European Al Duhail Central Bank eye strong stimulus on track show at FIFA as economy Club World struggles Cup

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FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 9 JUMADA II - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8510 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Build your own plan! Terms & Conditions Apply Saudi FM: Embassy in MME urges public to cut food waste Qatar to reopen ‘in days’ SANAULLAH ATTAULLAH MME official says large quantities of food wastes have been Marri said: “A total of 37 projects THE PENINSULA REUTERS — DUBAI observed at municipal waste management and collection were planned under the strategy. Many of them were Saudi Arabia’s The Ministry of Municipality points. launched in 2019 and 2020. The Foreign Minister H H and Environment (MME) has remaining will be implemented Prince Faisal bin raised concerns about wastage The Ministry is implementing a programme aimed at reducing in coming years.” Farhan (pictured) has of food items by people. A food waste from the entire supply chain. He said 10 projects of green- said that Saudi senior official of the Ministry houses with the capacity of Arabia’s embassy in has urged consumers to change Qatar is 106% self-sufficient in fresh milk, 127% in fresh 21,000 tonnes of vegetables in Qatar will reopen “in their behaviour to food habits chicken, and 35% each in eggs and vegetables. a year and 10 projects for fat- days”, Al Arabiya TV to reduce food wastage. tening of animals with the channel said Qatar has taken many steps MME has provided 1,600 greenhouses and 1,700 net-houses to capacity of 50,000 animals in yesterday. to increase food production, a year were launched already. Saudi Arabia, the now citizens and expatriates local farms to help boost their yields. “The projects helped in United Arab need to play their part in the raising self-sufficiency in the Emirates, Bahrain government efforts to ensure a Qatar TV programme. centres. The Ministry has production of fresh milk to 106 and Egypt agreed food security, said Masoud Jar- He said food wastage has already integrated food waste percent, fresh chicken 127 during Al Ula Summit allah Al Marri, Director of MME's been observed in large quantity management programme percent, eggs 35 percent and on January 5, to Food Security Department. at waste management centre which aims at reducing food vegetables 35 percent,” said Al restore diplomatic, trade and travel ties severed with Qatar in 2017. “I would like to send a and waste collection points of waste from the entire supply Marri. He said the existing farms According to Al-Arabiya TV channel, the Saudi Foreign Minister message to consumers on the the municipalities. chain. Al Marri asked private also have been activated to voiced optimism that relations between Riyadh and Washington will issue of food waste. The country The wastage of food comes sector to make more invest- increase the produce with the be “excellent” under new US President Joe Biden. has made tremendous efforts at a time when the government ments in food security projects support of the Ministry which Appointments made by Biden show “understanding of the with the support of private is putting special focus to especially in the field of food provided 1,600 greenhouses, common issues” by the new US administration, Prince Faisal bin sector for producing fresh food ensure food security. Huge processing. 1,700 net-houses, 100 hydro- Farhan added, according to Twitter posts by the Saudi-owned, Dubai- locally, now consumers have a quantity of food waste, col- Speaking about the achieve- ponic and 4 million boxes for based TV channel. “The Biden administration will find that our targets big role to reduce food waste,” lected from municipalities, is ments of Qatar National Food marketing agricultural produce, regarding Yemen are the same.” Al Marri said while speaking in taken to the waste management Security Strategy 2018-23, Al fertilizers and many more. ‘Qatar's handling of pandemic an example for others’ Qatar Airways to resume QNA — DOHA pleased and excited by the State of Qatar’s towards the rule of law in Qatar and popular Atlanta services, increase comprehensive renaissance over the past participation in decision making. He said The Minister for Foreign Affairs and few years, per a clear vision of how it can that Malta welcomes these elections and European Relations of the Republic of Malta, build itself. wish Qatar further progress, development, US weekly flights to 83 H E Evarist Bartolo (pictured), highlighted Bartolo expressed his appreciation of and sustainable growth. yesterday the development of Qatari- the State of Qatar’s significant and positive He said Qatar’s efforts to contain the THE PENINSULA — DOHA hundreds of additional flight Maltese ties in all fields. steps towards democratic practice, stressing COVID-19 pandemic in providing the connections with Alaska Air- He noted that the relationship continues that the October Shura Council elections perfect healthcare services to its citizens Qatar Airways has announced lines, American Airlines, and to grow due to the political will and the will be a real addition to the journey and residents without discrimination sets it will add its 12th gateway in JetBlue. commitment of both sides to enhancing it an example for other countries to follow, the US with the resumption of "As we look forward to to benefit the two countries and peoples, especially dealing with these conditions by four-weekly Atlanta flights global travel recovering in as both sides look to explore investment focusing on the humanitarian aspect. starting June 1. The carrier will 2021, we will remain focused opportunities, especially with the corona- He also said that he was pleased that also significantly increase on providing seamless, safe, virus pandemic (COVID-19) fading around Qatar Airways was a leader in providing frequencies, adding 13 weekly and reliable connectivity to the world. flights from Qatar to Malta, becoming an flights to operate 83 weekly our millions of passengers and In an exclusive interview with Qatar important means for Maltese citizens to flights across its 12 gateways. ensuring we continue to earn News Agency (QNA), Bartolo said that return home. He said he was also pleased Having become the largest their trust every time they Qatari-Maltese ties stand on important with the presence of a Qatari bank oper- international carrier during choose to fly with Qatar pillars. He added that relations were char- ating in Malta as it comes in the context of the early stages of the pan- Airways.” acterised by the two countries’ activity the continually developing ties between demic, the airline has applied In line with the airline’s despite their small size and population, and the two countries. its unrivalled knowledge of steady rebuild of its US the mutual respect they have for each other, The Minister expressed his pleasure on global passenger flows and network, Qatar Airways plans and their commitment to protecting them- the end of the Gulf crisis and the reconcil- booking trends to rebuild its to resume services and selves. He added that the Maltese side was iation between its parties. `P3 global network and cement its increase frequencies to several position as the leading Middle destinations, including Atlanta East airline connecting the US (four weekly flights starting Dusty weather with Africa, Asia, and the June 1), Chicago (increasing to Middle East. 10 weekly flights from March reduces visibility Qatar Airways Group Chief 4), Dallas-Fort Worth Executive, Akbar Al Baker, (increasing to 10 weekly flights across Qatar said: “We are proud to be the from March 2), Houston leading Middle East airline (increasing to daily flights from THE PENINSULA — DOHA providing safe and reliable March 14), Miami (increasing connectivity to and from the to three weekly flights from Commuters faced a difficult United States via the Best July 3), San Francisco (ramping day yesterday as dust covered Airport in the Middle East, up to daily flights by July 2) and several parts of the country, Hamad International Airport. Seattle (four weekly flights leading to reduced visibility Having never stopped flying starting January 29 and and drop in temperature. to the US throughout the pan- ramping up to daily flights by Hamad Medical Corpo- demic, we have steadily rebuilt July 1). ration (HMC) has advised the our network, gradually Seattle is the seventh new public to take necessary pre- resuming destinations and destination and the second in cautions as the Qatar Meteor- adding more frequencies. With the US to be added by Qatar ology Department (QMD) has the upcoming launch of Seattle Airways since the pandemic. forecast strong winds and poor and the resumption of Atlanta, The launch of flights to Seattle visibility across most of the we will reach 12 gateways in and the resumption of Atlanta country due to sandstorms. MME raises public awareness of biodiversity the US, two more than what will increase Qatar Airways’ “We are observing a we operated pre-COVID-19. US network to 12 destinations decrease in the horizontal vis- The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) is creating awareness among residents about “Our commitment to the in the US, connecting onwards ibility in most regions of the biodiversity and environment protection through an exhibition taking place at Sealine area. In the US market has also seen us add to hundreds of American cities country, and currently exhibition, being held on the sidelines of Padel Sport Championship, the MME officials are educating and expand strategic partner- through strategic partnerships reaching 2 KM in the capital visitors about the importance of environment protection and biodiversity through models of marine ships with American carriers, with Alaska Airlines, American Doha,” QMD said in a tweet. It life, stuffed animals and birds. offering our passengers Airlines, and JetBlue. has issued a marine warning effective until Saturday. Temperature will also drop during the weekend, with Biden signs orders to end ‘Muslim ban’, rejoin climate deal, WHO highest temperature ranging between 18 to 24 degrees QNA/AL JAZEERA — WASHINGTON the gravest damages of the majority-Muslim countries. He border. “There’s no time to start Biden told reporters in the Celsius. The lowest temper- Trump administration”. will also stop the construction like today,” Biden told reporters. Oval Office that there was “no ature will range between 8 to US President Joe Biden began The actions, fulfilling his of the wall that Trump had He said these actions are meant time to waste”. “Some of the 16 degrees Celsius and may signing 15 executive actions promise to move quickly on Day ordered on the US-Mexico to keep his promises to the executive actions I’m going to reach less than that in addressing the coronavirus One of his presidency, initiate border. American people. be signing today are going to southern and remote parts of pandemic, climate change and the process of the United States The new president is also Biden said his predecessor help change the course of the the country. HMC has advised racial inequality, and undoing rejoining the Paris climate ordering the wearing of masks left him a “very generous letter” COVID crisis, we’re going to public to take health and safety some policies put in place by his accord and include the revo- and social distancing in all before departing office, and he combat climate change in a way precautions as dust storms predecessor Donald Trump. cation of the presidential permit federal buildings and on all would not reveal the contents. that we haven’t done so far and could have adverse effects on Just hours after his inaugu- granted for the controversial federal lands and is ending a “The President wrote a very advance racial equity and health and could trigger sinus ration at the US Capitol on Keystone XL oil pipeline. national emergency declaration generous letter,” Biden said. support other underserved allergies and respiratory infec- Wednesday, Biden signed 15 The steps Biden is taking that was the basis for diverting “Because it was private I will communities,” he said. Biden is tions, especially in people with executive actions that his team will end a travel ban Trump put some federal funds to build a not talk about it until I talk to also halting Trump’s planned chronic diseases. earlier said aimed to “reverse in place on some wall along the US-Mexico him.” withdrawal from WHO. 02 HOME FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021

OFFICIAL NEWS Amir congratulates Algerian President on successful PRAYER TIMINGS surgery PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMINNGG Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable 05.00 am of congratulations to President of FAJR the People’s Democratic Repub- SUNRISE 06.20 am lic of Algeria Abdul Majeed DHUHR 11.45 am Tebboune, expressing his con- ASR 02.50 pm gratulations on the success of the surgery His Excellency under- MAGHRIB 05.13 pm went, wishing him a speedy ISHA 06.43 pm recovery. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani also sent a similar cable of congratulations to President of Algeria Abdul Majeed Tebboune -QNA Amir sends message to WEATHER North Macedonia TODAY President Graduates with Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces H E Lt General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanim and senior officers of the Skopje: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim armed forces. bin Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a written message to President of the Republic of North Mac- Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College edonia H E Stevo Pendarovski, 15oC 20oC pertaining to bilateral relations and means to advance them. Minimum Maximum distributes certificates to 16th batch graduates Charge’ d’Affaires of the Qatari Relatively cold daytime with some Embassy in North Macedonia H clouds and blowing dust at places, QNA — DOHA E Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al cold by night. brotherly and friendly countries. Al Ghanim and a number of senior officers The ceremony, which was held under of the armed forces. Thani handed the message dur- Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and The training course, which lasted for ing a meeting with the President MME participates celebrated yesterday the distribution of Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. four years, included military science cur- of the Republic of North Mace- certificates to the 16th batch graduates. The Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, was attended riculum, Parachute jump, in addition to donia. -QNA in meeting on GCC number of graduates of the batch reached by Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces management, law, accounting, information environmental portal 158 candidates from the State of Qatar and H E Lt General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen systems, and international relations. QNA — DOHA Qatar participates in 17th ministerial The Ministry of Municipality Qatar Airways and Iberia and Environment (MME), meeting of Asian Cooperation Dialogue represented by the Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory QNA — DOHA strengthen strategic partnership Department, participated in a meeting on the application of The State of Qatar yesterday participated in the 17th ministerial THE PENINSULA — DOHA the GCC environmental portal. meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, which was held under The meeting, which was the presidency of the Turkish Republic through visual communi- Qatar Airways continues where held via videoconference, dis- cation technology. Qatar was represented at the meeting by Minister it left off in 2020, further cussed a number of topics of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. expanding its strategic partner- related to the portal. Those In his speech during the meeting, Al Muraikhi congratulated ships by signing an expanded topics included the quality of and thanked the Turkish Republic for its successful presidency codeshare agreement with air, maps, achievements in the of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, and expressed his appreci- Iberia. The agreement will environmental fields, the ation for the efforts of the Secretary-General of the Asian Coop- enhance connectivity between agreement on maintaining eration Dialogue to develop the joint work of this dialogue. the two airlines’ complementary wildlife. The State of Qatar has “The State of Qatar attaches great importance to the Asian networks and will offer addi- concluded all the requirements cooperation dialogue, based on its firm belief in the importance, tional travel options to our of the portal’s phase two, which prestige and role of this dialogue in strengthening relations customers travelling between will be launched soon. between member states,” said the Minister. the Iberian Peninsula, Latin The department also held “There is no doubt that the exceptional circumstances that America, Africa, Asia-Pacific and a meeting with a consultancy the world is going through at all levels highlight the need for inter- the Middle East via the Best more choice and seamless our partner, Qatar Airways.” firm on the use cases of drones national solidarity and collectively work to improve all aspects Airport in the Middle East, global connectivity for our mil- The expanded commercial in monitoring and surveying of peoples’ lives and advance them at all political, economic and Hamad International Airport. lions of passengers. As global cooperation will increase the the marine environment and social levels, especially reducing poverty and granting these Sales of the added destinations travel recovers, we look number of destinations shores of the State of Qatar. peoples the foundations for a decent life.” he added. have commenced already with forward to further expanding available to Iberia passengers the additional codeshare flights our commercial cooperation from 29 to 36 on Qatar Airways’ starting from yesterday. with Iberia and continuing to network, including new desti- Qatar Airways Group Chief provide the unrivalled five-star nations in Angola, Australia, Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: service our passengers have Mozambique, New Zealand and “We are pleased to further come to expect.” South Africa. Qatar Airways expand our codeshare cooper- Iberia Group Chief Exec- passengers will also benefit ation with Iberia, Spain’s largest utive, Javier Sanchez-Prieto, from additional connectivity, carrier and the leading airline said: “The extension of the with the ability to book travel connecting Europe with Latin codeshare agreement with to and from an additional four America. Despite the challenges Qatar Airways is very good destinations on Iberia’s of 2020, it has been our priority news for us. At Iberia we work network in Brazil, Chile, El Sal- to maintain reliable global con- so that, when countries elim- vador, Guatemala and Senegal. nectivity for our passengers. inate their restrictions, we can As oneworld alliance partners, This expansion of our strategic offer our clients the widest and Qatar Airways Privilege Club partnership with Iberia further most comprehensive network and Iberia Plus members are strengthens connectivity possible. The extension of this ensured recognition of their tier between the hubs of Doha and codeshare agreement with our status with benefits including Madrid ensuring more flexible oneworld partner, Qatar access to lounges worldwide, travel options for our cus- Airways, opens up new markets through check-in, extra tomers. Qatar Airways and in Australia and Africa and baggage allowance, priority Dust storm engulfs Doha Iberia have enjoyed the mutual improves the connectivity we check-in and boarding plus benefits our partnership has offer between Spain and the accrual and redemption of Vehicles ply slowly on a road as dust envelopes the sky over Doha, yesterday. brought us since its estab- rest of the world with a very miles, across the partner car- PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT /THE PENINSULA lishment in 2017, providing high-quality service offered by riers’ networks. flydubai launches double Ashghal completes roadworks at Al Nasr THE PENINSULA — DOHA Eng. Al Al Sadd areas. daily flights to Doha Zeyara stated It is worth mentioning that The Public Works Authority that the com- to alleviate the traffic con- THE PENINSULA — DOHA “Ashghal” has announced the pleted works gestion and enhance the traffic completion of the main works would make it flow on Al Mirqab Al Jadeed flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, yesterday announced the of the Improvement of Main easier for road Street, traffic flow was changed resumption of flights to Qatar. A double daily service from Dubai Roads in Al Nasr Area project. users to park to one direction on the two International (DXB) to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) The completed works included and walk to the lanes of the street from the will start from January 26. the upgrade of 7km of main commercial intersection with Mohammed Commenting on the announcement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, roads in the Al Nasr area and facilities, espe- bin Qasim Street until the inter- Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “with today’s the completion of 6 signalised cially in Al section with Suhaim Bin Hamad announcement we see the flydubai network grow to 64 des- intersections. Kinana and Al Street (C-Ring Road). The rest tinations. Flights to Doha will start from January 26 and to The newly upgraded roads Mirqab Streets. of the street from the inter- meet expected demand we are pleased to launch operations include Al Nasr Street, Al Mirqab The project section with Mohammed bin with a double daily service. We hope to be able to continue Al Jadeed Street, Al Kinana Street, provided 1700 Qasim Street towards Al Amir to grow the service.” Mohamed Bin Qasim Street, and parking bays Street is kept unchanged and Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice-President of Commercial Oper- Al Syoul Street, Yaser bin Amar and almost 14 thus accommodates one lane ations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, Al Basateen Street, Zaid Al Khail the foul sewer network. It also km of pedestrian paths. Besides, in each direction. said: “flydubai offers convenient and reliable travel services Street, and Al Ghotah Street. created a 5.8 km-long Treated the project includes pedestrian The project delivered by a between both countries. Passengers have the opportunity to Eng. Rashed Al Zeyara, Sewerage Effluent (TSE) crossings and lighting systems local contractor, Al Darwish choose how they would like to travel whether it is in the comfort Project Engineer in the Roads network and provided crossing for the safety of road users. Engineering, has given priority of Business Class or a customised experience in Economy Class. Projects Department, said that ducts for future infrastructure Eng. Al Zeyara said the to local materials and procured Tickets are available to book on flydubai.com.” the upgraded roads were pro- upgrading and protecting the upgrading works have also sig- more than 65% of materials Passengers will have the option to experience Business Class vided with new LED street existing electricity and telecom- nificantly enhanced the traffic from local sources. Ashghal is enjoying space and privacy in the cabin, a comfortable spacious lighting. He also highlighted that munication lines. As part of the flow in the area, improved the now undertaking landscaping seat, inflight entertainment with films and TV shows available to the upgrade included improving project, the stormwater road network safety level, and works in Al Nasr Area’s main watch and a range of delicious snacks and complimentary hot the infrastructure services such drainage network at the inter- facilitate access to many resi- streets to enhance their look and cold beverages. Passengers travelling in Economy Class will as the stormwater network section of Mohammed bin dential areas with heavy traffic and feel. These remaining enjoy a Recaro designed seat offering optimal levels of space and along all 7km of the project’s Qasim Street with Al Kinana flow like Al Mirqab, Fereej Al works are scheduled to be com- comfort in the air. streets and upgrading 6.5 km of Street was also upgraded. Nasr, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, and pleted in Q2 2021. FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 HOME 03

MoPH reports 128 Audit Bureau launches more recoveries, training plans for 2021 258 new cases

QNA — DOHA The launch of training program QNA — DOHA plans for the year 2021 comes The Audit Bureau launched as a continuation of the process The Ministry of Public Health yesterday the plans for training adopted by the Audit Bureau (MoPH) reported yesterday programs, strategic projects and 258 new confirmed cases of development initiatives for the with the aim of developing coronavirus (COVID-19) year 2021, which include 199 functional capabilities and during the last 24 hours, of training programs designed to competencies in the areas of which 221 were from meet the training and qualifi- control and accounting. community cases and 37 from cation needs of the SAI travellers returning from employees, employees of the abroad who are subject to bodies subject to its control, and control and accounting. quarantine. university and school students. Sheikh Fahd added that, Officials of the Audit Bureau during the event. The MoPH also recorded The inauguration ceremony despite the challenges resulting 128 recoveries from the virus was attended by a number of from what the world has wit- 19 programs for employees of students about the importance diversification in the methods of during the past 24 hours, leaders of the Bureau, in addition nessed from the outbreak of the bodies subject to the Bureaus of the supervisory role and presenting programs in bringing the total number of to a number of officials and Coronavirus pandemic, the control, 24 programs to qualify introduce them to job opportu- attendance, remotely and cases recovered in Qatar to directors of departments in Bureau has been able to complete university students and 15 pro- nities in the Audit Bureau. through the electronic platform, 144,478. various authorities in the country the plans for the training pro- grams to aware school students, She added that the Center with full compliance with the All new cases have been who participated in attending the grams for the year 2020, by pre- noting that at the level of staff of of Excellence for Training and precautionary measures in place. introduced to isolation and are ceremony from a distance. paring and implementing alter- the Audit Bureau, the plans Development at the Audit She explained that the Audit receiving necessary healthcare On this occasion, Assistant native plans through remote included programs for super- Bureau adopts the best training Bureau strengthened cooper- according to their health to the President for Per- training and e-learning platform, vision and auditing methodol- and development strategies ation at the local level with a status. formance and Compliance in line with the measures and ogies, professional certificates with the aim of developing number of agencies and bodies Measures to tackle Control and Chairman of the precautionary measures taken and career rehabilitation human resources and raising in the country in the fields of COVID-19 in Qatar have suc- Training and Capacity Devel- in the state. programs. their efficiency and developing training, development and ceeded in flattening the curve opment Committee at the Audit For her part, Director of the As for the bodies subject to work methods to ensure effec- exchange of experiences by and limiting the spread of the Bureau, Sheikh Fahd bin Hamad Center of Excellence for supervision, development pro- tiveness in performance. she signing many memoranda of virus and the number of new Al Thani, confirmed that the Training and Development at grams have been designed pointed out that the new understanding with it, and at daily cases and hospital launch of training program the Audit Bureau, Rana Al Hajri, aiming at raising the capabilities program plan has been thought- the international level, the admissions is continuing to plans for the year 2021 comes confirmed that the plans for of the employees of these bodies fully designed to meet the actual Audit Bureau was keen to decline each week. as a continuation of the process training programs, strategic to raise the level of supervisory training needs of the Bureau’s exchange experiences of the Qatar’s proactive and adopted by the Audit Bureau projects and development ini- work, and at the student level, the employees and the bodies subject lecturers and participants with extensive testing of suspected with the aim of developing tiatives for the year 2021, Audit Bureau works to qualify to supervision, in addition to the regional organizations and cases has enabled us to functional capabilities and include 141 programs for university students to enter the programs intended for university international regulatory identify a high number of pos- competencies in the areas of employees of the Audit Bureau, labor market and educate school and school students, stressing the agencies. itive cases in the community. QU signs MoU with CNA-Q THE PENINSULA — DOHA parties’ respective needs. The collaboration will also provide Qatar University (QU) signed a Memo- a framework for exchanging experiences randum of Understanding (MoU) with the in professional development programmes, College of North Atlantic in Qatar (CNA-Q) seminars, conferences, and academic for cooperation in education, training, meetings. Other academic exchanges and programme development, and research. activities that both parties may agree upon, The MoU was signed by Dr. Hassan such as research and studies, access to sim- Al-Derham, Qatar University President, ulation and research laboratories, and pos- Webinar held to and Acting President of CNA-Q, Dr. sible mutually beneficial fields, would also Salem Al-Naemi. Officials and guests be covered. Commenting on the MoU, raise awareness from both institutions attended the event. Qatar University President Dr. Hassan Al The MoU emphasised the cooper- Derham, said: “The constructive cooper- about Glaucoma ation and collaboration methods ation between Qatar University and the between the two entities, especially in College of North Atlantic in Qatar began THE PENINSULA — DOHA academic and training programmes and since the College’s establishment. QU has activities, conducting joint research and always served the College with its expertise The Syrian Medical Association enhancing technical, research, training, in the education and management.” Qatar University President Dr. Hassan Al Derham, and Acting President of CNA-Q, in the State of Qatar (SMAQ), cultural, and developmental cooperation Dr. Hassan also praised the con- Dr. Salem Al Naemi after signing the document. held a virtual seminar in coop- in the various specializations provided tinuous efforts of the College in research, eration with the College of by both institutions. teaching, and training with Qatar Uni- consider Qatar University, a long-term community and participate in the coun- Pharmacy at Qatar University, This includes curricula development, versity and the College’s contribution partner. We have a history of collabo- try’s economic growth. The MoU we have and (QPhUS) - Qatar Pharmacy exchanging academic information and towards Qatar’s development. “This ration across different disciplines. It is a signed is an important milestone in the Undergraduate Society, to raise carrying out joint research activities and MoU will be six years long, which will commitment from both entities to offer journey that our College is taking. We awareness about Glaucoma. The publications, exchanging academic diversify programmes and partnership our students the best possible education, are gradually offering applied bachelor’s virtual meeting was attended by information and materials, and the between these two institutions,” he develop their skills, and prepare them degree programmes, and we will soon the Chairman of the Syrian design and implementation of continuing added. Acting President of CNA-Q, Dr. for the professional workplace. We want become the first applied university in Medical Association in Qatar Dr. education programs based on both Salem Al-Naemi, commented: “We them to become active members of the Qatar.” Muhammad Munjid (pictured), Deputy Dean of the College of Pharmacy for Student Affairs, Dr. Alaa Al Owaisi and a number Artists play crucial role during the pandemic of professors of the College of Pharmacy and students, and a number of doctors from Qatar RAYNALD C RIVERA a month ago where Hernandez “Qatar Red Crescent helps a lot and the Gulf countries. THE PENINSULA emerged first place. of people specially during this time. The presentations dealt with “I was overwhelmed when it They provide assistance in a big way, the seriousness of Glaucoma, The role artists play in the society was announced that I was the not only in Qatar but around the which described as a dangerous has never been more crucial in the winner though some of the artists world. We know that Qatar is a very disease that damage the optic time of COVID-19, says an artist. who participated in the compe- helpful country providing support nerve, and leads to a gradual loss “Artists must be active in con- tition told me beforehand the big to many countries,” she said. of vision to complete blindness veying their feelings, raising possibility that I could win the Her winning piece depicts the in some cases. awareness and inspiring people on contest,” she said. Red Crescent in the form of hands Dr. Mahmoud Saeed Farah, what is happening in the world today,” The organisers chose the top five that cradle and care for the world an ophthalmologist at Al-Ahli Filipina artist Danica Hernandez told winners among the dozens of sub- with the coronavirus in the back- Hospital, explained the basic The Peninsula yesterday. missions, some of which were on ground as volunteers work hard to symptoms of the different types “Visual art is not just about show at the exhibition. It took Her- extend much needed help. of Glaucoma, and the surgeries images; it conveys messages and nandez only two days and nights to Hernandez started her artistic that may be necessary in some emotions and it’s the artists’ role to complete the painting as she had to journey at a tender age of nine, and advanced cases. For his part, the express these through their works. beat the extended deadline which was able to hone her skills in pharmacist, Dr. Bassam Fawzi Art is a nonverbal form of commu- she read on the news, but what painting at 15. While having a day Rashid, talked about Glaucoma nication which have the power to resulted was an excellent and very job at 21, she started accepting art medications and eye drops, side affect people,” said Hernandez. much inspired work of art. commissions on the side, which she effects and risks that may result The artist is speaking on the In creating the painting, the artist enjoyed in addition to participating from the wrong use of the sidelines of the awarding of art com- said she focused on the theme, spe- in art contests. medicines. The lecture stressed petition winners and opening of cifically on the concept that QRCS Currently working in an art the importance of periodic “The Crescent Draws Hope during is giving hope amid the pandemic gallery, the self-taught artist has examination of eyes over the the COVID-19 Crisis” exhibition at as it plays a significant role during been attending workshops to further age of 40, which mainly helps Filipina artist Danica Hernandez, first place winner of art Katara Cultural Village Building 18. this time by extending help to dif- bolster her artistic skills. in early detection of this dan- competition organised by Visual Art Center and Qatar The exhibition was presented by ferent countries. Having engaged in “I’ve attended workshops such gerous disease. The presenta- Red Crescent Society, poses with her winning painting Visual Art Center (VAC) and Qatar volunteering work when she was in as the one in Souq Waqif Art Centre tions were followed by inter- at the opening of “The Crescent Draws Hope during Red Crescent Society (QRCS) to the Philippines and was a student, in 2015. Art classes help in polishing active questions from the the COVID-19 Crisis” exhibition yesterday at Katara showcase the winning artworks of Hernandez was impressed of the an artist’s technique as well as in participants. Building 18. PIC: RAYNALD C RIVERA/THE PENINSULA the competition they organised over work of QRCS. expanding one’s ideas,” she added. Qatar’s handling of pandemic an example for others: Maltese FM FROM PAGE 1 conflicts, and wars in the Middle He affirmed the vital role and stability of their country, and contribute to solving world championship will be held, Al- Maltese Foreign Minister said that East area in general, Bartolo played by Qatar at the interna- build its future. problems, not causing it. He Rayyan Stadium, which has a though Malta was happy the said the State of Qatar and Malta tional level as it became an influ- The Minister hoped that called on the administration of capacity of 47,000 spectators. crisis had ended, the country was completely agree on the impor- ential player in conflict resolution peace and security would the new American President, Joe The Minister noted that it is a saddened by the Qatar blockade. tance of solving all the disputes so that it will always be part of prevail in all conflict areas in Biden, to overcome the current modern sports facility with the He noted that the blockade, between the countries or within solving problems, not a cause or the Middle East and the world issues of the country, in terms of latest and highest international however, helped Qatar become countries peacefully and via a part of it. He added that Malta and that armed confrontations achieving the unity of Americans standards and conditions in more self-reliant and self-suffi- dialogue. He said mediators was happy with Qatar’s medi- and conflicts that only arms and overcoming the COVID-19, so terms of construction, lighting, cient. The Minister said that when must remain at the same dis- ating efforts in many conflicts, dealers would benefit from that the US would be more able to pitch, and other required facil- countries face such a blockade, tance from the conflicting citing its efforts to bring peace to would disappear. Furthermore, deal and cooperate with other ities. Bartolo said he was satisfied they either collapse or come out parties and work with patience the Middle East and achieve he noted that the new American countries on relevant issues. with the levels of Qatari-Maltese stronger, adding that it was the without interference and harmony between the Afghan administration is required to About the FIFA World Cup relations and the results of his latter that happened to Qatar. He imposing dictations. He said this parties themselves by hosting work with the rest of the world, to be hosted by Qatar next year, visit to Doha, pointing out that the expressed his hope that relations would make the talks proceed their negotiations in Doha. He and this is what it had demon- he said that he was pleased with two countries are now harvesting between the GCC would return freely to find ways to resolve said that those negotiations have strated and confirmed on its first Qatar’s preparations to make this what they planted over the past to their previous era after the Gulf the disagreement and conflict, led to building confidence day, by its willingness to work international sporting event a years in the course of the distin- reconciliation. which is what Qatar and Malta between them to achieve their with everyone for the sake of success. He added that he visited guished relations between Regarding the tensions, have succeeded in doing. people’s interests, the security, global peace and security, one of the stadiums where the them. 04 GULF / MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Twin suicide blasts rock central Baghdad, at least 32 dead AP — BAGHDAD bomber cried out loudly that he was ill in the middle of the bustling market, No one immediately took Twin suicide bombings ripped through prompting a crowd to gather around responsibility for the attack, but a busy market in the Iraqi capital him — and that’s when he detonated Iraqi military officials said it was yesterday, killing at least 32 people and his explosive belt. The second deto- wounding dozens, officials said. nated his belt shortly after, he said. the work of the Islamic State The rare suicide bombing hit the “This is a terrorist act perpetrated group. Bab Al Sharqi commercial area in by a sleeper cell of the Islamic State,” central Baghdad amid heightened Al Khafaji said. He said IS “wanted to political tensions over planned early prove its existence” after suffering by both the Islamic State group and elections and a severe economic crisis. many blows in military operations to other militia groups in recent months. Blood was splattered on the pavement root out the militants. Militias have routinely targeted the of the busy market amid piles of clothes At the Vatican, Pope Francis American presence in Iraq with rocket and shoes as survivors took stock of denounced the attack in Baghdad as a and mortar attacks, especially the US the disarray in the aftermath. “senseless act of brutality” and urged Embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified No one immediately took respon- Iraqis to keep working to replace vio- Green Zone. The pace of those attacks, Members of Iraqi security forces keep guard at the site of a twin suicide bombing sibility for the attack, but Iraqi military lence with fraternity and peace. The however, has decreased since an attacks in a central market in Baghdad, yesterday. officials said it was the work of the telegram of condolences sent to the informal truce was declared by Iran- Islamic State group. Iraqi president was particularly backed armed groups in October. Iraq’s health minister Hassan heartfelt, given Francis is due to visit The style of yesterday’s assault was increase in attacks was seen last demand political change, and an end Mohammed Al Tamimi said at least 32 Iraq in early March to try to encourage similar to those IS has conducted in the summer as militants took advantage to rampant corruption and poor people were killed and 110 were the country’s Christian communities past. But the group has rarely been able of the government’s focus on tackling services. More than 500 people were wounded in the attack. He said some that have been devastated by IS to penetrate the capital since being dis- the coronavirus pandemic. killed in mass demonstrations as of the wounded were in serious con- persecution. lodged by Iraqi forces and the US-led The twin bombings yesterday came security forces used live rounds and dition. Iraq’s military previously put Yesterday’s twin suicide bombings coalition in 2017. days after Iraq’s government unani- tear gas to disperse crowds. the number of dead at 28. marked the first in three years to target IS has shown an ability to stage mously agreed to hold early elections Iraq is also grappling with a severe The Health Ministry announced Baghdad’s bustling commercial area. increasingly sophisticated attacks in October. Prime Minister Mustafa Al economic crisis brought on by low oil that all of its hospitals in the capital A suicide bomb attack took place in across northern Iraq, where it still Kadhimi had announced in July that prices that has led the government to were mobilised to treat the wounded. the same area in 2018 shortly after maintains a presence, three years after early polls would be held to meet the borrow internally and risk depleting Maj. Gen. Tahsin Al Khafaji, then-Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi Iraq declared victory over the group. demands of anti-government its foreign currency reserves. The spokesman for the Joint Operations declared victory over the Islamic State Iraqi security forces are frequently protesters. Central Bank of Iraq devalued Iraq’s Command, which includes an array of group. ambushed and targeted with IEDs in Demonstrators took to the streets dinar by nearly 20% last year to meet Iraqi forces, said the first suicide Iraq has seen assaults perpetrated rural areas of Kirkuk and Diyala. An in the tens of thousands last year to spending obligations. Lebanon extends lockdown into February as virus numbers rise UAE approves AP — BEIRUT Organization. Registered daily any vaccinations. The gov- industrialists and businessmen experiencing a crippling eco- Russia’s infections have hovered around ernment finalized a deal with about the impact of closures on nomic and financial crisis that Authorities in Lebanon 5,000 since the holiday season, Pfizer last week for vaccines the economy. had sparked protests, bank clo- Sputnik V yesterday extended a up from nearly 1,000 in that will arrive in early The health committee con- sures and restrictions on capital nationwide lockdown by a November. The overall death February. sulting with the government on movement amid a deep foreign COVID vaccine week, to February 8, amid a toll has surpassed 2,000, with The World Bank said the national plan had recom- currency crunch. steep rise in coronavirus deaths new fatalities numbering Thursday it approved $34 mended a two-week extension The crisis, coupled with REUTERS — DUBAI and infections that has over- between 40 and 60 deaths a million to help pay for vaccines of the lockdown. coronavirus restrictions, has whelmed the health care day in the past week. for Lebanon that will inoculate “Lifting or easing the sent nearly half of the popu- The UAE health ministry system. Doctors say with increased over 2 million people. lockdown at this time will lation into poverty, increased yesterday approved Russia’s Despite increasing the testing, the number of con- The steep rise in infections surely lead to a collapse of the unemployment and forced Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine number of hospital beds in the firmed infections has also and deaths comes despite the health system and result in many businesses to shut or for emergency use, state country of nearly 6 million, increased, recording a positivity strict lockdown in place since more deaths. This is unac- leave the country. media reported, as infection doctors and nurses have rate of over 20% for every 100 January 14. Yesterday, the gov- ceptable and unconscionable,” During the holidays, the levels hit a record and only struggled to keep pace with tests. ernment decided to extend that tweeted Dr. Firass Abiad, head government eased some restric- weeks after vaccine trials patients flooding their facilities. Nurses and doctors are lockdown, which was due to of the public hospital leading tions in place hoping to give the began in the United Arab Intensive care unit bed occu- overwhelmed, and more than expire February 1, by a week. the fight against the economy a boost. Many blame Emirates. pancy has been rising, hitting 2,300 health care workers have The government vowed to pandemic. that brief relaxation of Daily infections of the 91% late Wednesday, according been infected since February. re-examine some exemptions Before the pandemic hit last measures for the steep rise in novel coronavirus in the UAE to the World Health Lebanon has yet to carry out amid an outcry from year, Lebanon was already infections. reached 3,529 yesterday, the health ministry said, the highest in the Gulf Arab region, where daily tallies in each of Turkey’s vaccinations the other five states have fallen below 500. “Study results have demonstrated the effec- may quicken after tiveness of the vaccine in trig- gering a strong antibody response against the virus, its elderly are inoculated safety for use, and its com- pliance with international REUTERS — ANKARA but has only received 3 million safety and effectiveness doses so far. Authorities have standards,” the Emirates’ news Turkey has slowed the pace of not set a date for the next agency WAM reported. New COVID-19 vaccinations after an shipment. daily cases in the Gulf state of explosive start last week, but Yamanoglu said authorities about 9 million people tripled can quicken it again after the had contingency plans in case in the past month to about 354 country delivers inoculations further shipments were per million this week, to the elderly in care homes delayed, without giving details. according to Oxford Univer- and at their houses, the He added that it was easier sity's Our World in Data programme’s coordinator said. to carry out rapid vaccinations research programme. The nationwide rollout of with CoronaVac than some The UAE did not release the CoronaVac vaccine, pro- other shots, which require data on the findings of its duced by China’s Sinovac, much colder storage, and that Phase III trials. The Russian reached 1 million people in its Ankara was preparing to Direct Investment Fund first week. administer all vaccines in the (RDIF), which is marketing the After 600,000 health same manner. shot abroad, said trials began workers were vaccinated in the Health Minister Fahrettin in December. Abu Dhabi first two days, the pace slowed Koca had said earlier that announced this month the to about 100,000 people per Turkey has a daily capacity to trials had started but did not Games for people with disabilities in Gaza day as the campaign moved to administer up to 2 million vac- say when. “The decision comes Palestinian women participate in a basketball competition for people with disabilities in Gaza, yesterday. care homes across the country. cines. The country has a pop- as part of the UAE’s compre- “Logistically, our capacity ulation of about 82 million. hensive and integrated efforts is very high. The current dose Later on Wednesday, Koca to ensure increased prevention numbers are considerably low said Ankara’s vaccination pro- levels against the virus and to Lebanon central bank governor denies for us,” programme coordi- gramme and its procurement safeguard the health of the nator Tarkan Mustafa Yama- strategy were “good”, adding country’s citizens and resi- noglu told Reuters on that Turkey had procured doses dents,” WAM said. transfer of funds amid Swiss probe Wednesday. in line with its vaccination The RDIF said 1,000 vol- AP — BEIRUT general’s office declined to offer an unprecedented shortage of The need to “properly timetable, allowing it to con- unteers in Abu Dhabi had so further details. foreign currencies. The gov- administer” vaccines and limit tinue vaccinating without far received their first dose of The governor of Lebanon’s There were media reports ernment defaulted on its contact to avoid spreading pause. “We are pushing all con- the vaccine under the trials. Central Bank denied yesterday in Lebanon that billions of foreign debts and began talks infections were other factors ditions to ensure the vaccine The vaccine’s Russian that he had made any transfers dollars have left the country with the International Monetary constraining the pace of the reaches as many of our citizens developers have said the shot of the bank’s funds following a after banks blocked transfers Fund for a rescue package. rollout, he said, as were the as possible, as soon as pos- has been found to be 91.4% probe by Swiss authorities into abroad. Some media singled out Amid the chaos, reports demographics of the people sible,” Koca said in a statement effective in providing pro- money laundering and embez- transfers made by Lebanon’s surfaced of capital transfers, being vaccinated. after meeting his coronavirus tection. Sputnik V is the third zlement. Central Bank governor himself. including by government “We expect fluctuations in science team. COVID-19 vaccine to be Governor Riad Salameh’s Salameh was quick to deny officials. vaccination speeds depending Turkey has reported some approved in the UAE. statement was released after he the allegations. “I asserted that Prime Minister Hassan Diab on age groups and mobility; this 24,000 deaths from COVID-19 A vaccine developed by was questioned by Lebanon’s no transfers were made from has held Salameh responsible will happen in the coming and more than 2.4 million China National Pharmaceu- prosecutor general, Judge the accounts or the budget of for the currency crash, accusing period,” Yamanoglu said in an infections since March, some tical Group (Sinopharm) is Ghassan Oweidat, based on a the central bank,” Salameh said him of pursuing “opaque” pol- interview. Ankara has agreed of the highest figures in the available to the general public, Swiss investigation for aggra- in Thursday’s statement. icies that sent the Lebanese to buy 50 million doses of Middle East. A night-time while Dubai is also inoculating vated money laundering in con- He added that he reserves pound on its downward spiral CoronaVac and is in talks with curfew and weekend lock- residents with the vaccine pro- nection with possible embez- the right to pursue legal actions against the dollar. other developers for supplies, downs are in place. duced by Pfizer and BioNTec. zlement in the bank. against “those who spread ten- A government-commis- Salameh also said he was dentious rumors and defa- sioned international audit of the ready for any further mation that target me per- central bank faltered after the questioning. sonally and the financial repu- New York-based company Israeli forces arrest 15 Palestinians in West Bank Switzerland’s attorney tation of Lebanon.” Lebanon is hired to do it said it was unable QNA — OCCUPIED JERUSALEM Palestinians, after storming and checked their ID cards. general said on Tuesday it has facing a crippling financial to acquire needed information their homes, the Palestinian The occupation forces also asked Lebanon for cooperation crisis that was in full throttle and documents. The Israeli occupation forces news agency (Wafa) reported. arrested two young Palestinians into a probe it started into pos- last year, when private banks Salameh, who has held the yesterday arrested 15 Pales- In the same context, the south of Jericho and two others sible money laundering and enforced informal capital con- central bank post since 1993, tinians in various areas in the occupation forces erected a southwest of Jenin. The Israeli embezzlement at the central trols, limiting withdrawals and has defended his role, alleging West Bank. military barrier on the entrance occupation forces also arrested bank. It was not clear what blocking transfers abroad. The a systematic campaign meant The occupation forces of ad-Dhahiriya city that leads five Palestinians, including a prompted the investigation in value of Lebanon’s currency to hold him responsible for the raided many neighbourhoods to Hebron city, stopped and girl from Kobar village north Switzerland. The Swiss attorney tumbled against the dollar amid country’s financial crisis. in Hebron city and arrested six searched the citizens’ vehicles Ramallah city. FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 ISLAM 05 Examine our relationship with the Quran DR SPAHIC OMER Islam is to be lived, not

he Holy Quran was practiced. True Muslims live revealed by Almighty Allah Islam. Those who practice it through Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be are yet to experience the Upon Him) to mankind to bring them out of the dis- authentic beauty and Torienting and debilitating darkness of sweetness of the Islamic falsehood, ignorance and superstitions to the light and radiance of truth, faith. That is why some guidance and proper erudition. The Quran is the only means available to man people in the end become by which he can communicate directly apostates. They get tired of, with his Creator, Master and Sustainer. No other alternative is left as all the pre- or fed up, with practicing vious Scriptures have been tampered some — to them —dry, rigid with, corrupted or utterly lost. This indeed is a hallmark of the and meaningless rituals Islamic message. Man needs no inter- mediaries of any kind — conceptual or rooted in little, or no physical—between him and his Master. genuine, truth. The whole life affair is solely between man and Allah. Everything and eve- ryone else stands for a secondary thing, Submitting fully to and worshiping playing second fiddle to that over- Allah alone means personal liberation, whelming relationship. Allah is only a self-assertion and self-fulfillment in Quranic verse (ayah), a contemplative the truest senses of those words. thought, or a sincere supplication Islam therefore is to be lived, not “away”. practiced. True Muslims live Islam. become inseparable, almost synon- absolute. The Quran has partially been growing number of genuine exceptions, Man has been created but to Those who practice it are yet to expe- ymous with each other. made the object of their one-dimen- but unfortunately they are still few and worship and serve Allah (Al Dhariyat, rience the authentic beauty and Thus, the Quran signifies to sional and patchy — often outright far between. It stands to reason that the 56). However, this by no means implies sweetness of the Islamic faith. Muslims the source of their identity, flawed—intellectual, spiritual and cul- whole set of the mentioned prevalent that man is to engross himself fully and That is why some people in the end strength, consciousness and cultural tural pursuits. The Quran is meant religious trends stands for a segment of exclusively in sheer religious rituals become apostates. They get tired of, or as well as civilizational being. Without thereby to be superficially and partially what could be dubbed an emerging and spend most of his terrestrial time fed up, with practicing some — to them the Quran, there will be no Islam; nor comprehended and implemented, at Muslim pop(ular) culture some of whose mainly in mosques or some other reli- —dry, rigid and meaningless rituals will there be Muslims and Islamic best, and misused and even abused, at main features and qualities revolve not gious institutions and establishments. rooted in little, or no genuine, truth. culture and civilization. Without the worst. However, the Prophet (PBUH) only around the Quran, but also around Indeed, such would be impractical, In point of fact, however, apostates Quran as a conduit of revealed wisdom warned that there will be times when the realms of Muslim fashion, enter- uninspiring and dull an affair. Rather, were never Muslims as per the Quranic and knowledge concerning the spir- certain people will recite the Quran but tainment, media and sport. that means that man in his capacity as conception and interpretation of the itual and ethical meaning and purpose it will not go beyond their throats, There are many especially non- Allah’s vicegerent on earth is to live his term. They were never Muslims of life, furthermore, little permanently meaning it will not enter their hearts Arab Muslims who have read the Quran life “to the fullest” but only according because true Muslims do not (cannot) wholesome will ever be possible for and they will not understand it. “They many times but are not aware of its to the patterns and paradigms instituted become apostates. A person cannot man to achieve. One thus may ask: will go out from (leave) Islam as an fundamental meanings and messages. by the Creator. Man is to live his life not renounce what he intrinsically is and what conceptual, substantial or moral arrow darts through the game’s body” Others do not even care. according to his own will, but according what he primordially was meant to be. good would remain with mankind if (Sahih Al Bukhari). One then wonders: what type of to the will of the Creator and Cherisher He can only give up and abandon his the towering contributions of God’s Some of the less heartrending Muslims are Muslims? What type of of life. Each and every creation is to artificial self and artificial life patterns holy prophets and the direct and states of affairs go along the lines of Islam do they follow? How could they submit itself only to its Creator, rather unnaturally imposed on him, which he indirect contributions of numerous constantly reading the Quran for the barter the true, unambiguous, natural than other creations. So imperfect, faulty regularly and constantly did in order sages and leaders the prophets pro- sake of mere reading it. The Quran is and logical message of Islam and the and weak is man —and indeed every to become better at them and make duced were taken away from them? also recorded and regularly played on Quran for some irrational, meaningless other creation— that he cannot be qual- them an everyday part of his routine The emphatic answer is: nothing, or numerous TV programmes and during and foreign spiritual, ethical and epis- ified for any of the tasks relating to the life. Positively, Islam cannot be an arti- extremely little, at best. various official and unofficial cere- temological alternatives? Who are spiritual and existential lordship and ficial, non-natural and simulated life- Nonetheless, it is a sad truth today monies, in public and in private. Quran (were) the main culprits for the pre- self-sufficiency. style and culture. that many Muslims’ relationship with recitations by world’s most famous dicament, and under what circum- That said, Islam is not a religion in As a small digression, those who the Quran is fraught with a myriad of reciters could be heard virtually eve- stances did such an unprofitable trade the sense Christianity, Judaism, Hin- neither subscribe to nor follow the only deficiencies. In a nutshell, the Quran rywhere in most of the Muslim world: come to pass? duism, Buddhism, etc., are. Islam is a message and guidance meant for has been either abandoned completely, from the minarets of mosques, in These questions are compelling and complete way of life. It is a compre- mankind — which was revealed to all or is erroneously dealt with. shopping centres, schools, private spontaneously impose themselves con- hensive lifestyle, culture and civili- the prophets of Allah during entire In the former scenario, many houses, restaurants and coffee shops, sidering that in Islam, no blind fol- zation. It is a form of total submission human history, Muhammad (PBUH) people have nothing to do with the and all forms of private and public lowing and no beliefs and spiritual to the will, knowledge and guidance being the final messenger — actually Quran and its content insofar as their transportation. Some reciters have undertakings that are based on irra- of Allah. Islam is not a religion of mere do not “live”. They only exist, like the private, family and professional lives become world celebrities as a result; tional evidence and reasoning, are words, slogans, or symbols. It is not a rest of life’s animate and inanimate are concerned. Their affiliation with many others dream and do their best accepted. Islam is a rational, balanced religion of an abstract philosophy, or realities. They slumber throughout and Islam is based on some repetitive to follow suit. Tilawah (reciting Quran) and open-minded religion, so, Muslims a set of pure religious rituals. Islam wake up only when departing this rituals and traditions which they competitions are organised on a must be most rational and open- knows no distinction between the spir- fleeting life. The idea of life is attached inherited from their forefathers and regular basis, both locally and inter- minded of all people. Since its itual and material spheres of existence to them only metaphorically. And, which they blindly follow. Their Islam nationally, and huge amounts of money inception, Islam declared an ideo- along the ideological and ontological hypothetically, those who live the only often revolves around “Islamic” sym- are allocated for the purpose (all this logical war against those and other lines. To assert something like that is revealed message of Allah, Islam, but bolism, deadening formalism and takes place despite most universities similar intellectual and spiritual crimes to distort the Islamic message and to want to give it up, will need to “die” baseless tales and superstitions. They and other institutions of higher and felonies that can only paralyze and live in the wrong. Due to the unity and first, as such an option in the real world are not interested in the Quran as they learning, in their capacity as rare hold people back on their journey of oneness of Allah (tawhid), Islam is not viable, in that true Islam means know that with it all they live for will beacons of hope — especially such as civilization-making. Allah says: “And likewise propagates the unity and true life, and vice versa. Islam, it goes suddenly be exposed and shaken to its those endued with an Islamic spirit and do not pursue (say, do or witness) that oneness of truth and of the meaning, without saying, is not only about core. The Quran is thus bound to bring disposition — having been bereft of sig- of which you have no knowledge. purpose and providence of life and human existence, but also about each more “damage” than “profit” to such nificant research and publication Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the man. and every tier of the whole physical people. opportunities and funds). Countless heart — about all those (one) will be Islam is a religion of sincere faith and metaphysical existence. It is its In the latter case, the Quran is reg- schools and colleges dedicated to questioned” (Al Isra’, 36). Accordingly, (iman), actions and deeds (amal salih). DNA, so to speak. ularly but hastily read or recited reciting and memorising the Quran are any act of blind following or per- It is a religion of life accomplishments. In its capacity as a divine book of without duly understanding or con- established worldwide and many formance on the basis of utter igno- Islam is life, and life, the way Allah guidance, inspiration, truth, clear signs, templating its content. Moreover, its Quran reciters and hafizs (those who rance, even in pure religious rites or created and predetermined it, echoes cure, mercy, glad tidings, and ultimate substance is yet misread, misinter- memorise the whole Quran) are pro- ceremonies, is an abominable course the quintessence and ethos of Islam. wisdom and knowledge encompassing preted and misapplied. The Quran is duced annually. of action as it disregards the projected The word “islam” which denotes a total everything necessary for the fulfillment often used as a means for justifying and The many outward benefits of all tasks and knacks of the faculties given submission to Allah through one’s acts, of the ontological purpose of existence supporting some preconceived ideas those activities notwithstanding, to man. (To be continued) words and thoughts, clearly attests to (Al Baqarah, 97, 185; Yunus, 57; Al Isra’, and judgments. People have also sub- quantity and form, clearly, are empha- Dr. Spahic Omer, an award-winning author, is it. Hence, there is nothing more 82; Al Nahl, 89), the Holy Quran jected the Quran to themselves, rather sised at the expense of quality and sub- an Associate Professor at the Kulliyyah of Islamic thrilling, spellbinding, wholesome and accounts for everything Islam as a total than subjecting themselves to it. They stance, in complete opposition to the Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, Inter- rewarding than living life in the name code of life is. The Quran is a symbol have rendered the Quran relative, and whole spirit of Islam and the Quran. It is national Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). This of and for the Creator of the universe. of the Islamic message. The two have their selfish goals and concerns true, at the same time, that there is a article is taken from http://medinanet.org

Islam:Basic Facts - 3 What the Prophet said Obligatory prayers Kindness A man once told the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he had rayer in Islam, is worship of Allah plan his life around the prayer. many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet the Almighty, Praising and It would be a great sin to neglect (PBUH) replied: “Verily, God will only show mercy to those of Thanking Him, acknowledging His praying when at work if a prayer was P His servants who do good to others.” Sovereignty and committing oneself to required at that time. obey and remember Him at all times. It If a believer is shopping at the mall or The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “If one of you loves his is the central part of a way of life, which waiting at the airport and there is no way brother, he should tell him that he loves him.” is based on submission to the Creator of to get home or to a mosque, he is still obli- The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Be kind, for whenever us all. gated to perform the prayer within its due kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. The five prayers are among the best time instead of purposely leaving out or Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished.” acts of worship that the Muslim delaying the prayer. He also said: “Make things simple and do not complicate performs. This indicates the importance of the them. Calm people and do not drive them away.” Performing them is the best deed after obligatory prayer. Performing the oblig- (Imam Bukhari’s Book of Muslim Morals and Manners) having the correct belief in God and His atory prayer on time takes priority over Messenger. other non-obligatory matters. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would hear the crying of a Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was Each of the five prayers have different child in the company of his mother during payer, and he asked what the best deed was and he said number of units (Raka’at) for each. would then recite only a short portion of the Quran to end the it was performing the obligatory prayers Fajr (Dawn Prayer) is 2 units (Raka’at). prayer and let the mother comfort her child.” at the beginning of their times. Dhuhar (Noon prayer) is 4 units. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 220) When we say “prayers” we are Asr (Afternoon prayer) is 4 units. referring to an act of worshipping God Maghrib (Sunset prayer) is 3 units. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “God did not send me to which has a specific format as God Isha (Night prayer) is 4 units. revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make be upon him). The prophets, from Adam “When My servants ask thee concerning things easy.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 707) to Muhammad (peace be upon them), Me, I am indeed close to them; I listen to ordered their followers to pray as per God’s the prayer of every suppliant when he Charity orders. calleth on Me; let them also with a will Since the prayer is the most important listen to My call and believe in Me; that The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Charity matter in Islam after having the correct they may walk in the right way.” does not diminish wealth.” belief in God and His Messenger, one must (Quran 2:186) (Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Volume 1, Hadith 556) 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021

UK backs Sudan Africa’s COVID-19 economic reforms with case fatality rate over $50m tops global level AP — CAIRO Britain's foreign secretary REUTERS — NAIROBI announced yesterday that his With a population of more government would offer more Africa’s coronavirus case than 1.3 billion, Africa has than $50m to help poor fatality rate has risen alarm- recorded 81,000 Sudanese families as their ingly to 2.5%, higher than the COVID-19 deaths, government embarks upon global level of 2.2%, the head major austerity measures to of the continent’s disease representing 4% of revive its battered economy, control body said yesterday. fatalities globally from the Sudan's state news agency Earlier in the pandemic, coronavirus. reported. Africa’s rate had been below On a visit to Khartoum, Healthcare workers chat at a temporary ward set up during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) the global average, the Africa Dominic Raab and Sudanese outbreak, at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, on January 19, 2021. Centres for Disease Control and regions. She said higher rates Minister of Finance and Eco- Prevention (CDC) head John were probably due to the chal- nomic Planning Heba Nkengasong told reporters. lenges African countries most Mohamed Ali Ahmed signed a “The case fatality rate is severely affected by the second South Africa minister dies of COVID-19 amid surge memorandum of under- beginning to be very worrying wave - notably South Africa AP — JOHANNESBURG Mthembu's death comes as a leader in the ANC," said ANC standing under which Britain and concerning for all of us,” where a more infectious South Africa battles a second deputy secretary-general Jessie commits to disbursing eco- he said, without giving a reason variant has been detected - Jackson Mthembu, a central wave of the COVID-19 that is Duarte. nomic aid worth £40m, or for the increase. were facing in providing care figure in communicating the driven by a new variant of the "He was the face of the gov- about $54.8m, to the African The number of African for infected people. Over the South African government's virus that is about 50% more ernment in the last few months country, SUNA reported. nations with a rate of deaths- past week, cases around the response to the COVID-19 infectious, according to health communicating to the country Sudan is on a fragile path per-cases higher than the continent decreased by nearly pandemic, died of complica- experts. on COVID-19,” she said. "I to democratic rule after a global average is growing, he 7% compared to the previous tions from the coronavirus, the Mthembu was appointed would say he died with his popular uprising led the mil- added. There are 21 countries week while deaths increased president announced yesterday. the spokesman for South boots on.” itary to overthrow longtime on the continent with a rate 10%, according to Africa CDC He was 62. Africa's governing African Tributes for Mthembu have autocrat Omar Al Bashir in above 3%, including Egypt, the data. Mthembu is the first National Congress party in been pouring in from across the April 2019, after nearly three Democratic Republic of Congo, With a population of more member of South Africa’s 2007 and became a member of country’s political divide. decades of rule. A military- and Sudan. The initially lower than 1.3 billion, Africa has cabinet to succumb to parliament a few years later. "Jackson Mthembu was a civilian government is now in case fatality level in Africa may recorded 81,000 COVID-19 COVID-19 after he tested pos- He was the Minister in the rare exception amongst min- power but struggles with a have been due to lower testing deaths, representing 4% of itive on January 11. Presidency, responsible for isters as he valued accounta- wide range of economic chal- rates and a youthful population, fatalities globally from the "Minister Mthembu was an communicating cabinet deci- bility dearly and never shied lenges, including crippling experts said last year. coronavirus, Nkengasong told exemplary leader, an activist sions and since the outbreak of away from difficult questions," debt, widespread shortages of Despite Nkengasong’s reporters. Africa has recorded and life-long champion of COVID-19 has been coordi- said former opposition party essential goods such as fuel, concern, the World Health 3.3 million infections in total. freedom and democracy," Pres- nating the government’s key Democratic Alliance bread and medicine, and a Organisation’s Africa head Mat- The continent reported ident Cyril Ramaphosa said. messages on the virus. spokesman Solly Malatsi. three-digit inflation rate. shidiso Moeti told an online 207,000 new cases in the past "He was a much-loved and "We have lost a remarkable "He had an impeccable "This is the first visit by a news conference that Africa’s week, with South Africa alone greatly respected colleague person for the ANC, he has knack for banter that could British foreign secretary to case fatality rate was not dra- reporting 100,000 of those, and comrade, whose passing come a long way from being a defrost the most tense moments Sudan in more than ten years,” matically worse than other Nkengasong said. leaves our nation at a loss.” student in the 70s to becoming between political opponents." said Rosie Diyas, Britain's spokesperson for the Mideast and North Africa. "The visit Mali villagers say aims at supporting Sudan’s Uganda faces pressure to end Bobi Wine’s house arrest transition to democracy and French bombs hit civilian rule.” AP — KAMPALA, UGANDA a triumphant return to Kampala to respect “the free movement The British aid will finance wedding: HRW from his country estate, with of all political actors and their cash handouts to 1.6 million Calls grew yesterday for stopovers where he waved at supporters.” Museveni won the poor Sudanese, said Diyas. Aid REUTERS — DAKAR Ugandan authorities to free cheering crowds. January 14 election with 58% of recipients are expected to be opposition presidential chal- The detention of Wine has the vote while Wine had 34%, those most hit by the economic Three villagers in northern lenger Bobi Wine from house angered his supporters, who see according to official results. reforms, slashing of subsidies Mali told Human Rights Watch arrest a week after the coun- it as an extension of the har- Wine insists he won and has and the reduction of public (HRW) that a French air strike try’s longtime president won a assment he faced from security said he can prove that the mil- spending that the Sudanese this month hit a wedding party sixth term in a disputed forces who frequently broke up itary was stuffing ballot boxes, government is expected to attended by civilians, disputing election. his campaign events, citing casting ballots for people and implement in order to reduce French claims that only mili- A judge will rule next week measures to control the spread chasing voters away from its huge public deficit. tants were hit. on a petition by Wine’s of the coronavirus. polling stations. Museveni has Sudan's transitional gov- Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Different sides have attorneys seeking an end to the Wine, a popular singer- dismissed allegations of vote- ernment has been racing also known as Bobi Wine offered contradictory accounts deployment of soldiers outside turned-lawmaker, has captured rigging, calling the election “the against the clock to garner of the January 3 strike outside his property on the outskirts of the imagination of many at most cheating-free” since inde- economic and political support the village of Bounti. The the capital, Kampala. Wine, home and abroad in his gener- (opposition National Unity pendence from Britain in 1962. of Western powers in order to French military said it killed whose real name is Kyagulanyi ational clash with Museveni. Platform party) from going to The East African country end decades of its pariah status about 30 militants — a version Ssentamu, says he has been Wine, who is 38, has called for court in time,” Deprose has never witnessed a peaceful and secure reliefs of its crip- backed by Malian detained there for eight days. the retirement of the 76-year- Muchena, an Amnesty Interna- transfer of power - one reason pling debt. authorities. Authorities say Wine can old president, a US ally on tional official, said in a why even some within the In the weeks before The military did not imme- only leave his home under mil- regional security who took statement calling the con- ruling party publicly urge leaving office, former Pres- diately respond to a request for itary escort because his power in 1986. finement “a blatant violation” Museveni to preside over an ident Donald Trump removed comment on the HRW report. presence in public allegedly Museveni accuses Wine of of human rights. orderly transition. Sudan from the list of state It has previously said its intel- threatens public safety. They being a foreign agent, which the A losing presidential can- The election was marred by sponsors of terrorism, a move ligence before and after the are preventing visitors, opposition leader denies. didate has 10 days from the violence ahead of polling day as that allows Khartoum to get strike allowed it to exclude the including the US ambassador, The house arrest of Wine is announcement of final results well as an Internet shutdown that international loans. possibility of collateral from seeing him. “having an impact on his ability to challenge them in court. Final remained in force until Monday, Sudan’s economy has suf- damage. Mali’s defence min- While lawyers argued for to challenge the presidential results were declared on Jan. 16. when access was restored for fered from decades of US istry has said it would inves- Wine’s freedom, President election results, in what appears The European Union in a most Ugandans. Social media sanctions and tigate the incident. Yoweri Museveni was making to be a ploy to prevent the statement has urged authorities sites remain restricted. mismanagement. An advocacy group for Fulani herders in Mali said 19 civilians were killed in the strike while attending a Journalist reportedly shot wedding, and Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the wounded it dead in Ethiopia’s Tigray treated from Bounti were REUTERS — NAIROBI resident told Reuters. mostly elderly men. “I attended their funeral, In a statement on yes- An Ethiopian journalist and both were buried in Mekelle on terday, New York-based HRW his friend have been shot Wednesday,” the resident said. cited three Bounti residents, dead by an unidentified The motive of the killing including two who were person in the northern Tigray was unclear. injured in the attack, as saying region’s capital Mekelle, an Kahsay Biru, director of that the men had gathered aid worker and a resident the Tigray Mass Media separately from the women said yesterday. Agency which is the umbrella and children for the wedding Rights groups say press body for the broadcaster because of gender segregation freedom has eroded since a where Dawit worked, said imposed in the area. November war between police had briefly detained “I heard a powerful deto- federal troops and forces Dawit on Friday and asked nation, boom, and then loyal to the former ruling him to report to them on another detonation,” one of party of Tigray, which lost Monday. the men, who is 68, told HRW. Mekelle at the end of that The agency is run by the “When I woke up, my foot month. interim administration of was bleeding because of Plight of Syria's displaced population Dawit Kebede, who Tigray, which was appointed shrapnel, and all around me worked for Tigray regional by the federal government. Tents partially covered with snow are seen at a camp for internally displaced people in Syria's Northern were wounded and dead state TV, was shot on Tuesday “They asked him about our Aleppo countryside, on Wednesday. bodies.” night while in a car with institution, and how they were HRW called on the French friends, one aid worker said. reporting during the conflict,” and Malian governments to “Both were shot in their Kahsay told Reuters. “promptly and impartially” head and their bodies were Mekelle mayor Ataklti investigate the incident and Nigeria expects first COVID vaccines in Feb found in a car they were Haileselassie and Mulu Nega, assist an ongoing United driving,” said the worker, the new head of Tigray, did Nations investigation. BLOOMBERG Preparedness Innovations, to vaccinate about 70% of its who asked not to be named. not reply to phone calls or France has more than Faisal Shuaib, head of the West population in the long run and Their bodies were found texts seeking comments on 5,100 military personnel based Nigeria expects to take delivery African country’s National is working on other options, on Wednesday by people who the killings. in Mali and other former col- of its first coronavirus vaccine Primary Health Care Devel- besides Covax, for supplies. were going to church and Media watchdogs have onies in West Africa. Five doses in February, with health opment Agency, said in an Nigeria has acquired three called the Red Cross. Dawit’s reported the arrest of at least French soldiers have been workers, top government offi- interview. “We are waiting for ultra-cold chain freezers to friend was identified as 13 journalists in Ethiopia last killed in Mali in the past month cials and vulnerable people to final confirmation from Covax keep the Pfizer vaccines at the Bereket Berhe, whom the year, seven of them in in attacks by an Al Qaeda be given priority. on when the first doses will required temperature, Addis Standard newspaper November when fighting affiliate. The vaccines, which could arrive,” Shuaib said, adding that according to Shuaib. said was the brother of one erupted in Tigray. President Emmanuel be as many as 100,000 doses the “most recent indication is However, in the longer of Dawit’s colleagues. Ethiopian media has a Macron said yesterday that of Pfizer Inc.’s shot, will be pro- they’re expected in February.” term, the government plans to Tigray is under a state of wide spectrum of views, from France could soon “adjust” its cured through the Covax initi- The shots were first expected invest in vaccines that are emergency and in Mekelle state-run and affiliated media operations due to what he said ative backed by Gavi the to arrive in January. easier to store, such as those there is a nightly curfew from to independent publications were successes against the Vaccine Alliance, the World Africa’s most populous created by AstraZeneca Plc and 7 pm. to outlets affiliated with militants and the arrival of Health Organisation and the country of more than 200 the University of Oxford, he Both were killed at political opposition or even more European forces. Coalition for Epidemic million people plans said. around 7.30 pm, one Mekelle armed groups. FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 07 Indian vaccine production unaffected by fire: SII REUTERS — NEW DELHI “We mourn the that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies,” SII The Serum Institute of India unfortunate demise of Chief Executive Adar Poona- (SIII), the world’s biggest the 5 people,” Pune’s walla said on Twitter. vaccine maker, said yesterday Poonawalla, whose family that production of the Astra- police department owns SII, was quoted as saying Zeneca coronavirus vaccine said on Twitter. We by broadcaster CNBC-TV18 would not be affected by a that the fire would mean deadly fire at its headquarters “will conduct a delays in launching new in Maharashtra state. thorough screening of products and revenue losses Videos and pictures from of more than Rs10bn ($137m). Reuters partner ANI showed the premises once the Equipment worth millions of black smoke billowing from a fire is doused”. dollars has been damaged, he multi-storey building in the said. SSI’s massive complex in the But a source familiar with city of Pune. The blaze, which AstraZeneca, and was also the matter said manufacturing police said killed five people, planning to start stockpiling up of COVID-19 shots would not had been brought under control to 50 million doses a month of be affected and that none of the but not extinguished. a vaccine candidate developed new production equipment for “We mourn the unfortunate by Novavax Inc from around vaccines was housed in the demise of the 5 people,” Pune’s April. building that caught fire. police department said on Many low- and middle- The company announced a Twitter. We “will conduct a income countries, from Bang- compensation of Rs2.5m thorough screening of the ladesh to Brazil, are depending ($34,243) for families of the premises once the fire is on SII to deliver the Astra- people who died at the “under- doused”. Zeneca vaccine, branded COV- installation facility”. The Maharashtra gov- ISHIELD by the Indian SII is producing around 50 ernment said the fire could have company. million doses of the Astra- been caused by an electrical “I would like to reassure all Zeneca vaccine a month at A smoke rises from fire at Serum Institute of India in Pune, India, yesterday. fault during construction work. governments & the public that other facilities in the complex, SII has licensed the corona- there would be no loss of COV- with plans to increase that to as has already been approved in to inoculate about 1 million also been shipped to countries virus vaccine developed by ISHIELD production due to much as 100 million doses soon. India, which has used the shot people since Saturday. The such as Bangladesh, Nepal, the Oxford University and multiple production buildings The AstraZeneca vaccine and another home-grown one AstraZeneca vaccination has Maldives and Bhutan.

Strong quake shakes southern India’s vaccine diplomacy pushes back against China REUTERS — NEW DELHI/ biggest makers of generic drugs clearance for its Sinopharm “India is making the Astra- India is considering giving Philippines; KATHMANDU to build friendships. shots. Zeneca vaccine which makes away anything from 12 million “The government of India “We’ve asked them to all the difference. It can be to 20 million shots to its neigh- no tsunami India will give millions of doses has shown goodwill by pro- submit more documents and stored and transported at bours in the first wave of of COVID-19 vaccine to South viding the vaccine in grant. This information before we give normal refrigerated tempera- assistance over the next three AP — MANILA Asian countries in the next few is at the people’s level, it is the them the approval,” said tures and countries like Bang- to four weeks, one government weeks, government sources public who are suffering the Santosh K C, spokesman for ladesh have that facility,” a source said. A powerful earthquake shook said yesterday, drawing praise most from COVID-19,” said Nepal’s department of drug Bangladesh health official said. India is also helping with the parts of the southern Philip- from its neighbours and pushing Nepal’s Minister for Health and administration. India for years has struggled training of health workers in pines last night, but authorities back against China’s domi- Population Hridayesh Bangladesh was supposed to match the pace of Chinese some of these countries and the said it was too deep to cause nating presence in the region. Tripathi. to get 110,000 doses of vaccine investment in countries such as setting up of the infrastructure major damage and no tsunami Free shipments of Astra- The gesture comes at a time free from Chinese firm Sinovac Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, to administer the shots, the warning was issued. Zeneca’s vaccine manufactured that India’s ties with Nepal have Biotech, but Bangladesh refused where China is building ports, source said. The quake measured a by the Serum Institute of India, been strained by a territorial to contribute towards the devel- roads and power stations as part “It’s a well-crafted, cali- preliminary 7.0 magnitude and the world’s biggest producer of dispute and Indian concern opment cost of the vaccine of its Belt and Road Initiative. brated series of actions you are was located 95.8km below the vaccines, have begun arriving over China’s expanding political leading to deadlock. But the demand for vaccines seeing, they confirm the validity sea and about 210km in the Maldives, Bhutan, Bang- and economic influence in the Bangladesh has instead in these countries desperate to of our ‘neighbourhood first’ southeast of Pondaguitan in ladesh and Nepal. Himalayan nation sandwiched turned to India for urgent sup- revive their tourism-dependent policy,” said a former Indian Davao Occidental province, Myanmar and the Sey- between the Asian giants. plies and yesterday was due to economies has offered Prime ambassador, Rajiv Bhatia. “It the US Geological Survey said. chelles are next in line to get China, which had promised receive two million shots of the Minister Narendra Modi’s gov- plays to our strengths in science The earthquake was felt in free consignments as India uses Nepal help to deal with the pan- AstraZeneca vaccine as a gift ernment a way to claw back and pharma, and this is our nearby cities and provinces in its strength as one of the world’s demic, is awaiting Nepali from India. ground, diplomats say. moment to shine.” the region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The USGS said there was a S Korea expects first batch of low likelihood of casualties or damage. The US Tsunami vaccine from COVAX soon Warning System said there was no tsunami threat. Deep REUTERS — SEOUL earthquakes generally cause less damage on the Earth’s South Korea expects its first batch of coronavirus vaccines from surface. global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX within weeks and has begun The southern Davao region setting up vaccination centres, an interior ministry spokesman said has been battered by powerful yesterday. The delivery is likely to hasten the vaccination campaign, earthquakes set off by local due to begin in late February at the earliest, as South Korea has yet fault lines in recent years. to finalise priority groups and detailed inoculation plans. The Philippines lies along A deputy spokesman for the interior ministry, Park Jong-hyun, the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an said, “100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines for 50,000 people may arc of faults around the Pacific arrive before the Lunar New Year holiday through the COVAX Ocean where most of the facility.” The holiday begins on February 11 this year. world’s earthquakes occur. It The ministry has designated about 250 spacious indoor gyms and is also lashed by about 20 theatres nationwide to vaccinate people with Pfizer and Moderna vac- typhoons and tropical storms cines that require cold chain storage, Park said. Vaccinations will begin each year, making it one of the as soon as possible, but the exact date has yet to be decided, he said. world’s most disaster-prone South Korea has yet to approve use of the Pfizer vaccine, but countries. the World Health Organisation, which is leading the COVAX scheme, authorized the shot at the end of December. Australia posts South Korea has said it aims to ensure herd immunity to the virus through mass vaccinations by November, but some medical zero cases, calls Nepalese protest against Parliament dissolution experts have cast doubt on the plan, citing slow progress in training staff for storage, distribution and inoculation. for ‘Pacific bubble’ A police officer tries to stop a demonstrator during a torch rally as people protest against the For inoculations using vaccines from AstraZeneca and Johnson dissolution of parliament, in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. & Johnson’s which do not require ultra cold storage, authorities will REUTERS — SYDNEY designate 10,000 hospitals and clinics nationwide, Park said. The country has secured 106 million doses of vaccines, more than enough Australia recorded a fourth for its 52 million residents, from COVAX, Pfizer, Moderna, Astra- day of zero coronavirus cases Japan court rejects expatriates’ Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson. yesterday, prompting the chief of the country’s most populous Trash collected from Everest state to call for a special travel bid to cling to citizenship “bubble” with Pacific island nations. to be transformed into art New South Wales has reined REUTERS — TOKYO dual citizenship. even want to have dual nation- in an outbreak in mid-December The lawyers pursuing the ality?” asked one Twitter user. REUTERS — KATHMANDU that prompted a strict lockdown A Tokyo court rejected case said the plaintiffs plan to Another wrote it was selfish for in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, yesterday a lawsuit by Japanese appeal against yesterday’s people to want a foreign Trash collected from Mount Everest is set to be transformed into while broader social distancing living in Europe who sought to decision. passport while holding on to art and displayed in a nearby gallery, to highlight the need to save rules and mandatory mask retain their nationality even The government has said Japanese citizenship. the world’s tallest mountain from turning into a dumping site. wearing were imposed for the after taking foreign citizenship, in the past that dual nationality Against this backdrop, the Used oxygen bottles, torn tents, ropes, broken ladders, cans rest of the city. instead of losing it automati- could complicate matters of plaintiff’s lawyers have taken and plastic wrappers discarded by climbers and trekkers litter Signalling those restric- cally, as happens now. taxation and diplomatic pro- care to target a part of the law the 8,848.86M tall peak and the surrounding areas. tions were set to be eased next Japan has been negative tection and is not in line with that forces Japanese to lose cit- Tommy Gustafsson, project director and a co-founder of the week, Premier Gladys Bere- about dual citizenship, the concept of a sovereign izenship, rather than directly Sagarmatha Next Centre — a visitors’ information centre and waste jiklien told the Sydney Morning requiring citizens with more state. tackling the issue of dual up-cycling facility — said foreign and local artists will be engaged Herald newspaper the federal than a single nationality to But about 900,000 people nationality. in creating artwork from waste materials and train locals to turn government should consider choose one, even though more are estimated to hold dual cit- The plaintiffs say the unfair trash into treasures. “We want to showcase how you can transform establishing a travel nations in recent decades have izenship in Japan today, treatment makes the law solid waste to precious pieces of art … and generate employment arrangement with the Pacific. allowed dual citizenship, or including naturalised citizens unconstitutional, by forcing and income,” Gustafsson said. “We hope to change the people’s “There is no reason why turned a blind eye to it. and the offspring of marriages only Japanese nationals gaining perceptions about the garbage and manage it,” he said. we shouldns’t aim to travel to “I had to lose my Japanese contracted with foreigners. foreign citizenship abroad to The Centre is located at an altitude of 3,780M at Syangboche New Zealand or some of the citizenship just before I went to Although required by law follow the rule on dual nation- on the main trail to Everest base camp, two days’ walk from Lukla, Pacific Islands well within the study in university in Japan,” to renounce their foreign ality, while ambiguity cloaks the gateway to the mountain. next 12 months,” Berejiklian said one of the plaintiffs, Yuki nationality or declare that they those at home. It is due for “soft opening” to locals in the spring as the number said. Shiraishi, who had lived in will, Japan has never enforced Apart from infringing indi- of visitors could be limited this year due to coronavirus pandemic The comments come after Switzerland, where her parents the rule, and legal ambiguity vidual rights, they said, the restrictions, Gustafsson said. Products and artwork will be dis- Australia’s chief medical had migrated. forces many of them to keep current law hurt the national played to raise environmental awareness, or sold as souvenirs officer Paul Kelly cautioned “I felt a big sense of loss silent. interest by causing the loss of with the proceeds going to conservation of the region, he said. about restarting international when I saw holes on my Jap- Conservatives in Japan are talented people who live Trash brought down from the mountain or collected from travel, given the country was anese passport,” added largely opposed to dual citi- abroad, especially as ageing households and tea houses along the trail is handled and segre- in an “envious position” com- Shiraishi, who joined the suit zenship, however. shrinks the domestic popu- gated by a local environmental group, the Sagarmatha Pollution pared to most of the world. hoping Japan would grant “First of all, why do you lation rapidly. Control Committee. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected] A view showing Israeli settlement of Har Homa in the Israeli occupied West Bank. EDITORIAL What will survive of US’ Middle Companies bullish on Qatar East policy under Biden? AT the time when the global economy is facing slowdown, Qatar has emerged preferred destination for companies across the world. Several companies MAAYAN LUBELL AND RAMI AYYUB would remain in Jerusalem, which Trump a new low after Trump cut off $360 million decided to enter Qatar despite the challenging envi- REUTERS recognised as Israel’s capital. annual funding to UNRWA, the United ronment created by COVID-19 outbreak, which has Four Trump-brokered diplomatic deals Nations agency dealing with Palestinian ref- slowed down economic activities across the globe. Trump Heights, Trump Square, Trump between Israel and Arab states are also ugees, reduced other aid to the Palestinians The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a leading onshore train terminal: Israel isn’t shy about likely to remain - they have bipartisan and shuttered the Palestine Liberation financial and business centre in the region, has revealed honouring Donald Trump, who is widely support in Washington and brought a stra- Organization office in Washington DC. a significant increase of 63.7 percent in the number of admired among Israelis for his staunch tegic realignment of Middle East countries Blinken returned to long-standing, pre- new firms licensed on the QFC platform in 2020, com- support of their country. against Iran. Trump, diplomatic norms at his senate pared to 2019. The QFC registered 334 firms in 2020, But in the Palestinian territories, no US So too is Trump’s acceptance of Israeli hearing. “The only way to ensure Israel’s compared to almost 200 firms registered over the same president was openly reviled as much as sovereignty over the occupied Golan future as a Jewish, democratic state and to period in 2019. Trump, or depicted in such unflattering Heights, which Israel captured from Syria give the Palestinians a state to which they Ending the year on a high note, the QFC maintained terms in portraits and effigies across the in a 1967 war and annexed in a move not are entitled is through the so-called two- its business growth for the 8th consecutive year, despite Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. recognised internationally. state solution,” Blinken said. But he added: the unprecedented global economic slowdown as a In four years, Trump overturned Biden’s challenge will be how to walk “Realistically it’s hard to see near-term result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The expansion of the decades of US policy in the Middle East. Joe back not just Trump-era policy - and the prospects for moving forward on that.” QFC-registered firms, which represents a variety of Biden will want to undo many of those polarisation triggered by the man who said In Gaza, UNRWA Commissioner- industries, both financial and non-financial services, changes during his presidency, but his he had “done a lot for Israel” - without General Philippe Lazzarini was optimistic included a record increase of 139.5 percent in the digital freedom for manoeuvre will be limited. being accused of retreating altogether from of change, and that things might ease up for sector. Given the tremendous opportunities that At his Senate confirmation hearing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “He will try the Palestinian refugees that his agency emerged in the technology and digital sectors amidst Tuesday, Biden’s choice for Secretary of to project an image of fairness and cares for. “We indeed have informal the COVID-19 outbreak, and backed by the QFC’s State, Antony Blinken, signalled that coun- balance,” Michele Dunne, Director of the contact with the incoming new adminis- Fintech services provider license, the platform welcomed tering Iran would be central to Biden’s Middle East Program at the US based tration. We heard all the messages we are 91 new digital firms, hailing from diverse countries Middle East agenda. Carnegie Endowment for International receiving that there are intentions to including India, USA, Pakistan, France, Russia and the But Blinken said the United States was Peace, told Reuters. resume the partnership,” he told Reuters. United Kingdom. “a long way” from rejoining the 2015 pact “There is no question that Biden’s pol- For many Israelis, the Trump brand has Companies prefer Qatar because of its strong with Iran - restraining Tehran’s nuclear icies towards the Middle East will be quite not been tarnished by the Capitol Hill riot on economy. Last year in December, International Mon- programme - which the United States quit different from those of Trump; the question January 6. In Trump Heights, a tiny Golan etary Fund (IMF) had said that Qatar’s economy is likely under Trump. is how different they will be from those of Heights settlement, work is underway to to witness strong recovery next year. Biden and his team have said they will (former President Barack) Obama... I doubt house 20 new families who will move in by According to IMF, a gradual recovery in Qatar - with restore ties with the Palestinians that were that Biden sees the conflict as ripe for US the summer. A giant black and gold sign at real GDP growth projected at 2.7 percent in 2021- would cut by Trump, resume aid and reject uni- diplomacy right now.” Trump was broadly the gate has been restored after vandals stole be supported by increasing gas production and the lateral actions, such as construction of in lockstep on Middle East policy with his the ‘T’. “We are keeping the name Trump rebound in domestic demand. Israeli settlements on occupied territory. closest ally in the region, Israeli Prime Min- Heights, we are proud of the name. President Qatar has taken several measures in the past which But Blinken said the US embassy in Israel ister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump deserves gratitude for all the good has made its economy resilient and strong. Empow- As well as recognising Jerusalem as deeds he did for us,” Golan Regional Council ering the private sector is one of the main priorities of Biden’s challenge will be Israel’s capital and Israeli sovereignty over Head Haim Rokach told Reuters. the government. Qatar had announced a financial the Golan Heights, Trump backed Israeli An Israeli cabinet minister this week package amounting to QR75bn to help support the how to walk back not just settlements in the West Bank, territory that reaffirmed his support for Trump’s name to private sector during the outbreak. Despite the chal- Trump-era policy — and the the Palestinians seek for a state. Israel’s adorn a future train terminus near Jerusa- lenges facing the global economy, including the spread investment in its West Bank settlements lem’s Western Wall, and at Trump Square of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the polarisation triggered by the between 2017-2019 increased by almost roundabout in Petah Tikva he remains economy has managed to maintain its high credit ratings man who said he had “done half against the last three years in office of popular. “We will miss him,” said Alon with a stable outlook. a lot for Israel” — without Obama, according to official Israeli data Sender. “He was good for Israel.” The strength of Qatar’s economy has also been val- provided to the US State Department and But on the other side of the Israeli mil- idated by rating agencies. In November, S&P Global being accused of retreating seen by Reuters. itary barrier 10km east of Petah Tikva, Ratings had affirmed Qatar’s sovereign credit rating at altogether from the Israeli- One day before Biden’s inauguration, many Palestinians are glad to see the back AA-/Stable/A-1+, with a stable outlook. Israel issued tenders for more than 2,500 of Trump. “For sure, Trump’s policy is With the help proactive government policies and Palestinian conflict. settlement homes in the occupied West unfair,” said Sumoud Salah, a teenage resilience of private sector, Qatar’s economy is set to Bank and East Jerusalem, on top of hun- refugee in Jericho. grow stronger in future. dreds more announced by Netanyahu last “I hope that his (Biden) era will be dif- week. ferent than Trump’s, which was unfair for Relations with the Palestinians reached everyone, not only for the Palestinians.”

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR Trump leaves a ‘negative legacy’ for US and the world EMAIL: [email protected] JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI the world, viewing China’s Although relations achievements have been military expansion, maritime between Japan and the United wiped out by a careless EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 US President Donald Trump advance and violation of rules States have remained gen- response to the novel corona- FAX: +974 4455 7758 leaves office on January 20. as problematic and regarding erally good, many US allies virus. This appears to be the International order and the country as one of the undoubtedly have been result of his self-righteous MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 democracy have been seri- forces making efforts to swayed by Trump. The style to make light of experts ously damaged in the past change the status quo. diplomacy between Trump and dismiss a series of high- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 four years. The “negative However, pressure from the and North Korean leader Kim ranking officials who spoke to legacy” that President-elect imposition of punitive tariffs Jong Un was effective in him frankly and unreservedly. LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 Joe Biden will inherit is too has led to the proliferation of easing tensions, but it did not Trump’s style of politics - great. protectionism. It was also bring about any progress in unilaterally announcing his BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 Trump has maintained a unreasonable to try to solve Pyongyang’s denuclearization. policies and opinions on stance of sticking entirely to the issues through a deal Trump also has rejected Twitter, and never correcting SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 the “America First” policy that between the leaders. international frameworks, any tweets that were shown to he declared in his inaugural Considering China’s such as by announcing that be false - has caused wide- ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 address. growing power, it would be the United States would spread conspiracy theories email: [email protected] It is natural for a leader to reasonable for the United withdraw from the World and a crisis in democracy. His give top priority to his or her States to cooperate with its Health Organization. Contrary insistence that there was fraud PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 own country’s interests, but allies in dealing with the to his pledge to “make in the presidential election and email: [email protected] the United States is the world’s issues. Nevertheless, Trump America great again,” it is his refusal to admit his defeat largest military and economic took a one-sided view that the obvious that he lowered US in the election have driven the ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 power. Trump is noticeably United States alone has been influence and undermined negative effects to a peak. FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] different from past US presi- bearing burdens. He moved to national interests. The occupation of the dents in that he has not con- demand extreme increases in On the economic front, Capitol by his radical sup- CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 sidered his country’s role in the defense burdens on US Trump has pushed ahead with porters and the two email: [email protected] the stability of the world. allies and reduced the number economic expansion and an impeachment charges by It is commendable that of US troops stationed improvement in the unem- Congress will be a blemish on SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 Trump has raised an alarm to overseas. ployment rate, but these history. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar It is too early for Britons to start anticipating the /ThePeninsulaQatar end of lockdown and booking summer holidays. /Peninsula_Qatar The advice is very clear we are in a lockdown, the public should be staying at home. /ThePeninsulaNewspaper Priti Patel, UK Interior Minister +974 6698 6188 FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 09 Ousted Thai politician defends vaccine criticism AP — BANGKOK “The government has They also warned that given huge financial anyone repeating such infor- A popular ousted politician mation would also be subject to charged with defaming Thai- support worth 1.4bn the lese majeste law. land’s monarchy for questioning baht ($46m) to the Thanathorn called the the government’s COVID-19 charges politically motivated at vaccine procurement stood by company, should a news conference yesterday. his comments yesterday and we not investigate if “When we are questioning said the nation deserves more the fact that the Thai public transparency. this deal is normal would receive low vaccination The government filed and transparent or coverage and receive it late, or charges on Wednesday accusing not?” Thanathorn whether or not the government Thanathorn Juangroongru- has given preferential treatment angkit of lese majeste for Juangroongruangkit to a certain private company, alleging that the procurement said. this is what I got back. This is was late and inadequate. what I got,” he said. Thanathorn also said there was Thanathorn said Thailand has possible favoritism in the pharmaceutical company Astra- secured vaccines for only about awarding of the main Zeneca, of which 26 million are one-fifth of its population. contract. allocated for Thailand. “The government has given The criticisms relate to the Thanathorn said details of huge financial support worth monarchy because most of the the contract should be made 1.4bn baht ($46m) to the vaccines that Thailand has public. The deal involves the company, should we not inves- ordered are to be produced by company, the Health Ministry tigate if this deal is normal and Siam Bioscience, a private Thai and Thailand’s SCG business transparent or not?” he said. company owned by King Maha conglomerate, along with Astra- Thanathorn is the former Vajiralongkorn. Zeneca. Publicly listed SCG’s leader of the dissolved Future Thailand’s banned opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit speaks during a news Thanathorn was also main shareholder is the king. Forward Party, which made a conference at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. charged with violating the Com- Officials from the Prime strong third-place showing in the puter Crime Act. The gov- Minister’s office and the Min- 2019 general election just a year of Parliament when a court merit and are meant to stop his had never been charged and ernment denies it mishandled istry of Digital Economy and after it was established. The party ruled that he had broken an criticism of the government. never been prosecuted, not vaccine procurement. Society said on Wednesday that was especially critical of the mil- election law, and his party was “I believe all the cases even one case. Not even one Later this year, Siam Bio- Thanathorn’s criticism was itary, a pillar of the country’s later dissolved on a similar against me, not only this one, case. But since I started in pol- science is to produce 200 million based on false or distorted establishment with major technicality. He has faced a are politically motivated. I am itics two years ago, I have had doses of the vaccine developed information, without specifying influence over the government. number of legal cases that sup- 42. I was in politics for two countless cases against me,” he by Oxford University and the what was incorrect. Thanathorn was forced out porters charge are without years. For 40 years of my life, I said. Thai regulator China hopes for cooperation, better relations under Biden approves AP — BEIJING remain in the World Health “Over the past few years, heal over some of the worst China looks forward to working Organization and return to the the Trump administration, divisions. with the new administration to AstraZeneca China yesterday expressed hope Paris Agreement on climate especially Pompeo, has buried “I think both China and the promote sound & steady devel- the Biden administration will change. too many mines in Sino-US United States need to show opment of China-US relations vaccine improve prospects for people “Many people of insight in relations that need to be elim- courage, show wisdom, listen to and jointly address global chal- of both countries and give a the international community inated, burned too many each other, face up to each other lenges in public health, climate REUTERS — BANGKOK boost to relations after an espe- are looking forward to the early bridges that need to be rebuilt and respect each other,” Hua change & growth,” Cui tweeted. cially rocky patch, while getting return of Sino-US relations to and wrecked too many roads said. “I think this is the respon- Chinese President and Thailand’s Food and Drug in a few final digs at former the correct track in making due that need to be repaired,” Hua sibility of the two major coun- Communist Party leader Xi Administration (FDA) has Trump officials. contributions to jointly address said. tries of China and the United Jinping congratulated Biden on granted emergency use “I think after this very dif- the major and urgent challenges Hua on Wednesday States, and it is also the expec- his election but had no imme- approval for the COVID-19 ficult and extraordinary time, facing the world today,” Hua described Pompeo as a tation of the international diate comment on Wednesday’s vaccine of AstraZeneca Plc, both the Chinese and American said. “doomsday clown” and said his community.” inauguration. three health ministry sources people deserve a better future,” She also criticized ex-Sec- designation of China as a per- Also yesterday, China’s While Biden’s adminis- said yesterday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson retary of State Mike Pompeo petrator of genocide and crimes Ambassador to the US Cui tration is expected to seek to put Thailand is set to import Hua Chunying told reporters at and other former officials, a day against humanity was merely Tiankai offered his congratula- relations with China back on an 200,000 doses of the Astra- a daily briefing. after Beijing imposed travel and “a piece of wastepaper.” tions to Biden on Twitter, which even keel, he is unlikely to sig- Zeneca vaccine with the first She said China and the US business sanctions on 30 of Hua’s markedly more is widely used by the Chinese nificantly alter U.S. policies on 50,000 doses expected to need to relaunch cooperation them, including Trump’s friendly tone yesterday appeared government despite being trade, Taiwan, human rights arrive next month, Health Min- in a number of areas. She par- national security adviser Robert to signal Chinese hopes to cool blocked in the country. and the South China Sea that ister Anutin Charnvirakul said ticularly welcomed the new O’Brien and UN Ambassador the rhetoric on both sides and “Congratulations to Pres- have angered Xi’s increasingly on Wednesday. administration’s decision to Kelly Craft. give the relationship a chance to ident Biden on his inauguration! assertive government. The three senior ministry sources, who requested ano- nymity because they were not China to gift half authorised to speak to media, Indonesia ends search for crash victims, debris said the regulator had million doses of approved the AstraZeneca AP — JAKARTA vaccine on Wednesday, appli- Sinopharm cable for a period of one year. Indonesian authorities One of the sources said yesterday ended the search for vaccine: Pakistan approval applied only to doses remaining victims and debris manufactured overseas. from a Sriwijaya Air jet that REUTERS — ISLAMABAD Thailand has signed a deal nosedived into the Java Sea, with AstraZeneca to produce killing all 62 people on board. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister 26 million doses of its vaccine Transportation minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said locally through the firm Siam Budi Karya Sumadi said yesterday that China has Bioscience. retrieval operations have ended agreed to provide half a Thailand’s FDA has so far after nearly two weeks, but that million doses of the Chinese received registration requests a limited search for the missing Sinopharm COVID-19 free of for vaccines from AstraZeneca memory unit from the cockpit cost to Pakistan by January 31. and China’s Sinovac Biotech. voice recorder will continue. “They have said send your It hopes to secure 63 The memory unit appar- aircraft and airlift this vaccine million doses altogether and ently broke away from other immediately. So this is a happy has so far ordered two million parts of the voice recorder bit of news for us, and we will doses of that made by China’s during the crash. Divers hopefully be successful in pro- Sinovac Biotech. retrieved its battered casing and tecting ourselves using this The approval comes as cover last week near the vaccine,” Qureshi said at a Thailand tries to contain its location where the flight data press conference in Islamabad. biggest coronavirus outbreak recorder was recovered three Pakistani regulators yet, which has seen cases triple days after the accident. approved the Sinopharm in the pasty five weeks, albeit The Boeing 737-500 jet An Indonesia Navy personnel uses a forklift to move the turbine of Sriwijaya Air flight SJ 182 on the vaccine for emergency use on from a low base. crashed on January 9, minutes last day of its search and rescue operation at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. Monday, two days after Astra- It reported 142 new infec- after taking off from Jakarta, the Zeneca’s vaccine developed tions on Thursday, taking the capital. The government will information from the flight data 737-500 was out of service for with Oxford University was total to 12,795, with 71 deaths. Searchers have recovered provide a ship to take relatives recorder, which tracks hun- almost nine months last year also approved. Bangkok authorities said plane parts and human remains to the crash site for a memorial dreds of parameters showing because of flight cutbacks caused “I thanked them and also yesterday some business activ- from an area between Lancang ceremony this morning, Sumadi how the plane was being by the coronavirus pandemic. told them we need more ities would be allowed to and Laki islands in the said. operated. The airline and Indonesian offi- than this, and in the future resume, in response to declining Thousand Island chain just So far, 43 victims have been A team from the US National cials say it passed inspections, we will need 1.1 million coronavirus infections in the north of Jakarta. identified from more than 300 Transportation Safety Board including for possible engine cor- doses, and they reassured us capital after curbs were imposed. “After much consideration, body bags containing human and Federal Aviation Adminis- rosion, before resuming com- and said by the end of Feb- Thirteen types of busi- we have to close the search and remains sent to the National tration is joining the mercial flights in December. ruary we plan to meet this nesses including gyms, tradi- rescue operation today,” Police’s disaster victim identi- investigation. Indonesia’s aviation requirement for you as well,” tional massage services, sport Sumadi told reporters. fication unit. Investigators will publish a industry grew quickly after the Qureshi added. facilities and bowling alley can “However, we are committed Investigators are working preliminary investigation report nation’s economy was opened Qureshi said he had also reopen from Friday, but with to continue efforts to find the with Boeing and engine maker within a month after the crash. following the fall of dictator raised the possibility of jointly strict health protocols. cockpit voice recorder.” General Electric to review The 26-year-old Boeing Suharto in the late 1990s. manufacturing vaccines with China. Pakistan is also nearing completion of a phase three Twitter locks account of China’s US embassy over defence of Xinjiang policy trial of another Chinese vaccine from Cansino Bio- REUTERS — SHANGHAI The Chinese Embassy since January 9. dehumanization, where it Chinese Foreign Ministry logics Inc. Some 17,500 account, @ChineseEmbinUS, Twitter’s suspension of the states: We prohibit the dehu- spokeswoman Hua Chunying people had enrolled in the Twitter has locked the account posted a tweet this month that embassy’s account came a day manization of a group of people told a regular briefing on trial so far, and initial results of China’s US embassy for a said that Uighur women had after the Trump administration, based on their religion, caste, Thursday that it was confused would be available in the tweet that defended China’s been emancipated, citing a in its final hours, accused China age, disability, serious disease, by Twitter’s move. beginning of February, health policy towards Muslim Uighurs study reported by state-backed of committing genocide in Xin- national origin, race, or eth- “There are numerous minister Faisal Sultan said at in Xinjiang, which the US social newspaper China Daily. jiang, a finding endorsed by the nicity,” a Twitter spokesperson reports and information relating a press conference on media platform said violated its The tweet was removed by incoming Biden said yesterday. to Xinjiang that are against Wednesday. stand against “dehumanising” Twitter and replaced by a label administration. The Chinese embassy in China. It’s a responsibility for Sultan said if the Cansino people. stating that it was no longer The Biden administration Washington did not immedi- our embassy in the US to clarify vaccine proved effective China’s Foreign Ministry available. Although Twitter did not immediately respond to ately respond to a e-mailed the truth,” she said. Pakistan could look to procure said it was confused by the hides tweets that violate its pol- a request for comment on Twit- request for comment. Twitter “We hope they won’t apply 20 million doses. Sultan said move and that it was the icies, it requires account owners ter’s move. is blocked in China but is an double standards on this issue. Pakistani officials had also embassy’s responsibility to call to manually delete such posts. “We’ve taken action on the increasingly favoured platform We hope they can discern what been meeting with UK officials out disinformation and clarify The Chinese embassy’s account Tweet you referenced for vio- by China’s diplomats and state is correct and truthful from dis- for discussions on procuring the truth. has not posted any new tweets lating our policy against media. information on this matter.” vaccines from there. 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Too early to say when lockdown will end: Johnson REUTERS — LONDON “What we’re seeing in the ONS data, in the 68,000 on Jan. 8 to 38,000 on Health Minister Matt matching the data between Wednesday. Hancock said yesterday that those who’ve been vaccinated It is too early to say when the REACT survey, we’re seeing the contagiousness Johnson aims to vaccinate data supports Britain’s decision and those who test positive. And national coronavirus lockdown of the new variant that we saw arrive just before high priority groups by mid- to move to a 12-week dosing we’re monitoring that and we in England will end, British February to protect the eldest, schedule for Pfizer’s COVID will publish that data as soon as Prime Minister Boris Johnson Christmas. There’s no doubt it does spread very the most vulnerable and vaccine, adding details on it is clinically valid.” Meanwhile, said yesterday, as daily deaths fast indeed,” the Prime Minister said. frontline health staff, before efficacy gathered during the the government’s top scientific from COVID-19 reach new considering whether restric- rollout would be published as adviser described some hos- highs and hospitals become tions can be eased. soon as possible. pitals as looking like a war zone. increasingly stretched. introduced on January 5 was not very fast indeed.” England’s Earlier, Education Minister “Around 89 percent efficacy Joe Harrison, chief executive Britain posted a fresh record yet reflected in the numbers. third national lockdown has Gavin Williamson said he hoped comes from between days 14 of Milton Keynes University Hos- in daily deaths on Wednesday “I think it’s too early to say seen restaurants and schools schools would reopen by Easter, and days 21 after the first dose,” pital NHS Foundation Trust, said for the second day running, when we’ll be able to lift some mostly closed, with Johnson and that they would have would Hancock told lawmakers, the hospital had seen more than figures Johnson has called of some of the restrictions,” attributing a steep rise in cases have two weeks notice before saying he had reviewed the twice the number of patients in “appalling”. Johnson told broadcasters. at the end of last year to a more restarting. data, and that it supported the the second wave than the first, A prevalence survey, known “What we’re seeing in the transmissible variant of the Ministers have appealed to decision to move to a 12-week and currently had 186 patients as REACT-1, suggested infec- ONS data, in the REACT survey, coronavirus first detected in people to stay at home as much schedule between doses. with COVID-19. tions had not fallen in the first we’re seeing the contagiousness England. as they can to prevent hospitals “We’re looking at this data, “We believe that over the days of lockdown, though the of the new variant that we saw While deaths have been being overwhelmed and to give and in fact we’re measuring the next week or so, we’re going to government has said that the arrive just before Christmas. rising, the number of new cases authorities time to roll out efficacy here at home for those continue to see real pressures impact of national restrictions There’s no doubt it does spread has fallen from a peak of COVID-19 vaccines. who’ve been vaccinated, by in our critical care unit,” he said. Britain, EU at odds over City of London to vote on removing bloc’s diplomatic status statues linked to

REUTERS — LONDON international organisations slavery trade whose status is not covered by Britain and the European Union the convention tend to have REUTERS — LONDON are at odds over the British limited and less clearly defined government’s refusal to grant privileges. City of London representatives EU representatives’ full diplo- The European Com- vote yesterday on whether to matic status in London after mission, the 27-member bloc’s remove from its Guildhall Brexit. executive body, said the EU’s medieval ceremonial home An EU member state for 143 delegations around the statues of two figures that 46 years, Britain voted in a world had all been granted a symbolise the financial sector’s 2016 referendum to leave, and status equivalent to that of dip- historic role in slavery. completed its tortuous journey lomatic missions of states, and The Square Mile financial out of the bloc on December Britain was well aware of the district set up a task force on 31, when Brexit fully took fact. tackling racism in June last effect. “Granting reciprocal year following the death of The BBC reported that the treatment based on the Vienna George Floyd in the United Foreign Office was refusing to Convention on Diplomatic States that led to widespread grant the same diplomatic Relations is standard practice Black Lives Matter protests. status and privileges to EU between equal partners and we The task force has recom- Ambassador Joao Vale de are confident that we can clear mended removing statues of Almeida and his team as it gives this issue with our friends in Members of a fire brigade evacuate the residents of a care home after the river Weaver burst banks William Beckford and John to envoys of countries, on the London in a satisfactory in Northwich, Britain, yesterday. Cass from the Guildhall, with basis that the EU is not a nation manner,” said Peter Stano, the City councillors voting yes- state. commission’s spokesman for terday afternoon. Following the report, Prime foreign affairs. Welsh AstraZeneca vaccine facilities Cass was a merchant in Minister Boris Johnson’s Stano added that when transatlantic slave trading spokesman: “The EU, its dele- Britain was still an EU member, during the early 1700s. gation and staff will receive the it had been supportive of the not disrupted by flooding Beckford was Lord Mayor of privileges and immunities nec- diplomatic status of EU London in the 18th century and essary to enable them to carry delegations. REUTERS — LONDON of the buildings across site,” the AstraZeneca has agreed to had plantations in Jamaica out their work in the UK “Nothing has changed since company said in a statement. supply Britain with 100 million with slaves. effectively. the UK’s exit from the European The manufacture of Astra- “All necessary precautions doses of the vaccine, developed The Black Lives Matter “It’s a matter of fact that the Union to justify any change in Zeneca and Oxford’s COVID-19 were taken meaning no dis- by Oxford University. protests have piled more EU is a collective of nations, but stance on the UK’s part,” he vaccine has not been disrupted ruption to manufacturing or Storm Christoph has caused pressure on a predominantly it’s not a state...in its own right,” said. A British government by flooding near a Welsh inlet of water into buildings. widespread flooding in England white financial sector to better he said. source said the issue of the EU factory involved in the supply The site is now secure and free and Wales. Wrexham Council reflect the wider population’s Under the Vienna Con- delegation’s status was subject chain, manufacturing partner from any further flood damage leader Mark Pritchard said that ethnic diversity. vention governing diplomatic to ongoing negotiations. Wockhardt said yesterday, and operating as normal.” local authorities had deployed Britain’s financial services relations, envoys representing Former US President adding the site was operating Wockhardt UK provides gullies and pumps to divert minister John Glen said on countries have certain privi- Donald Trump’s administration as normal. fill-and-finish capacity for water away from the facilities. Thursday that the Race at leges such as immunity from lowered the status of the EU “Last night at approxi- AstraZeneca’s UK supply chain, “They were under pressure. Work Charter launched in detention and, in some cases, delegation to Washington in mately 1600 (GMT) hours, which is the final manufac- They had serious concerns that 2018 has attracted 50 firms prosecution, as well as tax January 2019, but later reversed Wockhardt UK experienced turing step of putting vaccines their warehouse, logistically, and helped improved diversity. exemptions. the decision and restored full mild flooding, resulting in into vials or syringes and pack- could be flooded,” he told Sky “By signing up to the Representatives of diplomatic status to it. excess water surrounding part aging them. News. charter, firms commit to tackling barriers,” Glen told a City & Financial conference on ethnic diversity in financial Stop complaining about slow vaccine rollout: Merkel services. But Tony Sewell, chair of REUTERS — BERLIN “Our efforts face a threat temporary slowdown of deliv- agreed on Tuesday to extend a for new variants of the virus and the Commission on Race and and this threat is clearer now eries of vaccines from U.S. hard lockdown that keeps Germany should be able to vac- Ethnic Disparities that is due Chancellor Angela Merkel urged than at the start of the year and drugmaker Pfizer and its schools, restaurants and all cinate everyone by the end of to report soon, said the focus Germans yesterday to stop this is the mutation of the virus,” German partner BioNTech. non-essential businesses shut the summer. should be on developing all complaining about the slow said Merkel, adding that the “I understand the impa- until February 14. She added that Germany talent and not be side tracked roll-out of a vaccine against new variant was not yet dom- tience,” said Merkel, when Merkel said the measures was not planning border con- by the “mini industry” of COVID-19 and defended a inant in Germany. asked if she owed Germans an were more urgent now to trols to try to stem the spread diversity and inclusion decision to extend a lockdown Merkel defended a decision apology. “There is no reason prevent the mutation from of the virus as it was vital not to services. as necessary to stem a more to secure vaccines against the whatsoever to criticise spreading and causing even disrupt the free flow of goods “I would challenge com- aggressive variant of the coro- virus through the European BioNTech. Those are people more havoc. within the European Union. panies today not to get too navirus. Commission, dismissing advo- who work day and night... and “We cannot wait for this “We can’t rule out border worried about this whole idea Speaking at a news con- cates of a go-it-alone approach we are benefiting from this. threat to hit us, meaning an closures, but want to prevent of doing lots and lots of ference, Merkel said it would be who say Germany could have How can we even complain?” aggressive increase in infec- them though cooperation diversity stuff,” Sewell said. a mistake to ease curbs now secured more vaccines faster Germany, which has been tions, that would be too late to within the European Union,” “I would ask the harder given the mutation first iden- on its own. in lockdown since early prevent a third wave of the pan- said Merkel, adding that her question. How is their talent tified in England had been Germany has had to delay November, reported more than demic. We can still prevent this. government was discussing being developed? I am fairly found in Germany, Europe’s opening some of its vaccination 1,000 deaths and more than We still have some time.” testing protocols for cross- cynical about charter sign-ups most populous country and centres as it received fewer 20,000 new infections yes- The conservative chancellor border commuters with and tick boxes, which are easy largest economy. shots than expected due to a terday. Merkel and state leaders said vaccines can be adapted neighbours. to do,” Sewell said. Conte faces pressure to move fast to strengthen majority

REUTERS — ROME Former Prime Minister many people say they would Matteo Renzi, leader of the like to join us but they need Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe small Italia Viva party that trig- time. We are not going to spend Conte is under pressure from gered the crisis by quitting the a month negotiating, they have his coalition to quickly broaden ruling coalition, has said it will to decide,” a senator who is his majority but has made little vote against the government involved in talks with the oppo- progress since narrowly rather than abstain as it did in sition, but asked not to be surviving an attempt to sink the the confidence vote. named, told Reuters. government, political sources Without an outright majority, Conte won Tuesday’s vote said. Conte will be constantly vul- in the 321-seat Senate by 156- After scraping through a nerable and will face a struggle 140, leaving him five short of confidence vote in the Senate to push through any contentious an outright majority. on Tuesday thanks to absten- legislation as he tries to handle The tally included three une- tions, Conte appealed to cen- the coronavirus pandemic and lected life senators who seldom trist and liberal lawmakers an economic crisis. attend sessions, so he needs at outside the coalition to join his Italy needs to present a con- least eight more to be able to government’s ranks. Few have vincing policy agenda to the govern with confidence. responded and time is short. European Commission, the Two Italia Viva senators Italy mints euro coin to honour health workers Next week the government European Union’s executive, to have suggested they could move faces a vote on an annual report receive over ¤200bn back to the majority. There have The engraver working on the new 2 euro coin commemorating the role of health workers during the on the justice system. If it loses, ($242.94bn) from the bloc’s been few expressions of interest coronavirus disease pandemic, at the Italian Mint, in Rome, Italy, yesterday. Conte will face more pressure economic Recovery Fund. from senators in other centrist to resign. “In private conversations, and centre-right parties. FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 Witness implicates Mexico army in EU court condemns Russia over 2008 war with Georgia abduction of 43 students: Report AP — TBILISI up military bases in South Ossetia and another breakaway Europe’s top human rights Georgian province, Abkhazia, AP — MEXICO CITY The witness said that and interrogated them, before them. However, charred bone court yesterday found Russia and recognised them as inde- an army captain held turning them over to the Guer- fragments have been fully responsible for a swath of pendent states, while most of New testimony by a cooperating reros Unidos drug gang. matched to only two students. violations in Georgia’s the world has continued to con- witness directly implicates some of the students Police held another group, The witness “Juan” pur- breakaway regions after the sider them part of Georgia. Mexico’s army in the disap- at a local army base and gang members captured portedly told investigators that 2008 Russia-Georgia war. In its case against Russia, pearance of 43 college students still others. In all, the witness bone fragments found around Georgia hailed the verdict by Georgia accused it of violating in a 2014 incident that continues and interrogated said as many as 70 to 80 people a garbage dump near Iguala the European Court of Human the European Convention on to haunt the country, according them, before turning were held, turned over to the were planted by the drug gang Rights as a major victory. Human Rights both during and to a newspaper report. gang and killed, because the to throw off investigations. President Salome Zura- after the war, but the ECHR The newspaper Reforma them over to a drug Guerreros Unidos gang believed Prosecutors once main- bishvili described the ruling as only accepted the Georgian said on Wednesday the witness, gang. that criminals from a rival tained the students had been “historic,” noting that Georgia complaints related to the presumably a gang member group were among them. burned in a huge pyre at the was “recognised as a victim of period after the fighting. identified only as “Juan,” alleges The accusation is one of a dump, a version that inde- this war and it is a great The Strasbourg-based court soldiers held and interrogated the students’ remains may series of conflicting testimonies pendent forensics experts later achievement for our country, ruled that Russia exercised some of the students before never be found. that have offered differing ver- said was not feasible. our society, our history and our effective control over Georgia’s turning them over to a drug The Interior Department sions of what happened to the “Juan” said that in reality, future.” separatist regions after the hos- gang. confirmed that the testimony students from a rural teachers’ some of the student’s bodies Prime Minister Giorgi tilities and was responsible for The students’ bodies were was part of the case file and said college who were hijacking were dissolved in caustic solu- Gakharia also described the ill-treatment and acts of torture then either burned at a local it would file charges against buses when they were rounded tions and dumped down drains, verdict as a landmark move, against Georgian prisoners of crematorium or dissolved in whoever leaked it. The up by police and turned over to while others were hacked up saying that “the case against war, arbitrary detentions of acid or caustic solutions and department did not comment a drug gang. and incinerated at a local Russia at the European Court Georgians and “inhuman and dumped down drains, the on the accuracy of the newspa- Over more than six years of funeral home. of Human Rights has ended degrading treatment” of 160 witness said. Still other bodies per’s version of the testimony. investigations, authorities have An employee at that funeral with Georgia’s victory.” detained Georgian civilians. were purportedly hacked up But a person familiar with found dozens of clandestine home in Iguala, known as “El The August 2008 war It also held Russia respon- and scattered near the city of the case said the testimony was graves and 184 bodies, but none Angel,” confirmed it does have erupted when Georgian troops sible for preventing forcibly dis- Taxco. new, from early 2020, and was of the missing students. crematorium facilities. It would tried unsuccessfully to regain placed ethnic Georgians from The revelation could further part of the case file. According to initial investi- have been a daring move control over the Moscow- returning to the separatist embarrass the army, which has The witness said that an gations of the September 2014 implying the drug gang’s near- backed breakaway province of regions after the conflict. The recently been hit by allegations army captain, who is now events, police in the city of total control in Iguala, because South Ossetia, and Russia sent court ordered Moscow to that a former defense secretary facing organised crime charges Iguala handed the students over the funeral home is also the troops that routed the Georgian conduct a probe into human was in the pay of a drug gang. in the case, held some of the to cartel members, who pur- base for the local medical military in five days of fighting. rights violations during the hos- It could also imply that most of students at a local army base portedly killed and burned examiners’ office. After the war, Moscow set tilities and in their aftermath. EU leaders weigh travel curbs over virus variant fears

REUTERS — BRUSSELS muters, she added. Luxembourg Foreign Min- Alexander De Croo, prime ister Jean Asselborn, whose European Union leaders were minister of Belgium, where country relies on commuters seeking yesterday to address cases per capita are lower than from its neighbours, told Deut- the coronavirus pandemic’s in its neighbours, said he would schlandfunk radio that border mounting challenges, including ask fellow EU leaders to halt closures were wrong in 2020 increased calls to limit travel non-essential travel, such as and still wrong in 2021. and tighten border controls to tourism. The EU executive also contain more infectious “The slightest spark could wants member states to agree variants of the disease. push the figures back up again. a common approach to vacci- German Chancellor Angela We need to protect our good nation certificates by the end Merkel said before an evening position,” he said. of January. So a certificate from leaders’ video conference that The heads of EU institutions Estonia would be accepted in European countries needed to have urged the leaders to Portugal, for example. take the new mutation found maintain unity and step up Greek Prime Minister Kyr- in Britain seriously to avoid a testing and vaccinations, iakos Mitsotakis floated the idea third wave. though Merkel said she last week that they could help “We can’t rule out border expected no formal decisions restore cross-border travel. closures, but want to prevent to be taken at the meeting, the Spain is pushing the idea within them though cooperation ninth of its kind since the pan- the EU and the Organisation for A city worker wearing protective equipment collects a ballot for the Portuguese presidential election within the European Union,” demic began. Economic Co-operation and from a voter in quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Carcavelos, Portugal, yesterday. she told a news conference in European Commission Development, its foreign min- Berlin. President Ursula von der Leyen ister said yesterday. Leaders, who have full said on Wednesday that blanket EU diplomats said this was Portugal shuts schools as COVID-19 cases surge control over their own borders, border closures made no sense premature as it was not yet were discussing testing pro- and were not as effective as tar- clear if vaccinated people could AP — LISBON “Faced with this new 5,630, and in intensive care, tocols for cross-border com- geted measures. still transmit the virus to others. reality, a new set of measures with 702. The 221 deaths Portugal’s government yesterday is required,” he said. Schools attributed to COVID-19 over the ordered the closure of schools for will be closed starting Friday. previous 24 hours was also a Spain opens 200 criminal inquiries two weeks amid a surge in Also yesterday, church record. COVID-19 infections that the authorities in Portugal The government had been into care home pandemic failings prime minister blamed on the announced that services won’t reluctant to close schools, rise of a more contagious variant. be held from tomorrow and despite pressure from teachers REUTERS — MADRID of such facilities for the elderly “The risk of this virus until further notice due to the and parents. It argued that if and infirm. spreading through society has “extreme seriousness” of the schools closed some children Spain’s public prosecutor is “It’s not about political increased,” Prime Minister pandemic. wouldn’t get proper meals. investigating more than 200 beliefs, everything failed. It is António Costa told a news con- Portugal has the highest Others have no computer, no cases of potential criminal a matter of justice: they died an ference. “We have seen that, in seven-day average rate in the access to the Internet, and don’t mishandling of the pandemic undignified death,” he said. the space of a week, the variant world of new cases per 100,000 have their own room at home at nursing homes, where the “We want to shine a light on the has spread significantly.” population and the second- and get no help with their virus spread almost unchecked negligence and clarify who was The proportion of COVID-19 highest rate of new deaths after studies. during the devastating first responsible.” cases attributed to the variant, the United Kingdom, according Costa said school canteens wave. In a statement, the public Brazil President which was first identified in to data collated through would remain open for needy Angel Juarez, whose prosecutor’s office said nearly southeast England, has jumped Wednesday by Johns Hopkins children, while parents with 95-year-old mother Leonor half of its investigations related extends Olive from 8 percent last week to 20 University. children under the age of 12 can died from the virus at a Bar- to homicide through a neglect percent this week and may Health authorities reported miss work to care for them and celona care home, sued the of duty of care, while it was reach 60 percent in coming yesterday new highs for will receive 66 percent of their regional health department looking into 21 cases of defi- Branch to Biden weeks, Costa said. infected people in hospital, with pay from the government. over alleged mismanagement ciencies in medical treatment. BLOOMBERG — BRASILIA

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured), Latin Mexico leader takes new shot 15 killed in fire at nursing home in Ukraine America’s biggest adherent of Donald Trump’s fiery brand of at Twitter in continuing spat REUTERS — KIEV politics, tried to bury the hatchet with Joe Biden’s on his AP — MEXICO CITY accounts the president believes At least 15 people were killed first day in the White House. are responsible for criticism of and 11 injured in a fire in a Striking his most concili- President Andrés Manuel López him. nursing home in the eastern atory tone to date, Bolsonaro Obrador continued his spat The Mexican leader was Ukrainian town of Kharkiv, the issued a three-page letter con- with Twitter on Wednesday, close to former US President Ukrainian state emergency gratulating his US counterpart accusing one of the company Donald Trump and protested service said yesterday. Wednesday, calling for the two representatives in Mexico of Twitter’s decision to suspend The fire broke out in the nations to deepen ties. Bol- having previously worked for Trump’s account. afternoon on the second floor of sonaro was one of last world politicians of the conservative Twitter responded, calling the two-storey building. There leaders to recognise Biden’s opposition National Action the accusation “regrettable.” were 33 people inside, the victory, and amplified the 45th Party. “No person at Twitter is service said. president’s baseless allegations López Obrador suggested responsible, by themselves, for The service published a that the election had been the social media company our policies or compliance photo of the building with bars rigged right up until Trump’s might be biased, and he dis- actions, and it is regrettable to on the windows of the first floor. final days in office. played a resume that he said see comments directed at our Smoke could be seen billowing In September, Bolsonaro showed the executive’s pre- employees as if they were out of broken windows of the slammed Biden after he criti- vious work for National Action solely responsible for the com- second floor. cized deforestation in the Bra- senators and ex-President pany’s rules or decisions,” Ukraine’s President Volo- zilian Amazon, labeling it a Felipe Calderon. according to the Twitter Mexico dymyr Zelenskiy urged the “sign of contempt.” But on While López Obrador didn’t account. interior minister to open and Wednesday, Bolsonaro said he name the executive, it was a Last week, López Obrador take charge of an inquiry into was hopeful the presidents clear reference to Twitter’s vowed to lead an international the incident. could work together on “pro- public affairs director for effort to combat what he con- The Ukrainian prosecutor tecting the environment.” Mexico and Latin America, siders censorship by social general said that authorities had Brazil is currently seeking Hugo Rodriguez. media companies that have launched a criminal investi- a free-trade agreement with “We just hope he does his blocked or suspended Trump’s gation and the preliminary cause the US, and its continued job professionally, and doesn’t accounts, and promised to of the tragedy was the “careless support to join the Organi- Rescuers work at the scene of the accident following a fire in create bot farms,” López bring the issue up at the next handling of electric heating zation for Economic Co-oper- nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine, yesterday. Obrador said, referring to robot G-20 summit. devices”. ation and Development. 12 AMERICAS FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Biden launches sweeping reforms to tackle virus

REUTERS — WASHINGTON Biden was to sign a the Defense Production Act,” according to the plan. US President Joe Biden moved series of executive House of Representatives swiftly on his first full day in the orders related to Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House yesterday to fight the pandemic later DPA would also be used to the COVID-19 pandemic, his top speed up delivery of protective priority as he turns the page on yesterday, including gear. four years of Donald Trump’s requiring mask- The Trump administration tumultuous leadership. had invoked the law, which The Biden administration is wearing in airports grants the president broad aiming at a coordinated federal and on certain public authority to “expedite and coronavirus response to the expand the supply of resources 10-month pandemic, focused transportation, from the US industrial base,” for on boosting vaccines, increasing including many trains, protective gear, but never testing, reopening schools and enacted it for testing or vaccine addressing inequalities thrown airplanes and intercity production. up by the disease. buses, officials said. Biden will also direct the Trump, who frequently Federal Emergency Man- sought to play down the severity agement Administration to US President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff stand for the of the virus which has killed over Biden’s inauguration on reimburse states and tribes fully national anthem sung by Patti LaBelle during a virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service from the more than 405,000 Americans, the steps of the US Capitol on for the costs associated with State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. left much of the pandemic Wednesday. Crowds, which National Guard-related efforts planning to individual states, often reach into the hundreds to combat the virus. Biden signed 15 executive by opening up eligibility for in Congress, where the US which has resulted in a of thousands for the swearing- The measure restores “full actions on Wednesday just more people such as teachers Senate is considering how to patchwork of policies across the in of a president, were kept reimbursement” from the FEMA hours after he was sworn into and grocery clerks. proceed with the impeachment country. away for fear of spreading Disaster Relief Fund for costs office, many aimed at sweeping Biden proposed a $1.9 trial of Trump. The Democratic- “We can and will beat infections. related to re-opening schools. away Trump’s policies. trillion COVID-19 package last controlled House impeached COVID-19. America deserves a Biden was to sign a series of FEMA funds are typically dis- The 10 new orders Biden week that would enhance Trump last week for inciting an response to the COVID-19 pan- executive orders related to the persed after hurricanes, floods was to sign yesterday will jobless benefits and provide insurrection in the deadly demic that is driven by science, pandemic later yesterday, or other natural disasters. establish a COVID-19 testing direct cash payments to house- rampage at the Capitol. data, and public health — not including requiring mask- The new Democratic pres- board to ramp up testing, holds to alleviate the financial Pelosi has yet to send the politics,” the White House said wearing in airports and on ident has put fighting the address supply shortfalls, pain from coronavirus. article of impeachment to the in a statement outlining its certain public transportation, disease at the top of a daunting establish protocols for interna- Late on Wednesday, the Senate. According to Senate strategy against the including many trains, airplanes list of challenges, including tional travelers and direct Department of Education rules, the Republican former coronavirus. and intercity buses, officials rebuilding a ravaged economy resources to hard-hit minority moved to extend the pause of president’s trial would start the The pandemic has killed said. and addressing racial injustice. communities. student loan payments and said day after the charge is sent more people in the United The administration will also Other issues the administration Biden has pledged to it would keep the interest rate over. States than anywhere in the expand vaccine manufacturing plans to address over the next provide 100 million doses of the at 0% to help ease financial Biden has urged lawmakers world, and left millions out of and its power to purchase more 10 days include healthcare, the coronavirus vaccine during his burdens amid the pandemic. not to let Trump’s trial interfere work due to lockdowns. vaccines by “fully leveraging economy, immigration and first 100 days in office. His plan Some of Biden’s early initi- with his legislative priorities The virus cast a shadow contract authorities, including climate change. aims to increase vaccinations atives could get bogged down and confirming his Cabinet. Michigan official shows gun during online meeting Fauci vows Covax support

AP — TRAVERSE CITY Chairman Rob Hentschel to Second Amendment, but then and an extremist group by the denounce them. The neo-fascist I opted not to... I was in my FBI. in WHO re-engagement A county official in northern group is known for engaging in home.” Hentschel, the board Michigan displayed a rifle violent clashes at political Two self-described chairman, laughed in response BLOOMBERG — WASHINGTON Congress, as well as from allies during an online meeting in rallies and some of its members members of the Proud Boys to Clous’ actions and said he in Europe. The WHO has been response to a citizen’s took part in the Jan. 6 insur- spoke to the county board last had no problem with what US infectious-disease chief heavily involved in the fight comments about a far-right rection at the US Capitol. March in support of a pro- Clous did. Anthony Fauci pledged his against the coronavirus, espe- extremist group, drawing At that point, Clous stepped Second Amendment resolution “I saw it across his chest and country’s commitment to the cially in poor countries. outrage from some local resi- away from his webcam and the panel adopted. I thought it was ironic of him to World Health Organization, The US is willing to share dents. returned with a rifle. MacIntosh Clous said he won’t do that,” Hentschel said. “The including membership in a research more quickly and will Ron Clous, an elected told the Record-Eagle she felt denounce any group, including person was talking about guns global effort to deploy make health officials more member of the Grand Traverse threatened. Black Lives Matter, the NFL, or and he had one across his chest. COVID-19 vaccines. available, ending a staff County Board of Commis- “This guy is in the middle of other organizations. I didn’t see him do anything Fauci addressed the drawdown from the organization, sioners, was at home during the a government meeting bran- “The only thing I know illegal or dangerous with it. He Geneva-based group a day Fauci said. The US also wants to livestreamed meeting dishing a weapon,” MacIntosh about them (Proud Boys) is wasn’t threatening or bran- after Joe Biden’s inauguration, work with other WHO members Wednesday, the Traverse City said. “Why would I not think when they came and spoke to dishing. He was just holding it.” underlining the new US presi- to reform and strengthen the Record-Eagle reported. they were trying to harm me?” us,” Clous said. “They were Holly T. Bird, a local dent’s effort to mend ties with organization, he said. During a public comment Clous told the newspaper he probably the most respected attorney and activist, was an agency crucial to fighting the Fauci, director of the period, a local woman, Kelli retrieved his rifle in response folks that got up and talked. appalled when she watched the pandemic. He confirmed that National Institute of Allergy and MacIntash, criticized the board to MacIntosh’s request. They were decent guys and they recorded meeting. the US will join Covax, a Infectious Diseases, spoke at for allowing self-described “I was going to chime in as treated us with respect.” “Everyone knows that if 92-nation vaccine collabo- Thursday’s session of a series members of the Proud Boys to well,” Clous said. “I was just Proud Boys has been you’re walking down the street ration that the Trump admin- of executive board meetings speak at a commission meeting going to show the rifle and labeled a hate group by the and someone flashes a gun at istration declined to participate that began Monday. WHO last year and urged commission show that I fully support the Southern Poverty Law Center you, it’s a threat,” Bird said. in. Director-General Tedros “The US also intends to Adhanom Ghebreyesus con- fulfill its financial obligations” gratulated Biden and Vice Pres- Military helicopter to the WHO, Fauci said in a ident Kamala Harris on Twitter speech via a video link. “The late Wednesday. crash kills three US sees technical collaboration As WHO members discuss on all levels as a fundamental reforming the WHO’s financing, in New York part of our relationship with the that should involve an assessment WHO, one we value deeply and of what the organization can training exercise look to strengthen going achieve with its current budget forward.” and how it can use those funds AP — MENDON Fauci’s address initiates a more efficiently, plus a business campaign to re-engage with case for additional resources Three National Guard allies snubbed by his prede- needed and whether it would members on a training flight cessor. The United Nations expand its mandate, according to were killed on Wednesday agency was a frequent target the US delegation. when their helicopter crashed of former President Donald Antony Blinken, Biden’s in a farmer’s field in western Trump, who accused it of being choice for secretary of state, said New York. The craft, a UH-60 lax on China and failing to earlier this week that a US rift Black Hawk medical evacu- provide accurate information with WHO may be healing and ation helicopter, crashed about the virus. that the US was preparing to join around 6:30pm in Mendon, Biden reversed Trump’s Covax, the program led by the New York, a rural town south decision to exit the WHO on his WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic of Rochester, officials said. first day in office as the US Preparedness Innovations and The circumstances were death toll from Covid exceeded Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. under investigation. The Federal 400,000, higher than any other Many countries are Aviation Administration said it country. depending on Covax, which aims would take part. Photos of the The US has been the WHO’s to deploy vaccines equitably to crash scene posted by local largest contributor, providing every corner of the planet. Yet news media showed the aircraft Helicopters tackle California wildfire $400m to $500m in mandatory several have questioned whether wreckage burning on a snow- and voluntary contributions, the program will get the vaccines covered field. A helicopter makes a water drop as firefighters battle the wind-driven wildfire in Carlsbad, California, and Trump’s decision last year it needs, the WHO’s Tedros said The helicopter flew out of US, yesterday. drew sharp criticism in earlier this week. the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester Interna- tional Airport, and was assigned to C Company of the 1st Bat- Lilly: Drug can prevent COVID-19 illness in nursing homes talion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, according to AP — INDIANAPOLIS home residents only, the risk was residents who did not have already underway. tions around the country. Eric Durr, public affairs director reduced by up to 80 percent. COVID-19, four later got the Experts have said drugs like The two vaccines approved of the New York State Division Drugmaker Eli Lilly said The study involved more disease and died. Lilly said all Lilly’s could serve as a bridge to for emergency use by Pfizer and of Military and Naval Affairs. yesterday its antibody drug can than 1,000 residents and staff of them had received the help manage the virus until vac- Moderna require two doses. New York Governor prevent COVID-19 illness in at nursing homes and other placebo. cines are widely available. Major drugstore chains CVS and Andrew Cuomo said flags on residents and staff of nursing long-term care locations like The Food and Drug Admin- Nursing homes and other Walgreens are giving the shots at state buildings would be homes and other long-term assisted living homes. The vast istration in November allowed long-term care locations have nursing homes in nearly all states. lowered to half-staff yesterday care locations. majority tested negative at the emergency use of Lilly antibody been hard hit by the pandemic. The companies said they to pay tribute to the troops. It’s the first major study to start of the study. Some were drug as a treatment for people In the United States, they expect to finish giving first “National Guard members show such a treatment may assigned to get the drug, which ages 12 and older with mild or account for less than one doses in nursing homes this are our citizen soldiers who prevent illness in a group that is given through an IV, and moderate cases of COVID-19 percent of the population, but month. Their vaccination pro- voluntarily serve and protect has been devastated by the others got placebo infusions. that do not require hospitali- nearly 40 percent of deaths grams in nursing homes are both here and abroad, and I pandemic. The research was conducted zation. It’s a one-time treatment. from COVID-19. expected to largely wrap up in extend prayers and condo- Residents and staff who got with the National Institutes of Lilly said it plans to work These long-term care loca- February and March. Progress lences from all New Yorkers the drug had up to a 57 percent Health. Results were released with regulators to see about tions have been given priority has been slower at other long- to the family, loved ones and lower risk of getting COVID-19 in a press release, and the expanding the authorization to vaccinate residents and staff term locations like assisted fellow soldiers of these hon- compared to others at the same company said it would publish to prevent and treat COVID-19 with recently authorized living, where residents require orable heroes,” he said in a facility who got a placebo, the more details in a journal soon. in long-term care facilities, COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccina- less medical care than those at statement. drugmaker said. Among nursing Among the nearly 300 where vaccinations are tions started last month at loca- nursing homes. Business 13

FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Eurostar ridership slumps 95%, forcing UK and France to the rescue We are working with the UK on mechanisms for aid that are proportional pro rata to the importance of Eurostar to each.

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari French Transport Minister Business | 14 QSE 10,763.35 -62.87 (-0.58%) FTSE 100 6,724.73 -15.66 (0.23%) DOW 31,178.21 -10.17 (0.033%) BRENT $55.78 (-0.50)

Ooredoo ECB stimulus on track as economy struggles announces AP - FRANKFURT decision not to adjust its One result of the purchases interest payment The governing council key programmes was is that governments can use the With more than a trillion euros added €500bn to its largely expected bond market to borrow cheaply date for Medium in stimulus still in the pipeline to pandemic emergency because it added a as their deficits rise through the economy, the European major dose of stimulus spending on pandemic support, Term Note Central Bank (ECB) left its key stimulus bond purchases, only last month, at its such as paying salaries for fur- bond-purchase programme bringing the total to December 10 meeting. loughed workers to avoid layoffs. QNA - DOHA unchanged yesterday as the €1.85 trillion ($2.2 The governing Additional stimulus is on the 19-country eurozone endures a trillion), and extended council added €500bn way from the EU’s €750bn fund Ooredoo announced yes- winter economic slowdown due to its pandemic emer- established to support the terday that February 1 will be to the pandemic. the regular purchases gency stimulus bond recovery through shared bor- the date to pay its Global ECB President Christine through at least March purchases, bringing the rowing by member countries - Medium Term Note (GMTN) Lagarde (pictured) told a news 2022. More than half of total to €1.85 trillion a step toward further solidarity holders interest conference that the economy that total is still waiting ($2.2 trillion), and and integration among the payment. likely contracted in the last three to be deployed. extended the regular 27-member EU. The fund is to Ooredoo said in a months of 2020 and the outlook purchases through at support projects that reduce statement published on the going forward faced risks. least March 2022. More emissions of carbon dioxide, the Qatar Stock Exchange Coronavirus infections and than half of that total is main greenhouse gas blamed website that OIFL, a wholly deaths have risen during the milestone the outbreak con- The European Union’s exec- still waiting to be deployed. for climate change, and that owned subsidiary of winter, leading to new restric- tinued to pose “serious risk to the utive commission forecasts that The bond purchases are a promote the spread of digital Ooredoo, will pay the note- tions on businesses. Germany has eurozone and global economies.” the eurozone economy shrank way of pumping newly created technology and infrastructure. holders $11,250,000.00 on extended its partial lockdown Manufacturing continues to hold 7.8 percent last year and should money into the economy, which The ECB is the chief monetary the Interest Payment Date until February 14, France has up well, but services are being rebound by 4.2 percent this year. aims to raise inflation from levels authority for the countries that use falling due on February 1 of imposed a 6pm curfew, and Por- “severely curbed,” she said. Official numbers for last year are that are currently considered too the euro, playing a role analogous 2021. tugal has hit multiple records in As a result, “an ample mon- to be released February 2. low. The purchases also keep to that of the Federal Reserve in The company will also case numbers. etary stimulus remains essential” The economy is being market interest rates down so the US. It sets key interest rate pay the 3.875 percent in Lagarde said that while the and the ECB stands ready to propped up by massive stimulus that companies can access the benchmarks and supervises interest payment to note- start of vaccinations against the “adjust all its instruments” if from the ECB, national govern- credit they need to get through banks. So far, 19 of the 27 EU holders of its $500,00,000 coronavirus was an important needed, she added. ments, and the EU. The ECB’s the pandemic recession. countries have joined the euro. notes due in 2028. Norwegian Air wins state backing for slimmed-down restructuring plan BLOOMBERG much debt. aircraft in 2021, rising to 70 planes next The company cut thousands of jobs year. The carrier plans to raise up to 5 Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA won state and reined in its network to save billionn kroner ($590m) through a backing for its slimmed-down restruc- money as the outbreak stifled demand. rights issue, a private placement and turing plan, boosting the bankrupt car- But the government rejected Nor- the hybrid instrument. rier’s bid to attract new investors and wegian Air’s request for a second The new business plan seems exit insolvency proceedings. multi-bn krone rescue package on “more robust” than the one previously The Norwegian government said November 9, partly because some of rejected by the government, Trade and yesterday that it will participate in a the aid would be used to fund the long- Industry Minister Iselin Nybo said in hybrid loan for the airline, provided distance business focused on London’s the government’s statement. Provided enough outside capital is raised and Gatwick airport, and wouldn’t benefit Norwegian lives up to the new strategy, the restructuring plan receives court Norway. the government can contribute with a approval. Norwegian Air filed for bankruptcy hybrid loan, she said, adding that the The expression of support comes protection less than 10 days later. With state has “no ambitions to become an a day ahead of an Irish court hearing the restructuring plan unveiled on Jan. owner.” as part of the carrier’s examinership 14, the carrier will give up the discount Norwegian shares were up 12 process. The government commitment A file photo of Norwegian Air airliner. long-haul business, returning to its percent as of 10:22 am local time, significantly increases Norwegian Air’s roots operating shorter European having lost 98 percent of their value chances of working through the crisis, reconstruction process,” Chief Exec- coronavirus pandemic grounded flights. About 2,100 jobs will be lost last year. the airline said in a separate statement. utive Officer Jacob Schram said. countless flights and plunged the with the move, including 1,100 in the “We still have a lot of work ahead “With a new business plan, and a The shares surged as much as 18 industry into an historic crisis. The UK. of us, but a participation from the gov- participation from the government, we percent in Oslo. carrier had already been struggling The restructured airline would ernment underscores that we are are confident we can attract investors Norwegian Air, like most other air- after its aggressive push into the low- serve the Nordics and European des- heading in the right direction,” Schram and get through the examinership and lines, suffered a body blow after the cost, long-haul market left it with too tinations with about 50 narrow-body said in the statement. InPost shareholders seek up US jobless Clock ticking for CEOs to grow profits to $3.9bn in Amsterdam IPO claims fall, AP - NEW YORK hopefully right itself this year report their companies’ results as more stimulus flows from in upcoming weeks, investors BLOOMBERG listed in the UK and Poland, Are better days ahead for cor- Washington and as corona- will likely pay more attention respectively last year, while remain near porate profits? They’d better virus vaccinations return daily to the forecasts they give for InPost SA shareholders are virtual greeting-card company be. life closer to normal. Analysts 2021 than the actual results. seeking to raise as much as Moonpig Group Plc announced one million CEOs across America have forecast S&P 500 earnings will Some CEOs have already €3.2bn ($3.9bn) in an initial plans last week for a London begun telling shareholders grow in the first three months made comments that bolster public offering in Amsterdam, as listing. InPost got 26.2 percent of BLOOMBERG how much profit their com- of 2021 by roughly 17 percent, enthusiasm for a coming the Polish postal locker pro- its revenue from Allegro, and an panies made during the last before accelerating to 46 recovery. vider’s business is bolstered by additional 20.7 percent from Applications for US state unem- three months of 2020, just as percent growth in the spring. While reporting the biggest an online shopping boom set off merchants selling goods on its ployment benefits fell only the worsening pandemic sent For the full year, analysts annual loss in its history, Delta by coronavirus-induced platform, in the first nine months slightly last week and remained death rates soaring. The expect profits for S&P 500 Air Lines said it expects to lockdowns. of 2020, according to an IPO elevated, signaling heightened general expectation is for companies to jump 22.5 bring in as much cash as it InPost is marketing 175 prospectus published on its pandemic-related strain in the nothing heroic. Earnings for percent. spends by the spring. That’s a million existing shares at €14 to website. The document also said US labour market just as Joe the big companies in the S&P Companies better meet huge turnaround for a €16 apiece, the company said in that the “substantial share” of Biden begins his first days as 500 likely fell 7 percent from those lofty predictions. Oth- company that was burning a statement yesterday. The sale revenue that InPost gets from president. a year earlier, according to erwise, the US stock market through $12m a day during the would value the company, which Allegro is a key risk for the Initial jobless claims in FactSet. will look even more expensive last three months of 2020 and isn’t raising any money in the company. regular state programmes Over the long term, stock than it does now. Critics are $100m daily at the end of offering, at €7bn to €8bn. Selling shareholders include declined by 26,000 to 900,000 prices tend to track the path of already calling it a bubble that March. Underwriters gathered Advent International, Templeton in the week ended January 16, corporate profits. And stock may be on a similar scale as The airline said it expects enough investor demand to Strategic Emerging Markets according to Labor Department prices sometimes rise much the dot-com boom or the conditions to remain rocky cover the full deal throughout the Fund and PZU Fundusz. The data yesterday. On an unad- faster than profits, particularly financial orgy that preceded early in the year, but it’s price range soon after opening offer period is expected to run justed basis, the figure dropped when interest rates are low, as the Great Depression. looking for business to pick up up the IPO order book, according through Jan. 28, with trading by more than 151,000 to they are now. But stocks By several measures stocks as COVID-19 vaccinations to terms seen by Bloomberg scheduled to begin on Euronext 960,668. Continuing claims in surged to records in 2020 even are now valued at their most become widespread, offices News. Amsterdam the following day. state programs -- an approxi- as profits plunged due to the expensive since the dot-com reopen and travelers start to This IPO shows that com- InPost has already secured mation of the number of people pandemic. bubble popped in 2000. feel more confident. panies that straddle e-commerce €1.03bn of cornerstone invest- receiving ongoing jobless ben- Investors will likely give Some of the bubble talk The crystal ball is also and technology are hot for ments, about a third of the total efits -- decreased by 127,000 to CEOs another pass if they do could cool if things pull closer brightening at several big investors during the pandemic, deal size, from Blackrock Inc., 5.05 million in the week ended turn in a fourth-straight to normal, with earnings rising banks, who are no longer Rafal Janczyk, a fund manager Capital World Investors and Sin- January 9, 2021. quarter of profit declines over more than stock prices in 2021. squirreling away as much at Aviva Investors TFI SA, said gapore’s sovereign wealth fund The median forecasts in a the next few weeks. That’s That would temper some of the money to cover loans that a by phone. GIC, according to the statement. Bloomberg survey of economists because Wall Street is focusing extreme valuations. And that’s long downturn could force to The Polish company is Issuers and their advisers are called for 935,000 initial appli- instead on the huge turna- exactly what much of Wall go bad. Bank of America said joining other beneficiaries of increasingly lining up large cations and 5.3 million con- round it sees beginning. Street is forecasting for this Tuesday that it’s freeing up stay-at-home orders in going shareholder orders before tinuing claims. After getting blindsided by year, with the S&P 500 likely $828m, for example. Last public. Online retailers THG opening up IPOs to market to The figures continue to far the COVID-19 pandemic in rising much less than earnings. week, JPMorgan Chase Holdings Plc and Allegro.eu SA minimize risk. exceed their pre-crisis levels. 2020, the economy will That’s why, when CEOs released $2.9bn. 14 BUSINESS FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Eurostar ridership slumps 95%, forcing Online retailer Mytheresa’s Britain and France to the rescue IPO raises $407m in US BLOOMBERG why we added active wear and BLOOMBERG comment. between our two countries.” ski wear, kids wear and London business chiefs have Yves Crozet, a professor at The parent company of online menswear.” France and the UK are negoti- lobbied for a rescue of Eurostar, Lyon University’s Urban luxury retailer Mytheresa and Mytheresa, which spe- ating an aid package for Eurostar whose express trains connect Planning Transport Economics an existing shareholder raised cializes in women’s clothing and International Ltd after the coro- the UK capital with Paris, Laboratory, told the UK parlia- $407m in a US initial public accessories, carries more than navirus crisis wiped out 95 Brussels and Amsterdam. The mentary committee that France offering after pricing the shares 250 brands including Gucci, percent of the Channel Tunnel Conservative chairman of the is unlikely to support Eurostar at the top of the marketed Prada and Givenchy and has train operator’s passenger UK parliament’s transport com- on its own, despite its share- range. customers in more than 140 traffic. mittee, Huw Merriman, yes- holding, and that a bout of “arm When Mytheresa starts countries, according to its One option under discussion terday called on both govern- wrestling” is to be expected. trading on the New York Stock website. Mytheresa is based could see the Bank of England ments to “set out their com- “The situation is very critical Exchange later yesterday, it’s near the Bavarian capital of provide funds from its COVID-19 mitment” for supporting the at Eurostar,” SNCF Chief Exec- expected to have a market Munich in southern Germany. loan facility as part of the UK company, saying it contributes utive Officer Jean-Pierre value of about $2.23bn based The company reported net contribution, according to a £800m ($1.1bn) a year to the Farandou said Tuesday on on the outstanding shares listed income of €6.35m ($7.7m) on person familiar with the matter Djebbari said, adding that the British economy. France Inter radio. “We have in its filings with the US Secu- net sales of €450m for fiscal who asked not to be identified. goal is to make Eurostar “sus- Eurostar is 55 percent owned already injected capital into rities and Exchange 2020, according to filings. Over The person said the train tainable from a financial stand- by SNCF, which has said there’s Eurostar to help it get through Commission. the coming years, it’s aiming for operator is eligible despite point.” Talks have been going on a “real risk” to the business’s this rough patch.” The pandemic has been a revenue growth of between 22 French government majority for weeks with UK counterpart survival without government The London First lobby said mixed blessing to Internet and 25 percent per year, Kliger ownership. Grant Shapps, he said. funding. SNCF is itself bleeding in a letter to UK Chancellor of retailers, Mytheresa CEO said. Mytheresa wants to keep Talks are centered on The BoE-managed Covid cash and has relied on a $5bn the Exchequer Rishi Sunak that Michael Kliger said in an earnings before interest and support that reflects the interests Corporate Financing Facility has capital infusion from the state Eurostar was set to run out of interview. While the outbreak taxes, depreciation and amor- of both countries, French been accessed by numerous to get through a steep slump in cash in coming months even has disrupted supply chains, tization as a proportion of Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste firms including airline compet- traffic. Britain sold its 40 percent before a border lockdown began the lockdowns imposed across revenue at about 8 percent. Djebbari (pictured) told a par- itors to Eurostar such as EasyJet holding in Eurostar in 2015, on Monday. Europe have encouraged more Mytheresa traces its roots liamentary committee yes- Plc. Eurostar said it had previ- complicating any government The company says it has people to shop online. back more than 30 years to a terday. France controls Eurostar ously been deemed ineligible for funding. received money from its share- “Our logic has always been luxury boutique in Munich. In via state railway SNCF, but the forms of UK support granted to “The subject is highly holders, which also include the to focus on our core customers, 2006, it launched a small firm is based in London and seen airlines and domestic rail political and we will reveal when funds Caisse de Depot et the true luxury customer and we e-commerce business and has as important to the British operators. the time comes principles of Placement du Quebec and try and understand what else now grown into a business with economy. A spokeswoman for the support, which certainly won’t Hermes Infrastructure, with a this customer may want and more than 700 employees. “We are working with the company declined to comment be the SNCF,” Djebbari told 40 percent stake, and Belgium, find exciting,” Kliger said. “It’s Its rivals include Richem- UK on mechanisms for aid that on government talks, while the French lawmakers. “The gov- which holds 5 percent, but has not about a different direction, ont’s Yoox Net-a-Porter unit are proportional pro rata to the UK government didn’t immedi- ernment will back Eurostar to had only furlough money from but about becoming more rel- and Apax Partners Inc.’s Match- importance of Eurostar to each,” ately respond to a request for maintain this strategic link Britain. evant for our customers. That’s esfashion Ltd. Union Pacific delivered 3% more freight in fourth-quarter as economy recovered

AP - OMAHA, NEBRASKA (USA) year’s $1.4bn, or $2.02 per share, The railroad posted revenue the spread of the coronavirus but this year’s results were of $5.14bn in the period, which before rebounding sharply in the Union Pacific’s fourth-quarter weighed down by a one-time met Street forecasts. third quarter. profit chugged ahead as shipping $278m charge. Without that Union Pacific said volume The railroad said it expects volume improved for the first charge, Union Pacific said it grew 3 percent as the economy shipping volume to continue time since before the corona- would have reported $1.6bn net continued to recover from the growing in most categories in virus pandemic slowed the income, or $2.36 per share. worst of the pandemic. In last 2021 as the industrial section of economy to a crawl last year. The results exceeded Wall year’s second quarter, the the economy continues to slowly The Omaha, Nebraska- Street expectations. The average number of shipments railroads recover, but it didn’t offer any based railroad said yesterday estimate of seven analysts sur- handled plummeted more than profit forecast because the that it earned $1.38bn, or $2.05 veyed by Zacks Investment 20 percent as many businesses overall environment remains too per share, in the quarter. That Research was for earnings of and factories shut down as offi- uncertain because of the A file photo of a Union Pacific goods train. was roughly in line with last $2.25 per share. cials imposed restrictions to slow pandemic.

QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE

QNBK - QNB 18.43 18.30 18.22 18.45 90,863 18.25 18.22 10,000 18.25 18.25 -0.18 -0.98 240 1,313,881 24,027,160.60 QIBK - Qatar Islamic Bank 17.27 17.28 17.10 17.28 68,412 17.1 17.06 3,210 17.10 17.10 -0.17 -0.98 327 1,195,955 20,556,058.65 CBQK - Comm. Bank of Qatar 4.401 4.37 4.37 4.42 15,288 4.415 4.38 50,000 4.41 4.410 +0.01 +0.20 88 752,012 3,314,231.46 DHBK - Doha Bank 2.40 2.400 2.375 2.409 3,319 2.386 2.375 136,431 2.375 2.38 -0.025 -1.04 73 1,655,574 3,974,470.971 ABQK - Ahli Bank 3.85 3.601 3.601 3.795 24,900 3.795 3.601 5,200 3.795 0.00 -0.055 -1.43 2 3,186 11,492.186 QIIK - Intl. Islamic Bank 9.153 9.20 9.03 9.20 15,000 9.14 9.025 3,000 9.03 9.030 -0.12 -1.34 145 549,746 4,994,337.30 MARK - Rayan 4.422 4.440 4.403 4.450 15,290 4.425 4.403 32,608 4.403 4.40 -0.019 -0.43 391 7,079,594 31,361,229.434 KCBK - Al khalij Commercial Bank 2.151 2.15 2.08 2.15 302,716 2.1 2.09 1,166,833 2.09 2.090 -0.06 -2.84 264 5,329,664 11,203,736.40 QFBQ - Qatar First Bank (QFC) 1.81 1.825 1.800 1.870 10,000 1.84 1.835 120,005 1.835 1.83 +0.025 +1.38 937 33,549,458 61,655,543.750 QETF - QE Index ETF 10.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 9,421 10.614 9.61 1,000 10.56 10.531 0.00 0.00 0 0 0.00 QATR - Al Rayan Qatar ETF 2.43 2.430 2.415 2.430 1,155 2.537 2.415 3,357 2.415 2.417 -0.015 -0.62 7 64,278 155,342.245 QATI - Qatar Insurance 2.489 2.49 2.48 2.50 1,000 2.49 2.48 30,763 2.49 2.49 0.00 +0.04 42 740,309 1,841,760.87 DOHI - Doha Insurance 1.545 1.548 1.53 1.55 96,367 1.54 1.48 5,000 1.54 0.000 -0.00 -0.32 24 215,334 331,464.37 QLMI - QLM 3.755 3.760 3.650 3.790 173,002 3.769 3.75 123,524 3.769 3.769 +0.014 +0.37 367 2,946,931 11,065,987.133 QGRI - General Insurance 2.62 2.452 2.45 2.59 1,348 2.588 2.452 4,058 2.59 0.00 -0.03 -1.15 2 510 1,251.90 AKHI - Alkhaleej Takaful 1.995 2.000 2.000 2.194 0 0.0 MP 879,373 2.194 2.194 +0.199 +9.97 498 17,119,458 36,071,579.391 QISI - Islamic Insurance 7.097 7.148 7.00 7.20 20,393 7.14 7.005 10,000 7.00 0.000 -0.10 -1.37 17 285,848 2,043,907.58 QAMC - QAMCO 0.976 0.975 0.971 0.977 423,062 0.976 0.975 34,144 0.976 0.976 0.000 0.00 128 1,846,301 1,799,186.904 QIMD - Ind. Manf. Co. 3.054 3.050 3.010 3.139 2,611 3.136 3.034 9,000 3.136 3.136 +0.082 +2.69 18 156,550 476,259.999 QNCD - National Cement Co. 4.20 4.220 4.151 4.220 15,500 4.197 4.132 11,566 4.197 4.197 -0.003 -0.07 26 127,060 529,875.761 ZHCD - Zad Holding Company 14.90 15.00 15.00 15.24 3,600 15.0 14.9 290 15.00 15.00 +0.10 +0.67 25 116,874 1,755,265.14 IQCD - Industries Qatar 12.09 12.19 11.87 12.31 4,700 12.16 12.05 28,209 12.05 12.05 -0.04 -0.33 410 1,303,196 15,827,146.87 UDCD - United Dev. Company 1.695 1.69 1.65 1.70 99,581 1.68 1.679 338,309 1.68 1.680 -0.01 -0.88 432 8,779,763 14,726,813.70 QGMD - Qatar German Co. Med 3.14 3.170 3.000 3.400 467,339 3.221 3.22 684,733 3.221 3.221 +0.081 +2.58 1,662 40,411,448 129,478,822.321 QIGD - The Investors 1.817 1.81 1.80 1.88 5,000 1.854 1.83 54,942 1.83 1.83 +0.01 +0.72 183 2,992,036 5,519,536.86 ORDS - Ooredoo 8.51 8.424 8.424 8.557 5,304 8.449 8.429 96,106 8.429 8.429 -0.081 -0.95 346 768,969 6,506,512.618 QEWS - Electricity & Water 18.39 18.31 18.30 18.44 30,000 18.4 18.3 4,629 18.30 18.30 -0.09 -0.49 118 253,261 4,638,246.84 SIIS - Salam International 0.643 0.64 0.64 0.65 1,402,338 0.65 0.648 149,569 0.65 0.650 +0.01 +1.09 162 14,013,915 9,097,726.36 BLDN - Baladna 1.736 1.74 1.73 1.75 10,000 1.73 1.727 61,000 1.73 1.730 -0.01 -0.35 202 5,609,459 9,712,082.16 NLCS - National Leasing 1.263 1.263 1.237 1.263 265,236 1.247 1.246 29,430 1.247 1.247 -0.016 -1.27 348 18,212,735 22,707,099.217 QNNS - Qatar Navigation 7.78 7.66 7.66 7.78 21,061 7.77 7.72 1,068 7.77 7.77 -0.01 -0.13 16 57,124 443,852.17 MCGS - Medicare 8.751 8.525 8.524 8.924 570 8.768 8.705 4,000 8.768 0.000 +0.017 +0.19 54 207,186 1,809,282.242 QCFS - Cinema 3.542 3.893 3.888 3.893 17,405 3.888 3.55 3,090 3.888 3.888 +0.346 +9.77 2 350 1,361.300 QFLS - Qatar Fuel 19.10 18.94 18.60 19.06 83,963 19.0 18.94 34,134 19.00 19.00 -0.10 -0.52 364 1,742,709 32,751,872.72 WDAM - Widam 6.21 6.28 6.20 6.28 4,850 6.21 6.2 9,717 6.20 0.00 -0.01 -0.16 28 105,603 655,348.21 GWCS - Gulf warehousing Co 5.16 5.190 5.160 5.200 589,746 5.194 5.19 20,000 5.194 5.19 +0.034 +0.66 213 2,254,818 11,686,555.267 QGTS - Nakilat 3.489 3.465 3.440 3.490 50,000 3.47 3.468 131,166 3.468 3.47 -0.021 -0.60 173 2,110,716 7,304,585.888 DBIS - Dlala 1.84 1.850 1.830 2.024 623,780 2.022 2.02 100 2.022 2.022 +0.182 +9.89 860 23,780,685 46,309,727.506 BRES - Barwa 3.417 3.420 3.412 3.450 3,137 3.417 3.413 131,883 3.413 3.413 -0.004 -0.12 271 2,110,413 7,234,881.584 MCCS - Mannai Corp. 2.985 3.049 2.961 3.049 10,000 2.986 2.975 2,410 2.989 0.000 +0.004 +0.13 14 103,528 307,941.669 AHCS - Aamal 0.858 0.86 0.85 0.87 11,865 0.86 0.859 55,408 0.86 0.860 0.00 +0.23 113 2,109,194 1,813,489.23 QOIS - Qatar Oman 0.852 0.862 0.847 0.862 30,000 0.858 0.856 305,850 0.856 0.856 +0.004 +0.47 55 1,239,715 1,059,395.781 ERES - Ezdan Holding 1.77 1.790 1.755 1.793 5,000 1.77 1.767 597,197 1.767 1.77 -0.003 -0.17 460 11,049,172 19,598,243.371 IHGS - Inma 5.301 5.394 5.223 5.394 35,997 5.263 5.262 5,000 5.263 5.263 -0.038 -0.72 315 2,394,044 12,680,837.739 GISS - Gulf International 1.66 1.65 1.65 1.70 98,950 1.67 1.666 79,900 1.67 1.67 +0.01 +0.60 404 11,615,637 19,329,537.57 MPHC - Mesaieed 2.052 2.052 2.046 2.060 13,763 2.053 2.046 78,537 2.046 2.046 -0.006 -0.29 188 1,718,291 3,520,433.316 IGRD - Investment Holding 0.564 0.565 0.562 0.579 101,000 0.571 0.57 807,687 0.571 0.571 +0.007 +1.24 440 27,779,357 15,819,114.140 VFQS - Vodafone Qatar 1.44 1.44 1.44 1.46 14,000 1.45 1.446 20,000 1.45 1.450 +0.01 +0.69 113 4,561,964 6,599,307.72 MERS - Al Meera 20.60 20.60 20.40 20.85 883 20.5 20.45 12,655 20.45 0.00 -0.15 -0.73 92 182,365 3,751,507.72 MRDS - Mazaya 1.285 1.290 1.275 1.290 100 1.285 1.281 45,000 1.285 1.285 0.000 0.00 143 4,066,618 5,226,022.052

QE INDICES SUMMARY QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON WORLD STOCK INDICES EXCHANGE RATE

QE Index 10,736.35 -0.58 % 21-01-2021 Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Currency Selling (QAR) Buying (QAR) QE Total Return Index 20,640.28 -0.58 % Index 10,736.35 Dow Jones Industrial Average 31,188.38 +257.86 +0.83% US$ 3.6500 3.6305 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index - Price 2,425.17 -0.46 % Change -62.87 S&P 500 3,851.85 +52.94 +1.39% Australian Dollar AUD 2.86 2.79 % -0.58% Bangladeshi Taka BDT 0.045 0.042 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,326.43 -0.46 % Nasdaq Composite Index 13,457.25 -- --% YTD% +2.88 FTSE 100 Index 6,745.40 +5.01 +0.07% Canadian Dollar CAD 2.92 2.86 QE All Share Index 3,289.11 -0.56 % Volume 266,631,240 Euro EUR 4.52 4.4 DAX Index 13,993.25 +71.88 +0.52% QE All Share Banks & Value (QAR) 633,551,102.51 Indian Rupee INR 0.052 0.05 CAC 40 Index 5,623.48 -4.96 -0.09% Financial Services 4,292.02 -0.84 % Trades 11,822 Japanese Yen JPY 0.0355 0.0348 Nikkei Stock Average 225 28,756.86 +233.60 +0.82% Up 20 | Down 27 | Unchanged 02 Malaysian Ringgit MYR 0.92 0.885 QE All Share Industrials 3,274.52 -0.19 % Hang Seng Index 29,927.76 -34.71 -0.12% 20-01-2021 Nepalese Rupee NPR 0.033 0.031 QE All Share Transportation 3,583.83 -0.33 % Index 10,799.22 Shanghai Composite Index 3,621.26 +38.17 +1.07% Pakistani Rupee PKR 0.02326 0.02273 QE All Share Real Estate 1,942.15 -0.39 % Change +30.20 ASX All Ordinaries Index 7,107.10 +56.10 +0.80% Philippine Peso PHP 0.079 0.075 QE All Share Insurance 2,500.28 +0.09 % % +0.28% Pound Sterling GBP 5.03 4.92 QE All Share Telecoms 1,123.30 -0.56 % YTD% +3.48 GOLD AND SILVER South African Rand ZAR 0.25 0.245 Volume 221,721,815 Sri Lankan Rupee LKR 0.02 0.019 QE All Share Consumer GOLD QR230.00 per gramme Swiss Franc CHF 4.16 4.09 Goods & Services 8,193.80 -0.20 % Value (QAR) 614,525,083.61 Trades 11,851 SILVER QR2.99 per gramme Turkish Lira TRY 0.505 0.50 Sport FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 15

FACTBOX: Sri Lanka vs England Root wants improvement in Second Test in Galle

second Test against Sri Lanka GALLE: Factbox on the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and England, which begins today: WHEN: REUTERS — GALLE 135, though they Jan. 22-26 (10 a.m./0430 GMT) improved markedly in WHERE: England captain Joe Root has warned his the second. Batsman Galle International Stadium players not to get ahead of themselves and Angelo Mathews took MATCH OFFICIALS (all Sri Lankan) to continue improving as they seek to wrap the unusual step of Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Ruchira Palliyaguruge up the series against Sri Lanka in the second suggesting his team Third umpire: Lyndon Hannibal and final Test at Galle International Stadium mates look to Root for Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle today. tips on how to master SRI LANKA England won the first match at the same the wicket after the World ranking: 6 venue by seven wickets in a dominant per- England skipper Coach: Mickey Arthur formance to record a fourth successive scored 228 in the Captain: Dimuth Karunaratne away victory for the first time in 64 years. series opener. Team (from): Minod Bhanuka, Dushmantha Chameera, They have not won five Tin a row on the “Joe Root played a Dinesh Chandimal (wicketkeeper), Dhananjaya de Silva, road since 1913. magnificent innings. Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Another victory on a famously difficult We can learn a lot Vishwa Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Santhush Gunathilake, ground for visiting teams would be a feather from the way he Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dilshan in the cap and a big boost ahead of Eng- batted,” Mathews said Madushanka, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, land’s four-Test series in India that follows yesterday. Kusal Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru directly after. “You have to find Thirimanne “Sri Lanka are a proud team and have that tempo, especially ENGLAND a great record at this ground so we have to in these conditions. A World ranking: 4 play smart cricket again. We can’t be happy traditional Galle Coach: Chris Silverwood with what we have achieved on this trip so wicket is very slow Captain: Joe Root far, we need to get better,” Root told and takes turn, so you need to be able to England are currently playing a two- Team (from): Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, reporters yesterday. find the shots according to each bowler. Test series in Sri Lanka where they lead 1-0 Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Zak “We can’t get ahead of ourselves and “We need to be able to understand what going into today’s final match while India Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, think we’re something we’re not. This will we can and what we can’t do on these returned from a successful tour of Australia Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood. not be an easy game, we will have to play wickets against their bowlers.” where they retained the Border-Gavaskar PREVIOUS SRI LANKA V ENGLAND GALLE TESTS some good stuff for five days if we want to Trophy with a 2-1 series win. 2001 - Sri Lanka won by an innings and 28 runs keep taking steps forward as a team,” Root Stokes and Archer England’s selectors have decided to rest 2003 - Match drawn said Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark 2007 - Match drawn England have made one change from return to England Test Wood, who are currently in Sri Lanka while 2012 - Sri Lanka won by 75 runs the first Test, with seamer James Anderson Craig Overton will also return home after 2018 - England won by 211 runs replacing Stuart Broad in an expected squad for India series the second Test in the island nation. 2021 - England won by seven wickets switch as they rotate bowlers in a busy REUTERS - LONDON The India series is scheduled to begin winter period. on Feb 5, with the first two matches to be Broad was effective with his guile on England all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast played in Chennai before they travel to England vs India the spin-friendly Galle wicket and Anderson bowler Jofra Archer will return for the four- Ahmedabad for the last two games. Rousing brings plenty of that as he looks to add to Test series in India next month as the coun- England squad: Joe Root (captain), 1st Test: Chennai, Feb 5 - his 600 Test wickets. try’s cricket board (ECB) named yesterday Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Feb 9 welcome Neither seamers Chris Woakes or Olly the squad for the first two matches. Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos 2nd Test: Chennai, Feb 13 Stone were able to force their way into the Batsman Rory Burns also returns to the Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan - Feb 17 for India’s side, which means they will go into the India side after he skipped the Sri Lanka tour to Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben 3rd Test (D/N): Ahmeda- series with little cricket under their belt. stay at home for the birth of his first child Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. bad, Feb 24 - Feb 28 Rahane on Sri Lanka were roundly criticised for but Ollie Pope has yet to recover from a Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, 4th Test: Ahmedabad, Mar an abject batting display in the first innings shoulder injury and will be added to the Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie 4 - Mar 8 return from of the first Test when they were skittled for squad only when he passes a fitness test. Robinson, Amar Virdi. Australia

REUTERS — MUMBAI

South Africa's star batsman Du Plessis gets India’s stand-in captain Ajinka Rahane returned home to a red carpet set for unexpected Test series in Pakistan welcome in Mumbai yesterday, having led a severely depleted side to a AP — LAHORE returned last November to famous Test series win in feature in Pakistan Super Australia. Faf du Plessis was not expecting League playoff for Peshawar India’s regular captain to play Test cricket in Pakistan Zalmi at Karachi’s National and main batsman Virat so soon despite two visits for Stadium -- venue for the first Kohli had flown home to limited-overs formats over the test. attend the birth of his last four years. “That (2017) was the first daughter after the opening “That is one thing I did not step to bring any sort of cricket defeat in Adelaide where the see happening in my time,” the back (to Pakistan),” Du Plessis touring side were bundled veteran South Africa batsman said. out for 36 - their lowest told the Pakistan Cricket “What they did really well innings score in test cricket. Board’s digital channel at that stage was to bring Under Rahane, India lev- yesterday. players from all around the elled the series in Melbourne “I knew white-ball cricket world to come and play and to and secured a nerve- was happening here, but I did see that the security levels were wracking draw in Sydney not know that the red-ball going to be very, very good and before triumphing in the cricket was going to happen this it gave players peace of mind.” decider in Brisbane. soon,” he said. “I am looking Pakistan had long been Rahane, accompanied by forward to it and I hope that it trying to convince foreign teams coach Ravi Shastri and other is the same as it was 13 years to return for international com- team mates, were congratu- ago - the wickets are flat so we petition in Pakistan, where lated by local cricket admin- the batters can score some incoming cricket tours were istrators on their arrival in runs.” halted after a terrorist attack on Mumbai. A viral video on The 36-year-old du Plessis the Sri Lanka team’s bus at social media showed Rahane, is expected to form the nucleus Lahore in 2009. 33, being showered with of the Proteas batting in the Du Plessis made his Test flower petals as he walked upcoming two-Rest series debut in 2012 and has played along a red carpet amid the which will be first for South away matches in Australia, Faf du Plessis of South Africa is seen during a team training session in Lahore in this photo tweeted beating of drums and loud Africa in Pakistan in over 13 India, England, India, Sri Lanka, by @TheRealPCB yesterday. South Africa are getting ready for a two-Test series against Pakistan. cheers to enter his housing years. Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and society with his daughter in The first Test starts Jan. 26 New Zealand. decade before Sri Lanka “It’s important for Pakistan seeing them play,” the right- his arms. India wicketkeeper at Karachi and the second starts Five of his seven Tests returned for two test matches to play in home conditions,” du hander said Rishabh Pant also received a at Rawalpindi on Feb. 4. against Pakistan have been in in 2019. Plessis said. Du Plessis will not stay after hero’s welcome in Delhi after Du Plessis first toured South Africa, the other two at The West Indies and Bang- “They have been playing in the Test matches to play in a being adjudged man-of-the- Pakistan when he led an Inter- Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2013. ladesh have sent teams to play the UAE for the last 11 years so three-match Twenty20 series match in Adelaide and fin- national Cricket Council- Pakistan played a majority international cricket in Pakistan (some) fans have never seen because South Africa will be ishing as the highest scorer backed World XI for a of its home matches in the over the last six years. Now it’s them play - that’s almost like a preparing to host Australia in a for the team. Twenty20 series in 2017. He United Arab Emirates for a South Africa’s turn. generation and that’s missed Test series. Anderson urges players to respect Australia’s COVID-19 fight

REUTERS — MELBOURNE The world No. 1 from Serbia said on Adelaide in 14 other charter flights, were able to international tennis players to get some Wednesday his good intentions had been “mis- spend five hours a day outside their rooms to perspective. Former US Open and Wimbledon finalist Kevin construed as being selfish, difficult and practice as they were not on flights with pas- “I’m actually surprised to hear that the tennis Anderson appealed to players at the Australian ungrateful”. sengers later found to be positive for the virus. players are kicking up,” McGregor told Channel Open to show more respect for the local commu- Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and Alize FORGIVE PLAYERS 10’s The Project. nity’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornet apologised for their comments over the “From the players perspective I really hope “We’ve gotta correct ourselves, there’s a lot following a chorus of complaints about quarantine last few days and Anderson said players had to that they can see what’s going on, and from the going on and a lot at risk,” he said. conditions in Melbourne. stop and think about how much Australians had community you know they at least forgive the “It’s everyone’s duty on this earth to do what As many as 72 players are confined to their sacrificed to stamp out the virus. players who have said things and understand they can. hotel rooms for two weeks and unable to train “We all really need to respect whatever Aus- that,” Anderson added. “To get to compete in a such a prestigious for the Feb 8-21 Grand Slam after passengers on tralia has gone through to get to this point where, Australia has managed the pandemic well tennis tournament - or any tournament - a two- three charter flights tested positive for the novel you know, just driving through the courts you see through targeted lockdowns and high rates of week lockdown prior, you should welcome it with coronavirus. the residents of Melbourne walking around testing and contact tracing. open arms. Complaints by some players over the severity without masks, interacting, and I know that Local media reported that world No. 1 Ash “I know I would,” he added. of the health measures, food quality and even they’ve sacrificed to get to that point,” he told Barty apologised after she was seen maskless at Maria Sakkari, ranked 22nd, is one of the mice infestations in their rooms have sparked a ABC Radio Melbourne. a departmental store in Melbourne despite a Vic- players in strict quarantine for 14 days, and while backlash in Australia, which has many citizens The 34-year-old Anderson, who stepped in toria state requirement that masks be worn inside the Greek said she missed breathing fresh air, she stranded overseas due to pandemic-linked border to lead the ATP Player Council last year after indoor shopping centres. appreciated the fact she was allowed to travel to restrictions. Djokovic stepped down to form a breakaway Victoria, home to the Australian Open, Australia. Novak Djokovic was panned after writing to players body, said comments from disgruntled recorded a 15th straight day without local infec- “I’m so grateful that you guys allowed us to Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley to ask for players were borne of frustration. tions yesterday. come into your country while you were not reduced isolation periods and having players This was especially so as many of their fellow Former UFC champion Conor McGregor, allowing anyone else to come in,” Sakkari told moved to “private houses with tennis courts”. competitors, who arrived in Melbourne and never one to mince words, urged complaining Melbourne radio station 3AW. Sport

FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2021 Root wants improvement in second Test Sri Lanka are a proud team and have a great record at this ground so we have to play smart cricket again. We can't be happy with what we have achieved on this trip so far, we need to get better. We can't get ahead of ourselves and think we’re something we’re not. Joe Root Sport | 15 England captain QATAR VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE: TODAY'S FIXTURES - Al Sadd vs Qatar SC 4:00pm; Al Arabi vs Al Shamal 6:30pm, Venue: QVA Hall

FIFA Club World Cup: QSL champions plan top preparations for Al Ahly clash Al Duhail eye strong show on home soil

FAWAD HUSSAIN to preparee for the FIFA Club an important addition to the looking forwardforwar to give a strong THE PENINSULA World Cup.p. team,”team,” saisaidd AAll AAlili bbeforeefore aaddingdding show.show. IfIf we winwin against Al Ahly, “Our ppreparationsreparations for the thatthat the team wwillill do we will meet EEuropean cham- Adnan Al Ali, Al Al Duhail are aiming to leave a FIFA Clubb WorWorldld Cup wiwillll bebe iitsts bbestest toto get pions BayernBayern Munich. We Duhail Executive mark on their FIFA Club World different fromrom our preparations goodgood results.results. dependdepend on thethe abilities of our Director Cup Qatar 2020 debut with a for the localocal cchampionships.hampionships. “We playersplayers andand ttheirhe technical abil- strong performance in the pres- After the wwithdrawalithdrawal of the NeNeww are tthehe ities to appearappear in the way that tigious tournament, the club’s Zealand teameam and reachinreachingg the hosthost teamteam expressesexpresses the Qatari football, “ executive director Adnan Al Ali second stagetage ofof thethe champi-champi- of thisthis he said. said yesterday. onship, wee decided to enter the evente vent “Al“Al Sadd representedre Qatar As representatives of the team in a closed camp to givegive andand wewe in the last editeditioni and it is going host nation, ‘The Red Knights’ best possibleble preparations to thethe are to be a last of ththe two FIFA Club secured a berth in the next team,” saidd AlAl Ali. WorldWorld Cups pplanned in Qatar month’s top event courtesy of The RedRed KniKnightsghts have beforebefore the WWorldo Cup 2022, so their QNB Stars League (QSL) boosted theirheir squad by roropingpingg we are lookingloo forward to title win. in Kenyann strikerstriker MichaelMichael a goodgood performance,” Al Duhail, coached by Olunga andnd Iranian mmid-id- saidsaid Al Ali. Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi, are fielder AAlili KarKarimiimi Reigning Asian pitted against African cham- recently. chachampions Ulsan pions Al Ahly in the second in Zurich on January 19. They it. “The match against Al Ahly They alsoalso have HHyundaiy FC and round match following the draw were to meet Auckland City will be difficult and we will be quality playerslayers CCONCACAFO Cham- in the first round but the side ready for it,” Al Duhail’s chief like Qatarr stars pionspion League winners representing the Oceania executive said yesterday. Almoez Ali,Ali, TigresTigre UANL will kick Football Confederation Al Duhail are currently busy Mohammedmed startstart the tournament Al Duhail, coached by withdrew from the compe- in a hectic QSL season, in which Muntari,a ri, with theth opening match Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi, tition due to the COVID-19 they currently stand second Mohammedm ed onon FFebruarye 4 at the are pitted against African pandemic and quarantine behind Al Sadd. But for the FIFA Moosa besidesesides AhmadAhmA Bin Ali champions Al Ahly in the measures required by New Club World Cup, Lamouchi- Belgian pplayerlayer Stadium.Sta Zealand’s authorities. coached side has planned Edmilson JJunior.unior. The final of the second round match on Al Ali said the team’s tie special preparations. “We havehave includedincluded a tournamentt will February 4 at Education City against the Egyptian side to be Soon after their Amir Cup number off playeplayersrs to strestrengthenngthen beb played on Stadium. played at the Education City match against Qatar’s Al Ahli on the rankss (this season) and Almoez Ali February 11 at Stadium will be a tough challenge February 1, Al Duhail will among themem are Ali Karimi and the Education and players must prepare well for undergo a closed training camp Michael Olunga , and they are City Stadium.

WINNERS She’s Our Queen corners Pearl glory Horse, Trainer, Jockey T/B PEARL THE PENINSULA - DOHA oughbred Classic Race with Sou- She's Our Queen (IRE), fiane Saadi. Deborah Amanda Clare In a spectacular show of strength Saadi rode the Jassim Ghazali- She’s Our Mountain, Ivan Rossi Queen, ridden and stamina, the Hassan Ali trained 4-year-old colt to a T/B CLASSIC RACE Alabdulmalik-bred and owned ¾-length win in the 2000m run by Ivan Rossi, Perfect Empire (GB), She's Our Queen yesterday won for 4-year-olds. wins the Class 2 the Class 2 Thoroughbred Pearl In the seventh race of the day, Thoroughbred Pearl Gassim Ghazali, Soufiane title on turf at Al Rayyan Race HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin at Al Rayyan Race Saadi Park. Khalifa Al Thani's Off He Goes Park yesterday. KHOR AL ADAID CUP Ivan Rossi rode the Debbie (Casino Prince) landed the Gr3 Off He Goes (AUS), Julian Mountain-trained 4-year-old filly Khor Al Adaid Cup honours with Colin Smart, Tomas Lukasek to a 1¼-length win in the 2000m jockey Tomas Lukasek in the AL AREEQ CUP run for F & M. saddle. Jabalaly (IRE), Ibrahim She's Our Queen clocked a Lukasek rode the Julian Smart- winning time of 2:05.82 as jockey trained 7-year-old gelding to a Saeed Al Malki, Ronan Rossi picked up the top prize of QR 3-length win in the 2800m run for Thomas 57,000. 4-year-olds+ TBs. PUREBRED ARABIAN Mahaarat, who had Alberto In the sixth race, Al Bida Rac- CONDITIONS Sanna in the saddle, and Festive, ing's Jabalaly (Moohaajim x Bahati) Ebraz (GB), Julian Colin guided by Ronan Thomas, finished completed a double landing Al Smart, Tomas Lukasek in second and third places respec- Areeq Cup. tively in the feature race of the Ronan Thomas rode the LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN night. Ibrahim Al Malki-trained 5-year- CONDITIONS Earlier Al Wasmiyah Farm's old gelding to a ¾-length win in Barra (QA), Alban Elie De Perfect Empire (Holy Roman the mile Class 2 run for Mieulle, Rashid Ali Al-Marri Emperor) won the Class 2 Thor- Thoroughbreds.

Denmark down Qatar’s Frankis Marzo in action with Denmark’s Magnus Saugstrup IOC President Bach says 'no Jensen during their Group 2 match Qatar at World in Cairo, yesterday. Championship Plan B' for Tokyo Games DOHA — THE PENINSULA AGENCIES — TOKYO at this moment, no reason further reducing public support, whatsoever to believe that the Tokyo organisers have Reigning Olympic and world champions There is “no Plan B” for the Olympic Games in Tokyo will repeatedly ruled out postponing Denmark yesterday defeated Asian cham- Tokyo Games, says Interna- not open on the 23rd of July in the Games again. pions Qatar 32-23 in their opening Group tional Olympic Committee (IOC) the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Meanwhile, former IOC vice II match at the IHF Men’s World Champi- President Thomas Bach Bach told Kyodo News. president Dick Pound said Tokyo onships in Cairo yesterday. (pictured), who reaffirmed his “This is why there is no Plan Olympics could go ahead without New Capital Sports Hall, Qatar started commitment to holding the B and this is whywhy we are fully fans.fans. And he prpredicteded the games well and were neck and neck before the showpiece event this year in an committedcommitted to mamakeke will open on July 23 despite pre-event favourites took control of match. interview with Kyodo News thesethese GaGamesmes sasafefe and surgingsurging coronaviruscor cases Denmark were leading 17-12 at halftime. yesterday. successful,”successful,” he inin JaJapanpan aand around the Qatar attempted to make a comeback but After the Games were post- added. globe.globe. an experienced Danish side gave little room poned last year because of the WWithith tthehe “The ququestion is - is to their Asian opponents to seal first victory global novel coronavirus pan- Beijing 2022 tthishis a ‘must-have’‘m or in main round. demic, Saturday marks six Winter Olympics ‘nice-to-have.’‘nice-to It’s nice Qatar will next take Bahrain tomorrow months until the rearranged onon tthehe hhorizonorizon aandnd to havehave spectators. But before playing against Argentina on January Olympics are due to start on rapidlyrapidly escalatingescalating it’sit’s not a must-have,” 25, hoping to collect full points from the July 23. costs PoundPound said in an games. Despite dwindling public interviewint with Earlier yesterday, Hungary started their support and a surge in corona- Japan’s Kyodo mission in Group I of the main round by virus cases across the world, news agency beating Brazil 29:23, at New Capital Sports organisers are adamant the published Hall in Cairo. Games will go ahead. “We have yesterday.