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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 rela- tions, 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 yes- terday
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 impor- tance 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 invest- ment
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 ef- forts to overcome challenges
presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Minister Al Mahdi extended her gratitude for the opportuni- ty to
meet His Royal Highness, and extended appreciation for HRH’s
continued support to fur- thering Bahrain-Sudan ties.
The Sudanese Minister con- veyed 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 peo- ple.
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 strength- ening
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 hav- ing 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 counter- part, 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 num- ber 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 var-
ious fields.
At the beginning of the cer- emony, 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 em- bassy 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 ex- tended
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 appreci- ation 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 vis- it 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 for- eign minister from the regional and
international arena to visit the Republic of Sudan after the
December Revolution in April 2019.
She also appreciated the po- sitions 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 ex- pressed
thanks and appreciation to the attendees of the inau- guration. 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 at- tributed to significantly reduce deaths
as zero deaths and hos- pitalisations were recorded in Bahrain for
individuals after two weeks of receiving a boost- er 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 yes- terday cables of thanks from Health
Minister Faeqa bint Said Al Saleh, who praised roy- al directives
and support to the health sector and frontliners.
In the cables, the Minister hailed Bahrain’s strides and advanced
ranks among oth- er countries in combating the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pan- demic, 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 suc- cess 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 extend- ed 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) pan- demic, 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 coopera- tion 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 man- aging
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 avail- able.
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 com- bat
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 direc- tives of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime
Minister in order to combat the pandemic.
He stressed that this pan- demic needs a comprehensive stand, which
can be achieved with the cooperation of all members of the society,
in which Bahrain has succeeded in implementing.
03 WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
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 contin- ue 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 stabil- ity, 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 gen- der balance a
sustainable real- ity, Al Ansari said in an inter- view with the
Oxford Business Group magazine.
She also indicated that Bah- rain continues to refine its na-
tional experience to achieve
gender balance, whose cur- rent 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 advance- ment 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 indica- tors with international ones in order to stimulate
the devel- opment of women’s contribu- tions 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, includ-
ing jobs, schools, transporta- tion, and other places open to the
general public.”
This programme is organised by the US Embassy in collabo- ration
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 ho- tels 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 report- ed up to 80%-90% occupancy rates, while
downtown hotels’ occupation didn’t exceed 40%.
He revealed that the ma- jority of the customers were Bahraini
nationals, followed by Saudis.
He said that hotels’ business has considerably improved af- ter the
Eid Al Adha holiday as the Kingdom’s authorities an- nounced the
green level after imposing the orange level last week to ensure the
coronavi- rus (COVID-19) outbreak is kept under control.
“Hotels with seafronts en- joyed 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 knowl- edge, behaviours and attitudes of men in
Bahrain toward pros- tate 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 partici- pants
toward the risk of devel- oping 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 partici- pants 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 cultural- ly-sensitive public prostate can-
cer 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 im- pact an expansion in community
nursing roles in Bahrain could have in facilitating the develop-
ment of nursing specialist roles in the area of prostate disease
prevention.
President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom, com- mented:
“The study conducted by our students and faculty con- tributes 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 contrib- ute to
spreading awareness on preventative measures to im- prove 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 col- laboration.
04 WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
KNOW WHAT
diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most
common cause of cancer- related mortality in men.
The standardised inci- dence 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 cur- ricula and practical training for
university students and grad- uates 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 stu- dents.
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 bank- ing 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 ed- ucation.”
He added: “If a university
wants to market itself, digitisa- tion is the keyword, as it’s the
basis of current banking ser- vices.”
“We should also focus on de- veloping 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 ad- ministration 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 require- ments 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.
05 WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
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
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• 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’ in- cludes 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 require- ments 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 instal- ments, 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 sec- ond-quarter 2021
net prof-
it, thanks to higher net interest income, higher fees and com-
mission income, robust man- agement 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 environ- ment, increase its investment in
strategic initiatives, and con- tributes 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 cus- tomers 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 im- plementing 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 ro- bust 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, invest- ment and other income de- creased 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 re- ported for the
same period last year, representing a decrease of 75.9%.
Total comprehensive in- come, 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 as- sets
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 tak- en 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 knowl- edge, behaviours and attitudes of men in
Bahrain toward pros- tate 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 partici- pants
toward the risk of devel- oping 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 partici- pants 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 cultural- ly-sensitive public prostate can-
cer 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 im- pact an expansion in community
nursing roles in Bahrain could have in facilitating the develop-
ment of nursing specialist roles in the area of prostate disease
prevention.
President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom, com- mented:
“The study conducted by our students and faculty con- tributes 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 contrib- ute to
spreading awareness on preventative measures to im- prove 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 col- laboration.
04 WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
KNOW WHAT
diagnosed type of cancer and the fifth most
common cause of cancer- related mortality in men.
The standardised inci- dence 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 cur- ricula and practical training for
university students and grad- uates 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 stu- dents.
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 bank- ing 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 ed- ucation.”
He added: “If a university
wants to market itself, digitisa- tion is the keyword, as it’s the
basis of current banking ser- vices.”
“We should also focus on de- veloping 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 ad- ministration 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 require- ments 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 var- iants, 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 vaccina- tion 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 govern- ment 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 cit- izens
travelling to countries
on the kingdom’s ‘red list’ under efforts to curb the spread of
coro- navirus 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 authori- ties 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 penal- ties upon their return, and will be
banned from travel for three years,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia has banned trav- el 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 vacci- nation,” 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 chal- lenges, 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 trav- el 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 vac-
cines, 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 coun-
tering 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 im- pact 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 presi- dent 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 car- rier
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 of- ficial 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 acknowl- edged 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 dos- es 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 yester- day,
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 region-
al 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 wa- ter 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 restric- tions in England to feed
through to the data.
“People have got to remain very cautious and that remains the ap-
proach 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 restric- tions 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 re- duced 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 var- iants, 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 vaccina- tion 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 govern- ment 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 cit- izens
travelling to countries
on the kingdom’s ‘red list’ under efforts to curb the spread of
coro- navirus 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 authori- ties 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 penal- ties upon their return, and will be
banned from travel for three years,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia has banned trav- el 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 vacci- nation,” 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 chal- lenges, 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 trav- el 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 vac-
cines, 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 coun-
tering 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 im- pact 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 presi- dent 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 car- rier
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 of- ficial 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 acknowl- edged 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 dos- es 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 yester- day,
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 region-
al 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 wa- ter 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 restric- tions in England to feed
through to the data.
“People have got to remain very cautious and that remains the ap-
proach 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 restric- tions 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 re- duced 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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