Doha, 31 December 2021

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced changes to its outpatient services in response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Qatar.

The changes have been made to protect patients, visitors and staff from COVID-19 effective Sunday, 2nd January 2022, 50 percent of outpatient appointments will be delivered via telemedicine consultations and 50 percent delivered as in-person consultations.

Patients receiving telemedicine outpatient consultations are asked to not come into the hospital for their appointment. The physician will telephone the patient on the day of the appointment to deliver the consultation.

If the doctor decides that the patient needs a follow-up in-person consultation, the doctor will arrange this, and the patient will be informed by the clinic.

All HMC facilities have in place strict safety and prevention protocols and a new visitor policy has been implemented to protect patients, visitors and staff within its facilities.

HMC stated that its emergency departments and Ambulance Service remain operational 24 hours a day and reminded members of the community to only use these services for medical emergencies.

HMC’s virtual Urgent Care Service is available to support patients with non-life-threatening conditions by calling 16000, from 7am to 3pm, Sunday to Thursday.

 

Beijing, 01 January 2022

New Year 2022 Message From President Xi Jinping, President of People's Republic Of China Message

My greetings to you all.

The year 2022 is approaching. From Beijing, I extend New Year wishes to all of you!

The past year has been a year of exceptional significance. We have lived through landmark events in the history of our Party and our country. At the historical convergence of the Two Centenary Goals, we have set out on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and are making confident strides on the path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

From the beginning to the end of the year, the Chinese people have been hard at work in the fields, enterprises, communities, schools, hospitals, barracks and research institutes, among other places. Throughout the year, we have put in our efforts, contributed our part, and received much in return. In the passage of time, we have seen and experienced a resilient and dynamic China, a country with its amicable and respectable people, a country developing rapidly with each passing day, and a country making continual progress in all its undertakings.

On July 1, we solemnly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Standing on the Tian'anmen Rostrum, one could only marvel at the extraordinary journey traveled by this major Party, a journey of Chinese Communists leading the Chinese people, in their hundreds of millions, in an unyielding struggle against all obstacles and challenges, and scoring spectacular, epoch-making achievements over the past century. To accomplish our great mission, we must always remain true to our original aspiration. Only through vigorous and determined endeavor can we fulfill our responsibility to history, prove worthy of our times and live up to people's expectations.

The sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has adopted the Party's third resolution on historical issues. The CPC's 100-year achievements provide a source of motivation and its 100-year experience a wellspring of inspiration. I have referred to Chairman Mao's conversation with Mr. Huang Yanpei at his cave-dwelling in Yan'an, and the importance of carrying out bold self-revolution so as to gain the historical initiative. To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be no easy task like a walk in the park; it will not happen overnight, or through sheer fanfare. We must always keep a long-term perspective, remain mindful of potential risks, maintain strategic focus and determination, and "attain to the broad and great while addressing the delicate and minute".

Our country, big as it is, also has its list of priorities. The myriad of things we attend to all boil down to matters concerning every household. Through my field trips to different places, I have seen and heard a lot of things which I find very inspiring and rewarding. Every time I visit people in their homes, I would ask if they have any more difficulties, and I would remember everything my folks have to share with me.

The concerns of the people are what I always care about, and the aspirations of the people are what I always strive for. Having worked in the countryside myself, I know precisely what poverty feels like. Thanks to the sustained efforts of the Chinese people from generation to generation, those who once lived in poverty no longer have to worry about food or clothing, or access to education, housing and medical insurance. Realization of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and elimination of extreme poverty is what the CPC has delivered to our people, and it is also a contribution to the world. To ensure that everyone leads a better life, we must never rest on what we have achieved, and there is still a long way to go.

A Yellow River well harnessed is a millennia-long aspiration of the Chinese people. Over the past few years, I have visited all nine provinces or autonomous regions on the upper, middle and lower streams of the Yellow River. From the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, two "mother rivers" of the Chinese nation, to the limpid Qinghai Lake and the mighty Yarlung Zangbo River; from the South-North Water Diversion, known as a project of the century, to the Saihanba forest, shown as a patch of green on the map; from the northward trek and homecoming of elephants in Yunnan Province, to the migration and return of Tibetan antelopes -- all these remind us that "If we do not fail Nature, Nature shall never fail us".

This year has also recorded many memorable Chinese voices, Chinese moments and Chinese stories: youthful vows of "pledging to the Party to make my country strong"; affectionate expression of "pure, true love saved for the motherland"; the Zhurong rover probing Mars, the Xihe satellite chasing the sun, and the Tianhe space station core module traveling among the stars; athletes outdoing themselves to excel on the sports field; the whole nation staying united in solid COVID-19 response; people in disaster-stricken areas standing together to rebuild their homes; members of the People's Liberation Army and Armed Police devoted to building a strong military and protecting our country. The hard work and dedication of countless unsung heroes have all added to the great momentum of China's march forward in the new era.

The prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao is always close to the heart of the motherland. Only with unity and concerted efforts can we ensure sound implementation of One Country, Two Systems in the long run. The complete reunification of our motherland is an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. I sincerely hope that all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation will join forces to create a brighter future for our nation.

In my phone calls and virtual meetings with foreign leaders and heads of international organizations, I have heard many times plaudits for China's fight against COVID-19 and contribution to the global COVID response. To date, China has provided two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Only through unity, solidarity and cooperation can countries around the world write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

In just over a month, the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will open. Greater public involvement in winter sports also contributes to the Olympic Movement. We will spare no effort to present a great Games to the world. The world is turning its eyes to China, and China is ready.

The bell is about to ring for the New Year. As we speak, three Chinese astronauts are on duty in outer space; our fellow compatriots overseas are still working very hard; our people posted to diplomatic missions and businesses abroad as well as overseas Chinese students are bravely holding on; and our numerous dream-chasers are keeping up their good work. I salute all your great efforts, and extend to you best wishes for the New Year.

Let us all work together for a shared future. May our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in peace and harmony!

 

Ankara, 24 Dec. 2021 (Anadolu News)

By Iftikhar Gilani (A senior journalist at Anadolu News Agency)

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the military coup in Myanmar, and a new cold war, with the countries once again withdrawing into blocks, were among the major developments witnessed in 2021.

As curtains are about to fall in 2021, experts feel that the Russian military buildup near the borders of Ukraine, Chinese assertions on Taiwan and the South China Sea, coupled with its border standoff with India, and deepening military and diplomatic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing have thrown significant challenges to geopolitics.

The developments also posed significant challenges to the US plans to reassert its leadership, which under new President Joe Biden revived the “Pivot to Asia” strategy by putting more military assets in the Western Pacific. In August, the White House approved the sale of $750 million in arms to Taiwan.

Responding to these maneuvers, China dispatched a record number of bombers and fighters into Taiwan’s air defense zone in a display of dominance.

According to a report released by the Center for a New American Security, Russia and China have entered into a symbiotic relationship causing further worries to the US and its allies. While Russia is procuring Chinese electronic components and navel diesel engines to circumvent US sanctions, its missiles and fighter technology are giving Beijing an edge in the Pacific against the US.

The possibility and probability of a two-war front are not only worrying India, which has tense borders with Pakistan on its western side but the teaming up of Russia and China is causing nightmares to the US as well.

“The greatest risk facing the twenty-first-century US, short of an outright nuclear attack, is a two-front war involving its strongest military rivals, China and Russia,” a former senior American diplomat A. Wess Mitchell wrote in the US journal National Interest in August.

Further, China’s firing a hypersonic missile that moved five times the speed of sound in July not only surprised the Pentagon but also underscored the speed with which Beijing has mounted a strategic challenge to the US military.

China responds

In response to growing Chinese assertiveness, Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson jointly announced a new trilateral security partnership named AUKUS in September.

The most significant part of the deal was the US pledge to provide Australia with technology to build eight nuclear-powered submarines. The statement announcing the pact justified it as necessary to “preserve security and stability in the Indo-Pacific” region.

The move, however, angered France, which fumed because AUKUS terminated a $37 billion agreement it struck with Australia in 2016 to build a dozen diesel-electric powered submarines. As a result, Paris recalled its ambassadors to Canberra and Washington, a move without precedent in bilateral relations with either country.

The Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border prompted Biden to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin through a video link. Biden warned Putin that the US would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event Russia invaded Ukraine.

But the year 2021 will go down into history with the dramatic return of the Taliban in power in Afghanistan and its bloodless takeover of the capital Kabul in August.

In 2020, former US President Donald Trump had struck a deal with the Taliban that required withdrawing all US troops by May 1, 2021. Two weeks before that deadline, Biden ordered that a complete US withdrawal be concluded by no later than Sept. 11, 2021-- the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But surprisingly, Afghanistan’s national army collapsed and the Taliban overran the country.

The US had spent more than $2.3 trillion on Afghanistan over two decades, or roughly $300 million a day for 20 years, according to the US-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Ousting of democracies and COVID-19 surge

While a military coup in Myanmar in February deposed the nascent democratically elected government led by controversial Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, far away in Africa, another Nobel laureate politician Abiy Ahmed involved militarily against Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Some 2 million Ethiopians were displaced.

Fledgling democracies in Chad, Mali, Guinea, and Sudan all were ousted in coups.

While the speed at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed was stunning, the mutation of the virus and its new variants creating havoc across the globe was also unprecedented. The delta variant, first identified in December 2020 in India, was more infectious than its predecessors and soon became the dominant strain around the world.

As many as 3.4 million people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in 2021, so far, according to the data-tracking website Worldometer. Although COVID-19 was detected in 2019, it turned into a pandemic in 2020, taking 1.95 million lives in that year. In November 2021, South African scientists identified the emergence of a new coronavirus strain -- the omicron.

The pandemic exposed the UN-led global order, which failed to bring out a collective solution to the global issue. Just 4.2% of people in low-income countries have received the first dose. Across Africa, only 6.3% of people are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, a tracking website affiliated with Oxford University.

On the climate change front, President Biden committed to rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day in office, while China agreed to discontinue financing coal-fired power plants overseas, and Iceland opened a facility to take carbon dioxide out of the air.

At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, referred to as COP26, in Glasgow in November, countries pledged to take steps to address climate change, including by cutting methane emissions.

Some good news from Middle East

The May 2021 conflict between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas generated headlines around the world. A report by the independent monitoring group Airwars found that the conflict killed up to 192 Palestinian civilians and injured hundreds more over 11 days of fighting. Israeli warplanes destroyed the offices of various media outlets, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press.

Two Anadolu Agency journalists, Mustafa Hassouna and Mohammad al-Aloul, sustained injuries while covering an Israeli strike in the northern Gaza Strip.

The rest of the Middle East brought good news with the tensions between the countries waning. The year started with Saudi Arabia reopening its border with Qatar, ending a three-year-long diplomatic crisis. Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also repaired broken ties, reflecting the new realities taking shape in the region. The UAE and Iran are discussing the possibility of normalization, or at least have been in contact to avoid any conflict, according to a US-based think tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

In March, Pope Francis met in Iraq with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the first-ever meeting between a pope and a grand ayatollah.

Biden’s victory had brought optimism that the Iran nuclear deal might be revived three years after Trump quit the agreement. But it took almost a year to achieve modest gains in Vienna at the seventh round of talks. The parties are still nowhere closer to any agreement.

Economy contracts

Inflation and economic downslide continued to hit the world. As the demand surged in 2021 with vaccines becoming available, many countries found themselves short on supplies. Shortages of shipping containers and backups at ports around the world further complicated matters.

In the US alone, the size of the workforce fell by 5 million people from the start of the pandemic. The supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, which have contributed to a worldwide surge in inflation, continue to hit countries and may linger for years, according to CFR.

Note : Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu Agency.

www. asiantelegraphqatar.com not necessarily agree with the writer's opinion

Doha, 23 Dec. 2021

Pakistani forums joined hands to honour Pakistan based volunteers serving during FIFA Arab Cup 2021 hosted by Qatar and to show solidarity with the people of Qatar.

Present on the occasion were Pakistan Embassy’s Community Welfare Attaches Waheed Ullah Wazir and Arsalan Khan Tanoli; Ashraf Siddiqui and Qaiser Anwar Khan, Representatives of Pakistani Community in Outreaching Community Department of Supreme Committee for Legacy & Delivery; leading community leaders, representatives of Qatar based various community forums and large number of Pakistani Volunteers, both Pakistan and Qatar based.

The event was beautifully conducted by Fahad Ismail, Qatar based social worker and Volunteer (Supreme Committee foe Delivery and Legacy). The event was held in Salt & Pepper Banquet Hall, Doha.

The volunteers in their speeches praised Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and FIFA management on excellent arrangements during FIFA Arab Cup 2021 held in Qatar. They also thanked FIFA for providing them an opportunity to volunteer their services and to have an amazing and learning experience of a world class tournament. They showed their continuous support and of volunteer services for future sports activities organised by FIFA/ Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar.

A Cake cutting ceremony was held on the occasion. Around 34 Pakistani volunteers including three females were honoured with certificates and gifts. An electronic raffle draw was also held on the occasion and various gifts were presented in addition to the certificates of appreciation to the volunteers present.

Pakistan embassy Community Welfare Attaches Waheed Ullah Wazir; and Arsalan Khan Tanoli were the key speakers on the occasion. They lauded the efforts of the organizers and the participants on holding such an appreciable event and also the enthusiasm of the volunteers. They urged community members to  join more and more the healthy activities conducted by the national and international organizations and get rich experience by offering their services. They said that such participation is not only fruitful for them but also help in elevating the country's good name.

Pakistan based FIFA Arab Cup 2021 volunteers present on the occasion were included Zaheer Khattak (Ambassador, Generation Amazing, Pakistan); Zarish Rind and Mahnoor Baloch.

Local Qatar based volunteers present included Fahad Ismail, Atiq Ur Rasheed, Shahida Atiq, Qaiser Khan, Kamran Khan Tarakai, Muhammad Ali Khanan, Fahim Khan, , Ali Shan, Sheeraz Ali Khan, Abid Ullah, Muhammad Mizyal Khan, Waseem Sajjad, Shehzad Hassan Khan, Imran Khan, Ali Jawad Nasir, Muhammad Ejaz, Zia Ul Islam, Farzam Muhammad Khan, Abdul Basit, Aijaz Ahmed, Ghulam Mujtaba Baloch, Shahid Ali Shah, Muhammad Asif Raza, Yasir Hussain Soomro, Romaiz Taskeen, Fahim Zeb, Muhammad Irfan, Raees Khan, Sohaib Tariq, Maseeh Ullah, Nauman Anwar, Hashim Anwar, Muhammad Usman, Idrees Ismail, Muhammad Hamzah, Faisal Humayun, Abrar Hakim, Javed Kaleem Chohan, Abdullah Shaman, Omair Zafar, Zeeshan Khan, Zuhair Anwar and Saeed ur Rehman.

Sponsors of the event were Al Khayarin Group of Companies, Pakistan Business Council, My Book, Pakistan Welfare Forum, Spark Toastmasters, Halqa-e-Ahbab Qatar, Sohni Dharti, Pak Overseas Community, Pakistan Professional Community, Pashtoon Community, QSindis, Bangash Community, and a few others.

 

Doha, 22 Dec. 2021

The Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) announced recently that the total number of passengers used Doha Metro during the Arab Cup, hosted by the State of Qatar from November 30 to December 18, 2021, exceeded 2.5 million passengers with average of 130,000 passengers daily.

Doha Metro provided a world-class transportation experience for the fans of the Arab Cup, as Qatar Rail has implemented unprecedented operational plans for Doha Metro in order to serve the fans of the tournament, which is considered a trial version of the 2022 World Cup.

Doha Metro operated 50,000 trips of 110 trains during the tournament which lead to 885,000 km and the average time between trains is 2.5 minutes in one line in in one direction.

While around 250,000 passengers used the metro during Qatar's National Day, which also witnessed the holding the matches of the FAC 2021  final and the third and fourth place match.

Eng. Abdulla Saif Al-Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at Qatar Rail, said: “We are proud to participate in the organizational success system of the Arab Cup and its appearance in such an honorable way. We are proud that we succeeded in gaining the confidence of 2.5 million passengers throughout the tournament period. This clearly reflects the growing confidence of residents and visitors in Doha Metro, and confirms our operational readiness to receive and serve the guests of the World Cup Qatar 2022”.

The number of staff working around the clock in the metro network and stations has reached more than 2,500 including customer service staff & stations staff responsible for running the daily operations at the station and helping the fans. In addition, 283 directional signages with stadiums names had been placed inside the stations in coordination with SCDL to provide the fans with guidance.

Ajlan Eid Al Enazi, Chief of Strategy and Business Development, Qatar Rail, said: “There is no doubt that this impressive organizational and operational success  is a result of joint efforts with our partners especially the tournament's organizing committee, the SCDL, and other stakeholders. All these efforts played an instrumental role in delivering a successful tournament. This kind of sports tournament represented an important opportunity for us to test the operational readiness and preparations for the upcoming the FIFA World Cup Qatar2022”.

He said that  “The Arab Cup was also an exceptional opportunity to build the expertise of national talents and the know-how of Qatari competencies at the company, which contributed to giving them experience in crowd management and operational during major events. The tournament also emphasized the importance of the pivotal role that Doha Metro is now playing in enhancing the integrated public transport system by providing an effective alternative for transportation, facilitating the movement of individuals and dealing with crowds, in addition to providing multiple transportation options such as buses and vehicles within the first and last mile strategy”.

Throughout the tournament, Qatar Rail implemented a thorough crowd management plan, which ensured that the flow of passenger traffic at each station was managed effectively, starting from the train platform until they leave the station.

As part of its unprecedented preparations Doha Metro extended it operational hours, as it was 21 hours a day throughout the week, except for Friday, when the working hours which was 18 hours.

For the first time since the start of the metro operation, had the t 6 cars train on the Red Line, which contributed to doubling the capacity of the trains on that line. The entire Doha Metro train fleet, which constitutes of 110 trains were fully deployed in service during the tournament.

The Doha Metro stations is directly connected to three of the six stadiums where the Arab Cup matches were held. The fans headed to Stadium 974 through Ras Bu Abboud Station, to Education City Stadium through Education City Station, and to Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium through Al-Riffa Station. While the organizing committee of the tournament provided shuttle services to transport fans from stations to stadiums that are not directly connected to the metro network, where fans could go to Al Bayt Stadium through Lusail QNB station, to Al Thumama Stadium through the Free Zone Station, and to Al Janoub Stadium through Al Wakra Station.

 

Abrantes, Portugal (Anadolu News)

A view of Oliveira do Mouchao, an olive tree that is 3,350 years old being one of the oldest olive trees in the world. It is located in Iberian peninsula, in village Mouriscas, with a few dozens of inhabitants, in Santarem district Abrantes, in the central region of Portugal. The area is known for olive groves

Picture was taken on November 30, 2021.

The tree still bears the fruit - many tiny black olives.

Doha, 21 Dec. 2021 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

The Nepalese community in Qatar organised an event at Hotel Crown Plaza recently, to mark the 19th anniversary of the establishment of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Qatar Chapter.

Those present on the occasion included Charge d’Affaires of Nepal, Lakshuman Khanal; Ali Salih Al Khallaf, Head of Awareness and Labour Organisation, Ministry of Labour; Mohammad Muktda Musalman, President of NRNA Qatar; ICC Secretary RK Sharma; NRNA Advisor TB Karki; Founding Member Sagar Nepal; Honorary Council Members Sani Kumar Oli and Bimal Subedi; ICC members; NCC advisors and Doha-based representatives of various Nepalese forums.

Charge d’Affaires of Nepal, Lakshuman Khanal lauded the humanitarian and socio-cultural services rendered by NRNA since its establishment in Qatar. He commended the role of various Nepalese forums and the unity among them. He urged the community members to use their platforms to promote rich and attractive Nepalese cultures and traditions through inter-community relations.

“Leading community professionals and business people can play an important role in exploring and enhancing bilateral economic, investment and tourism relationship between Qatar and Nepal,” he noted.

Ali Salih Al Khalaf, Head of Awareness and Labour Organisation, Ministry of Labour of State of Qatar, appreciated NRNA Qatar for keeping regular collaboration with the Ministry and cooperating in organising various community awareness activities.

He also lauded the role of the Nepalese community in the development of Qatar and assured that the Ministry would continue to collaborate and support community awareness and welfare activities.

NRNA President, Mohammad Muktda Musalman expressed gratitude to the founders and past office-bearers of Non-Resident Nepali Association, Qatar Chapter, for their vision and farsightedness in seeing the need for the platform to serve the large Nepalese expatriate community,

He said that Kathmandu-based NRNA was established in 2003 with the purpose of uniting and binding the Nepalese Diaspora under one umbrella.  In course of its 18 years of existence, NRNA has developed into a global non-governmental organisation and a network of people of Nepalese origin by establishing National Coordination Council (NCC) in 82 countries to represent its interests, concerns and commitments.

He assured his fellow expatriate community members that with the support of the community’s forums, leaders and local authorities, he and his entire team would continue to serve the needy community members, providing various activities and programmes, and will maintain the legacy of the organisation’s founders.

On behalf of his team, Mohammad Muktda expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Labour of Qatar and Nepal embassy in Qatar for their continuous and significant support and cooperation.

Community leaders also expressed their thanks and appreciation by highlighting the role of NRNA, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as its relief activities for the needy community members.

NCC Secretary, Padam Giri proposed the vote of thanks to the concerned departments of Qatar, Nepal embassy officials, officials of the Ministry of Labour of Qatar, and representatives of the community’s forums for their cooperation and support to the NRNA in organising healthy activities.

Ankara, 19 Dec. 2021 (Media Reports)

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday set up a humanitarian fund to be operated by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to help avert the humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan. The announcement of the fund was part of the measures the 57-member Islamic bloc agreed upon after the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by Pakistan as reported by Daily Express Tribune from Islamabad.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday issued a clear warning to the global community, stating that Afghanistan could potentially become the biggest "man-made crisis in the world" if it did not act now.

Pakistani Prime Minister expressed the views in his keynote address at the OIC Meeting held at the Parliament House in Islamabad.

Noting that the poliical isolation of Afghanistan is not beneficial for anyone, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister on Sunday urged the world community to support the country politically, diplomatically, and economically.

The Saudi FM announced one billion riyals worth of aid to Afghanistan, stating that the Afghan issue must be looked at on humanitarian grounds and that the people in the war-torn country, including women and children are suffering.

“The economic crisis in Afghanistan could get more serious, the people there are looking forward to our help,” he added.

President Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr Muhammad Al Jasser also arrived in Islamabad and spoke to the media, and stated that the meeting had great significance for Afghanistan as the people were facing famine, hunger and lawlessness after the withdrawal of the United States.

He said that a gathering of all Muslim countries at a single platform was a great sign for the Muslim Ummah to find out possible solutions for lasting peace in the war-torn country.

“We all, at the Summit, will work together to help Afghan people,” he remarked.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghansitan in his address at the session assured the entire world and specifically Islamic countries that the territory of Afghanistan will not be used against anyone and we shall work in tandem to combat the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics.”

“We, as a representative and responsible government of the Afghan people, consider human rights, women rights, and participation by all capable Afghans from various regions our duty. We have done much in this regard and will continue to take further steps.”

“Afghanistan, following many decades, finally has a government that is united and controls all territory,” Muttaqi stressed, adding that the current government “secured its geography and territorial integrity, established security, and does not pose a threat to any world country.”

He continued pointing out that the new ruling system “reserves the right to have formal relations with the world and be a responsible member of the wider international community.”

“Fortunately, Afghanistan now has a responsible, non-corrupt, and committed government that shall safeguard Afghans from difficulties moving forward. As the developments are nascent and we face unjust sanctions, our people are in dire need of your support,” he added.

Asking the world to restore diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, We welcome the return of diplomats from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Kabul. He urged the OIC member states “that have deferred reopening their embassies in Kabul to reopen their missions, and we shall welcome them.”

Sultan bin Sa'ad Al Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar and Head of Qatari delegation at OIC meeting stressed that the OIC countries and members of the international community bear a great responsibility towards Afghanistan, particularly ensuring the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, especially with the onset of winter.

He said Qatar encourages all countries and international organisations to provide this assistance, and urges the international community to continue dealing with Afghanistan, as communication is the only way to move forward in building stability, eliminating terrorism, and respecting human rights.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister in his address stressed on solidarity with the Afghan people as "a moral obligation and a religious duty."

"Nearly 23 million people, 60% of the population, are facing hunger in Afghanistan. The OIC should play a leading role in mobilizing international support for Afghanistan. The resolution that we will adopt today should be implemented," he said.

Listing three steps to resolve the Afghan crisis, Cavusoglu said the first priority must be to "coordinate humanitarian assistance," as he thanked Pakistan for facilitating the transfer of humanitarian aid.

He also expressed Turkey's support to Uzbekistan's effort to make the city of Termez "another UN hub for aid, especially to the northern regions" of Afghanistan.

"The establishment of a trust fund by the Islamic Development Bank is a step in the right direction," he added.

Second priority emphasized by Turkish top diplomat to prevent Afghanistan from economic collapse, ongoing sanctions, "unfortunately, crippled the financial system, and pledges will be meaningless unless this money reaches the Afghans. We should work on solutions to unlock financial channels for resolving the liquidity and bank transfer problems."

As a third step, Cavusoglus said that "engagement with the Taliban" would be necessary to achieve stability. Noting that the "worsening crisis" greatly impacted Muslim nations of Asia, Cavusoglu hailed the active engagement of Asian countries, such as Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, on the Afghanistan issue.

He suggested that a joint visit by OIC foreign ministers to the Afghan capital Kabul should be arranged to show solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, as well as to send "our messages directly, and take the lead as Islamic nations."

In his concluding remarks, Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey's "determination and support to achieve an independent Palestine" with Jerusalem as is its capital.

Cavusoglu later told reporters he had conveyed Ankara's recommendations to the Taliban administration.

Daily 'Dhaka Tribune' reports Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary and head of Bangladesh delegation at the OIC meeting announced a humanitarian aid package in the form of food and medicinal assistance. He said that Bangladesh can be a partner in Afghanistan’s developmental process as it “seeks to enhance regional cooperation for the attainment of a vision of shared prosperity for the region.”

Delhi, 10 Dec. 2021

Remains of Indian top military Gen. Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat (1958-2021), India's Chief of Defence Staff were cremated with full military honours at the Brar Square Crematorium in Delhi today, on Friday.

According to the various media reports, India's first Chief of Defence Forces, General Pabin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other forces personnel were killed in a Indian Air Force Mi17V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday around 1208 pm, just 7 minutes before landing at the Wellington air base.

Only one passenger, Grp Capt. n Varun Sigh could survive from the ill-fated Russian helicopter crash, who was shifted to Air Force Command hospital at Bengaluru for further treatment.

“The helicopter took off from Sulur airbase at 11.48 AM on Wednesday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12.15 PM.  Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact around 12.08 PM, Rajnath Singh, Indian Defence Minister told the parliament.

The Centre has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the accident headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.

Tabil Nadu is one of the major six Indian regional states where freedom fighters/separatists have been fighting against Indian rule. Among these regions are Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir; Asam; Kamtapur; Manipur; Punjab; and Nagaland.

Daily 'The Indian Express' referring to PTI reported ' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called on President Ram Nath Kovind and briefed him about the chopper crash near Coonoor that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel. The President is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. Official sources said Singh apprised President Kovind about the accident as well as the situation arising out of it '.

Bipin Rawat is the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) appointed on 1st of January 2020 for a three year term, served as Indian army chief before taking over new position. He was at one point defence advisor to the Defence Minister. He was also entrusted with carrying out some of the country’s key defence reforms – creating synergy among the three services by merging their 17 different commands into four or five joint commands. The new commands were to focus on specific borders.

Doha, 07 Dec. 2021 (QNA-QT)

The Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of the initiative to settle accumulated traffic violations.

During a press conference on Monday, the General Directorate of Traffic announced that it will activate a 50 percent discount from the amount of violations.

The discount will be available for a period of three months, starting from December 18, coinciding with the celebrations of the National Day of the State.

After the expiry of this period and the beginning of next year, legal procedures will be applied to collect the new traffic violations. “On the initiative of the Ministry of Interior and under the directives of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the General Directorate of Traffic announces the launch of the initiative to settle accumulated traffic violations, by activating a 50% discount from the amount of violations.

This discount will be available for a period of three months, starting from December 18, 2021, coinciding with the celebrations of the National Day of the State. After the expiry of this period and the beginning of next year, legal procedures will be applied to collect the new traffic violations,” Acting Director General Directorate of Traffic Brig. Mohammed Abdullah Al Shahwani said.

He said the payment can be made through the Metrash2 app, and in the event of facing any problem with violations, they can contact the Traffic Department.

Director of Traffic Awareness Department Col. Dr Muhammad Radi Al Hajri said this initiative aims to correct the situation of violators through a new mechanism.