| Page 7 REGION | Page 9 Qatar Airways, Sultanate of Air Canada sign celebrates its codeshare deal 50th National Day for Doha-Toronto anniversary travel

published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11737 November 19, 2020 Rabia II 4, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir, Tajik president Eighth Ajyal Film Fest begins review bilateral ties Amir congratulates of Oman His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a telephone conversation with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. During the phone call, they reviewed the bilateral relations and prospects of enhancing them, in addition to several issues of common concern. Amir holds phone talk with Afghan president Following is an unoff icial translation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s tweet on the occasion of Oman’s National Day: “I congratulate His Highness the Amir Sheikh my brother, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and the brotherly Omani Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani people on the 50th National Day of the Sultanate of Oman. We wish the held yesterday a telephone continued prosperity, security and stability of our people in this dear country, conversation with the President of with which we have strong brotherly links and exemplary and historical co- Afghanistan, Dr Mohamed Ashraf operation relations based on solidarity and love.” Ghani, on bilateral relations and the means to enhance them in all fields. During the call, they discussed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the the latest developments in the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister situation in Afghanistan and the and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani sent Afghan peace negotiations hosted yesterday cables of congratulations to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman on his by Doha. In this regard, the Amir The first-ever hybrid edition of the Ajyal Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) opened with a country’s National Day. aff irmed that Qatar will continue to glamorous red carpet event at Katara – the Cultural Village last night. In line with government guidelines and with the make all eff orts to achieve security, health of all Ajyal participants as the top priority, the six-day event will be delivered with a mix of virtual and in-person peace and stability in Afghanistan. elements. The festival continues until November 23. PICTURE: Thajudheen Page 16 Amir sends greetings to King of QU launches ‘Digital Qatar’ project Qatar University’s College of Engineering (QU-CENG) has Screening of hand luggage announced the launch of the Qatar Digital Project with the participation of local and international specialists in the field of two-dimensional surveying. made easier, safer at HIA The project, sponsored by Dolphin Following is an unoff icial translation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Energy Limited, also uses drone bin Hamad al-Thani’s tweet on the occasion of Morocco’s Independence Day: photography for aerial surveying O Hamad International in the region to introduce the latest “I congratulate my brother, His Majesty King Mohamed VI, and the Moroccan at QU. Page 4 Airport becomes the first CT screening technology available people on the 65th anniversary of the independence of the brotherly Kingdom in the region to obtain in the industry. HIA is committed to of Morocco. I ask Allah Almighty to protect Morocco and maintain its security QNTC to participate in remaining at the forefront of tech- and prosperity under his wise leadership.” Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN nological advancements to continu- foreign exhibitions 6040 CTiX, the world’s ously enhance the passenger expe- The Cabinet has given its latest checkpoint screening rience while improving operational His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness approval to a proposal of the technology with the highest effi ciency.” the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of Qatar National Tourism Council regulated level of security These new generation X-Ray ma- congratulations to King Mohamed VI of Morocco on his country’s Independence (QNTC) to participate in a number chines will also be partnered with Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin of foreign exhibitions in 2021. Hamad International Airport (HIA) fully automated tray return systems Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable of congratulations to the Head of the This came during the Cabinet’s amad International Airport is the first airport in the region to integrated with automated UV-C Government of Morocco, Dr Saad Eddine El Othmani. regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan (HIA) has become the fi rst obtain Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN emitting modules that will automati- yesterday, which was chaired by HE Hairport in the region to obtain 6040 CTiX. cally disinfect the trays before pas- the Prime Minister and Minister of Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN 6040 sengers handle them to further safe- Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa CTiX, which off ers advanced screen- screening technology allows passen- guard the health and safety of all HIA bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. Page 2 ing of carry-on baggage at security gers to keep electronic devices and passengers. checkpoints using Computed Tom- liquids in their hand baggage remov- The new screening lanes will allow US regulators clear ography (CT) X-ray. ing some of the stress for passengers the parallel preparation of passengers Vaccine, health HIA selected this equipment as it whilst signifi cantly increasing check- for the screening process and provide Boeing 737 MAX enables the airport operators to de- point throughput and further reduc- convenient space to avoid congestion US regulators yesterday cleared liver the highest levels of security ing wait times to new internationally whilst providing high capacity and a the Boeing 737 MAX to return to internationally and optimises check- recognised standards. swift screening process. measures will end the skies, ending its 20-month point performance by expediting the Saeed Yousef al-Sulaiti, vice presi- As a result of an extensive evalu- grounding after two fatal crashes screening processes. dent (Security) at Hamad International ation programme, HIA also selected that plunged the company into crisis. This cabin baggage screening Airport said: “At HIA, we are always new passenger screening technology The Federal Aviation Administration equipment uses a ‘CT gantry’ that ro- championing the adoption of cutting- to replace the previous generation. Covid-19: Dr Fauci said the approval followed “an tates at a constant speed as baggage is edge technologies to ensure operational A non-invasive, contactless unprecedented level of collaborative carried through on its conveyor belt. excellence and deliver a seamless pas- screening method will be provided by and independent reviews by aviation Hundreds of images are taken of each senger experience. Smiths Detection the deployment of Rohde & Schwarz By Joseph Varghese authorities around the world.” FAA bag to create 3D imagery in real-time, has a reputation for providing mar- Millimeter-wave body scanners and Staff Reporter Administrator Steve Dickson said he allowing for more accurate assess- ket leading solutions with world-re- CEIA shoe scanners, reducing the was “100% comfortable” with having ments of the bag’s contents. nowned standards for quality. need for pat-down search and shoe his family fly the jet. This investment in advanced “We are proud to be the fi rst airport removal. To Page 16 he pandemic of Covid-19 will end with an eff ective and safe Tvaccine along with public health measures, a world renowned researcher Storm Iota fl oods parts of Honduras told the virtual World Innovation Sum- mit for Health (WISH) 2020 yesterday. MoPH move on vaccine “It will take a year or two. You have got to roll out the vaccine together with public health measures until the overall proves right: Dr al-Khal umbrella of protection essentially is all Dr Anthony Fauci addressing WISH over the world,” said Dr Anthony Fauci, 2020 yesterday. director of the National Institute of Al- QNA lergy and Infectious Diseases, US. way based on evidence and science, Doha but at the same time being sensitive to “It will take a year or two. the needs of people. There are certain You have got to roll out things about science that need to be he proactive approach taken the vaccine together with immutable.” To Page 16 by the Ministry of Public public health measures THealth (MoPH) to secure until the overall umbrella of Covid-19 vaccine from various ‹Qatar 2022 will be protection essentially is all sources has proven eff ective, a sen- global celebration: ior offi cial of the Hamad Medical over the world” Corporation has said. al-Thawadi- P5 The comments by Dr Abdullatif Dr Abdullatif al-Khal A member of the White House coro- ‹ Winners of awards al-Khal, Chair of the National Health navirus task force, and also a world-re- Strategic Group on Covid-19 and from Pfi zer and BioNTech earlier nowned HIV/AIDS researcher, Dr Fauci to be announced head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad this month. Between the two com- was in conversation with Fiona God- today- P5 Medical Corp, came following Tues- panies, tens of thousands of vol- lee, editor in chief, The BMJ, at virtual ‹ Sport playing a role in day’s announcement by Moderna, unteers are involved in the ongoing WISH 2020. a US biotech company, that interim clinical trials. The MoPH has been According to the expert, asympto- return to normalcy- P5 data from its ongoing trials showed its in discussions with multiple in- matic infection should not be ignored ‹ New translation of Covid-19 vaccine was 95% eff ective. ternational pharmaceutical com- as it leads to community spread of the In mid-October, MoPH an- panies since the early days of the disease. “We cannot ignore asympto- paediatric blast injury nounced it had signed an agree- pandemic to ensure Qatar’s popu- matic infection because that is a major field manual launched ment with Moderna to procure its lation has early access to Covid-19 component of the outbreak. And that is Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is ap- vaccines as soon as they demon- the reason we saw community spread at WISH 2020- P6 proved and released for global use. strate safety and effi cacy and are and the insidious thing is it becomes ‹ QC participates in This agreement with Moderna approved for use,” Dr al-Khal said. diffi cult to do identifi cation, isolation, discussion on building was on top of Qatar’s deal with “It is extremely encouraging that and contact tracing.” Pfi zer and BioNTech. the two companies with which we In comparing the Covid-19 pan- health capacity- P5 “The promising results of Mod- have signed agreements are see- demic to the HIV/AIDs epidemic out- ‹Document love, erna’s preliminary analysis of its ing very high rates of eff ectiveness break in the 1980s, he said, “When- A child pushes his bicycle through a flooded road after the passing of Storm Iota, phase 3 clinical trials follow the in the early results of their clinical ever you have pressure, you’ve got to not disability- P6 in Marcovia, Honduras yesterday. announcement of similar data trials. To Page 16 make sure you act in a very measured Gulf Times 2 Thursday, November 19, 2020 QATAR

Amir sends cables Ghana FM meets Qatar envoy Amir sends message to Bangladesh PM of congratulations President of Latvia His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to President Egils Levits of Latvia on his country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable to Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. Shura Council panel elects rapporteur The Public Services and Utilities Committee of the Shura Council held its first meeting yesterday in the 49th regular session of the Council. The committee unanimously elected HE Mohamed bin Mahdi al-Ahbabi as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday a written message to Prime its rapporteur during this session. Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed, pertaining to bilateral relations and the means of The committee examined Law Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, met with supporting and developing them. The message was delivered by Qatar’s ambassador to Bangladesh No.18 of 2020 amending certain Qatar’s ambassador Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Humaid. The meeting reviewed the bilateral co- Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Dehaimi, during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs, Dr provisions of Labor Law No. 14 of operation and issues of mutual concern. Abul Kalam Abdul Momen. 2004, and decided to complete its study at its next meeting. Cabinet nod Ooredoo announces winners of fi rst 5G virtual hackathon

oredoo has announced al-Thani, CEO at Ooredoo Qa- exciting innovations as they the winners of the fi rst tar, said: “We’re delighted to develop.” The four lucky teams for QNTC OOoredoo 5G Virtual announce the winners of our will receive a pre-seed invest- Hackathon, with four winning fi rst ever 5G Virtual Hackathon. ment of up to QR25,000 to de- teams being selected to progress A great deal of preparation went velop a Minimum Viable Prod- their innovations. A total of 46 into the event, and we’re proud uct (MVP) and run a validation teams entered the Hackathon to see it was such a success. sprint. out of 150+ applications. “Innovation is at the heart They will also be integrated In the Smart X category, ed- of our corporate strategy as we into the Lean Start-up Pro- proposal on inemenu – a solution for the move towards complete digi- gramme (LSP 14) to further vali- dining industry that enables talisation — in line with Qatar date and develop their MVP and digitalisation and compliance National Vision 2030 — and to pitch at the Final Demo Day in automation via on-demand or- welcome so many keen young December 2020. dering – won top spot. entrepreneurs with such inno- Finally, the winning teams Qimbia triumphed in the vative ideas was immensely en- will also have the opportunity Sports Tech category with their Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla couraging. to be incubated by Ooredoo’s foreign expos social platform connecting al-Thani I’d like to extend my sincere Digital & Beyond Incubator, and sports enthusiasts with venue gratitude to our Academia and gain access to additional fund- he Cabinet has given its „ Covid-19 measures to continue operators across Qatar, while education platform Educarso, Business Ecosystems partners ing and in-kind support of up approval to a proposal of Eventy, a venue booking portal designed for hearing-impaired for their invaluable support, to QR250,000, as well as getting Tthe Qatar National Tour- the details of the proceedings. of Qatar and , as well as a for social and corporate engage- learners, topped the EduTech without whom the Hackathon the opportunity to fast-track ism Council to participate in a At the beginning of the meet- draft MoU on co-operation be- ments, headed the Media and category. would not have been possible. to piloting of their MVP with number of foreign exhibitions in ing, the Cabinet listened to an tween the Ministry of Justice’s Entertainment category. Online Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla I look forward to seeing these Ooredoo ecosystem partners. 2021, Qatar News Agency (QNA) explanation provided by HE the Legal and Judicial Studies Centre reports. Minister of Public Health on the in Qatar and the Kuwait Institute This came during the Cabi- latest developments to curb the for Judicial and Legal Studies in net’s regular meeting at the spread of Covid-19. Accordingly, Kuwait. Ooredoo set to begin delivery of iPhone 12 Amiri Diwan yesterday, which the Council affi rmed the con- Further, it gave its approval to a was chaired by HE the Prime tinuation of the precautionary draft MoU on co-operation in the Minister and Minister of Inte- measures that have been taken fi eld of oversight work between oredoo has announced Customers rior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin in order to combat the pandemic, the State Audit Bureau in Qatar that, after selling thou- who selected Abdulaziz al-Thani. QNA said. and the Audit Bureau in , Osands of the new iPhone Following the meeting, HE the After that, the Council gave and a draft MoU on co-operation 12 series devices via its pre-order collection as Minister of Justice and Acting its approval to a draft memoran- in the fi eld of supervisory work services, the coveted new smart- delivery can expect their new chip – billed as the fastest chip Minister of State for Cabinet Af- dum of understanding (MoU) on between the State Audit Bureau phones will be delivered or made device to be delivered to their in a smartphone – as well as a their preferred fairs Dr Issa bin Saad al-Jafali al- co-operation in the fi eld of social in Qatar and the Public Finance available for collection as ar- doorstep – also with all cur- sleek new design, unrivalled method will be Nuaimi issued a statement giving aff airs between the governments Court in Morocco, QNA added. ranged from midnight tonight. rent social distancing and safety new camera systems, a Ceramic Customers who selected col- measures in place – starting 8am Shield front cover and edge-to- able to collect Qatari Authors’ Forum to promote Palestinian cause lection as their preferred meth- tomorrow, (Friday 20 November edge Super Retina XDR displays their device from od to receive their new iPhone 2020). for an immersive visual experi- The Qatari Authors’ Forum will organise a conference on the Palestinian cause from November 24 to 30. The 12 will be able to collect their Customers who chose to col- ence. midnight today conference coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which is observed device from midnight tonight lect their new iPhone 12 from an Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari, until 3am annually on November 29. A large number of intellectuals and those interested in the Palestinian cause from until 3am tomorrow (Friday Ooredoo shop will be able to pick director PR at Ooredoo, said: Qatar and the Arab world will take part in the event. The conference, which will be broadcast on the Forum’s 20 November 2020), at Khalifa up their new smartphone at their “As always, we’ve seen a huge cess the latest, most covetable channel on YouTube, will focus on the Palestinian cause and related human rights. Stadium, with all current social selected shop tomorrow, starting amount of excitement sur- devices and technology is a huge The conference’s activities include a writing competition for school students from inside and outside Qatar, distancing and safety measures 1pm. rounding the launch of the latest priority for our customers, and and a drawing competition for school students via social media platforms and newspapers, in addition to strictly in place. Alongside 5G capability, the iPhone, and we’re delighted to we’re proud to once again be able introducing the Palestinian cause and the participation of cultural centers. Director General of Qatari Authors’ Customers who opted to re- new iPhone 12 series boasts the once again be at the centre of it. to deliver what they want for Forum Maryam Yassin al-Hammadi will deliver a welcoming speech during the conference. -- QNA ceive their iPhone 12 via home Apple-designed A14 Bionic “We know being able to ac- complete customer satisfaction.” Incorrect use of antibiotics makes QU holds virtual conference on Covid-19 impact on education infections harder to treat: experts QNA ers, as well as various educational the eff ects of the pandemic on the Doha experiences during the time of the educational systems in university pandemic in the United States, and pre-university education. o recognise World Antimi- bacterial infections only – they Europe and the Arab world. He explained that monitor- crobial Awareness Week cannot cure viral infections. Bac- atar University’s National In a speech on the occasion, ing and tracking the educational Tfrom November 18 to 24, teria are the cause of issues such Center For Educational President of Qatar University Dr reality in light of the coronavirus experts at Hamad Medical Cor- as sore throat, some types of QDevelopment (NCED) Hassan bin Rashid al-Derham crisis allows for making possible poration (HMC) are advising the pneumonia, and sinus infections, held an international virtual noted the consequences of the deliberate changes to the curric- public that incorrect use, espe- while viral infections include conference entitled ‘COVID-19: coronavirus pandemic on the ed- ula of the educational institutions cially overuse, of antibiotics is common colds, most coughs, and A Game Changer in Education: ucational fi eld at the global level. and the methods of learning, not- making a growing number of in- the fl u. It is vitally important that Reconnecting Virtually’, with the He said that such educational ing that there are international, fections harder to treat. the public understand that using participation of 3,500 experts, forums give the opportunity for Arab and local education systems The problem of antimicrobial antibiotics for a viral infection educators and those interested in educators to clearly identify the or institutions that have suc- or antibiotic resistance has been will not cure the infection, help educational issues from Qatar and situation at their educational ceeded in absorbing the shock of recognised worldwide as one of you feel better, or prevent others abroad. institutions and with their stu- the pandemic and quickly restor- the greatest threats to human from catching your illness,” said The conference discussed the dents, in addition to the chal- ing balance to their educational health, animal health, food se- Dr Muna al-Maslamani Dr Hisham Ziglam Dr Ziglam. eff ects of the coronavirus pan- lenges they are facing the ways to system. curity, and development. It has HMC is off ering some tips to demic on the educational process overcoming them, in accordance For his part, Director of the been estimated that 10mn people can become less eff ective. This is and Qatar is no diff erent. Every ensure people take antibiotics at the local, Arab and interna- with best practices and research- National Center For Educational per year will die by 2050 due to known as antibiotic or antimicro- day, our clinicians are witnessing responsibly. They are: Inform the tional levels, and laid out some supported applications. Development Dr Abdullah Abu- infections caused by antibiotic- bial resistance and is becoming the damaging eff ects of antibi- physician of any allergies people practical solutions to the prob- Dr al-Derham noted that the Tineh said that the conference resistant bacteria unless action is one of the biggest threats to glo- otic resistance which threaten our have prior to receiving any antibi- lems associated with those eff ects quality of conferences and forums included nine virtual rooms dis- taken. “Antibiotics are powerful bal health according to the World ability to treat common infectious otics; women should inform their by researchers, practitioners and in this exceptional circumstance cussed 75 research papers on the medicines that are used to treat or Health Organisation (WHO). In- diseases and as we continue to doctor if they are pregnant; Be science students in their post- is being judged by the practical educational policies in light of the prevent infections. correct use of antibiotics, especially battle Covid-19, it is important to sure to take the complete course graduate studies. solutions they off er and the pos- Covid-19, parent participation, They are an essential part of overuse, is making it harder to treat take strong steps now, both here of antibiotics prescribed accord- The conference also high- sible practices for educators, far blended learning and distance many patients’ treatment plans as many infections such as pneumo- in Qatar and internationally,” said ing to the physician’s instruc- lighted topics related to teachers, from theories or inapplicable rec- learning, special needs learning, they work by stopping the growth nia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and Dr al-Maslamani. According to tions; never take antibiotics pre- students, parents and all those ommendations. e-learning challenges, various of bacteria that may be causing a salmonellosis, as the antibiotics are Dr Hisham Ziglam, senior con- scribed for someone else; do not interested in educational issues in He underlined the importance strategies in evaluating distance problem in the body,” said Dr Muna becoming less eff ective,” added Dr sultant in Infectious Diseases and reuse any of the old prescriptions; accordance with the conference’s of this conference as it allocated learning students, teaching strat- al-Maslamani, medical director al-Maslamani. Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead store antibiotics as instructed and multiple core themes. an important space to monitor, egies and classroom manage- of HMC’s Communicable Disease “In recent years antibiotic re- at HMC, most illnesses are caused continue to practise strict hand Educational issues were raised study and analyse the reality of ment, as well as the practices, Center. “However, when antibi- sistance has risen to dangerously by two kinds of germs, bacteria, hygiene and other infection con- with a number of decision-mak- the response of educational poli- prospects and professional devel- otics are used incorrectly, they high levels in all parts of the world, or viruses. “Antibiotics can cure trol measures. ers and educational policymak- cymakers and decision-makers to opment in light of the Covid-19. Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 3 QATAR Honour for Msheireb Tram QIB adds new features to its mobile application

atar Islamic Bank (QIB), the largest private bank in Qatar, Qhas introduced new features to its mobile app, empowering the cus- tomers to instantly manage and control their credit and charge cards and ful- fi l their daily banking needs remotely. Customers can now easily see their credit card transactions status – out- standing, matched, dropped, cancelled or reversed – on the transaction over- view screen. The Visa credit cardholders have full control over their cards through the app including the ability to activate/ deactivate the card or specifi c func- tionalities of their cards such as online transactions, POS transactions, ATM Customers can now easily see their credit card transactions status on the withdrawals, international transac- transaction overview screen in the QIB mobile app. tions and magnetic stripe use. In addition, they can get real time in- of our ongoing eff orts to off er custom- QIB has launched the ‘Instant Credit Msheireb Properties yesterday tweeted that the Msheireb Tram and its manufacturer, California-based company formation on foreign currency conver- ers the fastest and most convenient Card’ service that is available through TIG/m, has won the Best Environmental and Sustainability Initiative award and also been Highly Commended in the sion rates and change their PIN at any cards services in Qatar. The QIB Mobile the mobile app. The innovative service, category of Best Customer Initiative at the Global Light Rail Awards 2020. The Tram service is operated in Msheireb time. This unique capabilities off er a App has become our customers’ pre- which is a fi rst-of-its-kind in Qatar, Downtown Doha. high level of personalisation as well as ferred banking channel,” said D Anand, off ers pre-approved QIB customers the maximum security to the cardholders. QIB’s general manager – Personal opportunity to instantly apply, get ap- QIB customers can now get ‘credit Banking Group. proval and receive a credit card tailored shield takaful’ coverage on the out- The previously introduced app fea- to their specifi c needs. standing balance of their credit card to tures include the ability to issue a QIB has introduced major updates on protect themselves against not being credit card statement and settle cards’ its mobile app, rated 4.7+ on Play Store able to settle it due to any future un- outstanding balances at any time. and app store, making it the most voted foreseen events. Cardholders are also able to request a and top-rated application in the bank- With this new service, customers can temporary credit limit increase on all ing sector in Qatar. activate the takaful plan on their cho- their charge cards, including the Qatar QIB mobile app can be downloaded sen card through the app at a nominal Airways co-branded cards. from Apple Store, Google Play, and QU organises monthly fee automatically deducted The additional limit is granted on real Huawei AppGallery. Customers can from the credit card balance. “The new time basis and enable the customers to easily self-register using their active updates on our mobile app come as part make transactions immediately. ATM/Debit card number and PIN. webinar on Announcement regarding impounded vehicles

he General Direc- Industrial Area, Street 52, (Wednesday), the Minis- specified period, the Gen- torate of Traffic has to complete the necessary try of Interior (MoI) said eral Directorate of Traffic Tannounced that the procedures and take their through a post on social will “cancel seized vehicles role of road owners of vehicles that vehicles back after paying media yesterday. In case that have completed the le- have been impounded for the penalties and fees. the owners of the seized gal period from the traffic more than three months This has to be done with- vehicles do not show up records and display them should approach the Traffic in a period of 30 days from and complete the required for sale through auction,” safety audits Investigation Section in the the date of announcement procedures within the the MoI added. ore than 450 international experts from more than 45 Mcountries took part in a road safety online workshop, organised by the Qatar Transportation and Traffi c Safety Centre (QTTSC) at Qatar Uni- versity’s College of Engineering. The workshop, titled “Role of Road Safety Audits in Improving Traffi c Safety”, underscored the importance and benefi ts of Road Safety Audits (RSAs). It was held in collaboration with Qatar’s National Traffi c Safe- ty Committee, International Road Federation (IRF), World Conference on Transport Research Society and Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engi- neering. In a statement, QTTSC director The road safety webinar in session. Dr Mohamed al-Qaradawi said the workshop is part of the centre’s con- Project Services, discussed Road ing with the current design standards tinuous eff orts to join expertise with Safety Management systems and the does not necessarily guarantee road international partners to disseminate role of RSAs, highlighting the need to safety. As such, it is very important knowledge and awareness in road have a unifi ed procedure and criteria that designers understand the analy- safety. The workshop provided intro- for having accredited experts, well- sis and comments made by road safety ductory knowledge on the scope and trained and independent road safety specialists when performing an RSA. procedure of RSAs as well as the role auditors and senior road safety spe- This will enable them to incorporate, and skills of the RSA team. cialists. in advance of their proposed designs, RSA is one of the main risks-as- IRF director-general Susanna the standard problems and comments sessment tools that can be applied at Zammataro presented the ‘Ten Step usually identifi ed by road safety audi- successive stages of road planning, Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure’ tors. Economically, this will save time design, and operations. that was developed last year by the and costs for all parties involved. During the workshop, a group of UN Road Safety collaboration group. Road safety in tunnels, covered by distinguished experts from the IRF The framework, which aims to build senior road safety specialist engineer and members of the Spanish Associa- institutional capacity and regulatory Guillermo Barreda Monteoliva, was tion of Road Safety Auditors, deliv- frameworks to support countries in the fi nal topic in this workshop. He ered technical presentations address- achieving UN Targets 3 and 4 in rela- provided details for the construction ing diff erent issues related to road tion to Safer Road Infrastructure – is elements and specifi c safety systems safety audits. being implemented as a pilot in Tan- existing in tunnels. The workshop was co-ordinated zania, thanks to the support of the UN He highlighted the need of shar- and moderated by Dr Wael Alhaj- Road Safety Fund and a strong coali- ing this knowledge with tunnel users, yaseen, QTTSC associate professor tion made up of IRF, iRAP, PIARC, for them to behave in a rational and chair of the “Traffi c Safety Analysis TARA, and key agencies in Tanzania. effi cient way while driving or walk- and Policy” group in the World Con- European engineer Miguel-Angel ing during an incident/accident in- ference on Transport Research Soci- Serrano Santos, senior road safety side the tunnel. Road safety auditors ety. specialist at the UN Offi ce for Project should be educated in the use of these Engineer Francisco Javier Lopez Services, discussed the consideration safety systems to ensure the well- Delgado, senior road safety special- of road safety during the road design being of the operation of the tunnels, ist at the United Nations Offi ce for stage. He emphasised that comply- Monteoliva added.

Seminar highlights transport sustainability

n online seminar, organised system, including the Qatar Green accessible demand-responsive serv- by Chartered Institution of Car Initiative, which has a goal of ice, and safety and reliability as some AHighways and Transportation 10% electrifi cation of cars in Qatar by of its key advantages. (CIHT) Qatar Group, has underscored 2030. Meanwhile, some of PRT’s disad- the importance of transport sustain- Dr Onat also presented ongoing vantages, he said, includes of infra- ability and the actions being taken by research eff orts at QTTSC as he ex- structure requirements, land acquisi- diff erent countries. plained the environmental, economic tion and capital costs for this system. The topic was ‘Emerging Trans- and social benefi ts of electric vehicles Airports, freight distribution ports, port Technologies in Qatar: Electric in Qatar and the strategies to maxim- parks and recreation hubs, tourist at- Mobility and Personal Rapid Transit ise the benefi ts to achieve a sustain- tractions, university campus and in- Systems’. able transportation. dustrial business park are the main Dr Nuri Onat, assistant professor at Information about an upcoming pi- areas of application of the PRT sys- the Qatar Transportation and Traffi c lot demonstration project funded by tem. Dr Tahmasseby also discussed Safety Center (QTTSC), Qatar Uni- Marubeni Corporation at QU campus the characteristics of existing PRT versity (QU), highlighted some issues were also shared with the group. Dr systems in the world such as the one at in Qatar related to high rates of air Shahram Tahmasseby, research asso- SkyCube in South Korea. pollution, greenhouse gas emissions ciate at QU, introduced the Personal Furthermore, feasibility study in- per capita, and dependency on auto- Rapid Transit (PRT) system as an cluding economic assessment meth- mobiles. emerging urban transit mode, stress- ods for the PRT system was also tack- He discussed how Qatar is working ing its convenience, low operating led. The presentation concluded by on adopting a sustainable transport cost, pollution reduction, quick and discussing procurement methods. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, November 19, 2020 QATAR

Breathing life into walls with art

Pictured some of the locations in Doha where 17 Qatar-based artists will breathe life into designated walls as part of Qatar Museums (QM)’s public art initiative, Jedariart. The initiative, which has already kicked off across the city, will span over a month- Dr Khaled Kamal Naji (left) and other off icials during the launch of the Digital Qatar project at QU. long period as part of QM’s ongoing campaign to activate shared urban areas in Doha and add meaning to the city’s walls through carefully curated murals and street art. The Supreme Committee of Mohamed Arqoub Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, as al-Khaldi Abdulrahman al-Ishaq well as Qatar Rail, Qatar Fuel (Woqod) and the Fire QU launches ‘Digital Qatar’ project Station, are partnering with QM on the Jedariart initiative. Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi, chairman of the committee, thanked HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, for her eff orts to highlight the works of artists at several locations in the country. Al-Khaldi atar University’s Col- “The new model for QU will said Jedariart will support the artists in making their individual artistic mark at several locations, lege of Engineering provide an ‘augmented virtual including Al Abraj Park, Al Asmakh area, Doha Festival City Interchange, Al Khor Interchange, Post Q(QU-CENG) has an- reality’ experience, accessible Off ice Park, 5/6 Park, 5/6 Flyover, Qatar National Library Metro station and the Woqod petrol station nounced the launch of the to visitors to the QU website, in Fereej Kulaib. Architect Abdulrahman al-Ishaq, acting director of Public Art Department at Qatar Qatar Digital Project with the providing a tour of the campus Museums, said: “Members of the community are invited to visit the dedicated locations to engage participation of local and inter- and all the services provided by with the artists and their pieces that are contributing to our thriving cultural landscape.” national specialists in the fi eld the university,” Dr Naji said. of two-dimensional surveying. The project also supports ob- The project, sponsored by taining real dimensions of the Dolphin Energy Limited, also infrastructure with an accuracy uses drone photography for of 3-4cm, which is considered aerial surveying at QU. a high-quality fi gure in aerial In a statement, Dolphin En- surveying. The results of the ergy’s general manager – Qatar, aerial surveying will be used to Hassan al-Emadi, said invest- convert the photographed fa- ing in modern technologies will An aerial view of a section of the QU campus, captured by a drone cilities into three-dimensional not only be of great value to the camera. digital models (digitised), university’s faculty, students which can be later linked with and experts, it will also help ern technologies through the sions that facilitate the proc- engineering building modelling provide a digital infrastructure use of remote drones to capture ess of maintaining facilities on systems. that will drive cultural change. high-quality aerial images of the campus, linking them with A specialised group of en- QU-CENG dean and project QU for the purposes of three- facilities management systems, gineers and technicians from supervisor Dr Khaled Kamal dimensional surveying.” and providing three-dimen- several scientifi c departments Naji said: “The project intro- “The project works to pro- sional maps for all faculty and have recently been trained at duces the mechanisms of aerial vide a high-quality digital students, and a large number of QU-CENG on how to use these surveying and to invest in mod- model for QU in three dimen- future applications,” he added. modern technologies. Qatar reports 133,473 total Covid recoveries

Measures to tackle QNA 146 face action for not wearing masks Doha Covid-19 in Qatar have succeeded in fl attening the curve and limiting the The crackdown on driver, except when the he Ministry of Public spread of the virus and the violations of Covid-19 occupants are members Health (MoPH) yes- number of new daily cases measures continued of the same family. This Tterday announced and hospital admissions is as authorities referred comes in implementation 219 new confi rmed cases continuing to decline each 146 people to the Public of a Cabinet decision of coronavirus during the week. Prosecution for not and Decree Law No 17 last 24 hours, of which 172 “Qatar’s proactive and wearing masks in places, of 1990 on infectious were from community and extensive testing of sus- Qatar News Agency diseases, and in line with 47 from travellers returning pected cases has ena- (QNA) reported yesterday. the precautionary and from abroad. bled us to identify a high Ten others were also preventive measures The MoPH also recorded number of positive cases referred to the Public put in place to curb 256 recoveries from the vi- in the community,” the Prosecution for violating the spread of Covid-19 rus during the same period, ministry said in a state- the rule specifying the in the country. The bringing the total number ment. maximum number of authorities have called of recoveries in Qatar to Qatar has one of the people allowed in a on the public to adhere 133,473. lowest Covid-19 death vehicle, QNA said. Under to the precautionary and All new cases have been rates in the world, it said. this rule, a maximum of preventive measures to placed in isolation and are “This is a result of very four people are allowed ensure their safety and receiving the necessary high quality of care pro- in a vehicle, including the that of others. healthcare. vided through the pub- lic healthcare sector for One arrested violating home quarantine Covid-19 patients, Qa- tar’s young population, One person was arrested person being referred to proactive testing to iden- in Doha yesterday the prosecution has been tify cases early, expand- for violating home identified as Mansour al- ing hospital capacity, es- quarantine rules. Sayyed Abdulaziz Ismail. pecially intensive care, to The arrest came in Authorities have urged ensure all patients receive implementation of quarantined citizens and the medical care they need precautionary measures residents to adhere to the and protecting the elderly in force in the country to requirements set by the and those with chronic ensure public safety and Ministry of Public Health diseases,” the statement to curb the spread of the to ensure their safety and said. coronavirus. The arrested the safety of others. Even though the re- strictions are being lift- ed, and the numbers are pandemic is over in Qatar, to be admitted with mod- declining, this does not the ministry cautioned, erate to severe Covid-19 mean that the Covid-19 adding people continue symptoms.

Qatar embassy delivers fi nancial aid to Salvadoran Red Cross Society Qatar’s embassy in El Salvador delivered financial aid from the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) to the Salvadoran Red Cross Society (IFRC) for purchasing personal protective equipment for medical workers, medical equipment for volunteers, and food supplies for families aff ected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and tropical storms. The delivery of the aid was attended by representative of the Salvadoran Red Cross Society Dr José Benjamn Ruiz Rodas and the acting charge d’aff aires of the embassy, Tariq Othman al-Othman. Benjamn expressed gratitude to Qatar for the donation, which will enable the Salvadoran Red Cross Society to continue its role in assisting the public authorities in alleviating human suff ering and protecting the lives and health of people. Al-Othman renewed Qatar’s commitment to continue supporting El Salvador in confronting the coronavirus, pointing out the importance of joint action and co-operation between countries in order to address the global crisis. He also praised the heroic role and eff orts made by the Salvadoran Red Cross Society during the crisis. – QNA Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 5 QATAR Winners of awards to Qatar 2022 will be global be announced today celebration: al-Thawadi Closing day of the summit to feature rich discussions and panel sessions By Joseph Varghese for contributing to the shared atar Foundation’s World All those showcasing their in- creative designer, and disability Staff Reporter mission of maintaining physi- Innovation Summit for novations share a common goal: rights activist Safi a Bahlani. cal and mental health across QHealth (WISH) 2020 is driving improvement and excel- In partnership with Nurs- the globe. wrapping up its biennial event lence in healthcare. Each inno- ing Now, WISH 2020 will host IFA World Cup Qatar 2022 “As societies strive to emerge today, with a series of meet- vation being showcased has the a session on Mental Health and will be an event that would from lockdowns, sport is play- ings and panel discussions, be- potential to help transform glo- Resilience for Frontline Work- Fleave a legacy of improv- ing an important role in our fore announcing the Grand Prize bal health, whether reducing the ers: Tools, Approaches, and ing the lives of several people journey toward a return to nor- winners of this year’s innovation costs of healthcare delivery or Policies to Help Yourself and around the world, Hassan al- malcy,” he said. awards. improving the quality of care for Others, which will touch on Thawadi, Secretary-General Al-Thawadi, who also serves The fi fth edition of the sum- patients. the importance of investing in of the Supreme Committee for as chairman of the FIFA World mit, held virtually this year, cel- The last day of the summit, health facilities within the work Delivery & Legacy (SC) has said, Cup Qatar 2022, a joint ven- ebrated the spirit of innovation, which is taking place under the environment to support men- expressing optimism that Qatar ture between FIFA and the SC with a dedicated exhibition space banner ‘One World, Our Health’, tal health. Another session held would be able to play host to a responsible for organising and for this year’s Spark innovators. will feature panel discussions in partnership with the Qatari- global celebration in a post- Hassan al-Thawadi speaks at the WISH 2020 summit. staging the event, said sport These startup innovations in- on a variety of issues, including Russian Centre for Co-operation Covid world by hosting a fan- can be used in a variety of ways clude devices, applications, in- The Role of Schools in Child and and titled Women in Innovation tastic world cup. aware of the socioeconomic ef- ed by in-house health experts. to preserve mental and physical novative delivery models, and Adolescent Health. The panel will bring together leading Rus- Delivering a keynote address fects of the pandemic around “The proactive strategy we health. design-based solutions that im- will highlight the role that edu- sian female innovators, who will at the World Innovation Summit the world and are striving to of- employed enabled us to manage “We all remember the power prove quality of care and patient cation plays in ensuring a healthy discuss their experiences and for Health (WISH) 2020 yester- fer an aff ordable and safe World the spread of Covid-19 on our that sport has to contribute to experience, while also reducing lifestyle and promoting educa- share their knowledge on how to day, al-Thawadi said: “We cer- Cup.” projects for up to six weeks until our shared cause, and to en- costs. tion, employment, and produc- achieve success and overcome tainly hope that by November “Our collective future hinges the fi rst case was reported. Un- sure we harness that power in In addition to picking one tivity. This will be followed by a challenges. Furthermore, the 2022 we are able to play host to on a co-ordinated and coherent der the guidance and approval of the future for the sake of pub- winner from the Spark category, panel on Toxic Stress & PTSD in Hackathon: Envisioning Climate a global celebration in a post- approach to public health, both the local health authorities, we lic health, community, and a WISH will also award one win- Children to discuss the harmful Change in Every Health Curricu- Covid world. We sincerely hope physical and mental. This was introduced our own 1,000-bed brighter future for the genera- ner from the Booster innovators impact of stress on the physical lum panel will feature discus- that we’re able to welcome as a necessity before the spread of capacity isolation facility to en- tions to come.” category, who have been show- and psychological well-being sions on how to better integrate many visitors as possible to our Covid, and that necessity is now sure the monitoring and main- WISH, Qatar Foundation’s casing some of the world’s most of refugee children and children climate change into the health country – and to our region – an imperative,” he said. tenance of strict quarantine global health initiative, is dedi- exciting healthcare innovations living in confl ict zones. education curricula as a lifelong many of whom will be visiting Al-Thawadi spoke about the protocol to minimise the spread cated to capturing and dissemi- at the summit’s Innovation Hub, The closing day will also fea- learning opportunity. for the fi rst time and experienc- steps the organisation has taken of infection among the rest of nating the best evidence-based ranging from practical devices to ture a discussion with Mauritius To attend the last day of WISH ing their fi rst taste of the Middle to protect the health and safety the workforce.” ideas and practices with a mis- business models to design-based Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth 2020 today, registration is free and East and Arab world.” of its staff , including multilin- He noted that sport must be sion to create a healthier world solutions. and a lecture by Omani artist, available at www.wish.org.qa He added: “We’re acutely gual awareness sessions provid- considered a critical vehicle through global collaboration. Sport has a role in return to normalcy

port is playing a role in the return to normalcy from Sthe coronavirus pandem- ic, with Qatar recently hosting teams for the group stages of the AFC Champions League under ‘bubble’ conditions, Hassan al- Thawadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for De- livery & Legacy, said yesterday. In a keynote speech delivered at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2020, he said “sport must be considered a crit- ical vehicle for contributing to the shared mission of maintain- ing physical and mental health across the globe.” He said “our collective future Discussion on health challenges of sporting events. hinges on a co-ordinated and co- herent approach to public health, both physical and mental. This Discussion on science based response to Covid-19. was a necessity before the spread of Covid-19, and that necessity is now an imperative.” Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, was one of the notable speakers on day four of the virtual WISH 2020. Speaking with Fiona Godlee, editor-in-chief of The BMJ, Dr Fauci acknowledged the deep impact of Covid-19 on minori- ties in the US, especially African- Panel on Covid-19 and delivering the vaccine. Americans, a result of social de- terminants of health. He shared was extensive focus on Qatar’s especially in research and policy Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for his view that the pandemic will healthcare framework and re- development, was shared dur- Mental Health Journalism and end with an eff ective and safe Panel on religion and medical ethics. sponses. Qatar Science-Based ing a policy briefi ng session that Media. Qatar’s three Rosalynn vaccine but alongside public Response to Covid-19, in part- was led by Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, Carter Fellows commenced their health measures. discussed a new research report the unique ethical concerns of executive editor of The BMJ, and nership with the Ministry of medical director at HMC. programme earlier this year. A panel on Health Chal- that will act as a point of refer- assisted reproductive technolo- Doreen Moraa Moracha, founder Public Health, discussed the The day’s programme included The fi nal day of WISH 2020 to- lenges of Major Sporting Events ence in preparation for the FIFA gies, more commonly known as of I am a Beautiful Story. inter-sectoral collaboration an affi rming masterclass, as part day will include a keynote address was led by Abby Hoff man. The World Cup Qatar 2022. fertility treatments. Amplifying the voice of nurses among healthcare providers, of the Qatar Foundation Educa- by the Prime Minister of Mauri- former track and fi eld athlete, The Islamic Ethics and Infer- Doha Debates hosted a lively globally was the aim of an in- epidemiologists, policymakers, tion City Speaker Series, by Giles tius on his country’s Covid-19 re- who competed in four Olympics tility panel, chaired by Dr Mo- session that further amplifi ed the teractive roundtable event with scientists, and academia to in- Duley, founder of the Legacy of sponse, panel discussions covering for Canada, and is currently a hamed Ghaly, professor of Islam topic of unequal treatment and Nursing Now, which brought form evidence-based decisions. War Foundation, on how we can several topics including The Role senior executive in the Ministry and Biomedical Ethics at Hamad racial disparities in medical care, together international leaders And a partner session with Qatar reframe our view of disability. of Schools in Child and Adoles- of Health, Canada, and a World Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), as part of their #DearWorldLive within the industry to discuss Biomedical Research Institute at And a panel discussion with in- cent Health and Toxic Stress and Athletics Executive Board mem- and Dr Alia Abd El Hadi, chair series. The panel included Dr how to strengthen the young- HBKU examined the eff ect of the ternational journalists on best PTSD in Children, and a closing ber, discussed legacy planning to of Assisted Reproductive Centre Matshidiso Moeti, World Health nurse voice in global health ad- pandemic on autism spectrum practices for reporting on mental ceremony, announcing the two capture lasting health and public and senior consultant at Hamad Organisation Regional Director vocacy. disorder. health was led by Kari Cobham, grand prize winners of the WISH health benefi ts. The panellists Medical Corporation, focused on for Africa; Dr Kamran Abbasi, In the WISH Ideas Lab, there Qatar’s advances in dementia, senior associate director of The Innovation Award. QC participates in discussion on building health capacity

atar Charity (QC) has pacting their healthcare systems, health system and provide effi - spoke about building resilience, in the fi eld of health, and pro- taken part in the World QC said in a statement. cient health services”. identifying the gap and meeting vides information about its areas QInnovation Summit for The discussion also aimed He said that QC’s teams work- local needs, noting that QFFD of work. The pavilion also sheds Health (WISH) through a panel to keep abreast of current good ing in developing countries face focuses on the local community, light on QC’s partnerships with discussion, ‘The pathway to lo- practices and innovative ap- some challenges in the health achieving sustainable develop- United Nations and other inter- calisation: The importance of proaches in the fi eld, while iden- fi eld, adding that Qatar Charity ment and fi nding local solutions national organisations, and its building health capacity in de- tifying common challenges and focuses on building the capaci- for local needs. eff orts aimed at preventing the veloping countries’, and the ‘In- opportunities to link national ties of the local community and Mohamed Amad, chairperson coronavirus. novators of Tomorrow’ initia- healthcare strategies with broad- strengthening the local health of Humanitarian Network Paki- The ‘Innovators of Tomor- tive, in addition to a pavilion at er global localisation frame- system, so that the local com- stan, spoke about the national plan row’ initiative was launched in the virtual exhibition held on the works. munity members can respond to strengthen the health system co-ordination with the Ministry sidelines of the conference. During the panel discussion, fi rst in case of emergencies and and engage the local community of Education and Higher Educa- WISH is a global health initia- Ishrat Ullah, head of Relief at Qa- disasters. and private sector in this regard. tion. Workshops were organised tive of Qatar Foundation. tar Charity, said QC has provided The Qatari assistance was He also noted that they work in the for the students of four schools Four senior experts from lead- health assistance worth $24mn lauded, as Dr Robert F Walters, most vulnerable areas in order to as part of the initiative to inform ing organisations participated in to nearly 60 countries around chairman of Orbis, said the huge support the health system and ed- them of what countries, institu- the discussion, whose main ob- the world to help them fi ght assistance his organisation re- ucate the local community about tions and civil society organisa- jective was to strengthen action Covid-19. He also underlined ceives from Qatar Fund for De- the importance of hygiene, health tions did in the fi eld of health. A towards localisation and to in- the importance of social aware- velopment (QFFD) and Qatar and nutrition. special pavilion has also been set form on the urgent need to recog- ness and community education, Charity makes it easier for it to Qatar Charity’s pavilion at the up for students at the virtual ex- nise and support local communi- indicating that the “conscious carry out its tasks. virtual exhibition held on the hibition of the WISH conference ties in being the decision-makers community will ask the local Bashayer AlAli, International sidelines of the conference dis- to display their production and and the leaders of solutions im- government to strengthen the Programmes director at QFFD, plays its experiences and projects creativity. The panel discussion in progress. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, November 19, 2020 QATAR

Initiative aims to plant one million trees

As part of the planting of one million trees initiative, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s Public Gardens Department in co-operation with Al Ahli Sports Club have organised an event at Garden 65 at Al Markhiyah Area. Mohamed Ibrahim al-Sada, assistant director of the Public Gardens Department and Mohamed Abdullah Abass, head of the gardens section at Doha Municipality, and a number of off icials and players at Al Ahli Club were present. A number of trees and saplings were planted.

New translation of paediatric Humanitarian photographer appeals to document love, not disability blast injury fi eld manual at QF’s Education City Speaker Series

n award-winning pho- tographer, humanitar- launched at WISH 2020 Aian, and activist who lost three of his limbs in an Af- ghanistan blast has spoken of ommissioned by the the “constant challenge” people World Innovation Sum- with disabilities face to make Cmit for Health (WISH), others realise what they are ca- the French translation of the pable of, in the latest edition of world’s fi rst paediatric blast in- Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Educa- jury fi eld manual was formally tion City Speaker Series. launched during a virtual event The event, in collabora- discussion titled, The Children tion with the World Innovation Giles Duley (inset) addressing QF’s Education City Speaker Series. of the Frontline at WISH 2020. Summit for Health (WISH) – the Image on right shows him at work. The manual, produced by global healthcare initiative of the UK-based Save The Chil- QF – saw Giles Duley, renowned dren charity in partnership for his work covering the hu- with Imperial College London, man impact of war, speak about was translated into French by his own journey to cope not just the Translation and Interpret- with the physical injuries he suf- ing Institute (TII) at Hamad fered in 2011, but the mental toll Bin Khalifa University’s College they took. of Humanities and Social Sci- In a talk titled, Reframing Our ences. View Of Disability, held during Last year, WISH worked Participants in the ‘Children of the Frontline’ discussion. the WISH 2020 virtual summit, with Save The Children and Duley told his story through his TII to produce the fi rst Ara- the Children, explored some Centre at TII, said, “At the col- killed and maimed in confl icts own black-and-white photo- One of the images of Duley. bic-language version of the of the latest trends in provid- lege and TII, we always strive to around the world. graphs – and those taken of him manual, which is proving to be ing healthcare for children in positively contribute towards Alma al-Osta, Protection of in the moments, weeks, and ing, because we live in a society disabilities are perceived, Duley essential for medics working in confl ict and looked into the social justice, and our transla- Civilians Advocacy manager, months after he lost both legs that makes it harder for us. But, said: “There is still a long way to confl ict and post-confl ict set- new political declaration, led by tion services at the Transla- Humanity & Inclusion, said: and an arm when he stepped on equally, I do believe that people go – look at the representation tings as they try to repair the Ireland, to address the humani- tion and Training Center is not “There are various legal instru- an improvised electronic device with disabilities can live a full of people with disabilities on damage done to children se- tarian harm caused by explosive an exception. By joining forces ments imposing frameworks while on patrol with a US regi- life – and that, most important- television. verely injured after stepping on weapons in confl ict. with WISH, Save the Children, that are calling for the protec- ment in Afghanistan. ly, we can love and be loved.” “They make up a very small landmines or being injured by James Denselow, head of and Imperial College Lon- tion of civilians in confl ict. And he told the online audi- Duley explained that one of percentage of people on screen bombs. Confl ict Team at Save the Chil- don, it’s an honour for us to In our view, there is a need to ence who tuned in to QF’s glo- the greatest obstacles people and they tend to be portrayed WISH director of partner- dren, said: “The fi eld manual is have translated the Paediatric strengthen the protection of bal dialogue platform: “Too of- with disabilities face is “the per- as villains – every James Bond ships and outreach, Nick Brad- a comprehensive guide to lo- Blast Injury Field Manual into civilians. Use of heavy weapons ten, people with disabilities are ceptions of others”, saying: “It villain, for example, seems to shaw, said: “Hundreds of civil- cal non-paediatric specialists French; and into back in populated areas is a major shown as victims, but I rarely can be as if people think we’re have a facial disfi gurement or be ians, including a horrifi cally who are often forced to operate in 2019. Without doubt, the humanitarian problem which fi nd that – what I fi nd instead not able to lead normal lives. missing a limb. It’s actually quite high number of children, fall and treat children with blast availability of the manual in causes a distinct pattern that is is resilience, strength, fortitude “Everyone fi ghts this in their hurtful and we have to stop rep- victim to explosive war weap- injuries, with little or no pre- multiple languages will support recurring in almost all confl ict and, more often than not, hu- own way but, for me, it’s about resenting people with disabili- ons, leaving irreversible dam- vious experience or training. It healthcare workers in provid- areas in the world.” mour. showing what I can do. There ties in this way.” age. While it is evident that provides healthcare workers in ing emergency care and saving In a sobering assessment, she “I’m not a war photographer. are very few photographers with Duley also revealed that his much still needs to be done to confl ict setting with knowledge valuable young lives in confl ict said that the devastating impact My job is to document love. For injuries like mine – we are often battle to overcome depression protect the vulnerable in armed and practical advice on the en- zones.” of heavy explosive weapons, people with disabilities, our in- the subject, not the storyteller. after his injuries was “a greater confl icts, I hope this new trans- tire continued care, from injury In the fi ve deadliest confl icts that’s not limited to direct harm juries are often the only focus I tell people I’m just an angry battle than dealing with los- lation of the Paediatric Blast treatment to rehabilitation and for children in 2017, Save the on children’s lives and health, of the story, but the things that man with a camera, who wants ing three limbs”, saying: “When Injury Field Manual reaches mental health support.” Children analysis of United Na- include psychological trauma should instead be focused on are to make sure that someone sees people trivialise mental health those who need the extremely The manual is now in the tions data shows nearly three- and destruction of access to our love stories. a photograph I take and that and say ‘pull yourself together’, specifi c information that the hands of medics in 12 confl ict- quarters of all child casual- healthcare and education serv- “I realised my greatest dis- something positive happens I can tell you that regaining my manual provides and can serve aff ected countries and has been ties were caused by explosive ices. As well as untold environ- ability is in the eyes of others, from it. I couldn’t go home and mental health was harder than as an instrument that can help translated into fi ve languages. weapons. Since the UN started mental damage, children suff er and when people see me missing feel I was leaving the people I the physical injuries, but what save lives.” Commenting on translating tracking numbers of grave displacement, poverty, and ex- my limbs, they make assump- photograph behind without an- got me through it was fi nding The panel discussion at the manual into two languages, violations against children clusion. This, she added, is the tions about what I can and can’t ything changing. purpose, and through dealing WISH 2020, which was organ- Nada al-Mahmeed, director of fourteen years ago, more than reality of people living in urban do. And it is hard, and there are Speaking about the need for with depression I built the resil- ised in partnership with Save the Translation and Training 100,000 children have been war areas. days when it is overwhelm- progress in the way people with ience that gave me strength.

Katara in Ukrainian pact to exchange expertise Interior ministry takes part in boat show The Ministry of Interior (MoI), represented by the General atara – The Cultural Vil- Directorate of Coasts and lage Foundation and the Borders Security and the KUkrainian Amber World Police Training Institute, is Association signed a Memoran- participating in the 2020 Qatar dum of Understanding (MoU) International Boat Show, which yesterday for technical exper- is being held at The Pearl- tise exchange and facilitating Qatar until tomorrow. The exhibitions, workshops and directorate aims to spread high-level seminars. awareness of maritime safety Katara director general Dr measures, requirements for Khaled bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti seagoing and dealing with and the Ukrainian Amber World marine accidents, the MoI Association representative Dr has said in a tweet. It is also Olga Revina signed the MoU in introducing to the public the the presence of Ukrainian am- tasks and capabilities of the bassador Andriy Kuzmenko. Coasts and Borders Security. Dr al-Sulaiti said the MoU As part of its participation, will also provide a framework the directorate is displaying to exchange experiences, infor- long and short-range boats mation and research. The out- and cruisers that are used puts of the MoU will enhance for the protection of coasts the distinctive position that and national borders and to Katara has achieved through its carry out other tasks. These annual international amber ex- include the 42-ft-long ‘Sayyaf’, hibition, which led it to the fi rst Dr al-Sulaiti flanked by Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Kuzmenko and Dr Olga Revina at the MoU which is made locally by the position as an international signing ceremony yesterday. Qatari workforce, and the centre for amber, and a global 36-ft-long Glistream, the MoI forum for experts, researchers culture of the amber sector in sented to Dr al-Sulaiti a book on for participation in events cen- said. The Police Music Band and manufacturers. which art and traditional crafts the history of amber in Ukraine. tred on the rarest types of amber, of the Police Training Institute Ambassador Kuzmenko are embodied in the manufac- Dr Revina, noted that the MoU and stressed it will achieve great performed during the opening stressed that the MoU provides ture of Masabih (chapelets). opens a new window for part- success in this sector locally and ceremony of the show. a new addition to the common The Ukrainian envoy also pre- nership in the amber sector and internationally. Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 7 QATAR Qatar Airways, Air Canada in codeshare agreement z Sales have started with the first codeshare flight to operate from December 15 atar Airways has fi nal- sies around the world through- four-engine aircraft in the current ised a codeshare agree- out the pandemic, temporarily market. Qatar Airways has also re- Qment with Air Canada operating three weekly services cently launched a new programme applicable for travel between to Toronto in addition to char- that enables passengers to volun- Doha and Toronto. ter fl ights to Vancouver to help tarily off set the carbon emissions Sales have started with the bring more than 40,000 passen- associated with their journey at fi rst codeshare fl ight to operate gers home to Canada. the point of booking. from December 15, the national Qatar Airways’ strategic in- By the end of the IATA Winter airline said yesterday. vestment in a variety of fuel- Season, Qatar Airways plans to The agreement reinforces Qa- effi cient, twin-engine aircraft, rebuild its network to 126 des- tar Airways’ long-term commit- including the largest fl eet of Air- tinations including 20 in Africa, ment to Canadian passengers, bus A350 aircraft, has enabled 11 in the Americas, 42 in Asia- and boosting Canada’s global it to continue fl ying throughout Pacifi c, 38 in Europe and 15 in connectivity to support the re- this crisis and perfectly posi- the Middle East. Many cities will covery of tourism and trade. tions it to lead the sustainable be served with a strong schedule Qatar Airways’ passengers can recovery of international travel. with daily or more frequencies. now enjoy “seamless, one-stop The airline recently took de- A multiple award-winning connections” to and from To- livery of three new state-of-the- airline, Qatar Airways was ronto via Hamad International art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by – the ‘Best Airport in the Middle increasing its total A350 fl eet to the 2019 World Airline Awards, East’. the Middle East. Qatar Airways from Toronto with excellence in nifi cant number of new destina- Qatar Airways began fl ying to 52 with an average age of just 2.6 managed by Skytrax. Air Canada passengers will Group Chief Executive, HE Ak- state-of-the-art and sustain- tions – particularly throughout Canada in June 2011 with three years. Air Canada is Canada’s larg- benefi t from being able to book bar al-Baker said, “We are de- able aircraft, safety, comfort and Africa, Asia and the Middle East. weekly fl ights to Montreal that Due to Covid-19’s impact on est domestic and international travel on Qatar Airways’ fl ights lighted to secure this strategic onboard service. The agreement By harnessing our complementa- expanded to four weekly in De- travel demand, the airline has airline. Canada’s fl ag carrier is between Toronto and Doha and codeshare agreement with Air will increase choices for thou- ry strengths, this agreement will cember 2018. The airline has grounded its fl eet of Airbus A380s among the 20 largest airlines onwards to more than 75 des- Canada to provide our travellers sands of passengers and allows also provide benefi ts to aid the worked closely with the Govern- as it is not environmentally jus- in the world and in 2019 served tinations in Africa, Asia and with a seamless journey to and for smooth connectivity to a sig- recovery of international travel.” ment of Canada and its embas- tifi able to operate such a large, over 51mn customers. Doha Debates spotlights artists’ role in global fi ght for racial equality

s artists around the world danese writer and a student at to make a comic strip to criticise humanise Black people.” use their talent to sup- Qatar Foundation’s Hamad Bin the government and Jair Bol- Satir, who has lived in , Aport the global call for Khalifa University, where she is sonaro, the main leader of the , and now Canada, spoke racial equality, the third episode completing her Master’s degree far-right movement in Brazil. about a similar theme in both of #DearWorldLive – hosted by in Islamic fi nance. At fi rst it was a humour comic, artists’ work: the Black maid. “A Doha Debates, a production of Host Nelufar Hedayat began but then I realised I was missing few months ago, I felt the con- Qatar Foundation – explored the conversation with questions something. versation was very narrow to how creativity and artistic ex- for Assis, who this year created a “I wanted to talk about the the Black and White races, and Artists play a key role in fight for racial equality. pression are powerful tools for new comic series that criticises kind of people who helped elect no one was actually discussing change. the disproportionate toll of the Bolsonaro, who are White, rich other forms of racism,” she said. the prevalence of colourism as Unfortunately, it’s racism.” Even once the Black Lives The episode featured a con- Covid-19 pandemic on poor and people from Rio de Janeiro and According to the artist, this a prominent form of racism in The show also focused on the Matter movement is no longer on versation between Brazilian Black Brazilians. Assis’ series — Sao Paulo and big cities. I want- includes colourism — a form of their respective communities. tokenisation of Black artists, de- the global agenda, Elbaz said that award-winning fi lmmaker and called Confi nada, meaning ‘con- ed to talk about things White prejudice or discrimination in Assis explained: “When you scribed by Satir as “when people Satir and Assis’ art would remain illustrator Leandro Assis; Enas fi ned’ — shows the starkly diver- people do, but they don’t nor- which people who are usually look at Enas’ work, it is beauti- don’t show support for the Black vital and timeless contributions Satir, a Toronto-based Sudanese gent realities that Brazil’s rich and mally talk about it in public. members of the same race are ful and unique — but when you artist because the artist is im- to the global fi ght against racial artist whose art revolves around poor face during the pandemic. “I knew I needed to human- treated diff erently based on the pay attention you see that it is portant,” but because they want inequality, adding that: “Art in issues of race and African iden- Speaking from Brazil, Assis ise Black people because that is shades of their skin or features. similar to what I know, because to make it seem like they are con- its essence is protest, it’s your tity; and Aya Adil Elbaz, a Su- told #DearWorldLive: “I decided what racists don’t do. They de- Assis and Satir acknowledged there is something common. cerned about representation. soul speaking to the world.”

Ministry recalls Ford and Lincoln models Qeeri fi rst in Middle East to develop nano-rectenna devices The Ministry of Commerce and In- dustry, in co-operation with Almana amad Bin Khalifa Uni- nal into DC output. The same to achieve using conventional ible device which is 1/1000th Motors Company, announced the versity’s (HBKU) Qatar device can be used for light semiconductor-based tech- the size of a human hair, has recall of Ford Expedition, Edge, HEnvironment and En- sensing and detection, as well as nologies. In our approach, we multiple applications in solar Econoline, and Lincoln Navigator, ergy Research Institute (Qeeri) in many other applications such use advances in nanoelectronics energy conversion, sensors Mkx models of 2013-2017 due to has become the fi rst research as night-vision. that open new vistas for rect- and detectors, night vision unclear information in the owner’s organisation in the Middle East enna technology development. and security applications. manual regarding the automatic to work on nano-rectenna de- These devices can In addition, the frequency of In addition, rectennas have engine idle shutdown (AEIS) feature. vices. be a potential game the diode should be synchro- similar traits as silicon but The recall campaign comes within Developed by scientists at changer in the fi elds of nised with the high frequency are nevertheless unique and the framework of the MoCI’s con- Qeeri’s Disruptive Technologies sensors, detectors, solar voltage oscillations produced by have many advantages which tinuous eff orts to protect consum- Programme, these devices can energy conversion and the antennas. allow us to build a platform ers and ensure that dealers follow be a potential game changer in nanoelectronics “We have been able to as an incubation zone for the up on vehicle defects and repairs. the fi elds of sensors, detectors, achieve an important mile- next generation of solar cells, The MoCI said that it will co-ordinate solar energy conversion and na- Dr Hicham Hamoudi, re- stone in a relatively short pe- sensors, detectors, and quan- with the dealer to follow up on the noelectronics. search programme director riod and our work has also tum processors.” maintenance and repair works and While solar cells can convert for the Disruptive Technolo- been recognised by the inter- Dr Marc Vermeersch, execu- will communicate with customers visible light into electricity via gies Programme, Qeeri said, national research community,” tive director, Qeeri, congratu- to ensure they carry out the neces- the so-called photovoltaic ef- “There are two main techno- said Dr Veronica Bermudez, lated the team, adding, “Qeeri sary repairs. The MoCI urged all fect, a rectenna-based solar cell logical challenges in creating senior research director, Qeeri is a market-driven research in- customers to report any violations is a special type of rectifying effi cient optical rectenna solar Energy Centre. stitute bridging the gap between to its Consumer Protection and antenna that directly converts cells. First, the antennas should Talking about the advan- low and high technology readi- Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, light into electricity using the be small enough to absorb the tages of rectenna-based so- ness levels. This work achieved which processes complaints, inquir- wave nature of electromagnetic electromagnetic waves in the lar cells, Dr Bermudez said, in the Disruptive Technologies ies and suggestions through the radiation. optical range of the spectrum “Contrary to traditional pho- group is the perfect demon- following channels: The rectenna device con- and convert them into AC cur- tovoltaic solar cells, the rect- stration of our ability to deploy Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ sists of a nanoantenna, which rent; like any antenna, they Qeeri develops Middle East’s first nano-rectenna devices. enna system uses different research eff orts in fundamental moci.gov.qa, Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, absorbs the electromagnetic have to be of the same order of process for solar energy har- sciences while contemplating Instagram: MOCIQATAR, MoCI radiation and generates an os- magnitude in size as the wave- the response time of the rectify- ity of the electron oscillations in vesting, which can increase the market perspectives for po- mobile app for android and iOS: cillating current (AC); a current length they absorb – hence, at ing diode must be fast enough to the nano-antennas. This is ex- the conversion efficiency tential applications of nanoma- MOCIQATAR rectifi er transforms this AC sig- the nanometre scale. Second, follow the changes in the polar- perimentally very challenging considerably. This incred- terials and quantum devices.” QatarDebate, US embassy conduct English language programme

atarDebate Center change, moral philosophy and guage and education adviser at and build their arguments, in (QDC), a member of social movements, among oth- the US embassy; and Aseel al- order to facilitate engag- QQatar Foundation for ers, QatarDebate said in a press Ugaili, cultural affairs special- ing debates and a healthy ex- Education, Science and Com- statement. ist at the US embassy, led the change of ideas,” Awartani said. munity Development, has held The initiative intended to sessions. She noted that the diver- an intensive five-week English provide an opportunity for With the encouragement and sity of participants was instru- language programme in collab- practising conversational Eng- support of their trainers, the mental to the success of the oration with the US embassy in lish for non-native English- participants successfully com- workshop. Qatar, QNA reported. speaking youth in Qatar, the municated complex concepts in The students were tested The programme was con- statement noted. a language that is not their na- before the start of the pro- ducted with 25 students based By applying methods cus- tive tongue. They demonstrat- gramme. On the last day, each in Qatar from October 2 to No- tomarily featured in debate ed that language should not student was asked to deliver a vember 5. teaching, the sessions proved be an obstacle when express- presentation on a pre-assigned The series encouraged the 15 to be an effective approach to ing opinions on social and en- topic. Marked improvement to 18-year-old participants to encourage students to practise vironmental issues. and increased confidence were One of the sessions. engage with US embassy guests speaking English, it added. “We encouraged students seen among all the partici- and the QDC team in practising Amina Awartani, QatarDe- to formulate their own ideas and pants in terms of their English- of the series was to encour- that they successfully met their willingness to engage in English through discussions bate coach; Khansa Maria, a answer questions raised dur- speaking skills, the statement age students to speak English this goal. “Throughout the se- challenging conversations and and interactive lessons on the senior at Georgetown Univer- ing the sessions. We in turn, as added. confidently, and their final ries, we were impressed with share their opinions with their environment, water, climate sity; Paula Masad, English lan- coaches, helped them clarify Masad noted that the goal presentations demonstrated the students’ participation and peers.” Gulf Times 8 Thursday, November 19, 2020 HOL STIC Wellbeing How to exercise in an upstairs fl at quietly

By Emine Saner hard as you can for a given unit of The Guardian time.” Exercise should be progres- sive, he says. “Set some goals. On a rowing machine, for instance, set s that thundering on the fl oor yourself three one-minute rounds. in the fl at above ever going to For one minute, go as hard as you Istop, or is it just the short bit can, measure the distance, then where your upstairs neighbour get up and walk around.” On the does a few burpees before collaps- next round, see if you can beat the ing (another thud) in a heap? If you distance, and keep doing it. “And are the one making the noise, does then you’ve got a goal to beat for the weight of your guilt count as the next time.” After a few days or extra resistance? For the sake of weeks, add more rounds. “If you indoor exercisers and fl at-dwellers can do 10 one-minute rounds, go- everywhere, here are some expert ing hard, you’ll be so much fi tter tips on keeping the noise down. than when you started.” Mixing all-out eff ort for 30 to 60 sec- Low impact doesn’t mean onds, then resting for up to two low eff ort minutes, then repeating it sev- How to keep tired eyes When one woman had a visit eral times is “the best way to get in from the police, who said her shape – meaning lose fat and get neighbours had made a noise com- your fi tness up to maximum lev- healthy during a pandemic plaint, she realised it was probably els”. If you’re determined to build a from the HIIT class she was doing. home gym, the best equipment, he By Elle Hunt While it is true that there may She had signed up to one of the have to do is add resistance, so us- Depending on starting fi tness lev- Turn down the volume says, is “the thing that you enjoy The Guardian be long-term repercussions for online classes off ered by pilatespt. ing things such as resistance bands els, “the best thing to do is to pick Grant suggests exercising on the most because if you enjoy it, our eyesight, they are not what co.uk, set up by Hollie Grant, a or dumbbells would increase your movements that are hard and you two yoga mats or putting a folded you’re going to do it”, pointing out you might expect. For children, personal trainer. “We do have peo- heart rate, and would make up for do those movements with intensi- towel underneath one to muffl e a that most exercise bikes end up as n the pandemic, our eyes are whose vision is still developing, ple messaging us if they’re think- the fact that you’re not jumping ty and eff ort for 30 to 60 seconds, thud. Also ditch the clumpy train- clothes hangers. working harder than ever. With time spent outside between the ing of signing up, saying: ‘I live in around.” and then you either do something ers. “In our HIIT classes, we ask Ithe majority of our communi- ages seven (and potentially fi ve) a fl at, how jumpy will it be?’,” s a y s slower – what you might call active people to be barefoot.” It’s more But you don’t need to spend cation nonverbal, and all but the and 11 has been established to Grant. There are some squat jumps Cardio is not just about run- recovery – or if you’re fi t enough, challenging, and helps you better loads on weights upper third of our faces covered protect against the onset of short- and other “bouncy” movements in ning you go into a diff erent movement control your landing. “You have “Be creative with what’s around by masks, we are more reliant on sightedness. her classes, but she always off ers You don’t need to run on the that works a diff erent part of your to use more muscles in your an- the house,” says Grant. “Anything them to express tone, emotion and The reasons why are unclear, lower-impact options to postnatal spot (or jump). “Anything that gets body”. kle and foot, you don’t just have a can be a ‘weight’, it doesn’t have even individuality, with a recent says Hardiman-McCartney. “The women and those with joint issues your heart rate up is cardiovascular trainer holding you in position, so to look good. A litre bottle of wa- explosion in online tutorials for truth is, we don’t fully under- or pelvic-fl oor problems. “Low- exercise,” says Nick Mitchell, the Try to land quietly it’s better for you and you’ll acti- ter – that’s a kilogram.” Mitchell “mask makeup looks” emphasis- stand the underlying mechanism impact options don’t mean easy,” founder and CEO of Ultimate Per- If you are desperate to keep vate more muscles.” Your calves recommends getting two carrier ing long lashes, bright eyeshadows of myopia.” It could be a result of she says. formance, a global personal train- doing the jumpy stuff , try to be may be more achy the next day, bags and putting a couple of tins and statement liner. light intensity, physical exercise, ing business. This includes body- light-footed. Grant says: “In our “and the arches of your feet can (wrapped in a towel to reduce the Yet as we rely on our eyes to do focusing on distances further Make low-impact substitu- weight exercises such as squats, HIIT class, we’ll say: ‘This is high- feel bruised – it’s not bruising, it’s clunking) in each. “Squat down, the talking, we may also be putting away – or perhaps a combination. tions lunges and pushups, which can intensity, but it shouldn’t be high- that you’re activating muscles that hold the bags at shoulder height, them under greater strain. In June, But the protective eff ect of chil- Instead of jumps, do squats, all be done quietly. He isn’t a fan impact. Imagine there’s a baby in are not given the opportunity.” stand up and then push your arms a survey by the College of Optom- dren spending 11 hours or more lunges and deadlifts. “If you do of jumping movements anyway, the room and you don’t want to overhead, being careful not to etrists, the professional body in outdoors a week is well established them at a certain speed, and with particularly for those of us who wake them up, so if you are do- Invest wisely in equipment smash yourself on the side of the the UK, found that 22% of people – prompting concerns about the enough repetitions, you would get are overweight and with decades ing squat jumps, try to land qui- A treadmill may be noisy, but head with the bags.” That would polled believed their vision had increased time spent indoors (and your heart rate up,” says Grant, of sedentary behaviour behind us. etly.’ Actually, it’s much harder can you get a good workout from be much more eff ective than a worsened during lockdown. The inevitably on screens) during the though she points out that it For most people, he adds, these for the body to land quietly, so a rowing machine or stationary bounding movement, he says, reason why they might feel this pandemic. If some of these chang- probably wouldn’t go as high as options will be easier on your you make your workout harder bike? Only if you use it properly, as it works the whole body. “The way is obvious: when the mask es stick – for example, remote if you were doing squat jumps joints but can be even harder – and if you try to create the least says Mitchell. “Go hard. We all beauty of weight training – stick- comes off , most of the time our learning or exercising at home, or plyometric lunges (where you will get you fi tter – than going for amount of noise possible when have diff erent ability levels, so it’s ing tins in bags – is you can al- gaze is trained on a screen. cutting down on time spent out- jump from a lunge position when a jog, where most people run at a you land.” It should also make it not that you must get your bike up ways stick more tins in as you get In the pandemic, devices are side – Hardiman-McCartney says switching legs). “What you would single pace and your body adapts. lower-impact on your joints. to 20mph. You’ve just got to try as stronger.” the new site of work meetings, ex- there is risk of a “myopia boom”. ercise classes, socialising, school “If lockdowns continue, or if and other activities that used to we live in a world of more screen take place in person, as well as the usage, it’s not about restricting it, go-to means of passing the time. it’s about countering it, by making Is my child happy or? Nearly a third of survey respond- sure children have more time out- ents blamed the increase in screen side,” he says. time for the apparent deteriora- Though they might not be at themselves or take great risks, and tion of their eyesight. risk of doing permanent damage a clear example of these actions is Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, in the same way, adults also need self-harm. a clinical adviser with the College to practise good habits for eye of Optometrists and a practising health. Minor fl uctuations in our 6. Isolation: optometrist in Suff olk, says the re- sight (with prescriptions so small The child feels isolated and has no sults mirrored anecdotal reports, as to not justify wearing glasses friends or companions. and the commonly held belief that or contact lenses) are natural, says devices pose a threat to our vision Hardiman-McCartney, and may 7. Changes in weight or eating that must be managed. The thing with time resolve themselves. But habits is, it’s not true. “We know that intense use, such as poring over Appetite may increase or decrease screens are safe: they don’t cause fi nely detailed plans or hours star- in most people with depression. any medical problems to the eyes,” ing at small text on a screen, can And those who have a habit of says Hardiman-McCartney. exacerbate the symptoms. By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi craving food may unexpectedly Most conditions or prescrip- “Architects or accountants lose interest in eating. Young chil- tions become apparent in child- might come in complaining about dren may respond in the opposite hood. When we reach our late 30s eye problems at an earlier level As parents, our biggest priority in way to overeating to treat their or early 40s, we start to lose our than a landscape gardener,” says life is our children. We often worry emotional state. ability to focus on nearby objects, Hardiman-McCartney. “It’s of- if they are happy or sad? Comfort- known as presbyopia: a natural ten about how they’re using their able or not? Satisfied or are in When these signs last for a short (and inevitable) part of ageing. eyes.” need? And so much more! But most period, it may be a temporary Risk for eye-related conditions If you have noticed your sight parents main concern is if their condition of “depression,” but if it and diseases also increases with seeming to deteriorate since the child is depressed! lasts for more than two weeks and age. But, in general, from age 21, pandemic started, the answer When negative indicators continue interferes with daily routine activi- “your eyes are pretty much broad- might be simply that your eyes are to aff ect interests, social activi- ties and school life, the child may ly fi xed to how they will be for the tired. They are certainly likely to be ties, family life or other important face depression. rest of your life”, Hardiman-Mc- working harder from home than aspects in their life – that’s when more slowly, and they may be less 3. Nervousness and tension: become horribly sarcastic about Of course one should not depend Cartney says – regardless of how they were at the offi ce, with ergo- you should be worried! fun and active than usual. A depressed child may not be able himself, his environment, and his on what is only written and should much time you spend looking at nomic desk setups and widescreen Let me list to you a couple of indi- to sit still or show signs of stress life. seek a psychologist or a psychia- screens, reading in low light or sit- monitors widely replaced by lap- cators that are a sign if your child 2. Lack of attention and resent- through insomnia, and may ap- trist when some or most of these ting close to the TV. tops on crowded kitchen tables. may be suff ering from depression: ment: pear anxious, panicked and tense. 5. The guilt complex and self- signs appear. Also, inquire on In fact, because it is possible to To reduce eye strain, the Col- For example, a child who enjoys harm: what needs to be done to solve alter the size, brightness and con- lege of Optometrists advises po- 1. Sadness and lethargy: exercising regularly may sud- 4. Confusion and depression Children with depression may the issue. trast, it can be easier to read from sitioning your monitor so that it A child may suff er from despair and denly choose not to engage in such The child may become irritable experience obsessive disappoint- a screen than on paper. The idea is between 40cm and 76cm (16in inferiority, and may cry easily, and activities. He may turn down a and agitated, and as a result of the ments and perceived mistakes, that devices cause damage to our to 30in – roughly arm’s length) some of them hide their tears con- suggestion to participate in things disorder that he suff ers, he may feel guilt, and assume they are „ The author is a consultant in Pub- eyes often centres on their “blue from your eyes. The screen should servatively. Children with depres- he used to constantly enjoy or explode with anger or become useless. These depressed children lic Relations and Personality Types. light”. In fact, tech tends to emit be tilted away from you at a sion often respond, walk, and speak complain of boredom. moody. A depressed child may may either cause physical harm to Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill less blue light than the sun – and 10-20-degree angle with the top there is no evidence to suggest it is roughly level with your eyes. The harmful. (By the same token, sup- monitor should also be positioned port for “night mode” dimmers is so as to minimise distracting re- inconclusive.) fl ections and any document hold- Rather than damaging our vi- ers should be placed close to the Unblocking blessings sion, it is the eff ect of the light screen so that your gaze can move from screens on our circadian between the two without needing rhythm – and the content they to refocus. choose compliments over com- display stimulating our brains – With phones and tablets, plaints, praising others and giving that might disrupt our sleep and Hardiman-McCartney’s advice is thanks for the beautiful things in otherwise contribute to the sense to hold them on your lap with your my life, my vibration changes. I am that tech is detrimental to our elbows at roughly 90 degrees, like happier. I believe I can make a dif- wellbeing, Hardiman-McCartney you are reading a book. “There’s a ference. What we praise increases. says. temptation to lie down on the bed Want a bigger house? Praise the The best course of action is or sofa and hold it above your head one you have now. obvious: “Don’t use a device for – and that’s terrible for your eyes.” If you feel like your blessings may- an hour before you want to go to That is because it is less labour- be blocked, a good place to start bed,” he says. But that “common- intensive for our eye muscles to is to identify your distractions and sense, really boring advice” does look slightly down than it is to look By Shefa Ali source of your emotional drain. not stop us from trying to solve a straight ahead. Once you’ve identified the source, tech problem with more tech. In If we are sitting in front of a be it a job, a person, or emotion; 2015 the Advertising Standards screen for long periods, Hardi- Have you ever thought that it may in prayer ask if this is something Authority banned an advertise- man-McCartney says, most of be possible that you are respon- that can be removed, or if this is ment by Boots Opticians for false- us don’t look away at all. “You’re sible for blocking your own bless- something that can be addressed ly claiming that “a certain kind of staring 40, 45cm away for long ings? Have you been working or and healed. blue light … can cause your retinal periods of time, and that’s just praying for something that always I use a beautiful prayer that I cells to deteriorate over time” to unnatural. Our eyes aren’t set up seems out of arms reach? would like to share with you; I ask market glasses that were said to to do that.” He advocates follow- Blessings blockage can come from God to clear anyway any old anger, “block” blue light. “Our advice is, ing the 20-20-20 rule: looking at emotional, spiritual and physi- pain, resentment, judgments, bit- save your money,” says Hardiman- something 20ft (six metres) away cal issues that prevent you from terness, or unforgiveness, from my McCartney. for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes receiving blessings from coming heart, mind, body and emotions. I The fact that such spectacles – “just to give your eyes a break”. upon you. now full release to you, anything exist (and are heavily marketed – He suggests setting a timer to There are many factors that can that may have been blocking me often, tellingly, from territories remind you to do so three times block blessings, I believe complain- and thank you for clearing me of outside the ASA’s purview) speaks an hour. His other tip is striking ing is one of the biggest ones. all toxicity. Please do try it and let to our deep-seated anxiety and in its simplicity: make the text Some people are remarkably good me know how it works for you. ambivalence about our reliance on larger. “Blow things up to 125%, at knowing not only what’s wrong, tech. This has been exacerbated by 150% – it’s much more effi cient but also whom to tell about it, and to anyone who will listen. What a world, my home or the job I go to, My world will shrink to meet my „ The author is a consultant and the pandemic – so it is no surprise on your eyes.” Adjust the bright- how. waste of precious energy! If I get then that is how I will see it — and little words. coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ people might believe their vision ness, too. “These small changes But most of us moan and complain up every morning and cuss the I’ll suff er the consequences of lack. But if I get up every morning and shefa, Website: missshefa.com to be at greater risk too. can make a world of diff erence.” Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 9 REGION Oman marks 50th National Day

ONA „ Celebrating renewed renaissance and setting further milestones It is worth noting that Omani n November 18, the Sul- foreign policy principles are de- tanate of Oman marked rived from the basics of Oman’s Oits 50th National Day an- centuries-old civilisation and niversary. original values of Omani society With fi rm resolve, Omani that indicate a sincere desire to citizens continue to make more promote humanity and modera- achievements under the wise tion. leadership of Sultan Haitham As a result, the Sultanate is bin Tariq, who vowed to upgrade widely accepted as mediator in the march of nation building and the international arena. enhance the pace of progress, Economy and Oman striking a high note in Omani Vision 2040 people’s enthusiasm for an am- he much-awaited Oman bitious renaissance that covers Economic Vision, sched- all spheres of life. Tuled to be implemented Yet, this year’s celebration is upon the start of the 10th Five impinged by sentiments of sor- Year Plan in January 2021, meets row over the loss of Father of serious challenges, including the Omani renaissance, the late Sul- slump in international oil prices tan bin Taimour, and the global spread of corona- who sculpted this Arabian edi- Sultan Haitham bin Tariq virus (Covid-19) pandemic. fi ce from scratch, his vigilant eye These challenges prompted tion, artifi cial intelligence and industrial revolution (4IR). For organisations. not missing a fl aw in any side of and monitor investment of their ance by preventive procedures to the government to undertake advanced technologies. Atten- the same purpose, the name of Freedom of expression the monument. resources. stem the spread of the virus. stringent measures, including tion will be accorded to training Ministry of Higher Education he renewed renaissance Smooth Transition of Leader Meets People Special committee formed a Medium-Term Fiscal Balance and empowering youth to help has been changed to Ministry of led by Sultan accords im- Power: Sultan Haitham bin ultan Haitham met a to tackle economic impact Plan (2020-2024) which fea- them benefi t from opportunities Higher Education, Research and Tportance to the freedom Tariq Assumes Leadership number of tribal chiefs of Covid-19 tures many initiatives and pro- off ered by these vital sectors so Innovation. of expression guaranteed by the espite the immense ca- S(sheikhs) in Dhofar Gover- n view of the heavy toll on grammes aimed at establishing that they could establish the core The Sultanate’s modern ren- Basic Law of the State’s Article lamity that befell Oman, norate in the Wilayat of the global economy from solid foundations for fi nancial component of a smart national aissance is infl uenced by the (29). Dthe Arab world and the last September. Icoronavirus (Covid-19) pan- sustainability, reducing general economy. Our government will memorable quote of the late The article provides that the Islamic nation upon the death of An aura of dialogue prevailed demic and its repercussions debt, upgrading the effi ciency of follow up the progress made in Sultan who said, “We will edu- law secures to the individuals of the late Sultan, January 11, 2020 in the meeting in a reminis- that refl ected in the situation in government spending, enhanc- these domains step by step.” cate our sons and daughters even society the freedom of expres- was a virtually unforgettable day cent of the late Sultan’s meet- the Sultanate, Sultan Haitham ing the State’s fi nancial reserves, The schema of laws and in- under the shade of a tree” (way sion either through speaking, in the Omani history. the-people tradition. gave orders to form an eco- improving revenues from the in- centives related to investment back in the 1970s). Since then, writing or other means within On this day, Omanis depicted Sultan Haitham expressed his nomic committee, an off shoot vestment of the government (to helped furnish an attractive cli- the march of education has gone the boundaries of the law. a unique national saga of loyalty keenness to meet citizens, study of the Supreme Covid-19 Con- help the country deal with any mate for investments from home a long way and, today, educa- This has been reaffi rmed by and devotion when the Sultanate their needs and listen to their trol Committee, to deal with the challenges) and, thus, setting and abroad. These include the tional establishments are set up Sultan, who said that the State is surprised the whole world with a proposals for the development economic impact of Covid-19 on economic growth upright. Foreign Capital Investment Law. on each mountain and plain in founded on grounds of freedom smooth transition of power. of their respective wilayats and the domestic front. The government of the Sul- The government capitalises Oman. of speech, justice and equality In gratitude and tribute to their views on how to enhance Accordingly, a number of de- tanate, represented by the Min- on investment in Omani ports, The recent Royal directives to of opportunities where people’s the late Sultan, the Royal Fam- the role of government depart- cisions were taken and resulted istry of Finance, also cut down particularly the Port of Sohar set up six priority schools in the dignity, rights and liberties are ily endorsed, with unwavering ments and their services within in the Government off ering budgets of government units and the Port of Salalah, in addi- forthcoming stage to the tune of preserved. certitude, the successor chosen the country’s comprehensive packages and incentives to pri- by 5%, downsizing operational tion to special economic zones RO8.85mn refl ect the attention Omani Women by the late to take the development plans. vate sector establishments and budgets and fi nancial plans of (like the Special Economic Zone accorded by Sultan to the needs ne of the bright aspects helm, given his proven wisdom Apart from the role under- fi rms. government fi rms by at least in Duqm and the Port of Duqm). of citizens. of renewed Omani ren- and farsightedness. taken by Oman Council, through The steps included the es- 10%, slashing remunerations of The tourism sector also forms It is a gesture that denotes Oaissance under the lead- To answer this wish, the De- its bicameral chambers (State tablishment of an Emergency boards of public authorities and one of the basic pillars of eco- his Royal support to education, ership of Sultan Haitham bin fence Council opened the letter Council and Majlis A’Shura), Loans Programme which off ers establishment and affi liate com- nomic diversifi cation. The gov- which is the basic requirement Tarik is the Royal attention ac- of the late Sultan who “recom- coupled with the role of mu- assistance to segments of entre- mittees by 50%, applying a 5% ernment has devised clear-cut for nation building. corded to Omani women. mended installing Haitham bin nicipal councils in promoting preneurs whose businesses were Value Added Tax by next April strategies to maximise benefi ts Environment The vital role of women in the Tarik as the Sultan of Oman due development, such face-to-face most severely stricken by the (2021). All these measures are from investment in the tourism ince the outset of its bless- nation building march has been to (what the late Sultan per- meetings represent a practi- pandemic. expected to supply the budget sector. ed renaissance, the Sultan- highly recognised. ceived as) traits that qualify him cal application of Omani Shura Foreign Policy with a sum of RO400mn. Electronic Census Sate has been implementing Sultan said, “We all have to to shoulder the responsibility.” (consultation) method — which s soon as he assumed The aggregate revenues of the ultan Haitham attaches a policy of environment protec- ensure that women get their full Omanis bade farewell to “the is a value derived from the habits power, in his fi rst nation 2020 Budget stood at RO10.7bn great importance to Elec- tion and pollution prevention. rights guaranteed by law, in- dearest and fi nest of men” (to and traditions of Omani society. Aaddress, Sultan Haitham calculated at a rate of $58 per Stronic Census of Popu- This policy comes within the cluding their right to work side quote Sultan Haitham), pleaded Royal directives to tackle reaffi rmed the permanent stand barrel, while general expendi- lation, Residences and Estab- framework of a comprehensive by side with men across all sec- mercy on his soul and recalled coronavirus pandemic of the Sultanate’s foreign policy, ture was estimated at RO13.2bn, lishments due to be held in strategy for sustainable devel- tors to serve their country and his everlasting good deeds and he Sultan’s attention to saying that the Sultanate advo- which entails estimated defi cit December 2020. opment, conservation of wildlife society.” the legacy of nation building that the people crystallised in cates peaceful of about RO2.5bn or 8% of the Sultan has urged all to co-op- and preservation of renewable Last month, Sultan conferred he left behind in 49 years during Tthe way he tackled coro- co-existence among nations, Gross Domestic Product. erate and interact positively with resources. the Order of Royal Commen- which Omani citizens were the navirus (Covid-19) pandemic good neighbourliness and non- In his speech last February, the census procedures so that it The government supported dation on a number of Omani means and mainstay of develop- since its outbreak in late 2019 in interference in the internal af- Sultan Haitham bin Tarik out- could achieve its desired objec- this approach by encouraging women. ment. most countries of the world. fairs of other countries. lined the features of the next tives. environment research, exchang- The Order was presented by Achievements of Sultan Sultan gave orders to form Sultan also stressed that he stage of development. The outcome of the e-census ing expertise, gathering infor- Honourable Lady, the Spouse ithin a short span of a Supreme Committee to fi nd would follow the footsteps of the He pointed out that the tasks will cover all aspects of develop- mation, spreading public aware- of the Sultan, at a ceremony at 10 months, Sultan ways to deal with the virus: late Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin of government fi rms will be fully mental planning. ness and instilling basic values Al Baraka Palace on October 17, WHaitham was able to monitor its spread, follow up re- Taimour. revised with a view to develop- Job Security System Law and principles that support the 2020|. make many achievements. gional and international eff orts In his speech, the Sultan ing them and to augment their To provide means of decent goals of sustainable develop- Youth Sector With insight and strong will, to limit its impact and to devise said, “We shall trace the course contribution to the economic living for Omani citizens amid ment. ultan has described he restructured the State’s Ad- solutions in accordance with as- of the late Sultan, reaffi rming system. His Majesty Sultan adverse global economic condi- The Environment Author- youth as “the inexhaust- ministrative Apparatus to keep sessment of general health re- the fundamentals of our coun- Haitham said, “We will study tions, a Job Security System Law ity undertakes the mission of Sible wealth of nations…its pace with Oman Vision 2040 sults. try’s foreign policy based on government decision-making has been promulgated by Royal issuing laws deemed necessary hands that build.” He voiced his whose salient features were The Supreme Committee, peaceful co-existence with na- with the aim of realising the su- decree. for the protection of natural re- sincere desire to listen to youth, drawn out by all segments of so- headed by Sayyid Hamoud bin tions, good neighbourliness, preme national interests of the Sultan donated RO10mn as a serves, marine ecosystems and explore their interests, address ciety in a manner that responds Faisal al-Busaidi, Minister of non-interference in the inter- country. We will accord this as- personal contribution towards biological diversity. their concerns and achieve their to the Sultan’s aspirations. Interior, has been on an ongo- nal aff airs of others, respect pect our full attention and our the foundation of the fund. He It also introduces the principle aspirations.” The celebration of Under his patronage, the par- ing session and has embarked for countries’ sovereignty and support.” Accordingly, Oman also issued directives to speed up of environmental management as Omani Youth Day on October ticipants determined the future on implementing the Royal di- international co-operation in Investment Authority restruc- the establishment of a compre- a means of raising the capacity of 26 came as reaffi rmation of the goals and economic, social and rectives of the Sultan, who pre- various spheres.” tured the boards of directors of hensive national Social Security development projects. This is in Sultanate government’s com- cultural approaches for a more sided over one of its meeting last This stance was reaffi rmed by 15 government fi rms coming un- Scheme that provides protection addition to environment inspec- mitment towards this segment verdant phase of development. March. the Sultanate’s Government last der its supervision. to low-income groups and Social tion tasks that seek to monitor of society and its determination Regulating Administrative In the meeting, Sultan pledged September in a speech delivered Also, ICT sector fi rms were Security Fund benefi ciary fami- the situation, assess any negative to provide them with all means Action the government’s full support to by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr restructured and a project for lies against expected impacts of impact to the environment and to that facilitate their march for- oyal Decree No. 75/2020 the Committee. bin Hamad al-Busaidi before the foundation of an all-round the medium-term Fiscal Balance undertake necessary action. ward as they contribute to their on the State’s Administra- He said that the government the 75th general assembly of the agricultural products marketing Plan. The Environment Authority country’s progress. Rtive Apparatus constitut- “in its mandate to protect the United Nations. company was announced. Education and also seeks to reaffi rm the prin- Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham ed a turning point in practising health of citizens and residents, Sayyid Badr said, “His Maj- The vegetable and fruit mar- Research Sector ciple of setting balance between al-Said, Minister of Culture, and regulating administrative will spare no eff ort in combat- esty the Sultan has reaffi rmed keting company will report to ultan Haitham has accorded development requirements and Sports and Youth, gave a speech action in the Sultanate. ing the pandemic and curbing its beyond any doubt that the Sul- Oman Food Investment Com- top priority to the sector of maintaining environment safety. at the event, saying, “Omani Its pursuits will shake up the spread.” tanate will continue the pru- pany. Seducation. He gave direc- The government takes keen youth have shown that they are structure by introducing new “Waqf (Endowment) Fund” dent policy set by the late His Due to the vital role of small tives to provide a supportive envi- interest in analysing impacts of highly capable of shouldering mechanisms that contribute to support health services and Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and medium enterprises (SMEs) ronment that enhances learning, projects on the environment. their national responsibility. to streamlining of procedures, “Anti-Covid-19 Support Fund” bin Taimour, founder of Oman’s in economic growth, the gov- research and innovation. This applies to all sorts of in- This confi dence stems from their maximising benefi ts from serv- to enhance the ministry’s ef- Modern Renaissance and archi- ernment of the Sultanate, rep- The aim is to enable Omani dustrial, service and infrastruc- full awareness about their cause ices and fi nalising them in the forts: tect of its foreign policy and its resented by the Ministry of citizens to contribute to the ture projects. and how to serve it by espousing shortest possible time in a man- Meanwhile, an “Endowment international relations over the Labour, worked to establish a forthcoming stage of develop- Regular programmes for mon- means of advancement, coupled ner that conforms to Oman Vi- Fund” and an “Anti-Covid-19 past 50 years.” suitable environment for SMEs. ment. itoring, detection and inspection with clear vision and fi rm resolve sion 2040. Support Fund” were established In addition, the principles of The steps included the ex- The National Strategy for Re- have been conducted right after to participate in the rejuvenating A strategic approach of Oman as prime movers of public sup- Omani foreign policy as estab- emption of SMEs from Omani- search and Development has the operation of projects, so that renaissance of Oman. They are Vision 2040 is to accord priority port to the Ministry of Health in lished in its blessed renaissance sation percentages and the al- been modernised to keep pace fi eld feedback on the environ- open to the culture of co-exist- to the development of sustain- the battle against coronavirus. espouse dialogue as a means for location of some professions to with Oman Vision 2040, nota- mental situation around the site ence, love and peace.” able governorates and cities by The Sultan himself donated solving disputes. expatriate manpower. bly the development of a cogni- could be received and negative Sultan Haitham pledged, as espousing decentralisation as a RO10mn as a personal contribu- They also support values of Also, the portal Invest-Ease tive community that is capable impacts addressed immediately. he leads the promising reign of style of governance mentioned tion to the funds. tolerance, justice, equality and has introduced many electronic of competing and converting The Environment Author- the renewed renaissance, that he in Article (2) of the above-men- The Royal gesture reaffi rms the settlement of confl icts in services to the business com- knowledge into economic reve- ity executes laws, regulations, will elevate Oman, in the coming tioned decree, which states that full collaboration between the accordance with the UN charter munity. nue. The setting up of University decision and national strategy stage, to the level of the aspira- “the State’s Administrative Ap- leader, the government and and rules of the International In this respect, the Sultan of Technology and Applied Sci- programmes and drafts envi- tions of its people in all spheres. paratus consists of central units members of the public, both Law. said, “We understand the sig- ences last August is testimony ronment protection plans in Citizens’ participation will be like ministries and councils and citizens and residents, to help This enhanced the Sultanate’s nifi cance of the Small and Me- to this approach of encourag- keeping with the Sultanate’s the main pillar of national ac- non-central units like authori- eliminate the threat of the virus. regional and international status dium Enterprise Sector and the ing research and innovation and commitment to international tion, he said, asserting his abso- ties and public establishments.” The Supreme Committee and made it a lighthouse of peace Entrepreneurship Sector, nota- benefi t from advances of artifi - environment agreements within lute confi dence in the abilities of Royal Decree No. 101/2020 tasked with tackling develop- and security. bly projects based on innova- cial intelligence and the fourth the context of basic goals for the loyal Omani people to cope on regulating governorates and ments resulting from coronavi- sustainable development. with the requirements of the age municipal aff airs will contribute rus (Covid-19) pandemic took National strategies in this fi eld and the next stage of develop- to the establishment of sustain- many decisions and espoused are updated regularly for the ment, with clear vision, extreme able development, utilisation of precautionary measures to curb management of chemicals and wisdom, steadfastness and self- resources in the most ideal man- the spread of the virus. pollutants. denial. ner, generating benefi ts from It imposed partial lockdown The authority issues licenses Sultan Haitham in a Royal ad- tourism resources and heritage in some governorates and total and environmental clearances. dress said: “Nation building is landmarks of every governorate lockdown in other governorates. It sets up national networks a public responsibility binding and managing municipal utili- It also set up Command for the analysis of air quality, upon all. No one is exempted. ties. and Control Points, banned among other tasks. All should contribute within The Governorates Aff airs night-time movement, closed The Environment Author- their capacities. Oman has been Council will facilitate co-ordi- mosques, suspended studies in ity follows up laws and national founded and its civilisation con- nation among governorates as schools and other educational plans for the management of solidated with the sacrifi ces of they practise their respective establishments, downsized coastal areas and control of de- its people, who relinquished specialisations and it will follow workforce at public and private sertifi cation. It drafts proposals everything dear for the sake of up the implementation of devel- workplaces, activated online for the establishment of nature their country’s dignity and su- opmental projects. work, suspended some commer- reserves, including temporary premacy. They exhibited exem- It will also assess their per- cial activities and imposed laws protected sites and important plary fi delity in performing their formance, evaluate their budgets and regulations to ensure abid- sites in co-operation with global national duties.” Gulf Times 10 Thursday, November 19, 2020 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA/AUSTRALASIA Iran says will meet nuclear commitments if Biden lifts sanctions

AFP President Hassan Rouhani maximise pressure on Iran and der the deal, he said. The accord advanced centrifuges at an un- Senior offi cials reportedly he has known for 30 years. Once Tehran meanwhile called President isolate it globally, Biden has off ered Tehran relief from inter- derground section of its primary “dissuaded the president from in the White House, Biden could Donald Trump’s administration proposed to off er the Islamic re- national sanctions in exchange nuclear enrichment facility at moving ahead with a military “lift all of these (sanctions) with “unruly”, and said a Biden ad- public a “credible path back to for guarantees, verifi ed by the Natanz. Under its deal with world strike,” warning him that such three executive orders,” Zarif ar- ran will “automatically” re- ministration could “bring back diplomacy”. Zarif argued that United Nations, that its nuclear powers, it is only meant to enrich an attack could escalate into a gued. If Biden’s administration turn to its nuclear commit- the atmosphere” that prevailed “America is obligated to imple- programme has no military aims. uranium with a less sophisticated broader confl ict in the last weeks does so, Iran’s return to nuclear Iments if US president-elect when the landmark nuclear deal ment Resolution 2231 as a mem- Iran, which denies it is seeking to variety of centrifuges. of his presidency. Iran argues it commitments will be “quick”, the Joe Biden lifts sanctions imposed was struck in 2015. ber of the United Nations and build a nuclear bomb, has since In its report last week the IAEA has moved away from its com- minister added. in the past two years, its foreign Decades old US-Iranian ten- its Security Council,” pointing May 2019 gradually suspended said that Iran’s stockpile of en- mitments because of the sanc- Washington’s return to the minister said yesterday. Tehran sions escalated after Trump to the UNSC resolution that en- most of its key obligations under riched uranium now stood at tions and the inability of the deal, however, could wait, Zarif again meeting its commitments unilaterally withdrew from the shrined the 2015 nuclear deal. the agreement, including limits over 12 times the limit in the 2015 other parties — Britain, China, added. “The next stage that will “can be done automatically and agreement in 2018 and reim- “If it does carry out this resolu- to the production and stockpiling accord. The New York Times re- France, Germany and Russia — to need negotiating is America’s re- needs no conditions or even ne- posed, then toughened, crippling tion and sanctions are lifted and of low-enriched uranium. ported Monday that Trump had provide it with the deal’s prom- turn... which is not a priority,” he gotiations,” Mohamed Javad Zarif sanctions that have hammered there are no obstacles to Iran’s The UN’s International Atomic last week asked top aides about ised economic benefi ts. said, adding that “the fi rst prior- said in comments published in Iran’s economy. economic activities, then Iran Energy Agency (IAEA) said yes- the possibility of striking Iran’s Zarif described Biden as a ity is America ending its law- the state-run Iran daily. While Trump has sought to will carry out” its obligations un- terday Iran had begun operating nuclear facilities. “foreign aff airs veteran” whom breaking”. Ethiopian Protest over Pompeo’s visit troops push for regional capital

Reuters are trying to advance along long Isaias Afwerki’s government, Addis Ababa main roads from the south and which has denied sending the northwest of Mekelle and troops into Tigray against the had got within around 200km rebels. Ethiopia’s army is one of thiopia predicted swift of the Tigrayan capital, a dip- Africa’s strongest, but many of- victory but northern lomat monitoring the confl ict fi cers were Tigrayan and much Erebels promised them said. The Tigrayan leaders ac- of its heavy weaponry was based “hell” yesterday in a two-week cused federal forces of targeting in Tigray, on the front line of Palestinians demonstrate near the Israeli settlement of Psagot, built on the lands of the city of Al-Bireh, against the visit by US Secretary war threatening the vast na- civilians, churches and homes. the standoff with Eritrea after a of State to the settlement, in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. tion’s unity and further desta- The government says it is only 1998-2000 war. bilising the Horn of Africa. hitting TPLF targets and has ac- The Tigrayans are also a bat- The war has killed hundreds, cused Tigrayan forces of using tle-hardened force with experi- sent 30,000 refugees into Su- civilians as human shields. ence of fi ghting against Eritrea dan, and called into question The northern state is largely and spearheading the ouster of whether Africa’s youngest lead- cut off as media are barred, a Marxist dictatorship in 1991. er can hold together Ethiopia’s most communications are down The International Committee China targets frozen food imports over virus fears myriad fractious ethnic groups. and aid workers are pulling out, of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Rebuffi ng appeals for talks, meaning Reuters could not ver- healthcare facilities in Tigray Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ify assertions from either side. and Amhara were short of sup- AFP cities in southern Fujian prov- workers “had previously both after the outbreak in Tianjin – government says its forces are Hundreds of thousands have plies and assistance for many Beijing ince said yesterday they found had contact with contaminated just over 70 miles (110km) from marching on Tigray’s capital been uprooted from homes, wounded. “We are seeing a traces of the virus in shipments cold-chain food products”. Cus- the capital Beijing – was linked to Mekelle and will soon triumph while Internet, electricity and devastating humanitarian crisis of pomfret from India and beef toms data in September showed food transport workers, sparking over the local ruling Tigray Peo- banking services have been unfold,” ICRC delegation head hinese health offi cials said from Argentina. that Chinese meat imports had fears of a second wave of virus ple’s Liberation Front (TPLF), blocked. Katia Sorin said, adding that a yesterday that two cold- In Wuhan, where Covid-19 increased by more than 70% this cases in the coming winter. which he accuses of revolt. The Some refugees have said mi- telecommunications blackout Cchain storage workers fi rst emerged in late 2019, au- year as the country’s food supply Earlier this month, China rebels say they have captured litias from Amhara, the neigh- was distressing families. in the port city of Tianjin were thorities said last week they had was disrupted by swine fever and banned visitors from countries tanks and artillery and held off bouring state, attacked them One hospital in the city of infected with Covid-19, as the detected the virus on frozen beef heavy fl ooding which destroyed including the UK and India and the off ensive despite being mas- because of ethnicity. Gondar in Amhara had treated country shifts focus to contami- from Brazil, while several other swathes of farmland. The World raised testing requirements for sively outnumbered. “Tigray is There have also been reports more than 400 people injured in nated imports after a number of cities reported positive test re- Health Organisation says “there other travellers. State media now a hell to its enemies,” they of Tigrayans losing jobs and fac- the confl ict while also handling outbreaks linked to frozen food. sults on samples from imported is currently no evidence that has also ramped up claims that said in a statement. ing discrimination elsewhere. 14 Covid-19 patients, the ICRC Workers in hazmat suits were food – including Argentinian people can catch Covid-19 from imported food could have been The TPLF says Abiy, their ex- Abiy’s government has repeat- said. Three Ethiopia Red Cross painstakingly screening food meat and Indian cuttlefi sh. Cus- food or food packaging”. to blame for the initial Wuhan military comrade and one-time edly denied an ethnic under- ambulances were attacked last shipments across a country toms inspectors across the coun- Transmission of Covid-19 outbreak, where the virus was political partner, has removed tone, saying it is pursuing crim- week. which has largely brought do- try have so far tested more than across countries on frozen food fi rst linked to a seafood market. Tigrayans from senior security inals and guaranteeing national With ramifi cations of the con- mestic infections under control 800,000 samples from refrig- is “possible but it has not been Beijing insists that the source and government posts since he unity. fl ict all over the region, Ethio- but now blames a resurgence of erated imports and suspended comprehensively studied so we of the initial outbreak remains a took offi ce in 2018 and now Abiy’s parents are from the pian peacekeepers helping curb local infections on imports. shipments from 99 overseas sup- do not know the extent of this mystery and that it may not have wants to dominate them com- Oromo and Amharic ethnic militants in removed Mass-testing campaigns have pliers, customs offi cial Bi Kexin spread”, Paul Tambyah, presi- originated in China – a claim vig- pletely. groups — the largest and second weapons from 200-300 of their been rolled out after reports told a press conference last week. dent of the Asia Pacifi c Society of orously disputed by countries in- Abiy’s government has put largest respectively. Tigrayan soldier colleagues in of coronavirus traces on im- Authorities have stepped up Clinical Microbiology and Infec- cluding the US and Australia. former offi cials — many Tig- Tigrayans represent about 5% the past week, four sources told ported food and packaging, with screening since coronavirus tion, told AFP. The foreign ministry also rayan — on trial for crimes like of the 115mn people in Africa’s Reuters. That was due to con- state TV showing workers hos- traces were found on equipment China’s foreign ministry de- fl oated a conspiracy theory ear- torture, murder and corruption, second most populous country. cerns over loyalty, not their eth- ing down food transport trucks used to process imported salmon fended the measures yesterday as lier this year that the American but denies any attempt at ethnic They dominated national nicity, the government said. with disinfectant and inspecting after a June outbreak. In Tianjin, “very reasonable and legitimate”. military may have brought the domination. “The federal gov- leadership before Abiy took the Ethiopia dispatched its for- packages of frozen salmon. Two offi cials said the two infected Screening has been ramped up virus to Wuhan last year. ernment ... denounces, in the premiership and began opening eign minister on a regional tour strongest of terms, mischarac- up the economy and a repressive this week to explain the need terisation that this operation political system that had jailed for its Tigray off ensive, which has an ethnic or other bias,” the tens of thousands of political Addis Ababa has termed “law government said. prisoners. Now 44, he won last enforcement”. Two diplomats Debretsion Gebremichael, year’s Nobel Peace Prize for a briefed on the meetings said elected Tigrayan president in pact with Eritrea. In a rare com- regional leaders told him talks South Australia plans six-day polls that Ethiopia does not rec- ment on activities of a laureate, would be needed to stop the ognise, told Reuters by text that the Nobel committee in Oslo ex- security and humanitarian cri- his forces had fallen back but pressed deep concern this week sis spilling over more borders if denied government allegations and urged peaceful resolution of fi ghting persisted. they destroyed bridges and a the Tigray confl ict. Trying to tighten its squeeze, lockdown after virus outbreak road leading to the capital. The TPLF has also fi red rock- Ethiopia issued arrest warrants “We have shifted our defence ets into neighbouring Eritrea, for 76 senior military offi cers on line and as a result they get into escalating the war beyond na- treason charges for their links to Reuters authorities said. The South some towns of South Tigray,” he tional borders. It has a long- Tigrayan leaders, state-affi liat- Sydney Australian government did not added. Ethiopian federal forces standing enmity with President ed Fana TV said. immediately respond to ques- tions from Reuters about the outh Australia yesterday specific strain yesterday. declared a six-day lock- Peter Collignon, an infec- Sdown to stamp out what tious diseases physician and Thai protests the state premier described as microbiologist at Canberra a highly contagious outbreak of Hospital, said given the virus the coronavirus disease that of- was brought in from an overseas ficials linked to a returned trav- traveller, it would not be a new eller from the UK. strain. Most businesses will close “It may be different to what except for some food outlets, has been prevalent in Australia and people will be largely con- but it isn’t any more deadly or fined to their homes, as the contagious,” said Collignon. state tries to avoid a more se- The lockdown, taking effect vere breakout like the one that People queue at a supermarket after the South Australian state from midnight yesterday, will all but shuttered neighbouring government announced a six-day lockdown because of the Covid-19 mean people will be restricted Victoria for more than 100 days. out break in Adelaide yesterday. from going outside of their “We need this circuit breaker, homes, with only one person this community pause,” South cluster started to emerge at the limited symptoms”. Authori- per household allowed to leave Australian Premier Steven Mar- weekend, representing the first ties said that a hotel cleaner each day, but only for specific shall told media yesterday. serious signs of community contracted the virus from a purposes. Masks will be re- “We are going hard and we transmission in South Australia quarantined returned traveller quired in all areas outside of the are going early. Time is of the since mid-April. from the . The home. essence and we must act swiftly While the case numbers re- cleaner then spread the virus All schools, takeaway food, and decisively.” main modest, Marshall said the to her extended family in Ad- pubs, cafes and universities will The southern state, home to state needed to act quickly be- elaide, the state’s capital city. be closed, along with the con- just under 1.8mn people, re- cause the identified virus strain It was taking 24 hours or less struction industry, which has Pro-democracy protesters gather for an anti-government rally in Bangkok yesterday. ported two new cases yester- was “highly contagious with for a newly infected person to been allowed to operate during day, taking the total to 22. The short incubation period and become infectious to others, past lockdowns in Australia. Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 11 AMERICAS/BRITAIN

DECISION LEGAL WARNING CLAIM LAW AND ORDER US drops drug case against Unaccompanied minors’ 12mn jobless Americans Meghan ‘sought advice Man arrested over Mexico ex-defence minister deportation blocked to lose aid: study before writing letter to dad’ 1974 UK bombings

A federal judge yesterday granted a US A US district court judge yesterday blocked Millions of Americans who lost their jobs to the Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, sought advice A 65-year-old man was yesterday arrested in government request to drop drug charges against expulsions of unaccompanied children caught mass layoff s caused by the coronavirus pandemic from two senior members of the royal family before connection with one of Britain’s worst terror former Mexican defence minister Salvador crossing into the US, a setback for the outgoing will be cut off from government aid at the end writing a letter to her father which is at the centre attacks, the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings Cienfuegos, a move Mexico said would restore Trump administration, which said the policy was of December unless Congress acts, a study said of a privacy lawsuit against a tabloid newspaper, which killed 21 and left 182 others injured. Six trust in severely strained security co-operation aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus. yesterday. Lawmakers in March passed the $2.2tn court documents show. Meghan, the wife of Prince men were wrongly jailed for the bombings which ties. District judge Carol Bagley Amon granted the US district judge Emmet Sullivan in the district CARES Act that expanded the unemployment Harry, is suing Associated Newspapers over articles tore through the Mulberry Bush and Tavern request at a hearing in Brooklyn, New York after of Columbia ruled that the minors were likely to safety net as Covid-19 wrecked the economy, in the Mail on Sunday that included parts of the in the Town pubs, which were blamed on the Tuesday’s abrupt announcement by attorney suff er irreparable harm because they could be off ering benefits to workers not normally handwritten letter she had sent to her estranged Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). But the general William Barr and Mexico attorney general subject to sexual abuse and other violence, as eligible and extending the length of time laid-off father Thomas Markle in August 2018. She says the conviction of the so-called “Birmingham Six” in Alejandro Gertz Manero that the US case would well as face the possibility of torture and death Americans could receive benefits. But funding for publication of the letter was a misuse of private 1975 was ruled unsafe by the Court of Appeal in end. “Although these are very serious charges if summarily returned to their home countries. those programmes expires on December 26, and information and breached her copyright. In her 1991 and they were freed. No one has since been against a very significant figure, and the old adage President Donald Trump has made immigration a study from The Century Foundation estimates latest submission to London’s High Court, her legal convicted. West Midlands Police said counter- ‘a bird in the hand’ comes to mind, I have no curbs a central part of his four-year term in off ice that nearly 12mn workers will be receiving benefits team rejected the Mail’s claim that the letter was terrorism off icers and colleagues from the Police reason to doubt the sincerity of the government’s and enacted a series of sweeping immigration from the two main expanded unemployment part of a media strategy and that it had followed Service of Northern Ireland detained the man at decision,” the judge said at the hearing. restrictions during the pandemic. programmes when funding expires. guidance from two unnamed senior royals. his home in Belfast. Trump seeks partial recount in Wisconsin

Reuters ing results in the swing state of Washington Michigan. Trump yesterday falsely claimed that the number of votes resident Donald Trump’s counted in heavily Democratic re-election campaign yes- Detroit, the largest city in Mich- Pterday said it was seeking igan, had surpassed the number a partial recount of Wisconsin’s of residents. presidential election results, as “In Detroit, there are far more part of its long-shot attempt to votes than people. Nothing can reverse president-elect Joe Bi- be done to cure that giant scam. I den’s victory. win Michigan!” he tweeted. While staying out of the public City records show that 250,138 eye, the Republican Trump has votes were cast there in the pres- persisted in venting his anger on idential election. Twitter, where he made claims That is a little more than a of election fraud, some of which third of the city’s population, were unsupported by evidence which according to the US Cen- and others demonstrably untrue. sus Bureau is 670,031. Trump’s unfounded claims States face a December 8 dead- about the election having been line to certify election results in rigged are failing in courts, but time for the offi cial Electoral Col- Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks to reporters after she was re-elected House Speaker at the US Capitol in Washington yesterday. opinion polls show they have a lege vote on December 14. political benefi t, with as many Congress is scheduled to as half of Republicans believing count the Electoral College votes them, according to a Reuters/ on January 6, which is normally Ipsos poll. a formality. His campaign yesterday trans- But Trump supporters in the ferred $3mn to Wisconsin to cover senate and House of Represent- the costs of recounting votes in atives could object to the results Milwaukee and Dane counties, in a fi nal, long-shot attempt to Pelosi wins bid to lead two heavily Democratic areas, less deprive Biden of 270 electoral than the $7.9mn it would have cost votes and turn the fi nal decision for a full statewide recount. over to the House. Biden, a Democrat, won Wis- A Reuters/Ipsos poll released consin by more than 20,000 votes yesterday showed about half to lead Trump 49.5% to 48.8%. of Republicans believe Trump Trump’s refusal to concede the “rightfully won” but the elec- Democrats in House November 3 election is blocking tion was stolen from him. Sev- the smooth transition to a new enty-three percent of all voters AFP Pelosi said she was “very, very serve in the post through 2022 within the ranks for new blood gressive Democrat David Cicil- administration and complicat- polled agreed Biden won while Washington honoured” to accept the nomi- at most, a move that may have in the ideologically fractured line, 59. ing Biden’s response to the coro- 5% thought Trump won. nation for speaker and pledged cleared the way for her easy re- conference’s leadership, the top Republicans during the navirus pandemic when he takes But when asked specifi cally to take action to help “crush” the nomination yesterday. three spots went to a trio of oc- campaign painted their Demo- offi ce on January 20. whether Biden had “rightfully emocratic lawmakers Covid-19 crisis. The House Democratic cau- togenarians led by Pelosi. cratic rivals as “radical” left- In the state-by-state Elec- won,” 52% of Republicans said yesterday chose House What Congress addresses cus, in a tweet, hailed the House majority leader Steny ists who sought to defund the toral College that determines the Trump rightfully won, while DSpeaker Nancy Pelosi, next “has to be about justice in nomination of their “fearless Hoyer, 81, and 80-year-old police and embrace social- overall election winner, Biden only 29% said that Biden had 80, to lead the party into the Joe our economy, it has to be about leader.” House majority whip James ism, a message they reiterated captured 306 votes to the Re- rightfully won. Biden era and preside over their justice in our justice system,” she But tensions have simmered. Clyburn, the highest ranking Tuesday after their own House publican Trump’s 232. Election offi cials from both narrow House majority as the added. “Justice in our environ- In the November 3 elec- Black member, were also both leadership vote re-elected the He won the popular vote by parties, around the US, have said most powerful person in Con- ment, environmental justice, tion, Democrats fell well short re-elected unopposed to their top Republican lawmakers in- more than 5.8mn. there was no evidence of vote gress. justice in our healthcare.” of their stated aim to expand leadership posts. cluding minority leader Kevin To remain in offi ce, Trump tampering, and a federal review The highest-ranking woman A formal House fl oor vote for their 233-202 majority, failing The highest-ranking contest- McCarthy. would need to overturn results in drew the same conclusion. in US congressional history — the speakership occurs in Janu- to oust a single Republican in- ed race was for assistant speaker, The fi ght for America’s fu- at least three states to reach the Biden and his senior advis- and outgoing President Donald ary after the new congressional cumbent and losing at least 10 the number four party position, ture is “truly a battle between threshold of 270 electoral votes. ers have said that Trump’s defi - Trump’s chief nemesis on Capi- session begins, and shortly be- seats. and it is showcasing potential freedom and socialism,” number That would be unprecedented. ance could jeopardise eff orts to tol Hill — ran unopposed for the fore Biden takes offi ce as the Some close races were still be- members of a new generation of two Republican Steve Scalise The president is also clinging contain surging Covid-19 cases top job. 46th US president. ing counted, but when the dust Democratic leaders. said. “You saw voters across the to hope that a manual recount and inhibit vaccine distribu- She was nominated in a vir- She is widely expected to win. settles Pelosi may fi nd she is It pits congresswoman Kath- country in all kind of districts ordered by the state of Georgia tion planning in a country where tual leadership election, the fi rst Pelosi has led her caucus since leading the narrowest majority erine Clark, 57 and currently reject the socialist agenda that can erase Biden’s 14,000-vote more than 248,000 people have of its kind as the nation grapples 2003. in years. the vice chair of the Democratic Speaker Pelosi pushed for these lead there and is also challeng- died from the pandemic. with the coronavirus pandemic. Two years ago she agreed to While there have been calls caucus, against the more pro- last two years.

Green drive Johnson defends virus Covid-19 jab deliveries contracts after criticism ‘could start in December’ Reuters The success rate of the vac- Washington cine developed by US fi rm Pfi zer AFP equipment (PPE) during the and senior staff from the Na- and Germany’s BioNTech is the London pandemic. tional Health Service (NHS). highest of any candidate in late- “We were facing a very dif- “We found inadequate docu- fi zer and BioNTech could stage clinical trials so far, and fi cult situation where across the mentation in a number of cases secure emergency US and experts said it was a signifi cant ritish Prime Minister Boris world there (were) not adequate on how the risks of procuring PEuropean authorisation achievement in the race to end Johnson yesterday de- supplies of PPE.” suppliers without competition for their Covid-19 vaccine next the pandemic. Bfended his government’s However, opposition Labour had been mitigated,” its report month after fi nal trial results Pfi zer said 170 volunteers in coronavirus response, follow- MP Meg Hillier, chairwoman of said. showed it had a 95% success rate its trial involving over 43,000 ing claims of rampant cronyism the Commons Public Accounts Some contracts were awarded and no serious side eff ects, the people contracted Covid-19 but and watchdog criticism that its Committee, said the NAO re- retrospectively, after work had drugmakers said yesterday. The 162 of them had only been given awarding of lucrative supply port’s fi ndings may be just the already been carried out, and effi cacy of the shot was found a placebo, meaning the vaccine contracts lacked transparency. “tip of the iceberg”. there was “not always a clear au- to be consistent across diff erent was 95% eff ective. A probe by state auditors She called on ministers to dit trail to support key procure- ages and ethnicities — a prom- Of the 10 people who had se- found the government has failed “come clean” and publish all ment decisions”, it added. ising sign given the disease has vere Covid-19, one had received to account clearly for all of the information about the contracts The government was able to disproportionately aff ected the the vaccine. £18bn ($24bn) it has spent on they had awarded. invoke emergency powers earlier elderly and certain groups in- “A fi rst in the history of man- supplies and services linked to “By not being transparent this year to bypass normal ten- cluding Black people. kind: less than a year from the the pandemic. about when these contracts were dering rules that regulate offi cial The US Food and Drug Ad- sequence of the virus to the The report by the National awarded and what they were do- contracts. ministration could grant emer- large-scale clinical trial of a vac- Audit Offi ce (NAO) came as the ing, it lays the government open NAO chief Gareth Davies rec- gency-use approval towards the cine, moreover based on a whole ruling Conservatives also faced to these accusations,” she told ognised the government faced end of the fi rst half of December new technique,” said Enrico mounting attacks from opposi- the BBC. “exceptional circumstances” or early in the second half, BioN- Bucci, a biologist at Temple Uni- tion parties for allegedly hand- The NAO discovered that up when the pandemic took hold Tech chief executive Ugur Sahin versity in Philadelphia. “Today is ing out profi table Covid-19 to July 31, more than 8,600 con- and that it faced a struggle to se- told Reuters TV. Conditional a special day.” contracts to well-connected tracts worth £18bn in total had cure supplies of PPE in a strained approval in the European Union BioNTech’s Sahin said the US business fi gures and donors. been dished out by the govern- global marketplace. could be secured in the second emergency authorisation would “I’m very proud of what has ment, including £10.5bn with- But he said it was “essential half of December, he added. be applied for today. The FDA been achieved,” Johnson told out any competitive process. that decisions are properly doc- “If all goes well I could imagine committee tentatively plans lawmakers in response to the Ministers set up a “high pri- umented and made transparent” A charging cable is plugged into a Volvo electric vehicle that we gain approval in the second to meet on December 8-10, a criticism, adding his govern- ority lane” to favour companies if the government was to main- (EV), parked in a parking bay reserved for electric half of December and start deliv- source familiar with the situa- ment had worked hard to source recommended by their depart- tain public trust that taxpayers’ vehicles, in London yesterday. Britain will ban petrol and eries before Christmas, but really tion said, though the dates could enough personal protective ments, civil servants, other MPs money is being well spent. diesel vehicle sales from 2030. only if all goes positively,” he said. still change. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, November 19, 2020 EUROPE

CONTROVERSY POLICY LAW AND ORDER LEGAL OUTBREAK Hungary prime minister Pompeo aff irms Pole and Chinese citizen Clint Eastwood not to Sweden culls 3,200 turkeys raps EU ‘blackmail’ support for Georgia indicted for spying testify in train attack trial after bird flu on farm

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban yesterday ac- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to Polish authorities yesterday said a former secret A French court has ruled that Clint Eastwood Sweden has culled 3,200 turkeys after finding bird cused the European Union of seeking to “blackmail” reassure Georgia of Washington’s commitment service agent and a Chinese citizen who worked for cannot testify during the trial of a suspected flu, authorities said, eff ectively bringing to a halt member states that did not toe its line on immigra- to strengthening ties during a visit to the region. a telecommunications company have been charged gunman, whose attack on a high-speed train the country’s poultry exports to markets outside tion, two days after he vetoed the bloc’s multi-year Pompeo’s meetings with leaders of Georgia came a with spying for China. An indictment was submitted was thwarted by three Americans, who later the European Union for at least three months. budget and post-Covid recovery package. Hungary week after Moscow brokered a peace deal between to Warsaw District Court against the suspects, named played themselves in a movie by the US actor The slaughter follows a series of outbreaks of bird and Poland on Monday blocked the 2021-2027 budg- neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia that sees 2,000 as Piotr D. and Weijing W., a spokesman for the min- and director. The trial of Moroccan national flu in Europe in the last few weeks, with wild birds et and the recovery plan, worth a combined 1.85tn Russian peacekeepers stationed in the disputed ister co-ordinating Poland’s special services said in a Ayoub el Khazzani, who opened fire aboard a suspected to be spreading the disease. “So far we euros ($2.2tn), because access to the funds would Nagorno-Karabakh region. Anti-government demon- statement carried by state news agency PAP. “They Thalys train travelling through Northern Europe only have one infected farm in Sweden, but we don’t be conditional on respecting the rule of law. Orban, strators blocked the main street through the capital both carried out espionage activities to the detriment in August, 2015, started on Monday in Paris. know how much of the virus we have in wild fauna... whose nationalist government is under investigation Tbilisi during the visit to voice anger over recent of the interests of the Republic of Poland,” it said. Khazzani’s lawyer had asked before the trial so there is of course the risk of another farm getting for undermining the independence of Hungary’s parliamentary elections the opposition said were Weijing W’s lawyer said he and his client had not began that the court call the Hollywood actor infected,” the Swedish Board of Agriculture, said. The courts, media and non-governmental organisations, rigged. “We’ve been great friends almost 30 years on seen all the evidence and that what they had seen as a witness, claiming that the actor could disease, found in the southern Swedish region of linked his veto to his continued opposition to mass for your democracy,” Pompeo said during a meeting did not provide any grounds for filing charges. Piotr “shed some light” on the authenticity of scenes Skane, had already killed around 1,400 turkeys on the immigration into the EU. with Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. D.’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. depicted in his movie. farm before the cull began on Tuesday.

Study claiming Covid predates China outbreak sparks scepticism

Reuters study shows that tracing the Rome origin of the virus is an ongoing process that may involve many countries. n Italian study support- “China will continue working ing the case that the novel with the rest of the international Acoronavirus was circulat- community to contribute to the ing outside China earlier than global co-operation on fi ght- thought has sparked doubts ing Covid-19 and other viruses,”, among some Western scientists Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the who called for further tests. Chinese foreign ministry, told A paper published by the Italian reporters in Beijing. Cancer Institute (INT) describes Italy’s fi rst Covid-19 patient the presence of neutralising an- was detected on February 21 in tibodies to Sars-CoV-2 in blood a small town near Milan, in the taken from healthy patients in Italy northern region of Lombardy. in October last year during a lung But the Italian research- cancer screening trial. If the data ers’ fi ndings show 11.6% of 959 are correct, they would change the healthy volunteers enrolled in history of the pandemic and raise the cancer screening trial be- questions of when and where the tween September 2019 and virus emerged. March 2020 had signs of having It was fi rst identifi ed in the already encountered the Sars- central Chinese city of Wuhan in CoV-2 coronavirus, most of December. them well before February. A policeman uses spray against a demonstrator during a protest against measures imposed by the German government to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, near the But several scientists inter- A further Sars-CoV-2 anti- Brandenburg Gate in Berlin yesterday. viewed by Reuters said further bodies test was carried out by the examination was needed. University of Siena for the same “These results are worth re- research paper, called “Unex- porting, but mostly should be pected detection of Sars-CoV-2 taken as something to follow up antibodies in the pre-pandemic with further testing,” said Mark period in Italy”. It showed that Pagel, professor at the School of in six cases, the antibodies were Biological Sciences at Britain’s able to kill Sars-CoV-2. Police clash with protesters University of Reading. Four of the cases dated back “All of the patients in the study to October 2019, meaning the were asymptomatic despite most patients had become infected in being 55-65 years old and having September. been smokers. This would nor- “This number (six) is fully mally be a high-risk group for compatible with test errors and Covid-19, so it is puzzling why statistical noise. For these rea- angry at Merkel’s virus law all patients were asymptomatic.” sons, it seems to me that the evi- A co-author of the study said dence brought to support such Reuters nine offi cers were injured. the amendment with the 1933 In embarrassing images that Adolf Hitler’s government dicta- he and his colleagues were plan- an extraordinary claim is not Berlin Demonstrators, including some Enabling Act that paved the way went around the world, some torial powers. ning further investigations and solid enough,” said Enrico Bucci, far-right radicals, opposed legis- to Hitler’s Nazi dictatorship. protesters waved the far-right The comments drew outrage, called for scientists worldwide biologist adjunct professor at lation to enshrine in law powers Protesters, whistling and Reichsfl agge fl ag. with Foreign Minister Heiko to contribute. The World Health Philadelphia’s Temple Univer- erman police unleashed to impose steps such as curbs on banging saucepans, were neither Europe’s largest economy kept Maas tweeting: “Those who Organisation has said the new sity. water cannon and pepper social contact, rules on mask- keeping the required social dis- infection and death rates below make such disgraceful compari- coronavirus and Covid-19, the “Much ado about nothing,” Gspray in an eff ort to scat- wearing and shutting shops. tance nor wearing face masks. those of many of its neighbours sons mock the victims of Nation- respiratory disease it causes, Antonella Viola, professor of ter thousands of protesters angry The aim of the amendment, Some held banners with slo- during the fi rst phase of the cri- al Socialism and show they have were unknown before the Wuhan general pathology at the Univer- about a new legal framework for drawn up by Chancellor Angela gans such as “Stop the corona sis, but is now in the throes of a learned nothing from history.” outbreak was reported. sity of Padua, told Reuters. enforcing coronavirus restric- Merkel’s government, is to prevent pandemic lie” and “No to forced second wave in Europe. Merkel and leaders of the But it has said the possibility Both Italian scientists said tions passed by parliament yes- legal challenges to the measures vaccinations”. The demonstration mirrored country’s 16 states are to confer that the virus may have “silently the antibody test was in-house terday. that have so far mostly been en- Health Minister Jens Spahn similar protests seen across Eu- next Wednesday about a poten- circulated elsewhere” cannot be designed and never validated by Protesters near Berlin’s land- forceable at the state or local level. told parliament no one would be rope against restrictions oppo- tial tightening of measures in the ruled out. other researchers in a peer re- mark Brandenburg Gate threw Although most Germans ac- forced to be vaccinated and de- nents see as a violation of their run up to the Christmas holiday There have been at least view. bottles at police and set off smoke cept the latest “lockdown light” scribed the pandemic as a “once civil rights despite government period. Yesterday, the Robert 55,573,000 reported infections What was also noticeable was bombs, witnesses reported. to curb the spread of the novel in a century phenomenon”. warnings about the need to stop Koch Institute for disease control and 1,336,000 reported deaths the very high seroprevalence in Riot police detained some pro- coronavirus in a second wave, During mass marches against the spread of infections. reported 17,561 new cases over caused by Covid-19 globally the research study’s population, testers while fi ring volleys of wa- critics say the amendment en- coronavirus curbs in August, In online chatrooms, activists the last 24 hours, bringing total since the virus was fi rst detected they said, referring to the per- ter and urging crowds by loud- dangers citizens’ civil rights. protesters stormed the steps of have compared the government infections to date to 833,307. At in China. centage of people who may have speaker to disperse. The far-right Alternative for the Reichstag parliament build- measures to the Enabling Act least 13,119 people have died from China believes the Italian been exposed to the virus. Police detained 190 people and Germany (AfD) has compared ing. of 1933 which gave Nazi leader the virus so far. France ‘still far’ from Minister quits over illegal mink cull order ending partial lockdown Frederiksen has apologised Reuters Copenhagen publicly and blamed the agricul- ture ministry for the mistake. AFP If not, they fear losing out to fast-approaching holiday break. But a government investiga- Paris Internet giants such as Amazon, But offi cials are wary of tak- enmark’s Prime Minister tion published yesterday showed expected to target stuck-at- ing a “stop and go” approach to Mette Frederiksen yes- that the decision to cull all mink home shoppers. fi ghting the outbreak even if the Dterday faced opposition was taken by all top ministers. rench authorities are un- “Our fear is simple: The loss pandemic slows, since hospitals calls to resign after her agricul- It also found that prior to Fre- likely to lift a partial coro- of many of our businesses, remain packed with Covid-19 ture minister stepped down over deriksen giving the order on live Fnavirus lockdown any time both small and large, and with patients. an illegal order by the govern- TV on November 4, her offi ce soon, a government spokesman them hundreds of thousands of Health authorities on Tuesday ment to cull the country’s farmed was warned about legal issues said yesterday, even if some re- jobs across the country,” doz- reported 437 coronavirus deaths mink. with shutting down of the mink strictions may be relaxed before ens of business leaders wrote in the preceding 24 hours, and a The government is facing farming industry. Christmas. to Prime Minister Jean Castex total of 4,854 patients in inten- its biggest crisis yet during the Two weeks ago, authorities President this week. sive care. coronavirus pandemic after it drafted the military and police and top ministers discussed the The French mayors’ associa- This meant nearly 96% of in- ordered the culling of all farmed to help Denmark’s 1,100 mink crisis, including whether to ease tion AMF yesterday called for a tensive care beds available be- mink earlier this month to pre- farmers cull their 17mn mink, some restrictions from Decem- gradual reopening of stores soon, fore the crisis erupted are now vent the spread of Covid-19, one of the world’s biggest popu- ber 1 “if conditions allow it,” “to avoid a rush of clients ahead full — though the government including a new mutated strain, lations of the animals, which are spokesman Gabriel Attal said. of Christmas, when allowing has scrambled to make new ones but later admitted the order had bred for their fur. But Attal insisted: “We’re not them to resume operations will available. no legal basis. Farmers said the move would at all near ending the lockdown, be inevitable.” The number of daily new in- “I want the prime minister to end their business for good. we’re still far from it even.” But Finance Minister Bruno fections on Tuesday stood at do the same,” opposition leader The government’s drastic Declines in daily new Covid-19 Le Maire yesterday called on re- 12,587, far below the 50,000 Jakob Ellemann-Jensen of The decision came after health au- cases since a second nationwide tailers — including e-commerce to 60,000 when Macron an- Liberal Party said, referring to thorities said the mink industry lockdown began on October 30 fi rms — to postpone the Black nounced the new partial lock- the resignation of Agriculture posed a risk to public health in have sparked a chorus of calls Friday bargain extravaganza. down last month. Minister Mogens Jensen earlier the country due to widespread from business associations to let Macron himself is again ex- But Macron said the number of yesterday. outbreaks on farms, exacerbated stores open as soon as November pected to address the nation on daily cases must fall below 5,000 Patrice Reynaud, the owner of a driving school poses in his tent “I want the prime minister by the fi nd of a mutated virus 27 for the “Black Friday” sales the virus crisis next week, in before the government could during his week-long hunger-strike demanding that his training to acknowledge that when she strain, which it said could com- that kick off the holiday shop- particular on prospects for travel start signifi cantly easing the lat- centre be considered as “essential” in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, makes a mistake, it’s her respon- promise the effi cacy of future ping season. and family gatherings for the est restrictions. southwestern France. sibility,” Ellemann-Jensen said. vaccines. Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 13 INDIA

CONTROVERSY EDUCATION RELIGION PEOPLE POLITICS Twitter apologises 200,000 students shift Have low-key Christmas Former Goa governor BJP attacks Congress over Ladakh issue to govt schools in AP celebrations: Archbishop Mridula Sinha dies over Agusta scam

Twitter yesterday apologised for showing More than 200,000 students have left private The Covid-19 pandemic may impact the glitter Former governor of Goa, senior Bharatiya Janata A day after Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Ladakh as part of China. In letter to a schools in Andhra Pradesh to join government and pomp during Christmas festivities in Goa, Party leader and noted writer Mridula Sinha died launched a scathing attack on the Congress parliamentary committee, Twitter said it will schools this year, encouraged by several schemes with Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao urging local yesterday just days ahead of her 78th birthday. over the alleged involvement of some of its fix the issue of geo-tagging by the end of this introduced to promote public education. “A total parishes to hold more low-key celebrations. Sinha, who hailed from Muzaff arpur in Bihar, leaders in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper month and Ladakh would be added as a region of 42.46 lakh students have enrolled themselves “This time because of the Covid pandemic, served as Goa governor from 2014 to 2019. She scam, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader administered by India as a union territory. in government and government-aided schools this these events are going to have a diff erent was also the first woman governor of the coastal Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore continued the According to reliable sources, the micro- year, which is 2.68 lakh more than the enrolment shape, a diff erent flavour. This year such a state. As governor, Sinha was also appointed as a offensive yesterday. “Whenever it comes blogging platform sent the letter to the panel’s figure from 2019, which stood at 39.78 lakh,” said celebration will not be possible due to the brand ambassador for the central government’s to scams in defence deals, the name of the chairperson Meenakshi Lekhi and apologised for an off icial statement. “The trend can be attributed unprecedented situation. In fact the situation Swachch Bharat cleanliness mission launched Congress comes up. Be it the Jeep scam, the geo-tag error. The committee which has 20 to a plethora of schemes implemented since 2019. calls to do things just the opposite way, by by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The Tatra Truck scam, Bofors scam or the members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Jagananna Ammavodi, Nadu-Nedu and Jaganna avoiding occasions for physical convergence prime minister said Sinha “will be remembered AgustaWestland scam, all happened under Rajya Sabha, last month issued a summons to Vidya Kanuka form the base of the government’s of many,” Ferrao said in a circular issued to all for her eff orts towards public service. She the Congress rule,” Rathore said. “What is Twitter, seeking an explanation in the form of an drive to place government schools at par with their parishes in the state. “Avoid too many lights was also a proficient writer, making extensive the reason that the Congress always gets aff idavit. The issue was first brought to light by corporate counterparts,” said an off icial. As part of and decorations; the money could, instead, be contributions to the world of literature as well involved in scams while making defence national security analyst Nitin Gokhale after he these schemes, the state government is revamping channelled towards the needy. Think of moving as culture.” Sinha has written more than 40 agreements? Why is Rahul Gandhi still went live on Twitter from the Hall of Fame, a war infrastructure at government schools, distributing from external illumination to lighting the lives books in Hindi, which include biographies, short silent,” the former Olympian shooter-turned- memorial in Leh. free school kits and other things. of people!,” the circular said. stories, essays and novels. politician asked.

Hundreds to take part in Delhi races despite pollution, coronavirus surge

Reuters quality was its worst for the year, New Delhi with the concentration of deadly PM 2.5 particulate matter rising to 30 times the World Health Or- ome of the world’s leading ganization’s safe limit. long-distance runners and Yesterday, the index was in a Shundreds of others will rare “moderate” category after a take part in a half-marathon and brief spell of rain. shorter races this month in New The Indian capital is also Delhi, the organiser said yester- grappling with a surge in coro- day, despite concerns over the navirus infections this month national capital’s toxic air. fuelled by large crowds at reli- Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf gious festivals. Yehualaw, who won a bronze last Doctors slammed the holding month at the women’s World of a marathon in such a situa- Athletics half marathon cham- tion. pionships in Poland, is among “When the pollution levels are those who will run the Airtel high, when it is colder and there Delhi Half Marathon 2020 on is a Covid pandemic, I think it November 29. is totally irresponsible to hold Ethiopian pair Tsehay Geme- a marathon and give people a chu and Andamlak Belihu, the false sense of security,” said R V defending champions, will both Asokan, the honorary secretary- Police stop commuters arriving from Delhi for a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for the Covid-19 coronavirus at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border in Noida yesterday. Noida be aiming for a third successive general of the Indian Medical authorities yesterday started conducting random coronavirus tests on commuters coming from the national capital. victory in Delhi’s half marathon. Association that represents Several hundred other run- 350,000 doctors. ning enthusiasts will run at Air pollution typically wors- routes of their choosing for the ens from November, as the 10km and 5km races between weather turns colder and wind November 25 and 29, using a speed drops, allowing deadly mobile app to post race timings, pollutants to hang low in the organisers said. air. “Participation this year will “The Airtel Delhi Half Mara- Traders oppose move be from a convenient location, thon will follow the highest level wherever you are,” said a press of safety-standards, with bio- release from organiser Procam secure zones to ensure a Covid- International. free race for the elite runners,” This month, the Delhi’s air the organisers said. to close Delhi markets

IANS through goods sent to people CAIT has called Kejriwal’s visit the markets are careless concrete plan is needed to fi ght New Delhi residing in other states. decision “fl awed”, saying, “the about following the requisite the infection on a war footing, Delhi is the largest business spike in the spread of Covid-19 norms.” it said. distribution centre in the country. pandemic in Delhi is a matter Khandelwal said “the Delhi All trade bodies in Delhi are raders have slammed The traders’ body on Tues- of concern for everyone and to traders are ready to co-operate ready and eager to co-operate Delhi Chief Minister day said the state government prevent it traders have many with the government but it has with the government, it added. TArvind Kejriwal for not should have taken them into times off ered their support to to work at every level for bet- “CAIT sent a letter on No- consulting them before sending confi dence before sending the the chief minister. However, ter functioning of the markets vember 17 to Union Home Min- a proposal seeking permission proposal to the central govern- Kejriwal did not consider it ap- and making mere tall claims ister Amit Shah, Delhi Lieuten- from the central government to ment or before taking any such propriate to talk to the traders will never benefi t the people of ant Governor Anil Baijal and close markets in a bid to curb decision. even once.” Delhi.” Union Urban Development the sudden surge in coronavirus “On the issue of coronavirus, He said “closing the market is According to CAIT, there Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on cases. CAIT had sent letters to Kejri- not a solution to fi ght the spread are nearly 3,500 big and small the issue of closure of markets The Confederation of All In- wal in September, August, July, of Covid pandemic but it’s more markets and more than 4,000 in Delhi, urging them to consult dia Traders has opposed the June, April and March, off ering important to strictly follow traders’ organisations in Delhi the trader community across closing of markets in New Delhi help and support by the traders the government’s Covid safety of which nearly 2,000 are fully Delhi before taking any such People play soccer at a park near India Gate amid smoggy proposed by the Aam Aadmi and had asked for an appoint- guidelines in the markets. As far active. decision,” Khandelwal said. conditions in New Delhi yesterday. This month, the Delhi’s air Party government. ment to meet him but the chief as the traders are concerned, all The safety guidelines related “Whatever decision the quality was its worst for the year, with the concentration of deadly The national capital sees minister did not respond even of them are running their shops, to Covid-19 can be enforced central government takes the PM 2.5 particulate matter rising to 30 times the World Health trade worth Rs7bn a day, of once,” CAIT general secretary complying with the Covid safe- with the help of all the trade or- traders in Delhi will accept it,” Organization’s safe limit. which Rs5bn trade takes place Praveen Khandelwal said. ty norms. But the people who ganisations in Delhi. However, a Khandelwal added.

New home, new life UDF cries foul over arrest Police again summon of former Kerala minister Kangana and her sister IANS with their brother’s wedding Mumbai earlier this month, according IANS vated as everyone knows that the government not blacklist this to Zamindar. Kochi government is cornered not just company? Also Kunju is being “Among the charges are on allegations, but on facts. It charged because he released mo- olice have issued fresh those under Section 124-A was under my tenure that 70% of bilisation advance to the compa- summonses to Bolly- (sedition) of the Indian Pe- he Congress-led United the work on this fl yover was com- ny, which is a normal procedure Pwood actress Kangana nal Code...besides spreading Democratic Front, the pleted and 30% of the work was done by all,” Chandy added. Ranaut, her sister Rangoli communal hatred and false- Tprincipal opposition in done under this government and IUML leader and Lok Sabha Chandel and an aide for ques- hoods. The police have already Kerala, yesterday cried foul af- when they inaugurated it, they member P K Kunhalikutty said tioning them in an alleged se- recorded the statement of ter the former minister and sen- claimed it as their achievement,” the arrest was a fi ne balancing dition case, offi cials said yes- Sayyed,” Zamindar told IANS. ior legislator of the Indian Union Chandy said. act done by Chief Minister Vi- terday. A Bollywood casting direc- Muslim League (IUML), V K Eb- “This government is also re- jayan “because they think with Kangana has been asked tor and fi tness trainer, Sayyed rahim Kunju, was arrested in the sponsible as the fi rst signs of this they can cover up their nu- to appear at the Bandra po- has accused Kangana and Palarivattom fl yover collapse case. problems started when the sur- merous wrong doings.” lice station in Mumbai on Rangoli of defaming the fi lm He was arrested from a hospital faced road on top of the bridge “This is 100% political ven- November 23 and Rangoli on industry, portraying the peo- on Wednesday where he was ad- came out. It was a team of IIT detta as the Left convenor A Vi- November 24, Ravish Zamind- ple working in it in a bad light mitted a day earlier. Earlier, Vigi- Madras engineers who stud- jayaraghavan say a few days back ar, lawyer for complainant with claims of nepotism, drug lance Department offi cers raided ied the bridge and they recom- said some opposition leaders will Munawwarali Sahil A Sayyed, addiction, communal bias, and Kunju’s house. His wife informed mended a load test. But the Pi- be arrested and that’s what has said. attempting to drive a wedge them that he was in hospital, but narayi Vijayan government went happened. We knew that this was A summons has also been between artistes of diff erent unconvinced by her reply, the po- in appeal to the Supreme Court round the corner. The probe in this issued to Kangana’s aide Am- communities, calling them lice searched the house. against conducting this test and case was over months back and ruta Dutta, he added. murderers, and insulting re- Later, they went to the private went ahead for rebuilding the there are procedures for arrests and Rocky, a female dog who lost her front legs in a train This is the third time sum- ligions on social media and hospital and recorded his arrest. bridge,” Chandy said. all rules have been fl outed. This is a accident, sits inside her container at the Delhi international monses have been issued to the through public statements. Former chief minister Oom- “What’s baffl ing is the very shameless act of settling political airport before flying to London, yesterday. The street dog sisters, after they failed to ap- In his complaint, he also men Chandy under whose tenure same company which built scores,” Kunhalikutty said. that lost its front legs after being run over by a train has pear for questioning, he said. charged the sisters with seek- the construction of the contro- this bridge has been given over Kunju was the Public Works found a new home in Britain after enduring a year of therapy Their lawyer had sought ing to create a Hindu-Muslim versial fl yover started, said: “This Rs1,000 crore work in other Department minister when the and learning to walk again with prosthetic limbs. postponement of their appear- divide through objectionable is nothing but politically moti- parts of the state. Why did this fl yover was constructed. ance as the sisters were busy comments. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, November 19, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Can fi rst Covid-19 vaccines bring ‘herd immunity’?

Governments and offi cials are voicing hopes that Covid-19 vaccines could bring “herd immunity”, with some calculating that immunising just two-thirds of a population could halt the pandemic disease and help protect whole communities or nations. But the concept comes with caveats and big demands of what vaccines might be capable of preventing. Some experts say such expectations are misplaced. For a start, fi guring out what’s needed to achieve herd immunity with Covid-19 vaccines involves a range of factors, The Global South’s pandemic several of which are unknown. What is the rate of the spread of the Covid-19-causing virus? Will the fi rst vaccines deployed be able to stop transmission of the virus, or just stop people getting ill? How many people in a population will accept a vaccine? Will vaccines off er the same path to self-reliance protection to everyone? “Herd immunity is sometimes wrongly By Syed Munir Khasru richer countries focus on engineering In 2018, Rwanda banned second- of World Trade Organization provisions “Herd immunity Melbourne domestic post-pandemic recoveries. hand clothes imports with the aim by producing more generic drugs, which understood as individual The OECD estimates that external of encouraging its domestic textile face no patent-related obstacles. is sometimes protection,” said Josep private fi nance infl ows to developing industry to produce higher value- Finally, governments in the Global Jansa, an expert in health ovid-19 continues to have a economies could decrease by $700bn added garments; the US responded by South can mobilise domestic resources wrongly emergency preparedness and devastating impact on public year on year in 2020, exceeding the ending the country’s duty-free export to off set the decline in external response at the Stockholm- health and to rattle the global impact of the 2008 global fi nancial privileges. And last year, the United development fi nance – in particular understood based European Centre for Ceconomy with structural crisis by 60%. Non-resident portfolio Kingdom’s government allocated part by transforming their tax policies to Disease Prevention and shocks. The pandemic has now killed outfl ows from emerging markets of its £14bn ($18.5bn) aid budget to generate revenue from fast-growing as individual more than 1mn people, while the Inter- totalled $83.3bn in March 2020 capacity-building projects intended to digital economic activities. Currently, Control (ECDC). national Monetary Fund estimates that alone, according to the Institute of help developing countries increase their developing countries’ low levels protection” “It’s inappropriate to global GDP will shrink by 4.4% in 2020. International Finance. And the OECD international trade and attract FDI. of tax revenue as a share of GDP – think ‘I will not be aff ected But, strange as it may seem, the current thinks global foreign direct investment Today, developing countries typically between 10-20%, compared myself because there is herd immunity’. Herd immunity refers to crisis could off er developing countries (FDI) will drop by at least 30% this year, have more opportunities to become to 40% in high-income countries – community protection, not to how an individual is protected.” a path towards greater economic self- with fl ows to developing economies self-reliant. For starters, trade in hinder development by constraining The ECDC uses an estimated herd immunity threshold of reliance. likely to fall even more. Such trends developing East Asia has declined governments’ ability to invest in public This is partly because developed imply a grim outlook for Global South less sharply than in the West during goods like health, infrastructure, and 67% for its models, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel countries have in general borne the countries that historically have largely the pandemic, according to the World education. said this month that Covid-19 restrictions in Germany could brunt of the pandemic’s health eff ects relied on development aid from the Trade Organisation. A key reason for Developing countries face several be lifted if 60% to 70% of the population acquired immunity, so far. Many advanced Western Global North. this is that industries producing high hurdles on the path to self-reliance, not either via a Covid-19 vaccine or through infection. economies have experienced more But studies have shown that value-added goods usually suff er least poor governance, unfavourable World Health Organisation experts have also pointed to a Covid-19 cases and deaths relative to development aid and humanitarian more during downturns. Developing business climates, and civil confl icts. 65%-70% vaccine coverage rate as a way to reach population their populations than have developing assistance do not necessarily foster countries’ greater resilience, stemming But they also must break with the post- immunity through vaccination. countries of the Global South, despite economic empowerment. A recent from their reliance on low value-added 1945 paradigm of external development their superior health-care systems and OECD survey found that between manufacturing, is evident in Vietnam’s fi nance, which has been primarily “The idea of herd community is to protect the vulnerable,” stronger social safety nets. For example, 48% and 94% of respondents in textile and garments sector, which has driven by the Global North and shaped said Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious India’s health system ranks 112th developing countries do not believe that remained operational throughout the by its geopolitical agenda. For far too disease at the University of Edinburgh. “And the idea behind globally, while that of the United States humanitarian assistance helps them pandemic and is expected to have a long, developing countries have had to it is that if, say, 98% of a population have all been vaccinated, ranks 37th. But whereas India has so far to become economically self-reliant. swifter recovery in 2021 compared to listen to lectures from those who think there will be so little virus in the community that the 2% will be reported about 6,400 Covid-19 cases People want fi nancial autonomy, not their regional competitors. they know better. Today, developing- protected. That’s the point of it.” per million population, America’s tally prolonged assistance. Second, digitisation will play a crucial country governments must chart a is more than four times higher. The debate over the eff ectiveness role in the post-pandemic recovery by development agenda that is free from Central to the public health calculations on this concept for Some developing countries like of development aid is an old one, with signifi cantly boosting e-commerce, donor conditionality. Covid-19 is the reproduction rate, or R value, of the virus that Vietnam combated the coronavirus critics claiming that rich countries which implies a fairer competitive Every crisis contains great causes it. eff ectively by introducing strict testing, use aid as a tool to exploit developing playing fi eld for producers around the opportunities, and the Covid-19 This is a measure of how many other people an average tracing, and quarantine measures economies’ resources, and often attach world. Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector pandemic is no diff erent. It off ers infected person passes a pathogen on to in “normal”, or at a very early stage – something conditions to ensure that donors reap grew by 26% year on year by August, developing countries nothing less restriction-free, circumstances. most developed countries failed to the bulk of the export receipts. But and other South Asian countries show a than the chance to reinvent and reboot Assuming complete vaccine effi cacy, herd immunity do. Even after allowing for possible many developed countries have lost similar trend. their economies – and to shake off underreporting and data inaccuracies much of their soft power because of Third, the healthcare and the disabling legacy of external aid percentage thresholds for infectious diseases are calculated in poorer countries, the relative their shambolic pandemic responses. pharmaceuticals sectors are expected to dependency. – Project Syndicate by dividing 1 by the R value, deducting the result from 1, and performance of developed economies Even before Covid-19 struck, many thrive in the post-pandemic economy multiplying by 100. remains a paradox. developing economies had been looking as people become more aware of the O Syed Munir Khasru is Chairman of For instance, herd immunity from highly contagious measles, Moreover, development fi nancing for ways to make a sustainable shift importance of health and fi tness. Least the Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and with an estimated R value of 12 or higher, will kick in only if 92% has already started to plummet as from aid dependency to self-reliance. developed countries can take advantage Governance (IPAG). or more within a group are immune. For a seasonal fl u strain that could have an R value of 1.3, the threshold would be just 23%. “The problem is that for now we don’t know exactly how fast the virus spreads without any precautions and with the normal travel and social activities we had a year ago,” said Winfried Pickl, professor of immunology at the Medical University of Vienna. With so many countries still operating in far from normal circumstances, the assumption should be that the Covid-19 R value would be “closer to 4 than to 2”, he said, since even with semi- or full lockdown measures the R value is around 1.5. Additionally, anything less than 100% vaccine effi cacy – such as the 90% or so suggested in early data on the Pfi zer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 shots – would require a matching rise in percentage of coverage to reach herd threshold.

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Some developing countries like Vietnam combated the coronavirus eff ectively by introducing strict testing, tracing, and quarantine measures at a very early stage – © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved something most developed countries failed to do. Gulf Times Thursday, November 19, 2020 15 PAKISTAN

EVENT CONTROVERSY COMMENT INITIATIVE TRAVEL Premier to make maiden Punjab chief minister raps Policies taken to ensure Ministry launches science Karachi Circular Railway visit to Afghanistan today minister for indiscipline economic prosperity: govt diplomacy webpage to start operations today

Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Afghanistan The Punjab cabinet meeting witnessed an Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, The ministry of foreign aff airs has launched its Pakistani Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed today at the invitation of President Ashraf Ghani. “unusual scene” when Chief Minister Usman Hafeez Sheikh, yesterday said the government science diplomacy webpage as part of eff orts to Ahmad, has said that Karachi Circular Railway will Although there were reports earlier that the Buzdar snubbed School Education Minister is pursuing policies to ensure a sustainable increase its contribution to the global science start operation from today. Addressing a news premier will be visiting Afghanistan, no date had Murad Raas, telling the latter that he would no economic prosperity. Addressing a conference diplomacy landscape and create synergies conference in Islamabad yesterday, the minister earlier been announced. Both the Afghan foreign longer tolerate “indiscipline and insubordination.” via video link, Sheikh stressed that the country’s for international scientific cooperation. The said the service will be made a modern urban ministry and Pakistan’s envoy to Afghanistan, Sources said Murad earned the chief ministerial economy is on a positive trajectory regardless webpage will provide a one-stop resource to transport system and operated initially from Mansoor Ahmed Khan, confirmed that the ire after he objected to the removal of Punjab of the coronavirus pandemic. He pointed out the science, technology, innovation landscape Pipri to Karachi City station. The minister added premier will be visiting the neighbouring country school education department secretary Sara that the government has provided an economic of the country while also showcasing science that the fare has been fixed at fifty rupees per today. “Prime Minister Imran Khan visiting Kabul Aslam, “who was transferred without taking him stimulus package to support the industries and and technology products and services portfolio travel. Responding to a question, the railways today for meeting Afghan President Ashraf into confidence.” Uncharacteristically, the chief poorer segments in society. The adviser said the from relevant institutions. The portal will also minister said the elections were held in the most Ghani to discuss strengthening of bilateral ties,” minister responded in a harsh tone. “Is the issue aid package to the construction industry has facilitate a mapping and foresight exercise to transparent manner in Gilgit-Baltistan. He stressed the ambassador tweeted. The prime minister’s big enough to be raised at a cabinet meeting, accelerated economic activities in the country. identify Pakistan’s international knowledge that the election is the triumph of democracy. adviser on commerce is already in Kabul for especially when it was not on the agenda?” Sheikh said the government had taken diff icult community while acknowledging their scientific Ahmad said the PTI will form a government in the discussions on bilateral trade relations. Buzdar reportedly asked. decisions to ensure fiscal discipline. and technological achievements. region with two-third majority.

Judge protests Government against ‘rowdy’ allocates $100mn lawyers

Internews for purchase of Islamabad

Fatehjang district judge has sought the attention Aof the Chief Justice of Covid-19 vaccine Pakistan (CJP), Gulzar Ahmed, as well as the chief justice of the Lahore High Court to the har- Internews “The ministry of National process of becoming preventable assment faced by judicial offi c- Islamabad Health Services (NHS) has been disease through vaccination. ers due to the boorish and rowdy interacting and negotiating with However, Akram added that behaviour of lawyers. half a dozen multinational com- the government should en- Additional district and ses- hile a cost estimate for panies to get the vaccine at the sure that the vaccine is proven sions judge, Dr Sajida Ahmed the Covid-19 vaccine earliest,” he said. to be eff ective for the Pakistani Chaudhry, said in her letter that Wis yet to be available, In reply to a question, Hafeez population.“There is a possibil- had she been aware of the disre- Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government was very ity that a vaccine would be more spect and abuses she would face approved a $100mn allocation close to fi nalising the process for eff ective for people of one region in court by so-called lawyers, she and allowed advance payment procurement of the vaccine. and less in other areas. We are would have not wasted her life in for procurement of the vaccine at However, he added, it would also conducting phase-III trial pursuing higher education. the earliest. take a few more months to get and over 3,000 volunteers have Dr Sajida is the same judge Moreover, it has been decided the vaccine. been vaccinated,” he said. who was once posted to Bhakkar, that diff erent segments of socie- A health ministry offi cial re- Akram was of the opinion that several hundred kilometres away ty, such as senior citizens, health questing anonymity said it was healthcare workers, senior citi- from her family, for attending the practitioners and people suff er- not possible to estimate the cost zens, diabetic and heart patients maiden address to the Rawalpindi ing from chronic diseases, will of the vaccine at the moment, as should get the vaccine on a prior- Bar on March 26, 2007, of then be prioritised for the vaccine that there were no mRNA (messenger ity basis. chief justice Iftikhar Mohamed will be available in limited num- RNA) vaccines in the world. Meanwhile, parliamentary Chaudhry during the lawyers’ bers during the ongoing winter “We should (also) not forget secretary on NHS, Dr Naush- movement. season. that commercial companies are een Hamid, said a number of The judge has also dispatched “As we speak no company has manufacturing the vaccine and, companies claimed to have been copies of the letter to Law Min- announced the cost of vaccine. despite their announcement that preparing vaccines for the novel ister Dr Farogh Naseem, the pro- Moreover, not a single firm has the jab will be provided at aff ord- coronavirus. vincial law minister, Supreme received approval to sell the able rates, we should not expect “We have shortlisted two Court Bar Association president vaccine as the clinical trial data it to be available for almost free,” companies and soon advance Abdul Latif Afridi, vice chair- is limited. Although interna- he said. payment will be deposited. men and presidents of provincial tional firms Pfizer and BioN- Hafeez explained that mRNA Moreover, healthcare workers bar councils and bar associations Tech have announced that the was a new type of vaccine for and senior citizens will be pri- and senior counsel, including phase-III clinical trials of their providing acquired immunity oritised for the vaccine,” she dis- Akram Sheikh, Syed Asghar vaccines have shown above by inserting it into cells to re- closed. Hussain Shah, Aitzaz Ahsan, 90% efficacy in preventing the programme them into producing Meanwhile, the Asian Devel- Abid Hassan Minto, Syed Qalbe disease among those who have antibodies. opment Bank (ADB) has allocated Hassan, Rasheed A Razvi, Ha- not contracted the virus, they Vice chancellor of the Univer- $20.3mn for technical assistance mid Khan, Mian Raza Rabbani, are in the process of compiling sity of Health Sciences Prof Dr to its members to access the vac- Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani the data. Javed Akram said the allocation cine and establish systems to en- and Hafi z Abdul Rehman Ansari. “Once the data is completed of funds was a positive devel- able equitable and effi cient dis- This is not the fi rst time that they will submit it to the US Food opment, as Covid-19 was in the tribution of vaccine. the attention of the CJP has been and Drugs Authority and with invited to the issue. the corresponding regulatory US ‘not to offer vaccine in first phase’ Earlier, on May 22, 2018, some authority in the European Union. judges belonging to the district “It may take another four The US yesterday excused the ministry of foreign aff airs courts of Lahore had moved a weeks,” said Dr Asad Hafeez, itself from providing Pakistan informed the health ministry similar complaint before former vice chancellor of the Health a Covid-19 vaccine in first of the US reply. It was stated CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, caution- Services Academy (HSA) and phase, local media claimed in a letter that the embassy ing that the entire judicial system chairman of the National Vac- citing sources. As per details, and health ministry off icials might collapse if the rowdy be- cine Committee. in its response to the Pakistani were making eff orts for the haviour of lawyers was not dis- “Companies will get the emer- mission in Washington, US availability of the vaccine, and couraged. The judges deliberately gency use or transit permission off icials said the vaccines will were constantly in contact kept the complaint in Urdu anon- for use of vaccine and after one be exported in the second with US companies. In a letter ymous, requesting the CJP to vis- year they may get full approval to phase after meeting local written on November 4, the it the courts to have a fi rst-hand sell the vaccine. However, there requirements. The mission ministry had sought permission glimpse of the pathetic condition will be no diff erence for the gen- has conveyed the response to from Prime Minister Khan to in which the judges of the lower Men wear protective masks as they ride a motorcycle amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in eral public if the vaccine is sold the federal government, while place orders for the vaccines. judiciary were functioning. Karachi. under transit or full permission. State Bank allows expats Electronic voting system to open FCVA, NRVA to be introduced: PM Internews prime objective in introducing Islamabad these reforms was to ensure fair Internews Consequently, all provisions of In terms of para 2, sub-para ii and transparent elections in the Karachi FE circular 2 of 2020 applicable (i (c)) of the above circular, au- country and to enhance the peo- to individual non-resident Paki- thorised dealers may open NRP rime Minister Imran Khan ple’s trust in the polling process. stanis shall also be applicable to Rupee Value Account (NRVA) for yesterday announced that The prime minister also an- he State Bank of Pakistan non-residents holding Pakistan non-resident Pakistanis only. It Pelectronic voting system nounced plans to introduce a (SBP) has now allowed non- Origin Card (POC). was also clarifi ed that an indi- will be introduced to ensure ut- Constitutional Amendment for Tresident Pakistanis to open Moreover, in terms of para 7, vidual non-resident, holding Pa- most transparency in the elec- Senate elections through a show Foreign Currency Value Account chapter 22 of the Foreign Ex- kistan Origin Card (POC) is also tion process. of hands instead of secret ballot- (FCVA) and NRP Rupee Value Ac- change Manual, authorised deal- eligible to open NRVA. Speaking to the media in Is- ing to end the sale and purchase count (NRVA). However, the non- ers are required to report inward Accordingly, the existing para lamabad, the prime minister said of votes. He said the constitu- resident Pakistanis must be a Pa- remittance transactions, except 2 sub-para ii (i (c)) of the above that a mechanism will also be in- tional amendment is not possible kistan Origin Card (POC) holder. for family maintenance and ex- circular has been replaced with troduced for overseas Pakistanis without a two-third majority in In its latest amendments on ports, exceeding $10,000 on the following: “NRP Rupee Value so that they, too can participate parliament and for this purpose FCVA, in terms of para 2 sub- Form ‘R’ to the SBP. Account (NRVA) for individual in the polling process to elect the government needs other para (i (a)) of the FE circular No. In this regard, the bank advised non-resident Pakistanis and non- their representatives. parties’ support as the Pakistan 2 dated August 5, 2020, the SBP that instead of asking the custom- resident, holding Pakistan Origin He said NADRA’s (National Tehreek-e-Insaf does not have stated, “a non-resident individ- er to provide the duly fi lled in Form Card (POC).” Consequently, all Database & Registration Author- the required number of votes to ual Pakistani is eligible to open a ‘R’, the bank receiving remittances provisions of FE circular 1 of 2020 ity) data will be utilised for the amend the constitution. Foreign Currency Value Account in FCVA exceeding $10,000, or applicable to non-resident Paki- electronic voting process in the Speaking about PTI’s vic- (FCVA). It is clarifi ed that an in- equivalent thereof, may digitally stanis shall also be applicable to country for which the Election tory in recent election in Gilgit- dividual non-resident, holding obtain the information, required non-residents holding Pakistan Commission of Pakistan is be- Baltistan, the prime minister Pakistan Origin Card (POC) is for fi lling Form ‘R’, from the cus- Origin Card (POC). Moreover, in ing consulted. Khan said a bill for reiterated his resolve to give pro- also eligible to open FCVA.” tomer/remitting bank, if not al- terms of para 7, chapter 22 of the these reforms will soon be intro- visional provincial status to GB Accordingly, the existing para 2 ready available in the transaction Foreign Exchange Manual, au- duced in parliament. and to fulfi ll the long desired de- sub-para (i (a)) of the above circular detail, for the purpose of reporting thorised dealers are required to The prime minister pointed mand of the people. has been replaced with the follow- of transactions to the SBP. report inward remittance trans- out that elections in Azad Kash- “We will give a detailed plan to ing: “Individual non-resident Pa- The SBP has made a number of actions, except for family main- mir and senate are approaching fulfi ll our commitment of grant- kistanis and non-residents holding amendments in FE circular No 1 tenance and exports, exceeding soon, while general polls will be ing provisional provincial status Pakistan Origin Card (POC).” dated August 5, 2020. $10,000 on Form ‘R’ to the SBP. Khan: transparency in election process held in 2023. The premier said the to GB,” Khan said. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, November 19, 2020 QATAR

Ali al-Kuwari, acting CEO of Msheireb Properties; with Fatma Hassan Fatma Hassan Alremaihi on stage Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute; Abdulla al-Mosallam, DFI Miramax CEO Bill Block with author Sophie Jordan. at the opening night ceremony. chief administrative off icer; and Fatma al-Ghanim, DFI director of Jassim al-Rumaihi (filmmaker), with Saad Bu Rashid (head of Theatrical Activities, PICTURE: Thajudheen (Supplied picture) Marketing and Communications. (Supplied picture) 2015 Qatar Film Fund juror) and Abdulla al-Mosallam. PICTURE: Thajudheen Ajyal Film Festival opens with cinematic celebration of resilience and perseverance z Ajyal 2020 off ers a unique opportunity for you to connect with peers around the world who share your passion for learning and discovery through cinema, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa says in address to youth

he fi rst-ever hybrid edi- world who share your passion for tion of the Ajyal Film learning and discovery through TFestival, presented by cinema. Our culture’s rich his- the Doha Film Institute (DFI), tory of literature, art, music and opened with a glamorous red performance serves to preserve Ola al-Fares, Jordanian carpet event at Katara – the Cul- our past and informs our unique TV presenter. Ali bin Towar, TV presenter. Qatari filmmaker Khalifa tural Village last night. identity and perspective as Arabs PICTURE: Thajudheen (Supplied picture) al-Marri. (Supplied picture) In line with government and as modern-day storytellers. Guests at the ceremony. PICTURE: Thajudheen guidelines and with the health of Now it’s your turn to shine, as national Film Festival earlier this ning fi lmmakers from across talents who call Qatar home, the all Ajyal participants as the top creative role models for the gen- from wherever they are. of thought, imagination and ex- year. the globe, Ajyal Film Festival statement adds. For up-to-date priority, the six-day event will erations of the future.” “I want to thank all our local pression in the environment of The fi lm highlights the resil- “continues to amplify powerful information and ticket reserva- be delivered with a mix of virtual Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, fes- and international participants intercultural understanding and ience and creativity of youth, voices and rouse all generations tion, one can visit www.doha- and in-person elements, DFI has tival director and chief executive for their support and trust in respect of Ajyal.” which when nurtured brings through cinema”, the statement fi lminstitute.com/festival said in a statement. offi cer of DFI, said: “In previous the unwavering spirit of Ajyal. The eighth edition of Ajyal lasting social change and in- notes. The 2020 Ajyal Film Festival’s On the occasion of the fes- years, the size of our audiences This year’s festival theme, ‘The Film Festival continues until No- spires great innovators and Expanding audience access offi cial partners include Katara – tival’s opening, HE Sheikha Al were limited to the number of Show Goes On’, aptly refl ects vember 23. problem-solvers of tomorrow. across the region via an online the Cultural Village Foundation Mayassa bint Hamad bin Kha- seats available; Ajyal 2020’s the essence of that spirit – one Delivering important mes- This year, the festival will streaming platform and excit- – Cultural Partner; Qatar Na- lifa al-Thani, Chairperson of the new hybrid format breaks these of vibrant creativity, commu- sages of humanity, the festival showcase a diverse programme ing new Drive-In Cinema in Lu- tional Tourism Council – Princi- Doha Film Institute, addressed limitations and enables audi- nity and resilience. We are very opened with ‘Sun Children’ of 22 features and 58 shorts, in- sail, Ajyal 2020 brings back the pal Partner; Novo Cinemas and the youth: “Ajyal 2020 off ers a ences from around the globe to proud to embrace youth from (Iran/2020) by Iranian director cluding 31 from the Arab World highly anticipated Made in Qatar Ooredoo – Strategic Partner; unique opportunity for you to join in cinematic celebration of all backgrounds and cultures as Majid Majidi, which made its and 30 by women directors. programme presented by Oore- Msheireb Properties, Lusail, Qa- connect with peers around the culture and creative expression they explore individual freedom debut at the 77th Venice Inter- Bringing together award-win- doo, to celebrate emerging fi lm tari Diar – Signature Sponsors. 18 Qatari directors and Qatar-based fi lmmakers foster artistic dialogue Yasser Mustafa Abdulaziz Yousif Suzannah Mirghani

“one-of-a-kind” plat- that “we have a certain descrip- important messages to the next praised DFI’s support to local form for aspiring local tion for women especially in the generation. My story spotlights fi lmmakers, saying: “We have a Afi lmmakers, the eighth Arab world, but it is the woman the topic of child labour and ex- wonderful artistic community Ajyal Film Festival, presented by who defi nes herself and makes ploitation, and I am hopeful that here in Qatar, which generates the Doha Film Institute (DFI), her own choices. With the fi lm, Ajyal’s international exposure positive competition and mutual features 16 inspiring fi lms by I wanted to challenge the image will help raise awareness.” support. Through DFI, we can 18 Qatari directors and Qatar- of women in the Middle East and Hissa G al-Mannai, direc- all grow as creatives and derive based fi lmmakers as part of the focus on their true agency.” tor of Beyond Broken Walls (Qa- inspiration from one another. 2020 Made in Qatar programme Abdulaziz Yousif, director tar/2020), about an artist’s inter- Through the fi lmmaking proc- presented by Ooredoo. of Ya Hoota (Qatar/2019), the nal struggle with self-expression, ess, I soon learned that I had to Suzannah Mirghani, director story of a curious little girl and noted that “as a fi lmmaker, I can reveal my own narrative to un- of Al-Sit (Sudan, Qatar/2020), her cousin attempting to save relate to the artist in the story and derstand the character and allow Noor al-Asswad Mohamed Noufal Obada Yousef Jarbi said her short is about female em- the moon from a gigantic whale, his creative struggle to fi nd a way him to unfold on camera.” powerment in Sudan where young said: “The fi lm is set at a time to authentically express himself.” Noor al-Asswad, director of cussed her latest fi lm No Words myself, amidst the pandemic, gramme at Ajyal 2020 celebrates village women often become the when kids still had personal re- On her artful coming-of-age Under the Lemon Tree (Qatar, (, Qatar, UK/2020), which posed a new challenge, particu- the exciting state of fi lmmaking head of the household once their lationships and communica- story Under Her Skin (Qatar, Palestine/2020), touched on the was remotely shot in the heavily larly fi lming in a place where in Qatar with a thrilling short husband dies, creating a surpris- tions without mobile phones to France, /2020), Mer- relationship between the main contested city of Taiz in Yemen. militia would rather have people narratives, animations and ing culture of matriarchy. showcase the benefi ts of reduced iem Mesraoua said: “When you actress and the character: “I She commented: “By telling our hold weapons than cameras. In documentaries that captivate Obada Yousef Jarbi, direc- screen time.” recreate a very personal story wanted to cast someone who not stories from our own perspec- many ways, the fi lmmaking ex- audiences of all ages and deliver tor of Woman of Steel (Jordan, Speaking on the value of short through fi lm, it is important to only understands the Palestinian tives, we serve our communi- perience and the audience per- enduring messages of hope and Qatar/2020), about a tireless fi lms, Mohamed Noufal, director fi nd a balance between the per- history but also truly believes in ties and depict the reality of our spective – observing without perseverance. mother who takes to the streets of Shringar (Qatar/2020), said: sonal and fi ctionalising it to gain our right of return. Her authen- home-country – not the image being able to act – refl ects the For up-to-date information collecting and selling scrap “Children often cannot digest relevance for a wider audience.” ticity, nostalgia and real-life the media creates. Shooting the realities for the people on the and ticket reservation, one can metal as a means of provid- long feature fi lms, so shorts are a Yasser Mustafa, director of memories came alive in the fi lm.” fi lm from a fi sheye perspective ground.” visit www.dohafi lminstitute. ing for her family, emphasised perfect medium to communicate Stranger (Qatar, France/2020), Mariam al-Dhubhan dis- without being in the country The Made in Qatar pro- com/festival

MoPH move on Vaccine, health measures Screening of hand luggage Covid vaccine will end Covid pandemic made easier, safer at HIA

proves right From Page 1 litical considerations will dictate the deci- From Page 1 sions about the regulatory components of Discussing the reasons why the Cov- the vaccine trial.” HIA, in partnership with Smiths Detection, From Page 1 id-19 pandemic has reached current pro- Dr Fauci also addressed racial disparities also intends to remove screening operators portions in the US, Dr Fauci said: “The US in health. “It’s a very unfortunate situa- from the new lanes to provide more effi cient “However, the fi ndings are the interim results of the is a very large country, and heterogeneous tion not only with Covid-19 but with other handling of images and to allow the screeners companies’ clinical trials and further results of the on- in so many ways; demographically, geo- diseases. African Americans are about 13% to sit in a more suitable environment to inter- going clinical trials will be available in due course,” Dr al- graphically, but particularly in the level of of the US population but account for over pret images without the distractions of a busy Khal added. Moderna’s announcement that its vaccine is infection that we have in diff erent places. 40-45% of new cases. This population is checkpoint, further enhancing security and 95% eff ective follows interim analysis of the data from a It’s a federalist society where an awful lot also doubly hit. The jobs they do as a broad safety. clinical trial involving 30,000 people in the US. of responsibility can and is given to the demographic group puts them on the front Screening operators will be also supported Half of the study participants were given two doses states. What we had was not a uniform ap- line of interacting with people, so they have with the newest technological development of the vaccine, four weeks apart, and half of the partici- proach when we had the shutdown. a greater chance to get infected to begin of AI-based threat object detection software pants received placebo injections. “When we decided to open up the with. It is also clear that African Americans called ‘iCMORE’ that provides aid by detect- also elevated with fully autonomous disinfect- The preliminary analysis is based on the fi rst 95 study economy, some states did it in a way that have a disparately larger percentage of the ing sharp objects or other possibly dangerous ant robots and advanced thermal screening participants to develop Covid-19 symptoms. was not appropriate … jumping over stage underlying conditions that lead to a serious items. helmets. From these, only fi ve cases were in people who re- one or disregarding it completely,” he said. outcome, diabetes, hypertension, cardio- With passenger-centricity at the heart of its Hamad International Airport’s success in its ceived the vaccine, while 90 cases were in those given “We have done well in some respects, but vascular disease, obesity.” digital transformation, Hamad International digital transformation has allowed the airport the placebo. it is patchy and not uniformly well as a Commenting on ‘long Covid’, he said: Airport has optimised various airport opera- to consistently set new benchmarks for quality “Never before has so much eff ort and resources have country… I think the lesson for countries “We’re starting to see emerging informa- tions with smart solutions to cope with the excellence and delivery in the industry. been put into the development of a vaccine. This invest- like the UK is to try and have a unifi ed ap- tion. That’s why we need to take this dis- disruptions caused by Covid-19. Earlier this In 2020, HIA was ranked the “Third Best ment is now starting to pay off and we have seen very proach that’s centrally mandated.” ease with a degree of humility and commit year, HIA was the fi rst in the region to imple- Airport in the World”, among 550 airports promising early results from two diff erent vaccines. We Turning to the vaccine, he said: “A lot to preventing infection, through univer- ment the C2 security screening technology at worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport eagerly await further results of the trials and regulatory of things are politicised but I think people sal wearing of masks, avoiding crowds, the transfer security checkpoint, enabling se- Awards 2020, which also classifi ed it as a fi ve- approval of the vaccines and there is good reason to be across the world and in the US should re- distance, outdoor-better-than-indoor, curity personnel to detect and handle threats star airport in 2017, making it one among only optimistic that the Covid-19 vaccines on the horizon can alise that there are a lot of failsafe checks. washing hands, and doing everything we in passenger luggage without cross-contami- fi ve other airports in the world and the only enable life to return to normal sooner rather than later,” We have assurances from the FDA com- can to get a vaccine because it is not to be nation. one in the Middle East to achieve this prestig- Dr al-Khal said. missioner that science itself and not po- taken in a trivial way at all.” Safety measures at airport terminals were ious status.