms Petroleum’s disciplined MENA region, and honoured by Antony Blinken, US honored today, Mr. Mohammed to improve workers’ lives and approach as an investor and the largest Mohammed Al Obaidly, Secretary of State in a virtual cer- Al Obaidy the Assistant Under- prevent forced labor, and the formidable standing not only corporate Assistant Undersecretary of the emony hosted by the US secretary for @ADLSAQa, as one Department looks forward to as the world’s largest LNG pro- Formosa tranche Qatari Ministry of Adminis- Department of State, the among eight heroes in the 2021 continuing to work with him and ducer but also within the trative Development, Labor, statement read. combat human trafficking his colleagues to combat human capital and financial markets.” raised globally. Social Affairs (MADLSA), was In the report, eight indi- report.” The TIP Heroes award trafficking," the embassy Qatar Petroleum held a honoured as a 2021 Trafficking viduals from around the world honours individuals who statement added yesterday. virtual roadshow for its 02 HOME FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 PM honours graduates of officer candidates

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Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani with the graduates of the sixth qualifying course for civil officer candidates, held in the Police Training Institute, yesterday. FROM PAGE 1 Interior and Deputy Chairman of and its problems, and enhance consolidating the foundations Operations Committee for the Major General Abdulaziz bin the Supreme Council of Police the ability to confront the world of a positive relationship with 2022 World Cup Major-General WEATHER Faisal Al Thani, praised the level College Major General Dr Abdullah of crime, which has become society and achieving security Engineer Abdulaziz Abdullah Al TODAY of performance of the Police Yousef Al Mal, stated that the effort dependent on the using of awareness according to the Ansari, explained that the Min- College and its staff in achieving and serious work that the Police modern technological innova- strategy of the Ministry of istry of Interior has taken upon the strategy of the MoI and College is doing in order to tions, as tools that serve its goals Interior. Major General Saad itself the task of developing and building national cadres of prepare promising generations of and plans. He explained that the noted the role of the Police raising the efficiency and skills officers capable of police work officers is commendable, as the college, over the past few years, College, the Officers Training of its members to meet the as required by the current college has proven its superior has contributed effectively and Institute and the Police Training requirements of a security circumstances, affirming the ability to train and prepare its powerfully to providing the Min- Institute in preparing and qual- officer who is able to do all 33oC 46oC keenness of the Ministry to graduates, whether military istry of Interior with a group of ifying human resources to be modern security tasks that are Minimum Maximum arrange priorities, evaluate college candidates or graduates distinguished officers who were able to assume responsibility, commensurate with securing procedures and reformulate the of civil universities, according to involved in the field and con- protect the nation’s gains, pre- the tournament. Hazy at places first becomes hot security work system on serious the best international standards tributed with their colleagues to serve its security and stability, He added that the Police to very hot daytime and humid by and solid foundations, charac- in terms of training plans, aca- maintaining security and sta- and strive for success in all College plays an active role in night. terised by scientific planning demic and sports preparation and bility, which confirms the security and service fields in achieving these requirements. W ALRUWAIS : 31o → 39o and directing capabilities at the other requirements of the modern integrity of the college’s line with Qatar Vision 2030. The college’s graduates from W ALKHOR : 28o → 45o highest rates, establishing an policeman. approach. He said that the members the three batches so far, and its appropriate job environment to He added that the college, For his part, the Director of the sixth qualification course graduates from the qualifying W DUKHAN : 28o → 44o achieve security, and providing with the support of the MoI, also General of Public Security for graduates of civil univer- courses for graduates of univer- WAKRAH 30o → 44o W : security services with quality, undertakes the task of inculcating Department Staff Major General sities have received advanced sities, are a true translation of W MESAIEED : 30o → 44o proficiency and excellence. an integrated mind among the Saad bin Jassim Al-Khulaifi, and diversified training pro- the Ministry of Interior’s plans W ABUSAMRA : 27o→ 44o He pointed out to that the trainees and students, in which stressed that security and safety grams in the military and sports to graduate a modern security Ministry, in order to achieve legal knowledge is combined are among the most important fields, as well as the distin- officers who are aware of the these goals, supports and sup- with police work skills with a dis- pillars of nations’ progress, guished scientific method, security challenges that the world HIGH TIDE plies the Police College with all tinguished cultural level and con- prosperity and development during the training period. is experiencing. He expressed his 21:59 the necessary needs and scious awareness of the chal- and therefore, the Ministry of On the importance of full confidence that the college LOW TIDE 06:02 – 16:19 requirements that enable it to lenges of security work to Interior seeks to advance them upgrading human cadres to graduates possess the skills, perform its role in preparing prepare generations of policemen through a well-thought-out sci- secure the 2022 World Cup, the capabilities and knowledge that officers and taking care of equipped with modern functional entific planning aimed at pre- Director of the International qualify them to participate effec- training fields at all levels. skills and capabilities that venting and combating crime, Cooperation Department and tively, strongly and uniquely in Advisor to the Minister of achieve interaction with society maintaining security and Head of the Security and Safety securing the 2022 World Cup. Qatar participates in meeting of GCC Ministerial Qatar University publishes Abducted Al Jazeera Committee for Standardization Affairs quarterly magazine journalist

THE PENINSULA — DOHA THE PENINSULA — DOHA released in Sudan Qatar participated in the second meeting of the GCC The Department of Communi- THE PENINSULA — DOHA Ministerial Committee for cation and Public Relations at Standardization Affairs, Qatar University (QU) The Sudanese authorities have convened yesterday through published its quarterly released Al Jazeera media video conferencing. magazine, ‘Campus Life’ under Network journalist Ali Abu The State’s delegation was the title ‘Despite the challenges Shaleh, after he was abducted chaired by H E Ali bin Ahmed of the pandemic, Qatar on Wednesday afternoon Al Kuwari, Minister of Com- University graduates its 2020 while covering protests in the merce and Industry and Acting class.’ capital, Khartoum. Minister of Finance. The magazine covers While Al Jazeera wel- The meeting featured the various topics, including the comed his release and participation of their Excel- university’s new academic expressed its relief for the lencies the Ministers members and student affairs, dia- return of Ali to his family, it of the GCC Ministerial Com- logues, various investiga- denounced the way he had mittee for Standardization tions about the campus, and been abducted and the humil- Affairs, the heads of the stand- new services. iating treatment he endured ardization bodies in GCC Khawla Mortazavi, Head of the Media and Publication during his brief detention. Al states, H E Saud bin Nasser Al Department at QU, said: “The ‘Campus Life’ magazine is a quar- Jazeera demanded that those Khusaibi, President of GCC terly (digital) magazine issued by the Department of Communi- responsible for this reprehen- Standardization Organization cation and Public Relations at Qatar University in Arabic and sible behaviour be held (GSO), and Engineer English. It includes the most important prospect of news, events, accountable. Mohammed bin Saud Al Mus- and activities of Qatar University.” The Network reaffirmed allam, Chairman of Qatar Mortazavi added: “The magazine serves as a link for university its commitment to reporting General Organization for members and a reflection of the campus scene for the general world affairs, objectively and Standardization and public. In addition to a variety of permanent chapters subject to professionally. Al Jazeera Metrology. During this ongoing expansion, the magazine provides thorough studies, con- condemned in the strongest meeting, appropriate decisions Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance versations, and coverage of various problems of importance to terms the continuous har- were taken on several issues H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari attending the meeting. university observers. The magazine is issued after each semester. assment, intimidation and of common interest. It is also issued as a special issue to coincide with the graduation arrest of journalists, ceremony.” Below is the link for those who are interested in reading demanding they are allowed the quarterly edition http://www.qu.edu.qa/static_file/qu/about/ to practice their profession British Council launches Summer School documents/english.pdf. without fear or intimidation. programme for kids and teens MoPH: Total recoveries of COVID-19 THE PENINSULA — DOHA Registration dates are as follows, Summer School 1 (June 13 to 24), Summer School 2 cases increase to 219,985 The British Council has launched its popular Summer (June 27 to July 8), Summer School 3 (July 11 QNA — DOHA past 24 hours. community. School programme that helps to 29), Summer School 4 (August 1 to 12), and The ministry said that 74.3 The second phase of the parents in Qatar give their The Ministry of Public Health percent of the eligible popu- gradual lifting of precau- children the confidence and Summer School 5 (August 15 to 26). (MOPH) reported yesterday 78 lation has now received at tionary restrictions began on tools to succeed in an evolving new confirmed cases of least one dose of the vaccine, Friday, June 18, and is part of world. COVID-19 among community while 97.3 percent of over 60s a four-stage plan to be imple- The programme has been years to ensure age-appro- mediate levels. and 68 among travellers. have been vaccinated with at mented over the coming created to excite children to priate learning and tasks. The Registration dates are as The MoPH recorded 186 least one dose, while 92.2 months. learn rather than spend com- curriculum has been adjusted follows, Summer School 1 (June recoveries from the virus percent have received both The date of implemen- plete hours in front of a screen. to focus on a child’s overall 13 to 24), Summer School 2 (June during the past 24 hours, doses. tation and the duration of each The courses will spark chil- development and honing their 27 to July 8), Summer School 3 bringing the total number of In recent weeks the com- phase will depend on the epi- dren’s imagination to express interpersonal skills to create (July 11 to 29), Summer School 4 cases recovered in Qatar to bined impact of COVID-19 demic indicators which themselves with confidence more agile and adaptive indi- (August 1 to 12), and Summer 219,985. restrictions and increasing vac- depend to a great extent on that goes beyond their English viduals prepared to succeed in School 5 (August 15 to 26). One new death of a 67- cination rates, and the over- the degree of compliance of language skills. Fully face-to- a globalised, always evolving The classes are priced years-old was also reported. whelming support of the com- the community members with face, British Council’s Summer world. between QR1,475 for a two- He had chronic diseases and munity, has resulted in a con- the current measures, restric- School courses have also been Children will get the best week programme, to QR4,425 received all the possible sistent reduction in the number tions and guidance by the designed to enable participants out of learning English with for an eight-week pro- medical attention. of new daily infections in the government. to improve their core commu- small class sizes because they gramme. The British Council Since the start of the country. It is important during the nication skills while discovering are guaranteed attention and is the UK’s cultural relations vaccine program, 3,177,744 However, it is still current period that all their style and talents. personal support from an organisation, creating oppor- COVID-19 vaccine doses have important to be cautious as the members of society, including The fun, interactive, and expert teacher. The courses tunities for people globally to been administered said the second wave is not yet over and those who have received the inspiring learning module is for offer flexible start dates with connect and engage with each Ministry. there are still two highly con- vaccination, continue to wear children aged 4-17 years, seg- five classes per week (Sunday other through the arts, edu- The Ministry added that tagious and highly virulent masks as recommended and regated into age groups of 4-5 to Thursday), 2 hours per day cation, and the English 32,682 COVID-19 vaccine doses strains of the virus that are continue to adhere to social years, 6-11 years, and 12-17 from beginner to upper-inter- language. have been administered in the actively circulating in the distancing. FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 HOME 03

Qatar wins membership in OFFICIAL NEWS Amir sends greetings to Administrator of Executive Council of Arab Government of Canada Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Civil Aviation Organization Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a cable of congratulations to the QNA — RABAT On this occasion, Al Subaie expressed his happiness Administrator of the Government of for Qatar winning the membership of the Executive Canada H E Richard Wagner on the The State of Qatar won the Council of the Organization. He stressed that the occasion of the anniversary of Can- membership inf the Executive re-election of Qatar confirms the vital, essential, and ada Day. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Council of the Arab Civil Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani also Aviation Organization. The pivotal role that Qatar plays at all levels and in all sent a cable of congratulations to elections took place on the areas of joint Arab action, including the field of civil the Administrator of the Govern- sidelines of the twenty-sixth aviation. ment of Canada Richard Wagner. ordinary session of the Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- General Assembly of the Arab rior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Civil Aviation Organization Al Subaie. On this occasion, levels and in all areas of joint Abdulaziz Al Thani sent a cable of yesterday in the Moroccan Al Subaie expressed his hap- Arab action, including the congratulations to the Prime Min- capital, Rabat. piness for Qatar winning the field of civil aviation. ister of Canada H E Justin Trudeau The delegation of the membership of the Executive The State of Qatar won on the occasion of the anniversary State of Qatar to the session Council of the Organization. the membership of the Exec- of Canada Day. -QNA was headed by the Chairman He stressed that the re- utive Council of the Arab Civil of Qatar Civil Aviation election of Qatar confirms the Aviation Organization in the Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), H E Abdullah bin Nasser Amir sends Authority (QCAA) H E vital, essential, and pivotal elections that took place in bin Turki Al Subaie, leading the Qatari delegation to the session in Rabat, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Turki role that Qatar plays at all May 2018. Morocco, yesterday. congratulations to President of Somalia India and Qatar extend Doha:Amir H H Sheikh Tamim Qatar Airways celebrates 10 bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of congratulations to President of air bubble agreement to July the Federal Republic of Somalia H E Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, THE PENINSULA — DOHA years of service to Canada on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day. Deputy Amir H The air bubble agreement between Qatar and India has been THE PENINSULA — DOHA “Our commitment to Canada is steadfast and H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al extended for July 2021, the Indian Embassy in Qatar has said. we are grateful for our unique partnership with Thani also sent a cable of congrat- In a Tweet yesterday, the embassy stated: “The Air Bubble Qatar Airways marked a milestone in its history the Government of Canada which has strengthened ulations to President of the Federal Arrangement between India and Qatar extended for July 2021. The with Canada, celebrating 10 successful years since since 2011, most recently through our combined Republic of Somalia H E Mohamed flights have resumed under this arrangement. Thank Civil aviation its inaugural flight between Doha and Montréal- repatriation efforts to bring thousands of stranded Abdullahi Farmaajo. authorities and airlines on both sides for their continued cooper- Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The airline’s Canadians safely home during the pandemic. All Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- ation in providing the requisite air connectivity.” journey in Canada began in June 2011 with three of us at Qatar Airways were particularly touched rior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin As the agreement had expired on June 30, many flights from weekly flights to Montréal, later expanding to when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended Abdulaziz Al Thani sent yesterday a India to Qatar had been cancelled, causing confusion among pas- four weekly in December 2018 and then reaching his gratitude to the airline for supporting Canada cable of congratulations to HE Prime sengers booked on these flights. a daily service in February 2021. during this unprecedented crisis. Today, we cel- Minister of the Federal Republic of Indian Embassy had assured earlier that it would be reinstated Qatar Airways never stopped flying to Mon- ebrate 10 years of true friendship in aviation,” Al Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, and later sent out a Tweet saying the deal is extended. tréal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and Baker added. on the occasion of his country’s Inde- India had stopped international flights after the spread of the airline continues to provide a lifeline for The Qatar Airways Group is also proud to pendence Day. -QNA COVID-19 and operates flights to different countries on the Air Canadians returning home from all over the employ over 150 Canadian nationals at its head- Bubble agreement. world. quarters in Doha and across the network. Like Amir sends After working closely with the Government Canada, Qatar Airways recognises the impor- greetings to of Canada and its embassies at the height of the tance of demonstrating environmental leadership global health emergency, Qatar Airways also to save our planet. The airline is constantly President of Rwanda Customs seizes nearly 10,000 temporarily operated three weekly services to exploring sustainable approaches to aviation and Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Toronto in addition to multiple charter flights its investments in the most fuel-efficient aircraft Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a prohibited pills at Ras Laffan Port to Vancouver to help bring home more than – including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 – cable of congratulations to Presi- THE PENINSULA 44,000 Canadian citizens and residents stranded underscore Qatar Airways’ commitment to dent of the Republic of Rwanda H — DOHA abroad. achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. E Paul Kagame on the anniversary Since its inaugural flight in June 2011, Qatar Qatar Airways has reinforced its com- of his country’s Independence Day. The General Airways has flown more than 3,400 times mitment to Canadian passengers and travel trade Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Authority of Customs between Doha and Montréal, enabling nearly for the past 10 years. Lately, these efforts have Hamad Al Thani also sent a similar (GAC) Maritime one million business and leisure passengers to also contributed to boosting Canada’s global con- message to President of Rwanda Customs Directorate connect to popular destinations in Africa, Asia, nectivity to support the recovery of tourism and H E Paul Kagame. in Ras Laffan Port the Middle East and beyond. The Montréal trade as the world emerges from the global Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- foiled an attempt to service is currently operated by Qatar Airways’ COVID-19 pandemic. rior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin smuggle 9,600 state-of-the-art fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900 The global COVID-19 pandemic has created Abdulaziz Al Thani sent a cable of capsules of featuring 36 seats in the award-winning Qsuite unprecedented challenges for the aviation congratulations to the Prime Min- prohibited pills Business Class and 247 seats in Economy Class. industry and, despite this, Qatar Airways never ister of Rwanda H E Dr. Edouard found with a Qatar Airways Cargo also offers more than 100 ceased operations and worked diligently to take Ngirente on the anniversary of his passenger coming tonnes of cargo capacity each week in each people home safely and reliably throughout the country’s Independence Day. -QNA from an Asian direction on the Doha- Montréal -Doha route. crisis. The airline has also added eight new des- country. Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive, H E tinations in the past 12 months including San Amir sends After an x-ray of Akbar Al Baker, said: “Canada has always been Francisco and Seattle in the US, Abidjan, Abuja, congratulations to the passenger’s close to us at Qatar Airways. I remember the pride Accra and Luanda in Africa, and Brisbane and luggage, officials sus- I felt when we first touched down in Montréal in Cebu in Asia Pacific. Passengers can expect ever President of Burundi pected the contents 2011, and I knew then that this was just the more optimised connectivity as the airline of an envelope. After beginning of a strong and enduring relationship launches services to Lusaka and Harare from 6 Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin questioning the pas- with Canada. Over the years we have witnessed August 2021. Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a senger who insisted the benefits of our services to Canada that extend Montreal Flight Schedule: 7x per week (local cable of congratulations to Presi- the envelopes con- well beyond our mission of bringing people timings) dent of the Republic of Burundi H E tained ‘tea boxes,’ together. Our flights have enabled travellers from Doha (DOH) to Montreal (YUL) QR 763 Evariste Ndayishimiye, on the occa- officials found pro- seizure report was issued, and around the world to experience Canada’s iconic departs: 08:25 arrives: 14:40 sion of his country’s Independence hibited pills after further the package was transferred to hospitality while supporting the export of Canadian Montreal (YUL) to Doha (DOH) QR 764 Day. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdul- inspection. Accordingly, a the relevant authorities. products to overseas markets.” departs: 21:15 arrives: 16:20 +1 lah bin Hamad Al Thani also sent a cable of congratulations to President of the Republic of Burundi Evariste QNBC targets improved economic Ndayishimiye. Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- ties between Qatar and Nigeria rior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani sent a cable THE PENINSULA — DOHA cooperation between Nigeria of congratulations to Prime Minis- and the State of Qatar.” ter of the Republic of Burundi H E The Qatar-Nigeria Business Millar said that the QNBC Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, on the Council (QNBC) welcomes the office in Qatar would play an occasion of his country’s Inde- arrival of H E Yakubu Abdullahi essential role in strengthening pendence Day.-QNA Ahmed, the new Nigerian Qatar-Nigeria economic ties, Ambassador to Qatar, and including business relations hopes that he will strengthen between the private sectors of QP’s multi-tranche ties between the two energy- both countries. He added that producing countries. QNBC is the Doha office would advance bond offer raises an organisation founded to the QNBC’s objectives by promote investment between assisting Qatar’s business com- $12.5bn Nigeria and Qatar. munity in understanding the QNBC Chairman Eng. Olu council’s role in advancing the FROM PAGE 1 Millar emphasised that with the Qatar-Nigeria commercial and support and guidance of this investment relationship. H E Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, accomplished diplomat, there Millar went on to say that Minister of State for Energy will be an improvement in there are activities planned for Affairs, and President and Qatar-Nigeria bilateral rela- Nigerian investors to meet CEO of Qatar Petroleum tionship and prospects for investors in Qatar and added: Kahramaa employees during the training programme. development in all sectors, par- exchange interests, and vice “I would like to thank all ticularly in economic, versa. “The council intends to the banks and financial and investment, energy, agriculture, host in-person and virtual investment institutions that Kahramaa begins media training and infrastructure. business summits to showcase participated in this successful Millar said: “We warmly what both countries have to program. I would also like to welcome our new ambassador offer to investors and busi- thank Qatar Petroleum’s team programme for officials and are looking forward to nesses as part of efforts to for the excellent preparation THE PENINSULA — DOHA Kahramaa has approved them how to deal with all working together to explore strengthen bilateral trade ties and execution of this training programmes for the audio-visual media, in addition and promote areas of economic with Qatar,” he added. programme.” The Qatar General Electricity company’s leaders in 2021, tar- to deepening understanding of Qatar Petroleum worked and Water Corporation geting the heads of the depart- the media and providing par- with a group of leading global (Kahramaa) has launched the ments. The three programmes ticipants with critical thinking financial institutions on this second edition of its training are held from June 20 to July 8, skills in this field, and Qatar index gains 0.71 points transaction, including Citi and programme entitled “Dealing and each session lasts for a employing this knowledge and QNA — DOHA J.P. Morgan as Global Coordi- with the Media.” week. experience in the functional nators; BofA Securities, Citi, The programme is pre- The programme aims to area. Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index gained 76.66 points, or 0.71 Deutsche Bank, Goldman sented in cooperation with Al meet the requirements of Kah- The training highlights the percent, when the bourse closed trading at 10,807.34 points Sachs International, HSBC, J.P. Jazeera Media Institute and ramaa by raising the efficiency importance of the media in sup- yesterday. The volume of shares traded decreased to Morgan, MUFG, and QNB comes within the framework of leaders in dealing with the porting the efforts and services 153,164,358 from 205,575,974 Wednesday and the value of Capital as Active Bookrunners; of developing leadership posi- media with confidence and of institutions that deal directly shares decreased to QR 334,680,131.376 from QR and Credit Suisse, as Passive tions in Kahramaa. professionalism, by teaching with the public. 502,937,225.218 on Wednesday. Bookrunner. 04 GULF / MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 Turkish President vows to continue Turkey lifts most pandemic restrictions combating violence against women AP — ISTANBUL Erdogan says that Turkey Men are playing cards and backgammon at their local coffee- has strengthened the legal houses again and movie theaters are being cleaned before their basis for fighting violence first evening screening in Istanbul’s famous pedestrian avenue. against women with Turkey has eased nearly all pandemic restrictions on businesses various constitutional and events starting yesterday, and lifted nighttime and Sunday changes. “The enactment curfews as new infections remain steadily below recent record high levels. “We no longer have the patience to stay at home in of Law No. 6284 on the both the financial and the spiritual way,” 42-year-old gig worker protection of the family Fatih Aydin said. and the prevention of An interior ministry circular said restaurants, which re-opened violence against women weeks ago, and wedding parties no longer have to limit the number is the most important of guests but must still abide by social distancing rules. Only hookah turning point in this shops are still closed. Concerts and festivals can go ahead indoors and outdoors but music must end by midnight even though there direction,” he said. is no longer a curfew. Restrictions on public transport with pas- senger and age limits have also been curtailed. AGENCIES — ANKARA Turkey’s mask mandate outdoors and in public places remains, though, like elsewhere, many people are not using masks cor- Announcing a new action plan, rectly. “We are sick of this masked life, I think we need to get back the Turkish president Recep to normal life,” Huseyin Baytas, 24, said. But the threat remains. Tayyip Erdogan yesterday Turkey has been gradually easing restrictions since mid-May after vowed to continue combating the end of a so-called “full lockdown” from which millions of violence against women. workers and tourists were exempt. A partial lockdown in mid- “We are making the fight April was extended to a nearly three-week stay-at-home order (against violence) even stronger after daily cases hit a record high of more than 63,000. with our new action plan,” Erdogan told the 4th National Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan attends an action Action Plan Promotion Meeting plan meeting to prevent violence against women, in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday. Israel scrambles to contain on Combating Violence Against spread of new delta variant Women. The first goal of the favour of local laws to protect convention on March 19, constitutional changes, Erdogan new plan is to review Turkey’s women's rights. arguing that the pact conflicted explained: “The enactment of AP — TEL AVIV legislation on combating vio- Erdogan also said that with local traditions and that Law No. 6284 on the protection lence and its effective imple- Turkey will start teaching anger Turkish laws provide ample of the family and the prevention Israel reported its highest daily infection rate in three months as mentation, he explained. management to likely perpe- protection to women already. of violence against women is it scrambles to contain the spread of the new delta variant. Erdogan defended Turkey's trators of violence, official news Erdogan also said that the the most important turning Authorities are racing to vaccinate children and are consid- withdrawal from an interna- agency Anadolu reported. action plan was prepared with point in this direction.” ering tighter travel restrictions at the country’s main airport. tional treaty to prevent violence “Our fight against violence contributions from public insti- “With this law,” Erdogan The Health Ministry reported 307 new cases on Wednesday, against women. The Istanbul against women will not begin tutions, NGOs, universities, said, “Turkey has become one the highest in nearly three months and a rise from 293 newly- Convention, negotiated in Tur- with the Istanbul Convention, nor members of the media, and rep- of the countries with the most diagnosed cases a day earlier. The health ministry reportedly key's biggest city and signed in does it end with our withdrawal resentatives of international comprehensive and effective expects those numbers to jump in coming days, raising concerns 2011, committed its signatories from it,” Erdogan added, organizations. legislation in the world to that Israel is plunging back toward a crisis. to prevent and prosecute referring to a European treaty Saying that Turkey has combat violence against In recent months, Israel has reopened businesses, schools and domestic violence and promote that Turkey left on July 1, citing strengthened the legal basis for women.” event venues, lifting nearly all restrictions after it inoculated some equality. Erdogan announced incompatibility with local values. fighting violence against The action plan lasts 85% of the adult population. It’s now seen as an early-warning the withdrawal in March in Turkey withdrew from the women with various through 2025, Erdogan said. system of sorts for other nations. Iran restricts IAEA access to main enrichment plant after attack: Diplomats Jordan’s King Abdullah heads REUTERS — PARIS/VIENNA ranging from enriching uranium denied the IAEA access to two had slowed. “Because of the Inspections and monitoring to close to weapons-grade to locations for snap inspections. accident/sabotage in April, have also been in the spotlight to meet Biden Iran has been restricting UN failing to explain the origin of In 2019, Iran held an IAEA certain accesses have been recently as Iran reduced its coop- nuclear inspectors’ access to its uranium particles that the UN inspector and seized her travel limited for safety and security eration with the agency in Feb- REUTERS — AMMAN main uranium enrichment plant nuclear watchdog found at documents. reasons,” a Vienna-based dip- ruary, removing the legal basis at Natanz, citing security several undeclared sites. The IAEA has so far stopped lomat said, adding that the for snap IAEA inspections at Jordan’s H M King Abdullah left concerns after what it says was “They are provoking us,” short of reporting the issue to move “had very little impact on undeclared facilities that had for the United States yesterday an attack on the site by Israel in said one Western diplomat who its member states and calling the agency’s ability to carry out been introduced by the 2015 deal. for a three-week visit that April, diplomats say. follows the International an emergency meeting of its verification”. At the same time, Iran includes the first meeting by The standoff, which one Atomic Energy Agency closely, 35-nation Board of Governors The IAEA and Iran have dis- ended IAEA monitoring of some an Arab leader with President official said has been going on adding that inspectors should as it did in November 2019 cussed the issue “in order to nuclear activities that the deal Joe Biden at the White House for weeks, is in the course of be able to have full access next when Iran briefly held the IAEA avoid that these limitations introduced. A temporary since he took office, a palace being resolved, diplomats said, week. Iranian officials were not inspector who diplomats say become permanent and agreement with the IAEA kept statement said. but it has also raised tensions immediately available for had sought access to Natanz. therefore start eroding the ver- that monitoring going in a black- The statement said the with the West just as indirect comment. The IAEA declined to An explosion and power cut ification capability”, he added. box-type arrangement under monarch, accompanied by his talks between Iran and the comment, citing its general in April at Natanz, the heart of Washington and its which data continues to be col- wife Queen Rania, would United States on reviving the policy of not commenting on Iran’s uranium-enrichment European partners have been lected but the IAEA will only have attend an investors meeting Iran nuclear deal have inspection matters. programme, appears to have pressuring Iran over its access to it at a later date. followed by a private itinerary adjourned without a date set for Any reasons for Iran’s move damaged centrifuges at the breaches of the deal, which was That temporary agreement ahead of a working visit to their resumption. beyond the official security and underground, commercial- built around lengthening the expired last week, however, and Washington for talks with con- It follows various moves by safety concerns it cited as scale Fuel Enrichment Plant time Tehran would need to the IAEA has said Iran has not gressional leaders and admin- Iran that breach the 2015 explanations are unclear, but it (FEP) there. The last quarterly produce a nuclear weapon if it responded when asked about istration officials. nuclear deal or have angered has quarreled with the IAEA IAEA report on Iran in May chose to. Iran insists its nuclear the status of that agreement, An official said the king’s Washington and its allies, over access before. Iran in 2020 showed its enrichment output aims are entirely peaceful. which the IAEA hopes to extend. talks with Biden were expected some time after mid-July. The staunch US ally will lobby senior officials for an Oman records 1,959 new extension of a five-year $6.4bn aid package that ends next coronavirus cases, 40 deaths year to help shore up Jordan’s struggling economy, the AGENCIES — MUSCAT/RIYADH official added. Washington is Jordan’s single largest source The Omani Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday 1,959 new of bilateral assistance, pro- cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) during the past 24 hours, bringing viding more than $1.5bn every the total number of positive COVID-19 cases to 270,504. year, and the kingdom ranks QNA, quoting the Ministry said that 40 new COVID-19-re- among the top recipients of US lated deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths foreign aid, US diplomats say. to 3,140.The Ministry added that 2,127 new cases have recovered, Biden reaffirmed strong US bringing the total number to 236,988 recoveries, while the number support for the monarch of hospitalized people reached 1,591 cases and 530 cases are in shortly after the kingdom intensive care. announced it had quashed a Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced 13 deaths from COVID-19 rift within the royal family that and 1,534 new infections yesterday. Of the new cases, 377 were shook Jordan’s image as a recorded in Makkah, 337 in the Eastern Province, 310 in Riyadh, beacon of stability in the 156 in Asir, 96 in Jazan, 74 in Madinah, 36 in Najran, 29 in Al-Baha, region. King Abdullah had 20 in Tabuk, 19 in Hail, 11 in the Northern Borders region, and strongly opposed former US seven in Al Jouf, reported Arab News. President Donald Trump’s The total number of recoveries in the Kingdom increased to Middle East peace plan, which Demonstrators gather during a protest over the death of Nizar Banat, a critic of the Palestinian 469,120 after 1,487 more patients recovered from the virus. A he saw as a national security Authority, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in this picture taken on June 26, 2021. total of 7,832 people have succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom threat that would also so far. Over 17.8 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been undermine his Hashemite administered in the Kingdom to date. family’s custodianship of the Kuwait's Ministry of Health on Wednesday said that 1,836 UN official urges Palestinian security to allow protests holy sites in Jerusalem. people were infected with AP — JERUSALEM Rights, said Palestinian security She said women appear to Jordan court rejects the novel coro- forces had used force against have been singled out, whether navirus The UN human rights chief initially peaceful protesters, they were protesting or defence bid to testify (COVID-19) and yesterday urged the Palestinian "including beating them with reporting for the media or were Prince Hamza eight others Authority to ensure the safety batons and firing teargas and just bystanders, with many died of the of protesters after security stun grenades.” reporting being sexually har- REUTERS — AMMAN disease in the forces and supporters of Pres- The statement said she was assed. There was no immediate past 24 hours. ident Mahmoud Abbas attacked concerned about "the presence comment from the PA. More A Jordanian military court Wednesday's demonstrators over the of large numbers of non-uni- protests are expected this yesterday rejected a defence figures took the weekend. formed people acting in a weekend. request to have the kingdom’s total infections The protests erupted after seemingly organized and coor- Bachelet called on author- Prince Hamza and others testify to 356,687 and an outspoken critic of the PA dinated manner" with the Pal- ities "to ensure freedom of as witnesses in a case against a death toll to died shortly after his family estinian forces. opinion, expression and former royal confidant accused 1,969 since the says he was severely beaten by "During one of these pro- peaceful assembly,” and said of destabilising the monarchy, outbreak of the security forces who arrested tests, one of our staff members that the security forces must a defence lawyer said. pandemic, Min- him. The PA, which governs monitoring it was punched and "provide safety and security for Prince Hamza, the istry said. As parts of the Israeli-occupied pepper-sprayed by a person in the exercise of human rights.” estranged former heir to the many as 1,677 West Bank, has grown increas- civilian clothing,” Bachelet said. "Any unnecessary or dis- throne at the centre of the case, people cured ingly autocratic and unpopular "Many people, including jour- proportionate use of force must was accused of liaising with from the in recent years. nalists and human rights be promptly, transparently and parties with foreign links to disease in the Michelle Bachelet, the UN defenders, were similarly independently investigated,” undermine the authority of the same period. High Commissioner for Human assaulted." she said. king. FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 05 Rumsfeld, who oversaw a ruinous Iraq war The US-led invasion of Iraq was launched in March 2003 with “But much of what befell Rumsfeld resulted from his own behavior,” a go-ahead from Congress but no authorisation by the UN Graham wrote in “By His Own Rules.” Security Council. Survivors of the Iraq war were more critical. “He is apt to be remembered as much Rasha Al Aqeedi, now a US-based analyst from the Iraqi city of for how he did things as for what he did. And here, too, he was an internal Mosul, said: “The legacy he left behind... the Iraq war, has been contradiction. Capable of genuine such a stain on Americans’ foreign policy. It shaped how an charm, kindness and grace, he all too entire generation views any intervention” by the United States. frequently came across as brusque and domineering, often alienating others AP — WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD and making enemies where he needed Sept. 11, Rumsfeld found himself lit- friends.” erally face-to-face with the threat that Bush hailed Rumsfeld’s “steady Calling Donald H. Rumsfeld energetic would consume the remaining years service as a wartime secretary of was like calling the Pacific wide. When of his tenure. When a hijacked defense - a duty he carried out with others would rest, he would run. While American Airlines jetliner slammed strength, skill, and honor.” others sat, he stood. But try as he might, into the Pentagon, Rumsfeld was in his Survivors of the Iraq war were at the pinnacle of his career as defense third-floor office meeting with nine more critical. Rasha Al Aqeedi, now a secretary he could not outmaneuver House members. He later recalled that US-based analyst from the Iraqi city the ruinous politics of the Iraq war. at the instant of impact, the small wood of Mosul, said: “The legacy he left Rumsfeld had a storied career in table at which they were working behind... the Iraq war, has been such government under four presidents and trembled. a stain on Americans’ foreign policy. nearly a quarter century in corporate Rumsfeld was among the first to It shaped how an entire generation America. After retiring in 2008 he reach the smoldering crash site, and Former US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld signs a Baghdad road sign at views any intervention” by the United headed the Rumsfeld Foundation to he helped carry the wounded in the request of a US soldier during his visit to US troops at Baghdad's international States. promote public service and to work stretchers before returning to his duties airport in this April 30, 2003, picture. Rumsfeld twice offered his resig- with charities that provide services and inside the building. nation to Bush in 2004 amid disclo- support for military families and The nation suddenly was at war. was armed with nuclear, biological or thousand allied troops would be sures that US troops had abused wounded veterans. US forces invaded Afghanistan on Oct. chemical weapons, and that the US needed to stabilize Iraq. detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison By the time he arrived at the Pen- 7, and with Rumsfeld at the Pentagon could not afford the risk of Saddam one Square-jawed with an acid tongue, - an episode he later referred to as his tagon in January 2001 for his second helm the Taliban regime was toppled day providing some of those arms to Rumsfeld grew combative in defence darkest hour as defense secretary. stint as defence secretary, the military within weeks. Frequently presiding at Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups. of the war effort and became the Iyad Al Baghdadi, president of the that Rumsfeld inherited was in a slow- televised briefings on the war, The US-led invasion of Iraq was lightning rod for Democrats’ criticism. Kawaakibi Foundation, a research and motion transition from the Cold War Rumsfeld became something of a TV launched in March 2003 with a go- Years afterward, the degree of blame activist group focused on liberty in the era to a period dominated by ethnic star, admired for his ahead from Congress but no authori- that should be shared among the White Arab world: "Donald Rumsfeld was a conflicts in the Balkans, humanitarian plain-spokenness. sation by the UN Security Council. House, Rumsfeld and the US military war criminal who presided over illegal crises in the Horn of Africa and spasms Within months of that success, Baghdad fell quickly, but US and allied for the disasters in Iraq remained in wars that involved wholesale mas- of terrorism. Among the other prom- President George W. Bush’s attention forces soon became consumed with a debate. sacres of civilians, systemic torture and inent worries: China’s military buildup shifted to Iraq, which played no role violent insurgency. Critics faulted In his 2009 biography of Rumsfeld, plunder, and massive corruption. The and the nuclear ambitions of Iran and in the Sept. 11 attacks. Rumsfeld and Rumsfeld for dismissing the public author Bradley Graham wrote that it country he helped break has still not North Korea. others in the administration asserted assessment of the Army’s top general, was “both incorrect and unfair to heap recovered. This is his legacy. May he But nine months into his tenure, on that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein Eric Shinseki, that several hundred singular blame” on Rumsfeld for Iraq. burn in hell for all eternity." Iran leader Bridge key to delivering aid to Tigray destroyed names new AP — NAIROBI situation it calls “entirely war with Ethiopia’s military, have against trying to retake western demanded the return of services judiciary head man-made.” taken control of key towns this areas. The Amhara regional to the region as a condition of A bridge that’s crucial to It was not immediately clear week, and several thousand spokesman, Gizachew Muluneh, any peace negotiations. REUTERS — DUBAI delivering desperately needed who destroyed the bridge on a fighters had been seen to be told the AP an investigation In a recent case of blocking food to much of Ethiopia’s main supply route linking moving west. The spokesman for would be carried out into the aid, a 29-truck convoy carrying Iran’s Supreme Leader embattled Tigray region has western Tigray, which is the Tigray forces this week told bridge’s destruction. Ethiopian World Food Program supplies yesterday appointed Gholam- been destroyed, aid groups said occupied by forces from the The Associated Press they would military spokesman Col. Getinet was denied access and had to hossein Mohseni Ejei as the yesterday, as Tigray fighters neighboring Amhara region, “liberate” the region from Adane said that “we have the return to the Amhara region new head of the judiciary, state were said to be approaching and the rest of Tigray. “enemies” including the Ethiopian information about it but it will earlier this week, a U.N. media reported, a body that other combatants occupying Aid groups were looking forces, Amhara forces and soldiers be disclosed in a press humanitarian worker said. The enforces Islamic laws and is large areas nearby. into reports of other key bridges from neighboring Eritrea. conference.” worker spoke on condition of accused by rights groups of The destruction of the destroyed. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s government, Humanitarian aid groups anonymity for fear of cracking down harshly on bridge over the Tekeze River Ethiopia’s government has under pressure from battlefield have been badly constrained in retribution. dissent. “means aid efforts will be even prohibited aircraft to fly below losses amid some of the fiercest Tigray, with electricity and A WFP spokesman saidthe Ejei, a long-term judicial more severely hampered than 29,000 feet within the airspace fighting of the war, this week communications links still cut Tekeze bridge’s destruction official and former intelligence before,” the International over Tigray, according to a U.S. declared an immediate and in the region and main supply “will have an impact, but we are minister, replaces Ebrahim Rescue Committee said in a Federal Aviation Administration unilateral cease-fire. Witnesses routes blocked. The Tigray currently assessing how much Raisi, who is due to become statement. Tigray has the notice posted on Wednesday. have seen Eritrean forces fighters, who had long of an impact and whether there president in early August after world’s worst hunger crisis in a The Tigray forces, retreating toward the border dominated Ethiopia’s is an alternative route we could winning a June 18 election. decade, with the United States emboldened after retaking the Eritrea shares with Tigray. government and military before use to bring in urgently needed Ejei’s appointment by saying up to 900,000 people regional capital this week in a Amhara authorities have a falling-out with Prime food stocks from Gondar to our Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali face famine conditions in a stunning turn in the eight-month warned the Tigray forces Minister Abiy Ahmed, have warehouses in Shire.” Khamenei comes as Iran faces renewed criticism by Western human rights groups and inter- 26 illegal national bodies over the Russia rejects renewing aid from Iraq to Syria’s northeast election of Raisi, who is immigrants accused by critics of a series of AP — UNITED NATIONS abuses during his judicial rescued off career. He denies Russia’s UN ambassador on wrongdoing. Tunisian coasts Wednesday called a proposal In a statement, Khamenei to reopen a border crossing urged Mohseni Ejei to QNA — TUNIS from Iraq to Syria’s northeast “promote justice, restore for delivering humanitarian aid public rights, ensure legitimate The Tunisian navy rescued 26 “a non-starter.” He also refused freedoms, and oversee the illegal immigrants of different to say what will happen to the proper implementation of nationalities off the coast, east only crossing now in operation, laws, prevent crime, and res- of the country. from Turkey to the country’s olutely fight corruption”, state The Tunisian Ministry of rebel-held northwest. news agency Irna reported. Interior said in a statement A UN Security Council draft yesterday that a patrol of the resolution proposes sending aid Sudan increases maritime zone of the Tunisian through both crossings, but National Guard managed on Vassily Nebenzia said at a news fuel prices after Wednesday to rescue 13 conference that Russia is dis- migrants from drowning off cussing only the possible con- subsidies removed the coast of Al Huwariyah, in tinuation of deliveries through the state of Nabeul, northeast the Bab Al Hawa crossing to REUTERS — CAIRO of Tunisia, while another Idlib in northwest Syria. He patrol rescued other 13 off the refused to say whether Russia Sudan has increased fuel Children holding stacks of bread walk in Al Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria. coast of El Awabed, Sfax, in the will vote to keep it open or use prices for the first time since southeast of the country. its veto to close it. subsidies were removed, Illegal immigration oper- Russia has come under al-Hawa open and reopen the Al- January 2020, Russia used its Russian Foreign Minister energy minister Jadein Ali ations towards the European intense pressure from the UN, Yaroubiya crossing from Iraq in veto threat in the council first Sergey Lavrov has accused Obeid said yesterday. coasts are active beginning US, Europeans and others who the mainly Kurdish-controlled to limit aid deliveries to two Western donors, who are the The price of gasoline went from the Tunisian coasts, warn of dire humanitarian con- northeast that was closed in border crossings in the major providers of humani- up to 320 Sudanese pounds meanwhile Tunisian author- sequences for over a million January 2020. northwest, and then last July to tarian aid to Syria, of “black- ($0.7094) per litre from 290 ities are making efforts to stop Syrians if all border crossings are The Security Council cut another. mailing” Moscow by threat- pounds, while the price of this activity and stop migration closed. Nebenzia was com- approved four border crossings So today, aid can only be ening to cut humanitarian diesel went up to 305 pounds trips across the Mediterranean menting on a draft resolution cir- when aid deliveries began in delivered through the Bab Al financing for its close ally Syria per litre from 285, according in cooperation with the culated to the Security Council 2014, three years after the start Hawa crossing, and its mandate if the mandate for Bab Al Hawa to a witness. European Union. last Friday that would keep Bab of the Syrian conflict. But in ends July 10. is not extended. “This slight increase in prices came after the monthly assessment of the prices of gasoline and diesel, which was Africa’s COVID-19 envoy blasts EU, COVAX over vaccine crisis carried out based on interna- tional prices,” the minister AP — NAIROBI crucial information including sheer exasperation at the pledges, we will measure vac- Masiyiwa said COVAX had said. that key donors hadn’t met world’s dramatic vaccine cines arriving at our airports.” promised to deliver 700 million Sudan fully liberalized The African Union special envoy funding pledges. He didn’t name divide, with Masiyiwa The African continent of 1.3 vaccine doses to Africa by gasoline and diesel prices in tasked with leading efforts to which donors. describing vaccinated, billion people is now in the grip December. But at mid-year, June, in line with IMF-moni- procure COVID-19 vaccines for “The situation could be very unmasked Europeans attending of a third surge of infections that Africa has received just 65 tored reforms, leading to an the continent is blasting Europe different had we known back football matches while just 1% is “extremely aggressive,” the million doses overall. Less than immediate nearly doubling in as Africa struggles amid a in December that ‘Listen, this of Africans are fully vaccinated head of the Africa Centers for 50 million doses via COVAX prices. As a result of reforms, crushing third surge of infec- help is not coming, do for your- against COVID-19. The con- Disease Control and Prevention, have arrived. Sudan was cleared to seek debt tions, saying yesterday that “not selves,’” Masiyiwa told tinent has the lowest vaccine John Nkengasong, told “We are very far away from relief on $56bn in external debt one dose, not one vial, has left reporters, adding that “many coverage in the world. reporters. Health officials have our target,” Nkengasong said. earlier this week. a European factory for Africa.” countries were just sitting back Masiyiwa stressed that described overflowing “We don’t want to be seen as “If the world price drops Strive Masiyiwa also took saying, ‘the vaccines are Africa has purchased 400 COVID-19 wards, dangerous the continent of COVID... (In next month, prices will be aim at the global effort meant coming.’... We as Africans are million vaccine doses and can oxygen shortages and a growing Europe) the stadiums are full of reduced. This is a policy that to distribute vaccines to low- disappointed.” buy more, but he challenged spread of the virus to extremely young people shouting and is applied in most of the coun- and middle-income countries, The criticism revealed donors: “Pay up your money... vulnerable and unequipped hugging. We can’t do that in tries in the world,” the minister accusing COVAX of withholding African leaders’ We will no longer measure rural areas. Africa.” added. 06 ASIA FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 China won’t be bullied, Xi warns at Party centenary AP — BEIJING Xi declared that China restored China’s dignity after decades of subjugation to Chinese President Xi Jinping had restored order in Western powers and Japan in warned yesterday that anyone Hong Kong following the 19th and 20th centuries, and who tries to bully China “will turned it into the world’s second face broken heads and anti-government largest economy in recent bloodshed,” in a defiant speech protests in 2019 decades. hailing the country’s rise that “The Chinese people will elicited loud cheers from a care- and reiterated the absolutely not allow any foreign fully chosen crowd at a cele- Communist Party’s force to bully, oppress or bration of the centenary of the determination to bring enslave us and anyone who founding of the ruling attempts to do so will face Communist Party. self-governing Taiwan broken heads and bloodshed in In unusually forceful lan- under its control. front of the iron Great Wall of guage, Xi appeared to be hitting the 1.4 billion Chinese people,” back at the US and others that said Xi, who has eliminated have criticised the rising leader. Xi even wore a gray but- limits on his time in office, power’s trade and technology toned-up suit like the ones prompting speculation that he Chinese President Xi Jinping waves next to Premier Li Keqiang and former president Hu Jintao at polices, military expansion and favored by Mao and spoke from could rule for life, as Mao did. the end of the event marking the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, on Tiananmen human rights record. In an the same balcony atop The strong language Square in Beijing, yesterday. hour-long speech, he also said Tiananmen Gate where the rev- appeared aimed at revving up the nation must stick to its one- olutionary leader declared the and playing to a domestic bring self-governing Taiwan northwest region of Xinjiang, yesterday. In the past, the park party rule, emphasising the start of communist rule in 1949. audience. The strongest ele- under its control. and for imprisoning or intimi- was the starting point for annual communists’ role in lifting More than 70,000 people ments of it — the references to Both policies have been dating into silence those it sees pro-democracy marches on July China to global prominence. attended yesterday, according bashing heads and bloodshed widely criticized by Western as potential opponents from 1, the anniversary of the British The rally — which featured to the official Xinhua News — were left out of state media’s democracies. They have Tibet to Hong Kong. return of Hong Kong to China a military flyover and people Agency. English translation of the quote. accused the Communist Party As part of a continuing in 1997. waving Chinese flags and Xi, who heads the party and Xi declared that China had of abusing its power at home, crackdown on anti-government Xi also said the party would singing patriotic songs — in is thought to be considering a restored order in Hong Kong fol- including detaining more than protests in the city that long retain absolute control over the some ways recalled the mass third term starting next year, lowing anti-government protests 1 million Uyghurs and other enjoyed freedoms not seen on military, which now has the events held by Mao Zedong, received the biggest applause in 2019 and reiterated the Com- mainly Muslim minorities for the mainland, police in Hong world’s second-largest annual communist China’s founding when he said the party had munist Party’s determination to political reeducation in the Kong sealed off Victoria Park budget after the US.

India’s Zydus Cadila seeks Indonesia holds mass vaccination to scale up virus fight AP — JAKARTA Cross that Indonesia is “on the continuously increase hospital the shots, were involved in the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases approval for its edge of a COVID-19 catas- capacity, centralized isolation event. in the last two weeks. Indonesia Thousands of Indonesians lined trophe” and urgently needs to facilities as well as the availa- More than 80% of beds at had its deadliest day with 504 3-dose vaccine up at a sports stadium to get a increase medical care, testing bility of medicines, medical the Bekasi city hospital are people confirmed deaths from COVID-19 vaccine dose and vaccinations. equipment and oxygen tanks,” filled, and Mayor Rahmat the virus yesterday, while new REUTERS — BENGALURU yesterday in a one-day, mass The emergency restrictions he said. Effendi said tents were set up cases set another record at vaccination event that’s part of on public activity are to take Yesterday’s mass vacci- in the hospital’s parking lot to 24,836. Indian drugmaker Zydus a push to dramatically scale up effect tomorrow through July nation event was part of efforts treat COVID-19 patients with The country has recorded a Cadila said yesterday it has the nation’s virus fight as 20 on Indonesia’s main island to reach a target of one million moderate and severe total of 2,203,108 cases, applied for emergency use hospitals fill with sick patients. of Java and the popular tourist doses per day in July and 2 symptoms. including 58,995 deaths. approval of its three-dose Meanwhile, President Joko island of Bali. “I call on people million in August. Similar conditions were Indonesia aims to inoculate COVID-19 vaccine that showed Widodo announced new com- to be disciplined in complying At the stadium in Bekasi, seen elsewhere. A Red Cross more than 181 million of its 270 efficacy of 66.6% in an interim munity restrictions and the with these restrictions for the outside Jakarta, local author- COVID-19 hospital in Bogor, million people by March 2022, study and could become the mobilization of the National safety of all,” Widodo said. ities aimed to vaccine 25,000 outside of Jakarta, was “over- but authorities have only fully second home-grown shot if Police and other resources to He said the government will people. Tanti Rohilawati, chief flowing” and using emergency vaccinated 13.6 million people regulators consent. combat the surging infections. mobilize civil servants and of Bekasi’s health agency, said tents as well. and partially vaccinated Managing director Sharvil The efforts follow a warning healthcare workers. “The more than 1,500 health care The world’s fourth-most another 16.6 million others so Patel said the company hoped earlier this week from the Red Health Ministry will workers, including 550 to give populous country has seen a far. to be producing 10 million doses a month by mid-August. Although coronavirus IN BRIEF infections have dropped from Thailand, hopes for a revival as tourists trickle back a devastating peak in April and Philippine villagers May that strained healthcare REUTERS — PHUKET facilities, experts have warned evacuated as of a third wave, saying wide- Restaurant owner and single spread vaccination is one of mother Pimonta Suksaen is volcano explodes the best pandemic defences. pinning her hopes on a revival “We are currently only for Thailand’s most visited MANILA: A small volcano near focusing our efforts on making island, after a turbulent, year- the Philippine capital belched sure we can make doses long struggle to manage debts a dark plume of steam and ash available for India,” Patel told a and keep her business afloat into the sky in a brief explosion virtual press briefing. Approval during the pandemic. yesterday, prompting officials for the shot would mean it would Pimonta has taken to selling to start evacuating thousands become the fifth vaccine food like pizza on the beach in of villagers from high-risk authorized for use in the country. Patong, a once thriving town in areas. Zydus said the efficacy Phuket, and hopes a pilot Government experts said result is based on an interim scheme launched yesterday to magmatic materials came into analysis of a late-stage trial of lure tourists back by waiving contact with water in the more than 28,000 volunteers quarantine requirements can main crater of Taal Volcano nationwide, including nearly help rescue her restaurant. in Batangas province, setting 1,000 subjects in the age group Tourism, a source of income off the steam-driven blast of 12 to 18. for millions in Thailand, ground with no accompanying vol- Immunogenicity data for to a halt last year when the gov- canic earthquake. They said the adolescent children subset ernment imposed tight entry it’s unclear if the volcanic will be submitted in the next requirements to keep out unrest could lead to a full- four to six weeks, Patel said. COVID-19. Pimonta,has been blown eruption. The drugmaker has also offering car rental and laundry “It’s just one explosive submitted data evaluating a services to try to pay off nearly event; it’s too early to tell,” Foreign tourists register for a COVID-19 test at the airport as Thailand’s Phuket reopens to overseas two-dose regimen for the shot. 500,000 baht ($15,622) of debt. Renato Solidum of the Phil- tourists, yesterday. If approved, ZyCoV-D will “I was so hopeless to the ippine Institute of Volcanology be the world’s first DNA point that I wanted to commit and Seismology said at a news vaccine, Zydus said, as it suicide because I can’t carry on She said another Phuket call to me,” Pimonta said. the coronavirus, Thailand’s conference, adding similar makes use of a portion of the anymore,” she said, tears restaurant owner had taken his Phuket reopened yesterday to biggest step so far towards reju- steam-driven explosions may genetic code. streaming down her face own life. “That was a wake up tourists fully vaccinated against venating a battered industry. occur. The agency raised the alarm at 1,020-foot Taal to the third of a five-step warning Myanmar court extends pretrial HK bans handover protest system. - AP detention of US journalist as official defends law Japan, Philippines to AP — HONG KONG anti-government protests in hold joint air force AP — BANGKOK at the special court at Yangon’s Those released included 2019. Critics say Beijing has Insein Prison, where he is protesters as well as journalists. Marking the anniversary of reneged on a promise to keep MANILA: The air forces of A court in Myanmar yesterday being held. He asked that his Most were being held on the Hong Kong’s return to Chinese the special privileges for Hong Japan and the Philippines will extended the pretrial detention wife send him medicine and same charge as Fenster. control, a top city official Kong for 50 years — the hold their first-ever joint of Danny Fenster, a US jour- food. Two consular officials Because there is no official list defended the national security autonomy of its courts and legal exercises next week, Japan’s nalist employed by an online from the US Embassy also of freed detainees and the law imposed by Beijing to crush system, civil liberties that embassy in Manila said news magazine in the military- attended the hearing, the releases are taking place over pro-democracy rallies and said include a free press, freedom yesterday, in a further sign of led Southeast Asian nation who lawyer said. several days, the exact number yesterday it would be used of speech and the leeway to deepening defence ties was arrested in May on an The next hearing is of journalists freed is not further in the coming year to take to the streets to protest. between the two countries. incitement charge that carries scheduled for July 15, but the known. ensure stability. Hong Kong Chief Secretary The air-to-air bilateral a penalty of up to three years’ case will not come to trial then An unofficial tally kept by Police sealed off Victoria John Lee said the national security training in humanitarian and imprisonment. because the court has too many Myanmar journalists says of 88 Park — until recently the site of law stipulates that human rights disaster relief, which Japan’s Fenster, who is the man- cases backed up, he said. journalists who were arrested annual pro-democracy rallies are respected and allows resi- embassy described as a “sig- aging editor of Frontier Fenster’s court appearance after February’s military marking the 1997 handover — dents to enjoy freedom of the nificant milestone” for joint Myanmar, was detained at came a day after authorities takeover, 49 have been and put up flags warning people press and free assembly. defence cooperation, will take Yangon International Airport began a release of about 2,300 released, including 14 on that they could be prosecuted if However, large-scale dem- place from July 5 to 8 at Clark on May 24 as he was trying to prisoners who were charged in Wednesday. they enter or remain in the onstrations have been banned Air Base, formerly a US mil- board a flight to go to the connection with protests that In June, a court released US enclosed area. Police said there and a number of pro- itary facility in the northern Detroit area in the United States erupted after the military over- journalist Nathan Maung, who were online calls encouraging democracy activists and jour- Philippines. to see his family. threw the elected government was arrested in March while people to take part in an unau- nalists have been arrested, The exercises will include Fenster’s lawyer, Than Zaw of Aung San Suu Kyi in Feb- working for Kamayut Media, a thorised protest. ceased public activities or have a Japanese C-130H cargo air- Aung, told The Associated ruary. The new government has local online news platform. The The security law was left Hong Kong. craft and its personnel which Press that the 37-year-old tried to silence independent charges against him were implemented one year ago as On Wednesday, Chow together with Philippine journalist was in good health news media by withdrawing dropped, his case dismissed and authorities cracked down on Hang-tung, a key organizer of airmen will simulate delivery but appeared to have lost some their licenses and by arresting he was deported to the United dissent after Hong Kong was the June 4 vigil, was rearrested of relief goods in isolated weight at yesterday’s hearing journalists. States. rocked by massive on suspicion of inciting others. areas. - Reuters FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 EUROPE 07 UK sets out vision for post-Brexit financial services REUTERS — LONDON There will be a public consultation on also set out how it wants to see November. how much direct access it will insurance capital rules Miles Celic, CEO of TheC- grant the City in future, while Britain’s finance minister safeguards on access to cash after the amended following its consul- ityUK which promotes UK trying to engineer a shift in pledged yesterday to “sharpen” pandemic accelerated a trend towards cashless tation, he said. financial services abroad, said clearing in euro derivatives the competitive advantage of There will be a public con- there was a need to ensure a from London to Frankfurt. the UK financial services sector payments and bank branch closures. sultation on safeguards on compelling proposition for Sunak said the EU would as he set out his vision for its access to cash after the pan- Britain to remain a world never have cause to deny future after Brexit. demic accelerated a trend leading financial centre. Britain access because of poor In his first Mansion House London to new hubs in the bloc. He said a review of capital towards cashless payments and “This includes simplifying regulatory standards. “So I see speech, traditionally an annual Last year the finance min- markets would focus first on bank branch closures. our regulatory regime while no reason of substance why the address given by the Chancellor istry rolled out reviews to “immediate changes” to remove Sunak said there will be maintaining its quality and UK cannot or should not con- of the Exchequer in the City of listings rules, fintech and the “most ineffective and distor- new sustainability disclosure strength, providing certainty tinue to provide clearing London financial district, Rishi insurance capital rules, and yes- tionary regulatory requirements” requirements for companies to and clarity with a business tax services for countries in the EU Sunak said Britain’s departure terday it announced there that Britain inherited from the EU, report on the impact they have roadmap, and enhancing efforts and around the world,” he said. from the European Union was would be further public consul- such as the share trading obli- on the environment, a step the to attract and retain the talent Sunak said Britain could a unique opportunity to tailor tations on financial reforms. gation and double volume cap. EU has already taken. we need,” Celic said. take a more nuanced approach rules while maintaining high Sunak said rules on pro- These refer to rules that To date, sustainability dis- The financial sector was to serve the fast growing regulatory standards and open spectuses, which give investors require banks to trade on a par- closures look only at how largely left out of Britain’s trade Chinese financial services markets. information about companies ticular platform, and curbs on climate change affects a com- deal with the EU, cutting market of 40 trillion pounds Brexit has largely severed that want to list, would be how much share trading can pany’s financial performance. lucrative ties with investors in while still taking a “principled the City’s ties with investors in reviewed so that “more com- take place off an exchange in Sunak will publish more details the bloc, and the industry wants stand on issues we judge to con- the EU, triggering a shift in over panies can and do list on UK the “dark”. before the U.N. COP26 climate a government strategy for the travene our values”, a reference 7,500 financial jobs from markets.” The finance ministry will conference in Glasgow in City. The EU has yet to decide to human rights. William and Harry put Panel advises Dutch govt to feud aside to unveil apologise for Princess Diana statue slavery

REUTERS — LONDON tional impact” of her work. REUTERS — AMSTERDAM “Today, on what would British Princes William and have been our mother’s 60th An advisory panel in the Neth- Harry put their differences birthday, we remember her erlands has told the aside yesterday when they love, strength and character - government to acknowledge unveiled a statue to their late qualities that made her a force that the 17th-19th century mother Princess Diana on what for good around the world, transatlantic slave trade would have been her 60th changing countless lives for the amounted to crimes against birthday, saying they hoped it better,” the brothers said in a humanity, and to apologise for would be a lasting memorial to statement. the Dutch role. her life and legacy. “Every day, we wish she The independent panel, The brothers, whose falling- were still with us, and our hope whose recommendations are out has been the subject of is that this statue will be seen not binding, was set up fol- intense media scrutiny, looked forever as a symbol of her life lowing protests over the relaxed together as they and her legacy.” murder of George Floyd, an revealed the statue they com- William and Harry were African-American in police missioned in honour of Diana joined by their mother’s brother Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, custody in the United States. in the Sunken Garden of Ken- Charles Spencer and her sisters Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, yesterday. It noted that Dutch people’s sington Palace in central Sarah McCorquodale and Jane knowledge of the country’s London, her former home. Fellowes for the small, private has been used on British and and to help future generations engraved with an extract colonial past is weak and rec- The bronze statue depicts event at the Sunken Garden, Commonwealth coins, was com- understand “the significance of inspired by the poem The ommended it be taught in Diana, who was killed in a Paris one of Diana’s favourite places. missioned by the princes in 2017 her place in history”. Measure of A Man. schools. “History cannot be car crash in 1997, surrounded The statue, which is blueish as a tribute to their mother. Beneath the statue is a William was 15 and Harry turned back,” chairwoman by three children, which Ken- green in colour and designed by William’s office said they plinth bearing Diana’s name 12 when the limousine carrying Dagmar Oudshoorn said in a sington Palace said represented sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley wanted it to reflect her positive and the date of the unveiling, their mother crashed in a tunnel summary of the panel’s findings. “the universality and genera- whose effigy of Queen Elizabeth impact in Britain and globally, while in front lies a paving stone in Paris. “However it is possible to state the intention that this his- torical injustice... whose ill IN BRIEF consequences are still being Britain’s parties fight for votes in northern England felt today, be corrected as far Johnson confident as is possible, to make that the REUTERS — LONDON Brexit and promise to tackle ine- successful COVID-19 vaccination of Batley and Spen and demon- starting point of policy.” After on travel for fully quality has won over many programme. Labour is increas- strate we’re listening and that Floyd’s killing last year, Prime vaccinated people Voters in a northern English voters in northern England. ingly divided but is represented we’re working for them, and Minister Mark Rutte acknowl- region were casting their ballots It could also heap pressure by local candidate Kim Lead- that we’ve never taken the edged that racism and dis- yesterday in a new test of on Labour, which has struggled beater, sister of its former law- people of Batley and Spen for crimination were also a LONDON: Prime Minister Boris whether British Prime Minister to connect with voters under the maker, Jo Cox, who was mur- granted,” the spokesman said. problem in the Netherlands Johnson said yesterday he was Boris Johnson can extend his leadership of Keir Starmer and dered by a neo-Nazi in the con- Asked if Starmer would and his government helped to confident Britons fully vacci- Conservative Party’s control lost a similar contest in northern stituency in 2016. resign if Labour loses, he added: set up the independent panel. nated against COVID-19 would over traditionally opposition- England’s Hartlepool in May, A spokesman for the Labour “No Keir has been absolutely However, as he faces the del- be able to travel abroad this supporting areas. prompting many to question leader played down expecta- clear that this is a four-year icate task of reconciling polarised year. The constituency Batley and whether he should stay in post. tions for a victory in the Batley, path to get back into power and views in the Dutch population, he Britain permitted limited Spen, which has voted for the The race is expected to be close. saying “this election was always he is determined to lead the said his government would not quarantine-free travel in May opposition Labour Party since The Conservative gov- going to be challenging for us”. party into the next general apologise for slavery because it and June, and is trying to 1997, could hand another victory ernment is battling a slew of “We know that we have got election and to take us back into was not his place to pass encourage other European to Johnson, whose pursuit of scandals but overseeing a to prove ourselves to the people government.” judgement on Dutch history. countries to accept British travellers. The British government has said it will this month set out EU digital travel pass kicks details of plans to allow those who have had both COVID-19 off as vacations gain pace vaccine shots to avoid self-iso- lation on return from top tourist AP — BRUSSELS reassuring yesterday. He said destinations such as Spain and that the four approved vaccines France. - Reuters As the European summer in the EU are all “protective vacation season hit its stride against all strains that are cir- Sweden stunned by yesterday with a new EU-wide culating in Europe, including travel pass in place, the bloc’s the delta variant” that emerged rare shooting of cop medical office and a top airline in India and is more contagious chief issued reassuring than others. GOTHENBURG: Swedish care- messages on traveling, despite “Emerging data from real taker Prime Minister Stefan the threat of the surging delta world evidence are showing Lofven expressed outrage coronavirus variant. that two doses of vaccines are yesterday over the killing of Many airports saw busy protective against the delta an on-duty police officer, a scenes as masses of people variant,” he told reporters. rarity in the Nordic country, sought to escape to the sunny For airline industry leaders calling it an “attack on our southern European Union with a huge financial stake in open society” amid growing nations for a beach holiday, this, such as Ryanair CEO concerns over gang violence. with the digital COVID-19 travel Michael O’Leary, those are The police officer in his certificate a must-have. sweet words. “A huge amount 30s was shot and killed while The EU Digital Certificate of both the U.K. population and, on duty in Biskopsgarden, a came officially into effect yes- increasingly, the European Gothenburg suburb that has terday even though many adult population are fully vac- been plagued by gang violence member states had started cinated, therefore they are not in recent years and where introducing it over the past at risk,” he said, announcing the police have had an increased Ministers brief about German COVID-19 situation month, seeking to boost their opening of more routes south presence. - Reuters German Health Minister Jens Spahn (right) and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer prepare to leave summer season by making from Brussels airports. after a joint news conference on the COVID-19 situation and entry regulation for Germany’s borders, movement as seamless as It doesn’t mean all tourism Greece to vaccinate in Berlin, yesterday. possible. transport has gone back to its “With this, everyone in smooth former self. Take, for teens after approval Europe should be able to travel example, travel between safely and freely this summer,” Germany and Portugal. ATHENS: Greece will start German police seize weapons in raids on biker gang said EU Commission spokesman Germany classifies coun- vaccinating teenagers once it Christian Wigand. And in a bloc tries in three risk categories, gets the go-ahead from REUTERS — BERLIN state of North Rhine-West- financial power over similar of 450 million citizens, he said and Portugal on Tuesday experts, a government spokes- phalia and four other states, the competing motorcycling groups that “already until now, more became the only EU member person said yesterday, after German police raided more ministry said. and enforces such claims with than two hundred million cer- listed as a “virus variant area,” Athens earlier this week than 100 premises of the The Bandidos MC group violence,” it added. The min- tificates have been generated.” Berlin’s highest-risk bracket. offered those aged 18-25 cash Bandidos motorcycle gang was founded in Houston, Texas istry did not say if anyone was All warned about the need Airlines and others are and phone data in exchange yesterday and seized weapons, in 1966 and has had a branch arrested during the raids. for extreme vigilance though, restricted largely in trans- for getting a shot. ammunition and large amounts in Germany since 1999 with the The US Bandidos gang after COVID-19 devastated fam- porting German citizens and Some 44% of Greeks aged of cash, the interior ministry official purpose of promoting made the headlines in 2015 ilies and economies across the residents from countries on that over 18 have been vaccinated said. joint motorcycling and organ- when they were in a deadly 27-nation bloc over the past year. list, and those who arrive must and the country has been Almost 1,800 officers took ising events, the ministry said. battle with a rival group in the But Dr. Marco Cavaleri, the spend 14 days in quarantine at easing restrictions as infec- part in the searches, which “In fact, the association is Texas city of Waco that left nine European Medicines Agency’s home — a period that can’t be tions fall. - Reuters were focused in the western striving to gain territorial and people dead. head of vaccines strategy, was cut short with a negative test. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021

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CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Migrant workers receive the one dose Sputnik Light vaccine against the coronavirus disease in Moscow. MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected] Expect the unexpected from Corona strains! EDITORIAL mutant has garnered a lot of had arrived a little later, or if surroundings will be affected attention because it has the the vaccines were a little more by this Indian variant most worrisome set of traits earlier, immunization would (Delta). And most likely, those Helping the pandemic-hit kids to date: it’s more transmis- have been able to mitigate the places will be the places where sible than alpha, besides that effect of the alpha mutant, for fewer people have been vacci- THE COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc it can infect a large pro- instance. nated. This comes to confirm across the world for more than 18 months now. One portion of people who have Interestingly, this brings that vaccines are the best way invisible tiny pathogen has been wrecking the normal life received only one dose of the us to the realization of an to stop the mutated Corona- cycle by affecting everybody in all parts of the globe in DR. YOUSUF ALI AL MULLA vaccine (compared to those important point and how two virus (Delta). For example, one way or the other. Millions of people were suddenly who have taken two) and it concepts about viral spread looking at a study in the snatched from their loved ones and the virus still con- It has become clear to all of us may even cause more serious help explain why this dif- United Kingdom, it indicated tinues its purge in every country. As in every calamity, and quite obvious how the illness. ference in timing and chance that a single dose of the Pfizer children are the ones who suffer the most from this pan- coronavirus (COVID-19) has But just as with Alpha, occurs. First, the coronavirus vaccine provides only 34 demic also. become more transmissible. which was also suspected to is spreading exponentially, percent protections against the Hundreds of thousands of children are out of school Since the emergence of the be more severe, the way this which means that even a delta mutant, while two doses for several months now, being deprived of education, play virus in China, it has been mutant behaves in the real slight delay in mitigation provide 88 percent protection. time, friends, leisure and even food. But above all, the acquiring mutations that help world will depend on more efforts can lead to dramati- Finally, in countries that do psychological impact of the pandemic can be lifelong, it to spread more easily than its biology. What I would cally different results. Sec- not have sufficient vaccine say experts. between humans. . Of course, like to point out here, is that ondly, the spread of the virus doses to stop these mutations Efforts to alleviate the pain of such children are rare the alpha mutant was first by following the evolution of is what epidemiologists call and I currently mean the delta and often being sidelined as other priorities such as pro- discovered in the UK last year the virus over the past period, “excessive spread”, which mutant, this certainly portends viding health care for the affected, vaccination, salvaging and it is 50 per cent more it will also depend on how we means that the majority of more troubles and problems. the disastrous losses suffered by the economy are given transmissible than the - the hosts of the virus - patients do not infect anyone On the other hand, it is a luxury preferences. In this context, an agreement signed by Qatar original strain. However, now choose to act, how many else, but imagine a small to say that the final effects of Fund for Development (QFFD), Ooredoo Group and United the delta mutant, which was people we vaccinate and to handful that could infect the delta strain on the region or Nations Children Fund (Unicef) recently deserves commen- first discovered in India, has - some extent, how lucky we dozens of people. In other its surroundings are unpre- dation. The strategic partnership agreements aims at trans- if I may say - more transfera- are! We may remember from words, most sparks of dictable! Perhaps it is more forming the lives of millions of children worldwide as they bility of at least 40 percent of updated news how the alpha infection don’t catch fire. But useful to realize now that we recover from the effects of the pandemic. The signatories alpha. mutant found its way to sometimes, a single infection should expect the unexpected reiterated their shared commitment to realise the Sus- Moreover, what is less groups of young people who can cause an early super from the delta mutant. tainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children globally. certain is how the increased were not yet eligible for vac- spread, which ends up being a The SDGs declared in 2015 by 193 world leaders sup- transmissibility of the virus cination and unfortunately it major outbreak. Dr.Yousuf Ali Al Mulla is a ports 17 Global Goals intended to end extreme poverty, will affect the pandemic in us was kind of bad timing. Seriously and truly, I see physician, medical fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change in 15 or in the region! The delta Perhaps if the alpha strain that some places in our innovator and writer. years. But with pandemic, these tasks have become more complicated putting pressure on all countries irrespective of being developed or otherwise. Some targets such as Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy live and promote well- being for all at all ages, and Goal 17, calling to revitalise the It’s the climate change global partnership for sustainable development. The partnership envisages to be at the core of the ISHAAN THAROOR Iraqi provinces average 122 degrees catching up. “The current heat wave is national-level partnerships including, supporting global THE WASHINGTON POST Fahrenheit. another visceral reminder that the world is vaccine roll-out, improving formal and informal education Temperatures in nearby Kuwait, Iran, not moving fast enough to curtail the use of and providing skill-development opportunities for children In only the first month of summer in much of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions,” and youth, and empowering adolescents and engaging the Northern Hemisphere, the records are Pakistan this month have climbed even the Los Angeles Times noted in an editorial. them in their communities. already tumbling. The Pacific Northwest and higher. As The Post noted last year, studies “To prevent the worst effects of climate Unicef estimates that the pandemic can push 140 Canada are in the grip of an unprecedented suggest whole regions in the Middle East change will take dramatic change on the million more children in developing countries to extreme heat wave. Major cities such as Portland, and South Asia may become virtually unin- part of the world’s industrialized nations, poverty as the pandemic deprives sources of income Ore., and Seattle broke their all-time records habitable for parts of each year. The Daily most especially the United States.” dragging more households into monetary poverty and for for hottest days by wide margins. Thousands Telegraph recently reported from the Paki- “There is a way out of this nightmare of the poorest of the lot, especially those do not have access lost power; roads buckled as their asphalt stani town of Jacobabad, notorious for its ever-worsening weather extremes, and it’s to social protection, the situation is life threatening. cracked amid the heat. humidity and heat, including temperatures one that will serve us well in many other Qatar realises that it is the right time to act as the On Monday, the temperature in Lytton, that can reach up to 126 degrees. “People are ways, too,” climate action advocates Michael country believes today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders British Columbia, soared to 120 degrees aware that the heat is getting up and up, but Mann and Susan Joy Hassol wrote in the who decide and shape the destiny of the future world. Fahrenheit - a degree higher than the city they are poor people,” a local market trader New York Times. “A rapid transition to clean Hence it is of paramount importance to focus on children record posted by Las Vegas far to the south. told the British newspaper. “They can’t go energy can stabilize the climate, improve our ensuring they are brought out of the predicament they are The BC Coroners Service said Tuesday that it anywhere, they can’t leave their places.” health, provide good-paying jobs, grow the in by extending a helping hand in all ways possible, not has seen “a significant increase in deaths Far to the north in the Russian Arctic, economy and ensure our children’s future.” only in Qatar but also in other countries. reported” in recent days that appear to be records in some towns were broken this But there’s no consensus in Washington linked to the heat. “It’s warmer in parts of past week. Warming temperatures in on making that transition. Republican and western Canada than in Dubai. I mean, it’s Siberia have led to the astonishing melting Democratic lawmakers are squabbling over just not something that seems Canadian,” of layers of permafrost. (In Alaska, too, high an infrastructure bill that, is in part, intended Environment Canada senior climatologist temperatures have caused sinkholes to to inject billions of dollars into climate miti- D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR David Phillips told CTV News on Saturday. emerge in the northern state’s interior.) The gation efforts and the renovation of the But on a warming planet, it does seem degrading ground conditions are creating country’s aging transit systems, roads and EMAIL: [email protected] increasingly par for the course. “Many have huge challenges in the region - a recent other critical infrastructure. In a Tuesday expressed shock about this unprecedented Russian government study suggested that op-ed, President Biden acknowledged that a EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 heat wave. Yet the writing has been on the the damage to critical infrastructure may compromise package agreed to with a FAX: +974 4455 7758 wall for decades,” wrote The Washington cost more than $67 billion by the middle of coterie of Republicans was “missing some MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 Post’s Jason Samenow. “Since the 1970s and the century, while the country’s minister of critical initiatives on climate change.” 1980s, climate scientists have warned that natural resources and environment said last On Monday, the European Council DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 global warming would make heat waves month that some 40 percent of all buildings adopted a climate change law that legally more frequent, long-lasting and intense.” in the north of Russia were experiencing obliges the 27 member nations of the LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 Still, the current wave is startling. “Mete- structural deformation. European Union to collectively slash green- BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 orologists estimated that a heat dome of this The broader scientific consensus on the house emissions by 55 percent by 2030 - size and scope is so rare it should be forces at play is clear: “Climate change is from 1990 levels - and to establish a net- SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 expected only once every several thousand loading the weather dice against us,” zero-emissions economy by 2050. But years,” wrote my colleagues. “But human- Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist at the Europe only accounts for so much. At the ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 caused warming makes extremes like this Nature Conservancy, an environmental leaders summit of the Group of Seven nations email: [email protected] more common, scientists say. Unless people organization, told the Guardian. “We always earlier this month, the wealthy democracies drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions have a chance of rolling a double six natu- failed to agree to a timeline to end their use of PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 email: [email protected] in the coming years, this heat wave doesn’t rally, and getting an intense record breaking coal for electric power. Thorny debates over represent a ‘new normal’ but rather a wor- summer heat wave. But decade by decade coal and other climate pledges may shadow MARKETING: TEL: 4455 7657 rying taste of the effects to come.” as the world warms, it’s as if climate change the upcoming meetings of the Group of 20 email: [email protected] Of course, in other parts of the world the is sneaking in and taking one of those major economies. reality is all the more stark. Amid another numbers on the dice and turning it into UN projections, meanwhile, suggest that ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 857 searing heat wave, Iraq is also enduring another six, and then another six. And it could already be too late to stave off the FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] repeated power outages. On Monday, the maybe even a seven. So we are seeing that 1.5-degree Celsius rise in global tempera- CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 Iraqi electricity minister resigned as the heatwaves are coming earlier in the year, tures that has been the key target identified email: [email protected] country’s cash-strapped neighbour, Iran, they are longer, they are stronger.” in the 2015 Paris climate accords. halted its power supply to Iraq after Yet while the visceral effects of climate SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 Baghdad had fallen into arrears. The devel- change are being felt more intensely and The author is a columnist on the foreign desk FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected] opment comes as temperatures in southern widely, political action is nowhere close to of The Washington Post.

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/ThePeninsulaQatar We have a chance now to build a global and domestic tax system that lets American /Peninsula_Qatar workers and businesses compete and win /ThePeninsulaNewspaper in the world economy. Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary +974 6698 6188 FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 EUROPE / AMERICAS 09 Russia launches booster shots amid soaring cases AP — MOSCOW Moscow health cance is unclear. Deputy Prime Minister Russian health authorities authorities yesterday Tatyana Golikova has cited studies yesterday launched booster started offering indicating that immunity in those coronavirus vaccinations for who have recovered from the people immunized more than booster shots with virus persists for six months on six months ago, as the country the domestically average and winds down grad- faces a surge in new infections ually after nine to 12 months. and deaths. produced, two-shot The Health Ministry’s guide- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sob- Sputnik V vaccine and lines indicated that the booster yanin said he had received a its one-shot Sputnik shots will be rolled out until at booster shot and urged city res- least 60 percent of the popu- idents to follow suit. Light version. lation has immunity against “In view of the difficult epi- COVID-19. Once that goal is demiological situation today, reached, booster shots will be doctors recommend having ministry has issued guidelines delivered once a year. booster shots six months after allowing those who contracted With most vaccinations, sci- vaccination,” Sobyanin said on COVID-19 to get vaccinated six entists believe people get more his blog. “I’m pleading with you months after they recovered, protection if there is an extended A woman receives a dose of Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus disease in a vaccination centre not to miss a chance to get addi- and those who have been interval between the shots. There at a shopping mall in Omsk, Russia. tional protection from the virus, immunised to get booster shots is no evidence that having more which is particularly important six months after their first vaccines within a short amount Thursday, more than double the deploy a coronavirus vaccine, “That undoubtedly impacts the amid the spread of a more vaccination. of time increases the amount of average in early June. Yes- just over 23 million people - or situation.” aggressive delta variant.” Health authorities said the immune protection. It’s also terday, it reported 23,543 new 15% of its 146 million population President Vladimir Putin Moscow health authorities more contagious delta variant unclear how long protection from cases and 672 deaths - the - have received at least one shot. revealed during Wednesday’s yesterday started offering of the virus has accounted for COVID-19 vaccines lasts and who highest daily death toll since the St. Petersburg, Russia’s call-in show that he had booster shots with the domes- the bulk of recent new infec- will need a booster. start of the pandemic. second-largest city which is set to received the Sputnik V vaccine tically produced, two-shot tions in Moscow and some other The new guidelines come as Russian officials have host the quarterfinal Euro 2020 earlier this year and stressed the Sputnik V vaccine and its one- regions. The nation’s chief san- infections in Russia are soaring blamed the rise in cases on Rus- match between Spain and Swit- importance of getting vacci- shot Sputnik Light version. itary doctor, Anna Popova, con- and vaccination rates lag behind sians’ lax attitude toward taking zerland on Friday, has seen a nated. The Russian leader, who Other Russian regions are also firmed on Tuesday that author- those of many other nations. precautions, the growing prev- sharp spike in infections recently. had received the shots out of the starting to offer booster shots. ities also registered the first Russia’s state coronavirus alence of more infectious var- “There are a lot of soccer fans public eye, had previously Health Minister Mikhail infection with the “delta plus” task force has been reporting iants and vaccine hesitancy. here, both Russian and those who refused to identify the vaccine Murashko told a government variant, which has an extra over 20,000 new COVID-19 Although Russia was among the came from other countries,” said he got to avoid offering a com- meeting Tuesday that the mutation, although its signifi- infections daily since last first countries to announce and local resident Antonina Milenina. petitive advantage to its maker. Sweden’s Lofven WHO decision challenges West to recognise Chinese vaccines is given next shot AP — GENEVA Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna Inc., currently considering licensing already suffering the most.” Although Western countries at forming govt AstraZeneca and Johnson & China’s Sinovac vaccine, but The WHO said such moves have largely relied on vaccines The World Health Organization Johnson, the WHO has also there is no timeline on a are “undermining confidence in made in the US and Europe, REUTERS — STOCKHOLM said yesterday that any given the green light to the two decision. life-saving vaccines that have such as Pfizer-BioNTech and COVID-19 vaccines it has Chinese jabs, made by Sinovac “Any measure that only already been shown to be safe and AstraZeneca, many developing Sweden’s caretaker Prime authorized for emergency use and Sinopharm. allows people protected by a effective.” In its reviews of the two countries have used the Minister Stefan Lofven was should be recognised by coun- In its aim to restore travel subset of WHO-approved vac- Chinese vaccines, the UN health Chinese-made shots. handed the task of forming a tries as they open up their across Europe, the European cines to benefit from the reo- agency said both were found to Earlier this year, the head of new government yesterday borders to inoculated travellers. Union said in May that it would pening of travel... would effec- significantly reduce the risk of China’s Center for Disease Control after the country’s right-wing The move could challenge only recognize people as vac- tively create a two-tier system, hospitalisations and deaths. and Prevention acknowledged the opposition leader said he had Western countries to broaden cinated if they had received further widening the global The two Chinese shots are effectiveness of its home-grown failed to secure enough parlia- their acceptance of two appar- shots licensed by the European vaccine divide and exacerbating “inactivated” vaccines, made shots was low. Numerous coun- mentary votes to become ently less effective Chinese vac- Medicines Agency — although the inequities we have already with killed coronavirus, tries that have used millions of premier himself. cines, which the UN health it’s up to individual countries if seen in the distribution of whereas the Western-made doses of the two Chinese shots, Social Democrat Lofven’s agency has licensed but most they wish to let in travelers who COVID-19 vaccines,” a WHO shots are made with newer including the Seychelles and fragile centre-left minority European and North American have received other vaccines, statement said yeserday. “It technologies that instead target Bahrain, have seen COVID-19 government collapsed this countries have not. including Russia’s Sputnik V. would negatively impact the the “spike” protein that coats surges even with relatively high month after the Left Party In addition to vaccines by The EU drug regulator is growth of economies that are the surface of the coronavirus. levels of immunisation. withdrew its support over plans to ease some rent con- IN BRIEF trols on housing, ushering in a no-confidence vote in parliament. El Salvador’s appointment of new Parliamentary Speaker Andreas Norlen invited him to judges raises fears of power grab form a new administration hours after opposition leader SAN SALVADOR: Lawmakers in El Salvador yesterday voted to Ulf Kristersson abandoned his keep the head of the Supreme Court in place for three more years own attempt. It had become and appointed five new justices, triggering concerns that Pres- clear that lawmakers would ident Nayib Bukele is shoring up a bid to consolidate power. not support his premiership, Bukele’s New Ideas (NI) party and its allies hold a super- despite last-ditch efforts to win majority in Congress, where lawmakers have now appointed 10 over centrists with spending court judges in less than two months. pledges. Supreme Court President Oscar Lopez was first appointed “I have this morning last month, just as Bukele’s legislative allies abruptly ousted five spoken on the phone with judges as well as the attorney general. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven The move that was harshly criticized by the United States and and given him the task of international rights groups as a dangerous power grab. sounding out the possibilities Victoria Nuland, US undersecretary for political affairs, for a new government,” met on Wednesday with Bukele as part of her tour to the Norlen told a news region. - Reuters conference. Lofven will report back to CureVac says speaking to EU about the speaker on Monday at the latest and could face a vote in ideal region to use vaccine parliament days later, Norlen added. France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard FRANKFURT: CureVac said it was in discussions with its “My answer remains that pose after signing documents during their meeting at Quai d’Orsay in Paris, yesterday. prospective customer, the European Union, about where in the the Social Democrats and I are world to best deploy its experimental COVID-19 vaccine if it wins ready to shoulder the respon- approval. Under CureVac’s only major supply deal, the European sibility of together with other France, Mexico sign anti-trafficking deal Union last year secured up to 405 million doses of the vaccine in constructive forces leading the November, of which 180 million doses were optional. country forward,” the care- AP — PARIS auction of pre-Hispanic sculp- countries have different laws CureVac said yesterday it was in ongoing discussions with taker prime minister said on tures and other artifacts by around cultural objects but the region’s drugs regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), social media. France and Mexico signed an Christie’s of Paris earlier this promised to work together in the about an approval. The collapse of the gov- agreement yesterday on coop- year. Paris auction houses often future to fight trafficking. “We have a supply obligation towards the EU and we are in ernment has reignited turmoil erating against the trafficking sell Indigenous artifacts that are “The recuperation and pro- discussions with the EU where the vaccine should best be used seen in the wake of the 2018 of cultural artifacts, a deal that already on the art market, tection of our cultural goods is after approval,” Chief Executive Officer Franz-Werner Haas said election, where gains by the the Mexican foreign minister despite protests from activists a huge issue for us,” Mexican in a media call yesterday. - Reuters anti-immigration Sweden called an important step toward who say they should be Foreign Minister Marcelo Democrats redrew the political recovering and protecting returned to their native lands. Ebrard said. “I am happy that Ukraine launches free farmland landscape, leaving Lofven Mexico’s cultural heritage. In signing the cooperation on this occasion France accom- needing months to hammer It came after Mexico lodged agreement, the French and panies us and supports this ini- trade despite criticism out a workable, if precarious, a complaint with the French Mexican foreign ministers tiative despite our legal systems coalition. government against a big acknowledged yesterday that their being very different." KYIV: Ukraine yesterday lifted a near 20-year ban on the selling of farmland, hoping the move will increase investment in the cash-hungry agriculture sector, whose products dominate the food markets of many countries. Ecuador races to move oil pipelines from raging river Ukraine is a leading agricultural producer and exporter of corn, wheat and sunflower oil. Its grain exports reached 57 million REUTERS — SAN LUIS prevent the river from reaching provoked by the river’s snaking Another environmental dis- tonnes in the 2019/20 season. a reservoir for the Coca Codo advance cracked open the aster would also complicate Ukrainian lawmakers voted to lift the ban in March 2020 and Two dozen workers using six Sinclair hydroelectric plant, SOTE, the parallel OCP pipe newly installed President gave the government more than one year to prepare for free land excavators cleared a strip of which generates a third of the and a smaller duct carrying Guillermo Lasso’s efforts to trade. After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine had distributed heavy forest in the foothills of country’s power. refined products. Ecuador revive the country’s moribund about 30 million hectares of farmland to small-scale local farmers, Ecuador’s Reventador volcano The SOTE pipeline, which declared force majeure on economy. who until now could only lease their land. on an overcast June morning, carries around two-thirds of the crude exports, and Indigenous He has pledged to double Opening up Ukraine’s land market has been a political hot rushing to carve a new route for production from oil fields deep communities found it harder crude output from current potato for years and critics complain that it could allow local oli- an oil pipeline in hopes of in the Ecuadorean Amazon, has to fish and farm. Roads and levels around 500,000 barrels garchs to snap up land or help foreigners muscle out poorer avoiding a repeat of the coun- been under constant threat bridges near the river have per day (bpd), which Ecuador’s Ukrainians in purchasing plots. try’s worst oil spill in decades. from violent erosion of the Coca crumbled, and a dozen people central banks says made up From today, individual Ukrainian citizens can buy up to 100 Ecuador’s power supply is River after the 130-metreSan have been evacuated from more than eight percent of hectares, while companies will be able to take part in auctions also under threat. Not far from Rafael waterfall collapsed on their homes. Some of those gross domestic product in 2020. from 2024. The law prohibits foreigners and foreign companies the work site, electricity February 2, 2020. who remain in the sparsely Oil accounted for two-fifths of from buying farmland currently, but this may become possible company Celec is investing The oil spill occurred last populated region are nervously the Andean nation’s exports in in future and the issue could be put to a referendum at some $100 million in structures to April after a landslide watching the river’s advance. the first quarter of 2021. stage. - Reuters 10 AMERICAS FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 Biden brings message of comfort to Surfside AP — SURFSIDE The president said he as well,” Biden said. “There’s gonna be a lot of pain and President Joe Biden yesterday believed the federal anxiety and suffering and even offered comfort to the grieving government has “the the need for psychological help and federal support for the in the days and months that ongoing efforts to search for the power to pick up follow. And so, we’re not going missing and rebuild after last 100% of the cost” anywhere.” week’s collapse of a high-rise Biden was briefed on the sit- condo building along the of the search and uation with Florida Gov. Ron Florida coastline. cleanup and urged DeSantis and Miami-Dade Biden, responding to what the local officials to County Mayor Daniella Levine appeared to be the deadliest Cava. The mayor saluted the calamity of his young presi- turn to Washington for efforts to cross party lines in a dency, was to survey the dev- assistance. time of “an unprecedented dev- astation and meet with first astating disaster” and added responders hunting for sur- that the unified government and vivors among the rubble in signs of life. No one has been community response “is what Surfside. But underscoring the rescued since the first hours gives us hope.” dangers still present in the after the collapse. DeSantis, a rumored Repub- US President Joe Biden greets Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis as he meets rescue teams search, work was halted before “This is life and death,” lican 2024 presidential can- and first responders on the building collapse in Surfside in Miami, Florida, yesterday. Biden arrived due to concerns Biden said a briefing about the didate, said to Biden that the about the stability of the section collapse. “We can do it, just the “cooperation has been great,” still standing. simple act of everyone doing declaring that the adminis- second week amid oppressive Few public figures connect updates on the building col- Biden and his wife Jill what needs to be done, makes tration has “not only been sup- heat and humidity and frequent as powerfully on grief as Biden, lapse. He also sent FEMA arrived in Florida a week after a difference.” portive at the federal level, but summer storms. He was also who lost his first wife and baby Administrator Deanne Criswell the collapse of the 12-storey The president said he we’ve had no bureaucracy.” expected to meet for several daughter in a car collision and to the area for a tour of the site Champlain Towers South believed the federal gov- As Biden pledged federal hours with family members of later an adult son to brain cancer. earlier this week with DeSantis. beachfront condominium killed ernment has “the power to pick help, he touched DeSantis’ hand those affected by the collapse In the first months of his term, he The White House empha- at least 18 people and left 145 up 100% of the cost” of the to underscore the point. before delivering remarks yes- has drawn on that empathy to sized that it was being careful missing. Hundreds of first search and cleanup and urged Later, the president was terday afternoon. console those who have lost to coordinate with officials on responders and search-and- the local officials to turn to expected to meet with first White House spokeswoman loved ones, including the more the ground to ensure that rescue personnel have been Washington for assistance. responders who have worked Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden than 600,000 who have died in Biden’s visit didn’t do anything painstakingly searching the “You all know it, because a around the clock on a rescue aimed to “offer up comfort and the COVID-19 pandemic. to distract from the search and pancaked rubble for potential lot of you have been through it effort that has stretched into its show unity” with his visit to the site. Biden has received regular rescue effort. IN BRIEF Trump organization CFO surrenders to authorities Tropical Storm BLOOMBERG — NEW YORK after a grand jury indicted him “Mr. Weisselberg intends to plead guilty and possibly strike that a case against Weisselberg Elsa likely to and the company in an extraor- plead not guilty and he will fight a deal with prosecutors. A would be a “political disaster” The Trump Organisation’s dinary challenge to the former these charges in court,” Weis- Trump executive for four for Democrats because it didn’t cause heavy rains longtime chief financial officer president. selberg’s lawyers, Mary Mul- decades, Weisselberg has include Trump. surrendered to authorities in The exact charges he’s ligan and Bryan Skarlatos, said unique insight into the former Trump Organisation lawyer MIAMI: Tropical Storm Elsa has New York to face state tax facing will be unsealed later in in a statement issued after their president’s finances and Ronald Fischetti said last week formed over the tropical charges after a grand jury the day, but are expected to client surrendered. business deals. that the district attorney’s case Atlantic yesterday morning indicted him and his employer involve unpaid taxes on ben- Cooperation from Weis- Trump has slammed the appeared thin. and is expected to cause heavy in the first criminal case against efits extended to Weisselberg, selberg could lead to a more probe by Vance, a Democrat, as “In my more than 50 years rains that may lead to isolated former President Donald according to a person familiar expansive case against the politically motivated. “They will of practice, never before have flash flooding and mudslides Trump’s company. with the issue who asked not to company and raise the prospect do anything to stop the MAGA I seen the district attorney’s in the Caribbean. Allen Weisselberg, 73, went be identified discussing confi- of a historic and politically movement (and me),” he said office target a company over Elsa is the earliest fifth through a freight entrance to dential matters. Trump isn’t charged prosecution of a former in a June 28 statement, referring employee compensation or named storm on record, avoid cameras awaiting his expected to be named in the president. With a trial unlikely to his campaign slogan to “Make fringe benefits,” he said in a beating out last year’s Eduardo arrival at District Attorney charges, but they ratchet up the before next year, Weisselberg America Great Again.” Former June 25 interview. “The IRS which formed on July 6, Cyrus Vance Jr.’s lower Man- pressure on Weisselberg to will have months to decide Trump senior adviser Jason would not, and has not, brought according to Colorado State hattan office yesterday, one day cooperate against his boss. whether to fight the charges or Miller tweeted on Wednesday a case like this.” University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Elsa had maximum sus- Author JD Vance tained winds of 40 mph (64 Dark colonial history mutes Canada Day celebrations kmh) with higher gusts and was signals US Senate 865 miles (1,390 kilometers) REUTERS — OTTAWA east-southeast of the campaign Windward Islands, according Multiple cities scrapped Canada to the National Hurricane AP — OHIO Day celebrations yesterday Center. Tropical-storm-force after the discovery of hundreds winds extend outward up to 105 The venture capitalist and of remains of children at former miles from the center. It was author of “Hillbilly Elegy” indigenous schools sparked a moving west at 25 mph. An appears poised to join the reckoning with the country’s even faster motion to the west- crowded Republican race for colonial past. northwest is expected over the the Ohio US Senate seat being Calls to scale back or cancel next 24 to 36 hours. - AP vacated by Rob Portman. celebrations snowballed after, JD Vance, whose book was beginning in May, almost 1,000 California mother widely seen in 2016 as helping unmarked graves were found explain Republican Donald at former so-called residential charged in killings Trump’s appeal to struggling schools in British Columbia and white, working-class voters, Saskatchewan, that were of her 3 children plans a “special mainly run by the Catholic announcement” and rally at Church and funded by the LOS ANGELES: An East Los the steel fabricator Mid- government. Angeles woman was charged dletown Tube Works in his Traditionally the holiday is on Wednesday with killing her Ohio hometown yesterday. celebrated with backyard bar- three children, including a If he enters the race, Vance becues and fireworks much like baby, earlier this week. would face former state GOP July 4 in the United States, Sandra Chico, 28, appeared chair Jane Timken, former state however this year Canadian in court but a judge postponed Treasurer Josh Mandel, and two Prime Minister Justin Trudeau until next month her Cleveland businesspeople, said the day would be “a time arraignment on three counts Mike Gibbons and Bernie for reflection.” People take part in a march after the discovery of hundreds of remains of children at former indigenous each of murder and assault on Moreno, in next year’s GOP A #CancelCanadaDay march residential schools, on Canada Day in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, yesterday. a child causing death. primary. Portman, a Repub- is being held in Ottawa, the Her bail amount was raised lican, decided earlier this year capital, and Toronto is hosting “Canada is having a reck- country for what it isn’t: a inequalities abound both for from $2m to $6m. not to seek a third term, citing rallies to honor the victims and oning with its history,” said utopia and a bastion of equality indigenous communities and “In an instant, three dismay at partisan gridlock. survivors of Canada’s residential Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, a Uni- and freedom and equal oppor- among visible minorities, data innocent children were taken While Vance, 38, hasn’t run school system. The schools for- versity of Toronto sociology tunity for all members of show. from us and we are crest- for elective office before, a cibly separated indigenous professor who studies race, society,” he said. Indigenous people, who fallen,” Los Angeles County political action committee children from their families, in crime and criminal justice. Canada’s reputation for tol- make up less than 5% of the District Attorney George formed this year to encourage what the Truth and Reconcili- “I don’t think we can cele- erance was built on its efforts, population, face higher levels Gascón said in a statement. his candidacy got an eyebrow- ation Commission called “cul- brate this country for what it is starting in the 1970s, to create of poverty and violence and “Nothing is more heart- raising $10m contribution from tural genocide” in 2015. without recognising this a multicultural society, but shorter life expectancies. breaking than the tragic PayPal founder Peter Thiel. betrayal of a parent failing to Vance had worked for the bil- protect their children.” - AP lionaire venture capitalist and entrepreneur in California. Supreme Court backs voting restrictions in Arizona Three dead in Vance returned to his home state to live after Trump REUTERS — WASHINGTON prohibits racial discrimi- tions unlawful. which a voter has been Houston shooting was elected in 2016, which nation in voting. The case involves a 2016 assigned. In some places, voters’ was the first of two times the The US Supreme Court The court’s three liberal Arizona law that made it a precincts are not the closest one HOUSTON: Police in Houston former president carried Ohio yesterday endorsed two Repub- justices dissented from the crime to provide another per- to their home. searched yesterday for a shooter by 8 percentage points. lican-backed ballot restrictions decision. son’s completed early ballot to The case raised questions who killed three people, Vance’s book, made into a in Arizona that a lower court The decision comes at a election officials, with the over whether fraud must be including a young girl, and movie starring Amy Adams found had disproportionately time when states are pursuing exception of family members documented in order to justify wounded another child who was and Glenn Close that earned burdened Black, Latino and a series of Republican-backed or caregivers. new curbs. able to call her grandmother to the latter a Golden Globe and Native American voters, voting restrictions in the wake Community activists some- Democrats have accused summon help, authorities said. an Oscar nomination, tells of handing a defeat to voting rights of former President Donald times engage in ballot collection Republicans at the state level of The shooting happened his hardscrabble, colorful advocates and Democrats who Trump’s false claims of wide- to facilitate voting and increase enacting voter-suppression late Wednesday at an upbringing in the struggling had challenged the measures. spread election fraud and irreg- voter turnout. Ballot collection measures to make it harder for apartment complex, Houston Ohio steel mill city of Mid- The 6-3 ruling, with the ularities in his 2020 loss to is legal in most states, with racial minorities who tend to Assistant Police Chief Patricia dletown and his familial roots court’s conservative justices now-President Joe Biden. varying limitations. Republican support Democratic candidates Cantu said. in Appalachian Kentucky. in the majority, held that the The ruling represented a critics call the practice “ballot to cast ballots. When authorities arrived, He went on to serve in the restrictions on early ballot victory for the Arizona Repub- harvesting.” Many Republicans have jus- they found a man, a woman Marines and to success at Ohio collection by third parties and lican Party and the state’s The other restriction at tified new restrictions as a and a girl believed to be about State University and Yale Law where absentee ballots may Republican attorney general, issue was a longstanding means to reduce voter fraud, a 5 to 7 years old who were School, from which he graduated be cast did not violate the Mark Brnovich. They had Arizona policy that discards phenomenon that election fatally shot, Cantu said. Police in 2013, and in the technology Voting Rights Act, a landmark appealed a lower court ruling ballots cast in-person at a pre- experts have said is rare in the believe the woman was the industry in Silicon Valley. 1965 federal law that that had deemed the restric- cinct other than the one to United States. mother of the two girls. -AP Business 11

FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 EurozoneE manufacturing PMI sets record highh in June EurozoneE manufacturing continued to grow at a rate unbeaten in almosta 24 years of survey history in June as demand surged with ththe further relaxation of COVID-19 containment measures and vvaccination progress drove renewed optimism about the future. ChrisC Williamson CChief business economist at IHS Markit Business | 12 QSE 10,807.34 +76.66 (0.71%) FTSE 100 7,119.42 +82.10 (1.17%) DOW 34,571.99 +69.48 (0.20%) BRENT $75.88 (+1.26)

QIB’s financial literacy program ‘How OECD tax agreement marks ‘colossal progress’: Scholz Money Works?’ reaches 1,629 students REUTERS — WASHINGTON

THE PENINSULA — DOHA German Finance Minister Olaf Developed by QIB in Scholz (pictured) yesterday Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) collaboration with INJAZ said an agreement by 130 coun- announced the successful Qatar, the program has tries backing a global corporate conclusion of its financial minimum tax marked the literacy program ‘How Money reached students of 82 biggest breakthrough in global Works?’ in its third academic high schools and taxation in decades. year with 1,629 high school and universities in Qatar, and “The race to the bottom in university students benefiting competition is over,” Scholz from the program since its its sessions were held by told reporters during a visit to launch in 2018. 41 QIB volunteers who Washington shortly after the Developed by QIB in collab- took part in delivering agreement was reached in talks ensure that finance officials oration with INJAZ Qatar, the led by the Organization for Eco- from the Group of 20 major program has reached students the program’s sessions nomic Cooperation and adopting the plan when they of 82 high schools and univer- across the past three Development. meet in Venice July 9-10, fol- sities in Qatar, and its sessions academic years. He said details still needed lowing a similar move by the were held by 41 QIB volunteers to be worked out, but the Group of Seven advanced who took part in delivering the agreement marked “colossal incomes in London last program’s sessions across the its financial literacy program as progress” and would allow month. past three academic years. a demonstration of its contri- countries to increase “This is the biggest progress All sessions were tailored to bution and commitment investment in infrastructure in international taxation we introduce secondary and first towards the achievement of and efforts to combat climate have had since 10, 20, 30 year university students to best Qatar’s National Vision 2030 in change. years,” he said. “It’s a really big practices related to earning developing human capital and Scholz said the 130 coun- breakthrough, and it will money, budgeting, expenditure Manager, Head of Corporate Money Works” Program has advancing all of society through tries represented 90 percent change everything.” planning, saving and Communications & Quality achieved outstanding results knowledge. The huge interest of global gross domestic Scholz said the agreement investment. Additionally, Assurance at QIB, said: “We and we have surpassed the total this program received reflects output and reflected huge would help countries ensure banking security standards and believe in the importance of number of students by 30 our commitment and we are efforts by Germany and other they have more funding to pay personal finance protection empowering the next gener- percent that we had initially very appreciative of the efforts countries to ensure fair tax- for “important priorities” such were studied throughout. ation and future leaders and targeted to support across the of the QIB volunteers in deliv- ation of big technology cor- as infrastructure, climate Mashaal Abdulaziz Al equipping them with the proper program.” ering this highly successful porations like Amazon. change and social spending Derham, Assistant General financial knowledge. The “How She added: “QIB launched program. `P12 He said the goal was to needs. Turkey’s Central New electric airplane to Fed likely needs to raise rates as soon as late 2022 Bank revises reserve BLOOMBERG potentially tight timeline,” IMF At its June meeting, the staff said in the concluding Federal Open Market Committee requirements make first flight this year The Federal Reserve probably statement. marked up all its inflation fore- will need to begin raising The Fed held interest rates casts through the end of 2023, ANKARA ANADOLU — BLOOMBERG interest rates in late 2022 or near zero at its June 15-16 with officials seeing personal early 2023 as increased meeting and signaled it would consumption expenditures — Turkey’s Central Bank Electric-plane startup Eviation government spending keeps probably keep them there their preferred measure of price yesterday revised its regula- Aircraft Ltd. unveiled the inflation above its long-run through next year to help the pressures — rising 3.4 percent tions on reserve requirements production version of its Alice average target, according to the US economy recover from in 2021 compared with a March “to improve the effectiveness commuter aircraft, saying the International Monetary Fund. COVID-19. Officials penciled in projection of 2.4 percent. They of the monetary transmission pioneering model is set for an The US central bank likely two rate hikes for 2023 and increased the 2022 forecast to mechanism.” inaugural flight in the second half will begin to scale back asset seven of the 18 policy makers 2.1 percent, and 2.2 percent for The bank increased of this year ahead of service purchases in the first half of want to raise rates in 2022, up the following year. reserve requirement ratios for entry in 2024. 2022, staff from the Wash- from four in March. Fund staff estimates that the foreign exchange (FX) deposits/ Eviation, whose plans have ington-based fund said in a Fed Chair Jerome Powell higher US spending proposed participation by 200 basis been delayed for about a year statement yesterday following has said that recent steep by President Joe Biden in the points for all maturity due to the coronavirus pandemic the conclusion of so-called increases in inflation will prove infrastructure-focused brackets. , is pitching a traditional fixed- article IV consultations, the to be largely transitory due to American Jobs Plan and the “The upper limit of the wing design rather than the ver- units from the wingtips to the IMF’s assessment of countries’ bottlenecks and that expecta- social-spending based facility for holding FX will be tical takeoff, multi-rotor setup rear. economic and financial devel- tions on the whole are where American Families Plan would decreased from 20 percent to favored by similar startups. The design uses “currently opments following meetings the Fed wants them. increase growth in gross 10 percent of Turkish lira The Alice will also be bigger available battery cells and is not with lawmakers and public The personal consumption domestic product by a cumu- reserve requirements. The than such eVTOL planes, car- reliant on future advancements,” officials. expenditures price gauge that lative value of about 5.3 percent facility will be terminated on rying nine passengers for 650 co-founder and Chief Executive “Managing this transition -- the Fed uses for its inflation from 2022 to 2024. 1 October 2021,” the bank said miles (1,046 km), making it Officer Omer Bar-Yohay from providing reassurance target rose 3.9 percent in May Lawmakers have release a a statement. suited to the US commuter (pictured) said in a statement that monetary policy will con- from a year earlier, the most wave of pandemic-relief funds With this decision, the market currently served by a yesterday. Suppliers include tinue to deliver powerful since 2008. The IMF forecasts over the past 15 months to buoy bank said it expects that variety of light aircraft. The pro- Honeywell International Inc., support to the economy to pre- the increase to be transitory, the economy with the $1.9 Turkish lira and FX denomi- duction model incorporates electric motor manufacturer paring for an eventual scaling with the index peaking at 4.3 trillion American Rescue Plan nated required reserves will several changes from earlier MagniX and the GKN arm of back of asset purchases and a percent and dropping to around passed in March, a $900bn increase by approximately blueprints, switching to a T- Melrose Industries Plc, which withdrawal of monetary 2.5 percent by the end of 2022. package approved in December 13.2bn Turkish liras and from a V-shaped tail and repo- will make the plane’s wings, tail accommodation — will require That’s still above the Fed’s long- and the $2 trillion Cares Act of $2.7bn, respectively. sitioning two electric propulsion and electrical wiring system. deft communications under a run average target of 2 percent. March 2020. Oil holds gains as Opec committee recommends gradual supply hike BLOOMBERG are very comfortable and con- yesterday. The two markets are structive with the profile over the Opec is looking like it’s going at times connected, as some gas Oil held gains with Opec+ next year.” contracts have a link to the crude ministers recommending a Oil posted the best half since to keep some restraint, and and fuel-oil markets. gradual increase in oil output 2009 as prices grind higher, to me, the market is in a Still, implementation of the until the end of the year. aided by a global recovery taking really good place. People Opec+ agreement would be Futures in New York rose as place from the US to Europe and conditional on the status of talks much as 3.7 percent yesterday to China. Crude inventors in the US are very comfortable and between Iran and the US, which the highest intraday level since are falling at the fastest rate in constructive with the profile are seeking to revive their 2018. The alliance’s joint com- decades with shale producers nuclear pact and potentially lift mittee, which includes Saudi remaining disciplined. Citigroup over the next year. sanctions on the Islamic Repub- Arabia and Russia, recommended Inc. Expects the oil market to lic’s oil exports, delegates said. the group should add 400,000 remain in a deep deficit even Rebecca Babin The deal would also extend the barrels a day each month from after accounting for higher expiry date for the overall August to December, according OPEC+ output through the Senior energy trader at CIBC Opec+ cuts agreement from to a delegate. The panel also sug- summer. Private Wealth Management April to December 2022, a del- gested the expiry of the supply- Along the oil futures curve, egate said. cuts agreement be extended to the market structure A 3D printed oil pump jack in front of the OPEC logo in this Investors are also keeping December 2022. strengthened and timespreads illustration picture. an eye on the delta variant, “Opec is looking like it’s going moved deeper into backwar- the front end of the futures curves which poses a threat to global to keep some restraint, and to me, dation, a sign of supply tightness. for Brent and WTI are a sign that be honest with you,” said Babin. summer driving season in the US” demand recovery. The spread the market is in a really good The nearest West Texas Interme- traders are banking on extreme “And it definitely indicates that As oil prices rose, another of the variant has led the market place,” said Rebecca Babin, senior diate crude contract was $1 more market tightness in the coming over the next several months, energy market saw even stronger to a technical resistance level, energy trader at CIBC Private expensive than the next month weeks. there’s probably going to be dif- gains. European natural gas said Bart Melek, head of com- Wealth Management, US. “People at one point. The sharp gains at “It’s a pretty huge move, to ficulty getting crude oil for the prices hit an all-time high modities at TD Securities. 12 BUSINESS FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021

Eurozone manufacturing PMI hits record high in June US jobless claims fall to 364,000 AP — WASHINGTON ANADOLU — ANKARA The number of Americans The Eurozone Purchasing applying for unemployment aid Managers’ Index (PMI) for the fell again last week to the lowest manufacturing sector posted a level since the pandemic struck strong rise in June, hitting a new last year, further evidence that record, a London-based global the job market and the broader data company said yesterday. economy are rebounding rapidly The eurozone manufacturing from the coronavirus recession. PMI improved to 63.4 last month, The Labor Department up from 63.1 in May, data from reported yesterday that jobless IHS Markit showed. claims dropped by 51,000 to It was also the 12th suc- 364,000. Applications for unem- cessive month that the index ployment benefits have fallen posted above the 50.0 no- The combination of limited more or less steadily since the change mark. supply and strong demand for year began. The rollout of vac- The eurozone/euro area, or inputs underpinned another cines has sharply reduced new EA19, represents member states survey-record increase in input COVID-19 cases, giving con- People line up outside a newly reopened career center for in-person appointments in that use the single currency or prices, the report noted. sumers the confidence to shop, Louisville, Kentucky. euro. Additionally, the combi- travel, eat out and attend public Investment good producers nation of rising production and events as the economy recovers. unemployment aid programs end or affording child care, lingering that kept it. recorded the strongest growth, new order requirements, plus Last week’s drop in jobless and more people pursue jobs. fears of COVID-19, early retire- The job market’s followed by intermediate goods capacity pressures, encouraged claims was steeper than econo- On Friday, according to the ments by older workers, a improvement comes against the and consumer goods, the survey firms to take on extra staff, with mists had expected. Applications data provider FactSet, the gov- slowdown in immigration and a backdrop of a fast-rebounding said, adding that the the latest data showing overall for unemployment benefits have ernment is expected to report decision by some people to seek economy. Growth for the just- improvement seen in investment employment rising at the now fallen in 10 of the past 12 that employers added 675,000 new careers rather than return ended April-June quarter is goods was the strongest ever. strongest rate recorded by the weeks. jobs in June. That would be a sub- to their old jobs. believed to have reached an “Strong growth in production survey to date. “As life normalizes and the stantial number but still not at a Responding to the criticism annual pace of roughly 10%. And was again closely linked to pos- On the countries’ side, the service sector continues to gain pace that would allow the about the duration of expanded according to an index produced itive demand developments, Netherlands led the zone with momentum, we expect initial economy to quickly regain its jobless benefits, dozens of states by the Conference Board, a with new orders experiencing figure of 68.8, followed by jobless claims to remain in a pre-pandemic level of began dropping the expanded private research group, con- their third-fastest ever reported Austria with 67, but some coun- downtrend,’’ said Joshua Shapiro, employment. The job market federal aid starting last month: sumer confidence nearly increase during June.” tries saw a slight fall in their chief US economist at the con- remains nearly 7 million jobs Roughly half the states will end regained its pre-pandemic level Noting that manufacturers headline index from May. sulting firm Maria Fiorini short of that level. the $300 payments. Most of those in May. struggled to meet higher sales in Chris Williamson Ramirez. Some businesses have com- will also cut off unemployment With consumers feeling June, the report said that supply- (pictured), chief business econ- All that pent-up spending has plained that expanded federal aid assistance to the self-employed, more confident about spending, side constraints again placed omist at IHS Markit, said: generated such demand for to the unemployed - especially a gig workers and people who have the rate of jobless claims, which some restrictions on production, “Eurozone manufacturing con- workers, notably at restaurants $300-a-week supplemental been out of work for more than generally reflects the pace of as strong global demand con- tinued to grow at a rate unbeaten and tourism businesses, that benefit, intended to cushion the six months. Nationally, the $300- layoffs, has dwindled over the tinued to weigh heavily on in almost 24 years of survey many employers have been economic blow from the pan- a-week federal benefit will end past several months. The suppliers. history in June as demand surged struggling to fill jobs just as the demic - has discouraged some September 6. weekly figure had topped It stressed that the strength with the further relaxation of number of posted openings has people from looking for a job. The data firm Homebase 900,000 back in January, when of demand for inputs and pur- COVID-19 containment reached a record high. But many But other factors, too, are reported that employment has the economy was still struggling chasing activity among eurozone measures and vaccination economists expect hiring to catch believed to have contributed to actually grown more slowly in to emerge from the recession manufacturers rose at an progress drove renewed up with demand in the coming the shortage of people seeking the states that had dropped the and employers were unprecedented rate in June. optimism about the future.” months, especially as federal work again: Difficulty arranging federal benefits than in those retrenching. Hedge Fund startup IN BRIEF Tesla trading pattern looks bleak after raises $1.3bn, then tough start to 2021 NEW YORK: Tesla Inc. Investors just takes a rare step closed out the worst half-yearly run since June 2019, and the electric- BLOOMBERG The capital-raising car maker’s shares are approaching success defies a technical level that some chart Former Citadel money watchers see as a harbinger of fur- managers Niall O’Keeffe and accelerated outflows ther losses. Tio Charbaghi shut their from peers deploying The lackluster performance startup hedge fund to new in recent months has culminated investors on the first day of similar long-short with the stock now on the verge business after raising $1.25bn strategies, indicating of a so-called death cross. That’s in Europe’s biggest launch this when a security’s average price over year. there’s still demand the last 50 days falls below that of A file photo of the participants during one of the sessions before pandemic. The duo’s London-based for experienced its 200-day moving average. It’s a FIFTHDELTA fund that bets money managers. closely watched technical measure on rising and falling stocks that may portend a period of con- QIB’s financial literacy program ‘How commenced trading yes- tinued declines. In Tesla’s case, the terday, according to Chief stocks tumbled in March last last time shares formed this trading Executive Officer Caroline year, 87 percent of those in a pattern was in February 2019 and Money Works?’ reaches 1,629 students Bradley. It’s now closed to Bloomberg equity hedge fund preceded a more than 40% decline new investors for the next index lost money, with half in the share price to $35.79 from FROM PAGE 11 the program. I look forward to new future col- year to control the amount of declining by more than 10 $63.98, within a span of 65 days. “We would like to thank INJAZ Qatar for this laborations with QIB.” capital it runs, a rare step by percent. To be sure, while the death great collaboration and we look forward to con- Launched in 2018 by Qatar Islamic Bank in hedge fund startups. O’Keeffe and Charbaghi, cross often implies more pain to tinuing our fruitful partnership in favor of new collaboration with INJAZ Qatar, ‘How Money The capital-raising success who worked together for come, “sometimes the moving aver- generations and future leaders of the Qatari Works?’ is a three-year innovative financial lit- defies accelerated outflows about seven years at bil- ages will meet and dance together society,” Al Derham concluded. eracy program. It reflects QIB’s core social from peers deploying similar lionaire Ken Griffin’s hedge for a bit before bouncing off one Raymond Obeid, Director of Operations at responsibility values, and the bank’s commitment long-short strategies, indi- fund firm, focus their bets on another,” said Dan Ushman, the chief INJAZ Qatar, said: “INJAZ Qatar is very proud to educating the young generation in Qatar on cating there’s still demand for industrial and technology executive officer of TrendSpider, a of this successful collaboration with QIB, and elementary notions and practices related to experienced money managers. stocks globally. While they technical analysis software Com- for the record number of high school and uni- finance and business. Due to the situation related Investors pulled $9.4bn from will take in further money pany for traders. versity students who benefited from our to COVID-19, and for the safety of students and such funds in the first five from their existing clients, Tesla shares have declined program. This has been one of our most suc- volunteers, all sessions of the program in the months of this year, taking they won’t be accepting cash 3.7% in the first six months of the cessful financial literacy initiatives in Qatar so 2020-2021 academic year were held via digital total outflows since the start from new investors. year, underperforming the broader far, and I would like to thank all the QIB volun- channels. of 2019 to about $70bn, Such steps are common S&P 500 Index amid a growing threat teers for working along with our team to deliver For more information, visit www.qib.com.qa according to data compiled by among older firms, who of competition from traditional auto- eVestment. restrict capital inflows on makers, as well as lingering concerns FIFTHDELTA’s investors fears that running bigger about an erosion in its market share Turkish Cargo carried 100m vaccine doses during pandemic “shared our vision for the next funds might dilute returns. in China. -BLOOMBERG evolution of fundamental FIFTHDELTA is only the ANADOLU — ANKARA during the pandemic, the global Cargo created a global corridor long-short investing,” said second known hedge fund air cargo brand has carried out between more than 400 Bradley, who joined the firm startup in London in recent Turkey’s banking Since the pandemic’s outbreak, an important mission for destinations. from Citigroup Inc. She didn’t years to have started rejecting watchdog raises risk Turkish Cargo, a subsidiary of vaccine transportation, said a "As the pandemic poses an disclose the names of her new investors from day one. weights on retail loans national flag carrier Turkish company statement unprecedented threat to the firm’s backers. Martin Taylor’s Crake Asset Airlines, has delivered 100 yesterday. human health, our Turkish Hedge funds that focus on Management also closed to ANKARA: Turkey’s banking watch- million COVID-19 vaccine doses By transporting vaccines to Cargo brand has a significant buying and selling shares have new investors after raising dog announced yesterday that as to more than 35 countries key destinations such as advantage when it comes to faced investor revolt after about $1.6bn in 2019. part of macroprudential measures, around the world with over 250 Turkey, Azerbaijan, Rome, combatting this threat," said capturing most of the market’s FIFTHDELTA currently it had increased the risk weights flights, the company said. Serbia, Copenhagen, Miami, Sao Ilker Ayci, Turkish Airlines’ downside in recent years, but has a staff of 22 people, with for personal credit cards and con- Despite the shrinking sector Paulo, and Mexico, Turkish CEO. little of the upside. When 17 in its investing team. sumer loans. The weight of risk in credit card expenses and cash withdrawals was increased from 75 to 100 for matu- Gap to close all UK, Ireland stores; shifts business online rities of one to six months, and from 75 to 150 for maturities over six AP – LONDON “The e-commerce business appeal of Gap has plummeted, September will be hard to fill, suffering like Gap. months, according to the Banking continues to grow and we want edged out by e-commerce sites given the big names which have Rival Primark, known for its Regulation and Supervision Agency In another blow to Britain’s retail to meet our customers where that have made its offerings seem already left bricks and mortar low-cost fashion, hailed “several (BDDK). sector, American clothing they are shopping,” Gap said in bland. shops behind,” said Susannah new sales records” yesterday, For consumer loans, the rate company Gap said that it will a statement late Wednesday, It’s also the latest casualty of Streeter, senior investment and “reflecting an increase in both was updated from 75 to 100 for close all of its stores in the UK by adding that they intend to be a the pandemic that has battered markets analyst at stockbrokers confidence and willingness to maturities of one to 12 months, and the end of the year as it moves its “digital first business.” the UK economy. Long-suffering Hargreaves Lansdown. spend by our customers.” The from 75 to 150 for maturities over business exclusively online. The retailer, which has been department store chain Last year, the UK experi- brand, which has no online retail one year, the BDDK said. The closures will take place active in the UK since 1987 and Debenhams and Arcadia Group, enced one of the world’s deepest division, says it continues to push The move came to ensure the in a phased manner by the end since 2006 in Ireland, was the retail empire of billionaire recessions after lockdown ahead with store openings and stability of the financial system under of September and includes the emblematic of the quintessential Philip Green that includes restrictions were imposed. While investments across the UK and macroprudential measures. company’s outlets in Ireland. In American “T-shirt-and-jeans” Topshop, have been two of the the easing up of restrictions have Europe despite the impact of Additionally, the BDDK reduced total, 81 stores will close. look that was popular for biggest casualties in recent seen the economy recover, ques- lockdowns. credit card installment periods to It’s unclear how many jobs decades. Its hoodies emblazoned months. tions remain over the future of And another rival, Sweden’s three months for purchases of jew- will be affected, but the company with the company’s name and “The Gap-sized hole in the the retail sector given that so H&M, also struck a more upbeat elry, furniture, and electrical goods insisted it will provide “support denim were long best-selling high street which will be left much shopping is now done tone, as it delivered better-than- and 12 months for vehicle purchases and transition assistance” to its items. when the US retailer closes its online. expected profits after a rebound by the final bill values. -ANADOLU employees. But in recent years, the final stores at the end of Not all retailers in the UK are in sales. FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 BUSINESS 13 Global tax overhaul endorsed by 130 nations as deal gets closer

BLOOMBERG his efforts to convince reluctant changes to those proposals, saying Will ensure that European countries to “make that the amount of profit to be The world took a big step corporations shoulder a fair the necessary efforts to join a reallocated should be between 20 sweeping changes to global historic agreement that very percent to 30 percent of residual taxation toward as 130 coun- share of that burden. We broadly brings together the profit above a 10 percent margin, tries and jurisdictions endorsed have a chance now to build a states of the planet.” potentially increasing gains for setting a minimum rate for global and domestic tax Resolving the issue has smaller import. corporations along with rules become urgent for the world It also specifies that com- to share the spoils from multi- system that lets American economy after disagreements panies with revenue above national firms like Facebook workers and businesses over taxing firms and firms €20bn ($24bn) will be subject Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google. compete and win in the setting a minimum rate spiraled to the new rules on where they After years of missteps and into trade tensions last year. The are taxed. In a concession to setbacks, the deal brokered in world economy. promise of nearly $150bn in smaller transferred, the negotiations at the Organization extra revenue for governments Inclusive Framework agreed to for Economic Cooperation and Janet Yellen also helped get a deal over the review the terms after seven Development sets the stage for line as most countries face years and reduce the threshold Group of 20 finance ministers US Treasury Secretary massive budget shortfalls in the to €10bn. to sign off on an agreement in wake of the COVID-19 The smallest threshold will principle at a meeting in Venice pandemic. also benefit from a lower A file photo of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaking during next week. had been question marks The difficulty the deal’s threshold to enable them to tax a news conference, at Winfield House in London. That could mean imple- agreed to the terms, including advocates have faced is getting multinationals, according to the mentation as soon as 2023 of India, China and Turkey, developing nations to sign up OECD terms. rules that would curtail tax according to the OECD. The nomic diplomacy.” the world economy.” whole sale to something initially The deal resolves another avoidance by making multina- technical details may leave Yellen, in a statement yes- The absence of Ireland and brokered by the Group of Seven. issue by ensuring that Amazon. tional companies pay an room for further concessions to terday, declared that an inter- Hungary from the deal could yet The small club of rich incorpo- com Inc. will be subject to tax effective rate of “at least 15 developing. national “race to the bottom” create problems for the rated, including the US, UK and in local jurisdictions, Le Maire percent” and give smaller coun- The broad agreement yes- on corporate tax rates that European Union to implement France, agreed in London last said, even as the company posts tries more tax revenue from terday averts another stumble robbed countries of revenue the plans. Ireland’s finance min- month on a broad outline for profit margins below 10 foreign firms. that could have proved fatal for needed for infrastructure, edu- ister Paschal Donohoe said last the two pillars of the OECD percent. That means the online A “small group” of nations efforts to rework tax rules, given cation and other needs had month that any deal on a negotiations: a mechanism to retail giant’s more-profitable “have not yet joined” the plan, only a short window of oppor- moved a step closer to ending. minimum rate must meet the share rights to tax “atleast 20 cloud services business would the Paris-based OECD said in a tunity to get a global deal “Will ensure that corpora- needs of “small and large coun- percent” of the profits above a be subject to the new rules statement yesterday. That approved by the US Congress tions shoulder a fair share of tries, developed and 10 percent margin of the largest under what the OECD is calling includes Hungary and Ireland, and other national that burden,” she said. “We have developing.” multinationals; and a minimum “segmentation” that may be which has attracted some of the parliaments. a chance now to build a global French Finance Minister corporate tax of atleast 15 applied in “exceptional circum- world’s big businesses with low US Treasury Secretary Janet and domestic tax system that Bruno Le Maire said he would percent. stances” when company units taxes. Yellen lauded the news, saying lets American workers and spend the coming week before As it is, the OECD document meet the revenue and profit Several key countries that it was “an historic day for eco- businesses compete and win in the G-20 meeting redoubling released yesterday made some thresholds.

Nissan to make new electric cars, batteries in Britain IN BRIEF AP — LONDON Government funding was World Bank gives Yemen $150m for also critical, he said. Japanese carmaker Nissan and “The government support health, nutrition, water services its partners plan to invest £1bn is not quantified in terms of ($1.4bn) to expand production numbers because we are still WASHINGTON: The World Bank will be giving Yemen $150m in ofelectric vehicles and batteries discussing, but for sure without grants to increase Yemenis’ access to basic health, nutrition, water in North England, a major the government support it and sanitation projects. victory for the UK government’s would not have been possible,” The bank indicated in a statement that by the end of 2020, around efforts to attract jobs and he told the BBC. 233,000 people in Yemen have died, noting that most of them died investment following the coun- The agreement will be seen either as a result of lack of nutrition or poor healthcare, in addition to try’s departure from the as a huge boost to the UK auto disruption of basic infrastructure and financial services. European Union. industry, which has been strug- The statement also that poverty is poverty, highlighting that out Nissan said yesterday it will gling to cope with the new of Yemen’s 29 million population, 20 million Yemenis are suffering build a new all-electric trading relationship with the EU from food insecurity and risk of malnutrition, explaining that three- Nissan employees make final checks to cars on the production line crossover sport utility vehicle and the economic slowdown quarters of them cannot afford food, water or sanitation services. at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, northeast England. at the company’s plant in Sun- caused by COVID-19. These crises led to mass outbreaks of preventable diseases, such as derland, creating more than UK car production fell 29.3 cholera, diphtheria, measles, and dengue fever, while the Coronavirus 6,200 jobs at the factory and its financial incentives to attract opportunity ... to build these percent to 920,928 vehicles last has been causing but another novel threat, added the suppliers. As part of the project, investment. gigfactories,’’ he told the BBC. year, the lowest total since 1984, World Bank -QNA Envision AESC will build the Business Secretary Kwasi “We’ve committed some according to figures from the UK’s first “gigafactory” to Kwarteng suggested the gov- measure of support, but the Society of Motor Manufacturers supply next generation batteries ernment would help finance the billion pounds that they’re and Traders, an industry trade Turkish on-demand delivery giant Getir for the cars. plant, but he declined to provide giving far outweighs and is in group. The announcement marks specifics because talks are con- far excess of the amount of Automakers are also under buys Spanish online grocery startup a turnaround for Nissan, which tinuing with other electric car- support that we provided.” pressure to invest large last year warned its UK opera- makers amid the shift away Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s amounts of money in electric ANKARA: Turkish on-demand delivery pioneer Getir has bought tions would be “unsustainable” from fossil fuels. chief operating officer, said the car production as countries Spanish online grocery startup BLOK, adding several major cities in if Britain failed to secure a post- “It’s no secret that across company made the decision to around the world phase out Southern Europe to its delivery spots. Brexit free-trade agreement the world, governments are invest in Sunderland after gasoline- and diesel-powered Getir’s first merger and acquisition (M&A) since it was founded six with the EU. EU competition seeking to attract what is a Britain negotiated a “trade- vehicles due to concerns about years ago will provide the company immediate access into Spain and rules, are now able to offer once-in-a-generation friendly Brexit.” global warming. Italy, with Portugal to follow soon, according to a statement from the company yesterday. BLOK, founded this February, currently operates across Southern ECB to hold special Europe, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Milan. Energy inflation gathers pace as EU Boasting ultrafast growth in recent years, Getir started to operate strategy meeting in Paris and Berlin this June, after launching in London in January and next week Amsterdam in May. gas and power surge to records “We strongly believe that BLOK, with their local knowledge and ongoing success in Spain and Italy, will allow us to become a part of BLOOMBERG BLOOMBERG time of year. To make matters these local communities and ensure best-in class service across worse, Russia on Tuesday opted Southern Europe,” said Getir founder Nazim Salur. European Central Bank policy Energy inflation is gathering against sending additional gas Getir’s valuation rose to over $7.5bn thanks to an investment of makers will hold a special pace in Europe, with the price to Europe through Ukraine for $550 million it received at the beginning of June. meeting in Frankfurt next week of everything from gas to elec- a third consecutive month, After securing $300m in new investment in March, Getir became in a bid to wrap up the institu- tricity surging to records, snubbing one of two monthlys. Turkey’s second unicorn ever – a startup company with a value of tion’s strategy review, according fueling concerns about costs to “July was seen as the one over $1 billion. to Omphif. consumers as the world month they would book added Getir delivers over 1,500 varieties of groceries to its customers The gathering is expected to emerges from the global capacity given maintenance on every month in an average of 10 minutes. The company also has sub- put the finishing touches on a pandemic. all of their other main pipes,” brands – GetirFood, GetirMore, GetirWater and GetirLocals. new definition of price stability, European natural gas and said Trevor Sikorski, head of Aiming to launch in the US by the end of this year, Getir currently wrote David Marsh, chairman power prices climbed to an all- natural gas and energy tran- operates in 33 cities in Turkey.-ANADOLU of the Official Monetary and time high yesterday, as did the sition at Energy Aspects con- Financial Institutions Forum, a cost of pollution permits. sultants in London. think tank for economic policy. Energy demand is rebounding The Nord Stream 1 pipeline Tesla Q2 deliveries could clear 200,000 vehicles The meeting was expected just as Europe plans to expand demand,” said Daniel Hynes linking Russia directly to to start with a Governing and impose tougher limits on (pictured), a senior commodity Germany undergoes mainte- NEW YORK: Wall Street expects Tesla Inc. to report deliveries of Council dinner on Tuesday and emitters later this month, a strategist at Australia & New nance for 10 days in July, while roughly 200,000 vehicles in the latest quarter, which would be could extend through yesterday, move that’s helping boost Zealand Banking Group Ltd. the Yamal-Europe link will be a milestone for the electric-car maker led by Chief Executive Marsh wrote, adding that an energy costs in the region. from the harsh winter’s drain shut down from July 6-10. Officer Elon Musk. announcement may be made Energy prices are soaring on inventories.” The European Commission Deliveries are one of the most closely watch indicators at Tesla: afterward if agreement can be from the US to Asia as recov- With gas so expensive, is planning the biggest They underpin its financial results and are widely seen as a reached. ering and more people get vac- Europe needs to use more coal overhaul of the world’s largest barometer of consumer demand for EVs as a whole because the An ECB spokesman said the cinated. Consumers are set to to keep the lights on as output carbon market for later this company is the market leader in battery-powered cars. institution has planned several face hefty bills this coming from renewable sources month. Be unveiled on July 14, Eleven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect Tesla to report meetings that might be held in winter, with countries like the remains low. That means that is set to increase the rate at deliveries of 204,160 vehicles in the second quarter. The company person if health and safety reg- UK raising the cap on how if the price of carbon gains, gas which the emissions caps typically sells vehicles right up until midnight on the last day of ulations allow, while declining much utilities can charge con- had to follow suit to ensure coal shrink each year and to the period, which ended Wednesday. The company could announce to comment directly on the sumers and Spain moving to cut is the cheapest feedstock to toughen the rules to get carbon production and delivery figures as soon as Friday. It delivered a Ommif report. The strategy energy taxes. make electricity, said Bjarne allowances for free. record 184,800 cars in the first quarter. review has been running since Europe is facing a severe Schieldrop, chief commodities Dutch gas futures on the Tight inventory, a global chip shortage and congestion at ports early 2020, though it was dis- gas supply crunch, with prices analyst at SEB AB. Title Transfer Facility hub rose have weighed on automakers as the world slowly emerges from rupted by the pandemic, and is jumping almost 90 percent this “European gas and coal as much as 7.3 percent to 37.15 the pandemic. But Tesla potential managed inventory and matched studying a broad range of topics year after a colder- and longer- prices are driven by low euros a megawatt-hour, while output to meet consumer demand for its EVs. such as inflation, employment, than usual winter left storage renewable output that makes German power for 2022 “Tesla has dealt with a major chip shortage and logistics/freight climate change and fiscal policy. sites depleted. And supply isn’t fossil fuels more attractive,” climbed as much as 3.6 percent issues (like other automakers) which could have translated into There’s broad consensus rising fast enough, with Russia Swedish utility Bixia said in to a record 74.80 euros per roughly 10K cars currently in transit globally,” Dan Ives, an ana- that the current inflation target flowing less gas to Europe emailed report. “It is more megawatt-hours on the EEX lysts with Wedbush Securities, said in a note to Wednesday. Deliv- of “below, but close to, 2 through Ukraine — a key transit attractive to generate coal than exchange. eries of Model 3/Y in the range of 195,000 “would be viewed as percent” should change, but dis- route — and Asia scooping up gas power in some cases.” The price of coal for 2022 positive this quarter.” agreement on what should cargoes of the liquefied fuel as Power prices in Spain have delivery in Europe added as Tesla currently makes the Model S and X at its factory in replace it. Some favour a precise intense heat boosts demand for also surged, but the spikes are much as 1.8 percent to $88.75 Fremont, California, while the smaller Model 3 and Y are assembled goal of 2 percent with flexibility cooling. a “temporary situation,” said a metric ton, the highest for a both there and at its plant in Shanghai. to reach it, and some — espe- “European gas prices there Jose Bogas, chief executive front-year contract since The company doesn’t break out sales by the region, but the cially from Europe Southern - have surged in recent weeks officer of Endesa SA. December 2018. The US and China are its largest markets, and the vast majority are of want an explicit pledge to tol- amid supply constraints, with Gas inventors in Europe are benchmark carbon-contract the Model 3 and Y. The strength of deliveries in China, where erate higher rates after Russia holding back exports to already at the lowest level in surged as much as 4 percent to Tesla’s reputation has taken a hit of late, will be shortfalls. Western Europe despite strong more than a decade for this a record of 58.64 euros a ton. key.-BLOOMBERG Sport FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 14 Games hosts Japan still unsure about fans

AP — TOKYO trigger rapid resurgence of the increase. He said he will decide what infections that may require Dr Mitsuo Kaku, a medical to do with the measures next Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide another state of emergency advisor for the Tokyo metro- week, a decision that will affect Suga was still uncertain even during the games starting politan government, told a games spectators. whether fans can be allowed at on July 23. weekly meeting yesterday that Organizers last week the Tokyo Olympics because of “I have made clear that Tokyo is turning into a “critical decided to allow up to 10,000 growing concern about rising having no spectators is a pos- situation” as the upsurge is trig- spectators or 50% of venue COVID-19 cases yesterday only sibility,” Suga said as he noted gered by the delta variant. capacity if emergency measures three weeks before the games. Tokyo’s rising caseloads. “We A two-month-long state of are lifted before the Games. Fol- Cases in Tokyo have been will take steps as we prioritize emergency in Tokyo and other lowing criticisms and concerns steadily on the rise, triggering safety and security of the metro areas was downgraded raised by experts and the public, fears the Games would accel- people.” by Suga on June 21 to less- government officials later said erate the spread of the corona- Tokyo on Wednesday con- stringent measures that focus they are open to having no fans virus. Experts warn the highly firmed 673 new cases, the 12th on shortened hours for bars and if the infections worsen. contagious delta strain could straight day of a week-on-week restaurants until July 11. Experts say lifting the measures is unthinkable given the virus situation, and daily cases could exceed 1,000 before the Olympics and quickly mul- tiply during the Games if measures are delayed. Suga said a decision on Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action during his first-round match spectators will have to be made against Fance’s Adrian Mannarino at Wimbledon played at the All by a meeting with four other England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain, in this involved parties: The organizing committee, Tokyo, the Interna- June 29, 2021, file photo. tional Olympic, and Paralympic Committees. A five-party meeting would be after his Djokovic, Federer, decision on any emergency measures next week, but he did not say when. Other senior lawmakers of Osaka, Barty on Suga’s ruling coalition also started to suggest an option of having no spectators. Natsuo Tokyo Olympic Yamaguchi, head of Komeito, a smaller coalition partner of the governing Liberal Demo- Games entry lists A member of Germany’s rowing team member arrives cratic Party,yesterday called on at Narita Airport ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the government “to consider a in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. no-spectator option and AP — WIMBLEDON promptly inform the public.” Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Switzerland’s Roger Federer, Japan’s Naomi Osaka and Australia’s Ash Barty are on the entry lists for the Tokyo Olympics that were announced yesterday by the Inter- national Tennis Federation. US stars Diana, Sue look for seventh As the ITF noted, though: “The entry lists are still subject to change.” Federer, for one, said last weekend he would wait until after consecutive gold medal at the Games Wimbledon ends on July 11 to decide whether he will head to Japan. Djokovic has made clear he’d like to pursue a Golden Slam, AP — NEW YORK single digits of the US since Russia lost in Besides the US team, many of the other something only Steffi Graf has done, in 1988: winning all four Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will try and the semi-finals of the 2004 Athens Games countries are led by WNBA stars. Half of major tennis tournaments and an Olympic singles gold medal in become the first players ever to win five - the first Olympics that Taurasi and Bird the Australian roster, led by Liz Cambage, the same year. He collected the titles at the Australian Open in Olympic gold medals in basketball when played in - 66-62. is currently in the WNBA. The Opals are February and the French Open last month and is scheduled to the United States women’s team begins The Americans haven’t dropped an led by Phoenix Mercury coach Sandy Bron- play his third-round match at Wimbledon today. play at the Tokyo Games. Olympic contest since 1992 when they dello. Some of the other WNBA players in The Olympics will mark Osaka’s return to competition after The pair has been an integral part of were beaten in the semis by the Unified the Olympics include Emma Meesseman she withdrew from the French Open following the first round to the US run of six consecutive golds at the Team. Only host Japan has beaten the US (Belgium), Kia Nurse (Canada), Marine take a mental health break. Olympics. in an Olympics, topping the Americans in Johannès (France), Astou Ndour (Spain), The Summer Games open on July 23, and the tennis compe- “As far as being named to a fifth 1976, the inaugural appearance of women’s The WNBA will be on an Olympic break tition -- to be played on hard courts -- begins the next day. Olympics, especially with Sue, you know, basketball. If the women can capture from July 15-August 11. Eligibility is based on the rankings of June 14. That was the it’s just a great honour. It just makes you another gold medal in Tokyo, they would AFRICAN DREAMS day after the French Open ended. really appreciate all the people that have match the US men’s team that won seven Nigeria will try and end a winless Seven of the Top 10 players in both the WTA and ATP rankings helped you,” Taurasi said. “You know, eve- consecutive golds from 1936-68. drought for African teams at the Olympics currently are on the lists. ryone, USA Basketball, that, you know, While there are no guarantees, it would since the 2004 Athens Games. The African For the women, that’s No. 1 Barty, No. 2 Osaka, No. 4 Aryna after being around for 20 years now, you take a monumental upset for the team not nation went 1-5 that year and no team Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, No. 7 Bianca know, it’s like a big family.” to come home with gold. from that continent has won a game since. Andreescu of Canada, No. 9 Iga Swiatek of Poland and No. 10 Taurasi and Bird both played with The competition for the other two There are hopes for that to potentially Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. Dawn Staley on the 2004 Olympic team. medals is wide open with Australia, change: Nigeria went 3-4 at the World For the men, that’s No. 1 Djokovic, No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of Staley helped start this unprecedented run Belgium, France, Canada, Serbia and Spain Champions in 2018, falling to the US in the Russia, No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, No. 6 Alexander Zverev with the 1996 squad and now is the first all having a shot at reaching the podium. quarterfinals. of Germany, No. 7 Andrey Rublev of Russia, No. 8 Federer and Black head coach of the women’s national Serbia just beat France to win the Euro- FEWER GAMES No. 9 Matteo Berrettini of Italy. team after being an assistant for the last basket championship. The Olympics With the addition of 3x3 as a basketball Women who are missing: Romania’s Simona Halep and Amer- two Olympics. “Any time that you rep- switched to three pools of four teams for discipline, teams are now only playing icans Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin. resent USA Basketball, you’ve got the the Tokyo Games. South Korea, Serbia, potentially six games at most in the tour- Williams said before Wimbledon she wouldn’t be going to the biggest target on your on your back, on Canada and Spain are in Group A. Joining nament instead of eight. The last time the Tokyo Games, and then injured her right leg during her first- your chest,” Staley said. “And everybody the US in Group B are France, Nigeria and medallists played fewer than eight games round match on Centre Court and had to stop playing. seems to play their best basketball.” Japan. Australia, Puerto Rico, China and was 1992. The 12 teams were put into three Men who weren’t listed: Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Roberto It’s been 25 years of dominance for the Belgium are in Group C. pools instead of two. The quarter-finalists Bautista Agut and Austria’s Dominic Thiem. Americans in the Olympics. They’ve won Some other things to watch for at the will be the top two teams in each pool and On the list: Two-time defending Olympic champion Andy 49 consecutive games on the biggest inter- Olympics in women’s basketball: two others based on a FIBA ranking Murray of Britain, who was granted a special exemption because national stage. No team has come within WNBA FLAVOUR system. he has the most Olympic and Grand Slam titles of the players whose ranking was not good enough to earn direct entry. F1: Red Bull’s Verstappen the driver to beat in Austria

AP — SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA Now, after winning every drivers’ and con- usually what structors’ title since 2014, Mercedes trails on both happens when A Formula One driver in superb form in a car fronts. Red Bull is 40 points ahead in the con- you have back- that’s increasingly fast. structors’ contest. Not since 1991 has a car with to-back races at Sounds familiar? a Honda engine won this many consecutive races. the same track.” It’s not Lewis Hamilton in the usually ultra- “They’ve definitely made some big steps and PEREZ dominant Mercedes this time, but Max Verstappen we’ve not really got an answer for it,” Hamilton MILESTONE who seems to be finding extra speed in every race said, adding “I’ve got confidence in the team that Perez will be for Red Bull. we’ll somehow find something.” starting in his Verstappen has won the past two races and Hamilton is aiming to overtake Michael Schu- 200th F1 race, 10 leads Hamilton 4-3 for wins this season heading macher and stand alone among F1 greats with years after into Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, at Red Bull’s eight titles. But he needs to find a way to stop Ver- making his home track in Spielberg. It’s the same circuit stappen’s rise. debut. where Verstappen drove to victory from pole The 23-year-old Verstappen, already credited The 31-year- position last Sunday, with Hamilton lagging with being the youngest driver to win an F1 race old Mexican behind. when he 18 years and 228 days, has tallied 14 GP driver counts two Verstappen is the championship leader and wins. He would have had far more if Red Bull was wins among his is posing a major threat to Hamilton, who trails more competitive in previous seasons. 12 podium him by 18 points after eight races of a so far cap- In that time with Red Bull lacking speed and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishes. tivating season. dogged by reliability issues, only Ferrari briefly during a press conference at Steiermark Grand Prix, Red “I can’t “Max is driving with great maturity and con- threatened the Mercedes dominance when Vettel Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria, in this June 27, 2021, believe this is my sistency. We’ve just got to keep turning the screw,” led at the halfway point of the season in 2017 and file photo. 200th race,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. ’18, only to fade away. Perez said. “It “The Styrian Grand Prix was our strongest and Other than that, it’s been Hamilton all the way Hamilton has finished top-two in eight of the would be very most complete performance so far.” except for when his then-teammate Nico Rosberg past 11 races and won five. special to step up on the podium here at our home Red Bull has won four straight races, three won the world title five years ago - and then With his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas race.” for Verstappen and the other only won by veteran retired. lagging behind in fifth place overall in the His F1 career got off to the worst start, Sergio Perez at the Azerbaijan GP because Ver- Hamilton has long been the most consistent standings, it seems only Hamilton can stop however, when he was disqualified after crossing stappen’s tire blew a few laps from the end while driver: brilliant in qualifying with a record 100 Verstappen. the line in seventh spot at the season-opening he was leading. pole positions and dominant in races with a But Verstappen knows who he’s up against, Australian GP in 2011 for an illegal rear wing on After seven years of Mercedes dominance, record 98 wins. and he expects Mercedes to hit back. his Sauber. including six of Hamilton’s record-equaling seven Now Verstappen is starting to impose himself. “People will learn from what they didn’t do The next GP, in Malaysia, was hardly better F1 titles, Red Bull is re-emerging as the force it He has placed in the top two positions in nine so well,” said Verstappen, who needs one more considering the car was damaged and he had to was from 2010-13 when Sebastian Vettel won his of the past 11 GP races going back to the end of podium to reach 50 in F1. retire from the race. Three races later, he was in four world titles. last season, winning five of them. “I expect everyone to be closer as this is the points with ninth place at the Spanish GP. FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 SPORT 15 Pedri indispensable as Spain Copa America Neymar, Sanchez bid to make Euro semi-finals return for quarters AP — ST. PETERSBURG AP — RIO DE JANEIRO World Cup. Regular time ended 1-1, with goals by David Luiz Spain are on the charge at a Spain’s Pedri Defending champion Brazil and and Sánchez. The Chileans major soccer tournament with Gonzalez Chile will have their star almost beat the hosts in extra a creative and technically gifted (26) in action players back in action when time, with a strike by Mauricio Barcelona player calling the with Croatia’s they meet in the Copa America Pinilla hitting the bar in the last shots from central midfield. Marcelo quarter-finals tomorrow. minute. Sound familiar? Only 18 and Brozovic. Neymar will return for But Brazil won on penalties, already seemingly indispen- Brazil and Alexis Sánchez has 3-2 - Pinilla also missed his sable for the national team, recovered from a calf muscle from the spot. Thiago Silva, Pedri Gonzalez has been given injury ahead of the encounter who could start on Friday, was the keys to a midfield that was at the Nilton Santos Stadium in marked by that match for his once the domain of two Rio de Janeiro. tears of tension during the modern-day greats in Xavi Her- The Seleçao spared a group shootout. nandez and Andres Iniesta. of regular starters in the 1-1 “Sánchez missed Chile’s The comparisons are inev- draw with Ecuador on Sunday, group-stage matches and his itable - and maybe justified - resting Neymar, defender absence affected the team’s and will only become more Thiago Silva and striker Gabriel production; La Roja only tallied widespread if Pedri leads Spain Jesus. Others, including three goals, with Eduardo to the European Championship Casemiro, entered as substi- Vargas scoring twice and Ben title in the coming days, just as tutes in that game. Brereton once. Xavi and Iniesta did in 2008 Brazil, with three wins in Coach Martín Lasarte will and 2012 amid a golden era for four Copa America matches, is decide after practice whether the country. the clear favorite to win. Chile’s 32-year-old Sánchez will start Certainly Switzerland need only win in the group stage was against Brazil or come off the to be on top of Spanish soccer’s played every minute of their astonishing given his age. He is task of avoiding a natural against Bolivia and it is lacking bench. new midfield conductor in the team’s games at Euro 2020. coming off his first year at Bar- comedown after one of the the kind of form that inspired Also tomorrow, 2019 Copa first quarter-final match at Euro “Pedri is a unique player,” celona, which he joined from biggest wins in its history. its back-to-back championship America runner-up Peru will 2020 in St. Petersburg today. Spain coach Luis Enrique said Las Palmas in the offseason, and “Nobody will ever forget wins in 2015 and ’16. take on Paraguay at the That’s easier said than done. under-statedly. has already played 60 games this game,” Switzerland mid- The last memorable match Olimpico Stadium in Goiania. Pedri, who plays on the left Another European Cham- for his club and his country this fielder Remo Freuler said on between Brazil and Chile was The winner will face Brazil or side of Spain’s ball-hogging pionship record he holds comes season. Wednesday. in the Round of 16 at the 2014 Chile in the semifinals in Rio. central-midfield three, is with less distinction. After 20 He has also been picked to “Nobody can take this playing in his first major tour- minutes of the 5-3 extra-time play for Spain at the soccer magical night away from us.” Neymar with his nament - he only made his win over Croatia, Pedri sent a tournament at the Tokyo Spain’s win over Croatia came team-mates during senior international debut in back-pass from near the Olympics. on the same evening, but Luis a warm up session in March - and is tied for first place halfway line to Spain goal- Don’t expect Luis Enrique Enrique has the advantage of this file photo. for most chances created (10) keeper Unai Simon, who failed to save Pedri’s legs for that. calling on a deeper squad for a and has more passes in the to control the ball and only suc- Midfield will be an area match taking place four days opposition half (233) than any ceeded in deflecting it into the Spain will look to take charge later. other player. goal. of against Switzerland, which Fatigue, and the shrewd use The youngest Spaniard to It is the longest own-goal in will be missing captain Granit of substitutes, is proving a key play at a European Champi- the tournament’s history, yet Xhaka because of suspension. factor at a tournament that is onship, Pedri also became the Pedri shrugged off that mis- Xhaka was selected as UEFA’s coming off a grueling, pan- youngest ever player in a fortune to produce a dominant man of the match after Swit- demic-affected club season. knockout-stage game at the performance against a highly zerland beat France in a penalty Both teams are likely to make tournament - at 18 years, 215 regarded Croatia midfield led shootout - following a 3-3 draw changes to freshen up for a shot days - against Croatia in the by veteran Luka Modric. through extra time - to advance at the semifinals. round of 16. Pedri’s technique,q , vision to its first qquarterfinal match at a Expectp Pedri to start once Perhaps most impressively,sively, andand abilityability to maneuver himself majormajor tournament since the 1954 again,again, though.though. He is alreadyalrea a he is one of only two outfieldutfield intointo space andand findfind teammates WorldWorld Cup. playerplayer SpaSpainin cannocannott do players in Spain’s squad too havehave with his astuteastute passingpassing isis SwitzerlandSwitzerland facesfaces thethe toughtough without.without. New Messissidi dealdea ldl delayedde laye dbd byby La La Liga Liga NoNo signs of star Ronaldo leaving financial controls, sayssays presidentpresident Juventus,Juve says football director REUTERS — BARCELONA “There“There are manmanyy options and is expectedexpected to fall even REUTERSREUTER — TURIN about a possible move... Cherubini said and we’re contemplating further after a whole season and no sign from Juve,” Juventus were already Barcelona’s attempts to offeroffer whichwhich is thethe bestbest forfor bothboth withoutwithout ticketticket salessales andand a ThereThere are no signs Cris- Cherubini said. “competitive” and would Lionel Messi a new contracttract parties.parties. But we want him to depresseddepressed transfer market. tianotiano RRonaldo will leave Ronaldo remains not be very active on this are being held up becausese ooff stay anandd so doesdoes he,he, we want MessiMessi had the mostmost Juventus,JuveJ the club’s “pivotal” for Juventus, summer’s transfer La Liga’s financial controlntrol to ggiveive him the most competcompet-- lucrative contract in world footballfo director said Cherubini added at a window. measures, the club’s president,dent, itive team possible.” ssport,port, according to a yesterday,y news conference, saying, “But we’ll stay vig- Joan Laporta, said yesterdayrday La LigaLiga introduced JJanuaryanuary report in ElEl dismissingd specu- however, that he did not ilant to pick opportu- after the Argentine becameme a financialfinancial contrcontrolol memeasuresasures in MMundo,undo, and iiff BarBarcaca lationl that the have a crystal ball to nities in line with the free agent. 2013 establishingestablishing a maximum areare to getget a new dealdeal prolificp goal scorer predict the future. technical and financial Messi, who joined BarcaBarca amount of moneymoney each club for himhim overover ththee lineline couldco moveve to “ButBut let me reaffirm parameters of our plaplan,” aged 13 in September 2000,000, cancan spendspend on its playingplaying squadsquad theythey wiwillll havehave to anotheran club. I’llI’ll bbee hhappyappy iiff he stays.”staysstay .” he said.said. has no current contractualal link and coachingcoaching staff each furtherfurther rreduceeduce “We are veryvery JuventusJuventus ChairChairmanm with the Catalans after hiss deadeall season, conditionedconditioned byby theirtheir theirtheir wawagege bill, happyhap that Ronaldoonaldo AndreaAndrea AgneAgnellilli aaddeddded he expired on June 30 and whwhileile income.income. whichwhich Laporta wwillill rejoin thee team Cristiano was “absolutely“absolutely certain”certa Laporta said the club’ss all- Barca have the highesthighest saidsaid lastlast mmonthonth once the rest pperioderiod Ronaldo the club willwill pparticipatearticip time top scorer wishes to stay, rerevenuesvenues in wworldorld soccesoccerr containedc ontained after the Europeanopean inin tthehe 2021-2022 CCham-ha he added their attempts ttoo tie accoraccordingding to tthishis year’s manmanyy ChampionshipCham is over,” pions LeagLeagueue despitedesp him to a new deal had to fit Deloitte Money League, players on FedericoFederi Cherubinini sasaid.id. ffalloutallout from the club’sclu with the league’sue’s although income dropped by sasalariesl a r ies Ronaldo,Ro currentent totopp backingbacking of requirements. €125m last year due to the “out ooff scorerscorer at Euro 22020020 a contro-cont “It’s going well, he wantswants impact ooff thethe COVID-19 ssyncy nc after hish five goalsls for versialvers to stay and we’re makingng all pandemic.pandemic. with PPortugal,ortug has scoredred SuperS u p the efforts to ensure he does. AtAt tthehe stastartrt ooff thethe 2019-202019-20 thet h e 101101 fforo Juventus inin LeagueLeag But we have to balance it wiwithth seasonseason BBarcaarca werewere aallocatedllocated threethree seasons. ini financial fair play,” Laportaporta a maximum budgetbudget of €1.47bn “There“T hass Europe.Euro told Spanish radio stationation by La Liga which shrank to currentcurrent been no sign Onda Cero yesterday. 733m for the last campaign market”.market”. from Ronaldo European Talent Cup: Two UAE's Curran shines as England Al Sahouti set for 4th round players get 8-year bans for crush Sri Lanka to win series fixing attempts REUTERS — LONDON as Curran took the first three blood, however, and Curran wickets - two lbw and one completed his first five-wicket REUTERS — NEW DELHI England seamers Sam Curran bowled - in his first two overs, haul for his country when he and David Willey shared nine leaving Sri Lanka 12-3, which had Karunaratne caught United Arab Emirates (UAE) wickets to set up a crushing soon became 21-4 when behind to spark a great cele- batsman Ashfaq Ahmed and eight-wicket victory over Sri Willey had Charith Asalanka bration for the Surrey man on pace bowler Amir Hayat have Lanka yesterday as the hosts caught. his home ground. each been handed eight-year chased down 241 with seven Dhananjaya de Silva, ably Willey claimed his fourth bans for breaching the anti- overs to spare to go 2-0 up in assisted by Wanindu as Sri Lanka ended on 241-9 corruption code of the Inter- the three-match one-day Hasaranga (26) and Dasun - a battling effort after their national Cricket Council (ICC), international series. Shanaka, steadied the ship, early struggles. the sport’s governing body Curran took five for 48 initially digging in and then Sri Lanka needed early said yesterday. from his 10 overs, with fellow playing their shots with wickets again to have any An ICC anti-corruption tri- left-armer Willey grabbing growing confidence. chance but their attack lacked bunal backdated their bans to four for 64 as Sri Lanka made De Silva, who missed the menace as England’s prodi- September last year when 241-9, something of a first game of the series on gious opening duo of Roy and both players were suspended recovery after they were 21-4 Tuesday, eventually departed Jonny Bairstow put on an for attempting to fix matches in the seventh over. for an entertaining untroubled 71 before the latter and failing to report corrupt It never looked remotely 13-boundary 91. played on for 29. approaches during the T20 enough, though, as Jason Roy Shanaka then took up the Roy departed via a bril- World Cup Qualifier 2019 in (60) started the chase strongly reins before he was caught off liant, diving Chamika Karu- the UAE. and Joe Root, unbeaten on 68, Willey for 47 in the 45th over, naratne catch for 60 off 52 Qatar's Hamad Al Sahouti gears up for the The duo were found guilty and captain Eoin Morgan (75 just when it had appeared that balls but Root, who top- 4th round of the European Talent Cup, of accepting bribe to “fix or to not out) gave the half-capacity the tourists might be able to scored with an unbeaten 79 representing Leopard Junior team. The contrive in any way or otherwise 12,500 Oval crowd plenty to scramble a total that would on Tuesday, and Morgan, fourth round will start today at Autódromo to influence improperly the cheer, if not the exciting finish have given them something delighted to be back in the Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, result, progress, conduct or any they might have hoped for. to defend. runs after a dry spell, accu- Portugal. The event will conclude on July 4. other aspect of any international England got off to a flier England’s bowlers smelled mulated at will. match”, the ICC said. Sport

FRIDAY 2 JULY 2021 FormulaF One: Red Bull’s Verstappen ththe driver to beat in Austria race They’veT definitely made some big steps and we’ve not really gogot an answer for it. I’ve got confidence in the team that we’ll sosomehow find something.

LewisLeL Hamilton Sport |14

TOUR DE FRANCE: Stage 6 Winner - M. Cavendish, Deceuninck-QuickStep, 3hr 17m 36s, Overall leader: M van der Poel, Alpecin - Fenix Federer gets his sparkle back; Barty battles past Blinkova to advance

REUTERS — LONDON Roger Federer celebrates beyond the last 16 at after winning his second Wimbledon. The sun finally came out at round match. She ultimately had too Wimbledon yesterday and much firepower for Blinkova, eight-time champion Roger however, and wrapped up Federer got his old sparkle victory after an hour and 30 back on Centre Court to eclipse minutes when her opponent Richard Gasquet and move swiped a forehand long. serenely into round three. Also yesterday, three-time It was not quite vintage Grand Slam champion Federer, but the 7,500 fans Angelique Kerber held off a packed around his favourite spirited challenge from Spain’s court did not care as the Swiss Sara Sorribes Tormo to win gave them plenty to ooh and 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 and book her aah about in a 7-6(1), 6-1, 6-4 place in the third round. The 25th-seeded German Sanchez RESULTS (SELECTED) made a sure-footed start and Men’s Singles (Second Round) gave very little away on her Alexander Zverev (4), Germany, def. own serve before breaking names Qatar Tennys Sandgren, US, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. Sorribes Tormo’s serve with Matteo Berrettini (7), Italy, def. Botic van consecutive forehand winners squad for de Zandschulp, NED, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4). to go up 5-3. Pedro Martinez, Spain, def. Gael Monfils Sorribes Tormo, ranked (13), France, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5). 50th in the world, roared back Gold Cup to draw level at 5-5 but con- Daniil Medvedev (2), Russia, def. Carlos THE PENINSULA — DOHA tinued to leak unforced errors, Alcaraz, Spain, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. victory. to be slipping away from the in danger against the 89th- allowing Kerber to regain Nick Kyrgios, Australia, def. Gianluca Mager, The 39-year-old Swiss Swiss. ranked Blinkova, but it was composure and take the Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez Italy, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4. took a while to find his timing He eventually got through still not plain sailing for the opening set. (pictured) yesterday named a Roger Federer (6), Switzerland, def. and needed to save three break after Mannarino suffered a Australian scrapper. After an early trade of 23-player squad for this month’s Richard Gasquet, France, 7-6 (1), 6-1, 6-4. points in his first service game. knee injury after slipping on Her serve, so often a breaks, Kerber showed CONCACAF Gold Cup set to take Women’s Singles (Second Round) But having been pushed the greasy turf. dependable weapon, was at glimpses of her best tennis place in the US. Ashleigh Barty (1), Australia, def. Anna into a tiebreak, the 20-time Meanwhile, world number times wayward, as she hit nine with a string of booming The Asian champions are cur- Blinkova, Russia, 6-4, 6-3. Grand Slam champion flicked one Ash Barty moved into the double faults and was broken backhand winners to take a rently undergoing a training Coco Gauff (20), US, def. Elena Vesnina, the switch and his game began third round at Wimbledon but three times, while her 33 4-2 lead and threatened to run camp in Croatia to prepare for Russia, 6-4, 6-3. to flow. not without a battle as she unforced errors suggests she away with the match. the event where they will make Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, def. Daria After taking the opener the overcame spirited Russian has some way to go to get fully But Sorribes Tormo, who their debut. Kasatkina (31), Russia, 6-1, 3-6, 8-6. sixth seed moved smoothly Anna Blinkova and her own sharp on the grass. has never progressed beyond Qatar will play their first Gold Angelique Kerber (25), Germany, def. Sara through the gears and Gasquet inconsistency in a 6-4, 6-3 win Barty, whose sole Grand the second round at any major Cup match against Panama on Sorribes Tormo, Spain, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. could not live with him as he yesterday. Slam title came at the 2019 event, halted her opponent’s July 13. The Asian champions will Order of Play suffered an 11th successive The top seed never looked French Open, has never gone momentum with deft touches play their other Group D matches CENTRE COURT defeat against Federer. at the net to break back imme- against Grenada on July 17 and Next up for the Swiss will diately, before saving a match Honduras on July 20. 21-Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) v 11-Garbine Ashleigh Barty in be in-form British 29th seed point to stretch the contest to SQUAD: Saad Al Sheeb, Muguruza (Spain) action yesterday. Cameron Norrie who thrashed a decider. Meshaal Berchem, Yusuf Hassan, 22-Dan Evans (Britain) v Sebastian Korda Australian Alex Bolt. Both players dropped serve Pedro Miguel, Abdul Karim (US) “It was a wonderful match twice in a chaotic start to the Hassan, Tariq Salman, Ahmed 10-Denis Shapovalov (Canada) v Andy for me and I’m really happy final set as fatigue started to Suhail, Musab Al Khader, Bassam Murray (Britain) with my performance,” set in, before Kerber regained Al Rawi, Hammam Al Amin, COURT ONE (1200) Federer said on court. control by converting her Khoki Boualem, Mohamed Waad, Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) v Sloane It was a marked contrast seventh break point. Assem Madbou, Karim Boudiaf, Stephens (US) to Tuesday evening when per- The former world number Ismail Mohamed, Abdullah Al 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Denis Kudla sistent rain meant Federer’s one held her nerve to seal to Ahraq, Abdel Aziz Hatem, Akram (US) first-round clash with another seal victory in three hours and Afif, Hassan Al Haydos, Youssef

13-Elise Mertens (Belgium) v 23-Madison Frenchman, Adrian Man- 18 minutes as the crowd at Abdel Razzaq, Al Moez Ali, Keys (US) narino, took place under the Court Two gave the players a Mohamed Muntari, Ahmed Alaa. Centre Court roof and looked standing ovation. Road to Qatar 2022: Japan, We will play our own game against Australia in Group B for last AFC qualifying round Belgium, says Italy coach Mancini REUTERS — MUNICH Belgium, who have also won AFC — KUALA LUMPUR equally thrilling with Australia four out of four games at Euro and Saudi Arabia both having Italy coach Roberto Mancini 2020, does not mean Mancini Asia’s best learnt of their oppo- made the Finals five times pre- said his side will play their own will adopt more conservative nents following the conclusion viously and China once. Oman game against Belgium, the tactics. of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – and Vietnam have never qual- nation top of the FIFA world “We will play our own Road to Qatar virtual draw in ified for the global rankings, in today’s Euro 2020 game, well aware that we are Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia showpiece. quarter-final in Munich. up against the best team in the yesterday. The respective group Mancini’s team, who con- world at this moment of time,” The 12 teams were drawn winners and runners-up will ceded their first goal in 19 hours Mancini told a news conference into two groups with Japan, the seal their places or the global and 28 minutes against Austria yesterday. continent’s top team in the FIFA showpiece, while the third- in their 2-1 last-16 victory on “If they have been top of the World Ranking, drawn in placed teams will advance to Saturday, have also impressed FIFA rankings for three years it Group B while second-ranked the Asian playoff to determine in attack, scoring nine goals in means they have been very Islamic Republic of Iran were the side that will advance to the four matches in the good for a long time, but we will drawn in Group A. intercontinental playoff. tournament. still play our way. Iran, with five previous Based on the special FIFA But the prospect of facing “We could tweak a few appearances at the global Ranking released for Asian things a long the way if things showpiece, will have Korea teams on June 18, top seeds do not go to plan, but we have Republic, United Arab Emirates, Japan and the Iran were placed a certain style of play and Iraq, Syria and Lebanon for in Pot 1 of the draw, with Pot 2 Belgium do too. I am sure it will company in Group A. comprising Australia and Korea be a wonderful game of football. Japan, seeking a seventh Republic while Pot 3 had Saudi The winner will be the team consecutive appearance at the Arabia and the United Arab who makes the fewest errors,” FIFA World Cup Finals, were Emirates. Pot 4 contained Iraq he said. joined in Group B by Australia, and China PR, followed by Belgium’s main threat is a Saudi Arabia, China PR, Oman Oman and Syria in Pot 5 and familiar one for the Azzurri and Vietnam. debutants Vietnam and defence with Romelu Lukaku, Roberto Mancini (centre) during a training session yesterday. Both groups promise to be Lebanon in Pot 6. who has scored three goals in the sizzling affairs with Iran having The AFC Asian Qualifiers – tournament, set to spearhead to contend with a Korea Road to Qatar is scheduled to Roberto Martinez side’s attack in had a great season for Inter, “I think it would be doing a Republic side seeking an 11th be played on the following 10 the Allianz Arena. and this goes for our entire disservice to say Belgium are appearance at the FIFA World match days: September 2 and Lukaku was voted player of squad,” said Italy and Juventus all about Romelu Lukaku, Cup Finals. UAE and Iraq have 7, October 7 and 12, and Today's Quarter-finals the year in Italy’s Serie A this defender Giorgio Chiellini, though, as they have quality made the Finals once each November 11 and 16, 2021, as 7pm: Switzerland vs season, as he fired Inter Milan whose task is likely to be players throughout the pitch. while Syria and Lebanon will well as January 27 and Feb- to their first top-flight title in 11 marking Lukaku. We will prepare as we always Spain be seeking maiden ruary 1, 2022, before reaching years. “All season we witnessed have done, keeping an eye on appearances. its climax on March 24 and 29, 10pm: Belgium vs Italy “We have got a lot of what a match winner and Lukaku and their other top Group B promises to be 2022. respect for Lukaku because he important player he has become. players.”