THURSDAY MAY 20, 2021 SHAWWAL 8, 1442 VOL.14 NO. 5263 QR 2

Fajr: 3:21 am Dhuhr: 11:30 am FINE Asr: 2:56 pm Maghrib: 6:15 pm HIGH : 45°C LOW : 32 °C Isha: 7:45 pm

World 5 Business 8 Sports 13 India logs global record with over Lulu launches British food Back to full fitness, Al Tamimi is 4,500 daily COVID deaths fest, 5k items on display set for the big action once again

Cabinet approves draft law on Shura Council electoral system Government employees can run for Shura Council elections Cabinet calls on international QNA tion in voters’ lists and judicial DOHA appeals against decisions of the committees of voters and community to step up efforts THE Cabinet has approved a candidates draft law on the Shura Coun-  Setting controls regard- cil’s electoral system. The Cab- ing electoral advertising, in- to stop Israeli attacks on Gaza inet referred the draft to the cluding setting a maximum Shura Council. of QR2 million for the can- QNA The Cabinet meeting was didate’s spending limit on DOHA chaired by Prime Minister and electoral advertising, with Minister of Interior HE Sheikh oversight over these spend- THE Cabinet has reiterated Qatar’s con- Khalid bin Khalifa bin Ab- ing and its sources of demnation and denunciation of the brutal dulaziz Al Thani. financing. Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, which The draft law has been  To oblige the competent has continued for the last 10 days, leav- prepared for completing the municipalities to ensure equal ing hundreds of martyrs, including men, constitutional requirements access of candidates to places women and children. to elect Shura Council mem- where advertisements or elec- The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime bers, in implementation of the A candidate can spend a maximum of QR2 million toral statements are placed, Minister and Minister of Interior HE directives of His Highness the for electoral advertising and to allocate equal spaces for Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh the candidates. Thani on Wednesday, called on the inter- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Members of all military agencies, both military and  Setting obligations for national community to intensify its efforts on holding the elections in Oc- civilians, will be permitted to vote to expand the base candidates when conducting to stop the repeated brutal Israeli attacks Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE tober. of participation election campaigning, includ- against civilians in Gaza and in all the oc- Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani. The draft law was prepared ing respecting the provisions cupied Palestinian territories. under the supervision of the Facilitating the process of registering in the voters’ of the constitution, maintain- It urged the international community The Cabinet praised the steadfastness higher committee chaired by lists, including the possibility of applying for registra- ing national unity and main- to stop Israel’s criminal practices contrary of the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza HE the PM in line with Amiri taining the security of society, to international law and human norms of and all the Palestinian territories and their decision no 47 of 2019 estab- tion electronically avoiding any rhetoric that is of killing and terrorizing civilians, destroy- stance in the face of the Israeli war ma- lishing the committee and de- tribal or sectarian tendency, ing homes and facilities, and violating the chine, and the great sacrifices they have fining its powers. provisions related to the fol- military and civilians, to vote, or what conflicts with pub- sanctity of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque. made for the sake of their just cause. The provisions of the draft lowing: in order to expand the base of lic morality, prevailing tra- The cabinet also urged to stop plans for The Cabinet affirmed that Qatar, law came in line with Qatar’s  Allowing government participation. ditions, or the religious and forced displacement from Jerusalem, which is currently making efforts to stop permanent constitution, with employees to nominate them-  Facilitating the process social values of society or of- ethnic cleansing, racial discrimination, the attacks and violations of the Israeli an electoral system law set selves for membership of the of registering in the voters’ fending the other candidate or as well as forcing them to implement the forces, will remain with the Palestinian to be released that will de- Shura Council while preserv- lists, including the possibil- others, or stirring up tribal or decisions of the United Nations General people until they obtain their full rights, termine the conditions and ing their jobs and promotions ity of applying for registration sectarian strife among citizens Assembly and the UN Security Council, foremost of which is their right to estab- requirements to run for the throughout their membership, electronically. in any way. which rejected and condemned the occu- lish their independent state on the bor- elections. as well as permitting members  Regulating the process pation and settlement and recognized the ders of June 4, 1967, with Al-Quds Al- The draft law stipulates the of all military agencies, both of complaints against registra- Continued on page 2 legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Sharif as its capital.

Qatar sees record Arabic, Islamic education sales of local MESSAGE FOR AMIR FROM BURUNDI PRESIDENT produce in April His Highness the Amir subjects a must in private of State of Qatar Sheikh THE public agricultural markets Tamim bin Hamad Al schools, kindergartens have reported excellent sale Thani has received a of local produce in April. The written message from QNA Ministerial Resolution No. public agricultural markets in President of the Repub- DOHA (11) for the year 2021. AL Mazrouha, Al Khor and Dha- lic of Burundi Evariste  The commitment of pri- kira, Al Wakrah, Al Shamal, and Ndayishimiye. The mes- THE Ministry of Education vate schools to evaluate the Al Sheehaniya sold a sage pertains to bilateral and Higher Education, repre- compulsory subjects for all TOTAL of 2,101 tonnes of veg- relations and the ways sented by the Private Educa- grades (grades one through etables, 726 tonnes of fruits, of enhancing them. The tion Affairs Sector, has issued twelve) according to the target 394 kg of honey, 1,003 kg of message was received the academic policy for com- groups in all educational cur- local dates and 1,123 kg of by Deputy Prime Minister pulsory subjects (Arabic lan- ricula and systems. mushroom. (TNN) and Minister of Foreign guage, Islamic education, Qa- These updates regarding Affairs HE Sheikh Mo- tari history) in private schools the academic policy of the hammed bin Abdulrah- and kindergartens — version three mandatory subjects, man Al Thani during his 2021, which is an update of which include Arabic lan- meeting with Chief of the same policy that was cir- guage, Islamic education and Kahramaa app wins Staff at the Burundian culated in the 2019-2020 aca- the history of Qatar, are in first place in WSIS President’s Of ce Gen- demic year. light of the interest and keen- eral Ildephonse Haba- The Private Schools Af- ness to promote the national competition (PG 3) rurema. (QNA) fairs Department stated in a identity and religious values circular that the most impor- among students in private tant items of the updated ver- schools and kindergartens. sion of the academic policy for This is also based on ob- compulsory subjects were: servations that have been re-  The necessity of teach- ceived from the educational Record 40,769 vaccine doses given in a day: MoPH ing Arabic language and Is- field, schools and parents, and lamic education subjects the evaluation of the members starting from the pre-school of the educational system for TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK In a statement, the MoPH said The MoPH said Qatar saw 295 level (kindergarten and pre- the academic policy issued DOHA 40,769 COVID-19 vaccine doses were new COVID-19 cases — 196 from paratory) in all private schools in 2019, bearing in mind administered in the past 24 hours, tak- community and 99 from travellers and kindergartens. that this is the first time that THE National COVID-19 Vaccination ing the total to 2,150,749 in the country returning from abroad — in the past  The necessity of teach- schools are obliged to apply Programme reached another milestone so far. 24 hours. ing the three compulsory the teaching of Arabic lan- as more than 40,000 vaccine doses About 54.7 percent of the eligible Also, 637 people recovered from subjects in all educational guage and Islamic education were administered in Qatar in the past population have now received at least the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing curricula and systems, in ac- subjects from the kindergar- 24 hours, according to the Ministry of one dose of the vaccine. the total number of cases recovered in cordance with the sequence of ten and pre-school stage. Public Health (MoPH). “About 89.5 percent of people over Qatar to 209,251, the MoPH said. classes. The ministry will hold pe- Qatar also saw a drop in the number 60 — the most vulnerable population Two people aged 50 and 56, who  Schools’ commitment riodic forums and meetings to of new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday group — have been vaccinated with at were chronically ill, succumbed to the to the terms and conditions follow up the application and after seeing a spike in the previous two least one dose, while 84 percent have virus, taking the death toll in the coun- of equivalency for grades (10, implementation of curricula days. received both the doses,” it added. try to 538. 11 and 12), in accordance with in private schools. 02 Thursday, May 20, 2021

Contact US: Qatar Tribune I EDITORIAL I Phone: 40002222 I ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING I Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha.

Quick read MURAIKHI RECEIVES CREDENTIALS New draft law to FM receives phone call from Netherlands counterpart OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA’S ENVOY DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday Minister of State for ensure free, fair received a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Foreign Affairs HE Netherlands Stef Blok. During the phone call, they reviewed Sultan bin Saad Al bilateral relations between the two countries and the develop- Muraikhi on Wednesday Shura elections ments in Palestine. (QNA) received a copy of the credentials of Ambas- Tunisian PM meets Qatar’s ambassador sador (non-resident) of Continued from page 1 The draft law was prepared PRIME Minister and Acting Minister of Interior of Tunisia Hichem Equatorial Guinea to in the framework of develop- Mechichi received Ambassador of Qatar to Tunisia HE Saad Qatar HE Benigno Pedro Ensuring public and ing the justice system and es- bin Nasser Al Hamidi on Wednesday. During the meeting, they Matute Tang. The Minis- private media are impartial in tablishing an attractive invest- reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. (QNA) ter of State for Foreign their coverage and treatment ment climate, in line with the Affairs wished the new of all candidates, and when state’s other steps in that field. Qatar participates in INTOSAI working group’s annual meeting ambassador success covering the elections. The Cabinet approved the QATAR, represented by the State Audit Bureau, participated in in his duties, assuring Banning the candidacy requirements for establishing the annual meeting of the International Organization of Supreme him of all support to of ministers, members of the the court, which includes al- Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) working group on regulating public advance bilateral rela- judiciary and members of all locating an independent head- debt, which was held via video conference on Wednesday. Qatar tions between the two military agencies from among quarters and a separate budget was represented by Sheikh Faisal bin Thamer Al Thani, head of countries to achieve the military, and members of for the court, and appointing a the tax auditing department at the governmental nancial data closer cooperation in the Central Municipal Council. judicial team and trained cadre auditing administration, and Nouf Rabea Al Kaabi, head of the various elds. (QNA) Allow everyone with an for the court. risk department of the risk and quality administration. (QNA) interest to challenge candi- The Cabinet also approved dates’ nominations. a draft law regulating park- Ensuring judicial su- pervision of elections through a committee to supervise the Ensuring the right of can- voting and counting process, didates and their agents and announce the results, to follow the electoral pro- HMC, ALF sign cooperation pact to help patients headed by a judge chosen by cess, attend the counting the Supreme Judicial Council. process, and announce TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK support to HMC patients, such 2030.” many future ventures. Ensuring the right of the result DOHA as blood and organ donation Commenting on the MoU, On his part, Nasser Al Nai- candidates and their agents to campaigns, mental and social Khater said, “The MoU with mi expressed delight to have follow the electoral process, at- HAMAD Medical Corporation support programmes, extend- ALF represents a vital ini- the MoU signed, describing it tend the counting process, and ing spots and referred it to the (HMC) and Al Faisal Without ing material support to needy tiative aiming at enacting co- as central to serving patients’ announce the result. Shura Council. Borders Foundation (ALF) patients, as well as facilitating operation between the two interests and improving pa- Assigning the ruling re- The law determined public have signed a memorandum of community awareness cam- parties to serve the interests tients experiences during their garding the merit of challenges parking as places determined understanding (MoU) for joint paigns through forums and of patients. ALF has been a healthcare path. to the validity of the election to by the designated municipal- cooperation. training courses for the com- pioneer in building commu- He commended the MoU the Court of Cassation. ity, in coordination with the The memorandum of un- munity, in addition to coop- nity partnerships to benefit all as an exemplary means to Establishing severe pen- designated authorities. These derstanding was signed by HE eration in the field of medical residents of Qatar. boost corporate partnership alties for electoral offenses, es- place are dedicated to park- Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al conferences. “I am quite confident that between HMC and other or- pecially if one of the candidates ing vehicles. The designated Thani, chairman of the Board Sheikh Faisal said, “Since this MoU will open new ho- ganisations in Qatar. receives support from a foreign municipality regulates these of Al Faisal Without Borders its foundation, ALF has been rizons for HMC to further Naimi said, “Through the person or a foreign entity. areas. As for private parking, Foundation, and Ali Abdullah keen at supporting pro- Nasser Al Naimi boost its awareness and health Center for Patient Experience Putting in place heavy they belong to people or enti- Al Khater, CEO of Corporate grammes and initiatives which education activities, such as and Staff Engagement, HMC penalties to guarantee freedom ties, and can be used to park Communications at HMC, promote corporate social sponsored by ALF, includ- blood and organ donation strives to enhance patient of voting and combating vote vehicles after gaining a license in the presence of Nasser Al responsibility in Qatar, and ing, but not limited to, health campaigns, and enable HMC experiences and develop a buying or compromising the from the designated munici- Naimi, deputy chief quality of- build partnerships with gov- awareness campaigns, blood to extend more financial and patient-centred approach in integrity of the elections. pality. ficer and co-director Hamad ernment and NGOs in educa- and organ donation cam- social assistance to needy pa- providing healthcare services The conditions candi- The Cabinet also listened Healthcare Quality Institute, tional, healthcare, communal paigns, educational activities tients. This MoU also adds to to patients and their family dates must satisfy to be able to to the explanation by the Min- HMC. and charitable domains. We, for paediatric, cancer and kid- the success of medical confer- members, particularly those run, based on the constitution ister of Public Health on the The terms of the memo- at (ALF) nurture the devel- ney patients at hospitals and ences through contributing to in need of financial support. and legal rules of constitution- latest developments regard- randum of understanding opment of education, health healthcare facilities. We are the finances required for such We have high hopes of a con- al nature. ing the steps taken to curb the cover areas of cooperation care and strive to place charity thankful to HMC for giving events. As always, all patients tinued partnership and sup- The Cabinet took all the spread of COVID-19. The Cabi- between (ALF) and HMC, in- where it belongs. us the opportunity to share benefit from these initiatives.” port from ALF whereby HMC necessary measures to issue net underlined that the pre- cluding sponsoring communi- “Signing this MoU with cooperation in serving our be- Khater thanked ALF man- would be able to achieve its a draft law on establishing a cautionary measures adopted ty projects, programmes and HMC culminates many pre- loved country and fulfilling the agement and hoped for con- vision, message and strategic court for investment and com- to combat this pandemic shall initiatives intended to extend vious projects and initiatives goals of Qatar National Vision tinued fruitful cooperation in objectives.” merce. continue. Take practical measures MoQ conducts PCR test in collaboration with MoPH TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK to prevent high blood DOHA pressure, advises PHCC MALL of Qatar collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health to or- QNA seriousness of this disease and the ganise a PCR test campaign for all DOHA importance of controlling it and of its employees, tenants, cleaners preventing its risks. and security guards, as part of its THE Primary Health Care Corpora- He said high blood pressure can preventive measures to ensure staff tion (PHCC) has called on commu- be controlled by following a healthy and public safety. The campaign is nity members to take practical steps lifestyle and taking medicines if nec- part of the Mall’s ongoing preventa- to reduce the risk of developing high essary. He cautioned that the higher tive measures to ensure the safety of blood pressure and its harmful con- the blood pressure, the greater the its employees and the general pub- sequences. risk of damage to the heart and blood lic. The PHCC explained these steps vessels in major organs such as the The Ministry’s dedicated crews which include a healthy diet with em- brain and kidneys. ran the campaign for three days in phasis on proper nutrition, such as He continued, “Hypertension is a row. It aimed to ensure that all reducing salt intake to less than 5gm one of the most preventable causes staff and employees within the Mall who have direct contact with the shopping experience. The Mall of All Mall visitors must display per day, eating five servings of fruits of heart diseases and strokes, and if are healthy and do not have any public. Qatar always takes the most strin- their Ehitraz green code, have and vegetables per day, and reducing hypertension is left uncontrolled, it COVID-19 symptoms, as part of a The Mall of Qatar assures that gent preventive measures, includ- their temperature checked using total and saturated fat intake. can lead to a heart attack, an enlarged national effort to prevent the spread the safety of all visitors and em- ing regular and thorough sanitation advanced thermal cameras, wear Additional steps include physical heart and eventual heart failure.” of the virus and take the necessary ployees is its top priority in order of all premises, hand sanitizers, and proper masks, and maintain social activity for at least 30 minutes a day, The health consequences of high precautions, particularly for staff to provide a safe and comfortable escalator handrail sanitisers. distance at all times. maintaining a normal weight, avoid- blood pressure can also be compli- ing tobacco, overcoming stress in a cated by other factors that increase healthy way and obtaining the sup- the risk of heart attack, stroke and port of the family doctor. kidney failure, including tobacco use, Specialist in family medicine at unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, PHCC’s University Health Care Dr exposure to constant stress, as well talabat facilitates over 51,337 meal donations to QC Mohammed Al Tamimi warned, in a as obesity, high cholesterol and dia- statement on the occasion of World betes. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK In Qatar, talabat partnered with “Our customers take such an impor- Hypertension Day, that high blood Dr Al Tamimi stressed the im- DOHA Qatar Charity to create specially tant stand into donating and helping pressure is a common disease and portance of World Hypertension Day curated Ramadan menus through year after year, and we thrived to be usually has no symptoms. He point- and said the World Health Organiza- TALABAT, the region’s leading food which customers could donate iftar able to give them the platform to do ed out that the main way that leads tion has identified this occasion with delivery and q-commerce platform, meals to offer assistance to those in so this Ramadan. Helping to feed to high blood pressure is to increase the aim of highlighting its serious- dedicated its app towards giving need. The dedicated “Giving back” people in need has been a major pri- the workload on the heart and blood ness and raising awareness of it, as back during Ramadan. After tying banner inside the talabat app has ority for us and we are delighted to vessels, which makes them work with prevention is a major step to avoid up with over 15 charity bodies across seen a surge in customers’ donations, have facilitated 51,337 meal dona- the greatest effort and the least effi- health risks. the markets it operates in, talabat with a daily record of QR49,000 tions to Qatar Charity. We would like ciency. He added that for the prevention customers were able to give back to raised on May 7 alone, with a total of to thank our customers for their gen- Dr Al Tamimi mentioned that and treatment of high blood pressure, a number of different causes through QR620,000 for Qatar Charity dur- erous donations as it would not have the theme of World Hypertension all adults should measure their blood the app. ing the whole Ramadan period, an been possible without you.” Day 2021, which falls on May 17 pressure periodically, and it is neces- With the promise of being always increase of 210 percent compared to Consumers can now down- annually, is ‘Measure Your Blood sary for them to know their numbers; there for those in need, talabat facili- last year. load talabat on the iOS App Store Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live and if it is high they should seek med- tated the value of 51,337 meals dona- Francisco Miguel de Sousa, man- or Google Play Store to donate to a Longer’ in order to demonstrate the ical advice as soon as possible. tions in Qatar. aging director of talabat Qatar, said: range of causes. Nation Thursday, May 20, 2021 03 Kahramaa smart phone app wins Service Excellence: QNTC introduces rst position in WSIS competition 60 tour guides to TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK contribute to improving the its new campaign DOHA user experience and meet their diverse needs. THE General Electricity and The application includes TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Water Corporation’s (Kah- more than 30 digital services DOHA ramaa) smart phone applica- developed in cooperation with tion won the first place in the the Human Resources Depart- QATAR National Tourism e-employment category at the ment at Kahramaa, which pro- Council (QNTC)’s Service Ex- World Summit on Information vides employees with all their cellence team hosted a virtual Society (WSIS-2021) awards information needs around the townhall, which was attended organised under the auspices of clock, such as sending an of- by more than 60 licensed tour the International Telecommu- ficial leave request, sending an guides. nication Union (ITU). electronic work card, tracking During the meeting, The application led the elite the employee’s working days QNTC unveiled the objec- of electronic projects that were and hours, requesting and re- tives of its ‘Service Excellence’ developed in various parts of ceiving certificates, in addition programme, which aims to the world, including 10 projects to the ability to see the latest strengthen Qatar’s position that qualified for the third stage offers that the corporation’s as a global leader in providing (the voting stage) from Qatar. partners provide to employees, best in class hospitality servic- The World Summit on the which help them In obtaining es. By increasing visitor satis- Information Society (WSIS- exclusive discounts for various faction across all touchpoints, 2021) is the most prominent services. the programme seeks to make QNTC Chief Operating Of cer international platform to pre- ciety institutions, international the third stage of the evaluation five international projects from The application has also Qatar a more attractive tourist Berthold Trenkel sent the most important and organisations, academic bodies (the voting stage) among which around the world. contributed to reducing the destination. successful electronic projects, and others. Kahramaa took the lead as the The application has been spread of COVID-19 virus, by The meeting addressed alogue with tour guides to help which this year included a large This year, 10 electronic pro- only entity from Qatar that developed in line with the ob- providing employees with an in- a variety of topics, including them deliver the best quality number of candidates, includ- jects from Qatar, representing qualified for the fourth and final jectives of the institution to tegrated alternative to personal the development of a new and service to domestic and inter- ing a number of government a number of sectors and Qatari stage of the evaluation, where achieve integration between attendance to complete their improved tour guide training national audiences.” agencies, companies, civil so- government agencies, went to it won the first place beating quality and modernisation, and transactions. programme, which is due to Qatar is home to over 100 launch later this year, and il- QNTC licensed tour guides, 25 lustrates QNTC’s commitment percent of these tour guides to upskilling Qatar’s frontline have already spent more than tourism workers. Besides, reg- three years in Qatar. They are ular tour guide round tables familiar with local customs Qatar participates in WSIS Forum 2021 with QNTC have been estab- and knowledgeable about var- lished to drive engagement, ious tourist attractions in the TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Assistant Undersecretary of as increasing accessibil- The Qatar Digital Gov- erted by the World Summit improve collaboration and country. DOHA Government Information ity, improving the quality of ernment and its services on the Information Society ensure the availability of tour QNTC’s Service Excel- Technology Mashael Ali Al- education, healthcare and have been of a significant and backs the works it does guides matching language re- lence programme aims to col- QATAR, represented by the Hammadi said: “Qatar real- justice, aiming for a better role in business continuity and will spare no effort in quirements of tourists. laborate with stakeholders to Ministry of Transport and ises the paramount role that environmental impact for a throughout the pandemic, enhancing the use of inno- QNTC Chief Operating Of- elevate customer-facing expe- Communications (MoTC), is the ICT sector plays in accel- more sustainable model and thanks to a robust digital in- vative technology and digi- ficer Berthold Trenkel said, riences through every touch- participating in the activities erating the pace of social and empowering all social ele- frastructure and concerted tal transformation to create “As a primary representative point in the destination. of the final week of the Vir - economic development and ments equally.” efforts during the pandem- a human-centric, inclusive, to the destination, tour guides The programme was tual World Summit on the creating a knowledge-based “Qatar’s investment in ic, fast-tracking the digital development-driven infor- are one of the main pillars of kicked off with a collabora- Information Society (WSIS) economy and supporting the digital and innovative tech- transformation and telework mation society and support- our Service Excellence pro- tion with Mowasalat (Karwa) Forum, being held from May efforts that aim for sustain- nology has helped provide and overcoming the chal- ing the efforts for achieving gramme. Their knowledge and to train their drivers. The tour 17 to 21. able and inclusive develop- innovative and flexible so- lenges that we and the whole inclusive sustainable devel- ability to tell effective stories is guide training marks the sec- Addressing the WSIS Fo- ment.Accordingly, the Qatar lutions that did enable the world has encountered,” she opment. crucial for enhancing the tour- ond phase and the programme rum 2021 Ministerial Round Digital Government Strategy country to take immediate added. Qatar had participated in ism offerings. They are key to will continue to be rolled out Table meeting on Wednes- 2026 is in harmony with the and effective measures to Al-Hammadi pointed out a series of WSIS Forum 2021 reaffirming Qatar’s position as across sectors, training staff in day on behalf of the Minis- UN Sustainable Develop- contain the pandemic and that Qatar, the Gold spon- thematic workshops as well a destination that offers unfor- customer service and enhanc- ter of Transport and Com- ment Goals 2030, fostering lessen its impacts,” she add- sor of WSIS Forum 2021, as WSIS virtual exhibition gettable experiences. We look ing their knowledge of the des- munications, MoTC’s Acting its values through ICT such ed. appreciates the efforts ex- which was held last March. forward to more sustained di- tination’s offerings. 04 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Nation Experts discuss impact of climate change on agriculture in South Asia at QF’s GU-Q TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK brings together Qatar-based food productivity, food secu- nerable to the effects of climate ies research cluster at CIRS DOHA and international scholars to rity and public health. They change, because of a mixture was launched earlier this year address central questions re- also highlighted extreme cli- of already high temperatures, with a moderated discussion CLIMATE change has already lated to climate change, the mate events such as floods, cy- existing water shortages and titled ‘A New Political Strat- had a significant impact across politics of natural resources, clones and droughts that have high population.” egy to Limit Climate Change’ South Asia and will continue food security, water conflict, a cascading geopolitical effect The panellists also dis- based on Dr Lieven’s book, to affect the region at an even and other issues of environ- beyond agriculture, as the top cussed necessary agricultural ‘Climate Change and the Na- higher rate in the coming dec- mental concern. concerns. policy interventions, efforts to tion State: The Realist Case’. ades, said experts at a recent The discussion featured The event was moderated reduce carbon emissions, les- Through this thematic focus, webinar hosted by the Center economist Vaibhav Chatur- by GU-Q Professor Anatol sons of the pandemic on the CIRS considers projects that for International and Regional vedi, Fellow at The Council on Lieven, who emphasised the climate crisis and the political examine the Middle East in Studies (CIRS) at QF partner Energy, Environment and Wa- importance of studying the issues impeding regional co- comparison with other re- Georgetown University in Qa- ter, a policy research institute impact of climate change in operation on climate change. gions, or that pursue cross-na- tar (GU-Q). and think tank based in Del- a nation with nearly a fifth of The panellists stressed the tional understandings of envi- The public panel discus- hi, India, and Professor N H the world’s population, saying: need for further research ronmental issues with the aim sion, titled ‘The Impact of Ravindranath from the Center “India is both one of the most rooted in multidisciplinary of translating this knowledge Climate Change on Agricul- for Sustainable Technologies Panelist at the Center for International and Regional Studies lecture important emitters of carbon approaches to address South into practise through targeted ture in South Asia’, was part at the Indian Institute of Sci- gases, and the fastest growing; Asia’s growing complexity of outreach to entities that sup- of the Environmental Studies ence in Bangalore, India. overview of the main threats Indian and South Asian agri- and South Asia is among the environmental problems. port a safer and sustainable research focus at CIRS, which The scholars presented an posed by climate change to culture, namely its impact on areas of the world most vul- The Environmental Stud- future. Registration for HBKU’s TII’s summer language programmes for adults and children now open

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK able to adults, children, and are taught entirely in the foreign able asset for anyone hoping to DOHA youth. Adults can also study language as part of the immer- strengthen their cross-cultural Drs. Sohaila Cheema, Ravinder Mamtani, Shahrad Taheri and Sath- Italian, Japanese, English, and sive experience. understanding.” yanarayanan Doraiswamy THE Language Center at the Korean. Dr. Nima Nazari, Director of The summer courses of- Translation and Interpreting Classes will be available on- the Language Center, TII, said: fered by TII’s Language Center Institute (TII), part of Ham- line at a variety of times. “We are excited to welcome contribute to the institute’s mis- New series of WCM-Q ad Bin Khalifa University’s The Language Center at language enthusiasts this sum- sion of providing world-class (HBKU) College of Humanities TII creates programmes that mer, and offer them this oppor- foreign language education that and Social Sciences (CHSS), has provide students with an im- tunity to improve their fluency allows students to learn a lan- webinars aims to boost opened registration for its sum- mersive and enriching cultural in the language of their choice. guage in its cultural context. mer 2021 language courses, experience. Qualified language Whether for personal enrich- Registration will be closed local community health which will run from May 30 to professionals teach students ment or professional purposes, on May 27, 2021. June 30. through carefully planned les- our summer 2021 classes are a Please visit www.tii.qa/kc TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK lation Health, and ‘Things that Arabic, Chinese (Manda- sons, cutting-edge method- pathway to explore countries for more inf ormation on the DOHA go bump in the night: Impact of rin), French, German - in col- ologies and technologies, and a and cultures by learning their Youth and Children’s Language sleep on health’ by Dr Shahrad laboration with the Goethe-In- variety of formats to develop all language. In a uniquely diverse Courses, and www.tii.qa/lc for WEILL Cornell Medicine–Qa- Taheri, professor of medicine at stitut Gulf Region - Portuguese, four skills: speaking, listening, Dr Nima Nazari, director of the country like Qatar, proficiency information on the Adult Lan- tar (WCM-Q) is continuing to WCM-Q. and Spanish courses are avail- reading, and writing. Students Language Center in multiple languages is a valu- guage Courses. help educate and improve the Lifestyle-related diseases health of the local community like obesity, type-2 diabetes and with a new programme of com- heart disease are now the big- munity webinars. gest cause of premature death The new Health and YOU in the world and IPH hopes to PISQ hosts virtual Holy Quran recitation competition, Ramadan quiz programme has been launched encourage Qatar’s community by the college’s Institute for Pop- to take responsibility for their TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK in Ramadan Quiz. The second ulation Health (IPH) and aims own health by taking regular DOHA place was won by three con- to create community awareness exercise, eating a balanced diet testants: Abyan Ali Shah, Ab- about health and disease. high in fruits, vegetables and PAKISTAN International dul Rafay Noor, and Ahmed The webinars presented by wholegrains, and avoiding un- School, one of the region’s Tariq. The third place was WCM-Q faculty and other ex- healthy habits like smoking leading schools, is always at won by Abdullah Habib and perts cover a wide range of com- cigarettes and shisha. the forefront of nurturing Muhammad Shehzad. mon issues that impact upon All the webinars are free individuals through educa- In the end, Pakistan In- and open to the general public. tion as well as the holistic ternational School Principal The latest, entitled ‘Just keep development of personality Nargis Raza Otho applauded The ultimate objective of moving - it’s easy and healthy’, and character in its students. the efforts of the organising presented by Dr Sathyanaray- For this reason, the school’s committee headed by the VP, the series is to enhance anan Doraiswamy, instructor administration is always on SBW, Raja Nasir Mahmood self-care, reduce suffering, in population health sciences the lookout for ways to sup- for making the event a re- improve the quality of life, and assistant director at the In- plement students’ academic markable success. The hard and increase longevity stitute for Population Health, progress and overall devel- work of Waheed Iqbal, Hafiz discussed the role of exercise in opment by focusing on both Muhammad Ali and Anwar promoting health and prevent- curricular and co-curricular shah was also appreciated for our health and for which people ing disease. activities. Islamic history, particularly hman, and Muhammad Ta- and Muhammad Ibrahim making the event a great suc- can take charge, engage in self- The ultimate objective of the Keeping in mind the im- relating to the holy month of jamul, adjudicated the con- won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd po- cess. care and change behaviour to series is to enhance self-care, portance of co-curricular ac- Ramadan. tests. (Ramadan Test) sitions respectively. In grade She also congratulated improve their wellbeing. reduce suffering, improve the tivities in the overall develop- The Holy Quran Recita- Students’ participation VI, Yahia Abd El Rahman the winners in both catego- The series began with the quality of life, and increase lon- ment of students, the school tion Competition was attend- in both competitions was Wahab, Yahya Muhammad ries and admired all those webinar ‘Take charge to bet- gevity. Additionally, it will aid took the first step by hosting ed by nearly 45 students from admirable. Despite the fact Razi and Ismaeil Tallat got who were unable to make it ter your health’ by Dr Ravinder and support people in making a virtual Holy Quran Recita- grades V to grade VII. Some that there were so many the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions to the victory stand. She said Mamtani, professor of popula- informed decisions about their tion Competition and Rama- 15 students from grades VIII constraints due to the COV- respectively. In grade VII, the their active participation was tion health sciences and medi- health and disease. dan Quiz. to IX competed in Ramadan ID-19, all the competitors 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions crucial not only for their own cine, and vice dean for student For more information and The primary aim of hold- Quiz competitions. A panel were extremely well pre- were won by Saad Ahmed, morale but also for the success affairs-admissions, population details about how to join the ses- ing the events was to instill of judges, including Muham- pared, making the adjudica- Ahmed Osman Ibrahim Fad- of this inaugural virtual com- health and lifestyle medicine. sion, visit https://qatar-weill. spiritual values in young mad Anwar, Dr. Muhammad tion a difficult task for the lalla and Abdul Rehman Sule- petition. She also praised the Subsequent webinars in- cornell.edu/institute-for-popu- students and to raise overall Umar Khan, and Hafiz Mu- adjudicators. man respectively. parents of the competitors for cluded ‘The Secrets of Longevity’ lation-health/health-and-you. recitation standards among hammad Ali (the Holy Quran In grade V (the Holy Muhammad Emad, Anas devoting their time to prepare by Dr Sohaila Cheema, assistant Previous webinars can also be students. It also aimed to en- Recitation Competition); Quran Recitation Competi- Faisal, Hassan Afzal, and Ab- their sons for this competi- dean for the Institute for Popu- viewed here. hance students’ knowledge of Ahsan Rasheed, Khaista Re- tion), Nayef Khalid, Aser Sagy dul Hanan took the first place tion. MES holds valedictory function of Mother’s Day TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK poems on motherhood. DOHA On Mother’s Day, students of grades IX and X performed short MES Indian School held the valedic- skits. Students of grade XI created a tory function for Mother’s Day, much ‘Wealth out of Wastes’ gift for their to the delight of the teaching faculty mothers, while students of grade XII on Wednesday. Hameeda Kadar, the created two-minute videos with a sur- principal of the school, prise message for their was presented with a mothers. bouquet by teachers There was a special cul- The special virtual dressed in red. tural activity programme assembly, in which the A special cultural students recited poems activity programme in which students sang written by them, spoke was held online in songs and demonstrated volumes about their which students sang their oratory skills by giv- love for their mothers. songs and demonstrat- ing speeches and glorify- Speaking on the oc- Students of DPS-MIS kindergarten ed their oratory skills ing the various roles casion, the school prin- by giving speeches and cipal said that mothers take part in Ramadan charity drive glorifying the various played by mothers are the epitome of love roles played by moth- and sacrifice in eve- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK aged to donate generously in ers. There was also a ryone’s life, and they DOHA order to inculcate the value of presentation highlighting MES’s re- are without doubt the most trusted sharing as the Holy month of markable achievements under the driving force in every family. She also TINY tots from the kindergar- Ramadan is a great time for principal’s leadership. praised the students for their efforts in ten section of DPS–Modern reflection and giving back to Grade V students, dressed up in making this day special. Indian School (DPS-MIS) par- the community. fancy dress, highlighted mother’s un- Vice principals and section heads, ticipated in a Ramadan char- They understood the joy conditional love. as well as the head of Academic In- ity programme to promote of giving and the importance Grade VI students made lovely spection and other school officials, the importance of doing good of charity as even one small greeting cards for their mothers, while congratulated the students for their deeds in society. act can change someone’s students of grades VII and VIII wrote creativity. The children were encour- day. World Thursday, May 20, 2021 05

News India logs global record with in brief Belgium manhunt for soldier who threatened top virologist intensi es BRUSSELS (dpa) - Police in Belgium intensi ed Wednesday over 4,500 daily COVID deaths their search for a fugitive soldier who is suspected of wanting to harm top virologist Marc Van Ranst, local media reported. Police brought in a helicopter to aid in the search that started Tuesday afternoon for 46-year-old Jurgen Conings. Singapore accuses US of interference, They warned the population not to approach Conings if they upbraids India over virus claim see him, highlighting that he might be armed, and to instead call the police. The soldier’s partner raised alarm on Monday BANGKOK In a rare double ministry announced it had met evening after he had not come home, news agency Belga diplomatic spat, Singapore’s India’s High Commissioner, or reported. Van Ranst is one of the leading virologists in Bel- Foreign Ministry on Wednesday ambassador, over “unfounded gium and has gained a highly public pro le during the Covid-19 separately criticized India and assertions” by Chief Minister pandemic, although he has been targeted by right-wing Flemish the US, accusing the latter of of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal that nationalists since 2018. (DPA) interference in its domestic “a variant of Covid-19 found affairs and slamming a top in Singapore was particularly Indian of cial over claims harmful to children and could 4,800 migrants return amid border about a Singaporean coronavi- cause a third wave of infec- tensions between Spain, Morocco rus variant. The ministry said tions in India.” The Health it “notes with regret that the Ministry earlier said “there is CAIRO/MADRID Of the thousands of migrants who streamed US Embassy in Singapore no Singapore variant” of the into Spanish territory in North Africa from neighbouring Morocco co-hosted a webinar with a virus. amid an escalating diplomatic dispute between the two coun- local organisation Oogachaga,” “The strain that is preva- tries, more than half have left the exclave Ceuta again. which describes itself as lent in many of the Covid-19 As of Wednesday, about 4,800 people had been turned “Singapore’s Most Established cases in recent weeks is the back, the Spanish Interior Ministry said, reporting that many LGBTQ+ Community Organisa- B.1.617.2 variant, which origi- had left voluntarily. tion,” on Monday. nated in India,” the ministry Earlier this week, around 8,000 people managed to swim The ministry said it said. around the border fence to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta - and reminded the embassy that Last month Singa- by de nition, the European Union - after Morocco suddenly “foreign missions here are not pore banned arrivals from suspended security controls along the Mediterranean coastline to interfere in our domestic India, including long-term or without explanation. Relations have soured between Morocco A health worker collects swab samples from the passengers for the COVID-19 coronavirus screening at a social and political matters, work visa holders. and Spain over the migrant issue and Spain’s aid to a leader of bus terminal in Amritsar on Wednesday. (AFP) including issues such as how The city-state recently the Western Sahara secessionist movement. (DPA) sexual orientation should be retightened domestic restric- DPA India, battling a second dealt with in public policy.” tions after a slight rise in virus NEW DELHI Vaccination deadly wave of the pandemic, The US and Singapore have numbers, with 38 new cases Second virus wave pushes Argentina to had also registered the world’s close ties, with their militaries reported by the Health Ministry record number of new cases INDIA on Wednesday record- India’s inoculation drive has highest daily tally of 414,188 last week staging the annual on Wednesday. ed 4,529 COVID -19 deaths, been oundering and cases on May 7. “Tiger Balm” joint training Singapore’s virus-related BUENOS Aires Argentina is being tossed around by a second the highest single-day spike despite being a global hub Although cases have de- exercise. death toll of 31 is the world’s wave of coronavirus infections, registering what is by far the of fatalities anywhere in the for vaccine manufacturing, clined since then, the govern- Earlier on Wednesday the 14th-lowest. (DPA) highest number of new cases for the country in one day since world since the beginning of only 3 percent of its ment has warned that only 1.8 the pandemic began. the pandemic, official data population are fully per cent of the country’s over The South American country recorded 35,543 new infec- showed. vaccinated 1.3 billion population popula- tinued focus on containment facilities are ill-equipped and tions within 24 hours on Tuesday, after repeatedly exceeding The South Asian country tion has contracted the virus is critical,” senior health min- COVID -19 tests are unavail- 25,000 daily cases in recent weeks. set the grim global record by so far. istry official Lav Agarwal told able. In total, 3.3 million people in Argentina have been infected breaching the previous highest fections in the past 24 hours, “Despite the high number reporters. India’s inoculation drive with the coronavirus so far. There have also been more than figure of 4,475 in the United taking its overall caseload to of cases reported so far, we After the exponential surge has been floundering and de- 71,000 virus-related deaths. Intensive care units are at 70-per- States on January 12, accord- 25.5 million, the health min- have been able to contain the in cases overwhelmed hospi- spite being a global hub for cent capacity. After one of the longest lockdowns in the world ing to the Johns Hopkins Uni- istry said in its latest bulletin. spread to under 2 per cent of tals in cities and towns, case vaccine manufacturing, only 3 last year, strict curfews have been put back in place for a large versity. Altogether, 283,248 people the population. We cannot let numbers are rising rapidly per cent of its population are number of people. (DPA) India saw 267,334 new in- have died of the disease. our guard down, hence con- in rural regions where health fully vaccinated.

UK launches world-first clinical trial on COVID booster vaccines Merkel plays up German science DPA istered in early June. son, Valneva and CureVac. August or early September. Professor Saul Faust, credentials in climate tech talk LONDON Scientists want people Three of the vaccines will The JCVI will then guide director of the National who received their first dose also be tested at a half dose, the government on whether Institute for Health Research DPA achieve this, she said. BRITAIN has launched the of either Pfizer/BioNTech or with experts expecting an people should be boosted with Southampton clinical research BERLIN As an example of how Ger- world’s first clinical trial to AstraZeneca in December or adequate immune response at a third dose and which vac- facility and lead investigator many could lead the way in see whether a booster vac- January to sign up, and hope this level. cines should be used, depend- for the trial, said the “hope of GERMAN Chancellor Angela developing new technologies, cine dose can protect people people aged 75 and over will The half doses will in- ing on supply. a booster is that we raise the Merkel has praised the success she pointed to the race to find against COVID-19 and its also come forward. form whether side-effects are The 18 sites include South- antibody level enough to be of German scientists in devel- a coronavirus vaccine. variants. Experts believe that all reduced at a lower dose, and ampton, London, Leicester, able to cover existing and vari- oping the BioNTech/Pfizer cor- “If there is one positive Seven existing vaccines are seven vaccines will boost im- could offer useful information Bournemouth, Portsmouth, ant strains of coronavirus.” onavirus vaccine at a confer- thing that can be taken from the to be tested in the Cov-Boost munity. Lab studies will check to countries where vaccine Wrexham, Bradford, Oxford, He added: “We’re hoping ence on innovation in Berlin. pandemic and all of its painful trial, to see which jabs could be their response to variants supply may be more scarce. Glasgow, Leeds, Cambridge, the immune responses will She argued in her address consequences, it is that Ger- used in any forthcoming au- circulating in Britain, includ- The 18 NHS sites across Birmingham, Brighton, Stock- be high enough to protect for the faster development of many is a leading player when tumn vaccination programme. ing those from India, Kent and Britain will be split into three port, Liverpool and Exeter. people against all the strains technologies to combat climate it comes health research,” she Some 2,886 people aged South Africa. groups, with each group test- Among the information circulating in the UK, includ- change, including hydrogen- said. 30 and older are being re- The 19.3-million-pound ing a different set of vaccines. gathered will be any data on ing we’ll be testing in the lab powered engines for vehicles, BioNTech, based in Mainz, cruited at 18 National Health clinical trial will test the Pfizer All of the information will side-effects, including among against the Indian variant, and said that they would open Germany, helped develop the Service (NHS) sites from jab alongside those from As- be fed to to the Joint Commit- people whose third booster jab the South African variant, the new markets. first vaccine to receive official London to Glasgow, with the traZeneca, Moderna, Novavax, tee on Vaccination and Immu- is a different type to that used Kent variant as well as the Business and politics had approval in Europe and the first booster jabs to be admin- Janssen from Johnson & John- nisation (JCVI) at the end of for their first two shots. original strain.” to work closely together to United States.

Thousands of China’s Mars rover sends rst images; police protest in Paris following space station plans proceed officer’s death DPA BEIJING DPA PARIS CHINA’S Zhurong rover transmit- ted its first images from Mars to THOUSANDS of police offic- Earth on Wednesday, just days af- ers demonstrated in Paris on ter China made history by becom- Wednesday, demanding more ing the second country to send a support and decrying the grow- probe to the Red Planet’s surface. ing violence directed towards All systems were operating law enforcement, after the death normally, state media reported. of an officer in southern France. The images showed the rover brief- “It’s time to get the petty ly after landing on Mars, while criminals,” said Olivier Varlet, another shows Zhurong separat- secretary general of the UNSA- ing from the orbiting Tianwen-1 Police trade union during the spacecraft, according to China’s rally. Violence against the po- space agency. lice has become a hot-button The landing module touched issue in France, following a down on the surface of Mars on spate of murders. Saturday, making China only the Two weeks ago, a police of- second country after the United ficer was killed during an anti- States to land a vessel successfully drug operation in Avignon, on Earth’s neighbour. sparking dismay throughout Tianwen-1 took off from Earth A view of an image taken by the navigation camera of China’s Zhurong rover the force. on July 23 and reached orbit in on the surface of Mars recently. (AFP) Late last month, a police of- February. ficer was murdered near Paris, The flight was one of the most towards the planet. The US rover launch a Long March 7 rocket at in a murder motivated by radi- difficult that China has ever un- Perseverance arrived there in Feb- 1 am on Thursday (1700 GMT on cal Islamism. Interior Minister dertaken. The landing was a major ruary. A probe from the United Wednesday) to bring supplies to Gerald Darmanin also joined challenge, as Mars has its own at- Arab Emirates is on its way. the Tianhe. It will be the second the protest held outside the mosphere, unlike the moon. Beijing has steadily expanded of a planned 11 flights for pulling National Assembly. “I came to If all goes to plan, the Zhurong its space programme over the together the planned Tiangong support the police officers, like rover, named for the Chinese god past few years and has missions space station, which is expected to all French people,” he said in a of fire, will investigate the Red planned for decades into the fu- be completed by the end of 2022. tweet. Planet for at least three months. ture. Work began on that project Once the rocket and its cargo Earlier, Darmanin said po- With its first Mars landing, at the end of April when the 22-ton dock with Tianhe, automated sys- lice were suffering under the new space power China wants to Tianhe, which is to form the core tems will transfer the supplies to strain of from “sadness, emo- catch up with the United States, module of the space station, was the orbiter. That should set the tion and anger” following the which has already sent several re- sent up on a rocket. stage for three astronauts to fly to recent killings, in comments to search devices to roam the planet. Chinese space authorities Tianhe in June on the Shenzhou 12 France Inter radio. It’s also part of a recent rush also announced they plan to and spend three months there. 06 Thursday, May 20, 2021

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

A Turning Point In The Fight Against COVID-19 Despite Israel’s Efforts To

HE federal government’s deci- the U.S. population was fully vac- sion last week to relax its guid- cinated, compared to almost 32 Tance on masks marked a turn- percent in Florida. If the new guid- Break It, The Will Of The ing point in America’s fight against ance helps move more people to COVID-19. While the reversal get the jab so they can enjoy more created confusion, and concern freedom, so much the better. among some experts and skeptics, As the nation’s third largest the move was appropriate given state, heavily reliant on tourism, the encouraging trends, the effec- Florida has a particular stake in Palestinians Gets Stronger tiveness the vaccines have shown improving the nation’s COVID pic- and the precautions Americans ture. New cases in Florida contin- are voluntarily taking to limit the ue to drop, deaths remain low and spread of infections. The nation, after holding steady for months, e anger that started at the Al Aqsa Mosque and spread to all of Palestine though, still has a way to go, and case counts in Tampa Bay area Florida has a particular interest in schools are dropping precipitous- achieved much more impact than that of the military confrontation promoting caution and vigilance. ly. These are encouraging trends The Centers for Disease Con- as the summer travel season MAHER ABU TAIR trol and Prevention said Thurs- looms. Last week, following the day that fully vaccinated people CDC announcement, several ma- could start taking off their masks jor Florida theme parks loosened HE results of what is happening in occupied indoors. Coming as the number of their mask requirements, includ- Palestine are dangerous for the occupation new infections has plummeted as ing Busch Gardens Tampa, Disney itself, and if there were experts in Israel an- the supply of vaccine World and Universal alysing the situation, they would reach con- outstrips demand, Orlando. State and clusions that cannot be passed after these the new recommen- local public health years.T dations were wel- But expanding authorities will need After 73 years, on the eve of the anniversary comed by many, who vaccination is to monitor infec- of the founding of the occupation state, the anger say the easing aptly tions and address that started at the Al Aqsa Mosque and spread to reflects the risk level key to protecting any outbreaks as all of Palestine, achieved much more impact than at this stage of the these attractions and that of the military confrontation. evolving pandemic. against a the economy further The first of these conclusions is that the Al The guidance has ex- new surge open up. Aqsa Mosque is a line that cannot be crossed, no ceptions: Fully vacci- Last week’s an- matter how much Israel tries to break this line, nated people are still nouncement that harm the mosque, allow settlers to enter it, or required to wear face coverings on younger teens could get Pfizer’s control who can and cannot enter it. This means planes, buses and trains, for exam- COVID-19 vaccine was another that Al Aqsa should be totally removed from the ple. Though the advisory does not boost in the inoculation effort, just Israel’s calculations. override mask orders by states and as children make plans for summer The second of these conclusions is that Israel local governments, jurisdictions camp and prepare for a more nor- is not accepted in the region in general, and is across the country scrambled last mal return to school later this year. not welcome inside Palestine. Despite all of its week to bring their own rules into The availability of vaccines for en- the oppression, killing and displacement, as well compliance with the federal advi- tire families might also encourage as the attempts to divide Palestinians, their spirit bility of the occupation, on the contrary, each this quicksand, in light of the military failure. sory. more holdout parents to get their remains united no matter where they are; Gaza, generation comes with different tools. The sixth conclusion is related to countries Critics accused the CDC of cav- shots, too. Many businesses are the West Bank, Jerusalem of within historic Pal- The fourth of these conclusions says that the that surround the occupation state. They have ing to political pressure in making doing their part by requiring vacci- estine. attractiveness of the Israeli project is collapsing risen up and shown that they reject Israel and the policy change. But with cases, nations before allowing employees The imaginary lines that were drawn over greatly. Even if an Israeli is not exposed to direct hope to seek revenge against its policies and hospitalizations and deaths in the back into the workplace. decades collapsed, to prove that there is one na- harm in these circumstances, they will ask them- practices against the Palestinian people and the U.S. trending down for weeks, The relaxed federal guidance, tion whose energies connected overnight for the selves why they remain in these circumstances region. It makes you wonder about how the oc- and with vaccines becoming more though, marks a new stage for sake of one thing. All of these people told Israel facing Palestinian rejection and danger. Why are cupation feels as it sees all this anger in Jordan, available for larger segments of the personal responsibility. As was that it is an occupier and is not accepted. they staying when no matter how much the state Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and other countries, and population, the agency was right to evident across the Tampa Bay area The third conclusion is that killings and mili- kills and oppresses, it cannot protect itself? This whether it is able to continue to remain indefi- ease off. After more than a year of this weekend, many shops are ask- tary force do not change the reality, because Is- means that the desire of Israeli individuals and nitely in an environment that is hostile towards masking up, Americans needed to ing customers to continue wearing rael has been killing, displacing and imprisoning families to stay will greatly reduce and they will it in every sense of the word. see the guidance calibrated to the masks, given the risks still posed for more than 70 years. search for an alternative. Finally, the project to Judaise the state may times. The new recommendations to younger children, those with Nothing has changed, and these people only The fifth conclusion is that Israel itself is fac- not be pushed for harder, but the religious and provide a psychological boost. compromised immune systems get temporary security, which quickly collapses, ing a crisis within itself; the crisis of the religious ethnic cleansing projects have become impossi- They also underscore the safety and others unable or unwilling to and whenever a generation is abused, a new gen- and the secular, and even the crisis of forming ble. Today, Israel is paying the price of the Pal- and effectiveness of the vaccines, get a vaccine. There is no easier eration emerges that gains the same spirit and a government, which it keeps failing to do. The estinian demographic perseverance throughout including the protection they of- contribution to make than for stands in the face of Israel in different ways. current situation will only add to the complica- historic Palestine, this is an indigenous and per- fer against most variants. About Floridians eligible for vaccines to This means that the occupation’s ordeal is tions especially given the attempts to utilise the manent presence, and they have their tools to use 47 percent of the U.S. population, get them. They are safe, highly ef- ongoing, and that the crisis will not stop. It also current pike in tensions in the struggle to form in defiance of the occupation and they cannot be and 45 percent in Florida, have re- fective, widely available and free. means that the attempts to ignore or overcome an Israeli government between caretaker Prime softened, broken, or deported. ceived at least one dose of the vac- And they are central to the nation’s the root of the crisis, i.e. the occupation’s crisis, Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence All of these conclusions, and others, say that cine. As of Monday, 37 percent of recovery. with temporary solutions will not lead to the sta- minister. They are trying to drown each other in Israel will not survive.

Livestock Industry Is Achilles’ Heel Of Biden’s Climate Plan

VIVECA MORRIS larly important because farm For example, studies show that house gases and other air pollut- animals and their manure, along feeding cows seaweed can dra- ants under the Clean Air Act. The with the oil and gas industries, are matically reduce the methane in EPA sets national standards for RESIDENT Joe Biden can- our country’s leading sources of their burps. But even if these find- air pollutants emitted by coal-fired not deliver on his climate methane, a super-pollutant that is ings hold up perfectly at scale and power plants, oil refineries, chemi- pledges if his administration shorter-lived than carbon dioxide are rapidly deployed nationwide cal factories and other industrial keeps allowing meat and but far more powerful. Rapidly where practical, we would still be sources. dairy corporations to emit reducing methane is the strong- left with the vast majority of cow- But the agency has failed to Pvast amounts of planet-warming est action available to slow global related greenhouse gas emissions. use its authority to regulate many pollutants unchecked. warming and limit its consequenc- Increasing efficiency by inten- of the exact same pollutants when Greening the energy, trans- es in the near term, according to a sifying production could also cause they’re emitted from factory farms. portation, manufacturing and major recent report by the United terrible suffering. The poultry in- No federal regulations exist to gov- housing sectors — the focuses of Nations. dustry boasts that it takes 39% ern factory farms’ greenhouse gas Biden’s American Jobs Plan — is It would be foolish to depend less fossil fuel to produce a chicken emissions, despite mountains of not enough to prevent devastat- on the voluntary efforts of the gi- today than it did 60 years ago. But evidence that these noxious gases ing temperature rise. Even if fossil ant meat and dairy conglomerates this has come at a dreadful cost to endanger public health and the fuel use ended overnight, global to fix this. Big Livestock has spent hundreds of billions of birds over planet. emissions related to food produc- enormous sums lobbying against nearly $1 million a year as a dairy nologies are so expensive they gen- the past several decades. Biden does not need Congress’ tion alone are on track to make it climate policies and funding ini- industry lobbyist before joining erally only make economic sense These “climate friendly” chick- help to fix this gaping hole in our impossible to meet the Paris cli- tiatives that downplay the climate Biden’s Cabinet — has promoted for the largest animal-confinement ens grow so fast that they routinely greenhouse gas regulations. The mate agreement’s target of limiting harms of industrial animal agri- using public dollars to subsidize facilities. Providing subsidies suffer excruciating joint pain, col- EPA already has the authority to warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 culture. the deployment of biogas technol- could end up increasing emissions lapsed legs, skin burns from be- get the job done. Twenty-five non- degrees Fahrenheit) above prein- But there is no denying the sci- ogies that capture methane from by underwriting, entrenching and ing unable to lift themselves from profit and citizen groups recently dustrial levels. ence. JBS, Tyson Foods, Cargill factory farm manure lagoons and incentivizing the largest and worst waste-strewn litter, and difficulty filed a petition asking the EPA to The world’s top five meat and and their competitors are climate convert it into energy. types of animal farms. breathing. Animal cruelty is not regulate emissions from industrial dairy companies combined are super-polluters. The government Environmental justice groups Another solution the industry what Americans imagine or want hog and dairy operations under the emitting more greenhouse gases needs to start treating them like it. oppose this approach as a false so- promotes: government incentives “climate friendly” food to be, but Clean Air Act. The agency should per year than Exxon Mobil. If meat Regulating air pollution from lution. Factory farm biogas is not for the development of feed addi- it’s what Big Meat and Big Dairy immediately act on their petition. and dairy production continues to factory farms is glaringly absent clean energy. Burning it releases tives and genetically engineered are serving. If Biden can stand up to Big ramp up as expected, experts pre- from Biden’s climate plan. The pol- carbon dioxide and other contami- livestock. The idea behind it is that The Biden administration must Fossil Fuel, he can stand up to Big dict that the livestock sector could icies to address livestock emissions nants. And the methane-capture the faster an animal grows and the do better than using public dollars Livestock too. And he must: It is eat up almost half of the planet’s that Biden has voiced support for technologies do not address the more efficiently the animal converts to subsidize corporate greenwash- impossible to save the planet if our greenhouse gas budget allow- so far are predominantly industry- majority of industrial livestock feed into meat, the fewer green- ing. To rein in meat and dairy’s government keeps giving meat and able under the 1.5-degree target by promoted subsidies guaranteed to farming emissions, which come house gases are emitted per animal. climate impact, we need emissions dairy corporations a free pass. 2030. In the United States, nearly increase corporate profits, but not from the soils used for grazing and These technologies could help re- regulation with teeth. 80% of agriculture emissions are guaranteed to make significant cli- growing animal feed crops, and duce emissions intensity, but their The president should start by (Viveca Morris is execu- related to the production of ani- mate progress. from the digestive process of cows potential to mitigate total livestock directing the Environmental Pro- tive director of the Law, Eth- mals and animal feed. For example, Secretary of Agri- and other ruminants. methane emissions is quite limited, tection Agency to regulate large ics and Animals Program at These emissions are particu- culture Tom Vilsack — who made These methane-capture tech- according to the U.N. report. factory farms as sources of green- Yale Law School)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Thursday, May 20, 2021 07 Israel, Hamas deny cease re as attacks on Gaza continue Nearly 219 people have been killed in Gaza, a quarter of them minors, the Gaza Health Ministry said

DPA tacks. TEL AVIV Rockets were fired towards northern Israel from Lebanon ISRAEL and the Hamas move- There are only two ways that on Wednesday as well. The Is- ment deny that an imminent you can deal with them raeli army retaliated against ceasefire is in the works as (Hamas): You can either the four rockets - one of which pressure mounts on the sides conquer them - and that’s was intercepted, while the to end their fighting, now in its always an open possibility others landed in open areas - ninth day. by shelling targets in Lebanon Izzat al-Rishak, a high- - or you can deter them. from which the rockets had ranking member of Hamas, And we are engaged now in been fired. which rules the Gaza Strip, forceful deterrence, but I According to Lebanese se- said on Wednesday that there have to say, we don’t rule curity sources, a Palestinian had been no agreement on a out anything faction was behind previous ceasefire with Israel yet. rocket attacks out of the coun- Israeli television had ear- Benjamin Netanyahu try, not Hezbollah. lier reported on the potential UN human rights experts for an internationally medi- are concerned about signs of ated ceasefire to go into effect war crimes on both sides and from Thursday 6 am (0300 ed by several trucks, was med- have asked the International GMT). ical equipment for a hospital Criminal Court in The Hague According to media re- in Gaza, COGAT said. to investigate. ports, Israeli officials have Kerem Shalom as well as The experts accuse Israel also now denied the prospect the other Erez crossing were of firing rockets and shells of a cessation of hostilities on closed the previous day after at densely populated areas Thursday morning. coming under fire. A soldier in Gaza, while Palestinian The goal of the Israeli as- was slightly wounded. groups would similarly fire sault against Hamas militants Tensions began to escalate rockets “deliberately or reck- in Gaza is “to maximise the in the region following the Is- lessly” into Israeli urban ar- period of quiet and calm that lamic holy month of Ramadan eas. Israel can gain against this on May 10. Residents in the Rimal foe,” Prime Minister Benjamin The airstrikes and rocket neighbourhood, which has Netanyahu said. attacks followed violent clash- been particularly hard hit “There are only two ways es over access to the Jerusa- by Israeli attacks, are only that you can deal with them: A Palestinian elderly man walks past a building destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, on Wednesday. (AFP) lem holy site known as the leaving their homes to run You can either conquer them Temple Mount to Jews and errands, a dpa reporter in - and that’s always an open the Noble Sanctuary to Mus- Gaza said. The buzz of Israeli possibility - or you can deter lims. Palestinians were also drones and explosions of Is- them. And we are engaged angered by forced evictions raeli shells kept people awake now in forceful deterrence, but in the East Jerusalem neigh- around the clock. I have to say, we don’t rule out bourhood Sheikh Jarrah. Rimal is considered one anything.” So far, more than 3,700 of the better-off neighbour- As part of international ef- rockets have been launched hoods in the otherwise pover- forts to bring an end to the vio- from Gaza, according to the ty-stricken Gaza Strip, where lence, German Foreign Minis- Israeli military, while Israel just over 2 million people live. ter Heiko Maas said he intends has attacked hundreds of tar- The Israeli army justifies its to travel to the Middle East gets in the coastal strip. attacks by pointing out that later on Wednesday to hold Some 219 people have many high-ranking Hamas talks on the renewed conflict. been killed in Gaza, a quar- commanders also have their “My plan is to fly to Israel ter of them minors, the Gaza homes there. tonight and to hold talks in Health Ministry said. For example, Mohammed Jerusalem and Ramallah,” he Israel says it has killed at Deif, an important Hamas said in Berlin. least 160 militants and is try- military chief who has sur- US President Joe Biden Children play at a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works ing to avoid civilian casualties, vived two assassination at- was also working to bring Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes on Rafah. Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Gaza City. but Hamas and other militant tempts by Israel, according to about a ceasefire. groups were using residential media reports. The air force According to the White on Wednesday. Kerem Shalom border cross- Activities in the Territories mortar shells were fired at the buildings as cover for fighters had targeted him during two House, Biden told Netanyahu Aid delivery to Gaza was ing into impoverished Gaza. (COGAT), a shipment of hu- border area. and weapons. operations, but Deif managed in a phone call that he “expect- again suspended for a second According to the Israeli manitarian aid was being Part of the shipment from So far, 12 people have died to escape both times in the ed a significant de-escalation” day following attacks on the Coordinator of Government driven into Gaza when three Jordan, which was transport- in Israel due to the rocket at- very last minute.

Malaysia sees 22 dead, 53 missing after barge another COVID Lebanese foreign minister steps record with over sinks off Indian coast during storm down over Islamic State remarks 6,000 new cases DPA NEW DELHI DPA DPA BEIRUT BANGKOK THE Indian navy has recovered 22 bodies of people who were LEBANON’S caretaker For- Over 6,000 people tested aboard a barge that sank off eign Minister Charbel Wehbe positive for coronavirus over Mumbai when Cyclone Tauktae said on Wednesday that he the past 24 hours, Malaysia’s hit the country’s western coast, was stepping down over a row Health Ministry reported on officials said on Wednesday. that began after he suggested Wednesday, a single-day re- The barge, owned by state- in televised remarks that the cord for the 32-million-popu- run Oil and Natural Gas Cor- Arab Gulf countries, which are lation nation. poration (ONGC), was carrying Lebanon’s major donors, sup- On Tuesday, the minis- 261 people when it sank near port the Islamic State. try reported a record one-day an offshore oilfield on Monday Rescued crew members from the sunken offshore barge P305 “In light of recent develop- death toll of 47, taking the total evening. disembark the INS Kochi naval ship after arriving in Mumbai on ments and the circumstances to almost 2,000. “The search is continuing Wednesday. (AFP) that accompanied the inter- for 53 more missing people. The view I gave to one of the TV navy rescued 186 people from NDTV. tal, as well as Goa, Karnataka stations ... I had the honour to Malaysia’s outbreak is the the barge in challenging condi- ONGC said the barge was and Kerala. meet with President [Michel Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe in Beirut on Wednesday. (AFP) most severe in South-East tions comprising rough seas and carrying personnel for offshore Some 16,500 homes were Aoun] and submitted to him extreme weather,” navy spokes- drilling when it got caught in damaged in Gujarat where the a request to be exempted from bouring Syria. erence to nomadic Arab tribes, Asia and lags only slightly man Vivek Madhwal told dpa. the storm. storm forced evacuations of my duties and responsibilities His remarks triggered an who have inhabited the Ara- behind India’s, measured The death toll is expected Cyclone Tauktae, the over 200,000 people. as minister of foreign affairs,” uproar in Lebanon and the bian Peninsula. per-capita, according to to increase even as the navy strongest cyclone to strike the The cyclone cast its destruc- Lebanon’s state news agency Gulf countries, prompting The remarks by We- official data collated by the intensified search operations, region in over two decades, tive shadow on wildlife too - NNA quoted Wehbe as saying. Saudi Arabia and the United hbe, who was earlier picked for University of Oxford sending in three ships and heli- packed winds reaching 200 some 18 lions in reserves have In an interview on Monday Arab Emirates to summon the the post by Aoun, a close ally copters. kilometres per hour when it been reported missing. with the US-based Arabic-lan- Lebanese ambassadors to pro- of Lebanon’s pro-Iran Hezbol- “The barge was sinking so made landfall in Gujarat state Premier Narendra Modi guage satellite broadcaster al- test against the foreign minis- lah movement, also prompted Over 500 people are being we all had to jump into the sea. I late Monday. took an aerial survey of Guja- Hurra, Wehbe blamed Gulf ter’s claim. the Lebanese presidency to treated in intensive care units. must have been in the sea over- Nearly 40 people were rat after which he announced states, without naming them, During the same show, issue a statement saying that Malaysia’s outbreak is the night for nearly 10 hours before killed in the storm in Gujarat, financial assistance of 10 billion for bringing the Islamic State Wehbe also told a Saudi guest what the foreign minister said most severe in South-East Asia I was rescued by the navy,” neighbouring Maharashtra rupees (731 million dollars) for terrorist group to the region, that he would not answer to a in the interview was “his per- and lags only slightly behind a survivor told broadcaster state, of which Mumbai is capi- relief measures. particularly Iraq and neigh- “Bedouin,” in a derogatory ref- sonal opinion.” India’s, measured per-capi- ta, according to official data collated by the University of Oxford’s Our World in Data. The 6,075 cases reported on Wednesday take the total Indonesian submarine salvage team lifts two life rafts from sea floor to almost 500,000, with over DPA The German-made KRI 800 metres north of Bali. taking part in the recovery broke as it was being lifted. No human remains of all 430,000 listed by the Health JAKARTA Nanggala-402 lost contact Indonesian navy second operation, along with China’s It may be because it weighed the submariners who died in Ministry as “recovered.” during a torpedo firing exer- fleet commander Rear Admi- three ocean salvage rescue more than our initial esti- the accident were found. The government imposed INDONESIA’S navy said that cise on April 21. ral Iwan Isnurwanto said in and scientific research ships. mate of 18 tonnes,” Isnur- The Indonesian navy has a third nationwide lockdown an operation to retrieve parts An international search a press conference on Tues- “The operation team tried wanto said. pledged that it would con- last week, with the measures of a submarine that sunk team involving Singapore, day that each of the life rafts to lift the sail section twice He added that the op- tinue the operation until the set to run for one month. “Stay with 53 people on board last Australia and Malaysia found weighed 700 kilograms. but failed. eration would also try to lift remains of the command- at home unless you have to go month has been able to pull the submarine four days lat- The life rafts are being The team deployed a ro- the stern section, on which er, 49 crew members and out,” the Health Ministry said up two life rafts from the bot- er, sunken and broken into stored in one of the six In- bot to attach strings to the the submarine’s radar is three gunners are located on Wednesday. tom of the sea. three at a depth of more than donesian navy ships that are sail section, but the strings still attached. and retrieved. Bitcoin falls further as China cracks down on cryptocoins PAGE 12

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

33,876.39 10,733.62 49902.64 1,870.40 -184.27 PTS -75.50 PTS -290.69 PTS GOLD +0.13 % Samsung thrives as Seoul mulls pardon DOW QE SENSEX of corporate heir Jay Lee PAGE 8 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 27.80 BRENT 66.63 -3.03 % WTI 63.35 -3.27 % SILVER -1.88 % EU to ease restrictions Lulu launches British food for GCC travellers fest, 5k items on display AGENCIES PARIS

GCC travellers could be given Products imported from UK will be available on discounts across all Lulu stores in Qatar during the fest the green light to travel into the European Union as long SATYENDRA PATHAK in Qatar by organising Brit- as they feature on the EU’s DOHA ish food festival every year. white list, which is due to be Last year, we could not do it released later this week. LULU Hypermarket, the because of COVID-19 pan- It comes after EU coun- largest hypermarket chain in demic. I am glad that it is tries agreed to reopen their the region, on Wednesday, back this year. We have both borders to nations and travel- launched its annual British traditional and some exciting lers deemed safe in the conti- food festival entitled ‘Food new products this year.” nent’s most significant move is Great Britain & Northern Vegetable-based meat yet to return to normalcy after Island’ to promote British substitute products from the a year of pandemic-induced products in Qatar. UK can be a major attraction restrictions. The festival was inaugu- this year, he said. Ambassadors from the EU’s rated by the British Ambas- “We have seen a big in- 27 member states agreed to al- sador to Qatar HE Jonathan crease in fruits and vegeta- low vaccinated travellers into Wilks at the Lulu Hypermar- bles sourced from the UK to the bloc quarantine-free as well ket’s Al Messila branch. Qatar. We are also getting a as people from countries that During the week-long fest, lot of UK fish, not only Salm- have controlled the COVID-19 a wide variety of food prod- on from Scotland, but other outbreak, meaning a 14-day ucts imported from the UK types of fish as well,” Wilks new case rate of less than 75 per will be available at discounts said. 100,000, according to two offi- from May 19 to May 25 across Highlighting the contri- cials familiar with the decision. all Lulu stores in Qatar. bution of Lulu Hypermarket The new rules could be Lulu Group, which has its in promoting British prod- formally approved later this own food processing plants ucts in Qatar, he said, “Lulu week and can be implement- and sourcing offices in the is playing a very important ed soon thereafter. UK, has flown in more than role. There are many British The decision comes just 5,000 British products for the products in supermarkets in before the important sum- food festival including chees- British Ambassador to Qatar HE Jonathan Wilks inaugurates the annual British food festival at the Al Messila branch of Lulu Hypermarket in Qatar but the way Lulu has mer tourist season, which es of organic and healthy Doha on Wednesday. been developing the market helps prop up the economies range, fruits and vegetables, for British products in Qatar of European countries such as dairy products, sweet delica- and the GCC is exceptional.” Spain, Italy, Greece and Por- cies, canned foods, house- “The organisers have made tugal. It also comes as the EU hold, health & beauty and a good attempt to bring typi- has made progress in its fight much more. cal British touch all along the against the pandemic, with The festival that prom- store with the medley of Brit- 32.4 percent of its citizens ises to highlight an authentic ish flags and pictorial repre- having received at least one British shopping experience sentations of iconic landmarks vaccination dose, according to offers ready-made English of Great Britain,” he said. Bloomberg’s Vaccine Tracker. classic delights in the hot With the extensive collec- The new rules will replace food section featuring freshly tion of outstanding British a blanket ban on non-essential cooked dishes that are perfect brands and culinary heritage, travel. Some member states, for feasting. the festival received over- such as Greece, already permit Talking to Qatar Tribune whelming response from the tourists to visit without quar- on the sidelines of the in- local and expatriate commu- antine requirements if they auguration ceremony, Lulu nities in the country on the have been inoculated. Group Director Mohamed very first day of its launch. On Thursday, EU officials Althaf said, “The Lulu Group Lulu Group has a com- will discuss a draft “white list” has exerted massive efforts to prehensive network of Export of non-EU countries that pre- introduce as many as 47 new Distribution Centers in 24 sent a low risk of spreading ranges of products featur- Group also aims to showcase keep on providing non-stop source of foods and its heritage “Every year we add more countries including the major the disease. ing organic, low-fat, gluten- the rich culture of the UK supply of UK products at the beyond just selling and buy- products and companies to state of the art facilities re- The new rules include a so- free and diet-based food op- through this festival. most competitive prices all ing. We want people to know such festivals. This year the cently opened in New Jersey, called emergency brake, which tions that are in demand now “Britain has always played year round,” Althaf said. the standard and authenticity activities of the festival will be USA, and Madrid, Spain. would allow member states to with health-conscious Qatari a vital role in securing Qatar’s Althaf said that food festi- of foods,” said Althaf. limited due to COVID-19 pre- Officials from the British restore travel bans on coun- shoppers during this festi- food needs with uninterrupt- vals are part of Lulu’s strategy He said that British Food ventive measures,” he said. Embassy, Department for In- tries where risky new variants val.”. ed supplies of food products to promote cuisines and food Festival has been held in co- Addressing the media ternational Trade and Invest emerge or contagion rates Well-renowned for high- even during tough times. items from various countries ordination with the British during the inaugural cere- Northern Ireland and a host spike. The European Commis- lighting country-based prod- Through its sourcing offices in Qatar. Embassy in Qatar and UK mony, the British envoy said, of other officials and dignitar- sion has already demanded ucts through food festivals and food processing units in “The festival also aims at Trade and Investment for the “The Lulu Group has been ies from various sectors were that such brake is applied for throughout the year, the Lulu the UK, the Lulu Group will educating people about the last so many years. promoting British products also present on the occasion. all travel from India. IEA urges countries to halt fossil fuel investments

AGENCIES rector of the IEA said during the and dramatic falls in investment PARIS launch of the report, which is the in new production amid the coro- first of its kind for the agency. navirus crisis mean the IEA is now THE International Energy Agency The roadmap comes amid priming the world for a supply (IEA) has urged countries to curb sweeping changes in global energy shortage, says an investor. new fossil fuel investments and policy, particularly made by the One oil executive warned that limit sales of internal combustion top producers for oil and gas. the report would entrench the nar- engine passenger cars to achieve Oil companies in the US, the ratives of rival camps rather than their net-zero targets by 2050. biggest hydrocarbons producer, engage in a meaningful and neces- The Paris-based agency’s road- are facing increasing scrutiny as sary dialogue about changing the map to carbon neutrality calls for the Joe Biden administration con- world’s consumption patterns. no new investment in fossil fuel tinues to push for a transition to “Does the IEA really believe supply projects and no further fi- cleaner sources of energy to lower their scenario is achievable or are nal investment decisions in new emissions. they just demonstrating the sheer unabated coal plants, which uses The US has frozen new explo- impracticality of it?” said Gordon the fuel without lowering its car- ration activities on federal lands Ballard, an adviser to the oil and bon impact. and has rejoined the Paris Agree- A number of countries adopted positions on carbon neutrality last year after movement restrictions to curb the spread of the gas industry. It also recommended halting ment, which seeks to limit emis- COVID-19 pandemic led to a record fall in carbon emissions. Another investor, who pushed sales of new internal combustion sions to below 2°C above pre- for the net zero report and did not engines by 2035 and urged the industrial levels. It also plans to of solar photovoltaic capacity to A worldwide push to increase not the most ambitious. want to be seen criticising it, said: global electricity sector to achieve halve emissions from 2005 levels reach 630 gigawatts by 2030 and energy efficiency is part of these The pathway to carbon neutral- “They show their conclusions in net-zero emissions by 2040. by 2030. wind power generation to hit 390 efforts, the agency added. ity recommended by the agency is detail but not enough on their cal- “The scale and speed of the A number of countries adopted gigawatts. The initiatives will cause the “far from being the most conserv- culations for getting there.” efforts demanded by this critical positions on carbon neutrality last This addition will be four times global rate of energy efficiency im- ative [and] is more than just a to- One outcome could be busi- and formidable goal – our best year after movement restrictions the record level of capacity added provements to average 4 per cent ken effort”, Joeri Rogelj, director ness as usual. Listed oil com- chance of tackling climate change to curb the spread of the COV- in 2020. annually through 2030. of research, Grantham Institute, panies are not obligated to take and limiting global warming to 1.5 ID-19 pandemic led to a record fall “For solar PV, it is equivalent The figure is three times the Imperial College London, said. further action and major pro- °C – make this perhaps the great- in carbon emissions. to installing the world’s current average over the past 20 years. Oil prices are rising — crude ducer nations are still ramp- est challenge humankind has ever The IEA’s roadmap to net-ze- largest solar park roughly every However, some experts have rose to $70 a barrel on Tuesday, i n g u p p r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y a n d faced,” Fatih Birol, executive di- ro also calls for annual additions day,” the IEA said. said the IEA’s net-zero roadmap is the highest in more than a year — market share. Economy & Business Thursday, May 20, 2021 09 Chip crisis gets even worse as wait times reach record 17 weeks

AGENCIES by Susquehanna Financial nies from shipping products “Elevated lead times of- social gatherings, and shut cal - chips, such as display Group. That is the longest from cars to game consoles Chip shortages are rippling ten compel ‘bad behaviour’ many adult entertainment driver ICs that have been a SHORTAGES in the semicon- wait since the firm began and refrigerators. Automak- through industry after at customers, including in- venues, museums and public particularly painful bottle- ductor industry, which have tracking the data in 2017. ers are now expected to lose industry, preventing com- ventory accumulation, safety facilities. While businesses neck for global production. already slammed automak- “All major product cat- out on US$110 billion (S$146 panies from shipping prod- stock building and double and factories are operating, The current level of 17 ers and consumer electronics egories up considerably,” billion) in sales this year, as ucts from cars to game ordering,” Mr Rolland wrote. the government may have weeks climbed from the 16- companies, are getting even Susquehanna analyst Chris Ford Motor, General Motors “These trends may have to consider broader restric- week level Mr Rolland had worse, complicating the glob- Rolland wrote in a note and others have to idle facto- consoles and refrigerators. spurred a semiconductor in- tions. previously said was the top of al economy’s recovery from on Tuesday (May 18), cit- ries for lack of essential com- dustry in the early stages of The island is home to the “danger zone” and marks the coronavirus pandemic. ing power management and ponents. to commit to future supply to over-shipment above true Taiwan Semiconductor Man- a fourth consecutive month Chip lead times, the gap analog chip lead times among The industry and its cus- avoid a recurrence of short- customer demand.” ufacturing Co, which is the of “sizeable” expansion, he between ordering a chip and others. “These were some of tomers watch lead times as falls. Analysts track these The situation has been world’s most advanced chip- wrote. taking delivery, increased to the largest increases since we an indicator of the balance numbers as a harbinger of complicated by a resurgence maker and counts Apple and Lead times for some prod- 17 weeks in April, indicat- started tracking the data.” between supply and demand. hoarding that can lead to the of coronavirus cases in Tai- Qualcomm among its many ucts, such as power manage- ing users are getting more Chip shortages are rip- A lengthening of the gap in- accumulation of too much in- wan, a key location for chip customers. Local manu- ment chips, expanded by as desperate to secure sup- pling through industry after dicates that buyers of semi- ventory and sudden declines manufacturing. The island facturers also produce less much as four weeks in April ply, according to research industry, preventing compa- conductors are more willing in orders. has closed schools, curbed glamorous - but equally criti- from the prior month.

Online new economy blooming in Shanghai Tesla, Chinese rivals seek to AGENCIES Qing during a ceremony on Monday. “We should prior- SHANGHAI is consolidat- itize the development of the build Apple-like brand loyalty ing its position as a hub for online new economy across the online new economy, 12 sectors like industrial a year after the munici- internet, online healthcare, Electric vehicle pal government released a remote education and gro- manufacturers are guideline to bolster the sec- cery e-commerce.” tor’s development. The Shanghai munici- eyeing a lifelong According to a recent pal government released report, the metropolis saw an action plan in April last consumption habit internet-related businesses year to develop the city’s among their fans to be a cornerstone in driv- online new economy, which ing economic growth in the loosely refers to employing past year, and found itself technologies like artificial AGENCIES in a leading position in sev- intelligence, 5G networks eral key realms from digital and big data to transform ELECTRIC-VEHICLE maker payments to online litera- and empower traditional Tesla and its Chinese rivals like ture. industries. Nio and Xpeng are seeking to The White Paper on The month-long festi- emulate Apple’s ability to at- Shanghai’s Online New val, spanning Monday to tract loyal fans to build their Economy 2020 was re- June 17, will showcase a brand power. leased as the city kicked off number of new technolo- If they can pull it off, they an information consump- gies and business models will have created powerful tion-themed campaign as applied to all walks of life. machines that will be able to one pillar of the city’s 5-5 In addition to hundreds sell a host of products along- Shopping Festival to boost of campaigns, a virtual gala side smart cars. Hours after spending. was held on opening night, California-based Elon Musk’s The report found that with influencers promot- Tesla offered its first liquor, despite COVID-19, Shang- ing information-related Teslaquila, at US$250 a bottle hai’s software and infor- products and services such on its website last November, mation services sector saw as cloud computing, SaaS its fans bought all of the avail- added value jump 13.5 per- (software as a service), and able stock. cent year-on-year during online cultural and enter- “EV makers are eyeing a the festival, accounting for tainment offerings. lifelong consumption habit. 11.5 percent of all added The Shanghai branch of They make money not only on output across the entire China Mobile, the country’s the car you buy, but the follow- services sector. top telecom carrier, is dish- up service, the lifestyle they Besides, Shanghai is ing out a number of perks branded and the next and next Visitors check out a China-made Tesla Model Y SUV at the electric vehicle maker’s showroom in Beijing. now home to 21 of the Top such as steep subsidies Tesla or Nio you buy,” said Leo 100 internet-based compa- and preferential after-sales Li, a partner and head of au- chat and share tips about us- A raft of technology behe- can also increase the stickiness nies in China. By the end of services for individual pur- tomotive, manufacturing and ing company products – and moths such as Huawei Tech- among our users,” said Brian October, 84,000 compa- chases of 5G smartphones. industrial products, Greater buy more Nio branded items. Effort nologies Co., Xiaomi and Ten- Gu, president of Xpeng, told nies were engaged in cross- The company on Sunday China at consultancy Oliver “If I am not looking for ● Tesla rivals Nio and cent Holdings have also hopped the Post. border e-commerce, which unveiled the edge-to-edge Wyman. “They are selling an any particular brand, I will not Xpeng are building online onto the smart car bandwagon, Ethan Qin, a designer, greatly facilitated exports 5G network slicing, a tech- identity like an iPhone user or open [Chinese e-commerce communities for users to fuelling competition. bought his Tesla model X four for small and medium- nology that helps business a New Yorker reader.” sites] Taobao or JD.com. I will “Currently Nio is apparent- years ago and is now a collec- sized Chinese companies at and government optimize Nio and Xpeng are busy just stay on Nio’s app since I earn credit for other ly ahead of the game [in build- tor of Tesla’s stuff, from mugs, the height of the pandemic. their respective industrial building online communi- have already opened it to drive branded products. ing a community in China], umbrella to T-shirts. The city also shows re- applications. ties where car users can earn the car,” said the 30-year-old ● Nio has sold more than 3 we will see more EV makers Qin’s favourite Tesla T- silience among niche seg- Liang Changlin, found- points by posting Instagram- financial professional, who putting effort into creating the shirt is white with “Made on ments: it accounts for 60 er and CEO of grocery e- like stories, attend cultural has spent anywhere between a million products on its app, community,” Li added. Earth By Humans” printed on percent of the third-party tailer Dingdong Maicai, events and use credit to buy couple hundred to thousands which has 1.6 million Nio had sold more than the front, which was also the payment market, 70 per- believed that internet tech- products. of yuan a week on Nio’s prod- members 3 million products on its app slogan on the circuit board cent of local living services, nologies stand to transform Wang Liang, who bought ucts, such as sports gear to and had 1.6 million Nio app of the Tesla Roadster that 90 percent of online litera- traditional industries that a Nio ES8 three years ago, re- groceries. “It is cheaper as I members as of December. It was launched into space on ture and 30 percent of on- were previously run by in- cently went to Shanghai Au- can use my points earned from way leader in the premium EV had 168,000 daily active us- SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. line gaming. tuition. toshow as a Nio’s ambassador other activities as credit.” segment, while three home- ers on peak days last year, ac- “It shows my attitude to “Shanghai’s goal of “For instance, big data when his points topped the Swiss bank UBS expects grown start-ups – NIO, Xpeng cording to Nio’s latest annual life, embracing the future and building itself into an in- can predict customer needs rankings among Nio’s users. China to sell 6.6 million elec- and Li Auto – are ramping up report. a sustainable world, ” said the ternational consumption and calculate the best The 30-year-old finance tric cars in 2025, about 25 per new model development to “We will have our own 40-year-old designer. “I am center should also include route in real time to ensure professional earned points by cent of all new cars, rising to build next-generation smart projector, mini-refrigerator … proud to be referred to as a information consump- smooth and in-time door- posting in Nio’s app about his 18 million, or 60 per cent, by cars that can compete against that can fit our to-be-launched “Tesla user” as it can totally tion,” said Vice-Mayor Wu to-door delivery,” he said. daily life. Other Nio users can 2030. the US carmaker’s blockbuster P5 and our car users can buy show my taste on every little “like”, comment on his posts, In China, Tesla is the runa- Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. them through our app and it thing as a designer myself.” SIA posts $4.3 bn loss after ‘toughest year in history’ UK inflation up as retailers

AGENCIES tionalisation and took an im- of its mandatory convertible respond to easing of curbs pairment of $36.9 million on bonds. SINGAPORE Airlines racked base maintenance assets at SIA has raised $15.4 bil- AGENCIES centuated concerns that Brit- up a whopping $4.27 billion subsidiary SIA Engineering. lion in new liquidity since ain and other countries may net loss for the year after the All in, it has been a long April 1 last year. BRITAIN’S inflation rate more face rising inflation as the worst crisis in its history sent annus horribilis for the air- “The extra funds will allow than doubled in April as ener- world emerges from the pan- passenger traffic dropping 98 line, which in the 2018/19 us to better manage capital gy prices soared and clothing demic and economic activity per cent and grounded the year and before Covid-19, expenditure and cash burn, retailers hiked prices as the picks up at a time when cen- bulk of its fleet. posted net profit of $683 which is now below $150 mil- country’s coronavirus lock- tral banks are keeping interest The red ink came on the million on record revenue of lion a month, compared to down was eased, official statis- rates at historic lows and con- back of a $12.16 billion, or $16.3 billion. $350 million six months ago,” tics showed Wednesday. tinue to print new money. 76 per cent, dive in turnover The airline carried 78,000 said an SIA spokesman. The Office for National “We do not believe that to $3.82 billion for the 12 passengers in January com- Indeed, with international Statistics said consumer prices higher inflation will be fully months to March 31 as pas- pared with 3.4 million in Jan- borders still closed – the much rose 1.5% in the year to April transitory as many in markets senger revenue across all its uary last year. vaunted Hong Kong-Singa- from 0.7% in March. The in- contend and as global central three carriers – SIA, SilkAir But things are improv- pore bubble is now delayed crease takes consumer price bankers seem to presume,” and Scoot – dived in what it ing gradually, with passenger amid new surges in cases – inflation up to its highest level said Kallum Pickering, senior called “its toughest year in SIA reported a record net loss of $4.27 billion for the nancial year numbers at 110,000 in April SIA will need all resources it since March last year, when economist at Berenberg Bank. history”. ended March 31. – the highest since Covid-19 can muster to remain compet- the country first started to be “The rebound marks a turning If not for a $758 million, broke last year. itive when normality returns. affected by the coronavirus point for inflation across the or 39 per cent, increase in But it had a $283 million fair to hit home in the first quarter Despite all this, SIA was Meanwhile, the airline is pandemic. advanced world following more cargo revenue to $2.71 billion, value gain on fuel hedges due of 2020. still stable financially. It had preparing for that future. Be- The statistics agency said than a decade of disinflation.” the top line would have been to a rise in fuel prices during SIA group recorded an im- net cashflow of $5.13 billion sides boosting its cash hold- sharp rises in domestic energy The British economy con- even worse. the second half of last year. pairment loss of $1.73 billion as at March 31 and cash and ings, SIA has also starting re- prices and transportation costs tracted by 1.5 per cent in the The group also recog- This is the second straight in the 2021 financial year on cash equivalent of $7.78 bil- structuring its fleet. lay largely behind the inflation first quarter of 2021, a rela- nised mark-to-market losses year of losses for the airline. 45 surplus older generation lion in the kitty. During the year, it inked spike. It said clothing retailers tively modest contraction giv- of $497 million on ineffec- It posted a loss of $212 aircraft which were removed SIA also announced on an agreement to defer some increased prices last month en that the country was in the tive fuel hedges, following a million on revenue of $15.98 from the fleet. Wednesday that it would raise aircraft delivery, saving $4 when they were allowed to reo- midst of a strict lockdown to downward adjustment in ca- billion in the 2019/20 fiscal It also incurred a $44.7 another $6.2 billion via the billion in capital expenditure pen their doors on April 12. combat a second wave of the pacity and less consumption. year, just as Covid-19 started million hit for manpower ra- issue of the second tranche over five years. The latest figures have ac- coronavirus. 10 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Economy & Business Spain, in bid to rally Samsung thrives as Seoul mulls economy, wants tourists within weeks pardon of corporate heir Jay Lee AGENCIES Negotiations between EU governments and EU A senior Spanish govern- lawmakers to introduce Lee has been in prison for nearly four months and few expect him to serve his full prison sentence ment official says he expects COVID-19 certificates British and other vacation- aimed at facilitating travel AGENCIES ers to return to Spain within across the bloc this summer weeks as the country races are ongoing. PRESSURE is mounting on to revive its tourism indus- A deal is needed by end South Korean President Moon try amid the COVID-9 pan- of this month to ensure the Jae-in to pardon Samsung heir demic. system will be up and run- Lee Jae-yong, who is back in Deputy Minister for ning by the end of June, as prison after his conviction in Tourism Fernando Valdés EU officials hope. a massive corruption scan- told The Associated Press Valdés said Spain in- dal, even though business has on Wednesday that falling tends to move quickly, as rarely looked better at South coronavirus incidence rates the government seeks to Korea’s largest company. and accelerating vaccine revive a sector that in pre- Lee, known professionally rollouts in some countries pandemic times accounted in the West as Jay Y. Lee, is just will enable Spain to drop for 12% of annual gross do- the latest South Korean corpo- travel restrictions early next mestic product, but plum- rate boss to run his business month. meted to just under 6% from behind bars, communi- Some people “from amid lockdowns and travel cating decisions through visit- countries outside the Euro- bans last year. ing company executives. But pean Union will be able to “Spain will have the digi- his imprisonment is causing come — for example, from tal certificate ready in June. national handwringing over the United Kingdom, which We hope that (the EU) regu- the future of the technology gi- is in a good epidemiological lation will be approved on ant in the country sometimes situation — without any re- the June 21,” he said. called the “Samsung Republic.” strictions,” Valdés said in an “But from the first week Many people — from business interview. of June, Spain will be able leaders and editorial writers to “And we are going to to validate certificates on its even Buddhist monks — have begin to accept citizens that borders and expedite certifi- urged Moon to release Lee for can present a vaccine certifi- cates to its citizens.” Spain is the sake of an economy heav- cate,” he said. focusing its new promotion- ily dependent on Samsung’s In 2019, Britain sent 18 al campaigns on its key mar- technology exports. They wor- million people to Spain, the kets: the United Kingdom, ry Lee’s imprisonment could most of any country. Spain France, Germany and other compromise Samsung’s speed is one of the world’s top EU countries, which in 2019 and decisiveness, hindering tourism destinations. made up 75% of visitors. its competitiveness in the fast- changing technology business. This le photo shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arriving at the Seoul High Court in Seoul on December 30, 2020. Lee has been in prison for nearly four months and few three months of the year. De- related to the future growth and finished products. But expect him to serve his full mand for its mainstay comput- through his insights and global that’s proving a disadvantage prison sentence through July er memory chips, TVs and oth- ‘Samsung network of business leaders.” in its competition with TSMC 2022. There’s speculation er products has surged as the The company declined to com- as major clients like Apple shift Moon could free him on Bud- pandemic has forced millions Republic’ ment on calls for Lee’s release orders to TSMC to avoid rely- dha’s Birthday, which falls on to stay home. And Samsung’s ● Lee, known profession- and also would not say how of- ing on chips manufactured by a Wednesday. sleek Galaxy smartphones and ally in the West as Jay Y. ten company officials are visit- competitor. There’s also Liberation Day tablets are the biggest compe- Lee, is just the latest ing him. Samsung should be consid- in August, which celebrates tition for Apple’s iPhones and “It’s not difficult for Lee ering bold moves, such as split- Korea’s independence from iPads. South Korean corporate to manage the company from ting its foundry business into a Japanese colonial rule at the Samsung has announced boss to run his business prison through his visitors, separate company and listing end of World War II. That also ambitious plans to expand its from behind bars, and it’s not like he had ever run it on the U.S. stock market to has often brought presidential computer chip manufacturing. communicating decisions Samsung like an omnipotent ease the concern of clients, Lee pardons of high-profile politi- Last week it said it will invest through visiting company king,” said Chung Sun-sup, said. Commuters wearing face masks to protect against the spread cians and businesspeople. 171 trillion won ($151 billion) executives. chief executive of corporate “Lee Jae-yong clearly has a of Coronavirus travel by train in Barcelona, Spain. Moon’s office said he will through 2030 in higher-mar- analysis firm Chaebul.com. role to do,” he said. “Lee could consider both the intensifying gin logic chips and its foundry ● But his imprisonment is Even though Lee is the grand- be meeting (Apple CEO) Tim competition in the semicon- business for contract chipmak- causing national son of Samsung’s founder and Cook asking Apple to invest ductor market and public feel- ing as it expands beyond its handwringing over the is the family’s third generation in the new foundry company.” ings about fairness before de- dominance in memory chips. future of the technology helmsman of the company, Samsung’s daily operations are ciding whether to pardon Lee. The company expects demand giant in the country important decisions are still mainly handled by co-CEOs Toyoda Gosei starts Lee runs Samsung as vice for advanced chips to soar in sometimes called the weighed by the board, he not- who each lead its semicon- chairman. He’s also the coun- coming years, lifted by emerg- ‘Samsung Republic’. ed. ductor, smartphones and con- try’s richest person. He is serv- ing technologies such as fifth “But who knows what Sam- sumer electronics divisions. new plant in Mexico ing a 2 1/2-year sentence for generation (5G) wireless net- sung is missing when Lee isn’t Samsung reaped robust profits bribing then-President Park works, artificial intelligence visiting business sites or trave- during Lee’s earlier stints in AGENCIES tem products are a key area Geun-hye and her close confi- and self-driving cars. by U.S. efforts to reduce Amer- ling abroad for new opportuni- jail, in 2017 and 2018, when that will drive future business dante, who are serving lengthi- Still, analysts say Samsung ican dependence on Asian ties?” he said. it finalized a deal to acquire TOYODA Gosei Co Ltd has es- growth, and the company is er prison terms, to win govern- is increasingly falling behind supply chains and rebuild the Lee’s imprisonment comes American auto electronics firm tablished a new plant in Mexi- focusing effort on increasing ment support for a 2015 merger Taiwan Semiconductor Manu- declining U.S. chip industry at a time when Samsung Harman. That assuaged jitters co, the TAPEX Mexicana, S.A. sales to Japanese automakers between two Samsung affiliates facturing Co. in the race for in response to chip shortages should be pushing for a major about a possible void in deci- de C.V. (TAPEX) Monterrey and other customers. The bags that tightened his control over high-tech chips. The world’s that have hobbled American reshaping of its semiconductor sion making. Plant, and started its produc- are produced mainly in Mexico the corporate empire. biggest contract chipmaker, auto manufacturing in recent business, said Lee Seung-woo, Legal troubles have long tion of the bags that are a main and Vietnam to raise cost com- Samsung’s latest results TSMC controls 55% of the months. a senior analyst at Seoul-based dogged the company. Lee’s late component of automotive air- petitiveness. With the opera- suggest it is doing just fine. global foundry business ver- In a statement to The As- Eugene Investment and Secu- father, its former chairman Lee bags. tion of the new plant in Mexi- The company posted a near sus Samsung’s 17% share, ac- sociated Press, Samsung said rities. Kun-hee, received suspended In Toyoda Gosei’s medi- co, Toyoda Gosei will increase 50% jump in operating profit cording to South Korea’s Trade Lee’s role is to “contribute to Samsung’s rise as a global sentences in 1996 and 2008 for um-term 2025 business plan, annual bag production capac- and its $58 billion revenue Ministry. the company’s overall strategic technology powerhouse drew crimes including bribery and airbags and other safety sys- ity by about 8 million units. was the highest ever in the first Both could be threatened direction, and make decisions from its dual strength in parts tax evasion.

‘JOIE DE VIVRE’ Grand day for the French: Cafe and bistro terraces reopen

AGENCIES ing in Paris where her latest film permit indoor dining. Also on that the word,” he told The Associated “L’Etreinte” (“The Embrace”) was date, France will begin to welcome Press. “There has been a significant IT’S a grand day for the French. showing. The appetite for seeing tourists from non-EU destinations drop in emergency hospital admis- Cafe and restaurant terraces movies was such that many in provided they have some sort of sions for the virus in France. That’s reopened Wednesday after a Paris lined up at breakfast to see coronavirus passport or health good news. The high vaccine rate six-month coronavirus shutdown a movie instead of getting their pass. The final phase of the three- now, we hope, will help us avoid a deprived residents of the essence morning croissant. stage reopening plan is scheduled new wave.” About 40% of France’s of French “joie de vivre” — sipping Moviegoer Michael Souhaite, for June 30, when the curfew will adult population has received at coffee and red wine with friends. who works in the industry, set his end and all other restrictions will least one COVID-19 vaccine dose The French government is alarm clock to make sure he would be lifted, if pandemic conditions — but that rate is still well behind lifting restrictions incrementally to make a 9 a.m. showing of “Drunk.” allow. Britain’s 70% and behind several stave off a resurgence of COVID-19 “I really need to go to the movies,” Macron’s plans to bring France other EU nations. and to give citizens back some of he said. “I go to movies maybe out of the pandemic aren’t just Tourists waited with excite- their world famous lifestyle. As part twice a week, minimum. So for me, about bringing long-closed res- ment and palpable emotion as the of the plan’s first stage, France’s it was really, really, really impor- taurants, boutiques and museums cordon around the world’s most 7 p.m. nightly curfew was pushed tant... Today, it’s almost emotional back to life, but also about prepar- visited museum and home of the back to 9 p.m. and museums, to be here.” France is not the first ing his possible campaign for a “Mona Lisa,” the Louvre, was theaters and cinemas reopened European country to start getting second term. Before next year’s finally lifted. along with outdoor cafe terraces. back a semblance of social and cul- presidential election, Macron is “I am extremely moved. In fact, President Emmanuel Macron tural life. Italy, Belgium, Hungary focusing on saving jobs and reviv- just as I entered the Louvre, really took a seat at a café terrace, chat- and other nations already allow Women enjoy a cafe and an orange juice at a café terrace on Wednesday, in ing the pandemic-battered French just in the gallery, I immediately ting with customers. Prime Min- outdoor dining while drinking and Strasbourg, eastern France. economy. started crying. Real tears of joy,” ister Jean Castex, who planned to eating indoors began Monday in France has recorded more than said Pauline Lacroix, a psycho- attend a cinema later Wednesday, Britain. museums must restrict entries to over the crippling six-month clo- 108,000 deaths due to COVID-19, therapist. projected a mood of measured Eateries in France have been allow space between visitors. Res- sures to imagine instead the future among the highest tolls in Europe. “It means a lot, you know. It optimism. closed since the end of October, taurants can fill only 50% of their of buzzing dining areas and swilled But virus deaths, admissions to means COVID-19 is starting to “Let’s get used to try and live the longest time of any European outdoor seating and have no more bottles of wine. critical care units and the corona- finish, when it’s the opening of all together,” Macron told reporters. country except Poland, where bars than six people at a table. “Has (the government) done virus infection rate are now on the museums and public areas,” said “If we manage to get well organ- and restaurants reopened Satur- Top figures in France’s restau- enough? The answer is ‘No’... (But) decline. another visitor, Walid Hneini. ized collectively and continue vac- day for outdoor service after being rant industry were frustrated over optimism is a decision. We have Dr. Michel Slama, chief of Paris resident Benoit Puez was cinating, have a common discipline closed for seven months. the government’s perceived failure decided to be optimistic. French the intensive care unit at Amiens more understated about the open- as citizens, there’s no reason why Still, the French government to protect their prized gastronomy gastronomy will continue,” he said. Hospital, said his stance, like ing up, giving it a Gallic shrug. we can’t continue moving for- has put limits on how much fun from the worst. Yet many, like Starting on June 9, the French Macron’s, was “optimistic but “Maybe I didn’t really miss it, ward.” Actor Emmanuelle Beart can be had. Movie theaters can Michelin-starred chef Alain Duca- government plans to move the prudent.” “We are attentive about but we are happy it’s reopening. went to a movie theater open- only seat 35% of capacity, while sse, have chosen to hold their ire curfew back to 11 p.m. and to the reopening but worried is not It’s a stage,” he said. Thursday, May 20, 2021 11 Economy & Business Can alternative segments reboot Gulf tourism’s COVID-19 recovery?  Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea tourism project secures green nancing  e Gulf region looks to eco-tourism initiatives such as glamping  e UAE is at the forefront of new approaches to tourism  Digital nomads and ‘long stay travel’ constitute an emerging trend

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

WITH Saudi Arabia’s flagship Red Sea tourism project securing $3.8 billion in green financing, various governments in the Gulf region are looking to new alternative tourism models to drive the coronavirus recoveries in this important sector with an emphasis on ecological op- tions and staycations, Oxford Busi- ness Group (OBG) has said in its latest report. The Gulf region as a whole is increasingly embracing innovative, sustainable approaches to tourism, the report said. “The demand for local, greener and eco-friendly tourism has grown exponentially, in both Europe and the GCC,” Chirag Kanabar, manag- ing director of Pine Wood Build- ing Materials Trading, a company focussed on eco-friendly and sus- tainable modular construction, told OBG. “This is in line with pandemic- related preferences for increased so- cial distance and privacy.” Both in order to reboot its tour- ism industry and as part of its drive to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons, Saudi Arabia is de- veloping several major ecological tourism projects. In April the Red Sea Develop- ment Company – which is owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund – announced that it had raised Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project is being built on a 28,000-sq-km site that contains 90 islands, 50 hotels, a luxury marina and a range of entertainment and leisure facilities. $3.8 billion for the Red Sea Project through the first ever riyal-denomi- and borders closed as a result of to urban centres offering varied cul- May – the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism the GCC, including its deserts,” Lai periods and, while they spend less nated green finance credit facility. COVID-19, last year many people tural attractions. Development Authority (RAKTDA) added. on a daily basis, it is possible to cap- The project is being built on a around the world took their holi- One flagship project is Sharjah’s announced over 20 sustainable Echoing these sentiments, Sanjiv ture substantial value from their 28,000-sq-km site that contains 90 days within their home country. Kingfisher Retreat, a tented hotel tourism development initiatives Malhotra, executive vice-president presence. islands. It is set to welcome its first This year, even though vaccine in the Middle East, which won the across the emirate. of Shaza Hotels, told OBG that, “in While many emerging econo- visitors in 2022, and when it is fully programmes are being rolled out 2020 Luxury Beach Retreat in the As well as glamping sites, these the UAE, every emirate offers a dis- mies are scrambling to position operational in 2030 it will feature 50 and borders gradually reopened Middle East prize at the World Lux- will include eco-hotels and experi- tinct experience. Sharjah has deci- themselves as digital nomad hubs, hotels, a luxury marina and a range of worldwide, international tourism ury Hotel Awards. ential offerings. sively focused on positioning itself Dubai is already an established entertainment and leisure facilities. is expected to recover slowly, and “This is tangible proof that “The GCC region excels at pro- as a capital of heritage and culture, leader in the field. The site’s entire transport net- ‘staycationing’ is leading the way. the emirate’s ecotourism model, viding opportunities for experien- building on an identity tied to educa- As OBG detailed, the Dubai work, including a new airport, will Back in 2018 market research based on environmentally friendly tial travel, given its rich history and tion. It also bets on its natural assets, government has launched a virtual be powered by renewable energy. company Aritzon predicted that structures, is working, so the gov- culture. A possible way forward for from its Gulf coast to Khorfakkan.” working programme designed to at- Four banks in Saudi Arabia – the global glamping industry would ernment is seeking to expand it to the region to fully capitalise on this RAKTDA said that its plan re- tract professionals, entrepreneurs Banque Saudi Fransi, Riyad Bank, reach revenues of approximately other locations within its territory,” might be for individual countries flects Ras Al Khaimah’s new desti- and those working in start-ups. Saudi British Bank and Saudi Na- $1bn by 2023, growing at a com- David Patrick Court, a consult- and emirates to coordinate among nation strategy, which is focused on Given its strong ICT infrastruc- tional Bank – contributed to fund- pound annual growth rate (CAGR) ant at Bushtec Creations, a luxury themselves in an approach similar nature, leisure, adventure, accessi- ture and healthy start-up scene, ing the construction of the project, of 6 percent throughout the period. tent manufacturer for resorts and to that taken by South-east Asian bility and authenticity. Dubai is an attractive option for while HSBC acted as green loan co- However, it would seem that the glamping providers, told OBG. nations, whereby each one can These focuses broadly corre- digital nomads, with officials ordinator. coronavirus pandemic has served Meanwhile, the recently an- specialise in their distinctive value spond to six key trends identified by marketing the emirate as a place The UAE, for example, has seen to accelerate the sector’s growth. nounced Dubai 2040 Urban Mas- proposition,” Tommy Lai, CEO Euronews Travel in a recent report where people can live and work by a significant uptick in ‘glamping’, a According to a report published ter Plan puts a strong emphasis of the Gulf-based GHM Ho t e l s , on the post-2020 future of tourism, the beach. phenomenon whereby tourists can in March this year by Grand View on sustainability. In a significant told OBG. namely: wilderness tourism, eco- In short, from ecotourism and enjoy the experience of camping Research, global glamping will be move, Glampitect – a leading Brit- “For the region, it is important tourism, nomadic tourism, wellness glamping, to staycations and digi- while having access to facilities that worth $5.4 billion by 2028, thanks ish eco-resort design consultancy – to promote the idea that ecotourism tourism, authentic tourism and tal nomads, the Gulf region is at the are more luxurious than those avail- to a CAGR of 14.1 percent between in March announced it was opening is multifaceted, and not only asso- mindful tourism. cutting edge of the latest develop- able on traditional campsites. 2021 and 2028. a site in Dubai. ciated with rainforests and tropical Nomadic tourism, or “long stay ments in tourism, providing a re- Glamping is part of a broader The UAE is particularly well Elsewhere, at the Arabian Trav- settings. The multifaceted potential travel”, corresponds to the sig- covery model which other regions shift towards the so called stayca- placed to leverage this trend, with el Market 2021 – held at the Dubai of ecotourism can be developed on nificant growth in digital nomads. should be able to build on going tion model. With flights grounded its range of naural landscapes close World Trade Centre from 16-19 the basis of the unique habitats in Such travellers relocate for longer forwards. IATA hails countries for opening borders to vaccinated tourists

for the decision-making needed to The decisions of increasing More than 20 countries have wholly or partially achieve that. There is increasing numbers of countries to accept vac- lifted restrictions for vaccinated travellers: IATA scientific evidence that vaccination cinated travellers without quaran- is not only protecting people but tine measures adds pressure for a AGENCIES also dramatically reducing the risk digital solution to manage vaccine GENEVA quarantine requirements for travel- of COVID-19 transmission. This is certificates and COVID-19 test re- lers with a negative COVID-19 test bringing us closer to a world where sults. Paper-based processes could THE International Air Transport result (except from certain high- vaccination and testing enables the lead to extremely long processing Association (IATA) has applauded risk countries). freedom to travel without quaran- times at check-in and border con- the growing number of countries The German government deci- tine. Germany and at least 20 other trol. They also open the door to making data and evidence-driven sion followed a review of scientific countries have already taken an im- fraud. Digital vaccine/test certifi- decisions to open their borders to advice from the world-renowned portant step forward in re-opening cates, coupled with passenger apps vaccinated travellers. The latest Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which their borders to vaccinated travel- such as the IATA Travel Pass, will data collected by IATA, including concluded that vaccinated travel- lers. These are the best practice be needed to manage travel health its Timatic service, shows that more lers are no longer significant in the examples for others to quickly fol- credentials efficiently and securely than 20 countries have wholly or spread of the disease and do not low,” IATA Director General Willie in the restart. partially lifted restrictions for vac- pose a major risk to the German Walsh said. Recent IATA polling shows cinated travellers. population. Specifically, it stated According to the US CDC, al- strong support for a digital solution IATA supports unrestricted ac- that vaccination reduces risk of leviations from COVID-19 restric- as 89 percent supported globally cess to travel for vaccinated trav- COVID-19 transmission to levels tions are a powerful motivator for standardized COVID-19 test or vac- ellers. In cases where vaccination below the risk from a false negative vaccination, particularly in com- cination certifications and 84 per- is not possible, access to quaran- rapid antigen test. IATA polling indicates that 81 percent of international travellers are willing to munities where vaccine hesitancy is cent want an app to manage their tine-free travel should be provided The implementation of this get vaccinated in order to be able to travel. prevalent. This is an additional and travel health credentials. through COVID-19 testing strate- policy aligns Germany with recom- important benefit of restriction- “A gap is opening up between gies based on widely available, free- mendations from both the Euro- the likelihood of an infected vacci- 90 percent effective vaccine, pre- free travel for those vaccinated. countries responding to scien- of-charge tests. pean Commission and the Euro- nated person transmitting the dis- travel testing, post-travel testing, IATA polling indicates that 81 tific evidence, and those exhibit- Germany is among the latest pean Parliament, based on similar ease is currently assessed to be very and 7-day self-quarantine provide percent of international travellers ing a lack of preparation or exces- countries to make quarantine al- scientific advice from the European low to low.” minimal additional benefit.” are willing to get vaccinated in or- sive caution in reopening borders. leviations for vaccinated travellers. Centre for Disease Control and Similar conclusions are being “A safe opening of borders to der to be able to travel. Moreover, Countries that seize the opportu- Vaccinated travellers are no longer Prevention (ECDC). In its interim reached on the other side of the international travel is the goal. And 74 percent of people in the same nity offered by the increasing num- subject to quarantine measures (ex- guidance on the benefits of full vac- Atlantic. In the US, the Centers for scientific evidence and data such poll agreed that those vaccinated bers of vaccinated travelers can cept from certain high-risk coun- cination, the ECDC said that “based Disease Control and Prevention as that presented by RKI, ECDC should be able to travel by air with- protect their populations and reap tries). Germany has also removed on the limited evidence available, (US CDC) has noted that “with a and USC CDC should be the basis out restrictions. an economic reward,” said Walsh. 12 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Economy & Business WHAT MUSK GIVETH, HE ALSO TAKETH AWAY Target’s profit surges as Americans cast restrictions aside

AGENCIES several years to redo its stores, add new ones and speed up TARGET’S sales and profits delivery. Capital investment surged in the first quarter as is up 50% from the previous its customers, emerging from year. the pandemic, returned in Target has expanded on- big numbers to its stores for line delivery and made it eas- dresses, cosmetics and lug- ier for customers to get what gage. they want during the pandem- Sales at stores opened at ic. Items picked up at the store least a year jumped 18% in the after being purchased online three-month period that end- and Shipt, a member-based ed May 1. That follows a 6.9% shipping program, increased increase in the previous quar- by more than 90%, according ter. Online sales soared 50% to the company. Store loca- after rocketing 118% higher in tions remain central to com- the final quarter of 2020. pany operations however, with The Minneapolis chain more than 95% of overall sales also offered an upbeat sales being fulfilled there whether outlook Wednesday and the purchase was made online shares jumped to an all-time high. “With vaccinations roll- ing out across the country and consumers increasingly com- With vaccinations rolling out fortable venturing out, we’ve across the country and seen an enthusiastic return to consumers increasingly in-store shopping,” CEO Brian comfortable venturing out, Cornell told industry analysts Wednesday. That’s a big con- we’ve seen an enthusiastic trast to a year ago when shut- return to in-store shopping. Bitcoin has erased all the gains it notched following Tesla’s Feb 8 announcement that it would use corporate cash to buy the digital asset and accept it as a form of payment for its vehicles. in shoppers relied heavily on Target CEO Brian Cornell delivery, he said. Almost all retailers report- ing quarterly earns this week or at Target registers. have put up enormous sales Target gained more than a figures, evidence of a migra- billion dollars in market share Bitcoin falls further as China tion from time spent shuttered from rivals in the latest quar- indoors to something closer ter, on top of a billion dollars normalcy. in the first quarter of 2020, it Walmart, the nation’s larg- said Wednesday. est retailer, boosted its profit First-quarter net income cracks down on cryptocoins expectations for the year Tues- increased more than sixfold to day, while Macy’s surprised $2.1 billion, or $4.17 per share. almost everyone by swinging Removing one-time costs and nance Association of China, cause of environmental con- back into the profit column. It benefits, per share earnings Beijing banned banks and payment the China Banking Association cerns. also boosted its 2021 guidance. were $3.69, easily surpassing and the Payment and Clearing US bank to start His fears centre on Bitcoin TJX on Wednesday said that it Wall Street expectations of rms from providing services relat- Association of China issued a mining - the energy-intensive had reversed losses from last $2.21, according to FactSet. warning on social media. Bitcoin trading process through which the year and sales are booming. The company last year ed to crypto-currency transactions They said consumers Another major US bank is digital currency is generated, Home Depot and Lowe’s, during the same period earned would have no protection if set to start trading in Bit- using high-powered comput- which have not suffered like $284 million, or 56 cents per they were to incur any losses coin, despite recent steep ers. It often relies on electric- department stores during the share, when shoppers were AGENCIES Meanwhile, other digital from crypto-currency invest- falls in the cryptocurrency, ity generated with fossil fuels, pandemic thanks to a boom- buying more low-margin coins such as Ethereum and ment transactions. Wells Fargo said particularly coal. ing housing market, topped goods like groceries and fewer THE price of Bitcoin fell be- Dogecoin lost as much as 22% They added that recent on Wednesday it would “We are concerned about projections from Wall Street goods that are more profitable low $34,000 (£24,030) for and 23% respectively. wild swings in crypto-currency introduce professionally- rapidly increasing use of fos- analysts who had already been for Target, such as clothing. the first time in three months At the same time, Tesla prices “seriously violate peo- managed funds for its more sil fuels for Bitcoin mining and lifting their sales and profit ex- Sales jumped 23.3% to on Wednesday, after China shares fell more than 3% on ple’s asset safety” and are dis- wealthy clients. transactions, especially coal, pectations. $23.88 billion, also breezing imposed fresh curbs on crypto- Wall Street, possibly because rupting the “normal economic In a report, its invest- which has the worst emissions Clothing was the star per- past analyst projections of currencies. of the electric carmaker’s ex- and financial order”. ment institute said the of any fuel,” Musk wrote. former at Target during the $21.75 billion. Beijing banned banks and posure to Bitcoin. Neil Wilson of Markets. risks associated with digital “Cryptocurrency is a good quarter. Clothing sales spiked Target has been able to payment firms from providing The firm, owned by Elon com said: “China has for some currencies meant it would idea... but this cannot come at more than 60%. manage inflationary pres- services related to crypto-cur- Musk, still holds around time been putting pressure favour “quali ed investors”. great cost to the environment.” However, sales of home sures, Cornell told reporters rency transactions. $1.5bn worth of the crypto- on the crypto space, but this It came as the price of He said the electric car- goods rose in the mid-30% during a media call Tuesday. It also warned investors currency. marks an intensification - oth- Bitcoin fell 22% after China maker did not intend to sell range and there is continued Target, which has been in- against speculative crypto Crypto-currency trading er countries might follow now said it was imposing fresh any of its Bitcoin and intended strength in sales of health vesting heavily in its workers, trading on Tuesday. has been illegal in China since as central banks make strides curbs on the cryptocurrency. to reinstate crypto-currency products as well with some has not faced the same la- It follows falls in Bitcoin of 2019 in order to curb money- towards their own digital cur- transactions once mining habits built during the pan- bor shortages being reported more than 10% last week after laundering. But people are still rencies. shifted to using more sustain- demic taking hold for the widely by many service sector Tesla said it would no longer able to trade in currencies such “Until now, Western regu- edly that the electric carmaker able energy sources. longer term, said Target’s companies, he noted. accept the currency. as Bitcoin online, which has lators have been pretty relaxed would allow customers to buy Although the digital cur- Chief Growth Officer Christina Target expects compara- On Wednesday afternoon, concerned Beijing. about Bitcoin, but this might cars using Bitcoin. rency cannot be traded in Chi- Hennington. ble sales growth to be up in the crypto-currency recovered On Tuesday, three state- change soon.” But last week, he did a U- na, more than 75% of Bitcoin Target said in March that the mid to high single digits in some ground, although it was backed organisations, includ- In March, Tesla boss Elon turn and suspended vehicle mining around the world is it will plow $4 billion into its the current quarter compared still down -10.4% at $38,131. ing the National Internet Fi- Musk announced unexpect- purchases using Bitcoin be- done in China. business annually for the next with last year.

Colonial Pipeline boss con rms ransom payment 2/3rd of world’s self-made AGENCIES supply of diesel, petrol and jet in case they invite further attack would ultimately cost fuel. hacks in the future. the company tens of millions female billionaires in China COLONIAL Pipeline has con- Chief executive Blount told Colonial Pipeline took it- of dollars. AGENCIES Among the 130 self-made firmed it paid a $4.4m (£3.1m) the newspaper that the firm self offline on Friday (May 7) He also regrets that the female billionaires, 43 are ransom to the cyber-criminal decided to pay the ransom after the cyber-attack. I know that’s a highly company has lost some degree THE number of self-made fe- newcomers, with 33 of them gang responsible for taking the after discussions with experts In return for the Bitcoin controversial decision. I didn’t of anonymity, having led the male billionaires surged 30 from China. Five are from the US fuel pipeline offline. who had previously dealt with payment, the company re- make [that decision] lightly. I firm since 2017. percent from last year in the post-1980s generation, with Its boss told the Wall DarkSide, the criminal organi- ceived a decryption tool so it will admit that I wasn’t “We were perfectly happy world to hit a record 130, with three from China and two Street Journal he authorised sation behind the attack. could unlock the systems com- having no one know who Co- the figure increasing fivefold from the US. the payment on 7 May because “I didn’t make [that deci- promised by the hackers - al- comfortable seeing money go lonial Pipeline was, and unfor- during the past 10 years, said Beijing remains the capital of uncertainty over how long sion] lightly. I will admit that though that was not enough to out the door to people like tunately that’s not the case any Hurun Research Institute on of the most successful women the shutdown would continue. I wasn’t comfortable seeing restart systems immediately, this. But it was the right thing more,” he said. “Everybody in Wednesday. in business in the world, with “I know that’s a highly con- money go out the door to peo- according to the newspaper. to do for the country. the world knows.” China has two-thirds of the city home to 16 -- four troversial decision,” Joseph ple like this. Operations resumed on the At the time of the hack, the the world’s self-made female more than last year -- followed Blount said in his first inter- “But it was the right thing pipeline last week, although Colonial Pipeline CEO Joseph DarkSide criminal gang ac- billionaires, with a total of 85; by Shanghai with 11, and Shen- view since the hack. to do for the country,” he add- petrol shortages seen across Blount knowledged the incident in a the USA ranked second with zhen and Hangzhou with each The 5,500-mile (8,900- ed. states such as North Carolina public statement. 25, and the UK third with six. respectively boasting of 10. km) pipeline carries 2.5 mil- The US government has and Georgia have persisted, “Our goal is to make mon- Moreover, nine Chinese wom- The Hurun report pointed lion barrels a day. recommended in the past that according to data tracking take months before some oth- ey and not creating problems en landed in the Hurun Top 10 out 45 percent of the female en- According to the firm, it companies do not pay crimi- firm Gas Buddy. er business systems are recov- for society,” DarkSide wrote Richest Self-Made Women in trepreneurs on the list are en- carries 45% of the East Coast’s nals over ransomware attacks, Blount added that it would ered, and estimated that the on its website. the World 2021. gaged in emerging industries. Goop’s UK operations threatened with shutdown for not ling accounts

AGENCIES she moved the headquarters Francisco, Montecito, Santa April for the 2020 accounts ed controversy over its well- of the brand to the US. Monica and Hawaii. filing. ness tips and therapies that GWYNETH Paltrow’s con- This is the second time At the time, Goop’s UK The dissolution of Goop some critics call “pseudosci- troversial health and well- Paltrow’s firm has received directors stepped down and Inc Ltd has once again been ence”. ness company Goop has been such a notice, after failing to Paltrow was appointed direc- temporarily put on hold, giv- In January, the NHS warned it could be shut down file its annual accounts. tor. ing the firm more time to sub- criticised Paltrow’s six-part in the UK after failing to file Goop Inc Ltd was first The company became dor- mit its accounts. Netflix series The Goop Lab, its accounts. incorporated at Companies mant in December 2017. Two Should Goop fail to do which saw doctors, research- Goop was originally set House, the UK’s official reg- years later, Companies House so, the firm will be struck off ers and alternative health up in Britain when Ms Pal- ister of companies, in August issued its first notice warning the register and all property practitioners investigate trow lived there with her ex- 2011. of a compulsory strike-off. and rights will belong to the practices ranging from “en- husband, Coldplay’s Chris Following her divorce in She objected and submit- Crown. ergy exorcisms” to the use Martin. 2014, Paltrow moved the firm ted abridged accounts for The lifestyle and beauty of psychedelic drugs in the But when they “con- to the US and launched six 2019 last July, but a first no- brand, reportedly worth treatment of mental-health Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop is reportedly worth $250 million. sciously uncoupled” in 2014, retail stores in New York, San tice was once again issued in £190m ($250m), has attract- disorders. QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune McIlroy feeling confident as QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Spieth seeks milestone at PGA Championship PAGE 15

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021 Back to full tness, Al Tamimi is set for the big action once again Qatar’s squash ace meets Egyptian El Hammamy in the opening round of El Gouna International Open today VINAY NAYUDU DOHA

QATAR’S Abdulla Al Tamimi will be back on the big stage on Thursday when he meets Egyptian Karim El Ham- mamy in the opening round of the El Gouna Internation- Pulled back by “Compartment Syndrome” disease, a surgery and recently a groin injury, Abdulla Al Tamimi, Abdulla Al Tamimi with his mentor and former coach Geoff Hunt during the 2019-20 PSA Men’s World al Open (a Platinum Event one of the star Qatar Red Bull athletes will return to top competitive squash action on Thursday. Championship in Doha. and PSA World Tour Stop in Egypt) on Thursday. with the Qatar Tribune a few national Tennis & Squash focused on it and not deviate Salem who progresses will It will be a return and re- days ago prior to his departure. World class squash descends on Egypt this week Complex. He, however, was from it no matter what life face Gawad in a possible demption of sorts for Tamimi Now also married and when the El Gouna International Squash Open stopped by Peru’s World No.7 throws at you,” he stressed. third round clash. who will be back to competi- much at ease both mentally Diego Elias in the next round. “Now there was this groin “First up I will play the tive action after almost six and physically, Tamimi is just takes place from Thursday (May 20) to Friday (May More than the loss on injury but I stuck to my re- winner from Abdulla Mohd Al months since he last played waiting to play. 28) being held for the first time since two years, court, it was the groin injury hab plan, I kept talking to my Tamimi and Karim El Ham- the Qatar Classic in Doha. “I also had some tourna- after the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic put paid to that Tamimi picked up, trou- mentor Geoff Hunt (Aussie mamy and I think that will The 26-year-old Tamimi ments in Kuwait lined up but the scheduled 2020 edition. Neither of the 2019 bled him more. The recov- legend) and my current coach be a tough one no matter who has been eager to return to the because of the lockdowns I ery again took months and Rod Martin. They have always comes through there. I played glass courts and is aiming to couldn’t make the trip. But winners, in Raneem El Welily or Ali Farag, are Tamimi was back to exercises been positive and that has El Hammamy once before in make up for much of the lost it is El Gouna International however not there to defend their titles. and training in due course but helped me immensely in my Hong Kong around four years ground after several injuries Open now before I can think soon COVID-19 lockdown re- approach towards my sport back in the first round and I and the suspension of sport of playing in the British PSA Tamimi was hit by “Compart- when Tamimi was chasing a stricted practising on courts. and life,” added Tamimi. won in four and I felt I played due to the coronavirus pan- World Tour Stop in the UK in ment Syndrome” a condition top-20 spot. It kept him out Spirited and forward-look- Qatar’s No. 1 and now No. really well and was very fo- demic in the past few months June, and later at the “Windy which affects blood flow in the for a good six months. Post ing, Tamimi kept his faith and 34 in global ranking, Tamimi cussed,” Salem was quoted as laid him low. Championships” – the Squash muscles. “Compartment Syn- surgery and rehab, Tamimi kept waiting for the right time can be expected come out all saying. “Abdulla, I have never The Aspire Academy ath- World Championship in Chi- drome occurs when the pres- hit back big beating Mohamed and opportunity. “There was guns blazing against Karim played in the seniors and al- lete had hit a top ranking of 23 cago, USA, in July,” he said. sure within a compartment in- Abouelghar at the Windy City no point in getting frustrated El Hammamy. A win in the though I played him in the in the world in 2019 before a The planned road ahead is creases and restricts the blood Open before COVID-19 struck as I have said earlier too. I was opening would bring Tamimi juniors that was a very long surgery, and recently a groin also a revelation of Tamimi’s flow to the area and can poten- and the tour was suspended. 23 in the world and then had up against Zahed Salem, who time ago, so with both these injury in 2020, made him fight hard work, dedication and will- tially damage both the muscles The Qatar PSA Classic in to go through surgery, was out had despatched an injury- guys they will have come a long to be back to full fitness. ingness to stay at the top of his and nerves and it took real mo- Doha in November 2020 pro- for five months and ended up hit World No.1 Karim Abdel long way since we played last.” “It’s been a tough test of game. It hasn’t been easy at all mentum away from my career vided him another opportu- down at 50. What that taught Gawad at the CIB Black Ball Tamimi will be keen to en- sorts and now the pandemic especially in these last two years. in 2019,” Tamimi reflected. nity and Tamimi began with me is that it is very easy to be Squash Open in March. dorse that as much as check- has pushed us all mentally,” Just when he was climb- The correction required a win over England’s Patrick negative, but what you have Interestingly any of ing up on his own form and Tamimi said in an interaction ing on the ladder of success, surgery to both his legs just Rooney at the Khalifa Inter- to do is have a goal and stay Tamimi, El Hammamy and fitness come Thursday.

Mbappe IOC ready to dispatch medical wants to staff to Tokyo Olympics: Bach represent DPA France TOKYO INTERNATIONAL Olympic at Tokyo Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said on Wednes- day his organisation is ready 2020 to send medical staff to the To- kyo Olympics to support coro- DPA navirus counter-measures. BERLIN The IOC and local organ- izers are pressing ahead with PARIS Saint-Germain star the Games despite rock-solid Kylian Mbappe said he is opposition in Japan amid the dreaming of playing for pandemic. France at the upcoming Bach told a video confer- Olympic Games in Tokyo. ence on the first day of a three- Mbappe and world cham- day coordination commission pions France are preparing meeting that the IOC plans for the rescheduled Euro to dispatch additional medi- 2020, which gets underway cal personnel “to support the next month. medical operations and the As Didier Deschamps’ Les strict implementation of Cov- Bleus eye European glory, id-19 countermeasures in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (on screen) delivers an opening speech at Mbappe also wants to repre- Olympic Village and Olympic a meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo on Wednesday. (AFP) sent his country at the Tokyo venues.” The meeting is the Games, starting in July. last between the IOC com- Japanese people complain number of spectators. however was cancelled due to “For us, having recogni- mission and Japanese organ- about the extremely slow pace Tokyo has been under an- surging infections there. tion from the whole country is izers before the opening of the of the vaccination in Japan. other Covid-19 state of emer- Bach said more than 80 very important,” the 22-year- Games on July 23. Only 1.6 per cent of the coun- gency since late April as the per cent of the residents in the old Mbappe told TF1. The IOC chief’s words try’s 125 million population Japanese capital has been Olympic Village will be vaccinat- “Everyone knows that my come at a time when doctors has been fully vaccinated since struggling to curb a fourth ed by the time of the Olympics. dream has always been to take Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe controls the and nurses in Japan have ex- the beginning of the vaccina- wave of infections. “The most important prin- part at the Olympic Games ball during a training session at the Stade de France stadium, in pressed strong opposition tion effort in mid-February. The measure has also been ciple is very clear: The Olympic and I hope I will be able to Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on Tuesday. (AFP) to the Games with hospitals A survey conducted by Ky- imposed on eight other prefec- Village is a safe place and Olym- realise one of my lifelong overwhelmed by rising num- odo News showed on Sunday tures and it is scheduled to end pic and Paralympic Games To- dreams.” France have been co on July 22. We always want to win. If we bers of coronavirus infections. showed that 59.7 per cent of on May 31. Last week, Japan kyo 2020 will be organized in a drawn alongside hosts Japan, On his short-term goals, do win it, it will bring a great Governors of Ibaraki and those polled agreed to cancel expanded the state of emer- safe way,” Bach said. Mexico and South Africa in Mbappe said: “The objective is deal of joy. Chiba prefectures neighbour- the Olympics, while 25.2 per gency to the nine prefectures, “We must concentrate on Group A at the Olympics. always the same - to try to win “We are going to prepare ing Tokyo also said they have cent said the Games should be including Hiroshima, where the delivery of these safe and Led by Under-21 boss Syl- the Euros to bring happiness well for the tournament with no plan to provide hospital held without an audience and Bach was scheduled to partici- secure Olympic Games be- vain Ripoll at the Olympics, to the French people. the hope of going far. We will beds to Olympians infected 12.6 per cent said the event pate in a torch relay event on cause the opening ceremony France are scheduled to open “We have a team which is be trying to bring the trophy with the coronavirus. should go ahead with a limited Monday. His trip to the region is only 65 days away,” he said. their campaign against Mexi- capable of competing for it. back to France.” 14 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Sports Mueller and Hummels recalled to Germany’s Euro 2020 squad DPA coy on his goals for the June the centre of the park along- BERLIN 11-July 11 event. He said it side Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos was worth striving for the final - who is currently battling a WORLD CUP winners Thomas even though “at the moment” coronavirus infection. Mueller and Mats Hummels Germany do not belong to the Freiburg’s Christian Guent- will return to the German na- top favourites. er is part of the defensive group Germany’s mid elder Sami Khedira (L) vies for the ball with Mexico’s tional team following an ab- “At a tournament it is im- despite having only earned one mid elder Hector Herrera during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F sence of more than two years portant that you go into every senior cap back in 2014 while match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. (AFP) after coach Joachim Loew con- game concentrating as if it Robin Gosens of Atalanta and firmed on Wednesday they will was a knock-out game,” Loew Robin Koch of Leeds United are be in the squad for Euro 2020. said. Firstly the group stage also included. World Cup champion Bayern Munich attacker must be survived and then “I cannot put it into words Mueller, 31, earned the last “everything is possibly for our myself,” Guenter said of his of his 100 caps in November team.” The 26-man squad - in- selection. “It was a great Khedira to retire 2018 and was dropped from creased by three amid the pan- pleasure.” Hummels, along- the squad by Loew, along with demic - named by Loew could side Antonio Ruediger (Chel- defenders Mats Hummels yet be changed in the event of sea), Mathias Ginter (Borus- after the season and Jerome Boateng, a few injury or illness and must be sia Moenchengladbach) and months later. confirmed to European ruling Niklas Suele (Bayern) offers DPA in 2007 with VfB Stuttgart. But Loew has struggled to body UEFA on June 1. more experience in this area. BERLIN Since January, Khedira refresh the squad which has Kevin Volland of Monaco Barcelona goalkeeper has been playing for Hertha failed to find top form since is a surprise inclusion in the Marc-Andre ter Stegen misses THE 2014 World Cup champi- and he will play his final pro- the disastrous exit from the attack alongside Chelsea’s out with injury leaving Arse- on Sami Khedira will retire af- fessional game at Hoffenheim. 2018 World Cup in the group Timo Werner while 18-year- nal’s Bernd Leno and Eintra- ter the last Bundesliga match- His career has suffered re- stage as reigning champions. old Bayern winger Jamal Mu- cht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp day on Saturday, the Hertha peated setbacks during the past And with Loew himself In this le photo taken on July 04, 2014 Germany’s defender Mats siala goes to his first major as deputies to captain Manuel Berlin player said. few years due to several inju- leaving his post after the Euros Hummels (R) celebrates with Germany’s forward Thomas Mueller after tournament. Neuer. “The moment I realized I ries. He was almost unable to which were delayed a year by the scoring a goal during the quarter- nal against France at the Maracana Volland, 28, earned his Paris Saint-Germain mid- would not be able to play any travel to the World Cup in Bra- coronavirus pandemic, Muel- Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (AFP) 10th and so far last cap in 2016 fielder Julian Draxler is among more was by far the most bit- zil due to an injury, as he had ler’s contribution to Bayern win- but an impressive season with those who didn’t make the fi- ter moment of my career,” the torn a cruciate ligament seven ning the 2020 treble and this a lot.” The 70-times capped trio but admitted it had not Monaco in Ligue 1 earned his nal cut, as is Bayer Leverkusen midfielder told a news confer- months before the tournament. season’s Bundesliga brought Hummels, 32, has also played worked out as hoped. sudden recall. prodigy Florian Wirtz. ence on Wednesday. Hertha coach Pal Dardai him back into contention. his way back into favour with “We had to think every- “We have seen what he has Germany play all three “The pain is very, very big. praised the player, even though “I’m happy to be part of the cup winners Borussia Dort- thing over again,” Loew told a done in France this season,” group games in Munich, It’s a pretty tough step, but the “sportingly, he couldn’t help national team again,” Mueller mund but Boateng, who will news conference. said Loew. against World Cup winners right one, 15 years of profes- much.” “But when it comes to told the Bayern homepage. leave Bayern at the season’s “A successful tournament “With his strong presence France on June 15, title hold- sional football have left their sorting out many things in the “The sporting challenge of end, has not been recalled. is above everything. and sense for goal he can defi- ers Portugal on June 19 and mark,” he added. dressing room, not only his representing the German col- “I am really happy and The pair have “played a nitely enrich us.” The German Hungary on June 23. Khedira has played 77 name was world class. It was a ours again with the boys at a proud to play for Germany very strong season,” Loew said champions contribute eight Prior to the Euros there are games for the German national great help,” Dardai said. tournament, and the chance again,” tweeted Hummels. and would offer leadership to players to the squad with mid- also tune-up games with Den- team and was part of the squad Khedira said he was to claim the EURO title that Loew said he did not re- the team. fielders Leon Goretzka and mark on June 2 and Latvia five who secured the World Cup ti- “very proud” of what Hertha comes with it, appeals to me gret his decision to exclude the Loew, however, remained Joshua Kimmich likely key in days later. tle in Brazil in 2014. He scored achieved as a team. a goal during the iconic 7-1 The club escaped relega- semi-final against the hosts. tion last weekend after a draw At club level, the midfield- with Cologne. er won the Champions League The player left his future with Real Madrid in 2014 and open saying “I won’t have a FA and UEFA hoping to break attendance the Italian Serie A title five real home. times with Juventus. He also Will do a lot of things I records at women’s Euro 2022 tournament clinched the Bundesliga title couldn’t do as an active athlete.” DPA tournament centred around LONDON participation. It is hoped new engage- Rudiger inspires Chelsea to THE Football Association and ment measures delivered UEFA are targeting a record- by the host cities will attract crucial win over Leicester breaking Women’s Euro in 120,000 more girls to play England in the summer of football at schools or in clubs DPA the Foxes into third place in the 2022. by 2024, and an additional LONDON Premier League table. Tickets for the tourna- 20,000 more women playing Beat Aston Villa on the ment, which had been due to for fun and friendship by the ANTONIO Rudiger’s first goal road on Sunday and the Blues take place this summer but same year. in 15 months and a Jorginho will book the all-important was rescheduled due to the “This tournament really penalty inched Chelsea towards Champions League qualifica- coronavirus pandemic, will shines a light on the women’s a top-four Premier League fin- tion for next season. range in price from 5 to 50 game and gives us an oppor- ish with a 2-1 win over Leicester. Thomas Tuchel branded the pounds (7.08 to 70.75 dollars). tunity to put the shop window Germany defender Rudiger resurgent Rudiger an “aggres- Tickets for England match- out there in front of people,” bundled home Ben Chilwell’s sive leader” on Monday, and the es and the knockout stages FA’s director of women’s foot- deflected corner with his thigh very next day the 28-year-old will start from 7.50 pounds ball Baroness Sue Campbell as Chelsea shook off Timo encapsulated that praise with for concessions, the FA’s head said. Werner’s two disallowed goals another pivotal performance. of tournament delivery Chris “And it’s about making at Stamford Bridge. Rudiger found the net for Bryant said. The target of selling more sale from July 13 to August 10 sure that the store is full of the Jorginho calmly slotted a the first time since his brace The FA and UEFA hope to than 700,000 tickets would The Football Association this year. products that people want.” spot-kick to seal the Blues’ vi- snagged a 2-2 draw at Leices- break the Women’s Euro at- mean almost trebling the wants to use the The public ballot opens af- There are 10 venues across tal victory, with the only worry ter on February 21, 2020. tendance record in the open- 240,045 sold for Euro 2017 in Women’s Euro 2022 ter the finals draw on October nine host cities, which will be being an early enforced exit for The powerful German has ing game at Old Trafford and Holland. Over half a million of 28 before general sale begins paired regionally. key midfielder N’Golo Kante. been playing in a protective the record for any women’s the tickets would be available for in England as an in mid-February next year. Barring the opening Kelechi Iheanacho side- mask after breaking his jaw, football match played in Eu- 25 pounds or less, the FA said. opportunity to grow The tournament organis- match at Old Trafford, Group footed in for Leicester to set amid a hugely impressive sec- rope in the final at Wembley. “We are aware of the huge the women’s game in ers are working towards ven- A will be split between South- up a nervy finish, but Ayoze ond half of the campaign. And The respective records opportunity we have to grow ues being at full capacity but ampton and Brighton, Group Perez missed a golden chance this performance might just be stand at 41,302 - the 2013 the women’s game here and the country and have promised a “robust” re- B is shared between London as Chelsea held out for a result enough to seal the Blues that Euro final between Germany across Europe,” Bryant said. across Europe. fund policy in the event that and Milton Keynes, Group C of major significance. Champions League place for and Norway in Sweden - and “To have that legacy, we coronavirus affects the num- will be shared between Shef- The Blues avenged Satur- next term, whatever happens in 80,203 for the London 2012 must ensure we first deliver a to provide those vital founda- bers allowed to attend. field and Leigh and Group day’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by the showpiece finale of this sea- Olympics final between the record-breaking tournament tions.” Fans will first be able to The FA has also set out D between Rotherham and Leicester with a pulsating show- son’s competition against Man- United States and Japan. that captures the imagination, register their interest in a pre- a legacy programme for the Manchester. ing in west London, to leapfrog chester City in Porto on May 29. Levy admits to fans that Spurs lost sight of ‘some key priorities’

DPA Mourinho’s replacement and its fans.” Matters on the pitch hopes with the squad we had LONDON a battle to keep star striker have not helped as Spurs will assembled. Harry Kane, defended his in- endure another trophyless Unfortunately, despite TOTTENHAM chairman Dan- tentions but conceded the club season. sitting top of the Premier iel Levy admitted he lost sight veered off track. It looked optimistic as League in December, we of the “club’s DNA” but says he “As a club we have been As a club we have been under Mourinho they were at have not been able to sustain has its best interests at heart so focused on delivering the so focused on delivering the top of the Premier League this position. amid fierce recent criticism of stadium and dealing with the the stadium and dealing in December and made it “We reached the Carabao his tenure. impact of the pandemic, that I with the impact of the through to the League Cup fi- Cup Final, however we had a Spurs supporters have feel we lost sight of some key nal. disappointing exit from the protested against Levy and priorities and what’s truly in pandemic, that I feel we But things turned sour, Europa League and now find the club’s ENIC owners for our DNA,” he said in his pro- lost sight of some key the style of football was tur- ourselves fighting to qualify their part in the failed Euro- gramme notes for the Villa priorities and what’s gid, Mourinho was sacked and for Europe, having competed pean Super League as well as game, where 10,000 fans will truly in our DNA. now the best Spurs can hope in European competition for a perceived lack of investment be back in the stadium. for is a Europa League spot - 14 of the last 15 seasons. in the squad over recent years. “Our work in the com- Tottenham chairman something which will not ap- “We shall focus on the His decision to originally munity and with the NHS is Daniel Levy pease wantaway Kane. recruitment of a new head furlough staff at the start of an example of when we get it Levy says he will hire a coach. We are acutely aware the pandemic, one he subse- right, but we don’t get every- new manager who will play at- of the need to select someone quently reversed, and charging thing right. It has never been tacking football. whose values reflect those of fans 60 pounds (85 dollars) to because we don’t care about “This season, for many our great club and return to watch Spurs’ final home game or respect you, our fans - Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld reacts at the nal whistle during the English reasons, we have not met our playing football with the style of the season against Aston nothing could be further from Premier League match against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Wednesday. (AFP) raised expectations on the for which we are known - free- Villa, when some clubs are the truth. pitch,” he added. “Since we flowing, attacking and enter- charging half that price for “The new stadium is piv- “We are absolutely clear seasons and everyone’s focus and I will say it again - every- lost the Champions League Fi- taining – whilst continuing tickets, have been other bones otal to generating revenues that central to our ambitions is on a return to regular Cham- thing we do is in the long-term nal in June, 2019, we have in- to embrace our desire to see of contention. to invest in the squad. Every is a successful football team - pions League participation interests of the club. I have al- vested in excess of 250 million young players flourish from Levy, who is in the midst of single penny generated gets it is what we all crave. We have and competing for honours. ways been and will continue to pounds in new players. our academy alongside experi- a recruitment process for Jose re-invested back into our club. come close over the last seven “I have said it many times be ambitious for our club and “Everyone had high enced talent.” Sports Thursday, May 20, 2021 15 Fifth Olympics for Boll as Germany nominates Red Bull chase crucial win first Tokyo athletes

ed athletes for pool and and open water swimming, sailing, sports climbing and shooting. Swimmer Florian Well- as F1 returns to Monaco brock has been named for open water and pool events in swim- DPA ming, and the group includes MONTE CARLO eight medallists from Rio 2016. The Tokyo Games are IT’S been almost two years taking place a year later than since the last Monaco Grand planned owing to the coro- Prix took place on the glam- navirus pandemic which has orous streets of Monte Carlo. made preparations difficult for The most traditional Formula Germany’s 2016 ag bearer the athletes. One race had to be removed Timo Boll. “The circumstances this from the 2020 calendar due to year are anything but easy, the coronavirus pandemic but DPA but we are doing everything makes its comeback on Sunday. FRANKFURT we can to create a appropri- Not much has changed ate conditions for our athletes since the 2019 race, with Mer- GERMANY’S 2016 flag bearer so that they can achieve their cedes duo of Lewis Hamilton Timo Boll is among the 54 first best possible performance in and Valtteri Bottas, and Red German athletes nominated for Tokyo,” chef de mission Dirk Bull’s Max Verstappen leading the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Schimmelpfennig said. the pack. Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (left) and Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen during a press conference in Monaco ahead of the The 40-year-old table ten- The DOSB said it was not But this season has seen a Monaco Formula One Grand Prix on Wednesday. (AFP) nis star Boll will be compet- clear how many German ath- different take of the duel be- ing in his fifth Games between letes would compete in To- tween Hamilton and Verstap- at the circuit per day, which July 23 and August 8 in Ja- kyo because qualifying has pen, who currently seem to be The coronavirus pandemic forced the iconic Monaco Grand Prix to be removed should be the biggest crowd pan. He has one silver and two not finished in all sports. The the strongest title contenders. from the 2020 racing calendar, but the street circuit makes its comeback on site for some time amid the bronze from past team events nomination deadline from the All four races up to now amid a fierce fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. pandemic. at the Olympics. International Olympic Com- have had at least one moment Williams will celebrate a Apart from the table ten- mittee is July 5. when the two drivers came to make sure we beat Mer- said. puncture. historic milestone when they nis team, the German Olympic Germany had 407 athletes wheel-to-wheel with seven- cedes in Monte Carlo,” Red “We head into the week- After a fourth place in become only the third For- Sports Confederation (DOSB) at the London 20212 Games time world champion Hamil- Bull team principal Christian end knowing they are the team Spain, Leclerc and Ferrari mula One team (after Ferrari on Wednesday also nominat- and 452 in Rio. ton leading the fight with three Horner said about the qualify- to beat, whilst also knowing look revitalised following a and McLaren) to run 750 rac- wins against Verstappen’s solo ing sessions. we’ll face strong competition catastrophic 2020 season and es. A special livery will carry triumph at the Emilia Romag- Verstappen added the from some of the other teams, the Monegasque seems ready the name of 100 lucky win- na Grand Prix in Imola. team has to “be at our best on too. But, just like the season so to fight for a podium place. ners of an online contest while But the Red Bull driver Saturday and Sunday, so that far, we’re enjoying the hunt.” “Sector 3 [at the Spanish McLaren will also run a special If no clarity by Thursday, PSL wants to strike back at Monaco we can be on the highest place The return of the iconic race Grand Prix] sometimes gives light blue and orange livery. and will aim to secure the pole in the podium.” Mercedes should have other storylines a good indicative view of how Hamilton leads the driv- will be postponed, says PCB position, which will be crucial team principal Toto Wolff also beyond the title fight between the car could be in Monaco. ers’ championships with a if he is to leave the narrow knows Red Bull are the team Mercedes and Red Bull. Monaco hopefully we should 14-point advantage over sec- ANI relevant authorities in the UAE. street circuit with victory. In to beat and said they have a Home kid Charles Leclerc be competitive,” Leclerc said. ond-placed Verstappen, with LAHORE However, some clarifications on 2019, Hamilton took the pole slight advantage. will try to erase the memo- He will have the chance to team-mate Bottas in third. certain exemption requests are and also the race win. “Monaco is a high down- ries of his 2019 race, when he secure his first podium of the First and second practice, as PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) still awaited, which are expected “It’s been phenomenally force track and we know that’s qualified 16th and didn’t finish season in front of 7,500 spec- usual in Monaco, is on Thurs- and the six franchise owners at some stage on Thursday.” close, and Monaco, we need a key strength of Red Bull,” he the grand prix due to a tyre tators that will be admitted day rather than Friday. on Wednesday discussed in a “The team owners agreed virtual session the operational that if we do not receive clarity planning and delivery of the by Thursday afternoon, then remaining 20 Pakistan Super they’ll have no other option League (PSL) matches, which but to request postponement Norris targets world title with McLaren after extending deal are scheduled to be held in the of the remaining 20 matches. UAE from June 1-20. In the meantime, we will con- DPA “Since joining in 2017 our performances, and his evolu- Following detailed discus- tinue to liaise with the UAE BERLIN progression has been consist- tion as a driver since then has sions in which all potential government and the Emir- ent and we have clear ambi- been clear to see. scenarios were reviewed and ates Cricket Board as they are BRITISH driver Lando Norris tions together for the future.” A “He’s an integral part of analysed, it was unanimously equally keen for the event to says he is targeting the Formu- revitalised McLaren were third our performance recovery agreed to wait until the close be held in the UAE,” he added. la One world title after extend- in the constructors’ standings plan and his record so far, se- of business on Thursday (UAE Earlier, the Abu Dhabi gov- ing his contract with McLaren in in 2019 and 2020 after years of curing two podiums with the time) before a final decision on ernment had given its nod but a “multi-year agreement” ahead struggle but remain without a team over the past year, has the hosting of the remaining put forward a condition that all of Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. victory since 2012. shown he’s a formidable com- matches is made. PCB Chief the participants need to be vac- “My commitment to “Our decision to confirm petitor on track.” Executive Wasim Khan in an cinated, reported ESPNcricinfo. McLaren is clear: my goal is Lando’s long-term future at Norris is in his third sea- official release said: “In today’s This possessed a challenge as to win races and become For- McLaren was very straightfor- son racing for McLaren and online discussion, we updated the teams and broadcast crew mula 1 world champion and ward,” team principal Andreas is partnered by Australian the team owners that the PCB involve people from all around I want to do that with this Seidl said. Daniel Ricciardo, who joined had been advised that the PSL the world and each country has team,” the 21-year-old Norris “Lando has impressed us ahead of this year and is also McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris speaks to the media in Monaco had received approvals from the its own process of vaccination. said Wednesday. since his rookie year with his contracted for 2022. on Wednesday ahead of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. (AFP)

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Koepka can play McIlroy feeling con dent as through pain but Spieth seeks milestone months away from DPA tournament golf and competi- BERLIN tive sports at the highest level, full recovery and just happy that I’m starting ENERGIZED by the return to come back.” Another former DPA “For a while it was just I of spectators, Rory McIlroy is world number one, Jordan Spi- BERLIN neglected putting just to see if confident he can end his ma- eth, is eyeing a milestone at the I could hit shots, because if I jor drought at this week’s PGA PGA Championship. BROOKS Koepka said he can can’t hit shots I can’t play. No Championship. Spieth, who ended his play through the pain in his point in that. No, I got every- McIlroy arrives in South fourth-year title drought in bid for a third US PGA Cham- thing under control and know Carolina buoyed by his Texas last week, can become pionship but a full recovery what I’m doing. drought-snapping victory at the sixth player in history to from a knee injury remains Last week was a good test the Wells Fargo Champion- complete the career Grand months away. just to see where I’m at for two ship earlier this month. Slam and the first to do so by Koepka has been plagued days. Not since November 2019 winning a PGA Championship. by injuries since winning “I thought if I got four, it had McIlroy reigned supreme The three-time major win- back-to-back PGA Champion- would be nice, but two days on the PGA or European Tour ner, though, played down his ships in 2019 and a fourth ma- of rest didn’t hurt me.” Asked but the former world number career Grand Slam quest. jor title in three years. for a timeline for him to be one ended his wait at Quail “I think as we get into the The American star under- fully healthy, Koepka replied: Hollow. weekend, if I’m able to work went knee surgery in March, “We’re talking probably an- McIlroy has not won a ma- my way into contention, I having won the Phoenix Open, other six months.” jor since 2014, however the think it’s something that’ll ob- and he has missed the cut in “If I beat that, I’m doing 2012 and 2014 PGA Cham- viously be asked and come up, his past two events, including something good,” he con- pionship winner feels good and it’s something that I cer- last month’s Masters. tinued. “I mean, I can play. heading into Thursday’s open- tainly want,” Spieth said. As Koepka gears up for You’re never 100 per cent, ing round. “You go to a major, and for Thursday’s opening round at that’s the thing. “I’m happy with where me at this point, I want to win Kiawah Island Golf Resort in “For two straight years my game is, so I guess if I go the Masters as badly as I ever South Carolina, the 31-year- it’s been left knee, right knee, out and play my game and do have this year. Didn’t happen. old acknowledged his knee herniated a disc in my neck, what I know that I can do, then Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 15th tee during a practice round prior to the “I want to win this one is still problematic but he is played in Tampa or wherever I can see myself shooting good 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort’s Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, on as badly as I ever have. Once ready to play. we were, played through that. scores on this golf course,” Wednesday. (GETTY IMAGES/AFP) you move on to the US Open, “I feel like I can hit every I dealt with that all the way four-time major champion the same. Majors, that’s what shot. It’s not like Augusta through Palm Springs. McIlroy told reporters. to the best of my ability, I’m was 16 years old I’ve had thou- plete opposite, it’s just differ- we’re trying to peak for those. where I’m trying to figure out “I can deal with the pain. “So that’s sort of where I’m sure I’ll have a good chance.” sands of people watch me play ent,” he said. “I feel like I’ll have a lot of what’s the best line to walk in- That’s not an issue. It’s just at. Whether that means I win Fans returned for the Wells golf pretty much every time I “I said at the time it was chances at this tournament, stead of figuring out. a matter of being able to hit or not, that’s partly up to me, Fargo Championship amid teed it up. like playing practice rounds. and if I just focus on trying “Now I can actually hit golf shots that I want to hit and but that’s partly on how the the coronavirus pandemic as “Even going back to ama- It’s easy to lose concentration. to take advantage of this golf shots and understand what’s do things I want to do, and other 155 guys in the field play, McIlroy thrived en route to teur golf and. So then not hav- “You want to play in front course, play it the best I can going on,” Koepka, who has I’m starting to be able to do as well. I’ve just got to go out glory and there will be fans at ing that, playing in that envi- of people and you want to feel and kind of stay in the same been paired alongside Justin that. Even though I’m not there, play my game, and if I Kiawah Island this week. ronment for 14, 15 years and that atmosphere. form tree to green I’ve been in, Thomas and Rory McIlroy told 100 per cent, I can still hit play my game somewhat close “It’s funny, ever since I then sort of going the com- “I feel like that’s all a part of all I can ask for is a chance.” reporters on Tuesday. the shots.” 16 Thursday, May 20, 2021 The Last Word Tamuq dean presents degrees to 107 engineers at home TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

DEAN of Texas A&M Uni- versity at Qatar (Tamuq), a Qatar Foundation partner university, has taken a jour- ney to personally congratu- late each graduating engi- neer from its Class of 2021. Tamuq Dean César Oc- tavio Malavé helped gradu- ating students celebrate a special time in their lives by visiting each of them at their homes and presenting them with their engineering degrees, with his trip taking place from May 9 to May 13. Tamuq graduated 107 engineers on May 5, with its Class of 2021 including 89 Aggies who received bach- elor’s degrees in chemical engineering, electrical en- gineering, mechanical en- gineering and petroleum engineering. Twenty-two graduates were recognised as Under- graduate Research Scholars of Texas A&M’s main cam- pus in College Station and 35 students graduated with Latin honours. Tamuq also awarded 18 master’s degrees in chemi- cal engineering. Of the graduating class, 57 percent are female and 51 percent are Qatari, with graduates representing 19 nationalities. To date, 1,268 students have graduated from Tamuq. QU graduation attendees must undergo A young lady on a noble mission to Rapid Antigen Test one day before event rescue and rehome stray animals TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ates and attendees to adhere DOHA to the safety and precaution- AILYN AGONIA ary measures that have been DOHA QATAR University’s (QU) put in place. Class of 2020 graduation cer- The university has pub- QATAR resident Anna Hayley emonies will take place under lished on its website a list of Desouza is only 16 years and strict safety and precaution- instructions to follow during is already on a mission to give ary measures to prevent the the day of the ceremony. These sick and abandoned animals spread of COVID-19, the uni- instructions include: Display- a second chance in life and to versity has announced. ing a green Ehteraz, having a find new homes for them. In a statement, the uni- negative result of RAT on the Since rescuing three kit- versity said it will implement system, temperature check tens that found their way to a number of procedures as it before entering the hall, wear- the front of her house early prepares to host the gradua- ing a mask, sanitising hands, last year, she has been in- tion in QU Sport and Events prohibiting touch greetings, spired to continue helping Complex. avoiding gatherings, prohib- stray animals. She started QU will host a number of iting exchange of personal an independent animal res- ceremonies different from pre- prior to the event. A number Following the Qatar Na- belongings, complying with cue service called Furry Paws vious ceremonial traditions in of facilities in QU will be open tional Anthem, the annual the guidance of the organis- Rescue and has so far rescued order to ensure the safety of all to administer the test. group photo will be taken ers, avoiding crowding near and rehomed more than 80 during the pandemic. Attendees will also be re- while graduates stand at their entrances or exits (before and fur babies. In line with Qatar’s policy, quired to maintain physical seats. In addition, after the end after the ceremony), avoid- “When the three kittens QU, represented by the Facili- distance of a minimum of nine of the main two ceremonies, ing mingling with COVID-19 ended up at the front door ties and General Services De- square metres from each per- the graduates will be required positive individuals before the of our house, I could not just partment - Health, Safety and son, no food or drink will be to exit the hall immediately ceremony. ignore them. I couldn’t imag- Environment Office, in coop- served at the event except for in order to avoid socialisation The graduate should not ine leaving them outside, not eration with QU other relevant rapped dates and sealed water with each other. For the rest of attend the ceremony if he/she knowing what could happen departments and the Ministry bottles. ceremonies, the graduates will feels any influenza symptoms, to them, which is why I took of Public Health, will require The procedure for the an- be discharged as soon as they cough or high temperature, as them in even with limited all attendees to test for Rapid nual group photo will also receive the graduation gift. they must be considerate of knowledge and resources. I Antigen Test (RAT) one day change. QU is calling on its gradu- the safety of others. asked around if anyone could adopt them. Once the kittens Anna Hayley Desouza were safely settled in their new homes, I felt a sense of I do accept donations from accomplishment and satis- the public, or cat food and faction. I felt complete,” said dog food which we are always QU’s Research Summer Internship from June 6 Anna. in need of. But if you would Through her official Insta- like to help with the medical TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Development Goals (SDGs). gram account @furrypawsre- bills, you are welcome to do DOHA This approach will enhance the cue and Facebook page, Anna so either at Royal Vet clinic at partnerships and collaboration hopes to reach out to more in- Al Waab or Petscare clinic at QATAR University (QU) Re- with more than 25 internation- dividuals who would be will- New Salata under my account search Summer Internship will al universities. ing to adopt stray dogs and Anna Hayley. Any and all con- take place from June 6 to July Vice-President for Re- cats she has rescued from the tributions are highly appreci- 1, 2021. search and Graduate Studies streets and support her mis- ated as we always have pend- Registration for the pro- Prof Mariam Al Maadee said, sion of rehoming them with ing bills that could use your gramme will close on May ”Our students are the true responsible families locally support.” 24, 2021. Interested students investment for the future of and internationally. Anna hopes to be a vet- across QU colleges can visit the Qatar, they are the new gen- As an independent ani- erinarian. She talked about webpage of the Research and eration that will transform mal rescuer, she also under- the importance of balanc- Graduate Studies Sector at Qa- our economy and enrich our lined many challenges she ing her time between studies tar University website. society. As we believe that QU encounters in attending to and her cause. Similarly, she Research Summer Intern- The internship programme Summer Research Internship has an important international the requirements and medical underlined the importance of ship is a training programme will cover a broad range of 2021 programme and decided academic role, we decided to needs of rescued animals be- said is a big help for a rescuer the support she gets from her for undergraduate and gradu- courses and topics offered by to deliver 29 courses in rel- expand the programme to ac- fore finding them new homes. like her. She said, “When you parents in motivating her to ate students that provides 10 research centres. These are: evant subjects. commodate students from the She said, “I solely depend adopt a pet from us, not only follow her passion. training in research methods, Center for Advanced Materials Qatar University has a region and beyond.” on contributions and dona- are you rewarded with all the “I hope my work towards characterisation techniques, (CAM), Environmental Sci- plan to continue its efforts Dr Abdelbary Elhissi, direc- tions from the community to love and affection the pet has this good cause grows and I application processes and tech- ence Center (ESC), Biomedi- to conduct such programme tor of Research Planning and handle the medical costs and to offer, but you are also free- am able to rescue many ani- nical writing. cal Research Center (BRC), every summer and to enhance Development at Qatar Univer- other requirements of the res- ing up space for another ani- mals out there who can then The programme aims Laboratory Animal Research research culture and partici- sity, said: “This programme cued animals. I am thankful mal in need to be cared for. be rehomed locally or Inter- to develop research skills in Center (LARC), Central Labo- pation of undergraduate and opens the gate for students on to all the kind persons who And if you are not ready for nationally. This cause that graduate and undergraduate ratories Unit (CLU), Young graduate students in research the world of research and in- have donated and contributed the commitment of a lifetime, I have started at this young students of all the colleges at Scientists Center (YSC), Social activities. novation and equips them with towards many of the medical fostering is a good option for age will become much more QU. The faculty and staff of & Economic Survey Research To broaden the mission an important strategic tool needs, helping me come this those wanting to help. Foster- meaningful and fulfilling to research centres will mentor Institute (SESRI), Ibn Khaldon and geographical target of the needed to serve the national far. I hope I still will continue ers are needed on short term me when I eventually become students to contribute to sev- Center for Humanities & Social programme, this year, for the development needs of Qatar to to receive the support, so that and long term periods for var- a medical professional in eral courses and their research Sciences, Gas Processing Cent- first time, it will be open for in- participate in the future of this this worthy cause may con- ious reasons.” the veterinary field. I thank topics and activities. er (GPC) and National Center ternational students. country. The expansion of this tinue and I am able to rescue Further on the support all those who have reached As part of the precaution- for Educational Development Selected and interested programme provides evidence and rehome many more of the communities in Qatar can out to me as fosterers and to ary measures followed by QU (NCED). students from the Academic about the important role that animals/strays in need.” provide to her cause, she those who have contributed to prevent the spread of COV- The directors, technical Network for Development Dia- QU can play not only to pro- Anna reminded the resi- added, “Keep in mind, daily to my initiative. Please feel ID-19, the programme this year managers and faculty members logue (ANDD) will be invited mote research at the national dents of Qatar of the impor- care and medical needs are free to reach out to me on In- will be conducted through the of the respective centres took a to participate in the courses level, but also in the region and tance of the campaign slogan something one person can- stagram @furrypawsrecue,” established online platforms. keen interest in designing the relevant to the Sustainable worldwide.” “Adopt, don’t shop” which she not fund alone. Which is why said Anna.