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SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 13 RAMADAN - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8603 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS

1,100 electric buses to ferry FIFA World Cup 2022 fans

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH be over 1,100 and about 700 will he announced in the third THE PENINSULA electric charging stations will quarter (Q3) of 2021,” said Al be built for these buses which Hammadi. He said that the Ashghal, Kahramaa and To enhance the State of Qatar’s will provide transport to spec- strategy will cover all issues MoTC are working to 20 efforts to organise carbon- tators during the matches. related to car charging stations build four parking lots neutral mega sporting event, “After FIFA World Cup specifications, number, for electric buses to over 1,100 electric buses will be Qatar 2022, these electric system, module for following ferry spectators. deployed to ferry the spectators buses will be used as public and cooperating in partnership during FIFA World Cup Qatar transport in the country. This between the government and Some 700 electric 2022 Championship. is following the directive of private sectors. charging stations will “The Public Works high command that all means “The strategy is under study be set up for the buses. 20 car charging h i Authority (Ashghal) in coordi- of transportation for fans will which will be announced after stations are already nation with Qatar General be electric during FIFA World completion. The most important After FIFA World Cup installed in Qatar Electricity and Water Corpo- Cup 2022,” said Al Hammadi. clause of the strategy is to Qatar 2022, these under the initiative ration (Kahramaa) and the To a question about specify places for car charging electric buses will be of Kahramaa in Ministry of Transport and electric car charging stations, stations – parking lots of used as public coordination with Communications is working he said that 20 car charging shopping complexes, public transport in the other partners. to build four parking lots for stations are installed in Qatar parking or government country. electric busses to ferry spec- under the initiative of Kah- buildings. This is one of major tators during matches of FIFA ramaa in coordination with issue which will be announced World Cup 2022,” said other partners to encourage later,” said Al Hammadi. Director of Tarsheed and motorists to buy electric cars. He said that the technical Technical specifica- Energy Efficiency at Qatar Al Hammadi said that specifications for electric car tions for electric car General Electricity and Water electric car charging stations charging stations, its system or charging stations, its Corporation (Kahramaa) are available at Kahramaa modules will be implemented system or modules Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Hammadi. main building, Kahrama in public and private sectors. will be implemented Speaking in a virtual Kah- building in Abu Hamour, Qatar “It will explain the require- in public and private ramaa event recently, Al Foundation and at some hotels. ments from both sectors and sectors. Hammadi said that the “The strategy for electric regulate for a smooth oper- number of elecrtric buses will vehicles and charging stations ation,” said Al Hammadi. Qatar provided assistance to nearly 100 countries to fight COVID-19 UEFA President praises Qatar’s IRFAN BUKHARI Government Communications At different occasions, dif- United Nations have praised The tweet further said that THE PENINSULA Office (GCO) said in a recent ferent world leaders and officials Qatar’s medical assistance to dif- Qatar Airways Cargo has shipped World Cup 2022 tweet. from international bodies like the ferent countries across the world. nearly 20 million vaccines to To assist different countries A video posted by the GCO countries around the world. “In preparations across the globe in their fight Aid from government and non-government with the tweet said that since the April 2021, Qatar Red Crescent against COVID-19 pandemic, entities stands at over $256m, and has start of the pandemic, Qatar has launched an international cam- QNA — NYON Qatar has so far provided medical been offered to around 88 countries: GCO provided medical and humani- paign to raise $100m in dona- and humanitarian assistance to tarian assistance to around 88 tions for COVID-19 vaccines for UEFA President Aleksander nearly 100 countries since the Qatar pledged $20m in support of the countries across the globe. more than three million refugees, Ceferin praised on Friday the start of global outbreak. Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immuni- “Qatar pledged $20m in internally displaced persons, and State of Qatar’s preparations “The State of Qatar has been sation in 2020. support of the Global Alliance migrants across 20 countries.” for hosting World Cup 2022. providing medical and human- for Vaccine and Immunisation These pledges, the GCO said, Cerefin told the press that itarian assistance across the The Qatar Fund for Development has (GAVI) in 2020. The Qatar Fund demonstrate the solidarity of preparations for hosting World globe since the start of the committed $10m to support the GAVI for Development has com- Qatar with the international Cup 2022 were going well, saying COVID-19 pandemic. Aid from COVAX Advance Market Commitment. mitted $10m to support the community and its commitment that the visit he paid to Doha in government and non-gov- GAVI COVAX Advance Market to providing the support January showed him first hand ernment entities stands at over Qatar Airways Cargo has shipped nearly Commitment, aiming to procure required at all levels to effec- how well the country was pre- $256m, and has been offered to 20 million vaccines to countries 1.3 billion vaccine doses by the tively fight the COVID-19 pan- paring for the event, expressing around 88 countries,” the around the world. end of 2021,” it added. demic. `P2 his pride at the strong cooper- ation between European asso- ciation and the Qatar Football Association (QFA), adding that Over 100,000 people have used COVID-19 Guidelines for private school these associations were ready to help QFA in any way. drive-through vaccination centers activities and trips issued He also praised President of PSG Nasser Al Khulaifi, FAZEENA SALEEM to bring your vaccination card, by people who visit the drive THE PENINSULA — DOHA Private Education Affairs Sector stressing that he looks forward THE PENINSULA showing the details of your first through centres. It has asked stressed the need to adhere to to working with him on dose, to gain entry,” said the people to come prepared with The Ministry of Education and the rules and standards of the shaping the future of European The Ministry of Public Health Ministry on its twitter account. a drink, snack and to ensure Higher Education, represented guidelines when choosing football. `P2 (MoPH) has announced that “You must wait until the there is enough fuel in the by the private education affairs school activities and trips, in more than 110,000 people have due date for your second dose vehicle. sector, has issued the general addition to the main conditions used the COVID-19 Drive- — 21 days after the first dose for Ramadan opening hours for guidelines for school activities related to the necessary Through Vaccination Centers Pfizer/BioNTech and 28 days the centers are from 1pm to and trips in private schools and approvals, and those required at Lusail and Al Wakra. after the first dose for Moderna. midnight, seven days a week. kindergartens. to be followed related to the Ramadan At present the centers cater No second doses will be admin- “Last entry is usually at The guidelines aim to safety and security of the Timing for people receiving their istered earlier,” people have 11pm, however, please note at enhance classroom and extra- school community. second dose only. “The centers been reminded. times of very high demand this curricula activities in various These guidelines include Today's Iftar: cater only for people receiving The Ministry has also listed may be earlier,” said the Min- educational, cultural and major general regulations that 6:04pm their second dose. You will need some simple tips to be followed istry. `P2 developmental fields, and help private schools and kin- enrich the leisure time of stu- dergartens to effectively plan Tomorrow's Imsak: dents for useful things. and organise school activities, 03:30am The plans for activities and events and trips, take into school trips in schools and kin- account the age group of stu- dergartens for the State of dents, and their relevance to QVC in India to Qatar are among the important the educational curriculum plans that help achieve educa- objectives. take application tional goals. It also contains all the rules It works on the devel- and regulations subject to the for domestic opment of students in all areas supervision and control of the that enhance education, Private Schools Affairs workers knowledge, skills and cultures, Department, which obliges and contribute to providing private schools and kinder- THE PENINSULA — DOHA students with the values and gartens to implement them information necessary to con- during school activities and Qatar Visa Centers in India will solidate the educational trips, and through it the security start receiving applications for process, through reality in the and safety of students are guar- the category of domestic field, dialogue and participation anteed, and the target educa- workers and those of similar with experienced people, which tional goals are achieved by the status from today (April 25). helps students to refine their end of the school year. This was stated by the Ministry capabilities, to be good citizens, The guidelines specify of Interior on its social media able to keep pace with devel- general directives regarding the account adding that it will start opments, and to develop school activities and includes receiving applications for entry Katara all decked up for Ramadan society. basic (compulsory) activities visas for the purpose of work A Katara street illuminated to mark the holy month. PIC: SAJAD SAHIR In a circular sent to all that all private schools and kin- for domestic maids (men/ schools and kindergartens, the dergartens must carry. `P2 women). `P2 02 HOME SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 Focus on COVID-19 vaccination this World Immunization Week

and Moderna vaccines being The week from April 24 to used in Qatar have been shown 30 focuses on the through extensive clinical trials to be safe and effective and are PRAYER importance of vaccination around 95 percent effective at TIMINGS during the pandemic to preventing symptomatic PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING prevent and curb the COVID-19 infection after two spread of the virus. It also doses. We have known since the 03.42 am aims at highlighting the start of the pandemic that the FAJR virus poses the greatest threat SUNRISE 05.04 am importance of vaccines in to the health of the elderly, and 11.32 am general. so it is extremely reassuring to DHUHR FROM LEFT: Dr. Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Dr. Muna Al Maslamani and Dr. Khalid El Awad ASR 03.01 pm know that own our data here in Qatar shows that within the MAGHRIB 06.04 pm THE PENINSULA — DOHA interventions worldwide. to the most venerable members tuberculosis and seasonal over 60s age group, non-vac- ISHA 07.34 pm In this context, awareness of the community. influenza. The global COVID-19 cinated people are 40 times The Ministry of Public Health is intensified through various “The Ministry of Public vaccination campaign, the more likely to be admitted to (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corpo- types of media with the aim of Health is keen to secure the best largest vaccination campaign ICU than those who are fully ration (HMC), and Primary raising public awareness of the internationally approved vac- in history, is highlighting the vaccinated. This is clear, real- Health Care Corporation (PHCC) importance of vaccination, its cines which are considered a important role that vaccines world evidence, that these vac- are marking the World Immu- vital role in eliminating conta- crucial tool for the control of play in protecting people of all cines work.” nization Week, amid imple- gious diseases, and increasing this pandemic and the gradual ages and health status from Dr. Khalid El Awad, Director mentation of the largest vacci- vaccination rates. In addition, return to normal life.” disease,” she said. of the Health Protection nation campaign in Qatar’s awareness messages will be dis- Dr. Al Rumaihi added that “Almost every country in the Department at PHCC, said the history for vaccinating people played on screens across all the vaccination process by world has been affected by World Health Organization esti- WEATHER against COVID-19. Primary Healthcare Centers. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 and after more than mates that vaccinations are so TODAY The week has been Dr. Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, is progressing rapidly across a year living under the threat of effective that they can prevent organised under the theme Director of the Department of PHCC health centres, the Qatar the virus, the COVID-19 vac- between two to three million “Vaccines Bring Us Closer”, Health Protection and Commu- National Convention Center, the cines now offer the best hope deaths worldwide each year which was selected by the nicable Disease Control at new vaccination Centre in the of a return towards normal life. and he encouraged people to World Health Organization MoPH, said that vaccination is Industrial Area, and the two Around the world, and here in listen to trusted health infor- (WHO). considered one of the most suc- drive-through vaccination Qatar, the public response to the mation and ensure they receive The week from April 24 to cessful interventions in the field centres in Lucille and Al COVID-19 vaccines has been all recommended 26oC 40oC 30 focuses on the importance of public health and the State of Wakrah areas. overwhelmingly positive, and vaccinations. Minimum Maximum of vaccination during the pan- Qatar is always very keen to Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Head of globally, around 16 million “It is important that people demic to prevent and curb the reach the highest coverage rate Vaccination at MoPH, explained people are receiving a vaccine receive information related to Hot daytime with scattered clouds spread of the virus. The World of safe and high quality that immunisation is known to dose every day,” added Dr. Al vaccines only from official at times, mild by night. Immunization Week also aims vaccinations. save millions of lives every year Bayat. sources as there is a lot of mis- at highlighting the importance Regarding the vaccination and is widely recognized as one Dr. Muna Al Maslamani, leading and incorrect infor- W ALRUWAIS : 25o → 35o of vaccines in general, and campaign against COVID-19, of the most effective healthcare Medical Director of the Com- mation circulating on the W ALKHOR : 24o → 39o assist in the launch of a long- Dr. Al Rumaihi said, “The imple- interventions in the world. municable Disease Center at Internet and social media. term vaccination support. mentation of the national vac- “Vaccines have been used for HMC, said the roll-out of the While we focus our efforts for W DUKHAN : 22o → 37o World Immunization Week cination campaign against hundreds of years to protect COVID-19 vaccination program now on the COVID-19 vaccines, → W WAKRAH : 23o 38o also highlights that vaccination COVID-19 in Qatar is pro- people by providing immunity in Qatar is helping to protect the there remains a need to ensure W MESAIEED : 23o → 38o can save millions of lives every gressing at a rapid pace, from many serious diseases population from the threat of routine vaccinations — such as W ABUSAMRA : 20o → 41o year and is recognised as one whereas nearly 1,400,000 including hepatitis B, measles, the virus. for the seasonal flu — are not of the most effective healthcare doses have been administered meningitis, mumps, rubella, “The Pfizer and BioNTech missed,” said Dr. El Awad.

HIGH TIDE 2:41– 15:30 UEFA President LOW TIDE 10:28 – 22:08 Guidelines for private school activities and trips issued FROM PAGE 1 praises Qatar’s the lives of individuals and soci- The school activities and to programs that promote It is represented in Islamic eties, and these activities trips are appropriate to the national identity and Qatari World Cup 2022 occasions and aims to invite include various scientific, social, wishes of students and their heritage in private schools. QVC in India to students to adhere to the health, cultural, artistic and preferences, and the diversity The camping inside Qatar preparations teachings of true Islam, and to entertainment aspects, espe- in choosing external bodies and (outside the school fence) is take application have good morals. Its activities cially those related to the coun- institutions when implementing restricted to preparatory and FROM PAGE 1 are focused on many occasions, try’s goals and directions. the school trips and activities secondary school students only, for domestic such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al The guidelines listed a plan. The general guidelines of and females are separated from He stressed that Al Khu- Adha. It also includes national group of international days pro- activities also stressed that males on separate camping laifi, Bayern Munich CEO Karl- workers events and celebrations related posed to be celebrated with private schools and kinder- days to ensure respect for reli- Heinz Rummenigge, and FROM PAGE 1 to the Qatari heritage and aims some school activities, due to gartens take into account the gious values, customs and tra- Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim The appointment for the to inculcate values and prin- the importance of educating rules of implementing school ditions. Muslim students will Watzke had a great role in same can be made through ciples in the love of the students about them, including, activities and trips within the perform the prayers on time, what he called a victory in the Qatar Visa Center website. homeland among students, and for example: the International State of Qatar, including, for and should be provided appro- war for football, following the Qatar has its visa centres in to be proud of their homeland Day for the Protection of Edu- example, obtaining prior priate place for that. The recent breakaway attempt to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, in front of all countries as well cation from Attacks, the Inter- approvals for the school activity internal or external trips must form the European Super Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai as spreading awareness among national Day of the Arabic Lan- or trip from the concerned be optional, and a written League by 12 clubs. and Kochi. people about the importance of guage, the International Day of authorities and the relevant consent is required for them QVCs provide an oppor- preserving national unity. These Museums, the International Day official authorities, and bearing from the guardian. tunity to workers to get occasions include, for example, of Diabetics, the International full responsibility for main- As for the regulations for Over 100,000 detailed information about the celebration of Qatar Day of Theater, the Interna- taining the security and safety foreign school trips (outside the their work contracts in their National Day, December 18, the tional Day for People with of students, and achieving con- State of Qatar), private schools people have used own languages including sal- occasion of ‘Garangao’ in the Special Needs among others. ditions of safety and security, must obtain written approvals aries, vacations, incentives and middle of the blessed month of The framework clarified the providing an adequate number from parents on the trip cover COVID-19 allowances. The project is Ramadan, and the celebration conditions for approving school of supervisors and without book, which includes a detailed being implemented in coop- of the National Sport Day. activities and trips, which are interrupting to school hours. explanation of the educational drive-through eration between MoI, the Min- As for the general (optional) school activities are appropriate The activities, trips and edu- objective of the trip and the istry of Administrative Devel- activities, aim is to enhance for the age group of students, cational programs to be program. Female supervisors vaccination centers opment, Labour and Social awareness among the partici- diversity and inclusion in accounted by 50%, recreational for female students, male FROM PAGE 1 Affairs, MoPH, and the Ministry pants of the importance of a choosing school activities and trips by 10%, educational trips supervisors for male students of Foreign Affairs. particular issue and its role in trips. by 20%, and 20% to be allocated will be assigned. Those attending the drive- through must be in a vehicle to proceed for their vacci- nation, and with a maximum Qatar provided assistance to nearly occupancy of four people per car. 100 countries to fight COVID-19 “People attending the drive-through centers are seen FROM PAGE 1 3,650,000 refugees, internally displaced on a first-come-first-seen It is to be noted that Amir H H Sheikh people (IDPs), and migrants in 20 basis. At peak times you may Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had also countries. be required to wait while other received a message from United Nations The launch of the campaign had people are seen first,” said the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on been announced by Sheikh Abdullah bin Ministry. May 31 last year, in which he expressed Thamer Al Thani, President of QRCS, “Plan your visit for when his deep appreciation for the support of and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, you know you do not have any Qatar to the United Nations during the Director-General of the World Health important appointments coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), by Organization (WHO). within the next few hours,” the organising an airlift from Doha to Kabul. The #IAmVaccinatedIDonated ini- Ministry said. The UN Chief also expressed his grat- tiative will be under a large-scale cam- For this reason, the Min- itude to H H the Amir for facilitating the paign to mobilise support at the gov- istry has said that it is redeployment of some United Nations ernment, institutional, and individual important to come prepared staff in Yemen. levels. and bring a drink and small Recently, Qatar Red Crescent Society It involves a public advocacy cam- snack with in case the wait is (QRCS) launched an international cam- paign for COVID-19 vaccine equity and longer than expected, bring a paign to raise $100m in support of the leaves no one behind as no one is safe book to read or have some- provision of COVID-19 vaccines for until everyone is safe. thing to listen to on your car stereo. “Ensure that you have MoPH: 5 deaths, 718 new COVID-19 cases enough fuel in your car for the duration of your visit,” the THE PENINSULA — DOHA Ministry said. People have also been The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported 718 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. advised to avoid bringing Among them 165 were travellers returning from abroad. young children who may get A total of 1513 people recovered from COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total impatient with any potential number of people recovered in Qatar to 179,974. delay. The Ministry also announced five new deaths, aged 45, 56, 59, 62 and 62 years A total of 1,394,781 of age. Three of them had chronic diseases and all of them received necessary COVID-19 vaccine doses have medical care. been administered since the A total of 22,385 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the past 24 start of the national vacci- hours. The total number of vaccine doses administered since the start of the vac- nation program. 39.5% of the cination campaign is 1,394,781. eligible population has now “Every day, hundreds of people are becoming sick due to the COVID-19 with received at least one dose of many requiring admission to hospital to manage their symptoms. Since February the vaccine and 84.3% of over 1, the number of people with COVID-19 admitted to hospital has doubled,” said the 60s (the most vulnerable pop- Ministry in its daily COVID-19 report. “Qatar’s strict quarantine policy for returning ulation group) have been vac- travelers enabled us to delay the introduction of new variants into this country for cinated with at least one dose, several months but we are now seeing positive COVID-19 cases in the region and while 71.2% have received both in Qatar with the new variants from the UK,” the Ministry added. doses. SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 HOME 03 Traffic Department spreads road safety awareness Ooredoo celebrates

THE PENINSULA — DOHA Traffic officials highlight Ramadan with exciting The Media and Traffic Awareness Department at the the need for pedestrians General Directorate of Traffic to follow rules while promotions recently organised a number of crossing a road, and also traffic awareness activities as called for observing THE PENINSULA — DOHA Nojoom Points are also on part of its annual plan to spread speed limits at all times. offer. Both promotions are good traffic culture among Ooredoo Qatar has announced open to Hala, Shahry, and motorists. two exciting promotions for its Mobile Broadband customers The first week included customers in celebration of and will run until May 12, 2021. awareness lectures for commu- with a member of the Central Ramadan. Customers’ MSISDNs must be nities, traffic competitions on Municipal Council to find out Ooredoo Puzzle and valid and not suspended for the the Department’s social media the traffic situation across Fawazeer Ramadan will offer customer to be eligible to accounts, enhancing traffic some specific areas in cooper- customers the opportunity to participate. safety for young people, and ation with the Hamad Trauma win instant vouchers and the Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari, religious lectures. Center. chance of winning up to 1 Director PR at Ooredoo, said, The General Directorate of The Department recently million Nojoom Points. Cus- “We’re delighted to be cele- Traffic started its Ramadan pro- seized about 350 vehicles for tomers can complete the puzzle brating Ramadan with these An officer from the General Directorate of Traffic delivering an gramme through an awareness committing several traffic vio- and win instant vouchers with fun promotions this year. Com- online awareness lecture to community members. lecture for the Indian com- lations. The most prominent Ooredoo Puzzle. A variety of plete customer satisfaction is munity. The lecture focused on violations included drifting, vouchers from Urban Point and our ultimate aim. With some the legal issues for types, and consequences. It and Suhoor. The Department reckless driving, speed limit Nojoom partners will be on exciting winnings on offer – pedestrians. stressed the need to respect said that its Ramadan violations, car racing, tinting offer. including an awesome 1 million The participants were intro- traffic law and avoid inappro- awareness plan for the second violation, and creating loud With Fawazeer Ramadan, Nojoom Points – we’re sure our duced to the dangers of ran- priate traffic behaviours that week of Ramadan includes noises. customers can answer one customers will enjoy taking domly crossing the road and the cause many traffic accidents. special awareness lectures for The General Directorate of question each day to collect part in the games. We wish instructions to be followed to The lecture also dealt with delivery drivers, including Traffic emphasised it will not tickets and be in with a chance everyone a peaceful, blessed avoid run-over accidents. the most common violations activities aimed at raising road tolerate the perpetrators of to win an incredible 1 million Ramadan, and the best of luck The lecture also dealt with during Ramadan and safe safety awareness among them. these violations as their choices Nojoom points. 500,000 in the draw for 1 million pedestrian traffic violations, driving instructions before Iftar It also includes meeting endanger other road users. Nojoom Points and 250,000 Nojoom Points.” Garangao to be celebrated amid COVID-19 precautionary measures SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA Garangao is a traditional children’s party celebrated after The nuts and sweets shops at breaking the fast on the 14th day of the holy month. It is a Souq Waqif have witnessed a Ramadan tradition widely celebrated by children across massive turnout from residents Qatar and the Gulf region. to buy gifts for children ahead of Garangao festival. Garangao is a traditional children’s party celebrated after would be the same as last year, Garangao) are being sold for breaking the fast on the 14th day including a competition for the QR100 or less. The gifts are of Ramadan. best Garangao dress, among showcased at specially deco- It is a Ramadan tradition other events that will be rated places in the outlets, widely celebrated by children organised. giving a traditional look. across Qatar and the Gulf Asked if the Ministry will To celebrate the Garangao region. It is usually most distribute sweets and nuts to festival, girls wear traditional enjoyed as a celebration of children, the source said that gowns with embroidery and having fasted for half of the due to the preventive measures gold jewellery like earrings, Holy Month. As per the tra- to limit the spread of the coro- necklaces, and bangles, while dition, children sing ‘Garangao navirus, there would be no dis- boys wear traditional Qatari Garangao Atona Atona, Allah tribution of treats to kids. dress ‘Thawb,’ jackets, and caps. Yatikom (Give us, Allah will give Meanwhile, Garangao gifts Last year, the Ministry of People shop for nuts and sweets ahead of Garangao festival at Souq Waqif. you), while visiting their neigh- at Souq Waqif contain ten types Culture and Sports celebrated PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA bours for gifts. of nuts sold at prices ranging the festival by deploying buses A source from the Ministry from QR50 to more than that distributed sterilised and of Culture and Sports said that QR200. Other Garangao gifts closed Garangao gifts to loudspeakers to air the health, and joy to all. children to learn about their tra- the celebration of Garangao like wooden boxes (written on children at their doorsteps using Garangao song, wishing safety, Garangao encourages ditions and customs. Night Market in Duhail remains open while respecting precautionary measures ELISSA DARWISH many of the present shops, pizzerias, and different THE PENINSULA restaurants. restaurants with savuory cui- “Everyone is very serious sines. The drives to these often- The festive lights and glowing about the sanitary measures,” themed cafes are a part of the signs shine bright on a Ramadan affirms one of the delivery Doha nightlife culture, especially night. Cafes, caravans, and mini- workers. “The employees wear emblematic of the younger gen- restaurants animate the open gloves and masks. The Market erations. But the employees also area in front of the Abdullah bin is functioning very well; we still speak of the Market’s popularity Khalifa Stadium as cars start have a lot of customers!” with other age demographics. pouring in. The fact that the Night “It is good that the place is Amid the new COVID-19 Market remains open is a stark open, while the sanitary related restrictions, the Duhail contrast to last year’s lockdown, measures are respected,” Night Market remains open for where all businesses had to stop admits one customer. the hungry road wanderers. But working temporarily, relying “I can enjoy my drink. Since I fear not, the establishment has mainly on online orders. The am alone in the car,” he adds ensured strict respect of the decision to keep the restaurant reassuringly. sanitary protocol while industry opened highlights While awaiting the arrival allowing its customers to enjoy Qatar’s goal to preserve the of his Spanish latte, another the vast culinary choice offered economy while adapting sanitary customer shared his enthu- by its many restaurants. measures to prevent the spread siasm for the future of the Night The clients can no longer of the novel coronavirus. Market: “I am very excited enter the buildings, but ordering “Many businesses were about the FIFA World Cup 2022. via the drive-through remains forced to close. I am so glad our I think this place would be open. Some pre-order by tele- restaurant remained open, and popular with the tourists during phone and arrive to fetch their I get to keep my job,” smiled the event. It should be dishes; others visit the Market, one waitress. expanded a little, and more res- making their choice on the spot. The Night Market’s availa- taurants should be added.” Remaining in vehicles, the bility is also a welcome oppor- At its peak hours, from 9 pm drivers stop in front of the res- tunity for the customers who to midnight, the Night Market taurants as waiters go out to meet search for evening hangouts. is swarming with vehicles. As them and receive orders. Although they may not stay and its name suggests, it continues Masks should be worn while enjoy dishes and beverages functioning throughout the speaking to the employees from with their friends, visiting the night, especially in the month the car. Those craving the Mar- place is still reminiscent of the of Ramadan. During this period, ket’s delicacies from the comfort times before the pandemic. the place starts its services at of their homes could use the The Market boasts a range of 3pm and closes at 3am, a little delivery services proposed by coffee shops, chip before the Fajr prayer.

A view of the night market in Duhail. 04 HOME SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 Ramadan amid COVID-19 a reminder to change life for good: Scholar BPS organises orientation THE PENINSULA – DOHA Lifetime of Change from a I think it’s a time for us to be heightened in our awareness of Month of Reflection. what type of life we want to live, what type of life we want to Against the backdrop of “I think it’s a time for us to programme for COVID-19, Ramadan should be be heightened in our awareness go to, what type of impact we want to leave behind, and what a time for people to think of what type of life we want to type of deeds we want to see ahead of us. It’s an opportunity parents deeply about “the life we want live, what type of life we want for us to really take a step back; a wake-up call to be more to live” and “the impact we to go to, what type of impact we intentional. THE PENINSULA – DOHA want to leave behind”, a leading want to leave behind, and what American Muslim scholar, type of deeds we want to see Birla Public School (BPS) has writer, and civil rights leader ahead of us. It’s an opportunity Dr. Omar Suleiman — Founder and president of the Yaqeen organised a virtual orientation has told a special edition of for us to really take a step back; Institute for Islamic Research programme for the parents Qatar Foundation’s Education a wake-up call to be more and guardians of primary City Speaker Series. intentional. section students who have Dr. Omar Suleiman – “Don’t be unhappy about rest of your actions follow suit. your heart as your spiritual res- enrolled for various grades this founder and president of the Dr. Omar Suleiman what you don’t have in this life – “You then bring this into your ervoir that you feed, and with year with renewed enthu- Yaqeen Institute for Islamic from the heart, be sincere, and Ramadan should teach us that. home, and then you have societal that reservoir you can give to siasm. The idea behind this Research and professor of be intended to create benefit There are people in this world change – it comes from a family, the rest of the world. Never programme was to help Islamic Studies at Southern and impact rather than who don’t have anything to break because a community is made of neglect yourself in pursuit of the partner with the parents who Methodist University in the US influence. their fast with. So we should live families and, if you think about betterment of society, because along with the management, – shared his thoughts on how “Anything that reminds us a more purposeful life, and the most transformative commu- by bettering yourself, you better staff and students are the reflection that the Holy of the fragility of this world, COVID-19 has taught us to prior- nities in history, that transfor- society.” The Ramadan edition important stakeholders in the Month enables can be a catalyst or our own vulnerability, is an itize and think about what our mation was started by just one of the Education City Speaker pursuit of imparting holistic for lasting change based on opportunity to cling to that blessings actually are, what we or two families who got together Series also saw Dr. Suleiman education. Secondly the orien- values, during a virtual dis- which is permanent and actually want to keep with us, and and started to build something encourage young people to tation was also to familiarise cussion that drew more than meaningful,” said Dr. Suleiman what will transpire into something and impact and affect change in commit themselves to being the parents as ‘partners in 12,000 viewers from Qatar, the – who is also the resident meaningful for us going forward.” their society. drivers of change, saying: “One progress’ with the curriculum, region, and around the world. scholar of the Valley Ranch Speaking about where “Change starts inward, then thing you learn from people rules and regulations of the And he described COVID-19 Islamic Center and Co-Chair change comes from, Dr. goes outward – but never forget who are productive is they school, teaching methodol- as “a wake-up call for us to take Emeritus of Faith Forward Suleiman said: “It starts not just the inward. You never get to a started young and kept going – ogies and the co-scholastic a step back and reflect on the Dallas at Thanks-Giving with you, but with a very par- point where you are no longer when you are young, it is the activities. The Campus Coor- meaning and purpose of life”, Square, a multi-faith coalition ticular part of you – your heart. developing yourself personally, perfect chance to dedicate dinator spoke about the while also explaining why the for peace and justice – in a If your heart is good, the entire where you can preach but not yourself; don’t wait until you are curriculum to be followed desire for change should come session titled Crafting a body becomes good, and the practice. You have to think of older.” during the academic year. GMC announces exclusive offers on its premium line-up during Ramadan in Qatar

THE PENINSULA – DOHA “We love celebrating GMC Middle East alongside its local special dealer partner in Qatar, Mannai Auto occasions Group, has announced the exclusive with our offers on the brand’s premium line-up beloved recently. Qatari com- During the holy Month of Ramadan, munity, and customers can benefit from a range of the Holy attractive offers including finance Month of options, insurance, extended warranty Ramadan is and a starting price of QR1,971 per month very close to on select vehicles. their hearts Ivor D’Cunha, Mannai Group’s and ours. General Manager – Automotive, said: We are very excited to be bringing exceptional offers to For the GMC Terrain lovers, cus- our valuable customers this year and tomers can now purchase this premium can’t wait to see them drive back SUV at a starting price of QR1,971 per home in their new GMC vehicles.” month only and enjoy three years in- Throughout the month of house finance with 40 percent balloon Ramadan, customers can avail the payment and a free window tint. GMC Acadia at a starting price of They will also benefit from three QR2,499 per month, while also ben- years complimentary comprehensive efiting from three years in-house insurance and registration, three years finance with 40 percent balloon or 60,000km service and maintenance, payment and a free window tint. extended warranty up to five years Additionally, for extra peace of mind, powered by AAA and four years roadside customers will also enjoy three years assistance. complimentary comprehensive Customers will also be able to pur- insurance and registration, as well chase the very popular GMC Sierra as three years or 60,000km service pick-up truck during Ramadan, at a and maintenance, extended war- starting price of QR2,650 per month for ranty up to five years powered by six years with no down payment and AAA and four years roadside with a six months grace period from the assistance. finance tenure when benefiting from This premium family SUV comes Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) vehicle loan in a bold and aggressive exterior plan. design that creates a powerful Customers will also go back home presence. In parallel, its refined with QR5,000 worth of accessories for interior with versatile seating and additional personalisation and can cargo options allows for a very com- benefit from one year or 20,000km com- fortable ride. plimentary service and maintenance, a free window tint, one year free third party insurance and registration and extended warranty up to five years powered by AAA. Additionally, customers will be able to get behind the wheel of the recently launched All-New 2021 GMC Yukon. The premium SUV is available at a monthly starting price of QR3,222 for six years, with no down payment and a six months grace period when benefiting from the QIB vehicle loan. Customers will also enjoy two years or 40,000km complimentary service and maintenance, a free one year compre- hensive insurance and registration and extended warranty up to five years powered by AAA along with a free window tint.

MoI books 355 for violations of health measures

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The Ministry of Interior (MoI) officials have intensified efforts to take action against individuals violating various COVID-19 precautionary measures in the country and have reported 355 violations in the country. As many as 309 were booked for not wearing masks in public places, while 45 for not maintaining safe physical dis- tancing and one for not installing the Ehteraz application. The MoI call on the public to adhere to the precautionary and preventive deci- sions in force to protect them and others from the spread of the coronavirus in society. SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 HOME 05 Healthcare professionals QCRI’s Creative Space honours complete WCM-Q research winners of python competition training sessions THE PENINSULA— DOHA Individual: Mahmoud Amr THE PENINSULA — DOHA in qualitative research. Mohamed. In second place - In a separate event, Creative Space, part of the Team: Artificial Intelligence Physicians, nurses, other entitled Certificate in the Qatar Computing Research with Momen Ahmed Awad healthcare professionals and Analysis of Medical Data: Institute (QCRI) under Hamad Albanna and Ali Hamza Shaar; academicians working in Qatar Advanced Applied Biostatistics Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and Individual: Mohamed completed research training for Health Care Professionals, has announced the winners of Abdulmajeed AlBulushi. In third sessions offered by the Division Dr. Mahfoud demonstrated to its Python Programming place – Teams: Python Bros of Continuing Professional participants how to use a Competition, which challenged with Mohamed Refaaz and Education (CPD) at Weill number of key analytical 90 middle and high school Hamad Refaaz; and Pro- Cornell Medicine-Qatar methods to help them under- students to put their coding grammers with Mohammed (WCM-Q) recently. stand the data they collect for skills to the test. Nasser Al-Bader and Akram The latest sessions offered their research. The students learned the Alhariri. by WCM-Q included a com- This included instruction on coding language during a “The course had several prehensive five-day Intro- how to generate a multiple Students during the online programme. 30-hour online program positive aspects, but from my duction to Qualitative linear regression and a multiple offered by QCRI over the course point of view I think giving the Research course directed by logistic regression, how to of the current academic year. Space Coordinator at QCRI, students the opportunity to biomedical statistics experts analyze data from a one-way The participants comprised two after the competition. “QCRI innovate was the distinctive one Dr. Ziyad Mahfoud, Associate ‘analysis of variance’ (ANOVA), groups of students from inter- designed the intensive Python that gave a beautiful and unique Professor of Population Health and how to analyze data using national schools and five groups course and the competition to character to the course, and of Sciences, and guest expert Dr. nonparametric statistics, from 11 Ministry of Education help equip these budding pro- course all thanks to Dr. Eman Gladys Honein-AbouHaidar, among other foundational schools. The successful program grammers with the skills, Fituri, the Director of Educa- Assistant Professor at the skills. concluded with the Python knowledge, and experience in tional Initiatives at QCRI, and American University of Beirut Dr. Mahfoud said: “It does Competition held on April 10, the intricacies of programming Engineer Ikram for guiding us (AUB). not take long for healthcare challenging the students to language to begin their learning and teaching us throughout the The workshop introduced professionals to gain a firm program a Tic-Tac-Toe game path early. course,” said AlBulushi, a participants to the design and grounding in these technical using Python. With the option The course is not only student from Qatar Banking implementation of qualitative skills, but once they have mas- of competing individually or in excellent preparation for the Studies and Business Adminis- research and offered guidance tered them it opens up a whole teams of two, the students sub- challenges of the university- tration School. on when to use qualitative new world of research for mitted their programs with a level programs offered at HBKU “I liked the experience of research, which methodology them. Ikram Zidani video to demonstrate their but challenged the students to competing against other people to use, how to conduct the "These newly gained understanding. demonstrate their academic and measuring my strengths research, how to present expertise enable the partici- QCRI invited a team of four University in Qatar; Ahmad and personal skills. Well done and my weaknesses. I would results, and how to increase the pants to draw meaningful con- judges to help in selecting the Musleh; and Wafa Waheeda, to our winners.” like to thank our teachers Dr. trustworthiness of qualitative clusions from the data they individual winners and teams: both software engineers at QCRI’s Python Competition Eman and Ms. Ikram, Creative research studies. collect through their clinical Abdelkarim Zidani, an offensive QCRI. winners are, in first place - Space and the judges for all the The course also gave par- work or through other avenues, security engineer based in the “The students impressed us Team: Creative Coders with time they put in to teach us how ticipants a firm grounding in as well as boosting their careers Netherlands; Nour Tabet, out- with their programming skills Anas Osama Abdulhamied to code,” said AlHariri, an inter- the scientific method and an and contributing to biomedical reach coordinator for computer and problem-solving abilities, Mosaad and Ahmad Osama national student from UK understanding of how to inte- research in Qatar and the wider science at Carnegie Mellon said Ikram Zidani, Creative Abdulhamied Mosaad; and Trinity Academy. grate scientific rigor and ethics region,' he said. MG Qatar presents special Ramadan offer on wide range of cars THE PENINSULA — DOHA with our valued customers.” safety and a Trophy Sports Kit Designed with the tech- that emphasises the new In the holy month of Ramadan, savvy millennial audience in model’s sporty credentials. MG Qatar is presenting a special mind, the MG5 is equipped with The new MG ZST is offer on a wide range of MG a raft of cutting-edge features. equipped with a 160 hp, 1.3L sedans and SUVs. The full range The on-board infotainment Turbo engine, delivering of MG cars is available in the system includes a 10.1-inch maximum torque of 230 Nm, showroom of Auto Class Cars, touch screen, Apple CarPlay and and mated to a six-speed auto- the authorised distributor of MG Android Auto. Cruise control matic gearbox for smoother in Qatar, at Salwa Road. comes as standard, while push acceleration. Valid until May 31, the offer button start, keyless entry, a A robust and spacious SUV allows MG buyers to benefit panoramic sunroof, electrically – with the largest wheelbase in from a package of added fea- adjustable seats with manual its segment - the new seven- tures including free car regis- lumbar support for both driver seater MG RX8 is a fully tration and comprehensive and passenger, a rear-view equipped 4x4 with six different insurance for one year, the camera and a 360 degree sur- driving modes. Its strong truck longest warranty period round-view camera for ultimate chassis frame is capable of han- available in the market of 6 safety are also available, dling the toughest off-road ter- years warranty/200,000kms depending on model. rains, and is powered by an effi- (whichever comes first), service The MG5 comes with a lively cient 220HP 2.0-litre turbo up to 200,000kms, free tinting yet efficient 1.5L petrol engine engine. An array of premium and a chance to win either an delivering max power of 118hp materials including wood grain iPhone 12 or free fuel cards and up to 150 Nm of torque, and and soft-touch trim gives the worth QR1,000. mated to a fuel efficient CVT. RX8 a high-class feel. In addition, each customer MG sedans and SUVs showcased under Ramadan offers. The MG ZST takes this value The MG line up of cars are buying a new MG car will get a for money package on to available now at Auto Class Cars coupon to enter a special raffle Thani, Managing Director – portfolio embraces a wide range in terms of car warranty and another level, adding a state- showroom on Salwa Road. The draw with the chance to win Auto, at NBK Group, said: “Cel- of cars that meet the demands service mileage. of-the-art virtual instrument showroom opens in Ramadan back the value of their car they ebrating the holy month of of various customers. With MG, Auto Class Cars will stay panel for the driver, a 360 from Saturday to Thursday from bought during the Ramadan Ramadan, we are pleased to everyone is a winner, as we committed to the local com- degree surround parking 9am to 2pm and from 8pm to offer. launch the strongest offer on a always endeavor to present our munity and offer the best deals camera that eliminates all blind 12am, and on Fridays from 8pm Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al wide range of MG cars. MG clients the best offers, especially that reflect the strong relations spots, curtain airbags for extra to 12am.

QIB sponsors Iftar project in CONDOLENCES collaboration with Qatar Charity

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Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) in collab- oration with Qatar Charity (QC), is sponsoring the Iftar project for workers in the industrial area who are fasting, as part of Qatar Charity’s “Ramadan of Hope” campaign, in offers its heartfelt light of the current challenging condolences to conditions. The sponsorship of the program comes as part of the Bank’s com- munity-focused CSR initiatives. Mohd Mazharul Haque Commenting on the sponsorship Mashaal Abdulaziz Al Derham, Senior Sub-Editor, Assistant General Manager, Head of QIB supports Ramadan Iftar with Qatar Charity. Corporate Communications & The Peninsula Quality Assurance at QIB said, challenges imposed by the “Ramadan is a time of giving, gen- pandemic. erosity, compassion and tolerance. QIB’s contribution to the QIB’s contribution to the Iftar We are proud to know that our part- project targeted to low-income nership with Qatar Charity is helping Iftar project targeted to community members during the on the sad demise of his the community break their fast with low-income community holy month is part of the Bank’s a good meal, distributed to workers members during the holy social responsibility program and in the industrial area while adhering month is part of the Bank’s reflects its adherence to Islamic Brother to the requirements of the national social responsibility values and Qatari traditions of health authorities, in light of the social solidarity. QIB continuously current situation imposed by program and reflects its supports similar programs every COVID-19.” adherence to Islamic values year, to reaffirm its commitment to Jassim Mohammed Al-Emadi, and Qatari traditions of the community. May Allah bless the departed Director of Programs and Com- social solidarity. As a leading Bank in Qatar and munity Development at Qatar an active partner providing con- Charity, expressed his appreciation tinuous support to the community, soul and give fortitude to the for QIB’s continuous support to to support charity initiatives, QIB places social responsibility at bereaved family members to Qatar Charity programs and projects, embracing Qatari and Islamic values the top of its priorities. This is and for sponsoring the Iftar Project that are synonymous of social soli- reflected thorough its contributions bear this irreparable loss. that is targeted to workers during darity. Jassim also stressed QIB’s sig- towards human support, health, the holy month. nificant contribution to supporting education, and sports activities, Jassim emphasized that the col- large number of workers during the within the framework of QIB’s social laboration reflects QIB’s solid efforts holy month, especially in light of the responsibility programs. 06 GULF / MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 Israeli copters, fighter jets attack Gaza Strip AP — JERUSALEM The UN envoy were no reports of injuries or serious damage, but the The Israeli military launched to the region, incoming rocket fire set off air- attacks by helicopters and Tor Wennesland, raid sirens throughout southern fighter jets at targets operated Israel. by the ruling Hamas group in condemned the In response, the army said Gaza Strip overnight yesterday violence and said : fighter jets and helicopters as rockets allegedly fired by struck a number of Hamas Palestinians hit Istraeli targets. “I reiterate my call targets in Gaza, including an The exchange came as tensions upon all sides to underground facility and rocket in Jerusalem spilled over into exercise maximum launchers. Hamas did not claim the worst round of cross-border responsibility for the rocket fire, violence in months. restraint and avoid but Israel considers the group The barrage of rocket fire further escalation, responsible for all fire ema- came as hundreds of Pales- nating from the territory. tinians clashed with Israeli particularly during The military imposed limits police in east Jerusalem. The the Holy month of on outdoor gatherings in clashes, in which at least four southern Israel early Saturday police and six protesters were Ramadan and this but lifted the restrictions several injured, have become a nightly politically charged hours later and allowed people occurrence throughout the to resume their normal A Palestinian protester is detained during clashes with Israeli police, as the holy fasting month of Muslim holy month of Ramadan time for all,” he added routines. Ramadan continues, in Jerusalem. and show no signs of stopping. Israel and Hamas are bitter Israeli Prime Minister Ben- charged time for all.” enemies that have fought three than a decade ago. The show of force came in civilian and police cars. jamin Netanyahu says he held Meanwhile, Israeli chief of wars and numerous skirmishes Palestinians have clashed response to videos circulated Palestinian medical officials talks with top security officials staff, Lieutenant General Aviv since Hamas seized control of with Israeli police on a nightly on TikTok showing Palestinians said six Palestinians were about Gaza and Jerusalem. He Kochavi, is weighing “a series of Gaza in 2007. basis since the start of the holy slapping religious Jews at injured, with two hospitalized. said he instructed officials to be steps for possible responses,” and Although neither side month of Ramadan nearly two random. Other videos made in Israeli police said four officers ready for ‘every scenario’ in preparations if the situation con- appears to have an interest in weeks ago. response to them appear to were hurt. Gaza. In Jerusalem, he said tinued to escalate, the military escalating tensions, Hamas sees The tensions began when show Jews assaulting Arabs. Early yesterday, Jordan Israel would guarantee said in a statement. He also post- itself as the defender of Jeru- police placed barricades outside After keeping them a few strongly condemned “the racist ‘freedom of worship’ for eve- poned a trip to the United States salem and may feel obligated the Old City’s Damascus Gate, hundred yards away from attacks on Palestinians.” ryone, and he appealed for that was scheduled for today. to act, or at least tacitly where Muslims traditionally Damascus Gate, police used Foreign Minister Ayman calm. “We ask now for people The US also appealed for encourage rocket attacks by gather to enjoy the evening after water cannon, stun grenades Safadi tweeted: “As the occu- to obey the law and I call for a calm, while neighbouring other groups, ahead of the daytime fast. and mounted police to push far- pying power under interna- calming of tempers on all sides.” Jordan, which serves as the cus- upcoming Palestinian parlia- The clashes intensified on right protesters back toward tional law, Israel is responsible The UN envoy to the region, todian for Jerusalem’s Muslim mentary elections. Hamas’ Thursday evening when hun- mostly Jewish west Jerusalem. for stopping these attacks & for Tor Wennesland, condemned holy sites, condemned Israel’s armed wing has warned Israel dreds of Palestinians hurled In all, police said 44 people the dangerous consequences of the violence and said the United actions. “not to test” its patience. stones and bottles at police, who were arrested and 20 officers were failing to do so.” Nations was working with all Jerusalem, home to holy At dawn, hundreds of fired a water cannon and stun injured. There were concerns the Jordan has had a peace sides to restore calm. sites sacred to Jews, Christians people in Gaza challenged grenades to disperse them. violence could reignite following agreement with Israel since 1994, “The provocative acts across and Muslims, has long been a nightly curfews imposed by Dozens of Palestinians were Friday noon prayers at Jerusalem’s but relations in recent years have Jerusalem must cease. The flashpoint in the Israeli-Pales- Hamas to curb the coronavirus wounded in the melee. Al Aqsa Mosque, but thousands of been chilly, in part because of indiscriminate launching of tinian conflict. In 2014, similar outbreak and took to the streets At the same time, a far-right worshippers dispersed peacefully recurring disputes over Israeli rockets towards Israeli popu- tensions erupted into a 50-day in an act of solidarity with Jewish group known as Lahava after Muslim religious leaders actions in Jerusalem. lation centres violates interna- war between Israel and Gaza’s fellow Palestinians in Jeru- led a march of hundreds of pro- called for restraint. The U.S. Embassy said it was tional law and must stop imme- ruling Hamas militant group. salem, burning tires. testers chanting “Arabs get out!” But in the evening the “deeply concerned” about the diately,” he said. “I reiterate my The Israeli military said a The Palestinians want east toward the Damascus Gate. The clashes resumed as dozens of violence in recent days. “We call upon all sides to exercise total of 36 rockets were fired Jerusalem to be the capital of group, led by a disciple of the Palestinians marched toward hope all responsible voices will maximum restraint and avoid into Israel throughout the night. their future state. Its fate has late racist rabbi Meir Kahane, an entrance to the walled Old promote an end to incitement, further escalation, particularly It said six rockets were inter- been one of the most divisive is allied with elements of a far- City of Jerusalem. Police said a return to calm, and respect for during the Holy month of cepted, while most of the others issues in the peace process, right party elected to Israel’s the protesters threw stones and the safety and dignity of eve- Ramadan and this politically landed in open areas. There which ground to a halt more parliament last month. fireworks and damaged both ryone in Jerusalem,” it said.

Turkey remembers diplomats killed by Iran slams EU sanctions, calls out human rights violations AL JAZEERA — TEHRAN Council of the EU. “terrorism”, illicit drugs, and The letter says a number of services to Iranian passenger Armenian It comes in response to a refugees. It also traced “political EU member states have planes because of US sanctions. In a strongly worded letter to move on April 12 by the EU to intentions” behind the move imposed “intentional damage The human rights council also terrorist groups the Council of the European sanction eight military com- and said is considering recip- on the health and wellbeing of condemns the fact that Iranian Union, Iran formally protested manders and police chiefs, in rocal sanctions. the Iranian people, particularly migrants and students have faced ANADOLU — ANKARA against the blacklisting of addition to three prisons, for In its letter, the Iranian children, women, the elderly, difficulties in opening bank several individuals and entities their role in a deadly crackdown human rights council condemns and persons with disability”. accounts in European countries, Turkey yesterday commemo- and what it says are European of public protests in November the EU for its policies that it says For instance, it lists the and says several Iranian citizens rated martyred diplomats who double standards on human 2019 that Amnesty International are “enforcing the illegal and names of more than a dozen are held in European prisons on were assassinated by rights in Iran. said led to at least 304 deaths. oppressive sanctions” unilat- children who died because of a “arbitrary” charges and have been Armenian terror organisations The letter was written by the The EU has now blacklisted erally imposed by the United lack of access to vital medicine mistreated in prison. since the 1970s. High Council of Human Rights of 89 individuals and four entities States after it withdrew from to treat epidermolysis bullosa Moreover, it says the EU “Lies do not only distort Iran – an entity under the coun- as part of its decade-long Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with (EB), a rare medical condition should have unequivocally con- history, but they also take try’s Supreme National Security human rights sanctions regime world powers in May 2018. that results in blistering of the demned the January 2020 innocent lives,” said the Council currently headed by judi- against those who it says are The sanctions, which inten- skin and mucous membranes. assassination of Iran’s top Turkish Foreign Ministry said ciary chief Ebrahim Raisi and violating human rights in Iran. sified only after the COVID-19 It also describes how several general Qassem Soleimani by on Twitter, adding, “We have comprised of several ministers – In response, Iran’s foreign pandemic began in early 2020, European countries refused to the United States as a “clear not forgotten our colleagues and handed to Portugal’s ambas- ministry said it will immediately have hampered imports of food work or deal with Iranian firms example of state terrorism” that who were martyred by the sador to Tehran Carlos Costa suspend talks with the EU on and medicine, in addition to cre- on medicine, medical equipment, Iran believes was assisted by Armenian terror, we will never Neves as the country currently human rights and all resulting ating money transfer issues in and vaccines, and says several elements within the German forget.” holds the presidency of the cooperation, including that on buying coronavirus vaccines. airports have failed to provide government. The ministry also said, “Let them sleep well. We will not bow to any lies or pressure.” Turkey's CHP Commemorating the martyred Damascus gets Chinese gift of 150,000 vaccines diplomats and all Turkish urges lawmakers martyrs, Deputy Foreign Min- AP — DAMASCUS ister Yavuz Selim Kiran said to erase laws on Twitter, “Those making The Syrian government political distortions against received the first batch of banning coups historical facts on 1915 events Chinese COVID-19 vaccines can neither make people yesterday, a gift of 150,000 jabs ANADOLU — ANKARA accept the so-called genocide to Damascus, Syrian and slanders nor make us forget Chinese officials said. Turkey’s main opposition the ASALA terror.” The Chinese vaccines leader on Friday called for He also shared a video arrived in Damascus airport erasing military and coup laws about the diplomats adding, where they were received by from the country’s legal system. “We did not and will not Syria’s Health Minister Hassan “We want our legal system to forget.” Ibrahim Kalin, presi- Ghabbash and China’s ambas- be cleared of military and civilian dential spokesman, also com- sador to Damascus. coup laws. This is the main duty memorated the martyred dip- The Chinese batch comes a that our Ghazi parliament should lomats saying, “We know who few days after more than do,” Republican People’s Party backed this atrocity by hiding 200,000 jabs were delivered (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu behind the genocide lie.” to Syria through the United told lawmakers. He stressed that Turkey Nations-led platform which We want our citizens would continue to use the lan- provides vaccines to the needy. regardless of their opinions, guage of truth against those The new jabs are likely to beliefs, and identities to live in who distort historical facts and speed up the inoculation cam- peace in our paradise country, he share an image with the paign in the war-torn country said while addressing parliament Syria’s Health Minister Hassan Ghabash greets Chinese Ambassador to Syria, Feng Biao, after a batch Turkish flag and names of where a battered health sector who held a special sitting on the of China’s Sinopharm vaccines arrived as a donation, at the airport in Damascus, Syria, yesterday. martyred diplomats. has been overwhelmed by the 101st anniversary of the first According to data, a total of pandemic, and where infections session of the Grand National 77 people — 58 of them Turkish have been on the rise. Wednesday and Thursday. They medical and technical expertise Ambassador Feng Biao. Assembly, which coincides with citizens, including 31 diplomats Syria was the last country were part of the UN-led cam- and now with the Chinese A small batch of vaccines, National Sovereignty and Chil- and members of their family — in the Middle East and North paign aiming to vaccinate 20 vaccine Sinopharm. whose source was unknown, dren’s Day “This parliament lost their lives in attacks carried Africa to receive the UN-sup- percent of the country’s popu- “We appreciate this support arrived in Damascus in February should never forget that it has a out by Armenian terror ported jabs, the first batch lation before the end of the that will enable the health min- and was used to vaccinate health duty to crown our republic with organizations. arriving this week. year. Frontline workers, the istry to fight the spread of this care workers mostly who operate democracy,” he said. The vast majority of the UN officials say the quan- elderly and those with chronic pandemic and to limit its health, in government-controlled areas. Ruling Justice and Devel- attacks were conducted by the tities are limited and have diseases were priority. social and economic impacts spe- The United Arab Emirates has opment (AK) Party’s parlia- Armenian Secret Army for the appealed for more funding and The Syrian government has cially in those difficult times that also donated an undetermined mentary group chair Naci Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) vaccines to help stem the registered nearly 22,000 Syria is going through,” Ghabbash batch of vaccines to the Syrian Bostanci called for taking pos- and the Justice Commandos of spread of the virus in the infection cases, including over said at a press conference. government last week. session of democracy. “I whole- the Armenian Genocide (JCAG). country reeling from years of 1,500 deaths in areas under its It is not clear how the Chinese In war-torn Syria, the gov- heartedly believe that the ASALA, founded in 1975, conflict and growing economic control. vaccines will be distributed. A ernment controls about two- Turkish parliament will serve was the first Armenian ter- hardships. Ghabbash said China has second batch of 150,000 Chinese thirds of the territory, with the as the place of the nation’s will rorist organization to wage The UN-provided Astra- been supporting Syria in the vaccines are expected to arrive rest held by opposition fighters for many centuries,” Bostanci war against Turkey. Zeneca vaccines arrived on face of the pandemic, first with soon in Syria, said Chinese and Kurdish factions. told lawmakers. SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 07 Sudan plans legal action if Ethiopia dam filled sans deal AL JAZEERA — KHARTOUM If Ethiopia goes ahead with the filling, Sudan highlight that the “environ- them until Friday to attend. Ethiopia had rejected the mental and social impact as Meanwhile, Abbas said that proposal. A Sudanese minister has “would file lawsuits against the Italian well as the dangers of the dam” while previous negotiations Ethiopian Water Minister warned that his country could company constructing the dam and the have not been taken into ade- between the three countries had Seleshi Bekele told Reuters take legal action against quate consideration. yielded agreement over 90 news agency that Addis Ababa Ethiopia if the latter goes ahead Ethiopian government”, Sudan’s Irrigation “Given that the environ- percent of outstanding issues, did not believe negotiations with plans to fill a mega-dam Minister Yasser Abbas warned, adding that it mental and social impacts and that progress was now in doubt. between the three countries on the Blue Nile without first would highlight that the “environmental, social accompanying risks of the “The AU did not perform its were finished or had failed, and reaching a deal with Khartoum GERD have not been studied, leadership role,” Abbas wrote added that the appropriate next and Cairo. impact and dangers of the dam” have not been various options are being con- on Twitter. “They were only step would be for the heads of In a series of Twitter posts taken into adequate consideration. sidered, including The Interna- observers, and we see that there states to meet under the aus- on Friday, Sudan’s Irrigation tional Court of Justice, The was no serious methodology for pices of the AU. Minister Yasser Abbas also said Human Rights Commissions reaching an agreement,” he Tension over the dam Ethiopia had “objected” to an The Ethiopian government upcoming rainy season, a move and the COMESA Court.” said, adding that nine months comes as Sudan’s relations with invitation for a three-way says GERD is crucial for eco- Sudan and Egypt rejected There was no immediate “have been wasted in futile Egypt warm while its relations summit to discuss stalled nego- nomic development and power before a binding legal reaction by the Ethiopian negotiations, and we will not with Ethiopia have been hit by tiations over the Grand Ethi- generation, but Egypt fears it agreement was reached. government. accept waste any more time.” a dispute over the use of the al- opian Renaissance Dam (GERD). will imperil its water supply. If Ethiopia goes ahead with Talks in Kinshasa overseen Sudan and Egypt had pro- Fashaga farmland near their Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan and Sudan is also concerned about the filling, Sudan “would file by the African Union (AU) col- posed including the European common border. Ethiopia have been locked in the effect on its own water lawsuits against the Italian lapsed earlier this month, after Union, the United States and the In March, Sudan said it has inconclusive talks for nearly a flows. company constructing the dam which Sudanese Prime Minister United Nations as mediators in accepted an offer by the United decade over the filling and Ethiopia has said it planned and the Ethiopian government”, Abdalla Hamdok invited the the dispute in addition to the Arab Emirates to mediate with operation of the massive dam, to complete the second phase Abbas warned. leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt continuing AU facilitation of the Ethiopia over GERD and the which broke ground in 2011. of filling the dam during the He said the lawsuits would to Khartoum. He had given talks. Both countries said contested border region. Libya affirms Researchers hail respect to ‘valid’ possible malaria international vaccine breakthrough deals ANADOLU — RIPOLI AL JAZEERA — JOHANNESBURG require freezing, making it easier to distribute to remote The Libyan Foreign Ministry A potential new malaria areas. yesterday reiterated respect to vaccine has proved highly Scientists around the world the country’s valid interna- effective in a trial in babies in have been working for decades tional agreements with other Africa, pointing to it one day to develop a vaccine to prevent countries, in reference to possibly helping reduce the malaria – a complex infection Tripoli’s security and maritime death toll from the mosquito- caused by a parasite carried in demarcation deals with borne disease that kills up to the saliva of mosquitoes. Ankara. half a million young children a Malaria infects millions of On Friday, Italian news year. people every year and kills agency, AKI, attributed state- The candidate vaccine, more than 400,000 – most of ments to Libyan Foreign Min- developed by scientists at Brit- them babies and young ister Najla al-Mangoush in ain’s University of Oxford and children in the poorest parts of which she demanded that all called R21/Matrix-M, showed Africa. foreign forces be withdrawn up to 77 percent efficacy in the The world’s first and only from Libya. year-long trial of 450 children licensed malaria vaccine, Mos- “We have called on everyone, in Burkina Faso, researchers quirix, was developed by Glax- Nigerians break day-long fast including Turkey, to cooperate leading the trial said in a oSmithKline over many years on removing all foreign forces statement. of clinical trials across several A man rises from prayer after Muslims break their fast at Al Habbiyah Mosque in the Guzape District from Libyan soil,” Al Mangoush The scientists, led by Adrian African countries, but is only of Abuja, Nigeria. was quoted as saying. Hill, director of Oxford’s Jenner partially effective at around 30 A ministry statement Institute and also one of the percent. affirmed respect to interna- lead researchers behind the In the R21/Matrix-M trial in tional deals signed between Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Burkina Faso, the 450 young Turkey reports over 49,400 new virus cases Libya and other countries. vaccine, said they now plan to children were divided into “The [Libyan] Foreign Min- conduct final stage trials in three groups. ANADOLU — ANKARA More than 45.3 million number of inpatients. However, istry works in accordance with some 4,800 children aged Two groups got three doses coronavirus tests have been the intensive care burden con- the law and what requires to between five months and three of the experimental vaccine Turkey on Friday reported over conducted in Turkey thus far, tinues, he noted. honor the valid international years in four African along with either a low or a 49,400 new coronavirus cases, with 302,091 done since On January 14, Turkey deals,” the statement said. countries. high dose of an adjuvant – an according to Health Ministry Thursday. The latest figures began a mass COVID-19 vacci- The ministry said that al- “It is more effective than ingredient designed to super- data. A total of 49,438 cases, showed that the number of nation campaign, starting with Mangoush’s comments cited anything that has been charge the body’s response to including 3,089 symptomatic COVID-19 patients in critical healthcare workers along with by some media outlets were reported on before. The a vaccine – while the third patients, were confirmed across condition rose to 3,475. top officials to encourage public “misstated and not precise”. World Health Organization group was given a control the country, the data showed. Turkey’s Health Minister confidence in the vaccines. On Friday, Khalid Al Mishri, wanted a 75 percent effective vaccine. Turkey’s overall case tally Fahrettin Koca said that the According to the official the chairman of the Libyan High vaccine. This is the first time Results, which is over 4.55 million, while the pandemic process was eval- figures, Turkey has so far Council of State, stressed his anyone has gone above that researchers said would soon nationwide death toll reached uated with the Provincial Health administered over 20.9 million country’s honoring agreements level. Really importantly, it be published in The Lancet 37,672, with 343 more fatalities Directors of Istanbul on Friday. coronavirus vaccine jabs across signed with Turkey and all deals can be manufactured at a medical journal, showed over the past day. “There was an approxi- the country. More than 13 signed with other countries. large scale. So far, the vaccine efficacy of 77 percent in the As many as 60,176 more mately 20% decrease in the million people to date have On April 10, while looks safe,” Hill told Al high-dose adjuvant group patients in the country won the number of cases in Istanbul,” received their first doses of vac- receiving credentials of the Jazeera. and 74 percent among those battle against the virus, bringing he said, adding that there is also cines against the virus, while new Turkish envoy to Tripoli, Hill said the vaccine can be who got the vaccine with a the total number of recoveries a decrease in the number of second vaccine doses were Kenan Yilmaz, the head of kept refrigerated and does not low dose of adjuvant. approaching 3.9 million. outpatient clinics and the given to more than 7.9 million. Libya’s Presidential Council Mohamed Al Menfi said his country will maintain mutual interests with Turkey. Chadian rebels vow to resume advance after Deby’s funeral The Turkish government and the then-Libyan interna- REUTERS — N’DJAMENA Deby’s son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, military transition, calling it a links to jihadists, said warplanes trucks at main intersections. tionally recognized government seized power after his death, “monarchy”, and urged a return bombed their command centre on Despite the semblance of signed a security cooperation Rebels in northern Chad were saying it intends to oversee an to democracy. “We are pre- Wednesday, and that France sup- calm, opposition leaders, labour deal along with a maritime preparing to advance on the 18-month transition to elections. paring to advance... We don’t ported the raid with aerial surveil- unions and civil society organ- demarcation agreement on capital N’Djamena, a The rebels, known as the accept any military gov- lance. The French army denied that. isations have denounced the November 27, 2019. spokesman said on Saturday, Front for Change and Concord ernment,” spokesman Kingabe At the funeral on Friday, military takeover, while an On March 15, Libya’s new following the funeral of Pres- in Chad (FACT), came over the Ogouzeimi de Tapol said, French President Emmanuel army general said this week unity government headed by ident Idriss Deby who died on border from northern without giving more details. Macron, who sat next to Deby’s that many officers are opposed Prime Minister Abdul Hamid the battlefield. neighbour Libya on April 11 in Battle-hardened from years son, pledged to defend Chad. He to the transition plan. Dbeibeh was sworn in by the Deby’s death on Monday, their thousands, according to of fighting for Libyan military also called for a transition to Succes Masra, a 38-year old Libyan Parliament. just after he won an election to analysts’ estimates. Last week, commander Khalifa Haftar, the democracy. opposition leader banned from Libyans hope the gov- extend his 30-year rule, they reached as close as 200- rebels could face stiff resistance In N’Djamena on Saturday, the April presidential election, ernment will end years of civil shocked the Central African 300km from the capital, before near N’Djamena, a base for streets were busy and markets on Friday called for a civilian war that have engulfed the country which has long been a a pushback from the army and roughly 5,100 French troops were open. Military presence was interim president with a vice country since the ouster and Western ally against militants. pause to respect Deby’s funeral. fighting jihadists in the region. limited to some soldiers with president named by the killing of strongman Muammar A military council headed by FACT have rejected the FACT, which does not have rifles lying in the shade of pickup military. Al Gaddafi in 2011. Lebanon farmers union calls on Saudi to repeal produce ban AP — BEIRUT Captagon, hidden in a shipment leaving the small Mediter- of pomegranate coming from ranean country. Lebanon’s farmers union Lebanon. The official Saudi But in a statement yes- described as “arbitrary and Press Agency said four Saudis terday, Lebanon’s Farmers unjust” the decision by Saudi and one displaced it did not Union called on the kingdom to Arabia to ban Lebanese identify were arrested. repeal its decision. It said the produce from going through the Yesterday, Lebanon’s Pres- mistake of one person or a kingdom over drug smuggling ident Michel Aoun called for a criminal gang should not be the allegations, calling on Saturday meeting next week with reason to punish the entire Leb- for it be repealed. Cabinet members, security offi- anese people. The ban, ordered by the cials, farmers and exporters to Agricultural exports are a kingdom’s Interior Ministry and discuss the Saudi decision and major foreign currency earner due to take effect Sunday, is a its implications. for Lebanon. Arab countries are major blow to the Lebanese Lebanon’s Foreign Min- Lebanon’s main export markets economy, already reeling from istry on Friday said smuggling for agricultural products, an unprecedented economic of drugs is harmful to the accounting for nearly 80 Egyptians perform Tamoura crisis. country’s reputation and percent of over $190m of total It came after Saudi Arabia economy. It called on Leb- exports in 2019, where Saudi Egyptian dancers perform the Tanoura dance during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Cairo, announced Friday it has seized anese customs duty author- Arabia had more than 20 Egypt, on Friday. over five million pills of an ities to increase checks and percent of the share, followed amphetamine drug known as inspections of shipments by Qatar. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 Qatar calls for reducing tensions and Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN ending crises in the Middle East DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI QNA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The State of Qatar called for DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI work to reduce tensions and [email protected] end crises in the Middle East, in light of the crises and chal- lenges the region is ACTING MANAGING EDITOR witnessing, including the MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED effects of the Coronavirus [email protected] pandemic, stressing the need for fruitful cooperation and the consolidation of the prin- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR ciples of good neighborliness MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI and mutual respect. [email protected] The State of Qatar’s statement was during the UN Security Council Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian EDITORIAL question, read by Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations H E Ambas- End unrest in Middle East sador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani. Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United THE ongoing tension in the occupied Palestinian ter- The statement stressed the Nations, attending UN Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East. ritories seems to develop further unrest as the Israeli State of Qatar’s support of all police stepped up security measures against the Pal- international efforts aiming to H H Sheikh Tamim provide support in cooper- The statement of the State estinians in different parts of the West Bank and Gaza, make a real progress in set- ation with the Special Envoy of Qatar also expressed hope particularly around the old city and Palestinian tling the Middle-East’s per- bin Hamad Al Thani, of the UN Secretary-General that the new government neighbourhoods. manent issue, noting that this has allocated to the and the continuous inter- would pave the way for a The tension has been higher than usual during the calls for continued attention action with the Syrian parties, comprehensive political holy month of Ramadan where hundreds of Palestinians from the UN Security Council Gaza Strip worth $360 as well as to support the vol- solution that preserves the have been injured during night clashes. and the solidarity of the inter- million to pay the untary return of Syrian unity of the Libyan territories, Tensions and skirmishes are being fuelled by Israeli national community with the refugees. respects the rights of the Jewish far-right groups provocatively marching in Pal- Palestinian people until they salaries of employees, In the context of Qatar’s Libyan people, and estab- estinian neighbourhoods and attacking Muslim wor- obtain their full rights, end provide financial aid continued constructive efforts lishes a state of law and civil shippers at Al Aqsa Mosque compound and harassing their suffering, and create with international partners, institutions, stressing the need Palestinians and chanting “death to Arabs”. Such rhetoric favorable conditions for the to needy families, the statement referred to the for all Libyan parties to of extremist chanting, hateful and violent slogans backed peace process. and operate power joint ministerial statement of adhere to the set election date with dozens of armed police, including officers on The statement added that stations, to reduce the first consultative meeting and work to achieve a com- horseback, are deliberate acts of aggression targeting reaching a fair, comprehensive, of the State of Qatar, the prehensive reconciliation. The the Palestinians during this blessed month of Ramadan. and permanent settlement of the worsening of the Republic of Turkey, and the State of Qatar also praised the The State of Qatar called, in a statement delivered the Palestinian issue serves the humanitarian situation Russian Federation on March efforts of the UN mission and during UN Security Council Open Debate on the situ- interests of Palestinians and 11 in Doha. the role it plays in enhancing ation in the Middle East for joint works to reduce ten- Israelis together, in addition to and the difficult living The statement also said stability and ending the crisis sions and end crises in the Middle East, for a fair, com- helping enhance the region’s conditions in the Strip. that there was a need for in Libya. prehensive, and permanent settlement of the Pales- stability. The statement said measures to build confidence The statement of the State tinian issue. The statement was presented by H E that the foundations for peace That is in addition to and protect human rights, of Qatar stressed the impor- Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Rep- were well known to all, repre- $1.5 billion of Qatari especially the issues related to tance of reducing tensions resentative of Qatar to the United Nations. In the sented in the commitment to a aid to meet emergency detainees, with the statement and ending crises in the statement, Qatar reiterated support of all international two-state solution based on stressing the importance of Middle East, in light of chal- efforts aiming to make a real progress in settling the international law and UN reso- and developmental the continuing to facilitate the lenges the region is wit- Middle-East’s permanent issue. lutions to establish a Pales- needs, and develop the unimpeded access of aid to nessing, including the effects In the statement, she stressed the need for con- tinian state on the borders of those in need throughout of the Coronavirus pandemic, tinued attention from the UN Security Council and the 1967 with East Al Quds as its infrastructure over the Syria, including across stressing the need for fruitful solidarity of the international community with the Pal- capital, where it can live peace- past eight years. borders through the UN cooperation and the consoli- estinian people until they obtain their full rights, there fully side-by-side with Israel, mechanism. dation of the principles of is an end to their sufferings, and creation of favourable ending the occupation of all With regards to providing good neighbourliness and conditions for the peace process. Arab land, and reaching a just humanitarian support, the mutual respect. The solution cannot be reached without commitment resolution to the issue of statement indicated the State The statement also said to a two-state solution based on international law and refugees. of Qatar’s commitment to its that the State of Qatar, due to UN resolutions to establish a Palestinian state on the The statement noted that responsibility in providing aid its commitment to resolving borders of 1967 with East Al Quds as its capital. the continued expansion of noting that the State of Qatar to the Syrian people, with aid crises peacefully and The State of Qatar believes that reaching a fair, com- settlements in the occupied welcomes the United States exceeding $2 billion, in adhering to international law, prehensive, and permanent settlement of the Pales- Palestinian territories, decision to resume providing addition to the recent pledge will continue to work on ways tinian issue serves the interests of Palestinians and including East Al Quds, support to the Palestinians, of $100 million at last month’s to enhance security and sta- Israelis together and helps in enhancing the peace and attempts to annex lands, the saying it would alleviate their donors conference. bility in the region through stability in the region. Qatar is also committed to its demolition and displacement suffering and support efforts The statement noted the constructive dialogue that duty toward the brotherly Palestinian people besieged of Palestinian buildings and aimed at confronting the commitment of the State of benefits all the region’s coun- in the Gaza Strip, for which it has allocated hundreds other illegal practices pandemic. Qatar to supporting the tries and peoples. of millions of dollars to pay the salaries of employees, undermine the two-state The statement highlighted impartial and independent provide financial aid to the needy families, and operate solution. The statement also that the State of Qatar is con- international mechanism The statement of the power stations to reduce sufferings of the people. warned that the policies of sidered one of the major based on its legal and moral State of Qatar stressed As a major donor to UNRWA, Qatar’s donations Judaization in the city of Al donors to UNRWA, in line responsibility towards justice have reached $1.5bn of aid to meet emergency and Quds and attempts to harm with its duty to stand with the and accountability for war the importance of developmental needs, and develop the infrastructure religious sanctities, and the brotherly Palestinian people crimes and crimes against reducing tensions over the past eight years. use of excessive violence besieged in the Gaza Strip, humanity, which contributes against Palestinian civilians referring to the grant that H H to the sustainability of peace, and ending crises in by Israeli forces does not help Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al adding that the atrocities the Middle East, in build the confidence needed Thani, has allocated to the committed in Syria are one of to advance the peace process. Gaza Strip worth $360 million the best-documented, light of challenges the D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR The statement of the State to pay the salaries of including the use of banned region is witnessing, of Qatar also highlighted the employees, provide financial chemical weapons against EMAIL: [email protected] including the effects importance of the Palestinian aid to needy families, and civilians. The statement said elections, stressing that the operate power stations, to that these atrocities were of the Coronavirus EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 reduce the worsening of the documented by many inter- FAX: +974 4455 7758 importance of the elections pandemic, stressing success and the full partici- humanitarian situation and national reports, the latest of MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 pation of Palestinians in all the difficult living conditions which was the report of the the need for fruitful the occupied Palestinian in the Strip. That is in addition Investigation and Identifi- cooperation and the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 territories. to $1.5 billion of Qatari aid to cation Team on the Saraqib The statement stressed the meet emergency and devel- incident, issued last week. consolidation of the LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 need at this stage for the opmental needs, and develop Regarding the crisis in principles of good BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 recovery of the Palestinian the infrastructure over the Libya, the statement neighbourliness and economy, especially in light of past eight years. expressed the State of Qatar’s SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 the negative effects of the On the Syrian crisis, the welcoming of the positive mutual respect. The Coronavirus pandemic, Statement said that the State developments that the statement also said ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 calling on the international of Qatar believes that military country has witnessed during email: [email protected] community to support solutions will not work, and the past months, leading to that the State of Qatar, the election of representatives PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 through the ad hoc contact stressed that the resolution due to its commitment email: [email protected] committee in which the State can only come through a of the Interim executive of Qatar participates in. political process facilitated by authority and the attainment to resolving MARKETING: TEL: 4455 7657 In that context, the the UN in line with the of the confidence of the crises peacefully email: [email protected] statement stressed the critical Geneva statement of 2012 and interim government of importance of continuing to the implementation of UN national unity in the house of and adhering to ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 857 provide the necessary inter- Security Council resolution representatives, affirming the FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] international law. national funding to ensure the 2254, to maintain the sover- State of Qatar’s full support CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 continuity of the indispen- eignty and unity of Syria, reit- for the new government in email: [email protected] sable services of the United erating the important role of order to achieve the aspira- Nations Relief and Works the constitutional committee. tions of the Libyan people for SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 Agency for Palestine Refugees The statement expressed the development, stability and FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected] in the Near East (UNRWA), State of Qatar’s readiness to prosperity.

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar No country that managed to break the third wave of the pandemic and then loosen /Peninsula_Qatar restrictions again did so without tough /ThePeninsulaNewspaper measures such as nighttime curfews. German Chancellor +974 6698 6188 Angela Merkel, SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 ASIA 09 Indian hospitals turn away patients in COVID-19 ‘tsunami’ REUTERS — NEW DELHI every four minutes in Delhi as waited for medical attention. anywhere in the world on adhering to masks and physical the capital’s underfunded health One man identified as Amit Thursday, making it the global distancing might have played a Overwhelmed hospitals in India system buckles. The number of cases who was grieving for his brother epicentre of a pandemic that is role, it seems increasingly likely begged for oxygen supplies The government has across the country rose at Delhi’s Jaipur Golden hospital waning in many other that this second wave has been yesterday as the country’s coro- deployed military planes and overnight by 346,786. said he had seen families countries. fuelled by a much more virulent navirus infections soared again trains to get oxygen to Delhi COVID-19 deaths rose by running around with oxygen The federal government had strain,” wrote Vikram Patel, overnight in a “tsunami” of from the far corners of the 2,624 over the past 24 cylinders trying to get them declared it had beaten back the Professor of Global Health at disease, setting a new world country and overseas including refilled. coronavirus in February. Harvard Medical School, in the record for cases for the third Singapore. The number of cases hours, the highest daily “You can’t leave me in the Health experts said India Indian Express. consecutive day. across the country of around 1.3 rate for the country so far. lurch,” a lawyer appearing for became complacent in the Experts say the only way Max Healthcare, which runs billion rose overnight by the Jaipur Golden hospital told winter, when new cases were India can turn the tide is to a network of hospitals in north 346,786, the Health Ministry the high court on Saturday, running at about 10,000 a day ramp up vaccinations and India, tweeted that it had less said, for a total of 16.6 million federal governments to make seeking its intervention. and seemed to be under control. impose strict lockdowns in the than two hours of oxygen left cases, including 189,544 deaths. emergency arrangements for The court asked the gov- Authorities lifted restrictions, so-called red zones of high while Fortis Healthcare, another COVID-19 deaths rose by medical supplies, mainly ernment to ensure supplies, as allowing for the resumption of infection. It has opened up the big chain, said it was sus- 2,624 over the past 24 hours, the oxygen. well to make security arrange- big gatherings. immunisation programme to all pending new admissions in highest daily rate for the “It’s a tsunami. How are we ments for medical centres amid Others said that it could also adults but faces a shortage. Delhi. “We are running on country so far. Crematoriums trying to build capacity?” the people’s desperation. be a more dangerous variant of India is currently using the backup, waiting for supplies across Delhi said they were full Delhi high court asked the state “We know how people the virus coursing through AstraZeneca shot and home- since morning,” Fortis said. up and asked grieving families and federal governments in react, let’s not have a law and India. It is the world’s second grown Covaxin. It has also India is in the grip of a ram- to wait. response to this plea. order situation,” the court said most populous country and approved Russia’s Sputnik V paging second wave of the pan- Hospitals in Delhi have gone Television showed families in its direction to the authorities. people live in close proximity, and has urged Pfizer Moderna demic, hitting a rate of one to the city’s high court this week tending to the sick in hospital India surpassed the US record often six to a room. and Johnson and Johnson to COVID-19 death in just under seeking it to order the state and corridors and streets as they of 297,430 single-day infections “While complacency in provide it with vaccines. SE Asian nations say Sri Lanka arrests top Muslim consensus reached on leader over 2019 ending Myanmar crisis Easter attacks AP — COLOMBO, SRI LANKA REUTERS — JAKARTA disobedience movement erupted to challenge his Feb- Sri Lankan police yesterday Southeast Asian leaders said ruary 1 coup. They had also arrested a prominent Muslim they had agreed on a plan with wanted the release of political lawmaker and his brother over Myanmar’s junta chief prisoners. suspected connections to the yesterday to end the crisis in the “He did not reject what was Easter Sunday suicide violence-hit nation, but he did put forward by me and many bombings in 2019 that killed not explicitly respond to other colleagues,” Muhyiddin 269 people. demands to halt the killing of said. According to a statement Rishad Bathiudeen is a civilian protesters. from group chair Brunei, a con- former Cabinet minister who “It’s beyond our expec- sensus was reached on five currently leads an opposition tation,” Malaysian Prime Min- points — ending violence, a party in Sri Lanka’s Par- General view of the leaders’ meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) secretariat ister Muhyiddin Yassin told constructive dialogue among all liament. He and his brother, building in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. reporters after the leaders’ parties, a special Asean envoy Reyaj Bathiudeen, were meeting of the Association of to facilitate the dialogue, arrested in the capital for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) acceptance of aid and a visit by you will cease violence and and the process that will be country that neighbours China, allegedly “aiding and abetting that was also attended by the envoy to Myanmar. There release political prisoners, it is implemented in the future”. India and Thailand, since the the suicide bombers who com- Myanmar’s Senior General Min was no mention of releasing another thing to get it done”. Charles Santiago, head of coup that overthrew Aung San mitted the Easter Sunday Aung Hlaing. political prisoners in the It was not clear why Lee the Asean Parliamentarians for Suu Kyi’s elected government. carnage,” said police “We tried not to accuse his statement. referred to the release of Human Rights group, called for Myanmar is part of the spokesman Ajith Rohana. He side too much because we don’t “He said he (Min Aung political prisoners when this the release of Myanmar’s 10-nation Asean, which has a said the brothers have not yet care who’s causing it,” Muhy- Hlaing) heard us, he would take was not in the consensus political prisoners and a policy of consensus decision- been officially charged but iddin added. “We just stressed the point in, which he con- statement. timeline for an end to making and non-interference were arrested based on direct that the violence must stop. For sidered helpful,” Singapore There was no immediate violence. in the affairs of its members. evidence, as well as what he him, it’s the other side that’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong comment from Min Aung “Asean must now act swiftly Myanmar’s parallel National called circumstantial and “sci- causing the problems. But he told reporters. Hlaing. A regular nighttime and set a clear timeline for Min Unity Government (NUG), com- entific” evidence. agreed that violence must stop.” “He was not opposed to news bulletin on the military- Aung Hlaing to deliver on prised of pro-democracy Two local Muslim groups Asean leaders wanted a com- Asean playing a constructive run Myawaddy TV reported his ending the violence, or stand figures, remnants of Suu Kyi’s that had pledged allegiance to mitment from Min Aung Hlaing role, or an Asean delegation attendance of the meeting and ready to hold him accountable,” ousted administration and rep- the Islamic State group have to restrain his security forces, visit, or humanitarian said Myanmar would closely he said. The Asean gathering resentatives of armed ethnic been blamed for the six near- who an activist monitoring assistance.” But Lee added the cooperate with Asean on was the first coordinated inter- groups, said it welcomed the simultaneous blasts at two group says have killed 745 process had a long way to go, various issues, including “the national effort to ease the crisis consensus reached but the junta Roman Catholic churches, a people since a mass civil “because it is one thing to say political transition in Myanmar, in Myanmar, an impoverished had to be held to its promises. Protestant church and three tourist hotels. Both Muslims and Catholics are minorities Malaysia receives Indonesia navy declares lost sub with 53 aboard sunk in Sri Lanka, where Buddhists first batch of make up 70% of the AP — BANYUWANGI, INDONESIA population. when it went down from 300 to resurface. Margono said that hunt, officials said earlier Before his arrest yesterday, AstraZeneca meters to 400 meters to 500 in the past two days, searchers Saturday. Bathiudeen wrote on Indonesia’s navy yesterday meters.... If there was an found parts of a torpedo Family members had held Facebook that police were vaccines: Report declared its missing submarine explosion, it would be heard straightener, a grease bottle out hopes for survivors but outside his house “since 1:30 had sunk and cracked open by the sonar.” believed to be used to oil the there were no sign of life from am today attempting to arrest REUTERS — KUALA LUMPUR after finding items from the The navy previously said it periscope, debris from prayer the vessel. Indonesian Pres- me without a charge.... They vessel over the past two days, believes the submarine sank rugs and a broken piece from ident Joko Widodo had ordered have already arrested my Malaysia received 268,800 apparently ending hope of to a depth of 600-700 meters a coolant pipe that was refitted all-out efforts to locate the brother. I have been in Par- doses of AstraZeneca finding any of the 53 crew (2,000-2,300 feet), much on the submarine in South submarine and asked Indone- liament, and have cooperated vaccines on Friday night, its members alive. deeper than its collapse depth Korea in 2012. sians to pray for the crew’s safe with all lawful authorities until first batch from the pharma- Military chief Hadi Tjah- of 200 meters (655 feet), at Margono said rescue teams return. now. This is unjust.” ceutical company, state janto said the presence of an which point water pressure from Indonesia and other The German-built diesel- Rushdhie Habeeb, a lawyer news agency reported oil slick as well as debris near would be greater than the hull countries will evaluate the powered KRI Nanggala 402 representing Bathiudeen, yesterday. the site where the submarine could withstand. findings. He said no bodies had been in service in Indo- called the arrests politically Health Minister Adham last dove Wednesday off the “With the authentic evi- have been found so far. nesia since 1981 and was car- motivated and said, “No Baba said the batch was island of Bali were clear proof dence we found believed to be An American reconnais- rying 49 crew members and reasons for the arrest had been purchased through the the KRI Nanggala 402 had from the submarine, we have sance plane, a P-8 Poseidon, three gunners as well as its given at the time of their arrest COVAX facility. sunk. now moved from the ‘sub miss’ landed early Saturday and had commander, the Indonesian by those who conducted the “The COVAX facility sent Indonesian officials earlier phase to ‘sub sunk,’” Margono been set to join the search, Defense Ministry said. midnight raid.” In his the vaccine from South considered the vessel to be said at the press conference, in along with 20 Indonesian Indonesia, the world’s statement, Habeeb said the Korea, and we will keep it only missing, but said the sub- which the found items were ships, a sonar-equipped Aus- largest archipelago nation with purpose was to “punish the at the designated storage marine’s oxygen supply would displayed. tralian warship and four Indo- more than 17,000 islands, has political leadership of the centre,” he told reporters, have run out early Saturday. The cause of the disap- nesian aircraft. faced growing challenges to its Muslims, which had nothing according to Bernama. Navy Chief Yudo Margono pearance was still uncertain. Singaporean rescue ships maritime claims in recent to do with 21/4, for the das- The country had initially told a press conference in Bali, The navy had previously said were also expected Saturday, years, including numerous tardly acts of some Muslim given conditional approval “If it’s an explosion, it will be an electrical failure could have while Malaysian rescue vessels incidents involving Chinese youths who were widely in March for the use of the in pieces. The cracks hap- left the submarine unable to were due to arrive Sunday, vessels near the Natuna alleged as having been used as vaccine made by the firm, pened gradually in some parts execute emergency procedures bolstering the underwater islands. pawns by foreign powers.” but placed it under review after the European Medi- cines Agency found that unusual blood clots with low Bangkok shuts parks, gyms after blood platelets was a rare side effect of the vaccine. Adham said the pro- record daily coronavirus infections curement was decided after approval by the National REUTERS — BANGKOK of face masks in public deaths. The country has Pharmaceutical Regulatory mandatory. managed to keep its caseload Agency. Thailand’s capital Bangkok has The new measures come far lower than many countries, “Our view is that the ordered the closure of public after the Thai Retailers Associ- but the new outbreak, spurred AstraZeneca vaccine is ben- venues and sports premises, ation restricted opening hours in part by the highly-transmis- eficial for use by certain city official said yesterday after for shopping malls to between sible B.1.1.7 variant, has groups...(we) need to have the country reported a record 11am and 8pm for a week from resulted in 24,000 infections more brands of vaccine as daily rise in coronavirus cases Sunday. and 35 infections in just 24 some people may be com- and deaths amid a third wave Restaurants in the malls will days. patible with this vaccine,” of infections. be allowed to stay open an hour “Government agencies and he said. The closures, effective from later, while convenience stores the private sector should allow An announcement would Monday until May 9, apply to will be permitted to operate staff to work from home as be made on Monday on the venues including public parks, from 5am to 10pm. much as possible because we first group of recipients. gyms, swimming pools, meeting Schools and massage par- don’t want to introduce more Malaysia has secured a halls, Internet shops, daycares lours were shut a week ago and strict measures,” said Taweesin total of 12.8 million doses Nepal earthquake anniversary centres, sports fields, museums will remain closed until next Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for from AstraZeneca, half of and libraries, said Pongsakorn month. the government coronavirus Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli (centre) waves which will come via the Kwanmuang, a Bangkok Met- Officials reported 2,839 taskforce. towards the media during the inauguration of Dharahara tower, global COVAX facility. ropolitan Administration new coronavirus cases and The taskforce said there are It was slated to receive on the occasion of the anniversary of the 2015 earthquake that spokesman. eight new deaths on Sat- currently enough hospital beds the first 600,000 doses in killed around 9,000 people, in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. Bangkok and 40 provinces urday, bringing Thailand’s in the country to deal with the June. have also ordered the wearing total to 53,022 cases and 129 outbreak. 10 ASIA / EUROPE SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 Pakistan records 157 deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours

ANADOLU — KARACHI The government and health The current number of officials has warned that if the Pakistan yesterday announced ongoing pace of infections con- the highest daily death toll from active cases across the tinues in coming days, the coronavirus this year as the country is around 86,500. country may face a situation authorities recorded 157 fatal- similar to India, where the ities over the past 24 hours. surging pandemic has battered The nationwide count Khyber Pakhtunkwa provinces, the already weak health system neared 17,000 with the fresh as the government on Friday of the world’s second-most fatalities. Only in April, the approved the deployment of populated country. South Asian country has army troops nationwide to According to the Pakistani recorded over 2,600 deaths reinforce measures against Health Ministry, in several dis- from COVID-19. coronavirus. trict hospitals, over 90% of ven- It is the second-highest Around 5,900 infections tilators and oxygen beds are daily total since the pandemic were reported in the last 24 already occupied, raising new hit the South Asian country in hours, pushing the total fears about the country’s poor March 2020. A total of 159 caseload to beyond 790,000. health system. So far, out of 210 people died from the infection The current number of million population, slightly over on June 20 last year. active cases across the country 1.3 million people, including Most deaths have been is around 86,500, whereas health professionals and people Explosion in Afghanistan reported from the northeastern some 686,500 patients have so aged above 50, have been Police officers inspect a damaged police vehicle after a blast in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. Punjab and northwestern far recovered. vaccinated. Parts of Western Australia in three-day virus lockdown S Korea to get REUTERS — MELBOURNE national government to quarantine system to prevent own expense. The hotel quar- first time in decades. Anzac Day additional 40 establish designated quarantine further outbreaks. antine system, together with originally commemorated a Western Australia state facilities after the latest leakage "There are still holes that snap lockdowns and swift bloody battle on the Gallipoli million Pfizer recorded one new locally of the virus from hotel can be plugged," Omar tracking limiting coronavirus peninsula in Turkey during acquired coronavirus case yes- quarantine. Khorshid, AMA's president told has helped Australia to keep its World War One. On April 25, vaccine doses terday, as more than 2 million "I have been calling for the the ABC national broadcaster. COVID-19 numbers low com- 1915, thousands of troops from people in the state began a commonwealth's assistance There have been several pared with other developed the Australian and New Zealand REUTERS — SEOUL three-day snap lockdown after with quarantine for many virus leaks from hotel quar- countries, with just over 29,500 Army Corps (ANZAC) were a COVID-19 outbreak in a hotel months now," McGowan said. antine in recent months in cases and 910 deaths. among a larger Allied force that South Korea said yesterday it quarantine led to community McGowan said that while Western Australia and other In Western Australia's third landed on the narrow beaches signed a contract with Pfizer transmission. the hotel quarantine system has states, leading to short lock- lockdown, people in the state of the Gallipoli peninsula, an ill- Inc to purchase an additional The lockdown was ordered largely worked, with tens of downs or stricter social dis- capital Perth and neighbouring fated campaign that would 40 million doses of its after a returning traveller who thousands of travellers passing tancing orders. Peel region have been asked to claim more than 130,000 lives. COVID-19 vaccine amid fears tested negative on release from through it, the national gov- However, there hasn't been stay home except for essential Today, Anzac Day honours of spiking infections at home. a Perth quarantine hotel later ernment must find new facil- a major community outbreak work, and medical and all Australian troops from all That brings the current tested positive for COVID-19, ities outside crowded for months, allowing Aus- shopping purposes. conflicts. amount of Pfizer vaccines to with authorities suspecting he downtown locations. tralians to travel freely across Ceremonies to honour Aus- Australia's topflight 66 million doses, it said in a became infected while in the "(Downtown) hotels are not the country, dine out, gather tralia's military personnel on A-League soccer match statement. hotel. fit for purpose quarantine facil- nearly freely and stop wearing the Anzac Day holiday today between Brisbane Roar FC and It added that it had secured The latest case increased the ities, and quarantine is the face masks in most places. (Sunday) have been cancelled Perth Glory scheduled for a total 192 million doses of outbreak to three confirmed responsibility of the common- Australia closed its borders and people were urged to com- today has been postponed vaccines, including those from infections, although contact wealth government under the more than a year ago and memorate privately. while an Australian football Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca tracing and testing were still constitution," McGowan said. returning travellers, except Last year, the coronavirus game between Fremantle and PLC, Johnson & Johnson’s and underway. The Australian Medical from New Zealand, must pandemic forced most tradi- North Melbourne will go Novavax. Western Australia Premier Association (AMA) yesterday undergo two weeks of man- tional memorials to be can- ahead, but there will be no “The government has Mark McGowan called on the also urged a review of the hotel datory hotel quarantine at their celled across Australia for the crowd. acquired COVID-19 vaccines large enough to vaccinate approximately 100 million Albania president people...(which) is double the China eyes asteroid defence entire population of South lambasts US Korea,” Health Minister Kwon system, comet mission Deok-cheol told a briefing. ambassador on “(The government) will REUTERS — BEIJING thousands of space flights a make all out efforts to achieve TV talk show year and carrying tens of thou- its promise to vaccinate 12 China will hold discussions on sands of tonnes of cargo and million people by end of June AP — TIRANA, ALBANIA building a defence system passengers by 2045. and achieve herd immunity by against near-Earth asteroids, a The European Space Agency November,” he said. Albania’s president has senior space agency official said last year signed a deal worth The deal comes a week accused the US ambassador of yesterday, as the country steps ¤129m ($156m) to build a after Pfizer agreed to supply intervening in the small up its longer term space ambi- spacecraft for a joint project additional vaccines to Japan European country’s internal tions. with Nasa examining how to by the end of September, affairs by supporting its prime Zhang Kejian, head of the deflect an asteroid heading for which would be enough to minister in an upcoming China National Space Admin- Earth. inoculate all people over 16. parliamentary election. istration, did not provide further China is pushing forward a Nearly 2.2 million South Students take part in an event at an exhibition featuring the President Ilir Meta spoke detail in his opening remarks mission where one space probe Koreans out of a population of development of China’s space exploration on the country’s Space harshly about Ambassador at a ceremony for China’s Space will land on a near-Earth 52 million have received their Yuri Kim during a television Day in the eastern city of asteroid to collect samples, fly Day at China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, yesterday. first vaccine dose, bringing the talk show on Friday night and Nanjing. back toward Earth to release a vaccination rate to just above called on the American dip- China has made space capsule containing the samples, academic at the Chinese said. China and Russia signed a 4%. The government’s goal is lomat “to stop supporting exploration a top priority in and then orbit another comet, Academy of Sciences. memorandum of understanding to reach 70% by November. (Prime Minister Edi) Rama, recent years, aiming to establish the official Xinhua news agency The mission could take last month to set up an interna- The low rate compares who is violating the election.” a programme operating reported, citing Ye Peijian, an about a decade to complete, Ye tional lunar research station. with a 41% rate in the US. While the show was airing on Syri Televizion, Kim sent a text message to Meta and also tweeted about today’s election, EU says Moldova MPs’ vote to sack Belarus leader seeks responding to a warning Meta gave this week that Albanians would take up pitchforks and judge is an attack on constitution to empower son in other tools if the prime min- ister attempts to manipulate REUTERS — BRUSSELS a pro-EU ticket, and a par- Borrell said Moldova had voting or the results. liament dominated by law- committed to the independence succession move “It is unacceptable for EU foreign policy chief Josep makers aligned with her pro- of the Constitutional Court to anyone to threaten that cit- Borrell yesterday urged Russian predecessor. ensure the rule of law and dem- AP — KIEV, UKRAINE months of large protests calling izens will take up “pitchforks” Moldovian lawmakers to Sandu wants an election to ocratic mechanisms in the EU- for him to step down in the on April 25 or if they don’t like respect the country’s constitu- get more of her supporters into Moldova Association Agreement Belarus’s authoritarian leader wake of an allegedly rigged the result of elections,”’ the tional court, a day after they parliament to fight corruption “Parliament and the executive says he will change the law on election in August that gave ambassador wrote. ”These voted to remove its head judge and overcome what she calls power must, therefore, respect presidential succession so that him a sixth term in office. threats deserve condemnation. for supporting President Maia obstruction by the existing the role of the Constitutional power in the Eastern European Lukashenko has repeatedly Those who incite violence will Sandu’s call for a snap election. assembly. The non-binding vote Court as the gatekeeper of the nation will be transferred if he alleged that the protests were be held responsible for the The issue underlines the on Friday to remove the judge, Constitution, even when they dies to the national security fomented by the West. Last results of their words and tension between Sandu, who Domnica Manole, needs to be are dissatisfied with its deci- council where his son plays a week, Russia arrested two actions. Stop.” came to office in November on agreed by the court itself. sions,” he said in a statement. prominent role. Belarusians who allegedly were Albania’s two largest Many observers have sug- leading an attempt to organise political parties are bitter gested that President Alexander a coup and Lukashenko’s election rivals. Confrontations Lukashenko, who has ruled assassination. between supporters of Rama’s with an iron fist since 1994, Lukashenko claims the plot government and of the oppo- aims to establish a political had backing from the United sition culminated Wednesday dynasty, although Lukashenko States. with the death of a leading denies this. Yesterday, he claimed that supporter of the governing Lukashenko himself is the Nato planned to send troops Socialist Party. Police have head of the national security into the country if the coup said the victim was shot, council, but his eldest son occurred, bringing them to the allegedly by a member of the Viktor also has a seat and is Russian border. opposition Democratic Party, regarded as the council’s “It was a springboard, I during an argument involving informal leader. always told you, to attack members of the opposing Under current law, the Russia. It was the first step,” he camps. prime minister takes presi- said. Meta has denounced Rama dential powers if the presi- Belarusian opposition for allegedly running a “klep- dency becomes vacant, but leaders this week voiced fears tocratic regime” that concen- Lukashenko said yesterday that that Lukashenko would seek trated all legislative, adminis- the premier would be only the much closer ties with Russia as trative and judicial powers in nominal leader and all deci- his power wanes, leading to a the prime minister’s. He also sions would be made by the loss of sovereignty for the accused Rama of bungling On the front line 20-person security council. nation of 9.5 million people. Albania’s pandemic response He said he will sign a decree Lukashenko travelled to and delaying the country’s Service members of the Ukrainian armed forces are seen at fighting positions on the line of separation to make the change in the near Moscow on Thursday for a integration into the European near the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, yesterday. future. meeting with Russian President Union. Lukashenko last year faced Vladimir Putin. SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 EUROPE 11 German chancellor candidate vows UK oppn calls for probe into Johnson’s flat refurbishment to get tough on Russia and China REUTERS — LONDON Britain’s opposition Labour Party yesterday called for an inves- REUTERS — BERLIN Annalena Baerbock In the event of security con- tigation into how Prime Minister Boris Johnson funded a refur- called for a European cerns, the EU could also limit bishment of his Downing Street flat following claims by his former Germany must increase cooperation with Chinese elec- top adviser. pressure on Russia following its army and outlined tronics providers, she added. Dominic Cummings, who left Johnson’s staff suddenly late military buildup at the steps towards a “If the Chinese government last year having been his most influential adviser on Brexit and Ukrainian border and strive for requires Chinese corporations the 2019 election campaign, said in a blog on Friday he had told a policy of “dialogue and de-nuclearisation such as Huawei, for example, Johnson he thought his plans to have donors pay for the reno- toughness” towards China, the of Germany in to pass on European data and vation were “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal.” Greens chancellor candidate consultation with information, we cannot inte- Cummings said he was not responsible for leaks over the cost Annalena Baerbock (pictured) grate products from such man- of the refurbishment and over Johnson’s private communications said in a newspaper interview. allies. ufacturers into European over the sourcing of COVID-19 ventilators. Baerbock announced on infrastructure.” He also said the prime minister and his office had fallen below Monday that she would run to Baerbock also called for a acceptable standards of competence and integrity. become chancellor at the Sep- Sonntagszeitung that the most European army under the super- The charges is the latest in a string of allegations that Johnson tember 26 election, the first important thing now was “to Baerbock said sovereign states vision of European Parliament and other Conservatives, including former Prime Minister David time the left-leaning ecologist increase the pressure on Russia” could decide their alliances for and outlined steps towards a de- Cameron, blurred or broke rules relating to contacts with donors party has sought the top job in after its recent military threats themselves, but added that for nuclearisation of Germany in and business. its 40-year history. near the border with Ukraine. now it was more important to consultation with allies. Johnson’s office said on Friday the government had followed The Greens have seen their She repeated a demand pre- reach a de-escalation in region. Armin Laschet, the conserv- the rules over the refurbishment, adding that the prime minister support surge over the past year sented in the Greens’ election Turning to China, Baerbock atives’ candidate to succeed had not interfered in a government leak inquiry. to within only a few points of manifesto earlier this year that said China was too big to simply Merkel who is not running Labour called for a full investigation. “It matters because it’s Chancellor Angela Merkel’s said political support for a cut off ties. Still, liberal democ- again after 16 years in power, about integrity and it’s about taypayers’ money,” Labour leader conservatives, with one poll second German-Russian gas racies must uphold their values supports the Nord Stream 2 gas Keir Starmer told BBC television. earlier this week showing the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which means Europe could, for pipeline from Russia to Europe. “You’ve got the former most senior adviser to the prime min- ecologists even overtaking the which has almost been com- example, think about banning In an interview with Reuters ister saying he’s fallen well below the standards of integrity that conservative CDU/CSU alliance. pleted, should be withdrawn. certain products, she said. in February, Laschet said that are needed for the office of the prime minister. Every day there’s In an interview on foreign Regarding the Ukrainian “We can say: products from “feel-good moralising and more evidence of this sleaze and frankly it stinks,” he said. policy, Baerbock told Frank- government’s wish to join the forced labour do not come onto domestic slogans are not Earlier, Labour also called for an independent commission furter Allgemeine European Union and Nato, our market,” Baerbock said. foreign policy.” on ethics and standards in government to be set up. Merkel warns of virus mutants Russia labels as tougher curbs take effect Meduza news site as ‘foreign agent’ BLOOMBERG — BERLIN virus has also taken hold in Germany.” REUTERS — MOSCOW Germany’s new lockdown law, The renewed surge in infec- which automatically imposes tions threatens to overwhelm Russia designated a popular tougher curbs in places where some intensive-care units in independent news site, new infections exceed a certain Germany. The number of Meduza, as a “foreign agent” threshold, came into effect COVID-19 patients in ICUs has media organisation on Friday, yesterday after both houses of been rising steadily since mid- a move that will require it to parliament backed Chancellor March, threatening to surpass label itself as such and will Angela Merkel’s bill. the peak seen in January. Latest subject it to increased Merkel’s ruling coalition figures show there are 5,005 government scrutiny. pushed the legislation through patients in ICUs as of Saturday, Meduza, which publishes after her government failed to down slightly from 5,037 the online news in Russian and find common ground with day before. English, was set up in 2014 in regional leaders on measures The tougher rules apply in Latvia by Galina Timchenko, needed to fight the pandemic. counties and cities where the who was the chief editor of Rus- The law — which expires at the so-called seven-day incidence sia’s most popular news website end of June — triggers tighter rate exceeds 100 per 100,000 until she was sacked when she restrictions in virus hotspots, people on three consecutive fell foul of the authorities. including nighttime curfews days. The outlet, which covers and closing schools and non- The nationwide seven-day political news and publishes essential stores. incidence rate rose to 164.4 yes- investigations into corruption “This is something new in terday, the highest in five days. A general view of “Jungfernstieg” boulevard during a lockdown, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID- in Russia, said the “foreign our fight against the pandemic Only some areas in Germany’s 19) pandemic in Hamburg, Germany, yesterday. agent” designation was dis- and I am convinced it is more sparsely populated north criminatory and would make urgently needed”, Merkel said are currently below that no one has taken this lightly.” citing Baden-Wuerttemberg and spread to the European it harder for journalists to work. in her weekly podcast, pub- threshold. Anyone caught breaking the Interior Ministry spokesman Union has officials worried. “We reject this decision lished yesterday. “We are in the “The measures envisaged by curfew faces a fine of up to Carsten Dehner. India reported a record 346,786 categorically and intend to middle of the third wave. The the emergency brake are $30,200, Germany’s Bild- A dangerous new variant of new infections yesterday, challenge the designation in more contagious variant of the tough,” Merkel said. “That’s why Zeitung reported yesterday, the virus that appeared in India bringing its total to 16.6 million. court,” editor-in-chief Ivan Kolpakov wrote on Facebook. “But we also understand that Wildfire in Northern Ireland declared ‘major incident’ our chances are slim.” French probe police station Authorities brought in the AP — LONDON Slieve Donard area — the highest of the wildfire is unknown at foreign agent designation to point in Northern Ireland, with present but noted they are “pre- attack for any extremist ties label foreign-funded organi- Firefighters in Northern Ireland a peak of 850 metres. dominantly caused by human sations engaged in political are spending a second day The Northern Ireland Fire behavior,” adding that fire- AP — RAMBOUILLET, FRANCE A steady stream of people activity. batting fires across difficult and Rescue Service has urged fighters are wearing personal bearing flowers handed the terrain on the Mourne Moun- people to stay away from the protective equipment and trav- French anti-terrorism investi- bouquets to police officers in tains. area as it declared a “major elling for up to an hour and a gators questioned three Rambouillet but the station Virus cases in Italy More than 70 firefighters incident.” half to get up the slopes. detained people yesterday, remained closed to the public. and 10 fire trucks from across Northern Ireland’s first “We’re working with small seeking to establish a motive Officers “very quickly” reach 3.9 million, Northern Ireland were involved minister, Arlene Foster, said the pumps out of rivers but pre- and uncover any possible ties killed the Tunisia-born yesterday in trying to contain wildfire is “devastating and dominantly it is a physical, to extremism after a police stabbing suspect who lived in deaths at 119,021 the wildfire, while helicopters tragic,” adding that the impact hard, beating-out job up there,” official was fatally stabbed at a the town after Friday’s attack, REUTERS — MILAN from both Britain and Ireland on local wildlife and flora is he said. The fire was moving police station outside Paris. Interior Minister Gerald Dar- are set to join the effort. “unimaginable.” quickly, pressed by an easterly The attack Friday on an manin said Saturday. The Italy reported 322 corona- The wildfire has been raging Assistant Fire Commander wind. The weather has been unarmed administrative attacker entered France ille- virus-related deaths yesterday since Friday morning in the Aidan Jennings said the cause relatively dry in recent weeks.” employee at the entry to her gally in 2009 and was given against 342 the day before, the station in the town of Ram- residency papers in 2020, a health ministry said, while the bouillet has jolted the French judicial official said Saturday. daily tally of new infections fell government to take a deeper The attacker had staked out to 13,817 from 14,761. look at what new steps are the police station ahead of time, Italy has registered 119,021 needed to counter attacks. The anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean- deaths linked to COVID-19 employee had left the station France Ricard said. The prep- since its outbreak last year, the to extend her time on a parking aration, along with statements second highest toll in Europe meter. he said during the attack and after Britain and the seventh BFM-TV reported that a the targeting of a police official, highest in the world. secret crisis meeting yesterday prompted the national anti-ter- The country has reported headed by Prime Minister Jean rorism prosecutor’s office to 3.95 million cases to date. Castex was attended by the take over the investigation. Patients in hospital with justice and defence ministers The 37-year-old suspect, COVID-19 — not including and police and intelligence identified as Djamel G, had no those in intensive care — stood officials. criminal record or record of at 20,971 yesterday, down French President radicalisation, French media from 21,440 a day earlier. Emmanuel Macron, mean- reported, said a French judicial There were 143 new while, visited the family of the official who was not authorised admissions to intensive care victim, a 49-year-old identified to discuss the investigation units, down from 153 on only as Stephanie. She lived in publicly. Friday. The total number of Thoiry, about 30km north of “(Police) know we have a intensive care patients fell to Rambouillet, where she difficult fight against Islamist 2,894 from 2,979. worked. The president’s office terrorism ... the fight won’t stop Some 320,780 tests for said he wanted “to show tomorrow or the next day,” COVID-19 were carried out in support and solidarity with the Darmanin said after meeting the past day, compared with a People watching as smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in the Mourne Mountains, near Newcastle, family ... very upset and very with police in the Brittany town previous 315,700, the ministry Northern Ireland, yesterday. dignified.” of Quimper. said. Over 33.5 million Britons received 1st vaccine dose; protesters defy restrictions

REUTERS — LONDON figures released yesterday. central London on Saturday a breach of their human rights. Protesters chanted aware of any arrests. Officials also reported a despite restrictions on mass They oppose vaccinations, “freedom” and “take off your England has relaxed its A total of 33.51 million people further 2,061 coronavirus cases gatherings during the COVID-19 mask-wearing and so called mask” and some carried lockdown restrictions in recent in Britain have received the first and 32 deaths within 28 days of pandemic. health passports. placards saying: “No to vaccine weeks. Non-essential shops and dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a positive test. The event was billed by Media reports put numbers passports” and “Lockdowns outdoor hospitality reopened with more than 12 million Meanwhile, Several organisers: “Unite for Freedom”. at about 10,000, though the kill”. Most were unmasked. on April 12, but indoor gath- people having been given both thousand anti-lockdown dem- The protesters view virus Metropolitan Police did not A spokesman for the Met- erings are still banned until May doses, according to official onstrators marched through restrictions as unnecessary and confirm a figure. ropolitan Police said he was not 17 at the earliest. 12 AMERICAS SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021 US ends J&J vaccine pause; shots set to resume REUTERS — WASHINGTON The CDC and Food and Drug Administration dying from a car accident in commonly given to patients to clots were first identified. Dr. your life is something like one break up blood clots, in people Peter Marks of the FDA said the The United States can immedi- said the risks of experiencing the syndrome in 100, the risk of being struck who had received the J&J cases appear so similar that a ately resume use of Johnson & involving severe blood clots and low platelets by lightning is something like vaccine and were experiencing doctor would not be able to tell Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, as a result of the vaccine was very low. They one in 15,000,” Goodman said. blood clots and low blood which vaccine caused them. top health regulators said, Unlike the highly effective platelets. Dr. William Moss, executive ending a 10-day pause to inves- found 15 cases in the 8 million shots given. vaccines by Pfizer Inc and In the cases of the vaccine- director of the International tigate its link to extremely rare Moderna Inc, which require two induced blood clots, however, Vaccine Access Center at the but potentially deadly blood doses and must be kept frozen heparin appears to make the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg clots. immediately, clearing the way for all men, the clots appeared at ultra-cold temperatures, J&J’s condition worse. Walensky said School of Public Health, said the The Centers for Disease for shots in arms as early as yes- at a rate of one per one million vaccine can be given in a single doctors heeded that warning, J&J vaccine will help advance Control and Prevention (CDC) terday. The agency said it would doses, the analysis showed. In dose and stored at regular noting that the drug had not the vaccination effort. and Food and Drug Adminis- warn of the risk in an updated all, there were three deaths, refrigeration temperatures, been used in any of the cases “Giving people the choice to tration said the risks of experi- fact sheet given to vaccine officials said. making it a better option for identified after the pause began. receive a single-dose vaccine encing the syndrome involving recipients and providers. After a day-long meeting, hard-to-reach areas. The US decision follows a will help get more people vac- severe blood clots and low The agencies made the the CDC panel voted 10-4 that “We will collaborate with similar one by the European cinated faster and will better platelets as a result of the decision following a meeting of the J&J vaccine be used as rec- health authorities around the Medicines Agency, which on protect some populations, such vaccine was very low. They outside advisers to the CDC who ommended in people 18 years world to educate healthcare Tuesday said the benefits of the as those who are homeless or found 15 cases in the 8 million recommended that the vaccine of age and older, the parameters professionals and the public to J&J shot outweighed its risks and incarcerated,” Moss said by shots given. pause be ended. of its current FDA ensure this very rare event can recommended adding a email. “We are no longer recom- In an analysis presented at authorization. be identified early and treated warning about unusual blood J&J has faced several set- mending a pause in the use of the meeting, CDC staff said that Dr. Jesse Goodman, an effectively,” J&J’s Chief Scien- clots with low blood platelet backs since its vaccine gained this vaccine,” CDC Director the cases of the syndrome that infectious disease expert at tific Officer Paul Stoffels said in counts to the vaccine’s product US emergency authorisation in Rochelle Walensky told a news they had found occurred at a Georgetown University in a statement after the agencies label. J&J resumed its rollout February, including drawing briefing. “Based on the in-depth rate of seven per one million Washington and a former chief made their announcement. there. scrutiny over production short- analysis, there is likely an asso- doses in women under age 50, scientist at the FDA, said the risk When the agencies first The J&J probe followed an falls. In the United States, 35% ciation but the risk is very low.” with the highest risk occurring was not trivial, but still small. announced the pause, they investigation in Europe of the of adults are fully vaccinated Top US FDA officials said among women ages 30 to 39. “But we should keep it in urged doctors to avoid using the AstraZeneca PLC vaccine, with and 53% have received at least the decision was effective For women over age 50 and perspective. I mean the risk of blood thinner heparin, which similar cases of blood one shot, according to CDC data. Medical examiner’s Old SpaceX capsule delivers testimony in Chauvin new crew to ISS trial prompts review AP — CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA A recycled SpaceX capsule AP — BALTIMORE work could come into question. carrying four astronauts arrived “Dr. Fowler’s stated opinion at the International Space Maryland officials said they will that George Floyd’s death Station yesterday, the third review all in-custody death during active police restraint high-flying taxi ride in less than reports during the tenure of the should be certified with an a year for Elon Musk’s company. state’s former chief medical ‘undetermined’ manner is The Dragon capsule examiner after he testified that outside the standard practice docked autonomously with the former Minneapolis police and conventions for investi- orbiting outpost more than officer Derek Chauvin was not gating and certification of in- 420km above the Indian responsible for George Floyd’s custody deaths. This stated Ocean, a day after launching death. opinion raises significant con- from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Dr. David Fowler, Mary- cerns for his previous practice Center. land’s chief medical examiner and management,” the letter The new arrivals — repre- from 2002 to 2019, was a key said. senting the US, France and defence witness for Chauvin, Fowler testified that the Japan — will spend six months who was convicted Tuesday of primary cause of Floyd’s death at the space station. They’ll murder and manslaughter for was a sudden heart rhythm dis- replace four astronauts who kneeling on Floyd’s neck for turbance during police restraint will return to Earth in their more than nine minutes. due to underlying heart disease, Selwyn Jones, George Floyd’s uncle, films a video at George Floyd Square, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently. own Dragon capsule The announcement of the contradicting several experts Wednesday. investigation came from who said Floyd died due to a Frosh, said in an statement. Friday. He declined to discuss by the family of Anton Black, a It was the first time two Attorney General Brian Frosh lack of oxygen. He also said that Fowler told The Baltimore his testimony in the Chauvin 19-year-old who died in police SpaceX crew Dragons were and Gov Larry Hogan on Friday, Floyd’s drug use and exposure Sun he was not aware of any trial. custody in Greensboro in 2018. parked there at the same time less than 24 hours after the to carbon monoxide from the such consideration of a review Bruce Goldfarb, a Black’s death was captured — practically side by side. attorney general’s office police car contributed to his and defended the work of his spokesman for the chief on video, which showed Green- “We are so excited to have received a letter from DC’s death. office, noting that he was not medical examiner’s office, said sboro police holding the you aboard,” radioed the space former chief medical examiner “We agree that it is appro- solely responsible for autopsy the agency is “committed to unarmed teenager down for station’s commander, Shannon Roger Mitchell, and signed by priate for independent experts conclusions. transparency and will coop- more than six minutes. Fowler Walker. 431 doctors from around the to review reports issued by the “There’s a large team of erate fully with an inquiry.” ruled that Black died because Although this was SpaceX’s country, saying Fowler’s con- Office of the Chief Medical forensic pathologists, with Coombs said the review of of a sudden cardiac event while third crew flight for Nasa, it clusions were so far outside the Examiner (OCME) regarding layers of supervision, and those death determinations will not struggling with police, and not was the first to use a vehicle bounds of accepted forensic deaths in custody,” Raquel medical examiners always did involve any state officials or because they pinned him in a that’s flown before, an practice that all his previous Coombs, a spokeswoman for tremendous work,” Fowler said staff connected to a lawsuit filed prone position. essential part of Musk’s push to the moon and Mars. The Dragon capsule was used for Venezuela gets SpaceX’s first crew launch last Brazil leader says army could be called if lockdown chaos May, while the Falcon rocket 80,000 more soaring Friday hoisted crew AP — RIO DE JANEIRO quarantine, is absurd. If we cowardly way of how some are as his appointment of numerous two in November. Sputnik V doses have problems ... we have a making the people stay at military figures to civilian posts. Nasa astronauts Shane Brazilian President Jair plan of how to act. I am the home,” he added. Those concerns rose when, Kimbrough and Megan REUTERS — CARACAS Bolsonaro has suggested that supreme head of the armed Health experts urged Bol- on March 30, the leaders of all McArthur — the commander the army might be called into forces,” Bolsonaro said. sonaro this month to impose a three branches of Brazil’s and pilot of the returning Venezuela received a new the streets to restore order if He said the army could be national lockdown after the armed forces jointly resigned Dragon — monitored their shipment of some 80,000 lockdown measures against summoned to “reestablish nation’s daily toll of COVID-19 following Bolsonaro’s capsule’s flat screen com- doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 that he opposes lead Article 5 of the Constitution,” deaths reached new peaks. The replacement of the defense puters as the space station coronavirus vaccine, officials to chaos. which mentions the right to Ministry of Health says that minister. Many analysts sug- loomed ever larger. said yesterday, as COVID-19 In a television interview freedoms of movement and of more than 386,000 have died gested the generals were wary They could have taken cases surged and opposition Friday night with TV Criticia in religion. Bolsonaro also said the in Brazil from the disease. of being drawn too far into control if necessary, but the lawmakers criticised the the Amazon city of Manaus, restrictive measures are aggra- Critics of the far-right pres- political affairs. autonomous system did its job, government’s vaccine rollout. Bolsonaro repeated his frequent vating hunger in the country. ident - a former soldier - have He also had raised the issue much like a self-driving car. The shipment brings the criticism of restrictions imposed “I am, together with my 23 long expressed concern about of military involvement in con- For the next four days, the total number of vaccines that by local governments to curb ministers, talking about what his frequent praise of the mil- nection with the pandemic in a space station will be home to Venezuela has received to infections - measures he claims to do if a generalized chaos is itary government that ruled the March 19 statement: “My army 11 astronauts, just shy of the 880,000, Health Minister do more harm than good. implanted in Brazil because of country for more than 20 years doesn’t go to the street to force record of 13 set during Nasa’s Carlos Alvarado said. He said “That lockdown policy, of hunger, because of the following a coup in 1964, as well people to stay at home.” space shuttle era. the government would focus on inoculating healthcare workers and the elderly with the new shipments. Venezuela Aircraft carrier to guard US has also inoculated public offi- cials, firefighters, civil pro- troop pullout in Afghanistan tection personnel and oxygen distribution workers. AP — WASHINGTON rhetoric,” Kirby said. He said “Venezuela’s vaccination the withdrawal plan was dis- process has advanced in a sat- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cussed at a meeting Friday of isfactory manner,” Alvarado has decided to keep an aircraft senior defense officials. said in a state television carrier in the Middle East to The moves back up Pen- broadcast from the Maiquetia help provide protection for tagon officials’ public assur- International Airport near the American and coalition troops ances that US forces will be capital city of Caracas, where during their planned with- prepared to meet whatever the plane carrying the vaccines drawal from Afghanistan in resistance the Taliban might had arrived. coming weeks, his spokesman present during the withdrawal The once-prosperous said. of more than 10,000 US and South American country had The spokesman, John Kirby, coalition troops starting after previously received 300,000 said Austin approved an May 1. About 2,500 to 3,500 of Sputnik V doses and 500,000 extension of the USS Dwight D. those troops are American. doses of China’s Sinopharm Eisenhower’s deployment in “I would advise the Taliban vaccine, for a population of the Middle East for “a period of that we will be well-prepared around 25 million. time.” He also said two US Air to defend ourselves throughout The new shipment comes Force B-52 bombers have the withdrawal process,” Gen. as Venezuela experiences a arrived in the region as part of Frank McKenzie, the head of second wave of the virus that the pre-pullout bolstering of US Central Command, said has prompted President security, which he called a Thursday at the Pentagon. Nicolas Maduro’s government prudent precaution. The Taliban had insisted to extend lockdown measures. Protest against racial injustice “It would be foolhardy and that Washington stick to a Feb- The country has reported a imprudent not to assume that ruary 2020 agreement the mil- Demonstrators march with black umbrellas to conceal their faces while calling for racial justice and total of 189,381 cases of the there could be resistance and itants had reached with Trump police reforms in Washington, yesterday. novel coronavirus and 2,009 opposition to the drawdown by administration to complete the deaths, official data show. the Taliban, given their staunch US withdrawal by May 1. 20 HOME SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2021