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WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 17 RABIA II - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8459 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Up to 5 numbers

under 1 plan Terms & Conditions Apply HIA awarded 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating

THE PENINSULA — DOHA Airport Rating. Since the inau- guration of Hamad Interna- Hamad International Airport tional Airport in 2014, Skytrax (HIA) has become the first ranking has always played an airport in the Middle East and important role in HIA’s self- Asia to be awarded a 5-Star assessment and served as a COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating quality benchmark to keep up by Skytrax. with passenger expectations The audit evaluated how and operational excellence. HIA effectively COVID-19 policies are prides itself on its status as a implemented at Qatar’s airport 5-Star Airport for the fourth against the Skytrax COVID-19 The Skytrax consecutive year, and a 5-Star safety rating standards. COVID-19 Airport by Skytrax.” The COVID-19 on-site audit COVID-19 Airport The Skytrax COVID-19 was conducted over three days Rating provides an Airport Rating provides an in October and is based on a independent analysis of an air- independent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al combination of procedural effi- port’s COVID-19 hygiene and Attiyah met yesterday with the Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command in the Middle ciency checks, visual observation analysis of an safety measures, assessing over analysis and ATP sampling tests, airport’s COVID-19 400 factors in a typical airport East, Vice-Admiral H E Samuel Paparo. They reviewed bilateral cooperation in the military field and which measures the contami- hygiene and safety travel sequence. Conducted ways to enhance them. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officers in the Armed Forces. nation of contact surfaces. The measures, assessing over a few days, auditors test consistency of standards has and evaluate the airport’s been a key determinant in the over 400 factors in COVID-19 procedures on-site. final rating applied. a typical airport Edward Plaisted of Skytrax Qatar, US sign military pact The Audit evaluated and travel sequence. said: “Hamad International verified the practicality and Airport has achieved great QNA — DOHA The agreement Charge d’Affairs of the United usefulness of physical dis- success in delivering COVID-19 States Embassy in Qatar Greta C. tancing protocols, as well as the protocols that are providing a The State of Qatar and the pertains to marine Holtz, and a number of officers quality and availability of hand as well as the implementation safe environment for customers United States of America signed activities and port in the armed forces. hygiene facilities across HIA’s of thermal temperature and staff. In areas such as hand a military agreement within On the sidelines of the terminal.The audit also screening procedures, face hygiene and social distancing, executive arrangement calls to Qatar. signing ceremony, the Chief of assessed cleaning effectiveness mask regulations and the Hamad International Airport framework between the minis- Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces and identified any potential overall cleanliness and hygiene has good procedures in place. tries of defence of both coun- Command in the Middle East, Lieutenant-General (Pilot) contamination sources to standards across the airport. The airport is also meeting high tries. The agreement pertains Vice-Admiral H E Samuel Paparo, Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem ensure that the airport’s Chief Operating Officer at standards of sanitisation across to marine activities and port in the presence of the Chief of met with the Commander of the hygiene standards are com- Hamad International Airport, the high-contact points. The calls to the State of Qatar. Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces US Naval Forces Central plying with the most stringent Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer consistency of COVID-19 safety The agreement was signed on Lieutenant-General (Pilot) H E Command in the Middle East requirements. said: “We are proud that our procedures and systems is behalf of the State of Qatar by the Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem. Vice-Admiral Samuel Paparo. During the audit, Skytrax COVID-19 policies and pro- excellent, and this is a critical Commander of the Amiri Naval The signing ceremony was During the meeting, they inspected and evaluated the tocols are recognised by factor behind being able to certify Forces Nautical Major General H also attended by President of the reviewed the military cooper- standards of staff personal pro- Skytrax and that we are the first Hamad International Airport E Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, and International Military Cooper- ation relations between the two tective equipment (PPE) and in the Middle East and Asia to with the 5-star COVID-19 Safety for the US by the Commander of ation Authority Brigadier General countries and ways to enhance their adherence to using them, be awarded a 5-Star COVID-19 Rating.” `P4 US Naval Forces Central Abdulaziz Saleh Al Sulaiti, and them. `Picture on P2 Qatari ports witnessed huge rise in cargo handling last month

IRFAN BUKHARI According to infographic Ports Performance THE PENINSULA TODAY’S SCHEDULE shared with the tweet, the ports November GROUP STAGE of Qatar handled 133, 401 TEUs; Owing to robust growth in 233, 481 tonnes of general 2020 Krasnodar 8:55pm Stade movement of containers and cargo; 6123 vehicles; 29, 528 Rennais general cargo in the ports of heads of livestock and 41, 052 Basaksehir 8:55pm country, Mwani Qatar has set tonnes of building material in Leipzig record for handling container November 2020. The number volume. of vessels visited Qatari ports Sevilla Chelsea Container volume 11:00pm “Mwani Qatar has set a new last month stands at 322. It is to Club Brugge 11:00pm monthly record for container be noted that ports had handled increased Zenit volume having handled more 63, 413 tonnes of general cargo 14% last month Borussia Dortmund 8:55pm Lazio than 133,000 TEU, a 14% in November 2019. increase over last November,” QTerminals, terminal oper- Ferencváros 11:00pm Mwani Qatari tweeted ating company providing Barcelona yesterday. services at Hamad Port, also Juventus 11:00pm Dynamo Kiev It added that general cargo announced yesterday of han- statistics this month as it has hugely proud of our staff for this TEUs; 44, 229 tonnes of bulk increased by 268% to more than dling highest volume of general handled the highest number of excellent achievement,” QTer- cargo; 141, 631 tonnes of break Man United 11:00pm 233,000 tonnes, the second and bulk cargo since company’s TEUs, general cargo and bulk minals tweeted yesterday. bulk cargo and 6010 vehicles Paris Saint-Germain highest number handled in one start in 2016. cargo since the company’s Sharing details, QTerminals at Hamad Port in November `P2 Full report `Sport 12 month at HamadPort, RuwaisPort. “QTerminals has record inception in 2016. We are said that it handled 129, 747 2020. Sidra Medicine uses fish to diagnose diseases in humans

THE PENINSULA — DOHA get referral for genetic testing. cause of a patient’s symptoms; so this The results of the genetic testing help data is provided to the zebrafish facility A little-known fact is that several identify some novel variants that have for research. The facility uses it to rec- species of fish have genes that are not been reported before. Knowing that reate a mini fish model of the patients’ extremely similar to those of humans. a novel variant exists is not enough genetic variation to study its relation to One such fish is the zebrafish. Small and information to determine that it is the the disease. unassuming, the zebrafish shares 70 The facility currently conducts percent of its genes with humans research primarily on rare pediatric con- making it an ideal organism to help ditions of congenital abnormalities, neu- further our understanding of human rological disorders and cardiovascular genetics and diseases. diseases. This is exactly what the Zebrafish “When we find genetic mutation or Functional Genomics Facility at Qatar variation, we cannot approach a patient’s Foundation’s Sidra Medicine is currently family and tell them that this is the cause working on. Using these small organisms, of their child’s disease, as we cannot be researchers are able to make connections sure. Being able to recreate it in the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival opens between genetic variations and the dis- zebrafish model, give us a better under- eases they cause. standing of whether or not this really is Qatar’s maritime tradition is very much alive at the 10th Katara When patients approach Sidra Med- the case. This allows for families to have Traditional Dhow Festival which started yesterday at Katara Cultural icine with unusual clinical presentation that a better understanding of what is hap- Village. Fishing and pearl diving are among the traditional marine leads to inconclusive diagnoses, they are pening, as well as for clinicians to decide activities that form the distinct features of the five-day festival being referred for genetic testing. Although spe- which treatments or methods of man- held at Katara Esplanade. `REPORT ON PAGE 3 cific tests are conducted in different clinics agement would be most effective,” said depending on the nature of their symptoms Laboratory Manager at Sidra, Dr. Sahar Laboratory Manager at the Sidra Zebrafish and suspected conditions; unsolved cases Da’as, with zebrafish. Facility, Dr. Sahar Da’as. `P2 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020

Al Hammadi meets OFFICIAL NEWS Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Amir greets Salvador Charge d’Affaires Romania President DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin THE PENINSULA — DOHA the Ministry of Foreign Hamad Al Thani and Deputy Amir Affairs also met yesterday H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad The Secretary-General of the with Charge d’Affaires of the Al Thani sent yesterday cables of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H Embassy of the Republic of congratulations to President of E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al El Salvador to Qatar, H E Romania H E Klaus Werner Iohan- Hammadi, met yesterday Diego Alejandro Dalton nis on the occasion of his country’s with Secretary-General of the Rosales, on the occasion of National Day. Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the end of his tenure in the Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Kha- International Cooperation country. lid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and Communities of Guinea- The Secretary-General of also sent a cable of congratulations Bissau, H E Dino Sidi, who is the Ministry of Foreign to Prime Minister of Romania H E currently visiting Qatar. Affairs extended thanks to Ludovic Orban on the occasion of Bilateral cooperation and the Charge d’Affairs for his his country’s National Day. -QNA issues of mutual concern efforts in promoting and were discussed during the developing the bilateral rela- PM condoles meeting. tions, wishing him success in H E Secretary-General of his future duties. with family of Al Muraikhi bids farewell to envoys Jassim Abdulaziz

DOHA: Prime Minister and Min- of Cuba and Dominican Republic ister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met separately yesterday with offered condolence to the family of Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the State of Qatar H E Emilio Caballero Rodriguez (above) a famous media personnel Jassim and Ambassador of the Dominican Republic H E Federico Alberto Coelho Camilo on the occasion Abdulaziz who passed away yes- of the end of their tenure in the country. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs thanked the two terday. “In Qatar we lost today one ambassadors for their efforts in supporting and strengthening bilateral relations, and wished them of the pioneering media person- success in their new duties. nel, broadcaster Jassim Abdulaziz, who passed away. Jassim was model for a professional journal- ist and loyal to his profession and country. My sincere condolences Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmed to his family, fans and the media. bin Hassan Al Hammadi with Guinea-Bissau counterpart H E Dino May Allah have mercy on him. We Sidi, yesterday. belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet yesterday. -QNA Qatari ports witnessed huge rise FM receives call in cargo handling last month from Azerbaijan counterpart FROM PAGE 1 The ports had handled 128, The number of vessels 498 Twenty-Foot Equivalent DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister visited Hamad Port last month Units (TEUs) containers; 36,625 and Minister of Foreign Affairs H stands at 154. tonnes of general cargo; 5822 E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrah- The cargo movement at the vehicles; 33,163 heads of live- man Al Thani received yesterday ports of Qatar had also wit- stock and 37, 558 tonnes of a telephone call from Minister of Qatar, US sign military agreement nessed a significant increase in building material in October Foreign Affairs of the Republic of October 2020. The ports’ con- 2020. Hamad Port had handled Azerbaijan H E Jeyhun Bayramov. Qatar and the United States of America signed a military agreement. The agreement pertains to tainer handling had seen an 123,924 Twenty-Foot Equiv- During the call they discussed marine activities and port calls to the State of Qatar. The agreement was signed on behalf of Qatar increase of 17 percent in October alent Units (TEUs) containers; bilateral cooperation relations and by Commander of the Amiri Naval Forces Nautical H E Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, and 2020 compared to the same 30,270 general cargo; 5665 matters of mutual interest. The for the US by Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command in the Middle East H E Vice-Admiral period of 2019 reaching nearly vehicles and 1768 heads of live- Deputy Prime Minister and Min- Samuel Paparo. 128,500 TEUs. stock in October 2020. ister of Foreign Affairs renewed, during the call, the State of Qatar’s welcoming of the ceasefire agree- Sidra Medicine ment between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh uses fish to Education Ministry partners with region, considering that it rep- resents a great step to end the diagnose diseases long-running conflict and realize in humans ExxonMobil to sponsor energy labs the sought-after peace, which serves the interests of the two countries and achieves stability FROM PAGE 1 THE PENINSULA — DOHA several successful and fruitful in the region. -QNA projects,” said Fawziya Al A specific case that The Ministry of Education and Khater during the signing stands out to Dr. Da’as is one Higher Education signed a ceremony. Qatar takes part in where a child arrived at partnership agreement with “I am very proud of this Sidra Medicine with a rare, ExxonMobil Qatar to sponsor cooperation that has the 25th Session of complex neurological dis- energy laboratories at two interests of Qatar’s students order that only has 50 new science, technology, engi- at its core, and I applaud Exx- Conference of reported cases worldwide. neering and mathematics onMobil’s commitment to the Upon detailing family (STEM) schools during a educational projects it sup- States Parties history, doctors at Sidra signing ceremony, whereby ports. We share the same goal Medicine found that the ExxonMobil Qatar becomes of developing student skills QNA — THE HAGUE child’s mother had been the exclusive sponsor of the Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs of the Ministry of in science, technology and complaining of reduced fetal energy laboratories in the two Education and Higher Education, H E Fawziya Abdulaziz Al Khater scientific research,” said Al The State of Qatar took part movement while she was schools. and Vice President and Director of Public and Government Affairs Khater. in the 25th Session of the pregnant. The ceremony was for ExxonMobil Qatar, Saleh Al Mana signing the agreement as Speaking during the cer- Conference of the States This complaint had not attended by Undersecretary Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, emony, Genetti confirmed Parties (CSP) of the Organi- been identified in any of the of the Ministry of Education H E Dr. Ibrahim Al Nuaimi and President and General Manager for that ExxonMobil Qatar would zation for the Prohibition of other cases. This allowed and Higher Education, H E Dr. ExxonMobil Qatar Dominic Genetti looks on. be the exclusive sponsor of an Chemical Weapons (OPCW), researchers to recreate the Ibrahim Al Nuaimi; Assistant energy lab at each school, which was held in The genetic variant found in the Undersecretary for Educa- “The Ministry of Education fulfilling the Qatar National similar to its contribution to Hague. child in zebrafish model and tional Affairs of the Ministry and Higher Education con- Vision 2030’s objective of the first STEM school. The delegation of the look for this unique of Education and Higher Edu- siders increasing of the building a knowledge “ExxonMobil Qatar is com- State of Qatar was led by symptom. cation, H E Fawziya Abdulaziz number of students that are economy and a generation of mitted to supporting STEM Qatar’s Ambassador to the Sure enough, they found Al Khater; President and enrolled in STEM subjects at scientists, researchers and learning, and this agreement Kingdom of the Netherlands that when replicated in General Manager for Exxon- government schools among thinkers,” said Dr. Al Nuaimi. with the Ministry of Education and Permanent Represent- zebrafish, the variant caused Mobil Qatar, Dominic Genetti; its list of strategic priorities. “The partnership between and Higher Education is one ative to the Organization for brain abnormality, reduced and Vice President and The science and technology the Ministry of Education and example of how we work with the Prohibition of Chemical motor skills and muscle Director of Public and Gov- schools initiative was estab- Higher Education and Exxon- our partners to provide quality Weapons H E Abdullah bin movement at very early ernment Affairs for Exxon- lished to directly support this Mobil Qatar is one of our STEM learning experiences,” Hussein Al Jaber. stages of development. Mobil Qatar, Saleh Al Mana. mission, and will be key to strongest, and has led to said Genetti. While in this case, unfortu- nately, this did not offer Turkey Parliament much in the way of con- Armed Forces clusive therapies, it did help conclude Al Da’am welcomes Shura clinicians understand the cause in order to advise the Al Sarem 2020 Council polls parents on how to manage future pregnancies and seek Exercise announcement help early. QNA — DOHA Sidra Medicine also uses QNA — ANKARA zebrafish for research in The Armed Forces concluded pediatric diabetes, cancer, yesterday the Al Da’am Al Sarem Speaker of the Grand National and cardiac disease. 2020 exercise, which was held Assembly (Parliament) of the According to Dr. Da’as, the under the patronage of Deputy Republic of Turkey H E Dr. fish lend themselves well to Prime Minister and Minister of Mustafa Sentop welcomed research for a number of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin conditions. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Hamad AlThani’s “Our goal at the moment Attiyah. A number of units and announcement to hold elec- is to understand the genetic commands from the Armed tions for the Shura Council in mutations that present most Forces and the Ministry of October next year. commonly among the pedi- Interior participated in the Dr. Mustafa Sentop said in atric population. exercise. The exercise was a statement that this decision “While we aim to attended by Chief of Staff of Romania marks National Day anniversary is a significant development, conduct research on condi- the Armed Forces H E Lieu- expressing his great pleasure tions and mutations that tenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem The Romanian flag — blue, yellow, and red — projected on Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention with that. The Speaker of the present in pregnant women bin Shaheen Al Ghanem, Hotel yesterday on the occasion of Romania’s 102nd National Day anniversary. The Embassy of Turkish Grand National and babies in-utero, we hope alongside a number of senior Romania in Qatar expressed its whole-hearted appreciation for the brotherly relations between the Assembly also wished the to also work on infertility officers in the Armed Forces two countries on the occasion. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA upcoming Shura Council elec- issues in the future,” she and the Ministry of Interior. tions would be for the good of said. the brotherly people of Qatar. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 HOME 03 Maritime heritage palpable at Katara Dhow Festival

RAYNALD C RIVERA past anchored on its close rela- witness a number of distinct fea- THE PENINSULA tionship with the sea shared with tures and activities related to pearl other countries taking part in the diving and fishing tradition. Qatar’s centuries-old maritime festival including Kuwait, Oman, As with previous editions, a tradition is palpable at the Katara Iraq, India, and Tanzania. major highlight of the festival is Traditional Dhow Festival which “The festival has reached the an impressive collection of tra- opened yesterday on a high note, hearts and souls of visitors and ditional dhows which can be seen marking a successful decade of heritage lovers which include cit- at Katara Esplanade, on the beach reviving the country’s marine izens and residents of all nation- and in the sea. heritage. alities of Qatar. This festival Visitors can also witness The Minister of State and through heritage, history and various workshops showcasing President of Qatar National story-telling brings folklore alive the process of building dhows and Library H E Dr. Hamad bin to the people through the dis- ancient crafts as well as live Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Former tinctive activities that also con- painting by a number of local Minister of Energy and Industry tribute to the spread of culture as artists. There are pavilions dis- H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al well as reflecting contemporary playing traditional handicrafts Sada, and General Manager of generations,” said Dr. Al Sulaiti. such as pottery, fishing and pearl Cultural Village Foundation He stressed how the festival diving tools in addition to a fish (Katara) Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim plays a significant role in creating market. Al Sulaiti, along with ambas- a bond between old and new Among the entertaining sadors and other dignitaries generations through culture and activities are storytelling, tradi- attended the opening of the fes- heritage as well as displaying tional stage shows and perform- tival yesterday. Qatar’s and other participating ances including by an Omani folk From land to sea, the festival countries’ maritime heritage. band, in addition to a number of teems with a diverse showcase The festival is being held fol- exciting marine competitions of different types of dhows, tra- lowing all precautionary and such as Al Shoush, Al Haddaq and ditional marine handicrafts and Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari safety measures in accordance Al Tafris. artworks along with perform- (left), Former Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada (right), and General with Ministry of Public Health The festival is open to the ances and competitions, alto- Manager of Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (centre), along with protocols to fight the spread of public today, tomorrow and on gether resulting to an ambience ambassadors and other dignitaries at the launch of the 10th Katara Traditional Dhow Festival at COVID-19, he said. Saturday from 10am to 10pm and reminiscent of the country’s rich Katara yesterday. Visitors to the festival can on Friday from 1pm to 11pm. QU and CRA sign MoU for ICT research

THE PENINSULA — DOHA exchanging experiences and to facilitate knowledge and tech- ICT. Finally, I would like to information to enhance coop- nology transfer and provide thank QU for their cooperation, Qatar University’s College of eration in scientific research consultancy and research and we look forward to starting Engineering (QU-CENG) and related to ICT. Also, it consists of services, which will contribute working and cooperating with the Communications Regu- coordination and collaboration to driving socio-economic them within the MoU latory Authority (CRA) signed in organising seminars, work- development and sustainability framework.. a memorandum of under- shops, and training courses in the State of Qatar.” On the sidelines, the awards standing (MoU) to cooperate in related to ICT. President of CRA, ceremony for the winners of the the fields of academic, research Besides, the cooperation Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, said: Qatar Internet Exchange Point and student training and framework and scope include “The CRA welcomes the signing (QIXP) website design compe- support in terms of Infor- implementing joint programs of the MoU. It will enhance our tition was held. The competition mation and Communications related to public awareness and cooperation and support was conducted in cooperation Technology (ICT) yesterday. consultation, cooperating in training and develop skills of between CRA, QU, and Institute The MoU was signed by QU research studies for telecom youth and increase their of Electrical and Electronics President, Dr. Hassan Rashid services, networking, systems, knowledge of ICT. This con- Engineers — State of Qatar Al Derham, and President of in addition to modern and future tributes to achieving one of the Chapter (IIEE-SQC) and was CRA, Mohammed Ali applications. Finally, cooper- objectives of Qatar National open to all students who are AlMannai, during a ceremony ating in any other possible fields Vision 2030 and creating a living in Qatar. held at the QU headquarters of common interest. balance between an oil-based The evaluation committee and in the presence of officials Commenting on the MoU, and a knowledge-based evaluated the designs and from both institutions. QU President Dr. Hassan Rashid economy, helping diversify the selected the design submitted The MoU shall be valid for Al Derham said: “The MoU high- country’s economy. by Nasir Hafez Moulana Yaqub four years from the effective lights QU’s continuous efforts to “The MoU will open Ali as the first-place winner. date. The cooperation provide solutions to local chal- windows to exchange experi- The winner will continue framework and scope include lenges in line with national pri- ences and information, thereby working on the design devel- QU President, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham, and President of CRA, coordination and cooperation orities towards a knowledge- enriching scientific research opment until the QIXP website Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, after signing the MoU at QU headquarters. in various fields, such as based economy. It will also serve and research studies related to goes live. Ministry of Education organises Virtual Universities Exhibition MoPH reports 216 recoveries QNA — DOHA embassy and the British The 3-day exhibition registration in these Nasser Al Balam, stressed the Council in Doha. Students who was attended by universities. importance of academic and and 168 new The Ministry of Education and participated in the exhibition In her speech, Al Madhahka professional counselling and Higher Education, represented reached about 500 students 20 universities and said that the aim of the event its role in preparing students virus cases by the Academic and Career in various secondary schools colleges in addition is to support high school stu- for the university stage and the Guidance Division of the in the country. dents in developing meaningful labor market. Department of Educational Director of the Educa- to officials from the educational plans, according The Ministry of Education THE PENINSULA — DOHA Guidance, organised the First tional Guidance Department US embassy, the to their abilities, preferences and Higher Education is keen Virtual Universities Exhibition, at the Ministry of Education Canadian embassy and professional goals, and to to continue implementing its The Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with INJAZ and Higher Education Moza introduce them to the special- important activities in a (MoPH) yesterday Qatar. Al Madhahka inaugurated the and the British Council izations required in the labor virtual manner, taking announced the registration The three-day exhibition exhibition which aimed to in Doha. market. advantage of visual commu- of 168 new confirmed was attended by 20 univer- educate high school students For his part, Director of the nication technology, in line COVID-19 cases. Among sities and colleges in addition and introduce them to the Ministry’s Educational Super- with the precautionary them 18 were travellers to officials from the US majors and programs offered requirements for admission vision Department at the Min- measures imposed by returning from abroad, embassy, the Canadian by the universities, the and the conditions for istry of Education Ahmed COVID-19 pandemic. according to the Ministry. Also, 216 people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of Qatar takes part in anti-corruption conference recovered cases in Qatar to 136,306. The Ministry also announced one death of a QNA — DOHA The delegation of the State of of topic under the theme which is related to peace, justice world that are related to the person aged 67, who was Qatar to the conference is led by “Designing 2030: Truth, Trust and strong institutions. environment, development, receiving the necessary Qatar has participated in the President of the Administrative and Transparency”, shedding The conference will feature defense, using technology and medical care. International Anti-Corruption Control and Transparency light on the best ways to achieve a number of workshops focused digital government, combating All new cases have been Conference (IACC), which runs Authority H E Hamad bin Nasser the Sustainable Development on the study and analysis of the corruption in economically introduced to isolation and are via video conferencing in South Al Misned. Participants in the Goals 2030 in general, and the various challenges combating fragile countries, and other receiving care according to Korea till December 4. conference will discuss a number sixteenth goal in particular, corruption in all parts of the emerging challenges. their health status.

QM lines up several activities this month Qatar saw only 4 cases of COVID-19 re-infections THE PENINSULA — DOHA exhibition “A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute Qatar (NMoQ), on the other hand, to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani” from is organising three webinars THE PENINSULA — DOHA the immune protection that a influenza vaccinations, espe- Qatar Museums (QM) has 5.30pm to 7.30pm from including “Travelers to Qatar from person infected with the virus cially for children - 6 months to announced a number of events December 13 to 16, and “Clay the Past” to be held from 6pm to Qatar saw only four cases of acquires and to determine the 5 years old - pregnant women, and activities catering to a wide inspired by A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute 7pm on December 2; “Story of the COVID-19 reinfections and exact period of persistence elderly and people with array of interests and artistic to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani” from National Flag” on December 9 those people, who got infected those antibodies have in the chronic diseases to prevent passions, to be hosted across its 5pm to 7pm from December 21 from 6pm 7pm; and “Exploring again, were asymptomatic body. The Ministry of Public the virus, especially at a time cultural institutions throughout to 23. the Poetry of Sheikh Jassim bin during their first and second Health has signed deals with of COVID-19 pandemic. the month of December. MIA is also organising a dis- Mohammed bin Thani” on infections. most important international She explained that scien- The Museum of Islamic Art cussion on “The Man & the December 16 from 6pm to Medical Director of the manufacturers of COVID-19 tists have noticed increase in (MIA) is organising a host of work- Mystery: The Making of Sheikh 7.30pm. Communicable Diseases vaccinations and Qatar will spread of COVID-19 virus if shops which can be booked Saoud” which will focus on how These webinars will be held Center (CDC) of the Hamad immediately obtain them as the temperature and humidity through www.qm.org.qa/en/ Sheikh Saoud has defined history, in Arabic, with simultaneous Medical Corporation, Dr. soon as it receives necessary is low. program-calendar Among these and what remains of his lasting English translation and can be Muna Al Maslamani said approvals. When the humidity is workshops are focused on callig- legacy. Those interested to join in booked by emailing program- during “Al-Sabah Rabah” pro- She added that there is a low, the virus stays in the air raphy including “Kufic Advanced” the discussion on December 9 [email protected] gramme on Al Rayyan tele- new test to detect the for longer periods, and when for adults to be held from 4pm to from 5pm to 6.30pm may contact Mathaf: Arab Museum of vision that four cases of rein- COVID-19 virus – antigen test the temperature is low, the 6pm on December 6, 13, 20 and [email protected] Modern Art is hosting “Artist fections were registered in - which takes 15 minutes and virus lives outside the body 27 and “Ruq’ah Advanced” and There will also be two Encounters with artist Ebtisam Qatar and the gap between received approval recently. It more. “Diwani for Beginners” which are curator-led tours on the current Al Saffar” from December 6 to the first and second infections has an accuracy rate of 97% The end of the pandemic both for children and teenagers MIA exhibition “A Falcon’s Eye” 10 from 4pm to 7pm. Mathaf varied between 45 days to 87 and will be made available in depends on the existence of a and are scheduled from 10.30am on December 8 from 11am to offers a unique opportunity for days. The four cases did not relevant departments of HMC vaccine or treatment for this to 12.30pm on December 12, 19 12pm and on December 10 from adults to work with artists to show any symptoms during soon. The PCR examination virus, as well as on human and 26. Other workshops include 6pm to 7pm, the latter focused design a series of workshops that the first or second has an accuracy rate of 100% behavior by adhering to pre- “Recycling!” for children and on photography. To sign up, link an element of their personal infections. but takes between 6-8 hours. cautionary measures, which youth aged 8 to 14 to be held from interested persons may contact creative process with an aspect She pointed out that more She also stressed the impor- are an important factor in 10am to 12pm on December 5, [email protected] related to the creation of the art- studies are needed to know tance of getting the seasonal preventing infection. “Painting for Adults based on the The National Museum of works in the Mathaf Collection. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020

Sidra Medicine all set to host HEC Paris in Qatar launches virtual PMFG 2020 symposium

THE PENINSULA – DOHA specialised scholarships Sidra Medicine is all set to host the fifth edition of its flagship AYENI OLUSEGUN “Precision Medicine and Func- THE PENINSULA tional Genomics 2020” (PMFG 2020). The symposium will be HEC Paris in Qatar (HEC-Q) is One of the strategic priorities launched online from offering scholarships in Inter- for HEC Paris in Qatar for the December 5 to 7 and will national Executive MBA (EMBA) next ten years is to push for provide resourceful “remote and Specialised Master’s in women in leadership. We learning” opportunities on Strategic Business Unit have created the scholarship account of current pandemic Management (SBUM) to mark category exclusively to bring restrictions. its 10th anniversary in Qatar, Attendees to PMFG 2020 will Dr. Khalid Fakhro Dean Dr. Pablo Martin de Holan more women into the receive 14.25 hours credits for announced yesterday. Executive MBA. learning as approved by the in this area in recent years, and The Qatar Foundation affil- Qatar Council of Healthcare considering growing global iated business school ranked Dr. Pablo Martin De Holan Practitioners (QCHP). The con- interest in making precision second worldwide for Executive Dean, HEC Paris in Qatar ference is being billed as one of medicine a reality for patients, Education in 2020 and first for the major scientific symposiums we are excited to share early International Executive MBA in from the Middle East, dedicated success stories. PMFG 2020 will Dean of HEC Paris in Qatar Dr. Pablo Martin De Holan, during a press 2019 by the Financial Times, to covering topics relevant to the provide an engaging platform conference in Doha yesterday. PIC. ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA will give out 11 scholarships and South East and North Asia. current pandemic as well as the for speakers to present best under both programmes. The “The Qatar National Vision importance of precision practices, discuss case studies EMBA will include two schol- age, and particularly empow- because they bring a different 2030 scholarship category will medicine. and explore future opportu- arships in Women in Lead- ering more women to achieve perspective. Part of Qatar’s be given to people who have Registered attendees will be nities. It will also be a forum to ership, Global Diversity, Qatar leadership roles. The scholar- residual of talent comes from shown a significant impact on able to access various sessions present innovations using pre- National Vision, while one ships were created to foster women, there’s a lot of potential the implementation of vision - from live and on-demand cision technologies, in tackling scholarship will be awarded in the diversity the classroom in the female population, and 2030. Not many countries have programming – and hear from a variety of ongoing health the Dean’s Scholarship cat- needs. we want to enhance that. grown like Qatar has from an notable local and international challenges such as diabetes, egory, valued at $35,000. “We believe that a diverse Having women take a look at extractive economy essentially speakers. PMFG 2020 will ded- cancer and COVID-19.” For the SBUM, two scholar- classroom helps people learn business enhances the quality, into a knowledge economy. Not icate a special session on PMFG 2020 will feature ships each will be given for better. Hence, we created the bringing a much richer expe- many people have succeeded COVID-19, which sheds light on global and local thought leaders International Exposure and scholarships in these categories. rience into the classroom,” he in doing that, but we need to do the testing and treatment strat- including Professor Sir Mark Entrepreneurial Success with a A degree in business schools added. it with people,” Dr. Pablo noted. egies that are now in place, Caulfield - Chief Scientist, value of $20,000. The scholar- accelerates careers. One of the The programme’s diversity The scholarships apply for including examples of recent Genomics England, UK, who ships aim to encourage partic- strategic priorities for HEC Paris will also enable residents and next January’s SBUM and Feb- methods developed and will talk about the “100,000 ipants whose professional and in Qatar for the next ten years citizens to participate and ruary’s EMBA intakes. The enhanced in Qatar. Genomes Project” and health personal experience has had is to push for women in lead- create an opportunity for non- SBUM application deadline is Chief Research Officer at transformation. Other notable considerable international ership. We have created the residents. The scholarship is December 29, 2020, and the Sidra Medicine, Dr. Khalid speakers include Professor exposure and to inspire entre- scholarship category exclu- open to students based in tra- EMBA’s deadline to submit the Fakhro: “Precision Medicine is Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Dr. preneurial journey in any sively to bring more women ditionally underrepresented scholarship application will be a key focus area for our con- Stephen Hunger, Chief, Division capacity. into the Executive MBA,” Dr. areas in HEC Paris in Qatar January 28, 2021. All candidates ference program and indeed, of Pediatric Oncology Director, HEC-Q aims to emphasise Pablo said. EMBA, such as Latin America, must have been admitted to the for Qatar. Sidra Medicine has Center for Childhood Cancer diversity in its current pro- “We want to have more Africa, Russia, and the former programs to qualify for schol- been working closely with our Research, Children’s Hospital gramme from nationalities, women in our programmes USSR states, the Pacific Islands, arship consideration. local partners to build capacity of Philadelphia, USA and more.

Shura Council panel studies HIA awarded 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating law on private associations FROM PAGE 1 passengers safety. spread of pathogens. As Qatar’s state-of-the-art hub continuously HIA also invested in Smart Screening Helmets Additionally, HIA recently installed C2 tech- QNA — DOHA prioritises passenger convenience and safety, - wearable intelligent helmets that are portable, nology, the latest security screening system, which the airport recently installed 15 PPE vending safe, and effective in enabling contactless tem- is a significant counter COVID-19 measure, that The Shura Council’s Public Services and machines across its terminal to ensure passengers perature measurement. This is in addition to UV reduces possible cross-contamination in passenger Utilities Committee held yesterday a can easily access various disposable and disinfectant robots, which are fully autonomous carry-on bags. The implementation of the tech- meeting chaired by its rapporteur HE washable PPE equipment, including masks, mobile devices, emitting concentrated UV-C light nology elevates the airport’s hygiene standards, by Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi. During gloves, hand sanitisers, and face shield products. that eliminates the majority of infectious micro- limiting human contact at security checkpoints, the meeting, the Committee studied Decree Physical distancing floor stickers are installed in organisms. The robots are being deployed in vul- making the process safer and faster for both staff Law No. 21 of 2020 regarding private asso- front of every PPE vending machine to safeguard nerable high passenger flow areas to reduce the and passengers. ciations and institutions, and decided to HIA is also one of the few global airports to offer further review it in its next meeting. a contactless and paperless airport experience with the introduction of biometric identification tech- nology, in addition to touchless elevator keys. 55 referred to prosecution HIA maintains stringent cleaning procedures in for not wearing masks line with international standards. The airport con- tinues to implement a 1.5m physical distancing across QNA — DOHA all passenger touchpoints around the airport, through floor markings, signage, and distanced seating. The designated authorities referred All passenger touchpoints are sanitised regu- yesterday 55 people to the Public Prose- larly and all gates and bus gate counters are cleaned cution for not wearing masks in places after each flight. The airport also conducts regular where they are mandatory. The measure disinfection of all baggage trolleys and tubs. HIA’s is in line with the cabinet decision, decree retail and food and beverage outlets encourage con- law No. 17 of 1990 on infectious diseases, tactless and cashless transactions through cards and the precautionary measures in force and are considering introducing online or in-app in the country to contain the spread of the purchases in the future. coronavirus. Safari ‘10, 20, 30’ promo starts

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Doha’s popular hypermarket chain Safari’s popular promotion ‘10, 20, 30’ started on November 30 with a number of promotions and gift schemes that no one else can emulate. Many local and foreign consumers are waiting for this promotion as they can get many food items and other daily necessities at very low prices. Unlike other retailers in Doha, Safari understands the needs of its customers and brings offers suitable to their Shoppers at the Safari hypermarket during the ongoing ‘10, 20, budgets without compromising 30’ promotion. on the quality. Through this promotion, thousands of products including fruits, veg- also includes salads and other ladies and kids umbrellas, and etables, fish, meat, bakery, hot cheese items in the Deli section a range of 10, 20 and 30 riyals food, other food products, cos- of Fresh Food, including Butter items available in the toys and metics, house hold, readymade, Block, Beef Mortadella, Edom sports category is beyond peo- footwear, electronics and com- Cheese, Mix Pickles, Green Salad ple’s expectations. puter accessories are displayed and Halawa. In Buy One Get One Free for Safari customers. As well as there are a variety promotion shirts, jeans and Almadina 2 packets Chicken of multi-purpose products in the trousers from selected brands 800 gram for just QR10, Nur- household segment In the cos- such as Park Avenue, Next jahan Basmati Rice 5 kg bag for metics category, various types of Look, Parks, Raymond, Zodiac QR20 and Lenovo branded soaps, face washes and body and Zed Three are available and Bluetooth Live Pods for just lotions are also available for this promotion is available at QR30 are the main highlights Safari customers in connection all Safari outlets from of this 10, 20, 30 promotion. with this promotion. Perfumes, November 29 to December 13 The Safari Bakery & Hot body sprays and makeup sets only. Food section also has a wide from leading brands such as Safari Win 25 Nissan Sunny range of dishes to choose from. Olay, Himalaya, Sebamed, Nivia Car offers golden opportunity We have prepared excellent and Enchanter are available at to win 25 Nissan Sunny cars as combo offers including Western, Safari outlets in the 10, 20, 30 a gift through a mega pro- South Indian, North Indian, promotion. motion. Anyone can participate Arabic and Chinese dishes as The stationery section has in the coupon draw by pur- well as different dishes. It also a list of stationary items in this chasing just QR50 worth item serves fish curry, beef roast, promotion for school children from Safari’s any outlet. In burgers, muffins, donuts and as well as of office use. Faber every draw, Safari will give more. The 10, 20, 30 promotion Castle, mapped school kits, away 5 Nissan Sunny cars. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 HOME 05 QU YSC students win prizes in science competition 916,650 people benefit from

THE PENINSULA – DOHA QRCS response to COVID-19 Scientific research is of Three high school students won great importance in pandemic in Panama four prizes, including two first developing societies and places, a third place, and a In addition, volunteers of refining skills by THE PENINSULA – DOHA special prize out of 720 partic- the Panamanian Red Cross ipating projects from various combining query and launched community schools and educational insti- knowledge and Qatar Red Crescent Society awareness campaigns to send tutions in the National Scien- conducting experiments (QRCS) has concluded a messages to the public about tific Research and Innovation with data analysis, which COVID-19 pandemic control the risks and prevention of the Competition 2020. All the leads to the creation of project in the Republic of virus. research involved is distin- Panama, at a total cost of An all-terrain vehicle was guished by its distinction, solutions and products. $20,000. purchased to help with the quality of ideas, and innovative The project is aimed at sup- humanitarian work of the Pan- solutions that serve different Dr. Noora Al Thani, porting public authorities and amanian Red Cross’ Emergency sectors and fields in energy, Director of the Qatar the fellow National Society in Operations Center. industry, environment, and University Young the fight against COVID-19; The project is part of agriculture. Scientists Center reaching out to vulnerable QRCS’s initiative to back the Anfal Al Sulaiti from communities that have high fellow National Societies in Zubaida secondary school for sources of COVID-19 contam- 22 countries across six con- girls won first place in the and animal sciences, and a ination; and delivering food, tinents, aimed at protecting Chemistry and Material Sci- special prize for research medical, and protective aid to 320,000 persons against the ences category for research entitled “Hydrogel sensor for inaccessible areas. virus, with a total budget of titled “Polymeric nano-com- agricultural applications.” Under the project, food QR2,236,827. posite coating for the protection This research aims to parcels, personal protection The beneficiary countries of steel.” The importance of this improve soil properties by cre- equipment (PPE), cleaning sup- are Palestine, Afghanistan, coating lies in its versatility in ating a smart sensor to irrigate plies, and medicines were dis- Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, industry, production, and pres- crops according to soil needs tributed under the supervision Mongolia, Laos, Vanuatu, ervation of the environment. and increasing soil fertility and of Larissa Rodríguez, General Ethiopia, Chad, Senegal, Mau- Two students, Abdullah Al agricultural production by using Director of the Panamanian ritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Janahi and Abdullah Al Nasr, agricultural incentives such as Students working on a project. Red Cross. Sierra Leone, Albania, from Qatar Science and Tech- Arabic Gum. This project will About 916,650 people were Kosovo, Montenegro, Vene- nology secondary school for revolutionize agriculture in the winning in local and interna- industrial, and technological reached out directly (51% men zuela, El Salvador, Peru, and boys, won third place for State of Qatar, seeking self-suf- tional competitions for research revolutions are nothing but the and 49% women) in three prov- Panama. another research titled “Smart ficiency in basic crops. and innovation.” fruits of knowledge inces: Colón, Panamá Oeste, The list of activities con- and robust nano-composite Director of the Qatar Uni- She also praised the efforts accumulation. and Veraguas (covering more ducted by QRCS in support of fibers for self-powering elec- versity Young Scientists Center, of the Center’s sponsors, That is why the Qatar Uni- than 80% of the country’s total those countries includes pro- tronic devices” in energy. This Dr. Noora Al Thani, said, “Sci- namely Ras Laffan Industrial versity (QU) Young Scientists population highly affected by vision of equipment and sup- research presents a new, inno- entific research is of great City Community Outreach Center devotes tremendous the pandemic). plies for health facilities, pro- vative, and more efficient way importance in developing soci- Program, and partners, like efforts and resources to instill Several partners were vision of medicines and to produce safe electricity for eties and refining skills by com- Unesco-Doha Office and Qatar the foundations of scientific involved in the implementation medical supplies, protection the environment. bining query and knowledge National Commission for Edu- research and enriching of the project, including Inter- for medical professionals and Tamim Al Rashed and and conducting experiments cation, Culture and Science. knowledge capital in the national Federation of the Red volunteers, provision of food Yousef Al Mahmoud from the with data analysis, which leads “In our modern world, sci- younger generation to achieve Cross and Red Crescent Soci- and shelter for families worst Qatar Banking Sciences and to the creation of solutions and entific research is the only strategies and goals pivotal in eties (IFRC), the International affected by loss of income, and Business Administration sec- products.” window to economic, social, achieving the visions of the Committee of the Red Cross provision of protective sup- ondary school for boys won first “I always feel proud of our cultural, and intellectual country’s development,” Dr. (ICRC), and the Spanish Red plies (masks, gloves, place in the category of plant students who are used to progress. All scientific, Noora added. Cross. sanitisers). Al-Ahli Hospital records zero cross HBKU Press publishes ‘Together...Apart’ infection rate during surgeries documenting COVID-19 lockdown THE PENINSULA — DOHA FAZEENA SALEEM pandemic has resumed elective THE PENINSULA surgeries with the gradual Hamad Bin Khalifa University decline of COVID-19 cases. Press (HBKU Press) has Due to implementation of high “Guests should do a PCR published the outcome of a standards of safety measures, test 72 hours prior to the global call for submissions Al-Ahli Hospital has maintained surgery, green notification in launched in April 2020 for zero cross infection rates during Ehteraz App, normal body tem- literary and/or artistic works anesthesia in the operation perature. Also we follow all inspired by life in confinement rooms. required safety measures for due to the global COVID-19 The hospital is the first private the staff,” said Dr. Al Hashimy. pandemic and the personal healthcare facility to use only “Therefore our guests can changes that have occurred as disposable material and feel very safe to undergo a a result of the world in crisis. equipment for anesthesia in the surgery in Al-Ahli Hospital,” he The book, titled ‘Together…… operation theatres since the last Dr Mohamed Abdul Karim Al added.The Department of Apart’, compiles the personal five years and even prior to the Hashimy Anesthesiology at the Al-Ahli thoughts, reflections, and analysis COVID-19 pandemic, said Head Hospital is staffed with 15 of over 100 individuals worldwide of Anesthesia Department at highly trained anesthesia con- and is now available online as an Takeaway, to highlight the This initiative and the Al-Ahli Hospital, Dr. Mohamed The hospital is the first sultants and specialists and Open Access book found on the notion that when it seems all fell Abdul Karim Al Hashimy. equipped with advanced HBKU Press website. subsequently published apart, and everything was Al-Ahli Hospital has been private healthcare facility instruments and facilities. They Outreach and Special book, ‘Together …… broken, it was and never will be in the forefront of ensuring safe to use only disposable cover the main three types of Projects Manager at HBKU Apart,’ reflect both the beyond repair. Each section and and right care for its guests. material and equipment anesthesia as local anesthetics, Press Rima Ismail said, “When importance of literacy as the whole book whole demon- “Our mission is to provide safe for anesthesia in the oper- regional anesthetics and we opened the call for submis- strate how the COVID-19 pan- services to our guests. We have general anesthetics. Con- sions at the start of the a means to communicate demic has forced us, in so many most advanced and safe drugs ation theatres since the sultants at the Clinic for lockdown period for many and the spirit of cultural different ways, to challenge the and methodologies used at the last five years and even Department of Anesthesia will countries around the world. We exchange that is status quo and to question and Al-Ahli Hospital. We provide prior to the COVID-19 first evaluate the guests and aimed to document the history essential to HBKU redefine our concept of ‘normal’. the best care to our guests pandemic. ensure that they are ready to and provide a literary outlet for Press’s mission. “This initiative and the sub- ensuring their safety, comfort go with the planned procedure people to share their varied sequently published book, and high quality services,” said or surgery (fit for anesthesia). thoughts and perspectives ‘Together ……Apart,’ reflect both Dr. Al Hashimy. Dr. Mohamed Abdul Karim They discuss the anesthesia about this experience that the the importance of literacy as a “Since we had introduced Al Hashimy. plan and all steps. If the world was collectively facing.” enriching academic insight, and means to communicate and the use of full disposable material assessment outcome and the “We were both shocked and very poignant reflections of the spirit of cultural exchange that and equipment at operating the- results of any tests are favo- humbled by the response. We times. is essential to HBKU Press’s atres many years ago, with rable, a consent will be signed. received hundreds of submissions The narratives, articles, mission,” added Ismail. COVID-19 we had to take only can occur between people, The guests will be advised and from a total of 23 countries poems, artwork, academic “We hope that this book few extra safety measures,” he pieces of equipment, or within educated on what steps to take around the world, all of them pro- analysis, and stories from becomes a testament to the added. Dr. Al Hashimy also the body. beforehand, such as fasting or viding very raw and real accounts around the world that were human spirit and how, at our emphasized that respiratory “These infections can cause taking special medication. and reflections on the different chosen exemplify the very real darkest moment, we remained infection is one of the possible many complications. So, “It is compulsory for guests facets of the pandemic.” and raw human emotions that connected. We built the foun- cross infections during surgeries medical professionals at Al-Ahli to Al-Ahli Hospital to have the An editorial committee was defined the first few months of dations for countless moments and it was more important to Hospital work hard to ensure Ehteraz contact-tracing app established to review the submis- the pandemic: fear, hope, uncer- of light — small gestures of control such infections during equipment’s safety and a clean installed on mobile devices. The sions whereby each editor pro- tainty, love, depression, faith, compassion and acknowledg- COVID-19. A cross infection is environment,” said Dr. Al app is inspected (it should be vided a recommendation for its curiosity, loneliness, and grat- ments of gratitude that allow the transfer of harmful micro- Hashimy. The Al-Ahli Hospital green) and the guests’ temper- inclusion in the book. The final itude. The book is divided into us to show who we are, how we organisms, usually bacteria and which performed only emer- atures are checked as they pieces chosen offered unique and three sections, aptly titled, The want to live, and what matters viruses. The spread of infections gency surgeries during the enter the hospital. thoughtful perspectives, Virus, The Impact, and The to us.” QNL helps in reducing international heritage trafficking

THE PENINSULA – DOHA part of the Himaya project, a likely to be protected by The training sessions venture which was developed national legislation than other Qatar National Library has provided an introduction by Qatar National Library artifacts and is easier to move trained this week experts from to legal frameworks alongside a number of regional illegally. Knowing the legal 18 countries in laws surrounding and global partners to support framework is vital to this the looting and trafficking of surrounding the efforts to combat trafficking process.“For many years, traf- important artifacts across the circulation of art and and illicit circulation of docu- ficking and smuggling of her- world. cultural goods, and gave mentary heritage in the Middle itage items from libraries and The guidance, which took important information East, North Africa and neigh- archives has been rising. place online over three days, about how the risks boring countries. Director of In the MENA region in par- was provided by intellectual Distinctive Collections and ticular, this phenomenon is property and art lawyer Sydney related to looted works Director of the IFLA Regional greater due to the number of Chiche-Attali. Around 35 spe- of art can be reduced. Center at the Library, Stephane nations suffering from conflict cialists from Qatar, Kuwait, Ipert said: “The training and upheaval. Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, session this week was vital for The important role that Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Heritage. ensuring the success of our Qatar National Library plays Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mau- The training sessions pro- related to looted works of art conservation of library mate- efforts to combat trafficking cannot be overlooked, and we ritania, Iran, USA, the United vided an introduction to legal can be reduced. rials for Arab countries and the of artistic works and docu- were delighted to be able to use Kingdom and France attend the frameworks surrounding the The course forms part of Middle East, and in support of mentary heritage in this part our status as IFLA PAC Regional programme Combating Smug- circulation of art and cultural Qatar National Library’s role preserving documentary her- of the world. This type of her- Center for the MENA region to gling and Illicit Trade in Artistic goods, and gave important as the IFLA PAC Regional itage in the region. Chiche- itage is particularly at risk educate experts and answer Works and Documentary information about how the risks Center for the preservation Attali’s guidance this week was from trafficking, as it’s less their questions.” 06 GULF / MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Iran MPs seek hardening of nuclear stance AGENCIES — TEHRAN foe Israel. The vote to approve the government to end UN to the 2015 accord. that the country was still com- the bill, which would also require inspections of Iran’s nuclear State news agency Irna plying with its strict inspections The Iranian parliament’s approval by the Guardian Council, The vote to approve the facilities and to “produce and released undated pictures of regime. backing yesterday of a plan to a constitutional watchdog, was a bill, which would also store 120kg per year of uranium Fakhrizadeh being awarded a Speaking to reporters, Iran’s end nuclear inspections after show of defiance after the killing require approval by the enriched to 20 percent”. medal by Iran’s President government spokesman Ali the assassination of the coun- of a prominent Iranian nuclear Guardian Council, a Such steps would run Hassan Rouhani for his “con- Rabiei emphasised that the only try’s top nuclear scientist has scientist last month. Supreme constitutional watchdog, counter to commitments made tribution” to the Vienna institution mandated to make met immediate opposition from Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by Iran as part of a landmark agreement. The multilateral decisions on the country’s nuclear the government. has the final say on all nuclear was a show of defiance nuclear deal agreed with world accord has been hanging by a programme was the Supreme The government promptly policies. after the killing of a powers in 2015. thread since 2018, when Pres- National Security Council. said the move could not change Parliament Speaker prominent Iranian The deal offers Iran relief ident Donald Trump unilaterally He also noted that any deci- Iran's nuclear policy, which was Mohmmad Baqer Ghalibaf was nuclear scientist. The from sanctions in exchange for withdrew the United States and sions made by that body require the province of the Supreme quoted by state TV as saying government promptly curbs on its nuclear programme reimposed sanctions that have approval by supreme leader National Security Council. lawmakers were “hopeful to and UN-verified safeguards to battered Iran’s economy. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Deputies supported a draft remove sanctions through this said the move could not prove it is not developing The Islamic republic has In an interview on Monday, bill “for the lifting of sanctions stern decision.” change Iran's nuclear nuclear weapons. The Islamic retaliated by gradually rolling IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said and protection of the Iranian The official Irna news policy, which was the republic has always denied it is back most of its commitments Iran had nothing to gain from people’s interests”, saying they agency said 251 lawmakers in province of the Supreme seeking such weaponry. under the nuclear deal. In its ending inspections of its nuclear wanted to achieve the objec- the 290-seat chamber voted in National Security Council. Seemingly in response to latest report last month, the Inter- facilities. “We understand the tives of “martyred” scientist favour, after which many began Israel’s characterisation of national Atomic Energy Agency distress but at the same time it Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. chanting “Death to America!” Fakhrizadeh as the father of a (IAEA) said Iran had enriched is clear that no-one, starting Fakhrizadeh was assassi- and “Death to Israel!” secret nuclear weapons pro- uranium over the 3.67 percent with Iran, would have anything nated on a major road outside “The government has necessary nor useful”, foreign gramme, Khatibzadeh said that limit set out in the 2015 accord. to win from a decrease, limi- Tehran on Friday in a bomb and explicitly announced that it ministry spokesman Saeed the scientist had been “one of The UN’s nuclear watchdog tation or interruption of the gun attack that the Islamic does not agree with (this) plan” Khatibzadeh told a news con- the main assistants behind the said that Iran had not exceeded work we do together with republic has blamed on its arch which it considers “neither ference.The draft bill calls on scenes in discussions” that led the threshold of 4.5 percent and them,” Grossi said. Rebel shelling kills seven Yemen children

AFP — DUBAI The United Nations con- firmed the death toll from the Rebel shelling of government- bombardment, which it said held districts of Yemen has was part of an uptick in fighting killed seven children over the in and around the nearby aid past two days, medics and relief port of Hodeida, where a fragile agencies said. UN-brokered truce has largely In Yemen’s third largest city averted major fighting. Taez, which is government-held A total of 74 civilians were Hamas chief in but almost surrounded by rebel killed or wounded in Hodeida forces, two young girls, one just province in October as hostil- Gaza contracts nine months old, were pro- ities escalated, the UN mission nounced dead on Monday said. coronavirus evening after a rebel bom- “Five children and three bardment that also wounded women were killed and another AFP — GAZA CITY seven other people, medics said. three children and three women There was no immediate were injured when artillery The leader of Hamas in Gaza, reaction from the rebels, who shells hit a house in Al Ghaza Yahya Sinwar (pictured), have repeatedly played up the village in Al Durayhimi,” said yesterday tested positive for the Yemeni vendors sell vegetables and herbs at a market in the northern district of Abs, in the Hajjah high civilian death toll from air Altaf Musani, UN humanitarian novel coronavirus, which is province, yesterday. strikes by a Saudi-led coalition coordinator for Yemen. “This spreading rapidly across the that has been supporting the attack on women and children Palestinian enclave, the Islamist beleaguered government. is unacceptable and group said. Yemen war claims 233,000 lives: UN Relief organisation Doctors unjustifiable.” “Yahya Sinwar, the head QNA — NEW YORK without Borders appealed to “all A total of 74 civilians were of the political bureau of unacceptable,” the UN office population to face famine if the armed groups to abide by inter- killed or wounded in Hodeida Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was The United Nations Office for said on Twitter, adding “Yemen donors and international national humanitarian law and province in October as hostil- infected with the coronavirus the Coordination of Humani- has reached a tipping point. A organizations do not move to take all necessary precautions ities escalated, the UN mission today,” Hamas spokesman tarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has ceasefire is needed now.” provide the necessary human- to avoid civilian casualties”. said. Hazem Qassem said. confirmed that 233,000 people UNOCHA also pointed out itarian and relief support. On Sunday, five children The United Nations says all “His general health con- have so far died as a result of that the difficult health and Yemen has been witnessing were among eight civilians sides have been responsible for dition is good. He is working the conflict in Yemen, or died living conditions facing the an armed conflict since 2015, killed in rebel shelling of the multiple war crimes in the con- as usual but in isolation.” due to other war-related Yemenis have reached cata- which led to the country being government-held district of Al flict that has gripped Yemen Sinwar is the latest Pales- causes, including diseases, strophic levels, reiterating its dragged into a humanitarian crisis Durayhimi on the Red Sea coast, since 2014, creating what UN tinian leader to contract the epidemics and hunger. warnings of a real danger for a that the United Nations described medics and government source agencies describe as the world’s virus. Long-time chief Pales- “This staggering number is large part of the Yemeni as the worst in the world. said. worst humanitarian crisis. tinian negotiator Saeb Erekat died from coronavirus-related complications last month. Hamas official Salah El Air strike kills IRGC commander at Iraq-Syria border: Officials Arouri has also tested positive for the virus. Yesterday's REUTERS — BAGHDAD three other men travelling in a giving the exact time of the that Iran has blamed on Israel. Joe Biden taking office because announcement came as Gaza vehicle with him. incident. Israel launched air raids he is viewed as less confronta- battles surging infections. An air strike killed a The vehicle was carrying Local military and militia against what it called a wide tional with Iran than the Trump The small and densely commander of Iran’s Revolu- weapons across the Iraqi border sources confirmed the account, range of Syrian and Iranian administration. populated enclave of around tionary Guards at the Iraq-Syria and was hit after it had entered although Reuters was unable to targets in Syria last week, sig- Iran-backed Iraqi militias two million people, under border sometime between Syrian territory, two Iraqi verify independently that an nalling that it will pursue its are still reeling from the US Israeli-blockade since 2007, Saturday and Sunday, Iraqi security officials separately Iranian commander had been policy of striking Iranian targets assassination of Iranian military initially held off a major coro- security and local militia offi- said. killed. in the region as U.S. President mastermind Qassem Soleimani navirus outbreak. cials said. Iran-backed Iraqi paramil- The incident came just days Donald Trump prepares to in January and their Iraqi leader As the much of the world They could not confirm the itary groups helped retrieve after Iranian nuclear scientist leave office. Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis and went into lockdown in March identity of the commander, who the bodies, the two officials Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assas- Iraqi officials fear a confla- have vowed revenge against the and April, Hamas imposed they said was killed alongside said, without elaborating or sinated in Tehran in a killing gration ahead of President-elect United States. draconian controls, hoping to ensure its already weak health system was not overwhelmed. Gaza had recorded just 100 Lavish poll campaign events cases until mid-August, but the crisis has escalated in recent weeks. The territory’s con- off the menu in Kuwait firmed caseload now stands at more than 21,400, with 11 AFP — KUWAIT CITY dinars (about $10,000-23,000), and deaths. Daily infection have draw as many 2,000 guests in the coun- recently ranged between 700 Lavish banquets served in opulent try’s tribal regions, according to the and 800. marquees are nowhere to be seen this Kuwaiti Federation of Restaurants. Top health officials in Gaza election season in Kuwait, where the coro- Along with restaurants, companies have warned the situation was navirus pandemic has forced a ban on that organise banquets under large tents, spiralling out of control. traditional over-the-top campaign events. serving coffee and dates to voters, will “The number of intensive Lambs on spits, mountains of rice, be the big losers in this campaign, said care beds is very limited, as are and platters of sweets usually attract the association’s director, Fahd Al medicines,” Mahmud al-Khaz- hordes of potential voters to campaign Arbach. indar, director of a private hos- events in the small Gulf state, which “This period is usually the main pital in Gaza, told AFP last holds parliamentary elections on driver of their business in normal times,” month. “If the number of cases Saturday. he said. The weekend elections are the increases, a choice will have to Kuwait has a dynamic political life first since the new Amir H H Sheikh Kuwaitis attending an electoral campaign meeting ahead of the upcoming election be made between the care of with an active parliament that doesn’t Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, took office scheduled for later in the week, in Kuwait City, yesterday. the elderly, the young and hesitate to take the government to task. on September 29 following the death of patients with another Its election campaigns are equally lively his half-brother, 91-year-old H H Sheikh “Kuwaitis are using social networks “These unusual circumstances are diseases.” — in normal years. Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. to make their voices heard and hear giving young candidates a better chance Meanwhile, the Omani In elections past, Fahd Mohammed But with the opposition weakened ideas from the candidates,” he said. of winning, as they have already linked Ministry of Health announced Al Moutairi used to organise feasts for in recent years, no major political shifts The usual themes of election cam- with voters in the past few years through yesterday that the total of half a dozen candidates, all aiming to are expected. A few electoral banners paigns are a constant though, from social networks,” he said. reported cases of Coronavirus impress voters with their generosity, in dotted through the streets are the only promises to fight corruption and plans Another candidate, Sheikha Al (COVID-19) in the Sultanate his restaurant “Tayba”, located north of reminder of the nation’s political cal- for youth employment to freedom of Jassem, is also pleased to have reduced reached 123,908, QNA the capital Kuwait City. endar. Instead, this year’s campaign is expression, housing, education and the her costs by not having to host the elab- reported. The total number of “We usually prepare grilled lamb and mainly being fought on social networks thorny issue of the “bidoon”, Kuwait’s orate dinners that politicians would nor- deaths due to COVID-19 rice for dinners during the campaign that and in the media. stateless minority. mally throw a couple of times a week in reached 1,430, while the can run for up to two months. But the Tweets, Snapchat videos, Instagram The frugality imposed by the health the lead-up to the vote. recoveries stood at 115,441, coronavirus blew it all away,” he said. “lives” and electoral meetings via Zoom crisis has saved politicians a fortune, The philosophy professor, who is bringing the recoveries up by The loss of business is another blow to have taken the place of traditional cam- considering the average expense of campaigning on a platform of defending 93.1 percent, the Ministry said restaurateurs who suffered during paigning, and candidates are pumping fighting an election campaign can reach women’s rights, said she is redoubling in a statement carried by months of lockdown to stem the spread the money saved on catering into virtual KD100,000 (about $327,000), said one her efforts to promote herself on Twitter Oman News Agency. Patients of the virus in Kuwait, which has regis- campaigns. The cost of advertising has contender, Ali Al Ali. and Instagram. who have been isolated in hos- tered more than 142,000 infections and shot up as a result, said Faysal Al Sawagh, “Spending has increased on elec- “This time, social networks have pitals due to infections in the nearly 900 deaths. Campaign events can head of the Kuwaiti Federation of Elec- tronic and traditional media instead,” become the battleground of the parlia- past 24 hours reached 18, cost between 3,000 and 7,000 Kuwaiti tronic Media. the young lawyer said. mentary elections,” she said. bringing the total to 199. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 AFRICA 07 Ethiopia war may turn into guerrilla insurgency

REUTERS — ADDIS ABABA Reports of clashes between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s soldiers and the Tigray People’s Ethiopia’s nearly month-long war against rebellious northern Liberation Front (TPLF) were still coming out forces may be transforming into of the region, though communications remain a guerrilla conflict, experts said yesterday, even though federal largely cut and outside access blocked. troops declared victory after capturing the Tigrayan regional capital at the weekend. Tigrayan TV stations, including Eritrean refugees in Tigray, Fighting since November 4 the TPLF’s “Dimtsi Woyane” where food was thought to be is believed to have killed thou- (“Voice of the Revolution”), running out. sands of people, as well as were still on air, although it was “Our extreme worry is that forcing refugees into Sudan, unclear where they were we hear about attacks, the dragging in Eritrea, and wors- broadcasting from. Gov- fighting near the camps, we ening hunger and suffering ernment-affiliated media have hear about abductions and among Tigray’s more than 5 not yet broadcast any images forced removals,” spokesman million people. from Mekelle. Babar Baloch told a news Reports of clashes between A United Nations aid briefing in Geneva. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s worker in touch with people in In a speech to parliament A bulldozer clears land at the Um Raquba camp in Sudan’s eastern Gedaref province to make room soldiers and the Tigray People’s Tigray said large areas on Monday, Abiy urged the to house more Ethiopian refugees fleeing fighting from northern Tigray province. Liberation Front (TPLF) were remained outside federal more than 45,000 Ethiopians still coming out of the region, control and fighting was still who fled into Sudan to return. though communications taking place on several fronts. One aid worker in the area remain largely cut and outside There was still scant coordi- said numbers crossing to Sudan UN: Food has run out for nearly access blocked. nation with aid workers, the at the main transit point of Abiy accuses the TPLF of source added. Hamdayet were down to a treason, specifically for “There are skirmishes con- trickle. Refugees were saying 100,000 refugees in Ethiopia attacking an army base, while tinuing in many parts of Tigray that Ethiopian militia and sol- the Tigrayans say their ex-mil- and we are seeing the hall- diers were trying to impede itary comrade and partner in marks of the beginning of an them, he said. AP — NAIROBI alarmed at unconfirmed reports Abiy, last year’s Nobel Peace government wants to dominate insurgency,” Horn of Africa “The accounts of the people of attacks, abductions and Prize winner, has rejected the their ethnic group for personal expert Rashid Abdi told an are that it’s getting harder and The United Nations says food forced recruitment at the idea of dialogue with the Tigray power. Both sides scoff at the online forum. harder to get to the border,” he has now run out for the nearly refugee camps.” regional leaders, who are on the other’s accusations. “The terrain, geography and said, adding that three refugees 100,000 refugees from Eritrea Today marks a month since run but say they continue to Federal forces took Tigray’s history suggest this will be a had also said there were flyers who have been sheltering in Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy fight even after Abiy over the highland capital Mekelle in long, drawn-out insurgency.” going round with messages not camps in Ethiopia’s northern Ahmed announced that fighting weekend declared victory in the hours on Saturday. TPLF Both the federal army and to speak in Tigrayan Tigray region, which has been had erupted in the Tigray region deadly conflict. leaders fled to the hills, saying the TPLF have long military There was no immediate cut off from the world for nearly between federal forces and Ethiopia’s government has they were resisting and taking experience - from toppling a government response to those a month amid fighting. regional ones, as each gov- said it will create and manage a prisoners. Marxist dictator in 1991 to accusations, but federal officials “Concerns are growing by ernment now regards the other “humanitarian corridor” for the Asked about ongoing fighting neighbouring Eritrea vehemently deny discrimi- the hour,” UN refugee as illegitimate due to a dispute delivery of aid, but the UN wants fighting, TPLF head Debretsion from 1998-2000. nation against Tigrayans or spokesman Babar Baloch told over holding elections during the access that is neutral and unhin- Gebremichael said in a text: Though outnumbered and harassment of civilians. reporters in Geneva yesterday. pandemic. Communications and dered. The UN has said some 2 “Yes. On three directions. Two expelled from their capital, the Though Tigrayans make up “The camps will have now run transport links to the Tigray million people in Tigray now around Mekelle. One 50km Tigrayans can exploit their only about 6% of Ethiopia’s 115 out of food supplies — making region of 6 million people have need assistance and some 1 away.” There was no imme- mountainous terrain and long million people, they dominated hunger and malnutrition a real been severed, and the UN and million people are displaced, diate response from the borders with Sudan and Eritrea. national government for nearly danger, a warning we have been others have pleaded for access to including more than 45,000 government. The UN refugee agency three decades until Abiy took issuing since the conflict began deliver badly needed food, med- Ethiopians who have fled into Two regionally-run appealed for access to 96,000 office in 2018. nearly a month ago. We are also icines and other supplies. Sudan as refugees. UN experts call Rescue efforts slowed a week for South Sudan after Zimbabwe mine collapse arms embargo AP — HARARE it has happened before,” said to continue Kambanura, referring to an Rains and flooding have slowed incident when some artisanal AFP — UNITED NATIONS rescue efforts at a Zimbabwean miners survived after days of mine where a shaft collapsed being trapped underground last A UN committee of experts last week, trapping at least 10 year. monitoring sanctions on South artisanal miners. But some relatives of the Sudan recommends main- Hopes of finding survivors miners camped at the site were taining the arms embargo are vanishing and relatives less optimistic. imposed in 2018 in a report to camped at the site on Tuesday “No one survives this long the Security Council released expressed their desperation for in water and under all those yesterday. decent burials of their loved rocks. My fear is the bodies are The eastern African nation ones who they now presume rotting in there. They should is struggling to emerge from a are dead. just give me the body, I want to six-year civil war that claimed The mine shaft in Bindura give my son a decent burial,” some 380,000 lives and offi- town, about 70km northeast of said Nyangu Kajuda, sitting cially ended with the creation the capital, Harare, collapsed with about a dozen other of a government of national on Wednesday after artisanal women inside a tent pitched by unity in February. miners digging for gold blasted a private funeral parlor. Violence has soared in a support pillar, said deputy Artisanal mining has been recent months between rival Shopping during the pandemic minister Polite Kambanura. rampant in Zimbabwe for communities, often over cattle The mine was no longer decades, but it has surged fol- raiding which leads to cycles People buy clothes at a store, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, in Benghazi, Libya. operational, and the artisanal lowing the shutdown of most of brutal revenge killings. miners who use rudimentary economic activities due to a In the report, the experts and unsafe methods took over, COVID-19 induced lockdown, call on the Security Council, he said while touring the site according to conservation which is due to consider South Africa tries to delay wage yesterday. groups that have been trying to enforcement provisions Rescuers retrieved one get the government to end the against South Sudan in body on Monday, but given the menace. December, to “take measures dispute hearing, unions opposed rains and flooding, rescue Zimbabwe’s mineral rich to improve the efforts have been hindered, he national parks, abandoned implementation.” REUTERS — JOHANNESBURG April 2020 as part of a three- postpone the hearing of the said. mines, rivers and even towns They say Uganda was year wage deal struck in 2018. wage dispute application before Kambanura said about 10 are often swarmed with people, guilty of a “violation” of the South Africa’s government has Economists view the dispute the Labour Appeal Court (LAC), miners are trapped under including young children, embargo when the Ugandan asked for a court hearing over a as critical because of the dire from 2 December to after 1 Feb- rubble and water. An associ- seeking gold. Violent and polit- People’s Defence Forces wage dispute with public sector state of public finances, and it has ruary 2021,” the letter from the ation representing small scale ically connected gangs often try (UPDF) entered South Sudan’s trade unions to be postponed important political ramifications state attorney’s office to the miners, however, estimated 40 to control the activities. territory this year, including until after February 1, a letter as the governing African National unions’ lawyers said. miners were trapped. Ascer- A report by the Interna- on October 27. seen by Reuters showed, but Congress (ANC) is in an alliance “Settlement would be pref- taining the actual number is tional Crisis Group last week “A resupply of weapons unions are opposed to the delay. with some of the unions involved erable where there is a rea- difficult due to the haphazard alleged that “hundreds of and ammunition to gov- The unions took the gov- in the dispute. sonable chance that the current nature of artisanal mining in miners’ lives” have been lost in ernment security forces or ernment to court after officials “I am instructed by the dispute will go beyond the LAC the economically struggling the violence, while some, such non-state armed groups... said the state could not afford Department of Public Service and will only be finally deter- southern African country. as the Bindura miners, succumb would further threaten to pay salary increases that and Administration to suggest mined much later,” the letter “Maybe, by some miracle to frequent collapse of mine civilians and risk the peace were due to come into force in that the parties consent to continued. we might find some still alive, shafts. and security of South Sudan,” the experts say in their report. They also noted that the signatories to the 2018 peace Tanzanian security services tortured Burundi refugees: HRW agreement have not honored their commitments to AFP — NAIROBI may have suffered similar and asylum seekers in Tanzania station grounds, and hanged countries during a violent crisis implement it. abuse,” the report said. are heinous crimes, not least them from the ceiling by their caused by then president Pierre In a statement on Monday, Security forces in Tanzania “Between October 2019 and because of the anguish and suf- handcuffs,” the report said. Nkurunziza’s decision to run for the NGO Amnesty Interna- have arbitrarily detained, August 2020, Tanzanian police fering caused to family “Some said that police and a contested third term. tional called for the arms tortured and forcibly disap- and intelligence services for- members, many of whom fled intelligence agents gave them Dozens of people died in a embargo to be maintained peared at least 18 Burundian cibly disappeared, tortured, and similar abuses in Burundi,” said electric shocks, rubbed their brutal crackdown on protest, after the “surge in violence refugees since late last year, arbitrarily detained at least 11 Mausi Segun, Africa director at faces and genitals with chili, but the Constitutional Court against civilians in 2020.” Human Rights Watch (HRW) Burundians for up to several HRW. and beat and whipped them.” ruled that the third term was The implementation of the said in a new report. weeks in abysmal conditions in In testimony gathered by In certain cases, police and legal. Nkurunziza won an 2018 agreement “has mostly Police officers this year a police station in Kibondo, the NGO, nine of the detainees intelligence officers told ref- election boycotted by the stalled” and the government snatched seven refugees and Kigoma region.” at Kibondo were reportedly tor- ugees that they had been given opposition and remained in has less and less financial asylum seekers living in camps Three of the captives were tured before they were returned information about them by power until his death in June means to implement it, UN in the western Kigoma region, freed inside Tanzania, while in to the Mtendeli and Nduta Burundian authorities, “sug- this year. experts said. They report near the border with Burundi, August the authorities forcibly camps in Kigoma. gesting collusion between At the end of October, Tan- again that “weapons have the New York-based watchdog repatriated the eight others to “The Burundians said that agents from the two countries,” zania was still host to more than been illicitly diverted from said. Burundi, where they were Tanzanian police detained them the report said. 150,000 refugees in three government stockpiles to The whereabouts and fate detained without charge, HRW in rooms with no electricity or In 2015 more than 400,000 camps, but almost 100,000 supply militias and other non- of the detainees are unknown said. The “enforced disappear- windows, took them to a sep- people fled their homes in people have returned to state armed groups.” and “additional Burundians ances of Burundian refugees arate building on the police Burundi for neighbouring Burundi since September 2017. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Rapid development of a vaccine won’t Established in 1996 CHAIRMAN help much if people refuse to take it DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED SAAD B OMER THE WASHINGTON POST [email protected] News that the Pfizer and DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Moderna coronavirus vaccine MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI candidates show approxi- [email protected] mately 95 percent efficacy and that an AstraZeneca candidate is at least 70 percent efficacious is very encouraging. Prospects of EDITORIAL other front-line vaccine candidates demonstrating effectiveness also look good. A national duty A safe and effective vaccine to fight the coronavirus THE Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday pandemic would be a major Workers prepare cool boxes to be transported by an airplane as Brussels International Airport and announced the resumption of the final phase of General triumph for science - but its partners prepare a massive logistic operation of carrying new vaccines and vaccine candidates Census of Population, Housing and Establishment 2020. developing a vaccine will be The census which started yesterday will run till January of little use if not enough for the coronavirus disease through Brussels International Airport, in Brussels, yesterday. 7, while field census will resume from December 13 to people take it. mid-January. People who wish to fill in the census form Studies suggest that many Prevention received $200m and I found that a coronavirus harmed, which will com- can log on to PSA’s dedicated web platform, access Americans will not accept this for vaccine preparedness vaccine endorsed by Dr. pound this tragedy. and fill in the necessary details. new vaccine - at least not from the Cares Act, this Anthony S Fauci, Director of Getting communities Field enumerators will be visiting houses from right away. In a recent Pew money is supposed to cover the National Institute of engaged with the vaccine will December 13 and deliver the census questionnaires in Research Center survey, only all activities, including distri- Allergy and Infectious Dis- be easier with a scalable tem- a special packet to curb the spread of virus infection. 51 percent of US adults indi- bution and administration, eases, increased acceptance plate. One approach involves After entering the data, the respondents can return the cated their willingness to take not just communication and of the vaccine as well as will- pairing a community vali- questionnaires at their own convenience, even on the a coronavirus vaccine. Dis- education. This money is not ingness to take it among dator (e.g. a Black church next day. The final phase of the census which was trust is even higher among enough for vaccine distri- Democrats, Republicans and leader) with an expert (e.g. a stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic is resuming communities of colour. This bution, let alone for commu- independents. We found that Black physician with roots in after obtaining necessary approval from the Ministry of hesitancy may impede herd nication and education. a bipartisan endorsement of a the same community) and Public Health and the process will be done strictly fol- immunity even once a safe The United States has vaccine by Trump and House replicating this model across lowing precautionary measures mandated by the author- vaccine is available in wide never immunized its popu- Speaker Nancy Pelosi the country. Organizations ities and in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior. supply. A lot of this mistrust is lation in the numbers needed (D-Calif.) had about one-third with deep roots in commu- Taking part in the census is a national duty as the likely to be a result of recent to establish herd immunity to one-half as large an impact nities of color (such as histori- participation of everybody by providing accurate data attempts, especially by Pres- against SARS-CoV-2. That as an endorsement by Fauci. A cally Black colleges and uni- will help in the creation of a valuable database which ident Donald Trump and his means we’ll be embarking on joint endorsement by prom- versities), the National can be the basis for planning future development and aides, to interfere in the scien- an immunization program of inent Republicans and Demo- Medical Association and the welfare measures. tific and regulatory review unprecedented scale - which crats as well as prominent sci- National Hispanic Medical The census will provide a reliable data bank for com- process. In the Pew survey, requires a communication entific leaders would go a Association will be essential parisons and projections of demographic details and only 19 percent had a high campaign to match. Fortu- long way. This is not a pipe partners in such an effort. will reveal the social and economic characteristics of level of confidence that the nately, there is money already dream, either: There has been I have researched the society as a whole. It will create a clear picture of vaccine development process authorized for communica- bipartisan support for vac- vaccine acceptance in many the population, its social and economic characteristics, will yield a safe and effective tions about COVID-19, about cines in Congress. For populations and countries. age gender composition, level of education and the product. $250m. Unfortunately, the example, prominent congres- Reasons for vaccine refusal nature of the current workforce in the country. Such Building trust in a new Trump administration origi- sional Democrats and Repub- can vary from place to place, information is imperative in planning development vaccine starts with ensuring a nally earmarked it for a licans - including Senate but one thing is constant: requirement for the country such as educational insti- transparent, science-based Department of Health and Majority Leader Mitch McCo- Healthcare providers are the tutions, housing and transportation infrastructure, regulatory process. Despite Human Services advertising nnell (R-Ky.), a polio survivor most trusted source of healthcare, entertainment etc. political pressure by the Trump campaign to counteract - have a history of supporting vaccine information - even This is particularly important during such times as White House, career profes- “COVID despair,” which has vaccines. among those who end up the current time of pandemic as the demography, age, sionals at the Food and Drug since been canceled. But that Ethnic and racial minority refusing vaccines. This gender etc play a crucial role in designing and providing Administration, backed by a money could be reallocated groups in the United States makes them an indispen- treatment methods by creating essential infrastructure few political appointees, have for informing people about have been disproportionately sable resource for ensuring and roping in necessary healthcare professionals in a taken steps to ensure evidence- the vaccine, either now or harmed by the pandemic: high uptake of a vaccine. war footing. Obtaining clear data about housing and com- based review of candidate vac- after the Biden administration African Americans had a But, because of a lack of mercial establishment will help in planning residential cines in recent weeks. takes over in January. COVID-19 mortality rate twice training in vaccine commu- areas and shopping centres avoiding shortage or glut in These steps are essential A national vaccine com- that of Whites. Higher mis- nication, healthcare pro- the availability of such facilities. So is the case with edu- for restoring vaccine confi- munication and education trust of a vaccine in commu- viders are ill-equipped for cation for different communities in Qatar. With the census, dence, but they are not suffi- campaign needs to fulfill three nities of colour is grounded in communicating with their the authorities will have an insight into the needs for more cient. A large enough number goals: It must restore trust in the ugly history of public patients using evidence- community schools and higher education facilities. of people won’t take the vaccines, be national in scope health and medical exploi- based techniques, such as So, let us all realise that active participation in the vaccine without a national and - at the same time - tation of people of colour. presumptive communication census is a service and duty to ourselves which will communication and edu- engage local communities, This distrust will not be (which presents vaccination serve as valuable contribution from our part to the overall cation campaign. Unfortu- particularly communities of easy to overcome. But the as the default choice to development of Qatar. It is a golden chance for eve- nately, there has been colour. Here are a few strat- glaring racial and ethnic dis- nudge patients into rybody to take steps in the march of Qatar to the pin- minimal investment in such a egies that could help accom- parities in the impact of the accepting a vaccine) and nacle of welfare and advancement. campaign and other efforts to plish these goals. pandemic will only get worse informed declination (in increase confidence in a First, leverage trusted if authorities don’t address which the patient has to be vaccine. While the Centers for vaccine endorsers. In a survey mistrust of vaccines among counseled about the conse- Disease Control and experiment, my colleagues those disproportionately quences of vaccine refusal).

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR EMAIL: [email protected] It's time to prioritize infection prevention over economic activities JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI beyond asking for people to has designated the period who also is in charge of the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 refrain from travel that starts through around Dec. 15 as the response to the coronavirus, FAX: +974 4455 7758 For the economy to recover, from the two cities. It is ques- “critical three weeks,” asking said he wants prefectural gov- the rapid spread of the novel tionable whether that call will the public to take thorough ernors to decide first whether MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 coronavirus must be stopped. be effective while the gov- measures to prevent the to suspend the campaign. One can only feel frustrated at ernment continues to provide spread of the coronavirus. Although the situation varies DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 the government’s response. subsidies for such travel. However, the public will be from region to region, it is hard Regarding the Go To The Go To campaigns are confused if the government to understand the central gov- LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 Travel tourism promotion symbolic measures to encourages them to travel ernment’s stance to wait for campaign, the government encourage people to go out. while also stressing that this is requests from local BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 excluded travel to the cities of The government’s review of a critical time for containing governments. Osaka and Sapporo from the the campaigns’ operations infections. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 subsidized program, based on appears to be minimal To have the public share its said it was the central gov- a proposal by a subcommittee because it fears criticism that sense of crisis, the government ernment that should ponder ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 of experts on measures its policies have failed. should send a message based whether to suspend the cam- email: [email protected] against coronavirus infection. It is important to stimulate on clear guidelines. If infec- paign. This is not a time to shift But soon after, the subcom- consumption, to strike a tions are not brought under blame onto each other. In PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 mittee asked the government balance between measures control, it will not only delay urban areas, the percentage of email: [email protected] to also exclude travel that against the infectious disease economic revitalization but hospital beds being utilized departs from those two cities, and economic activities. But it also heighten people’s anxiety has increased and the number ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 and Prime Minister Yoshihide is reasonable to postpone about the Tokyo Olympics of patients with serious FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] Suga called for people to stimulating consumption at a scheduled for next year. For symptoms has also grown. It is refrain from trips that originate time when the number of the time being, the gov- essential for the central and CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 there. Because the government infected people is rapidly ernment needs to give top pri- local governments to coop- email: [email protected] claims that it is difficult to increasing. The government ority to preventing infection. erate so that delays in making specify where users of the should be flexible in changing Economic Revitalization decisions will not lead to SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 campaign live, it did not go its policies. The government Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, irreparable consequences. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar The refugee camps in Ethiopia will have now run out of food supplies - making hunger /Peninsula_Qatar and malnutrition a real danger. Concerns are /ThePeninsulaNewspaper growing by the hour.

+974 6698 6188 Babar Baloch, UN Refugee Spokesman WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 OPINION 09 On global health, Biden needs to achieve more than just a reset KIIZA AFRICA, MAMKA ANYONA 19th Century to protect Euro- WHO priorities, sometimes in interests of American com- has fallen on the historically AND SIDDHARTHA MEHTA — peans from diseases brought conflict with the priorities panies over public health. In marginalised peoples of the AL JAZEERA home by armies returning negotiated by its appointed the most recent iteration, the world. from brutal colonising cam- decision-making body, the WTO member states voted to This unfair impact has its Earlier this year, Joe Biden paigns abroad. In the modern World Health Assembly. reject the application for a roots in racial and colonial won praise in mainstream era, global health governance The consequence is that waiver on intellectual hierarchies that have yet to be policy circles in the United has evolved into an arena for global health policy ends up property rights for the coro- eradicated from their origins States for making the case for advanced economies to reflecting US domestic policy: navirus vaccine advanced by found in the days of the first “why America must lead manage public health in the curtailed access to medicines, India and South Africa to international sanitary confer- again”. In the wake of his Global South. It is no surprise contraception, and abortion allow local manufacture of ences. The enduring impact of victory in the presidential then that the US has been the treatments, and blocked vaccines for faster and this history makes recent calls election, some health experts dominant player. access to generic treatments cheaper provision to citizens. to “decolonise global health” hoped this would include The transition of power to protect the profits of phar- Beyond this undesirable particularly critical. making the US “a global that we should care about is maceutical companies, past, consider Biden’s As it returns to the global health leader again”. not just one from Trump to instead of the health of mil- COVID-19 response plan’s health stage, the US could You can understand why Biden, but from the US to the lions. A particularly egregious anti-Chinese flavour: To play a vital role, but only if it these experts yearn for a dif- rest of the world. example of this undue “expand the defenses … to radically changes course, not ferent approach from the Well before Trump, the influence is the so-called predict, prevent, and mitigate only from the Trump era but Well before Trump, White House. Donald Trump’s global health system was “global gag rule”. The policy pandemic threats, including the policies that came before four-year rule occasioned failing. It entrenched inequal- has been enforced by every those coming from China”. it. That would mean putting the global health disengagement from the ities in access to healthcare Republican administration Not content with continuing collective health outcomes system was failing. global health system, most and, all too frequently, placed since Reagan, prohibiting US- Trump’s new cold war first, through allowing the evident in his withdrawal of the lives of people across the funded organisations from rhetoric, Biden’s transition pursuit of universal It entrenched the US from the World Health world at the mercy of providing women with legal team seems to be embedding healthcare around the world, inequalities in access Organization (WHO) amid an American domestic politics abortion services, leading to it into an aggressive undoing sanctions and cor- unprecedented pandemic. In and trade policy. an increase in unsafe approach to “global health porate welfare regimes that to healthcare and, contrast, Biden has already Take the WHO for abortions. security”. restrict access to essential all too frequently, promised to rejoin the organi- instance, the leading global Sure, Biden might Some might dismiss such medicines, and sharing sation, with his newly organisation mandated with suspend this policy for the statements as mere political vaccine technology to end placed the lives of released COVID-19 plan coordinating public health years he is in office, but the posturing, yet the recent this pandemic. people across the hailed by insiders as “a big across the world. underlying system would past demonstrates the The WHO and other global world at the mercy of reset”. The WHO is kept on a tight remain intact under his plan. destructive power of the US health organisations need to While reversing President financial and policy leash. It The pro-corporate global presidential whim. One claim their autonomy so they American domestic Trump’s global health policies receives less than one-fifth of health agenda would con- result of the US adminis- can truly act in the interests of politics and trade would benefit global health, its funding from mandatory tinue to drive organisations tration withdrawing from global health. That means we should also challenge contributions. The rest is such as the World Trade the Iran nuclear deal in pressuring donor govern- policy. Biden’s back to the future funded through voluntary Organization (WTO) and 2018 and imposing ments to commit to unre- approach. contributions, before the World Intellectual Property increased sanctions was to stricted funding and com- Today’s global health Trump presidency, the Organization (WIPO) to reduce Iran’s ability to pelling pharmaceutical com- architecture has its roots in majority coming from the US create an unequal playing access essential medicines. panies to transfer technology the International Sanitary government. Voluntary field in health and trade When the pandemic hit, this to qualified vaccine manufac- Conferences, organised in the funders influence agreements, prioritising the lack of medicines and treat- turers around the world. ments increased the coun- Countries in the Global South try’s death toll, which had can aid this process by already reached a shocking investing in their own inno- 42,000 by the end of March. vation and health systems as A return to the past, well as advocating loudly for perhaps with a more a more equitable global health aggressive anti-China twist, system. would damage global health. As Trump leaves the White However, there are alterna- House, merely resetting to tives. Even as the US failed to what came before him is not provide global leadership the answer. Global health was during the COVID-19 pan- in desperate need of reform demic, individual countries four years ago, as much as it built innovative and effective does now. Rather than ways to manage local returning to business as usual, responses. we must democratise global With a population of 95 health, based on solidarity, million, Vietnam, which and respond in an equitable shares a long border with and just manner, to the chal- China, has suffered only 35 lenges of COVID-19. Global deaths from COVID-19. In health governance does need fact, countries ostracised new leadership, and pro- internationally at the behest gressive activists around the of the US played a crucial role world are already showing us in supporting the global pan- the way. demic response. Cuba, for Kiiza Africa is a example, sent doctors to researcher, activist, and countries across the world to development anthropologist ; support strained health Mamka Anyona is a global workforces. health governance The burden of death, ill- researcher; Siddhartha Mehta US President-elect Joe Biden wears a boot after he twisted his ankle while playing with his dog, as he departs after an event at The health, and destitution is a member of People’s Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, yesterday. brought on by the pandemic Health Movement. Why Ethiopia’s conflict could spill beyond its borders

DAVID KAMPF outsiders may follow. any time since World War II. a fragile transition after its forces get involved, they often THE WASHINGTON POST My research explains why We may have been underesti- longtime dictator was toppled harm internal and interna- foreign interference in Ethio- mating the extent of external last year, and is poorly placed tional security. In Syria and pia’s conflict is predictable - involvement in African con- to absorb the influx. Yemen, for instance, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy and why interventions by flicts in particular. Conflicts also affect econ- reality that so many outsiders Ahmed ordered troops into external militaries tend to One reason for these omies in neighboring coun- are involved in these conflicts the northern region of Tigray make bad situations worse. interventions is because the ill tries. Research indicates that means that fighting is unlikely on Nov. 4, accusing a Civil wars are rarely effects of a localized conflict the negative economic effects to end anytime soon. powerful faction of traitorous purely domestic affairs are never neatly contained can stretch hundreds of miles Interventions typically behavior. On Saturday, the Foreigners often meddle within the confines of a war- outside the country at war, provoke additional interven- government claimed its in the internal battles of other torn country. Refugees, rebels with losses in regional tions by rival countries. And military took control of the countries - and outsiders are and weapons - along with investment and increases in once there are several com- region’s capital city, Mekele. getting increasingly med- drugs and other illicit mate- illegal trade. So neighbors peting foreign forces involved, On Monday, the Tigray lead- dlesome. The data reveal that rials - can spread easily care about conflicts in their civil wars tend to last longer, ership accused Ethiopian outside interventions in civil beyond national borders, own backyard. the research shows. It’s simply troops of launching a “geno- wars have increased in recent threatening the stability of - Civil wars heighten the harder to find a compromise cidal campaign” in the region. years, both in terms of nearby countries. risk of wars between nations that makes enough people Foreigners often Tensions have been brewing absolute numbers and in the A record number of ref- Analysts argue that one of happy during negotiations - meddle in the with the Tigray People’s Liber- proportion of ongoing wars. ugees are living abroad - the the best predictors of civil war potential solutions are compli- ation Front (TPLF), once a dom- During the Cold War, most highest totals in the post- is if there is another civil war in cated by more parties with internal battles of inant force in Ethiopia’s regime, interventions were shaped by World War II period - as the region. The negative tran- unique interests. other countries - since Abiy gained power. The the US-Soviet rivalry. After the recent civil wars displace snational effects of wars can If parties agree to peace, conflict erupted soon after Abiy fall of the Soviet Union, coun- greater numbers than in pre- aggravate domestic tensions interventions make conflicts and outsiders are claimed that the TPLF crossed a tries focused on finding nego- vious decades. Large numbers and spark internal conflicts in more likely to recur again - getting increasingly “red line” when Tigrayans tiated settlements and of refugees pose risks to other countries. Conflicts that was the case in Afghan- attacked a federal military base deploying peacekeeping forces weaker host countries. The spread and contagion happens. istan, Congo and Somalia. meddlesome. The in early November. Fears of to keep the peace. But the strain on financial resources, External militaries inter- Local struggles can data reveal that mass atrocities grew after Abiy’s United States, regional powers threats to internal security, vening to prevent negative spill- escalate rapidly into proxy outside interventions 72-hour ultimatum for the and neighboring countries shifts in local demographics overs can also instigate a broader wars, when a major power TPLF’s surrender expired last became less hesitant to or new animosities among international dispute. Likewise, benefits by having others fight in civil wars have week. intervene after Sept. 11, 2001, populations can create incen- regimes waging domestic battles a conflict. Take the war in increased in recent Could Abiy’s offensive and as the U.S.-led liberal order tives for intervention. may see a reason to conduct Libya, for example. The sheer turn into a broader civil war, began showing signs of decay. Tigray absorbed an esti- cross-border counterinsurgency number of outsiders - Egypt, years, both in terms and draw in neighboring Most full-fledged civil mated 100,000 Eritreans campaigns or attack foreign France, Jordan, Qatar, Russia, of absolute numbers countries? Tens of thousands wars today include foreign from a previous war, many of rivals that are supporting oppo- Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, of civilians have fled into militaries, groups and fighters. whom could be displaced yet sition groups. Political scientist the United Arab Emirates and and in the proportion Sudan, threatening its sta- Why do foreign militaries again. The rapid pace of Ethi- Idean Salehyan finds that more the United States - has trans- of ongoing wars. bility. And earlier this month, intervene? opians now arriving in Sudan than half of all rebel groups rely formed the conflict into Tigray forces reportedly fired Foreign militaries are not reportedly is overwhelming on external sanctuaries during something quite different multiple rockets into Eritrea, a innocent bystanders to civil aid organizations - and the civil wars, so governments often from when it started. Proxy long-standing rival of the wars. In fact, internal conflicts numbers seeking safety are want to chase down their wars often drag on, and it’s TPLF. If Sudan or Eritrea attracted external militaries likely to continue to climb. enemies abroad. always possible for them to decides to intervene, other last year more often than at Sudan itself is in the middle of When external military escalate into wider conflicts. 10 ASIA WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Protesting farmers reject govt proposal in India

AP — NEW DELHI The farmers rejected minimum guaranteed prices and result in exploitation by The Indian government and the government’s corporations who will push protesting farmers were unable offer to set up expert down prices. to reach common ground in The laws add to already talks held yesterday, with the committees to discuss existing resentment from farmers saying their demon- the new laws, which farmers, who often complain of strations against new agri- deregulate crop being ignored by the government culture laws will continue as in their push for better crop will their blockades of key pricing, even as the prices, additional loan waivers highways. agriculture minister and irrigation systems to guar- The farmers rejected the antee water during dry spells. government’s offer to set up appealed for an end The government has argued expert committees to discuss to agitation and the laws bring about necessary the new laws, which deregulate reform that will allow farmers crop pricing, even as the agri- invited the farmers for to market their produce and culture minister appealed for further discussions boost production through an end to agitation and invited private investment. the farmers for further discus- tomorrow. Agriculture supports more Farmers having food at a site of a protest against the newly passed farm bills at Singhu border near sions tomorrow. than half of India’s 1.3 billion New Delhi, yesterday. “Our movement will con- people, but farmers have seen tinue and we will definitely take marched to the Indian capital, their economic standing “anti-national,” a label often will always be there to defend of a democratic country,” said back something from the gov- where they clashed with police diminish over the last three given those who criticize Modi the rights of peaceful protest.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson ernment - be it bullets or a who used tear gas, water cannons decades. Once accounting for a or his policies. “We’ve reached out through Anurag Srivastava. peaceful solution,” Chanda and batons against them. third of India’s gross domestic Many opposition party multiple means to the Indian Yesterday, thousands more Singh, a farmer leader who was The farmers have since product, they now produce only leaders, activists and even some authorities to highlight our con- joined the protests at multiple part of the talks, told reporters camped along at least five major 15 percent of GDP, which is allies of Modi’s party have called cerns” Trudeau said in a video locations on the outskirts of the in New Delhi. highways on the outskirts of valued at $2.9 trillion a year. the laws anti-farmer and address without elaborating. capital. The farmers, driving Farmers have been pro- New Delhi and have said they Prime Minister Narendra expressed support for those India’s Foreign Ministry did tractors and trucks, brought testing the laws for nearly two won’t leave until the gov- Modi and his allies have both protesting. The demonstrations not directly name Trudeau but food, fuel and firewood to months in Punjab and Haryana ernment rolls back what they tried to allay farmers’ fears have also started to draw inter- said comments by some Canadian sustain themselves. states - where they have been call “black laws.” The farmers about the new laws while also national attention. leaders were “ill-informed” and “We are here to stay,” said blocking key highways. The sit- say the laws passed in Sep- dismissing their concerns. Some Canadian Prime Minister “unwarranted.” “Such comments Manjeet Singh, a farmer who uation escalated last week when tember will lead the gov- of his party leaders have called Justin Trudeau on Tuesday noted are unwarranted, especially when was part of a team making tens of thousands of them ernment to stop buying grain at the farmers “misguided” and the protests and said “Canada pertaining to the internal affairs meals for the protesters. Australian AstraZeneca partner SII sticks with two full dose regimen in trials telescope maps REUTERS — PUNE Britain and Brazil. AstraZeneca who has worked on vaccines for rival Novavax and Austria’s Most of the nations that are deep space at has said it is likely to run an over four decades. Themis. part of the COVAX initiative, Serum Institute of India (SII), additional global trial to “When it is one common But in the global race to which has been set up to record speed which has partnered with evaluate the lower dose dose it becomes very easy. develop vaccines to beat the provide COVID-19 vaccines to AstraZeneca to manufacture its regimen. Whether it is the first dose, or pandemic, AstraZeneca’s poorer countries, have indi- REUTERS — MELBOURNE COVID-19 vaccine, will SII which is currently second it is the same vaccine, vaccine is one of the front- cated they would accept and continue to test a two full dose running trials in India testing same dose,” he said. runners despite having lower use a proven vaccine, if it A powerful new telescope in regimen of the shot despite it the safety of AstraZeneca’s Over the weekend, SII said efficacy rates than some rivals. showed more than 50 percent outback Australia has mapped showing a lower success rate vaccine as well as the immune that it planned to apply for an US drugmakers Pfizer and efficacy, according to Jadhav. vast areas of the universe in than a half and full dose response it triggers, has no emergency use licence for the Moderna have said their coro- Adar Poonawalla, the CEO record-breaking time, regimen in pivotal trials, a top plans currently to alter them to vaccine in India in the next two navirus vaccines have an of SII, said affordability, scala- revealing a million new executive said. include the half dose-full dose weeks. efficacy rate of 95 percent and bility and ease of storage and galaxies and opening the way The British drugmaker has regimen, according to Dr. The 62 percent efficacy rate 94.5 percent respectively but transportation were key factors to new discoveries, the coun- said its COVID-19 vaccine could Suresh Jadhav, an executive on AstraZeneca’s broader two AstraZeneca’s drug is cheaper for India and other emerging try’s national science agency be up to 90 percent effective if director at SII. full dose trial is above the 50 and easier to transport because economies as they look to said yesterday. administered as a half dose fol- “Anything which is beyond percent that US regulators say it can be stored for long periods decide on large scale purchases The A$188m ($138m) radio lowed by a full dose, but some 50 percent is always going to is the minimum required to at normal fridge of vaccines. telescope, dubbed the Aus- scientists have questioned the be a plus, plus,” Jadhav said in consider a drug for emergency temperatures. “A vaccine that cannot pen- tralian Square Kilometre Array robustness of that result an interview on Monday, authorisation. Those advantages are par- etrate and be given in a large Pathfinder (ASKAP), was able because only a few thousand referring to efficacy rates. He SII, based in the western ticularly important for many population to provide high to map about three million gal- people were given that regimen added that changing the dose city of Pune, is the world’s top developing countries and, vaccine coverage you may as axies in just 300 hours. Com- in late-stage UK trials. regimen now would delay the manufacturer of vaccines by therefore, for SII. As part of a well not give it at all,” Poona- parable surveys of the sky The global trials showed the trials. volume. Beyond AstraZeneca, deal outlined in June, Astra- walla said. have taken as long as 10 years. efficacy rate of the shot was 62 A combination of two dif- it has also partnered with other Zeneca has licensed SII to “If it’s not affordable and “It’s really a game percent if the full dose was ferent measures could also companies to potentially man- supply one billion doses of its logistically transferable, even if changer,” said astronomer given twice, as it was for most complicate rapid distribution ufacture their shots, including vaccine to dozens of low and it is 110 percent effective what David McConnell, who led the study participants in trials in efforts, according to Jadhav, US biotech firm Codagenix; its middle-income nations. is the sense?” Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organi- sation (CSIRO) study of the southern sky at the Murchison Cambodia oppn figures Radioastronomy Observatory in Western Australia. What makes this telescope plan to return from exile unique is its wide field of view, using receivers designed by AP — PHNOM PENH The party leaders CSIRO, which allow it to take panoramic pictures of the sky Senior executives of the are among about in sharper detail than before. disbanded opposition 130 opposition The telescope only needed Cambodia National Rescue to combine 903 images to map Party yesterday announced supporters and other the sky, compared with other their plan to return from self- dissidents who are all-sky radio surveys that imposed exile to fight criminal require tens of thousands of charges against them in court. due to be tried early images. The party leaders are next year on charges “It is more sensitive than among about 130 opposition including treason and previous surveys that have supporters and other dissidents covered the whole sky like who are due to be tried early incitement to commit this, so we do see more objects next year on charges including felony. than have been seen in the treason and incitement to past,” McConnell told Reuters. commit felony. The CNRP exec- Having a telescope that utives also face the charge of sought to return from exile with can survey the sky in a few planning an attack involving several colleagues but was weeks or months means the violence that could hurt the blocked by the government. process can be repeated again state and its institutions. He has been in exile since and again in a relatively short Most of the opposition party 2016 to avoid serving a prison space of time, allowing astron- leaders, and others among the sentence for a defamation con- Protesters give the three-finger pro-democracy salute during a “Bad Student” rally outside the omers to systematically spot group to be tried, fled Cam- viction he insists was politically Ministry of Education, in Bangkok yesterday. and track changes. bodia in late 2017, when Prime motivated. Minister Hun Sen launched a He is not one of the party Heat wave returns sweeping crackdown on his executives that the CNRP Thai court issues warning on eve of PM ruling opponents and the CNRP was announced would return on to Australia forced by the high court to Jan. 4. The most prominent AFP — BANGKOK pro-democracy group plans to go, protesters also want disband and its lawmakers would-be returnee is deputy REUTERS — SYDNEY to rally outside the court reforms to the army-drafted removed from Parliament. party leader Mu Sochua, a Thailand’s constitutional court today. constitution and for changes to Many people believe the former lawmaker who holds An intense heat wave returned yesterday warned against But the court urged people the monarchy — a taboo- court acted to ensure that Hun dual Cambodian and American to Australia’s south and east “vulgar” criticism of its rulings, to stay away and warned that smashing demand in a country Sen’s Cambodia People’s Party citizenship and now lives in the yesterday, the first day of the on the eve of a crucial excessive criticism could lead that has long revered its royal won the 2018 general election, United States. southern hemisphere summer, judgement that could see Prime to prosecution. family. which it did by sweeping all the Many of the cases against raising risks of bush fires after Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha “A person shall enjoy the Prayut has previously seats in Parliament. the nearly 130 facing trial, who the country sweltered through forced out of office. liberty to express opinions, but argued his family must stay at Hun Sen has been in power are mostly charged with treason its hottest November on record. The court will today hand criticism of rulings made with the army house on a military for 35 years and has often been for taking part in nonviolent Australia’s Bureau of Meteor- down a verdict on whether vulgar, sarcastic or threatening base for security reasons. accused of heading an author- political activities over the past ology (BoM) expects temperatures Prayut has broken rules by words will be considered a vio- He appeared relaxed on itarian regime. three years, involve planning for to break records in the coming living in an army house, despite lation of the law,” the court said Tuesday ahead of the decision, Several Western nations Sam Rainsy’s abortive return. days due to the heat wave, which the fact the former general is in a statement. saying he would send his have imposed sanctions on his On Thursday, the Phnom has been building across much of no longer in the military top The pro-democracy lawyers to the court but would government, mainly after con- Penh Municipal Court began the country’s outback interior over brass. movement is already facing not go in person. cluding that the 2018 election hearings in those cases, but the last week. Losing the case could see legal action, with five key “I’ve had cases filed against was neither free nor fair. quickly adjourned, saying it “While bursts of heat and heat Prayut, who came to power in leaders charged on Monday me before. If the court rules that The plan by CNRP leaders would split the large number wave are normal for this time of a 2014 coup, thrown out as under Thailand’s strict royal you’ve done wrong then you’ve to return represents their of defendants into two groups year, what’s making this burst is premier. defamation laws — the first done wrong... if not then that’s second attempt to rejoin the to make the proceedings easier. temperatures up to 18 degrees The ruling follows months time they have been used in the end of the story. It’s just like political struggle at home. The first group will have its above average,” BoM Meteorol- of street protests calling for two years. any court case,” he told In November last year, Sam initial hearing on Jan. 14 and the ogist Dean Narramore said. Prayut to quit, and one As well as calling for Prayut reporters in Bangkok. Rainsy, the party’s co-founder, other on March 4. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 ASIA 11

Pakistan court China rejects report ‘Kim received vaccine’ resumes appeal REUTERS — SEOUL Harry Kazianis, a North Korea expert at the foreign ministry spokeswoman, “The risk is too great. But hearing in Pearl neither denied nor confirmed he’s happy to get Chinese per- China has provided North Center for the National Interest think-tank in when asked about the reported sonal protective equipment,” murder case Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Washington, said the Kims and several senior vaccines for North Korea at a Barry said on Twitter. his family with an experimental regular briefing, saying she had North Korea has not con- AP — ISLAMABAD coronavirus vaccine, a US North Korean officials had been vaccinated. It not heard about them. firmed any coronavirus infec- analyst said yesterday, citing was unclear which company had supplied its Some experts doubted that tions, but South Korea’s National Pakistan’s top court yesterday two unidentified Japanese intel- Kim would use an experimental Intelligence Service (NIS) has said resumed the hearing of an ligence sources. drug candidate to the Kims and whether it had vaccine. an outbreak there cannot be appeal from the family of Harry Kazianis, a North proven to be safe, he added. “Even if a Chinese vaccine ruled out as the country had trade American journalist Daniel Korea expert at the Center for had already been approved, no and people-to-people exchanges Pearl against the acquittal of the National Interest think-tank drug is perfect and he would not with China - the source of the a British-born Pakistani man in Washington, said the Kims take that risk when he has pandemic - before shutting the convicted over the 2002 and several senior North coronavirus within the last two to China National Pharmaceutical numerous shelters which can border in late January. beheading of the Wall Street Korean officials had been three weeks thanks to a vaccine Group (Sinopharm), an unlisted ensure almost complete iso- Microsoft said last month Journal reporter. vaccinated. candidate supplied by the Chinese Beijing-based company. lation,” said Choi Jung-hun, an that two North Korean hacking The key suspect in Pearl’s It was unclear which government,” Kazianis wrote in Sinopharm says its candidate infectious disease expert who groups had tried to break into slaying, Ahmed Omar Saeed company had supplied its drug an article for online outlet has been used by nearly one defected from North Korea to the network of vaccine devel- Sheikh, was sentenced to death candidate to the Kims and 19FortyFive. million people in China, although the South in 2012. opers in multiple countries, and three others were sen- whether it had proven to be Citing US medical scientist none of the firms have unveiled Mark Barry, an East Asia without specifying the com- tenced to life in prison for their safe, he added. Peter J Hotez, he said at least results of Phase 3 clinical trial of analyst and associate editor of the panies targeted. role in the plot. But a lower “Kim Jong Un and multiple three Chinese companies were their experimental COVID-19 International Journal on World The NIS said last week it had Pakistani court in April other high-ranking officials within developing a coronavirus vaccines, which are under way Peace, said Kim would prefer foiled North Korea’s attempts to acquitted him and three others, the Kim family and leadership vaccine, including Sinovac outside China. proven European vaccines to one hack into South Korean a move that stunned the US network have been vaccinated for Biotech Ltd, CanSinoBio and Hua Chunying, a Chinese supplied by Beijing. COVID-19 vaccine makers. government, Pearl’s family and journalism advocacy groups. The acquittal is now being appealed separately by the Thousands flee erupting government and Pearl’s family, a process that under Pakistani law could take years. volcanoes in Indonesia The government has opposed AP — JAKARTA Lewotolok shot out columns of Sheikh’s release, saying it hot clouds as high as 4,000 would endanger the public. He Indonesian authorities are metres into the sky. More than is to remain in custody until closely monitoring several 4,600 people were evacuated the appeals are resolved. volcanoes after sensors picked from the slopes of the mountain, Government lawyer up increased activity in recent located on Lembata island in Farooq Naek began opening weeks, prompting the evacu- East Nusa Tenggara province. arguments yesterday in the ation of thousands of people. The volcanology agency capital of Islamabad, and Hot ash tumbled as far as raised Ili Lewotolok’s alert to would continue today. 3,000 metres down the slopes the second-highest level on The case was adjourned in of Mount Semeru early yes- Sunday after sensors picked up late October for four weeks due terday, triggering panic among increased activity. The 1,423- to the absence of Naek, who was villagers, said Raditya Jati, the metre mountain has been rum- unwell, and following the National Disaster Mitigation bling since October 2017. request of Sheikh’s defence Agency spokesman. Falling ash The Transportation Ministry lawyer. and sulfur blanketed several said a flight warning was issued Sheikh had been convicted villages around its slopes. after the eruption and a local of helping lure Pearl to a The 3,676-metre mountain airport was closed as ash rained meeting in the southern Paki- in Lumajang district is the down on many areas of the stani port city of Karachi in highest volcano on Indonesia’s island. which he was kidnapped. most densely island of Java. In another part of Java Pearl had been investigating Jati said authorities are still island, authorities have evac- Residents gather at a community hall after being evacuated from Supiturang village following the the link between Pakistani trying to evacuate about 550 uated more than 1,800 people eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, in Lumajang of East Java province of Indonesia, yesterday. militants and Richard C Reid, people living on the mountain’s living on the volatile Mount dubbed the “Shoe Bomber” slopes. There were no reports Merapi volcano’s fertile slopes is about 30 kilometers (18 miles) Sumatra province are also same triggers, because the vol- after trying to blow up a flight of injuries or serious damage, since early November fol- from Yogyakarta city center. closely monitoring Mount canoes are in the same Sunda from Paris to Miami with he said. lowing an increase in volcanic About a quarter million people Sinabung after sensors picked Arc which covers the islands of explosives hidden in his shoes. Indonesia’s Volcanology activity. live within a 10km radius of the up increasing activity since Sumatra, Java, Bali, West Nusa Pearl, 38, of Encino, Cali- and Geological Hazard Miti- Local administrations in volcano. August. Villagers were advised Tenggara and East Nusa fornia, was abducted Jan. 23, gation Centre did not raise Central Java and Yogyakarta Merapi spewed ash and hot to stay five kilometes from the Tenggara. 2002. In Sheikh’s original trial, Semeru’s alert status, which provinces are closely moni- gas as high as six kilometres crater and be aware of the peril The mountains are among emails between Sheikh and already was at the third-highest toring the mountain after the into the sky in June, but no cas- of lava. more than 120 active volcanoes Pearl presented in court level since it began erupting in geological agency raised Mer- ualties were reported. Its last Mirzam Abdurrahman, a in Indonesia, which is prone to showed Sheikh gained Pearl’s May. Villagers and tourists are api’s alert to the second-highest major eruption in 2010 killed volcanologist from the Bandung seismic upheaval due to its confidence sharing their expe- advised to stay four kilometres level and people were advised 347 people and caused the Institute of Technology, said location on the Pacific “Ring of riences as both waited for the from the crater, the agency said. to stay five kilometres from the evacuation of 20,000 volcanic activity can increase Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and birth of their first child. Pearl’s Yesterday’s eruption came crater. villagers. relatively simultaneously in the fault lines around the Pacific wife Marianne Pearl gave birth two days after Mount Ili The 2,968-metre mountain Authorities in North different mountains with the Ocean. to a son, Adam, in May 2002. Papuans rally for Hong Kong TV station layoffs stoke media freedom concerns independence as REUTERS — HONG KONG “In the face of daunting Wong Lai-ping, deputy chief segment who said he was fired away at those freedoms, a group declares challenges, the group has of the station’s China News after about six months with the charge Beijing denies. A Hong Kong television station devoted to adopting various team, which covers human company, said he was sceptical The Hong Kong Journalists’ govt in exile said yesterday about 100 staff measures to explore new rights on the mainland and of the reason behind the Association said it was watching were “affected” by a shake-up business opportunities for com- reported from Wuhan province decision. “It’s definitely media the situation closely as media REUTERS — JAKARTA as it seeks to remain compet- petitiveness enhancement and on the coronavirus outbreak, censorship. It’s a pity they have already come under itive in a challenging economic sustainable development,” the told reporters she was among sacked the entire team. There pressure in the wake of a new Hundreds of Papuans held environment, a move that has station said in a statement, those laid off. Ten other aren’t many TV investigative national security law intro- rallies across at least eight cities re-ignited worries over media adding that about 100 positions members of the team had news programmes in Hong duced by Beijing on June 30. in Indonesia yesterday to freedom in China’s freest city. among the group’s 1,300 staff resigned in protest against the Kong,” Yau said. “This time the whole ‘News renew calls for independence, Local media said 40 would be affected. lay-offs, she added. The former British colony Lancet’ team of Cable News was as a separatist group declared workers had been laid off from “Under this circumstance, i-Cable journalists told returned to Chinese rule in 1997 laid off and the team has often it had established a provisional i-Cable, including the entire after a comprehensive review, Reuters the lay-offs had with the guarantee of freedoms reported against/on the police government in exile. team from the station’s award- it was unavoidable for the group prompted the heads of the sta- not enjoyed on the mainland, or the regime in the past year,” The demonstrations winning investigative section, to carry out an organisational tion’s China News, Hong Kong including freedom of speech. HKJA said in a statement. marked the anniversary of News Lancet. restructure of various depart- General News, Finance News Protesters who took to the i-Cable was founded in 1993 West Papua declaring inde- i-Cable said the restructure ments.” The pay TV station did and Editing desk to resign. streets for months last year and is now owned by David pendence from Dutch rule in “does not have anything to do not say how many had been Yau Ting-leung, 22, a jour- complain that Communist Party Chiu, chairman and CEO of Far 1961, which was followed by with media censorship”. sacked. nalist from the News Lancet rulers in Beijing are whittling East Consortium. a contentious UN-sanctioned referendum in 1969 that brought Papua under Indo- nesian control. Jakarta governor contracts Among more than 100 stu- dents who marched in the COVID-19 as cases spike capital Jakarta, Papuan Roland Levy said the date remained REUTERS — JAKARTA to the city’s website. Indonesia, significant decades on. a country of 270 million people, “My goal in joining the Anies Baswedan, the governor has posted three days of rally today is to commemorate of the Indonesian capital record-high case numbers in 59 years of the proclamation Jakarta, said yesterday he had the past week. of independence of the West tested positive for COVID-19, With more than 530,000 Papuan nation that was as the world’s fourth most infections and nearly 17,000 annexed by Indonesia,” he populous country struggles to deaths, the country has the said, as demonstrators waved contain a spike in the number highest tallies in Southeast Asia, banners calling for the right to of infections. though some health experts say self-determination. The 51-year-old governor limited testing and contact Some Papuans regard the of Southeast Asia’s biggest city tracing is masking a far higher 1969 plebiscite as unfair and is among a number of politi- caseload. say intimidation was used to cians and officials to contract Jakarta, a bustling meg- influence the outcome, which the virus. Indonesia’s transpor- acity, has also recorded new Jakarta has rejected. tation and religious affairs min- record highs in infections over The protests coincided isters have previously been the past month, with an with a declaration from the treated for the virus. average of around 1,240 cases United Liberation Movement In a video posted on his per day in the past week. Unlike for West Papua that a provi- Instagram account, the gov- some neighbouring countries, sional “government-in- ernor said he was currently Indonesia has not brought in waiting” had been formed, led asymptomatic and would self- strict national lockdowns but by exiled independence figure, isolate. “I would like to remind opted for local curbs. Benny Wenda. everyone that COVID is still Since October, Jakarta’s Britain-based Wenda said Polio vaccination drive around and can come to governor has relaxed curbs to the group would push for anyone,” he said. reinstate “large-scale social independence and no longer A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a polio vaccination door-to-door His deputy, Ahmad Riza restrictions,” which means malls “bow down to Jakarta’s illegal campaign in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, yesterday. Patria, also tested positive to and restaurants can operate martial rule”. the virus on Sunday, according though with shorter hours. 12 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Johnson urges MPs to back regional COVID-19 curbs

REUTERS — LONDON it is still a restriction of social and commercial freedoms pre- British Prime Minister Boris More than 40% of viously unheard of outside Johnson urged lawmakers to people in England will wartime. support his new system of be subject to the Shops and schools will stay regional coronavirus restric- toughest tier of open in all tiers, but in the top tions yesterday, arguing in the tier pubs and restaurants will face of criticism from his party restrictions on their be closed except for takeaway that the system was needed to daily life from today, services. keep the virus under control. when the government Travelling to or from top tier More than 40% of people in shifts to a region-by- regions is not allowed and England will be subject to the mixing indoors with other toughest tier of restrictions on region approach after a households is banned in the top their daily life from today, when month of national two tiers. The government esti- the government shifts to a lockdown. mates 23 million people will be region-by-region approach in the toughest tier and 32 after a month of national million in the middle tier - lockdown, with just 1% in the together accounting for just lowest band. many as 80 of the 364 elected under 99% of England’s “With the spread of the epi- Conservatives already criti- population. demic varying across the cising the plan as draconian, Scotland, Wales and country, there remains a com- badly implemented or based on Northern Ireland all implement pelling... case for regional tiers insufficient evidence. their own restrictions set by in England,” Johnson told par- The measures were to be their devolved governments. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks ahead of a vote on government proposals for stricter liament, batting away criticism approved by a vote in par- Johnson responded to COVID-19 tiers across England, in a hybrid, socially distanced session at the House of Commons in from several unhappy liament later yesterday despite members of his party who lawmakers. the anticipated rebellion raised complaints about the London, yesterday. “All we need to do now is to because the main opposition allocation of their regions into hold our nerve until these vac- Labour Party has chosen to tiers by acknowledging the dif- ground,” he said. The rebellion — due at a Last month Johnson sought cines are indeed in our grasp abstain rather than vote against ficulty they would cause and He also announced a vote around 1900 GMT — will to reset his relationship with and indeed being injected into the government. promising decisions would be one-off payment of 1,000 underscore how Johnson’s han- rank and file Conservative law- our arms... let’s work together The new system dictates reviewed every two weeks. pounds ($1,335) to clubs that dling of the pandemic has makers, replacing his most to control the virus.” what citizens can and can’t do “The government will look would be unable to reopen weakened his grip on the ruling senior adviser Dominic Cum- The tiered system has and, while it is less strict than at how we can reflect as under the new rules, seeking to Conservatives since they mings — whom many Conserv- ignited a rebellion in Johnson’s the two nationwide lockdowns closely as possible the reality address one of the most acutely secured a landslide election win atives distrusted — with a more Conservative Party, with as England has endured this year, of what is happening on the affected industries. a year ago. conventional appointment. Germany bans EU regulator to decide on Pfizer vaccine on December 29 far-right ‘Wolf AP — BERLIN vaccine, currently named BioNTech and Pfizer have doses of potential COVID-19 urged EU citizens to remain “dis- The European Medicines Agency BNT162b2, is approved, its use already submitted a request for vaccines have been secured for ciplined till we have reached Brigade 44’ will convene a meeting on in Europe could begin before the emergency approval with the US the bloc’s 27 nations, with the finally a vaccination that is December 29 to decide if there end of 2020. The companies said Food and Drug Administration first deliveries likely to start appropriate to eradicate this REUTERS — BERLIN is enough data about the safety last month that clinical trials and the UK regulator MHRA, as before the end of the year. virus.” and efficacy of the COVID-19 with 44,000 participants well as rolling submissions in EU Commission President Germany’s science minister Police found a crossbow, vaccine developed by Pfizer and showed the vaccine is 95% other countries including in Aus- Ursula von der Leyen said EU said Tuesday that the same machete, knives and Nazi BioNTech for it to be approved, effective. The efficacy rate in tralia, Canada and Japan. nations have started working on safety standards are being symbols in early-morning raids the regulator said yesterday. particularly vulnerable older age “We have known since the their vaccination plans and on the applied in the approval process yesterday after banning a far- The agency also said yes- groups was more than 94%, they beginning of this journey that logistics for delivering tens of mil- for coronavirus vaccines as for right extremist group called terday it could decide as early as said. patients are waiting, and we lions of doses across the bloc, a other drugs and that this would “Wolf Brigade 44” which the January 12 whether to approve In a statement, the EU med- stand ready to ship COVID-19 major challenge for the EU. be key to gaining the widest pos- government says wants a Nazi a rival COVID-19 vaccine icines regulator said it had vaccine doses as soon as “If everything goes well, the sible public acceptance for state. developed by Moderna Inc. already begun a “rolling review” potential authorizations will first European citizens might COVID immunisation. Swastikas were among the The German pharmaceutical of the Moderna vaccine based allow us,” Pfizer’s chief executive already be vaccinated before the Anja Karliczek cited the fact Nazi symbols uncovered in company BioNTech and its US on laboratory data previously Albert Bourla said in a statement. end of December,” Von der that Europan regulators plan to searches of the homes of 11 partner Pfizer said earlier yes- submitted by the company and BioNTech said it stands Leyen said. hold a public hearing on Dec. 11 members of the group in the terday that they had asked the would now assess data on how ready to ship stockpiles of vac- “And it will be a huge step about the approval request by states of Hesse, Mecklenburg- regulator for speeded-up, con- well that vaccine triggers an cines where they are needed forward toward our normal life. BioNTech and Pfizer. Vorpommern and North Rhine- ditional approval of their coro- immune response and whether when the Amsterdam-based In other words, I just wanted to Speaking to reporters in Westphalia in the early hours of navirus vaccine, concluding the it is safe enough for broad use agency or the FDA approve the say there is a light at the end of Berlin, Karliczek stressed that yesterday, the interior ministry rolling review process they ini- across Europe. vaccine. the tunnel.” the vaccine will be voluntary and said in a statement. tiated with the agency on The agency said that “if the “Depending on how the The Commission, the EU’s that authorities will work hard “There is no place in our October 6. data are robust enough to con- authorities decide we can start executive arm, has secured deals to inform the public about pos- country for a group that sows The move comes a day after clude on quality, safety and delivering within a few hours,” allowing to purchase doses with sible side effects that a small per- hate and propagates the re- rival Moderna said it was asking effectiveness,” then it could said BioNTech’s chief operating Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sanofi- centage of recipients might establishment of a Nazi state,” US and European regulators to approve the Moderna vaccine at officer, Sierk Poetting. GSK, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, experience after immunization, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer allow the use of its COVID-19 a meeting scheduled for January The European Union’s top BioNTech-Pfizer and CureVac. such as headaches, exhaustion said. Members of the “Wolf vaccine. BioNTech said if the 12. official said around 2 billion Von der Leyen however and fever. Brigade” openly pledge alle- giance to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and seek to end the dem- ocratic state, while propagating racism and anti-Semitism, the Madrid opens huge new ministry said. The government also hospital for virus patients banned the symbols of the group, such as a skull with two grenades marked with the AFP — MADRID work there, but has not said number 44. In Nazi code, the whether it intends to contract four stands for the letter D as Madrid yesterday inaugurated more. The hospital “is adapted the fourth letter in the alphabet, a huge, controversial new to suit any situation we might the number 44 being an abbre- hospital built in just three go through” said Diaz Ayuso, viation for the so-called months and capable of treating indicating its intensive care “Division Dirlewanger”. This more than 1,000 patients unit would be “the most alludes to a unit of the Nazi’s during a health emergency. advanced in Madrid”. paramilitary SS during World The Isabel Zendal complex, Set to open in stages, Isabel War Two that was particularly which covers 80,000 square Zendal will be mainly used to brutal and bore the name of metres cost nearly 100 million reduce pressure on other hos- Oskar Dirlewanger, who is euros ($120m). pitals so they can gradually accused of ordering massacres Its purpose is to ease recover non-COVID-19 activity, against civilians in Belarus in the pressure on hospitals in the from waiting lists to surgeries 1940s. Madrid region, which has suf- and medical care consultations, fered one of the most deadly the region said last week. outbreaks of the novel But the hospital’s con- 76 nuns test coronavirus. struction has sparked oppo- Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the con- sition, with dozens of healthcare positive for virus Health workers protest during the inauguration of the Enfermera Isabel Zendal new hospital in Madrid, servative leader of Madrid’s professionals demonstrating Spain, yesterday. regional government who outside the new building to crit- in Germany kicked off the project, attended icise a project they say is the opening of the vast complex “useless” at a cost that came in The money used to build pointedly referring to the exhibition centre to cope with AP — BERLIN near Barajas airport on the twice the initial budget. Isabel Zendal could have been absence from the opening of soaring patient numbers. city’s eastern flanks. “They’re inaugurating a funnelled into resources that Salvador Illa, health minister Spain has been badly hit by Seventy-six Catholic nuns have Wires could be seen dan- hospital which we see as were “really necessary like in Spain’s leftwing the pandemic, so far counting tested positive for COVID-19 gling from the ceiling of the unnecessary. There are unused contact tracers, personnel or government. more than 1.6 million cases and after an outbreak at a Fran- still-empty hospital, with the beds in other hospitals,” said material,” she added. The Madrid region’s hos- losing over 45,000 lives. ciscan convent in northwestern first patients expected to arrive Olga Álvarez, a lab technician “A public hospital can’t be pitals were overwhelmed Of those figures, one in four Germany, church authorities next week. at the city’s Gregorio Maranon bad news for anyone, except during the first wave, deaths occurred in the Madrid said yesterday. So far, the region has hospital and member of the for those with a political prompting the military to set region as well as just over a fifth Another 85 nuns received recruited 116 medical staff to MATS health workers union. agenda,” remarked Diaz Ayuso, up a vast field hospital in an of all infections. negative test results at the mon- astery in Thuine, not far from the Dutch border, the convent’s Mother Superior said. French authorities evacuate obese man trapped in his home “We are grateful that so far nobody is in the hospital,” Sister AFP — PERPIGNAN in central Perpignan “in all like- complaint alleging “failure to exterior wall on the upper floor, decompensation and vein throm- Maria Cordis Reiker said. lihood after breaking his leg,” his assist a person in danger.” according to journalists at the bosis,” said Antoine Avignon, Local health authorities put Around 50 police, rescue workers lawyer Jean Codognes said. “This is a high-risk oper- scene. Panabiere was then fitted head of endocrinology, diabetes the entire monastery under and doctors mobilised in He had been fed by his ation,” Codognes said, as police with an IV drip and carefully and nutrition at the nearby hos- quarantine late last week after southern France yesterday to brother but his condition dete- cordoned off the narrow street carried to a metal storage box pital in Montpellier. the first cases of virus were dis- remove an obese man who was riorated rapidly, and in late as the rescue got underway at suspended from a crane outside, “You’re reviving a cardio- covered there. Overall in no longer able to raise himself October the lawyer wrote to Panabiere’s two-storey home. so he could be lowered while vascular system that has been at Germany, 13,604 more people from the floor of his bedroom, French Interior Minister Gerald Police said neighbours were lying down to a waiting rest for a long time,” he said. tested positive over the last 24 and too big to be carried out Darmanin pleading for an emer- also asked to leave their homes ambulance. Panabiere will be treated in hours and 388 others died of through the door or down the gency rescue. A few days later, in case of accident. “When you get a person the city of Montpellier before COVID-19, the country’s stairs. Panabiere, who weighs some Having reinforced the build- moving again after they’ve been being transferred to a rehabili- national disease control center, Alain Panabiere, 53, had been 300kg, and France’s Anti- ing’s structural stability, workers immobilised for two to five tation centre in a few weeks, the Robert Koch Institute, stranded for months at his home Obesity League also filed a legal cut open a passage through an years, there’s a risk of cardiac Avignon said. reported. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 EUROPE 13 Belarus oppn to Mother arrested for locking up her son for 28 years AFP — STOCKHOLM compile ‘book of A mother in Sweden has been arrested on suspicion of locking her son inside their apartment for 28 years, leaving him under- crimes’, abuses nourished and with almost no teeth, police and media reports said yesterday. AP — KIEV “Impunity will not “The mother is suspected of last forever. No illegal deprivation of liberty and Belarus’ opposition will causing bodily harm,” compile a register of law one will be able to Stockholm police spokesman enforcement officers accused deprive hundreds of Ola Osterling said. of abuses against peaceful He said the man had been demonstrators protesting the thousands of people “locked up for a very long time” reelection of the country’s who are striving for in the apartment in a southern authoritarian leader, an oppo- justice from speaking Stockholm suburb, but would sition leader said yesterday. not comment on reports in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, out,” said Sviatlana dailies Expressen and Afton- the main opposition challenger Tsikhanouskaya. bladet that he had been held for in Belarus’ August presidential 28 years. vote, said in a video call from According to the reports, the Vilnius, Lithuania, that the stun grenades, tear gas and mother had pulled her son out “book of crimes” will include truncheons to disperse pro- of school when he was 12 and accounts of police abuse that testers. Thousands of people kept him locked inside the will be verified by independent have been detained - and many apartment since then. lawyers. of them badly beaten - since An unnamed relative found “Impunity will not last the protests began, human the now 41-year-old man on Police technicians enter an apartment house yesterday in Haninge, south of Stockholm, a day after forever,” said Tsikhanouskaya, rights advocates say. Sunday after the mother, in her a man in his 40s who was kept locked by his mother was found there. who was pressured by Bela- The rallies, the biggest of 70s, had been taken to hospital, rusian authorities to leave for which drew up to 200,000, Expressen reported. yesterday, and crime scene through the hallways. alleged actions. neighboring Lithuania after the have continued despite the The man had infected sores technicians were seen leaving “No one could have cleaned “She stole his life from him vote. “No one will be able to increasingly tough police on his legs, could barely walk, the scene around midday, an that home for many years.” and manipulated the people deprive hundreds of thousands response. had almost no teeth and limited AFP photographer said. “I’m in shock, broken- around her in order to keep her of people who are striving for The United States and the speech ability, the reports said. The apartment is located in hearted, but at the same time secret,” the relative said. “I’m justice from speaking out.” European Union have intro- Osterling would not a non-descript grey and yellow relieved. I’ve been waiting for just thankful that he got help Belarus has been swept by duced sanctions against Bela- comment on those details, low-rise building in the working this day for 20 years because I and is going to survive.” mass protests that were trig- rusian officials accused of saying only: “The man is in hos- class suburb of Handen in figured out that she was totally One unidentified neighbour, gered by President Alexander involvement in vote-rigging pital. His injuries are not Haninge municipality. controlling his life, but I never who lived in the same building, Lukashenko’s reelection to a and the post-election life-threatening.” The unidentified relative imagined the extent of it,” she told Aftonbladet that she ran sixth term in office by a land- crackdown. The mother has denied the who found the man said the said. “I knew he was there and into the man at a nearby slide in the Aug. 9 election that Tsikhanouskaya said that crimes, the Swedish Prose- apartment looked like it had not that he must be scared because grocery store a few months ago. the opposition said was riddled the opposition will use the reg- cution Authority said. been cleaned in years. his mother was his only sense “I know who you are, you’re with fraud. ister of law enforcement Doctors at the hospital had “There was urine, dirt and of security and now she was my neighbour,” the man had Police have cracked down officers accused of abuses to alerted police to the case. dust. It smelled rotten,” she said, gone”. told her, recognising her after hard on the largely peaceful push for Western sanctions Police tape was stretched adding that she had to wade There was no immediate having seen her through the demonstrations, using against them. across the apartment’s door through piles of junk to get explanation for the mother’s window, she said.

Hungary summons UN: Pandemic to fan surge in humanitarian needs in 2021 Ukraine envoy AP — GENEVA other problems could get worse vulnerable countries on the including US President-elect Joe disproportionately hard by even if hopes of a vaccine are planet,” said UN humanitarian Biden’s new administration. rising food prices, falling over raids on The UN humanitarian office rising. chief Mark Lowcock, who heads The UN aims to reach about incomes, interrupted vacci- ethnic organisation says needs for assistance have OCHA made the projections OCHA. two-thirds of those in need, nation programs and school ballooned to unprecedented in its latest annual Global “For the first time since the with the Red Cross and other closures.” REUTERS — BUDAPEST levels this year because of Humanitarian Overview yes- 1990s, extreme poverty is going humanitarian organizations The overview, which is COVID-19, projecting that a terday, saying its hopes to reach to increase, life expectancy will trying to meet the rest, Lowcock billed as one of the most com- Hungary summoned the staggering 235 million people 160 million of those people in fall, the annual death toll from explained. prehensive looks of the world’s Ukrainian ambassador and will require help in 2021. need will cost $35bn. That’s HIV, tuberculosis and malaria UN Secretary-General humanitarian needs, has put accused its neighbour of intim- This comes as a result of the more than twice the record is set to double,” he said. “We Antonio Guterres said human- together nearly three dozen idation on Monday after coronavirus pandemic and $17bn that donors have pro- fear a near doubling in the itarian aid budgets are now individual response plans for a Ukraine’s state security service global challenges including vided for the international number of people facing facing dire shortfalls as the total of 56 “vulnerable” (SBU) raided offices of ethnic conflicts, forced migration and humanitarian response so far starvation.” impact of the COVID-19 pan- countries. Hungarians, Hungarian Foreign the impact of global warming. this year — and a target figure Lowcock told a UN briefing demic continues to worsen, and Lowcock said it’s not the Minister Peter Szijjarto said. The UN Office for the Coor- that is almost certain to go in New York on the overview said extreme poverty has risen pandemic, but its economic The two countries have dination of Humanitarian unmet. that he thinks the UN appeal for the first time in more than a impact that’s having the greatest repeatedly clashed in recent Affairs, or OCHA, expects a 40 “The picture we’re painting will probably raise a record generation. effect on humanitarian needs. years over what Hungary said percent increase in the number this year is the bleakest and $20bn by the end of the year — “The lives of people in every “These all hit the poorest people were curbs on the rights of of people in need of such darkest perspective on human- $2bn more than last year. But nation and corner of the world in the poorest countries hardest around 150,000 ethnic Hun- assistance in 2021 compared to itarian needs we’ve ever set out, he said the gap between needs have been upended by the of all. For the poorest, the garians living in Ukraine to use this year — a sign that pain, suf- and that’s because the pan- and funding is growing and the impact of the pandemic,” he hangover from the pandemic their native tongue, especially fering and torment brought by demic has reaped carnage UN is looking to “new players” said. “Those already living on a will be long and hard,” he in education, after Ukraine the coronavirus outbreak and across the most fragile and coming on the scene in 2021, knife’s edge are being hit added. passed a law in 2017 restricting the use of minority languages in schools. Last month Ukraine barred Rights court faults Russia over entry of two Hungarian gov- ernment officials over what it physicist’s spying conviction called meddling in local elec- tions, an accusation Hungary AFP — STRASBOURG involve any classified denied. information. The Hungarian Cultural The European Court of Human Despite being initially Association in Transcarpathia Rights said yesterday that cleared of the charges by a jury, said in a statement that forces Russian authorities denied a top Russia’s Supreme Court of Ukraine’s security service had physicist a fair trial ahead of his rejected the verdict and raided their headquarters and 2004 conviction on claims of another court later sentenced the home of their chairman, passing state secrets to China, Danilov to 13 years in prison. searching for evidence of “activ- which saw him imprisoned in Danilov, now 72, vowed to ities aimed at violently changing Siberia for eight years. clear his name when he was the borders.” They said the Accused of spying for China released early in 2012. house searches were related to as well as embezzlement, Val- In his appeal to the an earlier court case. entin Danilov was arrested in European court based in Stras- The Association called on 2001, shortly after former KGB bourg, he said he was not Ukrainian authorities to end agent Vladimir Putin ascended allowed to cross-examine what it called a “witch hunt.” to the presidency for the first experts whose testimony Szijjarto said Hungary had time. helped secure his conviction, protested against the raids at The case revived fears of nor to present his own experts Ukraine’s foreign ministry and the Soviet-era terror and the for his defence. added he would also raise the authorities’ paranoid hunts for He also claimed potential issue at a meeting of Nato traitors among academics and bias on the jury, since four of foreign ministers. others with potential links to the twelve members had state “It is unacceptable that Pedestrians walk near a skating rink past signs requesting to wear protective face masks and to keep foreigners. security clearance. while a country ... wants to be a social distance amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, as heavy fog covers a square, in Stavropol, At the time, Danilov was The ECHR sided with part of the transatlantic com- Russia, yesterday. director of the thermo-physics Danilov on both claims, saying munity, it continuously intim- centre at Krasnoyarsk State the Russian court “had idates and puts pressure on a University, and claimed his infringed his fair-trial rights.” minority belonging to a Nato Russia sees shortage of drugs to fight virus shared work with a Chinese Russia was ordered to pay member,” Szijjarto said in a engineering firm did not Danilov $25,200 in damages. video statement. REUTERS – MOSCOW basis for treatment. head of consumer health During a meeting with watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said Russia is trying to import senior government officials the growth of the disease was foreign-made drugs to fight the yesterday, Murashko said there slowing. Ukraine aims for closer ties with Nato COVID-19 pandemic due to a was a problem with the supply However, Prime Minister shortage of products at home, of favipiravir in some regions. Mikhail Mishustin said the sit- AFP — KIEV becoming a part of the Western with Nato and last year par- Health Minister Mikhail “Supply volumes of anti- uation remained quite tense in military alliance. liament adopted constitutional Murashko said yesterday, as clotting agents have increased. many of Russia’s more than 80 Ukraine said yesterday it hopes “We look forward to your... changes spelling out its aspira- authorities reported a record But we still see that a shortage regions. to build closer ties with Nato in support for such a decision at tions to join the alliance and the 569 new daily deaths from the for the network remains, and In 17 regions, hospital bed 2021 despite objections from the next Nato Summit in 2021,” European Union. coronavirus. so we are working with the capacity was less than 5 Moscow and the continued Taran said, adding that mem- The amendments cemented Russia has several vaccines trade and industry ministry on percent, said Murashko, with conflict with Russia-backed bership for Ukraine and fellow Kiev’s goal of obtaining full against the virus in the works additional deliveries from Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad separatists in the east. ex-Soviet aspirant Georgia membership in both blocs and and produces some drugs abroad,” he said. and St Petersburg presenting Speaking to Nato ambas- would have “a significant obliged the president, gov- domestically, including Coro- New daily infection numbers, the greatest cause for concern. sadors in Kiev, Defence Min- impact on Euro-Atlantic ernment and parliament to navir and Avifavir, both of which stood at 26,402 yesterday, Russia has resisted ister Andriy Taran said Ukraine security and stability, in par- stick to this course. which are based on favipiravir, have been gradually decreasing imposing lockdowns during the hopes to be invited next year to ticular in the Black Sea region”. Kiev sees Nato accession as which was developed in Japan since hitting a record high on second wave of the virus, pre- join a Membership Action Plan, Ukraine’s pro-Western a key way to bolster its defences and is widely used there as the November 27. Anna Popova, ferring targeted curbs. the first formal step towards leadership closely cooperates against Moscow. 14 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 Chile: Guaido rightful leader of Venezuela despite assembly vote REUTERS — BRUSSELS Maduro has said he is bound by Venezuela’s constitution to Juan Guaido will still be Vene- Juan Guaido, recognised hold the vote on December 6, zuela’s legitimate head of state by several countries to a date the EU has said is too even if he loses his seat as head be the rightful leader, rushed to allow for interna- of the country’s parliament on may lose his post of tional observers and ensure it Sunday, Chile’s foreign minister national assembly head is free and fair. said yesterday, saying the Like the United States, most December 6 vote for a new in December 6 polls. of Latin American and the EU assembly lacked any credibility. want a new presidential Opposition leader Guaido election to reverse Venezuela’s is recognised by dozens of “We assign no legitimacy to spiral into authoritarian rule countries, including the United the elections next Sunday,” and economic collapse. States and most of the European Chile’s Foreign Minister Andres Allamand called on Union (EU), as the nation’s Allamand told reporters during European, North American and rightful leader following the a visit to Brussels, where he met Latin American governments disputed 2018 re-election of EU lawmakers and diplomats. who have led different diplo- President Nicolas Maduro. “We continue to work matic initiatives to come But his institutional under the premise that the together, denounce Sunday’s standing rests on his post as legitimate authority that exists vote results and find a path to head of the national assembly, in Venezuela is Guaido,” said free presidential elections in Brazil-Paraguay diplomacy which he is almost certain to Allamand, whose country gave Venezuela. Some 4.5 million Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez (third left) and his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro lose from January as Maduro protection to another Vene- refugees and migrants have fled (centre) wave as they pose for pictures at the construction site of the international bridge linking seeks to take control of the zuelan opposition politician, Venezuela since 2015, opposition-held assembly in a Leopoldo Lopez, in 2019 at its according to official figures, but Foz do Iguacu in Brazil and Presidente Franco in Paraguay, yesterday. Abdo Benitez and Bolsonaro vote that many countries diplomatic residence in the real figure is higher, the met at the border to observe the progress of the construction of the international bridge over the believe will be rigged. Caracas. United Nations has said. Parana River, among addressing other bilateral issues. Armed bandits invade city in southern Brazil, loot bank WHO: Rising virus trend in AP — RIO DE JANEIRO reinforcements from place in July in the city of responding swiftly. Botucatu, in Sao Paulo state. Mexico ‘very Dozens of criminals armed with “It was an unprecedented There, around 30 armed men assault rifles invaded a city in action for the state. There was blew up a bank branch, took worrisome’ southern Brazil overnight and never anything with this scope, residents hostage and took control of the streets as this violence,” Cruz said exchanged gunfire with police REUTERS — GENEVA they assaulted a local bank. yesterday. officers before making their Video from residents that The takeover began around getaway. The head of the World Health was broadcast on the Globo tel- midnight and lasted roughly Criciuma’s Mayor Clésio Organization said on Monday evision network showed two hours. Images on Globo Salvaro took to Twitter last that Mexico is in “bad shape” hooded men dressed in black showed a bank vault with a night while the terror was still regarding the coronavirus as walking the streets of Criciúma square-shaped hole in it and a unfolding to warn locals of the infections and deaths surge, in the state of Santa Catarina, convoy of criminals’ vehicles as “robbery of great proportions, while the Mexican government and locals being held hostage. they made their escape. Bills by very well-prepared thieves.” forecast the pandemic would Shots rang out across the city of were scattered across the “As mayor of Criciúma, I ask likely continue worsening until some 220,000 people. ground in one area of the city. that you stay home, don’t leave January. There were at least 30 crim- Police later located the home, exercise all precaution,” Mexico’s coronavirus Police officers carry recovered bags with money, after a gang inals in 10 cars, Anselmo Cruz, attackers’ vehicles in a neigh- Salvaro said in a video he death tally, the fourth highest robbed a bank in Criciuma, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, yesterday. the head of the state police’s bouring municipality, Cruz said. posted just before 2 am local in the world, stands at almost robbery and kidnapping State-run Bank of Brazil time. 106,000. Confirmed cases are department, told television said in an emailed statement regarding the amount of money local media reports the branch “Tell your friends and fam- in excess of 1.1 million, though network Globo News. They that its branch in Criciuma will taken. was a regional treasury. ilies. Let the police do their job.” public health experts say the blocked access points to the city remain closed, and that it It didn’t respond to a The brazen robbery Two injuries were reported true figure is likely signifi- to prevent police doesn’t provide information request for comment about resembles another that took during the robbery. cantly higher. “The number of increase in cases and deaths in Mexico Outrage in Haiti is very worrisome,” WHO’s Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon surges again director-general, Tedros over spike in Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a AFP — SAO PAULO press briefing in Geneva. Citing kidnappings the increase in the number of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon weekly deaths from 2,000 the AFP — PORT-AU-PRINCE surged again over the past year, hitting a week of October 12 to around 12-year high, according to official figures 4,000 by November 23, “This Staff at multiple Haitian released on Monday that drew a chorus of shows Mexico is in bad shape,” healthcare facilities went on condemnation of President Jair Bolsonaro’s he said. At least seven of strike on Monday to protest the government. Mexico City’s 54 public hos- kidnapping of an intern, part A total of 11,088 square kilometres pitals treating COVID-19 of widespread public outrage (4,281 square miles) of forest was patients are at full occupancy at a recent increase in abduc- destroyed in Brazil’s share of the world’s for coronavirus beds with res- tions on the island. biggest rainforest in the 12 months to pirators, according to a report Hans David Telemaque August, according to the Brazilian space by the United Nations Office was kidnapped early Saturday agency’s PRODES monitoring programme, for the Coordination of morning in a street near the which analyses satellite images to track Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). State University of Haiti Hos- deforestation. The OCHA said another 14 pital (HUEH), in Port-au- That is equivalent to an area larger health centers risk being Prince. He was freed Sunday than Jamaica, and was a 9.5-percent stretched, with COVID-19 bed evening following a ransom increase from the previous year, when occupancies exceeding 70%. An aerial view of a deforested area close to Sinop, Brazil, on August 07, 2020. payment of an unknown deforestation also hit a more than decade- It noted that Mexico’s Health amount, local media reported. long high. Ministry reported 63% of all “When you leave your “Because of such deforestation, Brazil deforestation and wildfires since taking Mazzetti said in a statement. general hospital beds for home, you have doubts about is probably the only major greenhouse gas office in January 2019. Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who COVID-19 patients in the whether you’re going to return. emitter that managed to increase its emis- His government is pushing to open pro- presented the figures in a press conference, capital are occupied. Mothers, fathers, spouses, sions in the year the coronavirus pandemic tected lands to mining and agribusiness, defended the government’s committment “When both indicators, parents... We all live in daily paralysed the global economy,” said the and has slashed funding for environmental to fighting deforestation. deaths and cases, increase I and constant anxiety,” said Brazilian Climate Observatory, a coalition protection programmes. “The message I bring in the name of think this is a very serious Bead Charlemagne Charlorin, of environmental groups. Environmentalists say those policies President Bolsonaro is that we will con- problem and we would like to an HUEH intern who joined Forests such as the Amazon play a vital fuel the destruction of the Amazon, about tinue working with science and technology ask Mexico to be very serious,” the protests on Monday in the role in controlling climate change because 60 percent of which is in Brazil. to support the work of environmental pro- said Tedros. Speaking later at streets of Port-au-Prince. they suck carbon from the atmosphere. “The Bolsonaro government’s vision of tection agencies,” said Mourao, a retired an evening news conference, In solidarity with the dem- However, when trees die or burn, they development for the Amazon is a throwback army general who heads Bolsonaro’s Mexico’s deputy health min- onstration by interns at the release their carbon back into the to the rampant deforestation of the past. Amazon task force. The latest annual defor- ister, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said island nation’s main hospital, environment. It’s a regressive vision that’s far from the estation figure was the highest since 2008, he had “great respect” for multiple healthcare facilities Bolsonaro, a far-right climate-change effort needed to deal with the climate when 12,911 square kilometers of forest Tedros and that he did not suspended all non-urgent care sceptic, has presided over rising crisis,” Greenpeace spokeswoman Cristiane were destroyed in the Brazilian Amazon. have to answer him. activities Monday. “Every day, at least four cases of kidnapping followed by demands for ransom are Guatemalans block roads recorded. Some parents, they’re very rare, talk about it. in anti-government protest The majority are content to pay the ransom for their child, AFP — GUATEMALA CITY He said Monday’s demon- for their relative, to get them stration was supported by 83 back,” said Marie Rosy August Thousands of indigenous communities in Guatemala’s Ducena, of the National Mayans blocked a major western Solola department — an Human Rights Network. highway in western Guatemala area with a population of around Furthermore, residents of on Monday, the latest in a series half a million — “to let the the Haitian capital share an of protests calling for the resig- central government and the dep- atmosphere of panic as nation of President Alejandro uties know that the actions they members of the police force Giammattei. have taken lately with the 2021 have been accused of being The ruling party-dominated budget leave much to be involved in acts of kidnapping. Congress was forced to desired.” “Several victims have actually withdraw a controversial Shopping centres and stores said they were approached by business-friendly budget last in the departmental capital police officers, abducted in week amid opposition claims it Solola were shut in solidarity Haitian national police favoured private business with the protesters, he said. vehicles,” Ducena said. interests over badly needed Only pharmacies remained “We believe it is up to the health and education funding. open. inspector general of the The impoverished Central Juan Carlos Aquino, national police to intervene, American country’s Congress spokesman for the state roads investigate and punish all needed “to act in accordance authority, said four sections of police officers who are with the needs of the country,” the Pan-American Highway had University students walk in front of a line of police guarding a bus placed by demonstrators to block involved at one level or Santiago Cux, one of the leaders been blocked by indigenous another in the perpetration of a street during a protest demanding the resignation of Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei, of the protest, told a local radio groups, using rocks and heavy these acts,” she said. outside the Congress in Guatemala City, on Monday. station. vehicles. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 AMERICAS 15 Biden rolls out economy team, says ‘help is on the way’

AP — WILMINGTON black walking boot and moved Most of his choices will gingerly but tried to keep things President-elect Joe Biden require confirmation light. As he emerged from his yesterday introduced top from the deeply divided motorcade, Biden pointed to his advisers he says will help his boot and lifted his leg briefly to administration rebuild an Senate, where some top show it off. Asked about his foot economy hammered by the Republicans have by reporters, Biden responded coronavirus pandemic, already begun voicing only, "Good, thanks for asking.” declaring, "I know times are opposition. Biden repeatedly evoked his tough but I want you to know work as vice president when the that help is on the way.” Obama administration oversaw Biden said he'd chosen a the economic recovery fol- "first rate team” that is "tested inequality. "From the most lowing the 2008 financial crisis and experienced" to tackle "this unequal economic and job crisis and subsequent Great ongoing economic crisis.” in modern history, we can build Recession, noting that many of He picked liberal advisers a new American economy that those on his newly-formed eco- who have long prioritised the works for all Americans, not just nomic team worked closely nation’s workers and gov- some,” Biden said as he intro- with him then. ernment efforts to address eco- duced his choices for some of Most of his choices will US President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event to name his economic team at the Queen nomic inequality, as unem- the government's top economic require confirmation from the Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, yesterday. ployment remains high and as posts during a speech at a deeply divided Senate, where the COVID-19 outbreak widens theatre in Wilmington, Del- some top Republicans have the gulf between average aware, where he has led his already begun voicing oppo- when she placed a greater of the council. your struggles, your hopes, your people and the nation’s most transition to the presidency. sition. Biden said he hopes "that emphasis than previous Fed Yellen called the economic dignity and your limitless well off. Yesterday also marked we will be able to work across chairs on maximising havoc the pandemic has potential.” As he did frequently while Biden's first appearance since the aisle in good faith, move employment and less focus on wrought "an American tragedy.” Yellen, if confirmed by the campaigning, Biden promised breaking two small bones in his forward as one country.” price inflation. Biden also "To the American people: Senate, would be the first that the US would eventually right foot while playing with Janet Yellen, Biden’s named Cecilia Rouse as chair We will be an institution that woman to serve as treasury sec- emerge with an economy that one of his dogs over the nominee for treasury secretary, of his Council of Economic wakes up every morning retary, after breaking ground as was dramatically remade to weekend. served as chair of the Federal Advisers, and Heather Boushey thinking about you,” Yellen said the first woman to chair the Fed. better stamp out economic The president-elect wore a Reserve from 2014 to 2018, and Jared Bernstein as members "your jobs, your paychecks, Canada: US Trump files lawsuit challenging Wisconsin election results border measures AP — MADISON lower court, and order Evers to any ballots cast in conservative Ward’s lawsuit that seeks to seeks to discard 170,140 withdraw the certification. counties he won. annul Biden’s victory in the absentee ballots where there to last until virus President Donald Trump filed The state’s highest court, Evers’ spokeswoman Britt state. A judge is letting Ward’s was not a written application a lawsuit yesterday in controlled 4-3 by conservatives, Cudaback referred to comments lawyers and experts compare on file and all absentee ballots is under control Wisconsin seeking to disqualify also is considering whether to Evers made on Monday that the the signatures on 100 mail-in cast in person during the two more than 221,000 ballots in hear two other lawsuits filed by election was “safe, fair, and effi- ballot envelopes with signatures weeks before Election Day. AP — TORONTO the state’s two most Democratic conservatives seeking to inval- cient.” “The people of Wisconsin on file to determine whether People who vote in person counties, a longshot attempt to idate ballots cast during the deserve election processes with there were any irregularities. early fill out a certification Canadian Prime Minister Justin overturn Joe Biden’s win in the presidential election. uniform enforcement of the Democratic Secretary of State envelope in which they place Trudeau said yesterday the battleground state he lost by Trump repeats many claims law, plain and simple,” Trump’s Katie Hobbs’ office, which cer- their ballot and which serves as ban on nonessential travel nearly 20,700 votes. he made during a recount of Wisconsin attorney, Jim tified Arizona’s election results the written record. But the vast with the United States will not Trump filed the day after votes in Milwaukee and Dane Troupis, said in a statement. on Monday, said there was no majority of absentee requests be lifted until COVID-19 is Democratic Governor Tony counties that large swaths of “During the recount in Dane factual basis for conducting these days are made online, significantly more under Evers and the chairwoman of absentee votes were illegally and Milwaukee counties, we such a review. with a voter’s name entered into control around the world. the Wisconsin Elections Com- cast. Local officials rejected his know with absolute certainty Trump is running out of an electronic log with no paper Canada and the US have mission certified Biden as the claims during the recount, and illegal ballots have unduly influ- time to have his legal cases record. Trump wants to toss limited border crossings since winner of the state’s 10 Elec- Trump is challenging proce- enced the state’s election heard. The Electoral College is 5,517 ballots where election March, extending the restric- toral College votes. Trump dures that have been in place results.” scheduled to meet on December clerks filled in missing address tions each month. asked the Wisconsin Supreme for years and never been found In Phoenix, a judge has 14 and Congress is to count the information on the certification “Until the virus is signifi- Court to take the case directly, to be illegal. scheduled a Thursday trial in votes on January 6. envelope where the ballot is cantly under more control rather than have it start in a Trump is not challenging Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Trump’s Wisconsin lawsuit inserted. everywhere around the world, we are not going to be releasing the restrictions at the Pentagon official border,” Trudeau told the Special adviser to Trump on coronavirus quits Canadian Broadcasting overseeing Corporation. REUTERS — WASHINGTON truth over falsehoods and mis- “We are incredibly lucky counter-IS effort information,” his peers at that trade in essential goods, Dr. Scott Atlas has resigned as Stanford University’s medical in agriculture products, in has resigned special adviser on the corona- school said in a statement pharmaceuticals is flowing virus to President Donald issued late Monday. back and forth as it always AP — WASHINGTON Trump, a White House official In September they had had,” he said. “It’s just people said on Monday, after a contro- issued a letter denouncing his not travelling, which I think is The civilian official overseeing versial four months during views. the important thing.” Trudeau the Pentagon’s campaign to which he clashed repeatedly “His actions have under- said although President-elect defeat the Islamic State group with other members of the mined and threatened public Joe Biden has an “obvious” dif- in the Middle East has resigned coronavirus task force. health even as countless lives ferent approach to the pan- in the latest jolt to Pentagon Voters’ unhappiness with have been lost to COVID-19. We demic than President Donald leadership in the waning Trump’s response to the global will continue to advocate for Trump, the situation in the US weeks of the Trump adminis- pandemic that has killed hun- evidence-based public health remains serious and it will take tration. dreds of thousands helped policies that are grounded in awhile to change that. The Pentagon said in a propel his challenger, Democrat established science, including Trudeau has come under statement that the acting Joe Biden, to victory in the the use of proven preventative criticism from opposition A file photo of Dr. Scott Atlas. defence secretary, Christopher November 3 election. measures like mask-wearing parties for saying Canadians Miller, on Monday accepted “I am writing to resign from and social-distancing, and the won’t be among the first to get the resignation of Christopher my position as special adviser safe testing and delivery of best information to serve the unaware it was a registered a vaccine against COVID-19 Maier, who had provided to the president of the United effective therapies and greater good,” he wrote. foreign agent. Dr. Celine because the first doses will policy oversight of the mili- States,” Atlas said in a letter to vaccines.” Atlas was considered a Grounder, a member of Biden’s likely go to citizens of the tary’s counter-IS effort since Trump dated December 1 that In his resignation letter, special government employee advisory panel on the crisis, countries they are made in. March 2017. he posted on Twitter. Atlas, a senior fellow at Stan- on a 130-day detail that expires greeted the news of the resig- But Trudeau said at a news Maier was director of the Public health experts, ford’s Hoover Institution, listed this week. Fox News first nation with relief. conference yesterday that Defeat-ISIS Task Force, which including Anthony Fauci, the what he considered accom- reported his resignation. “I’m relieved that in the Canada was among the first to has been disbanded. Its leading US infectious disease plishments in reopening schools Atlas has repeatedly down- future, people who are qual- pre-order Moderna’s vaccine responsibilities have been expert, have sharply criticised and expanding virus testing played the importance of ified, people who are infectious candidate and, “We are guar- absorbed by counterterrorism Atlas, a neuro-radiologist, for while also defending himself masks and this month said disease specialists and epide- anteed some of Moderna’s first staffs headed by appointees providing Trump with mis- against his many critics. lockdowns had been “an epic miologists like me will be batch if the vaccine is safe and who President Donald Trump leading or incorrect information “Like all scientists and failure” in stopping the spread helping to lead this effort,” she approved.” placed in senior Pentagon on the virus pandemic. health policy scholars, I learned of the virus. told broadcaster CNBC. “Already, Moderna has positions in a shakeup that “Dr. Scott Atlas’ resignation new information and synthe- He also had to apologise this “You wouldn’t go to a podi- submitted their candidate for included his firing of Defense today is long overdue and sized the latest data from month for an interview with atrist for a heart attack and that Health Canada review, as have Secretary Mark Esper on underscores the triumph of around the world, all in an Russia’s Kremlin-backed tele- was essentially what was Pfizer-BioNTech and November 9. science and effort to provide you with the vision station RT, saying he was happening.” AstraZeneca-Oxford." The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Maier had been forced out. In its statement, the Pen- US reveals rapid rollout plan tagon gave no reason for Maier’s departure but said the for vaccine after record surge decision to disband the task force he led was a recognition REUTERS — WASHINGTON administration’s Operation of the “success of the military Warp Speed programme said fight to destroy” the Islamic US officials yesterday unveiled yesterday that 20 million people State’s grip on territory in Iraq details for the swift distribution could be vaccinated by the end and Syria. “The Department of COVID-19 vaccines to of 2020, and that by the middle of Defense will continue to millions of Americans after the of 2021 most Americans will engage with our partners and United States broke records for have access to highly effective allies to ensure the lasting new coronavirus infections and vaccines. defeat of ISIS and encourage hospitalisations. “Within 24 hours, maybe at the repatriation of foreign ter- The rampant virus infected most 36 to 48 hours, from the rorist fighters for prosecution,” 4.36 million more people in approval, the vaccine can be in the Pentagon said. November, more than doubling people’s arms,” Moncef Slaoui, Nearly 900 US troops are the previous month, as large a former GlaxoSmithKline exec- still in Syria to work with local numbers of Americans still utive, said at an event con- groups aiming to prevent an refuse to wear masks and travel ducted by The Washington Post. IS resurgence. The US also has for holiday gatherings against Operation Warp Speed, about 3,000 troops in neigh- the recommendations of health charged with accelerating bouring Iraq working with experts. development of COVID-19 local security forces toward With outgoing President treatments and vaccines, could the same goal. The counter-IS Donald Trump’s coronavirus help provide the United States campaign began during the strategy relying heavily on a with 60 million to 70 million An aerial view of cars lining up for COVID-19 testing at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, on Monday. Obama administration. vaccine, the chief adviser of his doses per month by January. WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2020 16

Amid race for vaccine, COVID-19 origin still a mystery

AFP — PARIS countries across the world Wuhan, which sold live and leaked from the biosafety lab. began to record growing WHO says the process of wild animals and has been China has rejected the While many scientists are infections. tracing how a disease linked to many of the early accusations. PRAYER racing to find vaccines to tame The WHO said the first cases jumped from animals 'is cases. The team will be armed While Simon-Loriere said it the spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan are believed to date with clues we did not have at was not yet possible to com- TIMINGS a riddle that can take PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING pandemic, other researchers from the beginning of the start of the pandemic. pletely rule out the idea that the are probing the past, trying to December. years to solve'. Simon-Loriere said they virus escaped accidentally, he unravel one of the greatest But “where an epidemic is could look out for an animal stressed that there was “no indi- FAJR 04.41 am mysteries of the virus: exactly first detected does not neces- with a virus receptor, a protein cation it was manmade”. SUNRISE 06.02 am where it came from. sarily reflect where it started”, led it to jump into humans,” called ACE2, similar to the one “All the elements of its The World Health Organi- it added in a November report. Etienne Simon-Loriere told found in humans. genome have already been DHUHR 11.23 am zation has assembled an inter- In recent months, AFP. Suspicions have fallen on It is through this receptor observed in nature, mainly in ASR 02.23 pm national team of 10 scientists to researchers in various countries bats, which are “a major res- that the virus latches onto cells. bat coronaviruses,” he said. MAGHRIB 04.45 pm trace the origins of the virus. have suggested that cases may ervoir for coronaviruses”, he Some animals such as mink WHO has warned that the ISHA 06.15 pm They will have to investigate have gone unnoticed long adds. But there would likely and ferrets have been found to process of tracing how a disease both the suspect animals and before December 2019, based have been an intermediary have a very similar receptor to jumped from animals “is a how the first patients may have on analysis of wastewater or animal to shepherd SARS- humans, while others are quite riddle that can take years to been infected. blood samples. CoV-2 into people. different. solve”. “The introduction of a “We want to know the But there is a lack of “clear The pangolin — a mammal Another origin theory that new virus to the human popu- origin and we will do everything evidence” to back up these subject to rampant regional swirled in conspiracy rumours lation is one of the greatest to know the origin,” WHO chief claims, said Etienne Simon- wildlife smuggling — was iden- for months was that the Wuhan mysteries an epidemiologist can Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Loriere, of the virology tified as a likely carrier early on Institute of Virology was hope to unravel,” it said. told reporters on Monday. department at the Institut based on genetic analysis. But involved in the outbreak. The goal is to “understand But success is by no means Pasteur in Paris. the case is not settled. Against the backdrop of dip- the mechanism and put in place assured. The first cases were Scientists agree that the WHO investigators will lomatic tensions, US President measures to avoid the emer- reported in the Chinese city of disease has an animal origin. need to clarify this point by Donald Trump touted the idea, gence of a new SARS-CoV-3, 4, WEATHER Wuhan a year ago, before “The big question is what probing the wet market in claiming the virus could have etc.”, said Simon-Loriere. TODAY Day after new US chart record, BTS granted military call-up delay

AFP — SEOUL disrupt BTS’s progress, with their oldest o o member Jin, 27, previously unable to 24 C 28 C Trailblazing South Korean boyband BTS delay his service beyond the end of 2021. Minimum Maximum have became the first group to have a BTS — or Bangtan Sonyeondan, Misty at some places at first foreign-language song enter the US Bill- which translates as Bulletproof Boy becomes moderate temperature board chart at number one, as parliament Scouts — have become one of the biggest daytime and partly cloudy with in Seoul cleared the way for them to acts in the world since they launched chance of scattered rain. delay compulsory military service. seven years ago, and made a billionaire W ALRUWAIS : 24o → 26o “Life Goes On”, sung predominantly of their managing agency’s founder. W ALKHOR : 22o → 28o in Korean, topped the US Hot 100 in its Their latest single is also the first debut week, Billboard said on Monday, mainly-Korean song ever to top the W DUKHAN : 23o → 25o the first foreign-language song to do so chart. The band’s success marks the W WAKRAH : 20o → 27o in the chart’s 62-year history. growing appeal of the South’s popular W MESAIEED : 20o → 27o More good news arrived for the culture in the US, after the subtitled W ABUSAMRA : 21o → 26o seven stars when South Korea’s par- Korean movie “Parasite” won four Oscar liament yesterday revised the military awards in February, including Best conscription law to give entertainers Picture. who have received a government medal BTS’s earlier track “Dynamite” HIGH TIDE A file photo of the members of South Korean K-pop band BTS. 06:04 – 16:25 for raising the national profile an extra debuted atop the chart in September but two years to perform before enlistment. it was sung entirely in English, making LOW TIDE 13:23 – 23:49 All seven BTS members were against the nuclear-armed North, usually compulsory conscription system to it radio-friendly in Anglophone coun- awarded the distinction in 2018. for 18 months once they turn 28. defend itself against Pyongyang’s 1.2 tries. “Dynamite” is still in the chart at South Korea requires all able-bodied The South remains technically at war million-strong army. number 3 and they have another five men to serve in uniform to defend it with the North and maintains a The issue had been threatening to tracks in the Top 100.