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MONDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11979 July 19, 2021 Dhul-Hijjah 9, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

FM meets governor of Amir exchanges Eid al-Adha US state of Indiana HE the Deputy Prime Minister and No Covid-related deaths greetings with leaders of Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met in Indianapolis yesterday with Arab and Islamic countries the Governor of the US state of Indiana, Eric Holcomb. The meeting in Qatar in past 8 days reviewed aspects of co-operation between Qatar and Indiana, especially in the fields of trade, More than 1.6mn people now fully vaccinated investment, agriculture and sports.  (QNA)  Total Covid-19 recoveries in Qatar increase to 222,105 50,000 phone numbers here have been no Covid-relat- overwhelming support of the com- linked to Israeli spyware ed deaths in Qatar in the past munity, has resulted in a consistent An Israeli firm accused of supplying Teight days, Ministry of Public reduction in the number of new daily spyware to governments has been Health (MoPH) statistics show. infections in the country,” the MoPH linked to a list of 50,000 smartphone At the same time, the National said in a statement. numbers, including those of activists, Covid-19 vaccination programme has However, it is still important to be journalists, business executives crossed another milestone as more cautious as the second wave is not yet and politicians around the world, than 1.6mn people have received both over and there are still two “highly according to reports yesterday. doses of the vaccine until now. contagious and highly virulent strains The leak was of a list of more than According to MoPH data, the last of the virus that are actively circulat- 50,000 smartphone numbers time a Covid-19-related death was ing in the community”, it stressed. believed to have been identified as reported in the country was on July The third phase of the gradual lift- people of interest by clients of NSO 10, that of a 76-year-old person who ing of precautionary restrictions since 2016, media outlets said. had a history of chronic disease and A Kuwaiti teenager holds her phone began on July 9 and is part of a four- was receiving the necessary medical showing off her Covid-19 vaccination stage plan to be implemented over the Merkel visits ‘surreal’ care. certificate after receiving her shot coming months. The MoPH yesterday reported 77 of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, at The date of implementation and flood zone, toll rises new confi rmed cases of Covid-19 a vaccination centre in Kuwait City the duration of each phase will de- Chancellor Angela Merkel said among the community and 41 among yesterday. pend on the pandemic indicators, yesterday she was horrified by the travellers. It also recorded 94 recov- which rely to a great extent on the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani exchanged greetings “surreal” devastation in the flood- eries from the coronavirus during A further break-up of the data degree of compliance of community with a number of leaders of Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of the ravaged region of western Germany, the past 24 hours, bringing the to- shows that 78.5% of people above 16 members with the current measures, blessed Eid al-Adha, during phone calls yesterday evening. His Highness the Amir as the death toll in Germany and tal number of recoveries in Qatar to years have received at least one dose restrictions and guidance by the gov- exchanged greetings with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Belgium passed 190 with dozens 222,105, Qatar News Agency reported. of the vaccine, with 66.4% getting ernment. Abdulaziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the advent of the blessed Eid of people still missing. The veteran A total of 3,523,001 Covid-19 vac- both doses. It is important during the current al-Adha, in a phone call the Amir held yesterday. The Amir exchanged greetings leader said the world must step up cine doses have been administered in As for those above 40 years, 95.4% period that all members of society, with Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia eff orts to tackle the climate crisis, Qatar since the start of the National have received at least one dose while including those who have received the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, on the advent of the blessed as global warming makes extreme Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, 85.4% have got both doses. Also, vaccination, continue to wear masks as Eid al-Adha, in a phone call the Amir held. His Highness the Amir exchanged weather events more likely. “We with 19,961 doses given in the past 24 98.6% of those aged above 60 (the recommended and continue to adhere greetings with the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and must hurry,” she said. “We have to hours. most vulnerable population group) to social distancing, the MoPH has ad- the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, during two phone calls be faster in the fight against climate Information on the ministry’s web- have been inoculated with at least one vised. “With Covid-19 still a threat to the Amir held. The Amir exchanged Eid al-Adha greetings with Sultan Haitham bin change.” Wearing hiking boots and site shows that 1,915,950 people have dose, and 93.5% with both doses. our health here in Qatar, it is important Tariq of the Sultanate of Oman, in a phone call the Amir received yesterday. The off ering pandemic-safe fist bumps received at least one dose of the vac- “In recent weeks the combined for everyone to play their role in con- Amir exchanged greetings with King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, to rescue workers, she listened to cine so far, while 1,607,051 people impact of Covid-19 restrictions and trolling the virus by following the pre- Tunisian President Kais Saied, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Iraqi the accounts of residents where the have got both doses. increasing vaccination rates, and the cautionary measures.” Page 4 President Dr Barham Salih and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (QNA) swollen Ahr river swept away houses and left debris piled high in the streets. Page 11 ‘Falcon’ art installation at HIA Algeria recalls Morocco ambassador Afghan govt, Taliban to expedite talks Algeria recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations yesterday he delegations of the security that presents itself as a new diplomatic spat broke Afghan government will be made use of by the out between them after Morocco’s Tand Taliban issued Islamic Emirate,” he added. envoy to the United Nations, a joint statement yester- “We fully assure neigh- Omar Hilale, expressed support day saying that they will bouring, regional and for self-determination for Algeria’s meet again and that they world countries that Af- traditionally restless Kabylie region, have issued instructions ghanistan will not permit a stronghold of the country’s to expedite their peace ne- anyone to pose a security Amazigh (Berber) minority. On gotiations, Reuters quoted threat to any other country Friday, Algeria had demanded that Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV as using our soil.” Morocco “clarify” its position after saying. For months, the two the “inadmissible comments of its The two delegations of sides have been meeting ambassador in New York”. negotiators, who have been intermittently in the Qatari in Doha since Saturday, capital. Earthquake strikes said “the two sides com- Taliban leader Akhundza- mitted to continue nego- Members of the Taliban delegation look on during the da said his group remained southern Iran, Iraq tiations at a high level until presentation of the final declaration of the peace talks committed to forging a so- An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the A new public art installation, ‘Falcon’, by artist Tom Classes was unveiled at Hamad a settlement is reached.” between the Afghan government and the Taliban in lution to end the war, but Richter scale struck Fars province in International Airport (HIA) yesterday, Qatar Museums Chairperson HE Sheikha “We will work to provide Doha yesterday. slammed the group’s oppo- southern Iran yesterday. According Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said on social media. “We are proud humanitarian assistance nents for “wasting time”. to the Seismological Center of the to unveil today a new public art, ‘Falcon’, by Tom Claassen at HIA depicting the throughout Afghanistan,” fl ict in Afghanistan, even as favours a political settle- “Our message remains Geophysics Institute of Tehran national bird of Qatar. The artist took inspiration from the soft falcon’s feathers and the statement added, ac- the hardline Islamist move- ment in the country,” Ak- that instead of relying on University, the earthquake was the more vivid lines mimic the airline’s routes from Qatar to the rest of the world, as cording to Al Jazeera. ment pushes a sweeping of- hundzada said in a state- foreigners, let us resolve centred near the town of Khesht and well as the curves that can be found in Arabic calligraphy and the folds in the fabric Meanwhile, the Taliban’s fensive across the nation. ment ahead of Eid al-Adha. our issues among ourselves occurred at a depth of 11 km. There of traditional attire,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa tweeted. The falcon sits on a ledge at supreme leader said he “In spite of the military “Every opportunity for and rescue our homeland were no immediate reports of fatalities the airport, exuding royalty with its gold finish. “You can also find Qatar’s national “strenuously favours” a po- gains and advances, the Is- the establishment of an from the prevailing crisis,” or damage. The quake was also felt in animal, ‘8 Oryxes’ by the artist at the arrivals hall,” she added. litical settlement to the con- lamic Emirate strenuously Islamic system, peace and he added. (Reuters) neighbouring Iraq, in the southern city of Basra. Iraq’s news agency reported that a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred in the city. There were no immediate reports of fatalities or damage in the area. Page 5 Zuma trial to resume Over 900 mosques, grounds to host Eid prayers despite protests By Shafeeq Alingal com/AwqafM/status/1416706 rara, Al Khalidiya, Al Kharsaah, Heeran, Semaisma, Onaiza, Fer- A long-running corruption trial of Staff Reporter 718948544515?s=19. Eid prayer Al Kheesa, Al Dafna, Al Doha eej Al Nasr, Fereej bin Dirham, South Africa’s jailed ex-president will start at 5.10am. Al Jadeed, Al Thakira, Al Sou- Fereej Al Manaseer, Fereej bin Jacob Zuma will resume virtually Eid al-Adha will be on July 20 dan, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Omran, Fereej bin Mahmood, today, despite deadly violence ore than 900 mosques based on astronomical calcu- Al Ebb, The Pearl, Al Murra, Al Fereej Abdul Aziz, Leibeib, that swept the nation after his and prayer grounds lations, Qatar Calendar House Messila, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Al Legataifi ya, Meraikh, Mesaieed, imprisonment in an unrelated case. Macross Qatar will host (QCH) has said. Meshaf, Al Mamoura, Industrial Messaimeer, Msheirib, Nuaija, Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft Eid-al-Adha prayers, the Minis- The mosques will be reo- Area, Al Najada, Al Hilal, Al Wa- Wadi Al Sail, Ain Kahled, Al and racketeering related to a 1999 try of Endowments (Awqaf) and pened at various areas includ- jba, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Khor, Ghanem Al Jadeed, Al Gharrafa, purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats Islamic Aff airs has announced. ing Ezgava, Umm Saneem, Al Al Duhail, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Fereej bin Omar, Al Luqta, Mad- and military gear from five European Awqaf published the list of the Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Slal Al Rayyan Al Qadeem, Al Sadd, inat Al Shamal, Madina Khalifa arms firms when he was deputy mosques and prayer grounds Ali, Umm Slal Mohamed, Umm Simaisma, Al Sailiya, Al Shee- South, Madina Khalifa North, Al president. He is accused of taking on its social media accounts. Ghuwailina, Umm Qarn, Umm haniya, Al Shamal, Al Azeeziya, Matar Qadeem, Hamad Inter- bribes from one of the firms, French Name, number and location Lekhba, Bin Omran, Bin Mah- Bani Hajer, Bu Samra, Bu Sidra, national Airport, Al Mamoura, defence giant Thales, which has of the 924 mosques and prayer moud, Bu Sidra, Al Thumama, Dukhan, Raas Lafan, Rawdat Muaither South, Muaither been charged with corruption and grounds are available on Awqaf’s Al Jumailiya, Al Kharaitiyat, Al Al Hamama, Rawdat Al Khail, North, Al Najma, Al Wakra and money laundering. Twitter handle - https://twitter. Jeryan, Al Huwaila, Al Khar- Cleanup outside a mosque in the run-up to Eid. Rawdat Al Fars, Rawdat Aba Al Al Wukair. To Page 4

Gulf Times Monday, July 19, 2021 3 QATAR

Qatar Charity extends Eid al-Adha NHRC expo on greetings to Qatar leadership and people atar Charity (QC), on the ad- and to share the joy of Eid with them. vent of Eid al-Adha, has ex- QC seeks to provide Udhiyah to Qtended its warmest congratu- low-income families in Qatar and the lations and best greetings to the Qatari poor, needy, the displaced and refu- leadership, government, people and gees outside the country. human rights the Arab and Islamic nations, praying It is receiving donations for the to Allah the Almighty to accept good Udhiyah drive until the fourth day of deeds and acts of worship, and return Eid al-Adha, corresponding to Dhul- this occasion to everyone with good, Hijjah 13, 1442 A H. blessing and happiness. Donors can contribute to the drive In a statement, QC has also extend- through a link (https://www.qchar- ed congratulations to philanthropists ity.org/en/qa/adha), the ‘home col- concludes in US in Qatar for continuously supporting lector’ service available through a its charitable projects in general, and link (https://www.qcharity.org/en/ its Udhiyah drive in particular. Qatar qa/home/mobileappsdetails?Paren  NHRC ‘through this exhibition intended to highlight Charity, through this campaign, aims tWebStoryId=14503), the hotline - to alleviate the suff ering of millions of 44667711, and SMS to 92652, as well Islamic civilisation and its embrace of human rights principles’ refugees, the displaced, the corona- as through its branches and collection virus-aff ected people and the needy, points across the country. QNA Washington

he National Human Rights  New Committee (NHRC) concluded Huawei Tin Washington the virtual exhi- bition “Transcendental Text..Unity of Humanity..Exploring Universal Values Band 6 now through Islamic Calligraphy.” Organised in partnership with the available at Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC), the exhibition started in Sep- Ooredoo tember 2020, and its last event was Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition on “Hu- man Rights in Islamic Culture”. The NHRC said that the events witnessed public participation, and the Qatari embassy, a large number of leaders of prestigious think-tanks in Washington, directors of cultural in- stitutions, representatives of interna- tional organisations and civil society The exhibition enriches dialogue and understanding between all religions and organisations also participated. establishes the universality of human rights. OOoredoooredoo eexpandsxpands ssmartwatchmartwatch At the conclusion of the virtual ex- hibition, NHRC Secretary-General of human rights in Islam, describing tion that drew more than 100 visitors Maryam Abdullah al-Attiyah said the the exhibition as an important step to the exhibition through special tours rrangeange availableavailable forfor customerscustomers NHRC through this exhibition intend- for spreading a culture of tolerance for groups, embassies, think-tanks and ed to highlight Islamic civilisation and through dialogue and spreading a cul- even social media infl uencers. its embrace of human rights princi- ture of peace in the world. She explained that while artistic and oredoo has announced that the new Huawei Band The device can be worn for up to two weeks without ples since the dawn of Islam until the She stressed that the NHRC will cultural events were very limited, the 6 smartwatch is now available at the Ooredoo eS- charging and can reach two days’ battery life with just present day. remain keen on consolidating the val- exhibition provided a haven for those Ohop and its retail shops. fi ve minutes of charging. Huawei’s latest smartwatch She pointed out that Islam is a reli- ues of peace and the lofty principles who felt disconnected from the world The new Huawei Band 6 smartwatch features include also includes the capability to continuously monitor gion of moderation contrary to what of human rights within the context of of art and its inspiration. the brand’s biggest-ever viewing space, with an impres- blood oxygen levels, as well as featuring more workout was promoted by many societies, add- its objectives, tasks and competencies, Al-Dosari said that at the conclusion sive 1.47-inch full view screen, and a super-light sense- modes than ever before, the statement noted. ing that moderate Islamic approach noting that the promotion of human of the ‘Transcendent Text’ exhibition, less wearing experience at a weight of only 18gm, Oore- The new Huawei Band 6 is now available at the Oore- called hundreds of years ago, for re- rights principles is possible in all po- QAIC looks forward to holding new doo has said in a statement. doo eShop and retail shops for QR199. spect of human dignity away from any litical, social, religious, cultural, sports exhibitions that advance its mission of ethnic, racial or religious approaches. aspects and other aspects of this uni- connecting creators and innovations, She added that this exhibition, in its verse, and that the NHRC enters all holding gatherings and celebrating various editions, was able to attract a these pillars of life from various hu- cultures. Second Secretary and Public wide segment of the elite of European man rights positions in order to extract Diplomacy Adviser at the Qatari em- societies, and many diff erent cultures. messages that preserve human dignity. bassy in Washington Fatima al-Baker The NHRC secretary-general added Advocacy director for Democracy said that the collection of sacred texts that the reactions of the visitors to the for the Arab World Now (DAWN) Raed in the exhibition of human rights in exhibition were positive, especially Jarrar said as an Arab-American Mus- Islamic culture has been expertly co- after they found that Qur’anic verses lim, calligraphy is part of his identity. ordinated, to express the humanitarian and honourable Hadiths urged respect He added that anyone who saw the ex- situation and the way our experiences for human rights hundreds of years hibition today would reach the same are linked. ago, before they were codifi ed in in- conclusion he found, which is the uni- Al-Baker praised the Qatar-USA ternational conventions and charters, versality of art and human rights. 2021 Year of Culture, saying it is an an- changed the stereotyped image that Jarrar explained that the exhibition nual initiative led by Qatar Museums, some circles portrayed about Islam, was an indication of the depth of the where Qatar and a partner country in- and realised the fact that Islam is a re- roots of human rights in diff erent soci- novate programmes for the purpose of ligion of peace, a religion of spreading eties, as through this exhibition, verses artistic and cultural exchange. She ex- love and peace among all human races. from the Qur’an and prophetic Hadiths plained that the mass attendance at the The exhibition, she said, enriches were linked with the principles of the end of this exhibition indicates a grad- dialogue and understanding between Universal Declaration of Human Rights ual return to the activities as they were all religions and establishes the uni- issued by the United Nations, which earlier, noting that when the exhibition versality of human rights in all divine tell the story of equality between the launched in the midst of the pandemic messages, by addressing the most im- human race. in September 2020, its activities were portant ideas and principles that ex- Executive Director of QAIC Fatima limited to viewing through special plain the truth of Islam with a sophis- al-Dosari said that as they were still tours or virtual halls. ticated artistic message, stressing that in the process of welcoming the re- QAIC is an independent non-profi t it promotes a sublime message about turn of public in-person , they real- organisation that creates, curates, and Islam being a religion of peace and tol- ised how fortunate they were to have executes programmes and research erance. the opportunity to showcase these that amplify the prominence of all Al-Attiyah noted the ability of art unique works presented by the NHRC forms of art and culture in society. to educate people, saying this came through the exhibition “Human Rights QAIC cultivates artistic expression and from the importance of this exhibi- in Islamic Culture”. She added that the cultural dialogue from the US, Qatar, tion in introducing people to the status “Transcendental Text” was an attrac- and the larger Arab and Islamic worlds.

Portuguese-speaking countries’ summit approves Qatar as ‘Associate Observer’

QNA Luanda

he 13th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Coun- Ttries (CPLP), which was held in Luanda, approved the accession of Qatar to the community as an “Associate Observer”. Qatar’s ambassador to Portugal Saad bin Ali al-Mohan- nadi participated in the closing session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Community in Luanda, which preceded the summit. Qatar’s accession to the community reflects its global development role and is within the framework of the mul- tilateral international co-operation strategy pursued by the State to co-operate for development and to enhance cultural exchange with all countries and people. At the end of 2018, Qatar submitted a request to join the CPLP as a “Associate Observer”, out of its keenness to strengthen its relations with the countries of the commu- nity and to deepen the bonds of friendship and co-opera- tion in all fields. The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries was created on July 17, 1996. It is an international organisation made up of nine countries: Angola, Brazil, Portugal, East Timor, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Guin- ea-Bissau, Mozambique, and 28 countries as associate observers. Qatar’s accession to the community reflects its global The principles on which the community is based include development role. equality among all member states, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for national identity, reciprocity, In addition to Qatar, the accession of Canada, the respect for territorial integrity, promotion of democratic United States, Ireland, Spain, India, Cote d’Ivoire, Peru, practices, good governance and respect for human rights. Greece and Romania was approved. Gulf Times 4 Monday, July 19, 2021 QATAR MIA hosting workshops for children during Eid holidays

By Joey Aguilar and replicate it in their own tech- a workshop that teaches participants The MIA said that the activ- Staff Reporter nique using paints, pastels or mark- to make their own architectural de- ity “challenged them to recreate the ers”. signs using square Kufi c. MIA with blocks, Lego or by sketch- On the same day, the MIA will hold According to the MIA, “square ing the building”, and lauded eight- he Museum of Islamic Art its Planet Kids Club – Plastic online Kufi c came from using the black year-old Rashid and Hamda for jobs (MIA) is hosting an array of monthly story-time, discussion and square as a unit for measuring let- well done. Tonline and on-site workshops activity about green initiatives that ters and white squares or part of it as Meanwhile, a Kufi c calligraphy for all audiences this month and in help preserve Mother Earth. space”. workshop for children aged 12-14 is August, including activities that It is open to those aged 5-11 years. “It was used in architecture also scheduled on July 27 from 4pm- aims to raise awareness on the im- “This month the theme is plas- (buildings and mosques, among 6pm. portance of protecting the environ- tic. You will hear a story related to others). We have diff erent designs The MIA noted that “many ment. plastic, participate in a craft activ- of square Kufi c, square, rectangle, Qur’ans are written in Kufi c callig- During the Eid holidays young ity related to recycling plastic bot- circle, star, and swirl, etc,” the MIA raphy, which is characterised by its residents will have the opportunity tles, hear about museum objects that added. bold and vertical letters and comes is to enhance their artistic skills and were used instead of plastic in the The MIA’s recently-held ‘Young several types”. broaden their knowledge. past. Plus, we will provide some top Architects’ online session gave par- “On this workshop the partici- A workshop dubbed Illustrating tips on plastic alternatives,” the MIA ticipants a chance to learn more pants will learn about the history of The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) off ers a wide range of workshops for all audiences. These Islamic Objects, set on July 27, allows posted on its Instagram page. about I M Pei and the MIA building, the Kufi c script, and then they will include programmes to help young residents enhance their artistic skills and broaden their students aged 12-14 to “choose from From July 27-29, the MIA also of- and a deeper understanding of its design a painting in Kufi c script,” the knowledge. – MIA Instagram picture the objects from the MIA collection fers children aged 8-18 to take part in building design. MIA said. beIN announces More ambulances for Eid holidays

By Ayman Adly the Aspire Zone and Katara,” explained Ali This is in addition to the state mosque and schedule for festive Staff Reporter Darwish, assistant executive director of Am- the other mosques where Eid prayers will be bulance Services. performed, Darwish said in a telephonic in- The fl eet increase is also taken in consid- terview. entertainment amad Medical Corporation’s Am- eration of the fact that the country is at an “Once a call for assistance is received, the bulance Services will increase the advanced stage of lifting coronavirus (Cov- Ambulance Services is committed to reach Hnumber of vehicles available across id-19) restrictions. the respective locations inside Doha and eIN Media Group has an- from Sunday to Thursday at the country during Eid al-Adha holidays, a There will be 4x4 vehicles to cover the its suburbs within 10 minutes, and within nounced a festive sched- 9pm. senior offi cial told Qatar TV yesterday. beaches, including Semaisma and Al Ruwais 15 minutes for locations outside Doha and bule of entertainment for For children, JeemTV will “We will have around 125 vehicles cover- and the other areas expected to receive large other outskirts of the country,” the senior of- the entire family to enjoy dur- be launching a new live pro- ing all the beaches and other public places numbers of visitors, and wherever traffi c fi cial said, adding: “Already, 95% of the calls ing Eid al-Adha, including dra- gramme called Adha Mubarak and areas where people converge, including concentration is expected. for help are covered within such time frame.” Ali Darwish ma series, movies, kids shows on the fi rst three days of Eid and more, across the Mena starting at 3pm, featuring region. challenges, cooking competi- Special content curated for tions, and a display of chil- all ages and interests will be dren’s talent. showcased on beIN channels CBeebies will broadcast the during Eid – including beIN children’s series Tinpo – which Al Sailiya Central Market sees rise Movies, beIN Drama, beIN Se- showcases classic themes of ries, beIN Sports, and JeemTV. construction and problem The channels are available solving, daily starting today in demand for fruits and veggies on beIN’s packages Together, (July 19) at 6am. Kickoff , Premium, and Ulti- beIN Movies will screen ani- mate. mated family favourites such l Sailiya Central Mar- measures against any potential bulk and not by weight at a per beIN’s schedule off ers more as Finding Nemo, Incredibles 2, ket is seeing a consider- spread of the coronavirus (Cov- kg rate. entertaining options than ever The Good Dinosaur, and Inside Aable turnout of customers id-19), especially before allowing Hamad al-Marri said that the before through beIN’s interna- Out. ahead of Eid al-Adha holidays as anyone into the market. prices of tomatoes, potatoes, and tional partners and their chan- beIN Gourmet will have demand picks up for fresh veg- Some customers told Arrayah onions have increased due to the nels, such as Fox, CBS, HGTV, cookery shows such as Desti- etables and fruits. that Al Sailiya Central Market increasing demand ahead of the Food Network, Nat Geo, and nation Aegean and Al Dar Al Local Arabic daily Arrayah re- is one of their main shopping Eid holidays, as these are con- Fatafeat. Kabira, running from today ported the market has an abun- destinations for vegetables and sidered the basic ingredients for Movie lovers can enjoy the until Friday. dant supply of quality farm pro- fruits, as the products are fresh cooking. best movies on beIN, including Nat Geo Wild’s brand-new duce under one roof, with most and prices reasonable. beIN Media Group’s Miramax documentaries about the fas- items available at reasonable Issa Saeed al-Rashid is of the Al Sailiya Central Market has an hit Wrath of Man starring Ja- cinating lives of sharks will air prices. view that all prices are aff ord- abundant supply of fresh veg- son Statham, on beIN’s Video daily from today at 7.30pm. The exception are the prices of able, except for some items due etables and fruits. PICTURES: on Demand (VOD) service, and For avid sports and football tomatoes, onions and potatoes, to seasonal production. Shemeer Rasheed the mystery drama The Kid De- fans – and anyone eager to take which are dearer due to increased He said that many households tective featuring Adam Brody, a peek behind the scenes of the demand. prefer to get their groceries ahead showing on beIN Movies 1 on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Tomatoes are priced QR35 for of the Eid to avoid having to do so July 23 and 26 at 9pm Qatar the fourth episode of the Wel- a 7kg box, while potatoes are during the holidays, which they time. come to Qatar series will be priced QR35 for a 15kg sack, as would rather spent with family. Arabic plays such as Souk aired, on Wednesday on beIN are onions (QR35 for a 20kg sack). Nasser al-Hajiri noted that he Shark, Harim El Sultana and Sports Premium 1 channel at All other vegetables and fruits has seen adequate quantities of Toyour El Jawareh will run on 9pm. are available at reasonable prices. fruits and vegetables ahead of the Eid al-Adha days on beIN In this new episode, Italian The market is fully air-condi- the Eid holidays, and added that Drama, starting from 10am. football star Gianfranco Zola tioned, which helps in keeping many customers understand that Turkish series enthusiasts will take viewers on a tour of Al the products on display fresh for prices of some items are usually can also tune into beIN Drama Janoub Stadium, whilst Egyp- longer periods and allows cus- governed by the law of supply from today to Friday at 8pm to tian player Ahmed El-Moham- tomers and sellers to stay com- and demand, and thus subject watch Al Hufra as well as Nah- madi explores the world under fortable. to change more often than other dhat Al Salajeqa Al Odhma at the sea with visit to see the Security offi cers at the mar- types of products. 10pm. whale sharks. ket are prompt in monitoring However, he pointed out that Fox Rewayat will also be For more on beIN’s choices the entry and exit process, with prices at the market are usually showcasing Season 1 of the for July, visit: https://www. special focus on maintaining the lower than other shopping out- popular Turkish series Crash, bein.com/en/july/. preventative and precautionary lets because customers buy in

Over 900 Larger footprint stores ‘may bring mosques, more profi t in post-pandemic era’ grounds By Joey Aguilar are continuously working towards Staff Reporter delivering on our social respon- sibility commitment,” the offi cial to host Eid said. “We make sure to involve n increasing number of visitors, retailers and stakehold- businesses in Qatar, in- ers in our CSR initiatives, which prayers Acluding those that operate is the only way to make them truly in malls, feel bigger spaces ap- impactful.” pealing to customers could bring Hall added: “Today, consum- From Page 1 in more profi t in a post-pandemic Hall: Some brand franchises are ers are choosing to engage with era, it is learnt. combining their house brands purpose-driven brands and come Meanwhile, strict coronavirus “There are a select number of under one tenancy, and others to purpose-driven malls. At the (Covid-19) preventative and pre- tenancies seeking larger footprint have expanded ranges to meet DHFC, we aim to empower our cautionary measures announced stores,” Doha Festival City (DHFC) with consumer demand. customers and encourage them to earlier will be in place at mosques general manager Robert Hall told make a diff erence by supporting and prayer grounds, where social Gulf Times. “While this may in- and in implementing its corporate meaningful causes.” distancing will be applied since volve additional cost, the larger social responsibility (CSR) initia- It is learnt that many business- Awqaf and the Ministry of Public footprint drives a more competi- tives. es, particularly those in the food Health (MoPH) have announced tive rent value.” “The (coronavirus/Covid-19) and beverage (F&B) sector, saw no relaxation. “Some brand franchises are pandemic has forever altered the the advantage of having both in- No place will be available for combining their house brands un- retail landscape and sparked re- door and outdoor areas to dine in, women, and children aged below der one tenancy, and others have newed interest in sustainability, which meets customers’ demand 12 years at mosques and prayer expanded ranges to meet with with more companies putting an while ensuring their safety as well. grounds. consumer demand, which remains even stronger focus on it now dur- An employee of a popular res- As per the earlier advisory by ever-changing in retail,” he added. ing the crisis,” he said. taurant chain said that such a Awqaf, the Ehteraz app with green Hall said that in the GCC, con- “This pandemic has elevated strategy, while involving extra code should be shown. sumers are interested to see cer- consumers’ focus on sustainability costs, has been “very eff ective” in Worshippers should co-oper- tain Western fashion houses (only and willingness to live a more en- attracting more customers, and ate with competent authorities available to online retail in the vironmentally friendly lifestyle,” “the numbers continue to increase and should not shake hands or West) still take and even expand Hall stated. “Many consumers are as Covid-19 restrictions are grad- crowd around the doors of the mall footprints. now willing to shop and travel dif- ually lifted”. mosques. 231 referred to prosecution for Covid violations This, he noted, shows “the un- ferently.” “While precautionary meas- The Ministry of Municipal- derlying strength of the consumer “When choosing a brand, con- ures remain in place, guests are ity and Environment is carrying The authorities have referred 231 people to Among them, 202 people were referred to market and the continued ‘social sumers are becoming more con- also looking for wide spaces where out cleanliness drives across the the prosecution for non-compliance with the the prosecution for not wearing masks in engagement’ focus of malls”. scious and consider sustainability they can sit and dine comfortably country while cleaning and sani- measures in place to limit the spread of the places where these are mandatory, 27 for not Meanwhile, Hall highlighted the as an important factor when pur- with their families and friends, tising mosques and prayer grounds coronavirus (Covid-19), the Ministry of Interior maintaining safe physical distancing, and two importance of sustainability in the chasing a product,” he pointed out. and keeping a distance from other ahead of Eid-al-Adha prayers. said yesterday. persons for not installing the Ehteraz app. malls’ planning and development, “We understand this trend and people,” she added. Gulf Times Monday, July 19, 2021 5 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Immunised pilgrims gather for Haj as Covid curbs limit numbers

Reuters ties have restricted access to and the direction which Muslims Makkah pilgrims aged 18 to 65 who have face to pray — as health profes- been fully vaccinated or immu- sionals monitor their move- nised against the virus and do ments. The pilgrims then made uslim pilgrims vacci- not suff er from chronic diseases. their way to Mina, 7km north- nated against Covid-19 Robots are being used to east of the Grand Mosque in Mgathered yesterday for disinfect the Grand Mosque in Makkah, where they will spend the annual Haj pilgrimage in Makkah and its courtyard and the day in prayer before heading Saudi Arabia, which has barred also to distribute bottles of zam- to Mount Arafat. worshippers from abroad for a zam water, pumped from a holy Around 500 health volunteers second year running due to the well in Makkah, to reduce human are available to off er medical as- pandemic and has also restricted interaction and ensure physical sistance and 62 screens were in- entry from inside the kingdom. distancing. Thermal cameras at stalled to broadcast awareness Clad in white and carrying entrances to the Grand Mosque messages in diff erent languages. umbrellas against the blistering monitor people’s temperatures. Over the years, the kingdom summer sun, 60,000 Saudi citi- Around 3,000 electric carts have has spent billions of dollars on zens and residents are perform- been provided for pilgrims, who making one of the world’s big- ing the rite, compared with some Pilgrims stand with their luggage as they arrive in the Mina area during the annual Haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah, yesterday. also wear electronic identifi ca- gest religious gatherings more 2.5mn in 2019. Right: General view of the Mina area during the annual Haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah. tion bracelets connected to GPS. secure. It is a major revenue “I ask God to end the coro- Small groups of pilgrims earner for Saudi Arabia from navirus, it made us very scared fi cult,” said Palestinian pilgrim Saudi Arabia, which last year form the Haj, is home to the ho- nah. With the coronavirus the wearing masks have since Sat- worshippers’ lodging, transport, and made the situation very dif- Hassan Jabari. allowed a few thousand to per- liest sites in Makkah and Madi- main concern this year, authori- urday been circling the Kaaba fees and gifts.

Two rescued bears Rally against blockade in Gaza Strip head for US from Syria regime crisis-hit Lebanon Two endangered Syrian brown bears were headed to a new life fi re kills seven in the United States yester- day after being rescued from cramped conditions in a Leba- nese zoo, two charities said. in rebel bastion Homer and Ulysses, each aged 18 and weighing 130 kilos, had been living in a zoo near the AFP on Saturday. The shelling southern city of Tyre, animal Ehsim in Ehsim came hours after rights association Animals President Bashar al-Assad Lebanon said. They were freed took the oath of offi ce for “after convincing the zoo owner yrian regime artillery a fourth term, pledging to that they deserve better than fi re killed seven civil- “liberate” areas still beyond the small cement cages they Sians including three government control. were kept in for over 10 years,” children in the country’s last The deaths are the lat- it said in a statement. The bears major rebel bastion of Idlib, est violations of a ceasefi re were to be flown out of Beirut a Britain-based war monitor deal agreed by Turkey and later, headed for the Wild Ani- said yesterday. government ally Russia in mal Sanctuary in the US state of The shelling hit in the vil- March 2020 to stem a regime Colorado. lage of Ehsim late Saturday, off ensive on the rebel-dom- Syrian brown bears are a rela- in the south of the Idlib re- inated stronghold. tively small subspecies of the gion, the Syrian Observatory An AFP photographer in endangered brown bear, but no for Human Rights said. Ehsim saw rescue work- longer exist in the wild in Syria A family member said that ers under fl oodlights cut or Lebanon, the UK-based Bear visitors had gathered to con- through a collapsed ceil- Conservation group says. gratulate a male relative on ing to retrieve the body of a Animals Lebanon director Jason getting married when the woman. Meir said the bears were likely shelling struck their home. Bundling her body up in imported from eastern Europe. Earlier in the day, rockets a blanket, they then gently They had been supposed to fi red by pro-government lowered it down a ladder and travel in late 2019, but banking forces killed six civilians in carried it into an ambulance. restrictions linked to Lebanon’s the village of Sarja, includ- The Observatory said she economic crisis, then the Palestinians take part in a rally denouncing the blockade of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza City by the border, yesterday. Israel has ing three children and a res- was among four women and coronavirus pandemic, had maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, the year the Palestinian Hamas movement took power in the area. cue worker, meaning at least three girls killed in the bom- postponed the trip. 13 were killed in total in Idlib bardment. Police clash with After war, a grieving Palestinians at Gaza marks Eid holiday Reuters Gaza

or Palestinians who lost loved ones in the fi ghting Al Aqsa mosque Fbetween Gaza fi ghters and Israel two months ago, there is Reuters little cause for celebration dur- Jerusalem Jordan condemns Israeli violations ing the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Adha. Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Jerusalem,” spokesman for the The holiday, coinciding with rief clashes erupted yes- Aff airs and Expatriates Ministry Daifallah al-Fayez said Haj, the annual pilgrimage to terday between Israeli po- yesterday condemned Israel’s in a statement yesterday. Makkah, begins tomorrow, and Blice and Palestinians at Al continued violations in the Al-Fayez indicated that the the occasion is traditionally Aqsa mosque over visits by Jews Al Aqsa mosque, the latest of ministry sent yesterday an marked by slaughtering sheep to the compound. which was yesterday’s storming off icial letter of protest calling or cows and exchanging gifts. No serious injuries were re- of the holy compound by on Israel to stop its violations For this year’s four-day festi- ported in what police described extremist settlers under Israeli and provocations, respect val, Mahmoud Issa, a 73-year- as stone throwing early in the police protection, QNA reported the historical and legal status old retired teacher, bought new day by several youngsters who it from Amman. quo, respect the sanctity of clothes for his grandchildren said were then dispersed. “The Israeli actions against the mosque, the freedom of and took them to a farm to Palestinian offi cials said police the mosque are rejected and worshippers, and the authority choose an animal to slaughter. forcefully evacuated worship- condemned, and represent a of the Jordan-run Jerusalem But he mourns the death of pers to clear the way for Jewish violation of the historical and and Al Aqsa Mosque Aff airs his daughter Manar, 39, and her A Palestinian sells shoes on a stall near the rubble of his old shoe store that has been destroyed in an visitors and fi red rubber-coated legal status quo, international Department. He stressed that daughter, Lina 13, who he said Israeli air strike, ahead of Eid al-Adha holiday, in Gaza City. bullets during the confrontation law, and Israel’s obligations as the Al Aqsa mosque is a place were killed by an Israeli mis- in one of the most sensitive ven- an occupying power in East of worship purely for Muslims. sile that destroyed their house destroyed and 37,000 damaged In Gaza’s livestock markets, continues. It is for the sake of ues in the confl ict. in the Bureij refugee camp on by Israeli bombing during the 11 breeders and farmers reported everyone,” he added. All was quiet by the time Mus- May 13. days of cross-border fi ghting in poor sales ahead of the holiday. At a street stall in Gaza’s busy lim noon prayers were held, but lation resulting from the Israeli regulate Jewish visits to the Manar’s husband and three May. At one market in the town Rimal neighbourhood, Mo- the incident drew condemnation incursion in the Al Aqsa mosque flashpoint plaza. Muslims re- other children survived. More than 250 Palestinians of Khan Younis, some custom- hamed al-Qassas laments the by the Palestinian Authority, complex in occupied Jerusa- fer to the compound, where Al “As adults, we are still haunt- were killed in hundreds of Is- ers loaded animals onto donkey destruction of his shoe store in which administers limited self- lem”. The Authority called the Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third ho- ed by pain, but we must get the raeli air strikes in Gaza that carts to take them home. the fi ghting as he sells goods rule in the occupied West Bank. Jewish visits provocative and liest site, and the Dome of the children out of this atmosphere were launched after Hamas “This year, the purchase of that he salvaged from the rub- Israeli media reports put the a “serious threat to “security Rock shrine are located, as the and make them live the atmos- began fi ring rockets at Israel in animals is weak because of the ble. number of Jewish visitors who and stability”. After the spate of Noble Sanctuary. The area is phere of Eid, so that they forget retaliation for what the group blockade, war and the corona- The 23-year-old fears that an walked through the Jerusalem violence, Israeli Prime Minister in Jerusalem’s walled Old City the pain of losing their mother said were rights abuses against virus,” said merchant Saleem Egyptian-brokered truce that plaza at around 1,300. Naftali Bennett directed that and part of the territory Israel and their eldest sister,” Issa Palestinians in Jerusalem. Abu Atwa, referring in part to ended the most serious hostili- In a statement, the Palestin- Jewish visits there “continue, captured in a 1967 Middle East said, sitting next to a large mu- Thirteen people were killed tight border restrictions im- ties between Gaza fi ghters and ian Authority said it held “the while maintaining order at the war. Violence there led in part ral of Manar. in Israel during rocket barrages posed by Israel and Egypt, Israel in years might not last. Israeli occupation government site”, an official statement said. to an 11-day Israel-Gaza Gaza’s Hamas-run govern- that disrupted life and sent which cite security concerns for “Another war would be a dis- fully responsible for the esca- Israeli police monitor and war in May. ment says 2,200 homes were people running for shelter. the measures.“We hope calm aster,” he told Reuters.

Magnitude 5.7 quake hits Iran Yemen to get more Covid-19 vaccines by month-end

AFP It struck at a depth of 11 kilometres, with the emen expects to get a second batch of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vac- Another batch of AstraZeneca shots is Tehran epicentre near the town of Khesht, at around 7pm of Covid-19 shots by the end of this cine, out of an eventual total of 504,000, a expected via Covax in August, according to (1430 GMT). Several weaker aftershocks followed, Ymonth through the Covax global spokesperson said. the health ministry of the internationally- according to Iran’s seismological centre. The Unit- vaccine-sharing scheme, the health min- The country, whose health infrastructure recognised government. magnitude-5.7 earthquake hit Iran’s south- ed States Geological Survey put the initial tremor at istry said yesterday, Reuters reported from has been devastated by six years of war, re- So far vaccination campaigns have only ern province of Fars yesterday, local media 5.4-magnitude. There were no reports of casualties Aden. ceived 360,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s vac- begun in parts of Yemen controlled by the Areported. or damage, about two hours after the quake. Yemen is expecting to get 151,000 doses cine in March through Covax. internationally-recognised government. Gulf Times 6 Monday, July 19, 2021 AFRICA SA president rallies base as riot cleanup goes on

AFP Soweto

Herders attend to their sheep as they await buyers ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebration at Kara-Isheri sheep market in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, yesterday. outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa joined Spost-riot cleanup eff orts yesterday as his government warned against vigilantism and sought to avert racial confl ict Nigeria puts six following the unrest. The country was gripped by more than a week of chaos that claimed more than 200 lives as looters ransacked shop- states on ‘red alert’ ping centres and unidentifi ed groups torched key industrial infrastructure and blocked trade routes. The violence was the worst in over virus fears post-apartheid South Africa and erupted after former president Jacob Zuma was sentenced to AFP red alert as part of the preventive “These steps are critical 15 months in jail for snubbing a Abuja measures against a third wave of as we begin to see worrisome corruption inquiry. the pandemic,” Secretary to the early signs of increasing cases His trial for graft in a separate Government of the Federation in Nigeria,” Mustapha said. case is due to resume today. igeria has put six states Boss Mustapha said in a state- With Muslims celebrating Eid “We all admit there were laps- and its capital on “red ment. The states concerned are al-Adha next week, the gov- es...we will gather ourselves and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the Maponya mall to speak to members of the public and Nalert” over rising coro- Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, ernment recommended that do a proper review,” Ramaphosa to discuss the damages caused by recent looting and destruction in Soweto, yesterday. navirus cases, the government Kano, Plateau and the FCT. La- prayers be held outdoors and told a crowd outside a mall in the said late on Saturday, urging gos, the country’s commercial that indoor gatherings should Soweto township. Zulu-Natal (KZN) province are were accused of victimising pandemic”. Many in industry, caution ahead of the festival of capital, has been the epicentre be limited. It also recom- “People want to defend what now going hungry. their black counterparts. particularly tourism which ac- Eid al-Adha. of Nigeria’s outbreak, account- mended the suspension of we have in the form of democ- At a branch of the Grace family A taskforce of 10 detectives counts for 7% of GDP, worry that Africa’s most populous ing for more than a third of the the traditional Durbar festi- racy, our constitution and econ- church in Durban, trestle tables would be deployed to the area the violence will damage South country, with some 210mn nationwide total. val showcasing horse riding omy.” were piled high with donated to investigate the deaths of 20 Africa’s reputation and set back residents, has offi cially record- Spokesman for the Secretary displays. Last month, Nigeria Ramaphosa is under mount- fresh vegetables and bread to people during the mayhem, he economic progress. ed around 169,000 cases and to the Government of the Fed- barred passengers who are not ing pressure as only a handful prepare food parcels for those in added. Traffi c was back to normal 2,126 deaths from Covid-19, eration Willy Bassey said that citizens or permanent resi- of the masterminds of what of- need of food. Of the 212 people reported along a main highway linking but the real fi gures are believed “red alert” meant that states dents from entering the coun- fi cials have called an attempted Vegetable farmer Katle- killed nationwide, some were the country’s north to the Port of to be much higher, in part be- should “fully deploy all Cov- try if they have been in South “insurrection”, which caused an go Meso, was stuck with 1.2 shot and others died in looting Durban which had been closed cause of low testing rates. id-19 prevention and contain- Africa in the past 14 days over estimated $1bn of damage, have tonnes of peppers worth stampedes. for days. Last week, the Nigeria Cen- ment measures in place” and coronavirus concerns. been arrested. around 20,000 rand ($1,400) Alongside the human and But businesses in Durban are tre for Disease Control said it intensify “testing, identifi ca- The decision followed When asked if he would shake when he was advised not to economic toll, offi cials closed seeking security assurances. had detected the highly conta- tion, treatment and isolation similar restrictions imposed up his ministers responsible for deliver to a Johannesburg pro- several beaches around Durban “In as much as we are over the gious Delta variant of the virus, of infected persons.” on travellers coming from security he said: “We are review- duce market because of the warning of possible contami- hurdle now, we are still scared,” putting offi cials on alert for a But the presidential steering Brazil, India and Turkey. Ni- ing the situation, yes.” disorder. He is now attempt- nation after a chemical spill at Zanele Khomo of the Durban third pandemic wave. committee added in its state- geria started inoculating its Police Minister Bheki said ing to sell his stock in the local a factory set ablaze during the Chamber of Commerce and In- “The Presidential Steering ment that “all states...should population in March with yesterday that three more sus- area around his 23 hectare farm mayhem. dustry said. Committee on Covid-19 (PSC), heighten their state of prepar- 4mn doses. More vaccines pected instigators of the unrest in Tarlton northwest of Johan- An operation was launched to “The world is looking at us has put six states and the Fed- edness and continue to enforce are expected to be received had been arrested bringing the nesburg, and will give away clear hundreds of dead fi sh from with those (negative) eyes, but eral Capital Territory (FCT) on all protocols put in place.” next month. total to four. what he cannot sell. a river in the uMhlanga Lagoon we want to tell them that South Access to basic necessities like “I won’t get the price that I Nature Reserve, AFP corre- Africa has a lot of good people food has become a pressing is- normally get,” he said. spondents saw. and we have a lot of good stories sue in the areas aff ected by loot- Warning has also been issued Pope Francis prayed for South to tell,” said Siyanda Nxumalo, ing, arson and violence as many against “vigilante acts” after Africa yesterday, saying that a headteacher in Durban, who stores were destroyed while oth- residents of Phoenix outside violence had rocked the country helped to clear up the Dube Vil- Three Chinese, two Mauritanians ers remain closed. Durban, a township of mostly “already hit by health and eco- lage Mall outside Durban follow- Many in the worst-hit Kwa- Indian-origin South Africans, nomic challenges because of the ing the unrest. kidnapped in northern Mali

Reuters State, has displaced hundreds of thousands. Bamako Those kidnapped on Saturday are employees of Chinese construction fi rm Covec and Mau- Sao Tome votes in presidential poll ritanian road-building company ATTM, which hree Chinese nationals and two Maurita- had been developing the site while under the nians were abducted from a construction protection of a private security company, the AFP Maquengo, told AFP by telephone. The ar- eign minister, Jorge Amado, a former party Tsite in northern Mali yesterday when gun- army statement said. Libreville chipelago opened up to a multiparty system president, and Maria das Neves, a former men raided the site for equipment and took hos- The attackers also made off with vefi pick-up in 1991, after 15 years of single-party rule by prime minister who was the party’s candi- tages, the army said. trucks before setting fi re to much of the site, de- a Marxist regime following a pattern seen in date in last presidential elections in 2016. The raid took place 55km from the town of stroying a crane, dump trucks and other equip- ao Tome and Principe, a tiny Portu- other former Portuguese colonies. The ADI’s candidate is Carlos Vila Nova, a Kwala, a regular transit point for companies ment owned by the companies, the statement guese-speaking island nation of some Despite several coup attempts, parliamen- little known fi gure to the general public, who moving through Mali’s desert north, the army said. S210,000 inhabitants located in the Gulf tary democracy is strong, occasionally seeing previously served as minister of infrastruc- said in a statement. Kidnappings are a common fi xture of the war of Guinea, was voting yesterday to elect a transfers of power between the two main po- ture. The speaker of the National Assembly, Later that evening, gunmen attacked a road in Mali, with foreign nationals in particular reg- new president in a country considered a re- litical groups. The two rivals are the centre- Delfi m das Neves, who occupies that post checkpoint in the country’s central San region, ularly targeted by militants hoping to obtain ran- gional model of democracy. right Independent Democratic Action party thanks to his party’s alliance with the ML- around 400km from Bamako, and killed three ci- soms for their release. Nineteen candidates — a record — are vy- (ADI) and the Liberation of Sao Tome and STP, is the offi cial candidate of the Party for vilians, the army said in a second statement. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio ing to succeed Evaristo Carvalho, president Principe (MLSTP), the former sole ruling Democratic Convergence (PCD). Sao Tome No group has yet taken responsibility for ei- Guterres asked the Security Council to authorise since 2016, who has decided not to stand party but now a centre-left movement. exports cocoa and coff ee and also lives on ther attack. additional troops for Mali’s peacekeeping mis- again. Now in parliamentary power, the MLSTP subsistence farming, fi shing and tourism, Parts of Mali have been mired in violence since sion in response to rising violence by militants, As in Portugal, the former colonial power stands behind Guilherme Posser da Costa, but it remains 90% dependent on interna- 2012, when several insurgent groups launched according to a report seen by Reuters on Friday. until 1975, the president of the republic may 68, former prime minister and three times tional aid. campaigns against the Malian government for Meanwhile, former colonial power France arbitrate disputes but does not govern. foreign minister. According to the CIA World Factbook, greater autonomy. has announced plans to begin drawing down its Polling stations opened in the morning But fi ve other members of the MLSTP are a 2017 estimate found some 66% of the The confl ict, which has since been co-opted 5,100-strong taskforce that targets the militants in the two-round election, the head of the running against him as independent candi- population of Sao Tome lives below the by militants linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic across West Africa’s Sahel region. national election commission, Fernando dates. They include Elsa Pinto, former for- poverty line. 13 dead in ‘fi reball’ as petrol tanker explodes in Kenya

AFP site with jerrycans to collect the among those injured. Investi- “Some were burned with Nairobi leaking fuel but shortly after the gators were still combing the their motorbikes,” said Otieno. truck exploded, consuming the charred wreckage and fear the Images broadcast by Ken- crowd in a terrible inferno. death toll could climb. yan media showed the blazing hirteen people were killed “We were woken up by a very “The death toll we have as of tanker lighting up the night sky and others seriously loud blast. When I rushed out, now is still 13. These are bodies and in the morning following, Tburned when a “huge fi re- I saw a huge fi reball and people at the mortuary,” Chacha said. crowds gaping at the disfig- ball” engulfed a crowd in Kenya were screaming,” said nearby “However, we have people ured, smouldering wreckage. as they siphoned fuel from an resident Jack Odhiambo. who are unaccounted for. We Deadly accidents involving overturned petrol truck that ig- Those on the scene fi rst man- will require a proper examina- fuel trucks negotiating peril- nited without warning. aged to get away safely with some tion to determine if there were ous roads are not uncommon in Police said yesterday the death fuel, said witness Magdalene people burnt completely at Kenya and the wider East Af- toll could rise, with investigators Adhiambo. the scene, where bones were rica region. trying to account for the miss- But others went back for a sec- found.” In 2009, more than 100 peo- ing, and charred bones found ond round, and the crowd grew Fire crews arrived on the ple were killed when a petrol among the twisted wreckage of larger as more and more people scene two hours later to douse tanker overturned northwest of the fuel tanker. arrived hoping to get lucky. the inferno. The cause of the Nairobi and an explosion con- The truck collided with an- “That’s when the fi re started,” explosion is not yet known. sumed those gathering to col- other vehicle and turned over she said. Four motorbikes were found lect leaking fuel. late Saturday near Malanga, Wycliff e Otieno said he had People stand next to a burnt out petrol tanker that burst into flames when it overturned in western Kenya, smouldering not far from the More recently, at least 100 some 315km northwest of Nai- just started fi lling his jerrycan some 315km northwest of Nairobi, on the highway between Kisumu and the border with Uganda, yesterday. tanker. people were killed when a tanker robi, on the busy highway be- when the slick around him ig- Witnesses said motorcycle exploded in Tanzania in 2019 tween Kisumu and the border nited. was, because I have been told hospital bed. Charles Chacha, a said 24 people were in hospital drivers had rushed to the site while in 2015 more than 200 with Uganda. “I was able to run to safety...I the people we were with did not local police chief in Siaya Coun- with serious burns. with jerrycans and were close perished in a similar accident in Onlookers rushed to the crash just don’t know how lucky I survive,” Otieno said from his ty where the accident occurred, Earlier, he said children were to the tanker when it exploded. South Sudan. Gulf Times Monday, July 19, 2021 7 WORLD

Indonesia’s daily Covid infections higher than India, Brazil

Guardian News and Media breaks since the pandemic began, been inundated with desperate have died, according to offi cial world,” said Dr Dicky Budiman, Indonesia has one of the inoculation campaigns will help Jakarta fuelled by the emergence of more pleas for oxygen. records. an Indonesian epidemiologist at world’s weakest testing systems, mitigate the worst of the new, aggressive variants and a lack of In Indonesia, the worst hit, Only the UK – which has a far Australia’s Griffi th University. performing 55.89 tests for every more aggressive variants, south- vaccines. volunteer undertakers visit higher rate of testing – recorded “We miss many cases and we 1,000 people since the start of east Asia’s vaccination rates re- ndonesia has reported more In Malaysia, shipping contain- homes, collecting the bodies of more new infections on Saturday, don’t identify maybe 80% of the pandemic, according to Our main extremely low. daily Covid-19 infections ers have been sent to hospitals people who were unable to access 54,674. Health experts believe these cases in the community … World in Data. This is a lower In Myanmar, less than 4% of Ithan India and Brazil as the because their morgues are so treatment. Indonesia’s fi gures are a severe In Indonesia the testing is pas- testing rate than in India, with the population has received one Delta strain sweeps across south- overwhelmed. On Saturday, Indonesia re- underestimate.“The centre (of sive, it’s not active. The one who 318.86 swabs per 1,000 people. vaccine dose. The country’s vac- east Asia, placing intense pres- In Thailand, fi eld hospitals are ported 51,952 cases and 1,092 the pandemic) in Asia is already comes to the healthcare facility The UK, which has one of the cination campaign has collapsed, sure on health systems. being built at the capital’s two deaths, higher than India and in Indonesia right now, but if we is the one who gets tested if they highest rates, has conducted as has the wider health system, Most countries in the region airports. Brazil for a third day running. have more testing capacity we show symptoms, or if they also 3,311.03 tests per 1,000 people. following the military coup in are experiencing their worst out- In Myanmar, social media has More than 72,400 people are already the epicentre of the identity as the contact,” he said. While Europe is hoping mass February. Australia TV show dumps British far-right commentator

Guardian News and Media across Europe was staged, as well Sydney as stating that people with de- mentia should not “block” hos- pital beds. ritish far-right fi gure Katie The production company Hopkins has been dumped making Big Brother VIP, En- Bas a cast member of Sev- demol Shine Australia, and en’s Big Brother VIP and will Channel Seven were scrambling leave the country after breaching yesterday to respond to the her contract, Guardian Australia growing crisis which threatened revealed. to overshadow the broadcast of Hopkins, 46, broadcast a live the Tokyo Olympic Games which video from what she claimed was starts on Seven on Friday. a Sydney hotel room on Saturday Seven has booked hundreds of morning, describing Covid-19 millions of dollars of advertising lockdowns as “the greatest hoax and cannot aff ord for sponsors to in human history” while joking pull out due to public pressure. about elaborate plans to breach Toyota, Woolworths, Optus quarantine rules. and McDonald’s lead the list of On Saturday Home Aff airs major sponsors, while Harvey Minister, Karen Andrews, or- Norman, AAMI, and HP are also dered an urgent review of wheth- signed on. Pro-democracy protesters confront riot police whilst marching to Government House to call for the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha in Bangkok er Hopkins has breached her visa Social media activists and the yesterday. conditions by publicly fl outing public have started to target ad- quarantine rules. vertisers. But the review has been super- Labour says the federal gov- seded by a decision to terminate ernment should never have her contract, Guardian Australia granted Hopkins a visa or border said. exemption in the fi rst place, re- Talent contracts have an out- leasing a ministerial briefi ng that clause: don’t bring the network outlines the minister’s powers to into disrepute. It is also a re- deny entry to anyone considered Police clash with protesters quirement of any overseas per- a “controversial” visitor. sonality to comply with visa Greens anti-racism spokes- conditions. person Mehreen Faruqi said Sev- Seven confi rmed the decision en “has some serious questions yesterday afternoon. to answer” about why they chose demanding Thai PM’s ouster “Seven Network and Endemol to normalise racism on Austral- Shine Australia confi rm that ian television. Hopkins is not part of Big Broth- “Hopkins should never have Reuters after 6pm but a stand-off be- He added that the police ac- Many protesters yesterday a tighter lockdown in Bangkok er VIP,” the network said. “Seven been off ered a platform to spew Bangkok tween the police and hundreds tions followed laws and regula- carried mock body-bags to rep- and high-risk provinces next and Endemol Shine strongly her hate in the fi rst place and of protesters continued for tions and fully complied with resent coronavirus deaths. week, suspending most domes- condemn her irresponsible and Seven should not be let off the several more hours before the international standards in con- “The government has been tic fl ights and expanding curfew reckless comments in hotel hook,” senator Faruqi said. olice used tear gas, water police dispersed the crowd just trolling crowds. poor at managing the situa- areas after the country reported quarantine.” The Deputy Prime Minister, cannon and rubber bul- before the start of a 9pm cur- Street protests against the tion and if we don’t do anything a third straight day of record Hopkins was contracted to Barnaby Joyce, has also suggest- Plets to disperse protesters few that is in force in the Thai prime minister have been held in there will be no change,” one Covid-19 case numbers. Shine rather than Seven. ed Hopkins be deported, saying trying to march on Thai Prime capital. recent weeks by several groups, protester, Kanyaporn Veeratat, Domestic fl ights to and from Last year, Hopkins had her anyone who fl outs Australian law Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s More than 1,000 people had including Prayut’s former po- 34, said. Bangkok and other provinces Twitter account with 1.1mn fol- should “get out of the country”. offi ce yesterday to demand he joined the demonstration. litical allies, as frustrations grow The protest marked one year classifi ed by the Thai govern- lowers permanently suspended Hopkins has been allowed resign over his handling of the Police intervened with force over the mounting coronavirus since the fi rst of a wave of large- ment as at high risk from Cov- for violating the platform’s into the country despite tens of coronavirus pandemic and its after some protesters tried to infections and the damage the scale street protests led by youth id-19 will be suspended from “hateful conduct” policy. thousands of Australians being economic impact. dismantle barbed wire and metal pandemic has done to the econ- groups that attracted hundreds Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Hopkins, who was repeatedly stranded overseas and unable Some protesters attacked po- barricades set up by the authori- omy. of thousands of people across Authority of Thailand (CAAT) retweeted by former US president to return home due to reduced lice and eight police offi cers and ties to block roads from Democ- Thailand reported 11,397 in- the country. said in an announcement. Donald Trump, was removed to fl ight caps. at least one reporter were in- racy Monument to Government fections and 101 deaths yester- The momentum of those pro- Exceptions are being made “keep Twitter safe”, according to The limit on the number of in- jured during the clashes, police House where the prime minister day, bringing the cumulative tests stalled after authorities for medical flights, emergency the social media platform. ternational arrivals coming into said. works. total to 403,386 cases and 3,341 began cracking down on rallies landing aircraft and flights Hopkins previously compared Australia via commercial fl ights Police did not say if any pro- Deputy police spokesman fatalities, the vast majority from and detaining protest leaders, in connection with the gov- migrants to cockroaches and was halved from July 14 over testers were injured, but said 13 Kissana Phathanacharoen said an outbreak since early April and after new waves of Covid-19 ernment’s tourism reopening claimed the photograph of a dead concerns from some state pre- protesters were arrested. the protesters attacked police that is being fuelled by the high- infections broke out. programmes, while other local Syrian boy lying on a beach that miers about the infectiousness of Protest organisers called for with “ping-pong bombs, sling ly transmissible Alpha and Delta Meanwhile, the govern- flights can only fly at 50% ca- sparked a wave of compassion the Delta variant of Covid-19. the demonstration to end just shots and fi re crackers”. Covid-19 variants. ment has announced plans for pacity, the announcement said.

China denies politics behind New Nepal PM wins Unesco move on Barrier Reef confi dence vote

Reuters a vaccine, are awaiting a second AFP ernment allegations” that Beijing responsible for the mass coral Kathmandu as the government scrambles to Paris pressed to have the Barrier Reef “bleaching” that occurs when procure shots. listed as endangered, Tian said the invertebrates do not have “Combating Covid will be the the decision was based “on re- enough algae to provide nutri- epal’s new Prime Minis- fi rst priority of the new govern- top Chinese offi cial yes- ports and data provided by Aus- ents. ter Sher Bahadur Deuba ment,” Deuba said in parliament. terday said that political tralia itself.” Unesco experts counter that Nwon a vote of confi dence The new government has Atensions between Beijing “Australia should fulfi l its obli- pollution run-off has contrib- in parliament yesterday, days af- pledged to vaccinate a third of its and Australia were not behind gations to protect world heritage uted to a drop in water qual- ter the Supreme Court reinstated people in the next three months a Unesco recommendation to sites instead of making baseless ity, pointing in particular at the legislature that was dissolved and every Nepali by next April. place the Great Barrier Reef on accusations against other mem- the Carmichael Coal Mine, and in May. Last Monday, the Supreme its endangered list. ber states” of Unesco, he added. say clean-up eff orts have fallen The 75-year-old, who has held Court ordered Deuba be ap- Deputy education minis- Both China and Australia short. the offi ce four times before, won pointed premier in place of K P ter Tian Xuejun is chairing this are among the 21 nations on “Politics have subverted a 165 votes - exceeding the 136 Sharma Oli. year’s meeting of the UN cultural this year’s heritage committee, proper process and for the World required - with 83 votes against It ruled that Oli, who had been agency’s heritage committee, which is evaluating nearly 50 Heritage Committee to not even him, parliament speaker Agni in power for three years, had which comes after years of wors- new sites that could be added to foreshadow this listing is, I think, Sapkota said. breached the constitution by ening relations between China its more than 1,100 World Herit- appalling,” Australia’s Environ- He faces the immediate task dissolving parliament. and Australia. age list. ment Minister Sussan Ley said of procuring vaccines and con- However Deuba still needed to The Great Barrier Reef has The designation can be a boon in June. trolling the spread of Covid-19, win the confi dence vote, under been put on a list of World Herit- for tourism, while encouraging But Tian said “the recom- which the government says has the constitution. age sites that could be put on the governments to protect cultural mendation to include the Great infected 667,109 people and Deuba, head of the centrist in-danger list after losing half of or environmental treasures. Barrier Reef on the endangered killed 9,550. Nepali Congress party, will head its corals since 1995. Australia has assailed the rec- list was made after an evalua- Public health experts say an a coalition with former Maoist Australia has assailed the ommendation to add the Great tion by the UICN,” the Interna- under-reporting of cases in the rebels and a party representing a move, blaming global warming Barrier Reef to the in-danger list tional Union for Conservation country means the fi gures could minority community dominant for the loss, while Unesco experts after seeing the 2,300km system of Nature, one of three advisory be higher. Fewer than 4% of the on Nepal’s southern plains. argued that pollution run-off has lose half its corals since 1995. bodies to the heritage commit- country’s 30mn people have Oli, 69, says he had been un- contributed to the loss. It says it has spent billions of tee. Nepal’s newly-appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba been fully vaccinated against fairly removed by the court and Asked at an online press con- dollars to clean up coastal wa- A decision on the reef’s status waves to journalists after winning a vote of confidence in Covid-19. More than 1.3mn peo- has vowed to “go to the people” ference about “Australian gov- ters and says global warming is is expected around July 23. Kathmandu yesterday. ple, who have had a fi rst dose of to explain his position. Gulf Times 8 Monday, July 19, 2021 AMERICAS

US surgeon-general defends new mask rules

Facebook says it should not be blamed for US failing to meet will happen in other parts of the Rosen, a company vice-presi- spike in Covid-19 cases. vaccine goals country,” Murthy told ABC’s This dent. “President Biden’s goal was “I think we’re seeing a lot Week. for 70% of Americans to be vac- spread through social media,” Reuters/AFP infectious Delta variant, fi rst de- He also said that social media cinated by July 4. Facebook is not he told CBS’s Face the Nation. Washington tected in India. companies have fuelled false nar- the reason this goal was missed.” “I think we as a society and cer- Deaths rose 26% week-over- ratives about the safety and ef- Covid-19 misinformation has tainly in our community are be- week to an average of 250 lives fectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines, spread during the pandemic on ing hurt by it.” S Surgeon-General Vivek lost a day, mostly in unvaccinated echoing President Joe Biden’s social media sites including Fa- Los Angeles has also seen a Murthy stood by federal patients. comments that social media cebook, Twitter and Alphabet sharp surge in Covid-19 cases. Uguidance that those fully Murthy, who as surgeon-gen- companies were “killing people”. Incorporated-owned YouTube. “In the last few days, we’re up vaccinated against coronavirus eral is a top government spokes- “There have been positive Democratic Minnesota Sena- to almost 1,900 cases, and over (Covid-19) no longer needed to man on public health matters, steps taken by these technology tor Amy Klobuchar told CNN’s 460 individuals that are now in wear masks, while blaming so- appeared on several news pro- companies,” the top health offi - State of the Union that she is our (intensive-care) units,” Hilda cial media companies for fuelling grammes just hours after a new cial said. “But what I’ve also said looking into ways to hold social Solis, a member of the Los Ange- vaccine misinformation. indoor mask mandate took eff ect to them publicly and privately is companies legally responsible for les County Board of Supervisors, US Surgeon-General Dr Vivek Murthy: The (social media) platforms He told CNN’s State of the in Los Angeles. that it’s not enough.” vaccine misinformation and sug- told ABC. “This is very disturb- have to recognise that they played a major role in the increase in Union that allowing vaccinated No other US city has returned Facebook defended itself gested some might even need to ing, and of course, as responsible speed and scale with which misinformation is spreading. individuals to forgo masks also to an indoor mask mandate, but against Biden’s assertion in a be broken up. elected offi cials, we have to do gives communities the fl exibil- Murthy said he expected others post on Saturday, saying that it “I am a fan of using anti-trust something.” Walensky, director of the US concerned” about prospects for ity to revert to mask mandates to follow amid a surge in the Delta promoted authoritative infor- so we can get true competition Persistent vaccine scepticism Centres for Disease Control and the fall, as more people return to based on new infections and vac- variant of the virus. mation about vaccines and acted against the dominant platforms,” – driven by misinformation – Prevention (CDC). work and unvaccinated children cination rates, as Los Angeles has “In areas where there are low aggressively against health mis- she said. has fuelled the rise in many areas, Just 48% of Americans are ful- return to school. done. numbers of vaccinated people, information on its platforms. Ken McClure, the mayor of even as health offi cials work to ly vaccinated; the fi gure is 68% “What I worry about,” he said, Nationwide, new US Covid-19 or where cases are rising, it’s very “The data shows that 85% of Springfi eld, Missouri, blamed reassure the public of the vac- among those 18 and older. “is that we still have millions of cases surged 70% this week com- reasonable for counties to take Facebook users in the US have misinformation as part of the cines’ safety and effi cacy. The combination of the surg- people in our country who are pared with the prior seven days to more mitigation measures like been or want to be vaccinated driving force behind poor vac- Ninety-seven per cent of those ing Delta variant and the lag in not vaccinated. We have to still an average of 30,000 new infec- the mask rules you see coming against Covid-19,” Facebook said cination rates in his community hospitalised in June were unvac- vaccinations has left Surgeon- protect our children under 12 tions a day, fuelled by the highly- out in LA, and I anticipate that in a corporate blog post by Guy which has experienced a huge cinated, according to Rochelle General Murthy feeling “deeply who don’t have a vaccine.” Widow Castro joins thousands at US might ‘still have of Haiti’s polio’ if the media back president pro-govt rally in Havana then opposed vaccine returns Reuters/AFP AFP suggested Representative Havana Washington Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, might instead come home and take people’s guns – or aul Castro was among op US scientist Anthony their Bibles. thousands who attended Fauci has blasted com- After an initial burst of vac- AFP/Reuters Ra government-organised Tmentators who sound an cinations around the country, Port-au-Prince rally in Havana on Saturday to anti-vaccination theme, say- the pace has slowed sharply. denounce the US trade embargo ing that America might still be Biden’s announced goal of and reaffi rm their support for battling smallpox and polio if having 70% of adults vaccinat- he widow of Haiti’s slain Cuba’s revolution, a week after today’s kind of misinformation ed by July 4 fell short by about president Jovenel Moise unprecedented protests rocked existed back then. three points, and the vaccina- Treturned home on Satur- the communist-run country. Cuban President Diaz-Canel (left) and The comments from the tion rate has slowed further day after being treated in Florida Government supporters former president Raul Castro at the country’s leading infec- since then, even as the dis- for wounds she suff ered in the gathered on the city’s seafront rally in Havana. tious disease expert refl ected ease’s Delta variant has spread attack, an offi cial said. boulevard before dawn to wave mounting frustration over the rapidly. Moise was shot dead when as- Cuban fl ags and photos of late Left: A supporter of the Cuban sharp slowdown in the coro- A few Republicans have sassins armed with assault rifl es revolutionary leader Fidel Cas- government holds a portrait of Raul navirus (Covid-19) vaccination sought to place blame for the stormed his home in the hills tro and his brother Raul. Castro during the rally in Havana. rate in the United States, even disease’s ravages and economic above Port-au-Prince, tipping The latter retired as Com- as the disease has been surging dislocations on the widely-re- the country into uncertainty and munist Party leader in April but matter to call a rally as the coun- tees for the Defence of the Revo- ment because of the gravity in states with low rates. spected Fauci himself. sparking a frenzied investiga- promised to continue fi ghting try saw increasing numbers of lution, she said, and a state bus of the situation, at the rally is It also came days after Presi- Congresswoman Marjorie tion to identify the authors of for the revolution as a “foot sol- Covid-19 cases: “We convened had picked her up at 4am. noteworthy. dent Joe Biden expressed his Taylor Greene has introduced the plan. dier”. you to denounce once more the Shortly before the rally in He wore his olive-green gen- own visible frustration, saying the so-called Fire Fauci Act, Martine Moise, 47, with her The rally was a reaction to blockade, the aggression and Havana offi cially began, au- eral’s uniform, harkening back social media that carry widely calling for his salary to be re- right arm in a sling and wearing demonstrations that erupted terror.” thorities removed a man shout- to his revolutionary role along- heard misinformation about duced to zero and requiring the a bulletproof vest, was received nationwide on July 11 amid Cries from the crowd – ing anti-government slogans, side brother Fidel. vaccines are “killing people”. Senate to confi rm a replace- at Port-au-Prince airport by widespread shortages of basic “Down with the Yankees!” and including “freedom”, from the “Everyone who feels some- Fauci was responding to a ment. interim Prime Minister Claude goods, demands for political “We were born to conquer, not crowd. thing for the revolution, who CNN interviewer who asked if The bill is not expected to go Joseph, Secretary of State for rights and the island nation’s be conquered!” – echoed the The number of those detained felt something for Fidel, for all he thought “we could have de- anywhere. Communications Frantz Exan- worst coronavirus (Covid-19) anti-imperialist language of the during or after protests has he did for this country and that feated the measles or eradicat- Fauci was asked on CNN tus wrote on Twitter. outbreak since the start of the original Cuban revolutionary, grown as new reports trickle in we must continue to do, knows ed polio if you had Fox News, about T-shirts being sold by a “The fi rst lady ... has just ar- pandemic. former president Fidel Castro. amid irregular outages in Inter- what Raul’s presence here night after night, warning peo- political action group linked to rived in Haiti to take part in The government admitted Diaz-Canel decried what he net and messaging applications means,” said one rally partici- ple about these vaccine issues Florida Governor Ron DeSan- preparations for the state funer- some shortcomings this week said was the dissemination of on the island. pant, 65-year-old Carlos Cruz. that are just bunk”. tis that say “Don’t Fauci My al” of her late husband, Exantus but mostly blamed the protests “false images” on social net- The latest tally from exiled The rallies – both for and Fauci said: “We probably Florida”. wrote, posting pictures of Mar- on US-fi nanced “counter-rev- works that “glorify the outrage rights group Cubalex put those against the government – were would still have smallpox and He appeared genuinely per- tine Moise disembarking from olutionaries” exploiting eco- and destruction of property”. detained at 450, although some the largest since the revolution we probably would still have plexed. a private plane accompanied by nomic hardship caused by US Those images, he said, had have since been released. and came as the country en- polio ... if we had the kind of “Taking an individual who multiple security agents. sanctions. caused “immeasurable damage Activists have accused au- dures its worst economic crisis false information that’s being stands for public health, for She had spent 10 days in hos- President Miguel Diaz-Canel, to the national soul”. thorities of repression as some in 30 years, with chronic short- spread.” truth ... and to use my name pital in Miami, where she had who also heads the Commu- Authorities said similar rallies videos have emerged on social ages of electricity, food and Initial vaccine scepticism in in a derogatory way to prevent been air lifted after her husband nist Party, told the crowd that were held nationwide. media of police beating protest- medicine amid a spike in coro- many areas has increasingly people from doing things that’s was gunned down in their home Cuba’s “enemy has once again The offi cial newspaper Gran- ers. navirus infections. evolved into outright hostility, for the benefi t of their own in the early hours of July 7. thrown itself into destroying ma said similar rallies were The government has not yet The island of 11.2mn people a message magnifi ed by base- health, go fi gure that one out. The state funeral services are citizen’s sacred unity and tran- called in cities including Santia- given offi cial fi gures for those recorded 6,062 new cases of less conspiracy theories regu- That doesn’t make any sense at set to take place on July 23 in quillity”. go de Cuba, Bayamo, Camaguey detained although it has said it Covid-19, and 52 deaths, in the larly aired on Fox and other all,” he said, shaking his head. Cap-Haitien, a historic city in He also denounced what he and Santa Clara. has arrested those it suspects of preceding 24 hours, the author- conservative networks. the north of Haiti, which has slid said was a false narrative over “This revolution will con- instigating unpatriotic unrest or ities said. “Maybe it doesn’t work and dangerously toward chaos since unrest on the Caribbean island. tinue for a long time,” said Mar- of carrying out vandalism. The toll stands at 275,608 they’re simply not telling you Moise was killed. “What the world is seeing of garitza Arteaga, a state social State television has broadcast cases and 1,843 deaths. that,” Tucker Carlson, one of Moise, 53, was killed by a hit Cuba is a lie,” Diaz-Canel said worker who attended the rally in images of people looting Cuba’s “With or without the pan- Fox’s most popular commenta- squad made up mostly of Co- during the rally on the Malecon, Havana. controversial dollar stores and demic, we have to defend (the tors, said recently. lombian mercenaries, but many Havana’s famed oceanfront Workers had been convened overturning empty police cars. revolution),” said 73-year-old The vaccines have instead of the details surrounding the boulevard. by neighbourhood block com- The presence of the 90-year- teacher Hector Roman, who proved extraordinarily eff ec- brazen attack remain a mystery. He said that it was no small mittees, known as the Commit- old Castro, drawn out of retire- wore a protective mask. tive. Offi cials in Maryland, for example, said that not one of the people who died of the dis- ease last month in the state had been vaccinated. Bolsonaro leaves hospital, says will be back at work today To suggestions of sending vaccine educators door-to- door to encourage people to Reuters/AFP the 2018 knifi ng. He did not re- ing photos and commenting on get the jab, Fox commentator Brasilia quire surgery. political subjects. Charlie Hurt said: “They’ve In a live online event on Sat- Because of his abdominal become like the Taliban.” urday to mark the opening of a problems, Bolsonaro has been Conservative politicians Fauci: We probably would still razilian President Jair Bol- Caixa Economica bank branch told to “chew food well, eat light- have increasingly echoed have smallpox and we sonaro left yesterday the in the north of the country, Bol- er meals, exercise, walk”, head of former president Donald probably would still have polio BSao Paulo hospital where sonaro had said he was feeling the medical team at the hospital, Trump’s mockery of Covid-19 ... if we had the kind of false he had been for four days under- fi ne and itching to get back to Antonio Macedo said on Satur- precautions. information that’s being going treatment for complica- work. day. Door-to-door educators, spread. tions following a near-fatal 2018 “I can’t wait to get back to Bolsonaro’s health scare came stabbing, and said he will be back work, see friends, and really get at a diffi cult time for the presi- at his desk in Brasilia today. Brazil moving,” Bolsonaro said. dent who last week saw his dis- Mexico City cleans up Aztec-era canals “I’ll be back in the presidency There had been fears that Bol- approval rating climb to an all- tomorrow,” the president told sonaro might need surgery to time high. In Mexico City, residents are working to clean up the capital’s the media as he left the Vila Nova clear the obstruction, although The Senate has also launched “floating gardens” of Xochimilco, one of the city’s few remaining Star hospital, where he had been that was quickly ruled out. an investigation over his han- canals that date back to Aztec times. since Wednesday. He has undergone surgery six dling of the pandemic, the seri- The Unesco World Heritage site still preserves much of its pre- “It seems that my stomach times since he was stabbed in the ousness of which he repeatedly Hispanic stylings, but is under strain from an urban sprawl that was on fi re. The cause was an abdomen in 2018 on the cam- downplayed and which has cost threatens the delicate ecosystem and centuries-long farming intestinal obstruction, which is paign trail. almost 540,000 lives in Brazil. practices. common in those like me that On Thursday the hospital had The investigation was extend- Plagued by polluted water, predatory fish and the steady have undergone surgery, after the said he was “evolving satisfac- ed by 90 days on Wednesday. encroachment of one of the world’s biggest cities, locals are stabbing,” said Bolsonaro, who torily” while his legislator son, Bolsonaro, who contracted the banding together to clear the canals and make this agricultural area spoke to journalists for half an Bolsonaro speaks during a press conference at the Vila Nova Star Eduardo Bolsonaro said doctors coronavirus (Covid-19) disease economically viable within Mexico’s megalopolis. hour. Hospital in Sao Paulo. He received his medical discharge yesterday had removed “close to one litre last year, is also being investi- One way they are doing this is by supporting traditional Aztec “I had to undergo a diet, I did after being treated for four days for an intestinal obstruction. (a quarter of a gallon) of liquid” gated by the public prosecutor farming methods in these waterways called chinampas. what had to be done ... I wanted from the president’s stomach for allegedly failing to act on an Chinampas are floating beds of farm produce cultivated by the to leave from day one, but they main under observation as an an example to anyone when it that was caused by the obstruc- embezzlement tip-off regarding Aztecs in the 14th century to feed the pre-Hispanic city. didn’t let me. I hope in 10 days I’ll outpatient. comes to diet,” Bolsonaro said. tion, considerably alleviating the coronavirus vaccine purchases. “From sanitation, maintenance and cleaning, that’s what you can be eating barbecued ribs, eating His medical team also advised The 66-year-old president pain. The opposition is pushing for see,” said Environment Minister for Mexico City Marina Robles. anything,” he said. him to go on a diet, but the presi- was taken to the Sao Paulo hos- While in hospital, Bolsonaro the president of the chamber of “And for (agriculture) producers it means that they can continue to The hospital said in an earlier dent said he may not comply. pital for treatment relating to an continued to work and was very deputies to open impeachment manage their chinampas and also the commercialisation of their statement that Bolsonaro will re- “I’ll try to follow, but I’m not obstructed intestine following active on social media, publish- proceedings against Bolsonaro. products.” – Reuters Gulf Times Monday, July 19, 2021 9 WORLD

Starmer expected to back purge of far-left Labour factions

Guardian News and Media party’s governing body tomorrow were politically motivated, and Several left-leaning groups are attacking his own members. He at the conference in September. ganisations are compatible with London to proscribe four named groups. Labour In Exile Network, which organising a picket of the NEC has destroyed democracy in La- “This is just the beginning of the Labour’s rules or our aims and The proposal, fi rst reported expressly welcomes expelled or meeting at Southside, Labour’s bour to get rid of the thousands fi ghtback. We are fi ghting for the values.” A number of prominent in the Daily Mirror, has angered suspended members. headquarters in Victoria, central of people who joined after Jeremy future of the Labour party,” he said. former members have been sus- eir Starmer is preparing to left-wing members who believe Socialist Appeal, a group that London, to protest against the Corbyn became leader.” A Labour spokesperson said: pended in recent months. support a purge of far-left this may be part of a wider purge describes itself as a Marxist voice proposals. The move sets the stage for “Labour is a broad, welcoming Corbyn was suspended from Kfactions that were vocal of the party. of Labour and youth, would also Norman Thomas, who founded factional warfare at the Labour and democratic party and we are the party in October last year supporters of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour’s ruling National Ex- become a banned group. the Labour In Exile Network, said party conference in Brighton as committed to ensuring it stays for saying the problem of anti- leadership. ecutive Committee will be asked Anyone found to be a member in a statement: “There is wide Starmer attempts to stamp his that way. From time to time, there semitism within Labour was After 15 months of being party to proscribe Resist and Labour of any these groups could be au- agreement Starmer is pretty pa- authority on the party. are groups the NEC will proscribe. “dramatically overstated for po- leader, Starmer is expected to Against the Witchhunt, which tomatic expelled from the Labour thetic at fi ghting the Tories, but Thomas said there would be The NEC will be asked today to litical reasons” by opponents and support a proposal before the claims anti-semitism allegations party. he’s in overdrive when it comes to more action to come – including consider whether these four or- the media. UK government in coronavirus confusion ahead of ‘freedom day’

AFP cold weather. We lose the pre- London cious fi rebreak that we get with the school holidays,” the prime minister said. he UK government was “If we don’t do it now, we’ve thrown into turmoil yes- got to ask ourselves, when will Tterday by its own rules we ever do it? So this is the right on Covid self-isolation just as it moment, but we’ve got to do it controversially prepared to ditch cautiously.” pandemic curbs in England. Keir Starmer, leader of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson main opposition Labour party, and Finance Minister Rishi Su- said the government was in nak will work remotely until July “chaos” after sending mixed 26, offi cials said, after Health messages about what it expects Secretary Sajid Javid on Saturday the public to do from today. tested positive for Covid-19. “Yet again the Conservatives Javid had a “lengthy” meeting fi xed the rules to benefi t them- with Johnson on Friday, accord- selves and only backtracked ing to the Sunday Times, and also when they were found out,” he appeared alongside other minis- said. ters in parliament last week. “They robbed the bank, got The prime minister nearly died caught and have now off ered to of Covid last year. give the money back.” Initially, a government The government insists that spokesperson said both Johnson with two-thirds of the adult and Sunak were taking part in an population now fully vaccinated, Rescue workers search for survivors after a residential house collapsed due to landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Mumbai, India, yesterday. offi cial pilot that enables them to the risk can be managed despite continue working from their of- rising infections. fi ces, while self-isolating outside Housing Secretary Robert Jen- of work. rick told BBC television Monday But with millions of school- was still the “logical moment” children and workers forced in to replace legal diktats with recent weeks to stay at home “personal judgement”, thanks to under Covid tracing rules, there school summer holidays starting was an outcry over the an- this week and the onset of hotter 34 people killed in nouncement, and Downing weather. Street staged a hurried U-turn. But he conceded that the pan- Johnson will remain at the demic’s current wave may not prime minister’s country retreat peak until September. at Chequers northwest of Lon- Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s don, where he was staying when health spokesman, said the gov- contacted by tracing offi cials ernment was being “reckless” India monsoon fury from the National Health Service with its plans for today, echoing (NHS). many scientists who say the reo- AFP early hours, burying nearby resi- seen “rocks and mud...gush- waterlogging in the tracks after vised residents to boil the liquid “We did look briefl y at the pening endangers global health. Mumbai dents, the National Disaster Re- ing down the hill along with the the overnight heavy downpour. before using it. idea of us taking part in the pilot “We are against opening up sponse Force (NDRF) said. rainwater”. Building collapses are com- The Indian Meteorological scheme which allows people to without any precautions in Twenty-one bodies have been Rescuers resorted to using mon during India’s June-Sep- Department said early yesterday test daily. But I think it’s far more place,” Ashworth told the BBC, t least 34 people were recovered from the rubble, it their hands to dig up the ground tember monsoon season, with that “moderate to heavy rain or important that everybody sticks attacking in particular the gov- killed after several homes added, with rescue operations in an attempt to fi nd survivors, old and rickety structures buck- thundershowers” were forecast to the same rule,” Johnson said in ernment’s plan to drop a man- Awere crushed by a col- ongoing. local television showed, as au- ling under days of non-stop rain. for the next two days. a video message. date for wearing masks. lapsed wall and a landslide trig- “In the adjacent house, I saw a thorities said more people could Last month, 12 people were “We’ll take the decision to He also defended the plan to Under the plan for England, gered by heavy monsoon rains in small girl who was trapped in the be trapped inside the debris. killed when a building collapsed shift the people who are living reopen England’s economy from all restrictions on social mix- India’s fi nancial capital Mum- debris. She was shouting ‘save Emergency workers carried in a Mumbai slum. in a dangerous situation to per- today – dubbed “freedom day” ing and an order to work from bai, authorities said yesterday. me, save me’,” Firoz Khan, who the injured through narrow And last September, 39 people manent settlements immedi- by some media, although sci- home will be lifted. Nightclubs Rainwater also inundated a was caught up in the downpour lanes on makeshift stretchers. died when a three-storey apart- ately,” said Nawab Malik, a state entists have grave misgivings as can reopen, and sports stadia, water purifi cation complex, dis- in Chembur, said. In the suburb of Vikhroli in ment block collapsed in Bhi- cabinet minister, according to daily infection rates top 50,000, cinemas and theatres can oper- rupting supply “in most of the “Her body was trapped in the the city’s northeast, six people wandi near the fi nancial capital. a tweet by news agency ANI, a behind only Indonesia and Bra- ate at full capacity. The surge in parts of Mumbai”, a megacity of mud. Somehow, I managed to were killed after a landslide hit Mumbai has been hit by Reuters partner. zil. infections sweeping Britain led 20mn people, civic authorities pull her out. She had injuries in fi ve homes early yesterday, the downpours since Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra “If we don’t do it now, then to more than 530,000 people be- said. her legs. I narrowly survived this NDRF added. local transport services aff ected. Modi tweeted his condolences we’ll be opening up in the au- ing instructed to self-isolate by A falling tree demolished a collapse.” The Central Railway and The city’s civic body did not and added that there would be tumn, the winter months, when an NHS app in the week to July 7, wall in the eastern suburb of Another resident, Manda Western Railway suspended say when the water supply was fi nancial compensation for vic- the virus has the advantage of the according to latest data. Chembur during yesterday’s Gautam Pradhan, said she had suburban train services due to expected to be restored, but ad- tims’ families. UK Covid cases could hit Laid to rest UK bakes on year’s 200,000 a day: scientist hottest weekend Guardian News and Media screen could save you and your London child a lot of pain and suff ering.” Guardian News and Media Daily hospitalisations sur- there would probably be a surge Northern Ireland recorded its London passing 2,000 a day is equivalent in cases no matter when the re- hottest day on Saturday. to the level in the week leading up maining restrictions are lifted. hildren have been treated The townland of Ballywatticock to Christmas. Ferguson and his team at Im- in hospital for extreme at Strangford Lough set a record ovid cases could hit Although people currently be- perial College London discovered Csunburn as Britain expe- with a temperature of 31.2C; the 200,000 a day in the UK ing hospitalised do not fall as se- there had been an almost threefold rienced the hottest weekend of previous record of 30.8C was Cthis year and cause “major verely ill, and are much less likely underestimate of the true scale of the year. Temperatures reached reached in 1976 and 1983. disruption” to the NHS, accord- to die, Ferguson said that “if you the level of infections in the coun- 31.6C at Heathrow and 30.2C In England, a temperature of ing to the scientist whose initial have enough cases, you can still try by March last year – compel- in Cardiff yesterday, making it 30.7C was recorded at Linton- modelling helped shape Britain’s have quite signifi cant burden on ling the government to impose a the hottest day of the year, as an on-Ouse in North Yorkshire on coronavirus lockdown strategy. the healthcare system … major full lockdown on March 23 . area of high pressure over the UK Saturday. Prof Neil Ferguson said it was disruption of services and can- The colossal upheaval to the maintained warm conditions. Public health authorities is- “almost inevitable” that Mon- cellation of elective surgery and British way of life can therefore be Three children with sunburn sued a call for people to keep an day’s fi nal phase of unlocking the backlog in the NHS getting traced directly to the modelling to what were described as “fairly eye on anyone at risk from high would bring on 100,000 daily longer and longer.” carried out over a few days, cal- large areas of their bodies” were temperatures, including older cases, with about 1,000 hospi- Coronavirus infections in the culations that would lead to Fer- admitted to the Welsh centre people, those with underlying talisations – despite roughly half UK are surging again and hospital- guson being viewed by sections of for burns and plastic surgery at health conditions and young the UK being fully vaccinated. isations are on the rise, driven by the British press and public as the Swansea’s Morriston hospital children. He added that he could foresee the spread of the Delta variant and fi gurehead of lockdown. over the course of Friday and The Met Offi ce forecast a a situation in which the case rate the partial lifting of restrictions. Some scientists have vehe- Saturday. warm night for many parts of expands to twice the size. Nearly all restrictions are set mently opposed lifting the re- “Our burns centre has been the UK, with sunny spells con- “The real question is do we get to be discarded in England today, maining restrictions today, treating a lot of children with tinuing today, particularly in the to double that – or even higher,” he including mask-wearing and so- suggesting the government has serious sunburn and staff fear south of England. told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show cial distancing mandates. decided to achieve “herd immu- Mourners carry the casket of Reuters journalist Danish a further surge in cases in the “Dry, very warm or hot” condi- on Sunday. “And that’s where the Whether this unlocking is nity” by eff ectively letting the Siddiqui before his burial in New Delhi yesterday. The coming days,” the Swansea Bay tions are expected to last into the crystal ball starts to fail. I mean, we permanent or temporary will virus run wild in young people, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer was killed covering University health board said in week, with isolated heavy show- could get to 2,000 hospitalisations depend on precautions taken by which they say will lead to dis- fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban a statement.“Please remember ers possible, though with cloudier a day, 200,000 cases a day – but the public and vaccination rates, ruptions in NHS care and educa- near a border crossing with Pakistan. to be sun safe. Just a few min- and cooler periods in the north it’s much less certain.” scientists have warned, adding tion. utes applying a high-factor sun and along the east coast. Gulf Times 10 Monday, July 19, 2021 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 Our responsibility to climate migrants

Last November, as the most active Atlantic hurricane season ever recorded ground to a close, the last two big storms – Eta and Iota – ripped into Central America. A Washington Post reporter covering their aftermath interviewed a Honduran woman named Blanca Costa, who was sheltering beneath a highway overpass. She supported her three daughters by working as a trash collector, and had three horses to pull her garbage cart. Except now the horses had drowned. “I’ll just have to go on foot now,” said Costa, 40, one of about 100 people fi nding refuge under the bridge. “But it will be more diffi cult.” The storms caused massive damage in Central America. According to early estimates, the economic toll in Honduras was equivalent to 40% of the country’s GDP. So, it should not surprise anyone that plenty of people from the region are now on the move. When climate-driven disasters strike, the vast majority of Will Europe rise to people don’t need or want to move far. If drought drives a farm out of business, workers usually look for new jobs as near to home as possible. When extreme weather destroys homes, people seek a temporary escape, not permanent relocation. But as adverse climate events become more extreme – and they will – people will need to move farther for longer. Biden’s challenge? It is of course entirely unfair that Hondurans have done so little to cause the climate crisis that is now taking such a costly toll there. Someone who collects trash with a horse-drawn cart does not generate a lot of carbon dioxide emissions, in contrast to someone Europe must invest more in opportunities for those left behind by forth. Here, China has undeniably coming years. Yet all the main German global capitalism, so that they will not achieved great things, lifting more parties and politicians have been silent in the United States driving a 310-horsepower Ford Bronco SUV. research and development, fall prey to populists’ false promises? than 800 million people out of abject on this issue, presumably because By any moral calculation, therefore, the US should be fi guring out digitalisation, and artifi cial How do we restore other developed poverty over the past four decades. they are still waiting to see how the what its responsibilities are democratic countries’ commitment The lines, then, have been drawn. pandemic will evolve. Many fear that to Central American climate intelligence to democratic values? How do we rein For Europe to make a meaningful richer northern member states will They aren’t migrants. And, whether they in overpowered financial and tech contribution to Biden’s mission, it regain their economic strength quickly industries, or forge a more dynamic must become stronger. And because while others – namely, Italy and France cross international borders By Sigmar Gabriel heading to the Berlin global order? its common foreign and security – fall further behind. or not, it should be US policy The idea of “the West” was always policy tends to evolve only very slowly, The EU’s €750bn recovery fund will US because they to make their journeys as safe meant to be universal, off ering a Europe must also continue to press not be enough to achieve anything and humane as possible. S President Joe Biden has normative framework for peaceful, ahead with the expansion of the single close to a convergence between want to. They So, if the top priority is to found his mission: to secure prosperous coexistence among all people. market, which will remain Europe’s southern and northern member states; the West by strengthening Human rights, freedom of expression, main attraction and source of strength. indeed, it will not even be enough to have no choice limit temperature increases its liberal democracies democratic self-determination, and the But the single market can retain prevent them from drifting further so that climate disasters force U against authoritarian temptations, rule of law are not exclusive to any region its attractiveness only if it allows apart. Since the EU’s poorer member fewer people from their homes, the second priority is to manage both foreign and domestic. Having or group of countries. for greater dynamism. To become states are already over-indebted, they the trauma of involuntary migration. Whether governments witnessed both an attempted coup But if you are a Chinese leader, a technological leader with less cannot borrow much more, particularly like it or not, millions of people globally are already resorting to and steeply rising socioeconomic you will ask why your country dependence on China and the if interest rates rise. Whenever inequalities in his own country, Biden should follow the “West,” especially United States, Europe must invest infl ation begins to increase again, migration to cope with the climate crisis. The US in particular knows that democracies will not now that most Chinese regard the more in research and development the European Central Bank’s implicit must respond with more than walls, cages, or the stern warning find support abroad until they have Western-designed international order (R&D), digitalisation, and artificial policy of monetising member-state issued by President Joe Biden’s administration to Central fulfilled their promises of fairness, as hostile to their own aspirations. intelligence. It should be pursuing a debt (through the unlimited purchase Americans: “do not come.” justice, and security at home. From this perspective, the European- joint climate policy with the US. And of government bonds from poorer But climate migrants aren’t heading to the US because they want If Europe wants to be a partner in American era is over. Signs of Western while the G7 recently agreed on a countries) will have to end. this democratic revival, it can start decadence are ubiquitous – from Build Back Better World Partnership Under these conditions, the to. They have no choice, and their journey is at least as traumatic as by recognising the realism behind the the Iraq War debacle and the Trump to compete with China’s Belt and Road only remaining way out would be the storms that caused it. Families are torn apart, and people travel US administration’s rhetoric. Biden presidency to the United Kingdom’s Initiative in Central Asia, Africa, and a “transfer union,” with richer in diffi cult and dangerous conditions. Some die, others are killed, is not pining for some mythical lost exit from the European Union. Latin America, the EU must do more countries like Germany increasing and many more are robbed, extorted, or assaulted. era of American greatness, as his While Americans and Europeans to support this program, while also their own financial investments The main cause of the danger, death, and suff ering migrants face predecessor did. He is focusing on argue for the importance of individual bolstering Nato’s deterrent power. in poorer member states. Greater the future, and he is concerned with human rights, the self-confident With federal elections coming in investments in infrastructure, is often international borders. When desperate people are denied questions that animate democratic Chinese rebuttal is that there are also September, Germany, the EU’s biggest digitalisation, and R&D are needed the right to cross a frontier safely and legally, they have no option liberals and conservatives alike. social human rights: to education, economy, should be debating how it not only to boost efficiency and but to do so under cover of darkness, across deserts and oceans, and For example, how do we create nutrition, adequate housing, and so intends to strengthen the bloc in the productivity in the economically over fences and walls. weaker member states, but also Moreover, border militarisation is now big business. Private to hold the eurozone and the EU together. The road is long, however, security fi rms patrol borders for profi t, having secured government and longer still because Europe contracts totalling billions of dollars to hunt, capture, and imprison currently lacks the instruments migrants and refugees. needed to see the journey through. This militarisation is an increasingly high-tech enterprise. From the perspective of German Drones now patrol borders, while facial recognition tools and fiscal policy, investing in a more economically and socially stable powerful artifi cial-intelligence systems identify and track people Europe would offer enormous returns. trying to cross them. Many tech companies that have cultivated Yes, the prevailing view in Germany feel-good corporate images are in fact deeply involved in surveilling is that the country already puts people trying to escape some of the most diffi cult and dangerous more into Europe than it “gets out.” conditions on the planet. But that is nonsense. As an export champion with a massive, persistent The climate movement must now act in solidarity with migrant trade surplus, Germany, by definition, and refugee activists and be part of their eff orts to ensure safe, legal receives more than it pays out. migration. We should be thinking about how to support people Instead of creating the impression making dangerous journeys, how to create meaningful work for that Germany is dependent on the them, and how to provide education, housing, and health care as Chinese export market, German leaders should make clear that the they seek new places to settle. And we should be thinking about country’s real dependence is on the how to build communities that encompass both new arrivals and European market. Germany’s exports existing residents. — Project Syndicate to other EU member states account for over 50% of its total exports, whereas China and the US each account for only about 10%. To Advertise In the long run, Germany will do only as well as its European [email protected] neighbours. The sooner we recognise that, the better off we will be. Biden’s Display credo about fixing things at home 44466621 44418811 applies to us, too. We must show that our own democratically constituted Classified societies are better than the autocratic 44466609 44418811 alternatives. Otherwise, the normative idea of the West will continue to lose Subscription its lustre. — Project Syndicate [email protected]  Sigmar Gabriel, former federal minister and vice chancellor of Germany, is Chairman of Atlantik- © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved BUMPY ROAD: The road is long because Europe currently lacks the instruments needed to see the journey through. Brücke. Gulf Times Monday, July 19, 2021 11 WORLD Merkel shaken as fl ood death toll reaches 188

Reuters ers, some vehicles were swept dent Frank-Walter Steinmeier Berchtesgaden/Bischofswiesen, away and swathes of land spoke to media after visiting Germany questions warning Germany buried under thick mud in the devastated town of Erfts- Berchtesgadener Land. Hun- tadt. system after deadly floods dreds of rescue workers were The German government erman Chancellor An- searching for survivors in the will be readying more than As Germany mourns more than 150 people who died in gela Merkel described district, which borders Aus- €300mn ($354mn) in immedi- floods and begins a mammoth clean-up task, questions Gthe fl ooding that has tria. ate relief and billions of euros are mounting about whether the country’s weather devastated parts of Europe as “We were not prepared for to fi x collapsed houses, streets warning system failed to keep citizens safe. “terrifying” yesterday after this,” said Berchtesgadener and bridges, Finance Minister Although meteorological services had forecast tor- the death toll across the re- Land district administrator Olaf Scholz told weekly news- rential rain and flash floods for western Germany last gion rose to 188 and a district Bernhard Kern, adding that paper Bild am Sonntag. week, many residents said they were caught off -guard of Bavaria was battered by the the situation had deteriorated “There is huge damage and by rapidly rising waters that destroyed roads, bridges extreme weather. “drastically” late on Saturday, that much is clear: those who and homes. Merkel promised swift fi - leaving little time for emer- lost their businesses, their “We shouldn’t be mourning this many fatalities in 2021,” nancial aid after visiting one gency services to act. houses, cannot stem the losses Hannah Cloke, a professor of hydrology at Reading of the areas worst aff ected by About 110 people have alone.” University, told German broadcaster ZDF. the record rainfall and fl oods been killed in the worst-hit There could also be a There had been “breaks in the warning chain” some- that have killed at least 157 in Ahrweiler district south of €10,000 short-term payment where along the way, she said, and messages to Germany alone in recent days, Cologne. More bodies are ex- for businesses aff ected by the evacuate or shelter in place on higher floors did not get in the country’s worst natural pected to be found there as the impact of the fl oods as well through to enough people. disaster in almost six decades. fl ood waters recede, police say. as the Covid-19 pandemic, Under Germany’s federal system, it is up to the 16 She also said governments The European fl oods, which Economy Minister Peter Alt- regional states to organise responses to flood alerts and would have to get better and began on Wednesday, have maier told the paper. co-ordinate eff orts with the civil protection off ice and faster in their eff orts to tackle mainly hit the German states Scientists, who have long the fire brigade. the impact of climate change of Rhineland Palatinate, North said that climate change will Many local authorities use sirens, loudspeaker an- only days after Europe out- Rhine-Westphalia as well as lead to heavier downpours, nouncements or radio and TV bulletins to warn resi- lined a package of steps to- parts of Belgium. Entire com- said it would still take several dents of acute danger or issue evacuation orders. wards “net zero” emissions by munities have been cut off , weeks to determine its role in There are also smartphone apps to keep users up to the middle of the century. without power or communi- these relentless rainfalls. date on extreme weather in their area. “It is terrifying,” she told cations. Belgian Prime Minister Al- But Bild newspaper condemned the “failure” to take residents of the small town of In North Rhine-Westphalia exander De Croo said the link early action in the battered states of Rhineland-Palati- Adenau in the state of Rhine- at least 46 people have died. with climate change was clear. nate and North-Rhine Westphalia. land-Palatinate. “The Ger- The death toll in Belgium In Belgium, which will hold “The sirens stayed quiet in plenty of places, very few man language can barely de- climbed to 31 yesterday. a national day of mourning alerts were issued,” it wrote, labelling the deadly flood- scribe the devastation that’s The scale of the fl oods mean tomorrow, 163 people are still ing that followed “a disaster for civil protection, one of taken place.” they could shake up Germa- missing or unreachable. The the state’s most essential jobs”. As eff orts continued to track ny’s general election in Sep- crisis centre said water levels Gregor Degen, a baker in the town of Bad Neuenahr- down missing people, the dev- tember next year. were falling and a huge clean- Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate, where the swollen astation continued yesterday North Rhine-Westphalia up operation was underway. Ahr river did some of the biggest damage, was among when a district of Bavaria, state premier Armin Laschet, The military was sent in to those caught by surprise last Wednesday evening. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Rhineland-Palatinate State Premier southern Germany, was hit by the CDU party’s candidate to the eastern town of Pepinster, “We’d heard weather reports of heavy rainfall and seen Malu Dreyer (right) speak as they stand on a bridge during their visit in the fl ash fl oods that killed at least replace Merkel, apologised where a dozen buildings have the odd picture of a flooded street in the region, but no- flood-ravaged areas in Schuld near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, one person. for laughing in the back- collapsed, to search for any one could imagine anything like this,” he told AFP. Rhineland-Palatinate state, western Germany, yesterday. (AFP) Roads were turned into riv- ground while German Presi- further victims.

French MP under France bans fire over call for crushing, gassing ‘siege’ against Learn to switch of male chicks tougher jab rules from 2022 Afghanistan pulls A French lawmaker yesterday France will ban from next year faced a potential legal off , Pope tells the killing of male chicks by inquiry and calls to quit her crushing or gassing, a practice opposition party after urging denounced as barbaric by envoy, diplomats people to “lay siege” to MPs animal welfare groups, and will who approved tougher Covid wellwishers push for a similar measure at vaccination rules introduced European level, the agriculture by President Emmanuel minister said yesterday. Macron. Martine Wonner, a Reuters Each year, 50mn male chicks from Islamabad psychiatrist who was ousted Vatican City are culled in this way, Julien from Macron’s centrist party Denormandie said in an last year, has emerged as interview posted on the website Reuters until the complete elimina- Afghanistan, where Taliban one of the country’s most ope Francis made his fi rst public appearance since returning to the of daily Le Parisien. Only Kabul tion of the security threats, have taken over territory in prominent sceptics of the Vatican mid-week after an 11-day hospital stay, telling wellwishers females, future egg-laying hens, including the arrest and pun- the weeks since US Presi- coronavirus jabs. At a Paris Pthey should take a break and switch off from the stresses of modern are kept alive. ishment of the perpetrators,” dent Joe Biden announced protest on Saturday, Wonner life. “France is the first country in the fghanistan has with- the Ministry of Foreign Af- the withdrawal of American told demonstrators to “Go “Let us put a halt to the frantic running around dictated by our agendas. world, along with Germany, to drawn its ambassador fairs said. troops by September 11. lay siege to lawmakers, go Let us learn how to take a break, to turn off the mobile phone,” Pope Francis end the crushing and gassing Aand diplomats from Pakistan’s foreign ministry The neighbouring coun- invade their headquarters, said in his weekly address from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. of male chicks,” Denormandie Pakistan’s capital following in a statement called the de- tries have long had frosty to tell them you do not The 84-year-old Pope had part of his colon removed in an operation on added. the kidnapping of the ambas- cision “regrettable” and said ties. Kabul accuses Pakistan agree” with the government’s July 4 — the fi rst time that Francis has faced a signifi cant health concern The two countries will try to sador’s daughter, the Afghan it hoped the Afghan govern- of allowing safe havens for plan to start letting only during his eight-year papacy. convince their European Union foreign ministry said yester- ment would reconsider. the Taliban, while Islamabad vaccinated people enter He returned to the Vatican on Wednesday, where he needed help from partners to outlaw the practice day, a new blow to relations “The Foreign Secretary met accuses Kabul of allowing cinemas, shopping centres assistants to get out of his car. He looked well yesterday, speaking in a rela- at a council of EU agriculture at a sensitive time for the Af- the ambassador of Afghani- militants to use their terri- or restaurants. “We will never tively clear voice although not as strong as before his hospitalisation. He ministers on Monday, he said. ghan peace process. stan today, highlighted all the tory to carry out attacks in accept this dictatorship... did not mention his stay in hospital. From 2022, breeders in France The daughter of Afghani- steps taken by the govern- Pakistan. We must refuse this Hundreds of people were gathered in the sunny square and cheered will instead need to equip stan’s ambassador to Paki- ment in this context, and re- Recent developments in segregation,” she said in a when he appeared at the open window. themselves with machines to stan was seized on Friday assured him of full co-opera- the region have exacerbated speech captured by video As is often the case, at the end of his address the Pope mentioned some of detect the sex of chicks before and held for several hours by tion,” it said. the ties. and shown widely on TV. the events dominating world headlines. they hatch. unknown assailants who left Prime Minister Imran Khan Pakistan has been ac- Three colleagues in Wonner’s He urged an end to the recent public unrest in South Africa and called “The dynamic is well underway her with injuries and rope has assigned the matter top knowledged for helping bring Liberties and Territories for peace and dialogue in Cuba after unprecedented, protests rocked the and, given the orders already marks and Pakistan authori- priority and said he wants the Taliban to the negotiat- group in parliament issued Communist-run country. placed, the machines will be ties have said they are inves- the culprits caught within 48 ing table for peace talks that a statement slamming “I am also close to the dear people of Cuba in these diffi cult times, in par- installed for two-thirds of tigating. hours, the Interior Minister began last year, but negotia- “unacceptable” comments ticular to the families who especially suff er,” Francis said to cheers. production in France by the end “The Afghan government said on Saturday. tions have failed to make sub- and said Wonner “could no He also referred to catastrophic fl oods in recent days in Germany, Bel- of the first quarter of 2022,” recalled the ambassador and Pakistan is considered a key stantive progress with Tali- longer be a member.” gium and The Netherlands, which have killed more than 180 people. Denormandie added. senior diplomats to Kabul player in the peace process in ban ramping up offensives.

France reports Prized possession over 10,000 new In Paris, flying colours cases for third day

France reported more than 12,500 new coronavirus cases yesterday, the third day that the tally has held above 10,000, as the quick spread of the more contagious Delta variant of Covid-19 led to a jump in new infections. The health ministry, however, said that the 12,532 new cases reported yesterday, which took the total to 5.87mn, included data not published the day before. “The daily figure published today (+12,532) should therefore not be interpreted as an exceptional increase in the number of daily cases, in a context nonetheless of strong dynamics in the evolution of the number of cases,” it said in a note posted on its website. The ministry had reported 10,949 cases on Saturday and 10,908 on Friday. France also reported 891 people in intensive care units with the new coronavirus yesterday, up French elite aerobatics team “Patrouille de France” (PAF) flies over the Louvre Pyramid during Men shift a camel while riding a motorbike after purchasing it at a cattle market ahead of the one from the previous day, while the 21th and last stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 108km between Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Lahore yesterday. (AFP) the total number of deaths in Chatou and Paris Champs-Elysees, yesterday. (AFP) hospitals rose by five to 111,472. Gulf Times 12 Monday, July 19, 2021 QATAR

Rain expected today too

ain of varying intensity was the day, along with some clouds and reported from parts of Qatar a possibility of scattered rain. Ryesterday, with the Met de- The temperature, meanwhile, is partment saying that thundery rain expected to range from 34-38C in is expected in some places today Doha today. as well, along with sudden strong Yesterday, heavy rain was reported winds. from places including Al Kharsaa, The wind speed may go up to 27 located towards the west, which saw knots during thundershowers, ac- about 15mm of showers until around cording to the forecast, which also 8am. says that it will be hazy at fi rst, fol- The Met department also said it lowed by a hot daytime and partly observed moderate to heavy thunder- cloudy to cloudy conditions. storms in the southern and western Clouds above a Doha neighbourhood yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam There is a chance of scattered rain, areas of the country, accompanied by which may become thundery in some strong winds exceeding 25 knots, on be thundery at times, accompanied Scattered rain was also observed in like Abu Samra Road, and lightning. places. Abu Samra Road a little after 7am. by strong winds in intermittent pe- the northeastern parts off shore. In Doha, cloudy conditions pre- Heavy rain seen along Abu Samra Road. Hazy conditions are also likely in “Scattered rain of varying intensity riods until Monday,” the department Videos and images on social media vailed at times though there were no Courtesy of Qatar Met department video off shore areas in the early hours of is expected to continue, which may tweeted in the afternoon yesterday. showed heavy rain in some places, reports of rainfall during the day.

With two days left before the Eid al-Adha holidays, the rush to complete the Eid shopping is being experienced at retail outlets across the country. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Eid shopping rush seen across Qatar

By Shafeeq Alingal Eid holidays. Most families have already completed Staff Reporter their shopping, so only the fi nal rush is being felt now,” said Momin, who runs a clothes shop. Another merchant said people from across Qatar ith Qatar residents making fi nal prepa- converge on Souq Al Ali as the market is a favourite rations for Eid-al-Adha celebrations, among Qataris for Eid shopping. Wshopping centres and retail outlets across The traditional headwear (gatra) and skull caps the country are experiencing good business. (gahfi ya) for men and children are also in demand. One such market, Souq Al Ali in Doha, is witness- Special readymade gatras are also sought by buy- ing a fl ow of customers who throng tailoring shops ers. to get their new clothes stitched. Shops selling Oud and perfumes have also been The market, which has many clothes and tailor- experiencing good business, as the Eid is a time for ing shops, is a popular destination for clothes, foot- shopping for perfumes for use or as gifts during the wear, and gifts. celebrations. “There is competition among these shops. This “Oud as well as other perfumes are in demand. lends us a huge variety of clothes while helping us We also get buyers for watches and rosaries,” said get our clothes stitched at reasonable prices,” a Qa- one shop employee. tari customer said. Flower bouquets and sweets are available for Eid During the fi rst days of Dhul-Hijjah (the twelfth celebrations. and fi nal month of the Islamic calendar), the market The market is strictly following coronavirus started to witness brisk fl ow of customers. (Covid-19) preventative and precautionary meas- “There are only two days remaining before the ures prescribed by the authorities concerned.

Festive time for dates

The sixth Local Dates Festival continued yesterday, drawing visitors amid the observance of coronavirus (Covid-19) precautionary measures. The festival at Souq Waqif will run until July 30, taking place daily from 4pm-10pm