BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1

Woqod Q1 net Al Sadd fi ght back profi t jumps 12% to hold Foolad in to QR253mn opener

published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11884 April 15, 2021 Ramadan 3, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Quarantine facilities host 90,000 guests in March MIA, a sight to behold In March, almost 90,000 guests were accommodated in designated Cabinet announces quarantine facilities, more than double the number in previous months, Discover Qatar said yesterday. Discover Qatar continues additional support to add new properties to the quarantine facilities list to ensure room availability and to meet the increasing demand. Five more hotels for businesses hit joined the programme, raising the existing total capacity to 9,890 rooms and the number of participating hotels to 65, according to a press by Covid closure statement. To date, Discover Qatar has processed 88,000 refunds with a value of $27mn. he Cabinet has announced ad-  Water, electricity ditional support packages for charges exempted until Tsectors aff ected by the closures European powers warn resulting from the Covid-19 precau- the Sept-end 2021 Iran over enrichment tionary measures enforced in the coun- try, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reports.  QDB’s National The European countries party to This came at the Cabinet’s regular Guarantees Programme the Iran nuclear deal told Tehran meeting chaired by HE the Prime Min- yesterday its decision to enrich ister and Minister of Interior Sheikh (NGP) extended until uranium at 60% purity, bringing the Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al- September-end fissile material closer to bomb-grade, Thani yesterday via videoconference. was contrary to eff orts to revive Following the meeting, HE the Min-  Interest exemption the 2015 accord. But in an apparent A view of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha yesterday, lit up specially to mark the holy month of Ramadan. ister of Justice and Acting Minister of signal to Israel, which Tehran blamed PICTURE: Thajudheen State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad period for NGP extended for an explosion at its key nuclear al-Jafali al-Nuaimi issued a statement from one year to 2 years site on Sunday, European powers giving the details of the proceedings. Germany, France and Britain added In view of the current conditions in  Salary funding limits that they rejected “all escalatory the country as a result of the second measures by any actor”. Page 11 wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in raised to QR15mn for a implementation of the directives of His single identity card Ras Abu Aboud Stadium Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin US offi cer who shot Hamad al-Thani to support and pro-  Continued QCB Black man arrested vide fi nancial and economic incentives support to liquidity of to the private sector and mitigate the The police off icer who shot dead economic consequences of the pan- local banks, as needed Black 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a nearing completion: SC demic, the Cabinet adopted additional Minneapolis suburb after appearing support packages for sectors aff ected year for the National Guarantees Pro- to mistake her gun for her Taser by the closures resulting from the pre- gramme, to become two years without was arrested yesterday and will face The World Cup venue is a symbol of innovation and sustainability cautionary measures taken to deal with interest, in addition to two years of manslaughter charges. Minneapolis the spread of Covid-19, QNA said. payment with interest that does not has been roiled by nights of violent he Supreme Committee for De- exceed the Qatar Central Bank rate + protests after Kim Potter, who is livery & Legacy (SC) has said These are as follows: 2%. white, opened fire on Wright in his car Tcompletion of Ras Abu Aboud  Exemption from electricity and  Raising the limits of funding on Sunday. Potter, a 26-year police Stadium is “edging ever closer”, with water fees for the closed sectors until salaries and wages for closed sectors veteran who resigned after Wright’s all containers delivered and installed, the end of September. to QR15mn for a single identity card, death, faces a maximum of 10 years while the stadium’s steel structure has  Extension of the National Guaran- while retaining the rest of the relevant in jail if convicted of second-degree also been completed. tees Programme at Qatar Development terms and conditions. manslaughter. Page 11 Installation of the stadium seats is Bank until the end of September.  Continued support by Qatar Cen- over 80% completed, as are the me-  Extension of the period of exemp- tral Bank for the liquidity of local banks chanical, engineering, plumbing and tion from interest for an additional as needed. Page 2 Canadian residency to fi nishing works, according to a report 90,000 students, workers on sc.qa. “When the first FIFA World Cup Qatar ninth in world for Covid jabs Canada will grant permanent in the Middle East and Arab world residency to more than 90,000 takes place next year, the legacy the The Cabinet yesterday listened to have received the first dose of the foreign students and workers tournament leaves will be measured the explanation provided by HE the vaccine reached 27% of the total who helped treat patients during in many forms. Among the many Minister of Public Health on the lat- population and the percentage of the pandemic, the immigration endeavours the Supreme Commit- est developments and steps taken people who have received both the minister announced yesterday. The tee for Delivery & Legacy has estab- to limit the spread of Covid-19, QNA doses is 15% of the total population. programme, in eff ect from May 6, is lished in the build-up to Qatar 2022, sustainability is coming to life, if one in World Cup history – a benchmark reported. Thus, Qatar is ranked ninth in the intended for workers with at least innovations in stadium building and looks out over the stunning Doha that will set new standards in stadium The Cabinet expressed satisfaction world in the proportion of people one year of work experience in health design have been a particular source Corniche and West Bay skyline. Ras development. over the progress of the Covid-19 who have received vaccination, the care or dozens of other sectors of pride, whether it is the use of Abu Aboud Stadium is not only an As part of its focus on sustainability vaccination programme in Qatar, as report states. deemed essential - from grocery cooling technology in tournament impressive sight to behold with its this month, qatar2022.qa takes a clos- 1,168,087 doses of the vaccine have The Cabinet praised this achievement store cashiers and shelf stockers, to venues or the commitment to sus- construction made of colourful ship- er look at the many features that make been administered since the start of and the plans and programmes put in truck drivers and farm workers - as tainable practices in construction,” ping containers, modular steel frame Ras Abu Aboud a pioneering project in the programme. place to vaccinate the entire popula- well as graduates who’ve completed the report states. and removable seats, but will also be tournament legacy planning, an offi - The percentage of people who tion in the country. a post-secondary degree within the A symbol of that innovation and the fi rst fully dismountable stadium cial statement says. To Page 12 last four years. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said the measure should help Canada reach its target of welcoming more than 400,000 immigrants this year. 81% of people over US cancels warships ‘Time to end the forever war’ deployment US to start Afghanistan pullout on May 1, withdrawal to be competed in Sept The United States has cancelled the 60 receive at least deployment of two warships to the Reuters command in Afghanistan will leave Black Sea, Turkish diplomatic sources Washington the country in coordination with the said yesterday, amid concerns US withdrawal by Sept 11, after Ger- over a Russian military build-up on one dose of vaccine many said it would match American Ukraine’s borders. Washington and resident Joe Biden said yester- plans. Nato have been alarmed by the day he will begin withdrawing build-up near Ukraine and in Crimea. he Ministry of Public Health PUS troops from Afghanistan on Last week, Turkey said Washington (MoPH) has announced a major May 1 to end America’s longest war, Nato allies to leave would send two warships to the T milestone for the National Cov- rejecting calls for US forces to stay to Black Sea, in a decision Russia called id-19 Vaccination Programme with 81% ensure a peaceful resolution to that along with US an unfriendly provocation. The US of people over 60 years of age having now country’s internal confl ict. embassy in Ankara had notified received at least one vaccine dose. In a White House speech, Biden set a Foreign troops under Nato Turkey’s foreign ministry of the “Reaching this milestone of four goal of withdrawing all 2,500 US troops iden delivers remarks on his plan command will withdraw from decision, the sources said. out of fi ve people over 60 years of age remaining in Afghanistan by Sept 11. to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan in co-ordination with – the most vulnerable members of our By pulling out without a clear vic- Afghanistan, at the White House, a US pull-out by Sept 11, Nato RAMADAN THOUGHT population – being vaccinated against tory, the United States opens itself to Washington, yesterday. allies agreed yesterday, pledging Covid-19 is hugely encouraging. After criticism that a withdrawal represents to mirror American plans to start When My servants ask you an incredibly challenging year for peo- a de facto admission of failure for Bush to launch the confl ict. removing troops on May 1 after two about Me (Allah), I am always ple here in Qatar, and indeed around American military strategy. The war has cost the lives of 2,400 decades of war. near. I answer their prayers the world, the rollout of the vaccina- “It was never meant to be a multi- American service members and con- Around 7,000 non-US forces when they pray to Me. The tion programme is enabling people to generational undertaking. We were sumed an estimated $2tn. from mainly Nato countries, also people shall respond to Me and become protected from Covid-19 and Dr Hanadi al-Hamad attacked. We went to war with clear “I am now the fourth American from Australia, New Zealand and believe in Me, in order to be signifi cantly reduce their risk of sick- goals. We achieved those objectives,” president to preside over an American Georgia, outnumber the 2,500 guided [Qur’an 2:186] ness,” said Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, Na- sive care units for life-saving treatment, Biden said, noting that Al Qaeda troop presence in Afghanistan. Two US troops in Afghanistan, but still Prayer times tional Health Strategy 2018-2022 lead than the younger age groups. leader Osama bin Laden was killed by Republicans. Two Democrats,” Biden rely on American air support, for Healthy Ageing, in a statement is- “The good news is that the vaccines American forces in 2011 and saying said. “I will not pass this responsibil- planning and leadership for their Fajr....3.52; Zuhr....11.34; Asr....3.04; sued by the MoPH yesterday. are highly eff ective at preventing se- that organisation has been “degraded” ity on to a fi fth.” training mission. Nato Secretary- Maghrib.....5.59; Isha.....7.29 While anyone can become infected vere sickness. Clinical trials have found in Afghanistan. “And it’s time to end “It is time to end America’s longest General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking with Covid-19, it is older people who are that both the Pfi zer and BioNTech and the forever war.” war. It is time for American troops to alongside US Secretary of State Fasting times much more vulnerable to severe compli- Moderna vaccines are around 95% ef- Sept 11 is a highly symbolic date, come home,” he said. Antony Blinken and US Defense Iftar today ...... 5.59pm cations from the virus. This means older fective at preventing symptomatic coming 20 years to the day of Al Qae- Meeting Nato offi cials in Brus- Secretary Lloyd Austin, said the Imsak tomorrow...... 3.41am people are more likely to require hospi- Covid-19 infection after two doses. da’s attacks on the United States that sels earlier, Secretary of State Antony decision was tough. talisation, including admission to inten- To Page 12 prompted then-President George W Blinken said foreign troops under Nato Gulf Times 2 Thursday, April 15, 2021 QATAR

Speaker of Shura Council meets ambassadors Al-Hammadi meets Estonian official FM sends message HE the Speaker of Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met yesterday separately with ambassador of Iran Hamid Reza Dehghani and ambassador to Mali counterpart of Austria Karin Fichtinger-Grohe. During the two meetings, they reviewed the co- operation relations between Qatar and Iran and Austria, and ways to support and develop them, especially in the parliamentary field. Minister of Foreign Aff airs and International Co-operation of Mali Zeini Moulaye has received a written message from HE the Deputy Prime Al-Qahtani meets German official Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, pertaining to the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing them. The message was delivered by HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed ambassador of Qatar to Mali bin Hassan al-Hammadi met yesterday with Director General of the Ahmed Abdulrahman al-Sunaidi Political Department at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Estonia Lembit during his meeting with Mali Uibo. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations FM. between the two countries. Qatar embraces arts HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Aff airs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani met with State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Off ice of Germany Miguel Berger, in the presence of ambassador of Qatar to Germany Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed al-Thani. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations to reinforce its culture between the two countries. and national identity Cabinet nod to draft law

QNA He said that Qatar has a great inter- Qatar News Agency (QNA): “Although Doha est in arts, and that art has a promi- the university’s painting and printing on non-Qatari investors nent role in the Qatari cultural scene department is based on the Western through the eff orts of the various state model that works to develop the ar- isual arts are of interest to Qatar institutions, whether cultural or edu- tistic movement in the Qatari society. QNA  The draft law because of its role in promot- cational, or even artists who spread However, we are keen to enhance the Doha Ving society and raising cultural their creativity, which shows the beau- national identity in arts, by following includes the provision awareness. The eff orts of the institu- ty of the Qatari identity in sculpture, up with Qatari students. that allows non-Qatari tions concerned with arts, whether photography, calligraphy and decora- “There is no fear of Qatari identity, E the Prime Minister and Minister academic or cultural, are combined, tions. as there is a link to Qatari heritage and of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Kha- investors to own up to so that art in Qatar expresses its self- Al-Athba stressed at the same time culture, and the university is trying to Hlifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani chaired 100% of the capital of identity, which is considered a major that despite the presence of cultural help them build tools and their cultural yesterday via videoconference the Cabi- part of Islamic civilisation. diversity in Doha, which allows the interests are to build a cultural march net’s regular meeting. Qatari shareholding The General Co-ordinator of Doha existence of diversity in Arab and in- through the arts.” Following the meeting, HE the Minister companies listed Capital of Culture in the Islamic World ternational art schools, Qatari art He pointed out that the study pro- of Justice and Acting Minister of State for 2021, Hamad al-Athba, stressed the maintains its cultural form and its own gramme qualifi es the student to know Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al- on the Qatar Stock interest of hosting activities in pro- identity. the beginning of the journey and Nuaimi issued the following statement: Exchange moting arts, especially Islamic arts He added that the celebration of search for oneself. The Cabinet approved a draft law amend- that express the cultural identity of the Doha Capital of Culture in the Islamic At the same time, he drew atten- ing some provisions of Law No 1 of 2019 arts in Qatar. World 2021 is highlighted through the tion to the role of society that protects regulating the investment of non-Qatari Cabinet congratulates Al-Athba explained in a statement to artistic activities organised by the Su- tions does not pose a major challenge identity, whether in arts or culture in capital in economic activity. Amir on Ramadan Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the oc- preme Committee, through strategic to the organising committee of Doha general, and this is what is found from The draft law includes the amendment casion of the World Art Day, which falls partners, including Qatar Museums, Capital of Culture in the Islamic World Qatar Museums, specifi cally Qatar of Article 7 of the law so that non-Qatari At the outset of the meeting, the on April 15 of each year, that the capital the Cultural Village Foundation (Ka- 2021. National Museum, in addition to the investors can own up to 100% of the capi- Cabinet congratulated His Highness embraces many activities and art ex- tara) and the Qatar Foundation, the On the interest in art education interest of the artists headquarters in tal of Qatari shareholding companies listed the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad hibitions that consolidate the cultural extent of Qatar’s interest in Islamic in Qatar and its connection with the providing scholarships for students on the Qatar Stock Exchange. The Cabinet al-Thani on the occasion of the blessed identity of Qatar during this year, as heritage in particular and Islamic arts Qatari conscience, the head of the and providing studios and artistic also took the necessary measures to issue month of Ramadan, “asking Allah more than 100 events will be organ- in general. painting and printing department at residency, which makes preserving the a draft law on mortgaging movable funds, Almighty to return it to His Highness ised, including many events related to Al-Athba stressed that cancelling Virginia Commonwealth University Qatari identity a fundamental focus in after the Council of Ministers reviewed the with good health and happiness, and arts in its various forms. public events and realistic art exhibi- Dr Issa Deby, said in a statement to arts. recommendation of the Shura Council on to Qatar and its honourable people the draft law. The draft law aims to enable and those who live in Qatar with more companies and individuals to obtain bank prosperity and development under loans with the guarantee of mortgaged the wise leadership of His Highness, movables, and contribute to reducing the and to the Arab and Islamic nations cost of loans by creating a guarantee for with security, peace and stability,” the banks to reduce the risk of defaulting pay- QNA report states. Qatar seeks to enhance women’s ments, thus supporting small- and medi- um-size enterprises and their contribu- tion to the national economy. the agreement between the government Among the provisions contained in the of Qatar and the government of Bermuda draft law are the provisions related to the regarding the avoidance of double taxation participation in peace processes scope of application, the establishment of and the prevention of fi nancial evasion the electronic register in the Qatar Cen- with regard to taxes on income. tral Securities Depository and the data The Cabinet took the necessary meas- QNA national development and relief pro- she said, stressing Qatar’s conviction to be recorded in the register, the estab- ures to ratify an agreement between Qa- New York grammes that it implements in many that ensuring the rights of women and lishment and enforcement of the right of tar and the United Nations regarding the regions of the world, especially those girls and the advancement of women mortgage, and the rights of the mortga- establishment of a United Nations offi ce suff ering from confl icts, referring in and their active participation in society gee. The Cabinet approved draft decision in Qatar affi liated with the ceOffi of Coun- atar affi rmed the urgent need for this context to the eff ective contribu- should be an essential part of any agree- of HE the Minister of Finance to apply the ter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in support of the the international community to tion of Qatar in organising the fi rst in- ments that are worked out and reached. requirements of substantial activity to the UNOCT programme related to the estab- Qpay more attention to enhanc- ternational conference on youth par- Based on the important role that economic activities practiced in Qatar. lishment of ‘International Hub on Behav- ing the participation of women in peace ticipation in peace processes held in Qatar plays in sponsoring the Afghan In addition, the Cabinet approved a draft ioural Insights to Counter Terrorism’ as a processes and negotiations, expressing Helsinki in 2019. dialogue to achieve peace and stability, protocol amending some provisions of UNOCT Programme Offi ce in Qatar. its belief that the essential step for pre- Also, the initiative of Qatar to host it was keen, in coordination with the venting sexual violence in confl icts lies the high-level global conference on parties participating in the dialogue, in taking proactive measures in order to comprehensive peace processes for to include women in the Afghan peace empower women in all stages, whether youth that will be held in Doha in 2022 talks that were held in Doha in Septem- before or after the outbreak of confl icts, in co-operation with Finland, Colom- ber 2020, which witnessed the partici- including ensuring their full and active bia and the United Nations represented pation of a number of female fi gures as participation in political, economic and by the Secretary-General’s Envoy on members of the negotiating team of Af- social life. HE ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed Youth and the Education Above All ghanistan, she said. This came in a statement delivered bin Saif al-Thani Foundation in Qatar, which will focus HE Sheikha Alya explained that the by HE the Permanent Representative among other topics on the participation inclusion of women in the Afghan peace of Qatar to the United Nations ambas- ures in order to empower women in all of young women in peace processes. talks is the same approach followed sador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif stages, stressing the urgent need for the HE Sheikha Alya explained that Qa- in the negotiations that took place in al-Thani before a virtual meeting held international community to give more tar, as a host country, is keen for the Doha in July 2019, which also witnessed by the UN Security Council on “sexual attention to enhancing the participa- conference to achieve its desired goal, distinguished participation by women violence in confl icts.” tion of women in peace processes and which is to take into account gender who played an important role in the ne- Qatar pays special attention to the negotiations. equality in all stages of the conference gotiations, and they had a great impact issue of preventing sexual violence in This in a manner that enhances the preparation, and to ensure the imple- in promoting a fruitful dialogue envi- The oath taking ceremony. confl icts, due to its direct link with the desired results and ensures sustainabil- mentation and follow-up of its out- ronment. State’s priorities of protecting and pro- ity, which was emphasised by the global comes. She expressed hope that eff ec- Concluding, ambassador Alya reiter- moting human rights, HE Sheikha Alya study on the implementation of resolu- tive participation of young women at ated Qatar’s commitment to continue said, pointing to the eff orts of Qatar in tion 1325 (2000), in addition to the need this conference will contribute to push co-operation with all parties concerned preventing and settling disputes and to place the special needs of women and for a new generation that paves the way with the agenda of women, peace and Ministry accredits new batch enhancing international peace and se- girl victims of sexual violence among for broad participation of women in security at the national, regional and curity, in accordance with the United the priorities of peace agreements. peace processes, and the prevention of international levels, to provide the nec- Nations Charter. Qatar, she said, believes that the sexual violence in confl ict situations. essary support to ensure its implemen- of Qatari real estate brokers The ambassador added that the main needs and role of women and girls Qatar believes that the involvement tation on the ground, and to contribute step in preventing sexual violence in in confl ict zones should be included of women contributes to the success of to the establishment of sustainable confl icts lies in taking proactive meas- among the target groups in the inter- mediation processes to resolve disputes, peace and security in the world. QNA a way that serves the national economy Doha and helps realise Qatar National Vision 2030. Virtual seminar today on common traff ic mistakes The department of real estate broker- new batch of accredited real es- ages handles the application process in The Public Relations Department of the Ramadan Campaign’ to raise awareness during the holy month of Ramadan, us/j/6186754109?pwd=Z2M0VmtGc1Rj tate brokers took legal oath yes- coordination with the training depart- Ministry of Interior (MoI) in co-ordination on road safety. Off icers from the Traff ic safety at signals, safe track on the road OTZ5OGxtakc4eWE3UT09, Meeting ID: Aterday at the Ministry of Justice. ment in the centre for legal and judicial with Traff ic Awareness Department Department will be sharing information and pedestrian safety. The admission 618 675 4109 and Passcode: 12345 and The new batch included 14 brokers (indi- studies. under the General Directorate of Traff ic about red signal crossing, seatbelt to the seminar is restricted for the first the meeting room will be open for meet viduals and companies) raising the total The two sides ensure that the appli- will organise today a virtual awareness safety, risks of using mobile phone while 1,000 persons. The event will be an and greet from 8.45pm and the seminar number operating in Qatar since the new cant satisfi es all the requirements need- seminar on common traff ic mistakes driving, smart traff ic signals, Covid-19 opportunity to interact with off icers from will start at 9 pm. MoI has invited the law to 153 Qatari brokers registered at the ed to carry out the job. Requirements in- among drivers. The seminar, from protocols while driving, traff ic statistics the Traff ic Department, and clear doubts members of the Indian community and department. clude being a Qatari national with a clean 9pm-10.30pm, is for members of the for the year 2020, overtaking from related to traff ic safety and functions of the public to attend this very informative This is the 10th batch since Law No 22 record and a space that is suitable for the Indian community through Zoom and right, traff ic surveillance cameras, minor the Traff ic Directorate. and important seminar using the of 2017 on regulating real estate brokers real estate brokerage operations. The de- the general public on a first-come, first- accidents, yellow box at intersections, The link, ID and password of the Zoom above-mentioned link or meeting ID and came into eff ect. It is part of the Ministry partment also carries out a training pro- serve basis. The event is part of the ‘Safe risks of speeding, tips for safe driving meeting are: https://us02web.zoom. password. of Justice’s eff orts to regulate the fi eld in gramme for real estate brokers. Gulf Times Thursday, April 15, 2021 3 QATAR

Covid-19 vaccine recommended for at-risk Qatar Museums pregnant women and nursing mothers tus. It is recommended that pregnant community transmission of Covid-19  No evidence to women should receive the vaccine albeit or their personal risk of contracting the suggest vaccine not as a routine vaccination but based virus at work. on their individual pregnancy condi- Dr Salwa Abu Yaqoub, chair of Ob- safety concerns tions and potential risks of contracting stetrics and Gynaecology at WWRC, to sponsor 2021 for pregnant Covid-19,” she says. emphasised that if women are having Dr al-Khenyab, who is also a senior healthy pregnancies with no high risk women consultant - Obstetrics/Gynaecology at of exposure to Covid-19 or they have no Women’s Wellness and Research Center, chronic condition and their pregnancies regnant women who have chronic says pregnant women with increased are categorised low-risk, they may delay medical conditions that could risk of Covid-19 would still need to con- their Covid-19 vaccination until after Pfurther increase their risk for se- sult their physicians before receiving delivery. Ro Plastic Prize vere Covid-19 as well as those whose the vaccine, otherwise they may need “Where pregnant women are not work puts them at increased risk for get- to delay the vaccination until after their able to receive the vaccine, it is im- n line with its commitment to “The Offi cial Partnership of QM and ting infected should consider taking the delivery. portant that they take precautions to combine design excellence with the patronage, as Honourary Presi- vaccine, advises Qatar’s National Health “While there is currently no evidence protect themselves against the virus Ienvironmental stewardship and dent of the International Jury of the Strategy lead for Healthy Women Lead- that the Moderna and Pfi zer/BioNtech – mask wearing, regular hand wash- sustainability, Qatar Museums (QM) Prize of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa, is a ing to Healthy Pregnancies, Dr Najat al- vaccines being administered in Qatar ing, social distancing and avoiding announced yesterday that it is the of- recognition beyond any that we could Khenyab. are unsafe for pregnant women or those gatherings – and to report possible fi cial main partner of the 2021 Ro Plas- have dreamed. It gives us the strength She says a pregnant woman who is currently breastfeeding their babies, it symptoms, including fever, cough or tic Prize – part of Ro Guiltless Plastic and conviction to go forward with ever part of an at-risk group recommended is advisable for pregnant women to seek difficulty breathing to their healthcare – the international initiative founded more commitment, responsibility, and to receive Covid-19 vaccine such as their physician’s advice before taking provider. Due to changes in their bod- and curated by Milanese designer Ros- emotion to be among those whose ac- healthcare personnel may choose to be the vaccine,” says al-Khenyab. ies and immune systems, it is known sana Orlandi. tions ensure a better future for us all.” vaccinated and that the vaccine is also According to her, their physicians that pregnant women can be badly af- The Prize aims to unite the design A commitment to sustainability and safe for women who are planning to will help them make informed deci- fected by some respiratory infections, community to use plastic waste before environmental education is integral to become pregnant and those currently sions about receiving the vaccines after including Covid-19,” says Dr Abu it reaches waterways and develop the the work of QM. Permanent exhibi- breastfeeding their babies, according to examining their potential exposure to Yaqoub. next generation of design: plastic re- tions at the National Museum of Qatar a report on the Hamad Medical Corpo- using, recycling and upcycling. As the (NMoQ) off er dramatic and immersive ration (HMC) website. “It is recommended that pregnant women offi cial main partner of the initiative, introductions to the natural history Meanwhile, Dr al-Khenyab notes that QM is the fi rst donor to undertake sole QM Chairperson HE Sheikha of the Qatar peninsula and the ways the vaccines have not yet been tested in should receive the vaccine albeit not as a routine sponsorship of the juried Prize, which Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa in which culture, heritage and society on pregnant women. However, evidence vaccination but based on their individual will be presented on September 7, in al-Thani. have been shaped by human interac- from non-clinical studies of the Pfi zer/ conjunction with an exhibition at the tion with the natural world. BioNTech vaccine has been reviewed pregnancy conditions and potential risks of Museo Scenza e Techologia Leonardo “I started all of this in 2018 with my A new special exhibition at NMoQ, by the World Health Organisation and contracting Covid-19” da Vinci for Milan Design Week. daughter Nicoletta, moved out of the Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails, is de- the regulatory bodies in the US, Canada QM Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Ma- sheer desire to avoid feeling helpless in signed especially for children and their and Europe and has raised no concerns yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani the face of the issue that the world was families, educating them about the about safety in pregnancy. has been named honorary president facing at that time: plastic,” Orlandi community of shy marine mammals “Pregnancy alters the body’s immune of the Prize’s international jury. The recalls.“I didn’t know exactly what to that has lived off the coast of Qatar for system and generally aff ects a pregnant QM sponsorship was made public in do, but I certainly knew what I didn’t more than 7,500 years and now is un- woman’s response to viral infections in conjunction with a webinar preview of want to do: simply be one more com- der threat of extinction. general, causing in some cases more se- Milan Design Week, organised on April plaining voice. In conjunction with the exhibition, vere symptoms. However, from research 13. As part of the preview, HE Sheikha “With passion, I dedicated myself to QM is off ering for sale a limited edition evidence so far, pregnant woman (just Al Mayassa announced QM’s commit- spreading the concept on which Guilt- “Dugong Banquette” chair — made up as anyone else) could acquire Covid-19 ment to the Prize. less Plastic is based: Plastic is not at of a herd of plush, stuff ed toy dugongs and most healthy pregnant women do Since the invention of plastic, more fault. Instead, it is the abuse and mis- — designed by Brazil’s Estudio Cam- recover before they deliver. than 8bn metric tonnes of the material use of it which have caused such pro- pana, with all proceeds earmarked for “All pregnant women aff ected by have been produced and more than half found environmental tragedy. the preservation of marine life. The Covid-19 are being successfully cared has been discarded or incinerated. “Nicoletta and I began to involve Qatar Children’s Museum, now under for at HMC and most babies born to This number is constantly grow- the many designers who are friends development, is similarly committed Covid-19-positive mothers have so far ing: more than 322mn metric tonnes of the Gallery as well as those who are to teaching about sustainability, with tested negative,” she explains. are produced each year, and 8mn met- involved in our work to demonstrate interactive displays designed to en- “Covid-19 can be more severe dur- ric tonnes end up in our oceans. The this idea by asking them to conceive a courage children to become responsi- ing pregnancy due to pregnant women’s Ro Plastic Prize, established in 2019, design with the reuse, recycle and up- ble stewards of the environment. lower immunity and there has been no seeks creative entries in the categories cycle of plastic in mind. In another recent QM commission, evidence that Covid-19 vaccine has ad- of exemplary urban and public furni- “We became increasingly passionate Qatari designer Wit Noiz created a verse eff ects on pregnancy or the foe- Dr Najat al-Khenyab and Dr Salwa Abu Yaqoub. ture design, innovative projects to help and excited and we wanted to do even statement “Bag-It Abaya,” using 327 communities transform waste into more to involve as many people as pos- single-use plastic bags collected and wealth and inspiring communications sible. upcycled from clean-ups on the out- campaigns. “Enter the Ro Plastic Prize, an inter- skirts of Doha. In an example of how HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “As national award dedicated to creatives thinking about waste reduction is museums are platforms for knowledge from all over the world with no age becoming the norm for young Qatari production and for inspiring individu- limit. The goal is to fi nd, stimulate, and fashion designers, the bags were fused als to fi nd solutions to enhance the encourage the creation of design, so- together to create a wearable fabric. quality of their lives, it gives me great cial responsibility, and communication QM’s hub for innovation and entre- pleasure to announce Qatar Museums’ projects that could concretely become preneurship in fashion and design, M7, commitment to combine design excel- part of the solution to a real problem. is a 29,000sq m (312,000sq ft) facility lence with environmental stewardship “Alongside me, for our Prize, I in the heart of Msheireb Downtown and sustainability in sponsoring the had organisations who supported it Doha, a mixed-use development that 2021 Ro Plastic Prize. through their commitment, sharing is reviving the city’s historic core as a “I have had the privilege of work- the same emotion and passion that sustainable live-work neighbourhood. ing with the namesake of the Prize, the drove us from the beginning. Helping to train aspiring entrepre- critical future thinker Rossana Orlan- “Overwhelmed with enthusiasm neurs in creative fi elds, cultivate their di, to support Doha’s creative economy for the thousands of submissions we talent through mentorships and ad- with our exciting townhouse project in have received since the fi rst year which vance their careers, especially in design Msheireb Downtown Doha, the world’s have come from fi ve continents, and and fashion, M7 also sparks creativity newest and largest regenerative city. the global press coverage that the win- in people of all ages and backgrounds “I am doubly excited that the win- ners and most brilliant projects have through exhibitions, performances, ners of the 2021 Ro Plastic Prize will be received, Nicoletta and I are honoured fi lms, educational programmes and exhibited in Qatar next year as part of to receive such a prestigious endorse- public discussions, with links to lead- our ever-growing commitment to sus- ment just three years after bringing the ing creative professionals from around tainable programming.” concept to life. the world. Sheikha Al Mayassa chairs QLC Board of Directors meeting E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint QLC said in a statement. In addition, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Board received updates on regis- HChairperson of Qatar Leader- trations for the Executive Master’s in ship Centre (QLC), convened the fi rst Leadership - Qatar programme, to be- quarter meeting of the Centre’s Board ments and matters of organisational gin in. September 2021. The Centre’s of Directors on Monday. priority. Topics on the agenda included management reported that QLC has The meeting was attended by HE this year’s National Leadership Pro- emphasised the importance of adher- Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali bin Saud grammes as well as the value and ef- ing to the Ministry of Public Health’s al-Thani, Board Vice-Chairman and fectiveness of the curriculum, which guidelines, utilising the best techno- Managing Director of QLC, members was designed in co-operation with in- logical tools available for virtual learn- of the Board and the Centre’s executive ternational academic partners such as ing and other Centre activities. management. Duke University, Georgetown Univer- QLC news is available on the Qatar During the meeting, the Board dis- sity and Harvard University to enhance Leadership Centre website, www.qlc. cussed QLC’s fi rst quarter achieve- remote learning through virtual tools, org.qa, and on its social media.

Traffic shift on part of Al Corniche Street Ashghal has announced a three-month traff ic shift on a part of Al Corniche Street in one direction to parallel road with same number of lanes from tomorrow (Friday). The diversion in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic is to enable stormwater network construction works, within Doha Central Development & Beautification Project – Package 4. The traff ic diversion will start from Al Diwan Interchange towards the intersection between Al Corniche Street and Hamad Al Kabeer Street. Dedicated left turn from Al Corniche Street to Jasim Bin Mohammed Street will be reduced from two to one lane while keeping two lanes at Al Diwan Interchange traff ic signal open. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, April 15, 2021 QATAR Discover Qatar in Vodafone’s Hadaya digital Arabic website launch rewards scheme introduced odafone Qatar announced yes- terday the launch of Hadaya, its Vlatest digital rewards scheme, for bookings of as part of its digital agenda. Both new and existing customers will be eligible for a bonus when they either recharge or pay their bill via the My Vodafone App or the Voda- quarantine packages fone Qatar website. Introduced to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, Vodafone  The website is for bookings of Welcome Home and Mekaines quarantine launched Hadaya, which means ‘gifts’ in Arabic, to thank its custom- packages  In March, almost 90,000 guests were accommodated in designated ers who have embraced a digital-first quarantine facilities, more than double the number in previous months Five lifestyle, and to encourage others to follow suit. In keeping with the spirit more hotels have joined the programme, adding a further 483 rooms and raising of giving, recharges can also be gifted the existing total capacity to 9,890 and the number of participating hotels to 65 to others. Online recharges of QR50 and rate of electronic payments and so- of our services.” As an alternative to above will receive an extra 10% in cial distancing measures due to the physical scratch cards, Vodafone’s dig- iscover Qatar (DQ) has an- value from Vodafone Hadaya. Cus- Covid-19 pandemic. ital channels provide a safe yet simple nounced the launch of an Ara- tomers will automatically have the “Our customers demand reliable, user experience, allowing customers Dbic website for bookings of bonus added to their number, with- secure, accessible, and convenient to recharge anywhere and at any time Welcome Home and Mekaines quar- out the need to register or subscribe services and by using our digital to stay connected to Vodafone’s en- antine packages. The initiative comes to an additional service. platforms they can stay connected hanced GigaNet network. in response to customer feedback. Diego Camberos, chief operating at all times. With Hadaya, they can Hadaya was launched for an ini- Visitors to qatarairwaysholidays. officer, Vodafone Qatar, comment- not only be rewarded for their dig- tial period of three months and will com/qa-ar can book in the Arabic lan- ed: “Our Hadaya rewards scheme is ital-first lifestyle, but can also use be available for the whole of Ram- guage, both Welcome Home and Me- a great example of how we are sup- the power of technology to make a adan and Eid. To find out more about kaines quarantine packages. Discover porting the digitisation of Qatar and difference to someone else’s life, be Vodafone Qatar’s Hadaya rewards Qatar has also increased the number responding to changing customer that a friend, family member, or col- scheme, visit https://www.vodafone. of dedicated Arabic speakers at its behaviour, in line with the increased league, or simply someone in need qa/en/recharge. call centre, which operates 24/7. Ad- ditionally, it has introduced the ‘Wel- come Home’ reservation counter at Hamad International Airport (HIA), where an expert team is ready to help gramme, adding a further 483 rooms Despite the growing capacity, travel- travellers departing from the country and raising the existing total capac- lers are recommended to book early Qatar Charity provides free secure a quarantine booking for their ity to 9,890 and the number of par- to secure the property and budget of return to Qatar. ticipating hotels to 65, according to a their choice. Discover Qatar continues to add press statement. DQ’s Welcome Home hotel quar- new properties to the quarantine fa- In March, almost 90,000 guests antine package starts from QR2,423 bread for IDPs in northern Syria cilities list to ensure room availability were accommodated in designated that allow an aff ordable quarantine and to meet the increasing demand. quarantine facilities, more than dou- experience. Included are three meals Five more hotels joined the pro- ble the number in previous months. per day on a full board basis and one- atar Charity (QC), as part of way transfers from HIA upon arrival. its relief aid, has said it con- Guests can choose among many ho- Qtinues to provide free bread to DQ processes 88,000 refunds with value of $27mn tels that suit their budget across three, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in four and fi ve-star properties. Two and northern Syria by supporting and op- Welcome Home and Mekaines $27mn. Only a few outstanding three-bedroom apartments and villas erating bakery ovens, aiming to ease refunds continue to be handled refunds are pending, and they are available for larger families. the burden of living on the IDP com- swiftly, Discover Qatar (DQ) has are being processed as the hotels Mekaines packages start from munity during the holy month of Ra- said. To date, DQ has processed confirm eligibility, according to a QR1,820 and include a mobile phone madan. 88,000 refunds with a value of press statement. with a SIM card, Wi-Fi, full board and As many as 16 automatic ovens were new bedding for every arrival. operated through co-ordination be- tween QC, the International Organi- sation for Migration and civil society organisations. The ovens provide free bread daily to more than 190,000 people (37,000 families) from the IDP community, who live in nearly 60 camps, in ad- dition to those living in abandoned homes and makeshift shelters. Providing free bread to this number of benefi ciaries, Qatar Charity con- tributes to meeting 12% of the daily need of bread for IDPs in northern Syria, with a production capacity of 42 Qatar Charity continues to provide free bread to IDPs in northern Syria by tonnes of fl our per day for a period of supporting and operating bakery ovens. six months. The benefi ciaries expressed delight at receiving free bread that contributes to alleviating their suff ering and help them fast during the holy month of Ramadan, QC said in a statement. “I was displaced two years ago, and live in the Rahma camp on the Idlib countryside. I have always found it diffi cult to secure bread for the family on a daily basis, due to the lack of job opportunities and a stable source of income, especially in light of the con- tinued coronavirus pandemic,” said Abdul Aziz Zahir, an IDP. “I now receive two bundles of bread for free on a daily basis, which is suf- fi cient to meet my family’s needs. This lessened a great burden on me. I hope this project would continue to con- tribute to alleviating my suff ering and that of those living in the camp, espe- cially in this holy month.” Mohamed al-Omar, also an IDP liv- ing in the Rahma camp, thanked the benevolent people in Qatar for their support. “I had been suff ering for more than two years while securing bread, and there was a great burden on me as a family head,” he said, hoping that QC would continue providing free bread for them. Qatar Charity is studying the estab- lishment of a new oven in Azaz, a city in northwest Syria, with a production capacity of 2.5 tonnes of fl our, equiv- needs of Syrian refugees in southern production capacity of 8,000 bread alent to approximately 3,000 bread Turkey, where the Urfa bakery, which packages per day. More than 4,500 packages per day, for the benefi t of was established and operated in 2017, families of orphans, widows and the nearly 2,800 families. continues to operate for the third year most vulnerable groups of Syrian refu- QC is working to secure the bread in a row without interruption, with a gees benefi t from it in Urfa province. Gulf Times Thursday, April 15, 2021 5 QATAR Gulf Times 6 Thursday, April 15, 2021 QATAR/RAMADAN A time for jubilation

amadan is here. And yes, having certain knowledge that all the jubilation germi- one has achieved sincerity in HMC off ers home Rnating in our house- worship and gained taqwa. holds for months now has fully It’s a feeling that only issues sprung. Spreading through the from a secure place of sheer world, crossing every kind of confi dence within us, one that barrier — literal and fi gurative, guarantees us an unimagina- manmade and natural — Ram- ble reward from a Loving and safety tips to residents adan seeks every square foot Merciful Lord—the true and on the face of earth wherein is only God who has Himself a fasting Muslim, to cheer his shown us a recurring way of heart, inspire his soul, and en- worship that solidifi es our re- rich his sense of taqwa. lationship with Him through What an amazing mode of trust and conviction. during Ramadan worship is the fasting of Ram- It is surely awe-inspiring adan! to realise that worship is joy- he Hamad Injury Preven- any kitchen stoves, or other hot Sure, fasting Ramadan is ful, and that the more sincere tion Programme (HIPP) at oil, water, food, burning materi- the Third Pillar upholding the and authentic our worship, the THamad Medical Corpora- als or electrical power sources. edifi ce of Islam. Yes, it is a time more joy we will fi nd in it and tion (HMC) is advising families  Avoid wearing inappropri- for profound refl ection and because of it. The signifi cance and residents to practise proven ate clothing such as nylon or nurturing that special God- of Ramadan in the spiritual home safe techniques during the fl owing dresses near open fi re consciousness of taqwa. True, storehouse of man cannot be holy month of Ramadan. while cooking. it is a way of boosting self- overstated or overestimated. “This year, Ramadan is also  Clean up spills immediately, control, an extended training joy. It’s the fact that they suc- And it is all ours! And it comes unique due to the partial lock- wet fl oors are slippery. period of intensive worship. ceeded to establish their re- with a divine warranty of hu- down and physical distancing  Keep the kitchen fl oor clear But that’s not all. Ramadan ward with Allah, who enabled man success, along with a required by the National Cov- of toys and other items. is a season of harvest, a time them to keep their fast pure, Heavenly security that it will id-19 response.  When moving hot food of year in the time of man to however hard it was physi- perfect the way we worship “Many family members are at items, especially liquids like reap joy in sowing the fruit- cally or mentally and in spite our Lord and serve Him exclu- home most of the time, so home soup and tea, announce ‘I am ful seeds of happiness for our of their being able to break sively! safety must be our priority,” said, coming through with a pot of hot Hereafter. In fact, so much is it when no other human was The Muslim asks for noth- Dr Aisha Obeid, assistant direc- tea!’ and make sure your path is the delight of Muslims of all looking. That’s the sheer joy of ing more. That is why Muslims tor, HIPP. reach to avoid eye irritation or damaged appliances or electric clear of trip hazards and young backgrounds and places in the a faster. He was able to over- used to do more in Ramadan, Home safety tips for families oral ingestion. cords. children and keep a cover on the fertile fi elds of Ramadan that come himself, his nafs (soul), though they were doing it on a with young kids:  Provide constant supervi-  Before you start your car pot to avoid scald burns. some scholars openly worry and keep it honest and whole- lot less. Some of the most im-  Always assign a responsible sion for young children, espe- check for hiding or playing small  When a fi re breaks out in a that our Ramadan euphoria some, inside and out. That’s portant achievements of our adult to provide continuous and cially those under one year of children around your car in your cooking pan, avoid pouring wa- grows so overwhelming that the cause of celebration. Ummah materialised in this visual supervision over young age, while they bathe, as drown- parking area specially before ter on it, as it may spread the fi re it may distract us from the es- The hadith just mentioned least materialistic of months. children. ing often happens silently and you backup or reverse. Backo- further. Instead, cover the burn- sence of fasting. is a divine pronouncement, a Is this do-more-with-less  Regardless of their age, un- can go unnoticed. It only takes vers can be prevented by walking ing pan with a thick lid, a wet In a well-known hadith of hadith qudsi. It actually begins ethic of our righteous prede- supervised children are at a high a few seconds for a young child fully around your car, to visually towel or fi re blanket. Prophet Muhammad, sallalla- with the Prophet, sallallahu cessors true for you? What did risk for preventable home inju- or toddler to drown and they can check for young children or pets,  Make sure that you have a hu ‘alahi wa sallam, we are told ‘alahi wa sallam, telling us that you attain last Ramadan? The ries, especially falls, poisoning, drown in as little as 3-4 inches before you even start your car. smoke detector in your kitch- that a fasting person is prom- Allah Says: “All the deeds of a one before? drowning, asphyxiation, and of water. Cover all water-fi lled  Don’t allow young kids play en and keep it in /or near the ised with certainty two joyous Son of Aadam are his [since he Many of us do more for our- burns. containers and don’t leave kids outdoors for more than 30-45 kitchen, but not near the stove or moments every time we fast: claims sincerity in doing them selves in Ramadan than any  Never leave any young child unattended in or around swim- minutes during extremely hot the heater; and at least one fi re “One at the time one breaks for Me, but cannot prove it in time of year. But compared on a bed or counter unattended. ming pools. weather or during midday. Like- extinguisher must be charged, his fast. And another when one this world] except for fasting. to what? And what have you  Keep stairs and hallways  Keep choking hazards, like wise, children left in a hot car, easily accessible and installed in meets his Lord.” [Muslim]. The It is [always genuinely done] done for your family, your lo- clear and free of clutter that coins, buttons and small toys out even for a few minutes, can also your house. Check your smoke hadith does not limit the joy of for Me, and I [consequently cal community, your Ummah could cause a child or the eld- of reach of small children and succumb to heat stroke. detector battery regularly. fasting to only these two mo- give unspecifi ed abundant] re- in past Ramadans? erly to trip and fall; install safety toddlers. Any items that can fi t Kitchen safety tips: If and when you get a whiff ments. But you better believe it ward for it.” Do you know what you want gates to block a toddler’s access through a toilet paper roll must  Young children must be su- of cooking gas: Do not switch does, indeed, restrict them to So whoever fasts cannot to achieve this Ramadan? to a staircase, an outdoor terrace be secured above ground in a pervised while in the home, es- on any lights or exhaust fans as just those who fast. These twin but fast honestly and purely Happiness is perhaps the or balcony closed container. pecially when cooking is ongo- they may be potential points of joys are exclusive to fasting for Allah’s Sake. Every Mus- most powerful of human mo-  Keep poisonous and toxic  Create a ‘safe zone’ in the ing, their play areas must be far ignition for the infl ammable gas. and the ones who fast. They lim knows this. This is what tivators. Jubilation is its most household items, like detergents, kitchen so children do not en- away from the kitchen, clear of Open all doors and windows im- come only to the latter because fi lls every Muslim with glee in ecstatic expression. It is unre- medicines, and cleaning prod- ter the kitchen while cooking or trip hazards, like electrical wires, mediately to reduce concentra- of the former. and about Ramadan, plain and served rejoicing in celebration ucts, in locked cabinets that are baking is going on. Clear your and furniture, tall shelves must tion of leaked gas. It’s not that the fasting per- simple. of victory and success. above ground and inaccessible to path of children when trans- be secured to the wall. Make sure the valve on the sons may again eat and drink Ah! Now that’s real and ab- crawling and younger kids. porting hot liquids like stews,  Make sure to have a “Kids gas cylinder is turned off . Never when they break their fast. solute happiness, the kind of Article source: http://www.  Keep sanitisers, hand rubs coffee or tea. Cover unused free zone” around your cooking use a burning match near a gas That’s not the source of their gladness that only comes from islamnet.qa/emainpage/ and antiseptics that are widely electrical sockets with plastic area and monitor children and cylinder to locate the place of used these days out of children’s covers and repair or discard any ensure that they do not approach leakage.

Wear mask properly, follow Covid-19 measures: MoPH 984 new Covid cases reported

QNA more contagious and is capable Doha of spreading more easily than the existing strain and may be asso- ciated with increased severity of he Ministry of Public disease Health (MoPH) yesterday  The Pfi zer/BioNTech and Treported 984 new con- Moderna vaccines being used in fi rmed cases of coronavirus. Of Qatar’s vaccination programme these 745 are community cases are eff ective against the new vari- and 239 from travellers returning ants from abroad. The MoPH recorded  The pace of the vaccina- 601 recoveries from the virus dur- tion programme brings hope of ing the past 24 hours, bringing the a gradual return to normalcy in total number of cases recovered in Qatar and to people around the Qatar to 171,388. world. However, this is unlikely to Eight new deaths of people happen in the next few weeks or aged 46, 54, 57, 58, 70, 76, 87 and months. 89 were recorded. Five of them The statement stressed that it is had chronic diseases and had re- important for all to play their role ceived necessary medical care. in controlling the virus by follow- The MoPH statement on Cov- ing precautionary measures: id-19 developments in Qatar,  Adherence to physical dis- added: tancing. 1,159,479 Covid-19 vaccine  Avoiding close contact with doses have been administered others, crowded places and con- since the start of the programme. fi ned closed spaces where other  27,848 Covid-19 vaccine people congregate. doses had been administered in  Wearing a face mask. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has reiterated the need to wear face masks properly, the past 24 hours.  Washing hands regularly. explaining the important points to consider through an infographic on social media. It has also  Every day, hundreds of peo-  Anyone suff ering Cov- stressed that while the Covid-19 restrictions are gradually increased in Qatar, it is important for ple are becoming sick due to Cov- id-19 symptoms should contact everyone to play their role in controlling the virus by following the precautionary measures. These id-19 with many requiring admis- to hospitals had doubled. months but now Covid-19 cases 16000 helpline immediately. include adherence to physical distancing; avoiding close contact with others, crowded places and sion to hospital to manage their  Qatar’s strict quarantine of the new variants from South The earlier the disease is detect- confined close spaces where other people congregate; wearing a face mask; and washing hands symptoms. policy for returning travellers had Africa was being witnessed in the ed the easier it will be to receive regularly.  Since February 1, the number helped delay the spread of new region and Qatar. the right treatment and recover of people with Covid-19 admitted variants in the country for several  The new variant is much from it.

369 face prosecution for Covid-19 measures’ violation

The designated authorities referred 369 members of the same family. people to the Public Prosecution for violating Also, 123 people were referred to the pros- the preventive and precautionary measures ecution for not maintaining a safe physical enforced in the country to contain the spread distance, and seven others for not installing of Covid-19, the Ministry of Interior reported the Ehteraz app on their mobile phone. yesterday. The measure is in line with the Cabinet deci- Among them, 234 people were referred to sion, Decree Law No 17 of 1990 on infectious the Public Prosecution for not wearing masks diseases, and the precautionary measures in places where these are mandatory, while in force in the country to contain the spread five people were found violating the vehicle of Covid-19. The designated authorities have occupancy rule. Under this rule, a maximum called on the public to adhere to the precau- of four persons are allowed in a vehicle, tionary measures in place to ensure their including the driver, except when they are safety and the safety of others.

BMW M440i and 420i models recalled The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and repair works and communicate with cus- (MoCI), in co-operation with Alfardan Automo- tomers to ensure that they have carried out biles, dealer of BMW in Qatar, has announced a the necessary repairs. The MoCI has urged all recall of BMW M440i and 420i models of 2021 customers to report any violations to its Con- due to a possible defect in the side airbag. The sumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud recall campaign comes within the framework Department, which processes complaints, of the MoCI’s continuous eff orts to protect enquiries and suggestions through the call consumers and ensure that dealers follow up centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twit- on vehicle defects and repairs. ter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, The ministry has said it will co-ordinate with and the ministry’s mobile app for Android the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and iOS: MOCIQATAR Gulf Times Thursday, April 15, 2021 7 QATAR Italy embassy, Sidra Medicine team up to mark Italian Research Day

n the occasion of the Italian Re- search Day in the World, which will Obe celebrated today, the embassy of Italy in Doha has created a social media campaign to promote Italian researchers Ibrahim Abdulla al-Maliki and Dr Barbro Fridén at the MoU signing. working in Qatar, as well as the network of contacts between research centres and uni- versities in the two countries. The communication campaign has been produced in partnership with Sidra Medi- cine, a state-of-the-art hospital for women Sidra Medicine and children and a member of Qatar Foun- dation. The Sidra Medicine Research team, which includes more than 35 diff erent nationali- and Qatar Red ties, is actively engaged in precision medi- cine, from improved diagnostics of rare genetic diseases to cancer research and new therapies, aiming to boost patients’ immune Crescent Society responses through innovative approaches in Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas. Sidra Medicine personalised medicine. ”Sidra Medicine hosts a group of Italian an opportunity to highlight that Italian re- leukaemia, in co-operation with IRCCS FACT and the Italian National Transplant researchers who studied in some of the best searchers are a symbol of excellence for our Policlinico San Matteo of Pavia. Centre. sign agreement universities in Italy and worked in top-class country and a resource for the international Sara Deola, physician and researcher, is Annalisa Terranegra, researcher and ad- facilities and research centres. In Qatar they scientifi c community. In Qatar they have conducting a study on clinical complica- junct professor at Qatar University, formed have been engaged for years in developing brought an added value to research studies tions after bone marrow transplantation a research team named Laboratory of Preci- idra Medicine and the Crescent Society are a step projects benefi cial to patients and the entire recognised by Qatari authorities that deeply from a donor, called allogeneic bone marrow sion Nutrition. She is studying the mecha- Qatar Red Crescent So- in the right direction to help community. appreciate the Italian higher education,” transplantation. nisms underlying the role of food and nu- Sciety (QRCS) have signed improve the lives of young pa- “Let’s not forget that their work con- Prunas said. The research project followed by Dr Deo- trients on gut microbiota and epigenetic a memorandum of under- tients in need and to give them sistently contributes to the growth of sci- The Sidra Medicine researchers who la, is in collaboration among others with the mechanisms. standing (MoU) under which an opportunity to have access entifi c research that is becoming increas- have collaborated with the embassy of Bone Marrow Transplant Center of Bolzano Also thanks to local and internationals the latter will provide fi nan- to the right care at the right ingly important in the relations between Italy to create the social media campaign Hospital in Italy, and aims to deepen the un- collaborations, among which University cial assistance covering the time.” the two countries now,” Italian ambas- and shared their professional stories are: derstanding of post-transplant complica- of Milan and in the future Politecnico di treatment, medications and Al-Maliki, added: “Qatar sador Alessandro Prunas said in a press Davide Bedognetti, director of the Can- tions. Torino, the laboratory is currently running medical supplies of patients in Red Crescent Society’s MoU statement. cer Programme, oncologist and researcher, Dr Cristina Maccalli carries out a research many studies on diabetes, obesity, cardio- need. with Sidra Medicine is an am- “The embassy of Italy in Doha continu- who is developing a genomic test that will project in co-operation with San Raff aele vascular diseases, infl ammatory bowel dis- The signatories were Sid- bitious step towards realising ally carries out scientifi c diplomacy targeted allow to understand which treatment the Hospital in Milan to generate engineered eases and perturbation of the mother-baby ra Medicine CEO Dr Barbro the joint social and humani- actions aimed at enhancing the value of individual cancer patient can benefi t from immune cells to redirect their anti-tumour axis during the pregnancy and early baby Fridén and QRCS chief execu- tarian goals embodied by the Italian research and, more specifi cally, the and to elucidate the role of the immune functions for haematological malignancies. life. tive director Ibrahim Abdulla Qatar National Vision 2030. importance of our researchers in Qatar, an system in the control of metastatic evolu- In co-operation with University of Pal- Sara Tomei, scientist in the genomics al-Maliki. It is also a continuation of our excellence we are very proud of,” the envoy tion. ermo she is studying cancer stem cells to fi eld and manager of the Omics Core Facil- Dr Fridén, said: “Every child ongoing partnership with the said. The aim is to develop ultra-personal- better understand the mechanisms behind ity, Integrated Genomics Services at Sidra deserves the opportunity to hospital. The communication campaign of the ised immunotherapeutic treatments. He the responsiveness of patients to therapies Medicine, provides centralised genomic grow up healthy and realise “QRCS has extensive ex- embassy, which will be kicked off by a is also adjunct associate professor at the in the framework of precision medicine. services, including DNA and RNA isolation, their full potential and this is perience in the fi eld of hu- video of Prunas today, consists of a series Hamad Bin Khalifa University of Doha These projects are conducted also in col- DNA sequencing and high-throughput mo- especially the case for chil- manitarian and community of testimonial video clips for social net- and associate professor at the University laboration with local and US institutions. lecular profi ling. dren who are fi ghting com- engagement. We have been works – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram of Genoa. Massimino Miele, manager of the Ad- Her interest is focused on the application plex health conditions. Our actively supporting the treat- – showing the Italian researchers at Sidra Chiara Cugno, director of the Advanced vanced Cell Therapy Core Laboratory, con- of cutting-edge genomic technologies to hospital, which provides spe- ment of needy children, whose Medicine. Cell Therapy Core Laboratory, paediatric tributes to the development of cell and gene improve the diagnosis and therapeutics of cialist paediatric services is families cannot aff ord the cost The video clips illustrate research projects oncologist and haematologist, who together therapies in bone marrow transplantation. human diseases. committed to providing the of treatment and we hope that with a strong relationship with Italy and with her team, set up a laboratory to deliver He deals with research and applications of Dr Tomei is currently leading a national best possible care for the chil- our contribution will have a daily activities of the researchers, focusing advanced cell and gene therapies to treat ge- regenerative medicine. eff ort to apply genomic technologies for the dren of Qatar and beyond. Our positive impact by giving them also on their educational and professional netic diseases and cancers. Miele promotes principles and standards study of the prehistorical Qatari population, partnerships with charita- access to the best paediatric experiences. She also carries out research activities in – as well as their implementation — of reg- in collaboration with the Qatar Museums ble groups like the Qatar Red healthcare services.” “The Italian Research Day in the World is the fi eld of childhood cancers, specifi cally ulatory bodies such as the European JACIE- and the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, April 15, 2021 QATAR Concerns over likely schedule as CBSE puts off Class 12 exams

By Joseph Varghese 15 days will be given before the Another parent said that it Staff Reporter start of the examinations.” can cause more stress for the Some parents feel that if the students as they have to go examinations are held in June- through the agonising process everal parents in Qatar July, there might be some diffi - of ‘wait and watch.’ have raised concerns about culties for some of the students “We are not sure whether the Sthe decision of the Central for their higher education. situation will improve by June. Board of Secondary Education “My child is planning to go to The students are already under- (CBSE), India, to postpone the Canada for higher studies and going a lot of stress and tension Class XII examinations. we have made the arrangements due to the prevailing situation The CBSE yesterday also can- accordingly. The examinations and the lack of suffi cient physi- In co-operation with the IFRC and BDRCS, QRCS’ representation mission in Bangladesh has distributed emergency aid to 126 families, or celled the Class X exams in view are already delayed by a cou- cal interaction with their peers 630 people, aff ected by the disaster. of the surge in Covid-19 cases ple of months as they used to be and teachers. The mental health in India. Examinations for both completed by March-April in the of the students can be further Class X and XII were to be held earlier years. If the exams are de- aff ected by the postponement in May-June and hundreds of layed, obviously the results also of the examination as it creates students from Indian schools in will be delayed and we are not extra pressure for them. The Qatar were preparing to take the sure whether it will be possible to board should take a decision QRCS in multi-sector response examinations along with their submit the results on time for the about Class XII examinations on peers from India and around the admission process,” a parent said. the similar lines of Class X,” he world. Though several students “Instead of postponing the noted. and parents welcomed the de- examinations, CBSE should The Class X Board Exams were to Bangladesh refugee camp fi re cision to cancel the Class 10 ex- think of awarding the marks for scheduled from May 4. Accord- ams, it is the postponement of students depending on their ing to the CBSE, “the results of Class 12 that has worried many. internal assessments as well as Class X Board will be prepared atar Red Crescent So- The CBSE circular said: “The other examinations conducted on the basis of an objective cri- ciety (QRCS) said it im- Board Exams for Class XII to be by the schools. Several coun- terion to be developed by the Qmediately responded to held from May 4 to June 14, 2021 tries are following this method Board. Any candidate who is not the recent big fi re at Myanmar are hereby postponed. These due to the Covid-19 scenario. satisfi ed with the marks allo- refugee camps in Cox’s Bazaar, exams will be held hereafter. This also ensures that the re- cated on this basis, will be given Bangladesh. The situation will be reviewed sults are published on time. an opportunity to sit in an exam In co-operation with the In- on June 1, 2021 by the Board, CBSE should try this method as and when the conditions are ternational Federation of the and details will be shared sub- to avoid unnecessary hassles conducive to hold the exams,” Red Cross and Red Crescent So- sequently. A notice of at least for the students,” he said. CBSE added. cieties (IFRC) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), QRCS’ representation mission in Bangladesh distributed emer- gency aid to 126 families, or 630 people, aff ected by the disaster. These distributions included VCUarts Qatar students one-month food parcels, hy- giene kits, kitchenware and other items. Currently, the mission is preparing to distrib- receive AEB awards ute 5,000 food parcels among 1,000 families, in partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent, hree graduating students QRCS has said in a statement. from Virginia Common- The fi re damaged shelters, Twealth University School public facilities and infrastruc- of the Arts in Qatar’s (VCUarts ture, leaving thousands of lives 9,508 damaged shelters and 45,122 QRCS in Camp E8 has served of non-food items, distribut- Qatar) Graphic and Interior de- at risk. It started in Block D aff ected people. A total of 3,800 more than 40 patients and in- ing 2,500 parcels of dried and sign departments were the re- of Camp W8, and due to the families were evacuated to other jured persons. fresh food items (in co-op- cipients of the Arab Engineering strong wind, quickly spread to camps. There are around 1,500 An emergency interven- eration with the Turkish Red Bureau (AEB) Awards for Design camps E8, W8, W9 and W10. Red Crescent personnel and tion plan is in progress, with Crescent), and continuing to Excellence, for 2021, while two A large number of shelters and community health volunteers the following activities: build- operate and support BDRCS’ junior students were honoured shops were destroyed, let alone deployed to assist the victims, ing 75 medium-term shelters health centres with medica- with AEB’s award for Creative health, community, education, fi x tents and distribute food and as Phase 1 (pending the selec- tions and fi rst aid supplies (in Achievement and Potential. services and aid centres, the state- non-food items. Even though tion of location); building 200 co-operation with the Turkish, This year’s ceremony – held ment noted. The fi re resulted in partially damaged by the fi re, medium-term shelters as Phase Swiss, Japanese and Canadian online – was signifi cant in that it 11 reported deaths, 563 injuries, the health centre operated by 2, distributing 2,000 packs national societies). marked the 15-year milestone of the awards, and the partnership between VCUarts Qatar – a Qa- tar Foundation partner univer- sity – and AEB. QU-Sesri conducts survey on cost and “Throughout these past years, I have personally witnessed the impressive work of young interior and production of agriculture in Qatar graphic designers. Seeing some of the Ibrahim Jaidah at the award ceremony. award recipients progress he Social and Economic related to food security as well in their professional ute to the community’s art and sonally witnessed the impres- Survey Research Insti- as plans and programmes in the careers, and obtain design landscape. sive work of young interior and Ttute at Qatar University agricultural and livestock sec- important positions in “When I was told about the graphic designers. Seeing some (QU-Sesri) carried out the fi rst tor by identifying and priori- government and news, I immediately shared it of the award recipients progress phase survey of agricultural tising the services provided to private sectors makes with my parents because they’re in their professional careers, and productivity and costs. producers and consumers. me very proud” witnesses to my grit and resil- obtain important positions in The exercise was based on Sesri director Prof Kaltham ience. We were all touched that government and private sectors the agreement of understand- Ali al-Ghanim, appealed to the AEB’s GCEO and chief archi- my hard work was recognised by makes me very proud.” ing between the Ministry of owners of the estates, selected tect Ibrahim Jaidah presented VCUarts Qatar and AEB,” said “It is always an honour to Municipality and Environment farms and holdings in the sam- the AEB Award for design excel- Alyssa. be bestowed such an impres- (MME) and Qatar University, ple to respond and contribute to lence in graphic design to Shima “For the past couple of years, sive award, and I would like to which included the implemen- the success of the survey, which Aeinehdar, and Cut Izza Alyssa. I have worked very hard to learn congratulate all the recipients tation of the agricultural census is the fi rst-of-its-kind in Qatar. Aia Zaina was the recipient of more, expand my knowledge of of this cycle that marks 15 years in Qatar 2021. According to the methodolo- the AEB Award for design Excel- art and design and get recog- of AEB’s support for VCUarts The fi eld work of the sur- gy, data collection is planned to lence in Interior Design. nised locally and internationally, Qatar,” added, VCUarts Qatar’s vey was launched on April 8 last for a period of 40 weeks in The Design Excellence awards and seeing the hard work slowly dean Amir Berbic. this year. The results will help which the researchers consist- were instituted in 2007 by Jai- pay off , is very rewarding,” said “The AEB Design Excellence in a deep understanding of the ing of veterinarians and agri- dah to encourage and assist out- Aeinehdar. Awards, and Creative Achieve- cost of crop composition and Qatar University cultural engineers fi ll out a form standing graduating students “It is my great pleasure to ment and Potential Awards, to- livestock care, according to the prepared for listing agricul- from VCUarts Qatar’s graphic be sponsoring the 15th cycle of gether create a foundation for various stages and diff erent crop production, size and dy- The results of the study will tural operations and their costs design and interior design de- AEB VCU-arts Qatar student inspiring and preparing young activities. The survey will also namism of livestock and herd assist the MME in developing from the preparation stage to partments, as they start their awards,” Jaidah said. “Through- people to enter and build up their provide an accurate estimate of movement in Qatar. plans and promoting strategies marketing. lives as designers, and contrib- out these past years, I have per- skills in the design industry.”

Green Tent’s Ramadan activities to cover health, education, social welfare

QNA said the Green Tent is a platform (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, ger, promoting good health and that the role of endowments in dition to the legal and medi- demic on policies and adminis- Doha for spreading environmental will address many topics and social welfare, providing qual- Islam and the Arab and Islamic cal opinion in this aspect. The trative systems. culture and community aware- issues that affect all segments ity education, decent work, and countries is very important, head of A Flower Each Spring He added that the programme ness and its activities were in of society, with the partici- achieving economic growth, he which is why the Tent was keen programme said the Green Tent will also discuss the impact of Flower Each Spring pro- line with the Qatar National Vi- pation of a group of officials, said. to discuss it in three separate will focus on the efforts of Qa- Arab and Islamic manuscripts gramme has announced sion 2030 as well as its pillars scholars, and specialists in the Also in focus is the role seminars. tar in spreading the Muslim on the cognitive heritage as well Athat the Green Tent ac- in human, social, economic and various fields it will be ad- of endowment in spreading The programme will also culture and heritage through- as the importance of preserving tivities it organises during the environmental development, as dressing. awareness, and its contribu- host officials and experts in out the world, given that Doha and restoring it, in addition to holy month of Ramadan every these are benefi cial for individu- The first seminar’s topics tion to the educational renais- endowment matters due to is the capital of Islamic culture the Arab world’s aspirations and year will feature four seminars als and societies. include the contribution of sance, through endowments their significance, he added, for 2021, in addition to the im- challenges towards achieving a every week this year. He explained that this year, endowments to life’s quality for schools, institutes, univer- indicating that the seminars portance of available vaccines digital economy, and the issue of At a press conference, the the programme, which is or- and human dignity, discuss- sities, and educational institu- will also address fasting of against the coronavirus, the retirement with its psychologi- Head of A Flower Each Spring ganised in co-operation with ing the role of endowment in tions in religious and scientific those who are sick, elderly, or extent of their effectiveness as cal and social impact on compe- programme, Dr Saif al-Hajari, the Ministry of Endowment eradicating poverty and hun- knowledge. Dr al-Hajari noted in difficult situations, in ad- well as the impact of this pan- tencies of the elderly. Gulf Times Thursday, April 15, 2021 9 HOL STIC Isolation aff ecting minds Wellbeing

By Moya Sarner ing redecorate – but you could The Guardian change the pictures on the walls or move things around for vari- ety, even in the smallest space.” efore the pandemic, psy- The blending of one day into choanalyst Josh Cohen’s the next with no commute, no Bpatients might come into change of scene, no change of his consulting room, lie down cast, could also have an impor- on the couch and talk about the tant impact on the way the brain traffi c or the weather, or the rude processes memories, Simons ex- person on the tube. Now they ap- plains. Experiences under lock- pear on his computer screen and down lack “distinctiveness” – a tell him about brain fog. They crucial factor in “pattern separa- talk with urgency of feeling una- tion”. This process, which takes Emerge from ble to concentrate in meetings, to place in the hippocampus, at the read, to follow intricately plotted centre of the brain, allows indi- lockdown stronger, television programmes. “There’s vidual memories to be success- this sense of debilitation, of los- fully encoded, ensuring there ing ordinary facility with eve- are few overlapping features, so happier, healthier ryday life; a forgetfulness and a something wrong with us. It’s a function across a range of tasks as the orienting response: “From we can distinguish one memory kind of deskilling,” says Cohen, completely normal reaction to at particular times during the the minute we’re born – in fact, from another and retrieve them author of the self-help book How this quite traumatic experience fi rst lockdown and into the sum- from before we’re born – when effi ciently. The fuggy, confused By Julia Samuel The prospect of commuting and to Live. What to Do. Although re- we’ve collectively had over the mer. Results showed that people there is a new stimulus, a baby sensation that many of us will The Guardian the busyness of offi ce life is fill- strictions are now easing across last 12 months or so.” performed worse when lockdown will turn its head towards it. recognise, of not being able ing many with dread. The key to the UK, with greater freedom to What we call brain fog, Cath- started, but improved as restric- And if as adults we are watching to remember whether some- manage it is to support yourself in circulate and socialise, he says erine Loveday, professor of cog- tions loosened, with those who a boring lecture and someone thing happened last week or last aving meaningful, con- it, not to fi ght it. Turn to yourself lockdown for many of us has nitive neuroscience at the Uni- continued shielding improving walks into the room, it will stir month, may well be with us for a nected relationships with compassion and name your been “a contraction of life, and versity of Westminster, calls poor more slowly than those who went our brain back into action.” while, Simons says: “Our memo- Hmeans we live longer; are fears. Allow them. Breathe. Write an almost parallel contraction of “cognitive function”. That covers out more. Most of us are likely to feel that ries are going to be so diffi cult healthier, wealthier, happier; and them down. Go slowly, don’t push mental capacity”. “everything from our memory, Loveday and Simons are not nobody new has walked into our to diff erentiate. It’s highly likely even have less pain as we grow yourself; go to the edge of your This dulled, useless state of our attention and our ability to surprised. Given the isolation room for quite some time, which that in a year or two, we’re still old. Love is strong medicine. comfort zone in small steps. Give mind – epitomised by the act of problem-solve to our capac- and stasis we have had to en- might help to explain this slug- going to look back on some par- But love requires time. It can- yourself credit for getting there, going into a room and then for- ity to be creative. Essentially, it’s dure until very recently, these gish feeling neurologically: “We ticular event from this last year not survive on a thin diet of scant and when that feels easy, push getting why we are there – is so thinking.” And recently, she’s complaints are exactly what they have eff ectively evolved to stop and say, when on earth did that conversations and transactional yourself to try something else. It boring, so lifeless. But research- heard a lot of complaints about expected – and they provide the paying attention when nothing happen?” decisions. We need time to move will take time. ers believe it is far more inter- it: “Because I’m a memory sci- opportunity to test their theories changes, but to pay particular at- Perhaps one of the most im- towards each other, to openly We would not have chosen to esting than it feels: even that entist, so many people are telling as to why such brain fog might tention when things do change,” portant features of this period for connect and be together. It takes have this experience, and yet we this common experience can me their memory is really poor, come about. There is no one ex- she says. Loveday suggests that brain fog has been what Loveday time to unravel and resolve mis- must not waste the opportunity be explained by cutting-edge and reporting this cognitive fog,” planation, no single source, Si- if we can attend a work meeting calls the “degraded social inter- understandings and fi ghts, time to learn what it has given us. If neuroscience theories, and that she says. She knows of only two mons says: “There are bound to by phone while walking in a park, action” we have endured. “It’s to repair after a fi ght, which is we have the courage to face our studying it could further scien- studies exploring the phenom- be a lot of diff erent factors that we might fi nd we are more awake not the same as natural social the foundation of trusting re- insight with self-compassion, to tifi c understanding of the brain enon as it relates to lockdown are coming together, interacting and better able to concentrate, interaction that we would have,” lationships. Will we embed this learn to know ourselves rather and how it changes. I ask Jon (as opposed to what some people with each other, to cause these thanks to the changing scenery she says. “Our brains wake up understanding of how important than distract ourselves, then Simons, professor of cognitive report as a symptom of Covid-19, memory impairments, atten- and the exercise; she is recording in the presence of other people connection is, post-lockdown? change will bring growth. neuroscience at the University or long Covid): one from Italy, in tional defi cits and other process- some lectures as podcasts, rather – being with others is stimulat- It is hard to resist falling back into of Cambridge, could it really be which participants subjectively ing diffi culties.” than videos, so students can walk ing.” We each have our own opti- old patterns, but my guess is that A guided reflection on something “sciencey”? “Yes, it’s reported these sorts of problems One powerful factor could while listening. She also suggests mum level of stimulation – some the painful mark of the absence of change defi nitely something sciencey with attention, time percep- be the fact that everything is so spending time in diff erent rooms might feel better able to function connection will lead to boldness Get a notebook and write – and it’s helpful to understand tion and organisation; another samey. Loveday explains that the at home – or if you only have in lockdown with less socialis- in wanting to live diff erently. down your answers, or talk to that this feeling isn’t unusual in Scotland which objectively brain is stimulated by the new, one room, try “changing what ing; others are left feeling dozy, One of the key aspects of post- someone you trust and take it or weird,” he says. “There isn’t measured participants’ cognitive the diff erent, and this is known the room looks like. I’m not say- deadened. traumatic growth is that it chang- in turns to explore these ques- es our perception of what mat- tions. ters, and amplifi es our gratitude for small things and for simply What has changed? being alive. There is nothing like In your relationship with ‘Work smarter, not harder’ a health pandemic to raise aware- yourself? Your relationships ness of our mortality and the with friends and family? Your mortality of those we love. Peo- relationships with work and of the day. So try to complete your ple have had more conversations with health – and any other im- biggest task first. Usually it means about death and dying in the past portant aspect of your life? to do your important tasks in the year than in their entire lifetimes, morning in order to have a smooth and paradoxically it has meant we From those changes… day ahead. value life more. It has radically al- Which ones would you like to tered our vision of ourselves and keep? How might you support 5. 80-20 Rule: It’s a trick to give the future we hope for. Many of yourself to embed them? This your maximum time to those 20% our concerns about performance will include what you say to of your activities that contribute in and achievement have dimin- yourself, as well as your habits production of the 80% of results. ished in recognition that meaning and decisions. So do less but have eff ective in life is a more substantive goal. response. At the other end of the spec- Consider trum, it has rejuvenated our joy What are the things likely to By Hala Bader al-Humaidhi 6. Change your habits: Eliminate in small things. Who would have get in the way? bad habits from your life and instill thought hugging a friend and sit- Remember, small steps the habits that are eff icient and ting down to supper with them in can have big outcomes What is midlife crisis? productive. Focus on key stone a cafe would feel like the greatest Picture yourself in a year’s habits like waking up early, having gift? We must strive never to take time, after you have adapted Time is one of the most important a walk, eating healthy and eating that for granted as we go forward. and transitioned into the ver- key to life’s stability and success. on time. The process of unlocking is sion of yourself and your life It’s up to you, utilise it or waste it. It likely to be tricky for some. I have that you wish for. How would doesn’t wait for anyone. We all have 7. To-do list: Spend 10-20 minutes clients who are fearful that they that feel? What would your the same 24 hours a day but it is of your evening making a list of won’t know how to socialise any belief about yourself be? Keep the time management that makes activities that you are supposed to more; they have fogo – fear of go- a list; make a mood board or us either Albert Einstein or a com- do the next day. It is an eff ective ing out. One of my most success- Pinterest board of images that mon man. way to see your goals moving ful clients, who used to fl y regu- will inspire you in the weeks Time management doesn’t denote a balanced personal and business 2. Set Goals: ties in four parts symbolising each towards victory. Daily goals are larly, was shocked to feel a spike of and months ahead. Add to it to spending 18-20 hours of your life but it will also reduce your stress Set short and long term goals quadrant based on urgency and easy to achieve. fear when her colleague said she and change it, as you adapt and daily life making it hectic and level and calm you down. based on both your personal importance of that activity. If a task needed to meet him in Germany. change. unbearable, it is about working Following compilation of work man- and business life. It will help you falls in the category of urgent and 8. Organise: Not only organise smarter in less time. With eff icient agement techniques can help you engage in specific activities which important, spend most of your en- your time but spend a little of your time management techniques, catalyse productivity in your life: need to be done. Limit specific ergy to accomplish it. Then, focus time on organising your surround- you can control your personal and time to achieve those goals like the on activities that are important but ings. It inspires you to keep going. professional life making it more 1. Audit your time: goal of losing weight or the goal not urgent. Third category includes Commit to your plans, eliminate Wellness Meal Plan positive, productive and stable. Spend seven days to assess your of reaching a target at work. Your urgent but not important activity. the non-essentials, utilise your So, instead of blaming time, start work routine and record it in a daily plan should revolve around Last quadrant focuses on activities waiting time, focus entirely to the focusing on your aims, skills and diary or cell phone. Then have a your specific goal. that you are supposed to stay away task at hand, have breaks and struggle to manage and employ short analysis of it stating whether from like extra wasted time on vacations and most importantly your time. Life is short, ‘Work you wasted your time or it was 3. Follow a time management social media and gaming. enjoy your goal! smarter, not harder’. spent eff iciently. This exercise will system: Learn and practice the art of man- help you evaluate your good and Quadrant time management 4. MITs technique:  The author is a consultant in Pub- aging time to yield positive impacts bad habits. Then work to enhance system is referred to as the most ef- Doing Most Important Things first lic Relations and Personality Types. in your life. It will not only ensure your productive habits. fective system. It splits your activi- helps you to sail through the rest Instagram: @Tipsbyhalahill

Renewed Ramadan hope

who you really are. Having hope is an active, decisive mind-set, no matter the haze and fog that clouds your vision, hope’s laser cuts through. Hope is your choice over fear. It’s a battle for the possible, a noble duel of the spirit to slay the drag- ons of despair that confront you. By Turkan Alshaibi Take on a warrior’s mind-set. Make a choice to build your life Berry Mojito By Shefa Ali on a grand and royal foundation. Ingredients: A foundation of hope, and the belief that you will fulfill your 2 peeled lemons Third day of Ramadan, my spirits destiny — all you are born to be. 6-7 piece frozen strawberries are high, I am feeling productive and Because you choose to empower 6-7 tbsp honey very hopeful. Each year Ramadan that belief with every decision, 1000ml cold carbonated water comes around and seems to bring Hope is something worth holding ing off of you and into what drives with unwavering faith that you every second of every day. Where Few smashed frozen berries around a sense of renewed hope on to. It’s a conviction that comes the hope within you. And that can will be ok? Or that your second our greatest opportunity for hap- with it. A lot of messages I have from gut purpose, and a clear be found in who, and what, you chance is possible? That you will piness is realised. Method: received from people for things understanding of what drives love and cherish deeply. not just get through—that you will Who we really are is based on val- This berry mojito is super easy and super refreshing. Throw in the they want me to write about in this hope in you. If you are reading this and feel triumph? ues we choose to live by, such as peeled lemons, the frozen strawberries and half cup water in a blender column have been from people who We so often look outside our- hopeless I want to remind you; The answer resides within you, believing in the possible, believing and blend. In a juice jar sieve the mixture add the carbonated water, are in situations that have led them selves, desperate for inspiration you are not alone. Zoom in. derived from everything you hold in the goodness of others, and smashed frozen berries and the honey. Mix them all up and serve it with to a place where they feel they have — a sign, a miracle. Finding hope Dig deep. Make the bold, brave dear. It defines you. Even in the believing in the power of love. ice. Enjoy! lost all hope and what to give up. is an inside job. When you feel lost decision to go deep within in and darkest hour you can find hope. Having hope is a personal decision, and hopeless, rather than focus believe in your destiny. Sometimes it is in the depths of  The author is a consultant and  The author is a welness advocate and aims to promote nutritious a bold conviction—ultimately it’s a on the outside crisis — zoom in. How do you find that type of despair that hope offers the great- coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ meals. Instagram: @the.tals choice. Transform the moment by zoom- courage? How do you believe est opportunity opening you up to shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times 10 Thursday, April 15, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Could Germany get a Green chancellor?

Could an author of children’s books or a former trampolinist succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor of Germany? Either is possible, and both are from the ecologist Greens. A Greens chancellor is still only an outside chance after a September 26 federal election, but the party has grown into a formidable force that is just a few points behind Angela Merkel’s conservatives, who have ruled for 16 years. With the conservatives at odds over who they want to replace Merkel, who is stepping down after the election, the Greens see a chance to win the chancellery for the first time and to stamp their progressive, ecologist brand on Europe’s largest economy. “They are within reach of the chancellorship,” said political scientist Thorsten Faas. In a sign of how seriously they are taking their push for power, the Greens have agreed to name a single chancellor candidate for Employment in Platform Age the first time since they formed some 40 years ago. Previously, the party picked a leadership duo for elections, showing their commitment to gender equality but also making a tacit admission By Jayati Ghosh physical area. They include taxi and PeoplePerHour has only around 50 about the platforms’ often opaque that they had no chance of winning. New Delhi delivery services, domestic services employees, but as an intermediary it algorithms, and the fees and Now co-leaders Annalena Baerbock, 40, a former national bronze like cleaning and repair, and various provides work for around 2.4 million commissions they charge workers, medal winner on the trampoline, and Robert Habeck, 51, author forms of care provision. skilled workers. who generally lack redress for of children’s books Flight of the Falcons and Cry of the Wolves, ne of the most significant Online web-based platforms, The ILO report provides much any grievance, and often have no will decide amongst themselves which of them will be the party’s socioeconomic changes ac- meanwhile, cover tasks that could be new information, based on a global real communication with those candidate and announce the news on April 19. Ocelerated by Covid-19 must performed anywhere in the world. survey of 12,000 platform workers. running the platform. Moreover, Born in 1980 out of the ecologist movement of the late 1960s surely be the rise of digital labour These could be specific short- Workers engaged in location-based their awareness of faceless global and 1970s, the Greens are now very much part of Germany’s platforms. Of course, platform-based duration assignments like annotating platforms generated the bulk of their competition may intensify their establishment, and they already govern the southwestern state of employment had already been growing images or transcribing videos, or earnings from that source, and around feeling of powerlessness, and subject Baden-Wuerttemberg, a former conservative stronghold. exponentially before the pandemic. involve complex and highly skilled one-third of online-platform workers workers to ever greater downward In a Manifesto of Principles, adopted in November, they vow to But the combination of lockdowns and work such as translation, legal or (more in developing countries) relied pressure on the pay rate. exit nuclear power and pursue an active industrial policy that helps stay-at-home orders, and the conse- financial services, design and software primarily on this employment for This is truly a brave new world new technologies achieve breakthroughs, especially in sectors quent greater reliance on remote work, development, and data analytics. their income. for workers, with some fresh where it can be harder to has dramatically increased both their Both types of platform have Interestingly, cross-country opportunities and numerous secure private funding. spread and intensity of use. expanded dramatically, but people wage differentials persist on online challenges. In many advanced The Greens have They want Until recently, there had been tend to be more aware of location- platforms, even though platforms economies, platforms are typically cooperation with Russia relatively little discussion of what based platforms because of their should confer no geographic associated with the informalisation agreed to name a and China but add: the rapid proliferation of digital near-ubiquity in some places. The disadvantage. The ILO survey found of the workforce. But in developing “Democracy and human employment platforms meant for the ILO estimates that the number of that on freelance platforms, for countries with mostly informal single chancellor rights are the measure nature of work and the employment platforms worldwide increased from example, workers in developing workers, platforms can sometimes be for deepening relations.” relationship. But an important recent 142 in 2010 to almost 800 in 2020, countries earned on average 60% less a step to formalisation. candidate for the The party also wants report from the International Labour with online web-based platforms than those in developed countries, How can regulation address this to abolish the Nord Organisation provides answers to tripling in number while location- even after controlling for basic new-old employment relationship first time since Stream 2 pipeline to ship many questions – and raises several based platforms grew almost tenfold. characteristics like age and education that seems so skewed against Russian gas to Europe. more that policymakers and regulators Today, all kinds of businesses – and the types of tasks performed. workers? Clearly, we need to rethink they formed some Both Baerbock and need to address. from Fortune 500 companies to start- The crux of the issue is that those what constitutes an employer, and Habeck are realists with What exactly is platform-based ups and small enterprises seeking obtaining work through digital specify both their responsibilities 40 years ago an eye on power. Seen work? Platforms are effectively digital people to perform specific tasks – rely labour platforms are effectively self- and workers’ rights in more detail. We in Europe as having real marketplaces, connecting producers on online employment platforms. In employed, with the platform itself also need more extensive and flexible prospects of governing, French President Emmanuel Macron held a and consumers of goods and services general, platforms drastically reduce bearing no responsibility for wages considerations of labour standards private meeting with them on the sidelines of the Munich security – and in the case of employment search costs for both workers and or remuneration, or working hours that extend to piece-rate work. conference last year. platforms, connecting workers with those who would use their services. and conditions. Some location-based Only some of this can be done at the Habeck, a former deputy premier and minister in the northern state those who would use their labour. Estimates of the number of people platforms, particularly delivery national level. Because digital labour of Schleswig-Holstein, is the more experienced of the co-leaders. Digital labour platforms differ who obtain work through these and taxi services, have come under platforms operate across multiple With a background in philosophy, the charismatic Habeck significantly from employment platforms are hard to come by, partly regulatory and legal scrutiny in jurisdictions, international policy co- develops ideas during conversations and leaves others to work out exchanges of old, owing to their because it is not clear how many countries seeking to treat them ordination also is essential. Now that the details, two Green party sources said. Baerbock is more detailed diffuse and apparently non- regard them as their only source of as employers, but this is still the the world is once again recognising in her work and seeks expert advice, they added. hierarchical nature. They also give the income. But some surveys suggest that exception. the importance of global dialogue and In a party traditionally big on promoting women’s rights, some impression of hands-off objectivity, the proportion of the population in Furthermore, platform work – no cooperation, regulation of platform believe Baerbock should be the chancellor candidate. by supposedly simply aggregating Europe that has done some platform matter how highly skilled – typically work should be put on the agenda. “We have to allow Habeck to put Baerbock forward ... if she agents’ desires and responses, work ranges from 9-22%. commands piece-rate wages. All the — Project Syndicate wants to (run),” another Greens lawmaker said. although the algorithms used in such Most digital labour platforms problems facing piece-rate workers A Forsa poll last week put support for the Greens on 23%, behind aggregation have been shown to operate by accessing and sharing since time immemorial are starkly  Jayati Ghosh, Executive Secretary of 27% for the conservative alliance of Merkel’s Christian Democrats generate their own forms of hierarchy information about workers with evident: income insecurity, a highly International Development Economics and their Bavarian CSU sister party. and discrimination. those who might use them. Their own unequal distribution of risk, and a Associates, is Professor of Economics Many voters are tired of the incumbent ‘grand coalition’ of The ILO report focuses on two main employee base tends to be very small tendency to self-exploitation that at the University of Massachusetts conservatives and the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), who types of digital labour platforms. compared to the number of workers undermines any notion of worker Amherst and a member of the have ruled together in an awkward alliance since 2013, and for three Location-based platforms provide with whom they deal indirectly. For autonomy and flexibility. Independent Commission for the Reform of the four last parliaments. work or services within a specified example, the freelance work platform Then there are the concerns of International Corporate Taxation. “It is time for some kind of change in Germany. I would welcome change,” said Kris Muenz, 21, a charity worker in Berlin. “I would probably not vote for the Greens but I would rather see them than the CDU again. This government really screwed a lot of things up.” To lead a coalition government, the Greens could team up with the SPD, which Forsa put on 15%, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), on 10%. Another three-way tie-up would be with the SPD and the far-left Linke. At this stage, the more likely scenario is that the Greens join government as junior partner to Merkel’s conservatives. Naz Masraff at Eurasia, a political consultancy, put the chances of a conservatives-Greens coalition at 60%. The party has not bickered openly over who should be its leadership candidate, in contrast to the very public divide between the CDU and CSU. “The message to voters is clear: A party that manages its internal affairs so calmly can also be trusted with running the country,” Carsten Nickel at political risk consultancy Teneo said of the Greens. – Reuters

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected]

© 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Thursday, April 15, 2021 11 WORLD

India’s Covid cases hit record as Mumbai goes into lockdown

Reuters among the population of 1.39 billion many grocery stores as residents wait- the last two hours.” the Ganges river in the northern city Mumbai/Ahmedabad people. ed to enter. A hospital source, who declined to be of Haridwar yesterday, the third major Johnson to cut visit The rise in cases comes as India’s Elsewhere, over-stretched private named as he is not authorised to speak bathing day of the weeks-long Kumbh richest state, Maharashtra, the epicen- hospitals are turning patients away, publicly, said a lot of private hospitals Mela festival. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ndia’s new coronavirus infections tre of the national second wave, is due placing an increasing burden on gov- were short of oxygen and were sending Sanjay Gunjyal, the inspector gener- will shorten his delayed visit to India hit a record level yesterday with to enter a full lockdown at midnight ernment facilities. their patients to public hospitals. al of police at the festival, said around later this month, his first major bilateral IMumbai set to be locked down at (1830 GMT) until the end of April to In the western state of Gujurat, a Re- Chhattisgarh state — one of several 650,000 people had bathed yesterday foreign visit since taking power in 2019, midnight, but hundreds of thousands contain the spread of the virus. The uters witness saw a long queue of am- hinterland regions struggling with a morning. his off ice said yesterday. The trip was of pilgrims still thronged to a religious state accounts for about a quarter of bulances waiting outside Ahmedabad surge in cases — set up a temporary “People are being fi ned for not originally set for January and heralded festival in the north of the country. the country’s total coronavirus cases. Civil Hospital yesterday, with some 370-bed hospital in an indoor stadium. following social distancing in non- as an opportunity for Britain to refocus The country reported 184,372 cases India’s commercial capital Mumbai patients being treated there while they “The way Covid-19 cases are rising crowded ghats (bathing areas), but it its international trade policy in the wake in the last 24 hours, health ministry was bustling with shoppers, stocking waited. and people are getting hypoxia or low is very hard to fi ne people in the main of Brexit as it pursues a so-called “global data showed, taking total infections to up before the lockdown comes into ef- “My wife tested positive for Cov- level of oxygen in the blood, there is a ghats, which are very crowded,” he Britain” strategy. But spiking coronavi- 13.9 million. Deaths rose by 1,027, for a fect. id-19 on Sunday. We called an am- shortage of oxygen supply,” said Avi- said. rus deaths at home caused the delay toll of 172,085. “We don’t know if we will be allowed bulance this morning to bring her to nash Chaturvedi, a doctor at the facil- There was little evidence of social and now rising cases in India have led After reporting less than 10,000 to set up our stalls from tomorrow, so hospital as she was facing diffi culty in ity. distancing or mask-wearing, accord- to Johnson shorten the three-day visit, cases per day earlier this year, India we’re asking our customers to stock up breathing,” Becharbhai Waghela, who “We have converted this stadium ing to a Reuters witness. which starts April 26. “We’ve been in has been the world’s worst-hit country as much as possible today,” said Su- was accompanying his wife Shanta- into a Covid care centre to deal with More than a thousand cases have close contact with the Indian govern- since April 2. The government blames sheela, a street vegetable vendor, who ben, 61, told Reuters. that situation.” been reported in Haridwar district in ment about the visit in light of the Covid a widespread failure to heed curbs goes by only her fi rst name. “We have been waiting in the ambu- Despite this, hundreds of thousands the last two days, according to govern- situation,” Johnson’s spokesman said. on movement and social interaction There were snaking lines outside lance outside the hospital campus for of devout Hindus gathered to bathe in ment data. Tribute to Prince Philip India, Pakistan ‘held secret talks to break Kashmir impasse’ The two governments have reopened a back channel of diplomacy aimed at a modest roadmap to normalise ties

Reuters all of the region but rule only in itary stretched on the Pakistan sides of Kashmir this year as New Delhi part. front. part of eff orts to bring normal- Offi cials from India’s Re- China-ally Pakistan, mired cy to a region riven by decades search and Analysis Wing, the in economic diffi culties and on of bloodshed. op intelligence offi cers external spy agency, and Pa- an IMF bailout programme, can The two have also agreed to Children laying flowers among the tributes left near Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, from India and Pakistan kistan’s Inter-Services Intel- ill-aff ord heightened tensions dial down their rhetoric, the yesterday, following the April 9 death of Britain’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99. Theld secret talks in Du- ligence travelled to Dubai for a on the Kashmir border for a people Reuters spoke to said. Philip’s funeral will take place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle next Saturday. (AFP) bai in January in a new eff ort meeting facilitated by the Unit- prolonged period, experts say. This would include Pakistan to calm military tension over ed Arab Emirates government, It also has to stabilise the Af- dropping its loud objections to the disputed Himalayan region two people said. ghan border on its west as the Modi abrogating Kashmir’s au- of Kashmir, people with close The Indian foreign ministry United States withdraws. tonomy in August 2019, while Pakistan to ban knowledge of the matter told did not respond to a request for “It’s better for India and Pa- Delhi, in turn, would refrain Reuters in Delhi. comment. Pakistan’s military, kistan to talk than not talk, and from blaming Pakistan for all radical party Ties between the nuclear- which controls the ISI, also did even better that it should be violence on its side of the Line European powers behind protests armed rivals have been on ice not respond. done quietly than in a glare of of Control. since a suicide bombing of an But Ayesha Siddiqa, a top Pa- publicity,” said Myra MacDon- These details have not been against France Indian military convoy in Kash- kistani defence analyst, said she ald, a former Reuters journalist previously reported. India has warn Iran over mir in 2019 traced to Pakistan- believed Indian and Pakistan who has just published a book long blamed Pakistan for the An extremist political party based militants that led to India intelligence offi cials had been on India, Pakistan and war on revolt in Kashmir, an allegation responsible for paralysing sending warplanes to Pakistan. meeting for several months in the frontiers of Kashmir. denied by Pakistan. uranium enrichment swathes of Pakistan with anti- Pakistan shot down one of third countries. “...But I don’t see it going “There is a recognition there France protests will be banned, a the jets, captured the evicting “I think there have been very far beyond a basic man- will be attacks inside Kashmir, senior minister said yesterday. pilot, but later returned it to In- meetings in Thailand, in Dubai, agement of tensions, possibly to there has been discussions as to Reuters ex-president Donald Trump’s Thousands of supporters dia as a peace gesture. in London between the highest tide both countries over a diffi - how to deal with it and not let Paris administration, which saw from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Later that year, Indian Prime level people,” she said. cult period — Pakistan needs to this eff ort derailed by the next the terms as too lenient on Te- Pakistan (TLP) have blocked Minister Narendra Modi with- Such meetings have taken address the fall-out of the US attack,” one of the people said. hran - in a move welcomed by major intersections in cities drew Indian-ruled Kashmir’s place in the past too, especially withdrawal from Afghanistan, There is as yet, however, he European countries Israel. throughout Pakistan this week, autonomy in order to tighten during times of crises but never while India has to confront a far no grand plan to resolve the party to the Iran nuclear The United States and Iran with two police off icers killed in his grip over the territory, pro- been publicly acknowledged. more volatile situation on its 74-year-old Kashmir dispute. Tdeal told Tehran yester- will reconvene indirect talks clashes with rioters. “We have voking outrage in Pakistan and “There is a lot that can still go disputed frontier with China.” Rather both sides are trying to day its decision to enrich ura- today in Vienna, White House decided to ban the TLP and the the downgrading of diplomatic wrong, it is fraught,” said one of Following the January meet- reduce tensions to pave the way nium at 60% purity, bringing press secretary Jen Psaki said. draft is going to the cabinet ties and suspension of bilateral the people in Delhi. “That is ing, India and Pakistan an- for a broad engagement, all the the fi ssile material closer to But Britain, France and Ger- for approval,” Interior Minister trade. why nobody is talking it up in nounced they would stop people Reuters spoke to said. bomb-grade, was contrary to many said Tehran’s new deci- Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a But the two governments public, we don’t even have a cross-border shooting along “Pakistan is transiting from a eff orts to revive the 2015 ac- sion to enrich at 60%, and acti- news conference. He said the have reopened a back channel name for this, it’s not a peace the Line of Control (LoC) divid- geo-strategic domain to a geo- cord. vate 1,000 advanced centrifuge party’s demands risked making of diplomacy aimed at a mod- process. You can call it a re- ing Kashmir which has left doz- economic domain,” Raoof Has- But in an apparent signal machines at its Natanz plant, Pakistan look like a “radical est roadmap to normalising ties engagement,” one of them said. ens of civilians dead and many an, special assistant to Pakistani to Iran’s arch-adversary Is- was at odds with the talks, not nation” to the outside world. The over the next several months, Both countries have reasons others maimed. That ceasefi re Prime Minister Imran Khan, told rael, which Tehran blamed based on credible civilian rea- TLP are notorious for holding the people said. to seek a rapprochement. In- is holding, military offi cials in Reuters. for an explosion at its key nu- sons and constituted an impor- days-long road protests over Kashmir has long been a dia has been locked in a border both countries said. “Peace, both within and clear site on Sunday, European tant step towards the produc- blasphemy issues, causing major fl ashpoint between India and stand-off with China since last Both sides have also signalled around with its neighbours, is a powers Germany, France and tion of a nuclear weapon. disruption to the country. Pakistan, both of which claim year and does not want the mil- plans to hold elections on their key constituent to facilitate that.” Britain added that they reject- In an apparent rebuff later But successive governments ed “all escalatory measures by yesterday, Iranian Supreme have a long history of avoiding any actor”. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khame- confrontation with hardline Manslaughter Denmark cuts Israel, which the Islamic nei said the United States was groups, fearing any crackdown Floyd died from heart disease, Republic does not recognise, trying to impose its terms for on religious parties could charge for cop AZ vaccine has not formally commented rescuing the deal and European spark wider violence. Dozens exhaust fumes: medical expert on the incident at Iran’s Na- powers were doing Washing- have been banned since the The police off icer who shot Denmark yesterday announced tanz site, which appeared the ton’s bidding. September 11 attacks in the dead Black 20-year-old Daunte A medical expert testifying in defence of former Minne- it would stop using the latest twist in a long-running “America does not seek to United States, however, when Wright in a Minneapolis suburb apolis police off icer Derek Chauvin told the jury yesterday AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine covert war. accept the truth in negotiations Pakistan was under eff ective after appearing to mistake he believed that George Floyd’s death during last May’s altogether, becoming the first The nuclear deal has un- ... Its goal in talks is to impose military rule and cracked down her gun for her Taser was arrest was the result of heart disease making his heart European country to do so over ravelled as Iran has breached its own wrong wishes ... Eu- on radicals. Banned parties arrested yesterday and will face beat erratically. Dr David Fowler, who was Maryland’s chief suspected rare but serious side its limits on uranium enrich- ropean parties to the deal fol- cannot contest elections, raise manslaughter charges. medical examiner until his retirement in 2019, said the eff ects. “Denmark’s vaccination ment in a graduated response low America’s policies in talks funds or even maintain a physical Minneapolis has been roiled exhaust fumes of the police car against which Chauvin campaign will go ahead without to the US withdrawal from it in despite acknowledging Iran’s off ice. The latest protests erupted by nights of violent protests restrained Floyd on the road may also have contributed the AstraZeneca vaccine,” 2018 and Washington’s rein- rights,” Khamenei, who has the after the detention on Monday of after Kim Potter, who is white, to Floyd’s death. Fowler appeared to dispute at least some Danish Health Authority director statement of harsh economic last word on Iranian matters of TLP leader Saad Rizvi, who has opened fire on Wright in his car of the findings of the Hennepin County medical examiner, Soren Brostrom told journalists, sanctions against the Islamic state, was quoted as saying by since been charged under anti- on Sunday. who ruled Floyd’s death a homicide caused by Chauvin despite recommendations from Republic. state television. terrorism laws. He was taken into Potter, a 26-year police veteran and other off icers restraining Floyd in a way that starved the World Health Organisation Last week, Iran and fellow “The nuclear talks in Vienna custody hours after calling for who resigned after Wright’s his body of oxygen. He said the death could be considered and Europe’s medicines signatories held what they de- must not become talks of at- a march on the capital to again death, faces a maximum of a homicide in some lights, an accident in others, and so he watchdog to keep using it. scribed as “constructive” talks trition...This is harmful for our demand the expulsion of the 10 years in jail if convicted of would have ruled it “undecided.” “The decision is contextual,” said to restore the deal ditched by country.” French ambassador. second-degree manslaughter. Brostrom. Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff dies in US prison

AFP The New Yorker was sentenced an offi cial with the federal Bureau He asked for compassionate my family,” he said. helping revolutionise the shift in New York to 150 years in prison in 2009 for of Prisons told AFP in an e-mail. release so he could mend fences In a city famous for money and trading from face-to-face deals, running a pyramid-style scheme The statement said the cause of with his grandchildren and die a theatre, the silver-haired Wall from telephones to computers, that conned tens of thousands of death needed to be determined by free man but the request was re- Street doyen was a master of both, with trades made in seconds not ernie Madoff , the master- people around the world and was a medical examiner. jected by the prisons bureau. using his charm to wheedle bil- minutes, and ushering in an era of mind behind the largest estimated to be worth almost $65 In February 2020, Madoff ’s The Washington Post reported lions from his clients who little ever greater stakes and profi ts. Bfi nancial scam in history billion. lawyer said the disgraced Wall then that Madoff needed a wheel- suspected he was a con artist. But it was as a private money that unravelled during the 2008 It became an ugly symbol of Street fi nancier was terminally chair and 24-hour care. Madoff was born on April 29, manager that he won a reputation economic crisis, died in jail yes- Wall Street excess and left a crip- ill with “kidney disease, among “I’ve served 11 years already, 1938 to Jewish parents, in humble as a fi nancial guru. terday, US prison offi cials said. He pling human toll, with investors other serious medical conditions.” and, quite frankly, I’ve suff ered beginnings in Queens, New York. Returns of around 10%, with was 82. going from rich to broke over- “The Bureau of Prisons con- through it,” Madoff told the paper He started as a Long Island life- occasional surges a great deal Madoff had been suff ering from night. cluded in September 2019 that in an interview. guard before entering the stock higher, came in so regularly that chronic kidney failure and prison “We can confi rm Bernard Mad- Madoff has less than 18 months to “You know, there hasn’t been market, eventually becoming rich individuals, endowments, chiefs had denied his request last off passed away on April 14, 2021, live because of the terminal nature a day in prison that I haven’t chairman of the Nasdaq stock ex- and supposedly expert banks year to be allowed to go home to at the Federal Medical Center of his kidney failure,” attorney felt the guilt for the pain I change. lined up to give him money be- die. (FMC) Butner, North Carolina,” Brandon Sample wrote. caused on the victims and for There, he was credited with tween the 1970s and 2000s. DISGRACED: Bernard Madoff Gulf Times 12 Thursday, April 15, 2021 QATAR

Qatar Armed Forces hold ‘capsule medical evacuation’ exercise

he Qatar Armed Forc- es, represented by the T Amiri Air Force, con- ducted the “capsule medi- cal evacuation” exercise at Al Udeid Air Base. The exercise, which was led by the Air Transport Group at Al Udeid Air Base in conjunc- tion with the US side, aimed at introducing the participating teams to the work procedures required in different situations and gain experience from them; as well as implementing the acquired training in actual ac- cidents and raising the level of practical homogeneity of the participants. The exercise was also aimed at training on procedures for dealing with Covid-19, and came with the framework of the preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and all future events. The exercise was attended by a number of officers of the Amiri Air Force and US officers. (QNA)

81% of people over 60 receive at least one Ras Abu Aboud Stadium dose of vaccine From Page 1

“While our own data here in Qatar shows that within the over-60s age group, non- vaccinated people are 40 nearing completion: SC times more likely to be admit- ted to ICU than those who are From Page 1 fully vaccinated,” added Dr al-Hamad. While the other seven Qatar “I urge all elderly members 2022 venues have been built of our population not yet vac- with permanent foundations, cinated to book their appoint- the vision for Ras Abu Aboud is ment. The vaccines provide a temporary structure that not maximum protection around 14 only provides a world-class days after the second dose, so I venue for football’s showpiece encourage people not to delay event, but an innovative blue- starting their vaccination proc- print in making new stadiums ess and get protected as soon as – and sporting mega-events they can,” said Dr al-Hamad. – sustainable. This will be People over 60 years of age achieved in legacy mode when can receive their vaccines at the venue’s building blocks are one of the 27 Primary Health dismantled and repurposed Care Corporation (PHCC) for future sporting and non- health centres. Anyone over sporting projects in Qatar and 60 years of age who has not overseas. yet been vaccinated and re- The stadium’s clever mod- quires an appointment can call ular design also means that viding an electric atmosphere the installation of 974 con- development will replace the easily disassembled and cost- “With the stadium site PHCC on 4027 7077. fewer building materials are for fans and players alike dur- tainers in the venue serves as a stadium site, which is sure to effective. nearing completion, we have Hamad Medical Corpora- required in its construction. ing matchdays. symbol of Qatar, as the number become a popular gathering Ras Abu Aboud sets new been able to start on the work tion’s Home Healthcare Serv- This keeps costs down and Situated near Doha’s port represents the country’s inter- place for locals. benchmarks and off ers an im- around the stadium precinct,” ice is also vaccinating house- reduces the duration of con- and opposite the stunning national dialling code. A key legacy aspect of Ras portant guide to staging sport- said Ras Abu Aboud Stadium bound patients in the comfort struction. Elements such as West Bay shoreline, stadium And yet, the building of the Abu Aboud lies not only in ing competitions that are more project manager Mohamed al- and safety of their homes. Pa- the cooling system that is designer Fenwick Iribarren 40,000-capacity venue and the plans to re-use the sta- sustainable and legacy-driven. Atwaan. “We are delighted at tients registered with HMC’s being installed in other Qa- Architects’ vision was inspired the surrounding precinct is dium building blocks in new More importantly, it opens the the way this project has pro- Home Healthcare Service can tar 2022 venues will not be by the city’s maritime history only the first phase of a plan sport and non-sport projects, door for countries around the gressed and are excited to see call the Hamad Home Health- required at Ras Abu Aboud, when it incorporated colour- to transform the waterfront but how it shows organisers world to consider opportunities the finished product when care call centre on 4439 0111 thanks to its seaside location ful prefabricated shipping site into a space that will be of future events what is pos- of hosting sporting events that it is ready to host matches in for help and advice on home offering a natural cool breeze containers into the design and enjoyed by all. Following Qa- sible with temporary venues were previously beyond their the near future and during the healthcare needs as well as the off the Gulf – all while pro- build of Ras Abu Aboud. Even tar 2022, a public green space that can be visually appealing, means of realising or achieving. World Cup.” Covid-19 vaccination. DREAM MACHINES WOW DOHA RESIDENTS

Petrolheads as well as the general public were in for a treat as exotic vehicles - old and new - rolled down the Doha Corniche yesterday as part of a Ramadan motor parade. Bikes could also be seen in the parade. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam