BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 MoCI, QNTC urge Qatar’s Nasser private sector to al-Attiyah invest in mega focussed on beach resorts 4th Dakar title

published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11780 January 1, 2021 Jumada I 17, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Last sunset of 2020 Amir, Deputy Amir, Premier exchange New Year greetings Amusement His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani exchanged cables of greetings yesterday with Their Majesties, Highnesses and Excellencies, the leaders of friendly countries, on the occasion of New cities, parks Year, wishing them good health and happiness and their peoples further progress and prosperity. His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani also to reopen exchanged cables of greetings with Their Highnesses and Excellencies, crown princes and vice presidents of friendly countries, wishing them good health and happiness and their peoples further progress and from Sunday prosperity. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh O MoCI stipulates 50% capacity, for now Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also exchanged cables of By Joey Aguilar z Visitors are allowed entry only af- greetings with Their Excellencies, Staff Reporter ter checking their health status code in heads of government of friendly the Ehteraz app, and only those with a The last sunset of 2020 from the vicinity of one of Qatar’s globally acclaimed tourist attractions, The Museum of Islamic countries, wishing them health and green code are allowed entry, with the Art in Doha. PICTURE: Thajudheen wellness and their peoples further musement cities and parks exception of children. progress and prosperity. across the country can resume z Individuals who do not wear med- Arecreational activities and op- ical masks are denied entry, and visi- MoPH reports 213 new erations from Sunday (January 3) with tors are required to keep their masks on Good riddance, no more than 50% capacity, the Minis- while they are inside the entertainment cases, 122 recoveries try of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) site, except for children aged under 10. 2020. Hello, 2021! Brexit takes full eff ect The Ministry of Public Health announced yesterday. z Visitors’ temperatures must be reported yesterday 213 new A circular in this regard, tweeted by measured, and individuals whose tem- Fireworks soared into the sky confirmed cases of coronavirus the MoCI yesterday, is in line with the perature is over 38C are denied entry to above the Sydney Opera House, as Britain quits EU during the last 24 hours, of which previous decisions adopted to protect the recreational activity site. but the harbour below was a 166 were from community cases the health and safety of Qatari citizens z Visitors must be made aware of deserted ghost town, a fittingly and 47 from travellers returning and residents, and limit the spread of the need to maintain a safe distance of creepy send-off for a year that AFP ture to be felt for generations to come from abroad who are subject to Covid-19. at least two metres. will not be missed. London — for better or worse. quarantine. It also recorded 122 Entertainment activities will resume MoCI noted that company owners No light show illuminated Beijing The British pound surged to a 2.5- recoveries from the virus during in three stages: fi rst (from January 3), who provide entertainment services from the top of the TV tower. year peak against the US dollar before the past 24 hours, bringing the total opening of outdoor playgrounds, chil- should comply with epidemic preven- St Peter’s in Rome was nearly rexit fi nally became a real- the long-awaited exit from the single number of cases that recovered in dren’s outdoor games, and billiards tion circulars, decisions and directives, empty for vespers. London’s ity yesterday as Britain left market, 11 months since the country Qatar to 141,422. Page 2 and bowling; second (from January 11), including: Trafalgar Square, Moscow’s Red BEurope’s customs union and legally left the EU in January. electronic games and trampolines; and zInstructions for the gradual reo- Square, Madrid’s Puerta del Sol single market, ending nearly half a Britain has been in a standstill Drug price hike third (from January 24), bouncers, in- pening plan, and the timeline an- and New York’s Times Square century of often turbulent ties with transition period since then, during Drugmakers including Pfizer Inc, fl atable games, and ball pits. nounced by the Supreme Committee were all barricaded off . its closest neighbours. fractious talks to secure a free-trade Sanofi SA, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc The MoCI instructed that managers for Crisis Management. Good riddance, 2020. Hello, 2021. The UK’s tortuous departure from agreement with Brussels, which was plan to raise prices on over 300 of recreational activities “shall adhere zCirculars and decisions issued by While some cities would launch the European Union took full eff ect only fi nally clinched on Christmas drugs in the United States today, to the precautionary and preventive the MoCI. fireworks over empty streets, when Big Ben struck 11pm (2300 Eve. measures outlined by the Ministry of zInstructions related to the re- others, such as London and GMT) in central London, just as most Once Big Ben tolled at 11pm, EU Public Health (MoPH) and the Ministry sponsibilities of employers to limit the Singapore, called their displays of the European mainland ushered in rules no longer applied, and the free of Administrative Development, La- spread of Covid-19, and directives for off . Paris, Rome and Istanbul 2021 at midnight. movement of more than 500 million bour and Social Aff airs (MADLSA), and health and safety regulations issued by were under curfew. Prime Minister Boris Johnson people between Britain and the 27 EU comply with the following guidelines”: the MoPH. New York’s countdown ball was called it an “amazing moment”, states ended. zThe policies set by MADLSA on set to drop on Broadway. But in which made Britain “an open, gener- Gibraltar, a British enclave off the the precautionary measures to prevent place of hundreds of thousands ous, outward-looking, internation- coast of southern Spain, is the excep- and reduce the spread of the epidemic. of people jammed shoulder- alist and free-trading” country. tion, after inking a last-minute deal “The decision goes into eff ect as of to-shoulder in Times Square, “We have our freedom in our hands with Madrid to avoid a hard border Sunday, January 3, 2021 and maybe sub- the audience would be a few and it is up to us to make the most of and major disruption. ject to amendments and updates accord- dozen pre-selected key workers it,” he said in a New Year’s message to Elsewhere though, customs bor- ing to the latest developments in this — including nurses, doctors, a the nation. der checks return for the first time regard. Any violation of this decision grocery store worker and a pizza Most people in Britain and in Eu- in decades, and despite the free- exposes perpetrators to legal account- delivery man — their families rope are keen to draw a line under trade deal, queues and disruption ability and procedures,” MoCI said. kept six feet (2 metres) apart in Brexit, which has dominated politics from additional paperwork are ex- “The Ministry stresses that the suc- socially distanced pens. on both sides of the Channel since pected. cess of each stage of the comprehen- Organisers booked Gloria the country’s narrow vote to leave in “It’s going to be better,” said Mau- COMMUNITY sive plan of gradually lifting restric- Gaynor to sing her disco classic I 2016. reen Martin, from Dover on the tions depends on the compliance of all Will Survive. (Lyrics: You think I’d The referendum on EU member- southeastern coast of England, where individuals with the required preven- crumble? You think I’d lay down ship opened up deep political and so- most voted to leave the EU in 2016. See Pages tive and precautionary measures,” the and die? Oh no, not I!) To Page 3 cial wounds which remain raw, with “We need to govern ourselves and be circular added. the consequences of Britain’s depar- our own bosses.” Business Page 7 4,5 & 6 QF’s WISE launches Learning Ecosystems Living Lab

LELL aims to create a and economic perspective, and how we global community that can design an alignment to make the supply and demand of learning have a looks at innovative ways to socio-economic outcome for citizens. learn in diff erent regions It involves closing the skills gap and anticipating what type of learning is atar Foundation’s (QF) global needed in what spaces,” said Gog. education think tank WISE Other panellists at the event in- Qhas launched a new initia- cluded Sébastien Turbot, CEO and tive, Learning Ecosystems Living Lab David Atchoarena Alexandra Agudelo Soon Joo Gog Rosie Clayton chief curator at eko6, and Rosie Clay- (LELL), it was announced yesterday. ton, co-founder of Weaving Lab. They The latest push by WISE to disrupt novative credentialing system or tech- ing how her city used formal and non- goals beyond 2030 or 2050. Educa- should also aim to serve other purposes discussed various ways in which coali- linear models of education worldwide, nology platforms that replace or aug- formal education systems to become a tional development might be slow, but like employment, welfare, social cohe- tions can be formed to enhance learning LELL will regularly bring together ment the traditional linear system of “learning city.” we need to keep going and support each sion, and public health. and education development in diff erent practitioners, experts, policymak- examinations and graduation.” “We want to create an ecosystem other, especially in these kinds of diffi - Panellist Soon Joo Gog, chief re- parts of the world to take the burden off ers, and innovators to create a global The new initiative was launched vir- where the learning of people is embed- cult times brought on by Covid-19.” search offi cer and chief skills ceroffi at formal education institutes and better community of practice and thought- tually with LELL’s fi rst digital panel ded in the city, and everyone can have While theoretical foundations of SkillsFuture Singapore Agency, high- prepare for the multidimensional needs leadership that is designing Learning titled “Designing Vibrant and Purpose- access to education, with inclusion Learning Ecosystems are gaining wide lighted Singapore as an example where of learning in our fast-changing world. Ecosystems for diff erent regions of the ful Learning Communities.” The panel throughout their life from early child- traction, the LELL initiative aims to Learning Ecosystems are being used to “We need a more holistic vision for world. brought together education experts from hood onwards,” said Agudelo, adding build a community of practice and research how skills are changing with education. Of course, the school sys- WISE defi nes Learning Ecosystems around the world to discuss challenges the collaborative platforms like WISE’s practical guidelines on how to create transformation of global and regional tem is key, but it’s not enough,” said as “diverse combinations of provid- in creating learning ecosystems and dis- LELL initiative can play an instrumen- and manage Learning Ecosystems. economies, and how new jobs and ed- Atchoarena. “If you want to promote ers (schools, businesses, community cuss their development using examples tal role in fi lling the gaps in education David Atchoarena, director of the ucational opportunities can cater for lifelong learning, you can’t just invest organisations, as well as government from various regional contexts. systems. Unesco Institute for Lifelong Learning these new skills. in schools. We need to move beyond agencies) creating new learning op- Alexandra Agudelo, Minister of Ed- “Through partnerships with diff er- and a speaker on the LELL panel, said “A Learning Ecosystem is about key the education system and go into pri- portunities and pathways to success. ucation in Medellín, Colombia, gave a ent organisations, we can reimagine these ecosystems do not need to be stakeholders coming together about vate sectors such as digital learning They are usually supported by an in- keynote address at the panel highlight- education and have more sustainable limited to just enhancing learning, but why learning is important from a social and workplace learning.” Gulf Times 2 Friday, January 1, 2021 QATAR

Foreign, Filipino travellers urged Qatar Airways to to delay their visit to Philippines he Department of For- In a recent press statement, permitted to enter Philippine eign Affairs (DFA) in the DFA said that from December territory. Filipino citizens who TPhilippines urged foreign 30, 2020 to January 15, all for- come from these areas can still nationals and Filipino citizens eign nationals, regardless of enter the Philippines but will intending to come to the Philip- previous Philippine visas and be required to complete strictly start four weekly pines to reconsider their travel exemptions granted, who will the 14-day quarantine require- plans for a later date. be flying from or been to the ment at a government facility This is in line with Malaca- following countries and juris- even if RT-PCR tests show neg- nang’s announcement on De- dictions within 14 days of arriv- ative results. The DFA encour- cember 29 of extending until al in the Philippines – Austral- ages those intending to travel January 15 of a temporary entry ia, Canada, Denmark, France, to the Philippines to check with ban on flights and foreign pas- Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ice- the nearest Philippine embas- fl ights to Seattle sengers coming from the UK land, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ja- sy or consulate and regularly and 19 other countries and ju- pan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, consult the website and social risdictions that have reported Singapore, Switzerland, Swe- media sites of the Philippine incidence of the new coronavi- den, South Korea, South Africa, Bureau of Immigration for the from January 29 rus (Covid-19) strain. Spain, and the UK – will not be latest information. atar Airways will bring partnership with fellow oneworld forward the launch of member, American Airlines. Qits four weekly fl ights Passengers travelling to or to Seattle (SEA) from March 15 from Seattle can enjoy more fl ex- to January 29, 2021, it was an- ible travel options via the most nounced yesterday. The airline connected and Best Airport in will operate a four-times weekly the Middle East, Hamad Inter- service operated by its state-of- national Airport. Qatar Airways the-art Boeing 777 featuring 42 currently operates more than 800 seats in Business Class and 312 weekly fl ights to over 110 desti- seats in Economy Class. nations across the globe. By the Passengers travelling to and end of March 2021, Qatar Airways from the US, including Seattle, plans to rebuild its network to can enjoy the world’s Best Busi- 129 destinations including 21 in ness Class Seat, with Qatar Air- Africa, 13 in the Americas, 30 in ways operating Qsuite on all 11 of Asia-Pacifi c, 38 in Europe, 12 in QP announces fuel prices for January its US routes. The Qsuite seat lay- India and 15 in the Middle East. out is a 1-2-1 confi guration, pro- Many cities will be served with a Qatar Petroleum (QP) announced yesterday the prices of diesel and petrol in Qatar for January, as the prices viding passengers with the most strong schedule of daily or more of fuel have increased. Qatar Petroleum has set the price of diesel at 1.30QR/litre during the month of January, spacious, fully private, comfort- frequencies. compared to 1.15QR/ litre in December, while the price of petrol 95/Super/is set at 1.35 QR/litre for January, able and socially distanced Busi- Throughout the pandemic, compared to 1.25QR/litre for December. The price of petrol 91/Premium/ also witnessed a rise, as Qatar ness Class product in the sky, Qatar Airways never stopped fl y- Petroleum set its price at 1.30QR/litre for this month, compared to 1.20 QR/litre in December. – (QNA) with its unique sliding doors. ing to the US in order to take more Passengers can also have Super than 260,000 Americans home, Wi-Fi connectivity on board all with fl ights to Chicago and Dal- Blood donation today Seattle fl ights. las-Fort Worth maintained dur- Qatar Airways Group Chief ing the entire period. The World’s Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker, Best Airline continued to grow Expatriate forum Blood Donors Kerala Qatar is organising a blood donation campaign today (Friday) from said: “Qatar Airways is commit- Seattle is the seventh new destination added by Qatar Airways since and innovate since the onset of 2pm to 7pm at Asian Town (Near Plaza Mall). The initiative is in association with Radio Malayalam 98.6FM and ted to enhancing its connectiv- the start of the pandemic. the pandemic with industry- Ibin Ajayan Projects. More information is available from 3378 4621 or 7788 5174. ity with the US market. Bringing leading fl exible booking policies, forward the launch of fl ights to strength and resilience of our re- Airlines, American Airlines and comprehensive health and safety Seattle, our second new US des- gion as an important global travel JetBlue. Seattle joins existing US measures and a reliable network. tination since the onset of the destination. We are committed destinations including Boston Hamad International Airport pandemic, epitomises this com- to improving the global travel- (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas- (HIA), the airline’s home and mitment. With fl ights to Wash- ler experience, and will continue Fort Worth (DFW), Houston hub, was recently ranked “Third ington State’s largest city our US to invest confi dently in projects (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami Best Airport in the World”, among MoPH reports 141,422 network will grow to 11 gateways, such as the International Arrivals (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadel- 550 airports worldwide, by the surpassing the number of des- Facility and North Satellite Mod- phia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO) Skytrax World Airport Awards tinations we operated in the US ernisation programmes at SEA.” and Washington, DC (IAD). 2020. Rising from fourth posi- pre-Covid-19. We look forward Seattle is the seventh new des- In a further demonstration of tion in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA to launching our Seattle serv- tination added by Qatar Airways its commitment to the US mar- has been steadily rising in the total Covid recoveries ice and connecting with the hub since the start of the pandemic. ket, on December 15, 2020, Qa- ‘World’s Best Airports’ rankings of our future oneworld partner, The launch of fl ights to Seattle tar Airways launched a frequent since the start of its operations in Alaska Airlines.” will increase Qatar Airways’ US fl yer partnership with Alaska 2014. In addition, HIA was voted QNA Port of Seattle Commission network to 66 weekly fl ights to Airlines and plans to implement the ‘Best Airport in the Middle Doha President, Peter Steinbrueck, 11 destinations in the US, con- codeshare co-operation with East’ for the sixth year in a row said: “Despite the worldwide necting onwards to hundreds of the airline in line with it joining and ‘Best Staff Service in the pandemic, Qatar Airways’ new American cities through stra- oneworld in March 2021, com- Middle East’ for the fi fth year in he Ministry of Public service to SEA demonstrates the tegic partnerships with Alaska plementing its existing strong a row. Health (MoPH) reported Tyesterday 213 new con- fi rmed cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), of which 166 were The Public Works Authority from community cases and 47 Diversion for 90 days on parts (Ashghal) has announced a from travellers returning from traff ic diversion on parts of Al abroad who are subject to quar- of Al Bidda and Khalifa streets Bidda Street (Majlis Al Taawon) antine. and Khalifa Street on Doha The MoPH also recorded 122 Corniche for 90 days from recoveries from the virus in the today (Friday). The closure in same period, bringing the total co-ordination with the General number of cases that recovered Directorate of Traff ic is part of in Qatar to 141,422. All new the Doha Central Development cases have been introduced to and Beautification Project – isolation and are receiving nec- Package 4. During the closure, essary healthcare according to the number of lanes on Al their health status. Bidda Street (Majlis Al Taawon) Measures to tackle Covid-19 from Oryx intersection to in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- Lekhwair intersection will be tening the curve and limiting reduced from four to three the spread of the virus and the and the part of Khalifa street number of new daily cases and between Corniche Street and hospital admissions is continu- Oryx intersection closed. Road ing to decline each week. users can use Al Markhiya Qatar’s proactive and exten- Street and the surrounding sive testing of suspected cases streets to reach their has enabled the authorities destinations, as shown on the to identify a high number of map. Ashghal will install road positive cases in the commu- signs advising motorists of the nity. Qatar has one of the low- temporary closure and urged est Covid-19 death rates in the all to follow them and abide by world. the speed limit to ensure safety. 107 people referred to prosecution Five-hour closure on the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor towards HIA for not wearing masks The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a temporary traff ic closure on The designated authorities the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor referred 107 people to the Public towards Hamad International Prosecution for not wearing Airport (HIA) from 11pm masks in places where they are tomorrow (Saturday) until mandatory. 4am on Sunday. The closure They also referred 25 others in co-ordination with the to the Public Prosecution for General Directorate of Traff ic violating the maximum number is to complete installation of four people in a vehicle of ITS Gantries. Ashghal will including the driver, except for install road signs advising cases when they are members motorists of the temporary of one family. The measure is in closure and urged all to line with the Cabinet decision, follow them and abide by the decree law No. 17 of 1990 on speed limit to ensure safety. infectious diseases, and the precautionary measures in force in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). The designated authorities called on the public to adhere to the precautionary measures in place to ensure their safety and the safety of others. — QNA Gulf Times Friday, January 1, 2021 3 QATAR/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Sudan Customs destroys illegal tobacco products Peacekeeping says back in full control mission in of border with Darfur ends, Ethiopia The General Authority of Customs (GAC) has destroyed 5,052kg of illegal tobacco product (tambaku) seized from various ports of the country. This was informed by GAC through its social AFP media accounts. The products were destroyed at the waste dumping area of Mesaieed. GAC off icials Khartoum have seized several shipments of the banned tobacco products at Hamad Port and Al Ruwais Port. The maritime customs wings are equipped with latest technologies that help off icials carry out inspections and thwart attempts to smuggle banned products into Qatar. stoking fears udan’s foreign minister said yesterday that the AFP reconsider its decision,” Mo- ernment troops will be deployed Sarmy has restored control Nyala, Sudan hamed Abdelrahman told AFP to the region to contain any vio- over all lands along the bor- on Wednesday at Kalma camp in lence. der that had been taken over by Nyala, the capital of South Dar- Yesterday, acting foreign Ethiopian farmers. “The armed he United Nations-Af- fur. He is among hundreds who minister Omar Qamareddine forces have now fully recovered rican Union mission in staged a sit-in outside the mis- said UNAMID “contributed to all Sudanese territory,” minister TDarfur ended 13 years of sion’s headquarters at the camp. achieving peace.” Omar Qamareddine told a Khar- peacekeeping in the vast Su- Protesters held up banners “It’s true that its tenure was toum press conference. danese region yesterday, even reading: “We trust UN protec- marred by some obstacles but it “The borders have already as recent violent clashes leave tion for IDPs (internally dis- was, overall, good,” the minister been demarcated, all that’s re- residents fearful of new con- placed people),” and “we reject told a Khartoum press confer- maining in our talks ... is in- fl ict. Fighting erupted in Darfur UNAMID’s exit.” The UN said ence, adding that the deploy- creasing the border signs,” in 2003, when ethnic minority that the phased withdrawal of ment of government troops Qamareddine said. rebels rose up against the gov- the mission’s approximately across the region will be com- Tensions have fl ared between ernment in Khartoum. A total of 8,000 armed and civilian per- pleted by March. the two countries over the Al- 300,000 people were killed and sonnel will begin in January and Bashir was deposed by the Fashqa region of the border, 2.5mn displaced, according to be completed inside six months. army in April last year following where Ethiopian farmers have the United Nations. Longtime Kalma resident unprecedented mass protests been cultivating fertile land “The last day for UNAMID is Othman Abulkassem fears the against his iron-fi sted rule. which is claimed by Sudan. The tonight at midnight,” said UNA- troops’ departure signals “big In August 2019, the military region has seen sporadic clashes MID’s team leader in Darfur of- trouble” for Darfuris, leaving rulers who ousted him agreed a over the years but new fi ghting fi ce Islam Khan. “UNAMID will them at risk of further violence. precarious power sharing tran- erupted in November when the not have any protection man- UNAMID spokesman Ashraf Ei- sition with civilians. federal government sent troops date after December 31, 2020.” ssa sought to allay those fears. The transition government into the neighbouring Tigray re- The mission said the Suda- “We understand the concerns has pushed to build peace with gion of Ethiopia against the re- nese government “will take over of the Darfuri population espe- rebel groups in all three of Su- gional authorities. responsibility for the protection cially IDPs and other vulnerable dan’s main confl ict zones, in- Some 50,000 Ethiopian refu- of civilians in the area.” groups, but the situation has im- cluding Darfur. gees poured across the border Darfur’s bitter confl ict has proved a great deal over the past But two rebel groups refused to escape the fi ghting. Earlier largely subsided in recent years few years,” Eissa told AFP. “The to join the deal, including the this month, Khartoum accused and longtime ruler Omar al-Ba- responsibility now lies with the Sudan Liberation Movement Ethiopian “forces and militias” shir was deposed last year. transitional government and the (SLM) faction led by Abdelwa- of ambushing Sudanese troops But the country’s transitional Sudanese people themselves to hid Nour, which is believed to along the border, leaving some government is fragile, and ethnic enhance peace and security in maintain considerable support four dead and more than 20 and tribal clashes still periodi- Darfur.” in Darfur. Clashes still fl are in wounded. Addis Ababa down- cally fl are, including clashes last A UN political mission – the region over land and access played the reported ambush, week that left at least 15 people the United Nations Integrated to water, mainly pitting nomadic saying it did not threaten the dead and dozens wounded. Transition Assistance Mission Arab pastoralists against settled relationship between the two Darfuris, many of whom re- in Sudan (UNITAMS) – will be farmers from non-Arab ethnic countries. Sudan has since de- main in teeming camps years installed in Darfur after UNA- groups. ployed troops to the border re- after they fl ed their homes, MID’s departure. It will be “There is not yet full and gion, and held demarcation talks have held protests in recent tasked with assisting Sudan’s comprehensive peace in Sudan,” with its eastern neighbour. weeks against the mission’s im- transition, peace-building, and said Kalma resident Mohamed Ethiopia’s foreign minis- minent departure. “The lives aid disbursement. Hassan. “And until there is, we try spokesperson Dina Mufti of Darfuri people are at stake, Following last week’s clashes, are against the end of the UNA- blamed “outside forces” for the and the United Nations should Sudanese authorities said gov- MID mission.” tensions with Sudan. Good riddance, 2020. Say Hello, 2021!

From Page 1 found the old year so heavy. And ly serve as the world’s fi rst big vis- said he would spend the evening never have we, despite all the wor- ual display of the New Year, gath- “with family, just the four of us at “It’s going to be actually, argu- ries and some scepticism, looked erings were banned and internal home, holding lots of video calls ably, the most special, the most forward to the new one with so borders shut. Most people were and hoping for this to end as soon poignant, the most moving New much hope.” China’s President Xi barred from Sydney’s downtown. as possible.” In Britain, under Year’s Eve,” Mayor Bill de Blasio, Jinping said the year’s extraordi- “What a hell of a year it’s been,” ever tighter restrictions to fi ght who will push the button to start nary hardship had allowed people said Gladys Berejiklian, premier a new, more contagious variant the crystal’s ball descent, told re- to demonstrate their resilience: of New South Wales state, which of the virus, offi cial billboards porters. “In 2021, we’re going to “Only in hard times can courage includes Sydney. “Hopefully, 2021 instruct the public to “see in the show people what it looks like to and perseverance be manifested. will be easier on all of us.” New Year safely at home”. Italy’s recover, to come back.” Only after polishing can a piece of The virus did not stop North bars and restaurants were closed, With more than 1.7 million peo- jade be fi ner.” Korea from staging its celebra- and a curfew imposed for 10pm. ple dead and 82 million infected In the Chinese city of Wuhan, tion in Pyongyang. State media The rules prevented the tradi- around the globe since last New where the pandemic originated a showed revellers in face masks tional assembly of thousands Year’s Eve — yet hope emerging year ago, thousands were expect- fi lling the main square for a of Roman Catholic worshippers that new vaccines can help tame ed to gather at landmarks across concert and fi reworks. But in for New Year’s Eve vespers at the pandemic — the year ended the city centre to count down to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where St Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis unlike any other in memory. 2021. Some said they were be- Spaniards typically count down cancelled plans to lead the serv- Angela Merkel, in her 16th New ing cautious, but not particularly to midnight by stuffi ng grapes ice because of a fl are-up of his Year’s Eve address as German worried. “Safety is the priority,” into their mouths at each clock sciatica, the Vatican said, and a chancellor, said as much: “I think said Wuhan resident Wang Xue- strike, police put up barriers cardinal read the Pope’s sermon I am not exaggerating when I say: mei, 23, a teacher. In Australia, to keep people out. Jose An- to a small congregation at a sec- New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over the Chao Phraya river during the fireworks show in Thailand’s capital never in the last 15 years have we where Sydney’s fi reworks annual- gel Balsa, a 61-year-old retiree, ondary altar. Bangkok in wee hours today. Hope for Libya’s war amputees after long wait

AFP Misrata, Libya

or Radwan Jibril, wounded in a bastion of Libya’s 2011 Frevolution, losing his leg became “inevitable” and he had a prosthetic replacement, but thousands of other amputees are still waiting. An orthopae- dic centre is finally scheduled to open in March to provide Members of staff work at the National Center for Artificial Limbs, in prostheses to amputees in the Libya’s port city of Misrata. North African country riven by conflict for the past decade. at the expense of the state. The GNA. Since 2016, about 1,000 Jibril, like so many oth- centre, to be housed in a brand patients with prostheses have ers, was hit by shrapnel in his new building, will save the gov- been treated at the university western hometown of Misrata, A member of staff works at the National Center for Artificial Limbs. A patient is seen at National Center for Artificial Limbs. ernment a “significant sum” by Libyan technicians trained which endured a devastat- of money, said its director. “A abroad. ing siege during the revolt that a light beard. With the support won’t be easy” to have it serv- to go to Germany for a perma- “In five years, we hope to be team of Hungarian specialists Badreddine Moftah said he brought down longtime dictator of family, he has opened a fish- iced, he said. nent prosthesis. “I don’t think able to provide prostheses to all are to train technicians and run chose to become an ortho- Muammar Gaddafi. “Despite monger’s where he serves cus- Mohamed al-Nouri, 28, had a I can go back to the cafe where amputees in Libya,” said Hadd- a rehabilitation service for a prosthetist “after having met so several medical stays abroad, tomers as best as he can with hand amputated because of an I worked... I still need a lot of ad. “This will help them get year,” Haddad said. many amputees since 2011”. amputation was inevitable be- “this foreign body”, he told AFP, injury while fighting in 2019 in time to regain my confidence,” their lives back, together with In the face of “growing de- He had a one-year intern- cause the injury had been so shuffling from stall to stall with the ranks of the Tripoli-based said the young man. psychological and physical sup- mand for help from amputees”, ship in Germany and returned badly treated. It was all a big one leg stiff. Government of National Unity A national centre for pros- port,” he said. a partnership has been formed home to practise the profession. shock,” he said. Now, he feels “like a new (GNA) against an abortive as- theses, being established in the With Libya’s health sec- with Misrata University’s phys- Despite the rudimentary equip- “I was fitted with a pros- man again”. His prosthesis, sault on the capital by forces port city of Misrata, already has tor left in tatters by multiple ical rehabilitation department ment in the university lab, Mof- thesis in Italy but it took a long however, is starting to wear of eastern strongman Khalifa a patient waiting list of more conflicts since the revolution, that was set up with the sup- tah painstakingly builds plaster time to get used to it,” said the out, and “with hundreds, if not Haftar. He was fitted with an than 3,000 amputees, said its war-wounded Libyans are of- port of the International Com- sockets to cover the stumps of 38-year-old Libyan, who sports thousands, waiting their turn, it artificial hand but is waiting director Al-Sadeq al-Haddad. ten sent abroad for treatment, mittee of the Red Cross and the amputees, as students watch. Gulf Times 4 Friday, January 1, 2021 COMMUNITY Expats laud Qatar govt’s steps to curb Covid-19, hope for better 2021

By Mudassir Raja Staff Reporter

he year 2020 was marred by the Covid-19 pandem- Tic. The health crisis and resultant economic slowdown ushered in new norms changing lives, businesses and education upside down. The year will be remembered for the pandemic and how humans faced the dis- ease. Qatar is one of those countries where the deaths caused by the novel coronavirus are very low. Both its citizens and residents P N Baburajan, president of Hazim Hamza, general secretary Joseph Timothy Rivera, an Ann Jangsell Williams, president have hailed Qatar’s steps to ward Indian Community Benevolent of Sri Lankan Community Adeel Akbar, general secretary active member of the Filipino Aliguma Saul Rayan, Ugandan of the Swedish Association of off the pandemic and cope with Forum. Benevolent Fund. for Pakistan Arts Society Qatar. community. Community in Qatar president. Qatar. the economic crisis. The fi - nancial stimulus for the private decades, is general secretary sector and emergency health- for Pakistan Arts Society Qa- care steps to deal with the virus tar. He also praised Qatar’s ef- outbreak have borne fruit as the forts to curb the outbreak in people have grown further in 2020 and hopes 2021 would be confi dence and resilience. safer after the vaccination drive On the eve of New Year, Gulf is completed. “No doubt Qatar Times spoke to representatives has done plausible work. With of diff erent expatriate commu- minimum deaths and controlled nities of Qatar about their ex- number of confi rmed cases, Qa- periences during 2020 and what tar stands out in the world dev- they plan ahead for 2021 in Qa- astated by the pandemic.” tar. Laying stress on the positive P N Baburajan, president of lessons learnt from the health Indian Community Benevolent crisis, he said: “When the Cov- Forum (ICBF), has long been id-19 started, we had no idea into community service in Qatar. that its eff ects would be so hor- Talking about the unexpected rible. Since its start, we have Mohamed Muktda Musalman, Palma Libotte, president of Mohamed Redzuan Nordin, health crisis, he said: “The world gone through diff erent and new president of Non-Resident Victor Ikoli, active member of Anwar Hossain Akon, president of Italian Chamber of Commerce president of Malaysian was caught unprepared by the experiences, particularly during Nepali Association NCC Qatar. Nigerian expatriate community. Bangladesh Community Qatar. and community leader. Association of Qatar. Covid-19 and Qatar was no ex- the lockdown. People realised ception. The country however that in the past they were not Further, Qatar provided food tions, I learned about the im- said: “I would like to help ensure benefi ted from the extra time to the spread of Covid-19. “Qa- became an exception by imple- able to spend enough time with supplies and healthcare services portance of being creative with that Qatar becomes a leading strengthen relationships with tar took early steps to start menting strict but unavoidable their families. People started to less privileged segments of the the scarce resources and limited example in managing the pan- family, friends and business the lockdown and initiate the restrictions to slow down the making up for the defi ciency. We society as well.” physical space we have at home. demic during 2021.” contacts.” SOPS. Steps such as wear- outbreak. Being a part of Qatar’s interact and converse more now For 2021, the Bangladeshi ex- I also appreciate that small acts Ann Jangsell Williams, presi- About her New Year resolu- ing masks, keeping a distance, one of the largest communities, and get busy in diff erent indoor patriate hopes that the New Year of kindness and gratitude to dent of the Swedish Association tion, she said: “In 2021, I would temperature monitoring, us- there was a lot to plan, prepare activities that were not in prac- will be free of coronavirus. “I people, have helped to boost of Qatar, views 2020 as a chal- like to prioritise my wellbeing ing the health app, work from and act in no time as many start- tice earlier.” hope the year will be safe with their emotional well-being.” lenging year. “It has been a chal- and that of those around me in home, online education, and ed losing the life harmony.” The Pakistani community vaccination. We will have posi- The Nigerian expatriate wish- lenging year but from negative both the family and business limited gatherings have en- Appreciating the eff orts of representative said that the New tive economic activities and ed- es to see everything normal in comes positive. Here in Qatar, I environment. I think 2020 has sured curtailment of the virus ICBF for providing relief to In- Year resolution should be to ucation will go on unhindered.” 2021. “My wish for the New Year experienced communities com- taught us not to take things for outbreak.” dian expatriates, Baburajan carry forward the good lessons Hazim Hamza is general sec- is for life to return to normal ing together to off er emotional, granted.” The Malaysian expatriate’s said: “With co-ordination from learnt from the pandemic and retary of Sri Lankan Community again, safe travel, social gather- spiritual, and economic support Aliguma Saul Rayan, Ugandan New Year resolution is to see all various ministries of Qatar, ICBF lockdowns. “During lockdowns, Benevolent Fund and head of ings, handshakes and prosperity during the pandemic. I believe Community in Qatar president, the people getting vaccinated along with other regional expa- the world witnessed cleaner air community development unit for humanity.” people have re-evaluated what believes that the pandemic has during 2021. “After getting triate groups launched a large and improved environment in of Sri Lankan Islamic Center Joseph Timothy Rivera is in- is important in life. Human in- made people learn some positive vaccinated, everyone can be relief activity. I was fascinated many countries. People need to Qatar. He is all out praise for the vestment promotion partner genuity to fi nd new safe ways to lessons about life. safe from the virus. Economy by the community’s harmony avoid unnecessary use of cars response of the residents of Qa- for the Middle East and active carry on the fundamentals of life “The lockdown brought us and business activities will be irrespective of cast, creed and and other vehicles in 2021 to tar to the pandemic, making it a member of the Filipino com- is nothing but amazing.” back to the proper way we ought back to normal which can cre- geographical boundaries in In- have a better environment for safe country in 2020. “The peo- munity in Qatar. The expatriate Expressing her New Year res- to live and relate with one an- ate job opportunities.” dia. I was also astonished to see future generations.” ple of Qatar adapted to the new hails Qatar’s fast recovery from olution, Ann said: “When safe to other. It is during this period Mohamed Muktda Musal- how Qatar has taken proactive Anwar Hossain Akon, presi- norm quickly taking all neces- the pandemic. “Qatar has been do so, I plan to travel to see fam- that we came to realise that some man, president of Non-Resi- measures and executed action dent of Bangladesh Community sary precautions and follow- the most resilient nation in re- ily in Sweden and England and elements of our lives (pre-Cov- dent Nepali Association NCC plans at diff erent levels to keep Qatar, suff ered from Covid-19 ing guidelines of the authorities covering from the pandemic in get a hug from my parents and id-19) could be done away with Qatar, lauds the way Qatar the situation under control. It but got cured. “In January 2020, which helped to keep the impact record time, so impeccable al- in-laws. I will also keep up my and yet life could continue. I ap- treated its residents and helped gave utmost priority to human I predicted that the year would of Covid-19 under control here.” most second to none. The pan- healthy way of living and take preciate the Qatar government the Nepali community. “The life whether it is a Qatari nation- prove a great one. I thought the The Sri Lankan hopes that demic has just validated this care of others and myself. Kind- and the Ugandan community Qatar government treated the al or an expatriate. For the most number ‘20’ is good one and Qatar would carry forward the nation’s renowned strength in ness is truly a superpower.” for reaching out to the people in immigrants and Qatari people signifi cant step was arranging would prove positive. But unfor- positive work in 2021. “I am op- dealing with far greater chal- Palma Libotte is president of need during the pandemic.” equally. It addressed all the is- medical consultations on tele- tunately everything went wrong timistic about the resilience of lenges just as how it has grace- Italian Chamber of Commerce The community leader wish- sues of the Nepali community. I phone and delivering medicines for 2020. Personally, I suff ered Qatar. Let fall of 2021 give light fully endured the longstand- and community leader for Su- es to see a securer year ahead think Qatar has been the safest at the doorstep.” from this virus for about 10 days of hope against all challenges we ing blockade.” Shedding light preme Committee 2022. She both for Qatar and Uganda. country during the global pan- In 2021, Baburajan wants to in May and I also lost my best faced in 2020 due to the unprec- on some positive aspects of the considers herself lucky to be in “We are having general elec- demic.” continue his community and friend in Qatar due to coronavi- edented pandemic.” pandemic, Joseph said: “We Qatar during the pandemic. “In tions in Uganda this month. I The Nepali expatriate wants welfare work for both Qatar and rus.” Victor Ikoli is an active mem- have to admit that this invisible this diffi cult year, I appreciated wish to see the elections con- to work in collaboration with his community. “I would focus Despite all odds, Anwar has ber of Nigerian expatriate com- nemesis has actually managed to more than ever the positive as- ducted with peace and trans- the Qatar government for bet- on enhancing socio-cultural noticed a lot of good things done munity in Qatar. During all the bring families and friends closer pects of living in Qatar. I felt safe parency.” terment of his community in relationship between my host by Qatar government. “I would problems and hardships brought in many ways. It has rapidly ex- that the country implemented Mohamed Redzuan Nordin, 2021. “I will work for raising country and my community.” like to mention only one, that is in by the pandemic, Victor said pedited digital, information and promptly all measures to control president of Malaysian As- awareness among the Nepali Pakistani expatriate Adeel how Qatar took care of Qataris that he learnt how to be creative communication technology.” the pandemic. I also feel blessed sociation of Qatar, appreci- diaspora as directed by the gov- Akbar, in Qatar for about four and residents in an equal way. and steadfast. “During restric- Regarding the New Year, he because we still have our jobs. I ated Qatar’s early steps to stop ernment of Qatar.”

Bosnian delegation marks QND Bangladesh MHM School and College observes QND, Victory Day Md. Jashim Uddin, ambassador of Bangladesh in Qatar, participated in a programme recently o celebrate the Qatar delegation to learn more about forward to continuing cultural organised by Bangladesh MHM School and College National Day (QND), the Qatari culture and history. exchange and invite our Qa- in Qatar to celebrate the Glorious Victory Day of Tmembers of the Bosnian As part of the day, the Bosnians tari brothers and sisters to visit Bangladesh and the Qatar National Day (QND). The community together with the were also treated to traditional Bosnia,” said Lejla Suljic. ambassador cut the cake in the presence of other representative of the Bosnian Qatari food and drinks. “It was our honour and ab- off icials of the embassy, as well as the director, embassy were introduced to “The visit comes to celebrate solute pleasure to be hosted by principal, vice-principal and teachers of the school. Qatari history and heritage re- QND in the special Qatari way Sheikha Ali al-Marri and her On the occasion, the ambassador extended his cently. and create opportunities for kind family on the occasion of greetings and congratulations to the government Organised by Sheikha Ali al- acquaintance and co-operation QND. We learned a lot about and the people of Qatar and the Bangladeshi Marri, member of Youth Advi- between the two cultures”, said history of Qatar and we off er nationals residing in Qatar. “The Covid-19 free sory Committee for the Min- Sheikha Ali al-Marri. our sincere congratulations to years ahead will see festive celebrations with wider ister of Culture & Sports, the “What we learned today tru- the Qataris on this historic day, participation of the Bangladesh community,’’ the delegation visited the Al Marri ly opened our eyes to just how in the name of the entire Bos- ambassador hoped. He said the two brotherly family farm, founded in 1970. It many things Qatar and Bos- nian community living here,” countries are working to increase co-operation in was a great opportunity for the nia have in common. We look said Haris Alisic. newer areas of bilateral relations.

Cric Qatar celebrates Qatar National Day Expatriate communities in Qatar under the flag of Cric Qatar, a cricketing community group, recently joined their Qatari brethren in celebrating the Qatar National Day (QND). They witnessed cake cutting and feasts followed by national anthems to commemorate the day. The participants held Qatar national flags demonstrating love and loyalty to their host country. “We wish everyone in Qatar happy national day. May peace, prosperity and Expatriate women’s forum conducts meeting tranquility continue to be the hallmark of Qatar,” said Syed Rafi, chairman of Cric Qatar. He added: “It is a way The annual executive committee meeting the activities conducted in 2020. Tributes of showing our gratitude to the visionary leadership of FoK (Friends of Kozhikode) Women Qatar were paid to the poet-activist Sugathakumari of Qatar and joining the celebrations of our Qatari was conducted on December 24. Reshmi who played an irreplaceable role in Kerala’s brothers and sisters”. A large number of cricket loving Sharath welcomed the members and advocate literary, cultural and social space. Vidya Renjith people from expatriate communities of India, Pakistan, Rajasree presided. The committee reviewed proposed a vote of thanks. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated in the QND celebrations organised by Cric Qatar. Gulf Times Friday, January 1, 2021 5 COMMUNITY Students in creative Qatar expressions hildren have a unique, pure vision of the world Caround them. When they express their individual per- spectives using their rich, un- tapped artistic talents, a glowing imagination emerges, expressing fresh insight and brimming with creativity and innovation. Those who have recently visit- ed Qatar National Library (QNL) would have seen more than 30 canvases painted in acrylic col- ours, created by the fi ngertips of children who participated in a number of art workshops organ- ised by the library. These were run by an elite group of Qatari artists as mentors including Fa- tima al-Nesf, Dana Safar, and many others. Last October, QNL launched the Children’s Art Display ‘Ree- sha’, which highlights the artistic talents inherent in this promis- ing generation of students. Or- ganising the student art display an elite group of Qatari artists. this display is ‘Qatar in the eyes is what our government has as- is part of the library’s role as a The result was a unique collec- of its children.” pired to achieve in the past and cultural institution which de- tion of paintings rich in mean- Noor Mohamed added: “Each the present through their eff orts votes its utmost eff ort to pro- ings and connotations about the student became immersed in that sponsored and supported moting imagination, nurturing character of Qatar, its features their imagination and creativity. arts as in all its forms. creativity, unlocking talents and and its most beautiful aspects. Some of them imagined Qatar Pablo Picasso once said: ‘Eve- developing skills, with the aim of We now have a new promising as a mother with jewellery and rything you can imagine is real’ encouraging children to show- generation of artists and we are gold on the hands of her daugh- – the seed of creativity begins case their artistic talents to pa- looking forward to more artistic ters. Others painted the fal- with an imagination which has trons and visitors. expressions in the near future,” con, symbol of Arab and Qatari no limits. No one has a rich and About the exhibition, Hind al- al-Khulaifi added. identity. Qatar’s glorious past fertile imagination similar to Khulaifi , manager of Children’s “The aim of the art display is and heritage was depicted as a children.” and Young Adults’ Library, says: to connect children with their modern lighthouse on Doha’s From her side, artist Fatima “We fi rmly believe that the li- cultural identity, boost their towering buildings. Each draw- Nesf said: “The choice of colour Khattab First School for Boys, ordinator, commented: “There Riffa Primary School for Girls, brary’s role is not limited to giv- sense of belonging, and unleash ing expressed a focused and deep is necessary, regardless of the commented: “We were pleased is no doubt that art has an eff ect noted that talented students ing access to books and spread- their artistic and creative im- perspective that forms a bigger means of expression, whether with the participation of our on soul and conscience, which had benefited from the work- ing the culture of reading among agination,” says Nour Mohamed, image of Qatar in the eyes of our this art expresses something young creators in the Reesha, is refl ected in the practical and shop, Qatar in the Past and the the young, but also includes children’s librarian and the exhi- children and their creative pens. visual, sensory, auditory, or which shed light on our beloved personal life. Art is one of the Present, delivered by the Qatari developing a balanced personal- bition curator. The guided art workshops were even a performance. The work country, between the past and best means for educating young artist Dana al-Safar, which the ity for children, enhancing their “Young people’s contribu- very successful in enhancing of art should be the subject of the present. This exhibition people, as it works to revive soci- Library hosted. talents and encouraging them to tions were varied and refl ected children’s abilities of expression expression and appreciation for contributed to enhancing our etal taste and build a generation The exhibition also included express their ideas and visions their diverse creativity through through drawing.” its beauty and strength. This is students’ cultural identity and capable of facing diffi culties and paintings by male and female in a variety of ways, whether in paintings which combined the Dana al-Safar, one of the what I found in the Reesha art creative talents in line with the challenges. We saw and touched students from several other writing, public speaking, or ar- past and the present. Children’s mentoring artists participating workshops at QNL with my dear principle of community partner- this in the distinguished art dis- schools, namely Khawla Bint tistic creativity.” talents have been unleashed and in the exhibition’s workshops, students. I would like to thank ship between the school and our play, Reesha, which provided us Al-Azwar Primary School for “These art workshops were an manifested themselves on can- said: “Art is a mirror of nations the library for this unique expe- cultural national edifi ce, QNL.” with a distinctive and wonderful Girls, Al-Bayan Al-Oula School ideal opportunity for participat- vas paintings with their spon- that refl ects our progress, de- rience with them.” From Moaz Bin Jabal Primary experience.” for Girls, Taiba Model Inde- ing students to hone their artis- taneous drawings. Perhaps the velopment, culture and ambi- Rehab Mohamed, Art Edu- School for Boys, Ibrahim Mah- Aisha al-Jaber, supervisor pendent School and Abdullah tic skills under the guidance of most beautiful description of tion for the world to see. This cation Teacher at Omar bin Al joub Ahmed Idris, visual arts co- and visual arts co-ordinator at bin Zaid School.

Cricket academy celebrates completion of first term The MS Dhoni Cricket Academy (MSDCA) branch in Doha recently completed its first term and Pakistani community observes celebrated the occasion with a Qatar National Day friendly tournament for their budding talents. birth anniversary of the Quaid After three months of preparations, the Junior (ages 7-9) and Senior (10-15) category players were akistani Community in rums in Qatar paid gratitude to ber Jamshed Bajwa made the – and host country – Qatar. deemed ready to take part in Qatar recently celebrated the Father of the Nation. Jin- evening colourful and lively The community leaders paid proper games and thus got the Pthe 144th birth anniver- nah was born on December 25, by presenting national and special thanks to Ashraf Sid- opportunity to play at the Asian sary of the founder of Pakistan, 1876 in Karachi. A career lawyer patriotic songs in his melo- diqui, Qaiser Anwer and Atiq Town Cricket Stadium for the first Centre (ISC) vice-presidents, projects sports convener. The Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali and politician, Jinnah led the dious voice. Pakistani com- Ur Rasheed for arranging a time. were in attendance at the prize MSDCA’s Doha branch is a joint Jinnah with zeal and zest on- peaceful political movement munity members held spe- thoughtful and innovative The matches were followed by ceremony. The others present on venture between Aarka Sports, board a Qatari traditional dhow. that led to creation of Pakistan cial prayers for the security, birthday cake cutting cer- a prize distribution ceremony the occasion were Nisha Agarwal, management firm of the academy, Members from all the lead- on August 14, 1947. progress and prosperity of emony to pay gratitude to the to honour the best performers. ISC general secretary; Jafar Khan, and Absolute Sports Academy, ing Pakistani community fo- Known community mem- their home country – Pakistan founder of Pakistan. Prominent sports off icials from the Indian Cultural Centre sports head; leading multi-sports coaching Indian community were present Safeerurahman, ISC secretary institution in Qatar. The branch at the event. Sharaf P Hameed and football; Nihad Ali, QIA convener; started its operations E P Abdurahiman, Indian Sports and Riyaz Cheeroth, Ibn Ajayan earlier this year.

Telangana Welfare Association to conduct blood donation drive

Telangana Welfare Association – Qatar (TWA) recently released a poster for its first blood donation drive that will start on January 8, from 8am to 3pm. The association has appealed to all its members to come forward for the noble cause. The first poster release was held in the presence of Dr Deepak Mittal, ambassador of India to Qatar, and Xavier Dhanaraj, first secretary at the Embassy of India. The second poster release event was held with Azim Abbas, president of Indian Business and Professional Council and managing director of Al Sulaiman The association has appealed representatives of TWA: Naveed Jewelers & Watches. TWA is to all Telugu people in Qatar to Dastagir (55047567), Shiva organising the blood donation come forward and join hands for Krishna (66492709), Mohammed drive in association with Hamad the noble cause. The volunteers Salauddin (31295186), Netaji Medical Corporation Blood Unit. can contact the following Ramesh (5530 0646).

BBSQ holds badminton tourney to mark Qatar National Day, Victory Day

angladesh Badminton award ceremony, the ambas- 2022. He called upon the Bang- activities of the government of Society, Qatar (BBSQ) re- sador extended greetings and ladesh community members Bangladesh to build a knowl- Bcently organised a bad- congratulations to the brotherly to do regular sports activities edge-based developed country minton tournament as part of people of Qatar on the occasion alongside their work and follow by 2041. the celebrations of Qatar Na- of QND. the rules and regulations of Qa- Besides the embassy offi cials, tional Day (QND) and Glorious Appreciating Qatar’s role in tar. Anwar Hossain Akon, Bangla- Victory Day of Bangladesh. the world arena, the ambassa- On the eve of the Glorious desh Community Qatar presi- Ambassador of Bangladesh dor wished Qatar all successes Victory Day, ambassador Jas- dent; Omar Farooq Chowdhury, Md Jashim Uddin was present as in hosting the FIFA World Cup him Uddin highlighted the role freedom fi ghter; Alamgir Hos- the chief guest at the fi nal match 2022 and the Asian Games 2030. of Father of the Nation Banga- sain Ali, president of BBSQ; Jalal and prize giving ceremony held He emphasised that the Bang- bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Ahmed and Abdul Matin Pat- at Al Sadd Sports Club. ladesh embassy and the Bangla- in achieving the independence wari, sports patrons and busi- Following the Covid-19 safety desh community would always of Bangladesh. nessmen; and Asfaquddin Ma- protocols, a total of 150 players be ready to extend any co-op- He called upon the expatriate mun and Aminul Islam, sports in six categories, participated in eration to the Qatar government Bangladeshis to actively partici- organisers; were also present on the tournament this year. At the in hosting the big sports event in pate in the various development the occasion. Gulf Times 6 Friday, January 1, 2021 COMMUNITY LEISURE/HOROSCOPE

Wordsearch Super Cryptic Clues Adam

Pooch Cafe

BEGIN ONSET LAST ENDING COMMENCE START NEW FINISH DAWN CEASE RISE LAUNCH ENTER COMPLETE TOMORROW OLD INTRODUCE EMBARK CLOSE SPRING MORNING Across Down EXPIRE CONCLUDE YESTERDAY 1 Principal notice inserted in 1 Entertainer taking one in border in front of flower (10) lift (5) 7 Poor diet Tom has skipped 2 Little workers getting article Codeword (7) about saint (4) Garfield 8 One member’s naughty 3 I’d come to be cured by Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. children (4) doctor (6) Squares with the same number in have the same letter 10 It may be taken in court 4 Mistake about a garment (8) in. Work out which number represents which letter. and in boathouse (4) 5 Stretch vessels in river (7) 6 Soak poets at sea, as it were 11 RN choose new vessel (8) (2,2,5) 13 Spot, so we hear, for fish (6) 9 Making a grade one drink 15 Split up northern river (6) (9) 17 Contest for gun-runners? 12 No crop is damaged by this (4,4) creature (8) 18 Delight in good shelter (4) 14 Country song about people 21 A member of the (7) opposition in Victorian times? 16 Injury resulting from fight (4) with sweetheart (6) 22 Warned bad lad about 19 Language that comes in for damaged tree (7) some slating (5) 23 Locate nuns settled in 20 Mr Livingstone has little Cornish town (10) time for this county (4) Bound And Gagged Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

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

Colouring Horoscope

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

Don’t go where you aren’t invited and don’t take things that aren’t Let your true personality shine, Taurus, for this is your day to Realise that to conquer new ground you may have to make some off ered, Aries. Rules and manners are the cornerstones to healthy radiate. There’s an element of fantasy and deception working in sacrifices, Gemini. Things may not always go according to your friendships and strong bonds among new acquaintances on a day the equation, but you will find that this may be just the thing you’re perfect vision, but that’s the natural way of things. Life should be like today. You will find that a cheery attitude and pleasant smile go looking for. The missing piece may come from a place you least simple and free flowing. The tangle of voices in your mind is usually a long way. Before you know it, you will be invited everywhere and expect, but be confident that it will come. Be open to new ideas and the thing that makes issues and situations more complicated than off ered all the things you desire. information, regardless of how odd they seem. they need to be. Maintain the peace and keep things easy. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

There’s a great deal of air to fuel your fire today, Cancer. Although you may want to bring things down a bit so you can Join others for stimulating conversation and purposeful dreaming, Conversations will light up upon your arrival. Dreams, fantasies, better plan, organise, and rearrange, Leo, this may not be the best Virgo. You aren’t alone in your thoughts and strong opinions. Now is and inspired wishes may come to the surface, asking you to digest course of action today. You’re better off keeping things light and the time to be heard. Work toward maintaining peace by exposing them with your open, adventurous mind. Use this fuel to keep things uplifting. Things will fall into place as you need them. Trust in others. truth. Take the time to create fantasy in your world by diluting burning red hot within you. Bring your dreams to the surface and Realise that some of the best experiences you will have in life are the fears of reality. Make decisions based on co-operation, and turn them into realities by joining forces with others. spontaneous. Put your to-do list away. prosperity instead of neediness, trepidation, and anger. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

It’s time to come up for air, Libra. Come out and take a deep breath. Take a step back today, Scorpio, and sink into a light and dreamy Things might be too elusive to actually grab hold of today, Experience the lightness and rejuvenation of the energy present in fantasy world that is pleasing to you. You will find that beautiful Sagittarius. Don’t be so concerned with capturing something and the air around you. Do some yoga or go for a jog to open up your objects and sweet fragrances catch your attention. Go shopping or making it your own. See the beauty around you and hold it in your channels and get your circulation moving. Use this exercise to indulge in a gourmet meal. The time is right to keep things open and heart. Leave the flower unpicked so others who come after you can clear your mind and open your consciousness to let new ideas and social. Have fun and focus on your partnerships with others instead enjoy its splendor as well. There’s an airy, uplifting feeling to the day dreams be born from within. of your tendency to lead. that you should enjoy. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

This is a terrific day for you, Capricorn. You should find that the There’s a stronger connectedness to dreams and fantasies today, There’s a warm and friendly feeling to the day that you will find puzzle pieces naturally come together almost eff ortlessly. Important Aquarius, but you may need to adjust your thinking in order to link to agreeable to your boisterous personality, Pisces. Find strength connections can be made today as long as you keep all the lines of it. Pick a path that includes a few steps on the sunny side of the street and peace with the people around you and work to make solid communication open. Information exchange is a key part of bringing where you can see things in a positive light instead of focusing on connections among your friends. The people around you are your people and ideas together in a constructive manner. A burst of the gloom in every situation. Communicate your thoughts and think greatest resource, so treat them with honour and respect. Stay in inspiration can lead to a rewarding journey through time and space. about how you can promote peace in your inner circle. balance by recognising the strength in others. Gulf Times Friday, January 1, 2021 7 AMERICAS/BRITAIN/EUROPE Spain, Britain agree to keep Top violators of UK wage law named

Reuters while Pizza Hut failed to pay staff by 2.2% from April as well as be- reported to tax authorities. Gibraltar land border open London £845,936 which they were due. ing extended to workers aged 23 “We take our obligations to “It is never acceptable for any and 24. our colleagues very seriously and employer to short-change their Younger workers and appren- all colleagues were reimbursed Reuters border agency) Frontex for Some 99% of Gibraltar- esco and Pizza Hut were workers, but it is especially dis- tices receive a lower minimum in full in 2017,” it said in a state- Madrid around four years, conducting ians rejected any idea of Britain the two biggest off enders appointing to see huge household wage. ment. controls both in Gibraltar’s port sharing sovereignty with Spain Tamong 139 employers who names who absolutely should The list published by Britain’s Pizza Hut said tax authorities and airport,” Laya said. in a referendum in 2002. failed to pay staff the minimum know better on this list,” busi- business ministry did not dis- had alerted it and other busi- pain and Britain reached Gibraltar was not part of a However, they voted over- wage between 2016 and 2018, ness minister Paul Scully said. tinguish between employers who nesses in the sector to errors a preliminary agreement last-minute deal for Britain’s whelmingly to remain in the EU Britain’s government announced Other employers, mostly deliberately broke the law and relating to deductions for staff Syesterday to keep the Gi- post-Brexit relationship that in Britain’s 2016 referendum on after it resumed a policy of pub- smaller businesses, underpaid those who made errors applying uniform costs, which it corrected braltar land border open, just was reached between Britain Brexit. licly naming fi rms that broke staff by around £700,000 in to- the sometimes complex rules. in 2018. hours before Britain’s full exit and the European Union last British Prime Minister Boris rules. tal, with some individual workers Tesco said that it was “ex- “It is important to stress that from the European Union. week. Johnson hailed the agreement Supermarket chain Tesco, losing thousands of pounds. tremely disappointed and sur- there was never any intent to un- As part of the agreement, Gi- Without the agreement in a a tweet: “I wholeheart- Britain’s largest private-sector Britain’s minimum wage prised” at being publicly named derpay our employees,” a spokes- braltar, a British Overseas Terri- yesterday, tens of thousands edly welcome today’s political employer, underpaid 78,199 stands at £8.72 an hour for work- for making what it described as person for Pizza Hut Restaurants tory located on Spain’s southern of Spaniards and Gibraltar- agreement between the UK and staff by a total £5.1mn ($7mn), ers aged 25 and over, and will rise a technical error that it had self- said. tip, will remain part of European ians who cross everyday would Spain on Gibraltar’s future rela- Union agreements such as the have been forced to go through tionship with the EU. Schengen Area, Spanish Foreign checks and passport stamping, “The UK ... will remain total- British prime minister’s father applying for French citizenship Minister Gonzalez Laya said. the Spanish foreign minister ly committed to the protection One cannot tell the British people: you are not All the details of the agree- said. of the interests of Gibraltar and The father of British Prime Minister Boris John- “If I understand it correctly, I am French. My Europeans. Having a tie with the European Union ment will be settled between Spain still claims sovereignty its British sovereignty,” he said. son said yesterday that he is in the process of mother was born in France, her mother was is important,” he added. Spain and Britain during a six- over the port at the mouth of the The Schengen Area is a applying for a French passport to maintain his totally French, as was her grandfather. So for me His son Boris was the public face of the Leave month transition regarding the Mediterranean which it ceded 26-country zone covering most ties with the European Union after Brexit. it is about reclaiming what I already have. campaign in the 2016 referendum and says that territory, she told reporters. to Britain in 1713 after a war. of the European Union, and a Stanley Johnson, who voted Remain in Britain’s “And that makes me very happy,” said the Britain can “prosper mightily” as a fully sover- “Spain, as member state rep- Laya said the initial agree- handful of non-EU members, 2016 referendum, told RTL radio that he wanted 80-year-old Johnson, who was speaking in eign nation outside of the EU. resenting the Union, will be re- ment safeguarded both coun- where internal borders have to become a French citizen because of strong French. The United Kingdom off icially left the EU’s orbit sponsible for enforcing Schen- tries “unrenouncable aspira- been abolished and people family links to France. “I will always be a European, that’s for sure. last night. gen and will be assisted by (EU tions of sovereignty”. move freely between countries.

Vaccinated US nurse Trump cuts holiday contracts Covid-19 Reuters Matthew W, 45, a nurse at Washington two diff erent local hospitals, said in a Facebook post on De- cember 18 that he had received nurse in California the Pfi zer vaccine, telling the tested positive for Cov- ABC News affi liate that his Aid-19, more than a week arm was sore for a day but that over Congress fi ght after receiving Pfi zer Inc’s vac- he had suff ered no other side- cine, an ABC News affi liate eff ects. Reuters included in the relief package reported, but a medical expert Six days later on Christ- West Palm Beach, Florida passed by Congress earlier this and the US drug maker said the mas Eve, he became sick after month. body needs more time to build working a shift in the Covid-19 The US president had ramped up protection. unit, the report added. S President Donald up pressure on fellow Republi- The Covid-19 respiratory He got the chills and later Trump headed back to cans to back the bigger cheques disease is caused by the coro- came down with muscle aches UWashington from his for struggling Americans in a navirus. and fatigue. Florida resort yesterday, a day series of tweets in recent days, Pfi zer “will review all avail- He went to a drive-up hospi- earlier than planned, as he con- in which he attacked Republi- able information on this case tal testing site and tested posi- tinued his fi ght with Congress can leaders as “pathetic” and and all reports of any con- tive for Covid-19 the day after over a defence bill and stimulus accused the party of having a fi rmed diagnosis following Christmas, the report said. cheques as well as a long-shot “death wish” if it did not increase vaccination”, the drug maker Christian Ramers, an infec- bid to overturn his November stimulus payments. said in a statement to Reuters. tious disease specialist with election defeat. Republicans in Congress “Based on our Phase 3 safety Family Health Centres of San Trump, who originally was have largely stuck with Trump and effi cacy study, the vac- Diego, told the ABC News af- scheduled to attend a New Year’s through four turbulent years, but cine provides some protection fi liate that this scenario was Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago re- the president is angry that they against Covid-19 within about not unexpected. sort, boarded Air Force One and have not fully backed his claims 10 days of the fi rst dose, and “We know from the vaccine took off for Washington just after of election fraud in the Novem- substantially boosted after the clinical trials that it’s going to 11.30am EST (1630 GMT). ber 3 election won by Democrat second dose, supporting the take about 10 to 14 days for you He did not speak to reporters Joe Biden. need for a two-dose vaccina- to start to develop protection on departure, and has not done Republican Senator Josh Haw- tion series,” it said. from the vaccine,” Ramers said. so in weeks. ley on Wednesday pledged to “Individuals may have con- “That fi rst dose we think gives The White House has given no challenge Biden’s victory when tracted disease prior to or right you somewhere around 50%, reason for the change in plan, but Congress convenes to offi cially after vaccination,” the state- and you need that second dose it coincides with Trump’s fi ght tally the Electoral College votes ment added. to get up to 95%.” with Congress over his veto of on January 6, which could trigger a major defence bill and his de- a lengthy debate in the Republi- mand for increased coronavirus can-controlled Senate but has President Trump is seen reflected while boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, in stimulus cheques, as well as a virtually no chance of overturn- West Palm Beach, Florida. spike in tensions with Iran. ing the results. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Some Republican senators While Trump is back in Wash- The tensions among Republi- dural vote due today. At least 26 retirees die McConnell, the top Republican in had supported an increase in the ington, Biden is expected to cans have been exacerbated by a If successful, the eff ort would the chamber, dealt a likely death stimulus payments, including spend a quiet night at his beach second showdown over an eff ort lead to the fi rst veto override of blow on Wednesday to Trump’s David Perdue and Kelly Loeffl er, house in Delaware, although in Congress to override Trump’s Trump’s presidency. after visit by ‘Santa’ bid to boost coronavirus aid to who face run-off elections in he is due to appear on the long- veto of a defence policy bill. The Democratic-controlled Americans, declining to schedule Georgia next week that will de- running ABC special Dick Clark’s The Senate voted 80-12 on US House of Representatives a swift vote on a bill to raise relief termine which party controls the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Wednesday to begin debate on voted to overturn Trump’s de- AFP most of the infections came cheques to $2,000 from the $600 Senate under Biden. Seacrest 2021 in the evening. the issue, with another proce- fence bill veto on Monday. Brussels from the same source. The white-bearded, red- robed fi gure of Sinterklaas, Pope Francis skips leading New Year services due to leg pain Mexico probes t least 26 residents of the equivalent of the English- He is sometimes seen walking with diff iculty alleged corruption a Belgian retirement speaking world’s Santa Claus, Pope Francis will not lead New Year’s Eve and Both the vespers and the Mass require the main because of the pain and receives regular physi- Ahome have died since brings gifts to Belgians every New Year’s Day services because of a flare-up celebrant to stand for most of the service. cal therapy because of the condition. in vaccine rollout a visit by a volunteer dressed December 6. of his sciatica condition, which causes pain in The Pope will however lead his noon prayer In March this year, a bad cold kept him from as Santa Claus who has since This year’s festivities, how- his right leg, the Vatican said yesterday. today as scheduled, the Vatican said. participating in a week-long Lenten retreat with Mexican President Andres tested positive for Covid-19. ever, have been clouded by the It was believed to be the first time since he be- Because of coronavirus restrictions in Italy, his with senior aides south of Rome. Manuel Lopez Obrador said on The Covid-19 respiratory coronavirus pandemic, which came pope in 2013 that Francis, who turned 84 both the vespers and Mass are being held from In 2014, a year after he was elected pope, Fran- Wednesday that off icials are disease is caused by the coro- has hit Belgium particularly this month, will have skipped leading a major a secondary altar in St Peter’s Basilica, with only cis was forced to cancel several engagements investigating a case of suspected navirus. hard, especially at its retire- papal event for health reasons. about 200 people instead of the 10,000 the because of what was believed to be a stomach abuse of power by a family to A Flemish health offi cial told ment homes. A year-end vespers service that the Pope was basilica holds. ailment. obtain shots of coronavirus AFP yesterday that it is not yet No inquiry has been to lead yesterday evening was led by Cardinal Francis suff ers from sciatica, a condition that That year he also skipped walking in a Lenten vaccine, just days after their certain that it was the visitor launched in the absence of a Giovanni Battista Re, and the Friday Mass, causes pain that radiates from the lower back procession because of leg pain. rollout began in the country. who brought the coronavirus formal complaint, regional marking the Catholic Church’s World Day of along the sciatic nerve to the lower part of the But his health has been generally good since “There was an investigation and, to the Hemelrijck home in Mol health spokesman Joris Moo- Peace, will be said by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. body. his election. yes, a family that was not slated on December 5. nens said, and there is no sug- to receive the vaccine used their But 26 residents have died gestion the volunteer knew he influence to get vaccinated: a since the visit, and 85 more was infected. doctor, his wife, and I think one have tested positive for the But a crisis manager has Venezuela court or two of his daughters,” Lopez coronavirus, along with 40 been appointed for Hemelri- Obrador said in a regular news staff . jck – which housed 169 people voids parliament’s conference. The outbreak was detected before the Covid outbreak – to term extension Teachers, lion tamers get same Mexico began applying the first a few days after the visit, and help staff , residents and rela- few thousand doses of the Pfizer prominent virologist Marc Van tives cope “in this diffi cult pe- Venezuela’s Supreme Court vaccine last week. Ranst reported on Twitter that riod”. has ruled that a move by the wage under Cuban reform opposition-controlled National Assembly to extend its term an additional year was invalid, AFP sets 32 wage levels depending healthcare system, an intern, paving the way for allies of Havana on the job, and the maximum or doctor in training, will earn President Nicolas Maduro to take is the equivalent of $396 a $210 a month. Man dies in gun battle with US cops over the body next month. month, according to a 77-page That’s the same as a school- The mainstream opposition, uban schoolteachers, labour ministry document teacher, a reporter or an ani- led by National Assembly journalists, lion tamers, published yesterday in the of- mal tamer at a circus. Reuters “Offi cers were conducting a “An adult female who was a speaker Juan Guaido, boycotted Cand doctors-in-train- fi cial government gazette. An Olympic gold medallist Washington traffi c stop involving a felony passenger in this subject vehicle parliamentary elections held on ing will earn the same salary It does not specify how takes home $232. suspect. Initial witness state- was unharmed as well,” Arra- December 6 on the basis they under reforms spelled out yes- much President Miguel Diaz- The reform package will see ments indicate that the subject dondo said. would not be free and fair. terday and taking eff ect in the Canel will earn, nor the head the convertible peso, which is inneapolis Police shot involved in this felony stop fi red He said the offi cers’ body cam- While the ruling socialist party new year. of the Cuban Communist Par- pinned to the dollar and was and killed a man in fi rst at Minneapolis police offi c- eras were turned on and added won that vote handily, Guaido’s The changes will quintu- ty, Raul Castro. introduced in 1994 to replace Man exchange of gun- ers, who then exchanged gunfi re that the video would be released. allies rejected the results and ple the minimum salary to the Nor does it say how much the US currency, phased out fi re during a traffi c stop in the with the suspect,” Minneapolis Minneapolis saw widespread voted to extend their term. equivalent of $87 a month, people in the military or inte- over the next six months. southern part of the city late on Police Chief Medaria Arradondo protests against police brutality The sentence declared any action and prices in the state-run rior ministry make. It will leave only the regular Wednesday, in the fi rst killing said in a press briefi ng late on and racism that gradually spread taken by current legislators “with economy will jump as part of However, among the highest peso, which is worth 24 times by a member of the department Wednesday. across the US and the rest of the the purpose of perpetuating, an overhaul in which Cuba’s paid are provincial governors, less. since the death of George Floyd, “Subject of the stop was pro- world following the May 25 death extending or continuing their two currencies will be unifi ed, who take home $375 a month, The idea is to make the Cu- authorities said. nounced deceased at the scene by of Floyd, an African-American status as National Assembly ending a system in place for 26 nearly twice that of a compu- ban economy more effi cient The identity, background or medical personnel. MPD (Min- who died after a police offi cer lawmakers” to be “lacking in years. ter engineer. and easier to understand for race of the deceased were not im- neapolis Police Department) of- knelt on his neck for nearly nine judicial validity and eff ect”. The new salary framework In Cuba’s much-vaunted foreign investors. mediately known. fi cers were unharmed. minutes. Gulf Times 8 Friday, January 1, 2021 INDIA

Welcoming the new year BJP pushes budget relief for middle class, business in wake of virus

Reuters tion by them would also help the New Delhi industry,” Agarwal told Reuters, days after meeting the fi nance minister to discuss budget sug- ndia’s ruling party has urged gestions by party members. “I the government to put more can say the budget will take care Imoney in the pockets of mid- of the middle class.” dle-income families in the next The government ranks more budget and cut the costs of raw than 300mn of India’s popula- material for small and medium- tion of 1.35bn among middle- sized businesses, a party spokes- class consumers. man said yesterday. Finance ministry spokesman After the coronavirus im- Rajesh Malhotra said no ministry pact shrank the economy in the offi cial would comment on the last two quarters, Prime Min- budget for the new fi scal year, ister Narendra Modi’s govern- which begins in April, until the ment wants to boost spending document was unveiled in par- on projects for roads, ports and liament on Feb 1. Another pro- pipelines in the next fi scal year posal is to raise the depreciation to revive businesses and gener- allowances on items like cars, ate jobs. plant machinery and consumer Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party durables such as refrigerators so (BJP) feels that while the poor that consumption increases and received free rations and busi- tax outgoings of businesses fall, nesses got state-guaranteed Agarwal added. loans and other concessions, the For medium-sized and small economy will benefi t from slim- businesses, the government ming the tax bill for the middle could also look to lower the im- class with more generous stand- port duties on some raw materi- People pose for a picture next to an installation at a mall on New Year’s Eve, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Mumbai, yesterday. ard deductions. als such as copper and base met- “The middle-income group is als. feeling a lot of pinch, and they “Raw material costs are rising need some support,” said Gopal not because of demand but be- Krishna Agarwal, who handles cause of supply constraints for the BJP’s communication and consuming industries, and they co-ordination on economic af- are asking for some relief,” Agar- Govt to rope in celebrities fairs. “Incentivising consump- wal said. CBSE board exams to create vaccine awareness from May 4: minister

IANS clarify that it has gone through New Delhi various trials and is safe, its eli- IANS In normal years, practicals are gibility criteria and vaccination New Delhi taken in the month of January process, access to the vaccine, and board examinations start n a bid to build trust and of- process of registration and pre- from February until March.” fer confi dence in the Cov- conditions for vaccination, post he schedule of the CBSE Various parents associations Iid-19 vaccine among peo- vaccination care and support. board examinations for have expressed satisfaction over ple, the Union Health Ministry Key elements of the commu- TClass X and XII in 2021 the date of the board examina- will rope in celebrities, faith nication strategy will be advo- have been announced. tions. leaders and media to dissemi- cacy, capacity building, media The examinations will kick off Ashok Agarwal, president nate accurate and transparent engagement and social media, in May this time round. of the All India Parents Asso- information. social mobilisation, community The board examinations will ciation, said, “We welcome the A 88-page document on engagement and adverse eff ect commence from May 4 and end dates fi xed by the central gov- Covid-19 vaccine communica- following immunisation (AEFI) on June 10. ernment for board examina- tion strategy has been released communication. The results of the Class 10 and tions. We had demanded that by the ministry. The vaccine is likely to be ap- 12 board examinations will be the examinations be conducted It seeks to disseminate time- proved soon. announced by July 15. in May-June so that students ly, accurate and transparent in- As India awaits with bated Yesterday evening, Union could get some additional time formation about the vaccine to breath for a silver bullet against Education Minister Ramesh to complete their courses.” alleviate apprehensions, ensure the coronavirus, the Drug Pokhriyal Nishank made an of- The Union Education Minis- its acceptance and encourage Recovered patients from the Covid-19 coronavirus after 100 days of treatment prepare to go home at a Controller General of India fi cial announcement with regard ter congratulated the students uptake. government hospitAal in Chennai, yesterday. ((DCGI) has hinted at approval to the dates of the examinations. and said, “The CBSE has already According to the document, of the vaccine earlier yesterday Both the Union Ministry of reduced the syllabus for board the government aims to achieve entertainment industry, sports Co-operatives. Thirdly, so- engage WhatsApp champi- and said that the country will Education and the CBSE have examinations by 30%. Besides, this using three strategies, fi rst and politics, infl uencers like cial media, community media, ons from WhatsApp Groups, have a “Happy New Year with made it clear that the examina- other problems of the students by using the social infl uence or local leaders, faith leaders, so- mass media and outdoor media eg school principals, among something in hand”. The drug tions will have to be taken at the will also be addressed. We will endorsements from experts and cial cultural leaders, panchayat will also be used. WhatsApp others, who can disseminate regulator is currently analys- examination centre in the pen also address students studying offi cial voices, establishment leaders and teachers. will also be used for proactive information and can counter ing the data submitted by the and paper mode, like every year. in CBSE schools in 25 countries of a National Media Rapid Re- Frontline workers will also be messaging. WhatsApp content misinformation. All states will Serum Institute of India, which No option has been provided of the world. Students studying sponse Cell and involving com- roped in. toolkit and guide will be made need to ensure that partners is manufacturing Oxford-As- for online examinations. in CBSE schools abroad need not munity mobilisers and front- The second platform includes for all campaign partners, in- have tools to support the in- traZeneca vaccine and Bharat Education Minister Nishank panic,” Nishank further said. line workers to engage with the community groups such as cluding ministries, at national troduction of Covid-19 vaccine Biotech, which is making the said, “No programme relating to Union Minister Nishank said community. Gram Sabhas, School Manage- and state level to ensure cohe- through digital and social media indigenous vaccine in collabo- the board examinations will be that in many countries of the Three platforms will be used ment Committees, Children’s sive campaign. Co-ordination amplifi cation to reach audienc- ration with ICMR. held in January or February. world the Corona epidemic to disseminate information, School Cabinets, the NSS, the groups will be established for es,” the document stated. The The expert panel will con- Practical board examinations pushed back the academic ses- which includes celebrities from NYKS, Scouts and Guides and social media. “Identify and information on vaccines will vene a meeting on January 1. will commence from March 1. sions.

CONTROVERSY BJP’s Kerala MLA backtracks on Farmers continue protests anti-farm laws resolution support CBI searches premises In the wake of the controversy over his support to the Kerala government’s resolution against the Central farm laws, veteran BJP leader O Rajagopal, linked to TMC leader who is the lone party legislator in the Assembly, yesterday contended that the Speaker did not properly ask on the support and opposition to the meas- ure, IANS reported from Thiruvananthapuram. IANS Diamond Harbour Abhishek Ban- Rajagopal, who was a Minister of State for Railways, Defence and Parlia- New Delhi/Kolkata erjee. The source also said that mentary Aff airs in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, held that he had following issuance of the lookout opposed the resolution strongly within the house and that the Speaker did circular against the TMC leader, not ask specifically as to who were supporting and who were opposing it. he CBI yesterday carried all airports in the state have been However, interacting with journalists in the Assembly’s media room earlier in out searches at two Kolk- alerted for the “untraceable” the day, he said that he had supported the resolution against the farm acts Tata premises linked with politician. It is the fi rst time that owing to the consensus in the house. His stand has evoked a strong reaction the Trinamool Congress’ youth a TMC leader has directly been from the party and its supporters, though party leaders declined to com- wing leader Vinay Mishra in a named in this case. ment on the issue till they seek his account. BJP state President K Surendran cattle smuggling case and also On September 21, the CBI had told mediapersons at Thodupuzha that he was not aware of the position issued a lookout notice for him, fi led a case of cattle smuggling taken by Rajagopal and that we would revert after studying it. BJP state Gen- sources said. against Mohamed Enamul Haque, eral Secretary M T Ramesh said that he had not expected the veteran leader Protesting farmers listen to their leader’s speech next to a blocked highway during a The Central Bureau of Inves- former Border Security Force of- to support the resolution, and would respond after hearing him. protest against the central government’s recent agricultural reforms, at the Delhi-Uttar tigation has been on a massive fi cer Satish Kumar, three private Pradesh state border, in Ghaziabad, yesterday. search spree for the last few individuals and unknown public weeks in the eastern state in servants for their alleged involve- CRIME connection with the cross-bor- ment in the illegal cattle trade on JD-U leader beaten and killed in Bihar der cattle smuggling and illegal the India-Bangladesh border in coal mining cases. West Bengal. Over half a dozen persons allegedly assaulted a JD-U leader until he became According to a CBI source Kumar was arrested on No- unconscious in Bihar’s Aurangabad district, IANS reported from in Delhi, TMC Youth Congress vember 17 and discharged from Patna. Following this, they tried to make it look like an accident, mowing him Nod for new industrial area in Karnataka General Secretary Mishra’s name service. He was posted in Chhat- down with a vehicle on the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway (NH) 2 yesterday had cropped up on a number of tisgarh’s Raipur at the time of the morning. However, this was seen by a family member of the victim. The de- occasions in the course of inves- registration of the case. ceased, identified as Baijnath Prasad Chandravanshi and hailing from Munshi IANS dustrial corridor project, state said in a statement here. tigations in the cattle smuggling The CBI has also named Aranul Bigha village under Mufassil police station, was intercepted by Sudarshan Bengaluru Industry Minister Jagadish Thanking Prime Minister case. SK, Mohamed Golam Mustafa, Sharma, Pramod Sharma, Krishna Sharma, Raju Sharma, Rinku Sharma, Shettar said yesterday. Narendra Modi for clearing CBI offi cials conducted raids and other unknown persons on Jitendra Yadav, Laldev Yadav and others when he was going for a morning “The Cabinet Committee the project early, Shettar said at Mishra’s residences at Rash- charges of misconduct by public walk in the village. In a statement the deceased’s family said, “ Chandravan- he Central government on Economic Aff airs (CCEA) the state’s new industrial pol- bihari, Chetla and Lake Town ar- servants in the FIR after its pre- shi had personal enmity with the accused persons. They intercepted him has cleared the new on Wednesday cleared the icy (2020-2025) would attract eas in Kolkata. Mishra is known to liminary enquiry revealed the in- on Thursday morning and thrashed him mercilessly. After Chandravanshi Tindustrial area at Tu- Rs1,702-crore Tumakuru in- huge investments in diverse be a close aide of Chief Minister volvement of offi cers posted on became unconscious, they took him to NH2 and mowed him down under makuru in Karnataka under dustrial area, which has the po- sectors and create thousands Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and the India-Bangladesh border in the vehicle in a bid to create a scene of an accident.” the Chennai-Bengaluru in- tential to create 88,500 jobs,” he of jobs over the next fi ve years. Trinamool Lok Sabha MP from the illegal trade. Gulf Times Friday, January 1, 2021 9 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Deterring people from backbiting

hen the Prophet, sallal- fl esh of his brother when dead? You adultery with one’s own mother. The lam, saying: “He doesn’t eat until he should I clean from between my teeth? pursue their defects (and faults), oth- laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam would detest it…” [Qur’an 49: 12] worst of them (the seventy-two de- is fed and he doesn’t visit anybody I haven’t eaten any meat!” He, sal- erwise Allah will pursue your faults, (may Allah exalt his To highlight the sanctity of the grees) is a man’s insulting his brother’s until they have visited him fi rst.” The lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “You and whomever Allah pursues his Wmention), was asked Muslim, the Messenger of Allah, sal- honour (i.e. by backbiting).” [Ibn Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, have eaten the fl esh of your brother!” defects (and faults) He disgraces him about backbiting, he answered: “To lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said in his Jaroot] said: “You have backbit him.” They [At-Tabarani] even though inside his house.” [Ibn mention your brother in a manner sermon during the Farewell Pilgrim- ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased said: “O Messenger of Allah! We have This is the state of our community Abu Ad-Dunya] which he dislikes”. Then he, sallallaahu age: “…Your blood, your wealth and with her, said: “I said to the Prophet, mentioned about him something nowadays: any one of us may commit The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi ‘alaihi wa sallam, was asked, “What if your honour are sacred, as this day of sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: ‘It’s bad which is true.” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi the sin of backbiting, but then will say: wa sallam, showed us the safe way of my brother actually has (this failing) yours, in this month of yours, in this enough that Safi yyah is such and such. wa sallam, said: “It is bad enough I didn’t backbite, I didn’t eat fl esh, I freeing ourselves from the evil con- that I made mention of?” The Prophet, land of yours, are sacred…?” [Ahmad (Some of narrators said: she is short).’ that you have mentioned something haven’t done anything! Why? sequence of backbiting others when sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “If and Muslim] This fi rmly proves how far He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: about your brother which is true.” Because we have allowed our he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: (that failing) is actually found in your beyond limits one transgresses when “You have said a word which, if it could [Al-Asbahani] tongues to become accustomed to “Whoever has wronged his brother brother, you in fact backbit him, and he backbites his fellow Muslim be mixed with the water of the sea, it We should all ask ourselves: who speaking this way, without knowing with regard to wealth or honour, if that is not in him it is a slander.” Let us think deeply about this, and would have been… (i.e., the enormity among us is infallible? Who among what backbiting is. Let us learn about should ask for his pardon (before his [Muslim] regard the orders of Allah and His of it is such that, if it were mixed with us is free from errors, faults and sins? our religion. Let us learn about what death), before he will pay for it (in the Backbiting refers to a Muslim men- Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- the vast water of the sea, it would spoil Who among us would be content to is lawful and unlawful - as much as Hereafter) when he will have neither tioning his Muslim brother in a manner lam, with the awe that they deserve. it.)” [Abu Dawood] have everything about him, good and we can - and distinguish between the a Dinaar nor a Dirham (gold and silver that the latter dislikes, whether by re- In the sight of Allah, violating the A word which, if it could be mixed bad, spoken of by others? Any one of speech which is lawful and the speech currencies). (He should secure pardon ferring to a defect in his body, or in his rights of your brother by backbiting with the water of the sea, it would have us becomes furious if he hears some- which is not. in this life) before some of his good lineage, or in his morality. The meaning is equivalent to violating the sanctity been…! One word alone could do this, one hinting something about him; so deeds are taken and paid to this (his of insulting is included in backbit- of the Day of Sacrifi ce, in the month and have such a far-reaching impact! what would you do if it was said clearly The evil consequence of Ghee- brother), or (if he has no good deeds) ing, whether it is in the form of words, of Thul-Hijjah, in Mina. Do we really So what do you think of the backbit- and in detail, let alone behind your bah: some of the bad deeds of this (his gestures, or writing. realise the enormity of this violation of ing people of today, whose tongues back? Due to its negative impact on in- brother) will be taken (from the person a Muslim’s honour? never cease to wag? What vast oceans ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah dividuals and communities alike, the he wronged) and will be loaded on Ruling of Gheebah: could be tainted and corrupted by be pleased with him, said: “We were Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Backbiting is forbidden in the Noble Islamic perception of Gheebah: their words? How many quiet lives are with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi frequently made mention of backbit- Qur’an and the Sunnah. The person Al-Baraa’ Ibn ‘Aazib, may Allah be disrupted by them? wa sallam, when a man got up and left, ing, and greatly warned against it. Article source: http://www.islamweb. who commits it is given the similitude pleased with him, narrated that the ‘Amr Ibn Shu’ayb narrated from his whereupon another man immediately The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi net/emainpage/ of a person who eats the fl esh of his Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi father from his grandfather, may Allah started backbiting him. The Prophet, wa sallam, said: “O you who have dead brother. Allah Says (what means): wa sallam, said: “There are seventy- be pleased with them: (The people) sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: believed (only) with their tongues “…And do not spy or backbite each two degrees of Ribaa (usury), the least mentioned a man to the Messenger “Clean the bits of meat from between while (true) belief has not visited their other. Would one of you like to eat the of which is equivalent to committing of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- your teeth!” The man asked: “What hearts! Do not backbite Muslims nor Excellence in faith

n one of the great prophetic nar- and follows the religion of Abraham, life. They would do so claiming that it rations which included few, yet inclining toward truth? And Allah is not a person’s concern to intervene very comprehensive words, the took Abraham as an intimate friend.” in other people’s aff airs, basing their IProphet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa [Qur’an: 4:125]. argument on an incorrect understand- sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), On the other hand, the one who ing of this very narration. clarifi ed one of the means for salva- does not apply Islam inwardly and Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, may Allah be tion, and a sign of the excellence of outwardly is the one whose degree of pleased with him, said: “O you people! Islam. This narration gives the believ- commitment to Islam is low, and one You recite and misinterpret the follow- ing slave a tool by which to measure of the signs of this in him is that he ing verse (which means): ‘O you who himself and realise how close or far he busies himself in that which does not believe! Take care of your own selves. is from the straight path. concern him. If you follow the (right) guidance [and Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased The following verse is proof enjoin what is right (Islamic Monothe- with him, reported that the Messenger substantiating the meaning of the ism and all that Islam orders one to do) of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, narration, in which Allah Says (what and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, said: “It is from the excellence of (a means): “And they who turn away disbelief and all that Islam has forbid- believer’s) Islam that he should shun from ill speech” [Qur’an: 23:3]. “… ill den)] no hurt can come to you from that which is of no concern to him”. speech” is anything from falsehood, those who are in error.’ [Qur’an:5:105] [At-Tirmithi]. and that includes association, other But I have heard Messenger of Allah, This narration contains many great minor sins and all useless speech, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying: meanings which a believer should actions and concerns. Furthermore, “When people see an oppressor but do understand and apply. It is one of the busing oneself with that which does not prevent him from (doing evil), it is principles and foundations of good not concern him is included in the likely that Allah will punish them all.”” manners, and thus some scholars con- defi nition of “ill speech”. [Abu Dawood & At-Tirmithi] sidered it to constitute one-third or There are other prophetic narrations In another narration he, sallal- one-fourth of the religion of Islam. which highlight the virtue of excel- laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Never Actions are by intentions Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah lence in religion, such as the narration that evil is committed and people do have mercy upon him, said: “The of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased not prevent it, though able to do so, Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, with him, in which he reported that the but Allah will overwhelm them with he Messenger of Allah, sallal- in accordance with the correctness or sallam, said: “People will be gathered summed all the aspects of piety and Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi punishment”. laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may incorrectness of the intention. upon their intentions.” [Ibn Majah] He, devoutness in this narration. He, sal- wa sallam, said: “When one of you One other thing that one must con- Allah exalt his mention), said: The saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, also said: lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, outlined for reaches the level of excellence in faith, cern himself with is the aff airs of other T“Verily actions are by inten- ‘alaihi wa sallam, after this: “and for “Mankind will be resurrected upon their the slave what to do and what to shun, then every good deed is multiplied for believers and their issues, because he tions, and for every person is what he everyone is what he intended” informs intentions.” [Muslim] Another Hadith and it is an indication to the fi rst pillar him ten times up to seven hundred who does not worry about the aff airs of intended. So the one whose ‘hijrah’ (mi- that one cannot gain anything from his says: “Verily those slain on the bat- of soul purifi cation, namely, shunning times; and each sin is recorded as only his fellow Muslims is not one of them. gration) was to Allah and His Messenger, action except what he intended. So if tlefi eld will be resurrected upon their what does not concern the person, one, until he meets Allah” [Muslim]. The need to understand this narra- then his ‘hijrah’ was to Allah and His he intended good, he gets good. If he intentions.” [Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya] which leads to the second pillar, and The saying of the Prophet, sallallaa- tion, its implications and applications Messenger. And the one whose ‘hijrah’ intended evil then he gets evil. This The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa that is busying oneself essentially with hu ‘alaihi wa sallam: “… that which is of intensifi es in times like ours, when was for the world to gain from it, or a second statement (of the Hadith) is not sallam, also said: “For the ones whose what concerns him” no concern to him” means, that which people’s commitments and personal woman to marry her, then his ‘hijrah’ merely reiterating the fi rst, because the concern is this world, Allah will scatter He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, does not benefi t him in his worldly obligations have increased and priori- was for what he made ‘hijrah’ for.” [Al- fi rst statement points to the fact that the his aff air, and place poverty between his clarifi ed that shunning that which life or the Hereafter, and this includes ties are mixed up. Bukhari and Muslim] goodness or corruptness of the action is two eyes. He will not get from the world does not concern the person is a means things that are prohibited, disliked, The implementation of this narra- Many scholars began books with this according to the intention necessary for except what is written for him. For the to attain excellence in religion. This doubtful, and excess permissible mat- tion is the fi rst practical step toward Hadith. Imam Al-Bukhari, may Allah that action to exist. The second state- one whose intention is the Hereafter, means, that people, in reality, are of ters which one does not really need. reforming oneself and those under his have mercy upon him, commences his ment points to the fact that the reward of Allah will gather for him his aff air and two categories, those who are excellent The measure by which one knows guardianship and care which leads to book of Hadith (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) a person for his action is according to his place contentment in his heart, and the in Islam and those who are not. The whether something is of his concern or achieving excellence in religion. This with this Hadith and explains that every good intention, and that the punishment world will come to him willingly.”[Ibn one who applies Islam inwardly and not, is Islamic teachings and not ones happens by concentrating on that action that is done without seeking for his action is according to his evil Majah] outwardly is the one who has reached desires. which is benefi cial and staying away Allah’s pleasure is invalid and devoid of intention. Zayd Ash-Shami, may Allah have the level of excellence, as Allah says Many people decide to abandon from all that is not ones concern. reward. Scholarly defi nition of the word mercy upon him, said: “Verily I like to (what means): “And who is better in enjoining good and forbidding evil It can be said that the entire religion ‘Intention’: make an intention for everything I do religion than one who submits himself under the pretext that this is interfer- Article source: http://www.islamweb. revolves around this Hadith. Imam Ash- 1. To distinguish diff erent types of even if it is eating and drinking.” to Allah while being a doer of good ing with people’s privacy and personal net/emainpage/ Shafi ’I, may Allah have mercy upon him, worship, one from the other. Like dis- Sufyan Ath-Thawri, may Allah have said: “This Hadith constitutes a third of tinguishing Noon (Thuhr) Prayer from mercy upon him, said: “I have not all knowledge.” Afternoon (‘Asr) Prayer, or distinguish- treated anything more diffi cult than my Muslim scholars diff er in opinion as ing the fast of Ramadan from other fasts, intention, because it keeps changing.” to the limits of the Prophet’s, sallallaahu or distinguishing actions of worship Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying: “actions are by from actions of habit: like distinguishing mercy upon him, said: “May be a small intentions”. Many of the later scholars bathing from impurity from bathing for action is made great by its intention, and True belief are of the opinion that the limit is that the purpose of cleanliness. may be a great action is made small by its the action is made correct or acceptable 2. To distinguish for who or what the intention.” nas, may Allah be pleased of belief requires the soul to possess “O Abu Thar! I see that you are a weak with the intention. What is meant by action is done: is it for Allah only, for The above-mentioned sayings were with him, reported that the a high degree of excellence and good person, and I love for you what I love for this is that a legislated action needs an other than Allah, or for Allah and others reported by Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya in his Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi manners when dealing with others. In myself, so never be in charge of (even as intention. As for habitual actions such as than Him? book The Sincerity and the Intention. Awa sallam (may Allah exalt this state a person overlooks mistakes, little as) two people, or be responsible eating, drinking, dressing, etc., they are The meaning of ‘intention’ in the Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy his mention), said: “No one of you be- perseveres regardless of the harm oth- for an orphan’s wealth”. [Muslim] not in need of an intention. speech of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi upon him, said that the foundation of comes a true believer until he likes for ers may affl ict on him and forgives ill Our Salaf (righteous predecessors), Some say ‘actions’ here is to be under- wa sallam, and the Salaf (righteous the religion is upon three Hadiths: his brother what he likes for himself”. treatment. Additionally, he shares the may Allah have mercy upon them, took stood in its generality; therefore, nothing predecessors) was used generally to 1. “Verily actions are by intention.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. joy and sadness of his fellow Muslims; upon themselves the implication of is exempt from it. Others relate this as carry the meaning of ‘desire’. In the [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Islam, through its instructions and he visits the sick, comforts the needy, this Prophetic advice, and were very the saying of the majority, meaning the Qur’an, the word ‘desire’ is often used to 2. “Whosoever introduces into this legislations, was keen to organise sponsors the orphan, provides for the sincere in its implementation in the majority of the early scholars. This oc- describe an intention, as in Allah’s Say- aff air of ours that which is not part of it people’s relation with their Lord the widow and off ers help to others and best manner. Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah curs in the words of Ibn Jareer At-Tabari, ing (which means): “…Among you are then it is rejected.” [Muslim] Almighty, in order for them to attain cheers them with a smile. be pleased with him, said: “I pass by Abu Talib Al-Makki, and others from some who desire this world, and among 3. “The Halal (lawful) is clear and the happiness in both this life and the Just as he likes people to be happy, a verse in the Book of Allah, and wish the early scholars, may Allah have mercy you are some who desire the Hereafter…” Haram (prohibited) is clear.” [Al-Bukhari Hereafter. At the same time, Islam leg- he also wishes that they prosper in the that all people would have the knowl- upon them. Imam Ahmad, may Allah [Qur’an 3: 152] & Muslim] islates what governs people’s relations Hereafter, and thus he always strives edge I have about it.” have mercy upon him, said: “I like that In other verse Allah Says (what Islam teaches us to perform good amongst each other, in order for love to guide them to the right path, whilst Another such example is that once for every action, from prayer, fasting or means): “Whoever desires the life of this actions, stay away from the forbidden and harmony to prevail in the Muslim remembering the saying of Allah (what Wasi’ Ibn Muhammad, may Allah have charity or any action of righteousness world and its adornments…” [Qur’an 11: actions and stop at the doubtful matters. community. This can be achieved only means): “And who is better in speech mercy upon him, wanted to sell his that there be an intention preceding the 15] And Allah Says again (what means): All of this is perfected upon two matters: when each individual is keen to protect than one who invites to Allah and does donkey and the man who was buying it action. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi “And keep yourself patient [by being] Actions must be done correctly, ac- and guard the welfare of others just righteousness and says, ‘Indeed, I am from him said to him: “Do you think it wa sallam, said: ‘actions are by inten- with those who call upon their Lord in cording to the teachings of Islam, and as he would his own, and only then of the Muslims.’” [Qur’an 41: 33] is good for me”. He replied: “Had I not tions’, and this is taken for every matter.” the morning and the evening, seeking seeking the Pleasure of Allah, Almighty. will the Muslim community become The narration also goes beyond the thought so, I would not have attempt- Fadl Ibn Ziyad, may Allah have mercy His countenance. And let not your eyes Fudayl Ibn `Iyadh, may Allah have strongly bonded and well-established. boundaries of the Muslims to cover ed to sell to you in the fi rst place.” upon him, said: “I asked Abu Abdullah pass beyond them, desiring adornments mercy upon him, said about the Saying For this great objective to be fulfi lled, wanting good to reach disbelievers. He These two examples and many more (Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy of the worldly life...” [Qur’an 18: 28] of Allah (which means): “He who created the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- likes that Allah blesses them with the refl ect the loftiness in faith these peo- upon him) about the intention in action, Sometimes intention is described death and life to test you [as to] which of lam, guided his nation to accomplish bounty of belief and that Allah rescues ple reached which yielded such results. how should it be? He said: ‘One should with the word ‘seeking’ as in Allah’s you is best in deed.” [Qur’an 67: 2] the principle of solidarity saying: “No them from the darkness of associat- One of the implications of the narra- concentrate on himself when he intends Saying (which means): “But only seek- Who is sincere and correct in it? If the one of you becomes a true believer until ing with Allah and disobedience. This tion we are addressing is that a Muslim to do an action, not doing it for the sake ing the countenance of his Lord, Most action is sincere and incorrect, then it is he likes for his brother what he likes meaning is substantiated with the should not want for others what he of people (showing off ).’” High.”[Qur’an 92: 20] And (which not accepted. Likewise if it is correct and for himself”, clarifying that for faith to narration in which the Prophet, sallal- hates to happen to himself. This forces It is possible that the limits of the means): “…and you do not spend except not sincere then it is not accepted. It is become deeply rooted in the heart one laahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Being the person to shun many bad qualities, saying, ‘actions are by intention’, are that seeking the countenance of Allah…” only accepted when it is both sincere and must love good for others just as he likes a true Muslim is achieved by loving like envy, spite, selfi shness, stinginess the action is good, corrupt, acceptable, [Qur’an 2: 272] correct. It is sincere when it is for the to attain it himself, whether it is to be for people what you love for yourself”. and other dispraised qualities which he rejected, rewarded, or not rewarded Regarding the second meaning of sake of Allah, and correct when it is done blessed with bounty or relieved from an [At-Tirmithi] would hate people to use when dealing according to the intention. Therefore, intention, there are numerous examples according to the teachings of Islam. agony; this is the path towards a perfect Indeed, we have the best example with him. this statement informs us of the Islamic from the ‘Sunnah’ and the statements of level of belief in one’s heart. in our Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa ruling concerning this: the correct- the ‘Salaf’. To mention a few: Article source: http://www.islamweb. If we ponder the above narration, we sallam. Once the Prophet advised Abu Article source: http://www.islamweb. ness or incorrectness of the action is The Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa net/emainpage/ fi nd that accomplishing such a state Thar, may Allah be pleased with him: net/emainpage/ Gulf Times 10 Friday, January 1, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka No half measures and Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar yes, mind the gap! [email protected] 44350478 (News), UK approval for 44466404 (Sport), AstraZeneca vaccine 44466636 (Home delivery) raises more questions 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes By Alistair Smout twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar London

ritish health offi cials greenlighted the AstraZeneca and Oxford Covid-19 shot on GULF TIMES BWednesday but also rebuff ed one of their central claims: that a half- dose followed by a standard dose off ered more protection against infection. The reassessment of the best A diffi cult but not dosing regimen for the vaccine was an unexpected move by Britain’s medicines regulator based on its own analysis of as-yet-unpublished data and it raised necessarily ‘hard’ fresh questions about the effi cacy of a vaccine which has yet to be approved in other countries. Though cheaper and easier to Brexit deal distribute than rival shots, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been plagued with uncertainty about its A down-to-the-wire deal between the European Union and most eff ective dosage ever since data the United Kingdom averted a “hard Brexit.” But that doesn’t published last month showed a half- mean it won’t be a diffi cult transition. dose followed by a full dose had a 90% British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street in central London on On Monday, the British government warned of “bumpy mo- success rate while two full shots were Wednesday to give an update on the coronavirus pandemic. Britain become the first country in the world to approve AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s low-cost Covid vaccine, raising hopes it will help tackle rising cases and ease pressure on ments” beginning yesterday night, when the accord took eff ect. 62% eff ective. Oxford researchers said that the more creaking health services. (AFP) Bumpy could be a British understatement describing the four successful outcome was an “intriguing years since voters surprised pollsters and politicians by passing result” that merited further testing. said: “It is for the O Higher eff icacy of low-dose fi rst country be publishing their assessment report. the plebiscite by a narrow margin. A Reuters investigation, however, regulators to authorise to approve its There are diff erent groups within the regime not accepted by regulator That vote sparked a volatile political period that saw two Tory found that the existence of the low- how the vaccine rollout, with trial, we’ve had diff erent intervals O Approval comes with new twist prime ministers – David Cameron and Theresa May – lose their dose/standard-dose arm was the result should be used.” second doses due between the doses, and diff erent dose posts, and for much of the economic and political world to lose of a potency miscalculation by Oxford “Factors they in the riddle of best dose regime from this week. levels as you say, and that makes the researchers, casting doubt on the will have taken into O Pfi zer sounded analysis somewhat complicated,” she some confi dence in Britain’s ability to protect its economy at Regulators say gap between robustness of the result. account include doses could be key to higher eff icacy cautious on said. home and project its values abroad. Munir Pirmohamed, chair of a British the comparable the prospect “The MHRA has done their own O Off icials cite data that is not in After initial Brexit bumbling, current Prime Minister Boris advisory group on Covid-19 vaccines, immunogenic of shifting the analysis, and they’re very confi dent to Johnson deserves credit for delivering on his pledge to “get validated those doubts on Wednesday response after two the public domain schedule of its now licence the vaccine for emergency Brexit done.” But it comes at an economic and political cost. saying the 90% effi cacy rate did not doses with either second dose, use.” Domestically, Brexit may pare Britain’s GDP by about 4%. (This hold up under analysis. regimen, as is the noting it had Oxford did not respond to a request for Instead, Pirmohamed said a higher protection against severe disease not been evaluated on diff erent dosing comment following the MHRA briefi ng. matters stateside, too: In 2019, for example, the UK was Minne- success rate may be due to a longer gap (100%),” he said. schedules. Regulators in other countries have sota’s ninth-largest export market, with $556 million in goods between the administration of the fi rst “We believe we have got the best “There are no data to demonstrate that taken a more cautious approach than sold annually.) and second shots. vaccination strategy approved by the protection after the fi rst dose is sustained Britain and the diff erent effi cacy rates And the GDP losses “The low dose/standard dose MHRA.” after 21 days,” it said in a statement, cited by the MHRA as well as its new may not be just on a regimen, although it has been quoted adding that the implementation of recommendations on the timing of Avoiding the worst balance sheet, but on to have an effi cacy of 90%, this is A ‘winning formula’ alternative schedules should be closely second doses prompted scientists to call confounded by the fact that the interval Faced with a record surge in infections monitored. for the details underpinning its approval is about the best a the balance of global between the fi rst and second dose was driven by a highly contagious variant of “While decisions on alternative dosing to be released. power if the United quite long,” Pirmohamed told a news the virus, Britain is prioritising getting a regimens reside with health authorities, “More needs to be known because weary world can Kingdom disunites conference. fi rst dose of a vaccine to as many people Pfi zer believes it is critical... to ensure many points about these decisions internally just as it “And we feel that that result may be as possible over giving second doses. each recipient is aff orded the maximum remain unclear. MHRA and JCVI hope for in 2021 disunited from the EU. related to that interval, rather than the Delaying the distribution of second shots possible protection, which means promised to provide more information Secession stirrings have arisen again in Scotland. While that dose itself,” he said. would help stretch the supply. immunisation with two doses of the urgently,” said Saad Shakir, Director The UK’s Covid-19 vaccine chair, Wei Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare vaccine.” of the Drug Safety Research Unit near would require a referendum, Scots did vote to remain in the EU Shen Lim, said a single dose of Oxford/ Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot Southampton. in 2016, and polls indicate that sentiment has only strengthened AstraZeneca’s vaccine was around 70% recommended an interval of between was quoted in Britain’s Sunday Times Jeremy Farrar, director of health – just as it has across the country. eff ective from 21 days until a second 4-12 weeks between doses of the newspaper saying that his fi rm had a research foundation Wellcome, said a new A recent high of 51% of respondents in a November 12 YouGov dose was given. AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine and also “winning formula” to rival the effi cacy trial might be needed to give clearer data poll that they thought Brexit was a wrong decision. Only 38% Pirmohamed said that leaving the updated its guidance for a second dose rates of around 95% shown by vaccines on the best timing of a second dose. said it was the right one, which is perhaps a direct refl ection of three month gap rather than a one of the Pfi zer-BioNTech shot saying developed by Pfi zer and Moderna. He “We will also need to continue tracking month gap between doses could lift the it could be administered within 12 said he could not say more pending and improving our understanding of how the false promises it was sold on. success rate of the AstraZeneca/Oxford weeks, rather than the 21 days originally publication of new data. long the protection lasts and whether they Another domestic fault line is Northern Ireland. It’s good vaccine to 80%. recommended. Speaking to Sky News, Oxford vaccine can prevent transmission,” he said. news that the Good Friday Agreement that tamped down After British health offi cials disclosed Hundreds of thousands of Britons developer Sarah Gilbert said there had “This would be best achieved by a the violent sectarianism known as “The Troubles” won’t be the new details about the effi cacy of the have already received their fi rst dose of been transparency in the process. randomised trial on the timing of the jeopardised by a hard border between Ireland and Northern vaccine, an AstraZeneca spokesman the Pfi zer vaccine after the UK was the “The MHRA have said that they will second dose.” – Reuters Ireland. Such an outcome could have resulted in a deep rift with the incoming Biden administration, which will look to repair relationships with allies alienated by President Donald Trump. Then-candidate Trump blithely called himself “Mr. Brexit” even though the UK-EU dissolution could weaken Western How does AstraZeneca’s vaccine political unity, too. President-elect Joe Biden believes that a unifi ed US-Euro- pean front would be a more eff ective fulcrum to collectively address challenges that have gone mostly unchecked by a disu- compare with Pfi zer-BioNTech? nited, Covid-distracted world. Although Brexit increases the diffi culty of realigning allies, it doesn’t mean that the US and UK cannot continue their “special By John Miller in its clinical trial accidentally got the mRNA vaccine from Pfi zer and its out a review for a conditional market relationship.” Indeed the threats from nation-states, transna- Zurich diff erent doses. German partner, BioNTech, and has approval, rather than the UK’s speedier tional actors and challenges such as climate change make that Those who received a half dose of the already been produced by the millions emergency use approval. vaccine, followed by a full dose, were of doses. India’s drug regulator is also kind of co-operation even more important. ritain has become the fi rst shown to have 90% protection, the It can be kept in a standard discussing emergency approval of the This could include a US-UK free-trade agreement that country to approve Astra- company said initially, while two full refrigerator for six months. AstraZeneca vaccine, being made in Johnson and Trump favoured. But it should not be expedited or Zeneca and Oxford University’s doses off ered only 62% protection. It’s also cheaper to make, bringing partnership with the Serum Institute of done at the expense of closer trade ties between the US and EU, Bhome-grown UK Covid-19 vac- Now, however, the MHRA said the hope to developing countries largely left India. especially considering the scale of the EU economy and the es- cine, adding an easy-to-manage shot half-dose regimen’s results were not out of the early vaccine haul. sential (if not “special”) relationships with the continent’s most to the arsenal of a nation desperate for borne out in analysis. Who will get which vaccine? pandemic relief. “It’s all much more confusing Now that the UK has approved England’s National Health Service consequential countries like Germany and France. Even so, scientists – and regulators because mistakes have been made, the vaccine, will other governments will not give people a choice of vaccine. The last-minute accord may not be a Brexit breakthrough, but in Europe, following the Brexit divorce genuinely,” one European Medicines follow? But with several now available, it wasn’t a breakdown, either. And that’s a “greater symbol of – are sceptical, given confusion over Agency (EMA) offi cial told Reuters. When Britain signed off on Pfi zer/ countries need to decide who should cohesiveness of the West,” Julia Friedlander, deputy director of trial results earlier that left experts “Mistakes that resulted in clinical BioNTech’s vaccine in early December, get which vaccine, as some people may the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center told an editorial questioning the robustness of the data. data that was much more complex to that pressured regulators elsewhere, prefer the shots with higher effi cacy. writer. “Its messaging to global challengers,” Friedlander added, interpret than Moderna’s and Pfi zer’s. and the United States and Europe Experts said the diff erences between How does the Astrazeneca shot’s And on top of that the effi cacy is lower.” followed in short order. the effi cacy rates are signifi cant, “is that Western democracies haven’t tied themselves in knots effi cacy stack up to others? Moderna’s similar mRNA vaccine has prompting tough choices. so completely that they’ve gone toward self-destruction.” The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine’s What are the other diff erences? also received US approval. “In countries where both the mRNA That apt description is far from the lofty premise and prom- overall effi cacy in preventing Technology, price and storage. Britain’s move now to back and the AstraZeneca vaccines would be ise of Brexit. But it’s better than the chaos a crash from the EU symptomatic infections was 70.4%, The AstraZeneca shot is a “viral AstraZeneca’s shot prioritises getting available, whom do you decide to give would have caused, and avoiding the worst is about the best a compared with the 95% effi cacy of the vector vaccine”, where a specially as many people inoculated quickly, the less eff ective vaccine?” Siegrist said. weary world can hope for in 2021. – Tribune News Service shot from Pfi zer/BioNTech, the other engineered virus that normally causes before all the answers about effi cacy and Thomas Mertens, head of STIKO, vaccine approved in Britain. chimpanzees to get the common cold optimal dosing are in. Germany’s expert panel on vaccine Single-dose effi cacy was pegged at delivers genetic instructions to human Absent safety concerns, British use, told Reuters that his group plans to 52.7%, Britain said on Wednesday, in cells to make the spike protein jutting regulators may be making a trade-off address this issue “in the near future” as To Advertise guidance to health workers, though out from the new coronavirus’s surface. between waiting for perfection and it hopes to tailor a strategy that makes a UK medical adviser also said that The Pfi zer/BioNTech and Moderna making do with what they have. the biggest impact with limited supplies. [email protected] one AstraZeneca dose should be 70% vaccines use a new technology which “A swift emergency approval implies Some experts, however, said that Display eff ective after three weeks. packs messenger RNA (mRNA) inside taking the risks of a lower (or) shorter choice may be a luxury countries cannot The UK regulator recommends a tiny fat droplets to instruct cells to make effi cacy than may be reached with aff ord. 44466621 44418811 booster shot four to 12 weeks after the the spike protein. mRNA vaccines,” said Claire-Anne “At this juncture, we don’t have fi rst dose, because up to 80% effi cacy AstraZeneca pledged the vaccine Siegrist, vaccinology and immunology vaccine in suffi cient quantities to reach Classified was reached with a three-month would cost just a few dollars per dose head at Geneva’s University Hospitals. all those who need it,” said Thomas 44466609 44418811 interval between shots, an offi cial and be sold without making a profi t, While an EMA offi cial said this week Klimkait, a University of Basel professor involved in the approval decision by whereas Pfi zer’s vaccine costs $18.40- the shot is unlikely to be approved and researcher who is working on a Swiss Subscription the Medicines and Healthcare products $19.50 per dose. before the end of January, a top German Sars-CoV-2 vaccine project. Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said. A separate mRNA vaccine from vaccine offi cial said on Wednesday he “I would say at this moment that every [email protected] Confusion over effi cacy emerged Moderna, approved in the United States, still expected a “quick decision” by vaccine with relatively good effi cacy – after interim late-stage trial results costs up to $37. Europe since its rolling review process is that means, at least 60 or 70% – should announced in late November when The AstraZeneca shot doesn’t require well advanced. be put to use, when it has an appropriate © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved AstraZeneca acknowledged that people deep freezing at minus 70 degrees like The EU drug watchdog is carrying safety profi le.” – Reuters Gulf Times Friday, January 1, 2021 11 PAKISTAN

Former FBR boss quit due Covid vaccination centres to ‘mafi a’ pressures to be set up across nation

Internews Pakistan pre-orders 1.2mn Covid-19 vaccine doses from China As stated earlier by the NCOC, 76,968 have returned since onset of outbreak cine, our goal is to deliver the Karachi only frontline health workers vaccine in the fi rst quarter of Reuters/Internews didate, developed by the Wuhan would be inoculated in the initial A parliamentary panel has been informed that 76,968 Pakistani workers January.” Islamabad Institute of Biological Products, phases of vaccination campaign, had returned since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. China approved the vaccine ormer Federal Board of which is also currently in phase followed by people above the The 12th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on developed by an affi liate of Si- Revenue (FBR) chairperson III trials. age of 65 in the second phase, as Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP and HRD) nopharm yesterday, its fi rst ap- FShabbar Zaidi has tweeted ollowing a cabinet com- Pakistan earlier this month both the groups are at a higher was held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Fayyazud Din. proved shot for general public that he left the tax agency due to mittee decision to pre- approved $150mn to buy Cov- risk of contracting the corona- The committee confirmed the minutes of its 11th meeting held on No- use. “pressures from disguised ma- Fbook over 1mn doses of the id-19 vaccines, initially to cover virus. vember 12, unanimously. Pakistan, a country of 220mn, fi a”, among other reasons. coronavirus vaccine from Chi- the most vulnerable 5% of the During the third phase, health The committee was informed that out of the 76,968 workers who had is in the midst of another spate Taking to Twitter, he spoke nese state company Sinopharm, population, but did not an- workers and individuals be- returned, 29,419 were working in the UAE, and 34,731 in Saudi Arabia. of infections, with 58 deaths on about his appearance on a talk- a special session of the National nounce which one it would pro- tween the ages of 60 and 64 Wednesday taking its death toll show, where he shared his expe- Command and Operation Cen- cure, saying that it could tap years would be vaccinated. past 10,000. rience of running the tax regula- tre (NCOC) was told yesterday more than one source. Moreover, the forum was told (CNIC) numbers. Nauman Zakria attended the It also reported 2,475 new tory authority. that vaccine administration cells “If the private sector wants to that the NCOC, in collaboration The immunisation mecha- session. infections, taking the total to “Glad to see politico social would be established in all dis- import any other internation- with the ministry of national nism will be intimated to citi- Adviser to the Prime Minister 479,715. awareness in the masses. Just trict and tehsil headquarter hos- ally-approved vaccine, it can,” health services, the National zens shortly. on Commerce and Investment Pakistan is currently run- shared some thoughts on Dunya pitals, as well as regional health Hussain said yesterday. Database and Registration Au- The NIMS will be made avail- Abdul Razak Dawood joined the ning phase III clinical trials for Kamran Khan Key Sath yesterday centres, to ensure that immuni- Yesterday’s NCOC session, thority (Nadra), and the Na- able by mid-January. session via video link. CanSino Biologics’ vaccine can- night. sation is carried out at the grass- organised to discuss the national tional Information Technology NCOC national co-ordinator The special cabinet commit- didate, Ad5-nCoV, led by the “Public listened, that is roots level. vaccine strategy, was informed Board (NITB), had developed the Lieutenant-General Hamood Uz tee made the decision to pre- government-run National Insti- enough. I left FBR, pressures The coronavirus causes the that master trainers would be National Immunisation Man- Zaman Khan briefed the session book the vaccine doses from tute of Health. from disguised mafi a, hypocrisy Covid-19 respiratory disease. imparted knowledge about the agement System (NIMS) – an on national vaccine strategy, in Chinese state-owned company Hassan Abbas of AJ Pharma, of so-called intelligentsia. Earlier, Pakistan’s Minister for inoculation process; they would online portal that would serve line with decisions taken by the Sinopharm after the latter an- CanSino’s local representative, “Imran Khan on right path. Science and Technology Chaud- in turn instruct healthcare as the “brain” of the vaccination NCOC. nounced that its Covid-19 vac- told Reuters on Wednesday that With him,” he tweeted. hry Fawad Hussain said on Twit- workers on administering the process. Special Assistant to the Prime cine was 79.3% eff ective, amid recruitment for the trial will be In another tweet, he urged ter: “The Cabinet Committee vaccine. The cabinet committee that Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr reports that the death toll from completed in 10 days. Prime Minister Imran Khan to has decided to initially purchase The training sessions for took the decision to pre-book Faisal Sultan, Federal Minis- Covid-19 surpassed the 10,000 “Preliminary results will be “re-examine” the government’s 1.2mn doses of the vaccine from master trainers will be held in doses of the coronavirus vac- ter for Economic Aff airs Divi- mark in Pakistan. shared 4-5 days after recruit- decision to move the Pakistan the Chinese company Sinop- all provinces and in the federal cine had also elaborated on the sion Khusroo Bakhtiyar, SAPM The cabinet committee de- ment is completed, and these International Airlines’ (PIA) harm, which will be provided capital. NIMS, stating: “The NIMS [will] on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania cision, however, is contingent will include the effi cacy of the headquarters from Karachi to Is- free of cost to frontline workers NCOC director-general (Op- ensure effi cient supply chain Nishtar, National Disaster Man- upon emergency use approval by vaccine,” Abbas said, adding lamabad. in the fi rst quarter of 2021.” erations and Planning) Major- management and administra- agement Authority (NDMA) the Drug Regulatory Authority that thus far there have been no “Having been directly associ- He told Reuters that the pur- General Asif Mehmood Goraya tion of Covid-19 vaccine. chairperson Lieutenant-General of Pakistan (Drap). serious side eff ects. ated with the company for over chase would be of the vaccine assured the participants of the The system will enable auto- Akhtar Nawaz Satti, Pakistan Federal Minister for Plan- AJ Pharma is one of fi ve com- 30 years. I do not see cogent rea- candidate developed by Sinop- meeting that all eff orts would mated phase-wise registration Army Surgeon-General Lieu- ning Asad Umar said in a state- panies that have applied for a son. Imran Khan Sahib is sug- harm’s Beijing Institute of Bio- be made to facilitate federating of citizens for vaccine through tenant-General Nigar Johar, and ment issued on social media licence to distribute the vaccine gested to re-examine,” he wrote. logical Products. units in carrying out a smooth SMS/Internet, based on com- Military Operations director- on Wednesday: “As soon as the in Pakistan once approved, he The former FBR chief made Sinopharm has another can- vaccination process. puterised national identity card general (DGMO) Major-General DRAP experts approve the vac- added. headlines a couple of days ago when he revealed that Pakistanis are keeping $150bn in overseas bank accounts and are earning peanuts in the wake of lower in- Welcoming 2021 terest rates. Ex-minister Zaidi made this startling dis- closure during a webinar on Tuesday. remanded He had said that the time has come for these businessmen to think about bringing back the until huge sum of money to Pakistan. Zaidi recalled his meeting with renowned Pakistani busi- January 13 nessmen, in which he named the Pakistanis who had stored mon- ey in dollars abroad in countries Internews like Malta. Lahore

akistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Pand former defence min- 26 arrested ister Khawaja Asif has been re- manded in National Account- ability Bureau (NAB) custody by over attack an accountability court in La- hore till January 13, local media reported. on temple He has been accused of accu- mulating assets more than his sources of income. AFP/Internews As per details, the NAB Karak/Peshawar prosecutor told the court that Asif owns total assets worth Rs810mn. t least two dozen people, There is a diff erence of including several Mus- Rs230mn between the assets he Alim clerics, were detained owns and his sources of income. yesterday after a mob attacked Asif has denied the charges. and set fi re to a Hindu temple in The court had approved the northwest Pakistan, police said. remand till January 14. The attack took place in the The date was changed on the aftermath of the Hindu commu- request of Asif’s lawyer, Najamul nity receiving permission from Hassan. the local authorities to renovate He said that Asif has another the temple, and according to hearing on January 14 at a Gu- witnesses, the mob was led by a Men are seen on a Karachi beach during the last sunset of 2020. jranwala court. local cleric and supporters of the country’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party. The temple is located in a re- Pakistan and China sign $100mn mote village in Karak district, some 160km southeast of Pe- deal to repair National Highway shawar. High Court issues notices to “We have arrested 26 people Pakistan and China have signed a grant agreement of $100mn to including local clerics for de- repair National Highway-5. stroying a place of worship and The signing ceremony was held at Economic Aff airs Division in inciting people to riot,” local po- Islamabad yesterday. lice offi cial Fazal Sher told AFP. Minister for Economic Aff airs Makhdoom Khusro Bukhtiar and authorities over Pearl case He added police were looking Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong were also present on for a further 50 people identifi ed the occasion. from videos of the attack. Under the project, 66km in four parts of the National Highway Internews The court issued notices to It commuted Saeed Sheikh’s that Saeed Sheikh cannot be “These people have brought between Hala, district Matiari and Moro, and district Naushahro Karachi the chief secretary, additional death sentence to seven years’ kept under “any sort of deten- a bad name to our area and tar- Feroze will be repaired. chief secretary over the con- imprisonment, and fi ned him tion” and declared the Sindh nished the image of the state,” Speaking on the occasion, Bukhtiar said that this project will tempt petition, and summoned Rs2,000,000. government’s detention notifi - one local resident, Ameen Pash- increase connectivity between the North and South. he Sindh High Court reply from them and the jail of- Saeed Sheikh has already cations “null and void”. teen, told AFP. He thanked China for supporting Pakistan for completion of the N-5 (SHC) has issued notices fi cials on January 7. spent 18 years in prison on death American journalist Daniel Minister for Religious Aff airs project, helping in the fight against the coronavirus, and aiding the Tto the Sindh chief secre- “Why the accused were not row, and his seven-year sen- Pearl disappeared on January 23, Noorul Haq Qadri called the at- fight against the locust swarm. tary and others in a contempt released over the court orders,” tence for kidnapping was count- 2002, in Karachi. tack on the temple “a conspiracy petition over detention of the the bench asked the Sindh ad- ed as time served. A videotape received by US against sectarian harmony”, accused in the Daniel Pearl mur- vocate-general. According to the law, the gov- diplomats in February 2002 adding that attacks on places of der case, local media reported “Issue a notice, we will sub- ernment may issue preventative confi rmed that the 38-year-old worship of minority religious Government working to ensure good yesterday. mit a written reply over the detention of any person accused journalist was dead. groups are not allowed in Is- governance in Balochistan: CM An SHC bench had declared matter,” the advocate-general of terrorism for a period of 90 Authorities later arrested lam and “protection of religious the detention of four accused in replied. days, and it cannot be chal- Saeed Sheikh, a former student freedom of minorities is our reli- Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan says that the case – Ahmed Omer Saeed All the suspects were detained lenged in court. at the London School of Eco- gious, constitutional, moral and the government is moving in the right direction under a Sheikh, Fahad Naseem, Salman under Section 11 EEEE (prevent- The fi rst notifi cation was is- nomics, and three others. national responsibility”. comprehensive strategy to ensure good governance in the Saqib, and Sheikh Adil – as null ative detention for inquiry) of sued the day the men were ac- All four were convicted in July In Karachi, more than 200 province. and void, and ordered their im- the Anti-Terrorism Act. quitted, and the second one 2002. people protested outside the Su- Presiding over a meeting in Quetta to review the performance of mediate release from the jail. The SHC observed that ac- three months after they com- However, in April a court preme Court calling for justice. the Chief Minister Inspection Team, he said that Balochistan is the A contempt of court petition cused have been “rotting” in jail pleted their detention period. overturned the murder convic- “You must respect other peo- first province which signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) was fi led against the provincial for 18 years. Now, the court has ruled that tion of British Pakistan national ple’s religion. We are Pakistanis,” with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to eradicate the chief secretary, jail offi cials and On April 2, 2020, the court the use of the emergency deten- Saeed Sheikh, though it found said Mangla Sharma a Hindu menace of corruption from the province. others over the government’s heard the appeals of the sus- tion powers is not justifi ed in the him guilty of kidnapping Pearl, member of Sindh’s provincial During the meeting, the progress report from 2018 to 2020 was failure to comply with the court pects against their imprison- Daniel Pearl case. and sentenced him to seven assembly. also presented. orders. ment. Moreover, the court has said years. Gulf Times 12 Friday, January 1, 2021 QATAR

The sun sets on 2020

Frames of the last sunset of 2020 from two locations in Doha. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam and Jayan Orma GAC training programme concludes Katara opens Ibn Rayb Cultural Street

QNA Doha

he Cultural Village Foun- dation – Katara opened Tyesterday the Ibn Rayb Cultural Street which is located behind Katara’s amphitheatre, in co-operation with the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Fo- rum. Upon inspecting the pa- vilions of the publishing houses participating in the cultural ini- tiative, Katara General Manager Dr Khaled bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti A training programme on ‘State Protocol and Diplomatic Etiquette’ by the General Authority of said that the Ibn Rayb Cultural Customs (GAC) has concluded. The exercise was jointly organised by the Diplomatic Institute within Street includes wings for librar- the framework of joint co-operation with the GAC. ies and publishing houses. It is not only a cultural street or a marketplace for selling books, but rather an oasis of thought and knowledge, a meet- ing place for cultures and cross- Katara general manager Dr Khaled bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and other dignitaries touring the Ibn Rayb fertilisation of visions, he said, Cultural Street after its opening. expressing his hope that it will attract writers and intellectuals was the fi rst Gulf country to hold and become a permanent meet- a regular book fair since the year ing place for them. He hoped 1975, and its book fair has been that its accompanying activi- an important event in which all ties, which are scheduled to segments of the society interact. take place after the end of the He added the opening of the Ibn Covid-19 pandemic, would con- Rayb Cultural Street in Katara is stitute a destination for writers, an extension of this cultural her- thinkers and culture lovers. itage of the Qatari society. He added that Katara is For his part, Director of the pleased to announce that the Qatari Publishers and Distribu- Ibn Rayb Cultural Street will tors Forum Ibrahim al-Bo- receive visitors until next sum- hashem al-Sayed said that the mer in line with the precaution- aim of the Ibn Rayb Cultural ary measures in place to prevent Street initiative is to promote Covid-19. Cultural pioneers, books and highlight the role of book lovers and those looking Qatari publishers and distribu- for new publications can visit its tors, and it is the fi rst partner- A view of a stall. wings and acquire what they like ship with Katara Publishing of the distinguished titles in lit- House. He added it was preced- tributing 6,000 books to quar- sity Press, and another initiative erature, arts, science and other ed by initiatives launched by the antined people after the pan- targeted the displaced Syrians, subjects. forum before the Covid-19 pan- demic in co-operation with the in co-operation with the Qatar Director of Cultural Aff airs demic which allowed readers to Qatar Red Crescent Society, in Fund for Development and the and Events at Katara Khalid Ab- access 100 books online. addition to other initiatives with Qatar Red Crescent Society, he dul Rahim al-Sayed said Qatar This initiative included dis- the Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- said. Woqod fuel station Mahaseel Festival to conclude tomorrow The Mahaseel Festival at Katara’s southern area, which continues to attract an increasing number opens in Lebsayyer of shoppers, is set to conclude tomorrow and pave the way for the Mahaseel souq every Thursday, atar Fuel (Woqod) yes- sayyer area, and its neighbour- ing director and chief executive Friday, and Saturday until March 31. terday opened Lebsayyer hood. Saad Rashid al-Muhannadi. In a statement, Katara – the Cultural Qpetrol station, taking its “Woqod aspires to expand its Lebsayyer petrol station of- Village said the annual event off ers total to 108, as part of the ongo- petrol station network in the fers round-the-clock services, a wide range of high-quality fresh ing expansion plans to be able to country to meet the rising de- which include Sidra conven- produce from various Qatari farms, serve every area in the country. mand for petroleum products ience store, manual car wash, oil including poultry, milk and dairy, The new petrol sta- and achieve the goal of pro- change and tyre repair, for light among other products. Katara noted tion is spread over an area of viding customers with access vehicles and sale of LPG cylin- that the preventive and precautionary 10,800sqm and has four lanes to best-in-class products and ders “SHAFAF”, in addition to measures against Covid-19, imposed with eight dispensers for light services at their convenience sale of petrol and diesel prod- at Mahaseel, significantly contributed vehicles, which will serve Leb- and comfort,” said its manag- ucts for light vehicles. in ensuring the safety of staff and shoppers since its opening. A number of ambassadors also visited the event, including ambassadors Dr Sisi Abdel Karim (Ivory Coast), Patrick Cornell Ahanda (Kenya), and Kim Chang-mo (South Korea), among others. Katara Public Relations and Communications director Salem al-Marri said that the festival serves as “an ideal marketing platform as it displays the finest crops grown by Qatari farms” sold at reasonable prices. He noted that what distinguishes these Qatari products is they pass through highest quality standards besides from being safe, which entices many consumers. Al-Marri said the huge turnout of shoppers at the festival proved that Katara has succeeded in reaching its goal – to spread the culture of consuming local food and agricultural products. Katara has been constantly receiving requests, whether from farm owners or the public, to extend the crop market.

The new Lebsayyer petrol station.