INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-5,12 COMMENT 10 QATAR | Page 3 ARAB WORLD 6 BUSINESS 1-12 Qatar-Germany INTERNATIONAL 6-9,11 SPORTS 1-8 bilateral trade DOW JONES QE NYMEX Kahramaa wins rises to $2.31bn in GCC Best Electronic 27,500.89 9,760.68 36.76 2019: Al-Kuwari -632.42 +35.4 -3.01 Services Award -2.25% +0.36% -7.57% Latest Figures

published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11666 September 9, 2020 Muharram 21, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Place education Torch Doha on top of global agenda: EAA lit in Sudan Ashghal to use local products colours On the first International Day for Protection of Education from Attack, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and its global worth QR26bn in fi ve years partners have called for an end to attacks on education and for world leaders to safeguard this OHuge scope for manufacturers of building materials O Public Works Authority’s fundamental human right. The call comes amid the devastating reliance on locally-made goods goes up to 70% from 38% in four years impact of the coronavirus pandemic on education globally, By Peter Alagos we aim to contribute to enhancing particularly in conflict zones and Business Reporter the competitiveness of the national fragile states, the Foundation said industry and diversifying invest- in a statement yesterday. “This is ment activities, and supporting local not just another day on the UN he reliance on main local ma- production activities in the infra- calendar. Her Highness Sheikha terials has increased from 38% structure and contracting sector to Moza bint Nasser, chairperson Tin 2016 to 70% this year, while compete with their counterparts glo- of EAA and UN Sustainable the local market has benefi ted from bally, in line with Qatar National Vi- Development Goals Advocate, is about QR20bn from infrastructure sion 2030,” al-Muhannadi said. calling today on world leaders to and building project budgets between The virtual event aimed to en- place the protection of education 2016 and 2020, Public Works Author- courage reliance on national prod- at the top of the global agenda,” ity (Ashghal) president Dr Saad bin ucts in Ashghal’s projects and to the statement noted. Page 12 Ahmad al-Muhannadi has said. encourage local companies to par- He made the statement yesterday ticipate in the country’s projects, 1 held for violating during the Supporting Local Manu- HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani and Dr Saad bin in addition to introducing Qatari facturers Forum where he further an- Ahmad al-Muhannadi, participating in the forum. Business Page 1 manufacturers to the authority’s home quarantine nounced that the value of materials projects and their requirements of from the local market over the next support local industries and enhance Besides HE al-Kuwari and al-Mu- various materials. Authorities yesterday arrested fi ve years is estimated at QR25.6bn the competitiveness of local products hannadi, the conference was attended In a presentation, Youssef al-Ema- one person who violated the to meet the requirements of future at the national, regional and interna- by Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, di, Projects Aff airs director at Ash- requirements of the home infrastructure projects and buildings. tional levels. It off ered an opportu- chairman of Qatar Chamber; Ab- ghal, said the value of projects signed The Torch Doha was lit up in the quarantine that he had committed Ashghal, in co-operation with Qa- nity for the private sector and local dulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa; CEO of in July 2020 was QR3.6bn, and the colours of the Sudanese flag yesterday to following in accordance with the tar Chamber, organised the Support- manufacturers to actively participate Qatar Development Bank (QDB); and value of opportunities available for evening to express solidarity with the procedures of the health authorities ing Local Manufacturers Forum via in government initiatives, especially representatives of the government local product is QR1.35bn. people of Sudan in the wake of the in the country. The person who video conferencing yesterday in the Ashghal’s projects, which include the agencies as well as local manufactur- Al-Emadi said the total value of floods there. His Highness the Amir is currently being referred to presence of HE the Minister of Com- development of schools and health ers and investors. the materials required by Ashghal’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani had prosecution is Pakiratan Orolana merce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al- institutions in addition to highways, “By relying on local materials and infrastructure projects between 2021 issued directives to send urgent relief Tam. Authorities have called on Kuwari. infrastructure, sewerage and storm manufacturers in most of the au- and 2025 is about QR32bn, of which, aid to Sudan to mitigate the eff ects citizens and residents who are The forum was part of the Ministry water drainage networks, treatment thority’s projects and increasing the QR24.5bn could be supplied from the of the floods. PICTURE: Shemeer subject to quarantine to fully adhere of Commerce and Industry’s eff orts to plants and beautifi cation projects. percentage of the local component, local market. To Page 4 Rasheed Page 3 to the requirements set by the Ministry of Public Health, to ensure their safety and the safety of others. Police detain Belarusian protesters New feature added to Ehteraz app Gym capacity limited A new Ehteraz function is set to be introduced in mid-September to support people undergoing home quarantine, Qatar News Agency has reported. In cases where individuals to 30% of total area reside in a location without a ‘blue plate’ listing their national address, or in cases where they choose to O Strict adherence the total area, measuring the body quarantine in a location diff erent to rules stressed temperature of employees and from their primary registered customers at the entrance and not residence, they will be able to use allowing individuals whose tem- the map function to select their lients and staff mem- perature exceeds 38C. Besides, quarantine location. Individuals bers are required to wear employees and customers should will only have the ability to select Cmasks while they are in- be allowed to enter after verify- the home quarantine location side gymnasiums, according to ing the colour code on the Ehteraz once. After their initial selection, updated guidelines announced app. Only holders of the ‘green’ the location will be locked for the by the Ministry of Commerce code are allowed entry. duration of the quarantine. Page 2 and Industry (MoCI) yesterday. “Employees and customers The guidelines, which came are required to wear masks while First 5G iPhone into eff ect yesterday, also limit said, stressing the need for gyms they are inside the gym. They expected on Sept 15 the capacity of each gym to 30% to adhere to the instructions in are required to leave a safe dis- of its total space. order to ensure the safety of all tance of no less than 3m between Apple yesterday fired off invitations Through a notifi cation on so- and curb the spread of Covid-19. them and the area surrounding to a September 15 online event cial media , the MoCI issued a set “The gymnasiums should ad- one trainer must not be less than expected to star the first iPhone of updated guidelines for gyms as here to the precautionary and 2sqm in all directions,” the noti- tailored for superfast 5G telecom part of the gradual lifting of Cov- preventive measures set by the fi cation continued. networks. The typically tight-lipped id-19 restrictions in the country. Ministry of Public Health and Holding group exercises is not Law enforcement off icers detain participants of a rally to support detained opposition figure Maria technology titan revealed only “It has been decided to make Ministry of Administrative De- allowed, while a trainer can in- Kolesnikova in Minsk yesterday. Authorities in Belarus tried to forcibly expel leading opposition that the presentation would be amendments to the decisions an- velopment, Labour and Social struct only one person at a time figure Maria Kolesnikova from the country but she tore up her passport in defiance and jumped streamed starting at 1700 GMT nounced on July 28 as part of the Aff airs,” the notifi cation said. by maintaining adequate space out a car window to stay, her allies said. Kolesnikova, one of the last of the figures leading mass from its headquarters in Silicon third phase of lifting restrictions The guidelines include limiting and leaving a safe distance of at protests against President Alexander Lukashenko who is still in the country, was detained at the Valley. Apple has routinely held on gymnasiums,” the ministry the capacity of a gym to 30% of least 3m. To Page 3 border early yesterday after going missing on Monday. Page 8 events this time of year to unveil new iPhones and other products. G7 FMs condemn Campaigning for Kyrgyzstan election Navalny poisoning QM-QDB deal to establish The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers yesterday condemned the “confirmed poisoning” of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, incubation centre at M7 according to a statement released by the US State Department. “We, the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, atar Museums (QM) and Qatar De- France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the velopment Bank (QDB) have signed United Kingdom and the United Qan agreement to establish an incuba- States of America and the High tion centre at M7, the new design, innovation Representative of the European and entrepreneurship hub located in Msheireb Union, are united in condemning, Downtown Doha. in the strongest possible terms, The agreement, signed by Ahmad Musa al- the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Namla, CEO of Qatar Museums, and Abdulaziz Navalny,” said the statement. bin Nasser al-Khalifa, CEO of QDB, in a cere- mony at M7, lays the foundation for the two en- ‘Chad mulls embassy tities to support local entrepreneurs and small in Jerusalem’ and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the fashion, design and technology industries and Abdulaziz al-Khalifa Ahmad Musa al-Namla A delegation from Chad nurture a thriving startup ecosystem. discussed the possible opening The M7 incubation centre will ensure that joining hands with Qatar Development Bank, of an embassy in Jerusalem, in entrepreneurs are provided with professional Qatar Museums is able to further its aim to sup- a meeting yesterday with Prime guidance and support through all phases of port aspiring fashion and design entrepreneurs Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the startup development as well as coaching to to realise their business ambitions. Through Israeli leader said. The premier is hone the technical and non-technical skills expert training and mentorship, entrepreneurs scheduled to sign a US-brokered needed to accelerate the growth and value of a will be able to turn their creative passions and deal normalising relations with the Supporters of the Ata-Meken party attend a campaign meeting with the party members in the village of Ton, business. endeavours into tangible and marketable busi- UAE on September 15. some 360km from Bishkek, yesterday. Kyrgyzstan will hold parliamentary election on October 4, 2020. At the signing ceremony, al-Namla said, “In ness ideas. To Page 4 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, September 9, 2020 QATAR

Amir greets president of Qatar takes part in GCC N Macedonia His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and New Ehteraz His Highness the Deputy Amir meeting on environment Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent cables of congratulations to the President QNA of North Macedonia Stevo Doha Pendarovski on the anniversary of his country’s Independence function for Day. HE the Prime Minister and atar participated in the Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid 22nd meeting of minis- bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani Qters of environment in sent a cable of congratulations the Gulf Co-operation Council to the Prime Minister of North (GCC) member states, which Macedonia Zoran Zaev on the was held yesterday via video occasion. those in home conference. HE the Minister of Munici- pality and Environment Abdul- Al-Muraikhi holds lah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al- talks with German Subaie represented Qatar in the meeting. minister The meeting discussed top- HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin quarantine ics on the agenda, including the Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie taking part in the meeting. HE the Minister of State for decisions of the Supreme Coun- Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad z ‘Etheraz application playing vital role in keeping people safe’ cil in its 40th session regarding eff orts of the member states in the Committee of Ministers re- al-Muraikhi yesterday received the adoption of environmental facing the coronavirus (Cov- sponsible for environmental af- a phone call from the Minister of directives of the GCC countries id-19) pandemic. fairs, the GCC Ozone Working State at the Federal Foreign Off ice new Ehteraz function is vanced application to support Ehteraz status set to yellow for the 2020, in addition to mandating It also discussed the report of Group, international co-opera- of Germany Niels Annen. set to be introduced in both the public and the health duration of their home quaran- the competent ministerial com- the Supreme Council’s advisory tion and strategic dialogue, the During the phone call, they Amid-September to sup- sector during Covid-19,” said Dr tine. They must perform a swab mittees concerned with customs body on preparing a comprehen- Gulf Green Initiative, and the reviewed bilateral co-operation port people undergoing home al-Maslamani. test on day six and their Ehteraz restrictions to review relevant sive strategy for environmental Convention on the Preservation and relations between the two quarantine, Qatar News Agency “The universal and sustained status will not turn green until restrictions, and the report of cooperation among the GCC of Wildlife and its Natural Habi- countries, in addition to issues of has reported. use of Ehteraz off ers critical the swab test is performed and a the General Secretariat on the countries, the strategic plan of tat in the GCC member states. common concern. - QNA In cases where individuals benefi ts to citizens and residents negative result has been verifi ed. reside in a location without a of Qatar and helps to protect in- This process helps to reduce the ‘blue plate’ listing their national dividuals, family members, and risk of returning travellers bring- address, or in cases where they the entire community. The suc- ing the virus back into Qatar and choose to quarantine in a loca- cess of Ehteraz in keeping people passing it on to other members of tion diff erent from their primary safe from Covid-19 requires the the community. registered residence, they will be support of the population and Meanwhile, the Director of E-Health at the Ministry of Pub- Registration opens for able to use the map function to for all citizens, residents, and select their quarantine location. visitors to download the applica- lic Health, and Co-Chair of the Individuals will only have the tion and ensure they have it run- Ehteraz Joint Taskforce Com- ability to select the home quar- ning at all times when outside of mittee Dr Juliet Ibrahim said: antine location once. After their their home. I would like to thank “Ehteraz is also a vital tool be- ing used by our frontline teams adult education students initial selection, the location will the people of Qatar for the way be locked for the duration of the they have positively responded at the Ministry of Public Health. quarantine. to Ehteraz and welcomed it as a The teams are actively working QNA High school to register in the schools, in ac- education, providing them with Meanwhile, the Chair of the vital tool that is helping us all get to identify the contacts of con- Doha second-round exam cordance with the conditions educational programmes devel- Ehteraz Joint Taskforce Commit- through this diffi cult time,” Dr fi rmed cases as well as potential results tomorrow permitted for registration in the oped specifi cally for them. tee and Hamad General Hospital al-Maslamani added. new cases of the virus to cut of adult education system, as well In order to complete the adult Medical Director Dr Yousef al- Dr al-Maslamani explained transmission chains and reduce he School Aff airs Depart- The Ministry of Education and as all nationalities who do not education student registration Maslamani has said that with Qa- how Ehteraz supports the com- further spread of Covid-19”. ment at the Ministry of Higher Education has said the meet the requirements for com- phase – the new parallel track tar having entered Phase 4 of the munity with a wide range of ben- “Ehteraz can help frontline TEducation and Higher results of the high school second- pulsory education and the stu- in secondary schools for the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, efi ts, including providing an easy teams identify if someone has Education announced yester- round examinations for the dents who have been removed academic year 2020/2021, the the Ehteraz mobile application is way to receive the daily Qatar been in close proximity with a day the opening of registration 2020/21 academic year will be from day education due to mar- registration will open for adult playing an important role in keep- Covid-19 statistics and health ad- positive case and also helps to for adult education students announced at noon tomorrow. riage, repeated failure or work, education students (the parallel ing Qatar’s population safe. vice. He says it also reassures us- ensure that contacts of positive (homeschooling) for the aca- Students and parents can check in accordance with the Ministry track) starting from today until Launched at the end of April, ers about the status of others they cases adhere to required quar- demic year 2020/2021, through the results via the Public Serv- of Education and Higher Educa- October 8 electronically through Ehteraz is a highly advanced ap- may be in contact with by allow- antine protocols,” added Dr Ib- the public service portal till Oc- ices Portal, available at https:// tion’s policies. the public services portal. plication that has been devel- ing them to ask to see their Ehter- rahim. tober 8. eduservices.edu.gov.qa/Web- On the other hand, the School The documents must be up- oped to help keep residents of az status. He notes it also helps Answers to common ques- Schools have been directed Parts/DisplayMarks/#/ Aff airs Department announced loaded, and then contact the school Qatar safe from Covid-19 and people feel safe and protected in tions related to Ehteraz can be to review the documents of the The ministry will announce the the opening of online registra- to complete the registration proce- support the hard work of the public facilities including malls, found both within the applica- students who registered through date for issuing and printing out tion for adult education stu- dures and receive the books. frontline public health teams in supermarkets, and offi ces. tion itself and on the Ministry of the public services portal. The the successful students’ certifi- dents (the parallel track), based For admission and registration the fi ght against the pandemic. Since Qatar announced its re- Public Health Covid-19 website. data and documents are verifi ed cates later. on Ministerial Decision No 37 in the parallel track, the student “All the evidence from here vised Covid-19 travel policy at the Additionally, people can raise on a daily and continuous ba- of 2019 regarding the develop- must be a Qatari citizen, not be in Qatar and around the world end of July, Ehteraz has been sup- technical issues with the support sis. The schools have been also ment of the adult education sys- less than 25 years old, and must shows that Covid-19 is a highly porting people undergoing home team by calling 109, or for more directed to contact the home- system after confi rming the doc- tem (the parallel track), which has successfully completed the transmissible virus with the quarantine after returning from general Covid-19 queries, the schooling students in the adult uments for registration. stipulated the creation of a track grade that precedes the grade he ability to spread rapidly. Ehteraz abroad. Passengers arriving from support team on 16000 is avail- education system registered with The School Aff airs Depart- called (the parallel track) for wishes to enrol in. has provided us with an ad- low-risk countries have their able to answer queries. them in the previous academic ment at the ministry is responsi- adult education at the secondary Regarding the educational year 2019/2020, and to register ble for verifying the documents level. It was decided to apply the curriculum of the parallel track, those wishing to complete their required for the registration and parallel track starting from the students will have a reduced education and attendance. approval of the students data on academic year 2020/2021 in all educational curriculum during The ministry also directed the the National Student Informa- secondary school levels. the years of study in the parallel schools to contact the students tion System (NSIS), receiving The parallel track aims to help track (10th, 11th and 12th levels), MoPH reports 117,497 total registered in the electronic reg- the necessary documents and adult education students (eld- so that they study a percentage istration stage for the academic the students signature on the erly) who are unable to complete of the criteria for each subject to year 2020/2021 to bring all the students registration form of the their study in the secondary ensure that he or she is provided necessary documents, and to adult education system – homes. level with the same educational with the basic knowledge and Covid-19 recoveries in Qatar approve their registration on the All nationalities are allowed programs included in general skills required.

QNA Doha Ehsan Centre launches Alzheimer’s awareness drive he Ministry of Pub- lic Health (MoPH) an- Tnounced yesterday 231 he Centre for Empower- stages, prevention meth- ple, and identify the most im- which can only be achieved with new confi rmed cases of corona- ment and Elderly Care (Eh- ods and the most important portant needs and social and the concerted eff orts of all indi- virus (Covid-19) during the last Tsan), which operates under guidelines for dealing with health rights. viduals and specialists based on 24 hours, of which 220 are from the umbrella of Qatar Social Work Alzheimer’s patients. The Executive Director of Ehsan care for the elderly and Alzhe- community cases and 11 from Foundation (QSW), has launched activities and events will co- Mubarak bin Abdulaziz al-Khal- imer’s patients. travellers returning from abroad an awareness campaign titled incide with guidance aware- ifa said that in September of each Ehsan Centre concluded last who are subject to quarantine. “Let’s talk about Alzheimer’s”, ness campaign on Ehsans year, we celebrate the awareness month a campaign with the aim The MoPH also recorded 256 through the centre’s social media social networking platforms of community members of all of educating the elderly on how to recoveries from the virus during platforms, in tandem with World that would involve all mem- age groups about Alzheimer’s return to their normal life, from all the past 24 hours, bringing the Alzheimer’s Day which is marked bers of the community in this disease, which this year carries social, religious and psychological total number of recovered cases on September 21. campaign for greater spread the title “Let’s talk about Alzhe- aspects, in addition to presenting a in Qatar to 117,497. The campaign aims at rais- and interaction in order to imer’s”, out of Ehsan’s interest number of workshops and activities The MoPH issued a statement ing awareness about the dis- enhance care and attention to achieve the required aware- through live broadcasts on the cen- on Covid-19 developments in ease, its causes, symptoms, to the category of older peo- ness about Alzheimer’s disease, tre’s social media platforms. Qatar, which said that all new cases have been introduced to isolation and are receiving nec- essary healthcare according to their health status. It said that the measures to Qatar provides medical aid to Tajikistan tackle Covid-19 in Qatar have succeeded in fl attening the curve declining, this does not mean zWearing a face mask. and limiting the spread of the vi- that the Covid-19 pandemic is zWashing hands regularly. rus and the number of new daily finished in Qatar people con- zMost importantly, it is vi- atar’s embassy in cases and hospital admissions is tinue to be admitted with mod- tal that people continue to pro- Tajikistan has provided continuing to decline each week. erate to severe Covid-19 symp- tect the elderly and those with Qmedical aid from Qa- Qatar’s proactive and exten- toms. chronic medical conditions. tar Charity to the Central Asian sive testing of suspected cases Unless people follow all pre- When spending time at home country to confront the corona- has enabled us to identify a high cautionary measures, the coun- with elderly family members virus (Covid-19) pandemic. number of positive cases in the try may experience a second or those with chronic diseases, The delivery of aid was at- community. wave of the virus and see num- people must ensure that they tended by Tajikistan’s Minister Qatar has one of the low- bers increasing there are already wash their hands regularly, wear of Health and Social Protection est Covid-19 death rates in the signs of this happening in other a mask and maintain social and Jamoliddin Abdullozoda and world. This is a result of: countries around the world. physical distancing. Qatar’s ambassador to Tajikistan zVery high quality of care Now more than ever, people Anyone suff ering from Cov- Ibrahim bin Mohamed al-Ab- provided thorough the public must be careful and protect the id-19 symptoms should either dullah. healthcare sector for Covid-19 most vulnerable. contact 16000 helpline or go Jamoliddin Abdullozoda patients. While the restrictions of Cov- directly to one of the desig- thanked Qatar for providing hu- zQatar’s young population. id-19 are gradually being lifted in nated health centres to undergo manitarian medical assistance zProactive testing to identify Qatar, it is important for every- the necessary checks: Muaither, and for its support in these dif- cases early. one to play their role in control- Rawdat Al Khail, Umm Slal, or fi cult times to combat the Cov- zExpanding hospital capac- ling the virus by following pre- Al Gharrafa. This is important as id-19. ity, especially intensive care, to cautionary measures: the earlier the disease is detected He stressed the Tajik side’s ensure all patients receive the zAdherence to physical dis- the easier it will be to receive the readiness to continue work- medical care they need. tancing. right treatment and recover from ing to strengthen friendship zProtecting the elderly and zAvoid close contact with it. and brotherly relations between those with chronic diseases. others, crowded places and con- The MoPH has urged the pub- Tajikistan and Qatar to serve the Even though restrictions are fi ned closed spaces where other lic to visit its website for regular common interests of the two Qatar’s ambassador to Tajikistan Ibrahim bin Mohamed al-Abdullah with Tajikistan’s Minister of Health and being lifted, and numbers are people congregate. updates and new information. friendly people. - QNA Social Protection Jamoliddin Abdullozoda. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 9, 2020 3 QATAR Sidra Medicine supports safe Kahramaa wins development of Covid vaccine

idra Medicine, a member of Covid-19 vaccine is injected Qatar Foundation, is work- in the new humanised mouse Best Electronic Sing with an international model, the secreted human Gal research consortium in the on- antibodies in the mice interacts going global race to fi nd a safe strongly with the vaccine and and eff ective vaccine to tackle generates antibodies that fi ght the Covid-19 virus. and protect from the Covid-19 The research programme led virus. We believe the vaccine will Services Award by Dr Ussama M Abdel-Motal, be even more eff ective in hu- staff scientist from Sidra Medi- mans as our bodies have larger QNA cine’s Human Genetics Depart- amounts of the naturally secret- Doha ment, is being done in collabo- ed Gal antibodies,” continued Dr ration with researchers from Abdel-Motal. Harvard Medical School and Tu- Dr Stephen Braun from Tu- atar General Electricity and Water Corpo- lane University School of Medi- Dr Khalid Fakhro Dr Ussama M Abdel-Motal lane University of Medicine, US, ration (Kahramaa) has won the Best Elec- cine in the US. said: “The new animal model Qtronic Services Award in the GCC countries. The international team has Mouse models play a critical del-Motal on developing the developed by Dr Abdel-Motal is The award is one of three categories, included in developed a uniquely powerful role in vaccine development as new mouse model, said: “We a powerful tool for rapidly as- the outstanding performance award for customer humanised mouse model that they are utilised as tools to eval- are working on generating hu- sessing the human immune sys- services departments, which is organised by the closely represents the pathology uate immune responses against man anti-Covid-19 antibodies tem and accelerating Covid-19 customer services team of the electricity and water and immunological responses all types of agents infl uencing and vaccines and look forward therapeutic testing.” conservation committee and subscriber services in developed by human patients; the immune system. While the to further collaboration with Dr Khalid Fakhro, acting the GCC member states. with the potential to bring about method is well established with- Dr Abdel-Motal at Sidra Medi- chief research officer at Sidra The best electronic services award refl ects the an enhanced and safe Sars-CoV2 in biomedical research, there is cine. Importantly, the use of the Medicine, said: “At Sidra Med- excellence of Kahramaa in the fi eld of subscriber vaccine. currently limited understanding anti-Gal to boost the antibody icine, we continue to collabo- services at the regional level, especially electronic “The scale of the pandemic in how the immune system re- response to Sars-CoV2 spike rate with top global research services, and the provision of high-quality serv- has meant that over 160 Cov- sponds to Covid-19. protein may greatly aid in devel- institutions offering solutions ices to its subscribers through its website and the id-19 vaccines are currently be- Dr Abdel-Motal’s previous oping and maintaining a high- that address the Covid-19 smart phone application as a result of continuous ing developed worldwide, in the research in the US has shown level, protective response.” pandemic. This novel mouse improvement it pursues. hopes that the more candidates that vaccines (for example, the Mice do not secrete the hu- model, for example, is unique This win supports Kahramaa’s long-term strat- being tested, the higher the like- fl u vaccine) that expressed car- man Gal antibodies or have hu- in its ability to mimic the hu- egy (2014-2030) as the corporation is currently lihood of fi nding a vaccine that bohydrate molecules (called man cellular immune cells, how- man immune system, making working on implementing the plans of the second is both safe and eff ective. Our alpha-gal epitopes) generated ever the novel humanised mouse it a suitable model to under- phase of its 2019-2023 plan which is the phase of global team have developed a a signifi cantly strong protec- model does. This ultimately stand how immunity develops regional excellence and thus achieves the most im- humanised mouse model which tive antibody response that de- makes the new model – devel- towards this new coronavirus, portant strategic goals of the corporation such as mimics the reaction to the hu- stroyed virus-infected cells. oped by the Sidra Medicine, Har- and to help develop a vaccine excellence in customer service goal and improving man immune system, thereby The eff ectiveness of that vaccine vard Medical School and Tulane candidate in the future.” processes and systems goal. creating an eff ective alternative resulted from the strong interac- School of Medicine consortium Details about the model have The award also confi rms the success of the smart source for testing the effi cacy of tion between the carbohydrate – the most distinguished and been published in the Journal of services transformation eff orts as Kahramaa seeks the vaccine. We are excited at the molecules and a unique protein promising humanised mouse Immunology and is also avail- to become a paperless corporation as part of its ef- electronic services provided. prospect of what this research (called Gal antibody) that is nat- model to test the generation of able in the National Center forts towards achieving sustainable development, The award aims to support and develop the busi- could mean in speeding up the urally secreted in large quantities an eff ective coronavirus vaccine for Biotechnology Informa- preserving the environment and reducing harmful ness of the subscriber services sector in the GCC safe process of fi nding a cure for by the human body. and potentially limiting the need tion peer-reviewed online carbon emissions. The evaluation team for the out- countries by highlighting successful practices in the virus in human-like immune Professor Wayne Marasco on extensive testing on humans, journal: https://www.ncbi. standing performance award for the GCC customer the areas of business management and outstanding settings without harming hu- from Harvard Medical School, a press statement notes. nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ service departments had visited Kahramaa and was performance, and motivating corporations to apply mans,” said Dr Abdel-Motal. who collaborated with Dr Ab- “Once the uniquely designed PMC7086386/ briefed on the customer service strategy and the the principles and techniques of total quality. Qatari aid for Sudan flood victims QRCS launches emergency relief campaign for Sudan fl ood victims

atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has lies, 30 community awareness sessions will launched a fundraising campaign for be held to promote health protection and Qan emergency response to the recent disease preventive practices, and 10 training fl ash fl oods in many states of Sudan. courses will be organised to enhance disaster Under approval #1243/2020 from the Reg- recovery for the aff ected population. ulatory Authority for Charitable Activities Offi cial data shows that the countrywide (RACA), the new scheme seeks to help 3,000 fl ash fl oods have taken a heavy toll, killing aff ected families, or 18,000 people in total. 100, destroying 100,000 homes, and dis- To be implemented in co-operation with placing 500,000 persons. As a result, the the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), Sudanese Security and Defense Council, the the three-month project is aimed at alleviat- country’s highest security authority, issued a ing the impact of the fl ooding on the worst- disaster declaration and declared a 3-month hit families, by providing relief in health, national state of emergency. food, and emergency shelter. The fl ooded lands are a good setting for Under the project, it is planned to provide The QRCS building. water-borne and vector-borne diseases like nonfood items, such as blankets, kitchen- watery diarrhoea and malaria. The fragile in- ware, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, According to the action plan, a prelimi- frastructure is inadequate to drain the rain- makeshift toilets, and infl atable boats to have nary rapid assessment will be conducted to water, causing serious damage to utilities and access to the submerged areas. identify the detailed needs and benefi ciaries residential buildings. Also, the most vulnerable families will re- from the food and nonfood items. Based on In the wake of the disaster, QRCS’s Disas- ceive three forms assistance: food, cash, and the fi ndings, the hospitals that receive inju- ter Management Centre in Doha was activat- rebuilding of damaged homes. The last phase ries will be given the medical equipment and ed. Personnel of its representation mission is recovery and restoration of normal life, supplies they need. in Sudan was deployed to assess the damage which will focus on health services, commu- At the community level, food baskets and and gather information, in co-ordination nity awareness, and capacity-building. shelter kits will be distributed to 3,000 fami- with SRCS personnel.

Qatar disburses fi nancial grants to needy

With support from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), field teams of Qatar Charity have begun families, those aff ected by Covid in Gaza providing urgent relief to those aff ected by the floods in Sudan. Food baskets, personal hygiene items, mattresses, blankets and other relief materials are being distributed to the most aff ected groups as part of the initiative. QNA days, after which the process Gaza of disbursing cash assistance to 70,000 families aff ected by the coronavirus will begin, at $100 E the Chairman of the per family. Qatari Committee for He added that the distribution Hthe Reconstruction of process is carried out through Sudanese health minister hails Gaza, ambassador Mohamed the Postal Bank and its branches al-Emadi has affi rmed that the and new points in the governo- committee, in co-operation and rates of the Strip, under the full Qatari support to tackle Covid-19 co-ordination with the Qatar supervision of the Qatari Com- Fund for Development, started mittee staff and in co-operation yesterday the process of dis- with the competent government QNA requires solidarity and co-oper- the devices provided by Qatar bursing cash assistance to needy agencies, led by the Ministry of Khartoum ation, he added. Red Crescent will contribute to families and those who are af- Social Development. For his part, the Secretary- developing the health system in fected by the coronavirus (Cov- He stressed that the distribu- The process of disbursing cash assistance to needy families and those General of Qatar Red Crescent the states of Al-Shamaliya and id-19) in the Gaza Strip. tion process is taking place in a who are aff ected by the Covid-19 in the Gaza Strip started yesterday. udanese Minister of Health Society Ambassador Ali bin Has- North Darfur to confront the Al-Emadi explained that the way that ensures achieving the Dr Osama Ahmed Abdel- san al-Hammadi hailed the fruit- Covid-19 pandemic. cash assistance disbursement highest standards of safety and bution centres, and to ensure measures in light of the Covid-19 SRahim has thanked Qatar ful co-operation with the Suda- He appreciated Qatar’s per- to 100,000 needy families is complete safety for the benefi - their commitment to prevention, outbreak and the spread of the for its continuous contributions nese Red Crescent and affi rmed manent support for his country, scheduled to end within three ciaries and workers in the distri- sterilisation and social distancing disease in the Gaza Strip. and assistance to Sudan to con- continuing Qatari humanitarian noting the valuable projects im- front the coronavirus pandemic. assistance to Sudan, adding that plemented by Qatar Red Cres- In statements upon receipt of Qatar is currently sending aid to cent in Sudan in the humanitari- the assistance by the Sudanese those aff ected by floods. an, relief and development fi elds Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Al-Hammadi affi rmed Qa- and their continuous eff orts in from Qatar Red Crescent So- tar’s keenness to support Su- this regard. Gym capacity limited to 30% of total area ciety (QRCS), Dr Abdel-Rahim dan and continue support and The fi rst and second batches praised the great support pro- joint projects with the Sudanese of medical aid sent by QRCS ar- From Page 1 must clean and sanitise equipment and “The ministry affi rms that the success of vided by Qatar, saying that his Red Crescent in all humanitar- rived in Khartoum, Sudan. The tools every two hours since the start of a each stage of the comprehensive plan for the country has been in a state of ian fi elds, in addition to its im- aid contained 12.5 tonnes of The ministry noted that gymnasiums are day’s work. gradual lifting of restrictions depends on the emergency since the fall of 2019, plementation of development medical equipment and materi- obligated to close toilets and changing rooms, The decision came into eff ect yesterday extent of the commitment of all individuals to through the coronavirus pan- projects. als, to enable hospitals and quar- as well as to provide customers and staff with and is subject amendments and updates ac- apply the specifi c preventive and precaution- demic and until the disasters of Meanwhile, the Chairman of antine centres to treat Covid-19 sanitisers and soap. cording to the latest developments in this re- ary measures,” the MoCI added. the fall of 2020. Steering Committee of the Su- patients and ensure protection At the same time, customers are urged gard. Any violation of this decision will sub- The permitted capacity of gyms was 50% The exceptional humanitar- danese Red Crescent Society for the medical professionals en- to bring their own towels, sanitising ma- ject perpetrators to legal accountability and as per the previous decision announced in ian health situation in Sudan (SRCS), Al Fadel Amer said that gaged in the pandemic response. terials and water bottles. Gymnasium staff procedures. July, which has now been revised. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, September 9, 2020 QATAR Education City gets unifi ed platform for operations teams zSchneider Electric implements site-wide Scada System

site-wide supervisory information in a simplifi ed dis- and studying there,” said smail control and data ac- play, giving the operations team Yamangil, general manager for Aquisition management a unifi ed real-time view of what Qatar at Schneider Electric. solution is being installed for is happening in every building “This solution is going to make Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Edu- monitor and allowing them to managing the facilities much cation City. manage the whole campus from simpler to manage and main- Al-Ahli Hospital off icials display the working of the elevators. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed The technology by Schneider the one location. The result is tain. And given that it’s scalable, Electric will be implemented greater operational fl exibility, the solution will grow with Edu- across every large building more effi cient energy usage, cation City. The benefi ts will be on campus, 42 in all, and will and a greener, more sustainable a campus that is more energy give QF’s operations and secu- campus. effi cient and greener, safer and rity teams a single, centralised The system also interfaces comfortable.” ‘Qatar’s fi rst’ smart platform to manage a number with Archibus, a web-based “The implemented site-wide of processes across Education maintenance application uti- Scada System from Schneider City, including monitoring and lised by Education City Op- Electric aligns Education City controlling energy usage, and erations for daily operation and with our leadership’s vision of temperature settings. Georgios Sichanis maintenance requirements and making it a Smart City, con- elevator service at The system provides a single, reporting. trolled from centralised com- unifi ed environment for real- the infrastructure on campus, “Qatar Foundation’s Educa- mand centres to attain opti- time data acquisition, analysis, called Scada System. tion City is a testament to the mum operability for Education visualisation and integration of The system, which includes a importance that the country City facilities and reduce their various applications. layer of cyber security, pulls in, places on education and knowl- carbon footprint and mainte- Al-Ahli Hospital Education City houses stores and analyses information edge, and we’re delighted to be nance costs,” added Georgios branch campuses of some of the from 316,000 data points across able to support this initiative by Sichanis, Qatar Foundation’s world’s leading universities, in- the 42 buildings on campus. rolling out technology that’s go- project manager for the Scada l-Ahli Hospital has devel- that ensures the prevention of cluding Carnegie Mellon Uni- Customisable dashboards show ing to benefi t everyone working project. oped a technology to limit acquired infection in hospitals versity, Georgetown University, Ainfection transmission by introducing the ventilation Virginia Commonwealth Uni- and stop the spread of Covid-19 system, positive air pressure in versity, Northwestern Univer- by converting all its elevators operating rooms and negative sity, Texas A&M University and to infrared elevators, thereby air pressure in isolation rooms to Weill Cornell-Medicine, as well avoiding the need to touch any prevent infection transmission as Hamad Bin Khalifa Universi- buttons to give commands. to the patient as much as possi- ty, Qatar Foundation’s homeg- “This is the fi rst such system ble,” he explained. rown university, research insti- in Qatar as of now,” Ammar An- He thanked the whole family tutes and community facilities. natashi, chief operations offi cer, of Al-Ahli Hospital for imple- While each building has its Al-Ahli Hospital, said during a menting the project, especially own building management sys- media interaction yesterday. the departments of Medical tem, Qatar Foundation plans “The whole system, right The ‘hand-free’ lift. Engineering and Electrical En- a solution that would enable a from concept design and fab- gineering, which were able, de- single unifi ed view and opera- rication, was developed by our when a guest points his fi ngers at spite the scarcity of resources, to tion from two central control expert technology team. Our it while giving the command to present this initiative in co-or- rooms for 42 sites across Edu- engineering division has been at call the elevator and move from dination with the management cation City. Based on the com- the forefront of developing the one fl oor to another. and implement it quickly. pany’s Wonderware technolo- whole plan. We are planning to Jamal Hammad, deputy CEO He also pointed out that the gy, Schneider Electric delivered introduce the same service at our and director of projects at Al- infection rate at Al-Ahli Hospi- a scalable and effi cient solution Schneider Electric’s technology will help save energy, reduce carbon emissions and lower Wakrah facility too very soon,” Ahli Hospital, said they were tal has dropped to 1%, and this that is inter-operable with all maintenance costs across the campus. Annatashi said. keen to ensure a “very high is much lower than the interna- Jehad Rihan, chief facil- level of quality and achieve glo- tional level, which is 5% in the ity maintenance engineer of the bal standards for the safety and best international hospitals. hospital, was also present during security of internal guests and He added that Al-Ahli Hos- the media briefi ng. visitors”. pital uses ultraviolet fi lters and The elevators work without “That is why we have been other tests that detect the pres- Texas A&M to highlight its Covid-19 response touching as they receive the sig- keen, since the beginning of the ence of bacteria and viruses, nals remotely. A small control establishment and urban plan- helping eliminate them and panel receives the command and ning of the Al-Ahli Hospital maintain a clean and safe envi- exas A&M University at Education and Higher Educa- ence (physics) — ‘Investigation nar series features 45-minute its light turns from blue to green building, to be designed in a way ronment. Qatar, a Qatar Founda- tion, Qatar Foundation, Barzan of the Feasibility of Large-Scale seminars to promote knowledge Ttion partner university, Holdings and Qatar Red Cres- Sterilisation of Medical, Indus- on topics centred around Qatar’s will restart its Al Maerifa Public cent Society, followed by fac- trial and Food Using Electron grand challenges and research QM-QDB deal to establish incubation centre at M7 Seminar Series designed to share ulty members who will present Beam Technologies’; Dr Kon- pursuits. The talks are presented expertise and knowledge with the their research work and discuss stantinos Kakosimos, Chemical in English and designed for a From Page 1 nership with Qatar Museums is the local entrepreneurial com- local community in Qatar tomor- project outcomes. Engineering — ‘Tailored Preven- general, non-technical audience. an important part of our vision to munity; and connecting incu- row with a discussion of the uni- Presenting their work will be tion of Coronavirus’; Dr Luc Vé- Organised by Texas A&M at “We are excited to partner build a strong national network bates with potential investors, versity’s response to Covid-19. Dr Hussein Alnuweiri, Electri- chot, Chemical Engineering — Qatar’s Offi ce of Engagement, with QDB on the M7 incubation to achieve common goals that customers or partners. When the Covid-19 pandem- cal and Computer Engineering ‘Investigation of the Impact of the Al Maerifa Public Semi- centre, an essential platform contribute towards the diversi- Entrepreneurs will also have ic began, Texas A&M at Qatar — ‘Code Design and Modelling the Covid-19 Pandemic on the nar Series continues the part- for creatives to collaborate and fi cation of the national economy access to a 10-week startup funded seven research projects to Improve Testing’; Dr Bing Control of the Process Safety ner university’s core mission exchange ideas that bring their and are in line with the bank’s programme and guidance from to help Qatar combat the out- Guo, Mechanical Engineering Risk in Major Hazards Industries of sharing knowledge with the vision to life and contribute to strategy and responsibilities.” high-profi le mentors and suc- break of the virus. During the — ‘Establishing Aerosol Virus in Qatar: Data Collection, Anal- local community in Qatar and Qatar’s diverse, thriving cultural The agreement outlines QDB’s cessful entrepreneurs. seminar, Dr Hassan S Bazzi, as- Monitoring Capability in Qatar ysis and Recommendations’; showcases the breadth of the landscape.” mentorship and training, includ- Such mentorship will also in- sociate dean for Research and for Mitigation of Covid-19 and and Dr Sara Hillman, Liberal university’s expertise, said Dr Al-Khalifa said, “The Scale 7 ing seminars and workshops for clude a speaker series, where Advancement, will present the Future Epidemics’; Dr Marwa Arts — ‘Labouring to communi- César Octavio Malavé, dean of aims to support small and medi- technical business learning and fashion and design startups will Covid-19 activities undertaken Khraisheh, Mechanical Engi- cate: Use of migrant languages in Texas A&M at Qatar. um-sized enterprises, particu- knowledge; mentoring tailored gain access to joint events and by Texas A&M at Qatar in col- neering — ‘3D Printing of Critical Covid-19 awareness campaign in To register or for more infor- larly in the fashion and design to an entrepreneur’s business; fashion shows, facilities and laboration with the Ministry Need Medical Parts and Devic- Qatar’. mation, one can visit https:// industries in Qatar. QDB’s part- networking and support within marketing campaigns. of Public Health, Ministry of es’; Dr Othmane Bouhali, Sci- The Al Maerifa virtual semi- knowledge.tamu.qa Ashghal to use local products worth QR26bn in fi ve years

From Page 1 glass, and other basic ma- terials for buildings, which He said local factories are not currently manufac- and investors can benefi t tured in the local market. from an additional QR7.5bn Lahdan al-Mohannadi, by meeting Ashghal’s re- senior Project Engineering quirements of the materi- adviser at Ashghal, dis- als that are currently im- cussed the Ta’heel initia- ported, including manhole tive launched by Ashghal in covers, DI pipes, deco- 2017 with the aim of sup- rative street light poles, porting local products. pumps and valves, steel He said Ashghal quali- strands- post/pre-ten- fi ed 150 companies through sioning, geotextiles, water Ta’heel and that the proof membrane, barriers, number of qualifi ed com- and traffi c control devices, panies “increases signifi - among others. cantly every year.” The fac- Al-Emadi said 51 build- tories, al-Mohannadi said, ings projects were imple- provide Ashghal projects mented over the past fi ve with 60 main products years with a total amount manufactured locally. of QR6.1bn with a lo- Al-Mohannadi said cal component of about through the Ta’heel ini- 70%. He added that Ash- tiative Ashghal held several ghal plans to implement seminars and workshops to 43 building projects in the train and introduce com- next fi ve years at a total panies to the best working cost of QR4bn. methods, in addition to the He called on local facto- visits made by the author- ries to benefi t from these ity to factories, and its con- budgets by establishing tribution in raising their factories for elevators, operational effi ciency and doors, ceramic tiles, fl oors, raising the standards ap- fi re extinguishing systems, plied in them. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 9, 2020 5 QATAR QCS honours LuLu for Qatar Museums supporting its projects

ajor retailer LuLu Hy- Resources Development De- cancer needs the joining of ef- partnership platform to make marks Literacy permarket Qatar has partment, QCS, at a ceremony forts and co-operation between Qatar a leader in cancer preven- Mreceived an Award held at LuLu Hypermarket’s all institutions. tion and its burden control, and and Certifi cate of Apprecia- regional offi ce. Present on the “It is wonderful to see this its mission seeking to prevent tion from Qatar Cancer Soci- occasion were senior offi cials great support from all indi- cancer and control its burden ety (QCS) in appreciation of from QCS and LuLu. viduals and institutions, which in Qatar by working with our Day with focus on the support extended by them Speaking on the occasion, contributes to increasing com- partners to educate the com- to QCS in their fi ght towards Dr al-Dosari commended the munity awareness activities, munity, support, empower and combating cancer. management of LuLu Hyper- and its implications for raising advocate for individuals liv- Dr Mohamed Althaf, direc- market for their continuous awareness,” he added. ing with cancer, and engage in tor of LuLu Hypermarkets, support to the charity, noting This initiative is “considered professional development and role of education received the Award and Cer- this is not the fi rst time they a contribution from LuLu Hy- scientifi c research in the fi eld tifi cate of Appreciation from Dr are supporting QCS. He also permarket in achieving QCS’s of cancer”, a press statement Dera al-Dosari, director of the stressed that the fi ght against vision to be the community noted. By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

atar Museums (QM) un- derlined the vital role of Qeducation to teach and raise public awareness in the fi ght against the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, marking the International Literacy Day (ILD) 2020 in Doha yesterday. In an e-mail to Culture Pass members, QM noted that this year’s theme of the annual cel- ebration focuses on literacy teaching and learning in the Above All, Qatar Foundation, A couple – Nasir Rasouli Covid-19 crisis and beyond, Permanent Mission of the State (34) and Shahnaz Karimi (24) – putting a spotlight on the role of of Qatar to the UN, as well as moved from their adopted home educators and changing pedago- the co-chairs of the Group of in Iran to Kara Tepe in Greece to gies. Friends and Lifelong Learn- seek greener pastures. They also “ILD will also highlight how ing (Argentina, Czech Repub- attended English and art classes innovative teaching methods can lic, Japan, Kenya and Norway), while their child Matin was then be used for youth and adult lit- featured “a girl and a woman in able to go to primary school, eracy programmes to combat the Burkina Faso, an Afghan refu- promising more opportunities Dr Mohamed Althaf receives the Award and Certificate of Appreciation from Dr Dera al-Dosari in the presence of other LuLu and QCS off icials. pandemic and even go beyond gee family in Greece, a teacher and a better future. that. We can also lean about dif- in India, and an entrepreneur in In Guatemala, Margarita Peli- ferent policies and systems that Guatemala.” co who grew in the village of Los support educators and learning One of the stories cited Cipreses found “a free fl exible methods” QM said. 21-year-old Awa Traore from adult correspondence education QM noted that an immer- Burkina Faso who failed to go programme designed for older sive exhibition titled ‘Educa- to school but later found a way girls who missed out school- Vodafone Qatar off ers premium tion transforms lives’, set up by to study and “use this second ing. With her determination, Unesco at the United Nations chance at literacy as a step- she made her way to high school (UN) headquarters in New York ping stone to a profession in the and college. She is now a social GigaTV service for public viewing last year (2019) on the sidelines health fi eld.” worker and running her own of the High-Level Political Fo- Also in Burkina Faso, 11-year- weaving company. rum, underscores the power of old Rachidatou Sana, born Meanwhile, Indian teacher odafone Qatar has made education to inspire people in to poor parents, focused and Prathibha Balakrishnan (38) its premium GigaTV “helping to advance and ensure worked hard in achieving her partnered with tribal matriarch Vservice available for the right to education for every goals despite the diffi culties and Badichi (44) to teach the people public viewing to enable hotels, woman, man and child.” challenges in life. She wants to in the village of Kadichanokol- restaurants, cafes, gyms, salons The exhibition, organised be a nurse and help her family li in southern India in 2008. and all businesses alike off er a in partnership with Education and others. (source: Unesco.org) unique experience to their cus- tomers and visitors. The Internet-based GigaTV is now being off ered for free for public viewing with any Voda- fone Business Broadband sub- scription. Mahday Saad al-Hebabi Malabar Gold launches Vodafone GigaTV requires no antenna installation – sub- sonalised choices between scribers can simply plug their English, Arabic, French, Ger- support them with the right so- GigaTV for public viewing is TV box to the screen and start man, and Pinoy genres, to suit lutions to reconnect with their off ered for free with any Voda- ‘Double Your Savings’ off er broadcasting channels in their every business and help them customers and reduce their re- fone Business Broadband sub- public areas to keep their cus- elevate their customer experi- covery time. scription. tomers and visitors entertained. ence. “As businesses turn their Current subscribers and cus- alabar Gold & Dia- GigaTV off ers access to 100+ Vodafone Qatar Business di- focus to keeping customers tomers interested in subscrib- monds has launched channels featuring the latest rector Mahday Saad al-Hebabi engaged and off ering them a ing to Business Broadband to Mthe ‘Double Your Sav- blockbuster movies, top-rated said: “With the Phase 4 reo- better, more dynamic experi- avail of the GigaTV off er can ings’ campaign in Qatar, off ering series, documentaries, news, pening now underway, we un- ence and atmosphere on their call 40010100. the “best making charges” for lifestyle, kid’s entertainment, derstand that businesses in premises, Vodafone GigaTV is More information on Vo- customers. live talk shows, sports and more. Qatar are looking forward to surely a must-have entertain- dafone GigaTV and Business The campaign will showcase Additional paid premium resuming operations as fast as ment solution for businesses in Broadband packages can be had an exclusive display of gold jew- channels off er even more per- possible. Vodafone is ready to every industry.” from www.vodafone.qa/gigatvB ellery locally made at the manu- facturing facilities of Malabar Gold & Diamonds in Qatar. The products will have the added assurance of Qatar Qual- ity Mark, an initiative by the 26.15kg hashish seized at Ruwais Port Qatar government to enhance the competitiveness of national he Maritime Customs Sunday, the Maritime Customs community. The haul included goods in the local, regional and Department has foiled Department seized 45.5kg of 29kg of hashish and 10.2kg of global markets. “It is an evidence Tanother attempt to hashish at Ruwais Port where methamphetamine. of the effi ciency and quality of smuggle narcotic substances at it was found hidden inside the In August, GAC offi cials the product, further supporting supporting the initiatives of the regional head – Qatar of Malabar Ruwais Port. spare tyre of a refrigerated ve- had seized ‘tambaku’ (a kind the company’s eff orts to upgrade government and encouraging Gold & Diamonds. According to a tweet by the hicle. The banned narcotic of chewing tobacco) weigh- their products in accordance the usage of jewellery made at “This exclusive campaign General Authority Customs substance was concealed in 45 ing 2,152kg at Hamad Port. The with the standards and specifi - our local manufacturing facili- from the brand will showcase at- (GAC) yesterday, offi cials seized plastic bags. seized ‘tambaku’ was recovered cations set in the country,” the ties. This is in line with the ef- tractive jewellery, bound to cap- 26.15kg of hashish that was Last week, the General Di- from a sugar shipment. leading jeweller said in a state- forts to improve the competency tivate customers and suit their found hidden inside metal cans rectorate of Drug Enforcement Before that, in July, the GAC ment. of national products, both in diverse tastes and preferences,” in refrigerated fruit containers. at the Ministry of Interior had foiled attempts to smuggle The seized contraband. Customers will also have the terms of quality and price. This the statement added. A total of 26 packs of the seized nearly 40kg of banned illicit drugs into Qatar as four opportunity to avail of zero de- campaign will ensure that our The off er will be valid until contraband were seized. narcotic substances and arrest- packs of crystal meth weighing customs at Hamad Interna- duction on the exchange of 22K customers get to own their fa- October 3 across all outlets of In a similar case reported on ed three persons from the Asian 734gm were seized by the Cargo tional Airport. (GCC) gold jewellery. vourite jewellery for the best Malabar Gold & Diamonds in “The campaign is aimed at making charges,” said Santosh K, Qatar. Hair Couture Salon reopens after renovation

air Couture Salon reo- bringing the latest innovations raise public awareness about the pened its doors after go- especially when it comes to the Lexus lineup and its state-of- Hing through some small products; apart from using the the-art features, benefi ts and renovations and adapting to the specialised L’Oreal techniques technology. new regulations of the Ministry and hair colour dyes, there is a The event was held with with of Public Health. new selection of natural prod- the support of The Avenue Ho- The re-opening event of Hair ucts and treatments. Clients will tel, Lexus, La Boutique Blanche, Couture was held in collabora- be able to enjoy a range of prod- EQUO, Yes I Do and New You tion with Lexus at The Avenue ucts that are mostly organic; Medical. Hotel. therefore, healthier and more Nailberry is the new brand The Hair Couture Salon has a sustainable. The professional at the salon. The spirit of the trendy set-up and comprises a team’s objective will be to fi nd brand has a sensitivity to health professional team, where each the perfect look for each client and wellness and a respect to member is an expert in each re- focusing on a healthier beauty at the environment and nature. lated fi eld. The beautiful space, the same time. The award-winning L´Oxygéné designed by Triple Trend Design Speaking on salon owner range is the latest in patented House, is an open and wide room Amal Ameen, Abdullah Ab- technology that delivers colour that refl ects comfort in every dulghani & Bros Co (AAB) senior in a healthier manicure. sense. The salon has a VIP room, marketing manager Firas Mufti The range has since been makeup room and private area said: “We are very excited this Amal Ameen cuts the ribbon to mark the reopening of the salon. Lexus vehicles outside the salon. complemented with an extensive prepared for the most exquisite year to collaborate with Amal range of nail treatments exclu- and glamorous clients. Ameen as our fi rst-ever Lexus nised fashion icon, Amal will brand through joint lifestyle and The Lexus Brand Ambassador with a high-profi le, respectable sively designed to further treat This season, the salon is brand ambassador. As a recog- play a key role in endorsing the fashion events.” programme is to associate Lexus public fi gure such as Amal and and repair damaged nails. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, September 9, 2020 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA/ASIA

DIPLOMACY MEDIATION TRIAL PRODUCTION WILDLIFE Iran hosts second Indian S Africa sends new Zuma graft hearing Iran building facility for Thailand’s oldest hippo minister in a week envoys to Zimbabwe delayed for third time advanced centrifuges celebrates birthday

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam A South African delegation is expected to arrive The corruption trial of South Africa’s ex- Iran has begun to build a hall in “the Children and other spectators sang to Jaishankar held talks yesterday in the Iranian in crisis-hit Zimbabwe today, the ruling party in president Jacob Zuma, initially set to begin in heart of the mountains” near its Natanz mark her 55th birthday, Thailand’s oldest capital, becoming the second senior Indian Harare said, in the latest attempt to mediate a May, has been postponed for a third time over nuclear site for making advanced hippopotamus Mae Mali chomped on an minister to visit the Islamic republic this week. recent crackdown on dissent. Years of repression pre-trial “issues”, the prosecutor said yesterday. centrifuges, Iran’s nuclear chief said assortment of fruit and vegetables arranged “A productive meeting with FM @JZarif during in Zimbabwe worsened in the run-up to banned Zuma, 78, is accused of taking 4mn rand yesterday, aiming to replace a production in the shape of a cake. Mae Mali, which means a stopover in Tehran,” he tweeted, after a anti-government protests on July 31, during ($236,000) in bribes to facilitate a $3.4bn arms hall at the facility hit by fire in July. “Mother Jasmine” in Thai, who moved to meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohamed which at least 20 demonstrators were arrested deal with French arms company Thales in 1999, Iran said at the time that the fire was a compound at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Javad Zarif. Jaishankar said they “discussed and charged with inciting public violence. when he was deputy president. The former the result of sabotage and had caused eastern Thailand two years ago from a zoo in strengthening our bilateral co-operation and Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa leader and Thales were scheduled to appear significant damage that could slow the Bangkok, and has already outlived a hippo’s reviewed regional developments”. Zarif, also has since vowed to “flush out” the “bad apples” in court on May 6 to answer the allegations. development of advanced uranium typical life expectancy of around 40 to 50 on Twitter, wrote: “Our active engagement attempting to “divide our people” – stoking But the case was pushed back to June because enrichment centrifuges. “Due to the years old. “Mae Mali is now a grandma. We with our neighbourhood is our top priority.” concern among social activists and opposition of the coronavirus pandemic and then to sabotage, it was decided to build a more have been taking great care of her regarding On Sunday, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath figures already targeted by the regime. Three September 8 over document delays. South modern, larger and more comprehensive her health, food, and environment,” said Singh and his Iranian counterpart Amir Hatami veteran South African politicians were sent to Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) hall in all dimensions in the heart of zoo director Attaporn Srihayrun. Mae Mali also held talks in Tehran. During Jaishankar’s Zimbabwe in early August to mediate the crisis. yesterday announced that the case had again the mountain near Natanz. Of course, gave birth to numerous calves, and her last visit in December, before the outbreak of But the delegation did not meet with opposition been postponed to December 8 to resolve the work has begun,” said Ali Akbar descendants now number 21 hippos residing the coronavirus epidemic which has hit both parties and was widely criticised for failing to “pre-trial management issues”. Sticking points Salehi, according to state TV. Natanz in zoos across the country. In the wild, the countries hard, Tehran and Delhi said they had confront Mnangagwa, prompting South Africa’s include Thales applications for review and for is the centrepiece of Iran’s enrichment hippopotamus lives in rivers and lakes in agreed to speed up the development of the President Cyril Ramaphosa to send another set further particulars from the state, according to programme, which Tehran says is for sub-Saharan Africa and habitat loss means it’s Iranian port of Chabahar on the Indian Ocean. of envoys. the NPA statement. peaceful purposes. now considered vulnerable.

Protest against pardon Two Australian journalists fl ee China amid worsening ties

Demonstrators display placards to protest against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to pardon US marine Lance AFP a genuine eff ort to try and get warned that foreign journalists Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who was convicted of killing a woman, during a rally in Manila yesterday. Pemberton has been in Sydney anything useful for that case,” he “now face the threat of arbitrary prison since the October 2014 killing of Jennifer Laude, whom he met at a bar while on a break from military exercises in the northern told ABC. detention for simply doing their city of Olongapo. China confi rmed the two men work”. wo Australian journal- had been questioned, but insist- The episode began almost a ists fl ed China yesterday ed the move had been legitimate. week ago, when police carried Tunder diplomatic protec- “As long as foreign journalists out synchronised midnight raids tion amid rapidly deteriorating obey the law they have no rea- on Birtles’s home in Beijing and relations between Beijing and son to worry,” foreign ministry Smith’s in Shanghai – where he Canberra, as the United States spokesman Zhao Lijian said in was correspondent for the Aus- warned that the situation for Beijing. tralian Financial Review. Italy joins European calls for foreign reporters in the country Several reporters for US media Both were barred from leaving could get worse. have had their visas revoked and the country and told they would Their dramatic overnight exit been forced to leave the country face questioning. came following days of secret – in what critics have interpreted “I felt like I suddenly, uninten- wrangling that had seen both as targeting of Western media tionally, had become a pawn in change in Lebanon amid crisis men holed up in Australia’s dip- outlets by the Communist Party. some sort of diplomatic tussle,” lomatic missions to escape the The United States said yester- said Birtles. Agencies Adib held talks with Presi- sources say Adib has discussed ister and two security agency clutches of China’s feared secu- day that it had been informed by They fl ed to their closest Aus- Beirut dent Michel Aoun yesterday but a cabinet of about 14 ministers, heads to testify, a judicial source rity police. China’s foreign ministry of un- tralian diplomatic missions until made no announcements about instead of the usual 20 or more said. Bill Birtles and Michael Smith specifi ed tighter rules for foreign agreeing to answer Ministry of ministerial appointments. posts. Judge Fadi Sawan is to hear had to consent to questioning media. State Security questions in re- taly’s prime minister said “Now is the time to look ahead He has not announced any caretaker transport and pub- before they were allowed to leave “These proposed actions will turn for safe passage home. yesterday it was time for and build trust between the citi- plans. lic works minister Michel Naj- China, shepherded out of the worsen the reporting environ- James Curran, an Austral- ILebanon to rebuild trust zens and institutions, and to turn A senior political source said jar and State Security agency country on a late-night fl ight by ment in China, which is already ian former intelligence analyst between its people and institu- a new page in Lebanon’s history,” yesterday’s meeting went well. head Tony Saliba tomorrow, the Australian diplomats. suff ering a dearth of open and and prime ministerial adviser, tions, joining France’s call for Conte said after talks with Aoun The swift formation of a source said. Both men were quizzed about independent media reporting,” told AFP the media crackdown change in a nation devastated by earlier in the day. government is the fi rst step “If it turns out there had been fellow Australian journalist State Department spokeswoman and the fact no major Australian economic crisis and last month’s Conte, whose comments were on a French political roadmap negligence on their part, they Cheng Lei, who has been de- Morgan Ortagus wrote on Twit- media were now represented in explosion at Beirut port. carried in Arabic by Lebanese intended to open the way for could become suspects and be tained since last month. ter. China would only hinder public Prime Minister Giuseppe media, said Italy and the Euro- heavily indebted Lebanon to interrogated as such,” it said. Beijing acknowledged yester- “Why is the CCP afraid of in- understanding. Conte was visiting Beirut a week pean Union were ready to help. receive international aid to get Sawan will also hear the ac- day for the fi rst time that she was dependent and investigative me- “The lens through which we after a trip by French President During last week’s visit, back on its feet. count of the infl uential head of being held on national security dia reporting?” she said, refer- are going to get a picture of this Emmanuel Macron, who has Macron said Lebanese politi- Billions of dollars of aid the General Security apparatus, grounds – a broad category that ring to the Chinese Communist country is going to become in- led international eff orts to push cians, who usually bicker for pledged at an international con- Abbas Ibrahim, next Monday. can include crimes resulting in Party. creasingly shrouded, if not through reforms in Lebanon to months over ministerial posts, ference in 2018 were never de- Twenty-fi ve suspects are in lengthy prison sentences. Reporters Without Borders blocked altogether,” he said. end decades of state corruption had promised to agree on a new livered because Lebanon did not custody over the monster blast. Birtles, who works for public said at least 19 foreign corre- Author and former China cor- and mismanagement. cabinet in two weeks, or by mid- carry out reform pledges. Hundreds of tonnes of am- broadcaster ABC, said yester- spondents have been forced to respondent Richard McGregor Lebanese Prime Minister- September. Lebanon is also recovering monium nitrate had been stored day his “interrogation” in a hotel leave China this year and said the said the incident “marks a new designate Mustapha Adib has “We are at the stage of dia- from the August 4 blast at Beirut unsafely in a port warehouse for room had touched on Cheng’s move “increasingly threatens the low”. until early next week to get a logue with his excellency, the port which killed about 190 peo- at least six years, it emerged af- case, but that he did not think international community’s right “Other countries grappling cabinet in place under a time- president, and God willing it ple, injured 6,000 more and dev- ter the explosion. that was its primary objective. to be informed”. with China will take note. If table promised during Macron’s will go well,” Adib said after his astated whole neighbourhoods. The disclosure sparked wide- “I believe that the whole epi- The Foreign Correspondents’ their bilateral relationship dete- visit to a nation facing its worst meeting at the presidential pal- A Lebanese judge leading the spread outrage over alleged of- sode was really one more of har- Club of China said the two Aus- riorates, then their own nationals crisis since the 1975-1990 civil ace. probe into then port blast has fi cial negligence that many said assment of the remaining Aus- tralians’ ordeal marked “a signif- will be in the fi ring line as well,” war. Lebanese media and political summoned an outgoing min- was to blame for the blast. tralian journalists, rather than icant escalation” by Beijing and he said. New Covid helmet brings Record fl oods threaten pyramid sites in Sudan comfort to health workers Reuters east bank of the River Nile about Khartoum 200km northeast of the capital Khartoum. Agencies and, for example, wipe sweat off VinSmart, a unit of Vietnam’s It was the capital of the Kush Hanoi their face or clean a visor while largest conglomerate Vingroup ecord fl oods in Sudan have dynasty that ruled from the early keeping the helmet sealed. that has been producing ventila- threatened sites housing the 6th century BC. “A big difference with this tors, has signed an agreement to Rroyal pyramids of Meroe and At Nuri, about 350km north of hree Vietnamese school helmet is the glove box. You can help the students mass produce Nuri, two of the country’s most Khartoum, tombs buried 7-10m students have designed a use it to interact with your face their fi nal version of the helmet. important archaeological areas, an underneath pyramids had been Thelmet that allows front- safely,” said Tran Nguyen Khanh offi cial said yesterday. aff ected by a rise in groundwater, line health workers to have a An, 14, one of the students who >>Malaysian authorities yes- The royal bath at Meroe, a basin Nour said. snack or even scratch their nose won a “Best Invention Design terday reminded the public to that fi lls during the annual fl ood- The Nuri pyramids include the without exposing themselves to Award” at the International In- avoid physical contact, including ing of the Nile, was at risk from tomb of Taharqa, who ruled over the risks of coronavirus infec- vention Innovation Competi- fi st bumps as a form of greeting, unprecedented water levels, and lands in modern day Sudan and tion. tion in Canada last month for as the number of new coronavi- teams have been working since Egypt in the 7th century BC. The pandemic has thrown their design. rus cases in the country climbed Monday to protect the site from They are an “invaluable histori- a spotlight on the trade-off at The futuristic looking helmet to a three-month high. being swamped, said Hatem al- cal relic”, Nour said. times between the comfort and also has an internal compart- The fi st bump, where two peo- Nour, director of Sudan’s antiqui- As in Egypt, local dynasties safety of protective personal ment that can hold a snack for a ple briefl y press their closed fi sts ties and museums authority. buried members of the royal fam- equipment (PPE), especially for frontline worker and is attached together, has replaced the tradi- Meroe is an ancient city on the ily in pyramid tombs. workers who are required to suit by a tube to a powered air-puri- tional handshake in popularity as up in such outfi ts for hours on fying respirator to exclude con- people around the world sought Chad suspends 12 newspapers end. taminated air. to limit the spread of the pan- To address this problem, stu- While such respirators are demic. Chad’s paramount media authority has suspended 12 newspapers for dents were set a challenge to considered signifi cantly safer But Malaysia’s top health of- three months for failing to conform with a 2018 law, under a decree design a helmet connected to a than standard masks, they can fi cial said any form of physical published on Monday. The High Authority for Audiovisual Media respirator that not only protects be far more uncomfortable than contact presents the risk of in- (HAMA) cited failure to meet requirements that the publisher and but allows frontline workers to other forms of PPE. fection and reminded people to editor-in-chief of any outlet or periodical “each be trained in journalism, remain productive for longer. The Vihelm, which currently maintain a distance of at least 1m and have at least three years’ higher education.” It called on the The group came up with the costs under $300 to make, even (3.3ft). publications to meet these norms during their suspension or face “Vihelm”, a portmanteau of Viet- has pockets around the head area “This is why we’re telling “tougher sanctions.” The 12 newspapers comprise five French-language nam and helmet. that allow users to give the area a people not to fi st bump,” the Student Do Trong Minh Duc, 16, wears a prototype helmet named publications, the Haut Parleur, Barometre, Suggestion, Potentiel and It has a glove box access so a scratch if the device starts rub- Director-General of Health Noor Vihelm, which he designed to protect nurses and doctors from Lalakoum, and seven Arabic publications, Tchad Al Yam, Alnada, Chaba wearer can fi t their hand inside bing in the area. Hisham Abdullah told reporters. contracting the coronavirus disease at hospitals, in Hanoi. Tchad, Al Khabar, Al Ayam, Al Haya and Atihad. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 9, 2020 7

AMERICAS/BRITAIN

DISASTER CRIME WEATHER SURVEY CAUTIONED Smoke hampers rescue Seven people shot dead at Colorado goes from Amazon’s Bezos tops TikTok warns parents as fires burn 2mn acres illicit marijuana operation solar to polar in 24 hours Forbes richest list over suicide video

Wildfires in California have torched more than Seven people were fatally shot at what Coloradans were yesterday ditching the Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos topped TikTok is warning parents and users over a 2mn acres, the state fire department said, as authorities called an illegal marijuana suntan lotion and pulling out warm gloves Forbes’ list of richest Americans for the third suicide video that has been embedded in a clip. smoke hampered eff orts to airlift dozens of growing operation in the southern California and boots as the western US state went year in a row, while President Donald Trump’s The video showing an American man taking people trapped by an uncontrolled blaze. The countryside and suspects were being sought from blazing summer heat to snowfall in ranking dropped as the coronavirus pandemic his own life came from a Facebook livestream Creek Fire in northern California has so far yesterday. The Riverside county sheriff’s just one day. In the state capital Denver, slammed his off ice buildings, hotels and resorts, and has been uploaded to various social spread to 135,525 acres, destroyed 65 structures department responded to a report of an the temperature was around 91 degrees the magazine said yesterday. The aggregate media platforms, sometimes edited into other, and is out of control, California department assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies found Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) on Monday afternoon. wealth of the Forbes 400 list rose to a record unrelated videos. “We’re aware that clips of a of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire) said a woman suffering from gunshot wounds at a By yesterday morning it had dropped to 36F, $3.2tn, as the richest Americans continued suicide that was livestreamed on Facebook have in an update. Several communities in the area home in the unincorporated area of Aguanga, and it could cool further as the day wears on, to do well even though the pandemic has recently circulated on other platforms, including northeast of Fresno have been ordered to 161km southeast of Los Angeles. Paramedics forecasters say. “Drastic change to WINTER devastated the economy and caused more TikTok,” TikTok tweeted. The short-form video evacuate due to immediate threat to life. Dozens rushed her to the hospital, the sheriff’s starts tonight!,” the National Weather Service than 1.8mn Americans to lose their jobs. Eric platform said its systems were automatically of people have been trapped by the rapidly- department said in a statement. Six others in Boulder tweeted on Monday. “Prepare now, Yuan, chief executive off icer of Zoom Video detecting and flagging the clips for violating expanding fire and Fresno Fire Battalion chief with gunshot wounds were also found at the for this sharp change Communications, which has become ubiquitous its community guidelines. The clip was being Tony Escobedo said smoke was hampering residence in the 45000 block of Highway 371, from summer to winter!” Indeed, snow fell on in the work-from-home era, was one of 18 shared on TikTok disguised as a video about eff orts by military choppers to rescue them. the statement said. Denver yesterday morning. newcomers on the list with a net worth of $11bn. kittens.

Earthquake Extinction Rebellion protest rattles Govt admits to Bedforshire residents

Guardian News and Media breaking EU London

3.3 magnitude earthquake has been recorded in Bed- Afordshire, the British Ge- ological Survey (BGS) said. treaty as legal Initial data on the BGS web- site suggested the earthquake was felt in the region of Leighton Buzzard at about 8.45am yester- day and was magnitude 3.3 at a depth of 10km. In a tweet, the BGT said it had adviser quits received reports from members of the public in the heavily popu- AFP ment it agreed with the EU last Jonathan Jones, the head of its lated area. London year. legal department, had resigned. “Reports include ‘like a con- It insists the changes are tech- The Financial Times reported voy of HGVs driving past my nical and needed to ensure busi- he was “very unhappy” about the front door at great speed’, ‘the he government yesterday nesses in Northern Ireland can decision to rewrite the Northern house had one dramatic shake’, admitted it may break in- enjoy friction-free trade with Ireland Protocol — a vital part of ‘felt like whole house was shak- Tternational law by rewrit- both the EU and the rest of the the EU withdrawal pact designed ing’ & ‘it was like a large explo- ing parts of its Brexit divorce UK from next year. to avoid a return to the unrest that sion’,” the organisation tweeted. treaty relating to Northern Ire- To a question in parliament, stalked British rule in the province. Bedfordshire police said the land, as a top legal adviser’s res- Northern Ireland Secretary Johnson’s spokesman refused force had received a large number ignation clouded the latest round Brandon Lewis conceded: “Yes, to divulge whether the law- of calls from the public but no of fraught EU talks. this does break international yer had refused to sign off the injuries had been reported. Former prime minister There- law in a very specifi c and limited planned revisions. sa May warned the government way.” “We are fully committed to “There was a loud bang, was in danger of losing the trust Since the plans fi rst emerged implementing the Withdrawal and the whole house shook of other countries, while the on Monday, the EU and others Agreement and the Northern strongly for about three main opposition Labour party have urged the UK to uphold its Ireland Protocol,” he told report- seconds. I thought perhaps described the treaty admission international treaty obligations. ers. a wardrobe had collapsed as “absolutely astonishing”. Af- “Trust and credibility are key,” But he stressed “we cannot al- upstairs, or something large ter leaving the bloc earlier this European Parliament president low damaging default provisions had landed on the roof” year following a hotly contested David Sassoli said. “Any at- to kick in” for Northern Ireland if referendum, Britain is grappling tempts by the UK to undermine London and Brussels fail to nego- A tweet said: “Our control with the European Union on a fu- the agreement would have seri- tiate a deal this year. room are currently experiencing ture trade agreement as the clock ous consequences.” The government’s claim that a large number of calls due to an ticks down to a crunch EU sum- Lewis said there were “clear it has only now found problems earthquake which was felt across mit in mid-October. precedents” for such a move as with the protocol prompted dis- the county. We have currently Prime Minister Boris Johnson circumstances change. belief from opposition parties. received no reports of any inju- has said Britain will cope with Britain also faced warnings They seized on Jones’ exit ries or major structural damage.” the economic dislocation of from across the Atlantic of con- to level new charges of incom- Hannah Booth, a writer at the crashing out of a transition pe- sequences for a separate US-UK petence against Johnson after Guardian who was in the area, riod at the end of the year if there trade deal if it backtracked on the months of policy U-turns in his said: “There was a loud bang, and is no deal, despite also facing the EU Withdrawal Agreement. government’s coronavirus re- the whole house shook strongly coronavirus crisis. House of Representatives sponse. for about three seconds. I thought But the prospect has caused Speaker Nancy Pelosi last year Irish Prime Minister Micheal perhaps a wardrobe had collapsed the pound to slump on currency warned a deal between London Martin said he was “concerned upstairs, or something large had markets and made UK businesses and Washington would be dead about the lateness” of London’s landed on the roof.” increasingly anxious. on arrival in Congress if the proposed changes and the pros- Usha Chapman, from Luton, London has urged Brussels peace accord that ended decades pect of it failing to implement a said: “I was on a video call with to show “more realism” about of bloodshed in Northern Ireland binding treaty. my mum when I felt a sideways dealing with a heavyweight eco- was undermined. “We trust them to do so or they push. The door rattled and the nomic power on its newly shrunk Democrat Congressman would render the talks process TV fi xed to the wall also rattled. borders, and indicated it will Brendan Boyle told BBC radio null and void,” he told the Irish It lasted for fi ve seconds.” not compromise on its demands yesterday it “would be very diffi - Examiner newspaper. One person in Aylesbury wrote in the latest round of talks this cult to enter into a trade negotia- Britain and the EU agree a deal online that their house shook “as week. tion with a party that would have must be struck by next month’s if it was hit by a vehicle”. Another The British government in- just ripped up a very important EU summit, to give time for from Dacorum in Hertfordshire Activists sit in a tree as they take part in an Extinction Rebellion protest in Westminster, London, tends today to present legislation agreement to us”. translation and parliamentary said: “Short quick quiet boom yesterday. that could undercut its obliga- Lewis’ statement came after ratifi cation before the end of like an explosion.” tions in the Withdrawal Agree- the government confi rmed that 2020. Trump tours states Army chief pushes back to stem poll slide

AFP the doomed plane into a fi eld. after Trump accusation Biden, who was already in Washington Pennsylvania on Labor Day, will be Reuters during an online forum hosted by those wonderful companies that in Michigan today, while his vice Washington Defense One, a media organisation make the bombs, make the planes, resident Donald Trump be- presidential pick Kamala Har- focusing on the US military. make everything else stay happy,” gan his tour of fi ve swing ris goes to Florida and his wife Jill “I can assure the American peo- Trump said. Pstates this week, starting Biden visits Minnesota — a state day after President Don- ple that the senior leaders would “But we’re getting out of end- with Florida and North Carolina Trump is pushing hard to fl ip to his ald Trump accused the US only recommend sending our less wars,” Trump added. “Some yesterday, in hopes that promises side on November 3. Amilitary brass of wanting to troops to combat when it is re- people don’t like to come home. of a quick coronavirus vaccine and Trump has thrown everything fi ght wars to keep weapons makers quired in national security and in Some people like to continue to booming economic recovery will he can at Biden in the last cou- happy, the army’s top general yes- the last resort. We take this very, spend money. One cold-hearted right his fl oundering re-election ple weeks, calling him “stupid,” terday said leaders of the armed very seriously in how we make our globalist betrayal after another, campaign. accusing him of being a puppet forces would recommend sending recommendations,” McConville that’s what it was.” Only eight weeks before polling of socialist revolutionaries, and troops into combat only when it is added. Such criticism of military lead- day Democrat Joe Biden maintains claiming that sometimes violent in American national security in- Trump has increasingly clashed ers by a sitting president is highly a healthy lead in national polls and anti-racism protests are a harbin- terests or as a last resort. with Pentagon leaders over a range unusual. Trump’s comments come much smaller but consistent ad- ger of Democratic-led chaos. Asked about Trump’s Mon- of issues after initially giving re- after a report last week that he had vantages in the handful of states “Suburban voters are pouring day criticism of Pentagon leaders, tired generals senior positions in called fallen US troops buried in that tend to switch sides, deciding into the Republican Party because army chief of staff General James his administration. Europe “losers” and declined to the outcomes of close elections. of the violence in Democrat-run McConville declined to comment At a White House news confer- visit an American cemetery be- Trump’s trip yesterday will be cities and states. directly on it, saying the military ence on Monday, Trump criticised cause he thought it unimportant. followed by visits to Michigan to- “If Biden gets in, this violence should remain out of politics, es- Biden, describing him as a pro- Trump has denied the reports. morrow and Nevada on the week- is ‘coming to the Suburbs’, and pecially close to an election. ponent of “endless wars,” before Areas of disagreement between end. And Trump and Biden will FAST,” Trump tweeted yesterday, Trump is seeking re-election on turning his criticism toward mili- the Republican president and both be in Pennsylvania on Friday repeating what has become one of November 3, facing Democratic tary leaders who he himself ap- Pentagon leaders have included for the 9/11 commemorations at his core re-election messages. candidate Joe Biden. pointed, saying they are interested Trump’s threats to deploy active- the Flight 93 National Memorial, “You could say goodbye to your “Many of these leaders have in confl ict to satisfy military con- duty troops in response to a wave in Shanksville. American Dream!” sons and daughters that serve in tractors. of protests against racial injustice It was not clear whether they By contrast, Trump says, he is the military, many of these leaders “I’m not saying the military is in and police brutality — a step that might declare a brief truce and about to oversee the delivery of a have sons and daughters who have love with me. The soldiers are. The Defence Secretary Mark Esper appear jointly at the ceremony coronavirus vaccine — possibly on gone to combat or may be in com- top people in the Pentagon prob- and Army General Mark Milley, President Donald Trump makes his way to board Air Force One remembering the passengers who the eve of the election — and “the bat right now,” McConville, who ably aren’t because they want to do the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland died after attacking their hijack- greatest economic year in the his- Trump appointed to his post, said nothing but fi ght wars so that all of Staff , both opposed. yesterday. ers on September 11, 2001, sending tory of our country.” Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, September 9, 2020 EUROPE

UN urges ‘impartial’ Belarus protest leader Russian probe of is detained at border Navalny Detained Belarus opposition nia, called for Kolesnikova to be Babayan cited Lukashenko as ganisation (Nato) and Russia. poisoning figure resists ‘forced released, telling Reuters that her saying. Lukashenko denies oppo- expulsion’ detention would only infl ame But the 66-year-old leader nents’ accusations of vote- the anti-government protests. said he was the only person ca- rigging and has accused foreign AFP Reuters Kolesnikova’s whereabouts pable of protecting the country powers of trying to topple him in Geneva Kyiv were unclear. for now. a revolution. Two other opposition fi gures Lukashenko warned that his He retains the backing of Rus- who had gone missing around supporters would be attacked sian President Vladimir Putin, a he UN rights chief has rominent opposition the same time as her, Anton if he left power, said Babayan, key ally, but faces the prospect of called on Moscow to con- leader Maria Kolesnikova Rodnenkov and Ivan Kravtsov, editor-in-chief of the Moscow European Union sanctions later Tduct or co-operate with a Pwas detained by Belaru- entered Ukraine in the early Talks radio station. this month against Belarusian “thorough, transparent, inde- sian authorities, a border offi - hours of yesterday morning, the “I won’t talk to the opposition offi cials involved in the election pendent and impartial investi- cial said, after thwarting what a Ukrainian border service said. Co-ordination Council because and its violent aftermath. gation” into the alleged nerve Ukrainian government minister “Kolesnikova has now been I don’t know who these people With the detention of Koles- agent attack on Russian opposi- described as an attempt to expel detained, I can’t say concretely are,” Lukashenko said. “They nikova and the arrest or fl ight tion leader Alexei Navalny. her from Belarus. where she is, but she has been are no sort of opposition. Every- of other opposition fi gures, the Michelle Bachelet stressed the The fate of Kolesnikova, a key detained,” Anton Bychkovsky, thing they suggest is a catastro- president has attempted to crip- need to get to the bottom of the fi gure during four weeks of mass This picture taken last month shows Belarusian opposition politician a representative of the Belaru- phe for Belarus and the Belaru- ple the leadership of the protest poisoning, after German spe- protests, had been a mystery Maria Kolesnikova in front of law enforcement off icers during a rally sian border service, told Reuters sian people.” movement, yet it shows no sign cialists said that they had “un- since supporters said she was in Minsk. by phone. “She was detained in Belarus has seen a tense po- of abating. equivocal proof” that the weap- snatched in the street by masked connection with the circum- litical stalemate since a disputed Tsikhanouskaya, who stood ons-grade nerve agent Novichok men in the capital Minsk on ices to expel her to the territory Soon after the incident, Presi- stances under which they (the presidential election on August against him in the August elec- was used in the attack. Monday. of Ukraine,” he said. “All respon- dent Alexander Lukashenko told group) left the territory of Bela- 9, with protesters fl ooding the tion, said yesterday that he was “It is incumbent on the Rus- Deputy Ukrainian Interior sibility for her life and health is Russian reporters that he would rus.” streets and security forces re- heading an “illegitimate regime”. sian authorities to fully investi- Minister Anton Gerashchenko on Alexander Lukashenko, the not rule out holding new elec- Lukashenko, who has crushed sponding with mass arrests and “Lukashenko does not have gate who was responsible for this told Reuters that Kolesnikova ‘dictator’ of Belarus.” tions, but rejected any talks with dissent in Belarus for the past 26 – according to some of those any legitimacy as the president crime, a very serious crime that had successfully prevented “a The Interfax Ukraine news opponents who he said were years, conceded in his interview detained – beatings and torture. of our country. He does not rep- was committed on Russian soil,” forcible expulsion from her na- agency said the activist had de- bent on steering the country to- with Russian journalists that he The country of 9.5mn peo- resent Belarus anymore,” she she said in a statement. tive country”. liberately ripped up her passport wards disaster. may have held onto power too ple is of key strategic interest to told a Council of Europe com- The 44-year-old anti-cor- “Maria Kolesnikova made a so that Ukrainian border offi - Fellow opposition leader Svi- long. Moscow as a route for its oil and mittee from her headquarters ruption campaigner and one of courageous act that did not al- cials would not be able to let her atlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is “Yes, maybe I overstayed a gas exports and a buff er between in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she President Vladimir Putin’s fi erc- low the Belarusian special serv- through. in exile in neighbouring Lithua- bit,” Russian journalist Roman the North Atlantic Treaty Or- fl ed after the election. est critics, fell ill on a domestic fl ight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital before be- Covid-19 infects ing evacuated to Berlin. The attack marked the latest Belgium’s search in a long line of assassination at- for a government Tiny mouse-size art proves a hit in Sweden tempts against Putin’s critics. Bachelet stressed yesterday Belgium’s already intractable that “the number of cases of poi- 20-month search for a governing AFP Remaining clandestine is a soning, or other forms of target- majority hit a new hurdle Lund, Sweden top priority for “Anonymouse”. ed assassination, of current or yesterday, when one of the So when the Lund munici- former Russian citizens, either political leaders chosen by the pality commissioned some of within Russia itself or on foreign king to negotiate a coalition hey’re drawing crowds the works, they did not even soil, over the past two decades is tested positive for coronavirus. in Sweden: cute and know where to send the cheque. profoundly disturbing”. The coronavirus causes the Tquirky shopfronts, de- They now have 26 crea- “And the failure in many cases Covid-19 respiratory disease. lis and restaurants created by tions to their name, including to hold perpetrators account- Belgium has had no stable a mystery art collective called soup kitchens, antique shops able and provide justice for the parliamentary majority since “Anonymouse” that have and a private detective’s offi ce, victims or their families, is also December 2018, and legislative popped up out of nowhere in though they are always tempo- deeply regrettable and hard to elections in May last year only some cities. rary and usually stay up for a explain or justify,” she said. made the arithmetic more The catch? You have to get few months. Germany said last week that complicated, as rival Dutch and down on all fours to see them, Their works have also been toxicology tests conducted by its French-speaking parties struggle tucked away as they are at the seen in other cities in Swe- armed forces found “unequivo- to agree a programme. bottom of buildings, just big den and beyond, in Bayonne in cal evidence” that Navalny had French-speaking liberal Sophie enough for mice. France and on the Isle of Man in been poisoned with the weap- Wilmes is serving as a caretaker “It’s like a treasure hunt,” the UK. ons-grade nerve agent Novi- premier conducting everyday 29-year-old Madeleine tells Refl ecting on the corona- chok, the substance used in the business, but her three-party AFP in Lund, a picturesque virus pandemic, their fi rst 2018 attack on former Russian centre-right coalition controls university town in the south of creation in Lund was a mouse double agent Sergei Skripal and only 38 of the 150 seats in the Nordic country where the pharmacy, complete with a sign his daughter in the English city parliament. collective’s latest works are on encouraging visitors to “Wash of Salisbury. In March, the parliament voted to display. your paws”. Navalny’s associates say the give her powers for six months Hidden away in knee-high “The only thing that made use of Novichok, a military- to oversee Belgium’s response to crevices around the city, the sense was to build a pharmacy grade nerve agent, shows that the coronavirus, but that is due works often take the form of to somehow comment on the only the Russian state could be to expire within weeks and there mundane locations, such as This image shows a man taking a picture of a street installation of a mini restaurant and deli-shop for current global situation,” a responsible, but the Kremlin is no sign of a new government student dorms or a restaurant, mice, created by Swedish artist collective ‘Anonymouse’, in central Malmo, Sweden. spokesperson, who introduced fi ercely denies any involvement. emerging. but always at a scale more wel- himself as Yasha Mousekewitz, Russia had likewise rejected coming to small rodents than to Brie” by “Amy Winemouse” installations, which are tem- past to admire one of the works. told AFP via e-mail. any link to the Skripal case, as humans. and “Stilton John’s Goodbye porary, are exclusively made of “There is almost always a Anonymouse creations have well as the death of former KGB Turkey scales back Most often they include Yellow Cheese Roll”. recycled materials. message in them, it makes you also been a hit on social media, agent Alexander Litvinenko, cheesy puns, like the music The anonymous team behind “It’s the big world made think a little about how people and the collective has garnered who was poisoned with highly school reopening shop “Ricotta Records”, which the creations has been working small,” 64-year old social are doing,” 43-year-old Maria more than 139,000 followers on radioactive polonium-210 at a sells classic albums like “Back together for four years, and the worker Bengt tells AFP, walking adds. Instagram. hotel in the British capital. Turkey has announced that it While UN rights offi ce said is scaling back plans to reopen that they were not in a posi- schools later this month, with tion to make direct accusations only the youngest pupils against Moscow in the case, beginning classes at first, for up Bachelet noted that nerve agents to two days a week. HK director describes ‘fantastic struggle’ to make fi lm and radioactive isotopes such Fatalities from the coronavirus as Novichok and Polonium-210 have jumped to their highest were sophisticated substances since mid-May when lockdowns Reuters Based on a short story by post-production work, leav- that are very hard to get hold of. were in place. Venice Eileen Chang, the fi lm centres ing the team relying on Zoom “This raises numerous ques- The government has said it does on a young Shanghai schoolgirl meetings. tions,” she said. “Why use sub- not plan to reintroduce a full who seeks help from a wealthy “We’ve hardly met and we’ve stances like these? Who is us- lockdown but has urged Turks irector Ann Hui has de- aunt. done it and it was, how to call ing them? How did they acquire to follow social distancing and scribed her “fantastic Moving in with the tem- it? Fantastic struggle.” them?” hygiene measures to curb the Dstruggle” to make her peramental and disillusioned “It’s a kind of a moving ex- The UN High Commissioner virus. new fi lm Love After Love as former concubine, she gets ample of how fi lm people work for Human Rights also pointed Masks have been made pro-democracy protests broke sucked into her world of fancy regardless of crossfi res and out that prior to Navalny’s al- mandatory. out in her home Hong Kong and parties, and ambiguous rela- everything, and we’ve tried our leged poisoning, he had repeat- Last month, Education Minister then the global pandemic all tions with rich, older men. best to make the fi lm despite edly been harassed, arrested and Ziya Selcuk announced that but halted travel. She then falls in love with a great diffi culties.” assaulted either by authorities or schools, mostly shut since Hui, 73, was awarded a troubled playboy. Hui has directed almost 30 by unknown assailants. March, would start to reopen on Golden Lion award for lifetime “When we fi rst fi nished feature fi lms including Boat “Navalny was clearly someone September 21. achievement by the Venice Film shooting, the protest move- People, Ordinary Heroes and who needed state protection, Yesterday, however, he said only Festival yesterday. ment in Hong Kong started ... The Golden Era. Director Ann Hui poses with her face mask during the photo call even if he was a political thorn in pre-school and first year pupils Alberto Barbera, the festi- every day we were hearing the Barbera said Hui recounts for Love After Love, screened out of competition at the Venice the side of the government,” she would attend in-person classes val’s director, called her “one of tear gas from downstairs and with sensitivity “individual Film Festival. said. at first, with further reopening Asia’s most respected, prolifi c, we could even smell it and I stories that interweave with “It is not good enough to sim- plans to be determined during an and versatile directors”. had to return home every night important social themes such her political views. nies and they have allowed us to ply deny he was poisoned, and evaluation period of three weeks. Her new fi lm is a tale of tor- through the subway,” Hui said. as those of refugees, the mar- “I think it’s better for me not shoot this movie with immense deny the need for a thorough, in- tuous love and moral depravity After fi ve months of work- ginalised, and the elderly”. to comment too much on the moral complexity and it has dependent, impartial and trans- within Hong Kong’s high soci- ing through the protests, the Hui said that she wanted to situation itself because this fi lm passed censorship with very parent investigation into this Migrant camps ety before World War II. pandemic then complicated leave it for her work to convey is invested by Chinese compa- minor cuts,” Hui said. assassination attempt,” she said. on lockdown

Three migrant camps near Athens were placed in quarantine yesterday as concerns mounted AFP takes action against Google over copyright impasse over the spread of Covid-19 among thousands of asylum- seekers living in squalid AFP display the agency’s content in sated when their work is shown plaint with the competition au- Isabelle de Silva, president of De Silva said a court hearing conditions in Greece. Paris web searches. on websites, search engines and thority because we consider that the competition authority, said was set for tomorrow, and a rul- The Covid-19 respiratory Last April, France’s competi- social media platforms. Google has not negotiated in that one option could be to name ing could come as soon as this disease is caused by the highly- tion authority ordered Google Although talks were carried good faith,” AFP’s chief execu- a mediator for the talks, as sug- month. contagious coronavirus. gence France-Presse to negotiate “in good faith” with out over several months, news tive Fabrice Fries said. gested by some participants in Google has maintained that it The government said in a (AFP) has announced media groups, after it refused to publishers said that Google was “Google off ered to extend the recent weeks. should not have to pay to display statement that “total sanitary Athat it had lodged a com- comply with a new EU law gov- refusing to budge, prompting talks, but we refused because For now, however, the regula- pictures, videos or text snippets confinement” has been imposed plaint with French regulators erning digital copyrights. complaints by the newspapers’ they were going nowhere – we tor is waiting for a ruling from a alongside search results, saying on the camps of Malakassa, over a stand-off with Google, The so-called “neighbour- alliance APIG as well as French determined they would not ad- Paris appeals court after Google the practice drives hundreds of Schisto and Eleonas until saying that the US giant is refus- ing rights” aim to ensure that magazine publishers. vance unless there was a change challenged the validity of the millions of visits to publishers’ September 21. ing to move forward on paying to news publishers are compen- “We have also fi led a com- in method,” he said. negotiations imposed last April. websites each month. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 9, 2020 9 INDIA

INVESTIGATION MURDER DEMAND INITIATIVE POLITICS Deepak Kochhar sent to Woman,92, found with Kerala urged to open Education for all is Modi Madhya Pradesh BJP ED custody for 11 days throat slit, helper held state’s tourism sector govt’s mission: Amit Shah leader joins Congress

A special court in Mumbai yesterday sent A 92-year-old woman in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta The Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday said that the The Bharatiya Janata Party received a jolt in the businessman Deepak Kochhar to a 11-day district was found dead at her home, where (CKTI) yesterday demanded that the state central government has been working tirelessly Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh custody of the Enforcement Directorate she was staying with two helpers. One of the government take immediate steps to reopen the to achieve the goal set by Prime Minister’s yesterday after senior party leader Satish Singh (ED) which arrested him late on Monday in a helpers has been taken into custody, police said tourism sector that has been closed for the past “Education for All” mission. Greeting the nation Sikarwar, who contested the last assembly polls money-laundering case. Kochhar, the husband yesterday, on the basis of several notes about six months due to the coronavirus pandemic. on the International Literacy Day, Shah said from the region, joined the Congress along with of the high-profile former ICICI Bank CEO and his alleged murder plans found all over the The money-spinning tourism industry in the the government was trying to achieve the goal hundreds of supporters. Sikarwar yesterday managing director Chanda Kochhar, faces crime location. Police off icer K G Simon who state employs 15 lakh people directly and 20 through reforms like the New Education Policy reached Bhopal with hundreds of supporters from charges of money-laundering in the ICICI Bank- visited the crime scene in Kumbazha, said the lakh indirectly. The tourism sector brings in more 2020, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Samagra Shiksha Gwalior to join the Congress in the presence of Videocon Group case. The action came nearly woman’s throat was slit. Her helpers were from than Rs45,000 crore and contributed nearly 12% Abhiyan and many more such initiatives. “Our former chief minister and state Congress president a year after the Central Bureau of Investigation Tamil Nadu. Simon told reporters it appears to to the state’s GDP in 2019. CKTI president E M government under the visionary leadership Kamal Nath. Many senior leaders, including Chandra launched a probe against Videocon Group be a planned murder. “We have in custody one Najeeb said the central and state governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been Prabhash Shekhar and former minister Ramnivas director Venugopal Dhoot, his companies person called Mayil Swamy, who was one of the should take long-term measures to rescue the empowering the children and working tirelessly Rawat were present. Sikarwar contested the last Videocon International Electronics Ltd and two helpers, staying with the victim. A note has sector and intervene to restart businesses with towards its mission Education for All,” Shah election as a BJP candidate from Gwalior east and Videocon Industries Ltd, and the Kochhars. been recovered, written by this person, which adequate safety and health control measures. tweeted. He said the International Literacy Day was defeated by Munnalal Goyal of the Congress. Following the CBI complaint, the ED launched says that he is going to kill and then go to jail. “States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and 2020 focuses on “Literacy teaching and learning Goyal left the Congress with former minister its own probe into the money-laundering angle The second helper is a woman and the two are Maharashtra have opened the tourism sector in the Covid-19 crisis and beyond”, especially on Jyotiraditya Scindia and joined the BJP and resigned earlier this year. related,” said Simon. with and without Covid protocols. the role of educators and changing pedagogies. from the membership of the state assembly. India weighing Russian off er for vaccine trial, manufacturing

Agencies Meanwhile, three vaccines are Bengaluru in advanced stages in India. There are two indigenous vac- cines being developed by Zydus ndia has received an off er from Cadila and Bharat Biotech in Russia to conduct a trial and collaboration with the Indian Imanufacture its “Sputnik-V” Council of Medical Research. Covid-19 vaccine, with several The Serum Institute of India Indian companies currently stud- has also partnered with Astra- ying the proposal, a government Zeneca for manufacturing a Cov- offi cial said yesterday. id-19 vaccine candidate devel- “The government of India oped by the University of Oxford. attaches great importance to “Bharat Biotech-ICMR’s this off er of partnership from a Phase-1 is completed and en- friend,” said V K Paul, member rolment for Phase-2 has started of the federal government think- today. Zydus Cadila’s Phase-2 is tank NITI Aayog. progressing nicely. Manufactur- The outcome of discussions ing capacity of Serum Institute In this picture taken on September 3, 2020, an Indian Army convoy makes way along a highway in Kyelang, some 120km from the Indo-Tibetan border. on the off er were expected soon, is unimaginable – 75 to 100mn he added. doses per month. The Phase-3 “The Russian government ap- trials in 17 sites on 1,600 people proached the Indian government will start soon,” Paul added. through appropriate channels India meanwhile recorded and sought help on two counts its highest daily deaths from – to consider its manufacturing the coronavirus in more than a through our network of com- month yesterday, even as new panies that are well-known for infections slowed, data from the India, China accuse each vaccine manufacturing of high health ministry showed. quality. The second request was, The ministry said 1,133 people if need be, Phase-3 or any bridg- had died of Covid-19 in the last ing studies be conducted in In- 24 hours, the highest since July, dia,” Paul said. taking total mortalities to 72,775. Calling it a “win-win” situa- But new daily cases were at tion for India, Paul said: “India 75,809, the lowest in a week. other of fi ring in the air can manufacture that vaccine in India surpassed Brazil on large and signifi cant quantities, Monday to become the coun- Reuters On Monday night, troops of of the Pangong Tso lake, where rounds of talks since July to re- to immediately stop dangerous which is good for Russia and In- try with the most number of New Delhi/Beijing the People’s Liberation Army tension has been rising for more duce tension, but have made actions...and strictly investi- dia and the specifi c part of that coronavirus cases outside of the (PLA) attempted to close in on than a week. little progress to thin out forces gate and punish personnel who quantity can also be provided to United States and has a cumula- a forward Indian position at the “The Indian troops brazenly in the arid, high-altitude region fi red shots to ensure that simi- the world.” tive caseload of 4.28mn. ndia and China have accused Line of Actual Control (LAC), made gunshot threat to the pa- that both nations claim and con- lar incidents do not occur,” the each other of fi ring in the air or the de factor border, in the trolling Chinese border guards sider as vital to their security. PLA’s Zhang said in the state- Iduring a new confrontation Ladakh sector, the Indian army who came forwards for nego- The latest uptick in tension ment about Monday’s incident. on their border in the western said in a statement. tiations, and the Chinese bor- around the alpine Pangong lake Also yesterday, fi ve Indian Himalayas, in a further escala- “And when dissuaded by own der guards were forced to take began late last month when In- youths who went missing from tion of military tension between (Indian troops), PLA troops countermeasures to stabilise dian forces mobilised to deter the border state of Arunachal the nuclear-armed nations. fi red a few rounds in the air in the situation,” said Zhang Shu- Chinese troops, whose move- Pradesh several days ago have Hundreds of troops are in an attempt to intimidate own ili, a representative of the PLA’s ments suggested they aimed to been found in China, after the eyeball-to-eyeball proxim- troops,” the army said in a state- western theatre command. occupy a hilltop India regards Indian military contacted its ity along the remote border, ment yesterday, adding that the China’s foreign ministry as its territory, Indian offi cials Chinese counterpart, an Indian which erupted in a clash in June Indian side acted with restraint. said Indian troops had illegally said. minister said. that killed 20 Indian soldiers in “At no stage has the Indian crossed the LAC and were the Each nation has urged the “China’s PLA has responded hand-to-hand fi ghting. Army transgressed across the fi rst to fi re shots. other to restrain forward troops to the hotline message sent by Both sides have observed a LAC or resorted to use of any “This is a serious military who have been locked in a face- Indian Army. They have con- long-held protocol to avoid us- aggressive means, including fi r- provocation,” spokesman Zhao off since April, after India said fi rmed that the missing youths ing fi rearms on the sensitive, ing,” it said. Lijian told a daily news confer- China intruded deep into its from Arunachal Pradesh have Commuters arrive to board a special train at Egmore railway station undemarcated frontier, though But China said the Indians ence in Beijing yesterday. side of the LAC. been found by their side,” fed- after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed, in this agreement has not prevent- had breached the informal bor- Military commanders and Beijing denies the charge. eral minister Kiren Rijiju said in Chennai yesterday. ed casualties. der through the southern bank diplomats have held several “We request the Indian side a tweet. Rhea has admitted to links Veteran Telugu actor with drug peddlers: NCB Jaya Prakash dies IANS ematic moments,” said Andhra Amaravati Pradesh’s former chief minister IANS edly linked with underworld network and the Bollywood- N Chandrababu Naidu. Mumbai/New Delhi gangs. drug mafi a nexus. Leading Telugu actor Venkatesh In the remand application Ahmed revealed that drugs opular villain-turned-co- Daggubati reminisced the time fi led yesterday, the NCB has al- were being transported by means median Jaya Prakash Reddy when both worked together. ctress Rhea Chakraborty, leged that Rhea and her brother of parcels through the Foreign Pdied yesterday at his home in “I am extremely sad to hear arrested on drug-related Showik were active members of Post Offi ce in New Delhi. Guntur. He was 74 and a diabetic. about the sudden demise of my Acharges, has conceded a drug syndicate. One of the consignments was Tributes poured in from poli- dear friend Jayaprakash Reddy she was in touch with drug ped- The NCB says that her brother sent by Dan Patel, a resident of ticians, Tollywood personalities garu. We were such a great com- dlers who were also supplying Showik was procuring drugs Saint Laurent in Canada. and others for the late actor. bination on screen. Will defi - ‘buds’ (curated marijuana) to from Abdel Basit Parihar and Saint Laurent, a borough of “Andhra Pradesh Chief Min- nitely miss him,” said Daggubati. various other Bollywood per- Kaizen Ibrahim on behalf of Montreal city in Canada’s Que- ister Jaganmohan Reddy has Several others celebrities who sonalities including well-known Rhea. bec state, is infamous for drug expressed grief over the death paid tributes to the actor on social actors, directors and produc- According to the sources, dur- cartels and crime syndicates, of popular character artiste Jay- media included Ravi Teja, Kajal ers, highly placed sources in the ing subsequent investigation the many of whom have Indian con- aprakash Reddy, who created a Aggarwal, S SRajamouli, Ram Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) NCB discovered that Parihar and nections. special place for himself through Pothineni, Genelia Deshmukh, told IANS. Ibrahim were linked to a top drug In his questioning, Fayaz his inimitable dialogue delivery Prakash Raj, Mahesh Babu, S Based on the revelations made cartel active in Mumbai. Ahmed has reportedly said that and mannerisms,” said an offi cial Thaman, Junior NTR, Sudheer by Rhea, her brother Showik and The cartel, through Parihar parcels containing curated mari- from the chief minister’s offi ce. Babu and Rakul Preet Singh. four key drug peddlers of Mum- and Ibrahim, was supplying juana were collected either from “Telangana Chief Minister K According to Reddy’s wife Ra- bai, the NCB has prepared a list drugs to other Bollywood-linked New Delhi or from a shop locat- Chandrasekhar Rao expressed jyalakshmi, the veteran actor did of more than two dozen suspects people living in Mumbai’s Band- ed in Calangute-Anjuna Road in condolences on the passing away not suff er a heart attack but was including kingpins of drug traf- ra, Juhu and Andheri neighbour- Goa. of actor Jayaprakash Reddy,” said a diabetic. fi cking syndicates, peddlers and hoods. Once the consignment an offi cial. According to Rao, “My husband used to encour- Bollywood personalities who Earlier the NCB had arrested reached Ahmed, the suppliers in Jayaprakash Reddy was also a age new talent,” she said about were procuring drugs ranging another drug traffi cker Fayaz Mumbai were contacted. great theatre artiste. the maths teacher-turned actor. from curated marijuana buds to Ahmed in Goa on September 2, For every gram of buds, “Telugu cinema and theatre Starting off with serious roles high-quality cocaine. who was also allegedly supply- Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 were has lost a gem today with the as a villain in movies like Prem- The NCB would soon launch ing drugs to Bollywood person- charged. demise of Jayaprakash Reddy inchukundamra, Samarasim- a crackdown on the Bollywood- alities. Rhea was arrested after three garu. His versatile perform- hareddy and Narasimhanaidu drug mafi a nexus which runs During Fayaz’s questioning, days of tough grilling by the Rhea Chakraborty arrives at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) ances over several decades have Reddy later transitioned into a deep in the fi lm industry alleg- the agency unravelled the entire NCB. after she was arrested in Mumbai, yesterday. given us many a memorable cin- highly successful comedian. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, September 9, 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 Global economy faces uncertain rebound amid virus fl are-ups Just as nations across the world are relaxing coronavirus lockdowns to breathe more life into dormant economic activity; so are they still struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact. There, indeed, is a delicate balancing act for governments. They’ve injected almost $20tn in fi scal and monetary support, in an eff ort to get the economy as far back to normal as is feasible in a pandemic. They can point to plenty of successes, too. In the US, unemployment fell sharply in August and the housing market has been a bright spot. China’s steady HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute at recovery is cited by optimists as a guide to where the rest of the world is headed, while Germany is posting some decent industrial data too. forefront of eff orts to tackle education insecurity And emerging markets are getting a breather from the dollar’s decline. Doha But keeping up the momentum won’t be easy. The pandemic has already killed at least 880,396 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year, according n May 28, the United Nations to an AFP count on Sunday. More than 26.9mn cases have General Assembly pro- been registered worldwide. claimed September 9 as the Already this month, OInternational Day to Protect some of the world’s best Education from Attack. Initiated by The virus is seen known industrial brands Qatar with the support of 60 states, the occasion will serve as an annual call costing the world have signalled job cuts are for international action to safeguard on the way. education in armed confl ict zones. One economy some AP Moller-Maersk of the main supporters of the resolution is planning a major was Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint $35tn through overhaul that’s set to Nasser, the Founder of Education Above All (EEA). 2025 aff ect thousands at the Qatar’s and the EAA’s eff orts to secure world’s biggest container access to life-changing education shipping company. Ford Motor Co is cutting about 5% of opportunities nevertheless extend its US salaried workers, and United Airlines Holdings will beyond the debating chamber into more eliminate 16,000 jobs next month as it shrinks operations. practical settings. Further initiatives include Mapping Education Insecurity, There are other worrying signs too. an online platform which highlights In China, which contained the virus months ago, attacks on education facilities in the consumers remain reluctant to spend and the nation’s Middle East and North Africa (Mena), biggest banks just posted their worst profi t declines in more as well as Twitter posts highlighting members of QCRI’s Crisis Computing cases points to a bright future for break emergencies faster than television than a decade. instances of education insecurity. Team developed a social media the Mapping Education Insecurity stations and radio channels. Moreover, As a bright spot, China’s exports rose for the third One of the driving forces behind this collection strategy based on domain- platform. The system is capable of studies suggest that Twitter, Facebook groundbreaking initiative is Qatar specifi c keywords. AIDR was then used accommodating new models in diff erent and others are an invaluable source of consecutive month in August. But some analysts have Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at to train and defi ne machine learning languages, meaning that the project’s eyewitness reports of emergencies, cautioned that the stronger exports refl ected in part the base Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). classifi ers in Arabic, English and French. reach could one day extend beyond the quite often from diff erent perspectives. eff ects of the year-ago weakness. Combining Human and Machine After several months of research Mena region. Accordingly, AIDR is capable of US lawmakers continue to haggle over more fi scal Intel and development, Mapping Education “AIDR can also process imagery developing scalable solutions to contend stimulus, which may be needed to sustain the recovery in the Mapping Education Insecurity relies Insecurity came online in May 2019. using state-of-the-art computer with the rapidly evolving nature of on data provided by the Armed Confl ict Beyond AIDR, project partners include vision techniques,” said Dr Ferda Ofl i, a information gathering, processing world’s largest economy. Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) EEA, OCHA the Centre for Humanitarian senior scientist with the QCRI’s Social and consumption. This bodes well for In Europe, gauges of activity are fading, and factories are and Artifi cial Intelligence for Digital Data. All have overseen the creation of Computing group. “In the future, regional eff orts to map, and ultimately trying to cut costs as weak demand and price cuts squeeze Response (AIDR) platforms. Developed a platform that has already processed Mapping Education Insecurity could tackle, all forms of education insecurity. profi t margins. by QCRI in partnership with the United millions of Tweets related to education be used to collect social media images Germany’s industrial production rose by 1.2% in July Nations Offi ce for the Coordination insecurity. The data provided by AIDR showing damage to schools, universities (This feature was drafted with the of Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA) and is shared with humanitarian and crisis and other education institutions.” support of Dr Muhammad Imran, who month-on-month, much slower than the 9.3% increase the Standby Task Force, AIDR fi lters response organisations through OCHA’s The versatility of Mapping Education is a Research Scientist at the Qatar recorded in June. Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that and classifi es social media messages Humanitarian Data Exchange platform Insecurity also resonates with how Computing Research Institute (QCRI), coping with the outbreak will become more challenging in related to emergencies, disasters, and (HDX) and has been downloaded more societies consume information and where he leads the Crisis Computing team coming months as the country heads into colder weather in humanitarian crises to assist relief than 100 times by diff erent entities interact with media. Research shows under the Social Computing group from autumn and winter. operations. In doing so, the platform over the past three months. Mapping that social media platforms regularly both science and engineering directions). uses human and machine intelligence Education Insecurity visualises data And the continued spread of the virus, with fl are-ups to automatically tag thousands of through an online dashboard which around the world, is adding to the prevailing economic messages per minute and identifi es provides continuous updates to the uncertainty. pertinent reports useful for disaster community. Even when a vaccine is devised, making it available response and management in real-time. Confi dentiality is an essential feature worldwide on the necessary scale is going to take time, Since coming online, AIDR has gone of Mapping Education Insecurity. All from strength-to-strength winning data is shared through secure private according to Warwick McKibbin of the Brookings Institution the 2015 Open Source Software System channels and uploaded after removing and Australia National University. Challenge and being featured in personally identifi able information. McKibbin’s models suggest that the virus could cost the international media. Yet, when it came Another layer of confi dentiality world economy some $35tn through 2025. Losses this year to tracking and analysing education is provided by fi ltering processes. could be between $5.8tn and $8.8tn this year, according to an insecurity, the developers saw scope for Mapping Education Insecurity has a standalone project. However, the main the built-in ability to identify and Asian Development Bank report in July. strength of AIDR was in the processing discard irrelevant data. In doing so, For sure, the coronavirus has exposed the vulnerability of of natural disasters social media data. For only 8% of Arabic, 15% of French and global fi nancial equations in turbulent times. Mapping Education Insecurity to come 34% of English data makes its way to International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina to life, QCRI and its partners would need practitioners and other stakeholders. Georgieva in March called for a co-ordinated fi scal action to train new robust models from scratch. This typically represents the most For its part, QCRI oversaw the real- accurate, credible and verifi able data on the scale of the 2008-09 fi nancial crisis to deal with the time mining of multilingual social captured by the platform. crisis. It’ll also require creativity, innovative regulations and media data highlighting attacks against Looking Ahead political will. education entities and other instances AIDR’s ability to work with new of insecurity. Working with OCHA, automated data processing use To Advertise [email protected] About Hamad Bin Khalifa University Display Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow 44466621 44418811 Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), ity through an enriching academic a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, and Classified Education, Science and Community unique partnerships. HBKU delivers 44466609 44418811 Development (QF), was founded in multidisciplinary undergraduate and 2010 as a research-intensive university graduate programmes through its Subscription that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through [email protected] while having global impact. Located in its institutes and centres. For more Education City, HBKU is committed to information about HBKU, visit www. © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved building and cultivating human capac- hbku.edu.qa Gulf Times Wednesday, September 9, 2020 11 PAKISTAN

Punjab police Study: Most Covid cases chief replaced

Internews in Karachi asymptomatic Islamabad

AFP/Internews Researchers said that more In addition, the study also plan to do a fourth in September Karachi surveys were needed to under- suggested that children and 2020. he Pakistan Tehreek-e- stand why so many cases appear adolescents are just as likely to These surveys will also refl ect Insaf (PTI) government to be asymptomatic in Karachi, contract the virus as adults, and on the overall impact of easing Thas appointed Inam Ghani p to 95% of the coronavi- but they suggested that Paki- men and women face the same coronavirus lockdowns around as Punjab’s sixth inspector-gen- rus cases in Karachi have stan’s young population might perils of being infected from the Eid al-Adha and during Muhar- eral of police in two years. Ubeen asymptomatic, re- have been a factor. contagious disease. ram processions on the corona- The federal government searchers said yesterday, shed- The country’s median age is Confi rming a sharp rise in virus transmission rate in com- had transferred former Pun- ding possible light on why Paki- only 22, and the coronavirus is Covid-19 cases between April munities. jab inspector-general of police stan has been able to weather the known to disproportionately and June this year, the study “Antibody testing or sero- (IGP) Shoaib Dastgir after he pandemic. impact older people with prior says that the results are in line prevalence provides a true pic- expressed reservations over the The coronavirus causes the health complications. with the federal government’s ture of the burden of Covid-19 appointment of Lahore Capi- Covid-19 respiratory disease. The AKU research report, national seroprevalence study, as they capture asymptomatic tal City Police Offi cer (CCPO) Research by the Aga Khan prepared in collaboration with where antibody testing found cases who represent silent carri- Umair Shaikh, sources told. University (AKU) in Pakistan’s US-based international col- that overall 11 per cent of Paki- ers of the disease,” said Dr Fye- After the approval of Prime largest city found that more than laborators Dr Bailey Fosdick and stanis had contracted the dis- zah Jehan, an associate professor Minister Imran Khan, federal nine out of 10 people who con- Dr Daniel Barremore, noted that ease. at AKU and co-investigator on government had decided to tracted the coronavirus showed “the proportion of asympto- An assistant professor at the study. change the Punjab inspector- no sign of the disease. matic cases in Pakistan is much AKU and co-investigator on “Understanding how, when, This picture taken on September 1 shows a health off icial taking a general of police, and the pre- Public health experts test- higher than in the developed the study, Dr Imran Nisar, said: and in what types of settings, swab sample from a child to test for the coronavirus at a testing site mier asked for names for the re- ed 2,000 people from several world”. “The sharp increase in antibody Covid-19 spreads is critical in Karachi. placement. neighbourhoods across the “The proportion of asympto- levels in an area with low report- to developing eff ective public According to details, Dastgir sprawling metropolis of about matic cases in Pakistan is much ed cases indicates that the virus health and infection preven- infectious diseases such as polio, restrictions, with schools and did not come to offi ce for a sec- 20mn. higher than the developed world. continues to spread unchecked tion measures to break chains of tuberculosis and hepatitis, while universities due to re-open next ond day, and his schedule had “Ninety-fi ve per cent of those Since asymptomatic people do in populations where testing transmission.” successive governments have week. also not been announced. who tested positive for Covid-19 not seek hospital treatment, this rates are sub-optimal.” Pakistan’s low number of underfunded its healthcare sec- To date Pakistan has con- Sources claimed that dif- reported feeling no symptoms of may help explain why Pakistan’s More than 2,000 partici- cases compared to other South tor for decades. fi rmed about 300,000 infec- ferences between Dastgir and the illness such as a cough, fe- hospitals have not been under pants participated in the fi rst Asian nations has baffl ed public The number of cases is fall- tions and is recording a few hun- Shaikh remain unresolved even ver or sore throat,” Imran Nisar, the same strain as in Spain and two phases of the study, where health experts. ing, intensive care units are see- dred new cases per day, while after a meeting with Punjab the study’s lead researcher, told the United Kingdom,” the study researchers are currently un- The country has a long his- ing few virus patients and Paki- the daily death toll continues to Chief Minister Sardar Usman AFP. found, according to a statement. dertaking a third serosurvey and tory of failing to contain several stan has lifted most remaining hover in the single digits. Buzdar. Tehreek-e-Jawanan-e-Pa- kistan and Kashmir chairman Mohamed Abdullah Hamid Gul, commenting on change said that “consecutive changes in Punjab Japan police is demoralising for the 19 killed in marble quarry collapse police force. “Can a subordinate disobey extends the (army chief)? The police are AFP/Reuters/Internews a disciplined force like the armed Peshawar forces. $4.7mn “Punjab issue is bad govern- ance, and changing secretaries/ t least 19 miners were offi cers will not produce results. aid to killed and more than a “In future offi cers won’t obey Adozen were still trapped seniors but politicians.” yesterday after a rockslide at a It is pertinent to mention that Islamabad marble mine in northwest Pa- the PTI government has changed kistan, offi cials said. Punjab’s police chief fi ve times Boulders of white marble in two years. authority came crashing down on work- According to an offi cial from ers on Monday evening in the the Centre, the appointment of mountainous Mohmand dis- the CCPO was made after due Internews trict in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa consideration, and the govern- Islamabad (KP) province, near the border ment cannot take decisions with Afghanistan. against law and merit. The quarry is located in the The PSP (Police Service of Pa- apan has extended grant as- Ziarat area of Mohmand. The kistan) Punjab chapter convened sistance of ¥500mn ($4.7mn) area is known for its high qual- a meeting at the inspector-gen- Jto the Metropolitan Corpo- ity white marble, both sold in eral of police’s offi ce to discuss ration Islamabad (MCI) for im- Pakistan and exported to other the stand-off between the two proving the sanitary environ- countries. police offi cials and convey their ment of the capital by procuring “So far 19 bodies and 20 in- reservations to the government. garbage disposal vehicles from jured have been pulled out after Offi cers also reportedly barred Japan. a rockslide at a marble mine,” CCPO Shaikh from attending the Notes to this eff ect were Mohamed Arif, the provincial meeting, and attendants decided signed and exchanged between minister for mines and minerals to not allow him at any meeting Matsuda Kuninori, the ambas- development, told AFP. until he is “punished”. sador of Japan to Pakistan, and He said that around 20 more Attendants also vowed to not Dr Noor Ahmad, the secretary of miners were still believed to be obey Shaikh’s orders if he refuses the ministry of economic aff airs, trapped under the rubble. to obey Dastgir. in Islamabad yesterday. The exact number of fatali- The stand-off then came to The MCI is a municipal au- ties was unclear because some the notice of Chief Minister thority of the Islamabad Capital families took bodies of loved Buzdar, who summoned Dast- Territory, which is responsible ones directly to their homes gir and heard his reservations for various functions including from the site, said Sameen against Shaikh’s appointment. community infrastructure, solid Shinwari, a doctor at the Gha- According to the sources privy waste collection and social se- lanai District Headquarters to the meeting, Dastgir told curity. Hospital, about 50km away. Buzdar that the CCPO had spo- Due to the growing population Cellular signals and other ken against his command in a and continued urbanisation, Is- communication facilities are Army rescuers take part in a search for miners after a rockslide at a marble mine in the mountainous Mohmand district in Khyber meeting, and allegedly ordered lamabad generates some 600 unreliable in large parts of Mo- Pakhtunkhwa province. them not to listen to the Punjab tonnes of waste per day, about hmand district, including the police chief. 60% of which is household gar- area where the quarry is lo- had fi nished work and returned ous for poor safety standards. quarry in the northwestern dis- hry has pointed out that the He also told Buzdar that the bage. cated. home,” he said. Dozens of miners are killed trict of Buner in February. condition for the labourers was CCPO’s attitude may aff ect the In addition, the MCI faces Between 40 and 50 people Rescue workers, includ- each year in diff erent safety- Thirty workers were killed in very bad. morale of the police force. diffi culty in collecting gar- were at the site at the time of ing soldiers, continued to dig related incidents. explosions at two coal mines in The minister urged the pro- Sources said that Dastgir be- bage because of the shortage of the collapse, Tariq Habib, dis- through the rubble to fi nd sur- At least 43 miners were killed Quetta in 2018. vincial government to im- came upset when Shaikh told his equipment and ageing garbage trict police chief of Mohmand vivors yesterday. in Sorange district of Balu- In 2011, 45 workers were also plement labour laws in the subordinates that on any sen- disposal vehicles. district told Reuters. Labourers often rest at the chistan in 2011 as a result of a killed by an explosion at a coal province and hoped that KP sitive issue, the Lahore police In this programme, special “Usually a large number of bottom of the mountains after blast at a coal mine. mine outside Quetta. government will stand with the must seek his permission, even vehicles such as a garbage com- people work in these marble long working hours. At least 10 workers were Federal Minister for Science families of the deceased labour- if they received directions from pactor, a skip lifting vehicle, and mines but luckily a majority Pakistan’s mines are notori- killed in a rockslide at a marble and Technology Fawad Chaud- ers. the Central Police Offi ce. a sewer jet sucking machine will be provided to the MCI. This grant assistance will help to improve the sanitary environ- ment and beautifi cation of Is- lamabad. Federal Cabinet okays expansion of panahgah network

Man sentenced to Prime minister hands over Further, Faraz said, the cabi- panahgah at Tarlai. A senior offi cial of the dis- Islamabad’s shelter homes to net approved closure of dys- A source said that the govern- trict administration said that death over texts Pakistan Baitul Maal functional power plants. ment handed over the charge the Tarlai cantre was established The minister said the Cabinet of all panahgahs in the federal on December 26, 2018, and was A court has sentenced a man Internews held a detailed discussion on the capital to the PBM, as the local upgraded within a month after to death after convicting him Islamabad situation in Karachi and interior administration was facing hard- the prime minister had ordered of sending text messages Sindh following heavy rainfall. ships in running them without for revamping of all the centres containing “blasphemous He said that the cabinet has monetary assistance from the in the city. content”. he Federal Cabinet has constituted a special committee government. Panahgahs are typically are Asif Pervaiz, 37, has been in approved expanding the to estimate losses incurred due The prime minister inspected being run on a “help yourself” custody since 2013 fighting Tnetwork of panahgahs to rains. the facilities in the panahgah at basis, putting extra monetary blasphemy charges that were (shelters) across the country to Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarlai, inquired about the condi- and administrative load on the levelled against him by the facilitate the downtrodden. Khan has handed over the ad- tion and problems of the people already cash-strapped local au- supervisor of the factory he once Briefi ng media in Islamabad ministrative control of fi ve pan- staying there, and later had a thorities. worked at. yesterday about decisions taken ahgahs in the federal capital to meal with the residents. The government established Pervaiz’s lawyer Saif-ul-Malook in the cabinet meeting, Minister Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM), and The source said Khan re- panahgahs in the federal capi- told AFP that Pervaiz has denied for Information and Broadcast- directed the authorities con- marked that he wanted all the tal and in two provinces – Pun- all charges against him and ing Shibli Faraz said the concept cerned to remodel them in three panahgahs in the country – jab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had merely forwarded the text of the panahgah is very close to months. numbering over 100 – to be of – without allocating funds for messages in question. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “In the fi rst phase, panahgahs the same standard and have the them. Pervaiz claims that his supervisor, heart, as he believes in providing in Islamabad should be remod- same quality of facilities. Some of these shelter homes who had been trying to convert shelter to the poor. elled, and these centres in the In this connection, Pakistan were established in government him to Islam, had accused him He said the cabinet has also country should be revamped in Poverty Alleviation (PPA) and buildings, some in makeshift of blasphemy after he quit his Prime Minister Khan: wants all the panahgahs in the country to be of approved the setting up of a ferry the second phase,” the prime the PBM have been tasked to up- structures, and others in rented factory job. the same standard and quality of facilities as the panahgah in Tarlai. service for pilgrims at Gwadar. minister said during a visit to a grade all panahgahs. buildings. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, September 9, 2020 QATAR

Embassy in Mexico highlights Qatar’s efforts in support of education in crisis zones Qatar’s embassy in Mexico organised a meeting to highlight Qatar’s eff orts in supporting education in countries suff ering from wars and poverty. The meeting was attended by the political adviser to the president of the Qatar-Mexican Friendship Group, Engineer Diego Cruz Dominguez, rep- Education Above All resenting group president Sergio Perez, and Disaster Response Adviser for the UN Off ice Juan Pablo O’Farrill Duque, as well as a number of senior off icials and community figures in Mexico. In a speech during the meeting, Qatar’s ambassador to Mexico Mohamed bin Jassim al-Kuwari said that the event is primarily to support the Qatari initiative and the United Nations resolution that designated September 9 as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. He aff irmed that any kind of attack against education leads to much calls for an end to psychological and physical damage that leaves a profound impact on the lives and future of children. Since its establishment in 1995, the Qatar Foundation has been and continues to be one of the most important sponsors of education in Qatar and around the world. Thanks to its eff ort, more than 10mn children receive their basic educa- tion in the poorest and most insecure countries around the world, he added. attacks on education The meeting, organised by the Qatar’s embassy in Mexico, comes within the framework of the first International Day to Protect Education from n the fi rst International Attack and in support of the tireless eff orts of the Qatar Foundation and Day for Protection of Ed- Education Above All Foundation, which resulted in the issuance of the Oucation from Attack, Ed- United Nations resolution establishing September 9 as an International ucation Above All (EAA) Founda- Day to Protect Education from Attack. tion and its global partners have QRCS marks Day to Protect Education from Attack called for an end to attacks on education and for world leaders The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is joining various state institutions to safeguard this fundamental and international organisations concerned with education and humanitar- human right. ian work in celebrating the International Day to Protect Education from The call comes amid the devas- Attack, adopted by a UN General Assembly Resolution, on September 9 of tating impact of the coronavirus each year. pandemic on education globally, The QRCS is keen to strengthen its existing partnership with the “Educa- particularly in confl ict zones and tion Above All” Foundation, within the framework of the common goals of fragile states, the Foundation providing a good educational level and improving the school environ- said in a statement yesterday. ment for the children of vulnerable communities aff licted by conflicts The coronavirus causes the and disasters, believing in the importance of education as an engine to Covid-19 respiratory disease. unleash the energies of society, and advancing development and improv- “This is not just another day ing the standard of living of its members. on the UN calendar. Her High- Within Qatar, the QRCS provides academic aid to cover tuition fees and ness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, living expenses for needy students, and in co-operation with the Ministry chairperson of EAA and UN Sus- of Education and Higher Education, the “QRCS School Programme” car- tainable Development Goals Ad- ries out lectures and practical trainings for school students, teaching and vocate, is calling today on world administrative staff . leaders to place the protection of With regard to external work, the QRCS has implemented many projects education at the top of the global to support educational institutions of various kinds, from basic and uni- agenda,” the statement noted. versity education to medical and vocational education, to postgraduate Her Highness Sheikha Moza and special education. – QNA said: “Amid this global pandem- Through its #UniteToProtect Global Campaign to mark the UN Day, Education Above All is calling attention to young voices around the world. ic, it is vital to ensure that the diseases of armed confl ict and Even before the Covid-19 education is under attack. complete his education, so he can sensus after intense consulta- education in crisis and confl ict. Highness Sheikha Moza; UN illiteracy that were prevalent be- pandemic, children and young Voices like Ra’ed, who gave one day help protect the rights of tions led by the delegation of Qa- Her work with UN Security Secretary-General António Gu- fore do not spread further. people living in the developing up his dream of becoming a civil other albino children like him. tar to the United Nations. Council members contributed terres; Prof Tijjani Mohamed “That is why I am pleased that world faced almost daily assaults engineer in Syria to look after his This year marks the fi rst In- Eff orts to introduce the Day to the formulation of Security Bande, the president of the 74th the General Assembly has rec- on their education – from air family but was given a chance ternational Day for Protection were spearheaded by Her High- Council Resolution 1998, which Session of the General Assembly; ognised the signifi cance of this strikes, to travel and employment at an education through a self- of Education from Attack, fol- ness Sheikha Moza as part of a makes attacks on schools a “trig- Deputy Prime Minister and Min- urgent issue and established an restrictions, to fl ooding and nat- learning programme jointly de- lowing a unanimous resolution decades-long commitment to ger violation” for the UN’s Moni- ister of Foreign Aff airs HE Sheikh International Day to Protect Ed- ural disasters. livered by EAA and Unicef. passed by the United Nations protecting education in confl ict toring and Reporting Mechanism Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- ucation from Attack. Now, the pandemic places the And Charles, a young albino General Assembly in May. and insecurity, and ensuring for Children and Armed Confl ict. Thani; Belgian Foreign Aff airs “Our challenge now, as an fragile progress made across ed- from the Democratic Republic The Day calls attention to the children can realise their funda- Together with Qatar, Edu- and Defence Minister Philippe international community, is to ucation under threat. of the Congo, who fl ed with his children aff ected by armed con- mental right to education. cation Above All – along with Goffi n; Peter Maurer, the presi- translate our vision of education Through its #UniteToProtect family to Uganda when Charles’s fl ict and natural disaster in need Her Highness has successfully Unicef and Unesco – will host a dent of the International Com- for all from political will into real Global Campaign to mark the father refused to sell his body of educational support and puts advocated for the adoption by the high-level virtual event to mark mittee of the Red Cross; Henri- change on the ground.” UN Day, Education Above All is parts to witch doctors. attacks on education at the top of UN of a resolution on “The right the Day and call for attacks on etta Fore, the executive director The Day could not come at a calling attention to young voices Continuing to face social the international agenda. to education in emergency situa- education to stop. of Unicef; footballer David Beck- more critical time. around the world, whose right to stigma, Charles is determined to The Day was adopted by con- tions”, which affi rms the right to The event will feature Her ham; singer Shakira; and others. Mall of Qatar promises a safe environment for young guests

all of Qatar (MoQ) has said that it is welcom- Ming young guests to its premises while taking the “ut- most precautionary measures to ensure the safety of youngsters and the community”, in accord- ance with Phase 4 – stage 1 in- structions of the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions in Qatar. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. Food court outlets and dining areas have undergone thorough With the reopening of Doha sanitisation. The food court at the Mall of Qatar is open with 30% capacity. Metro with a limited capacity, The mall has taken all precautionary measures needed to provide guests can visit the mall on the “We are thrilled to welcome their dedication and excellence tables to maintain social distanc- prayer mat and conducting regu- a safe, enjoyable and comfortable visit, including temperature and Green Line again. our young guests again in our in dealing with this pandemic,” ing requirements, undergo ongo- lar disinfection procedures at the Ehteraz app checks at the entrances. The mall has set up a check- mall. Our children are our bless- Sarkis added. ing sanitising for the tables, trays prayer rooms after each session point on the Metro bridge at the ings, and we have taken all the Children can enjoy the full after each use with designated to secure the highest levels of hy- exit of the Metro, where visitors necessary measures to provide dining and shopping experi- cleaners at all times to keep con- giene. will undergo temperature checks them joyful moments and safe ence along with their parents tinuous hygiene. Mall of Qatar has urged all via advanced thermal cameras shopping and dining experi- or guardians at the mall’s selec- At the same time, security per- visitors to follow the instructions and have to show their Ehteraz ences. tion of restaurants and the food sonnel arrange queues at the food at entrances to ensure the safety app “green” code to ensure safe- “Besides, other necessary pro- court. court outlets to maintain a safe and health of visitors, employees ty. cedures are put in place to main- Due to Covid-19 restrictions, distance between people while and tenants. “Reiterating its commitment tain the highest levels of hygiene youngsters should be accompa- waiting for their food. Customers can also collect to the safety of visitors of all ages, in the prayer rooms, theatres and nied by their parents who must According to the instructions, face masks and gloves from the the nation’s mall took all the at the Metro bridge leading to the show the Ehteraz app “green” playgrounds and leisure centres customer services desks. precautionary measures needed mall, allowing all visitors to enjoy code, undergo temperature will remain closed while cinemas Throughout the mall corridor to provide a safe, enjoyable and their time at their favourite, safe checking at the entrances, and are open to guests over 18 years and hallways, more than 70 hand comfortable visit. and comfortable destination,” wear preventative face masks with limited capacity. sanitation stations have been in- “All food court outlets, dining Mall of Qatar general manager during their visit to the mall. In addition, the prayer rooms stalled, allowing visitors to sani- areas and cinemas have under- Emile Sarkis said. Ensuring high levels of safety, for both males and females are tise their hands regularly. gone thorough sanitisation to “At this stage, life is gradually the mall is adopting strict stand- now reopened with a limited Besides, the mall has installed welcome the returning visitors coming back to normal, thanks to ards in the food court. number of worshippers at one 80 handrail UV sanitisers to pe- and serve them in a world-class the eff ort and precise plans of the The court is open to diners time. riodically sanitise the handrails The mall has reopened prayer rooms for both males and females hygienic and safe environment,” authorities. with a maximum capacity of 30% The mall is providing worship- of the escalators and protect cus- with a limited umber of worshippers. the mall said in a statement. “We want to thank them for with 2.5m distance between the pers with a single-use disposable tomers while moving in the mall. Salons, barber shops urged to follow safety measures strictly

eauty salons and barber shops are tection of all, which include wearing be encouraged, she said. Salons and chairs and making sure that all areas are and offi ce equipment and computers required to follow a host of strin- face masks, providing hand sanitisers barber shops should also consider the sanitised frequently, including waiting should not be shared, while all workers Bgent measures to avoid the possi- on the premises and avoid face-to-face possibility of changing their water taps areas and those meant for the staff . need to have their own personal protec- bility of any Covid-19 infection among interactions as much as possible. with automatic ones, besides providing Each shop or salon should put up tive gear. It is preferable to use vacuum their customers and staff following the It is also advisable to provide face touchless soap dispensers, paper towels awareness posters to explain the im- cleaners instead of manual modes of resumption of their operations, a sen- shields for the staff , especially when and sanitiser dispensers. Further, these portance of abiding by precautionary cleaning the place to avoid the spread ior offi cial has stressed. off ering hair washing services, in ad- outlets should make greater use of measures and washing hands more of- of germs. In the meantime, the work- Dr Muna al-Maslamani, medical di- dition to exploring the possibility of single-use tools and materials at work, ten with water and soap. They should place should be well ventilated and have rector of the Communicable Disease covering the face of the client with a and dispose of them safely immediately also adopt more fl exible working hours proper air circulation at all times. Center at Hamad Medical Corporation, clean towel to protect his or her face after attending to a customer. to achieve the recommended social Workers should be more careful told local Arabic daily Arrayah that and mouth. Dr al-Maslamani said the precau- distancing among those present at any about their personal hygiene and re- there are 41 precautionary measures to For payment, using debit/credit tionary measures also include the pos- given time. place their face masks at least once be followed at these places for the pro- cards and contactless modes should sibility of installing barriers between Surfaces should be sanitised properly every four hours.