QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Monday QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune August 10, 2020 Dhu Al-Hijjah 20, 1441 Vol.13 no. 5021 qR 2

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Business 8 Sports 12 Qatar’s merchandise Verstappen claims 70th fine trade hits Anniversary GP win as High : 44°C QR21.2 bn in May ‘sleeping’ Mercedes wilt LOW : 35°C

Qatar will soon pledge more for reconstruction of Beirut: Amir We quickly responded to the call of brothers in Lebanon Amir appeals to the international community to and provided them urgent relief worth $50 mn: Amir provide urgent financial assistance to Lebanon

QNA Support to Beirut and the lenges.” Doha Lebanese People” at the in- HH The Amir said, “Leb- vitation of French President ● We have sent an equipped anon cannot get over this His Highness The Amir of Emmanuel Macron. dire circumstances on its State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim HH The Amir said, “We, team from the Qatari own. Facing this crisis and bin Hamad Al Thani has an- in terms of people and insti- International Search overcoming its repercussions nounced that Qatar, in the tutions, quickly responded and Rescue Group and depends on strengthening coming days, will pledge to the call of the brothers in established field hospitals national unity, unifying and more for the reconstruction Lebanon and provided them intensifying governmental of blast-hit Beirut. urgent aid worth $50 million ● Lebanon cannot get over this and societal efforts in Leba- “Qatar, in response to as a contribution to the relief dire circumstance on its non and providing all neces- its humanitarian duty and operations and alleviation own. Facing this crisis and sary forms of aid, from relief in solidarity with people of of the suffering of the Leba- to restoration and recon- Lebanon arising from the nese people and to help them overcoming its dangerous struction, by the internation- bonds of brotherhood, and in overcome their extremely negative repercussions al community.” fulfilment of its commitment difficult circumstances. We depends on strengthening HH the Amir urged the to support Lebanon, will an- have also sent an equipped national unity, unifying and international community to nounce in the coming days team from the Qatari Inter- intensifying governmental come forward and help re- its contribution to the recon- national Search and Rescue build Beirut. “The brotherly struction of Beirut through Group and established field and societal efforts in Lebanese people are look- the projects that will be hospitals.” Lebanon and providing all ing forward to the outcome adopted,” HH The Amir told HH The Amir thanked His Highness The Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addresses the necessary forms of aid by of this conference, and we an emergency aid conference the President of France, “International Conference on Assistance and Support to Beirut and the Lebanese People” the international community appeal to the international held in the French capital and the Secretary-General through video-conference on Sunday. community, with all its com- Paris via video-conferene. of the United Nations, for ponents, states and organi- The conference took place their invitation to hold this sations, to provide urgent following Beirut’s deadly important conference which the convening of this impor- trophe caused by the terrible the tragic and dire situation sands others were injured, financial assistance and port blast. comes amid extremely tant conference reflects the explosion in Beirut port,” that the Lebanese people are besides the massive destruc- contributions that will help HH The Amir participat- grave situations faced by international community’s HH the Amir said. experiencing as a result of tion of buildings and proper- Lebanon to overcome the ed in the “International Con- Lebanon. resolve to stand beside Leba- “We are all aware of the this explosion, in which doz- ties and the exacerbation of agonising circumstances it is ference on Assistance and “There is no doubt that non to overcome the catas- scale of this catastrophe and ens lost their lives and thou- economic and financial chal- going through.”

First technical high Qatar Airways ships 45 tonnes of essential supplies to Beirut school for girls to Qatar Airways (QA) has carried over 45 tonnes of essen- tial supplies donated by its employees from Doha to Bei- open in September rut. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker was present to oversee the shipment’s departure. Qatar Tribune News Network Airways has partnered with Qatar Charity, Monoprix Qatar Doha New Fahes and Talabat to deliver the aid, with essential supplies centre opens being transported free of charge from Doha to Beirut by The Ministry of Education and Qatar Airways Cargo. (TNN) Higher Education (MoEHE) at Al Mazrouah will open the first technical high school for girls in September. Woqod Vehicles Inspec- Qatar’s Technical High tion Company (Fahes) has Commander of Lebanese armed School for Girls will have an in- opened a new 14-lane augural class of 90 students. station at Al Mazrouah to forces visits Qatar’s field hospital The new school will play cater to heavy and light Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces General a major role in enhancing the ● Technical High School vehicles’ inspections . Search Joseph Aoun inspected Qatar’s field hospital in Al Roum technical and vocational edu- for Girls will have an Fahes centres resumed Hospital. He was accompanied by Qatar’s Ambassador to the cation landscape and will add inaugural class of normal operations for Lebanese Republic HE Mohammed Hassan Jaber Al Jaber, a to the contribution of Qatari 90 students vehicle inspections in number of diplomats and a delegation from the army command. women to national develop- coordination with the Traffic The Lebanese Army Commander was briefed on the progress of ment. ● Girls who have completed Department on Sunday. the establishment of field hospital which will be equipped with In a statement, the min- grade 9 can apply for (TNN) page 8 necessary medical equipment and supplies. page 2 istry said the school has been admissions established to provide the local ● Admissions will be open labour market with the neces- for Qatari nationals, sary pool of academically and technically qualified female children of Qatari cadres, promote women’s tech- mothers or children Saudi Arabia seeks to tame powerful cyber armies nical training, create equal job born in Qatar opportunities for males and ● Online registration will AFP tious transformation of the were long thought to be linked accounts that use pictures Asimi said. females, and increase the num- be open from August 16 Riyadh petro-state. to the government, arising as of state symbols and deploy The debate, echoed by ber of Qatari women employed to September 3 Trolls distorting politi- part of a policy driven by for- threats as if they are sup- other pro-government media, in technical fields. Online armies of self-styled cal discourse are common in mer royal court advisor Saud ported by the government?” was widely seen as a warning During the first academic Saudi patriots riding a wave of many countries, but Saudi al-Qahtani. asked a host on Ekhbariya to nationalists to fall in line. year, the school aims to attract tember 3, 2020. state-led nationalism attack Arabia’s so-called cyber “flies” Qahtani, sacked over television. “These phantom accounts 90 girls who have completed Applicants should submit critics and what they call “trai- — feisty defenders of state pol- the October 2018 murder of “They give the impression have proved to be valuable to grade 9 successfully. all the required documents (pa- tors” of the kingdom — but icy who often choose pictures journalist Jamal Khashoggi, that they are a parallel govern- Saudi Arabia’s leadership,” Admissions will be open per copy) at the beginning of their growing clout has left the of Saudi rulers as their avatar earned nicknames such as “Mr ment or even stronger than the Annas Shaker, a Washington- for Qatari nationals, children the academic year. government uneasy. image — are an increasingly Hashtag” and “lord of the flies” government,” replied Saudi based Saudi expert, told AFP. of Qatari mothers or children The school’s educational Their rise has coincided powerful force. for managing an electronic academic Salih al-Asimi. “But as they become ever born in Qatar. plan consists of an academic with the ascent of Crown Their posts frequently army to defend the kingdom. These accounts “gave more powerful, the govern- Students who meet the ad- and technical subject to pre- Prince Mohammed bin Sal- tag Saudi security agencies, But a rare debate on state themselves the right” to dig up ment wants to assert control missions requirements will be pare students for post-second- man, who has overseen Saudi and their collective roar often television in June sought to dirt on those displaying insuf- and show that they are the ul- eligible to attend grade 10 in the ary education and a successful Arabia’s shift from austere re- leads to detentions, sackings distance them from the gov- ficient patriotism, including timate authority.” next academic year. career path. ligion towards hyper-nation- and harassment. ernment. excavating their old tweets as Online registration will be alism as he pursues an ambi- These “phantom accounts” “How dangerous are these ammunition to attack them, Continued on page 2  open from August 16 to Sep- Continued on page 3  02 Monday, August 10, 2020

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Quick read Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces visits Qatar’s field hospital in Beirut Amir congratulates president of Singapore The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday sent a cable of congratulations to President of Singa- pore Halimah Yacob on her country’s National Day. (QNA) Deputy Amir congratulates Singapore’s president The Deputy Amir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday sent a cable of congratulations to President of Singapore Halimah Yacob on her country’s National Day. (QNA) PM sends greetings to Singapore counterpart Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Sunday sent a cable of con- gratulations to Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on his country’s National Day. (QNA) Malta president meets Qatar’s Acting Charge d’Affairs President of Malta George William Vella met with Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Joseph Aoun inspected Qatar’s field hospital in Al Roum Hospital in the company of Qatar’s Ambassador to Lebanon Charges d’Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Malta HE Khalid HE Mohammed Hassan Jaber Al Jaber and a number of diplomats and a delegation from the army command. The Lebanese Army commander was briefed on the progress of Ali Abel in Valletta on Sunday. During the meeting, they reviewed the establishment of Qatar’s field hospital which will be equipped with complete medical equipment and supplies, and is due to receive the injured from Tuesday.(QNA) bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to other issues of mutual interest. (QNA) Qatar envoy attends Afghan FM meeting with ambassadors Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif At- mar held a video call meeting with the ambassadors accredited to Kabul on strengthening consensus for peace in Afghanistan. Qatar was represented in the meeting by Ambassador of Qatar Doha Bank donates QR300,000 to RACA to Afghanistan HE Saeed bin Mubarak Al Khayarin. During the meeting, the Afghan foreign minister briefed the ambassadors about the recent political developments in Afghanistan, develop- ments in the peace process, the Afghan government’s efforts drive to assist Beirut explosion victims to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the country’s financial and technical needs.(QNA) Tribune News Network sponsibility (CSR) efforts. He added, “Our contri- Doha Representing Doha Bank, bution of QR300,000 to the Braik Ali Al Marri, chief retail ‘Lebanon in Our Hearts’ fun- DOHA Bank, one of the larg- banking officer, delivered the draising campaign is chan- est private commercial banks donation to support the drive nelled towards assisting the Coronavirus: Qatar records in Qatar, recently contributed relief efforts for the afflicted afflicted victims of that tragic QR300,000 to the ‘Lebanon Lebanese nation in order incident and equipping them two deaths, 297 new cases in Our Hearts’ fundraising to provide it with the basic with all the necessary needs, campaign launched by the needs as well as to recon- ranging from food items to Qatar on Sunday re- Regulatory Authority for struct the city of Beirut and medical supplies and clothes corded 297 new COV- Charitable Activities (RACA), help it overcome the harm- in a bid to compensate them ID-19 cases and 271 re- in cooperation with Qatar ful consequences of the tragic for their losses.” coveries, according to the Charity (QC) and the Qatar disaster. Doha Bank is fully com- Ministry of Public Health Red Crescent Society (QRCS), Commenting on Doha mitted to supporting char- (MoPH). in support of the Lebanese The Doha Bank initiative is in line with the State of Qatar’s support- Bank’s initiative, Marri said, ity projects and efforts With this, active cases people, following the huge ive position towards the aggrieved Lebanese people and part of the “Doha Bank extends its sin- launched by different char- in Qatar rose to 3,054, explosion that struck the port bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. cere and heartfelt condo- ity institutions in order to while the total recoveries of Beirut. lences to the Lebanese people assist the less fortunate and jumped to 109,709. The Doha Bank initiative Qatar’s supportive position nese people and part of the on the disaster that struck the needy in line with its CSR In the last 24 hours, is in line with the State of towards the aggrieved Leba- bank’s Corporate Social Re- them.” objectives. the virus claimed the lives of two more people, aged 23 and 57, raising the death toll to 184. According to the min- ‘Saudi Arabia trying to manipulate content on Twitter’ istry, measures to tackle Continued from page 1  COVID-19 in Qatar have went after Huda Al Humood, a past references that could make ment. said Shaker. succeeded in flattening Saudi woman hired to lead an them appear unpatriotic. In Twitter has suspended hun- “They attack foreign critics the curve and limiting the However, the fact that Asi- education ministry programme another extreme, it has encour- dreds of local accounts, some one day, senior government fig- spread of the virus and the number of new daily cases and hospi- mi himself got attacked online in 2017, in a rare appointment. aged fake displays of national- “linked to Saudi Arabia’s state- ures the next.” tal admissions is continuing to decline each week. after the debate underscores They combed her Twitter ism. “Every day on Twitter I hurl run media apparatus” and en- Their loyalty to the state Qatar’s proactive and extensive testing of suspected cases the challenge of reining them account to dig up old posts they an insult or two at Qatar,” one gaged in coordinated efforts to could be further tested as Saudi has enabled it to identify a high number of positive cases in the in. “What do they want us to said were in favour of Qatar and government worker told AFP. “amplify messaging beneficial Arabia enters a period of acute community. Qatar has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates do — stop defending the na- the banned Muslim Brother- “But this way no one can ac- to the government”. The king- austerity, with the government in the world. This is a result of very high quality of care provided tion?” one nationalist fumed on hood. The witch hunt extended cuse me of being unpatriotic if dom’s sovereign wealth fund chipping away at once-generous through the public healthcare sector for COVID-19 patients, Qa- Twitter. Many others, including to her husband’s account. I speak out against other state recently acquired a stake in subsidies and handouts amid tar’s young population, proactive testing to identify cases early, a royal prince, sprang to their The campaign seemed to policies.” Saudi Arabia, which Facebook, which last year said low crude prices. expanding hospital capacity, especially intensive care, to ensure defence, using the hashtag “na- work, Shaker said. Within days accounts for the highest num- it dismantled a series of Saudi- “Nationalist sentiment ad- all patients receive the medical care they need, and protecting tionalist accounts are the na- of her appointment, Humood ber of Twitter users in the Arab linked propaganda accounts. vanced by the state may have the elderly and those with chronic diseases. tion’s shield”. was sacked. Many Saudi liberals world, has faced accusations of But while disabling com- created a Trojan Horse,” said Even though restrictions are being lifted and numbers of The accounts, which gained have shut down their Twitter ac- trying to manipulate content on puter bot activity may be easy, Eman Alhussein, a non-resident cases are declining, this does not mean that the COVID-19 pan- prominence in parallel with offi- counts, and those who have not, the platform. it will be harder to tame genuine fellow at the Arab Gulf States In- demic is finished in Qatar – every day between 50 and 100 peo- cial crackdowns to smother dis- tread with caution. Two former Twitter employ- accounts that experts say rose stitute in Washington. ple are admitted to hospital with moderate to severe COVID-19 sent, evoke widespread fear. Before government job in- ees were charged last year with organically. “Saudi views the on- “These accounts... could be- symptoms, the ministry said. (TNN) Shaker recounted how they terviews, many say they scrub spying for the Saudi govern- line mobs as difficult to control,” come a challenge for the state.”

Ecuador celebrates National Day Ecuador keen to strengthen relations with Qatar in all aspects: Envoy Ailyn Agonia eration and working tirelessly products and non-traditional of the largest exporters of and postponement of unpaid scientific research, specifical- DOHA to diversify the activities that fruits to Qatar. We look for shrimps in the world, fine or and accumulated interests. ly related to COVID-19, and strengthen the relations be- possibilities to export our flavoured cocoa and roses. This negotiation will also alle- other proposed initiatives. Ecuador Embassy in Qatar tween the two countries which world-famous, high quality It is also the world leader in viate the cash flow and make He said, “I am confident Charge d’Affaires Daniel Ri- includes the likely signing of shrimps. Despite the COV- banana exports. Efforts are fresh and safe resources avail- that these initiatives will cre- vadeneira has reaffirmed the memoranda of understand- ID-19 crisis, we are working on to launch new opportuni- able for the private sector as ate great opportunities in solid and strong relations be- ing in the fields of culture and to introduce more products ties for investment in both well. I believe that this is a the future. We also welcome tween Qatar and Ecuador in ports with MWANI. into the local market. In addi- countries. Despite the impact historic achievement whereby any opportunity for student all aspects. Rivadeneira said both tion, we are holding talks with of the pandemic on global we will have resources to at- exchange and the sharing of Speaking during an inter- countries are also in the pro- different authorities to facili- economy, there is always op- tend to the most vulnerable academic expertise.” view on Sunday on the eve of cess of negotiation on the tate trade and expand invest- portunity to grow ties. I am people, protect dollarisation The diplomat expressed the 211th Independence Day proposal of an agreement in ment opportunities. In order confident that Ecuador will and achieve economic recov- the appreciation of the gov- of Ecuador, the diplomat said air services. to establish new partnerships tackle this ordeal and has suc- ery.” ernment of Ecuador to the that relations between the two The Ecuadorian official with Qatar, some projects in Ecuador Embassy in Qatar Charge cessfully completed negotia- Rivadeneira said an im- government and people of countries have grown steadily expressed his country’s keen- the fields of infrastructure d’Affaires Daniel Rivadeneira tions to restructure the bonds portant virtual meeting was Qatar for their generous con- over the years, marked with ness to strengthen the visibil- and energy (LNG) are being of our external debt. organised recently between tribution to Ecuador’s fight an exchange of high-level of- ity and position of Ecuador analysed by local investors. Ecuador has several promis- “These negotiations were officials from Qatar Founda- against the COVID-19 pan- ficial visits that paved the way products in the Qatari mar- We hope to retain the interest ing opportunities for inves- mainly for reduction of the tion and the Ecuadorian Sec- demic. for the launch of landmark ket. in the tourism and real estate tors in some infrastructure debt capital, flow relief of retariat for Higher Education, He said the funds provid- projects and signing of agree- He said, “We are mostly sectors.” projects, liquefied natural gas more than $10 billion for the Science, Technology and In- ed by Qatar are being put to ments. exporting bananas, roses, Talking about the invest- (LNG), agriculture and aqua- next five years, a decrease in novation (SENESCYT) where excellent use, providing food He said Ecuador is look- processed foods, metal me- ment opportunities open in culture. average interest rate, an ex- both sides discussed the pos- kits to individuals and fami- ing forward for further coop- chanical products, plastic Ecuador for Qataris, he said He said, “Ecuador is one tension of the grace period sible ways of cooperation in lies facing difficult times. Nation Monday, August 10, 2020 03 Qatar Travel Mart expo deferred until Nov next year amid COVID-19 tribune news network view to allow the participants stand the long-term effects of the choice to postpone is in take part in one of the most doha to safely navigate through the the pandemic and pave the the best interest of the indus- anticipated shows in Qatar. impacts of COVID-19. way for a new line of thinking. try and exhibitors, as it will QTM’s sole focus remains NeXTfairs, the multi-for- Speaking about the post- Our team, which is constantly ensure effective participation on providing an event of en- mat events organiser, has an- ponement, Rawad Sleem, gen- monitoring the global situa- and involvement from all, he hanced quality, with more nounced that in view of the eral manager of NeXTfairs, tion, decided to announce the pointed out. substantial exhibitors and global spread of the corona- said: “Considering the effects postponement at the earli- Updates will be shared on qualified trade buyers. virus (COVID-19) pandem- of the current crisis on the est in order to enable our ex- the official website of the ex- NeXTfairs is confident ic, the first edition of Qatar travel and tourism sector, we hibitors and partners to make hibition and the QTM team of the impact and influence Travel Mart (QTM), which have had intense discussions necessary alterations to their will be reaching out to all par- of Qatar Travel Mart on the was scheduled to be held from with our strategic partners, plans.” ticipants with the detailed ar- travel and tourism industry, November 17 to November 19, founding partners and strate- While the precautionary rangements. and invites stakeholders to 2020, at Doha Exhibition and gic sponsors. The welfare of measures taken by the State The changed dates aim at stay connected and remain Convention Center (DECC), our exhibitors is our priority of Qatar to prevent and con- supporting normalcy and con- involved in their continuous has now been deferred until and taking into consideration tain the spread of coronavirus fidence to return to the mar- initiatives to support the in- November 16-18, 2021. the recommendations of the The Doha Exhibition and Convention Center is effective and is in accord- ketplace, ease travel restric- dustry. The move has been con- relevant industry pioneers ance with the international tions, and provide all-around For more information visit firmed after discussions with and partners regarding the large markets, we have de- tion by a year. The delay will standards set by the World better conditions for exhibi- www.qtmqatar.com or call all stakeholders and with a economic slowdown in the cided to postpone the exhibi- also help the industry under- Health Organization (WHO), tors and visitors to engage and 00974 50066691. Pregnancies during a pandemic require Qatar Airways is set to resume its medical and mental services to Adelaide from Aug 16 support, says expert supplies during the COV- QA only international ID-19 pandemic. It also intro- Tribune News Network such as screening and diagnos- airline to fly to five duced twice-weekly Boeing Doha tic tests for Down’s Syndrome. 777 freighters to Melbourne Dr Sulaiman says: “A de- major Australian cities and Perth in April, 2020, in The Primary Health Care Cor- tailed ultrasound is scheduled response to the demand for poration (PHCC) is focused on in the fifth month to detect any tribune news network Australian fresh produce and providing pregnant women deformities, and in the eighth doha pharmaceuticals. with the medical and mental month to ensure healthy growth With the resumption of support they require, taking and position of the foetus and to QATAR Airways (QA) is set to passenger flights to Adelaide, into account the additional measure the amount of amniot- resume its services to Adelaide, the airline will operate a to- challenges that have emerged ic fluid surrounding the baby.” reaffirming its position as the tal of 25 flights in and out of during the COVID-19 pan- During follow-up sessions, market leading international Australia every week, com- demic. Dr Virginie Sulaiman, the physician will ask for any carrier in Australia starting prising of 23 belly-hold cargo a family physician at PHCC’s medical symptoms and assist from August 16, 2020. The flights and two freighters, of- Leghwairiya Health Center, ex- in treating the same. Pregnant South Australian capital will fering more than 700 tonnes plains that an integrated pro- women will also be asked to do become the airline’s fifth des- of weekly cargo capacity each gramme is in place to serve and medical tests or an ultrasound tination in Australia to resume Steven Marshall MP said: way. follow up on pregnant women, and visit the vital signs room flights, making it theonly in- “This is a great vote of confi- Qatar Airways was one starting from testing and diag- to update height, weight, blood ternational carrier currently dence in South Australia, and of the first airlines to join nosing pregnancy to referring pressure and pulse on the preg- servicing five major cities in a positive first step towards the Australian Government’s them to the Women’s Wellness nancy booklet. Australia. reinstating services when our International Freight Assis- and Research Centre in prepa- Dr Sulaiman says: “The Qatar Airways Group Chief international borders open. tance Mechanism (IFAM), ration for delivery, given that health counsellor provides ad- Executive Akbar Al Baker said: Qatar Airways has been a providing an export lifeline some women may need to be vice and guidelines for healthy “We are excited to resume ser- growing brand flying intoA d- and global network to farm- referred earlier due to medical diet and habits, sports and ex- vices to Adelaide, highlighting elaide for a number of years ers and other exporters across complications or difficulties. ercises that are appropriate our ongoing commitment to helping to service important Australia. Through the IFAM Dr Sulaiman says: “The during pregnancy, while also the Australian market during markets to and from Europe, project, the airline has helped follow-up process begins with following up on certain vac- this difficult period. With the so it is terrific to see flights restore vital global supply the booking of an appointment cinations such as those for largest global network in the back in the air and see some chains between Australian via 107, for a telephone consul- flu, tetanus, diphtheria and region and the best airport early optimistic news from the exporters and their custom- tation with the family doctor at whooping cough.” in the Middle East offering sector.” ers throughout the Middle the health centre at which the He points out, though, that seamless and efficient connec- Adelaide Airport Man- East, Europe and Asia. pregnant woman is registered. the COVID-19 pandemic has tivity to destinations across aging Director Mark Young Qatar Airways began its The registration procedures thrown up further challenges the world, we have been the and transporting hundreds of Airways to the Adelaide mar- said: “We’re excited to wel- services to Adelaide in 2016 for the pregnant lady are then and restrictions with regards to airline of choice for many Aus- tonnes of cargo to maintain ket. These flights will provide come back Qatar Airways and — flying the first Airbus A350 completed, and the pregnancy the regular follow-up of preg- tralian embassies to help bring vital supply chains for Austral- another freight route for South we welcome their reaffirmed into Australia. The twice- follow-up file opened, as the nancies. For instance, she says, Australians home. Austral- ian agriculture exporters. The Australian exporters, enabling commitment to the Adelaide weekly service to Adelaide family doctor requests tests some pregnant ladies fear visit- ian government data (BITRE) resumption of Adelaide ser- them to get their high-quality market. This will be the first will be operated by the air- including a complete blood ing health centres, which limits showed during the peak of re- vices and the recent launch of produce onto planes and into regular international passen- line’s fuel-efficientA irbus count, fasting blood sugar, the physicians, as they do not patriation efforts, our airline new flights to Brisbane dem- the Middle East and Europe. ger service to the Middle East A350-900, offering 36 seats blood type and virus tests. have access to the full informa- helped take home almost ten onstrate our long-term com- “While international travel since March and will open in Business Class and 247 “Once the required tests are tion on the status of pregnancy times more passengers in and mitment to Australia and our restrictions remain an im- up important connections seats in Economy Class. done, an appointment needs to and follow-up. out of Australia than our near- guarantee to support Austral- portant line of protection for through to Europe and be- With the resumption be scheduled one week later to Dr Sulaiman emphasises est competitors. ian passengers and exporters Australia against COVID-19, yond for both essential trav- of flights to Adelaide, Qa- discuss the test results either that pregnancy is a period that “We are proud to have been with global connectivity dur- the resumption of services ellers and South Australian tar Airways will operate 23 on the phone or face-to-face. triggers waves of emotions, in- one of the few airlines to never ing both good and bad times.” will provide another avenue freight exporters.” passenger flights per week Thereafter, a female health cluding anxiety, and that PHCC stop services to Australia, even Australian Minister for for repatriating Australians, Qatar Airways Cargo has to Australia including, two consultant and the health cen- aims to help counter this as expanding our Australian op- Trade, Tourism and Invest- and eventually, provide a path operated a large number of weekly flights to Adelaide, tre physician will schedule fol- much as possible. “It goes with- erations during the crisis, to ment and Senator for South for international tourists into charters and freight-only three weekly flights to Bris- low-up checks/visits and issue out saying that during such help repatriate over 170,000 Australia Simon Birmingham South Australia when our bor- passenger aircraft to sup- bane, four weekly flights to reminders not to miss tests and trying times, we offer mental Australians and international said: “I am delighted to see the ders re-open.” port Australian exporters and Perth, as well as daily flights ultrasounds. Pregnant women support to pregnant women. travellers with their loved ones ongoing commitment of Qatar South Australia Premier transport essential medical to Melbourne and Sydney. receive eight or nine follow-up In case of extreme anxiety or consultation sessions, with ad- discomfort, pregnant women ditional sessions scheduled if are referred to mental support required for any health compli- or psychiatric clinics,” says Dr cations.” Suliman. An ultrasound could be re- “We also recommend that, Three technical majors on offer for students quested, depending on the pro- if feeling anxious, she talks to gress of pregnancy, to ascertain a family member or trusted Continued from page 1  nical subjects, however, will be nology (Networks Engineer- TAFE Certificate for those Certificate. the development of the foetus friends, avoids watching dis- taught based on the students’ ing). specialised in Laboratory These certificates will during the first few months, find turbing social media platforms The academic subjects will discipline of choice. Upon successful comple- Technician, and Electron- qualify the school’s gradu- out if the pregnancy is intrau- and television shows, requests include Islamic studies, Ara- The technical majors to be tion of the programme, stu- ics and Communications. IT ates to apply for technical or terine or extrauterine, check family and friends not to send bic, Mathematics, English, offered for Grade 10 students dents will graduate with Sec- students will graduate with non-technical university pro- the vital signs and pulse of the negative messages, and even Chemistry, Physics, Biology, are Laboratory Technician, ondary School Examination Secondary School Examina- grammes in Qatar or abroad, foetus, and do further tests for exits social media groups to Science, Social Science and Electronics and Communica- Certificates, in addition to tion Certificate and Micro- or directly join the labour pregnant ladies at 11-13 weeks avoid receiving such messages.” Physical Education. The tech- tions, and Information Tech- the Australian International soft Network Engineering market. More than 77,000 people in Qatar receive Eid meat from QC Tribune News Network Doha

Qatar Charity (QC) has dis- tributed 6,687 Udhiyah (sacri- ficial animals) valued at more than QR3mn, benefiting some 77,435 people, as part of its Udhiya campaign for the year 1441 AH. The beneficiaries included low-income families, widows, families of orphans registered with Qatar Charity, workers, and Asian and Arab expatriate communities residing in Qatar. Adahi were distributed to the beneficiaries through 15 branches of Al Meera across the distancing in view of the coro- Centers for Community Devel- to some expatriate communi- Qatar Charity thanked do- Qatar Charity also thanked implementation of the project. country from the second day to navirus (COVID-19) pandemic. opment and the Indonesian, ties such as the Syrian, Indian, nors for their generous con- Al Meera and Widam Food for Qatar Charity has provided the fourth day of Eid Al-Adha. Some 40 volunteers took Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Moroc- Nepalese, Sri Lankan, Filipino tributions to the ‘Udhiyah’ facilitating the distribution of Eid clothing to 450 children The distribution of Adahi took part in distributing meats to can and Tunisian embassies, and Malaysian communities project, urging them to con- Udhiyah to the beneficiaries from low-income families reg- place according to coupons the beneficiaries. Qatar Charity which received coupons to dis- via refrigerator trucks, while tinue supporting its projects in a well-organised manner. It istered with it and given Eid given to the beneficiaries before sought help from Qatari social tribute to the beneficiaries. workers received Udhiyah at and campaigns throughout the also extended thanks to all who gifts to 450 orphans sponsored Eid al-Adha to maintain social figures, various Qatar Charity The meat was delivered their place of residence. year. contributed to the successful by it. 04 Monday, August 10, 2020 Middle East / Africa

News in brief Andnger a Chaos Yemen’s rebels say floods kill 131, damage hundreds of houses Renewed protests as pressure Sana’a At least 131 people have been killed by recent flash floods inemen, Y the war-torn country’s rebels said on Sunday. According to the rebel mounts on Lebanon govt Health Ministry, 124 others have been hospitalized with AFP injuries in the wake of the Beirut torrential rains that have hit areas under rebel control. Lebanon’s political elite More than 200 houses faced pressure from all sides and other buildings have Sunday after a deadly explo- been wholly or partially sion blamed on official neg- destroyed by the flooding, ligence, with the first cabinet the ministry said in a state- resignation over the affair and ment. angry protesters clashing with Yemen has been in the security forces. grip of a devastating power As hopes faded of finding struggle between a Saudi- any survivors of Tuesday’s backed government and blast, social media was flood- Iran-linked Houthi rebels ed with furious posts after since late 2014. A Saudi- a night that saw protesters led Sunni coalition has briefly take over ministries in been fighting the Houthis in central Beirut. Yemen since 2015. (DPA) A picture went viral on so- cial media showing the city’s Sudan rains and devastated port, with a low floods claim 20 wall in the foreground bearing more lives the spray-painted message: “My government did this.” Khartoum At least 20 While it is not known what people were killed and 13 started the fire that set off a Lebanese protesters, enraged by a others wounded Sunday in huge stockpile of ammonium deadly explosion blamed on govern- torrential rains and flooding, nitrate, protesters say the ment negligence, clash with security the latest victims of days of disaster could not have hap- forces for the second evening in central flooding inS udan, the civil pened without the corruption Beirut on Sunday. (AFP) defence said. and incompetence that have Heavy rains typically come to define Lebanon’s rul- hit Sudan between June ing class. and October each year, and “Those who died paid the this week the country has price of a state that doesn’t The explosion French President Emmanuel In a joint statement issued after been badly battered by the care about anything except devastated Beirut Macron in Paris oversaw the conference, donors pledged downpour. power and money,” said pro- “20 people have died tester Tamara, 23, whose and took the lives of a UN-backed virtual donor the assistance would be “directly and 13 have been injured friend Rawan, 20, was killed at least 158 people, conference to raise aid for the delivered to the Lebanese population” while 345 houses were de- in the blast. stroyed or badly damaged” “It’s not enough that min- with 6,000 injured. cash-strapped country. under the leadership of the UN. across the country Sunday, isters resign,” said another of the civil defence said. her friends, Michel. The latest toll brings to “Those who put the ex- in the heart of the capital has 35 the number of people plosives there must be held served as shocking proof to killed since the end of July accountable. We want an in- many Lebanese of the rot at and to more than 7,000 ternational tribunal to tell us Aid flows in for devastated Beirut the core of the state apparatus. the number of houses who killed (Rawan).” Paris Several countries have joined in ● France has been sending tonnes of government has announced $15 million The blast wounded a stag- destroyed or damaged as The explosion devastated international efforts to provide humani- medical and food aid to its former colony, so far. gering 6,000 people, many a result of heavy rains and Beirut and took the lives of at tarian aid to Lebanon after last week’s dozens of search and rescue personnel ● Britain on Sunday pledged $26 bloodied by flying glass as the flooding.(AFP) least 158 people. devastation of the Beirut port. and forensic experts to aid the investiga- million in addition to five million pounds shockwave tore through the The Lebanese army’s The UN said some $117 million will tion, as well as reconstruction materials. already announced for emergency aid, city and left a 43-metre (141 Colonel Roger Khoury, who be needed over the next three months for On Sunday, the amphibious assault notably through the British Red Cross. foot) deep crater at Beirut’s Veteran South was leading a rescue team at health services, emergency shelter, food helicopter carrier Tonnerre left the French London has sent a medical team and port. African politician the blast site, said Sunday that distribution and programmes to prevent Mediterranean port of Toulon for Leba- humanitarian aid experts, and the Royal Diab said Saturday he Buthelezi positive “we have fading hopes of find- further spread of COVID-19, among other non, stocked with human and material Navy ship the HMS Enterprise is report- would propose early elections for COVID-19 ing survivors”. interventions. aid, including food and construction edly on its way. to break the impasse that is The catastrophe has re- Following is a roundup of aid pledges, equipment. ● Spain is to deliver medical materiel plunging Lebanon ever deeper Johannesburg Man- vived the mass anti-govern- notably those announced Sunday during ● Qatar has flown in field hospitals and equipment for the homeless in an into political and economic gosuthu Buthelezi, the ment protests that had for a remote donor conference hosted by and medical aid, and on Sunday its ruler army plane on Tuesday. It will donate 10 crisis. 91-year-old South African months demanded the whole- French President Emmanuel Macron at- Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani tonnes of wheat through the Olof Palme Parliament speaker Na- politician and founder of the sale removal of Lebanon’s po- tended by nearly 30 countries as well as pledged emergency aid of $50 million. He International Foundation. bih Berri called a meeting of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), litical elite, until coronavirus the EU and Arab League: said funding towards “the reconstruction ● Other donors include Norway at the legislature on Thursday at has been infected with the lockdown measures brought ● The European Commission added of Beirut” would be announced soon. 6.5 million euros, Denmark with around 0800 GMT “to question the coronavirus. an uneasy calm. another 30 million euros ($35.4 million) ● Kuwait pledged some $40 million. 20 million euros and Switzerland with 3.7 government on the crime that Buthelezi was in self-iso- On Sunday afternoon, to the 33 million already announced. “As ● US President Donald Trump, million euros). Nearby Cyprus has offered struck the capital”, accord- lation at his home and not hundreds gathered again in needs rise we are providing humanitarian without stating a figure, said Washington the use of its airport and ports, in addi- ing to the state-run National experiencing any symptoms, and around Martyrs’ Square, support to hundreds of thousands of the “stands ready and willing to continue tion to a pledge of five million euros. News Agency. his family said in a state- a short walk from the site of most vulnerable people,” commissioner providing aid to help the people of Leba- Brazil pledged to fly medical materiel The disaster has revived ment at the weekend. the blast. for crisis management Janez Lenarcic non in their recovery”. The White House and medicines to Lebanon, and to send anger at a ruling class seen as South Africa is the Police fired tear gas in an said in a statement. statement did not provide figures, but the 4,000 tonnes of rice by sea. (AFP) living in luxury while millions country worst-affected by attempt to disperse protest- endure job losses, deepening the coronavirus on the ers hurling stones and shoot- ber bullets. came as Lebanon was already In a joint statement issued tigation, in which the United poverty, power blackouts and African continent and bears ing fireworks near an access “Instead of deploying the reeling from an economic cri- after the conference, donors States stands ready to assist”. garbage mountains piling up the fifth-largest caseload in street to parliament, AFP cor- army to help residents clear sis that has seen its currency pledged the assistance would New aid pledges were in the streets. the world. respondents reported. rubble from their homes, collapse, plunging swathes of be “directly delivered to the made while the embattled Politics in multi-confes- Buthelezi, who turns 92 Demonstrators had briefly businesses, and communi- its population into poverty. Lebanese population” under government of Prime Minis- sional Lebanon is dominated later this month, was one of taken over several govern- ties, the Lebanese authori- On Sunday, French Presi- the leadership of the UN. ter Hassan Diab took another by former warlords from the the longest-serving politi- ment ministries the previous ties chose to deploy them and dent Emmanuel Macron in They also offered support hit Sunday with the resigna- 1975-1990 civil war who years cians in South Africa and is night, while security forces other security forces against Paris oversaw a UN-backed for an “impartial, credible and tion of information minister ago exchanged their military a former minister of home scuffled with larger crowds of protesters,” she said. virtual donor conference to independent inquiry” into the Manal Abdel Samad. fatigues for suits, or were re- affairs. He founded the protesters converging on the Saturday’s violence in- raise aid for the cash-strapped disaster -- something Presi- Several lawmakers also placed by their offspring and IFP in 1975. (DPA) epicentre of the protests. jured 65 people, according to country. dent Michel Aoun said would quit and local media reported nephews. Human Rights Watch’s the Lebanese Red Cross, while The world must respond only “dilute the truth”. Diab was mulling announcing While there are Sunni Lebanon researcher Aya Maj- lawyers supporting protesters “quickly and effectively” and US President Donald the government’s resignation. Muslim, Christian and myriad Moderate 5.1-level zoub said some security forces said security forces made 20 ensure aid goes “as efficiently Trump meanwhile urged Leb- The revelation that Leba- other groups, the most pow- earthquake hits had responded by indiscrimi- arrests. as possible to the Lebanese anese authorities “to conduct nese state officials had long erful is the Shiite Hezbollah western Iran, nately firing tear gas and rub- The August 4 explosion people,” Macron said. a full and transparent inves- tolerated a ticking time-bomb movement. causes little damage Tehran No people were hurt and there was no major damage to buildings, rescue workers said, after a moder- Six French tourists among eight killed by gunmen in Niger ate 5.1-magnitude earth- quake struck Iran’s western AFP “We are managing the situ- “Most of the victims were guished by its lighter colour, Kermanshah province Niamey ation, we will give more infor- shot... We found a magazine found a safe haven from poach- on Sunday. mation later,” Tidjani Ibrahim emptied of its cartridges at the ers and predators in the Koure The town of Gilan Six French tourists and their Katiella said, without indicat- scene,” the source told AFP. area. Gharb, on the border with local guide and driver were ing who was behind the attack. “We do not know the iden- Today they number in their Iraq, was worst affected, killed Sunday by gunmen rid- France’s presidency con- tity of the attackers but they hundreds and are a key tourist according to a report by the ing motorcycles in an area of firmed that French citizens had came on motorcycles through attraction, enjoying the protec- state-run IRNA news agency. southwestern Niger that is been killed in Niger, without the bush and waited for the ar- tion of local people and conser- Luckily the earthquake home to the last West African giving the number of dead. rival of the tourists.” vation groups. occurred outside residential giraffes, officials said. French President Emma- The source said the tour- However the Tillaberi re- areas, said the governor’s It is believed to be the first nuel Macron also spoke on the ists’ vehicle belonged to the gion is in a hugely unstable lo- office, according toT asnim such attack on Western tour- phone with his Niger counter- French humanitarian organi- cation, near the borders of Mali news agency. ists in the area, a popular at- part Mahamadou Issoufou, the sation ACTED. and Burkina Faso. Kermanshah was af- traction in the former French Elysee palace said. The source also described The region has become fected by a more powerful, colony thanks to its unique A source close to Ni- the scene of the attack, where a hideout for Sahel jihadist 7.3-magnitude, earthquake, population of West African or ger’s environmental services bodies were laid side-by-side groups such as the Islamic in 2017. At the time, 600 Niger giraffes. said the assault took place at next to a torched off-road ve- State in the Greater Sahara people were killed and “There are eight dead: two around 11:30 am (1030 GMT) hicle, which had bullet holes in (ISGS). nearly 10,000 were injured. Nigeriens including a guide six kilometres (four miles) east its rear window. The use of motorcycles has Some 70,000 lost their and a driver, while the other of the town of Koure, which is Around 20 years ago, a been totally banned since Jan- A photo shows the car in which six French tourists, their local guide homes. (DPA) six are French,” the governor an hour’s drive from the capital small herd of West African uary in an attempt to curb the and the driver were killed by unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles of the Tillaberi region told AFP. Niamey. giraffes, a subspecies distin- movements of such jihadists. in Niger on Sunday. (AFP) Asia / World Monday, August 10, 2020 05

New Zealand reaches 100-day milestone without virus transmission Several dead, AFP “We have seen overseas many missing Wellington how quickly the virus can re- emerge and spread in places Artwork by Prime Minister Ardern raises $12,000 for charity after monsoon New Zealand marked 100 where it was previously under Wellington An original attracted more than 200 bids “The fundraising dollar is for these children for travel rains in Pakistan days on Sunday with no re- control, and we need to be pre- sketch by New Zealand Prime and was viewed more than getting harder to come by so within New Zealand. We still corded cases of the corona- pared to quickly stamp out any Minister Jacinda Ardern has 33,000 times. any [financial] injection like wish to make dreams come DPA virus in the community but future cases in New Zealand.” raised 18,000 New Zealand Proceeds from the sale will this is wonderful. We never true and help them create life- Islamabad health officials warned there New Zealand, with a popu- dollars (12,000 US dollars) for go to Koru Care, a charity that dreamed that it would reach long memories,” Curran said. was no room for complacency. lation of five million, has won charity. supports New Zealand children what it has.” Normally the char- It is not the first time At least 13 people are dead There are still 23 active widespread praise for its effec- The artwork, titled “The who face life-threatening ill- ity would have used the funds Ardern’s artwork has been after heavy monsoon rains cases but all were detected at tive handling of the coronavi- Political Cycle,” went under the nesses or disabilities. to take children to California. auctioned off on the website, and flooding wreaked havoc the border when entering the rus since closing its borders on hammer on auction website Koru Care spokesperson “But since overseas travel with a piece called “To Do List” in several parts of Pakistan, country and are being held in March 19. Trade Me on Sunday. Tracey Curran said the charity is not an option at the mo- raising 2,500 New Zealand officials said on Sunday. managed isolation facilities. The World Health Organi- The one-off signed sketch, had to cancel its major annual ment, we will be using it to dollars for the charity Parent to Persistent rain flooded “Achieving 100 days with- zation has hailed the country which resembles a tornado, fundraiser due to Covid-19. make some special memories Parent in 2018. (DPA) dozens of villages in the out community transmission as an example to others for southern province of Sindh is a significant milestone, having “successfully eliminat- cases of the virus in New Zea- ers are enjoying a near-nor- the border strictly controlled second wave remains a pos- and the south-western however, as we all know, we ed community transmission”. land with the last case of com- mal, pre-coronavirus lifestyle and all arrivals required to sibility and is pushing for all province of Balochsitan can’t afford to be complacent,” Since the first patient was munity transmission recorded with no social distancing and spend 14 days in quarantine. households to keep emer- during the last three days. director-general of health diagnosed in February, there on May 1. spectators allowed at sports The government has gency supply kits including At least seven people Ashley Bloomfield said. have been 1,219 confirmed As a result, New Zealand- and cultural events, but with maintained the prospect of a masks. were killed in Karachi, the country’s most popu- lous city. Additionally, six people lost their lives in At least 43 killed Balochistan in the last 24 hours, officials said. in monsoon Hundreds of people Afghan govt-Taliban talks near were displaced by flooding landslide in in both the provinces. India’s Kerala Rescue workers were busy shifting people to saf- AFP er places. New Delhi after prisoners’ release approved The military said on Sunday that it had rescued At least 43 bodies have been AFP more than 100 people from recovered after a massive Kabul Dadu district in Sindh. landslide triggered by mon- soon rains swept away dozens The Afghan government and Flash floods, land of tea estate workers in south- the Taliban are “on the verge of erosion, cloudbursts, western India, police said peace talks” after thousands of droughts and smog Sunday. prominent Afghans approved resulting in low air The landslide in Idukki the release of about 400 con- district, around 250 kilome- tentious militant prisoners, the quality have been on tres (155 miles) from Kerala head of Kabul’s peace council the rise in Pakistan in state’s capital Thiruvanan- said Sunday. recent years. thapuram, occurred Friday The prisoners’ fate has but the ongoing search and been a crucial hurdle in launch- “More than a dozen rescue efforts have been ham- ing peace talks between the two people are still missing in pered by torrential down- warring sides, which had com- Balochistan,” Younus Aziz pours. mitted to completing a pris- Mengal, a spokesperson for The toll rose to 43 on Sun- oner exchange before negotia- the provincial disaster man- day afternoon, Idukki dis- tions can start. agement authority said. trict’s police chief, R. Karup- The resolution was passed He said that the flood- pasamy, told AFP. at the end of a three-day “loya ing had damaged bridges Twenty-six of the bod- jirga” -- a traditional Afghan Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and highways, cutting off ies were recovered on Friday meeting of tribal elders and A photo shows Afghan people attend the last day of the Loya Jirga, a grand assembly, at the Loya Jirga Hall speaks during the last day of the Gawadar, a port city on the night, a police official said other stakeholders sometimes in Kabul on Sunday. (AFP) Loya Jirga. (AFP) Arabian Sea. earlier Sunday. held to decide on controversial Pakistan’s Met office Local media reported that issues. ment to give assurances to the cess and was appointed head of other countries for their role in announced. predicted 20 percent more some 78 people were believed “In order to remove the population that the released the loya jirga. “high-profile” attacks. On the first day of the rain and urban flooding to live in the area, with many hurdles for the start of peace prisoners would be monitored Afghan President Ashraf Five are linked to the 2018 gathering, lawmaker Belquis this monsoon season and still missing. talks, stopping bloodshed, and and would not be allowed to Ghani said he would sign a de- attack on the Intercontinental Roshan, a prominent wom- asked authorities to take Kerala has been hit by for the good of the public, the return to the battlefield, add- cree to release the prisoners on Hotel in Kabul that killed 40 en’s rights activist, protested precautionary measures. deadly floods during the an- jirga approves the release of ing that foreign fighters should Sunday. people, including 14 foreigners. against the release of the pris- Flash floods, land ero- nual monsoon. 400 prisoners as demanded by be sent back to their respective “The Taliban should now The family of French aid oners, unfurling a banner that sion, cloudbursts, droughts The monsoon across the Taliban,” jirga member At- countries. demonstrate that they are not worker Bettina Goislard who read: “Redeeming Taliban is and smog resulting in low South Asia is critical to efa Tayeb announced. It also demanded a “seri- afraid of a nationwide cease- was murdered in Afghanistan national treason.” air quality have been on the replenishing rivers and According to an official ous, immediate and lasting fire,” he said. in 2003 said they would not ac- The decision has raised rise in Pakistan in recent groundwater, but also causes list seen by AFP, many of the ceasefire” in the country. US Secretary of State Mike cept the release of her killers, hopes for peace talks, however. years. widespread death and de- inmates are accused of seri- “The decision of the loya Pompeo pushed for the release who are on the list. “Based on the information Climate experts say struction. ous offences, including many jirga has removed the last ex- of the detainees, while recog- “Such a decision to free I have, the intra-Afghan talks it is the impact of global More than 300 people involved in attacks that killed cuse and obstacles on the way nising the decision would be (them) made on the basis of would begin within two to three warming, but also due to have died in floods and land- scores of Afghans and foreign- to peace talks. We are on the “unpopular”. horse-trading would be, to us, days after the release of the the country’s proximity to slides in eastern and north- ers, with more than 150 of verge of peace talks,” said Ab- The prisoners include 44 her family, inconceivable,” Bet- 400 Taliban prisoners,” former highly industrialized China eastern India, Bangladesh them on death row. dullah Abdullah, who is leading insurgents of particular con- tina’s family said in a statement president Hamid Karzai told and India. and Nepal in recent weeks. The jirga urged the govern- the government’s peace pro- cern to the United States and to AFP before the decision was the loya jirga.

Australia records 17 COVID-19 Sri Lanka’s prime minister sworn in after record victory at polls DPA Prime Minister Rajapaksa deaths in highest daily tally so far Colombo served two terms as the coun- try’s president from 2005 to DPA Australia’s total death toll from “I do not want a situa- Mahinda Rajapaksa was 2015. Sydney COVID-19 to 295. tion where the bad behaviour, sworn in Sunday as Sri Lanka’s He then returned to par- Victoria is the epicentre the poor choices of a smaller prime minister after a landslide liament after a constitutional The Australian state of Vic- of a second-wave outbreak of number of people in any way victory for the ruling party in amendment by the former gov- toria recorded 17 deaths from the coronavirus in Australia, detract from, I think, a grow- Wednesday’s parliamentary ernment limited presidential Covid-19 in 24 hours, the high- which has forced the city of ing number of Victorians who elections, officials said. terms to two, effectively stop- est daily fatality tally the coun- Melbourne into a severe six- are doing the right thing,” An- Monks chanted prayers as ping him from contesting for a try has seen so far, according week lockdown, including a drews said at his daily press the 74-year-old was sworn in Sri Lakan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (right) swears in his elder third term. He has also served to figures released on Sunday. night-time curfew and stiff conference. for another five-year term be- brother Mahinda Rajapaksa (left) as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister as prime minister on three pre- Victoria recorded 394 new fines for those who break the Nearly 1,000 Victorian fore President Gotabaya Raja- at the sacred Kelaniya Raja Maha Buddhist temple in Colombo on vious occasions. coronavirus cases since Satur- health regulations. health care workers have be- paksa, his younger brother, at Sunday. (AFP) The victory of the ruling day, state premier Daniel An- Andrews said people fail- come infected with the virus, a historic Buddhist temple in party is a boost for President drews said. ing to follow the rules for half of them nurses. Kelaniya, 10 kilometres from the support of minor parties trailed far behind with only Rajapaksa, who took office in The previous highest death wearing masks in public and Other Australian states, the capital. to seal a two-thirds majority of 24 percent of the votes and 54 November last year, as he now toll was 15 deaths just four only leaving home for essen- where infection rates have The ruling Sri Lanka Podu- 150 members in the 225-seat seats. has a strong parliamentary ma- days ago - with all of the fatali- tial reasons had contributed to been reduced to a handful or jana Party (Sri Lanka Peoples’ parliament. The results have bolstered jority to pass legislation and ties recorded in Victoria. the rising case numbers in the zero, have sealed their borders Party) won 145 seats (59 per- The main opposition, the the powers of both Rajapaksa any amendments to the consti- The Sunday figures bring state. to Victoria. cent of the vote) and obtained United People’s Front (SJB), brothers. tution.

Taiwan tightens virus quarantines Nagasaki marks 75 years since atomic bombing for arrivals from the Philippines AFP ceremony in Nagasaki where ourselves in an irrevocable when the bomb hit Nagasaki, DPA conference on Sunday. Nagasaki they called for world peace. predicament.” remembers the moment eve- Taipei Of the 32 imported cases Participants offered a si- UN Secretary General An- rything went white with a flash of COVID-19 into Taiwan since The Japanese city of Naga- lent prayer at 11:02 am (0202 tonio Guterres, in a message of light, and the aftermath. All international arrivals origi- July, 20 patients were passen- saki on Sunday commemo- GMT), the time the second read by his undersecretary Atomic bomb survivors nating from the Philippines will gers originating from the Phil- rated the 75th anniversary of and last nuclear weapon used Izumi Nakamitsu, warned that “believe that the world must soon be quarantined at govern- ippines, Chen said. its destruction by a US atomic in wartime was dropped over “the prospect of nuclear weap- abandon nuclear arms be- ment-run facilities to lower the Government statistics show bomb, with its mayor and the the city. ons being used intentionally, cause we never want younger risk of spreading the coronavi- that, in July, the number of in- head of the United Nations “The true horror of nuclear by accident or miscalculation, generations to experience the rus, Taiwan said on Sunday. ternational arrivals from the warning against a nuclear weapons has not yet been ade- is dangerously high.” same thing”, he said. Starting Wednesday, visi- Philippines exceeded 700. arms race. quately conveyed to the world “The historic progress in The remembrance comes tors from the Philippines will The decision was made due Nagasaki was flattened in at large” despite decades of nuclear disarmament is in as worries linger over the nu- have to undergo a 14-day quar- to recent spikes in COVID-19 an atomic inferno three days effort by survivors telling of jeopardy... This alarming trend clear threat from North Korea antine in government-run facil- cases in the Philippines, Chen after Hiroshima -- twin nu- their “hellish experience”, Na- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo must be reversed,” he said. and growing tensions between ities, not at home or hotels, ac- said, citing statistics showing clear attacks that rang in the gasaki mayor Tomihisa Taue Abe lays a wreath during a Prime Minister Shinzo the US and China over issues cording to Health and Welfare that the average number of nuclear age and gave Japan said in a speech afterwards. ceremony marking the 75th an- Abe refreshed his pledge that including security and trade. Minister Chen Shih-chung, who new daily cases there was about the bleak distinction of being “If, as with the novel coro- niversary of the atomic bombing Japan would lead “the inter- “I’m determined to keep heads the Central Epidemic 3,500 in the past two weeks. the only country to be struck navirus -- which we did not of Nagasaki, at the Nagasaki national community’s efforts appealing (to the world) that Command Centre. As of Sunday, Taiwan, a by atomic weapons. fear until it began to spread Peace Park on Sunday. (AFP) towards the realisation of a Nagasaki must be the last “Keeping them at concen- country of 23.8 million people, Survivors, their relatives among our immediate sur- nuclear-free world”. atomic bomb-hit city,” survi- trated quarantine facilities can has reported only 480 corona- and a handful of foreign digni- roundings -- humanity does of nuclear weapons until they Terumi Tanaka, 88, who vor Shigemi Fukahori, 89, said better protect our communi- virus cases and seven virus-re- taries attended a remembrance not become aware of the threat are used again, we will find was 13 and at his hillside home at the ceremony. ty,” Chen told a televised news lated deaths. 06 Monday, August 10, 2020

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

It’s Taken Biden A While To Pick A LegCo Election Should Be Running Mate Postponed To Avoid Unfairness

The charge that delay in announcement of vice The ‘primary election’ launched by the opposition camp had already earned them an unfair presidential mate shows Biden’s indecisiveness advantage over other candidates by jump-starting their campaigning activities, doesn’t stand scrutiny. Even former presidents declared their running mate a few days which itself constitutes an abuse of election expenses limits before the Democratic convention Tony Kwok China Daily ORMER US Vice President qualified to work in the White Joe Biden is taking some House than the current occu- HE Legislative Council election is sched- Fheat for postponing the pant of the Oval Office. uled for September 6, and already raucous announcement of his choice It’s especially unseemly electioneering activities are underway, with of a running mate, a decision that in some eyes women of prominent displays of the radical opposition he once suggested would be colour are being pitted against camp’s flag boldly promising “revolution” to made at the beginning of this one another. Referring to nar- Tthe bitter end. And they are doing it with the con- month but now could be more ratives portraying a contest viction that they could secure the magic number of than a week away. between Rep Karen Bass (D- “35-plus” seats, the minimum required to catapult The impatience among California and Senator Kama- them into the house majority. his fellow Democrats isn’t la Harris (D-Caliornia.), Rep They have vowed that they would veto every bill all that surprising. Although James E Clyburn (D-S Caro- as well as the annual budget, which would ultimately vice presidential nominees lina) complained: “Nobody is bring all government services to a screeching halt. With typically haven’t swayed many trying to pit Senator Elizabeth such a promised dire scenario, the administration must voters, Biden’s pick is more Warren against (Michigan start earnestly now to prepare all contingency plans eagerly anticipated than usual Governor Gretchen) Whit- with the utmost care, and ensure that this very impor- for several reasons: his age (he mer,” two white candidates. tant election is conducted in irreproachable fairness. would be 78 on Inauguration Besides, Biden isn’t drag- With less than six weeks to go before the LegCo ID-19 infections. The postponement should therefore and Causeway Bay on July 1. Further police research, Day), his promise to choose ging the process out in com- election, Hong Kong is being buffeted by a third-wave be viewed simply as responsible government action including double-checking the intelligence record of a female running mate and parison to other recent presi- pandemic onslaught of unprecedented ferocity, which rather than a denigration of democracy. the police anti-riot team, can be made to verify this. By the speculation that he will dential candidates. In 2016, saw a sharp upswing in COVID-19 infections of over Unfortunately, a decision by the special administra- connecting the dots, we might produce the convincing choose a woman of colour. both Donald Trump and 100 cases per day. To compound the problem, the or- tive region government to postpone the LegCo election evidence to show that postponing the election is the Biden added to the build- Hillary Clinton waited until a igin of many of the infections could not be traced. In in the current climate would most certainly be played right thing to do to avoid another spate of costly street up by suggesting that he few days before their respec- the circumstance, if we allow the election to proceed as up by the opposition camp as a move to suppress de- violence and social disruption. would make his choice well tive party conventions to an- scheduled, letting over 4 million voters to queue up to mocracy and the voice of the people. It would also be Another major reason for postponing the election is in advance of the Democrat- nounce their running mates. cast their votes, the inevitable proximity of this sea of leveraged by the West to criticise the central govern- that it is estimated that over 1 million registered voters ic convention. By prolonging In 2008, Barack Obama in- humanity would most certainly trigger another major ment and as an excuse to impose sanctions on Hong are out of Hong Kong and hundreds of thousands are the selection process now, troduced Biden as his choice outbreak of the pandemic, which could only result in Kong and mainland officials. Thus the SAR govern- on the Chinese mainland. These people are entitled to he invites accusations that on Aug 23, two days before the total collapse of our medical services. ment should be prepared to provide evidence-based vote if they have registered addresses in Hong Kong. It he’s indecisive or has no the first day of business at the Considering the fact that most of our hospitals are justification for a likely postponement. would be extremely unfair if they are prevented from good options. Meanwhile, Democratic convention. already operating under great strain, the election and Firstly, relevant medical evidence should be offered coming back to Hong Kong to vote because of the cur- the delay has allowed attacks Biden supporters worried the subsequent huge pandemic outbreak would very as the core justification for the decision. It would not rent quarantine restrictions. The Election Commission on the various candidates to about the delayed announce- likely become the proverbial straw that broke the cam- be difficult for us to display a chart to show that we can easily check the voter registry against the Immigra- multiply. ment should calm down. The el’s back of our economy, as we are already struggling needed at least two months to put each of the first two tion Department’s records to come up with an accurate But seriously, people — vice presidential choice mat- with an all-time high unemployment rate of 6.2 percent waves of COVID-19 outbreaks under control. Consider- figure showing exactly how many registered voters are get a grip. As with many in- ters and merits scrutiny, but and the closure of thousands of small businesses. ing the ferocity of the current third wave of infections, now out of the territory and might have been deprived side-the-Beltway dramas, this that part of the race will be a The ultimate aim of a fair and democratic election with the origin of hundreds of cases untraceable, it is of the right to vote. one was ginned up largely by sideshow in 2020, just as it is that the results truly reflect the views of a majority of clearly “mission impossible” to bring the pandemic un- Under the current rules, the chief executive can media and political insiders has been in previous years. voters. But due to the constraints of the pandemic, this der control before the election day. It is imperative that postpone the LegCo election for 14 days, which is clear- looking to promote their fa- Whoever Biden picks, the at- is not possible at present nor in the immediate future. supportive relevant independent scientific data can be ly not enough for the return of normalcy. I suggest that voured veepstakes candidate. tention of Democrats — and Firstly, many voters, particularly the elderly, might be released along with the announcement of a postpone- we follow the UK’s postponement of its local elections At the end of the day, all that of principled Republicans deterred from coming out to vote due to their concerns ment. And we should not rely solely on local experts, as for one year. This can be done through the authority of matters is whether the person and independents — will over COVID-19 infections. Secondly, with the voters at least two of them appeared to have hidden agendas the chief executive in Emergency Regulation, which has Biden chooses is qualified to quickly focus on the impera- wearing face masks, it would be difficult for the polling against the SAR and central governments. We should been held up by the Court of Appeal in the recent ap- be on the ticket, and every tive of ending the misrule of station staff to verify their true identities, which might secure the backing of renowned international experts peal over the anti-mask law. name floated thus far is more the incumbent. incentivise imposters, as had happened in the last Dis- to obviate any accusation of bias. An international ex- To ensure continuation of LegCo’s work after expi- trict Council election. The “primary election” launched pert team should be appointed, headed by Margaret ry of the current members’ term of office, their service by the opposition camp had already earned them an Chan Fung Fu-chun, the former head of the World can simply be extended for another year. If there is any unfair advantage over other candidates by jump-start- Health Organization who led our battle against SARS doubt on its legitimacy, the extension can be promul- ing their campaigning activities, which itself constitutes in 2003, together with one serving WHO consultant gated by the National People’s Congress. Indeed, there an abuse of election expenses limits. All that amounts and one local expert. The team would be tasked with are added advantages in the extension as LegCo can to a strong argument to postpone the election until the examining the available scientific and medical data and then continue to examine the outstanding bills and pandemic is under control. advising the government on the way forward concern- public fund applications, saving precious time and re- It is not as drastic a decision as it might seem on ing the schedule of the LegCo election. sources in waiting for a new assembly of legislators to face value because it actually is in line with the can- The opposition camp’s public protest on July 1, with debate them all over again. The Election Commission cellation of the popular Hong Kong Marathon, the tens of thousands of its followers running around Wan can also take the time to launch the electronic voting Annual Book Fair and the Rugby Sevens. For a re- Chai and Causeway Bay, and the “primary election” system to rectify the abuses that occurred in the last sponsible government, people’s health must always on July 11 and 12 all over the city are the major con- District Council election. Besides, the extension pro- be of paramount importance. Indeed, according to tributing factors for the current pandemic resurgence, posal would most likely be welcomed by the Civic Party the International Institute for Democracy and Elec- according to some local healthcare professionals. It and Democratic Party, as it would save their incumbent toral Assistance, at least 68 countries or regions had might be helpful if the police could look deeply into the members from being ousted by their incoming radical postponed their national or regional elections be- background of all new cases of COVID-19 since July 1 to opposition counterparts! tween Feb 21 and July 26 because of COVID-19. For ascertain how many of them might have been involved example, the United Kingdom postponed its local in these events. Intriguingly, according to insider infor- (The author is an adjunct professor at council elections in 118 constituencies for one year to mation, the police computer system used to trace the HKU Space and a council member of the May next year. In contrast, France proceeded with its spread of COVID-19, the Major Incident Investigation Chinese Association of Hong Kong and local council elections on March 15, after which four and Disaster Support System (MIIDSS), has revealed Macao Studies. The views do not necessarily (Tribune News Service) mayors and deputy mayors died because of COV- that one-third of the new cases had been to Wan Chai reflect those of China Daily) What We Know So Far About COVID-19 And Children Children get sick and die from coronavirus far less often than adults do, but that doesn’t mean they are immune

Issam Ahmed A total of 45 children died from given that children are more prone How easily do they become infect- Agence France-Presse the coronavirus in the United States to severe cases of flu, it wasn’t obvi- ed? 2) How much do they spread the between February 1 and August 1 -- ous at the start of the pandemic that virus once they have it? S President Donald Trump has compared to 105 who died from sea- children would be less susceptible to There have now been several been censored on Facebook and sonal flu -- out of a total of 13,000 COVID-19. studies on the first part that do in- UTwitter after saying children are children who died of all of causes There is also a highly rare, post- deed seem to suggest children, espe- “almost immune” from COVID-19. over the period. viral condition called Multisystem cially younger children are infected What do the facts say? When they do catch the virus, Inflammatory Syndrome in Chil- less often. We know for sure children are children are far less likely than dren (MIS-C) which can develop Icelandic researchers selected less likely to fall seriously ill from the adults to fall seriously ill. about a month after SARS-CoV-2 just over 13,000 people for viral coronavirus, and emerging evidence An informative study of 2,143 infection and causes multiple organs screening, including some 850 chil- suggests they’re less likely to be in- confirmed or suspected cases of to become painfully inflamed. dren under 10. The overall preva- fected too. What’s less clear is how coronavirus among children in Chi- As of July 15, the CDC had re- lence of the coronavirus was 0.8 much they spread the virus once in- na found 94 percent of cases were ported 342 cases and six deaths percent, but no children under 10 fected. asymptomatic, mild or moderate. -- a death rate of under two per- were infected. Under-18s have accounted for Those children who do fall ill cent. The average age was eight- Similar surveys carried out in just two percent of hospitalised often have underlying conditions. A years-old, and 70 percent of cases Spain, Italy and Switzerland all had COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 study found all 10 paediatric patients occurred among either Hispanic or similar results, finding children ac- percent of all deaths in the United who were hospitalised in Chicago in is that children get sick and die from Some limited research indicates black children. counted for a far smaller proportion States, according to statistics from March and April with COVID-19 COVID-19 far less often than adults infants (under one) may be at slight- The next question is, are children of infections compared to adults. the Centers for Disease Control and had either pre-existing conditions or do, though that does not mean they ly higher risk than older children. major drivers of viral transmission? That said, this remains an area Prevention (CDC). co-infections. The bottom line here are immune. It’s worth emphasising that This breaks down into two parts: 1) of ongoing study.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Europe / Americas Monday, August 10, 2020 07 Opening all schools a ‘national priority’: British PM Brazil surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths DPA restrictions may be needed to reopen AFP Senate speaker Davi Alcolumbre London classrooms in England next month. Rio de Janeiro The coronavirus outbreak in announced four days of mourning in The prime minister’s expecta- Brazil is showing no sign of slow- Congress to pay tribute to the coun- Opening all of Britain’s schools up tion is that schools would be the last Brazil on Saturday surpassed ing as it enters its sixth month try’s 100,000-plus virus victims. from the coronavirus lockdown is a sector to close, with firms being shut 100,000 coronavirus deaths and The coronavirus outbreak in Bra- “national priority,” says Prime Min- first in the event of severe local lock- three million cases of infection, new deaths in the past 24 hours, as zil is showing no sign of slowing as it ister Boris Johnson. downs, a source close to the prime crossing the grim milestone after well as 49,970 fresh cases. enters its sixth month. “Keeping our schools closed a minister said on Saturday, accord- President Jair Bolsonaro said he had But the official figures are most The country’s first confirmed moment longer than absolutely nec- ing to a report by Press Association a “clear conscience” on his response likely an undercount, with experts COVID-19 case was identified in Sao essary is socially intolerable, eco- news agency. The source said John- to the outbreak. estimating that the total number of Paulo on February 26, with the first nomically unsustainable and mor- son would close businesses includ- With 100,477 fatalities and infections could be up to six times death on March 12, also in the city. ally indefensible,” Johnson wrote in ing shops, pubs and restaurants first, 3,012,412 confirmed cases, the South higher due to insufficient testing. Brazil marked 50,000 deaths a an editorial for the Mail on Sunday with schools remaining open for as American nation of 212 million peo- Brazil has seen 478 deaths per hundred days later, but then doubled Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson newspaper. long as possible. ple is the second hardest-hit coun- million people, a figure roughly that total in just half the time. holds a brick during a visit to a con- Johnson is believed to only fa- Britain’s school holidays end in try in the global pandemic, after the equivalent to that of the United Bolsonaro’s government is on its struction site in Warrington, north west vour closing schools as a last resort, early September, when teaching is United States. States (487), but lower than that of third health minister since the virus England, recently. (AFP) after scientific advisers warned more due to begin for all levels. The health ministry reported 905 Spain (609) or Italy (583). reached the country.

BBC apologises for using US hits 5 million COVID-19 cases as racial slur in report on attack DPA journalism which the BBC London should be reporting on and Trump criticised over relief package we will continue to do so.” Britain’s BBC apologised “Yet despite these good in- AFP White House economic ad- on Sunday for using a racial tentions, I recognise that Washington visor Larry Kudlow defended slur in a report about a racist we have ended up creat- the new measures. attack, saying the decision ing distress amongst many The United States on Sun- “Maybe we’re going to go to do so had unintentionally people,” Hall wrote accord- day reached the extraordi- to court on them. We’re going caused distress. ing to a report by PA news nary milestone of five million to go ahead with our actions The report, about an at- agency. coronavirus cases as President anyway,” he said. tack on a National Health “The BBC now accepts Donald Trump was accused Treasury Secretary Steven Service worker in Bristol that we should have taken of flouting the constitution by Mnuchin issued a statement last month, quoted in full a different approach at the unilaterally extending a virus Sunday saying Trump “was the N-word allegedly used time of broadcast and we relief package. fully committed to making by the attackers. are very sorry for that. We The US has been ham- sure that hardworking Ameri- The broadcaster initially will now be strengthening mered by the COVID-19 pan- cans and businesses continue defended using the rac- our guidance on offensive demic, recording over 162,000 to have the resources they ist language on journalistic language across our out- deaths -- by far the highest of need as our country safely reo- grounds, leading BBC radio put,” he wrote. any country, ahead only of pens.” DJ Sideman, whose real The report described Brazil which on Saturday be- Trump’s Democratic oppo- name David Whitely, to quit an alleged attack in which came the second country to nent in the presidential elec- the corporation. two men in the city of Bris- pass 100,000 deaths. tion, Joe Biden, tweeted that Broadcast regulator Of- tol were suspected to have The global death toll is at five million coronavirus cases com said it had received driven into a black man in least 727,288 since the novel was “a number that boggles hundreds of complaints a racially-motivated assault. coronavirus emerged in China the mind and breaks the heart. about the report. The discussion comes last December, according to “It shouldn’t have gotten Lord Anthony Hall, the alongside increasing aware- a running tally from official this bad,” he said. director general of the BBC, ness about racial justice, sources compiled by AFP. Elsewhere, growing in- emailed all staff on Sunday, after global demonstrations Nearly 20 million cases Medical assistants wait for clients to arrive for their COVID-19 test at Patient First in Hamilton Township, fections in and around Paris saying, “It should be clear and protests unleashed by have been registered world- New Jersey. (TNS) prompted French officials to that the BBC’s intention was the killing of George Floyd, wide -- probably reflecting make face masks compulsory to highlight an alleged rac- a black man, by a white po- only a fraction of the actual New Jersey will, among other outdoors in crowded areas ist attack. This is important lice officer in the US. number of infections. The four executive things, defer payroll taxes and and tourist hotspots in the city As around much of the provide some temporary un- and surrounding areas from globe, the small African coun- orders Trump signed employment benefits. Monday. try of Malawi on Sunday im- on Saturday will, The president was seen as The mask will be obligato- posed tight social restrictions among other things, keen to show himself taking ry for all those aged 11 and over to try to contain the disease, defer payroll taxes decisive action ahead of a No- in “very crowded zones,” said Czech police suspect arson in shutting all bars and churches, vember 3 election that could a police statement, including while hot weekend weather and provide some see him ousted from office, the banks of the Seine River apartment fire that killed 11 drew crowds in Europe to the temporary with polls showing a large ma- and more than 100 streets in beach. unemployment jority of voters unhappy with the French capital. DPA here apparently and a guest In Washington, the new his handling of the crisis. As temperatures soared Prague came who was not invited,” virus relief package -- an- benefits Democrats say the presi- across western Europe, holi- deputy mayor Igor Bruzl told nounced by Trump on Satur- dent’s orders infringe on Con- daymakers crowded beaches Eleven people were killed CTK news agency. day after talks between Repub- Schumer, appearing on ABC, Democrats appeared skittish gress’s constitutional author- at the weekend despite warn- and 13 injured in the eastern The guest was probably lican and Democrat lawmakers dismissed Trump’s unilateral about any legal challenge to a ity over the federal budget. ings about the risk of infection. Czech Republic after a fire at the tenant’s former husband, hit a wall -- was “absurdly un- measures as “unworkable, relief package they see as seri- But Pelosi demurred when Local authorities in Ger- an apartment building that according to a report by news- constitutional,” senior Demo- weak and far too narrow.” ously inadequate. asked about possible legal ac- many warned that some was likely to have been caused paper MF Dnes. crat Nancy Pelosi told CNN. But with the nation’s econ- The four executive orders tion, saying, “whether (it was) beaches and lakes would be by arson, officials said. All of the people who died Fellow Democrat, Sen- omy still struggling to dig it- Trump signed on Saturday at legal or not takes time to figure closed if there were too many Traces of an accelerant were in the same apartment, ate minority leader Chuck self out of an enormous hole, his golf club in Bedminster, out.” people. were found at the building, a said Interior Minister Jan police spokeswoman said on Hamacek, who initially had Sunday. assumed the fire followed a A suspect has been ar- neighbourhood dispute. rested, and investigators say The fire spread unusually US begins highest level Taiwan visit in decades a family argument could have quickly, firefighters said. led to the fire. Witnesses said they saw AFP Health Secretary Alex Azar will comes as relations between the Taiwan trip as an opportunity department official told report- Ten residents were injured people jumping out of the win- Taipei meet President Tsai Ing-wen, world’s two biggest economic to learn from the island’s fight ers ahead of the visit. along with three emergency dows to escape the smoke and who advocates Taiwan being powers plunge to historic lows. against the coronavirus and to But Beijing balks at any workers, two of them seri- flames. “Terrible, I could hear A senior member of US Presi- recognised as a sovereign na- In recent days, Trump has celebrate its progressive values. recognition of self-ruled Tai- ously. the screaming all the way to dent Donald Trump’s admin- tion and is loathed by China’s ordered sweeping restrictions “This trip is a recognition wan, which it claims as its own The conflagration broke the children’s playground,” a istration landed in Taiwan leaders. on popular Chinese apps Tik- of Taiwan’s success in combat- territory and vows to one day out on Saturday afternoon in local resident said. on Sunday for Washington’s Tsai’s office said the meet- Tok and WeChat and the US ing COVID-19 and a testament seize, by force if necessary. an apartment on the 11th floor Fire chief Vladimir Vlcek highest level visit since switch- ing would take place Monday Treasury Department slapped to the shared beliefs that open It has described Azar’s visit of the 13-storey prefabricated said it was tragic that the res- ing diplomatic recognition to morning. sanctions on Hong Kong’s and democratic societies are as a threat to “peace and stabili- high-rise building in the city of cue air cushion had only been China in 1979, a trip Beijing has Azar is the most senior US leader over a tough law that best equipped to combating ty”, while China’s defence minis- Bohumin, on the border with seconds away from being in- condemned. cabinet member to visit Tai- curbs dissent. disease threats like COVID-19,” ter warned against Washington Poland. flated and ready to catch those During the three-day visit wan in decades and his visit Washington has billed the a health and human services making any “dangerous moves”. “There was a celebration fleeing the fire.

News in brief Lukashenko wins Belarus presidential Five dead, one missing as floods hit Greek island Athens Five people including a baby died and another person vote with 79.7%: Official exit poll was missing on Sunday as torrential rains and floods swept the Greek island of Evia, damaging dozens of houses and AFP from running. blocking roads. Minsk Tens of thousands of sup- Huge queues had formed The eight-month-old baby was found dead in a house in the porters attended her rallies outside polling stations in village of Politika on Sunday, a fire service spokesman said. Longtime Belarusian lead- and many voters wore the Minsk and other cities The baby’s parents were unharmed. Hours earlier, a man and er Alexander Lukashenko won opposition’s trademark white before voting ended, after woman, both in their 80s, were found unconscious by firefight- Sunday’s presidential election bracelets at polling stations ers in two houses in the same village, the spokesman said. with 79.7 percent of the vote, on Sunday. challenger Tikhanovskaya They were confirmed as dead at the hospital.(AFP) according to the official exit Huge queues had formed urged her supporters to poll, after a tense campaign outside polling stations in vote late, to give the author- Activists end 34-hour crane protest at that saw a woman opposition Minsk and other cities be- ities less opportunity to fal- occupied Berlin power station candidate posing a historic fore voting ended, after Tikh- sify the results challenge. anovskaya urged her support- BERLIN: Police said four environmental activists on Sunday Main opposition challeng- ers to vote late, to give the came down from a crane on the grounds of a coal-fired power er Svetlana Tikhanovskaya authorities less opportunity to ing voters to cast their ballots. station in Berlin, ending a 34-hour protest for clean energy. came second with 6.8 percent, falsify the results. “I hope that the vote will The activists left the crane in the Berlin district of Moabit on according to the poll for state Central Election Commis- also end without any prob- Sunday afternoon, a police spokesperson said. broadcaster MIR. sion chief Lidia Yermoshina, lems” at these stations, she Police said a further 16 activists had earlier left the site, Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year- who had earlier denounced said on public television. adding that the protesters’ details had been taken for trespass- old English teacher by train- the queues as an “organised The atmosphere in the ing charges. On Saturday, activists occupied the Berlin power ing and stay-at-home mother, provocation”, said most poll- capital Minsk was tense, with station and another in Mannheim as part of a campaign to mounted a surprise opposition ing stations had closed at 8:00 police and special forces on encourage the government to transition away from coal faster campaign against Lukashenko pm (1700 GMT) as planned the streets and many resi- than is currently planned. (DPA) after her husband, a popular but that voting would be ex- Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko casts his ballot at a polling dents saying it was impossible blogger, was jailed and barred tended at some to allow wait- station during the presidential election in Minsk on Sunday. (AFP) to connect to the internet. Staff still shun London’s ‘ghost town’ finance hubs page 9

Monday, August 10, 2020

27,433.48 9,398.90 38,040.57 2,035.55 +46.50 pts -12.93 pts +15.12 pts Gold -1.36% Algeria economy rocked by COVID-19 Dow QE sensex crisis, low oil prices page 10 Price percentage Price percentage 27.54 Brent 44.40 -1.53% WTI 41.22 -1.74% Silver -3.03% Woqod opens petrol station, Fahes in Al Mazrouah

leum products and achieve The petrol station has two Number of Woqod petrol stations in Qatar the goal of providing cus- lanes with four dispensers rises to 105 after today’s opening tomers with access to best- for heavy vehicles, which will in-class products and servic- serve Al Mazrouah area, and Tribune News Network tion, Woqod has raised its es at their convenience and its neighbourhood. Fahes Doha network of petrol stations comfort.” has two lanes for light vehi- to 105. “Woqod team would like cle inspection and 12 lanes As part of its ongoing ex- Woqod Managing Direc- to extend their gratitude to for trucks. pansion plans to be able tor and CEO Saad Rashid all concerned governmental Al Mazrouah Woqod pet- to serve every area in the Al Muhannadi said, “We are and private entities that con- rol station offers round-the- country, Qatar Fuel (Wo- pleased to open a new Woqod tributed to the completion of clock services to customer, qod) opened petrol station petrol station and Fahes in Al this project,” he said. and includes manual car and Fahes in Al Mazrouah Mazrouah. Woqod aspires to The new Al Mazrouah wash for trucks, oil change on Sunday. expand its petrol station net- Woqod petrol station and and tire repair for trucks, With the opening of work in the country to meet Fahes is spread over an area in addition to sale of diesel Al Mazrouah petrol sta- the rising demand for petro- Al Mazrouah petrol station and Fahes is spread over an area of 40,000 square metres. of 40,000 square metres. products for trucks.

GCC states to issue sukuk Qatar’s merchandise trade worth $170 bn in second half

Tribune News Network hits QR21.2 billion in May Doha GCC countries will lead a Exports by private rally in sukuk issuance in the second half of 2020 with low sector increased oil prices and a consequent 7% to QR609.6 mn surge in deficits triggering strong financing demand in May this year among sovereign issuers, Moody’s Investors Service Tribune News Network has said in its latest report. Doha However, after four years of rapid growth, overall glob- The total value of foreign merchan- al sukuk issuance is set to fall dise trade in May reached QR21.2 bil- five percent in 2020 to about lion, an increase of 9.8 percent from $170 billion in the aftermath QR19.3 billion in April, Qatar Cham- of the coronavirus pandemic, ber (QC) has said in its monthly eco- it added. nomic newsletter for July. “The decline will be part- Released on Sunday, the issue ly limited by the financing highlighted the most prominent trends needs of the GCC countries in the Qatari economy as well as statis- because of lower oil prices tics related to foreign trade and trade and the pandemic,” said Ni- of the private sector in May 2020. tish Bhojnagarwala, vice- The report, prepared by QC’s Re- president and senior credit searches and Studies Department officer at Moody’s. highlighted the ‘Developing Partner- “We expect issuance will ship between Public and Private Sec- rally in the second half of the tors’ conference held on July 7 via year to around $90 billion, video conference. led by sovereigns in the Gulf,” The QC report also included fig- Bhojnagarwala said. ures from the Planning and Statistics Despite the decline, 2020 Authority (PSA) to substantiate the will still see the second high- trade figures. est sukuk issuance total ever, The figures indicate that the state’s following a 36 percent in- foreign trade has grown to its normal crease in 2019. Total issu- level before the pandemic of COV- ance in the first six months ID-19, backed by an increase in the of 2020 dropped to $77 bil- value of exports and imports. lion, down 12 percent from In May 2020, the total exports In May 2020, South Korea was and China with QR1.057 billion, a through GCC model that increased by Petrochemicals exports were in the same period last year, as of goods including exports of goods at the top of the countries of destina- share of 13.4 percent. Germany comes 18 percent and the general model by third place with exports reaching activity in Malaysia and Indo- of domestic origin and re-exports tion of Qatar’s exports with a value in fourth place with about QR0.345 6 percent. QR15 million compared to QR13 mil- nesia flagged. reached QR13.3 billion, an increase close to QR2.12 billion and represent- billion, a share of 4.4 percent, followed Data included in the report showed lion in April. Issuance in Southeast of 12.7 percent compared to QR11.8 ing a share of 15.8 percent of total ex- by Turkey with QR0.291 billion, a that the chemical fertilisers group In May 2020, India was at the Asia dropped by 25 percent, billion in April, while imports during ports. China was second with almost share of 3.6 percent of the total value. came first in the private sector exports top of the countries of destination of while volumes in the Middle the same month reached about QR7.9 QR1.870 billion representing a share The report also featured the trade list at QR40 million, recording a sharp private sectors exports with close to East rose seven percent. In billion, recording an increase of 5.3 of 14.1 percent. It was followed by Ja- of private sector during May accord- increase compared to QR117000 QR178 million, a share of 29 percent the second-half, Moody’s said, percent compared to QR7.5 billion in pan, India and the USA. ing to the certificate of origin issued in April. of the total exports. Oman came in volumes are likely to rebound April. With regards to Qatar’s imports by the chamber. The private sector’s The second was helium gas and second place with almost QR98 mil- as governments raise money to Therefore, the foreign merchan- according to the country of origin in exports in May increased by 7 per- industrial gas group, with exports lion and a share of 16 percent, followed finance their responses to the dise trade balance, which represents May, the United States was the leading cent to QR609.6 million compared to amounting to QR130 million, an in- by Turkey with about QR 53million, a coronavirus crisis. the difference between total exports country with about QR2.12 billion, a QR572.2 million in April. crease of 319 percent compared to QR share of 9 percent. “Persistently low oil prices and imports, showed a surplus of share of 26.7 percent of the total im- Exports during May through the 31 million in April, followed by chemi- UK came in fourth place with al- could also increase deficits QR5.4 billion, recording an increase of ports amounting to QR7.9 billion. It ‘GSP’ have the largest value, increas- cal substances which reached QR72 most QR30 million, a share of 5 per- and financing needs among 25.5 percent compared to QR4.3 bil- was followed by the UK with QR1.305 ing by 126 percent than the value million compared to QR53mn in April, cent, and Norway with about QR29 oil-exporting issuers, primar- lion in April. billion almost, a share of 16.5 percent, of April. It was followed by exports an increase of 35 percent. million, a share of 5 percent. ily in Gulf countries,” it said QSE to apply new mechanism for error correction from today Satyendra Pathak effectiveness,” the exchange on the basis of reasonable jus- “It is not permissible to to the fees for trading com- ty on QSE in terms of the error Doha said in a statement posted on tifications, the QSE may ac- amend any data in the trade mission. The broker shall no- trade or its correction,” it said. its website. cept correction applications except for the NIN, and it is tify the related parties of the “The exchange shall as- Qatar Stock Exchange As per the QSE, the new after the time period stipulat- not permissible for the cor- corrected trades on the same sess the mechanism and (QSE) on Sunday announced correction mechanism will ed in the previous clause, pro- rected trade to exceed the day during which the correc- procedures after the lapse of that it will apply a new mecha- start from August 10, Mon- vided that it does not exceed shareholder’s ownership per- tion takes place,” it said. six months from the date of nism for the correction of er- day. the end of the trading period centages or contradict the rel- The exchange shall pro- their application and submit rors contained in the investor Providing details about on the business day following evant regulations. The process vide QFMA with a weekly re- its recommendations in this number ‘NIN’ executed trans- the terms and procedures for the execution of the trade, on of correcting the trade shall be port on the trades that have regard to the QFMA. The actions. correcting error trades, QSE condition that the QFMA shall executed in the private mar- been corrected in the private trade correction application “The move is in line with said, “The time period dur- be notified and provided with ket, regardless of the value of market, including all of the must include the correction QSE’s endeavour to follow the ing which an error trade cor- copies of all relevant docu- the trade,” QSE said. documents submitted to the justifications and supporting international standards and rection application can be ments and justifications,” “The exchange must ap- exchange regarding the cor- documents. In the event that practices applied in the finan- received shall end before the QSE said in the statement. prove the trade correction rected trades, it said. the request does not fulfill the cial markets and in order to start of the pre-opening pe- The trade shall be cor- application before the broker “The broker undertakes to documents required for the offer the best approaches and riod on the next day from the rected no later than the end of executes the correction. The bear the legal consequences of correction, it shall not be tak- mechanisms that boost the fi- date of the trade.” the business day following the exchange shall collect fees for the error trade or its correc- en into consideration,” QSE nancial market efficiency and “In cases of necessity and date of the trade, it said. trading corrections equivalent tion, without any responsibili- said in the statement. Economy & Business Monday, August 10, 2020 09 China’s mask makers struggle to survive after price drop

AFP by AFP said orders had Beijing dropped significantly and some said they were refo- Tens of thousands of cusing their business. mask-making companies “Our company has sever- mushroomed across China al business lines, we stepped at the start of the coronavi- up the production of masks rus pandemic, but many are when the pandemic hard-hit struggling to survive as they China, but we will shift back face stricter quality control to our other productions in measures and falling do- the future,” said one sales mestic demand. director surnamed Xu at a China launched a huge company that makes medi- effort to produce protective cal products in northern gear to meet shortages dur- Hebei province. ing the outbreak, which first Xu said the company emerged in the country late now sells each mask for 0.4 last year before spreading yuan (about six US cents) across the globe. -- a quarter of the price they More than 73,000 com- sold for at the height of Chi- panies registered as mask na’s domestic outbreak ear- makers in the first half of the year -- including over 36,000 new companies in More than 73,000 com- April alone -- as prices and panies registered as demand soared. mask makers in the first But the influx of new half of the year -- A solitary pedestrian walks past the Gherkin office block in London recently.( Afp) companies led to a “dilu- including over 36,000 tion in quality and a surge in scams”, according to China- new companies in April based researchers at Daxue alone -- as prices and Consulting, as firms from demand soared carmakers to diaper pro- Staff still shun London’s ducers converted produc- tion lines to make masks. lier this year. Now the outbreak is After international com- largely under control in plaints about low grade mainland China, domestic products, Chinese authori- mask demand has dropped ties now demand a cer- ‘ghost town’ finance hubs dramatically, pushing prices tificate of quality for those down. looking to export masks, “Our orders have been which has also hit some of Only 34 percent of executives in Britain -- 31 percent in London -- are back in the office slashed five or sixfold since the smaller producers. April,” said Yang Hao, a Between March and AFP ance, are not coming back to even sparked “resentment” to- wants “our people back to- sales director at CCST, a May, China exported more London work until next year,” said wards those staying away. gether”. company in the southern than 50 billion face masks Pablo Shah of the CEBR eco- Some tabloids have cho- “We also have a respon- city of Shenzhen that makes -- a tenfold increase for to- Deserted streets, empty nomic consultancy. sen their side, with the Daily sibility to places like Canary air purifiers but added tal production last year, ac- restaurants, shuttered stores: Although London’s busi- Mail -- whose parent com- Wharf, (cities) like Manches- masks to its repertoire. cording to analysts. London’s financial districts ness districts are typically Huge loss pany owns two free commuter ter, like Glasgow,” he added. “We do not need to pro- The government used remain largely abandoned by more empty at the peak of newspapers hard-hit by the Kevin Ellis, chairman of fi- duce masks days and nights mask donations as a propa- workers still worried about the summer, the city has looked The CEBR estimated the new work-from-home culture nance giant PwC, expects half every day now.” Some of the ganda tool described by ana- pandemic and reluctant to re- like “a ghost town” recently, pandemic resulted in £2.3 -- running several front page of his staff will be back by next companies that piled into lysts as “mask diplomacy” to turn to office life. he added. billion of lost spending in and opinion articles demand- month. the industry are now back- deflect blame for the virus. The City, a square mile in Part of the reason is com- shops, pubs and eateries near ing a return to offices. But he told the Sunday ing out. China Labour Bul- However, global friction the heart of the British capi- panies have adopted remote London employment hubs “We’ve had our lunch, Times that the shift to working letin, which tracks worker has also had an impact on tal traditionally home to the working successfully. between March and June, now let’s get back to work!” from home had “bashed away unrest in the mainland, said the ease of business. finance industry, was eerily Many employees have be- while the capital is losing screamed the paper’s front presenteeism forever”, adding there had been a number of Exports to the United quiet over the past week, with come comfortable holding around £178 million per page Tuesday, the day after that three or four days a week protests in recent months States are done via a third just a smattering of tourists meetings via videoconferenc- month compared to the government launched a in the office may become the due to some mask factories country due to soaring dip- strolling the streets around St. ing and appear more than pre-pandemic levels restaurant support scheme new normal. closing abruptly and leaving lomatic tensions between Paul’s Cathedral. happy to do without the long paying a chunk of diners’ bills. Prime Minister Boris staff unpaid. Washington and Beijing, In Canary Wharf in east and costly daily commutes to However, it may be disap- Johnson’s government has Companies contacted CCST’s Yang said. London’s Docklands, known offices. from the coronavirus, lags pointed with the response. been pushing the return to for its skyscrapers housing the Fears over using public behind its continental neigh- Large companies like Nat- work, despite the number of headquarters of major banks transport and childcare issues bours, which have seen a ma- West Bank have recommend- virus cases starting to slowly and related firms, it is a simi- remain the prime obstacles jority of white-collar employ- ed that the majority of their increase, to help drive an eco- lar story. The picture has not to office returns, according to ees return to workplaces. employees continue to work nomic recovery. changed much despite the business lobby London First. The divide between those remotely until next year. “Unquestionably it will re- government encouraging em- But it expects things to working from home and others Google, which has re- quire people to have the confi- ployees to begin returning to change more significantly in who have returned to offices is started building its huge head- dence to go back to work in a workplaces since August 1 in September, when children are showing signs of causing fric- quarters next to King’s Cross COVID-secure way,” Johnson a bid to boost the struggling set to return to school. tion within some companies, station, is even encouraging said on Thursday. The damage British economy. Only 34 percent of execu- according to human resources working-from-home until is already enormous for many It is up to individual com- tives in Britain -- 31 percent analysts. next July. A change in tone is businesses. panies to decide how forceful- in London -- are back in the Katie Jacobs, from the noticeable among some firms, Cafe chain Pret A Manger, ly to urge their staff back and office, a study by SU bank Chartered Institute of Person- with Barclays bank boss James which has a strong presence many are opting for a more Morgan Stanley reported this nel and Development, wrote Staley leading the shift. in the City, has already an- N95 masks sit stored in a medical supply area at the Austin relaxed approached. week. in the Daily Telegraph that it He noted 60,000 staff are nounced the closure of many Convention Center in Austin, Texas recently. (afp) “Many of our clients, par- The country, which has the had “fractured” some work working “from their kitchen sites, with 1,000 jobs threat- ticularly in finance and insur- highest death toll in Europe environments and anecdotally tables” and said the company ened. Huawei reveals Seamless AI Life experience to make life easier liver the world’s most exciting new and user-friendly experience with Amid challenging times, Huawei pointed to a 25% intelligently connected digital ex- 1+8+N. rise in monthly active users across its product & perience. Huawei has continuously dem- The ‘1’ represents the smart- onstrated its collaborative nature, software ecosystem worldwide phone, which is central to the eco- often working with leading brands system, connecting and control- such as Leica and Devialet to en- Tribune news network crease in monthly active users ling the wider devices. The ‘8’ is hance the customer experience. Doha across its product and software the peripheral connected devices, The company has announced ecosystem worldwide. Now home such as FreeBuds 3, Watch GT 2, five new partnerships as it continu- Huawei Consumer Business to 650 million monthly active us- Sound X, MatePad Pro, MateBook ally expands the 1+8+N ecosystem Group (BG) has recently shared ers, Huawei’s latest updates on the X Pro and HUAWEI Vision. The with new additions every week. details of a revolutionary new 1+8+N ecosystem show that more ‘N’ is the layer where everything Some of these artners include, experience for consumers - the people are enjoying a Seamless AI comes together, denoting the mil- Samsonite the world’s leading lug- Seamless AI Life experience. The Life as they effortlessly stay con- lions of IOT devices that are ef- gage brand, 360 Robot Vacuum product of a long-term business nected with friends, family, col- fortlessly connected using Hua- Cleaner, providing an intelligent plan focused around the innova- leagues and loved ones. wei HiLink technologies, with the and automated floor cleaner that tive 1+8+N product and software Connectivity has become the plus symbol representing Huawei can be remotely controlled and ecosystem, Huawei’s Seamless AI most valuable commodity in recent Share and HiLink, the technolo- monitored using the Huawei AI Life experience is set to help users times, and Huawei’s commitment gies that seamlessly connect eve- Life app on a Huawei device, and stay connected effortlessly and at to creating a world where every- rything together. Kärcher, the world’s leading pro- all times. thing works together intelligently, Huawei, a brand which has vider of cleaning technology, to Together with a newly an- seamlessly and effortlessly is now unrivalled expertise in building name but a few. nounced range of IOT ecosystem more important than ever. With networking infrastructure, is also In addition to the exciting new partners and AppGallery applica- the increasing availability of 5G HUAWEI - Vision one of two device companies in hardware partnerships, Huawei tions, Huawei promises to make networks, growing use of IOT de- the industry to have built its own has also added a range of popular life more seamless and intelligent- vices and rising demand for seam- putting an increased emphasis on to every home, person and organi- software and hardware ecosys- apps to the Huawei AppGallery. ly connected for consumers. Users less user experiences, Huawei con- audio, wearables, PCs, tablets and sation to create a fully connected tems. These two factors mean that Including a complete range of apps everywhere can now simply tap to tinues to add value for consumers other categories of connected tech- intelligent world. Controlled by Huawei can bring unique benefits across a number of important ver- connect and enjoy the rich benefits through the unique benefits of the nology. the smartphone and connected by to consumers through distributed ticals, this represents a significant of a Seamless AI Life. 1+8+N ecosystem. Huawei’s long- With the smartphone at the EMUI, Huawei’s ecosystem brings technology, which unlocks vital step forward for Huawei and is set Amid challenging times, Hua- term strategy will see the company core, Huawei’s 1+8+N strategy together a collection of new tech- privacy and security benefits in to delight users of the latest smart- wei pointed to a 25 percent in- expand its product focus areas, outlines its vision to bring digital nologies that work together to de- addition to providing a seamless phones and tablets. 10 Monday, August 10, 2020 Economy & Business Gaming community worries as Trump moves to ban TikTok and WeChat dpa Los Angeles Trump’s executive order targetting TikTok and WeChat is ambiguous and some experts say the order is based President Trump’s two execu- more on rhetoric than specifics of how those apps function tive orders targeting Chinese com- panies went public just after 6m Pacific on Thursday. The first went after TikTok, to no one’s surprise. The video app had been the subject of intensify- ing rhetoric from the Trump ad- ministration for weeks. The order declared that all US entities would be banned from doing business with parent company ByteDance starting in 45 days - a deadline that may serve mostly to put a shot clock on Microsoft’s negotiations to buy TikTok. The second order was a curve- ball. In a tangle of commas, it pro- hibited “any transaction that is re- lated to WeChat,” a messaging app ubiquitous in China and used by more than a billion people around the world, with Tencent Holdings, WeChat’s parent company, “or any subsidiary of that entity.” By 7 pm, the gamers were freaking out. Trump, tweeted Noah J Nel- son, “basically just declared war on gamers as a whole. I’m sure that will work out nicely for him.” In addition to WeChat, Tencent either owns or holds stakes in the largest video game companies in America. Los Angeles’ Riot Games, creator of “League of Legends,” is a fully owned subsidiary of Tencent, and the company owns 40 per cent of Epic Games, which makes the wildly popular “Fortnite.” It also holds 5-per-cent stakes in gam- ing giants Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, and ownership or invest- ment stakes in a number of other game studios. The bulk of the executive order focused on WeChat, laying out a case that the messaging app is a threat to national security. “Like TikTok, WeChat auto- matically captures vast swaths of information from its users,” the order reads, “This data collec- A man cycles past a sign for Tencent, the parent company of Chinese social media giant WeChat, outside the Tencent headquarters in Beijing recently. (AFP) tion threatens to allow the Chi- nese Communist Party access to “reviewing the executive order to ambiguous enough that it could be “Do I think the secretary of try and made it very real - even about that - this has been an in- Americans’ personal and propri- get a full understanding.” A little applied to anybody who transacts commerce is going to go to that though this might be a false alarm, tensely politically driven process.” etary information.” The order after 8 pm, White House officials business with any company related level?” Sullivan said. “Probably who’s to say that there won’t be Tencent’s ownership of American also says that WeChat tracks Chi- offered some reassurance, clarify- to Tencent if the secretary of com- not, but under this executive order another one right behind it?” The game studios has also given rise to nese nationals visiting the United ing that the order was meant to merce decided to cast that wide of he has the power to do that.” Ste- confusion around the executive or- genuine political and security con- States, and censors messages and focus only on transactions specifi- a net. “I’m sure that the adminis- ven Blickensderfer, a technology- der targeting WeChat doesn’t end cerns. Last year, Activision Bliz- content that the Chinese govern- cally related to WeChat. tration would say it’s not meant and video game-focused attorney with its ambiguous language. The zard stripped a professional video ment deems politically sensitive, But administration officials to do that, but looking at the lan- with Carlton Fields who also hosts premise underlying both the Tik- game player of his championship as has been reported by NPR and have not gone into further detail guage of it, there’s definitely a le- a game-focused legal podcast, said Tok and WeChat orders, according title after he spoke out in support researchers at the University of since, and legal experts say that gal argument that it could apply.” the announcement caught him off to some business and cybersecu- of Hong Kong protesters, which Toronto. the ambiguous language - and Although a company is typically guard. “I was as surprised as eve- rity policy analysts, is based more many saw as a sop to its growing But the fuzzy phrasing seemed the provision that the secretary of considered a subsidiary when a ryone else at how broadly worded on rhetoric than the specifics of Chinese user base and Tencent’s to leave the door open to banning commerce, Wilbur Ross, has the parent company holds more than it was, in terms of what you could how those apps function. investment stake. business with any of Tencent’s vid- power to define the transactions in 50-per-cent ownership, Sullivan interpret it to cover,” he said. “At a high level, there are real A Times investigation found eo game companies. Even though question in the next 45 days - still noted that the executive order did Disentangling the Chinese and cybersecurity, data privacy and that a number of companies, in- TikTok had been dominating leaves room for the government to not provide a concrete definition, US gaming markets, the world’s information manipulation ques- cluding Riot Games, created time- the headlines for weeks, Tencent go after the game studios. so could be used to pursue even two largest, would be massively tions to ask about WeChat and tracking surveillance tools for quickly became a trending topic “The language is atrocious,” the companies that Tencent has difficult, Blickensderfer added. Chinese apps in general,” said Chinese players in response to a on Twitter, with panicked gamers said Bryan Sullivan, partner at Los invested in, such as Snap, Spotify, “Gaming is so closely tied with Justin Sherman, a fellow with Chinese government initiative to predicting a mass uprising in re- Angeles law firmE arly Sullivan Universal Music Group, and the China,” he said. “This brought the the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at reduce the time spent by children sponse. The company said it was Wright Gizer and McRae, and is various video game studios. trade war to the gaming indus- the Atlantic Council. “This is not on video games. Algeria economy rocked by coronavirus crisis, low oil prices

Pandora’s box will be opened... on the number of new jobs cre- The country’s construction sector, riots, irredentism, religious ex- ated. tremism”. He called for major pro- a major provider of jobs, has been President Abdelmadjid jects such as agro-industrial paralysed for months Tebboune has already ruled zones in the country’s vast de- out seeking loans from the IMF sert south, with processing in- AFP of Economics in Oran. or other international financial frastructure, extended railways Algiers Excluding the energy sec- agencies, in the name of “na- lines and new towns to service tor, GDP fell by 1.5 percent tional sovereignty”. them -- all built with local man- Currency depreciation, year-on-year in the 1st quarter, Algeria has painful memo- power. inflation, negative growth, against an increase of 3.6 per- ries of its 1994 recourse to the While acknowledging that businesses closed: Algeria’s cent last year compared to Q1 IMF and a structural adjust- hydrocarbons will remain the economy has been battered by 2018. ment plan that resulted in main revenue source for the the one-two punch of the coro- With confinement meas- massive job cuts, shutdowns next 5-10 years, an exit from navirus crisis and tumbling oil ures in place since March 19 and privatisations. The govern- the economic crisis must be revenues. to curb the spread of the novel ment is about to launch an eco- based on new national and And unless remedial action coronavirus, sectors such as nomic recovery plan and decid- decentralised governance, is taken on a massive scale, a services and freight have come ed at the start of May to halve says economist Abderahmane slide into foreign debt will be- to a virtual standstill. the state’s operating budget. Mebtoul. Algeria must “bring come inevitable, economists The construction sector, A 2020 complementary together all political, economic warn. a major provider of jobs, has finance act is based on a de- and social forces... (and) avoid The National Office ofS ta- been paralysed for months. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad (left) in Algiers recently. (afp) crease in revenues to around division on secondary issues”, tistics (ONS) has reported a Finance Minister Aymen 38 billion euros, against the 44 he said. 3.9 percent fall in Gross Do- Benabderahmane estimates restaurants, cafes and travel rule of ousted longtime presi- crude prices. billion euros initially forecast. Mebtoul appealed for “a mestic Product (GDP) in the the losses of state-owned en- agencies, risk bankruptcy. dent Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The International Mon- Experts say any solution state-citizen symbiosis involv- first quarter alone, with unem- terprises at nearly one billion Algeria faces an “unprec- Due to a lack of diversifi- etary Fund (IMF) forecast that will require drastic reforms. ing elected officials, compa- ployment nearing 15 percent -- euros ($1.17 billion). edented economic situation”, cation, the Maghreb region’s Algeria’s economy will shrink Kedidir urged authorities nies, banks, universities and “alarming” figures, according Private sector losses have said Prime Minister Abdelaziz largest economy is highly de- 5.2 percent this year. to introduce lower interest civil society in order to fight to Mansour Kedidir, associate yet to be assessed, but many Djerad, who has also blamed pendent on oil revenues and Kedidir predicts that un- rates, accounting for the infor- against a paralysing bureau- professor at the Higher School closed businesses, including mismanagement under the exposed to fluctuations in less reforms are brought in, “a mal sector and tax cuts based cracy”. Monday, August 10, 2020 11 Economy & Business

Road test Damaged ship leaking oil Tapping future tech, Chinese ‘robotaxis’ off Mauritius could split: PM take riders for a spin

Further rupture AFP “It was very smooth,” Da could unleash a Shanghai said, adding that she would feel safe in such a car. spill that will be Chinese entrants in the Test subjects use DiDi’s beyond catastroph- race to put autonomous mobile app to plot a ride vehicles on the road are through suburban roads in a ic for the island’s bringing “robotaxis” online Volvo fitted with a crown of economy, ecosystem in hopes that a hired-car tech hardware topped by a format can be the key to spinning radar device. unlocking wide acceptance The vehicle confidently AFP of the futuristic technology. sets out, accelerating, brak- Port Louis It is expected to be years ing, signalling and turning before cars that operate on its own in real traffic as a A ship that ran aground off completely without human female voice calmly nar- Mauritius leaking tonnes of oil intervention are unleashed rates: “Yielding for cross- into the ocean is cracking, the owing to lingering tech- walk”; “Your car has been prime minister said Sunday, nological, regulatory, and disinfected”. threatening an even greater safety hurdles. When a large truck ecological and economic disas- But as China challenges abruptly swerved in front, ter for the island nation. US tech dominance, Chi- DiDi’s AI driver smoothly More than 1,000 tonnes of nese players such as Baidu, applied the brake. fuel has seeped from the bulk Alibaba-backed AutoX Like any student driver, carrier MV Wakashio into the and ride-sharing king DiDi however, it still needs azure sea off southeast Mauri- Chuxing recently launched practice. tius, befouling the coral reefs, autonomous taxi pilot At one stop sign, it white-sand beaches and pris- projects in cities around the braked so abruptly that pas- tine lagoons that lure tourists country. sengers lurched forward. from around the globe. Similar efforts are under And any impromptu But another 2,500 tonnes way in the US, and AutoX’s deviation from the plot- remain aboard the stricken chief executive Xiao Jianx- ted route requires human vessel, which ran aground on a iong told AFP the first fully- intervention. reef on July 25 but only started autonomous vehicles could But Meng Xing, chief oozing from a crack in the hull be on the roads by the end operating officer of DiDi’s in the past week. A helicopter hovers over the vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground and caused oil of the year. autonomous driving com- Experts warn a further rup- leakage near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 8, 2020. (AFP) Robotaxis or delivery pany, told AFP its AI system ture could unleash a spill that services are considered ideal “is already smart enough to will be beyond catastrophic for back the oily tide. “People have realised that for accumulating the driving handle most of the situa- the fragile coastal ecosystem Mitsui OSK Lines, which What happened? they need to take things into time and huge data cache tions”, and safety drivers upon which Mauritius, and its operates the vessel owned by their hands. We are here to needed for cars to “learn” almost never need to touch economy, relies. another Japanese company, ● The MV Wakashio, a bulk-carrying ship that had no cargo, protect our fauna and flora.” and become safe enough. the steering wheel or brakes. Prime Minister Pravind promised Sunday to “make all- ran into a reef off the southeastern tip of the main island two Police boarded the Japa- Chinese consumers Tesla chief executive Jugnauth said response crews out efforts to resolve the case”. weeks ago. nese-owned but Panamanian- -- known for eagerly em- Elon Musk, known for his had managed to stymie the “We are terribly sorry,” the flagged Wakashio onS unday bracing e-commerce, online overly rosy predictions, leak for now, but were bracing shipping firm’s vice president, ● Battering waves cracked its hull open and seized the ship’s log book payments and other digital raised eyebrows in July for the worst. Akihiko Ono, told reporters in and black box as part of inves- solutions -- are lining up by saying the US electric “The cracks have grown. Tokyo. ● The ship began leaking its engine fuel on Thursday. tigations into the disaster. for a spin in DiDi Chuxing’s carmaker could have a The situation is even worse,” But some fear the damage The bulker struck a reef at self-developed autonomous completely autonomous he told reporters late Sunday. is already done. Nearly 1,000 tonnes of oil has leaked from ship since it ran Pointe d’Esny, an ecological taxis at a Shanghai pilot car ready this year, which “The risk of the boat break- Aerial images show the aground. jewel fringed by idyllic beaches, project launched in June. analysts have dismissed. ing in half still exists.” enormity of the disaster, with colourful reefs, sanctuaries for Underlining the work- - ‘Long way’ to go -Paul Japan said Sunday it would huge stretches of crystal-clear Around 2,500 tonnes of fuel remained in the ship. rare and endemic wildlife, and in-progress nature of the Lewis, who heads policy send a six-member expert team seas around the marooned unique RAMSAR-listed wet- concept, a DiDi staffer occu- research at the Washington- to assist with what Mauritius cargo ship stained a deep inky lands. pies the driver’s seat, ready based non-profit Eno Center has declared an unprecedented black. If the ship breaks in two, the for the resignation of the en- Mauritius and its 1.3 mil- to take the wheel if needed. for Transportation, told AFP environmental emergency. Thick muck has coated situation will be out of control,” vironment and fisheries min- lion inhabitants depend cru- But Da Xuan, a 24-year- that hopes are being “reset” France also dispatched a mangrove forests and un- Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, an isters, while volunteers have cially on the sea for ecotourism, old social-media worker, as the pace of the technol- naval vessel, a military aircraft spoiled inlets up and down oceanographer and environ- ignored an official order to having fostered a reputation as leapt at a taste of the future. ogy’s development disap- and technical advisers from the coastline, exacting irrepa- mental engineer, told AFP. leave the clean-up operation to a conservation success story - ‘Smooth’ running points. nearby Reunion Island after rable harm and undoing years “We’re talking about a ma- local authorities, donning rub- and a world-class destination -”I heard companies like “Technology developers Mauritius appealed for inter- of painstaking conservation jor disaster that is progressing, ber gloves to sift through the for nature lovers. The spill is Uber or Tesla were doing are starting to realise the national help. work, environmental activists and it’s getting more compli- sludge. a double blow for tourist op- autonomous driving, so I limits of artificial intelli- Thousands of volunteers, say. cated hour by hour.” “People by the thousands erators who had hoped foreign was curious what Chinese gence and the benefits of the many smeared head-to-toe in - ‘Already too late’ -The Pressure is mounting on are coming together. No one tourists could soon return to companies were doing, human brain in handling black sludge, have marshalled slick has already begun drift- the government to explain is listening to the government Mauritius. The Indian Ocean whether they can go into some of these tasks,” he along the coastline, stringing ing further up the coast, fanned why more was not done in the anymore,” said Ashok Subron, nation has no active cases of production, and if so, what said, adding we remain “a together miles of improvised along by strong winds and cur- two weeks since the bulker ran an environmental activist at coronavirus, and had declared will the (riding) experience long way” from driverless floating barriers made of straw rents. aground. Mahebourg, one of the worst- wary victory after a long stretch be like,” she said. cars. in a desperate attempt to hold “I think it’s already too late. The opposition has called hit areas. without any new infections.

Saudi Aramco profits dive 73% as virus batters oil demand AFP The behemoth, recently stand in contrast to the losses mco’s chief executive Amin slumped by 50.5 percent to Riyadh dethroned by Apple as the reported by its rival energy gi- Nasser said in a statement. $23.2 billion, compared to world’s most valuable listed ants, which are reeling from a “Yet we delivered solid $46.9 billion in the same pe- Energy giant Saudi Ara- company, posted a net profit drop in oil demand since the earnings because of our low riod last year. mco said on Sunday its sec- of $6.6 billion for the three start of the novel coronavirus production costs, unique The results underscore ond-quarter profits plunged months to June 30 compared pandemic. scale, agile workforce and un- a downbeat oil market as a massive 73 percent due to to $24.7 billion for the same “Strong headwinds from rivalled financial and opera- pandemic-driven economic sharply lower oil prices as the period of 2019. reduced demand and lower tional strength.” shutdowns crush the de- coronavirus crisis undercuts The results are in line with oil prices are reflected in our Aramco’s net profit for mand for crude oil across In this August 6 picture, an Apollo Robotaxi is seen on a street in global demand. analysts’ expectations but second quarter results,” Ara- the first half of the year also the globe. Changsha. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP)

Peanut butter to applesauce: Virus fears force US to stockpile food

TCA/DPA The warehouse in Fife is said WSDA Director Derek our end.” But as the WSDA cant effects on the big food Seattle, Washington part of that new model. After Sandison. “This [warehouse] was trying to buy as much non- bank distributors’ bottom seeing food banks struggle to is a continuation of our ef- perishable food as it could to lines. In Washington state’s new meet demand once the pan- forts to make sure we have fu- increase the state’s emergency “Over a seven-month span food warehouse, there’s demic hit and the economy sions of product that will help reserves, so was everyone else. during this crisis, we’ll spend enough Jif peanut butter to tanked, the Washington state us to continue to weather the Not only was the WSDA more on purchasing food than make nearly 3 million sand- Department of Agriculture, storm.” The storm took hold in competing with other states we have for the previous four wiches. or WSDA, began preparing to mid-April, Sandison said dur- and large national food-assis- years combined,” said Thomas Barilla pasta boxes stretch buy and stockpile tons of food ing a tour of the warehouse on tance programs, it also faced Reynolds, chief executive of to the ceiling, 100,000 in all. to ward off a shortage in the Friday. That’s when the state’s competition from grocery Northwest Harvest. Large stacks of TreeTop ap- months ahead. three main food bank distribu- stores as national supplies of And six months into the plesauce, pancake mix and The new stockpile is driven tors - Food Lifeline, Northwest products such as pasta and pandemic and economic cri- canned green beans sit on pal- by two major factors: A nearly Harvest and Second Harvest - peanut butter were becoming sis, those costs haven’t gone lets, like soldiers waiting to be doubling in demand for food told the WSDA that, based on increasingly hard to come by. down, Newte said. Many food sent into duty. assistance across the state and the spike in requests for food “Peanut butter was a very distributors are still waiting on Since the coronavirus cri- a national food supply chain Some 194,000 one pound jars of peanut butter are stored at the Fife assistance, the organizations highly wanted and needed food they ordered months ago, sis first rocked Washington in that is bogged down amid an warehouse. had roughly a two-week sup- commodity,” said Gary Newte, he said. March, non-profits and state overwhelming surge in de- ply of food for hunger relief. sourcing and product director “I bought a couple loads of agencies working in food as- mand. rity, according to Katie Rains, tance programs last Novem- “We went into panic for Northwest Harvest. product yesterday that will ar- sistance have been forced to As many as 2.2 million WSDA food policy adviser. ber, before the pandemic. mode,” Sandison said. “That’s “Peanut butter prices have rive in October,” Newte added. draw a completely new road Washingtonians _ about 30 That’s more than double the “We’ve been in this very not an exaggeration.... So we probably tripled in the last Most bulk food orders, he said, map for getting food to people per cent of the state’s popula- 850,000 state residents who desperate situation starting jumped in with both feet and three to four months.” These could take anywhere from six who need it. tion _ are facing food insecu- sought help from food assis- toward the end of March,” started active procurement on high costs are having signifi- to 12 weeks to arrive. South African rookie Binder wins Czech Moto GP page 15

MONday, AUGUST 10, 2020

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Final venue Lusail Stadium’s contruction making steady progress

Venue for the final of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium is making steady progress and is taking shape. It will also become the centerpiece of Lusail City, Qatar’s city of the future. Its futuristic design takes inspiration from the bowls and vessels used in Qatar and the region for centuries. An impression (on right) of how the stadium will eventually appear when completed. (SC) Verstappen claims 70th Anniversary GP win as ‘sleeping’ Mercedes wilt Engineers move Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton’s car with AFP blisters on the tyres after the F1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone Silverstone in Northampton, England, on Sunday. (AFP)

Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull’s first victory at Silverstone since 2012 on Sunday when he Hamilton compares made the most of a superior strategy in sizzling conditions to beat both Mercedes and claim tyres to balloons, victory in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. feared explosion It was the Dutchman’s first victory of the season and the ninth of his career and the first AFP time a race had been won by a Silverstone driver who did not start on pole position in seven races since last Lewis Hamilton compared year’s Mexican Grand Prix. his Pirelli tyres to balloons on Verstappen owed his vic- Sunday after he and his Mer- tory to a team decision to start cedes team-mate Valtteri Bot- the race on hard compound tas suffered serious blistering tyres while his main rivals all problems at the 70th Anniver- launched from the grid on me- sary Grand Prix. diums, the two Mercedes men Just a week after his dra- Lewis Hamilton struggling to manage tyre-wear matic victory on three wheels, throughout the race. with a punctured fourth, at so they’re like balloons, you During the race, Red Bull Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen (R) leads Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (top) through a corner during the F1 70th Anniversary the British Grand Prix, Ham- know? asked him to ease off, but he Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 9, 2020 in Northampton. The race commemorates the 70th anniversary of the inaugural world championship ilton admitted he was afraid “I’m not sure anyone else replied saying “I don’t want to race, held at Silverstone in 1950. (AFP) one of his tyres might explode. struggled with blistering like drive like a grand-ma” before Three cars had suffered we did so we’ll look into it.” the team relented. eighth for Renault ahead of Results hard compounds and Hamil- tyre failures at Silverstone Hamilton said he was Verstappen won by 11.326 Lando Norris of McLaren and 2020 Formula One world championship round five : ton, with blisters, took the lead last weekend, but Pirelli nervous in the car as he man- seconds ahead of championship Daniil Kvyat of Alpha Tauri. 1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 1 h 19:41.993, 2. Lewis Hamilton with 19 laps to go. pressed ahead with a decision aged his tyres. leader and six-time champion On a hot day, the track tem- (GBR/Mercedes) at 11.326, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 19.231, 4. “Something’s wrong with to introduce softer tyres run- “That middle stint, even Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 29.289, 5. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Lewis Hamilton who passed perature was 43 degrees when Bull-Honda) 39.146, 6. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 42.538, the car to make the left rear do ning at higher pressures than in the first one, I started Mercedes team-mate Valtteri the lights went out, Bottas cling- 7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Racing Point-Mercedes) 55.951, 8. Esteban that, said Hamilton, who had previously, much to the con- to fall back to Max. I was Bottas in the closing stages. ing to the lead from his 13th ca- Ocon (FRA/Renault) 1:04.773, 9. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) an advantage of 11 seconds. cern of many teams. managing the tyres like you The Finn finished third. reer pole position. 1:05.b544, 10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:09.669, 11. Pierre After his punctured win last The two Mercedes driv- couldn’t below. “I didn’t see that com- Unsurprisingly, Verstappen Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:10.642, 12. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) week, Hamilton was worried. ers finished second and “In the middle stint, one ing, but after the first stint it out-started Hulkenberg to take 1:13.370, 13. Carlos Sainz (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1:14.070, 14. Daniel “The tyres aren’t going to third in an unexpected upset half was bald and the other seemed we were really good on third, the German making his Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) one lap, 15. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Alfa Romeo blow, right?” he asked. result that saw Red Bull’s half was ok. At the end, I tyres. I didn’t have any tyre is- first start since last year after his Racing-Ferrari) one lap, 16. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) one lap, For Hamil- Max Verstappen storm to his was driving with half a tyre! 17. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) one lap, 18. George sues at all - a great day for us,” call-up to replace Covid-19 vic- Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) one lap 19. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/ ton, a stop first win of the season and I was afraid it was going to said Verstappen. tim Sergio Perez. Williams-Mercedes) one lap was inevi- ninth of his career. explode.” Hamilton said: “That was At the front, Hamilton piled Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.451 table and Hamilton said Mercedes Bottas was frustrated by a massive challenge, but con- pressure on his team-mate DNF: Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) it came on had struggled with their tyres both his tyre problems and gratulations to Red Bull. It was while at the back, after an un- lap 42 when and had no immediate answer his Mercedes team’s strategy definitely unexpected to have forced spin, Vettel slipped to World championship standings he locked up as to the problem. decisions. the blistering (on tyres) as hard 20th and last for Ferrari. Drivers: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 107 pts, 2. Max Verstappen he entered the pit “It was a massive challenge “It was frustrating for us,” core as that.” He was back up to 14th by (NED) 77, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 73, 4. Charles Leclerc (MON) lane. today,” he said. “But congratu- he said. Bottas, who started from lap nine as the pit-stops began 45, 5. Lando Norris (GBR) 38, 6. Alexander Albon (THA) 36 7. Back on hards, he lations to Red Bull, and to “My strategy was far from Lance Stroll (CAN) 28 8. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 22, 9. Daniel pole, said: “Very frustrating for and Verstappen, like Vettel on Ricciardo (AUS) 20, 10. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 16 11. reeled off fastest laps in Max. They did a great job. ideal and there are lots to me, to start from pole and fin- hard tyres, began to close in on Carlos Sainz (ESP) 15, 12. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 12, 13. pursuit before regaining “They didn’t have the learn from today. It was an ish third. the two Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 10, 14. Nico Hulkenberg third on lap 46 and problems that we had and it opportunity to win, from pole, “It’s not ideal and I think Almost immediately, (GER) 6, 15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 2 16. Daniil Kvyat then second on was unexpected for us to have and I had an opportunity to that as a team we were sleeping Hamilton admitted “my rears (RUS) 2 17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 1 lap 50. the blistering as hard-core as keep up with Max, but as soon at some points in the race. My are finished” shortly before Constructors: 1. Mercedes 180 pts 2. Red Bull- we experienced.” as I started to push the tyres strategy was far from ideal.” Bottas pitted, leaving Hamil- Honda 113, 3. Racing Point-Mercedes 56, 4. Ferrari 55, 5. He said he was glad to just fell apart. Hamilton’s podium fin- ton to fend off Verstappen be- McLaren-Renault 53, 6. Renault 36, 7. AlphaTauri-Honda 14, have survived the race with- “Blistering was an issue 8. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 2, 9. Haas-Ferrari 1. ish meant he equalled Michael fore he stopped to take a new out a puncture and to have for us and it seemed that Red Schumacher’s career record set of hards. found some pace to claim sec- Bull had none, so they had an of 155 podium finishes. It was This gave Verstappen the er wait than expected. By lap 25, blistering. ond at the finish. edge. Tyres just over-heat. also his record-extending 38th initiative ahead of Hulkenberg he led Bottas by 17 seconds and As if in response, Red “I’m grateful to have pro- It’s basically boiling. You get points scoring finish in a row. and Stroll with Bottas fourth, Hamilton by 20 with both bat- Bull matched Mercedes’ gressed like I did. I was push- holes in the tyres and then Charles Leclerc came home after re-joining, and Hamilton tling rapid tyre-wear. tactics on lap 33 when both ing pretty heavily. you just lose grip.” fourth after a sterling drive for fifth, adrift by 3.6 seconds. Finally, on lap 27, the Bottas and the leader pitted for “The team will work hard Verstappen’s first win of Ferrari ahead of Alex Albon The ‘Hulk’ soon pitted and Dutchman came in for medi- now identify our tyre prob- 2020, and ninth of his career, in the second Red Bull, Lance returned in seventh as the race ums allowing Bottas to pass him Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen lems. Pirelli had tyre fail- enabled him to leap-frog Bot- Stroll and his Racing Point settled to await Verstappen’s before he re-joined and swiftly lifts the trophy on the podium after ures last week - and then the tas and take second, 30 points team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. need for new rubber. re-passed the Finn. winnning the F1 70th Anniversary Grand pressure (tyre pressure) on behind Hamilton in the driv- Esteban Ocon finished For Mercedes, it was a long- In third, Hamilton reported Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. (AFP) them goes up and up and up ers’ championship. Sports Monday, August 10, 2020 13 S Korean star Jung wants to lead Al Sadd to continental glory

TNN/FIFA.COM go all the way and lift the tro- termined to follow their path,” Doha phy. I think our chances im- said Jung. proved when it was confirmed And although the current Al Sadd’s South Korea mid- that we’ll play our remaining Taegeuk Warrior star fondly fielder Jung Woo-young has games in Doha and won’t have Jung Woo-yung speak recalls those great World Cup said that his ultimate goal to travel. We’re determined to moments, he never thought is to lead Al Sadd to AFC get back to winning things.” On being in Qatar he’d be experiencing the tour- Champions League glory. Having shared a dressing “I never thought I’d love life here (in Qatar). Everyone is friend- nament for himself 16 years The combative midfielder, room at Al Sadd with Span- ly. I was delighted to find some Korean restaurants in Qatar. later at Russia 2018. who can also play in cen- ish legend Xavi Hernandez, That said, I still share traditional Qatari meals with “I never imagined I’d play tral defence , in a chat with who is now the team’s head (Al Sadd) club-mates when we have our training camps.” in the World Cup that early in FIFA.com also hailed Qa- coach, Jung considers himself my career, but with persistence tar’s amazing stadiums for lucky. “I remember I used to On winning the AFC Champions League and hard work I was able to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. watch him when he played at “We (Al Sadd) aim to go all the way and lift the AFC improve my game and secure a Jung started his profes- the 2002 World Cup. I contin- Champions League trophy. I think our chances improved when spot among the 23 players who sional experience overseas, ued to watch him as one of the it was confirmed that we’ll play our remaining games in Doha. went to Russia. It’s certainly playing for clubs in Japan stars of Barcelona and Spain. We’re determined to get back to winning things.” something I’m proud of.” and China PR from 2011 to He had a fantastic career. It After coming on as a sub- 2018. He then joined Al Sadd, was great playing alongside On FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stitute in the first two games, where he is in his second sea- him at Al Sadd, where we “It’s wonderful to drive by the stadiums. Right away you feel the defensive midfielder start- son. Having spent two years learned a lot from him. He is a a desire to play in them. We had several games at the Khalifa ed his side’s final group fixture in the country that will host great person and has a bright International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. It’s against Germany. “After we’d the next edition of the global future as a coach.” amazing. I can imagine how the players who will be coming to lost to Sweden and Mexico, no showpiece, he is already well With two of the eight Qa- the World Cup in two years’ time are going to feel.” one expected us to even draw adapted to life in the Gulf. tar 2022 stadiums already with Germany. It was a diffi- “I never thought I’d love life opened, Jung has had the cult game against a team that here,” he said. chance to play in both of them. attacked non-stop, but we “Everyone is friendly and “It’s wonderful to drive by the were determined to win and that has helped me adapt to stadiums. Right away you our hard work ultimately paid this new lifestyle. In fact, I was feel a desire to play in them. tar 2022 qualifiers. He hopes the advantage to finish top of World Cup Korea/Japan. The finals, thousands of people off,” Jung explained. delighted to find some Korean We had several games at the his side continue their proud the group and make the final tournament, at which the Tae- would gather at the city’s sta- “We were very happy to restaurants in Qatar. That said, Khalifa International Stadium qualification record, which qualifying round.” geuk Warriors finished a very dium, which was used as a fan beat the defending world I still share traditional Qatari and Al Janoub Stadium in Al has seen them appear at every With eight points, Korea commendable fourth, was a zone to watch the national champions and prove we meals with club-mates when we Wakrah. It’s amazing. I can edition since Mexico 1986. Republic lie second behind turning point for thousands team in action. Jung Wooy- could compete with big teams. have our training camps. I love imagine how the players who “Yes, we have a long tradi- pacesetters Turkmenistan, of Koreans, who drew inspira- oung, only 13 at the time, at- We wanted to progress to the eating lamb.” will be coming to the World tion at the World Cup and we who are on nine, and level on tion from their team’s perfor- tended with his family and last 16, but luck wasn’t on our Jung has helped Al Sadd Cup in two years’ time are go- want to maintain this legacy. points with Lebanon. Howev- mance and used it to help set watched as his national he- side in the first two fixtures. to win the Qatar Stars League, ing to feel. I hope I’ll be in top The qualifiers have been very er, Korea Republic have a bet- their future goals. The World roes went all the way to semi- We certainly weren’t happy the Sheikh Jassim (Super) form then so that I can keep difficult, and opponents want ter goal difference (ten goals Cup’s impact, however, might finals. with our group-stage exit and Cup and the Qatar Cup. The my spot in the national team to deny us a place in the final scored and none conceded), have been greatest on the na- “I still recall those unfor- expected a lukewarm recep- AFC Champions League, how- and take part in this big tour- round. It’s true we’re in sec- which strengthens their tion’s young footballers, who gettable moments,” Jung told tion at home, but the moment ever, remains the team’s ul- nament.” ond position in our group, but chances of reaching the final were more motivated than FIFA.com. “We played very we came out of the airport, we timate goal. “Unfortunately, Now with another two we’ve played one game less. qualifying round and making ever to replicate the heroics well, beating one great side af- found thousands of fans wait- luck hasn’t been on our side at years’ international experi- Moreover, we’ll be playing Qatar 2022. of Ahn Junghwan and Lee ter the other. It felt wonderful ing for us. They thanked us for continental level. We exited at ence under his belt, Jung is three games [Turkmenistan, Jung also noted the fairy Woonjae, to name but two. watching them win games and our good performance. It was the semi-final stage in the last part of the Korea Republic Lebanon and Korea DPR] tale summer when South Ko- In Ulsan, a city that host- progress to the last four. What great to feel that appreciation two editions, but we aim to squad competing in the Qa- on home soil, which gives us rea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA ed three fixtures at the 2002 I saw first-hand made me de- from them,” he added. Messi inspires but Barca will Europa League need more against Bayern

AFP clubs this summer, endured Barcelona a particularly disappointing night. Yet Barcelona will have to Lionel Messi scored a bril- improve significantly to match liant solo goal as Barcelona Bayern, who advanced after put- saw off Napoli on Saturday but ting seven past Chelsea over two they are likely to need some- legs and are arguably favourites thing even more special from to win the tournament. their captain to beat Bayern “It’s going to be very com- Munich in the quarter-finals. plicated,” admitted Setien Manchester United’s players including Portuguese midfielder Bruno Messi’s weaving run and ahead of the quarter-final on Fernandes (centre) take part in a training session on the eve of the finish came between an early Friday. UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Copenhagen at Cologne Clement Lenglet header and a Messi now has four goals Stadium in Germany on Sunday. (AFP) Luis Suarez penalty, also won in his last three games and in by Messi, as Barca stormed a one-off match in Lisbon, the into a 3-0 lead in the first Argentinian is capable of any- Man United, Inter half at Camp Nou. But Lor- thing. enzo Insigne gave Napoli hope But Bayern have their own just before the interval and trump card in Robert Lewan- favourites in unique an unconvincing second pe- dowski and a more complete riod from Barcelona left them team that makes them heavy hanging on for a 3-1 win on the favourites to reach the semis. German finale night, 4-2 on aggregate. Napoli began an eventful “A second goal would have first half by hitting the post as AFP general public, strongly rec- given them a feeling of eupho- Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions Dries Mertens went close with Paris ommending the use of exclu- ria that can hurt you,” said League match against Napoli at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) a miskicked half-volley, only sive hotels – to which players Barca coach Quique Setien. for Lenglet to head in for Bar- Manchester United, Inter will largely be confined – in “It’s normal to get a little is a problem.” but failure in Europe, after a three weeks rest. ca from Ivan Rakitic’s corner Milan and Sevilla headline order to avoid potential cross- nervous.” After finishing five points turbulent domestic campaign, Napoli, whose own league after nine minutes. a quintet of former champi- contamination. In winning the penalty, behind Real Madrid in La Liga, would likely take the decision season only finished last week- Messi made it two after a ons travelling to Germany Masks will not be required Messi took a heavy kick from Barca resumed in the Champi- out of his hands. end, should have had the ad- barnstorming run in which for a remodelled eight-team for substitutes and coaching Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly ons League with doubts hang- Victory against Napoli vantage of rhythm but a disas- he fell to the ground only to straight knockout tourna- staff but they must maintain and needed treatment. ing over the form of the team eases the pressure but the trous opening half an hour left dart back up and bundle his ment that will crown the win- social distancing when seated, “It was a heavy knock,” and the future of their coach. performance will not inspire them with too much to do. way through three Napoli de- ner of a Europa League cam- with players instructed to limit said Setien. “It will have to be Setien said on Friday he confidence, even with Messi Koulibaly, linked with a fenders before curling into paign heavily disrupted by contact as much as possible treated but I don’t think there had not considered resigning seemingly rejuvenated after move to several elite European the far corner. the coronavirus pandemic. when warming up. Match balls All games from the quarter- will be disinfected before kick- finals onwards in this season’s off and at half-time. competition will be played be- United, the 2017 winners, hind closed doors as one-off face FC Copenhagen in Mon- UEFA Europa, Champions League big action on beIN SPORTS ties across four venues -- Co- day’s quarter-final in Cologne logne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf while Serie A runners-up Inter beIN SPORTS will continue to but Thomas Tuchel’s men are con- and Gelsenkirchen -- following take on Bayer Leverkusen in broadcast thrilling UEFA Europa fident that they can overcome Atal- a five-month interruption. a clash of former UEFA Cup League and UEFA Champions anta and qualify for the semi-finals. While a Champions League champions at Dusseldorf Arena. League matches live and exclu- Atalanta vs. PSG will be played at berth still awaits the victor of England forward Jesse sively in the Middle East and Benfica’sE stadio da Luz. the final in Cologne on August Lingard, who played in Unit- North Africa (MENA) with a host On Thursday (August 13), RB 21, much has changed since ed’s 2-0 win over Ajax in the of much-anticipated games for Leipzig will take on Diego Sime- the COVID-19 outbreak that final three years ago, is confi- viewers and subscribers to wit- one’s Atletico Madrid. The Ger- brought European football to dent the team can capture the ness heavyweights Manchester man side will want to qualify for a standstill in March. title for a second time. City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich their first ever UEFA Champions “There are rules and regu- “We can’t wait to get there and Paris Saint Germain in action League semi-finals and will push lations on the bubble that’s go- and play this game now. 100 competing for the coveted trophy. hard to get that win. The game ing to travel. We’ve got to stick per cent I want to win it again,” A total of seven thrilling UEFA Eu- will be played at Sporting Lisbon’s together, stay together in and Lingard told MUTV. ropa League matches and seven Estadio Jose Alvalade. around the hotel and the train- “Lifting a trophy is a spe- UEFA Champions League match- On Friday (August 14), the two ing ground,” United manager cial feeling and winning it be- es will be played in just 13 days giants Bayern Munich and Barce- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said fore you take that confidence (10 August to 23 August) – as lona go head to head in a thrilling of the strict health protocols forward. We have got a mix- the quarter-finals, semi-finals and matchup between Robert Lewan- clubs must respect. ture of youth and experience final will all be played in Germany dowski and Lionel Messi. The Players and staff will un- in the squad and for the young and Portugal respectively and in quarter final match. The game will Basel of Switzerland at the Arena Mecca Time. game will be played at Benfica’s dergo virus testing before de- lads to win their first trophy, it single-leg fixtures. be played at the Esprit Arena in AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. On The 2019/20 UEFA Champions Estadio da Luz. parting for Germany and again will be perfect for them.” The 2019/20 UEFA Europa Dusseldorf. England’s Manches- the same day, Wolverhampton League quarterfinals will be In the final last eight clash of on the eve of a match once ar- Should United advance to League quarterfinals will be ter United take on Copenhagen Wanderers will take on Sevilla played in Portugal and will also be UEFA Champions League, Pep riving, a process repeated for the last four they would face ei- played in Germany and in single of Denmark in a heated matchup. in an exciting match-up between single leg fixtures. Guardiola’s Manchester City will each subsequent game in the ther Sevilla -- who have won the leg fixtures. The game will be played at the the two teams. The game will On Wednesday (August 12), Italy’s take on France’s Lyon. final tournament. Europa League and its precur- On Monday (August 11), Italian RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. be played at the MSV-Arena in Atalanta take on French giants All UEFA Champions League quar- UEFA has advised teams sor, the UEFA Cup, a record five club Inter Milan will face Germa- On Tuesday (August 11), Duisburg. All UEFA Europa League Paris Saint Germain. PSG’s Kylian terfinal fixtures will be played at to travel on charter flights times – or Premier League rivals ny’s Bayer Leverkusen in the first Shakhtar Donetsk will face FC games will be played at 22:00 Mbappe will be doubtful to feature 22:00 Mecca Time (GMT +3). and minimise contact with the Wolves in Cologne on August 16. 14 Monday, August 10, 2020 Sports Four Al Sadd Players in ACL2018 ‘Dream Team’

QNA the public polls on the-AFC.com, Al Sadd’s centre-back Pedro ing the Qatari star as the left-back in Kuala Lumpur while an XI by OPTA, the official sta- Miguel clinched the fans’ vote for our XI. His 45% share of the vote saw tistics provider for the AFC, is also centre-back and he partners Perse- him hold off Kim Jin-su of Jeonbuk After more than 250,000 votes, included as a comparison. polis’ defender Shojae Khalilzadeh in Hyundai Motors (26%), Shuto Yama- the fans’ Best XI from the 2018 AFC Collecting a huge 89% of the our rearguard. moto of Kashma Antlers (19%) and Champions League has been decided votes, the popular Persepolis custo- Khalilzadeh edged out his club Guangzhou Evergrande’s Li Xuepeng with the final line-up featuring a host dian and 2018 runner-up was out in captain Jalal Hosseini, while Gen (9%). of standout performers from the front by some distance, with Kashima Shoji of Kashima Antlers, Tianjin’s Siamak Nemati more than played competition. Antlers’ three-time AFC Champions Kwon Kyung-won and Jeonbuk his part in what was Persepolis’ best The 2018 AFC Champions League winner Kwoun Sun-tae (10%) Hyundai Motors’ Choi Bo-kyung AFC Champions League perfor- League was filled with classic match- coming second. were also in the running. mance to date and the fans have re- and third most votes respectively, Persepolis’ fierce rivals Esteghlal. es, nail-biting moments and fabulous Esteghlal’s attacking full-back Abdelkarim Hassan’s perfor- warded him with a whopping 68% of taking up the other two spots. Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah, individual performances and, after Khosro Heydari (92%) was way out mances in Al Sadd’s 2018 campaign the votes. There were plenty of super strik- who was the tournament’s top scorer, reviewing the competition’s key play- in front ahead of Jeonbuk Hyundai were so impressive that they helped Nemati takes the right side of our ers to choose from to lead our front- rounds out our three-man attack in ers, we present the ‘Dream Team’ as Motors Lee Yong (4%), Kashima Ant- him win the AFC Player of the Year three-man midfield with countryman line but, ultimately, it was Persepo- this exciting-looking all-star team voted by you, the fans. lers’ Koki Anzai (3%) and Guangzhou award at the end of the campaign and Farshid Esmaeili and Barcelona leg- lis targetman Ali Alipour who came from the 16th edition of the AFC 11 players who made the cut on Evergrande’s Zhang Linpeng (2%). the fans have reflected this too, nam- end Xavi, who received the second out on top ahead of Mame Thiam of Champions League.

Al Rayyan’s Boli out for four weeks Al Rayyan striker Johan Boli has been ruled out for four weeks Johnson and Koepka set for with a second degree tear, the club announced on Sunday. Boli picked up the injury last week- end ahead of the club’s match against Al Sailiya. The French- another PGA final showdown born Ivorian has been a major boost to Al Rayyan’s attack with AFP seven goals so far since joining San Francisco the club in January.

Dustin Johnson shot a 65 Saturday to put himself on course for another mouth-wa- tering final round showdown at a PGA Championship with two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka. Johnson and Koepka are no strangers at the PGA Cham- pionship as Johnson nearly chased down Koepka in the final round last year at New York’s Bethpage Black before Stokes to miss rest of losing by two shots. “I’ve been in the hunt a bunch of times in a major. I’ve Pakistan Test series got one major, so having that experience is definitely going to be beneficial tomorrow,” for family reasons said 2016 US Open champion Dustin Johnson of the United States watches a shot from the 15th tee Johnson. during the third round of the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Brooks Koepka of the United States chips to the 13th green as Ricky AFP Johnson’s five-under 65 on Park in San Francisco, California, on Saturday. (Getty Images/AFP) Elliott looks on during the third round. (Getty Images/AFP) Manchester Saturday got him to nine under (USA) 69-69-65, Paul Casey (ENG) 68-67-68 for the tournament and a one- down the stretch on the back but also a few poor ones.” in Memphis. 204 - Justin Rose (ENG) 66-68-70, Tommy Fleetwood England star Ben Stokes shot lead over fellow Americans nine.” Johnson’s 65 was his eighth Johnson said the key to win- (ENG) 70-64-70, Daniel Berger (USA) 67-67-70, Bryson will miss the concluding two Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Like rugged Bethpage Black, straight round in the 60s at a ning his second career major is DeChambeau (USA) 68-70-66, Tony Finau (USA) 67-70- Tests against Pakistan for 67, Jason Day (AUS) 65-69-70 Champ at TPC Harding Park in TPC Harding Park is a munici- PGA Championship. His eight to stay focused and not worry 205 - Li Haotong (CHN) 67-65-73, Kim Si-Woo (KOR) family reasons, the England San Francisco. History-chasing pal layout that is playing like birdies are the most he has about the leaderboard. 69-68-68, Joel Dahmen (USA) 69-68-68, Xander and Wales Cricket Board an- American Koepka is tied for a major championship course made in any round of a major, “I’m going to just try and Schauffele (USA) 66-70-69, Matthew Wolff (USA) nounced on Sunday. fourth with two others, just two with narrow fairways and deep, bettering the seven birdies he go out and shoot as low as I can 69-68-68 Stokes’s father Ged was 206 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-67-69, Michaël strokes back of the long-hitting patchy rough that swallows er- made at the 2017 PGA Cham- tomorrow,” he said. “Just take Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 66-68-72, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) admitted to hospital in Jo- Johnson. rant tee shots. pionship and the 2014 British what the golf course gives me. It 68-68-70 hannesburg two days before “I’ve been in contention a “I definitely need to hit some Open. doesn’t really matter what other 207 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 70-69-68, Dylan Frittelli (RSA) Christmas last year with a seri- lot, and I’ve got it done a lot of more fairways, because it’s real- But his results have been guys are doing. All I can control 70-67-70, Webb Simpson (USA) 71-68-68, Brendon Todd ous illness while following his times,” said the 36-year-old ly tough playing this golf course mixed in 2020 as he missed the is myself.” (USA) 65-70-72, Patrick Reed (USA) 68-70-69, Patrick son’s progress with the Eng- Cantlay (USA) 73-68-66, Lanto Griffin (USA) 68-68-71, Johnson. “I’ve got to hit fair- from the rough,” said Johnson. cut at the Memorial, withdrew Leading scores after Saturday’s third round land cricket team during their 201 - Dustin Johnson (USA) 69-67-65 Harold Varner III (USA) 72-66-69, Ian Poulter (ENG) ways and a lot of greens. If I can “Obviously the bunkers, too, are from the 3M Open with a bad 202 - Scottie Scheffler (USA) 66-71-65, Cameron Champ 73-68-66. 208 - Kevin Kisner (USA) 67-73-68, Keith tour of South Africa. do that tomorrow, I’m going very tough. I had a few nice up- back after an opening 78 and (USA) 71-64-67 Mitchell (USA) 68-72-68, Victor Perez (FRA) 70-69-69, Ged Stokes, a former New to have a good chance coming and-downs out of the bunkers, finished 12th at the WGC event 203 - Brooks Koepka (USA) 66-68-69, Collin Morikawa Adam Scott (AUS) 68-70-70. Zealand rugby league inter- national, underwent three op- erations and spent 37 days in hospital, with his conditions initially described as “critical” Lydia Ko surges clear at before it stabilised. Tiger Woods suffers He has since continued his recovery in New Zealand. LPGA Marathon Classic Despite his father’s health problems, Stokes was named AFP more putting woes player of the series in Eng- Washington land’s 3-1 Test series win over AFP der par for the tournament,” didn’t come until the 16th hole South Africa. A late flurry of birdies left Lydia San Francisco he said. when he drained a 14 footer to Ko in pole position at the LPGA Woods had four bogeys get to three over for the tour- ‘Strong and stubborn’ Marathon Classic on Saturday An out of sorts Tiger Woods on Saturday, including one nament. Stokes, however, spent time as the former world number struggled on the greens for stretch of three straight on the Wood’s best shot of the at Ged’s beside when Eng- surged into a four-shot lead the second straight day as his back nine, beginning at the day was his approach on 18. land returned to Johannes- Ben Stokes. heading into the final round. PGA Championship hopes par-three 11. He hammered an iron shot burg for the fourth Test at The 23-year-old New Zea- evaporated on Saturday. That came after he made 209 yards from the fairway to the Wanderers. ing the Workington rugby land star rattled off two birdies Woods, who barely made par on No. 10, a hole he had just five feet of the flag stick to He later posted a picture league club and grew up in the in her final three holes to card a the cut on Friday afternoon, birdied the first two days. set up the birdie. of his father leaving hospital, nearby West Cumbrian town of three-under-par 68 and move shot a two-over 72 for the sec- Woods salvaged some Heading into Saturday’s praising him as “strong and Cockermouth. to 16-under at Highland Mead- ond straight round at the TPC pride by making birdie on round, Woods needed to vault stubborn”. Ged and his wife Deb, ows in Sylvania, Ohio. Harding Park in San Francisco. two of his final three holes, past 42 other golfers to get “Stokes will leave the UK Stokes’s mother, have since re- It was the second straight It means the 44-year-old’s clos- ing his round with a to the top of the leaderboard later this week and travel to turned to New Zealand. day that Ko finished strongly. hopes of a 16th major title are five-foot at an event he has won four New Zealand,” said an ECB After impressing in youth On Friday, Ko had birdied the all but extinguished. birdie times previously. statement issued Sunday. cricket, Ben Stokes, now aged 17th and 18th holes to move into “I am frustrated I didn’t putt on Woods said there is much “He will miss England’s two 29, made his name in the first- a one-stroke second round lead get anything going early,” No. 18. more parity among the top Test matches against Pakistan class game with Durham. with a six-under-par 65. Lydia Ko of New Zealand at the said Woods, who finished But his players on the Tour than when at the Ageas Bowl (starting) on At international level, he Ko later revealed that she second hole during the third three rounds at two-over first birdie he went through his dominat- Thursday 13 August and Friday established himself as a lead- had been bothered by a sore round of the Marathon LPGA 212. “I got a couple of bad of the ing run. 21 August. ing all-rounder, starring against back during her round. Classic at Highland Meadows angles and miss shots in day “It is getting tighter and “The England and Wales his native New Zealand during “It started hurting a little Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, US, spots I can’t play from and I harder to win events,” he said. Cricket Board, along with the England’s dramatic Super Over bit,” Ko said. “I think the key on Saturday. (Getty Images/AFP) made bogeys. “When I look at leaderboard I Stokes family, requests that all win in last year’s World Cup fi- for me tomorrow is even if it “I am happy with the see the same handful of guys. media respects the family’s pri- nal at Lord’s. doesn’t feel 100%, just to go out one-under-par 70 after a round way I finished. It was just “They understand how to vacy at this time.” A quad injury has seen pace- there and hit it confidently and that included three birdies and a fight all day and I didn’t win the majors and how to Outstanding all-rounder man Stokes largely deployed as aggressively. two bogeys. get anything going.” plod along. Stokes played in the England a specialist batsman in recent “Even though the pain is Kang was unhappy with Woods is 10 strokes “The guys who understand side that beat Pakistan by three matches. there I feel like when I hit it her failure to make the most back of second round how to play tough golf courses wickets at Old Trafford on Sat- He did not bowl at all dur- hard, my body is not flinching of several birdie chances that leader Li Haotong with will be up there, crowds or no urday to go 1-0 up in three- ing England’s series-clinching over that area. I just have to not presented themselves during a host of former ma- crowds.” match series. win over the West Indies at Old worry about it.” her round. jor champions near The Harding Park tourna- The England vice-captain Trafford last month and sent After a day of low scoring “Frustrating, annoying and the top of the leader- ment is being played without has been an ever present in down just four overs, albeit for in the second round, the field irritating,” Kang said when board, including two- spectators due to the corona- the side this season and led the a return of 2-11, in the Paki- found the going tougher on Sat- asked to summarize her display. time defending cham- virus restrictions. team in Joe Root’s absence dur- stan opener at the Manchester urday with pin positions making LPGA Marathon Classic leading pion Brooks Koepka. Woods, who usually plays ing the series opener against ground. for a more challenging set-up. scores after s third round: Woods hopes to re- in front of packed galleries the West Indies last month – a His absence from the re- After two birdies and a bo- 197 - Lydia Ko (NZL) 64-65-68 bound Sunday with a solid cheering him on, isn’t using match regular skipper Root mainder of the three-match gey in her first six holes, Ko 201 - Danielle Kang 64-67-70 round to take some momen- the lack of crowds as an excuse. missed to attend the birth of his Pakistan series could lead to a went on a run of nine consecu- 203 - Minjee Lee (AUS) 68-67- tum into a very busy stage of second child. Test recall for top-order bats- tive pars before she began to 68, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) the PGA Tour season. Tiger Woods plays his shot from Although born in Christch- man Zak Crawley, who was left pull away down the stretch with 67-63-73 “I still have the last round the 12th tee during the final round urch on the South Island of out to balance the side when her late birdies. 204 - Lindsey Weaver 68-69-67 of a major to play. Hopefully of the 2020 PGA Championship at New Zealand, Stokes came to England felt they needed to That left her four clear of 205 - Maria Fernanda Torres tomorrow I will shoot some- TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, England as a 12-year-old when play another bowler because of Danielle Kang, who battled to a (PUR) 70-68-67. thing in red and get it to un- California, US, on Saturday. (AFP) his father Ged got a job coach- Stokes’s fitness problems. Sports Monday, August 10, 2020 15 South African rookie Binder wins Czech MotoGP on ‘insane’ bike AFP Brno (Czech Republic) Czech Grand Prix Results Brad Binder created a series 1. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 41min 38.764sec, of firsts as he won the Czech 2. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) at MotoGP on Sunday to make 5.266sec, 3. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati- A file photo of Badr Al Darwish, Secretary-General of the Qatar and come true “a day I dreamed Avintia) 6.470, 4. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) Asian Equestrian Federations, with Salman Mohammed Al Emadi, 6.609, 5. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi and Nasser Al Ghazali podium finishers about since I was a little boy”. 7.517, 6. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) It was the 24-year-old 7.969, 7. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha- of the Hathab Big Tour showjumping Round 6 of the Longines Qatar Binder’s first MotoGP win in SRT) 11.827, 8. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/ Equestrian Tour 2019-20 earlier this year. (Pic: Mohamed Tinakicht) only his third race in the elite Honda-LCR) 12.862,9. Jack Miller (AUS/ division, it was also a first vic- Ducati-Pramac) 15.013, 10. Aleix Espargaro tory at this level by a South (ESP/Aprilia) 15.087 Organising committee’s efforts African and for the KTM team. Moto2: 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Kalex) 39min Binder opened his MotoGP 13.926sec, 2. Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex)at applauded as showjumping 0.423sec, 3. Joe Roberts (USA/Kalex) 5.948, account at the main expense 4. Luca Marini (ITA/Kalex) 8.797, 5. Augusto of Italian Franco Morbidelli on Fernandez (ESP/Kalex) 9.392 series Hathab returns Yamaha’s satellite SRT bike and Moto3: 1. Dennis Foggia (ITA/Honda) 39min Frenchman Johan Zarco on a 06.370sec, 2. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) at Tribune News Network adopted by the authorities in Ducati-Avintia who came third. 0.205, 3. Ai Ogura (JPN/Honda) 0.251, 4. Doha the country to limit the spread “My team put an absolutely Niccolo Antonelli (ITA/Honda) 0.381,5. John of Covid-19. There is great co- insane motorbike underneath McPhee (GBR/Honda) 0.509. The return of the national ordination between all the par- me this weekend,” said Binder. Championship standings equestrian series Hathab – ties, which has shown in the MotoGP (after 3 races): “I had no idea we were ca- 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 59 points, 2. Longines Qatar Equestrian smooth conduct of the event,” pable of winning but I had a Maverick Vinales (ESP) 42, 3. Franco Morbidelli Tour 2019-20 – with the 10th Al Darwish said. feeling it could be good.” Red Bull KTM Factory Racing´s South African Brad Binder rides his bike during the Moto GP Czech Grand (ITA) 31, 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) 31, 5. Brad leg of the annual 12-round “I take this opportunity to Behind closed doors on Prix at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, on Sunday. (AFP) Binder (RSA) 28, 6. Johann Zarco (FRA) 28, 7. competition at the Qatar thank all those who put in great a hot and sunny afternoon, Valentino Rossi (ITA) 27, 8. Takaaki Nakagami Equestrian Federation (QEF) efforts to get the season restart- Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (JPN) 27, 9. Jack Miller (AUS) 20, 10. Alex Rins after a four-month forced ed. The organising committee (Yamaha-SRT), winner of the (ESP) 19, 11. Pol Espargaro (ESP) 19, 12. break due to the coronavi- teams took exceptional care in first two rounds of the season Miguel Oliveira (POR) 18, 13. Alex Marquez rus pandemic highlighted the putting everything together. and world championship lead- My team put an (ESP) 13, 14. Joan Mir (ESP) 11, 15. Danilo efforts and hardwork put in by We are following the safety ad- Petrucci (ITA) 11, 16. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) er, finished seventh to increase absolutely insane 9, 17. Tito Rabat (ESP) 7, 18. Aleix Espargaro the organisers. visory issued by the Ministry of his lead in the riders’ stand- motorbike underneath me (ESP) 6, 19. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) 6, 20. The 10th round conclud- Public Health (MOPH). Offi- ings to 17 points over Spaniard Bradley Smith (GBR) 5. ed at the QEF showjumping cials of the Qatar Red Crescent Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) this weekend. I had no Moto2 (after 4 races): arena on Saturday and the re- Society are also present at the who was only 14th in the GP. idea we were capable of 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA) 73 points, 2. Luca maining two rounds are now venue,” Al Darwish added. With reigning champion winning but I had a Marini (ITA) 58, 3. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN) scheduled for August 14 and Earlier, Omar Al Mannai, Marc Marquez still absent 55, 4. Sam Lowes (GBR) 46, 5. Aron Canet 15th, and the finale from Au- Vice-Chairman of the LOC for nursing a broken arm, Binder feeling it could be good. (ESP) 36 gust 27th to 29th. Longines Hathab, said that Moto3 (after 4 races): followed Quartararo in grab- – Brad Binder 1. Albert Arenas (ESP) 70 points, 2. Ai Ogura The Hathab series riders and members of the bing his chance. (JPN) 52, 3. John McPhee (GBR) 51, 4. Tatsuki launched in 2017 carries a total organising teams underwent Binder was the first rookie Suzuki (JPN) 44, 5. Raul Fernandez (ESP) 36. prize of QR1.5mn and is an ini- mandatory coronavirus tests MotoGP winner since Mar- While it was Zarco’s seventh tiative of HE Sheikh Joaan bin before the restart. quez in 2013 and he was fol- podium it was a first for Avin- Arenas extended his world Hamad Al Thani, President, “We conducted the tests lowed home by two more sur- tia the team he joined after he championship lead. Qatar Olympic Committee. following the advisory from the prising front-runners. Winner Red Bull KTM Factory Racing´s South African Brad Binder cel- struggled with KTM last season. A second Honda rider, Badr Al Darwish, Secre- Qatar Olympic Committee and For Morbidelli it was a first ebrates during the winner’s ceremony after the Moto GP Czech Grand In Moto2, Italian Enea the Japanese Ai Ogura, came tary-General of the Qatar and the MOPH. The health and safe- podium finish. “It was a nice Prix at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, on Sunday. (AFP) Bastianini of Kalex led from third for his second podium Asian Equestrian Federations ty of everyone involved with our race overall, I started well, I start to finish to claim a sec- of the season. on Saturday applauded the sport is very important to us,” did what was in my plan, to but dropped down the field he crashed.” ond straight victory and climb The motorcycling caravan efforts of the organising com- Al Mannai said. make my rhythm and don’t with a poor start. He held on The officials judged the to the top of the world cham- heads to Austria for two events mittee in resuming the 2019- Hathab means ‘Canter’ in overcook the tyres,” he said. to third despite disintegrating Frenchman was at fault and he pionships. at the Red Bull Ring in Spiel- 20 Longines Hathab Series Arabic, and the annual cham- Afer Binder overtook him tyres and a penalty imposed had to ride a ‘long lap’ which Britain’s Sam Lowes was berg on August 16 and 23. behind closed doors. pionship is aimed at improv- on lap 13 and pulled clear, Mor- for a collision with Pol Espara- meant following an outside second while Joe Roberts of The MotoGP field will “The resumption of Hathab ing the standard of horse rid- bidelli concentrated on pre- go which put the Spanish KTM lane on the big seventh turn. the United States third. again be without the recu- shows the commitment of ing among Qatari youths while serving his first podium finish. man out of the race. “When I did the long lap, I Another Italian, Den- perating Marquez as well as the organising committee to- encouraging the involvement of “I won’t do anything silly “He went wide. I was in, expected three riders to over- nis Foggia of Honda, won Italian Francesco Bagnaia wards the sponsors and rid- private stables and individual and try to bring the bike to the keeping the line and when take me. No one overtook and his first Grand Prix in the (Ducati-Pramac), who fell in ers to these competitions. The horse owners to grow aware- end and catch my first podium.” we touch,” said Zarco. “I did at that moment, I said, OK third tier Moto3 level earlier, practice at Brno on Friday and committee has adhered to ness of horsemanship as part Zarco started from pole not expect it and I think that that can be good,” Zarco said. while second placed Albert broke a leg. the precautionary measures of Qatar’s history and tradition. Warren and Pacers hand Lakers another loss AFP All games are being played in the extra period on the way land in the West playoff fight. Miami in a quarantine bubble at Walt to victory. Devin Booker led Phoenix Disney World in Orlando, Slovenian guard Luka Don- with 35 points while Bahamas T.J. Warren scored 39 points Florida, due to the coronavi- cic had an impressive triple big man Deandre Ayton added as the in-form Indiana Pacers rus pandemic that halted the double for Dallas with a game- 18 points and 12 rebounds. inflicted a 116-111 defeat on season in March. high 36 points, a career-high Paul George scored 21 LeBron James and his stutter- The Pacers improved to 19 assists and 14 rebounds. points despite being rested in ing Los Angeles Lakers, who 4-1 since the restart, closing the final minutes as the Los have lost three in a row as the with a 13-5 run to beat the ‘It’s make or miss’ Angeles Clippers beat Port- NBA playoffs approach. Western Conference top seed “We just keep improving,” land 122-117, hurting the Trail Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Remco Evenepoel. Indiana’s win ensured Lakers, who fell to 2-4 in the Doncic said. “We have to keep Blazers’ playoff bid. the NBA’s top regular-season bubble and 51-18 overall. playing like this.” The Clippers, already rest- record will belong to the Mil- That was despite 31 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo ing star Kawhi Leonard for Injured Jakobsen’s waukee, despite the Bucks eight rebounds and seven as- and Brooks Lopez each scored load management, improved losing 136-132 to Dallas in sists from three-time NBA 34 to lead Milwaukee. to 47-22, second in the West. over-time. champion James -- the only LA Indiana and Miami, likely C.J. McCollum scored 29 to teammate Evenepoel “I just feel like I’m in a starter in double figures. An- first-round playoff foes fight- lead Portland, which also had groove,” Warren said. “As a thony Davis went 3-of-14 from ing for the fourth seed, meet 22 points from Damian Lillard wins Tour of Poland team, we’re in a groove, good the floor for only eight points. Monday and Friday. and reserve Gary Trent Jr. and rhythm, high energy, we come “This stretch right here... The Lakers open the play- 21 from Carmelo Anthony. AFP the GC home - I think that we out with a lot of effort. it’s going to strengthen us,” offs against the winner of a Rodney McGruder, a 26 Krakow can only say that we have been “We’re just together. We’ve Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. six-team fightfor the last play- percent shooter from three- dominating this race,” he added. just got to keep the chemistry “We’re playing against off spot in the West. point range, connected from Fabio Jakobsen’s fellow Belgian Evenepoel, 20, was hot. We just have to keep it up great defenses. That’s the best Phoenix improved to 5-0 beyond the arc to put the Clip- Deceuninck-Quick Step rider 1 minutes 52 seconds ahead of heading to the playoffs.” way to prepare you. I’m opti- in the bubble, the team’s long- pers ahead 118-117 with 26 Remco Evenepoel won the Dane Jakob Fuglsang in sec- The Bucks (55-15) won’t mistic about our game overall.” est win streak since 2014, by seconds remaining. Lillard Tour of Poland on Sunday as ond with Briton Simon Yates have the home court advan- Dallas ended with a 7-0 beating Miami 119-112. The missed two free throws and LA team-mate Davide Ballerini in third after five days of racing tage that usually comes with run to force overtime at 119- Suns (31-39) moved a half- sank four free throws in the fi- clinched the fifth and final in the 77th edition of the event. the top mark. 119, then scored the first nine game behind ninth-place Port- nal seconds to seal the victory. T.J. Warren of the Indiana Pacers. stage in Krakow. Team Ineos’ Richard Cara- Jakobsen was injured in a paz pulled out after a crash horrifying crash on the race’s on Saturday despite leading opening day earlier in the week the overall standings before and awoke from a medically- Evenepoel grabbed the yellow Halep undecided on US Open, fears ‘tough conditions’ induced coma on Thursday. jersey with a 51km solo win on “For the team the hardest stage four. AFP video conference. and very safe so I feel safe,” but I feel ready,” added Halep, part of this race was the situ- Italian Ballerini powered Prague “I don’t want to put my- said Halep. who is facing Slovenian world ation with Fabio,” Evenepoel to victory in a bunched sprint self into that stress. As I said The organisers of the number 45 Polona Hercog in said after his ninth victory of by pipping Bora Hansgrohe’s Reigning Wimbledon I haven’t decided yet, but the Prague tournament put all the first round in the Czech the season. Pascal Ackermann in second champion Simona Halep said conditions are tough for me at players and staff in a single capital. “We’ve been through a lot of and Team Sunweb’s Alberto on Sunday she had not yet de- this moment.” eight-storey hotel booked for Untypically, Halep has emotions this week and if you Dainese after 188 kilometres cided whether to play at the World number one Ash- the occasion to reduce the risk also signed up for the doubles see how we finish it off - two which finished with three laps US Open but added she dread- leigh Barty has said she is of COVID-19 contagion. competition together with lo- stage wins in a row and we take in the southern city. ed “tough conditions” posed skipping the US Open amid Regular temperature cal veteran Barbora Strycova, by the journey. the virus spread, just like Kiki checks are a must, just like the world number two for Results “I haven’t made the final Bertens, Elina Svitolina or Ra- face masks which the players doubles. decision yet,” said the 28-year- fael Nadal. have to wear unless they are “I play with the Wimble- Stage results Overall results old Romanian, who will be Halep, who pulled out of playing, training or eating. don champion so I’m very 1. Davide Ballerini (ITA/DEC) at 4 hours 31 1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) at 21 hours 29 playing a WTA tournament the first post-lockdown WTA Despite the tough meas- nervous about that,” said Ha- minutes 22 seconds, 2. Pascal Ackermann minutes 50 seconds, 2. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/ on a clay court in Prague next tournament in Palermo this ures, Halep relished the return lep, who is now 149th in dou- (GER/BOR) at same time, 3. Alberto Dainese AST) at 1min 52secs, 3. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) week. week over virus concerns, is to tennis. bles, way below her all-time (ITA/SUN) s.t, 4. Ryan Gibbons (RSA/DDT) s.t, 5. 2:28, 4. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) 2:32, 5. Diego “The travelling from Eu- now in Prague as the top seed. “I’m happy to be back, high of 71st in 2017. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/UAE) s.t, 6. Rudy Barbier Ulissi (ITA/UAE) 3:09, 6. Kamil Malecki (POL/ (FRA/ISN) s.t, 7. Sebastian Molano (COL/UAD) CCC) 3:12, 7. Wilco Kelderman (NED/SUN) rope is a little bit tough with This is her first trip abroad I’m happy to be healthy,” “But I’m sure we will s.t, 8. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) s.t, 9. Szymon 3:15, 8. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/TJV) 3:18. 9. changing flights -- we don’t since February as she spent said Halep. have fun. I’m sure that she Sajnok (POL/CCC) s.t, 10. Albert Torres (ESP/ Mikel Nieve (ESP/MIT) same time, 10. Rui Costa have straight flights -- so it’s the lockdown in her native Ro- “It’s a bit weird after so will understand if I miss easy MOV) s.t. (POR/UAE) 3:19. going to be tough for me per- mania. “I’m a bit nervous but many months to play a tour- balls at the net, and I hope Simona Halep of Romania. sonally, mentally,” she told a things are very controlled here nament, I’m a bit nervous... we’ll enjoy it.” 16 Monday, August 10, 2020 The Last Word Innovative EdTech tools ensure learning never stops at QF’s GU-Q Tribune News Network jectives of the class. “In tra- Doha ditional classroom settings, class meetings tend to be The ongoing strategic capac- more fluid and can shift with ity building with educational the discussion or as needs technology and a growing arise. In an online class, suite of digital teaching tools more detailed and advanced allowed Qatar Foundation planning is required to map (QF) partner Georgetown the development of the University in Qatar (GU-Q) course so that students at a to continue delivering its distance can better navigate rigorous multidisciplinary the course content through curriculum in international various methods of engage- affairs virtually, despite the ment and activities designed disruptions of the pandemic. by the faculty member to From digital learning promote active learning.” management systems that The ongoing pandemic enhance educational envi- From digital learning management systems that means that institutions of ronments, and guidance on enhance educational environments, and guidance on learning will continue to rely effective teaching practice effective teaching practice and student assessment on virtual elements, and at and student assessment GU-Q, plans have already techniques, to student learn- techniques, to student learning and support, the univer- been developed for maxi- ing and support, the uni- sity’s resources ensure academic success amidst a mum flexibility and support versity’s resources ensure health crisis that continues to impact education across for both faculty and students academic success amidst a the world for the upcoming semester. health crisis that continues GU-Q has ensured academic success amidst a health crisis that continues to impact education across the world. Dr Nebel also leads the to impact education across university’s efforts to main- the world. to navigate the disruptions of Nebel, associate dean for demic standards. books.” The university also em- tain strategic collaborations Dean of GU-Q Dr Ahmad the crisis. We have continued Teaching, Learning and As- She said, “GU-Q has “In addition, our faculty ploys a fully integrated online with several partner entities Dallal said, “Our academic to expand our infrastructure sessment, GU-Q’s Office dedicated instructional de- have full access to the Center disabilities services manage- in QF and beyond in an ef- teaching design and support and support services to en- of Academic Services led sign support to help faculty for New Designs in Learning ment system to accommo- fort to enhance and enrich efforts are core to the mission sure that we are ready to sup- the quick transition into an transition and develop their and Scholarship at George- date students with additional the educational landscape in of the university. By staying at port the academic mission of online teaching and learn- courses in the virtual envi- town’s Washington, DC, accessibility needs. Qatar through offering sup- the forefront of the latest in- the university for the duration ing environment, and has ronment, including one-to- campus, with a wealth of ma- According to Dr Nebel, port and contributing think- novations in education tech- of the public health emergen- continued to develop and one consultations, group we- terials, resources and train- the starting point for any ing toward flexible, innova- nologies and teaching prac- cy and beyond.” enhance programming to binars, and custom-designed ing to support online and hy- course design begins by tive teaching and learning tices, we were better prepared Headed by Dr Anne sustain the school’s high aca- training videos and guide- brid teaching and learning.” identifying the learning ob- solutions. HBKU College of Islamic ABP registers second highest Studies and QFTH join hands to boost FinTech number of students accepted Tribune News Network University is in line with our and relevant service providers, Doha ongoing efforts to work closely who benefit from CIS insights with local and international and research. The Fintech to EC varsities in 19-yr history The College of Islamic Stud- partners to develop a pros- Hackathon, launched in June ies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khal- perous FinTech ecosystem in 2020, is one of the pioneering ifa University (HBKU) has Qatar. Our partnership with areas of collaboration between 75 members of the ABP have received 103 offers of admission to EC universities signed a Memorandum of Qatar’s leading research uni- the CIS and QFTH. Understanding (MoU) with versity will also contribute to Dr Emad El-Din Shahin, Tribune News Network Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH), Interim Provost of HBKU Doha which aims to cement itself as and Dean of CIS, said: “We a leading reference point for Through the agreement, are thrilled to work alongside Seventy-five members research on Islamic finance. CIS and QFTH will actively QFTH to engage and help de- of the Academic Bridge Pro- Through the agreement, contribute to the develop- velop the FinTech industry in gram (ABP) -- Education CIS and QFTH will actively ment of the financial tech- Qatar. Together, our collective City’s (EC) Class of 2020 -- participate and contribute nology industry in Qatar expertise in Islamic finance have received 103 offers of to the development of the fi- and emerging financial tech- admission to EC universities, nancial technology ( FinTech) nologies will ensure that the the second highest number industry in Qatar. HBKU will the formation of a new gen- further expansion of the in- in the 19-year history of the also provide input and opin- eration of both early-stage and dustry is enhanced by the lat- programme. ions on issues related to the mature FinTech start-ups and est research and expertise on The ABP, part of Qatar industry and participate in key entrepreneurs in the country, Islamic finance principles. Foundation’s (QF) Pre-Uni- events hosted by QFTH. and it is certainly an impor- The College of Islamic versity Education, celebrated Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al tant step towards reiterating Studies works regularly with the graduation of 184 students Mannai, Executive Director Qatar’s position as the leading local and international insti- in May, representing the high- Dr Bryan Lewallen Misk Mohammed Abujbara Sara Awadallah of Advisory and Incubation international FinTech hub in tutions to promote a deeper est number of graduates since at Qatar Development Bank the region.” understanding of the different 2015. Seventy-nine (43 per- a lot – both on an academic Reyam Ahmed Al Jaafari, 2020 was Ibrahim Abdulrah- (QDB), said: “The partner- QFTH represents a range aspects of Islam among the cent) of those students gradu- level, as well as a personal a graduate from Class of 2020, man Al Kuwari, who is going ship between Qatar Fintech of industry stakeholders, from wider community. ated with Honours (no grade level. As I have always told my added: “Due to my wonder- to study Cyber Security at the Hub and the College of Islamic early-stage firms to large -fi Please visit cis.hbku.edu. below 80 percent) or High friends, appreciate moments ful experience at the ABP, I University of Northumbria, Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa nancial services companies qa for more information. Honours (no grade below 90 and that’s what I did. I liked succeeded in getting accepted the UK. percent). the educational system at the into Northwestern University “I am so proud of our 237 Several of this year’s grad- ABP, which made me want to in Qatar.” ABP graduates, from our EC uates received multiple offers continue my bachelor’s degree The Academic Officer Pro- campus and the Academic Of- from EC universities. Of the at NUQ gram – ABP also graduated 53 ficer Program,” said Dr Bry- total number of graduates who “I have built many skills officer cadets. These graduates an Lewallen, director, ABP. received offers of admission and friendships, not only with have received offers of admis- “These students persevered to EC universities, 77 percent students but faculty members, sion to EC universities, as well through a very difficult second were Qatari. too. My family and friends as universities in the UK and semester, due to the coronavi- Misk Mohammed Abu- were always very supportive, the US. An additional 26 ca- rus pandemic and the switch jbara was named the Valedic- and I thank them for always dets were admitted in Janu- to distance learning during torian of the ABP-EC Class of being there for me,” explained ary to universities, as well as the last three months of the 2020, with a GPA of 4.0 (95 Misk. other specialised military pro- semester.” percent). Abujbara has been “There are no secrets to grammes. The ABP is currently ac- accepted to Northwestern success. It is the result of prep- Twenty-four (45 percent) cepting applications for the University in Qatar, where she aration, hard work and learn- of the AOP-ABP Class of 2020 2020-2021 academic year. will study Journalism. ing from failure,” said Sara graduated with Honours or Prospective students can ap- “Even though it was only Awadallah, salutatorian of the High Honours. The Valedicto- ply on-line at https://abp. a year-long course, I learned ABP-EC Class of 2020. rian of the AOP-ABP Class of openapply.eu/ .

QA’s Dhiafatina Hotels set to open Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha soon The property features The hotel is strategically located 400 guest rooms, including 12 luxury suites, a multitude close to HIA and just a few minutes of social spaces designed to from the heart of the city facilitate meaningful connec- tions, including a Regency Tribune News Network Philippe Anric, director Club and several authentic Doha of Operations at Dhiafatina food and beverage concepts Hotels, said: “We are de- including three restaurants, DHIAFATINA Hotels, a Qa- lighted to work with Hyatt on a pool bar, two lounges and tar Airways subsidiary, has the firstH yatt Regency hotel a Jazz Club. announced plans for Hyatt in Qatar, a global brand with Business travellers will Regency Oryx Doha. The ho- the calibre of offerings suited appreciate the 10,700 square tel, which has been owned by to this market. The Hyatt Re- foot (1,000 square metre) Qatar Airways since 2010, gency brand perfectly aligns of meetings and events fa- now joins Hyatt’s premier with both the business and thrilled to enter into this re- lers with an exemplary set- one roof. The full range of The hotel is strategically cilities, including a state- hotel portfolio. leisure culture of the dy- lationship with Dhiafatina ting for meetings and leisure services and amenities in- located close to Hamad Inter- of-the-art Business Centre, Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha namic city of Doha and we Hotels and look forward to and attracting local guests clude, memorable culinary national Airport (HIA) and two ballrooms and 11 mod- marks the first Hyatt Re- look forward to providing an growing Hyatt’s brand port- looking for modern dining experiences, flexible spaces just a few minutes from the ern meeting and conference gency branded hotel in Qa- exceptional hospitality expe- folio in Doha. We are proud experiences.” to work, collaborate or relax heart of the city, the palm- rooms. tar and the third Hyatt hotel rience.” to introduce the Hyatt Re- The Hyatt Regency and expansive technology- fringed Corniche and Doha’s Hyatt Regency Oryx in the country. Expected to Srdjan Milekovic, senior gency brand to Qatar and to brand offers seamless and enabled facilities for meet- vibrant business district, of- Doha will be joining Hyatt’s open on September 15, 2020, vice president (Operations, become a key destination in personalised experiences, ings and events, along with fering the perfect destination portfolio in Qatar, alongside the property is currently tak- Europe, Africa and Middle the city, satisfying the needs connecting guests to eve- expert planners who adhere for both business and leisure Park Hyatt Doha and Grand ing reservations. East) at Hyatt, said: “We are of on-the-go business travel- rything they need under to every detail. travellers. Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas.