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WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 4 SHA'ABAN - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8564 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS

QFFD signs $10m contribution Amir visits Milipol Qatar 2021 agreement to support WHO

QNA — DOHA that one billion more people benefiting from UHC, one The State of Qatar, repre- billion more people sup- sented by Qatar Fund for ported during emergencies Development (QFFD), and the and one billion more World Health Organization enjoying better health and (WHO) have signed a Core well-being. It also supports Contribution Agreement for the initiatives of speeding $10m to support WHO’s Thir- Core Contribution Agreement is up the access to the teenth General Programme of to support WHO’s Thirteenth essential supplies needed in Work (GPW 13) and for General Programme of Work the fight against COVID-19, COVID-19 response through (GPW 13) and for COVID-19 to include accelerating the the Access to COVID-19 Tools development of COVID-19 Accelerator (ACT-A). response through the Access to tests, treatment and vacci- This is the first Core Con- COVID-19 Tools Accelerator nation while ensuring fair tribution Agreement signed (ACT-A). access.” between the State of Qatar Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari com- and WHO, highlighting the The State of Qatar through mended the pivotal role of strong partnership and com- WHO, especially in the current mitment to work jointly Qatar Fund for Development difficult time as the world is ensuring the most vulnerable (QFFD) is providing its first fighting the coronavirus communities around the flexible funding to WHO in (COVID-19) pandemic. She world receive immediate and also affirms Qatar’s keenness support of the efforts done by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited yesterday the 13th edition of international unhampered assistance to enhance its partnership with the agency to combat the exhibition for homeland security and civil defense (Milipol Qatar 2021) at the Doha Exhibition and when it is most needed. the WHO. She also praised the Minister of Public Health pandemic. outstanding role of Qatar Fund Convention Center. His Highness was briefed on the pavilions and sections of the exhibition as well H E Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al for Development in supporting as the latest innovations and technologies exhibited by local and international companies in the Kuwari said: “Contribution to Thirteenth General Pro- global effort to alleviate human fields of security, safety, cybersecurity and civil defense devices and equipment, and major event the WHO affirms Qatar’s ful- gramme of Work (GPW 13) suffering and support health, security management, in addition to a number of modern military armoured vehicles, weapons and fillment of its obligations and 2019-2023, to attain the education, and economic armoured cars. H H the Amir was accompanied by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh keenness to support WHO’s “triple billion” target to ensure empowerment. `P4 Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and a number of senior officials. Over 510,000 shots administered PM holds phone call with Saudi since start of COVID-19 National Minister of Interior

Vaccination Program QNA — DOHA

QNA — DOHA Prime Minister and Minister of 14,000 Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani has announced that 510,000 COVID-19 held yesterday a telephone call vaccine doses have been administered with HRH Minister of Interior since the start of the COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi National Vaccination Program. Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz bin The Ministry stated that the Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz recent availability of greater quan- Al Saud. tities of both the Moderna and Pfizer At the beginning of the call, and BioNTech vaccines has helped Every day around 14,000 of most the Prime Minister conveyed increase the pace of the vaccination vulnerable members of society the greetings of Amir H H program, with over 100,000 doses and essential workers are getting Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al being administered each week, vaccinated and becoming Thani to the Custodian of the meaning that every day around protected against COVID-19. Two Holy Mosques King 14,000 of most vulnerable members Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Prime Minister meets Turkish official of society and essential workers are of the Kingdom of Saudi getting vaccinated and becoming to know that more than six out of every Arabia, and HRH the Crown Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani protected against COVID-19. ten people aged 60 and above have Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, with Director of General Directorate of Security of the Republic of Turkey, H E Mehmet Aktas, The Ministry said that as it con- now received at least their first dose and Minister of Defense, Prince who is in Doha to participate in the 13th edition of international exhibition for homeland tinues to highlight the importance of of the vaccine, with 67 percent of Mohammed bin Salman bin security and civil defense (Milipol Qatar 2021). The meeting reviewed cooperation vaccination for the elderly, the number people over 70 years of age, and 63 Abdulaziz Al Saud, wishing relations and aspects of developing them, especially in the security fields, in addition of older people receiving the vaccine percent of people over 60 years of age them good health and the to reviewing a number of issues of common concern. is constantly rising. It is very reassuring having received the vaccine. `P5 Saudi people progress and development. For his part, HRH the Saudi Agreement signed Minister of Interior conveyed Strong Qatari participation at Milipol expo the greetings of the Custodian to establish UNDP of the Two Holy Mosques and SIDI MOHAMED traffic systems project on tablet in the exhibition, Lieutenant He also stated that the the Saudi Crown Prince to H H office in Doha THE PENINSULA devices, and project of coastal Colonel Dr. Eng. Ali Al Rashed, device is 100 percent Qatari- the Amir, wishing His Highness and border security services on Commander of Security Tech- owned and manufactured, and success , and the Qatari people QNA — DOHA Milipol Qatar 2021 exhibition tablet devices. nologies in Lekhwiya, said that being used at Hamad Interna- further progress and pros- which is set to conclude today Among the distinguished the technical solution provided tional Airport and has suc- perity. The call dealt with The State of Qatar and the saw a distinguished partici- pavilions in the exhibition is by the invention is to detect the ceeded in detecting a number reviewing fraternal relations United Nations Development pation from Qatari entities and also Internal Security Force suspicious people and narcotics of cases. between the two countries and Program (UNDP) have signed private companies with (Lekhwiya) pavilion, which takers. “The pavilion also the means to enhance them, an agreement to establish an presence of over 70 local exhib- includes the latest devices and Lieutenant Colonel Al includes many devices particularly in the security office for the program in the itors. technologies that it uses, Rashed added: “If a person developed by Lekhwiya in field. Additionally, it discussed State of Qatar. The Ministry of Interior is including Smart Security Inves- stands in front of the device for cooperation with strategic a number of topics of joint Permanent Representative participating in the exhibition tigator device. scanning his eyes and temper- partners, such as a moving interest. of Qatar to the United Nations with a large pavilion comprising Speaking to The Peninsula ature, the device notifies if the detection vehicle that deter- in New York H E Ambassador several departments, where on the sidelines of the event person is criminal, drugs taker mines load on vehicles. It is Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al- each of them are offering about Lekhwiya's participation or carries infectious disease.” also equipped with an auto- Thani signed the agreement on models of modern equipment matic analysis system to behalf of the State of Qatar, while acquired by some departments The Ministry of Interior is participating determine the type of pro- UNDP Administrator Achim while others offering models of hibited substance loaded on Steiner signed the agreement on services provided to the public in the exhibition with a large pavilion the vehicle,” he said. the UNDP’s behalf. and employed in awareness comprising several departments, For his part, CEO and The agreement to establish efforts. where each of them are offering Founder of Ideal Solutions, ROUND OF 16 the Doha-based office comes The Information Systems models of modern equipment Mahmoud Amer, affirmed that TODAY 11PM QATAR TIME within the framework of Directorate of the Ministry of acquired by some departments while the State of Qatar has become FC Bayern Munich vs increasing the effectiveness of gov- Interior is exhibiting, through at the forefront of countries that ernment-funded development its pavilion, five major projects, others offering models of services have been able to develop and SS Lazio (4-1) programs and strengthening coop- including maritime registration provided to the public and employed adopt information and commu- Chelsea vs Atlético eration programs in areas of service, project of security bag, in awareness efforts. nication technology in all vital Madrid (1-0) common interest. `P4 security clearance project, areas. `P4 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021

Amir meets Iraq Amir visits Milipol Qatar 2021 exhibition Foreign Minister

QNA — DOHA

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met yesterday at Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Majlis at the Amiri Diwan with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq H E Fuad Mohammed Hussein, and the accompanying delegation. The Iraqi Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings of President of the Republic of Iraq H E Dr. Barham Salih to H H the Amir, wishing His Highness continued success and the Qatari people further progress and prosperity. The Amir entrusted the Iraqi minister to convey his greetings to the Iraqi Pres- ident, wishing him good health and wellness and the Iraqi people continued devel- opment and growth. They Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani being briefed about technology and devices on display at the 13th edition of international exhibition for homeland security reviewed relations between and civil defence (Milipol Qatar 2021) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, yesterday. the two countries and means of developing them, as well as the most prominent regional Shura Council and international ‘Qatar has taken legislative, executive steps developments. participates in IPU webinar to eliminate discrimination against women’ Qatar attends QNA — DOHA QNA — DOHA enterprises, facilitate the estab- meeting on Arab Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social lishment of nurseries to provide The Shura Council participated The State of Qatar participated the appropriate environment to media plan for yesterday in a parliamentary in the Fourth Conference on Affairs H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhroo said the receive and care for children, in webinar on “Building a better Women and the 23rd session of permanent constitution of the State stipulates that the citizens addition to increasing work flex- crime prevention future where nobody is left the UN General Assembly of Qatar shall be equal in public rights and duties. "All persons ibility for women in government behind: How can parliaments yesterday. are equal before the law and there shall be no discrimination institutions and in the private QNA — DOHA ensure that COVID-19 The State of Qatar was rep- whatsoever on grounds of sex, race, language, or religion.” sector and providing all pro- recovery strategies are in line resented at the conference, held tection, social and family care The State of Qatar, represented with the SDGs”. via video conference, by Min- programmes and services in by the Ministry of Interior, It was organised by the ister of Administrative Devel- accordance with the best inter- participated in the meeting of Inter-Parliamentary Union opment, Labor and Social Affairs many legislative and executive Convention on the Elimination national practices and the working group on the eval- and the United Nations Eco- H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al measures to eliminate all forms of All Forms of Discrimination experiences. uation of the 7th Arab media nomic and Social Commission Othman Fakhroo. of discrimination against against Women, international The Minister stressed that all plan for security awareness for Asia and the Pacific In the State of Qatar’s women, he said. conventions related to social this indicates Qatar’s confident and crime prevention, which (UNESCAP). speech, the Minister affirmed He pointed out that the per- affairs, the most important of and determined steps to achieve was held yesterday through During the webinar, the Qatari support for all women’s manent constitution of the State which is the International Con- its development vision, as nec- video conference. talks focused on the SDGs and issues, particularly the Beijing stipulates that “the citizens of vention on the Rights of the essary measures have been The meeting of the their implementation in light Declaration and Platform for Qatar shall be equal in public Child and Convention on the taken to fill the gender gaps, working group of the General of the COVID-19 pandemic, Action and the outcome of the rights and duties. All persons are Rights of Persons with reinforcing women’s partici- Secretariat of the Council of and to ensure that COVID-19 23rd special session of the equal before the law and there Disabilities. pation in public life and empow- Arab Interior Ministers recovery strategies help in General Assembly. In order to shall be no discrimination what- He expressed Doha’s aspi- ering them economically, reviewed several topics related achieving the 2030 SDGs. enhance the role of women in soever on grounds of sex, race, ration to increase the effec- socially and politically, espe- to the evaluation of the 7th The Shura Council was community and ensure their language, or religion.” tiveness of the economic partic- cially in light of the State’s Arab media plan for security represented in the seminar by participation and representation Regarding the international ipation of Qatari women by pro- intention to hold the first elec- awareness and crime pre- Member of the Council, H E in decision-making positions, obligations, the Minister said the viding easy lending programmes tions for the Shura Council in vention, and the adoption of Yousif Bin Rashid Al Khater. the State of Qatar has taken State of Qatar has ratified the for the establishment of small October 2021. the current year’s plan.

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Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani meeting Minister of Interior of the Republic of Kenya, H E Fred Matiang’i. RIGHT: The Prime Minister meeting Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Belarus, H E Major General Ivan Vladimirovich Kubrakov. Prime Minister meets visiting interior ministers, top officials

QNA — DOHA ministers and senior officials of the Interior of Ukraine, H E Kubrakov; Minister of Interior Minister of Security in Bosnia cooperation and relations of countries participating in Arsen Avakov; Minister of of the Republic of Moldova, H and Herzegovina, H E Dr Selmo between the State of Qatar and Prime Minister and Minister of 13th edition of international Interior of the Republic of E Pavel Fico; Minister of Cikotic; and Director of General their countries and aspects of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin exhibition for homeland Kenya, H E Fred Matiang’i; Internal Security of the Directorate of Security of the developing them, especially in Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani security and civil defence Minister of the Interior of the Republic of the Federal Republic of Turkey, H E the security fields, in addition yesterday met a number of (Milipol Qatar 2021). Republic of Belarus, H E Major Republic of Somalia, H E Mehmet Aktas. to reviewing a number of issues Their Excellencies interior His Excellency met Minister General Ivan Vladimirovich Hassan Handabi Jamaali; The meetings reviewed of common concern. Qatar supports education of Palestinian youth in host countries Shura Council committee QNA — DOHA marginalised students and Above All Foundation, estab- refugees and its support to Qatar Fund For Development and Palestine's Ministry of Higher lished Al Fakhoora Program, studies state The State of Qatar, repre- help them continue their which is a vital and compre- sented by Qatar Fund For learning journey. Education and Scientific Research sign MoU for a contribution, hensive system of education support for SMEs Development (QFFD), and the The MoU was signed by through Education Above All Foundation, to support 339 young in Gaza that aims to restore State of Palestine, repre- Director General of QFFD Palestinians from refugee and marginalised population to and reconstruct universities QNA — DOHA sented by the Ministry of Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari complete their university education. and schools demolished by the Higher Education and Scien- and Palestinian Minister of Israeli aggression on Gaza. The Financial and Economic tific Research, signed a Higher Education and Scien- Since 2009, 1,000 schol- Affairs Committee of the Shura memorandum of under- tific Research, H E Dr. arships have been contributed Council held a meeting chaired standing (MoU) for a contri- Mahmoud Abu Mouis. The Palestinian Minister Hamad Al Sulaiti hailed the to higher education in Gaza, by its Rapporteur H E Ali bin bution through the Education On the sidelines of the of Higher Education and Sci- MoU, expressing the Founda- 51 of which in the West Bank, Abdullatif Al Misnad Al Above All (EAA) Foundation, signing ceremony for the MoU entific Research Dr. Mahmoud tion’s appreciation for the and 50 educational facilities Mohannadi yesterday. which is meant to benefit 339 that was held via video con- Abu Mouis praised the con- generous support provided by that were damaged in the 2014 During the meeting, the young Palestinians from the ference, Kuwari stressed the tinuous support that the State the State of Qatar through aggression have been recon- committee studied the situ- marginalised and refugees in importance of signing this of Qatar provides to the Pal- QFFD, the Foundation’s stra- structed and rehabilitated, ation of small and medium the countries of the diaspora, memorandum, expressing in estinian people, expressing tegic partner. including 35 schools, 5 training enterprises (SMEs) in light of to be implemented over a this regard, the QFFD’s pride his appreciation of the efforts Al Sulaiti stressed the centres, and 10 universities. the support provided by Amir period of five years with of its work alongside strategic by QFFD and the Education importance of education being The goal of the Foundation H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad co-financing. partners like the Education Above All Foundation in sup- inclusive and accessible to all is to support a new generation Al Thani to these enterprises The memorandum pro- Above All Foundation, to help porting the rights of Pales- to support Palestinian refugee of marginalised youth to at the beginning of the coro- vides support to Palestinian rebuild the education system tinian students to get their students to complete and become educated, highly- navirus pandemic to help refugee students and and provide the necessary university education, while empower their university edu- skilled professional leaders, and them confront the difficulties assistance in completing their support, especially to the also expressing his aspiration cation, and to ensure that mar- a source of inspiration to others they face due to the university education, as an affected and marginalised to enhance future ginalised youth affected by and are capable of leading their pandemic. expression of the commitment Palestinian refugee students cooperation. conflict are not excluded. families and communities The committee decided to and responsibility of the State due to crises, poverty and The CEO of the Education In 2014, QFFD in cooper- towards cohesion and pros- complete the study of this issue of Qatar towards asylum. Above All Foundation Fahad ation with the Education perity in the future. at its next meeting. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 GAC releases more than 250,000 customs declarations in February AYENI OLUSEGUN prominent statistics in courses, THE PENINSULA programmes and the number of 98% of customs declarations employees on scholarships to The General Authority of Customs were released within an hour. study a Diploma in Customs Man- (GAC) released 254,836 customs agement and Bachelor of Border declarations in February, the GAC Management. disclosed in its monthly newsletter. in February. Meanwhile, India According to Boukerbei, the The figures saw a reduction in retained its spot again as the top GAC trained 900 employees transactions compared to January, exporting country while China remotely due to COVID-19 fol- which recorded nearly 300,000, reclaimed the top importing lowing its annual training plan. and December 2020 with 331,149 country position from the USA. He noted that an Associate declarations. Environmental Protection Diploma in Customs Management However, in February, the air Reserves and Wildlife Department is being offered in partnership cargo released 232,666 declara- remained the best government with the Community College of tions while the maritime customs agency in terms of release time, Qatar (CCQ). Charles Sturt Uni- completed 22,111 declarations in with an average release time of versity in Australia designed the the same period. Also, 98% of one hour. The GAC also transferred programme to meet the Deputy Prime Minister meets Iraq FM customs declarations were 21,856 declarations to other gov- requirement of staff. released in an hour. ernment agencies. The Bachelor of Border Man- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Captagon (amphetamine drug In the newsletter, the Head of agement is also offered in part- Al Thani met yesterday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, H E Fuad fenethylline hydrochloride) was Curriculum and Evaluation of the nership with CCQ and accredited Hussein, who is currently visiting the country. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral recorded as the largest seizure Impact of Training Department at by the Ministry of Education and cooperation and relations, and means to stabilise and calm the situation in the region. The during the month, with over the Customs Training Center, Higher Education. About 38 GAC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the State of Qatar 60,000kg seized. At the same time, Ahmed Abdullah Boukerbei, dis- employees will join the pro- stands by the Republic of Iraq. the GAC made 125 seizure reports cussed the tasks and the most gramme in October this year. Pakistan Interior Minister QFFD signs $10m contribution agreement to support WHO

FROM PAGE 1 lauds Milipol Qatar 2021 actions and strong collabo- Programme of Work (GPW13) that health is not a luxury item Director General of QFFD ration is needed for favourable to enable WHO to address or merely a product of strong THE PENINSULA – DOHA Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Kuwari results. Therefore, The State of health emergencies, ensure and prosperous societies; it is said: “This month last year in Qatar through Qatar Fund for healthy lives and well-being a fundamental human right Pakistan's Minister of March 2020 COVID-19 was Development is providing its for all at all ages, achieve uni- and the foundation of social, Interior H E Sheikh declared a pandemic by the first flexible funding to WHO versal health coverage, con- economic and political sta- Rashid Ahmed has World Health Organization. in support of the efforts done tribute to the achievement of bility,” said WHO Director- lauded the Milipol Qatar The coronavirus knows no by the agency to combat the the SDGs and support the General Dr Tedros Adhanom 2021, terming it a borders, affecting people who pandemic and support WHO’s world on prevention, con- Ghebreyesus. “I thank the State successful, impressive are particularly vulnerable the Thirteenth General Programme tainment, treatment and coor- of Qatar for its contribution, and well-organised most. Effectively addressing of Work (GPW 13)” dination of COVID-19 response which will support WHO to show. COVID-19 cannot be achieved The contribution shall be efforts. achieve its mission to promote “I participated in this in isolation as it affects eve- used for the implementation “The COVID-19 pandemic health, keep the world safe and exhibition in my ryone. During such times, bold of the Thirteenth General is a powerful demonstration serve the vulnerable.” capacity as the Interior Minister of Pakistan and I appreciate the meeting MoI signs deals with H E Qatar’s Prime Strong participation from Qatari Minister and Minister of with Qatari firms Interior,” he added. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister of Interior Answering a question entities at Milipol exhibition of Pakistan at Milipol Qatar about the importance of FROM PAGE 1 holding Milipol Qatar in Corporation, Ministry THE PENINSULA — DOHA this current situation, the Pakistani minister said that the security CEO and Founder of Ideal of Municipality and is one of the biggest issues in the world. He said a lot of com- Solutions, Mahmoud Amer Environment, Min- Brig. Saud Al Shafi, a member panies from around the world are taking part in the exhibition. added that Milipol Qatar came istry of Justice, Qatar of Milipol Qatar Committee, “Even the participation of Qatari companies is very impressive. at an appropriate time in light University among has announced the details of They showcased the latest instruments and technologies. I give of the preparations for the others. the contracts signed by the full mark to the Qatari government.” World Cup, as Qatar has Amer noted that Ministry of Interior (MoI) with Talking about the cooperation and relationship between become an attractive envi- most of the global three Qatari companies. Pakistan and Qatar, Pakistan’s Interior Minister said that Islamabad ronment for developers in the economies are now This was announced at a had maintained an excellent relationship with Qatar, which was information sector, especially dependent on press conference held at the strengthening every day. with the great growth in light investment in the media centre of the Milipol “They are on a positive side under the leadership of H H the of the numerous government information tech- Qatar 2021 in Doha. Brigadier Amir and Pakistani Prime Minister H E Imran Khan.” strategies for solutions projects nology sector, further Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah based on smart and modern pointing out that also attended the press meet. Mohmoud Amer, CEO and Founder, Ideal information technology. Qatar has launched Eshhar Security Services Solutions. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA “Ideal Solutions will soon many distinguished bagged the first contract worth announce an agreement with initiatives in this QR3,586,248 for purchasing a government agency worth regard. Among other distin- participation in the exhibition, some equipment and traffic more than QR6m to purchase guished Qatari pavilions at he noted that the company also devices maintenance, while services related to technical Milipol Qatar 2021 exhibition is manufactures special vehicles the second contract was support for some technological Stark Motors company pavilion. for ambulances. “The company bagged by Fahed Trading and systems,” he said adding that Stark Motors’ pavilion repre- works in a systematic manner, Contracting for QR161,875,000 the company is proud to sentative said that the company as it has a special team of engi- for buying 57 fire extinguishing implement many vital projects manufactures security vehicles neers and designers who design vehicles. and serves government insti- and private vehicles that serve these vehicles. During the past The third contract was tutions that include important multi purposes. two years, the company has signed between the Ministry ministries, including the Min- In a statement on the side- manufactured many Made-in- and Ideal Solutions for car- istry of Interior, Hamad Medical lines of the company’s Qatar vehicles,” he said. rying out maintenance for the security vehicles tracking system for QR6,826,500. The total amount of contracts signed during the second day of the Milipol Qatar 2021 reached to QR172,287,817.

Agreement signed to establish UNDP office in Doha

FROM PAGE 1 The office will focus on strengthening cooperation between the United Nations Development Program and the government of the State of Qatar, in order to promote sus- tainable development goals at the global level and other goals that the program seeks to achieve in the development field. Shura Council panel reviews healthcare draft law QNA — DOHA

The Services and Public Util- ities Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting under its Rapporteur H E Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi yesterday. The committee studied a draft law organising healthcare services in the country, and decided to com- plete its study at its next meeting. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 HOME 05

Aisha Al Mannai affirms Qatar’s Qatar committed to sustainable development: Minister commitment to women empowerment THE PENINSULA – DOHA global challenge that the inter- During her participation in DOHA QNA – democratic practices by Qatar, as part of the national community must join the inauguration event, Acting holding municipal council elec- The State of Qatar, represented integrated vision of its policy forces to prioritise to realise. Assistant Undersecretary of Gov- Member of the Arab Parliament tions and Shura Council elec- by the Ministry of Transport and “The State of Qatar is an ernment Information Tech- and the Shura Council in the tions in the future. She praised Communications, participated at the national, regional and active and effective contributor nology, MOTC, Mashael Ali Al State of Qatar H E Dr. Aisha bint the role of many women occu- in the World Summit on the global levels, pays great with other nations on this front,” Hammadi, said Qatar realises the Youssef Al Mannai affirmed pying leadership positions in Information Society (WSIS2021) attention to sustainable Al Sulaiti added. paramount role that the ICT Qatar's commitment to the state, highlighting that the Virtual Exhibition, which development with all its He said that Qatar is partici- sector plays in accelerating the ensuring that women play an main factor for choosing any opened yesterday. various aspects; social, pating in the Summit as a Gold pace of social and economic active role in development. She leadership position is merit. During the exhibition’s inau- economic and environmental, Partner this year to support the development and creating a highlighted that Qatar National Al Mannai discussed her guration, Minister of Transport in line with the SDGs 2030. universal goals that aim at ben- knowledge-based economy. Vision 2030 supports the educational journey, which and Communications H E Jassim efiting from the potential of ICT Accordingly, she added, the empowerment of women in all started in Al Kharaitiyat primary Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said, “The H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al in accelerating the pace of social Qatar Digital Government fields. school to complete a Master's State of Qatar, as part of the inte- Sulaiti and economic development. Strategy 2026 will be ambitious, This came during a talk and PhD. from Al Azhar Uni- grated vision of its policy at the “The Ministry also works on complying with the UN SDGs organized by the Qatari Forum versity in 1990. This led her to national, regional and global Minister of Transport and monitoring achieving the Summit 2030, fostering values through for Authors as part of an initi- start teaching at Qatar University levels, pays great attention to sus- Communications Action Lines for realizing the glo- ICT, focusing on the quality of ative that shed light on women at the College of Sharia and tainable development with all its bally defined sustainable devel- education, healthcare, and leaders in the country. eventually became dean. various aspects; social, economic opment goals through ICT, and justice, while striving to make She highlighted the Afterward, she headed the and environmental, in line with which match with our national a better environmental impact appointment of four women in Mohammed bin Hamad Al- the Sustainable Development understands that achieving sus- endeavors to establish a for a more sustainable model, the Shura Council. She said that Thani Center for Muslim Contri- Goals 2030.” tainable development is a key knowledge-based economy,” and empowering all social ele- Qatar is working on promoting bution to Civilization. The Minister said that Qatar challenge to countries and a said the Minister. ments equally. MoPH: 479 new Director of Public Security meets security Over 510,000 shots administered cases and 345 since start of vaccination drive officials participating in Milipol Qatar 2021 FROM PAGE 1 more recover the vaccination program has Since the beginning of Feb- been made possible by the THE PENINSULA – DOHA ruary, the number of doses increased availability of vac- administered each week has cines, but significant work has The Ministry of Public Health increased by 270 percent and been done to expand the (MoPH) yesterday announced more than one in seven adults, options for people to access the the registration of 479 new 15 percent of Qatar’s adult pop- vaccines, according to Man- confirmed COVID-19. Among ulation, have now received at aging Director of Primary them 49 were travelers least one vaccine dose. Health Care Corporation returning from abroad. Chair of the National (PHCC), Dr. Mariam Abdul- Also 345 people have Health Strategic Group on malik. “Since the start of the recovered from the virus, COVID-19 and Head of Infec- vaccination program we have bringing the total number of tious Diseases at Hamad focused on streamlining the recovered cases in Qatar to Medical Corporation (HMC), Dr. vaccination process within our 158,853. All new cases have Abdullatif Al Khal explained primary health centers which been introduced to isolation and that safety has always been pri- has enabled us to achieve a are receiving necessary oritized in the COVID-19 constant increase in the healthcare according to their National Vaccination Program. number of vaccines adminis- health status. “We were clear from the tered daily across our 27 A 55-year-old patient suc- outset that we only wanted to centers,” she said. cumbed to the virus taking the administer internationally “Additionally, the PHCC Director of Public Security, Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, meets the Director of Public total death toll in Qatar due to approved, safe and effective vaccination center at the Qatar Security Directorate in the Kingdom of Morocco, Al Zaitouni Al Hayel, on the sidelines of Milipol Qatar. COVID-19 to 268. The total vaccines for the people of National Convention Center number of positive COVID-19 Qatar. Extensive clinical studies which opened at the start of cases recorded in Qatar is THE PENINSULA – DOHA He met with Deputy Republic of Hungary H E Lieu- have showed the Moderna and February now regularly vacci- 171,212 and there are 12,091 Director-General of Public tenant Colonel Rizanaini Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines nates more than 5,000 people active cases under treatment. Director of Public Security H E Security and Central Director Attila. to be safe, and it is reassuring each day including teachers, While the first phase of Staff Major General Saad bin of the Italian Criminal Police He also met with the Chief that with more than 500,000 school administration staff and COVID-19 vaccinations has Jassim Al Khulaifi met yesterday H E Vittorio Rizzi, Director of Commissioner and Director of vaccine doses administered in other priority groups. Addi- started in Qatar and in the coming with several security officials the Public Security Directorate the State Control Department Qatar, no reported serious side tionally, the recent opening of months it will be available for the and police commanders from in the Kingdom of Morocco H in the Republic of Bulgaria H effects have been directly asso- the Lusail COVID-19 Drive- public for free, the Ministry has brotherly and friendly countries E Al Zaitouni Al Hayel, E Alexander Ivanov. ciated with the vaccine, and I Through Vaccination Center, stressed it is important for eve- participating in the interna- Director of the Tunisian During the meetings, ways encourage everyone to take the run by HMC in partnership with ryone to play their role in con- tional exhibition for homeland National Security H E Brig- to enhance Qatar's cooper- vaccine when their turn PHCC, has also significantly trolling the virus by following pre- security and civil defense adier General Zuhair Al Seddik ation in the security and police comes,” added Dr. Al Khal. boosted capacity,” added Dr. cautionary measures. (Milipol Qatar 2021) separately. and Chief of Police of the fields were discussed. The recent ramping up of Abdulmalik. 355 referred Experts highlight danger of cyber threats at Milipol Qatar seminars to prosecution THE PENINSULA – DOHA smart transportation, self- for violating driving cars, and others. measures The Milipol Qatar 2021 Several cyberattacks He stressed that considering yesterday hosted seminars on include malicious worms these challenges, government QNA – DOHA ‘Cyber Security and Cyber and new viruses that have and private agencies, organiza- Threats’ and highlighted the not been used before and tions, and businesses require The designated authorities importance of providing top do not have an electronic defense and protection teams yesterday referred 355 people and adequate security and to confront cyber-attacks and to the Public Prosecution for safety infrastructure. footprint and can cross any limit their damage. He pre- violating the preventive and Dr. Mohamed Al Dorani, “firewall” or program sented the statistics that reveal precautionary measures CEO of Fortress Security Con- Antivirus. the nature of cyber-attacks and enforced by the country to sultancy, said that infra- the sectors targeted and the contain the spread of the coro- structure is essential and pow- quality of protection provided navirus. erful for achieving high pro- COVID-19 pandemic and posed by companies to counter the Among them, 341 people tection against cyber intrusions, a challenge. He called for risks of piracy and were referred to the Public noting that 100% protection building confidence between cyber-attacks. Prosecution for not wearing cannot be guaranteed in this the various parties to erase Mohamed Taha Benssiba of masks in places where they area. He said imbalances or these challenges. Dell Technologies pointed to the are mandatory, while five attacks affecting digital infra- Lauhde said that when gov- reality of cyber-attacks in 2020 were found violating the structure would cause damage ernments isolate themselves and expectations for the current maximum number of four in various areas and called for due to the pandemic and year. He warned that the risks people allowed in a vehicle their protection to avoid pene- Dr. Mohamed Al Dorani, CEO of Fortress Security Consultancy, decrease coordination and are constantly evolving, including the driver, except tration. He emphasised that the delivering a lecture on Day 2 of Milipol Qatar 2021. communication, the attacks requiring constant preparation when they are members of one new wars were cyber. increased, and criminals to deal with them. He said that family. Nine people were also Dr. Al Dorani said cyber- exploited the gaps. Lauhde 2020 was the liveliest year for referred to the Public Prose- attacks between countries are Regarding the cybersecurity to Qatar’s cooperation with noted the need to build national pirates, as they made profits cution for not installing constantly increasing, referring to strategy, Dr. Al Dorani many friendly countries in capabilities in cybersecurity to estimated at $350 mn, which Ehteraz app on their mobile the methods of cyber-attacks and explained that Qatar’s National cybersecurity and with inter- reach positive results. threatens the global economy. phones. the ease at which targets are Cybersecurity Strategy provides national security agencies. Nazeeb Poolakkal, Cyber- He added that the cost of The measure are in line reached through professional the necessary protection, legal, Meanwhile, Mika Lauhde, security expert at Ooredoo, said cyber-attacks far outweighs with the Cabinet decision, hackers. He said this includes and security frameworks to from Huawei Technologies, that cybersecurity has become natural disasters, with the like- Decree Law No. 17 of 1990 on malicious worms and new viruses ensure safety and protection noted that restrictions and lack a global challenge facing indi- lihood of these attacks rising in infectious diseases, and the that have not been used before from cyber-attacks. He stressed of participation between gov- viduals, public institutions, and 2021. He emphasised the need precautionary measures in and do not have an electronic that the state’s government ernments, individuals, and business companies. It is getting for countries and companies to force in the country to contain footprint, and can cross any agencies enjoy the best pro- companies in the cybersecurity more dangerous as nations take measures to protect them the spread of COVID-19. “firewall” or program Antivirus. tection programmes, in addition sector increased during the trend towards smart cities, from these new risks. Ooredoo ranked second most valuable brand in Qatar by Brand Finance report

THE PENINSULA – DOHA valuation to several factors, as being ‘thrust to the centre of visionary leadership and including its performance how societies are now forced to the exemplary efforts of our Telecoms giant Ooredoo has throughout the challenging function’. Working from home staff, we have been able to been identified by the world’s business conditions caused by and home-schooling has drawn maintain a stable position leading brand valuation consul- the COVID-19 pandemic and its heavily on Ooredoo services and despite the ongoing chal- tancy as one of Qatar’s top two ongoing successful roll-out of expertise to operate smoothly lenges of the COVID-19 strongest brands by brand value. the 5G network. under difficult circumstances, pandemic. The prestigious Brand Ooredoo Group has also with the telco operator’s "We are delighted to see Finance report – by the author maintained its predominance in proactive strategy in preceding this translating to strong of Qatar 10 2021 - ranked the region, remaining in the top years, meaning it was more than brand value. As Qatar’s Ooredoo in the top two most three most valuable Middle East able to meet increased and leading telecommunications powerful brands in Qatar, with a brands. Analysis in the Brand shifting demands. operator, we are completely brand value set at $3.2bn. Finance report highlights the CEO at Ooredoo Qatar and committed to the The valuation is based on anticipation that strategic part- Deputy Group CEO at Ooredoo achievement of Qatar monitoring brand performance nerships with Ericsson and Nokia Group Sheikh Mohammed Bin National Vision 2030 and the by evaluating how trust and mes- will strengthen this further. Abdulla Al Thani said, “We are development of the country, and telecommunications operator The Qatar 10 2021 report by saging can feed into Researchers drew attention immensely proud to be recog- we look forward to many more Ooredoo Qatar is at the heart of Brand Finance is available to read profitability. to the professional response of nised as one of Qatar’s strongest years of prominence as we work Ooredoo Group, active in 10 at https://brandirectory.com/ The telecommunications Ooredoo to the global pandemic brands by such a respected towards a digital future.” markets across the Middle East, download-report/brand-finance- operator credits the strong situation, describing the company industry name. Thanks to our Doha-based North Africa and Southeast Asia. qatar-10-2021-full-report.pdf. 06 HOME WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 Diplomatic Institute of MoFA, DI sign cooperation agreement QNA – DOHA only by students’ employers to cover tuition fees, noting that The Diplomatic Institute of the The applicant must submit the executive programs are not Ministry of Foreign Affairs a personal statement subject to the scholarship policy (MoFA) and Doha Institute for written in Arabic conditions at the Doha Institute. Graduate Studies (DI) signed a (approximately 700 - 1000 For his part, Acting President of cooperation agreement for the words) explaining to which the Doha Institute for Graduate implementation of the Exec- Studies Dr. Abdul Wahab Al utive Master of Diplomatic the degree of Executive Afandi said that the programme Studies and International Coop- Master of Diplomatic is the first of its kind in Qatar eration Program, which was Studies and International and came due to coordination launched by the DI’s School of Cooperation is compatible and cooperation between the Public Administration and with his/her future Doha Institute and the Diplo- Development Economics matic Institute. He explained (SPADE) in partnership with the academic and professional that the programme would Diplomatic Institute for the objectives. provide learners with a global academic year 2020-2021. level of study and training, The agreement was signed supervised by a team of institute for the Ministry of Foreign decently representing Qatar in professors, supported by elite Affairs by Director of the Dip- international forums, and professors and international lomatic Institute Ambassador perform its diplomatic duties experts, through international Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed efficiently, protect the interests academic and professional Al Horr and for the Doha of the State in line with devel- partnerships. Institute by Acting President Dr. opments in diplomatic work Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz With regards to admission, Abdul Wahab Al Afandi. and follow-up global changes. bin Mohammed Al Horr (right), and Acting President Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Afandi from Doha the applicant must have a Bach- Ambassador Al Horr said He affirmed that this pro- Institute signing the agreement. elor’s degree received from an that the programme is in imple- gramme achieves several goals relations and multilateral rela- international law, international by a weighted argument to train accredited institution of higher mentation of the vision and that allow those in the diplo- tions. He stated that the pro- organizations, and others. He in oral presentation skills and education with a cumulative directives of the Deputy Prime matic corps and international gramme combines the theo- noted that the diplomat must immediate response to the GPA of at least 3 out of 4 and an Minister and Minister of Foreign cooperation, official represen- retical path (education) and the familiarize with the foreign pol- questions of others. official IELTS or TOEFL report Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed tations in regional and interna- practical track (learning and icy-making mechanisms, tools, The Ambassador added that or other evidence of English bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to tional organizations, official application). and levels of diplomatic work, the programme would host, in proficiency, in addition to man- develop human resources in the envoys, and those working in He explained that the theo- its various issues, and the new each of its sessions, two expe- agement experience not less ministry to perform the diplo- international mediation from retical path includes foreign technologies emerging in this rienced diplomats from than two years. matic role outstandingly. Qatar to deal with international policy, international law, and field to achieve this. America, Europe, the UN, the The applicant must also Besides, to prepare reports, and diplomatic relations with international cooperation, as He pointed out that the Arab world, or elsewhere, to submit a personal statement studies, and research spe- its political, cultural and legal they are the foundations that practical track requires training hold workshops aimed at pre- written in Arabic (approxi- cialized in foreign policy and ramifications. frame this programme. In this the student in communication senting reference cases in dip- mately 700 - 1000 words), international cooperation con- It will also enable them to regard, skills, conducting interviews, lomatic work and international explaining to which the degree tributing to the decision-making have the tools of written diplo- Al Horr emphasized that this unpacking information, sifting, cooperation. Also, a field visit of Executive Master of Diplo- process in foreign affairs, and matic work (international law, understanding requires recog- documenting, and analyzing it, to the UN headquarters in matic Studies and International to achieve the ministry’s vision treaties) and unwritten (inter- nition of major trends in the and drafting reports that adhere Geneva. Cooperation is compatible with of performance excellence in national norms), serving Qatar’s theory of foreign policy and to objectivity, provide evidence, He also pointed out that the his/her future academic and capable cadres national interest in its bilateral international relations, and express opinion supported program is open to nomination professional objectives. HBKU continues women’s affairs series by Indian Sports Center highlighting changing roles amid COVID-19 begins Golf Week

THE PENINSULA – DOHA CHSS, said after the webinar, “This event has shown how THE PENINSULA – DOHA of Croatia to Qatar H E Drago The College of Humanities and Social women are changing the con- Lovric and Guest of Honour Sciences (CHSS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa versation to focus on empow- Under the Patronage of the Defence Attache at the University (HBKU) held the second webinar ering one another to take on the Embassy of India, the Indian Embassy of India Captain in its Qatari Women’s Affairs Series, new demands created by Sports Center (ISC) Head of Mohan Atla gave away prizes focusing on “Women’s Changing Role Amid COVID-19. We thank our Golf Rukkaiya Pachisa kicked to the winners in the COVID-19” recently. speakers for their willingness to off Matchday-1 of the 4th presence of other Embassy An all-female panel of prominent Qatari share the contributions they are India Cup Golf Week, where and ISC Officials. professionals and business leaders tackled making to Qatari society, and 36 golfers participated in a 4 Tournament Director the consequences of the pandemic on how they are forging positive, Person Team Texas Scramble Sanjay Jain, assisted by Qatar women’s health, social, domestic, and transformative change in dif- Event at the Doha Golf Club National Coach Anwar Ali, financial security. The panel featured Dr. ferent environments where over the weekend. QGL Captain Clark White and Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, women have leadership roles; The Team of Kunal Bhatia, QGL President Manoj Meg- Doha International Family Institute (DIFI); within the family, the work- Azfar Ali, Partho Saha, and chiani, ensured that the Tour- Eman Al Basti, founder, Qatari Women Asso- place, and in business and Rakesh Wagh overcame stiff nament was conducted in fair ciation for Economic Awareness and industry.” Lolwa Al Marri, competition to emerge vic- and efficient manner. Investment; Radoa Al Ansari, pharmacist; graduate of MA in Women, torious in the competition. As part of its week-long Fatma Al Sayed, founder of ‘My Nest’. Society , and Development The Team of Akshay celebration of Golf, ISC also Moderated by Lolwa Al Marri, a program, and moderator of the Randeva, Subash Randeva, organized a Golf Coaching graduate of the MA in Women, Society and webinar, said: “The Qatari Chandrashekar Angadi and Camp for School Children at Development program at CHSS, the frank Participants in the second webinar highlighting women Women’s Affairs series aims to Nagesh Shetty were declared the Doha Golf Club over the discussions turned to important recommen- affairs during COVID-19. tackle contemporary issues that runners-up. weekend, jointly conducted dations and practices that can reduce the Qatari women face amid the Special Prizes went to by PGA Golf Pros Mike Elliott damage caused by the pandemic on society, as our research at DIFI shows, safeguarding social and economic devel- Akshay Randeva for ‘longest and Reb Sotelo Bareng. and women in particular. The audience of their mental and physical well-being is nec- opment in Qatar. As graduates of the MA in drive’, Gatik Kher for ‘longest The ISC India Cup Golf graduate students and opinion-makers also essary for the entire family to do well. Women, Society, and Development putt’, Rukkaiya Pachisa for Week will culminate with had an opportunity to interact with the pan- Hearing insights from female Qatari voices program, this series is an opportunity for ‘closest to rope’, and Navin Matchday 2, when 40 Golfers elists and ask questions. at this CHSS forum, we can draw lessons us to discuss related topics with experts of Bajaj for ‘closest to pin’. are expected to participate in Dr. Al Emadi said, “The pandemic has about the importance of seeking help, their fields, and address issues from dif- ISC President Dr. Mohan the Grand Finale at the Doha undoubtedly added to women’s responsi- including mental health support, commu- ferent angles. It is a reflection of the pro- Thomas hosted a prize dis- Golf Club Championship bilities, more so for working women and nication between family members, and gram’s vision to encourage us to create our tribution dinner for all Course on March 19 for the those heading a household. Given women’s finding a work-life balance.” own narratives and find solutions that are golfers. Title of India Cup Singles role within the family in Arab societies, and Dr. Amal Al Malki, Founding Dean, relevant to our culture.” Chief Guest Ambassador Championship. PISQ girls' teams shine VCUarts Qatar’s TinkerLab offers in school debate league exciting new resource for creatives THE PENINSULA –DOHA Momina Muazzam, Salwa THE PENINSULA – DOHA The inventory of tools and added. Suleiman worked Nooram Team 3: Syeda equipment supports work closely with Saga Elkabbash, a Pakistan International School- Hareem, Mehmooda Shah and Artists, designers, and inno- ranging from detailed, delicate VCUarts Qatar Interior Design Qatar’s (PISQ) girls’ teams Isbah Fatima represented PISQ vators from across the local work to more elaborate, exper- alumna, currently a Woodshop proved their excellence again in the said tournament. education sector and the wider imental work. & Fabrication Lab Technician with resounding success in the The tournament had three community now have one more Examples of tools and at the university, and Abdul Preparatory School Debate rounds on various motions. The resource to turn to when inspi- equipment include, but are not Rahman Anwar - the Assistant League for Girls held on debaters spoke with great confi- ration strikes them – the Tink- limited to, handheld digital Materials Curator at the Mate- February 20, 2020 online via dence and put forth brilliant argu- erLab, a new shared space at microscopes, a sewing machine, rials Library – to conceive the Discord. Total 36 debating ments defending their stands. Virginia Commonwealth a desktop vacuum former, as design of the TinkerLab, from teams from 18 schools partici- The scintillating per- University School of the Arts in well as a wide variety of cutting scratch. pated in the tournament. formance of the PISQ debaters Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar blades, precision tools, mod- According to Suleiman, According to total team wins of drew much applause and praise Foundation partner university. eling tools, etc. Additionally, opportunities for designers to future plans include a series of each participating school in 1st throughout the League. Naheed Situated in an easily acces- equipment for papermaking, use those materials in creative activities that will serve to and 2nd QPSDL, PISQ girls Nadeem formed and coached sible location – in the univer- dyeing, and biomaterial explo- research and broaden the exposure, teams have grabbed 2nd best the teams. She along with Riffat sity’s popular Material Library, rations will also be available to experimentation. knowledge, and discussion of League Position. Tahir represented the school just off the entrance to the main experiment with. “Furthermore, as a shared materials and making, among PISQ has also won its way as adjudicators as well. university building – the Tink- The TinkerLab further sup- space, the TinkerLab will allow the VCUarts Qatar and wider to QPSDL Nationals 2021. The The school coach & coordi- erLab offers a variety of tools ports additional forms of students from different depart- communities. three teams of PISQ comprising nators expressed satisfaction that may not be currently learning, experimentation, and ments and with varying skill These include workshops of Team 1: Elsa Haider, that PISQ girls teams of debaters available or accessible at the production that may be cross- levels to experiment and and talks that will catalyze the Khadeeja Tahira, Mariyam could contend with the best in university, or elsewhere, for disciplinary and multi-faceted explore creative work beyond TinkerLab and Material Library Umer, Team 2:Khadeeja Khalid, Doha or anywhere else. creatives. in nature. their disciplinary parameters, as learning tools, helping Aside from augmenting the “There is no better way to allowing for more nuanced and attendees benefit from the Material Library’s scope, the learn about materials than by varied outcomes. For instance, expertise of guest speakers fact that the TinkerLab is open engaging with them,” said graphic design students who selected based on the relevance – by appointment – to the Yasmeen Nabeel Suleiman, want to explore patterns within of their work to materials edu- general public in addition to Materials Library Curator & weaving, or fashion design cation, exploration, fabrication, VCUarts Qatar’s students, staff Assistant Professor, VCUarts student who want to cast and expertise in the art and and faculty, further boosts the Qatar. “Our new space in the embellishments, can do so at design world. art and design university’s com- Materials Library with its well- the TinkerLab. It also provides To book an appointment or mitment to promote hands-on stocked array of tools, means an alternative ambience for to learn more about VCUarts engagement, exploration, and that the Materials Library VCUarts Qatar students, faculty, Qatar’s exciting new addition experimentation in creative expands beyond just showing and staff who would want to to its existing array of resources, practices among the local off its incredible collection of work and create in a cool, please contact vcuqml@vcu. community. material samples, to providing inspiring environment,” she edu. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 MIDDLE EAST 07 Iran starts domestic vaccine tests, curbs travel to 40 cities

REUTERS — DUBAI 19 cases and more than 61,400 The new vaccine has deaths. Iran yesterday launched human been named Fakhra in COVIran Barakat and Razi trials of its third domestic honour of assassinated CovPars are other locally COVID-19 vaccine candidate, nuclear scientist Mohsen developed vaccines which are as authorities banned travel to in clinical trials, and 40 cities and towns during the Fakhrizadeh, who headed Soberana-02 is being jointly Iranian New Year holidays. a Defence Ministry produced with Cuba. Several Iran, a coronavirus epi- research body which other Iranian vaccines are in center in the Middle East, is helped develop the drug, earlier stages of development. developing several vaccines, according to state media. Iran, the Middle East including one in cooperation country worst-hit by the global with Cuba, to help it fight the COVIran Barakat and Razi COVID-19 pandemic, complains pandemic despite US sanctions CovPars are other locally that its ability to buy vaccines interfering with its ability to developed vaccines which is hampered by U.S. sanctions, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and visiting Chairman of the Presidential Council of Bosnia import vaccines. reimposed after Washington are in clinical trials, and and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, during a welcoming ceremony in Ankara, yesterday. The new vaccine has been Soberana-02 is being abandoned a 2015 nuclear named Fakhra in honour of agreement. Food and medicine assassinated nuclear scientist jointly produced with are exempt from the sanctions, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who Cuba. but banks have been dis- Erdogan: No new curbs against headed a Defence Ministry couraged from financing research body which helped Iranian deals. develop the drug, according to risk) cities and towns across the Iran says it has received pandemic for now as cases rise state media. A son of Fakhri- country during the two-week more than 400,000 of the 2 zadeh received the first jab of New Year holiday period starting million Sputnik V vaccines on REUTERS — ANKARA group, no changes to the prov- of Health confirmed 354 new the Fakhra vaccine in a cer- on Friday. order from Russia, and still inces’ status were announced. confirmed cases reported in the emony yesterday which was To discourage gatherings, a awaits the delivery of 4.2 Astra- Turkey recorded 15,503 new “I think that our people Kingdom in the previous 24 carried live on state TV. night driving curfew will con- Zeneca vaccines. Tehran says coronavirus cases on Monday, were not able to show the nec- hours, meaning 383,106 people Authorities have banned tinue to be imposed on private it has received 250,000 doses the highest daily rise this year, essary attention to abiding by have now contracted the travel to and from nine “red” cars in most cities across the of China’s Sinopharm vaccine official data showed, as Pres- the rules with the first disease. (high risk) cities in the southwest country of 83 million, which has and part of an order of 500,000 ident Tayyip Erdogan said no excitement of normalisation,” Of the total number of and 31 “orange” (medium high had nearly 1.8 million COVID doses of India’s COVAXIN. new restrictions against the Erdogan said. “God willing, by cases, 3,398 remain active and pandemic would be imposed acting much more consciously 560 in critical condition. for now. and carefully from now on, we According to the ministry, the Erdogan acknowledged the will overcome this issue all highest number of cases were recent rise in cases over the together,” he added. recorded in the capital Riyadh past two weeks since restric- Turkey, with a population with 137, followed by Makkah tions were eased in many prov- of 83 million, has administered with 71, the Eastern Province inces on March 1, when daily about 11.5 million vaccine doses with 51, Hail recorded 22 and cases were just below 10,000 in a campaign that began in Qassim confirmed 17 cases. across Turkey. He said despite mid-January. More than 7.93 Meanwhile, the Omani Min- a rise in cases in some prov- million people have received a istry of Health announced yes- inces, hospitalisations, and first shot and nearly 3.57 million terday that the total of reported intensive care unit and intu- a second dose of the vaccine cases of Coronavirus in the Sul- bation levels had not increased. developed by China’s Sinovac tanate reached 148,010. “We decided to continue the Biotech. A total of 2,894,893 The number of deaths due current practice in our cities in COVID-19 cases have been to COVID-19 reached 1,614, today’s meeting and to closely recorded since the beginning of while the recoveries reached follow the developments,” the pandemic, the data from the 137,128, bringing the recoveries Erdogan told reporters after a Health Ministry showed. In the rate to 93 percent, the Ministry Cabinet meeting. space of 24 hours, 63 people died said in a statement carried by Turkey eased pandemic due to COVID-19, bringing the Oman News Agency (ONA). measures two weeks ago on a cumulative death toll to 29,552 Patients who have been iso- province-by-province basis, Erdogan also said that lated in hospitals due to infec- and said the measures would Turkey will send 30,000 doses tions in the past 24 hours be evaluated every two weeks. of covid vaccine to Bosnia and reached 51 cases, bringing the Provinces are ranked on a Herzegovina, Anadolu Agency total to 270, while patients in scale of low to very high risk reported. the intensive care units reached based on average daily cases Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia 85 cases, the Ministry added. The Gazans receive charity food per 100,000 people. Although recorded five new coronavirus Omani Ministry of Health average daily cases in some related deaths yesterday, announced on Monday that the A Palestinian youth sits atop a car loaded with bags of food supplies received from UNRWA, amid provinces have risen above the raising the total number of total of reported cases of the coronavirus outbreak, in Gaza City, yesterday. cut-off for their current risk fatalities to 6,578. The Ministry COVID-19 reached 147,423 cases. Yemen protesters Return to Iran N-deal possible, says UN watchdog storm palace AP — BERLIN have been calculated to put a lot of nuclear material and is to prevent Iran from devel- will then hand them over to the pressure on the other nations in new capacities, and used the oping a nuclear bomb, some- IAEA if it is granted sanctions with cabinet An American return to the 2015 the deal - Russia, China, France, time for “honing their skills in thing it insists it does not want relief. Otherwise, Iran has nuclear deal with Iran remains Germany and Britain - to do these areas.” to do. Iran now has enough vowed to erase the tapes, nar- members inside possible, but both sides need to more to offset crippling sanctions “Even if you had a magic enriched uranium to make a rowing the window for a dip- be prepared to negotiate, the reimposed under Trump. wand or the hand of God and bomb, but nowhere near the lomatic breakthrough. REUTERS — DUBAI head of the United Nations’ Iran has said that before it said we go back tomorrow, amount it had before the “Admittedly it is limited, but nuclear watchdog suggested to resumes compliance with the there will be a lot of house- nuclear deal was signed. it allows to maintain a record Dozens of Yemeni protesters European Parliamentarians deal, the U.S. needs to return to keeping,” he said. As part of its ongoing viola- of the basic activities that are stormed a presidential palace yesterday. its own obligations under the Grossi said he had been tions of the JCPOA, Iran last taking place,” Grossi said. in the southern port city of The United States pulled out deal by dropping the talking to both sides in his month began restricting IAEA “Granted it is not the same as Aden yesterday demanding of the deal unilaterally in 2018 sanctions. agency’s “impartial neutral role” inspections of its nuclear the whole access that we used payment of public sector under former President Donald Asked about Iran’s and did think that a U.S. return facilities. to have.” salaries, witnesses said. Trump, but President Joe Biden insistence that the U.S. take the to the deal, known as the Joint Under a last-minute deal Grossi said it was important Yemen’s Prime Minister has indicated that the U.S. first step, International Atomic Comprehensive Plan of Action, worked out in a trip to Tehran for the JCPOA powers to use this Maeen Abdulmalik and other would be willing to rejoin. Energy Agency Director General or JCPOA, was possible. by Grossi, however, some three-month “diplomatic members of the internationally Complicating the matter, Rafael Grossi said in a video “They want to come back,” access was preserved. window of opportunity” that recognised government however, Iran has been steadily appearance before three he said. “But of course... there Under that temporary Iran has granted. remain holed up inside the violating the restrictions of the European Parliament com- are a number of issues that still agreement, Iran will no longer “In this time period the building, two Yemeni officials deal, like the amount of mittees that “it takes two to need to be clarified. So it’s not share surveillance footage of its parties involved will hopefully said. enriched uranium it can tango.” impossible. It is difficult, but not nuclear facilities with the IAEA be able to achieve, or at least Most of Aden is controlled stockpile and the purity to He noted that over the past impossible.” but it has promised to preserve start to move back to the by forces of separatist which it can enrich it. Its moves two years Iran has accumulated The ultimate goal of the deal the tapes for three months. It JCPOA,” he said. Southern Transitional Council (STC), which had fought the government of Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi in the past. Lebanon protesters back Abdulmalik’s cabinet was formed last year to unite the STC with Hadi’s government. on streets as pound The two groups are the main Yemeni factions in an alliance loses 90% of its value fighting the Houthis, who control the north, including the REUTERS — BEIRUT widespread hunger. capital Sana'a. Yesterday’s Parliament convened com- protest broke out over public Angry protesters used burning mittees to discuss an emergency services and after the gov- tyres to block roads in parts of loan for the country’s electricity ernment failed to pay salaries Beirut yesterday as the company after the energy min- of retired soldiers, the wit- Lebanese pound crashed past ister warned it would be lights nesses said. a new milestone in its plunge out across Lebanon by the end Footage on social media against the dollar, losing most of March if a cash injection is showed Aden’s security chief, of its value as the country’s not made. Mathar Al Shaebe, negotiating financial meltdown worsens. The committees only with a group of protesters and The pound traded at around managed to promise $200m out asking them to leave the 15,000 to the dollar and above of a total requested of around security perimeter of Maasheq for the first time on Tuesday, $1bn. Palace. according to market dealers, The proposal now has to be The Houthis seized control and has now lost nearly 90% of approved by parliament. of Sana'a in September 2014, its value since the crisis started An official source said that Demonstrators push a garbage bin along a blocked road, during a protest against the fall in Lebanese forcing the then government in late 2019. Lebanon’s foreign reserves now currency and mounting economic hardships, near the Central Bank building, in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. into exile in Riyadh and Aden. “We are absolutely fed up, stand at around $16bn. In March the following year, we are hungry we are finished,” That compares with about the Saudi-led coalition one protester yelled. $19.5bn in August and means explosion at the port in August Prime minister Hassan Saad Al Hariri, nominated in launched a campaign to try to Lebanon’s economic crisis that not much is left for a devastated whole tracts of Diab’s cabinet has stayed on in October, is at loggerheads with restore Hadi’s government. is posing the biggest threat to subsidy programme to fund Beirut, killing 200 people and a caretaker capacity until a new President Michel Aoun and has Fighting killed tens of its stability since the 1975-1990 basic goods, including wheat prompting the government to government is formed. No been unable to form a new thousands, mostly civilians, civil war, wiping out jobs, and fuel. resign, leaving the country budget has yet been passed by government to carry out and millions of Yemenis have locking people out of their bank Lebanon’s problems were rudderless as it sinks deeper parliament for 2021. reforms to unlock interna- been pushed to the brink of deposits and raising the risk of compounded after an into financial collapse. Prime minister-designate tional aid. famine. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 After a decade of war, the plight of Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN Syrian refugees is only getting worse DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR ISHAAN THAROOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED THE WASHINGTON POST [email protected] Ten years ago, protesters clamoring for political reform DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR in Syria took to the streets in MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI what were almost entirely [email protected] peaceful, even joyous demon- strations. They had seen the upheavals in other Arab countries, which had forced a EDITORIAL clutch of long-ruling auto- crats to relinquish their iron- fisted grips on power. And Qatar’s contribution to WHO they hoped that change and maybe even real democracy THE State of Qatar will contribute $10m to support the could come to Syria, a diverse Syrian refugee children play together at an informal tented settlement in the Bekaa valley. World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to promote nation steeped in a rich health and keep the world safe, especially the most vul- history that had been under nerable, around the globe. Qatar Fund for Development the thumb of the family of to a UN watchdog. Western should they try to return. are just simply not going to (QFFD) has signed a core contribution agreement with President Bashar al-Assad for powers focused their efforts Conditions are only school. the global health body to support WHO’s Thirteenth decades. on combating the brutal getting worse. “Poverty and A meaningful political General Programme of Work. The intervention will also Instead, there has only Islamic State; though the food insecurity are on the solution is not in sight, despite support the COVID-19 response through the Access been ruin and chaos. “The extremist group’s territorial rise, school enrollment and years of efforts by a host of to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator. Assad regime gunned down fiefdom evaporated, analysts access to health care are international actors. Western Qatar’s strong partnership with WHO will ensure the those who called for a warn of its continued pros- shrinking, and the COVID-19 governments have placed stiff most vulnerable communities around the world receive peaceful transition to pects for resurgence. pandemic has wiped out sanctions on the Syrian immediate and unhampered assistance when it is most democracy,” wrote CNN’s The past decade has shat- much of the informal work regime, but that has done needed. Qatar has been an active partner of the UN in Arwa Damon, in a bleak syn- tered the nation and scat- that refugees rely on,” noted little to shake Assad’s power promoting health, education, conflict resolution, sustainable opsis. “Gulf countries sent in tered its people. More than a recent report from the UN’s and arguably added to the development, and other humanitarian interventions around suitcases of cash with a wink half of the population was refugee agency. pain of ordinary Syrian the globe. Doha has also been at the forefront of global and a nod towards more reli- forced to flee. “The United “People are at a breaking civilians. It’s unclear how a efforts against the ongoing pandemic. It has contributed giously conservative fighting Nations stopped counting the point,” UNHCR senior com- fractured, battered nation can to efforts to develop safe, effective vaccines against the units. Assad let former al- dead in 2016 at 400,000. Six munications adviser Rula come together again. coronavirus infection, and has dispatched medical sup- Qaida members and other million Syrians fled their Amin told CBS News. While “It’s no longer a country, plied to countries and communities in need. criminals out of jail. The U.S., homeland, escaping across “the attention of the world but a collection of people in Commenting on Qatar’s latest contribution at the peak of its involvement, its borders into neighboring has shifted from the Syria the same spot of earth,” one agreement, Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan half-heartedly trained some countries,” wrote my Wash- crisis and people tend to think Syrian activist told the Los Mohammed Al Kuwari said the agreement affirms ‘moderate’ rebels, many of ington Post colleague Liz Sly. that maybe it has become Angeles Times. Qatar’s fulfillment of its obligations and keenness to whom went on to join the “Five million are still easier, with every passing Some dissidents cling to support WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work. ranks of extremist groups.” stranded, barely surviving in year, it becomes more dif- hope. “The price of joining the Qatar has commended WHO’s role, especially during The Syrian conflict as a substandard conditions. A ficult, not easier for Syrian revolution was not small. We the ongoing pandemic, and has affirmed its keenness civil war is for all intents and million climbed into flimsy refugees.” have paid a huge price and to enhance its partnership with the WHO. purposes over. Assad’s forces boats to cross the Mediter- In Syria and the neigh- endured huge losses. But we The contribution will help WHO address health emer- now control more than 70 ranean to Europe ... Away boring countries that host the are not just victims. We are gencies, ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at percent of the country and all from the TV cameras, tens of bulk of its refugees, more survivors,” Hasna Issa, an all ages, achieve universal health coverage, contribute its major cities. The rebel fac- thousands who had partici- than 23 million people are in activist formerly detained by to the achievement of the SDGs and support the world tions that remain exist within pated in the protests were need of humanitarian the regime now based in the in prevention, containment, treatment and coordination a shrinking of cordon of being systematically rounded assistance, noted the British country’s northwest, told the of COVID-19 response efforts. strongholds, mostly in the up and incarcerated in Syria’s medical journal the Lancet, Guardian. “We are raising the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghe- country’s northwest - and, gulag.” adding that the “vast majority next generation in a way dif- breyesus has thanked Qatar for its contribution, saying there, largely thanks to For years, the plight of of Syrian refugees live below ferent to anything we could it will support the UN body to achieve its mission to Turkish protection. In the Syrian refugees existed in the the poverty line.” The UN’s imagine before.” promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vul- northeast, Kurdish-domi- Western imagination mostly World Food Program esti- Others live with a deeper nerable. He said the pandemic has shown that health nated militias that once as a threat, weaponized by mates that some 12.4 million despair. Reporters from is a fundamental human right and the foundation of fought alongside a U.S.-led far-right politicians on both Syrians are now “food Agence France-Presse asked social, economic and political stability. coalition find themselves at sides of the Atlantic. (Never insecure,” an increase of 4.5 Ola Dawarshi, a 26-year-old The Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW times battling both the regime mind that, since the major million people from just last refugee in Turkey, when she 13) defines WHO’s strategy for the five-year period, and Turkey and its proxies. exodus in 2015, Syrian year. would consider the possibility 2019-2023. It focuses on measurable impacts on peo- Iran and Russia’s entry migrants have on the whole A generation of youth of returning to her war-torn ple’s health at the country level. Its “triple billion” targets into the geopolitical mael- proved an integration success have been set back: In 2018, home. “I don’t even ask myself aim to ensure that: One billion more people benefit from strom tipped the scales inex- story in much of Europe.) the Overseas Development that question,” she replied. “I universal health coverage; one billion more people are tricably in the regime’s favor. Even as foreign humanitarian Institute, a global think tank, don’t even think about it.” better protected from health emergencies; and one Assad’s forces targeted aid dwindles, millions still calculated that 5.8 million Ishaan Tharoor is a col- billion more enjoy better health and well-being. civilian population centers languish in limbo in countries Syrian children required umnist on the foreign desk of Qatar’s $10m contribution will also support the ini- with artillery and crude bordering Syria, living on the “educational assistance.” The Washington Post, where tiatives of speeding up the access to the essential sup- improvised devices like barrel margins of the societies UNICEF estimates that close he authors the Today’s plies needed in the fight against COVID-19, and accel- bombs. Then, it deployed hosting them but too afraid of to 3 million Syrian children WorldView newsletter and erating the development of COVID-19 tests, treatment chemical weapons, according the grim fate that may await inside and outside the country column. and vaccination while ensuring fair access. Use agreement reached by Quad leaders to realize regional stability

YOMIUR D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR THE JAPAN NEWS - I working groups related to the cooperation on security. In China has clashed with India EMAIL: [email protected] three fields of vaccine November last year, the Mar- along their border and has uni- It is highly significant that the assistance, climate change, and itime Self-Defense Force held laterally imposed retaliatory leaders of Japan, the United critical and emerging joint exercises off India with the tariffs against Australia. Around EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 FAX: +974 4455 7758 States, Australia and India, technology. navies of the United States, the Senkaku Islands of Okinawa which share such values as The diplomatic war over Australia and India for the first Prefecture, China Coast Guard MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 democracy and rule of law, vaccines is intensifying. China is time in 13 years. Trusting rela- vessels repeatedly enter the ter- have agreed to tackle various eager to assist countries in Asia tions must further be deepened ritorial waters of Japan. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 problems that the world is and Africa with its domestically through active exchanges This kind of behavior has facing. produced vaccines. India, among uniformed officers. prompted the cooperation LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 The four countries should which is said to account for The four countries have among the four nations, which BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 work together to solve issues in 60% of global vaccine pro- repeatedly held meetings of share such principles as the international community, duction, is also supporting bureau chiefs and foreign freedom, democracy and main- SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 not only those involving developing countries. ministers. India, which has a taining order under interna- security but also in consumer- Japan appears to intend to policy of nonalignment, was tional law. China has criticized ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 related fields. help India expand its pro- initially reluctant to hold a their actions as enclosing China, email: [email protected] In the first summit talks duction capability via gov- summit meeting, but it but it must become aware that PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 held among the four countries, ernment loans. accepted the strong request of its hegemonic acts are email: [email protected] which took place online, their Unless COVID-19 vaccines the United States. problematic. leaders confirmed that they are widely distributed in devel- The administration of US Prime Minister Yoshihide MARKETING: TEL: 4455 7657 would promote the distribution oping countries, the global President Joe Biden calls the Suga is said to be planning to email: [email protected] of novel coronavirus vaccines spread of the infection cannot four countries' relationship the visit the United States in April to to developing countries. They be stopped. Japan and other Quad and has positioned it as meet with Biden. How will ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 857 also agreed to cooperate in the leading countries need to focus the core of its Indo-Pacific Japan promote international FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] field of maritime security, on fair distribution of the vac- policy. In the summit talks, the collaboration and security CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 toward the realization of a "free cines while utilizing the four leaders agreed to meet in- cooperation? The specific email: [email protected] and open Indo-Pacific." framework created under the person within this year. It is measures taken by Japan will The four leaders worked United Nations' initiative. essential to hold close discus- be subject to scrutiny. Japan is SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 out a joint statement and put It is also important for the sions to promote regional urged to carry out strategic FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected] forward a plan to set up four nations to deepen their stability. diplomacy.

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar We’re in a decisive decade for climate action. To meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, /Peninsula_Qatar the world needs to halve emissions by 2030.

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+974 6698 6188 WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 09 Somalia starts vaccination with AstraZeneca doses AP — MOGADISHU the government employees can Somalia’s first easily get their vaccination in Somalia launched COVID-19 vaccinations happened in their places of work,” she said. vaccinations yesterday with the a small ceremony at the Across Africa, leaders such inoculation of the health Martini hospital in the as Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and minister, who received the jab South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa publicly to reassure the nation capital Mogadishu where have been photographed getting about its safety. Health Minister Fawziya a COVID-19 vaccine in a bid to The Horn of Africa nation, Abikar Nur urged the reassure their people about which has recently experienced public to embrace the safety. a surge of cases, on Monday vaccines to stem Use of the AstraZeneca received its first shipment of vaccine is being suspended in 300,000 doses of the Astra- infections in the country some European countries such Zeneca vaccine through the of 15 million people and as Germany and Italy because international COVAX intiative one of the continent’s of reports of dangerous blood to ensure that low- and middle- weakest health systems. clots in a few recipients, even income countries receive though the European regulator vaccines. said there was “no indication” Somalia’s first vaccinations persuade our people in trusting the shot was responsible. The Somalia Health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur receiving the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine happened in a small ceremony this vaccine which can save AstraZeneca vaccine is the only under the COVAX scheme, at the Martini Hospital in Mogadishu, yesterday. at the Martini hospital in the many lives,” she said. one available in Somalia and capital Mogadishu where Health Only five people, including many other African countries. 8,946 confirmed cases of specifically of the AstraZeneca Mogadishu-based health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur the minister and two employees Somali President Mohamed COVID-19, including at least 349 shot, “If it is good, why those worker Dr. Abdirahman Bilal urged the public to embrace the of the World Health Organi- Abdullahi Mohamed had deaths, according to the Africa many European countries are said that while “this second vaccines to stem infections in zation, received a shot in the already been inoculated, Centers for Disease Control and refusing to take it? When mar- phase is more visible among the the country of 15 million people arm yesterday. It was not according to Sonna, the official Prevention. rying a lady, first you have to people,” not all the victims are and one of the continent’s immediately clear why this was government news agency. The But some ordinary Somalis check how she behaves in her recorded “because many people weakest health systems. the case. agency said Mohamed, who is who spoke to AP said they are parents’ house, and if she’s good don’t make it to the hospitals” “We’re planning to inoculate But the minister said also known as Farmajo, not keen on getting there, only then will she be good and some are not even aware 20% of the public starting with authorities would get to work expressed concern over insuf- vaccinated. in your house as well.” there is a pandemic. the front-line workers such as distributing the vaccines across ficient public awareness about “Who knows what they’re Although the government While most of Somalia’s the health workers and most Somalia, which is battling an the pandemic as well as support giving these government offi- encourages masks in public, cases have been reported in vulnerable groups including the extremist insurgency making being given to people suffering cials and what they will be social distancing and regular recent weeks, many people feel elderly people,” she said. roads dangerous. from COVID-19. giving to the general public,” hand washing to control the there are more urgent issues at “We will be working hard to “We’ll be distributing these The virus has killed a said Abdi Ga’al Issak, a gov- pandemic, many do not follow hand amid a continuing raise the awareness of our doses to most of the main hos- growing number of prominent ernment employee in the edu- the guidelines. In Mogadishu’s stalemate over how and when people against this dangerous pitals in the capital and the gov- Somalis, including a former cation department. streets only a few people can be to hold the country’s overdue virus, and campaign as well to ernment headquarters so that president. Somalia has recorded Issak asked, speaking seen complying. elections. 4.2 magnitude Morocco vaccination quake hits Algerian province of Batna campaign bypasses

QNA — ALGIERS undocumented migrants

An earthquake measuring 4.2 REUTERS — RABAT migrants could prove costly. on the Richter scale hit the “The cost of not including province of Batna, eastern Morocco is further ahead with undocumented migrants in the Algeria, on Monday night. its COVID-19 vaccination vaccination campaign is higher The Center for Research in programme than any other than the cost of the vaccine,” Astronomy, Astrophysics and African country, but undocu- said Younes Faudel, head of the Geophysics in Algeria said in a mented migrants are not a part Papiers pour Tous group. statement that the epicenter of of its plans, potentially under- Lying 14 km (nine miles) the quake was located 5km mining efforts to come to grips from Spain across the Strait of southeast of the Tazoult with the disease. Gibraltar, Morocco has long district. The COVID-19 pandemic been home to a large com- On February 24, an earth- has ravaged Morocco’s tourism munity of African migrants quake measuring 4.8 on the sector, and led to a drop in seeking to reach Europe. Richter scale struck Setif industrial exports. The country Although it has given resi- province in northeastern hopes that the inoculation pro- dency to more than 50,000 of Algeria. gramme will help its economy them since 2013 as part of a Algeria is often exposed to recover. Its vaccination rate of wider effort to build alliances earthquakes. The most violent 14 doses per 100 people has south of the Sahara, large Migrants protest earthquake the country wit- outperformed that of much numbers remain without nessed in May 2003, with a wealthier France and Italy. formal paperwork. Ethiopian migrants gather to protest their treatment in the war-torn Yemen during a sit-in outside a magnitude of 8.6, that killed So far, the programme has “We all take the same buses compound of United Nations organizations in the southern port city of Aden, yesterday. 2,277 people. concentrated on medics, other and taxis and go to the same key workers, older people and restaurants and markets,” said those with chronic ailments, Franck Iyanka, a Congolese but the government has a stated national at the ODT labour Tanzanians should be told about President’s health: Opposition goal of reaching herd immunity union, urging authorities to this summer. It has obtained 8.5 include undocumented REUTERS — NAIROBI ACT-Wazalendo party, said in calls and messages seeking treatment for the virus and is in million doses, including 7 million migrants in their plans. a statement. “The president’s comment. a serious condition. from AstraZeneca and 1 million His union is one of several A Tanzanian opposition leader health is not supposed to be a Magufuli has mocked global India’s immigration service from China’s Sinopharm, and is groups in Morocco that joined yesterday urged the secret,” he said. panic over the COVID-19 pan- records do not show anybody also expected to approve Rus- together last week to call on the government to tell the public Kabwe said Tanzania’s con- demic and played down the by the name of John Magufuli sia’s Sputnik vaccine. state to extend residency to about the health of President stitution calls for the speaker of virus’ threat in Tanzania. He has entering the country, and air Asked about the risks a more migrants by issuing tem- John Magufuli, who has not the national assembly to make denounced COVID-19 tests, ambulance flight records do not failure to vaccinate undocu- porary documentation. been seen in public for more information public on the pres- denounced vaccines, and show a flight from East Africa mented migrants could pose, There are no official figures than two weeks, saying citizens ident’s health. He recalled that opposed mask-wearing, instead since February 1, an Indian gov- one health ministry official in for the number of undocu- had the right to know about his Tanzanians received regular urging his people to put faith in ernment source said charge of the inoculation cam- mented migrants in Morocco. condition. updates on the health of two prayer and try remedies such yesterday. paign said there was no official Iyanka said there were at least Speculation in East Africa former presidents, Benjamin as steam inhalation. Kabwe, the opposition decision on the issue yet. 20,000. Conde Cema, a Guinean is rife that Magufuli, 61, a vocal Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete, Legal and constitutional leader, also called on the gov- Tens of thousands of legal villa guard in Rabat who has COVID-19 sceptic, is ill with the when they were abroad for affairs minister Mwigulu ernment to release people foreign residents had been vac- already tried unsuccessfully to coronavirus, though his vice- medical treatment. Nchemba said on Monday that arrested for questioning the cinated, he added. cross twice to Europe, said he president said on Monday that “The public have not been anyone “blathering, spreading president’s health. Police have “As demand for vaccines wanted to be vaccinated but could Tanzania was safe and citizens informed about whether the misinformation” were breaking arrested four people in the exceeds supply (globally), we not since his residence permit had should ignore rumours from president is performing his the law and could be arrested. country since last week for made sure to anticipate our expired and his employer had not outside the country. duties and whether the vice- Another opposition poli- allegedly spreading false infor- needs and maintain vaccine renewed his work contract. “I am “It is important for the gov- president has taken up the tician, Tundu Lissu, who lost an mation about the sickness of supply uninterrupted,” said the willing to take the vaccine but ernment to inform the public duties of the president,” Kabwe election last year to Magufuli, political leaders, according to official, Abdelhakim Yahyane. without a valid residency card about the president’s health to later told Reuters by phone. said last week from exile in the police, who did not mention Some groups promoting number I cannot register for it,” reduce ongoing fear,” Zitto Government spokesman Belgium that the president is in the president’s name when migrants’ rights said that said the 36-year-old, who has an Kabwe, leader of the Hassan Abbasi did not return India receiving medical referring to the arrests. missing out undocumented 11-month-old baby. Ethiopia rejects outside Assad decrees financial stimulus amid crisis mediation in dam dispute AP — DAMASCUS

AP — KAMPALA Amid sharp economic decline, Syrian Pres- ident Bashar Assad issued a decree yesterday An Ethiopian official said yesterday that his government opposes granting hundreds of thousands of public calls by Sudan for outside mediators including the United States sector workers and soldiers a one-time in the ongoing dispute over its construction of a massive hydro- financial stimulus, equivalent to an average electric dam on the Nile River. monthly salary. Ethiopia is generally opposed to mediation by outside parties The stimulus — the third since October — even though the African Union is welcome to help, Dina Mufti, comes as the national currency is crashing, now spokesman for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters. at 4,000 Syrian pounds to the dollar on the “The tripartite talks between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt on black market, compared to 700 a year ago. The the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam should be concluded official rate for the dollar is fixed at 1,256 Syrian between the three countries themselves, not through mediators,” pounds for $1. Nearly 80% of Syrians live in he said. “The role of mediators is facilitating the talks, not spoon- poverty, and 60% are food insecure — the feeding the process.” worst food security situation ever seen in Mufti added that Ethiopia has “big respect for the African Syria, according to the United Nations. Union” and that the country “believes in resolving African problems The decree stated that a one-time 50,000 by Africans.” The Sudan Tribune reported on Monday that Sudan Syrian pounds, which is nearly $11 on the had formally requested mediation by the European Union, the black market, would go to public sector Syrian refugees walk as they carry containers at an informal tented settlement in the United States, and the African Union to resolve the dispute after workers, including those on part-time con- Bekaa valley, Lebanon, yesterday. the visit of Sudan’s prime minister to Cairo last week. tracts and conscripts. 10 ASIA WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 India: Vaccine exports criticised as infections rise

REUTERS — NEW DELHI India has gifted or AstraZeneca vaccine as well as centralisation in vaccine distri- the sixth straight day of more Weddings and other social sold 59 million locally some of Bharat Biotech’s home- bution,” it said. than 20,000 infections. events will also have limited India’s main opposition grown product. Health Minister Harsh Total cases have now risen attendance. Congress party yesterday hit out produced doses Many Indians, however, Vardhan told parliament that to 11.41 million, the highest after Maharashtra has also locked at Prime Minister Narendra compared with 33 now want the government to vaccines were not being the US and Brazil. Deaths down some districts. Modi’s government for make vaccines available to exported at the “expense of the increased by 131 to 158,856 in Another western state, exporting nearly twice the million doses given more of its own people instead people of India” and that a the past 24 hours, data from the Gujarat, has decided not to number of coronavirus vaccine to its own people of only the elderly and those balance was being struck. health ministry showed. allow fans into the world’s doses than immunisations since its inoculation above 45 suffering from health India’s immunisation drive The government has blamed biggest cricket stadium hosting conducted at home, despite a conditions. has picked up significantly since crowding and a general reluc- international matches between surge in infections. campaign began in “The priority of the Modi Modi expanded it this month. tance to wear masks for the India and England, after seeing India, the world’s biggest mid-January. government is not the state but Still, Bangladesh is vaccinating spike, ruling out mutations of a spurt in cases. vaccine maker, has gifted or foreign nations,” Congress said more people relative to its pop- the virus as a factor, unlike in The initial matches were sold 59 million locally produced on Twitter, using the tag #Indi- ulation using India-made shots. the West. attended by tens of thousands doses compared with 33 million such as the United States are aNeedsMoreVaccines and India plans to vaccinate 300 India’s worst-affected state, of people sitting or standing doses given to its own people being accused of vaccine accusing the premier of million of its 1.35 billion people Maharashtra, has ordered shoulder to shoulder, with few since its inoculation campaign nationalism, India is being focusing on “PR over people”. by August. cinemas, hotels and restaurants wearing masks, leading to began in mid-January. lauded globally for sending “The pace of vaccination in It reported 24,492 new to limit guests to half of capacity widespread criticism on social While some rich countries shots to 71 countries, mainly the states is slow due to the coronavirus cases yesterday, until the end of the month. media. Report: Myanmar accuses Supreme court dismisses case Soros-linked group of against Duterte’s helping coup opponents ICC withdrawal

REUTERS — NAYPYITAW tions”, the paper said. REUTERS — MANILA It then suggested that uni- Myanmar authorities have dentified non-governmental The Philippine Supreme Court detained an official from a organisations were “providing has thrown out a petition that foundation linked to billionaire cash assistance to CDM sought to invalidate President philanthropist George Soros and movements”. Rodrigo Duterte’s unilateral are looking for 11 other The paper said the finance withdrawal from the Interna- employees on suspicion the officer of Open Society tional Criminal Court, which group passed funds to oppo- Myanmar, Phyu Pa Pa Thaw, has been examining allega- nents of a February 1 coup, state had been interrogated since last tions of atrocities in his bloody media said. Friday about “that cash flow war on drugs. Opponents of military rule into the CDM movement”. Duterte in March 2018 launched a civil disobedience Authorities were looking for cancelled the Philippines’ movement (CDM) of strikes to 11 other OSM employees to membership of the ICC’s press the generals to reverse interrogate them, it added. founding treaty just weeks their coup, free detained gov- On its website, the Open after the ICC’s prosecutor ernment leader Aung San Suu Society Foundations says it is announced a preliminary Kyi and recognise her party’s the world’s largest private examination was underway November 8 election victory. funder of independent groups into thousands of killings in his The military has responded working for justice, demo- People showing a three-finger salute as they attend the funeral of Khant Nyar Hein, 19-year-old war on drugs, which he said with a crackdown on pro- cratic governance, and human medical student, who was shot and killed during the security force crack down on anti-coup protesters was prejudiced against him. democracy protests, killing rights. in Yangon, yesterday. But six minority senators more than 180 people over It provides grants through asked the Supreme Court to weeks, a human rights group a network of national and The newspaper published in Myanmar attended their Yangon where Chinese- invalidate Duterte’s decision, said, while taking legal action regional foundations and a picture of Suu Kyi meeting funerals yesterday as more pro- financed factories were torched, which took effect a year later, against Suu Kyi and others. offices, funding an array of Soros in 2016 in New York and testers defied the security forces according to advocacy group arguing it was illegal and done The Global New Light of projects. of her meeting his son, Alex- and at least one man was shot the Assistance Association for without Senate approval, Myanmar newspaper, which It says the Myanmar foun- ander Soros, in Myanmar, but dead. Political Prisoners (AAPP). which is needed before has been for years a mouthpiece dation supports “civil society it did not link Suu Kyi or the The political and economic Yesterday, a crematorium entering into treaties. of the military, said the Open and groups representing mar- Open Society Foundations to crisis over the February 1 over- in Yangon reported 31 funerals, The Supreme Court in a Society Myanmar (OSM) organ- ginalized people to encourage any alleged irregular transfer throw of Suu Kyi’s elected gov- a mourner at one of the cere- statement said that judges isation transferred funds a representative democracy to of funds. ernment could also force the monies said. unanimously dismissed the without seeking permission take root”. The Open Society Founda- poor into hunger as food and Hundreds of young legal challenge as “moot and from the Foreign Exchange Authoritarian governments tions did not immediately fuel prices rise, the United mourners spilled out on to the academic,” adding that “the Management Department. regularly attack Soros and his respond to an emailed request Nations food agency said. street at the funeral of medical court also noted that the judi- The group then exchanged organisation for its work, and for comment. Security forces shot dead at student Khant Nyar Hein who ciary has enough powers to $1.4m into Myanmar’s kyat cur- he has been the target of con- Yesterday, The families of least 20 people on Monday after was killed in Yangon on Sunday, protect human rights contrary rency “without following the spiracy theories and social dozens of people killed in dem- 74 were killed a day earlier, the bloodiest day of the to speculation raised by the necessary rules and regula- media misinformation for years. onstrations against military rule including many in a suburb of protests. petitioners”. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 ASIA 11 Blinken hits out at China’s ‘coercion’ REUTERS — TOKYO China’s extensive Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister US Secretary of State Antony territorial claims Nobuo Kishi as hosts. Blinken warned China in the East and North Korea was in sharp yesterday against using focus after the White House said “coercion and aggression” as he South China Seas Pyongyang had rebuffed efforts sought to use his first trip have become a at dialogue. abroad to shore up Asian alli- The isolated nation, which ances in the face of growing priority issue in an has pursued nuclear and missile assertiveness by Beijing. increasingly testy programmes in defiance of UN China’s extensive territorial Security Council resolutions, claims in the East and South Sino-US relationship warned the Biden adminis- China Seas have become a pri- and are an important tration against “causing a stink” ority issue in an increasingly security concern for if it wanted peace, state media testy Sino-US relationship and said yesterday. are an important security Japan. Blinken underscored the concern for Japan. importance of working closely “We will push back, if nec- with Japan and South Korea on essary, when China uses competing interests. China has the denuclearisation of North US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi elbow bump as coercion and aggression to get denounced what it called US Korea. “We have no greater they attend a news conference with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japan’s Defence its way,” Blinken said. efforts to foment unrest in the strategic advantage when it Minister Nobuo Kishi after the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee 2+2 Meeting in Tokyo, His visit to Tokyo with region and interfere in what it comes to North Korea than this Japan, yesterday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin calls its internal affairs. alliance,” he said. “We approach is the first overseas visit by top In the statement issued with that challenge as an alliance and which it has disputes in regional over the Myanmar military’s because of the coronavirus crisis. members of President Joe their Japanese counterparts, we’ve got to do that if we are waters, sometimes resulting in attempt to overturn the results But Blinken sounded non- Biden’s cabinet. It follows last Blinken and Austin said, going to be effective.” their sinking. of a democratic election, and its committal in his remarks to week’s summit of the leaders of “China’s behaviour, where The ministers also discussed Motegi said China-related crackdown on peaceful Tokyo-based US diplomats, the Quad grouping of the United inconsistent with the existing Washington’s “unwavering issues took up the majority of his protesters. saying the summer Games States, Japan, Australia and international order, presents commitment” to defend Japan two-way talks with Blinken, and He also reaffirmed Washing- involved planning for several India. political, economic, military and in its dispute with China over expressed strong opposition to ton’s commitment to human different scenarios. But he Blinken’s comments come technological challenges to the islets in the East China Sea and the neighbour’s “unilateral rights, adding, “China uses added, “Whenever and however ahead of meetings in Alaska alliance and to the international repeated their opposition to attempt” to change the status quo coercion and aggression to sys- Team USA ends up competing, tomorrow that will bring community.” China’s “unlawful” maritime in the East and South China Seas. tematically erode autonomy in it will be because of you.” together for the first time senior The two countries com- claims in the South China Sea. In Beijing, Chinese foreign Hong Kong, undercut democracy The US officials ended the Biden administration officials mitted themselves to opposing They also shared concerns ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in Taiwan, abusing human rights visit with a courtesy call on and their Chinese counterparts coercion and destabilising over developments such as the told a regular news briefing that in Xinjiang and Tibet.” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, to discuss frayed ties between behaviour towards others in the law China passed in January US-Japan ties “shouldn’t target Motegi said Blinken who is set to visit the White the world’s top two region that undermines the allowing its coast guard to fire or undermine the interests of expressed support during the House in April as the first economies. rules-based international on foreign vessels. any third party,” and should meeting for the staging of the foreign leader to meet Biden. Washington has criticised system, they added. China has sent coast guard boost “peace and stability in the Tokyo Olympics, set to run from Both will leave Tokyo for what it called Beijing’s attempts The meeting was held in the vessels to chase away fishing Asia-Pacific”. July 23 to August 8 after being Seoul today for talks in the South to bully neighbours with “2+2” format with Japanese vessels from countries with Blinken expressed concern postponed from last year Korean capital until tomorrow. Gunmen open fire at Afghan varsity bus, 2 dead Beijing approves another AP — KABUL travelling to the university, government putting the blame an attack on a minibus in Kabul COVID-19 vaccine Basharat said. on the Taliban. The insurgents the previous day had died - Gunmen opened fire at a No one immediately have denied responsibility for three women and a 3-year-old AP — TAIPEI spokesperson for the company minibus belonging to a claimed responsibility for the most of the attacks. child. Earlier reports had no said that the data could not be university in northern Afghan- attack but Zabihullah Mujahid, Last November, Islamic fatalities. China has approved a new shared at this time but that the istan yesterday, killing at least a Taliban spokesman, said the State militants stormed Kabul In western Herat province, COVID-19 vaccine for emer- company was providing the two people and wounding six, militant group was not involved University, sparking an hours- insurgents yesterday morning gency use, one that was information to health a provincial official said. in it. long gunbattle in the Afghan stormed a police outpost on the developed by the head of its authorities. Jawed Basharat, spokesman Afghanistan is experiencing capital that killed 22 people and Pashdan Dam, killing three Center for Disease Control, The protein subunit vaccine for the police chief in Baghlan a nationwide spike in bombings, wounded another 22. And members of the Afghan security adding a fifth shot to its arsenal. is similar to many of the other province, said a student and the targeted killings and other vio- earlier, in October, IS claimed forces, said Wahid Qatali, the Gao Fu, the head of China’s vaccines that have been driver of the minibus were lence as peace negotiations in another brutal assault on a province’s governor. The dam CDC, led the development of a approved globally in that it killed in the attack, which took between the Taliban and the tutoring centre in Kabul’s on the Hari River is still under protein sub-unit vaccine that trains the body to recognise the place on the outskirts of Puli Afghan government continue mostly Shia neighbourhood of construction. was approved by regulators last spike protein that covers the Khomri, the provincial capital. to face an impasse. Dasht-e-Barchi that killed 24 Qatali added that four week for emergency use, the surface of the coronavirus, The wounded were all uni- The Islamic State group’s students and wounded more security personnel were Chinese Academy of Sciences’ although the difference lies in versity lecturers. local affiliate has claimed than 100 others. wounded in the attack, for Institute of Microbiology said how it tells the body to rec- The bus was carrying stu- responsibility for some of the Also yesterday, authorities which he blamed the Taliban. in a statement on Monday. ognize the protein. Scientists dents and teachers from the violence, but many attacks go reported that four people who There was no immediate It is the fifth coronavirus grow a harmless version of the faculty of agriculture and was unclaimed, with the Afghan were among the 15 wounded in response from the insurgents. vaccine approved in China and protein in cells and then purify the fourth to be given emer- it, before it is assembled into a gency use approval. Three of vaccine and injected. Seven die in those given emergency China has been slow in vac- approval have since been cinating its population of 1.4 approved for general use. All billion people, despite having Pakistan coal were developed by Chinese four vaccines approved for companies. general use. The latest mine accident The latest vaccine was numbers, according to gov- developed jointly by Anhui ernment officials at a press REUTERS — QUETTA Zhifei Longcom Biopharma- briefing on Monday in Beijing, ceutical Co Ltd and the Chinese is that it has administered 64.98 Seven miners were killed in a Academy of Sciences. The team million doses of vaccines. blast at a coal mine in the finished phase 1 and phase 2 China has targeted what it southwestern Pakistani clinical trials in October and is considers key populations for province of Balochistan currently conducting the last vaccination thus far, namely yesterday night, the second phase of trials in Uzbekistan, health care workers, those who such deadly incident in the Pakistan and Indonesia, work at the border or customs, region in a week. according to the statement. and specific industries the gov- A build up of methane gas The vaccine was approved ernment has selected. Other in the mine in the Torghar gas for use in Uzbekistan on March groups that have been notably field in the district of Harnai 1. It’s a three-dose shot that is absent thus far in comparison caused an explosion as the spaced out with one month each to many other countries are the workers were inside, Deputy between shots, a company elderly and those with pre- Commissioner Sohail Anwar spokesperson said. Like other existing conditions. Hashmi said. vaccines China has developed The approved vaccines “Rescue teams recovered so far, it can be stored at normal have previously been limited the bodies of all seven coal refrigeration temperatures. to adults 18-59 years old, as miners this morning, who There is no publicly officials cited a lack of clinical burnt to death as a huge fire Jumbo bath available information in peer- trial data for those who are broke out in the mine after the reviewed scientific journals older, although the government blast,” Chief Inspector of Mines A man sits atop as elephants soak in the tunnel under the Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road in Riau province, about the clinical trial data appears to be signalling the Shafqat Fayyaz said. Indonesia, yesterday. showing efficacy or safety. A limits are now being set aside. Fayyaz said the workers who lost their lives were working at a depth of about 1,500 feet when the explosion Manila orders youth below North Korea tells US to cease war occurred, adding that mine has been closed and a probe has 18 to stay indoors been ordered into the incident. games if wants to ‘sleep in peace’ On March 12, eight miners REUTERS — MANILA though a rule that anyone under were trapped around 1,000 15 must stay indoors in Manila REUTERS — SEOUL in Seoul for their first talks with “War drills and hostility can feet below ground in a mine The Philippine capital Manila remained in place. South Korean counterparts. never go with dialogue and in the district of Marwar, near will widen a ban on minors The Southeast Asian country The sister of North Korean “We take this opportunity cooperation,” Kim Yo Jong said. the border with Afghanistan, leaving their residences to has seen a surge in COVID-19 leader, Kim Yo Jong, criticised to warn the new US adminis- When asked about Kim Yo when a buildup of methane include youths of up to 18 years cases this month, recording the ongoing military drills in South tration trying hard to give off Jong’s statement, Blinken told gas exploded. Six workers old for two weeks starting largest daily increase since mid- Korea and warned the new US powder smell in our land,” Kim a briefing in Tokyo that he was were killed and two other today, tightening coronavirus August on Monday with 5,404 administration that the smell of said in a statement carried by aware of her comments, but rescued. restrictions in a bid to tackle a new infections. cordite wafting over the border state news agency KCNA. “If it that he was more interested in Sparsely populated and new surge of infections. Nighttime curfews have would not help bring peace, wants to sleep in peace for hearing what America’s allies impoverished Balochistan is Only those aged 18-65 been reimposed since Monday state news reported yesterday. coming four years, it had better and partners think about North home to large deposits of coal, years old will be allowed out of for two weeks in Metropolitan Kim’s statement was the refrain from causing a stink at Korea. natural gas, copper and gold, their homes, the Metro Manila Manila, the country’s corona- North’s first public message to its first step.” The new US administration many of which are being Development Authority said in virus hotspot that is home to Washington since President Joe For all the imagery of Kim’s is expected to wrap up a review extracted by Chinese-backed a statement, citing an more than 12 million people. Biden took office in January. It words, the joint springtime mil- of North Korea policy in coming operations. agreement among mayors. Additional measures such was delivered a day before US itary drill begun last week was weeks. And Blinken said Wash- Separatist militants often The Philippines late last year as localised lockdowns in areas Secretary of State Antony limited to computer simulations ington is considering whether target workers and security started easing one of the world’s with high infection rates have Blinken and Defense Secretary because of the coronavirus risk. additional pressure on North forces. longest and strictest lockdowns also been put in place. Lloyd Austin are due to arrive But her message was clear. Korea could be effective. 12 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 UK seeks more influence in Indo-Pacific region

REUTERS — LONDON Britain’s biggest ating impact on China.” The United States has also Britain wants to expand its foreign and defence underlined the importance of influence among countries in policy review since the Indo-Pacific region under the Indo-Pacific region to try President Joe Biden, who took to moderate China’s global the 1990 end of the office in January, and warned dominance, a document laying Cold War sets out how against China’s growing assert- out post-Brexit foreign and Prime Minister Boris iveness. The EU also hopes to defence policy priorities said deepen relations with countries yesterday. Johnson wants to be in the Indo-Pacific. It sets out a planned at the forefront of a The British government has increase to Britain’s nuclear long promised the “Integrated arsenal to weigh against reinvigorated, rules- Review” will show that Britain, evolving global security threats, based international which completed its exit from and underlines the importance the EU at the end of last year, of strong ties with the United order based on still has international clout and States while naming Russia as cooperation. will define a new era. the top regional threat. The document, however, Britain’s biggest foreign and will be scrutinised for evidence defence policy review since the But, responding to Johnson, of how the government will 1990 end of the Cold War sets opposition Labour leader Keir deliver on Johnson’s promises Activists of the “white masks” group (les masques blancs), which denounces the COVID-19 health out how Prime Minister Boris Starmer said the review had as Britain copes with the eco- restrictions measures to fight the coronavirus disease outbreak in France, attend a demonstration Johnson wants to be at the fore- been built on “weakened” foun- nomic and political fallout of against the 'global security bill' in Nantes, France, yesterday. front of a reinvigorated, rules- dations, particularly after withdrawing from the EU, the based international order based Britain threatened to break world’s largest trading and on cooperation and free trade. international law by under- financial bloc, as well as the France investigates new coronavirus Calling the Indo-Pacific mining its divorce deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. “increasingly the geopolitical European Union. Britain said it would raise centre of the world”, the gov- “From Europe to the Indian the upper limit on its nuclear variant detected in Brittany ernment highlighted a planned Ocean, this government now warhead stock to 260 from 180, British aircraft carrier has a reputation for breaking reversing a previously planned REUTERS — PARIS place to determine how this body’s immune response, or deployment to the region and international law, not defending cut, and the report classified variant reacts to vaccination antibodies. said a previously postponed it,” he said. Russia as “the most acute threat Scientists are investigating a and to antibodies developed International agencies have visit to India would go ahead in Britain, the world’s sixth- to our security” in the Euro- new coronavirus variant that during prior COVID infec- been alerted to the discovery April. largest economy, is dwarfed Atlantic region. has been detected in Brittany tions,” Brittany’s regional of the new variant. “There is no question that economically and militarily by “Until relations with its in western France and may health authority said in a Brittany has so far avoided China will pose a great chal- China, but believes that via soft (Russia’s) government improve, evade testing more successfully statement. the brunt of the third wave of lenge to an open society such power and strategic alliances we will actively deter and than other versions, the Scientists also want to infections sweeping through as ours, but we will also work it can help persuade Beijing to defend against the full spectrum regional health authority said understand if the variant can France and other European with China where that is con- play by the rules of a new, of threats emanating from yesterday. hide from testing after several countries, but the incidence rate sistent with our values and more dynamic international Russia,” the report said. Eight cases of the new of the patients delivered neg- is rising. interests,” Johnson told system. It took a more nuanced variant were identified in a ative PCR tests and returned The seven-day moving parliament. Foreign Secretary Dominic approach to China, calling Bei- cluster in a Brittany hospital. a positive result only from average of infections per “The review describes how Raab acknowledged Britain’s jing’s increasing power and France’s health ministry said samples taken from blood or 100,000 inhabitants in Brittany we will bolster our alliances, attempts to influence Beijing assertiveness the most signif- late on Monday that early deep in the respiratory stood at 132.9 on March 12 com- strengthen our capabilities, find had been marginal so far, telling icant geopolitical factor of the analysis did not suggest the system. pared with 113 a week earlier. new ways of reaching solutions Times Radio it was better acting decade, and promising to chal- mutation was more contagious Polymerase Chain Reaction The incidence rate in Paris and and re-learn the art of com- “in concert with clusters of like- lenge it where necessary and or more deadly than earlier tests are used to directly detect its surrounds, where intensive peting against states with minded countries...to have the defend British national versions of the virus. the presence of an antigen, care wards are near saturation, opposing values.” maximum impact and moder- security. “Investigations will take rather than the presence of the stands at 404 per 100,000. Britain’s Prince Philip returns home after treatment Europe seeks to restart

AP — LONDON outside the door of the private hos- Philip, also known as the pregnant with her son, Archie. pital captured his departure in the Duke of Edinburgh, retired in The interview, conducted by travel with ‘health pass’ Britain’s Prince Philip returned back of a black car. Buckingham 2017 and rarely appears in Oprah Winfrey, divided people to Windsor Castle yesterday, a Palace later issued a statement public. Before his hospitali- around the world. While many REUTERS — BRUSSELS Seeking a “safe and sus- month in the hospital during confirming Philip’s release. zation, he had been isolating at say the allegations demonstrate tainable reopening” for Europe, which he was treated for an “His Royal Highness wishes Windsor Castle, west of London, the need for change inside a The European Union will today the Commission will also tell infection and underwent a heart to thank all the medical staff with the queen. palace that hasn’t kept pace unveil a COVID-19 pass to EU countries to exempt cross- procedure. who looked after him at both His illness comes as the with the #MeToo and Black allow free travel this summer border workers and freight Philip, 99, the husband of King Edward VII’s Hospital and royal family has been rocked Lives Matter movements, others and support the struggling transport from strict travel Queen Elizabeth II, was St Bartholomew’s Hospital, and by an interview with Meghan, have criticized Harry and tourism sector despite the restrictions and offer a joint admitted to the private King everyone who has sent their Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Meghan for dropping their bloc’s sluggish vaccination gateway for national passenger Edward VII’s Hospital in good wishes,’’ the palace said Harry. In the explosive bombshell while Philip was campaign and the risks posed location forms. London on Feb. 16, where he in a statement. broadcast, Meghan, who is hospitalized. by new coronavirus variants. Vaccination campaigns was treated for an infection. Philip’s illness is not believed biracial, said the palace had The longest-serving royal The EU’s executive have got off to a slow start in He was later transferred to to be related to COVID-19. Both failed to help her when she had consort in British history, Philip European Commission will many EU countries due to a specialized cardiac care unit Philip and Elizabeth received suicidal thoughts and that an married the then-Princess Eliz- propose creating a bloc-wide scarce supply and with fears of at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, coronavirus vaccines in January unidentified member of the abeth in 1947. He and the queen “green digital certificate” that new coronavirus variants before returning to King and chose to publicize the royal family had raised “con- have four children, eight grand- would combine information on spreading, the 27 countries face Edward VII’s. matter to encourage others to cerns” about the color of her children and nine vaccination, COVID-19 tests an uphill battle agreeing shared Photographers standing also take the vaccine. baby’s skin when she was great-grandchildren. and recovery from the disease standards for reopening. to allow people to take flights Greece has said it would and cross borders. welcome this summer all those Serbian city sees “It will allow everyone from vaccinated against COVID-19, the European Union to come and those who have antibodies or low vaccinations visit us with security,” said Alfonso test negative, while France Lopez, director of The Hat hotel announced an easing of some amid scepticism and Villa Verbena restaurant in travel restrictions from Aus- Madrid. “I think it will help us have tralia, New Zealand, Britain and REUTERS — NOVI PAZAR a reasonable summer season,” he other countries. said, calling last summer “an But Belgium and Germany In Serbia’s southern city of absolute disaster”. have warned against discrimi- Novi Pazar, just six percent of In Paris, 63-year-old pen- nating against those who refuse its population of around sioner Patrick Job - sporting a or cannot get vaccinated, 100,000 has received a lapel pin reading: “I am vacci- meaning EU leaders will have a COVID-19 vaccine - far below nated against COVID-19” — heated discussion on what rights the national average, with looked forward to travelling to attach to the COVID-19 certif- conflicting online messages again after more than a year of icates when they meet next week. driving high levels of scep- lockdowns and restrictions that The World Health Organ- ticism, local health officials have thrust Europe into a isation has advised against said. record economic recession. requiring vaccine certification The low takeup comes as “A COVID-19 health pass as a precondition for interna- the country is struggling to would allow us to travel, to get tional travel. contain a spike in COVID-19 back a little bit of freedom. And “We have to be exceptionally infections that forced the gov- to be able to see other things, careful because right now we are ernment yesterday to order a at least to go on holiday for a dealing with a tremendously iniq- five-day shutdown of restau- few days, or on a weekend,” Job uitous situation in the world... rants, cafes and clubs. said while walking his dog. where the likelihood of you being “We have more vaccines The Commission hopes EU offered or getting a vaccine is very on offer than those who Skating skills member states and the bloc’s much to do with the country you applied for them,” Prime Min- parliament will agree on the are living in,” Mike Ryan, WHO’s ister Ana Brnabic said. A man skates near the Colosseum on the second day of lockdown, as the country struggles to reduce proposal in June, in time for the top emergency expert, said on Nationally, more than 1.65 the coronavirus disease infections, in Rome, Italy, yesterday. summer season. Monday. million people have received at least one COVID-19 shot out of a population of around seven million. UK plans new counter-terrorism centre, says nuclear attack likely But in Novi Pazar, online forums and rumours ques- REUTERS — LONDON significant threat to its citizens causes, new sources of radical- COVID-19 pandemic in March The review also warned that tioning the safety and efficacy and interests, mainly from isation and evolving tactics,” the last year, and 28 plots since poor governance and disorder, of vaccinations have under- Britain said yesterday it would Islamist terrorism, but also from government review said, prom- March 2017. particularly in some African and mined the campaign, said create a new homeland security the far-right and to a lesser extent ising a “robust, full-spectrum The central plank of the Middle Eastern states, would Sefadil Spahic, head of the headquarters as part of plans to the far-left and anarchists. approach in response”. security approach will be the cre- provide space for extremist regional public health centre. improve its response to the A threat also remained from Britain suffered four deadly ation of a new Counter Terrorism groups, with “a realistic possi- “Unfortunately we have... “major threat” from terrorism, Northern Irish militants who militant attacks in 2017, Operations Centre to bring bility that state sponsorship of health workers who say neg- saying a successful chemical, want to destabilise the peace including a suicide bombing at together police, spy agencies, terrorism and the use of proxies ative things about the vaccine,” biological or nuclear was likely deal in the British province the end of an Ariana Grande government officials and ele- will increase”. Spahic said. by the end of the decade. established in 1998, it said. concert in Manchester which ments from the judicial system. “It is likely that a terrorist Authorities want to speed In its Integrated Review, “Terrorism will remain a killed 22 people. It said this would improve group will launch a successful up vaccinations and slow daily which lays out the country’s post- major threat over the coming Earlier this month, police Britain’s speed of response to CBRN (chemical, biological, infections, which stand at Brexit policy priorities, the gov- decade, with a more diverse said they had foiled three incidents and help stay ahead radiological or nuclear)attack around 4,000. ernment said Britain faced a range of material and political attacks since the start of the of emerging threats. by 2030,” it said. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 EUROPE 13 Experts pore over AstraZeneca safety data REUTERS — AMSTERDAM The European Britain, which began using AstraZeneca earlier and has Global health experts came Medicines Agency given more than 10 million under increasing pressure (EMA) said it was doses. yesterday to clear up questions investigating reports “A very likely explanation over the safety of AstraZeneca’s of at least some of the clotting COVID-19 shot, as Sweden and of 30 cases of unusual disorders seen are a result of Latvia joined countries blood disorders out COVID-19 rather than the suspending their use in a further vaccine,” said Stephen Evans, blow to Europe’s vaccination of 5 million recipients professor of pharmacoepide- rollout. of the AstraZeneca miology at the London School The European Medicines of Hygiene and Tropical Agency (EMA) said it was inves- vaccine. In total, 45 Medicine. tigating reports of 30 cases of million shots have “There are published papers unusual blood disorders out of that make clear that these 5 million recipients of the Astra- been delivered across problems definitely occur in Zeneca vaccine. In total, 45 the region. COVID-19 and there is no doubt million COVID shots have been that all the vaccines in use delivered across the region. prevent that disease. Hence the The EU regulator will act since reports first emerged risk and benefit balance for the release its findings on Thursday of thromboembolisms affecting AstraZeneca vaccine remains but its head, Emer Cooke, said people after they got the Astra- clearly in favour of its she saw no reason to change its Zeneca shot. benefits.” recommendation of Astra- The WHO and EMA had There is no evidence that Zeneca - one of four vaccines earlier joined AstraZeneca in blood clots are any more likely that it has approved for use. saying there is no proven link, to occur after people are given “The benefits continue to but some experts said the epi- AstraZeneca’s vaccine, a Vials labelled AstraZeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine and a broken syringe displayed in front of outweigh the risks, but this is a sodes of blood clots, bleeding spokesman for Prime Minister an AstraZeneca logo. serious concern and it does and low platelet counts in Boris Johnson said, citing the UK need serious and detailed sci- younger people seemed to medicine regulator. been eight deaths and four due to scarce supply. by the end of the summer. The entific evaluation,” Cooke told indicate a causal connection to In the EU’s largest states, cases of serious side-effects in AstraZeneca said last week bloc has administered 11 shots so a news conference. the AstraZeneca shot. including Germany, France, Italy following vaccinations, he it would try to deliver 30 million far for every 100 residents, while A World Health Organi- “The benefits of vaccination Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, added. doses to the European Union by Israel — a world leader in vacci- zation (WHO) committee of significantly outweigh the risks, AstraZeneca has accounted for In France, Health Minister the end of March, down from a nation — has given 108 doses, experts was reviewing the cases especially for the elderly,” said about 13-15 percent of shots Olivier Veran told reporters the contractual obligation of 90 according to Our World in Data. and was expected to issue a Karl Lauterbach, health given since the rollout started risk-reward ratio for the Astra- million and a previous pledge At the same time a third statement by the end of the day, spokesman for Germany’s almost three months ago, with Zeneca vaccine remained made last month to deliver 40 wave of infection, driven by a spokesman said. Social Democratic Party. Pfizer-BioNTech making up the positive. million doses. more infectious viral variants, The EU’s largest members “But it could be the case that majority, according to official Governments say they Still, the European Com- threatens to worsen Europe’s — Germany, France and Italy — the risks of the vaccine are data. acted out of an abundance of mission said yesterday it year-old coronavirus pandemic suspended use of AstraZeneca’s higher for certain patient groups Nicola Magrini, the director caution — of 1.6 million people expects to receive more than that has claimed 575,000 lives vaccine on Monday pending the such as young women,” Lau- general of Italy’s medicines in Germany given the Astra- 200 million doses of COVID-19 and further delay recovery from outcome of investigations into terbach, an epidemiologist authority AIFA, told daily la Zeneca shot, seven fell ill and vaccine from Pfizer and a pandemic economic slump. unusual cases of a rare cerebral whose party is part of the Berlin Repubblica in an interview that three died of rare cerebral vein BioNTech in the second quarter, Deutsche Bank yesterday thrombosis in people who had coalition, told Deutschlandfunk the choice to suspend the Astra- thrombosis. putting the EU on course to slashed 2021 economic growth received it. radio in an interview. Zeneca shot was “political”. But the suspensions deprive meet its inoculation target. forecasts for the euro area by a The addition of Sweden and Other epidemiologists note He said it was safe and said them of vitally-needed doses to The EU aims to vaccinate at whole percentage point, citing Latvia yesterday brought to 13 that similar cases have not been its benefit to risk ratio was step up vaccination campaigns least 255 million people, or 70 spillover of the pandemic-linked the number of EU countries to found in unusual numbers in “widely positive”. There have that have got off to a slow start percent of its adult population, activity restrictions. Russia to block Twitter unless Netherlands: PM’s lead shrinks as poll enters second day AP — AMSTERDAM Rutte has led the last three extra voice in the Dutch par- The broadcaster reported The Hague. She said her most it deletes Dutch ruling coalitions and has liament,” he said. from the small municipality of important themes were health The lead of Dutch Prime been in power for more than a Interior Minister Kajsa Bernheze that 1,688 people care and security. banned content Minister Mark Rutte’s conserv- decade. His popularity soared last Ollongren said yesterday in a voted by mail and 143 of the “I think it’s important that ative party in polls continued to year as he repeatedly appeared letter to Parliament that she will votes could be invalid. the health care system is well REUTERS — MOSCOW shrink yesterday, according to on television to solemnly explain tell municipalities that are The increased use of postal handled because it has suffered a new survey published before the government’s efforts to rein responsible for counting votes voting for people age 70 and major budget cuts,” she said. Russia will block Twitter in the second day of voting in the in the spread of the coronavirus. to amend the way they deal over is among measures The final day of voting is one month unless the US social coronavirus-affected national However, it has waned in recent with postal votes after reports intended to make the election Wednesday and results are media giant complies with a election. weeks as the election nears and emerged Monday of what her safe amid stubbornly high coro- expected to begin rolling in after demand to remove banned Rutte’s People’s Party for public impatience with the coun- ministry called “procedural navirus infection rates in the polling stations close at 9 p.m. content, Russian news Freedom and Democracy still try’s tough lockdown increases. mistakes” with postal votes. Netherlands, a nation of just over (2000 GMT) and into Thursday. agencies cited a senior regu- retains a lead of around 10 per- Even some voters who are “If people have made this 17 million where more than Across the country, thou- latory official as saying centage points over its nearest generally satisfied with his han- mistake by accident but had the 16,000 people are confirmed to sands of locations from churches yesterday. rival, the anti-immigration dling of the pandemic are intention, of course, to vote, have died of COVID-19. to cinemas have been pressed Moscow said last week it Party for Freedom led by anti- looking elsewhere. then it is not fair” if their votes Voting has been spread out into action as voting locations had slowed down the speed of Islam firebrand Geert Wilders. “Yes, as prime minister I aren’t counted, Ollongren told over three days, starting by officials seeking larger spaces Twitter inside Russia in retal- According to the respected think he has done well. I also reporters in The Hague. Monday, with the first two days to allow social distancing. iation for what it described as Peilingwijzer survey of different find him quite sympathetic, but National broadcaster NOS intended to allow people who Yesterday, staff at Amster- a failure to remove a specific opinion polls, Rutte’s party is in I did not vote for him,” said reported that a number of are considered more vulnerable dam’s Van Gogh Museum were list of banned content. line to win between 34 and 38 Wilbert Vrijburg, a 31-year-old municipalities said some postal to the virus to vote in polling maneuvering voting booths into Twitter said at the time seats in the 150-seat lower who works for a hi-tech startup, votes could be invalid because stations that aren’t as busy as place near the museum’s shop, that it was worried about the house of parliament. Wilders’ after he voted for pro-European the voters hadn’t followed on normal election days. which has been closed for impact on free speech of the party is forecast to win 17-21 party Volt in The Hague. instructions correctly when Sandra Neerbos, 49, took months because of the tough Russian action, and denied seats. “I think it is an important mailing their ballot paper. advantage of the early voting in coronavirus lockdown. that it allowed its platform to be used to promote illegal behaviour as alleged by Russian authorities. Hospitals in Hungary nearing In a move that escalates the growing stand-off, limits as virus cases surge Vadim Subbotin, the deputy head of Roskomnadzor, the REUTERS — BUDAPEST a recent surge in new cases. communications watchdog, “All of our epidemiological was cited as saying yeserday Hungary’s COVID-19 cases are figures are unfolding unfa- that Twitter had not expected to rise further in the vourably,” Muller said. Buda- addressed Russian concerns weeks ahead, Surgeon General pest’s main COVID-19 hospital, yet and would be blocked in Cecilia Muller said yesterday, the Del-Pesti Centrum Hospital, Russia in a month unless it as doctors warned the local has declined to give an did so. health system was entering its interview. “Twitter is not reacting most critical period for half a Earlier this month, about to our requests as they century. 4,000 medical workers quit the should. If the situation carries The Hungarian Medical public health system over on then it will be blocked in Chamber said in a statement reforms begun by Prime Min- a month without a court that the pandemic situation ister Viktor Orban’s gov- order,” the Interfax news was “critical” and the ernment, aggravating a years- agency cited Subbotin as healthcare system could reach long shortage of medical staff saying. its limits any time. during the third wave of the He was quoted as saying As of yesterday, Hungary pandemic. that Twitter could still avoid had reported 529,122 cases and Muller said Hungary would being blocked if it took action 17,226 deaths from COVID-19. follow the advice of the World to delete the banned content, More than 1,000 people are on Health Organisation and the which Moscow has said Crimea annexation anniversary ventilators, straining hospitals. European Medicines Agency over includes child pornography Muller told an online AstraZeneca’s vaccine. Some and material on illegal drugs A veteran stands next to a monument to the so-called “polite people” or the Russian servicemen, briefing that some hospitals European Union member states and child suicide. who enhanced security during the Crimean referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, after had to involve additional have stopped administering the Twitter did not immedi- a ceremony marking the 7th anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, in Simferopol, Crimea, departments in treating shot because of concern over ately respond to a request for yesterday. COVID-19 patients because of possible side effects. comment. The US platform was already under pressure in Russia after it was named Russia says its COVID-19 vaccines work on new variants earlier this month as one of five social media platforms REUTERS — MOSCOW determine the efficacy of the been done in Russia and we can Researchers conducting The level of participants’ neu- being sued for allegedly failing three vaccines produced and say with confidence that the trials under the review ordered tralising antibodies against that to delete posts urging children Russia’s COVID-19 vaccines registered in Russia against new (Sputnik V and EpiVacCoriona) by Putin said on February 27 variant did not significantly differ to take part in illegal anti- have proven effective against variants spreading in different vaccines registered in Russia that results were looking strong from the level of those associated Kremlin protests. new variants of the coronavirus parts of the world. He said he also work against new strains,” when volunteers were re-vac- with the original strain of SARS- Russia’s foreign ministry in trials, a scientist with wanted the results by March 15. Alexander Gorelov, deputy head cinated with Sputnik V against CoV-2, according to Murashko. on Saturday accused the Moscow’s consumer regulator Consumer regulator Ros- of research at Rospotrebnad- new mutations of the virus. Rospotrebnadzor said it had United States of using IT said yesterday, after the agency potrebnadzor said earlier yes- zor’s Institute of Epidemiology, Reporting on trial results last conducted 8,159 tests for muta- opportunities to engage in reported its first cases of a terday it had identified the first said on state television. week, Health Minister Mikhail tions of the coronavirus so far. unfair competition and social variant first detected in South two cases in Russia of the new Gorelov gave no details on Murashko said that Sputnik V It was collecting and testing media platforms of arbitrarily Africa. variant of the coronavirus first trials that had tested vaccines had shown itself effective samples from a wide range of and indiscriminately censoring President Vladimir Putin detected in South Africa. against variants first discovered against the virus variant that was people, including those who content. last month ordered a review to “In fact, trials have already abroad. first detected in Britain. have recently travelled abroad. 14 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 Canada lags in vaccinations but aims to catch up quickly

AP — TORONTO The vaccine supply population getting at least one chain difficulties shot. That compares with 36% Canada once was hailed as a in the UK, 21% in the US and 8% success story in dealing with the have forced Canada in the EU. Chile, which like coronavirus pandemic, faring to extend the time many countries has turned to much better than the United between the first shot China, has vaccinated 25% with States in deaths and infections at least one dose. because of how it approached and the second by Overall, Canada has lockdowns. up to four months so weathered the pandemic better But the trade-dependent that everyone can be than most countries in per nation has lagged on vacci- capita deaths and infections. nating its population because it protected faster with More than 530,000 Americans lacks the ability to manufacture the primary dose. and 125,000 UK citizens have the vaccine and has had to rely died, compared with just over on the global supply chain for The hope is to get all 22,000 in Canada. But not the lifesaving shots, like many adults at least one having rapid access to vaccines other countries. shot by end of June. could be costly amid a surge in With no domestic supply, variant COVID-19 cases. The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s financial capital of Toronto government bet on seven dif- to extend the time between the largely remains on lockdown. ferent vaccines manufactured first shot and the second by up President Joe Biden has elsewhere and secured advance to four months so that everyone directed that all US states make purchase agreements — enough can be protected faster with the all adults eligible for doses by to get 10 doses for each of Can- primary dose. The hope is to get May 1 and expects to have ada’s 38 million people. all adults at least one shot by enough supply for every adult Regulators have approved the end of June. American by the end of May. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits a vaccination clinic at the Palais des Congres, as efforts the Pfizer, Moderna, Astra- “It’s not just Canada that is The White House has said that continue to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Montreal, Quebec, on Monday. Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson experiencing turbulence. The once US citizens are vaccinated, vaccines. While acquiring them entire globe is undertaking the the next step is ensuring Canada by the first shot. The UK has insti- countries suspended use its over have begun to ramp up in has proven difficult, that gamble largest mass vaccination cam- and Mexico are able to manage tuted a similar delay. reports of dangerous blood clots Canada. Based on a new appears to be about to pay off. paign in its history with com- the pandemic so the borders The National Advisory Com- in some recipients. The schedule, it will receive at least 1 Although Canada’s economy pletely new supply chains,” Pro- can reopen. That could mean mittee on Immunization yes- company and international reg- million Pfizer doses a week from is tightly interconnected with curement Minister Anita Anand more vaccines for Canada in terday changed its recommen- ulators say there is no evidence Europe from March 22 to May 10, the US, Washington hasn’t said. According to the World June and a shorter wait for dation on the AstraZeneca the shot is to blame. Trudeau said on Friday. allowed the hundreds of mil- Health Organization, nearly second doses. vaccine and will now allow Canada has placed bigger “That’s going to make a big lions of vaccine doses made in 80% of the vaccines manufac- Canada’s National Advisory those over 65 to get it after ini- bets on Pfizer and Moderna, difference,” he said. By the end America to be exported, and tured so far have been admin- Committee on Immunization had tially saying there was not ordering up to 76 million doses of March, Canada will have Canada has had to turn to istered in only 10 countries. recommended the four-month enough data to allow for that. of Pfizer and up to 44 million of received up to 8 million doses Europe and Asia. Canada ranks about 22nd in delay between doses after data Canadian health authorities Moderna, compared with up to overall, up from 6 million, he The vaccine supply chain the number of doses adminis- from the UK and Quebec showed continue to say AstraZeneca is 20 million of AstraZeneca. said, and it expects to have more difficulties have forced Canada tered, with about 8% of the a good level of protection offered safe, a day after many European In the meantime, deliveries than 36.5 million doses by July. US House set to vote Brazil President picks cardiologist tomorrow on citizenship as health minister path for ‘Dreamers’ to replace general REUTERS — BRASILIA REUTERS — WASHINGTON need to pass comprehensive immigration reform and we’re Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro The House of Representatives going to do so in the coming on Monday named a doctor as is due to vote tomorrow on two months.” Republicans argue the the country’s new health immigration bills that would latest bills would only encourage minister, hours after the general provide a path to citizenship for more illegal border crossings. currently in the role confirmed millions living illegally in the The bills are “implicitly that Bolsonaro was weighing United States, just as the promising the next generation, candidates to replace him. country faces the biggest surge all they have to do is get here and Marcelo Queiroga, a car- of migrants at its southwestern their turn will come,” Represent- diologist, is set to replace border in 20 years. ative Tom McClintock said General Eduardo Pazuello and The bills to help farm- during a meeting of the House become the fourth health min- workers and younger immi- Rules Committee, which sets the ister in Brazil since the start of grants known as “Dreamers” terms for floor debate on bills. the coronavirus pandemic. Colorado, Wyoming reel from heavy snow are an effort to take targeted House Speaker Nancy Pazuello’s job was on the steps forward while congres- Pelosi, a Democrat, said on line after a week that saw A car stops at a traffic light during a snowstorm in Denver, Colorado, US. Tens of thousands of people sional Democrats deliberate Sunday that the incoming surge record COVID-19 fatalities in were without power as the region dug out from one of the most powerful late-winter blizzards in President Joe Biden’s compre- of migrant children was a Brazil. More than 279,000 some two decades. The heavy storm punished parts of Colorado and Wyoming with up to 3 feet of hensive immigration plan. “humanitarian crisis” aggra- Brazilians have died in a wors- snow, stranding motorists on major highways, and knocking down trees and power lines. Denver But it will be an uphill battle vated by the “broken system” ening outbreak that killed International Airport, which halted all inbound and outbound flights on Sunday after 2 feet of snow for either a limited or extensive of restrictive immigration left more people in Brazil than any fell on runways, reopened them shortly late on Monday. immigration program to clear behind by former President other nation last week. Congress as divisions both Donald Trump. Bolsonaro said that Que- between and within the two But Republicans say the iroga would follow Pazuello’s parties over the subject continue influx is the result of Biden’s agenda at the health ministry Mother loses only son to rare to vex Washington. Republicans reversal of some hardline and that the government would have focused on attacking the Trump policies, with House redouble efforts to implement Democratic Biden adminis- Republican leader Kevin mass vaccinations against the tration for the new spike in McCarthy labeling it the “Biden coronavirus. He added the tran- COVID-19 complication arrivals at the US-Mexico border. border crisis” during a trip to sition would take one or two House Democratic Leader the border on Monday. weeks to complete. REUTERS — SANTIAGO hospital, overrun with severe said Navarrete, who works as a Steny Hoyer said the House The first immigration bill the Pazuello, an active duty COVID-19 cases, repeatedly nurse technician. “They had a would take up the two immi- House will take up offers an Army general without a medical By the time doctors realized tested him for COVID-19 but diagnosis and it was PIMS.” gration bills tomorrow. He eventual path to citizenship to degree, has been criticized for that Lorena Navarrete’s son had with the results coming back Multisystem Inflammatory pledged the House would even- “Dreamers,” those immigrants lacking public health expertise a rare complication of negative were at a loss as to Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), tually pass a more far-reaching living in the United States ille- and supporting Bolsonaro’s COVID-19 that afflicts some what was wrong with him. as PIMS is more commonly immigration reform plan. gally after entering as children. push to use unproven drugs to children, it was too late to save By the time his illness was known, is a rare, life-threatening Biden’s sweeping proposal, The measure, sponsored by fight COVID-19. Brazil has also her 16-year-old Emilio. identified as Multisystem Inflam- syndrome linked to COVID-19. introduced last month, would Representative Lucille Roybal- been slower to roll out the Lorena, a single mother who matory Syndrome in Children, it It usually appears between two provide a path to US citizenship Allard, could help make over vaccine. It has administered lives in the southern Chilean city was too late. Lorena could not be and six weeks after infection, for an estimated 11 million 4.4 million people eligible for enough vaccine so far to cover of Puerto Montt, told the TVN at her son’s bedside because of even in asymptomatic cases of immigrants in the country ille- permanent US residence. around 2.7% of the population, network that her music-loving strict health protocols, but a COVID-19. It shares symptoms gally. But it faces long odds. The second bill, sponsored according to Reuters data. and sociable son died about a social worker called to pass on with toxic shock and Kawasaki The Senate’s No. 2 Dem- by Representative Zoe Lofgren, week after he first complained the message that her son loved disease, including fever, ocrat, Dick Durbin, said on would put about a million Bolivians protest of feeling tired and of a pain in her very much. She asked the rashes, swollen glands, con- Monday that it doesn’t have the undocumented farmworkers his legs in late January. social worker to tell her son she junctivitis and, in severe cases, necessary support in either the on a path to citizenship, a Dem- political arrests Within days he had would see him soon, and that his heart inflammation, and can House or Senate. “These two ocratic aide said. Neither bill developed livid blotches on his pets were well. “A doctor said cause multiple organ failure. bills are not the fix, but they are was taken up in the Senate REUTERS — LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ skin, a high fever, vomiting and that if I had faith, I should pray It is not always fatal if caught (a) fix to part of the problem,” when it had a Republican dark urine. Doctors at the city’s because my son was very ill,” and treated early. Hoyer said yesterday. “But we majority. Tens of thousands of people in cities across Bolivia took to the streets on Monday night to protest against the arrest of Venezuela teen sells drawings on Twitter to buy food former President Jeanine Anez and other political opponents of the ruling socialist party AP — BARQUISIMETO house and a shop so she won’t crisis-wracked country where main plaza. She also found work saw Samuel’s tweets and gave over allegations they were work on the street and get sick workers earn an average of $2 as a cleaner. Still, it has been dif- him a scholarship to study involved in a coup in 2019. Samuel Andrés Mendoza care- with COVID-19 and buy peanut per month, his sales can make a ficult to afford the relatively drawing. Social media followers In Santa Cruz, the crowds fully chooses from dozens of butter for me. Thank you, sir big difference for a family budget expensive high-protein foods have also gifted him a laptop, a gathered for a rally waving coloured pencils spread out on and madam,” he tweeted along strained by his need for high- needed by her son, who also has set of artists’ pencils - and Bolivian flags and carrying his kitchen table, humming a with photos of four drawings. protein foods to deal with a form a diagnosis of Asperger syn- peanut butter, a good source of banners calling for a defense reggaeton song as he deftly It caught the eye of many and of malnutrition. drome, a broad branch of the protein. of democracy and freedom. applies contrast to the Dragon he now has more than 15,000 Like millions of other Vene- autism spectrum. Samuel, who said he may Bolivia’s leftist government, Ball anime character taking followers, selling dozens of zuelans, Samuel and his mother, “It’s not easy,” Rodriguez raise his prices as his skills which came back into power shape on his sketch pad. drawings he has worked up at a Magdalena Rodríguez, emigrated said. Rodriguez, 38, discovered advance, would like to make last November, has sought the It is not just a pastime table between a worn-out couch in search of better conditions. Samuel’s effort when he asked YouTube-style videos about arrest of a number of former anymore for the 14-year-old. and a rusting refrigerator in the They went to Colombia in 2019 for her bank account infor- videogames when he grows up. officials, military and civil Without his mother’s small family home in Barqui- when widespread power outages mation so that people could pay “I’m proud of him, really. I leaders it accuses of conspiring knowledge, he began selling his simeto, about five hours west of hit her homeland just as she for his work. Samuel, who said don’t have words,” Rodríguez to oust long-term leader Evo drawings on his Twitter page to Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. learned of her son’s diagnosis. he began drawing at age 5, has said. “But I do feel angry some- Morales less than two years ago. help the family get by and to “The truth is I did not know But they came home in an inclination for anime char- times, I feel helpless, because I The arrests have prompted pay for a special diet doctors say that I was going to draw like that, December after she lost her job acters, but has also portrayed think that at his age, he should fears of a political crackdown, he needs in Venezuela’s but time has passed, and I have and found increasing prejudice soccer superstar Cristiano be studying, learning, and not with criticism from human rights troubled economy. managed to paint for real,” against the growing number of Ronaldo and the animated wanting to work to help me, groups and the Organization for “Hi. I’m Samuel, I’m selling Samuel said this month, showing Venezuelan migrants. The SpongeBob SquarePants. when I’m the one who has to do American States, which said the my drawings for $1 to help my his finished drawing of Dragon mother of three now sells snacks Venezuelan artist Oscar Oli- everything possible to give them government was using the judi- mom with my diet, buy her a Ball’s Goku. “And here it is.” In a from a table in Barquisimeto’s vares, who runs an art academy, comfort and nourishment.” ciary as a “repressive” tool. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 AMERICAS 15 Biden opens stimulus road show in Pennsylvania BLOOMBERG — PENNSYLVANIA The new law’s provisions — including direct cheques of up to $1,400 per person and child President Joe Biden visited voters in the key swing state of tax credits, as well as funding to expand Pennsylvania yesterday as part COVID-19 vaccination efforts and boost school of an effort to persuade Amer- icans that the $1.9 trillion relief reopening efforts — have been winning the measure he signed will help support of two-thirds of Americans in polls. struggling individuals and busi- nesses. The first stop on Biden’s trip payments. “Shots in arms and taking input.” was Chester, just south of Phil- money in pockets,” as he put it. Biden also announced that adelphia, to highlight the law’s Biden recalled earlier this Gene Sperling, a former White nearly $56bn for small busi- month that he’d pushed then- House economic adviser to nesses. The White House wants President Barack Obama to be Obama and President Bill to underscore to Americans that more aggressive in promoting Clinton, will oversee the admin- the legislation Biden cham- the American Recovery and istration’s distribution of relief pioned — and was only sup- Reinvestment Act after it money. “I learned from my ported by Democrats — is became law in 2009 but that experience implementing the central to jump-starting an Obama was “too modest” about Recovery Act just how Kamala Harris visits vaccination site economy battered by a year of the accomplishment. important it is to have someone US Vice-President Kamala Harris watches along Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak as medical student lockdowns and job losses set off “I kept saying, ‘Tell people who can manage all the moving Lauren Hollifield vaccinates nursing student Mailani Thompson with the Moderna vaccine during by the coronavirus. Biden is what we did.’ He kept saying, ‘We parts with efficiency, speed and seeking to counter Republicans’ don’t have time, we’re not going integrity and accountability,” a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination site at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) campus in Las message that the measure was to take a victory lap,’” Biden said. Biden said. Vegas, Nevada, US, on Monday. too costly and an excuse to fund “And we paid a price for it, iron- Harris and second gen- liberal priorities. ically, for that humility.” tleman Doug Emhoff will echo Vice-President Kamala The new law’s provisions — Biden’s focus as they meet with Harris began travelling the including direct cheques of up small business owners in Harris makes UN debut; pledges country on Monday to sell the to $1,400 per person and child Denver. First Lady Jill Biden, a rescue plan, making her first tax credits, as well as funding teacher, visited a school in New stop in Nevada. Biden and to expand COVID-19 vacci- Jersey on Monday, and plans to to fight for women, democracy Harris will cap the week in nation efforts and boost school do the same in New Hampshire Georgia to pitch the measure. reopening efforts — have been today, to draw attention to the reuters — NEW YORK constant vigilance, constant that President Joe Biden’s Nevada, Georgia and Pennsyl- winning the support of two- bill’s education funding. US Vice-President Kamala Harris improvement. It is a work in administration would revitalize vania are all key presidential thirds of Americans in polls. On Friday, Biden and Harris made her debut at the United progress. And today, we know Washington’s partnership with battleground states and also “What the President recog- will travel to Georgia, where the Nations yesterday, telling a that democracy is increasingly UN Women — a UN body ded- have Senate races in 2022. nizes from his own experience is promise of additional stimulus meeting on gender equality that under great strain,” said the first icated to gender equality and The administration has that when it’s a package of this checques helped Raphael democracy fundamentally female Vice-President of US. the empowerment of women. been emphasizing a need for size, you know, people don’t Warnock and Jon Ossoff win depends on the empowerment “The status of democracy Under former President immediate action — quickly always know how they benefit their US Senate runoff elections of women and that democracy also depends fundamentally on Donald Trump’s administration, getting money into wallets and and what it means for them,” in January. Their visit will globally is increasingly “under the empowerment of women. the United States led a push at getting vaccines into arms. White House Press Secretary Jen “underscore how they and con- great strain”. Not only because the exclusion the UN against the promotion of Biden said on Monday that Psaki told reporters on Monday. gressional Democrats fulfilled The United States would of women in decision-making is women’s reproductive rights and his administration will soon “He believes the American their promise in delivering work to improve both, Harris a marker of a flawed democracy, health because it sees that as code have overseen the delivery of people deserve every high-level $1,400 checques to finish the job said in a video statement to the but because the participation of for abortion. It opposed such lan- 100 million vaccine shots as person from our administration of $2,000 in direct relief to mil- 65th Commission on the Status women strengthens democracy,” guage in UN resolutions. well as 100 million relief out there explaining, discussing, lions of Americans,” Psaki said. of Women. “Democracy requires she said. Harris said Moderna: Dosing started in paediatric study of COVID-19 shot US lawmakers seek 20% BLOOMBERG — MASSACHUSETTS approximately 6,750 partici- help us assess the potential in adolescents before they go conditions. It is given in a two- pants in the US and Canada. safety and immunogenicity of back to school in the fall, dose regimen. boost in foreign Moderna Inc said the first The two-part study will our COVID-19 vaccine can- Moderna has said. Moderna got emergency children have been dosed in a look at three dose levels in the didate in this important Moderna’s statement did not authorization for use of the shot affairs budget clinical trial of its COVID-19 youngest children and two younger age population,” provide details of when initial in people age 18 and older from vaccine in kids from six months dose levels in older kids in its Moderna Chief Executive results from the trial in younger the US Food and Drug Admin- REUTERS — WASHINGTON to less than 12 years old. first phase. Officer Stephane Bancel said. children might be available. istration in December. It has The phase 2-phase 3 trial An interim analysis will be The new trial in young For adults, Moderna’s since become a key component Four Democratic US lawmakers is being conducted in con- conducted to determine what children complements a big vaccine was found to be safe of the immunization campaign yesterday proposed an increase junction with the National dose will be used in the second trial testing Moderna’s vaccine and 94.1% effective at pre- in the US, with more than 52 of $12bn in the country’s foreign Institute of Allergy and Infec- part of the study. Kids who in adolescents that began in venting COVID-19, and it million Moderna doses admin- affairs budget, hoping to prod tious Diseases, the company receive the vaccine will be fol- December. The adolescent appears to work well across istered as of Monday, according President Joe Biden to boost said in a statement yesterday. lowed for 12 months. trial aims to generate data that demographic groups and in to the Centers for Disease funding for diplomacy after The study is expected to enroll “This paediatric study will could allow the shot to be used people with underlying medical Control and Prevention. years of flat spending. Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen and Repre- sentatives David Cicilline and Deb Haaland is first-ever Native Ami Bera said the 20% spending increase would American US Cabinet secretary enhance the country’s ability to compete with China, REUTERS — WASHINGTON protests, her support of the prevent another pandemic and Green New Deal climate reso- fight climate change. US Representative Deb lution, and the Biden adminis- Competing with China has Haaland was confirmed on tration’s pause on new federal been the focus of foreign affairs Monday as Secretary of the drilling leases. in the first weeks of the Biden Interior, becoming the first Haaland will oversee polices administration. The lawmakers Native American to lead a guiding use of 500 million acres proposed funding of $68.7bn for cabinet agency and securing a of federal and tribal land, a fifth the State Department and the central role in President Joe of the nation’s surface. A US Agency for International Biden’s sweeping plans to fight member of the Laguna Pueblo Development, versus the climate change. tribe, Haaland will also oversee current $56.6bn. The US Senate confirmed the the U.S. government’s rela- “If this year has taught us New Mexico Democrat 51-40 tionship with some 574 federally anything, it’s that the biggest after she clinched support from recognized tribal nations. threats posed to our country Republicans including South New Mexico Democratic really aren’t foreign armies. This Carolina Senator Lindsey Senator Ben Ray Lujan, who is why it’s so mind-boggling that Graham, Alaska Senators Lisa presided over the Senate during our Defense Department budget A migrant child from Central America watches a cartoon on a cell phone inside the office of the Center Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Monday’s vote, said Haaland’s continues to increase by tens of for Integral Attention to Migrants (CAIM) after being deported with his family from the United States, Maine Senator Susan Collins. appointment sends a signal to billions of dollars each year, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Monday. Haaland became one of the young Native Americans. “She’s while funding for other vital first two Native American the embodiment of the old national security agencies has women elected to Congress in adage that if you see it you can remained flat,” Murphy said. US facing biggest migrant surge 2018. Her ascension to the be it,” he said. Republican former Pres- cabinet followed weeks of Native Americans watched ident Donald Trump tried campaigning by Native Haaland’s confirmation vote in repeatedly to slash foreign in 20 years: Homeland Security American tribes and environ- homes across Indian country. affairs spending, instead pri- mental groups in support of her In interviews, two young Native oritizing increases in military REUTERS — WASHINGTON surges in the past. The government is creating historic appointment. Americans said they hoped spending and tax cuts. Law- Conditions there have con- a joint processing center to She faced resistance from Haaland’s appointment will makers from both parties The United States is facing the tinued to deteriorate and two transfer the children promptly Republican lawmakers who prompt the federal government pushed back against those biggest surge of migrants at its hurricanes made living condi- into the custody of the grilled her at a two-day hearing to consult more with tribes over plans, saying it was essential southwestern border in 20 tions even worse, while the Department of Health and last month about her issues ranging from environ- to preserve US “soft power” on years, the homeland security coronavirus pandemic compli- Human Services (HHS) and is involvement in pipeline mental protection to policing. the world stage. secretary said yesterday as the cated the border situation, May- trying to find additional shelters Biden administration races to orkas said in a statement. “We for them, Mayorkas said. handle an influx of children are on pace to encounter more President Joe Biden’s trying to cross the US-Mexico individuals on the southwest administration has been strug- Democrats urged to keep filibuster rule border alone. border than we have in the last gling to speed up the processing The number of attempted 20 years,” he said. of hundreds of youths under 18 REUTERS — WASHINGTON support for the idea of elimi- the Biden presidency to speed border crossings by people from US border agents conducted who are crossing the southern nating the custom that requires into the history books. The Central America and Mexico has 100,441 apprehensions or border alone every day. US Senate Minority Leader 60 votes to pass most legis- Senate would be more like a steadily increased since April expulsions of migrants at the Republicans in Congress say Mitch McConnell warned lation in the 100-seat chamber. 100-car pileup. Nothing 2020 and most single adults and border with Mexico in Feb- the Biden administration sparked Democrats yesterday that They have said the move may moving,” McConnell, a Ken- families are being turned away, ruary, the US Customs and the border surge by promising to doing away with the cham- be necessary to pass measures, tucky Republican, said on the Homeland Security Secretary Border Protection said last unwind some of former Pres- ber’s filibuster rule would lead including a House of Repre- Senate floor. Alejandro Mayorkas said. week, the highest monthly total ident Donald Trump’s hardline to a “completely scorched sentatives-approved bill “Nobody serving in this Poverty, violence and cor- since a border crisis of 2019. policies against illegal immi- earth” Senate, in which Demo- intended to make it easier to chamber can even begin... to ruption in the Mexico and the Single adults make up the gration. “It didn’t have to cratic President Joe Biden vote and other priorities of imagine what a completely Northern Triangle — Gua- majority of people who are happen. This crisis is created by would have a much harder President Biden. scorched-earth Senate would temala, Honduras and El Sal- being expelled, Mayorkas said. the presidential policies of this time moving his agenda. “This chaos would not look like,” he added. The vador — have led people to seek Children travelling alone, some new administration,” House of Democrats who narrowly open up an express lane to Senate is currently split 50-50 a better life in the United States as young as six years old, are Representatives Republican control the Senate in recent liberal change. It would not between Democrats and for years, and there have been not being turned back. leader Kevin McCarthy said. weeks have voiced more open up an express lane for Republicans. WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 16

HBKU develops app to benefit diabetics in region FAZEENA SALEEM The food recognition application has been beyond a safe limit,” said Dr. THE PENINSULA integrated into the Remote Healthcare Platform Qaraqe. In reply to a question which PRAYER A team at the College of Science for Diabetes Management which automatically inspired Dr. Qaraqe to work on TIMINGS and Engineering (CSE) at time-stamps details of a user’s food intake on this project, she said that dia- PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING Hamad Bin Khalifa University betes is one of the most prev- (HBKU) has developed an appli- their continuous blood glucose curve. alent health issues in Qatar and cation tailored to benefit people affects many children and FAJR 04.24 am with diabetes in the region. adults. SUNRISE 05.41 am The application caters to can provide continuous blood used by people who are “Having dealt with gesta- Middle Eastern cuisines, glucose measurements of a tracking their food intake for tional diabetes firsthand, I DHUHR 11.42 am whereas the majority (if not user, without the conventional dietary reasons or weight loss. understood the struggles that ASR 03.08 pm all) of food applications in the finger-prick method. The data In addition, it can be used for many live with on a day-to-day MAGHRIB 05.46 pm market, do not incorporate gathered from CGM devices travellers to identify foods in basis. Unlike gestational dia- ISHA 07.16 pm regional types of food,” said provide valuable insight into a different countries or by res- betes, type I and type II diabetes an Assistant Professor at the user’s blood glucose trends over taurant review platforms (like are for a lifetime so my CSE, Dr. Marwa Qaraqe (pic- time. Zomato, Yelp, etc) to auto- blood glucose; and provides “firsthand experience” really tured), who has developed the “However, without any matically categorize user- better analytical insight by cor- inspired me to leverage my application along with her information on food intake, generated images by content relating the user’s CGM data technical experience and back- team. which is directly correlated with or to organise a library of with their diet. ground and develop technology “This limits the use of such blood glucose levels, we miss a photos submitted by “Remote monitoring is that would simplify the lives of applications in the Middle East. lot of information. The platform restaurants. essential for many reasons, people living with diabetes,” she In addition, the developed food automatically time-stamps any The Remote Healthcare including decreasing embar- said. recognition application has food the user images to their Platform for Diabetes Man- rassment for young diabetic At present Dr. Qaraqe is WEATHER been integrated into my Remote CGM curve, providing deeper agement is both a mobile and children who must be peri- working with her research team TODAY Healthcare Platform for Dia- analytical insights on how par- web-based application that odically taken out of class to to further improve the appli- betes Management which auto- ticular foods affect the user’s allows users to view their CGM check their blood glucose. It cation and hopes to start user matically time-stamps details blood glucose levels over time,” data remotely and in real-time: also provides a way for car- studies with Hamad Medical of a user’s food intake on their said Dr. Qaraqe. it provides access to essential egivers and parents to Corporation and Sidra Medicine continuous blood glucose She also said that the food people such as caregivers, monitor the blood glucose of to further improve the usability curve,” she said. recognition app can be used parents of children with dia- their loved ones, even when of the app. “In addition, I aspire Continuous glucose moni- by a wide range of population betes, school nurses, and they are not around, and to see the app to full implemen- o o toring (CGM) sensors, which are groups for different applica- medical professionals, to they can intervene when the tation and usage in Qatar,” said 21 C 32 C readily available in the market, tions. For example, it can be remotely monitor the user’s levels begin to drop or rise Dr. Qaraqe. Minimum Maximum

Relatively hot daytime with some clouds, mild by night. Oscar-nominated cinematographer Emerging filmmakers find W ALRUWAIS : 20o → 28o W ALKHOR : 19o → 29o stresses importance of performances voice in cinema through W DUKHAN : 19o → 31o W WAKRAH : 20o → 31o THE PENINSULA — DOHA Describing his move to “It was a real film school; DFI despite pandemic W MESAIEED : 20o → 31o cinema from being a still pho- we had 15 days to do a feature.” It was a masterclass with a tographer, Papamichael said: It was learning on the go for W ABUSAMRA : 22o → 35o difference: Academy Award- “One of the movies that influ- Papamichael because “Roger nominated and internationally enced me was Contempt (Le never cared about what we did HIGH TIDE acclaimed cinematographer Mepris), [the 1963 French New stylistically.” 06:19– 19:26 and Qumra Master Phedon Wave drama by Jean-Luc A milestone in his career Papamichael took audiences Godard]. It made a strong first was Cool Innings, a comedy LOW TIDE 1:31 – 14:05 through a spell-binding journey impression because of its sports film, starring John Candy of his ouvre of films, all the atypical approach and graphic – “the most brilliant man to while maintaining that ‘cine- composition.” His father was a hang out with” - which Papam- matography is not about great painter and art director, so ichael says was “a formula shots or camera moves but ‘there was some connection.’ sports movie that just became Spike Lee to head telling the story and bringing But what really changed a cult classic. He also described out the performances’. with watching Contempt was his work on 3:10 to Yuma, the Cannes fest jury The timing could not have that it instilled in Papamichael western action drama, directed been better: The day of his the belief that “I could apply my by James Mangold and starring REUTERS — PARIS masterclass closed with news visual interest and also tell a Russel Crowe and Christian that he had received yet story unlike still photography, Bale. He said the challenge in US director Spike Lee has been another Academy Award nom- which was a very lonely pro- doing the film, especially some Qatari filmmaker Abdulla Alhor at Qumra 2021. named president of the jury for ination for his work in The Trial fession. It was me and myself, of its high-wattage action shots, the 2021 Cannes Film Festival of the Chicago 7, directed by and I would be destroying a was “to think fast. It was the THE PENINSULA — DOHA Another key project in after last year’s event, which Aaron Sorkin, whom he praised moment – not capturing it or hardest movie physically but development in the genre of TV Lee was set to chair, was for his writing. “The film is busy capturing it – without very rewarding ultimately.” He When the pandemic nearly series is independent film- cancelled due to the corona- written like a play set in a taking the moment in and said several key scenes were shut down the global film maker Ahmad Samara’s Oddity virus pandemic. courtroom intercut with observing.” not rehearsed and “we took industry, emerging filmmakers Tales from a Strange Land The 2020 Cannes festival vignettes. The challenge for me Cinema fascinated him advantage of not preconceiving in Qatar and the region (Jordan, Qatar/Arabic). The — one of the movie industry’s was to able to shoot the because he was “given a story too much. I am fortunate to received a rare opportunity to coming-of-age story that biggest events — was first courtroom in a compact way.” where I could apply my visual have worked with directors like continue to move their projects follows a girl named Aya, who postponed from May to the In the session moderated by interpretation.” Mangold, who are not scared to forward, with the support of leads viewers through a col- end of June, then cancelled. In Richard Peña, the Programme Describing himself as self- work off the storyboard and be Qumra, the annual talent incu- lection of stories that present the end, organisers held a Director of the Film Society of taught, he says he too benefited reactive.” bator for Arab cinema of the ancient historical tales and low-key three-day event in Lincoln Center and the Director from the school of Roger The lesson for aspiring film- Doha Film Institute (DFI). mythologies from the Arab October showcasing a range of the New York Film Festival Corman, the prolific film makers from Papamichael is to Their journeys navigating world, also shows the eclectic of short films. from 1988 until 2012, at Qumra director called ‘The Pope of Pop “look at great actors and what the last year’s new format of nature of filmmaking by young With COVID-19 still raging 2021, the Doha Film Institute’s Cinema.’ This led to Papam- they do and respond accord- virtual mentorship sessions Arab talents. in France, the festival has annual talent incubator for Arab ichael collaborating with Katt ingly. Take advantage of the were shared at this year’s Abdulla Al Janahi, a Qatari scheduled the 2021 edition for cinema, Papamichael also pro- Shea on films such as Dance of gems they give us. The key, expanded edition, where par- filmmaker, who co-directs July 6-17 instead of in May as vided an insider view of Hol- the Damned and Stripped to even in action sequences, is to ticipants were able to see these Revenge Knows Nothing (Qatar/ usual. lywood, working with some of Kill II: Live Girls, both emerging connect audiences to the pro- projects continue to come to English/2021) with Abdulaziz “For 30 years, the indefati- the all-the-time greatest from the three sets that Corman tagonist. It is all about the char- fruition. Khashabi, a Qatari engineer and gable Spike Lee has raised the directors and being part of maintained to make a flurry of acter. That is a lesson I learnt Presenting a diverse filmmaker, combines two issues of his era...we could not several timeless classics. movies. from Mangold and Alexander selection of stories, some stories in a creative manner have hoped for a more powerful Payne – it is not the genre that inspired by the pandemic, showcasing the horrific effects personality to question these matters; it is the character.” many other narratives that of human injustice and selfish tumultuous times,” Cannes Film Talking about another have evolved over years, the actions on its victims — humans Festival President Pierre seminal work of his, Walk the Qumra Projects shorts and TV/ and otherwise. He said the Lescure said in a statement. Line, the biopic on Johnny Cash web series reflect how approach in making the short The other members of the starring Joaquin Phoenix and emerging filmmakers view the film was to bring a 3D Disney jury and the films selected for Reese Witherspoon, and medium of cinema. style: “We wanted to deliver a the programme will be directed by Mangold, Papam- Mohamed Berro, the new experience that reminds announced early June. The ichael reiterated the need to director of A Tarmac Year viewers of classic Disney films,” 74th Palme d’Or prize will be be reactive, “to go with the (Qatar/Arabic) about two Leb- while telling a riveting tale. presented on July 17. Phedon Papamichael and Richard Peña at Qumra 2021. flow.” anese cousins who hijack a “That one of the consequences plane demanding the release of of cruel actions of humans on political prisoners, said he was others, the animal kingdom and inspired to make the dark the environment is revenge. Google gets into sleep surveillance with Nest Hub screen comedy series after “finding While we do not promote dark funny elements in the revenge, we believe it was AP — SAN RAMON chip Google calls Soli, which sleeping people over a com- sonal health. hijackings. What started as a important to present this very uses radar to detect motion, bined 110,000 nights. Google is emphasising the research for a documentary sensitive topic.” Google’s next Internet- including the depth of a per- That kind of help may sound privacy protections built into became compiling a list of odd Qatari filmmaker Abdulla connected home device will test son’s breathing. appealing to the millions of the sleep sensing feature. For occurrences in these incidents Alhor brings The Experiment whether consumers trust the The $100 Nest Hub can people who have trouble starters, users will have to turn and high-tension political (Qatar/Arabic), a short narrative company enough to let it snoop display pictures and video in sleeping. it on themselves. events.” He said there is growing about a bullied 30-year-old on their sleep. addition to fielding questions But the feature may also The Nest Hub will also have interest in the region in web researcher who must prove that New sleep-sensing tech- and handling household task raise privacy concerns - espe- controls that Google says will series, which are also increasing his prisoner rehabilitation nology will be a key feature on through Google’s voice-acti- cially given Google’s long make it clear when sleep in quality and number. experiment works, or risk being Google’s latest version of its vated assistant. It doesn’t history of online surveillance tracking is on and to make it Meshaal Al Abdulla and fired and losing face tohis Nest Hub, a 7-inch smart screen feature a camera. to collect personal details such easy to delete data from the Ibrahim Al Abdulla, two Qatari nemesis. Having worked on unveiled yesterday. The Nest Hub is supposed as interests, habits and where- device. entrepreneurs, aim to expand other projects, mainly in the cin- But the latest Nest Hub can to generate weekly sleep abouts to help sell the digital All audio will be kept on the their web series, The Rise of the ematography, Alhor said his first also perform a new trick. If reports with easy-to-under- ads that generate most of its device, meaning it won’t be Mad Cat (Qatar/English),“into film as director is a “comedy of you allow it, the device will stand breakdowns on the length revenue. sent to Google’s data centers, many seasons to reach various sorts set in an imaginary world. also monitor your sleeping and quality of sleep, how fre- The company may also although other sleep infor- media channels and penetrate It presents serious social and patterns from your bedside, quently the user gets up at night eventually tweak the feature to mation will be provided to gen- the US box office as a movie.” universal concerns in a funny negating the need to wear a and snoring and coughing fre- work with its FitBit line of erate the analysis and reports. About the 3D animation project, way. At Qumra, it was great to fitness device or any other quency, along with tips fitness devices, which Google None of the information col- Ibrahim said: “We have been in have the feedback of my potentially bothersome gadget developed in consultation with took over in January. lected through the sleep the gaming and animation mentors, which was a motiva- in bed. the American Academy of Sleep That $2.1bn purchase has sensing feature will be used to industry since our childhood. tional boost for me, especially The feature, which Google Medicine. raised concerns that Google sell ads, said Ashton Udall, The project is derived from a since it was my first project. The intends to offer for free through Google says it honed the could use those gadgets to peer Google Nest’s senior product game we are working on, which support they show added to my at least this year, relies on a new technology by studying 15,000 more deeply into people’s per- manager. will hopefully be released soon.” confidence.”