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FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 11 RAMADAN - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8601 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS

Tarsheed helps save Qatar among largest investors in Algeria: Minister Al Kuwari

QR300m during 2020 THE PENINSULA — DOHA

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Minister of Commerce THE PENINSULA TARSHEED PROGRAMME and Industry, H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said The National Program for IN 2020 REDUCED yesterday Qatar is one Conservation and Energy Effi- of the largest investors ciency (Tarsheed) run by Qatar ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION The in the Republic of General Electricity and Water programme Algeria, with Qatari Corporation (Kahramaa) has also cut investments comprising helped save QR300m during 289 Gigawatt 74.31 percent of foreign 2020. hours carbon investments. “Tarsheed programme in footprint H E Ali bin Ahmed Al 2020 reduced electricity con- Kuwari, and Minister of sumption of 289 Gigawatt hours WATER CONSUMPTION caused by the Commerce in the Peo- (GWh), water consumption of operation of ple’s Democratic 32 million cubic metres (m3) million Republic of Algeria, H E and natural gas consumption 32 electricity and Kamel Rezig, participated of 3,207 million cubic feet cubic metres water sector yesterday in the pro- (MCF), representing a financial about 0.4 ceedings of the Qatari- saving of QR300m,” said Kah- NATURAL GAS Algerian Business Coun- ramaa President Eng. Essa bin million tonnes cil’s first meeting con- Hilal Al Kuwari. vened virtually. The Minister of Commerce and Industry, H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari during the He said that the programme Council was co-chaired also cut carbon footprint caused 3,207 by Chairman of the Qatari Qatari-Algerian Business Council’s virtual meeting yesterday. by the operation of electricity million cubic feet Businessmen Association, and water sector about 0.4 Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, from the Qatari The volume of trade exchange between the two million tonnes last year. side and Kamel Mola from the Algerian side. countries in 2020 amounted to about $36.13m, Al Kuwari was speaking at In his opening speech, H E Ali bin Ahmed Al the Minister pointed out. a virtual event organised by patronage of Amir H H Sheikh He said that the achieve- Kuwari highlighted the strength and durability He added that the investment cooperation Kahramaa yesterday to dem- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is ments of the national pro- of relations between the two countries, referring had seen great progress following the estab- onstrate the achievements of the main pillar to intensify gramme Tarsheed extended to to the historic visit of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim lishment of the Algerian Qatari Steel company Tarsheed during 2020 on its 9th efforts for environment pro- the legislative and technical bin Hamad Al Thani to Algeria in February 2020, in Algeria. With an investment cost exceeding anniversary. tection to address the climate field, and it undertook a a visit which has contributed to consolidating $2bn, Algerian Qatari Steel is one of the most sig- “The programme, which issue faced by our ecosystem,” number of important initiatives Qatari-Algerian cooperation at all levels, espe- nificant joint projects in the region, Al Kuwari was launched in 2012 under the said Al Kuwari. during 2020. `P2 cially economically and in terms of investment. noted. `P2 Abdullah Talib Al Teachers' presence in schools needed for effective education Marri appointed Ramadan SIDI MOHAMED Many technologies and equipment are among teachers”. Timing Editor-in-Chief THE PENINSULA available only at schools. By using the Regarding the Ministry’s need for new teachers from abroad, Today's Iftar: of Al Arab The Undersecretary of the technology, they can teach students in the he said that the Ministry every 6:03pm Ministry of Education and best possible way,”Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al year recruits teachers especially Higher Education, Dr. Ibrahim for some technical specialisations Tomorrow's Imsak: bin Saleh Al Nuaimi said Nuaimi said while speaking to Qatar TV. that are not provided by the 03:32am yesterday teachers’ presence in College of Education, as well as school is important as they can equipment are available only hours and classes has been specialisations related to people schools for boys. impart knowledge to students at school. By using the tech- reduced, in implementation of with special needs. "Teaching is a respected in the most effective way by nology, they can teach students the decisions of the Cabinet, he In addition, there is a need profession and we call on using latest technology. in the best possible way. By added. to recruit male teachers, as most society to support the citizen to “A teacher has a very staying at home, the teachers Al Nuaimi pointed out of those who join the College of join this profession. There are important humanitarian will not be able to teach stu- that “The Ministry has spared Education programs are many privileges that are offered message in building societies dents effectively,” he said while no efforts in providing the females. Another reason for to the teachers, which we hope and his or her presence is very speaking to Qatar TV precautionary measures and hiring new teachers is the will encourage Qataris to join," much needed in the school yesterday. vaccination to prevent the increase in the number of stu- Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi because many technologies and The number of teaching spread of the coronavirus dents and the opening of new said. THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Sharq World Cup fans will use eco-friendly transport: SC Media Group, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah THE PENINSULA — DOHA “Using our environmentally- Al Thani, has issued a decision friendly transportation systems, appointing Abdullah Talib Al Qatar will provide safe, reliable, such as the Doha Metro, light rail Mass public transport will Marri as Editor-in-Chief of Al and accessible transportation trams, and fuel-efficient buses, help fans get around Arab newspaper. solutions during the FIFA World will greatly reduce overall during the World Cup. In The step comes within the Cup 2022. The country has also carbon emissions,” said Thani framework of institutional and implemented a host of Al Zarraa, the SC’s Mobility addition to tram and bus improvement of work, sustainable projects that will Director. services, the new Doha attracting Qatari cadres, reduce the environmental “And due to Qatar 2022 Metro will help fans enhancing their presence, and impact and provide numerous being a compact tournament, assuming leadership positions legacy benefits. fans arriving in 2022 will only travel seamlessly in the Dar Al Sharq Group. To mark Earth Day 2021, the have one return plane journey, between hotels, sta- Abdullah Al Marri is one of Supreme Committee for which will significantly reduce diums, and tourist attrac- the distinguished media per- Delivery & Legacy (SC) high- overall carbon emissions (com- sonnel, who held the position lights the projects which will pared to previous tions. The metro will be of Deputy Editor-in-Chief of help reduce the country’s tournaments).” the transportation Al Arab newspaper, during carbon footprint and achieve its More than one million fans backbone of Qatar 2022. which he demonstrated high goal of staging the first carbon- are expected to arrive at Hamad competence. He also held the neutral World Cup. International Airport during the It directly connects the position of Managing Editor of Along with hosting the first World Cup. The airport is rec- airport with five Qatar Al Raya, in addition to other World Cup in the Middle East ognised as one of the most sus- 2022 stadiums, with the media positions. and Arab world, Qatar will tainable in the region after Al Arab newspaper is the stage the most compact edition retaining its Level 3 Airport remaining tournament first and oldest Qatari daily of the tournament in modern Carbon Accreditation (ACA). The venues reachable via that started publishing in 1972, history. Sixty-four matches ACA is the only institutionally- and last year it joined Dar Al over 28 days will take place in endorsed, global carbon man- metro and bus services. Sharq Group, becoming the close proximity, with the agement certification pro- fourth daily published by the maximum travel distance gramme for airports worldwide. Group, which include The between stadiums just 75km. Besides, the airport recently Peninsula English newspaper, One of the major environ- joined a local campaign called reduced carbon emissions by Qatar’s efficient use of water and bus services, the new Al Sharq and Lusail Arabic mental benefits of Qatar 2022 Tarsheed, which led to approximately 1,000 tons. Run and electricity. Doha Metro will help fans newspapers, in addition to a is the elimination of domestic increasing the air conditioning by the Qatar General Electricity Mass public transport will travel seamlessly between number of important media flights during the temperature by 1C during the & Water Corporation (KAH- help fans get around during the hotels, stadiums, and tourist platforms. tournament. winter period. This initiative RAMAA), Tarsheed promotes World Cup. In addition to tram attractions. `P2 02 HOME FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021

OFFICIAL NEWS Amir sends condolences to Head of Chadian Transitional Military Council Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of condolences PRAYER to the head of the Transitional Military Council of the Republic of Chad, General TIMINGS Mahamat Idriss Deby, on the death of his father, the President of the Repub- PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMINNGG lic of Chad Idriss Deby. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin FAJR 03.43 am Abdulaziz Al Thani also sent cables of condolences to the head of the Transi- tional Military Council of the Republic of Chad General Mahamat Idriss Deby, on SUNRISE 05.05 am the death of his father, the President of the Republic of Chad Idriss Deby. -QNA DHUHR 11.32 am ASR 03.02 pm MAGHRIB 06.03 pm Lecture for people with special needs ISHA 07.33 pm sheds light on Ramadan's virtue THE PENINSULA — DOHA members during the holy month, inspecting each other and The Qatar Society for Rehabil- helping the needy people, espe- itation of Special Needs organised a lecture through video WEATHER conference on TODAY Kyrgyz envoy participates in ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative “The condition of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to Qatar, H E Chyngyz Eshimbekov, the righteous and other officials during a tree plantation event held under ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative. The event ancestors in was organised by Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME). the Holy month of Ramadan”. 25oC 37oC The lecture Minimum Maximum MoCI conducts draw to lease shops was delivered by Sheikh Hazy at first becomes hot daytime Osman Yusef at places daytime with some clouds at times, mild by night. at new Abu Nakhla Camel Market Muhammad Ahmed, a Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the W ALRUWAIS : 25o → 35o QNA — DOHA graduate of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation W ALKHOR : 25o → 37o The number of commercial activities offered Higher The Permanent Committee for Institute of of Special Needs, called for solidarity among community W DUKHAN : 21o → 32o in the market reached about seven diverse Central Markets Management Islamic Studies members during the holy month, inspecting each other WAKRAH 22o → 37o W : of the Ministry of Commerce activities, while the number of applications in Sudan and a and helping the needy people, especially from the W MESAIEED : 22o → 37o and Industry (MoCI), in coordi- submitted for investment opportunities was member of the vulnerable segments of society that need care. W ABUSAMRA : 18o → 39o nation with the Aswaq for Food association. Facilities Management 427, of which only 205 qualified to enter the During the Company, a Hassad subsidiary, draw. A total of 222 applications were excluded lecture, Sheikh Thani bin cially from the vulnerable seg- HIGH TIDE and in coordination with the Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman ments of society that need care. 1:26 – 13:48 Ministry of Municipality and for not meeting the required conditions. of the Board of Directors of the He pointed out that the lecture LOW TIDE 9:28 – 19:13 Environment (MME), held a Qatar Society for Rehabilitation came within the awareness public draw for renting the of Special Needs, renewed his activities carried out by the asso- shops of the new camel market and inform them of the regu- guarantee great benefit for congratulations on the advent ciation for its members, their in Abu Nakhla area and latory list for the functioning of tenants and consumers by of the holy month of Ramadan, parents and all those who announcing the names of the the market. setting up a mechanism that wishing that the month to be provide care for them in all its winning investors. The draw Last March, the Committee allows the tenant to obtain good blessed for everyone, with forms. The online lecture was was held through visual announced investment oppor- investment by granting an goodness, and blessings. held in line with the com- communication technology. tunities to lease the stores of the appropriate rental price while Sheikh Thani praised the mitment of the association to the The number of commercial new camel market in the Abu adhering to some conditions member of the association preventive health precautions activities offered in the market Nakhla, in cooperation with the and considerations that will Osman Youssef and his lecture measure to limit the spread of reached about seven diverse Aswaq for Food Facilities Man- maintain the continuity and the the coronavirus “COVID-19”. activities, while the number of agement Company, a Hassad success of the markets while The lecture witnessed a large applications submitted for Food Company subsidiary, and allowing consumers to obtain and varied participation that investment opportunities was coordination with the MME. their basic needs of services at included a group of people with 427, of which only 205 qualified The investment opportu- competitive prices. special needs, the public and the to enter the draw. A total of 222 nities offered in the said market The Ministry has also set the media. The session was moderated Kahramaa President Eng. Essa applications were excluded for are 75, including camel pens, operating and leasing criteria by Dr. Tariq Al-Essawi, the psycho- bin Hilal Al Kuwari not meeting the required fodder stores, and other stores and requirements for the lease logical counselor and an expert on Tarsheed helps save conditions. for various commercial activ- period to be two years and special education. In the lecture, The MoCI confirmed that ities (veterinary clinic, trade-in renewed for a similar period. Sheikh Othman spoke about good QR300m during 2020 the public draw was based on veterinary supplies, a store for Other requirements are a guar- deeds during Ramadan, and how FROM PAGE 1 the principle of transparency selling animal supplies and anteed check upon contracting the work of the Prophet and his and equal opportunities carried tools, a supermarket, and a for one month of the lease and companions was during the holy “The initiatives include imple- out following the previously restaurant). 24 checks in the name of Aswaq Sheikh Osman Yusef Muhammad month. They used to read Quran mentation of energy efficiency approved controls and require- The market also includes a for Food Facilities Management, Ahmed and keep praying and doing regulations in various sectors, and ments, as the names of the camel slaughterhouse, which providing products perma- charity to poor people. Osman the initiative for energy efficiency winners and substitutes for will be operated by the Widam nently, and ensuring the com- in which he talked about the asked to take the Prophet’s com- standards for air conditioners, each activity were drawn. Food Company, in addition to mercial activity recorded in the virtues of deeds in this holy panions as a model specially which is among the wide-impact The MoCI’s Permanent a room for owners of pens and commercial register is in line month, adding that we need to their life during Ramadan, without initiatives, since its application in Committee for Central Markets shops and market visitors. with the activity presented in emulate and follow the assigning ourselves beyond its 2019 and until now, the energy Management stated that Aswaq There is also a service area for the case of merchants, and that righteous ancestors in the capacity because religion is easy, efficiency standards saved about for Food Facilities Management all dealers. the trader has experience with virtues and grandeur of deeds. and that Allah did not burden us QR61m,” said Al Kurwari. would communicate with the The Ministry affirmed that the activity for which they Sheikh Thani called for sol- beyond our capacity, but rather He said that the efforts con- draw winners to sign contracts it worked with Aswaq to apply. idarity among community with what we can do. tinue in this context, as an initi- ative was recently announced to reduce consumption in the res- idential sector by 5 percent. “This Qatar among largest World Cup fans will use initiative is expected to achieve financial savings of QR212m, and investors in Algeria significant results in the con- FROM PAGE 1 sumption pattern of the resi- eco-friendly transport: SC dential sector,” said Al Kuwari. The Minister of Commerce and Industry touched on Director of Tarsheed and the characteristics of the Qatari economy. FROM PAGE 1 planning to introduce an inno- environmentally-friendly transport Energy Efficiency at Kahramaa Qatar has devised a solid strategy to support the The metro will be the transpor- vative, modern and environmen- systems featuring uninterrupted Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Hammadi strength of the national economy by providing financial tation backbone of Qatar 2022. It tally-friendly electric bus rapid tracks for bicycles, electronic said that Tarsheed provided and economic incentives to the private sector, as well directly connects the airport with transit (BRT) system. Designed to scooters, and buses, we will also technical initiative and as by providing various exemptions to protect entre- five Qatar 2022 stadiums, with the provide increased passenger contribute to the legacy of this awareness and implemented preneurship and SMEs, he said. remaining tournament venues capacity compared to traditional country, as future generations of several innovative projects like The Minister added that the State had sought to reachable via metro and bus transit style buses, BRT is a rail-less residents and citizens make use of electric car charging stations. strengthen the partnership between government services. The metro system is effi- system that is essentially a these systems long after the World He said that Tarsheed in agencies and the private sector, due to its belief in the cient, electric and utilises regener- crossover between buses and Cup.” cooperation with the Ministry of private sector’s pivotal role in implementing programs ative braking systems, which help trams. The Lusail Bus Depot will “Providing safe, efficient and Transport and Communications aimed at achieving economic recovery and supporting to reduce the carbon footprint. All become one of the biggest in the clean transport solutions for all vis- had launched first electric pas- Qatar’s march to meet the goals under its National the metro stations are also designed world, where solar panels will gen- itors to Qatar during the World Cup senger bus and charging station Vision 2030. He indicated that the State had moved and operated under green building erate electricity for bus charging. is of utmost importance to us. We for it. The winners of Tarsheed forward in terms of maintaining investment stimu- certification, ensuring their green These buses will not emit any other are working in close coordination competitions which targeted all lation. To this end, Qatar has developed the business credentials. emissions. After Qatar 2022, this with our national partners to segments of the society have been environment and has put in place legislative and reg- Tram systems support the fleet will replace the old buses, deliver a system that will be a joy announced during the virtual ulatory frameworks that allow foreign investors full metro in the vicinity of two tour- ensuring a legacy of modern and for all to use,” Al Zarraa event yesterday. Khalifa Stadium ownership in various sectors, as well as in different nament venues: Lusail Stadium, green buses. continued. Energy Center, Aspire Zone economic and commercial activities. Additionally, the which will host ten matches during Qatar is also stepping up its One of those national partners Foundation won Best District State has provided significant investment benefits and the tournament, including the final, plans to encourage people to use is Ashghal, Qatar’s public works Cooling System Performance incentives that have instilled Qatar’s leading position and Education City, which will host electric cars. Kahramaa is planning and infrastructure agency respon- contest. Best Renewable Energy on the global investments map. matches up to the quarter-finals to set up between 200 and 500 sible for delivering modern trans- Research Project contest went The Minister highlighted the fact that the first stage. These rapid transit systems charging points for electric cars by portation design and construction. to Texas A&M University in meeting of the Qatari-Algerian Business Council is an support Qatar’s sustainability goals 2022. They will be located at stra- Ashghal used the latest technology Qatar. important event that will positively affect the volume and ensure both Lusail and Edu- tegic locations, including malls, and coordination – and compliance Al Bayan High School for of trade and investment exchange between the two cation City are connected and residential areas, stadiums, parks, to globally recognised sustaina- Girls won the Best School countries. In this regard, he called on businessmen accessible while offering a and government offices. bility measures – to provide solu- Project on Sustainable and from both sides to benefit from the investment oppor- transport option that reduces And while people get used to tions for the 22nd host nation of Energy Efficiency contest. Peter tunities available in the two countries, and form new vehicle use and associated electric cars, Qatar has also intro- the World Cup. Hernandez won the Best partnerships. The virtual meeting featured significant emissions. duced a large fleet of electric “The compact nature and clean Recycled Art Competition. participation from the two countries. From the Qatari A fleet of new buses are also scooters and bicycles which people transport solutions play a key role Tarsheed partners during side, participants included Qatar’s ambassador to boosting Qatar’s public transport can hire. These are available at in delivering on our promise of a 2020 have been honoured for Algeria, H E Hassan bin Ibrahim Al Malki, , as well as infrastructure. About 20% of the several walking locations, including carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in their cooperation. The partners a number of Qatari officials and businessmen. buses are electric, with the the Doha Corniche, allowing fans 2022,” said the SC’s Sustainability include Shell GTL, Marubeni, From the Algerian side, participants included remainder diesel-fuelled with a to enjoy the mild weather condi- Director, Eng. Bodour Al Meer. Vodafone Qatar, Cono- Algerian Ambassador to Qatar, H E Dr. Mustafa Bou- Euro 5 emissions standard, which tions expected during the tour- “The green transportation plans coPhillips, Qatari Diar, Qatar toura, as well as a number of officials and represent- emits much less pollution than nament. Al Zarraa said, “By devel- will benefit the event and our National Bank (QNB). atives of Algerian companies. regular vehicles. Qatar is also oping a fully holistic network of nation for many years to come.” FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 HOME 03 Sustainability to take centre stage at Education City Golf Club

THE PENINSULA — DOHA Several MSEM students, including three Qataris, Education City Golf Club will be carried out the study across golf’s three main looking to better highlight the sustainability themes – nature, resources, positive social and environ- mental impact on the next and community – looking at ways to improve Commercial Bank Qatar efficiencies. GEO Foundation provided guidance Masters. Michael Braidwood, General to the students to focus the study on the key Manager, ECGC – a member of areas of impact across the tournament. Qatar Foundation (QF) – said: “Education City Golf Club is com- mitted to sustainability, ensuring by students from the Master of improve efficiencies. GEO it is a key pillar in the organi- Science in Sport and Enter- Foundation provided guidance zation. We strive to embrace sus- tainment Management (MSEM), to the students to focus the tainability in all its forms – social, offered by the College of study on the key areas of impact human, economical, and envi- Science and Engineering – part across the tournament. ronmental. We now look to con- of Hamad Bin Khalifa University Libi Newell, Tournament tinue our commitment to sustain- (HBKU), also a member of QF. Support for GEO Foundation, ability with Hamad Bin Khalifa HBKU’s MSEM program is a said: “We are delighted to see University.” joint degree with the University the partnership between HBKU ECGC is currently aligned to of South Carolina; the first mas- and the Commercial Bank Qatar the GEO Foundation for Sus- ter’s degree in sport and enter- Masters, and look forward to tainable Golf programs for golf tainment management in Qatar working with both as the tour- facility development and oper- and one of only a few in the nament’s sustainability program ations. Ultimately the goal is to MENA region. The program develops.” meet the international standard trains and prepares students for The HBKU students inter- for sustainable golf tourna- management and leadership viewed all the relevant sup- ments, with the Commercial roles in the sport and enter- pliers, such as temporary infra- Bank Qatar Masters becoming tainment industries. structure, energy and waste Once completed the document said: “We would like to thank to build local capacity within a GEO certified tournament Several MSEM students, contractors, tournament organ- will be utilized to develop the ECGC and GEO for providing the sport management industry over the coming years. including three Qataris, carried izers, and other relevant stake- 2022 tournament concept with our students with an oppor- and to integrate sustainability During the 2021 tour- out the study across golf’s three holders to complete the study. an emphasis on enhancing sus- tunity to collaborate on such a best practices in the learning nament, an audit took place to main sustainability themes – Observations were also be con- tainable practices. prestigious European Tour experiences of the next gener- develop an action plan for next nature, resources, and com- ducted on-site, following strict Dr. Kamilla Swart Arries, event. We have a shared ation of sport managers in year’s edition. It was conducted munity – looking at ways to social distancing protocols. Associate Professor, MSEM, responsibility and commitment Qatar.” QU webinar highlights MoPH reports seven COVID-19 strengthening children’s deaths, 800 new cases THE PENINSULA — DOHA A total of 24,557 doses of nutrition during pandemic COVID-19 vaccines have been Ministry of Public Health administered in 24 hours. The THE PENINSULA — DOHA administrators in several public (MoPH) has reported 800 new total number of vaccine doses and private schools. The kids cases of COVID-19 yesterday. administered since the start of The Department of Human enjoyed numerous activities Among them 210 were trav- the vaccination campaign is Nutrition at the College of Health and watched an animated video ellers returning from abroad. 1,345,423. Sciences, a member of the about food groups and healthy A total of 976 people “Every day, hundreds of QU-Health at Qatar University eating habits virtually with their recovered from COVID-19 yes- people are becoming sick due (QU), recently organized the Smart schoolteachers. terday, bringing the total to the COVID-19 with many Start programme throughout the Many school staff, parents, number of people recovered in requiring admission to hospital spring semester. Smart Start is a and children from different Qatar to 177,164. to manage their symptoms. nutrition education programme schools attended the webinar. The total number of pos- Since 1 February, the number promoting healthy lifestyles The symposium discussed itive COVID-19 cases recorded of people with COVID-19 targeting schoolchildren in Qatar. several main areas: foods that in Qatar is 196,580 and there admitted to hospital has The COVID-19 pandemic has support the immune system and are 22,228 active cases under doubled,” said the Ministry in shifted the dietary and lifestyle the importance of adopting a treatment. its daily COVID-19 report. habits of many families. The poor healthy and active lifestyle to The Ministry announced “Qatar’s strict quarantine diet quality and sedentary lifestyle strengthen the immune system. Children particpating in the Smart Start program seven new deaths, aged 23, 41, policy for returning travelers acquired may affect the immune Many factors can weaken the 48, 55, 60, 76 and 81 old of age enabled us to delay the intro- system and the disease suscepti- immune system, such as an incom- including viruses. activities, matching, and guessing taking the total death toll as of duction of new variants into bility. Therefore, the pro- plete diet, an unorganized sleep Teaching Assistants at the games, and solving a maze. today to 407. Five of them had this country for several months gramme’s purpose was to pattern, exposure to pollution, and Department of Human Nutrition “The webinar was very inform- chronic diseases and all of them but we are now seeing positive emphasize the importance of a lack of fresh air or sunlight. emphasized the importance of ative. It emphasized the importance received necessary medical COVID-19 cases in the region kids’ nutrition, introduce the The immune system protects including all food groups in the of nutrition in boosting immunity care. and in Qatar with the new var- parents to applying healthy the human body from patho- meal to boost immunity. The during the pandemic and gave us There are 91 cases of hos- iants from the UK,” the Ministry eating habits and active lifestyle genic microbes such as bacteria webinar provided many tips to new ideas to incorporate pital admissions in the last 24 added. among their children’s daily and viruses. Learning healthy schedule meals, prepare lunch healthy eating habits. Our kids hours taking the total number According to the Ministry, routine, strategies to boost their eating habits, consuming the boxes, engage in daily fun activ- enjoyed the activities with their of patients in the hospital to the new variant is much more immunity, staying active during correct diet, and developing a ities, and offer specialized strat- schoolteachers, learned about 1,236. Twenty-five were contagious and spread more the pandemic, and introduce the strong immune system that egies designed to deal with picky different food groups and the admitted to intensive care in easily between people than the kids to healthy eating. The virtual begins at a young age is crucial eaters. Moreover, virtual fun activ- importance of eating healthy the last 24 hours, and so 449 existing strain and may be webinars targeted parents, to deter health risks related to ities for kids were included in the and being active”, parents people continue to receive associated with increased schoolteachers, and various diseases and their causes, program, such as my plate said. medical attention in ICU. severity of disease. QU hosts activity to promote body positivity among female students

THE PENINSULA — DOHA of a weight-inclusive approach grateful for about their body. that focuses on weight, health, They were asked to place the Qatar University (QU) Public and wellbeing. The HAES postcard somewhere they could health students conducted an approach supports processes see it each day. activity on health at every size that enhance health irre- Sana Elashie said after the promotion focused on spective of their body size or last station, participants chose to increasing body positivity and weight. It does not contend that spend additional time comparing reducing internalized weight- people are healthy at any size; and congratulating each other on based oppression in female instead, the approach contends their results, talking about their students. The results have been that people of any size can be gratitude statements, and published in the prestigious empowered to improve their engaging in discussion with the journal Body Image. health by adopting behaviors that student organisers about the Senior students from the QU are not focused on body weight. principles of the HAES. Department of Public Health, Over 100 students participated The impact of the activity Sana Elashie, and Hanaa in the activity, which involved was profound for many partici- Ahmed, under the supervision four stations. The first station pants, 35 of whom participated Garangao preparations of Dr. Lily O’Hara, Associate consisted of participants stepping in the evaluation. At the 10-week Professor of Public Health, were on a Yay!Scale a scale where the follow-up, one participant com- As the country gets ready to celebrate Garangao, the shops at the Souq Waqif have started witnessing supported by a QU Student numbers are replaced with pos- mented, “It made me reflect on increase in number of people buying gifts, sweets and dresses and other related items for the Research Grant to evaluate the itive affirmations such as what exactly I like about my traditional festival. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA activity using a mix of methods amazing, beautiful, glorious, body, and this reflection made including an online question- wonderful, and awesome. me realize that I don’t appreciate naire and interview. The eval- “We used the Yay!Scale to my body enough and I needed uation demonstrated that body highlight the principle of weight to do something about it.” MES celebrates Earth Day 2021 acceptance and appreciation inclusivity which is focused on Another participant said, “I THE PENINSULA — DOHA increased significantly after the rejecting idealizing or pathol- now appreciate my body more 6th & 7th periods. ‘Be a Designer’ in the form of power-point on event and were sustained at the ogizing specific weights, and to than ever, and I thank god for With an objective to promote (painting) activity was organized various environmental issues like 10-week follow-up. provide an alternative outcome giving me this body. I now love environmental awareness and for the Kindergarten. ‘Poster adverse effects of rampant con- Dr. Lily explained, “Weight- for a practice steeped in fear every single detail about my body sensitize students about the need Designing’ for classes I-IV, ‘Best struction activities, cutting down based oppression, including neg- and anxiety for many women,” and cherish it because I now con- for the protection of our planet, out of Waste’ for classes V-VIII of trees, pollution, destruction of ative attitudes about body weight, Hanaa Ahmed said. sider all these imperfections to MES Indian School commemo- and ‘Collage Making’ for classes forest and extinction of wild life and harassment, stigma, and dis- At the second station, partic- be beautiful parts of who I am, rated ‘The Earth Day’ on April 20 IX and X provided students a etc. Virtual Certificates were crimination based on body ipants were given a sticker with parts that I will refuse to change.” under the theme ‘Together, We platform to showcase their awarded to encourage the stu- weight, is a widespread phe- the same affirmations, asked to The researchers concluded that Can Restore Our Earth’. artistic and creative skills. dents for their active participation. nomenon that leads to consid- place it on their chest or arm to brief Health at Every Size A special assembly was held Students made creative Hameeda Kadar, Principal erable distress and poor health reinforce and extend the impact informed health promotion virtually to celebrate the day, products like wall hangings, cards, appreciated the efforts of the and wellbeing outcomes. Con- of the positive affirmation, and activities show excellent wherein the students gave pen stands, bags, paper box, students and urged them to be versely, body positivity is a multi- display to other participants a potential to improve health and speeches in their respective flowers and even beautiful dresses. grateful to the Mother Earth for faceted concept that encom- wide variety of complements. At wellbeing. This study adds to the classes followed by students’ ‘Be a Reporter activity’ (Power- all its bountiful gifts in the form passes body acceptance, body the third station, participants had body of knowledge that HAES- pledge to preserve and conserve Point Presentation) gave the stu- of flora, fauna and beautiful appreciation, and body love, and their instant photos taken with informed approaches are more their self-sustaining planet. The dents of Classes XI and XII an landscapes. The teachers-in- adaptive approaches protective the stickers visible. At the fourth effective in improving physio- students of K.G-I to XII enthusi- opportunity to play the role of charge of the day’s event were of health and wellbeing.” station, participants were given logical, psychological, and astically participated in various young environment reporters and Jency George, Celci Sebastian, The Health at Every Size a postcard to stick their photos behavioral factors than weight activities organized by the these budding, inquisitive jour- Sumayyabi Shanuj, Sibby Shaji, (HAES) approach is an example and write three things they are loss treatments. Campus Care Force during the nalists compiled interesting reports and Nisha George. 04 MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 Sanctions-battered Iran faces worst virus wave AP — TEHRAN Saeed Khal, the coronavirus. The cemetery had never processed that many As Iran faces what looks like its director of Tehran’s burials in a single day, not even worst wave of the coronavirus main cemetery, during Iran’s war with Iraq in pandemic yet, Tehran the 1980s that saw 1 million commuters still pour into its said workers buried people killed. subway system and buses each 350 bodies there on It was “one of the hardest working day, even as images of Tuesday alone — at and saddest days for my col- the gasping ill are repeatedly leagues in the half-century- shown on state television every least 150 had died history of the cemetery,” Khal night. of coronavirus. The told state TV. After facing criticism for So much is the influx that downplaying the virus last year, cemetery had never some burials are being delayed Iranian authorities have put processed that many by a day, unusual for Iran which partial lockdowns and other follows the Islamic practice of measures back in place to try burials in a single day, immediately burying the dead. and slow the virus’ spread. not even during Iran’s Outside the gates of But in this nation of 84 war with Iraq in the Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hos- million people, which faces pital complex, where the capi- Restaurants turn to food delivery to beat virus crushing US sanctions, many 1980s. tal’s poor can receive free struggle to earn enough to feed treatment at its 1,300 beds, Employees prepare food for delivery inside a restaurant, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in their families. Economic scores crowded around one Amman, Jordan. pressure, coupled with the world and the worst-hit in the recent day as guards turned growing uncertainty over when Middle East. away routine cases and allowed vaccines will be widely Across Tehran, journalists in only test-confirmed corona- available in the Islamic have seen signs of the pan- virus cases. Police search cryptocurrency Republic, have many simply demic’s toll. “They say the wards are full giving up on social distancing, At Tehran’s Shohadaye of corona patients,” said considering it an unaffordable Tajrish Hospital, orderlies Manijeh Taheri, who sought a luxury. That has public health pushed the bodies of two regular thyroid treatment for trading firm in Turkey officials worried the worst of victims of the coronavirus her mother at the hospital. “I the pandemic still may be yet across a parking lot to its have no idea where to take her REUTERS — ANKARA Istanbul police said the volatility in company accounts to come. morgue, one wrapped in white, when such a huge complex has company’s founder and CEO and that transactions were “I cannot stop working,” the other in a black body bag. no place for my mother.” Police searched the head- Faruk Fatih Ozer had flown to halted to determine the reason. said Mostafa Shahni, a worried All of its wards on five floors of Field hospitals are being quarters of a cryptocurrency the Albanian capital Tirana on Thodex said financial 34-year-old construction the hospital are reserved for prepared in Tehran and other trading platform provider in Tuesday. authorities found no irregular- worker in Tehran. “If I do, I coronavirus patients. One major cities. State TV has shown Istanbul yesterday, after thou- The financial crimes inves- ities in company accounts. It can’t bring home bread for my empty gurney held a bouquet images at hospitals outside the sands of Turks filed criminal tigation board MASAK blocked said Ozer would return to wife and two kids.” of roses left for a recently capital with patients being complaints against the the company’s accounts on Turkey in the coming days and Iran is now reporting its deceased man. A heart-shaped treated in hallways. company saying they had been Wednesday and began an cooperate with judicial highest-ever new coronavirus balloon hovered over a still “We are not going out of the scammed and were unable to investigation, a MASAK source authorities. case numbers — more than respirator. red zone any time soon,” access their accounts. said. The 24-hour trading volume 25,000 a day. Its daily death toll At the massive Behesht-e- Deputy Health Minister Alireza The Thodex cryptocurrency Thodex said that “negative” on Thodex was $538m on its has surged to around 400, still Zahra cemetery, already reeling Raisi told state media. trading platform, which had media reports about it were last trading day, according to below the grim record of 486 it from the pandemic, workers President Hassan Rouhani been handling daily cryptocur- untrue, and that banks and Coinmarketcap. reached in November. laid cinder-block rows of new blames the current surge on the rency trade worth hundreds of funds — which it would identify The company could not be During the peak of Iran’s graves. Mourners in black wept fast-spreading variant of the millions of dollars, said on its later — wanted to invest in the reached for comment on last surge, around 20,000 coro- at a stream of funerals. Officials virus first found in Britain, website on Thursday it would company and had proposed a Thursday. It was not possible to navirus patients were hospi- plan to open a new morgue at which the government says be closed for four to five days partnership. reach Ozer for comment. talized across the country. the site to handle the wave of arrived from neighboring Iraq. due to a sale process. “For this process to be com- Last week Turkey banned Today, that figure has topped death, much wrought by what Travel between the countries But users who have not pleted, transactions need to be the use of crypto assets for pay- 40,000. Iranians simply call “corona.” has been restricted since March, been able to withdraw money halted and the sale process ments, adding to factors that The health ministry warns Saeed Khal, the director of though people and commerce or access their accounts voiced needs to be completed,” it said sent Bitcoin down 14 percent at the number will climb to Tehran’s main cemetery, said continue to cross each day. concern on Twitter that they in a statement on its website. the weekend. Turkey’s central 60,000 in the coming weeks. workers buried 350 bodies Overall, Iran has seen 2.2 may have been defrauded, in Thodex said in a separate bank cited “irreparable” Iran remains among the there on Tuesday alone — at million reported cases and comments widely picked up by statement yesterday that last damages and transaction risks hardest-hit countries in the least 150 had died of 67,000 deaths in total. Turkish media. week it detected abnormal as reasons for the ban.

Afghanistan, Jordan releases alleged plotters following King’s appeal Pakistan and Turkey AP — AMMAN denied being part of any plot while the investigation pro- holy month of tolerance and palace under the king’s care. to discuss peace and accused authorities of ceeds. They have not yet solidarity, when we all wish to The two appeared in public Jordan released 16 people trying to silence his criticism of received royal pardons, she be with our families, I ask the together earlier this month for prospects detained earlier this month over corruption and misrule in the said. relevant officials to look into the the first time since the rift in a an alleged foreign-backed country, which is a close She said the king did not proper mechanism to have show of unity. It’s unclear REUTERS — ANKARA conspiracy linked to a former Western ally. mention Prince Hamzah those who were misled into fol- what, if any, restrictions are crown prince after H M King Two of those arrested, because the dispute had been lowing the sedition return to still being imposed on the The foreign ministers of Abdullah II requested they be former senior royal officials resolved within the royal family. their families soon,” the king prince. Afghanistan, Pakistan and let go in honor of the holy Bassem Awadallah and Sharif The king asked authorities said, according to a palace The dispute was a rare Turkey will hold talks in month of Ramadan. Hassan bin Zaid, remain in to look into releasing the statement. public feud at the highest levels Istanbul today, Turkey said, The 16, including tribal detention. detainees — some of whom He added that if the of the monarchy. Jordan is a after a wider Afghan peace leaders and former senior offi- Wafaa Bani Mustafa, a come from powerful tribes on “sedition” had not been halted, close Western ally that has long conference was postponed cials, were arrested during a former Parliament member which the monarchy has his- “it could have taken the country been seen as a bastion of sta- because the Taliban said they crackdown in which authorities who attended a meeting with torically relied — following a in a difficult direction, God bility in a volatile region. It would not participate. placed Prince Hamzah, the the king on Thursday, said the petition from their relatives. forbid.” borders Israel, the occupied The planned peace talks in king’s half-brother, under a 16 were released to spend the “As a father and a brother Abdullah has said that West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Turkey were scheduled for form of house arrest. The prince holidays with their families to all Jordanians, and in this Hamzah is at home in his own Saudi Arabia. April 24 to fast-track an agreement between the Taliban and Afghan gov- ernment in light of the Gaza medics stretched as announcement by Washington that foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by Sep- virus spikes during Ramadan tembner 11. No new date has REUTERS — GAZA/JERUSALEM Graveyards are also feeling the been set for those talks. strain. In Gaza City, gravedigger Turkey’s foreign ministry The sick and dying are rapidly pushing Mohammad Al Haresh told Reuters he said today’s three-way Gaza’s hospitals close to capacity amid had been burying up to 10 COVID-19 meeting would cover “recent a surge in COVID-19 cases in the victims per day, up from one or two a developments regarding the impoverished Palestinian territory, month ago. Afghan peace process, coop- health officials said. “Wartime was difficult, but the eration in the fields of security, Palestinians fear a combination of coronavirus has been much harder for energy, connectivity and poverty, medical shortages, vaccine us,” said Haresh, who dug graves irregular migration”. scepticism, poor COVID-19 data and throughout the 2014 Israel-Gaza war. mass gatherings during Ramadan could “In war, we would dig graves or accelerate the increase, which began bury the dead during a truce or Syria gets 200,000 before the start of the Muslim holy ceasefire. With the coronavirus, there vaccine doses under month on April 13. is no truce.” Gaza health officials said around Densely populated and home to 2 COVAX scheme 70 percent of intensive care unit beds million Palestinians, Gaza has for years were occupied, up from 37 percent at had limited access to the outside world REUTERS — AMMAN the end of March. There were 86 deaths because of a blockade led by Israel and over the past six days, an increase of supported by Egypt. Syria’s government has 43 percent over the week before. Both countries cite security con- received its first delivery of “The hospitals are almost at full cerns over Hamas, the Islamist militant COVID-19 vaccines through capacity. They’re not quite there yet, group that controls the Gaza Strip, the global COVAX initiative, but severe and critical cases have saying they want to stop money and with almost 200,000 doses of increased significantly in the last three weapons entering. the AstraZeneca shot, UN offi- weeks, which is a concern,” said Dr. Palestinians say the blockade cials said yesterday. Ayadil Saparbekov, head of the World amounts to collective punishment and A joint statement by Unicef, Health Organization’s Health Emer- that it has crippled Gaza’s economy and the World Health Organisation gencies Team in the Palestinian medical infrastructure, with shortages (WHO) and the GAVI vaccine Territories. of critical supplies and equipment alliance said the delivery was Gaza’s daily positivity rate reached hampering their ability to tackle the “critical and timely” and would as high as 43 percent this week, pandemic. The situation in Gaza is a help health workers “to con- although Saparbekov said that number stark contrast to Israel, where a world- tinue delivering life-saving could be inflated because a shortage beating vaccination rollout has led to services in an already of tests meant they were mostly given more than 53 percent of Israelis being exhausted health system as a to people already showing symptoms. fully vaccinated. result of the decade-long war.” Saparbekov also said Gaza does Amid growing concern, Hamas will Another 53,800 vaccines not have the capacity to identify highly on Thursday begin a week of nightly were delivered to the oppo- infectious COVID-19 variants when curfews, shutting down mosques that sition-held north-west, which testing, meaning there is little data on host hundreds of worshippers for was an area that has seen them. Ramadan evening prayers. large-scale displacement. FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 ISLAM 05

For example, we hear that the participants in the battle of Badr procured the most Becoming soldiers of truth remarkable status with SPAHIC OMER Allah, for it was the first ife is an endless and multi-tiered and most decisive battle confrontation between good and in Islam. However, out of Levil. It is a battleground in every fewer than 400 Muslims who sense of the word. Almighty Allah says that He created life and death “to put participated, we do not know you to the test and see which of you is — or hardly know— many most virtuous in your deeds” (Al Mulk, of them. They were simple 2). As such, this life is the only oppor- tunity to secure the pleasure and and little known soldiers and blessings of the Creator and the bliss companions of the Prophet of the Hereafter. (PBUH). Nonetheless, they Man is the main protagonist in such a state of affairs. He is the most restive, were Badr participants, about fretful, and anxious being. That is why whom the Prophet (PBUH) sometimes, with proper guidance and said: “Perhaps Allah looked virtue on-board, man can be like an angel, but at other times, without upon the people of Badr and proper guidance and virtue, he can be said: ‘Do what you wish, worse than devil. He can be the worst for I have forgiven you’” (Al and most dangerous animal. As Aristotle once said, without Bukhari and Muslim). virtue, man is the most unholy and the most savage of animals, and the worst with regard to lust and gluttony. do not have to be generals, leaders, or Mark Twain also said that “of all commanders. Being just soldiers of the animals, man is the only one that truth — outwardly even anonymous is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts ones — is good enough. Allah knows pain for the pleasure of doing it.” Hence about everyone, his efforts and con- a Latin proverb “Homo homini lupus”, be upon him) warned that: Islam will overwhelming that one who is still whereas the latter is not. It will be unjust tributions, and He knows the extent of which means “A man is a wolf to revert to being strange as it began (so guided and would like to contribute to burden a person with that which is everyone’s sincerity and purity of his another man.” Both Sigmund Freud give glad tidings to the strangers); fol- something for the benefit of Islam, beyond his ability and control. It is thus intentions as well as goals. Nothing will and Thomas Hobbes – among others lowing true Islam will be like grasping Muslims and the whole world, often Allah’s rule that He does not burden be underestimated or wasted. What is – subscribed to the message of the a hot coal; true knowledge will be tends to lose focus and resoluteness. people beyond what they can bear. important is to participate sincerely, maxim. taken away (will vanish) and ignorance Yet, his will and even hope are put at In essence, we do not have to and not to be among those who do Anyway, life is what life is and what will prevail; deceit will be widespread stake. Struggling for inspiration and change anything. We should only keep nothing, are indecisive and lethargic, its Creator wanted it to be. It is not what to the point where people will believe drive, one starts wondering what trying. We need to take care of what is and demotivate and weaken others. In we ineptly perceive, or as a result of liars but disbelieve those who tell the exactly he can do and whether his precisely under our jurisdiction, and Islam, generally, quality takes prece- our fantasies would like it to be. truth, and will trust those who are small contributions will be of any then try what is possible around us. dence over quantity, and substance Life is an objective reality. It is not treacherous but distrust those who are benefit whatsoever. One wonders how Allah takes care of the rest, which is over form. simply a subjective state existing in the trustworthy; power and authority will his few drops of goodness can even beyond us but never escapes His ever- For example, we hear that the par- “mind of the perceiver”. be in the hands of incompetent indi- compare with an ocean of organized present attention and guardianship. ticipants in the battle of Badr procured Just like beauty, which is also a viduals; intoxicants will be consumed and institutionalized malevolence and Our duty is to live and die with the most remarkable status with Allah, dimension of objective reality, and which in great quantities; immorality will be sin. Before he even starts, such a person knowledge and certitude, with honour for it was the first and most decisive is not a subjective state present only in prevalent and common; and bloodshed wants to give up. and dignity. We should always try to battle in Islam. However, out of fewer the “eye of the beholder.” Beauty is what will increase. At the same time, the The above attitude is wrong be assets, not liabilities. If we cannot than 400 Muslims who participated, beauty is, regardless of what people Prophet (PBUH) highlighted all these because of the following: be useful and productive, we should we do not know — or hardly know— might feel and say about it. as the signs and portents of the end of Islam is intentions and efforts, rather not make the situation more difficult. many of them. They were simple and We do not – and cannot – live life time and the Day of Judgment. than results, oriented. That is fair, Furthermore, in the on-going con- little known soldiers and companions according to our own limited will and The problems are so many and so because the former is in our hands, frontations between good and evil, we of the Prophet (PBUH). Nonetheless, foolish fancies, but according to the they were Badr participants, about infinite will and wise plan of the whom the Prophet (PBUH) said: Creator and Sustainer of life. Life is so “Perhaps Allah looked upon the people beautiful, meaningful, and conse- The month that witnessed great events of Badr and said: ‘Do what you wish, quential for the former scenario to be for I have forgiven you’” (Al Bukhari the case. Only such as have lost clarity IHSAN ASLAM even when they had migrated to Madinah (Medina). After and Muslim). and a sense of purpose and direction, two years this conflict culminated in the Battle of Badr, The same could be said about a and have allowed their pride and self- amadan is more than just the month of fasting or named thus because of the locality where the battle took great many members of all the subse- centerdness to take over instead, can personal piety. It recalls the past, taking one to the place. Badr is towards the south west of Madinah and lies quent historic battles and their martyrs, entertain such an incongruous Rvery foundations of Islam, and prods one to mull between Madinah and Makkah. such as the battles of Uhud, Khandaq, proposition. over the significance of historic occasions such as the battle The Quran refers to the day of the Battle of Badr as Fath or conquest of Makkah, Hunayn, Today in the age of globalization of Badr and the conquest of Makkah. It is the month, Yawm Al Furqan, the Day of Distinction between belief Yarmuk, Qadisiyyah, Constantinople, and internet when all sorts of cor- therefore, of celebration, thanksgiving and reflection. and disbelief. It is also interpreted as the Day of Testing etc. Many persons were virtually ruption and mischief have spread If there is one month that can be designated the Islamic for Muslims. Against all odds, the meager Muslims defeated unknown and undistinguished. Nev- throughout the land, sea, air and space, history month, it has to be Ramadan. Traditionally known the strong non-Muslim force on Ramadan 17. The nascent ertheless, they were fighters for the when Islamophobes dominate the as the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan is rooted in Muslim community survived this crucial encounter and sake of Allah and on His path (soldiers world and public opinion, and when Islamic history. It is the month for striving against oneself thereafter gained continuous momentum and strength. of truth), as a result of which they were there is so much rule and power con- and conquering one’s will, but it is also the month marked The second great Islamic event that took place in granted greatest rewards and highest centrated in the wrong hands, which by the most significant external struggles and triumphs in Ramadan was Fatah Makkah (the conquest of Makkah) on stations in Paradise. are constantly being used for wrong the history of Islam, namely the battle of Badr and the con- Ramadan 20, 8 AH (630 AD) when Muslims victoriously This is because we are supposed to ends — to be a Muslim, live and defend quest of Makkah. entered the city after being forced into exile for eight years do things not for people, and not even Islam, is a unique challenge. Ramadan’s significance derives primarily from the fact and after 21 years of long struggle. This event marked the for ourselves, but for Allah Who is Al Moreover, this is a time when, iron- that it is the month when the Quran was revealed to ultimate victory of the Islamic forces in Arabia and marked Shakur, which means the Most Appre- ically in the name of progress, civili- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Quran the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind. ciative, the Grateful, the Recognizer zation, and modernity, man kills more records the event: “The month of Ramadan is when the The conquest of Makkah takes one even further back and the Rewarder of good, Who mul- of his own kind, destroys more eco- Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind, with in time. Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismael (peace tiplies our good deeds and abundantly systems, and causes more species to explanations for guidance and as a standard”. Muslims be upon them) had purified and raised the foundation of rewards for yet the slightest good that go extinct than any other animal on recall how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the Bait-Allah, the House of Allah, the Kaaba in Makkah, for we do. earth. very first revelation - “Read in the name of your Lord...” the sole worship of God. Later the people degenerated into In this manner, a person may be Intellectual, spiritual, and moral - while meditating alone high up in the mountains shirk (polytheism), associating partners with God. The Arabs unknown or unappreciated on earth, anarchies also reign supreme. Agnos- around Makkah. started believing in hundreds of gods and goddesses, and but is highly esteemed and recom- ticism, atheism, nihilism and hedonism The verse that actually deals with fasting - “...fasting kept stone idols in the Kaaba. pensed in the spiritual kingdom. Those are the rules of the day. To be skep- has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for With the historical conquest of Makkah and the return who possess this outlook cannot be tical, immoral, faithless, and ignorant those before you...” - also reminds one of the past (“those of Islam to Arabia, the Kaaba was cleansed and purified. ensnared by Satan whose primary as regards truth and virtue, is cham- before you”). So both the commencement of revelation As he entered the Kaaba and smashed the idols, the Prophet objective is to dishonour and degrade pioned as a form of self-worth and and the order to fast takes one back to the very roots of recited, “And say, the Truth has come and falsehood gone, people and discourage them from integrity. In addition, faith, certainty Islam and highlights the past that is sometimes forgotten. verily falsehood is bound to perish”. doing good. Satan lies in wait and tries and righteousness, and their people, The references to the past, are mentioned in the Quran as Ramadan is therefore more than just the month of to convince people that they are useless are persistently challenged, disparaged constant reminders. fasting or personal piety. The month recalls the past, taking and contemptable. Instilling apathy, and put on endless ontological trial. The Battle of Badr took place on Ramadan 17, 2 AH one to the very foundations of Islam, and prods one to despondency, pessimism and uncer- In short, this is a time — and (624 AD). For years Muslims had been persecuted in mull over the significance of historic events. tainty in the minds and hearts of Almighty Allah knows best — about Makkah and were still pursued, harassed and attacked www.islamicity.org people, without doubt, is Satan’s most which the Prophet (peace and blessings potent weapon. www.islamicity.org

Best ways for glorifying Allah Always keep your copybook clean

he best Dhikr (mention of Allah) at magine there was a copybook in your deeds before they get weighed sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: be pleased with him, recited chapter all and the best Tasbeeh is the which you wrote down all the for you, because reckoning tomorrow “No! O daughter of as-Siddeeq (the At-Toor in the Holy Quran until he TQuran. No doubt about that. Igood and bad deeds you do (the day of Resurrection) becomes one who verifies the truth; an appel- reached the verse which says “Verily, There are other forms of Dhikr that every day, all your life. If you pos- easier when you hold yourselves for lation for Abu Bakr, may Allah be the Torment of your Lord will surely have great merit such as saying: ‘Laa Ilaaha sessed such a book, what would you reckoning today; get prepared for the pleased with him); in fact they are come to pass.”( 52: 7). Then he cried Illa Allaah Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu do? Would you try to count your major exhibition (i.e. the Day you will those who fast, pray and spend in so hard that he became physically ill Lahul Mulku Wa Lahul Hamdu Wa Huwa good deeds and your sins? Would meet Allah) as on that day you will charity, yet they fear that Allah and people visited him on account Ala Kulli Shayeen Qadeer (100 times). you look at your good deeds and be exposed and nothing will be might not accept from them; those of this ailment. It was reported that “Whoever says take pride over them? Would you hidden.” are the ones who rush into per- Whenever Uthmaan ibn Affaan, it (the above Dhikr) 100 times in a day, look at your sins and regret them? Allah praised the obedient forming righteous deeds.” (Tirmithi, may Allah be pleased with him, used it is as if he had freed ten slaves, he gets Would you wonder if there was a people saying in the Holy Quran: Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad) to stand by a grave, he would cry 100 rewards and one hundred of his sins way to erase them, so that you Indeed, they who are apprehensive This is how our honourable until his beard becomes wet and say, are erased, and it (this Dhikr) becomes could meet Allah, the Almighty, on from fear of their Lord. And they Salaf (righteous predecessors) were. “If I am standing in a place between a protection for him from Satan all that the Day of Resurrection and receive who believe in the signs of their They always tried to come close to Paradise and Hellfire, and do not day until the evening and nobody will your Book of Deeds in the right Lord. And they who do not asso- Allah, the Almighty, by performing know to which of the two Allah will do anything better than what he did hand? ciate anything with their Lord. And good deeds, and they rushed command that I go, I would choose except someone who did more than him.” If such thoughts have crossed they who give what they give while towards Him with different types to become dust before knowing my (Reported by Al Bukhaari and Muslim) your mind, you should know that you their hearts are fearful because they of virtues and acts of worship. They destiny.” Muslim also reported from Abu can keep your copybook clean by will be returning to their Lord. It is held themselves to account for mis- ‘Ali ibn Abu Taalib, may Allah be Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, holding yourself to account. The early those who hasten to good deeds, takes they had committed, and most pleased with him, used to fear two that the Prophet, (peace be upon him) said: generations of Muslims were in the and they outstrip others therein. of all, they feared that Allah, the things the most, following his desires “Whoever says, when he gets up in the habit of holding themselves to ( 23: 57-61) Almighty, might not accept their and having a (false) hope of living morning and after sunset: Subhana Allaah account regularly and would Aaishah, may Allah be pleased deeds from them. long; he used to say, ‘As for the hope Wabi Hamdihi one hundred times, nobody encourage each other to do the same. with her, said: ‘I asked the Prophet Abu Bakr,may Allah be pleased of living long, it makes one forget the will do anything better than him except ‘Umar ibn Al Khattaab, may Allah (peace be upon him) about this verse with him, used to hold his own Hereafter, and as for following one’s the one who did the same (number) or be pleased with him, said: “Hold saying, ‘Are those who consume tongue and say, ‘This is what will desires it prevents one from fol- more.” www.islamweb.net yourselves into account before you alcohol, commit adultery or forni- cause my destruction.’ lowing the truth’. are held into reckoning, and weigh cation, and steal?’ The Prophet ‘Umar ibn Al Khattaab, may Allah www.islamweb.net 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 France defends Chad military takeover AGENCIES — PARIS/ N’DJAMENA “There are exceptional Le Drian, who will travel with President Emmanuel France’s foreign minister circumstances,” Macron today for Deby’s yesterday defended a military France's Foreign funeral and to hold talks with takeover in Chad despite objec- Minister told the military council, made no tions from the opposition there, mention of the 18-month time saying it was necessary for France 2 television. frame. security amid “exceptional “Logically, it should He said the priority was for circumstances”. the military council to play the The son of Chad’s slain be Mr Kabadi...but main role in ensuring stability leader Idriss Deby took over as he refused because and then turn its attention to a president and armed forces peaceful and transparent tran- commander on Wednesday and of the exceptional sition to democracy. dissolved the government and security reasons that “It’s the moment for it to be parliament as rebel forces done when the security of the threatened to march on the were needed to ensure country has really been estab- capital. the stability of this lished,” Le Drian said. Kenya extends curfew to control virus spread Under the constitution, the country.” He did not expect Chadian speaker of the National troops to pullout from opera- Police officers control traffic as motorists drive home along a highway during the extended curfew Assembly should have become tions elsewhere in the Sahel to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. interim president. But after the in France’s security strategy in region. military had already shut down Africa. The rebels, the Libyan- parliament, speaker Haroun France has about 5,100 based Front for Change and Kabadi said in a statement that troops based across the region Concord in Chad, a group African countries urged to use vaccines “given the military, security and as part of international opera- formed by dissident army political context”, he had agreed tions to fight Islamist militants, officers, rejected the military’s to a military transition “with full including its main base in plan and said on Wednesday quickly after expiry confusion lucidity”. N’Djamena. that a pause in hostilities they French Foreign Minister Any instability in Chad, are observing to give time for REUTERS — JOHANNESBURG not administered before the “We are in an emergency situ- Jean-Yves Le Drian said which has the region’s best- Deby to be buried would end at April 13 expiry date on the ation, and it is my appeal to all Kabadi’s position justified the trained and most battled- midnight. The African Union’s disease packaging. member states that when you military taking control. hardened troops, would harm Meanwhile, Chad’s political control body yesterday urged The doses were supplied via get your vaccines, put down the “There are exceptional cir- efforts to fight Boko Haram in opposition has urged the mil- countries to use COVID-19 the AU thanks to a donation right systems to use those vac- cumstances,” Le Drian told the Lake Chad Basin and groups itary to hand over power to a vaccines donated to them from telecoms group MTN cines quickly.” African coun- France 2 television. linked to al Qaeda and Islamic civilian transitional gov- quickly to save lives and liveli- South Sudan has set aside tries have struggled to secure “Logically, it should be Mr State in the Sahel. ernment following the killing hoods, after confusion in 59,000 doses supplied by the enough COVID-19 vaccines to Kabadi...but he refused because Deby’s son, General of longtime President Idriss Malawi and South Sudan about AU and does not plan to use roll out mass immunisation of the exceptional security Mahamat Idriss Deby, said on Deby Itno, saying yeserday that whether doses they received them because of the same campaigns. reasons that were needed to Wednesday the army wanted the immediate appointment of had expired. expiry issue, a government Many are reliant on dona- ensure the stability of this to return power to a civilian the slain leader’s son as interim “My appeal to member official said last week. tions from global vaccine dis- country.” government and hold free and leader amounted to a “coup states is: if we are doing our But Nkengasong, the conti- tribution scheme COVAX, which Chad’s political opposition democratic elections in 18 d’etat.” part to mobilise these vaccines, nent’s top public health official, is co-led by the World Health has denounced the military’s months. As the rebels blamed for you do your part and use the said the Africa CDC had Organization and partners takeover, as did an army “We know that the military Deby’s death threatened to vaccines,” John Nkengasong, informed countries receiving including the Gavi vaccines general who said he spoke for and France forced his hand,” overtake N’Djamena, some res- director of the Africa Centres the donations that the shots alliance. many officers. Labour unions Yacine Abderamane Sakine, idents of the city of one million for Disease Control and Pre- could be used until mid-July, Nkengasong said that so far called for a workers’ strike. president of the Reformist feared violence and began vention (Africa CDC), told a based on a further analysis con- 15 million COVID-19 vaccine Idriss Deby was killed on Party, said. “The argument that trying to leave. Others remained news conference. ducted by the Serum Institute. doses had been administered the frontlines of a battle against the president of the National inside their homes despite Malawi plans to destroy “The Serum Institute in Africa, out of a population of rebels who had invaded from Assembly is old and sick is not authorities’ calls for life to more than 16,000 doses of expanded that deadline based 1.3 billion. The Africa CDC has the north. An authoritarian credible.” This had been a coup resume as normal after the AstraZeneca’s vaccine manu- on their own analysis to July 13, set a target of vaccinating 60% ruler for more than 30 years, d’etat transferring power from president of three decades was factured by the Serum Institute and we shared that information of the continent’s population, he was nonetheless a lynchpin father to son, he said. slain. of India because the shots were with the countries,” he said. or 750 million people.

More embryos developed to save ‘Sudan, Egypt need to join Ethiopia to save Nile basin’ ANADOLU — ADDIS ABABA meeting the White Nile River “An ever-growing demand livelihoods. They lead a hand- they want the water for them- white rhinos, just north of the Sudanese for food, shelter, and fuelwood to-mouth existence. selves only, they want the soil says Kenya As Earth Day was being capital of Khartoum. It con- by a fast-increasing population “The land degradation is being washed away from Ethi- observed yesterday to show tributes more than 85 percent means that forests get depleted aggravated due to torrents opian highlands,” he said. support for protecting the envi- of water to the Nile River. exposing the soil, which then created by the sloppiness within Estimates suggest that ANADOLU — NAIROBI ronment, an expert is urging He said that by traversing the gets eroded,” he said, adding the the basin resulting in consid- Ethiopia is losing 1.5 million Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt to basin, one can easily see gorges, situation was a cause of wors- erable soil getting washed away metric tons of fertile soil from The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in join hands to replenish the widening gullies, thinning ening food insecurity and deep- to the downstream countries of the Abbay basin annually. This Kenya yesterday announced degraded Abbay or Blue Nile forests, and all the other signs of ening poverty. Egypt and Sudan,” said Belay. alluvial soil rich in nutrients that four new embryos of the River Basin. land degradation. Identifying policy gaps, the He said Egypt and Sudan unloads on the plains of Sudan nearly extinct northern white Ethiopian environmental “The basin is very wide and professor said there was a need instead of cooperating with and Egypt. rhinos had been developed, researcher, Belay Semane covers 30 percent of Ethiopia’s to stop hillside farming, open- Ethiopia to save the river basin “Egypt and Sudan should be promising the endangered lamented that these countries total land area,” said Belay, who land grazing by livestock, and are engaged in opposing the $5 making payment for ecosystem animal a new lease on life. were fighting on peripheral is a professor and instructor at preventing mountains, forest billion worth GERD. He said service to Ethiopia, a practice Sudan, the last male issues like water sharing, safety, the Department of Environ- lands, and gorges from human these neighbouring countries familiar in Southern Africa and northern white rhino, died in and size of Grand Ethiopian mental Studies and Agricultural activity. should have cooperated with Asia to keep the health of the 2018 in Kenya leaving behind Renaissance Dam (GERD) rather Development at the Addis An estimated 90-95 percent Ethiopia to find ways to ecosystem of the source country only two infertile females. than discussing ways to save the Ababa University. of the population within the replenish the degraded lands of or region,” said. Scientists, who had stored source of water and its basin. He said that 50% of the Abbay basin – a vast area that the Abbay basin, the major He asked the Ethiopian gov- Sudan’s sperm, have been The Blue Nile or the Abay country’s agricultural output stretches from Jimma in south- source of the Nile water. ernment to make such a working hard to develop River, a tributary of the main comes from the basin that is western Ethiopia in Oromia “But it so happened that the demand formally in the future. embryos which they plan to Nile River originates at Lake also inhabited by about 35 State to Tekezze River in the downstream countries have “While one milks the cow, one use on surrogate female Tana in Ethiopia and travels for million of the country’s 110 northwestern part of the country their eyes fixed only on the needs to take care of its health,” southern white rhinos multiple approximately 1,450km, before million population. – depends on agriculture for the short-term flow of the river; he added. times to create a herd of pure northern white rhinos which will be reintegrated into the wild. Namibia’s indigenous leaders The Ol Pejeta Conservancy on Thursday said: “The interna- tional consortium of scientists want big oil out of Kavango Basin and conservationists working towards preventing the AL JAZEERA — WINDHOEK licence by the Namibian Min- Energy, said in a statement, extinction of the northern white istry of Mines and Energy to adding that if oil were found, it rhino through advanced assisted The Okavango Delta is home to explore the Kavango Basin, a could lead to the creation of reproduction technologies is some of the world’s most region that spreads across the “employment opportunities” as pleased to announce that in threatened species, including northeast part of Namibia as well as lessen the country’s March and April 2021, four addi- endangered African wild dogs well as the northwest part of “dependence on the import of tional northern white rhino and cheetah, white rhinoceros, Botswana. oil and gas”. embryos were produced.” black rhinoceros, and lions. In January, Reconnaissance But environmentalists and Kenya’s Tourism and The delta – a World Her- Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) community leaders fear the oil Wildlife Minister Najib Balala itage site recognised by the started drilling on the first of industry could permanently said in a statement that with United Nations Educational, three wells, stating on its change the Kavango Basin. nine embryos successfully Scientific and Cultural Organ- website that the firm “believes The drilling of the boreholes developed, it was time that sci- ization – is also pivotal to the the Kavango Basin is another for oil exploration can threaten entists moved on to the next water supply for the Kalahari world class Permian basin, the ecosystem through potential phase to use surrogate rhinos Desert, and its unique eco- analogous to the Permian basin oil spillage, noise pollution and to develop a herd of northern systems draw large numbers of in Texas”, capable of generating water contamination, said Jan white rhinos. tourists eager to explore its bio- billions of barrels of oil. Arkert, a South African-based “We are excited with the lab- diversity each year. The region On April 15, ReconAfrica engineering geologist with the oratory outcome of the last ovum holds sacred meaning for the announced the first well had firm Africa Exposed Consulting pick-up in March. With nine pure San, an Indigenous group that provided “clear evidence of a Engineering Geologists. northern white rhino embryos is considered one of the original working conventional “Even during this first now developed, the partners in inhabitants of the Southern petroleum system in the phase, we don’t know how they the project should embark on the African region. Kavango Basin”, adding it now are going to dispose of their next phase of the project – The Kalahari means to the plans to start work at its second wastewater,” Arkert said. embryo transfer to the surrogate San people what Mecca means well. The company holds But ReconAfrica said on its southern white females at Ol to Muslims,” Q7 Beckett, an licences comprising approxi- website that there will be no Pejeta Conservancy. We are Indigenous youth leader,said. mately 3.4 contiguous damage to the ecosystem and eager to get the progeny from the “It’s more than our home and hectares. that its sites are not located in project that will guarantee sur- more than a pilgrimage – it’s The Namibian government the area of national parks, con- vival of the species.” Waste turned into fashion our identity. We live off this has said oil and gas exploration servancies or World Heritage The conservancy said this is land.” will be conducted in an “envi- sites. the most successful series of pro- Young Nigeria climate change activists are seen during a “trashion But they fear that land could ronmentally sustainable The firm said it “will follow cedures – from oocyte collection show” wearing some plastics recovered from waste, used to make be under threat after a manner”, Maggy Shino, global best practices and local in Kenya to in vitro fertilization garments in Lagos, Nigeria. Canadian petroleum explo- petroleum commissioner at the regulations in all drilling and and cryopreservation in Italy. ration company was granted a Namibian Ministry of Mines and reclamation activity”. FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 ASIA 07 Indian covid cases hit world record with oxygen running out

REUTERS — NEW DELHI Six hospitals in New healthcare firm Biocon, wrote Delhi had run out of in the Economic Times. “Com- India recorded the world’s placency led to unanticipated highest daily tally of 314,835 oxygen, according shortages of medicines, medical COVID-19 infections yesterday to a tally shared by supplies and hospital beds.” as a second wave of the Delhi Health Minister Saty- pandemic raised new fears the city government, endar Jain said the city needed about the ability of crumbling and the city’s deputy about 5,000 more intensive health services to cope. care beds. Health officials across chief minister said Similar surges of infections, northern and western India, neighbouring states notably in South America, are including the capital, New threatening to overwhelm other Delhi, said they were in crisis, were holding back health services. with most hospitals full and supplies for their own China said it was willing to running out of oxygen. needs. help India, although it was not Some doctors advised immediately clear what this patients to stay at home, while might consist of. a crematorium in the eastern Only a tiny fraction of the city of Muzaffarpur said it was in the space of a day, taking Indian population has received being overwhelmed with India’s cumulative toll to a vaccination. bodies, and grieving families 184,657, according to the health Authorities have announced had to wait their turn. A crema- ministry data. The previous vaccines will be available to torium east of Delhi built record rise in cases was in the anyone over 18 from May 1, but funeral pyres in its parking lot. United States, which had experts say there will not be “Right now there are no 297,430 new cases on one day enough for the 600 million beds, no oxygen. Everything in January, though its infection people who will become else is secondary,” said Shahid rate has since fallen sharply. eligible. Jameel, a virologist and director Television showed images Health experts say India let A paramedic uses an oximeter to check the oxygen level of a patient inside an ambulance while waiting of the Trivedi School of Bio- of people with empty oxygen its guard down during the to enter a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, in Ahmedabad, India, yesterday. sciences at Ashoka University. cylinders crowding refilling winter, when daily cases were “The infrastructure is facilities, hoping to save rela- about 10,000 and seemed to be In recent weeks, the gov- governments to use lockdowns gatherings this month — but were crumbling.” tives in hospital. under control, and lifted restric- ernment has been criticised for as a last resort. He asked people still seated close together. Six hospitals in New Delhi In the western city of tions to allow big gatherings. holding packed political rallies to stay indoors and said the gov- “We are dying here, and had run out of oxygen, Ahmedabad, a man strapped to New, more infectious var- for local elections and allowing ernment was working to expand they are holding rallies there,” according to a tally shared by an oxygen cylinder lay in the iants of the virus, in particular a Hindu festival at which mil- oxygen and vaccine supplies. one woman in the northern city the city government, and the back of a car outside a hospital a “double mutant” variant that lions gathered. He cancelled a visit to West of Lucknow said on television. city’s deputy chief minister said as he waited for a bed. originated in India, have helped “The second wave is a conse- Bengal scheduled for Friday. Madhukar Pai, professor of neighbouring states were “Helplessness,” tweeted accelerate the surge, but many quence of complacency and A YouTube stream showed epidemiology at McGill Uni- holding back supplies for their former foreign secretary also blame the politicians. mixing and mass gatherings. You a hundred or more supporters versity in Canada, said India was own needs. Nirupama Menon Rao. “India Prime Minister Narendra don’t need a variant to explain the attended Interior Minister Amit a cautionary tale for the world. “It might become difficult weeps.” Modi’s government ordered an second wave,” said Ramanan Shah’s election rally in Har- “If we declare success too soon, for hospitals here to save lives,” “We never thought a second extensive lockdown in the early Laxminarayan of the Center for irampur yesterday. open up everything, give up on Manish Sisodia said in a tele- wave would hit us so hard,” stages of the pandemic but has Disease Dynamics, Economics Most donned saffron-coloured public health, and not vaccinate vised address. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, exec- been wary of the economic costs and Policy in New Delhi. face-masks — in sharp contrast to rapidly, the new variants can be Another 2,104 people died utive chairman of the of more tough restrictions. This week, Modi urged state the thousands seen at similar devastating,” he tweeted.

New Zealand says Five Eyes Australia ends China deals on national interest grounds AP — CANBERRA multibillion-dollar “Belt and The decision “seriously China is Australia’s No. 1 O’Brien said. Observers describe security alliance Road Initiative” to expand trade damaged relations and mutual foreign market, but the sanc- the Victoria deals as vague and Australia’s cancellation of two by building ports, railways and trust,” said a Chinese foreign tions impact has been limited, non-binding. remains strong infrastructure deals with China other facilities across dozens of ministry spokesman, Wang because Chinese steel mills still Some suspect their value to prompted Beijing yetserday to countries from the South Pacific Wenbin. “China reserves the buy Australian iron ore, the China’s ruling Communist Party AP — WELLINGTON accuse its leaders of a “Cold through Asia to Europe. right to make a further reaction,” country’s most valuable export. was to exploit disagreements in War mentality” and threaten a The signing of those agree- Wang said. He gave no details of The decision “isn’t about any Australia over “Belt and Road” New Zealand said yesterday it possible response. ments in 2018 and 2019 led possible retaliation. one country,” said Payne. “It is deals. continues to have a close and The clash adds to strains in Australia’s parliament to enact “We urge the Australian side most certainly not intended to Defense Minister Peter productive relationship with relations that are at a multi- the law permitting the national to abandon its cold war men- harm Australia’s relationships Dutton expressed concern the US and other security decade low after Beijing leadership to intervene. It took tality” and “not to go further with any countries.” about Chinese military activity allies, despite resisting blocked imports of coal and effect in December. down the wrong path so as to The opposition leader in and possible cyber attacks. speaking out in unison with other goods from Australia in Payne also announced can- avoid making China-Australia Victoria, Michael O’Brien, wel- Agreements with China them against China on certain retaliation for its call for an celation of contracts signed by relations, which are already comed the decision. “against our national interests” human rights issues. investigation into the origins of Victoria’s Education facing serious difficulties, even O’Brien, who belongs to the are “used for propaganda New Zealand Foreign Min- the coronavirus pandemic. Department with the govern- worse,” Wang said. same conservative Liberal Party reasons, and we’re just not ister Nanaia Mahuta discussed The two contracts with Vic- ments of Syria in 1999 and Iran China blocked imports of as the foreign minister, com- going to allow that to happen,” her reluctance to expand the toria, where the major city of in 2004. Australian coal, beef, wine, lob- plained the Victoria gov- Dutton said. role of the Five Eyes intelli- Melbourne is located, were The four deals are “incon- sters and other goods last year ernment had “given away major The vast Chinese steel gence-sharing alliance to vetoed under a law allowing the sistent with Australia’s foreign after Australia called for an infrastructure contracts to industry’s need for iron ore is include stances on human government to overrule agree- policy or adverse to our foreign investigation into the corona- Chinese-owned companies.” likely to restrain Beijing from rights. The alliance among ments that violate the national relations,” Payne said. virus, which emerged in central “In return, the Chinese gov- taking drastic action, said Fitch New Zealand, the US, the UK, interest, Foreign Minister The Chinese government China in late 2019. ernment has smashed our Ratings in a report. It said Australia and Canada dates to Marise Payne announced on criticized the decision, though Chinese ministers refuse to farmers with tariffs on barley” blocking imports would hurt Second World War. Wednesday. Payne said Thursday she didn’t take calls from their Australian and “smashed our wine Chinese employment and eco- Some observers have They were part of Beijing’s expect Beijing to retaliate. counterparts. exporters with trade sanctions,” nomic growth. speculated that the differing approaches have exposed cracks in the alliance and that New Zealand is not being Singapore quarantines about tough enough with China. Last year, for instance, 1,200 migrant workers and New Zealand declined to sign a joint declaration by the other Five Eyes members con- probes re-infections demning China’s national security legislation in Hong REUTERS — SINGAPORE would have served the stay Kong. New Zealand did, home notice before they start however, separately express Singapore said yesterday it is work, there is still a risk that a its concerns. quarantining about 1,200 leak may happen, and cause Mahuta’s comments migrant workers after finding another wave of infection in the Thursday came after she met COVID-19 cases in their dormitories,” the health min- with her Australian coun- dormitory including among istry said. terpart Marise Payne at the men who had recovered from It added, however, there first high-level summit since the virus, raising concerns was no evidence that the recent the two countries opened a about re-infections. dormitory cases were linked to quarantine-free travel bubble Authorities are conducting a new strain from India. this week. The meeting came COVID-19 tests for all residents Singapore is also increasing ahead of a planned visit by of Westlite Woodlands dormitory quarantine requirements for Australian Prime Minister after one worker was found pos- migrant workers who arrive Scott Morrison next month. itive on Tuesday during routine newly from high-risk countries Mahuta said New Zealand testing. The worker had received and is tightening testing values the Five Eyes rela- a second vaccination dose a week measures. tionship and receives signif- Thailand marks Earth Day earlier and his roommate also While Singapore is priori- icant benefits from it. But she tested positive. tising vaccinating those workers said Five Eyes was about A person lights a candle as 330,000 of them are arranged in the shape of the earth to set a Guinness So far, ongoing testing in who have not yet been infected, security and intelligence. World Record during Earth Day, in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, yesterday. the dormitory shows 17 it also plans to inoculate recovered workers are positive recovered workers with a single for COVID-19. dose, government officials said. Authorities and experts are Singapore has largely Thailand says Russia agrees to supply Sputnik V vaccine investigating the cases for pos- brought the virus under control sible re-infection or whether locally and has also been rolling REUTERS — BANGKOK “President Vladimir Putin 61 million doses of Astra- one or two weeks,” Opas they are persistent shedders out vaccinations. It last has expressed his support for Zeneca’s, which a local firm will Karnkawinpong, Director- from their earlier infection, the reported more than 10 cases in Russia has accepted a request to the Thai government on this manufacture. General of the Disease Control health ministry said. a single day among dormitory provide Thailand with its matter,” government However, it is now looking Department said. The bulk of Singapore’s residents in September, with Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, spokesman Anucha Burapach- to diversify its sources of vac- Thailand reported seven more than 60,000 COVID-19 barely any new infections over a Thai official said yesterday, as aisri said. cines, amid competition for new deaths from COVID-19 on cases occurred in dormitories the last few months. the Southeast Asian nation steps “Our health ministry will global supplies and as it tackles Thursday, its highest number that house tens of thousands of The health ministry has up efforts to find more vaccines now urgently talk to the a third wave of infections that of fatalities in a single day, mainly South Asian low-wage previously said vaccines were ahead of its mass immunisation company importing the Sputnik has seen about 40 percent of its taking its overall total to 117. labourers, triggering lockdowns effective in preventing symp- drive. V vaccine on the timeframe for total cases reported in the past It also reported 1,470 infec- of the complexes last year. tomatic disease but further Prime Minister Prayuth Chan- delivery, the amount and price,” three weeks alone. tions, taking total cases to Singapore is also blocking research was required on ocha has promised to find 35 he said. Health officials yesterday 48,113. entry to long-term visa holders whether they also prevented million more doses of COVID-19 Thailand, which has been said Thailand may have hit the Health Minister Anutin and visitors with recent travel onward transmission. vaccines from different com- credited for its swift con- peak of that wave, which Charnvirakul held talks on history to India, which is bat- Concerns have been panies on top of existing orders of tainment of previous outbreaks, include the highly transmissible Thursday with a representative tling a second wave of growing over new variants of around 65 million doses, while the has yet to start mass vaccina- B.1.1.7 variant. of Pfizer, which he said would COVID-19 infections and from the virus and the effectiveness country battles its fastest- tions and its plan until recently “We project that the number provide Thailand with 10 where many labourers arrive. of existing vaccines against spreading outbreak yet. was centred almost entirely on of cases will gradually drop in million doses of its vaccine. “Even though these workers them. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

EDITORIAL Health workers vaccinating people against COVID-19 at the QNCC vaccination centre in Qatar. Qatar’s buoyant realty sector QATAR’S real estate market has demonstrated resil- Refusing the vaccine would be expensive! ience helped by the several proactive measures taken by the government. The real estate sector is expected shut down again due to the out- original strain. In fact the most to see more growth this year. break. Even mutated Corona important thing here is for eve- As per the Ministry of Justice report, the value of viruses will continue to spread ryone to realize that we are still deals and number of deals have witnessed signif- and more people will die. Are vulnerable to things coming in icant growth in March compared to February. Qatar’s we aware of the fact that each our way and anyone who has real estate sector witnessed deals worth QR2.57bn case of Corona requires weeks not taken at least this initial in March compared to QR1.77bn in February this of costly rehabilitation? Even precaution has no idea what year, recording a surge of around 45 percent, after a pandemic fades, dozens will happen to them in the according to the Real Estate Bulletin released by the DR. YOUSUF ALI AL MULLA of vaccine refusers could turn future, especially since we have Ministry of Justice. into hundreds of patients who a very vulnerable population Other reports have also validated the strength of Imagine that in 2024, someone need extra care, should they group and they are children, as Qatar’s real estate sector, which is playing a crucial appears in the emergency room become ill. we know that they may not get role in stimulating national economy. According to a breathing hard. He is said to However, if all of the adults sick and die like adults. But still report by ValuStrat, a real estate consultancy firm, have severe pneumonia. He who say they are satisfied with they could get sick and die….. around 8,200 residential units are expected to enter Are we aware even told the physician that he the vaccine had received it, Shouldn’t we think about this a market in 2021, offering more choices to home- of the fact that had contracted the coronavirus perhaps more than half of the little bit? buyers. A major portion of the new supply will go to (COVID-19) a few years ago, in country would be immunized, At end, I think if you want to Lusail, The Pearl-Qatar and West Bay. each case of the middle of 2021. Unfortu- which is somewhat less than get people to do things like vac- The report expects the real estate to benefit from Corona requires nately, he had refused the herd immunity. cination, community partici- the increase in the population of expatriates in the vaccination and ended up being From here and on the other pation is the central thing here. second quarter of this year. weeks of costly infected with the coronavirus hand, we have to think about Therefore, there were respected The country is expected to receive 7,000 rooms rehabilitation? months after most people this a little, because the teams in the ministry of health (6,250 keys and 750 apartments) in 2021, according received their vaccines. Why economy is in struggle and its for instance, that monitors the to the report. Even after did he refuse? Something effects may also prolong if the pandemic and there is com- Upcoming hospitality projects include The Plaza a pandemic related to misinformation about virus continues to spread and munity communication. Hence, Doha, Katara Towers, Waldorf Astoria, Zulal Wellness the virus, perhaps the devel- undoubtedly as a result of it is more appropriate for Resort, Salwa Beach resort, Jouri Murwab Hotel, fades, dozens opment of vaccine manufacture, people refusing to receive vac- people who refuse to receive Steigenberger Hotel, Banyan Tree Doha, JW Mariott of vaccine or a post he saw on a social cination, but it certainly pales in the Corona vaccine (COVID-19), Hotel, Al Baker Novotel and Sofitel, Majlis Grand refusers could media platform. He doesn’t comparison to the people who be aware that this raises the Mercure Hotel & Apartment and Dream Doha. really remember, even though lose their lives. economic costs to the country, The real estate sector of Qatar ended the year turn into his lungs do! By the end of the Hopefully people’s reluc- not to mention its members and 2020 on an impressive note. The volume of real estate hundreds of day, he would be on a venti- tance to get vaccinated will the rest of the community will transactions during 2020 was QR31bn compared to lator! decrease, especially with pay the bill, reminding unvacci- QR22.8bn in 2019, according to the Ministry of patients who What I would like to draw relentless pursuit to provide it. nated individuals: that the Justice. need extra people attention here is that if Meanwhile, loosening restric- threat of the coronavirus will The value of deals signed during December surged for instance, a large proportion tions on clusters is likely to not stop, and it will not become around 128 percent compared to November 2020. care, should of the members of society con- increase the spread of altered or cheaper either. Total deals worth over QR5.43bn were registered they become ill. tinue to hold that they will not mutated viruses. Especially while 486 properties exchanged hands during get vaccinated and then the since the health complications Dr.Yousuf Ali Al Mulla is a December, according to a report by the Ministry of costs of their decisions will suffered by vaccine refusers physician, innovator & writer. For Justice. Deals worth QR2.38bn were signed while accrue. The economy may take who were infected with one of any queries regarding the contents total 504 properties were sold in November last year. longer to return to full speed the new strains may be worse of the article ,can be contacted at Last year saw the further opening of real estate and once that happens, it can than those caused by the [email protected] sector by allowing foreigners to own real estate in more areas in the country. In October, the government announced the decision to allow foreign companies and individuals to own real estate in 25 areas in the country. According to the new decision, the owners Up to twenty percent of groundwater of property which is worth no less than QR730,000 will be offered residency for them and their family. wells are in danger of running dry LESLIE KAUFMAN isn’t always an option. damns, but newer methods BLOOMBERG One solution when wells Global warming and sea for managing water supply run dry is to dig deeper, level rise due to climate adds infrastructure that D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR As many as one in five wells change are also contributing helps funnel some of that worldwide is at risk of but that often leads to to the problem. “More severe underground. “Integrating EMAIL: [email protected] running dry if groundwater poor water quality, multi-year to multi-decade managed aquifer recharge levels drop by even a few according to the droughts are projected in with floodwaters into EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 meters, according to a new some regions,” said Debra already complex water man- FAX: +974 4455 7758 study appearing Thursday in researchers. Well Perrone, a co-lead author agement infrastructure MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 the journal Science. construction is also and an assistant professor offers many benefits,” said Wells supply water for expensive, meaning that with UCSB’s Environmental senior author David DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 half the world’s irrigated Studies Program, leading to Freyberg, an associate pro- agriculture, as well as digging deeper isn’t greater groundwater demand fessor of civil and environ- LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 drinking water to billions of always an option. and less replenishing of mental engineering at BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 people. But the aquifers that aquifers. Rising ocean levels, Stanford. wells draw from have been meanwhile, stand to The authors said their SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 imperiled in recent years as inundate freshwater research offers the first com- intense demand and lack of dates. They found that reserves, contaminating prehensive analysis of where ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 government management between 6% and 20% are no remaining supplies. floods are likely to occur in email: [email protected] have allowed them to be more than 5 meters deeper Increased flooding as a the future in California, so drained. The scale of the than their local water tables, result of climate change, the state can anticipate PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 email: [email protected] threat has been difficult to “suggesting that millions of meanwhile, may actually be where to add to its existing calibrate, however, espe- wells are at risk of drying up a boon to struggling aquifers. infrastructure to aid ground- MARKETING: TEL: 4455 7657 cially at a global level. if groundwater levels decline New research from Stanford water recharging. The San email: [email protected] Researchers at the Uni- by only a few meters,” the University published Joaquin Valley, for instance, versity of California, Santa authors wrote. Wednesday in the journal one of the most productive ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 857 Barbara produced their One solution when wells Science Advances suggests agriculture areas in the FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] analysis by compiling con- run dry is to dig deeper, but that stowing away flood world, would be ripe for such CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 struction records for almost that often leads to poor water water in California might be infrastructure, the paper email: [email protected] 39 million groundwater wells quality, according to the a way to recharge ground says. Its sits at the foot of the in 40 countries, including researchers. Well con- water.Traditional storm Sierra Nevada mountains and SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 their locations, depths, pur- struction is also expensive, runoff management employs may face greater seasonal FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected] poses, and construction meaning that digging deeper surface-level reservoirs and flooding.

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar A concerted response is required now to alleviate /ThePeninsulaQatar immediate suffering, and to prevent an alarming deterioration in food security. The crisis has brought /Peninsula_Qatar the banking system to a standstill, shuttering many branches, leaving businesses unable to make /ThePeninsulaNewspaper payments and customers unable to withdraw cash. +974 6698 6188 Stephen Anderson, World Food Program Director FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 ASIA 09 Missing Indonesia submarine may be too deep to help AP — JAKARTA “Hopefully we Owen said the submarine could be recovered from 500 Indonesian navy ships searched can rescue them metes without any damage but yesterday for a submarine that before the oxygen couldn’t say if it would have likely sank too deep to retrieve, imploded at 700 metres. making survival chances for the has run out” at In November 2017, an 53 people on board slim. 3am on Saturday, Argentine submarine went Authorities said oxygen in the missing with 44 crew members submarine would run out by Indonesia’s navy in the South Atlantic, almost a early Saturday. chief of staff, Admiral year before its wreckage was The diesel-powered KRI Yudo Margono, told found at a depth of 800 metes. Nanggala 402 was participating In 2019, a fire broke out on one in a training exercise on reporters. of the Russian navy’s deep-sea Wednesday when it missed a research submersibles, killing scheduled reporting call. Offi- 14 sailors. cials reported an oil slick and internal structures and systems Indonesian President Joko the smell of diesel fuel near the but lacks recent information Widodo asked all of the coun- starting position of its last dive, about the vessel. try’s people to pray that the sub- about 96km north of the resort Frank Owen, secretary of marine and crew could be island of Bali, though there was the Submarine Institute of Aus- found. no conclusive evidence that tralia, also said the submarine “Our main priority is the they were linked to the could be at too great a depth for safety of the 53 crew members,” submarine. a rescue team to operate. Widodo said in a televised “Hopefully we can rescue “Most rescue systems are address. “To the families of the them before the oxygen has run really only rated to about 600 crew members, I can under- out” at 3am on Saturday, Indo- metres,” he said. “They can go stand your feelings and we are Members of the Royal Malaysian Navy and crew prepare to board a ship to join the search mission nesia’s navy chief of staff, deeper than that because they doing our best to save all of the of the missing Indonesia’s submarine in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, yesterday. Admiral Yudo Margono, told will have a safety margin built crew members on board.” reporters. into the design, but the pumps The military said more than the United States, Germany, or for location.” “Our fervent its commander and three He said rescuers found an and other systems that are asso- 20 navy ships, two submarines France, Russia, India and prayers and hopes go out to the gunners, the Indonesian unidentified object with high ciated with that may not have and five aircraft were searching Turkey have also offered crew of KRI Nanggala, for their Defense Ministry said. It had magnetism at a depth of 50 to the capacity to operate. So they the area where the submarine assistance. South Korea said it safety and resilience,” Singa- been maintained and over- 100 metres and that officials can survive at that depth, but was last detected. A hydro-oce- has also offered help. pore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng hauled in Germany, Indonesia hope it’s the submarine. not necessarily operate.” anographic survey ship equipped “The news of the missing Hen wrote on Facebook. and most recently in South The navy believes the sub- Owen, a former submariner with underwater detection capa- submarine is deeply con- Indonesia’s navy said an Korea. marine sank to a depth of who developed an Australian bilities also was on its way to the cerning,” Australian Foreign electrical failure may have More than 60 of the Type 600-700 metres, much deeper submarine rescue system, said site around the oil spills. Minister Marise Payne said occurred during the dive, 209 class submarines have been than its estimated collapse the Indonesian vessel was not Margono said the oil slick during a visit to New Zealand. causing the submarine to lose sold and have served in 14 depth. fitted with a rescue seat around may have been caused by a “We will provide any assistance control and become unable to navies around the world, Thys- Ahn Guk-hyeon, an official an escape hatch designed for crack in the submarine’s tank that we can. There’s no question undertake emergency proce- senKrupp Marine Systems from South Korea’s Daewoo underwater rescues. after the vessel sank. that submarine search and dures that would have allowed spokesperson Eugen Witte said. Shipbuilding and Marine Engi- He said a rescue submarine Neighbouring countries are rescues are very complex.” it to resurface. It was rehearsing Indonesia, the world’s neering, which refitted the would make a waterproof con- rushing to join the complex Australian Defence Minister for a missile-firing exercise yes- largest archipelago nation with vessel in 2009-2012, said the nection to a disabled submarine operation. Peter Dutton called the incident terday, which was eventually more than 17,000 islands, has submarine would collapse if it with a so-called skirt fitted over Rescue ships from Sin- “a terrible tragedy.” He told cancelled. faced growing challenges to its goes deeper than around 200 the rescue seat so that the hatch gapore and Malaysia are Sydney Radio 2GB that the fact The German-built sub- maritime claims in recent years, metres because of pressure. He can be opened without the dis- expected to arrive between Sat- that the submarine is “in a very marine, which has been in including numerous incidents said his company upgraded abled submarine filling with urday and Monday. The Indo- deep part of waters” makes it service in Indonesia since 1981, involving Chinese vessels near much of the submarine’s water. nesian military said Australia, “very difficult for the recovery was carrying 49 crew members, the Natuna islands.

Laos locks down capital over virus US troops in Afghanistan begin packing gear for pullout AP — KABUL Biden administration that the pullout could be com- Afghanistan over the coming The Taliban, meanwhile, outbreak tied announced that the final phase pleted well before Sept. 11, weeks and months to help with were non-committal when The US military has begun of the withdrawal would begin which marks the 20th anni- what the herculean task of asked by the AP whether the to Thailand shipping equipment and May 1 and be completed before versary of the Al Qaida terror wrapping up 20 years of war. insurgents would attack winding down contracts with September 11. attack on the US and the trigger While much of the departing US and Nato AP — BANGKOK local service providers ahead Since then, the military has for the US invasion of equipment headed back to the troops. of the May 1 start of the final been shipping equipment and Afghanistan. US will be shipped by air, the “It’s too early for these Laos locked down its capital phase of its military pullout winding down local contracts On Wednesday, Germany’s military will also use land routes issues, nothing can be said and closed its international from Afghanistan, a US Defence for services such as trash pickup Defense Ministry said discus- through Pakistan and north about the future,” said Taliban borders to most traffic Department official said and maintenance work, the US sions are underway among through Central Asia, the spokesman Mohammad Naeem. yesterday after identifying a yesterday. official said, speaking on con- military planners with the Defense Department official In a deal the Taliban signed COVID-19 cluster connected to The pullout under US Pres- dition of anonymity in line with Nato-led Resolute Support said. last year with former President its bigger neighbour Thailand. ident Joe Biden marks the end briefing regulations. Mission in Kabul for a possible The US equipment that is Donald Trump, the final US Residents of the capital of America’s longest war after While preparations are withdrawal of international neither shipped back to America withdrawal deadline was set as Vientiane are barred from a 20-year military engagement. under way, troops likely won’t troops from Afghanistan as nor given to the Afghan National May 1. leaving the city and outsiders Currently, some 2,500 US sol- begin to depart for a few weeks, early as July 4. Security forces will be sold to Under the agreement, the must get permission to enter. diers and about 7,000 allied he said, adding that “we won’t In the short term, America contractors, who will, in turn, sell Taliban promised not to attack Its international borders were forces are still in Afghanistan. see a coming down of the will likely increase its troop it in the local markets. “You’ll US and Nato troops but they closed except to trucks car- In February last year, the US (troop) numbers” until presence in Afghanistan, the most likely start seeing it even- also later promised “conse- rying goods and in cases military began closing its remaining bases close. Pentagon said last Friday. The tually showing up in bazaars as quences” if Washington defied allowed by the nation’s smaller bases. In mid-April, the There have been indications additional troops would be in scrap,” said the official. the May 1 deadline. COVID-19 taskforce, state news agency KPL reported. It said the lockdown order China administers signed by Prime Minister Suga recommends Tokyo virus emergency Phankham Viphavanh also 200 million prohibits all Vientiane resi- BLOOMBERG — TOKYO dents from leaving their homes vaccine doses except for essential food Japanese Prime Minister domestically shopping, hospital visits and Yoshihide Suga recommended other authorised tasks. The placing Tokyo, Osaka and other restrictions last until May 5. areas under a state of emer- AP — BEIJING The report said they were gency to stem a surge in coro- ordered after 28 new navirus infections just three Around 200 million doses of COVID-19 cases were con- months before the capital hosts COVID-19 vaccine have been firmed Wednesday, bringing the Olympics. administered so far inside the country’s total to 88. The Suga was looking to also China, with an emphasis on total population of Laos is place Hyogo and Kyoto prefec- front-line workers, university about 7.5 million, including tures, which border Osaka, students and people living in about 700,000 in Vientiane. under a state of emergency, border areas, health officials The government-owned telling reporters yesterday he said. Vientiane Times reported on its will make a formal decision China is ramping up vac- website that 26 of the 28 new after consulting with experts. cination efforts after a slow cases are residents of the capital Suga has previously approved start that was due in part to the who had contact with a student measures within a day of issuing virtual elimination of domestic at the National University of Laos a recommendation on stepped up transmission of the corona- who had caught the virus from virus restrictions, with local media virus. Just two local cases were a Thai man. It said the other two saying the declaration was reported on Wednesday, both were workers who had returned expected to come today. The Passersby wearing protective masks walk on the street amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in in the city of Ruili, which from Thailand to the southern emergency is likely to be in place Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. borders on Myanmar. province of Champassak. from April 25 to May 11, covering China has approved five Neighbouring Thailand is the “Golden Week” string of into high gear, meaning since the pandemic broke out, could delay the economy’s domestically produced vac- fighting its worst wave of the national holidays, Jiji Press said. restricting activities is the most the Yomiuri newspaper recovery and deal a heavy blow cines and exported millions of illness but has not imposed a While Japan has so far suc- powerful tool Suga has for reported. Stricter regulations, to struggling businesses. doses, although some scien- national lockdown this year so ceeded in keeping coronavirus reining in case numbers. including an unprecedented Tokyo recorded 861 new cases tists believe they provide less far, though many provinces infections and deaths at far Central and local govern- ban on sales of alcohol at bars yesterday, the highest level since protection that those by Pfizer, have ordered quarantines for lower levels than those seen in ments are tussling over how and restaurants, are among the late January, while Osaka found Moderna and AstraZeneca. The visitors, especially from places much of Europe and the US, its harsh the measures should be proposals being discussed. But 1,242 infections Wednesday, a Chinese vaccines have an with active outbreaks. vaccine program has yet to kick under the third emergency tighter restrictions on activity record for the prefecture. efficacy range of 50.7 percent to 79.3 percent, based on company data, lower than their foreign peers but still Hong Kong journalist convicted for accessing public records effective. It wasn’t immediately clear AP — HONG KONG Choy Yuk-ling, also known umentary for public broad- “other traffic and transport Owns the Truth,” also explored how many people had as Bao Choy, was arrested in caster RTHK. related issues.” The application the behaviour of Hong Kong received both their first and A Hong Kong journalist was November on charges of falsely Principal Magistrate Ivy does not provide an option for police during last year’s anti- second shots of vaccine. found guilty yesterday of declaring why she was Chui said the Road Traffic Ordi- journalistic research. government protests. Police “At present, vaccination making false statements in obtaining license plate infor- nance only allows the public to Choy, a freelancer affiliated were accused of not intervening efforts in key areas and key obtaining information for an mation from a publicly acces- obtain vehicle ownership with RTHK, pleaded not guilty. during the attack in the subway population groups are pro- investigation into an attack on sible database. She was records for transport or traffic- She was convicted on two station in Yuen Long, a town in gressing smoothly overall,” anti-government protesters, in attempting to track down the related matters, legal matters, counts of making false state- Hong Kong’s New Territories. Cui Gang, an official with the latest blow to press freedom perpetrators of a violent attack or for vehicle purchases. ments and fined HK$6,000 “Today is a very dark day the Center for Disease in the city as authorities by a mob of white-clad men on She said Choy declared in ($775). for all journalists in Hong Control, told reporters at a continue their crackdown on protesters in a subway station her online application that she The documentary Choy was Kong,” Choy said after the news conference on dissent. in 2019 for an investigative doc- would use the information for working on, titled “7.21 Who verdict. Wednesday. 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 UK says sorry for racism in memorials to war dead AP — LONDON “On behalf of the memorials. Others had their names recorded on paper reg- British authorities apologized Commonwealth War isters rather than stone monu- yesterday after an investigation Graves Commission ments. The battlefield graves of found that at least 161,000 thousands more were aban- mostly African and Indian and the government, doned without the remains ever military service personnel who both of the time being identified. died during World War I and today, I want In Europe, the commission weren’t properly honoured due attempted to identify all of the to “pervasive racism.” It said to apologise for the dead and bury their remains that number could possibly failures to live up under identical white head- range up to 350,000. stones that still dot cemeteries The investigation found that to their founding from France to Turkey. The those service members were principles all those names of those who couldn’t be either not commemorated by identified were recorded on name or weren’t commemo- years ago and mass memorials. rated at all, according to a express deep regret “No apology can ever make report commissioned by the that it has taken so up for the indignity suffered by Commonwealth War Graves the unremembered," Lammy Merkel attends virtual Climate Summit Commission. Between 45,000 long to rectify the said. “However, this apology German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a virtual Climate Summit with world leaders in Berlin, and 54,000 other casualties situation,” Defence does offer the opportunity for were “commemorated us as a nation to work through Germany, yesterday. unequally.” Secretary Ben this ugly part of our history - The treatment of these sol- Wallace said. and properly pay our respects diers, who served in Africa, Asia to every soldier who has sacri- and the Middle East, contrasts ficed their life for us.” German ‘emergency brake’ plan with that of the men and to include those who died David Olusoga, a professor women who died in Europe. It during World War II, and it now of public history at the Uni- also violates the principle that oversees the graves of 1.7 versity of Manchester, said clears last legislative hurdle all war dead should be remem- million men and women who World War I changed British bered in the same way because died during the two wars. culture, in part because of the AP — BERLIN Germany’s 16 states. The seeking renegotiations, which they all made the same The commission appointed powerful way that the dead measures include closures and a some noted would delay but not enormous sacrifice. an independent panel to inves- were remembered. A plan by German Chancellor 10pm-5am curfew, the most con- prevent the bill. “On behalf of the Common- tigate claims of unequal “(Yet) when it came to men Angela Merkel’s government to troversial element. The legislation calls for lim- wealth War Graves Commission treatment following a 2019 TV who were black and brown and mandate uniform restrictions The bill was approved by iting personal contacts, closing and the government, both of the documentary presented by Asian and African, it is not equal. in areas where the coronavirus parliament’s lower house on leisure and sports facilities and time and today, I want to apol- David Lammy, a lawmaker Particularly the Africans, who have is spreading too quickly cleared Wednesday. It will apply until shutting or restricting access to ogise for the failures to live up from the opposition Labour been treated in a way that is … its final legislative hurdle the end of June. many stores. to their founding principles all Party, that focused on the way apartheid in death," he told the yesterday as it was passed by “Summer is not so far away, The measures would kick in those years ago and express African casualties were com- BBC. “It is an absolute scandal.” parliament’s upper house. and... making the decisive dif- for areas where there are more deep regret that it has taken so memorated. One researcher The inequality was rooted The upper house, where ference with vaccination,” Health than 100 weekly new cases per long to rectify the situation,” who worked on the docu- in the “imperial ideology” of Germany’s 16 state governments Minister Jens Spahn said. “But for 100,000 residents for three con- Defense Secretary Ben Wallace mentary said she had for- British and colonial authorities are represented, could have held that, we need action now to secutive days. Schools would said in the House of Commons. warded information about her in the years immediately after up the plan by seeking renego- break this wave (of infections), have to switch to distance “Whilst we can’t change the concerns to the commission World War I, the investigation tiations but let it pass. It now and this bill serves that end.” learning at a higher rate of 165. past, we can make amends and more than a decade earlier but found. For instance, the officer goes to President Frank-Walter Several state governors Germany’s nationwide rate take action.” no action was taken. in charge of graves registration Steinmeier to be signed. made clear they disliked the stood at 161 new cases per The commission was The investigation found that in East Africa asserted that The legislation to apply an legislation, defending their 100,000 residents on Thursday, created in 1917 to ensure that tens of thousands of service central memorials were the “emergency brake” consistently crisis management, pointing to though there were wide all who died in the service of personnel who died in Africa, most appropriate way to com- in areas with high infection rates possible constitutional diffi- regional variations. The coun- the British Empire during World Asia and the Middle East either memorate the dead because is intended to end the patchwork culties and arguing that it would try’s initially slow vaccination War I were identified and weren’t commemorated at all most Africans “do not attach of measures that has often char- do little to make Germany’s campaign has gathered pace, properly honored. Its respon- or were only honoured anon- any sentiment” to the graves of acterized the pandemic response pandemic response more con- with 21.6 percent of the popu- sibilities were later expanded ymously on collective their dead. across highly decentralized sistent. But they opted against lation now given a first dose. Dutch virus Prosecutors prepare possible charges in Genoa bridge collapse infections rise REUTERS — MILAN state of Italy’s crumbling life not the slightest mainte- distributed 80 percent or more cutors can seek court authori- ahead of infrastructure. nance work was carried out to of its profits to its shareholders. sation to press charges or rec- Italian prosecutors are In a document on the reinforce the stays of the ninth During their 2-1/2 year ommend shelving a case. lockdown easing preparing possible charges probe’s findings seen by pillar,” the document said. probe Genoa prosecutors placed Atlantia, Autostrade and against dozens of former Reuters, prosecutors said the Between 1982 and the col- 69 individuals, including former SPEA declined to comment on AP — THE HAGUE employees of infrastructure collapse was triggered by the lapse in 2018, structural works on Atlantia Chief Executive Gio- the issue. Lawyers representing group Atlantia after concluding rupture of the load-bearing the viaduct cost 24.6 million euros vanni Castellucci and the former Castellucci and Galata did not Dutch caretaker Prime an inquiry into a deadly cables inside the stay of the and Autostrade paid for less that head of Atlantia’s engineering comment on the issue. Italy’s Minister Mark Rutte yesterday motorway bridge collapse in bridge’s ninth pillar, which were two percent of them, it added. unit SPEA Antonino Galata, transport ministry was not defended his decision to ease 2018, a document filed by pros- eaten away by a highly cor- This situation “cannot be under investigation for sus- immediately available for a his country’s lockdown next ecutors yesterday showed. rosive atmosphere over the 51 justified by the inadequacy of pected crimes including man- comment. Under Italian law, week even after the Nether- Former and current gov- years of the bridge’s life. the necessary financial slaughter and wilful disaster. firms can be held responsible lands recorded 9,648 new ernment officials may also face Managers at Atlantia units resources at Autostrade,” pros- Former and current offi- for their employees’ actions. coronavirus infections- the charges as a result of the probe, Autostrade per l’Italia and SPEA ecutors said, adding that the cials at the transport ministry Atlantia, controlled by the highest daily increase since according to the document. allegedly avoided proper checks company ended in black each allegedly failed to oversee nec- Benetton family, is in talks with January. A road bridge operated by of the state of the infrastructure year between 1999 and 2005. essary maintenance, prose- a consortium of investors led by The national care authority Atlantia’s motorway unit Auto- and did not correct serious issues The document added that cutors said. Italian state lender CDP to sell its also said the country’s high strade per l’Italia collapsed in that started to emerge only a few Autostrade’s annual net income Under Italian law, once an 88 percent stake in Autostrade numbers of COVID-19 patients the northern city of Genoa on years after the viaduct opened in was at least 586 million euros in investigation has been closed, under a plan sponsored by the mean that more than one- August 14, 2018, killing 43 1967, the document showed. the period between 2005 and suspects have three weeks to government to regain control of third of Dutch hospitals no people and laying bare the dire “In 51 years of the bridge’s 2017, when the company respond. At that point, prose- the motorway company. longer have the capacity to carry out planned critical care and nearly all hospitals are delaying less urgent medical Draghi to present recovery procedures. “The COVID number in ICUs is high and on a rising plan draft to cabinet today trend,” the National Coordi- nation Center for Patient Dis- REUTERS — ROME countries of their recovery tribution said. The number of plans is April 30, but Brussels COVID-19 patients in intensive Prime Minister Mario Draghi is has said this is not a rigid care units rose by 17 to 839 expected to unveil a draft of deadline and it is more over the last day. Italy’s Recovery Plan to cabinet important the plans are Still, the nation is pre- today, three government detailed and convincing than paring to ease its lockdown sources said, as he races to try that they land on time. next week. to complete a final version for Portugal has already pre- Rutte announced on Tuesday presentation to the European sented its plan, and other coun- that the nationwide 10.30pm- Commission next week. tries say they will do so ahead 4.30am curfew in force since Italy plans to spend more than of deadline next week. January will end on April 28, ¤220bn ($265.84bn) from Commission Vice-President when bars and restaurants will European Union and national Valdis Dombrovskis said last be allowed to reopen outdoor ter- funds to revive its coronavirus- week, however, that some gov- races — under strict conditions battered economy, a draft showed. ernments would probably submit — from noon until 6pm. The draft, which is still their plans a few weeks later. Rutte told a parliamentary subject to negotiation in the A report on Sunday cited debate yesterday that his gov- ruling coalition, includes sources close to the dossier ernment is prepared to take dozens of projects under six saying Italy may be among the an “acceptable risk” by easing Scottish campaign selfie headings: ecological transition, countries needing some extra restrictions because modelling digitalisation, infrastructure, time because Brussels is not sat- shows a decline in infections First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), visits the Bike for Good education and research, social isfied with several aspects of the and hospital admissions is Glasgow South Community Hub during a campaign for the Scottish parliamentary election in Victoria inclusion and health. drafts it has presented so far. likely around the start of May. Road, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, yesterday. One of the main single Draghi’s office said the plan projects, worth more than ¤10bn, will definitely be presented on aims to make buildings more April 30. Meeting the deadline energy efficient and earthquake- has become a sensitive Finance boost crucial to net-zero emissions: UN chief proof. More than 6 billion euros domestic political issue, despite REUTERS — BARCELONA Addressing the virtual summit governments agreed in 2015 to the next step is in the right is earmarked for broadband, 5G Brussels’ more relaxed attitude. on Earth Day, UN Secretary- try to hold to a ceiling of 1.5C — direction. Leaders everywhere and satellite technologies. Among Brussels’ main con- The UN chief called for rich General Antonio Guterres said is already causing “ever rising must take action.” Rome estimates that thanks cerns are a lack of detail on countries to make good on their “dangerous greenhouse gases are sea-levels, scorching tempera- Poorer countries, along to the investments and reforms how the plan will be managed promises of climate finance for at levels not seen in three million tures, devastating tropical with climate scientists, busi- in the plan its gross domestic once it gets EU approval and developing nations at the G7 years”. He noted that global cyclones and epic wildfires”, nesses and green groups, want product in 2026 will be 3 per- the substance of some of the meeting in June, warning at a warming had already hit 1.2 degrees Guterres added. the summit to ignite a virtuous centage points higher than it reforms outlined, such as those summit hosted by the US pres- Celsius and is “racing toward the “We need a green planet — circle of stronger action in 2021, would otherwise have been. aimed at accelerating Italy’s ident yesterday that the world threshold of catastrophe”. but the world is on red alert,” seen as a decisive year for The formal target date for chronically slow justice system, is “at the verge of the abyss”. Climate heating — which he said. “We must make sure keeping climate goals in sight. presentation by all 27 EU the sources said. FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 Russia to pullback troops from Ukraine border AP — MOSCOW “The reduction of and deescalate the situation in troops on our border Donbas.” Russia’s defence minister Earlier this week, Zelenskiy yesterday ordered troops back proportionally offered to meet Russian Pres- to their permanent bases reduces tension,” ident Vladimir Putin in Donbas following massive drills amid to defuse tensions. tensions with Ukraine, but said Ukraine president Putin responded in televised they should leave their weapons said on Twitter. He remarks yesterday, saying if the behind in western Russia for Ukrainian leadership wants to another exercise later this year. noted that Ukraine settle the conflict in Donbas, it Ukrainian President Volo- remains vigilant should first engage in talks with dymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the separatist leaders there and Russian pullback along their but “welcomes any only after that discuss it with border. steps to decrease Russia. If Zelenskiy wants to After watching the drills, the military presence discuss normalizing ties with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Russia, he’s welcome to come Shoigu declared the and deescalate the to Moscow, the Russian leader manoeuvres in Crimea and situation in Donbas.” said. wide swathes of western Russia The Russian military hasn’t over and ordered the military reported the number of addi- to pull the troops that took part raised concerns in the West, tional troops that had been in them back to their permanent which urged the Kremlin to pull moved to Crimea and parts of bases. its forces back. southwestern Russia near “I consider the goals of the A Ukrainian soldier was Ukraine, and it wasn’t immedi- snap check of readiness ful- killed Thursday by separatist ately clear from Shoigu’s filled,” Shoigu said. “The troops fire in the east, bringing the statement if all of them will now have shown their capability to number of Ukrainian troops be pulled back. Service members of the Russian airborne forces board Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes during drills at defend the country and I killed this year to 32. The Russian Defense Min- a military aerodrome in the Azov Sea port of Taganrog, Russia , yesterday. decided to complete the drills The US and Nato have said istry said the maneuvers in in the South and Western mil- the Russian buildup near Crimea involved more than 60 Nato’s Defender Europe 2021 its drills as relations with the Ukrainian and Western con- itary districts.” Ukraine was the largest since ships, over 10,000 troops, exercise. The NATO drills began West have sunk to post-Cold cerns about the troop buildup, Shoigu said the troops 2014, when Russia annexed around 200 aircraft and about in March and are to last until War lows over the annexation arguing that it’s free to deploy should return to their bases by Crimea and threw its support 1,200 military vehicles. June. of Crimea, Russian meddling in its forces anywhere on Russian May 1, but he ordered their behind separatists in Ukraine’s The exercise featured the “Nato has significantly elections, hacking attacks and territory. heavy weapons kept in western eastern industrial heartland of landing of more than 2,000 intensified its military activities other issues. But at the same time, the Russia for another massive mil- Donbas. paratroopers and 60 military in the region,” Shoigu said. Last week, Russia has Kremlin sternly warned itary exercise. The weapons Ukraine’s president vehicles on Thursday. Fighter “Intelligence gathering has announced that it would close Ukrainian authorities against were remaining at the applauded the Russian troops’ jets covered the airborne increased and the intensity and broad areas of the Black Sea trying to use force to retake Pogonovo firing range in the pullback. operation. scope of operational training near Crimea to foreign navy control of the rebel east, where southwestern Voronezh region “The reduction of troops on Shoigu flew in a helicopter has been growing. One of the ships and state vessels until seven years of fighting with 160km east of the border with our border proportionally over the Opuk firing range in alliance’s main coalition groups November, a move that drew Russia-backed separatists have Ukraine. reduces tension,” Zelenskiy said Crimea to oversee the exercise. is being deployed in the Black Ukrainian protests and raised killed more than 14,000 people. The Russian troop buildup on Twitter. He noted that He later declared the drills over, Sea region.” Western concerns. Russia also The Kremlin says Russia could near Ukraine that came amid Ukraine remains vigilant but but ordered the military to stand Russia long has bristled at announced restrictions on be forced to intervene in eastern increasing violations of a cease- “welcomes any steps to ready to respond to any the deployment of Nato’s forces flights near Crimea this week. Ukraine to protect civilians in fire in war-torn eastern Ukraine decrease the military presence “adverse developments” during near its borders and stepped up Moscow has rejected the region. Europe prepares to reopen as vaccinations ramp up Belarus leader in Moscow BLOOMBERG — BRUSSELS caused more than 640,000 In France, curbs on inter- AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine to for talks on closer ties deaths across the continent. regional travel will be lifted on people between 30 and 39 Western Europe is beginning to As supplies increase, May 3, four weeks after they years old. AP — MOSCOW Russia and Belarus must “draw loosen restrictions to contain Germany may be in a position were announced by President While Germany’s contagion the lines that no one should the coronavirus, offering relief to lift vaccination prioritisation Emmanuel Macron. But a rate has stabilized in recent Russian President Vladimir cross and respond to those who for the pandemic-weary region by June, a step that would open curfew between 7pm and 6am days, it’s still well-above levels Putin hosted his Belarusian fail to understand the need to as vaccination programs turn access to all adults, according will remain in place, a gov- the government has determined counterpart yesterday for talks behave more calmly.” the corner. to Health Minister Jens Spahn. ernment spokesman said. to be manageable and the on closer integration between The Belarusian leader Italy will ease many restric- “If it’s earlier than that, then Greece will ease its main number of patients in intensive- the two ex-Soviet neighbours, fueled expectations of a major tions on Monday, Greece will I will be pleased but we shouldn’t pandemic restrictions — care facilities continues to rise. discussions that were criticized deal with Russia when he follow suit in early May, and raise expectations,” Spahn said including allowing outdoor Vaccine progress also varies by the Belarusian opposition. declared over the weekend that Germany is mulling privileges in a speech to the upper house of dining -- in early May, ahead of widely across the continent, Belarusian President Alex- he was preparing to make one for people who have been parliament yesterday. the country’s opening to inter- casting doubt over the timing ander Lukashenko has grown of the most important decisions immunized. Later on Thursday, As the pace of contagion national travel in the middle of of reopening in some countries, increasingly dependent on of his more than quarter- French Prime Minister Jean slows in Italy, Prime Minister the month, Prime Minister Kyr- especially in the east. Russia’s financial and political century rule. Castex will announce the next Mario Draghi’s government is iakos Mitsotakis said on While the island nation of support after months of “We have made some steps for the country amid plans restoring free travel between Wednesday. Tourism is one of Malta has already administered massive protests against his serious progress on programs to lift some restrictions on travel moderate-risk regions, and the country’s most important 67 doses per 100 adults, Bulgaria disputed re-election in August. of our union,” Lukashenko said and outdoor dining. people can go to more at-risk industries, accounting for about is only at 11 doses per 100. The His trip to Moscow raised at the start of his talks with After a slow start to inocu- areas under certain conditions, a fifth of the economy and more average for the whole EU is 31.6, speculation that he could Putin. “There are acute issues lation programmes, Western including a pass certifying vac- than a quarter of jobs. with countries including Hungary, finally accept the Kremlin’s related that we need to focus Europe is starting to see cination. Restaurants will also be To accelerate immunisa- Estonia and Denmark leading the longtime push for a stronger on, including defence and progress in protecting its people allowed to open outdoor areas, tions, Greece will start admin- push, and Latvia and Croatia union. security.” against COVID-19, which has according to the new rules. istering unused doses of among those lagging behind. The main Belarusian oppo- Russia and Belarus have a sition challenger in the vote, union agreement that envisages Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, close economic, political and Mexico plans 17 warned that Lukashenko has military ties, but stops short of lost his legitimacy and the a full merger. Lukashenko has shelters for opposition would not accept repeatedly resisted what he any deal with Russia that would described as Moscow’s children on weaken Belarus’ independence. attempts to subdue Belarus. The opposition says official “Our teams are continuing southern border results that gave Lukashenko work to develop the legislation a sixth term in office after the for the union state,” Putin said. AP —MEXICO CITY August presidential election The authoritarian Bela- were fraudulent. rusian leader, who has been in Mexico said on Wednesday it “We, the Belarusians, will power since 1994, has vowed is planning to set up 17 shelters not surrender the country’s not to abandon Belarus’ post- for underage migrants along sovereignty and independence, Soviet independence and the country’s southern border, and any decisions threatening resisted Moscow’s push for as well as some along the it will not have legal force and opening a military base in northern border with the will be revised,” Tsikha- Belarus. United States, amid a wave of nouskaya said from Vilnius, But Lukashenko’s positions child migrants coming from Lithuania. have weakened amid massive Central America. Thursday’s talks follow protests against his rule. The shelters will largely be allegations of a failed plot to Belarus authorities cracked set and run by Mexico’s child assassinate Lukashenko, down harshly on the protests, welfare agency, which may allegedly involving a blockade arresting more than 34,000 use some of its own existing of the country’s capital, power people and beating many. Most day care centers or other cuts and cyberattacks. Bela- prominent opposition figures facilities. rusian and Russian security have fled Belarus or have since President Andrés Manuel agencies arrested the alleged been jailed. López Obrador said Fujimori ramps up run-off campaign coup plotters in Moscow earlier The US and the European Wednesday that the situation this month. Union have responded by is “very worrisome” and the Peru’s presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori (centre), who will face Pedro Castillo in a run-off election Speaking at the start of the slapping sanctions on expanded capacity was in June, talks to the media at a produce market, in Lima, Peru, yesterday. meeting, Lukashenko said Belarus. needed to look out for the welfare of the minors. “We have decided to strengthen actions on the Tearful Ontario Premier promises sick leave to bridge worker gap southern border, it is better to take precautionary measures on BLOOMBERG — TORONTO Canada Recovery Sickness others are not. At one point, he demands from health officials for would disproportionately affect the southern border, to protect Benefit that we needed to see,” had to pause to collect himself more sweeping shut-downs lower-income and racialized children,” the president said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Ford said during a Thursday while describing the pressure throughout the pandemic, often communities already hardest More of interest to the he’s working on a plan to press conference outside his lockdowns have caused satisfying neither side. Earlier this hit by the pandemic. United States would be the five provide paid sick leave to mother’s home at a Toronto Ontarians. week Toronto health officials said Ontario Sets Up Check- shelters Mexico may set up workers, bowing to mounting suburb. “For some it’s been dealing they will override looser pro- points, Shuts Construction in along its northern border. The pressure as Covid-19 continues “That’s why we’re now with isolation at home, the vincial rules and close most Virus Battle The decision was US has been limited in recent to rage across Canada’s most- working on our own solution.” struggles with mental health workplaces with five or more made in response to “extremely months in its ability to return populous province. A new plan will bridge a two- and addiction,” he said. “For confirmed cases of the virus. troubling modeling” showing families with children to The decision marks a to-three day gap in which others it’s been going to work, Last week Ford imple- the province could see 15,000 Mexico, because Mexico reversal of course for the head workers don’t get paid before despite the stress of working in mented the most stringent new cases daily without strict doesn’t have sufficient shelter of Ontario’s provincial gov- federal aid kicks in, said Ford, a job that puts you and your measures to date, granting curbs on mobility, Ford said capacity to receive them. ernment, who previously said who’s in isolation after a close loved ones in a higher risk of extraordinary powers to police Thursday. In the northern state of existing federal leave benefits staff member tested positive for getting Covid. I hear it every to conduct random citizen “We moved fast but we Tamaulipas, Mexico’s child were sufficient. the virus. day. Every single day.” stops. Backlash, including by moved too fast. And I know that welfare agency already “Unfortunately, Monday’s The premier said it’s not lost Ford has tried to appease the police, prompted Ford to back- some of those measures, espe- operates four shelters for federal budget didn’t include on him that he’s able to con- needs of business while track on the random checks cially around enforcement, they unaccompanied minors. important improvements to the tinue working remotely while responding to increasing amid concern they went too far,” he said. 12 AMERICAS FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 Countries deepen climate goals at Earth Day summit

REUTERS — WASHINGTON “This is the decade we economy entirely by 2050 — an must make decisions agenda he says can create mil- The United States and other lions of good-paying jobs but countries hiked their targets for that will avoid the which many Republicans say slashing greenhouse gas emis- worst consequences will damage the economy. sions at a global climate summit The US emissions cuts are hosted by President Joe Biden, of the climate crisis,” expected to come from power an event meant to resurrect US Biden, said While plants, automobiles, and other leadership in the fight against sectors across the economy. global warming. Boris Johnson called Sector-specific goals will be laid Biden unveiled the goal to the new US goal out later this year. cut emissions by 50 percent-52 The new US target nearly percent from 2005 levels at the “game changing” as doubles former President Barack start of a two-day climate two other countries Obama’s pledge of an emissions summit kicked off on Earth Day made new pledges. cut of 26 percent-28 percent and attended virtually by below 2005 levels by 2025. leaders of 40 countries including How Washington intends to big emitters China, India and reach emissions neutrality by reach its climate goals will be Russia. 2050, 10 years earlier than the crucial to cementing US credi- The United States, the previous goal. bility on global warming, amid Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador listens to US President Joe Biden (on the screen) world’s second-leading emitter Greenpeace UK’s head of international concerns that during a virtual US global climate summit, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, yesterday. after China, seeks to reclaim climate, Kate Blagojevic, said the America’s commitment to a global leadership in the fight summit had more targets than clean energy economy can shift against global warming after an archery competition. “Targets, drastically from one adminis- Mexico President suggests US former President Donald Trump on their own, won’t lead to emis- tration to the next. withdrew the country from sions cuts,” she said. “That takes Biden’s recently introduced international efforts to cut real policy and money. And that’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan emissions. where the whole world is still contains numerous measures citizenship for reforestation “This is the decade we must way off course.” that could deliver some of the make decisions that will avoid Most of the countries did not emissions cuts needed this REUTERS — MEXICO CITY “I add a complementary from the reservoirs to produce the worst consequences of the offer new emissions goals. decade, including a clean energy proposal, with all due respect, more energy without building climate crisis,” Biden, a Dem- Chinese President Xi Jinping standard to achieve net zero Mexican President Andres the US government could offer new dams and without causing ocrat, said at the White House. said China expects its carbon emissions in the power sector Manuel Lopez Obrador those who participate in this any damage,” he said. British Prime Minister Boris emissions to peak before 2030 by 2035 and moves to electrify yesterday suggested the US program that after sowing their Since taking office in Johnson called the new US goal and the country will achieve net the vehicle fleet. government offer temporary lands for three consecutive December 2018, Lopez “game changing” as two other zero emissions by 2060. But the measures need to work visas and eventually citi- years, they would have the pos- Obrador has prioritized the countries made new pledges. Xi said China will gradually be passed by Congress before zenship to those who take part sibility to obtain a temporary health of Mexico’s state-owned Prime Minister Yoshihide reduce its coal use from 2025 to becoming reality. in a vast tree planting program work visa,” Lopez Obrador said. energy behemoth Petroleos Suga, who visited Biden at the 2030. China, a leader in pro- The American Petroleum he hopes to expand to Central “And after another three or Mexicanos (Pemex) over wind White House this month, raised ducing technology for Institute, the top US oil and gas America. four years, they could obtain and solar. Japan’s target for cutting emissions renewable energy like solar lobbying group, cautiously wel- In remarks at a White residency in the United States The president says to 46 percent by 2030, up from 26 panels, burns large amounts of comed Biden’s pledge but said House virtual climate summit, or dual nationality,” he added. renewable energy companies percent. Environmentalists coal for electricity generation. it must come with policies Lopez Obrador said that Mexico Lopez Obrador did not were given excessively gen- wanted a pledge of at least 50 Russian President Vladimir including a price on carbon, aimed to expand his adminis- make new commitments to cut erous contracts by previous percent while Japan’s powerful Putin proposed giving preferential which is a tough sell among tration’s signature “Sembrando greenhouse gas emissions. He administrations, and sees the business lobby has pushed for treatment for foreign investment some lawmakers. Vida,” or “Sowing Life,” has faced criticism for a pro- tree planting program as a national policies that favor coal. in clean energy projects, but also The summit is the first in a program to Central America, fossil fuel energy policy, but major plank of his climate Canada’s Prime Minster made an apparent reference to the string of meetings of world which he said is planting said Mexico is modernizing its change mitigation strategy. Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, United States being historically the leaders — including the G7 and 700,000 trees. hydroelectric plants to reduce Mexico Foreign Minister raised his country’s goal to a cut world’s top greenhouse gas pol- G20 — ahead of annual UN Calling it “possibly the the use of oil and coal in the Marcelo Ebrard on Wednesday of 40 percent-45 percent by luter. “It is no secret that the con- climate talks in November in largest reforestation effort in production of electricity. said he had spoken to U.S 2030 below 2005 levels, up ditions that facilitated global Scotland. That serves as the the world,” Lopez Obrador said “The energy produced with climate envoy John Kerry and from 30 percent. warming and associated problems deadline for nearly 200 coun- the program aims to create 1.2 water is clean and cheap, which they agreed on the priority of Brazil’s President Jair Bol- go way back,” Putin said. tries to update their climate million jobs and plant 3 billion is why we have decided to reducing methane gas emis- sonaro announced his most The US climate goal marks pledges under the Paris additional trees through change old turbines for modern sions and recovering the rain- ambitious environmental goal a milestone in Biden’s broader agreement, an international expansion into southeastern equipment, which will allow us forest of southern Mexico and yet, saying the country would plan to decarbonize the US accord set in 2015. Mexico and Central America. to take advantage of the water Central America. Supreme Court Senate okays bill to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans rejects new AP — WASHINGTON noted uptick in such crimes are happening in supermarkets, frequent standstills in the hate crimes during the pan- curbs on juvenile against Asian Americans and on our streets, in takeout res- polarized Senate. Hirono demic” to address some GOP The Senate yesterday passed a Pacific Islanders. That includes taurants — basically, wherever worked closely with Senator concerns about policing speech. sentences bill that would help combat the the February death of an 84 we are,” said Democratic Sen. Susan Collins, to incorporate It’s unclear whether the rise of hate crimes against Asian year-old man who was pushed Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, the some additional Republican and bipartisan bill is a sign of things REUTERS — WASHINGTON Americans and Pacific to the ground near his home in legislation’s lead sponsor. She bipartisan provisions, including to come in the Senate, where Islanders, a bipartisan denun- San Francisco; a young family said the attacks are “a pre- better reporting of hate crimes Republicans and Democrats The US Supreme Court ciation of such violence during that was attacked in a Texas dictable and foreseeable con- nationally and grant money for have fundamental differences yesterday declined to place the coronavirus pandemic and grocery store last year; and sequence” of racist and inflam- states to set up hate crime and often struggle to work new limits on sentences of life a modest step toward legislating deadly shootings last month in matory language that has been hotlines. together. Under an agreement in prison without parole for in a chamber where most of Atlanta, where six of the victims used against Asians during the The changes would replace struck by Senate leaders at the juvenile offenders, ruling President Joe Biden’s agenda were of Asian descent. pandemic, including slurs used language in the original bill that start of the year, Republicans against a Mississippi man has stalled. The names of the six women by former President Donald called for “guidance describing and Democrats pledged to try convicted of killing his grand- The measure would killed in Georgia are listed in the Trump. best practices to mitigate to at least try to debate bills and father at age 15 in a case expedite the review of hate bill, which passed the Senate on Republicans said last week racially discriminatory lan- see if they could reach testing the Constitution’s crimes and provide support for a 94-1 vote. The House is that they agreed with the guage in describing the agreement through the legis- Eighth Amendment ban on local law enforcement in expected to consider a similar premise of the legislation and COVID-19 pandemic.” The leg- lative process. The hate crimes cruel and unusual punishment. response to thousands of bill in the coming weeks. signaled they were willing to islation would require the gov- legislation is the first byproduct The justices in a 6-3 ruling reported violent incidents in the “These unprovoked, back it with minor changes, an ernment to issue guidance of that agreement. Some said it rejected arguments by the past year. Police have seen a random attacks and incidents unusual sign of comity amid aimed at “raising awareness of need not be the last. inmate, Brett Jones, that his sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole violated the Eighth Amendment Chauvin verdict a key step because the judge in his trial had not made a separate finding that he was perma- to healing: Police chief nently incorrigible. The court’s six conserva- AP — WASHINGTON single case will not end sys- tives were in the majority, with temic racism or stamp out the three liberal members Not long after a jury convicted excessive force in departments dissenting. former Minneapolis Police nationwide. Jones, now 31, was con- Officer Derek Chauvin of killing “The American justice victed of fatally stabbing his George Floyd, police chiefs system has not always served all grandfather in 2004 in a across the US started speaking of her people well, and the death dispute involving the boy’s up. And it wasn’t to defend the of George Floyd is a shocking girlfriend. police. example of where we can fail The ruling, authored by New Orleans Police Super- each other,” said Madison, Wis- Justice Brett Kavanaugh, intendent Shaun Ferguson said consin, Police Chief Shon Barnes, marked the end of the court’s convicting Chauvin on Tuesday the city’s first Black police leader. recent run of decisions that showed “police officers are not “As an officer of the law, I believe put limits on life sentences above the law.” that today justice has prevailed. without parole for juvenile Charmaine McGuffey, the We hear you. This moment offenders. The court has sheriff in Cincinnati, said it was matters.” moved rightward with a 6-3 a “necessary step” in healing a At Chauvin’s trial, jurors saw conservative majority after nation torn apart by police vio- video from bystanders and the addition since 2017 of Spring bloom memories lence. Miami Police Chief Art police body-worn cameras and three justices appointed by Acevedo encouraged Amer- heard witnesses describe how former President Donald People pause to photograph blooming spring flowers and trees on Earth Day in Manhattan’s Riverside icans to breathe “a collective the white officer pinned his Trump. Park in New York City, New York, yesterday. sigh of relief.” knee to Floyd’s neck as the Law enforcement leaders Black man cried out, “I can’t said Chauvin’s conviction was breathe.” a step toward restoring trust in Minneapolis Police Chief Man charged with killing 3 in Wisconsin shooting the criminal justice system and Medaria Arradondo testified repairing relations between against Chauvin, breaking the AP — MADISON with three counts of first- on any of the counts. Killed were 24-year-old police and the communities “blue wall of silence” that has degree intentional homicide Vinson got into a fight during Cedric Gaston; 26-year-old they serve. long shrouded accountability A Wisconsin man was charged and three counts of attempted which his face was injured, Atkeem Stevenson; and It was a major departure around police wrongdoing. on Wednesday with killing first-degree intentional hom- according to the complaint. Sur- 22-year-old Kevin Donaldson, from years past, when even the Arradondo told jurors that three people and wounding icide in the shooting early veillance video shows him all of Kenosha. The video shows highest levels would close rank Chauvin’s conduct violated three others in a weekend Sunday at Somers House walking out onto the bar’s patio, Vinson exchanging fire with around an officer following an department policy, went shooting. Tavern in the village of Somers where he opened fire. He then Donaldson outside. Donaldson on-duty killing. against training and “is cer- Prosecutors charged in Kenosha County. He would jumped over the patio’s railing left in a car but later died at a But police leaders and tainly not part of our ethics or Rakayo Vinson, 24, of Kenosha, face life in prison if convicted and ran away, firing as he fled. hospital. activists alike cautioned that a our values.” Business 13 FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 London finance firms warned by EU not to expect quick market access The EU’s interest is in protecting the financial stability of the bloc and authorities intend to scrutinize the UK’s plans to diverge from the EU’s financial standards.

Mairead McGuinness, European Union’s commissioner for financial services Business | 14 QSE 10,844.92 +4.99 (+0.05%) FTSE 100 6,938.24 +42.95 (0.62%) DOW 34,097.41 -39.90 (0.12%) BRENT $65.41 (-0.14)

al khaliji reports QR185m net profit for Q1 ECB leaves interest THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) rates, pandemic P.Q.S.C, in Qatar, yesterday reported net profit of QR185m for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, showing a growth of 4.6 stimulus unchanged percent compared to the same quarter in 2020. AP — FRANKFURT/GERMANY Lagarde said the bank would Chairman and Managing Director, step up the pace of those pur- Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, The European Central Bank left chases during coming months, stated: “al khaliji delivered a strong set of its key stimulus programs answering concerns that some results for the first quarter (Q1) of 2021. These unchanged with almost bond-market interest rates were results demonstrate the continued focus of €900bn of support still in the creeping up. our team in navigating through a period of pipeline as the economy lags Yesterday, Lagarde said that economic uncertainty with the continuing al khaliji Chairman and Managing Director, Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani the US and China in a drawn- the economic outlook in the unpredictability of the COVID-19 virus.” (left) and al khaliji’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Fahad Al Khalifa. out struggle with the COVID-19 short term “remains clouded by “On January 7, 2021, we announced a pandemic. uncertainty” about the extent of merger with Masraf Al Rayan. Regulatory The central bank for the 19 the latest wave and vaccine approvals and integration planning for the Bank’s Net Operating Income reached QR379m during the quarter, up European Union member coun- rollout as lockdowns “continue successful completion of this transaction tries that use the euro left interest to constrain economic activity.” are currently in progress. Our results for 20 percent compared to Q1 of 2020 and Operating expenses reached rates unchanged at record lows Although the bank eventually the quarter assure us that we are on course QR90m, resulting in a cost/income ratio of 23.8 percent. and made no adjustments to its expects “a firm rebound” later in to creating one of the largest Shari’ah-com- €1.85 trillion bond purchase the year, Lagarde underlined that pliant banks in the State of Qatar, at the stimulus it says will run at least for now the bank is nowhere near completion of the transaction,” he added. through March, 2022. Just under withdrawing any of its extraor- Commenting on the quarter’s per- challenges of uncertainty due to the momentum,” he added. half of that amount remains to dinary measures, even if inflation formance, Fahad Al Khalifa, al khaliji’s COVID-19 pandemic and enhanced our pro- Bank’s Net Operating Income reached be used in coming months. jumps later this year. Inflation is Group Chief Executive Officer said: “Q1, visions. Accounting for all of the above, the QR379m during the quarter, up 20 percent The regular purchases using expected to temporarily climb 2021 ended for us with an expanded bank delivered a net profit of QR185m, compared to Q1 of 2020 and Operating newly created money - a key above 2 percent annually in the Balance Sheet and strong growth in Oper- which is 4.6 percent higher compared to expenses reached QR90m, resulting in a power of central banks - drive later part of the year. She said the ating Income. We tightly controlled Oper- Q1 last year.” cost/income ratio of 23.8 percent. Loans down longer-term borrowing recent increases in inflation were ating expenses, which including one-off “Our balance sheet remains strong with and deposits increased by 11 percent and costs for companies, consumers due to “idiosyncratic and tem- items lead to an efficiency ratio of 23.8 a strong capital base, good liquidity and 10 percent year on year while the Capital and governments. porary factors” and that under- percent. We also continued to remain provision coverage and our focus in the Adequacy ratio at year-end stood at a At the last meeting on March lying inflationary pressures prudent and cognizant of the continuing coming months is to continue the positive healthy 19.5 percent. 11, ECB President Christine “remain subdued.”

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Qatar Navigation (Milaha) Q.P.S.C. 31 March 2021

Interim Condensed Consolidated Interim Condensed Consolidated Interim Condensed Consolidated Interim Condensed Consolidated Income Statement Statement of Other Comprehensive Income Statement of Financial Position Statement of Cash Flows For the three-month period ended 31 March 2021 For the three-month period ended 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2021 For the three-month period ended 31 March 2021 For the three-month period For the three-month period 31 March 31 December For the three-month period ended 31 March ended 31 March 2021 2020 ended 31 March (Unaudited) (Audited) 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 QR’000 QR’000 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 ASSETS QR’000 QR’000 Non-current assets Operating revenues 675,227 692,228 Profit for the period 298,494 283,517 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Property, vessels and equipment 3,185,901 3,250,396 Salaries, wages and other benefits (150,033) (153,443) Profit for the period 298,494 283,517 Other comprehensive income (OCI): Investment property 790,272 798,839 Operating supplies and expenses (258,997) (204,838) Adjustment for: Items that will not be reclassified Intangible assets 147,897 151,588 Rent expenses (582) (2,044) Depreciation and amortisation 91,084 92,264 subsequently to profit or loss Right-of-use assets 221,542 227,913 Depreciation and amortisation (91,084) (92,264) Finance costs 19,872 23,635 Net loss on equity investments at Investments in joint ventures 1,027,599 964,407 Provision for impairment of trade receivables (5,807) (9,687) Loss (gain) on disposal of property, Fair Value Through OCI (13,293) (671,051) Investments in associates 6,094,190 6,001,739 Other operating expenses (37,345) (30,092) vessels and equipment 160 (4,148) Equity-accounted investees Financial assets at FVOCI 3,684,217 3,741,019 Gain on disposal of investment property – (31,002) OPERATING PROFIT 131,379 199,860 – share of OCI 3,388 (13,296) Loans granted to LNG companies 126,664 124,111 Share of results of associates (114,189) (103,731) Other assets 23,931 23,839 Finance costs (19,872) (23,635) (9,905) (684,347) Share of results of joint ventures (63,199) (62,334) Finance income 8,308 5,595 Items that may be reclassified 15,302,213 15,283,851 Provision for employees’ (Loss) Gain on disposal of property, subsequently to profit or loss Current assets end of service benefits 3,015 6,803 vessels and equipment (160) 4,148 Net gain (loss) resulting from Inventories 94,771 77,615 Finance income (8,308) (5,595) Gain on disposal of investment property – 31,002 cash flow hedges 13,488 (46,917) Trade and other receivables 828,017 764,356 Dividend income (99,260) (139,353) Share of results of associates 114,189 103,731 Cash flow hedge movement for Equity instruments at FVTPL 115,702 116,602 Impairment of vessels and Share of results of joint ventures 63,192 62,334 equity-accounted investees 195,766 (272,001) Loan to a related party 392,650 392,650 capital work in progress – 98,601 Net gain (loss) on foreign exchange 1,458 (917) 209,254 (318,918) Investments in term deposits 33,835 70,701 Provision for impairment of trade receivables 5,807 9,687 Impairment of vessels and Cash and cash equivalents 292,769 306,253 Net fair value loss on financial assets capital work in progress – (98,601) Total other comprehensive income (loss) 199,349 (1,003,265) at fair value through profit or loss 900 – 1,757,744 1,728,177 PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD 298,494 283,517 Total comprehensive loss 497,843 (719,748) Loss on disposal of financial assets at FVTPL – 9,782 Total Assets 17,059,957 17,012,028 Operating profit before Attributable to: Attributable to: working capital changes: 134,376 178,126 Equity holders of the parent 297,229 283,187 Equity holders of the Parent 496,578 (720,078) EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Non-controlling interest 1,265 330 Non-controlling interest 1,265 330 Attributable to equity holders Inventories (17,156) (9,493) of the Parent Trade and other receivables (53,781) (44,441) 298,494 283,517 497,843 (719,748) Share capital 1,145,252 1,145,252 Trade and other payables (7,288) (36,743) BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE Treasury shares (73,516) (73,516) Cash flows from operating activities 56,151 87,449 (attributable to equity holders of the parent) Legal reserve 4,693,986 4,693,986 Employees’ end of service benefits paid (5,219) (10,511) expressed in QR per share ( ) 0.26 0.25 General reserve 623,542 623,542 Net cash flows from operating activities 50,932 76,938 Fair value reserve 3,359,066 3,367,639 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Hedging reserve 113,116 (96,138) Purchase of property, vessels and equipment (21,569) (52,757) Retained earnings 3,997,578 4,042,530 Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Dividend income 99,260 139,353 Equity attributable to Finance income 8,308 5,595 For the three-month period ended 31 March 2021 equity holders of the Parent 13,859,024 13,703,295 Proceeds from disposal of property, Non-controlling interest 56,354 55,089 vessels and equipment 28,739 12,629 Attributable to the equity holders of the Parent Total equity 13,915,378 13,758,384 Proceeds from disposal of Non- investment property – 35,146 Share Treasury Legal General Fair value Hedging Retained controlling Liabilities Purchases of investment properties (1,222) (13,783) capital shares reserve reserve reserve reserve earnings Total interest Total Non-current liabilities Addition to intangible assets – (247) QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 QR’000 Loans and borrowings 1,351,502 1,403,141 Net movement in loans granted to Advance from a customer 96,966 98,947 Balance at 31 December LNG companies (2,553) (2,704) Lease liabilities 138,569 153,632 2020 (Audited) 1,145,252 (73,516) 4,693,986 623,542 3,367,639 (96,138) 4,042,530 13,703,295 55,089 13,758,384 Proceeds from disposal of financial assets Provision for employees’ at fair value through other end of service benefits 110,924 114,173 comprehensive income 28,302 – !"#"" $%& % ' ' 1,697,961 1,769,893 Net movement in term deposits maturing after 90 days 36,866 28,740 Total comprehensive Current liabilities $#""&! $%& % ' Dividends received from joint ventures – 147,000 Trade and other payables 655,885 674,681 Transfer of reserves on Dividends received from associates 220,892 200,811 Loans and borrowings 691,453 717,597 ""*#!*!*# Lease liabilities 99,280 91,473 Net cash flows from investing activities 397,023 499,783 *"""*+./ '' $''& :!"* $'%& $'%& $'%& 1,446,618 1,483,751 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Dividends paid (340,849) (340,849) Total liabilities 3,144,579 3,253,644 Balance at 31 March 2021 Net movement in loans and borrowings (77,783) (85,692) (Unaudited) 1,145,252 (73,516) 4,693,986 623,542 3,359,066 113,116 3,997,578 13,859,024 56,354 13,915,378 Total equity and liabilities 17,059,957 17,012,028 Finance costs paid (19,872) (23,635) Payment towards lease liability (22,935) (15,967) Balance at 31 December Net cash flows used in financing activities (461,439) (466,143) 2019 (Audited) 1,145,252 (73,516) 4,693,986 623,542 3,875,607 68,227 4,210,029 14,543,127 54,884 14,598,011 Jassim bin Hamad bin Abdulrahman Essa ' ' ''% ' Jassim Jaber Al-Thani A.E. Al-Mannai INCREASE (DECREASE) IN !"#"" $'& $'& $%%'& $%%'& Chairman President and CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (13,484) 110,578 Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 306,253 177,761 Total comprehensive $#""&! $'& $'& ' $%%& ''% $& CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS :!"* $'%& $'%& $'%& AT 31 MARCH 292,769 288,339 Balance at 31 March 2020 (Unaudited) 1,145,252 (73,516) 4,693,986 623,542 3,191,260 (250,691) 4,152,367 13,482,200 55,214 13,537,414

For further details visit our website www.milaha.com Qatar Navigation Q.P.S.C. +974 4494 9666 or Qatar Stock Exchange website www.qe.com.qa P.O. Box 153, Doha, State of Qatar +974 4483 3244 www.milaha.com 14 BUSINESS FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 Fitch: Global outstanding sukuk reaches $715.2bn London finance firms

ANADOLU — ANKARA Fitch noted that the warned by EU not to expect Total global outstanding sukuk momentum in sukuk reached $715.2bn in the first quick market access quarter of the year — 3 percent issuance is expected to higher than the last quarter of continue through the BLOOMBERG 2020, according to interna- rest of the year. tional credit rating agency Fitch The European Union’s commis- Ratings said late on Wednesday. sioner for financial services A sukuk is an Islamic said the bloc isn’t under any financial certificate, similar to state-owned Islamic banks pressure to help London a bond in Western finance, from 2015 to 2019, the report financial firms access the which complies with Islamic said the country would continue market and warned there won’t religious law, also known as maturity of more than 18 projected to mature in 2021- to broaden access and increase be any decisions soon while Sharia. Fitch noted that the months from the Gulf Cooper- 2023, it added. competition. It added that a Britain plots different rules for momentum in sukuk issuance ation Council (GCC) region, Meanwhile, Islamic banking state-funded $2.6bn Interna- the industry. is expected to continue through Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey assets in Turkey are expected tional Financial Centre in Mairead McGuinness the rest of the year. and Pakistan was $9.9bn in the to double within a decade as Istanbul (IIFC) is scheduled to (pictured) said in an interview In the report, it was stated first quarter of 2021, similar to government initiatives drive open in 2023, which will be “a that the EU could hold a that the sukuk market is the last quarter of last year,” the growth in the sector, according new catalyst for growth.” meeting on market access “There isn’t any haste here,” affected by emerging markets credit rating agency noted. to a report published credit “Borsa Istanbul, launched issues by the middle of the year, she said. “There is no pressure. and global trends, including the The volume of Fitch-rated rating agency Moody’s in trading in sukuk (Islamic bonds) but it is still in the process of There is no panic.” impact of rising US bond yields sukuk reached $119.1bn at the January. in August 2018, deepening the finalizing the memorandum of Since Brexit took effect at on fixed income markets. end of this year’s first quarter. Noting that the Turkish gov- country’s Islamic capital market understanding on post-Brexit the beginning of 2021, “Sukuk issuance with a About 30.5 percent of this is ernment founded three new activities,” it underlined. regulatory cooperation agreed London-based financial firms last month. haven’t been able to operate “I know there probably is freely in the bloc, forcing an appetite on the UK side for banks like JPMorgan Chase & Global steel production jumps 10% in first quarter us to sit down and get going,” Co. and Goldman Sachs Group McGuinness said. “We are cer- Inc. to move billions of dollars ANADOLU — ANKARA producer, posted an annual rise of 9.5 India, an increase of 10.4% during the same tainly very keen to do that, but in assets and thousands of percent in crude steel production in the first period. we’re not under pressure to do staff to the continent. The Global crude steel output rose 10% year- three months of this year, to 9.8 million The other major producers Japan and the it.” trade agreement signed by the on-year in the first quarter of 2021, tons. US saw crude steel output decreasing 1.7 McGuinness said that the two sides last year largely according to the World Steel Association China remained the world’s largest percent and 6.3 percent to 23.7 million tons EU’s interest is in protecting the sidelined the finance industry, yesterday. Crude steel production for the crude steel producer with more than half and 20.4 million tons, respectively. The World financial stability of the bloc and the EU has said since that 64 countries reporting to the platform was of global output. The country’s steel pro- Steel Association is a prominent industry and authorities intend to scru- it’s in no rush to grant the 486.9 million tons in January-March, the duction jumped 15.6 percent to 271 million group, with its members representing around tinize the UK’s plans to diverge equivalence rulings that association said. tons in the first quarter. 85 percent of global steel production with from the EU’s financial would restore British firms’ Turkey, the eighth-largest crude steel The figure was 29.6 million tons in more than 160 steel producers. standards. trading rights. 9 in 10 adults in Mideast willing Saudi Aramco to refinance $10bn revolving loans to take personal action on REUTERS — DUBAI the sources. sustainability issues: Mastercard Aramco has recently agreed Saudi Aramco is expected to with banks to extend by a year refinance a $10bn debt facility a separate one-year $10bn loan THE PENINSULA – DOHA raised in 2015, two sources said, it raised in May last year, said in what would be the oil giant’s one of the two banking sources. As Earth Day is observed third major foray into the loan It is also arranging a $10.5bn around the world today, market this year. loan for investors buying a stake new research on sustaina- Aramco, the world’s largest in its oil pipeline business. bility, commissioned by oil company, raised the Aramco’s debt-to-equity Mastercard, reveals a revolving credit facility in 2015 ratio more than doubled to 55 marked increase in with a wide group of interna- percent in 2020 from a year consumer passion for the being more aware of purchases tional and local banks. A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in before, it said last month, after environment, as personal atti- is the top change regional That financing included two Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. the group kept a pledge to deliver tudes toward the environment respondents will make as a five-year loans, one in US a $75bn dividend to support state evolve as a result of COVID-19. result from COVID-19. dollars and one in riyal, and two two years, pushing their matu- confirming a report by LPC, a coffers despite a slide in profits. In the Middle East region, 9 Specifically, respondents in annually renewable one-year rities to March next year, fixed income news service that Its “gearing” ratio - a measure of in 10 people, stated that they’re the Middle East region high- loans, also split between the according to a bond is part of Refinitiv. the degree to which Aramco’s willing to take personal action lighted the top three issues they two currencies. prospectus. “Rather than keep rolling it operations are financed by debt to combat environmental and want companies and brands to Aramco, which declined to It is now planning to refi- on a year basis, which is where - was 23 percent last year, com- sustainability issues. This com- focus on, besides dealing with comment, last year extended nance the $10bn revolving it is right now, they’ll come and pared to minus 0.2 percent at the pares to 8 in 10 globally. Over the pandemic. They want the two five-year facilities by loans, two banking sources said, do a refinancing,” said one of end of 2019. 80% of adults in the Middle East brands to focus on the health also said they are even more and wellbeing of their mindful of their impact on the employees, reduce air and China’s Guangzhou environment since COVID-19. water pollution, and offer more World’s most cashless place takes Social media seems to be sustainable and durable Airport world’s driving an increase of environ- products. busiest in 2020 mentally conscious consumers, “Companies, consumers and next step toward digital money especially among Gen-Z, with 43 communities must work together ANADOLU — ANKARA percent globally seeing social to make the significant changes BLOOMBERG Report. media posts from influential needed to effectively address "A possible introduction of Having hosted 43.8 million people showcasing climate change climate change,” said Jorn The central bank of Norway, digital central bank money will passengers amid the corona- or environmental issues since the Lambert, Chief Digital Officer, where old-fashioned cash is still be some way off,” Olsen virus pandemic, Guangzhou Bai beginning of the pandemic. Addi- Mastercard. “By embedding sus- now used less than anywhere said. The timeline published Yun International Airport in tionally, almost a quarter (24 tainability into the very fabric of else in the world, says it’s time yesterday "reflects that Norges China became the world’s percent) of the global respondents our business – from pay-on- to take the next step in Bank has so far not seen an busiest airport last year, the say social media has made them demand solar energy products to exploring the introduction of a immediate need for the intro- Airports Council International more aware of their environ- tools that help inform consumer digital currency. duction of such money,” he (ACI) said yesterday. mental and sustainable choices. spending – we can unlock the Norges Bank Governor said. Global passenger traffic at This signals a growing trend power of our network, reaching Oystein Olsen (pictured), who Olsen also said that any the world’s top 10 busiest air- toward eco-conscious spending billions of consumers and in the past has seemed less decision on introducing a CBDC ports slipped 45.7 percent in and consumption among partners, to create positive enthusiastic about central bank respond to widespread cash- will require political 2020, compared to previous people who want to turn their change for the environment.” digital currencies than his lessness by developing their involvement and potential year, ACI said. efforts and purchases into Among adults surveyed in peers, says the case for looking own digital currencies, spurred changes to Norwegian Seven of the top 10 busiest meaningful action for the the Middle East, 7 in 10 see into their feasibility now "has by the embrace of cryptocur- legislation. airports are in China and three planet. reducing their carbon footprint been strengthened.” The bank rencies such as Bitcoin, as well Meanwhile, Sweden may in the US, with domestic air Over 72 percent of adults in more important now than pre- plans to spend the next two as private initiatives including have a digital central bank cur- travel posted a modest rebound the Middle East think it’s now pandemic. Globally, 58 percent years building its knowledge of Diem, which is backed by rency within five years, while international air travel more important for businesses of respondents have become the area, and doing "experi- Facebook Inc. Riksbank Governor Stefan remained depressed with and brands to do more for the more conscious about how mental testing of technical solu- Only 3-4 percent of trans- Ingves recently said. But ongoing travel restrictions, it environment, and over 25 their actions can impact the tions” to make sure it under- actions in Norway are con- Sweden has tended to push noted. percent said they are going to environment than ever before, stands the "purpose and con- ducted with bank notes and back its timeline for a CBDC, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson stop using or buying from with Gen-Z and Millennials (65 sequences” of introducing a coins, according to Norges and recently acknowledged International Airport came in brands that do not have a plan percent) leading this shift. CBDC, he said in a report pub- Bank, which estimates that’s the that the task is more complex the second with 42.9 million air to help the environment or The trend toward more lished yesterday. lowest level of cash usage in the and time-consuming than ini- passengers last year. behave sustainably. Nearly 15 conscious consumption has The bank has already spent world. The rate is 9 percent in tially anticipated. It was followed by Chengdu percent admitted that for the grown over the last decade. four years on preliminary neighboring Sweden, which is Norges Bank will now Shuangliu International Airport first time, they have boycotted However, changes in attitudes research, but has remained on among the most advanced spend the next two years testing with 40.7 million passengers companies that have not and actions have increased at the fence on the subject as nations when it comes to devel- different models for a CBDC and Dallas/Fort Worth Inter- adopted sustainable values. a rapid rate as a direct result of others move ahead. Central oping a CBDC, according to the before deciding which version national Airport with 39.4 Buying less impulsively by COVID-19. banks globally are racing to McKinsey Global Payments to settle on for a pilot project. million passengers, ACI said. US to double public climate finance to developing countries by 2024 REUTERS — WASHINGTON administration. In a fact sheet, the White (DFC) would change its devel- those institutions, including As part of the goal, the As part of the goal, the House said US agencies, opment strategy to include the World Bank, set and apply The United States yesterday said White House said that by 2024 White House said that by working with development climate for the first time, and ambitious climate finance it will boost public climate it would triple financing of 2024 it would triple partners, would prioritize prioritize climate mitigation and targets and policies. finance to help poor countries climate adaptation, which climate in their investments, adaptation. The plan also calls for reduce greenhouse gas emis- focuses on adjustments to financing of climate expand technical assistance and The Millennium Challenge ending international invest- sions and adapt to a changing current or expected climate adaptation, which focuses increase funding for adaptation Corporation’s new climate ments in carbon-intensive fossil climate, doubling funding by change. It said it will work with and resilience. strategy would focus on fuel-based energy projects, and 2024 from average levels hit Congress to enact needed on adjustments to current It said the US Agency for climate-smart development steering capital toward climate- during the Obama adminis- legislation. or expected climate International Development and sustainable infrastructure, aligned investments. tration. Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, a change. It said it will work (USAID) would release a new aiming to put more than 50 Treasury, together with the The White House said it was top aide to Biden’s climate Climate Change Strategy in percent of its funding into Organisation for Economic embracing “ambitious but envoy John Kerry, said total US with Congress to enact November 2021, at the 26th climate-related investments Co-operation and Devel- attainable goals” for interna- international public climate needed legislation. Conference of the Parties to the over the next five years, it opment, will spearhead efforts tional aid to developing coun- finance averaged around $2.8bn United Nations Framework said. to modify guidelines for tries given the urgency of the a year during the baseline Convention on Climate Change The US Treasury would official export financing to climate crisis and to com- period from fiscal year 2013 to most recent period where US (COP26). direct US executive directors reorient financing away from pensate for a sharp drop in US 2017, with around $500m going climate finance was at an all- The US International Devel- in multilateral development carbon-intensive activities, it funding during the Trump toward adaptation. That was the time high, he said on Twitter. opment finance Corporation banks (MDBs) to ensure that said. Sport FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 15 UEFA chief warns rebel Super League failure means football wins, clubs of ‘consequences’ says Fernandinho

REUTERS — MANCHESTER Chelsea fans protest REUTERS — BIRMINGHAM against the European UEFA President Aleksander Super League. Manchester City’s players put We didn’t expect it, but Ceferin has warned rebel clubs days of tumult over the eventually they had good that they will face “conse- proposed Super League behind quences” for their aborted them to beat Aston Villa and sense and it was the right breakaway and there may be remain top of the Premier thing to do. Everyone who more pain to come for the League on Wednesday, with loves football didn’t owners of the top clubs. club captain Fernandinho support the Super League, The failed attempt to create saying that football won out as including our players, so an elite Super League, as a the project quickly fell apart. direct rival to UEFA’s Cham- City were one of six English we’re happy now that it’s pions League, has left Ceferin clubs involved in the ill-fated turned around, but it was a newly emboldened at the helm proposal which was announced surprise. of Europe’s governing body. on Sunday but foundered The “Big Six” English almost as quickly. Fernandinho Premier League teams aban- “It’s been crazy since Sat- doned the project on Tuesday urday after the Chelsea defeat leaving the Italian and Spanish in the FA Cup. Guys were a bit generating more revenue. teams, with the exception of down, and then on Monday the Many players took to social Real Madrid, to accept the plan Super League comes out and media on Tuesday evening to had failed. we were surprised,” Brazilian express their displeasure as “The doors of UEFA are Fernandinho told Sky Sports. pressure from fans mounted, open, and at the same time eve- “We didn’t expect it, but prompting a U-turn from the ryone will have to suffer the eventually they had good sense English clubs. consequences for their actions,” and it was the right thing to do. “It’s a tough situation. We Ceferin told Slovenian tele- Everyone who loves football wanted to find out from the vision station POP TV. UEFA’s lawyers are actually we’re going to allocate didn’t support the Super people at the top of the club to UEFA holds an executive expected to offer options over more money in a fairer way and League, including our players, see the reasons why they are committee meeting today. response measures at Friday’s I expect a lot more to you’ve got to earn your place. so we’re happy now that it’s there with the other clubs,” the “I expect a lot more to meeting and bans and suspen- happen by Friday. Believe There is a window to do that if turned around, but it was a sur- 35-year-old Fernandinho said. happen by Friday. Believe me, sions could be justified under they chose,” he said. prise,” he added. “We wanted to come out anyone who says he is com- the organisation’s rule prohib- me, anyone who says he is “(The 12) may find the deal Players and managers and say we are against it, but pletely calm in this situation is iting unauthorised “combina- completely calm in this that was offered to them from were seemingly left in the dark we had to have a chat among not telling the truth,” Ceferin tions” or “alliances” of clubs. situation is not telling the UEFA gets worse and their as plans were made for teams the players and we all agreed said. “There will be some truth. ability to do anything about that from England, Spain and Italy to wait for the club statement, “I received SMS (text) members who call for pun- now has been significantly to create a new tournament to we are happy in the end support from practically all ishment but lawyers are more diminished, they can’t threaten replace UEFA’s Champions because football wins,” Fern- clubs in Europe. So now we likely to be interested in pro- Aleksander Ceferin to walk away again, that one League with an eye to andinho added. expect everyone to realise their tecting the organisation and UEFA President has blown,” he added. mistake and suffer the appro- tightening up the rulebook,” It could be a double- priate consequences,” he said. said one source close to UEFA. whammy on the European front Fernandinho While Ceferin did not elab- However, Ceferin will be -- less money from UEFA and (right) during a orate on what price might be aware that clubs who have been League reform plan for the break-up fees for pulling the training session paid by the clubs, he did punished for breaching post-2024 competition and the plug on their commitments to in this file photo. indicate that Real Madrid’s Financial Fair Play regulations financial redistribution model. the Super League. involvement in their Champions will take a dim view of other “There is a likelihood that There will be consequences League semi-final with Chelsea teams getting away with UEFA will look at these again, I in English football as well. was not likely to be impacted making a move which could think they may go backwards,” As well as reports of the big given complications for have destroyed the lucrative said one executive at a clubs being pushed out of their broadcasters. Champions League. European sports broadcaster positions on Premier League “There is a relatively small REDISTRIBUTION “Instead of saying we’ll committees, the UK government, chance that this match will not MODEL guarantee more money for the having played a key role in pres- take place next week. But it will More broadly, there is also big old clubs, and more places suring the Big Six to withdraw be a little different in the likely to be pressure for UEFA for the big old clubs, I think they from the Super League, is to hold future,” he said. to rethink its Champions might go backwards and say a review of the game. Paddikal scores maiden BARCELONA OPEN RESULTS Round of 16 SCOREBOARD Felix Auger-Aliassime (10), Canada, def. Bangladesh first innings (overnight century as RCB crush RR Denis Shapovalov (7), Canada, 6-2, 6-3. 302-2, Shanto 126, Haque 64) Andrey Rublev (3), Russia, def. Albert Ram- Tamim Iqbal c Thirimanne b V. Fernando ... 90 Bangladesh captain os-Vinolas, Spain, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4. Saif Hassan lbw b V. Fernando ...... 0 Mominul Haque by 10 wickets in Mumbai Najmul Shanto c and b Kumara ...... 163 in action during Jannik Sinner (11), Italy, def. Roberto Bautis- Mominul Haque c Thirimanne b De Silva ...127 the second day of AP — MUMBAI ta Agut (5), Spain, 7-6 (9), 6-2. Mushfiqur Rahim not out ...... 43 in the 10th when Paddikal swiveled on opening Test against his back foot and pulled Mustafizur over Stefanos Tsitsipas (2), Greece, def. Alex de Liton Das not out ...... 25 Minaur (14), Australia, 7-5, 6-3. Extras (b5, lb6, nb5, w10) ...... 26 Sri Lanka yesterday. Propelled by a maiden century from deep square leg. Total (4 wickets, 155 overs) ...... 474 PICTURE COURTESY: Devdutt Paddikal beside Virat Kohli, While Paddikal stalled in the 80s, Cameron Norrie, Britain, def. David Goffin Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Saif Hassan), 2-152 SRI LANKA CRICKET Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Kohli rushed from the 20s to his 50, (8), Belgium, 6-0, 3-5, ret. (Tamim Iqbal), 3-394 (Najmul Shanto), 4-424 blew away Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 10 getting there after slapping Morris over Diego Schwartzman (4), Argentina, def. (Mominul Haque) wickets at the Indian Premier League mid off. Kohli took 34 balls. Corentin Moutet, France, 6-4, 6-2. Bowling: Lakmal 31-12-74-0 (n3), Fernando 28-8-75-2, Kumara 28-4-88-1 (w10), Mathews (IPL) in Mumbaiyesterday. Paddikal achieved the second Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, def. Kei Nishikori, 7-1-14-0, De Silva 27-1-112-1 (nb2), Hasaranga Paddikal, the 20-year-old left- hundred of this IPL by hitting Mus- Japan, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.

33-2-94-0, Karunaratne 1-0-6-0 hander, scored 101 not out and Kohli, tafizur over deep square leg. The end Pablo Carreno Busta (6), Spain, def. Bern- his captain, 72 not out for Bangalore to came moments later on five wides. abe Zapata Miralles, Spain, 6-3, 6-4. reach 181 without loss in the 17th over Paddikal’s 102 came from 52 balls, in reply to Rajasthan’s 177-9. and included 11 boundaries and six Bangalore remained the only team sixes. His 72 off 47 had six boundaries unbeaten after four rounds, while and three sixes. He passed 6,000 runs Nadal beats Rajasthan was last in the eight-team in the IPL. First Test: Mominul ton lifts league. Rajasthan’s target was imposing Rajasthan started the match 43-4, Nishikori to but Paddikal and Kohli cruised, sparing and Shivam Dube began the recovery nobody. with the middle order. enter last-8 Bangladesh to 474-4 on The century partnership came up Dube scored 46 off 32 until he was out to a good diving catch by Glenn in Barcelona IPL: BRIEF SCORES Maxwell. second day in Pallekele Riyan Pirag added 25 off 16, and AP — BARCELONA Rajasthan Royals 177/9 in 20 overs (S Dube 46, R Tewatia Tewatia 40 off 23 after trying for a third AP — PALLEKELE temperament by not taking any undue 40, R Parag 25, M Siraj 3/27, H Patel 3/47) lost to Royal six at the end of the 19th over. Rafael Nadal beat Kei Nishikori

risks. Challengers Bangalore 181/0 in 16.3 overs (D Padikkal He was medium-pacer Mohammed 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 yesterday to Captain Mominul Haque completed a Mominul was more free-flowing with 101 not out, V Kohli 72 not out). Siraj’s third wicket. Medium-pacer advance to the quarter-finals century beside newcomer Najmul Shanto some elegant strokes, including 11 bound- Harshal Patel also took three. of the Barcelona Open. as their 242-run partnership lifted Bang- aries. His 127 was his 11th Test hundred, The 11-time tournament ladesh to a commanding 474-4 against the most by a Bangladeshi batsman. champion looked ready to roll Sri Lanka after two days of the first Test Despite a nice grass cover, the to a quick victory after domi- yesterday. Pallekele pitch was slow and the fast nating the first set, but Shanto, who started the day on his bowlers had their work cut out. Much Kohli becomes first batsman Nishikori responded with maiden Test century at 126, was out for was expected of Lahiru Kumara, who some fine net play to level it at 163 soon after lunch to end their third- has the ability to clock 150 kph, but he to score 6,000 runs in IPL 1-1. Nadal broke Nishikori wicket stand. Mominul reached his 11th got little help from the track with even twice in the decisive set, con- Test century in the morning session and his bouncers rarely rising above waist REUTERS — MUMBAI Rajasthan Royals to become the verting his second match point was out, too, before tea in the only other level. youngest batsman to score a century by driving a forehand winner wicket to fall all day. The batsmen were quick to go on the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain during an IPL chase. down the line. Mushfiqur Rahim was on 43 and Liton back foot and pull him to midwicket but Virat Kohli (pictured)tured) became “II had the best seat in The top-seeded Nadal is still Das on 25 when play was ended 96 Kumara was also guilty of not bowling yesterday the first batsmanbatsman to score the house,”house,” Kohli sasaidid searching for his best tennis after minutes early due to bad light. Play will to a probing line and creating pressure. 6,000 runs in the Indianndian PremiPremierer afterafter PadikkalPadikkal being upset in the Monte Carlo resume 15 minutes early on day three Kumara did dismiss Shanto when he League (IPL). smashedsmashed sixsix sixessixes quarterfinals by Andrey Rublev. after 25 overs were lost on day two. took a return catch but much more was India skipper KKohliohli reached and 1111 foufours.rs. ““YouYou He needed three sets to beat The batsmen have done remarkably expected of him when he was picked the milestone in 19696 matchesmatches andand can’tcan’t always be the 111th-ranked Ilya Ivashka of well considering they came into the Test ahead of Asitha Fernando. leads the list aheadad ooff Chennai’sChennai’s guy going dom-dom- Belarus in his first match in Bar- amid intense criticism after losing a home Allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva Suresh Raina (5,44848 runs),runs), Delhi’s inant... TonightTonight my celona on Wednesday. series to West Indies and losing six white picked up the other wicket of Mominul, Shikhar Dhawan (5,428),428), Hyderabad’sHyderabad’s rolerole wwasas ddifferentifferent aandnd Nadal will face Britain’s ball games in New Zealand. who edged into the slips where Lahiru David Warner (5,384)4) and Mumbai’s I wanted to hanghang Cameron Norrie next. Norrie Shanto showed why he was rated so Thirimanne made the catch. Rohit Sharma (5,368).8). in tthere.”here.” advanced after David Goffin highly in Bangladesh with 163 in his Sri Lanka has the third new ball Kohli’s unbeatenn knknockock ooff 72 retired in the second set of seventh Test. Batting for more than eight available in five overs, but dry areas are was eclipsed by 20-year-old-year-old their match due to injury. hours, Shanto faced 378 deliveries. He appearing on the pitch which should also Devdutt Padikkal,al, who Nishikori won the outdoor hit 17 boundaries and a six. help Bangladeshi’s spinners. They have smashed 101 off 52 ballsballs in clay-court tournament in 2014 Dropped on 28 by Niroshan Dick- a first Test win overseas in four years in a 10-wicket win overover and 2015 when Nadal was bat- wella, Shanto showcased his Test match sight. tling injuries. Sport FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 UEFAUE President Aleksander Ceferin warns of 'consequences''co as rebel clubs face reprisals I received SMS (text) support from practically all clubs in EEurope. So now we expect everyone to realise their mistake aand suffer the appropriate consequences.

Aleksander Ceferin UEFA President Sport | 15

NBA: Knicks 137, Hawks 127 (OT); Suns 116, 76ers 113; Raptors 114, Nets 103; Clippers 117, Grizzlies 105; Mavericks 127, Pistons 117 Al Duhail coach ACL: Xavi says consistency the key hails Olunga wonder show as Al Sadd eye knockout stage against Esteghlal THE PENINSULA/AFC — RIYADH “I expect tomorrow (today) to be difficult because Al AFC — JEDDAH Al Sadd’s head coach Xavi Wehdat played well in the Hernandez said consistency second half, and they’ll be for Al Duhail SC head coach Sabri would be the key if Al Sadd are sure playing attack tomorrow. Lamouchi praised Kenyan to progress to the Round of 16 But it’s okay, we have four forward Michael Olunga as he side takes on Al Wehdat points, it all depends on our- whose hat-trick steered the in 2021 AFC Champions League selves, and our main target is to Qatari side to an exciting 4-3 Group D fixture at King Fahd qualify for the knockout win against Islamic Republic International Stadium in rounds.” of Iran’s Esteghlal FC in the Riyadh, today. Al Wehdat started their 2021 AFC Champions League Al Sadd have endured a debut campaign with a 0-0 on Wednesday. mixed campaign, needing a late draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Man-of-the-match Olunga goal to salvage a point against Nassr, but that was followed by struck in the 10th, 27th and Foolad before being compre- defeats to Islamic Republic of 85th minutes in an absorbing hensively beaten by Al Nassr 3-1 Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan FC Group C tie which saw both on Matchday Two. The Qatar (1-0) and Qatar’s Al Sadd (3-1) sides exchanging leads at the champions, however, redis- and another defeat would dash King Abdullah Sports City covered their best form against the Jordan side’s hopes of Stadium. Al Wehdat and will be aiming advancing. It was a crucial win for Al for another three points. “In the last match against Duhail as the win meant they The Spanish legend urged Al Sadd we shared control, Al leapfrogged Esteghlal into top his players to show the intensity Sadd controlled in the first spot on seven points, one they did in the first half against half in terms of performance ahead of the Iranians at the Al Wehdat on Monday. and result, and scored three midway stage. Al Sadd had 14 shots from goals, then in the second half An overjoyed Lamouchi inside the box against Al we dominated but wasted paid tribute to Olunga’s Wehdat and if they can play at several chances and only masterclass. the same level and get a win managed to score a goal,” said “I can’t find the words to today, they will approach their Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos (left) practises with the ball as Al Wehdat head coach Abdullah describe this exciting match final two matches against Xavi Hernandez (second right) looks on during a training session. Abu Zema. and it is not easy to talk about Foolad and Al Nassr confident “The two teams knows each it,” said Lamouchi in the post- of advancing to the Round of 16 experience, it’s difficult to win first half, and not so well in the match, we played better in the other now, and there are no match press conference. “I as the group winners. against the same team twice in second half,” said Xavi. second half, then we played secrets between us, and I guess want to thank the players for “This is another important a row. But we’ve been doing “In the first match, we brilliantly in the first half of the now the level of fitness will their excellent match for us, and we’re treating well, especially in the last game, played well in the first 60 last match. Now, our target is to have an effect as each team has performance.” this like the final. From my where we did excellent in the minutes, and in the second play well for all 90 minutes." played three matches." “Olunga deserves, of course, to be the man of the match. He’s a special player and his presence has helped us have a lot of attacking Al Rayyan out to revive hopes against Al Wahda options,” said Lamouchi of the 2020 J1 League’s top scorer who now leads the 2021 AFC AFC — GOA Against Persepolis, Al prepare in the same way even having found their shooting Champions League scoring Rayyan were leading 1-0 before though it’s a short recovery boots, ten Cate will be expecting charts with four goals. Qatar’s Al Rayyan and UAE’s Al I will not change my tactics conceding three goalsg in 15 periodppy for the players. his pyplayers to seal another three “Tonight we conceded Wahda FSCC will both be against Al Wahda and we minutes whilele LaurentLaurent Blanc’sBlanc’s “My“My vision of football is to pointspoints aagainstgains Al Rayyan. three goals but we managed desperate for victory when the side surrendereddered a two-goatwo-goall havehave controlcontrol in thethe TheThe AAll WWahda head coach’s to get our heads together and two sides meet on Matchday will play with the same advantage att the tail end of tthehe beginning and at gamble to experimente with recover mentally. In the Four in Group E of the 2021 AFC philosophy as we did in our match againstst AlAl WaWahda.hda. thethe endend ofof thethe tacticstactics in tthehe ssecond half against second half, we tried our best Champions League at the Jawa- first match. If they canan ppluglug tthehe hholesoles at game.game. At thethe Al Rayyan ppaida dividends, with to maintain the strengths of harlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, the back, Blancanc will feel that Al momentmoment wwee thethe Dutchman’sDutchm decision to the players and that’s why we today. Laurent Blanc Rayyan can defeatdefeat AlAl WahdaWahda forfor needneed a llittleittle bbitit ooff ffieldield severalsever young players didn’t have a similar per- Al Rayyan began their AFC their first winn of the campaign confidenceconfidence and payingpaying ooff handsomely. formance to the first half.” Champions League campaign and reignite theirtheir hopes.hopes. luck to wiwin.”n.” “We“We won our last Esteghlal FC head coach with a goalless draw against “I will nott change my tactics Al WahdaWahda gamegame because it had to Farhad Majidi said both teams debutants FC Goa of India opened their campaign with a against Al WahdaWahda and we will went two do withw the determi- had an excellent match but felt before going on to suffer defeats 1-0 defeat to Persepolis and 0-0 play with thee same philosophyphilosophy matcmatchesh es nationnatio and mentality of Al Duhail’s good balance tilted against Islamic Republic of draw with FC Goa to sit second as we did in ouourr firstfirst wwithouti t h o ut the players,” said ten the tie in their favour. Iran’s Persepolis FC (3-1) and Al in the standings. match,” said Blanc. scoringscoring but Cate.Cat “It is always “The two sides had a very Wahda (3-2) to lie bottom of the Al Rayyan felt they deserved “I thinknk wewe somethingso that I good match today and it was group. more in the matches against deserved to win wantw to see in my a tactical and physical Monday’s thrilling win over Persepolis and Al Wahda, (against Al Wahda) on playersp and the contest,” said Majidi. Laurent Blanc Al Rayyan reignited Al Wahda’s having taken the lead in both Tuesday. We were two goals up matchm isn’t over till The two will square off hopes after Henk ten Cate’s side ties only to end up losing. but we weree beaten.beaten. We willwill it’sitt over." again tomorrow. Barshim, Samba to take part in Doha Diamond League

THE PENINSULA — DOHA was outstanding when winning highest jump of all time. “All of The Qatar Sports Club will testament to the commitment global World Championship my efforts have been, and con- once again host this prestigious and passion of our people,” said Qatar’s reigningreigning men’s highhigh goldgold at the Khalifa International All of mymy efforts have tinue to be, focused on this sum- Diamond League fixture which Qatar Athletics Federation Pres- jumpjump world champion Mutaz StadiumStadium in October 2019, has been,been, andand continue to be,be, mer’s Olympic Games and I has consistently delivered world ident Dr. Thani Alkuwari. BarshimBarshim anandd WorWorldld ChCham-am- believe I’ve used my time wisely class performances, including “In spite of the continued pionshippionship 400mH bronze focused onon thisthis susummer’smmer’s to prepare and train well. Now two world leads and six meeting health and safety protocols we medallistmedallist AAbderrahmanbderrahman OlympicOlympic GamesGames and I it’s time to compete and I’m and national records across the must adhere to, we are excited SambaSamba will returnreturn to believebelieve I’ve used mymy time looking forward to opening my programme in 2020. to welcome back another Wanda DiamDiamondond wiselywisely to prepare andand traintrain Diamond League campaign in “Last year’s event was a impressive line-up of stars for League (DL) action at well.well. NowNow it’sit’s timetime toto Doha.” great success the 23rd ededition of the Doha the DohaDoha DDiamondiamond Similarly, Samba - whose aand n d it’s meetingmeeting anandd we’re confident in League on May 28, the compete and I’m lookinglooking World Championshipp bronze deliverydelivery ourour abilityability tto deliver another second meetingmeeting of forwardforward to openingopening my came off the back of interruptedterrupted was world clasclasss - and safe - athletics thethe 22021021 series.series. DiamondDiamond LLeagueeague campacampaignign preparation due to injuryury - also competition.”competition AfterAfter a trun-trun- in Doha.Doha. missed the 2020 season.ason. HHee The 22021021 Wanda Diamond cated 22020020 opened 2021 with a winwin over League comprisescom 14 meetings WandaWanda DiamondDiamond 400m (45.43) in Potchefstroom,efstroom, - startingstarting with Gateshead LeagueLeague season - MutazMutaz BarBarshimshim South Africa, on Marchch 31 . (replacing RabatRa as the first host whichw h ich was “After some hamstringamstring citycity on this year’s circuit) on reducedreduced to four issues in the lead uupp to the SundaySunday 23 MayM - leading to a eventsevents due to tthehe competedcompeted only once since that Worlds, I decided that my focus single final acrossa two days in impactimpact of COVIDCOVID-19-19 famousfamous victory.victory. He jumpedjumped was to get back to beingng 100% ZurichZurich at the end of the - it’sit’s a wwelcomeelcome 2.25m to win the AspireAspire Invi-Invi- healthy,” he said. seaseason.s Each meeting returnreturn for twotwo of ththee tationaltational iinn DohDohaa oonn 1155 MMarch.arch. “The Olympics is mmyy willwil be broadcast glo- hosthost nnation’sation’s stastarr atath-h- “Following“Following the World priority and the onset ooff ballyba in a live two- letes,letes, both national ChampionshipsChampionships in Doha I was the pandemic gave mmee hourho programme. recorrecordd hholdersolders andand in veryvery ggoodood shape, but with the the opportunity to takee The 2021 calendar seriousserious mmedaledal ccon-on- pandemicpandemic and the associated my time and to get remainsrem subject to tenderstenders forfor thisthis sum-sum- restrictions,restrictions, I didn’t feel I had things right. I’m now changecha depending on mer’s OlympicOlympic goodgood reason to compete last back to where I want thethe global health situ- Games in Tokyo.Tokyo. year,” said the 29-year-old who to be and I’m excited ationat in the coming Barshim, who has a best of 2.43m, the second to race.” months.m