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TUESDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11854 March 16, 2021 Sha’aban 3, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

PM holds phone call with Egyptian Amir holds official talks with Maldives president interior minister HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani held yesterday evening a telephone call with Egyptian Minister of Interior Major General Mahmoud Tawfik. During the call, they reviewed relations between the two brotherly countries and means of developing them, especially in the security field, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern. Mahaseel markets 10mn kg vegetables since January 2021 Mahaseel for Marketing and Agri. Services Company (a subsidiary of Hassad) announced yesterday that it has successfully marketed 10mn kg of locally produced vegetables in the Qatari market, since January 2021. Mahaseel provides marketing services to more than 350 local productive farms. During peak times, Mahaseel His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held a session of off icial talks at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. The session discussed bilateral received more than 220,000kg of relations and ways to enhance and develop them, especially in investment and tourism fields, in addition to discussing issues of common concern. The session was attended by a number of ministers. From vegetables per day. Page 3 the Maldivian side, it was attended by members of the off icial delegation accompanying the president. The Amir hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the Maldives president and his accompanying delegation. An off icial reception was held for President Solih upon his arrival at the Amiri Diwan. President Solih left Doha yesterday, after a working visit to the country. The president and the delegation Aft er cooler days, sharp accompanying him were seen-off upon departure at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. Page 2 rise in mercury ahead A significant rise in temperature is expected in the country from today until the weekend, the Qatar Met department has said. The minimum PM opens Milipol Qatar MoPH to manage new temperature will range from 17-23C during this period and the maximum from 24-41C due to the “deepening of low-pressure on the surface, which insurance system leads to the wind shifting to the southerly direction”, the department said in a tweet yesterday. The country Shura Council discusses draft law on healthcare services has been experiencing fluctuating Patients need not pay charges for receiving emergency temperatures since last week, with the mercury level touching 40C last treatment in hospitals outside their coverage network Friday before dropping significantly Health insurance needed for visit visa, employment, RP renewal from the next day. Now, another spike Citizens to get free treatment in govt healthcare facilities in temperature is expected over the coming days, the forecast shows. 7 rockets target Iraq base housing US troops Seven rockets targeted an Iraqi airbase housing US troops north of Baghdad yesterday, a security source said, the HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani cutting a ribbon to open latest in a string of attacks Washington Milipol Qatar 2021 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday. routinely blames on Iran-linked factions. The evening attack on Al- QNA exhibition pavilions as well as state- HE the Prime Minister and Minis- Balad did not cause any casualties or Doha of-the-art devices and technologies ter of Interior witnessed the signing damage inside the base. The other five related to enhancing safety and se- of an agreement between the govern- rockets crashed into a nearby village. curity, especially the security of sta- ment of Qatar and the government nder the patronage of His High- diums and sport events. The prime of the French Republic to establish a HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud with HE Dr Saleh bin Biden kicks off ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim minister also listened to an explana- partnership in the areas of security Mohamed al-Nabit during the Shura Council session yesterday. stimulus tour Ubin Hamad al-Thani, HE the tion about the latest equipment in the for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior fi eld of security and civil defence. He also witnessed the signing of a With a promise of “shots in arms and Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz The opening, which is being held protocol between the Security Com- QNA The draft law provides for the provi- money in pockets,” President Joe al-Thani inaugurated the 13th edition amid precautionary measures to mittee of the Supreme Committee for Doha sion of healthcare services to benefi ci- Biden yesterday kicked off a week of of international exhibition for home- limit the spread of the novel corona- Delivery and Legacy in Qatar and the aries in emergency situations without promotion and travel to herald and land security and civil defence (Milipol virus (Covid-19), was attended by a Public Security Department of the requiring them to pay any amount un- explain the $1.9tn pandemic relief bill Qatar 2021) at the Doha Exhibition and number of ministers, senior offi cials Ministry of Interior of the Italian Re- he Shura Council held its regular til the danger is overcome even if the he signed into law last week to help Convention Centre yesterday. and guests from a number of coun- public in the fi elds of public order and weekly meeting via videocon- service provider is not within the net- the country move past the Covid-19 HE the Prime Minister and Min- tries and representatives of exhibit- security management of major sport Tferencing under the chairman- work of healthcare service providers to pandemic. ister of Interior was briefed on the ing companies. events. Page 4.12 ship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin the benefi ciary, and that this does not Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, at the prejudice the right of the healthcare Council’s headquarters yesterday. service provider to refer to a company During its session, the Council dis- insurance, or the employer or the re- Major EU nations halt cussed a draft law on healthcare serv- cruiter, as the case may be, to pay the AstraZeneca though ices in the country, which included 47 cost of this service. Time ripe to fi nd new ways for WHO says it is safe articles and 6 chapters and stipulated The draft law defi nes the rights and the provision of healthcare services to duties of patients that must be ob- Several major EU countries citizens in government health facilities served when receiving healthcare serv- political solution in Syria: Qatar halted the AstraZeneca jab free of charge. ices and the obligations of the parties yesterday over blood clot fears, Under the draft law, the Ministry of to the insurance contract and provid- as the World Health Organization Public Health (MoPH) will set stand- ers of healthcare services, as well as the and Europe’s medicines ards for the provision of healthcare penalties for violators of its provisions. QNA She said that nearly a decade has watchdog insisted it was safe to services in government and private The Council decided to refer the Doha passed since the start of the Syrian use. Both organisations will hold health facilities as well as compulsory aforementioned draft law to the Public crisis, and the humanitarian crisis special meetings this week after health insurance and supervision. It Services and Utilities Committee for and the suff ering of the Syrian people a host of countries said they will also provide an integrated, high- study and to submit a report on it to atar has expressed its belief continue. She expressed regret that would stop using the vaccine quality, effi cient and sustainable the Council. that the time has come to fi nd the eff orts of the international com- pending further review. The health system and work on developing Qnew avenues and paths to- munity had failed to reach amicable fresh suspensions were a major and maintaining compulsory health Council briefed on QNV 2030 wards a real and comprehensive po- solutions. blow to a global immunisation insurance. litical solution and transition in Syria HE AlKhater stated that after a campaign that experts hope will According to the draft law, health HE the President of the Planning on the basis of the “Geneva 1” state- decade of turmoil, all parties have help end a year-long pandemic insurance is mandatory to ensure the and Statistics Authority, Dr Saleh ment and Security Council resolution HE Lolwah Rashid AlKhater realised and agreed that the solution that has already killed over provision of basic healthcare services bin Mohamed al-Nabit attended the 2254, stressing at the same time on in Syria is not a military one, but a 2.6mn people and decimated the to expatriates and visitors to the coun- Shura Council session yesterday on the need for the international com- Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Lolwah political one. In this regard, she in- global economy. Germany, Italy, try. It is also not permissible to issue an an invitation from HE the Speaker munity to unite to support the Syr- Rashid AlKhater, before the high- dicated that keenness to achieve the France and Spain all said they entry visa for an expatriate or visitor, Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid ian people in facing the pandemic level virtual Side Event held yesterday stability, unity and independence of were pausing use of the jab, after renew it, grant or renew a residence al-Mahmoud to brief the council Covid-19. under the title “Syria – Accountabil- Syria over narrow political interests Ireland and the Netherlands permit, and it is not permissible to em- on the State’s eff orts regarding This came in a speech by HE the ity After 10 Years” on the sidelines of must be the main pillar for any fu- announced similar measures ploy expatriates, except after submit- Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Assistant Minister of Foreign Af- the 46th session of the Human Rights ture solution between the diff erent over the weekend. Page 11 ting proof they hold compulsory health challenges it faces. Page 2 fairs and Offi cial Spokesperson of the Council. parties. To Page 2 insurance for the duration of the stay. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 QATAR

Sheikha Jawaher meets Maldives president’s wife Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher During the meeting, cordial Amir welcomes Maldives president; offi cial reception at Amiri Diwan bint Hamad bin Suhaim al- talks on topics of mutual Thani, wife of His Highness the interest were exchanged. Amir, met yesterday at the Pearl Her Highness also hosted a Palace with Fazna Ahmed, wife luncheon banquet in honour of of the Maldives president, and Fazna and the accompanying her accompanying delegation. delegation.

Al-Muraikhi meets Maldivian FM

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met yesterday with the visiting Maldivian Minister His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomes Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and members of the off icial delegation accompanying of Foreign Aff airs Abdulla Shahid. During the meeting, they him at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. An off icial reception was held for President Solih upon his arrival at the Amiri Diwan. The Amir hosted a luncheon banquet in honour reviewed bilateral relations. of the Maldivian president and his delegation.

Maldives president, delegation visit MIA Maldives President Ibrahim glass, ivory, textiles, wood and Mohamed Solih and his precious stones, and artefacts wife Fazna Ahmed, and the collected from three continents accompanying delegation that date back to 14 centuries. visited the Museum of Islamic The Maldivian delegation also Art yesterday. toured “A Falcon’s Eye: Tribute Shura Council briefed on He toured the various sections to Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani” of the museum and viewed its exhibition that is being held collections of Islamic antiquities at the Museum of Islamic and artefacts that include rare Art, which includes nearly treasures of heritage, including 300 artworks and antiquities books, manuscripts and coins, acquired by Sheikh Saoud Qatar National Vision 2030 in addition to items made of al-Thani. QNA in harmony. We need to galva- National Vision 2030 in its vari- Doha nise our collective energies and ous fi elds, objectives, founda- direct them toward these aspira- tions, and principles guiding it, tions. Strong Islamic and family the State’s eff orts in implement- he Shura Council held its values will provide our moral and ing it, and the challenges it faces. weekly meeting via vide- ethical compass.” In response to the questions Toconferencing under the HE al-Mahmoud expressed and inquiries of the Council chairmanship of HE the Speaker the Council’s appreciation for members, he clarifi ed that im- Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid the role of the Planning and Sta- portant achievements have been al-Mahmoud, at the Council’s tistics Authority and before it made through the First National headquarters yesterday. the General Secretariat for De- Development Strategy 2011- The session was attended by velopment Planning in preparing 2016 and the Second National HE the President of the Plan- the fi rst and second National De- Development Strategy 2018- ning and Statistics Authority, velopment Strategies and setting 2022, while the development of Dr Saleh bin Mohamed al-Nabit, the necessary mechanisms to the third national development who was invited by the Speaker monitor and follow up on them strategy which aims to achieve The Shura Council session in progress yesterday. to brief the Council on the State’s in order to convert the goals of a higher level of economic eff orts regarding Qatar National Qatar National Vision into a tan- progress, development and pop- plained that there are good indi- ment and diversifying sources of Vision 2030 and the challenges gible reality in the country. ulation stability has begun. cators as the number of expatriate income. it faces. He stressed the importance He said that the challenges workers has decreased, especially The interventions also focused HE al-Mahmoud said that of an eff ective mechanism to at- facing the implementation of the in the category of unskilled work- on the post-World Cup 2022 Qatar National Vision 2030 is a tract qualifi ed national human Qatar National Vision 2030 have ers. phase, the demographics, and the Qatar takes part in Arab roadmap for the future and con- cadres and create an attractive become less severe after drawing Following the comprehen- need to keep citizens informed of stitutes a platform for action by work environment for them in up plans to confront them. sive presentation made by HE Dr what is being implemented of the which the State will be enlight- the fi eld of planning and strate- He said that paying attention al-Nabit and his response to the Qatar National Vision 2030, fi rst health ministers’ meeting ened in its development in vari- gies, the role of the private sector to infrastructure had preceded questions and inquiries of the hand. ous fi elds so that Qatar’s citizens and the role of the Qatari citizen Qatar’s win in hosting the World members, extensive discussions At the conclusion of the dis- atar participated in the 54th regular session of the Council of and residents benefi t from its in implementing the strategy, Cup, and that this attention took place on Qatar National Vi- cussions, HE the Speaker of the Arab Health Ministers, which was held yesterday via vide- development. taking into account the specifi - would continue after the World sion 2030, its future prospects Shura Council thanked HE the Qoconferencing. Qatar’s delegation to the meeting was headed He said that His Highness the city of the Qatari society, its her- Cup, stressing that the country and the progress of its implemen- President of the Planning and by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari. Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad itage and culture. will be on the cusp of a new phase tation. Statistics Authority, expressing During the meeting, they reviewed a number of important topics, al-Thani summarised this vi- HE the Speaker welcomed HE after 2022, and the focus will be The interventions of the the council’s appreciation for the the most prominent of which are the repercussions of the coronavi- sion in an introduction in which the President of the Planning on effi cient use of resources, the Speaker and members of the Shu- role the Authority plays in serving rus (Covid-19) pandemic on the Arab region in the health fi eld, and he said: “Qatar National Vision and Statistics Authority and in- provision of services and jobs for ra Council focused on the need the nation, developing the econ- Arab-American co-operation in the fi ght against coronavirus, Arab- 2030 builds a bridge between the vited him to speak to the mem- citizens, increasing the effi cien- to pay attention to development omy and eff ectively contributing Chinese co-operation in health, and the Arab Transport Ministers’ present and the future. It envis- bers of the Council, listen to cy and productivity of the Qatari projects, the areas outside Doha, to the country’s developmental Council decision No. 488 pertinent to resumption and recovery of air ages a vibrant and prosperous their views and respond to their citizen and increasing interest in developing education and health growth on the basis of studied travel. The meeting also discussed the Arab strategic action plan re- country in which there is eco- questions and inquiries. knowledge economies. services, addressing social is- scientifi c principles, sound plan- garding the access to public health services for displaced and asylum- nomic and social justice for all, HE Dr al-Nabit gave a com- Regarding the demograph- sues, paying attention to cultural ning and a comprehensive future seekers in the Arab region. and in which nature and man are prehensive presentation on Qatar ics of Qatar, HE Dr al-Nabit ex- aff airs, preserving the environ- vision.

Amir sends greetings to Hungary His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to President of Hungary Janos Ader on his country’s National Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable of congratulations to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Time ripe to find new ways for political solution in Syria: Qatar

From Page 1 but more importantly, the continuation of the “Moreover, concerted humanitarian crisis, even eff orts must also be made with all the eff orts made by to combat terrorism in all its the international community forms and manifestations. to help the Syrian people But most importantly, we face this crisis. “We have must ensure that the path failed to elevate people’s towards a real solution suff ering, and this crisis includes transitional justice has now been exacerbated and a commitment to with the spread of the protect human rights and Covid-19, a pandemic that the rights of civilians,” she has exhausted even the added. most prosperous of nations HE the Assistant Foreign struggling to face it.” Minister said that the eff orts She wondered, then how of the United Nations can a country like Syria, Secretary-General and the face its own ordeal and deal Special Envoy for Syria with such a pandemic in in supporting a political addition to its heavy and path to reach a peaceful burdensome challenges. solution to the Syrian crisis At the end of her speech, the are greatly appreciated, Assistant Foreign Minister and “we, as an international aff irmed: “We believe community, must support that it is crucial for the these eff orts and work to international community, support the eff orts of the as well as the UN bodies, to Constitutional Committee come together in support of and the implementation the Syrian people in facing of all elements of Security this humanitarian challenge, Council Resolution 2254”. and we must work actively HE AlKhater considered to provide aid, and ensure that the continuation of that this aid reaches all those the Syrian crisis does not in need in accordance with only mean the continuation the relevant Security Council of the political crisis, resolutions.” Gulf Times Tuesday, March 16, 2021 3 QATAR

Embassy lines up slew of events to Qatar committed mark International Francophonie Day Mahaseel markets 10mn kg of to ensuring The French embassy in Doha has announced that a variety local vegetables since January of events will take place in Doha to mark the Interna- quality education tional Francophonie Day this  This is double the amount marketed in same period last year month. Every year, word-lovers in for marginalised France and abroad wait for ahaseel for Market- the month of March. ing and Agricultural Around March 20 (Interna- MServices Company (a tional Francophonie Day), a subsidiary of Hassad) yesterday children: minister series of events will give an announced that it has success- opportunity to the public fully marketed 10mn kg of locally to celebrate the French lan- produced vegetables in the Qatari the Minister of Education The programme will aim to guage in all its richness and market since January. and Higher Education Dr increase the capacity and ac- modernity. This fi gure is double the EMohamed Abdul Wahed countability of communities “In 2021, we will share our amount marketed during the Ali al-Hammadi has praised the to enhance the enrolment and love for words and for the same period last year, Hassad said agreement between Education retention of out-of-school French language through in a press statement. Above All (EAA) Foundation, children (OOSC). Moreover, a variety of events, such Mahaseel provides marketing Qatar Fund For Development the project seeks to ensure the as the traditional “Grande services to over 350 local pro- (QFFD) and the Ministry of Edu- provision of quality teaching Dictée de la Francopho- ductive farms through more than cation in Kenya, which will be and learning by implementing nie” (“Great Francophonie 100 marketing outlets around implemented by the United Na- the alternative provision of Dictation”) and “Dis-moi dix the country, including Al Meera, tions Children’s Fund (Unicef). education, building teachers mots” (“Tell me Ten words”), LuLu and Carrefour. Dr al-Hammadi participated capacities, renovating class- but also conferences, movie During peak times, Mahaseel in the virtual agreement-signing rooms, constructing WASH screenings, a gastronomy received more than 220,000kg of event and said: “In my country, (water, sanitation and hygiene) event… vegetables per day, the statement Mahaseel receives fresh vegetables and then grades the products following the technical nothing makes us more proud facilities, and improving ac- “In Doha, Francophiles will noted. “We are delighted to an- specifications set by the MME. than working with our partners cess to learning for children offer a week of francophone nounce that Mahaseel marketed to provide educational oppor- with disabilities to guarantee movies from March 21 to 24, 10mn kg of fresh vegetables in bles and then grades the products tunities for boys and girls with equitable access to education in partnership with the em- the local market from the start of following the technical specifi ca- special needs, and with vulner- for all children enrolled in the bassies of Mali, Switzerland 2021. This quantity is equivalent tions set by the Ministry of Munic- able and marginalised children.” project. and Canada,” the embassy to double the amount marketed ipality and Environment (MME), To date, EAC programme, noted. during the same period last year, which is published on Mahaseel’s The programme will aim alongside its partners, has se- On March 28, writer and which shows the company’s suc- website, www.mahaseel.qa to increase the capacity cured over 791,000 commit- editor-in-chief of chan- cess in showcasing the added Mahaseel markets the farm- and accountability of ments to enrol OOSC into qual- nel TV5 Monde, Slimane value of the local produce,” said ers’ local produce through two communities to enhance ity primary education in Kenya, Zeghidour, will give a talk in Mohamed Ali al-Ghaithani, Ma- programmes: daily supply and the enrolment and with more than 540,000 such the French Institute’s garden. haseel general manager. Daman. Farmers can achieve a retention of out-of-school children already enrolled, EAA This French and Algerian- “Mahaseel’s market share profi t margin up to 15% under children (OOSC). said in a statement. born polyglot, who already increased to 33% for the local the daily supply programme for In order to complement na- visited us on the occasion produce this year, compared to products that meet the pub- “Qatar’s contribution of more tional education strategies and of the Doha Book Fair in 20% last year,” al-Ghaithani ex- lished specifi cations. The Daman than $30mn over the next three priorities, EAA works to address January 2020, will explore plained. “There are other mar- programme is executed in co- years will focus on providing poverty, rehabilitates schools, his relationship to the French keting channels and programmes ordination with the MME. It is educational opportunities in provides psychosocial support language. carried out by the designated a pre-contractual agreement to arid and semi-arid areas and and sports education, carries “On March 29, at the French authorities to market local pro- purchase the main vegetables the urban and informal set- out targeted capacity-building Institute, Francophones of duce.” Al-Ghaithani concluded, throughout the season at fi xed tlements in Nairobi through initiatives and advocates for the different levels will have the “The total purchase value of fresh and incentivised prices, which can taining all information are issued ity through specialised inspectors Educate A Child (EAC), a global education rights of the hardest- chance to measure them- produce from local farmers ex- reach up to QR5/kg, which pro- to farmers once a delivery is re- from the MME. programme of EAA projects and to-reach OOSC. selves against the “Great ceeded QR50mn in 2020, while vides farmers with a steady profi t. ceived. In case a product is reject- Finally, all fi nancial dues are partnerships to provide equita- Through this, EAA continues Francophonie Dictation”. it has reached QR29mn since the Further, Mahaseel runs all its ed or downgraded, a full report is fully settled by Mahaseel to farm- ble basic education for 250,000 to alleviate barriers to education, Oryx FM radio will air stories beginning of 2021.” operations with full transparency issued by Mahaseel to the farmer, ers within a period of 14 days, children in Kenya, as this such as poverty, refugee status, from Qatari students, who The company processed more and profi ciency, as it documents clearly outlining all the reasons. from the day the products are project will address the funda- gender discrimination, inad- will share their experience than 16,000 deliveries in 2020 all its transactions, from receiving Moreover, Mahaseel provides ad- received. The company also dis- mental issues that prevent out- equate infrastructure and chal- studying in France and their and over 5,200 deliveries since the products to settling all farm- visory and training programmes tributes free unifi ed crates to of-school children from access- lenging geographies, the state- connection to the French the start of 2021. ers’ fi nancial dues, the statement and conducts fi eld visits to farms farmers for proper delivery of the ing education,” he noted. ment adds. language. Mahaseel receives fresh vegeta- points out. Instant receipts con- to monitor the products’ qual- produce. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 QATAR

PM witnesses signing of agreements at Milipol Qatar 2021

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani yesterday witnessed the signing of an agreement between the government of Qatar and the government of France to establish a partnership in the areas of security for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. HE the PM also witnessed the signing of a protocol between the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar and the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Interior of Italy in the fields of public order and security management of major sport events. Foreign dignitaries MoI offi cials highlight importance of Milipol

aj-Gen Dr Abdullah Yousef al-Mal, adviser to hail Milipol Qatar MHE the Minister of Inte- rior, said the organising commit- number of interior min- are becoming “more and more tee of Milipol Qatar 2021 has been isters and senior police entrenched by the day and devel- successful in holding the event A officials from brotherly oping in various fi elds”. “We are “with the participation of so many and friendly countries, who are proud to be at the head of a large exhibitors from diff erent countries attending Milipol Qatar 2021, security delegation at Milipol and in such exceptional circum- have emphasised the impor- Qatar, one of the most important stances”. tance of the role played by the international exhibitions in the In a statement issued by the International Exhibition for fi eld of internal security and civil Ministry of Interior yesterday, he Homeland Security and Civil defence,” he added. said, the exhibition hosts many Defence as a pioneering event “The exhibition is being held specialised companies in the fi eld Maj-Gen Abdullah Mohamed Maj-Gen Dr Abdullah Yousef in the Middle East region, given this year in an exceptional cir- of security, and is a “great oppor- al-Suwaidi. al-Mal. the fact that it has attracted the cumstance, but Qatar can, with tunity” to benefi t from each other largest international companies its potential and capabilities, by sharing experiences and learn director of Public Security, said security fi elds to discuss key issues in this field. organise a successful exhibi- about the latest developments in security personnel are in con- with the exhibitors, especially be- This was highlighted by a tion by all standards, as it is the the fi eld of security. stant need of identifying the latest cause the country will host a major statement issued by the Minis- Alexander Ivanov Gartov Hassan Handabi Jamaali beginning of hope for a way He also noted that the organisa- products from specialised security sporting event such as the 2022 try of Interior (MoI) yesterday. out of the pandemic and car- tion of the exhibition is also proof and safety companies as well as the FIFA World Cup. The MoI and the Mohamed Fahmi, the Lebanese to be ready to meet the security He added that Ukraine was ries great meaning under these of the success of Qatar’s health latest equipment and innovations Safety and Security Operations Minister of Interior, said Milipol challenges that suit the current one of the leading countries in circumstances and carries great policy while taking the neces- that help them in the performance Committee of the World Cup are Qatar has become one of the times. the fi eld of internal security and importance for the region and sary Covid-19 preventive meas- of their duties with the required keen to provide everything the most important international He stressed that co-ordination civil defence, and “we have lead- the world,” he stressed, point- ures to make life normal. Talking effi ciency. This exhibition is a participating teams need in order exhibitions specialised in inter- and exchange of information and ing companies in data analysis ing to the participation of several to the media, Maj-Gen Abdullah “great opportunity” for the parties to make the tournament a success, nal security and civil defence, expertise between countries in and cybersecurity, and will dis- Turkish companies specialising Mohamed al-Suwaidi, assistant concerned from the military and he added. and attracts the most prominent the fi elds of security, especially cuss how these technologies are in defence and internal security international companies lead- counterterrorism and cybersecu- brought to Qatar to benefi t from systems, which refl ect the great ing in products and services that rity, have become imperative and them.” Moldova’s Minister of progress Turkey has made in enhance the capabilities of coun- necessary to address this type of Interior Pavel Voicu stressed the these areas. tries in facing various security crime that requires international importance of participation in Alexander Ivanov Gartov, sen- challenges. co-operation. Milipol Qatar 2021. ior commissioner, director of He added that the exhibition He also pointed out to the on- He visited several pavilions to the Department of Government Milipol highlights Civil is a very important international going co-operation between Qa- see the latest technologies in the Surveillance and Prevention in event, especially as it includes tar and Somalia in various fi elds, fi eld of internal security and civil Bulgaria, expressed happiness major international companies especially in security, training defence with the aim of obtain- at attending Millipol Qatar and specialised in the fi eld of secu- and rehabilitation. ing the equipment that Moldova gratitude for the good organisa- rity, safety and civil defence, Ukraine’s Minister of Interior needs. tion and generous hosting. Defence’s preparedness which participate with modern of Arsen Avakov praised the 13th He added that the exhibition He stressed that the exhibition innovations and highly advanced edition of Milipol Qatar, noting provides a good opportunity to off ers the possibility of identify- technologies to confront security that this was the second time for strengthen bilateral relations ing the latest fi ndings of inter- challenges. him to come to Doha to partici- with the participating countries. national companies in internal He also praised the level of pate in the event. “I sought to exchange experienc- security and civil defence, espe- progress in the security fi eld of He said in a press statement on es with my fellow participating cially in the areas of fi re protec- Qatar, as all security services in the sidelines of the opening cere- ministers, especially in the fi eld tion and public safety. the country possess the latest mony that “it was very important of security and crime-fi ghting, He said his country looks for- global technologies. to be present in Milipol Qatar, to as these elements are among the ward to participating eff ectively Hassan Handabi Jamaali, communicate with exhibitors, most important priorities we during the upcoming editions Minister of Internal Security and to discuss with specialists in have in Moldova to preserve the of Milipol Qatar, with the aim in Somalia, said Milipol Qatar the security fi elds”. “We consider security of our citizens.” of strengthening co-operation combines the latest innovations it a very important platform for Mehmet Aktash, director with Qatar and also because the and modern devices in the fi eld communication in this fi eld, as of Public Security in Turkey, exhibition is an opportunity to of security and the major com- well as to meet senior offi cials praised the strength of Qatari- sign bilateral agreements and Lieutenant-Colonel Jabir panies involved in the develop- from various countries and agree Turkish relations and stressed exchange experiences and infor- Mohamed al-Marri. ment of these devices are con- on urgent issues in security and that the ties are strong, deep- mation with police leaders and stantly working on innovation defence,” he said. rooted and go back decades, and experts. By Shafeeq Alingal Staff Reporter

ilipol Qatar 2021 has Milipol Qatar 2021 kicks off highlights the General A rescue and rapid response vehicle displayed at Milipol Qatar 2021. MDirectorate of Civil De- PICTURES: Thajudheen fence (GDCD)’s preparedness to serve Qatar while dealing with tenant-Colonel al-Marri said, tips. “We are looking to establish emergencies. The Civil Defence adding that more such vehicle a safety culture among various pavilion at Milipol, being held will be added. segments of society while at- at the Doha Exhibition and Con- He explained that these ve- tending exhibitions like this,” he vention Centre, showcases the hicles were brought in as part said. latest equipment and mecha- of the preparations to serve the As part of World Civil Defence nisms to deal with emergencies. venues of the FIFA World Cup Day, the directorate, under the Among them is the rescue and Qatar 2022. theme of ‘Civil Defence and a fi r- rapid response vehicle that has a The offi cial said the vehicles staider in every home’, is carrying number of special features. Lieu- can facilitate dealing with emer- out special campaigns in order to tenant-Colonel Jabir Mohamed gencies as the small ones will preserve the safety of the people al-Marri, head of the media and have easy access to places like in the homeland by educating awareness section at the GDCD, basements while the big ones family members and instilling said the vehicle is a new addition can fi ght fi re outbreaks and other safety concepts in them. to the force. It can further facili- emergencies in multi-storeyed “A one-year training aware- tate rescue and response serv- buildings and stadiums. ness programme is going on and ices, including fi refi ghting. The Civil Defence pavilion also it targets school students, com- “Speed and ability to make exhibits latest technologies that mercial complexes and State urgent interventions make these the force uses to deal with ac- ministries. These are aimed to vehicles special. We have fi ve cidents and emergencies, while provide awareness of safety and small vehicles while three big ve- emphasis is also laid on raising security procedures in every hicles are ready to serve,” Lieu- awareness and spreading safety home,” he added. Sailing application service on Metrash2

The Coasts and Borders Security Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has launched a new service for marine vessels on the Metrash2 application. The new facility helps save time and eff ort for sea-goers as the process of registering marine movement through the points of the Coasts and Borders Security has been replaced with direct registration through Metrash2 and the completion of all procedures for the sailing of marine vessels, the MoI said in a statement yesterday. The service was launched on the sidelines of Milipol Qatar 2021. The new sailing application submission and registration service comes as part of the ministry’s eff orts through its departments to enhance and Snapshots from the opening day of Milipol Qatar 2021 at the Doha simplify procedures for the public using modern technologies, the statement notes. Lieutenant-Colonel Exhibition and Convention Centre. PICTURES: Thajudheen and Abdul Aziz al-Mohannadi, assistant director-general of Coasts and Borders Security, said the service Shaji Kayamkulam covers all marine vessels in the Qatari territorial waters. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 16, 2021 5 QATAR Permanent exhibition opens at Human Rights Department

QNA Dr al-Mahmoud referred to He praised the institutional ef- Doha the speech of His Highness the forts, which recently culminated Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad in the issuance of Cabinet Reso- al-Thani before the 73rd session lution No. E the Secretary-General of the UN General Assembly in 26 of 2019 establishing the of the Ministry of For- New York in September 2018, in National Committee for the Af- Heign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin which the Amir said that human fairs of Woman, Children, the Hassan al-Hammadi inaugurated development and the protection Elderly and People with Dis- yesterday the permanent exhibi- and promotion of human rights abilities, which comes within the tion at the Human Rights Depart- are at the forefront of Qatar’s framework of compliance with ment at the Ministry of Foreign priorities. the recommendations of the Aff airs, as part of the celebration Dr al-Mahmoud reaffi rmed monitoring committees to estab- of the Arab Human Rights Day. Qatar’s keenness to co-operate lish an independent central gov- HE the Assistant Foreign Min- with regional mechanisms that ernment mechanism concerned ister and Spokesperson for the would promote and protect hu- with the rights of women, chil- Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Lol- man rights. dren, the elderly and people with wah Rashid AlKhater visited the He stressed that the national disabilities. exhibition on this occasion. legislation issued during recent The committee was formed For his part, HE the Acting years refl ected Qatar’s increasing under the chairmanship of HE Director of the Human Rights interest in promoting and pro- the Minister of Administrative Department at the Ministry of tecting human rights and joining Development, Labour and So- Foreign Aff airs Dr Turki bin Ab- regional and international hu- cial Aff airs, and the membership Committee to Combat Human legislation, ensuring its con- the state’s commitment to these ing interest in enhancing the dullah al-Mahmoud and the man rights treaties. of various government agen- Traffi cking to play the role of the sistency with international agreements. protection of human rights, and department’s staff gave an in- In this regard, he referred to cies in addition to civil society national co-ordinator for moni- agreements and conventions In that regard, al-Shafei said its commitment to the resolu- troduction on the department’s Qatar’s accession to seven out organisations and the National toring, preventing and combat- that have been ratified by the that the Arab Charter on Human tions of UN mechanisms. work and tasks in promoting of nine of the basic international Human Rights Committee, he ing human traffi cking. state, and spreading awareness Rights is considered one of the He also said that the action human rights, in addition to a conventions on human rights, explained. The committee was formed of the means related to human most important regional docu- plan is prepared in accordance to presentation of the digital library including the International Cov- He also referred to the Dec- under the chairmanship of HE trafficking in addition to other ments on human rights. the guide of the Offi ce of the UN for human rights that was es- enant on Economic, Social and laration on Human Rights of the Minister of Administrative specialisations. The charter was accredited High Commissioner for Human tablished, and the training pro- Cultural Rights, the Internation- the Gulf Co-operation Council, Development, Labour and Social For her part, head of the hu- in 2004, with the State of Qatar Rights on preparing action plans gramme approved by the depart- al Covenant on Civil and Political which was adopted by the Su- Aff airs, with a membership of a man rights agreements depart- ratifying it in 2009. in the fi eld of human rights and ment. Rights, the International Con- preme Council at the end of its representative of the concerned ment Hanadi Netham al-Shafei It aims to establish the prin- the best practices. Several state entities celebrate vention on the Elimination of All 35th session held on Dec. 9, 2014, authorities in the country, he stressed that Qatar garnered the ciple that human rights are uni- For her part, political aff airs the Arab Human Rights Day, Forms of Racial Discrimination, in Doha. added. highest ratings in the report of versal, indivisible, interrelated researcher at the department which was approved by the Arab the Convention on the Rights of The presentation of the staff of The committee is concerned the Offi ce of the United Nations and interdependent. For his part, Aisha al-Kuwari said that the League on March 16 of each year, the Child, the Convention on the the Human Rights Department with developing a national plan High Commissioner for Human Human Rights Adviser in the De- department is preparing a guide the day on which the Arab Char- Elimination of All Forms of Dis- included a number of human to combat human trafficking, Rights in 2019 with 10% in the partment Dr Mohamed al-Tayeb for foreign bodies on the nature ter on Human Rights entered into crimination Against Women, the rights issues, as Hamad al-Su- preparing a database that in- rating related to adherence to said that Qatar is preparing a na- of the department’s work, in ad- force in 2008 after it was ap- Convention Against Torture, and waidi, a third political researcher cludes international legislation presenting reports of the agree- tional human rights action plan. dition to the latest on the depart- proved in May 2004 at the Tunis the Convention on the Rights of in the department, pointed to the related to human trafficking, ments’ committees. He said that forming a com- ment’s training plans related to summit. Persons with Disabilities. establishment of the National reviewing relevant national She said that the result refl ects mittee refl ects the state’s grow- human rights.

QRCS, UNHCR Qatar Charity, QFFD deliver aid support life-saving to fl ood-hit people in Malaysia surgeries, provide atar Charity (QC) has medical equipment contributed to provid- Qing urgent assistance to those aff ected by the fl oods in for Yemen hospitals Malaysia, with funding and sup- port from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and in co- atar Red Crescent Soci- and surgical procedures, co- operation with the Malaysian ety (QRCS), in partner- ordination between health fa- Medical Relief Society known as Qship with the Offi ce of cilities and QRCS, mechanism MERCY Malaysia. the United Nations High Com- of completing the furnishing The relief aid came in light of missioner for Refugees (UNH- of Al-Jomhouri Hospital’s in- the urgent relief intervention CR), has implemented a project tensive care unit, and ways to plan developed by the Malaysian aimed at enhancing healthcare overcome the delays in deliv- government. services for refugees in Yemen. ery. QC, along with the local part- Qatar Charity distributed the aid funded by the QFFD on March Some 19 surgeries were per- In a statement, Dr Mona ner, identifi ed three states in co- 10. The distribution of assistance is expected to continue during formed for ill refugees recently, al-Hamadani, referral offi cer ordination with the local gov- the coming weeks to benefit several affected areas, according to a including vein transplanta- under the project, said: “The ernments to deliver food aid and press statement. tions, diagnostic/therapeutic timely response, medical ex- personal hygiene items to 2,188 catheterisations, cardiac stent aminations, surgical interven- families. He added that the distribution of objective of the aid was to ensure placements, tumour removals, tions, and provision of medi- Qatar Charity distributed aid would continue over the com- that the fl ood-aff ected commu- sampling and skin grafts for cations for the patients helped the aid funded by the QFFD on ing weeks in diff erent fl ood-hit nities meet their basic needs. burn treatment. to put an end to many years March 10. The distribution of areas to support the aff ected. The aid was distributed to 248 QRCS’s representation mis- of pain for them. All the op- assistance is expected to con- Al-Hammadi emphasised the families in Benta area, in addition sion in Yemen procured medi- erations, stents, and vein grafts tinue during the coming weeks importance of the support ex- to 290 benefi ciaries from fi ve cal equipment for Al-Thawra were secured for free. The pa- to benefi t several aff ected areas, tended by QFFD to carry out the diff erent villages, who received General Hospital, Al-Jomhouri tients received optimised med- according to a press statement. humanitarian interventions of the aid distributed in the Kuala Teaching Hospital and the ical services, comprehensive People in villages and rural ar- Qatar Charity Lipis area. Central Laboratory of Sanaa. examinations, medications, eas were hardest hit by the fl oods around the world. The benefi ciaries expressed The supplies included 36 sy- and ambulance transportation and they are suff ering from a lack Mesfer bin Hamad al- delight at receiving the aid. ringe pumps, six DC shock de- from and to hospitals”. of food and safe drinking water. Shahwani, QFFD deputy di- Ahmed Taj al-Din, an offi cial, vices and three vein viewers. Dr al-Hamadani described The aid comes at a time when rector-general of Projects, said thanked Qatar and the support- This was part of a pro- the intervention as a lifeline Malaysia has been experienc- QFFD has strengthened its ef- ers for delivering the urgent aid gramme to meet the urgent for the patients to alleviate ing fl oods since January, which forts in co-operation with stra- in this challenging time. He said needs of medical equipment, their suff ering from harsh hu- has caused the displacement of tegic partner Qatar Charity to this refl ects the magnitude of consumables, and furniture, at manitarian conditions. She thousands of citizens who are urgently respond and support relations between the Qatari and a total cost of $66,768. commended the services of- facing a shortage of basic needs, those aff ected by the fl oods in Malaysian peoples, especially in A delegation from UNHCR fered by QRCS for the Al-Hafi including food, clothing, drink- Malaysia, providing relief aid to times of adversity, as the aff ected and QRCS visited the Al- and Al-Rahbi health centres, ing water and hygiene supplies. the thousands of aff ected fami- people, who are farmers, have Thawra General Hospital and which have been totally fund- CEO’s assistant for Interna- lies in many fl ood-hit areas. He lost their work due to the fl ood in Al-Jomhouri Teaching Hospi- ed since the beginning of the tional Operations and Partner- indicated that distribution of the light of the unending coronavi- tal, highlighting the ongoing past year. ships at Qatar Charity, Nawaf aid took place in co-operation rus pandemic. eff orts to ease the increasing According to a statistical al-Hammadi, said this aid con- and co-ordination with Qatar’s It is expected that, during the burden on public hospitals, as report by QRCS’ medical staff tributes to reducing the impact embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the next two weeks, the aid will be well as to address the shortages at the health centres, some of fl oods on the aff ected people in competent bodies and other delivered to 800 families in the in medical equipment, medi- 30,508 benefi ciaries have been Malaysia, especially in light of the strategic partners. state of Johor and 850 families in cations, and lab solutions. served under the project, and ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He explained that the main the state of Sabah. A number of issues were free-of-charge medications discussed during the visit, in- were distributed to 31,879 cluding health conditions of refugees and Yemeni patients the benefi ciaries, how to fa- both at the health centres and QU College of Law launches Jean Monnet module cilitate medical examinations beyond.

he Centre for Law and importance of the course, as a fi rst CLD won a competitive grant and lawyers develop skills and knowl- a model, environmental protec- Development (CLD) at course in EU Law in the Gulf Co- was one of the 360 awarded ap- edge in EU Law so that local busi- tion, and human rights, key pillars TCollege of Law (LAWC), operation Council (GCC). This plications out of the 1,447 eligible nesses and organisations are better of Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar University (QU), offi cially course is another stepping-stone applications for funding in 2020. equipped to trade with EU compa- Finally, the Monnet Module launched the Jean Monnet Mod- in the EU-Qatar relations, this The Module aims to create inter- nies and deal with EU institutions. will promote the role of Qatar ule in (European Union) EU Law time from an education perspec- est in the European Union and The module will deliver 40 teach- University as a source of exper- recently. tive following the recent agree- to constitute the basis for future ing hours per academic year in EU tise to serve the nation’s needs; The event was moderated by Dr ments signed between the EU and poles of European knowledge and Law, requiring the academic input strengthening local, regional, Hamad Hamed A M Alhababi, as- Qatar in various fi elds. research in Qatar. of several professors and experts. and international partnerships in sistant professor of Public Law at This new co-operation in the The module seeks to foster the The module components focus strategic areas and be a catalyst QU-LAWC. fi eld of education between QU and publication and dissemination of fi rstly on the introduction to the development of Qatar. The event featured several dis- the EU is “very signifi cant”, the academic research in EU Law, and European Union’s legal history Dr Tudor said: “The EU and tinguished speakers, including Dr university has stressed in a press to create interest in the EU among and institutions, and secondly on Qatar are co-operating to raise Cristian Tudor, ambassador of the statement. The ‘Doha Courses on students in Qatar. The module legal areas where the European awareness about the existing op- European Union (EU) to Kuwait European Union Law’ will be the will allow CLD to deliver tailor- Union plays a leading role. It aims portunities for academic, scien- and Qatar; Dr Hassan Rashid al- fi rst Jean Monnet Module in Qatar made courses on specifi c EU Law to promote research skills and tifi c and cultural co-operation. Derham, president of QU; and Dr and the GCC, and the courses will topics relevant for graduates in knowledge in the fi eld of interna- We are happy to see that, as in QRCS’s representation mission in Yemen procured medical Jon Truby, director of CLD. be delivered for three years. their professional life. tional organisations and integra- other fi elds, Qatar has shown re- equipment for Al-Thawra General Hospital, Al-Jomhouri Teaching The speakers highlighted the In a funding competition, the This will help Qatar-based tion using the European Union as gional leadership.” Hospital and the Central Laboratory of Sanaa. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 QATAR Sidra, HMC launch orthopaedic oncology surgery service

idra Medicine and Hamad up seeing multiple doctors as they Medical Corporation (HMC) undergo diff erent tests, surgeries Shave jointly established a new and treatment programmes, in- paediatric orthopaedic oncology cluding chemotherapy or radiation. surgery service. This means they require expertise The service is the fi rst of its kind from both orthopaedic and oncol- to be off ered to children and young ogy surgeons. By joining forces with people diagnosed with primary our counterparts at Hamad Medical bone or soft tissue cancer, including Corporation, our patients will bene- benign and cancerous tumours. fi t from both specialties and treated The multidisciplinary service is at either facility to ensure they re- also the fi rst of its kind to be off ered ceive the highest level of care.” in Qatar for children and young peo- Dr Ahmed Mounir, senior con- ple, according to a press statement. sultant – Orthopaedic Oncology at In addition to paediatric orthopae- HMC, added: “A smooth, simple dic oncology surgery, the service is and uninterrupted pathway of di- supported by other sub-specialties agnosis and treatment for children such as diagnostic and interven- with suspected or confi rmed bone tional radiology, pathology, medical or soft tissue tumours has been es- and radiation oncology, physiother- tablished and agreed upon between apy and occupational therapy and is both Sidra Medicine and Hamad available at both Sidra Medicine and Medical Corporation. This newly HMC’s Bone and Joint Centre. established pathway would provide MoPH reports Dr Talal Ibrahim, division chief high-quality service to these pa- of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery tients by highly experienced physi- at Sidra Medicine, said: “Most chil- cians and surgeons from both facili- 481 new Covid dren with bone cancer often end ties in one place.” (From left): Dr Ahmed Mounir, patient M A, M A’s father and Dr Talal Ibrahim. cases and Patient M A’s journey of care Patient M A is a 12-year-old a patient’s growth and develop- Dr Ibrahim, who led M A’s hip of the femur head at such young Following the surgery, M A has boy who was referred to Sidra ment. In M A’s case, it was aff ect- dislocation surgery, said: “M A’s age could carry the risk of death recovered fully with a combi- Medicine with an abnormal gait, ing his ability to walk properly surgical hip dislocation involved of the head of the femur at the nation of physical and hydro causing him to limp. Initial scans and causing him a considerable removing the ball of his hip joint hip joint (socket). This may result therapy and has started to fully 311 recoveries indicated there was a diff er- amount of discomfort as well as from the socket while preserving in early degeneration of the bear weight on the right lower ence in length of his legs and pain in the right hip. the blood supply to the hip joint. joint, severe pain and limitation limb. He is now able to go about a restricted range of motion in A 3D model of M A’s right hip The procedure is technically of movement and the patient unrestricted in his daily activities he Ministry of Public but these increases appear to his right hip, because of a bony was printed to plan his surgi- demanding and considered the might need to have an artificial without any discomfort or pain. Health (MoPH) yester- be the early signs of a potential lesion in the same hip. cal intervention. It was then pinnacle of paediatric orthopae- joint in the future to alleviate M A’s parents said, “We are Tday reported 481 new second wave in Qatar. The team at Sidra Medicine decided that he would need to dic surgery. Sidra Medicine is the pain. thankful to Allah for our son’s confi rmed cases of coronavirus For this reason, it is more im- conducted more tests, including undergo a surgical hip disloca- currently the only hospital in the Dr Mounir, who removed the tu- recovery under the care of (Covid-19) during the last 24 portant than ever that people computerised tomography (CT) tion procedure to remove the country to off er this service for mour, said: “We are very pleased the wonderful team at Sidra hours, of which 424 were from adhere to preventive measures and magnetic resonance imag- bony lesion. children and young people. We that we were able to successfully Medicine. We also want to thank the community and 57 from to cut off the second wave before ing (MRI) scans and pathology The bony lesion in M A’s hip was are very pleased with our col- remove the tumour on M A’s everyone who helped him travellers returning from abroad it gains momentum. tests, which confirmed that the removed in five-hour surgery laboration and partnership with hip. It involved almost 90% of throughout his journey, includ- who are subject to quarantine. If positive cases and hospi- lesion was in fact an Osteochon- jointly performed by Dr Ibrahim HMC, and to Dr Ahmed Mounir the circumference of the femur ing the amazing surgeons, Dr The ministry reported the tal admissions continue to in- droma. and Dr Abdelsalam Hegazy from for off ering this life-saving serv- neck without endangering the Talal from Sidra Medicine and death of a 24-year-old patient, crease over the coming week or Osteochondroma is a common Sidra Medicine and Dr Mounir ice for children in need.” blood supply. M A’s surgery is a Dr Ahmed from HMC. Our son who was receiving the necessary two, additional restrictions may non-malignant (benign) bone from the Orthopaedic Depart- Removal of such a big lesion, marvellous achievement of the is now able to go about his day medical care. need to be implemented across growth that is an overgrowth of ment at HMC. that involves most of the femur whole team from Sidra Medicine without any physical challenges The MoPH also recorded 311 the country. cartilage and bone that occurs M A’s case was one of the first to neck in a growing child, is techni- and HMC, who were involved and walk normally as if nothing recoveries from the virus during With the recent increase in at the end of the bone near be performed under the new joint cally challenging and carries a in his care and treatment. It is was ever wrong. What a blessing the past 24 hours, bringing the the number of Covid-19 cases the growth plates. It most often paediatric orthopaedic oncology very high risk of endangering also testament to the high level to have access to such great total number of cases recovered in Qatar, it is important for all to occurs between ages 10 and 30, surgery service off ered by Sidra the blood supply of the femur of medical expertise available in care in Qatar for our children. in Qatar to 158,508. play their role in controlling the with the bony lesion enlarging Medicine and HMC. head. Injury to the blood supply Qatar.” We are truly grateful.” All new cases have been in- virus by following precaution- troduced to isolation and are ary measures: receiving necessary healthcare. Adherence to physical dis- Due to the measures put in tancing. place by the government and the Avoid close contact with support of the public in follow- others, crowded places and con- ing preventive steps, Qatar has fi ned closed spaces where other succeeded in curbing the spread people congregate. Innovate to break sound tropes and make of the virus since its peak in July. Wearing a face mask. However, over the past Washing hands regularly. month Qatar has seen a gradual Anyone suff ering from Cov- and consistent increase in the id-19 symptoms should contact it real, advises Qumra Master Mangini number of new daily infections. 16000 helpline immediately. Additionally, and of great This is important as the ear- concern, is the recent increase lier the disease is detected the ound could not have be- said Mangini. “They ask if I can the fi lm, going to lengths such in both the number of people easier it will be to receive the come more evocative a use sound to get past the block as hiring a metal scrapyard to admitted to hospital with Cov- right treatment and recover Stopic of discussion than in in a more elegant way than we capture the sound of metal id-19 and the number of people from it. The MoPH urges peo- the Qumra Masterclass by Mark can say it in words.” His in- clashing on metal and placing admitted to ICU. ple to visit its website for regular Mangini, Academy Award win- volvement as a sound designer sound recorders across a bee The data over the next few updates and new information. ner and fi ve-time nominated has even extended to the editing farm to capture the buzz of hon- days and week will reveal more, (QNA) sound designer. table, where his and the editor’s eybees. In conversation with Rich- work can be complementing He explained how to bring ard Peña, programme director and uplifting for the movie. out the magic of silence through Recall of LG TV models announced of the Film Society of Lincoln Mark Mangini (left) speaking at Qumra 2021. He delved deep into creating the use of sound and detailed Centre and the director of the sounds for movies such as Blade the ‘Top of the Pyramid’ ap- he Ministry of Com- products defects and repairs. New York Film Festival from adapted and rehauled his skills. alternate sound reality, and Runner 2049, creating what proach of director George Miller merce and Industry The MoCI has said it will co- 1988 to 2012, at Qumra, Man- “I love hard drives and repeata- this meant he had to push the he said was ‘the Blade Runner’ (Mad Max 2). T(MoCI), in co-operation ordinate with the dealer to gini was his candid self, taking bility: The single biggest change boundaries of his approach to sound – which combined music “George Miller is a very vi- with Video Home & Elec- follow up on the maintenance listeners through the process of that occurred in my arena – sound design. He broke con- and sound in a way where “they sionary fi lmmaker; we had a tronic Centre, dealer of LG and repair works and will designing sound for his fi lms, sound design – (infl uenced) not ventions of approaching sound never competed with each oth- second unit sound crew that TVs in Qatar, has announced communicate with custom- including Blade Runner 2049 just how we produce sound but design in the silo of post-pro- er.” recorded sounds. In our fi rst a recall of the following LG ers to ensure that they carried (2017), Star Trek IV: The Voyage also how we exhibit sound for duction and stressed the impor- He recalled the fi lm’s director, meeting, he drew out the ‘Top of TVs: Oled65G6 and Oled77G out the necessary repairs. The Home (1986), Gremlins (1984) fi lms.” tance of working closely right Denis Villeneuve, asking him the Pyramid’ for me – explain- (2016), and Oled65G8, ministry has urged all custom- and more. Mangini said sound has a from the pre-production stage. “erase the boundary between ing that in any given shot, there Oled65W8, Oled77C8 and ers to report any violations to Befi tting the concept of a great role to play in delivering “Every phase of produc- sound and music. He wanted is a lot to look at and listen.” Oled77W8 (2018), due to the its Consumer Protection and master-class, Mangini shared the essence of the story in fi lm- ing a motion picture must have audience to switch off the cri- Mangini’s task? To create “that possibility of TV overheating, Anti-Commercial Fraud De- insights on how he created making – the suspension of dis- sound design engaged,” he said. tique within.” They studied the one sound the audience hears which may cause certain dam- partment, which processes sounds, collecting them and belief. “You know what you are “Sound can be used as a very 1982 Blade Runner in detail and to the exclusion of everything age to the power board or back complaints, inquiries and sug- drawing inspiration from any- doing is not real and your role effi cient story-telling tool that what they took from the fi lm – else”. cover and prevent the normal gestions through the call cen- thing around him – including is to support the fi lmmaker’s can quickly speak to audience and is their tribute to it – “is the He advised young fi lmmak- operation of the TV. tre: 16001, e-mail: info@moci. several fascinating food analo- conviction to create something in addition to dialogue or con- mood, the unusual tonalities.” ers to build a collection of real The recall campaign comes gov.qa, Twitter: @MOCIQA- gies. Endorsing new technology, closer to reality. The advances versation. You must hear what Mangini said he has an ex- sounds, to avoid synthetic within the framework of the TAR, Instagram: MOCIQA- he said the “advent of digital re- in technology gives us to tools somebody is trying to tell you – tensive sound library of over sounds, to revisit the sounds ministry’s continuous eff orts TAR, and the ministry’s mobile cording and editing revolution- to create new versions of reality, that is elegant fi lmmaking.” 60,000, and he is constantly they have created, and to in- to protect consumers and en- app for Android and iOS: MO- ised the industry.” Calling him- whether it is fabricated or not.” Writers contact him when fi nding new ways to create novate and break the tropes of sure that dealers follow up on CIQATAR self an “old-timer”, he quickly Mangini said he creates an they have a narrative roadblock, sounds that befi t the mood of sounds. Qatar Airways ‘Offi cial Airline Sponsor’ of GSMSG

atar Airways has be- tions. Qatar Airways’ global net- tional network help the medical tar Airways in bringing some of come the ‘Offi cial Airline work will support the organisa- teams reach more people around the highest quality medical and QSponsor’ of the Global tion to expand its reach further the world. surgical care to communities in Surgical and Medical Support to provide medical and surgical “We at Qatar Airways are in- need around the world. Group (GSMSG) to support its care, training of physicians and credibly grateful for the com- With Qatar Airways’ interna- eff orts in providing medical re- medical staff , as well as respond mitment and hard work of tional reach, we will improve the lief to vulnerable communities to the global Covid-19 pandem- healthcare professionals. As a lives of hundreds of thousands. around the world. ic. gesture of appreciation in No- Additionally, GSMSG teams The GSMSG is a charitable Qatar Airways Group Chief vember 2020, we gave away include expert trainers and in- non-profi t organisation that Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker 100,000 free tickets to frontline structors in everything ranging represents over 1,200 medical said, “Qatar Airways strongly healthcare professionals to say from front line care to nursing, professionals who dedicate time believes in giving back to the thank you for their heroic work to advanced surgery. to off er top-tier services in aus- global community and mak- looking after people and saving By training medical profes- tere settings overseas and serve ing a diff erence. As an airline thousands of lives during the sionals worldwide, we can leave populations in need. that connects communities and current Covid-19 pandemic.” a long-lasting impact on entire As the offi cial airline partner people worldwide, we are de- Global Surgical and Medical communities. Qatar Airways of GSMSG, Qatar Airways will lighted to support GSMSG’s Support Group president, Dr makes this possible by bring- fl y medical volunteers on duty highly commendable initiative Aaron Epstein said, “GSMSG is ing our teams to where they are Qatar Airways has become the ‘Off icial Airline Sponsor’ of the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group to several international destina- and through our robust interna- honoured to partner with Qa- needed the most.” (GSMSG) to support its eff orts in providing medical relief to vulnerable communities around the world. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 16, 2021 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Palestinians to meet in Cairo to discuss polls Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas will hold a new round Libya’s interim of talks today in the Egyptian capital to push on with plans for forthcoming elections. The meeting, announced yesterday by Hamas and Fatah, will come more than a month after the two factions agreed in Cairo talks on PM takes offi ce “mechanisms” for the polls. The parliamentary and presidential AFP polls are set for May 22 and July Tobruk, Libya 31, respectively, and will be the first Palestinian elections in 15 years. Hamas won an unexpected ibya’s new interim Prime landslide at the last elections in Minister Abdul Hamid 2006, a victory not recognised by LDbeibah pledged to unite President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah. divided Libya as he was sworn That led to clashes the following yesterday, preparing to steer the year and a split in Palestinian war-torn country to December Libya’s new interim prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah speaks after being sworn in the eastern Libyan governance. Fatah has since run elections. The North African city of Tobruk yesterday to lead the war-torn country’s transition to elections in December, after years of the Palestinian Authority in the nation descended into confl ict chaos and division. Israeli-occupied West Bank and after dictator Muammar Gaddafi Hamas has held power in the Gaza was toppled and killed in a Nato- and a parallel cabinet head- port city of Misrata, once held bating coronavirus, while in a Strip since 2007, the year Israel backed uprising in 2011, with an quartered in the east, under the posts under Gaddafi but has bid to battle corruption he has imposed a devastating blockade array of forces battling to fi ll the de facto control of forces back- shown no clear ideological posi- ordered investment and other on the coastal enclave. To avoid void. ing military strongman Kha- tion. fi nancial fi rms to freeze all their a repetition of the tensions and A United Nations-supervised Libyan security forces lead the delegations into the conference lifa Haftar. Outgoing GNA head During Gaddafi rule, his fam- operations. But after 42 years of violence that erupted in 2009, process is working to unite the centre in the eastern coastal city of Tobruk where Libya’s new Fayez al-Sarraj has said he is ily was one of the many ben- dictatorship under Gaddafi and the two groups met in Cairo in country, building on an October interim prime minister was sworn in. “fully ready to hand over” pow- efi ciaries of an industrial and a decade of violence, the list of February and agreed a series ceasefi re between rival admin- er, while Haftar last month of- economic boom in Misrata. He challenges is long. of steps, including setting up an istrations in the country’s east ernment pledged to “preserve “Proud to have been part of fered “the support of the armed holds a master’s degree from Libya’s population of 7mn, “electoral court” to oversee the and west. Dbeibah, selected at the unity, security and integrity” this event in Tobruk,” he tweet- forces for the peace process”. But the University of Toronto in sitting atop Africa’s largest polls. They also declared they UN-sponsored talks in Febru- of Libya with Dbeibah insisting ed, adding that the ceremony the new executive faces daunt- engineering, expertise which proven crude oil reserves, faces were committed to respecting the ary alongside an interim three- that his cabinet “will be the gov- carried “strong messages... on ing challenges to unify the coun- introduced him to Gaddafi ’s in- a dire economic crisis with soar- results of the forthcoming vote. member presidency council, ernment of all Libyans”. “Libya the need for elections” in De- try’s institutions, end a decade ner circle and led him to head a ing unemployment, crippling On Tuesday in Cairo the two sides took the oath of offi ce in front of is one and united,” he said. cember. of fi ghting marked by interna- company managing huge con- infl ation and endemic corrup- will discuss “key issues linked to lawmakers in the eastern city of Several ambassadors attended Dbeibah’s government in- tional interference and prepare struction projects. tion. Another key challenge will the elections”, Hamas off icial Khalil Tobruk. the ceremony alongside parlia- cludes two deputy prime min- for elections on December 24. Dbeibah was considered an be ensuring the departure of an al-Khalil said. “After the legislative More than 1,000km from the ment speaker Aguila Saleh. “The isters, 26 ministers and six min- Mohamed al-Manfi , who outsider compared to other can- estimated 20,000 mercenar- elections, we would like to form a capital Tripoli in the west, To- time has come for us to shake isters of state, with fi ve posts heads the presidency council se- didates vying for the job, and ies and foreign fi ghters still in national unity government... and we bruk has been the seat of Libya’s hands,” Saleh said, calling on including the key foreign aff airs lected with Dbeibah last month his election process has been the country, whose presence would prefer to reach consensus elected parliament since 2014. Libyans to “turn the page on the and justice portfolios handed to also vowed to help cement unity marred by allegations of vote- Dbeibah has called “a stab in our on just one national candidate for Dbeibah’s swearing-in comes past” and seek national recon- women, a fi rst in Libya. before elections. “We must be buying. back”. the presidential vote,” he said. A after parliament last week ap- ciliation. The EU’s envoy to Lib- The new administration is ex- the nucleus of reconciliation But he has jumped into his The UN Security Council spokesman for Abbas stressed that proved his cabinet, in a move ya, Jose Sabadell, welcomed the pected to replace both the UN- ahead of the elections,” Manfi role even before his inaugura- on Friday called for all foreign the PA president is determined to hailed by key leaders and foreign signing-in with the Arabic word recognised Government of Na- said. Dbeibah, 61, a wealthy tion. On Saturday he launched forces to leave “without further see through the elections despite powers as “historic”. The gov- “mabruk”: “congratulations”. tional Accord, based in Tripoli, businessman from the western a national conference on com- delay”. tensions within Fatah.

Iran ‘considering Pigeons of Raqqa Iraq drug traffi cker all options’ after makes daring escape AFP ship ‘sabotage’ Baghdad n Iraqi drug traffi cker being escorted to court made a daring AFP conference in the capital Tehran. escape yesterday when associates posing as soldiers forced Tehran “It is natural that the Islamic Apolice to hand him over, a police offi cial said. The traffi cker, Republic of Iran is considering all who was not named but who is believed to be backed by a power- options against any party proven ful armed faction, was arrested on Sunday in possession of a “large ehran is “considering all to be involved in this sabotage quantity of drugs” in the southern province of Missan, the offi cial options” in response to an operation,” he added. said. Tattack on an Iranian ship in The Shahr-e-Kord was struck On Monday, a force of around 100 policemen were escorting him the Mediterranean it blames on less than two weeks after Iran, to a court in Amara, the province’s capital, when armed men dressed Israel, the foreign ministry said which does not recognise the as soldiers ambushed the convoy, forcing agents to hand him over, yesterday. According to multiple Jewish state, of being behind an this police source explained. Iranian media outlets, the cargo attack on an Israeli-owned ship “They arrived in four 4X4 vehicles, all of them armed, and the po- ship Iran Shahr-e-Kord, owned in the Gulf of Oman. Tehran has lice who numbered about 100 had no other choice but to surrender by the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly denied the charges. In their prisoner,” he said. Shipping Lines group (IRISL), a report published on March 11 He said the armed men were acting on behalf of “a powerful” fac- was en route “toward Europe” that cited US and Middle East tion, which he declined to identify for security reasons and fear of when on March 10 its hull was hit offi cials, the Wall Street Journal reprisals. Missan, one of Iraq’s poorest provinces, is a haven for drug with an explosive device. said Israel has targeted at least The pigeons of Abdulhamid Hana, a 50-year-old Syrian pigeon keeper, fly over damaged homes in traffi ckers who impose their rule on local authorities. “Given the location of the a dozen vessels bound for Syria Syria’s east central city of Raqqa. Handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating In 2017, Iraq stopped issuing the death penalty for drug users and sabotage, there is every reason and mostly carrying Iranian oil pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile across north Africa and beyond, with dealers, opting for prison sentences. Elsewhere yesterday, three po- to think that the occupying re- since late 2019. people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. licemen were shot and wounded during a raid at the home of a sus- gime in Jerusalem is behind this It said the Jewish state has pected drug dealer in Baghdad, medical sources said. operation,” said foreign min- used weapons including “water istry spokesman Saeed Khati- mines” to target the vessels. Re- bzadeh, referring to Israel in sponding to a question by AFP in terms used by Iranian authori- Jerusalem, Israeli defence min- ties. “The aggressive behav- ister Benny Gantz said last week iour of (Israel) reinforces this “we do not comment on reports Ugandan leader says not yet had Covid vaccine as he’s ‘careful’ assumption,” he told a press by foreign media”.

Reuters Uganda began vaccinating the vaccine rollout was starting seveni’s hesitancy was likely to in good health and working nor- Jordan reports highest daily virus tally Kampala health workers and the elderly with highly vulnerable people encourage “extreme vaccine pes- mally, following reports he was in last week after receiving 864,000 like health workers. “I am also simism” among Ugandans, Peter critical condition with Covid-19 Jordan reported 9,417 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, doses of AstraZeneca vaccine looking at which of the vaccines Mwesige, co-founder of a local and receiving treatment abroad. its highest one-day tally since the pandemic began about a year ago, ganda’s President Yoweri from Covax, the World Health should I go for.” think-tank, said in a tweet. Magufuli, 61, is Africa’s most off icial health data showed yesterday. The new cases were up from Museveni has said he has Organisation-backed pro- Like much of Africa, with In addition to the about 3.5mn prominent coronavirus sceptic. 8,053 reported on Sunday in the Arab country of 10mn people. In total, Unot yet been vaccinated gramme to provide vaccines to the notable exception of South doses in total that Uganda hopes He has not been seen in public Jordan has recorded 401,319 cases since March last year along with against Covid-19 because he is poor and developing countries. Africa, Uganda has recorded a to receive from Covax, the gov- since Feb 27. 5,428 deaths including 82 over the past 24 hours. Jordan is suff ering a “careful” and is still weighing At 76 years old, Museveni is comparatively mild outbreak of ernment says it has also ordered Yesterday Tanzania’s vice spike in Covid-19 infections attributed mainly to the faster transmission which jab to take, days after the eligible to be vaccinated. But in a Covid-19, with infections so far 18mn doses of AstraZeneca from president, speaking while on of the coronavirus variant first identified in Britain, and announced East African country began its televised address late on Sunday, totalling about 40,500 and 334 the Serum Institute of India and an offi cial trip in the country’s stricter measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 last week. Countrywide inoculation campaign. the president demanded an apol- recorded dead, according to of- that up to 40% of that order is north, urged Tanzanians not to protests erupted on Sunday over the worsening economic conditions The apparent hesitation may ogy from the country’s largest fi cial statistics. expected to arrive by the end of listen to rumours from outside brought about by an extended night curfew that has hurt businesses and fuel already signifi cant vaccine independent local paper, Daily The nation of 42mn imposed March. The Serum Institute of the country. “I would like to as- wage earners. Jordan last year suff ered its worst recession in decades scepticism in the country, which Monitor, which reported last strict measures shortly after re- India told Reuters at the time that sure you Tanzania is safe,” Sa- as a result of the blow to its economy from the pandemic. Many of the is in the earliest stages of its roll month that Museveni and some cording its fi rst Covid-19 case, it had not yet signed any deal with mia Hassan Suluhu said. She hundreds of protesters in major cities and towns called on the authorities out of the jab. Many African relatives have been vaccinated. and while most of the strict Uganda. The Ugandan leader was added, without elaborating: “It to lift emergency laws that have been in place since the outset of the countries have struggled to get “The reason I have not been measures have since been eased, speaking two days after offi cials is normal for a human being to pandemic. Critics say they restrict rights but the authorities say are doses and have not administered vaccinated is fi rst of all I am quite some like an overnight curfew in neighbouring Tanzania in- be checked with fl u, fever ... any- needed to help take decisions at a time of national crisis. a single shot. careful,” Museveni said, adding and closures of bars remain. Mu- sisted President John Magufuli is thing else.”

Vaccine drive in Sierra Leone Gunmen kidnap pupils in Nigeria’s northwest

AFP missioner, Samuel Aruwan, Gangs in northwest and cen- students back to the school so Kano said the government had re- tral Nigeria, who are known lo- they could pick all their per- ceived security reports that cally as bandits, have recently sonal belongings before we “some pupils and teachers” turned their focus to mass kid- handed them over to their par- unmen yesterday seized had been abducted at the LEA nappings, seizing school stu- ents,” Abubakar Hassan, head an unspecified number Primary School in Rema, in the dents for ransom. of Kaduna’s State Emergency Gof primary school pupils Birnin Gwari area. At least four mass kidnap- Agency (SEMA), told AFP. and teachers in the northwest- The authorities are “cur- pings have occurred since De- “Parents have been asking ern Nigerian state of Kaduna, rently obtaining details on the cember. Gunmen abducted 39 these students to be released to the government said, in a re- actual number of pupils and students late Thursday from them and they would have been gion wracked by banditry and teachers reported to have been hostels on the outskirts of Ka- released earlier but we needed kidnapping. kidnapped,” he said in a state- duna city, the state capital. to manage their trauma and get The raid is the latest in a ment. On Monday, the authorities them to a certain level of com- string of attacks on schools in The total number of children shut down their college and fort,” he added. At the week- Nigeria, coming just four days enrolled at the school was not sent home 180 other students end, security forces thwarted Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio receives the Sinopharm vaccine in Freetown, Sierra after 39 college students were immediately known. Most pri- and staff who had been rescued. a gang that had stormed a sec- Leone, yesterday. kidnapped by a gang. mary pupils in Nigeria are aged “Yesterday, under the cover of ondary school in Ikara, Aruwan Kaduna’s home affairs com- between six and 11. the military, we brought all the said on Sunday. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 WORLD

Oscar nominations Beyonce, Taylor Swift packed with fi rsts

Reuters Vanessa Kirby, nominated Los Angeles for a playing a grieving mother in Pieces of a Woman, said she is honoured to be part of the fe- etfl ix’s 1930s Holly- male line-up. make Grammy history wood drama Mank led “I do feel like now more than Na diverse fi eld of Oscar ever it is our responsibility to Reuters/AFP ments of the evening. nominations yesterday, packed fi nd and tell stories about the Los Angeles/New York It took place both indoors and with historic fi rsts but with female experience that haven’t outdoors in Downtown Los An- no clear front-runner for the been represented on the geles but mostly without the highest honours in the movie screen,” she told Reuters. aylor Swift and Billie Eil- elaborate sets and special eff ects industry. As expected, Netfl ix led all ish took the top prizes at that traditionally mark the high- Mank, about Citizen Kane outlets with 35 nods after a year Tthe Grammy Awards on est honours in the music busi- screenwriter Herman Mank- in which the coronavirus pan- Sunday, but Beyonce was the ness. iewicz, got 10 nods, including demic saw movie studios delay big winner on a history making “We’re hoping that this is all best picture, director David scores of new releases or send night marked by multiple wins about what 2021 can be, full of Fincher and for actors Gary them to streaming platforms. for women. joy, new beginnings and coming Oldman and Amanda Seyfried. The Oscars will be handed Beyonce’s four Grammys on together. Never forgetting what But most of its nominations out on April 25 in a ceremony Sunday – two of them shared happened in 2020, but full of were in craft fi elds like sound that will take place at both the with best new artist winner Meg- hope for what is to come,” Noah design and make-up. Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, an Thee Stallion – took her total said. Six nods each were earned and, for the fi rst time, at Un- career wins to 28, surpassing Some of Sunday’s awards were by the other best picture con- ion Station in Downtown Los the previous Grammy record for Beyonce accepts the Best Rap announced at small venues in tenders The Father, Black Pan- Angeles. a female artist set by bluegrass Performance award for Savage cities like Nashville, New York ther story Judas and the Black Neither the form of the cer- singer Alison Krauss. onstage during the 63rd Annual and Los Angeles. Messiah, Korean-language emony nor a host has been an- Swift’s surprise record Folk- Grammy Awards. “Thank you to the Grammys drama Minari, Nomadland, nounced. lore, recorded during coronavi- for putting this together and let- #MeToo revenge tale Promis- “In our industry there is rus (Covid-19) lockdowns, was ting us, at least, kind of be to- ing Young Woman, Amazon nothing more traditional than named album of the year and gether,” said Miranda Lambert, Studio deaf drama Sound of the Academy Awards, which made Swift, 31, the fi rst woman winner of best country album for Metal, and 1960s Vietnam War hopefully sends a sign of hope to take home that prize three Wildcard. courtroom drama The Trial of that we will get out of this,” times. K-Pop band BTS lost in the the Chicago 7. Oldman said in a statement. In a socially-distanced cer- Host Trevor Noah best pop duo or group perform- Nine of the 20 acting nods The late Chadwick Bose- emony of live and pre-recorded speaks in this ance against Lady Gaga and Ari- went to non-white perform- man got a fi rst Oscar nod for performances, the writers of screen grab taken ana Grande for their single Rain ers, including fi rsts for a Mus- his fi nal fi lm, Ma Rainey’s Black I Can’t Breathe by R&B artist from video during on Me, but performed their hit lim actor (Riz Ahmed) and a Bottom, while previous win- H.E.R won song of the year. the 63rd Annual English-language single Dyna- South Korean (Yuh-Jung Youn ners Frances McDormand and It was written in response to Grammy Awards. mite from South Korea at the of Minari), in what Variety Viola Davis and Britons Carey the Black Lives Matter protests close of the show. described as the most diverse Mulligan, Olivia Colman and that roiled the United States last Left: Megan Thee The seven-member band from acting Oscars slate ever. Anthony Hopkins were also summer following the police kill- Stallion poses in the South Korea had been hoping “Never in my dreams did nominated. ing of George Floyd. media room during to be the fi rst K-Pop act to win I ever think a Korean actress One notable omission from “I didn’t imagine that my fear the 63rd Annual a Grammy after a breakthrough would be nominated for an Os- the top fi elds was director and that my pain would turn into Grammy Awards. year in the United States for the car, and I can’t believe it’s me!” Spike Lee’s Vietnam war drama impact,” the musician said in ac- genre. Youn, who plays a mischievous Da 5 Bloods, which received cepting her trophy. Brittany Howard – known granny, said in a statement. only one, for original score. The ceremony, which fell for fronting the band Alabama Fellow cast member Steven Yet several other movies fea- nearly a year to the day after the Shakes – won Best Rock Song, as Yeun and director Lee Isaac turing black stories were rec- coronavirus pandemic grounded Fiona Apple scored two awards Chung, both Korean-Amer- ognised, including Ma Rainey’s tours and forced performance for her album Fetch The Bolt Cut- icans, also got nominations Black Bottom and animated venues to close, stood as a con- ters, which many critics hailed as for the moving story of an im- movie Soul. certed eff ort by the music world a masterpiece. migrant Korean family trying “When you look at sto- to try to move past a crushing Though most of the rock fi elds to start a farm in the United ries concerning black life in 2020 by celebrating its biggest Billie Eilish poses with her awards in the were unprecedentedly dominat- States in the 1980s. America, there were a handful stars. media room during the 63rd Annual ed by women, The Strokes won A record 76 nominations of fi lms that got added to that And there is perhaps no one Grammy Awards. for Best Rock Album for The New went to women, the Academy canon this year ... One Night in bigger than Queen Bey, whose Abnormal, their fi rst Grammy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci- Miami was a part of that, so it’s Best R&B Performance award for Taylor Swift poses in the media room ever. ences said. very meaningful to me,” Leslie her summer track Black Parade, during the 63rd Annual Grammy Rap legend Nas also won for For the fi rst time in the 93- Odom Jr, who was nominated an homage to Black power and Awards. the fi rst time after 14 nomina- year history of the Oscars, for playing singer Sam Cooke, heritage, sent her into the Gram- tions, with his King’s Disease two women will compete in told Reuters. my record books. job and all of our jobs to refl ect Eilish’s ballad Everything I spoke of the value of music dur- winning Best Rap Album. the fi ve-person best director The line-up refl ects a drive It was not even clear initially the times. And it’s been such Wanted won record of the year, ing hard times. And Nigerian superstar Burna race that has long been a male to recruit more women and that Beyonce would attend the a diffi cult time,” Beyonce said, and the 19-year-old also won for “I’m just so grateful and so Boy scored his fi rst trophy for stronghold. people of colour as Acad- event, when she did not Zoom in with her husband Jay-Z looking her theme song for the upcom- honoured because happiness is Best Global Music Album, ec- They are Chinese-born di- emy members after the #Os- to accept her fi rst trophy of the on, as she received her history- ing James Bond movie No Time something that we all deserve,” statically accepting the prize rector Chloe Zhao for Search- carsSoWhite uproars of 2015 day, which she shared with her making award. “So I wanted to to Die. Lipa said. which he said “is a big win for my light Pictures’ Nomadland and 2016. daughter Blue Ivy, for best music uplift, encourage, celebrate all of Eilish said she was embar- Hosted by Trevor Noah, the generation of Africans all over about modern van dwellers in Eleven actors were fi rst-time video for Brown Skin Girl. the beautiful black queens and rassed by the win, saying it ceremony was packed with pre- the world”. the United States, and British nominees, including Bulgarian But she set social media alight kings that continue to inspire me should have gone to Stallion. recorded and live performances But it wouldn’t be the Gram- director Emerald Fennell for newcomer Maria Bakalova for when she was spotted in the au- and inspire the whole world.” “You deserve it. Genuinely. by the likes of Lipa, Swift, Post mys without controversy. Promising Young Woman. Borat Subsequent Moviefi lm, dience and then took the stage Megan Thee Stallion, 26, Can we just cheer for Megan Malone, DaBaby, Black Pumas, The Weeknd has pledged to Kathryn Bigelow is the only Andra Day for her lead per- alongside Megan Thee Stallion known for promoting women’s Thee Stallion,” Eilish said. and Mickey Guyton. stop submitting music for awards woman to have won a best di- formance in The United State to accept their prize for Best Rap empowerment, came away with British singer Dua Lipa won Cardi B and Stallion teamed up consideration after he surpris- rector Oscar. vs. Billie Holiday, and Lakeith Song. two more wins for her single Sav- best pop vocal album for her to perform their summer single ingly received no nominations, “Sobbing,” Fennell wrote on Stanfi eld for Judas and the “As an artist, I believe it’s my age, featuring Beyonce. dance-y Future Nostalgia and WAP in one of the raunchier mo- despite a big year commercially. Twitter. Black Messiah.

New York City pays Bolivia’s Anez begins four-month tribute to more than detention over ‘coup’ allegations

30,000 Covid deaths Reuters Santiago

AFP remember the good times. New York “No matter what happens, olivia’s former president Jeanine Anez began no one can take away the danc- yesterday four months of detention as inves- es you’ve already danced,” he Btigators probe allegations that she partici- ew York, the US city said, speaking in Spanish as pated in a coup that led to the removal of long-time most bereaved by the he quoted Colombian writer leader Evo Morales from power in 2019. Ncoronavirus (Cov- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in a Anez, who led a conservative government that id-19), paid a moving tribute city where a third of immi- lasted for less than a year after the ouster of Mo- on Sunday to its 30,258 dead, grants are of Latin origin. rales, a leftist, was taken into police custody after a one year after the start of the The virtual ceremony began raid on her home in the north-central city of Trini- pandemic. with a short recital by the New dad early on Saturday morning. “More New Yorkers lost York Philharmonic, in front A judge on Sunday ordered that Anez be detained than in World War II, Vietnam, of lit candles on the iconic for four months after a hearing in which the allega- Hurricane Sandy and 9/11 put Brooklyn Bridge on a chilly and tions against her were outlined, including that she together. Every family touched windy night. used security force allies to push Morales to resign in some way, and for so many Large black and white pho- after contested elections and eventually install her- Anez waves as she is escorted into the Obrajes families a pain, a pain that is tos of the victims were pro- self as interim president. prison in La Paz. raw,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said jected onto the bridge. Anez was transferred to a women’s prison in the during a live virtual ceremony, There were speeches by re- capital La Paz yesterday. represents a sharp change of direction by President after calling for a moment of ligious leaders, a young poet Justice Minister Ivan Lima said on state television Luis Arce, who was Morales’ economy minister. silence to honour the victims. and a performance by Heze- late on Sunday that he would ultimately seek a 30- Arce pledged to “rebuild and stabilise” the An- The Democratic mayor her- kiah Walker, pastor of the Love year jail sentence if Anez is convicted of fomenting dean nation when he led Morales’ Movement for alded the “healthcare heroes” Fellowship Tabernacle Church a coup. Socialism party back into offi ce in elections last who “saved lives”, sometimes and popular gospel artist, ac- Lima added that the state would look to intro- October. New York Mayor de Blasio speaks as images of Covid-19 victims are at their own expense. companied by The Love Fel- duce further charges of corruption and what he de- Anez, 53, a lawyer and former senator for the projected over the Brooklyn bridge. He called on New Yorkers to lowship Choir. scribed as grave human rights abuses, without giv- centre-right Democrat Social Movement, took ing further details of the accusations. power after Morales resigned amid widespread vio- “We are talking about bloody massacres, and we lent protests and claims backed by international Biden and Pelosi sidestep calling on New York Governor Cuomo to resign will press on with our bid to give the Bolivian people organisations that he fraudulently won the October justice,” he said. 2019 election. US President Joe Biden sidestepped month to denounce what they said were York – to see if he can govern eff ectively.” Anez’s energy and justice ministers also were or- At least 33 people were killed in the violence that questions yesterday on whether New York inappropriate words and gestures from Cuomo, who at 63 has been governor for the dered into custody after hearings on Sunday. followed the election, 30 of them after Anez took Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign over Cuomo. last 10 years, has repeatedly denied acting in The three face charges of terrorism, sedition and offi ce. sexual misconduct allegations, while House New York’s senior senator, Chuck Schumer, any way he considered “inappropriate”. conspiracy over the alleged coup. She has rejected the charges against her as “po- Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the state leader now the majority leader in the US Senate, is He has shrugged off the calls to resign, Tensions were high in Bolivia yesterday amid ru- litical persecution” and insisted she took part in a should “look inside his heart” to decide if he among those who have explicitly called for asking people to wait for the results of mours of further arrests to come. “constitutional succession” to replace Morales af- can govern. the governor to step down. several investigations, including one being Protests have been called for in major cities in- ter he stepped down. The pair stopped short of joining a growing Cuomo’s accusers, most of them women who led by the state’s attorney-general, Letitia cluding La Paz, Sucre and Santa Cruz, while police Anez’s lawyer Ariel Coronado told local televi- list of other politicians, including many worked in the state government with him, James. have been ordered to step up security around state sion yesterday that he would appeal the decision to fellow Democrats, in demanding Cuomo’s “must be treated with respect”, Pelosi said in Pelosi told ABC she had “zero tolerance buildings, particularly prosecutors’ offi ces, ahead remand his client in custody, since there was no evi- resignation. carefully-worded comments on ABC’s This for sexual harassment” and said Cuomo’s of potential unrest. dence to support the state’s case against her. Exiting Marine One on Sunday, Biden told a Week programme earlier on Sunday, adding accusers should be listened to. Bolivia’s police chief said on Sunday that he had He said his client had played no part in the civil reporter that “the investigation is underway that “they are credible and serious charges”. But she said both the women and Cuomo no more arrest orders pending. unrest following the 2019 election that led up to and we should see what it brings us”. The House speaker added: “The governor “deserve to hear the results of these The crackdown on former members of Anez’s Morales’ resignation, remaining in her home city of Eight women have come forward since last should look inside his heart – he loves New investigations”. – AFP administration as well as police and military chiefs Trinidad. Gulf Times Tuesday, March 16, 2021 9 WORLD

OPINION COMMENT DECISION VERDICT CRACKDOWN US, India, Australia, Japan World needs to talk about China punishes airline Court sentences man to NIA raids 11 locations meet went very well: Biden racism: New Zealand PM for crew’s mid-air fight death for killing policeman across India

US President Joe Biden said that the virtual The world still needs to have conversations about China’s aviation regulator said it is suspending Calling it a ‘rarest of the rare’ case, a Delhi Court The National Investigation Agency (NIA) yesterday summit he held last week with the leaders of racism and white supremacy, New Zealand’s Prime Donghai Airlines from adding new routes, flights yesterday awarded the death penalty to Ariz carried out searches at 11 locations in Kerala, Karna- India, Japan and Australia went very well. Biden Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday, as the and capacity after concluding an investigation Khan, convicted of the murder of police inspector taka and Delhi, including the premises of Mohamed and the other leaders pledged on Friday at the country marked two years since a white supremacist into a mid-air dispute between crew members Mohan Chand Sharma and other off ences, in the Ameen aka Abu Yahya, whose group had identified first summit of a group known as the Quad to attacked two mosques in the city of Christchurch. on a recent domestic flight. The pilot, who, 2008 Batla House encounter case. On March 8, several people in Kerala and Karnataka for “targeted work to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, according to media outlet Caixin, blamed the the court had convicted Khan in the case. He has killing”. An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror region and to co-operate on maritime, cyber Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people and in- head flight attendant for not clearing his way been awarded the capital punishment under Sec- probe agency carried out searches at 11 locations, in- and economic security, issues vital to the four jured dozens when he opened fire on March 15, 2019. to the bathroom, will have his licence revoked, tion 302 (murder), three months jail under section cluding eight locations in Kerala spread over the dis- democracies in the face of challenges from Tarrant released a racist manifesto shortly before the Wu Shijie, deputy director of the Office of Avia- 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of tricts of Kannur, Mallapuram, Kollam and Kasargod, China. “It went very well. Everybody seemed to attack. “The world needs to have these conversa- tion Safety at the Civil Aviation Administration public functions), 10 year under 333 (voluntarily two locations in Bengaluru and one location in Delhi like it a great deal,” the president told reporters tions,” Ardern said in a news conference. “Members of China (CAAC), said. Media reports said the causes grievous hurt). On September 19 in 2008, in a case pertaining to terrorist activities of a group when asked about the meeting on his return of our Muslim community were experiencing some fight between the two men had broken out 50 the Delhi Police carried out an encounter in Jamia led by Ameen, a resident of Kerala. The off icial said to the White House from a weekend stay at his pretty horrific racism before that attack here in their minutes before the flight landed and both men Nagar’s Batla House, in which two suspected ter- extensive verification were carried out jointly by the home in Delaware. own communities,” she said. were injured. rorists and Sharma died. NIA, the Delhi Police, and Kerala Police ATS. BJP demands Bank workers oppose privatisation cancellation of Mamata’s nomination

IANS the pain of over 130 family mem- New Delhi bers of BJP supporters who were killed in various incidents of po- litical violence across the state. he Bharatiya Janata Party “Mamata says she is in pain, (BJP) yesterday fi led a but what about the pain of the Tcomplaint with the re- families of BJP workers killed in turning offi cer accusing West Bengal,” Shah asked. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata The home minister, however, Banerjee of hiding six cases failed to attend a political rally against her and demanded can- in Jhargram yesterday owing to cellation of her nomination. technical snag in his helicopter. Banerjee is contesting the up- He later addressed the gathering coming West Bengal Assembly virtually. polls from Nandigram and the Congratulating the voters of BJP has fi elded Suvendu Adhika- Jhargram for a large turnout, Employees protest inside a bank during a two-day nationwide bank strike against privatisation of public sector banks, in Mumbai, India, yesterday. Operations of state-owned ri, who was once the close aide Shah said: “I seek apology for banks were hugely disrupted, unions said. Transactions worth more than $400bn were aff ected in Maharashtra. of the Trinamool Congress su- not being able to attend the rally premo. due to some technical problems Adhikari said, “In her nomi- in my helicopter. I thank every- nation, Trinamool Congress one from the core of my heart for candidate Mamata Banerjee has gathering in support of the BJP in not given information about fi ve such large numbers”. cases fi led against her in various In his virtual address, Shah police stations in Assam includ- also highlighted the various wel- ing Geeta Nagar and Pan Bazaar fare schemes for the tribal com- in 2018. All the cases against her munities in Bengal. “If the BJP is have been fi led for her infl amma- elected to power in Bengal, un- Modi calls meeting of tory speech over the NRC.” der the Stand Up India Scheme, “Apart from this, she has also Rs1bn will be allocated to make not disclosed the information the tribal community ‘Aatmanir- about the case fi led against her bhar’ (self-reliant),” he said. by the Central Bureau of Inves- Purulia, Bankura, West Mid- tigation in Kolkata in 2008,” he napore and Jhargram are the added. four districts of Bengal which CMs as Covid cases rise Referring to a Supreme Court have signifi cant concentration of judgement, Adhikari said it is tribal population. IANS tions about the ground situation population decided by the Na- line workers, persons aged 60 centres,” he added. Meanwhile, mandatory for the candidate to Trinamool Congress chief New Delhi in the respective states will be tional Expert Group on Vaccine years and above, and those India was set to achieve the disclose all the cases fi led against Mamata Banerjee also held a taken from the chief ministers. Administration for Covid-19 aged between 45 to 59 years landmark of 30mn doses ad- him or her. “If the candidate public meeting at Balarampur in Based on the suggestions, a (NEGVAC), Minister of State, with identified comorbidities ministered in the ongoing na- fails in doing so, the nomination Purulia yesterday, where she said rime Minister Narendra strategy will be prepared to stop Health and Family Welfare Ash- is going on at government and tionwide immunisation drive gets cancelled. In such a situa- that her government would re- Modi has called a virtual the resurgence of coronavirus wini Kumar Choubey told the private Covid-19 vaccination against Covid-19. tion, the nomination of Banerjee main in power in the state for the Pmeeting of chief ministers cases in the country. Lok Sabha. should be cancelled as she has next fi ve years. tomorrow, in view of the rising On Sunday, 26,386 new Covid He also denied that a target hidden the information about six Confi dent about her party’s Covid-19 cases in the country. cases were registered. This is the has been set by the Centre to Maharashtra imposes new curbs cases against her,” the BJP leader electoral victory, Banerjee said: The virtual meeting will begin at highest incidence of the pan- inoculate a certain percent- said. “Just wait for a few more days, 11am. demic in the last 85 days. age of population with vaccines A day after the state crossed the multiplexes shall be permitted Earlier Union Home Minis- my legs will get better by then. During the meeting, among At present, the number of ac- against Covid-19. 2.3mn Covid-19 case tally, the Ma- to operate at only 50% capacity, ter Amit Shah attacked Mamata And I will see that your legs other topics, eff ective man- tive corona cases in the coun- “No such target has been harashtra government yesterday shopping malls will implement over her statement on Sunday move freely on Bengal’s soil...I agement of the vaccination try is 2,19,262, while the total set for Covid-19 vaccination. implemented “strict restrictions stringent Covid protocols, and when she said she is still in a lot will continue to fi ght against the programme to tackle Covid-19 number of corona cases in the However, NEGVAC has pri- of 50%” rather than a total lock- all social, religious, political and of pain, but she feels the pain of BJP”. She further said that no will be discussed with the chief country stands at 1,13,85,339. oritised healthcare workers, down to control the coronavirus cultural gatherings have been her people even more. conspiracy would be able to stop ministers. Modi has earlier too Meanwhile, the parliament frontline workers, persons aged scourge. Even as trading, business banned. Similarly, all off ices will Mamata suff ered a leg injury in her from campaigning ahead of held online meetings with chief was yesterday told that the gov- 60 years and above, and those and commercial activities, besides adhere to the 50% staff norms Nandigram last week. the assembly polls in Bengal. ministers several times during ernment had not set a target for aged between 45 to 59 years the social milieu, improved a year with work from home encour- Taking potshots at Mamata The Trinamool chief’s Purulia the Covid pandemic and dis- immunisation of masses against with identifi ed comorbidi- after the virus entered Maharash- aged, and entries to all places of during a public rally at Rani- rally was the second political cussed strategies for prevention Covid-19. ties for Covid-19 vaccination,” tra, the state has gone back to worship would be strictly regu- bandh in Bankura district, Shah campaign ahead of the crucial of the disease. The ongoing vaccination drive Choubey clarifi ed. being the worst-hit in the country. lated, depending on the space said the West Bengal chief min- hustings after she suff ered the In the meeting to be held to- against the pandemic is only “Presently, vaccination of Hotels, restaurants, cinemas, and available. ister was not concerned about leg injury last week. morrow, feedback and sugges- based on covering the priority healthcare workers, front- Security forces fire on Top US offi cials in Asia Duterte’s spokesman tests Covid positive

Myanmar protesters sparked fears of a return to a Reuters Manila complete lockdown, but Roque Reuters The Myanmar Now media sentence or long prison terms for said that was unlikely, at least for Yangon outlet reported three people a range of off ences. this month, because the coun- were killed in Myingyan and two These included treason and hilippine President Rodrigo try’s hospital capacity remained in Aunglan, while a journalist in dissent, obstructing the military Duterte’s spokesman Harry below critical levels. yanmar security forces Mandalay said one person was or civil service, spreading untrue PRoque yesterday confi rmed It was exactly a year ago when yesterday shot dead six shot dead there after a big protest information, and crimes related he had tested positive for Cov- Duterte imposed one of the Mpeople taking part in had passed off peacefully. to unlawful association. id-19, but said he had not been in world’s longest and strictest pro-democracy demonstrations, The deaths bring the total toll Arson attacks on Sunday contact with the country’s leader lockdowns in the capital Manila media and witnesses said, and the from the protests to about 140, against 32 Chinese-invested since receiving his test results. and other provinces to curb the military junta imposed martial based on a tally by rights group factories in an industrial sub- Roque said he regularly got coronavirus spread. law in districts of the main city Assistance Association for Po- urb of Yangon prompted China’s himself tested before meeting He has gradually eased the re- Yangon which gave commanders litical Prisoners (AAPP) and the strongest comments yet on the with Duterte so yesterday’s re- strictions to revive the economy, wide powers to crush dissent. latest reports. turmoil gripping its neighbour, sult “came as a shock”. which suff ered its worst contrac- Supporters of detained elected A junta spokesman did not an- where many people see Beijing as The last time he was with Du- tion on record last year. leader Aung San Suu Kyi took to swer calls requesting comment. supportive of the coup. terte was on March 11, he said, Duterte has said he would reo- the streets again despite the killing State broadcaster MRTV re- China’s Global Times newspa- adding he had tested negative the pen the economy further once of dozens of protesters on Sun- ported martial law had been im- per said the factories were “van- day before the meeting and kept millions have been vaccinated day in the bloodiest day since a posed in several districts of Yan- dalised in vicious attacks” that his distance from the president. against Covid-19, especially military coup on February 1 ignited gon, Myanmar’s commercial hub caused damage worth $37mn and He was asymptomatic and those living around big cities. mass demonstrations nationwide. and former capital, and Myanmar injuries to two Chinese employees. would continue working remotely The Philippines, which aims Marches took place yesterday in Now said it had also been imposed Its embassy urged Myanmar’s in an isolation facility, Roque told to immunise 70mn of its 108mn the second city Mandalay and in in several parts of Mandalay. generals to stop the violence. “We a virtual media briefi ng. people, has so far inoculated the central towns of Myingyan and The martial law announce- wish that Myanmar’s authorities News of Roque’s diagnosis more than 193,000 since it start- Aunglan, where police opened fi re, ment stated that military com- can take further relevant and ef- US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin gets off a plane comes as the Philippines has ed its vaccination drive on March witnesses and media reported. manders in Yangon would take fective measures to guarantee the upon his arrival at the US Yokota Air Base in Tokyo been seeing a surge in Covid-19 1, the department of health said. “One girl got shot in the head over administration of districts, security of the lives and assets of yesterday. Austin and top US diplomat Antony Blinken cases, with close to 10,000 fresh It has so far received more and a boy got shot in the face,” including the courts, MRTV said. Chinese companies and person- began their first overseas trip, looking to rally key Asian infections added to the total tally than 1.1mn doses of coronavirus an 18-year-old protester in My- The courts martial had the au- nel,” foreign ministry spokesman allies as a bulwark to China. over the weekend. vaccines from China and via the ingyan said. “I’m now hiding.” thority to hand down the death Zhao Lijian said in Beijing. The rise in infections has Covax vaccine-sharing facility. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Man City on course to achieve the ‘impossible’

Two seasons ago as Manchester City won the first ever domestic treble of trophies in England, Pep Guardiola branded the possibility of ever doing a quadruple “almost impossible”. A season characterised by injuries, fixture congestion, player fatigue, coronavirus infections, and for City no pre- season, should have made the feat more improbable than ever. Yet, City remain on course to prove Guardiola’s prediction wrong. A commanding 14-point lead at the top of the Premier Vaccine nationalists aren’t League means it is a matter of when not if a third title in four years is sealed. Today, Guardiola’s men head to Budapest for what should have been the home leg of their Champions League last 16 tie holding a 2-0 first leg advantage over Borussia Monchengladbach. immune and that is a fact Next weekend they travel to Everton in the FA Cup quarter- finals, while a League Cup final with Tottenham awaits in By Daron Acemoglu (which is essentially impossible), exceedingly diffi cult to achieve its singular focus on opening up global April. Boston those who travel outside the country widespread vaccination in remote travel, a vaccine passport is a terrible will bring back new variants, and parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle idea for a world in which the virus is City’s 23rd win in 24 games in all competitions at Fulham some of these could be capable of East, owing to a lack of basic health still spreading and mutating as a result on Saturday exemplified how Guardiola has managed his side lthough mass vaccination bypassing the protections afforded by infrastructure and transport networks. of our failure to vaccinate everyone. into this position. campaigns are picking up speed in the current vaccines. With Johnson & Johnson’s new one- Vaccine passports do not provide Fresh from beating Liverpool at Anfield and just one defeat Athe West, the end of the Covid-19 P.1 is especially worrying. It emerged shot vaccine, which doesn’t need the protection against new variants such in six games, Fulham were swotted aside 3-0 despite City pandemic still is not even in sight. in Manaus, which by last October cold-supply-chain logistics required as P.1. All it would take is one rich making seven changes. For that, the United States and other recorded an infection rate of almost by the mRNA vaccines, there should be businessperson or tourist with a That took Guardiola’s rich countries have only themselves to 80%, above the 60-70% threshold a fi ghting chance. Tragically, though, vaccine passport and a new variant blame. that scientists estimate to be suffi cient vaccine nationalism is still standing in to trigger an epidemic in a country Rarely have tally of changes in the It has been clear at least since the for herd immunity against Covid-19. the way. With the rollout of Chinese that thought it had achieved herd Premier League this early summer of 2020 that even with But because more infections allow for and Russian vaccines, we may be able to immunity. their resources season to a league high eff ective vaccines in hand, Covid-19 more mutations, being above the herd- produce enough vaccines to supply the These problems will multiply until 94. will not be stopped until populations immunity threshold may not be enough. entire world. What we lack, however, is we start treating the pandemic as given them such Kevin De Bruyne, everywhere have achieved herd Indeed, the emergence of P.1, which international co-operation. the global crisis that it is. In a world Ilkay Gundogan and immunity – when the share of people pummelled the city with another wave Co-ordinating the global delivery without international co-operation, a an advantage in Riyad Mahrez were still susceptible to infection is so small of infections, implies that immunity of vaccines is crucial for ending the country that succeeds in vaccinating that the disease can no longer spread. It against the initial virus did not provide pandemic. For example, it stands to most of its population has only one Europe among the star names isn’t enough for any individual country immunity against the new variant. reason that the most eff ective vaccines defence: to abandon the most basic to spend the full 90 to reach this point. As long as the virus True, scientists should be able should be administered in areas where tenets of globalisation. At a minimum, minutes resting on the bench, while Raheem Sterling was not is still circulating in other parts of the to reprogramme the vaccines to be the virus is spreading the fastest. An all international travellers should be even included in the matchday squad. world, random mutations will continue eff ective against the new variants once additional complication is that there required to quarantine for two weeks As the crunch of a year without fans through the gates due to occur. Some will be disadvantageous they have been identifi ed; that is one of is currently limited reliable data on the in carefully monitored sites, regardless to Covid-19 restrictions has hit even European football’s to the virus, but some will render it even the advantages of the mRNA technology Chinese vaccines. We may need to allow of whether they are nationals or wealthiest clubs, it is perhaps no surprise that backed by more contagious or deadly. underpinning the Moderna and Pfi zer- for the possibility that they are less foreigners, and regardless of whether Again, we already know this. BioNTech vaccines. But this fl exibility is eff ective than others and that the virus they have been vaccinated against the state wealth, City have proved more pandemic proof. Just since December, three highly small consolation after a variant enters a could have a better chance of continuing known variants. After being thrashed 5-2 at home by Leicester in their infectious strains of the Sars-CoV-2 country and forces economic and social to spread and mutate in populations Even this basic measure would second game of the season, Guardiola was afforded the funds virus have been identifi ed. With a life back into a state of lockdown. Once that have received these vaccines. represent a huge step back from to splash out £62mn ($86mn) on centre-back Ruben Dias signifi cantly higher transmission rate this happens, the entire population Despite the precariousness of the globalisation. But if Western countries from Benfica. (and potentially a greater fatality rate), must queue up again for booster shots. situation, Western governments and continue to focus solely on vaccinating City had already previously spent over £300mn on the British variant, B.1.1.7, is already This whack-a-mole scenario can business lobbies are busy coming up their own populations while ignoring defenders in Guardiola’s reign on Kyle Walker, Benjamin spreading rapidly within the US and be avoided if the rest of the world gets with bad ideas instead of attempting to the need for global co-ordination, they Europe. The South African variant, vaccinated quickly, halting the virus’s provide more vaccines to the developing should prepare for a future without Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and B.1.351, may be even more contagious. spread and thus its opportunities to world. The worst of these, now under unencumbered international travel. – Nathan Ake. And the Brazilian strain, P.1, may be the acquire new mutations. But worldwide consideration in both the US and the Project Syndicate On top of the arrivals of Dias and Ake, the signing of Ferran most dangerous of all. vaccination seems impossible at the European Union, is a proposed “vaccine Torres took City’s summer spend over £120mn. The emergence of new variants moment, because not enough doses are passport” that would allow those Daron Acemoglu, Professor of But it is Dias’ presence that has had a transformational means that even when the United being made available in the developing who have been vaccinated to travel Economics at MIT, is co-author (with impact. Kingdom reaches herd immunity (as world. internationally. James A. Robinson) of Why Nations The Portuguese international is one of the few men seems likely at the current vaccination Had we managed to provide the Now, there is good argument for Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity rate), Britons still will not be out of the two billion doses sought by the granting vaccinated people credentials and Poverty and The Narrow Corridor: Guardiola refuses to rotate, starting all but one Premier woods. Unless the UK seals itself off World Health Organisation’s Covax to access crowded indoor spaces, thus States, Societies, and the Fate of League game since he joined the club in September. completely from the rest of the world programme, it would still have been encouraging vaccine uptake. But with Liberty. Dias has also brought the best out of John Stones after two poor seasons since a starring role at the 2018 World Cup for the England international. For all City’s domestic success, Guardiola’s team selection at the weekend made it perfectly clear that the Champions League remains the priority. The only major trophy to escape the Catalan since he arrived in Manchester five years ago is the one the club’s owners brought him to the club to deliver. But rarely have City’s resources also given them such an advantage in Europe. With Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint- Germain still involved in tight title races and Barcelona and Juventus already out of the competition, City can afford the luxury of cruising towards the finishing line in the Premier League, while saving their energy for the Champions League.

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© 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved SPOTLIGHT: A health worker receives a dose of the Chinese-made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Karachi last month. Co-ordinating the global delivery of vaccines is crucial for ending the pandemic. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, March 16, 2021 11 WORLD

UK lawmakers mull making misogyny a hate crime

British lawmakers are considering whether to make misogyny Johnson supports a hate crime amid calls for tougher action on violence against women following national outrage over the murder of a woman who went missing as she walked home in London. Campaigners say changing the law to classify misogyny as a hate crime would help in the detection and prevention of off ences police chief despite including street harassment, sexual assault, rape and domestic abuse. An amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill to be debated in Britain’s upper parliamentary chamber, the House of Lords, would require police in England and Wales to record cases in which protest crackdown crimes were motivated by hatred of someone’s sex or gender. “This is a simple measure that we could take now to start making sure every woman is safer at home and on our streets,” said AFP the elite diplomatic protection Saturday’s event had been parliamentarian Helena Kennedy, who tabled the amendment, London unit has been charged with her banned on coronavirus safety which has cross-party support. kidnap and murder. grounds, and police said they The murder of Sarah Everard, who vanished in south London on The force has agreed to launch moved in because of public health March 3, has triggered a debate about violence against women ritish Prime Minister Boris an internal probe into its han- fears. and raised awareness of how it curtails everyday freedoms. Johnson yesterday backed dling of the event, while inte- Patel told lawmakers the cha- A police off icer, Wayne Couzens, has been charged with Everard’s BLondon’s police chief fol- rior minister Priti Patel has also otic scenes were “upsetting” and kidnap and murder and will appear in court today. lowing outrage over her offi cers’ asked a policing watchdog to said she had ordered the inde- About a quarter of 43 police constabularies in England and Wales handling of a vigil for a woman “conduct a lessons learned re- pendent review “in the interest of have already made misogyny a hate crime, trialed the policy or who was allegedly kidnapped view”. providing greater assurance, and are considering implementing it. and murdered by a member of Johnson said offi cers had “a ensuring public confi dence”. Similar protections already exist for race, religion, sexual the same force. very, very diffi cult job” during “I also think no-one should orientation, disability and transgender identity and can lead to Johnson said he still had full the pandemic but that “there’s no prejudge anything in terms of harsher penalties for those convicted. confi dence in Metropolitan Po- question that the scenes that we conduct until we absolutely see Campaigners say misogyny generates a culture in which violence lice Commissioner Cressida saw were very distressing”. what has happened in terms of and abuse is tolerated, excused and repeated. Dick but supported the inter- “The reality is that the country that report,” she added, noting it “I urge every woman who has walked with keys in her hands at nal and independent reviews is united still in shock and grief would be concluded in the next night, been abused or attacked online or off line to come forward launched into how offi cers han- about what happened to Sarah two weeks. and be heard,” said lawmaker Stella Creasy, who has led calls for dled the gathering on Saturday. Everard and we must do every- Patel also defended the govern- misogyny to be made a hate crime. Dick has faced calls to resign thing we can to fi nd the answers,” ment’s record on female safety, “This is our moment for change — rather than telling women not after police scuffl ed with the he said. noting that a domestic abuse bill to worry about violence ... it’s time to send a message that women predominantly female crowd Dick was set to join Johnson and set to be passed by parliament should be equally able to live free from fear of assault or harm and physically restrained dem- several other senior ministers at would “transform our collective from those who target them simply for who they are.” onstrators, arresting four peo- a meeting of a government task- response”. Separately, the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge yester ple. force examining crime and justice. She added that a reopened gov- day against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over its policy Hundreds had assembled She has defended the vigil’s ernment survey gathering views on prosecuting rape and other sexual off ences. A protester at the Parliament square to demonstrate against the throughout Saturday, includ- “fi endishly diffi cult policing”, on the issue had gathered 78,000 The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) had argued Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill being debated in Parlia- ing Kate Middleton, the Duch- saying on Sunday she was “more responses since Friday. that prosecutors had stopped sending cases to court that they ment in London yesterday. (AFP) ess of Cambridge, to pay tribute determined, not less” to remain in As MPs debated the issue, hun- feared would be rejected by juries. to 33-year-old Sarah Everard, her post. dreds gathered again yesterday, It said prosecutions halved between 2016 and 2020 with EVAW director Andrea Simon said it was “deeply disappointed” who disappeared on March 3 and Everard’s disappearance and this time in Parliament Square, to only 1,758 cases being pursued in 2018/2019 despite 55,000 by the ruling which marked “another establishment betrayal of whose body was found in wood- death reignited a conversation pay tribute to Everard. The crowd allegations being reported to the police. victims of violence against women and girls”. land last week. about women’s safety in public held banners and chanted as doz- The Court of Appeal ruled there was no change in policy. (Thomson Reuters Foundation) A Met police offi cer serving in spaces in Britain. ens of police offi cers looked on.

EU begins legal case Germany, Italy and France suspend against AstraZeneca shots amid safety fears Britain over Reuters traZeneca shot in the European China at the end of 2019 and is Berlin/Geneva Economic Area, which links 30 set to be the mainstay of vacci- N Ireland European countries. nation programmes in much of Michael Head, a senior re- the developing world. ermany, France and It- search fellow in global health at The EMA has also said there Reuters aly said yesterday they the University of Southampton, was no indication the events Brussels/London Gwould hit pause on As- said the decisions by France, were caused by the vaccination traZeneca Covid-19 shots af- Germany and others looked baf- and that the number of reported ter several countries reported fl ing. blood clots was no higher than he European Union possible serious side-eff ects, “The data we have sug- seen in the general population. launched legal action yes- throwing Europe’s already gests that numbers of adverse The handful of reported side- Tterday against Britain for struggling vaccination cam- events related to blood clots eff ects in Europe have upset unilaterally changing trading ar- paign into disarray. are the same (and possibly, in vaccination programmes al- rangements for Northern Ireland Denmark and Norway fact lower) in vaccinated groups ready under pressure over slow that Brussels says breach the Brexit stopped giving the shot last compared to unvaccinated rollouts and vaccine scepticism divorce deal agreed with London week after reporting isolated populations,” he said, adding in some countries. last year. cases of bleeding, blood clots that halting a vaccination pro- The Netherlands said yes- The bloc has sent a letter of and a low platelet count. Ice- gramme had consequences. terday it had seen 10 cases of formal notice to kick-start an land and Bulgaria followed suit “This results in delays in pro- possible noteworthy adverse “infringement procedure”, which and Ireland and The Nether- tecting people, and the poten- side-effects from the Astra- could lead to fi nes being imposed lands announced suspensions tial for increased vaccine hesi- Zeneca vaccine, hours after by the EU’s top court, although on Sunday. tancy, as a result of people who the government put its vac- that could be at least a year off , Spain will stop using the vac- have seen the headlines and cination programme on hold leaving time for a solution to be cine for at least 15 days, Cadena understandably become con- following reports of potential found. Ser radio reported, citing un- cerned. There are no signs yet of side-effects in other coun- Britain’s withdrawal agreement named sources. any data that really justify these tries. with the EU leaves the British- The moves by some of Eu- Vials labelled “Astra Zeneca Covid-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” and a syringe in front of a displayed EU decisions.” Denmark reported “high- ruled province of Northern Ireland rope’s largest and most popu- flag. (Reuters) Italian medicine agency Aifa’s ly unusual” symptoms in a subject to some EU regulations, lous countries will deepen con- general director, Nicola Ma- 60-year-old citizen who died and requires checks on some goods cerns about the slow rollout of grini, told a radio station several from a blood clot after re- arriving there from other parts of vaccines in the region, which a recommendation of the Paul It was the second region to do them, and it shows that the sur- European countries preferred ceiving the vaccine, the same the United Kingdom. has been plagued by shortages Ehrlich Institute, Germany’s so after Sicily, where two peo- veillance system works and that to suspend the vaccine “in the phrase used on Saturday by Some of those checks are meant due to problems producing vac- vaccine regulator. ple had died shortly after having eff ective controls are in place,” presence of some very recent Norway about three people to start when a grace period ex- cines, including AstraZeneca’s. France said it was suspend- their shots. Tedros said during a virtual me- and very few cases of adverse under the age of 50 it said were pires at the end of March. The Germany warned last week it ing the vaccine’s use pending an The World Health Organisa- dia briefi ng in Geneva. events” in women and young being treated in hospital. plans have already disrupted some was facing a third wave of in- assessment by the EU medicine tion appealed to countries not He said an advisory com- people. “It was an unusual course of supplies reaching supermarkets fections, Italy is intensifying regulator due today. Italy said to suspend vaccinations against mittee meeting on AstraZeneca “...Those who have already illness around the death that in Northern Ireland, and Britain lockdowns and hospitals in the its halt was a “precautionary a disease that has caused more would be held today. had the vaccine can and must made the Danish Medicines says it intends to extend the grace Paris region are close to being and temporary measure” pend- than 2.7 million deaths world- The United Kingdom said it remain safe,” she said. “I feel Agency react,” the agency said period unilaterally until October 1. overloaded. ing the regulator’s ruling. wide. WHO chief Tedros Adh- had no concerns, while Poland like saying the vaccine is safe, in a statement late on Sunday. The EU letter demands it reverse German Health Minister Jens Austria and Spain have anom Ghebreyesus said systems said it thought the benefi ts out- even having reviewed all the One of the three health work- this decision. Spahn said that although the stopped using particular batch- were in place to protect public weighed any risks. data.” ers hospitalised in Norway after Maros Sefcovic, the top EU of- risk of blood clots was low, it es and prosecutors in the north- health. The EMA has said that as of AstraZeneca’s shot was receiving the AstraZeneca shot fi cial in charge of UK relations, could not be ruled out. ern Italian region of Piedmont “This does not necessarily March 10, a total of 30 cases among the fi rst and cheapest to had died, health authorities said has sent a separate letter to British “This is a professional deci- earlier seized 393,600 doses mean these events are linked to of blood clotting had been re- be developed and launched at yesterday, but there was no evi- counterpart David Frost, seeking sion, not a political one,” Spahn following the death of a man Covid-19 vaccination, but it’s ported among close to 5 million volume since the coronavirus dence that the vaccine was the talks in good faith to resolve the is- said adding he was following hours after he was vaccinated. routine practice to investigate people vaccinated with the As- was fi rst identifi ed in central cause. sue this month. Britain says it has not violated the agreement. Blast in Karachi Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday the extension was Kremlin critic Navalny says locked up in ‘concentration camp’ kills soldier simply a technical decision aimed at being fair. The protocol, he said, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny concentration camp 100km sation’,” he added. who is “prone to escape” is The United States and the A remote-controlled bomb should guarantee trade between (pictured), who is serving a from Moscow.” Navalny said he had not yet still in his cell. European Union have called exploded yesterday in this port Britain and Northern Ireland, as two-and-half-year jail term in Navalny added that he was seen any hints of violence at In mid-January, the Kremlin for his release. city, killing a paramilitary soldier well as across Northern Ireland’s a penal colony outside Mos- in Penal Colony No. 2 in the colony, but because of critic was taken into police In a co-ordinated action earlier and injuring eight other people, land border with Ireland. “That’s cow, said yesterday he was the town of Pokrov in the the “tense posture of the con- custody shortly after landing this month, Washington and police said. all we’re trying to sort out with locked up in a “real concen- Vladimir region northeast victs”, he can “easily believe” at a Moscow airport from Brussels imposed sanctions “(The) initial investigation some temporary and technical tration camp”. of Moscow with a “freshly previous reports of brutality. Germany, where he had been on senior Russian off icials, suggests an explosive-rigged measures which we think are very His comments were the first shaven head”. Earlier this month, activist treated for a near-fatal poison- as US intelligence concluded motorcycle was used in the blast,” sensible, but obviously we’ll look confirmation of widespread Also yesterday, Navalny’s Konstantin Kotov, who spent ing with the Soviet-era nerve that Moscow orchestrated the senior police off icer Suhai Aziz forward to our discussions with reports that the Russian lawyer Olga Mikhailova nearly two years at the colony toxin Novichok. poisoning attack on Navalny. told Reuters, adding that the our EU friends and see where we opposition politician would confirmed that he was at for violating protest rules, The anti-graft campaigner, A number of Navalny’s close device was detonated through get to,” he said. be spending his sentence at the colony, saying that she described to AFP an environ- who gained prominence allies remain under house remote control. A government spokesman said one of the most notorious had been able to visit him ment in which inmates are not for his investigations into arrest, charged with violating The device, planted next to a Britain will respond in due course facilities in Russia’s extensive there, Russian news agencies treated “like people”. the wealth of Russia’s elites, Moscow’s ban on mass events security services vehicle, also to the EU’s notifi cation of legal ac- network of over 600 work reported. In February, Europe’s rights insists the poisoning was due to the coronavirus pan- injured six other people who tion. “We have received the letters colonies. In his post, Navalny wrote that court told Moscow to release carried out on the orders of demic by calling for protests in happened to be in the area, from the European Commission “I have to admit that the “video cameras are every- the opposition politician out President Vladimir Putin. his support. according to Karachi police and will respond in due course,” Russian prison system was where, everyone is watched of concern for his life, a call The Kremlin has repeatedly After police detained some off icials. Separatist insurgents the spokesman said in a statement. able to surprise me,” Navalny and at the slightest violation Russia swiftly rejected. denied the claim, but has yet 11,500 protesters at nation- from the Baloch Liberation Army “We’ve been clear that the posted on Instagram along they make a report. In his Instagram post, Navalny to launch a probe into the wide rallies held in late January (BLA) claimed responsibility for measures we have taken are tem- with an old photo of himself “I think someone upstairs said that at night he was wok- attack. and early February, Navalny’s the blast in a statement shared porary, operational steps intended with a close-cropped haircut. read Orwell’s 1984 and said: en up “every hour” by a man Navalny’s arrest set off a wave right-hand man Leonid Volkov with Reuters. The group has to minimise disruption in North- “I had no idea that it was ‘Yeah, cool. Let’s do this. who snaps a photo of him and of protests across Russia and called for the opposition to been fighting an insurgency in ern Ireland and protect the every- possible to arrange a real Education through dehumani- announces that the convict a brutal police crackdown. regroup. the southwestern province of day lives of the people living there.”. Balochistan. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, March 16, 2021 QATAR PM tours Milipol Qatar 2021 HE Sheikh Khalid during the tour of Milipol Qatar 2021. E the Prime Minister and Minister was briefed on the various pavilions as of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Kha- well as devices and technologies related to Hlifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani inau- safety and security. gurated the 13th edition of international The opening ceremony was held with exhibition for homeland security and civil adherence to precautionary measures defence (Milipol Qatar 2021) at the Doha to limit the spread of the novel corona- Exhibition and Convention Centre yes- virus (Covid-19), and was attended by a terday. number of ministers, senior offi cials and Following the opening ceremony, HE guests from a number of countries and Sheikh Khalifa toured the exhibition and representatives of exhibiting companies. Prime minister receives message from Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- rior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani received yesterday a written mes- sage from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, pertaining to bilateral relations and issues of common concern. The message was handed over by Pakistan Interior Min- ister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed when HE Sheikh Khalid met him yesterday at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on the occasion of the 13th edition of international exhibition for homeland security and civil defence (Milipol Qatar 2021). – QNA

Ooredoo, Diamond Sponsor of Milipol Qatar 2021, is hosting booths to showcase a raft of monitoring, security and protection solutions. Ooredoo booths at Milipol witness ‘huge turnout’

oredoo Qatar is showcasing its ICT (information and commu- Onications technology) solutions at Milipol Qatar 2021, the regional event dedicated to homeland security. Ooredoo’s comprehensive suite of ICT solutions, which are capable of fully securing operations and moni- toring a customer’s infrastructure to mitigate risks, are on display at three PM meets heads prominently-positioned booths at the event, a company statement said. of delegations Internet of Things (IoT) solutions highlighted at the event include IoT to Milipol Qatar Connect, a service that enables com- panies to track and manage all their HE the Prime Minister and Minister of networked devices, tracking tools and Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin products online, measuring data band- A third booth invites visitors to ex- Abdulaziz al-Thani yesterday met width consumption, and fl agging in- plore Ooredoo’s Azure services, off er- separately with Iraqi Minister of Interior ternational roaming connections. ing the capability to scale up or scale Othman Ali Farhood al-Ghanimi, The Fleet Management solution, de- down to continuously meet changing Lebanese Minister of Interior and veloped to allow companies to manage business needs while ensuring that Municipalities Mohamed Fahmi, and their fi eld teams, enables the identifi - information technology (IT) costs and General Christian Rodriguez, the cation and dispatch of the closest and services are constantly aligned with commander-in-chief of the National most skilled drivers with trips and ac- business demand. Gendarmerie of France, on the sideline of tivities recorded. Those looking to back up critical Milipol Qatar 2021 at the Doha Exhibition Service calls and fulfi lments per day data can fi nd out more about the Cloud and Convention Centre. can therefore be increased through Backup solution, while integration and During the meetings, they reviewed better planning and control of vehicles protection of the most valuable data is bilateral relations and ways to support and workforces. on off er with Ooredoo’s Cyber-Recov- and develop them, especially in the fields A raft of Managed Security solu- ery Solution. of security and defence. tions on show includes Qatar’s fi rst Ooredoo Qatar chief executive HE the Prime Minister also hosted a end-to-end Web Application Firewall, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla al-Thani luncheon banquet in honour of heads of a fully-managed cloud-based service said: “We are proud to partner with delegations participating in Milipol Qatar designed to protect digital presence Milipol Qatar on an event crucial for 2021. – QNA and assets from cyber-threats, such as our country and our businesses, in a automated bot and injection attacks, climate where we face ever more so- as well as application-layer denial of phisticated and frequent cyber-at- service (DoS). tacks.” Event attendees can explore the “Our corporate strategy incorpo- most comprehensive suite of security rates a commitment to complete digi- Milipol Qatar ‘showcases the latest services in Qatar through the display of talisation and comprehensive support Ooredoo’s Security Operations Centre, for Qatar National Vision 2030, with while they can discover a new approach Digital a core element of our strategy innovations of homeland security’ to user protection from emerging cy- going forward,” he added. “Shining a ber-threats with Cloud Web Security. spotlight on our ICT solutions at such A suite of world-class solutions to an event allows us to demonstrate this atar Chamber is participating in monitor network availability, ana- commitment and support, and con- the activities of the Milipol Qa- lyse network security in real-time and vey to our customers the many ways Qtar 2021 exhibition, which has provide mitigation systems to enable in which we can help them build solid gathered 143 local and international companies and enterprises to shield defences against cyber-threats, and exhibiting companies, at the Doha Ex- their network operations is showcased protect their enterprises as we progress hibition and Convention Centre. with Ooredoo’s Direct Denial of Service as a country towards realising the many Organised by the Ministry of Interior solution. digital goals of the Vision.” (MoI) in co-operation with Paris-based international event organiser Comex- posium, the exhibition showcases the latest innovations in the homeland se- curity and civil defence. Through its booth at the expo, Qatar Chamber is highlighting its services for the business community, companies, and its members. It also off ers information about do- ing businesses in Qatar, in addition to the investment climate and other is- sues related to the private sector. Sheikh Khalifa during a tour of the exhibition. Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed al- tions in the fi elds of internal security. He called on Qatari businessmen and latest innovations in the fi eld of public Thani participated in the exhibition’s Sheikh Khalifa stressed the impor- companies to visit the exhibition, and safety. opening ceremony. tance of Milipol, noting that the exhi- stressed that it off ers “a great opportu- “The expo represents a link between He also toured the pavilions of par- bition is “one of the most leading fairs” nity” for local companies to learn more global manufacturers, users, and secu- ticipating companies, where he was specialised in technologies for home- about the homeland security sector, rity and safety experts,” Sheikh Khalifa briefed on the products and innova- land security in the region. especially on cyber-security and the added. The Qatar Chamber booth at Milipol Qatar.