BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 HSBC highlights $600mn green Bughanaim bond of QNB, says gets off the sustainable fi nance mark with gains momentum in Hajadie Du Middle East Croate published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11703 October 16, 2020 Safar 29, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Defence minister meets UK home secretary In brief Food security Qatar wins bronze in Korea Youth Olympiad Qatar has claimed the bronze medal in the fifth edition of the Korea a key part of International Youth Olympiad (KIYO) 2020, which was held remotely by the World Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs Association (WWIEA) to raise awareness about innovation. Qatar policies, The competition took place from September 20 to October 12 with the participation of around 60 countries from all over the world. Page 2 says minister Thunderstorms expected today QNA The Qatar Met department has said Doha thunderstorms are expected today along with sudden strong winds in some places. Mainly northeasterly winds atar attaches great impor- will prevail, blowing at speeds of 5-15 tance to food security and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, who is visiting the knots and going up to 25 knots during Qthe development of natural UK, met British Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed a number of issues related thundery rain, according to the weather resources to increase production and to joint co-operation and ways to enhance them. The meeting was attended by Qatar’s ambassador to the United Kingdom off ice. The detailed forecast also says raise the level of self-suffi ciency, HE Yousef bin Ali al-Khater and Qatari Military Attache Col Ali Mohamed al-Fadala. relatively hot daytime conditions are the Minister of Municipality and En- expected with scattered clouds and a vironment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chance of rain, which may be thundery. bin Turki al-Subaie said yesterday. Slight to blowing dust is also likely at In a speech to mark the World Food times, and conditions will be mild by Day, HE al-Subaie said his minis- night. The temperature is expected to try has adopted plans to increase the range from 26-33C in Doha today. production of agricultural commodi- Qatar Airways expands its ties including vegetables, and red HE al-Subaie: stress on food security meat, poultry, eggs and fi sh. Qatar reports 125,802 These plans have helped the ag- velop natural resources and wealth, Covid-19 recoveries ricultural sector meet the require- especially agricultural products, and network to 100 destinations The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) ments of the local market, raise self- achieve self-suffi ciency in many yesterday announced 200 new suffi ciency in the plant, animal and goods and products. confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 218 fi sh sectors, and provide a balanced, Al-Subaie said the FAO has af- atar Airways has announced a fi nger on the pulse of global pas- recoveries during the past 24 hours, healthy food. fi rmed that access to safe food and the resumptions of services senger fl ows, in particular in markets bringing the total number of recoveries The minister said Qatar is par- growth is a basic right it has urged Qto Sofi a via Bucharest, mark- where it does not operate regular in Qatar to 125,802. In a statement, the ticipating with many countries and governments to provide food for their ing the 100th destination to be added scheduled fl ights. ministry said 182 of the new cases are international organisations and in- people and to invest seriously in agri- back to its global network. Qatar Airways strategic investment due to community transmission and 18 stitutions to mark World Food Day, culture and food through sound prac- The three weekly fl ights to Sofi a in a variety of fuel-effi cient twin- are travellers returning from abroad. which is held on the anniversary of tices to maintain sustainability. from today will see the airline’s net- engine aircraft, including the largest The ministry also recorded two new the establishment of the Food and He said the Ministry of Municipal- work expand to more than 700 weekly fl eet of Airbus A350 aircraft, has ena- deaths. Page 2 Agriculture Organisation (FAO). ity and Environment wants to see a fl ights across six continents. bled it to continue fl ying throughout This year the anniversary is held world free from hunger, and for eve- The airline’s mix of fuel-effi cient safely and reliably, we are proud this crisis and perfectly positions it to in exceptional circumstances as the ryone to have access to healthy and aircraft and strategic network man- reach this significant milestone in lead the sustainable recovery of inter- Yemen’s rivals start world is suff ering from the coronavi- nutritious food. agement has enabled it to quickly the rebuild of our network. Our fo- national travel. exchanging prisoners rus pandemic, al-Subaie said. Assistant undersecretary for agri- resume fl ights and expand services in cus is not only on restarting desti- By the end of 2020, Qatar Airways Planes carrying prisoners exchanged The minister said the slogan of this culture and fi sheries Sheikh Dr Faleh line with passenger demand. nations but also operating as many plans to rebuild its network to more by the warring parties in Yemen took year’s celebration “Grow, Nourish, bin Nasser al-Thani said the World The following destinations are frequencies as possible to provide than 125 destinations including 20 in off from three airports yesterday in an Sustain Together” aims to increase Food Day aims to raise awareness planned to resume fl ights or increase our passengers the flexibility to Africa, 11 in the Americas, 41 in Asia- operation to return about 1,000 men public awareness of the importance on the importance of food security, frequencies: Bucharest (three weekly travel when they want. With more Pacifi c, 38 in Europe and 15 in Middle home and help build the trust to enable of food for the healthy growth of hu- health, and sustainable development. fl ights starting today), Copenhagen than 700 weekly frequencies cur- East. Many cities will be served with fresh talks to end a devastating war. mans and future generations, while He added this year’s theme stresses (increased to 10 weekly fl ights from rently, and plans to increase our net- a strong schedule with daily or more The Saudi-led military coalition and preserving sustainability, as reports the important role agriculture plays October 12), Madrid (increased to work to more than 125 destinations frequencies. Yemen’s Houthi movement agreed last indicate that nearly 690mn people in sustainability, and in ending pov- 10 weekly fl ights from October 12), by the end of 2020, our passengers Qatar Airways operations are not month in Switzerland to exchange 1,081 suff er from hunger, in addition to 2bn erty. Manchester (increased to 17 weekly will enjoy more options to travel dependent on any specifi c aircraft prisoners in the largest swap of its kind suff ering from what is called hidden The assistant undersecretary said fl ights from October 12), Singapore when they want across the globe, type. The airline’s variety of modern in the five-year-old conflict. Page 3 hunger, which is a lack of vitamins sustainable agriculture can also al- (increasing to double daily fl ights safely and reliably.” fuel-effi cient aircraft has meant it can and minerals, which requires helping leviate the impact of climate change. from October 25), Sofi a (three weekly Since the onset of the coronavirus continue fl ying by off ering the right the poor in the world to obtain bal- He said it was important to make fl ights starting today) and Stockholm pandemic, Qatar Airways has fl own capacity in each market. Experts slam ‘dangerous anced food. agricultural processes more sustain- (increased to 10 weekly fl ights from over 175mn kilometres taking home Due to Covid-19’s impact on travel fallacy’ of herd immunity He said Qatar’s celebration of able as it will ultimately lead to more October 12). over 2.3mn passengers on over 37,000 demand, the airline has taken the Proponents of allowing the new World Food Day comes as an affi r- yield and less food loss. Qatar Airways Group Chief Ex- fl ights. The airline has also operated decision to ground its fl eet of Airbus coronavirus to circulate among mation of the importance of provid- This can only be accomplished by ecutive, HE Akbar al-Baker said: more than 400 charter fl ights across A380s as it is not commercially or populations in the hope of achieving ing food for everyone who lives on its adopting several initiatives in the “As one of the few airlines to have the world enabling it to stay up-to- environmentally justifi able to oper- herd immunity are promoting a land, in line with the state’s interest, fi elds of harvest, storage, packaging, continuously flown throughout the date with the latest airport and na- ate such a large aircraft in the current “dangerous fallacy” devoid of scientific under the wise leadership, to de- and transport, he added. pandemic to take passengers home tional health procedures and maintain market. To Page 2 proof, dozens of health experts said yesterday. In an open letter published in The Lancet medical journal, more than 80 specialists from universities ‘Tasty Street’ opens at Katara across the world said that the only eff ective way of limiting excess deaths Six innovative projects during the pandemic was to control the disease’s spread. get 2020 WISE Awards Surge in cases in Europe of ‘great concern’: WHO ix innovative projects address- to continuing to transform lives for the The soaring number of Covid-19 cases ing global educational challenges better with the support of the WISE in Europe is of “great concern”, but the Swere yesterday announced as Awards,” said Sue Stevenson from situation is still better than the peaks in winners of the 2020 WISE Awards. Barefoot College Solar Electrifi cation April, the World Health Organisation’s They were selected from 625 appli- with Enriched Education. regional off ice said yesterday. “Daily cations. The WISE Awards, created by “Being a WISE awardee is a state- numbers of cases are up, hospital the World Innovation Summit for Edu- ment in itself. Wholeheartedly, from admissions are up,” the WHO’s regional cation – a Qatar Foundation initiative Mexico to the world, we are humbled to director for Europe Hans Kluge told a – aims to highlight projects that have participate in this inspiring communi- press conference. demonstrated impact in their com- ty. We will continue to unleash the joy munities and have the potential to set of children, youth, teachers, and par- international standards and best prac- ents as global changemakers with our Homes of French health tices worldwide. play-refl ect-act education,” said Dina minister, offi cials raided This year’s winning projects are: Buchbinder of Education for Sharing. Police raided the homes and off ices of Barefoot College Solar Electrifi cation The six projects will be celebrated France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran with Enriched Education by Barefoot through an online event on October 28 and its public health director yesterday College, Think Equal, Justice Defend- including an awards ceremony and dis- as part of a probe into the authorities’ ers, Parenting The Future, Stawisha cussions with the winners and innova- response to the coronavirus pandemic, Leadership Institute, and Education for tors from the WISE community around a health ministry off icial told Reuters, Sharing (E4S). the topic titled ‘Building the Future of confirming an earlier BFM TV report. Since the creation of the programme Education: Conversations with Re- “This operation was carried out in 2009, WISE has received over 4,500 silient Innovators’. And, in addition to without encountering any problems. applications from more than 150 coun- publicity and networking opportuni- The procedure is following its course,” tries – including Australia, Finland, ties, each project will receive $20,000. the off icial added. Page 7 Chile, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Qatar – Barefoot College Solar Electrifi ca- resulting in 72 winning projects. tion with Enriched Education by Bare- “Barefoot College International is foot College is a holistic programme that COMMUNITY incredibly excited to have been recog- combines an adaptable curriculum called ‘Tasty Street’, a new initiative in which food is delivered to cars from a wide range of eateries and cafes, has opened in nised by the WISE Awards – this is a ENRICHE, and teaching and empower- the northern part of Katara – the Cultural Village. Inaugurated by Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti prize that we have tremendous respect ing women in rural areas through dig- See Pages yesterday afternoon, ‘Tasty Street’ will continue until March 31 next year and is being held in accordance with the Covid-19 and admiration for, and it delights us ital and fi nancial literacy, while provid- precautionary measures put in place. It is spread over 6,300sq m and will be able to accommodate hundreds of cars, that our innovative work should be a ing them with the tools to solar electrify 4,5 & 6 Katara has said. Page 12 recipient. We look forward very much their communities. To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Friday, October 16, 2020 QATAR Qatar wins bronze medal in Korea International Youth Olympiad

atar has claimed the bronze (MoEHE) said in a statement yesterday. potentially lead to amputations and life- portional to the concentration of nano- a long-standing and major presence in medal in the fi fth edition of the The research was mentored by Sher- threatening complications. particles in use. Future work will be fo- this international competition. QKorea International Youth Ol- if Bahgat al-Sorory, supervisor, and Therefore, the research presented the cused on testing the suitability of nano The Korea International Youth Ol- ympiad (KIYO) 2020, which was held Thamer Bahgat al-Sorory, co-ordinator. idea of producing socks impregnated silver socks on the foot of actual diabet- ympiad off ers students of national and remotely by the World Women Inven- Student Harith Nashat from the same with silver nitrate nanoparticles from a ics patients. international schools and universities tors and Entrepreneurs Association school also participated in the initiative, vegetable source, the MoEHE statement Abdul Hadi expressed happiness at an opportunity to share their ideas, in- (WWIEA) to raise awareness about in- which was supported by the ministry in noted. Diff erent concentrations of sil- claiming the bronze medal and honour- ventions, innovations and intellectual novation. co-operation with the Qatar National ver nitrate were mixed with watercress ing Qatar in the international competi- property. The competition took place from Sep- Research Fund. extract to produce silver nanoparticles. tion. The objectives of the competition are tember 20 to October 12 with the partic- The research was based on the sub- The socks impregnated with diff erent “In fact, there are not enough words to foster global leaders through crea- ipation of around 60 countries from all stantial increase in the number of diabe- concentrations of nanoparticles were to describe how great I feel. When I rep- tivity, moral courage and teamwork; over the world. tes patients from 108mn people in 1980 placed on a 2mm deep wound made on resent my homeland and win a medal in foster talents that will lead the creative The Qatari medal was secured by stu- to more than 422mn people in 2017, ac- the foot of diabetic mice to check the such a prestigious international event economy era by developing leadership dent Abdul Hadi Jaber Jallab, from Jas- cording to statistics released by the time taken for healing. like this, that’s indescribable. Thanks to based on personal strengths and talents; sim Bin Hamad Secondary School for World Health Organisation. The results of the experiment were God for everything,” he said. broaden the horizon as a global citizen Boys, for his research titled ‘The Eff ect Poor blood circulation and periph- promising; it demonstrated that silver Al-Sorory said he felt extremely proud through the exchange with students of Silver Nanoparticles Socks on the eral neuropathy are common compli- nanoparticles are remarkably eff ec- when Qatar was announced as the win- from all over the world; and seek out Treatment of Diabetic Foot’, the Minis- cations of diabetes. Moreover, diabetic tive in healing the wounds of laboratory ner of the third place and bronze medal- young talents who will lead the future Abdul Hadi Jaber Jallab try of Education and Higher Education foot ulcers and resulting infections can animals. The recovery rate has been pro- list, thus surpassing countries that have intellectual property society.

6 projects get FM sends message to Djibouti counterpart WISE Awards

Qatar pledges From Page 1 This approach has a ripple ef- fect on the whole community and has benefi ted 2.2mn people in more than 90 countries. support to UN Think Equal works with edu- cation ministries to adopt its free programme mediating value- based, experiential, social, and emotional learning for children Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs and International Co-operation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has aged 3-6. The curriculum covers received a written message from HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs in fi ght against 25 competencies and skills, in- Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, dealing with relations between the two countries and cluding social-emotional learn- ways of promoting them. The message was handed over by Qatar’s Charge d’Aff airs in Djibouti ing, gender equality, and peaceful Rashid bin Salem al-Buainain, during a meeting yesterday with Youssouf. confl ict resolution. It operates in 15 countries, and has reached over 38,000 children globally. Justice Defenders aims to terror, drugs increase access to justice for Kenyan and Ugandan inmates QNA through legal education, train- Vienna ing, and practice. The pro- Qatar records 125,802 gramme educates inmates to become paralegals with a three- atar has reiterated its week intensive training. Over support to the United 24,000 inmates benefi ted from QNations Offi ce on Drugs paralegal services and 12,600 Covid-19 recoveries and Crime (UNODC) and its were released from jail. various activities, with the aim Parenting The Future by QNA sions is continuing to decline each week. of combating terrorism, organ- Hupan Modou Foundation ini- Doha “Qatar’s proactive and extensive testing of ised crime, drug traffi cking and tiative is a parent-engagement suspected cases has enabled us to identify a high corruption in the world. programme that supports car- number of positive cases in the community,” it This was announced by a Qa- egivers in developing skills and he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yes- said. tari delegation participating in behaviours to foster children’s terday announced 200 new confi rmed Qatar has one of the lowest Covid-19 death the tenth session of the Confer- attachment, healthy develop- Tcases of Covid-19 and 218 recoveries dur- rates in the world. ence of the Parties to the United ment, and strengthens families’ ing the past 24 hours, bringing the total number “This is a result of very high quality of care Nations Convention against role in children’s care and edu- of recoveries in Qatar to 125,802. provided thorough the public healthcare sector, Transnational Organised Crime cation. PTF aims to scale up to In a statement, the ministry said 182 of the new Qatar’s young population, proactive testing to (COP10). all 832 poverty counties in China cases are due to community transmission and 18 identify cases early, expanding hospital capacity, The delegation was headed by 2030. are travellers returning from abroad. The minis- especially intensive care, to ensure all patients by Adviser to HE the Minister Stawisha Leadership Insti- try also recorded two new deaths. They were aged receive the medical care they need and protecting of Interior Major General Dr tute by Dignitas off ers innova- 46 and 83. the elderly and those with chronic diseases,” the Abdullah al-Mal. The other tive training and coaching to Measures to tackle the disease in Qatar have ministry said. members were HE Secretary- empower educators in margin- succeeded in fl attening the curve and limiting the “Even though restrictions are being lifted, and General of the Ministry of Qatari delegation holds talks with Director of the United Nations alised communities to trans- spread of the virus, the ministry said, adding the the numbers are declining, this does not mean Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Off ice in Vienna on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Dr Ghada Wali and form students’ opportunities in number of new daily cases and hospital admis- that the Covid-19 pandemic has disappeared Hassan al-Hammadi, Qatar’s other off icials in Vienna. South Sudan and Kenya. It has in Qatar as people continue to be admitted with ambassador and the country’s partnered with more than 260 moderate to severe symptoms. Unless we follow Permanent Representative to fered by any country in the his- countries, including 36,000 schools across six counties, em- all precautionary measures, we may experience a the UN and international or- tory of the organisation. youth and 65,000 children. powered more than 1,500 school second wave of the virus and see the numbers in- ganisations in Vienna Sultan It has become a model for the UNODC Director Wali said leaders, and impacted the learn- creasing - there are already signs of this happen- bin Salmeen al-Mansouri. support provided by countries to her offi ce looked forward to ing of 87,000 students. ing in other countries around the world,” it said. Director of the United Na- the United Nations offi ce, he said. continuing the work and co- Education for Sharing is an While the restrictions are gradually being lifted tions Offi ce in Vienna on Drugs This programme has proved its ordination with Qatar in a way international non-profi t organi- in Qatar, it is important for everyone to play their and Crime (UNODC) Dr Ghada eff ectiveness and vitality and has that strengthens the response sation that fosters better global role in controlling the virus by following precau- Wali also attended the meeting. achieved the highest possible out- to organised crime. citizenship. Through innovative tionary measures. Dr al-Mal said Qatar has comes to support the United Na- She expressed her gratitude education built on the power of funded the global programme tions 2030 Agenda for Sustainable for the generous support pro- play, it reaches 10 countries in for the implementation of the Development, and the coronavi- vided by Qatar to the United the Americas. Their model uses a Qatar takes part Doha Declaration, issued by rus pandemic has not prevented Nations and the Vienna offi ce, play-refl ect-act framework that in GCC meeting the 13th United Nations Con- the programme from continuing especially with regard to the encourages educators to teach gress on Crime Prevention and its work, Dr al-Mal said. implementation of the global dynamically. It has benefi ted Qatar participated in the 20th meeting of GCC Criminal Justice in 2015, which He said the global pro- programme of the Doha Decla- more than 1,272,223 children, Committee of Ministers of Higher Education and is the largest programme of- gramme has benefi ted 186 ration. teachers, and parents. Scientific Research, organised by the General Secretariat of the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Qatar was represented at the virtual meeting by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed al-Hammadi. The meeting discussed decisions of Qatar Airways expands its network to 100 destinations the Supreme Council, at its 40th session, related to higher education in the GCC countries. It also spotlighted the eff orts of the ministries of higher From Page 1 passengers on aircraft equipped It is the first entity in the passenger touchpoints around education and scientific research to combat the with Qsuite can enjoy the en- world to achieve independent the airport, through floor coronavirus pandemic, and related topics. The airline’s fleet of 49 Air- hanced privacy this award- verification from BSI (British markings, signage and dis- bus A350 and 30 Boeing 787 are winning business seat provides, Standards Institution) for its tanced seating. Two arrested for quarantine violation the ideal choice for the most including sliding privacy parti- implementation of Covid-19 All passenger touchpoints are strategically important long- tions and the option to use a ‘Do ICAO Aviation Health Safety sanitised every 10-15 minutes. Authorities yesterday arrested two people for Abdulrahman al Sayed Mohamed al-Hashimi. haul routes to Africa, the Amer- Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator. Protocols. All gates and bus gate counters violating home quarantine rules that have been put The authorities called on citizens and residents icas, Europe and Asia-Pacific Qsuite is available on flights This important achievement are being cleaned after each in place to stop the spread of Covid-19. under home quarantine to fully commit to the regions. to more than 30 destinations marks Qatar as the first coun- flight. HIA’s retail and food The two being referred to the prosecution are Mazen Ministry of Public Health’s condition to ensure their Qatar Airways’ onboard including Frankfurt, Singapore, try in the world to be verified and beverage outlets encourage Kamal Mohamed Hassan and Abdulaziz Mohamed safety and the safety of others. safety measures for passengers London and New York. by BSI for its Covid-19 Aviation contactless and cashless trans- and cabin crew include the pro- The airline’s home and hub, Health Safety Protocol Imple- actions through cards and are Passenger with narcotic substance held at HIA vision of Personal Protective Hamad International Airport mentation. considering introducing online Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew (HIA), has implemented strin- Sparing no effort in safe- or in-app purchases in the fu- The Air Cargo Customs has arrested one passenger through its social media accounts yesterday. On and a complimentary protective gent cleaning procedures and guarding its passengers, HIA ture. The airport also conducts with banned narcotic substances at Hamad Thursday, GAC had also seized 1,500kg of banned kit and disposable face shields applied social distancing meas- continues to maintain a 1.5m regular disinfection of all bag- International Airport (HIA). This was informed narcotic substances, found concealed inside some for passengers. Business Class ures throughout its terminals. physical distancing across all gage trolleys and tubs. by the General Authority of Customs (GAC) consignments of hair care products. QU college off ers Master’s degree in human nutrition

atar University’s College ing to a statement yesterday. important milestone and stated: It will be a two-year (4 se- cities of the context in Qatar. health services. Eff ective preven- gramme will graduate dietitians of Health Sciences (CHS) At present, the Department of “Building on the strength of the mester), 36-credit hour pro- The Master programme in Hu- tion and control eff orts require and nutritionists with dietetic and Qwill off er the Master of Human Nutrition provides the Bachelor programme, the newly gramme divided into 18 credit man Nutrition will also seek ac- highly trained professionals, with research skills which will support Science (MSc) in Human Nutri- only BSc degree in Nutrition in approved graduate programme hour for each year, and it will creditation by the Accreditation specialised skills in nutrition and the development and the imple- tion programme. Qatar, with a 4.5-year programme, will extend training for advanced begin admitting students in Council for Education in Nutri- dietetics to serve in this critical mentation of high quality nutri- The MSc in Human Nutrition is fully accredited by the Academy research and clinical work in this Fall 2021. The curriculum was tion and Dietetics (ACEND). area in Qatar and in the Middle tion and dietetic services in Qatar. the sixth graduate degree off ered of Nutrition and Dietetics’ (AND) important area. This is a very benchmarked against lead- The rising epidemic of diseases Eastern region generally. Students Applications for graduate pro- by the CHS, in line with its mission and the Accreditation Council for valuable addition to the col- ing regional and international related to malnutrition regionally enrolled in this programme will gramme at QU are now open, and to provide high quality education Education in Nutrition and Di- lege’s portfolio of graduate pro- programmes for knowledge and globally, such as cardiovascu- undertake advanced course work interested students are encour- in the health professions and to etetics (ACEND) in the US. grammes, which aim to support and professional competen- lar disease and cancer, has taken in the biochemical, clinical, com- aged to visit the university website meet the workforce needs of the QU-CHS dean Dr Hanan Ab- the national health sector as well cies, while taking into consid- a toll on health and quality of life munity, and behavioural aspects or to contact the college for more healthcare sector in Qatar, accord- dul Rahim commented on this as research and academia.” eration the needs and specifi- and poses a signifi cant burden on of nutrition. The Master pro- information. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 3 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

WHO says Africa is Yemen’s warring parties at ‘pivotal moment’ as Covid cases rise

AFP 55 member states have so far Addis Ababa recorded around 1.6mn cases, start prisoner exchange representing just 4.2% of the global total, according to the Reuters One of the planes was carrying frica faces “a pivotal Africa CDC. Sanaa/Geneva Saudi and Sudanese detainees moment” in its fi ght Its roughly 39,000 deaths and fl ew to Saudi Arabia. Aagainst the coronavirus represent 3.6% of the global The other two fl ew to Sayoun as cases and deaths rise after total. lanes carrying prisoners airport in the government-held eased lockdowns and travel Many countries imposed exchanged by the warring Hadramout region. curbs, the regional director of punishing lockdowns and re- Pparties in Yemen took off Two planes carrying Houthis the World Health Organisation stricted travel for extended from three airports yesterday released by the coalition depart- (WHO) warned yesterday. periods, measures they would in an operation to return about ed Sayoun, and a second arrived Over the past month, there be hard-pressed to reinstate in 1,000 men home and help build from Abha airport in Saudi Ara- has been a 7% average increase response to a resurgence, said the trust to enable fresh talks to bia, another Reuters witness and in weekly Covid-19 cases John Nkengasong, the Africa end a devastating war. sources said. across the continent and an CDC’s director. The Saudi-led military coali- ICRC spokeswoman Ruth 8% average increase in weekly “We are seeing what is going tion and Yemen’s Houthi move- Hetherington said that more deaths, according to the Africa on in Europe as they ease their ment agreed last month in than 700 prisoners had been ex- Centres for Disease Control lockdown, how the numbers Switzerland to exchange 1,081 changed yesterday on a total of and Prevention (Africa CDC). of new cases have increased prisoners, including 15 Saudis, in seven fl ights from Sayoun, Sanaa The Covid-19 respiratory and several countries are con- the largest swap of its kind in the and Abha. An ICRC plane carrying prisoners is seen on the tarmac of an airport in Yemen’s Houthi rebel-held capital disease is caused by the coro- sidering a second lockdown. fi ve-year-old confl ict. More fl ights are scheduled Sanaa. navirus. We cannot aff ord that,” Nken- In an operation managed by over the next two days, the aid “Indeed, we are at a pivotal gasong said. “We cannot allow the International Committee agency said. ing 15 Saudis and four Sudanese UN Yemen envoy Martin Grif- the Houthis ousted the interna- moment in the pandemic in this virus to erode the gains we of the Red Cross (ICRC), three Under the deal, the Iran- had landed in Riyadh, stressed fi ths told the Security Council tionally recognised government Africa. While the continent have made over the last couple planes carrying members of the aligned Houthi group is to release the “political and military lead- that the swap was an “airlift of from power in Sanaa in late 2014, has experienced a downward of months since the beginning coalition freed from detention around 400 people while the erships’ keenness for the return hope”, adding that both parties prompting the coalition to inter- trend in its epidemic curve of the pandemic.” took off from the Houthi-held coalition would free 681 Houthi of all prisoners of war and de- remain in negotiations for a per- vene in 2015. during the past three months, Compared to the begin- capital, Sanaa, a Reuters witness fi ghters. tainees”. manent ceasefi re. As a result of war, cholera and this decline has plateaued,” ning of the pandemic, African said. Houthi spokesman Moham- The warring sides had agreed Elsewhere in Yemen, clashes now the coronavirus pandemic, Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s countries “are now in a much “This operation that means so med Abdulsalam said the swap in 2018 to swap 15,000 detainees erupted in the city of Taiz. some 24mn Yemenis, about 80% Africa director, told a press better position to tackle the much to so many families is un- “brings hope for peace-build- split between both sides to pave One person was killed and 38 of the population, require aid, conference. new challenges Covid-19 is der way,” Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC ing”. the way for political negotiations were wounded, Medecins Sans while 20mn lack suffi cient food Despite early worries that throwing our way”, Moeti said, regional director for the Middle A coalition statement, which to end the confl ict, but progress Frontieres said. and access to clean water, Car- the pandemic would devastate citing sharp increases in test- East, said from Sanaa airport. confi rmed that the plane carry- has been slow. Yemen has been at war since boni said. the region, the African Union’s ing facilities and ventilators.

Former Libya coastguard held Iran says hackers attacked Clashes hit eastern Sudan for second day Libya’s UN-recognised government has announced the arrest of a former coastguard two of its key institutions Reuters Ethnic and political tensions have Amar, by Sudan’s prime minister, kill- wanted by Interpol and under Khartoum repeatedly triggered clashes and ing seven and injuring around 30, the UN sanctions for alleged human protests in eastern Sudan in recent witnesses said. traff icking. Reuters US offi cials said in October 2019 months, adding to the challenges for State news agency SUNA said se- Abd al-Rahman al-Milad, also Dubai that the United States had carried out a eadly clashes hit eastern Sudan Sudan’s transitional government. curity forces had used tear gas, then known as al-Bidja, was arrested cyber-attack on Iran after drone strikes for a second day running yes- In Kassala, unidentifi ed gunmen bullets, against a breakaway group of by senior security operatives on Saudi oil facilities, which Washing- Dterday as security forces fi red and security forces fi red on people protesters, some of them armed, who in Tripoli on the back of an ackers launched large-scale ton and Riyadh blamed on Tehran. on demonstrators in the city of Kas- demonstrating against the dismissal had ignored warnings not to approach “Interpol notice and an arrest attacks on two Iranian govern- Iran denied involvement in the at- sala, witnesses and state media said. of the Kassala State governor, Salih a government building. warrant issued by the prosecutor- Hment institutions this week, a tacks, which were claimed by Yemen’s general”, a statement by the senior offi cial said yesterday, without Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Government of National Accord’s giving details on the targets or the sus- The United States and other West- interior ministry said. pected perpetrators. ern powers have also accused Iran of He is suspected, among other Some government bodies had since trying to disrupt and break into their off ences, of involvement in temporarily shut down Internet serv- networks. “human traff icking” and is under ices as a precaution, Abolghasem Sa- Sources told Reuters this April that UN sanctions that include a travel deghi, from the government’s Infor- hackers working in Iran’s interests had ban and the blocking of his bank mation Technology Organisation, told targeted the personal e-mail accounts accounts. state TV. of staff at the World Health Organisa- The statement did not give “The cyber-attacks, which hap- tion (WHO) during the coronavirus details of the arrest of Milad, 30, pened on Monday and Tuesday, are un- outbreak. but Libyan media said he was der investigation,” Sadeghi said. Tehran denied any involvement. intercepted at a police roadblock They were “important and on a large Tensions between Tehran and Wash- near the capital. scale”, he added. ington have escalated since 2018 when Iran says it is on high alert for on- US President Donald Trump withdrew line assaults, which it has blamed in from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world Helicopter sent to the past on the United States and other powers and re-imposed sanctions that foreign states. have crippled Iran’s economy. Kilimanjaro fire

Tanzania said yesterday that I Coast president’s main challengers boycott poll it had deployed a helicopter to bolster its eff orts to put out The two main challengers to Ivory the country to block this electoral a blaze that has been burning Coast President Alassane Ouattara said coup d’etat that President Ouattara is on Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest yesterday that they will boycott the preparing to commit,” Aff i, the candidate mountain, in the East African October 31 presidential election, calling of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), said country’s north. on their supporters to prevent the vote during a joint appearance with Bedie, “In order to increase eff iciency from going forward. who was president from 1993-1999. in containing the fire, we have The move by former president Henri Aff i, who was premier in 2000-2003, started using a helicopter Konan Bedie and former premier Pascal called on opposition supporters to since this afternoon,” Hamisi Aff i N’Guessan injects fresh uncertainty “prevent the holding of all operations Kigwangalla, minister for natural into the race, in which Ouattara is seeking connected to the election and apply the resources and tourism, said in a a third term despite opposition claims that call for a boycott by all legal means at statement late yesterday. doing so violates the constitution. their disposal”. The fire erupted on Sunday in Protests against Ouattara’s candidacy in Besides complaining that Ouattara the Whona area, a rest centre August led to more than a dozen deaths is violating the constitution, Aff i and for climbers using Mandara and stoked fears of a new political crisis in Bedie have accused the ruling party of and Horombo, two of the the world’s top cocoa-producing country. manipulating the electoral process. routes that tourists take up the Former president Laurent Gbagbo’s The boycott leaves only one candidate, mountain. refusal to concede defeat to Ouattara Bedie’s former ally Kouadio Konan Hundreds of firefighters after the 2010 election sparked a brief civil Bertin, in the race against Ouattara. including residents and war that killed 3,000 people and cratered Ouattara’s allies have said they will students have been battling to the West African economy. participate in the election regardless of extinguish the blaze. “We invite our supporters across whether their opponents boycott.

Qatar Charity elects new board of directors

QNA technical solutions, in light of the risks Regulatory Authority for Charitable Doha and challenges. Activities in order to complete all the He added that the General Assembly evaluation requirements. intensifi ed its eff orts, achievements The report highlighted Qatar atar Charity General Assembly and its place in the international hu- Charity’s strategy 2020-2024, which held its 27th ordinary meeting manitarian work system, and contin- the General Assembly prepared dur- Qin the presence of Chairman of ued its partnership and co-operation ing 2019, in order to enhance its abil- the Board of Directors Sheikh Hamad with UN agencies and international ity to foresee the future, rationalise bin Nasser bin Jassim al-Thani. organisations. the use of its resources in achieving The assembly elected its new Board The fi nancial report showed that the desired impact, and compliance of Directors. donations and revenues of Qatar Char- with the requirements of strategic The meeting reviewed the annual ity amounted to more than QR1.42bn, planning. report of the Board on the perform- while it spent during the past year As for partnerships and interna- ance of Qatar Charity, its fi nancial more than QR1.29bn. tional presence, the report empha- statements and the results of its work, The report noted that the assistance sised that Qatar Charity has inten- as well as its local achievements and provided by Qatar Charity covered 50 sified its presence in international international partnerships. countries during the past year. events over the past year, in order to Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim The development and humanitar- highlight its efforts, achievements al-Thani was re-elected as chairman ian aid benefi ted about 10mn people and its status in the international of the Board. around the world. system. He said Qatar Charity achieved The report also touched on the Qatar Charity organised an event many accomplishments at the local preparation for the next assessment on the sidelines of the United Na- and international levels, stressing its of Qatar by the International Financial tions General Assembly in New York commitment to accountability, trans- Action Task Force (FATF). on sport and refugee empowerment, parency, compliance with laws regu- Permanent and intense co-ordina- and hosted the annual meeting of the lating charity work, activating internal tion took place over the past year with START NETWORK, which was held control and possessing appropriate the Enhanced Support Team of the for the fi rst time in the Middle East. Gulf Times 4 Friday, October 16, 2020 COMMUNITY World Mental Health Day ACS Doha focuses on emotional wellbeing

tion between teachers, parents, 360-approach to well-being ac- By Alka Maher and students has been the suc- counts for activities spanning cessful trial launch of the Mid- mind, body, and soul. In addi- ne in four people in the dle Years Programme (MYP) tion to supporting mental health world will be aff ected by eAssessment. Recognising the through school counsellors, Oa mental health problem barriers students were fac- the rigorous sports programme according to the World Health ing in taking online exams, the compliments student health. Organisation. MYP eAssessment was specifi - The new 60,000 square metres The ongoing Covid-19 crisis cally designed to give students landmark campus has dedicated has exacerbated this by creating a space to experience examina- spaces for athletics, swimming, a situation of uncertainty, exac- tion ahead of scheduled exams and fi tness. A 25-metre swim- erbating feelings of apprehen- and become equipped with the ming pool and learners pool, an sion and anxiety. skills needed to succeed in on- all-weather track and a football The pandemic has shown us line learning. pitch are meant to attract stu- dents across all levels and in- DPS-MIS organises how exactly mental health can Alka Maher ACS Doha’s focus on wellness aff ect a society and heightened is complimented by teacher spire them to engage in physical the need to pay attention to is- grammes we have incorporated trainings and awareness work- activities to promote a balanced sues of emotional wellbeing. in response to it, we are guided shops run for the benefi t of wellbeing. Following social distancing by a fl uid, comprehensive and the community. The school’s Our understanding of men- tal health has increased expo- educative webinar and work or study from home adaptive attitude which aspires strong relationship with Sidra practices, feelings of isolation to educate and care for the per- Medicine, one of Qatar’s leading nentially over the last couple of have arisen, bringing a host of son as a whole. medical research and healthcare years. Today, it is imperative to PS-Modern Indian created a situation of uncer- discussed about stress and im- mental health concerns to the In the face of Covid-19, we providers, developed training pay attention to our thoughts, School (DPS-MIS) re- tainty and anxiety and height- pact of the current pandemic surface of society. An increase doubled our eff orts in providing programmes which bring in li- our patterns, and our behav- Dcently observed World ened the need for paying at- on the mental health of the in psychological disorders like support to our students, par- censed medical professionals to iours as to how they may be im- Mental Health day with an tention to issues of mental and students. They shared diff erent anxiety, depression and added ents and staff . From welcoming the school to touch upon vari- pacting our overall mood. More informative webinar cover- emotional wellbeing. techniques and gave practical introversion in school-aged parent drop-ins at the Well- ous topics. so, creating awareness around ing overall objectives of rais- “DPS-MIS prioritises the tips to cope up with stress and children from the lack of social ness Centre at school, to one- Through frequent feedback mental health as part of school ing awareness about mental wellbeing of its students and to overcome all barriers. They interaction have become ma- on-one sessions where we en- from our student body and par- can help equip future genera- health issues and mobilising leaves no stone unturned to pro- advised the students to follow jor concerns for schools that couraged students to ‘rate your ents, we learn how eff ective our tions with the right emotional eff orts to ingrain the best prac- vide them a favourable atmos- a routine, have time manage- are striving to keep educational mood’ in online conversations, programmes are, and how we tools and coping mechanisms tices among the students es- phere for their development.” ment, prioritise nutrition, ex- continuity while keeping stu- we maintained open and hon- can improve them. needed to navigate an increas- pecially during the Covid-19 Saying where there is a will, ercise, meditate, practice and dents’ mental health afl oat. est communication channels to Student Voice, ACS Doha’s ingly complex world. crisis. The session, conducted there is a way, the principal en- promote hygiene, and develop The question is to what ex- better understand the wellbeing student-run advocacy club, (Alka Maher, Middle & High by the counselling department couraged the attendees to over- attitude of forgiveness. tent as teachers and caregivers of the entire community. alongside surveys, and conver- School counsellor at ACS Doha, of DPS-MIS, was live streamed come negativity of mind and The programme was com- have we nurtured resilience in Our open communication sations with parents have fos- holds extensive previous expe- on Facebook and was attended urged the parents to strengthen pered by Priti Ketanbhai Modi, the face of mental health issues; within the community gives us tered a close relationship be- rience in working with children by the parents and the students. the students spiritually and activity co-ordinator for class- and what more can we do to the foresight needed in tailor- tween caregivers, students and and adults who struggle with a Asna Nafees, DPS-MIS prin- emotionally. IX to XII, and Chinmayee safeguard the emotional well- ing programmes like the ACS the community at large, allow- variety psychological disorders cipal, in her address, said the Asima Iqbal Bakshi and Mel- Pathak, activity co-ordinator being of students at school. Doha Advisory Programme. Run ing us to gauge the real impact of including anxiety, depression, ongoing pandemic crisis had bin Siji, DPS-MIS counsellors, for class-VI to VIII. ACS International School once a week, the Advisory Pro- our practices. The results of our obsessive compulsive disorder, Doha places a high level of im- gramme seeks to address issues quarterly surveys have shown a and post-traumatic stress dis- portance on mental health, in- that directly or indirectly cause positive trend in student senti- order. At ACS Doha her role is tegrating it well within our core mental and physical health is- ment and overall alleviation of concentrated in actively pro- NIS holds awareness class philosophy and using it in our sues by incorporating various pandemic stress through our moting positive wellbeing across approach to education. From the themes each week ranging from comprehensive Covid–19 re- the community to incorporate practices we followed before the bullying to managing stress. sponse policies. healthier strategies into their pandemic to the additional pro- Another fruitful collabora- ACS Doha’s comprehensive day-to-day lives.) MES conducts webinar on mental wellbeing

As part of Mental Health Day, the Department of Guidance & Counselling at MES Indian School recently organised a webinar on the topic of ‘Importance of Mental Wellbeing’ for students and parents. Dr Bindu Salim, psychologist from HMC, was the guest speaker for the programme. Importance of mental wellbeing, digital addiction and impact of digital addiction, types of addiction (physical, social and psychological), digital detox or digital World Mental Health Day was recently observed at Noble International School (NIS) with the wellness, manifestations, message of ‘investing more in the field of mental health.’ An awareness class was organised online WHO and APA (American by Alisha Fatima, school counsellor. In her interactive session, she spoke on the need to equip Psychological Association) students to survive the crisis caused by Covid-19. Robin K Jose, vice-principal CCA, welcomed recommendations and all the participating parents. Shibu Abdul Rasheed, school principal, spoke about the need for strategies (disconnect to parents to be well aware of diff erent mental health issues. Jayamon Joy, vice principal Academics, reconnect) were the topics proposed vote of thanks. Heads of sections namely; Shihabuddin, Nizar and Asma Roshan were covered during the session. also present. Pakistan International School KSQ welcomes new Indian ambassador honours high achievers

akistan International mad from KG-I Silver, Moham- second and Dana Fawzi from Momina Ahmad, the shining School (PIS) recently or- ed Ali from KG-I Purple, Mar- 2-B claimed fi rst position. star of class 8, bagged fi rst posi- Pganised a ceremony at its yam Abid from KG-I Maroon, In class 3, Ayesha Mushtaq tion. Shanza Fatima Naqvi came premises to honour academic Jasim Abdul Rehman from KG-I from 3-H secured third posi- second while Saleha Khattak excellence. Nargis Raza Otho, Lemon, Aiza Raees from KG-I tion. Sarim Fazil Naqvi from secured third position in all sec- PISQ principal, was the chief Blue, and Rania Abid from KG-I 3-D came second while Fajer tions of class 8. guest. She congratulated all the Green, were given laudatory Sajid of 3-F stood fi rst. Position holders of the boys position holders and praised certifi cates and medals. In class 4, third position was wing were then awarded medals their eff orts to be the best. Hania Mohamed from KG- shared by Ahmed Hossam from and certifi cates. The programme commenced II A, Umaima.el.Abbasi from 4-B and Farah Wajid from 4-H. In class 5, Khalilullah from with recitation of the Holy KG-II B, Amna Afaf from KG- Ayesha Rashid from 4-A stood 5-A secured third position. Sha- Qur’an verses, followed by II C, Ayesha Shahid from KG- second while Maryam Ali from waiz Tahir from 5-A stood sec- oath-taking of the elected Head II D, Minal Khan from KG-II 4-J bagged the fi rst position. ond while Abubakar Mohamed Boy Mohamed Ikram and Head E, Mahra Akbar from KG-II F, Brilliant students of the sen- Qureshi from 5-C bagged fi rst Girl Eiman Iftikhar. Abiha Amjad from KG-II G, ior girls wing took the stage position. The award-distribution cer- and Kaainat Ali from KG-II H, next. With a percentage of 97.17, emony started with the kin- were given awards for their out- In class 5, Isra Rashid got Manzoor stood first in class dergarten students, who were standing performance through- third position. Maheen Zahid 6. Abdul Rafay stood sec- awarded for outstanding re- out the academic session. stood second while Javeria Sar- ond while Mohamed Mansoor sults and overall behaviour In class 1, Maha Mazhar and faraz bagged fi rst position. came third. during the academic year 2019- Zainab Abid of 1-C shared the As far as the results of class 6, In class 7, Saif Raza Naqvi Karnataka Sangha Qatar (KSQ) management committee representatives recently welcomed 2020. third position. Amama from 1-F Laiba Hina stood fi rst. Dua Amir from 7-D took third position. India’s new ambassador to Qatar, Dr Deepak Mittal, during a meeting at the embassy premises. The young students included; secured second position and secured second position and Abdul Hadi of 7-A stood second The KSQ members briefed the ambassador about their regular activities in Qatar; particularly Inaya Tehreem from pre-KG fi rst position was jointly bagged Syeda Maryam Rizwan came and Bilal Zada from 7-A came blood donation camps, Kannada language classes and other socio-cultural activities for the Lily, Rania Mohsin from pre-KG by Mohamed Saadan Khan of third. fi rst. benefit not only for expatriates from Karnataka but also for the society in general. Tulip, and Alishah Ali from pre- 1-D and Mohamed Yousuf Atif In class 7, Ahlam Rashid stood In class 8, Mohamed Asjad Ambassador Mittal congratulated KSQ for engaging people in diff erent community activities. He KG Jasmine. of 1-I. Among the overall posi- at the top. Maimoona Luqman Kamran came third. Abdullah spoke specifically about the Kannada classes and its importance in keeping regional languages In the KG-I group; Fahad Arif tion holders of class 2, Manha came second while third posi- Ahsan stood second and the top alive for the generations to come. He also thanked and encouraged KSQ for keeping the from KG-I Red, M Faizan Faisal Fatime from 2-C came third. tion was secured by Sabah Im- position was snatched by Mirza humanitarian work going. KSQ team gifted a small token of good gesture to the ambassador. from KG-I Orange, Abdul Sa- Mohamed Hamdan of 2-G stood tiaz. Asad. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 5 COMMUNITY Doha-based Syrian artist mints demonstration coins for Qatar

By Mudassir Raja He got the chance to turn Gold, silver and bronze were Staff Reporter his idea into reality as he got the coinage metals of the an- enough time to study and work cient world and most medieval on the idea during the recent civilisations.” Doha-based Syrian pandemic lockdown. To further elaborate his art artist has minted nine During a recent interview pieces, Bachir spoke about the Ademonstration metal with Gulf Times, Bachir spoke coinage during diff erent Islam- coins with details related to the about his novel idea and how he ic Caliphates.“Among the fi n- era of all rulers of Qatar. got it done. est coins to be made were the An ongoing exhibition of the Regarding how he conceived ones produced by the Islamic coins – Process – at Katara – the idea of having demonstra- Caliphates since the 7th Cen- the Cultural Village, will con- tion coinage of Qatar rulers tury. Muslims generally minted tinue until November 6. since 1851, he said: “Money is coins in three kinds of metal. Bachir Mohamed, artist and not only a tool, which implies “The fi rst type is a gold coin designer, has been living in Qa- purchase value of needs, but called the dinar, Arabic (dinar), tar for about 14 years now. also an image of power. Money, which was borrowed via the Holding a Bachelor’s degree as it is known today, fi rst ap- Syriac (dinara) from the Greek Bachir Mohamed, artist and designer. in Fine Arts, Bachir started his peared in the form of coins, (denarion), itself from the career in numerous projects mainly a communication tool Latin (denarius).The second is previous Islamic Caliphates, Islamic and Arab world. The as assistant to the acting de- as a signifi cant indicator pre- a silver coin called the dirham, how would the currency be? creative project consists of signer, second to the designer- senting purchasing power.” derived from the Sassanian “For this project, a coin is minted gold coins (dinar), sil- in-chief of art and design ele- In terms of its cultural func- drachm, which was itself based defi ned as an object that is a ver coins (dirham), and bronze ments. tion, coin is also signifi er of so- on the Roman dram/drachm, scaled-down representation coins (fi ls).” For his artistic and creative cial position or status as a so- coming from drachma (the of a real or imagined original The artists has created as designs and art works, he has ciologic phenomenon.“Coins Greek coin). The third is a cop- and which is manufactured and many as nine coins for eight received various awards. were fi rstly made of metals and per coin called the fi ls (Arabic presented for demonstration rulers of Qatar with two coins The artist has been nurtur- their value was determined by plural: fulus), where the name purposes only which will never highlighting the tenure of His ing the idea of creating dem- the value of the metal content, is a modulation of follis, Ro- be used for monetisation. This Highness the Amir Sheikh onstration coins each for every so that it was accepted pub- man and later Byzantine cop- project is not a listing or cata- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ruler of Qatar since 1851 to licly. Historically, most coinage per coin.” loguing exercise. and one coin each for the rest highlight diff erent aspects of metals are from copper, gold The main question for the “It is aimed at providing in- of seven rulers. “I used mod- the local culture and achieve- and silver. The copper usually artist was: what if Qatar used formational value and dimen- ern technology and equipment ments of each ruler till present augmented with tin and often a similar administrative mone- sion to revive the legacy of the to fi nalise and mint the coins”, day. other metals to form bronze. tary issuance to the ones of the historical leading coins in the said Bachir. DPS-MIS students go on virtual tour of supermarket Area 23 conducts Youth

Leadership Programme fi nale Nursery children at DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) were recently shown a video named rea 23 recently conducted gramme quality director; Ra- as D-Bank Gavel Club will be ‘Field Trip to the Supermarket’. a mega fi nale for the Youth ghavan Menon, immediate past mentored by Doha Bank toast- Introducing nutritious food at ALeadership Programme District director; Rajeswar Sun- masters under Area 23. a young age leads to healthier (YLP) 2020 in three batches. The daresan, past District director; There was also a demo gavel eating patterns throughout life. programme was sponsored by and Anil Nair, Division F direc- meeting by the YLP partici- The children were educated about three clubs – Doha Bank Toast- tor; made felicitation speeches. pants. The children showcased various food items and how a masters Club, EF Toastmasters The highlight of the event was the talents they acquired in the healthy food plate can be prepared. Club and Malaysian Toastmas- the keynote speech by Craig Val- past eight weeks. The event The virtual tour was an innovative ters Club – under District 116, entine, World Champion in Pub- was attended by the District way for the teachers also to Division F, and Area 23. lic Speaking, on the topic, ‘Get- leaders, the Division directors, incorporate technology into their The YLP benefi ted about 75 ting Remarkable Result in life’. Area directors, Club leaders and lesson plans and daily activities. children from diff erent nation- The speech was followed by the toastmasters. Members of The children got involved in the alities like Indian, Pakistani, a question and answer session various clubs, gravellier, YLP video. They said that they would Malaysian, Egyptian, and Singa- handled by Gavel Aadithya. participants and their parents henceforth turn towards a healthy porean. The event was opened by Meanwhile, a new gavel club from various countries logged lifestyle. Sabari Prasad, Area 23 director. was launched by Rajesh V C, Dis- in for the event taking the total Thayalan K, District 116 direc- trict club growth director, and number of attendees close to tor; Sunil D K, Region 11 adviser; Saad, Doha Bank Toastmasters 300. The event was concluded Manzoor Moideen, District pro- Club president. The club named by Sabari Prasad. Blood donation camp held at Aster

Qatar Bloggers-Photographers and Indian Meetup Friends (IMF) recently organised a blood donation camp at Aster Medical Center, Al Hilal. The camp was held in association with the medical centre and Hamad Medical Corporation. More than 40 registered volunteers donated blood. The donors were from IMF, Qatar Bloggers group and Aster Medical Center. The camp was organised in a safe and secure environment with assistance and support from Hamad Medical staff s and Aster volunteers. The camp also included blood tests examining haemoglobin levels of the donors, the type of blood donated and a set of questionnaire for the donors regarding their health history. The donors were also credited with a certificate from Aster to avail some free services for future visits.

Brit reveals thrill of watching rare migratory birds in Qatar

By Mudassir Raja within its National Vision a public park in Al Ruwais, illus- Staff Reporter 2030. trating the fact you never quite The country is also considered know what you might fi nd, or an important stop for migratory where.” easonal migration of birds birds fl ying thousands of kilome- For Tull, education and aware- from one region to another tres to fi nd the best conditions to ness about the migratory birds Sis an age-old natural phe- breed and raise their chicks. is essential in keeping them safe nomenon. In addition, Qatar is con- and healthy during their long The times have changed but sidered a permanent habitat of journey.“Migratory birds face migratory birds still travel with- around 300 diff erent types of all sorts of hazards during their out passports and visas. birds. Wryneck Caspian plover Yellow-Browed Warbler travels. The more that govern- World Migratory Bird Day, Simon Tull, a British expatri- ments can do to create and main- observed worldwide recently, is ate in Doha, has long been a bird- watching birds that might have The Brit is very excited when I found and photographed a tain safe green spaces where the an awareness-raising campaign watcher and photographer. arrived there from as far away as about watching birds in Qa- wryneck – a type of woodpecker birds can rest and feed the better highlighting the need for the He is well-known for his keen Simon Tull Siberia, a journey of thousands of tar and shared his experience – and a bird I have only seen three it will be for them. conservation of the migratory interest and deep knowledge about kilometres that they were able to of finding some rare birds times in all the years I have been “Education is important too birds and their habitats. the migratory birds in Qatar. fairs and politics. I am also a huge complete in just a few days. You here.“Qatar is on a migration birdwatching. and governments have a part to The day aims to draw attention To highlight the phenom- cricket fan.” never quite know what you will route or flyway between Eu- “The name of this bird refers to play here too. I feel it is crucial to the threats faced by migratory enon of birds’ migration in and Tull, who started birdwatch- see when you head out on a bird- rope, Asia and Africa. Birds the way in which it twists its neck that we understand our proper birds, their ecological impor- through Qatar, Gulf Times spoke ing as hobby when he was a watching trip. migrate through Qatar heading into all sorts of contortions. place in the natural world and tance, and the need for interna- to the birdwatcher recently. young boy, gets fascinated by “One day there could be noth- north in the springtime and “Earlier this summer I was that we impart this understand- tional co-operation to conserve Tull, who is a geologist by pro- the fact that the birds travel ing much to see and the next day south in the autumn. fortunate to fi nd some Caspian ing in our children. Migrating them. fession, said: “I live in Doha with thousands of miles in very few there could be huge numbers of “Many diff erent types of birds plovers, a rare wading bird which birds can turn up in our gardens Qatar, represented by the Min- my wife. We just celebrated our days. “I began birdwatching birds. There is always some ex- can be seen at these times. Over is seen only very occasionally in and parks, on farms, along the istry of Municipality and Envi- 30th wedding anniversary this when I was just 13. I was fortu- citement and a great sense of an- 300 species of birds have been Qatar. Wading birds are my fa- coast and so on. Do look out for ronment (MME), has also marked year. We have two sons, both nate that there were a lot of very ticipation. recorded in Qatar over the years vourite group so this was a very them but remember that their the day. working in London. I have a PhD good birdwatching locations “In recent years, I have been and the vast majority is migra- special fi nd for me. I also discov- interests should come fi rst, so Qatar in particular pays in geology and work here for an close to where I grew up on the taking a lot of photographs of the tory. ered a yellow-browed warbler please try not to disturb them or great attention to preserving oil company. south coast of England. birds that I fi nd. This has added a “I can highlight a few recent this time last year. harm them.” the environment and consid- “My main interests other than “Many of the species I saw whole new dimension to my hob- experiences which I have great- “This is a tiny bird which The birdwatcher recently built ers this as part of the goals birdwatching are landscape pho- were migratory and I was fas- by. I love the creative and techni- ly enjoyed. Last month, I was breeds in the forests of north- a website – qatarbirds.org – of environment development tography, cooking, current af- cinated by the fact that I was cal aspects of photography.” birdwatching on the north coast ern Asia and yet it turned up in which is a good starting point. Gulf Times 6 Friday, October 16, 2020 COMMUNITY LEISURE/HOROSCOPE

Wordsearch Super Cryptic Clues Adam

Pooch Cafe

BLUSH GARNET TITIAN CRIMSON RUDDY CLARET ROUGE CARMINE PINK BURGUNDY GLOWING VERMILION FLUSHED SCARLET COPPER Across Down RUBY CERISE ROSY CARDINA MANDARIN 1 Pens producing plain blots 1 The injuries of a Scottish (10) poet? (5) 7 Fish worn on woman’s 2 Girl playing with soil (4) Codeword finger? (7) 3 Temple for a deity in Garfield Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. 8 Binder for recording (4) Pennsylvania (6) Squares with the same number in have the same let- 10 Not liable to run quickly (4) 4 Not completely skint, here ter in. Work out which number represents which letter. 11 Had sieve fixed with glue (8) debtor is overdrawn (2,3,3) 13 One nurse forced to pay 5 Cut of meat for league protection money? (6) leaders? (7) 15 Just adjust my reel (6) 6 Bird finding husks in church 17 Cleaner fuel as drawing (9) material (8) 9 Dry out! Heated? Dry out! 18 Just average (4) (9) 21 Tragic queen revealing 12 ‘Sucre’, oft translated as identification amidst ‘sugar’ (8) celebration (4) 14 Lying as alternative to 22 Take care - only insiders murder? (7) can do this (4,3) 16 Graduate has to report 23 This may please a card about dance (6) player a lot (1,5,4) 19 A payment for a coral island (5) 20 Solitary advance, we hear Bound And Gagged (4) Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

Solution Sudoku

Answers Codeword Wordsearch

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a ٩x٩ grid. The grid is also divided into nine (٣x٣) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every .anone is repeated

Colouring Horoscope ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Don’t be surprised if the old-fashioned, practical solution doesn’t You may be able to zip through chores like lightning today, Taurus. You’re likely to go to extremes today on many levels, Gemini. The make the grade today, Aries. Probably the new devices and special There’s an added swiftness to your step that helps in every one of problem is that you may encounter opposition everywhere you electronic shortcuts will be the most impressive thing going. This is your endeavours. You might want to engage in just about every turn. There’s an incredible stubbornness to the day that is evident in the classic case of the new, improved version replacing the old, slow activity except work. This is completely understandable. You will everyone’s mood, especially yours. Keep in mind that if you want co- one. You need to upgrade your system sooner or later, so you might feel much better if you get your work done first and then socialise. operation and resolution, you will need to compromise. Try to see as well do it now. That plan will produce the best results. other people’s needs as well. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Grab hold of the day’s boisterous energy and run with it, Cancer. You might be frustrated by the fact that people are doing things People may come into conflict with you today, Virgo. More than This is a good time to kick up your heels and have fun. You might hastily today, Leo. You might have to accept the fast-paced energy likely, the issue at hand will have to do with others being a bit too find that people are a bit more high-strung than usual, so you may of the day just so you can keep up. Don’t worry if you engage in focused on themselves, while you’re more concerned with the need to use your ability to go with the flow. The more relaxed you activities that aren’t carefully planned beforehand. You will find collective. Try to be a bit more understanding as people demand are, the more relaxed others will be when they’re around you. spontaneous frivolity to be extremely rewarding on a day like this. more of your attention. There’s an unmistakable passion in the air Expect the unexpected. that will grant you more zest for life. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Jump-start the day with a smile, Libra. Your generosity and There could be an unexpected tension coming out of nowhere Your slow and steady approach might be met with a bit of sincerity won’t go unnoticed on a day like this. People will probably today, Scorpio. More than likely your emotions will be running at a opposition today, Sagittarius. People could be demanding of your need more attention than usual, so take the time to attend to high level. It could be that your aggressiveness and assertiveness time and energy. It’s one of those days in which the people behind the emotions of those you love. The key is to not let yourself get start to annoy others. People might snap suddenly. Don’t be you in line at a coff ee shop might give you angry and annoyed looks emotionally drained in the process. Fill yourself up with the lively, surprised if things come without much warning. There is a fast- if you take too long to make up your mind. fun-loving energy of the day. paced feeling to the day that will be hard to ignore. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

This is a terrific day for you, Capricorn, and you will find that the fast Do your best to keep up today, Aquarius. Things might move This is a good time to take control of the situation, Pisces. You’ve pace of the day suits you well for what you need to get done. There’s quickly. You may be raising your hand and waiting politely for done your preparation and now it’s time to put it to good use. You’re a general feeling of grandeur in the air that reminds you to take someone to call on you. This is one of those days in which other about to face your enemy eye to eye. Have confidence in your your time when getting dressed. Feel free to go all out today. Put on people will be so concerned about themselves that they probably training. There’s an extra alertness to you that helps you fight any a lavish display wherever you go. won’t notice you at all. If you want to take your turn, you should battles. You have a strong awareness of the energy around you, so probably just stand up and be proactive. use this to your advantage. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 7 WORLD

Trump, Biden to headline duelling town halls Harris pauses in-person campaigning

Reuters virtually after he contracted the according to the US Elections Video footage from local media Reuters virus on Wednesday and was member had tested positive for Washington coronavirus. Project at the University of Flor- showed large numbers of people Washington set to be tested again yesterday, the virus. A fi nal debate is still scheduled ida. waiting for the polling centres had planned an aggressive travel Both of them travelled with for October 22 in Nashville, Ten- Voters are seeking to avoid to open in Greensboro and Win- schedule in the run-up to the the Democratic senator during a S President Donald nessee. in-person lines on Election Day ston-Salem, and gathering in the S Democratic vice-pres- November 3 election between campaign trip in Arizona on Oc- Trump and Democratic With less than three weeks to to stay safe as coronavirus in- pre-dawn hours to vote at two idential nominee Kamala her running mate Joe Biden and tober 8. Uchallenger Joe Biden were go until the November 3 vote, the fections and hospitalisations arenas in the state’s largest city UHarris cancelled travel President Donald Trump. Harris was not in close contact due to hold duelling prime-time Republican president is search- continue to rise, but are also of Charlotte. plans through Sunday as a pre- She had been scheduled to with either infected person dur- town halls yesterday instead of a ing for ways to change the dy- concerned about the possibility Gerry Cohen, a member of caution after one of her staff appear in North Carolina, a ing the two days prior to their second debate, which was to have namics of a race in which Biden that Trump will challenge widely the election board in the county members tested positive for competitive battleground state diagnosis, the Biden campaign been held virtually, as early vot- has a double-digit advantage in used mail-in ballots, after he that includes most of the city Covid-19, the Biden campaign where early voting just started said in a statement and call with ers continued to swamp polling some national polls. claimed without evidence that of Raleigh, reported more than said in a statement. and Trump is due to campaign as reporters. places. More than 17mn Americans they are fraudulent. 400 people waiting in line at a The Covid-19 respiratory dis- well. Harris wore a mask during the Trump pulled out of the have cast ballots either in person North Carolina, a highly-com- community centre before polls ease is caused by the highly-con- However, the campaign said it fl ight she shared with Allen and scheduled debate when the com- or by mail so far, representing petitive state, began more than opened. tagious coronavirus. learned late on Wednesday that the fl ight crew member, who mission in charge of organising 12.5% of the total votes counted two weeks of in-person early “I’ve never seen this many in Harris, who the campaign said Harris’s communications direc- both tested negative before and the event said it would be held in the 2016 general election, voting yesterday. line here,” he said on Twitter. tested negative for the corona- tor, Liz Allen, and a fl ight crew after the fl ight.

Cyprus parliament speaker resigns over ‘golden passport’ scandal

The speaker of the Cypriot parliament resigned yesterday after he was secretly filmed allegedly trying to facilitate a passport for a fugitive investor. Demetris Syllouris insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing Thais ignore protest but said he had decided to step down for the good of the off ice, after the corruption allegations broadcast by Al Jazeera tarnished Cyprus’s image as a European Union member. “I have not violated the law in any way, but my resignation removes any pretext that my presence in the off ice of speaker hinders in any way the smooth functioning of parliament,” Syllouris said in his resignation letter. On Tuesday, the government announced it will scrap its ban in the thousands controversial “golden passports” scheme for foreign investors from next month. Reuters protests could impact you in the The scheme – which has generated €7bn ($8.25bn) – will be Bangkok future.” brought to an end on November 1. Police put the number of pro- Under the soon-to-be-scrapped scheme, the government grants a testers at 10,000. passport in exchange for an investment of €2.5mn ($3mn). ens of thousands of Thai Protesters chanted for the re- protesters cheered and lease of some 40 activists arrest- Tchanted into the night in ed this week. Duterte approves resumption of central Bangkok yesterday in a Some also called out insults show of mass defi ance to a ban on against the king – until recently energy projects in South China Sea demonstrations designed to end almost unheard of behaviour in more than three months of anti- a country where the constitution Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has lifted the moratorium government action. says he must be revered. on petroleum exploration in the South China Sea, paving the way As they dispersed at 10pm Closing the protest, student for three projects to resume, including a possible joint venture with (1500 GMT), protesters pledged leader Jutatip Sirikhan called on China. to return to the same place every people to return at 5pm today and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said yesterday that service day. daily thereafter. contractors were notified to resume energy-related activity in Growing demonstrations have Three months of protests in the area, which had been suspended from 2014 due to territorial targeted King Maha Vajiralong- the country of 70mn have been disputes. korn as well as Prime Minister largely peaceful, as was a march China claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to be rich Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former by tens of thousands on Wednes- in energy and marine resources. junta leader, in the biggest chal- day. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims. lenge for years to an establish- But in one incident, police Last year Duterte said Beijing had off ered Manila a controlling stake ment long dominated by the pushed jeering protesters away in a joint energy venture in the South China Sea, if it sets aside an army and palace. from a motorcade carrying international arbitral award that went against China. “Like dogs cornered, we are Queen Suthida. The Philippines had imposed the moratorium while awaiting a fi ghting till our deaths,” Pan- Overnight the government ruling in a case by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, upong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, banned political gatherings of which in 2016 invalidated China’s claim to sovereignty over most of one the high-profi le protest fi ve or more people and the pub- A pro-democracy protester in chains and make-up is seen during a demonstration at a road intersection in the South China Sea. leaders who remains free, told lication of news and online in- Bangkok. the crowd. “We won’t fall back. formation that could threaten We won’t run away. We won’t go national security. arch under lese majeste laws is 15 lished with a rainbow, Panusaya fortune and some army units. Russia withdraws from MH17 talks anywhere.” Riot police swiftly cleared a years in jail. urged protesters to keep fi ghting. Anger in Thailand has been Protesters ignored police ap- protest camp outside Prayut’s of- Police said they had arrested “You might all see leaders dis- exacerbated by the economic The Dutch government urged Russia to return to the negotiating peals to disperse and spilled from fi ce. protest leaders Parit “Penguin” appearing one by one, but we’re impact of the coronavirus – even table after Moscow said it was withdrawing from talks on liability the Ratchaprasong Intersection “The measures were neces- Chiwarak and rights lawyer Ar- actually always with you,” she greater than in other parts of for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. across streets and walkways, sary to ensure peace and order,” non Nampa overnight. wrote. Southeast Asia because of the Russia’s foreign ministry said it was abandoning the discussions their mobile phones shimmering government spokesman Anucha Student leader Panusaya The protest movement aims importance of tourism. with the Netherlands and Australia, saying they were not genuinely in the night. Burapachaisri said in a state- “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul was to remove Prayut, saying that he The Chinese government’s top interested in establishing the truth about what happened and had The location was the scene of ment. taken away in a wheelchair. manipulated an election last year diplomat, State Councillor Wang launched legal proceedings against it. bloodshed in 2010, during more He rejected accusations from Arnon said on Facebook that to keep hold of power. Yi, agreed at a meeting with MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was than a decade of violence be- some government critics that the he was taken to Chiang Mai, He says the election was fair. Prayut yesterday to speed up the shot down by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Russian tween supporters and opponents motorcade incident was an ex- where he faces sedition charges Those marching on the streets transfer of people and goods and rebels during fighting in eastern Ukraine, international investigators of the Thai establishment. cuse to crack down. over a speech in August. also want a new constitution and on future economic co-opera- say. “All protesters will be prose- Thai media reported that ar- Panusaya and Parit also face have called for a reduction in the tion, Chinese state news agency All 298 people on board were killed, two-thirds of them Dutch cuted,” the deputy head of Bang- rest warrants had been issued sedition charges over comments powers of the king. Xinhua said. nationals. kok police, Piya Tawichai, said against two people for injuring at previous protests, their lawyer They want his role to be clearly The European Union, mean- After years of collecting evidence, a Dutch-led international Joint at a news conference. “I would the queen – which can carry a life said. subject to the constitution and while, called on Thailand to re- Investigation team (JIT) last year said the missile launcher used to like us to warn the children and sentence, whereas the maximum They all deny the charges. seek the reversal of orders that spect the rights of detainees and hit the civilian airplane came from a Russian army base just across youth: participating in these penalty for insulting the mon- In a handwritten note embel- gave him control of the palace urged restraint from all sides. the border. The Netherlands holds Russia responsible and has started legal proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights. Kyrgyz Bickering sinks Karabakh ceasefi re hopes Police raid homes of French off icials Police raided the homes and off ices of France’s health minister, its public health director and former prime minister yesterday as president Reuters fears of a humanitarian disaster. in Azerbaijan that carry natural Around 40 settlements had part of a judicial investigation into the country’s response to the Baku/Yerevan The ceasefi re brokered by gas and oil to international mar- already “been liberated from the coronavirus crisis. Russia last Saturday was in- kets, and raised concerns that occupiers”, Aliyev added. The probe aims to establish whether those in charge at the start of quits, PM tended to let the sides swap Turkey or Russia could be drawn Armenian Prime Minister the outbreak showed a “lack of will to fight a disaster”. opes of a humanitarian detainees and bodies of those into a wider confl ict. Nikol Pashinyan said his coun- Prime Minister Jean Castex said he has full confidence in Health ceasefi re ending fi ghting killed. Aliyev said the peace process try was ready to implement Minister Olivier Veran and public health director Jerome Salomon. takes over Hover Nagorno-Karabakh But it has had little impact could begin only if Turkey were ceasefi re agreements but self- BFM TV said the raids also targeted Veran’s predecessor Agnes sank yesterday as the death toll on the fi ghting in and around included in mediation talks, determination for Nagorno-Ka- Buzyn and former prime minister Edouard Philippe. mounted, and Armenia and Az- Nagorno-Karabakh, which is long driven by Russia, France rabakh, which broke away from Reuters erbaijan accused each other of internationally recognised as and the United States. Azeri control as the Soviet Un- Bishkek launching new attacks. part of Azerbaijan but is popu- “Turkey plays a role here and ion collapsed, was a “red line” Mexico court blocks bid for new party Azerbaijan’s president said lated by ethnic Armenians. that is Turkey’s right. It has been that could not be crossed. his country’s armed forces Several hundred people like that historically,” Aliyev told The Russian and Turkish for- Mexico’s top electoral tribunal has rejected former President Felipe yrgyz President would take control of all regions have been killed in the deadli- Turkish broadcaster NTV. eign ministers agreed by phone Calderon’s bid to register a new political party, citing insuff icient Sooronbai Jeenbekov re- surrounding the breakaway est fl are-up of the decades-old He said he did not advocate a that a peaceful resolution was proof on the origin of cash contributions, it said yesterday. Ksigned yesterday, leaving mountain territory if Armenia confl ict since a 1990s war over military solution but Azeri forc- the only option, Russian news Calderon, president from 2006 to 2012, and his wife Margarita power in the hands of a national- continued to “act negatively”. Nagorno-Karabakh killed about es could take all of Nagorno- agency RIA reported. Zavala, a presidential candidate in the 2018 election, had sought to ist rival whose supporters freed Armenia accused Azerbai- 30,000 people. Karabakh’s fi ve major regions if The authorities in Nagorno- register Mexico Libre (Free Mexico) after splitting with the centre- him from jail last week. jan’s ally, Turkey, of not allow- The ceasefi re’s failure to end Armenia did not set out a spe- Karabakh said 604 of the ter- right National Action Party (PAN). The swift transition appears to ing aircraft carrying emergency the fi ghting has stoked fears cifi c timeline to withdraw from ritory’s defence personnel had The upper chamber of the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) ruled put an end to more than a week aid to enter its airspace despite about the security of pipelines the area. been killed since September 27. by a majority vote to deny the registration. of turmoil and unrest that fol- lowed a disputed election. Sadyr Japarov, 51, who was named prime minister this week, told cheering supporters that he had taken on the powers of the UK queen makes fi rst outing in seven months presidency, following the resig- nation of Jeenbekov and of the parliament speaker, who would Reuters home, has carried out her offi cial mask drew criticism from some Porton Down, southwest Eng- otherwise have been next in line. London duties remotely by video or tel- as Britons are required to wear land, identifi ed the nerve agent “Today, (speaker Kanatbek) ephone, or at a royal residence, face coverings in shops and other used to attack Russian ex-spy Isayev signed a resignation let- since social restrictions were in- indoor venues, while others said Sergei Skripal and his daughter ter. All presidential powers ueen Elizabeth carried troduced. it gave a positive message to the Yulia in the nearby city of Salis- have fully passed to me today,” out her fi rst major en- For her fi rst public outing, she public when more restrictions bury two years ago. Japarov said. Qgagement since a coro- made a rare joint appearance are being imposed. Britain has accused two Rus- Jeenbekov is the third presi- navirus lockdown in March, vis- with her grandson Prince Wil- “She is sending a message of sian agents backed by Moscow of dent of the small Central Asian iting the Porton Down military liam, with neither wearing face- confi dence to the people; she’s carrying out the attack. nation since 2005 to be toppled research facility yesterday which masks although all involved were going back to work, she’ll go Russian offi cials are also ac- in a popular uprising. was involved in dealing with a socially distanced and staff had about her business in the usual cused of using Novichok to poi- Kyrgyzstan has been in tur- 2018 Novichok nerve agent at- been tested for Covid-19 prior to way, but without taking chanc- son Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny moil since an October 4 parlia- tack. their visit. es,” royal author Robert Jobson in August. mentary vote, which the oppo- Queen Elizabeth is seen at the Energetics Analysis Centre of the The 94-year-old monarch, The Covid-19 respiratory dis- told the Daily Mail website. During their trip, the royals sition rejected after Jeenbekov’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Science who spent Britain’s national ease is caused by the coronavirus. The top secret Defence Science met the Porton Down staff and allies were declared the winners. Park, near Salisbury. lockdown at her Windsor Castle The decision not to wear a and Technology Laboratory, in military personnel. Gulf Times 8 Friday, October 16, 2020 INDIA

ANGER DEFENCE OBITUARY SETBACK DECISION Next batch of Rafale jets Malayalam poet CCTV footage from Scientists deployed to tackle to arrive in November Akkitham dies aged 93 Hathras hospital ‘lost’ winter air pollution woes

The Indian Air Force is making preparations to Three weeks after eminent Malayalam poet The Central Bureau of Investigations probe into the Authorities sent teams of scientists out to various receive the second lot of Rafale combat aircraft Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was conferred Hathras rape and murder case hit their first road- parts of the capital, New Delhi, and surrounding built by French company Dassault Aviation with the Jnanpith award, the hugely popular block when the investigators found that the CCTV districts yesterday to clamp down on illegal fac- by next month. The force has sent a team of writer often referred to as Akkitham, died at a footage of September 14, the day the victim was tories and construction sites as part of eff orts to experts led by the assistant chief of air staff hospital in Thrissur yesterday. He was unwell brought in to the hospital, has been ‘lost’. Chief medi- combat worsening winter air pollution. Fifty teams (projects) to co-ordinate the logistical issues. for a few days. The 93-year-old literary icon was cal superintendent of the Hathras district hospital, from the Central Pollution Control Board will track The air force pilots are being trained in batches given the Jnanpith at his residence ‘Devay- Indra Veer Singh, said the hospital would have saved down industrial emissions, dust from building at the Saint-Dizier air base in France. India anam’ by Kerala Culture Minister A K Balan on the footage if the police had asked them to. “Previ- sites and smoke from burning rubbish – some Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha received the first batch of five Rafale aircraft on September 24. Akkitham was the sixth Keralite ous footage gets deleted every seven days and of the main sources of the city’s air pollution, En- (BJYM), youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party July 29 which were inducted to the 17 Squadron to be conferred the prestigious literary award. new footage gets recorded over it. We do not keep vironment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. The (BJP), shout slogans as they burn an eff igy of at the Ambala Air Base on September 10. India Akkitham’s work includes Irupatham Noot- a back-up unless specifically asked to,” he said. The teams will be authorised to recommend closure Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had signed an inter-governmental agreement tantinte Ithihasam, Balidarashanam and Dharma victim had first been taken to the district hospital for of illegal factories and can call for legal action during a protest against the attack on Punjab BJP with France to procure 36 of these aircraft at a Sooryan among over 45 works of poems, plays treatment after the incident and the footage could against those that violate rules at construction president Ashwani Sharma, in Amritsar yesterday. cost of Rs590bn. and short stories. have provided crucial evidence. sites and against the burning of waste. Kerala gold smuggling accused ‘linked to Dawood’

IANS 5 when he was allegedly facilitat- Kochi ing the smuggling of 30kg gold in a diplomatic baggage from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram. n a major development in the The case became murkier Kerala gold smuggling case, when the role of Swapna Suresh, Ithe National Investigation a former employee of the UAE Agency has found links between consulate and later employed one of the accused and India’s with the Kerala IT department, most wanted underworld don came to light. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his Her links stretched to the Ker- gang. ala chief minister as she had links The National Investigation to M Sivasankar, Kerala’s senior Agency probe has revealed that IAS offi cial and secretary to Pi- one of the accused visited Tan- narayi Vijayan. zania, where the 1993 Mumbai She later revealed that Sivas- accused has vast networks, to ankar was her mentor. launch his diamond business and After his links with Swapna to smuggle fi rearms. surfaced, Vijayan fi rst removed The submissions were made Sivasankar from the post of his Residents are evacuated from a flooded neighbourhood after heavy rainfall in Hyderabad yesterday. by the anti-terror probe agency secretary and also the state IT in a special NIA court here on secretary and later suspended Wednesday. him from service. “K T Ramees and M Sharafud- Swapna and her accomplice din visited Tanzania on several Sandip Nair, were arrested from occasions and met one of Da- their hideout in Bengaluru fi ve wood’s close aide Feroze ‘Oasis’ days later. and discussed ways to smuggle A multi-agency team started fi rearms into the country,” a Na- probing the case and 30 people 60 killed as rains wreak tional Investigation Agency offi - have been arrested so far. cial related to the probe claimed. Besides the NIA, the Enforce- The offi cial said that Ramees ment Directorate, Directorate of visited Tanzania fi rst in 2016 to Revenue Intelligence, Customs start a diamond business there. and Income Tax are also part of He then also smuggled 1kg the investigation. gold from Tanzania to the UAE The ED has also questioned havoc, crops damaged in 2017. Kerala Higher Education Minis- Ramees was caught with ter K T Jaleel. Reuters/IANS worth at least Rs20bon , the A few districts in Mahar- Nitin Kalantri, a trader from oc were rising waters in several 13 smuggled revolvers at the The NIA court in Kochi yester- Mumbai state chief minister’s office ashtra state received more Latur, Maharashtra. big and small rivers like Chan- Kozhikode airport in November day granted bail to 10 accused in said in a statement late yester- than 100mm rainfall in the Telangana and Maharashtra drabhaga (Solapur), Panchganga 2019 while returning from Du- the Kerala gold smuggling but two day. last 24 hours and the state, have so far in October received (Kolhapur), Terna (Latur & Os- bai, he added. of the main accused – Swapna and loods brought by heavy In Telangana 50 people died, including its capital Mumbai, 143% and 78% more rainfall than manabad) and in Pune. It was initially claimed that Sandeep – will remain in jail. rains and overfl owing riv- while in Maharashtra 10 peo- is likely to receive heavy to normal respectively, according Flood waters gushed into Ramees had brought the guns for In Delhi, minister of state for Fers across large swathes of ple were killed because of very heavy rainfall today, the to data compiled by IMD. huge tracts of farmlands, several the Palakkad rifl e club. However, external aff airs V Muraleedharan western and southern India have wall collapses, electrocution India Meteorological Depart- Maharashtra Chief Minister towns and villages, with people the charge was denied by the rifl e citied the NIA’s contention of a killed at least 60 people since and drowning in overfl owing ment (IMD) said in its daily Uddhav Thackeray said all dis- seen standing in knee-deep or club. Dawood link to the smuggling case Wednesday and damaged rice, streams, offi cials from the two forecast. aster relief agencies, police, fi re even chest-deep water in some Another National Investiga- and sought Vijayan’s resignation. cotton and other crops worth states said yesterday. The rains have damaged rice brigades, and medical services areas. tion Agency offi cial said that “We want the CM to resign as billions of rupees, offi cials said. Authorities in Hyderabad de- paddies in Telangana and And- have been deployed to render As a precautionary measure, they are checking all the details everything happened right un- The worst aff ected state was clared a holiday yesterday and hra Pradesh, while cotton, soy- assistance to the people. more than 1,500 people were of Ramees, as he has been linked der his nose. His secretary was Telangana, where excessive un- asked residents to stay indoors. bean and pulses were damaged “NDRF teams have been de- shifted to safer locations by the to gold smuggling as well as fi re- helping some of the accused. The seasonal rainfall on Wednesday Daily life has been disrupted in in Maharashtra and Karnataka, ployed in Osmanabad, at Pand- local district authorities as fl ood arms smuggling. main accused even said she vis- and yesterday fl ooded its capi- Hyderabad as many parts of the traders said. harpur and Solapur, and Bara- levels reached alarming levels. The gold smuggling case ited the CM’s offi cial residence tal Hyderabad, home to major city lost power in the fl ooding. “Soybean, pigeon peas and mati in Pune, while the army, Mumbai and surrounding dis- fi rst surfaced when P S Sarith, several times.When his offi ce companies and startups such as Residents posted pictures on black matpe crops have been navy and air force have been tricts of Raigad, Thane and Pal- a former employee of the UAE is under investigation how can Microsoft, Accenture, Amazon Twitter of fl oating cars, wa- damaged just before harvest- kept on high alert to help out in ghar were lashed by heavy rains consulate here, was arrested by he continue in his offi ce?” Mu- and TCS. terlogged homes, offi ces and ing. The quality of the harvested any emergencies,” he said. though there was no disruption the customs department on July raleedharan asked. The rains damaged crops streets. crop has also deteriorated,” said Compounding the rain’s hav- to normal routine.

Festival season set to Bollywood stays away send Covid cases surging as cinemas reopen Reuters/AFP new fi lms to cinemas for now Mumbai despite the upcoming festival Reuters generating vital income for many spike as bad winter air pollution season, when ticket sales usu- Bengaluru/Kolkata people. may worsen the breathing diffi cul- ally peak and audiences fl ock to “We will probably have more ties that many Covid-19 patients ovie theatres in some theatres. deaths out of starvation if the rural suff er. parts of country opened “It’s a chicken and egg situ- lready on track to overtake migratory population who fl ock to If current trends hold, India will Mfor the fi rst time in eight ation,” said Shibasish Sarkar, the US with the world’s cities during the festivals and earn overtake the infection tally of the months yesterday, but with no CEO of Reliance Entertainment, Amost novel coronavirus some money during the festivity US early next month. major Bollywood releases likely which has two big-ticket movies infections, the country is bracing are deprived of the opportunity,” It took Kerala, one of the coun- any time soon, beleaguered cine- waiting to be released. for a surge of cases in the coming said Subrata Mukherjee, a cabinet try’s most educated and developed ma owners worry about whether “We won’t know if audiences weeks as it heads into its main hol- minister in West Bengal, which has states, fi ve months to reach a tally audiences can be lured back to will come unless we release a iday season with an economy freed one of the country’s highest coro- of 5,000 confi rmed cases from the big screen. fi lm, but the big question is if of virus restrictions. navirus caseloads. its fi rst one in late January. In just All of the nearly 10,000 movie those audiences are enough,” he The recent experience of Kerala, “With sowing and transplant- over three months since, how- screens have remained shut since said. which was praised for its initial ing operations of paddy being ever, its infections have ballooned the country imposed a strict For now, theatres are screening handling of the pandemic, indi- over, a large rural population is to 300,000, a big chunk of them lockdown in March this year, at older fi lms, including a biopic of cates how rapidly the situation can out of any economic activity now. coming since Onam. the beginning of the Covid-19 Modi, which fi rst released after worsen. Similarly, thousands of small trad- “During the festival season, pandemic. his resounding election victory Reported infections there ers are looking forward to some no matter what eff ort one takes, As Prime Minister Narendra last year. have jumped by fi ve times since earnings.” there is a mixing of population Modi pushes for a gradual easing Instead of waiting for theatres it celebrated the 10-day harvest Some doctors have accused that happens, which is a multiplier of measures, some states have al- to open, several Bollywood pro- festival of Onam in late August, politicians of undermining pub- of cases,” said Rajan Khobragade, lowed theatres to reopen, though duction houses have instead sold far outpacing the two-fold in- lic health out of fear of upsetting Kerala’s principal health secretary. at 50% capacity and with strict movies to streaming platforms crease in cases nationally over religious sentiments, while the “People should be more respon- curbs in place. such as Netfl ix, Disney and Am- that time. health minister has warned the sible and voluntarily take the extra Cinema staff welcomed back azon’s Prime Video, which have Still, cash-short state govern- situation will worsen if social eff ort to follow guidelines and stay with fl owers and vermilion the premiered several titles in the ments are reluctant to stop peo- distancing and other rules are protected.” fi rst, relatively few visitors who last few months. ple from venturing out during the not followed. Offi cials in the state, which has wore masks. “We are trying to test the wa- money-spinning festivals next The country has reported more some of India’s best health fa- “It feels good... Everyone was ters, see if audiences will come week, and in mid-November. than 7.2mn coronavirus infections cilities, said they were prepared to bored sitting at home and it feels back. Once they do, hopefully we The holidays are celebrated with and more than 110,000 deaths, handle the spike. Labourers stand along the roadside as they wait to be hired for daily nice to come here,” said Ramesh will see new movies releasing,” family gatherings, bumper buying though the rate of increase has That, however, may not be the wages in Hyderabad yesterday. The health ministry data on October 11 Gupta, who came to watch a Akshaye Rathi, a theatre owner and the giving of gifts, from sweets slowed in recent weeks. case in poorer and bigger states showed a rise of almost 75,000 coronavirus cases, taking the total to movie in Prayagraj. who owns properties in Madhya and snacks to clothes and cars, But doctors fear fatalities could like West Bengal. 7.05mn – second only to the US which has recorded 7.67mn infections. Bollywood is not releasing any Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, said. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 9 PAKISTAN

PTI to fi le case against PML-N for alleged rigging in 2017 bye poll

Internews The SAPM said after the during the months of August, while quoting statement of the is the sole right of the local ad- Lahore disqualifi cation of Sharif, the September and October 2017. engineers. ministration. PML-N leadership had allegedly On the other hand, the tenders He questioned under which “In the last meeting of Na- tasked Maryam to “rig” the NA- and work orders of the projects capacity Maryam held the meet- tional Command and Opera- head of opposition’s an- 125 by-election. in questions were issued in Jan- ing with the government of- tion Centre (NCOC), it came to ti-government rally in “To ensure compliance of the uary 2018,” he said, adding that fi cers. According to the SAPM, light that the trend of Covid-19 AGujranwala, Special As- order, former prime minister the government has not only the offi cers in their statements pandemic is increasing rapidly sistant to the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Mar- decided to fi le a reference before “confessed” that the PML-N across the country and the prov- (SAPM) on Accountability and yam Safdar sat down and devised the ECP but it is also going to leadership had directed them to inces were allowed to decide Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar a plan to rig the election by using send this “high-profi le” case to boost their contacts with PML- about the fate of smart lock- has accused Maryam Nawaz of taxpayers money,” he alleged, the National Accountability Bu- N MPAs Majid Zahoor and Bilal downs by considering their sci- illegally doling out Rs2.5 billion adding that the Traffi c Engi- reau (NAB) already being proved Yaseen and complete their de- entifi c data,” he said, adding the to rig the 2017 by-election of neering and Transport Planning by the Anti-Corruption Estab- velopmental works with their government has no issue with NA-120 (now NA-125) and an- Agency (TEPA) was selected for lishment (ACE) Punjab. coordination within the election the Gujranwala rally but urged nounced that the PTI govern- routing out funds/public money. During the conference, the days. the supporters to follow Cov- ment is going to fi le a reference “The deputy commissioner’s of- SAPM also showed and read The prime minister’s advisor id-19 SOPs. before the Election Commission fi ce in Lahore was also used for out “confessional statements” revealed that the ACE Punjab Punjab Health Minister Yas- of Pakistan (ECP) in this regard. this purpose,” he said. of some National Engineering has successfully acquired fo- meen Rashid also confi rmed that Flanked by Punjab Health Akbar said that despite the Services Pakistan (NESPAK) en- rensic evidence in which details the trend of Covid-19 is rapidly Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, fact that provinces are fi nancial- gineers. of PML-N leader’s phone calls, increasing and said she had been Akbar stated this while address- ly more viable than the Centre “Maryam Nawaz during the geo-locations, pictures and data informing people that Lahore, ing a news conference at the after the 18th amendment, Fa- by-elections in NA-120 had shared on WhatsApp groups is Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum and Punjab Information Department wad Hassan Fawad, former prin- arranged funds from the fed- attached. Rawalpindi are the virus hot- (PID). cipal secretary to Nawaz Sharif, eral government and later held When asked why police are pots. The NA-125 seat, which got allegedly earmarked Rs2.5 bil- a meeting with former director conducting raids and picking “Number of corona positive vacant after the disqualifi cation lion from the prime minister’s general of the Lahore Develop- up supporters of political par- patients is signifi cantly increas- of former premier Nawaz Sharif sustainable development pro- ment Authority (LDA) and chief UNDER FIRE: Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former prime minister ties before the Pakistan Demo- ing and the Punjab government in the Panama Papers verdict, gramme for developmental engineer TEPA at her Jati Umra Nawaz Sharif, has been accused of illegally doling out Rs2.5 billion to cratic Movement’s (PDM) anti- recently shut down eight schools was later on secured by late Be- schemes. residence. During the meeting, rig a by-election in 2017 during her father’s tenure, in her mother’s government rally in Gujranwala, in Gujranwala after several kids gum Kalsoom Nawaz in Septem- “The entire work and dis- they discussed in detail the uti- name, who, was the candidate and eventually, won despite being Shahzad Akbar said that giving tested positive for the virus,” she ber 2017 by-elections. bursement of funds was made lisation of funds,” Akbar claimed unable to canvass because of illness. permission for public gatherings added.

Govt claims to have 14 killed in videos of Sharif’s paramilitary London meetings Pakistan rests FATF convoy attack

Prime Minister Imran Reuters Khan’s adviser Babar Quetta Awan has claimed that the government had evidence case next week of former prime minister gun and rocket attack tar- Nawaz Sharif’s activities in geting a Pakistani para- London. Internews been banned, leading many Trump administration. ing, progress largely remains Amilitary escort yesterday Awan made the statement Islamabad member countries to have ex- Just days ago, the Asia-Pa- unchanged across the board; killed seven soldiers and seven while talking to a private pressed satisfaction over the cifi c Group (APG) on Money with non-compliance on four private security guards in south- television channel, as he measures. Laundering retained Pakistan counts, partial compliance on western Pakistan, offi cials said. claimed that they have he virtual meeting of the Pakistan has also hired a on its “Enhanced Follow-Up” 25 counts, and largely compli- The security detail was es- details and footage of all Financial Action Task United States lobbying fi rm — list, due to the limited progress ant on nine counts. corting a convoy of the Oil and such meetings. “We know TForce (FATF) will be held Linden Strategies — to seek the on the technical recommenda- The report added that “Pa- Gas Development Company whom he is visiting and in Paris from October 21-23. Trump administration’s sup- tions of the Financial Action kistan will remain in enhanced Limited (OGDCL) on a coastal holding meetings (with) in The anticipation in Pakistan port for the country’s quest to Task Force (FATF). (expedited) follow up, and will highway travelling to the south- London,” he said. year on medical grounds is that it will likely remove the be removed from FATF’s grey The fi rst Follow-Up Report continue to report back to the ern city of Karachi from the port Earlier this month, Special after successfully petitioning country from the grey list. list. (FUR) released by the Asia- APG on progress to strengthen town of Gwadar, located in the Assistant to the Prime the court for his release Pakistan is banking on A senior government offi cial Pacifi c Group — a regional af- its implementation of AML/ restive Balochistan province. Minister on Political from a prison sentence. moves undertaken to tighten said that Pakistan’s Mission in fi liate of the FATF showed that CFT measures”, stating that The Pakistani military’s pub- Communication Shahbaz Despite guarantees to the the laws on money launder- Washington, DC has hired the while Pakistan was improv- overall Pakistan has made ro- lic relations wing said the OGD- Gill had said the government court, reportedly, he has ing and terror financing and services of Linden Strategies ing its full compliance on two bust progress in addressing CL personnel managed to escape knew that the PML-N hasn’t undergone medical complying with the demands to eff ectively present Paki- (out of 40) recommendations the technical compliance de- the attack safely, but 14 security supremo was visiting an procedures citing the of the FATF. Accounts and ac- stan’s case and its progress on pertaining to combating terror fi ciencies on 27 action points, men had been killed in the inci- embassy in the UK capital adversity posed by the tivities of armed groups have the FATF action plan with the fi nancing and money launder- including legislation in 15 areas. dent. and meeting some people prevalence of Covid-19. The area has been sealed off these days. Awan said that Sharif is and a search operation for the The PML-N however, denied saying that his children assailants had been launched, the allegations and said their would not go to Pakistan the military said in a statement. leader was being linked to but asking others to hit the Mineral-rich Balochistan India with planning by the streets to safeguard his ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’ award for Covid-19 heroes has seen a decades-long in- PTI ministers. corrupt practices. “When he surgency by separatists who PM’s adviser Babar Awan is not coming to Pakistan, want the province to secede further claimed that new how will he succeed in Govt cautions nation not to President Arif Alvi will A ‘Corona Heroes Wall’ since August 10th. because of what they term to assets of the Sharif family bringing people on the let guard down as positivity present the award to them in has also been prepared to Warning that these are signs be resource exploitation in the have been unearthed with roads,” asked the adviser. rate of coronavirus climbs the last week of this month. acknowledge the services of a spike in coronavirus, the area. one of the companies The adviser said that He said provincial governors, of heroes whose names minister said that while posi- An umbrella organisation carrying assets worth up to Pakistan had a strong Internews Punjab Chief Minister and Azad would be inscribed on it tivity remains extremely high of Baloch militant groups Rs25 billion. system in place and Lahore Kashmir’s president will be in- at the Governor House in Muzaff arabad and Karachi, it claimed responsibility for the “The details in this regard the public gatherings vited to the ceremony. is also rising in Lahore and Is- attack in a social media post, will further emerge in the announced by the The governor added that a Covid-19 positivity rate had lamabad. but the veracity of the account next week or 10 days,” opposition parties could not he government n has ‘Corona Heroes Wall’ has also risen to 2.37% which is the “Time for all of us to take could not be independently he said, adding that fresh bring the system down. decided to award the been prepared to acknowl- highest in more than 50 days. Covid sops seriously again. verified by Reuters. revelations will be far “The incumbent T‘Shaan-e-Pakistan edge the services of these The country reported 755 Otherwise, unfortunately, we It was the second major attack greater than the previous government will complete Award’ to all the people work- heroes at Governor House on new coronavirus cases and 13 may have to take restrictive ac- in Pakistan in 24 hours. ones. its tenure,” he said, adding ing in the frontline in the fi ght which names of all corona he- deaths during the last 24 hours. tions which have negative ef- Six soldiers, including one He said that “everybody that they would allow against the novel coronavirus. roes would be inscribed. Some 315 people also recovered fects on people’s livelihoods,” officer, were killed in a sepa- knows that the PML-N the opposition to hold Governor Punjab Chaudhry The wall would be unveiled from the virus. Umar cautioned. rate attack in the former tribal leaders have looted the gatherings but any violent Mohammad Sarwar announced on October 27, Sarwar said. Currently, there are 9,209 On October 11, Umar said areas in the northwest of the national wealth and their activity or speeches against this while talking to media in He added all those who had active cases in the country. the national coronavirus posi- country late Wednesday. entire political activity is state institutions will not be Lahore. played a constructive role In a tweet, the minister said tivity rate rose above 2% after Two explosions targeted aimed at seeking a deal for tolerated. The award will be presented during the coronavirus crisis the highest positivity rate was a six-week average of less than military patrols along the Af- Maryam Nawaz so that she He however, blamed Sharif to all the corona heroes who would always be remembered. last seen on August 23. 2%. ghan border near Razmak, could reunite with her father for conspiring to topple worked in various fi elds, in- Meanwhile Minister for Umar continued that the av- He urged people to co-op- North Wazirstan, the military’s in London”. three elected governments cluding providing assistance Planning and Development erage of the fi rst four days of erate with the authorities in public relations wing said. Sharif left for London last in the past. to poor families and providing Asad Umar yesterday dis- this week’s virus deaths is 11 following coronavirus precau- The attack was claimed by Te- health facilities. closed that the country’s per day, which is the highest tionary measures. hreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Kickboxer throws down challenge to TikTok ban

Reuters seen by Reuters, calls for guide- police offi cers, and government Islamabad lines on exactly how content is offi cials. Court issues notice to govt but declared objectionable and his His short-lived TikTok ac- top judge asks what TikTok is! lawyer Usama Khawar said he count featured clips of him do- mixed martial arts spe- is hopeful the Islamabad High ing jumping jacks and push-ups, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the Paki- cialist is challenging a Pa- Court will overturn the ban. and sparring with students. stan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), federal govern- Akistani ban on TikTok, the TikTok has been downloaded “I thought this was a good way ment and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom- video sharing app on which he more than 43 million times in for me to help Pakistan, to help munication (MOITT) over the ban on social media application was pinning his hopes of gain- Pakistan, analytics fi rm Sensor people get into shape,” Jutt said, TikTok, media reported yesterday. ing a mass audience and helping Tower said, while the PTA said it adding: “It was going well but The court summoned a senior off icer from the PTA to appear people get fi t. is the third most popular social then the government decided to before the court and explain why contempt proceedings The Pakistan Telecommuni- media app after Facebook and ban TikTok.” should not be initiated against PTA off icials for not complying cation Authority (PTA) last week WhatsApp, with over 20 million Critics say the government’s with the court’s earlier order. The IHC had directed PTA to blocked access to TikTok, which active accounts. move against platforms such as frame rules for exercising its powers under PECA 2016. is owned by China-based By- Although he only has 209 fol- TikTok is not only against free- Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked what TikTok is, to which teDance, citing unspecifi ed pub- lowers so far, Jutt hoped to use dom of expression, but has also the counsel responded that it is a video sharing application lic complaints about “immoral TikTok to reach ordinary Paki- hurt fi nancially. on social media. and indecent content”. stanis, joining a growing com- PTA, which in September The counsel stated that earlier, PTA had banned Players Muhammad Ashfaq Jutt, 34, munity of infl uencers in the blocked fi ve apps including Tin- Unidentified Battleground (PUBG) which was declared null told Reuters he joined TikTok a country, some with millions of der and Grindr for disseminating and void by the same court. “The PTA violated two court year ago because it was becom- followers. “immoral content”, said this week decisions by banning TikTok,” petitioner’s counsel said. ing a popular platform and was Jutt, who has been practising it had met with TikTok’s senior The court ordered PTA not to engage in such illegal activi- cheaper than traditional adver- mixed martial arts for 26 years, management to discuss eff orts to ties. tising. is the Senior Vice President of “improve content moderation”. “Hasn’t India banned Tik Tok?” Chief Justice Minallah ques- “All kinds of people, from the Pakistan Kickboxing Federa- It also blocked the popular tioned. The petitioner replied that the ban was imposed in street sweepers to day labourers, tion, and says he has won several PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds the United States (US) but the decision is still pending. have come to be world-famous international titles. game but reversed the ban af- The court inquired if the ban was due to security reasons. using TikTok so I thought this He runs three kickboxing cen- ter the Islamabad High Court “In this way the entire internet will have to be shut down,” was a good way to be known as tres in the eastern city of Lahore, struck it out. The same court is Chief Justice Minallah remarked, adding that it is not like a well,” Jutt said. including one teaching women now hearing Jutt’s petition chal- crime has been committed on the Motorway and the entire Jutt’s petition, which he self-defence, and his personal lenging the TikTok ban, which is Motorway should be closed because of it. GAME: Ashfaq Jutt, 34, a kick-boxer and TikTok app user, posing for a lodged on Wednesday and was training clients include soldiers, scheduled for next week. photograph in Lahore. (Reuters) Gulf Times 10 Friday, October 16, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Massive strides possible with carbon storage Restoring natural landscapes damaged by human exploitation can be one of the most eff ective and cheapest ways to combat the climate crisis while also boosting dwindling wildlife populations, a scientifi c study fi nds. If a third of the planet’s most degraded areas were restored, and protection was thrown around areas still in good condition, that would store carbon equating to half of all human caused green- house gas emissions since the industrial revolution. The changes would prevent about 70% of predicted species extinctions, according to the research, which is published in the journal Nature. Scientists from Brazil, Australia and Europe identifi ed scores of How to make business places around the world where such interventions would be most eff ective, from tropical forests to coastal wetlands and upland peat. Many of them were in developing countries, but there were hotspots on every continent. “We were surprised by the magnitude of what we found — the huge diff erence that restoration can make,” said Bernardo Strass- burg, Professor at the Pontifi cal Catholic University in Rio de work for nature Janeiro, and lead author of the study. “Most of the priority areas are concentrated in developing countries, which can be a challenge but What is needed is a framework the fi rst listed entreprise à mission restore the global commons — the land, advocacy. More than 600 companies — also means they are often more cost-eff ective to restore.” to ensure that the action company — one that, according to freshwater, ocean, biodiversity, and with combined annual revenue of over Only about 1% of the fi nance devoted to the global climate crisis French law, sets out its purpose, and climate we all need to survive — while $4 trillion — have signed the “Nature goes to nature restoration, but the study found that such “nature- being taken will be enough to the social and environmental objectives staying competitive. Is Everyone’s Business” Call to Action, based solutions” were among the cheapest ways of absorbing and protect and restore nature aligned with this purpose, in its Articles First, companies must produce a urging governments to adopt policies storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the additional ben- of Association. data-based estimate of their value- now to reverse nature loss ecosystem efi ts being the protection of wildlife. By Erin Billman and Eva Zabey Furthermore, the water-treatment chain-wide eff ects and dependencies loss by 2030. This is the fi rst time so Restoring nature did Geneva fi rm SUEZ has won a design contract to on nature, and create a list of potential many businesses have come together not have to be at the ex- rehabilitate and expand the discharge- issues and locations that are amenable in an eff ort positively to infl uence Three-quarters of pense of agriculture and constructed wetland at the Shanghai to target-setting. discussions on the post-2020 global food production, Strass- he latest edition of the United Chemical Industry Park, Asia’s largest Second, companies must set biodiversity framework. priorities. Considerations should The final step in the SBTN all vegetated land burg said. “If restoration Nations’ Global Biodiversity petrochemical platform. The so-called Outlook, published by the Zone Libellule (Dragonfl y Zone) uses the include, for example, the highest-value framework is for companies to track is not properly planned on the planet now Convention on Biological natural environment’s water-treatment ecosystems — the areas where people and publicly report progress. The it could lead to a risk T Diversity, makes for bleak reading. capabilities, thereby restoring rely most heavily on nature for their SBTN plans to work with companies bears a human to agriculture and the As the report notes, biodiversity is biodiversity and improving the quality lives and livelihoods — as well as the to iterate the guidance for maximum food sector, but if done essential to address climate change, of the discharged water. areas where supply-chain activities are usability. imprint properly it can increase ensure long-term food security, and As promising as such projects having the most impact. But individual companies’ adoption agricultural productivity. prevent future pandemics. And yet the are, however, something is missing: Once companies decide on key issues of science-based targets for nature is We can produce enough food for the world and restore 55% of our cur- world is missing every target that has a framework to ensure that the and locations for action, they must just the beginning. Initiatives must be rent farmland, with sustainable intensifi cation of farming.” been established to protect it. If this is action being taken will be enough collect baseline data for those focus scaled up rapidly, and that will require The study also says that planting trees , the “nature-based solu- to change, business must step up. to protect and restore nature, and areas and use it to set targets — which unprecedented collaboration, which the tion” that has received most support to date , is not always an ap- From the energy industry to industrial to link initiatives in order to achieve they disclose publicly — that are in SBTN’s common framework for action propriate way of preserving biodiversity and storing carbon. Peat- agriculture, some of the private maximum impact. That is what line with the planet’s limits, as well as — and public reporting of targets and sector’s fi nancial success has come the Science Based Targets Network societal imperatives. results — will facilitate. lands, wetlands and savannahs also provide habitats for a wealth at the expense of the environment. (SBTN) aims to provide. Step four is action. In pursuing their We are living through some of of unique species, and can store vast amounts of carbon when well And as environmental destruction Building on the work of the Science targets, companies should be guided by the most disruptive, uncertain looked after. Strassburg said: “If you plant trees in areas where progresses, natural disasters are Based Targets initiative, which has a hierarchy of objectives: avoid having times in recorded history. To avoid forests did not previously exist it will mitigate climate change but at becoming increasingly common — and secured commitments from over 1,000 a negative impact on nature, reduce destruction, businesses must reset the expense of biodiversity.” increasingly devastating. This is rapidly companies to set scientifi cally grounded unavoidable impacts, and regenerate their compasses, and help the Nathalie Pettorelli, a senior research fellow at the Zoological increasing the material and existential emissions-reduction targets, the SBTN and restore critical ecosystems. In world chart a new course toward Society of London, who was not involved in the research, said: risks to companies’ employees, supply has issued target-setting guidance for pursuing these objectives, they should an equitable, net-zero-emissions, “This paper provides further scientifi c evidence that ecological chains, and profi ts. companies seeking to protect nature. consider what could be transformed nature-positive economy. restoration is a sensible and fi nancially viable solution to address This year alone, the Covid-19 The guidance has been produced within their organisations, across their the global climate and biodiversity crises. How ecosystems will be pandemic — which has already and reviewed by scientists, as well as supply chains, and beyond. zErin Billman is Executive Director of restored is however as important as where and how much will be resulted in more than one million representatives from environmental One example of potentially the Science Based Targets Network. Eva transformative action that some are Zabey is Executive Director of Business restored. Ensuring that the best science is used to make decisions deaths — has disrupted supply chains, groups, businesses, and consultancies. tanked global demand, and pushed the It describes fi ve steps to protect and already taking is nature-positive policy for Nature. about how to restore each local ecosystem will be key.” world economy into a deep recession. Three-quarters of all vegetated land on the planet now bears a Meanwhile, businesses in the United human imprint. But some scientists have a target of restoring 15% States have been facing massive of ecosytems around the world. wildfi res and rolling power blackouts Alexander Lees, senior lecturer in biodiversity at Manchester amid intense heat waves. The world’s Metropolitan University, who was also not involved with the study, largest tropical wetland — the Pantanal said: “[This] analysis indicates that we can take massive strides in Brazil — is also on fi re. And China and towards mitigating the loss of species and increasing atmospheric Africa have been hit by severe fl ooding. carbon dioxide by restoring just 15% of converted lands. The global It is clearly in companies’ interests to community needs to commit to this pact to give back to nature avoid the proliferation and escalation of post-haste — it’s the deal of the century, and like most good deals such catastrophes. Even in the short term, putting available for a limited time only.” sustainability at the heart of decision- The study focused on land, but the oceans also off er vast benefi ts making makes good business sense. linked to biodiversity and opportunities for absorbing carbon diox- Since the beginning of the Covid-19 ide and mitigating climate change, said Richard Unsworth, senior crisis, sustainable investments have lecturer in marine biology at Swansea University, and director of outperformed the wider market, Project Seagrass, which restores vital marine habitats. and the growth of investment in Unsworth said: “Marine habitat restoration is also vital for our companies with high environment, planet and arguably more urgent given the rapid degradation and social, and governance (ESG) ratings loss of marine ecosystems. We need restored ocean habitats such as continues apace. Companies aiming seagrass and oysters to help promote biodiversity but also to help to attract investment are increasingly secure future food supply through fi sheries, and lock up carbon incorporating meaningful ESG action from our atmosphere.” — Guardian into their strategies. It is therefore unsurprising that a growing number of businesses are To Advertise taking action to protect and restore the natural resources on which they [email protected] depend. At least 530 businesses Display have committed to taking action to reverse ecological losses, and at least 44466621 44418811 1,200 companies are already taking steps such as conserving forests or Classified adopting regenerative agricultural 44466609 44418811 practices. This includes, for example, the Subscription cosmetics giant Natura &Co, which has pledged to achieve net-zero [email protected] greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and zero deforestation in the Amazon. Danone, the European multinational © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved food-products corporation, has become Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 11 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Dominance of the Qur’an over previous Scriptures

llah, The Almighty, revealed He Says (what means): the Qur’an to be His last, “So woe to those who write the all-embracing Scripture “scripture” with their own hands, then Acontaining the fi nal say, “This is from Allah,” in order to manifestation of the Divine Law. exchange it for a small price. Woe to This necessitates that it has to be them for what their hands have written safeguarded from the mischievous and woe to them for what they earn.” hands of men and from all corruption. [Qur’an 2:79] This protection has been a reality from Being the fi nal, all-encompassing the time the Qur’an was revealed until and preserved against any change, the today and will remain so forever. It Islamic Law abrogated all the previous contains no additions or deletions. Scriptures which sustained human It has reached us by so many chains interpolations. Abrogation generally of transmission that it is impossible takes place with regards to secondary for them to have conspired on a lie. matters of law. As for fundamental It has been recorded and memorised principles, like the Oneness of Allah, innumerable times. The Most Exalted, the prohibition There has been no change in its text of idolatry, and the fundamentals over time, not even in a single letter. of worship – matters that form the Some of those who have committed basic call of all the Messengers, may it to memory cannot speak Arabic; Allah exalt their mention, they are not nevertheless, they recite it exactly as it subject to abrogation. was revealed. The Law that came with Prophet Allah has guaranteed the ‘Eesa (Jesus), may Allah exalt his preservation of the Qur’anic text, mention, abrogated part of the Law as He, the Most Exalted, Says (what that came with Moosa (Moses), may means): “Indeed, it is We who sent Allah exalt his mention. Relating the down the Qur’an and indeed, We will words of Prophet ‘Eesa to the Children be its guardian.” [Qur’an 15:9] of Israel, Almighty Allah Says (what Allah also Says (what means): “And means): “And I have come confi rming the word of your Lord has been fulfi lled that which was before me of the Torah in truth and in justice. None can alter and to make lawful to you part of what His words, and He is the All-Hearing, was forbidden to you…” [Qur’an 3:50] the All-Knowing.” [Qur’an 6: 115] The Islamic Law is lasting, remaining As for the previous Scriptures, suitable for every place and time, and they were for a limited duration of embracing the goodness of the previous time. Allah gave human beings the manifestations of the Law. Allah Says Hamad International Airport Mosque responsibility of preserving them, and (what means): “And We have revealed to they lost them through corruption, you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, mankind and the jinn gathered in order and call upon your witnesses other (as stated in the meaning of [Qur’an Scriptures is no longer applicable; the alteration, and concealment. Allah confi rming that which preceded it of to produce the like of this Qur’an, they than Allah, if you should be truthful.” 15:9] previously quoted. On the other previous rulings have been abrogated Says (what means): the Scripture and as a criterion over it.” could not produce the like of it, even [Qur’an 2:23] hand, the previous Scriptures suff ered with the new Law of Islam. “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, [Qur’an 5:48] if they were to each other assistants.” (2) After the Qur’an, no more alteration and distortion and did not Accordingly, Allah does not accept in which was guidance and light. The The Qur’an is diff erent from the [Qur’an 17:88] Scriptures will be revealed by Allah. remain in their originally revealed form any religion except Islam as a way to prophets who submitted [to Allah] previous Scriptures in the following He, The Almighty, further Just as the Prophet Muhammad, (as mentioned above in [Qur’an 4:46]). His Pleasure, as He Says (what means): judged by it for the Jews, as did the respects: challenged the disbelievers among the sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah (4) The Qur’an, for one, confirms early “And whoever desires other than rabbis and scholars by that with which (1) The Qur’an is miraculous and Arabs to produce even one chapter exalt his mention), is the last Prophet, Scriptures and, for another, is a trustworthy Islam as religion never will it be they were entrusted of the Scripture inimitable. Nothing similar to it can similar to the Qur’anic chapters, the Qur’an is the last Scripture. witness over them [Qur’an 5:48]. accepted from him, and he, in the of Allah, and they were witnesses be produced by human beings. Allah Saying (what means): “And if you are (3) Allah has taken it upon Himself (5) The Qur’an abrogates them, Hereafter, will be among the losers.” thereto.” [Qur’an 5:44] challenged both humans and jinn to in doubt about what We have sent to protect the Qur’an from alteration, meaning it cancels the rulings of the [Qur’an 3:85] In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty produce the like of the Qur’an, as in down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], to safeguard it from corruption, previous Scriptures and renders them Article source: http://www. informs us that the Torah was changed; the verse (which means): “Say, “If then produce a chapter the like thereof and to preserve it from distortion inapplicable. The Law of the old islamweb.net/emainpage/ History of the Noble Qur’an The Qur’an and what he Qur’an is the backbone of Islam. community, government, and family. may Allah be pleased with him, went to the On this Sacred Book of Allah depends A number of chapters inform about Caliph and discussed the idea of compiling the the Islamic call, state, society Resurrection, the Hereafter and the unseen; Qur’an into one volume. He was disturbed, it means to Muslims Tand the civilisation of the Muslim others relate the stories of various prophets as most of those who memorised it had died. world. It is the last Divine revelation, which and their calls to their people to return to Then, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with was sent down to Prophet Muhammad, Allah. We see how the previous nations were him, called for Zayd and commissioned him he Qur’an is Allah’s speech, not may strengthen your heart thereby. And sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt severely punished when they disobeyed Allah to collect the Qur’an into one book, which a created thing that may perish We have revealed it to you gradually, in his mention), the last and final of all Prophets, and denied the messages of previous prophets, became known as the Mus-haf. nor is it an attribute of any stages. Qur’an 25:32 may Allah exalt their mention. His task was to may Allah exalt their mention. After Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, Tcreated thing. It is an absolute The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa convey the message of worshipping the One In addition, several chapters focus on the accomplished this great task and organised fact that Allah Himself is not created sallam, would memorise the verses he God, Allah, without ascribing any partners to story of creation and the development of the Qur’an into one book, he submitted the but rather He is the Creator. One of His received and recite them to the companions Him. The Noble Qur’an, which is the source human life. In fact, Makkan revelations made precious collection to Abu Bakr, may Allah attributes which He has informed us and ordered them to write them down of guidance and mercy to mankind, is divided the Muslims’ faith in Allah firmly established. be pleased with him, who kept it in his about through His Book is that He speaks immediately. Whatever those expert scribes into 114 Surahs (chapters) of varying lengths. On the other hand, Madinan revelations were possession until the end of his life. During and speech is of course with words. It is and appointed recorders wrote was checked Ninety-three chapters were revealed in meant to translate the faith into action and the caliphate of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased precisely because the speech and words in by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Makkah, while the remaining 21 were revealed give details of the Divine Law. with him, it was kept with his daughter the Qur’an are from Allah that the Qur’an sallam, himself. The Prophet Muhammad, in Madinah. Allah will forever preserve the Qur’an Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, who itself is not created. sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, had no formal The first revelation that the Prophet, against all attempts to destroy or corrupt it. was also a wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu One should not be confused between schooling and he is referred to by Allah as sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, received was Being guarded by Allah, it will always remain ‘alaihi wa sallam. this and the fact that the Words of Allah can being ummee or illiterate. This adds to the Surat Al-’Alaq, which was in Makkah where pure. There does not exist a single copy with During the Caliphate of ‘Uthmaan, may be expressed in writing and bound within miraculous nature of the Qur’an and the Surat An-Najm was to later became the any variation from the recognised text. Allah be pleased with him, Islam reached the pages of a book that human beings can Prophet’s own statements which could not first to be recited openly to the people. In Any attempt of alteration has resulted in many countries, and readers began to recite read and recite. Allah states: And if anyone have been uttered by one such as he without Madinah, Surat Al-Mutaffifeen was the first failure. the Qur’an in different ways (dialects). of the mushrikeen (polytheists) seeks your divine intervention. one revealed after the Hijrah (migration). Upon the command of the Prophet, ‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, protection, then grant him protection, so The Qur’an is the last of Allah’s The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, his Companions then had various copies made and sent them that he may hear the word of Allah (the scriptures divided into 114 Surahs (chapters) had to flee to Madinah to save his own life would write down what was revealed of the out to the different Muslim lands, lest these Qur’an). [Qur’an 9:6] of unequal length. It starts with Surah and the lives of his followers, upon the Noble Qur’an. They used, for this purpose, dialects would cause alterations to the Qur’an, The Qur’an was brought down by Al-Faatiha (The Opening) and ends with command of Allah. palm branches stripped of leaves, parchments, and kept the original copy with Hafsah, may Jibreel (Gabriel) to Prophet Muhammad, Surah An-Nas (Mankind). It is one of the The last verse sent down to the Prophet, shoulder bones, stone tablets, etc. About forty Allah be pleased with her. Thus, the Qur’an sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and over fundamental sources of Islamic teachings. sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was the saying people were involved in this task. Among them remained preserved and the Caliph was very a period of 23 years it was revealed in It guards the previous revelations and of Allah which means: “…This day I have was Zayd Ibn Thaabit, may Allah be pleased much pleased with his achievement. portions and piecemeal as circumstances reinforces the eternal truth of monotheism. perfected for you your religion and completed with him, who showed his work to the Prophet, Today, every copy of the Qur’an conforms warranted. Allah states: And truly this The Qur’an stands today as it fi rst came My favour upon you and have approved for you sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Thus, the Qur’an with the standard copy of ‘Uthmaan, may (the Qur’an) is a revelation from the Lord down and it always will be. To it there has Islam as religion...” [Qur’an: 5:3] was correctly arranged during the Prophet’s Allah be pleased with him. In fact, Muslims of the ‘aalamin (mankind, jinns and all never been any addition, from it there is no Some chapters in the Qur’an focus on the life, but it was not yet compiled into one over the ages excelled in producing the best that exists) which the trustworthy Ruh omission, and in it there has occurred no call to Islam as guidance for humanity. They book. In the meantime, most of the Prophet’s manuscripts of the Noble Qur’an in the most (Gabriel) has brought down [Qur’an corruption. Allah said: Do they not then focus upon monotheism and the fight against Companions memorised the Qur’an. wonderful handwriting. With the introduction 26: 192-193.] And He said: And those consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been polytheism and idolatry. Thus, stress is laid When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased of printing, more and more editions of the who disbelieved say: ‘Why is not the from other than Allah they would surely on all that is related to faith. In other chapters, with him, became Caliph after the Prophet, Noble Qur’an became available all over the Qur’an revealed to him all at once?’. have found therein much contradictions. attention is given to legislation, acts of sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, died, a large world. Thus (it is sent down in parts) that We [Qur’an 4:82] worship, relationships among people and the number of the Companions were killed during Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ laws that regulate matters within the Muslim the War of Apostasy. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, emainpage/ Islam and fortune-telling

By Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips calculated general guesses. Some of Fitnah (trial and temptation) for both because Allah has clearly stated (what personalities are determined by the no harm would have touched me. I am their guesses, due to their generality, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. means): “And with Him [i.e., Allah] stars, and their future actions and not except a warner and a bringer of may come true. Most people tend to Not only is the practice of astrology are the keys of the unseen; none the events of their lives are written in glad tidings to a people who believe.” here are among mankind remember the few predictions that Haraam (forbidden by Islamic Law), knows them except Him.” [Qur’an the stars. The ordinary fortune-teller [Qur’an 7:188] people who claim knowledge come true and quickly forget the many but so are visiting an astrologist and 6:59] As well as (what means): “Say claims that the formation of tea leaves True Muslims are, therefore, of the unseen and the future. which do not. This tendency is a result listening to his predictions, buying (O Muhammad): ‘None in the heavens at the bottom of a cup, or lines in a obliged to stay far away from these TThey are known by various of the fact that after some time, all books on astrology and reading and earth knows the unseen except palm, tell him the same thing. In both areas. Thus, rings, chains, etc., which names, among which are: fortune- the predictions tend to become half- one’s horoscope. Since astrology is Allah…’” [Qur’an: 27:65] cases, individuals claim the ability have the signs of the Zodiac on them tellers, soothsayers, foreseers, augurs, forgotten thoughts in the subconscious mainly used for predicting the future, If, however, one believes in the to read in the physical formation of should not be worn, even if one does magicians, prognosticators, oracles, until something happens to trigger those who practice it are considered predictions of their horoscopes, created objects, knowledge of the not believe in them. They are part astrologers, palmists, etc. Fortune- their recall. For example, it has become fortune-tellers. Consequently, one whether spoken by an astrologist or unseen. and parcel of a fabricated system tellers use various methods and common practice in North America who seeks his horoscope comes under written in books of astrology, he falls Belief in astrology and the casting which propagates Kufr and should be mediums from which they claim to to publish, at the beginning of each the ruling contained in the Prophet’s directly into Kufr (disbelief) as stated of horoscopes are in clear opposition done away with entirely. No believing extract their information, among year, the various predictions of famous statement: “The daily prayers of by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa to the letter and spirit of Islam. It is Muslim should ask another what which are: reading tea-leaves, drawing fortune-tellers. When a survey was whoever approaches a fortune-teller sallam (may Allah exalt his mention): really the empty soul, which has not his star-sign is, or attempt to guess lines, writing numbers, palm-reading, taken of the various predictions for and asks him about anything will not “Whoever approaches an oracle or tasted real Eemaan (belief) that seeks what it is. Nor should he or she read casting horoscopes, crystal ball gazing, the year 1980CE, it was found that the be accepted for forty days and nights.” fortune-teller and believes in what out these paths. Essentially these paths horoscope columns in newspapers rattling bones, throwing sticks, etc. most accurate fortune-teller among [Muslim] he says, has disbelieved in what was represent a vain attempt to escape or listen to them being read. Any Practitioners of occult arts, who claim them was only 24% accurate in her The punishment in this Hadith is revealed to Muhammad.” [Ahmad & Qadar (fate). Muslim who allows astrological to reveal the unseen and predict the predictions! simply for approaching and asking Abu Daawood] These ignorant believe that if predictions to determine his actions future, can be divided into two main 2. The second group are those the astrologist, even if one is in doubt Like the previous narration, this they know what is in store for them should seek Allah’s forgiveness and categories: who have made contact with the Jinn. about the truth of his statements. one literally refers to the fortune- tomorrow, they can prepare from renew his Islam. 1. Those who have no real This group is of most importance When one is in doubt about the teller and it is just as applicable to the today. In that way, they may avoid the Article source: http://www. knowledge or secrets but depend on because it usually involves the grave truth or falsehood of astrological astrologist. Both claim knowledge bad and ensure the good. Yet, Allah’s islamweb.net/emainpage/ telling their customers about general sin of Shirk (associating others with information, this entails that he is in of the future. The astrologist’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa incidences which happen to most Allah), and those involved often doubt about whether or not others claim is just as opposed to Tawheed sallam, was told by Allah to say (what people. They often go through a series tend to be fairly accurate in their know the unseen and the future (Islamic Monotheism) as the ordinary means): “…If I knew the unseen, I of meaningless rituals, and then make information and thus present a real besides Allah. This is a form of Shirk, fortune-teller. He claims that people’s could have acquired much wealth, and Gulf Times 12 Friday, October 16, 2020 QATAR

Off icials at the opening of ‘Tasty Street’ at Katara yesterday. ‘Tasty Street’ to bring meals and wheels together asty Street”, a new Right: More than 30 food outlets initiative in which are taking part. “Tfood is delivered to cars from a wide range of eater- Below: Spread over an area of ies and cafes, has opened in the 6,300sq m, ‘Tasty street’ can northern part of Katara – the accommodate hundreds of cars. Cultural Village. Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti in- augurated the event yesterday afternoon. The event will continue until March 31 next year. “Tasty Street” is being held along the courtyard opposite Al Jazeera Media Café with the participation of Qatari youth projects. Spread over an area of 6,300sq m, it can accommodate hundreds of cars and has been “organised in an orderly manner to ensure comfort for visitors while tak- ing into account the importance of following the precautionary measures put in place to prevent ‘Tasty Street’ was launched to help revitalise the tourism and and limit the spread of Covid-19”, entertainment sector in line with precautionary measures to prevent Katara said in a statement. the spread of Covid-19. The Covid-19 respiratory dis- ease is caused by the coronavirus. open from 3pm-2am, according prevent Covid-19”. create a joyful atmosphere for signifi cantly and directly to sup- mercialise their projects, he said. This is in addition to the at- Orders will be delivered to cars to Katara. “It features 37 outlets, includ- visitors, he said, highlighting porting them for the continua- In its statement, Katara tendance of Qatari project own- while maintaining the highest In this context, Dr al-Sulaiti ing restaurants and cafes that of- the importance of its role in sup- tion, advancement and develop- stressed that it always provides ers in various festivals organised safety standards to ensure the said, that “we have launched the fer the most delicious and won- porting Qatari youth projects and ment of their projects”, he added. support to Qatari entrepreneurs throughout the year, as a confi r- safety of everyone concerned, it ‘Tasty Street’ event as we were derful gastronomic delights,” he “opening wider horizons to in- So, “Tasty Street” is a suitable by expanding marketing oppor- mation of its continuous encour- stressed. keen to revitalise the tourism and added. troduce the diverse and promis- opportunity for project owners to tunities through various events agement for Qatari products and There are 37 food outlets at entertainment sector in line with “Tasty Street” will be an en- ing projects they present”. exchange their experiences and and special occasions organised its backing of young Qatari en- “Tasty Street”, which will be the precautionary measures to tertainment outlet for all and This, in turn, will “contribute enhance their prospects to com- or hosted by the Cultural Village. trepreneurs, it added. Qatar Museums marks

Al-Taie: The QNRF has Al-Ansari: We should have an World Students Day supported 4,000 projects ecosystem that allows through funding initiatives. entrepreneurs to be creative.

By Joey Aguilar Using common tools at home design a unique souvenir product Staff Reporter such cups, food dye, vinegar and that represents Msheireb Muse- eggs, the Qatar National Library ums and/or Msheireb Downtown (QNL) held a live online activity Doha. QF programme he World Students Day on its Instagram page (@QNL_ Northwestern University in 2020, celebrated on Octo- engage) between 1pm and 2pm Qatar (NU-Q) is also off ering Tber 15 annually, provides yesterday as part of its Science students an opportunity to par- highlights entities an opportunity for residents and experiment programme. ticipate in its Fall (October 18-21) visitors to take part in a number “Science and scientifi c experi- and Winter (January 3-7) media of activities, competition, and ments can surprise us by show- programmes. fostering development courses organised by Qatar Mu- ing us things we didn’t expect,” According to the NU-Q, this seums (QM) and its partners. the QNL said. one-week Fall media programme In an e-mail to Culture Pass On October 19, middle and “will shed light on the most im- By Shafeeq Alingal director Hayfa al-Abdulla, and members, the QM said the event high school students in the coun- portant elements of storytell- Staff Reporter Abeer al-Hammadi, the direc- is a perfect occasion to honour try will have the chance to ask ing and character development. tor of Innovation and Econom- students across the globe as it questions about QNL resources Students will learn and create ic Development at the QF RDI. A number of items for students at QM’s INQ gift shop, including commemorates around 1,200 and services, among others, via their own stories to share with he second day of the The session was moderated phone accessories (below). students from the University of an online session (through Mi- the world”. Empowering Innova- by John McEntire, the director Prague, who lost their lives dur- crosoft Teams) in English with “Today’s world provides an Ttion programme by the of IDKT at the QF RDI. ing World War II. one of its young adult librarians opportunity where everyone can Qatar Foundation Research, While addressing the ses- “Students all over the globe from 4pm-5pm. share or create a story,” the NU-Q Development and Innovation sion, QNRF executive director are working hard to reach their On November 30, Msheireb said. “Understand the power of (QF RDI) division’s Industry Dr al-Taie said that the QNRF career goals and make a diff er- Museums is launching a com- storytelling and how it echoes Development and Knowledge is actively extending support ence wherever possible,” the e- petition for designers aimed at through the world and through Transfer (IDKT), yesterday to research projects in order to mail read. “On this day we would creating unique gift item designs generations.” discussed the key roles, played promote the development of like to applaud them and their that will be retailed at its gift Meanwhile, the NU-Q noted by various entities, to foster the country. thirst for knowledge.” shop. that its Winter media course, Qatar’s initiatives for compre- “We have supported 4,000 “Students are our future and It is open to everyone – de- dubbed as Under the Lens: Lit- hensive development. projects through various fund- the main ones who will take us signers, innovators, students, erature & Film from Imagined A panel discussion on The ing initiatives,” he said. forward,” the QM said. and members of the public – who Communities, “will introduce Qatari Innovation Ecosystem Al-Taie explained that the The event, according to the is a resident of Qatar and has an the idea of ‘Imagined Communi- – Challenges and Opportuni- fund helps more than 10,000 QM, allows universities globally interest in the development of ties’ as defi ned by Benedict An- ties was attended by Amna school students, 4,000 un- to recognise “their international new unique gift items. derson and draw the connection al-Kuwari, the director of In- dergraduates, and 1,200 post- students and the benefi ts they The deadline is November 30. between cultures, struggles, and tellectual Property Protection graduate fellows, while 10,000 bring to the local community”. Participants will be required to communities through literature at the Ministry of Commerce research papers have been and fi lm”. and Industry (MoTC), Qatar published with the fi nancial “Literature plays a crucial in Business Incubation Cen- support. preserving cultures, identities tre general manager Hamad Al-Ansari stressed the need and traditions. Status of refugees al-Qahtani, Qatar University to focus on creating an envi- is arguably the most relevant (QU)’s manager of Innovation ronment that nurtures crea- confl ict currently, clearly intrac- and Intellectual Property Dr tivity in order to achieve the table, it is evident through recent Hareb al-Jabri, Qatar Research objectives of Qatar National literature and news headlines,” Development and Innovation Vision 2030. NU-Q said. Council secretary-general “We should have an ecosys- The QM’s INQ gift shop at Engineer Omar al-Ansari, in- tem that allows entrepreneurs the National Museum of Qatar tellectual property and entre- to practice creativity,” he said. also off ers an array of products preneurial policy expert Wes- “This environment should for students of all ages, includ- ley Blakeslee, Qatar National help entrepreneurs feel com- ing notebooks and stationeries, Research Fund (QNRF) execu- fortable, and their creativity colourful headphones for online tive director Dr Abdul Sattar will be appreciated and col- The QM marks World Students Day, which is celebrated on October studies, and accessories, among al-Taie, Qatar Science and laborations can happen with 15. others. Technology Park innovation various entities.”