Doha, 24 July 2020 (Qatar Tribune)
By Ashraf Siddiqui
The situation in Qatar with regard to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is changing daily and it can get back to normal in near future, Ambassador of Belgium to Qatar HE Bart De Groof has said.
Speaking on the occasion of the National Day of his country, the ambassador said that while the world grapples with the pandemic, Qatar has taken several measures to contain the virus in view of the rising number of cases within the country.
The ambassador congratulated Qatar for maintaining a balance between protecting residents from the deadly virus and resuming the economic activity gradually.
Groof said, “We normally celebrate our National Day with great fanfare, including a parade, dance performances and dazzling fireworks on the streets of our cities. However, this year, National Day takes place under extraordinary circumstances. For almost half a year, our interconnected world has been struck by a global health emergency. None of us has ever experienced anything like this, and the impact is profound. Our lives have been turned upside down in every possible aspect.”
He hoped that all Belgian nationals working in Qatar are in good health and their families are safe. Paying his deepest respect to the families of pandemic victims, he said Belgium has suffered a lot from the pandemic, with aging population having been the most vulnerable to the infection.
He also expressed his gratitude to the commitment and unremitting efforts of the healthcare workers during the ongoing pandemic, who put their lives at risk to help others.
He said, “The virus has affected our lives in various ways. The economy is suffering and jobs are under threat. However, there have been positive signs during the crisis as well. For example, airlines and banks have continued to operate and the best medical facilities have been available to people.” He urged his community members to stay in solidarity and continue helping one another amid the pandemic.
The ambassador added, “We need to offer moral support to one another during these difficult times as we wait for our national team to lift the trophy as European football champions next year. We will have a double celebration when that happens.”
He said that since its independence 190 years ago, Belgium has evolved immensely based on the fundamental values of democracy, peace, freedom and human rights. He said: “We are happy to work together with our Qatari friends in international organisations, such as the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council to promote these principles.”
Doha, 23 July 2020 (Qatar Tribune)
By Ashraf Siddiqui
The whole staff of ambulance service in Qatar are well-trained, well-prepared and well-equipped to assist in any kind of unforeseen national disaster, including coronavirus (COVID-19), Assistant Executive Director of Ambulance Services Department at Hamad Medical Corporation Ali Darwish has said.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, Darwish said, “Each and every member of Ambulance Service Department believes in, and always act as per the department’s mission and vision.” He expressed his gratitude to the Qatari leadership and the government for their concern, keen interest and generous financial support
to the Ambulance Services Department in achieving its position as one of the world’s top class and highly professional and diversified services provider.
Darwish, who opted for professional career as paramedic with Ambulance Services and has deep passion in maintaining his para-medic licence, said, “We get full support and cooperation for training, uniform of paramedical staff, world-class equipment, vehicles equipped with latest integrated technology like OPTIMA, EVPS, etc. and adequate supply of medication for patients, with the objective of providing second to none services to the society.”
Talking on Ambulance Services role during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, upon directives of the Steering Committee, within 24 hours of the virus outbreak the department was ready along with required equipment, precautionary measures, in-house swabbing and screening, sanitising and
disinfection of equipment, vehicles, as well as simplified rules to handle the situation.
He added, “Due to the regular Key Performance Indicators (KPI) monitoring, we divided para-medic staff into various groups like those handling physical contact and those in charge of office support. We also had some people staying at home to follow up the government rules. hese arrangements helped the Ambulance Services in assisting during pandemic until today as well as preventing the spread of diseases.
“On the instructions of the Steering Committee, we played a strategic role as frontline para-medic force. In the beginning, Ambulance Services deployed 30 mbulances across Qatar, supervised and sanitised quarantine areas, transferred COVID-19 patients from airport or homes to quarantine centres, and health centres or from health centres to quarantine facilities.” He also lauded doctors and nurses of Mobile Health Service (MHS), a section within Ambulance Service Department deployed at airport for swabbing and screening of large number of incoming passengers, transferring affected persons to health centres and quarantines facilities, and providing ambulance stations at various locations for swabbing and screening of general public.
“Side by side the COVID-19 emergency, our main routine operation was not disturbed at any time, including Schedule Ambulance Service (SAS) and permanent patients transferring for routine procedures, including dialysis patients,” Darwish said.
He said since the restriction relaxation phases started, however, around five percent of ambulances and staff have been reallocated to public areas like beaches, hotels and museums.
He said despite the coronavirus challenges, there was no single severely affected member of the team. He said, “However, providing assistance, social and
psychological support is very important at this stage to keep the staff stand and charged so that they are available to provide their services at this crucial stage of pandemic. Some self-motivated re-scheduled their vacations to keep them available in pandemic emergency situation.
“We are statistic driven organisation. We don’t dream at night and wake up in morning and deploy our resources. We rely on statistics, we rely on KPI and on computerised evidence. Our operation distribution model depends on statistics combined with professional input.”
Istanbul, 19 July 2020 (Anadolu /AlJazeera)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprise visit on Sunday to Hagia Sophia just days before the first Muslim prayers will be held at the Istanbul landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque last week.
President's office provided the images of renovation work in progress.
It was revealed by the presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Sunday that some mosaics of Mary and Gabriel positioned in Qiblah direction would be covered with curtains, where Muslims face during prayer.
He said other mosaics of Jesus and other Christian figures did not pose an obstacle for Muslim prayers because they are not located in the direction of Qiblah. But he did not say whether they would remain uncovered at all times.
Outside prayers, Hagia Sophia will be open to all visitors and tourists and all mosaics will be uncovered, authorities have said.
It was unclear whether Erdogan planned to be among some 500 worshippers set to attend Friday prayers.
Turkey's top court paved the way for the conversion in a decision to revoke the edifice's museum status conferred nearly a century ago.
19 July 2020 (AlJazeera News)
International Labour Organization says MT Gulf Sky was hijacked on July 5 and all 28 Indian crew disembarked in Iran.
A United Nations agency has acknowledged that a US-sought oil tanker "hijacked" off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after allegedly smuggling Iranian crude oil is back in Iranian waters.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Sunday said the MT Gulf Sky was hijacked on July 5, citing its captain. That mirrors earlier reporting by The Associated Press news agency.
"The vessel was taken to Iran," the ILO said. All 28 Indian crew members disembarked in Iran and all but two of the crew without passports flew from Tehran to India on July 15, it added.
The ILO cited the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network for its information. The agency earlier filed a report saying the vessel and its sailors had been abandoned by its owners without pay since March off Khorfakkan, a city on the eastern coast of the UAE.
Iranian state media and officials have not acknowledged the hijacking and arrival of the MT Gulf Sky to Iran. The United States government similarly has not commented.
A United Nations agency has acknowledged that a US-sought oil tanker "hijacked" off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after allegedly smuggling Iranian crude oil is back in Iranian waters.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Sunday said the MT Gulf Sky was hijacked on July 5, citing its captain. That mirrors earlier reporting by The Associated Press news agency.
"The vessel was taken to Iran," the ILO said. All 28 Indian crew members disembarked in Iran and all but two of the crew without passports flew from Tehran to India on July 15, it added.
The ILO cited the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network for its information. The agency earlier filed a report saying the vessel and its sailors had been abandoned by its owners without pay since March off Khorfakkan, a city on the eastern coast of the UAE.
Iranian state media and officials have not acknowledged the hijacking and arrival of the MT Gulf Sky to Iran. The United States government similarly has not commented.In May, the US Justice Department filed criminal charges against two Iranians, accusing them of trying to launder some $12m to buy the tanker, then named the MT Nautica, through a series of front companies.
Doha, 19 July 2020 (Qatar Tribune)
By Ashraf Siddiqui
The Turkish people will always remember Qatar’s valuable and solid support
Qatar and Turkey enjoy excellent relations which is reflected from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent short visit to Qatar despite the coronavirus pandemic, said HE Mert Ozmert, Charge d’ Affaires of Turkey Embassy in Qatar.
In an interview with Qatar Tribune on the fourth anniversary of the failed coup, Ozmert said the meetings between the two leaders were part of continuing coordination between the two brotherly countries in strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional and international issues of common concern.
Turkish President Erdogan was in Qatar on a short visit at the beginning of July along with his delegation and met the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Speaking about the foiled coup attempt of July 15, 2016, Ozmert said the day is marked to pay tributes to hundreds of civilians who sacrificed their lives protesting against the coup carried out by the FETÖ group. He said coup plotters also targeted public and private communication outlets, including TRT, the state broadcasting channel, CNN Türk, sensitive buildings and various other installations.
He thanked HH the Amir and the people of Qatar for their firm support to “our democratically-elected government after the heinous coup attempt on July 15, with phone calls, official visits, statements and social media messages”.
He said the Turkish people will always remember Qatar’s valuable and solid support. The Turkish diplomat said that just one year after the coup, Qatar
faced an unjust and unlawful blockade from some of its neighbouring countries, adding that Turkey did not hesitate a moment to come forward and support the people of Qatar. “These crises and supportive positions led our countries to further strengthen bilateral relations at all levels,” he noted.
The Turkish government has declared FETO group as terrorist and criminal organisation and banned all its activities after the failed coup attempt.
Ozmert said the terror group used children and their parents as ‘Chosen One’ with the seemingly innocent promise of better education and jobs by providing financial help and support in academics.
“The whole purpose was to subvert democratic foundations of the Turkish state and establish a new anti-democratic government with absolute rule of Gulen,” he said. He said the terror group that disguised itself as an education movement gradually turned into a secretive operational structure aiming to transform the society by taking control of the Turkish state from within.
He said the banned organisation had also established media houses to shape the public opinion for and against any person, group or idea. It also started meddling in business transactions and government tender process, laundering, infiltrating critical state posts, eliminating opponents, illegal wiretapping, fabricating evidences, unlawful arrests to intimidate and blackmail a large segment of society, including politicians, business community, journalists, artists and sportsmen. He said the fight against FETO structures in Turkey and abroad remains among the top priorities of the country.
Doha, 16 July 2020 (QNA)
The Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Dr. Yury Sentyurin said that Qatar has a competitive advantage and flexible cost compared to other Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) producers, noting that reducing operating costs by 30% and the low cost production enable Qatar projects to be easily absorbed into the market.
In an interview with the Qatari newspaper /Lusail/, Dr. Sentyurin said that Qatar's expansions enable it to meet the growing global demand for low carbon fuel. Qatar is in a strong position and many international companies have expressed their desire to take part in projects to increase gas production in Qatar, he added. Dr. Sentyurin referred to Qatar announced plans to increase LNG production from 77 million tons annually to 110 million tons annually by 2025 and 126 million tons annually by 2027, saying that by the time expected to start operating these projects, the world will have recovered from COVID-19.
He pointed out that based on these expectations, Qatar's announcement is strategic and will enable it, as a member of the GECF, to meet the increasing demand for fuel as the world switches to low carbon energy.
He also stressed that continued investment in the natural gas industry is required to facilitate the flow of natural gas from surplus countries to those suffering from deficits.
Dr. Sentyurin predicted that the demand for gas in the long term will be strong enough to absorb the additional supplies, pointing that Qatar has announced the continuation of expansion plans according to the announced schedule.
He believed that it is possible for the current economic downturn and the restrictions imposed on staying at home due to the spread of the COVID-1-9 to severely affect LNG markets, The level of uncertainty remains high, he said.
He pointed out that the possibility of demand for gas decreasing from 3 to more than 6 percent in 2020, in light of a possible second wave of the epidemic. He also pointed to the possibility of more LNG shipments cancelations in the event of another mild winter, noting out that the volume of gas storage in Europe has reached about 67% of total capacity. The high levels of gas storage put great pressure on gas prices, which affects gas suppliers, he explained.
On the other hand, this could affect the stability of gas markets in the medium term (after 2025), as well as developing the infrastructure on time, he said expecting global demand for LNG to rise at a healthy rate of growth driven by the Asia Pacific region.
The Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum pointed out that the GECF member countries have succeeded in facing market shocks, thanks to their competitive advantage over new exporters and their commitment to ensuring a sustainable supply of LNG.
On the State of Qatar's hosting of the sixth summit of heads of state and government of the GECF in late 2021, Dr. Sentyurin praised the initiative of the country's leadership; an initiative that was welcomed and approved by the twenty-first Ministerial Meeting held last in Moscow. Currently, work is underway to develop a comprehensive road map to prepare for the summit and its agenda.
He pointed out that the summit, which is held every two years, aims to provide a platform for policies and decision makers dialogue on the latest developments and trends in the gas industry worldwide, and therefore its agenda includes promising discussions, energy shifts and the achievement of the 2030 sustainable development goals.
14 July 2020, UN News
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected an appeal, brought by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which called into question the authority of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
Background
The background to the case involves a package of sanctions brought against Qatar in 2017 by the four countries, including the closure of Qatar’s sole land border, with Saudi Arabia; blocking Qatari ships from docking at their ports; and an air blockade, preventing Qatari aircraft from entering their airspace.
The sanctions were imposed in retaliation for Qatar’s alleged support for groups that the plaintiff nations view as terrorist organizations, which, they say, violates agreements aimed at improving diplomatic relations in the region.
Qatar rejects the allegations, arguing that the air blockade goes against the 1944 Convention on Civil Aviation, the international agreement which led to the creation of ICAO, the UN’s international aviation agency.
Case goes to court
Qatar decided to fight the blockade by taking the case to the ICAO, but the plaintiff nations complained that only the ICJ has the authority to decide on the dispute, arguing that the case goes beyond solely civil aviation matters. However, on Tuesday, that complaint was not upheld by the ICJ judges, who ruled that the ICAO is competent to hear the case.
In a tweet, the State of Qatar welcomed the decision, and the country’s Minister of Transport and Communication, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, reportedly expressed his confidence that the ICAO will find in Qatar’s favour, and rule that the air blockade is unlawful.
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at The Hague responded with a tweet confirming that the country will now put its legal case to ICAO, supporting its right to close its airspace to Qatari aircraft, and the country’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Hissa Abdullah Al Otaiba, reportedly described the ICJ decision as “technical and limited to procedural issues and jurisdiction to address the dispute”, which has nothing to do with the merits of the case itself.
Now that jurisdiction has been decided, the ICAO is expected to deliver a final ruling on the air blockade next year.
Qinghai Province, China, 09 July 2020 (Xinhua News)
Aerial photo taken on July 9, 2020 shows water gushing out from a gate of the Lijiaxia Hydropower Station at the border of Jainca County and Hualong County in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Due to the increasing amount of water inflow volume from the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the Lijiaxia Hydropower Station started to open the gate to release water from June 18 as a way to prepare for the flood peak. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)
Ankara, 10 July 2020 (Anadolu News)
Global oil supply has declined to its lowest level in nine years due to massive production cuts by OPEC+ nations, according to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) monthly oil report on Friday.
Oil supply globally plunged to an average of 86.86 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, down 2.39 million bpd from May, according to the IEA's Oil Market Report for July 2020.
OPEC's total oil supply declined to 27.19 million bpd in June, down by 1.92 million bpd from the previous month's level of 29.11 million bpd in May.
Non-OPEC oil supply decreased to 59.67 million bpd in June, a fall of 0.47 million bpd from May's level of 60.14 million bpd.
This brought down the world's total oil supply to the lowest level in nine years, dropping by 2.39 million bpd from 89.25 million bpd in May to 86.86 million bpd in June.
"During June, global oil output tumbled to a nine-year low after Saudi Arabia cut an extra 1 million bpd below its OPEC+ target and output in both Iraq and the US fell by around 0.5 million bpd," the IEA said in its report.
"Record OPEC+ cuts drove most of the decline in June. The group cut crude output by nearly 2 million bpd more than in May, lifting its overall cut above 10 million bpd and boosting compliance to 108% from 88% a month earlier," it added.
Global demand to fall by 7.9 million bpd in 2020
On the demand side, global oil consumption is still weak due to the novel coronavirus (COVID), which is suppressing overall oil demand.
"Global oil demand fell by 16.4 million bpd year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020 as lockdowns were imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic," the report said.
The IEA estimates that global oil demand will decline by 7.9 million bpd in 2020 but recover by 5.3 million bpd in 2021. However, it added, "the recent increase in Covid-19 cases and the introduction of partial lockdowns introduces more uncertainty to the forecast."
In 2020, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to lead demand with 33.7 million bpd, followed by the Americas with 28.9 million bpd and Europe with 13.5 million bpd.
Global oil demand is forecast to average 92.1 million bpd in 2020 and 97.4 million bpd in 2021, according to the IEA.
Kathmandu, 10 July 2020 (AlJazeera News)
Nepal's cable and satellite television providers have stopped airing Indian news channels, with one operator saying on Friday that the move was in response to public complaints against "objectionable" content broadcast about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The two South Asian countries have been wrangling since India opened a new road in the disputed Lipulekh pass on their border in May.
The Indian channels went blank late on Thursday, days after one report on Zee News suggested Oli had close ties with the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, who has been meeting several leaders of Oli's Nepal Communist Party.
"We felt a moral responsibility to block the channels after they aired objectionable content about our country," Max Digital TV vice chairman Dhurba Sharma told AFP news agency.
Dish Media Network managing director Sudeep Acharya said his company pulled the channels after complaints from viewers.
Nepal's Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada earlier condemned the broadcast for "character assassination"
"We request all media, including those of our neighbouring country, to not broadcast news that damages our country's image," he told a press briefing.
The Kathmandu Post in a strongly-worded editorial on Friday accused Indian news channels of coming up with a "new - and invariably false - propaganda against Oli".
"Sitting in their [New] Delhi or Mumbai studios, they do not hesitate to announce the date and time of Oli's resignation, some of them even asking him to step down. Oli, it seems, is the new enemy they must fight each day to garner higher television rating points for themselves," the editorial said.
Indian TV channels have also been accused of pushing Islamophobic and anti-Muslim views in Nepal, a country with 4 percent Muslims, using the coronavirus pandemic to cause unrest and backlash against the minority community.
Worsening relations
Oli has been a target of the Indian leadership and media since his government brought out a new map of the country that includes territories claimed by both India and Nepal.
The new map has strained relations between two South Asian nations with exchanges of strong statements.
Kathmandu's relations with New Delhi worsened after Oli said last week in an internal party meeting that India was attempting to overthrow him from office with help from some of the members of his party.
India, which has traditionally wielded influence in Nepal for decades, sees China's increasing involvement in the tiny Himalayan nation with suspicion.
Besides China's investment in the building of airports, highways and hydropower projects in Nepal, Chinese diplomats have worked to increase ties with Nepali political leaders.
Beijing views Kathmandu as key to its massive transcontinental infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative that builds on old Silk Road route that once connected China to the West, analysts say.
India has been wary of Nepal since a communist government was elected in 2017, but Nepalese officials deny China's involvement in its internal matters.