Resignation Copy Required for Job Change Request

EU-UK World trade talks bids farewell stuck on to football three key legend issues Maradona

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SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 13 RABIA II- 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8455 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Build your own plan! Terms & Conditions Apply Resignation copy required for job change request SANAULLAH ATAULLAH The job change application, submitted to the THE PENINSULA Ministry, will be assessed to accept or reject Assistant Undersecretary for following the certain rules and regulations in Labour Affairs at the Ministry this regard. of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, First text message issued from the Ministry Mohammed Hassan Al Obaidli, has said that a worker is responding to the application of a worker for job required to attach his resig- change does not mean final approval rather than nation copy with the appli- to inform the employer that his worker has cation for job change. He said that signature and stamp of the applied for job transfer. new company is also needed where a worker wants to In case of acceptance, a text message will be transfer. sent to the employer informing him about the Speaking in a Qatar TV transfer of his worker and notice period and this Enjoying a pleasant weather programme, Al Obaidli, said Families enjoying ﬁne weather at the MIA Park in Doha yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA that the job change appli- will be considered second message. cation, submitted to the Min- istry will be assessed to accept redrafted the text message to should serve two months notice or reject following the certain make it clear for employer and period and one month in case rules and regulations in this worker. The amended text of less than two years. QFA hands over third part of the regard. message contains that a worker “The new company (where “In case of acceptance, a submitted a request for a worker wants to transfer) text message will be sent to the changing job from one should adhere to the wage pro- bid to host AFC Asian Cup 2027 employer informing him about company to other mentioning tection system, labor law, be the transfer of his worker and the name of new company. The active, have business and THE PENINSULA — DOHA hosting the tournament to the currently underway in Qatar. notice period and this will be message also includes that the project,” said Al Obidli. high standards that the QFA The guarantees confirms considered second message request is under assessment so Al Obidli said that that the The Qatar Football Association aims to achieve. The pledge the QFA’s desire to fulfil all the from the Ministry to the the worker should remain in employer has right to claim for (QFA) handed over the third fulfils the approved schedule hosting requirements– drawing employer,” said Al Obaidli. the company until the end of any charges and cost related to part of its bid to host the AFC laid out by the Asian Football on its accumulated experience “First text message issued the assessment.” training the workers and Asian Cup 2027. This section of Confederation, the game’s and organizational expertise, from the Ministry responding He said that the text obtaining driving license from the file includes the delivery of ruling body on the continent, acquired from staging many to the application of a worker message also includes that new employer as per the law a government guarantee that is according to QFA major sporting events over for job change does not mean employer is entitled to make which safeguard the rights of compatible with the AFC’s This commitment is part of more than two decades. With final approval rather than to inquiry about the application employer and employee. requirements for a successful the Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar now considered to be the inform the employer that his enabling him to raise his con- “It is mandatory for bid, it was announced which promotes the sports hub of the region, it is worker has applied for job cerns through hotline or email employer and worker as well yesterday. advancement of the country’s fully prepared to host the transfer and the application is available in the text message. to comply to the job contract The government guarantees capabilities in all fields, with the championship – especially under assessment of the Min- Al Obaidli said that a because both parties have rights pledged by the State of Qatar is help of massive investment in given the participation of 24 istry,” said Al Obaidli. worker who spent two years and liabilities for each other,” a commitment to meeting all the coming years — already teams, who will play a total of “We in the Ministry and above in his company said Al Obaidli. `P2 regulatory conditions for evident from the mega-projects 51 matches. `P2

Trump says he’ll Qatar registers QR7bn trade surplus in October leave if Electoral

THE PENINSULA — DOHA re-exports, in October 2020 increased by 18.3 percent. at the top of the countries of In second place was “Parts College formalises reached at QR15.3bn, showing The year on year decrease destination of Qatar’s exports of Aero planes or Helicopters” Qatar’s foreign merchandise a decrease of 23.5 percent com- in total exports was mainly due with close to QR2.6bn, a share with QR300m, showing a Biden's victory trade balance, which represents pared to the same month in to lower exports of Petroleum of 16.6 percent of total exports, decrease of 20.4 percent, and WASHINGTON the difference between total 2019. On monthly basis, Qatar’s gases and other gaseous hydro- followed by Japan with almost in third place was “Motor Cars AP — exports and imports, expanded exports in October 2020 carbons (LNG, condensates, QR2.3bn and a share of 14.8 & Other Motor Vehicles for the by nearly QR600m or 9.5 increased by 14.1 percent com- propane, butane, among others) percent, and China with about Transport of Persons” with President Donald Trump said percent at QR7bn in October pared to September 2020, pre- reaching at about QR9.7bn in QR2.3bn, a share of 14.8 QR200m, decrease of 60.3 that he will leave the White compared to the previous liminary data released by the October 2020, a decrease of 18.1 percent. percent. House if the Electoral College month (September 2020). Planning and Statistics percent, Petroleum oils & oils During October 2020, the In October 2020, the US formalises President-Elect Joe The trade surplus slipped by Authority (PSA) showed. from bituminous minerals group of “Turbojets, Turbo pro- was the leading country of Biden’s victory — even as he about QR4.6bn or 39.6 percent On other hand, the imports (crude) reaching QR2.1bn, pellers & Other Gas Turbines; origin of Qatar’s imports with insisted such a decision would when compared to the corre- of goods in October 2020 decreased by 39.6 percent, and Parts Thereof “ was at the top about QR1.2bn, a share of 14.7 be a “mistake” — as he spent sponding month previous year amounted to around QR8.3bn, decrease in the Petroleum oils of the imported group of com- percent of the imports, followed his Thanksgiving renewing (October 2019). showing a decrease of 1.0 & oils from bituminous minerals modities, with QR600m, by China with QR1bn almost, a baseless claims that “massive The total value of exports of percent over October 2019. (not crude) reaching QR500m, showing an increase of 46 share of 12.0 percent, and India fraud” and crooked officials in goods, including exports of However, on a month on month decreased by 62.4 percent. percent compared to October with QR500m, a share of 5.8 battleground states caused his goods of domestic origin and (m-o-m) basis the imports In October 2020, India was 2019. percent. election defeat. “Certainly I will. But you know that,” Trump said when asked whether he would Qatar presents successful vacate the building, allowing a peaceful transition of power model in overcoming in January. But Trump — taking questions for the first time since repercussions of COVID-19 Election Day — insisted that “a lot of things” would happen THE PENINSULA — DOHA co-operation and partnership between now and then that to mitigate the repercussions might alter the results. Undersecretary of the Ministry of the COVID-19 pandemic, “This has a long way to go,” of Commerce and Industry, H E which has disrupted various Trump said, even though he Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater, industries and businesses lost. The fact that a sitting participated in a virtual session around the world. American president even had organised by Italy’s Ministry of He said Qatar was making to address whether or not he Foreign Affairs and Interna- unremitting efforts and has would leave office after losing tional Cooperation and the taken proactive steps to deal reelection underscores the Italian Institute for Interna- with the repercussions of the extent to which Trump has tional Political Studies (ISPI) pandemic by investing in smashed one convention after under the theme ‘Restructuring innovation, technology and another over the last three Middle East and North African science to enable urgent and weeks. Economies After COVID-19’. effective measures to contain While there is no evidence The session was held within the virus and mitigate its of the kind of widespread the framework of the sixth impact. fraud Trump has been alleging, edition of the Rome MED Touching on the efforts that he and his legal team have 2020-Mediterranean Dialogues the government has undertaken nonetheless been working to Shoppers’ delight conference, which is being held to ease the repercussions of the cast doubt on the integrity of in the Italian capital from economic crisis, he said the the election and trying to Doha Festival City witnessed unusual rush on Thursday and yesterday as residents thronged the November 25 to December 4 administration was providing overturn voters’ will in an shops for the White Friday deals. The retailers that have had a tough year due to the pandemic, 2020. support to the private sector unprecedented breach of dem- PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA announced major discounts. In his address, Al Khater through a financial impetus ocratic norms. stressed the importance of package of QR75bn. `P2 SEE ALSO PAGE 12 02 HOME SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020

Kahramaa showcases expertise at GCC Power 2020 OFFICIAL NEWS

QNA — DOHA presented a working paper on ensure the sustainability of this Amir condoles with enhancing transient stability of vital sector. The conference pro- top Sudan official Qatar General Electricity and The two-day conference interconnected power system motes the culture of energy con- Water Corporation (Kahramaa) discusses all issues of using a resistive supercon- servation among consumers and PRAYER recently participated in the ducting fault current limiter. raising their awareness of the DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin TIMINGS electricity, areas of joint virtual edition of the GCC Power cooperation, and visions The two-day conference optimal use of resources, and Hamad Al Thani and Deputy Amir PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING 2020 conference, organised by discusses all issues of electricity, supporting future directions H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad GCC CIGRE, with the partici- of upgrading this sector areas of joint cooperation, and towards alternative and Al Thani sent yesterday cable of and improving its condolences to Chairman of the FAJR 04.37 am pation of 50 experts and visions of upgrading this sector renewable energy in light of specialists in this field. outputs to keep pace and improving its outputs to growing demand for electricity Transitional Sovereignty Council SUNRISE 05.59 am Head of the Evaluation and with the rapid changes keep pace with the rapid in the region. of the Republic of Sudan H E Lt DHUHR 11.21 am Electrical Services Department the world is witnessing changes the world is witnessing In view of the great impor- Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, on ASR 02.22 pm at Kahramaa, Zuhair Abdullah in this regard. tance it represents to the general the death of head of the National Al Shaiba, presented during his in this regard. The Conference is one of the population in the current era, Umma Party and former Prime Min- MAGHRIB 04.45 pm participation two working most important specialised con- many countries seek to ister Sadiq Al Mahdi. Prime Minister ISHA 06.15 pm papers on the Corporation’s ferences in the region. It serves encourage innovations and dis- and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh experience on the partial dis- prominent challenges and solu- as a forum for specialists and coveries to ensure the sustain- Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al charge v/s noise in online GIS tions in these two fields. workers in this field, and con- ability of electric energy at the Thani also sent a cable of con- Partial Discharge Monitoring Meanwhile, Control Systems tributes to the exchange and lowest costs. Qatar is among dolences to Prime Minister of the Systems, and on site repair of Engineer at Kahramaa transfer of engineering and those countries that have wit- sisterly Republic of Sudan H E Dr. large transformers, and the most Mohammed Saleh Al Ashqar technical expertise required to nessed rapid leaps in this regard. Abdalla Hamdok, on the death of head of the National Umma Party and former Prime Minister Sadiq Qatar presents successful model in Al Mahdi. -QNA WEATHER TODAY overcoming repercussions of COVID-19 FROM PAGE 1 184 new virus high-quality infrastructure to consolidate its position as a regional and global trade cases, 172 Al Khater added that Qatar has pre- and investment hub. sented a successful model in overcoming He added that Qatar offers investors recoveries: MoPH the repercussions of the coronavirus access to logistic parks and free zones in 22oC 28oC through a major monetary stimulus deal strategic locations that are in close prox- THE PENINSULA — DOHA Minimum Maximum and other successful measures. imity to Hamad International Airport and The trade balance, he noted, also con- Hamad Port as well as a high-speed road The Ministry of Public Health Moderate temperature daytime tinued to achieve positive surpluses and network designed in line with the highest (MoPH) yesterday with some clouds and chance of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce scattered rain at places at times. Qatar’s exports began to rise as of May international standards. announced the registration 2020 due to the gradual lifting of restric- Qatar’s Free Zones allow investors and Industry, H E Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater of 184 new confirmed cases W ALRUWAIS : 22o → 25o tions and the resumption of commercial 100% foreign ownership and offer tax of COVID-19. Of these, 150 W ALKHOR : 21o → 27o activity, reflecting the effectiveness of the exemptions and partnership opportunities investment of non-Qatari capital in eco- are from community cases measures and economic stimulus taken with Qatari entities, he said, noting that nomic activity, allowing 100% foreign own- and 34 from travellers W DUKHAN : 20o → 28o by the state. investors have also access to a skilled ership in various sectors. returning from abroad. WAKRAH 17o → 27o W : The Undersecretary noted that the Min- workforce, investment funds and quality The session touched on several topics, Also, 172 people have W MESAIEED : 17o → 27o istry of Commerce and Industry, in turn, infrastructure. including the challenges facing Middle East recovered from the virus W ABUSAMRA : 18o → 28o supported the state’s efforts to weather the Touching on the laws and legislations and North Africa region countries as a result bringing the total number of Coronavirus crisis and adopted a flexible that Qatar enacted to attract and of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the cases recovered in Qatar to and integrated strategy aimed at protecting encourage investments, the Undersec- measures adopted across the area to mit- 135,370. All new cases have HIGH TIDE the private sector and providing companies retary said Qatar took important steps igate the negative repercussions of the pan- been introduced to isolation 04:01 – 13:15 with the necessary support to adapt to the forward in this direction including the demic and their impact on economic and are receiving necessary LOW TIDE 08:19 – 21:27 current circumstances after the gradual issuance of a Private Public Partnership activity. healthcare according to their lifting of restrictions. law that expands the country’s investment Discussions also focused on recovery health status. He indicated that the local private horizons. The law also provides a legis- efforts through the potential restructuring The Ministry further said sector has played a major role in over- lative framework for improving gov- of regional economies and the adoption of that measures to tackle coming the repercussions of the pandemic ernance and risk management and pro- a comprehensive reform agenda that would COVID-19 in Qatar have suc- and seized the opportunity that the crisis moting competition and innovation to address basic structural issues and promote ceeded in flattening the QFA hands over offered, especially in the trade and bolster Qatar’s dynamic business envi- a more sustainable and inclusive growth curve and limiting the spread industry sectors, to develop its storage, ronment, he added. model, in addition to exploring mechanisms of the virus and the number third part of the import and production capacity and to He explained that investors will have to unleash the region’s economic capacity, of new daily cases and hos- improve the quality of imported and the opportunity to finance, develop and to support youth and women and ease pital admissions is con- bid to host AFC locally manufactured goods. operate projects in a variety of priority obstacles that hinder their creative tinuing to decline each week. In this context, Qatar has maintained sectors including food security, sports, potential. Qatar’s proactive and Asian Cup 2027 its commitment to the multilateral trading tourism, health, education and logistics. The Rome Med 2020 Conference is an extensive testing of sus- FROM PAGE 1 system and strengthened international In this context, the PPP law will deliver a annual high-level initiative aimed at pected cases has enabled the cooperation frameworks to ensure the con- major boost to Qatar’s business envi- rethinking traditional approaches to the Ministry to identify a high This (24 Team) tour- tinuity of trade as the engine for economic ronment as preparations continue to host Middle East region, analysing current chal- number of positive cases in nament, Qatar appreciates, will recovery, he said, noting that Qatar has the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the devel- lenges and drafting a new “positive agenda” the community. require the preparation of 8 to stepped up efforts to enhance its advanced opment of new projects, he said. to bolster economic cooperation, overcome 10 stadiums to international logistical networks and to capitalize on its Qatar also issued a law regulating the regional rivalries and address conflicts. specifications, providing the best possible facilities for players, fans and partners QatarDebate Center organises 2nd cohort of adjudicators academy alike, in line with the values and global stature of the AFC Asian Cup 2027. THE PENINSULA — DOHA it deals with in-depth issues of view of the debate as well as in this field to delve into the The QFA submitted the first adjudication skills. link between the parts of the concepts of advanced debate part of its bid file on 26th QatarDebate Center - a member This academy was previ- debate and what’s beyond from adjudication, in addition to the August, followed by delivery of the Qatar Foundation for ously organized in the State of philosophy and definitions. reaching eligibility to activate of the second part, including Education, Science and Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman The workshop was pre- the basic criteria that are the legal requirements on 29th Community Development - and Malaysia, and it is usually sented by the Center’s trainers, related to the degrees. October. The file incorporates locally organized adjudicators held before international Muhammad Salman Ali and He praised the interaction all aspects of hosting the tour- academy for professionals - the tournaments. Thaer Farhat, who explained between the judges, and the nament and emphasises second version - during the Through organizing these that adjudicators academy depth of content and the expe- Assistant Undersecretary for Qatar’s proven ability to stage period from November 15 - 17, workshops, QatarDebate Center sheds light on complicated sit- rience in running the workshop Labour Affairs, Mohammed top sporting events. 2020 at QatarDebate Center’s seeks to increase the number uations that arise during tour- through experienced trainers. headquarters in Education City. of veteran adjudicators in the nament adjudication which are “In general, the workshop Hassan Al Obaidli The academy is considered field of international adjudi- identified in form of observa- strengthened our experience an opportunity for real adjudication and to educate them tions and inquiries. through the exchange of expe- Resignation copy 112 booked for cation, as it sheds light on ways about the debate philosophy Maher Mansour — a teacher riences after each debate and to deal with exceptional cases through the roles of the at the Arab International the relevant discussions that required for job not wearing during debate rounds. It is the speakers and the tasks of the Academy — said that adjudi- increased the cognitive level of first workshop to be held on the team in a professional manner cation academy was an oppor- the participants,” Mansour change request masks in Qatar ground since March 2020, and that enables them to have a full tunity for a number of experts added. FROM PAGE 1 THE PENINSULA — DOHA He said that if a worker vio- The Ministry of Interior Qatar Museums to restore Richard lated the clauses of job contract (MoI) yesterday referred 112 or provisions of labor law and people to the Public Pros- left the country cannot return to ecution for not wearing face Serra’s installation in Zekreet Qatar for a year. masks, which is mandatory He said that the Ministry of as part of COVID-19 THE PENINSULA — DOHA September, aims to protect throughout the year to Administrative Development, precautionary measures. and preserve installations activate urban areas and Labor and Social Affairs is very “It is in the implemen- As part of its anti-vandalism across the country, encour- take art beyond the four cooperative with small and tation of the cabinet decision campaign to protect Qatar’s aging the wider community walls of museum. medium enterprises (SMEs). and Law No. 17 of 1990 public art and ensure it is to share in the responsibility “As we are currently “During coming times, the coor- regarding infectious dis- cherished and looked after, to take ownership of restoring Richard Serra’s dination will be more through eases, and the preventive Qatar Museums is currently #OurPublicArt. breathtaking installation Qatar Development Bank which and precautionary measures undertaking a clean-up As part of the campaign, after it was vandalised, we takes care of these projects.” in place to limit the spread operation to restore Richard the museum has installed implore the wider com- “In case of transfer of the of the coronavirus. The Serra’s striking East-West/ anti-vandalism signage at munity to protect Qatar’s workers from these companies authorities referred 112 West-East installation in Zekreet. The signage, public artworks. These they will be compensated with people to the Public Prose- Zekreet, which has been installed in collaboration pieces contribute to the new visas for hiring workers,” cution, as they did not defaced by unsightly tags with Seashore Group, serves country’s thriving landscape he added. comply with wearing masks and graffiti. to educate the community on and should not in any way Speaking about resuming in places,” the Ministry said. A specialised team will what constitutes vandalism be vandalised.” the process of issuing approval Ten individuals were remove all markings that of public art: drawing, Qatar Museums is com- for labour recruitment, Al reported for violating have been made to Serra’s marking, spray painting, mitted to nurturing a Obaidli said: “The service was maximum number of breathtaking sculpture, scratching, or any other act thriving public art scene suspended due to COVID-19 people in a vehicle, which located in the Brouq nature that damages or defaces an through #OurPublicArt that which had shut down the air- is specified as four reserve. The sculpture spans installation. reflects the artistic ports all over the world. With including the driver, except over a kilometre and com- Commenting on the anti- expression of the wider gradual lifting of coronvirus for the members of the prises four steel plates, each vandalism campaign, QM’s community. The museum is restrictions on travel, the Min- same family. Till now 1,879 over fourteen metres in Acting Director of Public Art currently running the istry decided to resume the people have been referred height, standing in stark Department, Architect. Jedariart public art initiative, service due to need of to the Public Prosecution contrast to the topography Abdulrahman Al Ishaq said: a month-long programme, oversees workers for ongoing for not wearing masks and of the land and the desolate “Public art is a national asset in which 17 locally-based projects.” 113 people for not following space in the heart of the intended to be enjoyed and artists will add meaning to Regarding future plan to the limit of people inside a desert. preserved by us all. Qatar the city’s walls through Restoration of Richard Serra’s East-West/ hire workers, he said that the vehicle. Museums spearheads a curated murals and street Ministry targeted skilled and The anti-vandalism West-East installation in progress in Zekreet. campaign, launched in number of initiatives art. specialised workforce. SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 HOME 03 18 Qatar-based artists to feature in Al Markhiya Gallery exhibition RAYNALD C RIVERA be on display at the show are Its gallery at Katara Art featuring works by Haitam Al Mubarak Al Thani, “Heroes of THE PENINSULA Aisha Al Fadhala, Alanoud bent Announcing the Center, on the other hand, Hamad, Salem Mathkour, Wadha the Experiment” by Palestinian Khalid, Almaha Nasser, Ameera upcoming exhibition via recently featured “Process Part Al Sulaiti, and Jameela Al Ansari. artist Hayyan Monawar and Eighteen Qatar-based artists will Al Aji, Amira Natsheh, Ammar 1” — a group show showcasing During the pandemic, the “Quarantine Diaries” by Qatari be featured at an exhibition to be Alqamash, Anfal Al Kandari, social media, Al the process of creating art pieces gallery has presented a series of artist Sara Al Buainain. presented by Al Markhiya Gallery Azzam Al Mannai, Bachir Markhiya said the by five inspiring artists, including virtual exhibitions that have Doha’s oldest privately simply dubbed “18” marking Mohamad, Fatima Mohammed, exhibition to be hosted Tunisian street artist Vajo, Qatari brought the joy of art appreci- owned art gallery, Al Markhiya Qatar’s National Day, which falls Ibrahim Al Baker, Khalifa Al at its gallery at the Fire cartoonist and animation artist ation to art enthusiasts and col- Gallery promotes exhibits and on December 18. Thani, Maetha Alkhayarin, Manar Station opens to the Abdulaziz Yousef, award- lectors without visiting the gal- sells Qatari and Arab contem- Announcing the upcoming Al Muftah, Mohammed Al winning Syrian artist and leries. Among these exhibitions porary art. Doha’s oldest pri- exhibition via social media, Al Hamadi, Mubarak Al Malik, Noor public on December 3. designer Bachir Mohamad, and are “Out of Focus” by Sudanese vately owned art gallery, it is Markhiya said the exhibition to Al Thani, and Sumam Azzam. multidisciplinary Qatari artists visual artist Rashid Diab, known for its flagship event ‘40 be hosted at its gallery at the Fire Prior to this exhibition, Al and designers Maryam Al Semaitt “Reformat” featuring works by Minus’, which is an annual exhi- Station opens to the public on Markhiya’s Fire Station gallery featuring 29 of his ‘pillow’ metal and Nawar Al Mutlaq. The gallery Algerian artist Hamza Bounoua, bition that seeks to promote December 3. presented a solo exhibition of sculptures with themes such as is preparing to unveil the second “Social Distancing” which dis- emerging artists under the age The artists whose works will Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani, war, displacement and memory. part of this exhibition tomorrow played works by Qatari artist of 40. HMC to host free weight loss webinar series THE PENINSULA — DOHA cancers. The aim of the series is people have been staying at to give the wider community an home — this means less physical Obesity experts from Hamad opportunity to start building a activity and a greater chance of Medical Corporation (HMC) will healthier life by providing them overeating. It also means higher host a series of four live with the knowledge and skills levels of anxiety — many people webinars in Arabic designed to they need to succeed. These are overeat when they are worried help people lose weight and live evidence-based strategies,” or feel disconnected from healthy lifestyles. added Professor Abou-Samra. others,” Professor Taheri said. The first one-hour session of Professor Abou-Samra said “Through the Tawazon the Tawazon program will go the timing of the new program program, we want to give live today at 4pm and will be is important as we continue to essential information in an Dr. Zachariah Nazar hosted through Microsoft teams. battle COVID-19. approachable format and Each of the sessions will have a “While the vast majority of proven strategies to build a com- different focus on what is Professor Abdul-Badi people who contract COVID-19 munity and to enable people to QU academic obesity, the importance of life- Professor Shahrad Taheri Abou-Samra have mild or no symptoms, there share this journey to health. To style changes, what is mindful is evidence to suggest that get the maximum benefit from eating and making smart choices include special appearances by Qatar Metabolic Institute and people who are obese are at a the webinars, it is best to attend discusses every day. a number of experts from the Chief Quality Officer at HMC, greater risk from complications all of them from the beginning. The webinars were National Obesity Treatment Professor Abdul-Badi of the virus,” he said. Come and join us to move importance of developed by HMC obesity Center (part of Qatar Metabolic Abou-Samra. Professor Taheri said that towards a healthier future expert Senior Consultant at Institute at HMC), including phy- “People who have obesity, many people want to lose weight together,” added Professor flu vaccine HMC, and a Professor at Weill sicians, dietitians, and nurses. compared to those with a and lead a healthier lifestyle but Taheri. Cornell Medicine-Qatar “The webinars are based on normal or healthy weight, are at do not know where to start and To register for the Tawazon THE PENINSULA — DOHA (WCM-Q), Professor Shahrad extensive clinical experience and increased risk for several serious many also need psychological program, visit https://hamad. Taheri. Each webinar will be research in weight man- diseases, including diabetes, support for their journey. wufoo.com/forms/ Qatar University’s Assistant conducted in Arabic and will agement,” said Director of the heart disease, and certain “Over the past few months q1o4jkgo0k3f4yq/ Professor at the College Pharmacy, Dr. Zachariah Nazar, highlighted the importance of the flu vaccine because the flu Qatar University organises CheMET conference season coincides with another rise in global coronavirus cases. Medical experts encourage THE PENINSULA — DOHA seminar follows an initial visit of towards the development of syn- members across several disci- much beneficial for young people to receive the flu vaccine the Executive Editor-in-Chief of thesis techniques of materials and plines. The conference includes researchers across the globe. The early to help ensure hospital Qatar University (QU) hosted an CHAF, Prof Mohamed Mehdi developments of Smart Materials speakers from several countries: response to poster presentations beds are kept free for COVID-19 e-conference on ‘Chemicals & Chehimi, to QU in January 2019. for Emerging Technologies. Qatar, Malaysia, Portugal, was very promising. Emergent patients. Further, recent Materials for Emerging Technol- Discussions with Prof Mariam Al Though nanotechnology took Morocco, Spain, India, the USA, Materials has a strong editorial research has revealed that ogies’ (CheMET), organised by a Maadeed, QU Vice-President for decades in its establishment, Italy, China, and Russia. board, and all of you are doing an people at higher risk from collaborative effort between the Research and Postgraduate smart nanotechnology is an Webinar organiser Dr. Kishor excellent job in promoting the COVID-19 are also at greater editorial boards of ‘Emergent Studies, who launched the EMMA emerging area with a broader from QU, Center of Advanced journal.” risk of complications from the Materials’ (EMMA), a journal journal in 2018, and Executive scope. Highly renowned scientists Materials (CAM) said: “I am happy Co-Chairman, Prof Mohamed flu. published by the Center for Editor-in-Chief of CHAF made present their findings on this and privileged to announce the M. Chehimi, Executive EiC of Dr. Nazar said, “There is a Advanced Materials in QU, and this conference possible. QU platform during the keynote success of this scientific meeting. CHAF (CNRS, France), said: “This lot of inaccurate information ‘Chemistry Africa’ - A Journal of organised this online seminar in speeches and the various sessions Big thanks to all attendees, pan- is a very, scientifically and tech- regarding the flu vaccine, and the Tunisian Chemical Society close collaboration with the of the e-conference. Best poster ellists, editors, and speakers. It’s nically, successful e-conference therefore it is important for (CHAF). Tunisian Chemical Society to prize awardees will be invited to all because of your kind support of interest to chemists, physicists patients to share their concerns EMMA and CHAF are two promote both journals and shed publish papers in EMMA and that we could finalise this con- and materials scientists working with trained health profes- sister journals published by light on the latest research topics. CHAF; they will have a footnote ference. Emergent materials are together at an outstanding level sionals, who are best placed to Springer as part of its Middle-East This conference’s main referring to CheMET 2020. scientifically advancing to achieve for tomorrow’s technologies that provide the correct advice. and North Africa (Mena) program. purpose is to bring together acad- The e-conference pledges to good scientific recognition, and will benefit everyone. I am very When individuals are vacci- These journals complement each emicians, industrialists, encourage and provide the perfect we expect the same support and pleased that we made CheMET a nated against the flu, their fam- other well in terms of scope and researchers, and students into a platform for generating opportu- help from all of you to promote successful event in terms of ilies and communities are also topics covered. common platform to exchange nities towards future collabo- the journal. numerous attendees from the better protected. The idea for organising this their ideas and interact with peers ration among its participating “We hope this webinar was five continents.” “When large numbers of people within a community are vaccinated, we see that the like- lihood of the virus spreading Loyola International School and infecting the most vul- nerable patients is less. During celebrates Children’s Day this pandemic, it is difficult to predict how individuals will THE PENINSULA — DOHA in spontaneously. react if they get sick, and Students of the primary therefore being vaccinated is the The students of Loyola Interna- school dressed up as Pandit best prevention strategy,” he tional School celebrated Chil- Nehru and spoke eloquently added. dren’s Day Week in a unique about him. Inspirational posters The vaccine is available for manner this year by participating and creative collages highlighting free at the Primary Health Care in a blend of online and Nehru’s contribution were crea- Corporation clinics, HMC out- on-campus activities during their tively designed by the students. patient clinics (for patients school hours. Fun quizzes were organised for attending clinic appointments), India celebrates Children’s the middle school students and designated private and Day each year on November 14 wherein students were semi-private clinics and hos- to commemorate the birth anni- encouraged to think ‘out of the pitals across Qatar. Over versary of its first Prime Minister box’ and solve the puzzles 500,000 people will be vacci- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. creatively. nated this season in the cam- Online activities included a The Children’s Day Activity paign that will run until March Virtual Treasure Hunt for the Week was yet another 2021. Kindergarten students. The exhil- endeavour of the school to People can call 107 to book aration was palpable as young assimilate learning with joyful an appointment to receive the learners energetically moved co-curricular activities thus pro- flu vaccine. Additionally, the from one place to another to viding holistic learning experi- Students of Loyola International School during Children’s Day celebrations. Ministry of Public Health has reach their treasures. There was ences for students to hone their launched a Seasonal Influenza a display of tremendous coordi- skills and emerge as confident Campaign Website to find more nation among the family learners. The activity week was Activity Coordinators Nisha Paul. Principal Prasad PKV and commended the students for information, including where members too as parents joined planned and implemented by Senthil and Susanna Vice-Principal Mou Bera their participation and effort. you can receive the vaccine. WCM-Q produces WHO report on path for eliminating hepatitis C in region

THE PENINSULA — DOHA (WHO-EMRO) and WCM-Q’s Research Program grant. the 5th leading cause of death in needed to control this epidemic,” national response and to justify Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hepatitis C is a blood-borne this part of the world. The report said senior epidemiologist at the establishment of programs Researchers at Weill Cornell Group (IDEG), which was recently pathogen and one of the leading provides comprehensive WCM-Q and lead author of the and allocation of resources for Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), in designated as a WHO Collabo- causes of liver diseases and liver mapping for hepatitis C infection report, Hiam Chemaitelly. hepatitis C elimination, now that partnership with the World rating Centre for disease epide- cancer. The virus is mostly trans- spread across all 22 countries “Programs focused on testing highly effective treatments for this Health Organization (WHO), have miology analytics on HIV/AIDS, mitted through sharing of comprising the region as well as and treating the general popu- infection have become available produced a comprehensive sexually transmitted Infections, unsterile needles and syringes, a roadmap and priority actions lation are unlikely to be cost- and at affordable prices.” report on the hepatitis C virus and viral hepatitis. use of contaminated medical for the achievement of national, effective as infection levels are The regional adviser for HIV, epidemic in the Eastern Mediter- The report is one of the first equipment, and transfusion of regional, and global targets for low in the wider population in hepatitis and sexually transmitted ranean region, offering guidance outcomes of the WHO Collab- infected blood. It is only in the last the elimination of hepatitis C most countries in the eastern infections at the WHO’s Eastern on how to eliminate the disease orating Centre and synthesizes few years that novel treatment infection as a public health threat Mediterranean region and most Mediterranean region office, by the WHO’s 2030 target date. the findings of a series of scien- regimens have permitted cure by 2030. often in the range of about 1%.” Joumana Hermez, said: “We are The WHO report, entitled tific studies on viral hepatitis in from this infection, thus reducing “By comprehensively Principal investigator of this at a very important juncture ‘Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus the Eastern Mediterranean the toll of liver complications mapping the spread of the project and professor of popu- today where we have the tools to in the WHO Eastern Mediter- region that were conducted such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, infection across populations and lation health sciences at WCM-Q, fully eliminate this infection in ranean Region: Implications for over a decade by IDEG. These and cancer in infected persons. countries, we identified the pri- Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad said, “We our region. The report provides strategic action’, is the product of studies were funded by Qatar In the Eastern Mediterranean ority populations for scaling up aimed through this work to strategic epidemiologic evidence close collaboration between the National Research Fund, a region, hepatitis C accounts for coverage of hepatitis C testing provide countries in the region to accomplish this through cost- WHO Regional Office for the member of Qatar Foundation, about two thirds of morbidity and and treatment services and the with the foundation necessary to effective programs for testing and Eastern Mediterranean through the National Priorities mortality due to viral hepatitis, kind of interventions that are develop an evidence-informed treatment.” 04 MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 Iran nuclear scientist assassinated near Tehran Israel declined to immediately comment on the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once called out in a news conference saying: “Remember that name.” Israel has long been suspected of carrying out a series of targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists nearly a decade ago.

AP & REUTERS — DUBAI Those wounded, including Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s bodyguards, Fakhrizadeh. RIGHT: The damaged An Iranian scientist that Israel were later taken to a local hos- alleged led the Islamic Repub- pital, the agency said. car of Mohsen after it was attacked lic’s military nuclear program The military adviser to near the capital Tehran, yesterday. until its disbanding in the early Iranian Supreme Leader Ayat- 2000s was “assassinated” ollah Ali Khamenei vowed to armed forces said in a statement yesterday, state television said. strike against the killers of carried by state media. Israel declined to immedi- Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who died Semi-official news agency the attack, it is certain to leaves office on January 20, has questions about Iran’s nuclear ately comment on the killing of of injuries in hospital after Tasnim said “terrorists blew up escalate tension between Iran repeatedly accused Iran of programme. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who armed assassins fired on his car, another car” before firing on a and the United States in the final secretly seeking nuclear The IAEA’s report said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin state media reported. vehicle carrying Fakhrizadeh weeks of Trump’s US weapons. Trump pulled the he oversaw activities “in Netanyahu once called out in a “We will strike as thunder and his bodyguards in an presidency. United States out of a deal under support of a possible military news conference saying: at the killers of this oppressed ambush outside the capital. Trump, who lost his re- which santions on Iran were dimension to (Iran’s) nuclear “Remember that name.” Israel martyr and will make them Whoever is responsible for election bid on November 3 and lifted in return for curbs on its programme” within the so- has long been suspected of car- regret their action,” tweeted nuclear programme. President- called AMAD Plan. rying out a series of targeted Hossein Dehghan, also a mil- elect Joe Biden has said he Yesterday, before the news killings of Iranian nuclear sci- itary commander. Iran FM: Israel likely to be involved would restore it. of the attack on Fakhrizadeh entists nearly a decade ago. Fakhrizadeh has long been A US official confirmed emerged, an Israeli official said State TV cited sources con- described by Western countries REUTERS — DUBAI earlier this month that Trump Israel was discussing with and firming the death. It said it as a leader of a covert atomic had sought from military aides Arab states how to tackle Iran. would offer more information bomb programme halted in a plan for a possible strike on “The story is not Trump, nor shortly. 2003, which Israel and the Iran’s foreign minister said Iran’s arch-enemy Israel was likely Iran, but had decided against it even Israel. The story is Iran — The semiofficial Fars news United States accuse Tehran of to have been involved in the killing of prominent Iranian nuclear at that time. Fakhrizadeh is the growing dread that a new agency, believed to be close to trying to restore in secret. Iran scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, although he offered no evidence. thought to have headed what US administration will go back the country’s Revolutionary has long denied seeking to “This cowardice — with serious indications of Israeli role the UN nuclear watchdog and to the nuclear deal which Guard, said the attack happened weaponise nuclear energy. —shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators,” Mohammad US intelligence services believe threatens the very existence of in Absard, a small city just east “Unfortunately, the medical Javad Zarif tweeted. “Iran calls on international community— was a coordinated nuclear the Gulf countries,” Tzachi of the capital, Tehran. It said team did not succeed in reviving and especially EU — to end their shameful double standards & weapons programme in Iran, Hanegbi, who sits in Netan- witnesses heard the sound of (Fakhrizadeh), and a few condemn this act of state terror.” shelved in 2003. yahu’s security cabinet, told Tel an explosion and then machine minutes ago, this manager and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was not He was the only Iranian sci- Aviv radio station 102 FM. “We gun fire. The attack targeted a scientist achieved the high commenting on reports of the attack, an official from Netan- entist named in the Interna- will know how to handle the car that Fakhrizadeh was in, the status of martyrdom after years yahu’s office said. The Pentagon also declined to comment. tional Atomic Energy Agency’s issue of the Iranian threat, even agency said. of effort and struggle,” Iran’s 2015 “final assessment” of open if through our own means.”

Magnitude 4.7 Coalition bombs Houthi quake hits eastern sites after Aramco attack Turkey, no report of damage AFP — SANA'A city of Jeddah with a Quds-2 missile, in retaliation for Riy- AP — ANKARA The Saudi-led military coalition adh’s role at the head of a mil- in Yemen bombed rebel camps itary coalition that supports the An earthquake with a 4.7 including in the capital Sanaa government in Yemen’s long magnitude shook Malatya yesterday, witnesses said, days conflict. province in eastern Turkey after the Houthis attacked an Saudi Aramco said the strike yesterday, sending people oil facility in Saudi Arabia. tore a hole in an oil tank, trig- pouring out into the streets in Several coalition air strikes gering an explosion and fire. fear. There was however, no targeted Houthi military camps The Houthi rebels, who immediate report of any in Sana'a, as well as the city of control Sana'a and much of the damage or casualties. Amran north of the capital, and north, have been fighting the The quake, which was cen- the western port region of government since 2014, and the tered in the town of Puturge, Hodeida, the sources said. Saudi-led military coalition struck at 11:27 a.m. (0827 GMT), No casualties were imme- intervened in the conflict the Turkey’s Disaster and Emer- diately confirmed. following year. gency Management Direc- “We woke up today to raids A Houthi official denounced torate said. It was felt in several and the sound of large explo- Friday’s raids. “They want to neighboring provinces. sions that frightened the whole scare us with their air strikes, Smoke billows from the sites of Saudi-led air strikes in Sana'a, Yemen, yesterday. Malatya’s Gov. Aydin Barus neighbourhood,” Abdelkarim but we say to them that their told the state-run Anadolu Al Qudsi, a 41-year-old who raids will only increase our Agency that his office had not lives in Al Hafa, in the capital’s strength,” the official said, the start of last year, including a That strike was claimed by civilians, have been killed and received any “negative east, said. requesting anonymity. devastating strike on Aramco’s the Houthis, but the United millions displaced in what the reports” concerning possible The Iran-backed Houthi Saudi Arabia has been tar- facilities in the country’s east States said it involved cruise United Nations has called the damage or injuries. rebels said on Monday that they geted with dozens of ballistic which temporarily knocked out missiles from Iran. Tens of world’s worst humanitarian Several people rushed out struck an oil facility in the Saudi missile and drone attacks since half the kingdom’s crude output. thousands of Yemenis, mostly disaster. of their homes or workplaces in fear that buildings might topple, the agency reported. Turkey sits on top of major Iran shuts government offices, fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. The country was hit tightening virus restrictions by two strong tremors this year - one that hit the western port city of Izmir last month, killing AP — TEHRAN shops, malls, and restaurants, and are 114 people and one that struck set to last two weeks. Elazig province, which Iran yesterday announced that all Iran’s government had recently neighbors Malatya, killing 41 government offices will effectively close resisted shutting down the country in people. At least 17,000 people and operate with only essential staff, an attempt to salvage an economy cra- died in a powerful earthquake further tightening coronavirus tered by unprecedented American in northwest Turkey in 1999. measures as the country struggles to sanctions, which effectively bar Iran contain its most widespread wave of from selling its oil internationally. The Tehran confirms infection yet. Trump administration reimposed sanc- Starting today— the first day of tions in 2018 after withdrawing from Thailand freed 3 Iran’s workweek — state TV said “only Tehran’s nuclear deal with world those employees who need to be powers. Earlier this month, authorities Iranians swapped present will be at work” in government ordered a month-long nightly curfew offices. Managers will make the call on for businesses in Tehran and 30 other for academic who must still come to work. major cities and towns, asking nones- The report did not specify how long sential shops to keep their workers BLOOMBERG — TEHRAN the closures would last, but asked Ira- home. Still, enforcement in the nians to postpone any planned visits to sprawling metropolis remains a A top official in Tehran government offices. challenge. confirmed that three Iranians Infections have soared in recent Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Ministry of exchanged this week for jailed months, and yesterday, Iran again set Health announced that it reported 329 Australian academic Kylie a record for new virus cases in a single new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) Moore-Gilbert had been held day with 14,051 cases, bringing the total in the past 24 hours, bringing the total in Thailand, the official Irna to 922,397. of confirmed cases in the country to reported yesterday. Iran has also recorded more than 141,876, QNA reported. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s 400 daily virus deaths since last Sat- In a statement, the ministry’s deputy foreign minister, also urday, the same day new tightened spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al Sanad said said that the Islamic Republic restrictions went into effect. Health that during the same period, two deaths was open to further prisoner Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari have been recorded, bringing the total swaps. “In all countries, after said the death toll yesterday reached number of deaths in Kuwait to 874 the judicial process is complete 47,095, after 406 people died since cases so far. Al Sanad added that the and the person has been sen- Thursday. patients in intensive care units have tenced to prison, it is possible Since Saturday, some government reached 81, bringing the total of con- to exchange them on the basis offices and organizations had closed or firmed cases that are still receiving the of national interests,” he said. began working with less than 30% of necessary treatment to 5699 cases. Iran is holding several their employees, while banks, post The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health foreign citizens, including dual- offices, communications and other util- announced earlier the recovery of 553 national Iranians, on national ities worked with half their staff. people over the past 24 hours, bringing security charges, triggering crit- Those new lockdown measures also the total number of recoveries to icism that it’s using them to gain included shuttering most businesses, 135,303. political leverage. SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 05

Morocco upholds Four dead as rival jail terms for 23 Sahrawis over protesters clash 2010 killings in southern Iraq AFP — RABAT Morocco’s top court has upheld AFP — NASIRIYAH, IRAQ The violence erupted jail sentences ranging up to life as tens of thousands for 23 Sahrawis over the Four people were shot dead and killings of 11 security personnel dozens wounded in Iraq’s south of Sadr supporters a decade ago, a defence lawyer yesterday, medics said, in hit the streets of said. clashes between anti- Baghdad and the Morocco and the rebel government protesters and Polisario Front, which seeks supporters of firebrand Shiite southern city of independence for the disputed cleric Muqtada Sadr. Nasiriyah in a show of Western Sahara territory, have The violence erupted as tens force as preparations accused each other of provoking of thousands of Sadr supporters deadly clashes between police hit the streets of Baghdad and ramp up for June and Sahrawi protesters at a the southern city of Nasiriyah parliamentary camp for displaced people in in a show of force as prepara- elections. Gdeim Izik in November 2010. tions ramp up for June parlia- “The Court of Cassation on mentary elections. Wednesday dismissed all the Their turnout over- Khayyat, a leader of the anti- Supporters of Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr perform the Friday prayer in Tahrir Square in Baghdad. appeals” of the 23 defendants, shadowed the rival youth-dom- government movement. Tens of thousands of supporters of Sadr gathered in the capital in a show of political power, as the Mohamed Fadel Leili said. inated movement that had “Sadrists armed with guns legislative elections are scheduled for next June. “This is the final decision.” erupted in October 2019 but and pistols came to try to clear The appeals court’s had petered out in recent our tents. We fear that more the bloodiest incidents of the under a new electoral law said he expected major wins in decision comes amid months due to geopolitical ten- violence could take place,” uprising nearly one year ago on agreed by parliament that will the new elections and would heightened tensions in the ter- sions and the novel coronavirus Khayyat said. Medical sources November 28, when more than see district sizes reduced and push for the next prime min- ritory, where the two sides pandemic. said that nearly 50 people had three dozen died in protest- votes for individual candidates ister to be a member of his have traded regular fire since Prime Minister Mustafa Al been wounded, nine of whom related violence. replacing list-based ballots. movement for the first time.He a three-decade UN-backed Kadhemi has called for early had suffered bullet wounds. The deaths sparked outrage Most observers expect a also called for a protest on Friday, ceasefire broke down this polls to take place in June 2021 “The security forces clearly across Iraq, including by the delay of at least a few months prompting tens of thousands to month. The 23 defendants were — nearly a year ahead of failed to prevent armed gangs country’s top Shia authority while political parties prepare turn out in Baghdad, and in other found guilty in 2013 by a military schedule — to fulfil a key from storming Habboubi Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, and their campaigns, but experts say Iraqi cities including Al Hillah and court which sentenced them to demand of last year’s protest Square,” wrote Asaad Al Naseri, prompted the resignation of the new system is likely to Basra in the south. jail terms ranging from 20 years movement, which also included an ex-Sadrist based Nasiriyah. then prime minister Adel Abdel benefit Sadr and his candidates. Despite the novel corona- to life, and in July the Court of Sadrists. Yesterday, followers Nasiriyah was a major hub Mahdi. Kadhemi’s plan to hold Sadrists had already won big in virus pandemic, they gathered Cassation ordered a civilian of the cleric attacked a tent for the anti-government protest early elections is seen as an the May 2018 vote with 54 of shoulder-to-shoulder for noon court to examine the case. camp of anti-government pro- movement that erupted in effort to reach out to parliament’s 329 seats, granting prayers in Baghdad’s Tahrir Human Rights Watch said testers in Nasiriyah’s Habboubi October 2019. protesters. him the biggest single bloc. Square, spilling out into the sur- on November 8 that the trials Square, said Mohammad Al It was also the site of one of The polls will take place In a tweet this week, Sadr rounding streets. had been marred by allegations of torture and that the verdicts “heavily leaned on confessions that the Ethiopia leader rebuffs African Union bid to end conflict defendants have challenged” — accusations immediately BLOOMBERG — ADDIS ABABA progressively sidelined since Abiy attack Mekelle, the Tigrayan rejected by Moroccan author- took office in 2018. The army capital, after a deadline for the ities. Four of the defendants Efforts by African Union envoys began an incursion into Tigray regional forces to surrender have completed their sen- to quell a civil conflict in three weeks ago, after Abiy expired. The United Nations and tences while the other 19 Ethiopia have foundered, with accused the TPLF of attacking a humanitarian groups have remain in detention, the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed military base to steal weapons. expressed concern that the lawyer said. eschewing negotiations with the The hostilities have trig- city’s more than 500,000 res- dissident Tigray state. gered a humanitarian crisis idents could be caught in the Six farmers killed Abiy met former presidents across Tigray, with tens of thou- crossfire of the ensuing battle. Joaquim Chissano of Mozam- sands of people displaced and Fighting is ongoing on three near besieged bique, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of food, cash and fuel shortages fronts to the north, west and Liberia and Kgalema Motlanthe now widespread, and the gov- south of Mekelle, according to Mali village of South Africa yesterday, ernment is facing mounting three foreign diplomats who’ve during which he laid all blame international pressure to dees- been briefed on the conflict and REUTERS — BAMAKO for the crisis on the leadership calate the conflict. There are no spoke on condition of ano- of the northern region’s ruling accurate figures of the number nymity because they aren’t Six rice farmers were killed Tigray People’s Liberation of people who have died in the authorized to publicly near the central Mali village of Front. He gave no indication Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed meets with African Union fighting. Abiy, who won last comment. Federal troops had Farabougou, the mayor of a that the government is contem- (AU) envoys in Addis Ababa, yesterday. year’s Nobel Peace Prize for advanced to within about 50 km nearby town said, taking the plating a cease-fire. ending a long-running conflict of the city by late on Thursday death toll to 23 since the siege Abiy “expressed the federal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Commission Chairman Moussa with Eritrea, has insisted that evening, they said. The situation of the village by suspected government’s mandated respon- “Failure to do so would nurture Faki, confirmed the meeting but the matter is an internal one in the city remains calm, militants began in October. sibility to enforce rule of law in a culture of impunity with dev- said she couldn’t comment and that the TPLF leaders must although some residents have Central Mali has emerged the region and across the astating cost to the survival of the further. The TPLF, once the pre- be bought to justice. fled to rural areas, according to over the past few years as an epi- country,” his office said in a country.” Ebba Kalondo, the dominant power in Ethiopia’s On Thursday, the prime two aid workers with centre of inter-ethnic violence, statement issued after the talks spokeswoman for AU ruling coalition, has been minister ordered his troops to knowledge of the situation. part of a wider deterioration of security across West Africa’s semi-arid Sahel region. Turkey announces The Malian army said on Hundreds of Syrians exit Lebanese town over tensions October 22 that it had regained record virus death control of the village after par- AFP — TRIPOLI incident involving one indi- A correspondent in Tripoli taking anything from our achuting in troops and air- toll for fifth day vidual is unacceptable,” a saw dozens of Syrian families homes,” he said. Tripoli is dropping supplies. But the At least 270 Syrian families UNHCR spokesperson said in a gathering outside a UNHCR among the most welcoming fighters surrounding the REUTERS — ISTANBUL have left a north Lebanon town, statement. building in the northern city. destinations in Lebanon for ref- village have not been dis- as hostility towards them Many of those who fled the A group of young men in ugees. Lebanon, which is grap- lodged, two mayors of nearby Turkey’s daily COVID-19 death mounted over a murder Christian-majority town said Bsharre “assaulted us, pling with an economic crisis, towns said. In recent weeks, toll hit a record high for a fifth allegedly committed by a Syrian they were chased out by threatened us and started a fire” says it hosts some 1.5 million militants have carried out consecutive day at 177, data national, the UN refugee agency Bsharre residents after a Syrian in the house, Umm Khaled, a Syrians, including around one attacks and burned crops. from the Health Ministry said yesterday. on Monday was accused of 31-year-old Syrian mother of million registered as refugees “The farmers who went to showed yesterday. Turkey also The United Nations High shooting dead a Lebanese res- five said. “We picked up our with the United Nations. their fields to harvest rice were recorded a new high of 29,845 Commissioner for Refugees ident, sparking widespread children and ran away to UNHCR said it received “a attacked by jihadists. Six were coronavirus infections in the condemned “collective reprisals tension and hostility. Tripoli,” located more than large number of refugees from killed, another was wounded, space of 24 hours. against Syrians in the town,” of Lebanon’s official National 40km east, she said. Bsharre” in its Tripoli reception and one is missing,” Dramane However, from July until Bsharre, saying many of the News Agency reported forced Yassin Hassan, a 30-year- centre. They were encouraged Sympara, mayor of the nearby Wednesday, Ankara had only families fled in fear without evictions of Syrians in the wake old Syrian who had lived in to find alternative housing but town of Sokolo, said. reported symptomatic cases, taking their belongings. of the murder, but Bsharre’s Bsharre for years, said he was those with nowhere to stay A spokesman for the of which there were 6,592 “Collective punishment... for mayor denied that the Syrians beaten by a group of men. were moved to shelters, a Malian army declined to yesterday. a whole community for an had left out of fear. “We ran away... without spokesperson said. comment. Thousands come out for funeral of Sudan’s former premier Al Mahdi

AP — CAIRO Council, Gen. Abdel-Fattah great-grandson of Mohammad Burhan, and Prime Minister Ahmad Al Mahdi, a religious Thousands of Sudanese came Abdalla Hamdok, waited at leader whose movement waged out yesterday in the city of Khartoum International Airport a successful war against Omdurman for the funeral of for the plane carrying Al- Egyptian-Ottoman rule in the country’s last elected prime Mahdi’s body. Sudan in the second half of the minister and prominent Dozens of military officers, 19th century. political party leader Sadiq Al with protective face masks, He studied philosophy, pol- Mahdi, who died of COVID-19. carried the casket draped with itics and economics at Oxford Al Mahdi’s body arrived the Sudanese flag and walked University. He was both a pol- earlier in the day from Abu out of the airport in a formal itician and a theologian and Dhabi in the United Arab military procession. authored several books on Emirates, where he had been Thousands, mostly men in Islamic law, democracy and flown to receive medical white robes and turbans Sudanese politics. treatment after testing positive wearing protective masks, lined Al Mahdi served as prime for coronavirus in early up outside the Al Mahdi family minister from 1986 to 1989 November. cemetery in Khartoum’s twin before being overthrown by the Al Mahdi, who was the city of Omdurman. The family military coup that brought leader of the National Ummah was to perform funeral prayers longtime dictator Omar Al Party, died on Thursday at age before placing the body into the Bashir to power. 84. Sudan has recorded more ground. Besides his supporters, He also served as prime Sudanese mourners attending the funeral procession of former prime minister and top opposition than 16,000 coronavirus cases, attendees included members of minister from 1966 to 1967. ﬁgure Sadiq Al Mahdi, in Khartoum, yesterday. including 1,215 deaths. his political party and followers Sudan’s transitional gov- Statesmen and military of the Sufi religious order he led ernment announced three days leaders, including the president for decades. of national mourning following Sudan has been ruled by a government since last year, fol- the military to overthrow Al of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Al Mahdi was the Al Mahdi’s passing. civilian-military transitional lowing the uprising that forced Bashir. 06 HOME SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020

Mall of Qatar Villaggio Mall ALDO ACCESSORIES AL MAJLIS SHOPING CENTER LG POLO CLUB Rawabi Food Center LG ANTA Midas Furniture Kiddy Zone CALVIN KLEIN Max Al Khor Mall Carter’s ALDO ATHLETES CO Al Saif A/C Muaither JEANS Saudia Hypermarket Homes R us CALVIN KLEIN Splash ATHLETES CO KIDS Al Emadi Electronics EST JEANS PAN EMIRATES New Happy Baby CHARLES & KEITH GANT BEVERLY HILLS Lifestyle CHARLES & KEITH FURNITURE DUNE Dar Al Salam Mall Babyshop POLO CLUB Saudi Mini Mart Ezdan Mall Gharafa DUNE Qatar Desgin NINE WEST Splash BIRKENSTOCK Saudia Hypermarket 1 MERCH & PARTNERS CO HUSH PUPPIES ALSAEED TRADING R&B AEROPOSTALE Shoe Mart CALL IT SPRING Saudia Hypermarket 2 Babyshop LAKELAND CENTRE ALDO Lifestyle CALVIN KLEIN SKECHERS Splash RITUALS MERCH & PARTNERS CO Saudia Hypermarket 3 ALDO ACCESSORIES Max JEANS TOMMY HILFIGER SKECHERS Asia Town Shoe Mart ATHLETES CO Nike CHARLES & KEITH Bombay silk centre LG TOMMY HILFIGER Lifestyle ATHLETES CO KIDS Vans COOL CLUB Villeroy and Boch KENZ Mini Mart Lagoona Mall Sun & Sand Lifestyle BEVERLY HILLS Sun & Sand CROCS Rivano design Saudia Department Nike Max POLO CLUB Timberland DUNE DUNE Mohamed Elshenawy Stores Kiddy Zone Sun & Sand CALL IT SPRING ALDO RITUALS HERSCHEL Group Al Saad Al Wakra CHARLES & KEITH ALDO ACCESSORIES TOMMY HILFIGER LA VIE EN ROSE Saudia Department CROCS Tash Ladies Textiles LA VIE EN ROSE ATHLETES CO LC WAIKIKI Stores ABDUL HAMID ABDUL RAHIM SKECHERS Al Nasr Street LG NATURALIZER BEVERLY HILLS LEVIS Al Amana Decor AL EMADI TRADING Co Kiddy Zone Solez Babyshop NEW YORKER POLO CLUB NATURALIZER Levante Contracting Al-Taadhod Group Gulf Mall Splash SKECHERS BIRKENSTOCK Ezdan Mall Alwakra NAUTICA and Trading Happy Baby Center Babyshop THE CHILDRENS PLACE CALL IT SPRING Homes R us HUSH PUPPIES Shoe Mart Rawabi Hypermarket LG Splash TOMMY HILFIGER CALVIN KLEIN LC WAIKIKI NEW YORKER Lifestyle Al-Taadhod Group1 RETAIL MART Shoe Mart JEANS R&B NINE WEST Max Al Najma Al-Taadhod Group2 FANTINO SHOES Lifestyle CHARLES & KEITH REEBOK SKECHERS TAMIMA Home Centre Umm Salal LG CROCS THE CHILDRENS PLACE Max SMYK TAMIMA TOMMY HILFIGER Bin Omran Happy Baby Center Palms Mall DUNE TAMIMA Landmark Home Centre LA VIE EN ROSE Kiddy Zone TOMMY HILFIGER Al Shaheen EST Al-Taadhod Group ATHLETES CO LG LC WAIKIKI Umm Ghuwailina KIDS Al-Taadhod Group GANT Rawabi Hypermarket CCC Mesaieed TOMMY JEANS LEVIS ALDO Faleh Souq CROCS ABDUL HAMID ABDUL RAHIM Al Mora LG NATURALIZER R&B CHARLES & KEITH AL EMADI TRADING Co Rawabi Hypermarket ALSAEED TRADING LC WAIKIKI NEW YORKER RITUALS Souq Waqif NEW TAIF HYPERMARKET DUNE CENTRE LEVIS R&B LG Old Airport TAMIMA HUSH PUPPIES Barwa Street REEBOK RITUALS Al Gharafa Carter’s Al Shaheen EST Souq Al Ali Passion NINE WEST R&B SKECHERS HAPPY BABY Mosaic Gallery EL CRYSTAL G2000 RITUALS Tawar Mall TAMIMA TOMMY HILFIGER Al MAJSLIS SHOPPING CENTER Al-Taadhod Group Msheireb LG GANT SKECHERS Al Markhiya ABDUL HAMID ABDUL RAHIM Nabco Furniture Center Panda Hyper Market MERCH & PARTNERS CO Villeroy and Boch SMYK TAMIMA AL EMADI TRADING Co Saving Square Trading TAMIMA Nike Ocean Import and Export Bombay Silk Centre Villeroy and Boch TAMIMA Kiddy Zone Anotah Co The north face Al Jameel Showroom Home Centre CASA MODA Under Armour Nabco Furniture Center Al Kharaitiyat FANTINO SHOES Vans LG Babyshop ANOTAH The Mall R&B ULTIMA SHOES NU Athlete GRAND Kiddy Zone ALDO NEW INDIAN Al Refaa Al Duhail Timberland HYPERMARKET BIRKENSTOCK SUPERMARKET Madinat Khalifa Souq Al Nagada ABDUL HAMID ABDUL RAHIM Colombia City Centre Al Emadi Electronics EST Old Ghanim RETAIL MART FANTINO SHOES Hyatt Plaza AL EMADI TRADING Co Louis FERAUD Al Rayan ALSAEED TRADING Villeroy and Boch The Souq Homes R us Doha Festival City Balmain ALSAEED TRADING Al Dafna pierre cardin CENTRE Babyshop Dana centre ALDO CENTRE HAZARD TRADING Under Armour Al Mansoura Splash FASHION WORLD ATHLETES CO TAMIMA Al-Taadhod Group Babyshop LG Madina Central CHARLES & KEITH Al Maamoura ALSAEED TRADING Shoe Mart LG Splash TAMIMA Kiddy Zone LC WAIKIKI CENTRE Lifestyle TAMIMA Shoe Mart Selection Interiors NATURALIZER Al Khor Max Barwa Village Wakra Porto Arabia Lifestyle Furniture FANTINO SHOES BEVERLY HILLS Babyshop Kiddy Zone Max ALSAEED TRADING Home Centre ULTIMA SHOES POLO CLUB Salwa Road Splash Home Centre CENTRE Louis FERAUD Al Shaheen EST New Industrial Area SKECHERS Shoe Mart AEROPOSTALE ALDO Rawabi Hypermarket TAMIMA BRADMA-PULSES NUTS Al-Taadhod Group Lifestyle Al Majlis SHOPPING ALDO Kiddy Zone AND CHOCOLATES Saudia Hypermarket BEVERLY HILLS Lifestyle Max CENTER SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 ASIA 07 Thai protesters practise ‘coup prevention’ at rally

AFP — BANGKOK The country has for months been rocked by youth-led Thousands of democracy protests demanding a new constitution, reform of the activists blocked a major untouchable monarchy, and for Prime Minister Prayut junction in Bangkok yesterday to rehearse “coup prevention” Chan-O-Cha to resign. Prayut, who came to power in a strategies in the latest round of 2014 coup, this week played down the prospects of Thailand’s anti-government being overthrown or introducing martial law. protests. The country has for months been rocked by youth-led protests demanding a new consti- Bangkok office worker, said the portraits of generals who had tution, reform of the last coup was disastrous for led past coups before ritually untouchable monarchy, and for Thailand and warned the burning them. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O- country shouldn’t go down that Army Chief Narongphan Cha to resign. path again. Jittkaewtae has rejected coup Prayut, who came to power “Now is a crisis time in rumours saying the chance of in a 2014 coup, this week played Bangkok and Thailand. I want another putsch was “less than Pro-democracy protesters hold up the three-ﬁnger salute during an anti-government rally in Bangkok, down the prospects of being new elections and to change the zero”. Thailand, yesterday. overthrown or introducing prime minister and for a new Political scientist Titipol martial law. government to actually listen to Phakdeewanich from Ubon Inflatable Santa Claus the people,” she said. Ratchathani University believes seen a dozen coups since it to the monarchy, a once- Next week a constitutional figures joined the bright yellow As part of what they called another coup is unlikely at became a democracy in 1932, revered institution which some court in Bangkok will rule on rubber ducks that have become “coup prevention” drills, pro- present. the current round of protests, in the kingdom are beginning whether Prayut has broken a symbol of the movement as testers passed an armada of the “I don’t think he will be which began in July, has fuelled to question. rules by living in an army house, some 5,000 demonstrators pool toy ducks over their heads, ousted because he still has rumours another could be A major rally on Wednesday despite the fact the former massed in the shadow of a to represent the military passing strong support from conserva- looming. targeted King Maha Vajiralong- general is no longer in the mil- motorway flyover in the north over the people to take the front tives... and big businesses,” he The movement has broken korn’s huge wealth, demanding itary’s top brass. of the capital. row of Thai politics. said. new ground for Thai political more transparency about his Losing the case could see Natalie, a 32-year-old Another group paraded But in a country that has activism by demanding changes financial arrangements. Prayut forced out of office. 13 Australian soldiers face dismissal after Afghan report Philippine rebel leaders convicted REUTERS — SYDNEY None of the 19 soldiers were their termination. in Canberra. may have forced junior soldiers identified in the report, which Burr did not identify any of “We are all committed to to kill defenceless captives in of kidnapping Australia has told 13 special was written by a state judge the 13 soldiers, but said they learning from the inquiry and order to “blood” them for forces soldiers they face appointed by the inspector- were not part of the 19 current emerging from this a stronger, combat. AFP — MANILA dismissal in relation to a report general of defence. and former soldiers who face more capable and effective The inquiry examined more Two fugitive communist rebel on alleged unlawful killings in The 19 current and former possible criminal charges. He army.” than 20,000 documents and leaders in the Philippines who Afghanistan, the head of the soldiers have been referred for said the 13 soldiers that face dis- Australia’s most senior mil- 25,000 images, and inter- had been involved in failed country’s army said yesterday. possible prosecution. missal have two weeks to itary official apologised to viewed 423 witnesses under peace talks to end one of the An independent report pub- Under mounting pressure, respond to the notice. Afghanistan last week after the oath. Australia sent troops to world’s longest-running insur- lished last week in redacted Lieutenant General Rick Burr, “At this time, 13 individuals release of the report. join US-led forces that tried to gencies were convicted of form said there was evidence the head of the Australian have been issued adminis- The report into the conduct defeat the Taliban insurgency kidnapping yesterday, officials that 39 unarmed Afghan pris- army, said 13 current soldiers trative action notices in of special forces personnel in in Afghanistan in the years said. oners and civilians were killed have been issued with notices relation to the Afghanistan Afghanistan between 2005 and after the Islamists were forced Benito Tiamzon and his by 19 Australian soldiers. that could eventually lead to inquiry,” Burr told reporters 2016 said senior commandos from power in 2001. wife Wilma Tiamzon were freed on bail in 2016 to help out in negotiations in Norway to end the conflict that has Sri Lanka bans Tamil claimed tens of thousands of lives. But President Rodrigo remembrance of war dead Duterte shelved the talks in 2017, alleging the Maoist AFP — COLOMBO The main Tamil political leaders were not interested in party, the Tamil National making peace. The couple have Commemorations for Tamil Alliance (TNA), protested against been on the run ever since. Tiger rebels killed in Sri Lanka’s the ban yesterday. Duterte later signed an decades-long civil war were “Even in the remembrance order declaring the Communist banned yesterday after court of the dead there is discrimi- Party of the Philippines and its petitions by the government of nation against the Tamils in Sri 3,800-member armed wing strongman President Gotabaya Lanka,” TNA legislator Abraham the New People’s Army (NPA), Rajapaksa. Sumanthiran said on Twitter. which the Tiamzons both Sri Lanka’s 37-year conflict He said the majority Sin- allegedly led, “terrorist began in 1972 when Tamil Tigers halese governments had not organisations”. waged a bloody war against gov- barred the leftist JVP, or People’s The couple were sentenced ernment troops in a campaign Liberation Front, from com- in absentia to 40 years in jail for a separate homeland for their memorating their mainly Sin- after a court found them guilty ethnic minority group. halese comrades killed in two of abducting four soldiers near Rajapaksa was defence chief failed insurrections in 1971 and Manila in 1988. They were held when the Tigers were finally in the late 1980s. hostage for 75 days before defeated in 2009 while his Police said they had already being freed unharmed. brother Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested four people “for posting “The conviction of the president, winning them the Heroes’ Day-related messages Tiamzons is a victory for the adoration of many in the Sinhala on social media”. many victims of atrocities of Some schools reopen in Nepal majority population. The rebel Liberation Tigers the (rebels) particularly orders For years, Tamils were not of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) declared to conduct murder, arson, Students wearing face shields and masks attend class as some schools reopened after closure due allowed to commemorate their in the late 1980s that November extortion, ambushes, bombing to coronavirus, in Khokana village on the outskirts of Lalitpur district, near Kathmandu, Nepal, on war dead, but a ban on “Heroes’ 27 would be their “Heroes’ Day” and the like that they orches- Thursday. Day” ceremonies at cemeteries in memory of self-styled Tiger trated,” military spokesman was lifted after Mahinda was Lieutenant Shankar, their first Major-General Edgard Arevalo voted out of office in 2015. combatant killed by security said. The Rajapaksa brothers forces in 1982. Books by bike: Sri Lankan man returned to power last year Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist however when Gotabaya was war cost the lives of more than Fire in Indian elected president. 100,000 people, according to runs mobile library for kids His government petitioned United Nations estimates. hospital kills 5 courts in the Tamil-majority The UN accused Sri Lankan AP — COLOMBO and enthusiastic, they are eagerly kids look at society, to change north of Sri Lanka this week and forces of killing at least 40,000 virus patients waiting for me — always looking their perspectives and broaden obtained prohibition orders Tamil civilians in its military During his leisure time, Mahinda for new books,” Dasanayaka said their imagination,” he said. against the commemorations, campaign, an allegation denied Dasanayaka packs his motorbike by phone. Apart from giving away the attorney general’s office said. by successive governments. AP — NEW DELHI with books and rides his mobile His programme is mainly books, Dasanayaka also speaks library — across mostly muddy centred in Kegalle, a moun- to the children for a few minutes, A fire broke out early yesterday roads running through tea- tainous region of the Indian usually under a roadside tree, Pharma firm in India to make in a privately-run hospital growing mountain areas — to Ocean island nation about 85km highlighting the value of reading, treating coronavirus patients underprivileged children in northeast of Sri Lanka’s capital, books and authors. He then con- in western India, killing at least backward rural parts of Sri Colombo, with poor villages scat- ducts a discussion on books the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine five of them and injuring 28 Lanka. tered among tea plantations. He children have read, with the aim others. Having witnessed the hard- visits the villages once or twice of eventually forming reading REUTERS — MOSCOW Although Russian authorities Police officer KN Bhukan ships faced by children whose a week to distribute the books. clubs. gave Sputnik V their regulatory said fire engines restricted the villages have no library facilities, His collection includes about His programme has spread Indian pharmaceutical company approval under an accelerated blaze to one floor of the hos- Dasanayaka was looking for 3,000 books on a variety of sub- to more than 20 villages in Hetero will manufacture over procedure in August, trials in pital and extinguished it within ways to help them. jects. “Boys mostly like to read Kegalle. He also has expanded it 100 million doses of the Russian Russia, designed to assess its 30 minutes. The cause of the Then he got the idea for his detective stories such as Sherlock to some villages in Sri Lanka’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine per safety and efficacy, are also fire is being investigated. library on wheels. Holmes, while girls prefer to read former civil war zone in the year under the terms of a deal ongoing. The Press Trust of India He started his programme, youth novels and biographies,” northern region, more than unveiled yesterday between it “While we look forward to news agency said the fire called “Book and Me,” three years he said. 340km) from his home. and Russia’s RDIF sovereign the clinical trial results in India, started in the intensive care ago, and it has become very So far, he said, his program The long civil war ended in wealth fund. we believe that manufacturing unit of Uday Shivanand Hos- popular among the children. has benefited more than 1,500 2009 when government troops The move, which RDIF cast the product locally is crucial to pital that was treating 33 coro- “There are some kids who children, as well as about 150 defeated Tamil rebels who were as another step in its efforts to enable swift access to patients,” navirus patients. hadn’t seen even a children’s sto- adults. He began the programme fighting to create a separate state scale up international manufac- said B. Murali Krishna Reddy, Some of the patients with rybook until I went to their vil- in 2017 with 150 books — some for their ethnic minority in the turing of its flagship vaccine, Hetero’s director of interna- fire burns were evacuated to lages,” he said. of his own and others donated north. will see Hetero begin production tional marketing. another hospital in Rajkot, a Dasanayaka, 32, works as a by friends, colleagues and well- Dasanayaka, who is from the in India at the start of next year, He said the deal chimed city in western Gujarat state, child protection officer for the wishers. He bought a second- ethnic majority Sinhalese, according to a joint statement with an objective being pro- nearly 1,100km southwest of government. On his off days — hand Honda motorbike for believes books can build a on the Sputnik V Twitter moted by the Indian prime min- New Delhi. In August, a fire mostly during weekends — he 30,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($162). “bridge between two ethnic account. ister of making things in India. killed eight coronavirus rides his motorbike, which is He then fixed a steel box on the groups.” The statement said Phase India’s tally of COVID-19 patients in a hospital in fixed with a steel box to hold bike’s pillion seat. “Books can be used for the II-III clinical trials were still infections stands at 9.27 million, Ahmedabad, another key city books, to rural villages and dis- “I wanted to do something betterment of society and under way in India, which with the second-highest in the world in Gujarat state. Poor mainte- tributes the reading material to for children who are burdened promote ethnic reconciliation - a population of over 1.3 billion after the United States, with nance and lack of proper fire- children free of charge. with an exam-centred edu- because no one can get angry is the second most populated more than 135,000 deaths in the fighting equipment often “The children are very keen cation.... And to change the way with books.” he said. country in the world after China. south Asian nation. causes deaths in India. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 My stressed student, you’re not alone! Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

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

DR. YOUSUF ALI AL MULLA ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] At universities or colleges there is a uniquely difficult time for many young students, DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR may be not always parents or MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI senior family members could [email protected] be aware about it and what is going on behind the scenes! At university stage, an individual may face grade EDITORIAL deal of pressure and challenges that pose a verity of physical and emotional diffi- Qatar’s growing global stature culties. Unfortunately, upon my personal observation and THE agreement between the Shura Council and United what have heard that mental and other psychological self-esteem, so have these wards and in practice. So Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) for estab- health problem among uni- issues, which have a serious academic institutes provided while universities or any aca- lishing the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism versity student are increasing negative impact on student and create an effective coun- demic institute might offer (UNOCT) Program Office for parliamentary engagement in numbers as well as in academic performance and seling system for their stu- advice on sleep, nutrition, in preventing and combating terrorism is another con- severity, so have these uni- may also their mental health dents, looking to facts that physical activity, stress man- tribution by Qatar in global fight against terrorism and versities or academic institu- with time. over 800 universities agement and coping strat- violent extremism. tions consider this issue and Overall, prevalence of worldwide have categorized egies, they should also help The main tasks of the office include undertaking joint try to solve it? worsening mental health the student mental health such students to act on this initiatives to support the balanced implementation of the I believe that most of us among the students looking problems, what they are advice. four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism have heard that students often to different study worldwide, facing into following patterns I do urge the academic Strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions in the claim to experience stress, was interestingly showing of problems emerged namely; institutes to design a mental field of countering terrorism and violent extremism leading anxiety, symptoms of how the university students sense of being dysfunctional, health treatment services, in to terrorism. It will also provide technical assistance and depression, eating problems facing and how mental health loos of confidence, lack of collaboration with student legal advisory services to parliaments in order to support problems may get them end self-regulation and anxiety families and not to leave the their role in implementing the United Nations Global It is neither an with loneliness and major proneness. students suffer in silence as Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Security Council res- exaggeration nor is depressive symptoms. Moreover, it seems to be we see nowadays, as one of olutions and terrorism-related instruments. it alarmist to claim However I should say that that first year students arriving the most dangerous aspect of The office will also conduct research, analysis and most of the students who at university or college are depression and mental health normative work in support of preventing and combating that there is a mental have problems do not receive most students who report a concerns in general is suicide. terrorism and violent extremism, including monitoring health crisis today any therapeutic or counseling mental health condition and It is neither an exagger- the enactment of new legislation around the world, and services and why some uni- sometimes we cannot blame ation nor is it alarmist to claim helping to formulate legislation, policies and model facing the college versities have attained very them, as attending the uni- that there is a mental health counter-terrorism strategies led by parliaments. students, but I believe little attention to their stu- versity means moving away crisis today facing the college In recent years, Qatar’s Shura Council has played dents, which led at the end to from home, becoming more students, but I believe the important role as an international parliamentary partner the overall picture both short and long term independent and managing overall picture now clear. If to address different challenges being faced by the global now clear. If so, the consequences including your own finance, not for- so, the next question is what community. In December last year, Qatar hosted 7th decreasing work capacity getting to mention that sexual we should do about it. Conference of Global Organisation of Parliamentarians next question is what and poor academic transmitted disease and Dr. Yousuf Ali Al Mulla. Against Corruption (GOPAC) in Doha. The hosting of the we should do about it. performance. sometime sexual behaviors MD, Ministry of Health, is a conference was a confirmation of determination and What I would like to can be as well a concern. medical innovator and edu- sincere efforts made by Qatar to combat corruption emphasis here that those stu- However, here I would say cator. For any queries understanding devastating effects of the phenomenon dents have ended with the university priority and regarding the content of the on countries and nations. increased drug addiction, importance of the need to column, he can be contacted On UNOCT Programme Office, Speaker of the Shura alcohol use and low reinforce healthy behaviors in at: [email protected] Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud said this is a “historic day” when the Shura Council signed exchange letters between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, represented by the United Family farmers struggle to keep up with fast-warming world Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, to establish the UNOCT Program Office which is concerned with par- THIN LEI WIN — REUTERS season has shifted from lower-than-average yields It is a tough ask liamentary engagement in preventing and combating October to mid-November, and are struggling to feed terrorism, to be headquartered in the State of Qatar and Young African farmers Mavis older farmers told Goodman. their citizens, denting their as climate change its activities cover the parliaments of the world. Gofa and Andrew Goodman When showers do come, resilience and ability to adapt makes life even Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations had a vastly different they often turn heavy, to additional heating. Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov upbringing - Gofa grew up on destroying crops and eroding Poor nations face a triple harder for millions of expressed thanks and appreciation to the Shura Council a one-hectare (2.5-acre) farm the soil’s fertile layer. This whammy with food pro- small-scale farmers and the State of Qatar for its role in combating terrorism, and could not afford to finish forces farmers to buy more duction pummelled, higher - with scientists praising the establishment of the UNOCT Program Office high school, while Goodman’s inputs such as fertilisers to levels of atmospheric carbon in Doha. family cultivated 275 hectares keep yields up but the higher dioxide reducing nutrients in predicting more The opening of UNOCT Programme Office in Doha and educated him in Britain. costs then push them back crops, and a resulting spike in frequent and intense and subsequent support to parliaments of te world But they share the same into poverty, he added. hunger and malnutrition, through this platform will definitely help addressing issue big dream. A recent study led by Uni- warned Paolo Agnolucci, the ﬂoods, droughts and of terrorism as well as increase Qatar’s global stature Both want a better life for versity College London (UCL) study’s lead author. storms. in world community. the families who run the showed such experiences About 690 million people, world’s half a billion small could become widespread as or one in 11, went without farms, many of whom remain the planet warms, with signif- enough to eat in 2019, and the steeped in poverty despite icant implications for hunger United Nations has warned producing about 80% of food and inequality. the COVID-19 pandemic D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR consumed in Asia and sub- It looked at 18 crops - could add another 132 million to that number in 2020. olive farmers like Gianni EMAIL: [email protected] Saharan Africa, according to including those grown mainly the United Nations. in developing nations such as The social implications of Proietti say they have been It is a tough ask as climate cassava, groundnut and even 1C of additional battered by climate disasters. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 change makes life even rapeseed - representing 70% warming could be “massive”, Proietti’s 50-hectare farm FAX: +974 4455 7758 harder for millions of small- of the world’s crop area and added Agnolucci, associate in the picturesque Umbrian scale farmers - with scientists about 65% of its calorific professor at UCL. hills in central Italy has in MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 predicting more frequent and intake. Some developed coun- recent years suffered more intense floods, droughts and The study found that har- tries that enjoy high yields of frequent and severe plant dis- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 storms. vests of key crops - such as crops like potatoes, soy and eases and extreme weather In Mutoko in northeastern pulses in West Africa, rice in maize - for example, in such as spring frosts and hail- LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 Zimbabwe, Gofa, 25, is seeing India and Pakistan, and wheat northern Europe - are likely storms. Increases in average yields from her rain-fed in Sudan - would fall if tem- to benefit if the climate heats seasonal temperatures and BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 maize dwindle, as the start of peratures rose 1 degree up by another 1C, the study humidity are to blame, said the planting season is delayed Celsius above today’s levels, said. But climate impacts are the 62-year-old, who now SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 from mid-October to late even without other impacts getting harder to ignore even grows cereals, legumes and December. In 2016, her farm such as floods. here, other scientists noted. grapes as well as olive trees. ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 produced about 700 kg (1,543 Globally, the average tem- Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, an Insuring his crops against email: [email protected] lb) of maize, but this year, she perature has so far risen a associate professor at Cornell weather damage helps him only got 500 kg, she said. little more than 1C since pre- University researching the cope with the losses but the PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 Goodman, 24, is also industrial times, although the historical impacts of climate most effective support would email: [email protected] struggling at his family farm change varies in different change on agriculture, be measures to halt and outside Malawi’s capital parts of the world - and pro- pointed to the unusual and reverse climate change, he ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 Lilongwe, which grows seeds jections are for warming to brutal 2019 spring floods in added. FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] for crops such as maize, soy increase further to 3C or more the US Midwest that inun- With global climate action bean and groundnut, and this century. dated huge swathes of moving at a slow pace, many CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 works closely with about The study also said coun- farmland. small farmers in Africa are email: [email protected] 5,000 small farmers every tries where increasing tem- In Italy, meanwhile, diversifying crops, to adapt to season. peratures cause the most neg- where olive oil is part of the worsening weather extremes SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 The beginning of the rainy ative impacts already have country’s cultural heritage, and shifting climate patterns. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

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/ThePeninsulaQatar Forcing people to take the vaccine or say that who doesn’t take it cannot get /Peninsula_Qatar a passport, have a public job, that’s /ThePeninsulaNewspaper dictatorship. Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil +974 6698 6188 SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 ASIA 09 Bed shortage in South Korea as virus cases surge

REUTERS — SEOUL and more than 64% of those were from the Seoul metro- South Korea reported more Prime Minister Chung politan area, according to the than 500 new coronavirus cases Sye-kyun warned that Korea Disease Control and Pre- for the second consecutive day daily infections could vention Agency. yesterday, a level not seen in swell to 1,000 and bring The portion of new cases nearly nine months, as a third reported in the greater Seoul wave of infections spreads a greater crisis including area has fallen steadily from nationwide and authorities hospital bed shortages if about 85% early this month as scrambled to provide more social distancing the outbreak spread to other hospital beds. measures and other provinces such as South The daily tally of 569 came restrictions failed to Gyeongsang and Gangwon. All a day after the numbers hit the 17 metropolitan cities and highest level since March 6, stop the contagion. provinces reported new cases when South Korea was reeling on Thursday for the first time from the first major COVID-19 in months. epidemic outside China. the capital Seoul and sur- Chung urged authorities to Prime Minister Chung Sye- rounding regions this week - secure more hospital beds to kyun warned that daily infec- restricting dining out, religious prevent shortages. The health tions could swell to 1,000 and services and nightly enter- ministry said there were suffi- bring a greater crisis including tainment. The move came only cient beds available for now, hospital bed shortages if social a month after similar restric- but there could be shortfalls in distancing measures and other tions were eased as a second two to three weeks if cases restrictions failed to stop the wave of infections ebbed. continued to spike. contagion. While South Korea’s early The earlier waves quickly “The situation is extremely outbreaks emerged from a spe- depleted hospital facilities, serious and acute, as all of the cific religious group or region, with the number of remaining People wearing face masks walk at a traditional market amid the coronavirus disease pandemic in 17 metropolitan cities and the latest sprang from a mul- beds for critical cases in the Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. provinces and especially all the titude of clusters in and around greater Seoul area, a metropolis 25 districts in Seoul are the capital Seoul and is now of 26 million people, once reporting new cases,” Chung spreading across the country, plunging to near single digits. government vowed to double average of Organisation for by less serious cases or patients told a meeting on COVID-19 making it harder to trace and As of September, South the number by next year, Economic Co-operation and with other ailments. responses. contain. Korea had about 500 including more than 110 this Development countries, but in South Korea has reported The government reimposed Of the latest cases, 525 intensive-care beds for its 52 year. previous waves of infection total infections of 32,887, with strict social distancing rules on were domestically transmitted million people. The The ratio is near the many of those beds were used 516 deaths. North Korea ‘bid to hack into COVID-19 vaccine makers’ foiled Peshawar and Karachi report

REUTERS — SEOUL hacking attempts. Ha and another member Kim told reporters. North Korea has highest number of infections The revelation came after Byung-kee said North Korean not confirmed any coronavirus South Korea’s intelligence Microsoft said early this month leader Kim Jong Un had taken infection, but the NIS had said INTERNEWS — PESHAWAR 16.32 percent. agency foiled North Korean that hackers working for the some “unreasonable” actions due an outbreak there cannot be On the occasion, Umar said attempts to hack into South Russian and North Korean gov- to COVID-19 “paranoia.” They ruled out as the country had Peshawar has reported the that the priority of the gov- Korean companies developing ernments have tried to break said those actions included active trade and people-to- highest number of recurrence in ernment is to protect people coronavirus vaccines, into the networks of seven banning fishing and salt pro- people exchanges with China coronavirus positive cases from the deadly disease. He lawmakers said yesterday. pharmaceutical companies and duction because of fears that sea- before closing the border in late followed by Karachi and added that measures are being Ha Tae-keung, a member vaccine researchers in Canada, water might have been contam- January. Hyderabad as per the National taken to contain spread of of the parliamentary intelli- France, India, South Korea and inated with the virus, and Pyongyang has not issued Command and Operation Centre COVID-19 and urged the public gence committee, said after the United States. stranding some 110,000 tonnes any official response to the (NCOC) yesterday. to follow SOPs. being briefed by the National The closed-door briefings by of rice from China in the north- recent US presidential election, A meeting of the NCOC was Meanwhile, 3,113 people Intelligence Service (NIS) that the NIS, which shares intelligence eastern Chinese port of Dalian. but the government has urged held under the chairmanship of contracted coronavirus infection the agency did not specify how and analysis with counterparts “He has been expressing all its overseas diplomatic mis- Planning Minister Asad Umar in while 54 more fell prey to the many and which drugmakers among key neighbours, provide emotional excess, anger and sions to exercise caution and not which the officials shared the disease during 24 hours, as per were targeted but said there rare public access to information signs of stress, and increasingly “provoke” the United States, data indicating that Peshawar statistics issued by NCOC. was no damage from the about the reclusive North. giving unreasonable orders,” Ha lawmaker Kim said. has the highest percentage of As per details, tests of 43,214 COVID-19 positive cases with people were conducted while the 19.65 per cent. figure of patients recovered from Malaysia secures It added that Karachi falls in the virus has reached 335,881. second number with 17.73 So far, coronavirus disease Pfizer vaccine percent while Hyderabad has has claimed lives of 7,897 people. in a first for been rated at third place with Southeast Asia China to charge 12 from REUTERS — KUALA LUMPUR HK caught fleeing by boat Malaysia has agreed to buy 12.8 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, becoming REUTERS — HONG KONG detainees said yesterday she the first country in Southeast doubted the fairness of the legal Asia to announce a deal with the Chinese authorities said process for the 12. They face US drugmaker after some yesterday they were set to charge charges of illegal border crossing expressed reservations over the 12 people from Hong Kong with and organising an illicit border need for ultra-cold storage. border violations after they were crossing, which could carry a While final trial data detained in China more than sentence of up to seven years in showed that Pfizer’s vaccine is three months ago while trying to jail, mainland authorities said. 95% effective, many Asian flee from the city by speedboat. “The investigation of 12 Hong countries are not betting on it The 12, who had all faced Kong people who were found partly due to tropical heat, charges in Hong Kong linked to unlawfully crossing the border remote island communities and anti-government protests, have has ended,” authorities in a lack of ultra-cold freezers. been held virtually incommu- Yantian district of the southern Pfizer’s vaccine, jointly nicado in a mainland prison mainland city of Shenzhen said. developed with German partner Preventive measure since they were detained at sea, The 11 men and one woman BioNTech, must be stored and apparently while trying to reach were captured by the Chinese transported at minus 70 degrees Passengers wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the coronavirus pandemic are seen the democratic island of Taiwan. coastguard on August 23. The Celsius (-94F), although it can at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, in Shanghai, China, yesterday. A relative of one of the youngest is 16. be kept in a fridge for up to five days, or up to 15 days in a thermal shipping box. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Cher in Pakistan to help Yassin said yesterday that Japanese spacecraft carrying Malaysia would prioritise “high- ‘world’s loneliest elephant’ risk groups... including front- liners, senior citizens, and those AP — ISLAMABAD group that’s led the charge to asteroid soil samples nears home with non-communicable dis- save him since 2016. AP — TOKYO eases, such as heart diseases Iconic singer and actress Cher is Cher took up Kaavan’s cause origins of life on Earth, but we and retrieval mission. and diabetes”. in Pakistan to celebrate the and has been a loud voice advo- A Japanese spacecraft is nearing still don(asterisk)t know where Without those measures, a Pfizer will deliver the first departure of Kaavan, dubbed the cating for his resettlement. Four Earth after a yearlong journey they came from,” Yoshikawa search for the pan-shaped one million doses in the first “world’s loneliest elephant,” who Paws, which often carries out home from a distant asteroid said. capsule with a diameter of 40 quarter of 2021, with 1.7 million, will soon leave a Pakistani zoo animal rescue missions, has pro- with soil samples and data that “We are hoping to find clues centimetres “would be an 5.8 million and 4.3 million doses for better conditions after years vided the medical treatment could provide clues to the to the origin of life on Earth by extremely difficult,” Yoshikawa to follow in subsequent of lobbying by animal rights needed before Kaavan can travel origins of the solar system, a analysing details of the organic told reporters. quarters. The deal is expected groups and activists. and will accompany him to the space agency official said materials brought back by For Hayabusa2, it’s not the to cover 6.4 million Malaysians, Because of security concerns, sanctuary. Even after he’s in yesterday. Hayabusa2.” end of the mission it started in or 20% of the population, with Cher’s schedule was not made Cambodia, he’ll require years of The Hayabusa2 spacecraft JAXA, the space agency, 2014. After dropping the another 10% to be covered public. However, she met yes- physical and even psychological left the asteroid Ryugu, about plans to drop the capsule con- capsule, it will return to space under Malaysia’s participation terday with Prime Minister assistance, Bauer said. 300 million kilometers from taining the samples onto a and head to another distant in the global COVAX facility, Imran Khan and was expected Because of the abysmal Earth, a year ago and is expected remote, sparsely populated area small asteroid called 1998KY26 backed by the World Health to visit Kaavan later in the trip, living conditions blamed on sys- to reach Earth and drop a in Australia from 220,000km on a journey slated to take 10 Organization. Malaysia, which according to the prime minister’s temic negligence, Pakistan’s high capsule containing the precious away in space, a big challenge years. will distribute the vaccine to its office. Khan’s office released a court in May ordered the closure samples in southern Australia requiring precision control. The Hayabusa2 touched down people for free, reported 1,109 video of the singer sitting with of Marghazar Zoo in the capital on December 6. capsule, protected by a heat on Ryugu twice, despite its new COVID-19 infections the prime minister outside on the of Islamabad, where Kaavan has Scientists at the Japan Aer- shield, will turn into a fireball extremely rocky surface, and yesterday. expansive grounds of Khan’s lived for much of his life. ospace Exploration Agency during re-entry in the atmos- successfully collected data and The country is also planning residence. A medical examination in believe the samples, especially phere at 200km above ground. samples during the 1½ years to run a Phase 3 trial of an Kaavan, the elephant has September showed Kaavan’s those taken from under the At about 10km above ground, a after it arrived there in June experimental vaccine languished in the zoo for 35 nails were cracked and over- asteroid’s surface, contain val- parachute will open to prepare 2018. developed by the Chinese years, and lost his partner in grown — the result of years of uable data unaffected by space for landing, and beacon signals In the first touchdown in Academy of Medical Sciences. 2012. He was diagnosed by vet- living in an improper enclosure radiation and other environ- will be transmitted to indicate February 2019, it collected The trial will involve 3,000 par- erinarians as both overweight with flooring that damaged his mental factors. Makoto its location. surface dust samples. In July, it ticipants. Pfizer’s vaccine still and malnourished, and also feet. The elephant has also Yoshikawa, a Hayabusa2 JAXA staff have set up sat- collected underground samples requires approvals from regu- suffers behavioural issues due to developed stereotypical project mission manager, said ellite dishes at several locations from the asteroid for the first lators including the US Food and his isolation. Kaavan is set to behaviour, shaking his head back scientists are especially inter- in the target area to catch the time in space history after Drug Administration (FDA) and leave for a sanctuary in Cam- and forth for hours, which the ested in analysing organic mate- signals, while also preparing landing in a crater that it had Malaysia’s Health Ministry bodia on Sunday, said Martin medical team of wildlife veteri- rials in the Ryugu soil samples. marine radar, drones and heli- earlier created by blasting the before it can be distributed, Bauer of Four Paws Interna- narians and experts blamed on “Organic materials are copters to assist in the search asteroid’s surface. Muhyiddin said. tional, a global animal welfare his utter boredom. 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020

Russian army COVID-19 infection starts virus vaccination rate in UK shrinks campaign AFP — MOSCOW REUTERS & AFP — LONDON The lockdown in regional tiered system when the England — home to national stay-at-home order Russia’s military has started a The COVID-19 epidemic in ends on December 2, and 23.3 mass coronavirus vaccination Britain has retreated slightly, around 85 percent million residents in the worst-hit campaign which aims to with the reproduction “R” of the UK’s total areas are set to enter the “very innoculate more than 400,000 number estimated to be below population — expires high” alert level. They include the servicemen, Defence Minister 1, suggesting that England’s major cities of Birmingham, Sergei Shoigu announced second national lockdown is on Wednesday and Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, New- yesterday. stemming infections, government will be replaced with castle and Sheffield, with people Shoigu said that over 2,500 scientists said yesterday. a regional system of there facing at least two weeks soldiers had already been vac- The number of new infec- in the top tier. cinated, adding that by the end tions across Britain is shrinking tiered restrictions. The toughest restrictions — of the year the number is by between 0 percent and 2 which were in place before the expected to reach 80,000. percent every day, the UK Gov- shutdown, but only for 8.6 Russia this week said that ernment Office for Science said, the UK’s total population — million people — will com- its Sputnik V coronavirus after it was estimated to be expires on Wednesday and will pound difficulties for already vaccine was 95 percent growing between 0 percent and be replaced with a regional struggling businesses, with hos- effective according to prelim- 2 percent in last week’s release. system of tiered restrictions. pitality and leisure facilities to inary data — similar to other The R number was estimated A third of England is facing remain closed. international vaccine makers to be between 0.9 and 1, meaning the strictest COVID curbs after However, more than half of that have also published test every 10 people infected will go the previous tier system — the country including the capital results showing efficacy rates on to infect between 9 and 10 imposed before the lockdown will enter into tier two, which of 90 percent and higher. people, down from last week’s — failed to keep infection rates permits restaurants and many Sputnik V’s developers range of 1.0-1.1. down. That resulted in Prime leisure facilities to reopen. For have touted it as easier to store A pedestrian wearing a protective face covering to combat the Government scientists said Minister Boris Johnson the first time since March, than some alternatives and at spread of the coronavirus, walks past a sign promoting social the estimates were based on announcing the latest England- limited public attendance at less than $10 (€8.38) per dose latest data for the United wide lockdown on October 31. performances and sporting distancing in Covent Garden, central London, yesterday as life the cheapest among front- Kingdom up to November 24, but The stricter tier system events will also be allowed. under a second lockdown continues in England. runners in a global race to that lags meant the impact of comes ahead of a planned loos- People from different develop a vaccine. national restrictions introduced ening of rules for Christmas, households may not mix otherwise but if we’re going to government announced earlier The Sputnik V vaccine — in England on November 5 were when three households will be indoors in either tiers. keep schools open as we must, this week that restrictions dubbed after the Soviet-era only just being seen and could not able to come together indoors Prime Minister Boris then our options in bearing would be eased for five days satellite — was registered in yet be fully evaluated. over a period of five days. Johnson, who emerged from down on the disease are neces- around Christmas. August and is currently under- “R estimates for England More than 23 million people two weeks of COVID-19 self- sarily limited,” he told a news Britain has been Europe’s going its third and final stage may continue to decline in the will be under the tightest isolation on Thursday after conference, stressing they worst-hit country. It has of trials involving more than future and may be below 1 for restrictions once England’s coming into contact with an remained “less intrusive” than recorded more than 57,000 40,000 volunteers. all regions already,” the Gov- nationwide coronavirus infected MP, warned of a “hard the current lockdown. deaths within 28 days of a pos- Shoigu said that more than ernment Office for Science said lockdown ends next week, but winter” ahead but urged com- Health Secretary Matt itive virus test, after announcing 400,000 servicemen of Rus- in a statement. London will escape the toughest pliance before vaccines come Hancock said the alert levels another 498 fatalities Thursday, sia’s armed forces will be vac- The lockdown in England — rules, the government said. on stream. would be reviewed after two and nearly 1.6 million cases cinated against COVID-19 fol- home to around 85 percent of England will return to a “I really wish it were weeks in mid-December. The since March. lowing an order from Pres- ident Vladimir Putin. The Minister did not Four to face jury specify whether vaccination Cyprus announces uniform 8-hour curfew will be voluntary for soldiers, trial over 2016 many of whom are drafted AFP — NICOSIA 11pm. Limassol and Paphos — told reporters yesterday. Res- health minister noted. His min- into the army for compulsory murder of priest both areas where caseloads taurants, clubs, cafes and other istry registered 220 new virus service. He added that some Cyprus yesterday announced have been high — will have hospitality venues must shut cases on Thursday, taking the 500 vaccinated servicemen AFP — PARIS that it would lift lockdowns in their lockdowns lifted at the end nationwide at 7pm, after pre- total number of recorded infec- with high levels of antibodies two key coastal cities but of November, after a near-total viously being allowed to remain tions to 9,673. are involved in research of Four alleged accomplices in impose a nationwide eight-hour prohibition on movements in open until 10:30pm outside Ioannou said there would plasma treatment which has the murder of a French priest night-time curfew among other and out of those coastal resort Limassol and Paphos districts. be relaxations for the Christmas proven “effective in severe four years ago by teenage uniform restrictions to tackle cities and their wider districts. Only food delivery is allowed holidays if the situation cases of the infection”. jihadists will face a trial by rising coronavirus cases. Ioannou said the Republic after 7pm. Schools can return improves, including a loosening Russia’s defence ministry special jury, which in France A nationwide curfew will of Cyprus was moving away to normal in lockdown areas, of the curfew — and later was involved in the initial is reserved for the most serious apply between 9pm and 5am from local lockdowns to but gyms everywhere will have closing times for hospitality — stages of developing Sputnik crimes, judiciary sources said. (1900 GMT to 0300 GMT) from introduce uniform nationwide to close. between December 14 and V and its servicemen were Jacques Hamel, an November 30 until December restrictions leading up to the Shops, shopping malls, hair January 7. But he also warned among the first volunteers to 85-year-old priest, had his 13, Health Minister Constantinos festive season, in the hope of salons, cinemas, theatres and that policies could become receive the jab during early throat slit at the foot of the Ioannou said. easing the measures over the museums will operate under tighter if the virus caseload stage trials. altar in July 2016 in an attack This brings to an end a two- holidays. tightened social distancing rules. worsens. Cyprus had largely More than 4,100 serv- claimed by the Islamic State tier curfew system, which had “This year’s holidays will be Half of the 48 coronavirus deaths kept a lid on the pandemic by icemen have tested positive for (IS) group. His two attackers seen the capital Nicosia and unprecedented, but we must recorded nationwide since the introducing an early lockdown coronavirus since the start of were killed by police, and four other towns under curfew for protect our public health system outbreak of the virus in March in March that was gradually the pandemic in the Spring, the others have been investigated only six hours each night from and the ones we love,” Ioannou have come in November, the eased from early May. defence ministry said. for complicity in the killing. Investigating magistrates said the four would face a special jury court, meeting a Germany logs a million demand by prosecutors last month. The most serious charge, of complicity in a murder with coronavirus cases terrorist intent, targets Rachid Kassim, the alleged instigator of AFP — BERLIN just over 360 in early October the attack and presumed IS to more than 3,500 last week. recruiter. Germany, once a beacon of Europe’s biggest economy He is believed to have been hope in Europe’s coronavirus has shuttered restaurants, killed in Iraq in 2017, but will nightmare, logged its one mil- clubs, sporting facilities and be tried in absentia as his lionth case yesterday. cultural venues, though schools death has never been con- Like much of the continent, and shops remain open. firmed. The three others face Germany is battling a resur- But the rules will be tempo- the lesser charge of mem- gence of a pandemic that shows rarily eased over Christmas and bership in a criminal associ- little sign of retreating before New Year to accommodate the ation with terrorist intent. the release of several leading celebrations, allowing meetings They include a 26-year- inoculations. of up to 10 adults from December old man identified only as Germany had largely con- 23 to New Year’s Day. Yassine S, who admitted trav- tained the spread of the virus in Globally, more than 60 elling with the two assailants the spring but has been hit hard million infections and 1.4 prior to the attack “to learn by a second wave of infections. million deaths have been about religion”. Prosecutors Its Robert Koch Institute for recorded since the new coro- believe that he “encouraged disease control recorded more navirus emerged in China late and facilitated” the murder by than 22,000 new daily cases last year, according to a tally the two attackers, Adel Ker- yesterday, pushing the coun- compiled by AFP from official miche and Abdel Malik try’s total beyond the one sources. Petitjean, who were killed by Treetop protest million mark. Countries that have seen police as they left the church The number of COVID-19 strong success against the virus Special police forces approach activists in treetops at the Dannenrod forest, during a protest of in a suburb of the city of Rouen patients in intensive care are now cracking down on new environmentalists against the extension of the A49 motorway, near Dannenrod, Germany, yesterday. in northwestern France. nationwide has soared from outbreaks. Report claims CIA controlled second Swiss encryption firm

AFP — GENEVA orchestrated by US and German intel- Rundschau concluded that, like Crypto, was particularly concerned to learn War II to the beginning of this century, ligence services. A first investigation Omnisec had sold manipulated “Swiss businesses are likely implicated including to Iran, South American gov- Swiss politicians have voiced outrage had revealed back in February an elab- equipment to foreign governments and and possibly affected.” “This raises the ernments, India and Pakistan. and demanded an investigation after orate, decades-long set-up, in which armies. Omnisec also sold its faulty question of espionage even within the Unknown to those governments, revelations that a second Swiss the CIA and its German counterpart OC-500 series devices to several country,” he told SRF. Crypto was secretly acquired in 1970 encryption company was allegedly used creamed off the top-secret communi- federal agencies in Switzerland, An investigation by the Swiss parlia- by the CIA together with the then West by the CIA and its German counterpart cations of governments through their including its own intelligence agencies, ment’s Control Delegation into the Germany’s BND Federal Intelligence to spy on governments worldwide. hidden control of a Swiss encryption as well as to Switzerland’s largest bank, Crypto case concluded earlier this month Service. Together they rigged Crypto’s “How can such a thing happen in company called Crypto. UBS, and other private companies in that Switzerland’s own intelligence equipment to be able to easily break a country that claims to be neutral like SRF’s report this week found that a the country, the investigation showed. service had benefitted from the infor- the codes and read the government Switzerland?” co-head of Switzerland’s second but smaller Swiss encryption The findings unleashed fresh mation gathered by its foreign counter- customers’ messages. Socialist Party, Cedric Wermuth, asked firm, Omnisec, had been used in the outrage in Switzerland, which is still parts through the encryption firm. Citing a classified internal CIA history in an interview with Swiss public same way. That company, which was reeling from the Crypto revelations. According to the revelations in Feb- of what was originally called operation broadcaster SRF late on Thursday. split off from Swiss cryptographic “This shows that the problem is ruary by SRF, the Washington Post and “Thesaurus” and later “Rubicon,” the He called for a parliamentary equipment maker Gretag in 1987, sold broader than just one company and ZDF, Crypto served for decades as a reports said that in the 1980s the harvest inquiry after an SRF investigation voice, fax and data encryption equipment we still have no answers on the political Trojan horse to spy on governments from the Crypto machines supplied broadcast on Wednesday found that a to governments around the world until responsibility aspect,” Wermuth said. worldwide. The company supplied roughly 40 percent of all the foreign second Swiss encryption firm had been it halted operations two years ago. Hans-Peter Portman, a parliamentarian devices for encoded communications to communications US code-breakers part of a spectacular espionage scheme SRF’s investigative programme with the Liberal Party, agreed, saying he some 120 countries from after World processed for intelligence. SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 French officers detained after fury over beating video

AFP — PARIS questions over the future of Images published by authority and false testimony, daily over a close-up picture of restrict the publication of Paris police chief Didier Lal- the Loopsider website the source said. Zecler’s swollen and bloodied photos or videos of police French authorities yesterday lement, already in the spotlight Three of the four were being face. “The new video of a rare officers’ faces. detained four officers suspected after the controversial forced show how music questioned on suspicion of “vio- ferocity... adds to a problem fed Media unions say it could of beating and racially abusing removal of a migrant camp in producer Michel lence with a racist motive” com- over the last months by a suc- give police a green light to a black music producer in Paris Paris earlier in the week. Zecler was repeatedly mitted intentionally in a group, cession of blunders and a ten- prevent journalists from poten- in a case that has shocked Pres- It also put the government prosecutors said. The fourth is dency to revert to authoritarian tially documenting abuses, as ident Emmanuel Macron and on the backfoot as it tries to beaten by police for being questioned on suspicion tendencies,” it said. well as stopping social media drawn outrage from celebrities push through new security leg- several minutes and of using violence but is not “French police has a struc- users from posting incrimi- and sports stars. islation that would restrict the subjected to racial accused of racism. tural problem with violence, nating footage. Images published by the right of the media to publish the Zecler was initially himself violence that is committed A protest against the draft Loopsider website show how faces of police agents. abuse as he tried to detained for causing violence, against visible minorities,” law, which has yet to pass a music producer Michel Zecler Interior Minister Gerald enter his music studio but prosecutors threw out that Fabien Jobard, a sociologist, Senate vote, has been called was repeatedly beaten by police Darmanin, who is in charge of probe and began investigating said. “Unbearable video, unac- today in Paris. for several minutes and sub- the police forces, told French on Saturday evening. the officers instead. ceptable violence,” Mbappe In a sign that the government jected to racial abuse as he tried television that the officers tar- Macron on Thursday held wrote on Twitter next to a could be preparing to backtrack, to enter his music studio on Sat- nished the reputation of talks with Darmanin to call for picture of the injured producer. Prime Minister Jean Castex urday evening. France’s security forces. duty, were being held at the tough punishments for those “Say no to racism”. announced late Thursday that he A presidential official said The four officers, all men, National Police Inspectorate involved in the beating, a gov- The outcry comes after the would appoint a commission to yesterday that Macron, too, was were detained for questioning General (IGPN), and prosecutors ernment source added. lower house of parliament on redraft Article 24 of the law that “very shocked” by the images. yesterday. The officers, who had opened an investigation into “Nausea,” said the front page Tuesday evening approved a would restrict the publication of The incident raised already been suspended from violence by a person in headline in the leftist Liberation security bill which would images of the police. Belgium tries Low-income parents Iranian diplomat lonelier in pandemic: over bomb plot British royal Kate AFP — ANTWERP An Iranian diplomat went on trial in Belgium yesterday THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION with women and those experi- accused of plotting to bomb an — LONDON encing financial difficulties due Iranian opposition rally to the pandemic most likely to outside Paris, in a case that has Parents living in deprived areas report a negative impact. stoked tensions with Tehran. are at higher risk of feeling lonely Women’s mental wellbeing Assadollah Assadi, for- due to COVID-19, British royal has been especially hard hit as merly based in Vienna, faces Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, the health crisis upends informal a 20-year prison term if con- said yesterday as she unveiled support mechanisms, said Ruth victed of being behind the research that also highlighted the Patrick, a social policy lecturer attack that was thwarted in pandemic’s impact on women’s at the University of York. June 2018. Prosecutors mental health. “Their strategies for getting requested the full sentence Loneliness among parents by on a low income have been with no leniency. has risen from 38 percent before undermined because of the pan- Assadi, 48, refused to the pandemic to 63 percent demic,” said Patrick, who is appear in the dock, claiming today as lockdown curbs cut off leading a web project called immunity but, as he was friends and family members, COVID Realities, funded by the arrested in Germany and his said the survey commissioned Nuffield research foundation. diplomatic accreditation was by The Royal Foundation — the “We’ve had participants who in Austria, Belgian prose- charity of Kate and her husband say they would normally go Refrigerator for Pfizer vaccine storage cutors say they have the right Prince William. round to their family for a meal to proceed. The trial was to A refrigerator suitable for the storage and the transport of the Pﬁzer anti-COVID-19 vaccine at minus But in Britain’s most- when the food cupboards are continue with the lawyer, 80 degrees Celsius temperature, on display at the Desmon SPA company laboratory in Nusco in deprived areas the risk was empty, and they can’t do that Dimitri de Beco, representing greater, with 13 percent of anymore. They miss the emo- Campania region, Italy, yesterday. his client. parents saying they often or tional support... but also these always felt lonely compared to essential chains of informal 5 percent in better-off parts of financial support,” she said. the country. Having children at home AstraZeneca says its vaccine needs ‘additional study’ “This year has been a during lockdown has also hugely challenging time for us increased the strain on parents, AFP — LONDON Moderna. But US scientists have number of patients”. also promised to provide its all and there hasn’t been a said Helen Barnard, director of said the higher rate of effec- The additional trial was not vaccine to the developing world more important moment to talk the Joseph Rowntree Foun- The head of British drug man- tiveness came during tests in likely to delay regulatory on a non-profit basis. about families,” the Duchess, a dation, a charity. “Families are ufacturer AstraZeneca said people aged 55 and under, and approval in Britain and the The World Health Organi- mother-of-three, said in a dealing with high costs with further research was needed on was discovered by accident European Union, Soriot said. zation said it looked forward to video posted on Twitter. Kate children at home and many its COVID-19 vaccine after during the clinical trials. There are high hopes for the the full publication of the data and William have long cam- simply haven’t got the income questions emerged over the The head of the Oxford AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, from the trial. “On a review of the paigned to raise awareness of they need to weather the protection it offers, but the Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, which Pollard has hailed as a detailed data, we will be better mental health issues. storm,” she said. additional testing is unlikely to said this week that further evi- “vaccine for the world” given that positioned to understand the In what the Duchess called The long-term impact of affect regulatory approval in dence will be available next it could be cheaper to make, and vaccine performance,” it said. Britain’s biggest-ever study on increased feelings of loneliness Europe. month, but the result was still easier to store and distribute. The chief medical officer for the early childhood years, the could be severe, especially if AstraZeneca and its partner, “highly significant”. It can be stored, transported England, Chris Whitty, also cau- new research included a the pandemic drags on, the University of Oxford, “Now that we’ve found what and handled at normal refrig- tioned against drawing pre- survey of more than 500,000 according to Dr Antonis Kou- announced on Monday that it looks like a better efficacy, we erated conditions of between mature conclusions, and urged people and face-to-face inter- soulis, director of the London- was seeking regulatory have to validate this, so we need two and eight degrees Celsius patience until the data were views with nearly 4,000. It based Mental Health Foun- approval for the vaccine after to do an additional study,” (36-46 Fahrenheit) for at least published in peer-reviewed was conducted by Ipsos MORI dation charity. “The concern is it showed an average AstraZeneca chief executive six months. journals. between December 2019 and that the longer the pandemic 70-percent effectiveness. Pascal Soriot told Bloomberg. Pfizer/BioNTech’s offering “It’s always a mistake to October 2020. goes on, the more feelings That rate jumped to 90 He said he expected that to requires temperatures of -70C, make too many judgments early More than a third of those become long-term. The impact percent when an initial half-dose be another “international study driving up costs and potentially and in particular before the surveyed said they thought the of long-term loneliness on then a full dose was given, similar but this one could be faster making it out of reach for lower independent regulator has had pandemic would adversely affect mental health can be very hard to that in rival vaccines in devel- because we know the efficacy and middle-income countries. a chance to look at the results,” their long-term mental health, to manage,” he said. opment by Pfizer/BioNTech and is high, so we need a smaller AstraZeneca/Oxford has he told a news conference.

Sao Paulo governor floats using Brazilian politics hit by wave of Sinovac vaccine violence ahead of vote tomorrow REUTERS — SAO PAULO REUTERS — BRASILIA to settle a quarrel with an do Conselho from the center- Sao Paulo could roll out a adversary, missing his shot and right Democrats (DEM) party COVID-19 vaccine developed Brazilians return to the polls in killing another senator. also was shot dead. by China’s Sinovac without 57 cities tomorrow for the runoffs In 1993, the Paraiba Gov- The violence is hurting all approval from the national of municipal elections that have ernor Ronaldo Cunha Lima shot parties, including the right and health regulator, Governor seen surging violence involving dead his predecessor for left. Four days before the Joao Doria said on Thursday, assassinations and physical alleging his son was corrupt. November 15 vote, in the Rio pressuring Brasilia to green- attacks on candidates. In recent years, experts say suburb of Nova Iguaçu, local light the vaccine. In two months of cam- violence has become more DEM candidate Domingo Health experts said Doria’s paigning leading up to the first widespread in a polarized Cabral, was shot dead by comments were an empty round of voting on November Brazil where more guns are hooded men in a club. The day threat, as no drugs or vaccines 15, there were 200 murders, available and new criminal before, Mauro da Rocha, of the can be used legally in Brazil attempted murders or oth- organizations are consolidating Christian Workers Party, was without clearance from health erwise injured candidates, power in cities such as Rio de murdered in the same town. regulator Anvisa, which pushed according to Brazilian electoral Janeiro. The risks are greater in The violence continued back against the comments. authority TSE. local politics where crimes even after the polls closed. Critics of President Jair Bol- That compares to 63 cases often go unpunished, said Edmar Santana of the right- sonaro argue he is threatening of political violence in the first Felipe Borba, who tracks elec- wing Patriota party, who had the independence of Anvisa eight months of this election toral violence at the Federal just been elected substitute with political appointees to gain year, and just 46 such cases in University of Rio de Janeiro. councilman in Sumaré, a city leverage over governors and the previous municipal elec- “In smaller districts there is in Sao Paulo state, died riddled other rivals. Doria said Sao tions in 2016, the report by the direct confrontation between with bullets fired by a man Paulo could use the vaccine TSE’s security and intelligence local rivals. The winner takes passing on a motor bike. from Sinovac Biotech Ltd unit found. all and losing office means you “In Rio, there is a pattern. based on approval from reg- Violence has always been have nothing,” he said. Political violence mainly ulators in other countries. present in Brazilian politics, He pointed to two murders involves organized crime, drug “Today, there is suspicion especially in the “wild west” of in one day. On September 24, trafficking or paramilitary that Anvisa could suffer political poorer northern and north- three days before campaigning militia groups,” Borba said. interference from the presi- eastern states where powerful began, a town council can- Many political killings remain dency and could fail to be an landowners occasionally have didate in the state of Minas unresolved, particularly in the independent agency as it should Ski tourism woes called on hired guns to settle Gerais, Cassio Remis of the cen- interior of the country. Even be, as it must be,” he said. He political disputes. trist Brazilian Social Demo- high-profile cases do not get fully Still ski lift seats hang on the ropes in a closed ski area near Salzburg, added the state would consider The violence even reached cratic Party, was assassinated resolved, such as the 2018 assas- Austria, yesterday. As Germany is seeking an EU-wide ban on ski the vaccine appropriate for use the national Congress in Bra- with five shots in a public killing sination of Rio de Janeiro coun- if approved by authorities “in tourism over Christmas to halt coronavirus transmissions, many silia. In 1963, Senator Arnon de caught on security cameras. cilwoman Marielle Franco, a the United States, in Europe and, countries including Austria have voiced strong opposition. Mello from the state of Alagoas The same day in Pernambuco rising politician of the left-wing above all, in Asia”. pulled out a gun in the chamber state, another candidate Valter PSOL party, and her driver. 12 AMERICAS SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020 Trump says he’ll leave office if Biden wins Electoral College vote

REUTERS — WASHINGTON Biden won the vote in their state. election with 306 Biden won the election with US President Donald Trump 306 Electoral College votes — said late on Thursday that he Electoral College many more than the 270 will leave the White House if the votes — many more required — to Trump’s 232, and Electoral College votes for Pres- than the 270 required the electors are scheduled to ident-elect Joe Biden, the meet on December 14 to for- closest he has come to con- — to Trump’s 232, malize the outcome. Biden also ceding the November 3 election, and the electors leads Trump by more than 6 even as he repeated unfounded are scheduled to million in the popular vote tally. claims of massive voter fraud. Trump has so far refused to Speaking to reporters on the meet on December fully acknowledge his defeat, Thanksgiving holiday, Repub- though earlier this week - with 14 to formalise the US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after he participated in a Thanksgiving video lican Trump said if Democrat mounting pressure from his teleconference with members of the military forces, at the White House in Washington, US, on Thursday. Biden — who is due to be sworn outcome. Biden also own Republican ranks - he in on January 20 — is formally leads Trump by more agreed to let Biden’s transition declared the winner by the than 6 million in the process officially proceed. end of his term, Trump said on raged across the country. Biden “statement of common Electoral College, he will depart Frenzied efforts by Trump Thursday that he would travel spent the holiday in the small purpose” by staying at home the White House. popular vote tally. and his aides to overturn results on December 5 to Georgia, a seaside town of Rehoboth, Del- with their immediate families. Asked if he would leave the in key states, either by lawsuits once solidly Republican state he aware, where he and his wife “I know this isn’t the way many White House if the Electoral or by pressuring state legis- lost narrowly to Biden, to cam- Jill have a vacation home. of us hoped we’d spend our College votes for Biden, Trump has taken questions from lators, have failed, and he is paign for two Republican US The former vice-president, holiday. We know that a small said: “Certainly I will. Certainly reporters since Election Day, and running out of options. Senate candidates. appearing with his wife in a video act of staying home is a gift to I will. And you know that.” at times he turned combative. “President-elect Biden won The two runoff elections in message posted to his Twitter our fellow Americans,” said But Trump said it would be In the United States, a can- 306 electoral votes. States con- Georgia on January 5 will account, said his family typically Biden. “I know better days are hard for him to concede didate becomes President by tinue to certify those results, the determine whether the Repub- holds a large gathering on the coming.” because “we know there was securing the most “electoral” Electoral College will soon meet licans keep their majority in the island of Nantucket off Massa- Trump often likes to cele- massive fraud”. “It was a rigged votes rather than by winning a to ratify that outcome,” Michael Senate. “I just want to tell my chusetts, but would remain in brate holidays at his Mar-a- election... at the highest level,” majority of the national popular Gwin, a spokesman for the Biden people: don’t be disappointed Delaware this year “with just a Largo resort in Florida. But on Trump insisted in a some- vote. Electors, allotted to the 50 campaign, said when asked about yet because this race is far from small group around our dinner Thursday he remained in the times rambling discourse at the states and the District of Trump’s comments. “Biden will over,” Trump said. table” because of the pandemic. Washington area, spending White House, while continuing Columbia largely based on their be sworn in as President on Biden and Trump both The Democratic president- part of the morning at his to offer no concrete evidence population, are party loyalists January 20, 2021.” stayed close to home to cele- elect said Americans were Trump National Golf Club in of widespread voting irregular- who pledge to support the can- Showing that he intends to brate Thanksgiving on Thursday making a “shared sacrifice for Virginia where he played a ities. It was the first time Trump didate who won the popular stay in the political fray until the as the coronavirus pandemic the whole country” and a round of golf. Appeals court COVID-19: Hospitalised rejects Trump’s Pennsylvania patients in US hits 90,000 REUTERS — NEW YORK urged Americans to stay home election case on Black Friday, a traditionally The number of COVID-19 busy holiday shopping day, REUTERS — WASHINGTON patients being treated in hos- encouraging them instead to pitals across the United States take advantage of online deals A federal appeals court yes- reached 90,000 yesterday after and support business that have terday rejected a request by US nearly doubling in the last suffered during the pandemic- President Donald Trump’s month, just as holiday gath- related economic downturn. campaign to block President- erings are expected to propel “Remember, skip the elect Joe Biden from being the next wave of infections. crowds and shop from home declared the winner of the bat- The rate of hospitalizations this Black Friday. Our local tleground state of Pennsyl- — now at the highest level since shops have curbside pickup vania, dealing another signif- the pandemic began — has options and need our support,” icant setback to Trump’s bid pushed some hospitals beyond Kentucky Governor Andy to overturn the results of the capacity, and comes after weeks Beshear wrote in a tweet. November 3 election. of rising infection rates across In an effort to mitigate the “Free, fair elections are the the country. That is likely to winter COVID-19 wave, more lifeblood of our democracy. increase as people who mingled than 20 states have issued new Charges of unfairness are with relatives and friends over restrictions, including mask serious. But calling an election Thanksgiving gradually get sick, mandates and limiting capacity unfair does not make it so,” health experts say. of restaurants, clubs and houses wrote Stephanos Bibas on Shopping spree Many health experts and of worship. The US Supreme behalf of a three-judge panel. politicians pleaded with Amer- Court ruled against New York Customers shop at Macy’s department store in New York on Black Friday. The coronavirus is clouding “Charges require specific icans to refrain from gathering Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Black Friday” much as it has overshadowed 2020 in general, but some leading experts still expect allegations and then proof. for their traditional communal restrictions on religious gath- We have neither here,” he strong overall sales even as shopping patterns are altered. Thanksgiving feasts this year, erings on Wednesday, voting wrote Bibas, who was nom- warning that socializing 5-4 late in favour of requests inated by Trump. The case between households would by a Roman Catholic Diocese could still be appealed to the accelerate the rate of com- and two Orthodox Jewish con- US Supreme Court. Most Canadians could get vaccine by munity transmission and push gregations for an injunction to Pennsylvania certified an already strained healthcare block the capacity restrictions Biden, who won the state’s system to the brink. from being enforced. popular vote, as its winner this September if all goes well: Trudeau Some abided by the public Cuomo dismissed the ruling week. Under Pennsylvania health guidance, spending their as “irrelevant,” saying it related law, the candidate who wins REUTERS — OTTAWA and distribute doses in the first end of the tunnel. Thanksgiving seeing their to houses of worship in specific the popular vote in the state quarter of 2021. Officials face the massive family over video calls. But areas that were no longer con- gets all of the state’s 20 elec- Doctors believe most Canadians “Doctors have underlined challenge of administering the others chose to travel anyway. sidered at high risk. However, toral votes. could be vaccinated against the that if all goes well, there is a vaccine across what is the On the day before Thanks- the ruling could have broader coronavirus by next September very good chance that a world’s second-largest country giving, typically one of the implications for houses of Southern California rather than the end of 2021 as majority of Canadians can be by area, much of it sparsely busiest travel days of the year worship appealing capacity previously projected, Prime vaccinated by next September,” populated and remote. in the United States, more than restrictions elsewhere. enters second day Minister Justin Trudeau said Trudeau told a regular briefing. Trudeau said the military 1.07 million people transited Earlier this week, Wash- without power yesterday. Less than two weeks ago, would form part of a special through US airports — the most ington Mayor Muriel Bowser Canada is in the middle of Deputy Chief Medical Officer national operations center to of any single day since the start said the COVID-19 restrictions BLOOMBERG — LOS ANGELES a second wave of the virus and Howard Njoo said “a large part coordinate the logistics and dis- of the pandemic, according to on gatherings in the nation’s daily cases regularly hit record of the population” would likely tribution of vaccines. the Transportation Security capital also applied to indoor Thousands of Southern Cali- highs despite increasing efforts get the vaccine by the end of “The Canadian Armed Administration. religious services, reducing fornia residents remained in the by the 10 provinces to clamp 2021 if all went according to Forces will assist on planning, Nearly 6 million Americans capacity from 100 people to 50 dark yesterday after Edison down on businesses and curb plans. “We’re in some of the including to meet challenges travelled by air from Friday to people, with a maximum 50%. International switched off the gatherings. toughest days of this pan- like cold storage requirements, Wednesday, it said, a number It was not immediately clear if power on Thanksgiving Day to Officials say they could start demic,” said Trudeau, data-sharing, and reaching that is however less than half the curbs would be challenged reduce the risk of wildfire. approving the various can- describing the expected arrival Indigenous and rural commu- that of the same period last following the Supreme Court Almost 9,000 customers didate vaccines in December of the vaccines as a light at the nities,” he told reporters. year. State governors have also ruling. north and east of Los Angeles were without power as of 5:20am local time, and with strong winds continuing to Brazil President rejects COVID-19 shot, calls masks taboo buffet the region, the utility is considering expanding the AP — SAO PAULO agency will be available for free doesn’t want to take a vaccine,” Brazil’s Institute for Health be susceptible to the virus. More blackout to more than 100,000 to the public. he said. “If it is effective, lasting, Policy Studies, which advises than 171,000 people have died homes and businesses. Brazilian President Jair Bol- The Brazilian President, reliable, whoever doesn’t take public health officials. of COVID-19 in Brazil, second Fire warnings in the Los sonaro says he won’t take any who contracted the virus in July, it will be doing harm only to “If he were a less popular only to the United States. Angeles and Ventura moun- working COVID-19 vaccine has long resisted the advice of himself, and who takes the president, this might have little “Forcing people to take the tains, as well as the Santa himself and calls the use of most scientists and health vaccine will not be infected. effect, but he is the hero of a lot vaccine or say that who doesn’t Clarita and Ventura valleys, masks to limit the spread of the experts to restrict social and eco- There’s nothing to worry of people,” Lago said. “His take it cannot get a passport, will remain in effect through disease “the last taboo to fall”. nomic activity, arguing that about,” Bolsonaro said. hardcore supporters might not have a public job, that’s dicta- 6pm today. A Santa Ana wind Bolsonaro’s comments, damage from a lockdown would A study published on July 15 get a shot and that will generate torship”, the Brazilian President storm is raking across the broadcast on his social media be worse than the pandemic. in the American Journal of Pre- more political dispute on the said. “Whoever defends that is region with winds reaching channels late on Thursday He also repeatedly pro- ventive Medicine found that social right not to get vaccinated. That a dictator. Or a false dictator 105km per hour in the moun- night, alarmed health experts moted an anti-malarial drug as distancing measures can safely will make it harder for Brazil to that is willing to do business tains, according to the National who said they could undermine the cure for the disease despite be halted if at least 75 percent of get above that minimum level with the lives of others.” Weather Service. efforts to achieve vaccination scientific studies finding it inef- the population gets a vaccine that of 70, 75 percent of the popu- Brazil’s federal government The outages could spread levels essential to halting the fective and possibly dangerous, is more than 70 percent effective. lation vaccinated, which is key has a deal to get up to 100 as the wind storm moves south pandemic and might scare off and criticized state governors Tests have shown some vaccine for life to go back to some kind million doses of the Oxford- across the state. Sempra vaccine makers negotiating testing a Chinese shot at home. candidates have a potential of normal.” AstraZeneca vaccine candidate Energy’s San Diego-area utility with local authorities. “I tell you; I will not take efficacy higher than that. Some sensitive groups, such if it works. Other developers, warned it was considering Bolsonaro also said, (any vaccine). It is my right and “Bolsonaro’s statements are as cancer patients and pregnant such as Pfizer, are reportedly shutting off power to 2,700 however, that any shot that is I am sure that Congress will not a horrible sign,” said Miguel women, may not be able to take offering deals to Bolsonaro’s homes and businesses soon. certified by Brazil’s health create difficulties for whoever Lago, executive director of COVID-19 vaccines and will still administration.