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THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 21 SAFAR - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8404 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Enjoy Ooredoo’s fast 5G network Amir, Turkish President discuss strategic FIFA chief praises Qatar’s ties and regional, global developments World Cup preparations

QNA — DOHA workers from COVID-19. tournament. We have seen the Khalifa International, Al plans, but when you see the FIFA President H E Gianni Janoub and Education City sta- reality, it is even more Infantino praised the State of diums have all been inaugu- impressive. Qatar has been able Qatar’s preparations to host the rated and are fully operational, to continue to advance during first World Cup competition in with three others — Al Bayt, Al the last six months while the the Middle East and Arab world, Rayyan and Al Thumama — in world stood still from infra- during a visit to 60,000-seat Al the final stages of construction. structure preparations to Bayt Stadium yesterday. All eight venues will be com- important developments such Infantino was briefed pleted well in advance of the as the recent labor reforms about the stadium, with its tournament. announced by the government. design resembling a tradi- “I am very pleased with If I was confident before, now tional Arab tent. He also took Qatar's progress ahead of the I can say I am even more,” part in a seven-a-side match Infantino said. played at the stadium located He noted that everything in Al Khor. will be close during the 2022 “It is an absolute pleasure I am very pleased with World Cup, allowing fans from to play football at this amazing Qatar's progress ahead of all nationalities to gather in the stadium, where on 21 the tournament. We have same public areas and enjoy November 2022, we will kick seen the plans, but when Qatar’s mild temperatures at off the greatest FIFA World Cup that time of the year, stressing ever,” said Infantino. you see the reality, it is that it will be a World Cup like “Al Bayt Stadium is even more impressive. no other was or ever will be. incredible: a true football Qatar has been able to For his part, Secretary Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with President of the Republic of Turkey, H E Recep stadium. It has a real football continue to advance during General of the Supreme Com- Tayyip Erdogan, at Al Bahr Palace, yesterday. feel and a local touch. The the last six months while mittee for Delivery & Legacy, tented shape makes it truly Hassan Al Thawadi, said he was QNA — DOHA to enhance them in all fields. Afterwards, the Amir held unique, and the Arabic patterns the world stood still. If I proud of the foundations laid H H the Amir and H E the a luncheon banquet in honour in the roof are just beautiful. I was confident before, now I by the country in the lead-up Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Turkish President exchanged of the Turkish President and the am speechless,” he added. can say I am even more. to the tournament. Hamad Al Thani discussed views on the latest regional and accompanying delegation. Preparations for Qatar 2022 “We are immensely proud yesterday with President of the international developments as The meeting and the have continued despite the H E Gianni Infantino to be hosting the Arab world Republic of Turkey, H E Recep well as issues of joint interest, luncheon banquet were pandemic following the imple- FIFA President and Middle East's first FIFA Tayyip Erdogan, bilateral stra- in the meeting that took place attended by a number of Their mentation of stringent health World Cup in 2022,” he said. tegic relations and the means at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. Excellencies the ministers. and safety protocols to protect `P3 ‘Turkey’s military presence in Qatar serves stability in region’ Qatar and Turkey are two win-win basis". In this interview, H E Pres- brotherly countries with deep- EXCLUSIVE According to H E ident Erdogan touched upon rooted historical, cultural, and President Erdogan, the many issues including Turkey’s political relations. The bilateral Turkey-Qatar Com- special bond and friendship with ties of the two countries have H E President Recep bined Joint Force Saudi Arabia, the current Gulf witnessed a continued devel- Command is the crisis, the strategic cooperation opment since 1972, helped by Tayyip Erdogan, symbol of broth- with the United States in areas joint efforts to enhance bilateral in an exclusive interview erhood, friendship, such as the fight against ter- cooperation in different areas of solidarity, and sincerity rorism, democracy, instability common interests. with The Peninsula between the two coun- and the termination of Both the friendly countries Editor-in-Chief, tries. He spoke about conflicts. also remained engaged in con- negative propaganda H E also spoke about “the sultations on various regional and Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi about the Turkish mil- deal of the century” for settling international issues having a itary base in Doha and the Palestinian issues, describing wide spectrum strategic rela- `P4-5 rejected the claims as it as “a plan that ignores the tionship ranging from economy, “baseless” as "Turkey’s acquired rights of Palestinians, industry, defence, security, military presence rejects a two-state solution on the investment, and energy. Erdogan, in an exclusive serves the stability and basis of the borders of 1967, and The total value of the projects interview with The Peninsula peace not only for Qatar but the legitimises the policies of occu- undertaken by Turkish com- Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Khalid whole Gulf". pation and annexation”. panies in Qatar stands at $18.5bn. Mubarak Al-Shafi during his visit With regard to the ongoing 8 Therefore, H E said, the deal has Qatar and Turkey have also to Doha yesterday, spoke about year-long civil war in Syria, he no chance of success. have also been covered in the shape of medical supplies to over signed over 50 agreements so far a wide range of issues starting said his country can not remain Along with his clear vision on interview. 150 countries without any dis- within the scope of the High Stra- from the bilateral strategic coop- indifferent to the crisis which has regional issues like Libya, Tur- Furthermore, H E spoke crimination and the strong tegic Committee mechanism eration between Qatar and claimed lives of one million key’s relations with Greece and about the efforts made by the healthcare infrastructure which established in 2014. Turkey, which offers the "best people and displaced some 12 the ongoing military clashes Republic of Turkey to combat the country has built over the last H E President Recep Tayyip example of cooperation on a million. between Azerbaijan and Armenia COVID-19 and its support in the 18 years.

Cabinet okays formation of committee for school affairs Attorney-General orders arrest QNA — DOHA that was signed on Saturday in The committee Higher Education on forming a of money laundering suspects South Sudan's capital Juba, with committee for schools’ affairs. The Cabinet approved the participation of the State of will select school The committee will be DOHA yesterday a draft law by the Qatar. The Cabinet stressed that principals, and charged with the authorities QNA — Minister of Education and the agreement was a great recommend new mentioned in law No. 32 of 2019 Attorney-General H E Dr. Ali bin Fattis Al Marri issued an order Higher Education on forming a achievement that could help the on staff regulations for schools. to arrest a number of people suspected of carrying out money committee for schools’ affairs Republic of Sudan achieve sta- schools and their These authorities include laundering operations. This comes after the competent author- which will take important deci- bility, peace, and enhance names. choosing school principals, sug- ities reported the existence of a large movement of funds sions to develop education like national unity among the gesting the allocation of new suspected of being among the crimes that fall under the crimes selecting school principals and Sudanese people. The Cabinet schools and their names in line of money laundering punishable by law. recommendations for building added that the agreement could Cabinet also with geographic and popula- The Attorney-General has issued an order for these persons new schools. also help focus the country’s welcomed peace tions needs, suggesting the to be arrested, and an investigation to begin. Prime Minister and Minister resources towards development plans required to develop edu- of Interior, H E Sheikh Khalid and rebuilding what wars deal between cation, following up on their bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al destroyed, calling on the Sudan govt and implementation, examining the Qatar welcomes understanding Thani, chaired the Cabinet’s remaining armed groups to join structure of schools and giving regular meeting held at the the peace process. armed groups, their opinion on it. Amiri Diwan. Following the The Cabinet also praised the stressing Qatar’s The Cabinet also approved reached by Libyan delegations meeting, Minister of Justice and efforts of the Republic of South a draft decision by the Minister QNA — DOHA Acting Minister of State for Sudan in reaching this firm support for of Education and Higher Edu- Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr. Issa bin agreement, stressing the State Sudan’s unity and cation on forming a committee The State of Qatar has welcomed the comprehensive under- Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, said at of Qatar’s firm position of sup- sovereignty. for school employees. The com- standings reached by Libyan High Council of State and House of the beginning of the meeting, porting the unity and sover- mittee is charged with the Representatives’ delegations to the Libyan Dialogue in Bouznika, the Cabinet welcomed the eignty of Sudan. authorities mentioned in law Morocco, on criteria and mechanisms for selecting individuals to peace agreement signed The Cabinet was briefed by (COVID-19). Afterwards, the No. 32 of 2019 on staff regula- hold sovereign positions in accordance with Article 15 of the Skhirat between the Sudanese gov- H E Minister of Public Health Cabinet looked into the subjects tions for schools. These author- Agreement. ernment, Sudan Revolutionary about the latest developments on its agenda, including ities include suggesting plans to In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Front, and armed groups in the efforts to contain the approving a draft law by the improve the efficiency of expressed Qatar’s aspiration for these understandings to con- members of the peace process spread of the coronavirus Minister of Education and employees. `P3 tribute to supporting efforts for a political solution in Libya. `P3 02 HOME THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020

Amir, Turkish President discuss strategic ties, global developments OFFICIAL NEWS Amir meets Ambassador of Argentina Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at the Amiri Diwan yesterday with Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H E Carlos Alberto Hernandez, who called on the Amir to greet him on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The Amir wished the Ambassador success in his future missions, and the relations between the two coun- tries further progress and prosperity. The Ambassador expressed thanks and appreciation to the Amir and the State’s officials for the cooper- ation he received that contributed to the success of his work in the country. -QNA PM sends written message to Sudan counterpart Doha: Prime Minister and Minister Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the President of the Republic of Turkey H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an officialmeeting at Al Bahr Palace, yesterday. of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Kha- lifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani has sent a written message to Prime Minis- ter of the Republic of Sudan H E Dr. Amir chairs meeting of SC Board of Directors Abdalla Hamdok, pertaining to the bilateral relations and prospects for QNA/THE PENINSULA — DOHA developing them. The message was handed over by Ambassador of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin State of Qatar to Sudan H E Abdul- Hamad Al Thani chaired rahman bin Ali Al Kubaisi, when the yesterday at the Amiri Diwan Sudanese Prime Minister met him the third meeting of the Board yesterday. -QNA of Directors of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) of 2020 that was 238 new cases, held via video conference, in the attendance of FIFA Pres- 215 recoveries ident H E Gianni Infantino. H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad THE PENINSULA — DOHA Al Thani, Personal Representative of H H The Amir and Vice- The Ministry of Public Health Chairman of the Board of Directors (MoPH) yesterday announced also attended the meeting. the registration of 238 new Prime Minister and Minister confirmed COVID-19 cases. of Interior and member of the According to the Ministry Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA President H E Gianni Infantino during the meeting, yesterday. Board H E Sheikh Khalid bin among them 15 were travellers Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, returning from abroad. along with the other members, enhance the experience of fans especially the preparations for SC of 2020, Prime Minister and place as the FIFA World Cup As many as 215 people also attended the meeting. and visitors in 2022. hosting FIFA World Cup Qatar Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Qatar 2022 projects reached an have recovered from the virus, The meeting focused on the Separately, H H the Amir also 2022 and the achievements made Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz advanced stage of achievement bringing the total number of latest developments of the met at the Amiri Diwan yesterday in this regard. A number of issues Al Thani said in a tweet: “Today at all levels and according to the recovered cases in Qatar to World Cup 2022 stadiums’ con- with President of FIFA who called related to sports were also dis- I attended the meeting of the schedule planned. The meeting 124,108. The Ministry also struction projects. The meeting on the Amir to greet him on the cussed. H H Sheikh Jassim bin Supreme Committee for also discussed in-depth ideas for reported two new deaths of also reviewed the operational occasion of his visit to the country. Hamad Al Thani also attended. Delivery and Legacy chaired by achieving full partnership with people aged 72 and 82, who plans for the competition, in Talks dealt with the joint cooper- Regarding the third meeting H H the Amir, in which FIFA, in the presence of Gianni were receiving the necessary addition to discussing plans to ation between Qatar and FIFA, of the Board of Directors of the important discussions took Infantino.” medical care.

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THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 HOME 03 Around 100,000 students take part Prime Minister meets Argentine Ambassador in MoPH vision screening survey

THE PENINSULA — DOHA The survey revealed “It is worthy to note that 49% of the low vision causes are A survey by the Ministry of that some 12.24% due to uncorrected refractive Public Health (MoPH) has found students at public errors such as myopia, that some 12.24 % students at hyperopia and astigmatism. public schools have abnormal schools and 21.34% Furthermore, children are more visual acuity. students at private affected by this disease than The vision screening survey others because their visual for school students (Year 2019- schools have system is responsible for about 2020) has also revealed that abnormal visual 80% of what they learn. 21.34% of students at private acuity. Therefore, improving vision schools have abnormal visual contributes to improve their acuity. academic level and skills and Head of the Non-Commu- private schools. prevents some complications nicable Disease Section at the An ophthalmologist at such as lazy eye,” said Dr. Al MoPH, Dr. Kholood Al Mutawa, MoPH, Dr. Shadi Al Ashwal, said Ashwal. said that the survey was carried that Qatar conducts this survey MoPH join the commemo- out by MoPH in collaboration annually, indicating that school ration of the World Sight Day with the Ministry of Education nurses should examine visual 2020, with a theme of “Hope in and Higher Education and the acuity and refer students who Sight” and it aims to promote Primary Health Care Corpo- suffer from vision impairment healthy eyes, and to provide Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani met ration, and included around to ophthalmologists at health early diagnosis and effective yesterday with Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, H E Carlos Alberto Hernandez, on the occasion 100,000 students from 166 centres, to be examined and treatment for causes of of the end of his tenure in the country. The Prime Minister wished the envoy success in his future government schools and 140 managed accordingly. blindness. tasks and further progress and prosperity in the bilateral relations. Midterm exams of first semester in govt schools from Oct 18 FIFA chief praises Qatar’s World Cup preparations SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Section of Public Relation and Com- students will be allowed in a students which will play a great role FROM PAGE 1 THE PENINSULA munications Department at the Min- classroom and 60 students in a gym- in making exams easier for the istry of Education and Higher Edu- nasium as maximum. students. “With that pride comes a sense of responsi- Students’ Evaluation Department at cation, Bilqis Al Yazidi while talking “Separate examination halls will “Teachers are communicating bility, and that factor has been enhanced since the Ministry of Education and Higher to a Qatar Radio Programme. be made for students with chronic with students through Microsoft- the world has had to come to terms with Education has circulated the She said that the exams for the diseases and those with special needs Teams app to explain the lessons COVID-19. We are optimistic that by kick-off schedules for midterm examinations subjects of visual arts, physical fitness and isolation rooms will be also properly. Distance learning platforms in November 2022, well be ready to welcome of the first semester of academic year and life skills will be postponed to available for suspected cases of coro- of the Ministry offered video lessons fans from every continent here in Qatar to cele- 2020-21 for the students from grade the end of first semester. navirus,” said Al Yazidi. for students of all grades enabling brate together, united by their shared passion 1 to 11 of government schools in “Schools will strictly implement She urged the students to get them to learn by repeated lessons’ for football,” Al Thawadi added. which the students will appear the COVID-19 protocols, preventive ready for the examinations. Parents taking,” said Al Yazidi. Al Thawadi also said it was a pleasure to in-person in examination halls. and precautionary measures to were also asked to support their She said that the schedules of mid welcome President Infantino to Al Bayt “The students from grade 1 to 11 protect students, examiners and children especially ahead of the term exams of first semester for the Stadium, noting that the stadium was par- are required to appear in-person in school staffs during the exams,” said examinations. academic year 2020-21 for the stu- ticularly meaningful as it represents the town examination halls to take the exams Al Yazidi. Al Yazidi said that the Ministry of dents from grade 1 to 11 were sent by of Al Khor as well as the culture and history of mid-term of the first semester She said that following the pre- Education and Higher Education is the Students’ Evaluation Department of Qatar through its special design. which will begin from October 18, ventive and precautionary measures providing all possible support to to the directors of government Meanwhile CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2020,” said Head of Digital Media to maintain the social distancing, 15 improve the performance of the schools. 2022 LLC Nasser Al Khater said that con- struction is nearly 90 percent complete. He added that the focus of SC is now shifting Qatar hails understanding reached by Libyan delegations Cabinet okays formation of committee for school affairs from delivering infrastructure to refining and FROM PAGE 1 optimising the detailed operational planning Skhirat Agreement, calling on all Libyan FROM PAGE 1 and fan experience for the tournament. The Ministry also expressed Qatar’s brothers to uphold the national interest The meeting also approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the “We are also now significantly stepping aspiration for these understandings and adhere to dialogue without field of diplomatic training signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ up our promotion of the tournament to to contribute to rebuilding the state excluding any component of the Libyan Diplomatic Institute in Qatar, and the diplomatic institute of the Ministry of ensure as many people as possible have the in a manner that preserves the rights society, in order to reach a compre- Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. opportunity to attend and enjoy this unique of the Libyan people and the rule of hensive political settlement that The cabinet also reviewed the results of the 106th session of the Eco- World Cup,” he said. The stadium will include law. preserves Libya’s sovereignty and terri- nomic and Social Council of the Arab League that took place on Sep- a shopping mall, a gym, a multi-purpose hall, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed torial integrity, and fulfils the aspirations tember 3, 2020, via video conference, and took the appropriate deci- and a branch of leading sports medicine hos- the State of Qatar’s support for the of its people for security and stability. sions regarding it. pital Aspetar.

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From 24 September to 14 October 2020 License number 2308/2020 04 HOME THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 HOME 05 Qatar-Turkey ties best example of win-win cooperation

ince 1972, the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey the Operation Euphrates Shield, we problem to a deadlock until today. The continued evolving with enhancement of cooperation in different areas of common EXCLUSIVE removed Daesh terrorists from Jarablus, attitude of these states and institutions Azaz and Al Bab. We are the only country caused Armenia to be spoiled and to interests. Both the friendly countries also remained engaged in consultations on various The 2022 World Cup regional and international issues reaching the current strategic partnership. which has been engaged in close combat engage in new occupation activities. The S great importance on not undermining with Daesh and whose soldiers have requires serious Karabakh issue has been the most President of the Republic of Turkey H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Doha yesterday on a the strategic partnership between us. been martyred for that cause. Likewise, preparatory work not only important crisis matter of the Caucasus working visit and held discussion with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on bilateral However, in recent years, we have had with the Operations Olive Branch and for the last 30 years. Azerbaijan’s some difficulties with the American Peace Spring, we removed the YPG-PYD in terms of infrastructure decision to solve this problem, which strategic relations and the means to enhance them in all fields. administration with regards to sup- terrorist organisation, namely, the Syrian investments but also in a has been inconclusive for years and has During the working visit of President of the Republic of Turkey H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan to porting the PKK-YPG terrorist organi- extension of the PKK, from our border become unbearable with the soaring sation in Syria and extradition of FETO line. We cleansed an area of 8,300 wide range of areas from attacks of Armenia, with an actual Qatar yesterday, the Editor-in-Chief Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi was able to conduct first ever ringleader, the perpetrator of the July 15 square kilometres that was under the struggle, is a necessity of history, law, exclusive interview of H E the President of Turkey with any Qatari newspaper. bloody coup attempt, to our country. It occupation of Daesh and PKK-YPG from security to organisation. and the facts of geography. In order to is evident that not only the United States, terrorism and handed over these terri- We are sure that our solve this problem permanently, it is In this interview, H E President Erdogan, touched upon many issues including Turkey’s special but also some NATO allies continue to tories to their real owners. Thanks to the Qatari friends will necessary to implement UN resolutions bond and friendship with Saudi Arabia, the current Gulf crisis, the strategic cooperation with the cooperate with the PKK/PYD/YPG ter- efforts exerted by Turkey and the Free and to fulfil the requirements of inter- United States in areas such as fight against terrorism, democracy, instability and the termination rorist organisation and protect the Syrian Army, stability and peace have successfully carry out this national law. of conflicts. been restored in regions once associated organisation. Armenia, which does not hesitate to with terrorism, cruelty and oppression. be aggressive and hostile towards the The civil war in Syria and role of Turkey being a country hosting 3.7 million Syrian asylum 411,000 Syrian refugees have returned Turkish nation at every opportunity, is seekers, and regional issues like Libya, Palestine issue, Turkey’s relations with Greece and the here so far. Turkey is never permanent the biggest obstacle to peace, stability, The total value of the in the Syrian territory. We have no eye and tranquillity in the region. Armenia’s ongoing military clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia have also been covered in the on anyone’s territory. When the crisis is Mediterranean and Turkey’s “Blue attempt to show Turkey within the con- interview. projects undertaken only permanently resolved, our presence in Homeland” approach? flict through various tricks after its heavy by our contracting Syria will come to an end. Nevertheless, defeat during its last occupation effort Furthermore, H E spoke about the efforts made by the Republic of Turkey to combat COVID-19 until that stage, we will continue to Turkey has always supported an has been proof of its confinement and and its medical equipment supports to over 150 countries without any discrimination, and the companies is $18.5bn. I combat terrorism and attacks against equitable allocation of the riches of the despair. Even this attitude of Armenia is strong healthcare infrastructure which the country has built over believe that Turkey and our country within the framework of our Eastern Mediterranean by the littoral an indication that it wants to create a Qatar offer the best legitimate right of self-defence and the states. We have emphasised this in all wide-scale conflict area in the region. the last 18 years. Adana Agreement. We will not allow of our diplomatic initiatives. However, The most recent process has revealed example of cooperation on Idlib or the remaining Syrian territories states disturbed by the presence of who truly stands for peace. I repeat my a win-win basis. We will to become a threat to the security of our Turkey, in particular Greece, have call for the international community to country. adopted a stance that causes tension by see this fact and abandon the double DR. KHALID AL-SHAFI Government of National Accord recog- deepen our cooperation taking unilateral actions. Behind the standards it has been implementing for EDITOR-IN-CHIEF itaryTurkey presence and Qatar in Qatar and Turkey’sas an addi- mil- nised by the United Nations. The biggest with joint projects Turkey is very clear and deter- stance of France, known for its coloni- years and take steps to end the occu- tional obstacle to resolve the crisis. supporter of the putschist Haftar in terms mined regarding “the deal of the alism, which provoked Greece, the Greek pation of Armenia on Azerbaijani How will Gulf reconciliation affect of weapons, ammunition, and finance especially before the century.” In your opinion, what will Cypriot Administration of Southern territory. The close cooperation Qatar and Qatar-Turkey relations and Turkey’s is the Abu Dhabi administration. These World Cup to be held in follow this agreement? Will it be fully Cyprus, and now Armenia, is the fact that Turkey has established in many dif- military presence in Doha? policies, which are of no use to anyone implemented? Turkey has played an active role in the What can you say about the ferent areas for 47 years is except those who feed on the instability Qatar in 2022. region. progress that the world and Turkey remarkable. Bilateral relations have Our joint projects with Qatar in the and Muslim blood in our region, should When the plan was announced, as The issue of the Aegean and the Med- have made in the fight against the improved significantly in the last 8 field of military, security, and defence be abandoned as soon as possible. It is Turkey, we became one of the countries iterranean is one that Turkey will never COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting years. What are the factors that enable that reacted in the strongest manner. It take a step back from. We have voiced the whole world? the leaders of the two countries to is impossible for us to accept a plan that loudly on all platforms that we will not establish such strategic relations? our Palestinian brothers and sisters did accept any solution that disregards In addition to being a global health development of the vaccine with the structure that brings together all coun- not approve, no matter in what pack- Turkey and the TRNC and that confines problem, the coronavirus pandemic has G-20 Declaration, which we adopted on tries with a Muslim population. If we Turkey and Qatar are two brotherly aging it is marketed. A plan that ignores us to the shores, and we will continue become an issue with political, eco- March 26, 2020. We strive to fulfil our can bring the OIC to the dreamed level countries that have deep-rooted his- the acquired rights of Palestinians, to do so. We will resolutely continue to nomic, and social dimensions for the responsibility as a party to the “Corona- A plan that ignores the with all its bodies and activities, I torical, cultural and human relations. rejects a two-state solution on the basis protect and defend our rights and whole world. We consider this pan- virus Global Response” pledging event. acquired rights of believe we can overcome our chal- We have strategic relationships in a wide of the borders of 1967, and legitimises interests at all times and under all demic, which affects all countries from lenges altogether. From this per- spectrum ranging from economy, the policies of occupation and annex- circumstances. east to west, from north to south without Many Arab and Islamic countries Palestinians, rejects a two- spective, the Kuala Lumpur Summit is industry, defence, security, investment, ation, has no chance of success. Indeed, Those who see our determination in borders, as a great test that humanity highly admire the accomplishments state solution on the basis definitely not an effort to seek an alter- and energy. We have signed more than it has been a stillborn plan as of the the Eastern Mediterranean and realised has been subjected to. We believe that of the AK Party government today, as native to the Organisation of Islamic 50 agreements so far within the scope moment it was announced. We do not that they cannot make our country step this test, which reminds us that the they have done in the past, however of the borders of 1967, Cooperation. of the High Strategic Committee mech- see the prospect of implementing such back with empty threats and blackmails whole world has a shared destiny, can recent developments within the party and legitimises the policies anism established in 2014. We held the a plan. has eventually paid heed to our calls for be overcome by working together are causing concern not only in Turkey The absence of some Arab leaders 5th meeting of the Committee on dialogue. We have, however, kept shoulder to shoulder. With this under- but also in the Arab and Muslim world. of occupation and at the Kuala Lumpur Summit was November 25, 2019, in Doha. The memorandum of under- diplomacy channels open from the very standing as Turkey, we have not only In this sense, what would you say to annexation, has no chance interpreted as marginalising Arab Turkey offers attractive opportu- standing signed by Turkey with Libya beginning. Turkey has demonstrated considered the health of solely our cit- relieve people’s concerns? countries and discharging the lead- nities in many areas like real estate, concerning the delimitation of mar- loud and clear that it is in support of izens but also sent medical equipment of success. ership of the Muslim world for the finance, technology, defence, and com- itime jurisdiction areas was officially reducing the tension and favours dia- to more than 150 countries without any The AK Party is a party that was sake of a new Islamic leadership. munications to Qatari investors. In 2019, registered by the United Nations. What logue in the Eastern Mediterranean, not discrimination. We did not hesitate to founded in 2001 as the hope of the What is your take on this? our exports to Qatar increased by around would you say about this just through its statements but also its share with our friends the critical nation and came to power only 15 10 percent compared to the previous development? actions. We have the assurance that we healthcare supplies needed, especially months after its foundation. When we and concentrate on our own agenda. We The theme of the summit was “The year. Currently, 500 Turkish companies are right in terms of international law. the domestic respiratory devices and look at our activities since the foundation believe that we will continue to serve Role of Development in Achieving are operating in Qatar. The total value The Government of National Accord, In this regard, we are taking all our steps masks produced in our country. of our party, it is full of achievements, Turkey for long years ahead as long as National Sovereignty”. The purpose of of the projects undertaken only by our led by Mr. Sarraj, is the only legitimate regarding the Mediterranean issue Our country has made a much- reforms and services that few mortals we keep our bond with our nation meetings held on the sidelines of the contracting companies is $18.5bn. I structure in Libya that is recognised by within the context of our win-win prin- appreciated difference in the pandemic could witness. Moreover, throughout our strong. Summit was to find solutions to our believe that Turkey and Qatar offer the the international community. Turkey ciple, in a way that will serve peace and period with its health infrastructure and party history of more than 18 years and problems in this framework. It was with best example of cooperation on a and Libya, which have the longest tranquillity and benefit all Mediter- the healthcare system as well as our periods as the ruling party, we have Many leaders and representatives this intention that we, as Turkey, win-win basis. We will deepen our coop- coastline in the Mediterranean, signed ranean countries. advanced diagnosis and treatment pro- not only provided services and carried from Muslim countries came together accepted the invitation of Malaysian eration with joint projects especially two memoranda of understanding con- tocols. Turkey has become one of the out activities, but also fought against at the Kuala Lumpur Summit held on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. It before the World Cup to be held in Qatar cerning the delimitation of maritime What is your take on the struggle countries to most readily respond to the various forces ranging from terrorism December 19, 2019. As believed by is beneficial rather than harmful that in 2022. jurisdiction areas and military cooper- of Azerbaijan to save its territories pandemic thanks to its healthcare to tutelage. Thank Allah, we have some, was the purpose of the Summit Muslim countries come together industry constitute the backbone of our members of FETO, and it poisons the ation. The registration of this memo- occupied by Armenia? system, which we have strengthened in managed to come out of all these proc- to establish the core for an Islamic through various platforms and mech- What kind of a role can Turkey bilateral relations. The Turkey-Qatar alliance solidarity. As an ally, our expec- randum by the UN proved that the step the last 18 years, 40,000 intensive care esses with great success. bloc alternative to the Organisation anisms besides the works under the roof play as a country and with its private Combined Joint Force Command is the tation was to see strong solidarity with we took did not pose any problem in The occupation of part of Azerbai- beds, 246,000 bed capacity, more than Besides, we have won all the elec- of Islamic Cooperation? of the Organisation. I think we need it sector in the preparations of the 2022 symbol of brotherhood, friendship, sol- Turkey’s military presence our country on both issues; unfortu- terms of international law and estab- jan’s territory, particularly Karabakh, 4,000 treatment institutions and more tions that we have participated in the more especially during the painful World Cup which will be held for the idarity, and sincerity between our coun- nately, our expectation was not met. lished practices. where Armenia massacred people, has than 1,100,000 healthcare professionals. last 17 years. As the AK Party and the In the Muslim world, figures in period that we are currently going first time in the region by Qatar? tries. Those who carry out negative serves for the stability and Even the PKK-YPG terrorist organisation In line with the legitimate govern- been going on for nearly 30 years. In this process, we assured our citizens People’s Alliance, we again made a clean almost all areas, from trade to pol- through. I believe neither Turkey nor propaganda about our base are definitely peace not only of the was seen as a partner in Syria, supported ment’s request, the Turkish Armed Forces Encouraged by the indifference of the that we would protect both their morale sweep in the Municipal Elections of itics, from foreign policy to industry other participant countries have the The 2022 World Cup requires serious not well-intentioned. Turkey’s military and protected by some circles under the are carrying out training and support international community for years in the and their health with the giant healthcare March 31, 2019. Today, the AK Party and technology, are lagging well intention to leave other countries preparatory work not only in terms of presence serves for the stability and brotherly nation Qatar, but American administration. Especially the activities in Libya. The putschist Haftar, face of these massacres and invasions, facilities that have completed rapidly as maintains its first-day excitement with behind our potential. The total share outside. Frankly speaking, I do not find infrastructure investments but also in a peace not only of the brotherly nation also of the whole Gulf. No remnants of the former administration on the other hand, has neither legitimacy Armenia pursued its aggressive steps well as 16 city hospitals that have put its 10.5 million members, dynamism, of Muslim countries in the world such comments right and sincere. wide range of areas from security to Qatar, but also of the whole Gulf. No one one except for those displayed an uncompromising attitude nor international recognition. It is waging with new attacks on civilians. Azerbaijan into service throughout the country. In vision and passion for serving the nation. economy is not even 10 percent. The organisation. We are sure that our Qatari except for those making plans of chaos in some military and security a dirty and bloody war with legionnaires then took action to save its occupied ter- addition to the health measures we have There is no inertia or weakening con- income gap between the richest and For some observers, the Organi- friends will successfully carry out this should be disturbed by Turkey and the making plans of chaos bureaucracy issues. and foreign militias against the legitimate ritories and is now reclaiming the taken against the pandemic, we have cerning our party’s cadres and its poorest Muslim country is more than sation of Islamic Cooperation has organisation. In the past, we also hosted Turkish military presence in the Gulf. should be disturbed by On the other hand, we have acquired government of Libya. He (Haftar) is also regions that Armenia captured through realised many projects that provide eco- horizon. 200 folds. Today, 350 million sisters turned into a hollow structure with several sports events in Turkey. We have As Turkey and the Turkish nation, we a positive atmosphere in our bilateral a mercenary. Through his uncompro- banditry. nomic and social assurance to our cit- On the other hand, politics is a and brothers are struggling to survive no essence and has no role in a lot of experience in this field. We have can never forget Qatar’s solidarity with Turkey and the Turkish relations with Mr. Trump taking office. mising stance both in Moscow and at the Turkey is and will be standing by izens from all walks of life in this process dynamic process and the renewal of under extreme poverty. Although the enhancing cooperation between different projects to offer this experience our country following the July 15 coup military presence in the Our attitudes are increasingly over- Berlin Conference, he showed the entire Azerbaijan’s state and people in the just and set an example to the world. party cadres is only natural. It is natural foundations of humanity’s current Muslim countries and addressing the to our Qatari brothers. With the per- attempt. We have also put in every effort lapping, both on regional issues and on world that he had no intention of reaching cause of “one nation, two states” motto We have shared our country’s means to have changes of duty even break- level of development were laid on the challenges they face. Do you agree mission of Allah, we will work together to defeat the unjust blockade and sanc- Gulf. many other issues ranging from trade a ceasefire and a solution. The legitimacy as it has done so far. We will continue as well as experiences in the fight against aways in time. None of those who have Muslim territory, we should think well with this view? Why is not there any with the Qatari Government particularly tions against our Qatari brothers and to investments. We focus on our will succeed in Libya, and the putschists to support our Azerbaijani brothers with the virus with our friends. The deter- broken away from the AK Party and of the reasons for the challenges that effort to enable the active role of the on security and infrastructure. We will sisters and are still doing so. We hope that common interests rather than disagree- will lose. The opportunity that has all our means. mined and intensive efforts of the shifted their grounds has so far suc- Muslims face today, analyse them and OIC? How do you think this organi- extend all kinds of support for the the crisis that has been going on for three ments. Mr. Trump and I have set a goal emerged thanks to peace established on The states and the international Turkish scientists on diagnosis, ceeded. Our nation has never relied on find solutions. For it is not possible to sation can be restructured and its role success of this important sports years will be resolved as soon as possible. obvious that United Arab Emirates’ of increasing our bilateral trade to the ground as a result of Turkey’s initia- structures claiming that they took the treatment and vaccine development those who set off with the flatters of solve problems just by sitting and dis- rendered more effective? organisation. We are also very pleased to see Qatar efforts to escalate the tension through $100bn, and we are committed to tives and that will maintain peace and so-called initiative to solve this regional continue. In this context, we committed media and international powers. That cussing, it is evident that we need coming out of the blockade stronger provocative steps with its position at the achieving this goal. We will continue to stability both in Libya and in the region problem, unfortunately, condemned the to providing resources towards the rapid is why we look at ourselves, not others, mechanisms and will to eliminate For three years during our Term Pres- The solution to the Gulf crisis has despite all forms of injustice. anti-Turkey front, which cannot work together with the United States in must not be wasted. injustice. idency, we made considerable efforts for been progressing very slowly. Some acknowledge our activities in the Eastern all platforms, including NATO, on such The Organisation of Islamic Coop- the OIC to find solutions to our shared parties see the relationship between What will be the course of Turkey’s Mediterranean in line with our rights and issues as the fight against terrorism, What is your take on the latest eration is the most important tool that problems. We exerted efforts to overcome relations with Saudi Arabia and the interests, do not serve the peace in the democracy, instability and the termi- developments in the Eastern we have in this regard since it is a obstacles and bottlenecks caused by legal United Arab Emirates? region. nation of conflicts. procedures through enhancing means of mutual trade and investment. Turkey develops its relations with Whenever Turkey takes a step to Some circles accuse Turkey of car- We established mechanisms such as Turkey has a nearly 911km all states on the axis of justice, equality, make its Syrian border safe from the rying out operations in northern Syria Turkey has become one High-Level Strategic Cooperation border with Syria. We are respect for interests, and integrity. We threats posed by terrorist groups, the to achieve their goals. What would you We have a special bond Councils, Joint Economic Committees and always keep our door and heart open United States threatens to impose eco- say about such accusations? and friendship with Saudi of the countries to most High-Level Strategic Committees with one of the countries that for everyone who does not have a hostile nomic sanctions on the Republic of several countries including the members Arabia, especially with the readily respond to the are most affected by the feeling towards our nation and who does Turkey. Does this mean that the rela- Our country has a nearly 911-kilo- of the OIC. We organised comprehensive not devote special efforts to undermine tions between the two strategic allies metre border with Syria. We are one of Custodian of the Two Holy pandemic thanks to its sessions on “Facilitating Trade and conflicts that began in the interests of our country. We have a (Turkey and the United States) are the countries that are most affected by Improving Customs Risk Management Mosques Salman bin healthcare system, which 2011. We could not have special bond and friendship with Saudi evolving from a coalition protecting the conflicts that began in 2011. We could Systems in the OIC Member States” and Arabia, especially with the Custodian of their common interest to competition not have remained indifferent to a crisis Abdulaziz. Thus far, we we have strengthened in “Food Safety” during the 34th and 35th remained indifferent to a the Two Holy Mosques Salman bin in the region? in which one million people lost their meetings of COMCEC respectively. We Abdulaziz. Thus far, we have tried to lives and 12 million people were dis- have tried to fulfil the the last 18 years, 40,000 completed the foundation procedures for crisis in which one million fulfil the requirements of this friendship We have deep-rooted, multidimen- placed. So far, hundreds of our citizens requirements of this intensive care beds, Istanbul Arbitration Centre. We hope that people lost their lives and and the law of brotherhood between us, sional and strategic cooperation with have been martyred in attacks that orig- the restructuring of Islamic Chambers regardless of current issues. We will con- the United States. It is against the nature inated from Syria. Turkey has under- friendship and the law of 246,000 bed capacities, of Commerce and Industry will soon be 12 million people were tinue to show the same sensitivity from of international relations that the coun- taken a heavy burden in both humani- brotherhood between us, more than 4,000 completed successfully. It is extremely displaced. We are now on. On the other hand, the activ- tries with different interests think the tarian and social, and also material crucial to introduce the Preferential ities carried out by the Abu Dhabi same on every issue and act in the same aspects. We are currently hosting 3.7 regardless of current treatment institutions Trade Agreement System. I believe that currently hosting 3.7 administration both in the Gulf region way. The main issue here is to maintain million Syrian asylum seekers. issues. We will continue to and more than the effectiveness of the Organisation will million Syrian asylum and in different Islamic geographies relations on the basis of bilateral No state would allow a terrorist further soar when we put the decisions from Libya to Syria and Palestine are interests, despite differences of opinion. organisation to flourish across its show the same sensitivity 1,100,000 healthcare we take into practice and when we seekers. unfortunately extremely negative. In Although we have taken separate posi- borders. We have carried out a deter- from now on. professionals. discuss and find solutions to our Libya, it is not possible for us to tions with the United States on various mined fight against both DAESH and the problems without falling into any approve the hostile attitude towards the issues from time to time, we have placed PKK-YPG terrorist organisation. With complex. 06 HOME THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Qatar, UK review cooperation Dr. Al Khal to discuss Qatar’s response to pandemic at TAMUQ seminar today

THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Al Maerifa virtual seminar series features 45-minute Hamad Medical Corporation’s seminars to promote knowledge on topics centered around Deputy Chief Medical Officer Qatar’s grand challenges and research pursuits. The talks and Chairman of the National are presented in English and are designed for a general, Pandemic Preparedness nontechnical audience. Participants will be invited to ask Committee, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal (pictured) will talk in questions at the end of the presentation. Texas A&M University at Qatar’s (TAMUQ) next Al Maerifa Public Seminar Series, today via zoom. seminar series features In his talk, “Qatar’s 45-minute seminars to Response to the COVID-19 Pan- promote knowledge on demic: Lessons Learned,” Dr. topics centred around Al Khal will give a brief Qatar’s grand challenges description of the status of the and research pursuits. epidemic and describe briefly The talks are pre- the measures taken by Qatar to sented in English and are contain it. designed for a general, Dr. Al Khal earned his nontechnical audience. MBBCh from the Royal College Participants will be of Surgeons in Ireland in 1989. invited to ask questions Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al He undertook his internship at at the end of the Thani met yesterday with British Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Hamad Medical Corporation presentation. H E Alok Sharma, during His Excellency’s visit to Britain. They reviewed cooperation between the (HMC) and in 1991 joined the Organised by Texas two countries, means of cooperation in the field of energy and the environment, in addition to issues Internal Medicine Residency health programs under the A&M at Qatar, the Al Maerifa of joint interest. Training Program at the Uni- umbrella of Qatar’s Ministry of Public seminar series continues versity of Connecticut School Public Health. the partner university’s core of Medicine (USA), followed by Dr. Al Khal is an Adjunct mission of sharing knowledge Qatar Scientific Club manufactures 6,000 face shields completion of a two-year fel- Professor of Clinical Medicine with the local community in lowship in infectious diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, said Dean of TAMUQ, Dr. QNA — DOHA decrease the risk of infection thus, it is environmentally at Hartford Hospital. He was Qatar and Clinical Professor of César Octavio Malavé. with the coronavirus. friendly. It has been tested by awarded the Diploma of the Medicine at Qatar University “As an institution of higher Qatar Scientific Club, with the The face shields will be pro- medical staff several times, American Board in Internal College of Medicine (CMED). He education in Qatar, we aim to support of Oryx GTL, has duced in the digital manufac- taking into consideration Medicine in 1994 and Diploma is also the Director of the QU share knowledge with the started the manufacture of turing laboratory (FabLab) at the recommended of the American Board of Infec- CMED Clinical Affairs whole community,” Malavé 6,000 pieces of medical face Qatar Scientific Club after improvements. tious Diseases in 1996, and was Department and was the col- said. “The Al Maerifa Public shields for the medical cadres testing and approval by Hamad ORYX GTL Director of recertified in infectious disease lege’s founding Associate Dean seminar series helps us achieve of Hamad Medical Corporation Medical Corporation. Public Relations Saad Al in 2013. for Clinical Affairs. He remains that goal, and we are honoured (HMC) and the staff of Oryx The locally manufactured Muraikhi said his company is Dr. Al Khal holds several active in research and publishes to have a leader such as Dr. Al GTL. face shield has several fea- happy to cooperate with Qatar clinical positions, chairs a regularly in the fields of internal Khal joining us for this lecture The Club will support HMC tures, including minimising Scientific Club in this initiative variety of committees and has medicine, pharmacology, infec- to discuss the steps Qatar has with 5,000 pieces of medical condensation of water vapour to support and protect the led a number of strategic tious diseases and medical taken to contain and combat face shield, and the staff of Oryx and blurred vision. The shield medical sector in the country projects at HMC. He also has an education. the spread of the GTL with 1,000 pieces to help is reusable after sterilisation, and support national products. advisory role to several public The Al Maerifa virtual coronavirus.” QF welcomes two new schools into its education ecosystem THE PENINSULA — DOHA Qatar Foundation (QF), which cater under QF’s Pre-University Edu- of Qatar and Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, H E Sheikha this agreement with the Swiss for children from the age of six cation (PUE), the Swiss Interna- Swiss International School of Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, for International School of Qatar and Qatar Foundation has announced months through to high school tional School of Qatar and Lycée Qatar and Lycée Franco-Qatarien this distinguished effort in the Lycée Franco-Qatarien that two new schools are to be graduates within an ecosystem Franco-Qatarien Voltaire are set Voltaire, H E Dr. Ali Al Marri said, education sector, which has Voltaire.” brought under the umbrella of its that, for the past 25 years, has been to add nearly 2,500 new students, “I would like to extend my thanks helped many people find unique Director General, Lycée Pre-University Education, the committed to providing tailored helping to grow the ever- and appreciation to Chairperson opportunities.” Franco-Qatarien Voltaire, Serge Swiss International School of learning experiences that nurture expanding QF school network of Qatar Foundation, H H Sheikha “Lycée Franco-Qatarien Vol- Tillman, “Lycée Franco-Qatarien Qatar and Lycée Franco-Qatarien creative, innovative thinkers, which is committed to delivering Moza bint Nasser for her tre- taire, which was established in Voltaire has the honour and the Voltaire, yesterday. change-makers, and future leaders. quality education rooted in inter- mendous efforts at a local and 2007, aims to strengthen the links privilege of signing at the start of The two institutions will join With more than 7,000 stu- national best practices. global level to support education between Qatar and France the 2020-21 academic school the existing portfolio of schools at dents already enrolled in schools Attorney General of the State and provide everyone with the through language, education, and year, a partnership with Qatar opportunity to obtain the best culture, by providing classes in Foundation, and, in doing so, form of learning – in particular, Arabic, French, and English, becoming the first French- those in most need of such based on the principle of two civ- speaking school to join the opportunities around the world.” ilizations and three languages.” organisation.” “I would also like to thank President of PUE, QF, The Swiss International Vice Chairperson and CEO of Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi said, “In School of Qatar (SISQ) opened its the year that doors in January 2017, and, marks the 25th through the International Bacca- anniversary of laureate system, offers the Qatar Foun- Primary Years Programme, the dation, we are Middle Years Programme, and delighted that the Diploma Programme. our ecosystem of “We are delighted at the oppor- pre-university tunity to be working alongside education – Qatar Foundation, the leading edu- which started cational provider in Qatar. We look with a single forward to a close relationship and school — con- are grateful to have access to such tinues to expand wonderful resources and in both size and expertise,” said Head of School, scope, through SISQ, Dr. Nancy Le Nezet. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 HOME 07 Qatar Embassy delivers medical aid to El Salvador

QNA — SAN SALVADOR Minister of Health of the its continuous support to El COVID-19. Republic of El Salvador H E Dr. Salvador in all fields and said For his part, Tariq Othman The Embassy of the State of Francisco Alabi and Acting that the medical assistance Al Othman said that this new Qatar to the Republic of El Charge d’Affaires of the provided by the State of Qatar aid comes within a series of Salvador handed over the first Embassy of the State of Qatar will increase the capabilities of assistance provided by the State batch of medical aid, equipment to the Republic of El Salvador the health system in his of Qatar to the Government of and supplies provided by Qatar H E Tariq Othman Al Othman country and improve the level El Salvador during the corona- Fund for Development (QFFD) attended the handing over of of medical services provided virus pandemic, affirming the to El Salvador to support it in the aid. to citizens. embassy’s keenness to make facing the global health emer- Dr. Francisco Alabi He also affirmed that this efforts to enhance and develop gency and confronting the coro- expressed thanks and appre- assistance came in the best time bilateral relations and joint navirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ciation to the State of Qatar for to combat the emerging cooperation. QU celebrates YSC’s success at annual iCan competition

THE PENINSULA — DOHA for scientific research titled (ultra-high performance fiber Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Qatar University’s (QU) Young reinforced concrete) to improve Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Mohammed Scientists Center (YSC) marked the properties of concrete and Hassan Al Obaidly, attending the meeting, held virtually. its first victory at international make it more sustainable. student competitions yesterday. Speaking during the cer- The event celebrated their emony, YSC Director Dr. Noora Qatar participates in GCC success at the fifth Invention Jaber Al Thani, expressed pride and Innovation Competition in the centre’s achievement and Labour Ministers’ meeting iCan 2020 organised by the the students at the international Toronto International Society level. She noted that the success QNA — DOHA outcomes of G20 Employment for Innovation and Advanced strengthens Qatar University as Working Group meeting were Skills in Canada. a pioneer in education inno- The State of Qatar participated reviewed, in addition to dis- The celebration was vation locally and yesterday in the sixth meeting cussing international cooper- attended by Qatar University internationally. of the Their Excellences GCC ation issues and issues pre- President Dr. Hassan Al Derham Dr. Hassan Al Derham, President of Qatar University, during the Dr. Noora also emphasised Ministers of Labour via video- sented to Arab and interna- and Vice-President for iCan 2020 honouring ceremony. the centre’s interest in sup- conferencing. tional meetings. Research and Graduate Studies, porting Qatari students and inte- The delegation was headed The Labor Ministers, Dr. Maryam Al Maadeed. grating them into the research by Assistant Undersecretary for moreover, turning to organising The iCan is held to promote The success strengthens Qatar University as a pioneer in environment that stimulates Labour Affairs at the Ministry of the relations and tasks between innovation and invention, and education innovation locally and internationally. The centre them to innovate. The centre will Administrative Development, the General Secretariat of the practical application of skills in will also continue to provide the latest scientific and also continue to provide the Labour and Social Affairs, GCC and the Executive Office society, especially among academic methods for its students to achieve excellence in latest scientific and academic Mohammed Hassan Al Obaidly. of the Labour Ministers and youth. It also aims to provide a various scientific and research fields. methods for its students to The meeting discussed the Ministers of Social Affairs platform for young inventors to achieve excellence in various decisions of the Supreme Offices , and discussed the draft display and share their crea- scientific and research fields. Council issued in the field of budget of the Executive Office tivity and solutions to problems Dr. Noora Jaber Al Thani Qatar University President labour, and the vision of the of GCC Labour Ministers for in several fields and increase Young Scientists Center Director Dr. Hassan Al Derham presented General Secretariat regarding 2021. their self-confidence. YSC won the winning students with the promoting joint Gulf action for It is noteworthy that pre- among 608 projects submitted gold medals. Besides, Dr. Noora the post-COVID-19, as well as paratory meetings were held by 61 countries. research, and innovation, and (College of Engineering) who was also recognised for pro- presenting the strategy of joint in advance, in the presence of The centre won a gold provide an ideal environment participated in “I am a moting the centre’s community work in the field of labour and a number of ministry officials medal and a special award for to enhance creativity. Researcher” programme won service to Qatari students to manpower in the GCC coun- and undersecretaries of the its innovative learning methods The two students, Rawda Al a gold medal in the construction make them pioneers in the coun- tries 2020-2025. ministries of labor in the GCC for its STEM programs, initia- Kuwari (College of Health Sci- and building category. They try’s development and the real- During the meeting, the countries. tives to attract youth to science, ences) and Hessa Al Kuwari bagged a special award isation of Qatar 2030 vision. 4th Arab Digital Content Forum concludes QA marks Breast Cancer Awareness THE PENINSULA — DOHA Month with limited edition amenity kits The 4th Arab Digital Content THE PENINSULA — DOHA Forum concluded in Doha yesterday. The forum was On the occasion of Breast Cancer organised by the Ministry of Awareness Month, Qatar Airways Transport and Communications will offer its passengers an from October 5 to 7 under the exclusive ‘Think Pink’ experience auspices of the League of Arab in the sky as well in its lounges, States in collaboration with offering custom-designed limited Communications Regulatory edition amenity kits and pink- Authority (CRA) of Qatar, the themed special menus. Arab Information and Commu- For the fourth year, the QA's Breast Cancer Awareness Month amenity kits. nication Technologies Organi- airline continues to show its zation (AICTO), the UN commitment to raising departing from Doha, passengers inspired by the tremendous Economic and Social awareness of breast cancer, travelling in Business Class will global effort that has gone into Commission for West Asia offering passengers travelling on have the opportunity to savour fighting this disease. We hope our (ESCWA) and the ITU. Experts participating in 4th Arab Digital Content Forum. long-haul and ultra-long-haul exclusive pink-themed treats message of breast cancer The event came to an end flights in Business Class a luxury onboard such as pink guava and awareness reaches as many with a set of recommendations amenity bag designed in-house grape lemonade and assorted des- people as possible.” to boost the presence of Arabic their work in their own and created exclusively for Qatar serts with the iconic pink ribbon. Economy Class passengers language online. Among key The event came to an end with a language. Airways by stylish Italian luggage On all ultra-long-haul flights travelling on overnight long-haul recommendations were: the set of recommendations to boost Forum speakers also brand BRIC’S. departing from Doha, passengers and all ultra-long-haul flights are importance of developing and the presence of Arabic language stressed the need for more The exclusive amenity kits will be served a special pink also offered limited edition breast promoting Arabic domains for investment in ICT infra- are made from vegan leather and afternoon tea menu featuring cancer awareness amenity kits. easier access to Arabic content, online. Among key recommend- structure as well as in gov- there are male and female raspberry macaroons and opera The bags feature the pink ribbon the importance of having a ations were: the importance of ernments’ current health options available. Both kits cake. Qatar Airways Al Mourjan and include eyeshades, socks, larger Arabic representation in developing and promoting and economic priorities as feature a unique zipper pull in the Business Lounge will feature pink earplugs, lip balm, toothbrush world organisations and entities Arabic domains for easier access the digital gap continues to shape of the iconic breast cancer flower arrangements,serve and toothpaste. Pink raspberry concerned with the field, the to Arabic content, the widen. ribbon. This highly sought-after refreshing pink mocktails to pas- or strawberry mousse desserts importance of unifying Arabs’ The forum’s five online kit is further customised with a sengers and offer a variety of pink will be served on all lunch and efforts to disseminate the importance of having a larger sessions revolved around message imprinted on a band, sweet treats as well as the ‘Think dinner services on all flights content and the importance of Arabic representation in world the reality of Arabic digital reading: ‘Think pink and support Pink’ afternoon tea menu, which departing from Doha. sponsoring and supporting the organisations and entities content, the importance of the fight’. also includes a delicious selection Qatar Airways, in partnership projects that focus on encour- concerned with the field. Arabic digital content Each kit contains select of finger sandwiches, scones and with Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), aging innovation in developing during crises, the future products from Italy’s Castello Monte pastries. has joined forces with Hamad and increasing the Arabic prospects of e-learning in Vibiano Vecchio, the environmen- Qatar Airways Group Chief International Airport (HIA), Qatar content online. the Arab region, the role of tally friendly and innovative Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, Aviation Services (QAS) and Other key recommenda- and financial support to content Arabic digital content within a nutrition-centric olive oil company. said: “Qatar Airways is a very Qatar Duty Free (QDF) to show tions include the importance of developers, providing a high- smart nation, the Arabic digital The skin care range includes lip strong supporter of Breast Cancer their united support for Breast applying intellectual property quality Arabic content online content and entrepreneurship balm, hydrating facial mist, and Awareness Month, and we are Cancer Awareness Month ‘Think protection laws to encourage to ensure easy access for Arabic amongst youth and the AI anti-ageing moisturiser, as well as pleased to offer these unique Pink’ activities to raise awareness investment in professional speakers where they can impact on boosting the Arabic pink socks and eyeshades. luxury amenity kits to our pas- of breast cancer prevention and content, providing institutional express themselves and share content. Additionally, on flights sengers, As an airline, we are control. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G now available at Ooredoo across Qatar THE PENINSULA — DOHA first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. Ooredoo announced yesterday that the Director of PR at Ooredoo, Sabah Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, the smartphone Rabiah Al Kuwari, said: “We know our dis- innovator’s latest flagship, can now be cerning customers place great emphasis purchased by members of its Qatar on being able to access the latest tech- customer base via its online e-shop. nology and most covetable devices, and combination of sophisticated design, Comprising enhanced refinements and pride themselves on being among the first elegant appearance, and unrivaled viewing brand-new foldable features based on to own the newest models on the market. experiences. customer feedback and recommendations, We’re extremely proud to be working with “At Samsung, we are always grateful the device promises to be one that delivers Samsung to bring the phenomenal Galaxy for the support we receive from operators, ultimate productivity in every instance, Z Fold2 5G to our customers in Qatar; com- whose enthusiasm to ensure their cus- combining the portability and flexibility of plete customer satisfaction is a key goal at tomers are among the first to experience a smartphone with the screen size of a tablet. Ooredoo, and partnering with global tech- our latest devices is fundamental to the Customers purchasing a new Samsung nology leaders such as Samsung enables commercial and critical success we attain,” Galaxy Z Fold2 5G with Ooredoo, when us to reach this goal consistently.” said Senior Director Mobile Division, available, can look forward to a raft of Samsung has once again reaffirmed Samsung Gulf Electronics, Osman Albora. great offers; Buds Live and 1 year of its commitment to pioneer an entirely new “The contributions of Ooredoo during the Samsung Care+, and double Nojoom Points category of mobile devices with the intro- Galaxy Z Fold2 5G pre-order phase were for every QR1 spent on their purchase. duction of the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, which greatly appreciated, and we are delighted Stocks are limited for the free Buds represents the next generation of foldable that they will be supporting us once again Live and the offer will be available on a devices that delivers a winning as part of the official launch.” DOHA TODAY

08 THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Compelling works by prominent Iraqi artist on show

RAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA

A soft pillow which provides a good night’s sleep transforms into a potent symbol of torment and shat- tered dreams in Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani’s latest exhibition unveiled yesterday at Al Markhiya Gallery at Doha Fire Station. Art has been proven an effective medium in conveying message on vital issues using pow- erful visual vocabulary that can only be harnessed by talented artists like Al Bahrani. In the 29 metal sculptures of pillows blended with powerful images such as bullets, tanks and broken walls, Al Bahrani juxtaposes contrasting ideas such as comfort and pain, and rest and distress brought about by insurmountable challenges that the world is cur- rently trying to overcome. The exhibition carries on Al Bahrani’s artistic interest in cre- ating work that brings more Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani's works on show at his latest solo exhibition at Al Markhiya Gallery are both awareness to the political realities compelling and thought-provoking. PICS: RAYNALD C RIVERA/THE PENINSULA of the Arab Diaspora as well as his own life experiences as he delves into crucial themes of war, dis- can be found in different parts of placement and memory. Migration the world including Qatar where figures among the important issues he has lived for quite some time. that surface from the works that Some of his most notable works make them even more relevant in Qatar include ‘The Challenge’, a “In Memory of Jerusalem – Paying Tribute to Naji Al Ali”, today. series of impressive bronze sculp- a bronze sculpture by Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani. Compelling bronze sculptures tures depicting larger-than-life such as “Martyr” which depicts a hands reaching for the sky created lifeless bird lying on a pillow and to commemorate the 24th Men’s “The Nightmare” which shows a Handball World Championships in tank emerging from the pillow Qatar and ‘A Message of Peace to arouse varied emotions among the the World’, located at the South visitors at the exhibition. Node passenger station at Hamad In one of the sculptures, Al International Airport in Doha in Bahrani pays tribute to slain Pal- which he honours the work of estinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali Reach Out To Asia (ROTA). putting an image of Handala - a “A Dream 4”, acrylic on canvas painting by Ahmed Al Bahrani. Al Bahrani’s works have also ten-year-old Palestinian boy, been exhibited internationally, with barefoot and dressed in rags which realities. .political reasons, his work became presentations in Iraq, Yemen, is a figure Al-Ali had created to rep- Born in 1965 in Babylorn, Iraq, amplified with his sense of Beirut, New York and Qatar, just to resent Palestinian defiance. Al Bahrani has developed a lifelong estrangement from his geo- name a few. Massive series of acrylic interest in sculpture from a young graphical foundation and roots, Though Al Bahrani has already paintings titled “A Dream” seem- age when he would make solitary working with specific materials to featured in a number of exhibitions Ultra-modern operating ingly depicting his self-portrait discoveries while modeling clay on explore his sense of loss. presented by Al Markhiya Gallery restlessly sleeping far away from the riverbanks of his hometown. Arriving in Qatar in 1999, he has in the past, this is the first time he theaters state of tranquility form one of the He later followed his love of art and been involved in many landmark is displaying his works in the main features of the exhibition. He graduated from the Fine Arts projects in the country, trans- gallery in a grand scale. integrates images like paper planes, Institute in Baghdad in 1988 and forming his medium to address A pioneering private art gallery clouds and paper boats to the mon- taught sculpture at the Academy of modern-day life and deeper issues in Doha, Al Markhiya Gallery con- ochrome paintings to denote the Fine Arts in Baghdad from 1992 to in a direct fashion. tinues its mission of promoting, remote possibility of attaining 1994. A collection of the artist’s exhibiting and selling Qatari and certain dreams considering present After leaving Iraq in 1994 for statues, monuments and murals Arab contemporary art. MES Indian School SundanceTV Shorts competition attracts State-of-the-art ambulance marks Gandhi Jayanti over 120 entries fleet THE PENINSULA - DOHA Names of the Section-wise winners of THE PENINSULA - DOHA the competitions were announced. MES Indian School celebrated Gandhi A recorded thematic programme paying The first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) edition Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the great a glowing tribute to the Father of Indian of the SundanceTV Shorts Competition, held in part- Indian leader and inspiring freedom fighter nation and highlighting the significance of nership with beIN Media Group and the Doha Film with traditional fervour and enthusiasm adhering to non-violence, simplicity and Institute, has attracted over 120 submissions from recently. brotherhood in the present-day context around the region. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief entitled ‘My Life is My Message’ was pre- Organisers are reminding all who have a story to Guest, President Officiating, MES Governing sented by the students. share, whether it’s a short film produced on a mobile Board K Abdul Karim recollected various Head Prefect, Boys’ Section, Fahad phone or using sophisticated equipment, that they can freedom movements of Gandhi and urged Mohammed welcomed the online audience continue to submit their films until October 25. the students to imbibe the noble qualities and Head Girl, Junior Section Aleena, The largest number of submissions to date have as advocated and lived as example by Mariyam Sheikh proposed a vote of thanks. come from Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon and Egypt. Mahatma Gandhi. Tanishka Dandriyal and Leah Thomas Storytellers from Yemen, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the UAE Highly-advanced patient The Guest of Honour, General Secretary, of the Girls’ Section compered the pro- and Iraq have also shared their unique stories and information systems MES Governing Board, P K Mohamed gramme. Anwar, Cultural Coordinator, perspectives. emphasised the need for youngsters to coordinated event. Haroon V.P along with Organisers had recently announed that acclaimed practise Gandhian principles of truth, the members of ICT Department of MES pro- actress and producer Uma Thurman and trailblazing honesty and simplicity, and to propagate vided the technical support. filmmakers Annemarie Jacir and Sophia Al-Maria had his ideals of love, peace and brotherhood. Amongst others Directors, MES Gov- joined the SundanceTV Shorts Competition jury panel. Emphasising the importance and rele- erning Board, Vice Principal/ Head of Girls’ They complete the jury led by television industry vance of Gandhian principles, Principal of Section, Annamma Shammy; Vice Principal veteran, Harold Gronenthal, who is Executive Vice Pres- MES Indian School, Hameeda Kadar urged /Head of Boys’ Section officiating, Mohmmed ident, Programming and Marketing for AMC Networks the students to uphold the values of non- Ilias; Head of Academic Inspection and International, broadcaster of SundanceTV outside of violence, practice tolerance and don the Quality Management System, Baby Shana North America. mantle of modesty to serve humanity. Shameer; Headmistress, Junior Section, The winner of the competition will participate in Various literary competitions such as Sumayya Nazeer; Headmistress, Kinder- an exclusive masterclass with Thurman, who is a poster designing, fancy dress, collage garten, Lalitha Srinivasan; Heads of Depart- Golden Globe winner and Academy Award and making, calligraphy, elocution and essay ments; teachers, and students attended the Primetime Emmy Award nominee. writing, were conducted in different cate- programme. Additional prizes include a state-of-the-art home gories of the students. entertainment package and a beIN CONNECT Voucher. Cutting-edge treatments for The winner and three runners-up will be announced during the Ajyal Film Festival next month, and their cancer Students of MES School films will be broadcast exclusively on SundanceTV on celebrated Gandhi Jayanti beIN channel 75 in MENA, later in the year. paying a glowing tribute to Held for the first time in MENA after successful runs At Hamad Medical Corporation we the Father of the Nation. in Europe and South Africa, the SundanceTV Shorts are utilizing advanced technology and Competition is a platform for independent storytellers and emerging talent in the region to share their stories. innovative systems to deliver the highest Entries can be submitted by the producer or quality care to Qatar’s population. director, who must provide proof of residence in MENA. Films should be no longer than 15 minutes and must be delivered with English subtitles if English is not the spoken language. www.hamad.qa Entries must meet SundanceTV’s official rules and technical requirements, available on the website. Sub- missions will be judged on creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values. To submit their films or find out more, interested participants can head to https://www.bein.com/en/ sundancetvshorts/. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 DOHA TODAY 09 QF campuses quick to adjust to online learning in wake of coronavirus pandemic

FAZEENA SALEEM person if they choose. provided socializing and peer THE PENINSULA As education systems During the remote work support and online counselling worldwide adjust to phase, VCUarts Qatar hosted and a weekly meditation expe- The COVID-19 pandemic has online learning in the various webinars to address rience provided by our coun- dramatically changed the factors affecting well-being. At selling services team. education system, giving rise to wake of the coronavirus the same time, additional coun- Meanwhile, the academics the use of e-learning platforms, outbreak, QF’s Education seling sessions were provided to team created virtual instruc- which has become necessary in Development Institute assist students, employees, and tional guidelines in the form preventing the spread of the launched a platform that their families dealing with diffi- of a supplement to syllabus virus. enables school teachers culties during this pandemic. terms, i.e., office hours, As education systems to work together using “Supporting students privacy while online, worldwide continue to adjust to the digital sphere to remotely during these chal- attendance of virtual experi- online learning in the wake of the lenging times and uncovering ences, participation, and stu- coronavirus outbreak, Qatar improve student innovative facets of the student dents’ engagement to assist Foundation’s (QF) Education outcomes. experience has been a critical pri- students (and faculty) in Development Institute has Dr. Cherif Amor Dr. Ashfaq Bengali ority for the university. understanding the parameters launched a platform that enables "To enhance students’ online and expectations of online school teachers from across the thoughts and experience about assessment and using Zoom to staff have worked diligently over engagement, VCUarts Qatar has learning. country to work together using remote learning. teach online effectively,” said the summer to provide virtual increased its use of virtual out- “The establishment of a the digital sphere to improve Remote learning has not been Executive Director of the Center laboratory options to ensure that reach tools. We also created a Teaching Lab, created by student outcomes. incredibly tricky, technology- for Teaching and Learning, at student learning continues,” said strong and reassuring presence faculty to curate and dissem- Branch campuses of QF were wise at Texas A&M University at TAMUQ, Dr. Ashfaq Bengali. Dr. Bengali. on social media platforms,” said inate resources about the among the first institutions to Qatar. However, this model was Student mental health was Interim Associate Dean for Aca- virtual/hybrid mode of adopt this sudden shift away “At TAMUQ, the Center for accompanied by challenges that another vital issue that TAMUQ demic Affairs at VCUarts Qatar, instruction, ensures that our from the classroom. Teaching and Learning together students and faculty faced, such has looked into and assured Dr. Cherif Amor. academic staff have the Academics at QF’s Texas A&M with IT’s Educational Technology as the difference in time zones, support when required. At Several online programs resources, inspiration and University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and unit, worked separately and communication with students, present TAMUQ has adopted the were facilitated to support our guidance needed to provide Virginia Commonwealth Uni- together to support faculty and conducting lab experiments ‘Blended Learning’ model in students while they were away the best support to all students versity School of the Arts in Qatar members. Jointly offered sessions online. which students will be allowed from campus - including a during a period of virtual (VCUarts Qatar) shared their included options for online “Our faculty and teaching to attend classes and labs in weekly virtual Karak hour that learning,” said Dr. Amor. Nigerians express optimism as country marks 60th independence anniversary

AYENI OLUSEGUN THE PENINSULA NIDO-Qatar president says the organisation is As Nigerians celebrated the country’s 60th independence anniversary, many have working hard to help called on the government to do more in Nigerians in distress. tapping investment from Nigerians in Diaspora and creating an enabling envi- NIDO also plan to hold ronment that will encourage foreign entrepreneural Sri Lanka Walking Football to investors to have confidence the coun- webinars and passport try’s economy. take part in IWFFQ league The West African country, which was renewal programmes. granted independence on October 1, 1960, THE PENINSULA – DOHA Al Sayed said that walking from Great Britain, is one of the top pro- football, a new way of football, ducers of crude oil amongst many other Sri Lanka Walking Football gives an opportunity to people resources but has been hit by corruption President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation pandemic. He noted that NIDO- Qatar is Qatar, organised a team selection aged over 40 years to play. He and insurgency. -Qatar (NIDO-Qatar) Victor Ikoli. working to help Nigerians in need and event recently to participate in congratulated the Sri Lankan This year’s celebration was a low-key distress in Qatar, particularly in passport the upcoming International community for their enthu- event due to the coronavirus pandemic. renewal and entrepreneurial Walking Football Federation - siasm to participate in walking Nigeria accounts for over a third of the president of the Nigerians in Diaspora opportunities. Qatar (IWFFQ) league. football which would unite the migrant remittance flows to Sub-Saharan Organisation - Qatar (NIDO-Qatar), Victor “NIDO Qatar and the Embassy of Members of Sri Lankan Sri Lankan community and Africa. PwC estimated that these flows Ikoli, said the country still has more to do Nigeria are working together to bring expatriate community aged promote physical fitness and amounted to $23.63 billion (2017: $22 to achieve collective growth. With over together a passport intervention team over 40 years participated in well-being. billion) in 2018, and represented 6.1% of 10,000 Nigerians in Qatar, NIDO-Qatar from Nigerian Immigration to renew the event. Al Sayed praised IWFFQ Sri Nigeria’s GDP. serves as an information bridge between passports and issue first-timers following Charge d’Affaires of the Lankan community represent- Despite the challenges, Nigerians are ministries and Nigerian residents. a coronavirus pandemic that has hindered Embassy of Sri Lanka to Qatar, ative, president of SLWF Doha, optimistic about their future and hope “Congratulations to all Nigerians on the regular operation of the Embassy Ratnasingam Kohularangan Mubarak Mohamed Jameel, they can learn from past mistakes. our nation’s 60th anniversary and for the service. graced the occasion as the general secretary of SLWF “We hope the relevant authorities rec- fact that we are still one indivisible nation. “As part of our programs for the year, chief guest, while President Doha Qatar, Abdul Hafeel M ognize the potential of the Diaspora. Very few will argue that the world’s we would have two webinars to engage of International Walking Zubair and their team. Nigeria is one of the top migrant remit- largest black population, with massive our community members. The first Football Federation Asia and An exhibition match was tances flows in Africa. They should hold wealth to spend as Africa’s largest oil pro- webinar will be on ‘Startup and Entre- Qatar, Farhan Al Sheikh Al held for men and for women to more investment seminars here in Qatar, ducer, is far from where it should be. preneurship & Engaging Diasporas as Sayed, was the guest of promote the game among them. where we have many professionals. "There’s still hope for the country to Development Partners for Home and Des- honour at the event. Besides, Al Sayed presented "Most people will be interested in the achieve its goals,” Ikoli said of the inde- tination Countries,’ he said. Counselor at the Sri Lankan a certificate of appreciation to government-backed project because it pendence celebration. “Before the end of the year, in collab- embassy, Rasika Jayasinghe; charge d’Affaires for his support ensures that their investment is secure. On NIDO-Qatar’s activities in Doha, oration with the Supreme Committee for Principal of Stafford Sri Lanka and contribution towards We are optimistic that these issues will the president said the organisation is Delivery & Legacy, we will also launch a School in Doha, Chrishanthi walking football. He also pre- be addressed,” said Michael, a con- working on several projects that will stadium tour for our community members Perera, and Sri Lankan com- sented a certificate of affiliation struction engineer. benefit Nigerians in Doha, despite the to see the 2022 World Cup stadiums first munity leaders in Qatar, were to the Sri Lankan Walking Meanwhile, speaking to The Peninsula, restrictions due to the COVID-19 hand,” the president added. present at the event. Football Qatar.

NIA Hindi Toastmasters Club THROUGH THE LENS holds virtual ‘Kavi Sammelan’

THE PENINSULA – DOHA India, Sunita Saini, Sameer Moosa, Dr. Trilok Sharma, On the eve of Hindi Diwas, Shalini Garg, Hemant NIA Hindi Toastmasters Majumdar, Smriti Trivedi, Club of Area 7, Division B, and Shalini Verma all per- District 116, conducted a formed to the admon- virtual ‘Kavi Sammelan’ ishment of the audience. Dr. (poets conference) for the Meenu Parashar, Avaneesh budding poets of Doha Agrawal, Poonam Tanwar, recently as a part of the Akshay Arya, and Vandana club’s Open House. Over 80 Raj were also top guests from Qatar, India, performers. and Tanzania participated The event was coordi- in this virtual event. nated by Area 7 Director Nasreen Bano started Kumaran CS, supported by, the event with her engaging Sameer Moosa, K P Murli, voice and welcomed the and Dr. Trilok Sharma. Asha club president Dr. Meenu Sehgal delivered a vote of Parashar who formally thanks. opened the event, high- Meanwhile, the Club In celebration of the lighting the prominence of also declared the winners deep-rooted and unique the Hindi language. He also of the ‘Children’s Poetry appreciated the efforts Recitation Contest,' which relationship that Qatar made by the club members was organised recently by shares with Kuwait, to promote their mother the Club in collaboration Qatar Museums is tongue. with the India embassy in presenting ‘Splendours Eminent young interna- Qatar on the occasion of of the Ancient East: tional poet Amit Sharma ‘Hindi Pakhwara’. Antiquities from The from India and Jitendra In Category 1, Aysha Al Sabah Collection’ at Jalesari from Tanzania were Falak & Sambhav Kumar the National Museum the distinguished guests. Singh took first place, while of Qatar. The exhibition The program started Jayesh Upadhyay finished will run till January 3, with international poet Amit second. In Category 2, 2021. Sharma, followed by the Kriesha Sharma took first PICS: QASSIM famous poet Jitendra place while Tuba Mahveen RAHMATULLAH/THE Jalesari’ from Tanzania. and Slesha Ravish were PENINSULA Poets from Doha and second. 10 VIEWS THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Qatar expresses appreciation Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI for UNHCR efforts QNA — GENEVA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI The State of Qatar has [email protected] expressed its deep appreci- ation for the distinguished efforts made by the United ACTING MANAGING EDITOR Nations High Commissioner MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED for Refugees (UNHCR), led by [email protected] Filippo Grandi and all the cadres working to enhance the protection of refugees and DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR displaced persons, seeking to MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI provide them with a decent [email protected] life in their countries or coun- tries to which they sought refuge, and to ensure that they obtain their rights. EDITORIAL The State of Qatar has renewed its commitment to continue strengthening and HIA’s operational excellence developing its strategic rela- tions and partnerships with HAMAD International Airport (HIA) continues to reach the United Nations High Com- new milestones even in these difficult times. At the time missioner for Refugees, and to when other entities in the field of aviation are scaling provide the necessary support back their operations, HIA has taken several measures for its humanitarian, relief to make passengers journey safe and boost their con- and development activities fidence while travelling. and programs, to alleviate the The world- class airport announced on Tuesday suffering of refugees and dis- that it had become the first entity in the world to achieve placed persons, and to finance Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, H E Ambassador Ali bin Khalfan Al independent verification from BSI (British Standards and implement programs Mansouri. Institution) for its implementation of COVID-19 ICAO aimed at strengthening their Aviation Health Safety Protocols. The verification was capabilities. ative with the UNHCR. weak, adding that Qatar Representative to the UN conducted following successful audits for Compliance The speech pointed out This came in the speech of stressed the need to strengthen Office in Geneva noted that to International Civil Aviation Organization Civil Aviation that the volume of gov- the State of Qatar, delivered by international solidarity and the State of Qatar, at the legis- Recovery Taskforce ICAO CART. ernment contributions made the State of Qatar’s Permanent cooperation and unite all lative level, issued in 2018 the This important achievement marks the State of Qatar by the State of Qatar to the Representative to the UN international efforts to protect law regulating political as the first country in the world to be verified by BSI for UNHCR during the last four Office in Geneva, H E Ambas- public health and protect indi- asylum in the country, in its COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol years amounted to more than sador Ali bin Khalfan Al Man- viduals from this virus, and order to confirm its humani- Implementation. $53m, and the State of Qatar souri, in the public debate on take into account all other tarian role in protecting ref- HIA has many other certifications from HIA in the also signed numerous Memo- the United Nations High Com- aspects, whether on the social ugees, guaranteeing their past. In 2018, HIA achieved ISO/IEC 20000:2011 cer- randum of Agreements of missioner for Refugees, during or economic level, and in the rights and helping them to tification, the international gold standard for excellence Understandings to support the 71st Session of the Exec- response and recovery stages live in a dignified manner, in IT Service Management and an ISO 55001:2014 cer- the basic resources of the utive Committee of the High after the crisis. H E also and the protection of human tification, the international standard for asset man- UNHCR, and a cooperation Commissioner’s Programme. stressed the importance of rights, and is the first of its agement, making Qatar’s airport the first in the Middle agreement was also signed to Al Mansouri explained adopting a comprehensive kind in the region. East to achieve this certification from BSI. open an office for the UNHCR that many Qatari non-gov- international approach to deal At the end of the speech, The ISO/IEC 20000:2011 certification demonstrated in Doha, and the State of ernmental humanitarian with refugee issues, focusing Al Mansouri reiterated the HIA’s efforts in establishing necessary controls and pro- Qatar has been keen on con- institutions and organizations, mainly on addressing the root State of Qatar’s affirmation of cedures to consistently deliver cost-effective and high- tinuing its membership in the such as the Qatar Foundation causes, such as conflicts, wars continuing its humanitarian quality IT services, ultimately enabling world-class expe- 20+ million club, which for Education, Science and or natural disasters, and commitments, continuing to riences to more than 30 million passengers transiting includes the most prominent Community Development, working to find appropriate provide the necessary through the airport every year. The ISO 55001:2014 cer- donor countries and cooper- Qatar Charity, Sheikh Thani solutions to them in support for the activities and tification was awarded to HIA based on the airport’s con- The volume of Bin Abdullah Fund and accordance with the principle programs of the United tinuous efforts to deliver excellence in safety and pas- Silatech Organization, have of sharing burdens and Nations High Commissioner senger experience across the airport, through best practice government provided health, medical and responsibilities. for Refugees, and continuing management of physical assets and infrastructure. contributions made by humanitarian aid, and have Furthermore, H E added, cooperation and partnership ISO certifications are international benchmarks that the State of Qatar to the formed important partner- out of believing that mediation within the framework of the highlight strong Business Continuity Management ships with the UNHCR, with is one of the most important international community to System parameters to deal with disruptive incidents, in UNHCR during the last the aim of supporting the means of resolving and pre- face humanitarian and devel- order to continue operating essential functions. four years amounted UNHCR’s efforts in refugee venting disputes and conflicts, opment challenges, and HIA’s operational excellence has also been vali- to more than $53m, assistance and protection, and as well as its important role in expressed Qatar’s support for dated by several awards it has won in the past. HIA, thus the Qatari private donors supporting peaceful transfor- all efforts exerted to facilitate early this year, was ranked the “Third Best Airport in and the State of Qatar ranked 13 in the UNHCR 2019 mations and national reconcil- and support the achievement the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the also signed numerous Global Funding Overview. iation, and helping to build of the goals of the Charter of SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. As global travel He added that the spread societies, Qatar’s diplomacy the International Conference slowly resumes, Qatar’s airport continues to focus its Memorandum of of COVID-19 pandemic has and foreign policy have been on Refugees, and expressed efforts on the normalization of travel by focusing on Agreements of added an additional burden keen to contain many regional his hope that it would con- boosting passenger confidence through introducing Understandings to and challenge to the crises of and international crises and tribute to making a great dif- the safest and most convenient travel experience. The refugees and displaced conflicts. ference and positive and sus- certifications demonstrate airport’s ability to keep critical support the basic persons, whose number has This contributed to tainable progress in the lives operations up and running during times of crises. resources of the UNHCR. reached nearly 80 million avoiding the occurrence of of refugees and their host HIA’s recent achievement is proof that the airport people, especially since 80 asylum and displacement communities, especially in is operationally resilient and is able to continue its oper- percent of them live in coun- problems, as well as allevi- light of the spread of the ations while reducing the likelihood of disruptions in the tries whose economy and ating their tragic effects. COVID-19 pandemic and the face of an unprecedented crisis like the COVID-19. infrastructure and health are Qatar’s Permanent difficulties resulting from it. Suga plans to create data strategy as key policy D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR EMAIL: [email protected] THE JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI governments, and promoting meeting will be expanded to digital policy and was an early the use of My Number social include all Cabinet ministers. proponent of internet use in The government plans to security and taxation identifi- Through the reorganization, Japan. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 draw up a data strategy as cation cards. the government aims to Data is called “the oil of FAX: +974 4455 7758 early as next year as part of its The strategy aims to promote a series of digital the 21st century” in light of its growth strategy for a digitized create new services as well policies in a top-down fashion impact on economy and MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 society, The Yomiuri Shimbun as social and economic by the prime minister. society. The government has learned. Along with the activities by using personal Under the ministerial plans to present innovative DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 establishment of a digital and industrial data. The gov- meeting, the government will data utilization measures for agency to promote the digiti- ernment plans to map out set up a special task force to medical care and education LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 zation of administrative the outline of the data formulate the data strategy in its data strategy, with the services in a centralized strategy by the end of this and a working group to aim of realizing them BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 manner, the government year and make a decision by compile basic concepts for through cooperation plans to position the new around next summer, as a revising the basic law on the between the public and SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 strategy as a key policy of the part of the growth strategy formation of an advanced private sectors. administration of Prime developed by the Suga information and telecommu- Specifically, the gov- ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 Minister Yoshihide Suga. The administration. nications network society. ernment is considering com- email: [email protected] government is also consid- In relation to the move, The government hopes to piling an “infrastructure ering designating the prime the government will reor- present a vision of the ledger” of data on inspection, PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 minister himself as the chair ganize the ministerial meeting nation’s digital future by repair and construction email: [email protected] of the ministerial meetings on on digital government under revising the law during next records of aging roads and the issue, according to the IT Strategic Headquarters, year’s ordinary Diet session. It tunnels nationwide. By using ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 government sources. which is headed by Suga, as is considering appointing artificial intelligence to FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] The digital agency, which early as this month. Under the Keio University Prof. Jun improve the efficiency of the government aims to reorganization plan, the Murai as a chair of the maintenance and man- CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 establish by the end of next chairmanship of the meeting working group, whose about agement of such infra- email: [email protected] year, will be in charge of inte- will shift from the chief 10 members will include structure, local governments grating administrative work cabinet secretary to the prime private-sector experts. Murai are expected to be able to SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 at the central and local minister, and members of the is said to be well versed in reduce costs and labor. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar We must all draw the hard lessons of this crisis. One of those lessons is that under investment /Peninsula_Qatar in health can have a devastating impact on /ThePeninsulaNewspaper societies and economies. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General +974 6698 6188 THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 OPINION 11 Sudan Peace Agreement: A ray of hope for the country

The peace deal ending decades of war in people and civil society so Nile, and more importantly, a agreement followed which hundreds of thousands they too can provide solutions moderate force in the region. died. The peace agreement to the multiple challenges the All of this potential has been ten months of covers a number of tricky country faces. consumed by the flames of negotiations in Juba, issues, from land ownership, This agreement In spite of all these chal- war. reparations and compen- lenges, however, this It would be rash to for- South Sudan, aims at sation, to wealth and power is significant as agreement is significant as it mulate plans for the future ending decades of war ABDALLA MOHAMED sharing and the return of it represents a represents a glimpse of hope without first resolving the QATAR UNIVERSITY refugees and internally for the people in Darfur, South prevailing conflict in the in which hundreds displaced people. More glimpse of hope for Kordofan, and Blue Nile, whose country. It would be futile to of thousands died. important, the SRF fighters the people in Darfur, rights have been systematically talk about any economic plan, The peace agreement For many observers, the are to be dismantled and South Kordofan, and violated by the previous gov- the breadbasket of the world signing of peace agreement incorporated into joint units ernment. The importance of food, without first creating covers a number of between the Sudan Transi- with the national armed Blue Nile, whose this landmark peace deal can national unity. It would be tricky issues, from tional Government(STG) and forces. rights have been also be linked to the fact that meaningless to talk about the Sudan Revolutionary However, two other well- the modern history of Sudan is reconstruction and rehabili- land ownership, Front (SRF) on October 3rd in established armed groups did systematically but a history of war. Histori- tation and development, the reparations and Juba, the capital of the South not sign, reflecting the chal- violated by cally speaking, ever since its repatriation of refugees, the Sudan, represents a turning lenges still facing the peace inception as a sovereign state in provision of post-war famine compensation, to point for a country which has process in the country. The the previous 1956, Sudan has been in a state relief, without first settling the wealth and power been suffering from wars for first is the Sudan Liberation government. of continuous wars. The first ongoing war in the country. sharing and the many decades. The SRF is an Movement/Army-Abdul brutal war broke out in 1955 in alliance of nine political and Wahid Noor (SLM/A-AW), one the South and finally brought to Considering how return of refugees and armed groups from different of the key armed groups in Kordofan and the Blue Nile. an end in 2005 when the important the internally displaced parts of the country including Darfur, refused to participate The government must exert southern people chose to the conflict-torn states of Blue in the peace talks from the its utmost efforts to bring secede. Then the second war peace is to the people. Nile, Darfur and South outset. The second group is these two groups to the nego- erupted in February 2003 country, the value Kordofan. The peace deal the Sudan People’s Liberation tiating table. It must also when the Sudan Liberation agreement followed ten Movement-North (SPLM-N) strive to include and involve Movement (SLM) and the of the signed peace months of negotiations in led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, other interest groups, Justice and Equality Movement agreement cannot be Juba, South Sudan, aims at which controls parts of South including internally displaced (JEM) rebel groups began fighting the government, which underestimated in they accused of socioeconomic any way. Throughout and political marginalization of the years following the Darfur region. The fighting in South Kordofan started in independence, high June 2011 and spread into Blue hopes and great Nile in September 2011 as gov- ernment forces fought the expectations have Sudan People’s Liberation been heaped on the Movement/Army North (SPLM/A-N), forcing at least Sudan from the rest 200,000 civilians into South of the world. Sudan Sudan as refugees, while some 1.5 million people have been was depicted to be internally displaced within the the bridge between two states in the past nine Africa and the middle years. Considering how East, the breadbasket important the peace is to the of Arab world, the country, the value of the signed peace agreement caretaker of the cannot be underestimated in precious waters any way. Throughout the years following inde- of the Nile, and pendence, high hopes and more importantly, a great expectations have been heaped on the Sudan from the moderate force in the rest of the world. Sudan was region. depicted to be the bridge between Africa and the Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, and Chad President Idriss Deby middle East, the breadbasket are seen among other delegates as they attend the signing of peace agreement between the Sudan’s transitional government and of Arab world, the caretaker Sudanese revolutionary movements to end decades-old conflict, in Juba, South Sudan on October 3, 2020. of the precious waters of the Globalisation revised but not reversed by COVID-19

RAJESH KUMAR SINGH AND up 9.5% year-on-year in inefficient and painful.” The Michael Froman, US Trade a partner at consulting firm PHILIP BLENKINSOP — REUTERS August, their sharpest rise in only high-profile country to Representative in the Obama Kearney, which produces an 18 months. Optimism among put up funds is Japan, with administration, told a annual re-shoring report, said German exporters hit a two- $2.08bn earmarked for firms webinar. it would at best be some time New York-based Delta year high in September. re-shoring production. In a Consultants at McKinsey before the US benefited from Children, which makes cribs From Washington to Wel- first round, it paid 57.4bn yen & Co say supply chain issues the supply chain diversifi- in China for retailers such as lington, politicians this year for 57 projects - less than $10 have grabbed the attention of cation being forced by Walmart, briefly studied have preached self-suffi- million per firm. chief executives and board COVID-19 and the trade war. moving production to the ciency, urging firms to bring “Senior policymakers rooms with COVID delivering “The big wave, if ever United States as supply production home, particularly have made a whole range of the biggest and broadest value there is to be one, will be at a shortages caused by the of “essential” products. strong statements, but it chain shock in memory, albeit minimum five to 10 years COVID-19 pandemic added to The pandemic has led to a hasn’t reached a stage yet only the latest in a series of away because the basic infra- its hefty bill from US import record 235 export restrictions where there’s a lot of money disruptions. structure to accommodate a tariffs. as countries hoarded pro- on the table for repatriating Instead of focusing solely big re-shoring wave is just not Commerce Secretary tective equipment and factories,” said Simon Evenett, on procurement costs, com- there,” he said, adding this Wilbur Ross predicted in medical supplies, according to Global Trade Alert founder panies are starting to consider included sufficient skilled January the pandemic would monitoring service Global and professor at Switzerland’s stability and resilience. workers and suppliers. Commerce Secretary “help accelerate” this type of Trade Alert. The impact of University of St Gallen. “Supply chains were built Companies which have Wilbur Ross re-shoring of jobs to the trillions of dollars of subsidies Even before COVID, a key to be just-in-time. Going taken the plunge to shift some United States, while some is still unclear. aim of US President Donald forward they might be built manufacturing to the United predicted in January policymakers even spoke of a But despite the drum beat Trump’s tariff war on Chinese for ‘just-in-case’,” said Susan States in the past decade the pandemic would wider retreat of globalisation of protectionist rhetoric, there imports from 2018 was to Lund, a McKinsey partner include General Electric in as companies retrenched to have been far fewer new repatriate production. Com- leading research on globali- Kentucky and Starbucks in “help accelerate” this deal with severed supply import tariffs than in the past panies, on the other hand, sation and trade. Ohio, according to the US type of re-shoring chains. two peak years, and Pascal were drawn from China to McKinsey estimates Reshoring Institute. of jobs to the United But Delta chief executive Lamy, who led the WTO from lower costs in Southeast Asia 15-25% of world goods trade However, the WTO said Joe Shamie finally ruled out 2005 to 2013, believes re- and adopted a “China Plus could shift location over next on Tuesday that the share of States, while some the move due to higher labour shoring will be marginal. One” strategy to boost supply five years due to business intermediate goods in trade policymakers costs and a lack of suppliers. “The reason there will be diversity. arguments and non-economic had been stable over the first The company still plans to more talk than walk is simple “Whether or not (the pan- factors such as regulation, half of 2020, at 52%, sug- even spoke of diversify its supply chain - but - it’s costly,” said Lamy. “Glo- demic) leads to much more compared to 8% during the gesting there was no major a wider retreat by moving some production balisation is efficient and re-shoring into the US market past five. shift towards re-shoring this to South East Asia. painful. De-globalisation is itself remains to be seen,” Patrick Van den Bossche, year. The US August trade of globalisation “The Made-in-USA tag deficit also hit a 14-year high. as companies will work if the products are Last year, Mexico and of the same quality and com- low-cost Asian countries were retrenched to deal petitively priced, which is not the main beneficiaries of with severed supply case at the moment,” Shamie China’s falling share of chains. But Delta told Reuters. imports into the United States. “I would diversify, not Despite the pandemic, Viet- chief executive Joe totally leave China.” While nam’s overall exports rose Shamie finally ruled global trade volumes have 4.2% in the first nine months inevitably fallen as the world of 2020, with the United out the move due plunged into recession and States and China its top two to higher labour travel restrictions and social markets. distancing curtailed the Lamy says dealing with costs and a lack movement of people, the eco- COVID-19 and preparing for a of suppliers. The nomic ties built up by suc- future pandemic will inevi- cessive waves of globalisation tably lead to more focus on company still plans are proving more resilient protecting consumers, with to diversify its supply than some thought. greater insistence on pre- chain - but by moving Trade in goods is set to caution, safety, more checks decline by 9% this year, the and a different view of risk. some production to World Trade Organization “The upwards re-pricing South East Asia. forecast on Tuesday, less of risk will redistribute this severe than its April pre- multi-localisation. It’s not diction of a 13-32% plunge. going to be de-globalisation, China’s industrial sector is it’s going to be another steadily recovering to pre- Employees working on a production line manufacturing lithium battery products at a factory in version of globalisation. It’s a pandemic levels, with exports Yichang, Hubei province, China. new arrangement,” he said. 12 GULF / MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Kuwait Amir names Sheikh Mishaal as Crown Prince AFP — KUWAIT CITY Sheikh Mishaal is the considered the most powerful seventh son of the man in the National Guard — Kuwait’s Amir H H Sheikh an elite corps in charge of Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al 10th Amir of Kuwait, defending the country’s Sabah yesterday named his Sheikh Ahmad Al territory. half-brother Sheikh Mishaal Al Jaber Al Sabah. The position of chief is sym- Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, a bolically held by Salem Al Ali Al long-serving top security Sabah, the eldest member of the official, as the crown prince. Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in Sabah ruling family. Sheikh Mishaal, 80, has on September 30 after the Kuwait has long balanced been deputy chief of the Kuwait death of his half-brother, H H relations with both Riyadh and National Guard since 2004, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Tehran. It has also played a largely staying out of the Al Sabah, who died at the age mediatory role in a diplomatic political scene. of 91 after two months in hos- divide between Qatar and its The Sabah ruling family pital in the US. Gulf neighbours, after Saudi “blessed” 83-year-old Sheikh The succession comes at a Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut Nawaf’s decision, the official time when the oil-rich country ties with Doha in 2017. Kuwait News Agency said yes- is grappling with a slump in oil Sheikh Mishaal spent many terday, a day ahead of a parlia- prices amid the coronavirus years in the interior ministry, Erdogan extends condolences to Kuwait Amir mentary session to approve the crisis. Sheikh Mishaal, who was where he rose through the The Amir of the State of Kuwait H H Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah met yesterday with choice. close to the late ruler and ranks to head the department Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who offered condolences on the death of the late Amir H Kuwait has a lively political accompanied him to the US of general investigation from life with an elected parliament where he received treatment, 1967 until 1980 and was H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. The Turkish President also extended condolences to that enjoys wide legislative is the seventh son of the 10th credited for strengthening its Speaker of the Kuwait’s National Assembly H E Marzouq Ali Al Ghanim and Prime Minister H H Sheikh powers and can vote ministers Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad function as a state security Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah. The Turkish President and the delegation accompanying him out of office. Al Jaber Al Sabah. He is service. earlier arrived in Kuwait to offer condolences. Lebanon President to hold talks on new PM next week Kuwait reports 475 new virus AP — BEIRUT Adib’s resignation nearly a individual interests to the Macron has travelled twice and customs officials, have been month after he was appointed general detriment of the to Beirut since the Beirut port detained so far. The judge in cases, 4 deaths Lebanon’s President Michel to the job came at a time when country.” explosion and has made it a charge of the investigation has Aoun has called for binding Lebanon is going through a Lebanon’s two main Shia personal mission to try to repair questioned top security officials, QNA — KUWAIT consultations with members of severe economic and financial parties — the militant Hezbollah the damaged country, raising former Cabinet ministers and parliament next week to name crisis, made worse by the and its ally Amal led by parlia- resentment from some who see port employees. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health a new prime minister, his office spread of the coronavirus, and mentary Speaker Nabih Berri it as a neo-colonial foray. It was not clear if Lebanon’s yesterday reported 475 new said yesterday. desperately needs international — had insisted on retaining the Outgoing Prime Minister political groups have agreed on coronavirus cases in the last The announcement comes assistance. finance ministry in the new Hassan Diab resigned six days the future premier but former 24 hours, bringing the infec- two weeks after the latest prime The crisis has been government and on naming all after the Beirut blast on August Prime Minister Najib Mikati has tions tally up to 108,743. minister-designate resigned amplified by the devastating the Shia Cabinet ministers. Adib, 4, when nearly 3,000 tons of reportedly put forward a pro- In a statement released by amid a political impasse over explosion in Beirut’s port in Lebanon’s ambassador to ammonium nitrates, a highly posal for a 20-member Cabinet KUNAyesterday, the ministry’s the formation of a new August that killed 194 people, Germany, rejected those con- explosive chemical used in fer- consisting of 14 experts and six spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al government. wounded about 6,500 and ditions and stepped down. tilizers, exploded at Beirut’s politicians. Sanad said during the same Mustafa Adib’s resignation caused billions of dollars in Macron has been pressing port. The international com- period, four deaths have been on September 26, dealt a blow damage. Lebanese politicians to form a The material had been munity has said it will not help recorded, bringing the total to French President Emmanuel After Adib’s resignation, Cabinet made up of non-par- stored at the facility for six Lebanon financially before wide number of deaths in Kuwait to Macron’s efforts to break a dan- Macron accused Lebanon’s tisan specialists that can work years. reforms in the tiny country are 639 cases so far. gerous stalemate in this crisis- political class of “collective on urgent reforms to extract What ignited the nitrates implemented to fight wide- Among the 475 new con- hit Mideast country. The con- betrayal” and choosing “to Lebanon from the financial remains unknown. More than spread corruption and firmed cases, there were con- sultations are set for October 15. favour their partisan and crisis. two dozen people, mostly port mismanagement. tacts with previously con- firmed cases and others were under investigation for the source of infection, Al Sanad With 239 deaths, Iran hits added. The ministry announced highest daily virus toll earlier the recovery of 597 people over the past 24 hours, AP — TEHRAN, IRAN though they have closed many bringing the total number of public places such as cafes and recoveries to 100,776. Iranian state TV said the gyms. country hit its highest number Health officials said some of daily deaths from the coro- 50% of the fatalities have been Death toll from navirus, with 239 new fatalities recorded in the capital, Tehran, reported yesterday. with a population of 10 million. COVID-19 in The report quoted the Iran also suffered the spokesperson of the country’s region’s first major outbreak, Oman hits 1,000 health ministry, Sima Sadat with top politicians, health offi- Lari, as saying that the 239 died cials and religious leaders QNA — MUSCAT since Tuesday. Iran has in the stricken with the virus. It has past had 235 daily deaths. since struggled to contain the Oman's Ministry of Health The latest death toll brought spread of the virus across this announced yesterday that the the total number of fatalities to nation of 80 million people, ini- total number of registered 27,658. The ministry spokes- tially beating it back only to see cases of the coronavirus person said healthcare profes- a spike in cases again, (COVID-19) in the country has sionals recorded 4,019 new beginning in June. reached 103,465. confirmed cases since Tuesday, The first coronavirus cases The ministry said in a brining the total number of and deaths were reported in statement carried by Oman confirmed cases in Iran to Iran on the same day in Feb- Israeli settlers attack Palestinian farmers News Agency that the total 483,844. ruary — the Mideast’s first out- death toll from the disease Masked Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive farmers from the village of Hawara, on fields near the Lari said 4,274 patients are break of the virus — yet it only reached 1,000, while the settlement of Yitzhar, yesterday. in critical conditions and that saw its highest single-day spike number of people recovering 397,109 have recovered so far. in reported cases in June. The from it reached 91,329, The country has been strug- highest daily death toll was bringing the cure rate to 88.2 gling with both the region’s reported in July. Israeli occupation forces arrest 11 Palestinians percent. largest outbreak and the In February, authorities for The statement said that 57 highest number of fatalities in days denied the virus had QNA — OCCUPIED JERUSALEM arrested a Palestinian from his Palestinians, raided several cases were admitted to hos- the Middle East. reached the country, allowing home in the Old City of homes in Hebron, and arrested pitals during the past 24 hours, Authorities have blamed the virus time to spread as the The Israeli occupation forces occupied Jerusalem, and took three others in Nablus. bringing their total to 554, the high death toll on rampant nation marked the 41st anni- arrested on Tuesday night 11 him to the investigation centre The occupation forces also while 211 cases were in disregard for health measures versary of its 1979 Islamic Rev- Palestinians from separate in Al Maskobiya, the Palestinian arrested two Palestinians and intensive care. On Tuesday, the by people, especially those olution with mass demonstra- areas in the West Bank and news agency reported. stormed a school in the Jenin ministry said total number of travelling between cities and tions and then held a parlia- occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli occupation governorate. They also arrested COVID-19 cases in the country large gatherings at ceremonies, mentary election. The occupation forces forces arrested two three others in Ramallah. had reached 102,648. Yemen’s mini-libraries: A candle in the dark Monitor: 90 dead as Syria AFP — SANA'A Ghoudi and four other com- most vibrant commercial and many pressing needs, gath- govt forces clash with IS panions revived it in 2019 after cultural hubs in the region, but ering the funds they need is “It is lighting a candle in the obtaining permission from the its heyday is now just a difficult. dark,” says Fawzi Al Ghoudi in Houthi authorities. memory. “People tell you that they AFP — BEIRUT loyalists and 13 IS militants Yemen’s rebel-held capital They have so far set up five The Houthis impose a strict prefer to make donations to were killed over the past 24 Sana'a, of his initiative to small booths with shelves full moral code, including shutting provide aid to people affected Clashes in the Syrian Desert hours alone, Observatory head reignite people’s interest in of books in public places in down cafes that do not observe by the war, and avert the threat between pro-government Rami Abdul Rahman said. books, as an escape from the Sana'a, including a shopping rules on segregating men and of famine,” he said. forces and holdouts of the “IS is trying to prove that it grimness of war. mall. women, and enforcing modest Still, Ghoudi and his com- Islamic State group have killed is still strong,” he added. The idea for the “Yemen “By establishing these dress. “The country smells of panions continue to try to build at least 90 combatants this Mobile IS units have Reads” campaign is simple — booths, you make people feel gunpowder... and these small the project as best they can, month, a war monitor said remained active in the Syrian to establish mini-libraries there is still life in Yemen,” libraries are reminders that and have set up collection yesterday. Desert, known in Arabic as the across the city where people Ghoudi said, adding that war- reading is still important even boxes for books in their Russian aircraft carried out Badia, since the militants lost can borrow books for free, the weary citizens were tired of the if it is no longer a priority,” said humble kiosks. strikes in support of their the last shred of their self-pro- 30-year-old told AFP. noise of boots on the ground, Mohammed Mahdi, 32, one of However they avoid Syrian regime ally, the Syrian claimed rule in March last year. The initiative dates back to and endless news of killings the regular readers. accepting books about politics Observatory for Human Rights September clashes killed 13 2013, a year before the Iran- and deprivation. He said he came across one and religion — contentious said. pro-government fighters and backed Houthi rebels seized Yemen’s conflict, which has of the booths “by chance” last topics in the troubled country. The clashes broke out in 15 militants, while in early July control of Sana'a, igniting an triggered what the United year and has since then not Fatima Al Kathiri, 24, a uni- two separate areas of the vast 20 pro-government fighters all-out war with the gov- Nations has described as the stopped borrowing books or versity student, is delighted to desert that separates the and 31 militants were killed ernment which is supported by world’s worst humanitarian encouraging others to do the take part in the initiative. Orontes valley in the west from over two days. a Saudi-led military crisis, is in its sixth year, with same. Ghoudi said that through “This is one of my best the Euphrates valley in the east. In August, IS claimed an coalition. tens of thousands killed and donations, they have been able experiences,” she said. The government side lost attack, presumably mounted Many of the project’s vol- the majority of the population to gather about 5,000 books “Reading in general helps to 41 dead, the militants 49, the from the desert, that killed a unteers escaped at the time, reliant on aid for survival. and hope to open 10 more clarify ideas and to think Britain-based war monitor Russian general near the fearing for their lives, but Sana'a was once one of the libraries. But in a country with better.” said. Euphrates valley city of Deir At least 10 government Ezzor. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 AFRICA 13

US keeps military Two guilty of aiding Kenya’s assistance to deadly 2013 mall attack Mali suspended REUTERS — DAKAR AP — NAIROBI, KENYA been just friends with the The attack by attackers,” Andayi said while four gunmen from United States military A Kenyan court yesterday found reading the judgment that took assistance to the government two men guilty for supporting three hours. extremist group Al of Mali will remain suspended the days-long 2013 attack on According to a police recon- Shabab was the first despite the formation of a Nairobi’s upscale Westgate Mall struction, the gunmen split into transitional government that left 67 people dead. two groups. One went through large-scale assault in following the August 18 Chief Magistrate Francis the mall’s main entrance and Kenya’s capital. military coup, J. Peter Pham, Andayi acquitted a third another went through the US Special Envoy to the Sahel, suspect. vehicle entrance, tossing gre- said yesterday. The attack by four gunmen nades and spraying bullets. like security guard David Pham, who recently visited with the Somalia-based Kenya’s police and army Odhiambo, the two men con- Mali and met the new leaders extremist group Al Shabab was were widely criticised for their victed yesterday should be of the transition, told a news the first large-scale assault in response to the attack. It took hanged. He was shot in the conference the interim gov- Kenya’s capital. Al Shabab had at least two hours before the head, injuries that led him to be ernment marked progress vowed retribution on Kenya for police tactical team went into fired. “They should be killed,” towards conducting free and sending troops in 2011 to fight the mall, leaving security guards he said from a Nairobi hospital fair elections. the group in Somalia. and volunteers to fend for those where he went for tests this “But until such time as Members of Kenya’s anti-terror police unit keep guard outside The magistrate said inside. week. He said hardly a month those are held, and a constitu- the Milimani Law Courts ahead of the arrival of suspects charged although there is no specific Lack of coordination goes by without him visiting the tional government is restored, evidence that the two men gave between the military and the hospital for one problem or with aiding the gunmen involved in the Westgate Mall attack of we are obliged under US law material support to the police led to friendly fire in another. September 2013, in Nairobi, on Tuesday. to restrict our military attackers, constant communi- which one police officer was Some analysts say lessons assistance,” Pham said. cation with the gunmen “was killed. The attackers died of still unlearned by Kenya in the of (the government) on that Sat- Franklin. That “was followed The policy means Mali will giving support to their smoke inhalation after the army attack will continue to provide urday caused a ‘siege’ to up by official silence that has be without US military endeavors.” “The pattern of allegedly blew up a part of the opportunities for Al Shabab to develop that lasted nearly four lasted to date,” with no formal support, which includes their communication betrays mall where they were hiding. exploit. “The many command days,” said former US Marine report made publicly available, training of troops, for the next the fact that they may have For survivors of the attack and overt operational failures and security analyst Andrew he said. 18 months, after which the interim authorities have pledged to hold an election. UN ‘outraged’ The United States halted 25 civilians killed in Burkina Faso attack: UN military support on August 21 by attack on following the ouster of Pres- AFP — OUAGADOUGOU them, except for one who was The fatalities were from the representative in Burkina Faso, ident Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. food aid convoy left for dead. villages of Wintokuilga and said. Mali’s international Twenty-five civilians, most of They then released the Tang-kienga, close to Pissila, he “Innocent civilians are partners and neighbours are in South Sudan them people displaced by women and children, who said. seeking safety but instead are worried the coup, the second violence, have been killed in an managed to reach Pissila to A humanitarian worker in paying with their lives with in less than a decade, could AP — JOHANNESBURG ambush in central-northern raise the alarm. the town of Kaya said the cas- alarming frequency.” Burkina fuel further political instability Burkina Faso, the UN’s refugee The Burkinabe government ualties were “internally dis- Faso, one of the world’s poorest and derail a joint fight against The UN World Food Program agency said yesterday. did not react officially to the placed people who were countries, is being battered by insurgents who have gained a says it is “outraged” by an The attack took place on statement. Sources in the region returning home” when they an insurgency that came in foothold in the country. attack on a convoy carrying Sunday night nine kilometres confirmed that an attack had were ambushed. from neighbouring Mali in 2015. Hopes of a smooth tran- food aid in South Sudan that from the town of Pissila in San- taken place, but gave a lower “We still don’t know the More than 1,100 people sition were dampened on left one crew member missing matenga province, the UN High toll. exact number of victims, have died and more than a Tuesday when an opposition and three with gunshot Commissioner for Refugees “The attack occurred on because there are still people million people have fled their coalition that led large-scale wounds. (UNHCR) said in a press release. Sunday evening, but it was on listed missing,” the aid worker homes. According to UN figures, protests before the coup said A statement says the attack An armed group stopped a Monday morning that about 25 said. “We are heartbroken by around 4,000 people died from it would not endorse the new occurred on Monday as the convoy carrying 46 people, sep- bodies were found, near the site news of this brutal and callous violence in Mali, Niger and government, claiming it had WFP convoy of boats was car- arated out the men and killed of the attack,” said one official. act,” Ioli Kimyaci, UNHCR’s Burkina Faso last year. been sidelined in talks. rying food aid to Melut and The United States has Malakal in the north to assist maintained its support during hundreds of thousands of this period to other interna- people displaced by recent Tunisia considers curfew to tional partners in Mali such as flooding. France, who are battling mil- The missing crew member slow 2nd wave of pandemic itants there linked to Al Qaeda is presumed dead, the WFP and Islamic State. statement says. It does not give REUTERS — TUNIS spread of coronavirus to a few Pham said security details about the attackers. hundred confirmed cases. But assistance to international Country director Matthew Tunisia was expected yesterday it has now racked up more than partners such as the G5 Sahel Hollingworth called on South to announce a curfew in the 20,000 cases over the past nations, the French Barkhane Sudanese authorities to hold capital after the governors of month, with only 200 intensive operation and European those responsible for “this four provinces that make up care beds designated for Takuba task force, or cooper- unspeakable violence.” South greater Tunis called for action COVID-19 available in the ation with the United Nations Sudan remains one of the to halt a surge in coronavirus whole country. mission to Mali, remains in world’s most dangerous places infections. Elyes Fakhfakh, who place. for humanitarian workers and “The decision has come too stepped down as prime minister “The restrictions are spe- one of the most precarious late but it will help us break the last month after denying alle- cific. They are security nations. Two years after the rise in cases,” said Imed Souissi, gations of a business conflict of assistance to the regime that end of a civil war that killed a fruit seller. interest, has announced he has takes over from an elected People wait to get tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), nearly 400,000 people, The governors proposed tested positive, as has the leader government. It doesn’t outside a mobile testing lab in Tunis, Tunisia, yesterday. roughly half the population is measures that would include a of a major party, Abir Moussi. involve humanitarian and hungry. curfew between 8:00 pm and Many Tunisians say the development assistance The UN has warned that 5:00 am and a suspension of authorities should have done just focused on their usual dis- concerning levels of sovereign which consist of the bulk of South Sudan is one of a Friday prayers in mosques. A more to prepare with the time putes,” said Chaker ben debt. The economy contracted our assistance for Mali,” he handful of countries facing government decision was secured by the economic Hussein, a baker in the Iben by 21% in the second quarter as said. potential famine. expected later yesterday, with hardship of the lockdown. Khaldoun district of the capital. unemployment rose by 3 points Meanwhile, French The UN and other aid the curfew likely to take effect “The Tunisian political class Even before the pandemic, to 18%, with expectations it will Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le organizations have repeatedly from today (Thursday). lost its opportunity to be ready Tunisia was grappling to exceed 20% by the end of the Drian said yesterday he will called on South Sudanese Tunisia entirely shut down for a second wave. What did reverse a decade of sluggish year. The government has said travel to Mali "soon” to meet authorities to make it safer and its economy in March and they do to prepare over the past growth, high unemployment, the crisis has cost it 6 billion the new leaders and discuss easier to move around the closed its borders, limiting the months? Nothing. They were declining public services and dinars ($2.2bn) so far. the transition process. country. Deadly intercom- munal violence continues, and a peace deal signed two years ago faces delays in South African unions lead implementation. strike over job losses, graft S African banker AFP — PRETORIA is killing and eroding the fibre of our society,” she added. “When jailed over looting Thousands of South African workers get retrenched they go workers took to the streets back home with nothing.” More from poor savers yesterday to denounce rampant than 2.2 million people lost their corruption, low wages and the jobs between April and June this AFP — JOHANNESBURG loss of more than two million jobs year, according to official sta- during the second quarter of this tistics released last month. The former executive of a year. The Congress of South Several unions including South African bank that African Trade Unions (COSATU), groups representing nurses, post collapsed after being looted by the country’s biggest federation, office employees and police politically-connected indi- called the strike to denounce officers joined scaled-down viduals in one of the country’s long-standing economic demonstrations across the worst-ever corruption scandals hardship, graft, poor salaries and country, as public gatherings was jailed for 10 years joblessness compounded by the remain capped to avoid yesterday. coronavirus pandemic. spreading the coronavirus. VBS Mutual Bank collapsed “We are highlighting the issue Hundreds marched under a in 2018 after 53 executives and of corruption, both in the public grey sky in the administrative politicians stole a total of and private sectors,” COSATU capital Pretoria, singing and $120m. President Zingiswa Losi said. , chanting as they walked through The central bank published noting that South Africa was the city centre to deliver a mem- Members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions carry placards as they take part in a nationwide a report in October 2018 titled struggling “way before COVID- orandum to the employment strike over issues including corruption and job losses outside parliament in Johannesburg, yesterday. “The Great Bank Heist” that laid 19”. “Corruption is the cancer that minister. bare the greed of the bank’s plunderers, causing “wide- spread impoverishment” of VBS customers, who were Libya says it detains men suspected of burning Nigerian to death mainly poor, black and female. In the first conviction REUTERS — TRIPOLI ministry said in a statement it must be held accountable. agency UNHCR have both Libyan authorities while trying related to the case, its former had arrested the three suspects There are half a million repeatedly said that Libya to flee detention after they were chief financial officer, Phillip Three Libyans killed a Nigerian in the case, adding that they had migrants in Libya according to should not be classified as a safe disembarked in Khums. Truter, was given a 10-year man by setting him on fire in used petrol to set the victim on IOM, some of them having port for migrants. In May, some 30 mostly prison sentence yesterday, the Tripoli, the interior ministry fire at a factory. worked in the oil producing Thousands have attempted Bangladeshi migrants were shot National Prosecuting Authority said yesterday, in what a UN Federico Soda, Libya country before it descended the perilous sea crossing to dead in a southern desert town (NPA) said in a statement, after agency described as “another country chief for the Interna- into chaos and warfare, others Europe this year, with hundreds after being abducted by a local pleading guilty to fraud, cor- senseless crime against tional Organisation for attempting to travel through it drowned in ship wrecks. gang, Bangladesh and the ruption, money laundering and migrants in the country”. Migration (IOM), a UN migration to Europe. In July, three migrants from Libyan interior ministry said at racketeering charges. The Tripoli-based interior agency, said those responsible The IOM and the UN refugee Sudan were shot dead by the time. 14 ASIA THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Sri Lanka widens curfew, ban as infections surge

AP/AFP — COLOMBO More than 1,000 workers the virus got in, but we may or have tested positive for coro- may not succeed," Sama- Authorities in Sri Lanka navirus at the factory that until raweera told reporters in yesterday widened a curfew August was producing surgical Colombo. and warned of legal action masks for the US, officials said Officials said 1,026 workers against those evading treatment yesterday, as they scrambled to who tested positive at the for COVID-19 after reporting a find the source of the country's factory — which employs 1,700 growing cluster centred around biggest outbreak. in total — were in hospital. a garment factory in the capi- The flurry of cases since the The remaining staff tal’s suburbs. first positive test at the garment members, as well as all the The number of confirmed factory was reported three days workers' family members, were cases has risen to 1,022, while ago pushed the island nation's in the process of being moved more than 1,500 people have infections total near 4,500. to government quarantine been asked to quarantine at Factory owner Brandix, facilities. their homes, health authorities hailed internationally for its All of them were expected said. sustainable practices, said to be tested for the coronavirus The Indian Ocean island efforts to contain the explosion in the next few days. nation had just reported its first of infections at the site were Some who had tested pos- A view of the entrance of Brandix garment factory at Minuwangoda, near Colombo, where over community infection in two hampered by a high number of itive were refusing to go to months on Sunday. All of the asymptomatic carriers. state-run treatment centers 1,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 making it the biggest outbreak of the virus in Sri Lanka. infected people are co-workers "A majority of the positive even after the government pro- of the first patient, who is from cases have proven to be an vided them with transport, captured a COVID-19 patient curfew in suburbs of Colombo The new cluster at the densely populated Western asymptomatic or lacking Health Minister Pavithra Wan- who fled from a hospital on the where many of the patients live. garment factory is the biggest province, which includes the display of symptoms associated niarachchi said. outskirts of Colombo and Previously, the government had reported in Sri Lanka. The pre- capital, Colombo. with COVID-19," the firm said Wanniarachchi warned in returned him to the hospital. closed schools, universities and vious biggest cluster was Hundreds of people — both in a statement on Tuesday. a statement that legal action will Separately, the health min- imposed restrictions on public centred at a navy base and had factory workers and residents Sri Lanka's chief epidemi- be taken under quarantine reg- istry ordered a halt to public transport. 950 patients. — waited in lines on Tuesday at ologist, Sudath Samaraweera, ulations against those who gatherings such as exhibitions, The government had long Samaraweera said the risk is makeshift medical centres to be called on local communities to evade treatment. Violators of parties, conferences, indoor and touted that it had prevented com- high with the new cluster because tested for the coronavirus in the cooperate with authorities amid the law could face a fine and outdoor events, carnivals, munity spread of the virus because employees at the factory worked small town of Minuwangoda, fears the outbreak could spread imprisonment of up to three musical shows and all previously known cases were close together and also went about 50km north of Colombo, further. months. processions. connected to 31 clusters and only home every day and mingled where the factory is located. "We are trying to trace how Yesterday, police said they Police also widened the two remained active. with others in society. Firefighters contain forest Virus vaccine rollout still a year away: Australia blaze in AP — CANBERRA possible chance of getting a The scenario would boost announced a raft of pandemic Australia has allowed for vaccine,” Frydenberg told the Australian economic activity by measures that would create a an earlier vaccine rollout New Zealand Australia considered a rollout National Press Club. A$34bn($24bn) above the record A$214bn ($153bn) deficit with doses manufactured of a coronavirus vaccine no Treasury modelling doesn’t current forecast in the June in the current fiscal year. Based locally under deals struck AFP — WELLINGTON sooner than mid-2021 a best- contemplate a vaccine quarter of 2022. Economic on the assumption that a with two pharmaceutical case scenario in its pandemic becoming available in Australia growth would be 1.5 percentage vaccine will become available companies. Firefighters in New Zealand planning that would save the early next year. An early vaccine points higher in the 2021-22 closer to the end of 2021 than If trials prove successful, the battling a blaze that razed economy tens of billions of is regarded as one that is rolled fiscal year than the 4.75 percent July, annual deficits are forecast University of Oxford/Astra- much of a small alpine village dollars, the treasurer said out from July 1, providing cer- currently forecast. to shrink in the next fiscal year Zeneca and the University of said they were making “good yesterday. tainty to households and busi- Researchers are working on and beyond. Queensland/CSL will provide progress” yesterday as high The Treasury and Health nesses while promoting con- developing more than 170 “We’re all hopeful... that we more than 84.8 million vaccine winds finally eased. Departments developed eco- sumption and investment. potential COVID-19 vaccines. A will find a vaccine, and we have doses for the Australian popu- The wildfire erupted in a nomic modelling based on an This so-called upside sce- June survey of 28 mostly US and made that assumption based on lation, almost entirely manu- mountain forest on the South assumption that a vaccine nario also assumes that interna- Canadian vaccinology experts the end of next year, but obvi- factured in Melbourne, with Island in the early hours of would be widely available in tional students would return to published in the Journal of ously as there are developments early access to 3.8 million doses Sunday morning and swept Australia toward the end of next Australian universities late next General Internal Medicine in the health and the global of the University of Oxford through the popular tourist year, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg year due to the vaccine. Hun- found most were pessimistic a community, we’ll continue to vaccine in January and Feb- spot of Lake Ohau, forcing res- said. dreds of thousands of students vaccine would be available update our position,” ruary 2021. idents to flee for their lives. “These are very uncertain from overseas have made the before mid-2021, but thought Frydenberg said on Wednesday. The government has com- Officials said it was mirac- times and as a government, we Australian universities sector September or October was “There is a great deal of mitted to make any vaccine ulous no one was hurt in the have taken every step possible one of the nation’s biggest achievable. uncertainty in this pandemic,” available for free to Australia’s fire, which has now burned out to give Australia the best earners of foreign currency. Frydenberg on Tuesday he added. population of 26 million. 55sqkm and destroyed at least 50 homes. Fire and Emergency New Zealand said firefighters were Dhaka sends troops to halt moving through the rugged terrain dousing hotspots and Rohingya refugee fighting maintaining a perimeter around the blaze. “Conditions have been AFP — COX’S BAZAR better for crews today allowing for good progress,” it said. Bangladesh has sent more troops into the world’s largest refugee “There are around 50 per- camp, police said yesterday, after days of fighting between rival sonnel, including 17 crews and Rohingya drug gangs left seven people dead. fire observers, on the ground, Two armed gangs of refugees from Myanmar are waging a as well as diggers and a bull- deadly turf war in the sprawling camp, home to almost a million dozer.” There were no reports people, over control of the lucrative cross-border methamphet- of further threats to life or amine trade. property and some Lake Ohau The seven killed in the past six days include one woman, an residents had been allowed to official said. Several others have reportedly been injured. briefly return to their homes to “We found four bodies at the Lambasia refugee camp on collect what belongings remain. Tuesday night. Three of them were shot dead and another had Wildfires are relatively stab marks,” Rafiqul Islam, deputy police chief of Cox’s Bazar dis- common on the South Island trict, said. at this time of the year but the He said hundreds of military and armed police have been scale and intensity of the Ohau deployed since fighting began on October 2, with numbers scaled fire were unusual. up after Tuesday’s clashes. “The situation is now calm,” he added. The camps have for over three years served as a home for N Korea’s former nearly one million Muslim Rohingya fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmar. A municipal vehicle sprays disinfectant to sanitise the area as motorists pass by, in Allahabad, Uttar envoy to Italy That crackdown — which the United Nations has said could Pradesh, India, yesterday. constitute genocide — followed attacks on Myanmar security defects to South posts by the militant Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Rohingya leaders said ARSA was now involved in a turf war AP — SEOUL Daily coronavirus cases in India with the Munna Gang, named after a top drug smuggler based in Kutupalong camp. His elder brother and three members of his A senior North Korea diplomat family were reportedly killed in the clashes. who vanished in Italy in late slow down after scaling highs 2018 lives in South Korea under government protection, AGENCIES — NEW DELHI/ reached 6.76 million infections September 22 compared to 0.73 Drug war killings: UN to step lawmakers said yesterday. BENGALURU yesterday while the death toll percentt in a previous survey If confirmed, Jo Song Gil, rose by 986 to 104,555. between May 11 and June 4. up rights work in Philippines North Korea’s former acting India reported 72,049 new Faced with a collapsing Mukherjee said the survey ambassador to Italy, would be cases of coronavirus yesterday, economy, the federal gov- suggested that about 130 million REUTERS — GENEVA the highest-level North Korean dropping from the daily highs ernment has been pushing out of 1.3 billion population may official to defect to rival South of last month in a sign infec- states to fully reopen after have been infected by now. The Philippines pledged yesterday to cooperate with the United Korea since the 1997 arrival of tions were peaking for now, enforcing one of the world’s The government has asked Nations on human rights issues after UN investigators documented Hwang Jang-yop, a senior ruling officials and experts said. strictest lockdowns in March. authorities to be vigilant during tens of thousands of killings in the so-called war on drugs whose Workers’ Party official who once India leads the world in the Experts said the opening up the upcoming festival period perpetrators were treated with “near impunity”. tutored leader Kim Jong Un’s average number of new infec- led to a spike in cases in August including the Hindu festival of Under a resolution adopted by the Human Rights Councily- father, late leader Kim Jong Il. tions and is expected to and September, which now Diwali in November. esterday the UN will provide technical assistance to help the gov- South Korea’s spy agency overtake the United States over may have started to stabilise in It said they should cap on ernment of President Rodrigo Duterte ensure unlawful killings had earlier told lawmakers the next several weeks as the the big cities. number of people allowed into and other violations are properly investigated and prosecuted. that Jo left his official resi- country with the world’s largest “The virus is slowing down temples, set up close circuit tel- Philippines ambassador to the UN in Geneva Evan Garcia said dence in Rome with his wife number of cases. in the big metros because there evision to monitor crowds and the government had “identified projects for the joint programme in November 2018 and was But since it hit a single-day are a lot of people already not allow people to touch idols in the areas of strengthening investigative and accountability under protection at an unspec- high of 97,894 new cases on infected,” said Bhramar and religious books. mechanisms, the establishment of compliance monitoring systems ified location outside italy. September 17, the country has Mukherjee, a professor of The months-long corona- for the national police and engagement with civil society”. Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung, reported a downward trend biostatistics and epidemiology virus lockdown has devastated The resolution cited similar areas in which the UN could a member of the intelligence with 75,909 daily cases on an at the University of Michigan. Asia’s third-largest economy provide technical assistance. But activists said it fell short of their committee in the National average, according to a tally. A serological survey and millions of Indians have appeals to establish an international investigative mechanism. Assembly, wrote on Facebook “There is a continuous drop released by the government late lost their livelihoods. “The human rights situation in the Philippines warrants more that Jo arrived in South Korea in our daily new cases, which last month showed the preva- As a result, more poor than just ‘technical assistance’ from the UN. A full international in July 2019 and is under the is an encouraging sign,” said lence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies children were being pushed to investigation to effectively address the pervasive impunity in the protection of the South Korean health secretary Rajesh increased to 7.1 percent take up jobs to help support country is urgently needed,” said Rachel Chhoa-Howard, at government.0 Bhushan. The overall tally between August 17 and their families. Amnesty International. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 ASIA 15 Daniel Pearl murder suspect to remain in jail AP — ISLAMABAD Ahmed Omar Saeed against Sheikh’s acquittal could Sheikh's lawyer take years. The government has A British-born Pakistani man opposed Sheikh’s release, who has been on death row said he has already despite his acquittal in April, over the 2002 killing of challenged yesterday’s saying it would endanger the American journalist Daniel public. Pearl will remain in jail for three-month extension Sheikh had been convicted another three months despite in Sheikh’s detention of helping lure Pearl to a his acquittal by a lower court meeting in the southern Paki- earlier this year, according to a in Sindh province and stani port city of Karachi where government order yesterday. that his motion would he was kidnapped. The development was Pearl had been investigating announced by prosecutors be taken up by a local the link between Pakistani mil- during a brief hearing of the court there on October itants and Richard C Reid, high-profile case at Pakistan’s 19. dubbed the “Shoe Bomber” after Supreme Court, which was to trying to blow up a flight from decide whether the key suspect Paris to Miami with explosives in Pearl’s slaying, Ahmed Omar said he still hopes such a hidden in his shoes. Saeed Sheikh, should stay in jail decision would come before the The lower court’s April following his acquittal. expiration of the suspect’s new, ruling acquitted Sheikh and The court convened on an 90-day detention. three other accomplices, who appeal by Pearl’s family, Sheikh’s defence lawyer, had been sentenced to life in seeking to keep Sheikh on death Mahmood Shaikh, said he had prison for their role in the plot. row over the beheading of the expected his client to walk free The lower court found Sheikh Wall Street Journal reporter. yesterday. “My client cannot he guilty of a single lesser charge According to Faisal Siddiqi, kept in jail for an indefinite of abduction, which he is also the lawyer representing Pearl’s period,” Shaikh said. appealing. Saeed Sheikh (right), the father of British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, leaves with his lawyer Mahmood family, government prosecutor The lawyer said he has The acquittal had stunned the Ahmed Sheikh (left) outside the Supreme Court building after a hearing in Islamabad, yesterday. Fiaz Shah told the judges he already challenged yesterday’s US government, Pearl’s family needed more time for paperwork three-month extension in and journalism advocacy groups. Department that it was closely Pearl presented in court showed Evidence entered into court in connection with the case. The Sheikh’s detention in Sindh In 2002, when Pakistan police following Sheikh’s acquittal and Sheikh gained Pearl’s confi- accused Sheikh of luring Pearl judges then adjourned the province and that his motion were still searching for Pearl, a subsequent appeals. dence sharing their experiences to his death, giving the hearing till October 21. would be taken up by a local video received by US diplomats Pearl, 38, of Encino, Cali- as both waited for the birth of American journalist a false Siddiqi, who had expected court there on October 19. showed his beheading. fornia, was abducted Jan. 23, their first child. Pearl’s wife sense of security as he promised the court to rule against Under Pakistan’s legal Pearl’s family says it received 2002. In Sheikh’s original trial, Marianne Pearl gave birth to a to introduce him to a cleric with Sheikh’s acquittal yesterday, system, the appeals process assurances from the US State emails between Sheikh and son, Adam, in May 2002. militant links. Pakistani man’s Nearly 40 nations demand China respect Uighur human rights death penalty AFP — UNITED NATIONS States, most of the EU member 55 countries, including China, who speak out.” In 2019, a similar Last month, the Australian overturned in states including Albania and denouncing any use of the sit- text drafted by Britain only gar- Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) The US, Japan and many EU Bosnia, as well as Canada, Haiti, uation in Hong Kong as an nered 23 signatures. said it had identified more than blasphemy case nations joined a call on Tuesday Honduras, Japan, Australia and excuse for interference in Western diplomats have 380 “suspected detention facil- urging China to respect the New Zealand. China’s internal affairs. said that China is piling on more ities” in the Xinjiang region, AFP — LAHORE human rights of minority “We are gravely concerned Addressing Germany, the pressure each year to dissuade where China is believed to have Uighurs, and also expressing about the human rights situ- United States and Britain, UN member states from signing held more than one million A Pakistani court has over- concern about the situation in ation in Xinjiang and the recent Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun such statements, threatening to Uighurs and other mostly turned the 2014 conviction of Hong Kong. developments in Hong Kong,” criticized what he called their block the renewal of peace- Muslim Turkic-speaking a Christian man sentenced to “We call on China to respect the declaration said. “hypocritical” attitude and keeping missions for some residents. death for blasphemy in a case human rights, particularly the “We call on China to allow demanded that the three coun- countries or preventing others In the United States, the that prompted a mob to set rights of persons belonging to immediate, meaningful and tries “put away your arrogance from building new embassy House of Representatives churches and hundreds of religious and ethnic minorities, unfettered access to Xinjiang for and prejudice, and pull back facilities in China. passed a bill at the end of Sep- homes ablaze. especially in Xinjiang and independent observers from the brink, now.” On Monday, China led a tember that aims to ban Sawan Masih, a sanitation Tibet,” said German UN ambas- including the UN High Commis- The organisation Human group of 26 countries in a joint imports from Xinjiang, con- worker and father of three, sador Christoph Heusgen, who sioner for Human Rights,” it Rights Watch praised the fact that declaration calling for an end tending that abuses of the was first arrested in 2013 in the led the initiative during of a added. so many countries had signed on to US sanctions which they said Uighur people are so wide- eastern city of Lahore on meeting on human rights. Immediately afterward, the to the declaration “despite violate human rights during the spread that all goods from the charges of insulting the Among the 39 signatory envoy for Pakistan stood up and China’s persistent threats and struggle to combat the corona- region should be considered Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). countries were the United read out a statement signed by intimidation tactics against those virus pandemic. made with slave labour. Following his arrest, a mob set his home on fire, along with two churches and about 150 homes in Lahore’s Christian Students, workers protest neighbourhood of Joseph Colony. jobs law in Indonesia Masih was sentenced to death in 2014 despite pro- testing his innocence. He AP — BANDUNG radical changes to Indonesia’s claimed the blasphemy alle- labour system and natural gations were part of a plot by Thousands of Indonesian resources management. It local iron traders who wanted students and workers protested amended 79 previous laws, to take over the Joseph Colony yesterday against a new law including the Labour Law, the land. they say will cripple labour Spatial Planning Law and Envi- On Monday, Lahore’s high rights and harm the envi- ronmental Management Law. court overturned his con- ronment, with some clashing It is intended to improve viction, his lawyer said. with police. One student was bureaucratic efficiency and cut “The prosecution’s case apparently shot. red tape as part of efforts by lacked evidence and was full Authorities in Bandung, the President Joko Widodo’s of contradictions,” attorney capital of West Java province, administration to attract more Nadeem Anthony said. blocked streets leading to the investment in the vast archi- “We’ve paid a high price local parliament building and pelago nation, home to more for this acquittal... who will city hall, where clashes than 270 million people. return these seven years of between rock-throwing stu- Seven parties in the House Masih’s life?” he added. dents and riot police broke out of Representatives approved An anti-terrorism court late Tuesday when police tried the legislation while two others previously acquitted all those to disperse the protesters. rejected it, with their members accused of involvement in the Yesterday, more than 3,000 walking out of the plenary Christian neighbourhood mob Worker's Party of Korea celebrates 75th anniversary protesters, including workers session. attack, for “want of and high school and university The Confederation of Indo- evidence”. Visitors look at a painting of late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung at an exhibition of ‘national art students, attempted to reach nesian Trade Unions, known treasures’ celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of the Worker’s Party of Korea at the Okryu the heavily guarded parliament as KSPI, said about two million Vietnam arrests Exhibition Hall in Pyongyang. building. Protesters set fires to workers representing 32 labour tyres near blocked streets and unions would take part in mass prominent pelted police with rocks and rallies and strikes in various gasoline bombs and broke cities for several days starting blogger on Kyrgyz opposition groups make rival down a gate of the parliament Tuesday. compound. Riot police KSPI President Said Iqbal anti-state charges responded by firing tear gas released a statement saying the power grabs after toppling govt and water cannons. new law will hurt workers, AP — HANOI Smaller protests also including by reducing sev- REUTERS — BISHKEK overthrown in Kyrgyzstan in the uniting five lesser-known oppo- occurred in other Indonesian erance pay, removing restric- Vietnamese authorities past 15 years, and longtime ally sition parties whose leaders cities, including in Jakarta’s tions on manual labor by arrested a prominent dissident The Central Asian nation of Russia expressed concern as pro- have not held any senior gov- satellite cities of Tangerang foreign workers, increasing the and blogger yesterday, hours Kyrgyzstan slid deeper into tests spread across the country ernment positions and calling and Bekasi where large fac- use of outsourcing, and con- after Vietnam and the United chaos as rival opposition in the wake of Sunday’s vote. for a purge of the elite. tories are located, and many verting monthly wages into States finished an annual factions jostled for power Kyrgyzstan borders China Three more parties accepted cities on Sumatra and Sulawesi hourly wages. human rights dialogue. yesterday, a day after they and hosts both a Russian mil- that group’s invitation to a islands. “We reject the entire con- State media said Pham stormed government buildings, itary air base and a large meeting on Wednesday to work The protest in Bekasi tents of the omnibus law which Doan Trang was arrested in Ho forcing the prime minister to Canadian-owned gold mining out a joint statement, while turned violent in the afternoon, is very detrimental to workers,” Chi Minh City and accused of quit and a parliamentary operation. 30-year-old businessman Tilek with a video showing a student Iqbal said. “It must be canceled “producing, possessing and election to be annulled. Russian President Vladimir Toktogaziyev said the faction collapsing three metres from a immediately. The workers are spreading documents and Left isolated by the resig- Putin said yesterday Moscow would back him as an interim PM. police barricade after a gunshot already suffering a lot from the materials to oppose the state nation of Prime Minister was in touch with all the sides The Ata Zhurt political party was heard. Other students COVID-19 crisis.” of the Socialist Republic of Kubatbek Boronov’s gov- in the conflict and hoped that has tried to outmanoeuvre carried him away, and his con- Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s Vietnam.” The charge is pun- ernment late on Tuesday, Pres- democratic process would be competitors by getting par- dition was unclear. largest economy, is eagerly ishable by up to 20 years in ident Sooronbai Jeenbekov restored soon. China’s foreign liament to nominate its can- Thousands of workers from courting foreign investors as prison. called for all-party talks in a ministry said it was highly con- didate Sadyr Zhaparov —freed factories in West Java’s key drivers of economic growth Trang, 42, who used to be statement yesterday, reiterating cerned about the situation. from prison by protesters just Karawang city and Serang in a nation where nearly half a journalist for several state his willingness to mediate. At least three distinct hours earlier — for prime min- town in Banten province also the population is younger than media outlets, is known for her Representatives of eight groups have now attempted to ister on Tuesday night. protested outside their 30. outspokenness on topics parties gathered at government claim leadership. The first was However, an angry mob factories. Last year, Widodo said that including gender equality, headquarters yesterday the Coordination Council set up then broke into the hotel where Police in the capital, he will push ahead with human rights and democracy. evening to try to iron out their on Tuesday and largely made parliament convened, forcing Jakarta, prevented labour sweeping and potentially She was among several differences, but several large up of established political Zhaparov to flee through a back groups from holding a mass unpopular economic reforms, activists who were invited in factions were absent while two parties opposing Jeenbekov. door, according to Kyrgyz rally in front of Parliament. including a more business- 2016 to meet with then-US rival candidates for the pre- Another group calling itself media. It was not clear when The new Job Creation Law, friendly labor law, in his final President Barack Obama when miership emerged. the People’s Coordination parliament might convene again which was approved on term because he is no longer he visited Vietnam. Two presidents have been Council surfaced yesterday, to confirm him as premier. Monday, is expected to bring constrained by politics. 16 EUROPE THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 Germany, France propose sanctions in Navalny case

REUTERS/AP — BERLIN/PARIS It is clear that if the events are Germany and France will propose sanctions targeting not cleared up and the specific individuals they deem necessary information is not responsible for the poisoning provided, then targeted and of Kremlin critic Alexei disruptive sanctions against Navalny after Russia failed to those responsible on the provide a convincing expla- nation, their Foreign Ministers Russian side will be said. unavoidable and Russia would “No credible explanation do well not to let this happen. has been provided by Russia so far,” they said of the use of the Heiko Maas military nerve agent Novichok on Navalny, who was subse- German Foreign Minister quently evacuated to the French President Emmanuel Macron (right), meets with gendarme David Garcia (second left), during a German capital for treatment. visit to Tende, in the Vallee de la Roya, some 50km north-east of Nice, southeastern France, yesterday. They added that they would Maas called the attack “a statement at the organization’s shortly share proposals for serious breach of international Executive Council meeting on sanctions targets with their law” and said Germany will Tuesday calling on Russia “to European partners. coordinate a response with its investigate and to disclose in a Macron visits flood-ravaged “Proposals will target indi- European allies and at the swift and transparent manner the viduals deemed responsible for OPCW in the coming days. circumstances of this chemical this crime and breach of inter- “It is clear that if the events weapons attack” and share the mountains above French Riviera national norms, based on their are not cleared up and the findings with the OPCW before official function, as well as an necessary information is not its next full meeting of member AP — SAINT-MARTIN-VESUBIE, not abandon any of its terri- group. Across the street, the entity involved in the Novichok provided, then targeted and states, scheduled to start on FRANCE tories, any of its children,” he town brasserie is now a field programme,” they said. disruptive sanctions against November 30. said in a Facebook post before hospital and resting point for German Foreign Minister those responsible on the Russia’s envoy to the A van clings to the edge of an the trip. “Together we will sur- rescuers and medics working Heiko Maas was speaking a Russian side will be una- OPCW, Ambassador Alexander Alpine ravine, tossed by an mount this.” Still reeling days in the area. Outside one home, day after Germany said that voidable and Russia would do Shulgin told the meeting that exceptional storm. A tattered later, residents described what a van hung precariously on the tests conducted at labs desig- well not to let this happen,” “Russia does not owe anything French flag hangs off a tree they called the worst flooding edge of a cliff. nated by the Organization for Maas said in Berlin. to anybody. Neither to Germany uprooted by vicious floods. in their lifetimes. In Breil-sur-Roya, someone the Prohibition of Chemical He said Germany needs to nor to other countries that cat- Emergency medics treat injured In the village of Saint- rescued a French tricolor flag Weapons (OPCW) confirmed have talks with the European egorically and groundlessly residents in a brasserie Martin-Vesubie, dogs barked from a bridge nearly wiped that Navalny was the victim Union “in coming days” about accuse Russia of poisoning converted into a field hospital. frantically as their owners away by the floods, and hung it of a Novichok nerve agent. possible sanctions targeting Alexei Navalny. We do not need With at least 12 dead and muzzled them to board evacu- to dry on the remains of a tree Navalny, anti-corruption individuals linked to chemical to explain ourselves to them others missing, France and Italy ation helicopters for the city of felled by the storm. Mud caked investigator who is Russian weapon development. and we are not going to.” are still assessing damage and Nice. One man sent his family to everything - cars, dishes, floors President Vladimir Putin’s most Navalny said last week that However, Moscow has cleaning up after violent rains safety while he stayed behind to and walls. Four deaths have visible foe, was flown to only Putin could have been asked the OPCW to consider that began Friday, sweeping try to sort out an insurance claim, been reported in France, and Germany two days after falling behind the attack against him. sending technical experts to away homes and unearthing in hopes of some compensation eight in Italy since the storm ill on August 20 during a The Kremlin called that claim Russia to “cooperate with bodies from cemeteries. for the damage to his home. pounded France’s Alpes-Mar- domestic flight in Russia. “absolutely groundless and Russian experts on the French President Residents gathered outside itimes region and Italy’s north- German officials said last unacceptable.” matter,” Shulgin said. The Emmanuel Macron is visiting the town hall, hugging and western regions of Liguria and month that labs found traces of A group of 44 OPCW organization has said it is the mountainous area near the trying to console each other. Piedmont. The Alpes-Maritimes a Novichok agent in the Russian member nations including willing to help, but needs clar- Mediterranean coast, and Someone set up a barbecue regional administration said politician’s system. Navalny is Germany, the UK, the United ification of Moscow’s request promised government aid to while people waited to be evac- about 20 people were still now recovering in Germany. States and France delivered a before sending experts. flood victims. “The nation will uated, grilling sausages for the missing yesterday. Italy tops 3,000 daily coronavirus cases for first time since April Over 50 arrested in crackdown REUTERS — ROME There were also 31 COVID- highest death toll after Britain managed to get the contagion cases per day. on drug dens related deaths yesterday against in the continent, with 36,061 under control by the summer. The last time Italy recorded Italy has registered 3,678 new 28 the day before — far fewer dying since the outbreak flared Cases have steadily picked more than 3,000 cases was on in Barcelona coronavirus infections over the than at the height of the pan- in February, according to up over the past two months, April 24, with 3,022 infections past 24 hours, the health demic in Italy in March and official figures. It has also reg- however there are still far reported just a few weeks AP — BARCELONA ministry said yesterday, the first April. istered 333,940 cases. fewer daily infections in Italy before the government allowed time the country has exceeded Italy was the first country Thanks to one of the than elsewhere in Europe, restaurants and shops to At least 51 people have been 3,000 cases in a single day since in Europe to be slammed by strictest lockdowns in the with France, Spain and Britain reopen. On that same day, some arrested in a massive April. COVID-19 and has the second world, the government all registering thousands more 420 people died. crackdown on drug dens in and around Spain’s northeastern city of Barcelona, police said yesterday. UK plans to quit Brexit talks The latest anti-drug oper- ation involved more than if no clear deal by next week 1,000 agents conducting more than 40 searches in flats in the BLOOMBERG — LONDON After talks with the city center neighborhood of European Commission Pres- Raval and other nearby loca- The UK government will pull ident, Ursula von der Leyen on tions, the Mossos d’Esquadra out of Brexit trade negotiations Saturday, the two sides agreed regional police force said. with the European Union next to intensify negotiations. National and local police week if there is no clear deal in But two key stumbling agents also took part in the sight, according to a person blocks to a deal remain -- over raids, assisted by low-flying familiar with the matter. whether the UK will stick to EU helicopters. The British pound reversed competition rules governing Flats used for storing drugs gains, and declined as much as state subsidies and on fishing and as “narcoflats” where 0.3% to $1.2846. rights for European countries users look to get their heroin Boris Johnson has said he in British waters. Unless there and cocaine fixes have been wants the outlines of a deal to is a clear deal in sight by mid- spreading in the poorest areas be clear by October 15. EU offi- month, Johnson has previously of Spain’s biggest cities in cials, however, have said they threatened to move on from the recent years. Similar amounts won’t be pressured into making negotiations and prepare to exit of people were arrested in the concessions and are prepared to the bloc’s single market and two previous crackdowns, in call the prime minister’s bluff if customs union on Dec. 31 June 2019 and October 2018. he doesn’t compromise, effec- without an agreement. tively daring Johnson to walk On Tuesday, a senior EU German hotels to away. diplomat warned that the bloc A person familiar with the had no plans to offer conces- turn away citizens British position said Johnson’s sions to meet Johnson’s from risk areas team would indeed pull the deadline, and would be ready plug on talks if no clear landing to call his bluff. REUTERS — BERLIN zone for a deal has been iden- Speaking about those com- tified by that date. ments, the person familiar with Shopping amid lockdown Germany’s states have agreed The analysis adds to the British position said the that residents of domestic People wearing face masks queue at a market in Leon, northern Spain, yesterday, on the first day pressure on the talks which are government was serious about coronavirus risk areas should of a two week lockdown in an attempt to limit the contagion of the new coronavirus in the area. resuming in London. walking out next week. not be allowed to stay in hotels in other parts of the country to curb surging numbers of North Macedonia ‘could enter new infections, news agency Britain mulls reducing travel quarantine period DPA reported yesterday. membership talks by year-end’ The news comes just days REUTERS — LONDON Shapps said he was But with cases on the and Manchester Airports before about half of Ger- AFP — SKOPJE setting up a Global Travel rise in several places, the Group said that a test of a many’s federal states start two Britain is urgently looking Taskforce to open up inter- list of countries on the passenger after five days weeks of school holidays. The European Union’s enlargement commis- at ways to reduce the national travel. quarantine exemption list should be the starting point Coronavirus infections sioner voiced hope yesterday that North Mace- 14-day quarantine period “The overall aim of the is dwindling, and the of proposals in a joint have climbed steadily in donia could enter accession talks by the end which applies to some Taskforce will be to con- travel industry has warned statement. Germany over the last two of the year, despite the country’s cultural arriving passengers, sider what steps the gov- it faces an existential crisis But the International months. Berlin announced a disputes with neighbouring Bulgaria. transport minister Grant ernment can take... to unless the policy is Air Transport Associ- late-night curfew on restau- Negotiations could begin during the Shapps said yesterday, enable the safe and sus- changed again. ation (IATA) said that rants on Tuesday. Four out of German presidency of the bloc, which ends adding that a mix of tainable recovery of inter- “My ministerial col- 80% of travellers said 12 Berlin districts are already on December 31, commissioner Oliver Var- COVID-19 testing and self- national travel,” he added leagues and I have agreed they would not fly at all classified as high-risk zones, helyi told reporters in Skopje. isolation was promising. in a statement. that a regime, based on a if any quarantine were exceeding 50 cases per 100,000 North Macedonia is still waiting for a date Arrivals from coun- It would report back no single test, provided by in place. inhabitants for seven days. to start formal accession talks with the tries like France, Spain later than early November. the private sector and at “The proposals on the Schleswig-Holstein and European Union, although the bloc gave the and the United States must In July, Britain changed the cost of the passenger table do not go as far as we Rhineland-Palatinate had green light in March. self-isolate for 14 days on its policy from a blanket after a period of self-iso- had hoped,” the IATA said. already designated these dis- The country last year added “North” to its arrival in Britain, a quarantine to one which lation, could achieve our “A reduction in the length tricts risk areas and insist name, a move which ended a decades-long restriction which airlines established “travel cor- objective,” Shapps said. of quarantine is the very people returning from them dispute with Greece and opened the door to say is crushing travel ridors” to countries with Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, minimum needed to restart quarantine for 14 days or show the EU. demand. low infection rates. London’s Heathrow airport travel demand.” a negative corona test. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 EUROPE 17 2 women win Nobel Chemistry Swiss told ‘get a grip’ as virus Prize for gene editing tool cases surpass AFP — STOCKHOLM “This technology has had a revolutionary 1,000-mark impact on the life sciences, is contributing to AFP — GENEVA Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of new cancer therapies and may make the dream Daily coronavirus cases in the US yesterday won the Nobel of curing inherited diseases come true,” the Switzerland jumped over the Chemistry Prize for the gene- 1,000 mark yesterday for the editing technique known as the Nobel jury said. first time since April 1 as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping Swiss were urged to “get a “scissors”, the first time a Nobel grip”. science prize has gone to a Charpentier, 51, and Doudna, — paving the way for scientists Recorded infections in the women-only team. 56, are just the sixth and seventh to rewrite the code of life where wealthy Alpine nation of 8.5 Using the tool, “researchers women to receive the Nobel Prize the DNA is snipped. million people only previously can change the DNA of animals, in Chemistry. The CRISPR/Cas9 tool has topped 1,000 between March plants and microorganisms with Charpentier played down her already contributed to signif- 16 and April 1, at the height of extremely high precision,” the gender, saying she considered icant gains in crop resilience, its COVID-19 outbreak. Nobel jury said. herself “a scientist” first, but altering their genetic code to Faced with the recent jump “This technology has had a nonetheless hoped the prize better withstand drought and A file photo of French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier in case numbers, Health Min- revolutionary impact on the life would provide “a really strong pests. (left) and professor Jennifer Doudna of the US during a visit to ister Alain Berset urged the sciences, is contributing to new message for young girls”. The technology has also led a painting exhibition by children about the genome, at the San Swiss to “get a grip” by cancer therapies and may make While researching a common to innovative cancer treat- Francisco park in Oviedo, Spain. respecting physical distancing the dream of curing inherited dis- harmful bacteria, Charpentier ments, and many experts hope and hand hygiene in private eases come true.” discovered a previously it could one day make inherited Planck Unit for the Science of though it had only been around as well as in public. The technique has been unknown molecule —part of the diseases curable through gene Pathogens in Berlin, Germany, for eight years. The situation is “not easy tipped for a Nobel nod several bacteria’s ancient immune manipulation. while Doudna is a professor of It is not uncommon for sci- at the moment”, he said, times in the past, but speaking to system that disarms viruses by “There is enormous power biochemistry at the University entists to have to wait for according to Switzerland’s ATS reporters in Stockholm via tele- snipping off parts of their DNA. in this genetic tool, which of California. decades for their work to be news agency. phone link Charpentier said the After publishing her affects us all. It has not only rev- “Only imagination sets the recognised for a Nobel Prize. In order to avoid closing call was still a surprise. research in 2011, Charpentier olutionised basic science, but limit for what this chemical tool, “I think the implications of down establishments, “we “Strangely enough I was told worked with Doudna to rec- also resulted in innovative crops that’s too small to be visible to this new technique of CRISPR have to stick to the ground a number of times (it might reate the bacteria’s genetic and will lead to ground- our eyes, can be used for in the are so obvious that they are rules”, he said. happen) but when it happens you scissors, simplifying the tool so breaking new medical treat- future,” Pernilla Wittung going to really have an impact Birthday gatherings, are very surprised and you feel it was easier to use and apply ments,” Claes Gustafsson, chair Stafshede of the Nobel Com- in the long range that you don’t private parties and slackening that it’s not real,” she said. to other genetic material. of the Nobel Committee for mittee told reporters. really need to wait,” Luis Eche- diligence when it comes to dis- “But obviously it is real so I They then reprogrammed Chemistry, said in a statement. The professor of chemical goyen, president of the tancing, mask-wearing and have to get used to it now,” she the scissors to cut any DNA mol- Charpentier currently biology also noted that it had American Chemical Society, hand hygiene “work against added. ecule at a predetermined site works as the director of the Max been widely adopted even said. us”, Berset stressed. Switzerland recorded 1,074 new cases yesterday, pushing the overall total to Belarus oppn leader presses Germany for mediation help nearly 57,600 cases and 1,788 deaths. AP — BERLIN to participate in mediation for said last month it does not rec- “These figures are wor- starting this negotiations,” Estonia, Latvia recall envoys to Belarus ognise Lukashenko as president rying,” Professor Didier Trono, Belarus opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya said REUTERS — VILNIUS Belarus in turn accuses of Belarus. head of the Laboratory of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Merkel has not indicated Lithuania and Poland of med- Tsikhanouskaya suggested Virology and Genetics at the yesterday that German Chan- whether she would be willing Estonia and Latvia said they dling in its affairs by hosting that other leaders could be EPFL science and technology cellor Angela Merkel would be to take on such a role, and even were recalling their ambas- exiled opposition leaders and involved in helping mediate university in Lausanne, told an ideal person to mediate the if she did, Belarus President sadors to Belarus in response refusing to recognise the talks with Lukashenko, public broadcaster RTS. political crisis in her country. Alexander Lukashenko has to what Tallinn called victory of Lukashenko in the including Russian President Pointing to other European Tsikhanouskaya said in rejected repeated calls for dia- “unfounded” Belarusian election. Vladimir Putin, who has been countries where a second Berlin that Merkel is “aware of logue with the opposition. pressure on Lithuania and “In Estonia’s view, the supporting him. wave of infections began what’s going on there” and Tsikhanouskaya went into Poland, fellow critics of veteran Belarusian pressure on But, she said, it’s not up to several weeks ago, he stressed “would be really helpful in exile in Lithuania after the leader Alexander Lukashenko. Lithuania and Poland is Putin to “decide how to solve “there is no reason to think solving this problem.” Tsikha- August 9 presidential election Lithuania, Latvia and unfounded and unfortunate,” our problems.” “This is our that the Swiss are different, nouskaya met with Merkel in Belarus, which election offi- Estonia were the first EU coun- Estonian Foreign Minister internal problem and it’s only nor that the virus in Swit- behind closed-doors on Tuesday. cials claimed that Lukashenko tries to sanction Lukashenko Urmas Reinsalu said in a up to Belarussians to get out of zerland is different.” Tsikhanouskaya laid out her won in a landslide. and other officials for alleged statement. “In protest against this political crisis,” she said. Despite bordering aspiration following talks with Opposition figures and fraud during a disupted August the steps taken by Belarus, we “We want to invite him to be a northern Italy — the early epi- Norbert Roettgen, a top law- some poll workers say the 9 presidential election he said have decided to invite our mediator alongside with other centre of the outbreak in maker in Merkel’s conservative results were fraudulent and tens he won and violence against ambassador from Belarus to leaders to be mediators in ini- Europe — Switzerland was not party. of thousands of people have protests that followed. Tallinn for consultations.” tiating dialogue between our hit as hard by COVID-19 “So, our main ask for her taken to the streets to protest. authorities and the people. And deaths and did not impose as was to be a leader in this medi- Late last month, Tsikha- President Emmanuel Macron, European mediation in the that’s it. We want to solve this strict a lockdown as some ation, to call for other countries nouskaya met with French who has been pushing for Belarus political crisis.The EU problem by ourselves.” other European states. Russia evacuates Russia successfully tests villages after explosions at new hypersonic missile munitions depot AFP — MOSCOW sions with the West. Putin said that the test- AFP — MOSCOW Russia yesterday said it had firing of Tsirkon was a “great successfully tested a new event not just in the life of our Russia yesterday evacuated hypersonic anti-ship cruise armed forces bur for all of more than 1,000 people from missile in a move hailed by Russia”. nearby villages after a President Vladimir Putin as a He added that such wildfire set off explosions at “great event” for the country. weapons, which Putin claimed a munitions depot in the The military said that the have no equivalent worldwide, Ryazan region southeast of Tsirkon missile was fired from “will without doubt in the long Moscow, officials said. the Admiral Gorshkov frigate term boost the defence capa- A fire broke out at the in the White Sea on Tuesday bilities of our state”. depot yesterday afternoon at morning in the Russian Arctic The defence ministry said 1340 (1040 GMT) sparked by and successfully hit its target. that the plan was to equip both a wildfire in dry grass nearby, Valery Gerasimov, chief of warships and submarines with the emergencies ministry the Russian military’s General the Tsirkon. said in a statement sent to Staff, told Putin — who turned Putin had revealed the AFP. 68 yesterday — that it was the development of the new “As a result, explosions first time the missile had suc- weapon in a state of the nation took place,” the ministry said, cessfully struck a target at sea. address in February 2019, adding that it was sending a “The tasks of the launch saying it could hit targets at sea fire-fighting train and 100 were carried out. The test-fire and on land with a range of The 16-year-old Aava Murto speaking to the press in Helsinki, Finland, yesterday. firefighters to battle the was successful,” he added. 1,000 kilometres and a speed blaze. Gerasimov said that the of Mach 9. Russian media posted missile hit its target 450km Russian government boasts witness videos of columns of PM for a day: Teen fills Finland’s top job away in the Barents Sea and hit of developing a number of black smoke rising from the a Mach 8 speed — eight times “invincible” weapons that fire and continuous AFP — HELSINKI nology as boys,” she said. Peru, Sudan and Vietnam. the speed of sound. surpass existing systems and explosions. “I think young people could Elsewhere, senior jobs at Russia has in the last years include Sarmat intercontinental “According to preliminary Finnish Prime Minister Sanna teach adults to be more inno- Microsoft, Samsung, Facebook touted the development of missiles and Burevestnik cruise information, more than 1,600 Marin faced a quieter day than vative and think more about the and Twitter will go to teenage futuristic new weapons which missiles. people have been evacuated usual yesterday after handing future,” she added. girls in countries including El it hopes will give it the edge in The first Avangard hyper- from 14 settlements,” the power to a 16-year-old as part The swap is part of a global Salvador, Guatemala, the Neth- any arms race with the United sonic missiles were put into emergencies ministry said, as of a campaign to promote girls’ “Girls Takeover” campaign by erlands and the Philippines. States at a time of growing ten- service in December last year. its head Yevgeny Zinichev rights. children’s rights charity Plan Finnish premier Marin, 34, flew to the scene. Aava Murto, from Vaasky in International, which aims to became the world’s youngest According to the western southern Finland, said she was raise awareness of girls’ digital head of government when she military district its troops had having an “exciting day” as she skills and opportunities in tech- took office in December, been evacuated after faced media on the steps of par- nological industries and high- leading a coalition of five attempting unsuccessfully to liament after meeting with the light the problem of online har- centre-left parties who were all fight the fire. chancellor of justice. assment against women. led by women. “The personnel and Murto added that she had Although Finland scores Marin did not have civilian staff have been evac- “learnt some new things about highly in international gender Wednesday completely free uated. None was injured,” the legislation.” equality comparisons, women however, as she took part in military district said in a In the afternoon, the are still heavily under-repre- budget negotiations in the statement sent. student who actively campaigns sented in technology firms and morning. A planned working A total of 146 children on climate and human rights boardrooms, while the coun- breakfast with Murto was can- were evacuated from the issues was to speak with MPs try’s share of females starting celled at the last minute, but nearest village of Zhel- and the minister for devel- technology-related studies is they were due to meet for a tukhino, Ryazan’s regional opment and foreign trade. the lowest in the OECD. debrief in the evening. administration said. Her message to decision- The global campaign coin- Asked if she would be inter- Such accidents are rela- makers has been that girls cides with the UN’s International ested in doing the job full-time Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile is launched from the tively common in Russia due “need to realise more how Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, in a few years, Murto said: “It’s Russian guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov during a test in to large amounts of old muni- important they are, and how and will also allow girls take on not up to me to decide that, but tions remaining in storage. they are just as good at tech- the jobs of ministers in Kenya, possibly, yeah!” the White Sea, in this still image released yesterday. 18 AMERICAS THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 After White House, COVID-19 breaches Pentagon AFP — WASHINGTON coronavirus. The list of those No sooner had Trump a possible opportunity,” he who attended meetings with said. The US commander-in-chief Ray read like a Who’s Who of returned to work Stephen Hadley, who has COVID-19 and the top the US military’s top brass. than the Pentagon served as national security military brass are isolating as Besides Milley, they announced that advisor to former president the coronavirus pandemic takes included General John Hyten, George W Bush, also warned a toll on the national security the Joint Chiefs vice chairman, members of the that “adversaries may think establishment of the most Admiral Michael Gilday, chief Joint Chiefs of Staff, that America may be dis- powerful nation in the world. of naval operations, General tracted, so that they can get As COVID-19 breached the James McConville, the army including General away with something.” Repre- walls of the Pentagon, the chief of staff, and General Mark Milley, the sentative Adam Smith, Defence Department was quick Charles Brown, the air force chairman of the Democratic- to stress on Tuesday that there chief of staff, a Pentagon official chairman, were majority House Armed Services had been “no change to the said. self-quarantining. Committee, lashed out at operational readiness or Also attending meetings Trump’s handling of the coro- mission capability of the US with Ray were General Daniel navirus crisis and said it had Armed Forces.” President Hokanson, the head of the officials said the administration endangered national security. Donald Trump, custodian of the National Guard, General John needed to remain wary. “While our military can still nuclear codes, tested positive Raymond, chief of the Space “We have to look at operate while leadership is for the coronavirus last week Force, and General Paul Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley; US Air whether or not any of our quarantined, the national and was hospitalised for three Nakasone, the director of the Force Gen John E Hyten; US Army Chief of Staff General James global adversaries want to take security implications of the days, returning to the White National Security Agency and C McConville; Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday advantage of the distraction president’s recklessness cannot House on Monday. head of US Cyber Command, taking place right now,” John be overstated,” Smith said in a No sooner had Trump the official said. mission,” Hoffman said. going into isolation. Brennan, who served as CIA statement. “Our adversaries are returned to work than the Pen- “All have been tested with “Senior military leaders are Esper took part in a con- director under president always looking for any tagon announced that members no positive results to report and able to remain fully mission ference on the future of the US Barack Obama, said on NPR weakness to exploit. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, none are exhibiting any capable and perform their Navy on Tuesday but did not radio. “President Trump’s pathetic including General Mark Milley, symptoms,” the official said. duties from an alternative work make any comments about the “A country like China might attempts to exude strength the chairman, were Pentagon spokesman location.” The Coast Guard said quarantine situation at the try to do something in Hong aren’t fooling anyone -- Amer- self-quarantining. Jonathan Hoffman said those Ray had tested positive on Pentagon. Kong now, or in the South icans know he is weak and so They all tested negative for who had come into contact with Monday after experiencing Senior officials said the US China Sea, while Trump is do those who wish us harm,” COVID-19 but would isolate Ray would self-quarantine “out mild symptoms and was quar- threat level had not been focused on his health,” Brennan Smith said. after coming into contact during of an abundance of caution.” antining at home. heightened last week following said. “Instead of leading, Pres- meetings last week with the vice “We are conducting addi- Defence Secretary Mark the announcement that the “(Or Russia) might decide ident Trump continues to will- commandant of the Coast tional contact tracing and taking Esper was on a foreign trip last president had COVID-19 and to do something in Belarus or fully jeopardise the safety and Guard, Admiral Charles Ray, appropriate precautions to week and was not among the no new threats had been in another country, taking security of the American people who tested positive for the protect the force and the Pentagon officials who are detected. But former US advantage of what they see as and our military apparatus.”

US asks Apex Court EU not to send observers for Venezuela’s December 6 vote to reinstate Boston REUTERS — BRUSSELS see the parliamentary vote as a - too late to organise an EU head-of-state, though Maduro have documented executions, marathon bomber’s way for Maduro to seize control mission, which would typically retains control of the gov- disappearances and torture in The European Union said of the opposition-held involve sending a team months ernment and military. Venezuela that they say may death penalty yesterday it will not send assembly. ahead of time to assess whether Maduro has said he is bound amount to crimes against observers to Venezuela’s parlia- “As the elections are not campaigning is free and fair, by Venezuela’s constitution to humanity. REUTERS — BOSTON mentary elections in December, going to be postponed, the and other conditions. hold the vote on December 6. German Ambassador warning that President Nicolas European Union cannot even Members of Venezuela’s “This only serves to worsen Michael Freiherr von Ungern- The US Justice Department Maduro’s decision to call them consider sending an election opposition have also called for the political situation in Vene- Sternberg told the Council on yesterday asked the Supreme at short notice had worsened observer mission,” EU foreign a delay so that international zuela,” Borrell told EU law- Tuesday that the only solution Court to reinstate Boston the political crisis in the country. policy chief Josep Borrell told observers can attend, fearing makers during a debate on the to the crisis was “a political, Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Like the United States, the the European Parliament. that the result could otherwise crisis in the South American peaceful democratic one Tsarnaev’s death sentence for EU wants new presidential elec- Maduro invited the EU to be rigged in Maduro’s favour. nation. The United Nations through credible transparent, helping carry out the 2013 tions to reverse Venezuela’s monitor the December 6 The current assembly head, Human Rights Council in free and fair legislative and attack that killed three people spiral into authoritarian rule election of candidates for the Juan Guaido, is recognised by Geneva has extended the presidential elections excluding and wounded more than 260 and economic collapse. They National Assembly last month the EU as Venezuela’s legitimate mandate of investigators who any use of force.” others. The department argues in its petition to the court that an appeals court improperly Hurricane Delta lashes vacated the death penalty “in one of the most important ter- Mexico’s Caribbean coast rorism prosecutions in our nation’s history.” A federal appeals court in July over- AFP — CANCUN, MEXICO Carlos Joaquin, the gov- turned Tsarnaev’s death sen- ernor of Quintana Roo state tence, concluding that a trial Hurricane Delta slammed into which is home to Cancun, said judge “fell short” in conducting Mexico’s Caribbean coast early that many trees had been the jury selection process and yesterday, toppling trees, toppled and electricity lines screening jurors for potential ripping down power lines and were torn down. bias following pretrial lashing a string of major beach Around half of the city was publicity. resorts with winds of up to 110 without power, much less than The Justice Department miles per hour. expected, he said. argues that in doing so, the A weakened Delta hit the By nightfall Tuesday, Can- appeals court “denies district Yucatan Peninsula near the cun’s streets were mostly courts the broad discretion to town of Puerto Morelos as a empty, the shops closed and manage juries” that Supreme Category 2 storm, the US windows covered by wooden Court precedents provide. National Hurricane Center sheets or crossed with adhesive The department also said (NHC) said, bringing a “life- tape to try to prevent them that if the appeals court ruling threatening storm surge.” But from shattering, according to stands, it would have to retry the region appeared to have witnesses. the entire case. escaped major destruction and “Although we’ve been living “The victims will have to there were no immediate in Cancun for five years, it’s our once again take the stand to reports of deaths, according to first hurricane, and the truth is describe the horrors that Mexico’s civil defense that we’re very nervous,” said Police officers remove branches of a fallen tree by Hurricane Delta, in Cancun, in the state of Quintana respondent inflicted on them,” department. Ana Gabriela Gaeta. Roo, Mexico, yesterday. the petition read. Strong winds whipped More than 40,000 tourists David Patton, an attorney Cancun, one of the country’s in Cancun and neighboring as in hotels, such as the use of and non-essential activities in States later this week, according for Tsarnaev, did not immedi- most popular tourist destina- resorts were evacuated, the gel and face masks,” said the state of Quintana Roo were to the NHC. ately reply to a request for tions, where a number of cars head of the area’s hotel asso- Cintron. suspended. People living in the Delta is the 26th named comment. Victims have been were damaged by falling trees, ciation, Roberto Citron, said. Maria Alexandra Gonzalez, area stocked up on food, storm of an unusually active divided over seeking the death according to witnesses in the Most were Mexicans, but a 34-year-old tourist from drinking water and wooden Atlantic hurricane season. penalty. Patton has previously city. they also included foreigners, Costa Rica, boarded a bus with boards to protect their homes Over the weekend, six argued that prosecutors should Thousands of tourists had notably from the United States. a large suitcase and a hat that as the storm approached. people died and thousands were allow “closure” by permitting hunkered down in emergency In Cancun alone, more than she never used due to the “We’re rushing to get wood forced from their homes as a life prison sentence. shelters along the Riviera Maya 160 shelters were set up. relentless rain. for the windows. We only Tropical Storm Gamma trig- Tsarnaev, 27, and his older coastline as the storm The authorities said the “We’ve not had much sun. learned this morning that the gered floods and landslides in brother, Tamerlan, sparked approached. emergency shelters had been It’s a pity. We haven’t been able hurricane was coming here,” southeastern Mexico. five days of panic in Boston on The hurricane was down- sanitized to prevent the spread to go out to see other places,” said Laura Mendez, a 54-year- In September, meteorolo- April 15, 2013, when they det- graded from “extremely dan- of the coronavirus, which has she said. old in Cancun. gists were forced to break out onated two homemade gerous” Category 4 as it neared killed more than 81,000 people Soldiers wearing masks and Fishermen hauled their the Greek alphabet to name pressure cooker bombs at the the peninsula, but could return in Mexico and led to a sharp face shields were seen pre- boats ashore to prevent them Atlantic storms for only the marathon’s finish line and then to the second-highest status on drop in visitor numbers. paring to deploy for relief being swept away. second time ever, after the 2020 tried to flee the city. In the days Thursday as it moves over the “To prevent the spread of efforts. Delta is forecast to bring hurricane season blew through that followed, they also killed Gulf of Mexico, the Miami- COVID-19, the same measures The Cancun and Cozumel heavy rainfall and floods to their usual list, ending on a police officer. Tamerlan died based NHC said. have been taken in the shelters airports were ordered to close, parts of the southeastern United Tropical Storm Wilfred. after a gunfight with police. Facebook, Instagram ban QAnon conspiracy-linked accounts AFP — SAN FRANCISCO “We will remove any on QAnon accounts steps up knee-jerk response to pressure on nearly 2,000 more as part of Coast were started by certain Facebook Pages, Groups and Facebook’s efforts to clamp from members of Congress and a crackdown on stoking groups, which diverted attention Facebook on Tuesday Instagram accounts representing down on misinformation cam- the public.” The moves made violence. of police and firefighters. announced a ban on all accounts QAnon, even if they contain no paigns sometimes endorsed by across Facebook and Instagram Critics have charged that “QAnon messaging changes linked to the QAnon conspiracy violent content,” the Internet Trump, weeks ahead of the were against accounts tied to inflammatory content from very quickly and we see net- group, as the social network tries titan said in a blog post. November 3 presidential “offline anarchist groups that QAnon was spreading on works of supporters build an to clamp down on misinfor- From an anonymous 2017 election. support violent acts amidst pro- Facebook despite the platform’s audience with one message and mation ahead of the heated US posting claiming bizarre child “Facebook’s decision to ban tests, US-based militia organi- proclaimed effort to contain it. then quickly pivot to another,” presidential election. exploitation and political plots, QAnon from all its platforms is zations and QAnon,” according - Stoking flames - Facebook Facebook said. The move against QAnon at the headless and bodiless a much needed, if belated, step to the blog post. said it tightened its prohibition The social network already Facebook and its image-sharing movement has earned a place to purge dangerous conspiracy The leading social network on QAnon after noticing that, bans content calling for violence platform Instagram comes as the in Trump’s Twitter stream. theories from the platform,” said recently prohibited ads that despite taking down posts and organizations that proclaim online giant tries to avoid being The FBI last year said in a Anti-Defamation league chief praise, support or represent mil- directly promoting violence, violent missions. used to deceive or confuse report that QAnon was one of executive Jonathan Greenblatt. itarized social movements and QAnon supporter messages The increasingly visible and voters, as was the case during several movements that could “We hope that this is a QAnon. adapted to avoid restrictions. vocal followers of QAnon the 2016 election that put US drive “both groups and indi- sincere effort to purge hate and Facebook in August removed For example, QAnon used promote a bewildering blend of President Donald Trump in the vidual extremists to carry out antisemitism from their hundreds of groups tied to the platform to claim deadly unsubstantiated conspiracy White House. criminal or violent acts.” The ban platform, and not another QAnon and imposed restrictions wildfires raging on the West theories. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 AMERICAS 19

Trump fails to Trump seeks ways to mount campaign comeback block tax return Trump aides say he is impatient to get back on the campaign trail and insistent on debating subpoena

Biden on October 15 in Miami, but Biden said REUTERS — NEW YORK on Tuesday he will not participate if Trump is A federal appeals court not virus-free. yesterday rejected Donald Trump’s effort to block REUTERS — WASHINGTON be adequate personal pro- Manhattan’s district attorney tective equipment and from obtaining eight years of US President Donald Trump, ventilation. his tax returns for a criminal under coronavirus quarantine He described Trump, who probe into the US president in the White House and has received treatment with a and his businesses. restricted from travelling, is steroid that is normally used The 2nd US Circuit Court seeking ways to put a spark in the most severe cases, as of Appeals in Manhattan said back in his struggling being “in very good health.” enforcement of the subpoena re-election bid and get behind Any political boost Trump could be stayed, as agreed to his desk in the Oval Office with could get from a fresh by the parties, should Trump four weeks left until Election injection of stimulus money appeal to the US Supreme Day. into Americans’ pockets Court. Trump has signaled he Trump has been looking appears to be out of reach would appeal to the Supreme for options on how to get his after he abruptly ended nego- Court if he lost. He is seeking message out and cut into Dem- tiations with Democrats on reelection on November 3. ocrat Joe Biden’s lead in bat- Tuesday, with both sides far Vance issued the grand tleground states where the apart on how much money to jury subpoena to Trump’s November 3 election will be devote to a deal. longtime accounting firm, decided, advisers said. Both Biden and the top Mazars USA. They said they had been Democrat in the US Congress, The president had argued discussing Trump delivering a House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that the subpoena for his per- A file photo of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaking as US President Donald Trump and White national address, while a accused Trump of abandoning sonal and corporate tax returns House senior adviser Ivanka Trump listen during an event at the White House in Washington, DC. speech to senior voters is being needy Americans. Republican was an overbroad and politi- contemplated for today. Vice Senator Susan Collins, facing cally motivated “fishing expe- President Mike Pence’s debate a tough re-election bid in her doubt, since three Republican He depicted himself as a concerned personally about dition” targeting his business with Democratic vice presi- home state of Maine, called senators have been infected man who vanquished the the spread of the virus. interests around the world, dential nominee Kamala Trump’s move a “huge with the coronavirus and may disease and emerged stronger, Advisers say Trump wanted exceeding Vance’s authority Harris in Salt Lake City was to mistake.” not be able to vote. telling Americans: “Don’t be to be talking about other issues and jurisdiction. take centre stage of the cam- “The president turned his A wave of infections at the afraid of Covid. Don’t let it instead of the virus by this The 2nd US Circuit Court paign yesterday evening. back on you,” Biden said in a White House among Trump’s dominate your life.” stage of the campaign, to put of Appeal’s decision followed Complications abound. Twitter post. top lieutenants and press But Trump’s handling of the pressure on Biden. Opinion a September 28 report in The Trump aides say he is impa- With layoffs in key indus- office aides has left the West pandemic, which has killed polls show Trump down double New York Times that Trump tient to get back on the cam- tries mounting by the day and Wing struggling to find its more than 210,000 people in digits, and Biden with sizeable had paid $750 in federal paign trail and insistent on threatening the fragile footing. The latest infection the United States, has been met leads in many swing states. income taxes in both 2016 and debating Biden on October 15 recovery, Trump late on came on Tuesday when immi- with scepticism from many Trump had been expected 2017, and no income taxes in in Miami, but Biden said on Tuesday urged Congress to gration hawk and chief Americans. to go on tour this week through 10 of the prior 15 years, Tuesday he will not participate quickly pass $25bn in funding speechwriter Stephen Miller The latest Reuters/Ipsos Western states to raise millions reflecting “chronic” losses he if Trump is not virus-free. for passenger airlines, $135bn put out word he had tested poll, conducted October 2-6, of dollars for a campaign facing used to avoid paying taxes. The White House’s chief of for small businesses and positive. found that 38 percent of adults a deficit to Biden’s well-funded Trump has rejected staff, Mark Meadows, said yes- provide $1,200 stimulus ABC News said its count of approved of Trump’s handling effort. One adviser noted that findings from the Times report, terday that Trump was eager checks for Americans. cases related to the White of the coronavirus - his lowest almost exactly four years ago tweeting that he had paid to get back to work in the Oval But White House officials House was now 23, including level of approval in the weekly in 2016, Trump’s campaign was many millions of dollars in Office. He has been working yesterday downplayed the Trump and his wife, Melania. survey since a similar one con- knocked off the rails by release taxes but was entitled to from a makeshift space in his likelihood of any kind of Trump has attempted to ducted September 3-8 — while of an “Access Hollywood” tape depreciation and tax credits. residence in the White House stimulus being passed before use his coronavirus infection 56 percent said they in which he boasted about since returning on Monday the election. to his political advantage, disapprove. groping women. He went on to from three days in hospital. Trump’s drive to get Judge making a dramatic prime-time The poll found that 79 beat the odds and win the Florida governor “He wanted to go to the Amy Coney Barrett confirmed exit from Walter Reed military percent of US adults, including election. Oval yesterday. If he decides to the vacant seat on the hospital on Monday and 94 percent of registered Dem- “He’s the real comeback extends voter to go the Oval we’ve got safety Supreme Court by the Repub- whipping off his face mask ocrats and 70 percent of reg- kid and if anybody can come protocols there,” Meadows told lican-controlled Senate before before the cameras on his istered Republicans, said they back from something it’s him,” registration reporters, adding there would the election also may be in return to the White House. are “very” or “somewhat” the adviser said. after site crash

Biden warns ‘forces of darkness’ dividing US AP — TALLAHASSEE Florida Gov Ron DeSantis AFP — GETTYSBURG inspirational Gettysburg Address week after Trump, who has extended the state’s voter during a cemetery dedication branded himself a “law and registration deadline on White House hopeful Joe Biden here in 1863. order” president, failed to Tuesday after he said heavy warned on Tuesday that “the “We cannot and will not directly condemn white nation- traffic crashed the state’s forces of darkness” are dividing allow extremists and white alism during their contentious online system and potentially Americans, saying that as pres- supremacists to overturn the debate in Cleveland. prevented thousands of ident he would strive to “end the America of Lincoln and (aboli- “I do not believe we have to enrolling to cast ballots in next hate and fear” consuming the tionists) Harriet Tubman and choose between law and order month’s presidential election. nation. Frederick Douglass, to overturn and racial justice in America. We Several progressive groups are In a speech at an outdoor site the America that has been a can have both,” Biden said. suing for an additional overlooking the hallowed Civil haven and a home for everyone But he stressed that “as pres- extension. War battlefield of Gettysburg, no matter their background,” ident... I will send a clear une- DeSantis extended the the Democratic challenger to Biden added. quivocal message to the entire deadline that expired on President Donald Trump in The 77-year-old former vice nation: There is no place for hate Monday until 7pm on Tuesday. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at the Lodges November’s election con- president who leads in polling in America. It will be given no In addition to online regis- at Gettysburg, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US, on Tuesday. demned the rise of white nation- four weeks from election day did licence, it will be given no tration, DeSantis ordered elec- alism and said the country not mention Trump’s name, but oxygen, it will be given no safe tions, motor vehicle and tax needed to unite. his remarks served as a clear harbour.” His speech was other is ebbing, hope seems speech, saying “there’s no more collectors offices to stay open “The forces of darkness, the rebuke of a Republican president intended to serve as a call for elusive,” and politics is no fitting place than here today, in until that hour for anyone who forces of division, the forces of whose relentless rhetoric has unity after months of bitter divi- longer a forum for mediating Gettysburg, to talk about the wanted to register in person. yesterday are pulling us apart, raised tensions nationwide. The sions, but he also said he was differences but a battleground cost of division.” He also said any forms post- holding us down and holding us Democrat’s speech, attended by “concerned” about what he sees for “total, unrelenting partisan “Today once again, we are marked by Tuesday would be back,” Biden said in a speech a small contingent of Biden sup- today. warfare,” he said. The veteran a house divided. But that, my accepted. near where president Abraham porters abiding by social dis- “The country is in a dan- Democrat repeatedly invoked friends, can no longer be,” Voting and minority rights Lincoln delivered his tancing rules, notably came one gerous place, our trust in each the language of Lincoln in his Biden said. groups responded with a federal lawsuit, saying the con- fusion required more time, but DeSantis disagreed, saying the New York to impose new seven-hour outage required a comparable extension. The shutdowns in virus hotspots problems began about 5 p.m. Monday and continued until AP — ALBANY spot of the pandemic and the the midnight deadline. deadliest. While the daily toll “You can have the best site New York state will reinstate dropped dramatically after a in the world, but sometimes restrictions on businesses, surge in March and early April, there are hiccups,” DeSantis houses of worship and schools more than 33,000 New Yorkers said during a press conference in and near areas where coro- in all have died of COVID-19, at The Villages, a large navirus cases are spiking, more than in any other state, retirement community in Governor Andrew Cuomo said according to figures collected by central Florida. yesterday, saying the severity of Johns Hopkins University. “If 500,000 people shutdowns would vary by prox- “This is about protecting descend at the same time, it imity to the hot spots. people and saving lives,” Cuomo, creates a bottleneck.” Dream Set to take effect no later a Democrat, said at a news con- Defenders, New Florida than tomorrow, the new rules ference in Albany. Majority, Organise Florida, Lat- will affect parts of Brooklyn and In the hearts of the hot spots inoJustice PRLDEF and others Queens in New York City, sec- — colour-coded as red zones — filed their lawsuit in Talla- tions of Orange and Rockland schools will close to in-person hassee, saying at least two counties in the Hudson Valley, learning, only essential busi- additional days were needed and an area within Binghamton nesses could remain open, to give those denied access in the Southern Tier. houses of worship could enough time to learn of the The planned restrictions convene no more than 10 people extension and respond. They include school and business at once, and restaurants could said that anything less would Workers who survived the first wave of COVID-19 rally for state legislation to set enforceable safety shutdowns in some areas; others offer only takeout. be voter suppression. standards, as infection rates spike around New York, in New York City, yesterday. will see limitations on gatherings Those areas are surrounded “No voter should be denied and restaurant diners. by “orange” or yellow” zones, their right to vote during a But an Orthodox Jewish according to maps the state outdoor dining, with a maximum four indoors and out. ourselves but for our entire global health pandemic organisation called the action released later on Friday. of four guests per table. Rockland County Executive community.” because Florida did not have “appalling to all people of In orange zones, schools also In yellow zones, businesses Ed Day, a Republican, said he In Broome County, where a functioning online voter reg- religion and good faith” and will be remote-only, and nones- and schools can stay open, with backed the governor’s plan and part of Binghamton’s west side istration system,” said Jorge threatened to explore all options sential enterprises considered mandatory weekly testing of a would do what he could to help will be subject to “yellow” zone Vasquez, power and to undo it. high risk — such as gyms and yet-to-be-determined per- implement it, calling the restric- rules, County Executive Jason democracy director at The plan marks a sizeable personal-care businesses - will centage of students and teachers. tions “measured and clearly Garnar said the restrictions Advancement Project National step back after a cautious reo- be closed. Religious institutions Religious institutions can focused.” He urged residents to could benefit an area that went Office, one of the suing groups. pening this spring and summer are to be restricted to 25 people, operate at half capacity, and res- embrace their “civic duty to do from about 60 active cases 10 No hearing was immediately in New York, an early US hot and restaurants can offer limited taurants may seat parties up to what is right, not only for days ago to 458 on Tuesday. set. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2020 20

QA flights to San Francisco from December 15

THE PENINSULA — DOHA industry-leading flexible booking The San Francisco service will be operated success in San Francisco.” policies, robust safety measures by Qatar Airways’ state-of-the-art Airbus San Francisco International As Qatar Airways continues to and a dependable network, all Airport Director, Ivar C Satero PRAYER rapidly rebuild its network providing strong levels of relia- A350-900 featuring 36 seats in the award- said: “We are proud to welcome TIMINGS across the globe and in the US, bility for passengers. Throughout winning Qsuite Business Class and 247 seats Qatar Airways’ new nonstop PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING the airline announced yesterday the pandemic, Qatar Airways con- service between San Francisco it will operate four weekly flights tinued operations to the US with in Economy Class. and Doha this December. As air- to San Francisco — the fifth new flights to both Chicago and Dallas- lines restore travel destinations FAJR 04.12 am destination launched by the Fort Worth maintained during the economy, the San Francisco Bay amidst the pandemic.” around the world, we applaud SUNRISE 05.29 am national carrier of Qatar since entire period. Area is a globally important des- Mayor of San Francisco, the vision of Qatar Airways to the start of the pandemic – from Qatar Airways Group Chief tination, both from a business London N Breed, said: “On behalf make this new route a reality, DHUHR 11.21 am December 15. Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, and leisure perspective. Popu- of the City and County of San and we look forward to offering ASR 02.42 pm The San Francisco service will said: “We are thrilled to welcome lated with many people wanting Francisco I’m proud to welcome a world-class airport experience MAGHRIB 05.16 pm be operated by Qatar Airways’ San Francisco as our newest des- to visit friends, families or Qatar Airways to San Francisco to travellers from its network.” ISHA 06.46 pm state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 tination, and our ninth current business partners overseas, International Airport as they ini- By mid-December, the featuring 36 seats in the award- gateway in the US. As we nav- Qatar Airways is perfectly posi- tiate their new nonstop service carrier will fly 55 weekly flights winning Qsuite Business Class and igate the crisis, we have made it tioned as the reliable airline to Doha this coming December. to nine destinations in the US 247 seats in Economy Class with a priority to not only reinstate our partner to enable traffic in and During recent months we have connecting onwards to hundreds passengers enjoying free Super existing destinations and be the out of the area. seen expanding international air of American cities through its Wi-Fi broadband Internet until airline travellers can rely on, but “We are excited as we launch service from our airport and strategic partnerships with January 2021. to also grow our network and this new destination making it highly welcome these new flights American Airlines and JetBlue. The World’s Best Airline, and increase connectivity with new easier for our passengers to which will serve our community The addition of flights to San the only Middle East carrier oper- and relevant destinations for our reunite with their loved ones, and its travel needs. Francisco will add a new route ating to San Francisco, has con- customers to enjoy.” having taken more than 220,000 “We welcome Qatar Airways to the Qatar Airways Cargo tinued to grow and innovate “As the gateway to Silicon Americans home to the US via to our city and to our world-class network, bringing its total of US WEATHER during the pandemic with Valley and the vibrant tech scheduled and chartered flights airport and look forward to their destinations to 11. TODAY Katara Hospitality receives Safety Excellence Award o o THE PENINSULA — DOHA 27 C 36 C in Qatar that have adhered to the Minimum Maximum Katara Hospitality, the leading health and safety principles over Hazy at some places at first global hotel owner, developer, the year. becomes relatively hot daytime with and operator based in Qatar, The book Qatar Achieve- local clouds and chance of rain received Safety Excellence ments on Vocational Safety maybe thundery at places at times. Award in hospitality sector for highlights the country’s progress W ALRUWAIS : 31o → 33o 2020 by Ministry of Municipality and development. It also shows W ALKHOR : 26o → 35o and Environment during the Qatar’s drive to cater to official launch of the second labourers and guaranteeing the W DUKHAN : 29o → 35o edition of Qatar Achievements fundamental rights of workers. W WAKRAH : 26o → 39o on Vocational Safety. Addressing the gathering, W MESAIEED : 26o → 39o The event was held under Ahmed Al Sada, said: “Pro- A group photo of employees at Katara Hospitality. W ABUSAMRA : 29o → 36o the Ministry of Municipality and motion and implementation of Environment auspices at health and safety have always Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & been one of the prime objec- for us with regards to staging a best occupational safety Katara Hospitality has put Convention Hotel and attended tives of the nation; and in these successful and memorable standards. In addition, safety in place a comprehensive, inte- HIGH TIDE 09:00 – 18:30 by the Assistant Undersecretary troubled times, they assume World Cup.” awards were presented to com- grated approach to vocational for Services Affairs at the Min- even greater significance. It The awards ceremony was panies in various categories - safety, building on our estab- LOW TIDE 02:02 – 15:51 istry of Municipality and Envi- becomes imperative for us that one of the major attractions of small and medium enterprises, lished infrastructure for ronment, Ahmed Al Sada. we are even more careful than the event. Excellence awards real estate, oil and gas, retail, addressing crucial issues related It included an awards cer- before because the next two were delivered to local com- and health sector to the environment, community emony to recognise companies years are going to prove crucial panies that implemented the organisations. and workplaces.