BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 12 Nakilat posts Ashghal plays a ‘highest ever’ key role in success net profi t of of FIFA Club QR1.16bn in 2020 World Cup

published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11818 February 8, 2021 Jumada II 26, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

National Sport Day Tigres beat Palmeiras to reach Club World Cup final declared holiday The Amiri Diwan yesterday Qatar stresses announced that Tuesday (27 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1442 AH, Feb 9, 2021) will be an off icial holiday on the occasion of the National Sport Day. The day is marked annually on the second multilateral Tuesday of February. QRCS activates DIMC to monitor Covid action, respect Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) activated its Disaster Information Management Center (DIMC) to monitor the recent Covid-19 developments and for humanity updates, facilitate co-ordination among QRCS’s departments, and join forces with other relevant government organisations. During QNA a meeting, senior QRCS off icials Doha discussed the preparations to carry out any task to be assigned by the health authorities, as well as atar believes in multilateral strict enforcement of preventive action and the need for the measures. Page 5 Qinternational system to rep- resent the values of humanity, justice 377 face prosecution for Mexican side Tigres reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup when they beat Brazilian club Palmeiras 1-0 in the and equality, HE the Assistant Foreign semi-final at Education City Stadium yesterday. In the final, Tigres will play the winners of today’s second semi-final Minister and Spokesperson for the Covid-19 violations between Bayern Munich and Al Ahly. Earlier yesterday, Qatar’s Al Duhail defeated Ulsan Hyundai 3-1 at Ahmad Bin Ali Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Lolwah bint More people were pulled up as the Stadium to finish fifth in the tournament. Sport Pages 2 and 3 Rashid AlKhater, has said. HE Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater crackdown on Covid-19 violations “This cannot be achieved without continued in the country yesterday. having a fair international law that re- ses with the law if the law itself suff ers The designated authorities referred spects the right to humanity and a de- from a crisis that deserves a solution.” 370 people to the Public Prosecution cent life for all peoples, and that if the She also noted that despite the ur- for not wearing masks in places international law fails to do so, then gent need to reform international law where they are mandatory, the unfortunately there will be an incom- and the relevant organisations, the NSD to see mix of safe outdoor plete law and justice, like the oppres- existence of these institutions, despite Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a tweet. They also referred seven sion, violence and deprivation that the their defi ciencies, is a must. people to the Public Prosecution Palestinian brothers have been living “Out of the belief in the United Na- for violating the rule limiting the sports and online activities in under the occupation for decades, in tions institutions and the respect for number of people allowed in a full view of the international communi- international law, the State of Qatar vehicle, MoI added. Page 4 ty,” she said, in her speech to the annual has resorted to all available legal chan- O Special broadcast of sports activities lined up on social media international conference titled “Law in nels to consider areas of disagreement, Luxury coastal cruise O Aspire Zone to close seating and play areas and prevent gatherings the Face of Global Crises: Means and whether during the Gulf crisis, or in Challenges”, which is being organised other previous cases, as it welcomed of Qatar launched by Qatar University’s College of Law. the decisions issued by these institu- In partnership with Discover he 2021 National Sport Day lowed on Facebook (QatarSports- tions,” she said. Qatar, Qatar Airways Holidays has (NSD) will see a mix of safe forAllFederation) as well as Twitter “Kuwait used its (Security On the subject of the use of law as a launched the Luxury Coastal Cruise Toutdoor activities and a host of and Instagram (@qasportsforall). Council) membership to tool in confronting crisis, HE AlKhater of Qatar, tailor-made for citizens and online sporting events in view of the On its part, Qatar Foundation is serve its brothers, support commended the experience of Kuwait residents, providing guests with a Covid-19 situation. helping people get into the National Arab and Islamic causes, in the Security Council, mentioning memorable experience on board Le The NSD organisers as well as the Sport Day spirit with online workouts and alleviate the suff ering of that “Kuwait used its membership to Champlain – a 5-star luxury explorer- health authorities have reiterated the and exercises for children, inspira- peoples in Syria, Palestine, serve its brothers, support Arab and Is- class cruise ship – while enjoying need for people to follow the pre- tional talks and inclusive sporting Iraq, Yemen and Myanmar” lamic causes, and alleviate the suff er- exciting adventures around the cautionary and preventive measures demonstrations. ing of peoples in Syria, Palestine, Iraq, country’s coastline. Page 3 while engaging in Sport Day activities An array of virtual activities host- HE AlKhater renewed Qatar’s call for Yemen and Myanmar.” tomorrow. ed by the organisation will be avail- reforming the Security Council in a way HE the Assistant Foreign Minister Non-Kuwaitis barred There will be a live broadcast of able for all members of the commu- that eff ectively guarantees the suprem- and Spokesperson for the Ministry of sports activities on the social media nity to enjoy on the day when Qatar acy of international law, adding that Foreign Aff airs indicated that the Cov- from entering country channels of the Qatar Sports for All sports exercises for the elderly from stages a national celebration of sport “the multipolar international system in id-19 pandemic brought out the best Kuwait civil aviation said yesterday (QSFA) Federation tomorrow, accord- 12noon to 1pm and for all age groups and well-being, opening up oppor- which we live today is no longer simi- and the worst at the individual and that non-Kuwaitis would not be ing to an advertisement published in with a focus on women and children tunities to stay active and embrace a lar to the post-World War II prevailing collective levels, so there were some permitted to enter the country as of local media. from 4pm to 6pm. healthy lifestyle while still adhering system, as changes in the world require countries which have retreated into Feb. 7, with a few exceptions, as the Exercises and health tips will be The QSFA app can be downloaded to health guidelines amid the ongo- change and reform for the Security themselves, and some have not been country seeks to curb coronavirus broadcast for all age groups from from the App Store and Google Play, ing Covid-19 pandemic. To Page 3 Council and for multilateral organisa- prevented by the crisis from extending infections. The exceptions are: 8am to 10am. This will be followed by and the federation can also be fol- See also Page 2 tions; one cannot talk about facing cri- a helping hand to others. To Page 5 diplomatic missions and diplomats, governmental medical staff , and private sector medical staff according to the approved list from the Ministry of Health. Qatar among top 10 US must lift sanctions countries for expats 200 missing after burst glacier before talks: Iran Qatar is among the top 10 countries in the world to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah live in and work for expatriates, according to the HSBC Ali Khamenei said yesterday that Expat Explorer Survey 2020. Tehran’s “final and irreversible” The Arabian Gulf country has ranked sixth globally causes fl ash fl ooding in India decision was to return to compliance and first in the Middle East in the index. It is also one of with the 2015 nuclear deal only if only two Asian countries to feature in the top 10, with t least 200 people are missing in north- Washington lifts sanctions on the Singapore ranking second globally. ern India after a piece of Himalayan glacier Islamic Republic, Iranian state TV The top 10 are as follows: Switzerland, Singapore, Afell into a river, causing a torrent that tore reported. The comment, as well as New Zealand, Germany, Spain, Qatar, the Netherlands, through two power plants and swept away roads US President Joe Biden’s separate Australia, Canada and Ireland. and bridges, police said yesterday. statement that the United States Every year, the HSBC Expat league table survey, Three bodies have been found and a desperate would not lift sanctions simply to get described as “the longest running expat survey of its operation has been launched to rescue about 20 Iran back to the negotiating table, kind”, collects the opinions of thousands of people people trapped in a tunnel, the Uttarakhand state appeared to be posturing by both around the world who have relocated; 2020 marked police chief said. sides as they weigh whether and the 13th edition of the survey. The massive surge of water swept through the how to revive the pact. “Developing at breakneck speed, the country has Dhauliganga river valley, destroying everything in steadily risen from the sands like a glittering behemoth its path, videos taken by terrifi ed residents showed. Tens of thousands rally and continues to attract foreign professionals from all “There was a cloud of dust as the water went by. against Myanmar coup walks of life,” the HSBC Expat Country Guide says in its The ground shook like an earthquake,” local inhab- overview of Qatar. itant Om Agarwal told Indian TV. Tens of thousands of protesters “Doha is a hive of commercial activity that is certainly Most of the missing were workers at two power poured onto the streets across making the world sit up and take notice,” it states. plants that were battered by the deluge, caused by a Myanmar yesterday in the biggest “Once home to a pearl industry, Qatar has since huge chunk of glacier that slipped off a mountain- anti-coup rallies yet, as an Internet managed to blossom in its arid surroundings on the side further upstream, said the police chief Ashok blackout failed to stifle growing back of gas and oil, emerging as a powerful global Kumar. outrage at the military’s ouster of player and boasting one of the highest incomes per “There were 50 workers at Rishi Ganga plant and elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. capita in the world. we have no information about them. Some 150 work- Some estimates put the number of “With mushrooming cities, Qatar now employs expats ers were at Tapovan,” he added. protesters in Yangon at 100,000 not only in its renowned energy sector, but also in IT, “About 20 are trapped inside a tunnel. We are and there were reports of large construction, business and tourism. More and more trying to reach the trapped workers.” demonstrations in other cities expats are incentivised to work in Qatar, saving money With the main road washed away, the tunnel was condemning the coup that brought in the tax-free environment while enjoying an excellent fi lled with mud and rocks, and paramilitary rescu- Members of Indo-Tibetan Border Police tend to people rescued after a Himalayan Myanmar’s 10-year experiment with standard of living.” ers had to climb down a hillside on ropes to reach glacier broke and swept away a small hydroelectric dam, in Chormi village in Tapovan democracy to a crashing halt. Page 9 the entrance. To Page 9 in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 8, 2021 QATAR

Ooredoo announces special prices on Apple Watch to celebrate National Sport Day

oredoo has announced a counted prices at the Ooredoo a heart rate monitor, and track- part of our corporate social re- supporting Qatar in its drive to special promotion on the eShop and other Ooredoo retail ers for a wide variety of exercise sponsibility strategy and com- encourage a focus on health for OApple Watch SE and Ap- channels from February 7-11, from a HIIT workout to an out- mitment to the UN Sustainabil- all citizens and residents. We’re ple Watch Series 6 to celebrate 2021. The Apple Watch off ers door cycle. ity Goals. delighted to be off ering our cus- National Sport Day. many health features useful to Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari, di- “This is alongside our goal of tomers this exciting promotion, Customers choosing a new customers wishing to adopt or rector, PR at Ooredoo, said: complete customer satisfaction, and look forward to celebrating Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch maintain a healthy, active life- “Promoting a healthy, active and this promotion enables us National Sport Day with Series 6 will get specially-dis- style, including a step counter, lifestyle is a key focus for us as to fulfi l both aims, while fully- everyone.”

QF invites community Katara Hospitality to launch to join its virtual special membership initiative Sport Day celebration atar Foundation (QF) is In between the classes, talks helping people get into will be held by sportspeople such Qthe National Sport Day as Qatari athlete Mariam Farid spirit with online workouts and and Olympic swimmer Nada Ar- exercises for children, inspira- akji, as well as experts from QF’s to mark National Sport Day tional talks and inclusive sport- Sidra Medicine, Aspetar, and the ing demonstrations. Behavioural Healthcare Centre, An array of virtual activities covering topics including liv-  Open to all Qatar nationals and residents, Living Actively ‘promotes safe and healthy lifestyle hosted by the organisation will ing a balanced lifestyle; women, be available for all members of youth, and sports development; during these unprecedented times’  Exclusive membership off er available until March 31 the community to enjoy on the mental well-being; exercise and day when Qatar stages a national mental health; and how to suc- atara Hospitality, a lead- celebration of sport and well- ceed in sport. ing global hotel owner, being, opening up opportuni- All of these sessions and talks Kdeveloper and operator ties to stay active and embrace can be accessed without regis- based in Qatar, has announced a healthy lifestyle while still ad- tration at www.qf.org.qa/nsd that it will launch Living Ac- hering to health guidelines amid Meanwhile, QF’s Community tively, an initiative to mark Na- the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Engagement team has organised tional Sport Day for all Qatar QF is also teaming up with Qa- a series of activities for which nationals and residents. tar Museums and the US embas- registration is now open via the Living Actively promotes sy in Doha to focus on inclusive, Education City App. safe and healthy lifestyle dur- ability-friendly, virtual sessions These include a virtual full ing these unprecedented times, in celebration of the Qatar-USA body workout session with Katara Hospitality has said in a 2021 Year of Culture. trainers from top US gym Dog- statement. Professional instructors pound, open to those aged 12- The off er is available until from gyms and fi tness centres 50; a Dogpound-led fun fi tness March 31. across Qatar will be holding ses- activity called Puppypound for “Qatar nationals and resi- A Living Actively member will enjoy exclusive privileges, including unlimited access to fitness facilities at diff erent hotels. sions that are open to everyone children aged 4-12; and online dents can extend their passion through a dedicated National activities with Best Buddies, an for sports beyond National Sport Day section on QF’s web- organisation dedicated to en- Sport Day with the Katara site, while a series of activities suring inclusivity for people Hospitality hotels health club for all ages are now ready for with developmental challenges, membership, Living Actively, people to register through the which are accessible to those a limited and exclusive yearly newly-launched Education City aged fi ve years and above with membership for those who are App. mobility and hearing impair- looking for a morning splash at QF’s virtual National Sport ments and learning challenges. the pool, a serene afternoon at Day off ering refl ects its commit- These activities have been or- the beach or an evening work- ment to encouraging, empow- ganised in partnership with the out at the gym,” the statement ering, and enabling people to US Embassy in Qatar, as part noted. make sport and physical activity of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of A Living Actively member a central part of their lives, and Culture programme led by Qatar will enjoy exclusive privileges, to providing opportunities for Museums. including unlimited access to discount on all spa services at ing a wider range of health club Al Messila, a Luxury Collec- Hospitality’s Living Actively them to maintain and improve People can also use the Ed- fi tness facilities at The Ritz- all Katara Hospitality-managed facilities will certainly enhance tion Resort & Spa, said: “Here Health Club Membership has their physical and mental well- ucation City App to register Carlton, Doha, Sharq Village and owned hotels in Qatar, 25% our members’ experience.” at Al Messila Resort & Spa, we been initiated to further en- being. for fully-inclusive sessions & Spa, Al Messila Resort & Spa discount on Day Pass to Hilton Yazan Latif, hotel manager are extremely excited to sup- hance the sport spirit in the With public safety remaining focused on football, crick- and Sheraton Grand Doha, un- Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, of Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz- port this initiative, especially city by combining four prop- paramount as Qatar continues to et, swimming, handcycling, limited access to pool, beach Sealine Beach, a Murwab Re- Carlton Hotel, said: “We are during these unprecedented erties into a unique gym mem- combat the pandemic, this year’s wheelchair fencing, and ar- and the resort facilities at The sort and Simaisma, a Murwab proud to be a part of the Living times when wellness and well- bership offer, including our activities are being taken online, chery, provided by QF’s Abil- Ritz-Carlton, Doha, Sharq Vil- Resort, and 25% discount on Actively Health Club Mem- being have to be of paramount luxurious fitness centre and while still providing something ity Friendly Programme in col- lage & Spa, Al Messila Resort Desert Falls & Adventures Park bership by Katara Hospitality importance in our everyday award-winning spa facilities for everyone to enjoy – for free. laboration with the Supreme & Spa and Sheraton Grand at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & as we open our doors to wel- life. As Qatar celebrates Na- at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.” The programme of activities Committee for Delivery & Doha, 20% off on best avail- Villas. come guests from our sister tional Sport Day, we are glad to As Qatar’s flagship hospital- on QF’s website, which run from Legacy’s Generation Amazing able rates at all Katara Hospi- Belal al-Kadry, general man- properties as well to experi- be part of this celebration and ity organisation “deeply com- 8am-2pm, will be introduced by programme, Accessible Qatar tality-managed and owned ho- ager of Sheraton Grand Doha ence a motivated journey to to launch Katara Hospitality’s mitted to the welfare of the TV personality Khalid al-Jumai- and Clement Academy. tels in Qatar, 25% discount on Resort & Convention Hotel, achieving their fitness goals, Living Actively Health Club local people, Katara Hospital- ly, host of QF’s innovation TV And there is also the chance F&B – excluding banquets and said: “We believe that intro- with full access to our world- Membership.” ity participates in a number of show Stars of Science. to participate in an online third-party restaurants – at all ducing Katara’s health club class facilities and trainers at Carlo Javakhia, acting gen- community events and activi- Eight classes throughout the e-sports tournament and Katara Hospitality-managed membership will provide great the resort.” eral manager at The Ritz- ties such as the National Sport day, each lasting 30-45 minutes, Ki-Gong classes, as well as and owned hotels in Qatar, 25% value for our guests and off er- Ziad Mallah, hotel manager, Carlton, Doha, added: “Katara Day”, the statement added. will focus on stretching, strength to discover more about QF’s and conditioning, workout ses- Akhlaquna initiative and how sions, Muay Thai, and yoga, as it is contributing to nurtur- well as a gymnastics class and ing a society driven by strong NHRC conducts training fi tness bootcamp for children. moral values and behaviours. session on rights principles MoPH provides tips on food to The National Human Rights and administrative level of Committee (NHRC) organised the employees, in addition yesterday, a training session to raising the eff iciency of eat before and after a workout on the principles and concepts employees in preparing reports of human rights and their to be submitted to international protection mechanisms, QNA human rights organisations, n expert at the Ministry depends on how the body tol- aim to drink more water. It’s reported. The three-week bodies, and committees. of Public Health (MoPH) erates food. An example of a also as important to fuel the training session aims to develop, He explained that the main Ahas provided some tips complex carbohydrate is whole body after the workout. While strengthen and build the objectives of the training session regarding the types of foods wheat toast and a source of a people exercise, the body uses capacities of the committee’s are to enhance job skills, develop that are suitable before and af- healthy simple carbohydrate its energy stores to perform, staff , in addition to raising the technical capabilities of ter a workout. are fruits. For those aiming for so they need to recharge this awareness and knowledge employees and expand their According to Nada Nasser muscle gain or just to maintain source of energy. Experts sug- of international and national knowledge of the UN human Jaber from MoPH, when it muscle, combining food rich in gest that the timing of refuel- mechanisms for the protection of rights mechanisms, in addition comes to fi tness and health, carbohydrate and protein will ling is also important, which is human rights. to identifying practical methods people always want to know provide the body with the es- why people should not wait too In a speech on the occasion, for eff ective participation with how to burn the most calories sential nutrients for burning long after workout to eat. Eat- Director of Programmes and the UN mechanisms, such as while exercising or source of the most calories, staying en- ing or drinking something that Education Department of NHRC writing and following up reports, energy to workout and how to ergised, building lean muscle combines protein and carbo- Mubarak Mohamed al-Safran and training employees on lose weight and gain muscle losing weight, and speeding up hydrates 30 minutes to an hour said the training session aims international mechanisms for faster. There are many factors recovery. after the workout refi lls en- at developing the committee’s protecting human rights and the that must be taken into con- MoPH suggests banana with ergy stores, builds and repairs work, upgrading the technical relevant committees. sideration as everybody is dif- a tablespoon of peanut but- the muscles that were broken ferent. However, there is one ter, bowl of oatmeal with fresh down, and helps keep the me- response to all these questions berries; apple and walnuts as tabolism strong. According to Contests intensify in Qatar International and it is: Eat! The right foods well as Greek yogurt and al- the Journal of the International at the right time will give the monds as the best pre-workout Society of Sports Medicine, Open Parachuting Championship most optimal results for the meals. People are also advised consuming food rich in protein workout. to hydrate before, during, and and a little carbohydrate is best The competitions of the Qatar International Open Parachuting Champion- Carbohydrates are the best after the workout. It is recom- immediately after exercise. ship, organised by the Qatar Air Sports Committee, continued yesterday friend in increasing the energy mended that people may drink Some of the post-workout in Sealine, with the participation of a number of countries including Qatar, to perform at the best during 500-600ml of water at least meals suggested are: Salad with Shura Council’s Financial and Economic Germany, Austria, Denmark, Slovenia, Libya, Palestine, and Morocco, QNA the workout. The key is to mix 2-3 hours before the exercise, roasted chickpeas, light olive oil reported. The tournament intensified in all competitions, as the Qatari quad- both complex and simple car- try to drink 200-300ml of wa- and vinegar; whole wheat bread Aff airs Committee holds meeting ruple parachuting team continued its impressive performance by winning bohydrates so that the release ter every 10-20 minutes dur- (two slices) with raw peanut two days in a row, after obtaining 243 points in eight rounds, followed by the of energy during the workout ing the workout, and 250ml butter (two tablespoons); grilled The Financial and Economic Aff airs Committee of the Shura Council German team which obtained 207 points. The Moroccan team came third is steady and lasts longer. Typi- within 30 minutes of com- chicken or salmon with steamed held a meeting yesterday, chaired by its Rapporteur HE Ali bin Abdullatif with 153 points, leaving the competition between Qatar and Germany. The cally, people should fuel their pleting the workout. If people vegetables; Veggie omelet with al-Misnad al-Mohannadi. During the meeting, the committee continued competitiveness is expected to intensify in the championship in two days, body about one to four hours get trained at a high intensity avocado and fresh fruit smoothie studying a draft law on mortgaging movable funds, and decided to com- after reaching the final stage to determine the champions. before exercising and the time or in hot weather, they should (using low-fat milk). plete the study at its next meeting. Gulf Times Monday, February 8, 2021 3 QATAR Vodafone Qatar launches Samsung Galaxy S21 series with trade-in off er

odafone Qatar has To enhance their Galaxy expe- Made for the way society lives Galaxy S21+ 5G, and Galaxy S21 ing speedy performance and launched the Samsung rience, customers will get gifts of today, the Galaxy S21 Series 5G Ultra 5G, these next-generation smoother multitasking. VGalaxy S21 Series 5G total value worth up to QR1,544 empowers users to share their fl agships bring together inno- The Galaxy S21 Series will sup- with the option for customers to with every device purchase from world and connect with the vative technology and features port users all day long whether trade-in their current Samsung the Galaxy S21 Series, whether or things and people that matter from the Galaxy ecosystem. they text, e-mail, call, or play: ultra-wide lens, an improved fone’s retail stores located in device through Vodafone’s high- not they choose to trade-in. most. The design of the Samsung the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series is 108MP wide lens, and the en- Villaggio, Doha Festival City, ly-popular Trade-In programme. The gifts include a Samsung With Vodafone Qatar’s Gi- Galaxy S21 Series off ers the very built with a battery life that can hanced 108MP sensor with la- Landmark, City Center, Mall of For example, customers who Galaxy Buds Live or Galaxy Buds gaNet 5G network, customers best viewing experience and su- last a whole day. ser auto focus provides 64 times Qatar, Tawar Mall, and LuLu Hy- trade-in an S10+ for the pur- Pro, Samsung Care+ for one year, can enjoy instant Giga fast 5G per-smooth scrolling. The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes richer colour, more than three permarket D-Ring. chase of an S21 Ultra, will be able Samsung Travel Charger, My speeds across a wide footprint of The device also comes with equipped with the contour cut times wider dynamic range. For more details about the new to get the new device starting Book voucher, and Talabat Mart the country. the fastest chip ever in a Galaxy camera design, a new quad cam- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Se- Samsung Galaxy S21 Series, visit from QR4,011. voucher. Comprising the Galaxy S21 5G, handset, eff ortlessly facilitat- era featuring a dual pixel 12MP ries is available now at Voda- www.samsung.com Tree planting Luxury coastal cruise of Qatar starts in March The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME)’s Public Gardens Department, in Qatar Airways Holidays, co-operation with the embassy of Kosovo, recently organised an event at New Aslata Park as Discover Qatar launch the part of the 1mn tree initiative. A number of trees were planted. The ambassador of Kosovo Amir three-night, four-day luxury Ahmadi, Nasser Salem al-Darwish from the Doha Municipality Gardens Section, and a number of coastal cruise off icials and employees from the department attended. n partnership with Discover Qatar, Qatar Airways Holi- Idays has launched the Luxury Coastal Cruise of Qatar, tailor- made for citizens and residents, providing guests with a memo- Al Kanz details of customs and rable experience on board Le Champlain – a 5-star luxury ex- plorer-class cruise ship – while heritage of Qatar’s pearl divers enjoying exciting adventures around the country’s coastline. Qatar Airways Holidays and n a recent video of the “Dis- Discover Qatar, in collaboration cover Heritage with Maria with PONANT – the world leader Ifrom Qatari Books”, pre- in luxury expedition cruising – sented by social media activist designed a three-night, four-day Maria Fernanda Del Rio on Al- cruise that combines on-board Multaqa channel on YouTube, 5-star services, elegant accom- at the Qatari Authors Forum, modation, and fi ne-dining with she continued her journey to unique coastal expedition activi- present the customs and tradi- ties. Le Champlain boasts innovative features, stylish design, and cutting-edge technology, off ering 92 tions related to diving through Le Champlain – one of PO- luxurious staterooms and suites, 24-hour butler service for selected cabins, two 5-star restaurants with a the book Al Kanz (The Treas- NANT’s newest cruise ships – menu designed by world-renowned Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, and a luxury spa. ure) by the brothers Sultan and boasts innovative features, styl- Jasim bin Ibrahim al-Muraikhi. ish design, and cutting-edge A hydraulic platform will ease memorable travel experience.” A team of expert guides, in- Explaining that the father technology. disembarking and embarking Exploration and sightseeing cluding marine biologists, natu- was an expert in the fi eld of div- This ship off ers 92 luxurious when guests participate in expe- adventures include snorkelling ralists, and ornithologists, will ing and pearling, the presenter staterooms and suites, all with ditions. at Al Ashat island’s reefs, glid- lead all the expeditions. takes viewers through the story Maria Fernanda Del Rio in a scene from the video. a private balcony and equipped The highly-trained crew on ing through the Khor Al Udaid The cruise season will start in he told his two sons, the writers, with high-end amenities, 24- board the ship will ensure pas- channel’s turquoise waters – one late March 2021 and will run six on a journey to dive not only in Del Rio said: “I have reviewed also explain through the book, hour butler service for selected sengers’ safety and comfort. of only three places in the world consecutive departures. the depths of the sea, but also pictures from the book that il- the methods of communication cabins, two 5-star restaurants Qatar Airways Group Chief where the sea meets the sand Early bird off ers start from in the Qatari heritage and tra- lustrate the building of the inside the ship and between with a menu designed by world- Executive HE Akbar al-Baker dunes – and visiting scenic loca- QR4,990 per person on all-in- ditions regarding pearl diving, dhow from wood categorised the various dhows that sail in renowned Michelin-starred chef said: “I am hugely excited to tions to observe local marine and clusive basis. which forms part of the distinct into several types, in addition groups. Alain Ducasse, and a luxury spa launch our fi rst luxury cruise for wildlife. The off er ends on February 28 heritage of the country. to preparing the food that they The members of the diff er- off ering a wide choice of top-of- people in Qatar. Guests will have opportunities and with limited cabins on only The journey begins with the will take with them, such as ent dhows were constantly in the-range treatments. “With the ongoing coronavi- to witness an array of remarkable six sailings. construction of the dhow (ship) coff ee, rice and fruits, in addi- contact, exchanging and shar- Customers can enjoy an infi n- rus pandemic limiting interna- creatures including dolphins, Meals, transfers from the and the preparation for sailing tion to training camels to carry ing food, as the diving process ity pool and a multi-sensory, fu- tional travel, our 3-night luxury hammerhead sharks, fl amingos, meeting point to Doha Port, free as well as the people’s willing- drinking water in animal skins required eff ort and teamwork turistic underwater lounge with coastal cruise will provide our dugongs, and whale sharks at the on-board Wi-Fi, and sightseeing ness to help the divers start to divers.” between various dhows of the large observation windows below local customers with a much- northeastern Qatar coastal wa- and exploration activities are in- their journey. The al-Muraikhi brothers group. the waterline. needed change of scenery and a ters. cluded in the package.

Over 3,000 inspections carried out at Al Shamal NSD to see mix of safe outdoor Al Shamal Municipality’s General Control Section has carried out 3,580 regular inspection tours to spot violations of the Public sports and online activities Hygiene Law. A total of 204 violation reports were issued. From Page 1 activities for their own safety. physical activity can help you re- Out of a total of 1,574 abandoned vehicles spotted, 249 were  Only individual sporting duce these negative feelings and removed. Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) activities: contact sports that release your happy hormones A campaign to remove abandoned vehicles and equipment, carried yesterday said it has decided to require physical contact between (endorphins). out in co-operation with the Service Aff airs Department and Al close the seating and play areas players are prohibited, for exam- “Be physically active by walking Shamal Security Department, saw 77 warning stickers posted on as at the park and prevent gather- ple football matches. Only indi- fast along with family members, in many vehicles, and 16 vehicles, equipment and abandoned cabinets ings on National Sport Day. The vidual sporting activities are al- the house or around your garden.” were removed. decision is based on public health lowed, such as jogging/running, Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medi- Further, 61 abandoned vehicles were removed by owners. indicators and for everyone’s swimming, and cycling. cal director of Hamad General Hos- safety, AZF tweeted.  Open outdoor sporting activi- pital, said people should strictly Sports activities should be in- ties: All sporting activities must be follow the Covid-19 measures, in- dividual and carried out with a conducted entirely in outdoor set- cluding maintaining a safe physical commitment to safe distancing, tings and individually and indoor distance from others – especially it added. activities are entirely prohibited. those not known to them, wear- Meanwhile, the general guid-  Safe distance: a safe distance ing face masks and washing hands ance for NSD activities, as men- of at least 3m must be strictly regularly, among others. tioned in the advertisement is- maintained at all times during a He also stressed the impor- sued by the Ministry of Culture sports activity. tance of practising sports for the and Sports, QSFA and the NSD  4 passengers only in a vehi- well-being of people and their organisers, includes the follow- cle: in case the use of vehicles is overall health. ing points: required to reach the locations of Speaking to Qatar TV yester-  Avoid physical contact: close diff erent activities, the number day, Dr al-Maslamani said being interaction with other people, of passengers should not exceed physically active makes people such as shaking hands, hugging four persons in each vehicle, in- feel more vital and happy because or kissing, should be avoided at cluding the driver. such activities can help release all times. Do not share clothes, The Ministry of Public Health endorphins. In addition, practis- towels, soap or any other person- (MoPH) said in a series of posts ing sports improve both physical al items. Face masks should be on social media that individu- and psychiatric health and those worn at all times except during als, particularly those at higher who practise sports regularly of- the sporting activity itself. risk of Covid-19 complications, ten have fewer chronic disease  Precautions for vulnerable should exercise at home or out- and live longer. people: vulnerable and high-risk doors. “Practise social distancing He added that the frequent groups, including people aged for your safety.” practice of sports, around fi ve 60 years and above, and people The Covid-19 pandemic might times a week for 30 minutes each with chronic illnesses should be “make you feel stressed and anx- time, positively impacts the lives discouraged from attending the ious”, the MoPH said. “Regular of people in diff erent ways. Gulf Times 4 Monday, February 8, 2021 QATAR HMC Tobacco Control 377 face prosecution for Covid violations ore people were pulled up as the Public Prosecution for violating Law No 17 of 1990 on infectious the crackdown on Covid-19 the rule limiting the number of peo- diseases, and the precautionary and Mviolations continued in the ple allowed in a vehicle, MoI added. preventive measures in force in the Center warns of cancer country yesterday. According to the rule, a maximum country to contain the spread of the The designated authorities referred of four persons – including the coronavirus, the MoI said. 370 people to the Public Prosecu- driver – are allowed in a vehicle ex- The authorities have called on the tion for not wearing masks in places cept when the occupants are mem- public to adhere to the precaution- where they are mandatory, the Min- bers of the same family. ary and preventative measures in through smoking istry of Interior (MoI) said in a tweet. The measure is in line with the place to ensure their safety and that They also referred seven people to Cabinet decision based on Decree of others.

n the occasion of the World smoking reduces body immunity thus Cancer Awareness Day, which promoting a vigorous growth of many Ois celebrated on February 4 types of cancer.” every year to raise awareness on can- Dr Jamal Abdullah, smoking ces- cer, Hamad Medical Corporation sation specialist at HMC’s Tobacco (HMC) Tobacco Control Center has Control Center noted that those who MoPH reports 408 new cases issued a warning of cancer due to to- quit smoking early can reverse much bacco smoking. of the damage caused by the danger- Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, head of HMC ous habit and reduce the risks of can- QNA Tobacco Control Center, explained cer. Doha that tobacco smoking is a major cause He called upon smokers not to pro- of certain types of cancer and a minor crastinate on the move to quit smok- cause of other types of the disease. ing. Individuals who underrate the he Ministry of Public Health He stated that non-smoker individu- importance of immediate cessation (MoPH) reported yesterday, 408 als who are repeatedly exposed to Dr Ahmad al-Mulla of the habit often regret it, especially Tnew confi rmed cases of coro- second-hand tobacco smoke are also when they fi nd out that the damage navirus (Covid-19) during the last susceptible to cancer. Tobacco smok- said Dr al-Mulla. Speaking on the was done and too late to reverse such 24 hours, of which 379 were from the ing by women during pregnancy can mechanism of how agents contained a damage. community and 29 from travellers re- lead to genetic disorders and even leu- in tobacco can cause cancer, Dr al- Many of the smokers who sought turning from abroad who are subject to kaemia in babies, Dr al-Mulla warned. Mulla said: “There are more than 60 support at HMC’s Tobacco Control quarantine. “Types of cancer caused by tobacco cancer-causing ingredients in tobacco Center succeeded in kicking the bad The MoPH also recorded 151 recov- smoking include carcinomas of the that are capable of eff ecting multiple habit. With the help of fi rst-class care eries from the virus during the past lung, throat and mouth, oesophagus, disorders in the genetic structure of and advanced medications they man- 24 hours, bringing the total number of kidney, bladder, prostate, and cervi- body cells. These cells try hard to re- aged to quit smoking and start afresh cases recovered in Qatar to 146,910. cal cancer. Tobacco smoking is also a sist and prevent such disorders from with a new tobacco-free life, thus All new cases have been introduced factor leading to other types of cancer happening, but, eventually, the cells saving themselves and those living to isolation and are receiving necessary such as liver, stomach, pancreas, and cannot resist anymore and they be- around them the hazards and serious healthcare. colon cancers as well as leukaemia,” come cancerous. Moreover, tobacco complications of tobacco smoke. Due to the measures put in place by the government and the support of the public in following preventive steps, Qatar has succeeded in controlling the spread of the virus since its peak in July. Ministry updates list of Covid-19 test facilities However, over the past month Qa- tar has seen a gradual and consistent The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued an Diagnosis and Treatment, Al Ahmadani Medical Center, increase in the number of new daily updated list of 40 health facilities that have been approved Imara Health Care, KIMS Qatar Medical Centre, Allevia infections. Additionally, and of great by it to conduct Covid-19 swab tests. Medical Center, Aster Medical Centre Plus-Al Muntazah, concern, is the recent increase in both The list was published on the ministry’s social media chan- Al Jameel Medical Center, Atlas Medical Center, Al Tahrir the number of people admitted to hos- nels yesterday. Medical Center, Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre Doha, pital with Covid-19 and the number of The updated list sees the addition of one clinic – Qatar Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, New Naseem Al people admitted to ICU. Petroleum-Al Salata – as compared to the previous list, Rabeeh Medical Centre, Aster Medical Centre-Al Khor, Al The data over the next few days will which was issued on January 21. Kayyali Medical Center, Abeer Medical Center, Al Esraa tell more, but these increases appear Following are the health facilities: Al Emadi Hospital, Turk- Polyclinic, Value Medical Complex, Asian Medical Center to be the early signs of a potential sec- ish Hospital, Doha Clinic Hospital, Al-Ahli Hospital, Queen WLL, Dr Maher Abbas Polyclinic, Sidra Medicine, Al Man- ond wave in Qatar. For this reason, it is Hospital, Dr Moopen’s Aster Hospital, Magrabi Center soor Polyclinic, Nova Healthcare, Al Sultan Medical Center, more important than ever that people for Eye, ENT & Dental, Elite Medical Center, West Bay Alfardan Medical with Northwestern Medicine, Raha Medi- adhere to preventive measures, to halt increase over the coming week or two, number of Covid-19 cases in Qatar, it Medicare, Syrian American Medical Center, Future Medical cal Center, Al-Shefa Polyclinic-D-Ring Road, Planet Medical the second wave before it gains mo- additional restrictions may be needed is important for everyone to play their Center, Dr Khaled Al Sheikh Ali’s Medical Center, Al Jufairi Center and Qatar Petroleum-Al Salata. mentum. If the number of positive cas- to be imposed across the country. role in controlling the virus by follow- es and hospital admissions continue to With the recent increase in the ing the precautionary measures.

Seven held for violating home quarantine rules Balanced and The designated authorities designated prosecution, arrested yesterday, seven are: Abdullah Abdulrahman healthy diet ‘can persons who violated the Mohamed al-Maneef al-Hajri; requirements of the home Abdulrahman Ali Hamad quarantine, for which they Shafaa al-Karbi; Mohamed boost children’s are legally accountable, in Abdullah Ali Hassan Saad; accordance with the proce- Faisal Rashid Mahboub Bu- dures of the health authori- haqab al-Dosari; Rashid Ab- immune system’ ties in the country. dullah Rashid Nora al-Marri; The arrest of the violators Abdul Hadi Mohamed Marai came in implementation of al-Kadadi al-Hajri; Nasser Ali ollowing a the precautionary measures Saleh Al Aad al-Marri. balanced, in force in the country, ap- The authorities called on Fhealthy diet proved by health authorities citizens and residents under can help build represented in the Ministry home quarantine to fully and strengthen a of Public Health, to curb the commit to the Ministry of child’s immune spread of Covid-19. Public Health’s condition, to system and pre- The violators, who are cur- ensure their safety and the vent infections, rently being referred to the safety of others. Hamad Medi- cal Corporation (HMC) has reit- HMC advisory on precautionary erated. Stating this, measures at workplace amid curbs HMC has pro- vided — on social Hamad Medical Corporation Wear a mask at all times media — some (HMC) has issued an advisory and ensure the mask is safely tips on foods that can boost a child’s immune system. on the important precaution- disposed of after use Focus on foods that can help boost your child’s immune ary measures to be followed at  Avoid greeting other system and foods that contain antioxidants,” the advisory the workplace. people with handshakes and stated. The advisory comes following avoid gatherings in hallways These include the following: the reimposition of some Use gloves and hand  Foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, Covid-19 restrictions in the sanitisers when entering the broccoli, kiwifruit, strawberry, mango and spinach country in the light of a rise in workplace Foods that are rich in vitamin E, such as avocado, nuts cases. Under the rules, up to Cover your mouth and and vegetable oil 80% of employees in both the nose with a tissue when  Foods that are rich in vitamin A, such as liver, sweet po- public and private sectors can coughing or sneezing tato, carrots, milk and eggs (especially egg yolks) be present at the workplace. Make sure you read and fol- Vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, Also, meetings can be held low the instructions of off icial onions, garlic and leek with the attendance of no authorities  Low-fat meat and seafood more than 15 persons, while  Check your temperature Thyme, sesame and whole grains, lentils, peas and soy- adhering to the set procedures and visit the nearest health beans and precautionary measures. centre immediately if you “Encourage your child to avoid sweets, carbonated soft The advisory posted by HMC have a fever drinks and juices, and replace them with water and herbal on social media yesterday Ensure you activate your drinks like chamomile and anise,” the advisory added. provides the following tips: Ehteraz app before entering Adhere to social distanc- the workplace ing guidelines and always Stay at home and seek maintain a distance of at least medical attention if you 1.5m between you and other develop any symptoms of a people respiratory illness

BPQ to organise blood donation camp on Friday

angiya Parishad Qatar Blood Donor Center, Ha- (BPQ) has announced mad Medical Corporation, Bthat it is organising between 3pm and 7pm that a blood donation camp in day. association with the Indian In a statement yester- Cultural Centre (ICC), un- day, BPQ said Indian am- der the aegis of the Indian bassador Dr Deepak Mittal embassy in Qatar, on Friday had “already provided his – February 12. consent to attend the pro- The camp will be held at gramme”. Gulf Times Monday, February 8, 2021 5 QATAR QRCS activates Disaster Information Management Centre  Step taken to monitor Covid-19 developments and updates, facilitate co-ordination Qatar Charity distributes food aid among QRCS departments and join forces with other relevant government organisations

atar Red Crescent So- to Covid-hit households in Kosovo ciety (QRCS) yesterday Qactivated its Disaster Information Management Cen- atar Charity (QC), with tre (DIMC) to monitor the Cov- the support from ben- id-19 developments and up- Qefactors in Qatar, dis- dates, facilitate co-ordination tributed food aid to 2,000 needy among QRCS departments and families in Kosovo to help them join forces with other relevant meet their essential needs during government organisations. winter in light of the Covid-19 The activation was announced pandemic. by Ibrahim Abdullah al-Malki, The aid came as part of QC’s CEO of QRCS, in the presence of “Warmth and Peace” campaign, Faisal Mohamed al-Emadi, ex- in co-operation and co-ordina- ecutive director of the Relief and tion with many municipalities in International Development Divi- Kosovo. sion; Abdullah Sultan al-Qatan, The assistance included 2,000 executive director of the Medi- baskets of basic foodstuff s, in cal Aff airs Division; Dr Hasan Ali addition to blankets. Kassem, general medical director The distribution took place in of the Medical Aff airs Division; the municipalities of Fushë Ko- problematic circumstances. over 1,000 water and sanitation Mohamed Rashid al-Marri, di- sova, Skenderaj, Podujeva, and Yatun Yurdoshi, another ben- projects, have been implement- rector of Communication and Mitrovic. efi ciary, was very delighted with ed, while a housing complex has Public Relations; Subhi Fahd al- Taking all necessary precau- the food aid, which provided him been built at an estimated cost of Ejjeh, head of Disaster Manage- tions for public safety, the food and his family warmth during the QR12mn. ment; and Mahmoud al-Sheikh, During the meeting, off icials discussed the preparations for any tasks to be assigned by the health baskets were delivered to the harsh winter, noting that they The complex includes 40 medical services expert at the authorities, as well as the strict enforcement of preventive measures for the coming period in order benefi ciaries’ homes, to prevent need more aid. homes for the poor, a clinic, a Volunteering and Local Develop- to prevent the spread of the disease, under the supervision of the Supreme Committee for Crisis any gathering and infection. QC’s projects for Kosovo cover community centre and a school, ment Division. Management. Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of La- diff erent segments of society, in addition to shops and a During the meeting, they bour and Social Welfare, Bashkim benefi ting orphans, people with mosque. discussed the preparations ties in normal times, QRCS is sponse, the statement noted. supplies to the public, and pro- Krasniqi, who participated in the special needs and low-income Qatar Charity urges ben- for tasks to be assigned by the mandated to intervene in and Since the beginning of Cov- vision of food and cash aid for aid distribution, thanked the do- families. efactors in Qatar, both citizens health authorities, as well as the respond to disasters in its legal id-19, QRCS has been working the aff ected families. nors in Qatar for helping the fami- The number of those spon- and residents, to support its strict enforcement of preventive capacity as an auxiliary to Qatar hard to control the pandemic, “As a result of these successive lies most in need withstand tough sored by QC has reached nearly “Warmth and Peace” campaign, measures for the coming period in its humanitarian and social undertaking multifaceted med- achievements, QRCS qualifi ed conditions caused by Covid-19 3,350. as the coronavirus pandemic in order to prevent the spread of eff orts. As a member of the ical, volunteering and social as one of 10 Qatari organisations and the severe cold. In the fi eld of education and has escalated the suff ering of the the disease, under the supervi- International Red Cross and roles. These include, but are that proved most supportive in Shaaban Huma, a benefi ciary training, more than 5,000 peo- vulnerable during this winter. sion of the Supreme Committee Red Crescent Movement, QRCS not limited to, the operation of dealing with Covid-19, according of the food aid and a breadwin- ple have benefi ted from the Qatar Donations can be made through for Crisis Management, QRCS capitalises on extensive experi- quarantine facilities, supervi- to a poll-based assessment done ner for a family-of-three, who Training Center, which was es- QC’s collection points and branch- said in a statement. ence and rich technical and hu- sion of preventive measures at in May 2020 by Ipsos, a multina- lost his job due to the coronavi- tablished and is run by QC. es, calling 44667711 or requesting Apart from its development man resources in the fi elds of public places, street disinfec- tional research agency,” the state- rus, said the assistance was a big More than 500 income- a ‘home collector’, in addition to and community service activi- disaster preparedness and re- tion, distribution of protective ment added. support to him in light of these generating projects, as well as visiting QC’s website or app.

Qatar takes part in GCC meeting on combating money laundering

QNA Doha

atar took part in the 16th meet- ing of the GCC Anti-Money QLaundering and Terrorist Fi- nancing Working Group, held virtually yesterday. The meeting discussed the top- ics listed on the agenda of the second general meeting of the 32nd session of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the working group’s meetings which are scheduled to take place from Feb 11 to 25. bating money laundering and terrorist garding it in the GCC countries. The meeting underlined the impor- fi nancing, which would contribute to The team also took note of the fi nan- tance of the GCC countries adopting strengthening the GCC joint action cial and technical support provided by a unifi ed technical vision towards the and co-operation. the GCC to the Middle East and North issues raised, and discussed the ex- Moreover, the meeting discussed the Africa Financial Action Task Force pected options for the mutual evalua- developments regarding holding a joint (MENAFATF). The meeting was at- tion processes of the GCC countries by GCC workshop in combating money tended by representatives of the GCC the FATF, in light of the outbreak of the laundering and terrorist fi nancing, the national committees for combating coronavirus pandemic. report of the GCC countries’ eff orts to- money laundering and fi nancing ter- The team also reviewed the techni- wards the issue for 2020, and the latest rorism, the fi nancial investigation cal working papers prepared in com- and most important developments re- units, and the GCC General Secretariat.

Qatar stresses multilateral action, respect for humanity

From Page 1 nopolise the vaccine, which is unac- for small countries and islands such as ceptable and must be fully rejected by the Caribbean, the devastating impact She noted that Qatar was among the international community.” of the crisis on their people, environ- those states that set an example of HE AlKhater underlined that there ment and economy are a painful reality what even geographically small coun- are many challenges facing the inter- that they live daily.” tries can play at the international level, national community, noting that there She noted that in this context, “His as it sent shipments of medical and hu- are two areas that require complete Highness the Amir announced in manitarian assistance to more than 70 concentration and quick action, with 2019 the State of Qatar’s contribution countries and humanitarian organisa- the fi rst being cybersecurity. “Espe- of $100mn to deal with the climate tions. cially taking into account that many change, and that the State of Qatar is She also pointed that Qatar Airways countries have fallen prey to cyber- proud of its membership in the Paris has taken home nearly 3mn passengers, attacks and hacking, a matter that re- Climate Agreement, and hopes that US at a time when most of the world’s air- quires the need to accelerate the enact- return to the agreement, as one of the ports were closed and most airlines ment of international laws that govern key players in the fi eld of industry, will stopped operating. the cyberspace, and regulate interna- represent a glimmer of hope to return On the matter of vaccine distribu- tional relations in it. to the right path and activate the terms tion, she stressed the need for fair laws, “The second area is the threat of cli- of this agreement, to ensure the reduc- reminding the international commu- mate change,” she said noting that for tion of carbon emissions and pollution, nity “not to politicise the law regarding some, the climate phenomenon is an and the protection of our planet and aid and vaccination, as there are some imminent danger that will inevitably future generations from the threat of parties who seek to enact laws to mo- come if not confronted quickly. “Yet, climate change.”

Ministry of Commerce recalls Apple iPhone 11 model

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry framework of the MoCI’s continuous The MoCI urged all customers to (MoCI), in co-operation with iFix Qatar, eff orts to protect consumers and ensure report any violations to its Consumer Ali Bin Ali, and 51 East, dealers of Apple that dealers follow up on defects and Protection and Anti-Commercial in Qatar, has recalled Apple iPhone 11 repairs. Fraud Department, which processes manufactured between November 2019 The MoCI said that it will co-ordinate complaints, inquires and suggestions and May 2020 due to an issue with with the dealer to follow up on the through the following channels: the display module, which leads some maintenance and repair works and will Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ iPhone 11 displays to stop responding communicate with customers to ensure moci.gov.qa, Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, to touch. that they carried out the necessary Instagram: MOCIQATAR, MoCI mobile The recall campaign comes within the repairs. app for android and iOS: MOCIQATAR Gulf Times 6 Monday, February 8, 2021 QATAR Qeeri and CSE researchers in major water treatment boost

esearchers from Qatar sion 2030 and the National- which allows it to not just contain Almanassra, who is pursuing his part in contributing to the devel- to eventual commercialisation to ronment in Qatar, the region, and Environment and Energy ity Sustainable Development a larger amount of phosphates PhD under the joint mentorship opment of new materials that can benefi t society at large.” the globe. Providing customised RResearch Institute (Qeeri) Strategy, there is a mandate for or other contaminants, but also of Qeeri’s Dr Viktor Kochkodan, lead to improvements in water A provisional US patent appli- technological solutions to some and the College of Science and increased use of treated sew- to effi ciently recover it. Studies senior scientist, and CSE assist- treatment, and in turn have a pos- cation was fi led for the new ma- of those issues is therefore a top Engineering (CSE), both part of age effl uent (TSE) and as such, show that it can absorb approxi- ant professor, Dr Tareq al-Ansari. itive eff ect on our environment.” terial, and the research has been priority.” Hamad Bin Khalifa University there is a need to ensure that the mately 1.5 times the phosphate The team also includes Qeeri Dr Jenny Lawler, senior re- published in the Journal of En- “We are extremely proud of (HBKU), have developed a new TSE meets the necessary quality that existing commercial materi- scientist Dr Yehia Manawi, CSE search director, Water Centre, vironmental Health Science and this achievement by one of our material for water treatment ap- requirements. Pharmaceuticals als can. professor, Gordon McKay, and added: “Our work has aimed to Engineering, and the Journal of very talented students under the plications. proliferation in the environment Another key feature of CDC is other members from Qeeri’s Wa- consistently push boundaries and Water Process Engineering. mentorship of CSE faculty and Carbide Derived Carbon (CDC) is a problem for environmental that it could be used for treating ter Centre. develop better solutions for water Dr Marc Vermeersch, executive Qeeri researchers. The outcome has the unique ability to effi - and human health leading to is- the wastewaters not only from Almanassra said: “It is a real treatment and reuse, not just in director, Qeeri said: “This latest is a testimony to the great value of ciently remove and recover phos- sues in the ecosystem and poten- domestic waste but also from privilege to be supported by this Qatar, but on a global scale. We innovation by the Water Centre interdisciplinary collaborations phate from treated water, while tial for spread of antimicrobial pharmaceutical plants and hos- incredible team of scientists are fully confi dent in the team and holds immense promise. In line and how they are leading to novel also removing micro-pollutants resistance. pitals to mitigate the environ- at Qeeri and CSE and to work in the potential that our research with Qatar National Vision 2030, solutions of signifi cant practi- such as pharmaceuticals and en- The new material, CDC has a mental and health risks. alongside them in these world- on CDC is showing. We are now Qeeri is committed to actively ad- cal value to Qatar and the world,” docrine disrupting compounds. much higher absorption capac- The discovery is the result of class facilities. I am thrilled to be looking forward to further scale- dressing the grand challenges re- Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of CSE, As per the Qatar National Vi- ity than other similar materials, work led by CSE student, Ismail learning from them and doing my up and development, with a view lating to energy, water and envi- added.

VCUarts Qatar Al Safliya and Sharawa islands cleaned student’s artworks in 100/100 Hundred Best Arabic Posters

he artworks of a graphic design Tstudent at Virginia Commonwealth Univer- sity School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation part- The General Cleanliness Department’s Islands and Beaches Section has cleaned Al Safliya and Sharawa islands and removed large quantities of waste materials. Such ner, have been recognised campaigns continue throughout the year. by the 100/100 Hundred Best Arabic Posters com- petition, held by the Ger- man University in Cairo. Shima Aeinehdar’s posters, titled ‘Khaneh’ and ‘Omid’ were chosen from posters submitted QU College of Engineering to launch from across the world to be included in the list of the top 100 Arabic post- ers. Project Management course next fall “As a growing designer Shima Aeinehdar and artist, it is very excit- ing for me to have my work recognised internationally by globally re- r Khaled Kamal Naji, dean lege of Engineering in addition gramme was carefully developed, “The new course nowned Arabic type designers who were on the jury,” Aeinehdar said. of the College of Engi- to courses from the College of to meet the requirements of the will give students The VCUarts Qatar senior says that her posters touch upon the Dneering at Qatar Univer- Business and Economics at Qatar best universities in the world. the fl exibility to question of identity, and human response to the Covid-19 pandemic. sity (QU), announced that ap- University,” he told local Arabic “The programme consists of graduate with an “Khaneh means home in Persian, and is a visual exploration show- plications for the new Project daily Arrayah. 18 credit hours, and there will be additional fi eld of ing the uncertainty of what home could mean to third culture kids, Management for engineering Dr Mohamed Hussein, head of an opportunity to study subjects knowledge, and it while Omid is an animated piece that visualises the designer’s over- sub-programme, scheduled to the Department of Civil and Ar- in summer or winter semesters combines courses whelming, yet hopeful experience during the Covid-19 pandemic,” be launched next fall, will be chitectural Engineering at QU, and will not aff ect the graduation that will be off ered she explained. received for enrolment in mid- said that the project management plan.” by the College of 100/100 Hundred Best Arabic Posters is a competition that hon- February, from those already reg- course comes in response to the Hayat Buksheisha, head of the Engineering in ours the best 100 Arabic posters worldwide. It aims at documenting istered and meet the admission great economic growth accompa- Information Management Unit addition to courses the Arab world’s visual culture through selecting and highlighting the requirements. nied by an urban and technologi- at the Public Works Authority, from the College best Arabic posters of the region. The competition is free, and any de- “The new course will give stu- cal boom in Qatar. Ashghal, said: “If the engineer of Business and signer from the Arab region can participate. The initiative embraces dents the fl exibility to graduate Dr Mohamed al-Shafi a, associ- has management skills, he will Economics at Qatar diversity: the diverse identity of the Arabic region, the diff erent cul- with an additional fi eld of knowl- ate professor, Department of Civ- be profi cient in the technical and University” tural backgrounds of designers, and the multiplicity of themes that edge, and it combines courses il and Architectural Engineering management aspects, which will are explored. that will be off ered by the Col- at QU, confi rmed that the pro- be provided by this programme.” Dr Khaled Naji

QF pays tribute to Dr Andrew Brooks, scientist behind Covid-19 saliva test

he neuroscientist Dr An- breaking research in the coun- gene chip and can store hun- ing for sample comparison to drew Brooks, a research try. He was a pivotal member dreds of thousands of gene comply with CAP accreditation Tprofessor at Rutgers Uni- of the International Scientifi c variants in a small device much requirements and it was a fruit- versity in the US, recently passed Advisory Committee for Preci- smaller than a postage stamp. ful experience.” away – but not before leaving his sion Medicine Institute part of While novel gene samples would “I am grateful for every chal- mark on a pandemic-stricken Qatar Foundation Research, De- previously have been sent to lenge we have passed through world. He also had a very close velopment, and Innovation and other countries for diagnoses, together and to have met and association with Qatar and Qatar played a signifi cant role in the they are now being stored on the worked with such a valued ex- Foundation (QF). full robotic approach for sam- Q-Chip for examination locally. pert.” Dr Brooks was responsible for ples traceability, together with a Dr Nahla Afi fi , director of Qa- Dr Radja Badji, genomics op- developing the fi rst saliva test unique functional quality con- tar Biobank, paid tribute to Dr erations manager at QGP, also for the coronavirus that causes trol check for DNA fi ngerprint- Brooks, saying “I fi rst met Dr had the opportunity to work Covid-19. The test employs a ing at QF RDI’s Qatar Biobank. Andrew Brooks at an interna- with Dr Brooks during his time low-contact collection method He was also a member of the tional conference in 2014, and in Qatar. “Dr Brooks was a ma- – spitting in a tube as opposed team who designed, developed, I immediately recognised the jor protagonist of the emerging to having someone coming into and implemented the fi rst Qa- great value he could bring to and exciting fi eld of precision contact to swab your nose and tari Chip (Q-Chip), bringing Qatar Biobank and its mission medicine and has signifi cantly throat for samples – and has together experts from Qatar to shape the future of precision contributed to major advances in since been used to perform more Biobank, Qatar Genome Pro- medicine and healthcare in Qa- several fi elds of genomics. than four million tests as it con- gramme (QGP) – also part of tar. “His contributions towards tinues to be one of the most reli- QF RDI – Hamad Medical Cor- “His work with us from 2015 the progress of multi-discipli- able methods for testing. poration and Qatar Foundation onward proved this to be the nary genomic testing arrays were And Dr Brooks’ work also partner university Weill Cornell case. I also had the chance to substantial, and it was a true made an impact on Qatar, Medicine-Qatar. work with him and his team in pleasure working with Andrew Dr Andrew Brooks had a very close association with Qatar and Qatar Foundation. PICTURE: Nick through his support for ground- The Q-Chip is Qatar’s fi rst New Jersey on profi ciency test- over the past two years.” Romanenko, Rutgers University. Gulf Times Monday, February 8, 2021 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

UN envoy Palestinians launch postcodes Griffi ths in Iran to in assertion of sovereignty discuss

AFP Yemen Ramallah crisis he Palestinian Author- ity announced yesterday Tit would begin using its Reuters own postal codes, a move at Dubai easing the delivery of parcels in the occupied territories as well as asserting sovereignty. he United Nations special International mail sent to or envoy on Yemen is visit- from the occupied West Bank Ting Iran for the fi rst time currently has to pass through to discuss Yemen’s crisis, Ira- Jordan or Israel. nian state TV reported yester- But the PA said yesterday it day, days after Washington an- had asked the Universal Postal nounced an end to its support for Union to notify its member military operations in Yemen. states that Palestinian postal A coalition intervened in codes were coming into force. Yemen’s civil war in 2015, back- “From April, postal items that ing government forces fi ghting do not bear a Palestinian postal Houthi rebels. code will not be processed,” Pal- Saudi Arabia and Iran com- estinian Minister of Communi- pete for infl uence across the cations Ishaq Sidr told report- Middle East, from Syria to Iraq ers in Ramallah, the West Bank and Yemen. headquarters of the Palestinian Ishaq Sidr, Palestinian Minister of Communications, gives a press A man is assisted at a post office in the city of Al-Bireh, about 15 kilometres north of Jerusalem in “The UN Special Envoy Mar- Authority. conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. the occupied West Bank, yesterday. tin Griffi ths has arrived in Te- “It is a question of asserting hran for a two-day visit, during Palestinian rights,” he said. of obstructing deliveries. Us- “In 2020, we recorded more private courier services to send or been given postcodes. It said the were “more symbolic than prac- which he will meet with Foreign Palestinian postal codes ing postcodes “will prevent Is- than 7,000 violations of postal receive parcels. rollout would soon be extended tical.” “Postal coding can only Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif would also help put an end to rael from seizing postal items equipment on the Israeli side, But it was not clear if the appli- to the Gaza Strip, under Israeli truly be implemented when the and other Iranian offi cials,” state the seizure of shipments from that come to Palestine, and will whether by opening packages, cation of postal codes would cut blockade and controlled by Ha- Palestinian Authority controls TV said. abroad, Sidr said. help make the services more ef- seizing them or summoning their mailing costs. mas. ports or airports,” he said. Griffi ths’ offi ce said the visit He said six tonnes of pack- fi cient,” Imad al-Tumayzi, head owners for investigation,” he said. Offi cial PA news agency Wafa In the West Bank, a Palestinian The West Bank, wedged be- was part of his diplomatic eff orts ages had been held up in Jordan of international relations at the Palestinians have complained said some half a million build- postal worker who asked not to be tween Israel and Jordan, has no to support a negotiated political since 2018, and accused Israel Palestinian Post, told AFP. that they are forced to use costly ings in the West Bank had already named, said the new postcodes operational civilian airport. solution to the confl ict. His immediate priority was to support agreement between the warring parties on a ceasefi re, DR Congo announces urgent humanitarian measures ‘resurgence’ of Ebola and a resumption of the political process, it said in a press release. DR Congo yesterday announced Iran won’t resume N-commitments Griffi ths’ spokeswoman, Is- a “resurgence” of Ebola in its mini Palla, said the visit had troubled east after a woman died been planned for some time, of the disease, just three months adding it comes at a time when after authorities declared the he is trying to bring together end of the country’s previous until US lifts sanctions: Khamenei more diplomatic, regional and outbreak. “We have another international support to his ef- episode of the Ebola virus” in the forts to end the war. Biena health zone of North Kivu AFP purity, far above the 3.67% level per- “Griffi ths will consult with province, Health Minister Eteni Tehran US won’t lift sanctions to mitted by the deal, but far below the Iranian offi cials on ways to al- Longondo told state television bring Iran to talks: Biden amount required for an atomic bomb. leviate suff erings of the Yem- RTNC. “It was a farmer, the wife of And it may restrict by February 21 nu- eni people,” Iranian state news a survivor of Ebola, who showed ran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali US President Joe Biden said he won’t clear inspections if US sanctions are not agency IRNA reported. typical signs of the disease on Khamenei said yesterday the US lift sanctions against Iran as long as the lifted or other key parties to the deal do On Saturday, Iran welcomed February 1,” he added. She died Imust “completely lift” sanctions Islamic republic is not adhering to its not help Tehran bypass them, accord- US President Joe Biden’s move on February 3, after which a fi rst, followed by verifi cation by Tehran, nuclear deal commitments. ing to a law passed by the parliament on Thursday to end Washing- sample of her blood tested posi- before the Islamic republic returns to its Asked whether he would halt sanctions in December. According to Khamenei, ton’s support for off ensive oper- tive for Ebola, the health ministry nuclear deal commitments. to convince Iran to return to the bargain- Iran has “a right to set conditions for the ations in the military campaign said. The Democratic Republic of “If they want Iran to return to its com- ing table, Biden off ered a clear reply in a continuation” of the deal as it has up- in Yemen as a “step towards Congo declared on November mitments...America must completely A handout picture provided by the CBS interview aired yesterday: “No.” held its end, unlike the US and the three correcting past mistakes”. When 18 the end of its eleventh Ebola lift sanctions, and not just in words or off ice of Iran’s Supreme Leader The journalist then asked if the Iranians European members of the deal – Britain, asked whether the US decision outbreak, which claimed 55 lives on paper,” Khamenei said in a televised Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday, would first have to stop enriching France and Germany – who have “vio- will produce the opportunity to out of 130 cases over nearly six speech to air force commanders. shows him delivering a speech in front uranium, which drew an aff irmative nod lated all their commitments”. end the war in Yemen, Zarif told months in the northwestern “They must be lifted in action, and of commanders of the air force. from Biden. “No one in the Islamic republic cares CNN: “I certainly hope that it province of Equateur. then we will verify and see if they have for the nonsense claimed by those not does...it is best for the United The last person declared recov- been properly lifted, and then return,” Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw entitled to anything,” he said. States to show some tough love ered from Ebola in Equateur was he added. from it in 2018 and reimpose sanctions commitments to the deal. On January Khamenei insisted that the condition to its allies and tell them to stop on October 16. The 2015 landmark deal has been on Tehran. Tehran a year later suspend- 4, Iran announced it has stepped up its set by Tehran for the US is Iran’s “defi - this atrocity. They will never win hanging by a thread since US President ed its compliance with most key nuclear uranium enrichment process to 20% nite policy”. in Yemen.”

STRIFE Eight soldiers dead in Somalia bombing At least eight soldiers, including a senior intelligence commander, ‘Hope’ probe to be fi rst in trio of Mars missions Coalition were killed yesterday in a roadside bombing in Somalia claimed by the Al Shebaab extremist group, military officials and witnesses said. The explosion tore through a military vehicle just outside Dhusa- AFP Mars last July, taking advantage of a period and on the big day Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the intercepts mareb, a district in central Somalia some 400 kilometres north of the Dubai when the Earth and Mars are nearest. world’s tallest tower, will be at the centre of a capital Mogadishu. “We believe their vehicle hit a landmine planted by If successful, the Gulf state will become celebratory show. the terrorists just outside Dhusamareb,” said Mohamed Ali, a military the fi fth nation to ever reach Mars – a ven- “Hope”, known as “Al-Amal” in Arabic, four Houthi officer in Dhusamareb, district. he fi rst Arab space mission, the ture timed to mark the 50th anniversary of will orbit the planet for at least one Martian “Eight security forces members were killed” and two others wounded, UAE’s “Hope” probe, is expected to the unifi cation of the UAE – with the China year, or 687 days, while the Tianwen-1 from he added. “Among the dead was Abdirashid Abdinur, the commander Treach Mars’ orbit tomorrow, mak- mission due to become the sixth the follow- China and the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover armed of the National Security Agency (NISA) in Dhusamareb district.” ing it the fi rst of three spacecraft to arrive ing day. from the US will both land on Mars’ surface. Abdiweli Adan, another security officer, said the soldiers were at the Red Planet this month. Landmarks across the UAE have been lit Only the US, India, the former Soviet Union conducting security operations in the area when they hit a roadside The United Arab Emirates, China and up in red at night, government accounts em- and the European Space Agency have suc- drones bomb. “The blast ripped through the vehicle and killed most of those the United States all launched projects to blazoned with the #ArabstoMars hashtag, cessfully reached the Red Planet in the past. onboard. One or two soldiers survived with serious injuries,” he said. Al Shebaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a brief statement, Reuters in which they said they had killed 14 soldiers, including a senior com- Dubai mander. The militants have been waging a violent insurgency across the Horn of Africa country seeking to unseat the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. Kids in Jordan head back to classrooms he military coalition en- They were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 but still control swathes gaged in Yemen said yes- of territory from where they plan and launch frequent, deadly strikes Tterday it had intercepted against government and civilian targets. Military officials on Friday AFP cording to the education and and destroyed four armed said several mortar rounds were fired at Dhusamareb town where Amman health ministries. drones launched by the Houthi Somalia’s president and regional leaders were meeting to try and Bassam Hijjawi from the movement towards southern agree a plan for delayed elections. There were no reports of injuries in national epidemics committee Saudi Arabia. the attack, which officials blamed on Al Shebaab. At least five people, undreds of thousands said yesterday that the gradual A bomb-laden unmanned including a prominent former general, were killed in attack on a of students in Jordan return to schools would take aerial vehicle was intercept- Mogadishu hotel on January 31 by the Al Qaeda-linked militants. Hwent back to class- place within “a strict health ed early yesterday, coalition rooms yesterday after almost protocol”. He said all students spokesman Colonel Turki al- a year of school closures due to were required to wear masks Malki said in a statement on UNREST the coronavirus pandemic. and observe physical distanc- Saudi state media. Militants kill 10 in Congo machete attack “I am very happy to see my ing in the classroom, with two Coalition forces later in- friends and teacher again,” square metres provided for tercepted three drones, also Suspected militants killed 10 people in a raid on a village in eastern said seven-year-old Makkah at each desk. launched towards southern Democratic Republic of Congo and kidnapped several others, local a girls’ school in Jabal Amman, The committee would eval- Saudi Arabia with the aim of authorities and a witness said. in the centre of the Jordanian Jordanian pupils wearing protective face masks attend class for uate the health impact of the targeting “civilians and civilian The attack, in which assailants used machetes, occurred on Friday night capital. the first time in nearly a year, in the capital Amman, yesterday. return to classrooms over the objects”, Malki said in follow up in the village of Mabule, around 25km southeast of Beni, the sources “I was bored at home. Being next two weeks before con- statements which put the total said. “They killed 10 people here without any reason,” said Muhindo at school is better,” the smiling today. The UN agency for because in the classroom, I can fi rming the return of other at four. Mbela, a survivor of the massacre. It was not yet clear who carried out girl said. Palestinian refugees also reo- see right away if a student is students, he said. The coalition intervened in the attack, though local authorities blamed the Allied Democratic Forces Schools and universities in pened its schools yesterday for following,” he said. But some students said they Yemen in March 2015 against (ADF), a Ugandan armed group active in eastern Congo since the 1990s. the country have been shut 28,000 students. “In class, there is a constant preferred to keep learning at a the Houthis after the group The group killed around 850 people last year, according to UN figures. since mid-March due to the An education ministry exchange...It’s very diff erent distance. ousted the government from “They simply finished off the victims with machetes,” said Mambo pandemic. spokesman said more than from studying on the (online) “I’m afraid that by going power in the capital Sanaa, in a Kitambala from a local civil rights group. Reprisal attacks against civilians Kindergarten and early el- 773,000 students were go- platform.” to class, I’ll infect my parents conflict widely seen in the re- increased sharply since the army began an operation against the ADF in ementary school levels, as well ing back to the classroom this The government decided to with the virus,” said Khaled gion as a proxy war. November 2019, dislodging it from several bases in mountainous jungle as students in their fi nal year week. reopen schools after a drop in al-Kurdi, an 18-year-old in his Malki said the coalition near the Ugandan border. “We confirm the attack on the village of Mab- of high school, went back to Fadi Ismail, a teacher at the the number of Covid-19 cases fi nal year of high school. would continue to take meas- ule by armed men we have identified as the ADF,” said Donat Kibwana, classrooms yesterday, the fi rst Shukry Shaashaa school in over the past four weeks. “And at distance, the cours- ures to “neutralise and de- the administrator of Beni territory. Islamic State has claimed responsibility day of the school week in Jor- Amman, was also keen to re- Another 1.4mn students es are recorded so I can go over stroy” Houthi weapons’ ca- for several suspected ADF attacks in the past, but UN experts have not dan, while Christian schools turn. across the country will return them until I have learnt the pabilities in accordance with found any direct link between the two groups. will reopen for those students “I am for in-person learning gradually until March 7, ac- material,” he added. international law. Gulf Times 8 Monday, February 8, 2021 WORLD

CLAIM COMMENT ACCIDENT ECONOMY CRIME Attempted coup foiled Biden foresees ‘competition’ Four skiers killed, four Argentina president Most victims of Mexico in Haiti: justice minister with China, not ‘conflict’ rescued in Utah avalanche eyes ‘flexible’ IMF deal massacre identified

Haitian authorities yesterday said they had foiled President Joe Biden anticipates the US rivalry Four skiers have been killed and four others were Argentine President Alberto Fernandez believes Mexico has identified nine more Guatemalan an attempt to murder President Jovenel Moise with China will take the form of “extreme rescued near Salt Lake City, Utah, in the deadliest the International Monetary Fund should grant the victims who were among the 19 people killed and overthrow the government, as a dispute competition” rather than conflict between the snowslide in the US in seven years, authorities said. country more “flexible” terms and warned that in a massacre in the northeastern state of rages over when his term ends. The plot was an two world powers. Biden said in an excerpt Two groups of skiers, one of five and the other of increasing inflation could lead his government Tamaulipas last month, authorities said. So far “attempted coup d’etat,” according to Justice of a CBS interview aired yesterday that he three, were in Millcreek Canyon just east of Utah’s to again hike export taxes or re-establish quotas, 16 of the victims have been identified, including Minister Rockefeller Vincent, with authorities has not spoken with Chinese counterpart Xi capital city when the avalanche was triggered, a according to an interview in the newspaper two Mexican nationals and 14 Guatemalans, the saying at least 23 people have been arrested, Jinping since he became US president. “I’m spokeswoman for the Unified Police Department Página/12. Argentina has for months been in talks prosecutor’s off ice of the state of Tamaulipas said including a top judge and an off icial from the not going to do it the way (Donald) Trump did. of Salt Lake City said. The skiers, who were in with the IMF to restructure the terms of a $57bn in a statement. Authorities have been working to national police. “I thank my head of security at We’re going to focus on international rules of their 20s and 30s, were able to dig themselves 2018 loan sought by Fernandez´ predecessor identify the bodies using DNA collected by people the palace. The goal of these people was to make the road.” Biden has systematically dismantled out of the snow and call 911, police spokeswoman Mauricio Macri to confront an economic crisis. who believe their relatives, many of whom are an attempt on my life,” Moise said. “That plan many of the more controversial measures of Melody Cutler said. NBC news reported that Fernandez said Economy Minister Martín Guzman Guatemalan migrants, may be among the victims. was aborted.” Moise has been governing without the Trump era, while at the same time signalling the survivors suff ered minor injuries including would travel to US with an eye towards postponing The bodies, some badly charred and with gunshot any checks on his power for the past year and that the US will closely look out for its own hypothermia. Skiers unintentionally triggered the maturities to give the country more flexibility – and wounds, were found along a popular migrant says he remains president until February 7, 2022. interests. avalanche, the Utah Avalanche Center said. funds – to deal with problems at home. smuggling route in a remote area of Tamaulipas.

Pence to Big chill launch California’s ‘video podcast’ governor faces Guardian News and Media Washington

ormer vice-president Mike Pence will launch a “video backlash over Fpodcast” with a conserva- tive group known for bringing infl ammatory anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim speakers to college campuses, as part of his eff ort to “share the good news Covid response of conservatism” with young Americans. Guardian News and Media and how to reopen the state’s disability rights advocate in Los The former vice president’s Sacramento public schools. Angeles who had worked on a pivot to podcasting comes a Activists say he is failing Lat- behavioral health taskforce the month after he refused Donald ino and Black residents, Califor- governor launched last year, a Trump’s repeated public de- alifornia’s coronavirus nians with disabilities and es- breaking point was Newsom’s mands to reject the actual results death toll is continuing sential workers who are dying at announcement that in an eff ort of the 2020 presidential elec- Cto climb. Its vaccination disproportionate rates. to speed up vaccine distribution, tion and name Trump himself rates remain low. And jobless Californians, strug- the state would start prioritising the winner, prompting a mob And some of its residents are gling to access unemployment people by age, rather than a pro- to storm the US capitol, some losing faith in their governor. benefi ts, have cursed the adminis- fession or medical history. of them shouting: “Hang Mike California’s governor, Gavin tration’s bureaucratic inertia. The news came as Ramírez was Pence.” Newsom, has found himself in an For many across the state, preparing funeral arrangements Pence’s new role with a increasingly precarious political Newsom’s announcements on for their brother, Eduardo. longstanding conservative ad- position: a Republican-led recall the economy, vaccine distribu- Eduardo was 35, and severely vocacy group is an attempt movement is garnering support tion or school reopenings have immunocompromised due to “smooth his transition back from far-right groups as well as felt increasingly dissonant from Aids, so Ramírez, their family and into the upper ranks of the mainstream Republicans and their dire realities as the pan- friends had anxiously watched conservative movement”, Po- some Silicon Valley bigwigs. demic progressed. the state’s chaotic vaccine roll- litico reported, noting Pence’s And while the eff ort is unlikely Amy Arlund, an ER nurse in out, hoping his turn would come relationship with Trump had to succeed in unseating him, the central valley, said she was in the nick of time. been “strained” in the wake of a even long-term allies are pub- enraged that hospitals contin- It didn’t. Eduardo died – the failed protest that had included licly questioning his leadership ued to face staff and equipment fourth of Ramírez’s family to Trump supporters across the through this latest, most deadly shortages.“The trust has been have succumbed to Covid-19. country calling for Pence’s ex- phase of the crisis. broken with especially our gov- Ramírez said Newsom had, ecution as a traitor. He was hailed as a national ernment offi cials, our leaders and unlike many of his counterparts The former Indiana gover- hero in the early months of the the organisations and the agen- in other states, made a strong nor has a long history in audio: pandemic, but Newsom’s job rat- cies that are meant to protect us,” commitment to addressing he used his job as a conserva- ing has plunged in recent weeks. Arlund said.“It feels like we’re health disparities. “I listened to tive talk radio host in the 1990s Just under a third of voters expendable.” the governor’s coronavirus up- to launch his career in Indiana polled by the UC Berkeley In- Four of her co-workers at the dates quite regularly, and his politics. stitute of Governmental Studies Kaiser Fresno hospital have died words had always brought hope. While the Mike Pence Show, rated the governor’s overall han- because of Covid-19, Arlund Now I feel misled, I feel used. I which included Pence rail- dling of the pandemic well, while said, including a fellow nurse feel like I am without leadership,” ing against adultery and “talk- 44% said he was doing badly. who contracted the virus last they said. ing about the global warming It’s a complete reversal from summer after the hospital ran so “There has been so much fear ‘myth’”, was not the most prom- September, when 49% of those short on PPE and staff resorted and desperation in my commu- inent or gripping of rightwing polled by the institute said New- to using homemade face shields nity,” they added. “Whether it’s talk radio productions, Politico som was doing an excellent or made of plastic sheets and elec- intentional or unintentional, it reported, the show did help good job – and 28% rated him trical tape. feels like our leaders have forgot- Pence transform from a candi- poorly. For Hector Manuel Ramírez, a ten about us.” date who repeatedly lost elec- Criticism has come from all tions, to a candidate who won sides. Chicago schools, teachers union ‘reach deal’ them. Legislators have been divided Pence’s new “good news” over his decision to lift regional Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot school district in the US, and podcast will be produced with stay-at-home orders a week af- yesterday said Chicago Public the Chicago Teachers Union, Young America’s Foundation ter the state surpassed 3mn coro- Schools and the teachers which represents 28,000 (YAF), a group that works to de- navirus cases. union have reached a tentative educators, have been locked in velop young conservative lead- Health workers have been dis- agreement on a Covid-19 safety talks for months over a gradual ers, which has focused its eff orts mayed that some of his recent plan, a major milestone that will reopening of schools, with in recent years on stoking a series People cross the street as snow falls in North Bergen, New Jersey yesterday. People in the health directives have diverged put an end to a bitter labour teachers demanding stronger of “free speech” controversies northern US face the risk of frostbite and hypothermia amid bitter cold temperatures and from established and emerging dispute and avert a possible safety protocols to prevent at American college campuses, dangerous wind chills this weekend. Over 25mn people are under wind chill advisories scientifi c research. work stoppage. Chicago Public the spread of the virus in including fi ling lawsuits against and warnings from Montana to Michigan. He has bickered with teachers Schools, the third largest classrooms. universities. unions and parents over when Former US secretary of Cuba opens up private state, George Shultz, dies sector in economic reform AFP From now on, a list will deter- Havana mine the sectors reserved for the AFP In the Reagan White House, with Reagan, who pressed for state, which will be a minority: Washington notorious for infi ghting, Shultz Moscow to allow the emigra- “Of the more than 2,000 activi- was one of the least controversial tion of Pentecostal Christians uba has announced that ties in which private work is al- fi gures, cultivating cordial ties who had sought refuge in the US private activity will be au- lowed...only 124 will be limited, eorge Shultz, Ronald with Congress and the press and, embassy. The Soviets quietly fol- Cthorised in most sectors, partially or totally,” Feito said, Reagan’s genial secretary most crucially, rock-solid back- lowed through. Reagan’s unlikely a major reform in the country without giving further details, Gof state who identifi ed a ing from the president himself, role as a negotiator with the su- where the state and its compa- though they are expected to in- diplomatic opening that helped who kept Shultz as his top diplo- perpower he termed an “evil em- nies dominate economic activity. clude industries considered stra- end the Cold War but contrib- mat for six-and-a-half years. pire” had begun. The measure, which was un- tegic to the state, include media, uted to a new brand of confl ict by In early 1983, half a year into In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev veiled last August by Labour health and defence. advocating pre-emptive strikes, his tenure, Shultz returned from ascended to the helm of the Minister Marta Elena Feito, was “That private work continues has died. He was 100. China to a snowed-under Wash- Communist Party and Shultz, approved on Friday during a to develop, is the objective of this An economics professor who ington and was invited by Nancy joining then vice president meeting of the Council of Minis- reform,” she said, stressing that saw himself more as a data- Reagan to a casual dinner at the George H W Bush, fl ew to Mos- ters, according to the daily Gran- this “will help free the produc- driven expert than an ideologue, White House where he was in- cow and met him at the funeral ma, the offi cial newspaper of the tive forces” of the private sector. Shultz had the rare distinction trigued to hear the famously an- of his predecessor, Konstantin ruling Communist Party. Currently, more than 600,000 of serving in four diff erent cabi- ti-Communist president sound Chernenko. Until now, private activity – Cubans work in the private sec- net positions – including Treas- eager to meet the Soviets. “He Shultz immediately detected which has been authorised in tor, or 13% of the workforce on ury secretary as Richard Nixon had never had a lengthy session opportunities with Gorbachev. Cuba since 2010 but whose real the island of 11.2mn. dismantled the post-World War with an important leader from a “Gorbachev is totally diff erent boom dates back to the historic They are employed mainly in II Bretton Woods monetary sys- Communist country, and I could from any Soviet leader I’ve met,” warming of ties between Cuba gastronomy, transportation and tem. sense he would relish such an Shultz told reporters. and the US, initiated at the end of renting rooms to tourists. “One of the most consequen- opportunity,” Shultz wrote in A former Marine who fought 2014 under Barack Obama – was But these sectors were hard- tial policymakers of all time, his memoir, “Turmoil and Tri- the Japanese in World War II, he limited to a list of sectors set by hit by stepped-up US sanctions having served three American umph.” recalled the trust he built with the state. under Donald Trump’s adminis- presidents, George P Shultz died Days afterward, Shultz the Soviets as Treasury secre- “The previous list of 127 (au- tration, as well as by the corona- on February 6 at age 100,” the brought the Soviet ambassador tary when he off ered a sincere thorised) activities has been virus pandemic, leading to many Hoover Institution think tank to the White House in an un- salute at a memorial to their war eliminated,” the labour minister business owners suspending said in a statement on its website. marked car for a secret meeting dead. Shultz: ‘One of the most consequential policymakers of all time’ said. their licences. Gulf Times Monday, February 8, 2021 9 WORLD

DISASTER CLAIM ROW WILDLIFE OUTBREAK Strong quake hits Australia bushfires ‘most Rift widens in On-the-loose tiger New Zealand sees new southern Philippines likely deliberately lit’ critical Pacific body captured alive Covid case linked to hotel

A strong earthquake hit the southern Philippines Firefighters in western Australia got under control The Pacific Islands Forum leadership rift widened An escaped tiger that killed a keeper at a zoo on A fourth person who was released from managed yesterday, though there were no immediate re- six fires in the state’s southwest that authorities yesterday as the Marshall Islands voiced its Borneo island has been captured alive after a isolation at Auckland’s Pullman hotel has tested ports of casualties or damage, the US Geological yesterday said were most likely deliberately lit, disapproval with the central political body in a day on the loose, police said. The white Bengal positive for Covid-19, New Zealand’s ministry of Survey and local off icials said. The 6.0-magnitude while rain helped to contain a week-long blaze region where the US and China are competing tiger was found wandering in a jungle surround- health has said, but authorities have reassured quake struck the town of Bansalan on Mindanao that destroyed 86 homes in the hills of Perth. for influence. Palau has already announced it is ing Sinka Zoo in the town of Singkawang, West the public that the risk to others remains “low”. island at 12.22pm (0422GMT), the USGS said in The state’s department of fire and emergency pulling out of the organisation and will meet the Kalimantan, following its escape through a hole. The individual had been self-isolating at home a bulletin. The quake was recorded at a depth services (DFES) said all of the suspicious blazes, Marshall Islands and other Micronesian members Another tiger that broke free was shot dead in Hamilton, in the North Island, since leaving of 15.6kms, it said, slightly shallower than at first now under investigation, started around the same of the forum today to discuss what has been de- earlier. “We found and captured the second tiger the hotel on January 30 and had returned three reported by the agency. “It was strong, but things time on Saturday evening and were close to scribed as “a huge fracture” in regional unity. The by sedating it with a tranquilliser,” local police negative results prior to testing positive, the did not topple or fall off ,” major Peter Glenn Ipong, each other. A heavy downpour over the weekend row erupted on Thursday, when the Micronesian chief Prasetiyo Adhi Wibowo said. The pair of ministry said. The announcement means five the police chief of Bansalan, said. Ipong and civil helped to contain those blazes and allowed fire- candidate to be the organisation’s next secretary- 18-month-old female Bengal tigers — previously people linked to the hotel have now caught the defence off icials in the region reported strong fighters to bring further under control a devastat- general was rejected in favour of former Cook thought to be Sumatran — escaped from the zoo virus, after three guests tested positive after leav- shaking but said there were no immediate reports ing fire that has burnt through 11,000 hectares Islands premier Henry Puna, after a virtual meet- after days of torrential rain created a hole near ing and another person caught it from one of the of casualties or damage. (27,181 acres) of land. ing of leaders from the 18-member body. their enclosure. returnees. 200 missing in India after burst glacier causes fl ash fl ooding

From Page 1 M.P.S. Bisht, director of the Ut- tarakhand Space Application Hundreds of troops and para- Centre, told AFP. “Huge land- militaries along with military slides also frequently occur.” helicopters and other aircraft He said the glacier could have have been sent to the region. blocked the river, causing the Authorities emptied two dams buildup that had devastating to stop the fl ood waters reach- force when it broke through. ing the Ganges at the towns of The increased pace of devel- Rishikesh and Haridwar, where opment in the poor Himalayan authorities barred people from regions has also heightened fears going near the banks of the sa- about fallout from deforestation cred river, offi cials said. and other environmental trou- Villages on hillsides overlook- bles. ing the river were evacuated, but Monsoon fl oods in Uttara- as night fell authorities said the khand in 2013 killed 6,000 peo- main fl ood danger had passed. ple and led to calls for a review Scores of social media us- of development projects in the Protesters ride scooters in a large convoy demonstration against the military coup in Naypyidaw yesterday. ers captured the disaster, with state, particularly in isolated ar- footage showing water tearing eas like those around the Rishi through a narrow valley below Ganga dam. the power plant, leaving roads Uma Bharti, a former water and bridges destroyed in its resources minister, said that she wake. had called for a freeze on hydro- Prime Minister Narendra Modi electric projects in “sensitive” Tens of thousands rally across said he was monitoring the relief Himalayan areas including the operation. Ganges and its tributaries when “India stands with Uttara- in government. khand and the nation prays for Vimlendhu Jha, founder of everyone’s safety there,” he said Swechha, an environmental Myanmar in anti-coup protests on Twitter. NGO, said the disaster was a About 14 glaciers overlook the “grim reminder” of the eff ects AFP Kyaw, a 20-year-old university Myanmar’s second-biggest city. said internet services were par- dia services including Twitter. river in Nanda Devi national park of climate change and the “hap- Yangon student. Both those protests included tially restored on some mobile “The generals are now at- — the topic of scientifi c studies hazard development of roads, “I will join every day un- people on armadas of motorcy- networks in Myanmar yester- tempting to paralyse the citizen because of growing fears over railways and power plants in ec- til Amay Suu (Mother Suu) is cles, waving fl ags and holding day afternoon, but social media movement of resistance — and climate change and deforesta- ologically sensitive areas.” ens of thousands of pro- freed.” banners. platforms remained inaccessible keep the outside world in the tion. “Activists and locals have con- testers poured onto the Protesters in Yangon began There were also demonstra- and it was unclear how long the dark — by cutting virtually all “Avalanches are common phe- stantly opposed the massive river Tstreets across Myanmar dispersing in the evening, after tions in Mawlamyine city and connectivity would last. internet access,” said Tom An- nomena in the catchment area,” valley projects,” he added. yesterday in the biggest anti- announcing that they would re- the Magway region. As protests gathered steam drews, UN special rapporteur on coup rallies yet, as an Internet turn to the streets at 10am local The rallies were largely peace- after the coup, the junta ordered human rights in Myanmar. blackout failed to stifl e growing time on Monday, indicating no ful, but local media reported telecom networks to freeze ac- In addition to Suu Kyi and outrage at the military’s ouster let-up in their resistance. that in the southeastern city of cess to Facebook, an extremely some of her top aides, dozens of elected leader Aung San Suu They also called on civil serv- Myawaddy, police fi red warn- popular service in the country have been detained so far. Kyi. ants and people employed in ing shots in the air to disperse a and arguably its main mode of The precise number of arrests Some estimates put the other industries to not go to group of protesters. communication. is not yet known, but monitor- number of protesters in Yangon work and join the protests. Pope Francis yesterday ex- The platform had hosted a ing group Assistance Associa- at 100,000 and there were re- Many fl ashed the three-fi nger pressed “solidarity with the rapidly growing “Civil Disobe- tion for Political Prisoners said ports of large demonstrations salute inspired by the “Hunger people of Myanmar”, urging the dience Movement” forum that on Saturday that more than 150 in other cities condemning the Games” fi lms, which became army to work towards “demo- inspired civil servants, health- people were still in custody. coup that brought Myanmar’s a symbol of resistance during cratic coexistence”. The surge in care professionals and teachers Suu Kyi has not been seen in 10-year experiment with de- the pro-democracy protests in popular dissent over the week- to show their dissent by boy- public since the coup, but a par- mocracy to a crashing halt. Thailand last year. end overcame a nationwide in- cotting their jobs. ty spokesman said on Friday she Backed by a din of car horns, “We will fi ght until the end,” ternet blockade, similar in mag- Yesterday, live Facebook was “in good health”. Two days chanting protesters in Yangon said Ye Kyaw, an 18-year-old nitude to an earlier shutdown video feeds from multiple cit- after the coup, criminal charges held up banners saying “Jus- economics student. that coincided with the arrest of ies showed protesters marching were fi led against her related tice for Myanmar”, while others “The next generation can have Suu Kyi and other senior leaders through the streets. to the illegal import of a set of waved the signature red fl ags of democracy if we end this mili- on Monday. It was not immediately clear walkie-talkies. Suu Kyi’s National League for tary dictatorship.” Online calls to protest have how they bypassed the Internet The military had hinted at its Democracy (NLD) party as they There was a large demonstra- prompted bold displays of defi - block. coup intentions days in advance, marched to City Hall. tion also in the capital Naypyi- ance, including the nightly deaf- The military had widened its insisting that the NLD’s land- “I completely despise the daw, despite the heavy military ening clamour of people banging eff orts to quell organised dissent slide victory in the November Members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) mount a rescue military coup and I am not afraid presence there, while tens of pots and pans. on Friday when it demanded elections was the result of voter operation at Reni village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. of a crackdown,” said Kyi Phyu thousands rallied in Mandalay, Monitoring service NetBlocks new blocks on other social me- fraud. India seeks to rival China Nepal protest Bangladesh begins with Covid jab shipments Covid vaccinations Reuters Health Minister Zahid Dhaka Maleque called Covidshield “the Reuters 100,000 doses for Cambodia on World Health Organisation to best and the safest vaccine”. New Delhi an urgent basis following a re- administer them. “The wait is over. Today is a quest to Modi from Cambodian India has invested millions of angladesh yesterday historic day for us after such a Prime Minister Hun Sen, India’s dollars in Afghanistan over the launched a nationwide Cov- diffi cult year,” Maleque told Reu- ndia has approved the ship- envoy to Phnom Penh said. years in an expansive eff ort seen Bid-19 vaccination drive with ters. “I took the vaccine today. I ment of Covid-19 vaccine to Cambodia is an important ally as pushing back against Paki- the Oxford University-AstraZene- am feeling good. Everyone must ICambodia and plans to sup- of China, which is expected to stan’s infl uence in the country. ca vaccine, aiming to inoculate take the vaccine,” he said. ply Mongolia and Pacifi c Island provide a million doses of Cov- “The vaccines are being pro- 3.5mn people in the fi rst month. He added that 567 coronavirus states, offi cials said yesterday, as id-19 vaccines, mainly developed vided on a grant basis,” a govern- The south Asian country is frontline health workers, who supplies arrived in Afghanistan by state fi rm Sinopharm. ment source said. So far, India seeking to inoculate 80% of its were vaccinated last week before — all part of the country’s wid- “The supply has been assured had supplied 15.6mn doses of population of around 170mn, with the vaccine programme launch, ening vaccine diplomacy. through the Serum Institute of In- the vaccine to 17 countries either each person getting two doses ad- had not experienced any diffi cul- Seeking to steal a march over dia despite innumerable compet- through donations or commercial ministered four weeks apart. ties or side-eff ects. rival Asian giant China, which ing requests from partner coun- contracts, said foreign ministry However the government has “I appeal to the people not to has also promised to deliver tries and our commitment to our spokesman Anurag Srivastava. nearly halved its target for the pay heed to rumours and take the shots, Prime Minister Naren- domestic population,” said Am- Consignments will be sent to fi rst month from 6mn people as vaccine,” the minister said. dra Modi’s government has been bassador Devyani Khobragade. Mongolia, Caribbean countries only a little over 328,000 people Bangladesh has offi cially re- giving nearby countries millions India has given doses to My- and Pacifi c Island states in the had registered for the vaccine by ported 538,062 cases and 8,205 of doses of the locally made As- anmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri coming weeks, he said.”External Saturday. deaths. traZeneca vaccine, even as its Lanka and the Maldives to help supplies are an ongoing process, Bangladesh has received 5mn The daily rate of infections domestic immunisation pro- them get started with frontline depending on availability and of the 30mn doses of the Co- has eased sharply since a peak gramme has just begun. workers as part of its Vaccine domestic requirement,” he said. vishield vaccine it has ordered in July. Modi is using India’s strength Friendship initiative. India, which has the world’s from the Serum Institute of In- Bangladesh will get 68mn as the world’s biggest maker of Yesterday the government sent second-highest caseload of coro- dia, which is the world’s biggest doses of vaccine from the GAVI vaccines for various diseases to 500,000 doses of the AstraZene- navirus, plans to immunise 300mn Protesters from a faction of the ruling Nepal vaccine producer and is making vaccine alliance, the health min- improve regional ties and push ca vaccine to Afghanistan, the people by August. It vaccinated Communist Party (NCP) chant slogans during a the AstraZeneca vaccine. ister said, referring to a global back against China’s political fi rst to arrive in the war-ravaged about 3mn healthcare workers in protest against the dissolution of the country’s The country has also received health partnership set up to in- and economic dominance. country, which is still waiting the fi rst two weeks of the cam- parliament, in Kathmandu yesterday. 2mn doses of Covishield as a gift crease access to immunisation in New Delhi has approved for emergency approval from the paign that began on January from India. poor countries. Gulf Times 10 Monday, February 8, 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 Introducing the world’s largest radio telescope

If astronomers and amateur sky gazers were saddened by the collapse of the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico, which was the second-largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, in December 2020, there is something major to cheer about now. Last Wednesday and Thursday, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Council held its maiden meeting online and approved the establishment of the world’s largest radio telescope. The initiative is described as one of the grand scientific projects of the 21st century. SKAO is a new intergovernmental organisation dedicated to radio astronomy. The council meeting was led by countries that have ratified the Overcoming climate challenge SKA treaty: Australia and South Africa, as the telescope’s host nations; Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal; and the UK, which functions as the organisation’s headquarters with offices at the famous Jodrell Bank radio observatory. In attendance also were representatives from Canada, China, France, Germany, India, to human development Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. They sat as observers as their parliamentary approvals are pending. Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can detect invisible Instead of passively awaiting is emblematic of growth across the incentives for climate action. can equal more than 50% of a country’s gas and, therefore, they can reveal areas of space that may be our fate, we must use our planet. But the natural environment Four important areas for action stand health or education budget. The right cannot sustain this form of growth and out. First, cities – which account for taxes on carbon, fi nancial transactions, obscured by cosmic dust. Since the first radio signals were knowledge, reason, and development. 85% of energy output and 75% of CO2 and extreme wealth can raise an detected by physicist Karl Jansky in the 1930s, astronomers have agency to establish new The intense pressure that our current emissions (estimates vary) – now need additional $200 billion annually for green used radio telescopes to detect radio waves emitted by different development models are putting on to pave the way for green renewal. investments, according to the Sustainable objects in the universe and explore it. According to Nasa, the development models and local ecosystems is perhaps most clearly The HDR highlights a role for cities as Development Solutions Network’s report field of radio astronomy evolved after World War II and became shape our collective fortunes illustrated by the Covid-19 pandemic. theatres for green action: pricing the on SDG costing and fi nancing for low- one of the most important tools for making astronomical A tiny pathogen has laid bare massive true social cost of carbon, protecting income countries. Financial constraints observations since. The Arecibo telescope, built in 1963, thanks By Kanni Wignaraja vulnerabilities and gross inequalities in green spaces and planting trees, and clearly need not impede the transition to a to its powerful radar, was employed to observe planets, asteroids New York even the strongest and most prosperous cleaning waterways and seas of the green economy. and the ionosphere, making several discoveries over the decades, societies, with economic and social plastic garbage that is devastating Finally, we must understand that including finding prebiotic molecules in distant galaxies, the imbalances reinforcing the damage marine life. nature is not our adversary. The first exoplanets, and the first-millisecond pulsar. n his autobiography, Singapore’s infl icted by the pandemic. As the Second, in addition to action by HDR documents 20 cost-eff ective actions related to forests, wetlands, The SKA telescope, founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, told disease spread, we learned that the cities and national pledges – including the story of how leadership and collective action needed to confront in the Asia-Pacifi c region – to become and grasslands that can lead to 37% comprising a vast grit transformed a tiny nation on a such a challenge becomes far more carbon-neutral over the next few of the mitigation needed to keep The initiative formation of radio I sandbar into an open, competitive, and diffi cult when domestic divisions and decades, ordinary citizens must adapt global temperatures within 2°C of is described as receivers, will be located prosperous metropolis. international rivalries prevail over their ways of life. The HDR urges people pre-industrial levels. Reforestation in remote, uninhabited In the decades since, Singapore global solidarity. to reconsider what they value highly, alone accounts for two-thirds of this one of the grand locations in the Karoo has been governed by a famously But while Singapore-style and to change what they consume potential. Recognising and protecting in South Africa’s effi cient and graft-free political class, development is not sustainable, nor and how they produce, commute, the local communities that are nature’s scientifi c projects Northern Cape, and and it now boasts a highly skilled is it feasible to reframe development and invest. This is not impossible. stewards will be key. The contribution in the Murchison in workforce. In the United Nations as a trade-off between people’s Throughout history, we have seen that of the Amazon’s indigenous peoples of the 21st century Western Australia. The Development Programme’s latest livelihoods and saving trees. That is a social norms and behaviour can change. to preserving forest storage capacity, operation, maintenance Human Development Index (HDI) central argument in the UNDP’s new Tobacco use, for example, has become for example, now equals the per capita and construction will be overseen by SKAO. The completion – fi rst conceived 30 years ago by the Human Development Report (HDR), socially stigmatised, leading to a decline greenhouse-gas emissions of the top 1% Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and which examines new or underused in smoking, and mask-wearing has of global emitters. is expected to take nearly a decade at a cost of over $2.4bn. the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq pathways to achieving human and become the norm in many places during Sen and Haq’s original index of The expectation is that invitations to tender will go out – the country ranks eleventh out of 189 environmental well-being. In the the Covid-19 pandemic. human progress introduced a new way to industry from July, with ground-breaking ceremonies overall. future, we must encourage countries Third, while behavioural change can to measure how well societies manage anticipated towards the end of the year. But when the HDI is adjusted to to pursue prosperity while minimising stem from hard incentives (say, higher to reach their potential. When adjusted The telescope will incorporate a mix of parabolic antennas, consider carbon dioxide emissions and their carbon footprint by applying the tobacco taxes) and regulations, it can for planetary stress today, however, or “dishes”, as well as dipole antennas, which look a little like so-called material footprint (which knowledge, science, and technology also be inspired by collective calls to the index shows how their choices are traditional TV aerials. The aim is to construct an effective measures the share of global extraction now at our disposal. action, such as those urging large and being radically constricted. Instead of collecting area measuring hundreds of thousands of square of raw materials in a country’s fi nal The report reimagines the future small institutional investors to fi nance passively awaiting our fate, we must use metres. The system will operate across a frequency range from demand), Singapore’s rank drops by role of governments, but it is clear that new green technologies. our knowledge, reason, and agency to roughly 50 megahertz to, ultimately, 25 gigahertz. In wavelength 92 positions. No country has ever they will not bear sole responsibility Private money must match public establish new development models and terms, this is in the centimetres to metres range. With the managed to reach a high level of human for the vital choices that must be made funding, reinforced by plugging local shape our collective fortunes. - Project Syndicate engineered sensitivity, this should enable the telescope to detect development with low resource use, and in the coming years. The HDR also and international tax loopholes and Singapore, having virtually no natural calls for a socially and environmentally withdrawing unnecessary subsidies. very faint radio signals coming from cosmic sources billions of resources of its own, imports almost all responsible private sector that regards The subsidy on fossil fuels alone costs Kanni Wignaraja is UN Assistant light-years from Earth, including those signals emitted in the of the commodities it needs. There is embracing nature as being in its own the world economy $5 trillion a year. In Secretary-General and UNDP Regional first few hundred million years after the Big Bang when the first nothing unusual about this; Singapore interest and helps to reshape norms and the Asia-Pacifi c region, such subsidies Director for Asia and the Pacifi c galaxies and stars started forming. The array’s resolution and sensitivity, allied to stellar computing support, will enable astronomers to address some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics today – including the beginning of the universe, how and when the first stars were born, the life-cycle of a galaxy, exploring the possibility of detecting technologically-active civilisations elsewhere in our galaxy and understanding where gravitational waves come from. Significantly, the development of SKA will use the results of various surveys undertaken using another powerful telescope called the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), developed and operated by the country’s science agency CSIRO. This telescope, fully operational since February 2019, mapped over three million galaxies in a record 300 hours during its first all-sky survey conducted late last year. ASKAP surveys are designed to map the structure and evolution of the Universe, which it does by observing galaxies and the hydrogen gas that they contain.

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© 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Monday, February 8, 2021 11 WORLD

UK mulls online sales tax Dutch experience fi rst

By Richard Partington Guardian News & Media

K offi cials said the Treas- snowstorm in a decade ury is weighing changes Uto “shift the balance” AFP However, Dutch authorities Netherlands, including interna- in the skating-obsessed country burg and Hanover. drop as the week progresses. between spending online and in The Hague declared a rare “code red” emer- tional services to Germany. that canals will freeze over. Thick snow of up to 30cm In Britain, the authorities is- physical shops, amid concerns gency for the entire country as it Trams were halted in the capi- Prime Minister Mark Rutte meanwhile disrupted road traf- sued an amber weather warning over the impact for communities was hit by its fi rst proper snow- tal Amsterdam, while a tram de- has said ice skating will be al- fi c, with hundreds of acci- in southeast England for what as more shops pull down their he Netherlands and parts storm in more than a decade. railed in the snow in The Hague, lowed if the canals freeze for the dents and part of a motorway in local media dubbed the “Beast shutters for the last time. of Germany were blanket- Weather forecasting website an AFP reporter saw. fi rst time since 2018, but warned North-Westphalia closed by po- from the East II”. Record number of shops are Ted yesterday by a snow- Weer.nl said that overnight a Motorists were advised to Dutch people to observe social lice after it turned into a virtual The fi rst “beast” in 2018 disappearing from high streets as storm that disrupted planes and force eight wind was measured avoid travelling and more than distancing and to try not to fall ice rink. caused 10 days of snow in Brit- repeated lockdowns and a rapid trains and put some coronavirus in combination with snowfall, 80 cars were reported to have over and end up in already over- Several vehicles were trapped ain. growth in online sales hammer testing on hold. adding: “This offi cially means a skidded off the road. stretched hospitals. beneath piles of snow and their The current warning is for the retail sector, threatening to Britain was also bracing for snowstorm in our country.” Most parts of the country had Hopes that a 200km (125- owners had to dig them out with roads becoming blocked by deep permanently alter the landscape heavy snow from what Dutch “It is the fi rst snowstorm in between 5-10cm (2-4”) of snow mile) ice-skating marathon shovels, according to pictures on snow and disruptions to bus, rail of towns and cities after coro- meteorologists have called a long time: the last snowstorm but some areas received 30cm, through 11 cities called the Elf- the Bild website. and air travel. navirus (Covid-19) restrictions Storm Darcy, which is packing took place in January 2010,” it public broadcaster NOS said. stedentocht could be held for the Heavier snow of up to 40cm The UK was “starting to see have been relaxed. winds of up to 90kph (55mph). said. The conditions are so severe fi rst time since 1997 are however was expected in parts of north- the whites of the eyes” of the Ministers believe an online People rushed outdoors to en- Dozens of fl ights were delayed that the Dutch government has on ice because of coronavirus ern Germany overnight, mete- storm, according to BBC Weath- sales tax, which would involve a joy sledging and playing in the or cancelled at Amsterdam’s closed all coronavirus testing restrictions. orological service DWD said. er. new levy on Internet shopping, snow in Dutch and German cit- Schiphol airport while Eindhov- centres for several days. In Germany, snowfall caused Belgium, which also neigh- Coronavirus testing sites in could help stem the collapse of ies despite the bitterly cold con- en airport in the southern Neth- Up to 10 days of sub-zero day- major disruption to trains and bours the Netherlands, received two counties in eastern England the high street. ditions with temperatures as low erlands scrapped all services. time temperatures are expected led to cancellations of services a light dusting of snow but was were also forced to close by the Business groups including the as -5° Celsius (23° Fahrenheit). All trains were cancelled in the in the Netherlands, raising hopes between cities, including Ham- expecting a big temperature weather, the BBC reported. British Retail Consortium op- pose the measure, which they ar- gue would hit high street retail- ers with online operations and result in higher costs for shop- pers at a time of severe weakness Sicily in the British economy. However, several big retailers, including Tesco, have previously allows 422 backed the launch of an online sales tax to redress the balance. According to the Sunday migrants Times, Rishi Sunak, the fi nance minister, is supportive of such a move, but would probably wait to dock until the autumn to launch a raid on Internet fi rms such as Ama- zon, Asos and Ocado, rather than AFP using the March 3 budget. Marseille The development comes as the Treasury considers evidence from retailers as part of a funda- vessel carrying 422 mi- mental review of business rates – grants rescued off the the system of taxing companies Acoast of Libya has been based on the physical premises given permission to dock in Italy they occupy – that is scheduled after issuing an urgent appeal for to conclude this spring. shelter from a looming storm, its An online sales tax is being operator said yesterday. weighed as part of this work, of- The SOS Mediterranee group, fi cials said. which operates the Ocean Viking With many shops forced rescue ship, said it had received into temporary closure during the green light to bring the mi- lockdown and as shoppers stay Model brides grants ashore in the Sicilian port away from high streets during of Augusta after several earlier the pandemic, offi cial fi gures Models present creations by Ayesha appeals went unheeded. show the amount spent online and Usman Ali (above), Sable Vogue The French-based group said increased by 46% in 2020 com- (right), Nisa Hussain (left), and Ali its passengers included babies, pared with a year earlier. Xeeshan (below), during the Hum children, pregnant women and Bridal Couture Week in Lahore on unaccompanied minors. Saturday night. “They must urgently be dis- Pope appoints embarked in a safe port,” Luisa Albera, the head of the group’s more women to rescue operations, had earlier Vatican posts urged, warning that weather conditions in the central Medi- Pope Francis has appointed terranean were deteriorating. two women to Vatican posts She described the health of previously held only by men, several migrants as “fragile”. in back-to-back moves giving Eight tested positive for the women more empowerment in coronavirus and were isolating the male-dominated Holy See. onboard the ship, she added. He appointed Nathalie Becquart, Libya has become a key jump- a French member of the Xaviere off point for irregular migration Missionary Sisters, on Saturday to Europe in the chaotic years as co-undersecretary of the since the 2011 overthrow and Synod of Bishops, a department killing of Muammar Gaddafi in a that prepares major meetings North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- of world bishops held every few tion (Nato)-backed uprising. years on a diff erent topic. While many migrants have The previous day, Francis named drowned in rubber dinghies and Italian magistrate Catia Summaria rickety fi shing boats, thousands as the first woman Promoter of have been intercepted by the Justice in the Vatican’s Court of Libyan coastguard and returned Appeals. to Libya, with the support of Becquart’s position, eff ectively a Italy and the EU. joint number two spot, will give NGOs have slammed the re- her the right to vote in the all- turns, arguing that Libya is not male assemblies. safe for the migrants.

Fears grow for missing climbers on K2 Fears are growing for three climbers missing while attempting to Covid booster, annual vaccinations very probable: UK summit the world’s second-highest mountain, K2, after helicopters failed to spot them on the second day of searching, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said yesterday. Reuters/AFP nation), in the way we do with fl u such a system but people could cism in the West, the Russian a negative polymerase chain re- Climbers John Snorri from Iceland, Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile, and London vaccinations where you look at seek proof from their doctor if vaccine has since convinced ex- action (PCR) test 72 hours prior Mohamed Ali Sadpara from Pakistan lost contact with base camp what variant of virus is spread- needed. perts of its effi cacy. to their arrival and undergo ran- on Friday. ing around the world,” Nadhim “That’s not how we do things The medical journal The Lan- dom testing for the coronavirus. “A second helicopters search has found no sign of missing Covid-19 booster in the Zahawi told the BBC’s Andrew in the UK. We do them by con- cet on Tuesday published an All foreign travellers are quar- climbers,” Karrar Haidri, the club secretary, told AFP. autumn and then an- Marr Show. sent,” he said. “We yet don’t analysis of fi nal stage testing antined for seven days. The helicopters’ crew traced the route up to a height of 7,000m Anual vaccinations are very AstraZeneca said on Satur- know what the impact of vac- results showing Sputnik V to be Most fl ights from non-EU (23,000’), he added. probable, Britain’s vaccine de- day that its vaccine developed cines on transmission is and it 91.6% eff ective against sympto- countries are banned, with the Chhang Dawa Sherpa, their expedition manager, said he was part of ployment minister said yesterday with the University of Oxford would be discriminatory.” matic forms of Covid-19. exception of 10 countries includ- one search team trying to trace the mountaineers. as countries race to administer appeared to off er only limited In Hungary, health authori- Italy meanwhile reported 270 ing the UK. “The search team went through the Abruzzi and other routes, we injections in the face of new vari- protection against mild disease ties have approved Russia’s coro- coronavirus-related deaths yes- On domestic fl ights, only es- had less weather visibility above C4 (camp 4), unfortunately, no ants. caused by the South African var- navirus vaccine Sputnik V, the terday, down from 385 the day sential travel is permitted. trace at all,” Sherpa said in a statement. The Covid-19 respiratory dis- iant of Covid-19, based on early government said yesterday, with before, the health ministry said. Russia reported 16,048 new Sajid Sadpara, son of Mohamed Ali Sadpara, who had last seen his ease is caused by the coronavirus. data from a trial. 40,000 doses of the jab already to The daily tally of new infec- Covid-19 cases across the coun- father at K2’s final technical diff iculty “bottleneck”, said that the Britain has already injected Britain reported yesterday be given. tions fell to 11,641 from 13,442 on try yesterday, including 2,028 in chances of survival were bleak. over 12mn fi rst doses of Covid-19 a further 15,845 cases and 373 Offi cial testing has been com- Saturday, it said. Moscow, taking the national tally “The chances of surviving for 2-3 days at 8,000 (metres) in winters vaccines and is on track to meet deaths within 28 days of a posi- pleted “and the vaccine may be Italy has recorded 91,273 to 3,967,281 since the pandemic are very low,” he told reporters. a target to vaccinate everyone in tive test, according to offi cial fi g- administered”, Miklos Kasler, the deaths linked to Covid-19 since began. On Friday a Bulgarian was confirmed to have died on K2. the top most vulnerable groups ures. human resources minister who is its outbreak in the country last Authorities confi rmed 432 He is the third mountaineer to die on K2’s slopes this year, after a by mid-February. The success of the UK’s vac- in charge of health, said on social February, the second-highest toll deaths in the last 24 hours, Spanish climber fell to his death last month. Among coronavirus vari- cine rollout, however, is spurring media. in Europe, behind Britain, and pushing the offi cial death toll to Russian-American Alex Goldfarb also died on a nearby mountain ants currently most concerning debate about how soon the gov- The government had an- the sixth-highest in the world. 76,661. during an acclimatising mission in January. for scientists and public health ernment can ease broader lock- nounced on Tuesday that it had Greece said yesterday that The number of confi rmed A team of Nepali climbers made history on K2 last month when experts are the so-called Brit- down restrictions, amid plans taken delivery of 40,000 doses of it was extending restrictions coronavirus cases in Germany they became the first to scale it in winter. ish, South African and Brazilian to reopen schools in England in Sputnik V, a fi rst within the Eu- on domestic and international increased by 8,616 to 2,284,010, Conditions on K2 are harsh: winds can blow at more than 200kph variants, which appear to spread March. ropean Union. fl ights until February 15 and Feb- data from the Robert Koch Insti- (125mph) and temperatures can drop to -60° Celsius (-76° more swiftly than others. As some nations consider a It is the fi rst batch of a total or- ruary 22 respectively to help curb tute (RKI) for infectious diseases Fahrenheit). “We see very much probably vaccine passport to enable the der of 2mn doses to be supplied the spread of Covid-19. showed yesterday. Unlike Mount Everest, which has been scaled by thousands of an annual or a booster in the au- easing of travel measures, Zahawi over three months. Under the restrictions passen- The reported death toll rose by climbers young and old, K2 is much less travelled due to its tough tumn and then an annual (vacci- said Britain would not introduce Initially viewed with scepti- gers fl ying to Greece must receive 231 to 61,517, the tally showed. conditions. – AFP Gulf Times 12 Monday, February 8, 2021 QATAR

Qatari students win Outstanding Award at Shell’s 2020 NXplorers ceremony Five Qatar students won the bronze award for Collaboration Space, a platform for students “Outstanding NXplorers Student Team” and participating in the programme from over 17 were recognised globally at the virtual Shell countries to share their challenges, connect 2020 inaugural NXplorers Recognition Awards with other teams, and share progress on their ceremony. solutions. The ceremony was a worldwide celebration “With NXplorers, we are encouraging the youth and recognition of Shell NXplorers participants to pursue and build on their STEM knowledge enrolled since 2018. and skills to make informed decisions for today The NXplorers contest received over 150 and tomorrow,” said Hussain al-Hijji, general nominations worldwide, and Qatar students manager (External and Government Relations) at were recognised for being an inspiring example Qatar Shell. of how to solve real problems despite the “We have been always committed to building challenges of the pandemic. strategic partnerships with big companies which This year, 566 Grade 7 and 9 students support STEM education methodology, as we participated in the NXplorers workshops to be believe that the future requires building and shortlisted to 10 selected schools across Qatar. promoting research skills and scientific NXplorers training from the UK was provided innovations, since this is what the ministry’s to 29 teachers, eight representatives from the current strategy aims to achieve,” said Fawziya Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and al-Khater, the assistant undersecretary for six Qatar Scientific Club members. educational aff airs at the Ministry of Education It resulted in a remarkable 115 creative ideas and Higher Education. being proposed by the students, with 85 projects STEM is short for science, technology, successfully uploaded on the NXplorers engineering and mathematics. The students who won the bronze award are seen with two off icials at the ceremony.

Ashghal has built a network of highways with free traff ic flow in order to ensure access to Al Ashghal plays Rayyan stadium. role in FIFA Club World Cup success shghal, the Public Works Avenue, Al Rayyan Road, Al Majd and surface water drainage net- cated parking slots for “Park and D Ring Road intersections to open soon Authority, has contribut- Road, and Sabah Al Ahmad Cor- works. Ride” cars that connect Al Riff a Aed much to the successful ridor that serve Al Rayyan and Ashghal recently completed Station with Al Rayyan venue. A number of intersections on D-Ring Road will be opened soon after the organising of the ongoing FIFA Education City stadium while development of local roads lead- Entrances and exits also pro- ongoing development works are completed. Club World Cup Qatar 2020 by ensuring better connectivity. ing to Al Rayyan Stadium and vided direct connections with Sheikha bint Yousef al-Jufairi, member of Central Municipal Council (CMC)- setting up roads along with cy- Ashghal has built a network of opened them to traffi c. main roads leading to Al Rayyan Constituency 8, told local Arabic daily Arrayah that Jaber Bin Hayyan Street cle and pedestrian paths to sta- highways with free traffi c fl ow The works included develop- venue and parking lots for public intersection will be opened by the end of this month. diums, linking them with metro in order to ensure access to Al ing the roads leading to the sta- transport. Al-Jufairi explained that the Public Works Authority, Ashghal, had informed stations and improving the basic Rayyan stadium. dium with a total length of about Ashghal constructed a deep her that the Nuaija Intersection will be opened in April, and Al Ali Intersection infrastructure. Ashghal also improved lo- 5km, with two lanes in each di- trunk sewer extending from Al in July. “Nine key highways and main cal roads to safeguard direct fast rection. Rayyan Stadium to Al Shamal Ashghal started developing the LuLu intersection where traff ic signals are roads serve the fans coming from connection with places such as Pedestrian paths with a length Road to collect and discharge foul improved by allowing free flow of traff ic from the Airport Road intersection various areas and to connect the Al Riff a Metro, Mall of Qatar, Al of 10km along with cycle paths fl ows to Pumping Station 70 at towards Fereej Al Ali Intersection along the D-Ring Road. stadiums with the main land- Riff a Celebration Hall Complex, with a length of 513m and run- Al-Ebb and Leabaib. Ashghal is also working to improve Nuaija junction, popularly known as the marks,” Ashghal tweeted. and Al Rayyan Sports Club. ning paths with a length of 513m The sewage will be pumped Mall Intersection, where work will include improving increasing the number The most important of these The infrastructure of the area were also developed. into the treatment plant in Umm of lanes on D-Ring Road to four in each direction. roads are Dukhan Road, Khalifa is well prepared with stormwater Ashghal also provided dedi- Slal Municipality. According to the CMC member, the area will also witness completion of several development works including infrastructure, water and electricity network, rainwater drainage, parks and aff orestation in the coming months. “Ashghal has responded to the demands of the residents and completed the construction of a pedestrian crossing bridge that links the Old Airport area Al-Jufairi: Ashghal has with Al Thumama,” she added. “A pedestrian bridge that connects Nuaija 44 responded to the demands of with Nuaija 43 has also been approved.” the residents.

The Nuaija Intersection will be opened in April, and Al Ali Intersection in July. Pedestrian paths, cycle paths and running paths were also developed.