INDEX

BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-5,7,12 COMMENT 10 QATAR | Page 3

ARAB WORLD 7 BUSINESS 1-8

German INTERNATIONAL 7-9,11 SPORTS 1-8

QU among top
corporate sector DOW JONES QE NYMEX 350 universities
eyes investment worldwide
29,014.98 9,811.57 41.33
opportunities in +369.32 -39.11 -1.43 in 2021 THE
+1.29% -0.4% -3.34%
Qatar, says envoy Latest Figures rankings

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THURSDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11660
September 3, 2020
Muharram 15, 1442 AH

www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

8 held for violating Amir meets senior adviser to US president;

home quarantine
The competent authorities have
arrested eight people who violated
the requirements of the home
Qatar Airways stresses just solution to Palestinian cause

quarantine they had committed

to following, in accordance with
the procedures of the health
authorities in the country.
It is in implementation of the
precautionary measures in force
in the country, approved by health
authorities represented in the
Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to
ensure the achievement of public
safety and to curb the spread of the
novel coronavirus.
The arrested are currently being
referred to prosecution. They are:
Mansour Hadi Hajaj al-Shahwani
al-Hajri, Ahmed Abdulaziz Mohamed
Abdullah Marafieh, Munger Mannan,
Bleech Flee, Jamblely Juba, Faleh
Hadi Fahad al-Shahwani al-Hajri,
Mohamed Mubarak Mohamed al-
Rakhila al-Marri and Abdul-Rahman
Saleh Ali Abbad al-Ajji.
The authorities concerned in
the state have urged citizens
and residents who are subject to
quarantine to fully adhere to the
requirements set by the Ministry of
Public Health, to ensure their safety
and the safety of others. Anyone
who violates these conditions will
expose himself to the penalties
stipulated in accordance with the
provisions of Article (253) of the
Penal Code No. (11) of 2004.
Steroids cut Covid
death rates: study
Treating critically ill Covid-19
patients with corticosteroid drugs
reduces the risk of death by 20%,
an analysis of seven international
trials found yesterday, prompting
the World Health Organisation to
update its advice on treatment.
The analysis – which pooled data
from separate trials of low dose
hydrocortisone, dexamethasone
and methylprednisolone – found
that steroids improve survival rates
of Covid-19 patients sick enough to
be in intensive care in hospital.
“This is equivalent to around
68% of (the sickest Covid-19)
patients surviving after treatment
with corticosteroids, compared
to around 60% surviving in the
to fly to over
85 destinations
by mid-Sept
Q
atar Airways will operate over
650 weekly flights to more than
85 destinations by mid-Sep-
tember, offering “more global connec-
tivity” than any other airline.
The national carrier continues to
lead the industry in providing global
connectivity by resuming flights to just
over half the destinations it operated
pre-Covid-19.
Since the onset of the pandemic,
Qatar Airways network has never fallen
below 30 destinations with continuous
services to five continents.
During September, the airline will
resume flights to the following des-
tinations – Houston (three weekly
flights started September 2 increas-
ing to four weekly from September 15),
Kathmandu (one weekly flight starting
September 5), Mogadishu (three week-
ly flights starting September 6), Phila-
delphia (three weekly flights start-
ing September 16) and Sialkot (three
weekly flights started September 1).
The airline’s variety of fuel-efficient
aircraft and strategic network manage-
ment has also enabled it to increase fre-
quencies in the following destinations,
providing more flexible travel options
to passengers: Ankara (increased to
daily from September 1), Baghdad (in-
creasing to 11 weekly flights from Sep-
tember 3), Basra (increased to daily
flights from September 2), Djibouti (in-
creasing to six weekly flights from Sep-
tember 6), Erbil (increasing to 11 weekly
flights from September 3), Ho Chi Minh
City (increasing to daily flights from
September 15), London Heathrow (in-
creased to four daily flights from Sep-
tember 1), New York JFK (increased to
‘Qatar Airways deserves
additional frequencies’
Qatar Airways Group Chief
Executive HE Akbar al-Baker
has said his airline “should
be considered to be given a
reasonable amount of additional
frequencies so that we will be able
to keep connecting the Australian
people to the outside world.”
“We are a global connector for the
people of Australia. And we are part
of the Qantas alliance – we are part
of oneworld,” al-Baker said in his
comments on expanding Australian
services during the CAPA Australia
Pacific Aviation Summit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at his office in Al Bahr Palace yesterday with the visiting
Senior Adviser to the US President, Jared Kushner. During the meeting, they reviewed the close strategic relations
between Qatar and the United States, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern, especially the
tions via our US partners to several key peace process in the Middle East region. His Highness the Amir affirmed, during the meeting, Qatar’s position that calls
domestic points such as Atlanta, De- for a just settlement of the Palestinian cause on the basis of international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace
troit and Miami. Similarly, the increase Initiative and on the basis of the two-state solution in a way that achieves security and stability in the region. Page 2
in frequencies to Djibouti, Ho Chi Minh
City, London and New York will provide
further air freight capacity to these im-
portant trade and economic centres.
“The recovery of international travel
will take time but returning to over
50% of our pre-Covid-19 network is a
UAE caused ‘maximum suffering’
significant milestone. Restoring pas-
senger confidence is key, and we are
proud to lead the industry by offering
one of the most flexible and generous
for Qataris, UN court hears
booking policies that enables custom-
ers to plan their travel with confidence.
O ‘Punitive measures intended to bend Qatar to UAE’s political will’
By continuing to fly during the pan-
demic while others stopped, we have AFP to avoid the truth,” Mohamed Ab- Elimination of All Forms of Racial
gained the trust of passengers as an The Hague dulaziz al-Khulaifi, representing Qa- Discrimination (CERD).
airline they can rely on. tar, told the court. “The UAE’s actions go to the very
“We have taken more international “This dispute is about the UAE’s core of the evil the convention was

absence of corticosteroids,” the
researchers said in a statement.
Harry, Meghan sign
deal with Netflix
Prince Harry and Meghan have
signed a multi-year deal to make TV
series, films and children’s shows for
Netflix, as part of their new careers
away from the frontline of the royal
family. The Duke and Duchess of
Sussex, who have had to become self-
sufficient after announcing in January
that they intended to “step back”
as senior members the royal family,
have set up a production company to
develop projects for Netflix. Page 8
double daily flights from September
1), Sulaymaniyah (increased to daily
flights from September 2).
Qatar Airways Group Chief Execu-
tive, HE Akbar al-Baker said, “We are
proud to be the leading global airline
connecting passengers with the world,
operating one of the youngest, most
fuel-efficient and sustainable fleets to
take people safely to where they need
to be. The gradual rebuilding of our
network has been focused on strength-
ening connections between our hub
in Doha and key gateways around the
world as well as major business and
leisure destinations.
“The resumption of flights to Phila-
delphia will provide seamless connec-
passengers home than any other airline
during this pandemic and as entry re-
strictions ease and we resume more of
our pre-Covid-19 network, we remain
focused on our fundamental mission
of carrying passengers across the globe
safely and reliably. There are still mil-
lions of people who have not seen their
friends and families for months and our
growing network allows them to travel
home or take a trip to see loved ones.
“With a young fleet of fuel effi-
cient aircraft such as the Airbus A350
and Boeing 787 operating the major-
ity of the current network, Qatar Air-
ways continues to offer passengers a
sustainable solution for their travel
plans. To Page 12
T
he United Arab Emirates (UAE)
has inflicted “maximum suf-
fering” on Qataris as part of
the Gulf diplomatic crisis, Qatar told
the UN’s top court yesterday.
Doha alleges that measures taken
by Abu Dhabi after several Middle
Eastern states severed ties with Qatar
in 2017 breached a UN treaty against
racial discrimination.
The two energy-rich states are
arguing this week before the Inter-
national Court of Justice (ICJ) in
The Hague about whether the tri-
bunal has the jurisdiction to deal
with the case.
“The UAE seeks to avoid the juris-
diction of this court because it seeks
punitive discriminatory measures,
which are intended to bend the state
of Qatar to the UAE’s political will by
inflicting maximum suffering on the
Qatari people.”
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE
and several other allies cut relations
with Qatar after accusing it of back-
ing extremism and siding with Iran.
They imposed an effective block-
ade by land, air and sea, and ordered
the expulsion of Qatari nationals.
The alliance has issued a raft of
terms Qatar must accept before it will
lift the embargo.
Doha took the UAE to the ICJ in
2018, saying it had breached the 1965
International Convention on the
designed to eradicate,” said al-Khu-
laifi.
The ICJ, set up in 1946 to rule
in disputes between UN member
states, is expected to decide in com-
ing months whether the case can go
ahead.
A final judgement could however
take years, and while the ICJ’s rulings
are final, it has no means of enforcing
them.
The case has gone Qatar’s way so
far, with the ICJ in 2018 ordering the
UAE to take emergency measures to
protect the rights of Qatari citizens.
Doha has also won a separate but
related case at the ICJ in July that is
specifically about the air blockade.

US agency withholds
Biden health ‘report’
The US Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) yesterday defended
its decision to withhold circulation
of an intelligence report warning
that Russia was trying to portray
Democratic presidential candidate
Joe Biden as mentally unstable.
A draft of the report, headlined
“Russia Likely to Denigrate Health
of US Candidates to Influence 2020
Election,” was submitted to the
agency’s legislative and public affairs
office on July 7, according to ABC
News, which first reported the matter.
Navalny poisoned with
Novichok nerve agent
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
yesterday demanded answers from
Russia over the case of opposition
figure Alexei Navalny after Berlin
said it had proof he was poisoned
with a Novichok nerve agent. “This
has given rise to some very serious
questions that only Russia can and
must answer,” Merkel said. The
German government said Navalny,
who fell ill in Siberia in August and
was later transferred to Berlin for
treatment, had been poisoned with
a nerve agent from the Novichok
family. Page 8
Education City Stadium to Ashghal to develop Extreme performer ascends
host first official match today Al Khor link roads 30,000ft using balloons
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal)
yesterday announced the commencement
of developing 28km of Al Khor link roads
network and converting seven temporary
roads into new permanent roads. The
development works will provide greater
capacity and traffic flow in all directions,
according to a statement.
Seven roads in Wadi Al Banat, Rawdat Al
Hamama, Tenbek and Umm Garn areas will
be developed along with three in Al Daayen.
The new roads will be expanded to two and
three lanes in each direction instead of one
increasing the vehicle capacity to 8,000 per
hour and reducing the travel time between
these areas.
The roads will be linked to infrastructure
networks services such as drainage, rainwater
drainage and potable water networks in
addition to telecommunication and electricity
networks and street lighting. The new road
design also includes green spaces and
Education City Stadium will host its first official match this evening, which will extended afforestation.
be the QNB Stars League 2020/2021 season-opener between Al Sadd SC and Upon its completion in 2022, the development
Al Kharaitiyat SC. In June, a digital launch had announced the completion of works will achieve improved traffic flow in Extreme performer David Blaine performed his latest stunt
the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadium, specially programmed as a tribute the area as these roads will connect Al Khor yesterday, ascending nearly 30,000 feet into the Arizona sky while
to frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dubbed the Road to the adjacent residential areas such as hanging from a cluster of jumbo-sized balloons before parachuting
‘Diamond in the Desert’, Education City Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 and is Rawdat Al Hamama, Wadi Al Banat, Al Kheesa, safely back to earth. “It’s like magic, it feels like I’m floating in the
set to host matches up to and including the quarter-finals stage during the FIFA Al Daayen, Umm Garn and Tenbek as well as air,” Blaine said on a radio to his team of aides back on the ground
World Cup 2022. The match between Al Sadd SC and Al Kharaitiyat SC will be facilitating access to sports and recreational after gently lifting off from a desert airstrip in Page, Arizona,
played from 6.15pm today. Sport Page 1 facilities. Pages 7, 12 connected to dozens of balloons.
 Gulf Times
2 Thursday, September 3, 2020

QATAR
OFFICIAL
FM meets Jared Kushner
Awqaf ministry’s plans Amir sends cable
of congratulations
to Vietnam president

presented to Cabinet His Highness the Amir Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and
His Highness the Deputy Amir
Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad
al-Thani yesterday sent cables of

H
E the Minister of En-
dowments (Awqaf)
and Islamic Affairs Dr
Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari
presented at yesterday’s regu-
lar Cabinet meeting the strate-
gy of the Awqaf ministry, which
aims to have a comprehensive
system consolidating the noble
Islamic principles and values as
a way of life in the Qatari soci-
ety.
Following the meeting at
the Amiri Diwan, chaired by
HE the Prime Minister and
Minister of Interior Sheikh
Khalid bin Khalifa bin Ab-
dulaziz al-Thani, HE the Min-
ister of Justice and Acting
Minister of State for Cabinet
Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali
al-Nuaimi issued a statement
highlighting the details of the
proceedings, the official Qa-
tar News Agency reported.
The Awqaf ministry’s plan in-
cludes the following:
zMain result:
A comprehensive and inte-
grated system for religious call
and guidance and Islamic affairs
that consolidates the noble Is-
lamic principles and values as a
way of life in the Qatari society,
and supports the system of social
protection and human building
in accordance with the process
of sustainable development.
zStrategic goals:
1- Monitoring social challeng-
es and the contrast between Is-
lamic values and those common
Health minister
briefs Cabinet on
Covid-19 situation
HE the Minister of Public
Health, Dr Hanan Mohamed
al-Kuwari brief the Cabinet
yesterday on the latest devel-
opments as part of the efforts
to curb coronavirus (Covid-19)
in Qatar.
In this regard, the Cabinet
affirmed the continuation of
work with the precautionary
measures taken to combat
the pandemic.
within the acceptable limits of
risk, and disbursing those re-
turns in a manner that ensures
the highest social return.
3- Adopting the best social
media methodologies to moti-
vate those who must pay Zakat
on time, and collecting the max-
imum Zakat due from individu-
als and companies.
4- Developing a comprehen-
sive strategy for community
communication with clear and
specific goals to shed light on
the ministry’s role and achieve-
ments in the best possible way,
and in accordance with the high-
est professional standards.
5- Developing the best leader-
ship at all levels, and adopting
an institutional culture that is
consistent with the ministry’s
objectives and the requirements
of implementing the strategy
ised by the intensification of re-
sources as a method of solution.
zIntermediate results:
1- An advanced and effec-
tive call system that highlights
the true image of Islam and en-
trenches the approach of mod-
eration in society.
2- An integrated and effec-
tive system for teaching the Holy
Qur’an and its sciences, which
helps increase the turnout from
various groups of society to
memorise the Holy Qur’an and
the Prophet’s Sunnah, and en-
hances chances of Qataris to win
local and international competi-
tions.
3- Improved institutional
processes and effective use of
information technology that en-
able the provision of general and
distinct services to beneficiaries.
4- The system of Islamic cul-
ture as a comprehensive intel-
lectual framework that keeps
pace with the spirit of the times,
disseminates virtuous ethical
principles and values in soci-
ety, preserves its traditions and
cultural heritage, promotes the
spirit of citizenship and toler-
ance, strengthens links with the
Islamic world as well as commu-
nication and dialogue with other
cultures.
5- An effective contribution to
building a strong, cohesive and
constructive Qatari family, and
raising a generation that cher-
ishes its country and serves its
community.
tural centre.
9- Establishing an effective
Zakat management system.
10- An advanced and effective
communication and relations
system.
Following the minister’s pres-
entation the Cabinet considered
the topics on the agenda as fol-
lows:
First - Approval of the draft
decision of the Minister of Inte-
rior amending some provisions
of Minister of Interior decision
No. 105 of 2019 to form the per-
manent committee for births
and deaths, defining its func-
tions, working mechanism, pro-
cedures to be followed before it
and its remuneration.
The draft resolution stipu-
lates that the committee will be
formed as follows:
zThree representatives from
the Ministry of Interior, includ-
ing the president of the commit-
tee.
zTwo representatives from
the Ministry of Public Health,
one of whom is the deputy presi-
dent of the committee.
zA representative of the Pub-
lic Prosecution.
zA representative of the Ha-
mad Medical Corporation.
zA representative of the Or-
phan Care Center (Dreama).
Second - Approval of the draft
decision of the Minister of Fi-
nance regarding tax directives.
The draft decision falls within
the automatic exchange of infor-
congratulations to Vietnamese
President Nguyen Phu Trong on
the anniversary of his country’s
Independence Day. HE the Prime
Minister and Minister of Interior
Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Ab-
dulaziz al-Thani also sent a cable
of congratulations to the Prime
Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan
Phuc on the occasion.
PM sends cable of
congratulations to
Tunisian premier
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday met HE the Prime Minister and Min-
the Senior Adviser to the US President Jared Kushner who is ister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin
visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed relations Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani sent
between Qatar and the US, in addition to issues of common a cable of congratulations to the
concern. He affirmed, during the meeting, Qatar’s position that Prime Minister of Tunisia Hichem
calls for a just settlement of the Palestinian cause on the basis Mechichi on the occasion of form-
of international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace ing the government and swearing-
Initiative and on the basis of the two-state solution in a way in, wishing them good luck and
that achieves security and stability in the region. the Tunisian people further
progress and prosperity. – QNA
PM congratulates Sudanese
counterpart on peace pact
QNA Sudanese people on the occa- For his part, The Sudanese
Doha sion of signing the peace agree- prime minister thanked the
ment between the Sudanese leadership, government and
transitional government and a people of Qatar for their strong

in Qatari society, and promoting
the Islamic model among the
youth for a meaningful life full of
contentment and tranquility.
2- Developing a comprehen-
sive strategy to attract, manage
and invest endowment assets in
accordance with best practices
in this field in order to achieve
the largest returns possible
aimed at embodying the minis-
try’s vision.
6- Adopting information
technology, and raising the min-
istry’s efficiency to the highest
possible levels.
7 - Adopting creative methods
in solving problems and achiev-
ing results instead of relying on
traditional methods character-
6- Places of worship in all
parts of the country that have
high-quality services to perform
their role in serving the commu-
nity.
7- An efficient and distin-
guished system for managing
and co-ordinating Haj and Um-
rah affairs.
8- An integrated Islamic cul-
mation based on the provisions
of the Convention on Mutual
Administrative Assistance in Tax
Matters, which was ratified by
Decree No 14 of 2019.
Third - Approval of a draft
memorandum of understanding
between the United Nations and
Qatar regarding the provision of
junior technical staff.
H
E the Prime Minister
and Minister of Interior
Sheikh Khalid bin Kha-
lifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani held a
telephone conversation with the
Prime Minister of Sudan Dr Ab-
dalla Hamdok yesterday.
At the outset, the Prime Min-
ister and Interior Minister con-
gratulated Dr Hamdok and the
number of armed movements,
stressing that the agreement
constitutes an important step
for achieving the unity, secu-
rity and stability of Sudan.
The Prime Minister and Inte-
rior Minister expressed the hope
that the Sudanese people fulfil
their aspirations to develop-
ment, progress and prosperity.
and firm support for the Su-
danese people, mainly their
continued support to establish
peace in Sudan.
Relations between Qatar and
Sudan and ways of promoting
and developing them as well as
key regional and international
developments of mutual concern
were also discussed.
 Gulf Times
Thursday, September 3, 2020 3

QATAR
Beirut governor, mayor meet Qatar’s envoy
QU among top 350
global universities
in THE rankings
Q
atar University (QU) has
jumped 90 places and
entered the club of the
best 350 International Universi- The Governor of Beirut Judge Marwan Abboud and Mayor of Beirut Municipality Engineer Jamal Itani have separately met
ties according to Times Higher Qatar’s ambassador to Lebanon Mohamed Hassan Jaber al-Jaber. During the meetings, the losses and damage to the buildings,
Education (THE) World Univer- institutions and homes of citizens in Beirut, the mechanism of damage surveying and reconstruction following the port explosion
sity Rankings 2021.The results disaster, and the aid that arrived in Lebanon from friendly countries, were discussed. The governor and the mayor of Beirut
showed that QU has jumped up hailed the great humanitarian role played by Qatar to rescue Lebanon in the wake of Beirut Port explosion, by sending hospital
to the 301-350 band. and medical and relief aid. Meanwhile, Qatar’s ambassador also met the Secretary-General of the High Relief Commission Maj
The THE World University Gen Mohamed Khair. During the meeting, Khair praised the aid and the great support provided by Qatar to Lebanon amidst the
Rankings 2021 includes 1,527 ordeal they are going through after the port explosion. They reviewed the severe damage caused by the explosion, based on the
universities across 93 countries preliminary results of the damage survey.
and regions, standing as the
largest and most diverse univer-
sity rankings ever to date. The
table is based on 13 carefully cal-
ibrated performance indicators
that measure an institution’s
performance across teaching,
Qatar University

For QU, international ranking is PwC Middle East said, “Qatar

research, knowledge transfer
and international outlook.
This achievement consoli-
dates QU’s recent results in
rankings as the institution
a result and not a goal. Our main
goal is to prepare national lead-
ers and develop the national hu-
man capital towards building a
knowledge-based economy.”
continues to invest in its educa-
tion system, its research strength
and the caliber of its higher edu-
cation institutions, capabilities
and partnerships, reflected in
Robust growth in use of treated wastewater for farming
By Santhosh V Perumal the figures released by the Plan-
Business Reporter ning and Statistics Authority.
The treated wastewater saw
a 1.2% and 6.6% month-on-
a key parameter of sustainable The treated wastewater dis-
development. charged into lagoons in July 2020
Agrico managing director stood at 1.96mn cu m or 8% of the
Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf recently total treated wastewater reused

moved from 276 in the QS World
University Ranking in 2020 to
245 in the 2021 ranking, effec-
tively jumping 31 places, and
becoming one of the most im-
proved universities.
QU president Dr Hassan al-
Derham, said, “This is a prestig-
ious moment for QU to be ranked
among top 350 Universities glo-
bally. This jump signifies the
commitment of QU towards its
five-year strategy (2018-2022)
which maps out the routes to
achieving continuing perform-
ance excellence.”
“The participation in world-
wide rankings brings a positive
competition; it raises partici-
pants’ international standing
and improves job market for
graduates of those universities.
Phil Baty, chief knowledge
officer at THE said, “Qatar Uni-
versity has always been one of
the most internationally con-
nected universities in the world
– leading the world for our “in-
ternational outlook” category in
the World University Rankings,
with strong international con-
nections and a diverse campus
community. So it is great to see
the university rise significantly
up the rankings for 2021. This is
driven by an excellent score for
research impact – a sign of how
influential the university’s re-
search is among scholars global-
ly, based on our analysis of more
than 80 million citations across
more than 13 million research
publications.”
Roland Hancock, partner at
Qatar University being recog-
nised for its ongoing contribution
in education and research and its
increasing relevance and impact.
This strong achievement has been
made during a period when the
rules of higher education are be-
ing re-written by Covid-19 and
the resultant changes to delivery
and collaboration models.”
The performance in the THE
World University Rankings 2021
is a great achievement for QU
and is a testament to the efforts
QU has undertaken to gain inter-
national recognition. The Uni-
versity stands today as a beacon
of academic and research excel-
lence, and embraces a student
body of around 20,000 female
and male students enroled in its
various academic programmes.
Q
atar has witnessed ro-
bust growth in treated
wastewater used in agri-
culture both month-on-month
and year-on-year this July as the
country plans to develop 1.5mn
sq m of different types of green-
houses in the next two years.
The rising reuse of treated
wastewater in the farming sec-
tor comes amidst Qatar’s plans
to produce 40,000 tonnes of
vegetables as part of measures to
reduce the reliance on imports.
The country uses the most
modern membrane ultra-filtra-
tion system that helps in the re-
cycling of treated wastewater.
Qatar’s treated wastewater
stood at 24.32mn cubic metres
out of 24.33mn cu m of wastewa-
ter received in July this year, said
month and year-on-year re-
spectively in the review period.
There has been a robust reuse
of treated wastewater in agricul-
ture, a sector that has received
increased thrust and support
from the government as part of
the self-sustaining initiatives,
especially after the country
came under unjust economic
and trade embargo.
The treated wastewater reused
in agriculture increased by 10.5%
and 5% on monthly and yearly
basis respectively to 8.28mn cu m,
which accounted for 34% of the
total treated wastewater this July
(compared to 31% in June 2020).
The growth in the re-usage of
treated wastewater for agricul-
ture hints at the hydrocarbons-
rich country’s green initiatives,
said the agriculture sector in the
country has a wide area for devel-
opment and expansion, especially
for local farms that want to further
increase their production.
The treated wastewater reused
for irrigation of green spaces saw
a marginal 0.3% dip month-on-
month to 8.89mn cu m, which ac-
counted for 37% of the total treat-
ed wastewater. On a yearly basis,
the reuse for irrigation of green
spaces witnessed a 7.1% growth.
The treated wastewater re-
used in deep injection into aq-
uifers registered 14.5% and 8.6%
decline month-on-month and
year-on-year to 5.19mn cu m,
which accounted for 21% of the
total treated wastewater in July
2020 against more than 25% the
previous month.
against 6% in June 2020. Such
discharge saw 25.9% increase
month-on-month and more than
doubled on a yearly basis.
There was no discharge of
treated wastewater into sea in
July 2020.
The PSA bulletin said the wa-
ter produced grew 2% and 3.7%
to 62.96mn cu m; while con-
sumption rose 3.3% and 4.6%
respectively to 61.99mn cu m in
July 2020.
The Water Centre at the Qatar
Environment and Energy Re-
search Institute, part of Hamad
Bin Khalifa University, has been
helping Qatar in tackling its wa-
ter security challenges by con-
ducting research, development
and innovation to enhance every
step of the water cycle in Qatar.
 Gulf Times
4 Thursday, September 3, 2020

QATAR

QRCS elects new board of directors for 2020-24

Q
atar Red Crescent Socie-
ty’s (QRCS) recently-held
annual general meeting
(AGM) at the Sheikh Ali bin Ja-
bor al-Thani auditorium (head-
quarters) highlighted its achieve-
ments and elected a new board of
directors for 2020-2024.
The quorum was achieved as
stipulated by Law No. 12/2004
concerning private societies and
professional associations, and in
conformity with QRCS statute.
Presided over by QRCS presi-
dent Dr Mohamed bin Ghanem
al-Ali al-Maadheed, the meeting
was attended by secretary-gen-
eral Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi,
chief executive director engineer
Ibrahim Abdullah al-Maliki,
board members, and heads of de-
partments.
The Regulatory Authority for
Charitable Activities (Raca) was
represented by Mohamed Ali
al-Qayed, director of Risk Man-
agement and Compliance; and
Rashid al-Mohannadi, senior
legal researcher. Representa-
Members of the new board of directors of the QRCS and senior officials.
tives of the external auditing
firm Deloitte & Touche were also
present, including Medhat Salha
(partner), and Samer al-Jogol and
Tareq Alozom (audit).
After the approval of agenda
items, al-Hammadi thanked every
employee and volunteer who con-
tributed to last year’s success. Ac-
cording to him, it was by their ef-
forts that all these achievements
were possible, towards QRCS’s
humanitarian mission of helping
the vulnerable everywhere.
Dr al-Maadheed spoke of his
20-year tenure at QRCS, during
which he held several leadership
positions and concluded with the
fight against the novel coronavi-
rus (Covid-19).
“In 2000, I became a young and
ambitious secretary-general of
QRCS,” he said. “Over the years,
I learnt that your value does not
lie in how many achievements
you make. What really matters is
how much influence you have on
others’ lives. Throughout history,
prophets were the greatest ever,
because they cared for other peo-
ple and elevated them spiritually,
materially, and mentally”.
An overview was given about
the operational results of QRCS
in 2019. Engineer al-Maliki pre-
sented the data of the Relief and
International Development Di-
vision, Volunteering and Local
Development Division, and Re-
source Mobilisation Department.
The presentations on medical
services and media and digital
transformation were explained
by Abdullah al-Qatan, execu-
tive director of Medical Affairs
Division; and Ammar Mohamed,
director of Communication, re-
spectively.
In Qatar, QRCS provided so-
cial, medical, and awareness
services for more than 1.6mn
beneficiaries, at a total cost of
nearly QR331mn. Globally, 186
relief and development projects
were implemented for the benefit
of 7.7mn victims of disasters and
conflicts. The overall cost of in-
ternational operations amounted
to QR174.7mn.
Salha presented the audit report
on QRCS’s closing financial state-
ments for the fiscal year ended De-
cember 31, 2019, which were found
valid and generally conforming to
the International Financial Re-
porting Standards (IFRS).
Upon the recommendation
from external auditor, the AGM
members endorsed the audited
financial statements and dis-
charged the Board of Directors
from liability. Talal Abu-Ghaz-
aleh & Co. International was an-
nounced an external auditor for
the fiscal year ending December
31,2020.
The outgoing Board of Direc-
tors was thanked by the AGM
members, and a new board was
elected for the term 2020-2024,
under the supervision of the rep-
resentatives of RACA and exter-
nal auditor and authorised del-
egates of the AGM.
These are the names of the new
Board of Directors: president:
Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer
al-Thani, vice-president: Dr
Aisha bint Yousef al-Mannai,
secretary: Ali bin Hassan al-
Hammadi, members: Dr Khaled
Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, Omar Hus-
sain Alfardan, Dr Abdul-Salam
al-Qahtani, Mohamed Mahdi al-
Yami, Saleh Ali al-Mohannadi,
Rashid Saad al-Mohannadi, Ib-
rahim Hashim al-Sada, and Soad
Saidan al-Hamad.

Henry Jacques adds three new fragrances to Les Brumes line

Possibility of Henry Jacques has introduced

three more iconic fragrances to
its Les Brumes line: Correspond-
ance, Chalain and Xantor.
“A lighter expression of its
Rose de Mai placing a distant
Provence in perspective, before
Vanilla joins the Oud within the
trail.
Chalain “captivates with a fu-
Vanilla”. Sicilian Lemon and Ber-
gamot wrap around Cinnamon,
Cedar Wood and Patchouli.
With a spirit of adventure, Xan-
tor is a complex and unique

coronavirus
signature and most loved line sion of crisp florals, aromatic fragrance which transforms
of essences, Les Brumes offer a accords, spices and fashionable through the different seasons,
more casual and modern way Iris – with a trail of Musk and making it easy to wear through-
of enjoying great perfumery Vanilla”. Smoky undertones nod out the whole year.
with a unique ‘Splash & Spray’ towards the Orient, yet at the Previously available only in
convertible flacon,” according same time, the scent is very the more traditional form of

reinfection in to a press statement issued in

Doha by Ali Bin Ali Holding.
The fragrances are available
exclusively in Qatar at Galeries
Lafayette, 21 High st.
dous value: Rose Damascenia
and Oud invoke the Orient’s
‘Parisienne’. It is feminine but
refuses to be stereotyped and
can be enjoyed by all.
It is perfume that could be tradi-
tional and filled with history, but
Essences, Correspondance,
Chalain and Xantor now take
on a fresh dynamic thanks to
the new Les Brumes variation —
feeling brighter and more airy,

Qatar rare: study

Correspondance is a “love letter
to the spirit of travel within the
Orient, a place where romanti-
cism is conjured with precious
flowers and woods”. It is crafted
from components of tremen-
greatest elegance, while Iris
bestows a traditional European
touch.
Intensity is contrasted with
scents of the simplest beauty,
with touches of Apricots and
its layers make it extremely cur-
rent and fresh in its approach.
Xantor is “modern and mascu-
line, a youthful scent with a hint
of freshness balanced perfectly
by deep, smoky Amber and
while still possessing the strong
heart that makes every Henry
Jacques creation so distinctive.
Correspondance is priced at
QR4,225, Chalain at QR2,520
and Xantor at QR3,420.

A
study conducted among
patients who have recov-
ered from Covid-19, on
the possibility of reinfection of
the disease, has concluded that
such cases are very rare in Qatar.
A team led by Prof Laith Abu-
Raddad, professor of Infectious
Disease Epidemiology, Weill
Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-
Q), a Qatar Foundation partner
university in collaboration with
the Ministry of Public Health and
Hamad Medical Corporation,
conducted the nationwide study.
The study was conducted on
a large cohort of over 100,000
people, all of whom had con-
tracted and recovered from
Covid-19. For the purpose of
this study, all cases were tested
again after 45 days of the first
positive result. Those that test-
ed positive for the second time
were assessed to see whether
their new positive test reflected
a true reinfection.
“The study concluded that
reinfections in Qatar are rare,
occurring at a rate of less than
four in 10,000 cases. All cases
of reinfections recorded so far
have been mild, with only one
case needing hospitalisation for
a short period of time. Not a sin-
gle death in reinfected cases has
been recorded so far,” said Prof
Abu-Raddad.
“Although cases of reinfec-
tions have been recorded world-
wide, due to their low numbers
and several other factors in-
volved, we cannot rule out the
possibility that some of them
could be false positives,” said
Prof Abu-Raddad. He also high-
lighted that not enough time has
passed since the virus first struck
for the medical research commu-
nity to draw definitive conclu-
sions about reinfections.
Prof Laith Abu-Raddad
There is a possibility that
some of the reinfections de-
tected were not true reinfec-
tions. Prof Abu-Raddad ex-
plained, “It is possible that
some of those infected persons
may not have completely elimi-
nated the first infection, or one
of their tests could have been a
false positive. We plan to short-
ly start genetic sequencing of
these reinfections to compare
the genetic code of the virus in
the first infection and the rein-
fection for the final verification
on each identified reinfection.”
There has been a lot of dis-
cussion surrounding immunity
as well – some reports mention
how a drop in antibodies has
been seen two to three months
after infection, spreading con-
cern that surviving Covid-19
would offer little protection
against future coronavirus infec-
tions, some going as far as saying
a vaccine might not be effective.
“It is premature, if not dan-
gerous, to draw such conclusions
without solid evidence. In real-
ity, it is not at all unusual for an-
tibody levels to drop following an
infection. The drop in antibod-
ies is not necessarily an indica-
tion of the inability of the body
to fight the virus, rather it shows
that the immune system works
efficiently. Once it has tackled
an infection and it is convinced
that there is no need for high
levels of antibodies, it goes into
‘rest mode’, wherein antibod-
ies levels can drop. If and when
the immune system does detect
another threat, it quickly starts
producing antibodies again,”
noted, Prof Abu-Raddad.
This supports what has been
observed in Qatar so far and
may explain why all the cases
of reinfection have been mild.
There is growing evidence that
the body is able to rapidly re-
spond to the virus the second
time around, and that is be-
cause there are immune memo-
ry cells that can mount a better
and faster response.
“What we know so far is that
people do develop an immune
response – quite a strong one in
the vast majority of cases. What
is not completely clear yet is how
long the immune response lasts.
One thing of concern here is that
some of the reinfected persons
were recorded to have high viral
loads and thus can still spread
the virus to others.
“While our findings are en-
couraging, they do not mean
Covid-19 recovered patients
should assume that they have
developed long-term immu-
nity. It is important to exercise
caution, and everyone should
continue to comply with the
control measures of masking
and social distancing. Until
a vaccine is developed, these
preventive measures are our
best bet to prevent infection as
well as reinfection,” Prof Abu-
Raddad added.
Vodafone offers unique
Apple Watch trade-in plan
V
odafone Qatar is the only
entity in the country of-
fering customers the op-
portunity to trade-in their old
Apple Watch for the latest Apple
Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular),
according to a statement.
With the Vodafone Trade-
in Programme, customers can
trade-in any Apple Watch start-
ing with Apple Watch Series 2
for a credit towards the purchase
of the new Apple Watch 5 (GPS +
Cellular) Series.
Customers can trade up to
three Apple Watches and the
final sale value will be based on
fixed criteria such as model, de-
vice functionality, battery func-
tionality and screen intactness.
All customers have to do is
bring the Apple Watch/es they
want to trade-in to one of the
following Vodafone retail stores
One day road closure
The Public Works Authority
(Ashghal) has announced a
one-day closure on part of Gulf
Interchange, part of Onaiza
Street and underpass from
Civil defence Interchange to Gulf
Interchange, part of Al Diwan
Street from Al Diwan Intersection
to Kahrabaa Intersection and
part of Al Rumeila Street towards
Onaiza Street tomorrow.
The closure in co-ordination
for valuation: Villaggio Mall,
Mall of Qatar, Landmark, City
Center Doha.
To trade in their watches
safely and securely, customers
should log out of iCloud, delete
all personal information and re-
set to Factory Settings.
Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS +
Traffic is to complete the asphalt
wearing course as part of A Ring
Road and B Ring Road develop-
ment projects.
During the closure, users of the
closed sections are required to
use alternative routes as shown
on the map.
Ashghal will install road signs
advising motorists of the closure
and has requested all road users
to follow them and abide by the
Cellular) features an Always-
On display, breakthrough com-
munication, fitness and health
capabilities along with built-in
cellular to make and receive
calls even when away from your
iPhone.
Following its recent launch of
the Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS
+ Cellular), Vodafone is help-
ing customers get started with
a special introductory cellular
trial.
As part of the launch pro-
motion they will get a free six
month subscription; a serv-
ice that usually costs QR30 per
month.
All Vodafone Postpaid cus-
tomers can enjoy the cellular
trial on their Apple Watch Series
5 by pairing it to their iPhone
and enabling the eSIM to access
their in-plan benefits.
In addition to that, every Ap-
ple Watch Series 5 comes with a
free six month subscription to
Apple Music, giving customers
access to over 60mn songs in-
cluding some of the best Arabic
selections.
To learn more, visit www.vo-
dafone.qa/tradein

QNB rolls out ‘Awesome

with the General Directorate of speed limit to ensure safety.

Double Rewards’ offer Temporary traffic closure on the East Industrial Road

Q
NB Group, the largest
financial institution in
the Middle East and Af-
rica, has launched an exclusive
“Awesome Double Rewards” of-
fer for its life rewards and Qatar
Airways co-branded credit card-
holders upon using the cards,
both locally and globally during
weekends in September 2020.
QNB has launched this excit-
ing and rewarding campaign for
the first time, allowing a larger
number of customers to benefit
from it.
For any purchases made on
Fridays and Saturdays in Sep-
tember, customers will earn
twice the rewards compared to
weekday spends.
Customers holding credit
cards of the life rewards pro-
gramme will receive double
life rewards points while Qa-
tar Airways co-branded credit
cardholders will receive double
Qmiles.
The offer aligns with Qatar’s
gradual lifting of the Covid-19
restrictions, as the bank is com- The Public Works Authority (Ashghal)
mitted to continue presenting has announced a temporary traffic
exclusive offers for its customers, closure on the East Industrial Road
while providing safe, secure, and towards the tunnel to Salwa Road
fast payment solutions. between Street 35 to Street 15 from
QNB Group’s presence midnight today until 9am tomorrow.
through its subsidiaries and as- The closure in co-ordination with the
sociate companies extends to General Directorate of Traffic is to
more than 31 countries across complete installation of ITS gantries.
three continents, providing a Ashghal will install road signs
comprehensive range of prod- advising motorists of the closure
ucts and services. The total and requested all to follow them and
number of employees is more abide by the speed limit to ensure
than 29,000 operating through safety.
1,000 locations, with an ATM
network of more than 4,200
machines.

Ooredoo holds second
Beach Clean-up event
O
oredoo, Qatar’s leading
telecommunications op-
erator, has completed the
second Beach Clean-up event in
its new campaign aimed at pro-
moting protection of the envi-
ronment, in collaboration with
Friends of The Environment
Centre.
Dozens of Ooredoo volunteers
were at Zekreet Beach on Tues-
day to clean up rubbish and any-
thing not part of the natural en-
vironment, for the benefit of the
marine life to which the beach is
home, and for the many visitors
who enjoy its natural beauty.
Ooredoo’s Beach Clean-up
campaign, with the social media
hashtag #LeaveOnlySandcas-
Volunteers cleaning Zekreet Beach.
Ooredoo officials and volunteers at Zekreet Beach.
tles, is intended to encourage
beachgoers to take responsibility
for cleaning up their own rubbish
when they visit one of Qatar’s
many beaches, and ensuring the
sand is pristine when they leave.
Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari, di-
rector of public relations at
Ooredoo, said: “Once again, we
were incredibly proud to see a
large crowd of dedicated volun-
teers join us in our new sustain-
ability initiative.”
“Our corporate responsibility
strategy includes a firm commit-
ment to promoting protection of
our environment for the benefit
of future generations, and we are
delighted that so many of our
Ooredoo Family members share
our commitment,” she said.
“Despite the heat, our teams
worked solidly to clean up the
beach and make sure only sand-
castles were left behind.
“We thank them for their hard
work and look forward to many
more such events in the near fu-
ture.”
Farhood Hadi al-Hajri, execu-
tive director of the Friends of the
Environment Centre, said: “We
are very pleased to see Ooredoo,
the Ministry of Municipality
and Environment, Al Sheehani-
ya Municipality and the Public
Cleaning Department coming
together to execute this cam-
paign.
“This is not the first time that
we have launched campaigns to
clean beaches with partners, in
the framework of social respon-
sibility we apply at the Centre.
“We focus on protecting and
rehabilitating beaches, and this
campaign helps spread envi-
ronmental awareness of the im-
portance of volunteer work in
serving the environment among
members of society.
“We thank everyone who
made this happen and promise
you more campaigns to keep our
beaches spotless.”
MADLSA briefs QC
on new labour laws
Q
atar Chamber (QC)
chairman Sheikh Khalifa
bin Jassim al-Thani re-
cently presided over the meet-
ing of the QC Board of Directors
in the presence of Mohamed
Hassan al-Obaidly, the assistant
undersecretary for Labour Af-
fairs at the Ministry of Admin-
istrative Development, Labour
and Social Affairs (MADLSA).
The meeting touched upon
many topics, including the re-
cently-issued laws regarding
determining the minimum wage
for workers and domestic work-
ers, and facilitating changing
jobs as well as challenges facing
the private sector.
The meeting was also attend-
ed by QC general manager Saleh
bin Hamad al-Sharqi.
Addressing the meeting,
Sheikh Khalifa underscored the
importance of boosting co-op-
eration and co-ordination be-
tween QC and MADLSA to ad-
dress obstacles and challenges
faced by private sector compa-
nies.
On his part, al-Obaidly said
that the ministry is keen on sup-
porting business owners and the
private sector as well as protect-
ing the interests of labourers.
He praised the co-operation
of the joint committee between
the chamber and MADLSA,
noting that it reviews the obsta-
cles facing the private sector.
Al-Obaidly outlined details
of the new amendments, which
included determining the mini-
mum wage for workers and do-
mestic workers, amendments to
the labour law and amendments
to the law regulating the entry
and exit of expatriates, and their
residence.
QC and MADLSA officials at the
meeting.
He noted that these reforms
are aimed at improving condi-
tions of labour working in the
state.
With regard to amendments
aiming to facilitate chang-
ing workplace, al-Obaidly said
that there are three controls for
changing jobs which ensure the
interests of the employee and
the employer, namely the noti-
fication, non-competition, and
compensation.
“The State of Qatar has been
highly praised by many coun-
tries and international organi-
sations after issuing these laws
and amendments,” he noted.
Further, he pointed out that it
was agreed to form a joint com-
mittee between Qatar Chamber
and the ministry to discuss re-
cruitment requests and other
issues, such as a ban and any
other obstacles facing the pri-
vate sector, noting that this
committee will be responsible
for addressing all issues and
obstacles facing the private sec-
tor and related to the ministry’s
competencies.
In response to a request from
Gulf Times
Thursday, September 3, 2020 5
QATAR
EU heads of mission lauds new labour legislation
The heads of Mission of European Union (EU) Member States in Qatar
and the Delegation of the European Union accredited to Qatar have
welcomed the new legislation introducing a minimum wage and abol-
ishing No Objection Certificates (NoCs).
A statement said: “We, the EU Heads of Mission in Qatar, welcome
the historic decision taken by the Qatari authorities to introduce a
non-discriminatory minimum wage, including for domestic workers,
making Qatar the first country in the region to take this step.
“We also welcome the decision taken by the Qatari authorities to
end the requirement for migrant workers to obtain their employer’s
consent to change jobs and to abolish the so-called No Objection
Certificates.
“We commend the Qatari authorities for delivering on their commit-
ment to improve the situation of migrant workers with a series of semi-
nal reforms of Qatar’s labour market and for effectively dismantling
the kafala system.
“We appreciate the continued commitment of the Qatari authorities,
in particular the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and
Social Affairs to the effective implementation of its labour reforms and
commend the International Labour Organisation’s Qatar Office for its
crucial support (https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/lang--en/
index.htm).
“These new pieces of legislation are an important step in this process.
“The EU and its Member States continue to stand ready to support
Qatar in the implementation of these reforms.”
the QC, al-Obaidly revealed the ban will only be on the violating
ministry’s decision to lift the commercial register, especially
ban on companies affiliated with with regard to delaying the pay-
a violating company, so that the ment of salaries.
 Gulf Times
6 Thursday, September 3, 2020
HOL STIC
Wellbeing
Working out at home
By Bia Feroz
Whether you want to strengthen
your core, create long, lean mus-
cles, or add a low-impact work- out
to your exercise regimen, these
exercises can help! Above all,
these will focus on teaching you
to stabilise and strengthen your
core, and this is one of the most
important things you can do for
your fitness. All of these functional
activities require good stability
that comes from your middle. And
the more stability and strength
you have, the less prone to injury
you’ll be.
Air Squats:
Air squats, also known as body
weight squats are a staple begin-
ner move for working the lower
body. For air squats, stand with
your feet slightly wider than shoul-
der width apart and your knees
and toes facing straight ahead.
Squat down in the same way
you’d sit into a chair - by pushing
your hips back, then bending
your knees. Go as low as you can
without your heels coming off the
floor or your back rounding, then
push back up again.
Planks:
One of the best core exercises
out there is the plank. Start on the
floor on your hands and knees.
Lower your forearms to the floor
Air Squats
V-up
Planks
Burpees
with elbows positioned under
your shoulders and your hands
shoulder-width apart. If someone
looked at you from the side, your
arms would form a 90-degree
an- gle. Step your feet back, one
at a time. Maintain a straight line
from heels through the top of your
head, looking down at the floor,
with gaze slightly in front of your
face. Now, tighten your abs and
hold.
Burpees:
Burpees are one of those exer-
cises that everybody loves to hate,
but they offer so many benefits.
Bend over or squat down and
place your hands on the floor in
front of you, just outside of your
feet. Jump both feet back so that
you’re now in plank position. Drop
to a push- up, your chest should
touch the floor. You can also drop
to your knees here, which makes
the impending push-up easier.
Push up to return to plank posi-
tion. Jump the feet back in toward
the hands and explosively jump
into the air, reaching your arms
straight overhead.
V-Up
Lie faceup on the floor with your
legs and arms straight. In one
movement, lift your toes and legs
as if you’re trying to touch your
toes. Lower your body back down.
„ The author is an aspirational
athlete..
25
By Sanah Thakur
T
wenty-five. What an inter-
esting age. Maybe it’s just
interesting because it’s my
age right now and paying atten-
tion to anything relevant to your
life, is reason enough to convince
you it’s worth your time. Another
story we like to tell ourselves. I’ve
been thinking a lot about this age,
but not just staying focused on the
number. The number is just a way
in which I can evaluate or highlight
this segment of my life. I guess
age is a way in which our memory
helps us compartmentalise our
life according to time. Otherwise
imagine how much would over-
lap, if we didn’t have markers on
every 5km our memory decided
to run in this marathon of time?
We wouldn’t be able to recall what
happened on our 10th birthday,
our teenage years or when we re-
alised puberty was a reality. I’ve
been observing myself at this stage
of time because I’ve been noticing,
specifically, how defining people’s
view of your age can have on your
behaviour. Since we are mostly
perceived by such external char-
acteristics, like age, that we think
make us who we are, it’s important
to understand the way the world
sees us. To notice it and be aware
of it.
Twenty-five is perceived as
young. It’s also perceived as re-
sponsible because you’re granted
the most ‘responsible’ privileges
at this age. People don’t take you
too seriously, but they take you
seriously enough to be intrigued
or entertained by the things you
say. They don’t take you seri-
ously, because seeing potential
in something is more comforting
than knowing that this potential is
building and becoming concrete.
Wake up call
By Shefa Ali
Its 12:50 London time on Wednes-
day, I am sitting down to write my
Are you an addict?
By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi
Addiction refers to the pattern of
behaviour that causes negative
consequences for the person. Many
people believe that addiction only re-
fers to those who have an irresistible
and overwhelming needs for specific
substances or obsessive behaviour.
But it is easy for someone to become
addicted to almost anything!
What is addiction?
It can be harder than it looks to
recognise an addiction in someone.
According to the American Society
of Addiction Medicine, addiction can
be defined as a chronic disorder that
affects the brain’s rewards, memory,
and motivation functions. A person
with an addiction will desire for a
substance or other behavioural
habits. An addict often disregards
other aspects of life to support their
desires.
Generally, an addict can show signs
such as, unable to stay away from
specific behaviour or substance, lack
of control, less socialisation like ig-
Once the tower of action has been
built and it’s overshadowed your
own structure, you don’t like this
potential anymore. It’s block-
ing your view and it’s constructed
with newer technology. When
you’re 25, you’re seen as potential,
so anyone elder than you is com-
forted by the fact that this idea of
a building could potentially not
become something. We love lying
down in the bed of empty promis-
es, because even though you might
not want to sleep there every
night, it’s better than the unmade
bed you left at your place. I’ve no-
ticed, not many people want to
take me seriously, because if they
did, they might have to re-evaluate
their own lives or how seriously
they take themselves. Most peo-
ple I interact with, have no long-
term goals (neither did I, until I
was challenged to think about it).
They’ve systematically followed a
plan and consequentially, they let
this memory marker, or age, allow
them to use their neatly arranged
and timely ordered memories to
parallel with yours. They com-
ment on the mix tape of your life by
comparing any song you decide to
play, with a track from the differ-
ent tapes they collected over their
lives. The genre might be the same,
but the lyrics, the artists, the beats
— they’re from a different ‘time’.
It’s hard to make people conscious
of their reality, separate from their
age. They’re so blind to the objec-
tivity of comparing conscious-
column. I am in my unicorn onsie,
my hair is wet from shower and I
am sipping on my turmeric latte.
Usually, when back in Doha, I
would never be in such a relaxed
state at this time.
Since childhood, I have been a
morning person, on the occasion
when I sleep in past 7am, I literally
feel guilty about it.
For centuries, our society has
been founded on the principle
that mornings are when impor-
tant things get done. Office hours
are designated in Qatar to start at
7am and London 9am. I can only
noring relationships, or abandoning
commitments, ignoring risk factors,
such as sharing needles even with
potentially harmful consequences,
physical effects, including needing
higher dosage for effect or with-
drawal symptoms. The intensity
of each symptom depends on the
length of addiction someone has
been going through.
Types of addiction:
Behavioural addictions such as
the Internet and mobile phone ad-
dictions, are also serious threats
to human health and lifestyle.
Behavioural addiction is the
compulsive, self-destructive, and
recurring behaviour to an extent
that results in harmful effects on
the personal and social life of an
individual, as well as the physical
and mental health.
Behavioural addictions are as
consequential as substance ad-
ness. Imagine, somebody elder,
questions you on your plan for the
next 10 years. They’re asking your
potential this question, not you,
because remember, they don’t take
you seriously yet. So, this poten-
tial will answer in maybes, hope-
fully, I dream or believe in. But for
a minute, imagine you did have
an answer. A carefully thought
about, well-constructed and re-
alistic vision of your life, that you
supported with the evaluation and
analysis of the reliability of your
skills. You knew what you wanted,
how long it would take and what
steps you needed to get there. You
explain this elaborate plan to this
individual and they smile or laugh,
with discomfort or well concealed
surprise at your answer. They then
wish you all the best or encourage
your potential, to work towards it.
Then to feel better about them-
selves, they give you some advice
from a random tape, to help you
“feel” better about this album you
haven’t even recorded yet. If you
haven’t even created the song you
know is going to be your goal, how
is a pre-recorded song supposed
to motivate you, when you don’t
know what this other song is going
to sound like. That would mean,
you’re not happy with the direc-
tion it’s taking anyway and you
needed to hear a similar version to
feel better about your own poten-
tial. But if you already know what
it will sound like, you’re probably
not even listening unless it’s close
imagine how that makes a non-
morning person feel; a frantic post
alarm rush to get ready and start
the commute or drive to work,
yawning as they go.
Since quitting the corporate world
in 2018, I work for myself and
pretty much set my own daily
schedule, but never the less I still
stick to a 7am start.
Lockdown has enabled many
people to experience working
from home, it makes me wonder if
it really matters what time people
start their day, as long as their
deadlines are met.
dictions. Both types of addictions
result in dependency and have
similar adverse effects and negative
consequences. Behavioural addic-
tion includes addiction to things like
mobile phones, working, shopping,
video games, using social media, or
others. Regardless, it is essential to
understand the warning symptoms
and get help if needed.
Internet Gaming:
Addiction to the Internet is a
comparatively a new finding, but it
doesn’t mean that it’s less danger-
ous. According to Kimberly Young,
Psy D, Clinical Director of the Centre
for Internet Addiction, obsessive
gaming exactly meets the criteria of
addiction. Young said that children
may become aggressive, depressed,
or angry if parents stop them from
playing games and they can cry and
refuse to sleep or eat or do anything
else!
to your vision. Metaphors apart,
it’s always better to encourage the
possibility of something than to
deal with your own discomfort
when you realise the reality of
something.
In this observation, it’s also es-
sential to look at the group be-
haviour and interaction between
25 year-olds, mostly through
conversations. Conversations are
mirrors of comparison. You aren’t
comparing yourself on husbands,
kids, loans, homes, furniture, dogs
or promotions yet. Having even
the smallest amount of clarity,
like knowing exactly how I like my
coffee or the type of newspaper I
would read, or the books I associ-
ate myself with or the materials
that now suit me, makes you feel
more sorted out than your friends.
It’s all about the accessories of
self-development at this stage.
You know, how deeply you’re
planning to think about yourself,
where exactly you’re planning
to take your life and how much
you’ve done vs how much you’ve
talked about it. I guess though at
25, you could get away with just
talking about it. Responsibility
changes the game though. That’s
the tough part. So the more re-
sponsible your complaint at 25
sounds, the more serious people
will take you.
If you don’t realise the power
of a time marker on your life and
how it can start marking other
areas of your life in the future,
I feel like there is a judgment
on non- morning people, some
people dismiss them as lazy, or
that they simply can’t be bothered
to get out of bed. When infact that
may not be the case at all, maybe
they simply produce more effec-
tive work later on in the day.
Scientific research has shown that
we all have different circadian
rhythms and that our unique
internal clocks determine whether
we are morning or night people.
Most of the time, you are an aver-
agely functioning adult; laziness is
not a factor at all.
Mobile phone addiction:
When a person spends more time us-
ing a mobile phone than interacting
with the real world, or can’t control
him or herself from using a mobile
phone,it has negative consequences
in your life, then it is time to recon-
sider technology use as the chances
are that you are a mobile addict!
Smartphone addiction, also known
as nomophobia meaning the fear
of being without a smartphone is
often geared up by Internet addic-
tion disorder or Internet overuse
problem. After all, it is not the tablet
of the phone itself that generates the
problem but the apps, games, and
online world that connect us to.
Shopping Addiction:
Addiction to shopping features
excessive money and time spent on
shopping, not mentioning the activi-
ties and hiding purchases. Shopping
addicts feel a high sense of excite-
ment from buying different things.
Shopping may also bring on feelings
of emptiness, helplessness, depres-
sion, anger, and the terrible need to
create a sense of control. A person
addicted to shopping purchases
frivolous stuff and feel extremely
guilty about it later!
Difference between passion and
addiction:
Our many daily activities and behav-
iours represent our motivations, aspi-
rations, and passions for growth and
improvement. Passion is a measure
of a person’s enthusiasm and delight
for a highly desirable goal of life
that he/she pursues with pleasure
you’re pretty much going to
waste your time. You’ve got the
energy, the time, the no respon-
sibility lifestyle to take advantage
of, when you’re 25. Or at least
when you’re in this phase. And
people want to distract you so
you don’t have time to develop
your own potential of this energy,
resources and time. I get it, we all
want to be around the possibil-
ity of things, the exciting energy
of something NEW that is stable
enough but constantly surprises
you. But I’m not interested. I find
my own self interesting. And why
shouldn’t I? If we were left in a
jail cell, this statement would
suddenly be the only thing you’d
need to survive mentally. To be
able to find yourself, your mind
and your thoughts interesting. I
think about jail a lot. Maybe be-
cause it’s such a condition no one
would ever want be in. So much
time and nothing to do. You’d re-
ally need to rely on this one thing
we want to constantly ignore,
wouldn’t we?
The reason I wrote this col-
umn, is because I felt it was im-
portant we realise that self-care
in our life starts building distinc-
tively at this time. Your prefron-
tal cortex is fully developed by
this age. Which means your own
brain is aware that it’s got some
pretty big responsibility in this
life and decisions to make. The
reality is, you can’t give up this
time. You absolutely can’t. This
period of learning and testing is
just too important for your brain
right now. Especially since, most
decisions don’t have an impact
on anyone under your responsi-
bility, yet. Invest in it. Test it out.
Make those uncomfortable deci-
sions right now in the real sense,
so you can use the time to follow
them to their logical conclusions
and even the resources to manage
damage control. Otherwise later
on, you’re just going to be deal-
ing with other people, who never
gave their brain this time and are
therefore novices in acting and
testing out their decisions. And
trust me, you don’t want to be in
that position.
„ The author can be contacted on
Instagram @sincerelysanah
The usual categorisation between
morning or night person, doesn’t
apply to some people. They are
neither, they don’t particularly like
early morning starts but neither
do they love 2am bedtimes, they
are in-between the two, they
might be afternoon or evening
people.
If you were Prime Minister and it
was up to you, what time would
you start the working day?
„ The author is a consultant and
coach. Instagram handle: @miss_
shefa, Website: missshefa.com
and excitement for satisfaction and
self-fulfilment.
Moderation and balance are the key
components when we talk about a
passionate behaviour. The balance
disrupts when a person loses control,
satisfaction, a sense of fulfilment and
joy, but obsessively and uncontrol-
lably continue to engage in that
behaviour despite negative effects
on physical, mental, social, and finan-
cial life, that is termed as addictive
behaviour!
Addiction treatment:
We have learned about the various
forms of addiction that people can
be affected by. They all have one
thing in common, and that is that
they have harmful consequences for
addicts. Addiction is a disease that
can be treated with professional help.
In the case of substance addiction,
an individual needs to go through a
programme of detoxification. Recov-
ery from substance addiction needs
an addict to stay away from that
substance to maintain their recovery.
In contrast, for behavioural addicts
like people addicted to the internet,
social media, or an eating disorder,
it is not possible to completely stay
away from those things for which
they have an addiction. They need to
know how to manage their behavio-
ral habits to prevent addiction.
Ask yourself now, are you an addict?
„ The author is a consultant in Public
Relations and Personality Types.
Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill

Tunisia lawmakers
approve new govt
AFP
Tunis
T
unisia’s parliament ap-
proved the country’s third
government in less than
a year yesterday, overcoming
discontent among lawmakers
incensed by how the administra-
tion was formed and averting the
threat of disruptive early elec-
tions.
Former interior minister
Hichem Mechichi was confirmed
as premier after his cabinet,
dominated by independent tech-
nocrats, secured support from
nearly two-thirds of the cham-
ber’s deputies overnight.
The 46-year-old has pledged
to revitalise a tourism-reliant
economy that has been hit hard
by the coronavirus pandemic
and said after the vote that his
government would be able to
“move forward” provided it was
not bogged down in political
tensions. Tunisia’s parliament
is deeply divided and many law-
makers were angry that Mechichi
bypassed the major political fac-
tions in building his cabinet.
But the Ennahdha party, the
biggest bloc in parliament, said
Miqdam Camp receives 14th
batch of national service cadets
QNA
Doha
M
iqdam Camp received
the 14th batch of
the National Service
Academy cadets yesterday.
The training period lasts for a
year divided into three training
phases.
The first includes basic train-
Closure of a part of the road linking
Al Ebb Street, Rawdat Al Hamama
T
he Public Works
Authority (Ashghal)
has announced a
temporary closure for eight
months from September 6
of a 3km stretch of the road
linking Al Ebb Street and
Rawdat Al Hamama area.
During the closure in
co-ordination with the
General Directorate of
Traffic, the road will be
closed to traffic coming
from Al Tarfa Street and
Al Ebb Street in the direc-
tion of Rawdat Al Hama-
ma and vice versa.
The objective is to allow
the implementation of the
road development work
between Al Khor Road and
Rawdat Al Hamama area.
During the closure pe-
Iran hails support for nuclear deal against US
AFP
Tehran
I
ran’s President Hassan Rou-
hani yesterday hailed the
show of unity by parties to
a 2015 nuclear deal, after they
defeated US efforts to restore
international sanctions. Britain,
China, France, Germany, and
Russia — dubbed the “4+1” —
hours before the vote that it
would back Mechichi “despite
reservations”. Political scientist
Chokri Bahria, from the think
tank Jossour, said Mechichi
would be able to lead a govern-
ment with “a support base that
should allow it a few months of
stability”.
Tunisia has been praised as a
rare success story for the Arab
Spring uprisings that swept the
region in 2011, bringing down its
long-time president Zine El Abi-
dine Ben Ali. But it is now mired
in social and economic crisis,
with the official unemployment
rate at 18%, and in need of new
assistance from the International
Monetary Fund.
Mechichi, a lawyer by training,
named judges, academics, public
servants and business executives
to his cabinet. Ennahdha and
others had instead demanded a
“political” government that re-
flects the balance of parties and
factions in parliament.
The chairman of Ennahdha’s
advisory board, Abdelkarim Ha-
rouni, said the party would back
Mechichi “given the difficult sit-
uation of the country” but would
then seek to “develop and reform
this government”.
ing, physical fitness, infantry
military training, disassembly
and installation of weapons,
shooting, self-defence skills,
swimming, battle and field
skills.
As for the second phase, it
includes specialised training
on a type of the Qatar Armed
Forces.
The third phase enhances
military skills and academic
riod, those coming from Al
Tarfa Street in the direc-
tion of Rawdat Al Hamama
can turn right to Al Ebb
Street, use Wadi Al Banat
intersection on Al Khor
Road or turn left and use
Street 245 known as Arab
League Street to reach
their destination.
Motorists coming from
Al Majd Road in the direc-
tion of Rawdat Al Hamama
area can use Rawdat Al
Hamama intersection on
Al Khor Road to reach their
destination.
Ashghal will install road
signs advising motorists of
the closure and request-
ed all to follow them and
abide by the speed limit to
ensure safety.
are struggling to save the accord
after the United States with-
drew from it in 2018.
Washington unilaterally re-
imposed sanctions on the Is-
lamic republic. Iran has stepped
up its nuclear activities in the
past year in retaliation for
Washington’s pullout from the
deal, officially known as the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action, or JCPOA.
QATAR/ASIA/REGION/ARAB WORLD
Suga announces PM run
AFP
Tokyo
J
apan’s chief cabinet secre-
tary Yoshihide Suga formally
announced his bid to become
the country’s next prime minis-
ter yesterday, with growing par-
ty support making him the race’s
clear favourite.
Suga unveiled his candidacy
following days of speculation
about his plans and shortly af-
ter the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party set a September 14 vote
on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
successor.
A parliamentary vote will
follow two days later, with law-
makers expected to endorse the
new LDP leader as prime min-
ister.
Suga pledged to “do my ut-
most to continue the work of
party leader Abe, who poured
his spirit and strength into the
job”.
Abe announced last week
he would step down for health
reasons, and Suga warned that
“in this national crisis, there
must not be a political vacu-
um”. “There is not a moment
to waste.” The 71-year-old has
long been mooted as a poten-
education in co-ordination
with Qatar University and a
number of educational institu-
tions in the country.
The National Service Acad-
emy receives every year a
batch of high school gradu-
ates, and this year it received
a large number of cadets, with
all preventive and precaution-
ary measures taken by a medi-
cal team from the armed forces
“Fortunately, yesterday in Vi-
enna, the 4+1 clearly stated that
they stand by the JCPOA and
that America does not have the
right to misuse it,” Rouhani said
in remarks to the weekly cabi-
net meeting broadcast on state
television. “They have not only
pulled out of the JCPOA but also
punished whoever has abided by
it.” Rouhani called Washington’s
drive to reimpose UN sanctions
tial successor to Abe – having
served for years as his close ad-
viser, government spokesman
and policy co-ordinator. Now
that many of the LDP’s most
powerful factions have coa-
lesced around him, experts said
Suga appears to have an almost
insurmountable lead in the race.
He won’t run unchallenged,
with former defence minister
Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy
chief Fumio Kishida already an-
nouncing they will stand.
And whoever inherits the top
job will face a raft of challenges,
from the coronavirus pandemic
and a tanking economy, to en-
suring the postponed Tokyo Ol-
ympic Games can go ahead. The
LDP has opted for a scaled-back
leadership vote that will not in-
clude rank-and-file members,
instead polling only MPs and
three representatives from each
of the country’s 47 prefectures.
The decision has elicited some
criticism, but party officials said
it would take too long to organise
a broader vote.
Experts said the format fa-
vours Suga, who lined up sup-
port even before he made his
candidacy official.
His selection “is increasingly
assured, as the LDP’s factions
medical services, to conduct
a PCR examination, to make
sure the recruits are free from
coronavirus (Covid-19), in ad-
dition to sterilisation measures
and a commitment to wearing
masks and ensuring a safe dis-
tance between them, in order
to complement the efforts and
precautionary measures taken
by Qatar to prevent and limit
the spread of the coronavirus.
against Iran “futile and childish.”
European Union senior official
Helga Schmid, who chaired the
talks in Vienna, said the par-
ticipants were “united in resolve
to preserve” the nuclear agree-
ment. Schmid said that the US
cannot launch the process to
reimpose UN sanctions on Iran
using a Security Council resolu-
tion enshrining a deal they have
abandoned.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary and ruling Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker, answers questions of the media
during a news conference to announce his candidacy for the party’s
leadership election, in Tokyo, Japan.
– with the exception of the
factions headed by rival candi-
dates Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio
Kishida – have lined up behind
Suga”, said Tobias Harris, a Ja-
pan expert at Teneo consultan-
cy, in a note. Suga has effectively
been the face of the government
for years as its chief spokes-
man. This has meant his own
personal views on policy mat-
ters remain somewhat opaque,
though he is widely viewed as a
pragmatist with no strong ideo-
Ashghal resumes Customer
Zone work with 30% capacity
I
n line with the fourth phase
of lifting Covid-19 restric-
tions, the Public Works Au-
thority (Ashghal) has resumed
work at the Customer Zone with
a capacity of 30%.
The works are carried out
while maintaining all the neces-
sary precautionary measures, it
was announced on social media
yesterday. Ashghal is ensuring
that the number of custom-
ers per branch does not exceed
15 at a time. The official open-
ing hours are from 7.30am to 12
noon.
Ashghal has taken measures
to protect workers involved in its
projects from Covid-19. Regular
inspection tours are initiated at
the workplaces while instruc-
tions are followed by companies
to maintain the safety of workers
at work sites. All precautionary
measures are taken for the project
workers in the housing and daily
checks made to ensure the health
and safety of workers.
Lebanon PM designate
pledges to form ‘expert
govt’ in record time
AFP
Beirut
L
ebanon’s prime minister
designate Mustapha Adib
pledged to form a ‘govern-
ment of experts’ to drive des-
perately needed reforms in the
disaster-hit and economically
ailing country.
His announcement came after
a high-profile visit by Emmanuel
Macron during which the French
president said political leaders
had agreed on a reform road map
involving a government being
put together within two weeks,
following last month’s devastat-
ing blast in the port of Beirut.
“As I leave Beirut, I want to say
again and with conviction: I will
not abandon you,” Macron said in a
statement as he flew out yesterday.
The last government re-
signed in the face of public an-
ger over the August 4 explosion
that killed at least 190, wounded
thousands and laid waste to en-
tire districts of the capital. “We
hope that we will quickly suc-
ceed in forming a government
made up of a coherent team that
is focused on dealing with the
many dossiers before us,” Adib
said in a televised statement after
concluding initial consultations.
“We will proceed from the prin-
ciple that the government should
be a government of experts.”
Government formation is usu-
ally a drawn-out process in mul-
ti-confessional Lebanon where a
Thursday, September 3, 2020
logical leanings.
He has been close to Abe for
more than a decade, and was a
key voice encouraging him to
run again after a disastrous first
term in office that ended in 2007.
Former foreign minister Kish-
ida, 63, was in the past consid-
ered Abe’s favoured successor.
But the outgoing prime min-
ister has said he will not en-
dorse a candidate, and Kishida’s
limited public profile is likely
to leave him struggling to chal-
Ashghal has resumed work at the Customer Zone with a capacity of
30%.
Ashghal is ensuring that the number of customers per branch does
not exceed 15 at a time.
complex political system seeks to
share power between different re-
ligious groups. But the country’s
deadliest peacetime disaster has
created intense pressure for swift
reforms to lift it out of its worst
economic crisis in decades.
Adib started meeting parlia-
mentary bloc leaders yesterday,
as Pope Francis warned Leba-
non faced “extreme danger that
threatens the very existence of
the country”. “Lebanon cannot
be abandoned to its solitude,” the
pope said.
Lebanese lawmakers rushed
to approve the nomination of the
little-known 48-year-old dip-
lomat on Monday just hours be-
fore the French president landed.
Under Lebanon’s power-sharing
system, the country’s main reli-
gious communities usually agree
on a new government lineup be-
fore its announcement.
President Michel Aoun yester-
day said that Macron’s “drive” to
help Lebanon “must be matched
by an honest Lebanese determi-
nation to help ourselves and to
form a capable and transparent
government as soon as possible.”
The forthcoming government, the
president said, should take “im-
mediate steps towards reform.”
Gebran Bassil, the president’s
son-in-law and head of the Free
Patriotic Movement said that
ministerial portfolios in the new
cabinet should not be reserved
for specific parties as had been
the case in the past. Lebanon’s
worst economic crisis since the
Gulf Times
7
A parliamentary
vote will follow
two days later,
with lawmakers
expected to
endorse the new
LDP leader as
prime minister
lenge the likes of Suga. Ishiba,
63, polls well with the general
public but is less popular among
party members. He once left the
LDP – spending time as both an
independent and briefly join-
ing another party – and many
within the ruling bloc have not
forgiven the political dalliance.
None of the three back policies
that vary much from the gov-
ernment’s existing line, though
Kishida and Ishiba have both al-
ready spoken about the need to
ensure that economic stimulus
helps all parts of society.
Japan’s economy was in re-
cession even before the corona-
virus hit, and the government
has been harshly criticised for
its response to the pandemic, in-
cluding an embarrassing U-turn
on dispersing stimulus funds.
1975-1990 civil war has seen
poverty rates double to more
than half the population, sent
prices soaring and trapped peo-
ple’s savings in the banks. Visit-
ing to mark the centenary of the
former French protectorate, Ma-
cron strove to push for political
change without being perceived
as meddling in the country’s af-
fairs. But Lebanese newspaper
‘Al-Akhbar’ complained the
French president had behaved
like the “supreme leader of the
Lebanese republic” on his visit.
Macron promised to host two
conferences in Paris in the second
half of October — one to help drum
up aid and the other to discuss
progress on political reforms. He
said he would be back in Lebanon
in December. International donors
on August 9 pledged more than
250mn euros (around $300mn)
in emergency aid, during a video
conference jointly organised by
France and the United Nations.
Analyst Karim Bitar said that,
considering the unusual speed
with which the prime minister was
nominated, Lebanon could have a
new government within the next
few weeks. “Everyone in Leba-
non now realises that we no longer
have the luxury of time, that the
clock is ticking,” he said.
“I do think that the French
pressure will lead to some forms
of change in the short term be-
cause Lebanon is in such a dif-
ficult financial” situation, but
such changes risked being only
“cosmetic reforms”, he said.
 Gulf Times
8 Thursday, September 3, 2020

AMERICAS/BRITAIN/EUROPE

White House slams WHO over criticism US puts

Reuters
Washington
T
he White House has
pushed back on concerns
expressed by the World
Health Organisation (WHO)
after a US health official said a
coronavirus vaccine might be
authorised for use without com-
pleting full trials.
Covid-19 respiratory disease.
About 172 countries are en-
gaging with the WHO’s Cov-
id-19 vaccine plan to ensure
equitable access to vaccines,
known as COVAX.
“The United States will con-
tinue to engage our international
partners to ensure we defeat
this virus, but we will not be
constrained by multilateral or-
ganisations influenced by the
FDA’s gold standard for safety
and efficacy, is thoroughly test-
ed, and saves lives,” he said, re-
ferring to the US Food and Drug
Administration.
The global effort to develop
a vaccine against the virus that
has killed more than 858,000
people has seen recent launches
of late-stage clinical trials, as
work on treatments has also ac-
celerated.
Head of Global Policy, said in a
statement.
“Economic recovery is not
possible if large parts of the
world are still shut down. The US
will not be able to bounce back if
its allies and trading partners are
still suffering,” Harris said.
There is no approved coro-
navirus vaccine, except one au-
thorised in Russia before large-
scale trials.
as long as officials are convinced
that its benefits outweigh the
risks.
On Monday, WHO officials
said rushing out a vaccine could
pose risks.
“If you move too quickly to
vaccinate ... millions of people,
you may miss certain adverse ef-
fects,” said Mike Ryan, the head
of WHO’s emergencies pro-
gramme.
top ICC
for the pre-qualification of vac-
cines.
US President Donald Trump
has been critical of the WHO’s
official on
handling of the coronavirus
pandemic, accusing it of being
too focused on China and issu-
blacklist
ing bad advice.
In May, Trump announced the Reuters
US was cutting ties to the WHO. Washington
Phase III trials involving tens
of thousands of healthy volun-

The White House also said
that the United States would not
join a global effort to develop,
manufacture and distribute a
coronavirus vaccine because of
the WHO involvement.
The coronavirus causes the
corrupt World Health Organisa-
tion and China,” White House
spokesman Judd Deere said in a
statement on Tuesday.
“This president will spare
no expense to ensure that any
new vaccine maintains our own
“It is disappointing that the
US has decided not to join COV-
AX.
“The only way we’re going to
end this pandemic is if countries
work together,” Alex Harris, the
Wellcome Trust health charity’s
FDA Commissioner Stephen
Hahn told the Financial Times
in an interview published on
Sunday that his agency was pre-
pared to authorise a coronavirus
vaccine before large-scale Phase
III clinical trials were complete,
WHO chief scientist Soumya
Swaminathan said the FDA’s ap-
proach was “not something that
you do very lightly”.
She said the WHO’s preferred
approach would be to have a full
set of data that could be used
teers that test experimental vac-
cines against a placebo are con-
sidered necessary to determine
safety and efficacy before they
are given to hundreds of millions
people to prevent or lessen the
severity of Covid-19.
T
he US has imposed sanc-
tions on International
Criminal Court (ICC)
prosecutor Fatou Bensouda,
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
said, over her investigation into
whether American forces com-
mitted war crimes in Afghani-
stan.
Pompeo also said Phakiso Mo-
chochoko, the head of the ICC’s
Jurisdiction, Complementa-

Navalny poisoned with

rity and Co-operation Division,
had also been blacklisted under
sanctions authorised by Presi-
dent Donald Trump in June.
“Today we take the next step,
because the ICC continues to
target Americans, sadly,” Pom-
peo told reporters.

nerve agent: Germany

Pompeo also said that individ-
uals and entities that continue
to materially support Bensouda
and Mochochoko would risk ex-
posure to sanctions as well.
UN Secretary-General Anto-
nio Guterres was concerned by
AFP von der Leyen criticised a “des- on a ventilator. his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Pompeo’s announcement, UN
Berlin picable and cowardly act – once Doctors say that over time southwest England, using a spokesman Stephane Dujarric
again”. the body can clear out the nerve Novichok nerve agent. told reporters.
“The Russian people have agent, which disrupts commu- The Skripals spent days in a Dujarric said that “we trust

G
ermany said yesterday
that Russian opposition
leader Alexei Navalny
was poisoned with a Novichok
nerve agent, leading Chancel-
lor Angela Merkel to demand
answers from the Kremlin and
sparking widespread condem-
nation in the West.
“It is certain that Alexei Nav-
alny is the victim of a crime. He
was meant to be silenced and I
condemn this in the strongest
possible terms, on behalf of the
German government,” she said.
The latest in a long line of at-
tacks on Russian defectors and
opposition figures sent tensions
between Moscow and the West
spiralling, with Merkel saying
that there are now “some very
serious questions that only Rus-
sia can and must answer”.
Other European figures
searched for the strongest pos-
sible terms to denounce the at-
tack, with British Prime Min-
ister Boris Johnson calling it
“outrageous” and French For-
eign Minister Jean-Yves Le Dri-
an saying it was “shocking and
irresponsible”.
European Union chief Ursula
a right to express their views
peacefully without fear of ret-
ribution of any kind, and cer-
tainly not with chemical agents,”
US National Security Council
spokesman John Ullyot wrote on
Twitter.
North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
sation (Nato) chief Jens Stolten-
berg condemned the “shocking”
use of a military-grade nerve
agent which, he said, made “a
full and transparent” investiga-
tion by Russia even more urgent.
Following tests from its armed
forces’ chemical weapons labo-
ratory, the German government
said in a statement earlier that
it had “unequivocal evidence”
from samples taken from Na-
valny that the military-grade
Novichok agent was used.
The nerve agent, whose name
means “newbie” or “newcomer”
in Russian, is a poison developed
by the Soviet government to-
wards the end of the Cold War
that can be deployed in an ultra-
fine powder, liquid or vapour.
It was famously used against
ex-double agent Sergei Skripal
in Britain in 2018, an assassina-
tion attempt that the West be-
Navalny: poisoned by a chemical nerve agent.
lieves was ordered by the Krem-
lin, but which Russia denies.
Navalny, 44, fell ill after
boarding a plane in Siberia last
month, with aides saying they
suspect he drank a cup of spiked
tea at the airport.
He was initially treated in a
local Siberian hospital, where
doctors said they were unable
to find any toxic substances in
his blood, before he was flown to
Berlin for specialised treatment
on August 22.
The Kremlin, which has pre-
viously questioned the credibil-
ity of German doctors, said Rus-
sia was ready to co-operate fully.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov
told RIA Novosti state news
agency that “we are ready and
have an interest in full co-op-
eration and exchange of data on
this topic with Germany”.
The Charite hospital that has
been treating Navalny reported
improvements in his recovery
but said he remains in a serious
condition.
The charismatic Yale-educat-
ed lawyer, who has been Russia’s
leading opposition politician for
around a decade, is still in the
intensive care unit and remains
nication between the brain, the
main organs and muscles.
“Recovery is likely to be
lengthy. It is still too early to
gauge the long-term effects
which may arise in relation to
this severe poisoning,” added the
hospital.
His wife Yulia Navalnaya
wrote an upbeat and defiant
message on Instagram, saying
that “Alexei will definitely get
better” while the “state ter-
rorists” responsible for the at-
tack would live forever with the
shame.
Relations between the Euro-
pean Union and Russia are par-
ticularly sour at present, with
the two sides at odds over a host
of issues from Russia’s annexa-
tion of Crimea, its backing of
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad,
as well as alleged election med-
dling.
The EU has had sanctions
targeting whole sectors of the
Russian economy in place since
2014.
Two years ago, the Kremlin
was also accused of being be-
hind the attempted murder of
ex-double agent Skripal and
coma before recovering but lo-
cal resident Dawn Sturgess died
after picking up a discarded per-
fume bottle allegedly used to
carry the poison.
The United States, European
Union members, the Nato and
other nations expelled more
than 150 Russian diplomats in
a co-ordinated action against
Moscow over the Skripal case,
leading to tit-for-tat reactions
from Moscow.
The German government said
it would inform the Nato and
EU partners over its findings for
Navalny and seek a joint reaction
on the case.
It also plans to contact the
global toxic arms watchdog
OPCW over the results.
Navalny’s poisoning comes
after a daylight murder of a
former Chechen rebel com-
mander in a Berlin park in Au-
gust last year, which German
prosecutors believe was ordered
by Russia.
Merkel had also revealed in
May that Russia had targeted her
in hacking attacks, saying that
she had concrete proof of the
“outrageous” spying attempts.
that any restriction taken against
individuals will be implemented
consistently” with a decades-
old US deal with the United Na-
tions to host the world body’s
headquarters in New York.
Bensouda was given the go-
ahead by the court in March to
investigate whether war crimes
were committed in Afghanistan
by the Taliban, Afghan military
and US forces.
The United States revoked
Bensouda’s entry visa last year.
But under an agreement be-
tween the United Nations and
Washington, she was still able
to regularly travel to New York to
brief the UN Security Council on
cases it had referred to the court
in The Hague.
Rights groups immediately
condemned the US designations.
Richard Dicker, Human Rights
Watch international justice di-
rector, said it was a “stunning
perversion of US sanctions”.
“The Trump administration
has twisted these sanctions to
obstruct justice, not only for war
crimes victims, but for atrocity
victims anywhere looking to the
International Criminal Court for
justice,” he said.

Venice film festival opens with show of support for battered industry
Reuters not go ahead as planned earlier
Venice this year.
“During our conversation in
March, all of us, felt the great
Ex-PM Berlusconi
test positive for
coronavirus
maybe it hasn’t before. Less
territorial.” Former Italian prime minister
Film festivals are often in in- Silvio Berlusconi vowed to carry
formal competition to show the on with political activities ahead

T
he heads of Europe’s
main film festivals came
together for the opening
of the Venice movie showcase
yesterday in a show of solidar-
ity for an industry which has
been hit hard by the coronavirus
pandemic.
The director of the Cannes
festival, the world’s biggest,
and his counterparts for the
Berlin, Rotterdam, San Sebas-
tian, Locarno, Karlovy Vary and
London film festivals made the
trip to Venice for the first such
international event to take place
since the coronavirus pandemic
all but shut down the movie
world.
“It’s not for us, everything
that we’re doing and are trying
to do ... it’s for the work, it’s for
the films, it’s for the directors,”
said Cannes chief Thierry Fre-
maux, whose own festival could
solitude of the artists, who also
wondered what would happen.
“So much filming stopped,
lots of releases were cancelled
and the very idea that the fes-
tival could go on, while cinemas
were closed ... did them some
good.”
Australian actress Cate Blan-
chett, who heads the prize-
awarding jury in Venice this
year, said she also wanted to
show support for film-makers
who had to complete their mov-
ies in challenging circumstanc-
es.
“It’s so great that there’s so
many heads of festivals all over
the world coming to support
Venice and realising that, in
fact, it’s ... supporting various
different facets of the same in-
dustry,” she said.
“I think it feels very col-
legiate, actually, in a way that
most hotly-anticipated new re-
leases.
Blanchett and Venice director
Alberto Barbera highlighted the
growth of streaming platforms
during months of lockdown and
the negative effect this could
have on cinemas.
“Today we risk going towards
a progressive reduction of the
role of movie theatres,” said
Barbera.
With coronavirus cases ris-
ing again in Italy and else-
where, a strict safety protocol
has been put in place, including
the wearing of face masks while
watching films.
There are 18 titles compet-
ing for this year’s Golden Lion
award for best film – fewer than
usual.
The top prize is due to be
handed out when the festival
ends on September 12.
of local elections in September
after testing positive for the
coronavirus yesterday.
The coronavirus causes the
Covid-19 respiratory disease.
The 83-year-old media tycoon
will remain under isolation in
his house in the town of Arcore,
north of Milan, his staff said in a
statement.
He will continue to provide
support to candidates from his
centre-right Forza Italia party
at local elections scheduled for
September 20-21.
Alberto Zangrillo, Berlusconi’s
personal physician at Milan’s San
Raffaele hospital, told AdnKronos
news agency that the former
premier had no symptoms but
had decided to test for Covid-19
because of his recent holiday in
Sardinia.
Fans look through a gap to spot famous people on the red carpet during the gala ceremony of the 77th The Mediterranean island has
Venice International Film Festival, yesterday. suffered a sharp increase in
Covid-19 cases in August as
tourists from all over the country
Canada, US, EU, UK discussing descended on its beaches.

Harry and Meghan team up with Netflix sanctions against Belarus

Reuters ing platform said yesterday.
London The couple moved to South-
ern California with their infant
son Archie this year after step-
family programming is also im-
portant to us.”
Meghan, a former star of the
USA Network television show
“We’re incredibly proud they
have chosen Netflix as their cre-
ative home,” Netflix chief con-
tent officer Ted Sarandos said in
Canada, the United States, the European Union and Britain are
Mexico minister
discussing possible sanctions against Belarus over its crackdown quits over health
against protests following a disputed election, a Canadian source
directly familiar with the matter said yesterday. Mexico’s environment minister
If sanctions were imposed, they would come “in the not too distant has resigned for health reasons
future”, said the source, who requested anonymity given the and will be replaced by the

B
ritain’s Prince Harry and
his American-born wife
Meghan have signed an
exclusive multiyear production
deal with Netflix Inc, a major
step in their plan to make a liv-
ing for themselves outside the
royal family.
Under the deal, whose value
was not disclosed, the couple
will produce films and series
ranging from children’s shows
to scripted content, the stream-
ping back from royal duties in
January and announcing plans
to be more financially inde-
pendent.
They said they will produce
content on issues that resonate
with them and that their non-
profit Archewell is focused on.
“Our focus will be on creating
content that informs but also
gives hope,” the couple said in
a statement yesterday. “As new
parents, making inspirational
Suits, has no plans to return to
acting under the deal.
The couple have no previous
experience as producers, but
Netflix said they already have
several projects in development,
including a nature documentary
series and an animated series
that celebrates inspiring wom-
en.
They said they plan to high-
light diversity in front of and
behind the camera.
a statement.
The Netflix deal follows a
similar pact in 2018 with former
US president Barack Obama and
his wife Michelle.
The New York Times said Har-
ry and Meghan had been speak-
ing with other Hollywood com-
panies, including Walt Disney
Co and Apple Inc.
Variety reported earlier this
month that they had met with
Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal.
sensitivity of the situation. welfare minister, President
Protests erupted after an August 9 election that the opposition says Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
was rigged to prolong President Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year said yesterday, after a cabinet
rule. dispute over the herbicide
Lukashenko denies electoral fraud. glyphosate.
UN human rights investigators say they have received reports of Environment Minister Victor
hundreds of cases of torture, beatings and mistreatment of anti- Manuel Toledo last week
government protesters by police. withdrew from his position citing
“There have been a number of things that have happened since poor health and stress, Lopez
the election that are reprehensible,” said the Canadian source. Obrador said.
“We’ve made it clear the situation cannot stand and that’s precisely Lopez Obrador said Toledo’s
the reason we are looking, with other partners, at some sort of decision to leave pre-dated the
sanctions we could put in place.” fight over glyphosate.
 Gulf Times
Thursday, September 3, 2020 9

INDIA
ACHIEVEMENT CRIME LAW AND ORDER ENTERTAINMENT RULING

India among top 50 in
Global Innovation Index
Marking a major advancement amid the
pandemic, India has moved up four places to
rank 48th in the Global Innovation Index (GII)
2020 released yesterday. Compiled by the
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO),
Cornell University and INSEAD business school,
the index assessed 131 economies. Switzerland,
Sweden, the US, the UK and the Netherlands lead
the innovation ranking. The top 10 is dominated
by high-income countries. While the innovation
index shows year-on-year stability at the top,
there is a gradual eastward shift in the locus
of innovation as a group of Asian economies –
notably China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam
– have advanced considerably in the innovation
ranking over the years.
Jeweller stabbed to death
during robbery bid
A 35-year-old jewellery shop owner was
stabbed to death during a robbery attempt
at his store in South Goa’s Margao town
yesterday, police said. The man has been
identified as Swapnil Walke, who runs a
jewellery shop in Margao, located 35km
from Panaji. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant
has assured “justice”, even as the opposition
yesterday decried the worsening law and
order situation in the state. A video of the fatal
assault has surfaced on social media, in which
Walke is seen trying to resist the robbery
attempt, before he collapses after suffering
knife injuries. The victim was admitted to a
nearby hospital where he succumbed to his
injuries, police said.
Teen held over murders
allowed to stay at home
The 15-year-old girl, accused of killing her
mother and brother, is staying with her
father, a senior railway officer, under medical
supervision. Women police personnel in plain
clothes have been deployed at the officer’s
residence. The Juvenile Court in Lucknow,
where the girl was produced, had sent her
to 14-day judicial custody under medical
supervision since she was suffering from acute
depression and hallucination. “The court said
she will be kept under medical supervision
in King George’s Medical University (KGMU)
during the period of the custody,” a police
officer said The girl’s father submitted an
application requesting that she may be
allowed to stay at home.
Court snubs request
to stop film screening
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant
stay on the streaming of the film, Gunjan
Saxena: The Kargil Girl, starring Janhvi
Kapoor. A single judge bench presided by
justice Rajiv Shakdhar deliberated on a
petition filed by the central government
and the Indian Air Force, claiming that
the film shows the IAF in a bad light.
“You (Centre) had to approach the
court when the film was about to be
released. I understand your concern, but
an injunction cannot be granted at this
stage as the film is already out,” the court
said. The petition filed by the ministry of
defence sought a permanent injunction
on screening the film.
Bail denied to student
accused of killing boy
The Supreme Court yesterday declined
to grant bail to a boy accused of killing a
seven-year-old boy on the premises of a
private school in Gurugram, allegedly to
force a postponement of examinations.
The accused had allegedly slit the
throat of the victim, whose body was
found in the washroom of the school
at the Bhondsi area in Gurugram. The
court said: “We have heard the counsel
for all parties exhaustively. Since the
petitioner is now being tried for the
purposes of bail only as an adult, we
see no reason to interfere with the
impugned judgment of the High Court at
this stage.”

Tibetan soldier’s
death sheds light
on covert unit
Reuters Beijing denounces as a danger-
Mumbai/ New Delhi ous separatist.
He says he only wants genuine
autonomy for his remote Hima-

T
he death of a Tibetan
member of an Indian spe-
cial forces unit in a mine
blast near the site of a border
flare-up with Chinese troops has
offered a rare glimpse into a lit-
tle-known group of elite, high-
altitude warriors.
Tenzin Nyima, 53, was killed
and another commando criti-
cally wounded in the blast near
the shores of the Pangong Tso
lake in the western Himalayas,
three government officials and
two members of his family told
Reuters.
Indian and Chinese forces came
close to direct confrontation in
the area over the weekend over
competing territorial claims, their
governments have said.
Nyima was part of the Special
Frontier Force (SFF), his family
and three Indian government of-
layan homeland.
Chinese foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying
told a news briefing yesterday
she did not know whether Tibet-
ans were fighting for India, but
urged caution.
“We are firmly opposed to any
country, including India, sup-
porting the secession activities
of Tibetan pro-independence
forces or providing them with
any assistance or physical space,”
she said.
Within the Tibetan commu-
nity, grieving has begun over
Nyima’s death, video footage
taken by the family and shared
with Reuters shows.
His body was kept in a cof- A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stands guard at a checkpoint along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district yesterday.
fin covered with Indian and Ti-
betan flags in a refugee colony
in Choglamsar village of India’s
Ladakh region.

118 Chinese apps banned in

ficials said.
The force recruits mostly from
Tibetan refugees, hundreds of
thousands of whom have made
India their home since the Dalai
Lama fled Tibet following a failed
Two bereaved relatives and
two neighbours of Nyima told
Reuters that a government offi-
cial who delivered the coffin told
them that Nyima died “while de-
fending India”.

backlash over border row

uprising in 1959. Some are Indian
citizens.
Few details are publicly known
about the covert force set up
soon after a war between India
and China in 1962.
Two officials estimated its
strength at more than 3,500 men.
Amitabh Mathur, a former In-
dian government adviser on Ti-
The official requested that
the family refrain from speaking
about Nyima’s 33-year service
with the SFF, the relatives said,
requesting anonymity as they
feared the Indian government
might act against them. AFP clashes and showdowns on their around the world was developed panies out of contracts including has been reported.
The defence ministry and New Delhi disputed Himalayan frontier in by Tencent. for its 5G mobile phone infra- India accused Chinese forces
home ministry did not immedi- recent weeks. Other apps targeted by India structure and blocked Chinese of seeking to take more territory
ately respond to questions about In June, 20 Indian soldiers include games, online payment goods at ports and customs at the weekend, but its troops,

betan affairs, said the SFF were
“crack troops, especially in the
context of mountain climbing
and high-altitude warfare.
“If at all they (SFF) were de-
ployed, I am not surprised. It
makes sense to deploy them at
high altitudes. They are terrific
mountain climbers and comman-
dos.”
The defence and home minis-
tries did not respond to a request
for comment on the SFF.
China has long considered the
presence of a large number of Ti-
betans in India as a threat to its
territorial integrity.
They are led by Tibet’s spirit-
ual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom
the relatives’ account.
Photographs of the coffin and
the Tibetan mourning rituals
were circulated on WhatsApp
groups run by Tibetan refugees
in Leh, the main city in Ladakh,
and in Dharamshala in northern
India, the seat of the self-styled
Tibetan government-in-exile.
Some wanted greater recogni-
tion for the Tibetans’ service to
India. “We respect and love India
for giving us shelter but it is time
the nation acknowledges the
crucial role played by our men
in the SFF,” Lhagyari Namgyal
Dolkar, a 34-year-old lawmaker
of the Tibetan parliament-in-
exile, said.
T
he government yesterday
banned 118 more Chinese
apps as the backlash in-
tensified against Beijing over an
increasingly bitter border show-
down between the giant neigh-
bours.
The government said the apps
— including the popular video
game PUBG and other services
provided by Chinese Internet gi-
ant Tencent — promoted activi-
ties “prejudicial to sovereignty
and integrity of India, defence of
India, security of state and public
order.”
India and China, which fought
a border war in 1962, have been
embroiled in a series of deadly
were killed in hand-to-hand
combat in the Ladakh region.
China has also suffered casual-
ties in the high-altitude battle at
more than 13,800 feet but has not
given figures.
India had already banned 59
Chinese apps — including the
video-sharing platform TikTok
— after the June battle. Another
47 were added in July.
The PUBG mobile app has mil-
lions of young users in India.
The company said it had been
made aware of the government
action but had no comment.
PUBG was developed by a
South Korean company, but the
mobile version that has taken off
services, dating sites and even
software to edit selfies.
The IT ministry accused the
apps of stealing user data and
moving it abroad.
The “mining and profiling
by elements hostile to national
security and defence of India,
which ultimately impinges upon
the sovereignty and integrity of
India, is a matter of very deep
and immediate concern which
requires emergency measures”,
it said.
India has increasingly used
economic weapons against its
neighbour in the dispute.
On top of banning the apps,
India has frozen Chinese com-
posts.
India has warned that rela-
tions risk permanent damage
unless China pulls its troops
back to positions they held be-
fore May.
Tensions at the border are
now at some of the highest levels
since the 1962 war.
Both sides have sent tens of
thousands of troops to the re-
gion with India dispatching more
since the weekend, according to
sources in Ladakh.
Indian and Chinese mili-
tary officers held a third
day of emergency talks at
the border yesterday but no
progress in easing tensions
including special forces, seized a
number of hills that dominate a
strategic valley.
China reacted with anger again
yesterday. “Since the start of
this year, India has repeatedly
violated bilateral agreements
and important consensus” on
the frontier, foreign ministry
spokesperson Hua Chunying said
in Beijing.
“It has tried to unilaterally
change the status quo by force,
undermined the peace and sta-
bility of the border area, and
caused tension in the border
area. The responsibility is un-
doubtedly solely on the Indian
side.”

Facebook favouring BJP, Kerala govt’s KIIFB

a big bluff: Chandy
says Trinamool Congress IANS “Since 2016 (when Issac took
over as minister) till now the
Thiruvananthapuram
Reuters tiate the bias,” Trinamool Con- speeches about Muslims. KIIFB was able to raise Rs153.15,
New Delhi gress spokesman Derek O’ Brien The story prompted strong of which only Rs59.57mn have

T
wrote in an August 31 letter to criticism of Facebook and Das, wo-time former Kerala been utilised in various an-
Zuckerberg. with the Congress Party calling chief minister Oommen nounced projects. Two-thirds of

W
est Bengal’s ruling
party, the Trina-
mool Congress, has
accused Facebook of bias to-
wards Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), adding to the clamour of
opposition voices which have
called out the social media gi-
ant for its content regulation
practices.
In a letter to Facebook boss
Mark Zuckerberg, the Trinamool
Congress said the company’s
recent blocking of pages and ac-
counts in the state pointed to the
links it had with the BJP.
The letter became public just
hours before Facebook’s India
boss Ajit Mohan appeared before
a parliamentary panel, to explain
his company’s content regulation
policies.
“There is enough material now
in the public domain, including
internal memos of senior Face-
book management, to substan-
“Please do all it takes to ur-
gently work towards maintaining
the integrity of your platform in
the Indian electoral process.”
“Please do all it takes to
urgently work towards
maintaining the integrity
of your platform in the
Indian electoral process”
Facebook did not immediately
respond to an e-mail seeking
comment.
West Bengal will hold state as-
sembly elections early next year.
The Trinamool letter piles
more pressure on Facebook,
which is the midst of a PR cri-
sis and a political storm, fol-
lowing a recent Wall Street
Journal story that said Ankhi
Das, the US tech giant’s pub-
lic policy director for South
and Central Asia, had opposed
the taking down of posts by a
BJP politician who gave hate-
for an investigation.
It also pushed the parlia-
ment’s IT panel, headed by a
Congress lawmaker, to summon
Facebook.
At the time Facebook respond-
ed to WSJ by saying it banned
hate speech and violence-incit-
ing content globally without any
bias.
It also said it conducted regu-
lar audits of its processes for fair-
ness and accuracy.
On Tuesday, the technology
minister slammed Facebook for
censuring content posted by
right-wing users.
Menlo Park, California-head-
quartered Facebook has previ-
ously said it is a non-partisan
platform and it will remove con-
tent that violates its community
standards.
Even Facebook employees
have questioned the company’s
content policies in India, Reuters
has previously reported.
Chandy yesterday said the
flagship project of State Finance
Minister Thomas Isaac, the Ker-
ala Infrastructure Investment
Fund Board (KIIFB), was nothing
but a bluff as “announcements
made on the project and the real-
ity do not match at all.”
The KIIFB is a government-
owned financial institution
formed to mobilise funds for in-
frastructure development from
outside the state revenues. The
minister has been highlighting
the project frequently.
The reason why Chandy has
taken on Issac and the KIIFB is a
four-page advertisement in the
newspapers recently.
“This KIIFB advertisement has
cost the state exchequer a stag-
gering Rs40mn, when the state is
passing through one of its worst
financial crisis. The ad claims that
Ajit Mohan, managing director of Facebook India, comes out of 730 projects of varying sizes and
the Parliament annexe after his meeting with the parliamentary shapes costing Rs570mn have
panel, in New Delhi, yesterday. been sanctioned,” said Chandy.
the projects announced in 2016
are yet to get sanction and those
projects which have begun, are
now moving at a snail’s pace.
“With just seven months time
left for this government, all the
announced projects won’t even
be able to get the administrative
sanction. These are nothing but
gimmicks meant for the upcom-
ing elections,” said Chandy add-
ing, “Where is the money going
to come from?”
Chandy alleged that Issac
is borrowing from all quarters
while the total public debt as in
2015-16 (when Chandy demitted
office) was Rs1.5tn.
“And since they took over
till today that has gone up by
Rs1.06tn and by the time this
government’s tenure ends, the
total public debt of Kerala will
be in excess of Rs3tn. Due to the
wasteful expenditure and lavish
spending, Kerala will end up in
deep trouble,” added Chandy.
 Gulf Times
10 Thursday, September 3, 2020

COMMENT
CHAIRMAN
Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka
Deputy Managing Editor
K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar

editor@gulf-times.com
44350478 (News),
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GULF TIMES
When peaceful
protests turn
violent in US
Candid, passionate and even angry debate is an essential
feature of a free and democratic society. The First
Amendment establishes an inviolable space for Americans
to express their views and to “peaceably assemble.” Rallies,
protests and marches are all protected by those guarantees.
What the Constitution doesn’t protect is the right to
intimidate or engage in violence against those with different
views. Harassment, even if technically not against the law, is
wrong and corrosive to discourse. When advocates stop trying
to persuade and choose instead to bully, frighten and threaten
Entering Phase 4 of re-opening: Experiences
and lessons learned at HBKU’s colleges
political opponents, they are at war with the values that
underlie their own freedoms. They aren’t adding their voices,
they’re destroying the right of others to speak and act.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been the object of
voluminous criticism for her handling of the protests and The pandemic’s impact on research goes beyond physical aspects, as one of persist in their pursuit of knowledge
Doha
violence that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. in public policy will be profound. The the biggest challenges has been tackling and discovery, and our administrators
Activists have rallied at City Hall shouting demands for College of Public Policy is currently the emotional effects of isolation. ensured that operations continued to

change. All that is part of what any mayor signs up for.
But when protesters
In what’s began showing up
in her Logan Square
becoming too neighbourhood, trying
to reach her home, the
common a Chicago Police Department
scene across had every justification for
blocking them out. There’s
the country, a difference between
legitimate expression
militancy and targeted personal
is crowding harassment aimed at the
mayor and her family.
out vigorous In what’s becoming too
common a scene across
advocacy the country, militancy is
crowding out vigorous
advocacy. Many recent protests for racial justice have
attracted anarchists eager to throw rocks and bottles,
damage property, loot stores and even attack innocent
bystanders. In Washington, DC, Black Lives Matter
protesters have encircled and shouted at random people
dining outdoors at restaurants, demanding that they make
gestures of support. After President Donald Trump’s
convention speech last Thursday night, a hostile crowd
surrounded Senator Rand Paul and his wife as they left the
White House, and police had to escort the couple to safety.
Paul said he feared for his life.
Is this the “tolerance” we so often hear about and see on
bumper stickers from liberals and progressives?
The right has its own bad actors. In a May rally against
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home
orders, demonstrators entered the state Capitol building
carrying rifles and signs saying, “Tyrants get the rope,”
and death threats against lawmakers were posted on social
media.
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a former alderman put up a Facebook
post urging fellow gun owners to bring their weapons to the
city after it suffered riots, telling them: “This is what the 2nd
Amendment was written for. We are at war in Kenosha.” A
17-year-old Illinoisan, Kyle Rittenhouse, was charged with
shooting three people, two fatally, during the rioting. And Black
Lives Matter activists marching from Milwaukee to the nation’s
capital to protest police abuses encountered gun-wielding
opponents and racial slurs; one was shot.
Developments like these raise the spectre of even greater
and more lethal violence around political demonstrations.
The US has many problems that are fully deserving of the
attention they are getting. But tactics aimed at injuring or
scaring people will solve nothing and should be persecuted
as much as the law allows. Civil, peaceful disagreement
is indispensable to American system of democratic
government. Now is the time to protect it.
W
ith Qatar now in Phase 4 of
its re-opening, we spoke
to all six colleges at Hamad
Bin Khalifa University
(HBKU). In our first in a series of two fea-
tures, the deans of the College of Public
Policy, the College of Law, and the College
of Islamic Studies share their thoughts
on lessons learned from the pandemic,
reasons to be hopeful and cautious, and
their predictions for what the future may
hold in their respective fields.
zDr Leslie A Pal, Founding Dean,
HBKU College of Public Policy
One lesson we learned from these
past painful months, is that effectively
addressing the pandemic requires the
support and compliance of the popula-
tion. We’ve seen the world over that
compliance with reasonable control
measures makes a difference – govern-
ments can’t put police officers in every
building. People have to agree to take
basic precautions, like social distancing
and wearing masks in public spaces. I
was struck by how much Qatar has ben-
efited from high levels of compliance.
Of course, there has been the tempta-
tion to gather with family and friends,
but, overall, the level of compliance has
been quite high – people on streets, in
shopping malls, or even alone in their
cars, wearing masks, for example.
This is the foundation for being cau-
tiously hopeful as we move into Phase 4
of re-opening. People and organisations
throughout Qatar understand that our
success in flattening the curve was a
collective success. We know that phased
re-opening is the best way forward,
making careful assessments of the
impact, and if necessary, stepping back.
I am very hopeful that the measured
approach taken here in Qatar will pay off
– gradually getting back to something
closer to normal life, while protecting
health and safety.
running a major research project track-
ing policy response in the Mena region,
which will give us a rich dataset on
which responses seemed to be most
effective and those that weren’t. Our
policy briefs and research papers aris-
ing from this project will be a major
resource for the government of Qatar, as
well as other governments and interna-
tional agencies.
zDr Susan L Karamanian, Dean,
HBKU College of Law
Over the past five months, the College
of Law has remained a vibrant commu-
nity, although our students, faculty, and
staff have not met in person. How did
this happen? The quick, effective, and
sustained action of HBKU IT has been
an essential element. Thus, the first
lesson is one of gratitude to those who
took our calls at all hours, to ensure a
functioning virtual world.
We faced many hurdles, yet I rarely
heard “that is not possible.” Faculty,
staff, and students alike embraced the
challenge of moving everything from a
physical to a virtual room. If anything,
the optimism of humanity emerges as a
defining quality of this unprecedented
time. Patience has also served us well.
Coupled with both are resiliency and
our belief that this unseen virus was not
going to stop us from learning.
Although we have been and still re-
main at a distance, we have been able to
expand our horizons well beyond any-
thing imaginable in early March. Thanks
to technology, our doors are now open
to lawyers, law professors, law students,
and others from around the world. We
need not get on an airplane and travel
thousands of miles to understand each
other.
As we prepare to welcome new and
returning law students, we are first
committed to their health and safety, as
well as that of the faculty and staff. This
Staying connected through the virtual
medium has been our only option and,
at least for the first month of the new
term, this will remain so. Yet there will
come a time soon when we again come
together in a single physical room, and,
with that, I trust we will experience a
new sense of togetherness.
zDr Emad El-Din Shahin, Dean,
HBKU College of Islamic Studies
We continue to operate under
interesting circumstances, which has
instilled a sense of confidence in our
collective ability to rise above adversity.
Our consistent communication at the
level of the college, HBKU, and Qatar
Foundation (QF) as a whole has been key
in relaying a sense of trust and solidar-
ity, without glossing over the practical
implications of the changes around us.
As leaders, we have an acute sense of
responsibility to protect the interests
of our respective communities. It was
because of this consistent message of
solidarity that students made con-
certed efforts to complete their term,
despite the obstacles. Faculty continued
to engage with students and provide
development opportunities over the
summer, researchers found ways to
About Hamad Bin Khalifa University
Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU),
a member of Qatar Foundation for
Education, Science and Community
Development (QF), was founded in
2010 as a research-intensive university
that acts as a catalyst for transforma-
tive change in Qatar and the region
while having global impact. Located in
Education City, HBKU is committed to
building and cultivating human capac-
run smoothly.
Just as an individual’s character is
shaped by the struggles that they expe-
rience, an institution as a whole under-
goes a similar transformation. Through
diligent effort and a drive to excel, our
summer has proven more productive
than ever: strategies have been revised
at both macro and micro levels, our
direction as a college has been realigned
to a refreshed QF strategy, multiple pro-
grams have seen significant advance-
ment to better serve our students, and
our courses have been redesigned for
blended delivery and effective digital
learning.
When our students walk through
those doors this Fall term, virtually
and, eventually, in person, they will
experience our college as a transforma-
tive journey, one that speaks to their
needs as an entire persona and not only
as a student. Content will continue to
engage contemporary dialogue as befits
our ethos, but its digital enhancements
will provide an unparalleled experience,
engagement, and enriched learning. As
an institution, we continue to adapt, as
we experience new formats and remain
mindful to not compromise the impor-
tance of the human element.
ity through an enriching academic
experience, innovative ecosystem, and
unique partnerships. HBKU delivers
multidisciplinary undergraduate and
graduate programmes through its
colleges, and provides opportunities
for research and scholarship through
its institutes and centres. For more
information about HBKU, visit www.
hbku.edu.qa

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Apex court suspends lower court decision on sugar inquiry report
Internews
Islamabad
T
he Supreme Court of Paki-
stan has rejected the Sindh
High Court (SHC)’s deci-
sion to declare the Sugar Inquiry
Commission report null and
void.
The apex court also agreed to
hear the federal government’s
appeal against the High Court’s
11 die amid heavy rainfall
in northwest Pakistan
Internews
Peshawar
A
t least 11 more people
were killed and over two
dozen injured in rain-
related incidents, as heavy rain-
fall continued to batter parts of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), of-
ficials said yesterday.
Rain has continued to lash
different districts of KP, includ-
ing Mansehra, Battagram, Bunir,
Shangla, Kohistan and Swat,
for days causing widespread
damage to roads and houses
and causing landslides at some
points.
Taj Mohamed, spokesperson
for the Rescue 1122 service in
Bunir, said that three people – a
woman and two children – were
killed and three others injured
at Chagharzai, while another
woman died in the Ryal area of
Bunir after the roofs of their
houses collapsed due to rain and
landslides.
The injured were moved to
District Headquarters Hospital
Bunir, he added.
Additionally, four people, in-
cluding a woman and a child,
were killed when their house in
Hussain Banda in Oghi tehsil of
Mansehra, was hit by a landslide,
according to rescue officials.
Two other people were also
injured.
Battagram Deputy Commis-
sioner Abdul Hameed said that
two girls aged between nine and
12 were killed when heavy boul-
ders, displaced by the rains and
flooding, struck their house in
the district’s Rashang area.
Local people dug through the
debris to recover the bodies, he
said.
Hameed said seven houses
had collapsed across the district
so far, and eight major and link
Health experts puzzled as coronavirus cases drop
By Kaneez Fatima and
Zain Zaman Janjua, AFP
Lahore
S
ix months after the coro-
navirus arrived in Pakistan,
the country appears to have
dodged the worst of the pan-
demic, baffling health experts
and dampening fears its crowded
urban areas and ramshackle hos-
pitals will be overrun.
The coronavirus causes the
Covid-19 respiratory disease.
Following an initial surge, the
number of infections has plum-
meted in recent weeks, with
Covid-19 deaths hovering in
the single digits each day, while
neighbouring India tallies hun-
dreds of fatalities.
Pakistan has a long history of
failing to contain myriad infec-
tious diseases such as polio, tu-
berculosis and hepatitis, while
successive governments have
underfunded its healthcare sec-
tor for decades.
Added to that, many Paki-
stanis live in crowded, multi-
generational homes or packed
apartment buildings that favour
rampant virus transmission.
“No one has been able to ex-
plain this decline ... we don’t
have any concrete explanation,”
said Salman Haseeb, a doctor at
Services Hospital in the eastern
city of Lahore.
Pakistanis have proposed nu-
merous hypotheses for their
country’s seeming ability to
weather the pandemic, credit-
ing everything from the young
decision to declare on the com-
mission’s report.
The SHC declared the Sugar
Inquiry Commission report re-
lating to the increase in the sugar
prices across the country null
and void on August 17, direct-
ing the Federal Board of Revenue
(FBR), the Federal Investigation
Agency (FIA), and the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) to
launch a fresh investigation into
the matter.
Local residents gather to watch the swollen Charsadda river following heavy monsoon rainfall, on the outskirts of Peshawar.
roads were blocked due to land-
slides.
He added that water supply
schemes in different parts of the
district were also damaged.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old
man, identified as Mohamed
Azeem, drowned in the Nandyar
river in Battagram while trying
to collect wood, Hameed said.
Upper Kohistan Deputy Com-
missioner Arif Yousafzai said
that around 10-15 houses, a
mosque and a seminary were
damaged in the rains while, link
population and the hot and hu-
mid climate to unproven claims
of natural immunity.
Its median age is only 22 and
the coronavirus is known to dis-
proportionately impact older
people with prior health compli-
cations.
In comparison, Italy, with a
median age of 46.5, has recorded
more than 35,000 deaths, while
Pakistan’s official toll is about
6,300.
To date, the South Asian na-
tion has confirmed more than
295,000 infections and currently
is recording a few hundred new
cases per day.
Observers say that with only
limited testing, the true number
of infections is likely consider-
ably higher.
One testing exercise in Lahore
suggested as many as 7% of the
city’s population had been ex-
posed to the virus.
But anecdotal evidence from
hospitals across Pakistan sup-
ports the downward trend.
While healthcare facilities
were initially swamped, doctors
across Pakistan told AFP that
they are now no longer seeing
a coronavirus-related rush on
emergency services.
“Regardless of the reasons, the
good thing is the first wave of the
virus is almost over in Pakistan,”
said Khizer Hayat, a doctor at
Nishtar hospital in the central
city of Multan. “The situation
is now under control and the
number of coronavirus cases is
dropping, the wards are empty-
ing. It’s hard to know why.”
During the hearing yesterday,
the Supreme Court ruled that it
would hear the Centre’s appeal
against the SHC’s decision and
issued notices to 20 sugar mills
in Sindh as well as other parties
in the case.
The apex court then adjourned
the hearing for a month.
The written verdict issued by
SHC in August on a petition filed
by the sugar mill owners against
the government-led commission
roads of the entire Kandia tehsil
were blocked due to landslides.
Water supply schemes were
also damaged at various points,
he added.
Imran Hussain Ranjha, the
Shangla deputy commissioner,
said that major infrastructural
damage, especially to roads, was
reported in the district due to
flash floods.
In particular, a 1km stretch
of the Karora-Ajmeer road was
washed away while other major
and link roads were damaged.
A flattening curve is all the
more curious considering how
the coronavirus has hit India,
which with a median age of 26
and crowded cities has a some-
what similar demographic.
Over the weekend, India set a
new global record for the high-
est number of daily cases, with
78,761 new infections recorded in
24 hours, though Delhi is testing
at a far higher rate than Islama-
bad.
India has also reported more
than 64,000 deaths – the third-
highest globally after the United
States and Brazil.
Since recording its first case
in late February, Pakistan has re-
sponded in fits and bursts to the
pandemic, rolling out loose lock-
downs that were later reversed,
while crowds shunned social dis-
tancing guidelines and continued
to flock to markets and mosques.
Still, the government of Prime
Minister Imran Khan has been
quick to bask in the progress,
crediting itself with “smart”
lockdown policies and other
measures.
Last month, Pakistani author-
ities lifted most of the country’s
remaining coronavirus restric-
tions after new cases dropped for
several weeks.
Restaurants and parks have re-
opened while people have flocked
to theatres, malls, and crowded
back onto public transport.
Schools and universities are
set to reopen later in September.
Masks have become an in-
creasingly rare sight, spurring
warnings from experts for the
had urged the NAB, the FIA and
the FBR to find out if anyone was
given “illegal or unjust subsidy”.
“If any government official has
misused his powers, it should be
investigated,” the SHC had said.
It also asked the FBR to inves-
tigate the matter according to the
country’s tax laws.
The Sugar Inquiry Commis-
sion report had some startling
revelations about how the price
of sugar is allegedly fixed, how
A suspension bridge linking
Damorai with Banda was swept
away in the flash floods, Ranjha
said.
Construction and works de-
partment has already begun ef-
forts to clear the roads, he said,
adding that the work was how-
ever being hindered by continu-
ous rainfall.
Ranjha further said that his
revenue staff was collecting in-
formation about the houses that
were damaged, adding that re-
ports were being received from
Women wearing face masks as a preventative measure against the
coronavirus are seen at a market in Lahore.
public to remain vigilant over
fears of a second wave.
“People think we have defeat-
ed Covid-19 but my belief is that
the chances of the second wave
are still there,” warned Hassan
Waseem, a microbiologist based
in Pakistan.
However, other doctors sus-
pect that the country has already
experienced the peak of the pan-
demic.
“I would reluctantly say that
exports of the commodity are al-
legedly faked to avail rebates on
sales taxes, and how billions of
rupees are allegedly overcharged
by sugar mills owners.
According to sources, the re-
port mentioned in depth how the
amount of sugar exported to Af-
ghanistan is routinely inflated to
show as if 75 tonnes of the com-
modity were being exported per
truck.
However, this is barely pos-
across the district about damage
to houses, roads and water sup-
ply lines.
Bisham Assistant Commis-
sioner Khurram Rehman said
houses in the area near rivers
had been evacuated as the flow
of water was increasing.
A day earlier, at least two peo-
ple were killed and seven oth-
ers injured in various incidents
in the Shangla district amid the
widespread rains.
According to a statement from
the Provincial Disaster Manage-
there won’t be a second wave in
Pakistan. Most urban centres in
Pakistan like Lahore and Karachi
have already seen the worst when
it comes to coronavirus,” said
Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq, head of
the department of virology and
infectious diseases at Chughtai
Lab.
“People must also understand
that (the virus) is not completely
gone,” he added. “Precautions
must be taken still.”
Thursday, September 3, 2020
PAKISTAN
sible, given that the maximum
capacity of a truck, even when
overloaded, does not exceed 30
tonnes.
The alleged scam also seem-
ingly has another purpose: laun-
dering money.
If sugar is being exported to
Afghanistan, the payment should
also be coming in from the same
country.
However, it was found by the
commission that many sugar mill
ment Authority, Peshawar and
other northern areas were seeing
a heavy spell of rain while flood-
ing was reported in storm-water
drains in Swat, Chitral and Ko-
histan.
Last Friday, at least 20 people
were killed and nine suffered in-
juries in flash floods caused by
cloudbursts in different parts of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Landslides also hit vehicles
in Diamer district of Gilgit-
Baltistan, killing a truck driver
and injuring several others.
Malala’s book club
starting next month
Internews
Islamabad
M
alala Yousafzai is
keeping herself busy
ever since she gradu-
ated college in the middle of a
pandemic.
The Nobel Peace Prize win-
ner is joining forces with a sub-
scription book club, Literati, to
start her very own book club.
The startup, that had pre-
viously only focused on chil-
dren’s books, has enlisted
Stephen Curry, Susan Orlean,
Richard Branson, the Joseph
Campbell Foundation, and
Yousafzai to head up their own
curated book clubs.
Yousafzai has named hers
“Fearless”, and has vowed to
choose underrated books by
marginalised voices.
“Sign up to join me and to-
gether we’ll explore books
from new voices and promi-
nent writers – women with
bold ideas and storytellers
PM orders release of female prisoners
In a landmark decision regarding women prisoners, Prime Minister
Imran Khan has directed the immediate implementation of the
Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Order 299/2020 for the release of
“Under Trial Women Prisoners and Convicted Women Prisoners”,
who fulfil the criteria of the order.
In a tweet yesterday, the prime minister said that he has also asked
for immediate reports on foreign women prisoners and women on
death row for humanitarian consideration.
Gulf Times
11
owners were receiving telegraph-
ic transfers for payments for sug-
ar sold to Afghanistan from the
US and Dubai, therefore seem-
ingly “whitening” money and
earning dollars at the same time.
Another important finding
highlighted in the report is that
sugar mills paid an estimated Rs-
22bn in taxes to the government
of Pakistan, but out of that total
amount, Rs12bn was reclaimed in
rebates.
Karachi
begins
operation
to clear
structures
on nullahs
Internews
Karachi
T
he government of Sindh
province has started an
operation against com-
mercial encroachments along
the Gujjar nullah, a week after
record-breaking torrential rains
triggered urban flooding in the
city.
Karachi Municipal Corpora-
tion (KMC) director (anti-en-
croachment) has said that the
operations began at 8am at three
locations in the country’s most-
populous city.
He said that two anti-en-
croachment operations were
being conducted in the area be-
tween Cafe Pyala to Teen Hatti
and one at a nullah in New Ka-
rachi.
K-Electric and Sui Gas teams
arrived near Cafe Pyala before
the operation began.
Authorities will remove com-
mercial encroachments, such
as cattle markets and parking
spots alongside the Gujjar nullah
to ensure the drain does not get
clogged again.
A protest by residents of Li-
aquatabad FC area began earlier
when the central deputy com-
missioner urged them to vacate
their homes by 7am for the op-
eration.
The protesters had blocked
roads, seriously affecting traf-
fic between Nazimabad and Li-
aquatabad.
However, they ended their
protest when police and Sindh
government officials reassured
them that the operation was
being conducted against com-
mercial encroachments and not
residential ones.
who show the world from their
unique perspective,” she wrote
on Instagram.
And she’s got great taste; in
a recent interview with Glam-
our, Yousafzai revealed what
she was currently reading.
“I started the book Why I’m
No Longer Talking to White
People About Race by Reni Ed-
do-Lodge, and I finished Win-
ners Take All by Anand Girid-
haradas,” she shared.
“Malala has always been a
perfect choice for us obviously
just because she is so aspira-
tional,” Literati chief executive
and founder Jessica Ewi told
Forbes.
The book club platform,
which launches next month,
will cost $24.95 per month;
members are posted a print
copy of whichever book the
head of the club has picked.
They will also get limited
release access to Literati’s
iOS app, a social platform for
members to discuss each book,
which is currently in beta.
 Gulf Times
12 Thursday, September 3, 2020

QATAR
Largest first-year class begins studies at CMU-Q
C
arnegie Mellon Uni-
versity in Qatar, a Qa-
tar Foundation partner
university, welcomed the new
cohort of students in a virtual
convocation ceremony. There
are more than 120 students in
the Class of 2024, the largest
enrolment in campus history.
Michael Trick, dean of CMU-
Q, highlighted the many tradi-
tions of Carnegie Mellon and
the Qatar campus during the
ceremony. “Class of 2024, there
is no need to tell you that a vir-
tual convocation is a first for us,
but I believe it is important to
carry on our traditions.”
Trick shared some of the tra-
ditions of a typical convocation
ceremony at CMU-Q, including
the significance of academic
dress, bagpipe music and the
Carnegie Mellon tartan weave.
“Traditions are the touchstone
for a community, and they rep-
resent our values and our pri-
orities.”
More than 270 people logged
in from around the world to
celebrate the formal introduc-
tion of the first-year class to
the CMU-Q community. While
the Covid-19 pandemic pre-
cluded a traditional in-person
orientation and welcome, the
move to virtual activities has
resulted in some surprising,
and positive, outcomes. CMU-
Q’s Summer Edge Programme
is available each year to prime
students for the coursework in
their first term as university
students. The virtual Summer
Edge saw four times the attend-
ance of past in-person sessions,
as students from 15 countries
logged in for the two-week pro-
gramme.
First-year orientation took
place as a series of virtual
workshops, panels and social
events over the two weeks be-
fore classes. CMU-Q recruited
more than 70 current students
to organise and run the wel-
come event that introduces the
new students to the community
and one another.
Trick spoke to the students
about their virtual introduc-
tion to the community: “Class
of 2024, I have been follow-
ing your class closely, and I
think this experience is already
bringing you together. I predict
that these challenges will shape
you, bring out the best in you,
and make you stronger, more
empathetic and thoughtful stu-
dents and young professionals.”
CMU-Q students will begin
the year in remote mode and the
university will incrementally
move to a hybrid mode as it is
safe to do so. Virtual convocation of the newest CMU-Q batch.

Doha Festival City announces

Education Ministry further openings in fourth phase
announces 14th D
oha Festival City (DHFC)
has introduced new safe-
ty measures for prayer
rooms, food courts and fitting
rooms as the country entered
phase 4 of the gradual lifting of
coronavirus (Covid-19) restric-

edition of Scientific tions on September 1.

To ensure minimising the risks
for customers when using the fit-
ting rooms, a maximum of three
items will be allowed to try-on
per shopper across all of the re-
tail stores.

Excellence Award All unpurchased items will be

sanitised and put back on dis-
play after 24 hours only. DHFC’s
store personnel will encourage
customers to minimise touching
of surfaces and to sanitise hands
before and after the use of the fit-
A prayer room at Doha Festival City.

dors who will advise quests on

QNA
Doha ting rooms. As North and South
food courts have reopened,
DHFC has put in place several
distancing practices to adopt.
DHFC encourages people to
visit Health and Safety and FAQ
pages to learn more about Vox’s
ing. “While we are excited with
the gradual return of normality
and welcoming back visitors of
all ages to the Mall, we are en-
tirely committed to supporting

T
he Ministry of Education and Higher
Education yesterday announced the
launch of the 14th edition of Scientific
Excellence Award 2021. At a press conference
held remotely it defined the award, its vi-
sion, mission, objectives, categories, and the
amendments made to the award criteria for the
nine categories.
CEO of the Scientific Excellence Award and
Secretary-General of the Qatar National Com-
mission for Education, Culture and Science,
Dr Hamda Hassan al-Sulaiti, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Award and Act-
ing Assistant Undersecretary for Shared Serv-
ices Affairs Ali al-Buainain, the Member of the
Executive Committee and a consultant in the
Office of HE the Minister of Education Aisha
al-Sulaiti, participated in the press conference.
At the outset of the conference, Dr Hamda
al-Sulaiti said the award is considered one of
the most important and highest prizes offered
by Qatar, and because the winners are hon-
oured by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim
bin Hamad al-Thani. She explained that the
award is related to honouring distinguished
Qataris in various fields in order to spread the
culture of creativity and excellence in the Qa-
tari society. Al-Sulaiti noted that the award
had a clear effect in enhancing the aspects of
excellence among individuals and institutions
who compete and aspire to obtain the award,
and improve the outcomes of the educational
process, as this was reflected in the increas-
ing number of applicants year after year, and
the award recipients continued to maintain
A view of the press conference held via video conferencing yesterday.
their distinction across the various educational
stages.
She said the award still comprises nine cat-
egories without change from the previous year,
namely: the Scientific Excellence Award for
primary school students, for middle school
students, for high school students, for univer-
sity graduates, and for those holding a Mas-
ters degree, for holders of a doctoral degree,
the Distinguished Teacher Award, the Distin-
guished School Award and the Distinguished
Scientific Research Award.
On the most important developments that
have occurred regarding the award, Dr al-
Sulaiti said that the electronic system for the
award in all its categories has been activated for
this year, and the online link will be announced
soon, due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan-
demic, in addition to the developmental
amendments that have been made to the award
criteria for the nine categories, the organising
committee will receive the applications elec-
tronically after their inclusion in the system.
Dr al-Sulaiti said that submission of appli-
cations for nomination starts from Oct 1 and
continues until Oct 29, and schools will receive
applications for students and teachers wish-
ing to nominate for the award. Dr al-Sulaiti
advised those wishing to run for the Scientific
Excellence Award to read carefully the award
criteria.
More information about the award can be
obtained through the Scientific Excellence
Award official website:
https://www.edu.gov.qa/en/Scien-
t i f i c A c h i eve m e n t / P a ge s / H o m e . a s px
Or by contacting the following e-mails:
mo.almohannadiedu.gov.qa, infoedu.gov.qa
measures to ensure the safety of
all customers while they enjoy
their dining experience.
A maximum of five people
will be able to share one food
court table, with an exception
for families. Dedicated security
agents will ensure social distanc-
ing guidelines are respected, and
an organised queuing system will
be put in place.
In accordance with the recent
government’s guidelines, Vox
Cinema has now reopened its
doors to the public aged 18 years
and above. As part of its ongo-
ing safety measures, Vox has
implemented stringent protocol,
including regular auditoriums’
disinfection with fogging ma-
chine, enhanced cleaning of all
surfaces, mandatory face masks,
gloves and temperature checks
for the cinema’s employees and
other cleanliness procedures.
With auditorium capacity re-
duced, the seats next to, in front
and behind customers’ selection
will remain empty. Vox encour-
ages its customers to enjoy the
queue-less experience for tickets
and food and beverage by plac-
ing orders online. In addition to
instructional signages, Vox will
place safe distancing ambassa-
safety procedures.
Prayer rooms at the mall have
also reopened and will host Fri-
day prayers, following the safety
protocols provided by the Min-
istry of Endowments and Islamic
Affairs, as well as DHFC’s sup-
plementary measures.
In addition to mandatory face
masks and Ehteraz app checks
operated at the mall’s entrances,
a full set of hygiene equipment
will be available at the prayer
rooms, including hand sanitis-
ers and dryers, disposable prayer
mats and bins, while slippers,
previously provided by the mall
will be removed.
The capacity will be monitored
by the mall’s security agents dur-
ing each prayer, and housekeep-
ing staff will be present to assist
guests with the hygiene require-
ments. Safety and social distanc-
ing signages will be installed at
the entrance and on the floor of
prayer rooms, and entry points
to ablution areas will be closed
to avoid any unwarranted access.
DHFC will now welcome chil-
dren and will organise distribu-
tion of kids masks as it is re-
quired at all checkup entrances,
as part of our commitment to all
customers’ safety and well-be-
the government’s directives and
safety measures to ensure safety
of all our visitors”, DHFC gen-
eral manager Robert Hall said in
a statement.
In line with the preventative
measures set out by the authori-
ties, DHFC introduced strin-
gent health and safety measures
throughout the mall for its staff
and visitors. This includes a
thorough mall disinfection treat-
ment on a weekly basis, robust
cleaning and sanitisation opera-
tions during mall trading hours,
127 hand sanitising stations in-
stalled in the areas that have
commonly touched surfaces.
At the entrance to the mall
and all shops, visitors must show
their green Ehteraz QR code, and
should wear a face mask dur-
ing their whole time in the mall.
Physical distancing stickers in
common queuing areas, such as
ATM machines, banks, telecom-
munication kiosks and branches
and various retail shops were in-
stalled to help shoppers keep the
required physical distance as set
forth in the guidelines by the au-
thorities.
Stores will provide sanitisers
on entry and at cash points to en-
sure the highest level of hygiene.

The Tawasul launch ceremony.

MoPH rolls out Tawasul network Qatar Airways to fly to over 85 destinations by mid-Sept

T
he Ministry of Public
Health (MoPH) launched
yesterday its new internal
information network Tawasul
(Communication), developed to
boost communication among
the employees.
The network aims at improv-
ing the internal communication
processes within MoPH and the
co-ordination among its differ-
ent departments and sections
through the use of the most
sophisticated shared comput-
ing technology. Mohamed Mu-
barak al-Nuaimi, director of
the office of HE the Minister of
Public Health, pointed out that
Tawasul internal network is
considered an excellent addition
to the electronic services, solu-
tions, and applications provided
by MoPH to its employees which
would enhance the work envi-
ronment.
Ali Abdullah al-Khater, chair
of the Supreme Healthcare
Communications Committee,
said that the new internal net-
work will enable MoPH to effi-
ciently and securely respond to
the employees.
During the launch ceremo-
ny, Salem Jabir al-Marri from
MoPH Customer Satisfaction,
and e-Services Section gave a
presentation on the various as-
pects and functions of the new
network and how it will improve
work among the different de-
partments and sections and em-
ployees.
From Page 1
“We also remain in close contact
with Australian authorities
regarding flight restrictions
as ensuring the ongoing
repatriation of passengers
to the country is becoming
increasingly challenging. Despite
the restrictions on passengers
allowed to be carried into the
country, we continue to fulfil
our mission to facilitate ongoing
repatriation for as many people
as possible by operating a robust
Australian network to five cities,
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne
(currently no inbound passengers
permitted), Perth and Sydney,
offering more flights than any
other international airline.
“While other airlines grounded
operations, we maintained our
flights, carrying almost 40% of
all international travellers to and
from Australia between April
and June 2020, helping take
over 180,000 Australian and
international travellers home
since the start of the crisis. These
flights have also helped maintain
vital supply chains for Australian
businesses with our airline
carrying over 15,000 tonnes of
Australian goods since 1 March
2020.”
To ensure travellers can plan their
travel with peace of mind, the
airline has extended its booking
policies to offer even more choice
to its passengers. The airline will
allow unlimited date changes,
and passengers can change their
destination as often as they need
if it is within 5,000 miles of the
original destination.
According to the latest IATA
data, Qatar Airways has become
the largest international carrier
between April and June by
fulfilling its mission of taking
people home.