THURSDAY DECEMBER 31, 2020 JUMADA AL-AWWAL 16, 1442 VOL.14 NO. 5143 QR 2 Fajr: 4:57 am Dhuhr: 11:37 am FINE Asr: 2:35 pm Maghrib: 4:55 pm HIGH : 24°C LOW : 17 °C Isha: 6:25 pm World 7 Business 8 Sports 11 UK gives first approval QLM holds first board Qatar sets new benchmark of Oxford/AstraZeneca meeting, appoints for safe return of football vaccine Fahd Al Suwaidi as CEO amidst pandemic AMIR GETS INVITATION FROM SAUDI AMIR RECEIVES COVID-19 VACCINE KING TO ATTEND GCC SUMMIT TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA HIS Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday. “Today I took the COVID-19 vaccine, and I wish everyone safety and protection from this epidem- ic,” HH the Amir said on his Insta- gram account. Qatar began the first phase of vaccination programme on De- cember 23 at seven designated PHCC Health Centres — Al Wa- jbah, Leabaib, Al Ruwais, Umm Salal, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Thuma- ma and Muaither. Many dignitaries and senior health officials have already taken the vaccine to reassure the public that it’s safe. The first phase of the vaccina- His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a written message tion programme includes those 70 from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Kingdom of Saudi years of age and older, those with Arabia, inviting HH the Amir to attend the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Coun- severe chronic conditions and key cil for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), to be held in Riyadh on January 5. The message was handed healthcare professionals working over by GCC Secretary-General HE Dr Nayef bin Falah Al Hajraf during a meeting with HH the Amir at the in close contact with COVID-19 Amiri Diwan office on Wednesday morning.(QNA) patients. Katara Hospitality COVID-19 hotline COVID-19 vaccination drive plans to establish 60 hotels by 2030 receives 1.7 mn KATARA Hospitality has a huge plan to establish nearly going on smoothly: Cabinet 60 hotels by 2030, compa- calls since March ny’s Chairman Sheikh Nawaf QNA tions around the clock seven bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani DOHA days a week, received more Cabinet affirms continuation Establishment of two more has said. He said Katara than 552,000 calls to re- of precautionary measures customs departments Hospitality now has 42 ho- THE free hotline 16000, quest information or services tels and more than 25,000 dedicated to coronavirus related to COVID-19. While against coronavirus gets Cabinet approval rooms, while in 2000 it had (COVID-19) inquiries, received the rest of the calls were dis- about 4,000 rooms. about 1.7 million calls since tributed to the other services QNA of the following two areas: The First Eco- In a speech Sheikh it was launched provided by the line, DOHA nomic Zone (Ras Bufontas ) and The Nawaf said the company by the Ministry of a number of people Third Economic Zone (Umm Al Houl). has adopted a pioneering Public Health in with COVID-19 were THE Cabinet has reassured the progress The Cabinet also approved a draft MoU approach to develop the March. able to contact the of the first phase of the vaccination cam- on childhood between the government of hospitality sector in the The hotline hotline to obtain paign against the coronavirus (COV- Qatar and the United Nations Children’s country. He expressed pride was launched urgent and quick ID-19), which is being carried out success- Fund (UNICEF). It also approved a draft that Katara Hospitality is with the aim of care, which helped fully as per the set plan. The vaccination agreement between the government of number one in the number answering the during the peak programme is part of the state’s continu- Qatar and the government of Peru regard- of rooms in the Middle East public’s questions of the pandemic ous efforts to address the COVID-19 pan- ing the exemption from short-stay visas. and North Africa region, and and inquiries re- to facilitate the demic and return to normal life. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior The cabinet reviewed the report of HE number 25 in the world. It’s lated to COVID-19, in addition process of classifying cases The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Min- HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Minister of Justice and Acting Minister number one in terms of rev- to enabling the public and and directing them to home ister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Al Thani. of State for Cabinet Affairs regarding the enue in the Middle East and healthcare staff to access quarantine or isolation facili- Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani results of the (30) meeting of the Minis- North Africa, and number main health care services ties. It also helped in tracking on Wednesday, listened to the explanation combat the pandemic. ters of Justice in the countries of the Co- 14 in the world. PAGE 8 provided by Hamad Medical contacts to identify potential provided by Minister of Public Health on The Cabinet also approved the draft operation Council for the Arab States of Corporation (HMC) and Pri- new cases and thus slowing the latest developments to limit the spread decision of the Minister of Finance to es- the Gulf. It also reviewed the report of HE mary Health Care Corporation down the rate of infection of the COVID-19. tablish two customs departments in Ras Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of (PHCC). spread among the population The Cabinet affirmed the continuation Bufontas and Umm Al Houl areas. State for Cabinet Affairs regarding the re- The hotline, which func- in Qatar. (QNA) PAGE 2 of work with regard to the precautionary According to the project, a customs sults of the (36) session of the Council of Qatar condemns measures that have been taken in order to department will be established for each Arab Justice Ministers. explosion at Aden airport QATAR voiced strong condemnation and denun- Highest bridge at Umm Lekhba Interchange to open tomorrow ciation of the explosion which targeted Aden airport new Al Hatim Street in Al in Yemen, leaving several The new bridge will Gharrafa area. It has a length killed and scores injured. of about 6 km, on an area of In a statement on Wednes- provide free flow about 70,000 square me- day, the Ministry of Foreign of traffic from Al tres, where about 800 trees Affairs reiterated the firm and 80,000 square metre of position of Qatar on reject- Shamal towards shrubs and ground covers ing violence and terrorism Al Markhiya were planted. In addition, 22 regardless of motives and bicycle racks and 18 benches reasons. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK have been provided along the The statement affirmed DOHA street. Qatar’s firm stance calling Eng Ali Saeed Ibrahim, for resolving the crisis in THE Public Works Author- Project Engineer of Highway Yemen through negotia- ity (Ashghal) is set to open Project Department, con- tions between Yemenis, to the seventh bridge at Umm firmed that the new opening fulfil the aspirations of the Lekhba Interchange (Land- on Umm Lekhba Interchange brotherly Yemeni people mark) as part of the Sabah Al The bridge is located at a height of about 30 metres and has one lane that can accommodate about 2,000 vehicles per hour. will provide a free traffic flow for security, stability and Ahmad Corridor project on from the north towards Al prosperity. The ministry con- Friday, January 1. Markhiya Street. terchange flyover. The bridge which will significantly re- intersection (Immigration). Markhiya, which will signifi- veyed the condolences of The 1km-long bridge will It’s the highest bridge on is located at a height of about duce the travel time from the Ashghal also opened pe- cantly reduce traffic pressure Qatar to the families of the provide a free flow traffic this vital interchange, and 30 metres and consists of one north in the direction of Al destrian and bicycle paths on Al Shamal Road. victims, wishing the injured for road users coming from the second highest flyover in lane to accommodate about Markhiya street without the and beautification landscap- a speedy recovery. (QNA) Al Shamal Road towards Al Qatar after Umm Besher In- 2,000 vehicles per hour, need to use the Al Gharrafa ing on the east side of the Continued on page 2 02 Thursday, December 31, 2020 Contact US: Qatar Tribune ı EDıTORıAL ı Phone: 40002222 ı ADMıNıSTRATıON & MARKETıNG ı Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha. Coronavirus hotline AMIR RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM AMIR OF KUWAIT QNA receives 1.7mn calls DOHA THE Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received a writ- since March launch ten message from the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al QNA 220,000 cases who were able Sabah pertaining to the fraternal ties DOHA to speak with a doctor and ob- between the two countries and the tain medical advice remotely prospects for enhancing them, in addi- THE free hotline 16000 dedi- using phone or video calls and tion to a number of issues of mutual cated to coronavirus (COV- were prescribed the appropriate interest. ID-19) inquiries has received drugs. The message was handed over by Ku- about 1.7 million calls since it With regard to patients waiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmed was launched in March by the who needed pharmacy servic- Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah during Ministry of Public Health.