BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 12 Ooredoo Group MME succeeds posts net profi t of in cultivating QR1.1bn in 2020 endangered wild plants

published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11825 February 15, 2021 Rajab 3, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In Brief Amir gets written message from Gambian president Amir condoles with Phone consultation only Argentine president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim for non-essential cases bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of O Essential services will be provided on a face-to-face basis Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin at a limited capacity across all health centres: PHCC Abdulaziz al-Thani sent yesterday cables of condolences to Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on the he Primary Health Care Corpo- virus and for the purposes of protect- face), well baby, premarital, ultrasound death of former president Carlos ration (PHCC) has announced ing public health. (obs/gynae) and abdominal, walk-in for Menem. Tthat all non-essential clinic ap- Accordingly, the following services dental, walk-in for FMM, urgent care, pointments will be conducted through will be considered non-essential and all Medical Commission, homecare serv- GAC initiates trade virtual consultations only from now. booked face-to-face consultations will ices, and all virtual services. This decision came into eff ect yes- be converted to telephone consulta- The document also notes that the procedures at border terday. tions: geriatric memory clinic, physio- PHCC has dedicated two of its HCs The General Authority of Customs Essential services will continue to therapy, well woman, cancer screening, as test and hold centres as part of the (GAC) yesterday said in a tweet be provided on a face-to-face basis minor procedures, smoking cessation, eff orts made to contain the spread of that its Land Customs Department at a limited capacity across all health adolescent health, SMART clinics, well- Covid-19. The two testing centres are began its duties at the Abu Samra centres (HCs), the PHCC said in a ness services, dental screening, health the Rawdat al-Khail and Umm Slal border in the morning by initiating post on social media. educators, family planning, NCD, der- health centres. the trade procedures between Qatar All patients are required to wear matology, ENT, ophthalmology, op- Patients with mild or moderate and Saudi Arabia, for the import and a mask, show their Ehteraz app and tometry, audiology, general paediatric, symptoms of coronavirus should dial export of commercial goods, while undergo body temperature checks. integrated psychiatry, support clinic, 16000 and will be directed to one of following the conditions announced “These changes are made for the cardiology, dental general, MCH, dieti- the screening units at the PHCC’s by the authority. It was recently safety of our patients and visitors,” tian and CDC, the document states. designated Covid-19 health centres His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a announced that commercial land the corporation stressed. “Should you have an existing ap- where they will be tested and isolat- written message from Gambian President Adama Barrow, pertaining to cargo movement between Qatar An online document providing up- pointment, you will be contacted by a ed, and will receive the results from bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them. HE the Deputy and Saudi Arabia would resume on dated information on PHCC health member of our team to rearrange this healthcare professionals as soon as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin February 14. Accordingly, a number services says the corporation is taking as a virtual consultation,” PHCC said. samples are tested. Abdulrahman al-Thani received the message during a meeting yesterday of regulatory and precautionary preventive measures to control the On the other hand, the following serv- The corporation has also made the with Dr Mamadou Tangara, special envoy of the Gambian president and controls pertaining to the movement spread of Covid-19 in view of the cur- ices will be considered essential: family Covid-19 test available at all of its Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Gambians of imported and transiting goods rent developments pertaining to the medicine (face to face), dental (face to other health centres for suspect cases. Abroad. Page 2 through the land border between the two countries were announced on the GAC website. Page 5 Commercial registration, Fourth Qatari Youth licence renewals available Forum postponed Qatar signs agreement to open offi ces at Nato HQ online, says MoCI The Ministry of Culture and Sports has decided to postpone the fourth atar and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) The Ministry Qatari Youth Forum, which was signed an agreement to open Qatar’s mission offi ces and of Commerce scheduled to begin today, until Qmilitary representation at the Nato headquarters in Brus- and Industry further notice. The decision has sels, in implementation of the arrangements of the Individual (MoCI) yesterday been taken in compliance with the Partnership and Co-operation Programme (IPCP). announced that it measures taken by the State to limit On behalf of the Qatari side, the head of Qatar’s missions to has been decided the spread of Covid-19, the ministry the European Union and the Nato Abdulrahman bin Mohamed to provide the tweeted yesterday while announcing al-Khulaifi signed the agreement. comprehensive its decision. On behalf of the Nato, Financial Controller of the Nato Inter- establishment national Staff Miroslawa Boryczka and Deputy Assistant Sec- and renewal Qatar Airways travel retary-General, Headquarters Support and Transformation of services only via Nato, Martin Versnel signed the agreement. the Single Window platform from February 28. extensions for medics The signing ceremony was attended by Military Representa- Accordingly, individuals following up on these Qatar Airways has announced ticket tive and Assistant Military Attache to Belgium Brigadier Gen- services will no longer be received at the MoCI booking and travel extensions eral Ali Abdulaziz al-Mohannadi, diplomats from the embassy of headquarters and its branches, Qatar News for healthcare professionals who Qatar in Brussels, and offi cials from the Nato. Agency (QNA) said in a report. benefited from the airline’s ticket The opening of Qatar’s mission offi ces in the Nato headquar- The ministry said this step is in line with the giveaway initiative last year. “To all ters represents a distinguished step in the long journey of dis- precautionary measures taken to limit the the healthcare professionals who tinct relations between the two parties, which included political spread of Covid-19 and forms part of its eff orts to received our medics campaign and practical co-operation and reached the level of partnership facilitate and shorten procedures for establishing giveaway, we have more good between Qatar and the Nato. companies and renewing commercial records and news for you,” the airline tweeted The Qatari mission offi ces will continue to support these rela- licences, according to QNA. The comprehensive yesterday. “If you haven’t been able tions with the organisation and its member states, as this contin- establishment service includes reservation of the to book your ticket or travel to date uation will facilitate the process of direct communication as well trade name upon incorporation, issuance of the due to the pandemic, fret not as as enhance bilateral and multilateral meetings and strengthen commercial registration and licence, as well as the booking date will be extended Qatar’s presence inside the organisation and its participation in issuance of regulatory and subsidiary licences of to 30 September, 2021 with travel Qatar and Nato off icials at the agreement signing ceremony. military and civilian activities. (QNA) Page 3 all kinds. To Page 5 valid until 31 March, 2022, subject to availability. Page 5 Pfizer vaccine very Pile-up at NASCAR rally effective, says study Over 60s should get Covid Israel’s largest healthcare provider has reported a 94% drop in symptomatic Covid-19 infections among 600,000 people who vaccine urgently: MoPH received two doses of the Pfizer’s vaccine in the country’s biggest study to date. Health maintenance he Ministry of Public and effective vaccine, eld- organisation Clalit said the same Health (MoPH) has erly citizens and residents group was also 92% less likely to Turged all residents and have the opportunity to develop severe illness from the citizens aged over 60 to get become protected and live virus. “It shows unequivocally that vaccinated against Covid-19 free from the threat of this Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is as soon as possible. virus.” extremely eff ective in the real world “The recent increase in “In recent weeks we have a week after the second dose, just Covid-19 cases in Qatar has seen a signifi cant increase in as it was found to be in the clinical sadly resulted in four deaths the number of people requir- study,” said Ran Balicer, Clalit’s chief of people over 60 in the past ing admission to ICU due to innovation off icer. few days,” National Health severe complications from Strategy 2018-2022 Lead for Covid-19. As many elderly French hospitals told to Healthy Ageing Dr Hanadi people have existing long- al-Hamad said yesterday. Dr Hanadi al-Hamad term medical conditions, move into crisis mode “Since the start of the pan- they are more susceptible to France’s Health Ministry has asked demic more than 12 months ago it has been severe complications and so they account for regional health agencies and clear that age is the biggest risk factor for a large proportion of Covid-19 related ICU hospitals to enter “crisis organisation” Covid-19,” she pointed out in a statement to admissions.” to prepare for a possible surge in offi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA). “Due to their increased vulnerability and coronavirus cases as a result of “People over 60 have a significantly often weakened immune systems, the elderly highly contagious variants. The move higher risk of developing severe compli- are more susceptible to long-term complica- involves increasing the number of cations and even death due to the virus. I tions due to Covid-19. Even if they recover hospital beds available, delaying cannot emphasise strongly enough how from their immediate severe symptoms, non-urgent surgery and mobilising all important it is for older people to get their many elderly people experience what is Several drivers were involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona medical staff resources. vaccine. Now that we have an approved known as ‘long-Covid’. To Page 5 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Florida, yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 15, 2021 QATAR

Attorney General meets Gambian official QNTC earns ISO certifi cation HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri met yesterday with the special envoy for Event Sustainability and of the Gambian president and Minister of Foreign Aff airs, International Co-operation and Quality Management Systems Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara. During the meeting,  Achievements recognise the Council’s sustainability performance across all its operations they exchanged points of view atar National Tour- regarding issues of ism Council (QNTC) joint interest, as well Qwas recently awarded as ways to strengthen the ISO 20121 certifi cation for legal co-operation Event Sustainability Manage- between the two ment Systems, as well as the ISO friendly countries. 9001:2015 for Quality Manage- ment Systems. Both certifi cations affi rm QNTC’s commitment to sus- Lesotho FM meets Qatar’s ambassador tainable practices in all areas of event management. Lesotho Minister of Foreign Aff airs Matsepo Molise-Ramakoae met in Pretoria yesterday with Qatar’s ISO 20121 is an international ambassador to South Africa, Tariq bin Ali al-Ansari, via video conference. During the meeting, they reviewed standard designed to help or- Qatar-Lesotho relations, besides issues of common concern. ganisations in the events and hospitality industry integrate sustainability into management practices and processes by spec- ifying requirements that reduce Bangladesh envoy discusses their environmental footprint. It off ers guidance to help organis- ers manage events and control cultural ties with Katara their social, economic and en- Bangladesh ambassador Mohamed Jashim Uddin vironmental impact while pro- yesterday met Katara – the Cultural Village general moting more responsible con- manager Prof Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and sumption. proposed to sign a memorandum of understand- “Enshrined in the Qatar Na- ing between the latter and the authority concerned tional Vision 2030, sustain- in Bangladesh to expand co-operation in the area ability has long been of vital of art and culture. importance to Qatar, and our It was agreed in the meeting that the Bangladesh growth and development has in a press statement. As QNTC tion of recycling bins through- ISO certifi cations are inter- embassy and Katara in collaboration with the Bang- been predicated on it. This cer- collaborates with partners and out event venues, banning single nationally recognised and are ladesh community would organise events at Katara tifi cation is yet another recog- stakeholders to further the na- use plastics, encouraging locally awarded based on numerous to mark the Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of nition of QNTC’s ongoing com- tional sustainability agenda, it sourced products, supporting quality management principles Bangladesh in the coming months, according to a mitment to providing superior has already begun incorporat- the use of public transportation including continual develop- statement from the embassy. quality and eff ective manage- ing sustainable practices at its and smart cooling technology. ment and improvement, strong The envoy thanked Prof al-Sulaiti for hosting at ment while adhering to interna- events. The ISO certifi cations were customer focus, and evidence- Katara a number of events organised by the Bang- tional best practices. It will instil During the Qatar Internation- granted after an extensive audit based decision making. ladesh embassy and the Bangladesh expatriate Bangladesh ambassador Mohamed Jashim confi dence among partners, as al Food Festival (QIFF), QNTC conducted by Global Inter Cer- As the main tourism devel- community in Qatar. Appreciating the world-class Uddin with Katara general manager Prof Khalid well as current and prospective works with food charities to col- tifi cation and is valid for three opment and regulation body, facilities available at Katara, the ambassador bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti yesterday. stakeholders, in our operations lect extra food from participants years. As part of QNTC’s com- QNTC works towards the de- requested the general manager to facilitate the par- and procedures, while support- and distribute it to those in need. mitment to ISO, the council will velopment of a sustainable ticipation of the Bangladeshi community in events Highlighting the importance of culture in nurturing ing our eff orts to improve tour- In the future, the council will in- be working with a third-party and robust sector, empowering organised from time to time. bilateral relations, the Bangladesh envoy stressed ism sector services in Qatar,” corporate additional measures at certifi cation body to conduct an stakeholders across the public The ambassador proposed to sign an MoU on the exchange of visits of artists and cultural QNTC Secretary-General and its events, such as digital ban- annual surveillance audit to en- and private sectors to innovate between Katara and the authority concerned of troupes from both countries. Embassy counsellor Qatar Airways Group Chief Ex- ners, rollups and badges in lieu sure its adherence to the latest in the creation of products and Bangladesh to expand co-operation in the area of (Political and Economic) Mohamed Mahbur Rah- ecutive, HE Akbar al-Baker said of paper or plastic, the installa- best practices. services. art and culture. man was also present at the meeting.

7th edition of Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation starts The board of trustees of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Trans- in individual books and is divided lation and International Understanding yesterday launched into four branches: Translation the award’s seventh edition for 2021, as it will receive the from Arabic to English, translation nominated works starting from today until August 15, QNA from English to Arabic, transla- reported from Doha. tion from Arabic to one of the As an international award that has been established in 2015, other chosen languages, and it aims to honour translators and appreciate their role in translation from the other chosen strengthening the bonds of friendship and co-operation languages to Arabic. Each prize is between the world’s nations, as well as encouraging creativ- worth $200,000, as the first place ity, spreading diversity, pluralism and openness, develop- winner will receive $100,000, ing international understanding and enhancing the role of while the second-place winner translation in spreading peace and knowledge, and the role will receive $60,000 and the third-place winner will receive of translators in bringing cultures together. $40,000. The second category includes the Achievement A press release issued by the management of Sheikh Hamad prizes in the minor languages, as it is awarded to several Award for Translation and International Understanding said translated works from the selected languages to Arabic, and that the award has chosen Chinese as the second main from Arabic to the selected languages (Urdu, Amharic, Dutch, language alongside English, with four new languages chosen and Modern Greek), with $100,000 allocated for each cate- for the Achievement category, which are Urdu, Amharic, gory. The third category also includes the Achievement prize Dutch and Modern Greek. To continue enhancing commu- for the two main languages, as this award is worth $200,000. nication between the Arab culture and the world’s diff erent Applications can be made via the award website www.hta.qa, cultures, the award of 2021 drew its attention to four new in addition to uploading the prescribed form, depending on languages. The seventh session includes translation awards the category for which the candidate wishes to apply.

MoCI detects 115 violations in January crackdown

Penalties imposed on retail the framework of the ministry’s eff orts comply with the mandatory price bul- outlets include administrative to monitor markets and commercial letin of fish and seafood – 1; failing to re- closures and fi nes ranging from activities in Qatar, in a bid to control turn the commodity, providing a refund QR5,000 to QR30,000 prices and uncover violations to protect or exchanging the commodity – 1; and consumer rights, the statement pointed failing to provide spare parts for durable The Ministry of Commerce and Industry out. Following are the types of viola- goods within a specified period of time, (MoCI) carried out extensive inspection tions uncovered in January and number and failing to provide the announced campaigns in January, to monitor the of cases: off ering a discount without warrantees – 1. compliance of suppliers (retail outlets) obtaining the necessary licence from The authorities concerned with con- with their obligations under laws and the competent department – 24; expired sumer protection at the MoCI received a ministerial resolutions on consumer products – 16; describing the commod- number of complaints in January. protection. ity, advertising it or displaying it in a The complaints were accordingly dealt These campaigns resulted in the uncov- manner that contains false or deceptive with and the necessary measures were ering of 115 violations, including off ering information – 14; making a promotional taken to resolve them, the statement discounts and promotions without off er without obtaining the necessary added. obtaining the necessary licence from licence from the competent department The ministry has stressed that it will not the competent department; displaying - 13; failing to off er a service warranty tolerate any violations of the Consumer expired products; describing the com- for an appropriate period, refunding Protection Law and its regulations, and modity, advertising it or displaying it in a customers, or reoff ering the service in will intensify its inspection campaigns manner that contains false or deceptive an appropriate manner - 9; failing to is- to crack down on illegal practices. It will information; and failing to off er a service sue invoices in Arabic – 8; failing to issue refer those who violate laws and ministe- warranty for an appropriate period, complete invoices – 6; failing to write rial decisions governing the work of the refunding customers or reoff ering the all the explanatory information about department to the competent authori- service in an appropriate manner. the commodity – 6; failing to comply ties who will, in turn, take appropriate Penalties imposed on retail outlets in- with the mandatory price bulletin of action against the perpetrators in order cluded administrative closures and fines vegetables and fruits – 5; failing to apply to protect consumer rights. ranging from QR5,000 to QR30,000, in all the commodity guarantees – 4; failing The MoCI has urged all consumers to line with the laws and decisions regulat- to clearly define the service information, report any violations or infringements, ing the work of the Consumer Protection features, characteristics and pricing – 3; and send complaints and sugges- Department, the MoCI said in a state- failing to display prices – 2; failing to off er tions, through the call centre: 16001, ment yesterday. an Arabic version of the information on Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, and Instagram: The inspection campaigns fall within displayed commodities – 2; failing to MOCIQATAR Key role of ‘transformative’ industries stressed

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has said 392 ‘transformative prod- ucts’ are manufactured locally. “Let’s support our ‘transformative’, sustainable Qatari industry to grow faster and spread wider. Let our ‘Qatari Product’ emblem reflect our belief in the eff iciency of our national products and be a reinforcement for a brighter tomorrow,” the MoCI said in a tweet yesterday. “392 ‘transformative’ prod- ucts for our continued growth. We proudly support our ‘transformative’ industries, whose products help ensure consistent national growth in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030,” the ministry added. To know more about Qatari products and manufacturers, visit Qatar industrial portal: idb.moci.gov.qa/meidms Gulf Times Monday, February 15, 2021 3 QATAR

Ehsan Day Clubs QC’s relief convoys for events continue refugees roll out today via social atar Relief Convoys’, media organised by Qatar ‘QCharity (QC), kicks off today from the Turkish- he Elderly Empowerment Syrian border to deliver food, and Care Centre (Ehsan) shelter, and health aid, as well as Thas launched a campaign winter supplies, to Syrian refu- under the title “Continuous gees in three countries. support” through its social me- As the Syrian refugees contin- dia platforms, it was announced ue to suff er due to the bitter cold, yesterday. rain and snow, this initiative The initiative is part of a series comes from the QC as part of its of virtual programmes for Ehsan “Warmth and Peace” campaign, Day Clubs, in order to maintain aiming to lessen their plight in continuous communication the cold season. with the elderly in light of the The drive, which includes 200 current circumstances related convoys, targets Syrian refugees to the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon pandemic, while protecting until March 10. them from the risks of infection The aid delivered by ‘Qa- A ‘Qatar Relief Convoy’, organised by Qatar Charity, kicks off today by adhering to precautionary tar Relief Convoys’ refl ects the from the Turkish-Syrian border. measures and social distancing bright philanthropic image of practices. the people in Qatar and their maximise the number of ben- Donations can be made A number of awareness and love to do good, give, and sup- efi ciary refugees, keeping them through the QC’s collection educational programmes were port those in need, especially in warm and meeting their basic points, branches, website, and broadcast on Ehsan’s social me- light of the continuing cold win- needs. by app, in addition to dialling dia platforms throughout Janu- ter when refugees are struggling Benefactors can donate 44667711 or requesting a “home ary and continuing in February. to survive. QR100,000 to provide food, collector” across the country. Approximately 8% of refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries live in refugee camps. Zainab al-Kuwari, head of the As the displaced and refugees health and winter aid for 100 According to the UNHCR, Preparation and Design Division are living in challenging situa- families, in addition to donat- more than 6.6mn Syrians have countries, primarily in Turkey, neighbouring countries within Approximately 92% of refu- at Ehsan’s Awareness and Com- tions due to the adverse weather ing QR1,000 for the benefi t of been forced to fl ee their country. Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. the region, such as Turkey, Leb- gees who have fl ed to neigh- munity Outreach Department, conditions, the QC calls on ben- a refugee family and providing The vast majority – approxi- Syrian refugees have sought anon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. bouring countries live in rural explained that the campaign of- efactors in Qatar to extend sup- a caravan worth QR15,000 for a mately 5.5mn refugees – have asylum in more than 125 coun- Turkey hosts the largest Syr- and urban settings, with the re- fers a diverse itinerary, includ- port to ‘Qatar Relief Convoys’ to family. found refuge in neighbouring tries, but the vast majority live in ian refugee population – 3.6mn. mainder living in refugee camps. ing religious programmes with Sheikh Ahmed al-Buainain, who spoke on the “Importance of generosity in Islam”, and the “Impact of generosity” pro- gramme by Khaled Saleh, who talked about the impact of giving on mental health. The programme also co-oper- ated with Nasra al-Nubi, the fi rst Qatari nurse, and noted teacher Fatima Zainal, to talk about their career path, how they planned for it, and their life after retire- ment. Sheikha al-Hareeb, head of Ehsan’s Implementation and Follow-up Department, said that Ehsan clubs are still work- Off icials who visited the site ing remotely, due to the current of a veterinary quarantine circumstances. facility. The “Continuous support” campaign helps to ensure con- Left: An architect’s impression tinuity of the distance education of a building at one of the process through the allocation veterinary quarantine of programmes under the name facilities. of “Their hobbies”, in which a group of elderly people will show their handmade pieces. Abdullah Mohamed will of- fer a series of episodes about the Ministry stages of manufacturing wooden boxes, while Fatima Mohamed will showcase a number of hand- building icrafts. There are three Ehsan day clubs, namely: the Airport Club, veterinary Izghawa Club, and the North Club, in addition to a Majlis for elderly men. quarantine The clubs attract 344 female members who participate in diff erent activities four times a facilities week. Work in progress at a veterinary quarantine facility. he Ministry of Munici- pality and Environment Left: An architect’s impression T(MME)’s Livestock De- of a barns complex. partment is carrying out a Rise in motorcycle accidents seen QR95mn project to develop Works Authority (Ashghal). It includes an incineration els, or 4,000 cattle, in addition veterinary quarantine facilities The new quarantine facilities facility that can operate with a to an incineration facility with near Hamad Port and Al Ruwais include administrative build- capacity of 650kg/hour, in ad- a capacity of 650kg/hour, and atar is witnessing an in- restaurants and the increased re- and we hope that the number of Port according to the latest in- ings, laboratories, and vet- dition to a semi-automated an automated slaughterhouse crease in motorcycle ac- liance on home deliveries. injuries will decrease further,” Dr ternational standards. erinary clinics to examine im- slaughterhouse with three pro- of three production lines with Qcidents after the corona- Meanwhile, injuries caused by Abeid said. The technical staff are also to ported livestock, in addition to duction lines, and a production a capacity of 600 head of sheep virus (Covid-19) restrictions on other accidents declined by 11% The centre is carrying out sev- be imparted advanced training. slaughterhouses and incinera- capacity of 250 head of sheep and goats, 100 camels, or 100 restaurants came into eff ect and during 2020, compared to 2019. eral programmes to raise aware- The project is expected to be tion facilities. and goats, 50 camels, or 50 cat- cattle in a single shift. home delivery began to fl ourish, The Hamad Trauma Centre ness on many topics, including accomplished by the last quarter The quarantine facility near tle in a single shift. The opening of these animal a healthcare offi cial told local receives various types of cases preventing home injuries, among of this year. Al Ruwais Port is to have six The quarantine facility near quarantine facilities will al- Arabic daily Arrayah. ranging from road and workplace members of the public through A national specialised com- barns across 16,000sq m, with a Hamad Port stretches across low diversity of imported red “Since the Covid-19 outbreak, accidents to burn injuries. social media campaigns and pany is implementing the capacity of 16,000 head of sheep 90,000sq m with 20 barns meat sourced from the diff erent there has been a noticeable in- Road accidents account for workshops. project under the supervision and goats, or 1,600 camels, or wide enough for 40,000 head countries without undermining crease in the number of injuries 40% of the total cases. of the specialists at the Public 2,600 cattle. of goats and sheep, 2,000 cam- the local livestock production. caused by motorcycle accidents,” “There was a slight decrease explained Dr Aisha Abeid, assist- in the number of injuries in the ant director of the Hamad Injury Sealine and many other regions, Prevention Programme (HIPP) at Hamad Medical Corporation Right: Dr Abeid. Qatar signs agreement to open offices at Nato HQ (HMC)’s Hamad Trauma Centre. This is a consequence of the Below: HMC’s Hamad Trauma closure or capacity restriction of Centre.

The head of Qatar’s missions to the European Union and Nato, Abdulrahman bin Mohamed al-Khulaifi, Financial Controller of the Nato International Staff Miroslawa Boryczka, and Deputy Assistant Secretary-General (Headquarters Support and Transformation of Nato) Martin Versnel, have signed an agreement to open Qatar’s mission off ices and military representation at Nato headquarters in Brussels. Gulf Times 4 Monday, February 15, 2021 QATAR Sidra Medicine starts paediatric Qatar Radio celebrates cancer precision medicine pilot World Radio Day multidisciplinary team of researchers and clini- Acians at Sidra Medicine, QNA of the new world, to remind how have launched a paediatric can- Doha closely this medium is related to cer biorepository pilot to devel- human history, and to keep pace op personalised cancer therapies with the various developments for patients. atar Radio celebrated the that have occurred in our socie- Led by Dr Wouter Hendrickx, 10th edition of the World ties. principal investigator (PI) of the QRadio Day, which falls on Qatar Radio also participated Paediatric Cancer Omics Lab February 13 annually, under the through journalist Ahmed Ad- and the Lead PI of the pilot, in theme “New World, New Radio”. nan in preparing a programme close collaboration with Dr Wil- Qatar Radio participated about the Gulf with all Arab liam Mifsud, attending physi- alongside other countries in countries, in co-ordination with cian from Sidra Medicine’s Ana- events at the international lev- Iraq Radio. tomic Pathology division, the el, in co-ordination with Qatar Qatar Radio’s social media biorepository is an integrated National Committee for Edu- department, under the su- system that will collect patient cation, Culture and Science, pervision of the head of the samples and match complex Unesco and the Arab States department, Iman al-Kaabi, data with clinical information. Broadcasting Union (ASBU) af- produced an informative docu- Dr Hendrickx said: “Person- filiated with the League of Arab mentary video that reviewed alised medicine is transition- States. the radio’s journey past and ing away from a ‘one size fi ts all’ It also prepared a special pro- present, and recorded inter- treatment approach towards a Sidra Medicine team: Dr William Mifsud, Dr Wouter Hendrickx and Dr Davide Bedognetti. gramme on radio and social re- views with prominent media more advanced and detailed ver- covery at the ASBU level, and it figures such as veteran Qatari sion, to better manage patients’ tion underlying each individual research and clinical functions rately. This means studying both Paediatric Cancer Bioreposi- was broadcast through the elec- journalist Hassan Rashid. health. This not only helps man- patients’ disease. with close collaboration with tumour cells and the immune tory. The materials will then be tronic union system to be acces- Qatar Radio news depart- age the disease but also off ers the “This pilot will result in a col- the paediatric oncology depart- cells of the patients.” used to investigate their disease sible to all countries. ment, under the supervision best outcomes. The development lection of data that will enable ment, and the Clinical Research “With the speed at which re- in order to develop personalised The programme shed light on of news monitor Majid Jabara, of the biorepository pilot is a true us, in the short term, to advice Centre. It involves the profi ling search and medicine is evolving, cancer therapies. the eff ective social dialogue and participated by launching four showcase of how our research, clinical grade diagnostics of rare of the genetic markers of each new treatments are coming out in “Our programme showcases co-operation between radio and documentary reports and in- pathology, patient care services targetable somatic mutations patient’s tumours, followed by a rapid succession. With February Sidra Medicine’s vision of pre- the listener and how it can be terviewing prominent media have collaborated to off er the pos- and facilitate patient enrolment cellular analysis which will help 15 acknowledged as International cision medicine for every child. a cause of social recovery. The professionals such as Mubarak sibility for each paediatric cancer in clinical trials that will bring us identify potential target for cel- Childhood Cancer day, we fi rmly We are bringing together our programme was presented by Jaham al-Kuwari, Abdul Salam patient to have their malignancy a step closer to fi nding the best lular therapy and non-invasive believe that this pilot is a step in world-class research capabili- Badriya Hassan and directed and Jadallah and Hassan Rashid. investigated in the most advanced treatment plan. We believe that diagnostic imaging tools. the right direction towards Sidra ties and advanced clinical care prepared by journalist Ahmed Unesco said the radio con- way available.” in the long term, this project Dr Davide Bedognetti, direc- Medicine’s precision medicine so that all children with cancer Adnan. tributed, during the pan- Cancer precision oncology in- will pave the way for personal- tor of Sidra Medicine’s Cancer programme,” said Dr Bedognetti. in Qatar can have the opportu- A programme, New World, demic, to the dissemination volves the molecular profi ling of a ised precision medicine for each Research Department, said: Upon diagnosis of a malig- nity to have their tumours stud- New Radio, was also produced of reliable information about patient’s cancerous tissues. Major paediatric cancer patient in Qa- “What we do is to analyse as nancy, paediatric oncology pa- ied in unprecedented detail. By at the ASBU and Unesco levels, the coronavirus, awareness advances in the technologies for tar. Sidra Medicine aims to work many parameters as possible to tients at Sidra Medicine will be understanding the development by Qatar National Committee for of necessary precautionary characterising patients’ genomic, closely with Qatar BioBank to fi nd the important ones that can off ered the opportunity to par- and evolution of each tumour Education, Culture and Science, measures to curb its spread, proteomic, metabolomic, and make this repository a success,” be used to guide treatment or ticipate in the pilot project and from every child, we may be able and broadcast on Qatar Radio. and the broadcast of lessons cellular profi les have allowed tai- said Dr Hendrickx. fi nd novel targets. Nowadays we donate their cancer tissue that to target each patient’s cancer The programme dealt with the and educational courses in loring treatment strategies to pre- The biorepository is a joint can study each single cell com- is no longer required for their with specifi c and personalised topic of the revival of radio to many countries to ensure the cisely target the molecular altera- eff ort from Sidra Medicine’s posing the tumour mass sepa- clinical diagnosis, to the Sidra therapies,” Dr Mifsud added. keep pace with the developments continuation of education.

MoPH reports 440 new Covid cases, 177 recoveries

QNA ling the spread of the virus since country and some of the early re- Doha its peak in July. striction phases will return. However, over the past month With the recent increase in the Qatar has seen a gradual and con- number of Covid-19 cases in Qa- he Ministry of Public Health sistent increase in the number of tar, it is important people play (MoPH) yesterday reported new daily infections. their role in controlling the virus T440 new confi rmed cases of Additionally, and of great con- by following these precautionary coronavirus (Covid-19) during the cern, is the recent increase in both measures: last 24 hours, of which 399 were the number of people admitted to  Adherence to physical dis- from community and 41 from trav- hospital with Covid-19 and the tancing. ellers returning from abroad who number of people admitted to ICU.  Avoid close contact with oth- are subject to quarantine. The data over the next few days ers, crowded places and confi ned The MoPH also recorded 177 re- and week will reveal more, but the closed spaces where other people coveries from the virus during the increases appear to be early signs congregate. past 24 hours, bringing the total of a potential second wave in Qatar.  Wearing a face mask. number of recovered cases in Qa- For this reason, it is more im-  Washing hands regularly. tar to 148,314. portant than ever that people Anyone suff ering from Cov- All new cases have been intro- adhere to preventive measures id-19 symptoms should contact duced to isolation and are receiv- to halt the second wave before it 16000 helpline immediately. ing necessary healthcare. gains momentum. This is important as the earlier the Due to the measures put in If the number of positive cases disease is detected the easier it will place by Qatar’s government and hospital admissions continue be to receive the right treatment and and the support of the public in to increase over the coming week recover from it. The MoPH has urged following preventive steps, the or two, additional restrictions may people to visit its website for regular country has succeeded in control- need to be implemented across the updates and new information. Six people arrested for flouting home quarantine rules The designated authorities yesterday arrested six people for violating the legal requirements of home quarantine. The arrests came under the implementation of precautionary measures in force in the country, approved by the Ministry of Public Health, to curb the spread of the Covid-19. The violators, who are currently being referred to the desig- nate prosecution, are: Mahmoud Mohamed Zaki Juma, Fahd Khalil Ibrahim al-Shouli, Riyad Khalil Ibrahim al-Shouli, Hamad Ahmed Mo- hamed al-Bardini, Salman Mohamed Salman al-Qudah and Sultan Said Mohamed Said al-Qutbi. The authorities called on citizens and residents under home quarantine to fully commit to the Ministry of Public Health’s condition, to ensure their safety and the safety of others. They added that anyone who violates the quarantine will be subject to Article No 253 of Law No 11 of 2004, provisions of Law No 17 of 1990 on communicable diseases, and Law No 17 of 2002 on protecting society. (QNA) Gulf Times Monday, February 15, 2021 5 QATAR Import, export operations start at Abu Samra border crossing

QNA government agencies work- ing goods to Qatar through the Doha ing at the crossing identifi ed Abu Samra border crossing will the mechanism to be followed not be permitted to enter the according to the directives re- country. The goods they bring he Land Customs De- ceived by the permanent com- in will be unloaded and reloaded partment of the General mittee of Abu Samra port. onto local trucks by the import- Free tickets to TAuthority of Customs He explained that a large er or his representative at the started yesterday morning its number of X-ray devices have crossing. customs duties by opening the been provided recently with the All exporters of goods way for commercial exchange best international specifi ca- through the Abu Samra border medics: Qatar procedures between Qatar and tions. crossing to the Salwa crossing Saudi Arabia. The commercial freight are also bound by the instruc- Import and export opera- movement started at the Abu tions issued by Saudi Customs, tions of goods and commercial Samra port according to specifi c before embarking on the export shipments specifi ed according requirements and procedures. or re-export of goods in order Airways allows to the conditions announced by Abu Samra border crossing Truck drivers coming from the to avoid any delay or rejection the authority get underway fol- Salwa border crossing must ob- of the goods upon their arrival lowing the decision issued on fect in light of the coronavirus cautionary controls and proce- tain a certifi cate attested by the at the Salwa crossing, and the January 1, 2021 by the compe- (Covid-19) pandemic and after dures regarding the movement Saudi Ministry of Health, con- exported or re-exported goods extensions tent authorities to open Qatar’s co-ordination with the relevant of incoming and outgoing goods fi rming a negative coronavirus from Qatar are transported by Abu Samra border crossing and authorities at the Ministry of from the Salwa border to the (Covid-19) test with validity trucks through the Abu Samra the Salwa border crossing of Public Health and the Minis- Abu Samra border crossing. period not less than 72 hours crossing to the Salwa crossing, atar Airways has an- Saudi Arabia. try of Commerce and Industry, The Director of the Land before the date of entry to the according to what is decided nounced ticket booking Based on the travel and return it has been decided to apply a Customs Department, Mur- Abu Samra border crossing. by the Saudi authorities at the Qand travel extensions for policy to and from Qatar in ef- number of regulatory and pre- shid Shaheen al-Kuwari, said Drivers and trucks transport- Salwa port in this regard. healthcare professionals who benefi ted from the airline’s tick- et giveaway initiative last year. “To all the healthcare profes- sionals who received our med- QU counselling ics campaign giveaway, we have more good news for you,” the centre helps Over 60s airline tweeted yesterday. to register for the exclusive off er NU-Q to hold “If you haven’t been able to at qatarairways.com/ThankY- students book your ticket or travel to date ouHeroes by submitting a form should get due to the pandemic, fret not as to receive a unique promotion achieve goals the booking date will be extend- code, off ered on a fi rst-come, Covid vaccine ed to 30 September, 2021 with fi rst-served basis. Qatar University’s Student Counselling Dean’s Global travel valid until 31 March, 2022, Tickets had to be booked be- Centre (SCC), aims to enhance students’ subject to availability. Details fore November 26, 2020, with development, and well-being, supporting ‘urgently’ will be e-mailed to you. Thank travel valid until December 10, their psychological needs to help them you for your heroic eff orts,” it 2020, according to the earlier achieve academic goals and foster self- explained. announcement. development. Forum From Page 1 In 2020, Qatar Airways had The 100,000 healthcare SCC helps QU faculty and staff interact given away 100,000 free tickets professionals who received and deal with students’ behavioural issues, “Symptoms of long-Covid can last sev- to frontline healthcare profes- the promotion code could according to a statement yesterday. orthwestern University eral weeks or months and include extreme sionals to “say thank you for book up to two complimentary The centre provides guided consultancy in Qatar (NU-Q) will tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pain or your heroic work looking after economy class return tickets and psychological intervention through Nhold a Dean’s Global tightness, and problems with memory and people” during the Covid-19 on Qatar Airways-operated the provision of preventive and interven- Forum on February 17, featuring concentration. The Covid-19 vaccine helps pandemic. flights – one for themselves tion services including psychosocial sup- diverse leaders from academe, to protect people from these long-term Healthcare professionals from and one for a companion – to port as well as individual and group coun- media, the arts, and public af- symptoms, and this is why it is so essential every country in the world were anywhere on the airline’s glo- selling services. fairs in conversation with dean for older people to get vaccinated. eligible for tickets. bal network. “SCC provides professional psychologi- Marwan M Kraidy, on enduring “I encourage children to take time to talk to The giveaway opened early The tickets were fully fl ex- cal support services to students including, issues and pressing global mat- their elderly relatives about the importance morning on May 12 last year ible, with an unlimited number behavioural, social, spiritual and emotional ters. of the vaccine. We know that some older and closed at 11.59pm on May 18 of destinations or date changes problems that interfere with their personal, Eve Troutt Powell, the in- people are still reluctant to take the vaccine (Doha time). allowed without any fees, the interpersonal, and academic lives,” acting augural speaker at the event, – even though we now have a huge amount Healthcare professionals had airline had said. director Dr Mohamed Siddig Mgazoob said. is a MacArthur fellow and the of evidence here in Qatar which proves be- “SCC is committed to supporting stu- Christopher H. yond doubt that the vaccine is completely dents to explore their capacities and Browne Distinguished Pro- safe. I urge everyone who has elderly rela- potential, to enable them to pursue aca- fessor of History and African tives to help them overcome their fears about demic success and attain personal growth, Studies at the University of Eve Troutt Powell the vaccine and to support them in getting an through counselling, psychoeducation, Pennsylvania. appointment with their local health centre MoCI: Commercial prevention, outreach, assessment, crisis in- The inaugural lecture, titled on Egypt, Sudan, and the Ot- without delay.” tervention, and referral services. “Race in the Middle East and toman Empire in the nineteenth “SCC also acts as a resource for faculty North Africa: From the Otto- century. registration, licence and staff to support with their facilitation man Empire to Black Lives Mat- She is the author of A Diff er- with students, through consultation, edu- ter,” refl ects Troutt Powell’s ent Shade of Colonialism: Egypt, Safety measures cational programmes, and prevention scholarship on racial issues and Great Britain and the Mastery of renewals online strategies,” he added. colonialism in the region. the Sudan, the co-editor, with to be followed on SCC has set up an organised programme “With a focus on the Glo- John Hunwick, of The African through which individual therapeutic ses- bal South, this initiative aligns Diaspora in the Mediterranean marine vessels From Page 1 pire within 60 days; obtaining sions are provided to students, and will with our mission to promote Lands of Islam, and Tell This in the required governmental or continue the co-ordination process with interdisciplinary discussions on My Memory: Stories of Enslave- The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued The comprehensive renewal external approvals electronical- the Psychiatric Hospital at HMC by assign- important topics and big ideas ment in Egypt, Sudan and the an advisory to ensure safety during sea service includes all commercial ly; and electronic signature for ing two psychiatrists on a weekly basis to that are shaping the narrative Late Ottoman Empire. trips. registrations and licences with- establishment contracts. provide the necessary additional treatment and future of the world today,” Troutt Powell received her “To ensure your safety in sea trips, please out being restricted to the con- The Single Window service is assistance to the students. said Kraidy. “While, at the same BA, MA, and PhD in history and adhere to safety requirements on boats and dition that they expire within available at sw.gov.qa “There is also a programme of group time, we will delve into how our Middle Eastern studies from marine vessels,” the MoI tweeted yesterday. 60 days. It covers commercial The Single Window initia- sessions for treatment and development speakers arrived at where they Harvard University. “Your safety is important to us.” registration, commercial li- tive is part of Qatar’s endeav- through which students are given the are today – who and what infl u- Prior to joining the University Ensure fuel and adequate supplies for the cence and the renewal of regu- our to attract local and foreign opportunity to learn about a number of enced their career decisions?” of Pennsylvania, she taught at duration of the trip, the advisory states. latory and subsidiary licences investments and enhance its methods and aids for their diff iculties. The The forum is a new lecture the University of Georgia. “Have a marine compass and do not place of all kinds, the MoCI explained position as an ideal destination centre provides weekly workshops for stu- series at Northwestern Qatar She has received fellowships any metal piece near it.” through an infographic on social for investment in the region dents for raising awareness and spreading that will also include the speak- from the American Research The advisory also urges people to ascertain media. and the world. This national culture in mental and behavioural health. ers’ career journeys and life ex- Centre in Egypt and the Social the maritime boundaries of the area. The advantages of using the initiative aims at facilitating There is also co-operation with the various periences. Science Research Council and “Avoid approaching swimming areas, oil Single Window include the fol- the procedures of starting a departments and centres at the university An authority on colonialism has been a fellow at the In- installations and prohibited areas,” it adds. lowing: renewal from one to business in the country and di- and outside the university to achieve inte- and slavery in the Ottoman Em- stitute for Advanced Study at “Wear life jackets and ensure the availability fi ve years, and renewal is pos- recting investments to the pri- gration in the specialised services for stu- pire and the Nile Valley, Troutt Princeton University and the of lifebuoys,” the advisory continues. “At sible without being restricted to ority sectors identified in the dents,” Dr Mgazoob said. Powell is a historian of the Radcliff e Institute for Advanced least two persons should be there on jet the condition that commercial National Development Strat- modern Middle East, focusing Study. boats and cruisers.” records and licences should ex- egy 2018-2022.

Temporary road closure

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a temporary traff ic closure on Dukhan Main Road towards Doha between Umm Al Afaei Interchange and Al Jahhaniya Intersection from 11pm on February 17 until 4am on February 18. The closure in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic is to complete installation of ITS Gantries. Ashghal will install road signs advising motorists of the temporary closure and urged all to follow them and abide by the speed limit to ensure safety. Gulf Times 6 Monday, February 15, 2021 QATAR Qatar Charity’s relief convoys kick off today for Syrian refugees

‘Qatar Relief Convoys’ organized by Qatar Charity conditions, Qatar Charity calls (QC) kicks off today from the Turkish-Syrian border on benefactors in Qatar to extend to deliver food, shelter, and health aid, as well as support to ‘Qatar Relief Convoys’ to winter supplies, to Syrian refugees in three countries. maximize the number of beneficiary As the Syrian refugees continue to suffer due to the refugees, keeping them warm and bitter cold, rain and snow, this drive comes from Qatar meeting their basic needs in this Charity as part of its “Warmth and Peace” campaign, disastrous time. aiming to lessen their plight in the cold season. How to Donate The drive, which includes 200 convoys, targets Benefactors can donate QR Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon from 100,000 to provide food, health February 15 to March 10. and winter aid for 100 families, in The aid delivered by ‘Qatar Relief Convoys’ reflects addition to donating QR 1000 for the bright philanthropic image of the people in Qatar the benefit of a refugee family and and their love to do good, give, and support those in providing a caravan worth 15,000 for need, especially in light of the continuing cold winter a family. when refugees are struggling to survive. Donations can be made through As the displaced and refugees are living in Qatar Charity’s collection points, challenging situations due to the adverse weather branches, website, and or app, in

addition to dialing 44667711 or requesting a ‘home collector’ across the country. According to UNHCR, more than 6.6 million Syrians have been forced to flee their country. The vast majority – approximately 5.5 million refugees – have found refuge in neighboring countries, primarily in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Syrian refugees have sought asylum in more than 125 countries, but the vast majority live in neighboring countries within the region, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Turkey alone hosts the largest population - 3.6 million. Approximately 92 percent of refugees who have fled to neighboring countries live in rural and urban settings, with only an 8 percent living in refugee camps. Gulf Times Monday, February 15, 2021 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA Dozens killed after overnight clashes in northern Yemen

AFP A handout picture provided by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra shows Lebanon’s prime Dubai minister-designate, Saad Hariri, his aunt, MP Bahia Hariri (right), and uncle Shafiq, praying at the gravesite Donor conference expected in March: aid sources of his father, slain prime minister Rafik Hariri, in downtown Beirut, yesterday. A fundraising event for Yemen’s humanitarian Tim Lenderking, on Thursday spoke to the ozens were killed in crisis is expected to take place in early March, president of Yemen’s internationally recognised overnight clashes in hosted virtually by Sweden and Switzerland, four government about a possible donors conference, DYemen as Houthi rebels aid sources told Reuters yesterday. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s off ice said. intensifi ed attacks to seize the A UN-backed push for international donors last The 2020 humanitarian response plan for Yemen Hariri sees no way out of government’s last northern June fell short of its $2.4bn target, raising only received only $1.9bn of the $3.4bn required, the stronghold, offi cials said yes- $1.3bn for what the United Nations describes as United Nations says. terday. the world’s largest humanitarian operation. This underfunding led UN and other aid agencies Earlier this month, the The nearly six-year war between a coalition and to scale down or close various assistance pro- crisis without regional support Houthis resumed an off ensive Yemen’s Houthi movement, and the ensuing eco- grammes in Yemen. UN aid chief Mark Lowcock to seize oil-rich Marib, some nomic collapse, has left 80% of the population in in January said that most of the shortfall last 120 kilometres east of the capi- need of help and pushed millions of Yemenis to year was because Mideast donors gave much Reuters interests,” Hariri said in a tel- saying he had visited the presi- tal Sanaa. the brink of famine. less, adding that the target for 2021 is likely to be Beirut evised speech marking 16 years dent 16 times since his nomina- The city’s loss would be Pockets of famine-like conditions reappeared last similar to the $3.4bn in 2020. since the assassination of his fa- tion as prime minister and pro- disastrous for Yemen’s belea- year for the first time in two years as the Covid-19 On Friday the UN said that nearly 2.3mn children ther, ex-premier Rafi k al-Hariri. posed names to no avail. guered leadership. pandemic, falling remittances and underfunding under five could suff er from acute malnutrition in ebanese Prime Minister A UN backed tribunal in De- France has been spearheading Two government military exacerbated the situation. 2021, with 400,000 of those expected to suff er designate Saad al-Hariri cember convicted a Hezbollah eff orts to rescue Lebanon from offi cials said at least 16 pro- The proposed date for the new donors confer- severe acute malnutrition, putting their lives at Lyesterday said that his member of conspiring to kill its worst crisis since the 1975- government forces were killed ence is March 1, the four sources said, but the risk unless they receive urgent treatment. country could not be rescued Rafi k al-Hariri in a 2005 bomb- 1990 civil war. and 21 wounded in the past target amount and plans have yet to be finalised. UN off icials are trying to forge a permanent from its current crisis without ing. A new government is the fi rst 24 hours, adding that “doz- Saudi Arabia co-hosted last year’s fundraiser. ceasefire to revive stalled peace talks to end the support of Arab countries Hezbollah has denied any step on a French roadmap that ens were killed” among Houthi The United States’ new special envoy to Yemen, the conflict. and the international commu- links to the attack. envisages a cabinet that would ranks. nity. Saad al-Hariri, a former prime take steps to tackle endemic The Houthis have cut off Mideast states have long minister himself, was given the corruption and implement re- supply lines to a district about civilian plane ablaze. negotiating position, according emy”, amid government calls channelled funds into Lebanon’s task of forming a government in forms needed to trigger billions 50 kilometres south of the city, The upsurge in violence to observers. for residents to defend the fragile economy, but they are October but is struggling so far of dollars of international aid to with “the goal to lay siege to comes shortly after the United Saudi Arabia has invested city. alarmed by the rising infl uence to cobble together a cabinet to fi x the economy, which has been Marib”, one of the sources said. States decided to remove the heavily in Marib in recent “May the honourable people of Hezbollah, and so far appear share power with all Lebanese crushed by a mountain of debt. Yemen has been embroiled in rebels from its list of terrorist years, and the coalition has in- of Marib be reassured...and loath to ease Beirut’s worst fi - parties, including Hezbollah. “In all my communications a bloody power struggle since groups in order to ensure hu- tensified air strikes to stop the acknowledge that the aggres- nancial crisis in decades. After a meeting with Presi- there is a readiness and an en- 2014 between its government manitarian work in Yemen is rebels from seizing the city. sor coalition is fighting them, “There is no way out of the dent Michel Aoun on Friday, thusiasm to help Lebanon, to and Houthi rebels, who control unimpeded and to pave the way Yemen’s grinding conflict not for them,” he said. crisis...without a deep reconcili- Hariri said there had been no stop the collapse and rebuild the capital Sanaa and most of to restart peace talks. has claimed tens of thousands On Friday, UN agencies ation with our Arab brothers and progress on the formation of a Beirut,” Hariri said. the north. Observers say the Houthis of lives and displaced millions, warned that about 400,000 an end to using the country as a government. “But it is all waiting for the The rebels have also escalat- are seeking to take control of according to international or- Yemeni children aged under staging point for attacking Gulf Yesterday, Hariri blamed push of a button and that button ed attacks against Saudi Arabia, Marib as leverage before enter- ganisations, sparking what the five are in danger of dying of countries and threatening their Aoun for impeding progress, is government formation.” drawing condemnation from ing into any negotiations with UN calls the world’s worst hu- acute malnutrition this year. the international community. the internationally recognised manitarian crisis. The UN agencies also On Saturday, the king- government. Houthi spokesman Mo- warned that about 1.2mn dom said it had foiled another If the city falls into rebel hamed Abdelsalam tweeted on pregnant or breastfeeding Houthi drone attack on Abha hands, the Houthis will have Saturday that the rebels were women are expected to suffer airport, just days after a rebel full control of north Yemen, fighting “only those militarily from extreme malnutrition in drone strike on the facility left a weakening the government’s involved with the foreign en- 2021. Crisis-hit Lebanon kicks

POLICY Oman extends off Covid vaccinations localisation Ebola re-emerges in Western to higher AFP education jobs Africa with Guinea outbreak Beirut Oman pushed forward its ebanon launched its Cov- programme of replacing foreign AFP same southeastern region where the new cases id-19 vaccination drive workers with locals yesterday Conakry have been found. The virus, believed to reside Lyesterday with jabs for with a decision to allocate many in bats, was fi rst identifi ed in 1976 in Zaire, now healthcare workers and the eld- jobs at higher education estab- the Democratic Republic of Congo. erly, in a bid to rein in the pan- lishments to citizens, the labour est Africa faced its fi rst known Ebola Keita, head of the National Agency for Health demic amid a deepening eco- ministry said, Reuters reported. resurgence since the end of a dev- Security, said one person had died in late Janu- nomic crisis. Oman’s government has in Wastating outbreak in 2016 yesterday, ary in Gouecke, southeastern Guinea, near the The country has been under recent weeks intensified a long- with Guinea responding to what its health chief Liberian border. lockdown since mid-January, standing policy, known as Om- called an “epidemic” after seven cases were The victim was buried on February 1 “and after an unprecedented spike in anisation, to create employment confi rmed. some people who took part in this funeral be- cases blamed on holiday gather- A medic administers a dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine opportunities for its citizens to Despite the Covid-19 pandemic stretch- gan to have symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, ings forced overwhelmed hospi- at Lebanon’s American University Medical Center in the capital help shore-up the economy. In ing health resources across the world, Guinea bleeding and fever a few days later”, he said. tals to turn away patients. Beirut, yesterday, as the country kickstarts its inoculation campaign. the latest move to create jobs for and the World Health Organisation (WHO) say Samples tested by a laboratory set up by the Medical workers and those Omanis, the ministry of labour they are better prepared to deal with Ebola now European Union in Gueckedou, located in the aged over 75 were the fi rst to re- ing.” The pandemic has com- soon as possible.” The fi rst jab yesterday said jobs in administra- than they were fi ve years ago because of good same region, revealed the presence of the Ebola ceive Pfi zer/BioNTech shots at pounded the woes of a country was given to Mahmoud Has- tion, finance, student affairs and progress on vaccines. virus in some of them on Friday, said Keita. three major Beirut hospitals, a battling a dire economic crisis soun, head of the intensive care student and career guidance The WHO said it would rush assistance to He added that Guinea was now in an “Ebola day after a shipment of 28,500 and still reeling from a massive unit at Rafi k Hariri Hospital, would be given to Omanis in Guinea and seek to ensure it received adequate epidemic situation.” Patients have been iso- doses arrived at the capital’s port explosion last summer that which has been at the forefront the country’s 28 private higher inoculations, while neighbouring Liberia went lated and an investigation was ordered to de- airport. The World Bank has al- killed more than 200 people and of battling the outbreak. education institutions. on high alert as a precaution. termine the home villages of all who took part located $34mn to inoculate an destroyed swathes of the capital “Hopefully this will be the be- Omanis will replace foreigners “Very early this morning, the Conakry labo- in the burial to carry out contact tracing, said initial 2mn of Lebanon’s 6mn Beirut. ginning of the end of this plague in those positions when existing ratory confi rmed the presence of the Ebola vi- Keita. Experts will also work to determine the inhabitants. More than half the popula- in the country,” he said. work permits expire, the ministry rus,” Guinea health chief Sakoba Keita said af- outbreak’s origin, which could be a previously “Finally there’s a glimpse of tion lives in poverty and rights The second to roll up his shirt said. In a shake-up of the labour ter an emergency meeting in the capital. cured patient whose disease relapsed or trans- hope that things will get back to groups have warned millions will sleeve in front of the cameras system for 2021, the labour min- Health Minister Remy Lamah had earlier mission by “wild animals, in particular bats”, normal,” said medical student struggle to survive without help was popular Lebanese comedian istry last month said it would be spoken of four deaths and it was not immedi- said Keita. Dana Chatila, who was waiting if coronavirus restrictions last Salah Tizani, 93, known by his raising fees for bringing in non- ately clear why the new toll was lower. According to the health chief, diagnosis time in her white lab coat and mask too long. stage name Abu Salim. Omani workers, targeting senior The cases marked the fi rst known resurgence has been reduced to less than two weeks com- outside the American University Caretaker prime minister “I’m telling everyone to and specialised positions. of Ebola in West Africa since a 2013-2016 epi- pared with three-and-a-half months in 2014. Medical Center, where she works Hassan Diab said: “We hope come and get vaccinated,” he It also announced plans for sec- demic that killed more than 11,300 people, the WHO representative Alfred George Ki- in the emergency department. to reach adequate community said.”Better to get vaccinated tor-specific training programmes worst involving the virus on record. Zerbo told a press briefi ng: “We are going to “It’s going to take time of protection so life can gradually than to be knocked down by this for Omanis, and to make the That epidemic also began in Guinea in the rapidly deploy crucial assets to help Guinea.” course, but the darkness is end- return to normal in Lebanon as deadly virus.” benefits of working in the private sector closer to those obtained by workers in government jobs. The number of foreign workers Turkey says militants executed 13, in the Gulf state began to fall in 2018, having risen year on year Bereaved Gazans look to ICC for closure including soldiers, police, in Iraq before then, national data since 2004 shows. Foreign workers in Militants of the outlawed Kurdis- in southeast Turkey named six Oman fell by 15.7% during 2020, AFP of others, were sheltering in a tan Workers Party (PKK) have soldiers and two police off icers, 4.2% in 2019, and 3.6% in 2018, Gaza City school run by the UN agency executed 13 kidnapped Turks, kidnapped in separate incidents national statistics agency for Palestinian refugees (UN- including military and police per- in 2015 and 2016, as being among data shows. RWA) in Jabaliya, in the north- sonnel, in a cave in northern Iraq, those killed in the cave. uring the 2014 war in ern Gaza Strip. Turkish off icials said yesterday, Three of the dead have yet to Gaza, Nevine Barakat Their homes had been de- amid a military operation against be identified in autopsies being LEGAL Dlost her husband and stroyed in previous Israeli at- the group, Reuters reported from carried out in Malatya. One senior Nigeria tollgate saw three of her fi ve children tacks. A UN report said in the Istanbul. security source told Reuters that wounded in an Israeli bom- hours before dawn the school Forty eight PKK militants were Turkish intelligence personnel protesters bardment of a school. was hit by an Israeli artillery killed during the military opera- were among the dead. released on bail Today, she hopes the Inter- barrage. tion, while three Turkish soldiers “According to initial information national Criminal Court (ICC) “I counted seven shells be- were killed and three wounded, given by two terrorists captured A court has released on bail a group will fi nally bring them justice. fore I passed out,” said Bar- Defence Minister Hulusi Akar alive, our citizens were martyred of protesters arrested in Lagos for When the court ruled last File photo taken on July 16, 2014 shows Palestinian journalists akat, who suff ered severe back said in a statement. Twelve of the at the start of the operation by the trying to hold a rally demanding week that it had jurisdiction take care of a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike on injuries that left her paralysed kidnapped Turks had been shot in terrorist responsible for the cave,” justice for victims of police violence, in the Israeli-occupied Pales- the beach at Gaza City’s Al-Deira hotel. in her lower limbs. the head and one in the shoulder, Akar said at the operation’s con- one of their lawyers said yesterday. tinian territories, opening the She said she only recovered he said. Turkey launched the mili- trol centre near the Iraq border. A “All 40 protesters have been way for a war crimes investi- Israel launched what it called Hamas, after those of 2008 consciousness when she heard tary operation against the PKK in statement on a PKK website said granted bail and released yesterday gation, Barakat immediately Operation Protective Edge and 2012. her son cry out that his father northern Iraq’s Gara region, some some prisoners it was holding, in- evening,” said the lawyer, Akeem felt “happy and full of hope”. with the stated aim of stop- Around 2,250 Palestinians was dead. Her injured daugh- 35km south of the Turkish border, cluding Turkish intelligence, police Fadun. The protesters were ordered “It was as if the world was ping rocket fi re into its terri- were killed in the 2014 fi ght- ter Samar, now 18, remembers on Feb 10 to secure its frontier and military personnel, had died to pay 100,000 naira ($260) as bail, beginning to understand that tory by fi ghters of Hamas. ing, mostly civilians, and 74 how she tried to dodge the and find citizens who had been during clashes in the area. but remain under investigation for Israeli injustice had to be The 50-day war in the Pal- Israelis, mostly soldiers. shells. “But they were fall- kidnapped previously, he said. The group denied it had ever hurt “breach of the peace” and “violating ended,” she said, fi ghting back estinian enclave was the third On July 30, 2014, Barakat ing in front of and behind us,” The governor of Malatya province prisoners. Covid-19 guidelines”, he said. tears. In the summer of 2014, between the Jewish state and and her family, like hundreds she said. Gulf Times 8 Monday, February 15, 2021 WORLD

CONTROVERSY DECISION TRAGEDY DISASTER DEFENCE China slams America over Bangladesh to move more More than 120 injured India flash flood Covid report concerns Rohingyas to remote island in Japan earthquake death toll rises to 50

The US damaged multilateral co-operation and the Bangladesh is moving 3,000-4,000 more More than 120 people were injured after a Rescuers pulled out nine more bodies from the site WHO in recent years, and should not be “pointing Rohingya refugees to a remote island over the 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern of a flash flood in a Himalayan region of northern fingers” at China and countries that supported next two days, two off icials said yesterday, despite Japan on Saturday night, causing blackouts, India yesterday, a week after the disaster struck, the WHO during Covid-19, the Chinese embassy concerns about the risk of storms and floods water cuts and suspension of trains. Earlier bringing the death toll to 50 with more than 150 said. A spokesperson for the embassy, responding lashing the site. Dhaka has relocated around 7,000 yesterday morning, Japanese Prime Minister people still missing. The flash flood in Uttarakhand to a statement from US national security adviser to Bhasan Char island since early December from Yoshihide Suga said that there was no risk of a state, triggered by what scientists said could have Jake Sullivan, said China welcomed US decision to border camps in neighbouring Myanmar, where tsunami, and the nuclear power plants had not been a large avalanche of glacier ice, sent water, re-engage with the WHO, but it should hold itself more than a million refugees live in ramshackle reported any problems. For its part, the Japan rocks and debris surging down the Dhauliganga to the “highest standards” instead of taking aim at huts perched on razed hillsides. The Rohingya Meteorological Agency said that there is an river valley, destroying dams and bridges. Rescuers other countries. Sullivan earlier called on China to refugees will be moved to Bhasan Char by ships on increased risk of house collapses and landslides are using heavy digging machinery in race to free make available data from the earliest days of the Monday and Tuesday, Navy Commodore Rashed in the areas severely hit by the earthquake. dozens of dam construction workers trapped in an India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures Covid-19 outbreak, citing “deep concerns” about Sattar said from the island. Bangladesh says the People are advised to remain alert in anticipation underground tunnel connected to a hydroelectric during the hand over ceremony of the Arjun the way the findings of the WHO’s investigation relocation is voluntary, but some of a first group to of the possibility of aftershocks with a maximum project being built by the government-owned Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army in into the origins of Covid-19 were communicated. be moved spoke of being coerced. strength of up to six plus next week or so. National Thermal Power Corporation. Chennai.

Sri Lanka import ban takes the spice out of life An import ban in cash-strapped Armoured Sri Lanka is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of its curry lovers, depriving them of vital turmeric supplies and encouraging bud- ding smugglers to take their chances with the spice. With vehicles roll into no foreign cash coming in as Covid-19 cripples the tourism industry, the government in March imposed a ban on many imports to stop money leaving the country, so that it can pay Myanmar cities $4.5bn this year to service its in- ternational debt. Cars, floor tiles and machinery parts are among the items prohibited but it is a ban on turmeric that has the Indian Ocean island simmering after protests with anger. The aromatic root is a vital ingredient in curries and other local cuisine and also Reuters reported, while the military de- drums as crowds marched un- increasingly sought after as a Myitkyina ployed soldiers to power plants der the hot sun. In Waimaw, in health supplement. But only where they were confronted by Kachin state, crowds carried fl ags a fifth of the 7,500 tonnes Sri angry crowds. and sang revolutionary songs. Lanka consumes every year is ecurity forces in Myan- The junta ordered civil serv- Many of the protesters nation- produced locally. mar yesterday opened fi re ants to go back to work, threat- wide held up images of Suu Kyi. Since the pandemic, demand Sto disperse protesters at a ening action. Her detention is due to expire has increased so much that power plant and armoured ve- The army has been carry- today. prices have shot up 20-fold to hicles rolled into major cities as ing out nightly mass arrests and Her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, an eye-watering 9,000 rupees the new army rulers faced a ninth on Saturday gave itself sweep- could not be reached for com- ($48) a kilogramme — a week’s day of anti-coup demonstrations ing powers to detain people and ment on what was set to happen. wages for many Sri Lankan that saw hundreds of thousands search private property. More than 384 people have workers. “Our home-cooked on the streets. But hundreds of railway work- been detained since the coup, the curries are not the same since Soldiers were deployed to ers joined demonstrations in monitoring group Assistance As- the pandemic,” said health power plants in the northern Yangon yesterday, even as police sociation for Political Prisoners worker Prarthana Weerasinghe, state of Kachin, leading to a con- went to their housing compound said, in a wave of mostly nightly who claimed that many market frontation with demonstrators, on the outskirts of the city to or- arrests. varieties were now “adulter- some of who said they believed der them back to work. “While the international com- ated”. “We never thought the army intended to cut off the The police were forced to leave munity is condemning the coup, turmeric would be such a big is- electricity. after angry crowds gathered, ac- Min Aung Hlaing is using every sue. We had taken it for granted. The security forces fi red to cording to a live broadcast by tool he has to instigate fears and Now, we can’t aff ord to use it disperse protesters outside one Myanmar Now. instabilities,” activist Wai Hnin in our daily cooking.” Customs plant in Kachin’s state capital Richard Horsey, a Myanmar- Pwint Thon from the UK-based agents recently found 25 tonnes Myitkyina, footage broadcast live based analyst with the Interna- rights group Burma Campaign of the spice smuggled into the on Facebook showed, although it tional Crisis Group, said the work UK said on Twitter, referring to country from India in containers was not clear if they were using of many government departments the military ruler. marked “onions”, while navy pa- rubber bullets or live fi re. had eff ectively ground to a halt. Residents banded together late trols have seized several tonnes As evening fell, armoured ve- “This has the potential to also af- on Saturday to patrol streets in from Indian fishermen. Those hicles appeared in the commer- fect vital functions — the military Yangon and the country’s sec- seeking turmeric have watched cial capital of Yangon, Myitkyina can replace engineers and doctors, ond-largest city Mandalay, fear- on helplessly as off icials burn and Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine but not power grid controllers and ing arrest raids as well as com- seized turmeric at cremato- state, live footage broadcast on- central bankers,” he said. mon crime. riums, claiming they do not line by local media showed, the Hundreds of thousands of Worries about crime rose after want to flood the market and fi rst large-scale rollout of such people protested across the na- the junta announced on Friday depress prices. The government vehicles across the country since tion after a fearful night as resi- it would free 23,000 prisoners, says it wants to promote local the February 1 coup. dents formed patrols and the saying the move was consistent production over cheap imports The government and army army rolled back laws protecting with “establishing a new demo- as hundreds of thousands have could not be reached for comment. freedoms. cratic state with peace, develop- lost their jobs and the economy The US embassy in Myanmar Engineering students marched ment and discipline”. recorded its worst-ever contrac- urged American citizens to “shel- through downtown Yangon, the Tin Myint, a Yangon resident, tion of 3.9% last year. ter in place”, citing reports of the biggest city, wearing white and was among the crowds who de- Prime Minister Mahinda Ra- military movements in Yangon. It carrying placards demanding the tained a group of four people japaksa’s ban on “non-essential” also warned there was a possibil- release of ousted leader Suu Kyi, suspected of carrying out an at- items has also seen a surge in ity of a telecoms interruptions. who has been in detention since tack in the neighbourhood. prices for other goods, includ- As well as the mass protests the coup and charged with im- “We think the military intends ing car tyres, floor tiles and across Myanmar, the country’s porting walkie-talkies. to cause violence with these even toilets. With no foreign military rulers were faced with A fl eet of highway buses rolled criminals by infi ltrating them competition, the share prices of a strike by government workers, slowly through the city with into peaceful protests,” he said. local tile and sanitaryware mak- part of a civil disobedience move- horns blaring, part of the big- He cited pro-democracy dem- ers have soared five-fold in less ment to protest against the coup gest street protests in more than onstrations in 1988, when the than six months — making the that deposed the civilian govern- a decade. A convoy of motorbikes military was widely accused tiny Colombo stock exchange ment led by Aung San Suu Kyi. and cars drove through the capi- of releasing criminals into the a star performer during an Trains in parts of the country tal Naypyitaw. population to stage attacks, later economic crisis. An armoured vehicle patrols the streets following days of mass protests against the military stopped running after staff re- In the southeastern coastal citing the unrest as a justifi cation coup, in Yangon yesterday. fused to go to work, local media town of Dawei, a band played for extending their own power. Auckland locks down Indian activist held for Thunberg tweet links after three Covid cases AFP tion on the farmers’ demonstra- New Delhi tions, as well as how to join the rallies and support the move- Reuters its 5mn people against the new been wider community trans- ment online. Wellington coronavirus on February 20, mission,” she said.”That is what n Indian climate activist Delhi police said Ravi and her receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech we believe the cautious approach has been arrested after group had “shared” the toolkit vaccine earlier than anticipat- requires and its the right thing to Ashe allegedly helped cre- with Thunberg. ew Zealand’s Prime Min- ed. do.” ate a guide to the anti-govern- Ravi was a founder of Fridays ister Jacinda Ardern Restrictions were raised to lev- The prime minister said there ment farmer protests that was For Future India, part of an inter- Nyesterday announced a el 3 through Wednesday, shutting was no need to stock up on goods, tweeted by environmentalist national protest network estab- three-day lockdown in the coun- public venues and prohibiting as essential services — including Greta Thunberg. lished by Thunberg to highlight try’s biggest city Auckland, after gatherings outside homes, ex- supermarkets, pharmacies and Social media platforms have climate change. three Covid-19 cases emerged, cept for weddings and funerals of petrol stations — would remain become a major battleground in Jairam Ramesh, a former min- the fi rst local infections since late up to 10 people. Schools will stay open. India with Delhi calling on Twit- ister and lawmaker for the op- January. open for children of essential Still, long queues formed out- ter to block hundreds of accounts position Congress party, called Level 3 restrictions will re- workers but others were asked to side Auckland supermarkets, and that had commented on the re- her arrest and detention “com- quire everyone to stay home ex- stay home. pictures on social media showed cent farmers’ rallies opposing pletely atrocious” and “unwar- cept for essential shopping and Yesterday’s cases were a cou- empty grocery shelves. new agriculture laws. ranted harassment and intimi- essential work, Ardern said, re- ple and their daughter in Auck- Airlines have been contacted, Disha Ravi, 22, was arrested on dation”. peating the strict approach the land, the fi rst local infections as the woman in the infected Saturday. Police alleged she edit- A coalition of activist groups country has taken over the past since January 24. family works for an airline ca- ed an online “toolkit” containing demanded Ravi’s release and said year in virtually eliminating the Health authorities are trying tering company, LSG Sky Chefs, information on the protests that it was “extremely worried for her pandemic. to fi nd out whether these cases where she mostly works in laun- was put out by Swedish activist safety and well-being”. “We have stamped out the vi- involve any of the new, highly dry facilities, offi cials said. Thunberg in early February on Since late November farmers rus before and we will do it again,” infectious variants and how the Australia yesterday reported Twitter. have camped on roads leading Ardern told a news conference in family contracted the virus, Ar- two new local Covid-19 cases A police statement said Ravi, into the capital calling for new the capital, Wellington. dern said. in the country’s second-most Farmers participate in a candlelight vigil to pay homage to from southern Bangalore, was agriculture laws to be repealed, New Zealand, which had gone “Three days should give us populous state, Victoria, on the paramilitary troops killed in a suicide bomb attack in south a “key conspirator in the docu- in one of the biggest challenges more than two months without enough time to gather further in- second day of a snap lockdown to Kashmir’s Pulwama district in 2019, at the site of a protest against ment’s formulation and dissemi- to Prime Minister Narendra Mo- local infections before the Jan- formation, undertake large-scale contain the spread of the highly new farm laws at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghaziabad, nation”. di’s government since it came to uary case, is to start inoculating testing and establish if there has infectious UK variant. India, yesterday. The toolkit had basic informa- power in 2014. Gulf Times Monday, February 15, 2021 9 WORLD

FALLOUT LAW AND ORDER OBITUARY PANDEMIC DECISION White House press New York police arrest Former Argentine leader Brazil confirms UK variant Venezuela releases 12 aide quits after threats suspect in subway attacks Menem dies at age 90 in two Covid patients Pemon indigenous people

A White House press aide who repeatedly New York City police have arrested a suspect in Flamboyant Argentine ex-president Carlos Brazil has confirmed two cases of the UK Venezuela has released 12 Pemon indigenous threatened a reporter working on a story connection with a spate of stabbing attacks on the Menem has died at age 90 after battling variant in the state of Goias after sequencing people who had been detained more than a about his romantic life has resigned. Vanity Fair city’s subway that left two people dead, authorities long-term health problems, current Argentine test samples taken on December 31, according year ago for an assault on a military post on the reported that the aide, T J Ducklo, told a reporter said yesterday. Rigoberto Lopez is charged with President Alberto Fernandez said in a tweet to the state’s health department. In a statement, country’s southern border with Brazil, the leader for Politico “I will destroy you” and made other one count of first-degree murder, two counts of yesterday. Menem led a tabloid personal life the authorities said the two people who have of a non-governmental human rights organisation crude remarks when asked to comment on second-degree murder, and two counts of second- while he pushed Argentina to an economic caught the UK variant live on the outskirts said. The people were detained in an operation a report that he was dating a Washington degree attempted murder, the New York Police boom, but his two-term 1989-1999 presidency of the federal capital Brasília. The health in the Kumarakapay community, hours after the journalist. The White House initially suspended Department said on Twitter. The four unprovoked crumbled under the weight of corruption department did not say if these are the first incident in 2019. The government said at the time him without pay. White House Press Secretary attacks apparently targeted homeless people and scandals and he spent years plotting an unlikely cases of the UK variant found in Brazil. It that the detainees were civilians and soldiers, and Jen Psaki said in a statement that Ducklo had took place on the A train or at stations served by it comeback. With his black mane of hair and referred questions to the health ministry, which that some had fled to Brazil with stolen weapons. resigned. Ducklo said in a statement posted on beginning on Friday morning. Local radio station bushy gray sideburns, Menem at his peak did not have an immediate comment yesterday. “Thirteen indigenous people who are not related Twitter that “no words can express my regret, 1010WINS, citing police sources, said Lopez was entertained the Rolling Stones at his residence The World Health Organisation has said the UK to the assault were arrested. It was a military my embarrassment, and my disgust for my taken into custody late on Saturday wearing blood- and put Argentina on the international stage, variant has now been found in more than 70 rebellion,” Alfredo Romero, president of human behaviour.” soaked clothes and shoes. sending troops to the Gulf War and Bosnia. countries. rights group Foro Penal, said in an interview.

Pentagon Heavy snowfall in Seattle chief to Republicans reassure Nato allies who voted to AFP Washington

S Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will this Uweek reaffi rm Washing- convict Trump ton’s commitment to Nato and reassure allies they will be con- sulted on important decisions, hoping to turn the page on four years of withering criticism from former president Donald Trump. Nato defence ministers are face backlash meeting virtually Wednesday and Thursday, and the new Pen- Reuters nia also criticised its Republican the very soul of our nation,” say- tagon chief will send “a sup- Washington senator Pat Toomey for voting to ing each American had a duty portive message...about how convict. and a responsibility to defend the relevant Nato is,” his spokesman “The vote to acquit was the truth. John Kirby said. “He wants to re- ormer president Don- constitutionally correct out- “This sad chapter in our his- vitalise our commitment to the ald Trump’s acquittal come,” Pennsylvania Republican tory has reminded us that de- alliance,” Kirby added. Fon charges of inciting a chairman Lawrence Tabas said in mocracy is fragile. That it must The messaging stands in stark deadly attack on the US Capitol a statement. always be defended. That we contrast to Trump, who fre- left Democrats and Republicans Cassidy declined to say must be ever vigilant. That vio- quently upbraided Nato partner deeply divided yesterday even as whether Trump should face lence and extremism has no nations on their levels of defence his Democratic successor, Joe Bi- criminal charges. place in America,” Biden said spending and who famously den, sought to move on with his But Democratic senator Chris in a statement.”That is the task once called the transatlantic al- political and economic agenda. Coons told ABC he thought this ahead. And it’s a task we must liance “obsolete.” Democrats said they looked could happen. undertake together. As the Unit- Kirby said Austin would un- to the courts for possible civil “I think there’s ground for fur- ed States of America.” derscore the new administra- and criminal charges against the ther proceedings, both civil and Trump, while hailing the ac- tion’s stance that “we’re better former Republican president criminal, against former presi- quittal, called the House im- when we act together, that teams over the assault by his support- dent Trump,” Coons said. peachment and trial in the senate make us stronger and that col- ers on January 6, which left fi ve Coons said the country needed a “witch hunt.” lective security really is a shared people dead. to set up a 9/11-style commission Trump is the only president responsibility.” The senate trial concluded on to investigate the events of Janu- in US history to be impeached The critical issue of the with- Saturday with a 57-43 vote in fa- ary 6. But he believed the senate twice. Democratic speaker of drawal of US forces from Af- vour of convicting Trump, falling trial “reached its natural conclu- the House of Representatives ghanistan, scheduled for com- short of the two-thirds majority sion” on Saturday. Nancy Pelosi called Republicans pletion in early May, will be high needed to do so. The assault on the Capitol who did not support conviction on the agenda, though Kirby said Of the seven Republicans who forced lawmakers to evacuate “cowardly.” ultimately that would be a deci- joined the senate’s 48 Democrats congressional chambers in fear Biden, who stayed largely out sion for President Joe Biden. and two independents in vot- for their safety in the middle of the fray during the impeach- Other items up for discussion ing to convict, some faced swift certifying Biden’s win in the No- ment proceedings, is eager to include a freeze on the partial re- backlash in their home states. vember election, which Trump pass a $1.9tn pandemic relief bill moval of US troops from Germa- Senator Bill Cassidy yesterday falsely maintained he lost due to and have the remaining nomi- ny that was ordered by Trump. said he believed more of his con- widespread electoral fraud. nees for his Cabinet confi rmed In June, he told the Penta- stituents would come to agree Biden, who took offi ce on by the Senate. gon to slash the US presence in with his vote over time as the January 20, appealed for unity But lawmakers’ disagreements Germany to 25,000 troops from facts became known. to “heal this uncivil war and heal are likely to linger. 34,500 currently. Republican party leaders in The decision caused conster- Cassidy’s home state of Louisi- New York probe ‘looks at $280mn in loans’ nation in Berlin and inside Nato ana voted on Saturday to censure over fears it could undermine the him. “I have the privilege of hav- While there was good news Wall St; a hotel and residential alliance’s deterrence capabilities ing the facts before me. As these for Trump in Washington building on Columbus Circle in the face of a resurgent Russia. facts become more and more out on Saturday, as his second near Central Park; and an But the Germany pullout there...and folks have a chance to impeachment trial ended in apartment building on the Upper had not been executed before look themselves, more folks will acquittal, troubling news came East Side. The investigations Trump left offi ce, and Biden’s move to where I was,” Cassidy out of his native New York. The appear to be an extension of a administration will review US told ABC’s This Week when asked Wall Street Journal reported previously acknowledged move force posture and “make further about the censure. that prosecutors in the city are by Manhattan’s Democratic posture decisions in direct con- “I’m attempting to hold Presi- investigating about $280mn in district attorney, Cyrus Vance sultation with our interagency dent Trump accountable...I am loans to the Trump Organisation, Jr, over what prosecutors have partners and our allies and very confi dent as time passes, related to four buildings in called “possibly extensive and partners,” Pentagon spokes- A skier makes his way down a hill in Seattle, Washington. A large winter storm dropped heavy people will move to that posi- Manhattan: Trump Tower on protracted criminal conduct at man lieutenant colonel Thomas snow across the region. tion,” Cassidy said. Fifth Avenue; a skyscraper at 40 the Trump Organisation”. Campbell said. The party leader in Pennsylva- Bachelor host steps Anger at governor Biden urges Congress to reform US gun laws aside over racism row AFP killed 14 students and three adult Washington staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Guardian New and Media fi rst Black star. Lindsay asked ple did that in 2018. That was a Biden said Congress must also New York Harrison what he thought about type of party that a lot of people S President Joe Biden eliminate “immunity for gun why neither the Bachelor fran- went to … where is this lens we’re yesterday called on Con- manufacturers who knowingly put chise nor Kirkconnell had ad- holding up and was this lens Ugress to enact “common- weapons of war on our streets.” hris Harrison, the host dressed the controversy. available, and were we all looking sense” gun law reforms, three Cruz was able to buy the as- of the hit reality series Harrison asked viewers to give through it in 2018?” years after the school shooting in sault rifl e legally, despite having CThe Bachelor, said he was Kirkconnell “a little grace, a little The interview spurred back- Parkland, Florida. known mental health problems. “stepping aside” from ABC’s hit understanding, a little compas- lash and Harrison posted an “This administration will not Even in a country that has franchise for a “period of time”, sion”, rather than “taking a leap” in apology on social media, saying: wait for the next mass shooting grown inured to mass shootings following comments in defence making a decision about her based “What I now realise I have done to heed that call,” Biden said in and gun violence, the Florida of a current contestant caught up on reported social media posts. is cause harm by wrongly speak- a statement marking the Valen- shooting sparked outrage across in a racism storm. Lindsay explained that at- ing in a manner that perpetu- tine’s Day shooting in 2018 that the US and prompted fresh de- The contestant, Rachael Kirk- tending an antebellum par- ates racism, and for that I am so left 17 people dead and brought mands for fi rearms control. connell, appears to have liked ty was “not a good look”. deeply sorry.” fresh attention to America’s lax But with Donald Trump in the social media posts featuring the “Well, Rachel, is it a good look He also promised “to do better”. gun laws. “We will take action to White House and the Republi- Confederate fl ag while photos in 2018, or is it not a good look in The fallout continued, however. end our epidemic of gun violence cans controlling the Senate at the have also emerged purportedly 2021? Because there’s a big diff er- Lindsay said she wouldn’t renew and make our schools and com- time, legislation approved by the showing her at an “old south”- ence,” Harrison said. her Bachelor contract when it munities safer.” Democrats in the House of Rep- themed college party several Lindsay replied: “It’s not a ends, according to reports, and on Biden said he wants Congress resentatives went nowhere. years ago, according to reports. good look ever. Because she’s Friday, on her podcast, said: “I’m to pass laws that would require Democratic Speaker Nancy Kirkconnell has been de- celebrating the old south. If I tired. I’m exhausted. I have truly Republican demonstrators gather for a rally event to collect background checks on all gun Pelosi yesterday said the House scribed as a frontrunner to win went to that party, what would I had enough.” signatures to recall California governor Gavin Newsom sales and ban assault weapons would try again. the aff ections of series star represent at that party?” Announcing his time away in Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. Californians are and high-capacity magazines. “We will enact these and other Matt James, the fi rst-ever Black While Harrison said Lindsay from The Bachelor, Harrison increasingly frustrated as Covid-19 has devastated the The confessed school shooter, life-saving bills and deliver the Bachelor. Harrison discussed was “100% right in 2021 … that apologised again. “I have spent state. Now they’re taking out their frustrations on governor Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the progress that the Parkland com- the Kirkconnell controversy on was not the case in 2018. I’m not the last few days listening to the Newsom, who for many epitomises governmental high- time, was armed with an AR-15- munity and the American people Tuesday, in an interview with defending Rachael, I just know pain my words have caused, and handedness and dysfunction. style rifl e and fi red between 100 deserve and demand,” she said in Rachel Lindsay, the franchise’s that, I don’t know, 50mn peo- I am deeply remorseful,” he said. and 150 rounds in a rampage that a statement. Gulf Times 10 Monday, February 15, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES No fi nal word yet on how long would the race be against Covid

Fifteen months into the Covid-19 pandemic which has killed more than 2.3mn people worldwide there is no indication of an end to the unprecedented outbreak. The fi rst Covid-19 cases were reported in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which witnessed over the last few days an international investigation led by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Experts believe the disease originated in bats and could have been transmitted to humans via another mammal. The mission to Wuhan failed to identify the source of the virus but poured cold water on the theory that it leaked from the local virology laboratory. At a press conference on Friday in Geneva alongside Biden eyes tough border Wuhan mission leader Peter Ben Embarek, WHO director- general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the team had conducted a “very important scientifi c exercise in very diffi cult circumstances”. He confi rmed that all hypotheses remain open and require further analysis and studies. Tedros said he hoped a summary report from the mission would be published over the migration enforcement next few days, with the full fi nal report to follow in the coming weeks. While welcoming a fall in the global number of reported By Laura Gottesdiener, Frank Jack Jacobson told reporters on a recent from leading Republican lawmakers January’s migrant caravan shortly Covid-19 cases for a fourth consecutive week, which he put call that the administration had not who accuse his administration of before Biden’s inauguration, aiming down to countries implementing public health measures more Daniel and Ted Hesson Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico talked with Mexico specifi cally about undermining immigration enforcement. to arrive in the United States after he stringently, the WHO chief also warned that complacency is as how it deploys its security forces on its The new administration has took office. dangerous as the virus itself. own soil. She added, however, that the “sketched out a massive proposal The Trump administration had all but This has to be read in tandem n the days before US President Joe two countries’ diplomats, as well as for blanket amnesty that would gut locked down the US southern border with the European Union Biden’s inauguration, Mexican Biden and Mexican President Andrés enforcement of American laws while and forced some asylum applicants to There are three health agency chief saying on soldiers patrolling the banks of Manuel López Obrador, had spoken creating huge new incentives for people wait for months in Mexico. It also had the wide Suchiate River found few about the need to jointly work on to rush here illegally at the same time,” prodded Mexican and Central American Friday that the coronavirus I major known migrants amid the fl ow of trade across managing migration. She stressed the Republican Senate Minority Leader governments, largely through threats, to will probably continue to the water from Guatemala. importance of addressing its root causes Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on confront migrant caravans. variants that circulate long-term despite the The likely explanation lay hundreds such as poverty and corruption. the Senate fl oor after Biden’s fi rst day For instance, Mexico in 2019 deployed roll-out of vaccines. Andrea of miles to the south, where baton- Two other administration offi cials, in offi ce. 20,000 National Guard and soldiers to are worrying Ammon, the head of the wielding Guatemalan security forces including Juan Gonzalez, the president’s Biden offi cials have repeatedly police its borders to stave off Trump’s Stockholm-based European beat back one of the largest US-bound lead adviser on Latin American policy, pleaded with asylum seekers not threats to impose tariff s on Mexican scientists: the Centre for Disease Prevention migrant caravans ever assembled, recently underscored US support for to migrate now, stressing that the goods. according to a Reuters photographer immigration enforcement well south of administration needs time to enact its Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador South African, and Control, was of the view and other witnesses. the US border. domestic immigration changes. and Honduras coordinated a regional that the virus “seems very “We’re scared,” Honduran migrant “I need to recognise here the work At the same time, human rights containment strategy ahead of the British and well adapted to humans. So Rosa Alvarez told a reporter by that (Guatemalan) President (Alejandro) advocates say leaning on Mexico and January caravan, Martin Alonso we should be prepared that it telephone as she fl ed with many others Giammattei has done in managing the Central America to halt mass migration Borrego, director of Latin America and Brazilian will remain with us. It would toward the nearby hills, two young migration fl ows when the caravans violates people’s rights to seek asylum. the Caribbean for Mexico’s foreign not be the fi rst virus that is children in tow. started out,” Gonzalez told the El It also potentially subjects them to ministry, told Reuters. with us forever, so it is not an unusual feature for a virus.” There The operation was part of a US- Salvadoran investigative website El Faro further violence and abuse on their After a January 11 meeting among led eff ort, pursued by past American after the January crackdown. journeys north, they say. the countries, Guatemala declared is particular concern that the vaccines may not be as eff ective administrations and accelerated under The Mexican government has “We’ve seen time and time again emergency powers in nearly a third of against some variants of the virus, especially the South African and former president Donald Trump, to informed the new US administration that militarised approaches don’t its states and deployed up to 4,000 Brazilian ones. Ammon pointed out that vaccines for the seasonal pressure fi rst the Mexican and then the that it intends to keep current really stop people from leaving,” said soldiers, police offi cers and air force fl u have to be adapted annually as the virus that causes it changes. Central American governments to halt immigration enforcement measures in Daniella Burgi-Palomino, co-director personnel. “It might turn out that (the coronavirus) goes the same way, or migration well short of the US border. place because it is in Mexico’s sovereign of the Latin America Working Group, an As Biden’s inauguration approached, that at one point it remains stable and we can use one vaccine for a Under the Biden administration, interest to secure its own borders, one organisation dedicated to infl uencing rumors that a large migrant group was longer period,” she told AFP. the same general strategy is likely to senior Mexican offi cial said, speaking on US policy. forming in Honduras prompted Mexico continue, at least for the near term, condition of anonymity. About 8,000 people, including to beef up its military presence at its Yet another cause for caution is the news that the coronavirus according to six US and Mexican Biden already faces pressure many women and children, joined own southern border and send buses variant fi rst found in the British region of Kent is a concern sources with knowledge of diplomatic to Guatemala to aid in the return of because it is mutating and so could undermine the protection discussions. caravan members. given by vaccines against developing Covid-19, the head of Biden has been gradually unravelling The crackdown in mid-January the UK’s genetic surveillance programme said. Her opinion many Trump-era immigration policies. provided some respite to Mexican is that the British variant was likely “to sweep the world, in Yet the new administration has troops on the Suchiate River. It also all probability”. Sharon Peacock, director of the Covid-19 encouraged Mexico and Guatemala to inspired fear among migrants. keep up border enforcement in their Honduran migrant Alvarez and her Genomics UK consortium, said vaccines were so far eff ective countries to stem northward migration, family spent days in Guatemala’s hills against the variants in the UK, but that mutations could according to two Mexican offi cials and a trying to make their way toward the potentially undermine the shots. “What’s concerning about this US offi cial, all speaking on condition of Mexican border. “We’re without money is that the 1.1.7 variant that we have had circulating for some anonymity. and food,” she said, before Reuters lost weeks and months is beginning to mutate again and get new Diplomats and experts at immigration touch with her. mutations which could aff ect the way that we handle the virus think tanks told Reuters that it would In the mid-January confrontation in in terms of immunity and eff ectiveness of vaccines,” Peacock be politically expedient for the Biden Guatemala, the Reuters photographer administration to keep asylum seekers and other witnesses saw a wall of told the BBC. and other migrants from trekking security forces confront hundreds of There are three major known variants that are worrying en masse to the country’s southern migrants, beating some and deploying scientists: the South African variant, known by scientists as border, especially as Mexico and the tear gas. Some migrants threw rocks. 20I/501Y.V2 or B.1.351; the British variant known as 20I/501Y. United States are being ravaged by the Guatemalan immigration authorities V1 or B.1.1.7; and the Brazilian variant known as P.1. The coronavirus pandemic and seeking to reported an unspecifi ed number of two Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfi zer/BioNTech and contain its spread. injuries. AstraZeneca protect against the main British variant. As They also said any rush to the US Guatemala’s human rights border could hand Biden’s political ombudsman Jordan Rodas said “it was Ammon said, “Everybody’s fed up with the measures, but when opponents ammunition to sink the outrageous to see the scenes of how the you’re running a long distance course... (you) have to run the rest of his immigration agenda, which military brutally received our Honduran last kilometres.” But the irony is that nobody knows how much includes providing a pathway to brothers and sisters.” more is left to run. citizenship for immigrants already in Immigration experts and people the United States and reducing asylum familiar with the Biden administration’s application backlogs. thinking say Washington may try to The Biden administration has not exercise more oversight down the To Advertise specifi cally endorsed militarised line over how Mexican and Central action, however, and has vowed to treat American authorities conduct border [email protected] migrants with dignity. containment operations. “They want the relevant countries to Proponents of greater US Display have appropriate border controls,” said immigration control say it would be a 44466621 44418811 one former US offi cial familiar with the mistake to pull back on the Trump-era matter, who also spoke on condition pressure. Classified of anonymity. “It doesn’t mean that “It’s not clear how effectively 44466609 44418811 they hold everyone back and beat back Guatemala and Mexico can block migrants. That’s not the objective here.” them, especially if the numbers get Subscription A White House spokesperson bigger and especially if they are not declined to comment, referring Reuters pressured to do so by Biden,” said [email protected] to recent public remarks by Roberta Jessica Vaughan, policy director Jacobson, a special assistant to the MORE OF THE SAME: The policy to pressure first the Mexican and then the Central for the Center for Immigration president specialising on the southwest American governments to halt migration well short of the US border is likely to Studies, which favours lower levels of © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved border. continue under the Biden administration according to sources. immigration. – Reuters Gulf Times Monday, February 15, 2021 11 WORLD

Pakistan lab expects UK achieves Covid-19 Sputnik V doses for vaccination milestone sale soon

AFP/Reuters Johnson said all those groups “There is so much more to concern about the spread of vi- Reuters London had been reached in England do and I urge anyone eligible to rus variants that may be more Islamabad but did not speak for Scotland step forward and take up their resistant to vaccines. or Northern Ireland, and did not appointment,” Health Secretary A new 10-day hotel quaran- K Prime Minister Boris say the overall target had been Matt Hancock added yester- tine regime for British residents lab in Pakistan will soon Johnson has called Brit- met. day. “The vaccine is our route to returning from 33 virus variant receive Russia’s Sputnik Uain hitting a target of Wales said it had met the tar- freedom – we will beat this virus hotspots begins today. AV coronavirus (Covid-19) inoculating 15mn of the most get on Saturday. jab by jab.” Johnson has said that he is vaccine for commercial sale, a vulnerable people with a fi rst “This country has achieved Britain, which has been among “optimistic” that plans for a company offi cial said yesterday, coronavirus jab “a signifi cant an extraordinary feat,” Johnson the hardest hit in Europe by the “cautious” easing of the stay- making Pakistan one of the fi rst milestone”, as the country pre- said in a video message posted pandemic, registering more than at-home rules in England from countries to market shots pri- pared for the next phase of its on Twitter, noting it had been 117,000 deaths within 28 days of next month will go ahead. vately as it scrambles to secure vaccination programme. just over two months since Brit- a positive Covid-19 test, has led He has vowed to review all supplies. Johnson, who has faced se- ain embarked on its biggest ever the world in promptly approving relevant data next week, ahead Despite concerns over fair- vere criticism over his year-long vaccination programme. the use of several vaccines. of setting out the government’s ness and higher prices, Islama- handling of the pandemic, had “We’ve still got a long way to It now has one of the high- “roadmap” for lifting restric- bad agreed this week to allow set the ambitious aim of off er- go to. And there will undoubt- est proportions of people vac- tions on February 22. the commercial import and sale ing a jab to everybody in the top edly be bumps in the road. But cinated against the virus of any But he is facing pressure from of vaccines without price caps, four priority groups of around after all we’ve achieved, I know nation – a rare success for John- some of the government’s own Prime Minister Johnson: We’ve still got a long way to go to. And in contrast to most countries, 15mn people by the middle of we can go forward with great son during a pandemic in which lawmakers. there will undoubtedly be bumps in the road. But after all we’ve which are importing and admin- this month. confi dence.” the UK has fared badly by most Conservatives worried about achieved, I know we can go forward with great confidence. istering vaccines through gov- That comprises all over-70s, The country will now start other measures. the impact of lockdown on the ernment channels. care home residents and staff , administering vaccines to those Infection rates have dropped economy and children’s educa- allowed for the move. The foreign minister, Dominic “We are told the fi rst ship- National Health Service (NHS) aged between 65 and 69 and the markedly across the country tion have called on Johnson to “The vaccine gives us immu- Raab, said it was too soon yet to ment is expected within the next workers, and the extremely clin- clinically vulnerable to Cov- over recent weeks, as strict lock- commit to a timetable for com- nity from Covid, but it must also discuss when restrictions could week,” Chughtai Lab director ically vulnerable to the virus. id-19, the disease caused by the down measures have curbed pre- pletely ending the controls by give us permanent immunity be lifted. Omar Chughtai told Reuters, By the end of Saturday, coronavirus, with almost 1.2mn viously spiralling case numbers, May. from Covid-related lockdowns “We share all of the ambition adding that it would be receiving 15,062,189 people had received a already invited to book their hospitalisations and deaths. In a letter to the British pre- and restrictions,” they wrote. and the desire to get out of this several thousand doses. fi rst dose, with 537,715 also get- jabs, the state-run NHS said. The improving situation mier, the leaders of the Covid “All restrictions remaining after lockdown, we want to do it re- Pakistan’s decision to allow ting their second shot, accord- Ministers have also vowed to has prompted calls for strin- Recovery Group of Tory law- March 8 should be proportionate sponsibly and safely and there- private sales of vaccine without ing to the latest health ministry vaccinate all over-50s by May gent lockdown restrictions to makers said the “tremendous to the ever-increasing number fore it’s got to be based on the a price cap in a lower-income statistics. and all adults by September. be lifted in early March, despite pace” of the vaccination rollout of people we have protected.” evidence,” he told Times Radio. country of 220mn people faces criticism. Former health minister Zafar Mirza, while praising govern- ment eff orts to procure and dis- tribute free vaccine, said that Wanted: Skating-mad Dutch seize rare chance to hit icy canals avoiding a price cap for private sales “will deepen inequality in society at a time when there is a More AFP all together in it. We’re outside, need to have widespread cover- The Hague we’re moving. In these tough age”. times that’s a rare thing.” The government launched a female Skating, like cycling, is a vaccination drive this month he Dutch, who love to ice Dutch tradition, and almost with 500,000 doses of the Si- skate, had a rare chance everyone is said to have a pair nopharm vaccine donated by astronauts Tyesterday to hit the ca- of skates ready for when the ca- longtime ally China. nals after they froze over for the nals freeze over. But aside from the donated fi rst time in almost three years. Many had hoped that a Chinese doses, Islamabad has Reuters Some however hit the ice a bit popular competition, the Elf- not completed any deals to buy London too hard, taking tumbles that stedentocht, or Eleven Cities vaccines. landed them in hospital despite Race, would be held for the fi rst Sputnik V is one of four vac- an offi cial plea to spare over- time in nearly a quarter-centu- cines approved for emergency pace – the next frontier for stretched emergency services. ry this year. use in Pakistan, in addition to gender equality? Europe’s In Amsterdam yesterday But Rutte said skating had to those by China’s Sinopharm and Sspace agency has launched dozens of skaters took to the be limited to pairs under anti- CanSinoBio, and the AstraZene- a mission to take on more women Prinsengracht, an iconic canal coronavirus restrictions. ca-Oxford University shot. astronauts as it kicked off its first in the city centre, even though Last held in 1997, the ultra- Chughtai Lab aims to import recruitment campaign for more the ice was not thick enough in endurance marathon follows the others as well, but Sputnik V than a decade. all places. a gruelling 200km route along was the fi rst to become available, Nearly 60 years since the fi rst At least one person broke the northern Friesland prov- Chughtai said. human blasted off into space, through, but was able to make ince, and completing it is con- Faisal Sultan, the health min- women account for just 11% of it to safety unaided, local media sidered a true test of character. ister, told Reuters in a message the 560 people who have trav- reported. Despite it not being held, that he was “not directly aware” elled beyond the earth’s atmos- Prime Minister Mark Rutte emergency rooms were twice of the deal. phere, according to the United had warned against mass skat- as busy as usual on Saturday as Chughtai declined to specify Nations Offi ce for Outer Space ing to avoid the risk of spread- People ice skate during a cold snap yesterday across the Netherlands along the windmills in people turned up with broken import costs or prices but said Aff airs. ing the coronavirus as well as Kinderdijk. wrists and other injuries suf- the price would “appear infl at- But following in the footsteps injuries that could clog up hos- fered during falls, medical staff ed” compared to what has been of the US National Aeronau- pital emergency rooms. and have been listed as Unesco so beautiful, it’s a fever, it grips happen again for a few years. associations noted on Twitter. reported for Sputnik V globally, tics and Space Administration But in Kinderdijk, western world heritage sites. you and you have to get out and You have to take the opportu- A week-long cold snap is due given the smaller volume it was (Nasa), the Paris-headquartered Holland, dozens laced up their “Most people are usually go skating,” said Cok Hartk- nity when you can.” to end today, and many munici- planning to sell relative to global European Space Agency (ESA) skates for a spin near windmills still in bed on a Sunday morn- oorn, 71, who looked on from Marleen Bouman, 49, said: palities have warned it will soon procurement. said it wanted to ensure greater that are often seen on postcards ing at this time. But this ice is the canal bank. “This might not “Skating is nice because we’re be time to get off the ice. Sputnik V’s developers have diversity among its astronauts. said the two-dose vaccine would “Representing all parts of be sold at $10 per dose. our society is a concern that we “Internationally there is very take very seriously,” said David high demand, and I would not Parker, the agency’s director of be surprised if the price points human and robotic exploration. Rail bosses plan tunnel linking N Ireland to Scotland are higher today,” Chughtai “Diversity at ESA should not said, adding that prices will only address the origin, age, come down over the next three background or gender of our By Jamie Grierson tivity review led by Sir Peter Ireland post-Brexit”. strongly over the period to review claims the proposal has to four months as more vaccine astronauts, but also perhaps Guardian News & Media Hendy. A new rail connection be- 2019. the backing of the Northern becomes available. “The biggest physical disabilities,” he said in a Hendy is due to publish his tween Carlisle and Stranraer “Travel generates economic Ireland assembly and the Scot- challenge around the vaccines statement on Monday. interim report within weeks. would be needed, while the value, but the opportunity for tish parliament and there is a globally right now is allocation Nasa announced plans last ail industry leaders have The two towns are 31 miles width of railway track in Ireland further economic stimulus “feasible path to its funding to specifi c countries.” year to send the fi rst female as- proposed building a tun- apart but a preferred route for may need to be altered, the pro- from this source will be lost from the UK Exchequer that Chughtai said his Lahore- tronaut to the moon by 2024 Rnel between Scotland the tunnel, based on 120-year- posal said. if transport network capacity does not adversely impact on based pathology lab had turned through its Artemis moon pro- and Northern Ireland to a group old research by the Victoria Jim Steer, an HSRG board constraints are not addressed. other transport funding”. down “grey market” off ers from gramme. tasked with exploring ways to engineer James Barton, would member, said: “There is an ur- “Building on the transforma- A government spokesper- people in various countries who Still, there have been some improve connectivity between be diverted to avoid Beaufort’s gent need for both new and im- tive impact of HS2, HSRG are son said: “We have asked Sir had “extra vaccine” not offi cially missteps along the way. the four constituent parts of Dyke, a 1,000’-deep trench in proved transport links between calling for these cross-border Peter Hendy to make recom- meant for re-export. Nasa was forced to postpone the UK. the Irish Sea. the four nations of the United rail links to be addressed as a mendations on how to improve The lab is importing Sputnik V the fi rst all-female space walk High Speed Rail Group According to the HSRG, the Kingdom, which have been sys- matter of urgency, safeguard- transport connectivity between through Pakistani fi rm Ali Gohar in March 2019 because it did not (HSRG) has proposed a tunnel tunnel would bind Northern tematically neglected for too ing the strength of the whole Scotland, Wales, Northern Ire- Pharmaceuticals Pvt and the have a spacesuit in the right size. under the Irish Sea between Ireland closer to Great Britain long. of the UK economy in the years land and England. His recom- Russian Direct Investment Fund, The historic space walk was Stranraer and Larne in its sub- and would “address problems “Cross-border travel mar- ahead.” mendations will be published which is responsible for market- completed later that year. mission to the union connec- in economic status of Northern kets for rail were growing The pitch submitted to the in due course.” ing the vaccine abroad.

Russian women form chains to protest crackdown

AFP Navalny, President Vladimir Pu- tersburg, some 100 women His jailing sparked wide- gatherings that took place in Moscow tin’s most prominent critic, to formed a similar chain near a spread protests across Russia eastern Russia and Siberia ear- nearly three years in prison and monument to victims of politi- that have seen at least 10,000 lier Sunday, with Russians light- unleashed a crackdown on his cal repression. people detained. ing fl ashlights, sparklers and everal hundred women supporters. Some clutched fl owers, while After the crackdown Naval- small lanterns. formed human chains in Female activists said they others recited poems by Anna ny’s team postponed mass rallies “Love is stronger than fear,” SMoscow and Saint Pe- wanted to express solidarity Akhmatova, one of Russia’s until the spring or summer, but said an electronic ticker tape on tersburg yesterday, using Val- with Navalny’s wife Yulia and most beloved poets. urged supporters to use Valen- a residential high-rise in the Si- entine’s Day to express support other women who have become “Only love can win over evil,” tine’s Day to try out new – and berian city of Tomsk, according for the wife of jailed opposition victims of the crackdown. 25-year-old Valeriya Stepanova safer – forms of protest. to a video released by Navalny’s leader Alexei Navalny and po- “By forming a chain we want told AFP in Saint Petersburg. Navalny’s right-hand man team. litical prisoners. to show that we are for love and The new form of opposition Leonid Volkov has called on Offi cials have accused the Around 300 women gathered against violence,” Darya Obraz- rallies is similar to human chains Russians to stage courtyard pro- opposition of acting on orders on Arbat Street in Moscow’s his- tsova, a 22-year-old student, formed by female activists in tests later in the evening, light- from the North Atlantic Treaty toric city centre, holding a long told AFP in Moscow. neighbouring Belarus. ing their cellphone fl ashlights Organisation (Nato) and warned white ribbon in below-freezing “Very brave and nice young Navalny was arrested and for 15 minutes, and posting pic- that anyone violating the law temperatures of -13° Celsius (8° women have gathered here,” she jailed upon returning to Russia tures of the gatherings on social would be punished. Participants form a human chain during a demonstration yesterday to Fahrenheit). said, adding she wanted “free- last month following treatment media. “We will not play cat and support female political prisoners and to protest against police violence The gathering came after au- dom and justice” for Russia. in Germany for a nerve agent Navalny’s team released pic- mouse with anyone,” Putin’s in Saint Petersburg. thorities last week sentenced In the second city Saint Pe- poisoning. tures and video of small-scale spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Gulf Times 12 Monday, February 15, 2021 QATAR Msheireb Properties to launch Doha Design District Msheireb Properties, in The new design hub at Msheireb Downtown is to be launched worldwide while promoting local to our existing facilities and will collaboration with the on Wednesday through a virtual summit designers. enhance the position of Doha international design house It will create an artistic design as a global capital of design, he Preciosa, is exhibiting the sheireb Properties will Msheireb Properties acting ethos by partnering with the re- added. “We are proud to be the ‘Crystallation exhibition’. organise a virtual sum- chief executive Ali al-Kuwari tail brands, collaborating with leaders in Qatar for having such Mmit on Wednesday provides the welcoming speech, local industry professionals, an initiative and off ering great At the exhibit, each visitor will (February 17) to announce the and interior design manager global affi liations, and network- opportunities for corporates and have the chance to buy a pair of foundation of the new Doha De- Shaikha al-Sulaiti and senior ing partners, and off ering an en- entrepreneurs to contribute to Preciosa Lighting crystal trim- sign District (DDD) – the new leasing consultant David Mac- vironment where designers and this big industry.” mings. design hub at Msheireb Down- Adam discuss the inception of the general public can gather, be Those interested to watch the One trimming can be hung on town Doha (MDD) which will the DDD and its initiatives and inspired, and create. summit can register at https:// the installation, while the second serve as the centre of Qatar’s de- signifi cance at Msheireb Down- “We are proud to announce the www.dohadesigndistrict.com/ trimming is given to the purchas- sign and innovation. town Doha. foundation of the Doha Design In addition to the virtual sum- er to take home. The virtual summit aims to Additionally, Whitney Robin- District at the MDD, that em- mit, Msheireb Properties, in col- Proceeds from the sale of trim- introduce the new DDD and its son, former editor of Elle Décor braces the ethos of beauty, cul- laboration with the international mings will be donated to the Ed- objectives, and shed light on the and senior design consultant to ture, art, and innovation, from to design house Preciosa, is exhib- ucation Above All Foundation to exciting names, classics, trend- The DDD evolves around inno- role of international design dis- the QM, will discuss the work the smallest aspects of our fash- iting the “Crystallation exhibi- support their education projects setters, and so much more. vation and creativity, and design tricts in enriching the cultural undertaken with international ion, interiors, and architecture,” tion”, a physical exhibition cur- that target vulnerable communi- The design district is a global is at its core. and art scene, while off ering a designers to launch the CP Club al-Kuwari said. “We aim to be rently placed on Sikkat Al Wadi ties across the world. concept, and Msheireb Down- The Doha Design District is a platform for discussion, mutual Townhouses Project at Msheireb the design destination in Qatar in the city district. The price of each crystal trim- town Doha is the ideal venue for world-class destination that ca- expertise between local and in- Downtown Doha. and the region, embracing the Crystallation is a symbol of ming starts from QR50. the new district and a blank can- ters to the needs of creatives. ternational designers. The DDD will be a vital piece most important design concepts design innovation that off ers an The DDD is set to be home to vas that designers can make their The new DDD will be a land- The opening session focuses of Doha’s cultural fabric and help while raising awareness, teach- opportunity to show how design galleries, showrooms, creative own. mark in Qatar and the region, and on the DDD, with speakers from position the city as the regional ing, and inspiring designers of can raise awareness of the im- services, stores, and even eater- Spaces are designed for attract local and regional design- Msheireb Properties and Qatar design hub by collaborating with the future.” portance of community and col- ies and cafes. spreading out, thinking big, and ers to interact with global peers Museums (QM). established brands and designers “The DDD will add great value laboration. Here, people can fi nd the most turning ideas into reality. to design to the next level.

MME successfully cultivates endangered and rare wild plants

QNA local wild plants, propagate the important plants, Doha and return them to the land, meadows, and natural reserves. The MME has also expanded the Field Gene Bank he Ministry of Municipality and Environ- to be a comprehensive national bank for all wild, ment (MME), represented by the Department fungal, pastoral, medicinal, and aromatic species in Tof Protection and Wildlife, has succeeded in the Al Ghyshamia area and Rawdat Al Faras station, cultivating and propagating many important, rare, to benefi t from it in the land rehabilitation pro- and endangered wild plants, in addition to local grammes, rehabilitation of pastures and meadows, medicinal and aromatic plants. wild cultivation and combating desertifi cation in The seedlings of these types of plants will be used Qatar. in continuous environmental campaigns for land The number of plant species that has been pre- cultivation and meadows rehabilitation. served in the Field Gene Bank so far has reached The ministry plans to preserve and protect the nearly 130.