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TUESDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 12008 August 17, 2021 Muharram 9, 1443 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir appoints ambassador to Rwanda King of Jordan meets FM His Highness the Amir Sheikh Chaotic scenes at Kabul Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued yesterday Amiri Decision No 35 of 2021 appointing Misfer Faisal Mubarak al-Ajab al-Shahwani as ambassador extraordinary and airport, evacuations hit plenipotentiary to Rwanda. The decision is effective from the date of its issuance, and to be published in the official gazette. (QNA) US draws flak from opponents and allies for messy pullout Pfizer submits data for 3rd dose approval Reuters Kabul Pfizer and BioNTech yesterday submitted preliminary clinical data to US health authorities as part of housands of civilians desperate their eff ort to seek authorisation to fl ee Afghanistan thronged for a third dose of their Covid-19 TKabul airport yesterday af- vaccine for all Americans. Last ter the Taliban seized the capital, week, the United States approved prompting the United States to sus- the booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech pend evacuations as it came under and Moderna vaccines for people mounting criticism at home and with weakened immune systems. FM reviews bilateral ties, regional abroad over its pullout. Pfizer and BioNTech presented the Crowds converged on the airport results of their Phase One trial that issues with Jordanian leaders seeking to escape, including some evaluated the safety and eff icacy of clinging to a US military transport a third shot. Jordanian King Abdullah II bin al- During the meeting, bilateral relations plane as it taxied on the runway. Hussein met yesterday in Amman were reviewed, and His Majesty was US troops fi red in the air to deter Quake toll hits 1,200 as with HE the Deputy Prime Minister briefed on the latest developments people trying to force their way on to Crowds have converged on Kabul airport as people seek to flee Afghanistan storm threatens Haiti and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh related to bilateral co-operation and a military fl ight evacuating US diplo- amid the Taliban’s resurgence in the country. Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. regional issues. mats and embassy staff , a US offi cial Rescuers in Haiti used heavy At the beginning of the meeting, HE Sheikh Mohamed also met with said. crackdown on freedom of speech and sending back thousands to help with equipment and their bare hands HE Sheikh Mohamed conveyed Jordanian Prime Minister Dr Bishr Five people were reported killed in women’s rights have sparked criti- the evacuation. Pages 6, 11 yesterday to hunt for survivors the greetings of His Highness the al-Khasawneh and Jordanian Deputy chaos at the airport. A witness said it cism. Hekmatyar, Karzai to meet Taliban under buildings flattened two days Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign was unclear if they had been shot or Biden, who said Afghan forces ago by a massive earthquake that Thani to the Jordanian king and His Aff airs and Expatriates Dr Ayman al- killed in a stampede. had to fi ght back against the Islam- killed over 1,200 people, while an Highness’ wishes of good health and Safadi. A US offi cial said two gunmen had ist Taliban, spoke on Afghanistan Islamic Party leader Gulbuddin approaching storm threatened happiness to His Majesty, and to the During the meetings, they reviewed been killed by US forces there. late yesterday evening after returning Hekmatyar said he is heading to more suff ering. Flash floods and government and people of Jordan bilateral co-operation relations, ways of The Taliban’s rapid conquest of Ka- from the presidential retreat at Camp Doha today to meet with the Taliban mudslides were possible as the front continued progress and prosperity. developing friendship bonds, and the bul follows US President Joe Biden’s David. delegation, accompanied by former bore down on the Caribbean nation’s For his part, the king conveyed his achievements made between the two decision to withdraw US forces after He is facing a barrage of criticism Afghan President Hamid Karzai and southwestern peninsula, which was greetings to the Amir, wishing him countries at the political and economic 20 years of war that cost billions of from opponents and allies, former head of the High Council for National hard-hit by a 7.2-magnitude quake good health and happiness, and Qatar levels, in addition to co-ordination dollars. government offi cials and even his own Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, that toppled thousands of homes continued progress, development and in regional issues, especially the The speed at which Afghan cities diplomats over his handling of the the Al Jazeera news channel early Saturday. Page 6 prosperity. Palestinian issue. Page 2 fell in just days and fear of a Taliban US exit, pulling out troops and then reported yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 QATAR

Jordanian Prime Minister Dr Jordanian PM meets FM Bishr al-Khasawneh met in Amman yesterday with HE FM stresses on joint Arab the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Af- fairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. During the meeting, they reviewed action for regional stability bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop bonds of friendship and the QNA achievements of the two Amman countries, at both the political and economic levels, as well as to determine investment E the Deputy Prime Min- priorities and co-ordinate in ister and Minister of regional issues, especially HForeign Aff airs Sheikh the Palestinian cause. During Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- the meeting, they also af- Thani met in Amman yesterday firmed the necessity to unite with Jordanian Deputy Prime joint eff orts, bring the Arab Minister and Minister of Foreign viewpoints closer, strengthen Aff airs and Expatriates Dr Ayman the mechanisms of regional al-Safadi. dialogue, and stabilise its During the meeting, they re- foundations in order to viewed bilateral relations, ways achieve security and stability of developing friendship bonds, in the region. — QNA and the achievements made be- tween the two countries at the political and economic levels, in addition to co-ordination in re- gional issues, especially the Pal- estinian issue. FM sends message to Moroccan counterpart During the meeting, it was HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Dr Ayman al-Safadi during a joint press conference in stressed the need to unify joint Amman yesterday. Morocco’s Minister of Foreign eff orts, bring Arab viewpoints Aff airs, African Co-operation closer, strengthen regional dia- basis, expressing Qatar’s appre- Mohamed said that the meeting sulting from the meetings in and Moroccan Expatriates, logue mechanisms and establish ciation for the prominent posi- touched on the latest issues fac- Doha, stressing the importance Nasser Bourita, received its bases in order to achieve se- tive role that the kingdom plays ing the region and of Arab aff airs, of the safe exit of Western diplo- yesterday a written message curity and stability in the region. in the region, and pointing to the foremost of which is the Pales- mats from Afghanistan. from HE the Deputy Prime After the meeting, HE Sheikh continuous co-ordination be- tinian issue, and other issues re- For his part, Dr Ayman al-Sa- Minister and Minister of For- Mohamed, during a joint press tween the two countries in vari- lated to common Arab security, fadi said that the meeting came eign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed conference with Dr Ayman al- ous regional and international with emphasis on the impor- as a continuation of the meet- bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Safadi, expressed his thanks for issues. tance of alleviating the suff ering ing between His Highness the pertaining to bilateral rela- the hospitality and warmth from He said that the meeting of the Palestinian people, and Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad tions and ways to support the Jordanian government and touched on the economic and emphasising that the solution al-Thani and King Abdullah II, and develop them. The mes- people, and stressed that Qa- the developmental role of Qatari in Palestine must be based on stressing that bilateral work and sage was delivered by Qatar’s tar values the relationship with investments in Jordan, praising international legitimacy and en- co-operation are continuing be- ambassador in Rabat, Fahad Jordan, and looks forward to in- the positive role and construc- forcement of international law. tween the two brotherly coun- bin Ibrahim al-Mana, during creasing opportunities for bilat- tive contribution of the Jordani- The meeting also discussed the tries. his meeting with the Moroc- eral co-operation. an brothers in Qatar, describing developments in Syria and the He also explained that the can minister. — QNA He referred to the results of them as the best representatives importance of reaching a politi- meeting reviewed regional is- His Highness the Amir Sheikh of Jordan. cal solution. sues, foremost of which is the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s He indicated the need for initi- He also pointed out the impor- Palestinian issue, besides the role visit to Jordan, and the joint atives to be based on clear foun- tance of Iraq’s stability and sup- played by Qatar to contribute to meeting with King Abdullah II. dations and sustainable future port for its government. peace in Afghanistan, thank- HE Sheikh Mohamed pointed goals that live up to the aspira- On Afghanistan, HE Sheikh ing Qatar for providing support to the commitment of the lead- tions of the Arab peoples and the Mohamed stressed that the to the United Nations Relief and ership of the two countries to goals of joint Arab action. meeting discussed the need to Works Agency for Palestine Ref- develop relations on an ongoing On the Arab issue, HE Sheikh preserve the political gains re- ugees (UNRWA).

Swedish diplomat meets Qatar’s ambassador Shura Council Qatar Charity to hold series of candidates urged events on Humanitarian Day

atar Charity (QC) is set to to communicate hold a series of events, in Qco-operation with interna- tional humanitarian organisations and academic institutions within eff ectively with and outside Qatar, to mark World Humanitarian Day on August 19. QC, in co-operation with Qatar Mohamed University, will virtually organise voters the Humanitarian Work Forum al-Yafei called 2021 on August 18 and 19, with on the potential participation from high-ranking he potential candi- personalities in and outside Qatar. dates for the upcoming candidates to The forum is considered to be TShura Council should start preparing the fi rst initiative of its kind in Qa- prepare and adopt practical tar as it contains an important ed- programmes for their election their campaign ucational and cognitive eff ort and campaigns to introduce the programmes as will be attended by an elite group of voters to their ideas and ex- specialists, experts, and guests. It pectations based on the legal early as possible will include several presentations stipulation for the Council’s to introduce them and panel discussions. The forum jurisdiction, a number of Qa- will shed light on the challenges Nations Deputy High Commis- staff to partake in the challenge by tari citizens have pointed out. to the voters but facing humanitarian organisations, sioner for Refugees, the Interna- joining The Human Race challenge Speaking to local Arabic these should be their workers and volunteers, and tional Committee of the Red Cross, on Strava App, and logging 100 daily Arrayah, they stressed seek to fi nd solutions to these chal- Unicef, Qatar Red Crescent Society, minutes of a sport activity of their that such programmes should in accordance lenges, and follow the best means International Islamic Charity Or- choice. Yesterday (August 16), QC reflect the reality and must and safest methods to deliver hu- ganisation, Direct Aid Association, launched an intensive social me- be reasonable and plausible, with the law manitarian services globally. Doha Institute for Graduate Stud- dia campaign on the challenge and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Aff airs Robert Rydberg met while responding to the an- and related It is also keen to further improve ies, Qatar Computing Research In- on climate change. It will run until with Qatar’s ambassador in Stockholm Sheikha Moza bint Nasser ticipations and demands of the sustainable funding for humani- stitute, and Refi nitiv Qatar. August 31, and QC will publish two al-Thani. During the meeting, bilateral relations were reviewed. voters. regulations tarian organisations, participation, In line with its eff orts to enhance posts each day. They further stressed that and localisation of aid; building lo- its presence in the international QC is also working on produc- young people should be among cal programmes that respond cal capacities; and exchanging ex- humanitarian system, QC is par- ing two awareness videos on World FM reviews Afghan developments with the major targets of such pro- to the views and expectations periences. The forum will focus on ticipating in #TheHumanRace Humanitarian Day and the chal- grammes as they are consid- of the people but within the partnerships in humanitarian and challenge launched by UN OCHA lenges of climate change in Arabic ministers of Algeria, Turkey and Britain ered the future of the nation designated jurisdiction of the voluntary work, the role of tech- to mark World Humanitarian Day and English. The videos will be and one of the main pillars of Council according to the law. nology in developing humanitarian 2021. The Human Race is a glo- published on QC’s social media ac- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh pushing development in the He pointed out the personal and volunteer work, and attracting bal challenge for climate action in counts, in conjunction with World Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held yesterday phone calls with country to achieve Qatar Na- and professional profile, and and training humanitarian work- solidarity with people who are cli- Humanitarian Day. Producing the Algerian Minister of Foreign Aff airs and National Community Abroad tional Vision 2030. the achievements of the can- ers. mate-vulnerable and will be used videos is a continuation of the me- Ramtane Lamamra, Turkish Minister of Foreign Aff airs Mevlut Cavusoglu Accordingly, the candidates didate, besides his experiences Among those who are expected to put pressure on policy-makers dia and awareness eff orts that QC and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development should maintain active com- and participation in serving to take part in the forum are the ahead of the UN climate summit carries out in the framework of the Aff airs Dominic Raab. The latest security and political developments in munication with the voters the country and the society Regulatory Authority for Chari- (COP26). celebration of international days Afghanistan were reviewed during the phone calls. — QNA through the effective use of the would play a vital role in the table Activities (RACA), United On this occasion, QC invites its throughout the year. various mediums, especially selection process. social media to be able to in- Similarly, he called on vot- MME holds Minamata troduce their view and ideas ers to vote only for those can- and discuss the related issues didates who can be entrusted Convention meeting with voters. with great responsibilities as Mohamed al-Yafei called designated for the Council. DHFC stores set for back-to-school season The Ministry of Municipality and for individuals and professional on the potential candidates to Ahmed al-Esseri said that Environment yesterday held the workers, in order to raise start preparing their campaign the candidates should adopt first meeting for members of the awareness about mercury and programmes as early as pos- and promote various pro- oha Festival City (DHFC) National Team for the Minamata its damages and reduce the sible to introduce them to the grammes that would fur- has announced a range Convention with the participation pollution caused by it. voters but these should be in ther push development and Dof special activities and of the concerned authorities in The Minamata Convention, which accordance with the law and progress in the country. unique off ers to celebrate the back- the state. The meeting discussed entered into force on August 16, related regulations. He also stressed that the to-school season. the obligations of Qatar after 2017, is an international treaty of He said that he hopes that candidates should maintain With schools set to open at the joining the convention and the United Nations Environment the young people should be active and continuous com- end of August, DHFC is off ering the role of each authority and Program (UNEP) which aims considered a main and ba- munication with the voters to until August 30 the latest back-to- future plans. The National at protecting humans from the sic component of these pro- discuss with them the key is- school collections and essentials at Team will list the facilities, risk of the emissions of mercury grammes and respond to their sues for the public good using a plethora of stores. Major retail- quantities and mercury waste and mercury compounds. The expectations. the various available online ers including Centrepoint, FNAC, in the country. The convention, convention was adopted and Young people have good platforms. Virgin, Giftshed, Borders, Skechers which Qatar acceded to last signed on October 10, 2013 at a awareness on the involved is- Bakhit al-Missalam said that and Athletes Co Kids will be releas- year, aims to protect human conference in Kumamoto in Japan. sues and can offer great per- young people have very high ing their latest collections of school retailers including Centrepoint, more fun. We are thankful to our health and the environment It was named after the Japanese spective for the upcoming expectations from this first- supplies, clothing. DHFC will have Daiso, Kipling, Mothercare, Pot- shoppers for trusting us with their from mercury emissions and city of Minamata, where a mercury Council to achieve the objec- ever elected Shura Council in a special installation at Centre tery Barn Kids, Marks & Spencer, shopping needs, and hope they its anthropogenic releases, poisoning disaster killed hundreds tives of Qatar National Vision the country and the candidates Court – a large yellow school bus FNAC and Skechers. “Our unique will continue to enjoy the vari- move to safe alternatives, and of people and infected more than 2030, he added. should accordingly co-ordi- boasting diff erent cabins, and promotions, along with the trendi- ety of choices we have available encourage awareness, training 200,000 others with chronic Juma al-Mohannadi asked nate with their voters on such highlighting key back to school est products on off er, are sure to for them,” DHFC general manager and prevention programmes diseases in May 1956. — QNA the candidates to adopt practi- issues. merchandise from a selection of make children’s return to school Robert Hall said. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 17, 2021 3 QATAR Closure of Afghan airspace unlikely to impact Qatar-India

Dr Alpna Mittal inaugurating the silk festival at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Gharrafa. fl ights, says expert

By Pratap John nian airspace. And from around cities. The Qatar-India route is thority said yesterday the coun- LuLu hosts Indian Silks Business Editor Bandar Abbas, aircraft enter the among the busiest in the region. try’s airspace had been “released Arabian Gulf into Doha. In the According to Phadnis, fl ights to the military” and advised air- case of fl ights from Mumbai, the from India to Europe or the US, lines to avoid its air corridors, lights to and from Qatar aircraft head out over the Arabi- however, would be aff ected be- prompting major airlines to di- and Ethnic Wear Festival may not be impacted be- an Sea, enter Oman airspace and cause of the closure of the Afghan vert fl ights in the wake of the Fcause of Indian Directo- then UAE airspace before reach- airspace. “The closure of Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. rate General of Civil Aviation’s ing the Arabain Gulf and even- airspace and resultant diversion In a notice to pilots on its web- uLu Hypermarket Qatar dia’s annual silk exports stand ously the winner of the ‘Best Ex- (DGCA) advisory to carriers us- tually Doha,” Phadnis told Gulf will add anything between 45 site, the Afghanistan Civil Avia- has launched the Indian at $265.77mn in the fi scal year porter Award’ in the category of ing Afghan airspace to look for Times yesterday. minutes and 75 minutes of fl y- tion Authority (ACAA) said any LSilks and Ethnic Wear Fes- 2020-2021, making it one of the Indian Silk Saris and Garments alternative routes. Similarly, fl ights to and from ing time from India to Europe,” transit through Kabul airspace — tival at its Al Gharrafa branch on major industries of the country by the ISEPC for the last two Afghanistan’s new rulers have Qatar to south Indian cities such Phadnis wrote in MoneyControl. which covers all Afghanistan — the sidelines of the ongoing India that employs large manpower and decades. LuLu has been continu- already shut their airspace for ci- as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Flights from India to the Mid- would be uncontrolled, meaning Utsav 2021, which celebrates In- a prominent player in the export ously exerting great eff orts to vilian aircraft. But, according to Kozhikode, Kannur, Chennai, dle East and onwards to Europe, planes would no longer be guided dia’s 75th Independence Day. market. provide and sustain the supply of prominent Indian aviation ana- Bengaluru, Mangalore, Hydera- the US and Canada will now have from the ground. Indian ambassador Dr Deepak ISEPC, a semi-government global products at the best rates. lyst Ashwini Phadnis, the closure bad as well as Goa in western In- to be re-routed over Karachi or “Kabul airspace has been re- Mittal’s wife Dr Alpna Mittal organisation that regulates the With the excellent combination of Afghanistan airspace “would dia will not be aff ected due to the Lahore in Pakistan and then to leased to the military. Advise inaugurated the festival, which export of Indian silk and its prod- of high-quality off erings and or- have no impact” on fl ights from new development vis-a-vis the Iran or the Arabian Gulf. Earlier, transit aircraft to reroute,” Reu- showcases a wide assortment of ucts, now has more than 1,800 ganised logistics system, LuLu re- Doha to Delhi and Mumbai or Afghan airspace. Besides Qatar the fl ights would fl y from India to ters said quoting ACAA. “Any pure, natural and synthetic silks exporters as its members. India’s mains a favourite shopping desti- other Indian destinations. Airways, Indian carriers such as Pakistan and then Afghanistan to transit through Kabul airspace from India including saris, ready- silk, which has a history of over nation in Qatar when it comes to a “From Delhi, aircraft fl y over Air India, Air India Express, In- continue their onwards journey, will be uncontrolled. Surround- made garments, and ethnic wear 5,000 years, is now produced in broader selection of international Bikaner and then into Karachi diGo, Go First and Vistara fl y be- Phadnis said. ing FIRs (air traffi c control re- like salwar-kameez, kurtas, and many centres in 24 states across products. airspace before entering Ira- tween Qatar and various Indian Afghanistan’s aviation au- gions) have been advised.” churidars with exciting off ers. the country, each having its own Currently, LuLu Hypermar- Indian silk has a signifi cant role speciality. As one of the fi nest ket Qatar has 14 state-of-the- to play in the export sector, and it products of India, silk is regarded art stores and a shopping mall in is considered as one of the ma- as a fabric woven into the history various strategic locations. LuLu jor categories of India’s exports of the country. Group also has a comprehensive worldwide. According to statis- Fair Exports India, one of LuLu network of export distribution tics from the Indian Silk Export Group’s export distribution cen- centres in 22 countries, including HMC pulmonary care laboratory Promotion Council (ISEPC), In- tres in India, has been continu- India, the UK, the US and Europe. granted ATS registry certifi cation

Al Jazeera wins dotCOMM Award for amad Medical Corpora- tion laboratories that commit to This is followed by submitting tion’s (HMC) Pulmonary established standards for pulmo- reports on laboratory operations HDiagnostic Care Labora- nary function testing as outlined and its commitment to ATS/ERS Free Mahmoud Hussein campaign tory has achieved the American in the joint ATS/European Res- standards, which are developed Thoracic Society (ATS) Registry piratory Society (ERS) series of in consultation with healthcare certifi cation, indicating adher- standards for pulmonary func- experts and providers across l Jazeera Media Network ence to the highest international tion testing. many countries, including test- has been recognised with standards of administering pul- Dr Ahmed al-Mohamed, ing equipment, methodology and Aa platinum prize by dot- monary function tests (PFTs). chairman of the Department of diagnostic interpretation. COMM Awards for its campaign Chronic respiratory diseases Medicine at HMC, explained the Dr Hisham Abdul Sattar, chief, to release Mahmoud Hussein, are among the most common driving force behind his team’s Pulmonary/Sleep Division at a journalist at Al Jazeera Chan- non-communicable diseases eff orts to be included in the ATS HMC said that the team worked nel. Hussein was arrested by the worldwide, imposing an im- Registry. He said: “The Depart- very hard to meet the interna- Egyptian authorities on Decem- mense worldwide health burden. ment of Medicine has been op- Dr Ahmed al-Mohamed tional standards to qualify for ber 23, 2016 and held in deten- Qatar is also seeing higher erating a PFT laboratory for 35 this registry. “It took us around tion for more than four years rates of chronic obstructive pul- years. We perform around 12,000 tories produce information that six months to get prepared for without formal charges or trial. monary disease, lung cancer, procedures a year at PFT labs has important clinical impact, the registry application and fi - The dotCOMM Awards is an asthma and other respiratory in the diff erent HMC facilities. including diagnosis and clas- nally obtain this accreditation. international competition hon- tract infections. The eff orts to However, improvements in res- sifi cation of disease severity, The inclusion of ATS registry is ouring excellence in web creativ- provide the safest, most eff ec- piratory disease diagnosis and choice of therapy, response to a symbol of quality that refl ects ity and digital communication. tive care to patients has been the management has enabled us to therapy, and disease progression. our organisation’s commitment The awards are administered impetus for HMC to enhance its introduce laboratory enhance- We believe this is a vital step to- to providing safe and high-qual- and judged by the Association of Pulmonary Diagnostic Care Lab- ments designed to deliver better ward improving and maintain- ity patient care. We are delighted Marketing and Communication oratory based on internationally patient care. I am proud of the ing high-quality testing in pul- to have been given the Approval Professionals (AMCP), a lead- global recognition of Al Jazeera’s The campaign to raise global recognised standards. team that has led this signifi cant monary function laboratories for Pulmonary Diagnostic Care ing evaluator of creative work in campaign to free Mahmoud Hus- awareness about Hussein’s case The ATS Pulmonary Func- eff ort to ensure that our labora- throughout our organisation,” Certifi cation, demonstrating the ever-evolving marketing and sein. At a time when journalists as well as co-ordinating with in- tion Laboratory Registry is an tory meets the ATS/ERS stand- added, Dr al-Mohamed. our commitment to continu- communication industry. worldwide are facing unprec- ternational media organisations. inclusion and acknowledgment ards for inclusion in their inter- A laboratory must apply to be ous compliance with the ATS/ Ramzan Alnoimi, acting ex- edented challenges and prosecu- A dedicated web page, Free Mah- programme accepting US and nationally recognised Registry.” included on the ATS Pulmonary ERS performance standards,” he ecutive director of Al Jazeera’s tion, our campaign succeeded in moud Hussein, functioned as a international pulmonary func- “Pulmonary function labora- Function Laboratory Registry. added. Global Brand and Communica- mobilising the conscience of the hub accumulating content about tions, said: “This was a compre- international community to free Hussein’s detention. hensive campaign that included Mahmoud and to raise aware- International human rights multiple international events, ness for many other journalists activists and journalists played eff ective crisis communications, languishing in prisons for merely a crucial role in the campaign and support from media freedom carrying out their work.” and stood in solidarity with Al Total Covid recoveries organisations. This award is a testament to Jazeera to demand the release of “We dedicate this award to the creativity and commitment Hussein. Mahmoud and I commend the of Al Jazeera’s International There were more than 2,500 rise to 226,158: MoPH work done and extend my grati- Communications Department entries from more than 15 coun- tude to all the divisions and dig- in its four-year campaign calling tries in this year’s dotCOMM ital platforms of the Network for the release of Hussein with Awards competition, represent- QNA that have actively contributed to the co-operation of Al Jazeera ing best practice in categories Doha the success of this campaign.” Public Liberties & Human Rights ranging from social media to Satnam Matharu, director of Centre, the Creative Directorate, social responsibility, and from Brand and Communications, Legal Aff airs, and all Al Jazeera’s public aff airs to corporate com- he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported yesterday 169 said: “We are grateful for the channels and digital platforms. munications. new confi rmed cases of Covid-19 among the community and T91 among travellers. The MoPH recorded 146 recoveries from the virus during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases recovered in Qatar to 226,158.

Vaccination data Mall of Qatar launches new drive  4,135,062 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the programme.  43,493 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the all of Qatar (MoQ) has past 24 hours. launched a new ‘Shop,  90.7% of the eligible population (12 years and over) have now re- MPlay, Win’ campaign, ceived at least one dose of the vaccine. implementing a new digital draw  78.7% of the total population have now received at least one dose style to give shoppers the chance of the vaccine. to win instant prizes of a total value of QR1mn. The fi rst-of-its- kind campaign in Qatar runs until September 11. “This campaign aligns with our Smuggling bid foiled vision to enhance our relations with the visitors and add excite- 219 face prosecution for Covid violations ment to their experience in Qatar’s favourite destination. In addition, The designated authorities referred 219 people to the prosecution we are taking the utmost precau- Shoppers at MoQ. The campaign runs until September 11. for non-compliance with the preventive and precautionary measures tionary measures to secure the in place in the country to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). safety of employees and shoppers,” ous retailers to reach this amount ter via their phones by scanning a Among them, 196 people were referred to the prosecution for not MoQ general manager Emile Sarkis to spin the wheel once for a chance QR code placed at diff erent areas wearing masks in places where they are mandatory, 23 people for said in a statement. To take part in to win an instant prize. The maxi- at the mall, then submit their re- not adhering to the safe distance. The measures are in line with the the campaign, shoppers should mum cap of receipts submis- ceipts and scan a barcode on the Cabinet decision and Decree Law No 17 of 1990 on infectious diseases, spend a minimum of QR300 at sion per day should not exceed platform via their mobiles to be The Customs Department of the Air Cargo and Private Airports and the precautionary measures in force in the country to contain the more than 400 retail outlets at the QR15,000. Terms and conditions connected with the big screens on has foiled an attempt to smuggle 181 pills of illicit drugs concealed spread of Covid-19. The authorities called on the public to adhere to the mall. The shoppers can combine apply. the platforms, to spin the wheel inside a laptop that was sent by post from an Asian country. precautionary measures in place to ensure their safety and the safety of their purchase receipts from vari- Customers can digitally regis- and win instant prizes. others. — QNA Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 ARAB WORLD

Now, Morocco battles forest fire Most Algeria forest fi res ‘under control’

ost of the deadly forest fi res that have hit northern Algeria in the past week are “under control” and no longer endanger Mresidents, the country’s emergency services said. Firefi ght- ers were still struggling on Sunday to put out 19 blazes, after over 90 people, including 33 soldiers, were killed in wildfi res since August 9. “Most of these fi res have been brought under control and don’t rep- resent a danger to residents,” said Colonel Farouk Achour, a spokes- man for the civil protection authority. The authority’s eff orts focus currently on the “protection of inhabited areas, notably El Tarf, Bejaia, Jijel and Tizi Ouzou, Achour said. More than 74 fi res had been extin- guished in the past 24 hours, he added. The government has blamed arsonists and a blistering heatwave for the dozens of blazes, but experts have also criticised authorities for failing to prepare for the annual phenomenon. Algerian police said they had arrested 36 people including three women after the lynching of a man suspected of having started one of the deadly fi res. “A preliminary enquiry... into the homicide, lynching, immolation and mutilation... of Djamel Ben Ismail... led to the arrest of 36 sus- pects including three women,” police chief Mohamed Chakour told reporters. Ben Ismail, 38, had “turned himself in of his own accord” at a police station in the hard-hit Tizi Ouzou region after hearing he was sus- pected of involvement, he said. Algeria is Africa’s biggest country by surface area, and although A charred forest area following a wildfire in the region of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco yesterday. Firefighters in northern Morocco are battling to put out two forest much of the interior is desert, the north has over 10m acres of for- blazes, an off icial said as the North African kingdom swelters in a heatwave. Firefighting planes were being used to tackle the conflagrations which had already destroyed est, which is hit every summer by fi res. In neighbouring Morocco, some 500 acres of forest. fi refi ghters worked through the night on Sunday and into Monday to bring fi res under control amid unfavourable winds. — AFP

Egypt rushes to build public housing for Four Palestinians killed in new capital staff ers

Reuters augurated 9,024 housing units in Badr City the now-completed fi rst phase. Another 4,704 units are under clashes with Israel forces construction in a second phase. ust outside a new capital in “The housing is ready. Not just AFP clashes in Jerusalem over evictions and the desert east of Cairo, the the housing, but also the infra- Jenin police raids of the Al Aqsa Mosque. Is- JEgyptian government has structure, the electricity, water, raeli airstrikes killed 260 people, including been racing to ready new homes gas, telephones, internet,” Am- fi ghters, in the blockaded enclave, while for thousands of mid-level civil mar Mandour, head of the Badr our Palestinians were killed yester- rockets and mortars from Gaza killed 13 in servants who are expected to City Development Authority, day in clashes with Israeli security Israel including a soldier. move to the city. Egypt turned to told reporters. Fforces at the Jenin refugee camp in Since the UN-mediated ceasefi re came private developers to build pric- The sprawling complex of the occupied West Bank. into eff ect, there have been numerous ier residential districts within public housing in Badr City is The Palestinian health ministry iden- clashes between Israeli forces and Pal- the grandiose new capital, which made up of uniform six-sto- tifi ed the four as Raed Abu Seif, 21, and estinians in the northern occupied West is designed for more than 6mn rey apartment blocs, with four Saleh Ammar, 19, as well as Amjad Hus- Bank, fuelled by a dispute over a wildcat Is- people to live in over 168sq km apartments on each fl oor. Many seiniyah and Nureddin Jarrar, whose ages raeli settlement. Residents of the village of beyond Cairo’s outer reaches. were draped with banners the were not immediately available. Beita have held regular protests since May The city is the most prominent height of the buildings and bear- The bodies of Abu Seif and Ammar against dozens of Israeli settlers who built of a series of mega-projects and ing the photograph of the presi- were seen at the Jenin hospital morgue, an settlement unauthorised by Israeli au- infrastructure schemes pursued dent. while Israeli forces were holding two other thorities on lands Palestinians say belong by President Abdel Fattah al-Si- “The decision to start trans- bodies. Late morning, a crowd gathered to Beita and other nearby communities. si, who has said that its opening ferring employees is sovereign for the funerals of Abu Seif and Ammar, Israeli security forces who quelled the planned for later this year would and political. The moment the whose remains were draped in Palestinian protests have killed several Palestinians mark the birth of a new republic. employees are transferred to the fl ags and carried on makeshift stretchers and left hundreds more injured. The Evia- Though government ministries new capital, we are ready,” Man- through the Jenin refugee camp. The camp tar settlement was evacuated in early July are largely complete, other ar- dour said. The government late was a hotspot during the two Palestinian but Israeli troops continue to guard the eas of the new city and transport last year began building public intifadas against Israel in 1987-1993 and The mother of Raed Abu Seif, one of four Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli site and the homes built on the land while links are still under construction. housing within the capital itself, 2000-2005. security forces earlier in the day, mourns during his funeral in the Jenin refugee camp authorities consider whether to approve Some Egyptians worry it will be said Abdul Muttalib Mamdouh, UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wen- in the north of the occupied West Bank yesterday. a permanent community. Beita residents inaccessible and unaff ordable for deputy head of the state New nesland voiced alarm over their killings. have vowed to continue their campaign them. Urban Communities Authority. “Alarmed by the incident in which 4 tion and its repercussions”. “The continu- rael and Palestinian militants in Gaza fol- until the army also leaves the outpost. The government began build- “We began with 100,000 units. If #Palestinians were killed by Israeli Se- ation of the Israeli policy will lead to an lowing a deadly 11-day battle. Israel occupied the West Bank during ing public housing in Badr City, we multiply that by four people curity Forces who reportedly came under explosion of the situation, increased ten- Hours after the Jenin incident, a rocket the 1967 Six-Day War and all Jewish set- close to the new capital’s bor- in a family, that means today we fi re during an arrest operation in Jenin,” he sions and instability,” presidential spokes- was fi red from Gaza toward Israel, which tlements there are considered illegal by ders, ahead of the arrival of the have housing for 400,000 peo- wrote on Twitter, adding that “authorities man Nabil Abu Rudeina warned in a state- intercepted it with the “Iron Dome” mis- most of the international community. Al- fi rst civil servants, offi cials told ple,” he said, adding that delivery must swiftly investigate.” The Palestinian ment. The Jenin gunfi ght was the deadliest sile system, the army said. No group most half a million people live in Israeli reporters on a tour of the site of the fi rst units would start in presidency condemned a “heinous crime” Israeli-Palestinian violence since the May claimed responsibility for the rocket, the settlements in the West Bank, alongside yesterday. On Saturday, Sisi in- December. and held Israel “responsible for the escala- 21 start of an uneasy ceasefi re between Is- fi rst since the May fi ghting sparked by 2.8mn Palestinians. Lebanon explosion: UN rushes aid to exhausted health workers

AFP and most of the rest have often been Beirut doing the same for lack of transport options. Stuck in an endless queue of cars at a Beirut petrol station, ebanon reeled yesterday Mohamed, who did not want to give from a deadly explosion that his full name, said he could see no Lburned alive people desperate light at the end of the tunnel. “We to fi ll plastic containers with fuel in need to leave Lebanon. We all need a country sinking ever deeper into to get out,” said the 30-year-old en- darkness and chaos. At least 28 peo- gineer. “God help those who stay.” ple were killed when the fuel tank, The state has declared a national which was swarmed by residents day of mourning over the Akkar clamouring to fi ll their vehicles amid blast, a move unlikely to off er much crippling shortages, blew up early solace to a population that blamed on Sunday in the northern region of those very authorities for the trag- Akkar. edy. Angry protesters on Sunday The latest tragedy to befall Leba- torched the home of the landowner non comes as the country grapples on whose plot the tragedy unfolded, with an economic crisis described accusing him of involvement in a by the World Bank as one of the Lebanon’s premier-designate Najib Mikati holding a press conference hoarding and smuggling scheme al- world’s worst since the 1850s. Near- following his meeting with the president at the presidential palace in legedly covered up by top offi cials. ly 80 people were also injured in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, yesterday. Petrol station owners have been the blast, many of them with burns accused of hoarding fuel ahead of that further overwhelmed hospitals of its value on the black market. The tears. Her husband and a brother, a an expected price hike, causing struggling to function without elec- country’s 6mn inhabitants now fear 20-year-old livestock farmer named crippling shortages and spawning tricity, medics said. the internet and drinking water will Abdul Rahman, were both caught in a ruthless black market that is en- Yesterday, foreign countries and be next to disappear. the explosion. riching a small cartel and choking UN agencies were scrambling emer- The blast in Akkar, one of the Abdul Rahman was left battling the rest of the country. A few dozen gency aid to help exhausted health most impoverished parts of the for his life. “My brother was out people protested on Sunday in front workers cope with the new infl ux of country, was a deadly direct conse- of petrol. He just needed a small of the Beirut home of Najib Mikati, serious injuries and run DNA tests quence of a vicious cycle fast turn- amount so he could go and get boxes who was recently appointed prime on the charred remains of the dead. ing Lebanon, once a regional beacon of feed for his sheep,” Iqaz told AFP. minister-designate. A health ministry offi cial told AFP of modernity, into a failed state. The “My husband too just wanted The country’s richest man is the that authorities were still sorting scenes of horror piled trauma on a petrol so he could ... provide for me third person to attempt to form a through bagfuls of remains to deter- country still coming to terms with and our daughter.” government since the aftermath mine a fi nal death count. last year’s cataclysmic Beirut port Across the country, with no more of the Beirut port blast last August Shortages of key commodities explosion that killed more than 200 than two hours a day of mains elec- since when ministers have served have accelerated in recent days, people and disfi gured the city. tricity supply, many shops and only in a caretaker capacity. After leaving much of Lebanon struggling In Tripoli’s Al Salam hospital, restaurants remain closed, unable meeting President Michel Aoun to source fuel, gas and even bread, which received the bulk of patients to source fuel for their generators. yesterday, Mikati said eff orts were with buying power pummelled by burned by the Akkar blast, 23-year- Many private and public sector em- still underway to form a new gov- the currency losing more than 90% old Iqaz Saqr could not hold back ployees have been told to stay home ernment. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 17, 2021 5 WORLD

Madagascar president expands govt cabinet Zambia’s new president after assassination bid

Reuters/AFP Antananarivo vows ‘better’ democracy

adagascar’s president AFP/Reuters was restored on Saturday follow- named a new fi nance Lusaka ing a court order. Mminister in an en- Observers viewed the election larged cabinet, days after sack- as a referendum on Lungu’s rule, ing all ministers for what he ambian President-elect which saw plummeting living said was poor performance and Hakainde Hichilema has standards and deepening repres- weeks after the reported foiling Zslammed the southern Af- sion in the country of 17mn. of a plot to kill the former coup rican country’s outgoing “brutal Legislative and local elections leader. regime” while promising a “bet- were held alongside the presi- Rindra Hasimbelo Rab- ter democracy” in his debut ad- dential ballot on Thursday. arinirinarison will become Rajoelina: sacked his cabinet dress to the nation, just hours Botswana’s President Mokg- fi nance minister, Andry Ra- on Wednesday. after winning the top job in a weetsi Masisi was one of the fi rst joelina said in a televised ad- landslide. leaders to congratulate Hich- dress late on Sunday, one of 11 Patrick Rajoelina (unrelated to Speaking shortly after his ilema. women promoted to a cabinet the head of state), who is taking predecessor Edgar Lungu con- “This is the 7th time Zambia is expanded to 32 ministers, vice- on the foreign aff airs portfolio. ceded defeat, the business ty- successfully electing a president ministers and secretaries of Sofi a Ratsiraka, daughter of coon and veteran opposition through competitive multiparty state from 25. ex-president Didier Ratsiraka leader said his camp had been Hichilema: I will be a president of elections since the historic 1991 Rabarinirinason was previ- who died in March, was ap- victims of a “brutal regime that A newspaper vendor in Lusaka is seen showing the front pages of all Zambians, of those that voted polls, providing vital lessons for ously a senior offi cial in the - fi pointed minister responsible is exiting”. Zambian dailies, declaring Hichilema’s election victory. for me and of those that did not. the region and the African con- nance ministry and before that for the crafts sector. “I will be a president of all tinent at large,” said Masisi in headed the Indian Ocean island Prosecutors said on August 2 Zambians, of those that voted for day, bringing the curtain down ... start a new wave of violence,” However, his objections gained a statement issued through the country’s public procurement that 21 more suspects, includ- me and of those that did not,” he on Lungu’s nearly six-year reign. he said. “If you want to show little traction. regional bloc, the Southern Af- commission. ing 12 military personnel, had pledged. Hichilema, 59, pledged: “We higher moral ground ... do not International election observ- rica Development Community “You were chosen because been arrested in connection After a campaign dominated will foster a better democracy ... attack them.” ers have commended the polls’ (SADC), where he is in charge of you are seen as being able to do with a plot to kill Rajoelina and by the country’s economic woes rule of law, restoring order, re- He added: “Once we restore transparent and peaceful organi- politics defence and security in- better and achieve more,” Ra- topple the government. and marred by sporadic violence, specting human rights, liberties the rule of law, we will see more sation, with a turnout of around terests of southern Africa. joelina told the new appoint- Six people, one of them a Hichilema garnered 2,810,757 and freedoms.” economic investment.” 70.9% – a huge jump from the Despite occasional episodes ees. French citizen, were arrested votes against 1,814,201 for the Wiping away tears, he said his It was Hichilema’s sixth bid for 57.7% recorded in the 2016 polls. of political violence, Zambia has Among those reappointed in July on suspicion of involve- incumbent Lungu in Thursday’s victory was the “historic mo- the top job and his third challenge However, they also criticised earned a reputation for stability. were the ministers of defence, ment in the plot after what of- election, according to nearly fi nal ment millions of Zambians have to his bitter rival Lungu, 64, after restrictions on freedom of as- Every transition of power has security and communication – fi cials said was a months-long results. been waiting for”. losing to Lungu by a wafer-thin sembly and movement during been peaceful since the former three key portfolios Rajoelina investigation. Lungu conceded defeat, say- Hundreds of supporters had 100,000-vote margin in 2016. campaigning. British colony adopted its multi- relied on especially following Madagascar, an impover- ing: “I will comply with the gathered on the dirt road lead- Thousands of supporters Security forces blocked Hich- party system in 1990. the alleged coup foiled plot to ished ex-French colony of constitutional provisions for a ing up to Hichilema’s sumptu- fl ocked onto the streets of Lusa- ilema from campaigning in sev- “Zambians have lived up to be assassinate him in July. 26mn, has a history of political peaceful transition of power. I ous residence in a leafy suburb of ka, erupting into song and dance, eral areas, including the strate- true democrats. It’s a diff erent Ten ministers from the pre- violence and instability. would therefore like to congratu- Lusaka, and they shouted “Bally, cheering and waving party fl ags. gic Copperbelt Province, citing African story,” Ringisai Chiko- vious cabinet were reinstated Rajoelina, 44, was sworn late my brother, the president- Bally” (slang for “father”) as he The celebrations continued breaches of coronavirus (Cov- homero, researcher at the Preto- in their posts. in as president in 2019 after a elect, His Excellency Mr Hakai- began to speak. into the morning. id-19) measures and a public or- ria-based Institute for Security Rajoelina also retained hotly-contested election and a nde Hichilema.” “It is with great honour, hu- At a hotel breakfast room early der act. Studies, told AFP. his previous prime minister, constitutional court challenge In a nationally-televised ad- mility, gratitude that I stand be- yesterday, a waiter had swapped Lungu deployed the military Hichilema’s prime task on 60-year-old Christian Ntsay. from his rival. dress, Lungu thanked Zambians fore you today to say change is his usual dark tie for a bright red following pre-election clashes taking offi ce will be to tackle an Rajoelina increased the size Madagascar is also suff ering for “a great opportunity to be here,” Hichilema said. one. and reinforced the army pres- economy wracked by high debt, of the cabinet by splitting up its worst drought in 40 years. your president. I will forever Recalling that he had been ar- “My vote helped swing it,” he ence in three provinces after two infl ation and unemployment. some ministries including the The number of acutely mal- cherish and appreciate the au- rested 15 times, Hichilema said: told AFP with a wide smile and deaths were reported on election Last year, the copper-rich agriculture, livestock and fi sh- nourished children there is ex- thority you invested in me”. “We are not going into offi ce to twinkling eyes. day. southern African nation became eries portfolio. pected to quadruple to at least The electoral commission pro- arrest those who arrested us.” On Saturday, as the ballots Access to social media was re- the fi rst country on the continent The newcomers include a half a million, the United Na- claimed Hichilema president- “For years we were victims of were being counted, Lungu cried stricted in the capital Lusaka just to default on its debt in the coro- former presidential adviser, tions warned in July. elect in the early hours of yester- retribution. We are not about to foul. as Hichilema cast his ballot, but navirus era.

Three soldiers killed in Mali explosion Gunmen kidnap 19 from Three Malian soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive northwest Nigeria college device as they were driving to an airport in the restive northeast, the country’s armed forces said. Reuters/AFP family members, he added. A military vehicle “en route to Kaduna/Kano The offi cial said the school received the airport in Menaka hit an a phone call early yesterday from the improvised explosive device this kidnappers, saying they were holding Sunday”, the army said on Twitter. unmen abducted 15 students 20 hostages. An unspecified number of and four staff members from Police spokesman Shehu said yester- soldiers were also injured and Gan agricultural college in the day that 15 students were kidnapped in stabilised at facilities operated by northwestern Nigerian state of Zam- the attack but said only four staff were the multinational Takuba force, a fara, police said yesterday, the latest in taken – and three were later “rescued”. European military unit involved in a spate of mass kidnappings across Af- “Fifteen students and four staff were operations against militants. rica’s most populous country. abducted by the bandits,” he said, add- The Menaka region, close to the During the attack late on Sunday ing that police operatives rescued three Niger border, is prey to regular night, the gunmen exchanged fi re with staff while searching the area. religious militant attacks. – AFP a security team protecting the college, Shehu added that offi cers were resulting in the deaths of one police combing the area surrounding the offi cer and two guards, according to town of Bakura, where the college is 21 die in road Mohamed Shehu, a spokesperson for located, in search of the victims, and Zamfara state police. three members of staff had been found accident in Armed kidnappings for ransom now and rescued. northern Nigeria make almost daily headlines in Africa’s Abductions for ransom, particularly most populous country, seven years af- at schools and colleges, have increased Twenty-one people were killed ter Boko Haram militants shocked the in northwestern Nigeria over the past on Sunday in a road accident in world by taking 276 girls from Chibok. eight months, partly driven by a sharp Nigeria’s northern Jigawa state. Schools targeted by criminal gangs in rise in poverty levels linked to the eco- “At about 6am (0500GMT), we the north and centre of the West Afri- nomic shock caused by the coronavirus received a distress call from can country are usually in remote ar- (Covid-19) pandemic in 2020. Radabi village that an accident eas where students stay in dormitories More than 1,000 children and stu- occurred on the Gwaram-Basirka with only watchmen for security. dents have been taken from their places road,” police spokesman Lawan On Sunday at the College of Agri- of education since December. Shiisu said in a statement. culture and Animal Science in Bakura, Some have been released following He said a hummer bus and “unknown gunmen attacked the school ransom payments but many are still a canter lorry carrying the around 10pm (2100 GMT)”, registrar missing. passengers “fell into a broken Aminu Khalid Maradun told AFP. The abductions are one aspect of culvert full of water”. They killed a police offi cer and two a broader trend of rising insecurity Victims were taken to hospital security offi cers, “and abducted 20, in- across Nigeria, with armed robberies where 21 were confirmed dead. cluding 15 students”, he said. and confl ict between communities also – AFP The fi ve other abductees are staff and contributing to a heavy death toll.

Ivory Coast starts Ebola vaccinations

Reuters/AFP In Abidjan, a city of 5mn, vaccina- tween the woman’s case and the 2014- Abidjan tions will begin after the Ivory Coast 2016 Ebola outbreak, which also origi- received 5,000 doses of vaccine, the nated in southeastern Guinea before health ministry said. spreading to Liberia and Sierra. vory Coast has said that it would In Guinea, the health ministry also That outbreak, the biggest ever, begin vaccinating health workers said in a statement yesterday that it killed more than 11,300 people. Iand others in the commercial capi- would begin vaccinating against Ebo- Ebola causes severe vomiting and tal Abidjan against Ebola, after a case la, although it did not say when. diarrhoea. It is transmitted through of the deadly virus was confi rmed over The country was declared free of close contact with bodily fl uids, and the weekend. Ebola on June 19, after a four-month people who live with or care for pa- An 18-year-old female tested posi- outbreak in the south that killed 12 tients are most at risk. tive for Ebola on Saturday after travel- people. It typically kills about half of those ling by bus to Abidjan from neighbour- Authorities believe the woman trav- it infects, but vaccines and new treat- ing Guinea. elled from northern Guinea by bus, ments have proved highly eff ective at It is Ivory Coast’s fi rst confi rmed passing through the Nzerekore region reducing fatality rates. case of Ebola in 25 years. in the southeast, where the last out- Combatting Ebola outbreaks mainly Health authorities have so far iden- break began. involves the time-honoured technique tifi ed nine people that the woman She then crossed Guinea’s southern of tracing and isolating people who came into contact with – three family border into Ivory Coast and reached have been in contact with patients. members and six hospital staff ers, the Abidjan several hundred kilometres Last week, Guinea confi rmed one World Health Organisation (WHO) farther south on August 11. death from the Marburg virus, West told partners in a report. She was hospitalised the next day. Africa’s fi rst case of the highly-in- One suspected Ebola case is in hos- The WHO said preliminary genetic fectious haemorrhagic fever which is pital, it said. sequencing showed a close match be- similar to Ebola. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 WORLD

Biden defends Afghanistan decision, blames Afghan army’s unwillingness to fi ght

AFP/Reuters/Guardian under the Taliban in Afghanistan. a promise to bring back expertise of his $1.2tn infrastructure bill. “What the president was not Washington “We’ll continue to speak out and responsibility after the tur- His Democrats were starting prepared to do was to enter a on the basic rights of the Afghan bulent Donald Trump years. to work on a second, mind-bog- third decade of confl ict, throw- people, of women and girls,” he A headline in the Washington glingly ambitious $3.5tn bill. ing in thousands more troops – resident Joe Biden has said. Post read: “Defi ant and defen- And it was only a few weeks which as his only other choice,” strongly defended his deci- Biden arrived in Washington sive, a president known for em- ago that Biden was congratulat- Sullivan said. “The president had Psion to withdraw US troops yesterday after cutting short pathy takes a cold-eyed approach ing Americans for their coro- to make the best possible choice from Afghanistan, and rejected his vacation at his Camp David to Afghanistan debacle.” navirus (Covid-19) vaccination he could and he stands by that broad criticism of the chaotic presidential retreat to address The botched withdrawal and rates – a seeming victory over decision.” pullout that is posing a crisis for the nation on the US crisis in Af- the Taliban’s lightning off ensive the coronavirus that the emerg- Meanwhile, Democrats have him. ghanistan. also threw a political gift to Re- ing Delta variant has now put in accused Trump and his allies of He said that the mission of the All weekend the Democrat, publicans. peril. trying to “rewrite history”. United States was never sup- who took offi ce with more for- Mitch McConnell, the Re- Like the pandemic, Afghani- Liz Cheney, a Republican posed to be nation building as he eign policy experience than any publican leader in the Senate, stan was a crisis that Biden in- member of the House armed blamed the Taliban’s takeover of new president in decades, stayed described it as “a shameful fail- herited. services committee, acknowl- the country on the unwillingness hunkered down at the secluded ure of American leadership” and The US public has long lost edged to CBS: “In the Trump ad- of the Afghan army to fi ght the Camp David. warned that “the likelihood that interest in the fi ghting there and ministration the agreement that militant group. Biden: We could not provide (the Afghan military) with the will to fight As stunning images played Al Qaeda will return to plot at- Trump tapped into powerful iso- was negotiated, Secretary [of Thousands of civilians desper- for (their own) future. out of Kabul, where a frantic US tacks from Afghanistan is grow- lationist sentiment with a drive state Mike] Pompeo negotiated, ate to fl ee Afghanistan thronged evacuation echoed the 1975 fall of ing”. to extricate the country from actually was a surrender agree- Kabul airport’s single runway mentous developments. provide them with the will to Saigon at the end of the Vietnam He added: “A proud super- “stupid” post-9/11 wars. ment … we never should have yesterday after the Taliban seized “I stand squarely behind my fi ght for that future.” War, Biden was near invisible. power has been reduced to hop- Unlike on most other matters, done that, but President Biden the capital, prompting the United decision,” he said. “After 20 The president reiterated, how- His only statement came in ing the Taliban will not interfere Biden agreed with the Republi- never should have withdrawn States to suspend evacuations as years, I’ve learned the hard way ever, that the US national interest written form on Saturday, in- with our eff orts to fl ee Afghani- can. forces.” it came under mounting criti- that there was never a good time in Afghanistan was always prin- sisting that the sudden US stan. God knows what fate awaits In fact, Biden’s pullout is based Ben Sasse, a Republican sena- cism at home. to withdraw US forces. That’s cipally about preventing terrorist withdrawal from Afghanistan, vulnerable Afghans who cannot almost entirely on a plan set in tor for Nebraska and fellow Five people were reported why we’re still there.” attacks on the US homeland – triggering a Taliban total takeo- make it to Kabul to board one of motion by Trump himself, who Trump critic, wrote in the Na- killed in the chaos. “The truth is: this did unfold and that America would contin- ver, had been the only possible the fi nal fl ights out. Terrorists ordered negotiations with the tional Review: “The sad thing A US offi cial told Reuters that more quickly than we antici- ue to “act quickly and decisively” choice. and major competitors like China Taliban and, if re-elected, had is, many in my party are trying two gunmen had been killed by pated,” he admitted. “So what’s against any terror threat emanat- Then as pressure mounted on are watching the embarrassment been teeing up an even earlier to blame-shift as if the last ad- US forces there over the past 24 happened? Afghanistan politi- ing from the country. Sunday for Biden to demonstrate of a superpower laid low.” exit. ministration didn’t set us on this hours. cal leaders gave up and fl ed the The president coupled his de- that he was in charge, the White Biden had been on a roll until Now beset by accusations of course. “I am president of the United country.” fence with a warning to Taliban House issued a single photo- this last week. incompetence and betrayal, the “Here’s the ugly truth: nei- States of America, and the buck “The Afghan military gave leaders: let the US withdrawal graph, showing the president in a Defying those who said Wash- White House is doubling down, ther party is serious about for- stops with me,” Biden said in a up, sometimes without trying proceed unimpeded or face dev- polo shirt seated alone at a table ington had become too dysfunc- insisting that the chaos in Kabul eign policy … president Trump much-awaited televised address to fi ght,” Biden added. “We gave astating force. while listening to advisers on a tional for bipartisan dealmaking, is actually the best of all the bad pioneered the strategy of retreat from the White House, after sev- them every chance to determine Biden promised to prioritise large monitor screen. Biden was celebrating the pas- available options, because it at President Biden is pursuing, to eral days of silence on the mo- their own future. We could not the treatment of women and girls Biden was elected last year on sage by the evenly divided Senate least stops an unwinnable war. disastrous eff ect.” Medics rush to quake zone as death toll rises Trump: What Joe Biden has done with Afghanistan is legendary. It Reuters/AFP Yesterday Port-au-Prince air- will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history! Les Cayes/Port-au-Prince port was bustling with medics and aid workers, with domestic and private charter fl ights fi lled octors and aid workers with humanitarian teams and rushed yesterday to get supplies headed south. Trump calls for Dfl ights to southwestern In addition to damage to some Haiti ahead of a looming storm, roads in the area from the earth- with hospitals in the devastated quake, access to Les Cayes has area struggling to cope with cas- been complicated by months of Biden to resign ualties from a major earthquake political turmoil in Haiti, which that killed at least 1,297 people. has left gangs in control of access Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude routes to parts of the country. AFP that would have seen the US quake brought down thousands The UN called for a “humani- Washington withdraw all its troops by May of homes and buildings in the tarian corridor” to enable aid to 2021, in exchange for various deeply impoverished country, pass through gang-held territo- security guarantees from the which is still recovering from an- ries. ormer US president Don- militants. other major temblor 11 years ago At Les Cayes airport, a steady ald Trump has called for When Biden took power ear- and the assassination of its presi- stream of ambulances arrived, Fhis successor Joe Biden to lier this year, he pushed back dent, Jovenel Moise, last month. bringing the severely injured resign over the swift takeover the deadline for the withdrawal The areas in and around the from nearby areas, a Reuters wit- of Afghanistan by Taliban mili- and set no conditions for it. city of Les Cayes – some 150km ness said. tants, as US troops withdrew Trump has repeatedly blast- (93 miles) west of the Caribbean Casualties were carried on from the country after nearly ed Biden over the move, say- nation’s capital Port-au-Prince stretchers to small aircraft and a 20 years on the ground. ing that it would have been “a – suff ered the biggest hit, putting US Coast Guard helicopter to be “It is time for Joe Biden to much diff erent and much more enormous strain on local hospi- taken to Port-au-Prince, where resign in disgrace for what he successful withdrawal” if he tals, some of which were badly hospital services were more in- has allowed to happen to Af- were still president. damaged by the quake. tact. ghanistan,” Trump said in a “What Joe Biden has done Collapsed cement buildings Jeanette Pierre, whose cousin statement, also blasting him with Afghanistan is legendary. lined the city’s main street. died in the earthquake, stood over a surge in coronavirus It will go down as one of the Dozens of men dug out rubble near the runway tarmac next to Rescue workers search through destroyed buildings in Les Cayes. (Covid-19) cases in the United greatest defeats in American from a collapsed hotel, where the her 71-year-old father Pierre States and domestic immi- history!” he said in another owner died in the quake, accord- Ender, who was on an intrave- pression Grace, which was mov- “We do have a serious issue,” country’s emergency response, gration, economic and energy statement on Sunday. ing to residents. nous drip with bandages on his ing early yesterday west-north- Chandler said on Sunday. spokesman Ned Price said in a policies. The Biden administration is The city’s general hospital was two broken legs, and her step- west off the southern coast of He said boats and helicopters statement. The Taliban have recon- quick to point out that Trump overwhelmed, with doctors and mother, who had one broken leg. Hispaniola, the island that Haiti were being used to bring in aid, Usaid head Samantha Pow- quered Afghanistan in a light- negotiated the Doha deal on nurses attending patients in tents Both were caught under falling shares with the neighbouring but the government was working er tweeted on Sunday that her ning surge 20 years after they the withdrawal and that a ma- set up in its crowded parking lot masonry when their house col- Dominican Republic. to establish safe access by road. agency had deployed a 65-person were toppled by the US inva- jority of the US public favours because space was no longer lapsed during the tremors. The US National Hurricane Initial supplies have made it urban search and rescue team – sion. ending “forever wars”. available inside. “We went to the hospital with Centre (NHC) forecast Grace through by land. equipped with “specialised tools, They took control of Ka- Biden has faced heated criti- Babies were being transported the other victims, but there would pass right through ar- In Jeremie, to the northwest of equipment & medical supplies” bul on Sunday, more than two cism at home that the with- out of the hospital’s neonatal in- weren’t enough doctors to attend eas directly hit by the quake, and Les Cayes, doctors were forced to – to join an earthquake disaster weeks before the August 31 drawal was mismanaged, with tensive care unit over concerns to us,” said their daughter. “Now could douse some areas with up treat injured patients on hospital response team already in Haiti. deadline set by Biden to com- the United States racing to that the building was unsafe after we’re hoping to get to Port-au- to 15” (38cm) of rain through to- stretchers underneath trees and US Southern Command said it plete the withdrawal of Ameri- evacuate its sprawling embassy the quake, according to a Reuters Prince for treatment.” day, risking fl ash fl ooding and on mattresses by the side of the established a joint military task can troops from the country. just a month after he played witness. With the telephone network mudslides. road. force for Haiti on Sunday and de- It was under Trump that down fears that the Afghan Nurses worked to help dozens down in more remote areas and Skies over Port-au-Prince Churches, hotels and schools ployed a team to the country to the US brokered a deal with government would crumble of patients crammed into make- thousands injured, the death toll were still clear early yesterday. were also seriously damaged or assess impacted areas with aerial the Taliban in Doha in 2020 quickly. shift tents, with beds and mat- is expected to rise further, aid Many Haitians who lost their ruined in the quake. surveillance. tresses set up on the grass outside workers and offi cials said. homes have been sleeping out- Some 13,694 houses were Four helicopters were also dis- the hospital. In diffi cult-to-reach villages, doors, many traumatised by destroyed, the civil protection patched to provide airlift sup- Taliban will not get access to Afghan Inside, patients lay on stretch- many houses were fragile and memories of a magnitude 7 quake agency said, and the toll could port. ers on the fl oor or on cots in built on slopes vulnerable to 11 years ago that struck far closer rise further. The Dominican Republic said reserves held in the US, says off icial crowded rooms with relatives by landslides, said Alix Percinthe of to Port-au-Prince, killing more The United States and other it was shipping 10,000 food ra- their sides. the ActionAid charity. than 200,000 people, according nations have pledged to help tions and medical equipment. The Taliban will be denied access to any Afghan reserves held in US Prime Minister Ariel Henry The disaster also threw into to the United Nations. Haiti cope with this latest dis- Mexico also sent an aid ship- accounts, a US administration off icial told AFP yesterday. said there was no time to lose. confusion plans to hold presi- Thousands of people sleeping aster. ment. As US forces were evacuating Afghanistan’s capital after the “From this Monday, we will dential elections in November in the streets would be exposed to Deputy Secretary of State Cuba and Ecuador dispatched Taliban’s swift takeover, the off icial said: “Any central bank assets move faster. Aid provision is go- to draw a line under the political rains amid a rising risk of water- Wendy Sherman spoke with medical or search-and-rescue the Afghan government have in the United States will not be made ing to be accelerated,” he wrote confusion since Moise was as- borne diseases, such as cholera, Haiti’s Prime Minister Henry teams. available to the Taliban.” on Twitter. “We will multiply sassinated on July 7. according to Jerry Chandler, the on Sunday and said the United Chile, Argentina, Peru and The central bank’s gross reserves totaled $9.4bn at the end of April, eff orts tenfold to reach as many Aid workers were hurrying to head of Haiti’s Civil Protection States was “already putting re- Venezuela also off ered help, as according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). victims as possible with aid.” beat the arrival of Tropical De- Agency. sources in place” to bolster the did the United Nations. However, most of those funds are held outside of Afghanistan, according to a person familiar with the matter. It was not immediately clear what share of the assets are held in the US opens investigation into Tesla Autopilot Fresh Venezuela talks set for September United States. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country on Sunday US safety off icials opened a preliminary investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot after identifying Representatives of Venezuela’s government and the opposition said they will resume talks night as the Taliban insurgents encircled the capital, capping a 11 crashes involving the driver assistance system, off icials said yesterday. next month after a round of preliminary meetings in Mexico City, just as opposition leader military victory that saw them capture all cities in just 10 days. The incidents dating back to 2018 included one fatal crash and seven that resulted in Freddy Guevara was released from prison on Sunday. The country’s central bank governor Ajmal Ahmady went to Twitter injuries to 17 people, according to the National Highway Traff ic Safety Administration The talks between the two sides are aimed at overcoming Venezuela’s acute political and to detail his harrowing escape from the country on a military plane (NHTSA). economic crisis, which has caused millions to flee the South American nation. on Sunday, after he and his team tried to stabilise the currency amid The NHTSA “is committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety on the nation’s Representatives of Norway acted as facilitators. the Taliban advance towards the capital. roadways”, an agency spokesperson said. “In keeping with the agency’s core safety mission The two sides, who gave no details on the outcome of the talks that began in Mexico last Ahmady, who did not say where he was, said the central bank was and to better understand the causes of certain Tesla crashes, the NHTSA is opening a week, said in a joint statement they would meet again from September 3-6 without saying informed on Friday that “given the deteriorating environment, we preliminary evaluation into Tesla Autopilot systems.” where. wouldn’t get any more dollar shipments”, and he met on Saturday Tesla founder Elon Musk has defended the Autopilot system and the electric automaker Opposition leader Guevara was meanwhile released a month after he was arrested while with banks and money exchangers to reassure them. warns that it requires “active driver supervision” behind the wheel, but critics, including in driving his car on a Caracas highway, on charges of “crimes of terrorism, attacks against “Once (the) president’s departure was announced, I knew within Congress, say the system can be easily fooled and have called for the NHTSA to take action. the constitutional order, conspiracy to commit a crime and treason”. minutes chaos would follow. I cannot forgive him for creating that Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In response to media reports he would join the opposition team at the negotiations in without a transition plan,” he tweeted on Monday. “It did not have to After investigating, the NHTSA could opt to take no action, or it could demand a recall, Mexico after his release, Guevara said he did not know if he would take part. end this way. I am disgusted by the lack of any planning by Afghan which might eff ectively impose limits on how, when and where Autopilot operates. – AFP/ He told reporters on Sunday that he was “not clear on what the limitations are” of his leadership. Saw at airport them leave without informing others.” – Reuters release. – Reuters/AFP AFP Gulf Times Tuesday, August 17, 2021 7 WORLD

CRACKDOWN LAW AND ORDER UNREST DECISION PANDEMIC Philippine military kills Pop star faces arrest Clashes in Thailand as Sri Lanka president Taiwan rejects Covid 16 communist rebels over alleged rape pressure builds on PM axes health minister vaccine candidate

Philippine soldiers killed 16 communist rebels Beijing authorities yesterday approved the arrest of Thai police used water cannon and tear gas Sri Lanka’s president yesterday demoted the Taiwan has rejected an application for the during a raid on a suspected guerilla hideout in the Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu over allegations to disperse protesters near the off ice of Prime health minister who publicly endorsed bizzare emergency use of UBI Pharma’s Covid-19 vaccine central Philippines where dozens of high-powered of rape, in a scandal that has drawn widespread Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday, as opposi- treatments to battle Covid-19, as coronavirus candidate, the government said yesterday, though firearms were also recovered, the army said yester- condemnation on social media. The saga has tion parties moved to censure him in parliament infections and deaths hit record highs. President the president said she would get a separate do- day. Government troops received information from evoked China’s #MeToo movement, which saw over his handling of a Covid-19 crisis. Hundreds of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s off ice said Pavithra Wan- mestic shot in a show of support for the scheme. the community about the presence of “terrorists in a wave of women come forward in 2018 voicing protesters marched on the Government House to niarachchi’s health portfolio had been given to Although Taiwan has ordered millions of Moderna their bomb-making hideout” in the area, said Major experiences of sexual harassment — sometimes demand Prayut resigns, the latest show of growing Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who is also and AstraZeneca shots, developing a local vaccine Reynaldo Aragones, an army spokesman in the involving powerful public figures. Nineteen-year-old public anger about a worsening epidemic and a the government spokesman. Wanniarachchi was has been a major goal and it is due next week to central Philippines. “The firefight was really intense, student Du Meizhu accused Wu last month of date- chaotic vaccine rollout. The rallies are being led in intensive care in January after contracting the start administering its first domestic vaccine, made that is why we delivered indirect fire (artillery) sup- raping her when she was 17, resulting in a barrage by groups who also sought former army chief virus despite publicly consuming and endorsing by Medigen Vaccine Biologics. The health ministry, port and air asset support,” said Aragones. Presi- of public criticism and luxury brands dropping deals Prayut’s ouster last year. “We are out here to stop a “potion” against Covid-19. Sri Lanka’s health min- explaining the rejection of the request for emer- dent Rodrigo Duterte’s government has stepped with him. The People’s Procuratorate of Beijing’s the ongoing failure and stop the losses, because if istry under Wanniarachchi came under intense gency use authorisation (EUA), said the antibodies up eff orts to crush a Maoist-led rebellion, one of Chaoyang district said in a statement yesterday that Prayut Chan-o-cha remains in power, more people criticism last week for understating coronavirus triggered by UBI’s candidate did not match up with the world’s longest-running insurgencies. it has approved his arrest “on suspicion of rape”. will die,” activist Songpon “Yajai” Sonthirak said. infections. those of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Khmer Volcano blankets villages in ash Rouge Malaysian leader appeals conviction PM resigns

AFP Phnom Penh but remains he last surviving senior Khmer Rouge leader yes- Tterday began an appeal against his life imprisonment for his role in the genocide commit- ted by the regime in Cambodia more than four decades ago. interim leader The brutal communist group, led by “Brother Number 1” Pol Guardian News and Media ing anger over the Covid crisis, which was mired in corruption Pot, left 2mn Cambodians dead Kuala Lumpur which has continued to worsen scandals. from overwork, starvation and despite lockdown restrictions. It was agreed that Anwar mass executions from 1975- Muhyiddin said in a televised would succeed Mahathir as lead- 1979. alaysia’s embat- address that he had submitted er. Former Khmer Rouge head tled prime minister, his resignation to the king be- However, Mahathir resigned of state Khieu Samphan, 90, is MMuhyiddin Yassin, has cause he had failed to maintain last year, prompting their coali- challenging his 2018 conviction resigned but will stay on as in- the confi dence of a majority of tion to collapse before power was for genocide against ethnic-mi- terim premier, the royal palace legislators. handed over. nority Vietnamese. said, as the country struggles He hoped a new government Other names touted as possi- His lawyers yesterday argued with its deadliest Covid out- would be formed as soon as pos- ble successors include the dep- the UN-backed court had taken a break yet. sible, he said. uty prime minister, Ismail Sabri “selective approach” to witness Muhyiddin off ered his res- The Covid outbreak means Yaakob, and Tengku Razaleigh testimony and not given proper ignation to the king yesterday polls are unlikely to go ahead in Hamzah, a former fi nance minis- weight to evidence in his favour. morning after holding a special the short term. ter, both of Umno. They also said the tribunal had meeting with his cabinet. Snap elections held in the state Mahathir, who is 96, has called convicted him using legal crite- His resignation follows of Sabah last year, and associated for a bipartisan national recovery ria that he could not have known months of political instability campaigning by politicians, have council, made up of profession- when the alleged crimes took that led to the loss of his majority been blamed for the country’s als such as medics, lawyers and place more than 40 years ago. in parliament. third wave of infections. education fi gures, to help the The conviction should be The palace said King Al-Sul- When the previous ruling country recover from the pan- “null and void”, said defence tan Abdullah did not believe an coalition collapsed in February demic. He has off ered to lead the lawyer Kong Sam Onn. election should go ahead owing 2020, the king, Malaysia’s con- body. Khieu Samphan was jailed to the Covid situation, and he stitutional monarch, met all 222 Kevin Zhang, a research of- alongside “Brother Number 2” was happy for Muhyiddin to stay lawmakers to determine who had fi cer for the Malaysian studies Nuon Chea for life for genocide on as interim leader. majority support, eventually se- programme at the ISEAS-Yusof and a litany of other crimes, in- “The king has received the lecting Muhyiddin. Ishak Institute in Singapore, said cluding forced marriages and resignation letter of Muhyid- He could have taken similar that even if a rival group was able rapes. Nuon Chea died in 2019. din Yassin and the entire cabi- action this time or asked for an- to gather enough support to form The pair were previously net eff ective immediately,” it other lawmaker to become an in- a government, it would probably handed life sentences by the said.“Following the resignation, terim leader. have only a slim majority.“And court in 2014 for crimes against the king is pleased for Muhyiddin No party has a clear majority in once again it (will be) subjected humanity over the violent forced to fi ll the role as caretaker prime parliament. to all the volatility that Malaysia evacuation of Phnom Penh in minister until a new prime min- A three-party alliance nomi- has gone through in the last 15 April 1975, when Khmer Rouge ister is appointed.” nated its leader, Anwar Ibrahim, months,” he said. troops drove the population Muhyiddin’s government had as a candidate for prime minister. “In the medium term, maybe of the capital into rural labour been precarious ever since he However, while this is the big- in six months, having a general camps. was sworn in almost 18 months gest opposition bloc, it has fewer election is maybe the best way The hearing at a special court- ago. than 90 legislators, short of the to solve this party infi ghting,” room in Phnom Penh is due to He was named prime minister 111 needed for a simple majority. Zhang added, but said this was last until Thursday and Khieu following a fl urry of backroom It is believed 100 legislators not feasible during the pandem- Samphan is expected to testify at deals held after the abrupt col- are backing Muhyiddin, accord- ic. “There’s no way you can have the close of the appeal proceed- lapse of the then ruling coalition, ing to reports by the Associated an election when you are having ings, according to a court offi cial. but with no public mandate. Press. 20,000 cases every day … It de- At the close of his genocide Over recent weeks his razor- Anwar previously partnered pends how quickly the outbreak trial in 2017, he spoke angrily to A villager walks along a path strewn with volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi, thin parliamentary majority has in an unlikely alliance with the can be resolved.” the court, denying the charges Indonesia’s most active volcano, in Magelang, near Yogyakarta, yesterday. The early morning crumbled, despite attempts to former prime minister Mahathir Malaysia is facing its deadliest against him and rejecting the explosions spewed clouds as far as 3.5km from the rumbling volcano, blanketing local win support from opposition Mohamed that won power in Covid wave yet, which has placed label of “murderer” in forceful communities in grey ash. There were no evacuation orders or reports of casualties. MPs. 2018, ousting the United Malays intense pressure on hospitals and closing remarks. Muhyiddin is facing grow- National Organisation (Umno), caused economic pain for many.

Rescue work Hospitals in Philippines hit ‘China’s Fauci’ probed by staff resignations for plagiarism AFP future will...help establish com- Beijing munication with the world and a Reuters the number of cases soaring, as “A lot of our nurses are de- return to normal life, while pro- Manila it has done elsewhere in South- moralised,” PHAPi’s president tecting citizens from fear of vi- east Asia and worldwide. Reyes pointed out. top doctor in China’s fi ght ruses,” Zhang wrote on China’s The Private Hospitals As- Union leaders in several hos- against the coronavirus Twitter-like Weibo on July 29. xhausted by the Covid sociation of the Philippines pitals in virus hot spots last Ais under investigation for The suggestion of a softened workload, Loui quit her (PHAPi) estimated that 40% week threatened to strike, while plagiarism, weeks after making approach to Chain’s zero-case Ejob as an intensive care of private hospital nurses re- a nursing group warned that a social media post question- approach to virus control en- unit nurse at a private hospital signed last year, but more fol- dozens could resign over un- ing the country’s zero-tolerance raged nationalists who stalk Chi- in the Philippines earlier this lowed new waves of infections paid risk allowances of up to strategy to control the pandemic. na’s social media. year. this year. 5,000 pesos a month mandated Beijing has basked in its success Zhang has found himself ac- The 30-year old, who de- Public hospitals are facing by law. in bringing to heel a virus that cused of “pandering to foreign clined to give her last name similar challenges. The lure of better paying jobs fi rst emerged in the central city of ideas,” while an apparent witch for fear of reprisals, is among “If we want to increase bed abroad is also making it harder Wuhan in late 2019, but was vir- hunt is targeting his academic thousands of medical workers capacity, that is easy, but the to fill nursing vacancies, said tually extinguished through hard credentials. Posts on Weibo ac- who have resigned during the problem is the nursing compo- Donnel John Siason, president lockdowns, closed borders and cused Zhang of plagiarising his pandemic, complaining of low nent,” PHAPi’s president, Jose of the union at the University of massive test and trace campaigns. doctoral thesis published two pay and poor working condi- Rene de Grano, told Reuters. Santo Tomas hospital. But the Delta variant has decades ago. tions. More than a year and a half This year nearly 7,000 nurses breached China’s defences, with On Sunday, Fudan University Others have sought better into the pandemic, reported have moved abroad, including record local infections in dozens in Shanghai said it was “aware jobs abroad. coronavirus infections in the to the US and Britain, joining of cites - albeit still in low num- of the online criticism and had “We can’t even take a proper Philippines have soared to more hundreds of thousands of other bers - prodding authorities to launched an investigation into day off because we are often than 1.75mn, the second highest Filipino nurses already working reintroduce travel restrictions, the degree it awarded Zhang in called back to cover for other in Southeast Asia, while deaths abroad. mass testing and hyperlocal 2000.” Zhang did not respond to staff who were in quarantine or exceed 30,000. Dave Santos, a 39-year old lockdowns. Zhang Wenhong - a inquiries on the investigation. resigned,” said Loui, who was Philippine Nurses Associa- nurse at the Quezon City Gen- leading doctor described by state Academics and scientists have earning 20,000 pesos ($394) a tion president Melbert Reyes eral Hospital, said he hoped to media as “China’s Fauci”, after rallied around Zhang, in a coun- month, including overtime, be- said he feared that hospitals leave the Philippines too. Self-Defence Force members (top) and fire brigade the top US infectious disease ex- try where all non-state sanc- fore she quit in March. could see even more nurses quit “We are giving our best,” said members (bottom) search for missing persons at the site pert Anthony Fauci - has since tioned information linked to the Hospitals fear the desertions if their demands for better ben- Santos, a father-of-three. “But of a mudslide caused by heavy rain in Unzen, Nagasaki said countries have to fi nd a way pandemic is highly sensitive and have reached a critical point efits and conditions went un- we are just people who get tired Prefecture, Japan, yesterday. “to learn to live with it”. has led to arrests and smear cam- just as the Delta variant sends met. and we have needs.” “The way China will choose in paigns on social media. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 WORLD

Aboriginal children make up 40% of western NSW Covid cases Australian The “vast majority” of Covid cases in this is a time of protecting our most available for people who are otherwise pened. Instead of staying home, contain- western New South Wales are among precious kids, in our communities,” the unable to isolate from their loved ones, ing the infection, we’ve now had to go Aboriginal people, and 40% are in largely chief executive of the western NSW LHD, he said. Earlier, the Indigenous Australians on a very proactive footing of ensuring unvaccinated Aboriginal children aged Scott McLachlan, said. Several thousand minister, Ken Wyatt, dismissed claims that that people get tested, have a vaccination between 10 and 19 years old, according Pfizer vaccination doses have arrived for the low vaccination rates among Abo- and stay home because you’ve got to to the western NSW local health district. distribution in the region, and plans are riginal people in the western region were distance from each other.” minor parties There have been 35 new cases confirmed under way to expand vaccination hubs because of poor rollout and confusing He added: “We have been making (vac- in Dubbo, and one new case in Bourke, and testing centres, McLachlan said, but information about vaccine safety. cination) available … the (vaccine) rate is bringing the total number of cases in the the workforce is “stretched”. Discussions The minister told ABC Radio he thought too low, but the vaccinations are in the region to 98. “This is a really serious warn- are under way about deploying ADF “frightened” family members may have community, people have got to go and ing for parents and kids everywhere at personnel in the region from as early spread the virus, coming home from cit- have them done. We are looking at how revolt against the moment. Please stay at home. as tomorrow to deliver vaccinations in ies elsewhere. we make sure people overcome their “We know that Covid is spreading both in Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke. “We need to track family members who hesitancy and overcome the fear of these schools to some degree, (and) in a larger SES and emergency services will help with are frightened, who may go back to their blood clots that they’ve read about in the new rules degree in the community, and so please, testing. Accommodation is being made communities. And that’s what’s hap- media.”

Guardian News and Media Newman said the Liberal Sydney Democrats would have “no prob- lem” clearing the 1,500 member bar but that this was another ex- inor parties including ample of the “protection racket” the Liberal Democrats being run by the “duopoly” of Mhave revolted over pro- the two major parties. posed new registration require- The New Liberals leader, Vic ments that could put up to an Kline, has claimed that his fl edg- estimated 30 political parties in ling party, which plans to run in danger of being barred from run- every state and up to three dozen ning at the next election. Liberal-held lower house seats, The changes, introduced to has passed the 1,500-member parliament by the government threshold. on Thursday, will require all par- Kline told Guardian Australia ties to have 1,500 members and he had complained about the bill ban them from using words in to Labor but the opposition ap- their names that are already used peared prepared to pass it – but by existing parties. Labor insists no decision has yet The Greens and senators Rex been taken. Patrick and Jacqui Lambie have Patrick said the new 1,500 indicated they will oppose the member requirement was “un- party registration integrity bill reasonable” because it was aimed but the crossbench fears Labor at making it harder for new play- could be set to wave it through. ers to enter parliament. At the next federal election “Any bill that makes it harder the Liberals face challenges on for smaller parties and inde- their right fl ank from the Liberal pendents should be resisted.” Democratic party, running a hard Greens senator Larissa Wa- anti-lockdown campaign, and ters said her party had “some on their left, from the socially sympathy for ensuring that par- liberal New Liberals. ties don’t impersonate other Both parties believe the new parties” but in context with the naming rule, which would re- other changes it was clear the quire them to get permission government wanted “to prevent from the Liberal Party of Aus- legitimate and democratic chal- tralia to run under their current lenges” to their power. name, is targeted at them. In a statement, Lambie called Campbell Newman, the Lib- on Labor to decide where it People wearing face masks stand in a line as they wait to be vaccinated at the Sydney Olympic Park Vaccination Centre at Homebush in Sydney yesterday. eral Democrats’ lead Queensland stands on the “power grab”. La- Senate candidate, told Guardian bor was consulted before the bill Australia it was “frankly uncon- was introduced but is yet to say scionable” and a “black day for the how it will vote. Liberal party … that they would A spokesman for Don Farrell, seek to essentially rig the electoral Labor’s shadow special minis- laws to their own benefi t”. ter of state, said Labor “will al- Newman accused the Liberal ways deal with electoral reform Sydney records deadliest Party of being “scared”, claiming in a consultative and bipartisan that hundreds have expressed manner”. interest in joining the Liberal “Labor will consider any draft Democrats since his candidacy electoral legislation carefully, to was announced two weeks ago protect our strong democratic – including many former Liberal system.” members who say the party has Even those with the required day of Covid pandemic “betrayed their values”. numbers, opposed the member- Newman noted the Austral- ship changes, both on principle Reuters earlier this month. Berejiklian the hardest-hit areas, amid per- “We are at a tipping point. “Unemployment may spike ian Electoral Commission’s in- and due to practical diffi culties Canberra said New South Wales had de- sistent reports of people fl outing There is simply no option today back up to 5.5% in the months terpretation of the existing law demonstrating membership. tected 478 infections, the high- lockdown rules. but to further strengthen this ahead, mainly driven by (New accepts that words such as “la- Former Australian Demo- est one-day rise since the pan- The latest deployment comes lockdown,” Andrews told re- South Wales),” said Shane Ol- bour”, “democrat” and “liberal” crats senator and current party ustralia’s biggest city demic began. on top of 500 troops deployed porters in Melbourne. iver, Chief Economist at AMP. are part of the political lexicon president, Lyn Allison, said the of Sydney recorded its “Our community transmis- last month. A spike in cases had been The outbreak and sluggish and “are not capable of being changes were “grossly unfair” Adeadliest day of the Cov- sion numbers are disturbingly With only 26% of people driven by people breaking lock- vaccine rollout has fuelled owned by a particular party”. and designed to “diminish com- id-19 pandemic yesterday as high,” Berejiklian told reporters above 16 years of age fully vac- down rules, he said. pressure on Prime Minister “To actually write into legis- petition”. While “reasonably troops and police set up road- in Sydney. cinated, Australia is vulnerable In one instance, police fi ned Scott Morrison, who must call lation that you need permission confi dent” the party could pass blocks to limit the movement of “Every death is a person who to the highly infectious Delta 69 people A$5,500 ($4,034) each an election before May next from your opponent to use a word the 1,500 threshold, Allison said people, while Melbourne faced a has loved ones, who has died in variant that has steadily spread for attending an engagement year. shows how shabby a tactic this is.” it was “quite a big logistical exer- nightly curfew and a further two tragic circumstances,” she add- across the country. party in breach of the lockdown. A poll last week showed his If the bill is passed, parties cise to comply”. weeks of lockdown. ed. While Sydney, Melbourne, National capital Canberra approval rating at its lowest level would have three months to AEC audits of party lists could Sydney, which is in its eighth Authorities also confi rmed Canberra and Darwin — which recorded 19 new cases as it ex- since the pandemic began. demonstrate they have 1,500 leave them vulnerable to dereg- week of lockdown, is the epicen- the death of a 15-year-old boy entered into lockdown yester- tended its lockdown for a further Morrison said on Sunday that members. istration due to spelling discrep- tre of Australia’s third Covid-19 from Sydney, who had pneumo- day — are all under tight re- two weeks. Australia had bought about 1mn While many minor parties ancies with the electoral roll, or wave that threatens to push the coccal meningitis and Covid-19. strictions, cases have steadily Australia’s economy re- doses Covid-19 vaccine from spoken to by the Guardian in- forgetful members who forget country’s A$2tn ($1.5tn) econo- Australia has confi rmed 55 risen. bounded strongly from the ini- Poland, but declined to specify cluding the Shooters, Fishers they had joined, she said. my into its second recession in deaths since July 11, breaking a Victoria state Premier Dan- tial wave of the pandemic, with how much had been paid. and Farmers and the Christian A spokesman for the Shooters as many years. run of more than three months iel Andrews said Melbourne’s unemployment hitting its low- The government has already Democrats claim to have the re- Fishers and Farmers Party said New South Wales state Pre- without any fatalities. 5mn residents would be sub- est levels in more than a decade ordered 40mn doses from Pfi zer. quired number of members, one the 1,500 member threshold is mier Gladys Berejiklian said In total, Australia has record- jected to a nightly curfew and at 4.9% in June. He said more than half of minor party, the Australian Pro- “a bridge too far” and “a way to seven people in Sydney had ed 966 Covid-19 deaths. the city would remain in a But with its two most popu- the doses from Poland would gressives, estimated as many as stop minor parties from being died from Covid-19 in the past The toll rose as 200 military lockdown until September 2 lated cities Sydney and Mel- be rushed to inoculate 20- to 30 out of 44 parties would be in registered and having a say in 24 hours, surpassing the state’s personnel were deployed across after recording 22 new Cov- bourne in lockdown, economists 39-year-olds in the worst-af- danger of deregistration. politics”. previous record daily toll from Sydney to set up roadblocks in id-19 cases. expect a heavy toll. fected suburbs of Sydney.

HK reclassifi es 15 countries Second Sydney bus destroyed by fi re as ‘high risk’ for Covid-19 NSW transport authorities as the bus was engulfed in fl ames investigating cause of with intense smoke billowing Campbelltown blaze, which ered “high risk” mandated to as “medium risk” from “low from the vehicle. Reuters is second such incident in undergo compulsory quaran- risk” from Aug 20, meaning that Two Fire and Rescue NSW Hong Kong Sydney this year tine for 21 days in a designated even vaccinated arrivals will crews extinguished the fi re, quarantine hotel, even those need to quarantine for 14 nights which left the bus “destroyed”. ong Kong’s govern- who are vaccinated. unless they have a positive an- Guardian News and Media The scorched wreckage of the ment said it would up- The government said there tibody test result conducted by Sydney bus was due to be “towed away” H grade 15 overseas plac- had been acute surges in the a laboratory recognised by the later, the Fire and Rescue NSW es including the United States, number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong Government, which spokesperson said. There were Spain and France to “high a short period of time in many then allows them to do a seven- bus driver and three pas- no injuries resulting from the risk” from “medium risk” by countries. day quarantine. sengers have been evacu- blaze. Aug 20, meaning international Countries including Brazil, A ated from a bus that was Yesterday’s fi re was the sec- arrivals from those countries Hong Kong has largely India, and the United Kingdom engulfed in fl ames in Sydney’s ond such incident in 2021. A will face lengthened quaran- controlled the virus had already been classified as south-west, seven months after similar blaze destroyed a bus in tine due to a resurgence of the with hardly any locally “high risk”, but the government another bus was similarly de- Glebe in January. An Offi ce of coronavirus. transmitted Covid-19 had largely relaxed measures stroyed by fi re. Transport Safety Investigations The government said arrivals cases, but has seen for travellers from most other Yesterday’s incident occurred inquiry into that incident is on- from Bangladesh, Cambodia, a steady inflow of countries, prompting hope of outside the Macarthur Square going. France, Greece, Iran, Malay- imported coronavirus increased international trav- shopping centre in Campbell- An investigation into a 2016 sia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sri cases over the past two el for residents and a greater town before 11am, with heat fi re that closed all lanes on the Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, months number of foreign visitors. from the burning Busabout pas- Sydney Harbour Bridge found Thailand, Turkey, the United Hong Kong has largely con- senger bus activating nearby the cause to be a short circuit in Arab Emirates and the United “Despite large-scale vac- trolled the virus with hardly sprinklers. the passenger bus’s engine bay. States would all face the new cination programmes, many any locally transmitted Cov- Firefi ghters arrived at the The Fire and Rescue NSW restrictions, according to a places are also experiencing id-19 cases, but has seen a scene to fi nd the bus “well spokesperson told Guard- statement released yesterday. resurgence of the virus, which steady inflow of imported alight”, a Fire and Rescue NSW ian Australia yesterday that they Hong Kong has some of the poses enormous challenges to coronavirus cases over the spokesperson said. “cannot yet draw any connec- most stringent coronavirus en- our local anti-epidemic ef- past two months. Video footage taken by on- tion” to previous incidents. “In- try requirements globally, with forts,” the statement said. The city has recorded around Two women walk along Victoria Harbour in the Kowloon district looker Julian Lee shows fi refi ght- vestigations as to the cause are arrivals from countries consid- Australia will be reclassified 12,000 Covid-19 cases in total. of Hong Kong yesterday. ers running to extinguish the fi re ongoing,” they said. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 17, 2021 9 WORLD

REPRIEVE OPINION STUDY DECISION FALLOUT Indian media cheer as EU’s approach to Covid Covid shots do not raise UK gun applicants to Yorkshire fire leaves new IT rules on hold vaccine supplies flayed miscarriage risk: review face social media checks homes without TV Some Indian media yesterday cheered a court Gordon Brown has accused the EU of adopting a The UK’s health regulator yesterday said Britain’s interior ministry yesterday asked police Elderly and isolated people are among thou- order over the weekend which put on hold a part “neocolonial approach” to the supply of Covid-19 Covid-19 vaccines did not raise the risk of to review the social media accounts of people ap- sands who face being without television or radio of new rules seeking to regulate content on digital vaccines and demanded rich western nations relin- miscarriage, and that it had not found any link plying for gun licences and revisit existing permits, for nearly three weeks after a fire at a Yorkshire news websites, calling the move significant for quish their stranglehold on pandemic treatments. between the shots and changes to menstrual after the country’s worst mass shooting since 2010. transmission mast. Television and radio services press freedom in India. The Bombay High Court The former UK prime minister has called on Joe periods. “There is no pattern from the reports to On Thursday Jake Davison, 22, shot and killed five have been disrupted for up to 500,000 people put on hold the implementation of rules that Biden, Boris Johnson and Mario Draghi to convene suggest that any of the Covid-19 vaccines used people — including his mother and a three-year-old across North Yorkshire and north-east England digital news media would have to compulsorily a special summit to coincide with next month’s UN in the UK, or any reactions to these vaccines, girl — in Plymouth in southwest England before tak- since Bilsdale mast caught fire last Tuesday. Last follow the code of conduct laid down by the Press general assembly in New York to address Africa’s increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth,” the ing his own life. His social media accounts revealed week Darlington council warned residents that Council of India, a self-regulating press watchdog, vaccine deficit. Writing for the Guardian, Brown Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory misogynistic views and an interest in right-wing scammers were going door to door offering fake and the country’s cable TV code. The court ruled said it was shocking that about 10mn single-shot Agency (MHRA) said in a statement. The MHRA’s politics, guns and violent video games. But the £245 aerials to people affected by the TV blackout. following petitions filed by a news website and a Johnson & Johnson vaccines produced at a fac- findings are in line with a similar review from Eu- local police restored Davison’s gun licence and his The council said: “The man has told our tenants journalist. It also put on hold a three-tier regula- tory in South Africa were being exported to the rope earlier this month, which showed no causal weapon in July months after they had been re- about the transmitter in the area that was recently tory structure for digital news media including an EU instead of helping African countries meet their link between Covid-19 vaccines and menstrual moved following an assault allegation — a decision on fire and that if they pay £245 a new one can be oversight mechanism by the federal government. modest targets for pandemic jabs. disorders. now being scrutinised by the police watchdog. fitted and they will get TV reception again. ” Warning over potential roof collapses at NHS hospitals

Initial risk assessment at one in eastern England had pro- hospital predicted ‘almost duced an emergency plan out- certain’ failure of outdated lining what would happen in concrete planks the event of “significant hospi- tal structural failure”. Guardian News and Media The documents seen by the London BBC included an initial risk as- sessment that warned of an “al- most certain” plank collapse, HS England hospitals which would have “catastroph- have sounded the alarm ic” consequences. Nover materials used in The risk level has since been roofs that reached the end of downgraded to “likely” in re- their lifespan over a decade ago, sponse to West Suffolk launch- with one hospital forced to re- ing a multi-million-pound strict the use of some operat- safety works programme, ing theatres to patients under though it is understood this will 120kg. not be completed until spring Several hospitals are warn- 2023. ing of the potential for roof NHS England said the af- collapses due to structural fected trusts were maintaining weaknesses in the reinforced safe services and were regularly concrete planks used in their required to manage complex es- construction between the 1960s tates repairs, including roofing Passengers crowd outside a railway station yesterday after the government allowed fully Covid-19 vaccinated people to travel in local trains. and 1980s, which have a 30-year work. life span. It added that training exer- North West Anglia NHS cises were regularly conducted foundation trust wrote in its in the interests of safety and annual plan that the poor con- preparedness. dition of the main theatres in The problems relate to Hinchingbrooke hospital in RAAC planks that were com- Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, monly used in the roofs, floors posed a significant risk to elec- and walls of NHS buildings Mumbai rail services tive care. and schools between 1960 and The plan, published in June, 1980, that have since deterio- stated: “There are a number rated or have structural weak- of building-related issues, nesses. the most significant being the The BBC reported that West RAAC (reinforced autoclaved Suffolk hospital, in Bury St aerated concrete) panelling Edmunds, has 27 metal sup- restart as curbs ease which affects the load bearing of ports under the planks, while the floor, restricting the use of the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Reuters time (1630 GMT), from the pre- wave that killed hundreds of least one dose of the vaccine eral health ministry showed yes- some theatres to patients under King’s Lynn in Norfolk has more Mumbai vious closing hours of 4pm, the thousands. so far. terday. 120kg.” than 200. city’s civic body said. The thriving metropolis in the The cumulative coronavirus Deaths rose overnight by 417, The plan said that 1,700 op- A spokesperson for NHS Eng- Yesterday, the second day that largest industrial state of Ma- vaccine shots administered in with the country’s Covid-19 erations had been affected with land and NHS Improvement uthorities in India’s fi- trains were 95% open, crowds harashtra, saw a peak of 11,000 India surpassed the 550mn- death toll standing at 431,642, patients transferred to Peter- East of England said: “Trusts in nancial capital Mumbai were sparse because of a public daily cases a day at the height of mark yesterday, the government the health ministry said. borough City hospital and wait- the east of England work in line Ahave almost fully re- holiday. the second wave in May-June, announced. Amidst threat of the third ing lists would be shared across with specialist industry advice sumed suburban rail services for In normal times, more than but new cases have fallen after Taking to Twitter, Union wave of Covid-19 pandemic the local health system until and have been given more than the first time in more than a year, 8mn people travel on Mum- stringent lockdown curbs, with Health Minister Mansukh Man- looming large, the Indian gov- March 2022 while structural £67mn to help them manage as part of a wider easing of Cov- bai’s local trains every day, but overnight infections dropping daviya wrote, “In record-break- ernment yesterday restricted surveys were carried out. their estates programme. id-19 restrictions, as the pace of services have been closed to to 267 new cases and four deaths ing progress, India administers export of rapid antigen tests Reports leaked by a whistle- “Trusts have maintained infections declined. commuters since March 2020, on Sunday. 550mn Covid-19 vaccines. Let’s used to detect Sars CoV2 virus blower to the BBC showed that safe services for patients, who Previously, only essential when the first Covid-19 related India is relying on two home- strengthen India’s fight against infection. West Suffolk hospital, which should access hospital care as workers were allowed to use the lockdown was announced in the produced vaccines, Astra Zene- coronavirus. Let’s get vacci- In a notification dated August has a similar design to Hinch- they normally would, and also trains, but those who are fully state. ca’s Covishield, which is manu- nated!” 16, the directorate general of for- ingbrooke, had hired a law firm introduced a number of meas- vaccinated were allowed on In February this year, com- factured in India by the Serum India as a whole reported eign trade (DGFT) amended the to investigate the potential for ures including improved sur- board trains from Sunday. muters were allowed on trains Institute of India, and Bharat 32,937 new infections of the export policy for Covid-19 rapid corporate manslaughter charg- veillance and use of specialist Parks, seafronts and play- at non-peak hours, before be- Biotech’s Covaxin. novel coronavirus in the last 24 antigen testing kits by putting es in the event of a fatal roof equipment to help identify and grounds were also allowed to ing shut again as the country Almost half of India’s hours, taking its total caseload them under restricted category collapse, while hospital trusts fix any issues immediately.” stay open for all until 10pm local faced a devastating second 950mn adults have received at to 32.23mn, data from the fed- with immediate effect. Police watchdog reopens Evacuees arrive UK plan to ban phones probe into man’s death from classrooms flayed Guardian News and Media this issue for many years now.” London She added: “Our view remains Guardian News and Media raised during Clarke’s inquest in Clarke, who had been diag- that schools and colleges already London October 2020 had prompted it to nosed with paranoid schizo- have strong tried-and-tested review its original investigation. phrenia in 2002, was living in chool and college lead- policies and they are best placed Deborah Coles, the director of supported housing at the Jigsaw ers have condemned the to make their own decisions.” he Independent Office for the charity Inquest, said: “It de- Project, a residential support Sgovernment’s plan to ban McCulloch said schools typi- Police Conduct (IOPC) fies belief that a black man can service, at the time of his death. mobile phones from classrooms cally asked students to keep their Thas reopened its inves- die at the hands of the police The jury said: “It is highly like- as outdated and out of touch, phones in their bags during the tigation into the circumstances with audio recordings saying he ly that at least one officer heard arguing that schools should be academic day, while some had surrounding the death of Kevin cannot breathe and the IOPC fail Clarke say ‘I can’t breathe,’ on one allowed to decide on appropriate policies allowing pupils to use Clarke, a mentally ill black man to interrogate this with police of- of the occasions he repeated it. rules. their phones to help with learn- who could be heard saying the ficers. What an indictment of the Despite this, no action was taken Responding to a department ing and sourcing information. words “I can’t breathe” while he investigation undertaken. other than one officer saying: for education (DfE) consultation Having access to phones also was being restrained by police “This would not have been ex- ‘You’ve got to breathe, you’ve got on student behaviour, the As- enabled secondary schools to shortly before he died. posed without the family’s legal to breathe, breathe, deep breaths.’” sociation of School and College teach about responsible phone The watchdog has admitted representation at the inquest.” Police had been called twice to Leaders said education lead- use and online harms, she said. the words heard on police body- Clarke, 35, died in March 2018 Clarke that day because of con- ers already had student mobile She added that for some learn- cam footage were not explored in Lewisham, south-east London, cerns by staff at the Jigsaw Project phone use under control and ers, such as children in the care with the police officers when they after he was restrained by up to that his mental health was dete- warned that some students, such system, mobile phones could be were interviewed by IOPC offi- nine Metropolitan police officers. riorating. On the first occasion he as those caring for a relative, may an “essential safety measure”, cials. The decision to look at the The inquest jury delivered a was standing in the street hold- be disadvantaged by a strict ap- while young carers might need case again follows findings by an narrative conclusion that Clarke ing a cup of drinking yoghurt. proach. them to “provide essential sup- inquest jury last October about had died as a result of acute be- Wendy Clarke, Clarke’s moth- Julie McCulloch, the director port to parents”. failings by police and ambulance havioural disturbance, in a re- er, and the family’s solicitor, of policy at ASCL, said: “School In its consultation response, services to respond appropriately lapse of schizophrenia, leading Cyrilia Davies Knight of Saun- and college leaders are slightly ASCL also reported that some to Clarke’s mental health crisis. to exhaustion and cardiac arrest. ders Law, welcomed the deci- mystified about the education of the emergency measures de- The jury found that the po- The restraint used by officers, sion to reopen the investigation secretary’s fixation with ban- ployed during the pandemic had lice’s inappropriate use of re- which caused Clarke to struggle, although the law firm said the Evacuees from Kabul leave the plane at RAF Brize ning mobile phones in class- helped tackle antisocial behav- straints contributed to Clarke’s was cited as one of several con- original investigation should not Norton in Oxfordshire, Britain, yesterday. rooms because they have been iour, with some schools and col- death. The IOPC said issues tributing factors. have been closed. dealing with the practicalities of leges planning to keep them. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Our shared fate lies in investing in global vaccine equity The extraordinary global eff ort to develop safe and eff ective Covid-19 vaccines in record time highlights the power of vaccines to bring us closer to our loved ones and to a more prosperous, equitable world in which everyone has the chance to achieve their full potential. Vaccines are among modern medicine’s greatest innovations, allowing billions of people to lead healthy lives. But stopping outbreaks of vaccine- preventable disease – and not only Covid-19 – depends on achieving critical mass with immunisation campaigns. Consider polio. The shuttering of classrooms to protect children from Covid-19 outbreaks might seem unprecedented, but a 1937 polio outbreak in the United States inspired school- by-radio programmes – an early innovation in remote learning. UN climate report: The In those days, polio was thought to affl ict only industrialised countries, until a major outbreak in South Africa in 1948 led to the establishment of the fi rst African foundation for polio research and catalysed greater awareness of the disease’s global burden. In the 1950s, polio paralysed an average of 600,000 people each year. planet is on the edge Fortunately, scientists developed the first polio vaccines later that decade. And since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, vaccines have reduced the Humanity still has a chance corporations have grabbed even more also to decarbonise rapidly. Funds for to social needs also will require global incidence of wild polio cases by more than 99%, from income and wealth, thereby multiplying climate adaptation are now essential, international regulatory co-operation. hundreds of thousands annually to a handful of endemic to step back from the brink. their assets. and proposed global public investment Unfortunately, the current state of cases in two countries. In 2020, Africa was certified as being But will it do so? Today’s new forms of conspicuous can enable swift action on this. global politics means this necessary and free of wild polio, giving the continent a much-needed consumption – such as the world’s To control the still-raging pandemic, feasible agenda is unlikely to be realised. richest man, Jeff Bezos, recently it is imperative to redistribute Leaders of major countries have so far glimmer of hope amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Strong spending $5.5bn for a four-minute ride available vaccine doses immediately, displayed a pathetic lack of ambition. vaccine coverage has made it possible to believe that polio By Jayati Ghosh New Delhi around suborbital space – are literally and remove legal constraints on Instead, they have paid lip service to could become the second disease – after smallpox – to be out of this world. This amount could widening production through these existential challenges, while eradicated through vaccination. instead have funded the Covid-19 compulsory licenses. In addition, the remaining subservient to private capital But the polio clock has not he Apocalypse is now. That Vaccine Global Access (Covax) facility pharmaceutical fi rms that benefi ted and vested interests, and all too willing stopped ticking: back in 2014, is the glaring message of the to provide vaccines to two billion people from large Covid-19 vaccine- to play to national and local galleries. We must the World Health Organisation Tperfect storm of Covid-19 and in poor countries, who are currently development subsidies must share The attitude of G7 governments, unlikely to get them in the next two their technology with other producers which are more obsessed with sounded the alarm when it climate change that has now broken. keep global The pandemic is unlikely to end for years. to increase supply, as the World Health China’s rise than with preserving designated the disease as a Public years, as the novel coronavirus mutates This state of aff airs obviously cannot Organisation Council on the Economics our increasingly fragile world, has vaccine Health Emergency of International into increasingly transmissible, drug- continue for long without major social of Health for All has recommended. been especially depressing. Their Concern. In particular, areas with resistant variants. And the climate tensions and civil unrest. Indeed, the Building resilient and decentralised Covid-19 vaccine nationalism is short- access at the low immunisation rates, and thus catastrophe is no longer “impending” perfect storm we are beginning to manufacturing capacity, including in sighted and obscene, while their rigid low levels of protection, are also but playing out in real time. experience will soon include much the public sector, will be vital in order to attachment to intellectual-property centre of our vulnerable to rare but increasingly The latest report by the more social and political instability. deal eff ectively with future pandemics rights allows private fi rms to restrict Rather than spurring a progressive and other health crises. knowledge and production in order to frequent outbreaks of circulating Intergovernmental Panel on Climate eff orts Change – whose assessments predate and transformative agenda, this could As for economic policy, global tax maximise their profi ts. These stances vaccine-derived poliovirus the extreme climate events of the past descend into ethnic, racial, and other co-operation is a no-brainer. Simple have reduced trust and hampered (cVDPV), which occur when the weakened pathogen originally year – tells us that some drastic adverse forms of confl icts, violence, and chaos. rules that would make multinational international co-operation to tackle the contained in oral polio vaccines eventually regains virulence. climatic changes are now irreversible. This nightmarish scenario can still companies pay the same rate of tax as pandemic. Today, cVDPV outbreaks outnumber wild polio cases. These will aff ect every region, as the be averted with substantially increased purely domestic fi rms, and ensure that Humanity still has a chance to step Although we are closing in on the virus, we are struggling to recent heatwaves, wildfi res, and fl oods international cooperation on a few key the revenues are shared fairly between back from the brink. Will it do so, or maintain the strong vaccine coverage needed to stop these demonstrate. They will also severely issues. On climate, governments could countries, would reduce inequality and will future species wonder why we damage many natural species, and collectively declare that they will cut provide fi scally constrained developing chose to participate actively in our own outbreaks before they start, owing to a lack of resources, adversely aff ect the possibilities for and carbon dioxide and other greenhouse- economies with much-needed resources. destruction? — Project Syndicate confl ict or civil unrest, and pandemic-related disruptions to conditions of human life. gas emissions more sharply in order to Likewise, an international sovereign- immunisation drives. Keeping future global warming to a reach net zero in a decade, rather than debt resolution mechanism would Jayati Ghosh, Executive Secretary of Investing in disease prevention through vaccine development manageable level (even if above the 2015 several decades. reduce many developing countries’ International Development Economics and delivery protects us all and will pay dividends for years to Paris climate agreement goal of 1.5°C) Rich countries with high legacy fi scal burdens, freeing up space for Associates, is Professor of Economics at come. We should thus feel heartened by the stunning speed will require a massive eff ort, involving emissions should obviously make urgent spending. Regulating highly the University of Massachusetts Amherst with which the scientifi c community – helped by many sharp economic-policy reversals in the deepest cuts and transfer green mobile cross-border fi nance, reining in and a member of the Independent every country. Major changes in the technologies to the developing world credit-rating agencies, and introducing Commission for the Reform of previous years of research into other coronaviruses – came global legal and economic architecture without conditions, enabling the latter conditions that make fi nance respond International Corporate Taxation. together to develop eff ective Covid-19 vaccines. will be essential. These investments are bearing fruit not only for Covid-19, For its part, the pandemic has but also for polio. Last year, after a decade of research and devastated employment and livelihoods, development, the novel oral polio vaccine against type 2 pushing hundreds of millions of people, (nOPV2) became the fi rst vaccine to receive a WHO Emergency mostly in the developing world, into Use Listing. Researchers expect that nOPV2 will be less likely poverty and hunger. The International to seed new cVDPV2 outbreaks, thereby helping to hasten the Labour Organisation’s World Employment and Social Outlook Trends eradication of polio. 2021 shows the extent of the damage in When it comes to highly infectious diseases such as Covid-19 grinding detail. In 2020, the pandemic and polio, our fates are bound up together; what aff ects one part caused the loss of nearly 9% of total of the world aff ects us all. Investing in tools for a single country global working hours, equivalent to 255 does little to control or eliminate such global health threats. million full-time jobs. This trend has Instead, we must keep global vaccine access at the centre of continued in 2021, with working-hour our eff orts. Strong national commitments and fi nancing for the losses equivalent to 140 million full- time jobs in the fi rst quarter and 127 Immunisation Agenda 2030 framework can help get us there. million jobs in the second quarter. Globalisation has already brought us closer together. With a On current trends, projected commitment to equitable immunisation access, the world can employment growth will be insuffi cient advance toward a shared future of health and prosperity. to make up for these losses. So, even in — Project Syndicate 2022, total employment will be lower than in 2019 by the equivalent of at least 23 million full-time jobs. This is despite relatively strong job growth in To Advertise the United States, meaning that labour- market deterioration in other, mostly [email protected] poorer, regions will be even sharper and more intense. Moreover, the “new” Display jobs associated with recovery from the 44466621 44418811 pandemic will be predominantly low- paying and poor quality. Classified Meanwhile, economic inequality 44466609 44418811 between and within countries has reached levels that were unimaginable Subscription in the already extremely unequal pre-pandemic world. While many [email protected] people face substantial income losses, declining access to basic needs, acute deprivation, and hunger, a tiny minority © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved of the extremely wealthy and a few large POIGNANT: A boat lies on the bottom of Amazonas river, in the city of Manaus, Brazil. (Reuters file photo) Gulf Times Tuesday, August 17, 2021 11 WORLD

Pakistan helping evacuate 431 Afghans working Frantic Afghans try to fl ee, cling to US plane taking off for Denmark Reuters in Kabul Kabul

Pakistan is helping evacuate diplomatic and international cores of Afghans ran alongside a personnel from Kabul including US military plane as it taxied on a 431 Afghan nationals working Srunway at Kabul’s airport yester- for the Danish government, day and several clung to the side in an Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah apparent attempt to fl ee the Taliban- Mahmood Qureshi said in a controlled capital, a video posted on so- tweet yesterday. cial media showed. “Pakistan continues to The footage shared by Afghanistan’s demonstrate a constructive role largest private broadcaster, Tolo news, in Flag of Afghanistan including highlighted the chaos at Hamid Kar- facilitating peace that is Afghan zai International Airport after Taliban led and owned among many fi ghters entered Kabul following the economic & humanitarian withdrawal of foreign forces. eff orts. Our mission in Kabul is Reuters was not immediately able to working tirelessly to issue visas, verify the footage or reports that some to evacuate diplomats, NGO people were killed falling from aircraft. workers, media personnel et al,” At least fi ve people were killed as the he tweeted. chaos mounted at the airport, according Earlier, after meeting a to witnesses, though one person waiting delegation of Afghan leaders for a fl ight told Reuters it was unclear in Islamabad yesterday in whether those killed had been shot or Islamabad, Qureshi said it was trampled in a stampede. “incumbent on the Afghan US troops fi red warning shots to stop leadership to use this historic people getting on fl ights taking out dip- opportunity to pave the way for lomats and embassy employees and two an inclusive and comprehensive gunmen were also shot at the airport, political solution in Afghanistan”, US offi cials told Reuters. according to a statement issued The fl ights were later halted because by the Foreign Off ice. of the chaos, but there was no immedi- The foreign minister welcomed ate comment on the deaths. the delegation at the Ministry Videos and photos posted on social This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows a crowds of people on the tarmac during the chaotic scene underway at Hamid Karzai International of Foreign Aff airs and discussed media showed hundreds of civilians Airport in Afghanistan as thousands of people converged on the tarmac and airport runways as countries attempt to evacuate personnel from the city yesterday. (AFP) with the leaders the situation in invading the airport’s runway, jostling Afghanistan — which is gripped to climb stairs onto overhead gangways Rakhshanda Jilali, an Afghan human ing Ambassador Ross Wilson, had been people. Local news agency Asvaka re- One witness said he had seen fi ve bod- by panic following the Taliban and sitting on the top of passenger jets rights activist who was trying to get to transferred to the airport to await evac- ported that some people who had clung ies piled up in a vehicle. A video posted entering Kabul and taking in the hope of getting a fl ight out. Pakistan, told Reuters in a message from uation. to the outside of a plane plunged to their on social media showed three bodies on control of the presidential palace “This is our airport but we are see- the airport. One video showed a military helicop- deaths after it took off . Reuters could the ground near what appeared to be an and President Ashraf Ghani ing diplomats being evacuated while A US State Department spokesper- ter fl ying low to pave a path for a plane not verify the report or footage shared airport side entrance. leaving the country. we wait in complete uncertainty,” said son said all embassy personnel, includ- trying to take off through crowds of by the agency. Reuters could not verify the footage. Russia, US discuss Afghan crisis; to continue talks UNSC pushes for talks to with China, Pakistan, UN form new Afghan govt

Moscow sees Kabul ‘stabilising’ and Taliban ‘restoring order’, Reuters and promising to respect wom- United Nations en’s rights. ambassador will meet the militia force in Kabul today Ireland’s UN Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov region, the foreign ministry said. he UN Security Council on the Security Council to stand and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken The Russian ambassador was due to meet yesterday called for talks with the women of Afghanistan discussed the situation in Afghanistan by the Taliban today and In the statement, Tto create a new govern- amid “multiple and credible re- phone and agreed to continue talks with Russia confirmed it had “established working ment in Afghanistan and an end ports of summary executions, China, Pakistan and the United Nations, contacts with representatives of the new to fi ghting and abuse after UN forced marriage and of sexual Russia said yesterday. authorities”. chief Antonio Guterres warned and gender-based violence.” The Russian foreign ministry said Blinken Unlike Western countries — which scrambled of “chilling” curbs on human “The Taliban have reportedly informed Lavrov about the actions the to get diplomats out of Afghanistan as the rights and mounting violations said that women have noth- US administration is now undertaking, militants completed their takeover of the against women and girls. ing to fear from them,” she told particularly about the evacuation of country this weekend — Russia has said its The 15-member council is- the council. “Telling the inter- US embassy staff and solving acute embassy in Kabul will stay open. sued a statement, agreed by national community what it humanitarian issues. Ambassador Zhirnov told Russian state consensus, after Guterres ap- wants to hear will fool no one. Lavrov told Blinken about Russia’s view on media that the Taliban had already started to pealed to the body to “use all We will not turn a blind eye to the situation in Afghanistan and its contacts guard his embassy. tools at its disposal” to sup- the truth.” with political powers there in order to secure Speaking to Ekho Moskvy radio yesterday press a global terrorist threat Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, speaks outside a US Ambassador to the United stability along with law and order. evening, Zhirnov said that after the Taliban’s from Afghanistan and guaran- UNSC meeting on Afghanistan yesterday at the United Nations in Nations Linda Thomas-Green- “The heads of foreign services agreed to first day in control of Kabul the “impressions tee respect for human rights. New York. (AFP) fi eld called for a stop to attacks continue consultations with representatives are good”. “We cannot and must not on civilians and respect for hu- of China, Pakistan, other countries concerned “That is the situation in Kabul is better than abandon the people of Afghan- present in at least 15 Afghan parties to refrain from hostili- man rights and freedoms. and the UN to facilitate the creation of under Ashraf Ghani,” he said referring to istan,” Guterres told the Secu- provinces, consisting mainly of ties and to foster a settlement Afghanistan’s UN ambassa- grounds for an inclusive inter-Afghan Afghanistan’s president who fled abroad on rity Council. Afghan and Pakistani nationals, peacefully,” he said. dor Ghulam Isaczai, speaking dialogue in the new conditions,” the ministry Sunday. The Security Council but also people from Bangla- The Taliban ruled Afghani- for millions of people “whose said. Also yesterday, Russia’s foreign minister stressed the importance of desh, India and Myanmar. stan between 1996 and 2001. fate hangs in the balance,” The Taliban seized Afghanistan’s capital, Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his combating terrorism in Af- “Afghanistan must never They did not allow women to called on the United Nations Kabul, on Sunday, prompting the United US counterpart Antony Blinken to discuss ghanistan to ensure other again become a haven for ter- work, girls were not allowed to not to recognise any adminis- States and other countries to evacuate their Afghanistan. countries were not threatened rorists. This is the bottom line,” attend school, and women had tration that achieves power by citizens and diplomats, but Russia said the The two sides agreed to “continue or attacked, and said “that nei- China’s deputy UN Ambas- to cover their faces and be ac- force or any government that is Taliban gave assurance that it was safe consultations... to help create pre-conditions ther the Taliban nor any other sador Geng Shuang told the companied by a male relative if not inclusive. for the Russian embassy to continue its for the start of an inclusive inter-Afghan Afghan group or individual council. “We hope that the Tal- they wanted to venture out of The United Nations has operations. dialogue in the new environment,” the should support terrorists op- iban... make a clean break with their homes. about 3,000 national staff and While thousands of civilians desperate to Russian ministry said in a statement. erating on the territory of any the terrorist organisations.” “We are receiving chilling re- about 300 international staff flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul airport Foreign ministry official Zamir Kabulov other country.” Russian UN Ambassador ports of severe restrictions on on the ground in Afghanistan. yesterday, the Russian ambassador there, said yesterday Russia would decide about It called for an immediate Vassily Nebenzia said the Tali- human rights throughout the Some have been relocated to Dmitry Zhirnov, said the situation in Kabul recognising the new Taliban government cessation of all hostilities and ban’s quick defeat of govern- country. I am particularly con- Kabul, but none have been was safe and calm, RIA news agency based “on the conduct of the new the establishment, through in- ment forces “took everyone by cerned by accounts of mount- evacuated. reported. authorities”. clusive negotiations, of a new surprise.” ing human rights violations “The United Nations pres- Lavrov also spoke by phone with his Chinese The Kremlin has in recent years reached out government that should in- “Currently, we believe that against the women and girls of ence will adapt to the security counterpart, Wang Yi, and discussed political to the Taliban and hosted its representatives clude women. there is no point in panick- Afghanistan,” Guterres said. situation. But above all, we will co-ordination regarding the situation in in Moscow several times, most recently last Independent UN experts re- ing... a widespread bloodbath Taliban offi cials have issued stay and deliver in support of Afghanistan and its implications for the month. ported to the Security Coun- amongst civilians has been statements saying they want the Afghan people in their hour cil last month that al Qaeda is avoided. We urge all Afghan peaceful international relations of need,” Guterres said. Allies miff ed with US over Afghanistan ‘debacle’

AFP kel admitted that developments in the allies and in the international commu- Berlin country were “bitter”. nity,” he said. Germany ‘must urgently rescue 10,000’ She said however that once the Unit- Striking a more diplomatic note, For- ed States decided to withdraw from eign Minister Heiko Maas said the fail- Germany must urgently evacuate up to 10,000 people from Afghanistan llies and critics alike yesterday Afghanistan, it was clear that Germany ure to anticipate the speed of the Tali- for whom it has responsibility, Chancellor Angela Merkel told party col- condemned the United States and other allies had to follow suit. ban’s advance was a collective error. leagues, warning that the fallout from the conflict will last for a very long Aover the botched end to its 20- The decision was “ultimately made “There is no talking this up. All of us time. The remarks, made at a closed-door meeting of her Christian Demo- year Nato campaign in Afghanistan, by the Americans”, and “domestic po- — the federal government, intelligence crat party yesterday and relayed by meeting participants, reflect growing with a leading German politician slam- litical reasons” were partly to blame, services, the international community concern about bloodshed in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized the capital ming the pullout as “the biggest deba- said the chancellor, according to par- — misjudged the situation,” Maas told and proclaimed peace. “We are witnessing diff icult times,” Merkel said. cle” in the alliance’s history. ticipants in the meeting. a press conference in Berlin. “Now, we must focus on the rescue mission.” Merkel said those needing Stunned by the Taliban’s lightning “The troop withdrawal sparked a “For the many who have built Britain has also slammed the Ameri- evacuation included 2,500 Afghan support staff as well as human rights advance across the country after the domino eff ect” that culminated in the on the progress and freedom — can decision to leave Afghanistan, with activists, lawyers and others whom the government sees as being at risk departure of Western troops, Nato al- Taliban sweeping back into power, said especially women — these are Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warning if they remained in the country, up to 10,000 altogether. Foreign Minister lies have been left scrambling to evacu- Merkel, whose country provided the bitter events” on Friday that the Taliban’s resurgence Heiko Maas said Germany was seeking to evacuate as many people at risk ate their nationals as well as vulnerable second biggest contingent of troops in — Angela Merkel, German would create a breeding ground for ex- as it could, adding that Nato allies had misjudged the situation when they Afghans. the Nato operation after the US. chancellor tremists that threatened the world. thought Afghan government forces could hold back the Taliban unaided. The Taliban’s return to power and “For the many who have built on the “Of course Al Qaeda will prob- “We want to get as many people out of the country as quickly as possible,” chaotic scenes of people desperately progress and freedom — especially wom- conservative candidate to succeed Mer- ably come back,” he said, warning that Maas told reporters outside the Foreign Ministry in remarks echoed by Fi- seeking to get on Western military en — these are bitter events,” she said. kel as chancellor in September’s elec- would lead to “a security threat to us nance Minister Olaf Scholz. Scholz, who like Maas is of the centre-left Social jets to flee Kabul have sparked criti- The leader of her party had harsher tions. The focus at the moment must and our interests”. Democratic Party, said: “The goal is an air bridge to save as many people as cism of the two-decade operation, words, calling the entire Afghanistan be on the German military’s evacuation “I felt that that was a mistake to have possible. The international community must now stand together to support which has cost the alliance thousands operation a disaster for Nato. operation from Afghanistan, he said. done it that way, that we’ll all, as an in- neighbouring countries of Afghanistan. A large refugee movement will of lives and over a trillion dollars in “It is the biggest debacle that Nato “But we will talk about the causes ternational community, probably pay begin soon.” Merkel told her party that Germany should co-operate with funding. has suff ered since its founding, and and conclusions drawn after this res- the consequences of that,” Wallace said countries bordering Afghanistan to support those fleeing now, adding: In a meeting with her party’s top we’re standing before an epochal cue mission — a no-holds-barred of the agreement signed between the “This topic will keep us busy for a very long time.” brass, German Chancellor Angela Mer- change,” said Armin Laschet, who is the analysis of errors in Germany, with our US and the Taliban. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 QATAR

Netfl ix co-founder to speak at Education City Speaker event

erial entrepreneur, and co- around innovation and entrepre- ing a business as per the 2019-2020 sized enterprises that contribute to Speaker Series seeks to align with that founder and fi rst chief executive neurship – coupled with sustain- National Entrepreneurship Context the country’s economy. mission. Sof Netfl ix, Marc Randolph, will ability – Randolph’s talk will focus on Index created by the Global Entrepre- Through such eff orts, the QF’s mis- The Education City Speaker Se- be sharing lessons from his journey the startup culture and how to foster neurship Monitor. sion is to provide the infrastructure, ries edition with Randolph will be a – at what is now the world’s largest entrepreneurial mindsets, and start The QF’s Qatar Science & Tech- talent, and policies across the research 45-minute discussion, and will be fol- streaming service – with audiences in building innovative businesses that nology Park is home to a host of pro- and innovation spectrum to help in- lowed by an opportunity for the online the upcoming edition of Qatar Foun- are socially and environmentally con- grammes that aim to support the vestors, established companies, and audience to put their questions to the dation (QF)’s Education City Speaker scious. start-up culture and ecosystem in entrepreneurs succeed. entrepreneur. Series. The entrepreneur’s talk comes at Qatar, including the Arab Innovation In doing this, Qatar Foundation is It will be available to view on Mi- The discussion will be held virtually a time as Qatar’s startup ecosystem Academy, XLR8, and Stars of Science, working toward becoming the des- crosoft Teams with English, Arabic, on August 23 from 5-6pm. is seeing a healthy growth, with the thereby improving the country’s pri- tination of choice for innovators lo- French, Spanish, and Italian subti- Titled Don’t Let Dreams Be Dreams: country being ahead in the region in vate sector, and helping transform cally, regionally, and internationally tles, and on the QF’s Facebook and Marc Randolph: serial entrepreneur best What to Do with an Idea, and themed terms of ease of starting and develop- startups into small- and medium- and this edition of the Education City YouTube channels. known for his co-founding of Netflix. Qatar Museums issues ‘Public Art Student Open Call’

atar Museums (QM) is giving students in the Qcountry an opportunity to propose a public artwork, which will be created using recy- cled materials, it was announced. In its Instagram post yester- day, the QM said its “Public Art Student Open Call” aims “to fur- ther advocate its ‘no waste’ poli- cy for a temporary installation to be displayed in public spaces in Doha”. Students can apply until Sep- tember 5. The QM noted that “students must be enrolled or have gradu- ated within two years as an alum- nus of any local school, universi- ty or college”. “Up to fi ve winning proposals will be chosen, and the selected students will be granted up to QR25,000 to realise their con- cept by December 2021,” the QM said. Under the theme Reduce, Re- use, Recycle, this edition of the The project is due to be completed by the second quarter of 2022. QM’s Open Call urges students to advised to consider the nature QM said. “These workshops will consider the materials they will of public artworks as works that be off ered to the selected stu- use for the artwork, in addition are accessible and susceptible to dents for them to further develop to its impact. touch.” and enhance their designs.” “While the type of material to Subodh Gupta, Guerra de la In April, the QM, in partner- be used must be found materials Paz, Yuken Teruya, and Dotun ship with Qatari Diar, unveiled a Duhail Interchange project and everyday objects to create Popoola are some of the artists series of public art installations the sculptures, the theme of the who use recycled materials for at Lusail City’s Crescent Park as sculpture itself is open,” the QM their pieces, according to the part of its Public Art Annual Stu- said on its website. “The stu- QM. dent Competition. dents must consider what mes- “Public Art Curatorial Plan- Such initiative provided an will cut travel time by 90% sage they would like to convey ning proposes to arrange a series opportunity for students to en- through their work.” of workshops with established hance and further develop their “Students are to consider the local artists who are known to artistic skills and creativity. he Duhail Interchange choice of materials, durabil- work with recycled materials Participants “were able to ex- Upgrade Project is poised ity, foundation work, fabricators, for the students to gain a better perience the making of a public Tto remarkably improve and installation methods when understanding of how to re-use artwork from fi ne-tuning their traffi c on Al Shamal road and fi nalising a public art proposal,” various materials and the versa- concepts, working closely with between Al Khafj i street and Al the QM said. “Students are also tility of recycled artworks,” the local fabricators to installation”. Gharrafa street, while reducing travel time by up to 90%. The Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) has informed that the project will be completed by the second quarter of 2022 while replacing the existing Du- hail Intersection and alleviating traffi c congestion in the area by providing free-fl owing and ef- fi cient traffi c movement in all directions. Roads on the surrounding network will simultaneously benefi t from the improved traf- fi c fl ow. In August 2020, Ashghal opened Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge that provides free fl ow between Al Khafaji Street and Al Gharrafa Street and cuts travel time by 95% between areas of West Bay, Al Markhiya and Du- hail towards Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan. Parts of traffi c signals within the project were also opened by Ashghal. The Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge approximately QR800mn. facilitate smooth traffi c fl ow connection from Al Gharrafa consists of a 400m three-lane The new bridges will deliver that was once possible at Sheikh Street towards Al Shamal and dual carriageway to accommo- four lanes in each direction, Faisal Roundabout. Sabah Al Ahmad corridor. date about 12,000 vehicles per providing free-fl ow connec- As part of the project, a new Ashghal has also informed hour on both sides. tivity from Al Shamal Road to- underpass that will allow road that a total of 5.5km of pedes- The Duhail Interchange wards Doha and Al Khafj i Street users to exit Al Shamal Road trian and cycle paths will be Upgrade project consists of a towards Al Gharrafa Street. onto the service roads to access constructed parallel to the main three-level interchange, includ- A new signalised junction the nearby malls is also con- carriageway along Duhail and ing two new bridges and 3.3km under Al Shamal Bridge will re- structed. Gharrafa areas and Al Shamal of main carriageway valued at place Duhail Roundabout and The underpass serves as the Road.