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Demand for Anti-Virus Masks Soars 100-Fold BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Metro, Lusail Light Rail ‘shift ’ demand dynamics Qatar’s al-Attiyah cruises to of Qatar’s offi ce market comfortable lead in Oman published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11452 February 8, 2020 Jumada II 14, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Demand for anti-virus Sir Geoff Hurst masks soars England legend Sir Geoff turns 100-fold ref for National Reuters/AFP started with producers of raw materi- Geneva/Beijing als, going “all the way back to the rub- A man in protective suit works on disinfecting the aircraft cabin for a Hainan Airlines flight, as China is hit by an outbreak of the ber plantation, all the way down the Sport Day novel coronavirus, at the Haikou Meilan International Airport yesterday. chain to that health worker, and every- emand for masks, gowns, thing in between”. fter a whirlwind visit to Qatar gloves and other protective “At every stage of the supply chain last year during which he was Dgear has risen up to 100-fold there is a possibility for disruption, or Agiven a brief glimpse of the and prices have soared due to the Chi- profi teering or diversion,” he said. country’s passion for sport, football- na coronavirus, producing a “severe” Chinese authorities have provided ing legend Sir Geoff Hurst will return disruption in global supply, the World some detailed data with a breakdown to Doha to experience the buzz around Health Organisation (WHO) chief said of 17,000 cases, WHO epidemiologist National Sport Day fi rst-hand. Qatari adventurer plans yesterday. Dr Maria van Kerkhove said. “We have In 1966, Sir Geoff scored the fi rst The situation has been made worse some data on 17,000 cases saying 82% ever and the only hat-trick so far in a by people who are not medical work- are considered mild, 15% severe and 3% World Cup fi nal as England won the ers buying the protective gear for their critical.” title at Wembley. own use, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye- Referring to overall numbers, she This time though, he will lace up Europe motorbike trip sus said. added: “We know that 2%, or less than as a referee in a tournament for inter- “When supplies are short and de- 2% now, of the reported cases have national property and construction By Joseph Varghese mand is high, then there could be bad died.” consultancy Gleeds. Staff Reporter practices like hoarding in order to sell The United States yesterday off ered “The notion of a National Sport them at higher prices, and that’s why up to $100mn to China and other im- Day is such a brilliant one and I am we ask for solidarity,” Tedros told a Ge- pacted countries to combat the fast- thrilled to be back in Qatar to experi- atari adventurer Khalid al-Jab- neva briefi ng. spreading coronavirus. ence it for myself. The enthusiasm for er, the fi rst Arab to travel the “Demand is up to 100 times higher “This commitment — along with the day has been overwhelming and QSilk Road route on a motorcy- than normal and prices are up to 20 the hundreds of millions generously it’ll be great fun to take on the role of cle, is planning to continue his passion times higher,” and the rush has cre- donated by the American private sec- referee – although I can’t promise my for travel by embarking on another ride ated supply backlogs of 4-6 months, tor — demonstrates strong US leader- decisions will please everyone, I know around Europe. he added. ship in response to the outbreak,” Sec- how competitive these tournaments “In the past three years, I have com- Frontline health workers in China, retary of State Mike Pompeo said in a can become with pride at stake,” said pleted 120,000km of motorcycling, where 31,211 confi rmed cases of coro- statement. Sir Geoff , who will arrive in Doha on covering around 45 countries on the navirus have been reported, need the The coronavirus death of a Chinese February 10. same bike on diff erent trips. Now I am bulk of such supplies, he said. doctor who had been reprimanded for The British icon has made no secret planning to ride around Europe next Tedros said he had spoken to manu- sounding an early warning about the of the fact that he believes the only summer to promote an event related to facturers and distributors to ensure disease triggered anger at the govern- way forward for one of the most pop- Qatar and arts. This will be announced Qatari adventurer Khalid al-Jaber at the southernmost tip of Africa. supplies for those who need them ment yesterday, while a major cruise ular events in the sporting calendar is later this year,” he told Gulf Times. most, with healthcare workers a prior- line took the extraordinary step of ban- to take it to as many diff erent coun- Al-Jaber, 43, holds two records in mo- ing laptops to students of Africa or op- such as Ajyal Film Festival 2018 and ity, followed by the sick and those car- ning citizens of China regardless of tries as possible and is happy to see it torcycling. In addition to being the fi rst tical glasses to children of Kenya,” the Cannes Film Festival 2019,” he said. ing for them. when they were last there. come to Qatar. Sport Page 1 Arab to cross the Silk Road from London adventurer explained. “The fi lm shows my passion for The WHO has sent major shipments The death of Li Wenliang, 34, came to Beijing, he is also the fi rst Arab to ride Al-Jaber who has completed the ex- travelling; how I am trying to fi t my- of gloves, masks, respirators and other as President Xi Jinping reassured the the longest road in the world, the Pan ecutive leaders programme from Qatar self in the role and also featuring the “personal protective equipment” — United States and the WHO of trans- American Highway, from Alaska to Ar- leadership Centre, currently has taken Silk Road travel and my feelings when known as PPE in its jargon — to every parency and maximum eff ort to com- gentina around 40,000km. adventure motorcycling as a full-time I am on the trip. Travelling to me is like region, he said. bat the virus. In brief Al-Jaber, a network computer en- activity. The globetrotter says he loves meditation, to know and appreciate life; “We call on countries and compa- Beijing’s communist leadership has gineer, and a master’s degree holder in travelling and right from his early child- see how people have nothing but hap- nies to work with WHO to ensure fair sealed off cities, cancelled fl ights and computer crimes from University of hood, he has been travelling. piness while we have everything but and rational use of supplies and the re- closed factories to limit an epidemic ARAB WORLD | Confl ict East London, has also got a bachelor’s “During my childhood, I was mov- happiness. I keep saying: the world is balancing of the market. We all have a roiling the world’s second-biggest Israeli troops kill degree in computing from Richmond, ing between Qatar, Geneva and Japan, so beautiful as long as we don’t watch part to play in keeping each other safe,” economy with ripple eff ects felt by glo- the American International University until I fi nished high school, due to my news,” noted the rider. Tedros said. bal markets and businesses dependent Palestinian teen in London. father’s job as an ambassador of Qatar. “I hope many youth consider their The public and private network on Chinese supply lines. Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian “I have done many trips around the Then, I moved to Germany and from hobbies as careers and they will just do was focusing fi rst on surgical masks The epicentre province of Hubei and during clashes in the West Bank world and covered 82 countries so far. I there to London for my university stud- great! Don’t look, how much you will because of the extreme demand and its capital Wuhan are in lockdown, and yesterday, the Palestinian health am planning to reach 100 countries by ies. I have always wanted to be a trav- earn but how much you will change,” he market pressures, Tedros said, adding: Beijing resembles a ghost town. ministry said. The fatality brings to next summer and mostly on motorcy- eller after watching “Sinbad” cartoon advised the youth. “We are appreciative of companies Deaths in mainland China reached five the number killed in the occupied cle. Through my adventures, I am en- when I was seven,” recalled al-Jaber. “I am inspired by Sinbad and wanted who have taken the decision to only 637 yesterday, with a total of 31,211 West Bank and Jerusalem since US couraging youth to leave their comfort Other than travelling, al-Jaber is also to confront the world and explore it as supply masks to medical profession- cases, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom President Donald Trump angered zone. I try to attach each trip to a char- is an avid fi lm buff as he has been a fi lm he did. I can say that I have achieved als.” Ghebreyesus said in Geneva, warning of the Palestinians with his peace plan ity campaign such as providing artifi cial producer for the last 10 years. “My fi lm most of my dreams and done well in my Dr Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergen- a worldwide shortage of gowns, masks released last week.
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