Wednesday February 10, 2021 Jumada Al-Akhirah 28, 1442 Vol.14 no. 5178 qR 2

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Exercise remains an indispensable healthy and social behaviour: Amir Qatar celebrates National Sport Day

His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani takes a stroll on the occasion of National Sport Day on Tuesday. See also page 16

TNN & QNA in response to the Amiri Decree No Al Thani took a stroll to celebrate tional year, exercise remains an addition to the many health benefits considered a pioneer in organis- Doha 80 of 2011, which stipulated that the National Sport Day. indispensable healthy and social of sports and exercising. ing a Sport Day at the regional and the second Tuesday of February of Only individual activities were behaviour, wishing everyone an Qatar celebrated the National global level, as some countries be- Qatar celebrated the National every year will be a National Sport held this year, such as running, enjoyable day.” Sport Day for the first time in Feb- gan to organise a Sport Day similar Sport Day (NSD) on Tuesday in a Day, which is an event unique to swimming and cycling. Sports that The importance of organising a ruary 2012 after Amiri Decree No to Qatar, given its importance to safe and secure environment with Qatar. It aims to raise awareness require contact and teams com- Sport Day in Qatar every year comes (80) of 2011 was issued. the individual and society. all sporting activities being indi- of the importance of sports and its peting in a limited space were not to raise the status of sport with the All state institutions participate Sport Day receives great at- vidual and held outdoors in the role in society and make it an es- allowed. All sports activities took moral and human values it repre- in the event, which makes Qatar a tention, as this event is met with wake of rising COVID-19 infec- sential part of the daily life of the place outdoors, indoor sports were sents, to educate citizens and resi- large stadium where tens of thou- the approval of all those who live tions in the country. people. prohibited. dents on the importance of sports sands of citizens and residents in Qatar — citizens and residents, The activities of the 10th edition His Highness the Amir of State In a tweet, HH the Amir said, in daily life and encourage them to from all segments of society prac- who are keen to spend a special of the National Sports Day began of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad “On our sport day in this excep- practice it throughout the year, in tice many types of sports. Qatar is Sports Day in the country.

Attiyah opens Callisthenics park Qatar sees 477 new FM calls on Lebanese COVID-19 cases

tribune News Network parties to give priority Doha Qatar on Tuesday reported 477 COVID-19 to national interest cases -- 434 from community and 43 from travellers returning from abroad, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said in its ‘Qatar will support daily report. Sadly, two people, aged 66 and 81 who any path that leads were receiving the necessary medical care, to the formation of succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll in the country to 253. govt in ’ Also, 158 people recovered from the QNA virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 147,191. The MoPH said all the new cases Prime Minister and have been introduced to isolation and are Minister of Foreign Affairs HE receiving necessary healthcare according Sheikh Mohammed bin Ab- to their health status. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Moham- dulrahman Al Thani has called “With the recent increase in the med Al Attiyah inaugurated a callisthenics park in Meqdam camp on Tuesday, in con- on all Lebanese parties to give number of COVID-19 cases in Qatar, it is junction with the National Sport Day. The park has entered the Guinness World Records priority to the national interest important for everyone to play their role in for being the largest of its kind in the world. The ceremony was attended by Minister of and accelerate the formation of controlling the virus by following precau- Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali and a number of ranking officers in the government. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh tionary measures,” it added. armed forces. (QNA) In a statement at the Leba- Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with Lebanese President Gen- nese Republican Palace after a eral in Beirut on Tuesday. meeting with President of Leb- anon General Michel Aoun, said Qatar’s message to Leba- “Qatar’s message is the the FM said Qatar will support non is a message of support same for all regional countries, any path that leads to the for- and a clear message to all po- and Qatar hopes that everyone COVID-19: No visitors at four HMC facilities from Friday mation of the government in litical parties that there must will support in the formation With COVID-19 cases increasing in Qatar, the HMC has decided to make impor- Lebanon. be a priority for the national of a government that is agreed tant changes to the visitor policy. Starting from Friday, February 12, no visitors He said Qatar does not interest in order to form the upon by all political currents in will be allowed at four of its facilities -- Communicable Disease Center, Hazm seek to undermine the French government. Lebanon to bring stability in Mebaireek General Hospital, The Cuban Hospital, and Mesaieed Hospital. All other initiative, rather it is working He said this communica- the country,” he added. HMC facilities will be available for visitors only between 12pm and 8pm, with one to complete international ef- tion continues on a permanent The FM reiterated Qatar’s visitor at a time for a maximum of 15 minutes. All visitors will be required to wear forts to form a government. basis, whether through this support for . a mask, show their Ehteraz app and undergo body temperature checks. (TNN) About Qatar’s role in re- visit or through communica- solving the Lebanese crisis, he tion by other means. Continued on page 2  02 Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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Lebanon president FM MEETS LEBANESE CARETAKER PM, SPEAKER praises Qatar for constant support QNA Beirut

President of Lebanon General Michel Aoun expressed his country’s appreciation for the sup- port provided by Qatar to Lebanon and the Leba- nese people under the directives of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, especially during the difficult circumstances the country went through after the Beirut Port explo- sion. Qatar supported Lebanon through urgent so- cial, humanitarian and health aid that was placed Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon Dr met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Beirut on Tuesday. at the disposal of the affected Lebanese people. Speaker of the met with the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. During the meetings, they reviewed bilateral relations and other issues He said this aid was an affirmation of the dis- of common concern. (QNA) tinguished relations between the two countries. In a statement during his meeting with Dep- uty Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Af- fairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, President Aoun asserted that the Qatari ‘Qatar will support Lebanese people to overcome crisis’ solidarity with Lebanon was translated on several occasions, whether through financial and in-kind Continued from page 1  including more than 55 public soon as possible. cians in Lebanon. support for the brothers in Leba- donations, through the participation of HH the schools, 20 technical institutes and “We look at the future of Leba- “Qatar has good relations with non and encourages the parties to Amir in the Conference to support Lebanon The FM said Qatar will always 80 university buildings. non as a promising and positive the various political factions in give priority to the national inter- which was organised by French President Em- be present and proactive to sup- Qatar will rehabilitate them, in one, but this matter requires sta- Lebanon and its message to them est in order to achieve the forma- manuel Macron or through the air bridge which port the Lebanese people and help addition to providing scholarships bility and a government. We in is that they should cooperate and tion of a government and political was established between Beirut and Doha to send them to overcome their crisis. to 400 students at the American Qatar wish them all success in place the national interest over stability in Lebanon. medical and food aid in addition to field hospi- He said Qatar has undertaken University, he said. their consultations so that the gov- partisan or political interests,” he “Qatar always has consulta- tals. some projects and is following up Sheikh Mohammed affirmed ernment will be formed as soon as added. The FM stressed that Qatar tions with all friendly countries President Aoun, according to a Lebanese pres- them since the explosion of the Qatar’s continued support for possible,” he added. is ready to play a role if requested interested in Lebanese affairs and idency’s statement, expressed his appreciation Beirut port, such as field hospitals Lebanese as well as completion of On a question about a Qatari by the Lebanese parties to do so. everyone agrees that this stage is for the facilities provided by Qatar to Lebanese that it sent along with the recon- its projects in the devastated ar- initiative to solve the Lebanese cri- Regarding the written mes- sensitive in Lebanon and there citizens residing in Qatar and the job opportuni- struction of the Karantina Hos- eas, wishing the various Lebanese sis similar to that of Doha Agree- sage from the Amir His Highness must be a government as soon as ties it provides to many Lebanese, especially in pital that was destroyed during politicians success so that they ment 2008, he said the process of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Tha- possible, and all the countries that light of the difficult economic conditions which the explosion, in addition to the prioritise the interest of the people forming the government in Leba- ni to the Lebanese president, he Qatar talks with are in the same di- Lebanese is passing through. reconstruction of some buildings, and work to form a government as non is an internal matter for politi- said the message expresses Qatar’s rection,” he added.

GOPAC to intensify activities to Doha Plan of Action will be a starting point achieve goals: Shura speaker QNA corruption. for transforming vulnerable countries: Qatar Doha He said GOPAC and SEA- PAC have the potential to lead QNA ence, as it is one of the largest confer- The Global Organization of action against corruption at New York ence centres in the Middle East and the Parliamentarians Against Cor- the national and international most technologically advanced. It also ruption (GOPAC) will intensi- levels, stressing that it is our The Doha Plan of Action will be a has state-of-the-art media presenta- fy activities in the coming pe- responsibility of parliamentar- starting point for transforming the tion and production facilities and is riod as part of its future plans ians to work to meet the aspi- lives of millions of people in the most staffed by a team of event and confer- and programmes to achieve rations of peoples who want to vulnerable countries, and putting the ence management professionals. its goals, said Speaker of the see their wealth and money be least developed countries on the path She expressed Qatar’s confidence Shura Council and Chair of spent with integrity, honesty towards sustainable and comprehen- that the Fifth UN Conference on the GOPAC HE Ahmed bin Abdul- and justice in order to build sive development, Qatar has affirmed. Least Developed Countries will con- lah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud. nations. This came in a statement made by stitute a different and transformative He said the organisation The Shura speaker stressed Permanent Representative of Qatar to event to chart a course that responds will build partnerships with the readiness of the GOPAC to the UN Ambassador HE Sheikha Alya to the unprecedented challenges and the UN organisation, develop provide all assistance to the Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani during the strengthen the capacity of the least de- its cooperation with the Inter- SEAPAC and other regional Organisational Session of the Prepara- veloped countries to meet these chal- Parliamentary Union (IPU) branches so that they can per- tory Committee for the Fifth UN Con- lenges. and have effective participa- form their role and accomplish ference on the Least Developed Coun- She added that Doha Plan of Ac- tion in the United Nations ses- their tasks effectively and ef- tries, held at the UN Headquarters in tion will be the first to address the sion on combating corruption, ficiently.T he meeting of the New York. Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Ambassador HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin challenges caused by the coronavirus which will be held in New York SEAPAC discussed the ways to Sheikha Alya stressed that the Saif Al Thani speaks at the UN Headquarters in New York. pandemic and its repercussions on the in June. activate the regional branches Committee’s efforts constitute a guar- least developed countries, in addition In his speech at the open- of the GOPAC and work to antee for the success of the preparatory 2022. Qatar’s hosting of the Confer- the preparations of the Conference are to the recovery from the pandemic and ing of the regional meeting continue efforts to combat process for the Conference, expressing ence comes in line with its belief that proceeding in an efficient and effective its multifaceted effects. of the Southeast Asian Par- corruption despite COVID-19 Qatar’s appreciation for the Member achieving the ambitious aspirations manner, including planning visits and In conclusion, Sheikha Alya af- liamentarians Against Cor- pandemic. States for electing it as a member of the of the 2030 Sustainable Development continuous efforts are being made to firmed that Qatar pledges that the ruption (SEAPAC), one of the The meeting also discussed Bureau of Preparatory Committee, as Plan will not be possible without pay- complete all the various aspects related Doha Plan of Action will be a starting GOPAC’s regional branches, good preparation for the spe- the host country of the Fifth UN Con- ing special attention to the least devel- to the Conference, noting in this con- point for transforming the lives of mil- held via video conference tech- cial session to be held by the ference on the Least Developed Coun- oped countries,” she said. text the participation of UN Secretary- lions of people living in the most vul- nology on Tuesday, Mahmoud General Assembly in June on tries. She highlighted the steps that Qa- General Antnio Guterres in the Confer- nerable countries, and it will put the pointed out that GOPAC has combating corruption, as well “Qatar is proud to host the Fifth tar took to prepare for the Fifth Con- ence and his full support for it. least developed countries on the path an important role in prepar- as preparing for parliamentary UN Conference on the Least Devel- ference despite the challenges posed She said that Qatar National Con- towards sustainable and inclusive de- ing for this special session by meetings that will be held on oped Countries from January 23 to 27 by the coronavirus pandemic. She said vention Center will host the Confer- velopment. highlighting efforts to combat the sidelines of the session. Renowned psychiatry journal recognises Qatar’s feats in mental health care

Tribune News Network family physicians. The article 77 percent of adults in 2020 recent mental health and well- and Adolescent Psychiatry at Doha stated that “Qatar is leading were highly aware of men- being communications, which Hamad Medical Corporation, the way with this enlightened tal health, compared to only was nearly a threefold increase and colleagues on attitudes to The January 2021 edition of vision” by recognising the im- 52 percent being moderately from only 20 percent in 2018. mental health issues in Qatar’s the internationally renowned portance of community-based aware in 2018. In addition, “I am delighted that our ef- media. psychiatry journal, BJPsych specialist care. over half of adults (56%) are forts have been recognised by By comparing local report- International, focused on the Iain Tulley, national lead now aware of where to seek this internationally respected ing on mental health with that Middle East and singled out for Mental Health and Well- mental health services and professional publication and on physical health, the authors Qatar’s achievements in men- being in Qatar and CEO of support in Qatar, rising from that Qatar’s approach is her- were able to conclude that the tal health care as being exem- the Mental Health Service at 46 percent in 2018. alded as a model for other media’s portrayal of mental plary in the region. Hamad Medical Corporation, More adults expressed in- countries in the Arabian Gulf health in Qatar is more posi- The article highlighted explained how the internation- Iain Tulley Dr Majid Al Abdulla creased comfort when talking region to follow,” Tulley added. tive than in many other coun- some of the developments in al recognition represented an openly about mental health, The article noted encour- tries around the world. Qatar following the publication endorsement of the country’s provements we planned in our health problems,” said Tulley. increasing from only 17 per- aging signs in Qatar’s media Dr Majid Al Abdulla, chair- of the National Mental Health approach to develop its mental journey towards delivering in- The progress identified in cent in 2015 to 21 percent in which now exhibits less stig- man of Psychiatry and medical Strategy: Changing Minds, health services. ternational best practice care. the journal was evidenced by 2020. Mental health commu- matisation of those with men- director of the Mental Health Changing Lives 2013-2018. “Qatar’s national mental This included more communi- results from the Qatar Mental nications efforts also demon- tal disorders. This information Service, welcomed the public This paved the way for more health strategy was pivotal ty based mental health services Health Attitudes and Aware- strated success, with at least was based on research con- recognition of Qatar’s efforts to mental health services being to providing a roadmap for and addressing the challenges ness Survey of 2020. 56 percent of adults surveyed ducted by Dr Khalid Elzamza- integrate mental health care in provided in collaboration with the wide-ranging service im- posed by stigma to mental The survey indicated that confirming they had noticed my, a clinical fellow in Child the primary healthcare system. Nation Wednesday, February 10, 2021 03

AMIR SENDS MESSAGE TO KUWAITI AMIR, CROWN PRINCE

PM SENDS MESSAGE TO KUWAITI COUNTERPART: Prime Minister and Minister The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday sent a written message to Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani sent a written mes- pertaining to bilateral relations and the ways to develop them. Qatar’s Ambassador to Kuwait HE Bandar bin Mohammed Al Attiyah handed over the message during sage to Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, per- his meeting with the Amir of Kuwait at Bayan Palace on Tuesday. HH the Amir also sent a written message to Crown Prince of Kuwait HH Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad taining to bilateral relations and the ways to develop them. Qatar’s Ambassador to Al Jaber Al Sabah, pertaining to bilateral relations and the ways to support and develop them. Qatar’s Ambassador to Kuwait HE Bandar bin Mohammed Al Attiyah Kuwait HE Bandar bin Mohammed Al Attiyah handed over the message during his handed over the message during his meeting with the Crown Prince of Kuwait at Bayan Palace on Tuesday. (QNA) meeting with the Kuwaiti PM at Al-Seif Palace on Tuesday. (QNA) NSD a perfect reminder of the Engage in regular exercise value of physical exercise to to promote well-being, HMC stay healthy: Swedish envoy employees advise the public CATHERINE W GICHUKI IKOLI VICTOR DOHA Doha As the country celebrated The National Sport Day (NSD) is a perfect the National Sport Day with time to remind ourselves of the importance people engaging in individu- of physical exercise to stay healthy, said al sporting activities, Hamad Swedish Ambassador to Qatar HE Ambas- Medical Corporation (HMC) sador Anders Bengtcén, who went to work staff have urged members of on a bike on Tuesday. the public to engage in regu- Speaking about the significance of the lar exercise to promote their Sport Day, Ambassador Anders said, “The well-being. National Sport Day is an excellent reminder HMC senior clinical dieti- to all of us of how important physical exer- tian Lena Ribhi Nassar said cise is for our health and well-being in gen- people should engage in regu- eral. The date chosen for the National Sport lar exercise programmes. Day is perfect. The weather in Qatar is won- “Healthy regular pro- derful this time of year. The conditions for gramme enhances blood cir- outdoor activities such as jogging, biking or culation and immunity. It just walking are really optimal.” promotes mental health by The envoy said that Sweden is famous reducing and relieving stress, for its love for bikes as about half of its pop- especially during COVID-19 ulation cycles to work. pandemic. We take all safety Talking about his choice of cycling precautions to protect your- to work instead of driving a car, he said, self and us,” she noted. “Cycling as a means of transport is quite HMC Clinical Dietitian popular in Sweden. About one in six peo- Wlla Abdallah Said Badran ple in Sweden use a bicycle to get to work. urged people to exercise even Bicycles are, of course, also used for physi- while at home. cal exercise. Mountain bicycles for riding She said, “We encour- off-road trails are very popular.” age all to perform various Ambassador Anders also expressed kinds of exercise even from his satisfaction with Qatar’s preparations home, combining resistance for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and hopes and endurance training like that Sweden will qualify ahead of teams weight training, cardio and of Business Development at everyone to try and experi- like Spain, Georgia, Kosovo and Greece in Swedish Ambassador to Qatar HE Anders Bengtcén with his bicycle in Doha on Tuesday. other available equipment Hamad General Hospital Ex- ence the real feeling. I strong- their European group. “I am impressed by to preserve and gain muscle ecutive office Abdulla Fahad ly urge everyone, both male the preparations and the facilities made in nually on the second Tuesday of Febru- fitnesslevels involved in a competition or mass and prevent weight gain Al Mushairi, who loves shoot- and female, to try shooting. Qatar for the World Cup. I am sure that the ary, with the main objective of promoting activity. with following individualised ing sport, said: “Qatar is the It is one of the oldest Olym- event will be a success. I am keeping my a healthy lifestyle among the community. However, because of the COVID-19 healthy diet and all safety pre- only country in the world that pics sports. It helps you to fingers crossed that the Swedish National Public and private organisations through- pandemic, the Ministry of Public Health cautions.” has devoted a national day to gain physical and mental Team will qualify,” he said. out Qatar organise events to encourage has advised individual activities as a preven- For his part, HMC As- sports. All sorts of sports are strength such as stability Qatar’s National Sport Day is held an- the population regardless of their age or tive measure to the spread of the pandemic. sistant Executive Director held across the country for and focus.” Qatar’s embassies, consulates abroad mark National Sport Day

QNA Doha

The diplomatic, consular and representative missions of Qa- tar abroad organised sporting activities to mark the National Sport Day, amid precautionary measures and procedures. In Berlin, the Embassy of Qatar in Germany organised activities on the occasion of the National Sport Day attended by Ambassador of Qatar to Ger- many HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani, the dip- lomatic staff and embassy staff. The programme included vari- ous sporting events. In Mexico City, the Embas- sy of Qatar in Mexico organised events attended by Ambassador of Qatar to Mexico HE Moham- med bin Jassim Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship Group Deputy Sergio Perez, diplomats and the embassy staff. The activities included a range of sports activities and a and badminton. tar to Afghanistan HE Saeed embassy staff, including diplo- Dehaimi, members of the dip- a number of Qatari citizens in The activities held in an football match. In a speech on the occa- bin Mubarak Al Khayarin and mats and administration staff. lomatic mission and embassy Houston. open sports centre included In Bandar Seri Begawan, sion, the ambassador stressed members of the embassy. In a speech on the occa- staff. In Mumbai, the Consulate- many sports such as spinning, the Embassy of Qatar in Bru- that the embassy continues to In San Jose, the Embassy of sion, the ambassador stressed Speaking on the occasion, General of Qatar organised ac- yoga and boxing. nei Darussalam organised ac- organise the Sports Day event Qatar in Costa Rica organised the importance of the National the ambassador said Sports tivities with the participation of In a speech on the occasion, tivities with the participation of annually based on its convic- activities attended by Ambas- Sports Day, noting that it is an Day reflects the interest that Consul-General HE Saif bin Ali the Acting Charge d’Affairs Ambassador of Qatar to Brunei tion of its importance in reflect- sador of Qatar to Costa Rica HE annual celebration aimed at en- Qatar attaches to sports and Al Mohannadi and members of said Qatar is keen to organise Darussalam HE Jassim bin Ali ing Qatar’s awareness, interest Dr Khamis bin Rashid Al Kaabi couraging and supporting the physical health, highlighting the mission. this sporting event every year Al Obaidli and members of the in sports and its noble values, and members of the embassy. participation of youth and all sport as a way of life that must In San Salvador, the Em- as one of the most important embassy, including diplomats, as well as contributing to the The activities included football groups in sports. not be abandoned to prevent bassy of Qatar in El Salvador occasions that show Qatar’s in- local employees and their fami- upbringing of generations in a match. In Dhaka, the Embassy of diseases and pandemics. organised sporting events with terest in sports and its keenness lies. healthy way. In Mogadishu, the Embassy Qatar in Bangladesh celebrated In Houston, the Consulate- the participation of Acting to consolidate sports culture to The Sport Day programme In Kabul, the Embassy of of Qatar in Somalia organised the National Sport Day with General of Qatar organised Charge d’Affairs in El Salvador create a healthy and strong so- included many sporting events Qatar in Afghanistan organ- events attended by Ambassador the participation of Ambas- sporting events attended by HE Tariq Othman Al Othman, ciety with the aim of promoting and activities such as running, ised activities with the partici- of Qatar to Somalia HE Hassan sador of Qatar to Bangladesh Consul-General HE Rashid members of the diplomatic public health and encourage walking, playing table tennis pation of Ambassador of Qa- bin Hamza Hashem and the HE Ahmed bin Mohammed Al bin Abdullah Al Dehaimi and corps and embassy staff. healthy, sound lifestyles. 04 Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Nation

BANGLADESH EMBASSY MARKS QATAR NATIONAL SPORT DAY Vodafone launches AR Game for Qatar National Sport Day Vodafone Qatar marked Na- tional Sport Day with the launch of a one-of-a-kind Augmented Re- ality (AR) game that allowed indi- viduals to move away from home safety. Open to everyone in Qatar, an immersive game that seamlessly these exceptional circumstances, blended real and virtual objects we’re delighted to have still been required players to collect as many able to engage the public in an in- balls as possible while avoiding novative and more importantly being hit by rogue characters. safe way on National Sport Day Players who scored the top three this year. Vodafone has histori- will win the iPhone 12, and play- cally on National Sport Day each ers in fourth and fifth place will year, showcased how technology win the AirPod Pro. On Wednes- can enable an active lifestyle and day, 10 February, Vodafone will promote wellbeing, and we’ll con- Bangladesh’s Embassy in Doha celebrated Qatar National Sport Day 2021. Bangladesh Ambassador HE Md Jashim Uddin and embassy officials participated in indoor contact the winners via the email tinue using our digital expertise sports activities organised on the embassy premises on the occasion. The ambassador wished the Government of Qatar and the brotherly people of Qatar peace, pros- address used to register their app to promote how you can live a perity and continued success in the area of sports. (TNN) store to receive their prizes. healthy lifestyle using innovative Vodafone Qatar, said, “During technology.” (TNN) BPS celebrates Qatar National Sport Day 2021 with fanfare Tribune News Network Doha

Birla Public School (BPS) stakehold- ers celebrated Qatar National Sport QIB celebrates National Day virtually on Tuesday with fanfare and exuberance. After invoking the Sport Day with host of blessings of the gracious Almighty and the energetic rendition of the Qatar National Anthem, Sports Captain Amil activities, special offers Rajesh welcomed the guests to witness a plethora of exciting events. Tribune News Network mention an “inactive” friend Addressing the audience, chief Doha in the comments, for a chance guest Gope Shahani, chairman, re- for three participants and marked, “Qatar National Sport Day is Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) their mentioned friends for celebrated with the aim of promoting celebrated Qatar National both to win a QR2,000 sports a healthy lifestyle among its popula- excellent tool to build self-confidence.” guests. BPS organised various indoor Sport Day with a number of gear vouchers. tion and I am pleased that our school is Offering congratulations, Dr Mo- Earlier, BPS Principal AP Sharma games as part of Qatar National Sport competitions and exciting of- In addition, QIB has part- doing all that it can to celebrate all the han Thomas, director of BPS and presi- said it was wonderful to live in a coun- Day for students, parents and teachers. fers to create awareness of nered with MyBook to offer national days and festivals.” dent of Indian Sports Center, Qatar, try where sports is practiced as a daily The winners of the sporting events the importance of sports and a number of National Sport Highlighting the importance of said, “As we celebrate the day, we must routine. He added that the brain be- were announced and the participants fitness in achieving a sound day offers. The MyBook offer, physical activity in the midst of the recognise sport as a choice in the pro- comes active when students play and were appreciated by everyone present. and healthy lifestyle, which, in available via the MyBook App COVID-19 pandemic, he said, “Sports fession. The new ESports in Qatar is a develop the ability to think in a split Rajesh Pillai, vice-principal, Co-Scho- turn, helps in the development will allow QIB customers to offers children and adults alike a change major game changer and students can second. “So sports helps them study lastic, gave a vote of thanks. of a strong and prosperous so- avail a “buy one and get one from the monotony of their daily life. It decide to try to do so as a goal.” and teaches balance in life, and every The day’s event was led by Prisha ciety. free” offer on all their pur- is also a useful means of entertainment A video on the recent achievements successful person preserves a place for Badwaik and Aaron Ansel Mathew of Showcasing the fun and chases from dedicated retail- and physical activity for them. It is an of the director was earlier shown to the sports in life.” Grade 11. rewarding benefits of sports ers in Qatar. and to promote the idea that The offer is valid at a host physical activities can be excit- of health and fitness outlets ing, QIB has posted a series of and brands including 365 Ad- sports and heath tips on its so- ventures, Adventure Rooms, Discover how to achieve your fitness goals with Huawei cial media channels, suitable Ozone Gym & Spa, Gymmito for a variety of ages and for all Fitness Club, Cedars Sports Tribune News Network HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro You can also keep track of members of the family to ben- Academy, Discover Arabia, Doha Moon Phase is no exception; your relaxation data, thanks efit from. Swasthi Yoga, Guerlain Spa in fact, you might consider it to the HUAWEI TruRelaxTM QIB followers got the op- Alfardan, National Cruise, A combination of the right an improvement on this front. technology that provides 24/7 portunity to contribute to the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness smartwatch, smartphone The new and improved version pressure monitoring, which sports tips and activities and Club, Doha Golf Club, Snow and health/fitness tracking of Huawei’s latest TruSeenTM allows to maintain a relaxed share the excitement of the Dunes, Cenfit, HappyF aces app will help you stay fit and 4.0+ and SpO2 24/7 health state of mind at all times. national holiday while benefit- Swimming Academy, and achieve your fitness goals. management monitoring tech- HUAWEI ID helps you ac- ing from information on how many more. Here are some cool ways to nology will both give you smart cess all kinds of HUAWEI Mo- to effectively make physical Commenting on Qatar use Huawei’s premium smart- reminders if your heart rate is bile Services, such as HUAWEI activity a daily part of their Sport Day activities, Bassel watch, the HUAWEI WATCH above or below normal levels. Music, HUAWEI Video, App- schedule and embark on a Gamal, QIB Group’s CEO, GT 2 Pro Moon Phase Collec- All of these data are stored and Gallery, etc. at all times. With healthier lifestyle. QIB’s tips said, “We are delighted to tion, along with its latest flag- can be viewed via the HUA- HUAWEI ID, you can enjoy will support the culture of see many people engaging ship smartphone, the HUA- WEI Health app installed on all HUAWEI Mobile Services sports and health among all with our health and fitness WEI Mate 40 Pro, and the to pair your HUAWEI WATCH can simply tap your phone on your phone and smartwatch. on any HUAWEI device. The the people in Qatar, and espe- tips, and participating in our right health management app, GT 2 Pro Moon Phase Collec- the HUAWEI Sound X, which The HUAWEI TruSleepTM HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 Pro cially to the ones who spend sports competitions. 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In addition, if you pre- with a host of health and fit- tracking, breathing during ing platform that contains a petition asking participants to ating this message each year.” visual experience. Don’t forget fer to work out at home, you ness tracking features, and the sleep and big data analytics. huge audio library. GAZOO Racing wins in Monte-Carlo with fantastic one-two victory

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The GAZOO Racing (GR) World Rally Team achieved a dream start to this year’s 2021 FIA World Rally Cham- pionship recently at Rallye Monte-Carlo. Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia won the legendary race in the No. 1 Toyota Yaris WRC, leading teammates Elfyn Ev- ans and Scott Martin in the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship/Round 01/Monte Carlo Rally No. 33 Toyota Yaris WRC to Worldwide. Copyright: Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota @Rallye Monte-Carlo 2021 FIA World Rally Championship/Round 01/Monte Carlo Rally secure a fantastic one-two Worldwide. Copyright: Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT finish. debut in 2017. dawn, complete with ice and No. 1 Toyota Yaris WRC with wards the manufacturers’ Kalle Rovanperä and Ogier and Ingrassia also snow. a storming stage win during championship. This, com- sibility, congratulations on Racing World Rally Team Jonne Halttunen claimed celebrated their historic 50th The teams also had to the third day’s first test. bined with the one-two finish the victory in your home rally throughout the 2021 season.” fourth in the No. 69 Toyota victory in the World Rally get to grips with tyres from He carried a 13-second in the rally, meant the team and your 50th win! Evans Sébastien Ogier said, Yaris WRC, completing an Championship, becoming the new sole supplier Pirelli advantage over Evans into took maximum points from and Martin, thank you for “This is a perfect start to the amazing day four for the GR only the second competitors during an event where tyre the fourth and final day, and the opening round – a dream bringing the points for sec- season. Watching this rally team. to attain this landmark. choice is always critical. went on to win three of the start for new Team Princi- ond place! I’m sure Latvala as a kid gave me the dream The fourth Rallye Monte- Rallye Monte-Carlo lived The GR team led the rally four stages, including the pal Jari-Matti Latvala as he will keep making this team to become a driver one day. Carlo win in Toyota’s history up to its reputation as the from its third stage early on rally-ending Power Stage, to looks to build upon the work better and better, and the If I could have only one re- came on the 30th anniversary most demanding event on the second morning, with kick off his title defence in of his predecessor Tommi drivers, co-drivers and team cord, for sure, I would take of its maiden victory in 1991. the WRC calendar with spe- Rovanperä, Ogier and Evans the perfect way. Mäkinen. members will make the Yaris this one. The Yaris WRC has This is the first time RG has cial challenges for this year’s all taking turns in the lead The team also succeeded Akio Toyoda, president of WRC an ever-better car. been fantastic on day four won the WRC’s most pres- edition. A modified schedule over the course of the rally’s in locking out the top three Toyota Motor Corporation, “Finally, I would like to and I had such a good feel- tigious event with its Toyota to follow COVID-19 restric- longest day. positions during the Power said: “Ogier and Ingrassia, say thank you to our fans. ing in the car. The team is Yaris WRC, having made the tions in France meant that On his home event, Ogier Stage, which from this sea- who I am sure achieved this I appreciate your contin- great, so a huge thanks to all podium every year since its some stages took place before claimed back the lead in the son gives bonus points to- result with pride and respon- ued support for the GAZOO of them.” World Wednesday, February 10, 2021 05 India glacier toll 32 Myanmar police use live ammunition as search for 165 against protesters, one woman shot missing continues dpa tinued overnight. The woman in her early 20s was at a protest in the capital Naypyitaw when police shot her in the head New Delhi “There is no breakthrough yet. We keep clearing the dpa Rescue workers were debris but it seems packed Phnom Penh Uprising searching for as many as 165 till way ahead,” Kumar ● missing people in northern said, indicating operations A protester in Myanmar was Demonstrators across India after a chunk of a gla- could take more time even in a critical condition on Tues- the country defied a ban cier fell into a river, trigger- as hopes for their survival day after she was shot by po- on gatherings of more than ing a massive flood that killed faded. lice during a protest, a doctor four people, issued by the at least 32 people. However, National Disas- told local media, as the regime regime on Monday The floodwaters washed ter Response Force comman- resorted to violence in a bid to away parts of two hydropow- dant PK Tiwari expressed stamp out an uprising against ● Thousands of civil er plants, roads and bridges confidence. “While previously last week’s military coup. servants have joined a on Sunday morning in the there was debris till the ceil- Police reportedly fired live general strike aimed at Chamoli district of Uttara- ing, this level is going down. ammunition and rubber bul- preventing the regime from khand state situated in the Our workers have found an lets into the crowd as well as being able to function western Himalayas. opening and are trying to using water cannon and tear properly. Military helicopters were make an entry somehow.” gas to violently crack down on carrying out aerial surveys Five more bodies were found a fourth day of mass nation- ● In Mandalay, the while teams from the disaster in the region, taking the of- wide protests, with dozens of country’s second largest response forces, police and ficial death toll to 31, local people detained and some in- city, police snatched paramilitary were scouring police said. Most of those jured. between 20 and 30 demon- gorges and valleys for survi- killed or missing were work- The woman, who is be- strators off the streets and vors, state police chief Ashok ers employed at the two lieved to be in her early 20s, reportedly detained a Kumar said. plants. was at a protest in the capital The main focus of the res- Uttarakhand is an ecolog- Naypyitaw when police shot journalist cue efforts were on a 2.5-kil- ically sensitive region prone her in the head, according to ometre long tunnel at the to flash floods and landslides. reports by local media outlets hydropower site where 35 Scientists had begun inves- including Myanmar Now and strike aimed at preventing workers were out of contact tigations into what caused Frontier Myanmar. Protesters confront a police vehicle during a demonstration against the military coup in the capital the regime from being able to since the disaster struck. the glacier to burst even as Demonstrators across the Naypyidaw on Tuesday. (AFP) function properly. Workers were using heavy environmentalists blamed country defied a ban on gath- “We hope to hold a refer- equipment and shovels and the disaster on rampant con- erings of more than four peo- top officials from the ousted and reportedly detained a power last Monday, bringing endum to abolish the 2008 cleared about 100 metres of struction activities and cli- ple, issued by the regime on government. journalist, according to the an end to a troubled 10-year constitution and end military debris and rocks from the mate change weakening the Monday, to voice their oppo- In Mandalay, the coun- Frontier Myanmar news transition to partial civilian dictatorship,” activist Maung tunnel in operations that con- glacier. sition to the coup and demand try’s second largest city, police outlet. rule. Saungkha told dpa, referring the release of civilian leader snatched between 20 and 30 Myanmar’s military chief Thousands of civil serv- to a charter drafted by the Aung San Suu Kyi and other demonstrators off the streets Min Aung Hlaing seized ants have joined a general military to entrench its power. Egypt reopens Rafah crossing with Gaza until further notice

dpa sues related to the upcoming outside world “is a positive Gaza City general elections in Palestine. sign that is an outcome of the Walid al-Awad, a member ongoing national dialogue, Egypt has announced that of the Political Bureau of the and it is a step that encour- will reopen the Rafah border People’s Party, told reporters ages the parties to move crossing point with the Gaza that Egypt decided to reopen forward towards ending the Strip on Tuesday until further Rafah crossing until further internal division.” notice as a goodwill gesture notice. Since the outbreak of the to encourage the Palestinian “It is a positive sign coronavirus pandemic in national dialogue. thanks to Egypt,” al-Awad March, Egypt has closed and Leaders of Palestinian said, adding that “once the reopened the Rafah crossing factions began a two-day internal division ends, its ef- due to the exit of Palestin- intra-national dialogue in fects will disappear.” Al-Awad ian travellers from the Gaza Relatives load on a vehicle the body of a victim recovered from Raini A girl looks on through the window of a vehicle whose top is loaded on Monday to discuss added that reopening the Strip and the return of those village, outside a temporary morgue in Tapovan of Chamoli district on with suitcases, while waiting at the Rafah border on Tuesday. (AFP) the political and technical is- only key crossing point to the stranded abroad. Tuesday. (AFP) North Korea is pushing ahead with Iran begins COVID-19 vaccination nuclear development: UN experts campaign with Russia’s Sputnik V dpa report says. can be fired from a submarine - New York The report adds that the were on display. nuclear programme is appar- The show of force came dpa anniversary of the country’s North Korea is pushing ahead ently financed in part by hack- shortly before US President Joe Tehran 1979 Islamic Revolution. with its nuclear weapons pro- ing activities that are directly Biden was inaugurated on Janu- Namaki said the country gramme despite international led by the North Korean secret ary 20. Iran began its coronavirus will only use foreign-developed sanctions, according to an inter- services. New US Secretary of State vaccination programme on vaccines that have been inter- nal UN report. This included targeting Antony Blinken said recently Tuesday with doctors and nationally recognized and ap- Pyongyang has “maintained “virtual assets and virtual asset that more sanctions could be ap- nurses the first groups to get proved for use, and which have and developed its nuclear and service providers” as well as at- plied in coordination with allies, jabs of Russia’s Sputnik V vac- begun to be used elsewhere. ballistic missile programmes, in tacking defence companies, the although he also spoke about cine. The country is working on its violation of UN Security Council expert panel wrote. pursuing diplomatic avenues. A ceremony to mark the own vaccines, but it could be resolutions,” according to a re- In addition, ruler Kim Jong Washington’s negotiations start of the campaign was held weeks or months until they’re port from a UN panel of experts Un circumvents UN sanctions with North Korea over its nu- at Imam Khomeini Hospital in approved. seen by dpa. on, among other things, illicit clear weapons programme have the capital Tehran and broad- Since the pandemic began Even though during 2020 imports of processed petroleum not made any progress since for- cast on television. nearly a year ago, more than no nuclear or ballistic missile by transferring the goods be- mer president Donald Trump’s To satisfy sceptics in the 58,000 deaths and more than tests were registered, North Ko- tween ships at sea. The country failed summit with the North country who questioned the A Iranian health worker receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the Imam 1.4 million infections have rea still “produced fissile materi- also exported coal last year, de- Korean leader in Vietnam in safety and efficacy of the Rus- Khomeini hospital in the capital Tehran on Tuesday. (afp) been recorded in Iran in con- al, maintained nuclear facilities spite sanctions prohibiting the February 2019. sian-made vaccine, the son of nection with the virus. and upgraded its ballistic mis- trade. Although Trump touted his Health Minister Saeed Namaki be able to receive the vaccine Sputnik V were delivered last Because of hard lockdowns sile infrastructure.” North Korea held an eight- friendly relationship with Kim, was seen on TV receiving the in stages, Namaki told state Thursday, with more set to ar- since November, the situation The rogue nuclear nation day party congress in January the two sides failed to agree on a first dose at the ceremony. broadcaster IRIB, with health rive in the coming weeks. has eased somewhat. Howev- also continued to seek mate- as well as a military parade in roadmap for North Korea’s dis- The limited rollout is start- care workers first in line, then The vaccination drive had er, up to 70 deaths and 7,000 rial and technology from over- which the country’s ballistic armament and what Pyongyang ing at several hospitals in Iran. people over the age of 65. been timed so that it could new infections per day contin- seas for those programmes, the missiles - including ones that could receive in return. All 83 million Iranians will Half a million doses of start 24 hours before the 42nd ue to be recorded. Four govt employees shot dead in Kabul China blocks Clubhouse social network over critical chats dpa Social media including reports that invitation codes dpa was ongoing, without giving Beijing Facebook, Twitter and Ins- sent to Chinese phone num- Kabul further details. tagram as well Google and bers could no longer be re- Targeted killings and Chinese censors have many foreign media websites ceived. Four government employees magnetic bomb attacks have blocked the popular social are blocked in China. Users can only take part in western Kabul were shot increased in Kabul in recent network Clubhouse after dis- Chinese platforms such as in Clubhouse discussions by dead by unknown gunmen on months, targeting government cussions critical of Beijing Weibo and Wechat are heav- invitation. Tuesday, officials said. officials, activists, and journal- took place on the audio chat- ily censored. These can however be Kabul police spokesman ists, according to a quarterly re- ting app. Clubhouse has not been bought online for around 300 Ferdows Faramarz said the port by the US Special Inspec- Users in China are no available in the Chinese Apple Yuan (46 dollars). victims were employees of the tor General for Afghanistan longer able to connect to the Store since October, but the Observers expressed fears Ministry of Rural Rehabilita- Reconstruction. platform, Great Fire con- app still became increasingly that many users in China had tion and Development. In another incident on firmed on Tuesday. The or- A group of people use their mobile phone as they rest on beds popular. registered with their Chinese A spokesman for the minis- Tuesday morning, at least one ganisation tracks Chinese in- during a visit to a store in Beijing on Tuesday. (AFP) Chinese users circum- mobile numbers, which are try said they were on their way person was wounded in a mag- ternet blocking. vented the barriers by using linked to their identification to the volatile Maidan Wardak netic bomb blast, security offi- Clubhouse was blocked af- Taiwan and the persecution of a thorn in the side of Chinese foreign Apple IDs to down- numbers. province in central Afghanistan cials said. ter intense debate took place Uighur Muslims in China. opinion monitors. load Clubhouse. Chinese state security when the gunmen stopped and There is no claim of respon- on the platform over political The Global Times, a Com- Clubhouse is not a “free After the ban, which ap- could use those numbers to killed them. sibility for the majority of the issues considered thorny by munist Party newspaper, also speech heaven,” the paper peared to come into force on find those involved in discus- Faramarz said an investi- attacks happening in the Af- Beijing - such as Hong Kong, made clear that the app was wrote on Monday. Monday evening, there were sions on thorny topics. gation by a joint security team ghan capital. 06 Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

Immigration Reform Shouldn’t Ignore If Biden Goes Big Now, He Enforcement May Have To Go Small Later Biden’s moves to reverse Trump’s errors are welcome, but comprehensive Yes, a lot of COVID-19 spending is necessary, but the basic laws of economics still hold reform needs more than that resident Joe Biden’s early law look minimal. US President efforts on immigration have Biden and his team need to Joe Biden Pfocused on quickly mending start over. Since the last big im- the damage done by his predeces- migration reform, the two parties sor. Quite right. President Donald have moved farther apart on the Trump was especially active, and issue. Nonetheless, a plan that especially foolish, on immigra- combined amnesty with better en- tion, so there’s plenty to undo. But forcement is capable of command- Biden is also looking farther ahead, ing bipartisan support. and he’s proposed a comprehen- The best way to strengthen sive immigration reform that’s immigration-law enforcement is meant to resolve the issue for the to require employers to vouch for foreseeable future. This part of his the legal status of their hires — thinking is harder to endorse. something that many employers Trump issued a blizzard of already do voluntarily. The federal executive orders on immigra- government maintains an E-Verify tion, most of them ill-conceived. service that lets them check job ap- Courts rejected many as illegal. plicants’ legal status. If the checks Biden’s early orders on the issue fail, the system allows for appeals are mostly an effort to pick up the and redress. In most cases, know- pieces. He’s rescinded the travel ing that the information will be ban imposed on some Muslim- verified is enough to encourage majority countries, stopped work compliance. Some employers — on Trump’s wall along the south- such as federal contractors — are ern border, moved to restore the required to use the system. Most Deferred Action for Childhood Ar- aren’t. A lot of Democrats are open rivals program that Trump tried to to the idea of obligatory E-Verify hobble, and withdrawn the “zero as part of comprehensive immi- tolerance” instruction on border gration reform. enforcement that led to thousands Biden should also pledge to Tyler Cowen of family separations. speed the completion of an entry- TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE One of these first Biden ini- exit tracking system that Congress tiatives encountered its own legal mandated all of 25 years ago. In lthough President Joe Biden’s $1.9 tril- buying mechanism, a practice that will be abused supporters really believe that, they are in for a long setback — a federal court, calling recent years, visa “overstays” have lion aid and stimulus package now appears but would never be popular if the public had to and unsatisfying four years. for a clearer explanation, put a greatly outnumbered unauthor- likely to pass, the current state of the econ- pay for it upfront. At the very least, some ele- It’s not as if there aren’t obvious candidates for hold on an order to pause most de- ized border crossers — one more omy suggests that a much smaller program ments of this package should be linked to future alternative investment: green energy, broadband portations (an attempt to reverse reason why Trump’s wall made lit- would suffice. Vaccines are on the way, many economic conditions. and public health infrastructure for the next pan- Trump’s efforts to accelerate re- tle sense. No nation can ensure its stateA budgets are in OK shape, household balance Nonetheless, after the failures of the re- demic, to name a few. Yes, I am familiar with the movals). Nonetheless, Biden is to border security unless it can reli- sheets are robust including many for the poor, real sponse to the Great Recession more than a dec- argument that spending the extra trillion or so now be applauded for moving quickly ably track the coming and going of estate is booming and retail sales are above where ade ago, the notion of spending almost $2 tril- will make it possible to spend more trillions later, to make repairs. foreign visitors. they were a year ago. lion, much of it on the poor, represents a kind of including on such policies. But whatever kind of Long-term immigration re- Adding these proposals to Make no mistake: A faster and better public catnip for progressives. It is so geared to their complicated political story you might tell, the ba- form is a different matter. The the Biden plan would refute the health response is imperative, both to save lives natural inclinations that they cannot help but sic laws of economics have not been repealed. In- challenge here is to strike a dif- charge of “enforcement never.” and to drive a recovery. It is not necessary, how- support the proposal. creasing current expenditures does, in fact, involve ficult balance — one that resolves And they’d stand a good chance of ever, to “juice the economy” at the scale being Leave aside the political question of how ag- foregone future opportunities. the status of the millions of peo- bringing moderate Republicans to proposed. Both Lawrence H Summers and Olivier gressively to pursue an agenda of a larger, more Another possible direction would be to rework ple living in the country illegally, support comprehensive reform. Blanchard, two of the best Keynesian macroecono- activist government (and keep in mind that I am Sen. Mitt Romney’s proposed child support plan builds a system to promote the Many other issues would still mists in the world, have said so. But in the current more libertarian than many of the participants and turn it into an enduring policy. It is an expen- additional immigration the coun- need to be resolved. These include debate, they are not being refuted so much as dis- in this debate). Take a Big Government as a giv- sive idea, but at least it would represent a greater try needs, and ensures that future the extent to which needed skills, missed because they are not left-wing enough. en. History shows that consumption still ought investment in America’s future than mere one-off illegal immigration is kept under on the one hand, and family con- There are, to be sure, arguments for such a not be the priority. cash transfers. control. Biden’s proposal rightly nections, on the other, should be large package. But they do not represent the best First, wise public sector investments are better The defenders of the president’s plan argue provides an eight-year pathway to criteria in immigrant applications. economic advice. for the poor than one-time wealth transfers. The that inflation and an overheated economy are citizenship for most of the 11 mil- What role should temporary work The first principle of economics is opportu- US is still reaping the benefits of the great public not major risks. Maybe so, maybe not — but that lion people thought to be living visas play? What about refugees nity cost, namely that any policy should be com- health and public works achievements of the 20th is not the crucial issue. Instead, ask yourself this in the U.S. without legal status, and asylum seekers? pared with possible better alternatives. Under century. Second, the most enduring and beneficial question: Does this program, or this rhetoric, rec- but it lacks an effective plan to How can a notoriously slow this analysis, the current plan falls short. It has government-transfer programs, such as Social Se- ognize the paramount importance of investment, strengthen immigration enforce- and inefficient system be stream- far too much for consumption, and not nearly curity, have been built on sustainable majorities. whether public or private? If not, you needn’t look ment alongside. Critics who deride lined and modernized? None enough investment. Major plan components in- Progressive societies are fundamentally based much further. the plan as “amnesty first, enforce- of that is easy — but a smaller, clude a $1,400 cash transfer, a lot more unem- on a valorization of investment — in physical struc- ment never” have a point. As it well-balanced, politically fea- ployment insurance, aid to schools, paid leave tures, in software, in sustainable policies. This ar- (Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion stands, the proposal risks aggra- sible bill would be a good start. provisions, aid to state and local governments, gues against a “Let’s grab this policy win while we columnist. He is a professor of economics vating the problem of illegal immi- Biden should take another look and temporary transfers to families. can” attitude, no matter how popular that stance at George Mason University and writes gration. Its prospects of becoming at his plan. A lot of this cash will be saved, diminishing may currently be on social media. It’s foolish to for the blog Marginal Revolution. His its effect as stimulus. There is also the risk that think that no other policy combination is politi- books include “Big Business: A Love (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE) distributing goodies will become a periodic vote- cally feasible, and if the president’s advisers and Letter to an American Anti-Hero”) No One Will Be Free Until We All Are Ingrid Newkirk placed a concern as asking if water sexism and racial injustice must sanitation and alms for the poor of TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE is racist. be decried by people of every London and to stop the whipping Struggles for justice take many race. Each one of us is needed in of horses on public streets, im- BBC announcer recently got forms and King himself recognized the struggle for animal liberation, mense suffering would have con- into trouble for using the phrase that. He was even criticized by his and we will not be whole human tinued. Was it white savior com- A“nitty-gritty,” which some peo- own followers then, as PETA has beings until we reject suprema- plex, wealthy savior complex and ple believe harkens back to the been now, for involving himself in cism in all its ugly forms. human savior complex? No. It was detritus found on the floor of slave issues outside the Black civil rights Atrocities are atrocities no mat- because he recognized that it was ships. Other linguistic scholars dis- movement. That doesn’t stop this ter the victim’s age, religion, iden- all one struggle — for all the disen- miss that as nonsense. Neverthe- animal rights group from serv- tity, nationality, ethnicity, gender franchised. Bless his big heart. less, these days one has to tread ing vegan food at marches against — or species. It is human suprema- Black, white, brown, yellow. carefully, as it’s not good enough racial injustice or passing the hat cism to think that there is some- Gay, straight, transgender. Mus- to condemn racists: People who in- when a mosque or Black church thing sacrosanct about a woman’s lim, Catholic, Jew, Hindu. Rat, advertently cause offense must be is burned or its congregation at- experience of rape and that it’s not pig, dog, human. In the end, the called out, too. Fair enough. tacked out of hatred. I believe, as the same for a cow imprisoned on only relevant divide should be be- Tracey Ullman’s “too woke to did King, that injustice isn’t a single a dairy farm if a man shoves his tween those who want liberty and function” video pokes fun at this issue, and it is to King’s immense hand deep inside her and inserts justice for all and those who want hypersensitivity. “Is water racist?” credit that he recognized the power a long syringe. Aren’t her pain and it only for the few they narrowly a horrified young man in a “woke” of uniting the struggles against the fear just as real as a woman’s? If identify with. support group asks, only to be told many forms of injustice. Never be- we turn a blind eye to heinous acts Perhaps this year we will look that that kind of worrying can ruin ing silent was his life’s work, and it of abuse and killing that happen to deep inside ourselves and realize any chance he has of relaxing and is PETA’s obligation. A protester holds a sign against horse racing in front of Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, those who don’t happen to be hu- that what animals have, including enjoying life. No one who knows PETA California. (TNS) man, that is human supremacism. their very lives, is theirs alone, not I’m all for trying to make posi- doubts that we oppose all exploi- Martin Luther King Jr. spoke ours for the taking. tive changes, but here’s something tation, discrimination, needless unrelated. Perhaps particularly tant to you but should not exempt up not just for racial equality but I don’t agree with. Some have said violence, abuse and slaughter — all when people are already upset with you from your role in the larger also for women. And he also spoke (Ingrid Newkirk is the it is insensitive for PETA to men- of it. Our job is to wake people up, one form of injustice, that’s the community of life. You don’t have up for white pacifists. Should he president and founder tion the importance of the strug- shake people up and find creative time to convince, even challenge, to be Japanese to know intern- have shut up? If William Wilber- of People for the Ethical gle for animal rights in the same ways to call for an overarching them not to abandon those who are ment camps were wrong, you force, a privileged member of the Treatment of Animals, 1536 breath as praising Martin Luther view, not slink into a corner and always on the margins. don’t have to be a captive orca to landed gentry in England, had not 16th St. NW, Washington, DC King Jr. To me, that’s as mis- pretend that our movements are Who you are may be impor- protest captivity, men must fight fought to free slaves, to provide 20036; www.PETA.org)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Wednesday, February 10, 2021 07 WHO virus probe seeks answers beyond Wuhan, rules out lab theory

dpa Embarek told a press confer- and in pangolins. that the virus may have been Beijing ence in Wuhan, where the Embarek pointed out that “However, the viruses introduced to Wuhan by trav- COVID-19 disease was first the virus may have been identified so far from neither ellers or through frozen wild More research is needed to detected in December 2019. introduced to Wuhan by of these species are sufficiently animal products from other find out whether the novel Scientists from China, 10 travellers or through frozen similar to Sars-CoV-2” to de- Chinese regions or countries. coronavirus originated in bats other countries and UN or- termine the winged creatures Liang highlighted some in China or in another coun- ganisations spent the past wild animal products from as the source and the scaled studies suggesting that the try, an expert group led by the weeks examining markets, other Chinese regions or mammals as intermediary virus was already present World Health Organisation health facilities and laborato- countries hosts, said Chinese investiga- abroad in late 2019, in line (WHO) said on Tuesday at the ries in and around the city of tion team leader Liang Wann- with theories of a foreign virus end of a month-long investiga- Wuhan to find the source of extremely unlikely to explain ian. Embarek stressed that origin that have been propa- tion in China. the pandemic. the introduction of the virus further investigations should gated by Beijing. The most likely hypoth- Although they did not reach into the population,” given no not only focus on China but The foreign investigation esis that has emerged is that definite conclusions, they have laboratory in the area had been on other countries in Asia and team members did not con- the virus came from an ani- all but ruled out the possibility working with such a virus. beyond. firm such theories, but they mal species, moved to a sec- that the virus escaped from a The novel coronavirus, More work is needed to said that more data from ond intermediary species and Chinese laboratory. scientifically known as Sars- sample bats and other possible early cases outside China are jumped to humans, WHO an- Embarek said that the “lab- CoV-2, is most closely relat- host species abroad, he said. needed to map the path that World Health Organisation animal disease expert Peter Ben Embarek imal disease expert Peter Ben oratory incident hypothesis is ed to viruses found in bats Embarek also pointed out the virus took. speaks during a press conference in Wuhan on Tuesday. (AFP)

Turkey offers US American compromise on Historic second impeachment of aircraft carriers Russian S-400 conduct South missile systems China Sea drills dpa Donald Trump begins in the Senate dpa Washington Turkey is ready to make dpa already approved. concessions in a dispute with Washington Democrats in the House The United States conducted NATO ally the United States began the impeachment pro- military exercises in the dis- on the Russian S-400 missile The historic second impeach- cess after a whistle-blower puted waters of the South Chi- defence system if Washington ment of former US President complaint revealed that na Sea on Tuesday, in a show ends its support of the Syrian Donald trump has begun in the Trump attempted to use the of force by the new adminis- Kurdish militia, local media Senate on Tuesday. aid as leverage to extract po- tration of President Joe Biden. quoted Defense Minister Hu- It is the first time a presi- litical favours from Ukraine’s The aircraft carrier groups lusi Akar as saying. dent has been impeached after leadership. Theodore Roosevelt and Nim- Ankara can consider lim- leaving office. During a call with Ukraine’s itz carried out a joint drill, the ited use of the S-400s, Akar Senators will engage in up president, Trump hinted that first suchU S manoeuvre in the said, citing the installation to four hours of debate on the he would release the assistance area since July 2020, the US of S-300 missile systems in constitutionality of impeach- if Ukraine opened an investiga- Navy said in a statement. Greece, in an interview pub- ing a former president. tion into Biden. China claims almost the lished by local media on Tues- Senators will then vote The Senate must vote by a entire South China Sea, a key day, including Hurriyet daily. on the constitutionality. They two-thirds majority to convict shipping lane believed to be The systems are not in- only need a simple majority to in an impeachment, and Re- rich in marine and mineral tended to be in constant use, move forward. publican lawmakers were un- resources. It has built artificial Akar said: “These systems are The US has only had four willing to vote against a popular islands with military-capable used based on the threat situ- presidential impeachments in member of their party. facilities over disputed reefs ation.” “We can find a solution its history, two of which were It is likely that the same and outcrops in the area. for the S-400s in our talks of Trump and took place over thing will happen in the second Other countries have made with the US. But, we expect the last year. No other president File photo of former US president Donald Trump. (AFP) impeachment trial. territorial claims over parts them to see the facts about the or federal official has been im- Democrats now control of the sea, including the Phil- YPG,” Akar added. peached twice. ers to go to the Capitol building a president cannot be im- the Senate by the slimmest ippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, He was referring to the The US House of Repre- to protest. peached after leaving of- possible majority, but they do Brunei and Taiwan. Syrian Kurdish People’s Pro- sentatives has charged Trump Shortly thereafter, thou- fice. Many constitutional law not appear to have the sup- “Through operations like tection Units (YPG), which with incitement of an insur- sands of angry Trump support- scholars have dismissed this port of the necessary number this, we ensure that we are Ankara considers a terrorist rection for his involvement in ers stormed the US Capitol, argument, however. of Republican lawmakers to tactically proficient to meet organization and an offshoot a deadly riot at the US Capitol breaking windows, stealing Will Trump be Democratic lawmakers convict Trump. the challenge of maintaining of the outlawed Kurdistan on January 6. documents and sending US law- argue that it is imperative for At least 17 Republi- peace and we are able to con- Workers’ Party (PKK). The events took place after makers into hiding. Five people impeached? Trump to be impeached in or- can Senators would need to tinue to show our partners and The YPG has been instru- Trump refused to admit that died, including one policeman. der to safeguard US democracy. vote against Trump in the allies in the region that we are mental in fighting Islamic he lost the November 2020 Among those who stormed The Senate must vote by a Trump’s conduct “endan- 100-member chamber. committed to promoting a free State in Syria. presidential election to current the Capitol were members of two-thirds majority to convict gered the life of every single Republican Senators are and open Indo-Pacific,” com- “If we cannot find a solu- US President Joe Biden, and white supremacist and self- in an impeachment, and member of Congress” and wary of alienating Trump’s mander Doug Verissimo said. tion, we cannot go anywhere instead promoted unsubstanti- styled militia groups. Republican lawmakers were “jeopardized the peaceful tran- highly mobilised political base The South China Sea drill in relations with the US,” Akar ated claims of voter fraud. Democrats in Congress unwilling to vote against a sition of power and line of suc- and wish to avoid censuring comes after a US warship said, calling US support for Many of Trump’s support- argued that Trump should popular member of their party. cession,” impeachment manag- him publicly by voting to con- crossed the Taiwan strait on the YPG “the most sensitive ers believed the conspiracy the- be immediately impeached It is likely that the same thing ers wrote in a pre-trial brief. vict. Still, most have stopped February 4, drawing ire from issue” in US-Turkey relations. ories that argued the vote was for inciting the violence. The will happen in the second Trump was acquitted by the short of defending his actions. China. Turkey angered its NATO stolen. proceedings, however, were impeachment trial Republican-controlled Senate Trump’s firstimpeachment “China will continue to allies in 2019 by purchasing During a rally in Washing- delayed until after Biden’s in- during his first impeachment, trial lasted nearly three weeks. be on high alert, stand ready the S-400 system. Ankara ton on January 6, scheduled as auguration. which took place in 2019 after But this trial is expected to pro- to deal with any threats and test-fired the S-400 batteries a joint session of Congress met In a brief filed on Monday, their client. Trump ordered a freeze on 391 ceed much faster, with a final provocations, and resolutely in October but the systems are to certify the results of the elec- Trump’s lawyers asked the Sen- Their defense is largely million dollars of security aid vote perhaps coming as soon as safeguard national sovereignty not activated yet. tion, Trump urged his support- ate to dismiss the case against based on the argument that to Ukraine that Congress had early next week. and territorial integrity,” Chi- nese Foreign Ministry spokes- person Wang Wenbin said in comments carried by news agency Xinhua last Thursday. The US supports Taiwan’s Up to 10 years in prison for people lying on British passenger form independence, while China dpa pounds (13,791 dollars). to 14 days) and a 5,000-pound countries - including Argentina, under way for further hotel People will have to have views the island as a breaka- London Those who fail to declare fine which could rise to 10,000 South Africa or Zimbabwe - will rooms to be added in the future a negative coronavirus test way province that will reunite they have been to red listed- pounds for people who fail to be required to spend 10 days in for incoming passengers. result 72 hours before they with the mainland one day. Travellers entering Britain countries - where new strains quarantine in a hotel. a government-designated hotel. Only travellers returning come back to England, take Beijing has said the in- from overseas could be fined of coronavirus have been found “These measures will be A total of 16 hotels have from the 33 red list countries a second test three days into auguration of President Joe or jailed for up to 10 years if - on a passenger locator form put into force this week,” he been contracted to provide will be required to isolate in the isolation and then a third test Biden could be a new start in they do not comply with new face up to 10 years in prison. added. “I make no apologies for 4,600 rooms for people quar- hotel rooms - other passengers on the eighth day. US-China relations, after his coronavirus measures. A 1,000-pound penalty will the strength of these measures antining in England - which can isolate for 10 days at home. Under current rules, peo- predecessor Donald Trump Health Secretary Matt be given to international arriv- because we’re dealing with one Hancock says will cost 1,750 Hancock also confirmed ple have to present a negative espoused a tough line. Hancock told the British als who fail to take a mandatory of the strongest threats to our pounds in total for the stay, previous reports that three tests test 72 hours before they fly The military moves how- parliament on Tuesday that test, a 2,000-pound penalty for public health that we’ve faced including costs for testing, will be required for all interna- and isolate for 10 days after- ever indicate that the new US people who fail to quarantine people who fail to take the sec- as a nation.” From Monday, transport to the hotel and the tional travellers in total as well wards. They can also pay pri- administration might contin- after travelling back in Brit- ond test (and an automatic ex- nationals or residents return- hotel stay itself. as a quarantine period when vately for a test five days into ue to take a hard approach to ain will be fined up to 10,000 tension of a quarantine period ing to England from the 33 dpa understands talks are returning to Britain. their isolation if they wish. China, at least in some areas.

Sputnik V jab won’t be available to EU until May FEMALE BUS QUOTATIONS FOR dpa that the country’s existing vaccine Moscow portfolio included jabs that had ATTENDANTS REQUIRED PURCHASE OF TYRES already been approved or were Russia does not believe it is possible about to be approved. to deliver its locally made Covid-19 She told a Lithuanian radio Sealed quotations are Sealed quotations are invited for the vaccine Sputnik V to the European station that the vaccination of the purchase of (36) tyres with tube/tubeless Union before May or June. country’s 3 million inhabitants Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the would be ensured through the invited for the hiring of (18) for Ashok Leyland, Foton and King Long Russian Direct Investment Fund, joint procurement of vaccines with buses, latest by Feb 16, 2021, as per the told state television Rossiya 24 other EU countries. female bus attendants for that “big deliveries to the EU are In recent days there has been a Simonyte has accused Moscow following specifications: possible only after the mass vac- back-and-forth between Moscow and of using Sputnik V for geopoliti- cinations in Russia are finished.” the EMA over whether the fund had cal purposes, saying on Twitter that school transport, latest by (30 tyres size 1100 R 22.5 16PR 148/145) The fund is responsible for the in- even submitted an application for re- the Kremlin is using the jab as “an- (06 tyres size 1000R 20 16 PR 146/143) ternational marketing of Sputnik view of Sputnik V. other hybrid weapon to divide and V, which is already approved and “We hope that our applica- conquer.” According to official data, Feb 18, 2021. All Japanese and Korean Brands in use in many countries. tion will be reviewed shortly and almost 80,000 people in Lithuania The two-dose vaccine has not that no political arguments will be have been vaccinated so far, of which yet been approved by the European brought forward in this procedure, a good 60 per cent have already re- Address: Address: Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in but that it will be evaluated factu- ceived both injections. Principal Office, Pakistan International Principal Office, Pakistan International the European Union. ally,” Dmitriev said. The Sputnik V vaccine has been School Qatar, PO Box 1930. School Qatar, PO Box 1930. Sputnik V, if approved, could Also on Tuesday, Lithuania’s found to be more than 91-per-cent For further details, please call For further details, please call help the bloc with its shortfall in jabs, Prime Minister Ingrida Simo- effective against Covid-19, according 44683250/44683343 (Ext 33) which as led to growing frustration nyte spoke out against the use of to a study published in the medical 44683250/44683343 (Ext 33) among the 27-member union. Sputnik V in her country, saying journal The Lancet last week. or visit our website.www.pisqdoha.com or visit our website.www.pisqdoha.com Bitcoin powers to $50K as Tesla takes it mainstream page 10

Wednesday, february 10, 2021

Dukhan Bank GCC consumer confidence launches Fitbit highly positive, says study Pay, Garmin Pay GCC is among most optimistic regions in world with Qatar rating high in consumer confidence through D-Pay

Tribune News Network as well as suiting their needs better Tribune News Network pleased to work with Dukhan Doha (31 percent). This popularity is es- Doha Bank to introduce Garmin Pay pecially striking when compared to and Fitbit Pay for Visa card- Consumers in the GCC are among other markets like the US where just To mark the Qatar Nation- holders in Qatar.” the world’s most optimistic when 32 percent of respondents said they al Sport Day celebrations, Mastercard said, “We are considering a post-COVID future, ac- choose prepaid mobile. Dukhan Bank, Qatar’s lead- excited to extend our partner- cording to the Inaugural Ding Global Roden said, “The Global Prepaid ing banking player, has an- ship with Dukhan Bank to Prepaid Index. This bi-annual global Index has revealed the importance of nounced the launch of Fitbit launch Garmin Pay and Fitbit study commissioned by Ding, the prepaid products for GCC consum- Pay and Garmin Pay to the Pay. Mastercard has been in world’s largest mobile top-up service ers and our research shows that pre- Dukhan Pay (D-Pay) contact- the forefront of introducing in- examines the views of 7,000 respond- paid products are preferred across less payment platform. novative solutions that are tai- ents across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the the economic divide – which goes The launch is as part of the lored to meet the needs of con- UAE, US, the UK, France, Brazil, In- in some way against the long-held bank’s commitment to facili- sumers and further accelerate donesia, and the Philippines. assumption that many were choos- tate a digital transformation of digital transformation in the Despite the difficulties imposed by ing prepaid options out of necessity banking services and transac- market. We are in a unique po- the pandemic, consumers in the Gulf rather than choice.” tions that also ensure a safe sition to leverage our expertise are among the most positive when Furthermore, he said, “In fact, and easy payment experience and act as an enabler for prod- it comes to their current and future 83 percent of people surveyed glob- for its customers. ucts that provide our consum- situation. The overall consumer confi- ally claimed to engage in the prepaid On the Dukhan Pay (D- ers with faster, safer, conveni- dence rate stood at 63, far higher than economy by choice rather than out of Pay) platform, customers can the Global Consumer ConfidenceI n- necessity, enabling them to control now add their Dukhan Bank dex at 52.1. their expenses while at the same time debit and credit cards to their Diving deeper into the data, KSA allowing those without a bank ac- respective Fitbit and Garmin consumer confidence is at 68, AEU at count access to communications and devices to make quick and 62 and Qatar, which only recently re- financial services.” seamless contactless transac- stored diplomatic ties with the rest of Appetite for prepaid products is tions directly from the wrist. the GCC is at 58. This positivity is also not limited to mobile phones as KSA Commenting on this felt towards the economy with 71 per- has the highest prepaid market size, launch, Dukhan Bank said, ent and more hygienic ways to cent in the GCC stating that they have with 95 percent of those surveyed “We are pleased to add Fitbit pay. We will continue to work an optimistic economic outlook and having engaged in at least one facet Pay and Garmin Pay to the closely with our partners in Qa- 66 percent feeling optimistic about of the prepaid market, including mo- Dukhan Pay (D-Pay) contact- tar to introduce products that their future work prospects. bile bills, financial products, other bill less platform. These two ser- designed to exceed the needs of There is a direct correlation be- payments like utilities, or gift cards vices will surely enhance our consumers in the market.” tween consumer confidence and per- and vouchers. customers’ experience by ena- Dukhan Bank plans to ceived government handling of the In Qatar, this stands at 91 percent bling them to perform contact- launch more contactless pay- COVID-19 crisis. Saudi Arabia had the while in the UAE it is at 90 percent, less payments in a way that is ments products in the near highest approval rating for its govern- (66 percent), while in Qatar it is 53 their future than many others around highlighting the overall opportunity seamless and safe, reflecting future, as it aims to provide ment with 82 percent stating that the percent. This is substantially higher the world.” of the prepaid market. The majority clearly the banks’ commitment the best innovative services to government is doing all it can to deal when compared to France, were just The report also shows that con- of these users, 76 percent in the GCC, to creating advanced payment customers and to offer them with the crisis. In the UAE this stands 33 percent of the respondents plan to sumers in the GCC are among the are engaging in prepaid mobile bills methods that meet the constant the safest paying solutions. at 79 percent while in Qatar it is at 72 get vaccinated. world’s most avid users of prepaid with 51 percent paying other bills and ever-evolving needs of our These steps are also taken with percent. This is in stark contrast to Commenting on the findings, mobile phone contracts and that prepaid. customers.” a view of supporting the health the West where just 34 percent in the Ding Founder and Chief Executive there is a significant appetite for oth- The lockdowns and travel restric- In a statement, Visa said, and safety of customers amid US agree the government is doing all Mark Roden said, “The GCC’s swift er prepaid products. Prepaid mobile tions have left many unable to see “Visa is continuously working the spread of COVID-19 by it can to handle the crisis, and 47 per- response to the COVID-19 pandemic is favoured by a whopping 81 percent their loved ones, making the need to deliver new and innovative making banking services avail- cent in both France and the UK. has been in contrast to many other in Qatar, 76 percent in Saudi Arabia to communicate virtually more im- form factors to our partners. able anytime and anywhere, Vaccine hesitancy in the region is countries around the world, and may and 70 percent of those surveyed in portant than ever before. Even on its Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay supported by a wide portfolio also low in comparison to the rest of be reflected in the consumer con- the UAE. Overall in the GCC, prepaid own platform, Ding has seen close to use Visa Token Service and of- of internet banking services. the world. The majority, 62 percent, fidence of the region globally, the mobile is the preferred option for 76 a 50 percent annual uptick in prepaid fer cardholders enhanced op- D-Pay, or Dukhan Pay, is of those surveyed in the GCC, plan to pandemic has devastated people and percent of the respondents. transactions during 2020, with cus- tions for contactless payments the latest digital banking ser- get the vaccine once it is available. businesses, but it is interesting that Interestingly, those surveyed tomers prioritising keeping in contact through wearables, enabling vice that is offered by Dukhan This was highest in the UAE (68 consumers in the GCC are feeling claim that it acts as a tool for con- by either topping up their own phones their active lifestyle while offer- Bank to power digital banking percent), followed by Saudi Arabia more confidence and optimism about trolling expenditure (28 percent) or sending airtime to others. ing a secure way to pay. We are transformation in the country.

NeXTFairs, Boecker in deal to ensure health, safety at BYH expo

Tribune News Network for the visitors of the exhibition Doha by providing the best products and technologies in the fields of NeXTfairs for exhibitions and construction, architectural design, conferences and Boecker, a global decoration, contracting, in addi- leader in health and safety, have tion to the technologies of smart signed a partnership agreement to and green buildings. implement the preventive meas- The second edition of the exhi- ures against COVID-19, and ensure bition is marked by the diversity of public health and safety during participating institutions including NeXTfairs’ upcoming Build Your the public and private sectors, as House (BHY 2021) exhibition. well as other international compa- The exhibition will be held at nies. The event targets Qatari citi- the Qatar National Convention zens who are looking for building Center (QNCC) from March 22 to their houses to help them to obtain March 24, 2021, under the patron- ideas and information about build- age of the Prime Minister and Min- ing their new houses or renovating ister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid their existing ones. The exhibition bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani. has also become an important plat- Under the terms of the agree- form that connects visitors with ment, Boecker will implement the The BHY 2021 exhibition will be held at the Qatar National Convention Center NeXTFairs for Exhibitions and Carla Ghaleb, General Manager of contractors and consultants to en- precautionary measures that will from March 22 to March 24 this year. Conferences GM Rawad Sleem Boecker in Qatar able them to determine their op- ensure the health and safety of all tions and make decisions related to participants, exhibitors and visi- to ensure the safety of organisers, provide complete safety for visi- managed, and precisely for Build places. In addition to maintaining the construction process. tors during the exhibition. participants, and visitors. In addi- tors and participating companies. Your House exhibition. We aligned a safe distance between individu- Boecker in Qatar General Man- The measures include regular tion to applying the precautionary That’s why we have partnered the measures with the Ministry of als of at least 2 meters, conducting ager Carla Ghaleb said, “We look and consistent disinfection of the measures of QNCC in line with the with Boecker, which is committed Public Health guidelines and the temperature checks on all employ- forward, through this partnership, halls, exhibition stands and all ex- best global and local practices in the to providing global best practices local health officials, and we con- ees daily during the three days of to optimise all our experiences to hibits before bringing into the exhi- field of business events, to provide in applying preventive measures tinue adjusting our approach as the exhibition, immediately isolat- ensure the health and safety of all bition halls. In addition, Boecker will the safest experience for both ex- against COVID-19, reflecting our necessary to follow the best prac- ing employees when noticing any of visitors and participants of the ex- also provide the general supervision hibitors and visitors. keenness to offer an exceptional tices in the event industry.” the symptoms, and keep in contact hibition. Boecker has more than 15 of other preventive measures such NeXTFairs for Exhibitions and version of the exhibition this year.” Sleem indicated that the guide- with the Ministry of Public Health, years of experience in the disinfec- as thermal scanning of the partici- Conferences General Manager He said, “We at NeXTfairs de- lines of Qatar Clean Program will while applying the same rules to tion of public and private places. pants, wearing of masks, and check- Rawad Sleem said, “We have a veloped a risk assessment plan of be implied during the exhibition the participating companies. During the exhibition, it will dedi- ing Eheteraz App, among others. close relationship with Boecker as more than 40 pages, covering all including daily disinfection of the Sleem added that ‘BYH 2021’ cate highly trained technicians to Moreover, Boecker will provide we have cooperated together in a the risks response plans from miti- exhibition premises, as well as en- exhibition had attracted about 200 carry out the disinfection process in internal audits on practices and series of previous exhibitions and gation to avoidance to transferring suring thorough disinfection of local and international companies, accordance with international safe- measures taken -based on Qatar events. In ‘BYH’ exhibition, we and acceptance for the pre, during areas that entail meeting and com- which reflects the tremendous ty standards wearing appropriate Clean programme that was launched will apply the strictest precaution- and post-event. This is a practice we municating with visitors, especially global confidence in the Qatari personal protective equipment and by Qatar National Tourism Council ary measures against COVID-19 to do in general for all the events we reception halls, and other common market and enhances the options using the latest spray technology.” Economy & Business Wednesday, February 10, 2021 09 Diamonds all SoftBank net set to regain profit soars German trade in 2020 hit pre-pandemic to $11.1 bn in sparkle in ’22-24 third quarter by biggest fall since 2009 Agencies Agencies

SoftBank Group on German exports contracted by a hefty 9.3 percent in 2020 as the pandemic hit world trade Diamond jewelry demand Monday said net profit will recover to pre-pandemic rocketed to 1.171 trillion DPA introduced in November and January, the Munich-based The latest economic fig- levels between 2022 and 2024, yen ($11.1 billion) in the Berlin extended into 2021. ifo economic research insti- ures also come ahead of with China leading the way, a third quarter as stock ral- But data released in recent tute said last month, under- Wednesday’s meeting of Mer- report commissioned by the lies and asset sales helped German trade posted its days showed production stag- lining the threat to the econ- kel and the nation’s 16 state Antwerp World Diamond Cen- it solidify its recovery. biggest drop in a decade in nating in December and fac- omy posed by the pandemic. premiers, which is widely ex- tre predicted. The net profit for 2020 adding to signs that the tory orders falling more than Exports edge up The latest slew of econom- pected to extend the current Demand recovery will di- October-December was economic fallout from the forecast as the year ended. ic data underlined the risks lockdown until at least the verge depending on lockdown more than 21 times higher coronavirus crisis could ex- “The initial post-lock- German exports edged higher for Chancellor Angela Mer- end of the month. policies, government support, than the 55.0 billion yen tend much later into this year. down rebound is petering by 0.1 percent in December kel’s conservatives as they It is currently due to ex- and the extent to which retail- reported a year earlier, the German exports contract- out,” said Claus Vistesen, month-on-month, helped by gear up for two key state elec- pire on February 15. ers manage to shift sales on- conglomerate said. ed by a hefty 9.3 per cent in chief eurozone economist at strong demand from China, tions in just four weeks. The This is despite growing line, said the report by consult- Despite the results, it 2020 as the pandemic hit the research group Pantheon but substantially down on elections also threaten to be pressure from business for a ing group Bain. said it would not provide world trade - the steepest de- Macroeconomics. November’s solid 2.3-per-cent overshadowed by the nation’s plan to wind back the restric- The diamond industry was “forecasts of consolidated cline since the global financial Month on month, exports gain, Destatis said. December - and the European Union’s tions amid signs that a sense already under stress before results of operations as crisis in 2009, the Federal edged higher by 0.1 per cent - faltering virus vaccination of lockdown fatigue is setting 2020, but although the COV- they are difficult to pro- Statistical Office (Destatis) in December helped by strong imports slipped by 0.1 per campaign. in across the wider popula- ID-19 pandemic exacerbated ject due to numerous un- said on Tuesday. Imports demand from China, but sub- cent. The slump also hit Indeed, the results in the tion. this, the report said it is well certainties affecting earn- were down 7.1 per cent in stantially down on Novem- domestic retail sales, which Baden Wuerttemberg and “From the employers’ placed to recover. ings”. 2020 compared with 2019. ber’s solid 2.3-per-cent gain, ended the year down by a Rhineland-Palatinate elec- point of view, it would be in- “We strongly believe that But the economic cri- Germany’s key industrial Destatis said. December im- massive 9.6 per cent. tions on March 14 could comprehensible to continue the industry is in very good sis that has accompanied sector emerged in the middle ports slipped by 0.1 per cent. shape the political mood for the restrictive measures with- shape for a strong rebound,” the coronavirus pandemic of last year as a mainstay of The slump also hit domes- With car dealers across the rest of the year, including out finally identifying a clear Olya Linde, a partner at Bain, has worked largely in Soft- the nation’s economic growth. tic retail sales, which ended the nation largely closed, auto the buildup to September’s and rule-based reopening sce- said. Bank’s favor, with rallies This followed the easing the year down by a massive sales plunged by 31 per cent national election. nario,” Rainer Dulger, presi- China’s diamond jewelry in tech stocks it owns and of the first round of the anti- 9.6 per cent. Operating under in January, the Federal Motor Berlin has already slashed dent of the Confederation of demand will recover fully this rising valuations for firms coronavirus lockdown and tough restrictions, the service Transport Authority (KBA) its 2021 growth forecast to 3 German Employers (BDA) year, while in India it will only in its portfolio suited to after the manufacturing sec- sector has been on the front- said last week. per cent, down sharply from told the media group Redak- recover by end-2023 or 2024, the era, including food de- tor was largely excluded from line of the nation’s fight to In addition, German busi- its 4.4-per-cent projection tionsnetzwerk Deutschland with the U.S. expected to re- livery. the latest round of measures halt the spread of the virus. ness confidence fell sharply in drawn up last year. on Tuesday. cover by 2022-2023. SoftBank reported a nearly 900 billion yen net loss in the previous full Demand recovery will fiscal year, but has quickly diverge depending on lock- returned to the black. down policies, government Founder Masayoshi support, and the extent to Son, who has transformed which retailers manage to the telecoms company shift sales online into an investment and tech behemoth, has bat- tled critics of his com- Bain forecasts that rough mitment to sometimes- diamond production will re- troubled start-ups, and main stable from 2023 to brushed aside doubts over 2030, with very few new mine a massive asset sale pro- projects coming online, help- gram. ing the recovery. Growing high SoftBank has stakes and middle classes in China in some of Silicon Valley’s and India will drive the global hottest start-ups through industry. its $100 billion Vision Diamond production fell Fund. 20% in 2020, the report es- And Son has consist- timated, and rough diamond ently backed the firm’s sales, which had already worth, insisting its stock fallen 18% year-on-year in has been undervalued and 2019, plunged 33% in 2020 its fundamentals remain as diamond miners faced with strong despite wobbles plummeting demand sought including over office-shar- to shore prices up by limiting ing start-up WeWork. supply. Government stimulus Mining companies bore the designed to combat the brunt of the downturn, with economic effects of the profit margins falling by 22 pandemic have helped percentage points, Bain found. bolster stock markets, to But while the pandemic hit SoftBank’s benefit, said the diamond jewelry market Masahiko Ishino, an ana- hard, with sales dropping 15% lyst at Tokai Tokyo Re- from 2019, it performed better search Institute. than personal luxury -- which The firm and its Soft- includes watches, apparel, and Bank Vision Fund “took accessories -- which saw sales full advantage of mon- fall 22% year-on-year. etary easing”, he told AFP Threats to the market’s re- before the results were re- covery include a double-dip re- leased. cession and competition from The value of the Fund’s Germany’s key industrial sector emerged in the middle of last year as a mainstay of the nation’s economic growth but trade posted its biggest drop in a decade in 2020. other luxuries, the report said. stake in US food delivery app DoorDash rose mas- sively following its initial public offering in Decem- ber. FB faces new UK class action after data harvesting scandal SoftBank has invested heavily in ride-hailing Agencies social media giant was fined in The cases cast a fresh developers access to their in- Cambridge Analytica, and the claim is being funded platforms worldwide in Britain over how third-party spotlight on a scandal that formation and that of their which started bankruptcy by Balance Legal Capital. recent years, from Cali- Facebook is facing a sec- app “This Is Your Digital Life” began with allegations that friends without sufficiently proceedings in 2018, has de- U.S.-style “opt-out” data fornia-based Uber to Didi ond London High Court class gathered Facebook users’ data Cambridge Analytica, a Brit- clear and informed consent nied that it made use of such privacy class actions, which Chuxing in China, Singa- action over allegations it without consent between 2013 ish political consultancy hired between 2007 and 2014. data for the 2016 U.S. election bind a defined group auto- pore’s Grab and India’s failed to protect the personal and 2015. by former president Donald A Facebook spokesperson campaign. It has also said its matically into a lawsuit unless Ola. details of about one million The lawsuit is the second Trump’s 2016 U.S. election said: “The Information Com- pitch for work for the Leave. individuals opt out, are still Last month, SoftBank people in England and Wales, to allege Facebook allowed campaign, accessed the per- missioner’s Office investiga- UK campaign for Brexit in unusual in Britain. Group announced the in the latest lawsuit to spring third-party apps to harvest the sonal data of millions of Face- tion into these issues ... found 2016 was unsuccessful. The UK Supreme Court is sale of $2 billion-worth of from a scandal over data har- data of friends without their book users. no evidence that any UK or EU The latest London claim expected to determine the law stocks in Uber following a vesting. permission or knowledge. Liti- The UK Information Com- users’ data was transferred by is being brought on behalf in April, when it hears a bell- surge in the U.S. ride-hail- Journalist and writer Pe- gation firmM ilberg London, missioner’s Office (ICO) in (“This Is Your Digital Life” of adult Facebook users who wether case against Internet ing giant’s value, though ter Jukes said on Tuesday which is advising on a similar 2018 finedFacebook 500,000 app developer Dr Aleksandr) were “friends” with a user giant Google over alleged un- it still remains the firm’s he had filed a lawsuit for un- claim filed last October, said pounds ($687,000) for pro- Kogan to Cambridge Analyti- of the app before May 2015. lawful tracking of iPhone us- main shareholder. specified but “substantial” it was surprised to hear about cessing the personal data of ca,” without giving any further Jukes is being advised by ers in 2011 and 2012 through damages three years after the the rival lawsuit. users unfairly by allowing app comment. U.S.-based law firm Hausfeld third party cookies. Social media could be sued for stalking, harassment, death such as Facebook and Google sponsored by Democratic Sens. websites to organize. Three US senators introduce bill to overhaul have grown more powerful, the Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii and The senators’ proposal law has come under scrutiny. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, would allow users to sue a com- Section 230 of its communications law “When Section 230 was en- is the first that seeks to change pany in instances where the acted, the internet looked very the terms of Section 230 since company has refused to remove TCA/DPA law that protects online com- different than it does today,” the deadly riot at the Capitol certain types of harmful con- Washington panies from being sued over said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., last month by a mob of former tent from their platform, and content that third parties post one of the bill’s authors. President Donald Trump’s sup- the result is a loss of life. Five The latest legislative proposal to their sites by making excep- Warner said the law was porters. people, including a Capitol Po- to hold social media compa- tions for content related to meant to encourage websites Democrats outraged by the lice officer, died as a result of nies accountable for harmful stalking, harassment, or even “to develop tools and policies to riot say social media compa- the riot. content on their platforms is wrongful death. support effective moderation.” nies should lose legal protec- “How [technology com- generating a split reaction from The law, known as Section Instead it inoculated compa- tions granted by Section 230 panies] operate has a real-life civil liberties groups and legal 230 of the Communications nies “even when they do noth- because Trump and his allies effect on the safety and civil experts. Decency Act, has been credited ing to address foreseeable, ob- incited the violence via the rights of Americans and people The bill, announced by a with nurturing the meteoric vious and repeated misuse of companies’ platforms, and around the world, as well as our trio of Senate Democrats on rise of Silicon Valley in the past their products and services to groups whose members were democracy,” Klobuchar said in Friday, would amend a 1996 two decades. But as companies cause harm.” The proposal, co- present at the riot used the a statement. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg 10 Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Economy & Business Chip shortage hurting production as Japanese automakers report results

Agencies Compatriots Subaru Corp contract manufacturers like tor Corp on Wednesday. its domestic production this and Mazda Motor Corp have Taiwan’s TSMC, which ana- Analysts polled by Refini- month of models such as the Japanese automakers cut production as well, as lysts say, often prioritise or- tiv expect Toyota, the world’s Fit subcompact and the N- Toyota, Nissan and Honda have other automakers in- ders from electronics clients largest automaker by vehicle series mini-vehicle. report third quarter results cluding Volkswagen AG. who account for nearly all sales, to forecast a profit of 1.5 Nissan is likely to forecast this week buoyed by recover- “Chip shortage seems to their revenue. trillion yen for the year end- a 230.09 billion yen operating ing demand in China and the have a larger impact on Japa- The supply shortages were ing March 31. That compares loss for the full year, accord- United States, but a global nese and Europeans as the exacerbated by the previous with a 1.3 trillion yen profit ing to Refinitiv, down from chip shortage has clouded shortage is mainly caused by U.S. administration’s actions Toyota forecast in November. a loss forecast of 340 billion their earnings outlook. NXP Semiconductors and In- to curtail technology transfers Toyota said last month it yen. A surge in demand for fineon,” said James Hong, an to China, which hit Chinese will cut production of its Tun- It is unclear how long the electronics as more people analyst at Macquarie Capital, chip factories, as well as by a dra full-size pickup truck at chip shortage will last. stay home due to the coro- adding that Korean rivals fire at a chip plant in Japan its San Antonio, Texas, plant. Macquarie Capital expects navirus pandemic has led to have a larger number of local and coronavirus lockdowns in Honda will likely fore- auto production to be affected shortages of semi-conduc- suppliers and a healthier chip Southeast Asia. cast a profit of 463.6 billion until mid 2021, as chipmak- tors, forcing the carmakers to stockpile. Honda Motor Co and Ni- yen, Refinitiv data shows, ers ramp production, while cut production just at a time Chipmakers who supply ssan Motor Co are scheduled compared with its forecast of data firm IHS Markit said the when sales have recovered auto companies outsource Japanese automakers Honda, Nissan and Toyota are scheduled to to report third-quarter results 420 billion yen. Sources told shortage could last until the more quickly than expected. most of their production to report third-quarter results this week on Tuesday, and Toyota Mo- Reuters that Honda will lower third-quarter of this year.

Oil erases gains after hitting Bitcoin powers towards $50K 13-month highs as Tesla takes it mainstream Agencies this year. Also, Libya’s output has Oil hit 13-month highs on fallen to 1.04 million barrels The most popular Tuesday, supported by sup- per day (bpd) from 1.3 mil- ply cuts, a weaker dollar and lion bpd late last year due cryptocurrency has keyword optimism over a recovery in to an ongoing strike by Pe- gained 1,150% from fuel demand, but retraced troleum Facilities Guards, here.. some of its recent gains in a Libyan oil source said on March 2020 lows as early U.S. trading. Monday. Cras mattis purus Brent crude futures for Signalling no swift re- institutional investors iaculis, bibendum April were down 35 cents, turn of Iranian barrels into search for alternative puruseu gravida erat or 0.5%, to $60.21 a barrel the market, Tehran and Fusce tibuldasumo at 1443 GMT. Washington appeared to wealth stores vitae sem aliquam U.S. West Texas Inter- be deadlocked over a reso- mediate crude (WTI) for lution of sanctions on the Agencies ● Cras mattis purus March was at $57.43 a bar- OPEC member. iaculis, bibe eu, gravida rel, down 54 cents or 0.9%. Investors are also pin- Bitcoin was fast approach- erat.uscre erat.uscrese Both contracts had hit their ning hopes on a recovery ing the $50,000 mark on ndum purus se ndum highest since January 2020 in demand when COVID-19 Tuesday as the afterglow of purus lobortis sodales. earlier on Tuesday after vaccines take effect and as Elon Musk-led Tesla’s invest- having risen for six straight governments and central ment in the cryptocurrency ● Cras mattis purus sessions, prompting some banks deploy huge stimulus had investors reckoning it may iaculis, bibe eu, gravida profit taking. packages to shore up eco- become a mainstream asset erat.uscrese ndum purus The dollar was down nomic activity. class for both corporations eu, gravida. Fusce tincidu 0.3% against a basket of “Given the amount of li- and money managers. currencies, making dollar- quidity in the system thanks The most popular crypto- priced commodities more to the U.S. Fed (Federal currency has gained 1,150% attractive to holders of oth- Reserve), all asset prices from March 2020 lows as in- er currencies. are inflated.W e see prices stitutional investors search for Top exporter Saudi reaching $80 per barrel alternative wealth stores and Arabia is curbing supply in next year,” said Amrita Sen, retail traders ride the wave. It February and March, on top co-founder of the Energy traded at a few hundred dol- of cuts by producers in the Aspects think tank. lars only five years back. Organization of the Petro- Investors are looking Monday, it leapt 20% after leum Exporting Countries ahead to the U.S. weekly oil Tesla announced it had a $1.5 and their allies, prompting inventories data due later billion investment and that forecasts of a supply deficit on Tuesday. it would eventually take the cryptocurrency as payment for On Monday, bitcoin leapt 20 percent after Tesla announced it had a $1.5 billion investment and that it would eventually take the cryptocurrency its cars. That was its largest as payment for its cars. daily rise in more than three years. terms of closing prices for Bit- topped the list of “most crowd- Lunar New Year holiday start- The price of one bitcoin coin over the past 90 days was ed” trades. Another survey, ing on Thursday, domestic climbed to a peak of $48,216 at 72% compared with 16% for by Deutsche Bank, warned of media reported. -- almost enough to buy one of the S&P 500 stocks index and price bubbles in the cryptocur- However, Vitor Constan- the best-selling Tesla vehicles, 6% for the euro currency. rency. cio, former vice-president of Tesla Model Y SUV. Rival cryp- What’s more, with bit- Bitcoin is already up 67% the European Central Bank, tocurrency ethereum struck coin’s value tripling in the past 1 bitcoin for a this year, on top of a 300% ral- wrote on Twitter that poli- a record high of $1,784.85 on three months, analysts raised ly last year, as investors search cymakers should focus on Tuesday. questions over how its volatil- Model Y? for alternatives to the dollar regulating cryptocurrencies Musk, a well-known sup- ity would affect someone buy- The price of one bitcoin because of the U.S. Federal and only develop digital cur- porter of cryptocurrencies, ing a Tesla car in bitcoin. climbed to a peak of $48,216 Reserve’s 0% interest rates. rencies if they will help banks foresees accepting the curren- “Unless the price of bit- -- almost enough to buy one of The dollar slid against most in their role of enabling credit cy as a payment for Tesla cars coin stabilizes, either bitcoin’s the best-selling Tesla vehicles, currencies on Tuesday. creation. and analysts reckon this is a price falls drastically and you “We’re in a position where “Bitcoin prices should ap- larger shift as companies and end up having won a Tesla in a Tesla Model Y SUV. Rival these are the earliest phases of pear in ‘commodities’ lists, big investment houses follow lottery, or its price triples and cryptocurrency ethereum an allocation to bitcoin from not in forex columns,” he said. small traders into the asset. you end up paying your Tesla struck a record high of the institutional and corporate The Tesla news-led rally “Bitcoin is definitely cap- far too expensive,” said Ipek $1,784.85 on Tuesday. community,” said Michael stretched beyond bitcoin. Oil hit 13-month highs on Tuesday, supported by supply cuts, a turing investors’ attention -- I Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst Bucella, partner at crypto in- Shares of companies that weaker dollar and optimism over a recovery in fuel demand, but get more and more questions at Swissquote Bank. sector. vestment firm BlockTower on provide trading platforms for retraced some of its recent gains in early US trading. about it,” said Marija Verti- For example, if someone “Right now, it still seems CNBC. bitcoin and the technology mane, senior strategist at State bought a Tesla Model 3 for one like a bit of a leisurely pursuit, In the ongoing digital to “mine” the cryptocurrency Street Global Markets. bitcoin on Sunday - when it to acquire bitcoin. But I think wave, central bankers and reg- surged in China, South Korea, “From a practical point of traded for $38,000 - the same by the end of the year, with the ulators, particularly in China, and Australia, and big com- view, using bitcoin to buy any- car could be bought for just current rate of institutional are also starting to embrace puter-chip making companies thing – Tesla cars – would be 0.8 bitcoin on Tuesday, when flow inbound, it will become issuing their own digital cur- such as SK Hynix also rose. Volkswagen explores still extremely difficult given the cryptocurrency traded at clear that this is a once-in-a- rencies for everyday use, in Even dogecoin, a joke its excessive volatility.” $46,413 as of 1145 GMT. lifetime landgrab,” said Jehan a major break from the con- cryptocurrency with a dog as Bitcoin’s volatility has Billionaire Musk has long Chu, founder and managing ventional workings of global its symbol, has seen its value flying cars in China been a hindrance for some se- been a cryptocurrency fan - partner at Kenetic, which in- finance. turbocharged after Musk rious investors and a sticking he has talked them up online vests in blockchain-related Beijing will issue 10 million mentioned it on Twitter. It Agencies ny wanted to develop a drone point in using it for transac- - but Tesla’s hard currency companies. yuan ($1.55 million) worth of has jumped by 13% in the past that could be licensed, giving tions. Realised volatility, or investment came as a surprise Still, in BofA’s January digital currency to residents day, according to CoinMarket- Volkswagen is conduct- it a way to participate in this daily price swings measured in that has put a rocket under the fund manager survey, bitcoin that can be used during the Cap. ing a feasibility study in Chi- future market. na about flying cars,E urope’s China is the world’s big- biggest automaker said on gest autos market, and also Tuesday, joining a growing accounts for the largest part of number of companies look- Volkswagen’s sales. ‘Tesla insider’ Reddit user appeared to reveal bitcoin buy a month ago ing into the potential tech- The news comes as com- nology. panies from start-ups to other Agencies ing at R&D at Tesla in Califor- the user is a Tesla employee or “Beyond autonomous driv- global carmakers are racing nia, over the past 72 hours our whether the post was modified ing the concept of vertical to develop commercial “robo- A Reddit user claiming to be a company bought 24701 BTC at from the original. A message mobility could be a next step taxis”, hoping to cash in on a Tesla insider appeared to an- an average price of 33142$,” a to TSLAinsider was not im- to take our mobility approach market Morgan Stanley says nounce the carmaker’s pur- user with the handle TSLAin- mediately returned. Tesla did into the future, especially in could be worth $1.5 trillion by chase of bitcoin a month ago, sider posted in the bitcoin sub- not immediately respond to an the technically affine Chinese 2040. according to a January post on reddit. email to its press office. market,” the German group In addition to big play- the platform that said the elec- “I have no idea what will Tesla said in its annual re- said in a statement. ers such as Volkswagen and tric carmaker had bought $800 happen once this reaches the port published Monday that “Therefore we are investi- Airbus, groups including million worth of Bitcoin. newspapers but I think the the decision to move nearly 8% gating potential concepts and U.S.-based Joby, Germany’s The post received little at- price will explode even more,” of its reserves into bitcoin was partners in a feasibility study Lilium, and Volocopter, whose tention when it appeared, with the user wrote. part of its broad investment to identify the possibility to in- financial backers includethe date on it reading Jan 2, but Moderators in r/Tesla, a policy as a company aimed at dustrialize this approach.” Daimler and Intel, are pursu- it is getting a second look now, subreddit dedicated to posts diversifying and maximizing In an interview here with ing such plans. a day after the electric carmak- on the electric carmaker, ap- Reddit posters were re- oured, on Tuesday. “Send me a its returns on cash, including Volkswagen CEO Herbert Munich-based Lilium er, led by Elon Musk, disclosed peared to remove the post visiting the post on Tuesday PM before you make your next holding gold. Diess on Linkedin, the car- said in November it would a $1.5 billion investment in the here. It was left up in r/bitcoin, in the light of Tesla’s disclo- move please.” “I told you so,” TSLAin- maker’s China head Stephan set up its first U.S. hub near cryptocurrency. where the cryptocurrency is sure. “Thanks for the heads up Reuters could not verify sider wrote on Monday. “I got Woellenstein said the compa- Orlando. “I am a software dev work- discussed. Elon,” noted one poster, Val- the user’s identity, whether laughed at and downvoted.” Wednesday, February 10, 2021 11 Economy & Business As Andy Jassy steps into limelight, portrait of leader much like Bezos emerges Jassy will replace Jeff Bezos as CEO by autumn of this year. Amazon under Jassy is unlikely to change markedly from Bezos’ tenure DPA/TCA vated into a sports bar he calls Hel- Seatlle metHead. Jassy’s leadership will likely be ndy Jassy’s first seat at tested early in his new role, as Ama- Amazon when he joined zon navigates a tumultuous period the company in 1997 was in its history. in an office “the size of a Worker organizing has gained closet” in an early Ama- momentum recently at Amazon Azon headquarters with stained car- warehouses, where some employees pets overlooking a needle exchange have said the experience of work- near Seattle’s Pike Place Market, ing long shifts for little pay amid a said his then-officemate Brian pandemic underscored to them that Birtwistle. The space was so small Amazon views them as expendable. the backs of their chairs touched. The company is also facing probes Jassy’s next seat at Amazon will from regulators around the world be at the helm of what has grown, in about allegations of price-fixing and his nearly 25 years at the company, other monopolistic practices, par- into a corporation worth $1.7 trillion ticularly related to its Marketplace and US’ second-largest employer. platform for third-party vendors. Jassy, who since 2003 has led The day after the announce- Amazon Web Services (AWS), the ment that Jassy would succeed Be- company’s cloud-computing divi- zos, Amazon Employees for Climate sion, will replace Amazon founder Justice, an influential worker group, Jeff Bezos as CEO by autumn of indicated a new CEO would not stop this year, Amazon announced in a its advocacy that the company com- quarterly earnings statement filed mit to more stringent environmen- last week. Bezos will remain chair of tal goals. Amazon’s board of directors. “Andy Jassy led AWS through Amazon under Jassy’s leader- its continued partnerships with the ship is unlikely to change markedly fossil fuel industry, so as he takes from Bezos’ tenure. In his manage- over, we know we must continue to ment style, Jassy, 53, is close to a proudly stand with our co-workers carbon copy of the incisive, dynamic across the world for climate justice,” Bezos, in part a result of 18 months the group said in a statement. “Our Jassy spent shadowing Bezos in a CEO transition is just another op- chief-of-staff-like role in 2002 and portunity for workers to join togeth- 2003. The two executives share an er and demand that Amazon address intense focus on the customer and its own complacency.” Amazon has an imposing business acumen, for- said it provides “cloud services to mer colleagues say. companies in the energy industry Amazon declined to make Jassy to make their legacy businesses less available for an interview. carbon intensive and help them ac- But the company’s blockbuster celerate development of renewable 2020 earnings and projections for energy businesses.” There are indi- strong future growth aside, Jassy cations Jassy may prove responsive will inherit an Amazon beset with to some criticisms of the commerce challenges both internal and exter- behemoth he will soon lead. nal. Andy Jassy’s career is defined by his leading Amazon into a wholly new market: cloud computing. He founded Amazon Web Services or AWS in 2006. “He’s got nerves of steel,” Risher Antitrust scrutiny of the world’s said. “But the thing I think might set largest online retailer is likely to age their own servers, businesses, to meet customer needs. He’s very rangements were short-lived. the board of Seattle education non- him apart... is that I think he’s a sort sharpen in the coming years. Em- government agencies and individu- customer-focused.” Before taking Jassy and Bezos hammered out profit education Rainier Scholars. “I of values-driven leader as much as ployee activism around climate als pay cloud-service providers like charge of AWS in 2003, Jassy’s ca- the terms of the role together, with find that humility very attractive.” anything else.” In response to ac- change, racial equity and warehouse AWS for digital storage space, data- reer at Amazon was somewhat me- Jassy telling the Amazon founder, “I In addition to serving on the board cusations that racial bias inhered conditions intensified during the base management and raw comput- andering. He entered the company want to go to all the meetings, I want of Rainier Scholars, a role he’s held in an AWS facial recognition tool past year. Worker-rights advocates ing power. AWS data centers now on the marketing team, where he to have responsibility, I want to set for nearly a decade, Jassy is on the the company sold to federal secu- are closely watching an upcoming support everything from Zoom and “was one of my go-to guys,” said Da- this up for success,” Birtwistle said. board of the Rainier Prep charter rity and law enforcement agencies, union vote at an Amazon warehouse Netflix to Reddit and the CIA. vid Risher, who ran Amazon’s retail “Obviously, it worked out. And the school and recently joined an ad- Jassy initially had argued it was not in Alabama, which, if successful, Initially, AWS was inward-look- division between 1997 and 2002. deep trust those two developed... visory group of Risher’s nonprofit Amazon’s job to ensure police de- would likely galvanize additional ing, designed to resolve Amazon Jassy was soon put in charge of that was likely the beginning to him Worldreader, which provides free partments did not misuse its soft- union organizing at Amazon. frustrations over the company’s own strategizing how Amazon could get becoming successor to Amazon.” access to thousands of e-books in ware, and pleaded for federal regu- “Andy is now in the hot seat,” server capacity. Sensing an oppor- into the business of selling music. In 18 months at Bezos’ side, Jassy more than 50 languages. lation of biometric technologies. said former AWS vice president tunity, the company began market- The assignment was a natural fit: imbibed the CEO’s zeal for “taking Jassy also has a reputation for But last summer, as protests and distinguished engineer Tim ing AWS products to customers in Jassy is a major music buff. He’s big ideas and making them bigger,” mischievous humor. He gives some against police brutality shook the Bray, who resigned last year in pro- 2006, years before Microsoft, Goog- seen Dave Matthews Band play live Jassy said in a recent podcast inter- colleagues nicknames: Birtwistle he nation, AWS announced a yearlong test over Amazon firing employees le, Alibaba and others launched at least 26 times, according to his view. called “Bees,” because of his initials moratorium on local law enforce- critical of the company’s treatment competing cloud platforms. Facebook page. Jassy’s two children “I thought I had very high stand- B.B. Early AWS employee Manny ment use of the facial recognition of warehouse workers. “But it’s the AWS dominates the cloud-com- with his wife, Elana, 53, are musical; ards before I started that job,” Jassy Medina was known as “Funky Cold,” software. Internally, Jassy has seat that Andy’s going to have to sit puting sector, commanding a 45% his daughter performed at Seattle’s said in the podcast. “And then, in a reference to the Tone Loc song. championed diversity initiatives in- in.” Outside the world of cloud com- market share by total revenue, com- 2019 Northwest Folklife Festival. doing that shadow job, I realized “There are some dour faces at cluding the Black Employees Net- puting, Jassy has not until recently pared with Microsoft’s 17.9% and For years, former colleagues said, my standards weren’t high enough.” Amazon,” Medina said. “But Jassy work affinity group. been a household name. Among Google’s 5.3%, according to a 2019 there were rumors that Jassy might Jassy takes a “cranial” approach to is a very gregarious guy. Always “Can’t let Breonna Taylor death non-techie Seattleites, he may be report by research firm Gartner. defect to a digital music service. interrogating new ideas, said for- laid back. Not less smart (than Be- go with no accountability,” Jassy best known as part owner of the Se- And while accounting for just 12% Jassy’s plan earned a vote of ap- mer AWS solutions architect Miles zos), just way more approachable.” later wrote on Twitter. “If you don’t attle Kraken NHL team. of Amazon’s revenue last year, AWS proval from Bezos. The first non- Ward. “He was brilliant, and he The Tatonka Bowl, a chicken wing- hold police depts accountable for Jassy’s success at AWS, though, made up 63% of the company’s book merchandise Amazon began asked very precise questions, and eating contest Jassy instituted in his murdering black people, we will has been meteoric. The division $21.3 billion profit. selling was CDs. For two years, Jassy he was very, very fast. It was to- early days at Amazon, has morphed never have justice and change, dominates competitors and is Ama- Former colleagues and Seattle- bounced back and forth between the tally intimidating.” But where some from an after-work pigout fest to the or be the country we aspire (and zon’s principal money-spinner. area associates attribute Jassy’s music and marketing divisions. have described Bezos’ intensity as largest wing-eating competition in claim) to be.” A previous version of Jassy “invented the cloud- success to his relentless - and very In 2002, Bezos asked if Jassy bordering on tempestuous, Jassy is the world, hosted at AWS’ annual this article misstated the mission computing world as we know it,” Amazonian - obsession with delight- would serve as his “shadow,” a role seen as less overbearing. re:Invent conference. A prodigious Rainier Scholars, a 12-year pro- said Matt McIlwain, a partner at ing customers. comparable to chief of staff. “What I like about Andy is that sports fan with an allegiance since gram supporting low-income stu- Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group, “Andy is sort of the world’s Initially, Jassy hesitated to take he will share his thoughts in a con- childhood to the New York Giants, dents of color on the road to college. an early investor in Amazon. The greatest product manager,” Bray the job, Birtwistle said. Bezos had structive way, and then he will sit Rangers, Knicks and Mets, Jassy It is a separate organization from launch of AWS ushered in a new era said. extended the same opportunity to a back and be part of the decision- invites friends and co-workers to the Rainier Prep charter school. of pay-as-you-go remote computing “He’s guiding the selection of the number of former CEOs of startups making group as a whole,” said Reg- watch games in the basement of his Jassy sits on the boards of both infrastructure. Rather than man- right sets of features and services acquired by Amazon, but those ar- gie Brown, who works with Jassy on Capitol Hill home, which he reno- organizations.

US job openings rise; small businesses desperate for workers

Agencies sive. The economy shed jobs lion. There were an additional Layoffs declined in the federal workers. The hiring rate de- in December for the first time 296,000 job openings in the government, transportation, clined to 3.9% from 4.2% in US layoffs eased in December in eight months following re- professional and business ser- warehousing and utilities in- November. and job openings increased newed outbreaks of the virus. vices industry. But vacancies dustries as well as the health- US financial markets were modestly, suggesting the de- “The decline in employ- decreased for state and local care and social assistance sec- unmoved by the data. cline in employment that ment in December was more a government, excluding educa- tor. The government reported month was largely due to com- product of reduced hiring than tion. But 50,000 people were on Friday that the economy panies cutting back on hiring a pick-up in layoffs,” said Nick There also were fewer un- laid off in the arts, entertain- created only 49,000 jobs amid uncertainty caused by a Bunker, director of research at filledjobs in the arts, enter- ment, and recreation industry. in January after shedding raging COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed Hiring Lab. “Employ- tainment and recreation in- Hiring dropped by 227,000 jobs in December. Though the Labour De- ers were hesitant about add- dustries as well as at factories 396,000 to 5.54 million. It was Employment is 9.9 million partment’s monthly Job ing new workers. This trend is producing goods that are not led by a decrease of 221,000 in jobs below its peak in Febru- Openings and Labour Turno- easier to reverse than the de- intended to last longer than the accommodation and food ary 2020. ver Survey, or JOLTS report, struction of employer-employ- three years, such as clothing. services industry. Hiring in The labour market has offered cautious optimism ee relationships that happens The job openings rate the transportation, warehous- largely stalled amid a resur- that job growth could regain when workers are laid off.” ticked up to 4.5% from 4.4% in ing, and utilities sector fell gence in COVID-19 infections, speed as coronavirus vaccines Job openings, a measure November. Layoffs decreased by 133,000 and decreased by which now appears to be ebb- become accessible to large of labor demand, rose 74,000 by 243,000 to 1.81 million, 82,000 in the arts, entertain- ing. In December, there were US reported on Friday that the economy created only 49,000 jobs in swaths of the population, un- to 6.65 million on the last day lowering the layoffs rate to ment and recreation industry. 16 unemployed people for January after shedding 227,000 jobs in December. employment remains perva- of December from 6.572 mil- 1.3% from 1.4% in November. But retailers hired 94,000 every 10 job openings. QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Reverse-swinging QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Anderson stars as England humble India page 14

WEDNESday, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 FIFA Club World Cup 2020 an extremely beneficial experience: Fatma Al Nuaimi QNA hosted by Doha during the community to test their abili- mitigating the psychological Doha coming period provides us ties to deal with such situa- effects of the outbreak of the with the opportunity to ben- tions and emergency matters Coronavirus, which guaran- Supreme Committee Com- efit and develop our expertise in the future. tees the improvement of pub- munications Director and in light of getting closer to or- She said that Qatar is the lic health, the preservation of Communications Head at the ganizing the World Cup 2022, only country that recently society and its safety, as well Local Organizing Commit- she said, stressing that they hosted continental and global as ensuring a bright future for tee of the ongoing FIFA Club continued to work closely with sporting events, with large future generations. World Cup Qatar 2020, Fatma all partners to achieve success participation in light of the Al Nuaimi continued by Al Nuaimi, has termed the and provide a wonderful and current crisis, after imple- saying that the impact of sport organizational success of the exceptional experience to the menting health procedures is great in bringing together tournament so far under vari- fans, players and administra- and measures in coordination people from all over the world ous challenges due to the cur- tors during the tournament. with the Ministry of Health. and sympathsizing and under- rent coronavirus (COVID-19) Al Nuaimi also confirmed Al Nuaimi pointed out standing each other, saying pandemic as an extremely that Qatar has achieved great that the challenges that have that this matter is the main beneficialexperience and an success in its pivotal role faced the preparations for the pillars and main goals for exceptional opportunity to in hosting a series of local, World Cup 2022 since the which Qatar sought to organ- benefit and develop expertise regional and international outbreak of the coronavirus ize the World Cup in Qatar, as the World Cup 2022 draws events during the year 2020 crisis led, in one way or an- as it aims through the tourna- closer and will be held in less despite the Covid-19 pan- other, to a slowdown in the ment to highlight that Qatar than two years from now. demic crisis, thus achieving workflow at the beginning of and the Arabs love football, to In an exclusive interview the leadership position on the pandemic, but after taking give visitors an opportunity to with Qatar News Agency the global sports map by es- precautions and health meas- explore a new culture, and to (QNA), Al Nuaimi said that tablishing new standards in ures in coordination with the correct misconceptions about the FIFA Club World Cup is a maintaining the health and Fatma Al Nuaimi: Supreme Committee Communications Director and Communications Head at the Local Ministry of Public Health and the Arab region. pilot tournament for the State safety of all participants. Organizing Committee FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020. the Workers’ Welfare team She said the Qatar World of Qatar and its main objective Al Nuaimi said that sta- in the Supreme Committee, a Cup is getting more and more is to improve the preparations tistics showed impressive stadium’s capacity, saying that the outbreak of the pandemic. Qatar during the World Cup. mechanism was reached that important day by day in view and various operational plans achievements after the success nearly 900 players and tech- Qatar is preparing – in less The Director of Communi- significantly preserved the of the various challenges and before hosting the first edition of hosting the AFC Champions nical teams from 30 teams than two years – to host the cation at the Local Organizing safety of workers, while ensur- the current crisis, as it will be of the World Cup in the Mid- League competitions for the participated in the AFC Cham- World Cup 2022. It aims to Committee for the Club World ing the pace of work within the one of the largest global gath- dle East and the Arab world, east and west zones, and spe- pions League competitions test the readiness of the vari- Cup stressed that organizing planned timetable for comple- erings in the post-coronavirus which is what was achieved cifically the final of the tour- alone, and 76 matches played ous stadiums and facilities of the tournament under the re- tion of all projects, thanks to crisis, and this will undoubt- during this year’s edition that nament, which was attended at a number of World Cup the tournament by hosting percussions of coronavirus the emergency plans for the edly be accompanied by chal- tested two new World Cup sta- by 10,000 fans, followed by Qatar 2022 stadiums, during a number of major sporting allowed them to gain more World Cup projects that have lenges, but it will give us at the diums, namely Ahmad Bin Ali the distinguished organization which the largest safe space of events and to enhance the pro- experience, as the organizers proven their worth. same an important opportu- and Education City. of HH the Amir Cup with the its kind - known as the “medi- vision of a distinctive experi- took advantage of this new She noted the distinctive nity to unite the world through Every tournament or event presence of 50 percent of the cal bubble” - was set up since ence for fans and visitors to phenomenon for the global role that sport can play in a shared passion for football.

QOC celebrates 10th edition of Bayern one step away National Sport Day virtually, launches from 6th title in a year Bayern Munich new website have the chance Bayern are seeking Tribune News Network to make another Doha a sixth crown at FIFA addition to their CWC having won the The Qatar Olympic Com- Bundesliga, German mittee (QOC) celebrated trophy cabinet Cup, Champions the 10th edition of National League and the Sport Day on Tuesday but and crown the German and this year’s celebrations European Super were held virtually in light of the protective measures superb 2019-20 Cups in 2020. The taken by the State of Qatar Germans have won to curb the spread of coro- season, securing the Club World Cup navirus (COVID-19). and its predecessor, The QOC held a num- a title they the Intercontinental ber of virtual awareness Cup, three times and educational events to haven’t fought before, in 1976, promote an active lifestyle nationwide and highlight for since 2013 2001 and 2013. the important role of sport Qatar’s star athlete in creating a healthy com- Abdurrahman Samba. munity. DPA Bayern Munich players celebrate one of Robert Lewandowski’s two goals in FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Egypt’s Al Ahly at the Team Qatar athletes Berlin Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday. (Pic: FC Bayern Munich) who qualified to To- kyo 2020 Olympics have Bayern Munich could win served to score a second goal. ka and Javi Martinez won’t be 2010, Tigres have secured five ico, “would be the cherry on shared their thoughts their first trophy in 2021 and We played well defensively, I’m able to travel to Qatar for the domestic league titles and are the cake.” about this year’s edition of sixth in one year when they very satisfied with my team.” final after missing the semi- experiencing their most suc- “We have the chance to National Sport Day as high face Tigres UANL of Mexico Flick knows his team is the fa- final. Both tested positive for cessful era. become the second team ever hump world champion on Thursday in the FIFA Club vourite but also understands coronavirus and remain in On Thursday there’s also to win six titles in one year. Mutaz Essa Barshim said, World Cup big finale. they will have to put up a fight quarantine. the match for third place be- When you are so close to win- “This year’s NSD is a spe- The international silver- to take the trophy to Munich. “We decided Leon and Javi tween Al Ahly and Palmeiras. ning a trophy, you have to give cial occasion marking the ware would crown a season “I watched the first semi- won’t travel. It’s sad because everything to make it happen,” 10th edition. It makes me that saw the Bavarians clinch- final.Tigres are a very dynam- both would like to come. But Lewandowski seeks the striker said. reflect on my career over ing everything on their way: ic team with a lot of power. We it’s also important they can to write history Against Al Ahly, Lewan- the past decade and how Bundesliga, German Cup, have to counter that well in the train in Munich and eventu- Meanwhile, Bayern Mu- dowski increased his goal tally I wouldn’t achieve what I Champions League and the final,” he said. ally be available for the game nich’s star striker Robert Le- to 29 in 27 competitive games. have achieved without the domestic and European Super Amid the busy football on Monday (against Arminia wandowski has stressed the In the Bundesliga he has support of my country.” Cup titles. calendar with midweek and Bielefeld in the Bundesliga),” importance of the FIFA Club scored 24 goals in 27 matches For his part, athlete Ab- Qatar’s weightlifting Last time Bayern won weekend games Bayern seem Flick said after the Al Ahly World Cup and said he wants so far and chases Gerd Muel- durrahman Samba, said, champion Fares Hassouna. the Club World Cup was in ready for the clash and eager game. to write history with the club. ler’s 40-goal record from the “National Sport day is a 2013 after their first-ever tre- for victory. CONCACAF champions “We have the chance to 1971-72 season. great celebration of sport made me who I am today,” ble winning season and un- “The final is going to be a Tigres defeated Copa Liber- win the sixth title. We know “At the moment there are in Qatar, and on this day he said. der newly signed coach Pep big match. We’re having a nice tadores winners Palmeiras of what that means, not just in more important things than the I hope more and more Also, on the occasion, Guardiola. time here, we want to win the Brazil on Sunday for a spot in the history of Bayern, but record,” Lewandowski said. youngsters spend the day QOC launched its new web- The 2-0 win in the semi- trophy and the sixth title,” said the final. in the whole of football. We He also said it was a “beau- being active and engaging site to keep up with the lat- final against Al Ahly of Egypt Robert Lewandowski, who “No other Mexican team want to show that we are de- tiful moment” to play in front in a new sport.” est technology. The QOC of was never in doubt, but Bay- scored both goals in the 2-0 have gone this far, but now we termined to win this competi- of fans again. Asian Games silver website is an important ern struggled a bit to put the win over Al Ahly. want more,” Tigres forward tion,” he told a news confer- Around 12,000 spectators medalist Fares Hassouna platform for Qatari Sport African champions away. “A world cup is always spe- Carlos Gonzalez said. ence on Tuesday. were allowed in the stadium invited all the community and a reliable source of “We travelled to Qatar be- cial. We’re ready. I hope we’ll “We came here hoping to Lewandowski scored a to watch the semi-final match, members to try weightlift- information and news of cause we want to win another turn in an even better display lift the trophy and now that brace in the 2-0 win against Al while in Germany currently all ing. “I invite everyone to Team Qatar, Sports Feder- trophy. We needed time to in the final and that we won’t we’re close, we’re encouraged Ahly of Egypt in the semi-final games must be played behind try out weightlifting on Na- ation and Sports Commit- get into the run of the game,” need so many chances,” the and motivated that we can on Monday. closed doors. tional Sport Day this year! tee in addition to upcoming coach Hansi Flick said. striker added. achieve our goal.” He believes winning the “I honestly have to say, I It is a fantastic sport that sports events in Qatar. “When we did, I think we Flick already confirmed Under coach Ricardo Fer- title on Thursday, when Bay- almost forgot how it is to play dominated the match and de- that midfielders Leon Goretz- retti, who’s in charge since ern face Tigres UANL of Mex- in front of fans,” he said. Sports Wednesday, February 10, 2021 13 QFA PRESIDENT MEETS SAUDI, BRAZIL FOOTBALL CHIEFS Al Ahly super fan’s dream becomes reality

mosphere has been very Mohamed Abouzeid is a good and provided fans of member of the FIFA Fan the clubs attending some Movement. Here’s his eternal memories. first-hand account of the When I was a child, my FIFA Club World Cup family always took me to the Qatar 2020™ experience stadium to watch Al Ahly’s matches. From there, my passion for football started, ixteen years ago, in as well as my love for Al Ahly December 2005, Al of course. Now, I finally got SAhly SC participated the opportunity to give my at the FIFA Club World son the same experience, Cup™ for the first time in that my family gave to me their history. when I was a child. At that time, I was at- February 4 was my son tending university and would Selim’s first ever Al Ahly Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association, met with Yasser Al Mishal, President of the Saudi Football Association, and his accom- never miss a single Al Ahly match, the team he loves panying delegation. Later, the QFA President also received Rogerio Langanke Caboclo, President of the Brazilian Football Confederation, at his office. Meanwhile, the Saudi football match, travelling across Afri- too. He got to sit with Al delegation will also be attending the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday. ca to support the team from Ahly’s supporters and was the stands. However, due to so happy and excited. The the tournament being held in next morning, I found Selim Japan, I was unable to travel sitting alone in his room, and be with the team. singing the famous chant That day a new wish was “Let’s go Ahly”. This was born within me and every music to my ears! ‘Ahlawy’. That wish was to I consider him to be a Qatar’s ‘Diamond in the Desert’ follow Al Ahly to the Club very lucky child due to the World Cup. As our chant fact that his first ever live Al goes: “Wherever you may go, Ahly match was a victory in we follow you.” the FIFA Club World Cup. Sixteen years later, this There is no better start to his wish became a reality and I Al Ahly journey than that. ready to shine during CWC final attended Al Ahly’s first match It was not just Selim at the FIFA Club World Cup that experienced this mo- Qatar 2020™. My team is ment. The stadium had Education City played at the highest level lots of families in attend- in a world club competition, ance. I was witnessing right Stadium gears and this is something I am in front of me the love for very proud of. My team’s Al Ahly being taught and up to host presence among the world’s passed down from genera- third-place continental champions is a tion to generation. historic event. In the semi-final against play-off & final The moment when Hus- Bayern Munich, Al Ahly may sein Elshahat scored Al have lost, but I’m sure the Tribune News Network Ahly’s winning goal is one players benefited from test- Doha of the most memorable mo- ing themselves, to see where ments I have experienced in they stand in comparison to The past few days have seen following Al Ahly over the European football. For my the football world focused last 30 years. It is a moment son and the other boys and on the Middle East and the given worldwide exposure to Assessment System. that I will cherish forever. girls, there was also a lesson: FIFA Club World Cup Qatar Education City and are the lat- “The stadium is equipped For me and as a supporter, football involves winning 2020™. As fans around the est milestones for a venue that with premium facilities to the joy of seeing your team and losing. globe have tuned into the ac- is a source of pride for those accommodate all stakehold- score a goal at a World Cup is At the final whistle, we tion, they have been intro- closely connected to it. “I re- ers from match audiences completely different. There saluted our players, thanking duced to two FIFA World Cup call Education City Stadium to football players,” Al Jabir is no bigger glory. What pro- them for their effort against Qatar 2022™ venues. as a huge hole in the ground added. “For example, the sta- vides a different flavour to the strongest club team in Alongside Ahmad Bin Ali in 2014, and I often catch my- dium can host more than one this year’s FIFA Club World the world. We will demand Stadium, Education City Sta- self overwhelmed to see how football match per day. It is Cup experience is the fact an even bigger effort in the dium has been front and cen- quickly this excavation be- equipped with four dressing that it takes place at stadi- third-place match, to try and tre, while the world’s top clubs came a huge diamond located rooms instead of the stand- ums set to host the FIFA add another bronze medal to have battled it out for the pres- in the middle of universities East Region portion of Asia’s was another challenge, since ard two dressing rooms op- World Cup™, just 22 months the one won in 2006. tigious title. As anticipation and schools in Education top club competition. Staging the stadium hosted 13 match- tion found in other stadiums. from now. One day, I hope the builds for the tournament’s fi- City,” said Engineer Muneera these matches provided valu- es over seven days. The utili- It also has a cooling system in Despite the difficult cir- stands will be full of fans nal match day on 11 February, Al Jabir, Education City Sta- able feedback. sation of the pitch was high, the bowl and the spectators’ cumstances of the COVID-19 again, and I get to see Al Ahly the ‘Diamond in the Desert’ is dium’s Precinct Manager. “We learned many lessons which led to wear on the field of tiers, making the experience pandemic and the social dis- in the final and they win. ready to showcase an exciting “Every now and then, when that helped us to test the ven- play, particularly in the warm- more comfortable, especially tancing restrictions between Even as an adult, you never conclusion to the week-long I stand in the middle of the ue and readiness of the sys- up and goal areas. Thankfully, during summer.” fans, the tournament’s at- stop dreaming! (Fifa.com) event by staging the third- pitch, and look around at the tems and the facilities to host the team was monitoring this Set to host eight matches place play-off between Al beautiful infrastructure, and such events,” said Al Jabir. closely and managed to have up to the quarter-finals stage Ahly SC and SE Palmeiras and all the details from the colour “The AFC Champions League the turf restored and promptly during Qatar 2022, Education the final between FC Bayern of the spectators’ seats to the was an opportunity for us to replaced where necessary to City is ready to welcome the München and Tigres UANL. quality of the grass, I cannot know more about the opera- maintain the required playing world when football’s show- The 40,000-capacity ven- help but feel pure pride as well tion of the stadium and how conditions.” piece event takes place in less ue was tasked with staging as gratification to see that all it could be improved from dif- Located 13km from Doha than two years’ time. For Al four matches over three match our hard work has paid off.” ferent aspects.” city centre and at the heart Jabir, the Club World Cup is days at the Club World Cup. Since being inaugurated Hosting a large number of Qatar Foundation – a vi- another key moment for a ven- On Thursday, 4 February, last June as the third tour- of high-level matches provid- brant centre for knowledge ue project she has been part of reigning Qatar Stars League nament-ready venue for Qa- ed some maintenance chal- and innovation – fans that from the beginning. champions Al Duhail SC took tar 2022, Education City has lenges for the stadium staff. have attended Club World “Attending an official on Egyptian giants and CAF been put to good use, as Qa- “The challenges were mainly Cup matches have enjoyed the match in the stadium and Champions League holders tar stepped up to provide a related to the COVID-19 pre- venue’s accessible nature, es- seeing it operational with live Al Ahly in a second-round centralised hub for football cautions and safety of the peo- pecially via the Doha Metro’s broadcasting on international clash. On Sunday, 7 February, competitions to complete ple participating and working Green Line, with Education television makes me feel proud Education City played host to their schedules in 2020 due in the stadium. The stadium City station situated within and confident with our readi- recently-crowned CONME- to the COVID-19 pandemic. had three rounds of disinfec- walking distance of this ul- ness to host the FIFA World BOL Libertadores champions Top of that list was the 2020 tion per match day for facili- tramodern arena. It is also Cup 2022, which always mo- Palmeiras in the competi- AFC Champions League, as ties like the press conference a lasting symbol of sustain- tivates us to look for the best tion’s first semi-final, as they the venue hosted a total of 23 room, players’ bench areas ability after becoming the first to ensure we provide an un- faced CONCACAF Champions matches. This included ten and competition and bubble Qatar 2022 tournament venue forgettable experience of the League holders Tigres UANL. games in the West Region area,” Al Jabir said. to receive a five-star rating matches that will be hosted in Mohamed Abouzeid with his son Selim. Those match days have section and 13 matches in the “The pitch maintenance from the Global Sustainability our stadiums in 2022.” FIFA CWC important step towards 2022: SC Ambassadors

QNA under these current circum- for the club champions, re- with this exceptional situation Doha stances is a great challenge, es- jecting the idea of holding the in a distinctive way through the pecially in light of the world’s tournament with 24 teams, es- health bubble that included all Ambassadors of the Su- exposure to a second wave of pecially since the international the participants of the tourna- preme Committee for Delivery the pandemic, and as the ma- agenda is crowded and will not ment: players, officials, admin- and Legacy (SC) Mohammed jority of the big leagues on the allow a tournament of this size. istrators, escorts and fans. Saadoun Al Kuwari and Wael European continent are held Jumaa also noted the great Gomaa said the remarkable Gomaa on Tuesday praised the without public attendance. difference in levels as well as success in organizing the FIFA distinguished organizational He added that Qatar has technical differences between Club World Cup is a new step success of the ongoing FIFA been very successful in organiz- Arab clubs and their European in the road to organize a his- Club World Cup Qatar 2020 in ing the tournament and has sent counterparts, stressing it is toric World Cup in 2022 and Doha, under the current corona- an important message to the difficult for Arab representa- provide all World Cup visitors virus pandemic crisis, terming it world regarding its readiness tive in the Club World Cup or with an exceptional experience, a good introduction and an im- to host the World Cup 2022, as any other Arab team to defeat pointing out that Qatar has left portant step on the road to host it operated and tested two new the European team participat- nothing to chance, especially the World Cup 2022 that will be World Cup stadiums, namely Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Ambassadors Wael Gomaa (left) and Mohammed Saadoun ing in this tournament, which in light of the distinctive in- held for the first time in the Arab Ahmad Bin Ali and Education Al Kuwari. is expected to win the title. frastructure, luxurious tourna- world and the Middle East. City stadiums, highlighting Qa- Gomaa praised the distin- ment facilities as well as stadi- In an open online con- tar’s great capabilities in hosting sports facilities in preparation opened and operated, namely at Al Thumama, Lusail and guished organization of the Club ums that are in close proximity versation with the media, Al any sporting event. for the World Cup which will Khalifa International, Ahmad Ras Abu Aboud stadiums. World Cup in Qatar for the sec- to one another, which will al- Kuwari said that hosting the The SC Ambassador Al be a legacy for the Arab re- Bin Ali, Al Janoub, and Educa- On his part, SC Ambassa- ond edition in a row, especially low fans to attend more than champions of the six conti- Kuwari noted the paradigm gion in general, pointing out tion City, as Al Bayt stadium dor Wael Gomaa said that the under the current pandemic one match on the same day, a nents and holding the FIFA shift that Qatar is experienc- that with regard to the stadi- is completed and construction Club World Cup is an enter- conditions, indicating that the feature that cannot be found in Club World Cup competitions ing in the infrastructure and ums, four stadiums have been works are completed by 90% tainment and honorary event health system in Qatar dealt any previous tournament. 14 Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Sports Djokovic backs technology over linespeople

DPA Sydney

World number one Novak Djokovic is in favour of tech- nology replacing linespeople across the ATP Tour amid the absence of judges at the Aus- tralian Open. This year’s Australian Open is being held without line judges as a response to coronavirus restrictions Australia’s Ashleigh Barty celebrates after winning against Montene- Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts on a point against Serbia’s Laslo Djere during the men’s singles match on day at Melbourne Park, where Novak Djokovic at a press confer- gro’s Danka Kovinic at Australian Open on Tuesday. (AFP) two of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday. (AFP) “Hawk-Eye Live” technology ence at the Australian Open. (AFP) is being used on every court. It is the first Grand Slam Rafael Nadal. to replace all linespeople with “I respect all of my oppo- technology as the tournament nents’ records. I think espe- seeks to limit the number cially Roger and Rafa, what Nadal, Medvedev and of people on court amid the they have achieved over the COVID-19 pandemic. years. They are legends of our Djokovic was sensation- sport, and I admire them a ally disqualified in the fourth lot,” Djokovic said. “They have round of last year’s US Open positively affected my game Rublev power on; Barty for inadvertently hitting a ball and my growth, my develop- at a line judge during his clash ment and all my success. with Pablo Carreno Busta in New York. Asked about the situation Novak Djokovic was at the Australian Open, de- sensationally disqualified makes comeback fending champion and eight- time winner Djokovic told re- in the fourth round of DPA son Inglis in straight sets. porters: “I think back [at the] last year’s US Open for Sydney SHADOW PLAY: Russia’s Daniil The 22-year-old American US Open last year, someone inadvertently hitting a ball Medvedev hits a return against won 7-5, 6-4, eliminating lo- asked me whether I would at a line judge during his Spaniard Rafael Nadal Canada’s Vasek Pospisil during cal wildcard Inglis, who Kenin support the idea of introduc- clash with Pablo Carreno made it through to the Aus- their men’s singles match on day said was “playing well”. ing this kind of line call tech- Busta in New York. tralian Open’s second round two of the Australian Open in “She’s playing well. I knew nology at every tournament. as he downed Serb Laslo Djere Melbourne on Tuesday. (AFP) it was going to be a tough “Obviously providing that 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday. match. I played her I don’t the tournament is able to af- Wouldn’t be what it is if The 20-time Grand lam know how many years ago, but ford financially that kind of these two guys were not there. winner had been struggling with we played at Maureen Con- investment, because obviously “I have had tremendous a back injury in recent months nolly, I lost,” Kenin said. it is an investment. rivalries with these two guys but it did not appear to hold “She’s playing the defend- “I said that I support that, and we still keep on going. But him back as he powered against ing champion, so of course because I feel, yes, I under- I don’t want any of their suc- number-56-ranked Djere. she’s more loose. I wasn’t there stand that there is a tradition cess, if you know what I mean. “I needed to survive today 100 per cent mentally, but a and history and the way we I’m not jealous of their success and that’s what I did. Just win is a win and I’ll take it.” kind of got used to the line um- or anything like that. tried to be focused all the time, Later, two-time Austral- pires being there, and I think I try to build my own au- tried to get through,” said Na- ian Open champion and 12th it’s nice that there is a lot of thentic career and my own dal, the 2009 champion at seed Victoria Azarenka was people and also volunteers success, and I stick to that.” Melbourne Park. shocked by American Jessica with these line umpires that Djokovic added: “I am always “Here I am to try my best Pegula 7-5, 6-4. love tennis and love to have an motivated and inspired to as always. That’s it. Let’s go Garbine Muguruza, whom opportunity to be out on the achieve big goals and break re- day by day. Kenin defeated in the 2020 court and be close to the play- cords. I would lie if I say that’s Today I was able to find a Melbourne final, also made it ers and be part of a great event. not, you know, something that way to be through. That gives through to the second round in “But I think when you I’m thinking about or that my me the chance to have one more Australian Open semi-finalist, I’m excited to play my sec- it’s incredible. I felt great out straight sets, beating Russian draw a line that generally I attention is not going that way. day tomorrow,” Nadal added. was sensational to kick off his ond round.” In the women’s here tonight. To play in front Margarita Gasparjan 6-4, 6-0. actually am in favour of tech- “I have been very transpar- Russians Daniil Medvedev campaign beating Gilles Simon competition, world number of you guys is a real honour, a US teenage phenomenon nology. I think it’s proven to be ent about the fact that one of and Andrey Rublev have con- in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. one Ash Barty made a perfect privilege, and we’re truly grate- Coco Gauff grabbed a convinc- very accurate in this particular the biggest goals is to try to tinued their unbeaten sum- A five-set marathon that Grand Slam comeback with a ful to be here,” she told the ing 6-3, 6-2 win over Switzer- instance. I don’t see a reason reach the number one of all mers and will also head to the lasted over four hours took place 6-0, 6-0 win over Danka Ko- crowd at the Rod Laver Arena. land’s Jil Teichmann at the why we need the line umpires, time weeks’ record, and I’m second round. between Michael Mmoh of the vinic and advanced to the sec- Barty is trying to end a renamed John Cain Arena, to be honest, if we have tech- getting closer and closer to Two days after defeat- United States and Viktor Troicki ond round. wait of more than 40 years for formerly Melbourne Arena. nology like this. I would of that one. That’s a kind of a life- ing Italy in the ATP teams of Serbia. Mmoh won 7-6 (7-3), Home favourite Barty a home win at the Australian The 16-year-old will next course keep the ball kids, but time achievement for me. event, fourth-seeded Medve- 6-7 (3-7), 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. has hardly played in the last Open since Chris O’Neil in 1978. face fifth seed Elina Svitolina, line calls I’m in favour of this “Grand Slams, as well. Of dev crushed Canadian Vasek Debutant Carlos Alcaraz months having elected to stay “The competitor in me who defeated Czech Marie technology.” course the Masters events, I Pospisil 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 while was impressive in his first in Australia rather than cross missed what this is all about. Bouzkova 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) at Rod Djokovic was speaking think the 1000 events over the the seventh-seeded Rublev main court match in a grand the world during the corona- It’s coming out here and really Laver Arena. after beginning his quest for years I have managed to be very downed German Yannick slam to defeat Botic van de virus to compete in the rear- enjoying that thrill and the Another rising star, Greek a ninth Australian Open title consistent and win a lot of ti- Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Zandschulp of the Nether- ranged tennis schedule at the fight,” Barty said. 20th seed Maria Sakkari, was with a 6-3 6-1 6-2 win over tles there. Those are the biggest “I didn’t know how I was lands 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. end of 2020. Defending champion Sofia stunned by France’s Kristina Jeremy Chardy on Monday. events that we have on the four going to feel physically ... hap- “I’m very happy to [get] This was her first Grand Kenin made it through to the Mladenovic 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, a The 17-time Grand Slam other than Grand Slams. I try to py that I managed to finish it this win today in my first Slam match since her semifi- competition’s second round of disappointing result a year af- champion is trying to close the be a good student of the game. fast. Feeling good, let’s see how Grand Slam,” he said. “I try to nal appearance at Melbourne the Melbourne slam on Tues- ter the 25-year-old reached a gap on 20-time major winners “And yeah, I’m still lucky I go after,” Medvedev said. enjoy, to play my game. I en- Park 12 months ago. day without much difficulty, career-best fourth round in a Roger Federer – who is absent to be where I am. Let’s see Stefanos Tsitsipas, a 2019 joyed it. I got the experience. “This is what it’s all about, defeating Australian Maddi- slam in Melbourne. from this year’s event – and what the future holds.” Reverse-swinging Anderson stars as England humble India Root & Co win Scoreboard England (1st Inns): 578 first Test by India (1st Innings): 337 England (2nd Innings): 178 227 runs India (2nd Innings; Overnight 39-1) Rohit Sharma b Leach 12 Shubman Gill b Anderson 50 Agencies Chesteshwar Pujara c Stokes b Leach 15 Chennai Virat Kohli b Stokes 72 Ajinkya Rahane b Anderson 0 England coasted to a re- Rishabh Pant c Root b Anderson 11 sounding 227-run victory Washington Sundar c Buttler b Bess 0 against India in the first Test R Ashwin c Buttler b Leach 9 in Chennai, with Jimmy An- Shahbaz Nadeem c Burns b Leach 0 derson reverse swinging his Ishant Sharma not out 5 Jasprit Bumrah c Buttler b Archer 4 way to 611 wickets. Extras: (b8, lb5, nb1) 14 The victory lifted England Total: (All Out, 58.1 overs): 192 all the way to the top of the Fall of wkts: 2-58, 3-92, 4-92, 5-110, 6-117, ICC World Test Champion- 7-171, 8-179, 9-179, 10-192. ship standings, and if they Bowling: Jofra Archer 9.1-4-23-1, Jack Leach can win two more matches 26-4-76-4 (nb1), James Anderson 11-4-17- matches in this series, they India captain Virat Kohli, who made a rearguard 72, is castled by 3, Dom Bess 8-0-50-0, Ben Stokes 4-1-13-1. can seal their qualification for England players greet James Anderson after he claimed one of his three scalps on the final day of the first Ben Stokes. This is the first time in three years that Kohli has been Toss: England. Result: England won by 227 runs. the marquee final againstN ew Test against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday. (Pics: BCCI) dismissed clean bowled. Zealand at Lord’s. India too will need to win founded by Jack Leach. From spinners, using his feet to dis- getting started. Three balls third wicket when he tamely faced up to a short-ball attack the excellent Leach broke the two matches in the series to wide of the crease, Leach got turb their lengths, but he was later, he meted out the exact pushed one to short cover. from the Indian pacers, tak- stand, doing Ashwin in with seal their qualification, mak- one to pitch on middle and no match for Anderson, who same treatment to Ajinkya Washington Sundar, who ing a few blows, even as Kohli extra bounce. ing for a potentially exhilarat- spit away, and Pujara could do had started reversing the ball. Rahane, who had narrowly scored 85* in the first-in- showcased his class in a few It wasn’t long before Ben ing rest of the series. little but fend at it. Shortly after bringing up survived an lbw appeal on the nings, scored nought this time strokes, in between some solid Stokes got one on a crack, and The day began with India In came captain Virat his half-century, Anderson previous delivery, and India around, Dom Bess joining the defensive play. They put up Kohli’s stumps were uprooted resuming on 39/1, with Shub- Kohli to join Gill, and the duo had Gill cleaned up with a were 92/4. party to having him caught a fighting 54-run stand, dur- as it kept low. Kohli looked at man Gill and Cheteshwar Pu- went about pushing back. Gill beauty. He pitched it in full, Rishabh Pant, who had behind. India were 117/6, ing the course of which Kohli the pitch in frustration, and jara in the middle. It wasn’t an looked good for as long as he and angled it in with the re- scored a fine counter-attacking with their hopes more or less brought up his 24th half-cen- with the Indian captain gone ideal start for India, with Pu- was there, notching up a third verse, completely beating 91 in the first-innings, couldn’t snuffed out. tury in Test cricket. for 72, it wasn’t long before jara walking back shortly into half-century in a fledgling ca- Gill’s defences and uprooting repeat the feat this time Ashwin and Kohli then India were always fighting England sealed victory. the morning, having been con- reer. He expertly dealt with the the stumps. Anderson was just around, becoming Anderson’s pushed back. Ashwin bravely against the tide, though, and (ICC-cricket.com) Wednesday, February 10, 2021 15 Reports by L N Mallick For events and press releases email [email protected] or L N Mallick Pakistan Prism L N Mallick call (974) 4000 2222 L N Mallick

PAKISTAN JURY MEMBERS INDIAN JURY MEMBERS

Prof Dr Khurshid Rizvi Prof Fatesh Muhammad Malik Prof Dr Tehsin Faraqi Prof Dr Zahid Munir Amir Daud Ahmad Malik Prof Gopichand Narang Prof Shafey Kidwai Chandra Bhan Khayal Haqqani Al Qasimi Nawaid Anjum Qatar-based literary organisation announces Silver Jubilee awards for Urdu scholars enowned Urdu ic University, Islamabad as critic and scholar The annual awards, Chairman and Dean, Faculty Prof Dr Shamim of Languages and Literature. Hanfi from India instituted in 1996 Dr Aqeel is a prolific schol- and eminent au- ar and travelled to almost all Rthor and Urdu scholar Prof Dr by Majlis-e-Frogh- major countries of the world Moinuddin Aqeel from Paki- to deliver lectures. He has au- stan have been named winners e-Urdu Adab, a thored, edited and compiled of the Silver Jubilee Aalmi world-renowned more than 70 books and about Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Awards 400 research articles in Urdu (international awards for pro- Qatar-based and English languages, which motion of Urdu literature ) for have been printed in interna- the year 2021. Urdu literary tionally reputed journals. He The annual awards, in- has also contributed chapters stituted in 1996 by Majlis-e- organisation, will and papers in encyclopedias Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, a world- and scholarly compendiums. renowned Qatar-based Urdu be presented to As a book-lover, Dr Aqeel literary organisation, will be the winners at a maintains a personal library presented to the winners at containing books, manu- a function to be held in Doha function to be held scripts, documents and micro- in October or November this films on South Asian history year, subject to approval from in Doha in October and culture of the Muslims. competent authorities. In 2012, he donated 28,000 The award carries a cash or November books (80 percent of his stock) prize of Rs150,000 and a gold Pakistani award winner Prof Moinuddin Aqeel. Indian award winner Prof Shamim Hanfi. to the Asian and African Area medal for each winner. It is Studies Centre at Kyoto Uni- given every year to a fiction Prof Dr Khurshid Rizvi with Muslim University (AMU) Ghalib Academy, Anjuman Prof Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, an offer from Oriental Univer- versity, Japan which has pre- writer and/or research scholar Prof Fateh Mohammad Ma- in 1976. His teaching career Taraqqi Urdu Hind, Ghalib the award winner from Pa- sity, Naples, Italy and worked served them in their library as and/or a critic, one each from lik, Prof Dr Tehsin Firaqi and started at AMU. He joined Institute and Rekhta. kistan, was born on June 25, for it in the Asian Studies ‘Aqeel Collection.’ Pakistan and India, for their Prof Dr Zahid Munir Aamir Jamia Milia Islamia, New He has written many pa- 1946 in India. He is among the Centre for two years. During Besides several official significant contribution to- as members. Delhi in 1976 from where he pers, 100 in India and 50 most eminent Urdu scholars the same time, he went to see appreciations and recogni- wards the promotion of Urdu Announcing the award, retired a few years ago. Jamia abroad, which have been pub- and writers of literature, histo- a number of universities in tions, Dr Aqeel was con- language and literature. Dr Narang said that Shamim has honoured and retained lished in referred journals. ry and culture of the Muslims Europe, studied their librar- ferred the highest civil award Chairman of Majlis Mo- Hanfi is recognised as an him with the title of Professor He has published 50 papers of South Asia and is widely ies, gave extensive lectures ‘Order of the Rising Sun, hammad Atiq said the award outstanding critic and intel- Emeritus. in conferences, seminars and considered as an invaluable and attended many seminars. Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon’ winners were unanimously lectual of the present times. Dr Hanfi is an Urdu critic, workshops in India and 20 academic asset. In 1970, he joined Pakistan by the Emperor of Japan in chosen recently by two inde- “He has rendered invaluable dramatist, historian, poet and abroad. He has written 20 He passed his Matric ex- Shipowners’ College. In 1984, 2013. Further, a Festchrift pendent juries comprising re- services for the Urdu lan- a proponent of modernist books on criticism, translated amination from Government he joined Karachi University. titled ‘History, Literature puted Urdu scholars in New guage and literature. Hanfi movement in Urdu literature. five books from other languag- High School, Landhi, Karachi In 1993, he got an offer from and Scholarly Perspectives, Delhi and Lahore. Both meet- has been given this award for His books on modernism in- es, and written four plays and in 1963, intermediate exami- Tokyo University of Foreign South and West Asian Con- ings were conducted online. his overall literary and criti- clude Jadidiyat Ki Falsafiana five books for children. He has nation from Urdu College, Ka- Studies, Japan as an Urdu text, presented in honour of The Indian jury comprised cal works,” he noted. Asaas and Nai She’ri Rawayat. travelled to severalcountries rachi in 1965, BA from Kara- lecturer, where he worked Dr Moinuddin Aqeel’, con- Padma Bhushan Prof Dr Gopi Dr Hanfi was born in Sul- His other books on ‘criticism’ including Pakistan, Germany, chi University in 1968 and MA until 2000. He also taught in sists of articles from scholars Chand Narang, former Chair- tanpur, UP on November 17, include Ghazal Ka Manzarna- the USA, Qatar, Bahrain and from same University in 1969 Osaka, Kyoto and Daito Ban- of Pakistan, Japan, India, man of Sahitya Academy, In- 1938. His early life was spent ma, Kahani Ke Paanch Rang, Mauritius, to attend confer- in first class first position, on ka universities in Japan and Turkey, the USA, the UK and dia and an outstanding critic, in Sultanpur but he had to Firaq, Shair-wa-Shakhs, Da- ences, seminars and meetings. the basis of which he was Japan’s Ministry of Foreign edited by Dr Jawed Ahmed researcher and intellectual as move to Allahabad for studies, yar-e-Shab Ka Musafir, Iqbal In recognition of his ser- given Anjuman-e-Tarraqi-e- Affairs’ Language School. He Khursheed and Dr Khalid Chairman while Prof Shafey where he came in contact with Ka Harf-e-Tamanna, Ghalib vices to Urdu language and Urdu Pakistan Award. He got then came back to Pakistan Ameen and published by Is- Kidwai, Chander Bhan Khayal, Firaq saheb, who left a pro- Ki Takhleeqi Haissiyet, and literature, he has been hon- his PhD and D.Litt degrees and worked for four years as lamic Research Academy, Nawaid Anjum and Haqqani found impression upon him. Tareekh Tehzeeb Aur Takhlee- oured with Maulana Abul Kal- from Karachi University in Head of Urdu Department, Karachi in 2016. Al Qasmi were the members. After getting MA and D.Phil qi Tajreba. He presently re- am Azad Award, West Ben- 1975 and 2003, respectively. Karachi University and Direc- Dr Aqeel is well-versed with The Pakistani panel was degrees from Allahabad Uni- sides in New Delhi and serves gal’s Pervaiz Shahidi Award, In 1967, Dr Aqeel joined tor of the Bureau of Composi- Urdu (first language),E nglish, headed by renowned scholar, versity in 1962 and 1967, he as patron to many literary so- Delhi’s Urdu Academy Award, American Embassy as an tion and Translation. In 2006, Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Italian critic, researcher and poet got D.Litt degree from Aligarh cieties and organisations like Ghalib Award, etc. Urdu teacher. In 1968, he got he joined International Islam- and Japanese languages.

atar Red Crescent Society, in collabora- Qtion with Visual Art Centre, Katara, recently Minahil organised an art com- petition titled ‘The Crescent Draws Hope’ Khurram in wake the of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen-year-old finds great interest Minahil Khurram participated with her in the art scene distinguished original hand-drawn multimedia of Qatar art which was selected for the group exhibition among senior artists. A Canadian-Pakistani, Mina- hil Khurram is a student of Blyth Academy, a Canadian school in Minahil Khurram receives a certificate and a gift from QRCS Secretary General Ali Unsettled Serenity Qatar. She received a certificate of Bin Hassan Al Hammadi as her subject specialist teacher Mala Waseem looks on. participation and a gift at the open- ing ceremony of the exhibition ing: “The background illustrates interest in the art scene of Qatar and by QRCS Secretary General Ali Bin virtues of sanguine content, acting the rich viewpoint of art in the coun- Hassan Al Hammadi. as a separation between the eyes of try. My passion lies in art, as it pro- Minahil’s artwork was im- the woman who is hoping for better pels me toward new and interesting mensely appreciated by the visitors and a world where there is security opportunities of growth. Recently, I at the opening ceremony. and defense from coronavirus.” have become fond of digital art cre- “My artwork is inspired by cor- About her art work, she said, ated through applications on the onavirus and the struggle faced by “I am thankful to my parents and iPad Pro. This modern medium of individuals during the COVID-19 teachers who have always supported creating art is both sustainable and pandemic. During the isolation pe- me and encouraged me to get recog- enjoyable as it eliminates the need riod, people were desolate and had nised in the Qatar art scene.” for various art materials and their no access to the outside world. It As for her message to young storage solutions.” was a time when humanity expe- aspiring artists, she replied: “My When asked about what she rienced the loss of their livelihood message to younger students is to likes about digital art, she said: “I and loved ones,” she said. not shy away from the now eas- find great enjoyment in digital art “This essence is depicted in ily attainable virtues of art, through as it can be done anywhere at any the dull image of a woman who free digital art programmes that are time. It provides mobility and free- has lost trace of vitality and live- even accessible on modern smart dom to lengths often unheard of by Rainbow After Storm liness. Although she is obscured phones. Art is open to everyone and traditional artists. student, my primary motivation Minahil from colour, her eyes speak of faith holds no limits to aspiring creatives “On my journey as a digital art- suffused with prestigious paintings is to supply recognition to young Khurram that the world will bounce back like you and me.” ist, I grow by consuming social me- of portraiture.” artists like myself, for traditional and come out from this pandemic To a question about her passion dia and receiving inspiration on the When asked about her pri- art to adapt to the near future of even stronger,” she added, not- for art, she said: “I have found great beautiful streets of Doha that are mary motivation, she said, “As a digital media.” 16 Wednesday, February 10, 2021 The Last Word

Qatar National Sport Day 2021

The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a morning walk in Doha on Qatar National Sport Day on Tuesday.

QIIB participates in Sport Day activities Qatar Foundation engages community in Tribune News Network Doha fitness activities and inspirational talks QIIB participated in the National Sport Day Ailyn Agonia social isolation being a key pre- sleep patterns as it supports the events with COVID-19 safety measures in place DOHA dictor to mental health issues, biological clock, in addition to and in line with the guidelines issued by the au- exercising with others is a good suppressing negative emotions thorities for sports activities and events related to Qatar Foundation (QF) en- way to meet people. But it’s im- like stress, anger and anxiety. the celebration. gaged members of the commu- portant to set realistic targets Exercise can also enhance per- The bank encouraged all staff to workout indi- nity across ages in virtual fitness with exercise – if you do 10-15 sonal and social values such as vidually in open areas, and the activities included activities and inspiring conver- minutes of vigorous exercise self-respect, confidence and dis- walking, running and cycling. sations featuring health and fit- each day, that is enough in terms cipline, as well as communica- QIIB Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulbasit Ah- ness experts to celebrate Qatar of benefiting our mental health. tion skills, through teamwork mad Al Shaibei and a number of senior executive National Sport Day on Tuesday. It simply has to be something and achieving collective goals.” management mem- The activities enabled people that is sustainable for you.” Meanwhile, to mark the Qa- bers led the activities. across the country to get into the Dr Zainab Imam, a consult- tar-USA 2021 Year of Culture, Dr Al Shaibei said spirit of sport and exercise while ant adult and perinatal psy- QF joined with Qatar Museums on the occasion: “The observing COVID-19 health chiatrist at Sidra Medicine, also and the US Embassy in Doha to National Sport Day guidelines and to boost their fit- A core workout session organised by Gymmito. pointed out that exercise “ticks offer sessions for both adults and has a special signifi- ness while also learning about practically every aspect of men- children with leading US gym cance to our country, the value of living an active life people on the path to protecting The sessions with experts of- tal wellbeing” and cited the five Dogpound and online activities which has become an from sports stars and experts. their mental wellbeing. fered viewers important tips and ways to mental wellbeing name- designed for those with mobil- international sports The fitness routines set in The fun-filled online fitness insights on the benefits of being ly, movement, connecting with ity and hearing impairments hub. For this reason, some of the most iconic locations event kicked off with sessions physically active. others, taking notice, lifelong and learning challenges together celebrating this event in Education City range from led by instructors from Zulal Dr Naomi Hynd, a consult- learning and charity. with the Best Buddies initiative. amidst the current workouts suitable to beginners, Wellness Resort, Gymmito, F45 ant clinical psychiatrist at QF Sport and exercise’s cru- QF’s Ability-Friendly Pro- pandemic reflects our child-friendly routines, fitness and T23. A Muay Thai class with member Sidra Medicine, high- cial role in maintaining mental gramme collaborated with the country’s determina- Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad Al Shaibei activities for the more advanced Hands of Stone and a yoga ses- lighted how exercise boosts our wellbeing were also highlighted Supreme Committee for De- tion to get on with health enthusiasts, mind and sion with Vishnu Yoga also en- mood and releases the tension by Faysal Al Oshari, a specialist livery & Legacy’s Generation life and adopt new measures and controls that shall body wellness programmes to an gaged the community members and worry in our body. at Qatar’s Behavioural Health- Amazing programme, Acces- not stand in the way of looking after our health and array of ability-friendly sporting who were tuned in, while QF’s She said, “If you have an care Center. sible Qatar and Clement Acad- physical fitness. opportunities. Qatar Reads initiative teamed up excess of stress in your life, you He said, “The more active a emy for inclusive demonstration “It is true that group sports are important and Featured health experts also with Olympic Stars and Warrior need to balance it out with pleas- person is, the more endorphins sessions focusing on football, beneficial and echo the real meaning of participa- emphasised that just 10 to 15 Fit to offer a gymnastic class and urable activities, and exercise is are produced and the happier cricket, swimming, handcycling, tion, interaction and communication at social, hu- minutes of exercise a day can put a boot camp for children. really good in this respect. With they are. Sport can also help our wheelchair fencing and archery. man and cultural levels. Yet, the current circum- stances emphasise the importance of exercising as it boosts the immune system of the participants, strengthens their determination, helps them to cope with pressure and makes them more productive, in- teractive and able to give. QF celebrates female athletes on Sport Day programme “QIIB is keen to participate in various activities that underline the positive values represented by Ailyn Agonia “As an athlete who wears the though it’s hard work and there sports, which will enable the whole society to share DOHA headscarf, it’s very important to are a lot of sacrifices, you have to a sense of strength, cohesion, productivity and inter- maintain the culture and the reli- make it. If you are disciplined, it action in various indicators and trends.” As the country marked Na- gion but at the same time to show becomes easier. Time manage- Dr Al Shaibei noted: “Despite the coronavirus tional Sport Day on Tuesday, that I can still play sports and be ment is important, as well. I was pandemic, Qatar has remained the world’s sports two of the most prominent part of our national team rep- only 17 years old when I went to hub and organised a number of international and Qatari female athletes fondly resenting Qatar at international my first Olympics, so It was a regional championships, while maintaining the shared their passion and the and national levels,” said Farid. challenge to balance my studies highest standards of safety and security, which has honour of representing their She also hailed Qatar’s role and sports but with time man- contributed to Qatar’s great success in various fields. country in international tour- as a sports hub in the region by agement and in finding my way “Qatar National Vision 2030 has laid the basic naments and breaking down hosting major event including the to get through all of that journey foundations that kindled interest in sports, for the barriers for Arab women in ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. I learned a lot.” National Vision’s primary focus is on the individual sports during virtual sessions Mariam Farid She said these events positively Nada Arakji Arakji describes her career as and how to achieve his aspirations and needs accord- hosted by Qatar Foundation impact the society and are proof a lovely journey which she said ing to the best standards and principles. Creating suc- (QF) on the occasion. in the society. What really moti- of Qatar’s preparedness to host Games. We are definitely ready!” she is enjoying every moment cessful, productive, healthy and fit individuals means Mariam Farid was an ambas- vates me not to give up is that I the highly-anticipated 2022 FIFA Farid remarked. of it. She highlighted the impor- creating a strong, cohesive community capable of giv- sador for the IAAF World Ath- love what I do and I have seen World Club. She also expressed hope in tance of maintaining a well-bal- ing and building and developing his country.” letics Championships hosted in the change and development in “I went to see the FIFA seeing more women actively par- anced lifestyle in overcoming the QIIB officials and employees expressed their in- Doha in 2019 and the first Qatari sports in the country and in the World Cup Club and it was in- ticipating in sports and carving pressures that comes with pursu- terest in taking part in the Sport Day events despite athlete to wear the hijab in the region,” Farid said during the QF credible. I was surprise and out a niche in their chosen fields. ing a career in sports. the new circumstances. They stressed n the impor- competition. Nada Arakji is an virtual session hosted by Khalid proud that we were having it this For her part, Arakji stressed She also pointed out the criti- tance of complying with the health and safety re- Olympic swimmer and the first Al Jumaily, host of QF’s innova- year in Qatar. The thing is, we the importance of discipline and cal importance of the overwhelm- quirements for combating COVID-19 pandemic and woman to represent Qatar in two tion TV show Stars of Science. should be proud we are hosting time management in winning in ing support she received from her returning to a normal life. consecutive Olympic Games. She pointed out the chal- international competitions and sports as well as in life. She said, family and friends as well as from It is worth noting that the National Sport Day “I just focus on my goals, on lenges in breaking stereotypes championships and we have the “There are a lot of characteristics the Qatar Olympic Committee. Committee has laid down the conditions and guide- what I love and what I can give and changing the perceptions on FIFA World Cup coming soon. that you need to build and learn Arakji’s family is heav- lines related to the 2021 National Sport Day events to the community. The fact that women, particularly Arab wom- We are very ready. We are not along the way from the start of ily involved in sports. She is the and activities, which require this year’s activities to be I am representing Qatar at inter- en, in sports. While representing just jumping to host the World your journey. I think the most daughter of the former Qatar na- conducted individually and in the open air only, while national level gives me the push. Qatar in the World Champion- Cup in 2022. We have hosted important characteristics would tional football team goalkeeper applying social distancing and maintaining a distance I am not just representing myself ships, Farid drew attention when major events. We have done be discipline. If you are pas- and Al Sadd player Mohamed of at least three metres between the participants. but also the nation and women she competed wearing the hijab. Diamond Leagues and the Asian sionate about something, even Wafa Arakji.