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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Thursday June 25, 2020 Dhu Al-Qa’da 4, 1441 Vol.13 no. 4982 qR 2

Fajr: 3:15 am Dhuhr: 11:36 am fine Asr: 2:59 pm Maghrib: 6:31 pm High : 40°C LOW : 31°C Isha: 8:01 pm

Nation 2 Europe 7 Business 8 COVID-19 offers an opportunity Russia stages grand WWII TOTAL, QSTP extend to promote human rights in parade ahead of vote on partnership agreement societies, says NHRC chief Putin reforms for another decade

COVID-19 precautionary measures to continue: Cabinet 50% employees to return to workplace from July 1 QNA its decision regarding the suspension Doha ● of medical services in health facilities. Amir directs to send medical Private healthcare The Cabinet allowed the private sector The Cabinet on Wednesday affirmed facilities to operate health facilities to provide service with- that the precautionary measures taken in 60 percent of their capacities while assistance to Belarus to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) at 60 percent continuing to offer emergency services. His Highness The Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin pandemic will continue until further In implementation of the decision, Hamad Al Thani has directed to send medical assistance notice. capacity the Cabinet said the following meas- to the Republic of Belarus as a support from Qatar for the The decision, which is effective ures must be taken into account: efforts of Belarus in combating the novel coronavirus (COV- from July 1, came after the Cabinet lis- ● They must continue ● Continued implementation of ID-19) pandemic. (QNA) tened to a detailed presentation made the previous exceptions decided by the by HE the Minister of Public Health on to provide emergency Cabinet in this regard. the latest developments to reduce the services ● Adherence to health require- spread of the virus. ments, precautionary measures and The Cabinet meeting was chaired procedures and controls determined by Prime Minister and Minister of In- tions, the Cabinet decided to amend its 50 percent of the total number of em- by the Ministry of Public Health. Envoys praise Qatar’s free terior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa decision regarding reducing the num- ployees will return to workplace, while ● The competent authorities - each bin Abdulaziz Al Thani through a video ber of employees present in the work- the rest of the employees will continue in its jurisdiction - shall take the neces- conference. place of government entities as well as their work remotely from their homes, sary measures in this regard. high-quality healthcare Within the framework of the plan the private sector. or when requested, as appropriate. for all in the country to gradually lift the COVID-19 restric- As per the decision, no more than The Cabinet also decided to amend See also page 2  The ambassadors from Asia and the Americas and representa- tives of the United Nations offices accredited to the Qatar Attiyah meets Russian President’s special has praised the measures taken by the country to protect the Fitch affirms Qatar’s rating health of all. They have especially praised the provision of free envoy for Middle East and Africa high-quality healthcare to all residents of Qatar. This came as the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokes- at ‘AA-’ with stable outlook person for the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management Satyendra Pathak Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater separately held a series of Doha remote meetings with the Ambassadors of Asia and the Ameri- cas and representatives of the United Nations offices accredit- Fitch Ratings on Wednesday an- ed to Qatar. She informed them of the plan to gradually remove nounced that it has affirmed Qatar’s the restrictions in force due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) long-term foreign-currency Issuer De- pandemic. She also answered their questions and inquiries fault Rating (IDR) at ‘AA-’ with a stable about the four stages of lifting COVID-19 restrictions. outlook. Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for International The rating agency said that Qatar’s Development HE Khalid bin Rashid Al Mansour and directors ‘AA-’ rating reflects a strong sovereign of continental departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs net foreign asset position, one of the attended the meetings. (QNA) world’s highest ratios of GDP per capita and a flexible public finance structure allowing for favourable debt dynamics and a robust response to limit the fiscal (QCB) are implementing a QR75 billion impact of the coronavirus pandemic. stimulus package mainly consisting of “These strengths are balanced liquidity injections by the QCB, stock against a high level of debt and ex- market investments by government ceptionally high contingent liabilities funds, support to businesses through compared with rated peers, heavy hy- loans and guarantees by Qatar Develop- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin drocarbon dependence and mediocre ment Bank and postponement and sus- Mohamed Al Attiyah on Wednesday met Special Envoy of the Russian President to scores on measures of governance and pension of fees and taxes by the govern- the Middle East and African Countries and Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian doing business,” Fitch said. ment. We estimate that only around 1-2 Federation Mikhail Bogdanov. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations To limit the fiscal impact of corona- percent of GDP of the stimulus package and the means of enhancing and developing them. (QNA) virus, the rating agency said, “Qatar’s is budgetary, and this will be offset by government and Qatar Central Bank spending cuts elsewhere.” page 8 Guarantee programme launched to support local farmers Tribune News Network contract for the 2020-2021 season be- Q U secures 21st place in global Doha tween farmers and Mahaseel to grow rankings for young universities the aforementioned crops will be at The Ministry of Municipality and En- incentive prices for farmers, guarantee- vironment (MME), in cooperation with ing them the best income. Mahaseel, has launched the guarantee The ministry pointed out that this programme to support local farmers season will be for the first time through by signing contracts in advance to pur- the guarantee programme to contract chase their vegetable products for the for first and second class vegetables at 2020-2021 season. great prices. The ministry said through The programme aims at setting the guarantee programme, the average guaranteed prices for the purchase of contract prices for basic vegetables is Qatar University (QU) has seen significant improvement in local farm products and for farmers to about QR5 per kilogramme, along with international rankings for young universities. The university prepare their production plan accord- fixed guarantee rates for the first and ranked 21 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2021 Top ing to the needs of the market. second class of vegetables throughout 50 Under 50 ranking, moving up 10 places from the previ- The programme requires farmers ● The programme ● The guarantee ● It also guarantees the season, regardless of market prices. ous year. to sign contracts with Mahaseel for 12 requires farmers programme fixed rates for the The ministry called on farmers to QU also ranked 73rd in the Times Higher Education (THE) types of basic vegetables: tomatoes, to sign contracts ensures average first and second initiate registration for pre-contract Young University Ranking, meaning it improved six places cucumbers, green pepper, pepper, egg- early with Mahaseel to develop their from the previous year when it ranked 79th. The two reports plant, Roman lettuce, American let- with Mahaseel for contract price for class of vegetables production plans, sell at high guaran- evaluate universities that are under 50 years. tuce, sesame, parsley, mint, green on- 12 types of basic basic vegetables throughout the tee prices, and achieve distinct income ion and dill. vegetables at QR5 per kg 2020-2021 season for their farms. The registration is open Continued on page 2  The ministry explained that the until October 31. 02 Thursday, June 25, 2020

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Cabinet approves draft Muraikhi bids farewell to Indonesian ambassador Shura Council members participate in Arab decision to establish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi on Parliament meetings National Counter Wednesday met with QNA Ambassador of Indone- Doha Terrorism Committee sia to Qatar HE Muham- mad Basri Sidehabi on The Shura Council on Wednesday participated QNA the occasion of the end in the third meeting of the fourth ordinary ses- Doha of his tenure in the coun- sion of the second legislative term of the Arab try. During the meeting, Parliament held via video conferencing technol- The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft Muraikhi thanked the ogy. Cabinet decision to form the National Counter Ter- ambassador for his ef- The meeting discussed reports on the works rorism Committee and define its work and remu- forts in supporting and of the permanent committees of the Arab parlia- nerations. strengthening bilateral ment, which were held from June 14 to 17. The preparation of the draft resolution comes relations, wishing him The Shura Council was represented at the within the framework of updating legislation and success in his future as- meetings by HE Yousif bin Rashid Al Khater, HE replaces Cabinet Decision No. 7 of 2007 on the signments. (QNA) Saqr bin Fahd Al Muraikhi, HE Dr Aisha bint establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Yousuf Al Mannai and HE Khalid bin Abdul- Committee. lah Al Buainain, who are members of the Arab The draft stipulates that the National Counter Parliament. Terrorism Committee should be formed with two representatives from Ministry of Interior -- one of whom will be the chairman of the committee -- in addition to a representative each from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Public Prosecution, the State Security Service and Qatar Central Bank. The committee will assume the powers in ac- COVID-19 offers an opportunity to promote cordance with the provisions of the Counter-Ter- rorism Law promulgated by Law No. 27 of 2019. The Cabinet also issued two draft laws amend- ing provisions of Law No. 1 of 1986 on the regis- human rights in societies, says NHRC chief tration of pharmaceutical companies and their products, and Law No. 12 of 2006 on the cancelled QNA Development Program and the tions (GANHRI) by promoting Tripartite Partnership on its Municipality of Mesaieed. Doha Global Alliance for National Hu- Marri described the tripar- information sharing and good first day discussed perspectives The draft laws were issued after reviewing the man Rights Institutions. tite partnership as an ambi- practices. of regional networks under the recommendations of the Shura Council on them. CHAIRMAN of the National Hu- Marri described the tripar- tious and purposeful project The virtual remote dialogue heading Main Trends, including The meeting approved the Cabinet’s draft deci- man Rights Committee (NHRC) tite partnership as an ambitious amid the exceptional cir- enables trans-Pacific partners addressing COVID-19, forward- sion to amend some provisions of Decision No. 35 and Secretary-General of the and purposeful project amid cumstances due to the and broader stakeholders in the looking priorities, strategic of 2014 on the establishment of a committee for Global Alliance of National Hu- the exceptional circumstances spread of the coronavirus United Nations system to define planning processes and part- organising heavy transport by adding a representa- man Rights Institutions Dr Ali due to the spread of the coro- common and complementary nership opportunities in Africa, tive from the Ministry of Municipality and Environ- bin Smaikh Al Marri has said navirus. priorities for engagement and the Americas, Asia Pacific and ment as a member of the committee. that the coronavirus (COVID-19 He said, “This meeting high- tions system with regard to im- support in the coming period. Europe, along with presenta- The Cabinet also gave approval to a draft proto- ) pandemic not only poses threat lights our ability to adapt to portant global trends on human It also provides an opportu- tions from the Global Alliance col amending the air transport agreement between to people, but also represents an changes in the world, stresses rights. nity for national human rights OHCHR and UNDP on priority the governments of Qatar and the US; a draft mem- opportunity for rights’ bodies to the power of our mutual com- The annual meeting of the institutions to interact directly actions and major achievements orandum of understanding for cooperation in the exchange the best practices and munication and confirms our Tripartite Partnership (TPP) to with the United Nations, take since the last trilateral partner- field of central banking between the Qatar Central promote human rights across collective will to build a better support national human rights note of key developments in the ship meeting, and other reports Bank and the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. the world. tomorrow together.” institutions (NHRIs) aims, over international organisation with and findings. Besides, the Cabinet reviewed the results of the Dr Marri made the remarks Marri added that the meet- two days, to enhance coopera- regard to its work and provide The meeting also discussed second extraordinary meeting of the trade coop- at the opening of the annual tri- ing seeks a strategic discussion tion between the United Nations important national, regional in an open discussion session eration committee of the GCC member states, held partite meeting held remotely between the Global Alliance and national human rights insti- and global experiences and the role of national human rights on April 16 via video conferencing technology, and between the Office of the High and representative regional tutions, their regional networks knowledge to United Nations institutions in implementing the took the appropriate decision on them. Commissioner for Human networks on some of the major and the Global Coalition of Na- partners. sustainable development goals Rights and the United Nations developments in the United Na- tional Human Rights Institu- The annual meeting of the (SDGs).

QU shows consistent progress QU gets 14 research grants from QNRF amid COVID-19 1,582 more people in international rankings Tribune News Network munication research area and one for recover from COVID-19 Continued from page 1  Doha the economic research. As many as 1,199 people tested positive for Prof Mohamed al Salem, director coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday, The QS Top 50 Under 50 measures universities according QATAR University (QU) has respond- of Research Support at Qatar Uni- bringing the total number of active cases in to the same six indicators used for their World University ed to the emergency call by Qatar versity, Said: “The emergency call the country to 17,591, the Ministry of Public Rankings - academic reputation, employer reputation, re- National Research Fund (QNRF) con- launched by Qatar National Research Health (MoPH) said in its daily report. search citations per faculty member, faculty/student ratio, cerning coronavirus (COVID-19), with Fund is designed to study sudden and In the last 24 hours, 1,582 more people proportion of international students and proportion of in- its faculty members and researchers significant situations and help Qatari recovered from the disease, taking the to- ternational faculty members. applying QNRF proposals to address society and its institutions mitigate tal number of recoveries in Qatar to 73,083. THE uses a modified version of their world university their research areas, also to support their impact. It’s really challenging Sadly, five people aged 57, 58, 77, 85 and 93 rankings by recalibrating the weightings to reflect the pro- the national research priorities objec- and innovative to write proposals dur- years succumbed to the virus, taking the death file of missions of young universities. The performance tive. ing this pandemic. We are proud of toll in the country to 104. The ministry offered indicators for THE are categorised into five areas: teach- Qatar University has been granted Qatar University’s response to this call condolences and sympathy to the families of ing, research, citations, international outlook and industry 14 of the total of 21 awarded propos- along with the other calls and research the deceased. income. als by QNRF to all institutions inside opportunities that tackles the current Meanwhile, seven more patients admitted QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said, “QU has Qatar. pandemic COVID-19.” to intensive care due to health complications shown consistent success and progress in a number of im- The awards were for different col- This call complements QNRF’s resulting from infection with the virus, bring- portant international rankings in various categories. Being leges and centres within Qatar, Uni- diverse portfolio of programmes and ing the total number of critical cases in the recognised as one of the top young universities and show- versity. The research centres bagged Institute. calls and is designed to provide fund- ICUs to 219. ing improvement year after year in two prestigious reports five awards including two each by Bio- The university has received nine ing on fast-track basis to address the The ministry said the new cases of infection is a validation of our academic integrity and an affirmation medical Research Center and Centre awards in the health research area, challenges and opportunities present- have been introduced to complete isolation at to the efforts QU has made in our areas of focus such as of Advanced Materials and one by the three for the social and cultural life, ed by sudden and emergent situations the various medical facilities, where they are research and international competitiveness.” Social and Economic Survey Research one award for the transport and com- such as that of COVID-19. receiving the necessary healthcare. (TNN) AJMI’s Story platform publishes Black Stories Matter series Ministry recalls Ford Mustang 2019 model Tribune News Network heart of the narrative.” Doha “The project is to enhance the The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), value of an in-depth human nar- in cooperation with Almana Motors Company, The Al Jazeera Media Institute rative in dealing with major events dealer of Ford in Qatar has announced the recall Platform, Story, published the se- and issues,” she said, “the greatest of 2019 Ford Mustang model due to a malfunc- ries ‘Black Stories Matters’ from value of the series stems from the tion in the warning message ‘not in park’ and as- June 17 to 22. experience of journalists who have sociated audible chime that could disappear too The illustrated narrative plat- worked on the project with their quickly when the vehicle is turned off. form, published over a week, il- stories and their proximity, and The recall campaign is part of the ongoing lustrated stories that address thus the ability to understand the efforts of the ministry to protect consumers and black Americans’ issues. The story they tell more deeply.” ensure that dealers monitor vehicle defects and series included a number of il- The series is part of the “Sto- repairs. lustrated journalistic stories of ry” platform’s vision to adopt The Ministry said that it will coordinate the African-American individuals, a careful journalistic narrative maintenance and repair work with the dealer and with texts that simulated their discrimination against blacks in approach to the media, imitating absence of this type of narrative based on an in-depth human ap- will communicate with customers to ensure that own experiences. America from a social and psy- a sensitive ethnic issue through in the media, both traditional and proach away from current stand- they have completed the necessary repairs. The stories highlighted is- chological perspective through very special and intimate memo- digital. The press news is led by ards and the speed of news cov- The Ministry urged all customers to report sues related to their search for the memories and experiences of ries and events, says Faten Jabai the numbers and the names of erage. The stories were posted any violations to its Consumer Protection and their origins and identities, so- their characters. of The Story Platform Team. the areas of demonstrations and on the Instagram and Facebook Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, which cial ostracism, covert racism, and The series addresses these “The importance of this series,” major political analysis, but this platform accounts, as well as in processes complaints, inquiries and sugges- other issues that simulated racial stories from a new, unfamiliar she continues, “stems from the series puts the persons in the Arabic and English. tions. (TNN) Nation Thursday, June 25, 2020 03 Education is key to Qatar’s economic strength: Qatar Debates panellists

Tribune News Network “Global indicators show that the future of the nation’s to assess the economy now, nomic growth has side costs Doha the prosperity of Qatar’s econ- economy should be built on as the global economy is in and we must be aware of the omy despite its exposure to human capital. a transitional phase and all effects of these costs, including Education and embracing various crises. Although the The Oasis of Dialogue countries around the world an increase in inflation rates technology as part of learn- economy of Qatar was affected event, which saw participants are affected by the pandemic.” and shifts in the demographic ing will help to ensure that by the blockade, it accelerated share their views on Qatar’s Dr Khater said the pan- and cultural composition of Qatar’s economy survives the growth of some sectors as economic future via social me- demic is set to lead to a de- society. To address them, radi- and rebounds from the global dozens of new factories were dia, also featured panellist Dr crease or contraction of Gross cal solutions must be found COVID-19 pandemic, an eco- opened and some laws were Khaled Al Khater, a researcher Domestic Product, saying: in the growth model so that it nomics expert has said in the introduced to encourage for- at the Centre for Macroeco- “This virus came without gives us better outcomes. second edition of Oasis of eign capital to enter the Qatari nomics and the Institute for warning and struck both sup- “We must move from a Dialogue organised by Qatar market.” Emerging Markets at the Uni- ply and demand, making it rentier growth model to a Foundation member QatarDe- Dr Maadid pointed out versity of Cambridge, UK, who different from previous crises growth model based on build- bate. that while the manufacturing, highlighted the strength of the which affected the supply side ing human capital, technologi- Speaking as a panellist commercial, real estate and Oasis of Dialogue Qatari economy and its ability only.” cal transformation and indus- during the event, Dr Alanoud transportation sectors have to adapt to crises. However, he pointed to trial development. Building Al Maadid, assistant professor been most widely affected as the IT and computer ser- has been affected by it. At the He said, “The Qatari a study by the International human capital is the basis for of Economics, told the discus- by the pandemic, other sec- vices sectors that have proved same time, Qatar has proven economy has emerged from Monetary Fund that identi- the drive towards growth, but sion that, despite the effects of tors have benefited, includ- particularly important in light its strength, just as it sur- the blockade of the nation in fied Qatar as one of the world’s it can suffer from the demand the current health crisis, there ing distribution, information of the pandemic, since most passed the repercussions of a more solid and self-reliant fastest-growing economies side of employment being is “a great opportunity to di- technology and some medical companies, schools and uni- the blockade. There is a sta- way, as it pushed Qatar toward in the world, with an annual clogged despite the high qual- versify the Qatari economy”. industries. versities have become depend- ble outlook for Qatar, and it is diversification in production growth rate of more than 12 ity of education outcomes. She said, “One of the most She said, “In the energy ent on the technology sector. expected that the country will and imports and to be more percent. “We are feeling the ef- important sectors that con- sector, there are a number of “After the blockade of Qa- have the lowest deficit among open to the world. “In Qatar, we are far from fects of the current crisis in tributes to the diversification companies focusing on renew- tar, the growth of the agricul- the Gulf countries this year.” “The COVID-19 pandemic negative economic growth or the short term, but in the long of economic resources is Qa- able energy, such as solar en- tural sector accelerated and The panel discussion as- came as another test for the economic stagnation, but this term, these effects can be sur- tar’s investment in education ergy. Qatar also hosts sporting there is now a greater oppor- sessed Qatar’s economic Qatari economy and demon- does not mean laxity,” he said. passed. Generally, crises lead and the expansion of learning tournaments and has opened tunity for companies to enter strengths, weaknesses and strated that the country was “Economic diversification is to a push towards economic technologies and resources many museums, and this these areas.” potential areas for growth, as better prepared to manage a necessary to be able to over- diversity, as has happened through educational institu- means there is a great oppor- Dr Maadid added, “As for well as the role of the private crisis, due to the solid founda- come shocks in the oil market in Asian economies, many of tions locally and internation- tunity to diversify and invest the pandemic that is sweeping sector in diversifying sources tions upon which its economy and boom-and-bust cycles. which were launched from cri- ally. in the tourism sector, as well the world, the Qatari economy of income and emphasised is built. However, it is unfair “Rapid and strong eco- ses.” Education City Qatari mountaineer shares his inspiring life Golf Club partners with IMG Prestige journey with Hamilton Int’l School students Tribune News Network network of golf clubs and Doha resorts from across the Fahad Badar is the first Arab to scale Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse, each within 24 hours world and it’s an honour Education City Golf for us to be the first club in Tribune News Network like Fahad, in addition to the support Club has joined the IMG Qatar to be associated with Doha our teachers provide, will allow our Prestige global network of IMG. The company has students to build their own success world-class clubs and re- been involved in all aspects THE Hamilton International School, stories in the future.” sorts. of the game for decades part of International Schools Part- Launched in 2019, The Hamilton Education City Golf and we are very much look- nership (ISP), a global network of International School offers the In- Club is a landmark pro- ing forward to hosting IMG schools including Park House Eng- ternational Early Years Curriculum ject for Qatar and the golf Prestige members at the lish School, recently hosted an on- (IEYC) and the International Primary world. Designed by José club, and also seeing our line inspirational speaker event with Curriculum (IPC), which is taught in María Olazábal, it consists members taking advantage Qatari high-altitude climber, adven- over 2,000 schools across 98 coun- of three golf courses - an of the reciprocal benefits”. turer and senior banker Fahad Badar. tries. In September, 2020, Hamil- 18-hole championship, a Education City Golf More than 30 students from ton is opening their Middle School 6-hole floodlit champion- Club also offers great stay Grades 4 and 5 attended the virtual (Grades 6 to 8, ages 11 to 14), which ship and a 9-hole floodlit session in which Fahad told them will also offer the International Mid- par 3 course. The 18-hole about his journey as an adventurer dle Years Curriculum (IMYC) whilst course is immaculately and about his achievement of becom- embedding the core of the US cur- groomed and conditioned, ing the first Arab man to scale Mount riculum standards. and has received wide- Everest and Mount Lhotse, each “At The Hamilton International spread acclaim from both within 24 hours. School we have developed a strong players and media during The aim of the session was to in- and engaging curriculum for the Mid- the recent Qatar Masters spire students and to encourage them Hamilton International School hosted Fahad Badar at a virtual session. dle Years Students, in which they will Commercial Bank, the Eu- to dream big and work with dedica- have inspirational experiences with ropean Tour event. tion towards achieving their life that failure is never a good option. each of the world’s seven continents. prominent personalities from the re- In line with its com- goals. You have to believe in yourself, in your Commenting on the online ses- gion,” said Principal Terry Senior. mitment to developing the “Once I achieved my first dream, I dreams and in the story you can tell,” sion, Ian Rinaldi, head of Elemen- “While we are still waiting for game in the country, the didn’t want to stop and I kept work- Fahad advised the students. tary at The Hamilton International guidance from the appropriate au- club also features state-of- ing on achieving more goals. Dreams The talk concluded with an inter- School, said: “Our students were very thorities regarding re-opening, our the-art learning and prac- and play packages with have no end,” said Fahad Badar. active questions and answer session, happy to have the chance to speak to entire school team is putting plans tice facilities, including a some of the best hotels in The Qatari high-altitude climber during which students asked Fahad Fahad Badar. It is important for them in place that will see us maximise as Power Tee and TrackMan Doha. Visit www.ecgolf. also stressed the importance of lead- about his sources of inspiration, the to hear success stories, especially one much on – premise learning, with the equipped with driving com/Stay Play for more ership, positive thinking and self-es- challenges he had to face and how he that is as accomplished and inspiring broadest curriculum possible. This range and luxurious per- information. IMG Prestige teem as keys to success. managed to overcome them. as Fahad’s. The Hamilton Interna- will all be done in an environment formance studios featuring provides a valuable and “It is important to be inspired not The senior banker at Commercial tional School is committed to encour- that prioritises the health and safety the latest swing and cus- unique benefit to the mem- only by others, but by yourself as well. Bank of Qatar and social media person- aging students to learn from positive of our community. We look forward tom-fit technology. bers of each participating There will be times when you want to ality also told students about his future people and real life examples, and I to welcoming our new cohort for the Russell Hannah, sen- club, delivering green fee give up, but you have to keep in mind plans to climb the highest mountain in am sure that interacting with people next academic year,” he said. ior director, IMG Golf revenues and providing an Course Services, said: “We immediate seal of quality in are delighted to welcome the marketplace. Education City Golf Club IMG Golf Course Ser- to our network. The Club vices is a global leader in NIS holds training session to help parents is already recognised as the design, development, one of the finest in the marketing and manage- EMEA region, reinforced ment of world-class golf deal with impact of lockdown on children by its recent nomination courses. For more than 25 Tribune News Network Hay Institute, USA, impressed ferent from one another.” He for World’s Best New Golf years , the Group has estab- Doha thousands of parents attend- also warned parents against Course in 2020 by the lished a standard of excel- ing the virtual session with judging their children based World Golf Awards. They lence in golf course design THE Noble International his psychological approach to on their preconceived no- have been doing a fantas- and golf club management. School (NIS) recently con- tackle the issue. The parents tions. tic job in developing the The golf course servic- ducted an online training ses- also got the opportunity to ask Principal of the school Shi- game of golf in Qatar and es team of IMG currently sion for parents to help them questions and discuss their bu Abdul Rasheed welcomed we hope that IMG Prestige provides a diverse range of cope with the adverse effect of concerns with the speaker. the counsellor and parents to members enjoy the superb management and market- the lockdown amid coronavi- Michael urged the parents the session. The members of facilities as soon as inter- ing services to more than rus (COVID-19) on children. to pay attention to the indi- management, in their felici- national travel is allowed.” 20 award-winning clubs The session aimed at easing vidual needs of their children tation speech, urged parents Michael Braidwood, and resorts. For more in- parental anxiety over chil- and groom them accordingly. to imbibe the ideas discussed general manager of Educa- formation on IMG Prestige, dren’s behaviour during lock- Advising them to acknowl- during the session for the ben- tion City Golf Club, said: visit www.imgprestige. down. edge the individuality of their efit of their children. One of “IMG Prestige is an elite com. Anto Michael, an interna- children, he said, “Children the parents Ms Sheeja Aldrin tionally certified trainer from are not wrong for being dif- proposed the vote of thanks. Vodafone Qatar launches Qatar’s first Digital Smart Home Consultancy

Tribune News Network home appliances, residents security, efficiency, security tomers for devices that fit tecting water leakage; a Blue- Doha and homeowners can moni- and peace of mind, with con- their home environment. tooth smart lock that provides tor their homes with smart tactless control over com- Smart Things Hub connects easy home access control; Vodafone Qatar has cameras, detect water leaks monly used home appliances. every room of any size to motion-activated nightlights launched a new Digital Smart with smart water sensors, Diego Camberos, chief your home with a smart Wi- and bedside lamps; portable Home Consultancy for cus- move doors and windows operating officer of Vodafone Fi mesh system plus a Smart LED lamps as well as smart tomers looking to start their through smart sensors, ac- Qatar, said: “Our new Smart Home Hub that can connect home cameras; which will journey by enjoying the many tivate their electronic appli- Home Consultancy unit helps wirelessly to a wide range of enable a user to talk to loved lifestyle benefits of a smart ances via smart plugs and consumers to easily upgrade smart devices and make them ones and keep an eye on their home. The service is designed control their home lighting, their homes to smart homes work together and easily con- home while away. to provide expert advice on including custom colour with with features that will digitise trolled from your smartphone Customers wishing to what’s new in smart home smart bulbs. All of these fea- their lives. This smart tech- even when you’re away from start their Smart Home Jour- technology and how to trans- tures can be remotely accessed nology is designed to create home Vodafone Qatar has re- ney can request a call back form any room, apartment or and controlled via their smart- any desired atmosphere in cently expanded the range of from an experienced Smart villa into a smart environment phones. In turn, a home while conveniently devices available to include a Home Consultant by visiting with Vodafone smart devices. a smart home environ- controlling aspects like en- and other features.” Home Consultants can meet smart water sensor that sends www.vodafone.qa/smart- With Vodafone’s smart ment offers comfort, home ergy efficiency, home security Vodafone’s Digital Smart the needs of individual cus- instant notification when de- home. 04 Thursday, June 25, 2020 Middle East / Africa Saudi coalition deploys Call for mandatory masks as Iran virus toll nears 10,000 ceasefire observers to AFP Tehran Iran’s Rouhani says UN watchdog risks losing independence Yemen’s south An Iranian official called for Tehran Iran’s president last week, calling on Iran to something related to 20, 18 mask-wearing to be made warned Wednesday that the help clarify whether undeclared years ago. They are deceiving AFP The Riyadh Agreement, compulsory as the country on UN nuclear watchdog risks nuclear activities took place at the agency, misleading it,” Aden which was struck last Novem- Wednesday reported its high- losing its independence after the sites in the early 2000s. President Hassan Rouhani ber but quickly became de- est daily coronavirus death toll it adopted a resolution urging But the Islamic republic said during a televised cabinet The Saudi-led coalition in funct, is a power-sharing deal in more than two-and-a-half access to two sites alleged says the IAEA’s requests for meeting. Yemen said Wednesday it had for the south, where a sepa- months. to have hosted past nuclear access were based on alle- “Our expectation is that... deployed observers to monitor ratist insurgency has revived “It is certainly required activities. gations from its arch-enemy the agency should be able to the ceasefire between pro-gov- long-standing independence that the wearing of masks be- Iranians, wearing protective The Vienna-based Interna- Israel and had no legal basis. keep its independence,” he ernment troops and southern ambitions. comes mandatory,” said Dep- masks due to the COVID-19 tional Atomic Energy Agency “The Zionist regime and added, warning that Israel and separatists, as military sources The conflict has emerged uty Health Minister Alireza pandemic, wait outside a money passed the resolution put the Americans are pressur- the United States were tarnish- said fresh clashes had broken as a second front in a coun- Raisi. exchange office in Tehran. (AFP) forward by European states ing the agency to investigate ing its reputation. (AFP) out. try already split by a five-year “If we use masks, especial- Saudi forces arrived war between Huthi rebels, ly in closed spaces and gather- COVID-19 cases on February on people to stop the virus’ on Wednesday that the 133 the government reported 136 Wednesday in Shaqra and who control the capital Sanaa ings, we can very much reduce 19, and it has since struggled spread, and the use of masks fatalities in the past 24 hours virus fatalities. Sheikh Salem, two flashpoints and the north, and the govern- the virus’ spread,” he added in to contain the outbreak at the and protective equipment is brought the country’s overall Lari added that Iran’s virus in southern Yemen’s Abyan ment, which was forced south remarks broadcast on televi- death toll nears 10,000. optional in most areas. virus death toll to 9,996. infection caseload had jumped province, to monitor the truce to the interim capital of Aden. sion. It has refrained from im- Health ministry spokes- That made it the deadliest by 2,531 to a total of 212,501 in that was announced only on “Our forces in Abyan suf- Iran reported its first posing a mandatory lockdown woman Sima Sadat Lari said day in Iran since April 6, when the past day. Monday, military sources said. fered a violent attack by the in- “Observers have begun to vading forces a few hours after be deployed on the ground to the ceasefire came into effect,” monitor the comprehensive Nazar Haitham, spokesman for ceasefire and separation of forc- the separatists’ Southern Tran- Turkey trial es,” the coalition said Wednes- sitional Council (STC), told AFP. starts against day, according to Saudi govern- “It is an irresponsible act ment TV station Al-Ekhbariya. of the government, which says Israel warned at UN journalists “Both parties have affirmed it is bound by the ceasefire their commitment to respect but does not respect it on the jailed over the ceasefire, to de-escalate ground,” he said. and normalise the situation, The Yemeni government Libya coverage and to implement the Riyadh has not made any statement on against annexation but Agreement,” it added. the accounts of clashes. DPA Istanbul

Trial started at an Istanbul court on Wednesday, three Italy’s foreign minister US gives green light months after six journalists were remanded in custody on AFP accusations of revealing state meets Libyan PM in Tripoli United Nations secrets related to the death of Turkish intelligence officers in The United Nations and Eu- Libya. ropean and Arab powers on On trial at a court in Wednesday warned Israel that Caglayan are seven journalists its plans to annex Palestinian and one civil servant for their land would deal a major blow coverage of the funeral of Na- to peace but the United States tional Intelligence Organiza- offered its green light. tion (MIT) officers allegedly One week before Israeli killed in Libya and for revealing Prime Minister Benjamin Net- their identities. anyahu is expected to start the Six of the journalists have annexation process, a UN Se- been in pre-trial detention curity Council session provided since the beginning of March. a final opportunity for the in- The seventh is in Germany and Fayez al-Sarraj (right), Prime Minister of Libya’s UN-recognised Govern- ternational community to urge being tried in absentia. The civil ment of National Accord (GNA), meets with Italy’s Foreign Minister him to change course. servant is not in custody. Luigi Di Maio (left) in Tripoli on Wednesday. (AFP) “I call on the Israeli govern- Prosecutors are seeking up ment to abandon its annexa- Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli security forces during a rally against Israel’s West Bank annexation to 10 years in jail for each of the AFP val operation launched by the tion plans,” UN Secretary Gen- plans, in the Jordan Valley village of Fasayil on Wednesday. (AFP) defendants for violating intel- Tripoli European Union in the Medi- eral Antonio Guterres told the ligence laws, according to an terranean to enforce an arms virtual conference. “severely undermine” pros- extending sovereignty to those At the United Nations, indictment seen by dpa. Italy’s foreign minister met embargo on Libya, Sarraj said The UN coordinator for the pects for resuming the Middle places are decisions for the Palestinian representative Ri- Among those in pre-trial the head of Libya’s unity gov- enforcement needed to be Middle East, Nickolay Mlad- East peace process. Israelis to make,” Secretary yad al-Malki said annexation detention are government- ernment during a lightning “global”, covering maritime, enov, said annexation “could of State Mike Pompeo told re- would be a “crime.” critical media outlet Oda TV’s trip to Tripoli Wednesday, land and air routes. irrevocably alter the nature of Arab League secretary gen- porters in Washington. “Israel seems determined editor-in-chief Baris Pehlivan, weeks after the UN-recognised Sarraj, whose government Israeli-Palestinian relations.” eral Ahmed Aboul Gheit said to ignore that big red stop sign news director Baris Terkoglu administration pushed back has received weapons from “It risks upending more annexation “will destroy any But US allies including the the international community and reporter Huelya Kilinc. The strongman Khalifa Haftar’s Turkey, has previously criti- than a quarter of a century of prospect for peace in the fu- United Arab Emirates and Jor- erected to save lives,” he said. indictment cites, among other bid to seize the capital. cised Irini on the grounds it international efforts in support ture” and threaten regional sta- dan, one of two Arab states to He warned that the Pal- reports and social media posts, Luigi Di Maio and head favours eastern-based Haftar, of a future viable Palestinian bility. But the administration have a peace treaty with Israel, estinians could approach the Oda TV’s coverage in March of of the Government of Na- who takes delivery of arms state living in peace, security of President Donald Trump, have warned that annexation International Court of Justice the funeral of a Turkish intel- tional Accord Fayez al-Sarraj overland and via air. and mutual recognition with a close ally of Netanyahu, has would jeopardize the Jewish and urged nations to impose ligence service officer who was stressed “the need to resume An unnamed Italian foreign the State of Israel,” he said. declined to criticize annexation state’s hopes for better ties. sanctions on Israel if it goes allegedly killed in Libya. the political process and end ministry source, cited by the Ital- Seven European nations and has rejected the consensus Pompeo brushed aside ahead. It says the outlet obtained foreign interference” in Libya, ian Messaggero daily, said Rome -- Belgium, Britain, Estonia, of most of the world that Israeli such concerns, saying the European nations, while the images of the funeral in the according to a statement from considers Libya “a priority... our France, Germany, Ireland and settlements on Palestinian land United states was “talking to all opposed to annexation, have Aegean city of Manisa from a Sarraj’s office. most important issue, which Norway -- in a joint statement are illegal. of the countries in the region” been split on how severely to media official at a local munici- Referring to the Irini na- concerns our national security.” warned that annexation would “Decisions about Israelis about the weeks ahead. respond if Israel goes ahead. pality.

Ghana leader Malawi calls for calm as it tallies apologises presidential re-run votes for embassy AFP demolition: Blantyre Nigeria Malawi’s electoral commission AFP appealed for “peace and calm” on Abuja Wednesday as it tallied ballots fol- lowing a historic poll to re-elect a The Ghanaian leader has president after Peter Mutharika’s apologised to Nigeria over victory was overturned. the demolition of its embassy Voters in Malawi went to the building in Accra, the Nigerian polls on Tuesday for the second presidency said. time in just over a year after the “President Nana Akufo- Constitutional Court dramatically Addo of Ghana Tuesday spoke ruled that last year’s polls were with President Muhammadu fraught with “grave and wide- Electoral officials and political party monitor count votes during the presiden- Buhari, expressing his sincere spread” irregularities. tial elections at the Mighty Caspia polling station in Lilongwe. (AFP) apology for demolition of a The cancellation of Mutharika’s building on the premises of victory was historic as it made Ma- monitors were “chased away, some discredited election with 38.5 per- Nigerian High Commission lawi just the second country south were beaten”. cent of the ballots, beating his clos- in Accra, Ghana,” said a state- of the Sahara to have presidential “It’s obviously people that est rival Lazarus Chakwera, 65, by ment from the presidency late poll results set aside, after Kenya are afraid of the will of the people just 159,000 votes. Tuesday. in 2017. that are engaging in these barbaric Victory in the re-run will be de- Akufo-Ado has also or- The chairman of the Malawi acts,” he alleged. termined by whoever garners more dered investigation into the Electoral Commission, Chifundo But analysts suggest he may be than 50 percent of the votes -- a incident, it said, adding that Kachale, said votes from 5,002 preparing to challenge the outcome new threshold set by the top court. some suspects had been ar- polling stations were being tallied in case he loses. Some 6.8 million people were rested and would be charged. on Wednesday. “I think he is preparing the asked to choose between Muth- Armed men reportedly en- “We appeal to Malawians to political, may the legal ground for arika, Chakwera and an underdog tered the Nigerian High Com- maintain peace and calm as the losing,” Peter Fabricius of the Pre- candidate, Peter Dominico Kuwani. mission compound in Accra vote-counting continues,” he told a toria-based Institute for Security The electoral commission has on Friday to supervise bull- news conference in Blantyre. Studies said. until July 3 to unveil the results, al- dozers to demolish a building Mutharika has accused the op- Mutharika, 79, did not take the though the announcement is wide- under construction. position of inciting violence follow- decision of the constitutional court ly thought likely to come this week. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister ing isolated incidents which the po- lightly when it overturned last Kachale says the commission Geoffrey Onyeama on Monday lice and electoral commission said year’s poll. will only announce results after summoned Ghana’s top envoy had not affected the election. He accused judges of working dealing with all the complaints. Iva Denoo in Abuja to demand “It’s obvious that the opposi- with the opposition to steal the As of midday on Wednesday, an explanation of the incident. tion is doing this,” he told reporters election through what he dubbed a only three results from the coun- The minister also called after voting in Blantyre on Tues- “judicial coup d’etat”. try’s 28 districts had arrived at the for the prosecution of the per- day, claiming some of his party He had narrowly won the now- national tally centre. petrators. Asia / World Thursday, June 25, 2020 05

‘Overconfident’ pilot blamed for deadly Pakistan plane crash News in brief AFP released Wednesday. The preliminary report out- the tower advised the pilots to the runway with a shower of not focused and throughout Islamabad The Pakistan International lines the flight’s chaotic final circle for a more gradual de- sparks, but did not tell the cock- they were having a conversa- Armed border Airlines (PIA) plane crashed minutes and a bizarre series of scent, the report states. pit. tion about corona. The [virus] police to run Covid The pilots of a plane that into a crowded residential area errors compounded by com- But, instead of going Pakistan’s aviation minis- was on their minds. Their fami- crashed in Pakistan killing 98 on May 22 after both engines munication failures with air around, the pilots attempted ter Ghulam Sarwar Khan told lies were affected and they were facility in New Delhi people last month were pre- failed as it approached Karachi traffic control. to land anyway -- even though parliament the pilots had been having a discussion about it,” as cases spike occupied by the coronavirus airport for a second landing at- Investigators found the they had raised the landing discussing the coronavirus as Khan said. New Delhi The Delhi govern- crisis and tried to land with the tempt, killing all but two people plane was at more than twice gear. they attempted to land and had “Unfortunately the pilot ment announced on Wednes- aircraft’s wheels still up, ac- on board, and a child on the the correct altitude when it first Air traffic control saw the disengaged the craft’s autopilot. was overconfident,” the minis- day a health survey of every cording to initial official reports ground. approached the runway, and Airbus A320’s engines scrape “The pilot and co-pilot were ter added. house and the taking over of a new 10,000-bed facility by armed police as the num- ber of COVID-19 infections surges. Australia The Indian capital re- calls military ported its largest single day India reinforces flashpoint area jump of nearly 4,000 cases on Tuesday, taking the total in after virus infections to over 66,000 with 2,301 deaths so far. surge Delhi Chief Minister AFP as China holds ground: Sources Arvind Kejriwal said the virus Melbourne did not seem as virulent in AFP Indian soldiers of twice cross- Delhi and most people were Australia’s military was Leh ing the Line of Actual Control, recovering. (DPA) called in Wednesday to help the unofficial boundary, pro- tackle a coronavirus outbreak Indian fighter jets roared over voking its troops. Nearly 100 Rohingya in Melbourne -- a surge in in- a flashpoint Himalayan region But the Chinese appear to boat people rescued fections that has rattled the Wednesday as part of a show of be sticking to their gains at Gal- off Indonesia’s Aceh country’s second-most popu- strength following what military wan and the nearby Pangong lous city. sources say has been a Chinese Tso lake, police intelligence as province Victoria has recorded dou- takeover of contested territory. well as military sources told Jakarta At least 94 people ble-digit increases in new daily Chinese forces have held AFP. believed to be members cases for more than a week -- onto a chunk of land covering China is now claiming the of Myanmar’s persecuted mostly in the state capital Mel- several square kilometres at valley as its own, in statements Rohingya ethnic minority bourne -- representing a size- the mouth of the Galwan valley that India has rejected. were rescued after their boat able spike in cases in a country following a deadly brawl there Amid calls for a boycott of broke down off Indonesia’s that has otherwise successfully on June 15, the Indian military Chinese goods, media reports Aceh province, police said curbed COVID-19. sources told AFP. say Indian Prime Minister Nar- Wednesday. Health Minister Greg The two sides publicly de- Indian soldiers walk at the foothills of a mountain range near Leh, the capital of the union territory of endra Modi’s government could Indonesian fishermen Hunt said the federal govern- clared they would pull back fol- Ladakh, on Wednesday. Indian fighter jets roared over the Indian Himalayan town of Leh reinforcing sim- make it more difficult for Chi- rescued the group after the ment had offered the army’s lowing the clash, which saw 20 mering border tensions with China. (AFP) nese companies to do business. vessel carrying them ap- support to respond to the vi- Indian soldiers killed in a battle But analysts say there is peared to be sinking on Mon- rus outbreak, while four other involving rocks and nail-stud- and a frenzy of military activity was unprecedented in a sensi- showed trucks and huts at recognition on both sides that day, North Aceh police chief states had offered help with ded batons. around the main town, which tive region touching Pakistan camps on the river at 4,500 their economies need each Tri Hadiyanto said. contact tracing. But both have maintained lies at 3,500 metres. as well as China. metres near the scene of the other. “A team of the police Officials saidVictorian troops around the valley, with Residents reported long “I haven’t seen this kind of fighting. It was not clear whose “There may be some short and the military was sent Premier Daniel Andrews has India deploying more forces lines of military trucks and ar- military movement before,” he army they were. term public backlash against to the sea and found an accepted the offers of as- and trying to project military tillery on roads near Leh. told AFP. The two countries fought China in India, but publicly, Indonesian fishing crew with sistance from the states and might. “We now have a good After the latest round of a border war in 1962 but this Pakistan swamps China as a 94 foreigners,” he said, asked for logistical support Indian jets regularly took strength present in the area,” talks between military com- month’s fighting was their perceived threat,” said Vipin adding that they had yet to from the army. off Wednesday from a military an official of the Indian army’s manders on Monday, Chinese deadliest encounter in 53 years. Narang, a security specialist at reach the shore. Thousands “This support will mean we base in Leh, the main Indian Northern Command told AFP foreign ministry spokesman According to Indian mili- the Massachusetts Institute of of Rohingya have become can get even more tests done town in the contested region, on condition of anonymity, re- Zhao Lijian said the two sides tary sources, Chinese troops Technology. stranded in Aceh over the and results back quickly - and and headed towards the moun- ferring to the reinforcements. had “agreed to take necessary ambushed Indian soldiers “The effects of this crisis, past five years after their a stronger effort to remind tainous border 240 kilometres Tashi Chhepal, a retired measures to promote a cooling and forced them down a ridge even if it slow burns, may be boats drifted while en route Victorians if you are sick, stay away. Indian army captain who has of the situation”. where they had gone to remove short lived amongst India’s to Malaysia and other coun- home and get tested,” a state There were also check- served in the area and is based Images taken on Sunday a Chinese “encroachment”. public. And cheap TVs are still tries. (DPA) government spokesperson points on main roads out Leh in Leh, said the mobilisation by the US satellite firm Maxar China has in turn accused cheap TVs.” said. It comes as the country recorded its first COVID-19 death in a month, with a man in his 80s dying in Victoria, Japan reports largest daily increase where community concern about the virus spread is ramp- in virus cases since mid-May ing up. Health officials have re- DPA a coronavirus state of emergency in 39 ported long queues at Mel- Tokyo of Japan’s 47 prefectures ahead of the bourne’s coronavirus testing scheduled expiry on May 31. centres, where some patients Japan on Wednesday confirmed 86 The state of emergency ended in were turned away from over- new coronavirus infections, the high- Tokyo, Saitama and three other prefec- whelmed facilities Tuesday est daily increase since the government tures in late May - the last remaining -- prompting the creation of lifted a state of emergency for most regions subject to restrictions. pop-up centres in several virus parts of the country. As of Wednesday, Japan had con- “hotspots”. The figure included55 people in firmed a total of 18,836 cases, including Hunt said the situation had Tokyo and 12 people in the neighbour- 712 on a cruise ship quarantined near reached a “critical juncture” ing prefecture of Saitama. Tokyo in February, and 982 deaths, ac- and health authorities were “I was told there are 16 cases from cording to a broadcaster NHK tally. considering local lockdowns one company,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Japan lifted its restrictions on in the worst-affected areas be- Koike told reporters. cross-prefectural travel on Friday cause of the outbreak. “It is important to assess how the though dozens of new coronavirus in- Australia has been an in- coronavirus has spread in regions and fections were reported daily. ternational success story to take swift measures,” Takaji Wakita, Long-distance travellers returned date, recording roughly 7,500 director of the National Institute of In- to airports and train stations as the cases of coronavirus and 103 fectious Diseases in Tokyo, told a news central government officially stopped deaths in a population of 25 conference. requesting people not to travel across million. In mid-May, the government lifted prefectural borders.

Beijing officials declare outbreak ‘under control’ AFP Beijing

The new coronavirus outbreak that has infected 256 people in Beijing since early June is “under control”, officials in the Chinese capital said Wednesday, but fears still remain over the risk of community transmission. Authorities have raced to con- tain the outbreak linked to the larg- est wholesale food market in Beijing after the first case was announced on June 11, leading to a partial lock- People gather at an outdoor area during a mass testing for the COVID-19 corona- down of the city. virus at the Jinrong Street testing site in Beijing on Wednesday. (AFP) “The Beijing epidemic directly linked to Xinfadi (market) is basi- as well as lockdown of residential since June 13. cally under control, but at the same compounds, are effective,” said Lei Beijing has mass-tested whole- time we have discovered household Haichao, head of the Beijing health sale market workers, restaurant and workplace cluster infections and commission. workers, residents of medium and cases of community transmission,” “The combination of fever clin- high-risk neighbourhoods and deliv- said Beijing municipal government ics, discovering (cases) from close ery couriers over the past week. spokesman Xu Hejian at a briefing. contacts, and mass nucleic acid test- The cities of Wuhan, where the “The prevention and control sit- ing have played an important role in initial COVID outbreak emerged late uation remains complicated, we can- early detection.” last year, and Mudanjiang have also not lower our guard in the slightest.” The city increased its daily nu- seen similar mass testing campaigns Officialsfound that 253 out of cleic acid sample testing capacity to to root out undiscovered asympto- 256 Beijing cases were linked to Xin- 300,000 from 100,000 per day in matic cases. Experts warned that fadi in the south of the city, while early June, said Lei, adding that 137 smaller, recurrent outbreaks were contact tracing for the remaining cases -- just over half -- were found likely in future. three was still ongoing. through screening. “There may be an increase in cas- The city announced seven new Nearly three million people have es in the winter or next spring, but I cases on Wednesday, with the rate been tested. don’t think the outbreak will be as of infection slowing since the start of Many cases have been low-in- big as the first wave of the pandem- this week. come migrant workers at Xinfadi ic,” said Zhong Nanshan, a leading “This sends a very positive sig- and nearby restaurants. The mar- respiratory expert who spearheaded nal, and proves that the prevention ket and dozens of residential com- China’s response to the SARS pan- and control measures taken lately, pounds have been under lockdown demic, on Wednesday. 06 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

Social Distancing Remains Vital Bolton’s New Book Places To Our Battle Against COVID-19

The reopening of businesses makes it even more Him Squarely In Political important to maintain social distancing to contain the COVID-19 Crosshairs From Both Sides HERE has been much uncertainty sur- Protests aside, our country continues rounding how the coronavirus spreads. to reopen quickly and in doing so seems The veteran diplomatic official has gambled with the national security of the TMyriad questions have come and gone poised to embrace practices that will unanswered or with unclear answers: Can spread this virus. From political rallies you get the virus from food? How about to restaurants opening up more indoor United States and has exposed his country to harm and himself the mail? What about surfaces? If you are service, to friends and families expanding to civil and potentially criminal liability outdoors? If you are 6 feet apart? Experts their quarantine bubbles to outsiders, we are coming to a consensus that they are are creeping in less than 6 feet apart and less concerned about COVID-19 being increasing the chances of infection. Carl P Leubsdorf transmitted through food, surfaces and The Republican National Convention Tribune News Service the outdoors and are more concerned moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, to about extended — as short as 15 minutes Jacksonville, Florida, because the presi- HE practice of top aides cashing in by dis- — and close interactions between people. dent wanted assurances that the multiday closing details of their presidential bosses’ As America continues to take in- gathering that draws a crowd of around inadequacies while they are still in office creased risks by loosening or neglect- 50,000 from across the country can forge has been a common Washington phenom- ing recommended precautions during ahead. Vice President Mike Pence recent- enon for more than four decades. the pandemic, states like Texas are see- ly declared that we are “winning the fight TJim Fallows had no sooner stopped writ- ing new daily records for the number against the invisible enemy” and down- ing presidential speeches for Jimmy Carter of COVID-19 cases that aren’t entirely played a “second wave.” The White House than he reported the president was such a explained by ramped-up testing. We is now singing a different tune about a micromanager he personally assigned use of are also seeing increases in hospitalisa- possible second wave, but regardless of all the White House tennis courts. Press Secre- tions. We all should remind ourselves the cross-talk, it should be clear that we tary Scott McClellan said President George W that just because more businesses are must continue to take the virus seriously Bush was not “open and forthright” in selling reopening does not mean that social and prepare for a second wave this fall. the 2003 invasion of Iraq. George Stephanop- distancing is no longer important so- Many of us are guilty of relaxing and oulos groused that Bill Clinton often spurned cial practice. Dallas County businesses wishfully thinking that the coronavirus his obviously superior advice. now have to require customers to wear pandemic is nearing the end. Summer The disclosures were often more trivial than masks; this is a great step, but a state- can bring thoughts of family vacations substantive. But that hardly makes the practice of Russia and didn’t realise our closest global Bolton argues that House Democrats com- wide rule by Texas Governor Greg Ab- and trips with friends. People are plan- less detestable when authors claim, like former ally, the United Kingdom, is a nuclear power. mitted “impeachment malpractice” by not bott would be more helpful. ning these getaways — some responsi- national security adviser John Bolton, that their  Suggestions Trump puts his family’s rep- broadening their probe from Ukraine. But he To be clear, we continue to believe bly and others less so — because we are higher purpose is to enlighten the public on the utation over the country’s comes in his willing- conceded to Raddatz, “I think now this is actu- that Americans should feel empowered tired of quarantining. However, this virus dangers of reelecting a president so inadequate ness to float a false story justifying Saudi Ara- ally a better time to tell the story. Because now to have their voices heard, and that is still dangerous, and the risks of unfet- as Donald Trump. bia’s brutal murder of dissident Saudi writer the American people can look at it in the con- includes protesting. Our point is that tered spread remain. We’ve paid a heavy “I don’t think he’s fit for office,” the for- Jamal Khashoggi to deflect attention from re- text of the most important political decision we wearing masks and making smart deci- price for containing this virus; it would be mer Trump adviser told ABC-TV’s Martha ports his daughter Ivanka used her private email make as a nation every four years.” sions to lower the risk of spreading the a tragedy to let it run wild now. Our econ- Raddatz, in discussing his new tell-all, ‘The account while a top White House aide, akin to It’s unclear if the veteran GOP diplomat will coronavirus also remain important. In omy will improve. There will be a time Room Where It Happened’. “I don’t think the Hillary Clinton misdeed he condemned in pay any personal price for turning on his boss. terms of protesting, that also means again when social distancing is something he has the competence to carry out the job.” 2016 as almost a mortal sin. That may depend on whether Trump wins in that large crowds should be mindful of that lives only in the past. But at this mo- Such statements confirm that Bolton’s de-  Bolton confirms details of Trump’s “per- November. going to enclosed spaces for prolonged ment, caution and smart thinking remain sire to influence 2020 voters was one of his fect” phone call with Ukraine’s president in While rejecting the administration’s ef- periods of time. vitally important. main goals in writing the memoir — along which Trump threatened to withhold US aid to fort to block publication, US District Judge with cashing in. pressure the Ukrainian leader to investigate Joe Royce Lamberth said Bolton “has gambled “I think these are things the American peo- Biden. Bolton notes the president made an even with the national security of the United States ple need to know about,” he added. more blatant plea for help for his 2020 reelec- … (and) has exposed his country to harm and In a sense, Trump confirmed Bolton’s con- tion campaign from China’s Xi. himself to civil (and potentially criminal) li- clusion about his own unfitness by hiring some- It’s part of a pattern. A bipartisan Senate ability.” Trump has threatened to prosecute one whose views differed so much from his committee report concluded Russia helped Bolton, and he could lose his $2 million ad- own positive attitude toward Russian President Trump in 2016. And Trump told ABC’s Stepha- vance plus sales profits. Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and nopoulos in 2019 “I think I’d take” campaign McClellan, the ex-Bush press secretary, the prospect for North Korean nuclear disarma- aid from a foreign government, likening it to never held another fulltime Washington job ment. An eventual rift was inevitable, and Bol- domestic “oppo research.” and relied on consulting contracts and paid ton was known to take detailed notes and write Bolton’s book and especially its timing have speeches in the years after writing ‘Inside the about his government jobs. placed the veteran diplomatic official squarely Bush White House and Washington’s Culture What gives Bolton’s 592-page volume its es- in the political crossfire from both sides. of Deception’. Since 2012, he has been vice sential credibility is that he provides anecdotal The Trump White House launched a belated president for communications at Seattle Uni- evidence that matches the earlier conclusions legal action to squash publication on grounds versity, in Washington state. on Trump from such highly regarded former of- Bolton was violating national security. But Bol- Stephanopoulos, however, landed a lush ficials as Defence Secretary James Mattis, Sec- ton said the real reason was “He didn’t want the television contract with ABC News. More than retary of State Rex Tillerson and General James book to be published before the election.” two decades later, it continues to pay him $14 Allen, Trump’s second White House chief of staff Meanwhile, Democrats groused about Bol- million annually. Among them: ton’s disinterest in testifying during last fall’s  Tillerson’s oft-quoted description that House’s impeachment hearings, which he read- (Carl P Leubsdorf is the former Trump is an “(expletive) moron” is validated by ily could have done, while saying he would re- Washington bureau chief of the (Tribune News Service) notations Trump thought that Finland was part spect a Senate subpoena that was far less likely. Dallas Morning News)

Blockchain Technology: A New Horizon For Secure Smart Cities After COVID-19

Blockchain revolutionises trading and motivates new business models for future smart cities in different sectors such as energy and health

Dr Mohamed Abdallah tackle this problem, blockchain can gies, such as solar rooftops, battery Failing to efficiently manage tem to Incentivise People to Commit Doha support business-to-business (B2B), storage and EVs are creating a new data from these independent enti- to Confinement Using Wireless Lo- business-to-customer (B2C), and kind of customer, commonly named ties implies that screening-related cation Monitoring Service’, recently LOCKCHAIN is a promising even customer-to-customer (C2C) “prosumers”, with the capability to data will be recorded on differ- received a grant from the Qatar technology that enables trad- transactions owing to its distributed both produce and manage their own ent decentralised supports, data National Research Fund, through Bing in a trustless environment, nature and ability to share data ef- energy consumption. might be lost or manipulated, large its Response Call (RRC) to Address which means participants need ficiently among different entities. It By giving prosumers the oppor- amount of errors and bias will be COVID-19. The project proposes not know or trust the other party, not only reduces costs and mitigates tunity to directly sell their surplus observed, and hence the mass- building a national transparent re- or require intermediaries. It is a security threats resulting from de- energy to others on a peer-to-peer screening strategy will be counter- ward system for people who prove transparent data structure that is pendence on a third party, but also basis, blockchain could enable productive and misleading. they are abiding by the government organised as a chain of blocks and revolutionises trading and motivates opening and decentralising the Blockchain can help in ena- measures such as enabling the Eht- is managed by a network of comput- new business models for future energy market, promoting renew- bling an efficient decision support eraz app all the time and committing ers, called miners, running a peer- smart cities in different sectors such able energy generation, reducing system for COVID-19, integrat- to confinement in cases required. to-peer (P2P) protocol. as energy and health. carbon footprint, and facilitating ing effective and secure ways of Blockchain will allow this system to Blockchain was first introduced For example, in the energy responses to the growing demand data collection and data sharing. be transparent and hence incentiv- to support the distributed cryptocur- sector, Electric Vehicles (EV) are for green energy. tering and billing. In addition, it em- Moreover, blockchain can enable ise people to join and participate. rency (Bitcoin) application that ena- expected to be among the highest The College of Science of Engi- ploys a second-lowest price auction sharing sensitive information bles the transfer of electronic cash consumers of green energy. Ac- neering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa mechanism to ensure both social among different government en- Dr Mohamed Abdallah is without the intervention of banks. cording to forecasts by the Inter- University, in collaboration with the welfare and incentive compatibility. tities in a relatively short time. an Associate Professor at Since then it has evolved beyond national Energy Agency, around Ministry of Transport and Commu- To tackle the COVID-19 out- For example, airports may need the College of Science and that to support the deployment of 120 million EVs are expected to be nication’s TASMU Smart Qatar Pro- break, most countries have adopted to access the health record of the Engineering, part of Hamad more general purpose-distributed on the roads by 2030. This will cre- gram, have developed a smart con- severe measures and restrictions passenger to allow them to travel. Bin Khalifa University applications or what are better ate a huge demand for energy con- tract-based energy trading platform advocating business closures, social This information can be shared known as smart contracts. sumption where renewable energy atop a specific type of blockchain distancing, and population confine- between hospitals and medical Amid COVID-19, many fac- can serve as an efficient solution to network called Ethereum. ment. Moreover, screening thou- centres while making sure it can- (This article is submitted tories and service providers have cover the demand. This platform enables local en- sands - even millions - of people dai- not be altered. on behalf of the author by closed due to public health con- Blockchain would empower in- ergy providers to directly trade their ly over long periods of time requires Blockchain can also help to cre- the HBKU Communications cerns, which have led to major dis- dividuals to actively participate in energy surplus with EV owners in a the involvement of many independ- ate incentives for people to follow Directorate. The views ruptions in securing certain goods both sides of the market, namely, as P2P manner. In order to avoid mak- ent entities beyond hospitals and the precautionary measures im- expressed are the and services due to the centralised an energy supplier and consumer. ing major changes to the existing in- private clinics to include stakehold- posed by the government. At CSE, a author’s own and do not dependency model advocated by Within smart cities, the prolifera- frastructure, the platform continues ers such as airline companies, edu- project titled ‘Mokafaa: Blockchain- necessarily reflect the the supply chain management. To tion of renewable energy technolo- to rely on utility companies for me- cational institutions, large firms etc. based Transparent Rewarding Sys- University’s official stance)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Europe / Americas Thursday, June 25, 2020 07 Appeals court orders charges dropped Kosovo president cancels US talks against Trump’s former top aide Flynn with Serbia after war crime charges

AFP the charges sparked an open rift in in the Flynn case, Trump, who had AFP Thaci’s office did not specify his Washington the Justice Department, pitting him earlier hinted he could pardon the Washington whereabouts. against the federal district court former Pentagon intelligence chief, But before the charges were an- The Washington appeals court judge in the case, Emmet Sullivan, tweeted the decision was “great.” Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci nounced he gave an interview in Ti- ordered false-statement charges and the department’s own prosecu- White House spokesperson Kay- will return home Thursday after rana, the capital of Albania, and was against President Donald Trump’s tors. leigh McEnany said in a tweet it was war crime charges “interrupted” his headed from there to Frankfurt, the former national security advisor The move, more than three a “victory for justice and truth.” planned trip to Washington to dis- journalist who interviewed him told Michael Flynn to be dropped on years after Flynn was first investi- Barr’s decision to drop the Flynn cuss tensions with Serbia, his office AFP. Wednesday, handing the White gated over secret discussions he had case said the FBI’s original probe of said on Wednesday. Serbian President Aleksandar House a victory in a case that was with Russia’s envoy in Washington, the retired three star general, part Special prosecutors in the Hague Vucic is still expected to join this central to the Russia meddling in- drew allegations that Barr was do- of the sweeping counterintelligence announced 10 counts of war crimes weekend’s talks, which are set to take vestigation. ing Trump’s political bidding. investigation into Russian interfer- and crimes against humanity charges place at the White House but without The court endorsed Attorney The decision came just hours ence in the 2016 presidential elec- against Thaci for his role in Kosovo’s Kosovar President Hashim Thaci President Donald Trump personally. General Bill Barr’s extraordinary before two Justice Department offi- tion, had no “legitimate investiga- 1998-99 war with Serbia, accusing At the heart of the dispute is Ser- decision to drop the criminal charg- cials appear before a Congressional tive basis.” him and other allies of involvement US envoy Richard Grenell said. bia’s rejection of Kosovo’s independ- es against Flynn even after he had hearing to discuss politicization of The case against Flynn was in nearly 100 murders. “I respect his decision not to at- ence, declared in 2008 by the prov- twice pleaded guilty to lying to FBI the Justice Department involving a cornerstone of the sprawling The talks with Serbia, which still tend the discussions until the legal ince’s ethnic Albanian majority after investigators, overruling a lower Barr in other cases, including the 22-month investigation by Special refuses to recognise its former prov- issues of those allegations are set- breaking away in a bloody war. court judge who was ready to sen- prosecution of longtime Trump as- Counsel Robert Mueller into Mos- ince’s independence, will go ahead tled,” Grenell, a former ambassador Hoti took charge earlier this tence Flynn. sociate Roger Stone. cow’s meddling in the 2016 presi- with the participation of Kosovo’s to Germany and US intelligence month and quickly eased tensions by Barr’s May 7 decision to drop After the court’s announcement dential election. new Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, chief, wrote on Twitter. lifting a ban on Serbian imports.

News UK medical in brief leaders warn Brazil starts testing Oxford University’s US states reimpose virus coronavirus vaccine of ‘real risk’ of SAO PAULO: Researchers in Brazil began administering an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford Univer- coronavirus sity to volunteers, the Federal University of Sao Paulo said on second wave Wednesday. measures as cases spike The vaccine, developed together with pharmaceuticals AFP group AstraZeneca, is one of the most promising of the dozens AFP London that researchers worldwide are racing to test and bring to Miami market. Medical experts on Wednes- Known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, it is already being tested in With coronavirus cases surg- day warned the British govern- volunteers in Britain, and is due to start being administered ing across the US South and ment to prepare for the “real this week in South Africa, as well. West, officials are once again risk” of a coronavirus second The Federal University of Sao Paulo, which is coordinating imposing tough measures, wave just a day after the big- the study in Brazil, said in a statement its researchers had be- from stay-at-home advice in gest lifting yet of lockdown re- gun issuing the first doses on Tuesday to health workers with a worst-hit states to quarantines strictions in England. high likelihood of coming into contact with the new coronavirus, to protect recovering areas like Prime Minister Boris including doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers. (AFP) New York. Johnson had on Tuesday an- Nearly four months after nounced what he called the be- the United States reported its ginning of the end of “national France closes two Paris schools as first death from COVID-19, hibernation”, allowing pubs, precaution after coronavirus cases the nation faces a deepening hotels, restaurants, museums P ARIS: French authorities have closed two schools in Paris as health crisis as a wave of in- and galleries in England to a precautionary measure after the discovery of coronavirus fections hits young Americans reopen on July 4. cases but they have not been classed as potentially dangerous and experts issue new acute But experts are caution- clusters, authorities said on Wednesday. warnings. ing against moving too fast France, unlike some other European countries which have The world’s largest econ- and their warning came just taken a much more cautious approach, on Monday resumed omy is the country hardest as thousands of people took obligatory schooling for all pupils after the coronavirus shut- hit by the pandemic, with a advantage of soaring tempera- down. mounting death toll of over tures, flocking to beaches in Some schools had already been open at least partially for 121,000 dead. resorts such as Southend-on- several weeks after the initial easing of the lockdown. Some officials -- includ- A passanger walks past thermal cameras, that check passenger’s body temperatures, at Los Angeles Inter- Sea, in southeast England. But a school in the 12th district of Paris with 180 pupils ing the Texas governor -- who national Airport in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday. (AFP) “While the future shape of has been closed until the end of the week after three cases loosened restrictions on busi- the pandemic in the UK is hard were discovered, the local health authority told AFP. ness, dining, public gatherings cal” to addressing the surges, Fisher said states like Texas to predict, the available evi- However the timescale of the infections -- spread over the and tourism, are now urging which have also hit the na- ● Florida Gov Ron should have maintained their dence indicates that local flare- start of June to Monday -- indicates that this is not a cluster, it residents to again stay home. tion’s most populous state, DeSantis said the state mitigating efforts longer. ups are increasingly likely and added. Another Paris school, in the 4th district and with 200 Three northeastern states California. was experiencing a real “It doesn’t look like we are a second wave a real risk,” said pupils, has been closed until July 7 after one case was discov- that made progress beating Florida marked 5,508 explosion in new cases coming close to the top of the the experts in an open letter ered. (AFP) back the pandemic -- New new infections on Tuesday, among younger peak,” Fisher told AFP. “And printed in the British Medical York, New Jersey and Con- bringing its total to more than demographics, and a spike we’re definitely not coming Journal. necticut -- on Wednesday 109,000 confirmed cases and in hospitalisations down the other side of this The letter added that the Belgian PM rails at German police bust urged visitors arriving from 3,281 deaths. yet.” overriding task was “to ensure reckless youth family gang living US hotspots to quarantine Governor Ron DeSantis ● In Texas, which was The southwestern border that the country is adequately street parties criminal high life themselves. said the state was experienc- among the most state of Arizona is seeing dan- prepared to contain a second New York Governor An- ing “a real explosion in new aggressive states in gerous spikes too. phase”. BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Prime BERLIN: Eight members of drew Cuomo said the advi- cases among our younger de- reopening in early June Its confirmed OC VID-19 It was signed by 16 leading Minister Sophie Wilmes the same family have been sory applied to visitors from mographics,” and a spike in after months of lockdown, cases have more than quad- experts, including the heads of spoke out angrily on Wednes- arrested in France and Ger- Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, hospitalisations. He warned new cases hit a daily high rupled since the stay-at-home the Royal College of Surgeons, day to condemn recent street many on suspicion of carrying Florida, South Carolina, North that bars and restaurants order expired on May 15, and the Faculty of Public Health parties held by young people out burglaries of elderly peo- Carolina, Washington, Utah could lose their alcohol licenc- of 5,489 on Tuesday people getting infected are and the Royal College of Nurs- after bars close, in defiance ple and fraudulently claiming and Texas. es if they do not follow social younger and younger. ing. of anti-virus restrictions. social benefits, police said on Several states in the South distancing guidelines. Greg Abbott warned Texans of Arizona’s reported seven- Johnson relaxed a rule de- Wilmes warned that, while Wednesday. and West including heavily DeSantis declined to order the virus’s “rampant” spread day rolling average of 39 new manding people stay two me- the latest figures still show “According to the latest populated Florida and Texas a state-wide mandatory mask- and said the “safest” place to cases per 100,000 residents is tres apart to one metre, subject Belgium emerging from the investigations, the suspects are suffering what White ing policy as leaders in Califor- be was in their homes, adding a nationwide high. to measures such as the use of worst of the epidemic, recent lived a luxurious life at the ex- House advisor and top scien- nia and Washington state have that those who needed to go That compares with 14 per face coverings. new surges in neighbours pense of senior citizens and tist Anthony Fauci described done. out should wear masks. 100,000 residents in Texas, 11 The decision was seen as like Germany could herald a other victims,” said Klaus- as “disturbing” new surges in But that hasn’t stopped “If those spikes continue, per 100,000 in California, and vital to large parts of the econ- feared second wave. Stephan Becker, head of the infections. Miami from implementing its additional measures are going just three per 100,000 in New omy, which faces recession and “Directly or indirectly, criminal police unit in the Daily case averages are own mandatory mask rules. to be necessary,” he said. York state, according to the large-scale job losses after more these people risked putting city of Cologne, according to being pushed to record levels In Texas, which was among Abbott is an ally of Donald Washington Post. than three months of closure months of our joint effort a statement. Police suspect in the region, even as former the most aggressive states in Trump, but his warnings are at But the dire figures did not and stay-at-home restrictions. at risk,” Wilmes said, in a total of 29 people aged epicenters like New York and reopening in early June after stark odds with the president, stop Trump from hosting a ral- The International Mone- televised briefing on efforts between 17 and 84, but have Detroit have seen their figures months of lockdown, new cas- who proclaimed Tuesday that ly Tuesday in Arizona’s largest tary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday to contain the coronavirus so far arrested only eight, drop. es hit a daily high of 5,489 on “we did a great job on Corona- city Phoenix, where most at- forecast that the British econo- epidemic. (AFP) including six women. (AFP) Fauci warned that the next Tuesday. Virus.” tendees did not wear masks or my would shrink 10.2 percent two weeks would be “criti- A concerned Governor Epidemiologist Rebecca practice social distancing. this year. Russia stages grand WWII parade Plastic ‘has entered’ Antarctic terrestrial food chain AFP be a new stressor for fragile po- vive in the harsh Antarctic con- Paris lar ecosystems already facing ditions and are “often the domi- ahead of vote on Putin reforms threats from climate change. nant species” in the few areas of Scientists have found bits Scientists focused on col- the region not covered by ice, AFP of polystyrene in the guts of lembolan Cryptopygus ant- the study said. Moscow tiny, soil-dwelling organisms in arcticus -- small organisms Researchers collected the the Antarctic, raising concern commonly known as spring- creatures from a chunk of poly- Columns of tanks and troops that microplastics pollution tails that can jump in a similar styrene foam covered in a green paraded through Moscow on has already “deeply” entered way to fleas. layer of micro-algae, moss and Wednesday as Russian Presi- the world’s most remote land- They are among the few lichens on King George Island dent Vladimir Putin presided based food systems. organisms adapted to sur- in the South Shetland Islands. over grand World War II com- While the infiltration of memorations to stir up patri- microplastics throughout the otic fervour ahead of a vote on oceans is well-known, research- extending his rule. ers said their findings provided Putin was flanked on Red the first evidence of contamina- A security company Square by elderly war veterans Russian President Vladimir Putin tion in the Antarctic terrestrial in uniforms laden with medals A Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber flying over Moscow during a mili- (right) and veterans watch the food chain. looking for employees to work as as thousands of troops carrying tary parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory military parade, at Red Square in “Plastics have therefore bright banners and Kalashnik- over Nazi Germany in World War Two, on Wednesday. (AFP) Moscow on Wednesday. (AFP) entered even some of the most ov rifles marched in the blazing remote soil food webs on the security guards sun to mark the Soviet Union’s the parade for just a week be- dential term-limit clock to zero, if the Red Army hadn’t come to planet, with potential risks for Sponsorship Transfer is a must. defeat of Nazi Germany. fore the July 1 vote on contro- allowing him to run two more defend it,” the president said in the whole biota and ecosys- Forced to postpone the versial constitutional reforms. times and potentially stay in an address to troops following tems,” said authors of the study, Please sent CV to traditional May 9 Victory Day Among other changes, the the Kremlin until 2036. a minute of silence to remem- published on Wednesday in the Fax Number: 44551177 celebrations by the coronavirus reforms Putin proposed earlier “It is impossible even to im- ber soldiers who died in the journal Biology Letters. pandemic, Putin rescheduled this year would reset his presi- agine what the world would be fighting. They warned this could also contact: 44666645 AAB marks first digital launch with the all-new Toyota C-HR 2020 Hybrid page 9

Thursday, June 25, 2020

25,445.40 9,225.92 34,868.98 1,764.83 −710.70 pts -35.37 pts −561.45 pts Gold -0.20% Global economy to take $12 tn Dow QE sensex hit due to COVID crisis: IMF page 10 Price percentage Price percentage 17.82 Brent 40.33 -5.40% WTI 37.98 -5.92% Silver -2.30% Fitch affirms Qatar’s rating TOTAL, QSTP extend partnership agreement at ‘AA-’ with stable outlook for another decade Tribune News Network economy,” said TRC-Q Acting Direc- Qatar’s ‘AA-’ rating reflects a strong sovereign net foreign asset position Doha tor and Vice President Innovation and Change Management Yousef Al Satyendra Pathak Qatar Science and Technology Jaber. Doha Park (QSTP), a part of Qatar Foun- “With the help of QSTP, we have dation Research, Development, and been able to develop expertise that Fitch Ratings on Wednesday Innovation has signed an extension leverages the global research capac- announced that it has affirmed to their existing agreement with To- ity of Total at a worldwide scale and Qatar’s long-term foreign-cur- tal, allowing Total Research Center- directly benefits our partners in Qa- rency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) Qatar (TRC-Q) to continue their re- tar,” he said. at ‘AA-’ with a stable outlook. search and development operations QSTP Executive Director Yosouf The rating agency said that in QSTP Park and Free Zone for an- Abdulrahman Al Salehi said, “We Qatar’s ‘AA-’ rating reflects a other ten years. are delighted to extend this highly strong sovereign net foreign as- Founded in 2009 to pursue lead- successful partnership with our set position, one of the world’s ing edge and innovative research friends from Total for another dec- highest ratios of GDP per cap- projects, TRC-Q has established ade. Their work in a range of areas ita and a flexible public finance operational laboratories at QSTP here in Qatar over the past decade structure allowing for favourable for their geochemistry, acid stimu- has been so transformative, improv- debt dynamics and a robust re- lation, refining and chemistry re- ing the knowledge of both the lo- sponse to limit the fiscal impact search, and sustainable projects, as cal and global oil and gas industry of the coronavirus pandemic. well as patented instruments and through the addition of topics re- “These strengths are bal- proprietary tools developed by the lated to sustainable development.” anced against a high level of debt research team. “QSTP has been proud to play and exceptionally high contin- The relationship between To- its part in Qatar Foundation’s Re- gent liabilities compared with tal and QSTP has flourished due to search, Development and Innova- rated peers, heavy hydrocarbon their shared ambition to develop tion (QF RDI) division and we are dependence and mediocre scores sustainable solutions and support very much looking forward to the on measures of governance and Qatar’s National Vision. exciting years ahead in the vital field doing business,” Fitch said. Both organisations have been of RDI. In fact, RDI is a journey as To limit the fiscal impact of aligned in their efforts to strength- vital as any Qatar will ever take. coronavirus, the rating agency en ties between the various sectors One of the next global races will be said, “Qatar’s government and and industries, particularly energy, for minds and talents in technology Qatar Central Bank (QCB) are research, and environment, and to development. Total will certainly be implementing a QR75 billion build strong bridges and interac- playing a leading role in that signif- stimulus package mainly consist- cent increase over the current tions in order to achieve business icant RDI work here in Qatar,” he ing of liquidity injections by the Net foreign assets rise to 130% of GDP capacity of 77 million tonnes,” it sustainability and innovation. said. QCB, stock market investments Qatar’s sovereign net foreign assets rose to 130 said. “We started our journey at QSTP “QSTP provides a great environ- by government funds, support percent of GDP in 2019 from 105 percent of GDP in “While we assume that the ten years ago, with the vision of in- ment for research and innovation, to businesses through loans and 2018 largely reflecting the estimated assets of the project will reduce QP’s cash novation and excellence in R&D. and its proximity to world-class guarantees by Qatar Develop- Qatar Investment Authority, which were buoyed by flow to the state by around $25 We made a unique commitment to universities is an added advantage. ment Bank and postponement strong asset market returns. Qatar’s government billion spread over 2022-2028, developing homegrown solutions This has given us a great platform and suspension of fees and taxes the additional LNG production for our local operational challenges, for TRC-Q to thrive,” said Total E&P by the government. We estimate would be able to obtain significant liquidity from could ultimately result in more whilst supporting Qatar’s vision Golfe Managing Director and Coun- that only around 1-2 percent of these assets if the need arose. The QCB’s reserves than $20 billion per year of ad- of establishing a knowledge-based try Chair Laurent Wolffsheim. GDP of the stimulus package is also rose to nearly $40 billion or five months of ditional hydrocarbon revenue to budgetary, and this will be offset current external payments in 2019. the government after wind-down by spending cuts elsewhere.” of QP capital spending and as- Qatar’s large external assets suming some of the project costs and the central bank’s foreign re- strong asset market returns,” it The financial market downturn are covered by debt and interna- serves put the country in a strong said. likely created valuation losses for tional partners.QP is proceed- position to deal with any crisis, “We expect that the govern- QIA in early 2020 but conditions ing with engineering and design Fitch said adding the govern- ment would be able to obtain have since improved,” the rating work and has acquired options ment’s strong overall asset posi- significant liquidity from these agency said. for the construction of 100 LNG tion mitigates some of the risks assets if the need arose, for ex- “Expansion of LNG produc- tankers for $20 billion,” it said. from contingent liabilities. ample in the case of a systemic tion could deliver sizeable im- The rating agency, however, “We estimate that sovereign loss of confidence in the banking provements to Qatar’s public noted that weaker hydrocarbon net foreign assets rose to 130 sector. The QCB’s reserves also finances in the long term. Qatar revenue and disruptions to non- percent of GDP in 2019 from 105 rose to nearly $40 billion or five Petroleum (QP) intends to add hydrocarbon income as a result From left: Total E&P Golfe Managing Director and Country Chair Laurent Wolff- percent of GDP in 2018, largely months of current external pay- 49 million tonnes per year (1.9 of the coronavirus pandemic will sheim, TRC-Q Acting Director and Vice President Innovation and Change Manage- reflecting the estimated assets ments in 2019 on the back of a million barrels of oil equivalent lead to low-single-digit deficits ment Yousef Al Jaber and QSTP Executive Director Yosouf Abdulrahman Al Salehi of the Qatar Investment Author- modest current account surplus, per day) of LNG production from in 2020-2021 after surpluses in sign the Total and QSTP lease extension agreement. ity (QIA), which were buoyed by from over $30 billion in 2018. its North Field by 2027, a 64 per- 2018-2019. Qatar fast emerging as regional hub for FinTech, say experts

Tribune News Network the region and making Qatar a great milestone. These pro- eign SMEs on the other. As Doha a fintech hub for the Middle grammes are set to further a result, Qatar has advanced East,” Dosari said. consolidate Qatar’s position 18 spots in the national level The Qatar-US Business Qatar is already a lead- as a global FinTech leader of entrepreneurial activity, Council hosted the virtual ing financial hub in the Mid- and create a vibrant ecosys- securing the 15th rank glob- panel discussion on ‘Qatar’s dle East through the sector’s tem that is attractive for in- ally and second in the MENA Growing FinTech Sector & emphasis on payment inno- ternational investors, espe- region for the Total Early- Business Opportunities’ in vations and Islamic financial cially those from the United Stage Entrepreneurial Activ- collaboration with the Em- services. Set forth by the Qa- States.” ity (TEA) index. bassy of Qatar in the United tar Central Bank (QCB), the FinTEx Executive Direc- “As an experienced inter- States and FinTEx. National Fintech Strategy tor Randy Rivera said, “We national fintech investor, we The virtual discussion by aims to support the burgeon- actively work with many in- believe that Qatar provides a sector experts provided US ing sector in partnership with ternational organisations to promising environment and companies with an overview several key local stakehold- match talent with opportunity set of opportunities for Fintech of the Qatar-US commercial ers including Qatar Financial and what is going on in Qatar growth,” Anthemis Founder relationship and the FinTech Centre (QFC) and Qatar De- fits as an attractive platform and CEO Amy Nauiokas said. sector in Qatar including velopment Bank (QDB). The not just for the fintech in- “We look forward to solidify- the regulatory environment, strategy will target opportuni- volved but also for Qatari and ing some key relationships government initiatives, and ties in digital payments, mon- regional markets.” in Qatar as Anthemis further business opportunities for US ey management, and lending, “The design of these pro- builds our MENA strategy,” companies to support the sec- among others. Experts take part in the virtual panel discussion on ‘Qatar’s Growing FinTech Sector & Business Opportunities’ grammes reflects thought- Nauiokas said. tor’s development. “QFC has long recognised hosted by Qatar-US Business Council in collaboration with the Embassy of Qatar in the United States and FinTEx. fulness, broad participation, “Qatar has demonstrated “Qatar is one of the most that Qatar’s FinTech sector is and commitment of the right an incredible synergy among stable economies in the world, booming with opportunities, velopment. We will continue region. Already home to both free of charge for 12 months, mix of leaders who can affect entities in the pursuit of be- and we offer strong financial and we see innovating and in our efforts to enrich and leading European and Indian which will enable Fintech change and attract the talent coming a global leader in Fin- incentives for US-based com- supporting the growth of this develop the tech and fintech FinTech investors, QFC is also communities and talents to to make that change uniquely Tech,” said Qatar-US Business panies, like our 20-year tax sector as a vital avenue to di- infrastructure in Qatar as an home to QPay, Qatar’s largest network with large institu- impactful, not just to the mar- Council Managing Director holidays for companies oper- versifying Qatar’s economy,” enabling platform and look FinTech company. tions and corporates as well as ket, but to the regional fintech Mohammed Barakat. “Con- ating in Free Zones,” said Fa- QFC CEO Yousuf Al Jaida forward to seeing more inter- In addition to its FinTech foster joint collaboration. community as well.” sidering Qatar’s large pay- had Al Dosari, commercial at- said. national FinTechs, including services provider license that Speaking on the occa- Qatar has continued to ment processing and remit- tache at the Embassy of Qatar “Moreover, the ongoing those from the US, integrate enables FinTech’s easy access sion, Qatar Development build a strong entrepreneur- tance market and its strategy in the United States. Coronavirus crisis not only into Qatar’s thriving eco-sys- to Qatar’s lucrative market, Bank (QDB) CEO Abdulaziz ial sector and a competitive to become a regional gateway “All of Qatar’s government highlights the importance of tem.” QFC is soon going to launch Al Khalifa said, “The launch business climate capable of for a huge market, I foresee agencies are committed to tech and fintech but also ac- QFC is focused on becom- its ‘FinTech Circle’, a co-work- of QDB’s FinTech Incubator developing local SMEs on rapid growth in Qatar’s Fin- supporting US investment in celerates adoption and de- ing a hub for FinTech in the space for qualifying FinTechs and Accelerator Programs is one hand and attracting for- Tech sector,” Barakat said. Economy & Business Thursday, June 25, 2020 09 AAB marks first digital launch with the all-new Toyota C-HR 2020 Hybrid Tribune news network between curving surfaces and crisp doha Eco-friendly tech lines to deliver a fresh, yet comfortable With its head-turning looks environment. In line with the efforts of the govern- and energetic performance, The sleek control panel features a ment of Qatar to limit the spread of 4.2-inch color LCD Multi-Information the Covid 19 virus, and a commitment the all-new C-HR is poised Display with an onboard multimedia from Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co to win the hearts of system and full smartphone integra- (AAB) to ensure the protection of the adventurous motorists in tion through both Apple CarPlay and health and safety of its customers, the the region Android Auto. In addition, the system company initiated first digital launch facilitates ‘over the air’ map updates to in Qatar with the introduction of the ● Responsive driving dynamics ensure the accuracy of the navigation all-new Toyota C-HR, a new member and environmentally friendly platform. to the Toyota Hybrid Vehicle (HEV) hybrid-electric technology The user-friendly controls are family. combine to establish a new direc- complemented by ample storage ca- Announcing the launch of the all tion for crossovers pabilities, ultra-supportive seats, and new Toyota C-HR, RK Murugan, AAB a dual-mode air conditioning system Acting CEO said the daringly innova- ● Driver and passenger safety is to ensure the utmost comfort and tive crossover combines adventurous assured through a host of convenience for drivers and their pas- design with a responsive drive and superior technologies to provide sengers. class-leading eco-friendly technology greater peace of mind The all-new C-HR HEV comes to bring the future of the crossover to with all the benefits expected of the customers in the region. world’s most proven and advanced Firas Mufti, Senior Marketing RK Murugan, Acting CEO (right) with Firas Mufti, Senior Marketing Manager with the new Toyota C-HR hybrid-electric technology, yet drives Manager said the introduction of peace of mind through its comprehen- like any other conventional car, of- C-HR Hybrid electric vehicle further “Distilling decades of engineering ex- sive array of safety features. fering remarkable fuel efficiency at demonstrates Toyota’s commitment pertise has resulted in a highly refined Viewed from any angle, the com- 23.9 km/L with zero compromise on to introduce more class leading eco- vehicle that is stylish, fun to drive and bination of faceted gemstone-like performance. The combined HP for friendly technology models in addi- embodies Toyota’s commitment to shapes and fluid surfaces of the 2020 C-HR is 122. tion to the existing 3 HEV models. safeguarding the future of our planet Toyota C-HR creates a delicate bal- The hybrid-electric powertrain is Awwad Mohamed, Senior Man- through its groundbreaking eco- ance of precision and elegance. The equipped with a small, light, and pow- ager, Toyota National Sales, said, “The friendly technologies. I’d like to thank front of the vehicle represents a fur- erful lithium-ion battery pack that can introduction of new C-HR gives our our loyal customers in the region ther evolution of Toyota’s Under Pri- efficiently absorb and deliver current, customers more options of HEV ve- for their continuous support, which ority and Keen Look design identity. enhancing the electric motive force hicles to choose from and also further serves as a constant source of inspira- Character lines have been executed delivery. strengthens Toyota’s strong SUV line- tion in our drive to create ‘ever-better’ with a gentle touch, and the front face Toyota has more than two decades up. cars.” features a body-colored lower lip, cre- of technical leadership in electrified ve- “AAB offers 8 years/160,000 kms The all-new C-HR is built on ating a refined appearance. hicles and has amassed over 15 million warranty for hybrid battery in Qatar the Toyota New Global Architecture The Daytime Running Lights environmentally friendly vehicle sales thereby giving peace of mind to the tion value in its category at 23.9 moditized crossover segment.” (TNGA) platform, which guarantees (DRL) form a singular illuminated globally since 1997. ‎Its hybrid-electric HEV vehicle owners in addition to the km/L, the class-leading C-HR enables “We are excited to launch the all- a more rewarding driving experience. element located above the main batteries are continuously charged by fabulous performance in acceleration customers to contribute to a greener new Toyota C-HR in the Middle East, A low center of gravity and double- beam projectors, while the indicator the petrol engine‎ and when decelerat- and quietness future while enjoying the increased a completely new breed of car that will wishbone rear suspension contribute lights are fully integrated within the ing and braking, meaning there is no Designed to stand out both within driving satisfaction provided by its ad- change people’s perceptions of what a to outstanding stability and handling same unit. The position of the front need to plug in a power cord. The all- the Toyota line-up and the crossover vanced technologies. The new model crossover should be like to drive and with exceptional ride comfort. fog lights at the extreme edges of the new C-HR features a host of advanced segment, the all-new C-HR – or Coupe also offers exceptional cabin quietness to look at. Designed to reflect the as- The vehicle comes with a 1.8-litre lower bumper allows for a very wide technologies, yet drives like any other High-Rider – embodies company and smooth acceleration, especially pirations of adventurous young mo- VVT-i full-hybrid powertrain and au- lower air intake, underlining the car’s conventional vehicle and ‎does not re- President Akio Toyoda’s commitment when accelerating from a stand-still. torists, the vehicle represents the next tomatic E-CVT transmission, meeting powerful stance. quire special fuel. to promoting stylistic freedom and en- Inspired by what he learned from step in the segment’s evolution,” said all the requirements of daily com- Equipped with LED lamp technol- As with any Toyota model, the gineering creativity. meeting with potential customers, Kei Fujita, Chief Representative of mutes and weekend leisure journeys ogy, the rear light clusters stand proud safety of occupants is paramount and The pioneering crossover remains C-HR Chief Engineer Hiroyuki Koba Middle East & Central Asia Repre- while offering of the bodywork and are connected is assured through several superior remarkably true to the spirit of the focused persistently on their require- sentative Office, Toyota Mo- by a sleek, glossy spoiler, giving the technologies. The TNGA-based chas- concept cars that drew global atten- ments throughout the development tor Corporation. back view of the 2020 Toyota sis has been optimized for outstand- tion in Paris in 2014 and Frankfurt in process, setting the highest demands Fujita con- C-HR an expressive visu- ing impact performance and is com- 2015. for design and quality. tinued, al signature. plemented by an impressive array Now, the Toyota development Koba commented, “The Toyota The all-new of active and passive safety features team’s bold vision is brought to life C-HR’s unique character dem- C-HR’s airy and including Vehicle Stability Control in a head-turning vehicle that pairs a onstrates the Toyota New high-quality (VSC), Electronic Brakeforce Distri- coupe-like upper body with the pow- Global Architecture interior is de- bution (EBD), Tire Pressure Warning erful underpinnings of an SUV for en- (TNGA) platform’s signed to de- System (TPWS), Hill-start Assist Con- hanced driving pleasure. flexibility in three light the most trol (HAC) and many others. The all-new C-HR Hybrid-Electric key areas: design, discerning A choice of 10 exciting exterior Vehicle (HEV) also reflects Toyota’s powertrain, and of custom- hues add to the all-new C-HR’s strik- long-standing drive for sustainability. dynamics. This ers. Exuding a ing visual appeal, including Super The company has harnessed the pow- adaptability pro- genuine sense White 2, White Pearl CS, Celestite er of innovation to emerge as a leader vided us with the of luxury and Gray ME, Gray ME, Metal Stream in the development of environmen- freedom to deliver refinement, the ME, Black MC, Emotion Red 2, Or- tally friendly automotive technologies. a fresh take on the cabin offers an ange ME, Oxide Bronze ME, and Neb- Offering the lowest fuel consump- increasingly com- elegant contrast ula Blue ME. Mazaya appoints Saeed as British airports say 20,000 jobs marketing senior manager at risk; Swissport plans cuts Tribune news network ing MBA from the Gulf Univer- dpa doha sity of Bahrain and Bachelor London of Arts degree from the Uni- Mazaya Real Estate Devel- versity of Beirut in Lebanon, An airport industry group on opment Company has ap- and is a graduate of the Qatar Wednesday said more than pointed Saeed bin Ali Al Marri Leadership Center. 20,000 jobs could be lost in as Senior Manager, Market- Britain due to the economic ing, the company announced impact the coronavirus pan- in a statement on Wednesday. The appointment is part of demic, amid reports that Mazaya Managing Direc- the plan developed by the Swissport plans to cut more tor Ibrahim bin Jaham al Ku- board to increase the than 4,000 jobs. wari expressed his pleasure on national manpower in the The Airport Operators’ Saeed joining the company’s company Association called for gov- team. ernment help after its analy- The company said the ap- Saeed said, “I am pleased sis suggested that 20,000 pointment comes at a time and proud of my appointment airport jobs are at risk in when Mazaya is working to Ibrahim bin Jaham Al Kuwari at Mazaya Real Estate Devel- Britain “as the full effects of complete the structuring plan opment, and I look forward to the [coronavirus] pandemic by strengthening the compa- state’s policy of increasing the serving the company and the on the global airline commu- ny’s management capabilities ratio of Qatari jobs in the pri- executive management. nity begin to be felt.” More by local and regional expan- vate sector. “I will exert all efforts to than 110,000 jobs could be sions. Saeed has over 20 years achieve the company’s ob- lost if firms providing ser- The appointment is also of experience in the manage- jectives and the goals of the vices to airports or indirectly (File photo) An aircraft grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, operated by Ryanair, is pictured part of the plan developed by ment field, including five years chairman and all board mem- dependent upon them are in- beyond unused Swissport stairs, on the apron at Manchester Airport in Manchester. (AFP) the board of directors to in- in executive positions. bers, and I will employ all my cluded, the AOA said. crease the national manpower Saeed holds various aca- practical and academic poten- Trade unions and British ponent of the UK’s infra- tries with lower coronavirus sultations on the possible in the company in line with the demic qualifications, includ- tials to achieve this goal.” media reported on Wednes- structure is on its knees, with infection rates than Britain. cutting of 4,556 positions. day that Swissport has told no relief to the current crisis Broadcaster Sky News Trade unions GMB and staff that it plans consulta- expected,” she added. quoted a memo to Swis- Unite, which represent many tions on cutting about half of The government has im- sport’s 8,500 staff in Brit- Swissport staff, said the plan its 9,000 jobs in Britain. posed a 14-day quarantine ain and Ireland, from Jason to cut jobs was “devastating WTI oil price tumbles over 5% AOA chief executive Ka- on all international arriv- Holt, its chief executive for news.” The unions urged the ren Dee said Britain’s com- als in Britain, which airlines Western Europe, as saying government to provide “a be- mercial aviation sector had warned could bring “economic the company had to “adapt to spoke financial package ... to to $38 as US inventories rise “weathered the worst three disaster.” It later announced this new reality” in which air support the aviation industry months in its history.” Dee planned exemptions for ar- traffic was not forecast to re- and save thousands of jobs AFP cord high for the second tract, Brent, shed 5.3 percent urged the government to rivals from European nations cover to pre-pandemic levels as the economy continues to London straight week. to $40.34. drop its “arbitrary quaran- popular with British holiday- until as late as 2024. reopen.” Major British air- The price for a barrel Oil prices have climbed in tine policy, which has unnec- makers, including Spain and Holt said Swissport, lines have also announced The price of the main US of West Texas Intermedi- recent weeks on hopes of in- essarily stifled the sector’s Portugal. which provides baggage possible staff cuts, including oil contract tumbled more ate (WTI) to be delivered in creased demand by consum- restart and recovery plans.” Airlines said the govern- handling and other services 12,000 at British Airways, than five percent Wednes- August fell by 5.7 percent to ers as economies reopen from “These [AOA] jobs figures ment had effectively banned at most British regional air- 4,500 at easyJet and 3,000 day after data showed that $38.08 at 1510 GMT, while coronavirus lockdowns and clearly show that a key com- people from travelling to coun- ports, planned to start con- at Ryanair. stocks of crude oil hit a re- the main international con- cuts by producers. 10 Thursday, June 25, 2020 Economy & Business China opens more Global economy to take $12 tn industries to foreign investment hit due to COVID crisis: IMF AFP Previously, foreign capi- Beijing tal in securities companies, futures companies and life The pandemic has had a more negative impact on economic activity in H1 2020 than anticipated, IMF says China announced on insurance could not exceed Wednesday it was expand- 51 percent of the company’s AFP ing the number of sectors total holdings. Washington open to foreign investment, Beijing also lifted regula- relaxing international own- tions prohibiting foreign in- The global coronavirus pan- ership caps on brokerages, vestment in radioactive min- demic has sparked an econom- futures companies and life eral production, processing ic “crisis like no other,” send- insurance firms. and nuclear fuel production. ing world GDP plunging 4.9 The scaling back of the It relaxed restrictions on percent this year and wiping so-called “negative-list” foreign investment in com- out $12 trillion over two years, comes as the country works mercial vehicle manufactur- the IMF said on Wednesday. to revive its coronavirus-hit ing as well. Worldwide business shut- economy, as Beijing pledges While it cancelled regu- downs destroyed hundreds to further open-up the econ- lations prohibiting foreign of millions of jobs, and major omy to international inves- investment in air traffic con- economies in Europe face dou- tors. trol, the NDRC statement ble-digit collapses. The number of items on said that the construction The prospects for recovery the list of restrictions on for- and operations of civil air- post-pandemic -- like the fore- eign ownership has been cut ports must be controlled by casts themselves -- are steeped from 40 to 33, said the Na- China. in “pervasive uncertainty” tional Development and Re- In the agriculture sec- given the unpredictable path form Commission (NDRC) tor, restrictions were eased of the virus, the IMF said in in a statement. The number on wheat breeding and seed its updated World Economic was also reduced last year. production. Authorities Outlook. US and European com- said Chinese entities had “The COVID-19 pandemic panies, however, have been only to hold at least 34 per- has had a more negative im- raising concerns that access cent, rather than a majority pact on activity in the first half to the Chinese market re- share. of 2020 than anticipated, and mains tough, and repeatedly In the infrastructure the recovery is projected to be complained of unfair treat- industry, China also lifted more gradual than previously ment. a rule stipulating the con- forecast,” the fund warned. An NDRC spokesman struction and operation While businesses are reo- said Wednesday this shows of urban water supply and pening in many countries and Beijing’s “determination to drainage pipeline networks China has seen a bigger re- expand its opening to the for areas with a population bound in activity than expect- A woman wearing a face mask walks past a closed food store in Arlington, Virginia recently. (AFP) outside world, and China’s of 500,000 or more must ed, a second wave of viral in- firm attitude in supporting be controlled by the Chi- fections threatens the outlook, progress made on reducing as they created huge and ever- Germany slightly less, while 300 million jobs were lost in economic globalisation”. nese. the report said. World GDP is extreme poverty, the Wash- increasing debt levels. France, Italy, Spain and Brit- the second quarter of the year. expected to rebound by just ington-based crisis lender said The damage is nonethe- ain will suffer double-digit The “sizeable” flood of 5.4 percent in 2021, and only if in its report. less stunning, and more wide- contractions. Japan makes out government funds to support all goes well, the IMF warned. The fund made drastic spread than any downturn in a bit better with a drop of just workers and businesses “have IMF chief economist Gita downward revisions to most of recent decades. The recession 5.8 percent, according to the forestalled worse near-term Gopinath said under cur- the April forecasts made in the in many major economies will forecasts. losses,” but the IMF urged rent forecasts, the crisis will early days of the pandemic, be more than double that suf- Mexico also will see a dou- countries to avoid a situation destroy $12 trillion over two and IMF economists fear the fered during the global finan- ble-digit decline while Brazil where aid is “prematurely years, and cautioned, “we are coronavirus will leave lasting cial crisis in 2009, which came just misses that mark, as does withdrawn or improperly tar- not out of the woods.” scars on employment, busi- as major developing econo- Argentina, which is in the mid- geted” since that could worsen “Substantial joint sup- nesses and trade. mies like China, India and dle of a massive debt crunch the economic damage. port from fiscal and monetary Hanging over the predic- Brazil were booming. China on top of its health and eco- “A more prolonged decline policy must continue for now,” tions is the bill for massive will eke out growth of one per- nomic crises after the country in activity could lead to further Gopinath said in a blog post. government stimulus plans, cent this year, the only positive once again defaulted on its for- scarring, including from wider The downturn is particu- which were fueled by extreme- figure on the long list of key eign obligations. firm closures, as surviving larly damaging for low-income ly low interest rates and likely economies the IMF tracks. The IMF pointed to Inter- firms hesitate to hire jobseek- A man rides a scooter in Beijing on Tuesday. (AFP) countries and households, prevented the recession from The United States will national Labour Organisation ers after extended unemploy- and threatens to endanger the turning into a depression even shrink eight percent and data estimating more than ment,” the fund warned. German business confidence rebounds Google plans $2 billion as coronavirus restrictions ease investment in Poland dpa return to growth during the Berlin second half of the year. AFP lion dollars in Poland to expand Driving this month’s in- Warsaw Microsoft announced in its operations, including the German business confidence dex higher was a sharp gain May that it would invest creation of a new regional cloud- rebounded at a record pace in German business executives’ Google plans to invest up to one billion dollars in computing data hub. June as hopes rose that Eu- expectations of economic con- two billion dollars in a data hub Poland to expand its oper- Both investments come rope’s biggest economy was on ditions six months down the in Poland, a leading Polish busi- ations, including the crea- at a crucial time for the Polish course to emerge from the re- track, which jumped from a ness daily reported on Wednes- tion of a new regional economy as the coronavirus cri- cession unleashed by the coro- May reading of 80.5 to 91.4 day, echoing a move by Micro- sis means that the EU country navirus crisis. in June. The German gov- soft announced earlier this year. cloud-computing data hub of 38 million is facing its first The Munich-based Ifo in- ernment, along with the Eu- “The Google Cloud region in recession since the collapse of stitute said on Wednesday that ropean Central Bank and the Warsaw is the largest investment billion euros). Dziewguc said the communism three decades ago. its closely watched business European Commission, have in this type of infrastructure in project was to be operational by Google and Microsoft are among confidence index rose to 86.2 German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (left) and German environ- launched massive financial Poland,” Magdalena Dziewguc, early next year. the global leaders in providing points this month from a read- ment minister Svenja Schulze in Berlin on Wednesday. (AFP) support to underpin the Euro- Google Cloud’s business devel- “This is part of the expansion cloud services -- an industry ing of 79.7 points in May - its pean economy’s recovery from opment director for Poland and of computing and telecommuni- worth hundreds of billions of biggest-ever monthly increase. come in at 85 points in June “The ... indicator seems the economic crisis triggered the region told “Puls Biznesu”. cations infrastructure in Europe, dollars. “German business sees after it plunged to a record to point to a strong V-shaped by the coronavirus. Although she did not pro- which has cost more than 15 bil- As well as charging for the light at the end of the tun- lows in recent months as large upswing,” said Commerzbank However, the business vide a specific sum for the in- lion euros since 2007,” Puls Bi- service, cloud operators are able nel,” said Ifo President Clem- tracts of the German economy chief economist Joerg Krae- leaders’ assessment of the cur- vestment, Puls Biznesu said it znesu said. to harvest huge amounts of data ens Fuest. Analysts had ex- were shut down to curb the mer, with analysts predicting rent state of the economy rose would be between 1.5 and 2.0 Microsoft announced in and open up many other rev- pected that the index would pandemic. that the German economy will only marginally. billion dollars (1.3 billion and 1.8 May that it would invest one bil- enue streams. Huawei’s flagship camera smartphone P40 Pro+ is available for pre-order

Tribune news network Camera delivers an all-day Su- SoC, which includes an integrated Doha per Definition experience. The 5G modem, the Huawei P40 Pro+ 50MP Ultra Vision Wide Camera delivers powerful performance, ro- Uniting productivity with cutting- features a massive 1/1.28-inch bust AI support, battery efficiency edge design, Huawei’s flagship cam- CMOS sensor, which supports and 5G connectivity that is compat- era smartphone the Huawei P40 super-sized binned pixels meas- ible with a wide range of 5G network Pro+ is now available for pre-order, uring 2.44μm and Full Pixel Octa configurations. The 160MHz Wi-Fi the company announced in a state- PD AutoFocus for high-speed, ac- 6 Plus technology featured in the full ment on Wednesday. curate autofocus. line-up offers high-speed connectiv- The Huawei P40 Pro+ is avail- Consumers can easily cap- ity with support for 2,400Mbps peak able for pre-order starting June 25, ture cinematic videos in any sce- theoretical transmission speed. 2020 for QR4,299 on Huawei on- nario, thanks to the 40MP Ultra Huawei P40 Pro+ supports the line store https://consumer.huawei. Wide Cine Camera with built-in industry-leading 40W Wireless com/qa/phones/p40-pro-plus/. All SedecimPixel Fusion Technology Huawei SuperCharge, and includes pre-order purchases will enjoy a gift enabling extreme low-light per- a custom 4-in-1 SuperCool system including the Huawei Freebuds 3 formance. The SuperZoom Array to keep the temperatures down and a wireless car charger, the state- unique to the Huawei P40 Pro+ HUAWEI - P40 Pro+ while it is in use. ment said. utilises folded optics to realise up Working in close collaboration The device features the ground- to 10x true optical zoom and 100x Engine aggregating and process- The nano-tech ceramic back, technology and stylish design, the with global developers, Huawei of- breaking Ultra Vision Leica Penta maximum digital zoom. Selfies are ing data from multiple sources to made with a multi-step artisanal Huawei P40 Pro+ is equipped with fers a wide range of global and local Camera, the new Quad-Curve taken to a new level by the front- generate a comprehensive improve- manufacturing process that in- a Huawei Quad-curve Overflow Dis- apps on AppGallery, Huawei’s offi- Overflow Display, G5 connectivity, facing 32MP AF Camera and IR ment in picture quality. New fea- volves five days of kilning and a cus- play that features super narrow bez- cial app marketplace. Users can also and the latest operating system, Depth Camera, which support ac- tures includes the Huawei Golden tom polishing technique, gives the els and streamlined corners to offer enjoy a rich library of quality enter- EMUI 10.1, presenting an award- curate subject isolation and natu- Snap and Directional Audio Zoom, powerful camera smartphone excel- a near borderless view. An in-screen tainment media on Huawei Video, winning device that opens up a ral Bokeh effects. adding more versatility to the pow- lent durability and timeless style, fingerprint reader offers a fast and Huawei Music and Huawei Reader, world of innovation in the palm of The Huawei P40 Pro+ takes erful cameras, and allowing creators expressed in two classic colours: reliable way to unlock the device with new content from top publish- the hand. full advantage of its multi-camera to easily capture incredible portraits White Ceramic and Black Ceramic. and apps. ers being added on a continuous The Ultra Vision Leica Penta system with the Huawei XD Fusion and videos in low light conditions. Combining cutting-edge camera Powered by the Kirin 990 5G basis. Clare Connor to be first female MCC President in 233 years page 13 Thursday, June 25, 2020

Barcelona grind out Bilbao win to put pressure back on Madrid

AFP said Rakitic. “It was an impor- Madrid tant goal, it was a tough game, it was hard for us to open the Barcelona limped to a game up.” 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao Arthur Melo started, de- on Tuesday that sends them spite reports he could be close back to the top of La Liga, for to joining Juventus, and strug- 24 hours at least, three points gled. ahead of Real Madrid. Sergio Busquets picked up Only a goal from substitute a yellow card and will be sus- Ivan Rakitic in the 71st minute pended against Celta Vigo on prevented Barca from another Saturday but that should be a stalemate after a draw at Sevil- simpler assignment than the la on Friday had allowed Real ones that come after against to go top on head-to-head. in-form Atletico Madrid and Madrid returned to the Villarreal. summit against struggling Athletic Bilbao stay 10th Real Mallorca late on Wednes- after suffering their first defeat day as Barcelona’s victory put since La Liga returned. the pressure back on Zinedine Atletico Madrid, mean- Zidane’s side. while, continued their surge This Barca performance towards Champions League though was hardly a statement qualification by winning 1-0 of intent, devoid of chances, at Levante to climb to third, lacking zip and tinged with thanks to an early own goal by frustration rather than the free- Bruno Gonzalez. flowing football Quique Setien Since matches restarted in was appointed to bring in. Spain two weeks ago, Atletico Lionel Messi looked par- have taken 10 points from a ticularly wearied by his team’s possible 12 and are now six display. The Argentinian was points clear of fifth, as their Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah scores his team’s second goal against Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool on Wednesday.( AFP) creator-in-chief again but the top-four rivals have crumbled dependence on him was high around them. and he remains one away from One of them is Getafe, who the 700th goal of his career. continued their post-suspen- Rakitic is likely to be sion slump as they were held among a handful of players to a 1-1 draw against strug- Liverpool on brink of title, allowed to leave this summer. gling Real Valladolid. He has not been a regular this Getafe are fifth but without season and this was his first a win in the four games since Barca goal since the Clasico in La Liga resumed. March last year. Valladolid are 15th, seven “It’s a difficult period but points clear of the relegation Man Utd make top 4 move we have to stick together,” zone. Levante stay 11th.

at Merseyside rivals Ever- Premier League go. We have worked on that, tied on 27 points as Aston Reds blank Crystal ton on Sunday, the champi- Results getting in the box in that situ- Villa struck late to claim a 1-1 ons-elect were far more vi- ation more often. draw at Newcastle. Palace 4-0 brant and Alexander-Arnold Norwich City 0 lost to Everton “I thought our perfor- Dean Smith’s side looked AFP opened the scoring with a 1 (Michael Keane 55’) mance deserved a win, defi- set to rue a host of missed London superb free-kick in the 23rd Wolves 1 (Raul Jimenez 60’) nitely.” chances before half-time minute. when Dwight Gayle put the Liverpool are on the brink Salah doubled the lead in bt Bournemouth 0 ‘Dream big’ Magpies in front. of clinching the Premier the 44th minute, taking Fabi- Newcastle 1 (Dwight Gayle Fifth-place could still be However, Ahmed El Mo- League title after the leaders nho’s lofted pass and guiding 68’) vs Aston Villa 1 (Ahmed good enough for a place in hamady’s scrappy finish from powered to a 4-0 win against in his 21st goal of the season. Elmohamady 83’) next season’s Champions Conor Hourihane’s corner Crystal Palace, while Antho- Fabinho scored with a League depending on the out- salvaged a precious point. ny Martial hit a hat-trick in thunderous 30-yard strike in Manchester United 3 (Anthony come of City’s appeal against “It’s an annoying point. Manchester United’s 3-0 vic- the 55th minute and Mane Martial 7’, 44’, 74’) bt a two-season ban from Euro- The majority of the game I tory over Sheffield United on capped a fine move in the Sheffield United 0 pean competition. thought we were the better Wednesday. 69th minute as Liverpool And Wolves remain level team,” said Villa boss Dean Jurgen Klopp’s side took moved 23 points clear of City. Liverpool 4 (Trent Alexander- on points with United in fifth Smith. “We have to be more control thanks to first-half United are still far off Arnold 23’, Mohamed Salah after continuing their perfect clinical.” goals from Trent Alexander- challenging again for titles 44’, Fabinho 55’, Sadio Mane restart with a 1-0 win over Any hope of Norwich Arnold and Mohamed Salah at the top of the table, but 69) bt Crystal Palace 0 Bournemouth. hauling themselves out of behind closed doors at An- there are growing signs of Just as in a 2-0 victory trouble now looks forlorn as field. momentum for Ole Gunnar at West Ham on Saturday, the Canaries fell to a second Fabinho and Sadio Mane Solskjaer’s men as they ex- three games since the restart. Adama Traore and Raul home defeat in a week. netted after the interval and tended their unbeaten run to United could have piled Jimenez combined to break Michael Keane scored Liverpool will be crowned 13 games. on much more pain after the deadlock as the Mexican the only goal as Everton won champions if Manchester City Martial produced two the break, but were content powered home a header for 1-0 at Carrow Road to move fail to beat Chelsea at Stam- predatory first-time finishes with one more goal as Mar- his 24th goal of the season. above Arsenal into 10th. ford Bridge on Thursday. before half-time to put Unit- tial completed his first career “When we are like this Norwich remain rock If second-placed City win ed in command at Old Traf- hat-trick with a cheeky chip as a pack we can achieve bottom, six points adrift of in west London, then Liver- ford. from Marcus Rashford’s pass. anything,” Jimenez told BT safety. pool could wrap up their first Sheffield United were “Very happy for Antho- Sport. “We have to dream big Barcelona’s Croatian midfielder Ivan English title for 30 years in riding high in March before ny,” Solskjaer said. “The third and keep going like this.” Thursday Fixtures: Rakitic (back left) celebrates after their next game -- against Pep football’s shutdown for three goal was a great goal, but for Defeat leaves Bourne- Burnley v Watford (8pm scoring against Athletic Bilbao at the Guardiola’s side at the Etihad months, but the Blades have me the first and the second mouth still in the bottom Doha Time, Southampton v Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Stadium on July 2. now picked up just one point were better. three on goal difference and Arsenal (8pm), Chelsea v Tuesday. (AFP) After a drab goalless draw and failed to score in their “He’s in the box, ready to there are now three teams Manchester City (10.15pm) Wood says bio-secure England camp like a ‘sci-fi movie’

AFP contracting COVID-19 and “Meals are strange as during an England consola- which is a bit weird.” London officials are doing all they well, everyone has their back tion win that meant the West But while England are can to ensure the players re- to you and sits on separate Indies won the series 2-1. getting ready to return, the Mark Wood said he felt like main virus free. tables. This morning I had At times he topped amateur game remains on he was in a science fiction This has included chang- breakfast and looked at the speeds of 95 mph, rival- hold after British Prime It is a bit like a sci-fi film after entering England’s ing the original venues to the back of Jos Buttler’s head. ling Johnson’s pace if not Minister Boris Johnson said movie. Everybody bio-secure training ‘bubble’ Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford, “You have to follow ar- the retired left-arm quick’s Tuesday a cricket ball was a has masks, you ahead of next month’s Test both of which have onsite ho- rows and feet marks eve- 37-wicket return during the “natural vector of disease”. don’t know if they series against the West In- tels, for what will be cricket’s rywhere (at the venue); it’s 2013/14 Ashes. Wood, speaking to pro- are friendly or not. dies. first major international se- like a channel one way and a It was the start of a suc- mote Yorkshire Tea’s Na- Durham fast bowler ries since lockdown. channel the other.” cessful period for Wood, tional Cricket Week, a series Mark Wood, Wood is one of 29 Eng- “The temperature check Meanwhile Wood hopes whose career has been of online activities, warned England paceman land cricketers currently at (upon arrival) was weird,” his blistering burst in St blighted by injuries. the sport risked losing fu- Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, said Wood during a confer- Lucia last year will have im- Asked if his St Lucia ex- ture stars if children could the venue for the first Test, ence call on Wednesday. printed itself on the West ploits would make the West not play this summer. all of whom have produced “You walk through a tent Indies just as surely as hos- Indies wary, Wood said: “I “Being a non-contact negative results in an initial and they tell you you’re all tile spells from Australia fast think it’s natural. sport, there must be some- round of coronavirus testing right. I don’t know what hap- bowler Mitchell Johnson left “It’s like Mitchell John- thing they can do around the by the England and Wales pens if you are not all right. their mark on many an Eng- son in that away tour; be- ball,” the 30-year-old said. Cricket Board. “It is a bit like a sci- land batsman. fore the 2015 Ashes we had “We don’t want to miss The series will be played fi movie. Everybody has Wood took five wickets a big chat about him. It’s out on the next Ben Stokes, behind closed doors in a bid masks, you don’t know if for 41 runs, his maiden five- actually quite nice to think Joe Root, Jos Buttler or Jo- to reduce the risk of players they are friendly or not. wicket haul in Test cricket, they might do that about me, fra Archer.” 12 Thursday, June 25, 2020 Sports QHA announces first team’s preparation for World Men’s Championship 2021

QNA the programme for preparing the strong experimental matches, the beginning would be the com- Doha first handball team will start in Oc- followed by return to Doha to pletion of the league champion- tober after the end of the local com- compete in the Qatar interna- ship and then the Qatar Cup and The Qatar Handball Associa- petitions. The preparatory period tional friendly tournament, and HH the Amir’s Cup. tion (QHA) has announced the will start with an internal camp then go to Egypt for the world The Organising Committee launching of the first team prepa- that will witness extensive training championship. of the World Championship in ration programme for participat- and local friendly matches. The Qatar Handball Associa- Egypt 2021 has set October as ing in the competitions of the It noted that after the com- tion (QHA) had announced earli- a proposed date for holding the 27th World Men’s Championship pletion of the internal camp, the er the completion of all competi- championship draw which will to held in Egypt in January 2021. team will participate in European tions for the current local season witness for the first time the par- The preparatory period will start with an internal camp that will witness In a statement, QHA said that camp that includes a number of starting from September 10 as ticipation of 32 teams. extensive training and local friendly matches. Djokovic slammed over FIFA tipped to award coronavirus ‘horror show’ AFP joint Australia-NZ bid Belgrade

Novak Djokovic was widely the country’s football association noting across 12 cities, with the opening match at condemned for hosting a ten- 2023 Women’s World Cup that key support was moving towards Eden Park in Auckland and the final in nis exhibition where he was Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Sydney. Seven cities in Australia would one of four players to test AFP Kozo Tajima admitted that Japan’s fo- host games, and five in New Zealand. positive for the coronavirus, Lausanne cus was on hosting next year’s Olympics “When you look at our bid, we think it a lapse that sent shudders in Tokyo. ticks a lot of the boxes,” Football Federa- through a sport struggling to Helped by the withdrawal of rival can- “I sensed resistance against hosting tion Australia chairman Chris Nikou told get back on its feet. didates, a joint bid by Australia and New two top events in the same country in a AFP in an interview this week. The world number one on Zealand is expected to be awarded the short period of time, which was rein- Colombia plans to use 10 venues with Tuesday issued an unstint- hosting rights for the 2023 women’s forced by the impact of the coronavirus the opening match and final in Bogota. ing apology for the now-can- World Cup by FIFA on Thursday. pandemic,” Tajima said in a statement. All are existing stadiums, but one celled Adria Tour in the Bal- With Japan pulling out earlier this FIFA’s evaluation report gave Co- -- in Cucuta in the north of the kans, where social distancing week to follow Brazil, Argentina, South lombia a score of just 2.8 out of five as country by the Venezuelan bor- was minimal and matches Africa and a joint Korean bid in falling it raised doubts about the ability to der -- requires “significant reno- were played in front of thou- by the wayside, only Colombia stand in provide investment required to car- vation work”. sands of fans. the way of the strong bid of Australia and ry out “necessary improvements”. The FIFA report also high- Djokovic, 33, said he is “so New Zealand. In contrast, the Australia/New lighted security worries. deeply sorry” that the tourna- The 2023 tournament is set to be the Zealand bid “provides a variety “Although there has been a ment “caused harm”. His wife first 32-team women’s World Cup, up of very good options in terms of significant reduction in domestic Jelena has also tested positive from the 24 nations who competed at sporting and general infrastruc- terrorism, some concerns remain after the couple travelled back A billboard depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen on last year’s finals in France, won by the ture. It would also appear to pre- in terms of the potential impact of from Croatia to Belgrade to be a building in Belgrade on Wednesday. (AFP) United States. sent the most commercially favour- crime on tournament stakeholders,” tested. Among the scathing Thursday’s decision at a video-con- able proposition”. the FIFA report states. criticism of Djokovic, there ference meeting of the 37 members of the The joint pro- Thursday’s meeting will also raise were questions about whether Berlin tennis event will allow 1,000 fans FIFA Council comes with football, and posal would see the issue of the international calen- he, or tennis, should be al- BERLIN: One thousand fans will be allowed to watch a Berlin global sport in general, struggling to games played dar in the men’s game, given the hav- lowed back on any court in the tennis tournament next month despite the controversy which get back on its feet in the midst of the in 13 venues oc caused by the global health crisis. near future. has engulfed Novak Djokovic whose Balkans event left him and coronavirus pandemic. Among the issues is the future Many voiced concerns three other players testing positive for coronavirus. There will be The Australia and New Zealand of the next Africa Cup of Nations, over attempts to restart pro- two events in the German capital -- one outdoors at the Steffi bid was given the highest score, of due to be played in Cameroon in fessional tournaments in Au- Graf Stadium and one indoors at the city’s historic Tempelhof 4.1 out of five, in an evaluation by early 2021. gust, including the US Open Airport. “When we host the tournament in mid-July, there will be world football’s governing body which is scheduled to begin a strict hygiene concept that we will coordinate with the Berlin published earlier this month. on August 31. Senate,” tournament director and German Fed Cup skipper It was followed by Japan, on The 2023 tournament is set to Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Barbara Rittner told Deutsche Welle. “We will have around 1,000 3.9, but the Japanese bid was with- be the first 32-team women’s Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki spectators at the SteffiG raf stadium and around 300 in the drawn on Monday, with the head of World Cup. all tested positive after taking hangar at Tempelhof. “It will be important to carefully observe part in the Adria Tour event all regulations and to test the players beforehand. This is one in Croatia, where players em- of the requirements for these events. We will treat the situation braced across the net, played and regulations very respectfully. Of course, regardless of the basketball and even danced in Adria Tour, we can also get a message at any time that a player How 1983 World Cup win triggered India’s obsession with cricket a nightclub. has tested positive and cannot play,” added Rittner. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, AFP between 1948 and 1980. But on fun, enjoy ourselves and that’s so often in the crosshairs for New Delhi June 25, 1983, India’s cricketers it’. his own on-court indiscre- gone ahead,” Murray told re- a basketball event in Belgrade became world-beaters. “But we laid a very strong tions, said the incident was porters. earlier this month. “First love cannot be forgot- Nobody saw the victory foundation by winning the Cup. pure “stupidity”. “Some people have said Jokic’s team, the Denver ten,” is how one member of Ka- coming, after India came into It is like the first love cannot be “Don’t @ me for anything maybe this has put the US Nuggets, who are ramping up pil Dev’s team describes India’s the one-day tournament with forgotten. Thirty-seven years I’ve done that has been ‘irre- Open in doubt -- which it may preparations for a resumption debut cricket World Cup win in just one win -- against East have gone, people still remem- sponsible’ or classified as ‘stu- well do. But the measures of the NBA season, declined to 1983 -- a victory that aroused Africa -- in the previous two ber our victory.” pidity’ -- this takes the cake,” and the protocols they have comment on the report in the passions so fierce they would editions. He added: “The younger tweeted the world number 40. in place at the USTA (United Denver Post, citing medical change the game forever. “We never, ever imagined generation are also keen to Britain’s Andy Murray, a States Tennis Association) are privacy. The player is now in When ‘Kapil Devils’ stunned 1983 World Cup winning captain we would reach the quarter- know when we won the first three-time Grand Slam winner different to Serbia and Croa- quarantine in Serbia. the West Indies at Lord’s, the Kapil Dev (right) and former India final or the knockout stage,” World Cup and who were the who has known Djokovic since tia. No fans for a start.” The president of the Cro- traditional home of cricket, it skipper Sunil Gavaskar during an Syed Kirmani, the team’s flam- players. Oh God, it is a fantastic, their junior days, said: “I don’t In the latest repercussion, atian tennis federation in- triggered an obsession with event in 2008. (AFP) boyant wicketkeeper-batsman, nostalgic feeling.” think it has been a great look Serbian NBA player Nikola sisted that at the time of the the sport in India and created told AFP. India’s run to the title is for tennis.” Jokic has reportedly tested Zadar event, it appeared safe its biggest market -- ultimately world. India was previously a “A few of my colleagues in soon to get the Bollywood treat- “In hindsight, it’s not positive for the virus after be- to go ahead without strict making India’s board the rich- hockey-loving nation, owing to that team had expressed them- ment, with popular actor Ran- something that should have ing pictured with Djokovic at health regulations. est and most powerful in the their five Olympic gold medals selves that ‘we are going to have veer Singh playing Dev.

Premier League Egypt bodybuilders feel pain but no gain in virus lockdown launches system AFP Egypt has been under a competed in was around 2010, He is keen to return to be- to report online Cairo night-time curfew for the past and I actually won in 2011, tak- ing a hands-on personal trainer three months to stem the spread ing first place in a national com- at his local franchise of World racist abuse Egypt’s musclemen are frus- of the novel coronavirus, but the petition -- but after the events Gym, the American fitness be- trated with working out from number of infections continues we headed to Egypt,” Nassim hemoth, where he used to coach AFP home due to coronavirus re- to rise. added, referring to start of Syr- budding bodybuilders and London strictions and are raring to The North African country, ia’s civil war. those looking to stay in shape. get back to gruelling routines with a population of over 100 His Facebook account “The shutdown has really The Premier League has at their gyms, where they also million, has officially recorded boasts an impressive gallery of affected us financially and psy- launched a new system for earn a living. over 58,000 COVID-19 cases images of him oiled up and flex- chologically,” he said. players to report racist abuse With massive biceps and a and 2,365 deaths. ing in regional competitions. “I really don’t see any reason on social media. gleaming six-pack, Mohamed Gyms have been shuttered “I had plans to go up on for gyms to be closed because it Just two days after Burn- Ali -- who goes by his nickname as part of nationwide restric- stage again, but all that stopped (working out) is actually good ley fans organised a plane Asab, a reference in Arabic to tions, but that has not deterred Bodybuilding coach with the coronavirus,” he told for people’s immunity as long to fly over their team’s match his bulging veins -- is normally Asab from hitting his home Mohamed Nassim. (AFP) AFP in a Cairo park. as they take all the necessary at Manchester City towing an enthusiastic exhibitionist. gym hard. precautions.” a banner reading ‘White The 33-year-old is a per- He is re-sculpting a taut ‘Wiped out’ His friend, Mostafa al- Lives Matter’, the Premier sonal trainer and veteran par- physique through an extremely Normally buzzing weight ing like before or not,” he said, Nassim said he had been Rouby, also a Cairo gym owner League has stepped up its ticipant of several bodybuilding demanding workout, in the machines have stood idle for surrounded by dumb-bells on trying to stay in shape “using and bodybuilder, shared similar attempts to stamp out racist championships with Egypt’s na- hope of competing in Mr. Olym- three months as the lockdown his living-room floor. dumb-bells at home and main- frustration, as other businesses abuse online. tional team, which has a history pia -- the world’s premier body- shuttered his facilities and cut Mohamed Nassim, a taining the physical form I had such as malls open up. Former Arsenal forward of garnering gold medals on the building competition, tenta- off his only source of income. 33-year-old Syrian who fled his built up over many years.” “The coronavirus has com- Ian Wright recently shared world stage. tively scheduled for December Earlier this month, the gov- country after war broke out in Several champion Egyp- pletely wiped out the field of the sickening abuse he has But when AFP visited his in Las Vegas. ernment said gyms would par- 2011, was also somewhat shy tian bodybuilders such as bodybuilding,” the 27-year-old suffered on social media and sunny home in an upscale gated tially re-open, without giving a about showing off his muscles. Big Ramy -- lauded by Ar- told AFP. many other current Premier community in eastern Cairo, Feeling the financial burn clear indication of when. He said that when compet- nold Schwarzenegger -- have He said he was still having League stars have endured Asab chuckled modestly that he But more than his competi- “We’re like other industries ing, he trims his body fat down turned into social media ce- to pay rent as he waited for the similar taunts. was not in top shape. tive aspirations, Asab is worried such as tourism and restaurants to a lean three percent. lebrities, heading overseas green light from the authorities “Online discriminatory “I’ve taken it upon myself... about his business and his liveli- that have been affected 100 per- “I started getting into body- to compete professionally or to reopen his gym. abuse is unacceptable in any to use the lockdown to start hood. cent,” Asab said. building in Syria back around even dabble in acting. “If we really want to walk of life and tackling this competing again at the end of The owner of 16 gyms in “I have a whole team who 2003, and it was only to bulk But Nassim has developed control this disease then issue must be a priority,” the year, since I have a lot of Cairo said he was paying several depend on commissions from up initially because I was really more modest, short-term goals we should open up the fit- Premier League chief execu- time on my hands these days,” hundred staff out of his own memberships... I really don’t skinny,” he said. since his bodybuilding career ness world so people can get tive Richard Masters said on he told AFP. pocket. know if we’ll be able to go on liv- “The first championship I has taken a hit. healthy,” Rouby said. Wednesday. Sports Thursday, June 25, 2020 13 Al Sulaiti, Sheikh Soud get superb 1-2

standings Results - Race 1 (Barcelona, Spain) # Rider R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Total Leopard Racing’s Artigas & Masia # Driver Time 1 11 Saeed Al Sulaiti (QMMF) 40 0 0 0 0 0 40 1 11 Saeed Al Sulaiti (QMMF) 27:34.532 2 97 Sheikh Soud Al Thani (QMMF) 36 0 0 0 0 0 36 land third & fifth spots in opener 2 97 Sheikh Soud Al Thani (QMMF) +3.529 3 43 Xavi Artigas (Leopard Racing) 33 0 0 0 0 0 33 3 43 Xavi Artigas (Leopard Racing) +25.100 4 71 Hamad Al Sahouti (QMMF) 31 0 0 0 0 0 31 Tribune News Network Leopard Racing, an estab- 4 71 Hamad Al Sahouti (QMMF) +32.469 5 5 Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) 30 0 0 0 0 0 30 DOHA lished name in the MotoGP 5 5 Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) NC junior class racing and having # Team The QMMF Team gave a three three world Moto3 titles 1 QMMF 107 0 0 0 0 0 107 rude virtual world jolt to under their belt, could field 2 Leopard Racing 63 0 0 0 0 0 63 Moto3 champions Leopard only two out of their four rid- Racing in the opening scrap ers - Artigas and Masia - due side into the right corner and us see,” added Al Sulaiti. with QORC Moto winner to some unknown reasons. The he got one-second penalty. Sheikh Soud commented: Saeed Al Sulaiti powering the QMMF Team also took to the “At the end of race, I knew “It was a great race. I enjoyed hosts to a superb one-two in tracks with three riders and af- I had to finish with a bigger it from the start to the finish. Barcelona on Tuesday. ter Al Sulaiti and Sheikh Soud gap than of 0.2 second. I think The new game is better and In a thrilling fight for top bagged the first two spots in the I crossed the finish line to win. any new games has some small honours, Al Sulaiti got the bet- first row in the pole race, their To me, the results showed me I problems that usually get fixed ter of teammate Sheikh Soud rivals began to feel the heat in won with a gap of +3.5 seconds with time. The main aim was to Al Thani by three and a half the first lap itself and kept fall- QMMF Team’s Saeed Al Sulaiti and Sheikh Soud Al Thani gap, but on YouTube, the result do well and we managed to give seconds, making a brave move ing behind. battle for the top honours in the first race against Leopard was opposite. The commentator our team a great start.” in the 15th lap. Sheikh Soud and Artigas Racing riders in Barcelona on Tuesday. got a bit confused and first de- Artigas, third in the Valen- Leopard Racing’s Xavi Arti- had a better start and pole man clared Soud as winner. Then in cia Moto3 race last year, was gas, the 2018 European Talent Al Sulaiti found himself in the the group chat, we exchanged more than seven seconds faster Cup winner and 2019 FIM CEV third in the first corner. How- the pics and Soud said he got than Al Sahouti and Masia, Moto3 Junior Championship ever, as the race progressed, Moto runner-up Sheikh Soud’s the race: “It was really a big cutting the corners at all. the penalty so Saeed won. who narrowly missed out on third-place holder, grabbed the Sheikh Soud and Al Sulaiti slipstream to grab the lead be- fun. I was leading and Soud Only once when I was trying “Sometimes, the result the Moto3 podium in Qatar third spot, being 25 seconds off began to pull clear and Artigas fore the first corner and held crashed. Then I started to look to catch Soud, I cut the corner on the screen doesn’t show earlier this year, was fifth. the winner’s pace. found it hard to challenge the it despite many a nervy mo- back..I don’t know why and I a bit and went over the green what has happend exactly Leopard Racing are expect- QMMF’s QSTK300 cham- duo at the front. ments before crossing the fin- also went into the gravel be- area. The game gave me 0.2 but after the race is over, the ed to come back for the second pion Hamad Al Sahouti over- The two leaders were not ish line in the first spot. There fore a fall. Soud was shocked second penalty. Sometimes game calculates and declares race with full strength. Besides came Leopard Racing’s Jaume only involved into crashes, was some confusion regarding to see this. Then once again we when you cut the corner heav- the positions. Anyways, there Artigas and Masia, they are go- Masia, the winner of a Moto3 they had numerous exciting the time penalty but soon Al both crashed. Also there many ily, it gives the offenders one- was some complication but ing to field 2015 Moto3 world Grand Prix in Argentina last moves and manoeuvres. In the Sulaiti was declared the winner attacks and counterattacks. second penalty. The game is the whole race was a massive champion Danny Kent and year, to collect more valuable home straight of the 14th lap, by 3.529 seconds. Overall it was quite exciting. very strict and fair that way. thriller. We hope to do the Marcos Ramirez, third in the points for his team. Al Sulaiti stormed out of QORC l Sulaiti commented after “I was cautious and wasn’t In the last lap, Soud went in- same in the second race. Let 2019 Moto3 standings. MLB teams to begin training on July 1 QVA to resume 2019-2020

DPA/TCA Smoltz said. “So, I think you’ll season from September 10 Los Angeles see some creativity that will al- low a team to (improve their Tribune News Network is slated to be held from Sep- Players have informed Ma- chances of making) the play- DOHA tember 23 and the final will take jor League Baseball they will offs.” The Dodgers have won place on September 30. report to training camps at seven consecutive NL West The Qatar Volleyball Associa- The qualifiers for the pres- their home stadiums by July 1 titles, including a franchise-re- tion (QVA) declared the dates tigious Amir Cup will be hosted in preparation for a pandemic- cord 106 wins in 2019 and 104 - September 10 to October 16 - from September 24 to 29. The shortened regular season of wins in 2017, but they strug- to complete the 2019-2020 sea- main round will be launched 60 games, but a deal won’t be gled through their first 60 son, which was disrupted by the on October 5 with the title clash finalized until players sign off games of 2013, going 27-33, coronavirus earlier this year. scheduled on October 16. on health and safety protocols, and had mediocre 60-game At a QVA Board Meet- The QVA also announced according to multiple reports. starts in 2018 (30-30), 2016 ing, headed by President Ali QVA President Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari that the new 2020-2021 season Talks between the MLB (32-28) and 2014 (31-29). Ghanim Al Kuwari, it was de- would begin on September 13 Players Association and the The Colorado Rockies fin- cided to resume the season with champions Police and 25-time with the junior boys league. The league continued into Tuesday ished fourth in the NL West the third National Champion- winners Al Arabi has been set cubs league will get underway evening. The regular season is with a 71-91 record last season ship on September 10 and the at 7 pm. one day later on September 14. expected to start about July 24 A general view of Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White but went 37-23 during an early event would conclude on Sep- Al Arabi have been leading The Al Amal league has been without fans and run through Sox, in Chicago, Illinois. The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set 60-game stretch from April tember 14. the standings with 44 points slated to start on September 26, late September. to start in July, Commissioner Rob Manfred said on Tuesday after players 14-June 21. The Washington The second event is the Al from from 15 wins in 17 match- while the youth league will kick- The postseason is expected signed off on health protocols and agreed to report to training. (AFP) Nationals were only 19-31 Amal League for under-16 years es, two more points than Police. off on October 1. to remain at 10 teams - the through their first 50 games boys, which will get underway Al Rayyan Club are third with The first phase of the Senior sides had discussed an increase a 60-game, two-month sprint ing celebrity golf tournament. of 2019 and finished as World on September 12 and come to 39 points from 12 victories in 17 League will get underway on to a 16-team field - but the des- that could allow a lesser team “And those surprises might be Series champions. an end on September 19. games. The fourth spot has Al October 19. Also the festivals for ignated hitter could be added to ride a hot streak into the refreshing in a sense that you A greater sense of urgency The QVA League’s last two Ahli Club, who have collected budding players, under-10 and to the National League in an playoffs. didn’t see that coming three will be attached to each game, matches will be held on Sep- 37 points (13 wins and five loss- under-12 boys will be held in effort to protect pitcher health. “There are going to be sur- months ago.” “There could each series, each week, in a tember 18. Former champions es), while Al Wakrah round out October. For the QVA, the fes- The usual 162-game, six- prises, that I can guarantee be some scenarios where the shortened season, forcing Al Rayyan Club, currently third the top five, having gained 31 tivals are of prime importance month marathon that rewards you,” Hall of Fame pitcher and pitching staffs that wouldn’t be managers to be aggressive in in the standings, and sixth- points through 11 triumphs in as they not only create the tal- teams such as the Los Angeles television broadcaster John able to do what they could over how they use their bullpens placed Qatar Sports Club will 18 matches. ent pool for the future national Dodgers for their depth and Smoltz said Tuesday on a 162 games might do some- and less patient with strug- play at 4.30 pm. The title-decid- The Qatar Cup for the top teams, they spread volleyball endurance will be replaced by conference call for an upcom- thing different for 60 games,” gling hitters. ing match beteween defending four teams of the Senior League culture in the country.

Nuggets centre Jokic Bangladesh cancel Connor to be first female MCC President in 233 years Sri Lanka cricket Agencies reportedly positive for London far we’ve come. I made my first tain her country in 2000 before on Wednesday that a second tour due to virus visit to Lord’s as a starry-eyed, retiring six years later. test he commissioned himself coronavirus in Serbia AFP Former England women’s cricket-obsessed nine-year-old Although MCC no longer proved he didn’t have corona- Colombo captain Clare Connor is to be- girl at a time when women were runs English cricket, it has virus, a day after the country’s AFP come the first female President not welcome in the Long Room worldwide responsibility for the cricket board said he was one of Los Angeles Bangladesh have formally of Marylebone Cricket Club in (of the pavilion). sport’s rules. seven players who had officially called off their Test series in its 233-year history. Meanwhile Sangakkara tested positive. Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic Sri Lanka because of the coro- Current incumbent Kumar said he was “thrilled” by Con- NO ENGLAND POSITIVES The Pakistan Cricket Board has tested positive for the coro- navirus pandemic, officials in Sangakkara, the first non-Brit- nor’s latest cricket appoint- No England cricketer tested (PCB) said Hafeez was one of navirus and is currently back in Colombo said on Wednesday. ish MCC president, nominated ment, the Sri Lanka great add- positive for the coronavirus ten players and tour staff who Serbia, the Denver Post report- The Bangladesh team was Connor via video link from ing: “The club has a significant prior to a training group assem- tested positive for the virus this ed on Tuesday as the NBA be- due to play three Tests in his native Sri Lanka during role to play in cricket’s global bling at the Ageas Bowl ahead week ahead of the squad’s de- gins ramping up preparations Nuggets late July, but the tour was in an annual general meeting on appeal and with her influence, I of next month’s Test series parture for a series of matches for a resumption of play. centre doubt because of the worry- Wednesday. am sure she will make a consid- against the West Indies, it was in Britain. The Nuggets declined to Nikola ing spread of COVID-19 across Connor, now the England erable contribution to MCC.” announced on Wednesday. Hafeez, described by offi- comment, citing medical pri- Jokic with South Asia. and Wales Cricket Board’s head Left-arm spinner Connor The England and Wales cials as asymptomatic -- like the vacy. With the NBA planning to the ball. The Sri Lankan cricket of women’s cricket, is set to take made her England debut aged Cricket Board said all results rest of those who tested positive resume play after a coronavirus board said Bangladesh had up her new post on October 1, 19 in 1995 and went on to cap- came back negative from 702 -- said he had immediately ar- hiatus that began on March 11, pulled out due to “the lack 2021, subject to the member- tests carried out on players, ranged a private second opin- players were to be back in their of the preparations to resume of preparation for its play- ship’s approval. support staff, match officials, ion. teams’ market on June 22, with the season. The league plans ers, caused by the COVID-19 Presidents of MCC usu- ECB staff, venue staff and hotel “I personally went to Test it overseas players due back on to have 22 teams, 13 from the pandemic”. ally remain in post for one year staff from June 3-23. again along with my family and June 15. Western Conference and nine Former Bangladesh skip- but Sangakkara’s term is set However, that figure does here I along with my all family The Post reported Jokic was from the Eastern Conference, to per Mashrafe Mortaza -- who to be extended by a further 12 not include the second test of members are reported Nega- granted an exception to stay start play with a chance to reach remains in the Test squad -- months because of the corona- England fast bowler Jofra Arch- tive,” he tweeted. longer, but tested positive and the championship final. and left-arm spinner Nazmul virus pandemic. er, whose result will be known Pakistan’s fragile health has begun his quarantine. Raptors start training Islam tested positive for the It was not until 1998 that on Thursday. system is struggling to Eight days ago Jokic was in In Miami, the reigning NBA virus Saturday. MCC, which owns Lord’s Crick- The three-match series, cope with the coronavi- Belgrade for an exhibition bas- champion Toronto Raptors be- This is the second interna- et Ground, voted to allow wom- which will take place behind rus epidemic and doubt has ketball game. One of the players gan preparing for next month’s tional engagement to be taken en to become members. closed doors and mark the re- been cast on the country’s abil- who participated in the game, planned resumption of the off Sri Lanka’s cricket calendar Prior to that, Britain’s turn of international cricket ity to properly conduct mass and was later seen in close prox- coronavirus-halted season on this month. Queen Elizabeth II was one of from lockdown, begins at testing. imity to Jokic, tested positive Tuesday at Fort Myers, Florida. India pulled out of a limit- the few women allowed in the Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl on Besides Hafeez, Fakhar Za- soon after, the Post reported. The Canadian club was the ed-overs series scheduled for Lord’s pavilion. July 8, with the other two man, Mohammad Rizwan, Wa- Tennis star Novak Djokovic, first to arrive in Florida ahead of late June. “I am deeply hon- matches taking place at hab Riaz, Imran Khan, Moham- who was also sitting next to Jo- the planned bubble atmosphere The Sri Lankan cricket oured to be named Old Trafford. mad Hasnain, Kashif Bhatti kic at the event, announced on at Disney World near Orlando, team started its second resi- the next president of were diagnosed on Tuesday as Tuesday he had tested positive. but will stay in southwest Flori- dential training camp in MCC,” said Connor in HAFEEZ STILL having the virus pathogens. The NBA is planning to da until entering the safety zone Kandy on Monday to prepare a statement. NEGATIVE Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, resume play on July 30 in a in early July. for the Twenty20 world cup in “Cricket has en- Pakistan all- Haider Ali, and a team mas- controlled environment at the Should the Raptors re- Australia in September. riched my life so rounder Moham- sage therapist, tested positive sports complex at Disney World turn to the NBA Finals, which The island nation has re- deeply already, and mad Hafeez said on Monday. in Orlando, Florida. they won last June over ported 11 virus deaths and now it hands me this ESPN reported Tuesday Golden State, they would re- some 1,998 infections. It has wonderful privilege. Former England women’s captain Clare Connor: A that teams had begun testing main in the Sunshine State eased lockdown measures and “We often need to rare honour to become the first female President of players for COVID-19 as part until early October. resumed economic activity. look back to see how MCC in long history. 14 Thursday, June 25, 2020 The Last Word Film industry finds innovative ways Take education funding seriously to tell universal stories: DFI CEO Ailyn Agonia or face a ‘human tragedy’, former DOHA Despite the challenges posed by the physical distancing and UK PM warns at QF conference isolation due to the global coro- navirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the film industry has found Gordon Brown tells WISE conference that ‘hope will die’ for ways to inspire innovation and keep important connections millions of young people if global education remains underfunded alive through telling universal stories that have lasting and Tribune News Network positive impact, Doha Film In- Doha stitute CEO Fatma al Remaihi has said. online in a very short time as human interaction that echoes Former UK Prime Minister Speaking at a panel discus- well as transforming DFI’s year- very personal connection that Gordon Brown has warned sion on the second day of the round initiatives to the digital we find with each other. The the underfunding of education virtual conference ‘Education hemisphere, which includes stories are universal and the means “a human tragedy is Disrupted, Education Reimag- youth workshops, film review- stories of this time will leave a unfolding”, at an international ined II’ hosted by Qatar Foun- ing, live discussion platforms, lasting imprint in our societies. conference organised by Qatar dation’s World Innovation among others. They are stories found in a time Foundation’s (QF) global edu- Summit for Education (WISE) She also shared DFI’s par- of distance and the human- cation initiative. in collaboration with HolonIQ ticipation and partnership with ity found in the midst of fear. Speaking at ‘Education Dis- and Salzburg Global Semi- Qatar’s Ministry of Education Whether we reach one person rupted, Education Reimagined Gordon Brown nar on Wednesday, Remaihi and Higher Education and Qa- or an entire community, the Part II’ – a three-day online shared how the film industry tar TV in launching competi- creative art has the power to rise event hosted by the World In- without water and eight min- GEM Report being presented at the WISE conference. has quickly adapted to new for- tion and online learning for above the mere value of enter- novation Summit for Education utes without air, but you can’t mats to manage online conver- students. tainment and generate more in- (WISE) – Brown, a UN Special survive for a second without out global cooperation. “Scien- with disabilities are two-and- sation, create both internet and Remaihi said, “We have credible impact,” Remaihi said. Envoy for Global Education, hope. Hope doesn’t just die tists, technicians, researchers, a-half times more likely never community-wide digital experi- learned a lot in a very short time The panel discussion ti- voiced his fears that “hope will when food convoys cannot get virologists and immunologists to go to school than their peers ences and shift to online events and accelerated our learning tled ‘Future-proofing learning die” among millions of children through or ventilators are not all want to work together to and, in at least 20 countries, no format at the onset of precau- curve to open new horizons for ecosystems’ was moderated by and young people if they are de- available; it can die when young fight COVID-19. The same is girls in poor rural areas com- tions and measures to tackle digital format that have the po- UNESCO Education Special- nied access to learning because people feel they don’t have a true of teachers, educators and plete secondary school. COVID-19 crisis. tential to expand our reach per- ist Danilo Padilla and also fea- their countries cannot afford to chance to plan for, or dream of, others in education to coordi- The report also found that She said, “The universal les- manently and reinforce our be- tured Weaving Lab Co-Founder give them the opportunity. the future. And we have to face nate a response to the crisis that inequality has contributed to sons and the experiences have lief that the universal mediums Rosie Clayton and Leverage He called for solutions in- the fact that it will die unless we it faces. the education crisis caused by reinforced our own awareness of film, art and music transcend Edu Founder & CEO Akshay cluding debt relief for the poor- take the necessary action.” “We know we have a chal- COVID-19, with 40 percent of in the region that digital plat- limitations of other mass com- Chaturvedi. est nations to allow them to Brown told the confer- lenge ahead, so let us work poorer countries not target- forms are integral to our future munication and unite people Prior to the panel, Educate invest in education and health, ence that education is being together to reimagine a new ing at-risk learners in their re- which is linked to the education from distinct communities and Girls Founder Safeena Husain saying: “I harbor the aspiration “crowded out” as other areas future and put pressure on to sponse to the pandemic; and of youth. As an Arab cultural or- geographies in a common space delivered a keynote speech to that we will be in a world where are prioritised for expenditure ensure the proper financing said understanding of the im- ganisation, DFI shares this com- of visual learning and under- kick start the second day of the we are developing the potential and aid, and that low- and of education. We can make portance of inclusive education mon goal to continue to create standing.” three-day virtual conference on of all young people, but we also middle-income countries with a difference. I think back to needs to be widened, funding opportunities through learning The DFI CEO stressed that the impact of COVID-19 and have to recognise that we have “already low and meager edu- the ‘space race’, with the US should be focused on “those left and collaboration for those who as the film industry has always the future of education systems an education emergency impact- cation budgets” could see them and Russia vying to get to the behind”, governments should need it the most. Our support been driven by collaboration around the world. ing the life chances of millions of cut further, describing this as “a Moon quickest, and then, in the encourage parents and com- to creative talents and talented and innovation, she said the in- In her remarks, Husain children across the world. recipe for disaster”. 1990s, they came together to munities to help design inclu- young filmmakers extend to a dustry has the tools and creative shed light on the educational “We know that $180 a year “As well as persuading create the International Space sive education policies. larger promise of keeping im- spirit to unlock bigger window disruption due to the pandemic is spent on the education of a countries that they cannot build Station. More than 50 speakers – portant connections alive and for exchange and learning while and how it can be turned into an sub-Saharan child, compared for a long-term future without “If we can cooperate in including politicians, school telling stories that have a lasting keeping human connections opportunity to rethink the edu- to $57,000 a year on a child in investing in education, we have outer space, surely we can find leaders, TV personalities, and positive impact. alive. cation system worldwide. Western and other countries; to remind them that education better ways to cooperate on teachers, social entrepreneurs, “At DFI, we took decisive She stressed the importance She stressed the crucial that 70-80 percent of young unlocks opportunities for em- earth and build the future for and learners – are participat- steps to confront the current of collaboration, exchange of need to keep the most vulner- people in countries like South ployment,” he said. “We must education that we all dream ing in the WISE conference, situation and adapt in a way knowledge and ideas freely and able girls at the centre of any Korea, Japan and Singapore persuade them that not cutting about, and that every child in which concludes on June 25 that keeps our film ecosystem coming together as all are now design in rebuilding the society can go into some form of higher education budgets is not just the world deserves.” and is addressing the impact of alive and to remind everybody part of an unchartered experi- that allows for greater equity, education, while in an African in the interests of education, it The conference saw par- COVID-19 on learning and the that we are all in this together, ment in storytelling. access, inclusion and innova- country it is less than five per- is in the interests of quality of ticipants given an overview future of the world’s education particularly, when we continue “None of us could ever fore- tion. She highlighted poverty cent. It’s not just about what life.” of the 2020 Global Education systems. For more information, to draw on the creative arts to see that the world would come and patriarchy as the key bar- then happens to education sys- Speaking about his hope Monitoring (GEM) Report by to register for the upcoming propel us forward.” to a time that our traditional rier to girls’ education and tems – it’s about what happens that “we can be the first gen- its director, Manos Antoninis of sessions, or to watch previous Talking about their re- forms of expression and com- proposed tackling the widened to children and young people as eration in history where we can UNESCO. He said that “identi- sessions, visit: https://www. cent experience in organising munication will be limited or inequalities due to the crisis human beings. say every child goes to school”, ty, background, and ability still wise-qatar.org/education-dis- Qumra 2020 edition, Remaihi cut off entirely. Yet, I believe by focusing on relief, recovery “It’s said you can survive 40 Brown emphasised that educa- dictate education opportuni- rupted-education-reimagined- shared how they completely this experience opened an en- and reimagining education days without food, eight days tion cannot be reformed with- ties”, highlighting that children part-2/ adapted such a massive event tirely new world of creative and systems. Pharmacy students from across world discuss opportunities from coronavirus at QU-CPH webinar Tribune News Network Doha

Pharmacy students from across the world shared their experiences and how they cre- ated new stories of success amid the COVID-19 crisis at a webinar organised by Qatar University’s College of Phar- macy (QU-CPH) and Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate So- ciety (QPhUS). The event, titled ‘COVID-19 Creating Opportunities from a A snapshot of the webinar Crisis for Pharmacy Students: Discussion from Around the to think but the key is to pause rious about how other future Globe’, was held via WebEx and reflect on what happened. pharmacists around the world platform. It received more How do we cope with this cri- coped with this pandemic than 100 attendees from across sis then, what were the lessons to continue their education. CNA-Q celebrates graduation of the world and more than 300 learned and what opportuni- Due to COVID-19, we got the views on YouTube. ties this crisis created? how chance to meet other phar- Speakers at the event in- would we deal with it if it con- macy students and discuss 453 students at virtual ceremony cluded Hend Al Naimi, QPhUS tinued? how can we prepare this topic virtually. It was an president and CPH fourth pro- to respond rapidly and effec- exceptional webinar and I was fessional year student; Ghu- tively?” impressed with the number Tribune News Network Hammadi extended his students celebrate their suc- Board of Trustees, remarked: lam Mujtaba, member of Paki- She expressed her delight of attendees and the positive Doha congratulations to the gradu- cess”, said College of the “Graduates, you are ready stan Pharmaceutical Students’ listening to the different pres- feedback we received.” ates on their academic ac- North Atlantic – Qatar Presi- for the future. CNA-Q has Federation (PPHSF); Wafa entations saying: “It was really Melissa Kieley from Cana- THE College of the North At- complishments and said: dent Dr Khalifa bin Nasser equipped you with the knowl- Othman, member of Palestin- interesting listening to phar- da said: “I feel as though this lantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) held “You have proven your ability Al Khalifa. “It has not been edge, and skills you will need ian Pharmaceutical students’ macy students from different webinar has provided me with a spectacular virtual gradu- and determination to achieve an easy time these past few to make Qatar a leader. I am federation An-Najah National places around the globe about a global perspective and I look ation ceremony for 453 stu- your goals through reaching months, but these students confidentyou will make a sig- University (PSFNNU); Melissa the challenges they faced and forward to bringing the many dents on Wednesday. The what you have been seeking remained focused, perse- nificant impact on the world, Kieley, Canadian Association how they managed to create ideas and tips I have learnt ceremony was held under the for many years, which cul- vered and rose to the chal- based on the teachings of of Pharmacy student and In- opportunities from this crisis.” back to implement within patronage of the Minister of minated in your obtaining lenge. This lesson will serve CNA-Q.” terns Contact Person (CAPSI); Hend Al Naimi talked CAPSI. This opportunity has Education and Higher Edu- degrees and graduation certif- them well in the years ahead. Having opened in Qatar and Ismail Jomha, vice-presi- about how students at QU, opened my eyes to the pas- cation HE Dr Mohammed icates under exceptional cir- These students will become in 2002, CNA-Q has gradu- dent chairperson of the Profes- especially of CPH, succeeded sion for health care that is had bin Abdul Wahed Al Ham- cumstances imposed on us by the leaders that Qatar has en- ated over 5000 students sional Development Commit- in taking an advantage of by pharmacy students from madi. It was CNA-Q’s 16th the coronavirus pandemic.” visioned in the National Vi- from more than 35 certificate tee at the Lebanese Pharmacy the COVID-19 crisis and cre- around the globe!” graduation ceremony. Hammadi added: “I con- sion 2030.” and diploma programmes Students’ Association (LPSA). ated opportunities. She ap- Ismail Jomha from Leba- Students graduated from gratulate you on your suc- Thousands of people tailored to meet the needs of CPH Assistant Dean for plauded the enormous effort non added: “I enjoyed this over 35 programmes, which cess, and am hopeful for a watched on the official CNA- Qatar’s growing and chang- Students Affairs Dr Alla El- that has been done to succeed informative webinar that ex- are each tailored to the needs bright future for you, and Q YouTube channel as elated ing economy. Awaisi, in her opening re- this challenging semester. She posed us to valuable experi- of Qatar’s economy. The that your distinguished path students appeared on screen, All its programmes follow marks, said: “This global pan- also discussed how this was a ences in how the COVID-19 number of graduates include: and experience contribute dressed in their graduation Canadian curriculum and are demic has affected us all in so good opportunity to practise pandemic was approached and 232 from Business Manage- to enhancing your contribu- regalia. The event included developed with input from many different ways, but the tele-pharmacy and educated tackled in different countries.” ment and Information Tech- tion to building and elevating congratulatory messages and local industry and business beauty is that within every pharmacy students to provide The session was moder- nology, 187 from Engineering this country that gave you so good wishes from CNA-Q stakeholders. The courses crisis contains seeds of op- a high standard of care despite ated by Bassant Elkattan, Bsc Technology and Industrial much.” alumni and instructors. are taught by international portunities. Sometime during the circumstance. pharmacy graduate 2020 and Trades, and 34 from Health “It is with a great sense Dr Mohammed bin Saleh instructors with extensive in- the crisis, it might be difficult She added: “We were cu- QPhUS contact person. Sciences. of pride that I watched these Al Sada, chair of CNA-Q’s dustry experience.