FRIDAY MAY 21, 2021 SHAWWAL 9, 1442 VOL.14 NO. 5264 QR 2

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Int’l community must work seriously to protect Palestinians, says FM

Qatar will support Lives of children all efforts to reduce in Gaza ‘Hell on escalation in Gaza: Earth’: UN chief Amir, Jordan king review latest Sheikh Mohammed TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK developments in Palestine DOHA QNA and strengthen them. DEPUTY Prime Minister and Min- DOHA They also discussed regional ister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh and international issues of common Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al His Highness the Amir of State of Qa- concern, especially the latest develop- Thani has said that the danger- tar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ments in Palestine,. They expressed ous situation prevailing in the held a telephone conversation with their strong condemnation of the occupied Palestinian territories HM King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of continued shelling by the Israeli oc- requires urgent action to stop the UNITED Nations Secretary- the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on cupation forces of Gaza Strip, killing Israeli attacks. General Antonio Guterres told Thursday. civilians. They called for an immedi- Speaking at the UN General As- the UN General Assembly on During the phone call, they re- ate cease re and the protection of sembly emergency meeting about Thursday that: “If there is a viewed brotherly relations between the Al-Aqsa, holy sites and defenceless the situation in the Middle East on The pace of Judaisation and increase in Hell on Earth, it is the lives of two countries and the ways to support civilians. Thursday, the FM reiterated Qa- settlement activity reached a point that could children in Gaza.” tar’s rejection and denunciation of be described as ethnic cleansing. Targeting Guterres called for an the attacks against Palestinians. residential buildings, media and humanitarian “immediate end” to the The UN session was convened ghting and said he was at the invitation of the Arab and Is- institutions is a violation of international law.” “deeply shocked by the lamic Group and the Non-Aligned — HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani continued air and artillery Countries regarding the situation bombardment” by Israeli Qatar making efforts in the Palestinian territories. forces on Gaza. The FM said the pace of Judai- residential buildings, press and Palestinian state on the 1967 bor- He added that the “in- sation and increase in settlement humanitarian institutions is a vio- ders. discriminate ring of rockets to resolve con icts in activity reached a point that could lation of the international law. The FM thanked Egypt and by Hamas” and other groups be described as ethnic cleansing. He called on the international Jordan for their efforts to stop the towards Israel – which have “We wonder when the interna- community to work seriously to escalation, stressing Qatar’s sup- left 12 dead, including two Africa: Sheikha Alya tional community will act to deter secure protection for the Palestin- port for all sincere efforts to re- children – was also “unac- Israel,” he said. ian people, achieve a comprehen- duce the escalation in Jerusalem ceptable”. (AGENCIES) QNA The FM said the targeting of sive settlement and establish a and Gaza. NEW YORK

QATAR has af rmed it has made unremit- ting efforts, through mediation based on the United Nations Charter, to prevent Israel, Hamas and resolve conicts on the African con- tinent, in coordination with the Security Council. agree ceasefire Qatar also con rmed that its ef- forts were aimed at addressing the root causes of conicts and achieving security, in Gaza Strip peace and development in the African Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease re on Thurs- continent, within the framework of Qatar’s day to halt 11 days of ghting in the Gaza Strip. strategic partnership with the United A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nations. The Qatari diplomatic mediation Netanyahu’s of ce said the security cabinet had efforts led to the resolution of a number “unanimously accepted the recommendations to of conicts in Africa, the latest of which HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani. accept an Egyptian initiative for an unconditional was the resumption of diplomatic rela- … cease re.” tions between Somalia and Kenya, in a tional peace and security. Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad way that enhances stability on the African She said the African continent has then con rmed the cease re in a statement, continent. huge potentials, yet the exacerbation saying it would come into force at 2:00am on Qatar’s Permanent Representative and prolongation of the conicts it faces Friday (23:00 GMT on Thursday). to the United Nations Ambassador HE casts a shadow over its ambitious plans Netanyahu’s of ce said the two sides were Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani of development and humanitarian pro- still negotiating exactly when it would take effect. said the Security Council’s continued grammes. At least 232 Palestinians, including 65 consideration of means to address the It is ,therefore, important for the children, have been killed in 11 days of Israeli root causes of conict reects the extent international community to join hands to bombardment. (AGENCIES) PAGE 5 of its effects on development in its hu- address the root causes of conicts on QLife Pharma becomes first company man, economic and social dimensions, the continent and help it focus on imple- and the urgent need for a comprehensive, menting the African Union’s agenda 2063 to obtain Qatari tracking number coordinated and effective response as an and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for integrated approach to maintain interna- Sustainable Development. PAGE 2 MINISTER of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari handed over the rst tracking number to QLife Pharma Company. This comes on the occasion of QDB’s inauguration of the Qatari product coding and tracking of ce. This is the rst of its kind in Qatar, and in appreciation of the efforts made by the pharmaceutical industries sector in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. QLife Pharma obtained the rst Qatari tracking number, QU project aims to develop sustainable starting with 630, to be the rst company in Qatar to obtain the national tracking code, to be methods to increase crop production (PG 12) followed by many national companies during the coming period. PAGE 7

Agri yards to remain 10 held for violating home quarantine rules QNA Hamad Said Al Atraq, John Phillip Padila Virtuoso, open on Thursday, DOHA Mohammed Haroun Mayan, Kwayes Ahmed Ab- dulnour, Omar Ali Omar, Salman Fares Moheldin, THE designated authorities on Thursday arrested Atef Youssef Al Dereiri, Abdulmalek Soufan, and Friday & Saturday 10 people for violating the requirements of home Ratna Pita. quarantine. The designated authorities called on citizens THE Environmental Affairs Department of the The arrests came in implementation of the and residents under home quarantine to fully Ministry of Municipality and Environment has precautionary measures in force in the country, commit to the Ministry of Public Health’s condi- announced that the public markets selling approved by health authorities represented in the tion, to ensure their safety and the safety of local agricultural produce will continue to be Ministry of Public Health, to curb the spread of others. They added that anyone who violates the held at Al-Mazrou’a, Al Khor and Al Dhakira, the COVID-19. quarantine will be subject to article no 253 of law and Al Wakrah on Thursday, Friday and Satuday The violators, who are currently being referred no 11 of 2004, provisions of law no 17 of 1990 from 6:30pm to 10pm. (TNN) to the designate prosecution, are Saeed Moham- on communicable diseases, and law no 17 of med Hamad Al Ghafrani Al Marri, Salem Rashid 2002 on protecting society. 02 Friday, May 21, 2021

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Shura Council attends parliamentary meeting Qatar af rms its unrelenting efforts to on recovery in MENA resolve disputes in Africa by mediation QNA The talks covered a variety QNA and strengthening the inter- (QFFD), the United Nations DOHA of topics related to recovery. NEW YORK dependence between peace- Development Programme Vaccines, governance, re- keeping and peacebuilding (UNDP), and Germany to THE Shura Council took part forms, debt, climate change, THE State of Qatar affirmed activities, in a way that con- build the UNDP Accelerator in a parliamentary meeting and the role of parliamentar- that, in collaboration with the tributes to ad hoc peacekeep- Labs, the world’s largest and on economic recovery in the ians in ensuring transparency Security Council, it has made ing and peace building. fastest information network Middle East and North Africa and the availability of aid to unrelenting efforts in recent Her Excellency indicated on developmental challenges. by developing comprehensive, deal with the crisis and build years to prevent and resolve that in this context, it is the The organisation is currently long-term, and adaptable poli- a more sustainable economic conflicts on the African con- responsibility of the inter- active in 78 countries, the cies. The meeting was held via recovery were among them. tinent through mediation national community at the majority of which are among video conference by The Par- Nasser bin Sultan Al Hu- based on the United Nations present time to assist African Africa’s slowest growing, and liamentary Network on the maidi, a member of the Shura Charter. countries to strengthen their aims to address developmen- World Bank and the Interna- Council, was present at the Qatar also confirmed that health systems and institu- tal challenges more effective- tional Monetary Fund. meeting. this came as a contribution to tions and obtain vaccinations, ly. addressing the root causes of and to emphasize the impor- Her Excellency added that, conflicts and achieving secu- tance of implementing Secu- as part of international efforts rity, peace, and development rity Council Resolution No. to eradicate epidemics, QFFD Shura participates in meeting on the African continent, as 2565 of February 26 regarding and the World Health Organi- well as within the framework HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani a ceasefire in all conflict areas zation (WHO) signed a three- of APA Committee on Economic of Qatar’s strategic partner- in order to provide vaccina- year agreement to eliminate ship with the United Nations, means to address the root the continent and help it to tion, and support the COVAX tropical diseases and other dis- and Sustainable Development where Qatari diplomatic me- causes of conflict reflects the succeed. facility to provide vaccines to eases in 49 African countries, diation efforts led to the reso- extent of its effects on devel- Her Excellency mentioned the people most in need of as- benefiting nearly 400 million THE Shura Council participat- economic growth activation, lution of a number of conflicts opment in its human, eco- that, while African countries sistance, based on the fact that people. Her Excellency also ed on Thursday in the meeting poverty eradication, and the in Africa, the most recent of nomic, and social dimensions, are working within the frame- the pandemic is a challenge said that, because recovering of the Standing Committee role of Asian parliaments in which was the resumption of as well as the urgent need for work of the African Union for everyone and that the re- from the pandemic in Africa on Economic and Sustainable supporting and implementing diplomatic relations between a comprehensive, coordi- to confront the dangers of sponse to it must be global and requires the recovery of all, Development of the Asian Par- the Sustainable Development the Republic of Somalia and nated, and effective response armed conflicts and the chal- with the cooperation of all. Qatar took the initiative and liamentary Assembly (APA), Goals. the Republic of Kenya, in a as an integrated approach lenges of sustaining security, Sheikha Alya said that in offered medical aid to more through video conference HE Ali bin Abdullatif Al way that enhances stability on to maintaining international stability, and development, response to the challenges than 78 countries around the technology. Misnad Al Muhannadi, mem- the African continent. peace and security. the Coronavirus (Covid-19) that less-developed countries, world to assist them in deal- The committee discussed ber of the Shura Council, rep- This was stated by Qatar’s Her Excellency also said pandemic has added to the including those on the African ing with the pandemic. The several reports on the Asian resented the Council at this Permanent Representative that the African continent burden and has had a nega- continent, face in achieving total amount of government integrated energy market, meeting. (QNA) to the UN, HE Ambassador is rich in great and diverse tive impact on life. However, sustainable development, the and non-government aid re- Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif potentials, but the exacerba- it produced additional les- State of Qatar will host the 5th ceived was $88 million. In Al-Thani, during the Secu- tion and prolongation of the sons and incentives for pro- United Nations Conference addition, QFFD signed a core rity Council’s open debate on conflicts it faces casts a nega- moting cooperation among on the Least Developed Coun- contribution agreement with “Peace and Security in Africa: tive shadow on its ambitious African countries in order to tries and support their devel- WHO worth $10 million to PHCC marks World Addressing Root Causes of plans, development, and hu- advance the promising Afri- opment efforts for the next support WHO’s Thirteenth Conflict in Post-Pandemic Re- manitarian programs, and can agenda and achieve com- ten years, in accordance with General Programme of Work covery in Africa.” that it is therefore critical for prehensive recovery, through the Sustainable Development (GPW 13) and COVID-19 re- Family Doctor Day According to Her Excel- the international community the development of sustain- Agenda 2030. There is also sponse through the Access to lency, the Security Council’s to work together to address able development policies collaboration between the COVID-19 Tools Accelerator QNA es and the need to adhere to continued consideration of the root causes of conflicts on in their various dimensions, Qatar Fund for Development (ACT-A). DOHA preventive measures. The Primary Health Care THE Primary Health Care Cor- Corporation praised family poration (PHCC) commemo- doctors for their essential role rated World Family Doctor in providing comprehensive Snoonu completes its Al-Quds 313 new cases, 1 death Day with the theme ‘Building and continuous health care to the Future with Family Doc- all patients. The PHCC em- reported on Thursday tors’. phasised the importance of drive in partnership with QRCS This day, which is ob- building a future with them TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK to the COVID-19 with many served annually on May 19, by providing continuous and TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK encourage everyone to keep DOHA requiring admission to hospi- aims to recognise the efforts of comprehensive care, which is DOHA helping this cause, as we firm- tal to manage their symptoms. family doctors, highlight their the second axis, as family doc- ly believe that collaborative QATAR on Thursday recorded *Since 1 February, the role in community service, and tors build mutual trust with SNOONU, a Doha-based e- efforts can make a real differ- 313 new COVID-19 cases — number of people with COV- shed light on family medicine, patients and society, as one of commerce startup, has an- ence in people’s lives”. 208 from within the commu- ID-19 admitted to hospital has one of the most important spe- the four aforementioned axes, nounced the completion of its Commenting on QRC’s nity and 105 among travellers doubled. cialties that deals with com- by filling the existing gaps in corporate social responsibility cooperation with Snoonu, returning from abroad. *Qatar’s strict quarantine prehensive health care for all health care that is provided (CSR) initiative in collabora- Mohammed Al Marri, Direc- The Ministry of Public policy for returning travel- family members. every day, while family doc- tion with Qatar Red Crescent tor of Communication and Health also reported 522 re- ers enabled us to delay the The most important of tors provide continuous and (QRC), which was held re- Public Relations from QRC coveries. introduction of new variants which is building the future comprehensive care to those cently to support the construc- said: “We are pleased to see With this, the active cases into this country for several with family doctors and pri- who need it the most. tion of hospitals in Jerusalem local businesses supporting in Qatar declined to 4,151 months but we are now seeing mary care staff, as family doc- PHCC added that it in- as part of QRC’s Al-Quds hu- such an important cause and while the total recoveries positive COVID-19 cases in the tors are often the first point of forms the community about manitarian campaign. has chosen to act. Commit- encouraging others in the jumped to 209,773. region and in Qatar with the contact for patients in combat- the importance and role of the Snoonu’s initiative aims ted to serving the community market to participate and help In the last 24 hours, the new variants from the United ing epidemics, as well as car- family doctor by presenting to improve Palestinians’ ac- and driving positive change in lifting even a little misery virus claimed the lives of one Kingdom. ing for people suffering from videos published through vari- cess to healthcare and raise across the region, Snoonu has from our Palestinian broth- person, aged 62, raising the *This new variant is much chronic diseases and the need ous forms of media and social awareness about illegal hu- launched this initiative to help ers. This valuable contribu- total number of deaths so far more contagious and spread to follow preventive measures. communication that highlight manitarian violations, forced the cause close to the hearts of tion from Snoonu holds more to 539. more easily between people The most important of these is the family doctors in the in- expulsion, and other oppres- all Arabic and Islamic commu- than just a monetary aid, but As many as 40,058 doses than the existing strain and building the future with family stitution and their primary sive practices endured by the nities, while supporting Qatar it also considered as a form of of COVID-19 vaccine were may be associated with in- doctors and primary care staff, role in achieving a healthy and Palestinian people. Red Crescent humanitarian moral support, highlight what administered in the last 24 creased severity of disease as family doctors are frequent- well-being society, in addition Co-founder and CEO of action whose selfless work in is happening in Palestine and hours, bringing the total doses *The good news is that the ly the first point of contact for to thanking the institution’s Snoonu, Hamad Al Hajri said: Palestine brings immense increase awareness toward the given out so far to 2,190,807. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moder- patients in combating epidem- employees through an online “As the violence and injustice relief to the Palestinian peo- oppression and violations that Current COVID-19 Status na vaccines being used in our ics, as well as caring for people post, expressing gratitude and towards the civil population ple. As we are completing the are happening in occupied * Every day, hundreds of vaccination program are effec- suffering from chronic diseas- showing appreciation. in Palestine escalated, Snoonu programme, we would like to Palestine.” people are becoming sick due tive against the new variants

Al Shehaniya Municipality holds intensive inspection MME celebrates World Bee Day

THE Ministry of Municipality and Environ- ment (MME) took part in the celebration of World Bee Day, which is held on May 20 each year and is organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The participation of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, repre- sented by the Department of Agricultural Affairs, in the celebration came as part of the Ministry’s commitment to protect- ing and preserving bees, as the Ministry launched the national honey bee project, which aims to protect the bee community and its components. The plan is to distrib- ute beehives and apiaries requirements The Shehaniya municipality, represented by the Municipal Supervision Department, conducted 1,470 to producing farms and supervise them intensive inspection activities within the municipality’s administrative boundaries, inApril. Following in order to spread and localise bee honey the inspection tours, 166 seizure records were issued, one for each of the sections of Health Control, production in Qatari farms. It also aims to ous types. owners to work to preserve bees, empha- General Control, and Technical Supervision. protect bees and work to increase their re- On this occasion, the Ministry of Mu- sizing their readiness to face any threats production and honey production of vari- nicipality and Environment urged farm to Qatari apiaries. (QNA) Friday, May 21, 2021 03 Islam

Meaning of Iman, Islam and Ihsan

Consistency between Modern Question: Explain the meaning of Al-Iman, Al- Islam, Al-Ihsan in the light of Qur’an and Hadith of the Holy Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Answer: All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of Science and the Qur’an worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger. HE Qur’an is the last the centre of the galaxy, so there Islam has three stages: Islam, Iman and Ihsan. revelation and a proof, is no contradiction, since the Islam: The meaning of Islam is as de ned by not only to the pagan Qur’an does not specify the Sun’s the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he Arabs 1400 years ago, orbit. The Qur’an says (what was asked by the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah but also to the scien- means): “He coils the night upon exalt his mention: “To testify that none has the tistsT of today. Perhaps one of the the day and He coils the day upon right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muham- most remarkable qualities of the the night.”[Qur’an 39:5] To coil or mad is His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), Qur’an is the complete consist- to wind is the translation of the to establish the prayers, to give the Zakaat, to fast ency between most of the discov- Arabic verb Kawwara. The origi- the month of Ramadhan and to make pilgrimage eries of modern Science and the nal meaning of the verb is to coil a to Makkah, if one is able to do so”. [Reported Qur’an. turban around the head. by Muslim and others]. One of the first Western scien- The process of perpetual coil- Iman: The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sal- tists to make a serious study of this ing, including the interpenetra- lam) said that Iman is, “To believe in Allah, His subject was Maurice Bucaille, who tion of one sector by another is ex- Angels, His Books, to believe in meeting Him, to wrote a book called The Bible, The pressed in the Qur’an, just as if the believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and Qur’an and Science. In this book, concept of the Earth’s roundness the predestination.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, Mus- he compared the statements con- had already been conceived at the lim and others] cerning natural and scientific data time, which is clearly not the case. This is the meaning of Islam and Iman if they in the Bible and the Qur’an. The Qur’an says (what are mentioned in one context. However, if only one He concluded: “The Qur’an means): “It is He who made the of them is mentioned, then each one encompasses follows on from the two Revela- Sun a shining thing and the Moon the meaning of the other one. If the word Islam tions that preceded it and is not as a light, and measured out their only is mentioned, it includes the meaning of Iman, only free from contradictions in stages…”[Qur’an 10:5] and vice-versa. By the de nitions of Islam and its narrations and the sign of the The Qur’an describes the Sun Iman, we notice that Iman is about inwardly actions various human manipulations to as ‘Siraaj’ which means a torch, and Islam is about outside actions. be found in the Gospels, but pro- generating its own heat and light, Ihsan: Ihsan is exclusively the highest status of vides a quality all of its own for 1. The Accurate Descrip- the bones precede the develop- must have been a Messenger of whereas the Moon is described religion, its meaning is: “To worship Allah as if you those who examine it objectively tion of Embryonic and Fetal ment of muscle and flesh. The God.” ‘An-Noor’ which is light originat- see Him and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” and in the light of Science, i.e. its Development: Hadeeth of the Prophet, peace 2. Cosmology: ing from another source. This is the de nition of Ihsan as stated by the complete agreement with modern At the time of Prophet Mu- and blessings of Allah be upon Allah Says (what Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). scientific data. hammad (may Allah exalt his him, reads: “When forty-two means): “Have not those who dis- 3. Geology: That’s to say that Ihsan has two stages: the Furthermore, statements are mention), prevalent theories in- nights have passed over the con- believe known that the heavens The Qur’an says (what highest one is to worship Allah as if you see Him; if found in the Qur’an (as has been cluded those of Aristotle, who ceptus, Allah sends an Angel to and the earth were joined together means): “Have We not made the you cannot attain this status of worship, then wor- shown) that are connected with thought that a child was formed it, who shapes it, makes its ears, as one united piece, then We part- earth as a bed; and the mountains ship Him being certain that He sees you and that Science, and yet it is unthinkable by the congealing of menstrual eyes, skin, flesh and bones. Then ed them. And We have made from as pegs?” [Qur’an 78:6-7] He is All-Aware of your actions and deeds. that a man in Muhammad’s time blood, catalysed by the male he says: ‘O Lord! Is it male or fe- water every living thing. Will they And also (what means): “And Allah knows best. could have been the author of blood, as rennet does to cheese. In male?’ And your Lord decides not then believe?” [Qur’an 2: 30] Allah has cast into the ground, them. Therefore, modern scientif- the 18th century CE, Hartsoeker what He wishes and then the an- This verse clearly mentions mountains standing firm so that it ic knowledge allows us to under- claimed to have seen within the gel records it.” [Al-Bukhari] the common origin of the uni- does not shake with you.” [Qur’an stand certain verses of the Qur’an, sperm a pre-formed human be- This accurate information verse, a fact that was not discov- 31:10] Importance of Taking Knowledge which, until now, it has been im- ing through the primitive micro- gives the correct time for the rec- ered until forty years ago with It has recently been discovered possible to interpret. scopes. ognisable growth of the features the advent of nuclear physics. that mountains have roots that from the Scholars The comparison of several The Qur’an reflected none described, and the sex of the fetus The separation seems to refer to go into the earth’s crust, which is Biblical and Qur’anic narrations of these theories, describing the cannot be definitely determined what scientists call the “Big Bang.” composed of seven tectonic plates. Question: Assalamu ‘aleikum. I have a Salafi on the same subject shows the embryonic human development until just after forty-two days. Moreover, all living things are Their movement is the cause of friend who told me that knowledge can only be ac- fundamental differences between with detailed accuracy (which This was not known until composed of protoplasm, which earthquakes. It is thought that the cepted from ulama (scholars) who have learnt this the statements in the Bible, which means): “We created man from the invention of powerful mi- consists of 80 to 85 percent water. roots and weight of the mountains knowledge through a chain of ulama that goes back are scientifically unacceptable, a quintessence of clay, We then croscopes only decades ago. Allah Says in the Qur’an (what play a vital role in stabilising the to the companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi and declarations in the Qur’an placed him as a drop (Nutfah) in Professor and Chairman of the means): {“Then, He rose over earth’s crust. wa sallam. In other words, you need to find out who which are in perfect agreement a place of rest firmly fixed, then Department of Anatomy at the towards the heaven when it was 4. The Water Cycle: the Sheikh has studied with and who that one has with modern data, for example, we made the drop into an ‘Alaqah University of Toronto, Canada, smoke, and said to it and to the The Qur’an correctly describes studied with, etc. If not, you should not accept the in the description of Creation and (leech-like structure) and then we and author of The Develop- earth: ‘Come willingly or unwill- the water cycle and the origin of sheikh’s teachings. I have never found any proof for the Flood. changed the leech-like structure ing Human, Keith Moore, who ingly.’ They both said: ‘We come underground springs as being this. Can you please clarify this matter? An extremely important com- into a Mudghah, (chewed-like is considered to be one of the willingly.’” [Qur’an 41:11] from rainwater. Obvious you may Answer: All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of plement to the Bible was found substance) and then We made world’s leading embryologists, The word ‘smoke’ describes think, but the Greek philosophers the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of wor- in the text of the Qur’an on the out of that chewed-like substance said concerning these statements accurately the primeval state of did not get it right, suggesting ship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu history of the Exodus, where bones; then We clothed the bones in the Qur’an and authentic Ha- the universe, which was com- that underground springs were ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger. the two texts were very much in with flesh; then We caused him to deeth: “Until the 19th century posed of a hot gaseous mass, produced by sea spray collecting There is no doubt that it is very important that agreement with archaeological grow and come into being and at- CE, nothing was known about with particles moving vigor- in caves, which fed a great under- the seeker of knowledge gets his knowledge from a findings, dating from the time of tain the definitive form. Blessed be classifying the stages of human ously like smoke. From this the ground sea through the ‘abyss’! In Shaykh who would show him the correct path. Indeed, Moses. Allah, The Perfect Creator. After development. A system of stag- stars, planets and the earth were fact, the water cycle was not accu- the scholars are lighthouses of guidance that help There are major differences that, at length you will die. Again, ing human embryos was devel- formed. The Qur’an says (what rately propounded until the 18th people understand the texts of the Book of Allah and between the Qur’an and the Bible on the Day of Judgment, you will oped around the end of the 19th means): “With power did We century CE. The Qur’an, however, the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sal- on other subjects, which serve to be raised up.” [Qur’an 23:12-16] century CE based on alphabeti- construct the heaven. Verily, We states (what means): “Do you not lam. Verily, the Salaf (righteous predecessors) have disprove all the unfounded alle- The Prophet, peace and bless- cal symbols. During the 20th are Able to extend the vastness of see that Allah sends down rain warned against taking knowledge directly from books gations that Muhammad is sup- ings of Allah be upon him, further century CE, numerals were used space thereof.” [Qur’an 51:47] It is from the sky and makes it flow to an extent that one of them said: “Whoever has his posed to have copied the Bible to explained the meaning of ‘Nutfah’ to describe 23 stages of embry- an accepted fact that we are living as springs (and rivers) in the book as his teacher, his mistakes are more than his produce the text of the Quran.” as meaning both the male sperm onic development. This system in an expanding universe. earth?” [Qur’an 39:21] rectitude.” “In view of the level of knowl- and female ovum. The word of numbering the stages is not The Qur’an says (what These are a few of many state- As regards the statement that it is a condition edge in Muhammad’s days, it is ‘Alaqah has three meanings in easy to follow and a better system means): “It is not for the Sun to ments and limited explanations of when taking knowledge from a Shaykh to know the inconceivable that many of the Arabic: would be based on the morpho- overtake the Moon, nor does the the statements contained in the chain of Shaykhs from whom he had received knowl- statements in the Qur’an which 1) A thing that clings logical changes. In recent years, night outstrip the day. They all Qur’an and Ahadeeth (narrations edge, then we do not know any scholar who said this. are connected with Science could 2) A blood clot the study of the Qur’an has re- float, each in an orbit.” [Qur’an of the Prophet) dealing with sci- Rather, this statement implies that those who de- have been the work of a man. It 3) A leech-like thing. vealed another basis for the clas- 36:40] entific subjects. The Qur’an is con- serve that we take knowledge from them are too few. is, moreover, perfectly legitimate, All three accurately describe sification of the stages of the de- The Arabic word referring to sistent with external realities and Therefore, this statement is very inappropriate. not only to regard the Qur’an as the first stage of the developing veloping embryo, which is based a movement with self-propelled it is also consistent internally. It Finally, we warn against the danger of insisting on the expression of a Revelation, but embryo. After the fertilisation of on easily understood actions and motion is the verb Yasbahoon (in is the nature of the works of men, hardship in matters of religion. Indeed, it is con rmed also to award it a very special place the egg, a blastocyst develops, changes in shape. It utilises terms the Qur’anic text). It implies a mo- be they scientists, philosophers, that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: on the account of the guarantee of which has on its exterior villocites, which were sent from God to Mu- tion that comes from the body in sages or mystics to contain incon- “Ruined are al-Mutanatti’oon (i.e. those who go to the authenticity it provides. The pres- which literally “cling” to the wall hammad by the Angel Gabriel question. If it takes place in water, sistencies and contradictions. This extremes).” [Muslim] ence of scientific statements in of the uterus. It then goes on to and recorded on the Qur’an… It is it means to swim; if it takes place cannot be so with the Divine Rev- An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said the Qur’an which, when studied resemble a leech in both appear- clear to me that these statements on land, it refers to the action of elation as the Qur’an states (what when interpreting this Hadeeth and clarifying the today, appear as a challenge to ex- ance and behaviour and goes on must have come to Muhammad one’s own legs. For movement means): “Then do they not reflect meaning of al-Mutanatti’oon: “It means those who planation in human terms.” to resemble a blood clot. from God because almost none that occurs in space, it would upon the Qur’an? Had it been exaggerate and who exceed the limits in their state- Some statements involving The next stage, when it be- of this knowledge was discovered mean: “to rotate.” from other than Allah, they would ments and actions.” data confirmed by modern Sci- comes “chewed-like” substance, until many centuries later. This The Sun is actually in orbit, have found within it much contra- Allah Knows best. ence are: is also accurate. It is also true that proves to me that Muhammad not around the earth but around diction.” [Qur’an 4:82] RELATIVITY IN THE QURAN

HE conclusion to which we are Obedience, and you will think that stayed not but a little - if only you had Qur’an by Allah, Who encompasses ter, Allah Says (what means): {And you have remained one hundred led by the findings of modern you have stayed (in this world) but a known.”} [Qur’an 23:112-114] the whole time and space. similarly, We awakened them that years. Look at your food and your Science is that time is not an little while!} [Qur’an 17:52] In some other verses it is stated Many other verses of the Qur’an they might question one another. Said drink; it has not changed with time. absolute fact, as supposed by Allah also Says (what that time may flow at different paces reveal that time is a perception. This a speaker from among them, “How And look at your donkey; and We materialists, but only a relative means): {And on the Day when He in different settings, as in the saying of is particularly evident in the sto- long have you remained [here]?” will make you a sign for the people. perception.T What is more interesting will gather them, [it will be] as if they Allah (which means): “And they urge ries. For instance, Allah has kept the They said, “We have remained a And look at the bones [of this don- is that this fact, undiscovered by Sci- had not remained [in the world] but you to hasten the punishment. But Al- Companions of the Cave, a believing day or part of a day.” They said, “Your key] - how We raise them and then ence until the 20th century CE, was an hour of the day, [and] they will lah will never fail in His promise. And group mentioned in the Qur’an, in a Lord is most knowing of how long We cover them with flesh.” And imparted to mankind in the Qur’an know each other.} [Qur’an 10:45]. indeed, a day with your Lord is like deep sleep for more than three centu- you remained.….} [Qur’an 18:19] when it became clear to him, he said, fourteen centuries ago. There are var- In some verses, it is indicated that a thousand years of those which you ries. When they were awoken, these The situation told in the below “I know that Allah is over all things ious references in the Qur’an to the people perceive time differently and count.” [Qur’an 22:47] Also, in the people thought that they had stayed verse is also evidence that time is competent.”} [Qur’an 2:259]. relativity of time. that sometimes people can perceive saying of Allah (which means): “The in that state but a little while, and in truth a psychological perception. The above verse clearly empha- It is possible to see the scientifical- a very short period of time as a very angels and the Spirit will ascend to could not figure out how long they Allah Says (what means): {Or [con- sises that Allah Who created time ly-proven fact that time is a psycholog- lengthy one. The following conver- Him during a Day the extent of which slept; Allah Says (what means): {So sider such an example] as the one is unbound by it. Man, on the other ical perception dependent on events, sation of people held during their is fifty thousand years.” [Qur’an 70:4]. We cast [a cover of sleep] over their who passed by a township which had hand, is bound by time that is or- setting and conditions in many verses judgment in the Hereafter, is a good These verses are all manifest ex- ears within the cave for a number of fallen into ruin. He said, “How will Al- dained by Allah. As in the verse, man of the Qur’an. For instance, the entire example of the saying of Allah (which pression of the relativity of time. The years. Then We awakened them that lah bring this to life after its death?” is even incapable of knowing how life of a person is a very short time as means): {[Allah] will say, “How long fact that this result only recently un- We might show which of the two fac- So Allah caused him to die for a hun- long he stayed in his sleep. In such a informed by the Qur’an. Allah Says did you remain on earth in number of derstood by Science in the 20th cen- tions was most precise in calculating dred years; then He revived him. He state, to assert that time is absolute (what means): {On the Day when He years?” They will say, “We remained tury CE was communicated to man what [extent] they had remained in said, “How long have you remained?” (just like the materialists do in their will call you and you will answer (His a day or part of a day; ask those 1,400 years ago by the Qur’an is an time.} [Qur’an 18:11-12] The man said, “I have remained a day distorted mentality), would be very Call) with (words of) His Praise and who enumerate.” He will say, “You indication of the revelation of the In a later verse of this very chap- or part of a day.” He said, “Rather, unreasonable. 04 Friday, May 21, 2021 World

News House approves commission in brief Belgium to sweep national park as manhunt for soldier drags on BRUSSELS The manhunt for a fugitive Belgian solider believed to harbour right-wing extremist sympathies dragged into its third to probe US Capitol attack day on Thursday, with authorities planning to sweep a park of more than 12,000 hectares. Police and the army will conduct a thorough search of the The legislation was approved 252-175, with support from all House Democrats who voted and 35 Republicans Hoge Kempen National Park, which is located in eastern Bel- DPA to block the vote counting in the gium and has been closed to the public since Wednesday, news WASHINGTON Capitol on January 6. agency Belga reported citing the Federal Prosecutor’s Of ce. Republicans also tried to A number of mosques in the surrounding Limburg region THE US House of Representa- broaden the scope of the panel closed or deployed extra security as a precautionary measure, tives on Wednesday voted to es- to include the protests in sum- according to Belga. tablish a commission to investi- mer 2020 after the death of The 46-year-old soldier, identi ed as Jurgen Conings in the gate the January 6 riot at the US George Floyd. Belgian press, disappeared from his home in the nearby munici- Capitol, but the panel faces an Republican John Katko of pality of Dilsen-Stokkem on the Dutch border on Monday. (DPA) uphill battle in the Senate amid New York brokered the deal Republican opposition. with Democrat Bennie Thomp- The legislation was ap- son of Mississippi at the behest Paris appeals court nds German proved 252-175, with support of House Minority Leader Kevin agency at fault for faulty implants from all House Democrats who McCarthy. voted and 35 Republicans, a After Katko signed off on the PARIS A German inspection organization tied up in a years-long significant number of defec- agreement, McCarthy came out legal dispute regarding inferior breast implants was once again tions on a bill GOP leadership against it, arguing that the com- found to have not performed its job, according to ruling by a opposed. mission repeats work already French appeals court on Thursday. In the Senate, Republican being done by Congress and law The Paris Court of Appeals put the responsibility on TUeV Minority Leader Mitch McCo- enforcement and ignores other Rheinland, while at the same time dismissing claims made nnell opposes the panel, calling “political violence.” by numerous women - a fact that was noted by the company’s it “slanted and unbalanced” and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in Washington on Thursday. (AFP) Thompson said Republican lawyer. In 2010, it was revealed that French manufacturer repetitive of work already un- and Democratic leaders were Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) had used cheap and non-approved derway by law enforcement and kept apprised of negotiations. industrial silicone for breast implants for years, instead of congressional entities. NY attorney general has criminally “It’s unfortunate that the expensive medical silicone. While a handful of Republi- minority leader has at the last Worldwide, 400,000 women are said to have had the cans have indicated they would moment raised issues that ba- implants put in. TUeV had certi ed PIP’s quality assurance buck McConnell, it is far from probed Trump at least since March sically we had gone past and processes, leading plaintiffs to accuse the association of certain there would be enough NEW YORK New York Attorney did not spell out when or why vestigation for several months there was no issue on his part,” negligence. They argue TUeV could have found the issue with of them to overcome a filibuster. General Letitia James has that signi cant upgrade was now, since March, and have he said. surprise inspections, while TUeV says it is a victim of PIP’s Democrat Majority Leader been investigating former US made. been in touch with prosecu- Katko, a former prosecutor, deception and did not violate any obligation. (DPA) Charles Schumer has pledged president Donald Trump and Duncan Levin - an attorney tors in the criminal division passionately urged lawmak- the legislation will get a vote, his company in a criminal for Jennifer Weisselberg, the and have provided them with ers to support it. “I encourage even if it is doomed to fail. capacity at least since March, estranged daughter-in-law of a evidence,” Levin said. all members, Republicans and Guns, swords found during raid on The commission, modeled according to a lawyer familiar top Trump Organisation execu- Levin said he did not know Democrats alike, to put down coronavirus deniers in Austria after the one set up after the with the matter, signaling that tive - shed some light on that exactly when James launched their swords for once, just for terrorist attacks of September the probe is further along than omission on Wednesday, telling the criminal aspect of her once, and support this bill,” he VIENNA Police in Austria seized guns, ammunition and swords 11, 2001, is tasked with investi- initially thought. the New York Daily News that probe, but noted that Manhat- said on the House floor. during a raid on a group of men who opposed virus control gating the events that led to the James’ of ce announced his client has been cooperat- tan District Attorney Cy Vance If ultimately approved, the measures and were allegedly planning to attack of cers, the assault at the Capitol, includ- late on Tuesday that her ing in the criminal component Jr has been working on it with group - five Republican ap- Interior Ministry said. ing the preparedness of law long-running civil investigation of James’ investigation since her. pointees and five Democratic The men had discussed building cluster bombs and using enforcement and the factors into Trump’s alleged nancial March. “We were speci cally told appointees - would be required petrol bombs against police, among other things, in a group that “fomented such an attack.” wrongdoing had evolved into a “We’ve been aware of the that they were coordinating,” to issue a report by the end of chat, the ministry said. It did not say how many suspects were “This Capitol of the United full-edged criminal inquiry, but attorney general’s criminal in- Levin said. (DPA) the year. involved in the case. States has been a beacon of de- Armed with subpoena pow- The attacks had allegedly been planned for a demonstra- mocracy for the world,” Speaker er, the group will issue its find- tion that took place on Saturday. A day before the demonstra- Nancy Pelosi said shortly before to certify, the president of the our democracy and our Consti- publicans have turned a blind ings and recommendations for tion, authorities searched several houses and interrogated the vote. United States as voted by the tution.” eye to the role former President corrective measures to prevent suspects in ve states. “The fact that it was assault- Electoral College and the Amer- The crafting of the commis- Donald Trump played in fo- another attack at the Capitol or In addition to guns, swords and 3,500 rounds of ammuni- ed on a day which the Constitu- ican people, made that day es- sion has proved difficult amid menting opposition to the va- other American democratic in- tion, they seized protective vests, helmets and radios. (DPA) tion called for us to ascertain, pecially, especially harmful to partisan squabbling. Some Re- lidity of the election and trying stitutions. Only 3% vaccinated Sharp drop in India vaccinations amid EU, BioNTech/P zer ink in L America: PAHO new mega-contract, but DPA warnings of future coronavirus wave MEXICO CITY Hungary opts out THERE are glaring gaps in DPA ic in six to eight months, sen- DPA cording to European Health access to COVID-19 vaccines NEW DELHI ior scientist M Vidyasagar told BRUSSELS Commissioner Stella Kyriak- throughout Latin America and broadcaster NDTV. ides, without explaining Bu- the Caribbean, the director of INDIA’S daily vaccinations Health Minister Harsh THE European Union and Bi- dapest’s decision. Every other the Pan American Health Or- declined by as much as 73 per- Vardhan has claimed that In- oNTech/Pfizer have signed a country in the 27-state bloc can ganization (PAHO), said on cent over recent weeks, official contract for the sale of up to 1.8 avail itself of the doses. Wednesday. data showed on Thursday, billion extra doses of COVID-19 “Just three percent of as its virus-battered regions Only 1.16 mn doses were vaccine during 2021-2023, fol- The new agreement allows Latin Americans have been struggle with a shortage of administered on May 19, lowing a deal struck earlier this member states to pur- fully vaccinated against COV- doses. compared to a peak of month. chase 900 million doses ID-19,” the head of the region- Only 1.16 million dos- 4.3 mn doses on April 5 The new agreement allows al health organization, Carissa es were administered on member states to purchase 900 of the current vaccine or a Etienne, said in her weekly Wednesday, compared to a million doses of the current vac- virus variant-adapted shot briefing. peak of 4.3 million doses on dia will procure 2.67 billion cine or a virus variant-adapted “Less than 4 [percent] of April 5, according to data re- COVID-19 vaccine doses by shot, as well as the option to The EU already had two medical products in use dur- leased by the Health Ministry. the end of the year and will buy a further 900 million, the supply contracts for 600 mil- ing the COVID response have This was the sixth straight be in a position to inoculate at European Commission said in lion vaccine doses with German come from the region.” day that India administered A health worker inoculates a man with jab of the Covishield’ COVID-19 least all of its adult population. a press release. firm BioNTech, which special- “Thanks to export bans, fewer than 2 million doses. coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination camp in Chennai on Thursday. (AFP) India is battling a second “BioNTech/Pfizer has izes in messenger ribonucleic supply chain delays and lack of Medical experts have said deadly wave of COVID-19 been key in helping us deliver acid (mRNA) technology, and purchasing power, our region mass vaccination - upwards ing, it has fully inoculated just more than 60 million jabs. that has spread to rural areas enough doses by July to vac- US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. has struggled to compete for of 5 million doses a day - was some 3 percent of its 1.3-bil- If the vaccination drive in recent weeks. In the past cinate 70 per cent of the adult Deliveries started at the end access to personal protective the only way to prevent a third lion-plus population so far. against the coronavirus is not 24 hours, more than 276,000 population,” commission Presi- of 2020. The bloc is expecting equipment, oxygen supplies, COVID-19 wave in the coun- The Modi government ramped up and Covid-appro- new infections and 3,874 dent Ursula von der Leyen said 250 million vaccine doses from medicines and vaccines which try. has been criticised for delays priate behaviour not main- deaths linked with COVID-19 in the statement. the manufacturers from the be- are all vital to the COVID re- Although India is a global in buying and approving vac- tained, there was a possibility were recorded nationwide, the Hungary decided not to ginning of April to the end of sponse,” Etienne asserted. hub for vaccine manufactur- cines as well as for exporting of a third wave of the pandem- government said. participate in the contract, ac- June. Aid ship carrying over 400 migrants India’s Cyclone Tauktae toll hits 130 sent all around Sicily to dock as 49 confirmed dead in barge sinking DPA jackets, told local media that DPA delaying the organization’s NEW DELHI they were floating in the sea ROME mission in the future. for as long as 12 hours when The Sea-Eye 4 had rescued THE Indian navy said it had they were rescued by the navy. ITALY sent the aid ship Sea- the migrants in several opera- recovered the bodies of 49 ONGC said the barge was Eye 4, with more than 400 tions during the past days. people after a barge sank off carrying personnel for off- migrants on board, to dock in Meanwhile on Thursday, Mumbai during a powerful shore drilling when it got the Sicilian town of Pozzallo on the Italian authorities pro- storm that killed 81 others on caught in the storm. Thursday, even though the ves- visionally released another the country’s western coast. Federal authorities have sel was headed for Palermo, on vessel, the Sea-Watch 3, after The barge, owned by state- ordered a probe over why the the other end of the Mediterra- holding it for 59 days, its Ger- run Oil and Natural Gas Cor- barge remained in the area de- nean island. man operator announced on poration (ONGC), was carry- spite storm warnings. The German operating or- Twitter. ing 261 people when it sank The barge’s captain had ganisation Sea-Eye on Thurs- The coastguard had near an offshore oilfield on ignored cyclone warnings and day criticised the decision: “It Migrants, some under 15 years old of various nationalities, wait to grounded the ship in March Monday evening as Cyclone Naval personnel from INS Kolkata 14 of the life-rafts on the ves- is totally incomprehensible to board a ferry to be transferred to Sicily on the southern Italian Pelagie in the Sicilian port of Augusta, Tauktae blew ashore. escort a rescued crew member sel had holes in them, its chief us that Pozzallo should be the Island of Lampedusa recently. (AFP) citing security concerns. Now Navy ships and helicop- from the sea on Wednesday. (AFP) engineer Rahman Shaikh told nearest safe haven for people Sea-Watch 3 has been granted ters, battling extreme weather, the Indian Express daily. when we are in Palermo,” Sea- thorities officially assigned the “The rescued migrants, in- a “one-off” licence to sail to managed to rescue 186 people still missing but the death toll Cyclone Tauktae, the Eye spokesperson Gorden Isler port south-east of Ragusa on cluding about 150 children as Spain, the tweet read. and found 27 more bodies in was likely to rise as hopes of strongest cyclone to strike the told dpa. Wednesday evening, after the well as pregnant women, will Refugees and migrants re- operations since Wednesday finding survivors began to re- region in over two decades, He said the measure could ship, carrying a total of 415 have to spend two additional peatedly attempt the danger- night, raising the toll in the cede, with the rescue opera- packed winds reaching 200 be classified as “harassment.” boat migrants, was already en nights on the ship due to the ous crossing to Europe from tragedy to 49, navy spokes- tion continuing into its fourth kilometres per hour when it According to Italian news route to Palermo, whose mayor journey,” Isler said, speculat- Libya, often trying to reach man Vivek Madhwal told dpa. day on Thursday. made landfall in Gujarat state agency ANSA, the Italian au- had offered to help. ing that Rome was intent on Italy as the first point of entry. Twenty-six people were Survivors, wearing life- late on Monday. World Friday, May 21, 2021 05 ISRAEL AGREES GAZA CEASEFIRE The cease re is based on a proposal out of Egypt, which has promised that Hamas will stop ring missiles towards Israel DPA TEL AVIV

ISRAEL’S Cabinet has ap- proved a unilateral ceasefire in its ongoing clash with Gaza Strip militants, according to Is- raeli media reports. The ceasefire is based on a proposal out of Egypt, which has promised that militants in the Gaza Strip will stop firing missiles should Israel enact a ceasefire. The Israeli ceasefire would take effect at 2 am on Friday (2300 GMT on Thursday). Israel’s army on Thursday said it had “neutralised” an ex- tensive tunnel system dug by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, keeping up its military offensive, even as diplomats Smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. continue to search for a cease- fire deal. The Israeli army said that its aerial assault and artil- lery bombardment continued overnight, hitting targets that include the house of a Hamas commander in Khan Yunis, a Hamas arms factory and rocket launchers. The Israeli army said that the tunnels were built during the course of five years and al- lowed Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, to move ammuni- tion, fighters and food within Rockets are launched towards Israel from Gaza City on Thursday. (AFP) the coastal strip. There was pressure on both Israel and the Palestinian Ter- The foreign minister also estinian militants in Gaza and sides to declare a ceasefire, ritories on Thursday. The 10 days of fighting pointed to suffering on both Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s with diplomats trying to spur “The fact that we see that has left more than 220 sides. neighbour - for the violence. a breakthrough after 10 days of Hamas is again firing mis- Palestinians and 12 “The casualty numbers are Maas will meet separately An elderly Palestinian woman reacts in front of her home, damaged fighting that has left more than siles into the south of Israel, rising by the day. That also with Palestinian President by Israeli bombardment, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. 220 Palestinians and 12 people since we have arrived here in people in Israel dead. concerns us greatly, and for Mahmoud Abbas. in Israel dead. Tens of thou- Tel Aviv, is for us an indica- Tens of thousands of that reason we support inter- German Chancellor Angela with France, as well as with in Gaza and not encompass sands of Gaza residents have tion of how serious the situ- Gaza residents have national efforts for a ceasefire,” Merkel, in response to a ques- British Prime Minister Boris issues related to unrest in the fled their homes. ation is that the people of Is- fled their homes he said. tion during a television inter- Johnson, could help, she said. West Bank and Jerusalem. US President Joe Biden rael find themselves in,” Maas Maas conducted talks with view, stressed that Maas’ visit Senior Hamas offi- “The talk is now on stopping told Israeli Prime Minis- said upon being welcomed by Defence Minister Benny Gantz, needed to be seen in the con- cial Moussa Abu Marzouk fire only, and not on stopping ter Benjamin Netanyahu on Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi itself against such massive at- President Reuven Rivlin and text of efforts by the US and told Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen any other form of resistance.” Wednesday that he “expected Ashkenazi. tacks” and had to be in a posi- Netanyahu, who presented the other European states. television that he expected “a More rockets were fired by Pal- a significant de-escalation” to Rocket fire increased tion to defend its citizens “for German foreign minister with “Alone, I don’t think we’ll ceasefire to be reached within estinians towards Israeli towns start. sharply over the course of as long as there are countries debris from a drone that Netan- be the decisive factor there,” a day or two.” after midnight on Thursday. German Foreign Minister Thursday; before Maas’ arriv- and governments in this re- yahu said had been sent by Iran. she said, after asked if Germa- “I think that the ongoing According to the Israeli Heiko Maas also called for a al, the situation had remained gion that threaten Israel with After meeting with Maas, ny should show more initiative efforts regarding the ceasefire army, some 4,070 rockets were ceasefire, while simultane- relatively quiet for hours. destruction.” Germany would Netanyahu thanked Germany in mediation. will succeed,” he said, add- fired from the Gaza Strip in ously asserting Israel’s right to Maas emphasized that Is- continue to “make contribu- for supporting Israel and again However, trans-Atlantic ing that he assumed any deal Israel’s direction over the past defend itself, during a visit to rael had “the right to defend tions” in the future, he said. blamed Iran - which backs Pal- and European cooperation would only apply to hostilities week and a half.

News Iran, US close to settling in brief At least 21 killed in roadside nuclear row: Rowhani Fourteen killed as speeding passenger DPA the hope of restoring the 2015 bus overturns in Pakistan bomb attacks in Afghanistan TEHRAN accord aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nu- ISLAMABAD: A passenger bus in southern Pakistan overturned DPA according to provincial gov- despite ongoing peace talks TEHRAN and Washington are clear weapons. due to speeding on Thursday, killing 14 people and wounding KABUL ernor spokesperson Zalmay between the warring sides close to resolving their nuclear The deal has been hanging dozens more, police said. Karimi. in Afghanistan, the number dispute, Iranian President Has- by a thread since 2018, when The bus was travelling to the north-western city of Pesha- AT least 21 civilians have According to Karimi, five of civilian casualties has sig- san Rowhani said on Thursday then-US president Donald war from the southern metropolis of Karachi when it crashed in been killed in several inci- civilians were killed in two nificantly increased in the following six weeks of indirect Trump pulled his country out the town of Sukkur, police of cer Nadeem Ahmed said. dents in Afghanistan over the further incidents in the pro- first quarter, with 573 civil- negotiations in Vienna. and Tehran began to increas- More than three dozen people were wounded and being past 24 hours, according to vincial capital on Wednesday ians dead and another 1,210 The deal is more or less ingly violate its terms. treated at the town’s hospitals, Ahmed said. officials. night, two of them after their wounded in the first three done, he said, noting that The talks have centred on “The death toll may go up because several injured people A vehicle hit a roadside car struck a roadside bomb, months of this year, a 29 per- there are just “a few details” which sanctions Washington are in a critical condition,” a medic at the biggest hospital in bomb in Lashkargah, the pro- while three civilians were cent increase compared to the that still need to be resolved. would be prepared to lift and Sukkur told Pakistani broadcaster Dunya News. Bad roads, vincial capital of southern shot dead when travelling to same period in 2020. The lifting of key sanc- what steps Tehran would be poorly-maintained vehicles and disregard of traf c laws cause Helmand province, leaving 12 neighbouring Herat province. Of particular concern are tions in areas such as oil ex- willing to take in return to numerous accidents in Pakistan every year and thousands of members of the same family The official said he a 37 percent increase in the ports, Iran’s central bank and curb its nuclear programme. deaths, according to government statistics. (DPA) dead, the head of the province’s blamed the militant Taliban number of female civilians the shipping industry has al- Negotiations are set to re- health department Abdul Ahad for the incident. and a 23 percent increase in ready been agreed, according sume next week. Hazim said on Thursday. Taliban militants have a children killed and wounded to Rowhani. All five partner Tehran has repeatedly said Sri Lanka pushes through laws on Four others were also significant presence in Ghor in the first quarter, according countries in Iran’s 2015 nu- it will return to its obligations China-backed nancial hub wounded in the incident, Ha- province. All across Afghani- to the report. clear deal are in agreement, under the Vienna accord as zim said. stan, they plant roadside Meanwhile, Taliban in- he said on Iranian state televi- soon as Washington lifts its COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s parliament on Thursday passed laws to A roadside bomb also bombs in a bid to target se- surgents took control of a dis- sion. sanctions. This includes ex- facilitate the development of a Chinese-backed regional nan- killed four members of the curity forces and hinder their trict centre in Afghanistan’s Britain, China, France, tending its cooperation with cial hub on reclaimed land in the capital Colombo. same family in western Ghor movement, but often the hid- eastern Laghman province, Germany and Russia have the International Atomic En- The laws were passed despite erce resistance from the province, as they were travel- den explosives result in civil- officials said on Thursday, been negotiating with Iran ergy Agency and allowing UN opposition during a two-day debate in parliament over the ling on motorbike in the pro- ian casualties. adding to a string a recent and the United States in Vi- inspectors to return to the mega-project, known as Colombo Port City. A Chinese company vincial capital of Firuz Koh, According to UN figures, gains. enna for the past six weeks in country’s nuclear sites. has invested 1.4 billion dollars in the project to reclaim 269 hectares from the sea. Construction formally began in 2014, in a ceremony attended by Sri Lankan and Chinese leaders. The planned hub is designed to attract foreign investment in the form of companies, hotels, entertainment parks and other businesses. According to the project website, the aim is Mobs attack al-Assad supporters voting abroad in Beirut to be “South Asia’s premiere residential, retail and business destination.” The new laws establish a commission with admin- DPA internal security forces and the Leba- ians’ political and military hegemony istrative powers to operate the nancial hub. (DPA) BEIRUT nese army to intervene to contain the on the country at the time. situation. Earlier this month, Syria’s Su- CROWDS of angry Lebanese attacked The election, due to take place in preme Constitutional Court approved No more age limit for Myanmar army buses and smashed the windows of Syria on May 26, has been called a three candidates, including al-Assad, chief and coup leader cars carrying supporters of Syrian farce by the opposition and is certain to run in the presidential election. President Bashar al-Assad to the Syri- to confirm al-Assad’s stay in power. Al-Assad, who has ruled Syria since YANGO: The military junta that has ruled Myanmar since a an embassy in Beirut to cast their vote Syrians in Bahrain, Kuwait, 2000, is expected to win a fourth sev- coup in February has scrapped the age limit of 65 for the abroad in the upcoming presidential Oman, Iraq, Egypt, the United Arab en-year term in an election derided as army chief and his deputy, according to media reports. election. Emirates, and other countries, were stage-managed and undemocratic. This would allow junta chief Min Aung Hlaing to remain Vehicles loaded with Syrians car- casting ballots in Syrian embassies, His father, Hazfez, governed Syr- in of ce, news portal The Irrawaddy reported on Thursday. rying pictures of al-Assad and wav- Syria’s state news agency SANA re- ia from 1971 to 2000. Neither has al- He turns 65 in July. Generals in the South-east Asian coun- ing the Syrian flag had been heading ported. lowed much dissent, and both have try staged a coup on February 1, ousting the government of towards the embassy on the outskirts Syrian voters residing in Lebanon carry More than 1 million Syrians are been accused of autocracy. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. of Beirut for the one-day vote. portraits of president Bashar al Assad, as living in Lebanon, the majority of In 2014, al-Assad was re-elected SINCE then, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos and vio- The patriotic display caused ten- they queue at the Syrian embassy to cast them refugees displaced by a devas- for a third term after winning by a lence. There are repeated protests against the junta, while the sions to erupt in the streets of the city, their votes in Beirut on Thursday. (AFP) tating civil war in their homeland. landslide in Syria’s first multi-candi- army has brutally suppressed any resistance. according to Lebanese media and im- Syria’s army had entered Lebanon date election. According to estimates by the prisoners’ aid organization ages posted on social media. Police In northern Beirut, another in 1976, shortly after the beginning of Syria’s crisis started with peace- AAPP, more than 800 people have been killed since the coup. sources said young men in the Sassine group of men stopped some cars and the Lebanese civil war, where they re- ful pro-democracy protests in March More than 5,000 have been arrested. Square area in Beirut smashed a car snatched Syrian flags from al-Assad’s mained until 2005. 2011. It soon evolved into a full- Protests against the coup and the military continued on and tore up al-Assad’s pictures, which loyalists. Many Lebanese saw the troops blown conflict, drawing in foreign Thursday. (DPA) were plastered on the vehicle. The attacks prompted Lebanese as an occupying force due to the Syr- fighters and powers. 06 Friday, May 21, 2021

ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 HAMAD BIN SUHAIM AL THANI CHAIRMAN Opinion ADEL ALI BIN ALI MANAGING DIRECTOR DR HASSAN MOHAMMED AL ANSARI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

New York Gets Behind Israel Started The Latest CDC’s New Mask-Removal Con ict, So Put Pressure Programme For Fully Vaccinated On Israel To End It OLLOWING the CDC, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is rightly revising New York’s rules to allow Ffully vaccinated people to go maskless, both If the West really wants to de-escalate the current situation and save lives, outdoors and in, with some major exceptions including nursing homes, schools and transit. a good place to begin would be for the European countries and the US to recognise The move shows that healthy respect for scien- tific expertise cuts both ways: toward caution the State of Palestine without delay when appropriate, and toward a relaxation of restrictions when that brings minimal public DR IBRAHIM NATIL nocent civilians, including women and health risk and creates incentives for people to children. The UN Special Coordinator for get their shots. HE Israeli government’s decision to the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wen- Minimal risk doesn’t mean zero risk. While evict Palestinians from the Jerusa- nesland, tweeted: “Stop the fire immedi- more than a third of New Yorkers have gotten lem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah ately. We’re escalating towards a full scale their shots and aren’t going to get sick going and its raids on Islam’s third holiest war. Leaders on all sides have to take the maskless indoors, there’s hardly any enforce- site, the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa, responsibility of de-escalation. The cost of ment mechanism — and you don’t have to be a attackingT Palestinian worshippers in the war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid PhD in psychology final days of Ramadan, is what fuelled the by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all to know that some current cycle of violence. The fuse was lit sides to restore calm. Stop the violence of those who don’t in early May when four Palestinian fami- now.” Realistically, though, cover their faces lies of 30 people in total were threatened Moreover, even the Palestinian citi- nobody’s going to also didn’t get vac- with expulsion from their homes. The zens of Israel have risen in protest at what show their vaccine cinated. families had lived there since the mid- has been going on in Jerusalem and Gaza. passport when run- That creates 1950s when the UN Relief and Works Such protests are relatively unprecedent- a conundrum for Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near ed and have spread to towns and “mixed ning to catch the those with weak- East (UNRWA) and the government of communities” like Lod, Ramle and Jaffa, train, which is why ened immune sys- Jordan gave them the homes after they as well as the Arab town of Umm Al-Fahm, masks are still de tems on whom vac- had been ethnically cleansed from their a stronghold of the Islamic movement. rigueur, for now, on cines don’t work, villages and towns by Zionist militias dur- Around 20 per cent of Israel’s population buses and subways many cancer pa- ing the 1948 Nakba. The Israelis occupied are Palestinians; they are mostly Muslims tients among them. East Jerusalem and the rest of the West with a Christian minority. The safest course Bank, and the Gaza Strip, during the 1967 These protests effectively take us back for such people is to Six Day War. to the beginning of the Palestinian conflict stay masked and keep their distance from the Settlers and their organisations, as with Jewish immigrants prior to the Na- unmasked, particularly indoors. As for young well as the right-wing Israeli government, kba and creation of the state of Israel in kids, while they aren’t yet approved to get the now claim ownership of the Sheikh Jar- Palestine. They also challenge the Israeli vaccine, they have largely (but not entirely) rah properties. This has outraged the Je- ment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- closed by Israel in 2000; and it was they claim that Jerusalem is the “undivided been spared COVID’s ravages. Masking them rusalemites, not least because they have yahu has engineered the current situation removed the barricades around Damascus capital” of the occupation state. Israel’s outdoors is largely unnecessary, though for authentic documentation proving their to avoid losing his grip on the premier- Gate last month. Young people led these annexation of the city is illegal under in- now it remains wise to stay covered indoors. ownership of the properties and various ship, or even to delay his trial on cor- actions without any engagement by the ternational law and is not recognised by New York has a tool that can help people countries and agencies, including the UN ruption charges. The government knows political leadership, or the Jordanian Re- the vast majority of the UN’s member and businesses navigate the complicated new have described Israel’s actions as viola- full well the emotions of the Palestinians ligious Endowment (Waqf) staff who ad- states. reality: Excelsior Pass, a “vaccine passport” tions of international law and called on during Ramadan, so why provoke them ministrate the daily affairs of the mosque. The people of occupied Palestine will the likes of which has been banned in other the occupation state to halt the evictions. in Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Aqsa during the It was to these unprecedented events never give up on their legitimate rights, predominantly Republican states. If Madi- The Palestinians in Jerusalem are fasting month? in Jerusalem that Hamas responded, in- including the right to return to their land. son Square Garden and Barclays Center can spiritually and culturally connected to Al- What is evident from all that has been cidentally soon after Palestinian President The international community needs to use it to let vaxxed fans sit close together and Aqsa Mosque, and generally greet each happening is that it is the young people Mahmoud Abbas postponed the legisla- understand this, and then put pressure unmasked, so should other private places and other daily with “How is the Mosque?” be- who are showing real leadership these tive election scheduled for this month, on Israel to end its deliberate targeting spaces be able and empowered to make such fore “How is your family/children/busi- days. The national Palestinian leadership ostensibly because Israel was refusing to of civilians and respect the Palestinians’ smart, safe judgments. ness?” That connection takes precedence lost its influence over Jerusalem after the allow Palestinians in Jerusalem to take right to self-determination and statehood. Realistically, though, nobody’s going to over their own national identity. As such, departure of Faisal Husseini in 2001. It is part. The movement’s response was to fire If the West really wants to de-escalate the show their vaccine passport when running to Jerusalem has been a natural part of the the young people who challenged Israel’s rockets from Gaza. current situation and save lives, a good catch the train, which is why masks are still tension between Israeli occupation forces decision to install metal detectors and ad- The subsequent Israeli military of- place to begin would be for the European de rigueur, for now, on buses and subways. It and Palestinians for decades, but even ditional closed-circuit television cameras fensive against the Palestinians in the countries and the US to recognise the would be nice to have a single, simple set of more so over the past few weeks, with at Al-Aqsa Mosque in July 2017; they and besieged territory has targeted the in- State of Palestine without delay. rules, but the complexity of human behavior provocative attacks by Jewish settlers and other Muslim worshippers forced open frastructure as well as residential tower and nastiness of this virus make that, for now, the police. the Bab Al-Rahma prayer facility within blocks. In doing so, Israel stands accused (Dr Ibrahim Natil is a scholar elusive. It is tempting to think that the govern- the Noble Sanctuary in 2019, which was of committing war crimes for killing in- and human rights activist)

Unmasked Amid COVID: Vulnerable Populations Ask ‘What about Us?’

COLIN SEAL store or any other public place to relaxed, companies are starting put me at grave risk. to require employees to return to I was born with Common Vari- the office. Being able to work from ILLIONS celebrated the able Immunodeficiency, or CVID, home has been vital to staying safe recent Center for Disease one of over 300 types of Primary and paying the bills. My wife has Control announcement Immunodeficiencies (PI), which been able to work from home, and that fully vaccinated means I do not create antibodies we’ve kept my 2-year-old son out people can resume most against illnesses or respond well to of day care, all to help protect me. activitiesM without masks or social vaccines. But immunocompromised families distancing, except where required That means, with the COV- like mine are now scrambling to locally. And Marylanders further ID-19 vaccine being touted as the figure out what this sea of changes rejoiced when our governor said key to a return to normalcy, those means for us. even the unvaccinated could go of us who aren’t protected by vac- Every time I have hope the end maskless. cines are facing a worst-case sce- is near, I realize it’s only near for But those of us with rare and nario. We are well versed in being those privileged enough to be in chronic conditions who are vulner- cautious, but caution during a pan- good health. As Gov. Hogan criti- able even with a vaccine were left demic requires more than personal cizes Mayor Brandon Scott of Bal- wondering: “What about us?” We responsibility. Indeed, the world timore for keeping restrictions in are seeing what little protection must also remain cautious, not only place, I urge people to remember we had disappear and, with it, the to ensure their survival, but ours, that it is not that simple. I implore ability to experience any sort of too. We simply can’t do this alone. our elected officials, medical or- normalcy. The diagnostic process for ganizations and businesses to slow The PR blitz is on, with major CVID includes a “vaccine chal- down, to consider the people who news outlets running stories on lenge,” where patients are tested are still at risk. the science behind the CDC mask six weeks after receiving a vaccine I will continue to wear a mask; update (not so much on Mr Ho- to determine their ability to pro- I don’t have a choice. Like others gan’s unvaccinated proclamation). duce a response. We know we have ferent result than previous vac- of Health is only now starting re- contracted COVID-19, “four died, in the immunocompromised com- This includes the statistic that only an impaired response or lack of cines. However, after several tests, search on the effects of the vaccine and another four or five had long- munity, I am scared about what life 9,245 people out of the 117 mil- response entirely. Still, many from it was clear that I hadn’t produced on those that are immunocompro- term illnesses.” This equates to a outside my house will look like in lion people vaccinated have tested our community have been vacci- antibodies. I was devastated, but mised. And so, for us, the wait be- 9% mortality rate, and another 9% the weeks to come. positive for COVID-19. If you are nated against COVID, hoping for not surprised. I am vaccinated but gins. with serious post-COVID compli- Please be nice when you see my healthy, this is encouraging. For any small amount of protection. still unprotected. In a recent New York Times cations. This is eight times more masked family and I out and about. people like me, however, all it takes I stood in line for over an hour We have heard that the CDC article, headlined “Vaccines won’t than the 1.8% mortality rate for the Behind our masks we are terrified. is exposure to one unmasked per- at the M&T Bank mass vaccination is “following the science,” but the protect millions of patients with general population, and it becomes son — vaccinated or unvaccinated site in Baltimore for each of my science they are following is not weakened immune systems,” a clear why immunocompromised (Colin Seal is president of — with active or asymptomatic two doses, hoping that the mRNA equitable for many communities. renowned clinical immunologist patients remain so fearful. Immune Competence, a Mar- COVID-19 in an office, grocery makeup would help achieve a dif- Indeed, the National Institutes said that of her 44 patients who As COVID-19 guidelines are yland nonprofit)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Why has the price of Bitcoin been falling? PAGE 8

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

34,125.81 10,695.05 49564.86 1,874.50 +229.77 PTS -38.57 PTS -337.78 PTS GOLD -0.37 % New Ford venture to build 2 electric DOW QE SENSEX vehicle battery plants PAGE 9 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 27.79 BRENT 64.91 -2.63% WTI 62.05 -2.07 % SILVER -0.86 % Minister hands over rst tracking number to QLife Pharma Company TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK petitiveness in local, regional and QLife Pharma obtained the DOHA global markets. Furthermore, it is first Qatari tracking number, start- an affirmation of the remarkable ing with 630, to be the first compa- MINISTER of Commerce and In- development Qatar has achieved ny in Qatar to obtain the national dustry and Acting Minister of Fi- in the industrial sector.” tracking code, to be followed by nance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Ku- The minister added that the many national companies during wari handed over the first tracking step constitutes an incentive for the coming period. number to QLife Pharma Company the private sector to continue its GS1 called on all Qatari com- in the presence of Qatar Develop- efforts toward the development of panies, whether those that invests ment Bank (QDB) CEO Abdulaziz local industries and the enhance- in the local market or companies bin Nasser Al Khalifa and Assis- ment of their production and ex- that work to export their products tant Undersecretary for Industry port capabilities in a manner that abroad, to submit their requests Affairs Mohamed Hassan Al Malki. supports their expansion and ac- to obtain the national tracking This comes on the occasion of cess to global markets. number for their products starting QDB’s inauguration of the Qatari Qatar Development Bank CEO from next Sunday, or visit the web- product coding and tracking office, said, “After obtaining the approv- site for registration via the follow- in a step that is the first of its kind al of the General Assembly of the ing link www.GS1.qa. in Qatar, and in appreciation of the GS1, we worked diligently to es- Qatar had obtained dur- efforts made by the pharmaceuti- tablish an office in Doha. Today we ing the past year, and by unani- cal industries sector in the country celebrate the launch of the first Qa- mously voting, the approval of the during the COVID-19 pandemic. tari product with a national track- General Assembly of the GS1 to Speaking on the occasion, Ku- ing number, and we aspire for this grant it the right to establish a cod- wari said, “The launch of the Qa- step to be the start of new horizons ing and tracking office for Qatari tari Product Coding and Tracking for our national products, whether products. Office comes within the framework at the level of local or internation- Qatar has obtained the code of the country’s strategy and efforts al circulation, in order to achieve 630 for homemade products that to improve the quality of national our strategy and Qatar’s national can be exported abroad or even Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari hands over the rst tracking products and enhance their com- vision.” traded within the country. number to QLife Pharma Company in the presence of Qatar Development Bank CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa. Global real estate Natural gas a vital element deal volumes fall 13% to $187 billion in mission net-zero: GECF in 2021 rst quarter TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA AGENCIES ment of €10bn ($12.18bn) in LONDON the industrial and logistics THE Gas Exporting Countries sector, which is more than Forum (GECF), an intergov- GLOBAL real estate transac- 40 per cent higher than the ernmental coalition of 19 of tion volumes in the first quar- first-quarter five-year aver- the world’s leading gas pro- ter of 2021 declined 13 per age from 2016 to 2020. ducers together representing cent to $187 billion amid the 70 percent of the proven natu- coronavirus pandemic-related ral gas reserves, 52 percent of movement restrictions, ac- gas pipeline, and 51 percent of cording to the latest report LNG exports, echoes the In- from consultancy JLL. ternational Energy Agency’s Mature markets such as (IEA) recent report ‘Net Zero the US, the UK, France and by 2050’. Japan recorded stronger per- The GECF is convinced formance during the quarter. that natural gas, as an abun- “While the overall global dant, affordable and clean investment market remained hydrocarbon source, has a resilient, its recovery is prov- central role to play in the en- ing to be uneven across ge- ergy transition while simulta- ographies and sectors,” Sean neously supporting progress Coghlan, global director of on several sustainable devel- capital markets research and Top markets opment dimensions including strategy at JLL, said. ● Mature markets such as the guardianship of ecosys- “We continue to see im- the US, the UK, France tems, human health, and the proving economic conditions, and Japan recorded economy. continued government stimu- “In fact, our member lus and increasing inoculation stronger performance countries are already dem- rates as providing reasons for during the rst quarter onstrating their manifold optimism and avenues for commitment to environmen- market improvement, but we Investment into the tal stewardship by reducing do remain cautious given on- multi-family residential seg- emissions from their own op- going restrictions in Western ment during the quarter erations and wherever they Europe and large scale flare- also increased 66 per cent hold equity to accelerate de- ups in India.” in Europe , led by the UK, carbonisation,” GECF has said A $472 billion investment was made in gas transportation and trade infrastructure between 2010 and 2019, showing an increase of 67 per- Property prices are expect- Germany and France, the re- in a statement. cent compared to the investment made between 2000 and 2009. ed to see single digit declines port said. In the Asia Pacific, The GECF’s in-house in 2021. Reem Mohammed / Japan was the most liquid developed Reference Case tive economic and population The GECF believes in the resources. between 2000 and 2009. The NationalDubai property market with investments to- Scenario (RCS) implies a growth drivers. The only ap- right of countries, particular- The move away from in- There is an expected market to offer more bargains talling $11.5bn, partially due realistic approach when it proach to achieve energy mar- ly the developing economies, vestment in upstream gas re- growth in LNG consumption as analysts forecast further to the persistent appetite for comes to governments in- ket stability, responsible and to have access to abundant, sources can substantially af- in future decades because of price falls multi-family assets in Tokyo, cluding some of the most inclusive economic growth, as affordable and clean source fect the security of supply and population growth, growing The coronavirus pandem- Osaka and Nagoya, according energy-poor nations increas- well as sustainable develop- of energy. prevent countries from access- economic prosperity in devel- ic, which disrupted air travel, to the report. ing their ambitions from cur- ment goals, is to consider nat- “We don’t condone re- ing competitive and clean en- oping countries like China and shuttered borders and led to Markets historically fo- rent Nationally Determined ural gas as a destination fuel striction of policies on up- ergy sources, such as natural India, favourable government an overnight shift in work cused on office and retail in- Contributions (NDCs) and that will always be an essential stream development and gas, which is compatible with regulations and actions to re- patterns, have also impacted vestments also experienced net-zero pledges. The RCS element in achieving a lower- directing investment re- sustainable development. duce air pollution and elimi- the real estate sector. Invest- gains in investor confidence takes into account adopted carbon energy system. sources instead towards Prior to 2020, histori- nate coal. ments in industrial real estate in the first quarter. and announced national en- It is obvious that the expensive decarbonisation cal upstream investment be- Regardless of any financ- have risen over the last year “During 2021, investors ergy policies while building structure of the energy mix options and technologies, tween 2010 and 2019 was ing structural changes due to as homebound users flocked demonstrated increased con- its long-term assumptions, is becoming more diversified some of which are yet to be $571 billion worldwide, in- market ambiguities, the level to e-commerce sites to shop, fidence for select markets in based on a pragmatic assess- thanks to the expansion of proven,” GECF said. dicating a tremendous ac- of investment is expected to leading to a demand for ware- Asia, such as Singapore and ment of policies’ implemen- renewables. However, fossil For the time being, it is cumulative increase of 79 grow in the long term. It is house spaces. Logistics and Hong Kong, where cultural tation as well as progress in fuels are projected to remain widely recognised that the percent compared to the in- estimated that total gas in- multi-family investments rep- norms and the structure of technologies that support dominant, accounting for 71 net zero pathways rely on vestment volume during the vestment, including upstream resented 63 per cent of total housing in the markets limit carbon mitigation. percent in 2050. According technologies that are not cur- 2000s. Furthermore, a $472 and midstream activities be- transactions in the first quar- widespread work-from-home Based on the latest esti- to the latest GECF estimates, rently available in the market. billion investment was made tween 2020 and 2050 will ter, up from 44 per cent dur- policies,” the report said. mates in the GECF RCS, glob- natural gas will become the This technology challenge in gas transportation and reach about $10 trillion, rep- ing the same period past year, Overall, momentum in al primary energy demand is leading source in the global is further exacerbated when trade infrastructure between resenting a compound annual according to the report. global office markets remained projected to increase by 24 energy mix by mid-century, considering the developing 2010 and 2019, showing an growth of 1.26 percent from a Europe posted the strong- subdued, with first-quarter percent over the next three increasing its share from 23 countries that have no access increase of 67 percent com- total of $258 billion in 2020 to est first-quarter performance leasing volumes was down 31 decades, boosted by cumula- percent today to 28 percent. to technologies and financial pared to the investment made $375 billion in 2050. on record with a total invest- per cent on an annual basis. 08 Friday, May 21, 2021 Economy & Business

WTO chief Dutch court calls for Why has the price of orders former diversification Nissan boss of vaccine Ghosn to production Bitcoin been falling? repay salary AGENCIES AGENCIES

THE head of the World Bitcoin has lost about 38 percent of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,800 A Dutch court on Thursday Trade Organization said rejected fugitive auto execu- Thursday it is of para- AGENCIES trillion, according to the web- tive Carlos Ghosn’s wrong- mount importance to di- site coinmarketcap.com. But ful dismissal claim against an versify vaccine manufac- EVEN by Bitcoin’s standards, that pales compared with the Amsterdam-based alliance be- turing and to have more Wednesday was pretty wild. $46.9 trillion stock market, tween Nissan and Mitsubishi production taking place in The price of the famously $41.3 trillion residential real and ordered him to repay near- Africa and Latin America volatile digital currency fell estate market and nearly $21 ly 5 million euros ($6 million) to contain the pandemic. nearly 30% at one point after trillion Treasury market at the salary he received in 2018. On the eve of a global the China Banking Associa- start of the year. Ghosn vowed to appeal. health summit in Rome, tion warned member banks of The European Central The ruling came in a case WTO Director-General the risks associated with digital Bank said Wednesday that the in which Ghosn sought to have Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told currencies. The decline nar- risk of cryptocurrencies af- his 2018 sacking from Nissan- European Union legisla- rowed to below 10% in the af- fecting the financial system’s Mitsubishi B.V. overturned tors that normal market ternoon, but Bitcoin had still stability looks “limited at pre- and demanded 15 million eu- forces for exports and im- lost about $70 billion in market sent.” In large part, that’s be- ros ($16.5 million) in compen- ports couldn’t apply when value in 24 hours. cause they’re still not widely sation. it comes to the life-or-death Bitcoin has lost about used for payments and insti- The court in Amsterdam issue of COVID-19 vaccines, 38% of its value since April tutions under its purview still rejected his claims, saying he as many of the world’s 13 when it hit a high of more have little exposure to crypto- did not have a valid contract wealthiest nations were than $64,800, according to linked instruments. with the company at the time. hoarding the shots for their Coindesk. The China warning Earlier this month, the The salary he was ordered to own population when the was just the latest headwind: Federal Reserve said a sur- repay covers payments made crisis hit their home turf. Before Wednesday, Tesla’s de- vey of market contacts found to him by the Dutch joint ven- She said the world has cision to not accept the digital roughly one in five cited cryp- ture from April until Novem- the capacity to manufac- currency as payment for cars tocurrencies as a potential ber 2018. ture some 5 billion vaccine — after it said it would — and The Bitcoin logo appears on the display screen of a crypto currency ATM in Salem, New Hampshire, the US. shock to the system over the “As today’s verdict has doses overall but that as murmurings in Washington next 12 to 18 months. That’s a been rendered without hearing the virus has spread “we re- about tighter regulation of digi- guess. However, Musk reversed it would start supporting “se- turnaround from the fall, when Mr. Ghosn and other key wit- quire twice and three times tal currencies had put pressure course in just a short time, say- lect crypto currencies” on its a similar survey found none nesses, the defense team will that. So the capacity was on Bitcoin. The price is still up What happened to the ing last week that Tesla would network. mentioning cryptocurrencies. now take the case to the court not there.” One of the main about 31% in 2021 and nearly price? stop accepting Bitcoin because Bitcoin has become popu- of appeal where Mr. Ghosn’s challenges is diversifying 300% from a year ago. On Wednesday, a state- of the potential environmental lar enough that more than How much oversigh is right to witness evidence will vaccine production, which Here’s a look at Bitcoin and ment posted on the Chinese damage that can result from 300,000 transactions typically there? be granted,” a spokesman for is now 80% concentrated digital currencies in general: Banking Association’s web- Bitcoin mining. The announce- occur in an average day, ac- Washington officials have Ghosn said in a written state- in 10 European, North site said financial institutions ment sent Bitcoin falling below cording to Bitcoin wallet site been talking about regulating ment. “We are satisfied with American and South Asian How Bitcoin works? should “resolutely refrain” $50,000 and set the tone for blockchain.info. Still, its popu- digital currencies more, and the court verdict which ruled nations, Okonjo-Iweala Bitcoin is a digital currency from providing services using the big pullback recently in larity is low compared with worries about a heavier hand out any bad faith from Mr. said, calling the situation that is not tied to a bank or digital currencies because of most cryptocurrencies. cash and credit cards. have played a role in the recent Ghosn.” a problem that “has come government and allows users their volatility. A number of Bitcoin fans swoon in prices. The Dutch case stems from home to roost.” “It’s not to spend money anonymously. Virtually every cryptocur- pushed back on Musk’s rea- There is skepticism Gary Gensler, who took Nissan’s decision to fire Ghosn normal that Africa, with 1.3 The coins are created by us- rency fell after the industry soning. Fellow billionaire around bitcoin? over as chairman of the Secu- after he was accused of finan- billion people, has 0.17 % of ers who “mine” them by lend- group’s statement. Mark Cuban said that gold Yes, plenty of it. Tracking rities and Exchange Commis- cial misconduct in Japan. The the manufacturing capac- ing computing power to verify As of 4:15 p.m. eastern mining is much more damag- Bitcoin’s price is obviously sion last month, has said that former high-flying automotive ity of the world,” she said. other users’ transactions. They time Wednesday, Bitcoin was ing to the environment than easier than trying to figure cryptocurrency markets would executive skipped bail in To- “So this has to change.” She receive Bitcoins in exchange. down more than 7% at around the mining of Bitcoin. out its value, which is why so benefit from more oversight to kyo in 2019 and fled to Leba- added that Latin America The coins also can be bought $40,310 per coin. Most cryp- A 2019 study by the Tech- many institutions, experts and protect investors. non, where he grew up. has about 2% of global pro- and sold on exchanges with tocurrencies lost between 7% nical University of Munich traders are skeptical about it In a hearing before the Ghosn, who was first ar- duction capacity. U.S. dollars and other curren- and 22% of their value and and the Massachusetts Insti- and cryptocurrency in general. House’s financial services rested in November 2018, has The summit set for Fri- cies. Some businesses take Bit- shares of Coinbase dropped tute of Technology found that Digital currencies were seen as committee earlier this month, said he is innocent of allega- day, co-hosted by the Eu- coin as payment, and a number 5.4%. the Bitcoin network generates replacements for paper mon- Gensler said neither the SEC tions in Japan that he under- ropean Union’s executive of financial institutions allow it It’s not unusual for the an amount of CO2 similar to ey, but that hasn’t happened so nor the Commodity Futures reported his future income and arm and Italy, is expected in their clients’ portfolios, but value of Bitcoin to change by a large Western city or an en- far. Federal Reserve Chair Je- Trading Commission, which committed a breach of trust to draw Group of 20 indus- overall mainstream acceptance thousands of dollars in a short tire developing country like rome Powell has said the cen- he used to head, has a “regula- by diverting Nissan money for trial and emerging market is still limited. time period, though swings to- Sri Lanka. But a University of tral bank prefers to call crypto tory framework” for trading on his personal gain. He says the nations, the heads of inter- Bitcoins are basically lines taling around $20,000 in one Cambridge study last year esti- coins “crypto assets,” because cryptocurrency exchanges yet. compensation was never de- national organizations and of computer code that are day are extreme. On the last mated that on average, 39% of their volatility undermines He said he thought Congress cided on or received, and the representatives of global digitally signed each time they trading day of 2020, Bitcoin “proof-of-work” crypto mining their ability to store value, a would ultimately have to ad- Nissan payments were for le- health bodies. travel from one owner to the closed just under $30,000. was powered by renewable en- basic function of a currency. dress it because “there’s really gitimate business purposes. The European Union next. Transactions can be made In mid-April, it flirted with ergy, primarily hydroelectric While some banks and fi- not protection against fraud or Ghosn, who has French, is set to raise many of the anonymously, making the cur- $65,000. energy. nancial services companies are manipulation.” Brazilian and Lebanese citi- same points Okonjo-Iweala rency popular with libertar- getting in on it, others are stay- zenship, was sent by Renault made, specifically looking ians as well as tech enthusiasts, Doesn’t Elon Musk have a But some companies are ing away. How Bitcoin came to be? in 1999 to salvage Nissan, to increase manufacturing speculators — and criminals. role here? using Bitcoin? It’s a mystery. Bitcoin was which makes the Leaf electric production in Africa. Bitcoins have to be stored Yes, and a fairly big one. The digital payment com- Could a digital currency launched in 2009 by a person car and Infiniti luxury models, EU nations have criti- in a digital wallet, either online Musk announced in February pany Square and its CEO Jack sell-off cause widespread or group of people operating from the brink of bankruptcy. cized a call by the United through an exchange like Coin- that his electric car company Dorsey — also the CEO of damage? under the name Satoshi Naka- Ghosn, who has repeat- States to waive COVID-19 base, or offline on a hard drive Tesla had invested $1.5 billion Twitter — have been big pro- Regulators aren’t very wor- moto. Bitcoin was then adopt- edly denied wrongdoing, was vaccine patents as a way to using specialized software. Ac- in Bitcoin. In March, Tesla be- ponents of Bitcoin. Overstock. ried about a possible crash in ed by a small clutch of enthu- chairman of both Nissan and increase supplies, arguing cording to Coinbase, there are gan accepting Bitcoin as pay- com also accepts Bitcoin, and digital currencies dragging siasts. Nakamoto dropped Mitsubishi and chief executive the move would yield no about 18.7 million Bitcoins in ment. Those actions contrib- in February, BNY Mellon, the down the rest of the financial off the map as bitcoin began of Renault (RENA.PA) when he short-term or intermedi- circulation and only 21 mil- uted to the run-up in Bitcoin’s oldest bank in the U.S., said it system or economy. to attract widespread atten- was arrested in Japan in 2018 ate improvement and could lion will ever exist. The reason price, and Musk also promoted would include digital curren- Even with the recent sell- tion. But proponents say that on charges of underreporting even have a negative impact. for that is unclear, and where the digital currency Dogecoin, cies in the services it provides off, digital currencies have a doesn’t matter: The currency his salary and using company all the Bitcoins are is anyone’s which also spiked in value. to clients. And Mastercard said market value of about $1.72 obeys its own internal logic. funds for personal purposes. Transition bonds: A new tool to fund the shift towards climate sustainability?

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Global predicted that transi- DOHA tion finance could account for $1trn of the estimated $3trn AS companies look to shift to- in annual funding needed to wards more environmentally meet long-term climate goals. sustainable modes of opera- Concerns over “transition- tion, transition bonds are in- washing” Although many are creasingly being seen as a key optimistic about the value of financial tool for those in fos- transition bonds, others are sil fuel or heavy-polluting sec- concerned about how much tors, according to the Oxford of an impact they will actually Business Group (OBG). have in bringing about posi- Transition bonds are a tive sustainable and environ- relatively new class of debt mental outcomes. instrument used to fund a A common criticism re- company’s transition towards volves around just how ambi- a reduced environmental im- tious many of these transition pact or lower carbon emis- does not represent a huge in- SNAM launched a €750m “ADB will support devel- bonds are, with the absence of sions. They are often issued in crease. dual-tranche transition bond oping member countries to clear international standards fields that would not normally The deals for 2021 include to help meet its goal of carbon Highlights mitigate the health and en- raising concerns about the qualify for green bonds, such the $300m sale from Castle neutrality by 2040. ● Transition bonds are increasingly used to nance vironmental impact of exist- potential for “transition-wash- as large carbon-emitting in- Peak Power in February, the sustainable solutions ing coal-fired power plants ing” among companies. dustries like oil and gas, iron proceeds of which will be put Appetite for transitioning and district heating systems To help address this con- and steel, chemicals, aviation towards the construction of While the uptake of tran- ● Following 11 last year, six transition bonds have been through financing of emis- cern, in December last year and shipping. a gas turbine unit at a power sition bonds may have been issued so far in 2021 sion control technologies,” the the Switzerland-based indus- Amid a heightened aware- station in Hong Kong, and the a little slower than expected, bank said in a statement. try trade group International ness of the need to reduce car- Hong Kong branch of the Bank there are some signs that they ● It is estimated that they could total $1trn annually in the Looking ahead, transition Capital Market Association bon emissions, many expected of China’s issuance of a $780m will play a more prominent future bonds are principally expected published the Climate Transi- transition bonds to play a key transition bond in January for role moving forwards. to benefit from broader global tion Finance Handbook in or- role in global financial mar- projects aligned with China’s In February this year the ● There are concerns that the instruments could lead to trends towards sustainable or der to provide a framework for kets in 2021. goal of achieving carbon neu- London Stock Exchange an- “transition-washing” green finance. transition strategies. However, data compiled trality by 2060. nounced the establishment of Analysis from the CBI re- The guide, which aims to by BloombergNEF found that, Elsewhere, in January the a transition bond segment on cision, earlier this month the fuel production, the announce- leased in April found that, create general rules for tran- as of mid-May, just six had European Bank of Reconstruc- its sustainable bond market, Asian Development Bank ment was an encouraging sign despite the severe economic sition-themed green bonds been issued this year. A total tion and Development issued a while there have been calls for (ADB) announced that it for the future of transition impact of Covid-19, a record and sustainability-linked of 11 were issued during 2020 A$280m ($216.6m) transition Japan’s Ministry of Economy, would no longer fund coal bonds in emerging markets, $700bn in green, social and bonds, stated that bonds with as a whole, according to analy- bond to finance its portfolio Trade and Industry to intro- mining or oil and natural gas as the bank noted that it would sustainable finance was issued the “transition” label should sis from non-profit organisa- of green transition projects, duce a goal of selling 30 tran- production and exploration. continue to provide financial last year, almost double the clearly stipulate how the fund- tion Climate Bonds Initiative while in February Italian en- sition bonds by 2023. While this was a blow to support for plants transition- $358bn recorded in 2019. ing will be used to support the (CBI), so 2021’s figure to date ergy infrastructure company In another significant de- companies dealing in fossil ing to cleaner solutions. Indeed, in March S&P Paris climate accord. Economy & Business Friday, May 21, 2021 09 EU threatens to freeze investment US jobless claims fall again as deal with China some states end federal aid AGENCIES they will take into account the human rights situation THE European Parliament in China when deciding to 22 states, from Texas and Georgia to Ohio and Iowa, will end $300 federal payment, starting in June warned China on Thursday greenlight the deal. it won’t ratify a long-awaited The EU hopes the agree- AGENCIES business investment deal ment, known as CAI, will as long as sanctions against help correct an imbalance THE number of Americans European Union legislators in market access and create seeking unemployment aid fell remain in place. new investment opportuni- last week to 444,000, a new EU lawmakers adopted a ties for European companies pandemic low and a sign that resolution in which they con- in China by ensuring they the job market keeps strength- demned “the baseless and can compete on an equal ening as consumers spend arbitrary sanctions” imposed footing when operating in freely again, viral infections by Beijing on European in- the country. EU companies drop and business restrictions dividuals and institutions in face competition from state- ease. March. owned Chinese enterprises Thursday’s report from the The European Parlia- Labor Department coincides ment’s criticism was echoed with moves by nearly all the by European Commission nation’s Republican governors Vice President Valdis Dom- to cut off a $300-a-week fed- brovskis, who said after a eral unemployment benefit that meeting of EU trade minis- they and many business execu- ters that China’s sanctions tives blame for discouraging haven’t created a favorable Sanctions the unemployed from seeking environment for a deal to be condemned jobs. Those cutoffs will begin in concluded. June. Jobless people have been “We cannot see this pro- EU lawmakers adopted a able to receive the $300 weekly cess of ratification outside of resolution in which they benefit on top of their regular the broader context of EU- condemned “the baseless state unemployment aid. China relations,” he said. and arbitrary sanctions” In addition to ending the The European Parlia- imposed by Beijing on federal benefit, most of the ment said Beijing’s sanctions European individuals and same states are also withdraw- amount “to an attack on fun- institutions in March. The ing from programs that provide damental freedoms and urge European Parliament’s jobless aid to self-employed or the Chinese authorities to lift gig workers and to people who these wholly unjustified re- criticism was echoed by have been unemployed for strictive measures.” European Commission Vice more than six months. The text was approved in President Valdis Twenty-two states, from 599-30 vote with 58 absten- Dombrovskis Texas and Georgia to Ohio and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly tours a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students aged 12 through 15 set up in a gym at Topeka High School in tions. Among those targeted Iowa, will end the $300 federal Topeka. were five members of the that may get government payment, starting in June, ac- European Parliament: Re- support and easier access to cording to an Associated Press between the two of them, they that some Americans who had week payment is one of several inhard Butikofer, Michael financing. analysis. Two more states, had earned more from their been receiving aid have found measures that states have taken Gahler, Raphael Glucks- “We were going to tackle Florida and Kansas, are consid- business before the pandem- jobs. to restrict or eliminate jobless mann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk and the trade imbalance. But if ering doing so. Those 24 states ic. Now, they’re unsure what [End of federal payments] is As the job market stead- aid and press more recipients Miriam Lexmann. you see what came out over all have Republican governors they’ll do, especially because going to mean picking and ily recovers from the pan- to seek work. That trend gained China made its sanctions the past months, we have and state legislatures. About 3.5 they’re uneasy about sending demic recession, consumers momentum after the April jobs move after the EU, Brit- extreme worry about human million people will have their their 7-year-old son back to choosing what bills to pay, are showing more confidence report, released earlier this ain, Canada and the United rights violations, especially benefits reduced in the coming school before being vaccinated. or getting behind on things. and spending at a healthy month, showed that employ- States launched coordinated if you look at slave labor,” months, according to Oxford “It’s going to mean picking It will mean whether or not rate. Most economists think ers added far fewer jobs than sanctions against officials Dutch Foreign Trade Min- Economics. and choosing what bills to pay, we’re able to put food on the economy could expand 7% expected, in part because many in China over human rights ister Sigrid Kaag said. “And In Oklahoma, Republican or getting behind on things,” the table. this year, which would amount couldn’t find enough workers. abuses in the far western there are many companies Gov. Kevin Stitt said this week Enloe-Cruz said. “It will mean to the fastest annual growth in Research suggests that Xinjiang region. investing in Xinjiang and it is that the state will end the fed- whether or not we’re able to put Marrissa Enloe-Cruz, an more than 35 years. roughly half the unemployed The European Parlia- unclear how the production eral benefit on June 26. That food on the table.” entrepreneur in Oklahoma Yet the rapid reopening are receiving more income ment’s hard stance is likely happens and if slave labor is was unhappy news for Gilbert Thursday’s data release from the pandemic has created from jobless benefits, when to delay the ratification of being used.” Cruz and his wife, Marrissa En- showed that applications for a wide range of supply short- you include the weekly $300 the multi-billion investment China is now the bloc’s loe-Cruz, whose graphic design unemployment benefits de- About 16 million people ages that have disrupted what federal supplement, than their accord that was agreed in second-biggest trading part- company in Tulsa has suffered clined 34,000 from a revised were receiving unemployment economists had hoped would former jobs paid them. An principle in December and ner behind the US, and the a collapse in business since the 478,000 a week earlier. The benefits during the week end- be a smooth rebound. Home analysis by Bank of America needs lawmakers’ approval EU is China’s largest trading pandemic struck. number of weekly jobless ing May 1, the latest period for building fell sharply in April, found that people who earned to take effect. partner. China and Europe Both received jobless aid claims — a rough measure of which data is available, the gov- for example, as builders strug- under $32,000 at their old jobs In addition to the lifting trade on average over 1 bil- under the program for self- the pace of layoffs — has de- ernment said Thursday. That is gled with shortages of lumber are likely now receiving more in of sanctions, legislators said lion euros a day. employed. But even with the clined steadily since the year down from 16.9 million in the and labor. unemployment aid than they $600 a week in extra federal aid began. previous week, and it suggests Eliminating the $300-a- did from working. New Ford venture to build 2 electric vehicle battery plants

AGENCIES The issue almost certainly will set up” this summer, she said. as create “good-paying union battery work. be part of negotiations on a SK Innovation already has jobs” in a clean energy econo- “UAW members believe FORD is forming a joint ven- new UAW national contract in a U.S. battery factory in Com- my. that Ford has a moral obliga- ture with one of its battery sup- 2023. merce, Georgia, and says it’s But the union, which rep- tion, regardless of any joint pliers that will build two North The joint venture called expanding production in Eu- resents about 150,000 U.S. venture arrangement, to en- American factories to make BlueOvalSK is the start of rope and China. It plans to be workers at Ford, General Mo- sure that the battery jobs that batteries for roughly 600,000 Ford’s plan to vertically inte- one of the top three electric tors and Stellantis (formerly replace gas engine and trans- electric vehicles per year by the grate key parts of the electric vehicle battery suppliers in the Fiat Chrysler), fears that au- mission jobs are the same middle of this decade. vehicle supply chain. The com- world by 2025, according to a tomakers will try to use joint good-paying union jobs that The deal with SK Inno- panies say they have signed a statement. The company has ventures to keep the plants have fueled this American vation of Korea, announced memorandum of understand- a contract with Ford to make outside of the national union economy for generations,” Thursday, sets up a potential ing, but details on the owner- batteries for a new electric contracts with the three com- UAW Vice President Gerald confrontation between the ship structure and factory loca- F-150 pickup truck, which is panies. Kariem, who handles Ford ne- companies and the United tions have yet to be worked out. due in showrooms by the mid- Currently auto companies gotiations, said in a statement. Auto Workers, which issued Company executives dle of next year. Ford’s F-Series contract with parts suppliers Government electric vehi- a statement saying Ford has a wouldn’t say whether jobs at pickups are the top-selling ve- to make electric vehicle batter- cle incentives should be tied to moral obligation to make sure the factories would be union. hicles in the U.S. Ford plans to open a battery development center near Detroit by the ies, and those factories pay far U.S. jobs with access to unions, plant workers are paid union Ford North America Chief Op- The UAW has been vocal as end of next year. less than the roughly $31 per the statement said. wages. erating Officer Lisa Drake said General Motors and now Ford hour that UAW workers make Ford has said it has more The UAW and President the companies are still in the have announced plans for joint lion electric vehicle charging ers. at auto plants. Union workers UAW jobs in the U.S. than any Joe Biden have advocated for memorandum of understand- ventures with battery compa- stations by 2030 as well as of- The strategy is a key com- fear that as the country moves other automaker, and that it’s union jobs in new factories as ing phase. “We don’t have our nies to supply what’s expected fer billions in unspecified tax ponent of his plan to fight cli- to electric vehicles, thousands paying union wages to make the country transitions from labor strategy defined yet. That to be a growing electric vehicle credits and rebates to cut the mate change by cutting U.S. of jobs making gasoline en- EV components at a factory gasoline-burning vehicles to will be determined by the joint market. Biden plans to spend cost of the vehicles and make greenhouse gas emissions at gines and transmissions will in Sterling Heights, Michigan, those powered by electricity. venture itself once that entity is $15 billion to build a half-mil- them more appealing to buy- least in half by 2030, as well be replaced by lower-paying north of Detroit. Experts back China’s hard line on cryptocurrencies Google teams with Samsung AGENCIES associations issued a statement Index, has fallen to “extreme that bans financial and pay- fear” levels not seen since April for wearables software platform CHINA should maintain its ment institutions from involve- last year, according to a report hard line on controlling vir- ment in the cryptocurrency on Wednesday by Alternative, AGENCIES “By working together we have an firm “constantly pursues new tual currencies to prevent wild business, in the latest effort an international software ser- been able to take strengths of ways to meet the ever-changing speculation that may cause to clamp down on speculative vice provider. GOOGLE and Samsung said each and combine them into an needs of consumers,” adding, major financial losses to inves- trading and price volatility. Ethereum, another crypto- they were teaming up on a joint experience that has faster per- “That’s why we decided to team tors, according to experts. Financial institutions, in- currency, dropped by 5 percent software platform for smart- formance, longer battery life up with Google... to bring the Authorities are expected to cluding online payment plat- Wednesday to below $3,200. watches and other wearables and more of the apps you love best of our platforms together continue tightening supervi- forms, should not offer clients Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency in a move ramping up competi- available for the watch.” into one unified experience.” sion of cryptocurrencies and any service involving crypto- that started as a joke and has tion with market leader Apple. The combination will al- The announcement came the financial technology in- currencies such as registration, been talked up by Tesla CEO The move, announced at low all device markets to use at Google’s annual developer dustry this year to prevent the trading and clearing and settle- Elon Musk, fell 16 percent to the Google developer confer- this platform, creating an eco- conference, held online for a buildup of systemic risks. ment, the statement said. on Wednesday, nearly 40 $0.4189. ence in California, means Sam- system that could challenge second consecutive year due to On Tuesday, the National It also forbids institutions percent below the peak of According to BTC126.com, sung will use Google’s Wear OS Apple, the longtime leader in the coronavirus pandemic. Internet Finance Association of from providing savings, trusts $64,829.14 in mid-April, ac- a Chinese fintech information for its upcoming Galaxy smart- the smartwatch segment with At the event, Google un- China, the China Banking As- or pledging services for cryp- cording to CoinDesk, a news platform, about 234,000 inves- watches instead of its own Ti- about a third of the market, as veiled a series of updates and sociation and the Payment and tocurrencies as well as related site specializing in cryptocur- tors suffered large price drops zen platform. Google integrates its newly ac- upgrades to its services includ- Clearing Association of China financial products. rencies. in the cryptocurrency market “We’re bringing the best of quired wearables maker Fitbit. ing maps, search, shopping highlighted the risks of crypto- Bitcoin, the world’s largest An index that measures which led to mandatory liqui- Wear and Tizen into a single, uni- Samsung vice president and photos, while giving a pre- currency trading. cryptocurrency by volume, hit a sentiment in the bitcoin mar- dations and total loses of about fied platform,” said Google Wear Janghyun Yoon said in a sepa- view of its ongoing research The three financial industry three-month low of $38,514.42 ket, the Crypto Fear & Greed 14 billion yuan ($2.17 billion). project director Bjorn Kilburn. rate statement the South Kore- projects. QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Harry Kane QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune says he wants an honest conversation with Tottenham Hotspurs’ chairman about his FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 future Paris Saint-Germain retain Coupe de France title

DPA PARIS

PARIS Saint-Germain re- tained their Coupe de France crown as Kylian Mbappe turned in a star display in a 2-0 win over Monaco at the Stade de France. Without the suspend- ed Neymar, PSG relied on Mbappe in Paris and the former Monaco prodigy de- livered with an assist for Mauro Icardi’s opener before rounding off the win himself late on. Trailing from the 19th minute, Monaco huffed and puffed, but the closest Niko Kovac’s team came to an equaliser was when Gel- son Martins’ deflected cross clipped the crossbar. Monaco’s defeat in their first appearance in a Coupe de France final in 11 years was sealed with nine minutes Paris Saint-Germain’s players celebrate at the end of the French Cup match against Monaco at the Stade Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar celebrates with the trophy at the end of the French Cup remaining, Mbappe dinking de France stadium in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, late on Wednesday. (AFP) nal at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, late on Wednesday. (AFP) home to seal PSG’s 14th tri- umph in the competition. Having pounced on Axel a save out of Radoslaw Ma- Wissam Ben Yedder will registered a shot as PSG con- took a deflection, hitting the of ideas, and moments after Neymar may have been Disasi’s heavy touch following jecki as PSG pressed for a be at Euro 2020 after anoth- tinued to keep Kovac’s men at woodwork after looping over striking the bar with a long- missing for Mauricio Pochet- a goal-kick, Mbappe kept his second, though Keylor Navas er excellent season, but the arm’s length. Navas. range chip, Mbappe made tino’s side, but PSG’s other cool to tee up Icardi for a sim- had to smother Kevin Vol- France forward – and Mona- Fortune was on PSG’s Krepin Diatta snatched at sure of the win when he raced key man was at the heart of ple finish into an empty net. land’s header at the other co’s talisman – was replaced side with 20 minutes remain- an effort from inside the area, onto Angel Di Maria’s pass their opener. Alessandro Florenzi drew end. after an hour without having ing - Gelson’s cross, which though Monaco looked short and lofted in a neat finish.

Mbappe relishing chance to play alongside Benzema at Euro 2020 PSG unveil home shirt

BERLIN: Kylian Mbappe is France call-up in over ve years brilliant display in Paris Saint- was on Benzema’s return to Les him in the world. He will bring for 2021-22 season delighted to get the chance to on Tuesday when he was in- Germain’s 2-0 win over Monaco Bleus’ squad. us a lot. He played at Madrid play alongside Karim Benzema cluded in Didier Deschamps’ in the Coupe de France nal on “I’m very happy. I’ve always said for 10 years, the pressure, he at Euro 2020, declaring there are squad for the delayed Euro 2020 Wednesday, teeing up Mauro Icar- that I wanted to play with great knows, he has the experience not many better players than the tournament. di’s opener and scoring himself players,” said Mbappe. “Benze- and the talent above all. The big Real Madrid forward. Mbappe, meanwhile, continued late on. Yet the main focus in ma, I didn’t [play with him]. There players adapt. I’m sure he will Benzema, 33, earned his rst his excellent season with a the post-match news conference is not many [players] above adapt very quickly.” (DPA) Leclerc leads surprise Ferrari 1-2 in practice at Monaco GP

Paris Saint-Germain have unveiled their home shirt for the 2021/22 season. The shirt design is a product of the club’s exclusive partner- ship with Jordan Brand. The new home shirt retains the club’s classic colours of white, blue and red, with stylish red and white trim adorn- ing the sleeves and collar. It is a timeless design that draws on the rich heritage of the club’s iconic shirts. Al Arabi and Al Duhail for 23rd Asian Handball Club C’ship Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the rst practice session at the Monaco street circuit in Monaco on Thursday, ahead of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix. (AFP) QNA zaroun on June 17th. DPA of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. and Lando Norris sixth after ute 12.487 seconds as Formu- Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri DOHA Al Duhail is in the MONTE CARLO Formula One was return- signing a new long-term deal la One returned to the Princi- was fourth and Valtteri Bottas second group (which includes ing to the Principality after the for McLaren this week. pality after the 2020 race was sixth in the other Mercedes, AL Arabi and Al Duhail will six teams). CHARLES LECLERC and 2020 race was cancelled due The session halted slight- cancelled due to the coronavi- though like Hamilton he also both participate in the 23rd They meet the Uzbek side Carlos Sainz were the unlikely to the coronavirus pandemic. ly early under red flags af- rus pandemic. avoided the softest tyres. Asian Handball Club Cham- Uzbek on June 12, then Saudi names atop the timesheets in This year Monaco has lim- ter Mick Schumacher bumped Verstappen trailed Perez Two-time world champion pionship, which will be hosted side Al Wehda on June 13, then practice for Sunday’s Monaco ited attendance to 7,500 peo- his Haas approaching Casino. by around 2 tenths of a sec- Fernando Alonso also had a in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Yemen side Al Qaten Club on Grand Prix as Ferrari found ple per day with stands filled to Friday, as usual, is free in ond using slower rubber while moment to forget when he June 12 to 21, with the partici- June 14th, and Al Kuwait on pace which has so far been up to 40 per cent of capacity. Monaco before final practice Hamilton was just over the clipped the barrier at the final pation of 11 teams. June 16. missing this season. Verstappen is in desperate and Saturday’s crucial quali- same amount further back. corner to damage the front The Asian Handball Con- Al Arabi are participating Monaco native Leclerc need of a second season victo- fying session. The Briton has won three wing of his Alpine though he federation announced today in the championship as the posted a quickest 1 minute ry as he trails Hamilton, who With overtaking incred- season races to hold a 14-point resumed and finished 13th. the schedule for the tourna- champion of the Qatari Gen- 11.684 seconds around the has three wins, by 14 points. ibly difficult on the circuit, advantage over Verstappen, ment matches. eral Handball League, and Al 3.337-kilometre circuit on But the surprise perfor- whoever clinches pole posi- who really needs a second win F1 Monaco GP Practice 2: Al Arabi will play their Duhail as the champion of HH his home streets in the sec- mance of Ferrari hints the big tion is strong favourite to go of the year on Sunday to boost 1: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) first group matches (including the Amir Cup in the previous ond session having barely ran two may not have things all on and claim the race victory. his title hopes. 1:11.684; Carlos Sainz five teams) against Al Najmah season (2019-2020). in the first due to an engine their own way, especially as Earlier, Sergio Perez of Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was (Ferrari) 1:11.796; 3: Lewis Bahrain on Saturday 12 June. Al Arabi won the last edi- problem. the tight nature of the street Red Bull was fastest in first second but his Monegasque Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:12.074; They will then meet Saudi side tion of the Asian champion- Sainz was 11 hundredths of circuit eliminates a lot of the practice with team-mate Max team-mate Charles Leclerc, 4: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Mudhar on Sunday, June 13, ship, which was held in Sam- a second behind while in the mechanical advantage held by Verstappen third and Mer- who hasn’t yet completed his Racing Honda) 1:12.081; 5: and Kuwaiti side Al Salmiya on cheock, South Korea, in 2019, battle of the title contenders the top teams. cedes’ world champion Lewis home race made a tough start Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) June 16 before concluding their after winning the final over Lewis Hamilton put his Mer- Valtteri Bottas was fifth Hamilton fifth. as an engine problem halted 1:12.107; 6: Lando Norris group stage matches with clash Saudi side Al Wehda (21-19) in cedes third, fractionally ahead in the second Mercedes Perez posted a best 1 min- his session after just four laps. (McLaren Mercedes) 1:12.379. against Iranian side Shahid Ka- the final. Sports Friday, May 21, 2021 11 Qatar Prix de l’Elevage (Gr 2 PA) ... Thrill as

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to winning round one in Qatar. 13-time winner Attiyah it should be! QREC tops entry for next DOHA THE Qatar Racing and Eques- weekend’s Jordan Rally trian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Prix de l’Elevage will be TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri is the feature event of the eight- AMMAN (JORDAN) the multiple defending cham- race card at Toulouse, France, pion and starts as the favourite on Saturday (May 22). The NASSER Saleh Al Attiyah, the to continue his successes with a Group 2,000-metre race for most successful driver in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. four-year-old and older Pure- history of Middle East motor Standing in his way will be bred Arabian fillies and mares sport, tops the entry for next the Jordanian drivers, Shabi will start at 03:15 pm Qatar weekend’s Jordan Rally, round Shaban and Ihab Al Shourafa, time (02:15 pm France time). two of the FIA Middle East Ral- Lebanese youngster Alex El- As many as eight runners will ly Championship. Feghali and fellow Lebanese line for honours in the exciting The current series leader drivers, Ahmed Khaled and contest seeking to announce and a 13-time winner of the Shadi El Fakih. themselves as favourites in Qatari owners will Jordan event heads to the Henry Kahy returns to try the biggest summer races in- have a strong repre- Hashemite Kingdom fresh and continue his remarkable cluding the Doha Cup and the sentation at Toulouse from securing a recent narrow run of successes in a two-wheel- Rayyan Cup, both are Group 1s with three runners victory at the Andalucia Rally drive car in the MERC 3 section. to be run at Deauville, France carrying the colours in Spain. On this occasion he He teams up with Carlos Hanna in August and are QREC- of Al Shaqab Racing and French co-driver Mat- in his trusty Skoda. Local driver sponsored as well. and one in the silks thieu Baumel return to a trusty Asem Aref is also entered in a lit- Qatari owners will have a Volkswagen Polo GTi, run on tle Renault Clio RS. strong representation at Tou- of His Highness regional Middle Eastern rallies Rounding off the entry is louse with three runners car- Sheikh Mohammed by Autotek Motorsport. the talented Saudi off-road rying the colours of Al Shaqab bin Khalifa Al Thani. Of the 13 entrants regis- specialist Saleh Al-Saif at the Racing and one in the silks of tered for the FIA category, Al- wheel of a Can-Am Maverick His Highness Sheikh Moham- Attiyah faces competition from X3. FIA T4 cars are permitted med bin Khalifa Al Thani. Hayyan winner of Qatar Prix de l’Elevage 2020. The QREC-sponsored event for 2021 will be run at Toulouse, France, on Saturday. (Pic: Robert Polin) three Rally2 drivers. His cousin to tackle gravel rounds of the Two of the Al Shaqab Rac- and former FIA vice-president regional rally series this sea- ing’s contenders will be sad- seek to go one better this time. Her 2020 campaign was quite course and distance last month to face this contender as well Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya teams son and Al-Saif finished sixth dled by Thomas Fourcy and Al Shaqab Racing’s third good and highly promising when she was last seen. The as Jalela again, who was the up with Nasser’s former navi- overall at the opening round in his main contender could be representative is Alkedri as it included two runner-up five-year-old mare will be taken comfortable winner that day gator Giovanni Bernacchini Qatar and currently leads the Jalela (FR) (Mister Ginoux x (FR) (Mister Ginoux x Bise places in Gr 2 PA over 1,900 by her promising young trainer with two and a half lengths to to drive a Ford Fiesta and the championship category. Nefertarie) who won her last Al Maury). She is trained by and a Gr 1 PA 2,000 metres and jockey Olivier d’Andigné to spare. She will be helmed by event sees the return of Hamed This year’s rally is based at two outings and both were at Charles Gourdain and will be at Bordeaux Le Bouscat and taste black-type success. Antoine Werle. Al-Wahaibi (Škoda Fabia) in a the Movenpick Resort and Spa Toulouse with a Gr3 P/A suc- a key player as well with two Chantilly respectively. Charles Gourdain will have Ellie Du Paon (FR) (Dahess two-car team from Oman with Dead Sea, where all necessary cess in the Prix Nevada II over group victories in her record. She followed that with Gr3 another representative as he x Jade Du Paon) has had three young Abdullah Al-Rawahi Covid-19 protocols will apply, a mile last October and a Gr2 She opened her account of PA success in the Prix Neva- will saddle the five-year-old starts, including two this year. driving another Ford Fiesta. including proof of negative P/A victory the Prix Nefta black-type success last Sep- dour over 1,900m metres at La Qamriyah (FR) (General x Vi- Following her first two decent Six crews have registered to tests (48-hour validity) before over 2,000 metres last month. tember when she won the Gr2 Teste De Buch in August. While vamaria). She finished sixth performances over 2,000 me- compete in Group NR4 to chase any access is given to the ser- Having her latest win over the PA French Arabian Breeders’ she finished sixth, behind UM behind Lamet Shamel on the tres, she won a 17-runner race points in the MERC2 category. vice park area. same course and distance, the Challenge-Pouliches over the TAJ, over 2,000 metres at Par- same course and distance last over 1,900 metres at La Teste four-year-old filly is consid- same distance at La Teste De isLongchamp when she was last month and will seek to add De Buch last month. While the ered a leading player, who can Buch. Under Jean-Bernard seen in October, she is the type group success to her account distance is now familiar to the remain unbeaten for the third Eyquem, the four-year-old fil- of runners who bounces back and jockey Maxime Foulon will Damien De Watrigant-trained Quick read time in a row. She will have ly will be coming off Gr3 victo- quickly and will try to reverse make sure to do his best to as- trainee, the four-year-old and her regular jockey Jerome Ca- ry as she won the Prix Damas form this time. Olivier Peslier sist her in realising her target. jockey Guillaume Guedj-Gay Bhuvneshwar Kumar bereaved bre in the saddle. over a mile at Bordeaux Le will be her partner. The Olivier Trigodet- will make sure to make no MEERUT: India and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH ) pacer Bhuvneshwar Fourcy’s second challenger Bouscat earlier this month. The other four contenders trained Zarra Star (FR) (Aza- mistake in the encounter with Kumar’s father Kiran Pal Singh passed away in Meerut on Thursday. He Um Taj (FR) (Al Mamun Mon- The His Highness Sheikh include fillies and mares who di x Larissa Star) has been the principals. was ghting a battle against liver cancer. Kiran Pal Singh was a retired lau x Dyala). She has been the Mohammed bin Khalifa Al have won or got placed in group placed twice and successful The 2021 edition Qatar sub-inspector in the Uttar Pradesh police. Last week, India and Mumbai runner-up in four group races Thani-owned Artemis (FR) races as well. The Jean de once in three starts this year. Prix de l’Elevage combines Indians spinner Piyush Chawla’s father Pramod Kumar Chawla died over the same or similar dis- (Azadi x Ocyrrhoe) will be Mieulle-trained Lamet Shamel The four-year-old filly finished class, high quality, challenge due to COVID-19 complications. India women’s team all-rounder Veda tance and the last of which was another group winner in the (QA) (AF Albahar x Valuta third, half a length in front of and promise; a unique mix, Krishnamurthy lost her sister in May. The cricketer’s mother had passed at ParisLongchamp in October fray. The five-year-old mare Khan) will be coming off a Alkedri in the Gr2 P/A Prix which is guaranteed to pro- away due to COVID-19 in April. Also, women’s cricketer Priya Punia lost 2020. The five-year-old mare, will be saddled by Mrs JF fourth place in the Group 2 PA Nefta last month in her last duce a thrilling racing event in her mother Saroj to COVID-19 on Monday. (ANI) to be ridden by Julien Augé, will Bernard in her seasonal bow. Prix De Carthage on the same outing. However, she will have the full sense of the term. PSL 6 all set First group tees off to resume at US PGA ahead ANI LAHORE of the favourites AFTER a COVID-19 enforced break, the Pakistan Super DPA of a one-stroke victory at the League (PSL) is all set to re- BERLIN Wells Fargo Championship, sume with the remaining 20 is in the hunt for a fifth major matches of the tournament’s RORY McIlroy, Bryson De- title. sixth edition in , Abu Dhabi. Chambeau and defending His last win in the PGA The entire 2020 season champion Collin Morikawa will Championship, in 2014, is his was played in Pakistan, while tee off within the first two hours most recent of those major the 2021 edition was suspend- of the US PGA Championship, victories, and the Northern ed on March 4 a day after the which got underway on Thurs- Irishman, currently ranked at 14th match of the tournament day at 7 am (1100 GMT). seventh in the world, is one of was played at Karachi’s Na- Patrick Rada, Cameron the favourites. tional Stadium. The six cap- Triangle, Adam Long were the Shortly after that trio start, tains are now ready to switch first three players to tee off on another big hitter in the form on and dazzle at the Sheikh Thursday at Kiawah Island’s of 2020 US Open champion Zayed Stadium in search of Ocean Course. DeChambeau takes to the trophy-winning glory. Matt Jones highlighted the field alongside Morikawa, who At present, defending second group, which teed off 11 became the third-youngest champions Karachi Kings top minutes later. The Australian player to win the major since the points table with six points won this year’s Honda Cham- it became a stroke-play event from five matches. pionship - the same competi- in 1958 - after McIlroy and Interestingly, all top four tion which Rory McIlory won the legendary Jack Nicklaus - sides, Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Juventus’ Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon holds the winner’s trophy as Juventus players celebrate winning the nal of the Italian Cup (Coppa before dominating on this when he triumphed in Califor- Islamabad United and Lahore Italia) match against Atalanta at the Citta del Tricolore stadium in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday. (AFP) course in the PGA Champion- nia last year. Qalandars accumulated six ship in 2012. The Masters champion, points in the Karachi leg, with McIlroy, who comes into Hideki Matsuyama, completes Kings taking the top spot due the tournament on the back a fearsome trio. to their better net run-rate. Chiesa seals Coppa Italia for Juventus Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim said in a PSL DPA rie A fixtures this weekend. Buffon’s goal. near-post flick, while Chiesa statement: “The HBL Pakistan BERLIN And they looked set for It was Juve who went ahead, curled against the post after a Super League 6 restart is great more despair when Ruslan though, Kulusevski superbly slick with involving Cristiano news for both the players and FEDERICO Chiesa scored Malinovskiy cancelled out De- whipping past Pierluigi Gollini Ronaldo. especially the fans. We were at the decisive goal as Juventus jan Kulusevski’s fine strike be- after being picked out on the Chiesa was not to be de- the top of the points table in sealed a record-extending 14th fore half-time. right-hand side of the penalty nied in the 73rd minute, col- Karachi and would like to be Coppa Italia title with a 2-1 win Juve stormed back in area by Weston McKennie. lecting Kulusevski’s pass and able to sustain the run of form. over Atalanta on Wednesday. the second half, though, and Gian Piero Gasperini’s side then sliding home his 13th “I am pleased with our re- It has been a disappointing sealed victory in their 20th deservedly pulled level four goal in all competitions this placements, especially Martin first season in charge for An- Coppa Italia final thanks to minutes before the interval season. Guptill and Thisara Perera drea Pirlo, with the Bianconeri Chiesa’s composed finish with when Malinovskiy collected Atalanta battled in the who have tons of T20 experi- knocked out of the Champions 17 minutes remaining. Hans Hateboer’s pass and closing stages, but they never ence and have been proven League at the last-16 stage by Atalanta did most of the lashed a powerful strike past really came close to finding a match winners, as well as Na- Porto and their hopes of quali- pressing in the early stages, Buffon from just inside the area. goal that would have forced jib, to add to a phenomenally fying for next season’s com- with Duvan Zapata and Remo Gollini got down well extra time, with Juve holding Brooks Koepka of the US plays a shot from the sand on the 15th gifted local core, led by our petition hanging by a thread Freuler both flashing efforts shortly before the hour mark on to consign last season’s fi- hole during the rst round of the 2021 PGA Championship in Kiawah batting maestro Babar Azam.” ahead of the final round of Se- narrowly wide of Gianluigi to paw away Kulusevski’s nal defeat to Napoli to history. Island, South Carolina, on Thursday. (Getty Images/AFP) 12 Friday, May 21, 2021 The Last Word Ooredoo appoints Al-Sulaiti as rst female CEO in Oman Noor Al Sulaiti has been with spite a challenging macroeconomic more modern, efficient and agile way Ooredoo Algeria Ooredoo since 2004, most recently as environment, Ooredoo Algeria deliv- of work. I am particularly proud of the the CEO of Starlink, a subsidiary of the ered a healthy set of results during the appointment of the first female CEO, gets new CEO Ooredoo Group. In her most recent first quarter of 2021 under his leader- one of many Ooredoo female leaders role as CEO of Starlink, she made a ship. Revenues increased by 2% in lo- who have stepped up and delivered TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK significant market impact by rebrand- cal currency in Q1 2021 compared to during the most difficult times. Con- DOHA ing and expanding the company’s the same period the previous year. gratulations to the new CEOs. I wish portfolio and capability to compete in Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Al Thani, them success during their tenure.” OOREDOO has appointed Noor Al- E-Commerce, retail, and ICT. She was Chairman, Ooredoo Group, said: “I T he management of Ooredoo Sulaiti as CEO of Ooredoo Oman, previously the General Manager of am very happy to announce the ap- wishes the new appointees all the best making her the first woman to hold Phono and Fasttelco in Kuwait. Noor pointment of two of our outstand- in their new roles. this position in one of the group’s key Al-Sulaiti brings 17 years of progres- ing talents to lead our companies in Starlink is an Ooredoo Group markets. The telecom provider also sive and rotational experience in the Oman and Algeria. These appoint- company that operates a leading mo- appointed Bassam Yousef Al Ibrahim telecom industry. She takes over for ments come as part of our strategy to bile and accessory retail chain as well as CEO of Ooredoo Algeria. Both ap- Ian Dench, who resigned after a suc- CEO of Ooredoo Algeria in March Ooredoo Algeria in March 2020 and continue to invest in our finest people, as an IT service provider in Qatar. pointments came into effect on May cessful 15-year career with the Group. 2020, following his earlier appoint- successfully steering the company as we push forward with our digital More information is available at htt- 20, 2021. Bassam Al Ibrahim was appointed ment as Deputy General Manager of through the COVID-19 period. De- transformation journey and create a ps://www.starlink.qa/. QU project aims to develop sustainable QST Angel Investor Bootcamp methods to increase crop production to encourage investment in TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK salt-water will permit for a drastic al- to be working together with our col- DOHA leviation of the pressure on Qatar’s leagues at Qatar University to pilot scarce ground-water resources. Dr this technology. We believe it can THE Center for Sustainable Devel- Imen Saadaoui, research associate have a significant impact on the sus- opment (CSD) at Qatar University professor at CSD and Co-Lead-PI tainability of the food-supply chain in Qatar’s SportsTech industry (QU) was recently awarded a project of the project, said: “This novel bio- Qatar, and look forward to seeing it in to produce biological fertilisers based fertiliser will increase the soil-quality, action.” on salt-tolerant micro-organisms to as well as enhance the salt tolerance The project is in collaboration e workshop will provide valuable insights, investment promote organic crop production in capacity of the plant, which will allow with Agrico, where the novel technol- Qatar. The project is in response the for the use of irrigation waters with ogy will be demonstrated. Agrico, one decision-making and the latest in sports technologies Food Security Call from the Qatar Na- higher salt concentrations. This can of Qatar’s leading crop producers, is tional Research Fund and Ministry of play an important role in promoting excited to be able to be one of the first TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK the role of technology in transforming the world of Municipality and Environment, and sustainable food production in Qa- to apply this new technology. Nasser DOHA sports and how heavy investments are fostering innova- aims to increase Qatar’s food security tar.” Al Khalaf at Agrico commented: “Our tion in the sportstech industry. This will be followed by in a sustainable manner. The project will foster interna- Company strives to explore innova- QATAR SportsTech (QST), a leading start-up accelera- a workshop, conducted by David Stern, a renowned an- This bio-fertiliser will not only tional collaboration between local tive agricultural solutions to achieve tor founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), has gel investor experienced with sports and sportstech in- improve plant productivity and fruit researchers and the Center of Bio- national food security. This technol- announced the opening of applications for an Angel In- dustries, which will offer participants insights on angel quality, but enhance the soil-quality technology of Sfax (Tunisia) where ogy has the potential to drastically vestor Bootcamp, which will be held virtually on May 24 investment, the sportstech market and its main players and allow for the use of salt-water for the technology originated. Dr Slim reduce the ecological footprint of crop and 25, 2021. and challenges and where the facilitators will share their sustainable production of conven- Tounsi, director of the Centre of Bio- production in Qatar, whilst produc- In line with QDB’s mission to develop, grow and own experiences, providing a hands-on approach to an- tional crops such as tomatoes. technology of Sfax and Lead-PI of the ing sustainable organic and nutritious diversify Qatar’s private sector, QST initiated this boot- gel investors in sportstech. The ability of crops to grow using project, commented: “We are thrilled food for the Qatari society.” camp to further en- The second day hance sportstech start- of the bootcamp ups in the country by will serve as a net- empowering investors working platform and driving interest to- for sportstech in- wards the rapidly grow- vestment profes- MES Indian School holds maiden ing industry. QDB is sionals and will committed to strength- facilitate the en- ening the economy of counters between election of its ‘student parliament’ innovation, rewarding potential investors its talents and multi- and start-ups from TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK contesting candidates met their vot- (Sports Captain), Fathima Mayaza of plying the number of QST’s portfolio DOHA ers virtually in a ‘Meet the Candidate VIII-A (Student Editor) and Lakshmi stakeholders to foster seeking to raise Programme’ and declared their man- Priya of VI-C (Arts Secretary). innovation, with help- capital. Inves- MES Indian School (MESIS), Abu ifesto. The candidates introduced The election officials comprised ing the most promising tors will be able Hamour branch, conducted its maid- themselves and spoke eloquently in school principal Dr Haneef as the start-ups reach their to watch notable en election of student parliament for their persuasive speeches. ‘Chief Election Commission’. The potential, achieving the members from the posts of Head Boy, Head Girl, The online voting was held on election commission members in- goals of Qatar National The purpose of the 2 day-long bootcamp is to help local QST’s alumni net- Assistant Head Boy, Assistant Head May 11 from 12pm to 2pm. Class cluded Ms Shamjida, and Ms Zeba, Vision 2030. and international industry experts learn how to invest in work and current Girl, Sports Captain, Arts Secretary teachers circulated clear instructions Ms Hasmiya. QST is powered by start-ups and kick off their investment journey with QST. The cohort pitch and and Magazine Editor for the aca- on the method of voting and Google IT and logistic support was pro- Startupbootcamp and can make their demic year 2021-2022, according to a form links for voting were forwarded vided by Haroon, Ankush, Rakhi and supported by the Su- bootcamp will also bring esteemed local and international first investment in Press release issued by the school. to all the class WhatsApp groups. Shajeera. The law and order was tak- preme Committee for angel investors into the QST network, providing them with QST’s start-ups. The school parliament election The counting of votes, which was en care by Saleem, Vineesh and Anu Delivery and Legacy, an opportunity to meet and collaborate with the start-ups The ever ex- was announced on May 3. While the held on the same day at 3pm live Manoj. Other election officers include Qatar Stars League, under Qatar SportsTech umbrella panding Qatar Head Boy and Head Girl titles were on Zoom, was completed in eight Sharmida, Anusha as Returning Of- beIN Media Group, Sportstech port- reserved for grade VIII students, the rounds. MESIS Principal Dr Haneef ficers and Shahanas, Sherbina and MBK Holding, Aspire folio comprises of Assistant Head Boy and Assistant officially announced the results. Nusaiba as Election Observers. Zone Foundation, Qatar Financial Centre and the Minis- successful and innovative start-ups with a global reach, Head Girl positions were reserved for The school parliament election The students of the school have try of Commerce and Industry including ComeTogether, who have sold their block- grade VII students. provided an opportunity for the been divided into four groups: EM- The Angel Investor Bootcamp will educate new and chain-powered ticketing system to major live festivals Students of grades VI to VIII were students to take part in school gov- ERALD, RUBY, SAPPHIRE and seasoned investors interested in the sportstech industry and created a HealthPassport app to help the Greek gov- eligible for the posts of Arts Secretary, ernance and decision making. The TOPAZ. Nomination of students for with QST support and access to its sportstech start-ups ernment combat the Covid-19 pandemic and allow indi- Sports Captain and Magazine Editor, group of democratically elected stu- the posts of House Captains, Vice base. The purpose of the 2 day-long bootcamp is to help viduals to safely go back to events; FATE Esports who the Press release added. dents, who represent the views of all Captains and Prefects will be done on local and international industry experts learn how to is working with Uber Eats International gaming tourna- Nomination forms for the candi- students at the school, get a chance May 24. The investiture ceremony of invest in start-ups and kick off their investment jour- ment ‘eLigue 1’ which will be taking place in Qatar, Bra- dates were sent upon email requests to better understand the process of the elected leaders will be held by the ney with QST. The bootcamp will also bring esteemed zil, Japan, Ivory Coast, Morocco and the US; GYMCraft, and had to be submitted by May 5. the parliamentary system of the gov- end of May. local and international angel investors into the QST net- already valued at over $7.3mn and partnering with in- After scrutiny, some 23 nominations ernment. The school management and staff work, providing them with an opportunity to meet and ternational conglomerates Samsung and Precor; and were accepted and six were rejected. The first elected parliament mem- members thanked the parents for collaborate with the start-ups under Qatar SportsTech Sponix, whose technology has been used in major in- The final list of contesting candidates bers of MESIS are: Joseph Mathew their unflinching support and cooper- umbrella. ternational competitions such as UEFA Euro 2020 and along with their election symbols was Jinoy of VIII-A (Head Boy), Falaqul ation to make the school parliament The first day of the bootcamp will launch with a vir- Champions League, by major broadcasters like Benfica, published the next day. Thahira of VIII-B (Head Girl), Mu- election a grand success. tual panel discussion at 6pm Doha time on May 24, ti- RMC Sports and BeIN Sports, as well as by the leading The class teachers posted digital hammed Izyan of VII-A (Asst. Head Students along with their parents tled ‘Investment and Innovation in SportsTech’, where football clubs. For more information, visit https://qa- posters prepared by the candidates Boy), Laiqa Maryam of VII-C (Asst. enjoyed the entire process of a real industry experts from Qatar and the region will discuss tarsportstech.com/ in their respective class groups. All Head Girl), Afaaf Shiyas of VI-B democratic election. QU, HBKU, QCRI announce winners of AI National Competition

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Education, Automatic and DOHA real-time detection of trolls over social media, Real-time QATAR University’s College AI solutions for assisting of Engineering (QU-CENG), sports referees to take prompt Hamad bin Khalifa University decisions, Crowd monitor- (HBKU) and Qatar Comput- ing and behaviour analysis ing Research Institute (QCRI) and prediction, Detection have announced names of the and prevention of attacks and winners of the Artificial Intel- malware, Drones emergency ligence National Competition. services, and Logistics im- QU-CENG Dean Dr Khalid pacting the supply chain and Kamal Naji said, “This is a security challenges due to the national competition chal- Dr Ahmed K Elmagarmid, Dr Khalid Kamal Naji blockade.” lenging students, developers, In track one - Concept professionals and researchers and Design, Dabeeruddin to develop and demonstrate Syed and Ameena Zainab won how humans can collaborate the first place. Tareq Yousef with powerful Artificial Intel- Kamel AlKhraishi won second ligence (AI) technologies to place, while Abhinav Balram tackle some challenges for dif- Gudavalli bagged the third ferent applications. This op- place. portunity raised awareness of In track 2 - Proof of Con- AI technologies in Qatar, sup- “The competition consisted Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of ture and address challenges.” cept and Demos, Nandhini ported building local capacity of 5 phases: Idea Submission, the College of Science and En- Dr Ahmed Masoud, QU- Subramanian won the first in this timely and crucial area, Announcement of shortlisted gineering at HBKU, said, “The CENG associate dean for Re- place, Anas Mohammed Ta- and provided a platform for ideas, Solution design / devel- competition recognised the search and Graduate Studies, hir and Yazan Hazim Ali Qi- participants to share AI ideas opment duration Project Sub- developers who are paving the said, “We looked for creative blawey won second place, and applications.” mission, Project testing and way for future innovative AI and innovative AI solutions, Dr Mounir Hamdi Dr Ahmed Masoud and Serkan Kiranyaz and Mu- Dr Ahmed K Elmagar- demos (track 2), Announce- technologies that can be de- which can be deployed to re- hammad Uzair Zahid won the mid, director of QCRI, said, ment of winners.” ployed to support infrastruc- solve practical problems in- cluding but not limited to: Healthcare solutions, AI in third place.