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FRIDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11668 September 11, 2020 Muharram 23, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief PM reviews progress of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

PM holds phone talk with French Interior Minister HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani held a phone call yesterday with French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. The Prime Minister congratulated Darmanin on his appointment. During the call, they reviewed relations between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them, especially in the security field, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern.

Qatar reports 117,978 Covid-19 recoveries Qatar announced 206 new confirmed HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani listening to a briefing on the A view of Qatar’s first Cable-Stayed Bridge with a length of 1.2km and an integral part of cases of coronavirus in the last progress of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project yesterday, during a site visit. the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. Page 12 24 hours, of which 194 were from community cases and 12 from travellers returning from abroad. The z75% of work completed, project to bring qualitative addition to road network Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also recorded 232 recoveries from the virus By Shafeeq Alingal to the modern road network in Qatar”. The Prime Minister was accom- the southern and northern parts of Doha over Halul Intersection on during the past 24 hours, bringing the Staff Reporter “We continue relying on local ma- panied during the visit by a number without the need to pass through Doha Road and Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection total number recoveries in Qatar to terials and companies for the remain- of senior offi cials and engineers from Expressway and 22 February Street. on Salwa Road. The works will be com- 117,978. Page 2 ing works of this project and all other Ashghal and representatives of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor extends pleted in 2021. E the Prime Minister and Inte- projects.” implementing companies, the Qatar for approximately 25km from Hamad Ashghal has completed more than Ehteraz app status for rior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin The Prime Minister was briefed News Agency reported. International Airport to 87% of the works of the Mesaimeer HKhalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani about the progress of the project, its Earlier this week Ashghal opened Interchange on Doha Expressway. Part Interchange that connects the roads returning passengers yesterday visited the Sabah Al Ahmad advantages, and its integration with the Al Khufoos Street that links Al of the corridor includes upgrading E- of Mesaimeer Interchange, Doha Ex- The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Corridor, the fi rst phase of which is set the network and the Furousiya Street in the west and Sabah Ring, F-Ring, Mesaimeer, Al Bustan, pressway, southern part of Doha Ex- has explained the Ehteraz app status to open soon. project’s landmarks. Al Ahmad Corridor to the east. Bu Erayyen and roads and sec- pressway, Sabah Al Ahmed Corridor, for passengers returning to Qatar After reviewing the work of the pres- It has 32 bridges, including the longest A traffi c signal at Interchange tions of Street. Road and Rawdhat Al from low-risk countries. “Passengers tigious project being implemented by bridge in Qatar at 2.6km, the fi rst Cable- which is also part of Sabah Al Ahmad In addition, Ashghal will enhance Khail Street. arriving from low-risk countries have the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Stayed Bridge with a length of 1.2km, Corridor was opened last month. 12km of local and peripheral roads in- The Mesaimeer Interchange inte- their Ehteraz status set to yellow the Prime Minister tweeted: “We have and nine tunnels, including the long- In June, Ashghal announced 70% tersecting with the Corridor. grates with Sabah Al Ahmad Corri- for the full duration of their seven- completed 75% of Sabah Al Ahmad est and deepest two-way tunnel with a completion of the project and opened a The total road works of the project dor linking Al-Watiyyat Interchange, day home quarantine,” according to Corridor. Today I visited and looked length of 2.1km and depth of 25m. new 900m bridge along Sabah Al Ah- are approximately 37km. The Cable- which is a strategic link between the an infographic issued by the MoPH closely at the progress of works,” add- The project also provides access to the mad Corridor in the Bu Hamour area. Stayed Bridge extends from Mesaimeer southern part of Doha Expressway and through social media yesterday. Such ing, “it will bring a qualitative addition FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums. Once completed, the corridor will link Road to Al Bustan Street and crosses its main highway. individuals must perform a swab test on Day 6 and their Ehteraz status will not turn green until Day 7 after the swab test has been performed PM meets UK defence secretary and a negative result verified, the infographic explains. “Please note that returning passengers cannot have the swab test earlier than Day Police force to don new 6,” it adds. Page 2

Chances of rain this weekend: Met uniforms from Sunday There is chance of rain in the country this weekend, which may be thundery at times, the Qatar Met department By Shafeeq Alingal wear them”, the MoI explained. uniforms is being implemented as part of has said. In a report yesterday, the Staff Reporter The announcement was made during a a comprehensive modernisation process department said the latest weather press conference held at the Police Train- aimed at improving police performance. charts indicate the possibility of ing Institute yesterday. It was attended The uniforms suit the nature of work of local cloud development during the HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin he Ministry of Interior (MoI) has by Brigadier-General Ahmed Jaber al- various MoI departments and also take into weekend, with a chance of scattered Abdulaziz al-Thani yesterday met with UK Secretary of State for Defence announced that police personnel Hamidi, chairman of the Committee for account the public acceptance factor. rain that may be thundery at times in Ben Wallace and his accompanying delegation who are visiting Qatar. Tin the country will start wearing Renewing Police Uniforms, and Major The MoI noted that the new uniforms some areas. Page 3 During the meeting, they reviewed the strategic friendship and co-operation new uniforms from Sunday. Fahad Saeed al-Subaie, director of the were designed to give members of the between the two countries and ways to develop them, especially the joint The newly-introduced police uni- Training Department at Police College police force an appearance befi tting eff orts in security and defence, in addition to discussing the most important forms are approved “based on HE the and a member of the committee. their stature and the nature of tasks as- Qatar welcomes result developments of common interest. Page 2 Minister of Interior’s Decision No. 41 of The ministry said all its employees, in- signed to them. The change process also of inter-Libyan dialogue 2020, issued on July 16, regarding the re- cluding offi cers, non-commissioned of- included “choosing a unifi ed ‘theme’ for Qatar has welcomed the promising newal of police uniforms and specifying fi cers and personnel, will wear the new the police identity to be affi xed to clothes outcomes reached at the end of the the badges of military ranks for offi cers uniforms according to the specifi ed con- and cars”, the offi cial Qatar News Agency inter-Libyan dialogue sessions that and other ranks, their types and how to ditions. It stressed that the renewal of (QNA) added in a report. To Page 12 were held in Bouznika, under the auspices of Morocco. In a statement Afghan peace talks begin yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this was a constructive and important step in the national in Doha tomorrow political path which is a continuation of the path paved by the Skhirat Agreement, and it is no surprise that QNA solve disputes. We will continue our it the Skhirat Agreement was also Doha role to create stability in the region. signed in Morocco. The statement “We are thankful for the work expressed Qatar’s gratitude for the and co-operation of all parties and pioneering role played by Morocco, atar will host Afghan peace international partners involved and and wishes the parties to the inter- negotiations starting tomor- their support in bringing about this Libyan dialogue success in achieving Qrow, the Ministry of Foreign historic moment.” territorial integrity, stability, security Aff airs announced yesterday. AFP adds from Washington: US and prosperity. The ministry said in a statement Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the vitally important direct will travel to Doha for the start of negotiations between diff erent Af- long-delayed peace talks between Wildfi res burn up entire ghan parties represent a step for- the Taliban and Afghan govern- US west coast, 7 dead ward in bringing lasting peace to ment negotiators, President Donald An unprecedented spate of fierce, Afghanistan. Trump announced yesterday. wind-driven wildfires in all US This opportunity is made pos- “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo West Coast states have destroyed sible by agreement signed between will be departing this evening on a thousands of homes and killed at the United States and Taliban in historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the least seven people, state and local Doha earlier this year. beginning of intra-Afghan peace authorities said. In the past 48 hours, Commenting on the announce- negotiations,” Trump told a press three people died from a lightning- ment, HE the Minister of Foreign conference. sparked fire in northern California Aff airs’ Special Envoy for Counter- Earlier, Pompeo welcomed the while three were reported dead in terrorism and Mediation in Confl ict announcement of talks between Oregon and a one-year-old boy died Resolution, Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Afghanistan’s government and as his family tried to escape a blaze al-Qahtani, said: “Qatar has always the Taliban, urging them not to in Washington state, local police placed great value in the power of squander the “historic opportu- reported. Page 7 diplomacy and direct dialogue to re- nity.” To Page 12 Some of the police uniforms on display. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times 2 Friday, September 11, 2020 QATAR

Qatar-UK defence ties reviewed Tunisian PM meets attorney-general High school exam results announced

QNA Doha

he Ministry of Education and Higher Education Tannounced the results of the second round of the General Secondary Certifi cate tests for HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed the 2019/2020 academic year, al-Attiyah yesterday met the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom Ben Wallace, which were approved by HE the who is visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations in the military and Minister of Education and High- defence fields between the two friendly countries, and ways to enhance and develop them. The er Education Dr Mohamed Abdul meeting was attended by a number of senior off icers of the armed forces, and the delegation Wahed Ali al-Hammadi. accompanying the British secretary of state for defence. Prime Minister of Tunisia Hisham El-Mechishi met Qatar’s Attorney-General HE Dr Ali bin Fetais Assistant Undersecretary for al-Marri, who is currently visiting Tunisia. During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues Evaluation Aff airs at the Min- related to combating terrorism, joint action in the field of rule of law, and issues of common istry of Education and Higher concern. The Attorney-General also met Tunisian Minister of Justice Mohamed Busta. The two Education Khalid Abdullah al- sides exchanged views on strengthening judicial and legal co-operation between Qatar and Harqan said that the success rate Tunisia, and exchange of experiences and joint work in this field. The two meetings were attended of 66.84% was recorded in day by Qatar’s ambassador to Tunisia Saad bin Nasser al-Humaidi. schools, 47.42% in adult educa- tion, 50% in the Religious In- Ehteraz app status for stitute Preparatory Secondary school for Boys, and 90% in Qa- tar Technical Secondary School for Boys. The pass rate in the Qa- Qatar sends more aid to Sudan tar Schools of Banking Sciences passengers returning and Secondary Business Admin- istration reached 100%. The Ministry invited students and parents to visit the public services portal to view the results from low-risk countries via the following link: https:// eduservices.edu.gov.qa/Web- Parts/DisplayMarks/#/ he Ministry of Public lers bringing the virus back into oped to help keep residents of It added that the date of is- Health (MoPH) has ex- Qatar and passing it on to other Qatar safe from Covid-19 and suance and printing of the Sec- Tplained the Ehteraz app members of the community.” support the hard work of the ondary School Certifi cate for status for passengers returning It was also recently announced frontline public health teams in successful students will be an- to Qatar from low-risk coun- that a new Ehteraz function is the fi ght against the pandemic. nounced later. tries. set to be introduced in mid-Sep- Answers to common ques- “Passengers arriving from tember to support people under- tions related to Ehteraz can be Qatar condemns low-risk countries have their going home quarantine. found both within the applica- Mogadishu blast Ehteraz status set to yellow for In cases where individuals tion itself and on the Ministry of the full duration of their seven- reside in a location without a Public Health Covid-19 website. Qatar has voiced strong condem- day home quarantine,” accord- ‘blue plate’ listing their national Additionally, people can raise nation and denunciation of the ing to an infographic issued by address, or in cases where they technical issues with the support explosion which took place in the the MoPH through social media choose to quarantine in a loca- team by calling 109, or for more Somali capital, Mogadishu, leaving yesterday. tion diff erent from their primary general Covid-19 queries, the dead and injuries. Such individuals must per- registered residence, they will be support team on 16000 is avail- In a statement yesterday, the form a swab test on Day 6 and able to use the map function to able to answer queries. Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiter- their Ehteraz status will not turn select their quarantine location. Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, On the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar continued to ated the firm position of Qatar on green until Day 7 after the swab Individuals will only have the chair of the Ehteraz Joint Task- support the flood aff ected people of Sudan. The Qatar Fund for Development, in co-ordination with rejecting violence and terrorism test has been performed and a ability to select the home quar- force Committee and Hamad the Standing Committee for Rescue and Relief Works and Humanitarian Aids for Aff licted Areas regardless of motives and reasons. negative result verifi ed, the info- antine location once. After their General Hospital medical direc- in Brotherly and Friendly Countries, sent a new batch of aid amounting to 46 tonnes of medical The statement expressed condo- graphic explains. initial selection, the location will tor, had said recently that with and relief materials, bringing the total aid to 88 tonnes. The aid was transported by a Qatari Amiri lences of Qatar to the families of “Please note that returning be locked for the duration of the Qatar entering Phase 4 of the Air Force aircraft, accompanied by a team from the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group the victims and to the government passengers cannot have the swab quarantine. lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, (Lekhwiya). and people of Somalia, wishing the test earlier than Day 6,” it con- Launched at the end of April, Ehteraz is playing an important injured a speedy recovery. tinues. “This process helps re- Ehteraz is a highly advanced ap- role in keeping Qatar’s popula- duce the risk of returning travel- plication that has been devel- tion safe. Ministry reports 117,978 total Qatar affi rms key role of Covid-19 recoveries in Qatar youth in preventing confl icts he Ministry of Pub- lic Health (MoPH) an- QNA May 29-30, 2021, in co-oper- comes of the fi rst International tional symposium. Tnounced yesterday 206 New York ation with Finland, Colombia, Symposium on Youth Participa- HE Sheikha Alya praised the new confirmed cases of coro- and the Offi ce of the UN Secre- tion in Peace Processes that took recent report of the UN Secre- navirus (Covid-19) during the tary-General’s Envoy on Youth. place in Helsinki in 2019. tary-General and his recom- last 24 hours, of which 194 are atar has affi rmed the HE Sheikha Alya said that the She expressed hope that the mendations that encourage the from community cases and 12 pivotal role of youth in conference seeks to search for a Doha Global Conference would meaningful participation of from travellers returning from Qpreventing confl icts and common ground with the Unit- be a turning point for the youth, youth in peace and security ef- abroad who are subject to quar- building and maintaining peace, ed Nations Department of Po- peace and security agenda, not forts, saying that this is a path antine. and that they are essential part- litical and Peacebuilding Aff airs only by generating political towards a new and comprehen- The MoPH also recorded 232 ners in this, calling on member (DPPA), UN Women, United Na- commitments at the national sive approach for youth to be recoveries from the virus during states to play a major role in fa- tions Development Programme level but also by encouraging engaged in peace and security the past 24 hours, bringing the cilitating youths’ participation (UNDP), United Nations Popu- participation in sustainable and and security eff orts, and a valu- total number of cases recovered and giving them a leadership lation Fund (UNFPA) and the inclusive peace processes for able contribution to a collective in Qatar to 117,978. role in preventing confl icts and United Network of Young Peace- youth, and by opening the door commitment to building and The MoPH issued a statement building peace. builders (UNOY Peacebuilders). for youth to formulate peace sustaining peace and achieving on Covid-19 developments in This came in a statement de- The conference will be sup- processes around the world. the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Qatar, which said that all new livered by HE Qatar’s Permanent ported by the Education Above She also stated that the glo- Sustainable Development. cases have been introduced to Representative to the United All Foundation (EAA), she add- bal conference will present a She affi rmed that Qatar at- isolation and are receiving nec- Nations Ambassador Sheikha ed. report on Qatar’s progress, as taches great importance to the essary healthcare according to Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani HE Sheikha Alya added that young people contribute con- role of youth in prevention of their health status. before the UN Security Council the conference will bring to- structively to formal and infor- many confl icts that it has me- It said measures to tackle Arria-formula meeting on the gether a large number of actors mal peace processes, noting that diated over the years, and that Covid-19 in Qatar have suc- implementation of the Council’s which are actively participat- the report will review progress every mediation carried out by ceeded in flattening the curve resolutions on youth, peace and ing in peace and peace building made in the implementation of the State addressed important and limiting the spread of the security by UN peace operations. processes, pointing out that the the main recommendations of issues related to the aspirations virus and the number of new HE Sheikha Alya expressed conference also builds on the the global policy paper “We Are of youth and their role in build- daily cases and hospital admis- Qatar’s pleasure in hosting the progress made since the adop- Here: An Integrated Approach ing peace, noting Qatar’s track sions is continuing to decline High-Level Global Conference tion of UN Security Council Res- to Youth-Inclusive Peace Proc- record in launching innovative each week. on Comprehensive Peace Paths olution 2250 on Youth, Peace and esses”, which was developed in project initiatives in co-opera- Qatar’s proactive and exten- for Youth, to be held in Doha on Security in 2015 and on the out- conjunction with the interna- tion with youth organisations. sive testing of suspected cases has enabled us to identify a high number of positive cases in the community. cautionary measures, the coun- tect the elderly and those with Qatar has one of the low- try may experience a second chronic medical conditions. Closure on Street est Covid-19 death rates in the wave of the virus and see num- zWhen spending time world. This is a result of: bers increasing. There are al- at home with elderly fam- zVery high quality of care ready signs of this happening ily members or those with provided through the public in other countries around the chronic diseases, people must The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has healthcare sector for Covid-19 world. ensure that they wash their announced a one way closure for six months patients. Now more than ever, people hands regularly, wear a mask from tomorrow (Saturday) on Al Kharaitiyat zQatar’s young population. must be careful and protect the and maintain social and phys- Street in the direction from Al Zaafaraniya zProactive testing to identify most vulnerable. ical distancing. Street to Rawdat Umm Al Salam Street. The cases early. While the restrictions of Cov- Anyone suff ering from Cov- closure in co-ordination with the General zExpanding hospital capac- id-19 are gradually being lifted in id-19 symptoms should either Directorate of Traff ic is to allow infrastructure ity, especially intensive care, to Qatar, it is important for every- contact 16000 helpline or go works within Roads and Infrastructure Project ensure all patients receive the one to play their role in control- directly to one of the follow- in Al Kharaitiyat and – Package 1. medical care they need ling the virus by following pre- ing designated health centres to During the closure, road users will be required zProtecting the elderly and cautionary measures: undergo the necessary checks: to use Service Road as an those with chronic diseases. zAdherence to physical dis- , , alternative route as shown on the map. Even though restrictions are tancing. Umm Slal, or . Ashghal will install road signs advising being lifted, and numbers are zAvoid close contact with This is important as the earlier motorists of the closure and requested all to declining, this does not mean others, crowded places and con- the disease is detected the eas- follow them and abide by the speed limit to that the Covid-19 pandemic fi ned closed spaces where other ier it will be to receive the right ensure safety. is over in Qatar as people con- people congregate. treatment and recover from it. tinue to be admitted with mod- zWearing a face mask. The MoPH has urged the erate to severe Covid-19 symp- zWashing hands regularly. public to visit its website for toms. zMost importantly, it is vi- regular updates and new infor- Unless people follow all pre- tal that people continue to pro- mation. - QNA Gulf Times Friday, September 11, 2020 3 QATAR

Chances Season 12 of Stars of Science of rain premieres this weekend

expected atar Foundation’s (QF) Stars of Sci- to their collective responsibility in fi ghting ence returns to television screens the coronavirus pandemic, the importance Qthis weekend, with a brand-new set of Stars of Science is more evident than ever, this of aspiring Arab innovators ready to present according to a statement yesterday. their technological solutions to the world. Part of QF’s Qatar Science and Tech- From the Gulf to the Middle East all the nology Park, Stars of Science aims to drive weekend, way to North Africa, more than 100 appli- interest in science, innovation, and entre- cants pitched their inventions to the jury preneurship in its viewers – both in an edu- and members of the show’s alumni. cational and entertaining manner. says Met They put their presentation skills to the The TV programme will continue to air test in hopes of earning a place in the selec- until November 6 on seven diff erent chan- tion episode, during which the fi nal eight nels across the region and online through report contestants will be chosen to enter the in- the Stars of Science YouTube channel. The final eight contestants will be chosen to enter the innovation workshop of QF’s Stars of Science (image shows a novation workshop. A full broadcast guide can be viewed at scene filmed before physical distancing measures were introduced due to Covid-19). As communities around the world adhere www.starsofscience.com here is a chance of rain in the country this weekend, Twhich may be thundery at times, the Qatar Met depart- ment has said. In a report yesterday, the de- partment said that the latest weather charts indicate the pos- sibility of local cloud develop- ment during the weekend, with a chance of scattered rain that may Doha Debates amplifi es be thundery at times in some ar- eas. “Local clouds usually form during noon and dissipate be- fore sunset as wind convergence in central areas, involving sea breeze coming from the eastern and western coasts in addition youth voices at UN event to solar heating, cause rising air currents that form thunder- Young activists join ‘Dear lonialism, exploitation of nature storms if enough moisture is World Live’ programme on and of the poor … towards a sys- present,” the Met report ex- global response to Covid-19 tem that promotes nature and plains. at UN75 Youth Plenary promotes equality and justice Thunderstorms are usually and fairness,” Feider said. accompanied by a strong down- n a special edition of Doha The live programme was draft wind for a short period of Debates’ “Dear World Live” transmitted worldwide. time, causing rising dust and Iprogramme, showcased as Doha Debates correspond- low visibility with hail at times, part of the United Nations’s ent Nelufar Hedayat hosted the it adds. 75th anniversary Youth Plenary, 30-minute “Dear World Live” The season locally known as young activists from Brazil, Lux- programme and moderated the Wasmi, in which chances of local embourg, and South Africa have three-hour virtual UN75 Youth rain improve, begins by the mid- discussed lessons learned from UN Secretary-General Antonio Plenary, including the open- dle of October. the world’s fi ght against the Guterres at the opening session. ing session with UN Secretary- The detailed forecast for today novel coronavirus pandemic. General Antonio Guterres, UN says that thundery rain is ex- The coronavirus causes the activist from Luxembourg. General Assembly president pected in some places along with Covid-19 respiratory disease. Oliveira said that the coro- Volkan Bozkir, and the UN sec- sudden strong winds and poor The programme, a production navirus-related sanitary chal- retary-general’s youth envoy, visibility. of (QF)’s Doha lenges in the developing world Jayathma Wickramanayake. The wind speed may go up to Debates, examined the successes are enormous, explaining: “How The recently-concluded fi rst 32 knots in some areas during and failures of world leaders and can you not give access to water season of “Dear World Live” fo- thundershowers, while visibility global institutions in combat- that is treated, but at the same cused on the global response to may drop to 2km or less. ing the pandemic and identifi ed time say that you have to wash the Covid-19 crisis. Misty conditions are likely to changes that must happen in our your hands?” Participants at the Doha Debates ‘Dear World Live’ UN75 Youth Plenary discuss various issues. The second season of the prevail at fi rst, followed by a hot communities and nations, and She said that in some parts of livestreaming programme, de- day and local clouds. throughout the world. the world, “society is still fi lled times, Leseyane said: “A lot of you’re not happy with how your international solutions, saying: buting this fall, will examine There is a possibility of rain, Participants in the programme with ego and individuality”, problems are deeply political, local municipality is function- “This is a global problem, and the struggle for racial equality which may become thundery by were Brazil climate activist Pal- leaving many with a “failed sys- and they are deeply entrenched ing: engage. a global problem needs a global around the world. the afternoon, and there will be oma Costa Oliveira, Obakeng tem” for coping with the pan- in the systems. “Part of engaging is not just solution – it all starts with local “Dear World Live” episodes blowing dust at times. Leseyane (founder of South Af- demic. “So if you’re not happy about voting … it means you spread activists on the ground. livestream on Doha Debates’ The temperature is expected rica’s EdConnect education ini- Urging individuals to play your particular institution, if electoral education.” “We need system-wide trans- Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to range from 30° Celsius to 42C tiative), and Felix Feider, a con- their part in ensuring good lead- you’re not happy with how your Feider called for a combina- formative change to move away channels and at DohaDebates. in Doha today. servationist and environmental ership during these challenging congress is functioning, and if tion of community activism and from a system of decades of co- com/DearWorldLive Abandoned vehicles removal Dedicated cycle stands at Metro stations drive launched at Umm Slal

he Committee for Re- moval of Abandoned TVehicles continues its eff orts to remove abandoned vehicles, with a joint campaign launched yesterday at Umm Slal Municipality. Launched in co-operation with the municipality, the cam- paign is being implemented by the Ministry of Municipal- ity and Environment (MME) in order to ensure environmental protection, better aesthetic am- bience, and cleanliness. According to a statement is- sued by the MME, the cam- paign launch was attended by committee members Mohamed Faraj al-Kubaisi (the assistant director of the Cleaning De- partment), Marzouq Mubarak al-Masifari (the assistant di- The campaign to remove abandoned vehicles was launched in July. rector of the Department of Mechanical Equipment), Lieu- other members of the commit- the framework of the MME’s campaign was launched in July tenant Yusef Fahd al-Ali (of tee. continuous eff orts to reduce in the municipality of Doha, Qatar Rail has provided dedicated stands for bicycles outside Doha Metro stations to facilitate travel to the General Traffi c and Patrols Al-Kubaisi said that the the phenomenon of abandoned followed by , and from the stations. Image courtesy of Qatar Rail Twitter page Department), and Lieutenant campaign will continue for one vehicles. There will be more and Al Thakira, and it covered Al Mohamed Jassim al-Tamimi week, when all abandoned vehi- campaigns, awareness-raising Daayen municipality last week. from the Internal Security Force cles would be removed from the initiatives and alerting car own- He explained that a total of (Lekhwiya), along with offi cials Umm Slal Municipality limits. ers,” he added. 3,500 vehicles have so far been from various departments and “The campaign comes within Al-Masifari said that the removed since July, while a to- tal of 7,500 vehicles have been Checks on removed this year from all mu- nicipalities. meat Al-Ali said the Traffi c De- partment plays an important Al Shamal Municipality, role in the campaign, as it helps represented by the Health the removal process without Control Department of the obstructing traffi c. Municipal Control He urged members of the Department, has carried public to co-operate with the out 771 periodic inspection authorities and the awareness tours on food campaigns to remove aban- establishments, doned vehicles. examining 90,050kg fish Al-Tamimi said that Lekhwi- and 633 butchered animal ya is taking great eff orts in co- carcasses at the operation with the committee to slaughterhouse. Three remove abandoned vehicles. carcasses were completely “Lekhwiya patrols maintain destroyed and eight public security and participate partially destroyed, as they in the campaign with its equip- had been found to be unfit The campaign will continue for one week, when all abandoned vehicles would be removed from the ment to remove such vehicles,” for human consumption. Umm Slal Municipality limits. he added. Gulf Times 4 Friday, September 11, 2020 COMMUNITY Grade-8 student builds corona tracking website

By Mudassir Raja his time at home to develop a provided a lot of information and the website. “The website is just and many more. This allowed me Staff Reporter website tracking coronavirus re- data about the pandemic. I also the interface; the experience of to write effi cient and responsive lated data. Ahmed Jehad Aldeeb, thought that the way diff erent the user. The real challenge is how web apps that are both secure and a 12-year-old student, has come websites had displayed the data you handle the data and the back- reliable.” he ongoing novel coro- up with the website coronavirus- might be boring for the visitors.” end. Aside from this, the API His website also includes a navirus pandemic has live.io Explaining what technolo- consists of over more than 15,000 dashboard; where users can navi- Ahmed Jehad posing with his website in the background. Tbrought many opportuni- Ahmed recently spoke to gies he has used to develop the lines of code. It is designed in gate easily and see the most re- ties along with the challenges. Gulf Times about how he came website, Ahmed said: “Using my a way to retrieve data from 215 cent news and updates. “I also ing YouTube tutorials, reading fi es the user daily and have them The lockdowns and social dis- across the idea of developing a knowledge of Python and Node countries in almost real time.” included an interactive map, pro- documentations and teaching aware of the latest news without tancing phenomenon have given new website. He said: “During Js, I made an API (Application After he fi nished developing viding users with a beautiful and himself how to program. “After having to open the app or visiting extra time to people for doing the lockdown, I decided to use Programming Interface) that the API, Ahmed wanted a way to interesting way to check the latest the major release of my web- a website.” Discussing his other something diff erent than their my passion of programming and scraped coronavirus data off over visualise the data and make it fun updates for all countries. These site, I have decided to work on a future plans, Ahmed said: “I am daily routines. computer science to produce a 215 countries from all continents, for the user to understand. “Us- are just some of the features that coronavirus vaccine API which also thinking about releasing the People with positive outlook useful tool that would help people gathering data like total cases, ing my previous knowledge of make it more unique than exist- tracks how many vaccines are in API and code to the public, so I have been using the available free from around the world and learn active cases, deaths, recovered web development, I decided to ing coronavirus tracking web- development in the world. I am can let other developers use it and time to do something productive more about the current pandem- cases, and more. This data is then use Facebook’s Javascript Library sites.” also trying to experiment making not have to worry about having to and constructive. A Grade-8 stu- ic. When I fi rst started the project saved onto a database as a JSON React JS, and other technologies He was fascinated with what a mobile app that also displays retrieve specifi c data from hun- dent from Doha College has used I did not fi nd any websites that fi le that would provide the data to such as HTML, CSS, Firebase he accomplished by watch- Covid-19 updates, and noti- dreds of countries.”

GU-Q faculty’s work sheds new ACS Doha opens new campus at Al Kheesa

CS International School light on iconic Palestinian poet Doha has opened its doors Ato its landmark new cam- pus in Al Kheesa. Situated off Al ne of the greatest Ara- love his poetry continues to grow. Shamal Road, the state-of-the- bic language poets of the Translating these interviews was art campus continues to remain O20th century, the late a work of love.” well-connected to the existing Palestinian author and cultural Established in 1789 in Wash- ACS Doha community, while also icon Mahmoud Darwish, is the ington, DC, Georgetown Univer- serving the expanding Doha areas focus of a recent book titled Pal- sity is one of the world’s leading including Lusail and The Pearl. estine as Metaphor (Olive Branch academic and research institu- Spanning 60,000 sqm, the Press). tions. Georgetown University in new campus is designed to ac- The book is a collection of in- Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 commodate almost 2,500 stu- terviews that have been trans- in partnership with Qatar Foun- dents and has facilities designed lated into English by Dr Amira dation, seeks to build upon the for inside and outside-the-class- El-Zein, professor at QF world-class reputation of the room learning. partner Georgetown University university through education, It features a FIFA-sized foot- in Qatar (GU-Q), and Dr Carolyn research, and service. ball pitch, an all-weather athletic Forche, professor at Georgetown Inspired by the university’s track, a large multi-purpose in- University in Washington, DC. mission of promoting intellec- door gym and a 25-m swimming Palestine as Metaphor consists moud who expressed his desire tual, ethical, and spiritual under- and learners’ pool. of a series of fi ve interviews orig- that I translate them into English standing, GU-Q aims to advance The school enjoys purpose- inally conducted in Arabic with given my knowledge and fl uency knowledge and provide students designed drama studios, music Mahmoud Darwish before he in French, and based on the fact and the community with a holis- practice rooms, wellness and passed away in 2008, and which that I had already published po- tic educational experience that warrior studios, among other have never appeared in English etry in French, and translated produces global citizens com- amenities. It also supplies well- before. These interviews, ex- several works from Arabic into mitted to the service of human- equipped science laboratories plained Dr El-Zein, reveal a new French at that time.” kind. and libraries dedicated to Lower, understanding of the award- Mahmoud Darwish, she ex- Located in Doha’s Education Middle and High School build- Spanning 60,000 sqm, the new campus is designed to accommodate almost 2,500 students and has winning artist as both a symbol plained, is “a central fi gure in City, GU-Q off ers the same in- ings. facilities designed for inside and outside-the-classroom learning. of the Palestinian experience, modern Arabic poetry. I have al- ternationally recognised Bach- The school is Covid-secure and as an individual. ways strived to relay his message elor of Science in Foreign Service and the spacious surroundings various talents and creative out- “No matter how personal Dar- to the outside world because for degree as Georgetown’s Capitol enable students to maintain ef- lets, to promote their academic wish may occasionally appear in me, every line he wrote sends a Campus in Washington, DC. fective social distance. Kinder- growth. It has enabled us to add his poetry, he remains diffi cult to message. These translations are This unique, interdisciplinary garten, Lower School, Middle even more choices and options to reach. These interviews, on the a humble participation in this di- programme prepares students to School and High School divisions our curriculum for students.” contrary, off er a lively picture of rection.” tackle the most important and enjoy separate entrances and Sponsor of the new school, someone whose life was full of Despite her familiarity with pressing global issues by helping purpose-built facilities, keeping Muhammed Sultan al-Jaber, tribulations, joy, success, love, both the artist and his work, she them develop critical thinking, student groups separate. In Doha Chairman of Al Jaber Group, despair, disruptions, and hope,” added, “It is diffi cult sometimes analytic, and communication since 2011, ACS has a fi ne pedi- whose companies are a lead- she said. to transmit into English the den- skills within an international gree in Qatar and works closely ing provider of construction and Dr El-Zein, an accomplished sity of Darwish’s words. His context. with its three sister schools in the consulting, trading, production, poet, has also focused academic conversation in these interviews GU-Q alumni work in leading UK, with over 50 years’ experi- hospitality and other services in research on the work of Darwish, moves suddenly from the fl uidity local and international organisa- ence and expertise. Qatar, said: “The new ACS Doha a writer she has called a personal of the lyrical to the ambiguity of tions across industries ranging The campus has been designed school is a positive development friend. The book project emerged memory and exile.” from fi nance to energy, educa- by internationally-renowned for ACS, and for education in from this friendship, and sought The eff ort is well worth it, tion, and media. architects Broadway Malyan to Doha. to provide an English language because “Darwish has become The Qatar campus also serves meet ACS’s exacting curriculum “This state-of-the-art cam- version of the interviews which a very well-known fi gure in the as a residency and delivery loca- and community requirements. pus will benefi t the entire school had already been published in West. His poetry is now taught tion for the Executive Master’s in The indoor and outdoor facilities community and I am proud to The indoor and outdoor facilities at the new campus off er extensive France. and researched at American uni- Emergency and Disaster Man- off er extensive academic and ex- have partnered with ACS and to academic and extra-curricular choices and deliver the ACS “The original French copy versities and elsewhere in the agement along with the Execu- tra-curricular choices and deliver have delivered this exciting new trademarked standard of education. was a personal gift from Mah- world. The number of those who tive Master’s in Leadership. the ACS trademarked standard of development as part of its long- education. term vision for Qatar. I believe the diversity of its student body, op ways to enhance its students’ Commenting on the start of this new campus is a benchmark and the individuality of learning academic experience. Currently, the new school year, Robert Cody, in Doha, contributing signifi - styles. it is the only school in the coun- Head of School at ACS, said: “We cantly to the city’s education pro- The move to our landmark new try to be off ering both College are excited to welcome back the vision, and Qatar’s vision.” campus enables us to realise our Board’s Advanced Placement ACS community to our new cam- Tim Cagney, Chief Execu- vision and the future of educa- Programme (AP) as well as the pus. The new ACS Doha campus tive, ACS International Schools, tion in Qatar. By creating envi- International Baccalaureate Ca- embodies the spirit of learning added: “I am immensely grate- ronments that are innovative and reer Related Programme (IBCP), and I know our community will ful to our sponsor, Al Jaber, for nurturing, we can help our stu- allowing students to select ei- embrace the outstanding fa- his commitment and unwavering dents as curious and confi dent ther track better-suited to their cilities at the new school. The support to this ambitious project. learners to pursue their dreams, individual academic aspirations. inspiring atmosphere and ad- Since we opened nine years ago, and get ready for what comes With the establishment of the ditional facilities created by our ACS Doha has distinguished it- next.” new campus, ACS Doha looks new physical environment are self by delivering a rigorous aca- ACS Doha off ers all IB pro- forward to enriching its students’ designed to cater to our students’ demic education that respects grammes and continues to devel- lives.

Habibun Nabi receives ICBF Long Term Service Award

Members of Indian Cultural Centre and guests in a group photo with Mohamad Habibun Nabi, centre in the first row holding the memento.

ICC bids farewell to long-time resident

he president and manag- Habibun has been in Qatar for 24 years ing committee members and in total for 42 years in the Gulf Tof Indian Cultural Cen- tre (ICC) recently bid farewell region including Iraq, Oman and Qatar to Mohamad Habibun Nabi, a long-time resident of Qatar, a plaque of appreciation. Ha- Habib expressed his gratitude who later left for his hometown bibun has been in Qatar for 24 to the Indian ambassador, staff Aligarh. years and in total for 42 years in and offi cers of the embassy, ICC S Xavier Dhanaraj, First Sec- the Gulf region including Iraq, managing committee and the retary Consular & Community Oman and Qatar. He worked as community in general for their Aff airs and Coordinating Offi cer an engineer with Kahramaa in continuous support, motivation of ICC, was the chief guest of Qatar. and appreciation of all his ac- the occasion. He was the general secretary tivities and eff orts. Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) recently honoured Mohamad Habibun Nabi, a prominent community activist, with the ‘ICBF He thanked Habib for his ex- of Indian Sports Centre. He also Manikantan AP, ICC presi- Long Term Community Service Appreciation Award’. The award was handed over to Habib by Hassan Chogule, founder member and past cellent contributions to the held the position of ICC general dent, in his welcome note, recol- president of ICBF, in presence of P N Baburajan, President of ICBF, and the current ICBF committee. Nabi served in the past as vice-presi- Indian community in Qatar secretary in 2008 and served as lected the enormous contribu- dent of ICBF, general secretary of Indian Cultural Centre, and also as general secretary of Indian Sports Centre. and later presented him with head of sports in 2006. tion of Habib to the community. Gulf Times Friday, September 11, 2020 5 COMMUNITY

QNHG members and friends watching birds at Irkaya lagoons – photos supplied QNHG concludes summer season with outdoor trips

By Mudassir Raja the phased lifting of the restric- early in the morning, for the The QNHG recently Staff Reporter tions, the group has planned sunrise, or late in the afternoon, some special outdoor activities for the sunset. It’s a good way to concluded for its members. They took the beat the heat and observe some its special he phenomenon of so- members to diff erent areas of the of the animals in the desert. The Stargazing in the desert during the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. cial distancing following desert to observe the nature at animals are also active when the summer outings Tthe outbreak of the novel the time of sunrise and sunset. temperatures are lower. They programme coronavirus has badly aff ected Thierry Lesales, QNHG chair- spent the rest of the day, hid- the community gatherings and man, said: “Usually, our sea- den in their burrows or under the to discover activities. Diff erent commu- son runs from October to June, shade. the desert and nity groups have, however, been but because of the lockdown in “The desert is full of life. Qa- coming up with new and novel March, we could no longer have tar has some incredible ecosys- heritage sites ideas to keep themselves en- our regular talks and rambles. tems with organisms very well gaged. We were only able to have our adapted to the harsh conditions. to nature. It’s also a very good Qatar Natural History Group talks online, through the Zoom The end of August also marks the stress relieving pastime, and the (QNHG) is one of the oldest platform. We are very grateful to beginning of the bird migrations. temperatures were actually sur- community groups and has been our speakers who have accepted Thousands of birds are passing prisingly very pleasant early in active in the country for over 40 to adapt to the change. Topics through the peninsula, on their the morning and late afternoon. years. included the Covid-19 pandem- way down to their wintering In the desert, we noticed, on With the lockdown starting in ic, the prehistoric population of grounds in Africa. average, 4C diff erence with the March and strict observance of Qatar, reptiles, sea turtles, and “It’s an exciting time to ob- temperatures in the city. It’s do- physical distancing, the group the global climate movement.” serve new visitors, and another able. The sceneries and the col- could not carry out its usual In August, outdoor gatherings opportunity to enjoy the out- ours are just fantastic.” weekly meetings. They, however, were allowed with less than 30 doors. Many of the new visitors The outdoor summer pro- came up with new ideas of hold- people. QNHG took the oppor- can be seen in the public parks, gramme included; a visit to Dahl ing online session on diff erent tunity to invite its members and for instance, the hoopoes, the al Misfr Cave, Purple Island sun- topics related to nature and his- the general public to discover the wagtails, and the warblers,” Thi- rise walk, some Rawdat sunrise tory of Qatar. desert in the heart of the sum- erry noted. and sunset walks, Perseids me- The QNHG recently con- mer. The participants had to re- He added: “We were very teor shower stargazing evening, cluded its special summer out- spect social distancing and wear pleased with the response and a birdwatching trip, and a tour ings programme to discover the face masks. positive feedback. People were of little known forts and aban- desert and heritage sites. With “The outings were scheduled happy to go out and reconnect doned villages. Group members in front of Al Rakayat Fort. SIS celebrates Teachers’ Day

Members of the Students Council at Shantiniketan Indian School (SIS) recently organised a short programme on the theme – ‘Our Teachers Our Heroes’. The students and alumni paid tribute to their mentors on the occasion of the Teachers’ Day. The programme was organised on the Zoom platform and streamed live on YouTube, which was witnessed by teachers, parents and alumni members. The students from all the sections recorded songs and dances to entertain their teachers. A short The students and alumni paid tribute to their mentors on the occasion. video of selfies taken by children with heart-warming messages A short online quiz, specially teachers. Principal Dr Subhash B to the teachers in spite of all the were also played as an expression designed by the Indian Embassy Nair expressed happiness over challenges prevailing in the world of love for their teachers. in Qatar, was also taken by all the the way students paid homage due to Covid-19. This year the mode to mark the day was diff erent but the magnitude and enthusiasm was remarkable. MES observes Teachers’ Day

DPS-MIS students mark Teachers’ Day MES Indian School recently and hard work. K P Abdul Azeez celebrated Teachers’ Day with thanked the teaching fraternity an online colourful ceremony to for having exhibited greater tudents of DPS-Modern The students from nursery to Chief guest Yasir Nainar high- honour and felicitate teachers. K resilience and unwavering Indian School (DPS-MIS) Grade-XII greeted the teachers lighted the vital role of teachers Abdul Karim, President Off iciating determination to adapt quickly Srecently celebrated Teach- with their selfi es carrying an ap- in the lives of students. Asna Na- MES Governing Board, was the to the new normal. Principal ers’ Day with online presenta- preciation message. fees lauded the teachers for their chief guest and P K Mohamed, Hameeda Kadar urged the tions as a mark of their appre- A virtual meeting was also or- quick adaptation to changes from general secretary, and K P Abdul teachers to continue their good ciation and gratitude to all the ganised in order to acknowledge offl ine classes to online classes. Azeez, director academic, were work for the benefit of the student educators for their commitment the contribution of nation build- She advised them to keep them- the guests of honour for the community in a committed and dedication especially during ers. The occasion was graced selves updated. programme. manner without compromising MES celebrated Teachers’ Day with a colourful ceremony online. these unprecedented times. by Yasir Nainar, vice president She also congratulated Jayan- K Abdul Karim praised teachers on quality. This year the mode was diff er- DPS-MIS; Asna Nafees, DPS- thi Rajagopalan, head of Social for their tireless eff orts and Rajendran S and Cheryl Soans, The recorded rendition of a principal, Girls’ Section; ent but the magnitude and en- MIS principal; Soma Bhatta- Science department, who has recalled their unconditional teacher representatives from the medley of songs, poem recitation, Mohmmed Ilias, vice principal thusiasm was remarkable. charjee, vice principal Senior been selected for ‘Best Teacher support especially in these Boys’ Section and KG Section, skit and dance by the teachers Boys’ Section off iciating; Sumayya The students of Grade-XI and Secondary School; Mary Cruz, Award’ by the Embassy of India, exceptional times of the respectively delivered felicitations added colour to the programme. Nazeer, head of Junior Section; XII conveyed their feelings for vice principal Senior School; Sini Qatar for her invaluable contri- pandemic. P K Mohamed also on the occasion. The services of An online quiz competition Lalitha Srinivas, head of K G the mentors through a poetic Menon, headmistress; and co- bution to the fi eld of education. appreciated the vital role played the teachers, who have worked was conducted for students in section ; Baby Shana, head of audio-visual presentation. The ordinators. It was attended by Soma Bhattacharjee, Mary Cruz by teachers in shaping the with the school for 10, 15, and connection with the day. Academic Inspection; heads of middle school students paid a all the teachers from nursery to and Sini Menon also conveyed destiny of the young world with 20 years, were honoured on the M C Muhammed, director; departments and teachers were musical tribute to the teachers. Grade-XII. their best wishes to all teachers. the utmost diligence, sincerity occasion. Annamma Shammy, vice present on the occasion. Gulf Times 6 Friday, September 11, 2020 COMMUNITY LEISURE/HOROSCOPE

Wordsearch Super Cryptic Clues Adam

Pooch Cafe

BACH BEETHOVEN CHOPIN DUKAS GLUCK HAYDN MAHLER RAVEL VERDI BARBER BIZET COPLAND DVORAK GRIEG HOLST MOZART ROSSINI WAGNER BARTOK BRAHMS DELIUS Across Down ELGAR HANDEL LISZT 1 Fish finally landed by expert 1 Faulty CD — it isn’t clear (8) ORFF SATIE (4) 2 Stuff carried in cold Greek 3 Friend in band is recovering ship (5) (8) 4 Bear witness at cricket Codeword 9 Eve’s tempter repents going match (6) Garfield Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. astray (7) 5 Large bow in tree (5) Squares with the same number in have the same letter 10 Disagreements first 6 Big blaze in plant close to .in. Work out which number represents which letter resolved (5) Waterloo (7) 11 Golf club steward initially 7 Cut good wood (4) does evening work? (5) 8 Monster one found in 12 Hot area crossed by girl in ascendant German city (6) desert (6) 13 Rolled cigar and knitted 14 Good conductor or jacket (8) policeman (6) 15 Page bound to be easily 16 Reason for composing bent (7) Lady of Spain? (6) 17 Catch flipping associate? 19 A Ford Granada Not quite (6) celebration? (6) 18 Religious teacher 21 Warty creature, we hear, beginning to train animal (6) pulled along (5) 20 Move cautiously with small 24 Mad attempt to join Royal loaf (5) Academy? (5) 22 Correspond after start of 25 Machine part for carriage wedding ceremony (5) Bound And Gagged (7) 23 Small group of musicians,

Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles 26 Cast to repeat show (8) not all illustrious (4) 27 Intend to be like Scrooge (4) Solution

Sudoku

Answers Codeword Wordsearch

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 let others’ bad moods get you down, Aries. And don’t feel It’s time to let go of the past and focus only on the future, There’s definitely a downside to home ownership! Much as you it’s your responsibility to cheer them up. Their moodiness is Taurus. A new person may come into your life who can help you love projects, Gemini, the joy is tempered when the chores never their business, not yours. You could be a little bit anxious today, do just that. Communication with close friends and relatives end. While your home is structurally sound, it may need some and allowing yourself to be negatively influenced by others will is highlighted, and you may find yourself spending more time cosmetic enhancement. Try adding plants and flowers indoors. do you no good at all. The general atmosphere will improve in on the phone than usual. Enjoy this day as you anticipate your Outside, a few strategically placed pots can act as attractive focal a few days. brilliant future! points. You can make a diff erence with little eff ort or expense. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

The glass may look half empty, but only at first glance. Keep There are lots of personal and financial issues to resolve today, A rising tide lifts all boats. When someone close experiences a looking at it, or perhaps change the way you look at it, and Leo. You may hear from your bank or see some alarming numbers windfall or especially good luck, Virgo, the ripple eff ect reaches you’ll see that it indeed is half full. You may be experiencing on an ATM receipt. Don’t get upset. Ultimately, these matters will you. Change is in the air. While everything happening is positive, some frustration. Computers could be down, or communication be resolved to your benefit. As for personal matters, you may learn sometimes it feels like it’s going too quickly. You feel a bit off hindered in some way. Don’t get stressed. See this as an ideal some new information about someone you thought you knew balance, with little or no time to adjust. Even windfalls take some time to relax since you can’t get any work done anyway. well. A relationship you once considered close may not be. getting used to. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

It looks as though change is on the horizon at work, Libra. Crazy as it seems, why not plan that trip you’ve been eager to Prosperity is just around the corner, Sagittarius. With it comes You’ve just recently completed some long-term projects and go on, Scorpio? Adventure calls, and although there are a few change. Change in your job, career, or environment figures are being recognised for your eff orts. Perhaps a bonus or obstacles to stop you from answering, you can’t wait to get out prominently today. However this change manifests, it’s bound promotion is in store. Your aff inity for technology and ability to of your rut. There is a great big world out there, and you can’t to be positive. You’re lucky, and you’re about to hit the road to quickly absorb new information makes you a prime candidate wait to make the time to go and see some of it! even greater success. Savour this moment, for you’ll be busy for a new position that’s just opened up. Grab the chance! soon! CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Your world is changing, Capricorn, both internally and Happiness is in the air today, Aquarius. It’s likely that your You’re focused and attentive to detail. Some longstanding externally. You feel a need to broaden your horizons. You may relationship with your loved ones will see a dramatic projects benefit from this sudden spurt of energy and get be contemplating a move to a new neighbourhood or trip to a improvement. Perhaps some flowers will arrive unexpectedly, completed in record time. Children figure prominently in your faraway land. The people in your life will change as a result of or you’ll be paid a sincere compliment. Harmony reigns in life right now, Pisces. Is there one child in particular who needs this. You’re about to embark on a new phase of life, and these the work environment as well. Both people and machines run some extra attention from you? Your love and support mean a new friends will act as able guides. smoothly and eff iciently. lot more than you realise. Gulf Times Friday, September 11, 2020 7 WORLD

DECISION VIOLENCE CRISIS COMMENT OBITURY Senate Democrats block 58 killed in attacks ‘Dire’ water shortages in Duterte aide links Marine’s British actress Rigg slim Covid-19 relief bill in eastern DR Congo S Africa’s Port Elizabeth pardon to vaccine access dies of cancer at 81

Senate Democrats yesterday blocked a Fifty-eight people have been killed in attacks in Residents of South African coastal city Port Eliza- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision British actress Diana Rigg, who came to fame pared-down coronavirus relief package, call- a restive province of eastern DR Congo, local of- beth face water rationing and deliveries by tanker to pardon a US Marine convicted of killing in the cult 1960s TV show The Avengers and ing it “beyond insufficient” to help millions of ficials said yesterday, blaming a notorious militia. after a long drought sapped reservoirs, local authori- a woman nearly six years ago may have enjoyed a distinguished and varied career on suffering Americans and raising the prospect Large numbers of the population have fled follow- ties and the Red Cross said. “The current drought stemmed from his desire to get access to stage and screen from James Bond to Game that no new aid will be approved until after ing the attacks in Irumu, a territory in the province situation and a poor forecast for rain over the next coronavirus vaccines being developed by US of Thrones, died yesterday aged 82. Rigg won November’s presidential election. The bill of Ituri, provincial interior minister Adjio Gidi said. three months has put communities in the Nelson firms, his spokesman said yesterday. “His deci- numerous Emmy, Tony and Bafta awards during in the Republican-led senate fell short on a He blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Mandela metro in a dire situation as water reservoirs sion didn’t surprise me. Why? Because I know her long and prestigious career, equally at home party line procedural vote, 52 to 47. It needed which originated in the 1990s as a Ugandan rebel run dry,” the humanitarian organisation said in a he is upholding the higher national interest”, in classical theatre roles as those in popular TV 60 votes to overcome blocking tactics in group and has been accused of killing hundreds statement yesterday. Water levels at dams around Harry Roque said in a regular news briefing shows. “My mother died peacefully in her sleep the 100-member chamber. The measure is of civilians since DR Congo’s armed forces the Nelson Mandela Bay area that includes industrial when asked to give his “personal take” on the early this morning,” her actress daughter Rachael a dramatic reduction from the $3tn bill that launched a crackdown against them last Novem- hub Port Elizabeth have fallen as low as 20%. With president’s move. Duterte on Monday pardoned Stirling said. “She died of cancer diagnosed the Democratic-led House of Representatives ber. The attacks took place in a heavily forested local government rationing supply, the Red Cross Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who in March, and spent her last months joyfully passed in May but was never taken up by the area called Tshabi, a local resident said, adding has called for water donations to help residents was serving a six- to 10-year sentence for killing reflecting on her extraordinary life. I will miss her Senate. that a number of people were feared kidnapped. through the shortages. Jennifer Laude near a former US base. beyond words.”

Wildfires wreak havoc Britain rejects EU demand to back down over Brexit bill

AFP ever, signalled no retreat. “I London made it perfectly clear to the vice president Sefcovic that we would not be withdrawing this legisla- he UK government yes- tion and he understood that. Of terday defi ed threats from course he regretted it,” Gove said. Tthe European Union of Asked about the mounting legal action over contentious disquiet in Conservative ranks, Brexit legislation, and pushed he said all sides would get a back against a brewing revolt chance to review the bill in par- within its own ranks for violating liament next week, and said it a binding treaty. was “critical” for businesses and The UK bill has further compli- peace in Northern Ireland. cated the messy divorce process as The bill would give British min- Britain unpicks nearly 50 years of isters unilateral powers to regulate European integration, and Euro- trade among England, Scotland, pean Commission vice president Wales and Northern Ireland, once Ashley, 3, and Ethan, 2, look at a burned bicycle after wildfires destroyed a neighbourhood in Bear Creek, Phoenix, Oregon, US, yesterday. Dozens of extreme Maros Sefcovic rushed to London the force of EU law expires after a wind-driven wildfires swept across US West Coast states yesterday, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least seven people, state and local authorities said. to demand clarifi cation. post-Brexit transition period at The bill’s potential implica- the end of this year. tions for Northern Ireland — But under the EU withdrawal which is meant to enjoy a spe- treaty, Britain is meant to liaise cial status after Brexit — also with Brussels on arrangements prompted a threatening remind- for Northern Ireland, which will er from powerful US Demo- have the UK’s only land border crat Nancy Pelosi for London to with the EU, and where 30 years uphold the troubled territory’s of bloodshed ended with a his- peace process. toric peace deal in 1998. Serving MPs and grandees of France told Britain it was “un- Trump rages against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s acceptable” to violate the EU Conservatives, including former treaty, and the pound slumped prime minister John Major and further on currency markets ex-party leader Michael Howard, with businesses growing ever- issued their own sharply worded more alarmed that the corona- reminders that the rule of law virus-hit UK economy could fall was sacrosanct. off a Brexit cliff -edge at the end bombshell book “How can we reproach Russia of this year. or China when their conduct falls Irish Premier Micheal Mar- AFP And then there were the tor of national intelligence, the “He knew how deadly it was,” terday, Trump tweeted that if below internationally accepted tin, who spoke by phone with Washington tweets — dozens fi red in wildly respected Dan Coats, that the Democratic opponent Joe Biden the legendary reporter thought standards, when we are showing Johnson on Wednesday evening, random directions, from extol- president “doesn’t know the said. “He lied to the Ameri- that the quotes were “so bad or such scant regard for our treaty said such an outcome would be ling the “good health” of North diff erence between the truth can people. He knowingly and dangerous, why didn’t he imme- obligations?” Howard told the “gross irresponsibility” on top of resident Donald Trump Korean strongman Kim Jong- and a lie.” willingly lied about the threat diately report them in an eff ort upper chamber House of Lords. the economic havoc infl icted by fl ooded the Fox News un to criticising Woodward and But the segments in which it posed to the country for to save lives?” At the meeting, Sefcovic told Covid-19. Pairwaves and launched a retweeting a fan whose dress Trump candidly discusses months.” “Because he knew they were senior British minister Michael EU offi cials — and Johnson’s Twitter rant yesterday in an at- he admired at a recent election the coronavirus pandemic — Trump usually fi ghts criti- good and proper answers. Calm, Gove that unless the measures opponents at home including in tempt to ride out damage from rally. which has by now killed almost cism by blaming what he calls no panic!” Trump argued. were withdrawn “by the end of the UK’s devolved governments interviews he gave to journalist Trump continued his PR blitz 200,000 Americans — are get- “the fake news” and claiming Quite why Trump would grant the month”, Brussels would con- — have ridiculed Downing Street’s Bob Woodward in the bombshell with another rally in Michigan ting the most attention. that unnamed sources com- Woodward so much access in sider going to court. argument that the treaty was new book Rage. yesterday. Despite openly describing to monly used in White House re- an election year, however, is a The European Commission written “at pace” and contained First there was a late Wednes- Despite the bluster, Trump’s Woodward the scary charac- porting don’t exist. question many in Washington warned that Britain “has seri- unforeseen problems relating to a day night call-in with his friend, taped admission to Woodward teristics of the then unknown But shoot the messen- are asking. ously damaged trust between protocol on Northern Ireland. Fox News personality Sean Han- that he played down the coro- virus, Trump said “I wanted to ger won’t work in the case of The reporter got 18 interviews the EU and the UK”, and scorned But the government published a nity. navirus crisis in public, while always play it down.” Rage. with the president and was en- Downing Street’s contention legal position to spell out its belief Early yesterday, he followed being aware of the unique dan- Trump went on to explain The shocking revelations rely tirely open about them being put that the bill will preserve the that notwithstanding any binding up with a Fox News Radio inter- ger from the disease, has set off that he wanted to avoid caus- mostly on Trump himself and on tape. peace in Northern Ireland. promises to the EU, “parliament is view focused on his nomination alarm bells less than eight weeks ing panic but his acknowledge- Woodward — famous for bring- According to White House “In fact,” the statement said, sovereign as a matter of domestic by a right-wing member of Nor- before election day. ment that he was deliberately ing down Richard Nixon in the press secretary Kayleigh Brussels “is of the view that it law and can pass legislation which way’s parliament for the Nobel Rage is fi lled with startling failing to tell the country the Watergate scandal — has pub- McEnany, Trump went ahead does the opposite”. is in breach of the UK’s treaty ob- Peace Prize, something he called episodes, including the assess- unvarnished truth has started lished recordings. “because he is the most trans- The British government, how- ligations”. “a great thing for our country.” ment by Trump’s then direc- a firestorm. In one dig at Woodward yes- parent president in history.”

7 die in Colombia rioting Huge blaze at Beirut China fl ays Australia for port alarms residents ‘helping reporters fl ee’ AFP na of helping Birtles and Smith Beijing leave the country and “evade Reuters threat to Lebanon’s stability since during repairs at the port. China’s investigation”. Beirut its 1975-1990 civil war. A security source had also “These actions go well beyond “For sure we were scared, it’s blamed welding work for the fi re eijing yesterday accused consular protection,” he said, only been a month since the explo- preceding the August 4 blast. the Australian embassy adding they instead interfere in large fi re erupted at Beirut sion that destroyed Beirut. We saw The Geneva-based Interna- Bof obstructing a probe “China’s internal aff airs and ju- port yesterday, engulfi ng the same thing happening again,” tional Committee of the Red Cross into two foreign journalists who dicial sovereignty.” Aparts of the Lebanese capi- 53-year-old Andre Muarbes said said it had aid in a warehouse that fl ed China, as a row rumbled on The spokesman said Austral- tal in a pall of smoke weeks after a after soot and ash settled on vehi- was on fi re. “Our humanitar- sweeping in reporters from both ian outrage at the treatment of massive blast devastated the port cles and buildings across parts of ian operation risks to be seriously countries. the journalists was an example of and ruined a swathe of the city. the capital. disrupted,” ICRC Middle East di- Two correspondents working a “baffl ing superiority complex”. The blaze began in the shat- Lebanese President Michel rector Frabrizio Carboni wrote on for Australian media, Bill Birtles Citing June 26 raids on the homes tered duty free zone of the port, Aoun told top security offi cials Twitter. and Michael Smith, were hustled of four Chinese state media re- prompting some residents to fl ee meeting that the fi re could have Beirut’s port is used by aid agen- out of China overnight on Mon- porters posted Down Under by the city still traumatised by last been the result of sabotage, tech- cies to supply refugees in Lebanon day under diplomatic protection Australian intelligence offi cers, month’s explosion that had fol- nical error or negligence, and the and people in need in neighbour- fearing arrest. the spokesman said Canberra lowed a port fi re. cause had to be uncovered quickly. ing Syria. Their dramatic fl ight from was guilty of “sheer hypocrisy”. Army helicopters dropped wa- Many Lebanese are frustrated A military source said yester- China was the latest fl are up of China yesterday also accused ter as fi refi ghters battled on the that they have yet to be told about day’s blaze appeared to have start- a protracted squabble between Washington of “political perse- ground to bring the blaze under any initial fi ndings from an inves- ed when cooking oil caught fi re the two countries over trade, se- cution and racial discrimination” control. tigation into last month’s port ex- and spread to stores of tyres. curity and responsibility for the after the US confi rmed it had re- By nightfall, offi cials said most plosion that killed about 190 and Television footage had shown coronavirus. voked the visas of more than 1,000 fl ames had been extinguished. injured 6,000. fl ames licking up near a pile of Both men had been quizzed Chinese students under an order Smoke still rose from the Offi cials said no one had been tyres in a warehouse ruined in last about another Australian citi- by President Donald Trump that smouldering wreckage but it was injured in yesterday’s fi re although month’s explosion. zen — Cheng Lei, who worked accused some of espionage. far less dense. some suff ered shortness of breath. Majed Hassanein, 49, was tak- People look at a burned Transmilenio bus after strong as an anchor for Chinese state Trump declared in May that The blaze strained nerves al- Michel Najjar, public works ing his wife and two children out of protests against police brutality in Bogota, Colombia, TV — detained under mysterious some Chinese nationals offi cially ready on edge. minister in the outgoing govern- the capital by car during the height yesterday. Seven people were killed and hundreds “national security” grounds for in the US for study have stolen The city is reeling from the Au- ment which resigned in the wake of the blaze. “I am forced to get wounded after rioting broke out in the Colombian nearly a month. intellectual property and helped gust 4 port blast and the nation is of the blast, told Lebanon’s MTV them out of Beirut from the smoke capital Bogota following the death of a man repeatedly A Chinese foreign ministry modernise China’s military, as grappling with a deep economic initial indications suggested the and the fi re that is happening at tasered by police, authorities said yesterday. spokesman yesterday accused tensions between the two coun- crisis that has posed the biggest blaze was sparked by welding work the port again,” he said. the Australian embassy in Chi- tries soar on multiple fronts. Gulf Times 8 Friday, September 11, 2020 INDIA

CONTROVERSY DECISION POLITICS COMMENT PEOPLE Facebook urged to Jha to run for Rajya Sabha Speculation grows as AAP not to allow Delhi Harbhajan complains over suspend Ankhi Das deputy chairman post senior leader quits RJD slum demolition non-repayment of loan

Facebook India should immediately place its The opposition has finalised the name of Giving a strong jolt to the Rashtriya Janata Dal The Aam Aadmi Party national spokesperson and The Greater Chennai Police are looking public policy head Ankhi Das on a leave of absence Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha (RJD) ahead of Bihar Assembly elections, senior legislator Raghav Chadha yesterday launched into a complaint filed by former cricketer pending a full audit of the company and an as its joint candidate for the deputy chairman leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh yesterday a vociferous attack against the BJP-led central Harbhajan Singh against a partnership investigation into her statements as reported in post in the Rajya Sabha. Jha will file his quit the party. Currently, he is admitted at the government over alleged serving demolition firm for non-repayment of loan amounting The Wall Street Journal, a coalition of 41 civil rights nomination today. Congress sources said party All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) notices to slum dwellers in Delhi. Chadha alleged to Rs40mn. The issue came to light when groups demanded. In a letter to Facebook CEO leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has also spoken to in New Delhi following some health issues. that the BJP-ruled Centre is issuing notices asking one of the partners of the firm, G Mahesh, Mark Zuckerberg the groups said that “should the like-minded parties, including the Samajwadi Singh has sent a letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad the slum dwellers to vacate their houses by this a realtor, approached the Madras High audit or investigation reinforce the details of The Party. The development comes after the DMK announcing his resignation from the party. month. He said that these notices issued by BJP Court seeking anticipatory bail after he was Wall Street Journal, she should be removed from leadership showed its reluctance to field Addressing Lalu, he wrote: “I kept standing are inhuman, illegal and unconstitutional. He summoned by the police for an enquiry. her role.” A Wall Street Journal report on August Tiruchi Siva as the opposition’s joint candidate. behind you for 32 years after the demise of assured that the Kejriwal government in Delhi On August 26, Harbhajan Singh had filed a 14 said that the top leadership at Facebook’s India The choice of the RJD leader is significant Karpuri Thakur, but not any longer.” Singh would not let a single slum dweller lose his home. complaint that he had loaned Rs40mn in off ice refused to apply the company’s own rules to since the NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan sent a copy of the letter to journalists in Patna. He said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is 2015 to the firm Auraa Mega Investments, politicians from the BJP, despite clear violations of Singh and Manoj Jha are both from Bihar. This Issuing an apology to the people he wrote, making a plan of action for the slum dwellers which was into real estate business. One of Facebook’s policies against incitement to violence, will set the tone for the Assembly elections in “Party, leaders, workers and people gave me and this policy will ensure that no slum dweller’s the cheques issued by the firm towards loan hate speech, and misinformation. Bihar, slated to be held later this year. lots of love. Regrets.” house is demolished. interest bounced. Serum Institute pauses Covid vaccine trials

IANS reaction when administered a New Delhi booster dose of Covishield, a vac- cine candidate developed jointly by pharma giant AstraZeneca and he Serum Institute of India University of Oxford, on Tuesday. (SII), which was conduct- “Serum Institute of India Pvt Ting the India trials for the Ltd, Pune, till now has not in- coronavirus vaccine being devel- formed the central licensing au- oped by Oxford University, yes- thority regarding pausing the terday paused the clinical trials of clinical trial carried out by Astra- the vaccine in India. Zeneca in other countries and also In a statement, the Serum In- not submitted casualty analysis stitute of India said: “We are re- of the reported serious adverse viewing the situation and pausing event with the investigational India trials till AstraZeneca re- vaccine for the continuation of starts the trials. We are following phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the DCGI’s instructions and will not subject vaccine in the country in be able to comment further on light of the safety concerns,” the trials.” notice by DGCI read. The DGCI further asked the institute why the authority does Corona is over, not suspend the permission given claims BJP leader to the SII for the clinical trials of Covishield. In a shocking statement, West “In view of the above, I, Dr V G Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party Somani, Drugs Controller Gen- president Dilip Ghosh has said eral of India and Central Licens- that the coronavirus pandemic ing Authority hereby give you Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (centre), Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (left) and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi pose for a picture during a is over and the Mamata an opportunity to show cause as meeting of the sidelines of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Moscow yesterday. Banerjee-led state government provided under rule 30 of the New is unnecessarily imposing Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, lockdown to stop the saff ron 2019, why the permission granted brigade from holding public to you August 2 shall not be sus- rallies. The state BJP chief pended till patient safety is estab- made this claim at a public rally lished,” the notice further said. in Dhaniakhali area in Hooghly SII is the partner of the Univer- district on Wednesday. The sity of Oxford’s Jenner Institute’s India will not take any steps video clip is now the doing to conduct the vaccine trials. SII rounds on Twitter and other is currently progressing the sec- social media platforms. ond and third phase study of the “Corona is Gone! Mamata vaccine candidate at 17 trial sites Banerjee is acting. She across India. is intentionally imposing Meanwhile, with 3,349 Covid-19 to disturb peace: Rajnath lockdown so that BJP cannot cases reported in Kerala yester- hold meetings and rallies in day, the state was all set to record Bengal,” Ghosh said. 100,000 cases of coronavirus today. AFP/Reuters a strong message for the world terday in a bid to cool tensions It has also embarked on a Meanwhile India and Japan In a statement, State Health Ambala and especially for those who between the world’s two most- $130bn modernisation of its have signed an agreement that Minister K K Shailaja said that at challenge India’s sovereignty,” populous nations. armed forces — including order- will provide their militaries ac- The declaration by the Pune- present there were 26,229 people Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Since the deadly June 15 ing attack helicopters from the cess to each other’s bases for based vaccine manufacturer who were coronavirus positive ndia’s defence minister tweeted, without mentioning clash — which also resulted in US and a missile defence system supplies and services, the Indian came a day after the Drug Control while 72,578 have recovered. yesterday hailed the for- China directly. an unknown number of Chi- from Russia. defence ministry said in a state- General of India (DCGI), V G So- “On Thursday 1,657 recovered Imal commissioning of the “Our country will not take any nese casualties — both sides Manoj Joshi, a defence and ment yesterday. mani, issued a show-cause notice while 40,014 samples were sent for country’s first new French step to disturb peace anywhere. have sent tens of thousands of foreign policy expert at New The two countries have built to them asking for an explanation testing. Thiruvananthapuram dis- Rafale jets as a “strong mes- We expect the same from our extra troops to the mountain- Delhi based think-tank Observer close defence ties in recent as to why the institute decided to trict saw 558 people turning posi- sage” to its adversaries, amid neighbours,” Singh added. ous border, that has never been Research Foundation, said the years, which analysts say are go ahead with the clinical trial of tive. Thirteen deaths were record- an escalating border row with Earlier this week shots were demarcated. new French jets were a “morale part of eff orts to counter the Covid-19 vaccine candidate while ed taking the toll to 396,” Shailaja China. fi red for the fi rst time in 45 years Even before relations with booster for the country’s de- growing weight of China across doubts about patient safety are added. At present 2,04,376 people The fi rst fi ve of a $9.4bn order on the Himalayan border with China nosedived, India was fence forces”. But he cautioned: the region. yet unclear. were under observation at various for 36 Rafale aircraft formally China, after a medieval-style moving strategically closer to “If you are China, you’re not go- “The agreement will also en- The notice was issued in the centres and included 20,248 peo- entered service following a cer- battle in June that saw 20 Indi- the West, deepening security ing to take few Rafales seriously. hance the interoperability be- wake of an incident where one ple in hospitals. emony in Ambala in northern ans killed. co-operation with the US, Japan A handful of planes cannot bog tween the armed forces of India of the participants in the UK re- There were 594 hot spots in India. India and China’s foreign and Australia in the Asia-Pacifi c down a military power like Chi- and Japan,” the defence ministry ported a suspected severe adverse the state. “The induction of Rafale is ministers met in Moscow yes- region. na.” statement said.

Kodiyeri resignation sought Ranaut offi ce demolition as son grilled in drugs probe justifi ed, claims BMC IANS legal works carried out. IANS the gold smuggling and drug deal- was also involved. Mumbai On Wedneday, a division Kochi ing cases and if Bineesh had a role But it was not until the end of bench of the Bombay High Court in the same. August that his name fi rst sur- comprising justice S J Kathawalla Bineesh has denied any role faced when a Kerala youth, Anoop day after the Brihanmum- and justice R I.Chagla took a se- PI-M Kerala state secretary in locating a hiding place for the Mohammed, was detained by the bai Municipal Corpora- rious view of the BMC actions Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s prime accused in the gold smug- Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Ation (BMC) partly demol- and immediately ordered a stay Cson Bineesh Kodiyeri gling case, Swapna Suresh, in Bengaluru. ished the offi ce of Bollywood on the demolition drive at Bun- was questioned by the enforce- Bengaluru. She was arrested along Soon a statement was issued by actress Kangana Ranaut, the galow No 5 in Chetak Row Hous- ment directorate (ED) for over 11 with her business partner by the Bineesh that he and Anoop were civic body yesterday hit out at es in Bandra West. hours at their offi ce here till 10pm NIA in July. friends and he had given the lat- her, saying her hands were not After hearing the two parties, on Wednesday. It now appears Another reason why the ED had ter a Rs600,000 loan and another “clean”, even as the Bombay High the high court ordered that both Bineesh’s travails are far from be- summoned Bineesh was that he Rs15,000 very recently as Anoop Court ordered a ‘status quo’ and sides will maintain a status quo in ing over as he might be summoned has registered a few companies had no money to return home from posted the matter for hearing on the matter and will hear the case again. dealing in fi nancial matters, but Bengaluru. September 22. on September 22 after the BMC State Congress president Mul- has not undertaken the regula- Ramachandran stressed that Filing an affi davit during the urged that Ranaut must not be lapally Ramachandran yesterday tory compliance and these forms Balakrishnan could not simply hearing of Ranaut’s plea chal- permitted to carry out any work on said various national agencies are were recently blacklisted by the wash his hands off the matter as lenging the demolition of Sep- her property till the next hearing. probing the Kerala gold smuggling authorities. his son is now under the scanner of tember 9, the BMC legal team The BMC affi davit also reject- and drug dealing case exposed Yet another reason is the wide various agencies. said the actress had not secured ed Ranaut’s charges, saying she by the Narcotics Control Bureau ranging business connections he “One should not forget that due permissions for the alleged is “trying to obfuscate and cov- in Bengaluru. Balakrishnan has a has and the numerous partnership Bineesh was engaged in all this unauthorised alterations at the er up” her illegal construction moral obligation to quit his post, ventures. while staying with Balakrishnan premises and the work was done works “by making baseless and insisted Ramachandran. When the now controversial and hence the latter cannot wash in complete violation of applica- wild allegations of malafi de, etc”. According to informed sources, gold smuggling case surfaced in his hands off the matter saying he ble rules. The civic body outright de- the ED offi cials had a meeting soon July after the customs first ar- does not know anything. His elder The BMC team which included nied her charges that principles after grilling Bineesh and appeared rested a former public relations son has cases registered against senior counsel Aspiy Chinoy, of natural justice have been vio- not convinced by his replies. officer – P S Sarith – of the UAE him. It is very surprising that senior counsel Anil Sakhare and lated, and with the photos and The ED team, after analysing consulate and the NIA detained though the CPI-M is a cadre-based advocate Joel Carlos, pointed other details the civic body had his replies to their questions, is Swapna, who has links with top party, the rules of the party are not Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut arrives to visit her off ice out that Ranaut had not disputed collected, it said the actress “has likely to ask him to appear before it police officers and bureaucrats, applicable to either Balakrishnan ‘Manikarnika Films’ in Mumbai a day after structures within carrying out the unlawful modi- made false and incorrect state- again. The ED is trying to establish there was speculation in the or Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan,” those premises were demolished under a decision of Bombay fi cations in her writ petition and ments and has not approached if there is a common link between media as to whether Bineesh said Ramachandran. Municipal Corporation. she had no basis to dispute the il- the court with clean hands”. Gulf Times Friday, September 11, 2020 9 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH The authority of the Prophet s the scope of the authority of as a Messenger. So, it is not necessary only made a guess. So, do not cling to theological issues. Allah states in the fall prey to satanic desires leading the wa sallam) upon the believers, in Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu for the ummah to comply with such me in my guess. But when I tell you Holy Qur’an: O those who believe, people toward disaster. particular Chapter 4 Aayat 65 which ‘alaihi wa sallam) limited only directions. something on behalf of Allah, take it respond to the call of Allah and His Furthermore, none who has says: But no, by your Lord! They could Ito the doctrinal aff airs and the A report which is often misquoted firm, because I shall never tell a lie on Messenger when he calls you for studied the Qur’an can endorse that not be believers, until they make you matter of worship, and not to worldly to support the above-mentioned behalf of Allah. Further, According to what gives you life (8:24). its teachings are limited to worship (Muhammad) judge in all disputes aff airs? By some Western circles, the fallacious view is as follows from Imam Anas (radiallahu ‘anhu), the Prophet There are vast fi elds in our day- and rituals only. There are specifi c between them and fi nd in their souls function of the Prophet (sallallaahu Muslim: The blessed Companion Talha (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has to-day worldly aff airs which are not injunctions in the Qur’an about no resistance against your decisions, ‘alaihi wa sallam) is restricted to (radiallahu ‘anhu) says: “I passed along also said on this occasion, You know directly commented upon by the sales, purchase loans, mortgages, but accept them fully with submission. correct the doctrinal beliefs of the with the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi more about your worldly affairs. Qur’an and Sunnah, where people have partnership, penal laws, inheritance, Hence, to accept the fallacy that ummah and to teach them how to wa sallam) across some people who If the ummah was to take the been allowed to proceed according matrimonial relations, political, social the Prophet’s (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa worship Allah. According to them, were on the tips of the palm-trees. The above-mentioned hadith literally, to their needs and expedience on and family aff airs, problems of war sallam) authority does not encompass worldly aff airs are not governed by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) Islam, like some other religions the basis of their knowledge and and peace and other aspects of worldly worldly aff airs, is to denounce the prophetic authority. Nevertheless, the asked, What are they doing? Some would only be restricted to doctrines experience. However, for these worldly relations. Likewise, the Sunnah of second source of Islamic Law, the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu people said, “They are fecundating and rituals, and having no concern aff airs that are not directly addressed the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sunnah. This authority of the Sunnah ‘alaihi wa sallam) is clearly established the tree. They insert the male into the with the day-to-day affairs of the by the Qur’an and Sunnah, the Muslim sallam) also deals with the economic, is based on the revelation the Prophet by the Holy Qur’an for all people and female and the tree stands fecundated”. human life. Once one has observed must align his decision with existing social, political and legal problems in (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) received all times. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa the prescribed doctrines and rituals, principles laid down by both, to ensure such details that voluminous books from Allah. This obedience to the These worldly aff airs include, in sallam) said, I do not think it will be of he is free to run his life in whatever that they are guided Islamically in the have been written to compile them. Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) the view of those who would limit the any use. way he likes, not hindered in any performance of that aff air, and most The injunctions of the Qur’an and the has nowhere been limited to some scope of the Prophet’s authority, all the The people were informed about manner by the divine imperatives. importantly, avoiding the major sin of Sunnah in this fi eld (worldly aff airs) particular fi eld. It is an all-embracing economic, social and political aff airs what the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi However, it is an established fact that committing shirk. are so absolute, imperative, and of obedience which requires total which should be settled according to wa sallam) said. So, they stopped Islam, unlike some other religions For, if Allah and His Messenger mandatory nature that they cannot submission from the believers, having the expediency at each relevant time, this operation. Then the Prophet which can coincide and co-exist with (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) are to call be imagined to be personal advises no exception whatsoever, neither by and the Prophetic authority has no (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was the secular concept of life, is not people towards life, the aff airs of life lacking any legal (divine) reference. limiting its tenure, nor by exempting concern with them. Even if the Holy informed about their withdrawal. On merely a set of doctrines and rituals. must totally be within the jurisdiction Finally, there are numerous verses the worldly aff airs from its scope. Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) this, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi Islam is a complete way of life which of Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu from the Qur’an which enjoin the [Compiled from The Authority of gives some directions in these fi elds, he wa sallam) says, If it is in fact useful deals with the political, economics ‘alaihi wa sallam). Otherwise, vital obedience of Allah and the authority Sunnah, by Justice Muhammad Taqi does so in his private capacity, and not to them, let them do it, because I had and social problems as well as the branches of human life will always of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi Usmani.] Prayer is the life of the heart

he state of a person in prayer hamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-hamd, from committing vices and sins. Thus, depends on his righteousness mil’ as-samawati wa mil’ al-ardh wa we come to realise that the defi ciency and conduct. The more he mil’ ma shi’ta min shay’in ba‘d. Ahla is in the worshipper’s performance and Tperfects his prayer, the better ath-thana’i wal-majd la mani‘a lima his understanding of the prayer and his conditions and conduct are and a‘tayt wa la mu‘tya lima mana‘t wa not in the prayer itself. vice versa. la yanfa‘u thal-jaddi minka al-jadd” In conclusion, we come to know that One may wonder: How? (Allah, the Exalted, hears the one who the prayer includes the following: The prayer is a way of life; it is the praises Him; Our Lord, to You be the Perfect servitude to Allah, the Exalted. highest level of servitude to Allah, the praise, fi lling the heavens, fi lling the Praising Allah, the Exalted, with His Exalted. Earth, and fi lling whatever else You Names and Attributes. Observing khushoo’ (i.e. the state may will, Lord of Glory and Majesty. Disassociation from disbelief and of the heart when it stands before None can withhold what You grant, disbelievers. its Lord in full submission, humility and none can grant what You withhold, Acknowledgment of sins. and absolute concentration) in the nor can the wealth of a wealthy benefi t Reliance on Allah, the Exalted, and prayer is the reason for attaining him before You.” [Al-Bukhari and humility. success in this worldly life and in the Muslim] Proclamation that there is no power Hereafter as well. Allah, the Exalted, Then, the praying person prostrates and strength save by Allah. says (what means): {Successful indeed himself before his Lord. What a great Compliance with the guidance of the are the believers. Those who off er and honorable position it is as the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu `alaihi their prayer with all solemnity and praying person places his forehead wa sallam. full submissiveness} [Qur’an 23:1-2] on the ground, showing submission, Submission, obedience, surrender, The Prophet, sallallaahu `alaihi wa humility, and poverty to his Lord, and humility to Allah Almighty. sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), saying, “Subhana Rabbi Al-A‘la.” (How Testifying that Muhammad, said: “Prayer is the best deed, so perfect is my Lord, the Most High!) sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, is the whoever could pray more, let him do If the Muslim was off ered heaps of Messenger of Allah. so.” [Ahmad, At-Tabarani; Al-Albani: money to prostrate himself before Is this not a way of life for a authentic] He, sallallaahu `alaihi wa other than Allah, the Exalted, he would Muslim, knowing that his Lord and sallam, also said: “... prayer is a light…” never accept it. Prostration serves as God is the Creator of the universe [Muslim] Prayer is a light for the slave a spiritual remedy for the human self and the Disposer of all aff airs? in this worldly life and the Hereafter. from arrogance, blameworthy sense If the person understands the Let us have a quick glance at the bil-ma’i wa ath-thalji wa al-barad.” on Him Alone, acknowledging the the Exalted, this bowing, this physical of pride, and haughtiness. Thus, the meaning of all of this in his prayer; meanings of the prayer. (O Allah, set me apart from my sins Day of Judgment and that Allah is its submission before his Lord, and this praying person learns to adhere to he will fi nish the prayer as a diff erent When the praying person stands (faults) as the East and the West are set Master, along with asking his Lord veneration with the tongue; should humility and submission to Allah, the (better) person with brighter inner before his Lord with an attentive, apart from each other, and clean me for guidance and nothing except it. he not know that his Great Lord loves Exalted, which entails modesty and light. He will renew his submission to submissive, pure heart, directing it from sins as a white garment is cleaned Guidance here refers to the guidance His slave to be submissive to Him in treating others with kindness. his Lord and will never dare to violate towards his Lord, and recites takbeer of dirt (after thorough washing). O to the path of the prophets and the all matters? Would he not know that Then, the praying person testifi es or reject the Divine Revelation, be (i.e. saying ‘Allahu Akbar’: Allah is Allah, wash off my sins with water, believers. Then, the praying person his Lord Wants him not to favour that Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu it through negation, plainly going the Greatest) to start the prayer; he is snow and hail.) [Al-Bukhari and asks Allah, the Exalted, to shield him his personal desires (preferences), ‘alaihi wa sallam, is the Messenger against the Divine Commands, or proclaiming that Allah, the Exalted, Muslim] against the path of those who have opinions, and reason over that which of Allah, asks his Lord to bestow His distortion. Prayer is a way of life that is greater than anyone and anything If one fully comprehends what incurred [His] anger and of those He Has Legislated for His slaves? blessings and mercy upon him in the aims to rectify the person ideologically, else. Then, he commences his prayer this means, will he then commit a who are astray, meaning the Jews and How strange the case is of someone prayer. Such marvelous meanings in spiritually, behaviorally, morally, and and seeks the forgiveness from Allah, sin deliberately or insist on it? Christians and those who are similar who performs the prayer (as described the prayer serve as a deterring factor systematically. the Exalted, by saying the istiftaah Then, the praying person seeks to them. above), and then after that he approves for the person from committing vices We ask Allah, the Exalted, to make (the opening supplication of the refuge with Allah, the Exalted, from After reciting Al-Fatihah, the legislations other than that ordained and sins. Allah, the Exalted, says us among those who constantly prayer) supplication which reads: the devil and recites Al-Fatihah, praying person says takbeer (saying by Allah and shows keenness on going (what means): {… and establish prayer. establish the prayer. “Allahumma, ba‘id bayni wa bayna which is known as Umm Al-Kitab (i.e. Allahu Akbar) and performs rukoo‘ against His commands! Such a person Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality Article source: http://www. khatayaya kama ba‘adta bayna al- The Mother of the Book), because it (i.e. bowing) before his Lord, saying: did not perform the prayer as due. and wrongdoing, and the remembrance islamweb.net/emainpage/ mashriqi wa al-maghrib. Allahumma, combines all the meanings of faith and “Subhana Rabbi Al-‘Atheem.” (how Refl ect on the condition of someone of Allah is greater…} [Qur’an 29:45] naqqini min khatayaya kama yunaqqa tawheed (i.e. Islamic monotheism) Perfect my Lord is, the Great!). When who is raising his head from rukoo‘ and The more the praying person fails to ath-thawbu al-abyadhu min ad-danas. from praising, expressing gratefulness, the praying person understands the is praising and glorifying Allah, the understand the meaning of all of this, Allahumma, ighsilni min khatayaya glorifying, worshipping and relaying meaning of this glorifi cation of Allah, Exalted, saying: “Sami‘a Allahu liman the less his prayers would prevent him Prayer: A cry of the inner soul

By Sameh Strauch high minaret of the mosque to glorify essence of man. He is so weak and observe the beauty and perfection of recitation is not a dull monologue by Allah says, concerning the plight Him Whom he truly serves: ‘I bear helpless at birth that his entire the earth around you and fall down in the Believer, but Allah promises that of the disbelievers on the Day of witness that there is none worthy of existence depends on his parents and gratitude to your Lord. it is a conversation between Him and Judgment, that they will be asked fter a long and hectic day at worship except Allah. I bear witness his family. If he were to be abandoned Prayer: The Ascension for a Believer the worshipper. by the Believers: {“What led you work, how diffi cult it is for that Muhammad is the Messenger of in these fi rst crucial years, he could After the Messenger of Allah The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu into the Hell-fire?” They will say: a tired person to go out to Allah.’” not survive on his own. He needs a (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was ‘alaihi wa sallam) reported that “We were not of those who prayed.”} Athe mosque and concentrate Ibn Sina records: “I learned the gentle and loving hand, not only in his commissioned for Prophethood, the Allah, the Almighty says: ‘When my (Surah 74:42-43). Allah also says: on his prayers to Allah, the Almighty. essence of true love, that love which infancy, but in his childhood and even fi rst thing he was commanded to do slave says in his prayer: “All praise {Successful indeed are the Believers, Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, results in complete obedience.” in his teenage years. by Allah was to pray. The angel Jibreel is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds,” those who humble themselves in how diffi cult it is to get up at the call The love of Allah demands total As this child enters the years of came to him and a spring of water I say: “My slave has praised Me” their prayers } (Surah 23:1-2), and: of the Muezzin: “Come to prayer! and unconditional obedience. youth and independence, he begins to gushed out of the rocks in front of When he says: “The Merciful, the {And those who guard [strictly] their Come to success!” Allah, the Almighty says: { Say [oh, take control of his own life. He looks them. Jibreel then showed Allah’s Compassionate, Master of the Day worship, such will be the honoured The famous doctor and philosopher, Muhammad!]: “If you love Allah, with pride at his strong physique, Messenger how to make ablution. He of Judgment,” I say: “My slave has ones in the Gardens [of Bliss] } (Surah Ibn Sina (Avicenna), recalls such a follow me: Allah will forgive you your his handsome features and his many then showed him how to off er prayers glorifi ed Me.” When he says: “You 70: 34-35). moment in his life. One cold and icy sins, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most talents. He begins to despise those to Allah. He began to pray two rak’ah Alone we worship and your Aid we Allah has emphasised the need for night, he and his slave were resting at Merciful } (Surah 3:31) of lesser abilities, even scorning his twice a day, once in the morning and seek,” I say: “This is between Me and humility and concentration in prayers. an inn in a remote part of Khuraasaan. His arrogance and pride have often parents, who exhausted their own once in the evening. He then went My slave.” When he says: “Show us There is no doubt that Satan is the During the night, he felt thirsty, so he led man to behave as an oppressor and health to nurture him. He becomes home and showed his wife Khadeejah the Straight Path,” I say: “This is for most bitter enemy of man; he always called to his slave to bring him some a tyrant. Some men have been carried unjust and cruel, using his strength what he had learnt from the angel My slave, and I give My slave what he tries to disturb the Believer’s prayers. water. The slave had no desire to leave away by their own self-importance and vigour to dominate others. He Jibreel. wants.” He (the worshipper) fi nds his mind his warm bed, so he pretended not to that they have even claimed divinity. thinks he is master, free to act as From that time, the Prophet The Messenger of Allah once said: suddenly engulfed with memories, hear Ibn Sina’s call. But fi nally, after Pharaoh, the ruler of , was he wills. But does this youth, these (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) never “Prayer is the pillar of religion.” problems, worries, work and his repeated calls, he reluctantly got up among those who announced: “I am good looks last forever? In only a went through a day without praying. (Narrated by Al-Baihaqi) He also family... and he will often fi nd himself and went to fetch the water. A little your supreme Lord!” With his sense few decades, he begins to lose his Just before his migration to Madinah, informed us that Islam is built wondering whether he has prayed while later, the melodious sound of the of greatness and pride, Pharaoh strength...his youth is replaced by he was taken on a night journey to upon fi ve pillars, the second being three rak’ah or four. This is how Satan azaan (call to prayer) fi lled the air. subjugated the Israelites and made old age. Weakness in the beginning, Jerusalem and then to the heavens to establish prayer fi ve times a day. steals the prayer. Man was created only Ibn Sina began to think about the their lives wretched and miserable. weakness in the end.” (Mi’raaj). During this journey, Allah, (Narrated by Al-Bukhari) This makes to worship Allah. He says: {I created person calling the people to prayer. But is man really as strong and great The message is clear: The real Almighty, ordered him to pray five the image very clear: Islam is like a not the jinns and mankind except to “My slave, ‘Abdullaah, he mused, has as his ego tells him? The Qur’an tells us Master is Allah. He Alone is Mighty, He times a day. This prayer was a gift building supported by fi ve columns; worship me} (Surah 51:56). Man is to always respected me and admired me. the reality of man’s nature: { It is Allah Alone, is Great. He Alone is never tired, given to every Believer to enable him remove just one column and the entire live in this world as a worshipper of He seizes any opportunity to lavish Who created you in a state of weakness, never needs rest, is never dependent to experience a spiritual ascension building weakens. In the same way, Allah and prayer is the best form of praise and aff ection on me, but tonight then gave you strength after weakness, upon anyone. Allahu Akbar! – Allah five times a day. The Prophet when a person stops praying, his faith worship. On the Day of Judgment, man he preferred his own comfort to my then after strength, gave you weakness is the Greatest! In our everyday lives, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: becomes weak, and the mildest blows will have to answer for his deeds. Allah needs. On the other hand, look at this and a hoary head: He creates what He we say a warm thank you for the small “The prayer is the Mi’raaj of the can cause it to crumble. The prayer says: {Then shall you be questioned Persian slave of Allah: He left his warm wills, and He is the All-knowing, the acts of kindness which others do for us. Believer.” It gives every Muslim the is so very important that the Prophet about the joy [you indulged in]} (Surah bed to go out into the chilly night, All-powerful } (Surah 30:54) So what about thanking Allah, Who, chance to communicate with his said: “Verily, between man and 102:8) he made ablution in the icy water of Weakness in the beginning and in His infi nite Mercy, has provided Lord. During each prayer, the Muslim polytheism and disbelief is abandoning (Abridged from: Why Do We Pray? the stream, and then he ascended the weakness in the end: This is the for every single one of our needs. Just recites Surah Al-Faatihah: This prayer.” (Narrated by Muslim) by Dr Suhaib Hasan) Gulf Times 10 Friday, September 11, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah New reforms by Qatar to guarantee EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor rights of workers and employers K T Chacko into the regulations of human rights. wasting time, eff ort and money is moving steadily towards preserving By Othman Alyafei P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Such steps are meant to promote rights which is generally caused by endless workers’ rights and taking care of them within the legislative review and to administrative bickering. In the context, in line with its international, regional [email protected] is Highness the Amir Sheikh follow up on labour issues in particular these services are complementary to and national commitment, as well as 44350478 (News), Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to ensure the interest of labourers. others in the health fi eld, care, and being in the context of improving the issued last week Law No (17) They also enact the related legislations safety from hazards, which all have been living conditions for workers in the 44466404 (Sport), 2020 regarding determin- with the intention to enhance the legislated by other parallel laws. All State of Qatar.” H factors of trust, safety and eff ective such commitments strengthen human In the same context, the 44466636 (Home delivery) ing the minimum wage for workers and domestic workers in Qatar. The issuance partnership between dealers in the relations in the fi rst place and support International Labour Organisation of 44350474 of this law coincided with two other national market. This is to drive the the application of legal reference the United Nations stated that Qatar facebook.com/gulftimes decrees, one of them is Law Number 18 economy to achieve a more positive from a balanced and clear legislative will become the fi rst country in the twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar and the other is Law Number 19. and high-quality return. standpoint. region to adopt a non-discriminatory The two laws are related to amending In more depth, the State of Qatar’s Another point worth noting is minimum wage. The new reform some provisions of the Labour Law approval of minimum wages for the allowing a migrant worker to change steps have also been described by the promulgated by Law Number 14 of working class contributes humanly his employer before the end of his/her International Labour Organisation as 2004 and amending some provisions to supporting the families of workers contract without fi rst requesting a No- “historic”. Such steps and decisions GULF TIMES of Law Number 21 of 2015 which in economic term. This is certainly a Objection Certifi cate from the sponsor. represent a real and serious pledge to regulates the entry, exit and residence human and social dimension meant As a result, this eliminates the old aspire to a better future for workers of expatriates in the country. These to stimulate employment to more method of having to obtain permission by removing impurities in some laws laws came in line with the continuous productivity through job satisfaction. to exit the employer or the country at specifi cally related to the private reform steps taken by the State of The welcoming position of such large. sector. Book reveals Trump Qatar towards all work parties with gesture initiates a motive for excellence Such guarantees by the new law do The continuous review of workers’ an intention to enhance the concept and competition among labourers. not cancel the rights of the employer human rights legislation and its legal of law as a basic pillar for protecting This is undoubtedly an important if there are any administrative or legal issuance in an appropriate, more fl uid downplayed threat the rights of all concerned from any reason to raise production to global claims. It is then up to the judicial and harmonious manner with the potential violation or unfair treatment and international heights in line with authorities to practice their role spirit of the new laws is a work that is against any other party, either he is a the major events hosted by Qatar. 2022 in the event of any form of dispute always welcome for the benefi t of the worker on the one hand or an employer FIFA World Cup and the accompanying between the parties concerned. The State and its institutions in all diff erent posed by Covid-19 on the other. infrastructure projects and the worker can freely change legality to sectors. This is specifi c to the economic The three laws came in construction of stadiums are all but the company or institution that off ers fi eld, where the struggle with present implementation of the Qatar National true manifestations of such daring him/her better privileges in proportion crisis of Covid-19 has recently become The US coronavirus death toll is at approximately Vision 2030 through the strategic decisions. to the skills and experiences an accompanying burden to care for. 190,000. It is a staggering loss of life, one that surpasses features of the national economy, The new laws do not decide the maintained. There is no doubt that Hence after, the importance of the combined number of American deaths from World which appreciates the role of workers minimum wage only. Rather, they the exercise of this right requires a knowledge and continuous updating War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. And the as true partners in the development came to fulfi l commitments with common understanding based on to create an eff ective balance between regard to the necessity of providing prior understandings of all that are inputs and outputs of the working virus is still far from under control, with another 218,000 process the country is witnessing. It should be recalled the Ministerial other services, including housing interested and involved. arena is but a vital issue to endure. The Americans predicted to die from Covid-19 by January. Resolution Number Four of 2015 and food. This is in line with the The new laws are greatly welcomed continuous discussion on improving How many loved ones would still be alive now had the regarding the Labour Law in general, State’s total commitment to provide by local business circles and labour conditions through seminars United States mobilised as soon as its leaders understood which constituted a remarkable stage a decent life for all workers in light of international organisations, most and lectures, with the participation this dire viral threat? The nation is compelled to ask that for the wage protection system. a comprehensive and binding legal notably what Maryam bint Abdullah of all parties including workers is very This latest step was among the framework that leads to an enhanced al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of important as it raises awareness of the after a new book details the shocking gap between what fi rst basic rights of workers, which wheel of development. the National Committee for Human importance of improving services and President Donald Trump knew about this pathogen and is considered to be an important It also keeps the working Rights, stated, “These decisions are a pushes the wheel of administrative and his early public pronouncements on it. legislation because it ultimately fi ts environment way away from true indications that the State of Qatar legal scrutiny in constant circulation. The book’s author is one of America’s best-known journalists, Bob Woodward. Along with Carl Bernstein, his reporting for The Washington Post led to the resignation of president Richard Nixon. The tome’s title is Rage, and while it won’t be released until September 15, audio recordings have been released and excerpts have Japan’s fractured opposition unites been published in the Post. The account is “You just breathe damning. Instead of as Suga set to succeed PM Abe warning the American the air and that’s people and taking broad Reuters the LDP won handily. constituencies elect a single member of DPP’s more conservative members. measures that could Tokyo The newly merged party, to be parliament to the lower house. Azumi said the new party would call how it’s passed” have saved tens of formally launched on September 15, That means the ruling party benefi ts for reducing the 10% sales tax to boost thousands of lives, Trump downplayed the virus publicly could face an early test. if several opposition candidates the coronavirus-stricken economy and ight years after Japan’s Demo- Abe’s lieutenant, Chief Cabinet compete. ending reliance on nuclear power, a while privately relaying its danger to Woodward. In a cratic Party was ousted and Secretary Yoshihide Suga, is expected to In the last lower-house election, stance sharply at odds with the LDP’s taped conversation with Woodward in early February, began unravelling, opposition win the LDP race, virtually assuring he in 2017, the CDPJ won just 54 seats, position despite the 2011 Fukushima Trump said he was briefed by top offi cials on January Egroups are once again unifying becomes premier because of the party’s a fraction of the two-thirds majority nuclear disaster. 28 about the pathogen’s spread in China. Trump also for a general election that could come majority in parliament. garnered by the LDP and its smaller The centrist Democratic Party of soon, but they face an uphill battle to Suga and the LDP have already coalition partner. Japan (DPJ), founded in 1996, has long explained how easily the virus spreads. dent the current ruling bloc’s perform- gotten a bump in voter surveys, and The new opposition party, which struggled with internal dissent. “You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” ance. speculation is mounting that he will will most likely be led by CDPJ “Opposition parties are not even Trump told Woodward on Feb. 7. “And so that’s a very The drive to unite has taken on swiftly call a general election. chief Yukio Edano, will have 149 close to being united,” said Meiko new urgency as the dominant Liberal A strong performance by the LDP incumbents out of a combined 710 Nakabayashi, a professor and former tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more Democratic Party (LDP) prepares to would boost Suga’s chances of winning lawmakers in parliament’s two DPJ lawmaker. deadly than even your strenuous fl u. ... This is deadly pick a new leader on September 14 after a full three-year term after fi nishing chambers, compared with the LDP’s “They say they will be, but it’s really stuff .” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last Abe’s tenure. nearly 400. doubtful.” Publicly, Trump compared the virus to the fl u, saying month he would resign because of an “Inside the LDP, everyone knows it “If a party has only 50-60 members, The Democrats ousted the long- illness. (support rates) will never be this high even if it speaks of taking power, dominant LDP in 2009 but after a it was under control or that it would disappear. Although Japan’s centre-left opposition, the again,” said Steven Reed, a professor it’s a joke,” Jun Azumi, who handles troubled three years, lost power. the Star Tribune Editorial Board published a February 6 Constitutional Democratic Party of emeritus at Chuo University. parliamentary aff airs for the CDPJ, told Katsuya Okada, who led the DPJ from warning about the slow development of a Covid test, few Japan (CDPJ), will merge with most of Support for the LDP had risen to 41% Reuters in an interview. 2004-2005, said unifying members was others were sounding an alarm. At a February 28 rally, its former colleagues in the Democratic from 33% in a recent Yomiuri newspaper “In that sense, to create a big group is a big challenge. Party for the People (DPP) next week survey, compared with 4% for the CDPJ. extremely signifi cant.” “What I struggled with most was Trump called the virus a “hoax.” after picking a new leader. Abe’s nearly eight-year rule, which The merged party will likely to pull the party together,” Okada States and individual Americans were left on their own The two groups, plus a batch of made him Japan’s longest-serving co-operate with the Japanese said. “While respecting diversity, to understand the threat the virus posed, and valuable unaffiliated opposition MPs, emerged prime minister, was aided by the Communist Party in fielding each member must bear in mind the time was lost. It wasn’t until March 19 that California’s when the Democratic Party imploded fragmented opposition because of candidates, a stance that helps its importance of coming together under a in 2017 before a general election that Japan’s electoral system, in which most chances but may put off some of the chosen leader.” governor ordered a statewide lockdown. New York would follow suit the next day. Minnesota’s stay-at-home order was signed March 25. Competent national leadership would have urged lockdowns much earlier, along with other vital measures such as securing testing supplies and developing a broad World Bank’s Doing Business index plan for testing. Earlier action also could have boosted supplies of personal protective gear for medical workers Specifi cally, Romer said that data rather than the value of the index, and The index is supposed to measure and put in place protective policies for senior care centres. By Jayati Ghosh New Delhi for Chile appeared to have been the standings generate huge media a country’s overall business The missed opportunities are countless, heartbreaking manipulated to show that the country’s coverage every year. Even academic environment, but it really covers and infuriating. business environment had deteriorated researchers have (wrongly) used the only government regulation (except he World Bank’s Doing Busi- under a left-wing government. Chile’s rankings as indicators of government for the tax indicator, which includes Woodward wisely taped his interviews with Trump, so ness index has been both overall ranking fl uctuated between 25th support for private investment. As a taxes as share of gross profit). It the shopworn “fake news” ploy won’t work here. Neither conceptually and operationally and 57th between 2006 and 2017, when result, governments vie to improve leaves out some regulations that should another defence – that he didn’t want to cause Tsuspect since its inception in the country’s presidency alternated their country’s ranking in the hope of affect businesses, such as financial, a panic. Trump did little in the January 28 briefi ng’s 2003, but mainstream economists have between the socialist Michelle Bachelet attracting more foreign investment and environmental, and intellectual- only recently started to criticise it. Al- and the conservative Sebastián Piñera. boosting their domestic credibility. property rules. More important, the aftermath to contain the threat. In March, he admitted to though the Bank’s own recent acknowl- Under Bachelet, Chile’s ranking Policymakers have sometimes resorted index does not measure all aspects Woodward that he had deliberately played down Covid’s edgement of some of the problems is consistently worsened, while it to desperate (and eff ective) measures to of the business environment that danger. welcome, the index has already caused consistently climbed under Piñera. game the system. Most notoriously, the matter to companies or investors, Families, businesses and individual Americans continue huge damage to developing countries, Romer even off ered “a personal apology Indian government tweaked regulations including macroeconomic conditions and it should be scrapped. to Chile, and to any other country where in order to improve the country’s index and policies, employment, crime, to suff er as this pandemic continues. Trump’s lack of The Bank has already been forced to we conveyed the wrong impression.” He score, enabling India to rise dramatically corruption, political stability, urgency defi es understanding, but the consequences are suspend publication of the index, owing implied that the Bank had manipulated in the rankings, from 142nd in 2015 to consumption, inequality and poverty. painfully clear. – Tribune News Service to “irregularities” in its data. The latest the country’s rankings for political 63rd in 2020. Moreover, the index focuses entirely brouhaha concerns straightforward reasons, but was later forced to retract But again, India’s rise stemmed on the “ease” of doing business and the number fudging. Other irregularities that allegation, and resigned from his largely from methodological costs of regulation for companies. It may have occurred, too. The Bank has position two weeks later. adjustments, as well as ranking changes gives no consideration to the benefi ts To Advertise begun a “systematic review” of the Justin Sandefur and Divyanshi caused by small diff erences in scores of these regulations and whether last fi ve years of data, launched an Wadhwa of the Center for Global across similar countries. Ironically, they create a better overall business [email protected] independent audit of the process, and Development compared the offi cial India’s ranking improved even as its environment. Display pledged to correct the most-aff ected Doing Business rankings with their own investment rate (as a share of GDP) The overall thrust of Doing Business countries’ data. re-created rankings from 2006 to 2018, declined continuously, from 40% in is thus anti-regulatory: the fewer 44466621 44418811 But this is a minor issue compared based on a constant sample of countries 2010 to around 30% in 2019. regulations a country has, the better it to all the other concerns with the and a consistent methodology. They How could the Doing Business performs on the index. The inclusion of Classified index. Paul Romer, then the Bank’s found that the decline in Chile’s ranking index be so off the mark in these two the tax rate in the underlying indicators 44466609 44418811 chief economist, highlighted some of during the Bachelet presidencies and its cases? True, strong confl icts of interest is so egregious that two independent these in a stinging 2018 criticism of rise when Piñera was in offi ce resulted can potentially arise when the Bank evaluations commissioned by the World Subscription the tool. According to Romer, most of entirely from methodological tinkering. calculates the index, whether because Bank suggested leaving it out. – Project the changes in country rankings over Chile’s laws and policies barely of its staff ’s ideological inclinations Syndicate [email protected] the previous four years had resulted changed. or the need to placate big, fi nancially from repeated methodological changes As with all cross-country important countries. But the index’s O Jayati Ghosh is Professor of that gave more weight to national comparisons, followers of Doing biggest problem is that its design is Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved governments’ political orientation. Business focus on a country’s rank fundamentally fl awed. University in New Delhi. Gulf Times Friday, September 11, 2020 11 PAKISTAN

PM launches Roshan Digital Account for overseas Pakistanis Human development

Internews tion through economic activi- Islamabad ties. He said that the construc- tion industry can play a vital rime Minister Imran role in giving boost to econom- is a govt priority: PM Khan has urged the ex- ic activities as over 30 local Ppatriate community to industries are directly linked „ Regional peace, connectivity, co-operation are key: Khan invest in newly-planned mega with it. „ PM reiterates resolve to remove all barriers for promotion construction projects, includ- The prime minister said SMEs promotion ing the Ravi Front Urban De- that the gap in the country’s velopment and the Bundal Is- imports and exports is shrink- Internews Meanwhile, while chairing a land projects. ing amid the coronavirus pan- Islamabad meeting of the National Co-or- Addressing the launch cer- demic, after government an- dination Committee for SMEs, emony of the Roshan Digital nounced incentives. Prime Minister Khan reiterated Account in Islamabad yester- The Roshan Digital Account rime Minister Imran Khan the government’s resolve to re- day, the prime minister said is a major initiative for overseas has said that human de- move all hindrances for the pro- that overseas Pakistanis are the Pakistanis by the State Bank of Pvelopment, especially with motion of Small Medium Enter- biggest untapped asset, and Pakistan together with com- regard to facilitating the weaker prises (SMEs). emphasised the need to create mercial banks operating in Pa- segments of society and bringing He stressed that the govern- suitable conditions for them so kistan. them out of poverty, is a top pri- ment will provide all possible in- they can work for the develop- For the fi rst time in coun- ority of his government. centives to the sector. ment of the country. try’s history, they will be able He was speaking with a dele- Khan directed the authorities Khan pointed out that the to remotely open an account gation led by United Nations De- concerned to adopt international only solution to the country’s through an entirely digital and velopment Programme (UNDP) best practices to provide facilities main challenges – including online process, without need- Representative in Pakistan Al- and incentives to SMEs, adding debt, current account defi cit ing to visit a bank branch, em- iona Niculita in Islamabad. that SMEs play a key role in sta- and trade gap – is wealth crea- bassy, or consulate. The prime minister said that bilising and promoting the coun- the government has prioritised try’s economy. the use of state resources for the The prime minister directed welfare of the people and coun- the ministry of industries and try’s development. production to prepare a workable He said that since his govern- roadmap for the promotion of Chief minister orders ment and the UNDP share the SMEs in the next two weeks. objectives, the government will He was also briefed about pro- provide all possible co-operation posed SME Policy 2020. Prime Minister Khan: his government and the UNDP share the same objectives. upgrade of hospitals to the UNDP to ensure the ac- Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime complishment of common goals. Minister Sardor Umurzaqov, who wood was present at the meeting. Umurzaqov conveyed the in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Appreciating Khan’s special is also the country’s minister for The prime minister underlined greetings and best wishes of the Khan highlighted Pakistan’s pos- in tribal districts interest in human development, investment and foreign econom- that Pakistan and Uzbekistan en- Uzbek president and noted that itive contribution to the Afghan Niculita said that the premier’s ic relations, called on Prime Min- joy good relations. Mirziyoyev is looking forward to peace process. personal interest is helping the ister Khan yesterday. Khan recalled his last meeting visiting Pakistan. He stressed that a peaceful and Internews underdeveloped areas of the UNDP achieve its goals. During their meeting, matters with Uzbek President Shavkat On behalf of Mirziyoyev, he stable Afghanistan is of para- Peshawar province on par with more de- She said lauded the govern- of mutual interest, including the Mirziyoyev and mentioned that also extended an invitation to mount importance for Pakistan veloped ones. ment’s pursuit of sustainable de- coronavirus pandemic, bilateral Pakistan keenly awaits his visit. Khan to visit Uzbekistan. and the region. He stated that the merged velopment goals and provision of co-operation, regional connec- The prime minister also high- He also expressed Uzbekistan’s Khan reaffi rmed Pakistan’s de- hyber Pakhtunkhwa areas are a priority of his gov- eff ective strategy and resources. tivity, and regional peace and se- lighted the potential for en- desire to have improved econom- sire to work with Uzbekistan to (KP) Chief Minister ernment. She also thanked the prime curity were discussed. hanced trade with increased re- ic relations with Pakistan. strengthen mutually benefi cial KMahmood Khan has di- Provincial Health Minister minister for government’s sup- Adviser to the Prime Minister gional connectivity as a result of Underlining that there is no co-operation, bilaterally and in rected the authorities to expe- Taimur Saleem Jhagra, mem- port to the UNDP. on Commerce Abdul Razzak Da- various railway projects. military solution to the confl ict the region. dite the upgrade of hospitals in ber of the Provincial Assembly the tribal districts. (MPA) Dr Sumera Shams, and He also ordered them to en- Health Secretary Imtiaz Hus- sure the provision of neces- sain Shah were also present on Building collapse sary medical equipment to the the occasion. hospitals so that better and ef- The chief minister said that Retired fi cient healthcare facilities can the health insurance scheme be accessed by the people of (the Sehat Insaf Card pro- the tribal districts. gramme) had already been ex- excise Speaking with a delegation tended to entire population of of the Insaf Doctors Forum at the tribal districts. the Chief Minister House here, He termed it a pro-poor offi cer Khan said that his government initiative of provincial govern- is going all-out to bring the ment. arrested, WHO chief says Pakistan among six countries ‘the world can learn from’ cash stash The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included Pakistan recovered among six countries that the world should learn from in fighting with future pandemics. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said Punjab anti-graft authorities that the coronavirus would not be the last pandemic. detain police off icer over “History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life. Rs10.8mn fraud But when the next pandemic comes, the world must be ready more ready than it was this time,” he said. Internews Ghebreyesus continued that while significant progress has been Lahore made in medicine, too many countries have neglected their public health systems. However, he added that there are six countries the rest of the world he anti-graft agency has can learn from. raided the house of a While naming Pakistan, the WHO chief said that the country has Tformer Excise offi cer and used the infrastructure it developed in its fight against polio to recovered cash and prize bonds tackle the novel coronavirus. worth Rs330mn, according to a He said those community health workers, who previously used to statement yesterday. vaccinate children for polio, have been now redeployed for contact According to the National tracing and monitoring. Accountability Bureau (NAB), Ghebreyesus also mentioned Thailand, Mongolia, Italy, Mauritius Rescue workers and residents search for victims in the debris of a collapsed multi-storey residential building in Karachi. The building Khwaja Wasim, a former and Uruguay for their innovative and smart eff orts in fighting collapsed in Korangi’s Allah Wala Town yesterday, leaving at least one man dead and eight injured, local media reports. grade-16 offi cer, acquired assets pandemics. beyond his known sources of income during his service as an income tax offi cer at the Excise Department. “The NAB has recovered cash and prize bonds worth Rs330mn during the raid at his house to- Qureshi at top SCO meeting in Moscow day,” read the statement. “This is a major success in the case.” Minister urges SCO members Both the dignitaries also dis- ures to change the status of The offi cer had transferred to work against fascist cussed peace eff orts in Afghani- disputed territories in violation over Rs220mn between 2013 ideologies stan, as well as the coronavirus of UN Security Council Resolu- to 2017 to his foreign accounts, pandemic and the measures tions. sources of which he failed to pro- Internews taken to control its spread. Qureshi said that we must af- vide, the NAB added. Islamabad When addressing the Council fi rm that extremist as well as The corruption watchdog has of Foreign Ministers meeting, xenophobic ideologies, includ- also accused Wasim of “whiten- Qureshi urged them to work to- ing Islamophobia, have no place ing” millions of rupees through oreign Minister Shah gether to address resurgence of in today’s world. a government amnesty scheme Mahmood Qureshi is rep- “fascist” ideologies and violent Highlighting the importance in 2018. Fresenting Pakistan at the nationalism in the world, espe- of peace and stability in Af- Wasim was presented before meeting of the Council of For- cially in the region. ghanistan, the minister said that the accountability court yester- eign Ministers of the Shang- He said that those perpe- Pakistan has assiduously sup- day. hai Co-operation Organization trating state terrorism against ported the eff orts for a peace and Separately, the Punjab Anti- (SCO) in Moscow. people under illegal occupation reconciliation process that is Corruption Department has He will present Pakistan’s in disputed territories must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. taken into custody an offi cer of viewpoint about promotion of condemned and held account- He said the Afghan stakehold- the Okara police for alleged in- regional co-operation through able. ers must now seize this historic volvement in the misappropria- the SCO platform, and strength- The minister stressed that the opportunity and work together tion of Rs10.81mn through a fake ening of mutual contacts among peaceful resolution of outstand- to secure an inclusive, broad- company. the member states. ing disputes is a pre-requisite based and comprehensive po- Anti-Corruption Department The Council of Foreign Minis- for achieving development, litical settlement. director-general Gohar Nafees ters is the most important forum economic growth, poverty al- Qureshi said that it is also im- said that Iftikhar Ahmed Asim of the SCO after the Council of leviation and social uplift of the perative to be cognizant of the established a fake company and Heads of State. masses. role of “spoilers” within and issued cheques in its name worth On the sidelines of the coun- In this context, Qureshi said, outside, who do not want peace RsRs10.81mn. cil’s meeting, Qureshi is to hold we strongly emphasise the im- and stability to return to Af- He said that the accused has meetings with foreign ministers Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Lavrov and their teams at a meeting in Moscow. portance of faithfully imple- ghanistan. admitted to his crime. of various countries, including menting UN Security Council He said that the return of Af- Asim transferred the money to his Russian counterpart Sergey promotion of bilateral co-op- ner to be hosted by Lavrov. which Qureshi briefed his Tajik resolutions. ghan refugees to their homeland his company’s account at a pri- Lavrov. eration in various fi elds will be One of these meetings was counterpart on the alleged hu- He said that the world must with dignity and honour should vate bank in Okara from the na- Bilateral relations, peace and reviewed at these meetings. with Tajik Foreign Minister man rights violations in the In- strongly condemn and oppose be an essential part of the peace tional exchequer, the director- stability in the region, and the Qureshi will also attend a din- Sirojiddin Muhriddin, during dian-administered Kashmir. any unilateral and illegal meas- negotiations. general said. Gulf Times 12 Friday, September 11, 2020 QATAR PM visits Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani during a visit to the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project site yesterday. The Prime Minister was briefed about the progress of the project, its advantages, and its integration with the Doha Metro network and the project’s landmarks. It has 32 bridges, including the longest bridge in Qatar at 2.6km, the first Cable-Stayed Bridge with a length of 1.2km, and nine tunnels, including the longest and deepest two-way tunnel with a length of 2.1km and depth of 25m. The project also provides access to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums. The Prime Minister was accompanied during the visit by a number of senior An aerial view of Qatar’s first Cable-Stayed Bridge, which is an integral part of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, and extends from Mesaimeer Road to Al Bustan Street and crosses over Halul off icials and engineers from the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Intersection on Mesaimeer Road and Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road. representatives of the implementing companies.

A view of a stretch of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project.

An aerial view of a series of flyovers that crisscross above the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, as seen from near Landmark Mall. Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor extends for approximately 25km from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange on Doha Expressway. Once completed, the corridor will link the southern and northern parts of Doha without the need to pass through Doha Expressway and 22 February Street. Part of the corridor includes upgrading E-Ring, F-Ring, Another aerial view of a series of flyovers that crisscross above the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, Mesaimeer, Al Bustan, Bu Erayyen and Lebday roads and sections of Al Markhiya Street. as seen from near Landmark Mall. New uniforms unveiled for police force Afghan talks to From Page 1 The new uniforms have been designed begin while taking into consideration a combi- nation of modern and classical styles, in harmony with the Qatari environment tomorrow and refl ecting its Arab legacy. The uni- forms are inspired by the Qatari herit- From Page 1 age, refl ecting the “diff erent civilisations that have succeeded in the country while “The start of these talks marks adding a touch of development wit- a historic opportunity for Af- nessed by Qatar”, the MoI pointed out. ghanistan to bring an end to four The Qatar police’s military uniform decades of war and bloodshed,” manual classifi es uniforms based on sev- Pompeo said in a statement. en ‘dress codes’: ceremony, offi cial, duty, “This opportunity must not fi eld, specialised fi eld, training and spe- be squandered.” cial missions. There are diff erent sum- According to Aljazeera, a Tali- mer and winter uniforms as well. ban delegation returned to Qatar Special uniforms have been designed MoI off icials at the press conference yesterday. last week, paving the way for the for Public Transport Security, Airport start of peace talks with the Af- Security, Traffi c Patrol and Stadium Se- ghan government. curity Department, as well as for female Washington has ramped up police offi cers. pressure on Afghans on both Brigadier-General al-Hamidi said at sides of the confl ict to get started the press conference that the committee An MoI infographic explaining some of the uniforms. with their negotiations. took a scientifi c approach in selecting Relentless delays over the ex- the new uniforms for the police force. studies of the movement and mobility Adherence to the Islamic veil, cus- change of prisoners – 5,000 held He explained, “The committee com- mechanism according to the nature of toms and traditions were taken into ac- by the Afghan government and municated with many police agencies each unit and department at the MoI, count while choosing the uniforms of 1,000 by the Taliban – have hin- around the world and the relevant expe- Some of the uniforms on display. such as fi eld uniforms that fi t the nature working women at the Ministry of Inte- dered eff orts to get intra-Afghan riences were studied to take the positive PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam of work at Metro stations, the Coast rior, he noted. talks started. aspects and identify the negatives. After Guard and airport, and contain the Further, he said there is a unifi ed mili- Washington’s February agree- multiple meetings with experts, materi- partments. After positive results, the fi - well as updating all military accesso- ministry’s logo. The unifi ed logo will be tary uniform for senior ranks, which will ment with the Taliban was als that suit the nature of the country’s nal set of uniforms was agreed upon and ries, comprising separate pieces that are registered as a patent for the MoI, dis- be used for ceremonies, accompany- reached to allow the exit of US climate and the tasks of each depart- presented to the competent authorities used with the uniform – such as mili- tinguishing it from other types of cloth- ing delegations coming to the country troops after nearly 20 years at ment were selected. for a decision. tary ranks, insignia, scope and cordon. ing and that only the police may wear and participating in major international war in keeping with a promise “There were many choices regarding Major al-Subaie told journalists that In a statement to QNA, Brigadier- it. In the event of travelling on offi cial forums, adding that the decoration and President Donald Trump made materials and these were experimented the amendments include updating the General al-Hamidi said the choice of missions, the uniforms will have the edges of the new uniform are derived during the 2016 US election with on the ground in a number of de- MoI logo on all police force uniforms as police uniforms came as a result of fi eld emblem of the State of Qatar. from the traditional Qatari cloak, ‘bisht’. campaign.