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published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11902 May 3, 2021 Ramadan 21, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Katara to reopen The Plaza hotel in NY on May 20 In Brief Talks on for setting Amir sends message to king of Jordan His Highness the Amir Sheikh up food processing Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent a written message to King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, pertaining to the fraternal relations and means plants in Qatar Free of enhancing and promoting them. The message was handed over by Qatar’s ambassador Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim al-Thani, when the king met him at Al Husseiniya Palace Zones: minister yesterday. (QNA)

‘Astronomically first By Peter Alagos day of Eid on May 13’ Business Reporter According to astronomical calculations made by Qatari iscussions “are ongoing” with diff erent in- Calendar House, May 13 is the first vestors who are interested in establishing day of the month of Shawwal and Dfood processing plants inside Qatar’s Free the first day of the blessed Eid Zones, according to HE the Minister of Municipal- al-Fitr of this year and that May ity and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin 12, 2021 is the completion of the Turki al-Subaie. blessed month of Ramadan 1442 The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC), in its AH. The off icial decision about the ‘Business Opportunity Report: Qatar’s Food Security’, beginning of Shawwal remains stated that there are many organisations that are fa- within the competence of the Moon cilitating investments in Qatar, including Qatar Free Sighting Committee of the Ministry Zones Authority and Hamad Port, among others. of Endowments (Awqaf) in Qatar. “We have many alignments between strategies Calendar House off icials said the and plans of these entities,” said HE al-Subaie in crescent of the month of Shawwal Katara Hospitality has announced that The Plaza hotel in New York will reopen its doors on the report. He also said the strategic stock facility for the year 1442 AH will be born on May 20. “The hotel has been a landmark since 1907 and is distinguished by its location in the at Hamad Port “is very autonomous and will be- HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment May 11, and that at 10pm local time it city centre,” the Qatar-based leading global hotel owner, developer and operator tweeted come the main hub and gateway for trade between Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie is impossible to see the crescent on yesterday. The hotel will witness the full opening of all services and facilities, including 282 Qatar and the rest of the world.” the evening of the investigation day rooms and suites, the Palm Court lounge and Guerlain Spa, it added. Page 3 Al-Subaie said: “We also have programmes with Al-Subaie also underscored the importance of in the sky of Qatar as well as Arab the Free Zones to reduce all food wastage as well. keeping international relations “intact and very and Islamic countries, because the We’re also aligning our strategy with the Hamad fl exible,” in case there is a need to scale up or down. crescent of the month of Shawwal International Airport and their air cargo capacity. “We’d also look at other opportunities where it will was not born at sunset on the day of “We have a large fl eet of airplanes and we can be complement that kind of relationship; for instance, the investigation. (QNA) a hub for transiting foodstuff s, especially during a a commercial agreement complemented by tech- 45% of eligible population get at crisis, for both Qatar and the rest of the world. All of nology transfer,” he said. Covid: Oman bans these plans are well-integrated and aligned together.” According to al-Subaie, the three-year eco- commercial activity While the government is stepping up its eff orts nomic blockade has provided Qatar the experience least one dose of Covid vaccine to increase local production of food products, to manage a crisis, thus preparing the country for Oman will ban the movement of al-Subaie stated in the report that this “will not challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. people and vehicles from 7pm- supercede the commercial relations and partner- “We defi nitely learned the hard way because we 4am from May 8 until May 15, the he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) people over 60 years of age have received both ships” with Qatar’s allies. had been subjected to a real scenario of crisis dur- state news agency said yesterday, has said 44.7% of people aged 16 years doses of the vaccines. “Of course, part of our food security strategy is to ing the blockade, which helped us learn a lot. Since citing the Supreme Committee for Tand above have received at least one The vaccination programme is being deliv- enhance and increase the capacity of local produc- then we developed a lot of strategies and plans to Combating Coronavirus. Oman dose of Covid-19 vaccines in Qatar. ered at the Primary Health Care Corporation’s tion. With that in mind, even while improving our do- deal with the crisis,” he said. will also ban commercial activity In its weekly data published yesterday, the 27 primary health centres, vaccination facili- mestic capacity, we understand the need to maintain HE al-Subaie added: “Because of this experi- all day during the same period, MoPH said 1,603,913 vaccine doses have been ties at Qatar National Convention Centre and commercial relations with our partners everywhere. ence, we have been one of the least aff ected by except for food stores, gas stations, administered since the start of the National in the Industrial Area, and two drive-through “That’s a key part of our strategy. Food security Covid-19 in terms of food security. We already had health institutions, and pharmacies. Covid-19 Vaccination Programme. vaccination centres in Lusail and Al Wakra. doesn’t mean if you’re self-suffi cient; you’re se- all the plans, communications, strategies, strategic Delivery services for all goods were Of these, 188,152 vaccine doses were given The availability of more vaccines as well as cure. We also need to prepare for a scenario where stocks, and supply chain in place at the onset of the also exempt. in the last seven days, up from the 167,532 dos- the opening of additional vaccination centres we need to switch from local production to inter- pandemic. It was easy for us to respond eff ectively es administered in the previous week. have enabled Qatar to signifi cantly increase national partnerships. We see this happening es- and smoothly. No one even noticed that there is any Turkey fighting Covid A further break-up of the weekly data re- the pace of the vaccination programme since pecially with fresh food,” the minister pointed out. kind of shortage or any issue with food security.” vealed that 86% of people over 60 years of February. with lockdown age, 82.4% of people over 70 years and 80.7% Daily Covid-19 cases in Qatar have been Turkey logged 340 coronavirus- of people over 80 years have received at least declining steadily due to the current restric- related deaths and 25,980 new cases one dose of the vaccines. tions and the fast rollout of the vaccination in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry Also, according to the daily Covid-19 data programme, a senior offi cial from the ministry data showed yesterday, the third day published by the MoPH yesterday, 75.9% of had said on Saturday. EU urged to help Palestinians of a nationwide lockdown, including curfews, closed schools and many shuttered businesses. Turkey ranks hold elections in Jerusalem fourth globally in daily cases based Daring the rain for the jab on a seven-day average, according to a Reuters tally. After easing QNA Shtayyeh praised the EU’s position in support of measures in early March, President Ramallah holding elections in all Palestinian territories, in- Tayyip Erdogan’s government cluding East Jerusalem, and the EU promotion of reversed course as infections surged the values of justice, peace, and democratisation, to record highs. Turkey had a record alestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh and supporting the right of the Palestinian people 394 virus-related deaths on Friday. called on the European Union to continue its to establish their independent state. Peff orts to pressure Israel to allow elections to Shtayyeh stressed that the elections were post- US denies reports Iran be held in Jerusalem and to allow Palestinians there poned not cancelled. to participate in the elections through casting their Last Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud poised to free Americans votes and running as electoral candidates. Abbas announced that the elections, which were A senior White House off icial yesterday This came during a meeting held with the repre- due to be held on May 22, were postponed after the denied reports from Tehran that an People queue in the rain at a mobile vaccination point against coronavirus disease in Poznan, sentative of the European Union (EU) to Palestine, Israeli occupation rejected holding them in occu- agreement had been reached with organised for the long weekend in several Polish cities, yesterday. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff , in Ramallah yesterday. pied Jerusalem. Iran for the release of four Americans detained there. “I can tell you, unfortunately, that report is untrue,” Nighttime ocean landing in 50 years White House chief of staff Ron Klain said. Klain’s comments followed reports on Iranian state television, quoting “an Taliban, Afghan forces clash as informed source,” that the US side had agreed to release $7 billion in frozen Iranian funds and free four Iranians accused of bypassing sanctions in US hands over base; 100 killed exchange for the release of four Americans accused of spying. Page 7 AFP the US military carried out a “preci- Kabul sion strike” on Saturday as it began RAMADAN THOUGHT the fi nal troop pullout. Another 52 Taliban fi ghters were Whoever established prayers ighting between Afghan gov- wounded in the clashes, the minis- on the Night of Qadr out of ernment forces and the Taliban try said, without giving details of any sincere faith and hoping for a has left more than 100 insur- casualties suff ered by government reward from Allah, then all his F gents dead in the past 24 hours, the forces. previous sins will be forgiven. defence ministry said yesterday as it The Taliban did not off er any com- [Al-Bukhari] took control of a US military base in a ment on the fi ghting, but both sides Prayer times restive province. are known to exaggerate casualties The US military handed over infl icted on the other. Fajr....3.33; Zuhr....11.31; Asr....2.59; Camp Antonik in the southern Hel- A general view of a US military base, Fighting on the ground has contin- Maghrib.....6.08; Isha.....7.38 mand province to Afghan forces, which has been recently handed over ued unabated in recent months . This image shows the support teams working around the SpaceX Crew Dragon a day after it formally began with- to Afghan forces, in Achin district of The US military formally began Resilience spacecraft shortly after it landed with Nasa astronauts Mike Hopkins, Fasting times drawing its remaining troops from Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. withdrawing its remaining 2,500 Shannon Walker, and Victor Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency the country. troops from the violence-wracked astronaut Soichi Noguchi aboard in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama Iftar today ...... 6.08pm The Taliban and government forces ministry said, including in the former country on Saturday, as ordered by Imsak tomorrow...... 3.22am City, Florida, yesterday. This was the first nighttime ocean landing in more than clashed across several provinces, the insurgent bastion of Kandahar where President Joe Biden last month. 50 years. Page 9 Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 3, 2021 QATAR Minister bids farewell to South Korean envoy Qatar reviews preparations to host Horticultural Expo Doha 2023

QNA tial investments in innovative agricul- Doha tural technologies, promote global en- vironmental awareness and support the conversion of dry lands into agricultural t the meeting of the executive com- areas. mittee of the Bureau International He renewed the invitation to all BIE Ades Expositions (BIE) which was held member states and horticulture supporters via video conference, Qatar has reviewed its around the world to visit Doha in 2023, not latest preparations for hosting the Interna- only to learn about its unique heritage, but tional Horticultural Expo Doha 2023. also to become part of this new awareness The Secretary General of the Interna- and global movement towards a “Green tional Horticultural Expo Doha 2023 and Desert, Better Environment”, which is the Director of the Public Parks Department at offi cial theme of the exhibition. the Ministry of Municipality and Environ- It is worth mentioning that Horticultural ment Engineer Mohamed Ali al-Khoury, Expo Doha 2023 will open its doors in Oc- during the meeting, pointed out the contin- tober 2023, and will continue until March HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met yesterday with outgoing uous eff orts and endeavours made in prepa- 28, 2024. This event is expected to attract South Korean ambassador Kim Chang-mo at the end of his tenure in the country. Al-Muraikhi ration for Qatar hosting this event, despite among the members and attendees of the more than 3mn visitors from more than 80 thanked the ambassador for his eff orts in supporting and strengthening bilateral relations, and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic re- BIE Executive Committee, and said that countries, and will be held at the Al Bidda wished him success in his future missions. sulting in changing of the hosting year. this important event will contribute to Park, one of the most popular public spots He reviewed the latest developments providing pivotal foundation for poten- and located in the heart of Doha.

Heritage contest, Ramadan gift box Doha Debates launched as part of ‘Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic World’ activities

QNA gets nomination Doha he Department of Herit- age and Identity of the TMinistry of Culture and Sports, in co-operation with Nomas Center, has launched the for Webby Award competition “My Culture. My Identity,” as part of the ‘Doha atar Foundation’s Capital of Culture in the Islamic Doha Debates has been World 2021’ activities. Qnominated for the 2021 The competition aims to pro- Webby Award – the leading mote Islamic values that are international award honour- based on science and human ing excellence on the Internet dignity, enhance the Islamic cul- – with winners set to be an- tural heritage, encourage crea- nounced on May 18. tivity and innovation as civilised As a nominee in the 25th values and to inspire new gen- Annual Webby Awards, the erations as well as to enrich the International Academy of global cultural scene through a Digital Arts and Sciences rec- productive and active role which ognised Doha Debates’ Better focuses on cultural diversity as Conversations video series as an added value for Islamic coun- one of the world’s top five best tries. in the Webby’s “Video: How- The competition also aims at to, explainer and do-it-your- highlighting the cultural expe- self” category. rience of Qatar and its efforts in The Better Conversations promoting the Islamic culture series offers insights and tips and introducing young people from conflict resolution ex- to their ancient heritage, cus- pert Dr Govinda Clayton on toms and authentic traditions. how to transform conflict and Director of the Heritage and disagreement into produc- Better Conversations has been nominated for Webby Award. Identity Department Sheikha The Ministry of Culture and a gift box for the activities of the tive, solutions-focused con- Najla al-Thani said culture Sports, represented by the Her- blessed month of Ramadan. versations. With its nomina- incredible achievement to be Dr Clayton said, “We live ney, Google, Netflix, ABC, Al is an essential component of itage and Identity Department The gift box includes inter- tion, Doha Debates is eligible selected among the 13,500 en- in a time where most people Jazeera, the BBC, CBS, CNN, identity, and that the culture of and the Nomas Center, is keen active activities aimed at high- for two Webby honours: the tries we received this year.” are finding it tough to engage HBO, NBC, PBS, the Oprah people or a nation is the mir- on launching this competition, lighting the value of time, in- Webby Award and the Webby Katrine Dermody, Doha De- in constructive conversations Winfrey Network, Buzzfeed, ror that reflects their identity, which is a cultural heritage com- stilling moral values, identity People’s Voice Award, which bates’ executive producer of over the issues that matter. We National Geographic, Reuters, history and civilisation. She petition that comes within the ac- and heritage, and in developing is voted online by fans around Digital, welcomed news of the developed the Better Conver- the Washington Post, Global stressed the significance of tivities of ‘Doha Capital of Culture manual skills among children. the world. From now until May Webby Award nomination. “At sations series to provide eve- Citizen, and the International cultural heritage in its tangible in the Islamic World 2021.’ The box has three sections — 8, fans can cast their votes at Doha Debates we try to carve ryone with a series of tips and Olympic Committee. and intangible parts, in con- In a related context, the or- stories of the prophets, heritage vote.webbyawards.com. out a space for people to en- techniques to help everyone Since 2019, Doha Debates’ solidating the national identity ganising committee of Doha and identity, and arts and crea- “Nominees like Doha De- gage with one another — even better connect and overcome programmes and digital con- and promoting a sense of be- Capital of Culture in the Is- tivity — and was prepared in co- bates are setting the standard if it might be challenging. Our differences. I’m delighted and tent have garnered more than longing to the homeland. lamic World 2021 has prepared operation with several bodies. for innovation and creativity hope is that this series gives honoured that we have been 4mn social media followers on the Internet,” said Claire people the practical tools they nominated for this award.” in 233 nations and territories, Graves, executive director of need to have productive and Other Webby nominees in- 320mn video views, and 30mn the Webby Awards. “It is an powerful conversations.” clude Amazon, Apple, Dis- social media engagements. Zakat Fund announces amount for Zakat Al-Fitr

he Zakat Fund of the Min- specifi es the amount of Zakat people’s food (which is rice), and istry of Endowment and Al-Fitr for this Ramadan season the amount is 2.5kg, with the TIslamic Aff airs has urged 1442H (equivalent to QR15) and possibility of paying it in cash at the public to pay Zakat Al-Fitr that it should be given before the a value of QR15. The Zakat Fund on time, pointing out that it Eid al-Fitr prayer, so that it can receives the value of Zakat Al- Doha Institute accepts 244 is the duty of every Muslim, be delivered to the poor who de- Fitr from the generous public in whether male or female, minor serve it. cash and distributes it to those or adult, QNA reported. The fund indicated that the who are entitled to it, as ap- This came in a statement is- basic principle of Zakat Al-Fitr pointed according to the Sunnah new students for Fall 2021 sued by the Fund, in which it is to take it from most of the of the Prophet (PBUH).

he Admission, Registra- of admitted students with a total velopment Economics. All ap- graduate studies, profi ciency in tion and Student Aff airs number of 82 Qatari students, plications for admission to the Arabic and English, knowledge MoI issues advisory to protect TDepartment at the Doha 33% of the students admitted. DI’s programmes were subject in the area of specialisation, Institute for Graduate Studies The admitted students to a thorough examination and and contribution to the service (DI) has announced the accept- will enrol in 17 master’s pro- assessment, which included of their community. children from domestic burns ance of 244 students for 2021 grammes. A total of 175 students interviews conducted with DI The Fall semester will start Fall semester. There were more were admitted to the School of professors. on August 29. The Class of 2021 than 10,000 applications from Social Sciences and Humani- The students were select- will be the seventh cohort to the Arab region and worldwide. ties, and 69 to the School of ed based on their academic begin their studies at DI since Qatar was on the top of the list Public Administration and De- achievements in their under- its opening in 2015. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued an advisory on how to protect children from domestic burns. “Keep hot foods and drinks away from children, block their access to the fireplace and place hot electrical appliances out of their reach,” the MoI tweeted yesterday.

Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 3 QATAR

New York’s The Plaza to reopen on May 20

Katara Hospitality has announced that The Plaza hotel in New York will reopen its doors on May 20. “The hotel has been a landmark since 1907 and is distinguished by its location in the city centre,” the Qatar-based leading global hotel owner, developer and operator tweeted yesterday. The hotel will witness the full opening of all services and facilities, including 282 rooms and suites, the Palm Court lounge and Guerlain Spa, it added.

Qatar Charity implements ‘Feed the Fasting’ project WCM-Q researchers in African countries study link between

atar Charity (QC) has implemented the ‘Feed Qthe Fasting’ project in many African countries by dis- microbiome and illness tributing food parcels to poor families, persons with special needs and families of orphans aculty and student re- in Sudan, Kenya, South Africa searchers at Weill Cor- and Ghana. Fnell Medicine – Qatar The project is being imple- (WCM-Q) have examined the mented as part of QC’s ‘Ram- relationship between neurode- adan of Hope’ drive. velopmental and gastrointes- In Sudan, 3,760 food baskets tinal disorders, and the natural have been distributed, while bacteria and fungi found within 5,600 baskets will be distribut- the body. ed during the remaining days of It is known that people suf- Ramadan. Some 40,000 people fering from neurodevelopmental are expected to benefi t from the illnesses like autism and atten- project in the states of Khar- The project has been carried out in Sudan and Senegal (below)... tion defi cit hyperactivity disor- toum, Gezira, the Nile River, ders often experience gastroin- Gedaref and Kassala in Sudan, testinal issues and conversely, QC has said in a statement. patients with gastrointestinal In Kenya, food baskets have diseases are more likely to have been distributed in 10 prov- issues with anxiety. inces of the country to benefi t To try to understand this, re- 1,755 needy families, aiming to searchers at WCM-Q conducted From left: Ibrahim Laswi, Dr Ghizlane Bendriss and Dr Noha Yousri. help them meet their food needs a pilot study involving 55 volun- during Ramadan. The families teers to look at their individual annual Undergraduate Research compared to a global average of For gastrointestinal diseases sponsored by Qatar Charity have bacteriomes (the bacteria living Experience Programme compe- 0.6-1%, no studies have ana- there were only a small number received the largest share of the naturally in their bodies) and tition. lysed the microbial signatures of of significant differences in the food baskets. mycobiomes (the fungi found Dr Bendriss said: “The role of aff ected individuals. bacteriome but there was an Some 1,000 food baskets have naturally in their bodies). Each the gut microbiota, which in- Dr Bendriss conducted the increase of 10 different species been distributed in South Africa, volunteer had either a neurode- cludes bacteria, fungi, protists, study with fellow WCM-Q fac- of fungus compared to the con- benefi ting 5,000 poor families, velopment or gastrointestinal viruses and archaea is increas- ulty members Dr Noha Yousri, trol group, and a further eight including the families of orphans, issue, along with a control group ingly recognised as having a adjunct assistant professor of species that were increased in on the outskirts of Cape Town and of individuals who had neither. signifi cant impact on our health research in genetic medicine, number compared to the sam- the Western Cape province. Variables such as diet and intake and imbalances in the diver- along with Dr Dalia Zakaria and ples from the neurodevelop- In Ghana, Qatar Charity has of probiotic samples were also sity and abundance of microbial Dr Ali Chaari, both lecturers in mental group. It was also found provided 8,750 packs of Iftar initiative, especially in light food needs in the blessed taken into consideration. communities have been consist- biology in the WCM-Q premed- that probiotic intake, diet and meals to several schools and of the continuing coronavirus month of Ramadan. QC also Each volunteer answered a ently linked to a variety of mod- ical curriculum. exposure to antibiotics had a mosques for 10 consecutive pandemic, which has badly af- recently distributed food par- questionnaire and provided a ern diseases, including neurode- The students, Ibrahim Laswi, much greater effect on the my- days in the Ashanti Region. fected the living conditions cels to poor families, persons stool sample, and the diff erent generative illnesses, cancers and who was fi rst author, Amee- cobiome. The benefi ciaries expressed of the vulnerable across the with special needs and families species of bacteria and fungi in autoimmune diseases. na Shafi q, Dana al-Ali, Nada The results of this study sup- their delight at receiving the world. They also thanked QC of orphans in Albania, Bangla- each were analysed. “Most studies, however, have Mhaimeed, Mohamed Salameh, port previous published data food baskets as it was a timely for helping them meet their desh and Palestine. Dr Ghizlane Bendriss, lecturer focused on the bacteriome, while Zain Burney, and Krishnadev that suggested a statistically in biology at WCM-Q’s Divi- neglecting the mycobiome, de- Pillai also worked on the project. signifi cant association between sion of Pre-medical Education, spite fungi being naturally found It found that for neurodevel- the exposure to antibiotics in received a QNRF grant back in throughout the human body.” opmental illnesses, the fungal the early years of life - between 2017 to lead the research. The But despite Qatar having diversity of the microbiome 0 and 3 years old - and the devel- project won interest in 2020 af- relatively high rates of autism actually increased, while the opment of neurodevelopmental ter winning the fi rst place in the spectrum disorders at 1.81% variety of bacteria decreased. disorders such as autism. MoPH reports 646 new Covid-19 cases

QNA 350 face prosecution Doha for violation of Covid-19 norms he Ministry of Public ...and in Burkina Faso. Health (MoPH) reported The designated authorities Tyesterday, 646 new con- referred 350 people to the fi rmed cases of coronavirus relevant prosecution for violating (Covid-19), with 391 of these the preventive and precaution- Restaurant shut over violations in Sheehaniya were from community cases and ary measures enforced in the 255 from travellers returning country to contain the spread of from abroad. Covid-19, the Ministry of Interior The MoPH recorded 1,480 re- reported yesterday. coveries from the virus during Among them, 321 people were re- the past 24 hours, bringing the ferred to the prosecution for not total number of cases recovered wearing masks in places where in Qatar to 192,551. The minis- these are mandatory, eight for try announced seven new deaths not maintaining safe physical aged 43, 45, 47, 54, 55, 77 and 81 distancing, five for violating years, with six who were chroni- quarantine requirements, eight cally ill, and who had received for not installing the Ehteraz app the necessary medical care. and eight persons for gathering Vaccination Programme Data in closed places. 1,603,913 Covid-19 vaccine The measure is in line with the doses have been administered Cabinet decision, Decree Law No since the start of the programme 17 of 1990 on infectious diseases,  24,911 Covid-19 vaccine and the precautionary measures doses have been administered in in force in the country to contain the past 24 hours the spread of Covid-19.  44.7% of the eligible popu- Al Sheehaniya Municipality has issued an administrative decision to close a restaurant in lation have now received at least the Sheehaniya area for 30 days. The action, according to a statement by the Ministry of one dose of the vaccine Every day, hundreds of peo- Municipality and Environment, followed a report issued by the Health Control Department for 86% of over 60s (the most ple are becoming sick due to the ted to hospital has doubled. But for several months but we are violations of the provisions of Law No 8 of 1990, regarding the regulation of human food control. vulnerable population group) Covid-19 with many requiring Qatar’s strict quarantine policy now seeing positive Covid-19 The closure was implemented in the presence of the inspector of the Health Control Department have been vaccinated with at admission to hospital. for returning travellers has ena- cases in the region and in Qa- and Al Fazaa off icers. least one dose, while 75.9 % have Since February 1, the number bled us to delay the introduction tar with the new variants from received both doses. of people with Covid-19 admit- of new variants into this country South Africa. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 3, 2021 QATAR Qatar University DIFI discussion focuses marks World Press on factors responsible Freedom Day for declining fertility rates “Journalism and media play a vital role in people’s lives and nations, as without them, the various other subsystems would be unable to function eff ectively” “However, for journalism to be able to play such a role, the right atmosphere is required, one that makes the person aware of the role, believes in it, and defends it as a human rights de- velopment. Only by spreading a culture of freedom of speech can create this climate,” he added. Kholeh Mortazawi, academic researcher- head of section, Me- dia & Publications said, “There is a huge diff erence between the journalism profession in the pre-new media and the stage Kholeh Mortazawi Dr Kamal Hamidou of new media. It has become a source of concern and necessi- atar University (QU) On this occasion, several me- tates the abandonment of one’s has marked World Press dia specialists at QU expressed career. On the other hand, it has QFreedom Day to raise their opinion on the importance become less tiring, but it has be- awareness about the importance of the free press. come more demanding.” of the freedom of the press and Dr Kamal Hamidou, acting Prof Saddek Rabah, professor freedom of expression. department head, Mass Com- of Mass Communication said: “I This year’s World Press Free- munication, commented, “Jour- believe we need journalism now Participants in the discussion. dom Day theme “Information as nalism and media play a vital more than ever before because a Public Good” serves as a call to role in people’s lives and nations, it plays an important role in QF member hosts virtual ance Mission in Afghanistan, the panel dis- vocated “for using a human rights approach as affi rm the value of cherishing in- as without them, the various raising awareness, asking criti- discussion on sidelines of UN event cussion commenced with welcoming remarks a key reference in designing population poli- formation as a public good, and other subsystems would be un- cal questions, posing confl ict- from HE the ambassador Sheikha Alya bint cies to address low fertility”. exploring what can be done in able to function eff ectively. As a ing theories, ascertaining facts, oha International Family Insti- Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Permanent Repre- He presented statistics from the region and the creation, dissemination and result of their progress in fulfi ll- and putting them in a detailed tute (DIFI), a Qatar Foundation sentative of Qatar to the United Nations. worldwide, including country experiences, reception of content to improve ing their positions, nations en- context that helps people move D(QF) member, has hosted a dis- HE the ambassador Sheikha Alya com- that showed that fertility should be treated journalism, and to advance sure the free exchange of ideas, safely in a world controlled by cussion on the sidelines of the United mended the work and the important contri- as an individual right for couples and that the openness and empowerment by enriching the plurality of view- deception, forgery, psychologi- Nations 54th session of the Commission butions of DIFI in developing scientifi cally role of governments was to ensure that people leaving no one behind. points and theories.” cal warfare, and propaganda.” on Population and Development to ad- based relevant policy research, which signifi - practice their reproductive rights based on dress declining fertility rates. cantly contribute to advancing knowledge on high-quality information supported by qual- Held in partnership with the Perma- Arab families and promote evidence-based ity health services. Rain with strong winds nent Mission of Qatar to the United Na- polices at national, regional, and interna- In closure, Professor Christopher Mur- tions (UN) in New York and the United tional levels. ray, director of the University of Washington likely today: Met dept Nations Population Fund – Arab States The discussion continued with a presen- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Regional Offi ce, the event was titled tation by Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, ex- highlighted some of the best practices and hundery rain is expected in the ‘Responsive Policies to Low Fertil- ecutive director of DIFI, who said: “Factors policies that respond to the decline in fertil- country today along with sudden ity: Experiences and Best Practices’, and impacting low fertility are diverse, fuelled by ity rates. Tstrong winds, the Qatar Met de- took place virtually on April 21. structural factors such as increased divorce “Our research suggests that for high-in- partment has said. According to the United Nations De- rates, postponement of marriage, decreas- come and middle-income countries with Off shore areas, too, are likely to see partment on Economic and Social Af- ing marriage rates and couples’ preferences to below-replacement fertility rates, the best so- thundershowers and windy conditions fairs, fertility levels in 75 countries have have fewer children. lutions for sustaining population levels, eco- today along with high seas, the weather dropped below the replacement level, “Other aspects are related to education, nomic growth, and geopolitical security are report stated. Southeasterly-northeast- which is 2.1 child per woman, and this labour market and work-family balance poli- open immigration policies and social policies erly winds will blow both inshore and number is expected to increase to 120 by cies. Economic burdens in terms of housing supportive of families having their desired off shore at speeds of 8-18 knots, going 2050. and cost of parenting are also among other number of children,” he said. up to 30 knots with thundery rain, while The decline in the fertility rate rep- infl uential factors. The emergence of cultural “Countries that promote liberal immigra- the sea level may rise to 9ft. The detailed resents a great challenge to countries aspects is clear in terms of couple’s preferenc- tion are better able to maintain their popula- forecast says hazy and partly cloudy to because it not only leads to a decrease es, in addition to the health aspects aff ecting tion size and support economic growth, even cloudy conditions are expected inshore in the population, it also leads to an in- the fertility rates.” in the face of declining fertility rates. Sup- and there is a chance of scattered rain, crease in number of elderly citizens and Showcasing a statistical mapping of fertil- porting families includes protecting women’s which may become thundery in some a diminishing working force, which is ity rates in the Arab region, Dr Luay Shabaneh, freedom and access to healthcare, particularly places at times. Similar conditions are vital for national development and eco- regional director of the United Nations Popu- reproductive health services, as well as main- likely in off shore areas as well. nomic growth. lation Fund – Arab States Regional Offi ce, ad- taining access to childcare and education.” The Met department said in a tweet yes- Built on DIFI’s ongoing research titled terday evening that the cloud amount is ‘Social Aspects of Fertility in Qatar’, the expected to gradually increase in the coun- event discussed factors impacting low try’s airspace during the night hours, and fertility in the world, with the aim of there is a chance of scattered rain that may identifying worldwide policies and best be thundery and accompanied by sudden practices. strong winds at times, until Tuesday. The Moderated by Dr Ramiz Alakbarov, temperature is expected to range from 26- UN SG’s deputy special representative 33C in Doha today. for Afghanistan, United Nations Assist-

Action over dumping waste in Al Daayen Municipality

The General Control Section of the Municipal Control Department in Al Daayen Municipality has taken action against a public cleanliness violation of dumping construction and demolition waste in undesignated places. This was in violation of the provisions of Law No 18 of 2017 regarding public cleanliness. Necessary legal measures have been taken. Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 5 QATAR

Dilapidated buildings in Al Khor demolished Qatar-Poland ties ‘going from strength to strength’ Polish ambassador Janusz Janke speaks to Gulf Times on the occasion of Poland’s National Day

By Mudassir Raja ports up to about 2.1 tonnes of supported the development of Staff Reporter Qatari LNG annually. ties between Qatar Civil Avia- “According to the data by the tion Agency and the Polish Air Planning and Statistics Author- Navigation Services Agency to oland celebrates its Na- ity in 2020 the trade volume be- allow them to exchange know- tional Day today to com- tween the two countries stood how, experiences to better face Pmemorate the adoption at about $1bn in 2018 and 2019, contemporary challenges in the of its constitution on the same with Polish exports amounting sector,” the envoy said. day in 1791. This year, the Poles to about $200 million. The embassy has also focused mark the 230th anniversary of “To facilitate the growth of its attention, in co-operation the adoption of the constitu- trade and investment between with Qatar Financial Center and tion. both nations, the Qatar-Poland QPBC, to promote Polish digital On the occasion, Gulf Times Business Council (QPBC) was technology businesses in Qatar spoke to Janusz Janke, ambas- offi cially launched on Novem- in sectors such as smart cit- sador of Poland to Qatar, on ber 9, 2020. Its aim is not only ies, medtech, fi ntech, drones, the significance of the day for Polish ambassador Janusz Janke to support Polish businesses greentech, cybersec or agritech. Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality, in co-operation with the Mechanical Materials the Polish people and on bi- but also assist Qatari entrepre- “We see this approach bearing Department, has demolished four old and dilapidated buildings in Al Khor city. This comes as lateral ties between the two World War II as well as later neurs in doing business with fruit already. At the end of May, part of the eff orts to ensure public safety and preserve the aesthetic beauty of the city. countries. during the communist rule un- Poland.” we will team up with the Qa- Elaborating the importance til 1989. Speaking on other areas of co- tari Businessmen Association of the day for the Poles, am- “In 1990 the newly estab- operation, the Polish envoy said to organise the Polish-Qatari bassador Jenke said: “The an- lished democratic government that in co-operation with QPBC business roundtable for various niversary of the adoption of the re-proclaimed May 3 as a na- and Qatar Financial Center, the sectors. We will also be working constitution by the Polish par- tional holiday.” embassy had co-organised the hard to support the conclusion liament (Sejm) in 1791 is a holi- On Qatar-Poland relations, Qatar-Poland New Tech Forum of several bilateral agreements day as important to Poland as the envoy said Poland enjoys a on April 19, 2021. “The purpose which should facilitate our co- the December 18 celebrations strong political and economic of the event was to promote the operation in areas such as higher are for Qatar. relationship with Qatar. Polish digital economy, present education and research,” he said. “The constitution was the “In 2019, we celebrated the the off er of the Polish IT tech- Asked in what ways the Cov- second in the world ever en- 30th anniversary of establishing nology sector and to provide id-19 pandemic had impacted dorsed – after the constitution diplomatic relations between selected technology companies the relationship between the of the US in 1787 – and the fi rst our countries with the visit to with a chance for direct meet- two countries, the ambassa- modern constitutional act in Qatar by Jacek Czaputowicz, ings (B2B) with leading tech- dor said: “The pandemic has Europe. The aim of the docu- minister of foreign aff airs of Po- nology companies on the Qatar been a grave challenge for both ment was to address internal land. Each year we hold political market: Microsoft Qatar and countries. But now, I am opti- challenges and external threats consultations on bilateral is- Ooredoo. Over 60 Polish and mistic that thanks to the effi- by streamlining the system of sues and international develop- Qatari businesses participated cient vaccination programmes power in Poland, creating a ments. in the forum.” implemented in both Poland modern bureaucracy, an eff ec- “Qatar is one of Poland’s The ambassador added: “We and Qatar in 2021 the situation tive army and carrying out eco- closest and most trusted part- have managed to implement shall stabilise and economic nomic and social reforms. ners in the Middle East. The numerous projects in the area activity, the teaching process- “Although the modernisa- long-term strategic partnership of academic exchange, science es and life overall will return tion push came too late and between Poland’s national gas and development and culture, to some form of normality. It Poland lost its independence company, PGNiG, and Qatar co-operating with entities such is of utmost importance, how- for 123 years, the constitution Petroleum has made the energy as Qatar Foundation, Qatar ever, that we identify, prefer- of the 3rd of May has become industry the leading area of co- Philharmonic Orchestra and ably together, the post-crisis a symbol of the Polish national operation. Cultural Village Foundation – lessons-learned and introduce identity – during the parti- “According to the agreement Katara.” changes that will prepare us tions of Poland under the Ger- between the companies, which Civil aviation is yet another better for an event of such man and Soviet occupation in will expire in 2034, Poland im- area of co-operation. “We have magnitude in the future.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 3, 2021 RAMADAN/QATAR

QNL takes participants on journey through Qur’anic history

The virtues of charity To celebrate the month of Ra- head of Collection Access at madan, when the Holy Qur’an QNL said, “Our partnership with was revealed, and as part of the the Ministry of Culture and harity has great signifi cance in Islam; off his debt or driving away his hunger.” [Al-Bay- Doha Capital of Culture in the Sports reflects our commit- it is one of the clearest indications and haqi] [Al-Albaani: Hasan] Islamic World 2021 celebration, ment to educate and impart Cmost truthful signs of the sincerity of Charity elevates its giver to the highest rank; the Qatar National Library (QNL) knowledge about Islamic one’s faith, as souls were created to love money Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam, said: “This hosted “Writing the Qur’anic culture and traditions. To cel- and strive to save it, so whoever spends his worldly life is for four categories of people: a man Text Through the Centuries,” ebrate Doha as the Capital of money and contradicts his instinct, it is a proof to whom Allah has given wealth and knowledge, which took participants on Culture in the Islamic World, of his faith and sound belief. Regarding this, the so he fears his Lord, maintains ties of kinship a journey through Qur’anic we have planned a series Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam, said: “… with this money, and he knows the rights of Allah history. of educational events that and charity is a proof,” which means it is proof regarding it, this one is truly in the best rank ...” The event shed light on the shed light on Qur’anic history, of sound faith – that is, if he intends it for the [At-Tirmithi] calligraphy used in writing the showcase scientific applications sake of Allah The Almighty, not for showing off Charity protects its giver from calamities and Qur’an, the artistic elements of of preserving Islamic documen- or for enhancing one’s reputation. misfortunes, and saves him from distress and the book, and the general tradi- tary heritage, highlight the role This is why many texts show the virtues of hardship; the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa tions of writing and producing of public and private libraries charity and spending for the sake of Allah The salam, said: “Performing good deeds protects Qur’ans. QNL event describes Qur’anic history. in preserving Islamic cultural Almighty, and urge the Muslim to give charity, from bad ends and calamities, and those who During the first part of the heritage, and the efforts of the seeking the reward from Allah The Almighty. act righteously in this world will be the good seminar, Ibrahim bin Yousef exhibitions. He also spoke materials, ink and book arts, founder of Qatar in printing One of the specifi c characteristics of the people in the Hereafter.” [Al-Haakim] [Al- al-Fakhro, a Qatari researcher about the book and illustrated through a practical study of and publishing religious books.” righteous servants of Allah The Almighty is Albaani: Saheeh] and art collector particularly catalogue he published on the precious and rare Qur’anic Throughout history, Muslims spending on the poor and the needy; Allah The Consider this Hadith which signifi es the mul- interested in Qur’anic manu- topic, Journey of Arabic Cal- manuscripts preserved in the have devoted an abundance Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, they tiplied reward of charity: The Prophet, sallallaahu scripts, highlighted the scripts, ligraphy in the Context of the Heritage Library. of care and attention to serv- were before that doers of good. They used to ‘alaihi wa salam, said, “No one gives charity out of illumination and other book Noble Qur’an. He highlighted items from the ing their First Book in both its sleep but little of the night And in the hours be- his honest earning –and Allah accepts only what arts used in the manuscripts of In the second part, Mahmoud collection representing various content (the very text of the fore dawn they would ask forgiveness And from is from lawful earning – but The Most Merciful the Qur’an. Zaki, QNL’s manuscript special- places and eras of the Islamic Qur’an) and physical form (the their properties was [given] the right of the accepts it with His right hand even if it is only a He shared examples from his ist, spoke about the general world, from Arabia to Africa and Mus’haf; which was and still [needy] petitioner and the deprived.} [Qur’an date, and then fosters it as one of you fosters a collection of Qur’anic manu- traditions of scribing and from China to Andalus (Muslim is handwritten, produced in 51:16-19] colt or a young she-camel, till it becomes like a scripts in Doha, many of which producing Qur’ans and relevant Spain in the medieval period). manuscript form, and later in Allah The Exalted has promised – and He is mountain or even greater.” [Muslim] have been displayed in special codicology topics, including Maryam Ahmed al-Mutawa, printed or digital formats) the Generous who does not break His promise Charity extinguishes sins, and expiates evil – to compensate those who spend for His Sake; deeds; the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam, He Says (what means): {Say, “Indeed, my Lord said: “Charity extinguishes sin as water extin- extends provision for whom He wills of His guishes fi re.” [At-Tirmithi] servants and restricts [it] for him. But what- It is one of the greatest causes for attaining ever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will blessings in money, the increase of provision, and compensate it; and He is the best of providers compensation from Allah The Almighty with ].}[Qur’an 34 :39] And He promised to multiply what is best. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa their rewards many times for them, Allah The salam, said: “Allah The Almighty Says, ‘O son of Almighty Says (What means): {Who is it that Adam, spend and I will spend on you.” [ Muslim] would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may mul- It is also protection from the punishment of Al- tiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah lah; the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam, said: who withholds and grants abundance, and to “Protect your selves from the Fire, even with one Him you will be returned.} [Qur’an 2:245] half of a date.” [Al-Bukhari] Giving money is one of the types of Jihad (striv- Spending in charity is an indication of the ing in the cause of Allah The Almighty); rather, sincerity of one’s faith, strength of certitude, and Jihad with money precedes Jihad with one`s self having good expectations from the Lord of the in all the verses that mentioned Jihad except in worlds. Besides, it has many other virtues, which one place in the Qur’an. The Prophet, sallallaahu make the believer look forward to the reward of ‘alaihi wa salam, said: ”Fight the polytheists with Allah The Almighty and overlook the whispers your wealth, yourselves, and your tongues.” [Abu of the devil who frightens him with poverty, and Daawood] beautifi es for him stinginess and miserliness. There are many Hadiths (narrations) in the Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Satan Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) which encourage threatens you with poverty and orders you to giving charity and clarify its reward are a comfort immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness to the eye of the believers and a delight to the from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encom- hearts of the charitable, for they state that charity passing and Knowing} [Qur’an 2 :268]. We ask is one of the best acts of worship that is beloved to Allah The Almighty to enable us to spend for His The honouring ceremony in session. Allah The Almighty. Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Sake, and to protect us from being stingy, for He is Messenger of Allah, , said: “The most beloved acts able to do all things. of worship to Allah are: happiness that you bring Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ to a believer’s heart, relieving his distress, paying emainpage/ QU fetes winners of third DHFC wins at 2021 World Marketing Congress Awards Doha Festival City (DHFC) Youth Research Forum 2021 received three accolades at the 2021 World Marketing Congress Awards, it was announced atar University (QU) of the Qatari heritage. A group of identity, the economy and cul- Nour Hisham al-Zaftawi for a pa- yesterday. Young Scientists Center researchers, undergraduate and tural tourism, the challenges of per entitled “A Systematic Review The event, in partnership with Q(YSC), in co-operation postgraduate students from Qa- identity and globalisation, medi- to Analyse the Impact of the Cost CMO Asia and the World Brand with the Qatar National Commis- tar and many Islamic countries cine, pharmacy, and community of Using Breast Cancer Drugs in Congress, is the single largest sion for Education, Culture and such as Morocco, Oman, Alge- health. The research posters were Developing Countries.” gathering of best marketers Science (QNCECS), recently con- ria, and Libya, participated. The evaluated on several criteria, such Sheikh Modu Badr received the behind some of the world’s cluded the third Youth Research event also represented an oppor- as quality of research, method- third place for a research entitled most successful and sought- Forum 2021 entitled “Identity and tunity to create a database of dis- ology, fi eld research techniques, “The Employment of Computa- after brands. Cultural Tourism: Towards a Cul- tinguished youth in research with discussion of results, and proper tional Linguistics in the Service of DHFC was crowned ‘Best Digital ture and a Sustainable Legacy.” high capabilities in specialised documentation of references. the Arabic Language”. Integrated Campaign for Festi- The honouring ceremony took and inter-disciplinary studies. During the forum, organised As for the poster competition, val Fashion TV (FFTV)’, winning place at QU, under the patronage In collaboration with the virtually remotely, research- Hagae Menaisy claimed the top the ‘Best Strategic PR campaign of president Dr Hassan al-Der- QNCECS, QU-YSC launched a ers from the undergraduate and spot, Raesa al-Dosary fi nished for Mother’s Day 2021’, and hav- ham in the presence of Prof Mar- research competition to share postgraduate levels presented 17 second, and Kholeh Mortazawi ing received high recognition Doha Festival City iam al-Maadeed, vice president studies and research on identity papers and three research posters, completed the top three. for its first-ever digital raff le draw for Research and Graduate Stud- issues and encourage scientifi c focusing on scientifi c and cultural Dr Hamda al-Sulaiti – sec- with the ‘Best Multichannel In- with a special tribute art piece World Marketing Congress for ies, while taking all precautionary research. Universities, institutes, topics related to the role of youth retary-general of the Qatar Na- tegrated Campaign for Festival designed by celebrity event our exceptional achievements, measures against Covid-19. and researchers inside and out- in spreading culture and sus- tional Commission for Educa- City Raff le Draw’ award. designer, Adam Afara. as well as the innovation in our The forum was described as side Qatar were invited to partici- tainability. The winners for the tion, Culture and Science – also DHFC was recognised for its Furthermore, DHFC was recog- marketing approach,” DHFC an important platform for pre- pate. The researches submitted best scientifi c research honoured honoured the winners of the best excellent digital channel Festival nised for its unique community- general manager Robert Hall senting scientifi c research and are within the areas of the World were: Hadeel al-Attar, fi rst place scientifi c poster competition, at Fashion (FFTV), its latest series led activations including its said in a statement. projects that focus on youth’s role Cup facilities and the sustainabil- winner for a research entitled the committee’s headquarters at featuring a host of renowned one-of-a-kind raff le draw “Spend The World Marketing Congress in spreading and preserving Qa- ity of the Qatari heritage, muse- “Islamophobia in Entertainment the Ministry of Education and fashion personalities in a chal- & Win” in partnership with the Awards are designed to recognise tari culture and the sustainability ums’ role in promoting cultural Media,” and second place winner, Higher Education. lenge to choose their outfit from Qatar National Tourism Council, exceptional work done by the the myriad of brands available having brought the first ever marketing community to take their at the mall. The newly launched digital raff le draw to Doha brands into the digital era. Their Ford, GMC models recalled FFTV has garnered more than residents. awards recognise and reward 10mn views since launched. “We are honoured to receive leaders of the industry for their The Ministry of Commerce and Industry lead to an electrical discharge or a fire in the necessary repairs. The mall also scooped the such valuable industry awards outstanding achievements and (MoCI), in co-operation with Almana Motors same area. The MoCI urged all customers to report any ‘Best Strategic PR campaign for across three categories. Since its innovative approach to marketing. Company, announced the recall of Ford F150 The recall campaign comes within the violations to its Consumer Protection and Mother’s Day 2021’ title for the inception, Festival City has conti- Until May 11, the general mall models of 2017-2020, as a noise may develop framework of the MoCI’s continuous eff orts Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, which high number of international nously aimed to off er Qatar’s trading hours will be from 10am from the cam phasers when starting the to protect consumers and ensure that deal- processes complaints, inquires and sugges- coverage received and its excel- community the most engaging to 12midnight, with an option to engine in some of the aff ected vehicles. ers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. tions through the following channels: lence in off ering mall visitors a experience and memorable trade until 1am. The Hypermar- The MoCI also announced, in co-operation The MoCI said that it will co-ordinate with Call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], unique engaging experience moments, and we are proud ket will be function from 9am to with Mannai Trading Company, the recall of the dealer to follow up on the maintenance Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQA- to celebrate Mother’s Day, for being recognised by the 12midnight. GMC Savana model of 2021, due to a possible and repair works and will communicate with TAR, MoCI mobile app for android and iOS: defect in the positive battery wire, which may customers to ensure that they carried out the MOCIQATAR EU envoy stresses need for youth engagement at HBKU talk

he College of Humani- in 1950, considered as the first Youth Strategy and we look opportunity for the audience ties and Social Sciences concrete step towards genu- forward to further engagement to address topical issues and T(CHSS) at Hamad Bin ine European integration that with Qatari youth through EU share ideas on international Khalifa University (HBKU), helped end wars and conflict study abroad programmes, joint cooperation around common virtually hosted Dr Cristian in Europe. On this occasion, I scientifi c collaborations, and challenges. Tudor, ambassador of the Eu- am pleased to exchange views exchanges to unearth human Dr Amal al-Malki, found- ropean Union( EU) to Kuwait on the European Union as the potential and strengthen peo- ing dean of CHSS, said: “Our and Qatar, for a talk organised most successful peace project ple-to-people understanding.” appreciation goes to the am- for the HBKU community on in the world. bassador for speaking frankly April 28 in the run-up to Eu- “Seventy-one years later, We look forward to about the continent’s future rope Day. the European Union brings to- further engagement in the context of global chal- The EU celebrates peace and gether 27 member states from with Qatari youth lenges. unity in Europe on May 9 every across the European continent, through EU study abroad “Ahead of Europe Day, we are year, and in this context Dr Tu- forming a truly unique political programmes, joint fortunate to celebrate Qatar’s dor’s talk focused on the EU as and economic union.” scientifi c collaborations, historical relations with all the most successful integration Dr Tudor is the first EU am- and exchanges” European states, while HBKU project in the world and its role bassador based in Kuwait and and CHSS count among our es- in a globalised world from hu- one of the youngest EU ambas- The event was attended by teemed partners several lead- man rights to humanitarian as- sadors in the world. HBKU graduate students, fac- ing educational institutions sistance. Emphasising youth engage- ulty members, and researchers and organisations from across Dr Tudor said, “ Europe Day ment, he said: “Engaging, con- and members of the EU serv- Europe. commemorates the historic necting and empowering young ices and EU member states. “We look forward to building Robert Schuman Declaration people is at the heart of the EU The Q&A session was an on those relationships.” Dr Cristian Tudor addresses HBKU community. Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 7 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

Vaccinated Saudis Msheireb Properties attends may soon travel abroad Tamuq global virtual event MDD is the world’s largest certified sustainable community of visitors in each event or activ- ity, along with a 3D data analy- AFP sheireb Properties has Msheireb Properties to revive sis system that allows collecting Riyadh participated in a virtual the old commercial district of and analysing data, comparing Minternational confer- Msheireb to a contemporary it, and draw conclusions,” he ence on sustainable smart cit- city with a new architectural added. “Services that end us- audi Arabia will permit cit- ies and territories, organised by language that is modern yet in- ers can use are smart customer izens immunised against Texas A&M University at Qatar spired by traditional Qatari her- services, free Wi-Fi across the Sthe coronavirus (Covid-19) (Tamuq). itage. city, smart and connected sig- to travel abroad from May 17, the The three-day event dis- Msheireb Properties also aims nages, wayfi nding, and much interior ministry said yesterday, cussed the importance of to change the way people think more. more than a year after Saudis adopting sustainable and smart about urban living, to improve “We are off ering a city that were barred from external trips. practices in today’s urban devel- their overall quality of life and to is changing the way of life, en- The ministry said three cat- opments. achieve one of the pillars of Qa- hanced water and energy ef- egories of people would be con- Acting chief executive En- tar’s National Vision 2030. fi ciency, and meet the require- sidered immunised – those who gineer Ali al-Kuwari presented “Msheireb Downtown Doha ments of the current and future have received two doses of the and discussed the vision of is smart from inception. Its in- generations and businesses. coronavirus vaccine, those ad- Msheireb Properties in deliver- frastructure, applications, and “Sustainability is central to ministered a single dose at least ing a smart and sustainable city systems are smart,” al-Kuwari Msheireb Downtown Doha in Al-Kuwari at the virtual conference on sustainable smart cities. 14 days prior to travel, and peo- since its inception, promising said. “The infrastructure is well both the conservation of natural ple who have recovered from contemporary urban develop- prepared for the city to be smart, resources and the quality of its ing design, improved building been adapted to survive in dry the infection within the last six ment that combines traditional including telecommunication design; this reiterates our com- envelopes of walls and windows, conditions reduce landscape ir- months. architectural language with mo- infrastructure, data centres, mitment to the environment and recessed windows, energy re- rigation requirements,” he add- able and walkable city district Saudis under the age of 18 – an dernity and technology. connections between the city preserving natural resources.” covery to the outside air en- ed. and destination for living, lei- age group that is not receiving Msheireb Downtown Doha buildings and facilities.” “At Msheireb, over 5,200 tering the building, optimised All of the MDD’s planned sure, and business. vaccines – would also be allowed (MDD) is described as the “Smart applications for mon- rooftop solar panels and so- ventilation using carbon dioxide buildings meet the LEED Gold Located in a prime location, it to travel from May 17, provided world’s fi rst fully built smart and itoring and managing power, lar hot water panels are used to detectors, and a high-effi ciency standard for environmental per- off ers retail, commercial, resi- they carry an insurance policy sustainable downtown regen- and GPS have been installed generate electricity,” al-Kuwari district cooling plant.” formance, and some facilities dential and civic services that approved by the central bank, eration project. within the city and a data analy- said. “A total of 32% of energy is “Effi cient irrigation systems have a platinum rating. will make Msheireb once more the ministry said in a statement It refl ects the vision of sis app that counts the numbers saved due to the effi cient build- and native green species have MDD is Qatar’s latest sustain- the heart of Doha. published by the offi cial Saudi Press Agency. “The decision to lift the sus- Cops questioned pension on citizens travelling outside Saudi Arabia will go into after 21 prisoners eff ect at 1am on May 17,” the St Regis Doha team vaccinated against Covid-19 escape Iraq jail ministry said, adding that the kingdom will reopen its land, sea Iraqi police off icers were and air borders. t Regis Doha has an- dous eff ort that they have put in questioned yesterday after 21 The policy represents an in- nounced that members of since the outbreak of Covid-19 prisoners escaped jail, the latest centive for citizens, barred from Sits staff have received the to ensure the safety of citizens breakout to highlight failings in travelling abroad since the pan- coronavirus (Covid-19) vac- and residents in Qatar.” the country’s security system. demic began, to get vaccinated. cination in order to maintain “The vaccination of the St Ten of the escaped prisoners, all The kingdom’s health minis- their health and safety. Regis Doha team would not convicted on drug and terrorism try said it has administered over “This aspect has always been have happened had it not been charges, had been recaptured 9mn coronavirus vaccine doses, a fundamental priority of the for the support of the com- by afternoon yesterday after a in a country of more than 34mn. hotel management that has re- petent medical authorities, to manhunt was launched at dawn. The country has reported lentlessly worked to provide whom we pay all the respect The interior minister immediately more than 419,000 coronavi- vaccination to all employees and thanks,” he said. “(Ensur- “ordered the confinement to rus infections and nearly 7,000 on a daily basis for the past ing) that all our employees are the barracks of all off icers and deaths from Covid-19. two months,” the hotel said in a vaccinated was an urgent need police” at Hilal district prison Last month, Saudi Arabia per- statement, adding that St Regis as we consider the safety of our in Mouthanna province some mitted only people immunised Doha guests are invited to “en- employees as equivalent to the Some members of the St Regis Doha team. 300km (180 miles) south of against Covid-19 to perform the joy exquisite staycations with safety of our guests.” the capital Baghdad, while an year-round Umrah pilgrimage peace of mind in a safe environ- Suleiman added: “We look and safety rules and regulations “Our guests are our priority lax and unwind, and enjoy an investigation into the escape was from the start of Ramadan, the ment”. forward to welcoming our in relation to the pandemic, in as we gear up to welcome them exceptional summer staycation carried out. holy fasting month for Muslims. St Regis Doha general man- guests back to our healthy and addition to following a system in the fi nest address in Qatar,” or simply have a dining experi- It was not immediately clear how It is unclear whether that ager Wissam Suleiman said: Covid-free environment, as we of continuous cleanliness and Suleiman said. “We are keen ence that is second to none in the prisoners broke out, but in policy would be extended to the “First, I would like to start by also continue to strictly imple- sterilisation throughout the to provide them with exquisite one of our award-winning res- corruption-riddled Iraq, escapes annual Haj pilgrimage this year. saluting Qatar for the tremen- ment the government’s health hotel.” experiences where they can re- taurants.” are often achieved by paying off security forces. Other detainees get help from Lebanon arrests two brothers armed groups or tribes, often equipped with heavy arms. suspected in Saudi drug haul Transparency International ranks QM virtual workshops, webinars this month the country 21st from bottom in Lebanon has detained two brothers suspected of being involved its Corruption Perceptions Index. in a foiled attempt to smuggle amphetamines into Saudi Arabia In mid-March, men from a By Joey Aguilar with Snoonu recently conduct- that prompted the Saudi authorities to impose a ban on importing powerful pro-Iran armed group Staff Reporter ed a virtual workshop to mark Lebanese produce, the caretaker government announced disguised as soldiers freed a drug Garangao this year, attracting yesterday. traff icker under police escort hundreds of children across Saudi Arabia announced the ban on April 23 after the discovery while en route to court in Amara, atar residents, par- Doha. of 5.3mn Captagon pills, a type of amphetamine, hidden in another town in rural southern ticularly Culture Pass “Cultural expert Najla al- pomegranate shipments from Lebanon. Iraq. Qmembers, will have the Hemaidi demonstrated the Interior minister in the caretaker government, Mohamed Fahmy, In an eff ort to flush out the opportunity to take part in a traditional weaving method to was speaking in an interview with Lebanon’s MTV broadcaster escapees and discourage number of virtual workshops create baskets for holding the during a tour of the border area from the north to the Bekaa valley accomplices from sheltering and webinars, organised by Qa- festive sweets and nuts,” the QM where there is rampant smuggling across the border with Syria, of them, Mouthanna’s governor tar Museums (QM) this month. said on its Instagram page. “The goods from drugs to fuel and subsidised food. promised “a financial reward to An online art workshop and children learned to weave their “We have uncovered those complicit and a follow-up of the case is anyone who catches a fugitive”, guided tour will take place to- own bookmarks, medallions and ongoing,” Fahmy said. while law enforcement off icers morrow (May 4) from 2pm to keychains.” Lebanon was in contact with Saudi authorities on the course of the enlisted the help of tribal leaders 3.30pm, coinciding with the Those who missed the work- investigations. – Reuters in the manhunt. – AFP celebration of “Doha, Capital of shop can download the activity There would be an ‘In-Gallery Talk about Murwab Site’ on May 8. Islamic Culture 2021”. It will be booklet which guide and teach conducted in English and Ara- users the proper and correct starting from June 30 to July 4 while the third sessions will take bic. weaving technique. for the fi rst session. place in January 2022. Participants can explore “the According to the QM, the This activity is “designed to Another virtual programme, architecture elements of tradi- workshop was organised in col- assist emerging screenwriters dubbed as “Behind An Object, Iran state media says US agrees to tional Qatari mosque and use laboration with Snoonu, which and writer-directors in devel- There Is A Story”, was launched this as inspiration” for them to delivered the workshop mate- oping and writing an original on April 29 and considered as the create their own mosque model. rials and Garangao gifts to the feature-length screenplay”. leading educational programme prisoner swap, Washington says no The QM also held a webinar, children. The DFI noted that this for schools of the Sheikh Faisal led by the National Museum of Dr Guerin returns on May 8 screenwriting lab will be held Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum. Qatar’s Archaeology and Early from 1pm to 2pm for an “In-Gal- “with the support of experi- “The title itself evokes Haka- Reuters nuclear accord that Washington said on CBS Face the Nation. history curator Dr Alexandrine lery Talk” about Murwab Site – enced mentors in group sessions wati, the traditional art of sto- Tehran/Dubai abandoned three years ago. US offi cials regularly raise the Guerin, on May 1, discussing “a special virtual tour to explore and one-on-one tutorials. The rytelling, here explored through Iranian offi cials told Reuters issue of detained Americans with human occupations in early the shape of daily life in the early lab consists of three online ses- the artefacts on display,” the QM last month that an interim deal Iran, Klain said. Islamic period in the country Islamic period, through the col- sions of fi ve-day workshops, said. ranian state television said could be a way to gain time for a US national security adviser (7th-10th century) through ar- lections and artefacts that have which take place intermittently Two more sessions for the yesterday that Tehran would lasting settlement that involved Jake Sullivan, speaking on ABC’s chaeology and written sources. been discovered at Murwab site over a period of six months”. The fi rst story titled A Day In Qa- Ifree four Americans accused unfreezing Iranian funds blocked This Week yesterday, said no deal It was held in English with and presented at NMoQ”. deadline for application is until tar’s Old Times are scheduled on of spying in exchange for four under US sanctions. had been reached with Iran in the Arabic translation. Meanwhile, the Doha Film June 7. May 6 (9pm-10pm) and May 10 Iranians held in the United States Tehran and the powers have Vienna talks. In addition, the Qatar Chil- Institute (DFI) will hold a vir- The second session is sched- (10am-11am) while the second and the release of $7bn in frozen been meeting in Vienna since “There is still a fair distance dren’s Museum, in partnership tual Hezayah Screenwriting Lab uled from September 12-17, story, Nun And The Pen, And Iranian funds. early last month to work on steps to travel to close the remain- What They Write Together, will State TV, quoting an Iranian that must be taken, touching ing gaps. And those gaps are be delivered today (May 3) from offi cial, also said that British- on US sanctions and Iran’s al- over what sanctions the United 10am-11am and on May 8 (9pm- Iranian national Nazanin Za- leged breaches of the 2015 deal, States and other countries will 10pm). ghari-Ratcliff e would be released to bring Tehran and Washington roll back,” he said. “They are over The fi nal session for the third once Britain had paid off a mili- back into full compliance with what nuclear restrictions Iran story, The Memory Box, will be tary debt owed to Tehran. the accord. will accept on its program to en- held on May 7 from 9pm-10pm. The British Foreign Offi ce did Iran says $20bn of its oil rev- sure that they can never get a nu- M7, in partnership with IN- not immediately respond to a re- enue has been frozen in countries clear weapon.” Q, an online museum gift shop quest for comment. like South Korea, Iraq and China Sullivan was not asked about owned by IN-Q Enterprises, the “Informed source says Biden under the US sanctions regime prisoner swap or funds release. commercial arm of the QM, also administration has agreed to re- since 2018. Speaking earlier yesterday, urged emerging designers in the lease four Iranian prisoners jailed The US government denied British Foreign Minister Dominic country to apply and take part in for bypassing US sanctions in ex- that an agreement has been Raab told Times Radio: “We rec- a competition this month where change for four American ‘spies’,” reached. ognise the IMS debt should be they will design a retail pop-up Iranian state TV said. In Washington, State Depart- repaid and we’re looking at ar- shop for the 3-2-1 Qatar Olym- “Release of Nazanin Zaghari ment spokesman Ned Price said: rangements for securing that.” pic and Sports Museum. in exchange for UK’s payment of “Reports that a prisoner swap Zaghari-Ratcliff e, a char- Designers, students, and the its £400mn debt to Iran has also deal has been reached are not ity worker, has been held in Iran general public who are Qatar been fi nalised. The source also true.” since 2016. residents can apply. said the Biden administration Ron Klain, White House chief She served a fi ve-year sen- A cash prize of QR5,000 is on has agreed to pay Iran $7bn,” it of staff , also denied the report. tence for spying charges then off er. said. “Unfortunately, that report is last month was sentenced to a The deadline to submit de- Iran and world powers are untrue. There is no agreement to further year in jail on propaganda The online workshop and guided tour will explore historical mosques in Qatar. signs is May 13. holding talks to revive the 2015 release these four Americans,” he charges. Gulf Times 8 Monday, May 3, 2021 WORLD

CRIME POLICY DECISION ANNOUNCEMENT PANDEMIC Attackers kill 16 South Africa to clamp down Burundi president sacks Chad junta lifts curfew New Zealand resumes soldiers in Niger on captive lion breeding commerce minister imposed after Deby death Perth travel bubble

Unidentified gunmen have killed 16 soldiers and South Africa will clamp down on captive lion breed- Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has Chad’s new ruling junta yesterday announced it has New Zealand yesterday agreed to reopen its wounded six others in an ambush in southwest ing after a review panel concluded the industry sacked his commerce minister because she risked lifted a curfew introduced after the shock death of travel bubble with Western Australia, 24 hours after Niger, two security sources said yesterday. The risked the conservation of wild lions and harmed “compromising the country’s economy,” as sources in longtime leader Idriss Deby Itno and the installation grounding flights when three people in Perth tested attack on an army patrol occurred on Saturday af- tourism, the environment minister said yesterday. the ruling regime alleged she had embezzled airline of a military council led by his son. An overnight positive for Covid 19. Health off icials said that follow- ternoon in the Tahoua region of the West African In the nearly 600-page report, the panel appointed funds. “Considering the acts of the person concerned curfew, barring people from leaving their homes ing consultation with their Australian counterparts country, near where raids killed 137 civilians in by the ministry in 2019 recommended that South risk compromising the country’s economy and the between 6pm and 5am, was introduced on April 20, they determined the risk to New Zealand was not March. It is unclear who carried out the attack, Africa end the breeding and keeping of captive lions image of Burundi... Immaculee Ndabaneze is dis- hours after the military announced that Deby had significant and flight could resume tomorrow. How- but the area is overrun by militant groups with for economic gain, including hunting them and missed from her functions as minister of commerce, died from wounds sustained in fighting with rebel ever, anyone who has been at “locations of interest” links to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. Those groups tourist interactions such as cub petting. The panel transport, industry and tourism,” the presidency said. forces. The start of the curfew was later pushed identified by the Western Australian government have killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians also recommended an immediate moratorium on According to sources within the ruling regime, the back to 8pm. A decree signed by the military coun- cannot travel to New Zealand within 14 days of since 2018 when they began broadening their the trade of lion derivatives such as bones. Barbara minister was dismissed for the illegal sale of the last cil’s spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said the exposure. “While the public health risk is deemed reach beyond bases in Mali. Now, large areas of Creecy, minister of forestry, fisheries and the environ- plane of the now defunct Air Burundi and for alleg- curfew had been lifted “after evaluating the steps low, we must all remain vigilant as we enjoy the op- Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have fallen under ment, responded to the report by saying the ministry edly embezzling funds intended to go towards the initially taken by the transitional military council portunities quarantine-free travel has given us,” the their control. would adopt all recommendations in the report. country’s future flagship carrier Burundi Airlines. (CMT) across the country and the security situation”. director-general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, said. More global aid lands in India as death toll hits record

AFP New Delhi, one of the hardest New Delhi hit parts of India, extended its lockdown by a week on Saturday, and the eastern state of Odisha nternational aid to alleviate has also ordered a shutdown. India’s dire oxygen shortage Anthony Fauci, the top US Iarrived in the South Asian pandemic adviser, said in com- nation yesterday, as its corona- ments published on Saturday virus death toll climbed to a grim that the whole of India should go new record. into lockdown to fi ght this wave. The country of 1.3bn reported Prime Minister Narendra Mo- 3,689 coronavirus deaths yester- di’s government has resisted im- day - the highest single-day rise posing a national shutdown but yet in the pandemic, with nearly many states have imposed heavy 400,000 new cases of Covid-19 restrictions. registered across India. A growing list of countries India expanded its vaccina- have cut fl ights from India, with tion programme to all adults on Nigeria yesterday banning entry Saturday, but many of its states to all travellers who have been are struggling with shortages in the country in the last two despite an export freeze for shots weeks, though Nigerians and produced domestically. those transiting in India will be The All India Trinamool Congress party leader Mamata Banerjee speaks to supporters gathered outside her home celebrating the party’s results in the West Bengal legislative The latest surge in deaths exempt. assembly election in Kolkata yesterday. came as medical equipment from Alarm bells are also ringing in abroad - including oxygen-gen- other countries in densely popu- eration plants - was fl own into lated South Asia. the capital New Delhi as part of a In Sri Lanka daily infections huge international eff ort. hit a record on Saturday, with “People are sometimes dying authorities imposing further in front of the hospitals. They curbs on movement and activi- have no more oxygen. Some- ties in parts of the island nation. times (they are dying) in their “We could face an India-type Setback for Modi with cars,” said Germany’s ambassa- crisis very soon unless we arrest dor to India, Walter J Lindner, as the current trend of infections,” 120 ventilators arrived late Sat- said chief epidemiologist Sudath urday. Samaraweera. Long queues were seen at vac- Known global infections are cination centres in Indian cities approaching 152mn, and fresh this weekend, with people des- waves have also shaken many key India state poll loss perate to be inoculated against countries in the Americas. a disease that has overwhelmed Meanwhile Britain yesterday AFP The most important elec- said West Bengal’s “immediate She can still be sworn back in DMK party to power after a dec- the healthcare system as well as announced it will send another Kolkata tion was in the eastern state challenge is to combat the Cov- as chief minister, but has to be ade by defeating an incumbent crematoriums and graveyards. 1,000 ventilators to India, the of West Bengal, home to 90mn id-19 and we are confi dent that elected in another constituency coalition that has the BJP as its Social media platforms have government said. people. we will win”. within six months. national partner. been fl ooded with desperate The British government had rime Minister Narendra Mo- Modi and his right-hand “This victory has saved the Earlier, polling for two con- In Kerala in the south, where pleas from people looking for previously agreed to send 600 di’s Hindu-nationalist party man, Home Minister Amit Shah, humanity, the people of India. stituencies was postponed the BJP until now has played oxygen cylinders, medicines and medical devices, including ven- Psuff ered a setback yesterday campaigned heavily in the state It’s the victory of India,” Ban- after two candidates died of only a bit part, a left-wing al- hospital beds as the Covid-19 tilators and oxygen concentra- when it lost a tightly contested and as they sought to end a decade of erjee, a fi erce critic of Modi, Covid-19. liance retained power with a wave causes widespread short- tors. violence-hit state poll. rule by fi rebrand leader Mamata added. The BJP retained the north- comfortable victory over a Con- ages. “This support will help ur- India held its biggest demo- Banerjee. Modi tweeted his congratula- eastern state of Assam. gress-led coalition. The US, Russia and Britain gently meet some of India’s acute cratic exercise in two years over But as results started trick- tions but added that his party In Puducherry, a small former It was the fi rst time a govern- sent emergency supplies in- needs, particularly oxygen for the past month, with 175mn ling, they showed Banerjee’s had grown its support in the French colony previously known ment in the state had been re- cluding oxygen generators, face patients,” Foreign Secretary Do- people eligible to vote in fi ve re- Trinamool Congress (TMC) state “from a negligible presence as Pondicherry, the BJP was elected since 1977. masks and vaccines. minic Raab said in a statement. gional elections. party on course for a third term. earlier”. expected to come to power Experts blame complacency Aid from France reached India “We are determined to help our But the marathon polls in- Thousands of TMC support- Banerjee however lost her seat through an alliance amid eff orts about the virus, as well as reli- yesterday, including eight oxy- Indian friends in their hour of volved huge rallies where many ers took to the streets, despite in Nandigram, to a former con- to increase its presence in the gious festivals attended by mil- gen generator plants and 28 ven- need.” attendees were maskless, and a virus-related ban on celebra- fi dant who defected to Modi’s country’s south, where it has lions of devotees and political tilators, adding to the ventilators Top British health offi cials a record-breaking coronavirus tions. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She been traditionally weak. rallies, for the virus crisis in the from Germany that arrived the have also spoken to their Indian spike coincided with the fi nal In a victory speech later yes- vowed to challenge the loss in In the southern state of Tamil world’s second-most populous previous night. counterparts to off er advice. phases of voting. terday, 66-year-old Banerjee court. Nadu, M K Stalin returned his nation.

Myanmar protest Manila snubs China call Biden has a ‘hostile over maritime exercises policy’: North Korea AFP cy’ is a spurious signboard for Seoul covering up its hostile acts, and Reuters pine Sea) and Kalayaan Island ally subject to a compromise...I ‘deterrence’ touted by it is just a Manila Group by the Philippine Coast hope they will understand but I means for posing nuclear threats Guard and the Bureau of Fisher- have the interest of my country orth Korea yesterday ac- to the DPRK,” Kwon added. ies and Aquatic Resources will also to protect.” cused US President Joe “Now that what the keynote of he Philippines will con- continue,” Defence Secretary Lorenzana said the Philippines NBiden of pursuing a hos- the US new DPRK policy has be- tinue maritime exercises Delfi n Lorenzana said in a state- “can be cordial and co-operative tile policy, dismissing “spuri- come clear, we will be compelled Tinside its 200-mile exclu- ment, using the local name for with other nations but not at the ous” American diplomacy and to press for corresponding meas- sive economic zone (EEZ) in the the South China Sea. expense of our sovereignty and warning of a response. ures.” The White House said on South China Sea, the country’s “The government will not sovereign rights”. Biden had said his administra- Friday that its goal remains “the defence minister said yesterday, waver in its position,” he said. Meanwhile, People’s Libera- tion would deal with the threat complete denuclearisation of the despite a call by China to stop ac- The lingering presence of hun- tion Army (PLA) said yesterday posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear Korean peninsula”. Biden’s press tions that it said could escalate dreds of Chinese boats in the China’s Shandong aircraft carrier programme “through diplomacy secretary Jen Psaki gave little disputes. Philippines’ EEZ has revived ten- task group recently conducted an as well as stern deterrence”. The indication of what kind of diplo- The Philippine coastguard and sions between the countries, de- exercise in the South China Sea. White House said yesterday that matic initiative this could entail, fi sheries bureau started mari- spite President Rodrigo Duterte’s China has repeatedly com- the president was open to ne- but suggested that the president time exercises last month, hav- friendship with Beijing. plained about US navy ships get- gotiations with North Korea on had learned from the experience ing boosted its presence in the Lorenzana said his comments ting close to islands it occupies in denuclearisation following the of his predecessors, who strug- area to counter the “threatening” echoed the stance of Duterte the South China Sea, where Viet- completion of a policy review, gled to deal with North Korea’s presence of Chinese boats. on the issue, citing the latter’s nam, Malaysia, the Philippines, but Pyongyang said Biden had leadership and its nuclear weap- China claims almost the entire “very firm and straightfor- Brunei and Taiwan all also have made a “big blunder”. ons programme. South China Sea, through which ward” orders for the Philip- competing claims. “His statement clearly refl ects But Psaki said Washington about $3tn worth of ship borne pine military to “defend what is US carrier groups have sailed his intent to keep enforcing the would not “focus on achieving trade passes each year, despite a rightfully ours without going to near Chinese-controlled islands hostile policy toward the DPRK a grand bargain”, apparently re- 2016 ruling by an arbitration tri- war and maintain the peace in in the disputed waters several Protesters take part in a demonstration against the as it had been done by the US for ferring to the kind of dramatic bunal in The Hague that Beijing’s the seas”. times this year, drawing denun- military coup on “Global Myanmar Spring Revolution over half a century,” Kwon Jung- over-arching deal that former claim was inconsistent with in- While Duterte still consid- ciation from China. Day” in Kyaukme in Myanmar yesterday. Demonstrations gun, a foreign ministry offi cial, president Donald Trump initially ternational law. ers China as “a good friend”, the The exercise was described as kicked off early in commercial hub Yangon as activists said in a statement released by suggested was possible when he “The conduct of maritime Philippine leader last week said: routine training and part of the called for a show of force and a “spring revolution”. the offi cial KCNA news agency. met with North Korea’s leader patrol in the WPS (West Philip- “There are things that are not re- Chinese navy’s annual work plan. “The US-claimed ‘diploma- Kim Jong-un. Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 9 WORLD

Political crisis in El Salvador as parliament ousts Supreme Court judges

AFP constitutional chamber for issu- The ousted judges, whose re- “As a parliamentary group, “That’s not the way you do “Bukele is breaking with the his agenda approved in the pre- San Salvador ing “arbitrary” judgments. placements were immediately we will not be complicit in this things,” tweeted Juan Gonzalez, rule of law and seeks to concen- vious parliament dominated by The lawmakers also voted to appointed by the majority legis- coup,” added his FMLN colleague US President Joe Biden’s Latin trate all power in his hands,” Jose Arena and the FMLN, who had dismiss attorney-general Raul lators, refused to leave their post, Anabel Belloso. America adviser. Miguel Vivanco, executive di- alternated power since the end of l Salvador’s new legisla- Melara, considered close to an citing “the unconstitutionality of United States offi cials criti- “I condemn the steps that the rector of Human Rights Watch’s El Salvador’s civil war. tive assembly has voted to opposition party. the decree of dismissal”. cised the move and warned it political power has been taking Americas division, said on Twit- Following February’s elec- Edismiss top Supreme Court “And the people of El Salvador, The minority opposition in could harm relations with Wash- to dismantle and weaken the ju- ter. tions, Bukele’s allies hold 61 of judges hostile to populist Presi- through their representatives, parliament – the right-wing ington. dicial independence of the mag- “It is a situation which carries the 84 seats in the unicameral dent Nayib Bukele, triggering a said: DISMISSED!” Bukele said Arena party and leftist FMLN – “A strong US-El Salvador rela- istrates by dismissing members a profound risk. It (Congress) is Congress, making him the fi rst political storm as the opposition triumphantly following the vote. jointly denounced the move as an tionship will depend on the gov- of the Constitutional Chamber,” playing with fi re and may deepen president in nearly three decades derided the move as a coup. Popular for his desire to fi ght attempted coup. ernment of El Salvador support- Diego Garcia-Sayan, the UN this crisis to such a magnitude to have a majority in the legisla- Bukele’s New Ideas party holds organised crime and insecurity, “What happened last night in ing the separation of powers and Special Rapporteur on the Inde- that we will not be able to get out ture. an absolute majority following the 39-year-old president, in the Legislative Assembly, with upholding democratic norms,” pendence of Judges and Lawyers, of it,” Miguel Montenegro, coor- Bukele is a harsh critic of El February elections. power since 2019, had repeatedly a majority that the people gave Julie Chung, acting assistant sec- tweeted. dinator of the human rights com- Salvador’s traditional parties, At its fi rst session on Saturday, clashed with the Supreme Court them through the vote, is a coup,” retary for the US State Depart- Several non-governmental or- mission, told AFP. who he accuses of abandon- the assembly dismissed all the and the public prosecutor’s of- said Arena lawmaker Rene Por- ment’s Bureau of Western Hemi- ganisations (NGOs) also sounded Elected in 2019 for a fi ve-year ing the victims of the country’s justices of the Supreme Court’s fi ce. tillo. sphere Aff airs, said on Twitter. the alarm. term, Bukele had trouble getting 1980-92 civil war.

Thousands protest in ISS astronauts splash down Montreal against Covid curbs off Florida on SpaceX craft AFP kins said in a Nasa tweet. copter to Pensacola to board a Washington Nasa astronaut Shannon plane for Houston to be reunited AFP Walker and Japan’s Soichi with their friends and family, Montreal Noguchi were the other two Nasa said. SpaceX Crew Dragon aboard. “The reports are all four crew capsule carrying four as- “Welcome home Victor, members are in great shape and ens of thousands of pro- Atronauts back to Earth Michael, Shannon, and Soichi, in great spirits and doing really testers marched on Sat- splashed down off Florida early and congratulations to the teams well,” Nasa chief fl ight director Turday at Montreal’s Ol- yesterday in Nasa’s fi rst night- at Nasa and SpaceX who worked Holly Ridings said at a post- ympic Stadium, rallying against time ocean landing in more than so hard to ensure their safe and splashdown news briefi ng. restrictions imposed by the gov- 50 years. successful splashdown,” said “Really just a great day. It’s ernment to stem a third wave of The crew reported that they new Nasa administrator Bill not very often you get to wake up the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- were feeling well after their ar- Nelson. on the Space Station and go to demic in Canada. rival back on Earth following “We’ve accomplished an- sleep in Houston,” she said. Some demonstrators were ar- a nearly six-month mission other incredible spacefl ight Seven astronauts remained on rested at the start of the march, aboard the International Space for America and our commer- the ISS, including a new crew of according to an AFP journalist, Station (ISS), the National Aer- cial and international partners. four who arrived on a diff erent with signs in the crowd express- onautics and Space Administra- Safe, reliable transportation to SpaceX craft last week. ing opposition to masks, curfew tion (Nasa) said. the International Space Station “Thanks for your hospital- and health passports. The capsule splashed down at is exactly the vision that Nasa ity,” Hopkins said earlier as the A heavy police presence was 2.56am (0656 GMT) in the dark had when the agency embarked capsule undocked from the In- on hand, although the event in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama on the commercial crew pro- ternational Space Station for its proceeded largely in a festive City after a six-and-a-half- gramme.” return journey. “We’ll see you atmosphere to the rhythm of hour fl ight from the ISS, night- The four astronauts went back on Earth.” drums. vision images relayed by Nasa’s to space last November as the Prior to that, two American Police refused to provide a WB-57 high-altitude research crew on the fi rst fully opera- astronauts made a test mission crowd estimate, but Canadian aircraft showed. tional mission to the ISS aboard to the ISS in May and stayed for media said the turnout was Teams aboard the Go Naviga- a vehicle made by Elon Musk’s two months. about 30,000, making it the tor recovery ship retrieved the SpaceX, which has become That was the fi rst launch to largest rally against Covid-19 capsule and hoisted it onto the This Nasa handout photo shows Nasa astronauts (from left) Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, Mike Nasa’s favoured commercial the ISS from US soil since the restrictions in Quebec in recent deck about half an hour later. Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, inside the SpaceX transportation partner. end of the Space Shuttle pro- months. It was the fi rst nighttime Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship, shortly after They traveled 71.2mn miles gramme in 2011. Protesters, mostly unmasked splashdown for Nasa since the having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City, Florida. (114.6mn km) during their 168 It was also the fi rst crewed and ignoring social distancing crew of Apollo 8 arrived in the days in orbit (including 167 days mission run by a private com- rules, said that restrictions im- Pacifi c Ocean on December 27, the hatch was opened, doing a “On behalf of Crew-1 and people come together. Y’all are aboard the space station), Nasa pany, as opposed to Nasa. posed by the Quebec govern- 1968. little jig as he set foot on deck, our families, we just want to changing the world. Congratu- said. Until then US astronauts had ment were “unjustifi ed”. Commander Michael Hop- followed shortly after by fellow say thank you ... it’s amazing lations. After medical checks, the four caught rides to the ISS aboard They criticised compulsory kins was the fi rst to emerge after Nasa astronaut Victor Glover. what can be accomplished when “It’s great to be back,” Hop- astronauts will be fl own by heli- Russian spacecraft. mask-wearing for outdoor gath- erings and a provincial curfew that was imposed at the begin- Children march for ning of January – a move not seen on a provincial scale in Protest actions end to violence in Canada since the Spanish fl u Left: Demonstrators march in southern Mexico outbreak a century ago. Montreal against new Covid-19 Due to slowing rates of infec- restrictions. Holding balloons and homemade tion, the Quebec government signs, children paraded the said that starting today, the start Right: People take part in a streets of a Mexican village, of the curfew in Montreal would demonstration to show support for chanting slogans and calling be pushed back to 9.30pm, from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in for peace in a region where 8pm. Brasilia. numerous drug gangs wield “We are simply asking for an deadly force. end to the health measures,” Below: Children take part in a Boys and girls in Alcozacan, Daniel Pilon, who said that he demonstration demanding justice and a hamlet in a mountainous was an organiser of the event, a stop to the violence in the municipality of southern told AFP. communities, during a march on the Guerrero state, enthusiastically “The collateral damage (of the streets of Alcozacan in Mexico’s took part in a march that included health measures) is much greater Guerrero state. adults on Friday, when Mexico than the collateral damage cre- celebrated Children’s Day. ated by the Covid,” he added, Wearing sandals and superhero saying there have been increases T-shirts, they hoisted signs that in suicides and bankruptcies. read “We want peace” and “Stop Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the violence” while flashing called the protest “deeply disap- smiles at onlookers. pointing”. “In the mountains of Guerrero, “The irony here is that by children have been condemned gathering, people are putting to survive in a garden of thorns,” each other at risk, spreading fur- Abel Barrera, head of the ther cases of Covid-19, and ex- Tlachinollan Mountain human tending the time in which we will rights centre, said at a news have to be faced with restrictions conference. and public health measures,” he In an uncomfortable reminder of said. the violence, adult organisers of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium the march had originally planned is one of the country’s biggest to give the children tiny wooden vaccination sites, and had to be replicas of guns that members of shut down on Saturday due to the community use as part of a the demonstration. civilian self-protection force, one local told Reuters. Instead, they decided to distribute toy cars and dolls after the march. Local protection forces have Thousands ignore coronavirus to rally for Bolsonaro popped up in parts of the country where exasperated locals have given up on the government to AFP Covid-19 deaths, is second only In Rio on Saturday, several the crowd, his mask worn down Day red fl ags would wave, as if centre-right predecessor, Fern- provide security from menacing Brasilia to the US in that grim category, hundred protesters seemed to around his chin, taking selfi es we were a socialist country. I am ando Henrique Cardoso (1995- bands of criminals. and Bolsonaro faces widespread respond to his call. with supporters, their faces also happy to see green and yellow 2002). “The guns we use are dignity, criticism for not taking the pan- Rallying along celebrated uncovered. fl ags all over the country, with “This is a sad May Day for the rebellion and resistance,” said everal thousand Brazilians demic more seriously. Copacabana beach, they waved “It’s a critical moment and people who are truly working,” workers of our country, a day of one youth in a speech at a local marched on Saturday in Two weeks ago, the president banners demanding a “military Bolsonaro needs the people’s he said. mourning for the 400,000 lives cultural centre. Ssupport of President Jair said he was waiting for “a sign intervention” to bolster Bol- support,” Edvaldo de Paulo, a Few anti-Bolsonaro protests lost to Covid-19, many of them Guerrero, one of Mexico’s Bolsonaro, ignoring a surging from the people” before “taking sonaro’s powers. sixtyish demonstrator, told AFP took place on Saturday, but key because the government of Bol- poorest states, played host to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- measures” to revoke restrictions A slogan widely seen at the in Brasilia. opposition leaders, on the right sonaro refused to buy the vac- infamous Ayotzinapa abduction demic even as government op- imposed by mayors or governors various rallies was “Autoriso “We have to clean house in and the left, were taking part in cines that were being off ered,” and presumed massacre of 43 ponents took their own protests to contain the spread of the vi- Bolsonaro” (“I authorise Bol- Brasilia to let the president a trade union-sponsored event Lula said. students training to be teachers online. rus. sonaro”) to send in the army. govern,” said Elenir Ritonni, a on social media critical of Bol- On Tuesday, a Senate com- in 2014. There were rallies in Brasilia, More recently, he told a televi- In Brasilia, thousands assem- 63-year-old retiree who joined sonaro. mission of inquiry was estab- Before and since then, it has been Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, sion interviewer that the army bled on the Esplanade of Minis- several hundred demonstrators Among them were former lished to examine the govern- at the crossroads of a wide range with many demonstrators wear- “could take to the street one day, tries as Bolsonaro briefl y passed in Sao Paulo. president Luiz Inacio Lula da ment’s handling of the health of criminal rackets, including ing the yellow, blue and green of to ensure respect for the Consti- overhead in a helicopter. Bolsonaro spoke via video- Silva (2003-2010), who is ex- crisis, with many experts saying kidnappings, extortion and the country’s fl ag. tution (and for) freedom to come One of his sons, the deputy conference during a farm event. pected to challenge Bolsonaro that it has been incompetent and illegal poppy production to make Brazil, with over 403,000 and go”. Eduardo Bolsonaro, waded into “It used to be that on May in next year’s elections, and his irresponsible. heroin. – Reuters Gulf Times 10 Monday, May 3, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES HMC guidelines on e-scooting underpin need for compliance Eco-friendly mobility is the need of the era, but safety is paramount as well. Of late, e-scooters have become immensely popular in Qatar, especially in the capital Doha. Despite the summer setting in, one can see many e-scooter riders on almost all streets. However, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad Trauma Center has already seen victims with severe e-scooter injuries. There have been reports of many minor to moderate e-scooter injuries needing care at various emergency rooms in Qatar. HMC stressed that the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme does not want it to be inevitable that e-scooters will be the cause of more severe injuries or deaths in Qatar, especially during Becoming reasonable Ramadan, when kids and other users will ride them mostly at night. Therefore, it has shared the best practice for the use Colleges and universities hand, considers nothing to be more history.” That standard suits activist from those they had when they fi rst and regulation of e-scooters. should shape reasonable shameful than refusing to “yield to communities whose members are arrived on campus. In a press statement the other day, HMC pointed people, but that does not plain reason and the conviction of clear convinced they know where history is Members of a scientific out that “Globally, e-scooters are a new and trendy arguments.” For her, reason is not a tool headed and how to hurry it along. community, for example, are means of personal transportation potentially improving appear to be an educational but an authority that is honourable to Neither of these shaming cultures expected to channel their ambition micromobility for many road users. Recently, there are priority nowadays, perhaps obey and disgraceful to betray. In short, suits a college or university community into the pursuit of a common good, because shame has become reasonable people are ashamed of the that seeks to be reasonable. Because the the truth about nature. So, they offer even e-scooter rideshare options available here in Doha. right things. culture of hip already knows “what’s their findings to be confirmed or User convenience, environmental concerns and even a dirty word. To shame Colleges and universities should up,” it supplies no motive for open- debunked. Scientific communities transportation costs have all been cited as rationale for someone is to judge them, shape reasonable people, but that does ended inquiry. And call-out culture shape their initiates to be proud of their increasing use. While it seems inevitable that the not appear to be an educational priority has no patience for free speech that pursuing the truth via experiment, number of scooter users and scooters will increase, what and who are we to judge? nowadays, perhaps because shame is perceived as obstructing progress and therefore of their readiness to the general public does not know is the great risks they has become a dirty word. To shame toward social justice. What campuses live with the intellectual ground face when using By Jonathan Marks someone is to judge them, and who are now lack, for the most part, is a shifting beneath their feet. them and what are Collegeville, Pennsylvania we to judge? standard of praise and blame according Similarly, professions like journalism, Globally, more In fact, shame is rife on campuses in to which it is shameful to close one’s medicine, and law have intellectual the proven means of the United States and elsewhere. Mark ears to challenging arguments and and moral standards that defi ne e-scooter users increasing one’s safety olleges and universities should Edmundson, a veteran English professor disorienting questions. praiseworthy and shameful activity, when using one.” shape reasonable people, but at the University of Virginia, describes Setting such a standard need not and reshape the people working in are injured than Hamad Injury Cthat does not appear to be an a “culture of hip,” in which “passion require a wagging fi nger. But good them. The professions’ success, Prevention Programme educational priority nowadays, perhaps and strong admiration,” particularly for teachers make us aware of our regular however incomplete, at transmitting cyclists and so (HIPP) at Hamad because shame has become a dirty word. what one encounters in school, must be failings: our refusal to follow arguments their standards to recruits should make Trauma Center has To shame someone is to judge them, and suppressed if they arise and hidden if where they lead, our resistance to educators optimistic about initiating safety cannot who are we to judge? they can’t be suppressed. reason when thinking gets hard, and our students into a community that honours urged that children We expect spokespeople and other If other students roll their eyes at the unwillingness to entertain arguments reason. We should not treat them as if overemphasised below 12 should not hired guns to do their best with losing nerd who responds enthusiastically to that threaten our self-confi dence. their standards of praise and blame are be allowed to use arguments if no winning ones are a professor’s plea to dig into Dante, it Joseph Cropsey, my fi rst political fi xed forever. e-scooters. New users should practise on a smooth surface available. But it is dismaying when we, isn’t necessarily because they resent her philosophy professor at the University Becoming reasonable is a less sharply in an area specifi cally designated for e-scooters before too, behave like a cornered politician’s intelligence. They may be just as clever of Chicago, would sometimes say, defi ned aim than becoming a scientist going out on the road. Only one user can/should safely press secretary, scoring points however as she is. The nerd’s off ence, of which “Courage,” when the class confronted or a journalist. But, as Locke explained, we can and ignoring what we can’t she is expected to be ashamed, is her an especially diffi cult passage of text. our understanding is the “last resort use an e-scooter. Carefully inspect and test the e-scooter refute. earnestness. She cares too much about But any task that requires courage puts a man has recourse to in the conduct before using it for the fi rst time to better understand the We fi nd ourselves in that position the wrong things, which is uncool. us at risk of displaying cowardice. of himself” in every important matter. specifi cations, features and capabilities of the machine you not because we don’t understand basic More present to our minds, because We shouldn’t whip ourselves too hard And even if none of our students will be using. On every ride, users of e-scooters must wear a logic, but because we are straying more sensational, is “call-out culture.” over understandable shortcomings, but enters college in answer to the call to helmet, protective eyewear (goggles), closed shoes, elbow/ from good sense – something we When, in 2017, student protesters at we couldn’t honour reason if we didn’t be reasonable, they can still be moved knee pads and gloves. They must always turn on their lights normally regard as demeaning. If a the College of William & Mary shouted think it dishonourable to abandon it. to heed it. — Colleges and universities and wear hi-visibility (or refl ective) clothing, regardless friend exclaims, “Be reasonable!” they down Claire Gastañaga, then executive Cropsey, engaged in the same work of should shape reasonable people, don’t mean, “Mind your syllogisms!” director of the American Civil Liberties becoming reasonable that he invited us but that does not appear to be an if it is day or night. Riding e-scooters at night time, when A question lurks behind their Union of Virginia, they chanted to join, didn’t need or presume to wag educational priority nowadays, perhaps visibility is poor, should be avoided because it can lead to exclamation: “Aren’t you ashamed?” “Shame!” They called out Gastañaga for his fi nger. because shame has become a dirty more severe injuries or fatalities. E-scooter users must be But to be reasonable is not merely to caring too little about the right things, Anyone who has done time in a word. To shame someone is to judge fully focused on driving their vehicles, nothing else. Keep use “critical thinking” tools. Consider for standing on First Amendment classroom might doubt the power of them, and who are we to judge? both hands on the handlebars at all times, no texting or a man trained in what John Locke called principle rather than with the targets of teachers to infl uence the norms of praise — Project Syndicate selfi es while using an e-scooter. “the art and formality of disputing.” He white supremacist speech. and blame that guide their students. Though e-scooters have been introduced and widely is ashamed, above all, of being shown to The students who silenced Gastañaga It’s all we can do to get students to Jonathan Marks, a professor of used in many cities and towns across the globe, be unable “to maintain whatever he has subscribed to a standard of praise stop deleting our emails. But we also politics at Ursinus College, is the author once affi rmed.” and blame according to which it is know that they can be drawn into of Let’s Be Reasonable: A Conservative unfortunately, there is a pattern that has been repeated The reasonable person, on the other disgraceful to be on the “wrong side of communities whose standards diff er Case for Liberal Education. in almost all these locations. E-scooters have been banned or heavily regulated only after fatalities or severe disabling injuries from multiple e-scooter crashes, a HMC statement pointed out. As more e-scooters are bought and used, more injuries, and even deaths, might happen. In the US, from 2014-2018, with the introduction of ride sharing e-scooter options; there was a 222% increase in e-scooter injuries reported. It is estimated that there were over 50,000 e-scooter injuries per year in the US last year. Globally, more e-scooter users are injured than cyclists. “HIPP hopes that we can implement and enforce proven regulations that improve the safe use of e-scooters and that Qatar does not have to suffer more fatalities or injuries. Let us not only embrace the new trends for micromobility in Qatar; let us also implement the best practices for e-scooter safety before we have to react to more deaths or severe injuries from unsafe e-scooter use,” said Dr Rafael Consunji, director of HIPP.

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© 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 11 WORLD Bobby Sands: the hunger strike that changed history

AFP majority Protestant population, who He had joined the group’s violent “He is also wrapped in very soft lowing the coffi n to Milltown cem- Belfast want to keep what they call Ulster, campaign at 18 after his family were cloth to keep up his body heat.” etery in west Belfast. British. forced out of their home in a Protes- Bobby Sands’ fi nal days were Nine more republican prisoners Republican prisoners in the Maze tant area. marked by frantic attempts to medi- followed Sands to their death until orty years ago this week Bobby jail south of Belfast refused to wear He spent most of the next decade ate between the prisoners and Lon- the hunger strike was called off on Sands was the fi rst of 10 Irish prison uniforms in 1976 when their behind bars after twice being caught don, including by the Pope and the October 9 under pressure from the Frepublican hunger strikers to special category status as political with fi rearms. European Commission of Human strikers’ families. die after refusing food for 66 days. prisoners was abolished. While the sometime poet and Rights. But Thatcher refused all com- During the seven months of hun- “Martyrs” to many, others saw Instead they wrapped themselves songwriter saw himself as a freedom promise. ger strikes, 60 died in street violence them as IRA “terrorists”. in their blankets. This escalated into fi ghter, Thatcher insisted he and the With all hope gone, John Paul II’s across the province. Sands’ slow lingering death in May the “dirty protest” two years later, IRA were common criminals, saying personal envoy gave Sands a crucifi x While republicans redoubled their 1981 proved to be a turning point in when they refused to wash or shave “a crime is a crime”. from the pontiff . violence with more attacks on main- the bitter 30-year confl ict over Brit- and began smearing their cell walls Sands was elected as a lawmaker On May 5, by then deaf and blind, land Britain, they later embraced ish rule in Northern Ireland. with their own excrement. in the UK parliament in London in a Sands died in the Maze hospital. constitutional politics after signing Violence erupted in 1968 when po- With British prime minister Mar- by-election on April 9, narrowly de- Thatcher remained unmoved, her the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. lice attacked a peaceful civil rights garet Thatcher refusing to budge, feating the former leader of Northern SPOTLIGHT: Bobby Sands stance backed by most MPs at West- The IRA offi cially renounced vio- demonstration in Londonderry, Sands started what he said would Ireland’s main pro-UK unionist party. minster. lence in July 2005. Northern Ireland’s majority Catholic be a “hunger strike to the death” on It was the fi rst time the Provisional “weighed no more than 44 kilos (six When the “Iron Lady” herself died Their political wing Sinn Fein now second city. March 1, 1981. IRA had taken part in electoral poli- stones and 13 pounds)”, AFP reported in 2013, graffi ti in republican west share power with unionists with both The Provisional Irish Republican Sands, the commander of 450 Pro- tics, and the victory convinced some at the time. Belfast prayed that she “rust in peace”. communities now of roughly equal Army was formed in 1970 and began visional IRA prisoners in the Maze’s republican activists that they could “A sheepskin has been placed un- Sands’ funeral on May 7 became a numbers. a guerrilla war with the British Army top-security H-blocks, was 26 when win at the ballot box. der his body to stop his bones pierc- huge show of force by the republican More than 3,500 people died in the and loyalist paramilitaries from the he began his hunger strike. By the 54th day of his fast, Sands ing his skin. movement, with 70,000 people fol- three decades of the Troubles.

British PM In Karachi, preventive measures cops more G7 eyes rapid posers over personal response tools spending against Russian FM denies donor was asked to pay for nanny ‘propaganda’ Reuters London Reuters a bully and that its leaders have months about growing strategic London a post-imperial mindset that co-operation between Russia, ritish Prime Minister Boris makes them feel they can act like the world’s largest country by Johnson faced more al- global policemen. territory, and China, the world’s Blegations yesterday about he Group of Seven rich- Britain has identifi ed Russia fastest-growing major economy. his expenditure on the refur- est countries will look at as the biggest threat to its secu- Asked about the concerns, bishment of his apartment and Ta proposal to build a rapid rity though it views China as its Raab said: “What matters to on childcare for his young son, response mechanism to coun- greatest long-term challenge, us most is that we broaden the which his foreign minister dis- ter Russian “propaganda” and militarily, economically and international caucus of like- missed as baseless gossip. disinformation, British Foreign technologically. minded countries that stand up Johnson has repeatedly weath- Secretary Dominic Raab told Raab will meet US Secretary for open societies, human rights ered gaff es, crises over Brexit and Reuters. of State Antony Blinken today, and democracy that stand for disclosures of his adultery, but Speaking ahead of a G7 foreign kicking off a week of diplomacy open trade.” the revelation that he and his fi - ministers’ meeting in London, the aimed at reinvigorating the G7’s He said many of those allies ancée, Carrie Symonds, spent fi rst such in-person meeting for role and forming a wider bul- wanted “to know how this pan- lavishly to redecorate their resi- two years, Raab said the United wark against those it sees as demic started.” The coronavirus dence with a designer feted by Kingdom was “getting the G7 to undermining the rules-based outbreak, which began in China royalty has touched a nerve. come together with a rapid rebut- international order. in late 2019, has killed 3.2 million One of the leaders of the 2016 tal mechanism” to counter Rus- “The scope for intense glo- people and cost the world tril- campaign to leave the European sian misinformation. bal cooperation, international lions of dollars in lost output. Union, Johnson is grappling with “So that when we see these cooperation with our American Raab said some of the barriers a stream of allegations about lies and propaganda or fake news partners and indeed the wider between the G7 and other like- both his expenditure and the being put out there, we can — G7 that we’re convening this minded countries needed to be management of his core team at not just individually, but come week has never been greater,” broken down, so that there could the centre of the British govern- together to provide a rebuttal Raab said. be a broader network of allies ment that opponents say show he and frankly to provide the truth, He stressed that meeting in that stood up for open markets is unfi t for offi ce. for the people of this country but person - something only possible and democracy. Johnson has repeatedly said also in Russia or China or around due to measures like daily testing Britain has invited India, Aus- that he paid for the refurbishment the world,” Raab said. of attendees - would make diplo- tralia and South Korea to attend of his Downing Street apartment, Russia and China are trying macy much easier: “You can only this week’s meeting, running but the Electoral Commission to sow mistrust across the West, do so much by Zoom.” from today to Wednesday, and says it has grounds to suspect an whether by spreading disinfor- The G7 members are Brit- the full leaders’ summit in June. off ence has been committed in mation in elections or by spread- ain, the United States, Canada, Asked whether Britain could the funding of the work. ing lies about Covid-19 vaccines, France, Germany, Italy and Ja- seek to join a separate group- The Sunday Times said the to- according to British, US and Eu- pan and their combined gross ing known as the Quad — the tal cost of the work was around ropean security offi cials. domestic product is about $40 United States, Japan, Australia 200,000 pounds ($276,000) and A combo shows (top) people in a market area for shopping during Ramadan in Karachi on Saturday, Russia denies it is meddling trillion — a little less than half of and India — Raab said there was that one invoice was settled by and (bottom) commuters riding past the closed area during a lockdown imposed as a preventive beyond its borders and says the the global economy. no concrete proposal as yet, but a Conservative Party donor di- measure to limit the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus yesterday. (AFP) West is gripped by anti-Russian British and US offi cials have Britain was looking at ways to rectly — a benefi t-in-kind that hysteria. China says the West is expressed concern in recent engage more in the Indo-Pacifi c. would need to be declared to tax authorities. The newspaper also reported that a Conservative Party donor Six reasons to smile had been asked to pay for a nanny for Johnson’s young son, Wilfred. First signs of “I don’t mind paying for leaf- Spanish afi cionados return lets but I resent being asked to Covid easing pay to literally wipe the prime minister’s baby’s bottom,” the in Germany unidentifi ed donor was quoted as to bullring post-pandemic saying. Reuters Johnson’s Downing Street of- Reuters the fi rst time since the Covid-19 or plazas, have remained closed Frankfurt fi ce did not address the reported Madrid pandemic began. for the last year due to lockdown refurbishment costs, but said in a Wearing mandatory face restrictions — plunging the con- statement: “The Prime Minister masks and sitting in fumigat- troversial spectacle and its mat- table new Covid-19 has covered the costs of all child- arrying red and yellow ed seats separated by stickers, adors into fi nancial crisis. infection numbers in care.” fl owers to show bull- fans watched matadors take on A maximum of 6,000 people SGermany are fuelling The Conservative Party de- Cfi ghting is a symbol of seven bulls in a charity contest were allowed in to watch the hopes that intensive care clined to comment on the report. Spanish culture, thousands of to raise money for jobless bull- bullfi ght — equivalent to 40% units won’t be overburdened, Foreign Secretary Dominic afi cionados cheered on mata- fighters and other workers in capacity at the arena, consid- the head of the German hos- Raab declined to answer directly dors who returned to Madrid’s the sector. ered the world’s most important pital federation (DKG) told who initially paid for the work Las Ventas bullring yesterday for Almost all of Spain’s bullrings, bullring. the mass tabloid newspaper and said he had “no idea” if a A stellar line-up of bullfi ght- Bild. donor had been asked to pay for ers, including Enrique Ponce, “The majority of hospitals Johnson’s childcare. El Juli and Miguel Angel Perera, in Germany are feeling a fi rst, “The last issue you asked entertained the privileged few slight easing,” DKG President about is an example of tittle tat- fans who managed to get tickets. Gerald Gass was quoted as tle,” Raab told Sky TV. He said Before the contest, bars were full saying. Johnson had been “crystal clear” outside the famous bullring. “We are looking at about about the expenditure on the re- “I believe that they will take two weeks of relatively con- furbishment of the apartment. all the necessary measures so stant numbers in terms of Before local elections on that everything goes easily and new infections, which gives Thursday across most of Brit- in complete security,” said Rocío us confi dence that we don’t ain, some opinion surveys show Cañete, 32, a nursery school have to be concerned about Johnson’s ratings have dipped. worker from Madrid. an exponential rise in pa- His party also faces a parliamen- Spaniards are divided over tients in need of intensive tary by-election in Hartlepool, the bloody spectacle, with some care.” northern England, which the op- considering it an art form, while Bild said that 5,019 corona- position Labour Party has con- others think it is cruel. virus patients were currently Britain’s royal family released a photograph of a smiling Princess trolled for decades. Bullfi ghting’s popularity has being treated in intensive Charlotte, one of Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchildren, ahead Such is uproar over the cost of declined in recent years, meet- care units around Germany, of the princess’ sixth birthday yesterday. Charlotte is fourth the Downing Street refurbish- Bullfighting School pupil Alvaro Burdiel, 22, practises at Las Ventas ing opposition from an increas- down from a peak of 5,106 hit in line to the British throne and is the only daughter of Prince ment that Johnson last week even bullring in Madrid. The “toro, toro!” resonate even louder in the void ingly powerful animal rights on April 26 amid the coun- William, Elizabeth’s grandson, and his wife Kate, Duchess of expressed his “love” for John of the Las Ventas arena in Madrid, the most prestigious in the world, movement and some left-wing try’s third wave. Gass said Cambridge. Charlotte was born in London on May 2, 2015, and is Lewis, a retailer adored by mil- where Alvaro and Guillermo, two young apprentice bullfighters councils that refuse to pay for the pressure on hospitals and William and Kate’s second child. (Reuters) lions of British voters. whose career was brought to a halt by the pandemic, train. (AFP) bull festivals. staff remained very high. Gulf Times 12 Monday, May 3, 2021 QATAR

A view of the partially opened Nuaija Intersection (The Mall) on D-Ring Road. Ashghal opens Nuaija Intersection on D-Ring Road partially he Public Works Author- the north direction or towards ity (Ashghal) has partially Airport Street, can continue Topened Nuaija Intersec- ahead toward Najma or Nuaija, or tion (The Mall) on D-Ring Road take a U-turn. to traffi c in all directions after Commuters coming from D- developing and expanding the Ring Road can turn towards Na- via D-Ring Road on one side and of the LuLu Intersection. The improvement works with- These are in addition to tree- junction, and streamlining ac- jma Street, continue ahead to Old Najma Street on the other side. The project includes the de- in the project also cover the de- plantation and landscaping cess to neighbouring areas, in- Airport, or towards north, or turn He said the D-Ring Road de- velopment of Fereej Al Ali In- velopment of rainwater drainage works throughout the project. cluding Najma, Al Hilal, Nuaija, back. velopment works are up to 50% terchange (Al Tadamon Inter- networks to raise the effi ciency Special attention is paid to and Old Airport. Engineer Abdulla Darwish complete, and the project is change). of drainage in the area by con- maintain the Qatari heritage of The opening has been imple- from the Highway Projects De- scheduled to be delivered in the This opening will enhance ca- structing a stormwater drain- the project area known as Rawdat mented in co-ordination with partment said that the open- fi rst quarter of 2022. pacity of all the intersections and age tunnel with a total length of Al Khail in designing the beau- Engineer Abdulla Darwish: The the General Directorate of Traffi c. ing of Nuaija Intersection would The opening of Nuaija Inter- reduce traffi c congestion in the about 3.5km. tifi cation elements of the tunnel project is scheduled to be According to an offi cial state- streamline traffi c movement for section is the second achieve- area, especially at highly con- The project includes a 4.5km under construction. delivered in the first quarter of ment, commuters from Najma those coming to and from Najma, ment of the D-Ring Road devel- gested Fereej Al Ali Interchange path for pedestrians and cyclists Murals inside the tunnel are 2022. Street can reach D-Ring Road in Al Hilal, Nuaija and Old Airport opment project after the opening (Al Tadamon Interchange). on both sides of D-Ring Road. being planned. Members of NU-Q Class of 2020 graduate

orthwestern University ists, professors, diplomats, that in Qatar (NU-Q) cel- will tell better stories about our Nebrated the graduation world.” of its Class of 2020 in a virtual Takruri told the students that ceremony yesterday that fea- there has never been a more im- tured remarks from Northwest- portant time for journalists and ern University president Morton storytellers to do their job. O Schapiro, NU-Q dean Marwan “As students of journalism and M Kraidy, Mariam al-Dhubhani communication, you too, believe as the student speaker, and Dena in the power of storytelling – you Takruri, AJ+ senior producer understand the responsibility of and presenter, as the graduation being a dutiful narrator, to re- speaker. fl ect, challenge, and shape the The students’ graduation had times we’re living in, and ulti- been postponed from last year mately strive to make the world a due to the coronavirus (Cov- better place,” she said. id-19) pandemic. A founding member of AJ+ Schapiro congratulated them and journalism graduate herself, for their perseverance and re- Takruri said that being patient, minded them that “there’s a working hard, and staying true to world out there that needs you one’s principles will pay off in the more than ever to fully share your long run. skills, your wisdom, your com- “There’s a value in patience, in passion, and of course your lead- working diligently and continu- NU-Q’s Class of 2020. ership”. ing to invest in yourselves,” she Echoing a similar sentiment, said. “Success is a process, and ate career and the important detours”, which may lead to the loves, “to get back to fi lmmak- Kraidy congratulated the class and Strategic Communication Kraidy said he admires how they there’s no way in knowing today lessons she learned about being best decisions of their life. ing – fi nding peace in chaos and award winners who were recog- Award; completed their undergraduate the types of jobs and opportu- determined and focused, stu- Speaking of her experi- telling stories of humanity and nised last year for their outstand-  Maha Essid, Communica- study during the pandemic in “a nities that will be around in the dent speaker al-Dhubahni told ence fl eeing war-torn Yemen perseverance by sharing visual ing academic and co-curricular tion Award; world unsettled by rampant ha- future. her fellow graduates that they in pursuit of an education, al- messages with the world – from accomplishments.  Ayza Sheikh, Liberal Arts tred, lies, and misinformation”. “So be patient and be excited.” should not be afraid of the chal- Dhubhani said her Northwest- my world, from my home, from The winners were Award; and He added: “We look to you Refl ecting on the personal lenges that life presents and that ern experience provided her the my life”.  Sarah Shaath, Dean’s Award;  Hemyan al-Hardan, Student as emerging leaders, journal- challenges of her undergradu- they should accept “life’s heavy opportunity to pursue what she During the ceremony, dean  Malek al-Manaa, Journalism Leadership Award.