INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2, 3, 12 COMMENT 10, 11 SPORT | Page 2 ARAB WORLD 3 BUSINESS 1-8 Opec July oil INTERNATIONAL 3-9 SPORTS 1-8 GA’s partnership output surges as with Leeds Gulf voluntary DOW JONES QE NYMEX elevated by their promotion cuts end 26,428.32 9,368.17 40.42 +114.67 -3.58 +0.50 to EPL, says +0.44% -0.04% +1.25% al-Khori published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11627 August 1, 2020 Dhul-Hijjah 11, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir holds phone talk with Iraqi PM His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a Amir performs Eid al-Adha prayer telephone a conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, is Highness the Amir Sheikh HE Sheikh Dr Thaqeel Sayer al- during which they exchanged Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Shammari, judge of the Court of Cas- greetings on the occasion of the Hperformed Eid al-Adha prayer sation and Supreme Judiciary Council blessed Eid al-Adha. During the call, along with citizens at Al Wajbah pray- member, who led the prayer, delivered they reviewed bilateral relations ing area yesterday morning. the Eid sermon in which he highlighted between the two brotherly countries His Highness the Personal Repre- the merit of the Day of Sacrifi ce and and means of enhancing and sentative of the Amir, Sheikh Jassim bin doing the good deed to please Allah developing them in various fields, Hamad al-Thani, His Highness Sheikh the Almighty, noting the importance in addition to discussing the most Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE of showing kindness to people on this important developments in the region. Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani took day, even by saying kind words. They also reviewed eff orts of the two part in the prayer. He also urged worshippers to thank countries in combating the Covid-19 It was also attended by HE the Allah for the grace of Islam, for His pandemic, and in this regard, the Speaker of the Shura Council, Ahmed many blessings and for the security Iraqi prime minister thanked the Amir bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud and stability of the country, noting for the medical assistance provided and a number of Sheikhs, ministers, that the religion of Islam is based on by Qatar to Iraq, and its position in members of the Shura Council and am- moderation and following clear evi- supporting the Iraqi people. bassadors in addition to citizens. dence.- QNA Page 12 Qatar reports 107,377 Covid-19 recoveries Qatar reported 235 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and 242 recoveries in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of people who recovered from the disease in Qatar to 107,377, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement. The ministry also announced three new deaths. Page 2 Applications for entry permit from today Applications to get the ‘Exceptional Entry Permit’, a temporary service off ered to residents stuck abroad due to Covid-19, can be submitted from today on the Qatar Portal. The temporary service “allows employers, whether individuals or companies, government or private sectors, to apply for entry permits for residents and their family members holding QIDs under which they can return to Qatar”. In a related matter, the Ministry of Public Health has issued a set of guidelines for home quarantine for those returning to Qatar. Piety and precaution Besides people from Covid-19 low-risk countries, those arriving from places not on the list of low-risk countries can also undergo home quarantine provided they have obtained a Covid- mark Day 1 of Eid free certificate from an accredited testing centre no more than 48 hours By Ayman Adly ed in such a manner that people could due to the current travel restrictions. before travelling. Page 2 Staff Reporter head to the nearest place of worship to For others, the inability to spend the avoid any potential crowds. holidays outside the country provided Sports grounds open The Eid prayer took place at 5.15am, a good opportunity to spend the maxi- for 10 people at a time mid the unprecedented circum- during which proper physical distanc- mum possible time with their families stances brought about by the ing and other precautionary measures and share some quality moments. As part of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 People turned up in large numbers for the Eid al-Adha prayer yesterday. A total ACovid-19 pandemic, people in were followed around the country. The “It is certainly an Eid with a diff er- restrictions in the country, the Ministry of 401 mosques and prayer yards were allocated by the Ministry of Endowments Qatar welcomed Eid al-Adha yesterday sermon was limited to 10 minutes. ence, and we exercised due caution of Municipality and Environment (Awqaf) and Islamic Aff airs for this purpose around the country. The mosques in an atmosphere of joy and piety while As part of the measures, the doors while celebrating the occasion,” said (MME) has decided to open sports were selected in such a manner that people could head to the nearest place of observing the precautionary measures of the designated mosques and prayer an expatriate. grounds at public gardens and parks worship to avoid any potential crowds. All precautionary measures were followed put in place to prevent the spread of yards were opened to worshippers “This Eid is an opportunity to spend for a maximum of 10 people at a at these places, including the wearing of masks and maintaining of adequate Covid-19. only 30 minutes before the start of some quality moments with family time. Informing this on social media, physical distance. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil and Shaji Kayamkulam Page 12 Both citizens and expatriates ex- the prayer and closed 10 minutes after members and mark the occasion with the MME stressed the importance of pressed joy that the Eid al-Adha holi- its conclusion. Volunteers engaged in piety and joy while following the pre- strictly compliance with the preventive days coincide with the phased lifting the proceedings stressed that the vast cautionary measures prescribed by the and precautionary measures, such of Covid-19 restrictions, which started majority of people were highly co-op- authorities,” added an offi cial. as showing the ‘green’ healthy code on June 15 and has gradually been ex- erative and showed great commitment Due to the lifting of many restric- on the Ehteraz app, following the panded to include the reopening of to abide by the preventive measures, tions and reopening of shops, many instructions of security personnel, more mosques, public recreation facil- which made their job hassle-free. families were able to buy new clothes, undergoing body temperature checks, ities such as parks and beaches, malls, Meanwhile, most areas around the toys and other gifts for the loved ones - physical distancing and maintaining souqs and restaurants, resumption of a country experienced light and smooth especially children. public hygiene. Visitors should also number of activities and the easing of traffi c movement early in the morning It was generally observed that people avoid touching the surfaces. rules on public gatherings. and almost no complaints of crowds or were aware of the Covid-19 risks and Phase of the gradual lifting of re- delays were reported. paid heed to the advice of the health Warning against travel strictions started on July 28. The hot and humid weather discour- authorities on how to spend a safe Eid. to three Spanish regions In particular, the faithful expressed aged many from going outdoors during Accordingly, visits by family and joy at the reopening of mosques where the daytime, as they preferred to spend friends and Eid home receptions were The German Foreign Off ice yesterday they were able to perform the Eid prayer the day at home exchanging messages fewer than normal and the usual prac- warned against all but essential travel yesterday. A total of 401 mosques and online with - or calling - their fam- tice of hugging and shaking hands was to three Spanish regions popular with prayer yards were allocated by the ily members, friends and acquaintances. avoided to a great extent. The message tourists, following a continued rise in Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and This particularly applied to expatriates was to keep a safe distance so that eve- the number of coronavirus infections. Islamic Aff airs for this purpose around who were not able to travel to their home ryone - and the society - emerge safe In a statement, the Foreign Off ice the country. The mosques were select- countries to celebrate the Eid holidays from this pandemic. warned Germans against travelling to Catalonia, home to Barcelona, one of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations, and the Costa Brava coastline, as well as the neighbouring north-eastern regions of Aragon and Navarra. Virus eff ects to last decades, WHO says six months on British fi lm director Alan Parker dies AFP members and 12 advisers, is meeting for status as a PHEIC - its highest level of Geneva the fourth time over the Covid-19 crisis. alarm - fi rst declared on January 30. British filmmaker “It’s sobering to think that six The WHO has been sharply criti- Alan Parker, director months ago, when you recommended cised for the length of time it took to of movies ranging he WHO said yesterday that I declare a public health emergency of declare an international emergency. from Bugsy Malone, coronavirus pandemic eff ects international concern (PHEIC), there The United States, which accused a gangster comedy Twould be felt for decades as its were less than 100 cases and no deaths the organisation of being too close to featuring children emergency committee assessed the outside China.” WHO chief Tedros Ad- China, offi cially began its withdrawal armed with cream- situation six months after sounding its hanom Ghebreyesus said as the meet- from the organisation in July.