bahrain face boosting historic ties

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210 FILS ISSUE NO. 8911
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Boosting historic ties HRH Prince Salman affirms Bahrain support for Sudan efforts to enhance regional security and stability
• Sudan Embassy in the Kingdom inaugurated
TDT | Manama
Hi s Roya l H i g h n e s s Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the
Crown Prince and Prime Min- ister, has highlighted the depth of historic Bahrain-Sudan relations, which continue to receive the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
This came as HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister yesterday received Sudan’s Minis- ter of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mar- iam Al Sadiq Al Mahdi, at Riffa Palace.
Dr Al Mahdi is currently visit- ing Bahrain to mark the opening of the Sudanese Embassy in the Kingdom.
During the meeting, HRH Prince Salman noted the importance of further strengthening cooperation and coordination, to build on shared Arab values, common purpose, and regional cohesion.
He noted the progress wit- nessed by the joint agreements signed between Bahrain and
Sudan, which has contributed to providing promising investment opportunities, and further development for both countries.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister welcomed the Sudanese Minister’s visit, af- firming the Kingdom’s support to Sudan’s efforts to enhance regional security and stability.
Regional and international issues of common interest were discussed, as well as united efforts to overcome challenges
presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Minister Al Mahdi extended her gratitude for the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness, and extended appreciation for HRH’s continued support to fur- thering Bahrain-Sudan ties.
The Sudanese Minister conveyed the greetings of Sudan’s President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the Transitional Prime Minister, Dr
Abdulla Hamdok, and extended their good wishes, continued progress and prosperity for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister extended his greetings and wishes to the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Transi- tional Prime Minister of Sudan, and wished the people of Sudan greater prosperity.
The Chairman of the Rashid
Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, HH Shai- kh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and the Minister of Finance and National Econo- my, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, also attended the meeting.
(Related story on Page 2)
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister with Minister Al Mahdi
HRH Prince Salman noted the importance of further strengthening cooperation and coordination, to build on shared
Arab values, common purpose, and regional
cohesion.
Individuals vaccinated (First dose) (Second dose)
(Booster dose)
British woman held for smuggling £5m cash to Dubai London
A 30-year-old British woman has been jailed
for almost three years over money laundering offences worth more than £5 million ($6.8 million).
Tara Hanlon, from the north of England, was ar- rested on Oct. 3 while boarding a flight to Dubai and carrying £1.9 million of cash hidden in five suit- cases.
She pleaded guilty at a London court in June having previously admitted to three counts of removing criminal property relating to cash amounts.
02 WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
Bahrain greets Thai Monarch on birthday TDT | Manama
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His
Royal Highness Prince Sal- man bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Min- ister, sent cables of congratula- tions to the King of Thailand,
Maha Vajiralongkorn, on his birthday.
HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister wished the Thai Monarch steady health, hap- piness and a long life on the occasion.
HM the King HRH Prince Salman
Sudan’s new embassy in Bahrain inaugurated
Kingdom committed to enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields TDT | Manama
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al
Zayani and his Sudan counterpart, Dr Maryam Al Sadiq Al Mahdi, inaugurated yesterday the new premises of the Em- bassy of Sudan in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the residence of the Ambassador in the Seef area.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of Sudan Ambassador to Bahrain, Ibrahim Mohammed Al Hassan. It was also attended by a number of Ambassadors accredited to Bahrain and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Af- fairs and the Sudanese embassy.
Dr Al Zayani welcomed the Sudanese Minister and thanked her for accepting the invitation to visit the Bahrain to inaugu- rate the new premises of the embassy.
He noted that the visit provid- ed a good opportunity to discuss areas of bilateral cooperation and ways of enhancing it in various fields.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr Al Zayani and Dr Al Mahdi raised the flag of the Re- public of Sudan in the embassy’s building and played the national anthems of both countries.
They cut the ribbon and unveiled the commemorative plaque before touring the embassy and viewed an exhibition of Sudanese plastic arts that was held specifically for this occasion.
The Sudanese Minister deliv- ered a speech in which she extended the highest expressions of appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin
Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for advancing the Bahraini-Suda- nese relations.
She expressed her deepest gratitude to Dr Al Zayani for his kind invitation, gracious wel-
come and hospitality. Minister Al Mahdi praised the
outcomes of bilateral talks held yesterday in boosting relations between the two countries, lauding the historic meeting with His Majesty the King.
She conveyed the appreciation of the government and people of Sudan for the support of the Kingdom and its people following its revolution and re- garding the Renaissance Dam.
Her Excellency voiced her country’s pride following His Majesty the King’s praise of the contributions of the Sudanese community in many fields.
Dr Al Mahdi highlighted the support of the Royal Humani- tarian Foundation in December 2020 to Sudan through the visit of its Secretary-General Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, following the floods that swept the Sudanese lands.
She also pointed out the visit of former Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the current Advisor to His Majesty the King for Dip- lomatic Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who was the first foreign minister from the regional and international arena to visit the Republic of Sudan after the December Revolution in April 2019.
She also appreciated the positions of Bahrain in support of the issues of Sudan in regional and international forums.
The Sudanese Minister stressed that Sudan is following with great interest the positive, constructive and transparent approach of the Bahraini media to support the transition in their country.
At the conclusion of her speech, Minister Al Mahdi expressed thanks and appreciation to the attendees of the inauguration. She voiced keenness on further bolstering bilateral relations and cooperation.
Dr Al Zayani and Dr Al Mahdi unveil the commemorative plaque
Interior Minister, FBI official discuss Bahrain-US security cooperation
Bahrain-Tajikistan political consultations first meeting held
Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa yesterday received the Legal Attache of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Richard Ryan. The Charge d’Affairs of the US Embassy in Bahrain, Margaret Nardi, and Chief of Public Security Lt-General Tariq Al Hassan attended the meeting. The Interior Minister welcomed the US official, and highlighted the importance of the visit in reinforcing interaction between the two friendly countries. He hailed the strong ties and strategic partnership between the two countries to promote regional security and stability. The meeting reviewed security cooperation and coordination through exchanging expertise, in addition to topics of common interest.
The first meeting of political consultations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Tajikistan was held virtually yesterday. The meeting was chaired by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Khusrav Nziri. The meeting was held in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Dushanbe, residing in Pakistan, Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed. During the meeting, the Undersecretary stressed the importance of activating the agreements signed between the two countries and exploring wider areas of comprehensive cooperation.
Bahrain greatly appreciates close
brotherly relations with Sudan and is
proud of the broad bilateral cooperation ... the opening of the new premises of the embassy of Sudan in Bahrain will further strengthen relations
between the two brotherly countries
and peoples DR ABDULLATIF BIN RASHID AL ZAYANI,
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER
Booster shot benefits
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has noted that booster shots help individuals maximise immu- nity against COVID-19, which in return lowers risk of com-
plications from severe illness and death.
Booster shots have been attributed to significantly reduce deaths as zero deaths and hos- pitalisations were recorded in Bahrain for individuals after two weeks of receiving a booster shot.
Solid royal support to health sector praised Bahrain earns advanced ranks in combating pandemic: Minister Al Saleh
• Kingdom is global role model: MP Buong
• Dr Bin Daina praises WHO chief’s visit
TDT | Manama
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness
Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received yesterday cables of thanks from Health Minister Faeqa bint Said Al Saleh, who praised royal directives and support to the health sector and frontliners.
In the cables, the Minister hailed Bahrain’s strides and advanced ranks among other countries in combating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, paying tribute to HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for their support.
She congratulated HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister on the success of the World Health Organ- isation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye- sus’ visit to Bahrain to open the WHO office and take stock of the Kingdom’s drive to combat the COVID-19.
Minister Al Saleh also extended thanks to HM the King, hail- ing royal support to the Ministry and the National Medical Task- force for Combating COVID-19, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Minister noted that Team Bahrain’s efforts have placed the Kingdom as an international role model in safeguarding the health of citizens and residents.
Al Saleh wished HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Min- ister continued good health, and for Bahrain further progress and prosperity.
Global praise Bahrain’s great efforts in
the health field, and success in achieving an advanced level has earned the praise of World
Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during his official visit to the Kingdom.
Member of the Council of Representatives, MP Khalid Buong, said that the opening of a permanent WHO office in Bahrain reflects the Kingdom’s success in the health field, and represents an advanced step towards strengthening the country’s cooperation with the international body.
The lawmaker hailed Bah- rain’s successful experience in cushioning the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, thanks to the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the patriot- ic efforts of Team Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
He also lauded the solidarity and awareness of the Bahraini people, as well as the massive involvement of Bahraini youth in voluntary work, enabling Bahrain to achieve good results in countering the pandemic and ensuring the safety and health of the citizens and residents.
Depth of cooperation Special Envoy for Climate Af-
fairs and CEO of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina met Dr Ghebreyesus.
Dr Bin Daina stressed Bah- rain’s pride in his visit, which reflects the depth of cooperation between the Kingdom and the WHO, noting SCE’s keenness to strengthen this cooperation in the common areas between health and the environment.
The special envoy noted that Bahrain has succeeded in managing health waste resulting from caring for the coronavirus patients in all sectors, including hospitals and quarantine sites, in a safe manner through the best environmentally advanced treatment technologies available.
He highlighted the WHO’s support in resulting the edict related to managing medical waste, which reflects WHO’s
care and keenness to come up with solutions in order to combat this pandemic.
A number of environmental issues were discussed and the WHO’s Director-General was briefed on the Kingdom’s efforts in managing dangerous chemi- cals, improving air quality, and managing medical waste.
Dr Ghebreyesus expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by SCE to support the national plan implemented by Team Bahrain under the directives of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister in order to combat the pandemic.
He stressed that this pandemic needs a comprehensive stand, which can be achieved with the cooperation of all members of the society, in which Bahrain has succeeded in implementing.
Team Bahrain’s efforts have placed the Kingdom as an international role model in safeguarding
the health of citizens and residents.”
FAEQA BINT SAID AL SALEH, HEALTH MINISTER
Dr Bin Daina and Dr Ghebreyesus discuss about cooperation on health and environment
Oxford Business Group magazine
The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) is making
strenuous efforts to continue the policies and plans to integrate women’s needs in the Kingdom’s development process.
SCW Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari said it is supporting all national efforts aimed at enhancing Bahraini women’s participation in public life, including their family stability, and their access to deci- sion-making positions.
“The advancement of Bah- raini women is one of the main priorities of our society, and we are working to make gender balance a sustainable reality, Al Ansari said in an inter- view with the Oxford Business Group magazine.
She also indicated that Bah- rain continues to refine its national experience to achieve
gender balance, whose current results match the degree of empowerment of Bahraini women and the reality of their participation in the national economy.
She pointed out that the “National Gender Balance Re- port”, issued by the SCW every two years includes a method to measure gender balance indicators, noting that it is a mechanism that monitors the progress of women’s advancement in all key sectors at the national level, measures the effectiveness and impact of the national policies, legislation and plans aimed at increasing “Bahraini women’s competi- tiveness”, as well as measures the positive impact of that on development indicators, and compares the national indicators with international ones in order to stimulate the development of women’s contributions at all levels.
Gender balance among Bahrain’s ‘national priorities’
Virtual workshop on government advocacy for disability rights • American Charge d’affaires Nardi takes part in six-day event set to end today
• Programme organised by US Embassy in collaboration with Bahrain Mobility
TDT | Manama
US Embassy Charge d’Affair- es Margaret Nardi gave re-
marks during a virtual session of the Disability Rights Profes- sional Exchange Programme,
which began on June 23 and will close today.
The session, entitled “Advo- cacy with Government Officials and Policy Makers”, highlighted experiences and lessons learned from the US disability rights movement as well as effective advocacy skills for youth and adults with diverse disabilities, their families, and community advocates.
Nardi remarked: “We are ex- cited to partner with Mobility International USA and Bahrain Mobility International to bring you this virtual series of work- shops focused on advocacy and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. It is vital to appre- ciate disability and diversity
as integral features within our community.
“Today, we are here support diversity in our community with
practical activities to empower and support children with dis-
abilities. This programme also coincides with 31st anniversa- ry of the Americans with Disa- bilities Act of 1990, which was signed into law July 26, 1990. It prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transporta- tion, and other places open to the general public.”
This programme is organised by the US Embassy in collaboration with Bahrain Mobility International and Mobility In- ternational USA (MIUSA). It will focus on occupational therapy for children with disabilities, and on strengthening advocacy for the rights of children with disabilities.
Seafront hotels dominate Eid holiday business TDT | Manama
Four-star and five-star hotels with seafronts earned
the lion’s share of the room booking in the Kingdom of Bahrain during the Eid Al Adha holiday, according to an owner of a renowned hotel consultancy company.
People in Bahrain enjoyed a lengthy break, starting from last Monday as Muslims cel- ebrated the Eid Al Adha and many seized this opportunity to be close to the sea.
Abdulhameed Al Halwachi, CEO and owner of H & J The Experts in Hospitality, said that the four-star and five-star
hotels with beaches reported up to 80%-90% occupancy rates, while downtown hotels’ occupation didn’t exceed 40%.
He revealed that the majority of the customers were Bahraini nationals, followed by Saudis.
He said that hotels’ business has considerably improved after the Eid Al Adha holiday as the Kingdom’s authorities announced the green level after imposing the orange level last week to ensure the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is kept under control.
“Hotels with seafronts enjoyed great occupancy rates during Eid Al Adha,” he said.
Spreading awareness on prostate cancer New RCSI Bahrain-led study explores perceptions of Bahraini men towards male-related illness
TDT | Manama
A recently-published inves- tigative study, conducted by a group of staff and
students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bah- rain), explored the attitudes and
the level of knowledge of men in the highest risk category for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in men.
The standardised incidence rate (a statistic to determine the occurrence of cancer in a population) of prostate cancer in Bahrain is 13.5% in 100,000 men, which is considered one of the highest rates within the Middle East.
The first of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the study aimed to determine the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of men in Bahrain toward prostate cancer, to encourage an evi- dence-based approach to public health interventions and cancer prevention.
The study also sought to ex- plore the attitudes of participants toward the risk of developing prostate cancer. A group
of 74 male participants, aged between 50 to 69 years, partici- pated in the study by answering a questionnaire.
The results of the study showed that more than 60% of the participants had not taken a prostate screening check-up and 53% did not consider prostate cancer to be a major problem in Bahrain.
Participants generally had minimal understanding of the risk factors associated with the disease and only 32% correctly identified that prostate cancer typically affects men above the age of 50.
Almost two thirds of participants were not aware of any tests available to check for prostate cancer, however, more than 75% of men indicated that they would consider going for a screening check-up in the future.
Lead author of the study and former Head of School of Nurs- ing and Midwifery at RCSI Bah- rain, Professor Seamus Cow-
man, commented: “While the results of the study are generally reflective of the international literature, it also provides new and interesting insights into the perspectives of Arab males and supports the need for culturally-sensitive public prostate cancer awareness health promotion initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The novelty of this study also lies in the participation of RCSI Bahrain medicine and nursing students, which promotes the importance of inter-professional
education. In addition, it sheds light on
the significant role of nurses in men’s health promotion and disease prevention and the impact an expansion in community nursing roles in Bahrain could have in facilitating the development of nursing specialist roles in the area of prostate disease prevention.
President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom, commented: “The study conducted by our students and faculty contributes to laying the foundation
of public health programmes to shed light on male-related illnesses. At RCSI Bahrain, we recognise the importance of constant research to enhance patient care, as well as contribute to spreading awareness on preventative measures to improve people’s lives in Bahrain and beyond.”
Dedicated solely to health- care education, RCSI Bahrain aims to enhance human health in Bahrain and beyond through endeavour, innovation and collaboration.
KNOW WHAT
diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most
common cause of cancer- related mortality in men.
The standardised incidence rate of prostate
cancer in Bahrain is 13.5% in 100,000 men
Prostate cancer is highly treatable in its early stages
While the results of the study are generally reflective of the international literature, it also provides new and interesting insights into the perspectives of Arab males and supports the need for culturally-sensitive public prostate
cancer awareness health promotion initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain
PROF. SEAMUS COWMAN, FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY AT RCSI BAHRAIN
The study conducted by our students and faculty contributes to laying the foundation of public
health programmes to shed light on male-related illnesses. At RCSI Bahrain, we recognise the importance of constant research to enhance
patient care, as well as contribute to spreading awareness on preventative measures to improve
people’s lives in Bahrain and beyond PROF. SAMEER OTOOM, PRESIDENT OF RCSI BAHRAIN
BAB and University of Technology partner for developing curricula TDT | Manama
The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) held a remote
meeting with the University of Technology Bahrain to discuss cooperation for developing curricula and practical training for university students and graduates to meet the constantly evolving needs of financial and banking institutions.
Discussions focused on pre- paring financial and banking research and studies with the participation of the BAB experts, university professors and students.
The move aims at providing financial and banking deci- sion-makers with correct data about the industry and devel- opments.
Dr Waheed Al Qassim, CEO of the Bahrain Association of Banks, said, “BAB is keen on showcasing to the students the
work environment in the banking sector, as we are aware that maintaining the momentum of the development of the financial and banking sector in Bahrain will not take place in isolation from other sectors such as education.”
He added: “If a university
wants to market itself, digitisa- tion is the keyword, as it’s the basis of current banking services.”
“We should also focus on developing sub-skills. I see many students today, despite having scientific excellence, lacking the ability to present themselves,
and talk among others,” Dr Al Qassim said.
Dr Hasan Al Mulla, the President of the University of Technology Bahrain, stressed the keenness of the new administration of the university in boosting the practical aspect in the curricula and focusing on building partnerships with Bah- raini institutions and companies to provide favourable training opportunities for students and graduates.
“The University of Technol- ogy Bahrain normally engage external people in the design of the programme, and we have the support of the advisory board, and this advisory board con- sists of employers and officers of banking institutions, indus- tries, and business institutions in Bahrain so that we’ll be able to summarize ideas and requirements of this essential sector,” Dr Al Mulla said.
The online discussion in progress
Gulf Air rewards front line staff for exceptional services during pandemic
In line with the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Gulf Air – the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain – rewarded a number of its front line staff in appreciation for their outstanding and exceptional services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The rewarded staff volunteered and contributed to the success of the early repatriation flights carrying more than 1,000 Bahrainis safely home. Gulf Air’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani and the airline’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Abdulhameed AlAlawi, congratulated the staff on their achievement and handed out certificates of appreciation. Above, Gulf Air’s Board of Directors and its front line staff.
Sudan Foreign Minister honours RHF
Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr Maryam Al Sadiq Al Mahdi honoured the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), represented by RHF Secretary General Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, in appreciation of its sincere efforts to stand with the Sudanese people and support them in the humanitarian and development aspects. The Minister expressed her sincere thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his generous support for the construction of the Plant Research and Science Center at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, and hailed the distinguished cooperation of the esteemed government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Dr Al Sayed praised the role of the Sudanese community in contributing to the development of the Kingdom in all fields.
Reaching this milestone in such a short timeframe reflects the resilience, desires and ambitions of the small
and medium-sized enterprises based in Bahrain and the growing export
ecosystem within the country to reach global markets. With our diverse and growing list of solutions and services,
and our international and regional partnerships, Export Bahrain aims to facilitate and support more SMEs and to ease their export journey. The high level of exports we facilitated in 2021
thus far shows promising potential for the remainder of the year, as we work to exceed our annual target with the
continued efforts of our dedicated team FATIMA AZIZ ROSTAM, HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT EXPORT
BAHRAIN
Although we are already a global company, exporting to many parts
of the world, Export Bahrain’s export credit insurance gave
us the confidence to tackle new markets. The solution, which guaranteed at least a 90%
reimbursement in the case of default, helped us gain new
clients in Italy, France, Canada and Albania. We look forward to
continuing this partnership to help further increase our international
sales HAIFA ALJISHI,
Exporting to other countries seemed like an intimidating
process but with Export Bahrain’s facilitation services, we felt
supported every step of the way. I was able to expand my business
into Australia, the US and Italy without having to worry about the
technicalities or the connection process to clients, helping me tap
into new destinations
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BAHRAIN DRONE STUDIOS
With Export Bahrain’s support and guidance, we were able to export our products to markets we were unable to access before in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. We have now
increased our product range, and this broader product range has allowed us to cater to different
tastes and market demands, expanding our customer base
AHMED JAFFAR,
MEAT TOWN GENERAL MANAGER
As a woman-led business, we received the support from Export Bahrain to secure new overseas
markets for our products in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Kuwait. We
congratulate them on achieving this milestone and look forward
to continuing to work together on more collaborations soon.
PARWEVANA MOKHTAR,
THE FOUNDER OF GOLDEN TASTE FACTORY
‘Exports continue to rise after crossing $100m milestone Export Bahrain, a leading initiative of the Kingdom’s national SME Development Board, achieved a milestone by facilitating over USD 100 million in export value as of June 2021 through the Kingdom’s small and medium-sized enterprises. In the last quarter alone, 21% of Export Bahrain’s customers entered new markets. Export Bahrain also
achieved a 21% increase in women exporters, a 24% increase in service exporters and a 7% increase in new products exported in the second quarter of 2021. This underscores the steadfast role played by Export Bahrain in strengthening the Kingdom’s national SME export ecosystem and highlights the sustained development of the local export market. This upward trajectory has been achieved within more than two years of Export Bahrain’s inception, marking consistent and rapid growth despite ongoing global
disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Given below are views about export Bahrain and its initiatives:
Maximise home protection with Batelco ‘Home Security’ • Home protection solution comes with free installation and unlimited cloud storage
• Features include security cameras and a video doorbell
• Batelco ‘Home Security’ is available for Batelco’s Fiber customers on monthly instalments, starting from BD3.5/month
TDT | Manama
Batelco announced intro- ducing ‘Home Security’,
the latest solution from its Smart Home product line, that provides advanced tools to suit modern-day residences.
Batelco ‘Home Security’ includes security cameras and a video doorbell to help keep an eye on the home with instant app alerts. Some great news is that Batelco ‘Home Security’ features free installation and unlimited cloud storage for all video footage.
Security is always a priority for homeowners whether they are at home or away. Batelco ‘Home Security’ is catering to that need, meeting requirements for surveillance and a hassle-free security system that can be accessed remotely, anywhere, and anytime from customers’ smart devices.
The security cameras fea- ture a motion detector, built- in light, security alerts and night vision capability, while
the video doorbell provides access to HD video monitoring, two-way voice communica- tion and the ability to lock or unlock the door with a simple click of a button through the app. All devices are controlled from a single dashboard on the app, which makes it easier and more user friendly.
Commenting on the new Smart Home solution, Batelco General Manager Consum- er Division Maitham Abdulla said, “Batelco ‘Home Securi- ty’ meets the increased need for reliable, 24/7 automated monitoring for our customers’ homes, and ensures peace of mind through a seamless digi- tal experience. By connecting to the surveillance systems through the app, customers are able to control and keep an eye on their homes from anywhere.”
“We are committed to growing our smart solutions portfolio, and to providing in-demand products that are available off the shelf with easy installation, to benefit our customers.”
Batelco ‘Home Security’ is available for Batelco’s Fiber customers on monthly instalments, starting from BD3.5/ month, which includes A to Z support with installing and managing the solution.
BBK reports H1, Q2 results • Q2 net income rises 14%
• Net provision requirements drop 85%
• Q2 Net interest income rose 3.0%
• Fees and commission income increased 9.7%
TDT | Manama
BBK yesterday reported a 14% increase in its second-quarter 2021 net prof-
it, thanks to higher net interest income, higher fees and commission income, robust management of distressed exposures and the intense remedial efforts resulting in an 85.7% drop in net provision requirements.
“The results achieved while the bank navigates through the challenging economic environment, increase its investment in strategic initiatives, and contributes positively to the social environment in the Kingdom,” said the Board of Directors in a statement.
“We look forward to future growth plans and we are cer- tain that with the support of our shareholders, the dedication of the management and employ- ees, and the loyalty of our customers we will continue to meet our shareholders’ expectations,” the statement added.
Dr AbdulRahman Saif, BBK’s Group Chief Executive added, “In BBK, we are vigorously implementing various measures to
enhance our resilience, preserve our capital and liquidity and adapt to the new challenges to alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic.”
Q2 results Net profit attributable to the
owners of the bank was BD 13.8 m, up 14% from BD 12.1 m in the same period last year. Earnings per share amounted to 9 fils, compared to 8 fils in the year- ago quarter.
BBK’s net interest income rose by 3.0% to BD 20.4 m (BD 19.8 m in the corresponding period last year). The bank attributed the increase to dynamic balance sheet management and a 9.7% increase in fees and commission income to BD 3.9 m.
Besides, the bank said the robust management of distressed exposures and intense remedial efforts resulted in an 85% drop
in net provision requirements to BD 0.7 m from BD 4.9 m for the same period of last year.
On the other hand, investment and other income decreased by 37.7% to BD 4.1 m (BD 6.5 m last year), and the bank’s share of profit from associated companies and joint ventures decreased by 64.7% to BD 0.6 m (BD 1.7 m last year).
Total comprehensive income attributable to the owners of the bank amounted to BD 22.4 m, compared to BD 93.0 m reported for the same period last year, representing a decrease of 75.9%.
Total comprehensive income, BBK said, was impacted by a strong and non-recurring rebound of financial markets and the recovery in valuations of financial assets during the second quarter of last year after the plunge caused by the COV-
ID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of 2020 with an impact of BD 76.4 m, while the current year valuations of financial assets grown by BD 4.5 m.
H1 results The first-half net profit attrib-
utable to the owners of the bank was BD 28.1 m, compared to BD 29.2 m in the same period last year, a decrease of 3.6%. Earn- ings per share amounted to 19 fils compared to 20 fils during the same period last year.
The drop in net profit is main- ly attributable to a lower bank’s share of profit from associated companies and joint ventures from BD 2.5 m during the first half of 2020 to a loss of BD 0.7 m for the current period, largely due to the adverse impact of the pandemic on the financial performance of the bank’s asso- ciates and joint ventures.
Also, fees and commission income and investment and other income dropped to BD 17.3 m, representing a drop of 16.8%, largely due to the impact of concessionary measures taken in response to COVID-19 to support the domestic business community and the impact of new regulatory caps on fees and charges.
At the same time, the net interest income increased by 1.2% from BD 40.8 m last year to BD 41.3 m in the current period.
The total customer deposits registered a decrease of 1.1% to stand at BD 2,143.7 m (31 Decem- ber 2020: BD 2,167.4 m), while the loans to customer deposits ratio remained at a comforta- ble level of 70.7% (31 December 2020: 71.8%).
Dr AbdulRahman Saif, BBK’s Group Chief Executive
Murad Ali Murad
Spreading awareness on prostate cancer New RCSI Bahrain-led study explores perceptions of Bahraini men towards male-related illness
TDT | Manama
A recently-published inves- tigative study, conducted by a group of staff and
students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bah- rain), explored the attitudes and
the level of knowledge of men in the highest risk category for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in men.
The standardised incidence rate (a statistic to determine the occurrence of cancer in a population) of prostate cancer in Bahrain is 13.5% in 100,000 men, which is considered one of the highest rates within the Middle East.
The first of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the study aimed to determine the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of men in Bahrain toward prostate cancer, to encourage an evi- dence-based approach to public health interventions and cancer prevention.
The study also sought to ex- plore the attitudes of participants toward the risk of developing prostate cancer. A group
of 74 male participants, aged between 50 to 69 years, partici- pated in the study by answering a questionnaire.
The results of the study showed that more than 60% of the participants had not taken a prostate screening check-up and 53% did not consider prostate cancer to be a major problem in Bahrain.
Participants generally had minimal understanding of the risk factors associated with the disease and only 32% correctly identified that prostate cancer typically affects men above the age of 50.
Almost two thirds of participants were not aware of any tests available to check for prostate cancer, however, more than 75% of men indicated that they would consider going for a screening check-up in the future.
Lead author of the study and former Head of School of Nurs- ing and Midwifery at RCSI Bah- rain, Professor Seamus Cow-
man, commented: “While the results of the study are generally reflective of the international literature, it also provides new and interesting insights into the perspectives of Arab males and supports the need for culturally-sensitive public prostate cancer awareness health promotion initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The novelty of this study also lies in the participation of RCSI Bahrain medicine and nursing students, which promotes the importance of inter-professional
education. In addition, it sheds light on
the significant role of nurses in men’s health promotion and disease prevention and the impact an expansion in community nursing roles in Bahrain could have in facilitating the development of nursing specialist roles in the area of prostate disease prevention.
President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom, commented: “The study conducted by our students and faculty contributes to laying the foundation
of public health programmes to shed light on male-related illnesses. At RCSI Bahrain, we recognise the importance of constant research to enhance patient care, as well as contribute to spreading awareness on preventative measures to improve people’s lives in Bahrain and beyond.”
Dedicated solely to health- care education, RCSI Bahrain aims to enhance human health in Bahrain and beyond through endeavour, innovation and collaboration.
KNOW WHAT
diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most
common cause of cancer- related mortality in men.
The standardised incidence rate of prostate
cancer in Bahrain is 13.5% in 100,000 men
Prostate cancer is highly treatable in its early stages
While the results of the study are generally reflective of the international literature, it also provides new and interesting insights into the perspectives of Arab males and supports the need for culturally-sensitive public prostate
cancer awareness health promotion initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain
PROF. SEAMUS COWMAN, FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY AT RCSI BAHRAIN
The study conducted by our students and faculty contributes to laying the foundation of public
health programmes to shed light on male-related illnesses. At RCSI Bahrain, we recognise the importance of constant research to enhance
patient care, as well as contribute to spreading awareness on preventative measures to improve
people’s lives in Bahrain and beyond PROF. SAMEER OTOOM, PRESIDENT OF RCSI BAHRAIN
BAB and University of Technology partner for developing curricula TDT | Manama
The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) held a remote
meeting with the University of Technology Bahrain to discuss cooperation for developing curricula and practical training for university students and graduates to meet the constantly evolving needs of financial and banking institutions.
Discussions focused on pre- paring financial and banking research and studies with the participation of the BAB experts, university professors and students.
The move aims at providing financial and banking deci- sion-makers with correct data about the industry and devel- opments.
Dr Waheed Al Qassim, CEO of the Bahrain Association of Banks, said, “BAB is keen on showcasing to the students the
work environment in the banking sector, as we are aware that maintaining the momentum of the development of the financial and banking sector in Bahrain will not take place in isolation from other sectors such as education.”
He added: “If a university
wants to market itself, digitisa- tion is the keyword, as it’s the basis of current banking services.”
“We should also focus on developing sub-skills. I see many students today, despite having scientific excellence, lacking the ability to present themselves,
and talk among others,” Dr Al Qassim said.
Dr Hasan Al Mulla, the President of the University of Technology Bahrain, stressed the keenness of the new administration of the university in boosting the practical aspect in the curricula and focusing on building partnerships with Bah- raini institutions and companies to provide favourable training opportunities for students and graduates.
“The University of Technol- ogy Bahrain normally engage external people in the design of the programme, and we have the support of the advisory board, and this advisory board con- sists of employers and officers of banking institutions, indus- tries, and business institutions in Bahrain so that we’ll be able to summarize ideas and requirements of this essential sector,” Dr Al Mulla said.
The online discussion in progress
Gulf Air rewards front line staff for exceptional services during pandemic
In line with the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Gulf Air – the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain – rewarded a number of its front line staff in appreciation for their outstanding and exceptional services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The rewarded staff volunteered and contributed to the success of the early repatriation flights carrying more than 1,000 Bahrainis safely home. Gulf Air’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani and the airline’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Abdulhameed AlAlawi, congratulated the staff on their achievement and handed out certificates of appreciation. Above, Gulf Air’s Board of Directors and its front line staff.
Sudan Foreign Minister honours RHF
Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr Maryam Al Sadiq Al Mahdi honoured the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), represented by RHF Secretary General Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, in appreciation of its sincere efforts to stand with the Sudanese people and support them in the humanitarian and development aspects. The Minister expressed her sincere thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his generous support for the construction of the Plant Research and Science Center at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, and hailed the distinguished cooperation of the esteemed government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Dr Al Sayed praised the role of the Sudanese community in contributing to the development of the Kingdom in all fields.
THE GREATEST GLORY IN LIVING LIES NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL NELSON MANDELA
QUOTE OF THE DAY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
HISTORY French Revolutionary figure Max- imilien Robespierre and 22 other leaders of “the Terror” guillotined to thunderous cheers in Paris
Austria-Hungary decides against me- diation and declares war on Serbia
- first declaration of war of WWI
Operation Gomorrah: RAF bombing over Hamburg causes a firestorm that kills 42,600 German civilians
Tangshan Earthquake, 8.2 in magnitude kills over 240,000 Northern China in the largest loss of life from an
earthquake in the 20th century
Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available, to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arises, but we’re not
going to be, by the end of the year, in a
combat mission JOE BIDEN
While the Harappan city of Dholavira has borne witness to the entire trajectory of the rise and fall of
an early civilization of humankind, the Kakatiya Rudreshwara
(Ramappa) Temple stands as an
outstanding marvel of the Kakatiyan
culture. Both sites make great
contributions to the shared heritage of
humanity. ERIC FALT, UNESCO NEW DELHI
DIRECTOR
TOP
Another fantast ic performance from
@TeamGB in the pool! Well done @tomdean00 @Dunks_Scott on win- ning gold and silver in the 200m freestyle.
@BorisJohnson
In the face of new variants, incessant misin-
formation and inequality in vaccine distribution, we cannot let our guard down against #COV- ID19. The only way to overcome this crisis is through a global vaccination plan: increase pro- duction, improve access & foster solidarity.
@antonioguterres
Thanks for a good discussion about air
quality & Flag of Bahrain’s work on a Health & En- vironment Strategy, Mo- hamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Chief Executive, Supreme Council for En- vironment & Special En- voy for Climate Affairs. @ WHO will work with you to ensure healthier envi- ronments everywhere.
@DrTedros
personnel and their families on the force’s
Raising Day. The CRPF is known for its valour and professionalism. It has a key role in India’s security apparatus. Their contributions to further national unity are appre- ciable.
@narendramodi
Disclaimer: (Views expressed by columnists are personal and need not necessarily reflect our
editorial stances)
Saudi Arabia
UAE 674,724 +1,539 1,929 +2 652,180 20,615
Kuwait 393,605 2,293 377,434 13,878
Oman 295,017 +491 3,788 +17 277,010 14,219
Qatar 225,522 +146 600 223,210 1,712
Middle East
1 USA 35,288,544 627,048
2 India 31,470,893 421,712
3 Brazil 19,707,662 550,586
4 Russia 6,172,812 155,380
5 France 5,999,244 111,667
6 UK 5,745,526 129,303
7 Turkey 5,618,417 50,997
8 Argentina 4,859,170 104,105
9 Colombia 4,736,349 119,182
10 Spain 4,342,054 81,268
11 Italy 4,325,046 127,995
12 Germany 3,765,145 92,066
13 Iran 3,758,197 89,479
14 Indonesia 3,239,936 86,835
G l o b a l t a l l y
C O V I D - 1 : 9 C o u n t r i e s w o r s t a f f e c t e d
Figures as of closing
News in brief u Some 24,000 Eritrean refugees are trapped in two camps in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, cut off from humanitarian aid, and their food rations may have run out, the United Nations said yesterday. Appealing for access to the Mai Aini and Adi Harush camps, the U.N. refugee agency said there was “a real danger of hunger” if the refugees did not receive supplies. Fighting that began between the Ethiopian central government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) last November has escalated in and around the camps, and two refugees have been killed this month, it said.
u Cuba’s embassy in Paris said on Tuesday it had been attacked overnight with petrol bombs that caused some damage but no injuries to its staff, in an incident that prompted French authorities to beef
up security around the building. Three petrol bombs were thrown by two unnamed individuals, causing a fire on the facade and the entrance
of the building, the embassy said in a statement. Cuba has been rocked by protests against a deep economic crisis, the government’s handling of the coronavirus
pandemic and curbs on civil liberties, prompting the Communist-run country to restrict access to social media. Cuba’s foreign ministry published photos of the petrol bombs on its official Twitter feed.
u Top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived yesterday in India for talks dominated by turmoil in Afghanistan and common worries about China, while also touching on New Delhi’s rights record. Blinken, in his first India visit as secretary of state, was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday before flying to Kuwait.
u Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have “no basis in international law”, taking aim at China’s growing assertiveness in the hotly contested waters. Austin’s broadside came at the start of his first trip to Southeast Asia as US defense secretary, as he seeks to rally allies in the region as a bulwark to China. President Joe Biden’s administration wants to reset relations with Asian countries and build alliances to face Beijing, after the turbulence and unpredictability of the Donald Trump era. Speaking in Singapore, Austin criticised China’s actions in the disputed sea, where Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with several Southeast Asian states. “Beijing’s claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea has no basis in international law,” he said in a speech hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank.
Cuban Embassy in Paris attacked with petrol bombs, France beefs up
security
China
US says China’s sea claims have ‘no basis’ in international law
Food, water running out in Tigray refugee
camps - UN
Anyone who is proven to be involved will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return, and will be banned from travel for three years
KNOW
BETTER
A US-led coalition invaded Iraq in March 2003 based on charges that then-Iraqi lead- er Saddam Hussein’s government possessed weapons of mass destruction. Saddam
was ousted from power, but such weapons were never
found.
KNOW
BETTER
Saudi warns 3-year travel ban for citizens who visit “red list” states
Reuters | London
Saudi Arabia will impose a three-year travel ban on citizens travelling to countries
on the kingdom’s ‘red list’ under efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus and its new variants, state news agency SPA said yesterday.
It cited an unnamed interior ministry official as saying some Saudi citizens, who in May were allowed to travel abroad without prior permission from authorities for the first time since March 2020, had violated travel regu- lations.
“Anyone who is proven to be involved will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return, and will be banned from travel for three years,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit at a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ethio- pia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
“The Ministry of Interior stresses that citizens are still banned from travelling directly or via another country to these states or any other that has yet to control the pandemic or where the new strains have spread,” the official said.
The kingdom, the largest Gulf
state with a population of some 30 million, on Tuesday recorded 1,379 new COVID-19 infections, bringing its total to 520,774 cases and 8,189 deaths.
It saw daily infections fall from a peak above 4,000 in June 2020 to below the 100 mark in early January.
Pakistan, Saudi to work on easing travel restrictions
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia yesterday discussed how to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions, which have stranded around 400,000 Pakistani workers back home, foreign ministers of the two countries told reporters.
Islamabad took up the issue with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who is on a one-day visit to Pa- kistan.
Al Saud is the first high profile Saudi official to arrive in Pakistan after cracks in their historically
friendly relations earlier this year. His Pakistani counterpart Shah
Mehmood Qureshi told a joint news conference in Islamabad that around 400,000 of over two million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia had been stranded at home due to travel restrictions.
“They are facing challenges, you know the travel restrictions and you know the issues of vaccination,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, which bars direct travel from Pakistan, has only
approved the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson
and Johnson vaccines, so anyone arriving without one of those
shots is required to quarantine at a cost many Pakistani work-
ers say they cannot afford.
Most Pakistanis have received a Chinese vaccine, although Al Saud said his government had
given COVID-19 shots to 1.7 million Pakistani workers.
The Pakistani workforce in Sau- di Arabia contributes $7 billion, or a quarter of the country’s total annual remittances.
“We talked about the challenges that COVID-19 has imposed on all of us. It has imposed challenges, travel restrictions, all of these we are working on,” Al Saud said.
Would-be Pakistani expatriate workers, desperate to obtain a Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZene- ca COVID shot so they can travel to work in Saudi Arabia, have been holding violent protests, at times storming vaccination centres.
Pakistan has lately started al- lowing people under 40 who have to travel for jobs abroad to obtain the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, of which the country has limited supply obtained through the COVAX system.
Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit at a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil,
Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
Representative picture (Courtesy of Saudi Gazette)
Biden, Kadhimi seal agreement to end US combat mission in Iraq • Biden and Kadhimi met in the Oval Office
• There are currently 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq
• The senior administration official would not say how many U.S. troops would remain on the ground in Iraq for advising and training
Reuters | Washington
US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minis- ter Mustafa al-Kadhimi
sealed an agreement yesterday formally ending the US combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021, but US forces will still op- erate there in an advisory role.
The agreement comes at a politically delicate time for the Iraqi government and could be a boost for Baghdad. Kadhimi has faced increasing pressure from Iran-aligned parties and para- military groups who oppose the US military role in the country.
Biden and Kadhimi met in the Oval Office for their first face- to-face talks as part of a strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq.
“Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available, to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arises, but we’re not going to be, by the end of the year, in a combat mission,” Biden told reporters as he and Kadhi- mi met.
There are currently 2,500 US troops in Iraq focusing on countering the remnants of Islamic State. The US role in Iraq will shift entirely to training and advising the Iraqi military to
defend itself. The shift is not expected to
have a major operational impact since the United States has already moved toward focusing on training Iraqi forces.
Still, for Biden, the deal to end the combat mission in Iraq fol- lows decisions to carry out an unconditional withdrawal from
Afghanistan and wrap up the US military mission there by the end of August.
Together with his agreement on Iraq, the Democratic president is moving to formally com- plete US combat missions in the two wars that then-President George W. Bush began under his watch nearly two decades ago.
In recent years, the US mission was focused on helping defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
“Nobody is going to declare mission accomplished. The goal is the enduring defeat of ISIS,” a senior administration official told reporters ahead of Kadhi- mi’s visit.
The reference was reminis- cent of the large “Mission Ac- complished” banner on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier above where Bush gave a speech declaring major combat operations over in Iraq on May 1, 2003.
“If you look to where we were, where we had Apache helicop- ters in combat, when we had US special forces doing regular operations, it’s a significant evo- lution. So by the end of the year we think we’ll be in a good place to really formally move into an
advisory and capacity-building role,” the official said.
US diplomats and troops in Iraq and Syria were targeted in three rocket and drone attacks earlier this month. Analysts be- lieved the attacks were part of a campaign by Iranian-backed militias.
The senior administration official would not say how many US troops would remain on the ground in Iraq for advising and training. Kadhimi also declined to speculate about a future US drawdown, saying troop levels would be determined by tech- nical reviews.
Kadhimi, who is seen as friendly to the United States, has tried to check the power of Iran-aligned militias. But his government condemned US air strikes against Iran-aligned fighters along its border with Syria in late June, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
In remarks to a small group of reporters after the talks, Kadhi- mi stressed that his government was responsible for responding to such attacks. He acknowledged that he had reached out to Tehran to address them.
“We speak to Iranians and others in an attempt to put a limit to these attacks, which are undermining Iraq and its role,” he said.
The United States plans to provide Iraq with 500,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech, COVID-19 vaccine under the global COVAX vaccine-sharing program. Biden said the doses should arrive in a couple of weeks.
The United States will also provide $5.2 million to help fund a U.N. mission to monitor Octo- ber elections in Iraq.
“We’re looking forward to seeing an election in October,” said Biden.
U.S. President Joe Biden greets Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S
Two new Indian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list New Delhi
Two landmark decisions were taken during the 44th
session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China, with the inscriptions of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana and Dholavira: A Harrapan City, Gujarat on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
K a k a t i y a R u d r e s h w a r a (Ramappa) Temple received its inscription as a World Heritage Site on 25 July and Dholavira: A Harrapan City was inscribed on the World Heritage List yesterday, bringing India’s number of World Heritage sites to 40.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
Popularly known as the Ramappa Temple, Rudresh- wara is located in the village of Palampet in Telangana. It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kaka- tiyan period (1123–1323 CE). The distinctive Vimana of the temple
is made of lightweight porous ‘floating bricks,’ which reduced the weight of the roof structures. The building features decorated beams and the temple’s magnifi- cent sculptures illustrate regional dance customs and Kakati- yan culture. The site is located close to the Ramappa Cheruvu,
a Kakatiya-built water reservoir, placing it in a unique natural set- ting of the surrounding forested areas and agricultural lands.
Dholavira: A Harrapan City, Gujarat
The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable
and well-preserved urban set- tlements in South Asia dating
from the 3rd to mid-2nd mil- lennium BCE (Before Common Era). Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its unique characteristics, such as its water management system, mul- ti-layered defensive mecha- nisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures. Of note is also the art associated with the city – ar- tefacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory have been found at the site. In addition, the inter- regional trade links associated with Dholavira, have also been acknowledged as contributing to the shared heritage of humanity.
The two newly inscribed World Heritage Sites offer great insight into the knowledge and ways of life of earlier societies, customs, and communities.
UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
UK PM Johnson: don’t get carried away with falling COVID-19 cases Reuters | London
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that
people should not get carried away by six days of better COV- ID-19 infection data, while one of the country’s top epidemiolo- gists said the end of the pandemic could be just months away.
Johnson has lifted restrictions in England and is betting he can get one of Europe’s largest econo- mies firing again because so many people are now vaccinated, a de- cision which marks a new chap- ter in the response to the novel coronavirus.
The number of new daily COV- ID-19 cases has fallen each day for the last six days, though Johnson stressed the pandemic is not over.
“I’ve noticed obviously that we’re six days into some better figures, but it is very, very impor- tant that we don’t allow ourselves to run away with premature con-
clusions about this,” Johnson told broadcasters, noting it would take a while for the lifting of restrictions in England to feed through to the data.
“People have got to remain very cautious and that remains the approach of the government.”
Imperial College epidemiolo- gist Neil Ferguson said the end of
Britain’s pandemic could be just months away as vaccines have so dramatically reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death.
“We’re not completely out of the woods but the equation has fundamentally changed,” Fergu- son, whose modelling of the vi- rus’s likely spread at the outset of the pandemic in early 2020 alarmed governments across the world, told the BBC.
Johnson lifted COVID-19 restrictions in England on July 19. New daily cases in the current wave peaked two days earlier at 54,674 and have since fallen dramatically, to 24,950 new cases on Monday.
The closure of schools for sum- mer, the end of the Euro 2020 soc- cer championships and warmer weather are among factors epi- demiologists say might have reduced social mixing indoors and therefore cases, even as England’s economy has fully reopened.
A sign asking customers to wear protective face masks is seen in the window of a shop on Oxford Street, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London
THE GREATEST GLORY IN LIVING LIES NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL NELSON MANDELA
QUOTE OF THE DAY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
HISTORY French Revolutionary figure Max- imilien Robespierre and 22 other leaders of “the Terror” guillotined to thunderous cheers in Paris
Austria-Hungary decides against me- diation and declares war on Serbia
- first declaration of war of WWI
Operation Gomorrah: RAF bombing over Hamburg causes a firestorm that kills 42,600 German civilians
Tangshan Earthquake, 8.2 in magnitude kills over 240,000 Northern China in the largest loss of life from an
earthquake in the 20th century
Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available, to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arises, but we’re not
going to be, by the end of the year, in a
combat mission JOE BIDEN
While the Harappan city of Dholavira has borne witness to the entire trajectory of the rise and fall of
an early civilization of humankind, the Kakatiya Rudreshwara
(Ramappa) Temple stands as an
outstanding marvel of the Kakatiyan
culture. Both sites make great
contributions to the shared heritage of
humanity. ERIC FALT, UNESCO NEW DELHI
DIRECTOR
TOP
Another fantast ic performance from
@TeamGB in the pool! Well done @tomdean00 @Dunks_Scott on win- ning gold and silver in the 200m freestyle.
@BorisJohnson
In the face of new variants, incessant misin-
formation and inequality in vaccine distribution, we cannot let our guard down against #COV- ID19. The only way to overcome this crisis is through a global vaccination plan: increase pro- duction, improve access & foster solidarity.
@antonioguterres
Thanks for a good discussion about air
quality & Flag of Bahrain’s work on a Health & En- vironment Strategy, Mo- hamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Chief Executive, Supreme Council for En- vironment & Special En- voy for Climate Affairs. @ WHO will work with you to ensure healthier envi- ronments everywhere.
@DrTedros
personnel and their families on the force’s
Raising Day. The CRPF is known for its valour and professionalism. It has a key role in India’s security apparatus. Their contributions to further national unity are appre- ciable.
@narendramodi
Disclaimer: (Views expressed by columnists are personal and need not necessarily reflect our
editorial stances)
Saudi Arabia
UAE 674,724 +1,539 1,929 +2 652,180 20,615
Kuwait 393,605 2,293 377,434 13,878
Oman 295,017 +491 3,788 +17 277,010 14,219
Qatar 225,522 +146 600 223,210 1,712
Middle East
1 USA 35,288,544 627,048
2 India 31,470,893 421,712
3 Brazil 19,707,662 550,586
4 Russia 6,172,812 155,380
5 France 5,999,244 111,667
6 UK 5,745,526 129,303
7 Turkey 5,618,417 50,997
8 Argentina 4,859,170 104,105
9 Colombia 4,736,349 119,182
10 Spain 4,342,054 81,268
11 Italy 4,325,046 127,995
12 Germany 3,765,145 92,066
13 Iran 3,758,197 89,479
14 Indonesia 3,239,936 86,835
G l o b a l t a l l y
C O V I D - 1 : 9 C o u n t r i e s w o r s t a f f e c t e d
Figures as of closing
News in brief u Some 24,000 Eritrean refugees are trapped in two camps in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, cut off from humanitarian aid, and their food rations may have run out, the United Nations said yesterday. Appealing for access to the Mai Aini and Adi Harush camps, the U.N. refugee agency said there was “a real danger of hunger” if the refugees did not receive supplies. Fighting that began between the Ethiopian central government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) last November has escalated in and around the camps, and two refugees have been killed this month, it said.
u Cuba’s embassy in Paris said on Tuesday it had been attacked overnight with petrol bombs that caused some damage but no injuries to its staff, in an incident that prompted French authorities to beef
up security around the building. Three petrol bombs were thrown by two unnamed individuals, causing a fire on the facade and the entrance
of the building, the embassy said in a statement. Cuba has been rocked by protests against a deep economic crisis, the government’s handling of the coronavirus
pandemic and curbs on civil liberties, prompting the Communist-run country to restrict access to social media. Cuba’s foreign ministry published photos of the petrol bombs on its official Twitter feed.
u Top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived yesterday in India for talks dominated by turmoil in Afghanistan and common worries about China, while also touching on New Delhi’s rights record. Blinken, in his first India visit as secretary of state, was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday before flying to Kuwait.
u Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have “no basis in international law”, taking aim at China’s growing assertiveness in the hotly contested waters. Austin’s broadside came at the start of his first trip to Southeast Asia as US defense secretary, as he seeks to rally allies in the region as a bulwark to China. President Joe Biden’s administration wants to reset relations with Asian countries and build alliances to face Beijing, after the turbulence and unpredictability of the Donald Trump era. Speaking in Singapore, Austin criticised China’s actions in the disputed sea, where Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with several Southeast Asian states. “Beijing’s claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea has no basis in international law,” he said in a speech hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank.
Cuban Embassy in Paris attacked with petrol bombs, France beefs up
security
China
US says China’s sea claims have ‘no basis’ in international law
Food, water running out in Tigray refugee
camps - UN
Anyone who is proven to be involved will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return, and will be banned from travel for three years
KNOW
BETTER
A US-led coalition invaded Iraq in March 2003 based on charges that then-Iraqi lead- er Saddam Hussein’s government possessed weapons of mass destruction. Saddam
was ousted from power, but such weapons were never
found.
KNOW
BETTER
Saudi warns 3-year travel ban for citizens who visit “red list” states
Reuters | London
Saudi Arabia will impose a three-year travel ban on citizens travelling to countries
on the kingdom’s ‘red list’ under efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus and its new variants, state news agency SPA said yesterday.
It cited an unnamed interior ministry official as saying some Saudi citizens, who in May were allowed to travel abroad without prior permission from authorities for the first time since March 2020, had violated travel regu- lations.
“Anyone who is proven to be involved will be subject to legal accountability and heavy penalties upon their return, and will be banned from travel for three years,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit at a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Ethio- pia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
“The Ministry of Interior stresses that citizens are still banned from travelling directly or via another country to these states or any other that has yet to control the pandemic or where the new strains have spread,” the official said.
The kingdom, the largest Gulf
state with a population of some 30 million, on Tuesday recorded 1,379 new COVID-19 infections, bringing its total to 520,774 cases and 8,189 deaths.
It saw daily infections fall from a peak above 4,000 in June 2020 to below the 100 mark in early January.
Pakistan, Saudi to work on easing travel restrictions
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia yesterday discussed how to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions, which have stranded around 400,000 Pakistani workers back home, foreign ministers of the two countries told reporters.
Islamabad took up the issue with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who is on a one-day visit to Pa- kistan.
Al Saud is the first high profile Saudi official to arrive in Pakistan after cracks in their historically
friendly relations earlier this year. His Pakistani counterpart Shah
Mehmood Qureshi told a joint news conference in Islamabad that around 400,000 of over two million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia had been stranded at home due to travel restrictions.
“They are facing challenges, you know the travel restrictions and you know the issues of vaccination,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, which bars direct travel from Pakistan, has only
approved the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson
and Johnson vaccines, so anyone arriving without one of those
shots is required to quarantine at a cost many Pakistani work-
ers say they cannot afford.
Most Pakistanis have received a Chinese vaccine, although Al Saud said his government had
given COVID-19 shots to 1.7 million Pakistani workers.
The Pakistani workforce in Sau- di Arabia contributes $7 billion, or a quarter of the country’s total annual remittances.
“We talked about the challenges that COVID-19 has imposed on all of us. It has imposed challenges, travel restrictions, all of these we are working on,” Al Saud said.
Would-be Pakistani expatriate workers, desperate to obtain a Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZene- ca COVID shot so they can travel to work in Saudi Arabia, have been holding violent protests, at times storming vaccination centres.
Pakistan has lately started al- lowing people under 40 who have to travel for jobs abroad to obtain the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, of which the country has limited supply obtained through the COVAX system.
Saudi Arabia has banned travel to or transit at a number of countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil,
Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
Representative picture (Courtesy of Saudi Gazette)
Biden, Kadhimi seal agreement to end US combat mission in Iraq • Biden and Kadhimi met in the Oval Office
• There are currently 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq
• The senior administration official would not say how many U.S. troops would remain on the ground in Iraq for advising and training
Reuters | Washington
US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minis- ter Mustafa al-Kadhimi
sealed an agreement yesterday formally ending the US combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021, but US forces will still op- erate there in an advisory role.
The agreement comes at a politically delicate time for the Iraqi government and could be a boost for Baghdad. Kadhimi has faced increasing pressure from Iran-aligned parties and para- military groups who oppose the US military role in the country.
Biden and Kadhimi met in the Oval Office for their first face- to-face talks as part of a strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq.
“Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available, to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arises, but we’re not going to be, by the end of the year, in a combat mission,” Biden told reporters as he and Kadhi- mi met.
There are currently 2,500 US troops in Iraq focusing on countering the remnants of Islamic State. The US role in Iraq will shift entirely to training and advising the Iraqi military to
defend itself. The shift is not expected to
have a major operational impact since the United States has already moved toward focusing on training Iraqi forces.
Still, for Biden, the deal to end the combat mission in Iraq fol- lows decisions to carry out an unconditional withdrawal from
Afghanistan and wrap up the US military mission there by the end of August.
Together with his agreement on Iraq, the Democratic president is moving to formally com- plete US combat missions in the two wars that then-President George W. Bush began under his watch nearly two decades ago.
In recent years, the US mission was focused on helping defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
“Nobody is going to declare mission accomplished. The goal is the enduring defeat of ISIS,” a senior administration official told reporters ahead of Kadhi- mi’s visit.
The reference was reminis- cent of the large “Mission Ac- complished” banner on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier above where Bush gave a speech declaring major combat operations over in Iraq on May 1, 2003.
“If you look to where we were, where we had Apache helicop- ters in combat, when we had US special forces doing regular operations, it’s a significant evo- lution. So by the end of the year we think we’ll be in a good place to really formally move into an
advisory and capacity-building role,” the official said.
US diplomats and troops in Iraq and Syria were targeted in three rocket and drone attacks earlier this month. Analysts be- lieved the attacks were part of a campaign by Iranian-backed militias.
The senior administration official would not say how many US troops would remain on the ground in Iraq for advising and training. Kadhimi also declined to speculate about a future US drawdown, saying troop levels would be determined by tech- nical reviews.
Kadhimi, who is seen as friendly to the United States, has tried to check the power of Iran-aligned militias. But his government condemned US air strikes against Iran-aligned fighters along its border with Syria in late June, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
In remarks to a small group of reporters after the talks, Kadhi- mi stressed that his government was responsible for responding to such attacks. He acknowledged that he had reached out to Tehran to address them.
“We speak to Iranians and others in an attempt to put a limit to these attacks, which are undermining Iraq and its role,” he said.
The United States plans to provide Iraq with 500,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech, COVID-19 vaccine under the global COVAX vaccine-sharing program. Biden said the doses should arrive in a couple of weeks.
The United States will also provide $5.2 million to help fund a U.N. mission to monitor Octo- ber elections in Iraq.
“We’re looking forward to seeing an election in October,” said Biden.
U.S. President Joe Biden greets Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S
Two new Indian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list New Delhi
Two landmark decisions were taken during the 44th
session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China, with the inscriptions of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana and Dholavira: A Harrapan City, Gujarat on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
K a k a t i y a R u d r e s h w a r a (Ramappa) Temple received its inscription as a World Heritage Site on 25 July and Dholavira: A Harrapan City was inscribed on the World Heritage List yesterday, bringing India’s number of World Heritage sites to 40.
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
Popularly known as the Ramappa Temple, Rudresh- wara is located in the village of Palampet in Telangana. It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kaka- tiyan period (1123–1323 CE). The distinctive Vimana of the temple
is made of lightweight porous ‘floating bricks,’ which reduced the weight of the roof structures. The building features decorated beams and the temple’s magnifi- cent sculptures illustrate regional dance customs and Kakati- yan culture. The site is located close to the Ramappa Cheruvu,
a Kakatiya-built water reservoir, placing it in a unique natural set- ting of the surrounding forested areas and agricultural lands.
Dholavira: A Harrapan City, Gujarat
The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable
and well-preserved urban set- tlements in South Asia dating
from the 3rd to mid-2nd mil- lennium BCE (Before Common Era). Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its unique characteristics, such as its water management system, mul- ti-layered defensive mecha- nisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures. Of note is also the art associated with the city – ar- tefacts of various kinds such as copper, shell, stone, jewellery of semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory have been found at the site. In addition, the inter- regional trade links associated with Dholavira, have also been acknowledged as contributing to the shared heritage of humanity.
The two newly inscribed World Heritage Sites offer great insight into the knowledge and ways of life of earlier societies, customs, and communities.
UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
UK PM Johnson: don’t get carried away with falling COVID-19 cases Reuters | London
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that
people should not get carried away by six days of better COV- ID-19 infection data, while one of the country’s top epidemiolo- gists said the end of the pandemic could be just months away.
Johnson has lifted restrictions in England and is betting he can get one of Europe’s largest econo- mies firing again because so many people are now vaccinated, a de- cision which marks a new chap- ter in the response to the novel coronavirus.
The number of new daily COV- ID-19 cases has fallen each day for the last six days, though Johnson stressed the pandemic is not over.
“I’ve noticed obviously that we’re six days into some better figures, but it is very, very impor- tant that we don’t allow ourselves to run away with premature con-
clusions about this,” Johnson told broadcasters, noting it would take a while for the lifting of restrictions in England to feed through to the data.
“People have got to remain very cautious and that remains the approach of the government.”
Imperial College epidemiolo- gist Neil Ferguson said the end of
Britain’s pandemic could be just months away as vaccines have so dramatically reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death.
“We’re not completely out of the woods but the equation has fundamentally changed,” Fergu- son, whose modelling of the vi- rus’s likely spread at the outset of the pandemic in early 2020 alarmed governments across the world, told the BBC.
Johnson lifted COVID-19 restrictions in England on July 19. New daily cases in the current wave peaked two days earlier at 54,674 and have since fallen dramatically, to 24,950 new cases on Monday.
The closure of schools for sum- mer, the end of the Euro 2020 soc- cer championships and warmer weather are among factors epi- demiologists say might have reduced social mixing indoors and therefore cases, even as England’s economy has fully reopened.
A sign asking customers to wear protective face masks is seen in the window of a shop on Oxford Street, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London
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