BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 8 Rebound in Unesco, EAA business brightens announce prospects of $10mn project Qatar’s non-energy to rebuild private sector Beirut schools

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THURSDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11723 November 5, 2020 Rabia I 19, 1442 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir condoles with Eco-friendly walkway opened in Al Wakrah Sultan of Brunei

His Highness the Amir Sheikh MoTC signs 2 Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday a phone call with Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah. The Amir expressed his sincere condolences on the death of the MoUs for free sultan’s son Prince Abdul Azim, praying to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on his soul and to rest it in peace in Paradise, and to inspire him and the ruling family electric vehicle with patience and solace. Amir to perform rain prayer today charging units His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will perform the Istisqa Prayer this he Ministry of Transport and ticipation of the private sector in gov- morning with worshippers at Al Communications (MoTC) yes- ernment developmental projects and Wajba prayer ground. The prayer Tterday signed two MoUs within encouraging its partaking in mobility The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by Al Wakrah Municipality, launched the Al Wakra is in supplication to Allah Almighty the framework of implementing its and transportation projects in such a Walkway, an environmentally sustainable initiative, as part of the activities of Qatar Sustainability Week 2020 and for rain. Electric Vehicle Strategy and providing way that helps enrich private sector coinciding with the accession of Al Wakrah to the membership of the Unesco Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). charging units for free. companies’ investment ideology, thus Environmentally-friendly materials were used in all stages of the construction of the 350m-long walkway. Page 4 Cabinet praises Amir’s Nasser Bin Khaled & Sons Holding bolstering the localisation of exper- Shura Council speech Co and Q-Auto are the signatories for tise and the technology in use,” said providing the electric vehicle chargers MoTC’s Sheikh Mohamed. The Cabinet yesterday praised the and perform their periodic mainte- Sheikh Faleh said NBK is glad to speech given by His Highness the nance. support Qatar’s strategy for sustain- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad The charging units, which comply able development through promoting al-Thani on Tuesday at the opening with the specifi cations issued by Qa- electric vehicles and providing their Trump challenges counts as of the 49th regular session of the tar, will be installed at locations to be chargers. Shura Council. The Cabinet also specifi ed by MoTC. “This co-operation with MoTC falls praised the eff ective measures The event was attended by HE the within NBK’s national responsibili- taken by the State to confront the Minister of Transport and Communi- ties for contributing to preserving the Biden inches closer to victory Covid-19 pandemic and the Amir’s cations Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. natural resources, protecting the en- announcement that elections Qatar General Electricity & Water vironment, and supporting Qatar Na- Legal battle looms the most divisive contest in decades count in Michigan, where it said its to Shura Council will be held in Corporation (Kahramaa) president tional Vision 2030, something which was coming down to just a handful of team was denied proper access to ob- October 2021. Page 3 engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, will positively impact the future of the for the White House states where the Republican incum- serve vote counting. Ajyal to have fi rst-ever Nasser Bin Khaled & Sons Holding Co nation and generations,” he stated. bent and his challenger fought over The campaign said it was also suing chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser bin Shariefi said such a strategic part- AFP razor-thin margins. to halt the counting of votes in Penn- drive-in cinema Khaled al-Thani, and Q-Auto founding nership serves Q-Auto’s future vision Washington Biden led in Michigan by nearly sylvania — after the president called chairperson Sheikha Hanadi Nasser on electric vehicles industry and co- 45,000 votes with 94% counted and overnight for Supreme Court inter- The first-ever hybrid edition of the bin Khaled al-Thani were also in at- incides with their rollout of the fi rst has already been declared winner of vention to exclude the processing of 8th Ajyal Film Festival, presented tendance. electric four-wheel vehicle in Qatar ension spiralled in the still un- another tight race in Arizona. Results mail-in ballots after the close of polls. by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), The MoUs were signed by MoTC di- and the country’s eff orts in this area. decided US election yesterday were still being tabulated in Georgia, And it demanded a recount in Wis- from November 18 to 23 will rector of Technical Aff airs Department The electric vehicle strategy backs Tafter President Donald Trump Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsyl- consin, citing “irregularities.” feature a selection of 80 films Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalid al-Thani, the country’s agenda for a greener made unprecedented claims of fraud vania – all of them close contests. The Biden camp expressed confi - from 46 countries, an innovative Nasser Bin Khaled & Sons Holding future and contributes to striking an and demanded a recount in Wis- The apparent shift in fortunes toward dence, with campaign manager Jen mix of virtual and in-person film Co managing director – Automotive economic-environmental balance in a consin, where Democrat Joe Biden the Democrat prompted Trump, 74, O’Malley Dillon calling victory by screenings, interactive discussions, Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al-Thani, and way that ensures transportation sec- notched up another win to inch closer to launch a tirade claiming mass fraud the former vice president a “foregone and the first-ever drive-in cinema Q-Auto director of Operations Ahmed tor’s infrastructure projects sustain- to overall victory. that he claimed on Twitter had made conclusion.” in Lusail. The six-day event in an Shariefi . ability, supporting economic growth While there was no offi cial win- his victories “magically disappear.” Biden himself was expected shortly adapted format, celebrates the “The MoUs come at a time when the and making the most out of the natural ner more than 12 hours after the last Trump’s campaign announced a to make a statement on the knife- essence of Ajyal. Page 9 country continues reinforcing the par- resources. To Page 10 polls closed on Tuesday, the fate of lawsuit to try and suspend the vote edge race. Page 14 Convenience is even closer.

T: +974 44625888, F:+974 44625899 Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 3 QATAR Cabinet hails Amir’s Shura Council speech

QNA Cabinet briefed on school rotating attendance system Doha

The Cabinet yesterday on the regularity of the with the Ministry of E the Prime Minister and listened to an explana- educational process Public Health, and the Minister of Interior Sheikh tion given by HE the according to the system mechanism taken to HKhalid bin Khalifa bin Ab- Minister of Education of rotating attendance follow up on the com- dulaziz al-Thani chaired yesterday and Higher Educa- for students, the pre- mitment of students to the Cabinet’s regular meeting held tion Mohamed Abdul cautionary measures in attend and absent, QNA at the Amiri Diwan. Following the Wahed Ali al-Hammadi place in co-ordination reported. meeting, HE the Minister of Jus- tice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali the election is an important step in Covid-19 measures al-Nuaimi said the following: At the strengthening the traditions of the beginning of the meeting, the Cabi- Qatari Shura and developing the leg- The Cabinet yesterday listened to net praised the speech given by His islative process with the participa- an explanation provided by HE the Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim tion of a wider range of citizens, rep- Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday at resents a qualitative and historic leap Mohamed al-Kuwari on the latest the opening of the 49th ordinary in Qatar’s process. developments to limit the spread of session of the Shura Council. The Cabinet expressed pride in the the coronavirus and the Council af- The Cabinet also praised the rapid rational policies of His Highness the firmed the continuation of work with and effective measures taken by the Amir, both internally and foreign, the precautionary measures taken in State, based on the directives of His and the comprehensive development order to combat this pandemic, QNA Highness the Amir in his speech, to renaissance and economic and po- reported. confront the coronavirus (Covid-19) litical successes achieved under his pandemic, and the success of these wise leadership. measures in reducing the health, The Cabinet added that it is a The Cabinet considered the topics economic and social impacts of the political policy that strengthened on the agenda as follows: pandemic. the status of Qatar and its positive Approval of: The Cabinet appreciated the role in resolving disputes peacefully 1- Appointment of a judge at the Amir’s affirmation of Qatar’s firm through dialogue and maintaining Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory stances on the Palestinian cause and peace and stability in the region and Tribunal. the legitimate rights of the brotherly the world. 2- Renewal of the appointment of Palestinian people, including the The Cabinet expressed renewed a judge at the Qatar International establishment of their independent Qatar’s solidarity with Turkey in fac- Court to the Qatar Financial Center. state on the 1967 borders with East ing the effects of the earthquake that Approval of: Al Quds as its capital, and a just so- struck Izmir on Friday, which led to 1- A draft memorandum of under- lution to the refugee issue in accord- great human and material losses. standing for co-operation in various ance with international legitimacy The Cabinet expressed its sincere agricultural fields between the gov- resolutions. condolences to the families of the ernments of Qatar and Kuwait. The Cabinet welcomed His High- earthquake victims, the government 2- A draft memorandum of un- ness the Amir’s announcement of and the brotherly Turkish people, derstanding for co-operation in the the Shura Council elections to be wishing a speedy recovery to the in- fields of youth and sports between held in October 2021, affirming that jured. the governments of Qatar and Spain. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR

Ooredoo and Porsche Centre to support govt’s sustainability drive

oredoo Qatar has said it will work closely with OPorsche Centre Doha, Al Boraq Automobiles Co, to install Ooredoo charging stations in the parking area of Ooredoo Towers. This initiative is confi rmed for expansion to three further branches in the near future, with the overall aim of encouraging the use of low-emission trans- portation solutions, Ooredoo has said in a statement. MME opens Al Wakra Walkway The new initiative is part of a joint sustainability eff ort to benefi t the environment. It is QNA of Al Wakra to the membership way is 350m long and envi- expected that, over time, the Doha of the Unesco Global Network ronmentally friendly materi- movement to electric or hybrid of Learning Cities (GNLC). als were used in all stages of its cars will make a direct impact, as Al Wakra Municipality’s construction, in line with the electric cars produce zero emis- he Ministry of Munici- Omar al-Jaber explained that idea proposed for Qatar Sus- sions, while hybrid vehicles have pality and Environment, the inauguration is in line with tainability Week. reduced CO2 emissions. Trepresented by Al Wakra environmental sustainabil- Al Wakra Municipality, rep- Employees will be able to Municipality, launched the Al ity, as environmentally friendly resented by the Public Parks charge electrical vehicles while Wakra Walkway, an environ- materials were used in lighting Department, was keen to use at work, making it easier for them Ooredoo and Porsche Centre Doha off icials mark the occasion. mentally sustainable walkway, and recycled materials to create solar lighting in many of its fa- to be able to rely on such vehicles as part of the activities of Qatar the walkway, seats, etc., in ad- cilities such as Al Wakra Fam- for sustainable transport. Cus- Sustainability Week 2020 and dition to the use of plants. ily Beach and Al Wakra Public tomers will also be able to benefi t coinciding with the accession He indicated that the walk- Beach. from the charging stations, plug- ging their vehicles in to charge while they visit Ooredoo Towers, the statement notes. Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi, chief operating offi cer at Oore- doo Qatar, said: “As our sustain- ability eff orts progress, in line with our corporate social respon- sibility strategy and our commit- ment to the United Nations Sus- tainability Goals, it is important for us to think in a holistic man- ner. Given this commitment to sustainability is at the core of our operations, it makes sense for us to give our colleagues every op- portunity to share this commit- The Ooredoo HQ parking has been upgraded to include Ooredoo charging stations. ment, and helping them travel to and from their workplace via working with such a globally rec- line with Porsche’s commitment Performance portfolio and an in- sustainable transport well dem- ognised brand on such a worth- to the future of electromobil- tegral part of that is ensuring our onstrates our commitment. while initiative.” ity and CO2 reduction. “With charging stations are accessible “Being able to off er our cus- Salman Jassem al-Darwish, the new, all-electric Taycan 4S, to not only owners of Porsche tomers this charging facility chairman and CEO of Porsche Turbo and Turbo S models that electric and hybrid vehicles, but while they visit our premises also Centre Doha, said the strategic are now available to order, Por- also to visitors and employees of adds value. We’re proud to be partnership with Ooredoo is in sche is heavily investing in its e- Ooredoo,” he added. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 5 QATAR Qatar health Health minister meets Kuwaiti patient HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) chief medical off icer Dr Abdulla al-Ansari have met expert joins with Sara Yousef, a Kuwaiti patient who recently underwent a complex vascular brain surgery at HMC’s Surgical Specialty Center. Sara travelled from Kuwait with her parents UN Covid-19 to have this specialist procedure under the care of HMC’s expert surgical teams, the Ministry of Public Health tweeted. During the meeting, Sara and her father, Yousef Ali al-Meilem, described her initiative positive experience of care at HMC. HE Dr al-Kuwari wished r Soha al-Bayat, head of vacci- To date, Dr al-Bayat has posted four her a fast and full recovery. nation at the Ministry of Public video updates, in both Arabic and Eng- DHealth and Covid-19 Contact lish, on TikTok covering various topics Track and Trace Lead for Qatar, has related to the Covid-19 vaccine which joined leading experts from around have been viewed more than 200,000 the world as part of Team Halo, an ini- times. MoPH reports 130,414 total Covid recoveries tiative of the United Nations and the “Dr Soha’s extensive experience Vaccine Confi dence Project to engage and expertise in the field of vacci- QNA millions of people in the international nation, combined with her ability to Doha eff ort to fi nd safe and eff ective vac- deliver messages in both Arabic and cines for Covid-19. English, makes her a valuable mem- Launched in mid-October, the ini- ber of our team of expert guides,” he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported tiative brings together around 20 in- said Anna Nolan, co-project director yesterday 227 new confi rmed cases of Covid-19, ternational health experts and scien- for Team Halo. Tof which 192 are from community and 35 from tists as ‘guides’ to share stories of their “The Team Halo initiative is deliver- travellers returning from abroad. The ministry also re- involvement in the development of a ing accurate and trusted information corded 212 recoveries in the last 24 hours, bringing the vaccine for Covid-19. directly from leading experts in the total number of recoveries to 130,414. All new cases The guides share updates and facts fi eld around the world. The initiative have been introduced to isolation and are receiving related to Covid-19 vaccines via Tik- aims to increase public confi dence in necessary healthcare. Tok and other social media platforms. Dr Soha al-Bayat Covid-19 vaccines and counter mis- Measures to tackle Covid-19 in Qatar have succeed- “I am honoured to be part of this information by bringing the public ed in fl attening the curve and limiting the spread of the hugely important global initiative and procure its Covid-19 vaccine as soon closer to the people at the heart of the virus and the number of new daily cases and hospital have the opportunity to keep peo- as they are released for global use and global search for the vaccine,” added admissions is continuing to decline each week. Qa- ple updated, both here in Qatar and we are in advanced discussions with Nolan. tar’s proactive and extensive testing of suspected cas- around the world, on the latest devel- several other companies. To keep up-to-date with Dr al-Ba- es has enabled us to identify a high number of positive opments and progress in the interna- Our aim is to ensure that we have yat and her Team Halo stories, follow cases in the community. Qatar has one of the lowest tional eff ort to fi nd a safe and eff ective early access to the vaccine in Qatar as her TikTok account @dr.soha_qatar Covid-19 death rates in the world. This is a result of: Covid-19 vaccine,” said Dr al-Bayat. soon as clinical trials show a vaccine is For more information on Team Halo, Q Very high quality of care provided thorough the “Here in Qatar we have already safe and eff ective and quickly follow- visit https://teamhalo.org and follow public healthcare sector for Covid-19 patients. signed two agreements with interna- ing their approval for public use,” ex- the hashtags #teamhalo and #lear- Q Qatar’s young population. tional pharmaceutical companies to plained Dr al-Bayat. nonticktok Q Proactive testing to identify cases early. Q Expanding hospital capacity, especially intensive care, to ensure all patients receive the medical care they need. Q Protecting the elderly and those with chronic dis- 3 held for fl outing home quarantine rules eases.

hree people were arrested in health authorities to ensure public Mohamed Jaber al-Menkhes. The Doha yesterday for violat- safety and to curb the spread of the authorities concerned called on Ting the legal requirements of coronavirus. quarantined citizens and residents home quarantine. The three being referred to the to adhere to the requirements set The arrests came in implementa- prosecution are: Ahmed Mabkhout by the Ministry of Public Health, to tion of the precautionary measures Salem Saeed Khuwar, Sultan Jamal ensure their safety and the safety of in force in the country, approved by Nasser al-Tairi and Hamad Jaber others. Diabetes, Covid among topics during Doha Healthcare Week

his year’s Doha Healthcare Week (DHW), developed by the TWorld Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), and taking place from November 8-14, will call attention to the need for greater public awareness of health challenges through a series of free-to-attend activities, webi- nars, and professional development activities. WISH, Qatar Foundation’s global health initiative, will work with lo- cal partners, such as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medi- cal Corporation (HMC), and Sidra Medicine, to engage the community in learning about diff erent subjects, including the importance of prenatal ultrasounds and the relationship be- tween Covid-19 and diabetes. With many of the sessions be- ing held virtually, DHW events are open to all globally and the full pro- gramme of activities, along with registration details, can be accessed via https://2020.wish.org.qa/doha- healthcare-week/ Aljawhra al-Mana, head of partner- ships at WISH, said, “We express our appreciation to each of our partners, including institutions and healthcare professionals, and we are excited to work with them to fully engage our communities to encourage the adop- The Tasmu Innovation Lab. tion of healthier lifestyles. We are also pleased to invite a global audi- Qatar Diabetes Association will sounds and touch on the reasons why ence to take part in our activities this present Covid-19 and Diabetes on they are done, routine ultrasounds in year. Combined with the physical and November 10 at 5.30pm. The session early pregnancy, and what mothers- psychological stress of the pandemic will discuss the latest studies to re- to-be can expect from the Sidra Med- this past year, our goal of promoting fl ect the diff erent eff ects of Covid-19 icine team. The second webinar on health and wellbeing during Doha on people with prediabetes, diabetes, Women’s Health and its Challenges Healthcare Week is all the more im- gestational diabetes, and obesity. will be presented by Dr Aisha Ahmad portant.” To mark World Diabetes Day on Yousuf on November 12 from 2-3pm, In keeping with its focus on health- November 14, HMC, the MoPH, and and will be delivered in Arabic. care innovation, WISH has partnered the PHCC will also present a session November is Lung Cancer Aware- with the Ministry of Transport and on diabetes. In addition, they will ness Month, and Qatar Cancer Socie- Communications, who will present an partner to hold public sessions on ty in collaboration with HMC and the Entrepreneurship Session for health- mental health and geriatrics, respec- National Cancer Programme at the care innovators and entrepreneurs at tively. Sidra Medicine’s participa- MoPH, will present a CPD-accred- their Tasmu Innovation Lab on No- tion at DHW has a primary focus on ited webinar for primary healthcare vember 8. women’s health. The fi rst ‘Meet Sidra providers on Suspected Lung Cancer Aspetar will present a one-day Medicine’s Experts’ webinar session Referral Guidelines on November 14. workshop about health and nutri- will be Recommendations on Ultra- Healthcare providers will be able to tion, with BMI tests and consulta- sound in Pregnancy on November 10, make good practical use of the referral tions for students and their parents from 2-3pm in English. guidelines for suspected lung cancer on November 10 and PE teachers on Prof Karim Kalache will focus on cases to enhance the quality of exist- November 11. the importance of prenatal ultra- ing cancer care in Qatar. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR

Germany, IPU offi cial Shura Council conducts training welcome decision on programme on parliamentary work

Shura Council elections QNA Institute for Graduate Studies. aspects of parliamentary work. Doha Assistant Director for Public Comprising a number of courses, Relations and Communication the programme is aimed at en- QNA announced in his speech at the office of the Shura Coun- hancing the capabilities of young Berlin during the opening of the he Shura Council has organ- cil Speaker, Misfir al-Shahwani cadres and acquainting them with 49th ordinary session of ised a training programme said that the programme has been the latest methods of parliamen- the Shura Council on Tues- Tfor a number of the Council’s made at the instructions of HE the tary work and events organisa- he German gov- day that the Council elec- employees on parliamentary work Shura Council Speaker Ahmed bin tion, al-Shahwani noted. ernment yesterday tions will be held in October and its strategic importance for Qa- Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, He stressed the importance of Twelcomed the an- 2021, in accordance with tar, as well as the organisation of in the framework of the Council’s supporting young Qatari cadres nouncement of His High- the Constitution on which The Shura Council has organised a training programme for a number parliamentary events and preparing plan for preparing and developing and developing their capacities in ness the Amir of Qatar a referendum was held in of its employees. reports, in co-operation with Doha young national cadres in different various fields. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad 2003 and was promulgated al-Thani to hold elections in 2004. for the Shura Council next The Secretary-General year. of the Inter-Parliamen- A German Foreign Min- tary Union (IPU), Martin istry spokeswoman de- Chungong, has also praised Ecuador envoy says scribed the announcement the announcement of His Bangladesh ambassador as an “important step” to- Highness the Amir Sheikh wards more political par- Tamim bin Hamad al-Tha- Amir’s speech highlights ticipation of citizens in ni to hold elections for the Qatar. Shura Council in October hails Amir’s leadership His Highness the Amir next year. Qatar’s determination to deal with challenges to strengthen economy

d Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh’s ambassador aniel Rivadeneira, charge to Qatar, has praised the speech delivered d’aff aires at Ecuadorian Mby His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Dembassy in Qatar, has Hamad al-Thani at the opening of the 49th ordinary praised the speech delivered by session of the Shura Council on Tuesday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh In a statement yesterday, the envoy lauded the Qa- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on tari leadership in navigating the country in the right Tuesday at the opening of the direction and overcoming challenges on multiple 49th ordinary session of the fronts. Shura Council. “On behalf of the Govern- “I express my gratitude to His Highness ment of the Republic of Ecua- the Amir for ensuring the required dor, I would like to extend my health services for Bangladeshi congratulations to His High- expatriates during the pandemic” ness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Daniel Rivadeneira al-Thani, Amir of the State of He said, “I strongly support the view that the lead- Qatar, for his speech, and I hope bility factor. “We greatly value ership and the human factors, including the front- that this new session will be full the continuous eff orts made by line health workers and law-abiding citizens and of achievements similar to the Qatar to reform and strength- residents, are making a signifi cant diff erence in Qa- previous ones,” Rivadeneira said en its institutions, especially tar dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no Md Jashim Uddin in a statement yesterday. the fi nancial support amount- textbook formula in dealing with the crisis, but Qa- “The strong speech highlight- ing to QR75bn extended by the tar’s health system itself, an integral part of Qatar Na- case for projecting leadership as it involves protecting ed the ability and determina- government to the country’s tional Vision 2030, has proven to be a formula to stem both human life as well as the economic well-being of tion of Qatar to confront all the private sector to navigate the the tide of the virus. citizens and residents.” circumstances and challenges, initial hardships caused by the “I express my gratitude to His Highness the Amir The ambassador added, “His Highness the Amir and its keenness to strengthen pandemic, as well as its eff ective for ensuring the required health services for Bangla- has correctly identifi ed the need for international its economy to overcome the international role through its deshi expatriates during the pandemic. In my opin- collaboration to fi ght the challenge arising out of the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic humanitarian contributions and ion, Covid-19 is not only a health issue but also a test pandemic, which remains relevant to face other global that aff ected all countries of the aid to support countries around challenges, including climate change, combat- world,” Rivadeneira said. the world in their battle against ing poverty and the fi ght against terrorism. In a “His Highness also clarifi ed the pandemic. world where the narrative of de-globalisation is the measures taken by the State “On the other hand, the receiving some traction in recent times, Qatar, and emphasised the strength speech of His Highness high- under the visionary leadership of His Highness of the health system, which has lighted the strengths of Qatar the Amir, stands out as a model of remaining proven its competence in facing and clearly refl ected the State’s connected to the rest of the world. this crisis and mitigating its re- policy and its positions towards “His Highness the Amir’s speech focus- percussions.” regional and international is- es on his comprehensive vision laying out a He added, “Moreover, it is sues, especially the Palestinian solid foundation for achieving the continued worthy to commend the strategy cause. As we are realising that, progress of Qatar. And, at the same time, as is that the wise leadership of Qatar Ecuador seeks to consolidate expected from a visionary leader, it touches on has followed in dealing with the and develop its mutual relations international issues. It also conveys his sense of blockade through dialogue and with Qatar, as we indeed observe pragmatism not to be complacent before a com- negotiations, in addition to the great progress in our relations plete victory over the pandemic.” availability of security and sta- year after year.” Thursday, November 5, 2020 7 QATAR Commissioner-General of UNRWA visits Qatar Charity, applauds its humanitarian efforts worldwide HE Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser CEO of Qatar Charity, during a The meeting also talked over the Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar visit he paid to Qatar Charity’s difficulties facing international Charity, met with HE Philip headquarters recently. humanitarian organizations Lazarini, Commissioner- working in Palestine, in addition During the meeting, the exchange General of the United Nations to the difficulties experienced by of views on issues of common Relief and Works Agency for UNRWA in terms of funding. Palestine Refugees in the Near interest took place, and the East (UNRWA), in the presence aspects of cooperation between During the meeting, the of Yusef bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, the two sides were discussed. two parties also discussed the possibility of developing joint capacity building programs, the prospects for strategic partnership in the areas of advocacy, and the participation in international events, in addition to research. Besides, Qatar Charity’s worldwide humanitarian efforts, particularly those made in support of the Palestinian people, were reviewed during the meeting. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, expressed his great admiration for the efforts made by Qatar Charity worldwide, praising its governance procedures and technology usage, especially

in the field of fundraising and Charity, affirmed Qatar Charity’s system, and the importance of spending on its various projects. commitment to support the coordination and cooperation. Palestinian people and contribute He underlined the importance It is worth mentioning to alleviating their suffering. of cooperation and partnership that Qatar Charity has spent with Qatar Charity and He said that Qatar Charity approximately $ 140 million developing it to the strategic level would spare no effort to continue on developmental, social and and working together to convey supporting the Palestinian humanitarian projects for the the voice of the Palestinian people in the humanitarian benefit of Palestinians in the people to international forums. and development fields, in 2015-2020 period. Currently, He also noted the suffering of coordination and cooperation more than 16,000 Palestinian Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, with humanitarian partners, orphans are under the Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, East especially United Nations sponsorship of Qatar Charity. Jerusalem, and Gaza, especially agencies, Qatar Charity has a proven in light of the coronavirus He also noted the importance track record of cooperation pandemic, underscoring the right of overcoming difficulties with UNRWA. Three of Palestinian refugees to access associated with the performance agreements have already been education and health and aspire of the humanitarian institutions signed, including a strategic for a better life. operating in Palestine, agreement. The last $1.5mn HE Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser emphasizing the need to pact was signed this year to Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar work within the international support food security. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR

Qatari envoy presents credentials in Oman Unesco and EAA announce $10mn project to rebuild Beirut schools

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman received the credentials of HE Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahman al-Thani as Qatar’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Oman. The ambassador conveyed greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Sultan of Oman, and his wishes of the best of health and happiness, and to the government and people of Oman continuous development and prosperity. For his part, Sultan Haitham entrusted the ambassador to convey his greetings to the Amir, wishing him the best of health and happiness and Qatar further progress, development and prosperity. The Sultan of Oman wished the ambassador success in his duties, assuring him of providing all support for enhancing bilateral relations and closer co-operation in various fields.

Kalyan Jewellers announces ‘Big Discount Sale’

Kalyan Jewellers has announced festive value of purity mentioned in the invoice, season off ers with the latest ‘Big Discount at the time of exchange or resale, the Sale’. statement explains. Customers shopping at Kalyan Jewellers can Ahead of the festive season, Kalyan has nesco and Education director-general Audrey Azou- cess to education and a key step avail of up to 50% off on making charges of ramped up safety and hygiene protocols by Above All Foundation lay launched “LiBeirut” to mo- towards ensuring the continuity gold jewellery and up to 25% off on diamond, rolling out extensive measures to ensure U(EAA) have established a bilise the international commu- of learning.” uncut and precious jewellery. These off ers the well-being of employees and customers partnership for quality educa- nity’s support for this recovery EAA and Unesco have joined are valid until November 30. visiting the showroom. Practices ranging tion in Lebanon that includes a eff ort. Unesco Regional Bureau hands with support from the Additionally, 100% value on exchange of old from temperature check with thermal guns, contribution of around $10mn for Education in the Arab States Qatar Fund For Development to gold jewellery has also been announced. “It providing masks and gloves for staff and to rebuild or restore damaged (Unesco Beirut), which was rehabilitate 55 schools, 20 TVET will be a good opportunity for customers customers, frequent deep cleaning and schools and get education back mandated by Lebanon’s Ministry centres, and three universities to exchange their jewellery to the latest sanitisation of high touch points, and a safe on track. of Education and Higher Educa- (American University of Bei- designs available at the stores, this season. maximum value from their purchases, with billing procedure by encouraging digital “I visited shattered schools tion to lead rehabilitation eff orts rut, Saint Joseph University – Kalyan will be accepting old gold jewellery interesting discounts and off ers, while also payment options for contactless billing – and classrooms in Beirut right for educational establishments, Beirut, Lebanese university) in purchased from any retailer,” the jeweller off ering them the choice of exchanging their have all been implemented. after the blast. Faced with launched a partnership with the Beirut to ensure that learning said in a statement. old jewellery for new. We aim to provide a Kalyan Jewellers off ers a wide array of this traumatic experience of EAA through its Educate A Child never stops and enable children “These off ers come at a time when festivals safe and unmatched retail experience, with intricate jewellery designs in contemporary loss for students, their teach- programme. and youth to realise and practise like Karva Chauth, Dhanteras and Diwali are the best of jewellery paired with the best of and traditional motifs. The company off ers ers and families, our respon- Mubarak al-Thani, commu- their right to education. With around the corner,” the statement added. off ers – both in-store and online.” its patrons, Muhurat, the bridal jewellery sibility is to restore learning nication manager and head of initial commitments in place, As part of the Dhanteras Pre-Book off er, Customers can also choose to browse line curated from across India along with as quickly as possible and to advocacy at EAA, said: “Since work has already started in customers can avail of gold rate protection through the exquisite range of jewellery exclusive sections featuring Kalyan’s popular rebuild the damaged schools,” 2012, Education Above All has around 20% of schools. These against fluctuations by pre-booking the available at Kalyan Jewellers from the house brands like Tejasvi – Polki jewellery, said Unesco’s assistant director supported projects in Lebanon schools should reopen between jewellery by paying just 10% advance on comfort of their homes by using the Live Mudhra – antique jewellery, Nimah – gold- general for education, Stefania alongside partners Unicef and November 2020 and February the intended purchase value. The advance- Video Shopping feature. Customers can studded with semi-precious stones, Rang Giannini. UNRWA to provide more than 2021 depending on the extent of booking off er will end by November 12. avail of the benefits of Kalyan’s Four-Level – precious stone studded studded jewellery, The Beirut Port explosion on 17,600 children with access to the damage. T S Kalyanaraman, chairman and managing Product Certification on every gold jewellery Anokhi – uncut diamonds-studded, Glo August 4 caused widespread safe, quality education so they “As the UN agency designated director of Kalyan Jewellers, said: “Festivals purchase. While it assures patrons of purity, and Ziah – diamonds jewellery, Apoorva – damage and casualties. The edu- have an opportunity to fl ourish to co-ordinate this rehabilita- like Dhanteras and Diwali have always been BIS hallmarking of gold jewellery and free diamonds jewellery in an illusion setting, cation sector was heavily im- in life. Today, we look forward to tion eff ort, Unesco is committed significant. This year, at Kalyan Jewellers, we lifetime maintenance of ornaments, this Antara – lightweight prong setting diamonds pacted, as the explosion partially starting a new partnership with to ensuring a rapid and com- are focused on helping our customers extract certificate also promises payment on the jewellery and Hera – daily wear diamonds. or completely destroyed some Unesco in Lebanon to rehabili- prehensive educational recov- 200 schools in Beirut and neigh- tate educational facilities dur- ery. Thanks to the partnership bouring areas. The extent of the ing these extremely challenging between Education Above All Volkswagen Passat model of 2020 recalled damage threatens to disrupt the times for the country and its Foundation and Unesco, we will new academic year and deprive people.” ensure that students fi nd their The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), recall campaign comes within the framework it will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up more than 85,000 Lebanese and For Dr Hamed al-Hamami, way back to repaired schools. in co-operation with Q-Auto, announced the of the MoCI’s continuous eff orts to protect on the maintenance and repair works and will non-Lebanese students of their director of the Unesco Beirut This is our promise to the chil- recall of Volkswagen Passat model of 2020 due consumers and ensure that dealers follow up on communicate with customers to ensure that right to education. offi ce, “This eff ort is one of the dren and youth of Beirut,” added to incorrect front seats adjustment bearing. The vehicle defects and repairs. The MoCI said that they carried out the necessary repairs. Against this backdrop, Unesco basic conditions for securing ac- Giannini.

QU, ConocoPhillips complete second phase of wastewater volume reduction project

The Gas Processing Centre (GPC) at Qatar University (QU) and ConocoPhillips has completed the second phase of the pilot project for the wastewater volume reduction for oil and gas filed operations. In Qatar, the regulations by Qatar Petroleum require 50% reduction in liquid discharge from all oil and gas processing facilities. Therefore, the project was aimed to address the challenge by implementing the low-energy technology “Osmotic Concentration (OC)” based on the natural osmosis phenomenon principles for volume reduction of wastewater. ConocoPhillips Global Water Sustainability Centre (GWSC) research team demonstrated the proof of concept for the OC process at bench-scale level in 2016. The bench-scale system proved the technology feasibility for 50% volume reduction of wastewater. Therefore, the promising outcomes encouraged scaling up the project into higher level. Consequently, the investigation of OC technology at pilot-scale level is proposed as a joint project between GPC and ConocoPhillips GWSC. The project named “Osmotic concentration for reducing injected wastewater volumes in Qatar”, launched in 2018 and funded by Qatar National Research Fund, demonstrated the technical viability of the technology. This resulted in 75% reduction of the disposal volume with minimal environmental impact, and at a much lower cost compared to the state of the art technology that is currently being implemented in the field. The pilot project was completed on October 1 with a virtual meeting organised by GPC and attended by various managerial and technical dignitaries, including Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla al-Thani, chief engineering and projects off icer, Qatargas; Dr Khalid Naji, dean, College of Engineering, QU; Prof Muftah El-Naas, GPC director; Todd Creeger, president of ConocoPhillips, Qatar and other dignitaries from Qatar University, Qatargas, and ConocoPhillips. The research team led by Dr Mustafa Nasser from QU and Dr Samer Adham from ConocoPhillips GWSC presented the main outcomes of the project and also spoke highly of the project team and the successful demonstration of an emerging technology that has direct application in Qatar.

ConocoPhillips, GPC-QU team members. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 9 QATAR Ajyal festival’s hybrid edition features 80 inspirational fi lms he fi rst-ever hybrid edi- tion of the Ajyal Film Fes- Ttival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), will feature a selection of 80 fi lms from 46 countries, represent- ing timeless tales of community and determination, highlighting the innocence of youth and an enduring optimism through cin- ema. The six-day event, to be held from November 18 to 23 in an adapted format, celebrates the essence of Ajyal and its commit- ment to community and youth development, with the majority of activities off ered online. Pushing the limits of creativity and paving new paths, Ajyal 2020 will feature an innovative mix of virtual and in-person fi lm screen- ings, interactive discussions, and (From left) Khalifa al-Thani, Fatma al-Ghanim, and Fatma Hassan AlRemaihi at the Ajyal Film Festival 2020 the fi rst-ever drive-in cinema in press conference yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Lusail as part of a multi-sensory experience for all ages. creates the great innovators and ment,” DFI CEO and festival di- in compassion and humanity, In line with government problem-solvers of tomorrow. rector Fatma Hassan Alremaihi and most importantly forced us guidelines and with the health of Tickets for the 8th Ajyal Film said at a press conference held to adapt to a new altered reality. all Ajyal participants as the top Festival are now available for on- at Katara – the Cultural Village This year’s festival theme – ‘The Ajyal 2020 will open with Sun Children by Iranian director Majid Majidi. priority, DFI continues to work line purchase. yesterday. Show Goes On’ – captures the closely with the Ministry of Pub- “The impact of fi lm and art She was joined by Ajyal Ex- sentiment of this time and cel- ty, engagement, and inclusion for with her approach to establishing lic Health (MoPH) and the Crisis moves beyond boundaries and hibition co-ordinator Khalifa ebrates the resilience demon- our future. In this time of uncer- Qatar as a leading global cultural Committee to deliver a safe fes- limitations, and its innate power al-Thani and DFI Marketing and strated through this year, and the tainty and physical separation, it destination and the impact of art tival experience with a balance of to connect and inspire is now Communications director Fatma power of creative expression to is essential to continue to foster and culture in national develop- virtual and in-person elements. more important than ever. A al-Ghanim. reinforce our resolve and amplify these important connections and ment. This year’s festival will open year ago none of us would have “The adapted edition of Ajyal our voices,” Alremaihi added. trust our youth to overcome cur- Ajyal Spotlight sessions will with Sun Children by Iranian di- thought the situation in the will be a hybrid event of online “The theme also captures the rent challenges to build a brighter feature Claudio Gubitosi, direc- rector Majid Majidi, which made world would be what it is today. and in-person activities that will strength of Ajyal – which has future,” she said. tor and founder of the Giff oni its debut at the 77th Venice In- Out of adversity emerges innova- ensure the creative vibrancy of persevered and adapted and con- Ajyal 2020 will provide the Film Festival in Italy; Indian actor ternational Film Festival earlier tion and at Ajyal 2020, we have Qatar while taking active respon- tinues forward as a renowned jury the opportunity to inter- and humanitarian Kunal Kapoor; this year. It spotlights the resil- found creative new ways through sibility for the physical well-be- cultural event in an innovative act with international arts and Goran Bodgan, Bosnian actor ience and creativity of the youth, technology to continue to bring ing of all participants,” she said. new format. culture visionary HE Sheikha Al known from the TV series Fargo; which when nurtured brings people together to celebrate the “The challenges of this year “Ajyal off ers a unique opportu- Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa and American actor and come- about lasting social change and power of fi lm in a safe environ- have taught us important lessons nity to plant the seeds of diversi- al-Thani, who will inspire jurors dian Zach Woods. Kunal Kapoor A vibrant programme of cultural and creative activities

ringing together award- Tunes, celebrating the country’s winning fi lmmakers from musical talents through a mix of Bacross the globe, Ajyal online initiatives and drive-in Film Festival 2020 features a concerts. diverse programme consisting Ajyal 2020 is proud to host of 22 features and 58 shorts, in- world-renowned Qatari com- cluding 31 from the Arab World poser, Dana Alfardan, and Lib- and 30 by women fi lmmakers. yan international humanitarian In a press statement, the Doha hero, Alaa Murabit, as part of the Film Institute (DFI) noted that Ajyal Talks showcase. Ajyal 2020 has also expanded Building on the success of past audience access safely cross the three exhibitions, this year’s region by enabling everyone to Ajyal exhibition ‘Outbreak’ at share the festival experience Al Hosh Gallery in Msheireb will from the comfort of their homes feature works of art that refl ect via online streaming platform, the new reality of world as it and an exciting new drive-in Dana Alfardan Alaa Murabit A scene from 200 Meters. faces a period of instability and element in Lusail in partnership uncertainty. with Qatar National Tourism among others. Sciences at Hamad Bin Kha- brings together exciting voices friendly classics such as Bambi, destination to transport audi- The selected works of im- Council. In the sixth year of one of the lifa University, the programme from the next generation of Qa- Chicken Run, Chronicles of Nar- ences to new places and inspire mensely talented local artists “The Institute is proud to most unique cinematic presen- marks the UN International Day tari creatives whose powerful nia - The Lion, The Witch and The and unite the community. pay tribute to the brave frontline have supported 24 fi lms at the tations in the world, DFI not- of Persons with Disabilities and stories will resonate with audi- Wardrobe among others. The vibrant programme of workers and modern-day he- festival through its programmes ed that Ajyal’s trans-adapted demonstrates the power of fi lm ences across the world. An annual highlight of the cultural and creative activi- roes sacrifi cing their lives for the including grants, co-fi nancing, screenings return with four in- as a tool for inclusion that tran- Lusail’s fi rst-ever drive-in festival, the Ajyal 2020 Kids Red ties available online to partici- safety of people. Qatari Film Fund and mentor- spiring DFI-supported short scends physical limitations. cinema in partnership with the Carpet will celebrate the 70th pants and audiences will feature Ajyal 2020’s offi cial partners ship through labs and work- fi lms from Qatar’s promising Presented by Ooredoo, the Qatar National Tourism Coun- year of Disney’s most beloved Geekdom, Qatar’s largest and include Katara – the Cultural shops,” the statement said. fi lmmaking talent. 2020 Made in Qatar programme cil (QNTC) will off er a wonderful animated classic Cinderella. one-of-its-kind pop-culture Village (cultural partner); QNTC These include: 200 Meters, An Presented in collaboration features inspiring fi lms from concept, bringing the communal The Ajyal Creativity Hub re- event; Ajyal Talks, gathering (principal partner); Novo Cin- Unusual Summer, Gevar’s Land, with the Translation and In- emerging Qatari nationals and fi lm-going experience to audi- turns as a multi-sensory ex- leaders from fi lm, art, television emas, Ooredoo (strategic part- Their Algeria, The Present, and terpreting Institute of the Col- those who call Qatar home. ences to enjoy at safe social dis- travaganza combining fi lm, art and technology for inspiring and ner), Msheireb Properties, Qa- I am Afraid to Forget Your Face, lege of Humanities and Social An impressive slate of 16 fi lms tances, with screenings of family- and music in a one-stop cultural insightful discussions; and Ajyal tari Diar (signature partner).

HBKU college embarks on digital inclusion project

he use of information and part of the family unit in Qatar communications technol- but also that family members are Togy (ICT) to promote dig- increasingly expected to take on ital inclusion provides the foun- caring roles. While families will- dation for a major new project ingly engage in this activity, the by the College of Science and impact on the health and well- Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin being of both parties is often Khalifa University. overlooked. Studies have shown Working in collaboration with that family caregiving is a de- the University of Ottawa, the manding task, with 75% of car- project will examine the use of ers experiencing depression and ICT by older persons and their other psychological illnesses,” Dr carers to support caregiving ac- Dena al-Thani, assistant profes- tivities, independent living, and sor of CSE, said. social inclusion. “Further research neverthe- The initiative will also identify less demonstrates that older obstacles and highlight opportu- persons and caregivers stand nities for greater digital inclusion Dr Dena al-Thani to benefit from information and active participation in local and communication technolo- communities. holders include the Assistive gies that encourage daily and To assist, researchers will con- Technology Centre (Mada) and participative activities. Doing Unesco-affi liated schools, students honoured duct semi-structured interviews the Centre for Empowerment so not only reduces depression in which participants will be able and Care of Older Persons (Eh- and isolation but also boosts to describe their experiences and san), both of whom are engaged confidence, self-esteem and QNA ried out during the 2018-19 and and contribute to the achieve- petition at the primary, prepar- use of ICT in their everyday lives. in the project via collaborative the ability to better manage Doha 2019-20 academic years. ment of sustainable develop- atory and secondary levels. An advisory committee will ana- institutes. independent living in home- QNCECS Secretary-General ment goals which aim to ensure The competition included the lyse key fi ndings and results. Beyond providing previously care settings. As things stand, Dr Hamda Hassan al-Sulaiti inclusive and equitable quality main themes of the Unesco As- This fi rst-of-its-kind project unobtainable insights, research research has primarily been ational Commission for said that despite challenges due education and promote lifelong sociated Schools’ plan of activi- for Qatar will directly benefi t directions are also expected to conducted in Europe and North Education, Culture and to Covid-19 pandemic, Qatari learning opportunities for all. ties. academics, government depart- stimulate the exploration of rel- America. We’re looking for- NScience (QNCECS) yes- schools made many achieve- Al-Sulaiti commended the Al-Sulaiti thanked all the ments and non-governmental evant service design at the gov- ward to redressing the balance terday honoured principals and ments and participated in many students who actively partici- schools participating and co- organisations engaged in the ernment and industry level. for the benefit of older persons co-ordinators of Unesco-affi l- events. pated in the Unesco’s celebra- operating with QNCECS in the support of older persons and “This project not only refl ects and caregivers in Qatar and the iated schools and students who The activities would sup- tions, and praised winners of the programmes, activities, and their caregivers. Local stake- that older persons are an integral wider region,” she added. won in activities and events car- port the educational process drawing and photography com- projects. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR MoTC signs two MoUs for free electric vehicle charging units

From Page 1 tional Vision 2030 for social, ally shift to electric power, thus to be used during the 2022 FIFA economic, and environmental hitting the rollout percentage World Cup, a move that clearly This is a part of the overall development. that is required to reduce harm- demonstrates Qatar’s com- MoTC strategy for providing an By 2022, it is expected that ful carbon emissions from buses mitment to deploying univer- integrated, world-class, mul- 25% of the public transit bus by 2030, in addition to honour- sal clean energy solutions on timodal transportation system fl eet in Qatar would have be- ing the concerted eff orts that transportation and supporting that off ers safe, reliable, and come electric. Public buses, gov- aim to maintain environmental the determination to host an ex- HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti with off icials from MoTC, eco-friendly services in line ernment school buses, and Doha sustainability. ceptional, eco-friendly, carbon- Nasser Bin Khaled & Sons Holding Co, and Q-Auto at the signing of the MoUs. with the pillars of the Qatar Na- Metro feeder buses will gradu- The electric buses are planned neutral event.

Amir congratulates Tonga king Azerbaijan speaker

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, meets Qatar envoy His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Speaker of the National Assembly of al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to King Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova met with QU students gain insight Tupou VI of Tonga on the occasion of his country’s National ambassador of Qatar to Azerbaijan Day. Also, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Faisal bin Abdullah al-Henzab. The Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani sent a cable of two sides reviewed bilateral co- congratulations to Prime Minister of Tonga Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa operation, and discussed issues of on the occasion. joint interest. into cultural experience International Cultural Market for handicrafts opens at Katara lined up for Qatar 2022 tudents from Qatar Uni- class creative programmes fi lled versity (QU) learned about with the latest technologies for Sthe cultural off ering, fans the production of various dig- can expect from the FIFA World ital arts.” Al-Jaidah said there Cup Qatar 2022 during a recent were plans to host fringe cultural online lecture, the Supreme shows in 2022, along with a fes- Committee for Delivery & Lega- tival of digital arts. cy (SC) said in a report yesterday. The festival will showcase Fatma al-Jaidah, Fan Experi- cultural shows using modern ence senior manager, FIFA World technology in order to boost vir- Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, informed tual participation and enhance students from the Mass Com- excitement. munications Department that a She also revealed the cultural host of cultural events would be experience during Qatar 2022 held during the tournament in would refl ect the people of Qatar order to off er a distinctive expe- and embrace innovative initia- rience to fans from all over the tives for the development of re- world. A host of cultural events would be held during the tournament in gional and global partnerships. Al-Jaidah said Qatar is aiming order to off er a distinctive experience to fans from all over the world. She added, “The cultural per- to provide a unique, global, pio- formances during the tourna- neering and inspiring experience the culture component as one of ture and its social and economic ment will refl ect Qatari culture, The first edition of the International Cultural that establishes it as a vibrant the three most important pillars aspirations.” Al-Jaidah went on changing stereotypes about the Market for handicrafts and traditional industries destination and positions it as a of this event: connectivity, indi- to discuss the legacy aspects of people of the region as well as was inaugurated at Katara buildings 45,47 and modern country looking to the viduals and culture. Culture is a the project. promoting interest in tourist at- 48 yesterday by Katara – The Cultural Village future based on strong economic factor that refl ects the individu- “During Qatar 2022, football tractions, encouraging invest- general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti. foundations, Islamic traditions als of the community and the will be the gateway to enter a ment opportunities and future The market will continue until March next year. and values. nature of ties among them. world of amazing experiences. partnerships along with the Handicraft professionals from Qatar and 14 “The cultural experience is The tournament is also an ex- After the tournament wraps up, tournament’s ability to bring expatriate communities are taking part in the crucial to successfully hosting ceptional opportunity to com- the cultural experience project people together and improve exhibition. They are from Syria, Sudan, Palestine, an event like Qatar 2022,” said municate with the world and will leave a national cultural sec- global dialogue on cultural simi- Tunisia, Morocco, Ukraine, Turkey, Spain, Iran, al-Jaidah.“We have identifi ed shed light on Qatar’s unique cul- tor capable of creating world- larities rather than diff erences.” India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Singapore, in addition to the participation of correctional institutions in Qatar. A wide variety of handicraft and traditional items are showcased by professionals at the event which also gives an opportunity for home-based artisans, workers Ashghal starts upgrade of Al Wukair Road at small companies, and some professionals at major companies to display their creations. Dr al-Sulaiti described that the initiative is part of he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) the traditional and heritage events’ programme has announced the commencement in Katara. He also expressed happiness that Tof upgrade works on Al Wukair Road, such events have contributed to developing the as part of the Interim Road Improvement in respective fields while preserving the heritage South of Doha Area – Phase 2. of the communities concerned. These works aim to upgrade Al Wukair Road, over a length of 2km, and converting two roundabouts into signalised intersec- tions as well as to develop infrastructure utilities’ services, Ashghal has said in a state- ment. Monira al-Mohannadi, project engineer in the Roads Projects Department at Ashghal, emphasised the importance of the project and its signifi cant location, especially as it includes the upgrade of the roundabouts known as the Health Centre Roundabout and Al Wakra Hospital Roundabout, which are two of the most congested roundabouts in the area. Both roundabouts along with Al Wukair Road serve many service facilities, shops, commercial centres and educational and health institutions. Further to converting the two existing roundabouts into signalised intersections to improve the traffi c fl ow in the area, the project’s scope will include road develop- Ashghal completes TSE network ments in both directions of Al Wukair Road at a total length of 2km, providing 4km of pedestrian walkways and upgrading street for fi ve areas west of Doha lighting systems. It will also improve infrastructure utili- ties in the area, such as upgrading the treated Mohannadi for Roads Trading & Contracting These works are part of Ashghal’s eff orts he Public Works Authori- space in the existing projects in the area. It sewage effl uent (TSE) network and surface under the supervision of Gulf Engineering & to improve the existing services and utilities ty, Ashghal, yesterday an- area. “The also minimises the pressure on water drainage network, and provide pro- Industrial Consultancy Construction. The and to upgrade the road network in several Tnounced completion of all upgrade of local water resources including tection for the existing power lines and tel- works are scheduled to be fully completed areas in the country, to cope with the nation- works related to the construc- the TSE Net- water desalination and ground- ecommunications cables. in the fi rst quarter of 2022, the statement al economic development and social growth tion of the 14km-long Treated work serves water well drilling,” engineer al- The project will be implemented by Al- added. requirements in Qatar. Sewage Effl uent (TSE) lines, several areas Ateeq said. which will facilitate a network to Engineer witnessing He also explained that this irrigate green areas in fi ve areas Mohamed a signifi cant project comes as part of Ash- west of Doha, such as Muaither, Massoud al-Ateeq urban growth ghal’s commitment to encour- Al Wajba, Al Mearad, Rawdat as it provides age sustainability and recycling Abal Heeran and Al Sailiya. and connects TSE lines of other to exploit the TSE. QRCS assistance for healthcare in Ethiopia Engineer Mohamed Mas- soud al-Ateeq, project en- gineer in the Roads Projects Qatar Red Crescent Society disease, which has exacerbated Department, explained that (QRCS) has provided various hu- the suff ering of vulnerable fami- the scope of works included manitarian assistance to support lies in the region. constructing a TSE Network the eff orts of the Ethiopian Red This project comes within the covering the needs of the fi ve Cross in combating the coronavi- initiative launched by the QRCS for areas by extending new pipe- rus Covid-19 in the country. emergency response to the coro- lines on Muaither North Street, The humanitarian assistance will navirus pandemic in 22 countries Al Sedaira Street, Gheenat Fu- benefit 65,210 people in the Oro- spread over six continents, and wairit Street, Jassim bin Ali mia and Gambella provinces, with supports national societies work- Street, Rawdat Al Naisar and a total budget of $113,670. ing in response eff orts. This has then towards Al Wajba area and In partnership with the Ethio- supplies, and non-medical materi- personal protection equipment a total budget of QR2,236,827 for Rawdat Abal Heeran areas. pian Red Cross, QRCS provides als, which would contribute to to maintain their safety as well the benefit of more than 320,000 This newly constructed net- technical and financial support, in limiting the spread of the virus as the safety of the Ethiopian people in Palestine, Afghanistan, work collects and distributes addition to supervising field work, among vulnerable communities. community. Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Mongo- TSE to irrigate the green areas, through the National Society QRCS also organised training Ethiopia has witnessed many suc- lia, Laos, Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Chad, parks and landscapes alongside branches in Oromia and Gambella courses for volunteers, in order cessive crises since the beginning Senegal, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, the streets to ensure a sustain- provinces. This support includes to prepare them to carry out of this year, such as locust infesta- Mali, Sierra Leone, Albania, Kosovo, able exploitation of the treated personal protective equipment community awareness cam- tion, floods, communicable dis- Montenegro, Venezuela, El Salva- effl uent to increase the green (PPE), hygiene and sterilisation paigns, while providing them with eases like cholera, and Covid-19 dor, Peru, and Panama. — QNA Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 11 HOL STIC Let it go! Wellbeing

Separate your problems and solving them from your unhealthy thoughts: A lot of us tend to overthink things and that takes us on a downward spiral where we feel lost and helpless. Remember, focus on actual problems and solving them, not aimlessly thinking of your problems and just making yourself feel worse.

Use your infl uence instead By Reem Abdulrahman Jassim of control: al-Muftah Do not try to change situa- tions or people that cannot be changed, instead opt for your re you the type of person power of infl uence and try to that likes control? Do you show people how it’s done or Akeep dwelling on things speak from experience and until it makes you go crazy? Well, hopefully they will realise what control is one of the biggest is- they can do. sues mostly everyone struggles All these tips are useful but with and yes, there are ways to the most useful of all to me was help ease your struggle with con- the simple strategy of: 1. making trol. You might not know it yet but the decision to let go and tell- you might be suff ering from more ing myself repeatedly that I am stress and anxiety because you are choosing to let go, 2. trusting not able to control every single as- trying to change people into what yourself.” Oh boy was I wrong! Yes, everything. In some cases, you myself and in my decision and pect in your life. you want? Even if you aren’t a con- I might be able to do some tasks might not even need to control an- that I will be okay at the end of So off the bat, let’s agree that we trol freak, you might be one of the better, but does it really make a ything. In other cases, you might the day, 3. not blaming anyone do not have control over most of people who know they can prevent diff erence or is it even necessary? I just need the control of your reac- else for anything and taking re- the things in our lives. People who things from happening but still have recently been struggling with tion. That is still control and you sponsibility whenever I can as it live in denial of this fact struggle worry about them 24/7 regard- the issue of control more than ever still have it, you always have con- is up to me to take responsibility with their health in regards to hav- less. All of this and any amount of because I have become a mother trol over yourself and your actions, for my own happiness, 4. tak- Perfect plants to boost ing a calm, clear and relaxed mind it can really cause damage to your recently. This huge life change and especially your reactions. ing accountability and learning and body. Some resist this truth to mental and/or physical health, so blessing have made me question from my mistakes and fi nally, 5. the point where they actually be- let’s look at how we can actually let my ways and ask myself, does it Identify your worries and focusing on things I do have con- your well-being come ‘control freaks.’ Those who things go… really matter? Do I really have to fears: trol over and putting my energy resist the idea of ‘letting go of what To be honest, I am one of those control every single aspect of my Why do you need this much where it can be fruitful. Now that you can’t control’ suff er more as people that wants to control eve- life myself? I fi nally came to the control? What are you worried you have seen how control can do By James Wong cal trials. How do you fi nd par- they are found to micromanage rything and tend to micromanage realisation that I really do need to about? What are you scared of so much damage, I ask you to join The Guardian ticipants who will reliably feel way more than others. Not only do all matters that are related to my let go of some things and to do so, happening? You have to pin- me on my journey to freedom and stressed-out on cue to test this? they micromanage but they also personal life and even those who I came across some good tips to point your worries before you letting go. It is hard but it is defi - So far it’s mainly been by giv- fi nd it hard to delegate even the are involved. I also fi nd it excru- start my journey to freedom: can answer questions or even nitely worth it, your freedom is here are huge benefi ts to ing students going into exams a simplest of tasks to others. Im- ciatingly painful when I have to try to manage the issue. Stop always worth it! be gained from spend- whiff before they start. If a few agine micromanaging everything delegate tasks to others. I have al- Determine what you can and worrying and start being proac- Ting time in and around sniff s of one plant is enough to and feeling the need to do eve- ways followed the motto, “if you cannot control: tive by putting contingencies in „ The author is a wellness advo- plants. Here are four rules to calm nerves in an exam hall, just rything yourself? Or how about want something done right, do it It’s a fact, we cannot control place. cate and infl uencer @keys2balance. make the most of it. imagine the eff ect of sitting sur- rounded by hundreds of scented With a growing body of scien- plants outdoors. tifi c research consistently sug- gesting a huge range of health Green gym: benefi ts associated with spend- The benefi ts of being around Depressed or sad? ing time in green spaces, I am plants aren’t only limited to often asked which plants people sensorial stimulation. There is should grow to boost their well- also the matter of the gentle ex- toms: Although people with depres- being. It’s a big question, but ercise that occurs as a result of sion often hide their symptoms here is what I would advise… working in the garden. In fact, from those around them, there are studies suggest gardening tends some signs that you can look for Go for evergreens: to burn more calories than the to know when a person in your life One of the most surprising average gym session, despite may need help and symptoms of: fi ndings is that you don’t need to feeling easier. OK, this is mainly a) Move, think, or speak slowly, physically be in nature to bene- because the typical bout of gar- which makes conversation and fi t. Simply looking at images of den pottering lasts for much other interactions diff icult. nature projected on screens has longer, so despite being far lower b) Stop caring for personal hygiene been shown to improve exercise in intensity, the duration makes and self-care. performance, while a view of up for it. But given the choice c) Weight gain or loss in response trees from a window improved of fl owers and fresh air over to changes in appetite. healing times and reduced pain the fl ashing lights of a tread- By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi d) Easily irritated or crying without medication in hospital patients. mill, I know which one I would reason. It would be fair to postulate, pick. Bucking the trend for low 5- Sadness is temporary and de- therefore, that the visual stim- maintenance planting might be The diff erence between sadness pression persists. ulation of greenery alone may a good idea, as the more potter- and depression sometimes may of 6- Sadness is conscious, but de- be one of the biggest factors at ing you do the more therapeutic course be confusing one day after pression is subconscious. play here. Working on this as- it may be. feelings of sadness dominate you, 7- Sadness changes mood, while sumption, I’d include a signifi - and whether this confusion is for depression changes life. cant proportion of evergreen Grow up front In many set- you or one of those around you, species to provide a permanent tings, one of the other benefi ts you can now remove this confusion Who needs medical interven- green backdrop. Also, as I of- associated with getting your and know what you are going tion? ten say, perhaps an even more hands dirty is social contact. By through specifically by reading Because sadness is a transient eff ective way to do this is with dedicating an equal amount of these clear diff erences between psychological condition that disap- houseplants, which give you time to your front and back gar- depression and sadness and what pears with the disappearance of year-round green that you are den, you will get to interact more one needs: the cause, it does not need medical likely to physically be around for often with your neighbours. To intervention to get rid of it, unlike greater periods of time. be honest, as a socially awkward 1-Sadness is normal, but depression depression that requires medi- botanist, that’s my worst night- is not normal: cal diagnosis, psychological and Don’t forget scent: mare, but it’s great for some Usually sadness results from a drug treatment to overcome its There is good evidence to people. And here we come to the diff icult or painful event, experi- symptoms and raise the hormones support what many of us intui- crux of the question – gardens ence or situation, or disappointing of happiness in the body. tively believe – that a range of can improve wellbeing in ways expectations. This also means that just a case, and it is a psychological necessarily require an event, a while the eff ect of depression is Clear now? aromatic compounds derived as diverse as gardeners them- when this thing changes, when disease that aff ects our thinking, diff icult situation, a loss or a change overwhelming. from plants can have a mood- selves. So, while more research the emotional harm fades, when emotions, perceptions, and behav- in circumstances is a trigger, but 3- Sadness is an emotion while improving eff ect. Inhaling lav- comes in, don’t worry too much we adapt or we overcome loss or iours. When we feel depressed, rather it occurs in the absence of all depression is a mental illness. „ The author is a consultant in Pub- ender and rosemary seems to about a checklist of things to frustration, our grief is gone. we feel sad about everything, and of these situations. 4- Sadness does not have symp- lic Relations and Personality Types. consistently reduce feelings of include, just pick what you love As for depression, it is greater than therefore depression does not 2- The eff ect of sadness is limited toms while depression has symp- Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill stress and anxiety in small clini- and let the plants do the rest.

Take a walk with me

other times I simply observe the passersby either running or enjoy- ing family time. Instead of looking down at my phone screen I look down at my feet for small creatures. Sometimes I lose my shoes and I gain some perspective. That feeling of barefeet on the sand or pavement is so soothing. Seeing all that nature comforts my soul and reminds me of my own By Shefa Ali insignificance. Makes me feel as if my worries are trivial and not worth Choose working out in garden over closed gym spaces. worrying about at all. Being at one Ahhhhh our favourite time of year with nature, gives me a feeling of in Qatar has finally arrived. One power and strength, it reminds me I of the things I love about Qatar at am part of something truly majestic. this time of the year is that I can The weather in Qatar right now is walk. It’s so enjoyable, even to walk glorious, I love the glow of the sun alone, quality me time, observing on my skin in the morning like a Mother Nature. Once I finish my warm hug, it makes me feel happy walk, I feel like I have replenished and healthy. my entire being. I use my walks as Walking is simple, free, and one time to quieten my mind, to focus of the easiest ways to get more on my breathing. Sometimes I walk active and become healthier. You to walk on the beach near where I don’t have to walk for hours, a brisk live, take a seat on the bench and 10-minute daily walk can help you just breathe. I count slowly, deep, build stamina, burn excess calories rhythmic breaths, it calms me and and make your heart healthier. I relax into solitude, no matter how many people are around. „ The author is a consultant and Sometimes if I sit really still, I see coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ Looking at images of nature projected on screens has been shown fish jumping in and out of the water, shefa, Website: missshefa.com to improve exercise performance. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

Qatar starts distributing fi nancial aid to 100,000 needy families in Gaza

QNA Bank and its branches and new points in Gaza the governorates of the Strip, under the full supervision of the Qatari commit- tee staff and in co-operation with the atar yesterday started distributing relevant government agencies, led by the fi nancial aid to needy families in Ministry of Social Development and the Qthe Gaza Strip. Ministry of Communications and Infor- HE the Chairman of Qatar’s Gaza Re- mation Technology. construction Committee Ambassador HE al-Emadi stressed that the distribu- Mohamed al-Emadi said that the com- tion is taking place in a way that ensures mittee, in co-operation with Qatar Fund achieving the highest standards of safety for Development (QFFD), is distributing for the benefi ciaries and workers at the the fi nancial aid to 100,000 poor families distribution centres, and adherence to in the districts of the Strip. Each family prevention, sterilisation and social dis- will receive $100. tancing measures in light of the coronavi- He added that the distribution proc- rus (Covid-19) outbreak and the spread of ess will be carried out through the Postal the disease in the Gaza Strip. Abbas holds talks with Romanian PM Seven killed in Syria’s rebel northwest AFP Beirut

our children were among seven civilians killed in FSyrian army bombard- ments of the country’s last ma- jor rebel bastion yesterday, a war monitor reported. The deadliest salvoes hit the town of Ariha, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that 20 civil- ians were also wounded across the rebel-held northwestern re- gion of Idlib. “The regime launched sus- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets with Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban in Ramallah in occupied West Bank tained artillery and rocket fi re yesterday. in the morning on several parts of Idlib, killing seven civilians, including four children,” the monitoring group said. Rebel groups dominated by Two Syrian fighters ride their motorbike past damaged cars following the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham al- heavy shelling by government forces on the industrial area in the liance have been steadily los- rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib, yesterday. Troops shoot dead Palestinian in West Bank ing ground to Russian-backed government forces since they launched an off ensive to retake AFP military post adjacent to the was killed. No Israeli soldiers on Twitter of his “extrajudi- Idlib almost a year ago. Jerusalem southern exit of the city of were injured. Palestinian se- cial execution” and called for A truce reached in March has Nablus spotted a fighter driv- curity sources named the dead the International Criminal largely halted the bloodshed in ing out of the city armed with man as Bilal Adnan Rawajbah, Court and the international the rebel enclave, which is home Palestinian shot at Is- a pistol who fired at them, 29, and official Palestinian community “to hold Israel ac- to some 3mn people, although raeli troops near Nablus and responded with fire...The news agency WAFA said he countable”. there have been sporadic fl are- A in the occupied West fighter has been neutralised,” was a captain in the Palestin- Typically young Palestinian ups. Bank yesterday and was killed a statement said. ian security services. fighters use knives, cars and — An air strike attributed to when soldiers returned fire. An army spokesperson con- The Palestine Liberation less frequently — guns to at- Russia killed around 80 rebel “Troops who were at a firmed to AFP that the suspect Organisation accused Israel tack Israeli troops. fi ghters in a training camp in the region last week, a sign of grow- ing tension between the two main foreign players Moscow and Ankara. According to the Observatory, more than 380,000 people have Army destroys Palestinian been killed in the confl ict that erupted in 2011 after the brutal Wounded Syrians receive treatment at a hospital in the Idlib province repression of anti-government town of Ariha following a heavy round of shelling by government village in Jordan Valley protests. forces on the rebel-held area in northwestern Syria early yesterday.

AFP Israeli troops of having “com- no way to build legally”. tory, including the Jordan Valley. Tubas pletely demolished the village In a separate message to AFP, That plan was given the green of Homsa al-Baqia, leaving it said the late-night operation light in January by US President US policies ‘important, not around 80 people homeless”. in Homsa al-Baqia was unusual Donald Trump. But a surprise srael’s army has demolished The branch of Israel’s army given that so many homes were normalisation accord between the homes of nearly 80 Pal- responsible for civilian aff airs in targeted at the same time. Israel and the United Arab who becomes president’ Iestinian Bedouins in the oc- the West Bank, COGAT, said it It implied that the Jewish Emirates appeared to put an- cupied West Bank, offi cials and had destroyed structures “built state timed the demolition to nexation on ice; Israeli, Emirati witnesses said yesterday, in a illegally in a fi ring zone (military take place while world attention and US leaders said they had Reuters US election,” Rouhani said in a “We want to be respected, rare operation targeting an en- training area) in the Jordan Val- was focused on the US presi- agreed “Israel will suspend de- Dubai televised cabinet meeting. not subject to sanctions (by the tire community at once. ley”. dential election. claring sovereignty” over West Democratic challenger Joe Bi- United States). No matter who Late Tuesday, Israeli bull- The Jordan Valley falls “It seems like Israel was mak- Bank areas. According to Ab- den has promised to rejoin Iran’s wins the US election...For us, dozers razed the village — in- within the West Bank’s “Area ing use of the fact that every- delghani Awada, left homeless ran’s President Hassan Rou- 2015 nuclear deal with six pow- policies and principles are im- cluding tents, sheds, portable C” that is fully controlled by one’s attention is currently set by Tuesday’s demolition, the hani said yesterday the result ers if Iran returns to compliance portant,” Rouhani said. toilets and solar panels — near Israel’s army, which has occu- elsewhere to move forward with Israelis who arrived in vehicles Iof the US election was not with it. Trump has said he wants to Tubas in the Jordan Valley, ac- pied the West Bank since the this inhumane act,” it said. Is- and with bulldozers gave peo- important for the country’s rul- President Donald Trump strike a new deal with Tehran cording to an AFP photographer 1967 Six Day war. Israeli rights raeli Prime Minister Benjamin ple “10 minutes to evacuate our ers, but that the next president abandoned the deal in 2018 and that would address Iran’s mis- at the scene, who found dozens group B’Tselem accused Israel Netanyahu in the past said he homes”. in Washington should respect reimposed sanctions that have sile programme and support for of people left homeless. in a statement of “deliberately intended to annex parts of the “Then they started bulldoz- international treaties and laws. crippled Iran’s economy. regional proxies. Palestinian Prime Minister creating a Kafkaesque reality West Bank and Jewish settle- ing,” he said. “For Tehran, the next US ad- In retaliation, Iran has gradu- Iran has ruled out any nego- Mohamed Shtayyeh accused that leaves Palestinians almost ments in the Palestinian terri- He said that his family had ministration’s policies are im- ally reduced compliance with tiations unless Washington fi rst lived in the area for generations portant and not who wins the the deal’s terms. returns to the accord. and accused Israel of trying to “empty the Jordan Valley of its Palestinian population”. UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said in a statement to AFP that he was “concerned by these demolitions” and he urged Israel to “cease this prac- tice”. B’Tselem said that “while the world deals with the corona- virus crisis, Israel has devoted time and eff ort to harassing Palestinians instead of help- ing... residents living under its control”. The NGO, which tracks dem- olition data, said that 798 Pal- estinians in the West Bank have been left homeless by Israeli demolitions so far this year. That is already the highest annual tally since 2016, the year Palestinians stand next to their belongings after Israeli soldiers demolished their tents in an area east the organisation began collect- A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows President Hassan Rouhani chairing a cabinet of the village of Tubas, in the occupied West Bank. ing such data. meeting in the capital Tehran, yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 13 AFRICA Teachers kidnapped in Cameroon’s troubled Northwest Region

AFP ernment has blamed on mili- condition of anonymity, told AFP The declaration, which has kidnappings, often for ransom. two anglophone regions. Around eroon. The Northern Cameroons Yaounde tants. that six teachers had been kid- not been recognised interna- On October 24, seven children 90% of state primary schools and joined Nigeria. There has been The incident happened on napped. tionally, sparked a brutal confl ict were shot dead in their classroom 77% of state secondary schools decades-long resentment among Tuesday in Kumbo, in Cam- There was no immediate re- with the security forces. in Kumba, in the Southwest Re- were either closed or non-opera- anglophones in Cameroon at etween six and 11 teach- eroon’s Northwest Region. sponse from the armed forces or More than 3,000 people gion. In that attack, the govern- tional at that time. Anglophones perceived discrimination in such ers have been kidnapped Armed men raided the local Pres- government to a request for com- have been killed and more than ment in Yaounde described the account for about 4mn of Cam- areas as education, the economy Bfrom a school in a western byterian primary and secondary ment. 700,000 have fl ed their homes. armed men as separatists “scar- eroon’s 23mn population. and law. Cameroon region gripped by a school, taking away 11 teachers, In October 2017, anglophone Rights groups say crimes and ing off parents from sending their Their presence is explained Demands by moderates for three-year-old armed campaign said Reverend Samuel Fonki, militants declared an independ- abuses have been committed by children to school.” by the decolonisation process in reform and greater autonomy by anglophone separatists, local head of the Presbyterian Church ent state in the Northwest Region both sides. The killings have not been West Africa some 60 years ago. were rejected by the central gov- sources said. of Cameroon, and Stephen Afuh, and neighbouring Southwest Schools and other institutions claimed. In November 2019, the In 1961, a British-ruled territory, ernment, leading to the declara- The abduction comes on head of a presbyterian teachers’ Region, home to the most of the deemed to be emblems of the UN children’s agency Unicef es- the Southern Cameroons, voted tion of independence as radicals the heels of the killing of seven union called PEATTU. anglophone minority in the ma- Cameroonian state have been re- timated that 855,000 children to join the newly independent became ascendant in the anglo- schoolchildren, which the gov- A local offi cial, speaking on jority French-speaking country. peatedly targeted for attacks and were without schooling in the former French colony of Cam- phone movement.

Kenya extends Covid Ivory Coast clash kills two, curfew, numbers rise

AFP Nairobi

enyan President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday announced that a Ouattara rivals blockaded night-time curfew would be extended until January 3 and po- Klitical rallies barred for 60 days to help brake a rebound in coro- AFP navirus infections. “We have experienced a reversal,” Kenyatta said in Abidjan a nationwide address after speaking to leading fi gures in the fi ghting against Covid-19, including regional governors. A nationwide curfew would be enforced between 10pm and 4am, wo Ivory Coast govern- Kenyatta said, while a ban on political gatherings was “to take eff ect ment supporters were immediately”. Tkilled and a minister’s The tally of new infections, which had fallen in September re- convoy hit by gunfi re, offi cials bounded in October, Kenyatta said. In just one month, the country said yesterday, as tensions build recorded 15,000 more cases, out of a total of more than 58,000 since over President Alassane Ouat- the start of the pandemic. tara’s contested re-election. Of these, around 300 cases during the month were fatal – nearly Ivory Coast is caught in a a third of the accumulated death toll. Curfew restrictions were im- standoff after Ouattara was de- plemented in late March but were eased on September 28, starting at clared victor on Tuesday, but 11:00 pm instead of 9:00pm, as the pandemic seemed to slow. Since rivals boycotted the vote and then, the situation has worsened, Kenyatta said. declared they would form a rival “(Bed) occupancy has now gone up by more than 140% during the “transitional” government. 38 days of easing Covid measures,” he said. Security forces have blockad- The number of positive tests has also nearly quadrupled during ed access to homes of Ouattara’s this time. Turning to the sensitive issue of school closure, Kenyatta chief rivals, Henri Konan Bedie said that children already enrolled in the few classes that had resumed and Pascal Affi N’Guessan, after could continue to study, but all others would remain closed until Jan- offi cials accused the opposition uary. of plotting an “act of sedition” The ban on political meetings comes on the heels of rallies that against the government. have been blamed for fuelling the virus rebound – staged notably by The United States joined the Kenyatta, his vice president, William Ruto, and former opposition UN in calling for dialogue in the leader Raila Odinga. “The political class has continued to be the super West African state where more spreaders of this virus,” Wycliff e Oparanya, governor of the western than 40 people have been killed county of Kakamega and head of Kenya’s council of governors, said in clashes over Ouattara’s third yesterday. term since he announced he would run again in August. Two government support- ers were killed in a clash near equipment minister Amede Koffi Kouakou’s home in the central Gunmen kill 8 in town of Toumodi, a ruling party offi cial said. “Two young people from the minister’s entourage who wanted to help the minis- Debris of a road blockade is seen in a street caused by demonstrators during the post-election violence in Yamoussoukro yesterday. central Mali attack ter’s brother were shot dead” Tuesday night, Ouattara’s RHDP have food or medicine,” he told party spokesman Mamadou AFP. AFP militants. Mali has been strug- Toure said. Djedri N’Goran, a senior mem- Bamako gling to contain a militant insur- Toumodi was one of the areas ber of Bedie’s party, said fi ve gency that emerged in the north hit by violence over the week- members of Bedie’s family have in 2012 and prompted a military end election -- four people been arrested. unmen have killed eight intervention by France. were killed at the weekend when Opponents say Ouattara’s people in central Mali, a The extremists were routed houses were set ablaze during third term breaches the country’s Glocal offi cial and security in the French operation but re- clashes there. two-term presidential limit, but ministry staff er said yesterday, grouped. Today large stretches Toure also said the convoy the Ivorian leader contends that in the latest violence to hit the of the landlocked African state of communication minister a 2016 reform allowed him to run war-torn Sahel state. Militants remain outside of government and government spokesman again by resetting term limits attacked a minibus Tuesday, the control. Sidi Tiemoko Toure had come back to zero. offi cials said, which was travel- Fighting, which has some- under fire in the centre of the The crisis is another test for ling between the towns of Ban- times taken on an ethnic di- country, but there were no a region where Guinea is caught diagara and Bankass in central mension, has since spread to the casualties. The crisis has stoked up in its own post-election dis- Mali’s volatile Mopti region, centre of the country and neigh- fears Ivory Coast could slide into pute, Nigeria is emerging from which is prone to frequent mili- bouring Burkina Faso and Niger. the kind of violence that killed widespread unrest and Mali has tant attacks and ethnic killings. Thousands of soldiers and civil- 3,000 people a decade ago when a transition government follow- “Armed men opened fi re on ians have been killed, and hun- then president Laurent Gbagbo ing a coup. the minibus,” a local government dreds of thousands have had to refused to accept defeat by Ouat- The United Nations, African offi cial told AFP, adding that fl ee their homes. tara. Union and African bloc ECOWAS eight people died, four escaped Tuesday’s attack occurred Police fi red tear gas on Tues- called on Ivory Coast’s opposi- and eight were seriously wound- near the border with Burkina day to clear small groups of pro- tion to “respect constitutional ed, three of them children. An Faso, a region where militants testers near Bedie’s residence in order” and seek dialogue, while offi cial from Mali’s security min- also killed 12 Malian soldiers in a Abidjan’s Cocody district, where urging all sides to show “restraint istry, who also requested ano- raid in mid-October. security forces have blocked ac- to preserve human lives”. nymity, confi rmed the details of Anger at the confl ict fuelled cess roads around his home. The US called on Ivorian lead- A resident walks past a sign that reads: “Toumodi youth, you can go shopping, bush, market, tomorrow the attack and the death toll. protests against president Ibra- Security forces were also ers to respect the democratic we’ll do the same thing” that was placed on rubble in the market of Toumodi yesterday. The local government offi cial, him Boubacar Keita, culminating surrounding the homes of process and rule of law. “Griev- and a survivor interviewed by in his ouster in a military coup on N’Guessan and former minister ances related to the presidential sition to abandon its idea of a way for a new generation. But the the country in two, the north held AFP, both blamed the attack on August 18. Abdallah Mabri Toikeusse, an election must be resolved in a transitional government and for sudden death of his chosen suc- by rebels and the south by forces AFP reporter said. “We cannot peaceful and transparent manner Ouattara to “appease rather than cessor in July prompted him to of Gbagbo. Ouattara won a long- enter or leave my home,” said within the framework of the law,” oppress”, a diplomatic source seek a third term. postponed election in 2010 but Assoa Adou, secretary general of a statement from the US embassy said. The anger sparked by his de- Gbagbo refused to accept defeat. the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), said. In power for 10 years, Ouattara cision has revived memories of French forces eventually inter- close to former Gbagbo, from Western and African govern- said earlier this year that after his past Ivorian feuds with roots vened to help Ouattara loyalists Uganda names Jan 14 ments are pressing the oppo- second term he planned to make even before a 2002 civil war split oust the former president. his home. “They don’t care if we for presidential vote

AFP bid for the presidency. The po- Ethiopia PM orders riposte after ‘attack’ in restive Tigray Kampala litical mood is tense ahead of the vote. Wine, a 38-year-old opposition MP whose real name AFP ment by Abiy on social media the standoff between the federal the town of Dansha in western residential elections in is Robert Kyagulanyi, is famed Addis Ababa that the Tigray People’s Libera- government and the TPLF could Tigray. The assault on Dansha Uganda, which will nota- for pop songs about social jus- tion Front (TPLF) “has attacked spill over into violence. “This war was “repelled” by security forces Pbly pitch incumbent Yow- tice, poverty and corruption a military camp” in the northern is the worst possible outcome from Amhara region, which bor- eri Museveni, in power since that are widely followed by thiopia declared a state of region, and “tried to loot” mili- of the tensions that have been ders Tigray to the south, he add- 1986, against popular youth young Ugandans. emergency in Tigray af- tary assets. The attack resulted brewing,” said William Davison, ed. A separate statement from singer Bobi Wine, will be held He has been repeatedly ar- Eter Prime Minister Abiy in “many martyrs, injuries and an analyst with International Abiy’s offi ce accused the TPLF of on January 14, according to an rested, most recently on Tues- Ahmed said he ordered a military property damage”, Abiy said later Crisis Group. dressing its soldiers in uniforms official announcement yester- day, when he said he was also response to a deadly attack by the in a fi ve-minute address on state “Given Tigray’s relatively resembling those of the army of day. “beaten” and “tortured” after ruling party of the restive region television. strong security position, the neighbouring Eritrea to “impli- “The 14th day of January is registering his candidacy. His on a camp housing federal troops. “Our defence forces... have confl ict may well be protracted cate the Eritrean government in appointed polling day for presi- concerts are routinely banned A statement from Abiy’s of- been ordered to carry out their and disastrous,” he said, adding false claims of aggression against dential elections 2021,” the and public rallies broken up fi ce said the government made mission to save the country. The it could send “shockwaves” into the people of Tigray.” spokesman of the Independ- with tear gas. Museveni, 76, the declaration “recognising that fi nal point of the red line has been the wider Horn of Africa region. Tigray’s government said on ent Electoral Commission, Paul seized power at the head of a illegal and violent activities” crossed. Force is being used as Internet monitoring group regional state media that leader- Bukenya, said on Twitter. rebel army. He has had the con- in Tigray, a region locked in a the last measure to save the peo- PM Abiy Ahmed Netblocks reported that internet ship and rank-and-fi le soldiers The commission has called on stitution amended twice to al- long-running dispute with Addis ple and the country,” he said in appeared to have been cut in Tig- from the military’s Northern all candidates to attend a meet- low him to run for a sixth time Ababa, were threatening national an earlier post on Facebook and the state of emergency declara- ray as of 1am Tuesday. Abiy said Command, based in Mekele, ing on Thursday where the “de- in 2021, and filed his candidacy sovereignty, constitutional order Twitter. It was not immediately tion will entail. on state TV that “traitorous forc- “have decided to stand with the tailed programme” of the elec- Monday as the flag-bearer for and peace and security. clear what form the federal mili- But analysts and diplomats es” had turned on the military in Tigray people and the regional tion will be unveiled, he said. the ruling National Resistance It followed an announce- tary response might take, or what have been warning for weeks that the regional capital, Mekele, and government”. Eleven people have filed their Movement party. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, November 5, 2020 AMERICAS

SETBACK DECISION LAW AND ORDER WEATHER US formally exits Mississippi voters Brazil president’s son Eta dumps heavy rain on global climate pact back new flag charged with corruption Nicaragua and Honduras

The US formally exited the Paris Agreement Voters in Mississippi have approved a new Brazilian prosecutors yesterday charged Presi- Storm Eta pounded Nicaragua and Honduras with yesterday, fulfilling an old promise by President state flag that will feature the magnolia flower, dent Jair Bolsonaro’s son Flavio with corruption, torrential rain yesterday after unleashing major Donald Trump to withdraw the world’s second- months after the southern state retired its old accusing him of skimming money off the top floods and landslides over Central America, report- largest greenhouse gas emitter from the global banner bearing a Confederate battle emblem. of his staff ers’ salaries when he was a Rio de edly killing at least three people and stranding pact to fight climate change. But the outcome Mississippi’s flag was the last in the US to include Janeiro state lawmaker. The charges are the dozens of fishermen in the Atlantic. Eta, one of the of the tight US election contest will determine a symbol of the Confederacy, a collection of first to be brought in a series of investigations most powerful storms to strike Central America in for how long. Trump’s Democratic rival, Joe southern states where slavery was legal and involving the president’s family, and could prove years, hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane on Biden, has promised to rejoin the agreement if which seceded from the union in 1860. Many damaging for the far-right leader, who ran on an the five-step Saff ir-Simpson scale, before weaken- elected. “The US withdrawal will leave a gap in African Americans believe the flag carries racist anti-corruption platform. Rio state prosecutors ing to a tropical storm as it forged inland in the our regime, and the global eff orts to achieve the connotations, while white southerners argue accuse Flavio Bolsonaro, 39, of embezzlement, impoverished country. Homes, roads and key infra- goals and ambitions of the Paris Agreement,” it is a symbol of Southern heritage. US media money laundering and operating a criminal structure were battered by the force of the winds Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the reported that Mississippi voters had backed the enterprise from 2007 to 2018. His former driver and thousands of people evacuated. The deluge Men try to open a fence after the River Chirichil UN Framework Convention on Climate Change flag’s new design, which also will carry the words and fixer, Fabricio Queiroz, is also accused in the was so extreme in the northern Honduran city of El overflows following heavy rains due to Hurricane (UNFCCC), said.| “In God We Trust.” alleged scheme. Progreso that a prison was flooded to waist level. Eta in Toyos, Honduras yesterday. Polls plagued by misinformation about legitimate ballot counting Reuters tion may be contested or inac- Washington curate. Early yesterday, Twitter hid a Trump tweet that claimed “we nline misinformation are up BIG, but they are trying about the results of the to STEAL the Election” behind a OUS election continued label that said it was potentially to spread yesterday as President misleading. Donald Trump falsely claimed The company also restricted victory with millions of votes users’ ability to share the post. still to be counted and pushed Facebook added a label to the unfounded allegations about the same post, which had about counting of legitimate ballots. 23,000 shares, that said “fi nal re- Twitter marked Trump’s lat- sults may be diff erent from initial est tweet, in which he claimed vote counts as ballot counting will without evidence that “surprise continue for days or weeks.” ballot dumps” were aiding ri- A spokeswoman for Facebook val Joe Biden, as having content said it was not restricting the that was “disputed and might be reach or sharing of labelled con- misleading about an election or tent. other civic process.” She also said it would not fl ag There is no evidence of ballot premature claims of state wins, dumping and election experts only of the fi nal result of the say that fraud is very rare in US presidential race. President Donald Trump claps alongside US First Lady Melania Trump after speaking in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, early yesterday. voting. In every US presidential Twitter did not label a separate election, offi cials normally take post, in which Trump declared several days to process provi- “A big WIN!,” to which Facebook sional and mail-in ballots. added a notice that said votes The counting of additional were still being counted. ballots is no surprise, and neither Facebook said that following is the swing to Biden, which was Trump’s premature claims of vic- widely predicted and discussed tory it had started running top- extensively in the run-up to the of-feed notifi cations on Facebook Biden leads Trump in vote — including by Reuters. and its photo-sharing site Insta- Facebook and Twitter fl agged gram telling users that votes were multiple posts from the president still being counted and no winner as votes were still being counted, had been projected. in a real-time test of their rules on It said automatic labels were handling misinformation and pre- also being applied to both can- mature claims of victory. didates’ posts with this informa- battleground Wisconsin The White House did not im- tion. Twitter also fl agged early mediately respond to a request victory claims by state-level of- Reuters claim of victory and unsubstan- A Biden victory in Wiscon- votes, which are largely based on cy,” said Bauer, adding that the for comment. fi cials from both parties. Washington tiated allegations of electoral sin would signifi cantly narrow a state’s population. campaign’s legal team was pre- But even as the companies After the chair of the Demo- fraud. Trump’s path to a second four- In duelling conference calls with pared for any challenge. moved to label posts by the pres- cratic Party of Wisconsin tweet- Biden also led in another criti- year term, though the outcome reporters earlier yesterday, offi - Trump continued to make ident, his false claims of victory ed that Democratic candidate Joe emocrat Joe Biden held a cal Midwestern battleground remained in doubt with Michi- cials from each campaign insisted baseless attacks on the vote- and unsubstantiated allegations Biden had secured victory in his narrow lead in Wisconsin state — Michigan — as he and gan and other closely contested their candidate would prevail. counting process on Twitter yes- of electoral fraud triggered on- state, Twitter attached a notice Dyesterday after offi cials Trump raced to get to the 270 states including Pennsylvania, “If we count all legal ballots, terday, hours after he appeared line furore and misinformation. saying: “Some or all of the con- completed their vote count in the electoral votes in the state-by- Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and we win,” Trump campaign man- at the White House and declared Social media companies have tent shared in this Tweet is dis- pivotal state, a major boost in his state Electoral College needed to North Carolina still counting ager Bill Stepien said, potentially victory in an election that was far been under fi erce scrutiny over puted and might be misleading quest to win the US presidency win the White House. votes. setting the stage for post-elec- from decided. how they police rapidly spread- about an election or other civic from Donald Trump despite the Trump won Wisconsin and Trump led in the two Southern tion litigation over the counting Both Facebook and Twitter ing false information and elec- process.” Republican incumbent’s false Michigan in his 2016 election states, Georgia and North Caro- of mail-in ballots. fl agged multiple posts from the tion-related abuses of their plat- victory. lina, as well as in Pennsylvania, Biden campaign manager Jen- president for promoting mis- forms. Wisconsin offi cials fi nished where more than 1mn ballots nifer O’Malley Dillon told re- leading claims. In the weeks before Tuesday’s their tally at around midday af- were yet to be processed. porters the former vice president “We were getting ready to win vote, both vowed action on posts ter an all-night eff ort, showing But if Trump loses Wisconsin, was on track to win the election, this election. Frankly, we did win by candidates trying to declare Biden with a lead of just over he would have to win all three as while senior legal adviser Bob this election,” Trump said before early victory. 20,000 votes, or 0.6%, according well as either Arizona or Nevada, Bauer said there were no grounds launching an extraordinary at- Twitter also applied labels to to Edison Research. where Biden was leading in the for Trump to invalidate lawfully tack on the electoral process by a posts by Democrat and Republi- The Trump campaign immedi- latest vote counts. cast ballots. sitting president. “This is a major can offi cials in the battleground ately said it would seek a recount, At the moment, not including “We’re going to defend this fraud on our nation. We want the states of Wisconsin and Florida, which is permitted under state Wisconsin, Biden leads Trump vote, the vote by which Joe Biden law to be used in a proper man- warning users that the informa- law when the margin is below 1%. 227 to 213 in Electoral College has been elected to the presiden- ner.” Kanye West notches Uncertain outcome opens way for protests some 60,000 votes Reuters The protest fl yer called peo- Detroit ple to action to stop Trump from “stealing the election.” Demo- AFP designer saw his highest num- West — and said who becomes crat-leaning activists were plan- New York bers in Tennessee, where some the president is less important fter months of protests ning “protect the vote” rallies 10,000 people cast their ballots than vowing to push the future about racism and police around Michigan, including one for West, according to The New leader to listen. Abrutality, the US is now in front of the state capitol in he US was on knife’s edge York Times. “It’s like everybody’s being likely to see street demonstra- Lansing. yesterday waiting for elec- The mogul who once voiced distracted by who is going to tions over the cliff hanger presi- “The message is that Michi- Ttoral results, but the fate of ardent support for Donald win,” he said. dential election, after President gan is fi ghting back and every one candidate was clear: enter- Trump made a social media show “It doesn’t really matter who’s Donald Trump falsely claimed vote must be counted,” said tainer Kanye West will not win of casting his own ballot in Wyo- going to win if we have a plan in victory and called for voting to Kenny Williams Jr., a spokes- the 2020 presidential race — but ming, saying it was his fi rst ever. place to present to that presi- stop. man for Detroit Action, one of still has future aspirations. West wrote himself in on the dent about what we need to have About 100 people gathered the groups organising a march The mercurial rapper, who ballot in the western state where done.” for an interfaith event be- in Detroit. “We understand that decided to run for the nation’s he failed to qualify to have his But more broadly the cam- fore a planned march through Republicans will likely try every highest offi ce late in the game as name on the ticket. paign by Kim Kardashian’s hus- downtown Detroit, in the bat- trick in the book to win this an independent candidate under According to the picture the band, who suff ers from bipolar tleground state of Michigan, election. But we are making our the Birthday Party, received ap- rapper posted of his ballot, he did disorder, raised more questions yesterday morning to demand voices heard in saying that every proximately 60,000 votes from not participate in any of the con- than enthusiasm. a full vote count and what they vote must be counted.” the 12 states where he managed gressional or local races. West long ago broke ranks with called a peaceful transition of The excruciatingly close elec- to get on the ballot. “Today I am voting for the fi rst most of the left-leaning enter- power. tion hung in the balance, with His numbers were less than a time in my life for the president tainment industry to loudly voice “We are coming together as a handful of closely contested pin drop in a razor-thin presi- of the United States, and it’s for his support for Trump. Jews, Christians and Muslims states set to decide the outcome dential race, with Democrat Joe someone I truly trust...me.” In 2018, they met in the Oval to raise our moral voices that in the coming hours or days. Biden holding the slimmest of Later he appeared to concede Offi ce — a surreal tete-a-tete we want peace in our society. Trump falsely claimed victory leads over Republican incumbent defeat while hinting at a future that included a hug from the rap- Whether we are a Democrats or in the early hours of the morning Donald Trump as many ballots run, tweeting: “KANYE 2024.” per as well as an on-camera rant. Republicans, we are all human and made unsubstantiated al- were still being counted in key Big Brooklyn, a 31-year-old But in 2019 he said his support Rep, Rashida Talib (D-MI) walks with protesters who want every beings and we are all Ameri- legations of electoral fraud in an states. rapper and music producer, said for Trump had been a way to razz vote counted from the 2020 presidential election, down Woodward cans,” said Dawud Walid, an extraordinary attack on the elec- The hip hop star and fashion in Times Square he had voted for Democrats. Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, yesterday. imam. toral process. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

UK prepares for vaccine as Oxford forecasts result this year

Reuters changer in the battle against the “I’m optimistic that we could made on who should receive it. sible Covid-19 vaccines before oNTech in early December and if vector vaccine, called AZD1222 London coronavirus, which has killed reach that point before the end “Our bit — we are getting clos- Christmas in case one is ready by we get that then I think we have or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, began in more than 1.2mn people world- of this year,” Oxford Vaccine Trial er to but we are not there yet,” the end of the year. got the possibility of deploying January. wide, shuttered swathes of the chief investigator Andrew Pol- Pollard, director of the Oxford The Oxford/AstraZeneca vac- by the year end,” Kate Bingham, It is made from a weakened ate-stage trial results of a global economy and turned nor- lard said of the chances of pre- Vaccine Group, said. cine is expected to be one of the the chair of the UK Vaccine Task- version of a common cold virus potential Covid-19 vac- mal life upside down for billions senting trial results. Asked if he expected the vac- fi rst from big pharma to be sub- force, told lawmakers. that causes infections in chim- Lcine being developed by the of people. Pollard told British lawmak- cine would start to be deployed mitted for regulatory approval, Prime Minister Boris Johnson panzees. University of Oxford and Astra- There are more than 200 can- ers that establishing whether or before Christmas, he said: along with Pfi zer and BioNTech’s said there was the prospect of The chimpanzee cold virus has Zeneca could be presented this didates under development and not the vaccine worked would “There is a small chance of that candidate. a vaccine in the fi rst quarter of been genetically changed to in- year as the government prepares the vaccine being developed by likely come this year, after being possible but I just don’t “If I put on my rose-tinted 2021. clude the genetic sequence of the for a possible vaccination rollout Oxford and licensed to British which the data would have to be know.” The National Health specs, I would hope that we will AstraZeneca is presenting its so-called spike protein which the in late December or early 2021. drugmaker AstraZeneca is seen carefully reviewed by regulators Service (NHS) in England is pre- see positive interim data from third quarter fi nancial results coronavirus uses to gain entry to A vaccine is seen as a game- as a front-runner. and then a political decision paring to start distributing pos- both Oxford and from Pfi zer/Bi- today. Work on the Oxford viral human cells. Ministers blasted for New lockdown decision

Daily Mail London will end on inisters were blasted after it emerged they Mhad decided to plunge England into another lockdown without a full assessment of the economic impact. December 2, Tory MPs led by Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the back- bench 1922 Committee, had de- manded the release of the Treas- ury’s assessment of the eff ect of a shutdown on jobs. insists premier But Robert Jenrick, the hous- ing secretary, admitted that no such document exists. AFP nesses, to get shops open again news agency, unswayed by a Backbenchers expressed as- London in the run-up to Christmas,” briefing by government scien- tonishment that Boris Johnson Johnson said. tists and direct talks with John- had taken such a momentous Britain is among the world’s son in recent days. decision without apparently rime Minister Boris John- hardest-hit countries with But the National Health having been presented with pre- son yesterday insisted nearly 48,000 deaths linked to Service, which runs state hos- dictions on numbers of jobs that Pthat a looming new coro- the coronavirus from just over pitals, said the autumn resur- could be lost or businesses that navirus lockdown for England 1mn positive cases. gence of Covid-19 was forcing could fail. would end “automatically” in A total of 492 deaths, within it to adopt an emergency foot- They said it meant the prime four weeks, as he tried to pla- 28 days of a positive test, were ing when the new lockdown minister had not taken a ‘bal- cate party critics over the spi- recorded yesterday — the high- comes into force. anced’ judgment and had con- ralling economic fallout. est since mid-May. “Unfortunately we are once sidered only dire predictions Following a first lockdown England will join the other again facing a serious situa- from scientists on the Sage com- in March, the second round of nations of the United Kingdom tion,” NHS England chief exec- mittee on how the NHS would restrictions came into effect at — Scotland, Wales and North- utive Simon Stevens told a news fare without a lockdown. 0001 GMT yesterday, but Prime ern Ireland — in imposing an- conference. Sir Graham said it was “deeply Minister Johnson told parlia- other lockdown, in line with “This is not a situation any- troubling” that no such impact ment the measures would be European nations including body would like to find them- assessment was available. lifted in time to give England France and Germany. selves in.” One business leader said it the chance of a more normal “When I look at what is hap- Finance Minister Rishi Sunak was a “terrible admission” and Christmas. pening now among some of our will detail new financial sup- that the lockdown would lead to Last weekend, Johnson aban- continental friends, and I see port measures today, the gov- a “stratospheric economic cost doned a new system of regional doctors who have tested posi- ernment said. per Covid case reduced”. curbs and announced an Eng- tive being ordered to work on Also today, the Bank of Eng- Senior MPs accused chief sci- land-wide lockdown after dire Covid wards and patients air- land is expected at its latest entifi c adviser Sir Patrick Val- warnings that hospitals could lifted to hospital in some other policy meeting to boost its cash lance and chief medical offi cer soon be overwhelmed with countries simply to make space, stimulus to fight the pandem- Chris Whitty of bouncing the Covid-19 cases. I can reach only one conclu- ic’s economic fallout. prime minister into agreeing to a Senior minister Michael Gove sion,” Johnson said. The UK central bank is widely second lockdown. then indicated the lockdown “I’m not prepared to take the predicted to pump out an extra Sir Patrick admitted that the could last beyond a December risk with the lives of the British £100bn under its long-running lockdown would have serious 2 cut-off if it failed to bring in- people.” “quantitative easing” pro- economic consequences, but he fection rates down. The English lockdown meas- gramme, bringing the total to told MPs it was the job of minis- And the leader of the main ures include a return to working £845bn. ters to balance those against the opposition Labour party, Keir from home where possible and The BoE is also likely to revise public health needs. Starmer, told Johnson in par- the closure of all non-essential down its forecasts for UK eco- He said it was an “interesting liament that it would be “mad- shops and services. nomic growth, amid deadlock question” why ministers have ness” to end the measures on Hours before they take effect, over Britain’s post-Brexit trade refused to publish forecasts on schedule if cases are still ris- the measures were overwhelm- agreement with the European the economic impact of lock- ing. ingly passed in the House of Union. down, adding: “The science ad- But the prime minister Commons, but 38 MPs voted Brexit and the pandemic pose vice is very clearly public – the pointed to plans to launch a against. a double-whammy for hard- other advice is less visible.” city-wide testing pilot scheme Some members of Johnson’s pressed companies, many of One economic forecaster in Liverpool tomorrow as a own Conservative party are whom have been laying off staff said the decision could see un- precursor to a nationwide pro- deeply unhappy at the impact despite direct government sup- employment soar to more than gramme, and said the lock- on the economy, on civil liber- port for wages. 3mn. Sir Graham fi rst demanded down would “end automati- ties and on mental health. Department store chain John the release of the impact as- cally on December 2”. “I decided that what we were Lewis said it was cutting 1,500 sessments on Monday, when he “We will then, I hope very being fed was propaganda and jobs, while retailer Marks & challenged Johnson in parlia- Shoppers wearing protective face masks walk on Oxford Street, after new nationwide restrictions were much, be able to get this coun- not the full facts,” Tory back- Spencer posted its first-ever ment. announced during the coronavirus disease outbreak in London, Britain, yesterday. try going again, to get busi- bencher Peter Bone told the PA loss.

Field of Remembrance BBC forced to agree to Ireland to begin EU ‘traffi c light’ travel system probe Diana interview Reuters rival. The requirement for “red” Dublin country arrivals to quarantine for 14 days remains, but the govern- Daily Mail failed to consult him over, as a pered at the moment by the ment plans that “within a short London “whitewash”. simple fact that we are unable reland will start implement- number of weeks” this too can be The earl told the Daily Mail: “I to discuss any of this with Mar- ing the European Union’s waived following a negative test have declined the DG’s off er of tin Bashir, as he is seriously un- I“traffi c light” system for result taken fi ve days after ar- he BBC has been forced an internal BBC investigation, well. non-essential EU travellers such rival, Ryan said. into a humiliating U-turn given how deeply concerning “When he is well, we will of as tourists from November 8, Children under six will be ex- Tin the furious row over its the 1996 one was to me, and I course hold an investigation easing some of the bloc’s tight- empt and arrivals will have to historic interview with Princess have told him I am going to seek into these new issues.” est restrictions, Tourist Minister pay for their own test, Ryan said, Diana. an independent inquiry.” The investigation is likely to Eamon Ryan said yesterday. adding that its adaptation of the The corporation said it would The corporation had rejected focus on the internal and limited Ireland began allowing quar- EU system was similar to Ger- hold a fresh inquiry into claims calls for another investigation inquiry the corporation held antine-free access in July from many and the United Kingdom. from Diana’s brother that Mar- on the grounds that Bashir, cur- into circumstances surrounding European countries with rela- EU nations have been encour- tin Bashir secured the sensa- rently BBC News religion editor, the 1995 broadcast, which was tively low numbers of Covid-19 aged to apply “proportionate” tional scoop in 1995 through is ill with Covid complications. watched by 23mn people. cases, a measure that opened measures for medium-risk or- ‘sheer dishonesty’. But following the Mail’s rev- Diana sensationally admitted up travel with 15 countries for a ange and high-risk red zones, Charles Spencer says the elations, a spokesman said it “there were three people in the short period, although that has such as a quarantine or a test journalist showed him forged would now review the matter marriage’ – a reference to her fallen to zero in recent weeks as rather than a blanket bar on en- bank statements to clinch an in- after he had recovered. husband Charles’s relationship infections across the region rise try. troduction to the princess. A spokesman said: “The BBC with Camilla Parker Bowles. again. A green status under the EU And the earl has accused Ba- has apologised. We are happy to Within months of the pro- In line with EU guideline, the model applies to regions with shir of peddling vile and slan- repeat that apology. And while gramme being aired, concern so-called “green list” will remain fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 derous claims about senior roy- this was a quarter of a century had been raised by whistle- but those arriving from regions people in 14 days and where the als as part of a “web of deceit”. ago, we absolutely will inves- blowers that a BBC graphic art- designated as “orange” — cur- percentage of positive tests is be- He rejected the BBC’s of- tigate, robustly and fairly, sub- ist had been asked by Bashir to rently a handful of EU countries low 4%. fer, saying he had no faith in its stantive new information. fake a bank statement purport- — will not need to restrict their Red means infection rates of ability to investigate the alleged “We have asked Lord Spen- ing to show that Earl Spencer’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of the Friends of movements if they produce a 50 or more and positive tests of wrongdoing robustly or fairly. cer to share further information head of security was receiving Westonbirt Arboretum, poses for a photo during her visit negative Polymerase Chain Re- 4% or higher or infection rates of He has already dismissed an with the BBC. illicit payments for information in Westonbirt, Britain, yesterday. action (PCR) result from a test over 150 even with a low positive earlier inquiry, which the BBC “Unfortunately, we are ham- about the family. taken up to three days before ar- test rate. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, November 5, 2020 EUROPE Austria ‘was warned attacker tried to buy ammunition’

AFP/Reuters (Austria’s domestic intelligence Fejzulai had been convicted and lition government between the Meanwhile, Austrian Interior fi rmed that two men arrested the two men who were arrested Vienna service) the BVT about the at- sentenced to 22 months in prison centre-right and far-right which Minister Karl Nehammer yes- near Zurich were “obviously in Winterthur knew each other,” tacker,” Karl Nehammer told a in April last year for trying to travel took offi ce in December 2017 and terday said video evidence con- friends” of the gunman and said a spokesman for Keller-Sutter’s press conference. to Syria and join the IS group. collapsed in May 2019. fi rms that a gunman who killed police were investigating the full ministry told Reuters in an e- ustria’s intelligence serv- “The information was that he But he was released on proba- Nehammer said he wanted a four people in Vienna on Monday extent of their relationship with mail yesterday. ices was warned that the wanted to get ammunition,” he tion in December. commission to be set up to look acted alone. Nehammer said the him. “Authorities are investigating Agunman who carried out said. “In the next steps there was Nehammer accused his far- into fl aws in the functioning of gunman, who was shot dead by Swiss Justice Minister Karin in close co-ordination the nature the Vienna shootings had tried to clearly a failure of communica- right predecessor of being re- the intelligence services. police, had “perfectly” fooled a Keller-Sutter, in a panel dis- of their relationship.” procure ammunition, the interior tion.” sponsible for failings in the way Kickl came under fi re in 2018 programme to reintegrate mili- cussion shown on the St. Galler Both men, whose names have minister said yesterday, as the Four people were killed when the BVT operates, saying the when under his watch police tants into society. Tagblatt newspaper’s website, not been released, are already the country probes security failings the gunman, named as convicted agency “suff ered lasting damage, raided the offi ces and homes of Austrian authorities arrested said the two arrested men were subject of two criminal cases be- ahead of the attack. Islamic State supporter Kujtim if not to say was destroyed” un- senior BVT offi cials. 14 people after the attack. “obviously friends” of the gun- ing prosecuted by the Swiss at- “In the last few hours informa- Fejzulai, 20, went on the rampage der Herbert Kickl. Kickl insisted that the raids All were aged between 18 and man. torney general’s offi ce (OAG) and tion has come to light that some in Vienna on Monday evening. He said the agency had “been were above board but some of 28 and had migration back- She said they had met “in per- which were opened in 2018 and time prior to the terror attack, He was later shot dead by po- shaken to its foundations” during them were declared illegal by a grounds. Some had foreign citi- son” but did not say when. 2019, the Swiss attorney gener- Slovakian intelligence informed lice. Kickl’s time in offi ce under a coa- Vienna court. zenship Swiss authorities con- “The suspect in Vienna and al’s told Reuters in an e-mail.

Denmark to cull Italy to enforce entire mink population curfew as

Reuters Copenhagen

enmark will cull its mink Europe tries to population of up to 17mn Dafter a mutation of the coronavirus found in the animals spread to humans, the prime minister said yesterday. Health authorities found virus stem virus surge strains in humans and in mink which showed decreased sen- sitivity against antibodies, po- AFP The virus fi gures from the US them without masks,” Officer tentially lowering the effi cacy of Rome are dire, but Europe too is reel- Bart Verbeeren told AFP, de- future vaccines, Prime Minister ing from an upsurge that lead- scribing how he issued 37 fines Mette Frederiksen said at a press ers have admitted took them by in one go. conference. talian offi cials yesterday surprise. Belgium has, however, al- “We have a great responsibil- agreed to impose a night- “There is only one way out lowed bookshops to stay ity towards our own population, Itime curfew, joining a slew of this dramatic period: to re- open — unlike neighbouring but with the mutation that has of European nations in ramp- main united. Always,” said Ital- France, which has ordered now been found, we have an even ing up restrictions to reverse a ian Prime Minister Giuseppe them shut along with book greater responsibility for the rest dramatic surge in coronavirus Conte. sections in supermarkets and of the world as well,” she said. cases. He has struggled to build a libraries. “The mutated virus in mink Governments in Europe are coalition backing more strin- “It’s incredible; it makes the may pose a risk to the eff ective- struggling to get a hold of a gent measures — with defi ance book a totally forbidden prod- ness of a future vaccine,” Freder- pandemic that has now infected from regional leaders and spo- uct,” Helene Brochard, direc- iksen said, adding that it “risks more than 11mn on the conti- radic street protests marring tor of a library near the Belgian being spread from Denmark to nent. attempts last week to enforce a border, told AFP. “The message other countries.” Yesterday saw Russia an- national 6pm closing time for being sent is catastrophic.” The fi ndings, which have been nounce nearly 20,000 new restaurants. Senior political fi gures, shared with the World Health infections and 389 additional Italian offi cials agreed on a meanwhile, continue to fall vic- Organisation and the European deaths, both daily records that measure restricting citizens to tim to the virus. Centre for Disease Prevention upped pressure on the govern- their homes between 10pm and Hungary’s Foreign Minister and Control, were based on lab- ment only days after President 5am Peter Szijjarto tested positive oratory tests by the State Serum Vladimir Putin said there were The national curfew was shortly after holding talks with Institute, the Danish authority no plans for a lockdown. less stringent than rules im- Cambodian Prime Minister dealing with infectious diseases. Russia has listed a total of posed in France, Belgium and Hun Sen, who later said he had The head of WHO’s emer- nearly 1.7mn infections and Germany. been given the all clear despite gencies programme, Mike Ryan, more than 29,000 deaths. And combined with a tiered being pictured without a mask on Friday called for full-scale The US remains the worst- system of risk where the most during the meeting. scientifi c investigations of the aff ected country with more aff ected zones will see lock- Denmark’s Prime Minis- “complex, complex issue” of hu- than 9mn cases and 230,000 downs, it appeared to have pla- ter Mette Frederiksen and two mans — outside China — infect- deaths. cated local politicians. thirds of her government went ing mink which in turn trans- President Donald Trump, Measures imposed this week into isolation yesterday after mitted the virus back to humans. who has been widely criticised in countries from Britain to the justice minister tested posi- Outbreaks at mink farms have for his virus policies, faced off Turkey are not as draconian tive. persisted in the Nordic country, with Joe Biden on election day as those imposed earlier in the With alarm over the virus the world’s largest producer of Tuesday, with tens of millions year, but they have been resist- sweeping the world’s ruling mink furs, despite repeated ef- of mask-wearing Americans ed by many business owners, classes, one global fi gure taking forts to cull infected animals streaming to the polls. politicians particularly from the renewed care over virus meas- since June. The virus has transformed right, and large sections of the ures was Pope Francis, who had The country’s police, army the election, with many mil- population. been criticised for continuing to and home guard would be de- lions avoiding the queues and Belgium is facing one of the mix with his fl ock. ployed in order to speed up the the risk of infection by return- world’s most intense outbreaks “Unfortunately, we are back culling process, Frederiksen ing postal votes before election and has imposed a strict cur- to doing this audience in the said. Tougher lockdown restric- day. few — enforced stringently by library in order to protect our- tions and intensifi ed tracing ef- With results from crucial police. selves from the infections of forts would be implemented to battleground states not yet re- “The curtain is closed, the Covid,” said the Pope yester- contain the virus in some areas Demonstrators take part in a protest against the government’s decision to close the facilities of sports turned, the election was on a light is dimmed. When you get day as he streamed his weekly of Northern Denmark, home to a associations of gyms and swimming pools, in front of Montecitorio palace, the Italian parliament, in central knife-edge yesterday with nei- closer, you hear noise inside: general audience from the large number of mink farms, au- Rome yesterday. Italy shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops in a desperate bid to halt the ther candidate taking a decisive we found 30 or so people hid- Vatican Library rather than in thorities said. spread of a coronavirus that has killed 827 in the country in just over two weeks. lead. ing in the back, almost all of person. Massive iceberg threatens ‘Serious’ gaps still in remote penguin sanctuary The world’s biggest iceberg which means it could park is on a collision course with a dangerously close to the island. remote South Atlantic island “We put the odds of collision at Brexit trade talks: EU that is home to thousands of 50/50,” Andrew Fleming from penguins and seals, and could the British Antarctic Survey impede their ability to gather said. Reuters “The EU is prepared for all about a deal,” said the senior food, scientists said yesterday. Many thousands of King Brussels scenarios.” diplomat who spoke under con- Icebergs naturally break penguins — a species with a He spoke after two weeks of dition of anonymity. off from Antarctica into the bright splash of yellow on their intensifi ed negotiations failed A senior EU offi cial said there ocean, but climate change heads — live on the island, he European Union’s to yield a breakthrough on the had only been “mild progress” has accelerated the process alongside Macaroni, Chinstrap Brexit negotiator yes- chronic sticking points: fi xing in the negotiations, which will — in this case, with potentially and Gentoo penguins. Tterday said “very serious new fi shing rights, guaranteeing continue next week. devastating consequences for Seals also populate South divergences” remained in trade fair economic competition for “The UK does not seem to be abundant wildlife in the British Georgia, as do wandering talks with Britain and suggested companies, and agreeing ways to engaging suffi ciently on key is- Overseas Territory of South albatrosses, the largest bird the bloc would rather accept solve any future trade disputes. sues,” said another EU diplomat. Georgia. species that can fly. disruptions in commerce in “Given this situation, a no-deal Shaped like a closed hand with If the iceberg runs aground eight weeks’ time than yield on “Despite EU eff orts to fi nd outcome can’t be excluded.” a pointing finger, the iceberg next to South Georgia, foraging its principles. solutions, very serious Should Britain and the EU known as A68a split off in routes could be blocked, Britain left the EU in January divergences remain part ways without a new pact 2017 from Larsen Ice Shelf on hampering the ability of and talks on salvaging a tril- in level playing fi eld, to govern ties on anything from the West Antarctic Peninsula, penguin parents to feed their lion dollars worth of annual free governance & fi sheries. trade to energy to social secu- which has warmed faster young, and thus threatening trade between the estranged al- These are essential rity, the fallout would aggra- than any other part of Earth’s the survival of seal pups and lies are now in their fi nal stretch conditions for any vate economic malaise on both southernmost continent. penguin chicks. before London’s transition out economic partnership” sides induced by the coronavi- At its current rate of travel, it “Global numbers of penguins of the bloc completes on De- rus pandemic, now in its sec- will take the giant ice cube — and seals would drop by a cember 31. During a closed-door briefi ng ond wave. which is several times the area large margin,” Geraint Tarling, “Despite EU efforts to find with 27 national envoys to EU Another senior EU diplomat of greater London — 20 to 30 also from the British Antarctic solutions, very serious diver- hub Brussels yesterday, Barnier told of Barnier’s latest assess- days to run aground into the Survey, told AFP in an interview. gences remain in level playing gave no timeline or even any ment, said: “The mood wasn’t island’s shallow waters. The incoming iceberg would field, governance & fisheries. certainty that a trade deal be- exuberant but it wasn’t de- A68a is 160kms long and also crush organisms and These are essential conditions tween the bloc and Britain would spondent either. 48kms across at its widest their seafloor ecosystem, for any economic partnership,” be clinched by a mid-November “We’re not in the home European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier point, but the iceberg is which would need decades or Michel Barnier wrote on Twit- deadline, one participant said. straight but we are in the end- wearing a protective mask arrives at the European Council for less than 200 metres deep, centuries to recover. ter. “He was rather uncertain game.” a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 17 INDIA Ban adds to worries of Sivakasi’s fi reworks manufacturers

IANS Industry players and common The National Green Tribu- er uncertainties the production provided by the Council of Sci- political parties in Tamil Nadu 500,000 workers are in the allied Chennai people feel that Diwali festival is nal too wants fi recrackers to be of fi recrackers this year was cut entifi c and Industrial Research have failed to espouse their sectors. being “targeted by vested inter- banned this year, he added. by 35%. (CSIR) and the National Envi- cause. The fi recrackers manufac- ests”. “If sales are banned, then our “Till now, fi recracker sales is ronmental Engineering Research “It was only Nirmala Sith- tured in factories in Sivakasi are lready faced with reduced “There has been a consistent payments from wholesale deal- good in states like Tamil Nadu, Institute (NEERI). araman, when she was the Un- valued at around Rs2,500 crore, production owing to the attack on the industry for a long ers will take time to be realised, Andhra Pradesh, Maharash- “The NEERI claims that the ion Commerce Minister, who while the retail sales total around Acoronavirus pandemic, time on one pretext or other. Di- which in turn will impact our tra, Kerala and others,” Rajen- emission levels have gone down by took an active interest in matters Rs6,000 crore. fi recracker manufacturing in- wali is one festival that is cel- loan repayments and payments dra Raja, vice-president, Indian 30%. If that is the case, why should concerning us, like a ban on im- This year, production may be dustry in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi ebrated across the country and to our raw material suppliers,” Fireworks Manufacturers’ Asso- the fi recrackers be banned,” the port of Chinese fi recrackers and just around Rs1,800 crore. district is now more worried Sivakasi’s fi recrackers provide Asaithambi said. ciation, said. manufacturers asked. reduction of Goods and Service The fi reworks industry has about its future prospects as a reason for the people to cel- More important is the liveli- Compared to pollution caused “There are many festivals in Tax,” Asaithambi said. been targeted in the past as well. states like Rajasthan, Odisha and ebrate,” former Tamil Nadu Fire- hood issue for workers due to by automobiles and other sourc- India for which people buy new Sivakasi in Virudhunagar dis- First, the manufacturers were West Bengal have banned sale of works Manufacturers Associa- reduced or complete halt on pro- es, they said fi recrackers only clothes, make sweets at home, trict in Tamil Nadu accounts targeted for employing child la- fi recrackers ahead of the Diwali tion president T Asaithambi said. duction of fi recrackers as dealers caused negligible pollution and and greet friends. Diwali is only for nearly 90% of the country’s bour, followed by accusations festival. He said that for the past two and retailers will be saddled with that too for a short period of national festival where fi re- fi recracker production, and has about noise pollution. They say the livelihood of years, the industry was bogged unsold stocks that they may car- time. crackers are used,” an industry 1,070 fi recracker units located in “Next time, there may be hundreds of thousands of work- down by the issue of manufac- ry over to the next Diwali. Industry offi cials said they are offi cial said. and around the city. claims that light emitted by fi re- ers involved in the manufactur- turing ‘green crackers’ that emit Industry stakeholders said manufacturing ‘green crackers’ Manufacturers are also ag- About 300,000 workers are crackers is injurious to human ing process is under threat. less smoke. that owing to lockdown and oth- in accordance with formulations grieved that some of the major directly employed while another eye,” said an industry player.

CBI can’t carry out investigations without govt’s approval: Kerala

IANS arrest any Life Mission offi cial Thiruvananthapuram for two months. Since then, Vijayan was up- set and fi rst he sought clearance he Kerala government from the national leadership of yesterday said the Central the Communist Party of India TBureau of Investigation (Marxist) for his decision and the can no more carry out investi- sanction was given instantly and gations in the state without its later he brought it before the cab- permission. inet, and that was also cleared. The decision to withdraw the Following yesterday’s deci- general consent given to the CBI sion, the CBI now has to take the was taken at a meeting of the permission of the state govern- Activists and supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hold placards and shout slogans while Goswami sits inside a police van outside a court after he was state cabinet. Kerala thus joins ment for conducting a probe, protesting against the arrest of Arnab Goswami, in Mumbai yesterday. arrested, at Alibaug. states like West Bengal, Ma- but it’s not required if the probe harashtra and Madhya Pradesh, is recommended by a court. which had earlier withdrawn the The consent issue however general consent. will not be applicable to cases The Kerala decision was ex- which are already being probed. pected ever since the CBI arrived Reacting to the decision, state in the state to conduct a probe BJP president K Surendran said into the Life Mission project Vijayan is worried by the turn which provides homes for the of events after the probe com- Arrest of top TV news homeless and is a pet project of menced. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “Vijayan knows the CBI probe The Life Mission project in will soon reach his doorstep in- Thrissur ran into trouble soon af- cluding his family, so one can un- ter the now infamous gold smug- derstand what’s going through his gling case surfaced on July 5. mind and it’s best that he remem- The prime accused in the bers it’s not the Congress party anchor sparks outrage gold smuggling case is Swapna which rules at the Centre. The CBI Suresh and her links to the Life will continue to do its job in Kerala Agencies and taking him away in a van. taking his own life. Reports said eral states ruled by the party. sought to know whether Gos- Mission project surfaced when and Vijayan will not be able to do Mumbai Republic, in the statement, a suicide note blamed Goswami Scores of BJP supporters pro- wami was “their party member” it was found out that a stagger- anything,” said Surendran. said Goswami and his son were and two others for not paying tested against Goswami’s arrest and asked why the BJP leaders ing sum of Rs9 crores was paid as In other developments, the physically assaulted by the po- fees of Rs54mn. in Mumbai, carrying placards did not protest when another commission from the total cost Congress demanded the res- ontroversial TV news lice and access to his legal team Goswami’s arrest in Mahar- emblazoned with the slogan journalist and former head of of Rs20 crores. ignation of Kerala CPM state anchor Arnab Goswami, was denied. ashtra state, which is ruled by a #EmergencyInMaharashtra. Tehelka news Tarun Tejpal was When local Congress legisla- secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Cknown for infl amma- A spokesperson for Mumbai coalition of Shiv Sena, the Na- The Editors Guild of India arrested a few years ago. tor Anil Akkara wrote to the CBI from his post following raids tory right-wing rhetoric, was police said the arrests were car- tionalist Congress Party and the also condemned Goswami’s Police in April registered a about the alleged corrupt deal, by the Enforcement Directorate arrested yesterday in Mumbai ried out by offi cers from Alibaug Congress opposed to the BJP, “sudden arrest” in a statement case against Goswami for in- the agency took up the case, (ED) on his son’s properties. in connection with the suicide in the neighbouring Raigad dis- triggered outrage among gov- and called on Maharashtra citing religious discord after he leaving Vijayan red faced. Bineesh Balakrishnan is in the of a designer who worked on trict. ernment ministers. Chief Minister Uddhav Thack- criticised opposition leader So- With the CBI fast tracking the ED custody. his channel’s offi ces, prompt- Republic TV has been ac- Goswami is a vociferous sup- eray to ensure he was “treated nia Gandhi during a show. probe and calling senior IAS of- “It is high time that Balakrishnan ing outrage from the Bharatiya cused in the past of illegally rig- porter of the BJP. fairly and state power is not Goswami’s most recent fi cial U V Jose for questioning, quits his post in the wake of ED raid Janata Party and its ministers in ging ratings by bribing people to “The arrest of Arnab Goswa- used against critical reporting drumbeat has been the sui- the Congress and the Bharatiya at his house and as his younger Prime Minister Narendra Mo- watch the channel. mi is an attack on the freedom by the media.” cide of Bollywood star Sushant Janata Party stepped their attack son’s interrogation continues in di’s government. Mumbai police offi cial Sudhir of the press,” External Aff airs However, Shiv Sena leader Singh Rajput. on the government and demand- Bengaluru,” said Congress leader The arrest of Goswami, a Anandrao Taware said that Gos- Minister S Jaishankar said on and Transport Minister Anil The anchor has suggested ed Vijayan’s resignation. Ramesh Chennithala. popular but polarising fi gure in wami’s arrest was in connection Twitter. Parab said the BJP was worried Rajput’s girlfriend – actress Soon the legal brains of the Bineesh was arrested by the the country’s competitive news with a suicide case from 2018. “This is not the way to treat as “their pet parrot, in whom Rhea Chakraborty – drove him government got together and ap- ED after being called to Bengalu- market, was broadcast live on Media said it concerned the the press,” Information Minis- many lives are trapped, is now to his death with a combination proached the Kerala High Court ru on October 29 and his custo- Republic TV, the channel he co- death of interior designer An- ter Prakash Javadekar tweeted. in the cage,” while party MP and of black magic and drugs. seeking a stay on the CBI probe. dial period ends on Saturday. founded. vay Naik and his mother Kumud The BJP, however, has long spokesperson Sanjay Raut said The tabloid-style campaign The court, though refused to He has been arrested under The channel showed footage Naik on May 5, 2018 in Raigad. been accused of harassing the that “if anybody has committed has been widely criticised by stay the probe, gave temporary the Prevention of Money Laun- of more than a dozen police of- Naik had worked on a project media, and journalists have a crime, he would be punished”. more measured media organi- relief and asked the CBI not to dering Act. fi cers entering Goswami’s house for Goswami before apparently been arrested and jailed in sev- Targeting the BJP, Parab sations and analysts. Punjab CM leads protest 12 dead in Gujarat in support of farmers factory blast, fi re Agencies investigation suggested the Ahmedabad explosion was triggered by a IANS Singh hoped that the central The chief minister warned fi re in a chemical store, and the New Delhi government will look at Punjab that failure to resolve the issues blast left the building in a pile and its problems considering of farmers would cause unrest. t least 12 workers were of rubble. the sacrifi ces made by Punjabis He urged the central govern- killed yesterday when Forensic experts from the unjab Chief Minister Am- through the decades. ment to look at the plight of the Apart of a chemical Forensic Science Laboratory arinder Singh yesterday He rubbished claims of Pun- small and marginal farmers, warehouse collapsed following (FSL) are collecting samples to Pled a protest at Delhi’s jab’s farmers resorting to anti- which comprise 75% of Punjab’s a powerful blast in Ahmeda- analyse the cause of the explo- Jantar Mantar to get “justice for national activities, reiterating farming community. bad, offi cials said. sion. poor farmers”. that their agitation against the Highlighting the crisis faced A fi re offi cial said the dead Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay He said he was not in Delhi to farm laws was peaceful. by Punjab due to the Indian included fi ve women. Rupani has announced aid of confront the central government Punjabis are at the borders Railways’ decision of not send- Nine other people were in- Rs400,000 each to the fami- but to fi ght for farmers’ rights, fi ghting for the country and have ing goods trains to the state, jured in the incident at an in- lies of those who died in the whose livelihood was at stake sacrifi ced their blood safeguard- the chief minister said contrary dustrial complex on the out- blast. due to new farm laws. ing the nation’s safety and secu- to the misinformation being skirts of Ahmedabad, a major He also ordered a probe into “We are not here to disturb rity, Singh said. spread, tracks were currently city in Gujarat. the incident. peace but to preserve it”, Singh He reiterated his warning blocked only at two places. “The death toll has in- India is frequently rocked said, adding that he and other that any move by the central The farmers are fi ghting cor- Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh addresses a gathering of creased to 12 which includes by industrial disasters that ex- legislators from Punjab were government to tinker with reli- porates, which is why they are farmers during a protest against the recent passing of agriculture fi ve women. Nine people are perts blame on poor planning forced to come to Delhi as Presi- gion or livelihood of the people not allowing supplies through reform bills in the parliament, in New Delhi yesterday. injured and undergoing treat- and lax enforcement of safety dent Ramnath Kovind had de- would trigger resentment and these two railway tracks, he said, ment in hospital,” a fi re control rules. clined their request for a meet- anger. adding that all the other lines Questioning the rationale be- the armed forces at Ladakh and room duty offi cer said. Prime Minister Narendra ing. The farmers are protesting were open. hind the government’s refusal to Kashmir. Eyewitnesses told report- Modi said authorities were Though they had earlier since the new laws by the cen- He said he spoke to Railway allow trains to operate in Punjab, The chief minister slammed ers that the explosion ripped providing all possible assist- planned a relay protest at Ra- tral government will harm them Minster Piyush Goyal and as- Singh said the move obstructed the Centre over the unjust farm apart the walls of the build- ance to those aff ected. jghat in New Delhi, they had to and snatch away food from their sured him that the Punjab police the movement of essential sup- laws, which would destroy the es- ing, including a textile facil- “Anguished by the loss of shift to Jantar Mantar as Delhi children, he said, adding “we are would help the central forces plies not just in Punjab, facing a tablished system of marketing of ity that operated from the lives due to a fi re in a godown police clamped section 144 at all ready to give our blood for the maintain security at stations and shortage of coal and power, stor- food produce through close-knit complex. (warehouse) in Ahmedabad. the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, nation, as we Punjabis have al- along the tracks to allow goods age for foodgrains and fertilisers relations between farmers and Ahmadabad chief fi re offi cer Condolences to the bereaved Singh said. ways done”. trains. but also to other states, including commission agents (‘arhityas’). M F Dastur said a preliminary families,” he tweeted. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, November 5, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Trying to cover chaos, lies, complicated vote count in a pandemic

Tuesday night didn’t exactly go the way the pollsters thought it would with President Donald Trump making a much stronger showing in the early going than predicted. And once the clock hit midnight on the East Coast, things started to really get wild and dangerously contentious in the presidential election and coverage of it. Vice President Joe Biden made a drive-by appearance at 12:31am to express confi dence that he would win when all the votes were counted. Then Trump tweeted at 12:49: ‘We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed.” Twitter fl agged the president’s tweet as containing content that is “disputed and might be misleading.” But undaunted, Trump appeared at 2:35am to claim he had won the election Democracy’s moment of truth and that the late numbers coming in for Biden in Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania were part of a “major fraud By Ruth Ben-Ghiat clear evidence of how far Trump’s or professional experience, are the Conservatives or Germany’s Christian on the American people.” New York authoritarian remaking of American primary qualifi cations for government Democrats. Trump vowed to fi ght. “We’re going to the Supreme Court,” political culture has already advanced. service. In fact, long before Trump he said, adding that he wanted “all voting to stop.” Some pundits, like the conservative Trump’s success in domesticating appeared, the GOP, cheered on by a Anchors and analysts t certain moments in history New York Times columnist Ross the political class is all the more robust right-wing media universe, – often after substantial social Douthat, scoff at the description of notable when one considers that most had been spurning its previous Twitter fl agged responded by using the progress has discomfi ted Trump as a strongman. They see the other despots founded or had already commitments to democratic notions Trump’s tweet word “ugly” with regularity Acertain segments of society – former reality-TV star as too weak to risen to prominence within their own of mutual tolerance and bipartisan to describe the situation in an individual appears on the political infl ict serious damage on American parties. Trump had no ready-made governance. But Trump has which the nation found itself scene claiming to stand for something society, even if he is re-elected. Using political vehicle for his ambitions. legitimised the extremist elements as containing following Trump’s claims of grand and new. Skilled in the arts deeply-entrenched illiberal regimes as But in the space of just a few years, that were once confined to the party’s content that fraud. of self-presentation and emotional a measure, these sceptics focus on what he has succeeded in transforming the fringes. As White House senior adviser The trouble had actually manipulation, he (it is always a man) Trump has not done. He hasn’t shut Republican Party into just another Kellyanne Conway tweeted just after captures the hearts and minds of down opposition media or established personal franchise. Trump’s inauguration, in response is ‘disputed started shortly after 11pm millions with his macho bluster. In due total control over the judiciary and Republicans, for their part, seem to to the outcry over his order barring Tuesday with an interesting time, a personality cult forms around other institutions, so what’s there to regard Trump as a means of realising travellers from Muslim-majority and might be twist when Fox News called him. And though he has threatened or worry about? their own long-frustrated aims countries, “Get used to it. @POTUS is Arizona for Biden and the used violence in his ascent to power, he But that is a misleading comparison. (defending white Christian hegemony, a man of action and impact. Promises misleading’ Trump campaign team enjoys the support of the faithful, who Every modern authoritarian leader deregulating large swaths of the made, promises kept. Shock to the demanded it retract the call. see him as the saviour who will bring started in a society with greater economy, and cutting taxes for the system. And he’s just getting started.” At that point, Fox was the only major outlet to make a call in the order to a disordered world. liberties, and gradually carried out a wealthy). But whatever their reasons, Intentionally implemented without This description of the archetypal process of state capture. Especially in they rallied behind him in such numbers warning, the travel ban threw the tight Arizona race. strongman fi ts many current leaders. the twenty-fi rst century, evolution, and with such fervour as to transform country into a state of chaos, giving But instead of retracting the call, at about 12:30am yesterday, Since Donald Trump took offi ce in rather than revolution (or a military the Grand Old Party. the public and federal employees Fox brought Arnon Mishkin, the veteran director of the channel’s early 2017, the US has experienced an coup), has been the mode by which For this election cycle, the party alike a visceral introduction to an decision desk, on air to explain the call he and his staff had made. erosion of democracy and witnessed the freedom is replaced with despotism. off ered no policy platform, and administration that, with the full “I’m sorry, we’re not wrong,” Mishkin said. unfolding of authoritarian leadership. Moreover, without a sober look at what instead issued an eerie statement of support of the GOP, had declared war “You’re 100% sure on Arizona?” anchor Bret Baier asked. The imminent presidential election is Trump has accomplished, we won’t be unconditional “support for President on its own people. Over the next four Without hesitation, Mishkin said he was. And you had to thus a referendum on the new illiberal able to understand how we got to this Donald Trump and his Administration,” years, Trump and his followers would direction America has taken under a perilous point, or what to expect in the illustrating the climate of fear and separate immigrant children from their check the channel number to make sure you were watching president who has mainstreamed far- coming weeks, months, or years, in the intimidation that now reigns within the families, deploy federal forces against the network that has been functioning more as a propaganda right extremism and pursued a foreign event that Trump wins re-election. party. Republicans have been reduced peaceful demonstrators, unleash a machine for Trump than a news outlet the last four years. policy built on transactional alliances The history of the US presidency is to fi ghting the strongman’s battles, massive disinformation campaign, Strange turned to dark and ugly when Trump appeared before with murderous despots around the a poor guide for interpreting Trump’s smearing his enemies, and protecting and dismantle or derail countless supporters in the East Room of the White House claiming world. actions, starting with his relationship him against any and all forms of government agencies. victory and alleging fraud by the Democrats amid a barrage of Any election can hold surprises, as with the Republican political elites accountability, including impeachment Only by accepting the reality of the disinformation and lies. Hillary Clinton’s unexpected defeat in who have stuck by him through sex and earlier this year. authoritarian turn in American politics 2016 showed. Yet an existential dread corruption scandals, impeachment, This authoritarian leader-follower can further democratic erosion be His words prompted MSNBC and CNN to cut in on Trump’s surrounds the 2020 election, which and appalling mismanagement of relationship refl ects a fundamental combatted. Whatever the outcome address to fact check his words and try to hold the president has brought previously unthinkable the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, we shift in the GOP’s political culture that of the election, that task remains. — accountable. possibilities to the fore. Trump has must look to models of authoritarian Americans will have to reckon with Project Syndicate “When he says ‘we already won this election,’ that is not repeatedly signalled that he might “personalist rule,” whereby power is regardless of the election’s outcome. based in fact,” MSNBC anchor Brian Williams told viewers. refuse to concede defeat, and many concentrated in one individual whose A host of recent comparative studies zRuth Ben-Ghiat, Professor of “It is not accurate to say he won,” Jake Tapper said on CNN. worry that he will foment political own political and fi nancial interests show that the Republican Party is History and Italian Studies at New York And from CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell: “Well, the president violence if the outcome doesn’t go usually prevail over national interests. no longer a mainstream democratic University, is an expert on authoritarian his way. The mere possibility of these Under these regimes, loyalty to the organisation in either its rhetoric or its regimes and their leaders and author of of the United States ... falsely claiming that he won the election scenarios is symptomatic of a degraded leader and his allies, and participation actions. It is now closer to the parties of the forthcoming Strongmen: Mussolini and disenfranchising millions of voters whose ballots have not democratic political climate, and in his corruption, rather than expertise Orbán and Erdogan than to the British to the Present. been counted, sadly because of the raging pandemic and the failures of his administration to contain the pandemic.” Adding that there has been a “massive vote by mail operation” and that “those votes have not been counted,” O’Donnell told viewers, “And so, we at CBS News ... are not projecting a winner in this presidential race.” All three news outlets handled the outrageous act of a president claiming victory and alleging that his opponent was engaged in trying to defraud the American people about as well as can be done within the bounds of traditional journalistic commentary and discourse. But how do you counter the damage of such reckless and transgressive behaviour from the holder of the highest offi ce in the land? Once the words were out of Trump’s mouth, the nation that has been suff ering under a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and thrown millions out of work, was thrust into a world of even more pain, anxiety and bitter confl ict. — Tribune News Service

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THE CRUX: Only by accepting the reality of the authoritarian turn in American politics can further democratic erosion be combatted. Whatever the outcome of the election, © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved that task remains. Gulf Times Thursday, November 5, 2020 19 PAKISTAN Islands of uncertainty engulf Sindh fi shermen

With an investment of about With an investment of about had customary rights to use the direction of the private club re- $50bn, the government aims $50 billion, the government aims land. He said it is clear the is- served for the wealthy to moor to develop a city that will to develop a city that will create lands have been used as “transit their boats. “We are shooed create 150,000 jobs 150,000 jobs, Sindh Governor stations” and “easement” by the away from there,” he said. Imran Ismail said at a news con- fi shermen for centuries. A nearby Pakistan Air Force Thomson Reuters Foundation ference in the capital Islamabad “Suddenly dislodging them base and the Port Qasim Au- Karachi earlier this month. and depriving them of their thority, controlled by the Min- But fi sherfolk say the devel- right to earn a living is not le- istry of Maritime Aff airs, are opment on the islands — spread gally tenable,” as it contravenes high security zones and security n the quarrel over building over 12,000 acres (49 square Articles 9 and 18 of Pakistan’s patrols prevent fi shermen from a gleaming new hub on two kms) — could destroy their live- constitution, he said. entering the surrounding wa- Ismall islands off Pakistan’s lihoods and that they have not And the takeover of the is- ters. Arabian Sea coast, the voices of been consulted. lands has caused legal confu- “The same will happen when the fi shermen who have plied “We continue to remain invis- sion for the fi sherfolk, he said. developers come on these is- these waters for centuries often ible to both the (Sindh and fed- “Which high court do the lands; we will be told we are go unheard. eral) governments,” Mohammad complainants (fi shermen) take trespassing,” said Shah. Steering his boat out of the Ali Shah, founder of the Pakistan their petition to? If the islands The father of eight does not Jamote jetty in the village of Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) that aims are the federal government’s want his children to join his Ebrahim Haideri, 25-year-old to protect the rights of fi shermen property, these are beyond the profession. “All my kids are fi sherman Shakil said the islands and fi shing communities, told territorial jurisdiction of the studying,” he said with pride. around which he catches fi sh, the Thomson Reuters Founda- Sindh High Court,” he said, “It is best they keep away from crab and shrimp are now pa- tion. while the high court in Islama- this.” trolled by armed guards. Nasir Hussain Shah, the bad would not have jurisdiction It is not the fi rst time the “We have been fi shing in Sindh government’s informa- over the territory. islands have been eyed for these waters for centuries,” said tion minister, rejected the cen- The government has prom- development. In 2006, the Shakil, who did not want to give tral government’s takeover of ised employment for the fi sh- government signed the multi- his full name. But when he tried the islands and said Islamabad erfolk once construction work billion-dollar Diamond Bar City to go near the island of Dingi re- had not shared its development SPOTLIGHT: Fishing provides employment to 600,000 people in Sindh province, according to Sindh gets started although no details project with a Dubai-based real cently he was apprehended by plans. Pakistan’s Minister for Fisheries Department’s director, Aslam Jarwar. have been shared. Kamal Shah is estate fi rm to develop the is- military guards and ordered to Maritime Aff airs, Ali Haider Za- sceptical. lands. get into the “murgha” stress po- idi, did not respond to a request custom and heritage.” many marine creatures which is The coastal waters are the “In the last over two decades And in 2013, Pakistani real es- sition, he said. for comment. He said thousands of fi sher- a source of our livelihood,” Shah habitat for 40 species of fi sh the fi shermen had been ousted tate tycoon Malik Riaz signed an “If we did not do it they said The PFF is leading a protest folk and their families gather for said. and shellfi sh and 15 species of from three prime fi shing spots. agreement with a US investor to they would hit us with batons,” campaign against the island de- traditional festivals on these is- Fishing provides employment shrimp, which make up 60% of Not only that, no villager has build the “world’s tallest build- he told the Thomson Reuters velopment, arguing the fi sher- lands every year. to 600,000 people in Sindh Pakistan’s fi sheries exports. been employed either,” Kamal ing” on the island city. Nothing Foundation. men are “the rightful owners” But more importantly, the province, according to Sindh For fi sherman Kamal Shah, Shah said, adding that not only materialised from either deal. A month ago, the twin islands of the territory. It has called fi shing communities are con- Fisheries Department’s director, the development will spell dis- have fi sh stocks dwindled, but Mohamed Ali Shah, the PFF’s of Bundal and Dingi at the mouth upon the provincial government cerned about the impact of con- Aslam Jarwar. aster: “We exist because of these the areas in which the fi shermen leader, said he was hopeful the of Korangi Creek in the port city to protect the rights of Sindh’s struction — and the diversion “Seventy-one percent of Pa- islands, if they occupy them, it can cast their nets has shrunk latest development plans would of Karachi in Pakistan’s Sindh fi shermen. and pollution of water — on the kistan’s fi sh comes from the will be a death blow to our liveli- due to development. also be quashed. province were taken over by the “Do not think of these is- islands’ fragile ecosystem. province through the Arabian hoods,” he said. “Our people ... used to fi sh “We want the governments, federal government through lands as mere tracts of land,” “After the creeks dry up, the Sea, estuaries, canals and inland Although no-one lives per- where you now see the Marina for once and for all, to make a an overnight presidential ordi- said Shah. “We are inextrica- mangroves will die. This, in lakes,” he told the Thomson Reu- manently on the islands, lawyer Club and that string of restau- policy that these islands will re- nance. bly linked to them by culture, turn, will destroy the habitat of ters Foundation. Shuhab Usto said the fi sherfolk rants,” he said, pointing in the main their natural self,” he said. Pakistan, Bosnia sign agreement Covid positivity nears 5% but PM against lockdown

Decision on whether to shut mentation of Trace, Test and Federal Minister for Educa- educational institutions to Quarantine (TTQ) and smart tion Shafqat Mahmood yester- be taken today lockdown strategies pertaining day said a decision on whether to the coronavirus. to close educational institutions Internews Planning and Development across the country would be un- Islamabad Minister Asad Umar, who also dertaken today. heads the NCOC, and the pre- In a statement, Mahmood mier’s aide on health, Dr Faisal said Pakistan was undergoing a akistan yesterday re- Sultan, informed the cabinet second wave of coronavirus with corded 4.94 per cent that the number of coronavirus the health ministry monitoring PCovid-19 positivity rate patients, as well as virus-relat- the developments. — its highest in three months. ed deaths, was increasing, He said Prime Minister Imran According to fi gures issued Adherence to Covid-19 Khan had chaired the session of by the National Command and standard operating procedures NCOC where the participants Operations Centre (NCOC), (SOPs) needed to be ensured, reviewed the Covid-19 testing 1,313 new cases were identifi ed Umar and Sultan said. capacity in educational institu- across the country, bringing Last week, the NCOC tight- tions. the total tally to 337,573. A total ened restrictions on high risk He maintained that educa- of 26,565 tests were conducted. public activities and made face tional institutions could not be The country’s death toll masks mandatory in public closed in the current situation stands at 6,867; 18 persons spaces. The authorities also re- and that the country fought the succumbed to the virus in the duced timings for restaurants pandemic and produced exem- past 24 hours. The recoveries and weddings to 10pm. plary results to curb the disease stand at 316,060. In a bid to discourage viola- compared to the other nations. The federal and provincial tion of social distancing and Prime Minister Imran Khan Prime Minister Imran Khan (left) welcoming Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic in Islamabad governments have issued mul- other SOPs, the NCOC sought rejected the closure of business- yesterday. Dzaferovic is on a two-day off icial visit to Pakistan. tiple warnings over the past people’s help to avoid a second es, schools and industries again few days, urging public to fol- wave of infections. in view of rising novel coronavi- Pakistan and Bosnia yesterday agreed to further deepen mutual a one-on-one meeting, followed by delegation-level talks. During low Covid-19 SOPs. “With the arrival of sec- rus cases. cooperation in all fields, especially in economic, trade and the one-on-one and delegation level meetings, the prime minister Prime Minister Imran Khan ond wave and continued wide The PM said there is a need to investment, science and technology, defence industry, educational stated that Pakistan shared brotherly aff inity with the people of said the country could not af- scale violation of the SOPs, the strictly implement SOPs, how- and cultural arenas. Bosnia & Herzegovina and bilateral relations were marked by ford another national lock- NCOC has decided to seek citi- ever, the federal government will An agreement was reached between Prime Minister Imran Khan mutual support at times of need. down and urged the masses to zens help for SOP compliance,” not shut businesses, schools and and Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s eff ective eff orts in strictly follow the preventive tweeted Umar. industries again. He had ruled Dzaferovic who met in Islamabad and exchanged views on the fighting Covid-19 through ‘smart lockdown’ strategy and focus on measures against the novel He asked people to take pic- out the possibility of imposing a entire gamut of bilateral relations. saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy. coronavirus. tures of SOPs violations such lockdown. Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Noting the eff orts made by Bosnia & Herzegovina to contain the In a press briefi ng after as not wearing masks or not He added the government Dzaferovic is on a two-day off icial visit to Pakistan. pandemic, he announced Pakistan’s intention to provide material meeting of the federal cabinet, maintaining social distancing in managed to stabilise the nation- Following the off icial welcoming ceremony, the two leaders held assistance to the Bosnian side in combating the pandemic. Prime Minster Imran Khan said crowded places and send those al economy after making eff orts, the provincial governments images to a government-issued and directed creating awareness needed to ensure the imple- number along with the location. on the precautionary measures.

Altaf reels from fi nancial woes Amendment to SOPs for international passengers travelling to Pakistan Internews On October 17, a British court ordered Karachi freezing of six trust properties managed by Hussain. Internews Sars-Cov-2 and Xpert Xpress SARS- competent authority for international The orders were issued by Deputy Rawalpindi Cov-2 or SARS-Cov-2Gene Xpert. passengers, chartered and private fl ight n his latest statement, Muttahida High Court Judge Peter Knox. The six The CAA said passengers holding operations between November 6 and Qaumi Movement founder Altaf properties that have been frozen through negative certifi cates/reports for any of December 31. IHussain has said he is facing a fi nan- a court order include Abbey View house, he Civil Aviation Authority the above tests would be considered as Category-A: International travellers cial crunch and is unable to pay bills and High View Gardens fi rst house, Whitch- (CAA) has made an amendment fulfi lling the requirement of manda- from 22 countries do not require Cov- meet other expenses, local media re- urch Lane fi rst house, Brookfi eld Av- Tto the standard operating proce- tory RT-PCR testing as mentioned in id-19 RT-PCR/PCR test before entry ported yesterday. enue house, High View Gardens second dures (SOPs) for international passen- the SOPs related to international pas- into Pakistan. MQM leader’s deputy Mustafa Aziza- house, Whitchurch Lane second house, gers travelling to Pakistan. sengers, chartered and private aircraft They are: Australia, China, Cuba, badi issued a hand-written letter by and the MQM 1st Floor Elizabeth House The CAA said that following instruc- fl ights to Pakistan issued on September Estonia, Ghana, Japan, Kazakhstan, Hussain from the MQM-London’s offi - offi ce. tions from the National Institute of 29, and subsequent amendments is- Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, Rwan- cial Twitter account, appealing for funds Under the court directives, the ex- Health under the Ministry of National sued thereafter. da, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and claiming that his fi nancial situation MQM supremo and his associates may Health Services, Regulations and Co- All airlines/aircraft operators, ground Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, has worsened. remain in these properties until a fi nal ordination, the authority issued a list handling agents, authorised fl ights and Turkey, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zambia. The claims from Hussain came three decision is announced on the lawsuit. of tests which may be considered as agents are to ensure full compliance Category-B: International travellers weeks after the London High Court’s However, they cannot be sold. equivalent to PCR-based tests for Cov- and inform passengers wishing to travel from countries not specifi ed in catego- Deputy High Court Judge Peter Knox The case was fi led by MQM-Pakistan id-19. to Pakistan. The CAA has directed the ry-A required Covid-19 RT-PCR/PCR issued freezing orders on six properties claiming to be the benefi cial owner of These are: Real Time-PCR for authorities concerned to implement test before commencement of travel to controlled by the MQM founder, fol- these properties. The ownership of these Covid-19, RT-PCR for Sars-Cov-2, the SOPs. Pakistan (maximum 96 hours old). All lowing an application for the takeover of assets is more than 15 million pounds RT-PCR for Covid-19, RT-PCR for An updated list of countries for cate- countries not specifi ed in Category-A these properties by the MQM-Pakistan. (about Rs3 billion). Sars-Cov-2, PCR for Covid-19, PCR for gories A and B has been approved by the fall in Category-B. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, November 5, 2020 QATAR

Dignitaries and LuLu off icials cut a cake at the opening of LuLu Xpress in THE e18ghteen Tower in Dignitaries and LuLu off icials cut a ribbon to mark the opening of LuLu Xpress Lusail Marina yesterday. in THE e18ghteen Tower in Lusail Marina yesterday. An exterior view of LuLu Xpress in THE e18ghteen Tower in Lusail Marina. LuLu Opens Lusail City’s fi rst supermarket in THE e18hteen Tower

uLu Hypermarket, the gym and restaurant will soon hamed Althaf, and representa- be our pleasure to welcome you leading retail chain of the open within the tower, award- tives from various business or- all to visit our new store once it Lregion, yesterday opened ed with the “Best Commercial ganisations. is open,” he added. There is a dedicated area to support local initiatives and stock all Qatari products on a priority basis. its 14th store at THE e18hteen High-Rise Development in Qa- Speaking on the occasion, Dr PIH chairman Moutaz al- Tower-Marina, Lusail City. The tar” at the Arabian Property Althaf said: “We are proud to Khayyat said: “We are happy to including fruits and vegetables, which ensures well-stocked by the Covid 19 pandemic. They new store with 2,000sq m re- Awards. state that LuLu is the fi rst retail host LuLu as the fi rst hypermar- meat, fi sh, poultry, bakery, hot warehouses and uninterrupted have taken aggressive measures tail area, described as the fi rst A vast leisure destination, Lu- chain to open in the Lusail City. ket in Lusail City, introducing a and cold ready-to-eat food, oven food supply at the most aff ord- to ensure uninterrupted supply retailer in Lusail City, has again sail City is a futuristic project The opening of LuLu Xpress at high-end and improved space fresh, grab and go, chilled and able prices. of food and non-food products strengthened LuLu’s presence in that extends across a large tract Lusail City brings the number of for shoppers in Lusail. Simulta- dairy products. The new store features well- while maintaining the highest the region, according to a state- of land includes exclusive is- LuLu stores in Qatar to 14. This neously, we applaud LuLu team There is a good selection of planned retail fl oor layout fo- standards of hygiene, health and ment. lands, public marinas, avenues phenomenal growth is a solid for their continuous expansion imported products in catego- cused on customer convenience, safety of both its customers and Set within a vast and grow- hotels, several multi-purpose proof of the strategic impor- and activities.” ries such as grocery, health and off ering a world-class shopping employees. ing community expected to be residential, mixed use, enter- tance of Qatar to our business PIH vice chairman and Group beauty and non-food. Besides, experience. There is a dedicated With a view to address the the home of more than 200,000 tainment and commercial dis- plans and our confi dence in the CEO Ramez al-Khayyat said: selected household products and area to support local initiatives changing customer demands, residents, the most modern new tricts. resilience and future of Qatar’s “We extend our warmest con- lifestyle essentials, home needs, and stock all Qatari products on LuLu has planned to scale up LuLu Xpress is located next to The inaugural ceremony was economy, and this would not gratulations to LuLu Hypermar- Mobile and IT products, and a priority basis. its existing e-commerce opera- the Lusail Marina. The store attended by eminent dignitar- have been possible without the kets and we are delighted to see much more are on display. As part of its massive expan- tions by adding more vehicles to with ample car park facility will ies from leading organisations, help and wholehearted support this premium store open in THE Organic and ‘Free from worry’ sion plans in Qatar, LuLu recent- its current fl eet. Further plans facilitate access to all household including Power International of the governmental authorities e18hteen. We are very optimistic food ranges and other specialty ly had launched a new hyper- are underway for expansion of essentials at highly competitive Holding (PIH) Group chairman and customers. to see this beautiful city develop food imported from around market at Bin Mahmoud, with a its e-commerce facilities by in- prices. Moutaz al-Khayyat, vice chair- “Due to prevailing extraor- to become one of the prime des- the world are available on the built-up area of 85,000sq ft. troducing dedicated dark-store THE e18hteen, is an eye- man and Group CEO Ramez al- dinary circumstances and re- tinations in Qatar.” shelves. The product range is LuLu has played a major role facilities. This eff ort will create catching state-of-the art high- Khayyat, Just Real Estate chair- specting the Covid-19 Protocol, The new LuLu Xpress store backed up by LuLu Group’s own towards resilience of the econo- more employment opportunities rise tower consisting of 36 fl oors man Nasser al-Ansari, LuLu we are not organising a grand stocks a wide variety of globally food sourcing and manufactur- my during unprecedented market to better serve its customers, the of diverse offi ce spaces. A café, Hypermarkets director Dr Mo- opening ceremony, but it would sourced items such as fresh food ing facilities across 22 countries, disruptions and lockdown caused statement added.