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FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 16 JUMADA II - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8517 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Have the SIM delivered to you Amir patronises graduation of Military College H H the Amir honours the first 11 outstanding graduates.

The Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College graduation ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Their Excellencies the Ministers and a number of dignitaries from brotherly and friendly countries.

158 candidates from the State of Qatar, the State Kuwait, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania graduate.

QNA — DOHA Commander of the Military Academy of Cherchell in the Peo- Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin ple’s Democratic Republic of Hamad Al Thani patronised the Algeria Major General Salmi graduation ceremony of the Pasha, the Commander of the 16th batch of graduates of Royal Military Academy in the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military Kingdom of Morocco Major Al Thani and a number of dignitaries during the graduation ceremony of the 16th batch of Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College in College at its headquarters, General Hassan Al Taeik, Com- Doha yesterday. yesterday morning. mandant of Rwanda Military The graduation ceremony Academy in the Republic of College in the Republic of Sudan attended by senior officers of the request H H the Amir to review parade queue left. At the end of was attended by Prime Minister Rwanda Major General Innocent Colonel Alamuddin Fadlullah Ministry of Defence, the Ministry the queue of the 158 graduates the ceremony, the officers of the and Minister of Interior, H E Kabandana, Vice-President of Abudeik, the Commander of of Interior, the Amiri Guard, the from the State of Qatar, the 16th batch took the oath and Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Mutah University for Military Sultan Qaboos Military College Internal Security Force State Kuwait, the Hashemite performed the college anthem. Abdulaziz Al Thani, a number of Affairs in the Hashemite Kingdom in the Sultanate of Oman Lieu- (Lekhwiya) and the State Security Kingdom of Jordan and the Commander of the Ahmed Their Excellencies the Ministers, of Jordan Brigadier General tenant Colonel Mohammed bin Bureau, in addition to their Excel- Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Bin Mohammed Military College Chief of Staff of the Army of the Mohammad Aref Mahmoud Abu- Ahmed Al Mashikhi and a lencies heads of diplomatic mis- H H the Amir then honoured the Staff Colonel Abdulhadi Islamic Republic of Pakistan Zaid, Commander of the Military number of leaders of colleges, sions in the country and the first 11 outstanding graduates. Mohammed Al Hajri gave a General Qamar Javed Bajwa, College of the Republic of Turkey institutes and security and mil- parents of the graduates. Afterwards, the 16th batch speech on this occasion in which Operations and Training Assistant Brigadier General Mustafa Ayer, itary academies from brotherly After the national anthem handed over the flag to the 17th he said that the graduating batch in the State of Kuwait Major the Commander of the Adminis- and friendly countries. was played and the Commander batch, and the order for pro- is honoured by H H the Amir’s General Faleh Shuja Al Otaibi, the tration Battalion at the Military The ceremony was also of the parade came forward to motion was read out and the attendance every year. `P2

Rising cases hint 2nd COVID-19 wave: Official The timely Doha Forum Report addresses the weaknesses that the FAZEENA SALEEM seen a gradual and consistent increase in recommendations: Wear a mask as advised; pandemic has exposed in the global THE PENINSULA the number of new daily infections. Addi- maintain social distancing; avoid large gath- community. It also lays the road map tionally, and of great concern, is the increase erings of people; and wash your hands reg- The increase in number of new COVID-19 since mid-December in both the number of ularly,” he said. ahead for how global and regional cases and number of people hospitalised people with COVID-19 in hospital and the According to Dr. Al Khal, 50,000 Pfizer- cooperation can lead to a durable, every week is a matter of great concern as number of people in ICU,” he said. BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have been sustainable, and broad-based it may be signs of a second wave of pandemic “The data over the next few days and administered in Qatar since the launch of recovery from COVID-19.” in Qatar, said Chair of the National Health week will tell us more, but these increases the vaccination campaign started on Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of appear to be the early signs of a potential December 23, 2020. Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical second wave in Qatar,” he added. Co-chairperson of the National Pan- H E Lolwah Al Khater demic Preparedness Committee and Director of Health Protection and Commu- nicable Diseases at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Hamad Al Romaihi addressing the press conference said that first batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the next 10 days. HBKU’s CPP supports Dr. Al Romaihi also said that while Moderna vaccine will be a very limited quantity but this is an encouraging devel- call for coordinated opment and can expect regular, larger deliveries of both Moderna and Pfizer/ global recovery efforts BioNTech vaccines to arrive from early Dr. Mariam Abdul Malik, Dr. Hamad Al Romaihi and Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal during the press March. THE PENINSULA — DOHA conference, yesterday. “Our vaccination campaign strategy Ponzio, and Co-Chair of the will enable everyone who needs to be vac- The College of Public Policy Global Coalition on Youth, Peace Corporation, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Dr. Al Khal said that if numbers of pos- cinated to do so in 2021, but for now we (CPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa and Security Saji Prelis. yesterday. Addressing a televised press itive cases and hospital admissions con- must prioritise people most at risk from University (HBKU), in collabo- In discussing the report’s conference, he said that if the number of tinue to increase over the coming week or severe complications from the virus. Our ration with the Doha Forum recommendations, the speakers cases continues to increase, additional two, additional restrictions may need to be strategy for the COVID vaccination cam- and Stimson Center, convened considered its findings that restrictions may need to be implemented implemented across the country and will paign – the biggest vaccination campaign a panel discussion examining current international efforts across the country and urged public to return to some of the early restriction ever to be delivered in Qatar — is made the findings of the Doha Forum toward global challenges are too adhere all COVID-19 preventive measures. phases. up of four phases throughout 2021,” he 2020 Report on the theme of often fragmented and under- “Over the past month in Qatar we have “I ask everyone to follow the preventive said. `P3 COVID-19 recovery. resourced. Charting the way The panel discussion titled forward, the report recom- ‘Coping with New and Old mends a three-year global Crises: Global and Regional green recovery effort with four Ashghal signs pacts to instal 2,600 decorative lamp poles Cooperation in an Age of Epi- critical dimensions of global- demic Uncertainty’ analysed national-local interaction. It THE PENINSULA — DOHA from Ras Bu Abboud Bridge to Doha City- the current and long-term also points to the promising role scape Area and two-square kilometres challenges that have emerged of new public-private partner- The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has around Central Doha. from the pandemic and high- ships to spur innovation through signed two new contracts to provide 2,600 The palm fronds design was chosen to light the need to build on new technologies and promote decorative lamp poles for beautification of decorate Doha Corniche, especially to enhanced global cooperation job and wealth creation Doha Corniche and Central Doha areas, match the palm trees extended along Cor- and solidarity engendered by opportunities. within the works of the Supervisory niche. The tree leaf designs were selected the new crisis. The Doha Forum Al Khater said: “2020 has Committee of Beautification of Roads and for poles in Central Doha to match the developed the report in part- been a year that challenged the Public Places in Qatar. The contracts were beautification and landscaping works in nership with the Stimson notion of multilateral cooper- signed in the presence of the President of the region, besides enriching the Qatari Center, a US-based think tank. ation. We saw both instances of Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Dr. Eng. identity. The panel discussion was solidarity and cooperation as well Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi, executives Dr. Eng. Al Muhannadi commented that held at Minaretein, Education as cases of failure and isola- and representatives of local manufacturing the contracts were signed to provide beau- City. Dr. Leslie A Pal, founding tionism. The timely Doha Forum companies. tification lighting poles for Doha Corniche Dean of CPP, moderated the dis- Report addresses the weaknesses The new lamp poles have distinguished and Central Doha’s streets. He clarified that cussion between Assistant that the pandemic has exposed special design features reflecting the Qatari the new lamp poles have distinct features Foreign Minister and Spokes- in the global community. It also identity. The poles to be installed along considering the strategic importance of person for the Ministry of Foreign lays the road map ahead for how Doha Corniche are designed in the form of Two local companies have been con- these locations in Qatar. They are designed Affairs H E Lolwah AlKhater, global and regional cooperation palm fronds and leaves shaped lighting tracted to supply the locally manufactured to reflect a Qatari identity, using Qatari Director of the Just Security 2020 can lead to a durable, sustainable, poles to be installed along streets of Central lighting poles to provide LED lighting ideas and manufactured at Qatari manu- Program and a Senior Fellow at and broad-based recovery from Doha. extended along 10km on Doha Corniche facturing firms. `P2 the Stimson Center Dr. Richard COVID-19.” `P3 02 HOME FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Amir honours eleven outstanding graduates

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Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inspects working of a department at the Qatar Armed Forces Joint Warfare Training Center yesterday. Amir visits Joint Warfare Training Center QNA — DOHA Armed Forces. related to the tasks of the During the visit, H H lis- Center. WEATHER Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin tened to a briefing on the H H the Amir was accom- TODAY Hamad Al Thani visited various departments of the panied by Prime Minister and yesterday morning the Qatar Center and their integration in Minister of Interior, H E Sheikh Armed Forces Joint Warfare achieving the objectives of sup- Khalid bin Khalifa bin Training Center (JWTC) to porting and developing the Abdulaziz Al Thani and a see the Center and its plans armed forces and raising their number of Their Excellencies Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani honouring an outstanding for developing the defence efficiency and readiness, in the Ministers and senior graduate during the graduation ceremony of the 16th batch of Ahmed capabilities of the Qatari addition to the strategic plans officers. Bin Mohammed Military College at its headquarters yesterday. 15oC 25oC Minimum Maximum Misty to foggy at places at first Amir patronises graduation ceremony of Military College becomes moderate temperature FROM PAGE 1 daytime with some cloudsand cold being a fortified shield and an God’s grace and the wise precautionary measures were and education, adding that it by night. He said that H H the Amir impregnable wall for this directives, Ahmed Bin taken to ensure the safety of is ranked highly today and W ALRUWAIS : 13o → 23o honouring the ceremony was country and capable of facing Mohammed Military College candidates and all College carries the responsibility of W ALKHOR : 14o → 24o in order to share with the political repercussions and was able to complete its edu- staff. raising its students in an edu- faculty of the College their joy regional challenges and ful- cational and training path suc- He explained that the cational, intellectual and mil- W DUKHAN : 12o → 24o in graduating a new gener- filling the ambitions of this cessfully in light of the chal- College became a place of itary upbringing in light of the → W WAKRAH : 13o 22o ation that will follow the path nation and its leaders. lenges, most notably the coro- expertise and a reference in educational and intellectual W MESAIEED : 13o → 22o of previous generations by He said that thanks to navirus pandemic, as the field of academic training changes and developments. W ABUSAMRA : 14o → 21o Chief of Staff meets Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff HIGH TIDE Qatar, Poland chair first 05:26 – 16:02 LOW TIDE 13:00 – 23:34 round of negotiations to reform Security Council Qatar highlights QNA — NEW YORK regarding the Council reform. role of sports in In her speech that opened Permanent Representative of the negotiation session, preventing crime the State of Qatar to the Ambassador Sheikha Alya United Nations H E Ambas- Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani QNA — VIENNA sador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin expressed her aspiration to Saif Al Thani and Permanent comprehensively advance the The State of Qatar highlighted Representative of Poland reform process led by member the role sports can play in Ambassador Joanna states in accordance with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot), Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem met preventing violence among Wronecka, as the co-chairs of relevant UN General Assembly yesterday with Chief of Army Staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa, youth, combatting crime and this process during the 75th resolutions. who is currently visiting the country. The meeting dealt with reviewing bilateral relations in the drugs, and establishing peace session of the United Nations “Meaningful progress and creating dialogue among General Assembly, chaired the requires real and open dia- military fields, and the means to enhance them. The meeting was attended by a number of senior different civilizations, one of first round of the intergovern- logue, active participation, and officers at the armed forces. the pillars of the Doha Decla- mental negotiation on the working together to find areas ration Global Programme issue of equitable Security for agreement” H E said, which was announced at the Council representation, affirming on the importance conclusion of the 13th United increasing the number of its and historicity of this moment Qatar ranks 2nd in GCC, Arab countries Nations Congress on Crime members and other issues in the overall process of Prevention and Criminal related to the Security reforming the United Nations Justice held in Qatar. Council. Security Council. in Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 This came in the speech of The first round of negoti- QNA — DOHA World Bank, World Economic in the field of transparency and the State of Qatar delivered by ations comes within the Forum, International Institute fighting corruption in all H E Ambassador of the State framework of a series of Qatar has occupied a high rank for Management Development regional and international of Qatar to the Republic of Meaningful progress meetings to be held by the co- in the fields of transparency and (IMD), and the Economist Intel- indexes, and not just the Cor- Austria and the Permanent requires real and open chairs this year, in which they fighting corruption. Trans- ligence Unit (EIU) among other ruption Perceptions Index. Representative of the State of dialogue, active review the five main issues parency International prestigious international Some of these steps include Qatar to the United Nations participation, and agreed to be discussed within published yesterday its institutions. coordinating with different and international organiza- working together to find the framework of the Security Corruption Perceptions Index This year, the index focused national authorities, and ensure tions in Vienna Sultan bin Council reform process, which 2020, which saw Qatar achieve on the impact of the corona- adherence to the code of Salmeen Al Mansori, in a areas for agreement. are the categories of mem- 63 points. The result meant that virus (COVID-19) pandemic. It conduct and integrity of public virtual meeting organised by bership in the council, the veto, Qatar is ranked second in the noted that corruption is prev- officials charter issued in the United Nations Office on Ambassador Sheikha Alya the regional representation, GCC and among Arab countries, alent across the COVID-19 cabinet decision no. 18 of 2020, Drugs and Crime in Vienna on Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani the size of the enlarged board, and 30th from a total of 180 response, from bribery for among other efforts to advance the impact of sports on pre- Qatar's Permanent the working methods of the countries that are featured in COVID-19 tests, treatment and transparency in the state. venting violence among youth Council and the relation the index. other health services, to public The state efforts do not just and combatting crime and Representative to UN between the council and the The index ranks countries procurement of medical sup- focus on implementing the best drugs. Al Mansori said that General Assembly. based on the perceived level of plies and overall emergency practices in the fields of there were great achievements President of the 75th public sector corruption preparedness. The report also integrity and transparency, but made over the past five years The first round, that lasted Session of the United Nations according to experts and noted finding that lower also extend to supporting in enhancing the ability of for two day, concentrated on General Assembly Volkan business people. A score of 100 investment in healthcare was international efforts in those countries in using sports to the regional representation Bozkir decided to appoint the shows a country with the associated with higher levels of fields. The State of Qatar has a empower young people, which issue, while the member states Permanent Representatives of highest levels of integrity and corruption. number of international events helps achieving the sustainable and the regional groups and the State of Qatar and Poland transparency, while a score of The Administrative Control in that regard, the most prom- development goals. blocs concerned with the issue to chair the intergovern- 0 reflect high levels of cor- and Transparency Authority inent of which is H H the Amir’s He added that the State of of Security Council reform mental negotiations on ruption. The index relies on takes a number of steps to Anti-Corruption Excellence Qatar realized early on the reviewed their points of view Security Council reform. indicators provided by the ensure Qatar remains a leader Award. important role sports play in preventing crime, and enhancing the economic and social goals stated in Qatar Ashghal signs pacts to instal 2,600 decorative lamp poles National Vision 2030. He FROM PAGE 1 added that the state estab- continuous support to the the first time in Qatar. Given the was also considered in the lighting provisions, and street lished a ministry for sports and “We are so proud to award private sector, asserting that the special identity of Doha Cor- design features by providing light modules. The leaf-shaped culture and Qatar Sports for the contracts to local suppliers company is committed to niche and its strategic location them with special lighting. design would add a distinctive All Federation to promote the and manufacturers,” he said. Ashghal concerning the quality in the waterfront that connects These lighting poles will be an beauty to the vital areas of importance of sports in Meanwhile, the Chairman of project’s outputs and its eastern coastal regions, it was artistic work that gives an Doha, complementing the rest achieving these goals. of the Board of Directors of LDC timely completion. decided to provide decorative exclusive distinct shape to the of traditional beautification Eng. Ahmed Al Abdullah Eng. Hamad Al Nuaimi, lighting poles designed exclu- Doha waterfront. About 1440 works and Qatari identity. It is expressed his gratitude to from Alurays Lighting Tech- sively to highlight its identity poles would be installed, dis- planned to install 1,160 poles in MoPH: 347 new Ashghal and the Supervisory nology, said that locally pro- connected to the local com- tributed in the middle and sides Central Doha streets such as Committee of Beautification of duced modern street lighting munity. Also, considering the of the street extending from Ras Grand Hamad Street, Jabor bin COVID-19 cases Roads and Public Places for units are provided for the presence of palm trees along Bu Abboud Bridge up to the Mohammed Street, A Ring Road, their support in the contract project. He also expressed grat- Corniche, Eng Al Abdullah came signal near the Doha Exhibition Museum Street, and neigh- THE PENINSULA — DOHA bidding process. He also itude to Ashghal for supporting up with the palm frond idea in and Convention Center and boring streets connecting to expressed pride in putting the local companies, while Abdul cooperation with Eng. Ibrahim Sheraton Doha. Doha Corniche. The Ministry of Public Health idea of palm frond design and Rahman Al Ansari, Chairman of Al-Jaida, CEO of Arab Engi- Al Nasr Holding Company It worth mentioning that (MoPH) yesterday registered implementing it through Qatari Qatar Aluminum Extrusion neering Bureau (AEB). will install lighting poles from 2016 to 2020, reliance on 347 new confirmed cases of skills keeping international Company (QALEX), commented The material manufacture designed in the form of leaves. locally produced basic materials COVID-19. Among them 29 standards in the design and that Ashghal greatly supports and supply are assigned to local Supply of materials was increased from 38 to 70 percent, were travellers returning from manufacture of poles and local companies. He also firms, including Metalex to assigned to other local factories, and the local market has earned abroad. Another 163 people lighting units’ operation. pointed out that locally pro- supply steel poles and bolts and including Qalex, Metro Smart about QR18.5bn from the have recovered, bringing the Vice-Chairman of Al Nasr duced aluminum columns that Alurays Lighting Technology to International, and Jets Projects, budgets of infrastructure total number of recovered Holding Company Abdulla Al will last around 30 years are supply lightings units. The to provide aluminum poles, projects and buildings over the cases in Qatar to 145,414. Nasr highlighted Ashghal’s safer and more sustainable for clarity of these designs at night baseline bolts, aluminum past five years. FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 HOME 03

Rising cases hint Qatar participates in 2nd COVID-19 extraordinary meeting wave: Official FROM PAGE 1 Dr. Al Romaihi also said of GCC health ministers that as with all countries across the world, Qatar QNA — DOHA received limited supplies of The participants discussed issues vaccines from Pfizer-BioNtech Qatar participated yesterday in the related to the health sector in the as they work to meet global extraordinary meeting of the GCC health demand. “We have now ministers held via video conference. Al-Ula Declaration, while also received several shipments of Qatar was represented during the discussing the guide for the early Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines meeting by Minister of Public Health, H health warning system, and the and we are due to receive E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari. establishment of the Gulf Center weekly deliveries throughout The participants reviewed a number for Disease Prevention and February,” he added. of important issues, among them topics The COVID-19 vaccination and contents related to the health field Control. campaign is implemented in Minister of Public Health, H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari participating in the in Al-Ula Declaration and the final four phases in the country. The extraordinary meeting of the GCC health ministers, held virtually yesterday. statement of the 41st session of the first phase will be from Supreme Council of the Cooperation in January 2021. December 9, 2020 to March Council for the Arab States of the Gulf They also stressed on following up framework of the Gulf public health plan of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention 31, 2021, second phase will be (GCC) /the summit of Sultan Qaboos and the implementation of decisions related for emergency preparedness and and Control. The meeting also discussed from April 1 to June 30, third Sheikh Sabah/ held in Al-Ula Gover- to the health field issued by the Supreme response, the guide for the early health the implementation plan for these phase from June 1 to July 31 norate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Council, which represent the general warning system, and the establishment decisions. and fourth phase from August 1 to October 31. More than 90,000 people have registered in the new MoPH online QA Privilege Club extends members’ tier status to Dec 2021 system for people to register their interest in receiving THE PENINSULA — DOHA This announcement follows Commercial Officer, Thierry COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating times together.” Last year, Qatar COVID-19 vaccine, said Man- news that Qatar Airways will Antinori, said: “At Qatar Airways Airport Safety Rating. Airways’ Privilege Club was one aging Director of Primary Qatar Airways Privilege Club offer all passengers unlimited we are doing everything in our “Our Privilege Club of the first airline loyalty pro- Health Care Corporation, Dr. will extend its valued members’ date changes and free refunds power to be the airline you can members are very important to grammes to announce a tier Mariam Abdul Malik. tier status in recognition that for tickets issued before April rely on. Having flown continu- us and we want to continue to extension offer of up to 12 She also said that in the travel plans continue to be 30, 2021 for travel completed ously during the pandemic, we be there for them. We under- months to its members. first few weeks of the impacted by the ongoing by December 31, 2021. currently operate the largest stand that some of our members Throughout 2020, Privilege COVID-19 vaccination cam- COVID-19 pandemic. Privilege Club members can network among airlines based may need more time to plan Club continued to invest in paign, the medical teams have This initiative will extend therefore benefit from flexible in the Middle East thanks to the and book their upcoming travel. redefining the programme, carefully monitored all recip- members’ tier status until booking policies that will allow flexibility offered by our sus- That is why we are announcing including cutting the number of ients following their vaccina- December 31, 2021 and applies them to change their plans with tainable, wide body Boeing 787 today our latest tier extension Qmiles required to book award tions as this essential to check to the airline's Silver, Gold and ease if they need to, while and A350 aircrafts. We also as one of the many steps that flights by up to 49 percent. It for possible side effects. Platinum members whose tier retaining their current, hard- offer the highest standards of Privilege Club has taken over also revised its Qmiles policy so “As with any vaccination is due to end this year and have earned tier status and enjoying safety on board and at Hamad the last year to honour the that when a member earns or we have seen a small number not earned enough Qpoints to the unique benefits associated International Airport — recently loyalty of our valued members spends them, their balance is of mild side effects, mainly retain it. with it. Qatar Airways Chief endorsed by our Skytrax 5-Star as we navigate these difficult valid for 36 months. soreness at the site of the injection. However, we have not seen any serious side effects directly related to the QU Research Magazine documents MoI ready to implement vaccine among patients receiving either the first or new COVID-19 containment second dose of the vaccine,” innovations of researchers she said. People who register but are not among the priority THE PENINSULA — DOHA measures if needed: Official groups will be contacted when SIDI MOHAMED they become eligible. Research and Graduate Studies THE PENINSULA department of Qatar University has released the 14th issue of the Qatar Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al HBKU’s CPP University Research Magazine which Muftah (pictured), Director of documents the progress and achieve- the Public Relations supports call for ments of Qatar University (QU). Department at the Ministry of “We are back with a new issue and Interior (MoI), has said that if coordinated global renewed features of Qatar University the Supreme Committee for recovery efforts Research Magazine, in which we doc- Crisis Management or the FROM PAGE 1 ument our most important research Ministry of Public Health achievements and our continuous giving (MoPH) announce new Speaking after the event, with which we have challenged the measures to contain COVID-19, Dr. Pal said: “The pandemic Corona pandemic and the emergency the security departments are non-compliance with wearing has put into focus the fault conditions henceforth,” Prof Mariam Ali ready to implement those deci- masks in places where they are lines in multilateral cooper- Al-Maadeed, Vice President for Research sions. mandatory, and the limitations ation. At this critical juncture and Graduate Studies at QU said in the The Supreme Committee to occupants in vehicles,” Brig. and facing a growing number editorial of the magazine. for Crisis Management and Al Muftah said. of serious global challenges, The magazine is available in both MoPH yesterday in a press con- “The pandemic has not we have new opportunities to English and Arabic and features the most ference disclosed an increase ended globally, and all precau- address those challenges as an prominent research achievements and in the number of new tionary measures must be international community — if innovations made by QU’s researchers COVID-19 cases in Qatar and taken. Some people thought the we pull together. Therefore, and students. the number of people hospi- pandemic had ended and the focus of this event has been “Starting from this issue, we have talised every week. neglected to take preventive the framework at the heart of devoted a section to Innovation Oasis, While speaking to Qatar measures, and this negligence the Doha Forum Report 2020 which contains some of the researchers’ TV, Brig. Al Mufah said the was the reason for the high that offers a roadmap for a innovations and patents that were regis- campaign by the MoI to ensure number of infections. “We coordinated global green tered in 2020,” Prof Mariam added. that everyone adheres to the count on the awareness of the recovery effort. No doubt this The magazine covers research achievements, research projects. The English version of the preventive measures issued by community, and we hope that will be the first of many efforts news, events, students’ articles, research articles magazine is available at https://tinyurl.com/ relevant authorities has not the preventive measures will to amplify further the role of and more. y5yvt6sw and Arabic version at https://tinyurl. been halted, adding that the continue as they were at the civil society and academic In the Spotlight and the Student Projects com/y27u72xk. preventive measures are still beginning of the pandemic, and institutions like HBKU in elab- Section, the magazine highlight the role of Interested readers can also subscribe to the being implemented. we hope not to apprehend orating the global governance researchers and students of the University and magazine by visiting their website at http://www. “We have been registering more people for violating the and public policy their most important achievements and qu.edu.qa/research/publications/issues. violations related to set protocols,” he said. implications.” QU announces internal research grants for 2021 Stage set for ‘Qatar’s THE PENINSULA —DOHA with the total reaching 267 this epidemiology, and e-health, and Development Grant” (QRDG) in year. For example, the High The Concept Development: collaboration with Qatar Ferti- Strongest Man’ Qatar University (QU) strives for Impact Grant submissions Emergency Response grant lizer Company (QAFCO). The excellence through its education increased from 7 to 27 submis- (CD-ER) that deals with the high grant targets faculty and stu- RAYNALD C RIVERA recognized, and iconic events and research efforts while sions with six awarded projects. demand for innovative solutions. dents from different research THE PENINSULA in the region. It is more than serving the local and interna- The Collaborative Grant submis- CD-ER is intended to enable the fields and supports QAFCO’s just force: it is about determi- tional community and contrib- sions had an increase of 70%, development of innovative pro- strategy in creating knowledge, Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) nation, skill, tactics, and uting to Qatar National Vision with a total of 18 awarded totypes, processes, and inno- contributing to Qatar becoming is all set to present the much strategy. 2030. projects. It was shown that the vative platforms. It covered self-sufficient, and building a anticipated eighth edition of the Every test is designed to Besides the current chal- College of Engineering (CENG) seven additional awarded knowledge-based economy to annual 'Qatar’s Strongest Man' push the participants to their lenges induced by the COVID-19 and the College of Arts and Sci- projects. achieve Qatar National Vision to be held today at 4pm at absolute limits, challenging not worldwide, Qatar University ences (CAS) led the way by col- Beyond studying the virus 2030. Aspire Park. only their physical strength, but supports its research community lectively claiming around 50 from different perspectives, QU The grant has dedicated The event was originally their agility and mental with 74 newly-awarded projects percent of the total submitted researchers contribute to solutions with high Technology scheduled to take place last toughness too. for the new cycle. Qatar Uni- grants. In terms of research enhancing proper protection Readiness Level in process Friday but was postponed for Among the extremely versity also supports its students fields, most of the submitted plans and awareness and high- enhancement, environmental a week due to unexpected demanding physical tests that in their research work by proposals were in the Health and lighting the university’s role in studies, climate change adap- weather conditions. contestants underwent in the funding about 250 students each Biomedical Sciences and Energy addressing such emerging tation, and soil health man- Considered this year’s clash previous editions include truck year through different student & Environment research pillars concerns. agement. QRDG supported eight of the titans, the competition pulling, sand bag lifting, weight grants. of the university. Through the International early-stage projects in its first will see some of the brawniest lifting, giant wheel tire pushing, The Research Support Due to COVID-19, the Office Research Collaboration Co-Fund phase, from which two projects men in Qatar take on and car lifting. (Grants and Contracts) at the of Research Support recently (IRCC), the international collab- will be selected to continue as mammoth challenges that Prior to the event today, Research and Graduate Studies established two specific short oration remains highly attractive one-year projects by demand extraordinary strength qualification rounds were held Sector in Qatar University lifecycle grants as part of an with new submissions from mid-2021. and endurance to be crowned to choose the finalists that will recently announced the Cycle 4 international research effort to Canada, Malaysia, Turkey, QU adopts an ambitious the country’s strongest. compete for the title as well as Internal Grant Awards. Prof. deal with the virus and support China, Norway, Poland, France, research roadmap to achieve the Established in 2013, a technical meeting to famil- Mariam Al Maadeed, Vice Pres- the speed of rapid scientific Ukraine, Italy, Australia, UK, and main and transformative prior- Qatar’s Strongest Man is one iarize participants with the ident for Research and Graduate research initiatives. the US, totalling 13 new co- ities in the four research areas: of the most important events rules of the competition. Studies at Qatar University, The QU Emergency funded projects. This year, QU Information and Communi- on AZF calendar, which has Considering the COVID-19 attended the online event. Response Grant (ERG) provides also strengthened its specific cation Technology, Energy and grown into one of the most pandemic, AZF said it is taking The event started with a support to new and early-stage IRCC Strategic Track with Oman Environment, Health and Bio- popular through the years all precautionary measures by preview of the submitted grants. investigations. It supported nine with four additional co-funded medical Sciences, Humanities, with new features added in setting up checkpoints for Globally, most of the programs projects covering five research projects. and Social Sciences. It aims at each edition. Ehteraz App, taking the tem- had seen a significant increase areas: basic molecular research, From the industry side, keeping high standards in terms It is a phenomenal test of perature of participants and the in the total number of submis- clinical research, social-behav- Qatar University has initiated the of support for its faculty, strength which has grown to audience and ensuring eve- sions compared to the last cycle, ioral research, infectious disease new “QAFCO Research and researchers, and students. become one of the most ryone wears a face mask. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Syria group urges probe of Greece migrant abuse AP — BEIRUT Prosecutors at the Frontex is already under fire after an October investi- A Washington-based Syrian ICC will review gation by media outlets said rights group filed a case with the case before evidence in video and other the International Criminal public data suggests its Court yesterday, calling for an deciding whether members were “actively investigation into alleged to open a full-scale involved in one pushback crimes against humanity by investigation, which incident at the Greek-Turkish Greece for its mistreatment of maritime border in the Aegean refugees. would likely take Sea.” The Syria Justice and months to complete. Frontex maintains there is Accountability Center said no evidence of its involvement witness testimony and video in such actions, insisting that evidence back its claims of EU member countries have mistreatment and abuse of The court receives hundreds of control over operations in their refugees at Greece’s borders submissions each year from waters. But the allegations and inside overcrowded groups and individuals urging have been embarrassing for camps. It cites instances of it to look into alleged crimes, the European Commission, security guards using tear gas but has so far mostly taken on which in September unveiled Security forces intervene during a protest in response to the prolongation of the 10-day state of to disperse refugee protests, cases referred to it by the UN new reforms to the EU’s emergency and the economic crisis that was implemented on January 14 to prevent the increase in and shabby and unhealthy Security Council and member asylum system. coronavirus cases in Tripoli, Lebanon on Wednesday. conditions at the sprawling states. Nesma Bashi, a legal fellow camps. In the past, the court based with the Syria Justice and Mohammad Al Abdallah, in The Hague has faced crit- Accountability Center who con- Lebanon protester killed in night of unrest the group’s executive director, icism for looking into cases ducted research on the Greek said this was the first legal chal- mainly in African countries, Islands, urged the ICC to inves- REUTERS — BEIRUT/TRIPOLI had fired live rounds and from foreign donors. lenge to the European Union though it is currently probing tigate the allegations on Greece, whether a protester was killed. Lebanon’s Internal Security over its treatment of refugees. cases world over. and the “international com- A man was killed in the A footage showed sparks Forces said rioters threw hand Throngs of migrants, mostly The mistreatment docu- munity to recognize and Lebanese city of Tripoli hitting the ground, apparently grenades, including at a patrol, from war-torn Syria, have mented since March 2016, the provide support to end the yesterday in clashes between from ricocheting bullets, with injuring at least nine officers. crammed into small dinghies Syrian group argues, extends to plight of refugees, including security forces and protesters the sound of gunfire. They said they would respond on dangerous journeys over the Greece’s territorial waters Syrians, who continue to suffer angry over a strict coronavirus It was the third straight with “full severity and Mediterranean Sea to escape where it has documented sab- in Greece.” lockdown that has cut off live- night of violence in one of Leb- decisiveness”. fighting and persecution, over- otaging of migrant boats, The plight of refugees and lihoods in a collapsing anon’s poorest cities, after the Human Rights Watch called whelming the European asylum leaving them to drift back to sea poor conditions in camps took economy. government imposed a 24-hour for an investigation into Thurs- system, starting in 2015. Over — even pushing them back into a dramatic turn last September The 30-year-old man, nationwide curfew this month day’s death. “The government onemillion migrants arrived, water. when a fire broke out on the Omar Taybah, was hit by a to curb the spread of COVID-19, neglected the needs of Tripoli’s many of them Syrian refugees, Such “pushback” incidents island of Lesbos in what used bullet overnight, according to which has killed more than people and used brute force... entering the Greek islands via are considered contrary to to be the most overcrowded a local hospital that treated him, 2,500. when they demanded a better Turkey. international refugee protection camp on the Greek islands, a security source and residents. “People are tired. There’s life,” researcher Aya Majzoub said. “If this case proceeds, it agreements, which say people where over 12,000 people lived Dozens marched at his funeral poverty, misery, lockdown and The Red Cross said it took would send a clear message shouldn’t be expelled or in a facility designed for nearly later in the day. there’s no work... Our problem 35 people to hospitals, which that yes, you have good policies returned to a country where 3,000. Witnesses and local media is the politicians,” said Samir are struggling with some of the in some countries, others (not) their life and safety may be in Al Abdallah said that by said police fired live bullets Agha at the protest. region’s highest COVID-19 — but that you are actually gov- danger. resorting to international law, overnight as protesters tried to Aid workers say the infection levels. erned by international law and The Syria Justice and he hopes the case would storm the northern city’s gov- lockdown is piling extra Caretaker Prime Minister by your refugee treaties, not by Accountability Center said there influence debate in individual ernment building. Scores of hardship on the poor, now Hassan Diab has said the your individual member state’s is evidence that personnel from EU member states. people were wounded. more than half the population, lockdown was necessary. decision making,” said Al Frontex, the agency that mon- “We are hoping this would Security forces fired tear with little government aid. A Lebanon’s financial Abdallah. itors and polices migrant move- also influence the policy and gas and rubber bullets at pro- currency crash has triggered meltdown, it worst crisis since Prosecutors at the ICC will ments around Europe’s borders, discourse on refugees within testers who hurled stones and fears of rising hunger. the 1975-1990 civil war, erupted review the case before deciding participated in or were com- the EU, not only in Greece,” Al- Molotov cocktails, witnesses Still, Lebanese leaders have in 2019, sparking protests whether to open a full-scale plicit in these abuses, which it Abdallah said. “No EU country and police said. yet to launch a rescue plan or across the country against investigation, which would says could amount to crimes wants an accusation of crimes The police did not respond enact reforms to unlock aid, leaders who oversaw decades likely take months to complete. against humanity. against humanity.” to a question on whether they prompting rebuke including of state graft. US should act first to resolve nuclear deal row: Iran ‘Turkey-Greece talks held

REUTERS — DUBAI SecBlinken: The US violated forget Trump’s maximum underground Fordow nuclear JCPOA -blocked food/medicine failure.” The 2015 accord lifted plant, a level Tehran achieved in positive atmosphere’ The United States should act to Iranians -punished sanctions on Iran in return for before the 2015 accord. ANATOLIA — ANKARA 2010, he said Turkish Pres- first by returning to world adherence to UNSCR 2231. curbs to its disputed nuclear It had earlier breached the ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan is powers’ 2015 nuclear deal with Throughout that sordid mess, programme but after Trump’s deal’s 3.67 percent limit on the Talks between Turkey and also likely to pay a visit to Iran that it ditched in 2018, the Iran -abided by JCPOA -only withdrawal, Iran violated its purity to which it can refine Greece, which resumed on Ireland. Iranian foreign minister took foreseen remedial conditions in a step-by-step uranium, but it had only gone Monday after five years of Cavusoglu highlighted tweeted yesterday after Wash- measures,” tweeted response to Trump’s “maximum up to 4.5 prcent so far, well hiatus, were held in a very deep-rooted relations between ington demanded Tehran Mohammad Javad Zarif. pressure” policy. Iran has short of the 20 percent level and positive atmosphere, according the two countries and said they reverse its breaches of the pact The JCPOA is the nuclear repeatedly said it can quickly of the 90 percent needed to fuel to the Turkish foreign minister aim to reach $3 billion bilateral first. deal’s official acronym, and reverse those violations if US an atomic bomb. on Wednesday. trade volume, which stood at New US Secretary of State Zarif was again accusing Wash- sanctions are removed. The new law also obliges Resuming the exploratory $1.5bn last year. Antony Blinken reaffirmed on ington of having illegally barred In December, Iran’s Iran’s Atomic Energy Organi- talks as its former name, and He also appreciated Ire- Wednesday President Joe humanitarian imports to Iran hardline-dominated parliament sation to produce 120kg of 20 consultative talks as it is called land’s support for Turkey’s Biden’s policy that Tehran must after Trump reimposed sanc- passed legislation that forces percent enriched uranium now — since it has been accession process to the EU resume complying with curbs tions on Iran, while Tehran had the government to harden its annually. ongoing for a long time — was since the beginning. on its nuclear activity under the breached limits on uranium nuclear stance if US sanctions However, parliament important for the resolution of After a year of ups and deal before the United States enrichment activity only in were not eased within two speaker Mohammad Baqer disputes, said Mevlut Cavusoglu downs, Turkish leaders said rejoins the pact abandoned by response to Trump’s repudi- months. Qalibaf said yesterday Iran had in a news conference with his they are hopeful for progress former president Donald ation of the accord. Earlier this month, Iran exceeded the timetable by pro- Irish counterpart Simon in relations with the EU this Trump. “Now,” Zarif tweeted, “who resumed enriching uranium to ducing more than 17kg within Coveney in the Turkish capital year and expect the bloc to take “Reality check for @ should take 1st step? Never 20 percent fissile strength at its a month. Ankara. steps towards this end. Cavusoglu said the next Turkey has been an official talks will be held in Greece and candidate for EU membership Contact made its date will be announced later. since 2005, but progress “Consultation on how to towards its accession has been with pirates who solve these problems will be stalled for years. beneficial for the two neigh- The top Turkish diplomat kidnapped 15 bours to reduce the tension at congratulated Ireland for least for now and perhaps to becoming a non-permanent Turkish sailors find permanent solutions to member of the UN Security these problems in the future,” Council, and praised its efforts AP — ANKARA he noted. for delivering humanitarian aid Exploratory talks between to Syrian refugees. Pirates who kidnapped 15 Turkey and Greece, meant to For his part, Coveney said Turkish crew members of a find fair and equitable settle- Ireland and the EU will con- cargo ship off the West African ments to issues in the Aegean, tinue to support Turkey in its coast, have made contact with began in 2002. efforts to host millions of Syrian the shipping company, Turkish After the 60th round of refugees who have been fleeing media reports said yesterday. talks in March 2016, Athens the civil war in their country All 15 sailors were “well, suspended the meetings. since 2011. unhurt and being kept Bilateral talks continued in “Ireland is determined to together,” according to a the form of political consulta- support all efforts led by the UN statement from the Istanbul- tions, but did not return to the to bring this terrible conflict to based Boden Maritime, carried exploratory framework. a peaceful and sustainable by Turkey’s state-run news On relations with Ireland, end,” he said. agency. Cavusoglu said they agreed on On EU-Turkey relations, The company didn’t say regular contacts at all levels Coveney said: “It’s clear that whether a ransom demand and he will visit Ireland “as last year was a particularly dif- was made, but declared that Wind lashes Turkey shores soon as possible.” Stating that ficult year for the EU-Turkey it would make no further the last presidential-level visit relationship as a result of a statement in order to protect Waves occurred due to heavy wind lashes a beach in Trabzon, Turkey, yesterday. from Ireland to Turkey was in series of factors. the “security and health” of the crew and their families. The Liberian-flagged M/V Turkey reports over 7,400 new coronavirus infections Mozart was sailing from Lagos, Nigeria, to Cape Town, South ANATOLIA — ANKARA nationwide death toll reached coronavirus tests have been Minister Fahrettin Koca said continue to strictly comply with Africa, when it was attacked 25,476 with 132 fatalities over conducted in Turkey to date, that with the measures taken the measures.” on Jan. 23, about 100 nautical Turkey yesterday reported the past day. with 179,419 since Tuesday. against the co ronavirus, the Koca also announced that miles northwest of the island 7,489 additional coronavirus As many as 8,803 more The latest figures show that country has achieved a rapid over the suggestion of Turkey’s nation of Sao Tome and cases, including 675 sympto- patients in the country won the the number of COVID-19 drop of up to 80 percent in the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Principe. matic patients, according to the battle against the virus, bringing patients in critical condition number of cases. Board, older adults above the One crew member, an Health Ministry. the total number of recoveries dropped to 1,765. He added: “Considering the age of 75 will start to be vacci- Azerbaijani national, died The country’s case tally to over 2.33 million. In a news statement shared increasing risk situation in the nated in health institutions as during the attack. passed 2.44 million, while the More than 29 million on Twitter, Turkey’s Health world, it is obvious that we must of Thursday morning. FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 ISLAM 05 Differences of opinion and consultation FATHI OSMAN would not deprive them of their rights. The mosques would be always he Quran requires a general open to their gatherings whatever discussion, exchange of opposition they might express, and the views, and serious consul- state would never initiate the use of tation (shura) about public force against them. Their payments concerns before a decision from the public treasury would never can be reached (3:159, be stopped and their share in the public T42:38). revenues in the future would always Difference of opinion, even dispute, be secured for them as long as hey ful- should be expected (4:59). Muslims filled their public obligations) This was have to argue in the best way (16:125), a pioneering statement of the opposi- logically and ethically, and their terms tion’s rights in the Islamic state. Iron- of reference should be the values and ically, one of these violent rebels (Kha- principles of the Quran and Sunnah. warij), whose rights of peaceful oppo- Mutual consultation and consent sition to the caliph had been secured, between the spouses should govern killed him on his way to the mosque! family affairs (2:233), in order to However, essential the principle of develop such a culture and tradition shura is in Islamic public law, the early in the whole society. Children have Arab Muslims with their tribal structure always to be advised and trained by and their socio-cultural experiences their parents to express their views were unable to develop a mechanism about what is right that should be fol- to maintain its enforcement through lowed and what is wrong that should certain institutions. It was left to the be opposed (31:17). good faith of the ruler, and the vigi- An expression of opinion is a moral lance and initiative and courage of the and sometimes legal duty, not only a ruled. right (e.g., 2:283, 3:110). In such a Lacking the firm foundation of an climate of free opinion and expression, institution, openly expressing views differences are inevitable, but they against the oppressive rulers could be have to be handled in the proper way risky. Individuals could lose even their conceptually and ethically, and not lives against the ruling power, and Vio- ignored or suppressed. In the end, a lence could develop into chaos with decision should be reached and carried lasting physical and moral wounds on out collectively and firmly (3:159). all sides. Early Muslims had their differences Thus, after a short life of the shura even during the life of the Prophet An expression of opinion is a moral and sometimes legal duty, not only a right in Madinah under the early caliphs, (peace be upon him), and every view according to the Holy Quran (e.g., 2:283, 3:110). In such a climate of free opinion and hereditary dynasties which did not was fairly heard. When the Prophet allow any substantial opposition were (PBUH) died, a public meeting was held expression, differences are inevitable, but they have to be handled in the proper way established by the Umayyads and the to discuss who should succeed him as conceptually and ethically, and not ignored or suppressed. In the end, a decision should Abbasids, as well as by the autonomous the state leader. Differences emerged or secessionist dynasties which split in that meeting, not only among indi- be reached and carried out collectively and firmly (3:159). off the caliphate and did not allow any viduals, but among groups of people, serious opposition. such as the Makkan immigrants (almu- The areas left for differences of hajirin), the Madinese supporters groups, both spontaneous and His idea of introducing a land tax sometimes violent, as for example the opinions were in theology and juris- (alansar) and some of the Prophet’s organised, peaceful and militant. The “kharaj” for instance, was strongly argument that ended with the murder prudence, since opinions there could family and their loyal followers. first Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah be opposed since many thought that the of Caliph Uthman. be expressed peacefully and among Each group believed that the new pleased with him) aroused opposition “zakat” ought to be the only tax col- Uthman’s successor, the Prophet’s limited audiences, mainly students. leader of the state should come from when he decided to use force against lected by the Islamic authorities. The cousin, Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, may The rights of having and expressing among themselves. This is the earliest the tribes who refused to pay the social Caliph had to defend his case in front Allah be pleased with him,(35- a different opinion and the right of reference to the emergence of groups welfare dues “zakat” after the death of of ten prominent arbiters whom he was 40H/656-661), met violent opposition association to support it were almost or parties in the history of Islam, the Prophet (PBUH). He saw this as an able to convince.” on several fronts. When he was pres- forgotten, until they were revitalised although not all these particular fac- act of defiance towards Shariah and His successor, Caliph Uthman, may sured by many of his supporters to in modern times by thinkers such as tions continued to exist. The Quran the Islamic central authority which Allah be pleased with him,(23- 35H/644- accept arbitration between himself and Jamaluddeen Afghani (d.1897) and indicated that the duty of inviting could not be tolerated, differently from 656), met opposition from eminent Com- the defiant Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, Muhammad Abduh (d.1905). people to what is good, enjoying the Umar ibn Al Khattab, the Companion panions of the Prophet (PBUH), such as the governor of Syria, other supporters It was nonetheless a principle doing of what is right, and forbidding of the Prophet. AbdAllah ibn Masud (d.32H/653), when split and rebelled against him. They essential for maintaining pluralism in the doing of what is wrong can be prac- When Umar (may Allah be pleased he decided that one verified master gathered in the mosque where the all avenues of human life. Unless dif- ticed by a group (3:104). The right of with him) became Caliph after the version of the Quran had to be only used Caliph was speaking, and interrupted ferences of opinion are given equal temporary and permanent association death of Abu Bakr and his suggestions by all Muslims, so that oral or written him by shouting: “There is no ruling chances of expression and are allowed and assembly is essential to make in certain matters were opposed by errors could be avoided. All the oppo- except God’s ruling.” The Caliph to gather support through a legitimate every view heard and to enable it to some of the Prophet’s Companions, he sition that the early Caliphs met was responded that what they said was mechanism and well-organised insti- compete with other views and survive. had to defend his opinion through recorded. No effort was made either right, but they were using those words tution, how can their merits be fairly The early caliphs faced opposition “shura” before a gathering of prom- by the authorities or by the historians for a wrong purpose. However, he weighed and decided? of various kinds, from individuals and inent Companions and even the public. to suppress it, even though it became assured them that their opposition www.islamicity.org Islam:Basic Facts - 4 Islamic approach to the environment Quran: A divine literature GAR SMITH The Prophet (PBUH) said: or ‘politically correct’ to care about animal rights.” In the centuries following Prophet umanity has received Divine Guidance he word ‘Earth’ (ard) appears no less “When doomsday comes, if Muhammad’s (PBUH) passing, Islamic only through two channels: The Word than 485 times in the holy book of someone has a palm shoot scholars introduced the idea of hima — a Hof Almighty God (Allah in Arabic) and TQuran. Shariah, the word for Islamic in his hands, he should plant protected zone. Many Islamic countries now the Prophets sent by the Allah to communicate Law, literally means “source of water.” One set aside certain wild areas that cannot be His Will to mankind. These two things have familiar story from the life of the Prophet it.” The Prophet (PBUH) developed or cultivated. These have always been going together, hand in hand. Muhammad (peace be upon him) recounts instructed the faithful that become modern wildlife reserves. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, was how, during a journey, one of the Prophet’s “Much of the foundations of modern given to Muhammad (peace be upon him), (PBUH) companions removed a baby pigeon any Muslim who plants a science are built on Muslim scientific roots,” the final prophet of Islam. The Quran con- from a nest. The Prophet (PBUH) gently crop that feeds another Kamal states. But Islamic science, Kamal tains many references to other books that returned the bird to its nest. “For charity noted, was not “a cold pursuit devoid of God sent to prophets at different times in shown to each creature with a wet heart, person, animal or bird, any ethical considerations. It was not a con- history – namely, the Book of Abraham, the there is a reward,” the Prophet declared. will receive a reward in frontation against nature but a search for Torah (Taurat) to Moses, the Psalms (Zabur) In the words of Allah, “There is not an Allah’s signs, limitless bounty and mercy. to David and the Gospel (Injeel) to Jesus. animal in the earth, nor a creature flying paradise.Cutting down trees “One of the most destructive causes of Believing in all four books is an essential part on two wings, but they are nations like you.” is seen as an abomination. pollution is consumer waste,” Kamal writes, of the Islamic creed. (6:38). Mufty Imam Tajuddin H Alhilaly, citing the Quran (17:27): “Lo! the squan- Each book was revealed by God to these argues that all living things “are partners derers were ever brothers of the devils and messengers who then passed His words onto to man in existence and they deserve their the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord.” their people. While the Book of Abraham has own respect.” Islam forbids the wastage of forbidden in Islam to kill a animal for mere Devout Muslims, Kamal says, “do not dis- been entirely lost, the Psalms, the Torah, and water “and the usage thereof without play. Islam has forbidden wastage of order their world... in search of self-grati- the Gospel, according to Islam, are no longer in their original benefit.... The preservation of water for the animals and plants in peacetime and in fication, greed, waste and ingratitude to state. Only the Quran has been preserved in its original state, drinking of mankind, animal life, bird life wartime.” Tradition has it that if someone their Lord.” exactly as it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). and vegetation is a form of worship which kills a bird for amusement, the bird will Our drinking water depends on rainfall The Quran affirms the core message present in the former gains the pleasure of Allah.” Imam Alhilaly demand justice from that man on – drinking water fit for human consumption books. It verifies that each contained divine guidance and elab- infers from this passage that Islam also judgment day. is derived from the oceans’ waters. This orates upon their beliefs. At the same time, it points out the forbids “factory outpours to go to In an essay on the “Significance of Envi- global system of waterworks, Allah has modifications and reinforces the correct message. Hence, the waterways or to the ocean, as this would ronment in Islam” in the April 1998 issue created for humans: from fountains, from Quran, the final revelation for all of humankind until Judgment pollute the water and threaten marine life. of the Islamic Voice, Akhtar Mahmood, a wells and canals that humans dig, these are Day, was sent to confirm, explain, and to an extent, correct the “Air is the property of Allah the Exalted,” professor of biochemistry at the University all fine, but the water itself, who created it? books that already existed. the imam states. of Punjab, notes that “Islam discourages Humans put effort into creating different Despite their differences, the central beliefs in all four books “Hence, contaminating the air with luxurious and lavish living.” Muslims see water systems but they did not produce the are the same. Each text preaches that there is one God. They smoke is an encroachment on nature and the existence of luxury as “an expression water itself? Allah produced it. Farming share the concept that God sends prophets to teach the common a threat to the life of mankind and all other of social injustice, as few can afford luxu- depends upon water. There will be no people how to live their lives according to God’s instructions. living things.” The Quran does, however, rious items at the expense of the deprived farming if there is no water. The four books also say that we will all be held accountable endorse the transformation of wilderness masses.” Human life is sacred in the sight of on the Day of Judgment, and that, eventually, everyone will into agriculture and cattle pastures. The In an article posted on www.Islamicwell. Islam. No one is permitted to take the life end up in either hell or paradise. Quran proclaims that it is Allah who “sends com, F Kamal notes that the two funda- of another person except as life-for-life. The Quran was so meticulously preserved because it is the down water from the sky, and therewith we mental sources of Muslim faith — the Quran Suicide is a crime in Islam. Under Islam, El Book of Guidance for all of humanity for all times. That is why bring forth buds of every kind. We bring forth and the Hadith (the parables and examples Ashi states, “it is incumbent on every it does not address just the Arabs, in whose language it was the green blade from which we bring forth from the life of the Prophet -PBUH) — teach Muslim to contribute his/her share in revealed. In fact Arabs today do not comprise more than 19 the thick-clustered grain; and from the date- that kindness to animals is an “article of improving greenery. Muslims should be percent of the Muslims in the world. palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant faith for Muslims.” The Prophet (PBUH) active in growing more trees for the benefit Quran speaks to all of mankind on a general basis without bunches, and gardens of grapes, and the olive advised people never to curse beasts of of all people.” Even during battle, Muslims regard to race, tribe, color, social position, financial condition or and the pomegranate.” “The earth is our first burden and commanded his followers to are required to avoid cutting trees that are genealogy. Allah the Almighty says: O mankind! Lo! We have created mother,” says Imam Alhilaly. treat these animals with gentleness and useful to people. you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that “Therefore it has certain rights over us. kindness. The Prophet (PBUH) instructed the ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of One of these rights is making it come alive The Hadith tells of a woman who “was faithful that any Muslim who plants a crop Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. (49:13) with green vegetation and other plant life. tortured and was put in Hell because of a that feeds another person, animal or bird, O Mankind! What has seduced you from your Lord so Gen- “The Prophet (PBUH) said that he who cat which she had kept locked till it died of will receive a reward in paradise. Cutting erous?” (82:6) is kind and merciful towards animals, Allah hunger.” In another tale, a prostitute’s sins down trees is seen as an abomination. Teachings of Quran are established by the example of will be kind and merciful towards him.... are washed away because she gave drinking How important is the planting of trees? prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the good Muslims throughout We must deal with animals with utmost water to a thirsty dog. In the words of the Prophet (PBUH): “When the ages have endeavoured to emulate his teachings both in beneficence and compassion and strive to Kamal observes with some pride that doomsday comes, if someone has a palm thought and conduct. ensure the preservation of the different these stories were recorded “1,400 years shoot in his hands, he should plant it.” species,” Imam Alhilaly instructs. “It is ago — long before it became fashionable www.earthisland.org 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Africa secures 400 million more vaccine doses REUTERS — NAIROBI John Nkengasong, population. Though COVID-19 has not The African Union (AU) has director of the AU’s hit Africa as badly as some secured another 400 million disease control and experts had feared it would, doses of the AstraZeneca wealth disparities, logistical dif- COVID-19 vaccine, a regional prevention body, told ficulties and “vaccine nation- health leader said yesterday, in an online briefing that alism” by developed nations a push to immunize 60 percent the bloc would get may put the world’s poorest of the continent’s population continent at a disadvantage. over three years. 400 million shots from Africa has reported 3.5 As richer nations race ahead the Serum Institute of million infections and 88,000 with mass immunisation cam- deaths, according to a tally. That paigns, Africa is scrambling to India. is fewer fatalities than indi- obtain supplies for its 1.3 billion vidual nations the United States, people. Only a handful of Brazil, India, Mexico and Britain. African nations have begun storage at ultra-low tempera- In an implicit rebuke to giving doses. tures like the vaccine from Tanzanian President John John Nkengasong, director Pfizer and German partner Magufuli, who has discouraged of the AU’s disease control and BioNTech. mask-wearing and social dis- prevention body, told an online Separately from the AU’s tancing, discontinued data pub- briefing that in addition to 270 efforts, Africa is to receive about lication and called vaccines a An ambulance is parked near tents erected at the parking lot of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, million doses previously 600 million vaccine doses this malign foreign plot, WHO Africa amid a nationwide coronavirus disease lockdown, in Pretoria, South Africa, in this file picture. secured, the bloc would get 400 year via the COVAX facility director Matshidiso Moeti urged million shots from the Serum co-led by the World Health Tanzania to implement such officials. “Science shows that vac- illness and steal Africa’s wealth. always fail using different dis- Institute of India (SII) — all Astra- Organization (WHO). measures, prepare vaccinations cines work.” He urged Tanzanians instead to eases,” he said in a speech in his Zeneca/Oxford University shots. Health authorities hope to and share data. Magufuli’s government has trust God and use alternative rem- western home area. A spokesman for the SII vaccinate about 30-35 percent “Africa is at a crossroads and published no coronavirus data edies such as steam inhalation. Nkengasong said the Africa declined comment. of Africans this year, rising to all Africans must double down since May 8, when the country “We in Tanzania managed CDC was exploring obtaining The AstraZeneca vaccine is 60 percent in two to three years. on preventive measures,” she told had 509 cases and 21 deaths. to stay for a year without more vaccines from China, the cheapest option and one of The AU has said vaccines an online news conference on On Wednesday, he said, corona. Even here, no one has Russia and Cuba, and would the best-suited to African health secured by its vaccine task team Thursday, saying WHO officials without evidence, that vaccines put on a mask. Our God is work with any partner whose systems as it does not require will be allocated according to were in touch with Tanzanian were a foreign plot to spread beyond Satan and Satan will vaccine was safe and effective.

Morocco’s King to kick off virus Ethiopia moves artillery to Sudan border after clashes BLOOMBERG — ADDIS ABABA to the border region in the past according to Ethiopia’s Foreign Sudanese territory. and both countries want vaccination drive two weeks, said two foreign Ministry. Historically, Khartoum has Ethiopia to agree to rules on the Ethiopia moved heavy weapons diplomats who asked not to be Tensions between the two allowed Amhara farmers to filling and operating of the res- AP — RABAT to disputed territory on its identified because the infor- nations have ratcheted up since conduct business and live in the ervoir to safeguard supplies. border with Sudan, according mation isn’t public. conflict erupted in Ethiopia’s fertile area as long as they pay Sudan says the border area Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to people familiar with the Prime Minister Abiy northern Tigray region on taxes and operate under around Al Fashqa was demar- was due yesterday to start his matter. Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene November 4. Regional analysts Sudanese laws. In turn, Ethiopia cated under colonial-era country’s coronavirus vacci- The military build-up in an Seyoum referred a request for and diplomats have said Abiy is has recognized the land as treaties dating back to 1902, nation campaign, which will area known as the Al Fashqa tri- comment to the Foreign Min- under pressure from powerful Sudanese. putting the land firmly inside primarily target health care angle signals increasing ten- istry, and Redwan Hussein, Amhara politicians in his gov- Demeke’s spokesman, Dina its international borders. workers, security forces and sions, after deadly clashes in spokesman for the govern- ernment, including Deputy Mufti, didn’t answer two calls Mohamed Al Faki Suleiman, people over 75, according to recent weeks raised interna- ment’s emergency task force, Prime Minister and Foreign to his mobile phone seeking a member of Sudan’s transi- Moroccan authorities. tional concern. Sudanese offi- didn’t respond to a request for Minister Demeke Mekonnen, comment. tional government, said Morocco has one of cials met Saudi Arabian officials comment sent by text message. not to back down on the border The border dispute is Wednesday he’d sought Africa’s most advanced vacci- in Riyadh on Wednesday to Ethiopia’s government dispute. straining relations already political support from Saudi nation programmes, though discuss the crisis, after the UK earlier this month accused the The state of Amhara, weakened by an impasse over Arabia in talks he held in the continent remains well last week called for a de-esca- Sudanese military of carrying whose fighters backed the a giant hydropower dam Riyadh, Sudan’s state-run SUNA behind richer countries such lation of tensions. out organized attacks using Ethiopian federal army’s Ethiopia is building on the main news agency reported. Any as the US or Britain in inocu- The Ethiopian army machine-guns and armored incursion into Tigray, claims tributary of the Nile River. eruption of war could affect lating its citizens against the deployed armaments including convoys at their border. Those ownership of parts of Al Fashqa, Sudan and Egypt depend on the security in the wider region, still-spreading virus. tanks and anti-aircraft batteries attacks killed “many civilians,” including areas that are within flow of the river for fresh water, including the Red Sea, he said. The North African kingdom received its first ship- ments of vaccine doses in recent days from China’s Yemen ‘Arab Spring’ unity Sinopharm and Anglo- Swedish AstraZeneca. The government did not torn by hunger and war disclose how many doses it had received, but the royal REUTERS — SANA'A/TAIZ a Saudi-led military coalition palace said the country has backed by the West to sufficient quantities to start Ten years after joining an intervene. inoculations “in the best uprising in Yemen against Al Nasr, a poet with four conditions.” autocratic rule and an economy children, joined government Vaccinations will be free in shambles, the same activists forces when the Houthis, who of charge, and the Health Min- find themselves on opposite later killed Saleh when he istry said patients would sides of a war that has pushed turned on them, entered Taiz, receive two doses over 21 days. the country to the brink of which is still effectively under Morocco says it will get 66 famine with dim prospects for siege. million vaccine doses, cov- peace. “We did not think the ering about 80 percent of its Ahmed Abdo Hezam, 35, a uprising would lead to this,” 35 million population. But fighter with government forces said Al Nasr, who has seen supply problems at Astra- known by his nom de guerre comrades die, his home Zeneca, which are causing Ahmed Abu Al Nasr, had been destroyed and family scatter. political tensions across a university graduate in the “We were forced to take up Europe, could throw off agro-industrial city of Taiz arms to defend ourselves. I Morocco’s plans. The country when he first joined youth-led hope with all my heart the war had initially pledged to roll out protests that ended Ali ends...that weapons are laid the vaccine last month but the Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule. down and all factions sit at the first doses didn’t arrive until Nigerians repatriated from Saudi Arabia return home Even back then some 40% table.” Friday. of Yemen’s population lived on The war has killed more The campaign is starting at A Nigerian woman, who was repatriated from Saudi Arabia, has her temperature checked upon less than $2 a day and a third than 100,000 people and a moment when confirmed arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja, Nigeria, yesterday. suffered chronic hunger. Jobs pushed millions to the verge of virus cases are dropping, were scarce and corruption starvation. Now 80 percent of apparently because of a dip in rife. The state was facing a the population, or some 24 testing. Morocco has reported resurgent Al Qaeda wing and million, need help and are vul- more than 468,383 confirmed Congo’s lawmakers vote to rebellions by the Houthis in the nerable to disease, first cholera cases, including 8,207 deaths. north and separatists in the and now COVID-19. Morocco approved emer- south. Ali Al Dailami, a rights gency use of the AstraZeneca “When we joined the defender briefly detained and Sinopharm vaccines remove prime minister uprising it was like a breath of under Saleh’s rule who is now earlier this month. air. They tried to drag us into Houthi deputy minister of Sinopharm carried out tests AP — KINSHASA again in 2023,” said Alexandre who held the post for more than violence... but we remained human rights, joined the of the vaccine in the country Raymakers, senior Africa a year and a half, was voted out peaceful,” said Al Nasr who like uprising in “Change Square” in last year, as part of China’s Lawmakers in Congo have analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a with 367 out of 377 votes. many resented jobs cronyism Sanaa in the hopes it would global vaccine diplomacy voted to remove Prime Minister global risk consultancy. Ilunkamba and other Kabila in the public sector, the biggest lead to a state representing all. efforts, and Morocco says it Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, “It clearly shows that Tsh- allies boycotted the vote, saying employer. Al Dailami recalled the eventually plans to produce the paving the way for President isekedi, a president deemed to in a letter to parliament that the More than 2,000 people early days of the revolution, Sinopharm jab locally. Felix Tshisekedi to appoint be quite weak when he took decision was an “unfounded died in the uprising before and lamented its results. The mass immunization someone more loyal. power in 2019, has shown political maneuver” and Saleh in 2012 yielded to “At times we thought we operation will include 2,888 The no confidence vote in himself to be a capable political unconstitutional. pressure from the United States would not live to see the sun vaccination stations and the Ilunkamba is the latest move actor able to impose his Tshisekedi is still forming his and Gulf Arab states to step rise because of the threats and deployment of mobile units to by Tshisekedi to distance authority on the Congolese new political alliance, which he down. He was the fourth (pro-Saleh) soldiers and factories, offices, campuses and himself from a coalition formed political landscape. He will now has named Sacred Union, to autocrat to be toppled in the hoodlums,” he said. “We prisons. The health ministry with his predecessor, Joseph focus his efforts on preparing replace the coalition with “Arab Spring” unrest that first wanted to move from a failed said it would mobilise over Kabila, the strongman who gov- for his re-election in 2023,” he Kabila’s party. Analysts say it began in Tunisia. state, we wanted to break the 12,000 health professionals as erned the impoverished Central said. could have 25 parties, a size that Riyadh and Washington impasse.” He saw the Gulf ini- well as the military. African nation for 18 years. Tshisekedi won the 2019 might make it hard to implement hoped former Saleh deputy tiative that ushered in Hadi as Separately, Morocco is The coalition with Kabila’s election despite widespread alle- reforms such as tackling cor- Abdurabbu Mansour Hadi interference that “killed the among 92 low- and middle- party has restricted Tshisekedi gations of large-scale fraud by ruption and passing legislation. would improve the govern- revolution’s principles”. income countries supported since he took office in 2019. Kabila to keep his party in power. But Tshisekedi’s supporters ment’s legitimacy and oversee “We wanted real change, by COVAX, an international Congo analysts say this week’s Tshisekedi became president, but say despite potential chal- a transition to democracy. not to repackage the old system effort to ensure that vaccine vote is a strategic move to Kabila’s party retained control lenges, it’s time for a change. Instead it disintegrated. as democracy.” supplies reach developing weaken Kabila’s influence. of the legislature. With the vote “I realised that the gov- The Houthis, enemies of Dejected, Dailami left countries but that has bogged “This is indeed the first time to remove the prime minister, ernment was not represented Saudi Arabia and friends of Sana'a for Cairo but returned down and hasn’t started sup- Kabila has been significantly Tshisekedi has mustered enough enough and I took responsibility,” Iran, partnered with erstwhile as the Saudi-led coalition bom- plying any vaccines yet, sidelined since he succeeded his support in parliament to sideline said Jolino Makelele, minister of foe Saleh to seize the capital, barded and blockaded Yemen, according to the World Health father in 2001 and will signifi- Kabila’s party. communication and media who Sanaa, and ousted Hadi’s gov- killing thousands of civilians Organisation. cantly curtail his ability to run Prime Minister Ilunkamba, was present at the vote. ernment in late 2014, triggering and exacerbating hunger. FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 07 Protesting Indian farmers locked in standoff with police REUTERS — GHAZIABAD, INDIA tear gas. Some reached as far as Delhi’s historic Red Fort, Hundreds of Indian farmers where they scaled the ram- Tens of thousands of protesting against agricultural parts and hoisted flags. The farmers have been reforms and refusing to disperse violence left one dead and camped peacefully at were locked in a stand-off with hundreds injured. sites on the outskirts of riot police yesterday on the Several hundred police Delhi for more than two outskirts of the capital, New arrived at the Ghazipur protest Delhi. site to the east of the capital, months. Angry at what they see as where hundreds of protesters laws that benefit large private remain. buyers at the expense of More than two dozen people farm leaders had refused. growers, tens of thousands of also gathered nearby, chanting “We will not empty this farmers have been camped slogans against the farmers, protest site,” said Rakesh peacefully at sites on the out- according to a Reuters witness. Tikait, one of the farm leaders. skirts of Delhi for more than Rakesh Chauhan, infor- “I will take a bullet here if I two months. mation officer for Ghaziabad have to.” But a procession of tractors district where the protest is Agriculture employs about on Tuesday turned violent when taking place, said the protesters half India’s population of 1.3 Farmers holding sticks patrol at the site of a protest against farm laws at Ghaziabad, India, yesterday. some protesters deviated from had been ordered to move by billion and unrest among an pre-agreed routes, tearing Thursday evening. estimated 150 million land- down barricades and clashing But after meeting with owning farmers is one of the government of Prime Minister power in 2014. around Delhi have not yet been with police who responded with police and government officials, biggest challenges to the Narendra Modi since coming to Protests at other locations ordered to end. New Zealand says ally Australia should ‘show respect’ to China More India-made COVID-19 BLOOMBERG coronavirus outbreak. alliance, local media, including “We are always open to dia- been markedly less vocal than “I can’t speak for Australia the Australian Broadcasting logue as the best way to resolve Australia about Beijing’s vaccines will be New Zealand has suggested that and the way it runs its diplo- Corp. reported. differences.” growing assertiveness in the its close ally and neighbour matic relationships, but clearly O’Connor’s Australian coun- Ties between China and region, earlier this week signed released: PM Australia should follow its lead if they were to follow us and terpart, Minister for Trade, Australia have been fraught an upgraded free trade in treating China with respect show respect, I guess a little Tourism and Investment Dan since 2018 when Canberra agreement with China. REUTERS — NEW DELHI in order to mend strained diplo- more diplomacy from time to Tehan, said Canberra’s rela- barred Huawei Technologies In a statement yesterday, matic relations with Beijing. time and be cautious with tionship with Beijing was “based Co. from building its 5G network O’Connor said he’d spoken with Indian Prime Minister New Zealand Trade Minister wording, then they too could on an assessment of our on national security grounds, his Australian counterpart fol- Narendra Modi said the Damien O’Connor noted his hopefully be in a similar situ- national interests.” and worsened last year after the lowing the CNBC interview. country would release more government had maintained ation,” O’Connor told CNBC on We pursue engagement government called for an inde- “New Zealand has an inde- locally made COVID-19 cordial ties with China. Wednesday. with China on the basis of pendent probe into the origins pendent foreign policy, which vaccines. That’s in stark contrast to Australian government offi- mutual benefit, and the com- of the pandemic. Beijing accuses allows us to maintain both our “So far only two made-in- Australia, which has been buf- cials regard the remarks as plementarity of our economies Canberra of being a puppet of closest partnership with Aus- India vaccines have been feted by trade reprisals after unhelpful, particularly coming makes us natural trading the US and of meddling in its tralia and a mature relationship introduced, but in the future calling for an independent from a fellow member of the partners, Tehan said in a internal affairs. with China,” he said in the many more vaccines will be probe into the origins of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing statement yesterday. New Zealand, which has statement. made available,” Modi said at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum, adding India India donates had fulfilled its global respon- Fresh outbreak in Vietnam grows to 82, company closed sibilities by setting up infra- first 500,000 structure related to AP — HANOI, VIETNAM Meanwhile, in neighbouring vaccination. doses of vaccine Quang Ninh province, 10 people Modi also said India will Vietnam reported 82 new coro- tested positive after a man issue health identity cards to to Sri Lanka navirus cases yesterday, hours working at Van Don Interna- 1.3 billion citizens. The South after confirming the first two tional Airport was confirmed to Asian nation, one of the AP — COLOMBO, SRI LANKA infections in nearly two months. be infected. Vietnam has so far world’s biggest makers of Seventy-two of the cases reported 1,553 cases. There has medicines, is producing two Sri Lanka’s president came from an electronic been no report of connection vaccines — COVISHIELD, yesterday welcomed the first company in Hai Duong between the two clusters in Hai licensed from Oxford Uni- 500,000 doses of a COVID-19 province, where a 34-year-old Duong and Quang Ninh. versity and AstraZeneca, and vaccine from India, which has female employee tested positive The fresh outbreak comes COVAXIN, developed at home donated the shots to eight after her colleague was found as nearly 1,600 delegates of by Bharat Biotech in part- countries in the region. to carry the virus from Osaka, Vietnam’s ruling Communist nership with Indian Council of The Oxford-AstraZeneca Japan, several days earlier, the Party convened in Hanoi to set Medical Research. vaccine was manufactured by Health Ministry said. out the country’s policies and COVISHIELD is being pro- the Serum Institute of India. It said the woman who was elect a new set of leaders for the duced at a western India- Sri Lanka said 150,000 tested in Japan carried the UK next five years. Prime Minister based facility of the Serum A health worker takes a sample for a coronavirus test from a journalist health workers and 115,000 variant, which could spread Nguyen Xuan Phuc called for Institute of India, the world’s in preparation for the 13th National Congress of the Communist selected military and police faster. an urgent meeting yesterday on biggest vaccine maker. India Party of Vietnam, in Hanoi, on January 18, 2021. troops will be the first to be The company with over the sidelines of the congress to is exporting the vaccine to inoculated at six hospitals in 2,200 workers was closed for discuss action to contain the several countries including Colombo and its suburbs. disinfection and the provincial surrounding communities to said over 3,000 people in the outbreak, official Vietnam News neighbouring nations. One of the hospitals is authority locked down curb the outbreak. The ministry area will be tested. Agency reported. Indian firm Zydus Cadila reserved for COVID-19 is also developing an indig- patients while the others have enous DNA-based vaccine, separate wards for the ZyCov-Da at its facility in the coronavirus. Myanmar poll body says western city of Ahmedabad. The Health Ministry plans Modi said India has taken to expand the vaccination steps to overcome the shock campaign to 4,000 hospitals no election fraud after posed by the spread of and health centres in other COVID-19 and has been car- parts of the country next week. rying out reforms to improve India’s donation covers army warns of ‘action’ its economy. 250,000 people and Sri Lanka REUTERS — YANGON former political prisoner Aung “I want to assure the is making efforts to obtain San Suu Kyi. business world that the situ- more vaccines, either through Myanmar’s election commission The military-backed Union ation will now change rapidly donation or by purchasing yesterday rejected allegations Solidarity and Development on the economic front also,” them. by the country’s military of vote Party won just 33 of the 476 he said, adding India’s push for The country has ordered 2 fraud in last year’s election and available seats. self-reliance through local million doses of the Pfizer- said there were no errors big “In this election, weak- manufacturing is aimed at BioNtech vaccine and is enough to impact the credibility nesses and errors in voters lists turning the country into an planning to order 3 million of the vote. cannot cause voting fraud,” the export hub. Myanmar’s Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing casts his ballot during the more from India. It also The commission’s statement commission said in a six-page India believes in opening general election at a polling station in Naypyitaw, on November 8. expects some from the UN comes two days after the armed statement on its Facebook page, all sectors for private players COVAX Facility to be able to forces spokesman declined to adding voting was conducted and would provide support to vaccine 20% of the rule out a coup and warned the transparently before election comment. The latest show of General Min Aung Hlaing, companies looking at investing population. military would “take action” if observers. discontent by the army, which mentioned during a widely in the country, he added. Sri Lanka has grappled its demands to investigate irreg- It said it was investigating ruled Myanmar for half a publicised video address to “Our (self reliance policy) with a fresh outbreak of the ularities were not met. 287 complaints and that errors century until 2011, comes just a military personnel on is committed towards global disease since October, when The National League for like duplicated names had few days before a new par- Wednesday that a constitution good and global supply chain. two clusters — one centred on Democracy (NLD) party won appeared in some lists, but liament convenes, prompting should be repealed if it was not India has the capacity, capa- a garment factory and the the November 8 election in a voters could not cast multiple speculation the military could abided by. bility and reliability to other on the main fish market landslide, taking 83% of ballots with fingers marked in intervene before a new gov- NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt strengthen the global supply — emerged in and around available seats, in what was indelible ink. ernment is formed. welcomed the commission’s chain,” he said, adding India Colombo. Since then, it has seen as a referendum on the A military spokesman could Adding to the intrigue, statement and said the mili- would continue to strengthen reported more than 55,000 democratic government of not immediately be reached for commander-in-chief, Senior tary’s claims had no grounds. its infrastructure. cases and 260 deaths. An average of 500-900 cases are being reported daily. “India has played the role Australian state borders to reopen with zero local virus cases of the first responder in the region,” India’s foreign min- REUTERS — SYDNEY thousands of Australians into slam, hinted it may change larger green zone but there may No.1 on the index but is now istry said in a statement, as chaos. The Sydney clusters have border settings with Sydney on be some remnants of a couple investigating new COVID-19 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Coronavirus-induced border now been curbed, giving other Friday. The state recorded its of areas that remain orange,” cases in the community linked received the first batch of vac- restrictions separating states, who have been recording 22nd day of zero local cases Victoria Premier Daniel to the South African virus strain cines at the airport. Australia’s three most populous zero coronavirus cases, the con- yesterday. Victoria introduced Andrews said. which is deemed highly conta- India also said it has states were set to be eased, fidence to reopen borders. a permit system for all travellers Australia has reported more gious. The cases prompted Aus- extended a $400-million cur- authorities said yesterday, as Queensland Premier Annas- which allows for interstate than 22,000 local COVID-19 tralia to extend its suspension rency swap facility to Sri the country recorded its 11th tacia Palaszczuk said on areas to be designated as green, cases and 909 deaths since of quarantine-free travel with Lanka to ensure the neigh- straight day of zero COVID-19 Thursday her northeast state orange or red according to their March. The country, which its trans-Tasman neighbour bour’s financial stability during cases. would welcome NSW residents risk. Travellers from a red zone closed international borders until Sunday. the pandemic. Australian states imposed from February 1. are not permitted into Victoria early in the pandemic and “This allows continuing pro- India’s rival China on quarantine and hard border “I want to see families and while those from orange zone imposed lockdowns and strict tection of the people of Aus- Wednesday announced it restrictions for travellers from friends reunited,” Palaszczuk will need to take a coronavirus social distancing measures, has tralia, while the extent of the sit- would provide 300,000 shots New South Wales (NSW) state said in a televised news con- test within three days of arrival. ranked among the top 10 in a uation in New Zealand con- of its own vaccine Sinopharm after an outbreak in Sydney in ference. The southeast state of “I’d hope to have by the end COVID performance index for tinues to be clarified,” next month after procedures late December, throwing Victoria, which is hosting the of tomorrow no red zones in its successful handling of the Australia’s Acting Chief Medical are completed on both sides. Christmas holiday plans of Australia Open tennis grand New South Wales, a much disease. New Zealand ranked Officer Michael Kidd said. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected] Social distancing is better option. Shoppers line up at a bookstore in Midtown, Manhattan in New York City. EDITORIAL Don’t stop until you find the Rising exports from Qatar THE exports from Qatar continue to rise despite chal- place where you feel alive lenges posed by COVID-19 outbreak. The figures released recently have showed that Qatar has main- need? Hence unless we are very supposed to be. With that, give tained trade surplus in the past few months, helped by lucky, we will not have every- yourself a chance, many people the rise in exports. The rising exports reflect the strength thing, but sure accepting this is the reach a certain age and end up in of domestic economy which has performed well despite key to moving forward with our a place they don’t want to be and difficult situation created by coronavirus pandemic. lives. And here, many wanderers after a while it turns out to be one According to the Planning and Statistics Authority, have come to see living away of their best life choices. Of course, Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which rep- from their loved ones much easier what I would like to point out here resents the difference between total exports and imports, than it was in the old days, with is that the right place is where you showed a surplus of QR8.6bn in December 2020. the presence of video chatting, belong. It does not matter where In December 2020, the total exports of goods DR. YOUSUF ALI AL MULLA instant messaging and phone calls. you are going, what matters is (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re- But are these technologies that who is beside you from your small exports) amounted to around QR17.1bn, showing an give you the image or stain the family, your parents and siblings increase of 3.3 percent compared to November 2020. Some, if not many, individuals screen with a fake smile, are like and the life you live along the way The imports of goods in December 2020 amounted pass during their life with many the presence of bodies, contem- with them. to around QR8.5bn, showing increase of 13.4 percent paradoxes and perhaps one of plation and feeling of living Nevertheless, probably here on month-on-month (M-o-M) basis. them is thinking about choosing a spirits? comes a point that many people The trend of a robust trade surplus was also visible place for a reason, which may In another view, perhaps this overlook when it comes to the in the past months. Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade There is no later turn out to be either right or place was not full of love for you right place to live, which is our balance showed a surplus of QR9.1bn in November, doubt that wrong decision! You wonder one until now, for living in that city or actions! So if I change my actions, registering a rise of nearly QR2bn or 28.6 percent com- day where I will spend my life or that country despite its beauty and for example and change my pared to October 2020. not following the rest of my life. the grace of its inhabitants. You feelings about my city or my village The total value of exports of goods, including exports your heart to Here, let’s look at the reality. are constantly surprised by its or that place, will I end up saying of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, in November You choose your place of resi- grey sky, which made you con- (How did I get here?) To (I never 2020 reached QR16.6bn. On monthly basis, Qatar’s the place that dence for a number of reasons, stantly pessimistic or because it want to leave), as such mostly we exports in November 2020 increased by 8.3 percent might suit including family and friends, your was not your real home - the can say that it is the other side of compared to October 2020, as per data released by career path and job or perhaps home of childhood, where love, knowing where we belong. the Planning and Statistics Authority. you means employment opportunities and innocence and eternal beauty are At end, it is good to realise Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance expanded spending the the cost of living. However, when in every corner of it and its inhab- here, that you either belong to a by nearly QR600m or 9.5 percent at QR7bn in October rest of your we look from afar, we sometimes itants that expose their souls and place or do something that makes compared to the previous month (September 2020). see that things fall into place and their presence every spot in it. you truly feel deeply about The total value of exports of goods, including exports life wishing everything is fine, as you have Furthermore, can we be honest yourself, so do not stop until you of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, in October you had that your family, life is good and you with ourselves here? Perhaps you find that place where you feel 2020 reached at QR15.3bn, showing a decrease of 23.5 love the place you live and maybe need to be in the right place, but alive. There is no doubt that not percent compared to the same month in 2019. On place ... it is - if I can say - there is no yearning sometimes you may be in that following your heart to the place monthly basis, Qatar’s exports in October 2020 definitely what for any other place. And here, right spot without realising it that might suit you means increased by 14.1 percent compared to September unfortunately, there is often (but)! (unfortunately this realisation spending the rest of your life 2020. you are looking What is the problem? Isn’t it your always comes with hindsight wishing you had that place ... it is The imports of goods in October 2020 amounted for, is it not? choice? What do you want? Was it consciousness!). definitely what you are looking to around QR8.3bn, showing a decrease of one percent because the place you were made Of course , not to mention that for, is it not? over October 2019. However, on a month on month you unhappy, or did you prefer to a person changes and his life (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 18.3 percent. be somewhere else? changes with many twists and Dr.Yousuf Ali Al Mulla is a Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance showed Are you not with me that we turns, ending up being very physician , medical innovator a surplus of QR6.4bn in September. In September 2020, all have things that we want and unhappy with where he is and writer. the total exports of goods ( including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR13.4bn, showing a decrease of 33.7 percent com- pared to September 2019, and decrease of 4.4 percent A ‘transitory way to govern’: Biden reverses compared to August 2020. Helped by the resilience of Qatari economy and the proactive policies by government departments, the Trump’s orders with the stroke of a pen exports is expected to rise in coming months. JARRETT RENSHAW rolled back actions of his pred- commitment in decades, with Democratic President Barack REUTERS ecessor, Barack Obama. very large capital investments to Obama’s director of legislative Biden is “going through a be utilized over many decades, affairs, said Obama only began In his first week in office, US lot of the Trump agenda and so a whipsaw approach is not relying on executive orders D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR President Joe Biden has rolled dismantling it because conducive to that,” said Derrick after Democrats lost control of out a wave of executive orders (Trump’s) agenda was put into Morgan, a senior vice president the House to Republicans.The EMAIL: [email protected] to fulfill a roster of campaign place this way,” said Julian for federal and regulatory affairs “executive order option was promises, underscoring just Zelizer, a presidential historian at American Fuel and Petro- the last resort,” he said. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 how easy it is to reverse some at Princeton University. chemical Manufacturers, the Trump turned to executive FAX: +974 4455 7758 of the policies of his prede- “So, it’s kind of a very tran- nation’s largest refining trade orders immediately on taking cessor, Donald Trump. As of sitory way to govern,” he said. group. office in 2017, enacting an entry MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 Wednesday morning, Biden US presidents since George The refining group and the ban on foreign nationals from had cranked out some 40 exec- Washington have enacted US Chamber of Commerce, the predominantly Muslim countries. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 utive orders, nearly half of them executive orders for policy country’s biggest and most Biden repealed it with an exec- overturning Trump mandates. changes big and small. Recent influential business lobby, are utive order the day he was sworn LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 With one stroke of the pen, the administrations have leaned begging Congress to make laws in. Not all executive orders are United States rejoined the Paris heavily on them for mean- instead. Congressional drive short-lived, notes John Podesta, BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 climate accord and with ingful, controversial changes in There are early signs former chief of staff to US pres- another, Biden blocked funds the face of stiff partisan oppo- Trump’s fellow Republicans ident Bill Clinton and founder of SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 for a border wall with Mexico. sition in Congress. may balk at partnering on legis- the progressive group Center for On Wednesday, he planned Biden’s executive actions lation with Biden’s fellow Dem- American Progress. ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 to sign orders canceling new oil are sure to prompt fresh court ocrats, who narrowly control “If you are doing things that email: [email protected] and gas leases on federal lands battles or reignite existing ones, the Senate and House of Repre- the public supports, they have a and making climate change a just as Trump’s did. Absent sentatives. The Republican way of being grounded and PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 national security priority. congressional legislation that National Committee, led anew pretty sticky,” he said, referring email: [email protected] Trump counted among his cements the policies into law, by Trump ally Ronna McDaniel to a couple of Clinton environ- enduring achievements his the conservative-leaning after her re-election this month, mental directives on public ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 2017 tax reform bill in Congress Supreme Court could have the was quick to criticize Biden’s land that are still in place. FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] and his appointment of three final say. This transitory gov- rollback of Trump’s agenda as The late US President The- Supreme Court justices. Many ernance complicates long-term “executive fiat” in a fundraising odore Roosevelt used executive CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 of his other signature actions planning for issues like climate email, without acknowledging powers to establish the Grand email: [email protected] were enacted via executive change and gives US com- many of Trump’s positions were Canyon as a national park, order, making them vulnerable panies heartburn. established the same way. Podesta said. “I don’t think SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 to rapid reversal. Some had “Our industry measures Phil Schiliro, who served as Teddy regrets that.” FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar EU should explore legal means to ensure supplies of COVID-19 vaccines it contracted /Peninsula_Qatar to buy if negotiations with companies over /ThePeninsulaNewspaper delayed deliveries are unsuccessful. Charles Michel, European Council President +974 6698 6188 FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 09 Pakistan court orders release of accused in Daniel Pearl’s death AP — ISLAMABAD “The Pearl family is in com- after his subsequent acquittal original trial all four were upheld. It’s not clear whether plete shock by the majority — and is currently being held in charged with the same crimes. Pakistan would support his Pakistan’s Supreme Court decision of the Supreme Court Washington previously a Karachi jail. A three-judge “These people should not extradition or even under what ordered the release yesterday of Pakistan to acquit and release said it would seek Supreme Court ruled 2 to 1 to have been in prison even for grounds it could go ahead. of a Pakistani-British man Ahmed Omer Sheikh and the Sheikh’s extradition to uphold Sheikh’s acquittal and one day,” Mehmood A. Sheikh, “The United States stands convicted and later acquitted in other accused persons who kid- the United States to be ordered him released, according who is not related to his client, ready to take custody of Omar the beheading of American napped and killed Daniel Pearl,” tried there, if the to the Pearl family lawyer. said. Sheikh to stand trial here,” then journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. the Pearl family said in a A lawyer for Sheikh said He warned the Sindh pro- acting Attorney General Jeffrey The court also dismissed an statement released by their acquittal was upheld. the court also ordered the vincial government against A. Rosen said in a statement appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi. It’s not clear under what release of three other Paki- delaying their release, as it has earlier this month. “We cannot Sheikh’s acquittal filed by The brutality of Pearl’s grounds it could go stanis who had been sentenced done in the past with his client, allow him to evade justice for Pearl’s family and the Pakistani killing shocked many in 2002. ahead. to life in prison for their part even after being slapped with a his role in Daniel Pearl’s government. Sheikh was convicted of in Pearl’s kidnapping and contempt charge. abduction and murder.” A minister in the Sindh helping lure Pearl to a meeting death. The three — Fahad “I expect the Sindh gov- The Pearl family urged both province where Sheikh is being in Karachi, during which he was Naseem, Sheikh Adil and ernment will not make a the US and Pakistani govern- held said the government had kidnapped. but the Supreme Court on Salman Saqib — all played mockery of justice by con- ments to take action to “correct exhausted all options to keep Pearl’s body was discovered Wednesday heard that he lesser roles, such as providing tinuing... to not release them for this injustice.” him locked up — an indication in a shallow grave soon after a acknowledged writing a letter a laptop or Internet access to no good reason whatsoever,” “Today’s decision is a com- that Sheikh could be free within video of his beheading was in 2019 admitting a minor role send pictures of Pearl, with a he said. plete travesty of justice and the days. The “Supreme Court is the delivered to the US consulate in — raising hopes for some that gun to his head, with demands Washington previously said release of these killers puts in court of last resort,” Murtaza Karachi. he might remain behind bars. that all prisoners at the US it would seek Sheikh’s extra- danger journalists everywhere Wahab, Sindh’s law minister, Sheikh long denied any Sheikh has been on death prison in Guantanamo Bay dition to the United States to be and the people of Pakistan,” the said. involvement in Pearl’s death, row since his conviction — even prison be released. Yet at the tried there, if the acquittal was family’s statement said. WHO team in Wuhan Japan says to source most completes quarantine AstraZeneca for virus origins study vaccines locally REUTERS — TOKYO AP — WUHAN, CHINA breakthroughs, saying it may take years before any firm con- Japan said yesterday it will A World Health Organization clusions can be made about the procure a majority of 120 team emerged from quarantine virus’s origin. million doses of AstraZeneca in the Chinese city of Wuhan “This is now well over a Plc’s COVID-19 vaccine from yesterday to start field work in year past when it all started,” domestic makers, as a fact-finding mission on the he said earlier this month. “So production problems overseas origins of the virus that caused much of the physical evidence have raised concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. is going to be gone. The mem- timely distribution. The researchers, who were ories of people are imprecise AstraZeneca has scaled required to isolate for 14 days and probably the physical back supplies it had promised after arriving in China, left their layouts of many places are to the European Union and quarantine hotel with their going to be different than they Australia. Thailand also con- People in protective suits walk with bins outside the hotel where members of the World Health luggage in the midafternoon were.” Among the places they firmed this week reduced Organisation (WHO) team are quarantined, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, yesterday. and headed to another hotel. might visit are the Huanan supply from AstraZeneca. Before the researchers Seafood Market, which was The British-Swedish boarded their bus, workers linked to many of the first cases, The mission only came virus came from bats, possibly to the bottom of the early days company confirmed to Japan’s wearing protective outfits and as well as research institutes about after considerable wran- in southwest China or neigh- of the pandemic in China,” she health ministry that more face shields could be seen and hospitals that treated gling between the two sides that bouring areas of Southeast Asia, said. Zhao responded that any than 90 million doses will be loading their luggage, including patients at the height of the led to a rare complaint from the before being passed to another negative speculation and polit- produced within the country, two musical instruments and a outbreak. WHO that China was taking too animal and then to humans. icised interpretation of the Chief Cabinet Secretary Kat- dumbbell. It hasn’t been disclosed long to make the final The origins search will try mission is inappropriate. sunobu Kato said yesterday. Hotel staff waved goodbye whether they will leave Wuhan. arrangements. to determine where and exactly “We hope the US can work “We believe it is very to the researchers, who were One possible source of the virus China said the matter was how that happened. with the Chinese side in a important to be able to wearing face masks. The bus is bats in caves in rural Yunnan complicated and that Chinese White House Press Sec- responsible manner, respect produce the vaccines domes- driver wore a full-body white province, about 1,600 km medical staff were preoccupied retary Jen Psaki expressed facts and science, and respect tically,” Kato told reporters. protective suit. They drove southwest of Wuhan. with new virus clusters in concern on Wednesday about the hard work of the interna- Japan has arranged to buy about 30 minutes to a lakeside Foreign Ministry spokes- Beijing, Shanghai and other what she called “misinfor- tional expert team in tracing the 120 million doses of the Hilton resort-like hotel. person Zhao Lijian said the cities. The WHO recently mation” coming out of China, origin of the virus,” he said, “so vaccine developed by Astra- Former WHO official Keiji experts would have talks, visits accused China and other coun- adding that the US supports a that they can conduct scientific Zeneca and the University of Fukuda, who is not part of the and inspections in China to tries of moving too slowly at the robust international research on the virus tracing Oxford, with Daiichi Sankyo team in Wuhan, has cautioned carry out virus-tracing start of the outbreak. investigation. without any political Co, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co against expecting any exchanges and cooperation. Most experts believe the “It’s imperative that we get interference.” and other local partners agreeing to make and dis- tribute the shots. Taiwan asks While AstraZeneca began N Korea, US should aim for initial nuclear freeze: S Korea PM Japanese trials of the vaccine Germany to help last summer, earlier than REUTERS — SEOUL Korea’s President Moon Jae-in called for Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, obtain vaccines new US President Joe Biden to build on it has not yet filed for Jap- North Korea and the United States should progress made by Kim and Trump. anese approval of its formula, REUTERS — TAIPEI seek an initial denuclearisation deal that But it was the first time a South Korean leaving the rival shot the only includes a halt to the North’s nuclear official offered details about a potential one currently under review Taiwan has sought Germany’s activity and a cut in its programme in interim deal that both sides should pursue. in the country. help in securing COVID-19 exchange for some sanctions relief, South Chung said the Biden administration AstraZeneca did not vaccines, Economy Minister Korea’s prime minister said yesterday. might implement a new policy but it had immediately respond when Wang Mei-hua said yesterday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (pic- shown interest in the North Korea issue and contacted by Reuters for after Berlin asked for the tured), in his first interview with a foreign would ultimately seek talks. comment. island’s assistance in easing a media outlet since taking office a year ago, South Korea plans to hold in-depth dis- Japan plans to begin its shortage of automobile semi- told Reuters that “creative” thinking and cussions with new US officials soon on how inoculation push in late Feb- conductor chips. mutual incentives were needed to get nego- nuclear activities and reduction of some of to revive the negotiations and whether the ruary, with the Pfizer vaccine Wang told reporters she tiations going again and prevent another their programme,” Chung said. “It would allies should postpone or scale back annual for front-line medical made the request at a meeting breakdown. be best if we could get rid of all of it, once joint military exercises which North Korea workers. The country trails with Germany’s de facto North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and and for all, but it’s not easy and we need an has long condemned as preparation for war. most major economies in ambassador in Taipei, who former US President Donald Trump alternative.” The new US administration of “Everyone knows that the problem starting inoculations due its handed her a letter seeking promised to build new relations and work President Joe Biden has not announced any cannot be solved without dialogue,” Chung dependence on overseas help to resolve the shortage, towards the denuclearisation of the Korean new policy for North Korea. Biden said in said. “Our job is to come up with creative makers and a requirement which is hampering the peninsula at their first summit in 2018, but a presidential debate in October he would ideas so that talks will be held as quickly that the vaccines go through European nation’s fledgling a second summit and ensuing working- meet Kim only if he agreed to “draw down” as possible.” domestic trials. economic recovery from the level talks fell apart. North Korea’s nuclear capacity. Chung is dubbed South Korea’s coro- Japan faces major logis- pandemic. North Korea had offered to dismantle Chung said limited sanctions relief could navirus czar, overseeing an aggressive tical hurdles that some At their meeting on its main nuclear complex in exchange for help revive and sustain the momentum of testing and tracing campaign. But South experts say will make it dif- Wednesday, Wang said, she the lifting of major UN sanctions but the any talks as that was the most attractive Korea has been struggling to stamp down ficult for it to vaccinate a large told the head of the German United States said North Korea should also incentive for North Korea. its third and largest wave of outbreaks, with portion of its population mission in Taipei that she hand over its nuclear weapons and bomb “South Korea and the United States severe hospital bed shortages, though daily ahead of the planned start of hoped Germany could “assist fuel. know what North Korea wants,” he said. cases have halved after peaking at around the Summer Olympics in Taiwan in obtaining vaccines “We can begin with a freeze in all Chung’s remarks came days after South 1,200 last month. Tokyo from July. within the feasible range”. In the letter, German Economy Minister Peter Alt- maier asked Wang to help per- Philippines approves emergency suade manufacturers in Taiwan, home to the world’s use of AstraZeneca vaccine largest contract chipmaker REUTERS — MANILA easy to transport and store and and one of Germany’s main did not require ultra-cold tem- suppliers, Taiwan Semicon- The Philippines’ Food and Drug peratures, Domingo said. “It ductor Manufacturing Co Ltd Administration (FDA) has also has very good protection (TSMC), to ease the chip approved the emergency use against severe COVID-19,” he shortage. of AstraZeneca PLC’s COVID-19 said. The Philippines has signed Late last month, Taiwan vaccine, the second to be deals to buy 17 million doses of said it had agreed to buy approved in the Southeast AstraZeneca’s vaccine, almost 20 million doses of Asian nation. including a private sector COVID-19 vaccine, including The known and potential agreement for 2.6 million doses 10 million from AstraZeneca benefits of AstraZeneca’s in November. Plc, with the first to start COVID-19 vaccine outweighed The initial shipment arriving from March. the risks to date, FDA chief scheduled in May would not be Another 4.76 million are Rolando Enrique Domingo told affected by some manufac- expected to come from global a news conference. turing problems facing Astra- vaccine programme COVAX, The Philippines’ FDA has Zeneca, said Jose Concepcion, but the government has given previously approved Pfizer and a government business adviser no details of which company BioNTech’s coronavirus representing the private sector. may supply the rest. vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines With more than 518,000 Taiwan has kept the pan- Blast in Afghanistan from Russia’s Gamaleya, COVID-19 cases and nearly demic well under control China’s Sinovac Biotech and 10,500 deaths, the Philippines An Afghan National Army soldier inspects the wreckage of a burnt army car at the site of a blast in thanks to early and effective India’s Bharat Biotech are has the second-highest case Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. prevention, with 896 cases, awaiting approval. load in Southeast Asia, after including seven deaths. AstraZeneca’s vaccine was Indonesia. 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Europe’s coronavirus vaccine supplies row deepens

REUTERS — LONDON/BRUSSELS sure that the vaccine supply that supplies are left. director, Hans Kluge, said. vaccination centres were no has been bought and paid for, The EU scolded AstraZeneca “Manufacturers and pro- longer taking appointments for Europe’s fight to secure As vaccination centres procured for those in the UK, is on Wednesday and demanded ducers are working 24-7 to a first jab. In several other COVID-19 vaccine supplies in Germany and France delivered,” Minister for the the drugmaker spell out how it bridge the gaps and we’re con- French regions, some online intensified yesterday when the Cabinet Office Michael Gove would supply the bloc with fident the delays we are seeing appointment platforms closed European Union said it would cancelled or delayed told LBC Radio. reserved doses of COVID-19 now are going to be made up booking options. tighten oversight of exports appointments, the EU Asked if the British gov- vaccine from plants in Europe by extra production in the Spain’s Madrid region has after a row with AstraZeneca ernment would prevent Astra- and Britain. future.” ceased first coronavirus vacci- and Britain demanded that it publicly rebuked Zeneca diverting essential Tensions have risen as both Israel is by far the world nations for at least this week receive all the shots it paid for. AstraZeneca for failing vaccine supplies from Britain New York-based Pfizer and leader on vaccine rollout per and next and was using the few The EU, whose member to deliver and even to the EU, Gove said the crucial AstraZeneca, headquartered in head of population, followed by doses it has to administer states are far behind Israel, the thing was that Britain received Cambridge, England, have had the United Arab Emirates, the second shots to those who have United Kingdom and the United asked if it could divert its orders as planned and on production problems. United Kingdom, Bahrain and had the first one, said deputy States in rolling out vaccines, is supplies from Britain. time. AstraZeneca’s Soriot told the United States. Behind them regional government chief scrambling to get supplies just Under fire from the EU, Italy’s La Repubblica the are Italy, Germany, France, Ignacio Aguado. as the West’s biggest drug- AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot problem concerned manufac- China and Russia. Germany’s most populous makers slow deliveries to the said the EU was late to strike a turing the vaccine itself — spe- Britain has injected 7.1 state, North Rhine-Westphalia, bloc due to production said it would detail today a supply contract so the company cifically the yield of cell cultures million first doses of vaccines last week postponed opening problems. mechanism to require both did not have enough time to and filtering of the vaccine. into arms, and is on track to its vaccination centres until As vaccination centres in notification and authorisation iron out production problems He said there had been deliver a shot to all over-70s, February 8, while the state of Germany and France cancelled of COVID-19 vaccine exports at a vaccine factory run by a similar issues in the UK supply frontline medics and care Brandenburg has also had to or delayed appointments, the from the bloc. partner in Belgium. chain, but the UK contract was workers, the clinically vul- push back vaccination appoint- EU publicly rebuked Anglo- Britain, which has The swiftest mass vacci- signed three months before the nerable and older care home ments originally scheduled for Swedish drugmaker Astra- repeatedly touted its lead in the nation drive in history is stoking European deal, so there was an residents — some 15 million the end of January due to Zeneca for failing to deliver and vaccine rollout race since tensions across the world as big extra three months to fix the people — by February 15. delivery delays. even asked if it could divert leaving the EU’s orbit on powers buy up doses in bulk glitches. In the northern French Germany’s top-selling Bild supplies from Britain. January 1, said its deliveries and poorer nations try to nav- “The reality is there is a region of Hauts-de-France, newspaper described the The EU Commission, which must be honoured. igate a financial and diplomatic shortage of vaccines,” the World France’s second-most-densely- problems around procuring has coordinated vaccine orders, “I think we need to make minefield to collect whatever Health Organization’s Europe populated region, several vaccines as a “scandal”. British Premier faces criticism over Scotland trip in lockdown

AP — LONDON more than 102,000 virus- a visit by herself to another part linked deaths but it has been of Scotland would not be British Prime Minister Boris among the world’s leaders in deemed essential under current Johnson faced accusations rolling out a virus vaccination lockdown rules. yesterday that he is not abiding programme. Sturgeon, whose Scottish by the country’s lockdown rules During his trip, Johnson National Party wants to hold as he visited Scotland to laud visited a laboratory at the another referendum on Scot- the rapid rollout of coronavirus Queen Elizabeth University land’s independence, is way vaccines across the United Hospital in Glasgow, where ahead in polls ahead of a Kingdom. coronavirus tests are processed, general election in May, with With a raft of polling and met troops from the British some showing support at over showing increased support for Army who were setting up a 50 percent. Scottish independence from the vaccination centre in the city, Should the SNP win a clear UK, Johnson’s visit to promote bumping elbows to greet some majority, Sturgeon has said she the benefits of the union stands of the soldiers. will look to hold another vote to be overshadowed by the Johnson is arguing that on Scotland’s future. Johnson, lockdown dispute. Although Scotland is benefiting directly who under the law would have Scotland has its own gov- from his government’s to back a referendum to make ernment in Edinburgh that has approach to getting vaccine it legal, has indicated that he an array powers from public shots out quickly. won’t do so, arguing that as health through to education, it Critics say the Conservative recently as 2014 Scotland voted remains part of the UK under prime minister is politicking at to stay part of the UK by a clear which London still has huge a time when the UK is in a strict majority. Main defendant Stephan Ernst arrives at the courtroom as he waits for the verdict in the case of the influence. lockdown as a result of a huge Sturgeon argues the situ- murder of Walter Luebcke, at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt, yesterday. “Mutual co-operation resurgence of the virus that ation has changed dramatically across the UK throughout this Johnson has largely blamed on since then because Britain has pandemic is exactly what the a new variant first identified left the European Union. Far-right extremist gets life sentence people of Scotland expect and around London and southeast In Scotland, Sturgeon’s gov- it is what I have been focused England. ernment has been widely seen on,” Johnson said. Scottish First Minister as handling the pandemic well. over murder of German politician The United Kingdom has Nicola Sturgeon has described At key moments, she is seen as endured Europe’s deadliest Johnson’s visit as “not having taken a more cautious AP — BERLIN member of Chancellor Angela The German government coronavirus outbreak with essential,” in the same way that approach than Johnson. Merkel’s party who led the warned after the Luebcke A far-right extremist in regional administration in the killing and other attacks — Germany was convicted Kassel area of central Germany including one on a synagogue Man who spat in face of former UK Former Italy PM yesterday and sentenced to life — though he gave three dif- on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s in prison for the murder of a ferent versions of events. holiest day, in October 2019 - Labour leader Corbyn sentenced to meet president regional politician who had Luebcke was targeted that far-right extremism posed advocated helping refugees — because he had been outspoken a significant security threat in REUTERS — LONDON London when he came across in bid for way out a brazen killing that shocked in favour of helping refugees. the country. Gerald Dore, 56, who appeared the country. Prosecutors said Ernst had An accomplice who prose- A man who spat in the face of to be about to cross the road, of govt crisis In its verdict against attended a 2015 town hall event cutors alleged was with Ernst Jeremy Corbyn, the former prosecutors said. 47-year-old Stephan Ernst, the where the politician had at the scene of the crime, iden- leader of Britain’s opposition When Corbyn gestured for REUTERS — ROME Frankfurt state court noted the defended the German govern- tified only as Markus H. due to Labour Party, during the first Dore to cross, he responded by “particular severity” of the ment’s decision to allow hun- German privacy laws, was con- wave of the COVID-19 uttering obscenities and as he got Former premier Matteo Renzi, crime, meaning that he will dreds of thousands of asylum- victed of weapons violations pandemic was ordered more animated, the politician a central figure in an Italian likely not be eligible for release seekers into the country. and sentenced to 18 months yesterday to carry out 80 hours asked him to leave. At this point, government crisis, will meet after 15 years as is typical under The court found that Ernst probation. unpaid work as a punishment. Dore spat in his face and verbally the head of state and tell him German law, the dpa news “projected xenophobia onto Dr. Judge Thomas Sagebiel said Corbyn, who led Labour abused his wife, Laura Alvarez, whether he is ready to support agency reported. Luebcke.” that there are circumstances into the 2019 election which and threatened her physically. a new government headed by During his trial, Ernst Ernst shot Luebcke on the that point to him as the perpe- was won by Prime Minister Dore admitted assault by caretaker Prime Minister admitted to the June 1, 2019 politician’s porch and he died trator, “but no sustainable Boris Johnson, was cycling with beating for spitting at Corbyn Giuseppe Conte. shooting of Walter Luebcke, a hours later. evidence.” his wife near his home in north and a public order offence. Renzi triggered Conte’s resignation this week when he pulled his Italia Viva party out France inches toward tighter curbs of the ruling coalition, depriving it of a majority in the as coronavirus variants gain ground upper house Senate and throwing the country into BLOOMBERG — PARIS political limbo in the middle of the coronavirus More dangerous variants of the coronavirus are becoming increas- pandemic. ingly common in France, putting pressure on the hospital system The crisis is worrying and raising the likelihood the government will soon impose tighter Rome’s partners and ham- curbs. pering its efforts to put Health authorities are finding more than 2,000 cases a day together a recovery plan of new forms of the virus, up from “several hundred” at the start needed to obtain more than of January, Health Minister Olivier Veran said yesterday, during $242bn of European Union a weekly update of the health situation. financing to rebuild its coro- President Emmanuel Macron has been trying to give a national navirus-battered economy. curfew, which runs from 6pm to 6am, a chance to slow the virus’s Renzi, whose tiny party spread but he’s coming under mounting pressure to impose has less than 3 percent of voter another lockdown, the third since the crisis began about a year support, has accused Conte of ago. lacking a strategic vision, “The tension on the hospitals is real,” Veran said. “The curfew saying he risked squandering doesn’t allow us to sufficiently stop the variant from developing, the unprecedented EU and if we follow the development curve of these variants, we bonanza on hand-outs rather could enter an English, Portuguese or Spanish scenario, and you’ve than long-term investments. seen the damages that can cause.” Conte has no desire to patch Macron could announce further restrictions in the coming things up with the man who days — the defence cabinet, a small and close-knit group of min- unseated him, especially as any isters who gather around the president and prime minister, have reconciliation would come at met over weekends in the past. the price of a new policy agenda Apart from a full lockdown, authorities could impose measures more to Renzi’s liking. including extending upcoming school holidays, curbing domestic But the caretaker prime travel or implementing a lockdown on weekends, a French official Green protest minister’s options are dwin- said. dling as he has so far had no Enforcement agents use a cherry picker to bring an Extinction Rebellion activist down from a makeshift On Wednesday, France reported nearly 27,000 new con- success in luring unaligned camp on a tree, as other demonstrators occupy tunnels under Euston Square Gardens to protest firmed COVID-19 cases, its biggest one-day jump since mid- and opposition senators to the against the HS2 high-speed railway, in London, Britain, yesterday. November when France was in its second full lockdown, indi- government’s ranks to restore cating current curfew measures are not containing the virus. his majority. FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 Navalny defiant as Russian court rejects his appeal AP — MOSCOW defence lawyers argued that Appearing in court by while recovering in Germany A Russian court yesterday video link from jail, from the poisoning, Navalny rejected an appeal by oppo- Navalny denounced the could not register with author- sition leader Alexei Navalny for ities as required by the terms of his release from jail, while criminal proceedings his probation. His lawyers also authorities detained several of against him as part of a said Navalny’s due process his allies and warned social government campaign to rights were repeatedly violated media companies about intimidate the during his arrest. promoting more protests after opposition. “You won’t Navalny described his jailing tens of thousands rallied across following an earlier hearing held the country last weekend succeed in scaring tens of at a police station as a mockery demanding his freedom. millions of people who of justice. “It was demonstrative Appearing in court by video have been robbed by lawlessness intended to scare me link from jail, Navalny that government,” he and all others,” he told the denounced the criminal pro- said. “Yes, you have the Moscow court. ceedings against him as part of Navalny’s supporters are a government campaign to power now to put me in organising another round of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via a video link during a court hearing intimidate the opposition. handcuffs, but it’s not rallies for Sunday. Police on to consider an appeal on his arrest outside Moscow, Russia, yesterday. “You won’t succeed in going to last forever.” Wednesday searched Navalny’s scaring tens of millions of apartment, a rented accommo- violations of coronavirus regu- Demonstrations calling for people were convicted of vio- people who have been robbed dation where his wife, Yulia, has lations during Saturday’s Navalny’s release took place in lations during the weekend by that government,” he said. been living and the residences protests. more than 100 Russian cities on demonstrations in the capital, “Yes, you have the power now accusations. of several of his associates and Putin spokesman Dmitry Saturday, in a strong show of and 110 of them were given to put me in handcuffs, but it’s Navalny was arrested and supporters. Peskov said the searches and rising anger towards the short jail terms. It issued a not going to last forever.” jailed for 30 days after Russia’s Also detained were Nav- detentions were a legitimate Kremlin. Nearly 4,000 people notice to the public not to join The 44-year-old Navalny, prison service alleged he had alny’s brother, Oleg; his top ally, part of police efforts to inves- were reportedly detained at Sunday’s protests, warning that the best-known critic of Pres- violated the probation terms of Lyubov Sobol; Oleg Stepanov, tigate the alleged violations those protests and some were officers would act resolutely to ident Vladimir Putin’s gov- his suspended sentence from a head of Navalny’s Moscow during the events. given fines and jail terms. disperse unsanctioned rallies ernment, was arrested on 2014 money-laundering con- office; Dr. Anastasia Vasilyeva “Law enforcement agencies At yesterday's court hearing, and bring participants to justice. January 17 upon returning from viction that he has rejected as from the Navalny-backed are doing their job,” Peskov said Navalny thanked his supporters Also yesterday, Russian Germany, where he spent five politically motivated. He also Alliance of Doctors; and Maria on a conference call with and said, “They are the last prosecutors issued warnings to months recovering from nerve- faces accusations in two sep- Alyokhina from the Pussy Riot reporters. “There were barrier preventing our country Facebook, Google, Twitter, agent poisoning that he blames arate criminal probes. punk collective. They were numerous violations of Russian from sliding into the TikTok and Russian social net- on the Kremlin. Russian author- Before the Moscow Region detained for 48 hours as part of laws, and law enforcement degradation.” works, demanding that they ities have rejected the Court rejected his appeal, a criminal probe into alleged agencies are at work.” Moscow police said 267 block calls for more protests. Russia flies planeload of Sputnik V vaccine to Argentina and Bolivia

REUTERS — BUENOS AIRES health authorities had said they doses before it was sent, health expected to receive in January ministry official Carla Vizzotti Russia dispatched 240,000 from Russia. told state news agency Telam. doses of its Sputnik V corona- An Aerolineas Argentina “We are super careful until virus vaccine yesterday, with flight from Moscow carrying the we have confirmation, due to most heading to Argentina and latest shipment was due to land the particular dynamic of the the rest bound for Bolivia, in Buenos Aires later on world supply of vaccines,” she Argentine health and airline Thursday. From there, Bolivia’s said, adding she hoped more officials said. BOA national airline was would arrive “during the next few Bolivia, which an airline scheduled pick up its share of days and weeks.” Argentina has official said would take delivery of the shipment to fly to La Paz. administered 272,323 people 20,000 doses from the con- The Russian Direct with the first dose of the Sputnik signment, will be the second Latin Investment Fund (RDIF), which V vaccine and 45,710 people with American country after Argentina markets Sputnik V, and the the second dose, ministry figures to rollout the Russian vaccine. Gamaleya Research Institute, show. Argentina has also Argentina has already taken which developed it, said on approved the vaccine manufac- of delivery of two consignments, Wednesday supplies to Latin tured by AstraZeneca. each with 300,000 shots. An America might be delayed by Bolivia’s President Luis Arce Aerolineas Argentinas spokesman up to three weeks as production wrote on Twitter that the said the latest consignment of capacity was ramped up. 20,000 doses his country was 220,000 doses was equally split RDIF declined to comment receiving was more than the between first and second shots on the latest shipment. 6,000 originally agreed for Snowfall in Stockholm of the two-stage vaccine. Argentina had not received delivery in January. He said the The Argentine deliveries fall advanced notice of the size the vaccines would be administered People walk at Skeppsbron amid heavy snowfall in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday. short of the 5 million doses the latest shipment of 220,000 to frontline health workers.

EU tells Google, FB, Sweden’s health chief caught defying face mask advice Twitter to extend BLOOMBERG & REUTERS — “It’s of course embar- Regional Minister for all human and we sometimes Sweden, which has spurned BUENOS AIRES rassing,” Carlsson told SVT, Transport in Stockholm, called forget.” a lockdown throughout the fake news watch, adding that he wasn’t aware of the development “extremely Confidence in the govern- pandemic, registered 4,085 new The man in charge of Sweden’s the time. serious.” ment’s approach to the pan- coronavirus cases yesterday, COVID-19 in focus COVID-19 response has been In a string of similarly “You must practice what demic keeps declining. Only Health Agency statistics REUTERS — BRUSSELS caught breaking his own awkward episodes last month, you preach,” Tamsons said in 26% of Swedes think Lofven has showed. advice on face masks on at a number of the most senior an e-mailed comment. “This handled the coronavirus out- The country of 10 million least two occasions in the past members of Sweden’s gov- behavior calls for an break well, marking a decline inhabitants has also registered The European Commission has week, according to state ernment, including Prime Min- explanation.” of 8 percentage points since 95 new deaths yesterday. The told Google, Facebook, Twitter broadcaster SVT. ister Stefan Lofven, were caught Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s December, according to a poll deaths registered have and Microsoft to continue The Director-General of the apparently ignoring their own top epidemiologist and the from Dagens Nyheter/Ipsos. Of occurred over several days monthly reports on their country’s Public Health Agency, Covid guidelines. chief architect behind the those surveyed, 37% say the and weeks. efforts to tackle fake news, Johan Carlsson, was seen at The head of the Swedish country’s Covid strategy, said prime minister is doing a bad Sweden’s death rate per especially on COVID-19, for Stockholm central station during Civil Contingencies Agency Carlsson’s mistake was job. capita is several times higher another six months. Social rush hour without a face mask asked to resign after a “human,” urging everyone to Nearly 11,500 people have than that of its Nordic neigh- media and online platforms and also travelled on a bus Christmas trip to the Canary wear masks. died of COVID-19 in Sweden, bours, but lower than several have come under fire globally without facial protection after 4 Islands. “I know that Johan normally which is far higher than else- European countries that opted over the spread of fake news, pm, the broadcaster reported. Kristoffer Tamsons, the follows the guidelines but we’re where in the Nordic region. for lockdowns. leading to calls for regulators to force them to do more or face cumbersome rules. The companies, together Near-total abortion ban Guatemala families say 13 shot with TikTok and advertisers, have signed the European takes effect in Poland Union’s code of practice to tackle dead in Mexico were migrants the spread of disinformation on AP — WARSAW their platforms, and had to AP — COMITANCILLO, GUATEMALA Jimenez Pérez said. “My brother the scene of turf battles between submit reports on their efforts A near-total ban on abortion has taken effect in Poland and said, ‘What is the news?’ And then rival drug gangs, and authorities during an initial six-month triggered a new round of nationwide protests three months In this impoverished Indigenous he said, ‘They are dead.’” said three rifles were found in the period. The reports will continue after a top court ruled that the abortion of congenitally village, families are convinced that “They say they shot them and burned pickup truck. for another six months because damaged fetuses is unconstitutional. 13 of their relatives were among the then they burned them, and that If the bodies are identified as of their relevance during the Led by a women’s rights group, Women’s Strike, people 19 bullet-ridden, burned bodies is what we know,” she added. the Guatemalan migrants, the virus pandemic, the EU exec- poured onto the streets of Warsaw and other cities late on found in northern Mexico near the While Guatemala’s Foreign killings would revive memories utive said. The companies have Wednesday. More anti-government demonstrations are US border last week. Ministry is collecting DNA samples of the 2010 massacre of 72 been told to provide more data planned for Thursday evening. Mexico has not yet identified from the relatives to compare migrants in the same gang-ridden on how disinformation spreads The only remaining legal justifications for abortion under the bodies, so it’s not clear they with that of the charred corpses, state of Tamaulipas. during the coronavirus crisis Polish law are if the woman’s life or health is at risk or if a were migrants. But people in what the families say matches all Jimenez Pérez said the timing and on the granular impact of pregnancy results from rape. To date, about 98% of all legal Comitancillo, near Guatemala’s too well what is known about the of the Tamaulipas killings their actions in EU countries. abortions in the country — of which there were 1,110 in 2019— border with Mexico, are so sure massacre. matches when relatives lost “The pandemic has were performed on the grounds of fetal malformations. that they have already put On Saturday, authorities in the contact with the 13 Guatemalan become a breeding ground for Reproductive rights activists say many hospitals had photos of the mainly youthful northern Mexico state of Tama- migrants. “My brother said he false claims and conspiracy already started canceling procedures which until Wednesday migrants - 10 men and three ulipas found 19 bodies piled in a (Rivaldo Danilo) always texted theories and platforms are were theoretically still legal, fearing possible repercussions. women - on traditional altars for burned-out pickup truck on a dirt him and let him know where they important amplifiers of this Members of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party, which the dead, surrounded by candles road across the Rio Grande from were, but then he stopped type of messages,” Com- is aligned with the Roman Catholic Church, had often sought and flowers. Texas. Four bodies were found in texting,” she said. mission Vice-President for the new restriction. They argued that it was a way to prevent Irma Yolanda Jimenez Pérez the cab and the other 15 were Like Rivaldo Danilo’s family, Values and Transparency Vera the abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome, which have says her 17-year-old nephew, piled in the bed of the truck. farmer Ricardo García Pérez has Jourova said in a statement. made up a significant share of the legal abortions in Poland. Rivaldo Danilo Jimenez, is among All had been shot, but shell already erected an altar to his “We must continue The protesters are demanding a full liberalization of the dead, according to the smuggler casings were not found at the site, daughter Santa Cristina García working together to improve the abortion law and the resignation of the government, who accompanied the group. leading investigators to believe Pérez, 20. She set off with the our fight with disinformation, neither of which seem likely in the short term. Some pro- “The man who took them, he they were killed somewhere else. others for the US border on Jan. but we need more trans- testers covered their faces with green handkerchiefs, which called him (her brother) saying Camargo, the area where the 12. But then he received a phone parency and better effort from are the symbol of the abortion rights movement in Argentina. there had been bad news,” bodies were found, has long been call, also from a migrant smuggler. the online platforms,” she said. 12 AMERICAS FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Biden to re-open Obamacare enrolment amid virus surge

BLOOMBERG — WASHINGTON The Obamacare executive order marketplaces set up under the will create a special enrollment Affordable Care Act declined President Joe Biden will make period for plans sold in the slightly under President Donald it easier for Americans to buy Trump, who cut funding for the health insurance during the federal Healthcare.gov market program’s marketing and out- pandemic, reopening the from February 15 to May 15, reach after promising to repeal federal Obamacare market- offering a path to health care the law. place with an order yesterday “President Biden has an that’s a step towards reinvigor- for people who’ve found opportunity to show that ating a program his predecessor themselves without insurance Healthcare.gov can work in tried to eliminate. coverage after losing their jobs. concert with the 15 state-based The Obamacare executive marketplaces to offer a critical order will create a special The order also directs agencies safety net for those left unin- enrollment period for plans sold to look for ways to strengthen sured by the pandemic,” said in the federal Healthcare.gov Joel Ario of Manatt Health, who market from February 15 to May Medicaid, the federal health was the first director of 15, offering a path to health care program for low-income people, Healthcare.gov. for people who’ve found them- and the Affordable Care Act Trump’s efforts to repeal the selves without insurance cov- Affordable Care Act failed in erage after losing their jobs. The US President Joe Biden speaks before signing executive orders strengthening access to affordable more broadly. Congress, and the insurance order also directs agencies to healthcare at the White House in Washington DC, US, yesterday. marketplaces it created con- look for ways to strengthen tinued to enroll millions of Medicaid, the federal health signed during his first week in insurance industry and advo- enrollment periods. Requests which did not say whether there people during his presidency. program for low-income office. cates for the Affordable Care Act for special enrollment have would be restrictions. He occasionally claimed credit people, and the Affordable Care “As we continue to battle had repeatedly asked the spiked, but the process is more America’s Health Insurance for lowering premiums for Act more broadly. COVID-19, it is even more Trump administration over the complicated than open Plans, the trade group for health plans sold on the exchanges. Shares of health insurers critical that Americans have past several months to reopen enrollment because it requires insurers, welcomed the About 8.3 million people and hospitals rose following the meaningful access to affordable HealthCare.gov enrollment, applicants to prove their eligi- announcement. The executive enrolled last fall using announcement, with Anthem care,” the White House said in which is typically restricted to bility. It’s also not available to order will “create more Healthcare.gov portal, about the Inc., Cigna Corp., and Centene a statement. “Reliable and a few weeks in the fall. They people who’ve been uninsured pathways for Americans to same number as the year before Corp. up more than 3% at 10:29 affordable access to health were refused. for an extended period of time. obtain coverage that is so even though two states —]Penn- a.m. in New York, outpacing the insurance doesn’t just benefit The Trump administration The new enrollment period essential to their health, well- sylvania and New Jersey — broader market. families’ health; it is a critical argued that people who lost Biden is creating will be being and peace of mind,” AHIP exited the federal marketplace The long-expected exec- source of economic security and their coverage in the pandemic available to “Americans that Chief Executive Officer Matt to run their own, according to utive orders build on more than peace of mind for all.” could sign up for Obamacare need health care coverage,” Eyles said in a news release. the Centers for Medicare and two dozen Biden already has Democrats, the health plans using individual special according to the statement, Enrollment in plans sold by Medicaid Services. New York prepares for Health workers stuck in snow snow with California give other drivers drenched by rain vaccine AP — GRANTS PASS, OREGON BLOOMBERG — NEW YORK degrees Fahrenheit (minus 13 Celsius) in Boston through the The powerful weather system weekend and 19 degrees in Oregon health workers who that is dumping rain on the Washington today.The forecast got stuck in a snowstorm on California coast and threat- signals a typical mid-winter their way back from a ening to trigger mudslides will cold snap, not a jolt from the COVID-19 vaccination event make its way across the US, weakening of the polar vortex went car to car injecting raising the chances for heavy hitting North America with an stranded drivers before snow in New York and Wash- extended chill, Oravec said. The several of the doses expired. ington next week. US. Climate Prediction Center Josephine County Public A winter storm with the said there is a high chance of Health said on Facebook that potential for heavy snow will warmer-than-normal temper- the “impromptu vaccine move along the East Coast atures in the Northeast and Great clinic” took place after about likely starting Jan. 31 or Feb. 1, Lakes on Feb. 2-6. 20 employees were stopped said Bob Oravec, a senior In California, another round in traffic on a highway after a branch forecaster at the US of heavy rain and snow in the vaccination clinic. Weather Prediction Center. The mountains is unfolding across Six of the vaccines were outlook for the cities along the the state as an atmospheric getting close to expiring so the coast isn’t completely clear river wrings itself out along the workers decided to offer them because there is a chance rain West Coast. Mexico receives German trial vaccine to other stranded drivers. may mix in and hold snow The larger weather pattern Workers unloading a batch of the first shipment of doses of the vaccine by German biotech firm The shots were meant for totals down in some areas.”It that spawned the atmospheric CureVac that arrived for Phase III clinical trials in Mexico, at Benito Juarez International Airport, in other people, but “the snow could be a fairly big storm,” river will meander across the Mexico City, yesterday. meant those doses wouldn’t Oravec said in a telephone continent, gathering moisture make it to them before they interview. “I don’t think it will from the Gulf of Mexico, and expired,” the health be as big as the earlier season eventually provide the catalyst department said. snow, but it is a good time of for next week’s storm in New Bolsonaro, who won’t take a COVID-19 Not wanting to waste year for big snowstorms.” York.The storms are ranked on them, staff walked from Manhattan’s Central Park a five-step scale like hurricanes, vehicle to vehicle, offering had 10 inches (25 centimeters) and the current one is category shot, vows to inoculate Brazil fast people a chance to receive the of snow on December 16-17, 3 in the area around San Luis vaccine. A county ambulance while parts of upstate New York, Obispo, said Julie Kalansky, a REUTERS — BRASILIA in the world after the United weeks, as many have been was on hand for safety. eastern Pennsylvania and researcher at the Center for States. angered by the president’s failure northern New England got more Western Weather and Water Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, But yesterday, the president to quickly vaccinate Brazil’s 210 Blair House than 40 inches, according to the Extremes. That marked the who says he won’t take any sought to defend his govern- million people. His personal National Weather Service. strongest atmospheric river to COVID-19 shot, yesterday vowed ment’s vaccine procurement. pledge not to take any shot has guest quarters a Overall, winter has been rela- hit California this year. to quickly inoculate all Brazilians, “Europe and some countries stoked growing anti-vaccine tively mild across much of the Atmospheric rivers ranked tempering his tone after his in South America don’t have sentiment. temporary home US with snow running about as category 1 and 2 range can support fell due to a patchy vaccines. And we know that the The end of a COVID-19 normal in New York. be beneficial, alleviating vaccine rollout and a brutal demand is high. We have signed welfare scheme, and a sharp rise for VP Harris Before the snow gets to drought conditions with all of second wave of infections. deals, contracts, from last Sep- in new infections, have also dented Northeast, temperatures will California abnormally dry. A Bolsonaro has been widely tember, with various companies, his popularity. Brazil is predomi- AP — WASHINGTON plummet to 15 degrees Fahr- category 3 or higher has the criticised for his handling of the and the vaccines are starting to nantly reliant on a Chinese shot, enheit in Central Park on potential to be destructive, said pandemic. Critics say the slow arrive,” he said at an event. “They developed by Sinovac Biotech, but Vice-President Kamala Harris Thursday night and stay in the Jack Parrish, a flight meteorol- vaccine rollout is the latest in a will arrive and will vaccinate the is awaiting a shipment of active can’t beat the work commute. teens through Saturday night, ogist at the National Oceanic long line of fumblings that have whole population in a short space ingredient from China needed to She’s living temporarily at the National Weather Service and Atmospheric blighted Brazil with the second- of time.” Bolsonaro’s comments domestically producer an Astra- Blair House, the president’s said. Readings will drop to 9 Administration. highest coronavirus death toll reflect a change of tone in recent Zeneca vaccine. official guest residence on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House, while some repair work is done at A new White House under Biden: Discipline and diversity the official vice-presidential home a few miles away on the REUTERS — WASHINGTON administration. “It’s certainly can join forces, stop the confusion about his favorite ice on hand for event after event. grounds of the US Naval true that if a president can’t shouting, and lower the tem- cream flavor: “Can confirm it’s Although Biden has his Observatory. On the morning of January 20, manage the White House, he perature,” Biden said in his chocolate chip.” share of white male advisers, Asked what her first job hours before Joe Biden arrived can’t manage the rest of it.” inaugural address. “For without The Biden White House other team members, from would be, as she strolled the at the White House as the 46th A White House governing unity, there is no peace, only approach to the coronavirus Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Inauguration Day parade route US president, a clear plexiglass strategy assailed as chaotic by bitterness and fury; no progress, pandemic, which has killed to Defense Secretary Lloyd with her husband, Doug shield was erected at the both political parties is gone, only exhausting outrage; no 430,000 people in the United Austin, the first woman and the Emhoff, Harris told a reporter, guard’s desk at the entrance to replaced by message discipline nation, only a state of chaos.” States, is one of the sharpest first Black person to hold the “Walking to work.” the West Wing housing the and a disinclination toward Trump dominated the news departures. Trump routinely roles, respectively, have pro- Harris moved into Blair executive offices. leaks. cycle largely as a one-man eschewed masks, and most offi- jected a tableau of America in a House the day after the It was a small but noticeable New presidents typically show, shifting topics regularly cials did the same when around way that Trump’s team did not. January 20 inauguration, said sign that things were changing: benefit from a honeymoon in a frenetic, seesaw fashion. him. The virus infected multiple Biden’s call to move past spokesperson Symone COVID-19 protections missing period. Morning Consult The Biden team has stuck to a members of his White House the polarising Trump years will Sanders. during Donald Trump’s last year Political Intelligence showed specific theme nearly every day, staff, and Trump himself. be tested as his legislative Vice-presidents have lived in office would be a regular part that, during Biden’s first few with Biden systematically Biden has mandated mask- agenda encounters resistance in a white, 19th century Vic- of White House life in the Biden days in office, 56 percent of signing executive orders to roll wearing in government from Republicans on Capitol torian house on the grounds administration. voters approved of his job per- back one Trump policy after buildings. At public events, he Hill and from liberal lawmakers of the Naval Observatory since From required mask- formance. But popularity can another. and other officials adhere to who seek bolder reforms. the late 1970s, starting with wearing to a new public infor- be fleeting. Trump’s Twitter account, a public health guidelines for “In the short term very Walter Mondale. But the home mation approach, the Demo- The White House changes mainstay of his presidency with social distancing. clearly the temperature has needs a touch-up, and officials crat’s steady hand-on-the-tiller are myriad, from the mundane aggrieved and inflammatory The new president has been taken down, and despite said it’s best for the work to be style marks an abrupt change to the profound. Dogs are back messages on a daily if not required appointees to sign what we’ve seen in the Capitol done while the house is unoc- from the bombast and volatility on the South Lawn. Regular hourly basis, was suspended in stringent ethics pledges that just a few weeks ago, people are cupied. Mike Pence, Harris’ under the Republican Trump, media briefings, with follow- the aftermath of a Jan. 6 riot by include a ban on accepting gifts calming down,” said Republican predecessor, cleared out at the a businessman and former up questions and data-driven his supporters on the US from registered lobbyists or strategist Doug Heye. end of the Trump adminis- reality TV star. answers, have returned to the Capitol. lobbying organizations. “Moving forward, Biden is tration earlier this month. “This is what normalcy briefing room. Biden’s tweets are used to He also has showcased in a perfect position to cut the So Harris moved into Blair looks like,” said Ambassador Biden himself has made advance his policy objectives diversity. Vice-President deals that Trump always said House, where President Harry John Bolton, a former national unity and civility his main mes- and to share the occasional Kamala Harris—the first he could but never did,” he said, Truman lived from 1948-1952 security adviser to Trump, sages. “We can treat each other lighthearted comment, such as woman, Black person and Asian but added, “that’s not to say it’s during major renovations to when asked about the Biden with dignity and respect. We when he cleared up any American to hold the role— is going to be easy.” the White House. Business 13

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ChristianChri Klein SAP CE0 Business | 14 QSE 10,544.54 -103.34 (-0.97%) FTSE 100 6,526.15 -41.22 (0.63%) DOW 6,526.15 -41.23 (0.63%) BRENT $55.11 (-0.76)

Ooredoo announces Vacant plot sales dominate weekly realty transactions interest payment date THE PENINSULA — DOHA Registration Department during the minutes away from the Doha Cor- period from 17-21 January 2021, it niche, features 803 residential units, Deals worth QR237.6m were for Medium-term Note Transactions for vacant plots of land showed that the transactions were all of them consisting of two rooms. QNA — DOHA dominated Qatar’s real estate market distributed among eight munici- The monthly rent for a furnished signed for vacant land plots, during January 17-21 period with palities: Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al apartment starts at QR3900, while accounting for 59.9 percent of Ooredoo Q.P.S.C. announced yesterday deals worth QR592.1m signed during Dhakhira, Doha, Al Rayyan, Al the monthly rent for an unfurnished the total real estate sales during that February 16 will be the date to pay the week. Shamal, Al Daayen, Al Shehaniyah apartment starts at QR3750. its Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) Deals worth QR237.6m were and Al Wakra. Ezdan Real Estate Company runs the week while buildings sale holders interest payment. signed for vacant land plots, The deals included the sales of more than 22.800 residential units, deals ranked second as Ooredoo said in a statement pub- accounting for 59.9 percent of the vacant lands, residences, multi-use and around 790 commercial units lished on the Qatar Stock Exchange total real estate sales during the buildings, multi-use land lots and inside Doha and its environs, transactions worth QR237.6m website that OIFL, a wholly owned sub- week while buildings sale deals residential buildings. including Al Wakra and Al Wukair. were signed, accounting for sidiary of Ooredoo Q.P.S.C, will pay the ranked second as transactions worth Al Daayen Municipality topped The company continues to invest in noteholders $1,023,750,000 on payment QR237.6m were signed, accounting in terms of the sale deal of a vacant the real estate sector and contribute 40.1 percent of the total date falling due on February 16 of 2021. for 40.1 percent of the total volume, land plot. to real estate development in the volume, said Ezdan Real Estate The company will also pay the 4.57 said Ezdan Real Estate report which Referring to the rental rates of State of Qatar on a large scale. report which was sponsored by percent in interest payment to note- was sponsored by Sak Partnerships Ezdan Real Estate Company, ‘Sharekna’ is a smart real estate holders of its $1,000,000,000 notes due Company. Musheirb Towers, which is one of product provided by Sak Partnership Sak Partnerships Company. in February 16 of 2021. According to the data gleaned the most important residential as a solution for landlords of vacant from the real estate bulletin projects and enjoys a vital location land lots, enabling them to transform released by the Real Estate in the center of Doha, as it is a few the lands into real estate projects for undertaking the project and that generate continuous gains for construction in a record time at a GM commits to sell only life. The project philosophy is based prime cost only, without calculating on strength and success of any any profit margin for Sak Part- electric zero emission project. nership. This saves 40 percent of vehicles by 2035 Whether you are a landlord for the total cost of the project for the a vast or small land lot, suitable for landlord, in return for a stake BLOOMBERG developing a residential or com- equivalent to one third of the mercial complex, building or tower, project only for Sak. At the same General Motors Co. is promising to go or even a hospital or school, time, the landlord may choose to green by making all of its global oper- Sharekna offers you feasibility divest the joint venture agreement. ations and vehicles carbon neutral by studies, licenses and good planning Sak Company offers 5 percent com- 2040, including selling only zero- by specialized engineers and mission for realtors interested to emission models by 2035. experts, as well as secures funds work under Sharekna. The pledge is a bold embrace by the automaker of emission-reduction goals set by California. The state is one of the largest markets for vehicles in the US Germany will mobilise up to €50bn more state aid for firms and announced plans in September to ban sales of gasoline-powered cars and REUTERS — BERLIN pandemic on Europe’s largest economy last trucks by 2035. GM’s target for achieving year. company-wide carbon neutrality is 10 Germany has the fiscal strength to mobilize Gross domestic product shrank by a years ahead of rival Ford Motor Co.’s further state aid of up to €50bn ($60.5bn) for smaller-than-expected 5 percent in 2020. That goal. companies affected by the second coronavirus was surpassed in the post-war era only by the GM’s initiative is part of Chief Exec- lockdown, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier record -5.7 percent in 2009, during the utive Officer Mary Barra’s strategy to (pictured) said yesterday in a speech in financial crisis. take on Tesla Inc.’s leadership in electric parliament. But the government slashed its GDP growth vehicles and change the Detroit com- This comes on top of grants already paid forecast on Wednesday to 3 percent this year, pany’s image as a builder of gas-guz- out of roughly €80bn, an additional €23bn as a sharp revision from last autumn’s estimate zling, carbon-spewing trucks and SUVs. part of the Kurzarbeit job protection scheme, of 4.4 percent due to a second coronavirus Barra already has committed GM to and a multi-year stimulus programme worth lockdown. spending $27bn to build 30 electric 130 billion euros, Altmaier told lawmakers. Altmaier has painted a picture of a two- vehicles by 2025. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government speed economy in which industry continued General Motors is joining govern- has since March unleashed an unprecedented to do well while services were suffering under ments and companies around the globe array of rescue and stimulus measures which the curbs that were imposed early in November working to establish a safer, greener and helped cushion the impact of the COVID-19 and tightened in mid-December. better world,” Barra said in a statement. Oil gains with Apple takes top spot in phone Mastercard pledges net zero emissions broad market rally market with record shipments THE PENINSULA — DOHA renewable electricity in 2020, its technology, expertise, and adding to tighter reinforced by a commitment to trusted global partnerships supply view BLOOMBERG smartphone business has Mastercard is furthering its RE100. network to lead on collective developed robustly, and tablet, commitment to create a more “2021 is set to be a crucial year climate action, through inno- BLOOMBERG Record iPhone shipments PC and wearable have seen a sustainable and inclusive digital for climate action, and we believe vative initiatives such as the pushed Apple Inc. to the No. 1 significant growth. We remain economy, with a pledge to reach the private sector has a vital role Greener Payments Partnership Oil rose in tandem with a position in the global smart- confident about the future,” net zero emissions by 2050. to play in the transition to a zero- and the Priceless Planet broader market rebound as a phone market as Samsung Elec- Huawei said in an email. Understanding that economic carbon economy. The quality of Coalition. tightening supply outlook tronics Co. and Huawei Tech- The new iPhones boosted growth cannot come at the all our futures are deeply and Mastercard is initially focusing continued to support crude’s nologies Co. lost significant Apple’s revenue to more than expense of the planet, the com- inextricably linked to the health on two priority areas to make underlying structure. ground, market research firms $100bn for the first time, with pany’s global action plan aims to and well-being of our planet. progress against its emissions Futures in New York said yesterday. Tim Cook telling analysts on continue to reduce greenhouse That’s why, in addition to targets – decarbonizing its own climbed as much as 1.4 percent Canalys and Counterpoint Wednesday that customer gases (GHG) by remaining focused improving our own environ- operations and leading on sup- yesterday to its highest estimate iPhone shipments response to the new models has on the decarbonization of its plier sustainability. intraday level in about a week. jumped to roughly 82 million been “enthusiastic even in light operations and bolstering its Mastercard operates close to US equities came back from units in the last quarter, marking of the ongoing COVID-19.” efforts to decarbonize its supply 2021 is set to be a 180 facilities across the world and their worst rout in three a new high for Apple and A widely predicted recovery chains. crucial year for climate is prioritizing renewable energy months with weekly jobless crowning it the leading smart- from the coronavirus slump Mastercard’s net zero goal action, and we believe and energy efficiency programs, claims coming in better-than- phone vendor. Samsung slumped appears to be taking hold in the builds upon its existing GHG com- including the expanded use of expected, while a weakening more than 10 percent to just over smartphone market. “Apple is mitments that align with the the private sector has a solar panels in data centers, which dollar also helped boost the 62 million shipments in a period championing 5G sales and it will Business Ambition for 1.5°C vital role to play in the account for more than 50 percent appeal of commodities priced that was marked by the release be the catalyst for 5G adoption pledge. The first in the payments transition to a zero- of energy usage across the in the currency. of the first 5G-enabled iPhones. in many countries across the industry to gain Science Based company. Currently all Mas- At the same time, global Xiaomi Corp., Oppo and Vivo world,” said IDC analyst Fran- Targets initiative (SBTi) approval carbon economy. tercard owned properties in the supply curbs are helping further filled out the top five while cisco Jeronimo. for its GHG goals, Mastercard is US are fitted with solar panels and push crude into a bullish Huawei suffered a 41 currently working towards its Kristina Kloberdanz all owned properties across the structure called backwardation, percent drop after US SBTi-approved goal to reduce Chief Sustainability Officer, world are LEED certified. when nearer contracts are more sanctions deprived it of total Scope 1 and 2 emissions by Mastercard Taking an innovative and col- expensive than later-dated access to key suppliers 38 percent and Scope 3 emissions laborative approach to supplier ones. Supply reductions could and chipmakers. by 20 percent by 2025 from a sustainability has made Mas- supersede the drag on demand “Huawei dramatically 2016 baseline. mental footprint, we’re driving tercard a leader in the field, from the virus and send Brent receded in most markets These targets reflect a long- systemic change through pow- recently maintaining an “A” rating crude past $70 a barrel by the as the result of the US term commitment by the erful coalitions and empowering for Supplier Engagement from end of this year, according to sanctions,” said Canalys company to monitor and our network of nearly 3-billion CDP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Amber Liu. implement best practices to consumers to take collective Emissions associated with the Oil has struggled to break Huawei sold its reduce emissions across the action to preserve the envi- company’s supply chain (as far above $53 a barrel in New budget-friendly sub- business, drive operational energy ronment,” said Kristina measured at the end of 2020) York over the past few weeks brand Honor at the end efficiency, and further engage Kloberdanz, Chief Sustainability amount to more than 70 percent as a worsening near-term of the year, giving it a suppliers in value chain decar- Officer, Mastercard. “By coming of the total carbon footprint. As coronavirus situation remains chance to regain supply The Apple Inc logo is seen hanging at bonization. Progress already together, we can drive expo- such, continued support with a risk to crude’s demand of critical components. the entrance to the Apple store on 5th made towards these goals nential impact.” setting and achieving GHG goals recovery. “Over the last year, our Avenue in Manhattan, New York. includes achieving 100 percent Mastercard is also mobilizing will be provided to suppliers. 14 BUSINESS FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Stocks open higher on Wall Street a day after a sell-off

AP — TOKYO pared to other global regions. vaccine, inoculations have not started Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell on a mass scale in Asia, although Stocks are climbing back in the early 1.5 percent to finish at 28,197.42. Aus- approvals have either been granted or going on Wall Street yesterday, a day tralia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.9 are on their way in most places, after the market took its biggest percent to 6,649.70. South Korea’s including Australia and Japan. one-day loss since October. The S&P Kospi sank 1.7 percent to 3,069.05. Outbreaks persist and have grown 500 index added 1.2 percent. Some Big Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 2.6 in some places such as Japan, where a Tech companies were back in the percent to 28,550.77, while the third wave is claiming more lives at a winning column, including Facebook, Shanghai Composite shed 1.9 percent much faster pace than last year, at which reported much better results for to 3,505.18. more than 5,000 so far. Daily deaths the last three months of the year than “Investors will likely focus on the had been mostly in single-digit figures analysts were expecting. Traders were pace of vaccinations around the globe until recently, but are now surpassing encouraged to see a slight decline in while also keeping an eye on the 100 people a day. the number of applications for unem- progress of President Biden’s fiscal Adding to caution, the Federal ployment benefits last week, even rescue plan that may be facing some Reserve said Wednesday it would keep though the numbers remain very high roadblocks in the US Senate,” Prakash its low interest rate policies in place, due to widespread job losses related Sakpal and Nicholas Mapa, senior but it also released a sobering to the coronavirus pandemic. Treasury economists at ING, said in a report. assessment of the gradual recovery yields rose. Hopes are high for President Joe ahead. Global shares skidded yesterday as Traders wearing masks work, on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Biden’s proposed a $1.9 trillion COVID- Some analysts said the selling a reality check set in about longtime in New York. relief package, but worries are growing was at least partly a reaction to out- economic damage from the corona- the plan might also be scaled back. sized moves in GameStop, AMC virus pandemic, giving Wall Street its was down 1.6 percent at 6,460.34. US Australia and China declined yesterday. Vaccine rollouts have not pro- Entertainment and select other pre- worst day since October. shares were set to extend lossses, with The region is looking ahead to earnings gressed in Asia as quickly as they have viously beaten-down stocks that France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.7 Dow futures trading at 30,068.0, down season for a read on how companies in the West, and worries are growing have notched massive gains in recent percent in early trading to 5,422.70, 0.4 percent. The S&P 500 future con- are faring amid COVID-19 infections, about a tug-of-war for the products days after gaining favor with an while Germany’s DAX dropped 1.2 tract slipped 0.8 percent to 3,716.12. which have been relatively low in some from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. online community of individual percent to 13,463.25. Britain’s FTSE 100 Benchmarks in Japan, South Korea, nations such as New Zealand, com- Aside from China, which has its own investors. SAP pitches cloud transformation Musk’s Cyberpunk tweet gives CD Projekt biggest boost since 2015 to pandemic-hit customers BLOOMBERG rally in the US, where retail investors have battled against REUTERS — BERLIN balked at Klein’s abandonment keeping up with rivals such as Elon Musk just gave shares in short sellers by piling into names of his mid-term profit targets as Salesforce and Oracle. Poland’s biggest computer game like GameStop Corp. The Polish SAP says it is ready to lead SAP winds down its legacy Even so, they question maker a turbo boost, by game studio has soared more customers into a cloud-based software-licence business, which whether SAP’s core customers enthusing over CD Projekt SA’s than 40 percent in four days. future, but the business software is profitable and cash generative, are ready to embrace running Cyberpunk game on his Twitter Glitches in the company’s group may need all its powers of replacing it with subscription the beating heart of its newest SAP CEO, Christian Klein account. The company’s stock eagerly awaited Cyberpunk persuasion to convince its revenues that are standard for systems - the S/4HANA database soared as much as 19 percent, game, launched in December, 400,000-strong client base to cloud services and are more - in the cloud rather than the industrial conglomerate, as a the most since June 2015, after attracted short sellers including launch a major overhaul of spread out over time. more bespoke version typically case study of a large business the Tesla Inc. chief executive Melvin Capital Management LP. systems in a pandemic. Clients are keener, argues hosted at on-site datacenters. looking to reconfigure its officer tweeted yesterday that But short interest on CD Projekt The leading provider of vital Klein, telling Reuters in a recent “Fewer than 10 percent of its business processes as part of the “the esthetics of Cyberpunk are shares has started to fall back enterprise applications from interview that they “want to existing customers have actually cloud migration. incredible.” Hours earlier, the from the record 10 percent level financial management to make the move to the cloud, to begun their journey to Industry consultants point billionaire had tweeted that it seen at the start of the month. logistics this week launched its get more resilience and to S/4HANA,” said Christian Hes- out, however, that many firms would be possible to play the Musk’s social media post pro- “Rise with SAP” pitch - the result transform their business with termann, an analyst at Gartner are not ready to tackle a poten- complex and futuristic game on vided an additional lift for a stock of a strategic pivot announced SAP together”. Research. “SAP must make that tially costly and disruptive Tesla’s new Model S Plaid. battered by a wave of negative by CEO Christian Klein last Industry experts say SAP’s transition easier for its upgrade to their entire enterprise CD Projekt shares have reviews and player discontent autumn that stunned markets shift to hosting more stand- customers.” landscape amid an economic surged this week along with after the launch of Cyberpunk and caused its biggest share price ardised applications from The “Rise with SAP” event slump caused by the COVID-19 some of Europe’s most-shorted game in December was marred slump in a generation. Investors remote datacenters is key to showcased Siemens, the German pandemic. stocks in an echo of a similar by numerous glitches.

QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE

QNBK - QNB 17.92 18.00 17.91 18.07 10,000 18.02 18.01 6,000 18.01 18.01 +0.09 +0.50 832 6,116,547 110,122,608.71 QIBK - Qatar Islamic Bank 17.00 16.86 16.60 16.89 3,406 16.75 16.6 140,496 16.60 16.60 -0.40 -2.35 467 1,779,285 29,710,880.41 CBQK - Comm. Bank of Qatar 4.33 4.250 4.150 4.315 121,218 4.278 4.27 35,410 4.278 4.28 -0.052 -1.20 503 2,986,965 12,752,220.135 DHBK - Doha Bank 2.315 2.315 2.300 2.315 4,321 2.302 2.3 73,888 2.302 2.302 -0.013 -0.56 55 1,790,781 4,122,388.667 ABQK - Ahli Bank 3.60 3.61 3.61 3.61 5,000 3.775 3.61 9,564 3.61 0.00 +0.01 +0.28 1 436 1,573.96 QIIK - Intl. Islamic Bank 8.90 8.86 8.82 9.01 155,194 8.9 8.87 7,029 8.90 8.900 0.00 0.00 219 2,047,213 18,187,738.70 MARK - Rayan 4.45 4.43 4.39 4.43 241,752 4.39 4.385 10,000 4.39 4.390 -0.06 -1.35 408 9,717,702 42,738,533.26 KCBK - Al khalij Commercial Bank 2.078 2.115 2.030 2.115 90,000 2.05 2.039 601,785 2.039 2.039 -0.039 -1.88 152 12,667,330 25,840,764.748 QFBQ - Qatar First Bank (QFC) 1.798 1.80 1.78 1.81 226,034 1.8 1.783 18,000 1.80 1.80 0.00 +0.11 217 6,832,768 12,278,383.42 QETF - QE Index ETF 10.446 10.406 10.382 10.406 8,836 11.317 9.41 500 10.382 10.342 -0.064 -0.61 2 306 3,179.052 QATR - Al Rayan Qatar ETF 2.415 2.420 2.396 2.656 528 2.656 2.389 7,500 2.656 2.388 +0.241 +9.98 26 187,523 453,150.395 QATI - Qatar Insurance 2.48 2.44 2.43 2.46 75,000 2.45 2.433 2,654 2.45 2.45 -0.03 -1.21 36 586,637 1,434,562.47 DOHI - Doha Insurance 1.50 1.47 1.470 1.548 15,000 1.547 1.529 354,877 1.548 0.00 +0.048 +3.20 10 125,439 190,137.690 QLMI - QLM 3.755 3.71 3.71 3.76 6,000 3.77 3.76 313,306 3.76 3.760 0.00 +0.13 111 1,131,641 4,244,142.81 QGRI - General Insurance 2.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 500 2.557 2.422 500 2.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0 0.00 AKHI - Alkhaleej Takaful 2.69 2.668 2.562 2.789 58,891 2.77 2.751 1,363,437 2.751 2.751 +0.061 +2.27 418 6,140,022 16,351,792.156 QISI - Islamic Insurance 6.90 6.80 6.78 6.81 55,000 6.8 6.78 4,969 6.78 6.78 -0.12 -1.74 15 76,015 516,523.65 QAMC - QAMCO 0.959 0.94 0.92 0.95 675,947 0.95 0.947 1,111 0.95 0.950 -0.01 -0.94 190 6,891,124 6,486,767.37 QIMD - Ind. Manf. Co. 3.038 3.09 2.99 3.09 32,990 3.02 2.935 20,000 3.02 3.020 -0.02 -0.59 12 125,611 375,854.53 QNCD - National Cement Co. 4.019 4.170 4.169 4.297 11,421 4.262 4.253 200,000 4.262 4.262 +0.243 +6.05 321 4,817,839 20,302,431.477 ZHCD - Zad Holding Company 14.70 14.99 14.99 14.99 6,420 14.99 14.75 1,000 14.99 14.99 +0.29 +1.97 1 100 1,499.00 IQCD - Industries Qatar 12.10 12.00 12.00 12.15 8,369 12.12 12.05 17,465 12.05 12.05 -0.05 -0.41 283 1,748,501 21,098,825.77 UDCD - United Dev. Company 1.601 1.590 1.564 1.603 38,000 1.566 1.562 24,022 1.566 1.566 -0.035 -2.19 315 5,155,803 8,136,878.862 QGMD - Qatar German Co. Med 3.178 3.18 3.10 3.30 1,193 3.215 3.21 5,275,097 3.21 3.210 +0.03 +1.01 225 7,310,672 23,433,726.37 QIGD - The Investors 1.991 2.018 1.915 2.080 298,450 2.028 2.023 10,000 2.028 2.028 +0.037 +1.86 1,139 19,875,781 40,260,429.623 ORDS - Ooredoo 8.26 8.30 8.24 8.33 223,516 8.33 8.244 55 8.33 8.330 +0.07 +0.85 303 2,031,164 16,830,021.32 QEWS - Electricity & Water 18.08 18.08 17.80 18.09 60,000 18.21 17.8 5,000 17.80 17.80 -0.28 -1.55 152 416,036 7,423,325.29 SIIS - Salam International 0.647 0.643 0.635 0.652 1,079,043 0.649 0.639 100,000 0.649 0.000 +0.002 +0.31 214 19,246,499 12,394,121.198 BLDN - Baladna 1.814 1.801 1.773 1.810 5,300 1.789 1.785 90,098 1.785 1.785 -0.029 -1.60 199 3,545,100 6,339,747.556 NLCS - National Leasing 1.236 1.235 1.216 1.235 10,000 1.228 1.215 11,400 1.216 1.22 -0.020 -1.62 190 7,018,680 8,579,954.999 QNNS - Qatar Navigation 7.725 7.65 7.64 7.70 95,356 7.7 7.665 663 7.70 7.70 -0.02 -0.32 65 1,606,500 12,367,886.71 MCGS - Medicare 8.81 8.65 8.63 8.88 13,000 8.8 8.784 12,000 8.80 8.80 -0.01 -0.11 52 278,204 2,442,585.10 QCFS - Cinema 3.873 0.000 0.000 0.000 1,200 3.861 3.6 19,000 3.873 0.000 0.000 0.00 0 0 0.000 QFLS - Qatar Fuel 18.95 18.95 18.64 18.96 82,477 18.66 18.64 4,587 18.66 18.66 -0.29 -1.53 114 282,956 5,304,983.51 WDAM - Widam 6.10 6.100 6.020 6.100 16,470 6.05 6.037 46,256 6.037 6.04 -0.063 -1.03 18 101,142 611,908.015 GWCS - Gulf warehousing Co 5.137 5.14 5.05 5.20 49,015 5.18 5.1 10,140 5.18 5.180 +0.04 +0.84 64 463,215 2,377,737.55 QGTS - Nakilat 3.38 3.332 3.255 3.340 223,813 3.299 3.26 7,983 3.299 3.30 -0.081 -2.40 467 8,629,225 28,426,088.679 DBIS - Dlala 1.94 1.94 1.80 1.96 116,800 1.82 1.817 1,202 1.82 1.820 -0.12 -6.19 354 7,198,472 13,309,398.17 BRES - Barwa 3.36 3.360 3.302 3.378 925,725 3.36 3.305 535,696 3.305 3.305 -0.055 -1.64 489 6,565,601 21,915,326.592 MCCS - Mannai Corp. 3.02 2.99 2.920 3.030 1,500 2.999 2.96 20,000 3.022 0.00 +0.002 +0.07 11 50,425 149,274.858 AHCS - Aamal 0.871 0.860 0.841 0.861 365,045 0.857 0.852 182,138 0.857 0.857 -0.014 -1.61 127 4,281,454 3,644,637.570 QOIS - Qatar Oman 0.858 0.845 0.831 0.858 129,206 0.85 0.844 15,004 0.843 0.000 -0.015 -1.75 52 1,025,508 863,869.125 ERES - Ezdan Holding 1.74 1.740 1.687 1.740 2,000 1.709 1.707 2,701 1.707 1.707 -0.033 -1.90 383 11,907,605 20,285,846.241 IHGS - Inma 5.412 5.411 5.252 5.441 30,497 5.339 5.301 1,908 5.339 5.339 -0.073 -1.35 180 1,823,380 9,720,914.788 GISS - Gulf International 1.624 1.620 1.560 1.620 596,145 1.583 1.572 25,800 1.583 1.583 -0.041 -2.52 274 9,220,646 14,521,870.069 MPHC - Mesaieed 2.045 2.017 2.001 2.039 45,000 2.029 2.02 125,443 2.029 2.029 -0.016 -0.78 213 5,203,350 10,520,719.948 IGRD - Investment Holding 0.568 0.566 0.555 0.566 25,000 0.559 0.556 93,820 0.556 0.56 -0.012 -2.11 286 14,584,955 8,152,958.799 VFQS - Vodafone Qatar 1.539 1.54 1.50 1.55 182,273 1.5 1.497 10,000 1.50 1.500 -0.04 -2.53 333 13,084,163 19,837,093.27 MERS - Al Meera 20.31 20.32 19.91 20.35 38,830 20.19 19.91 5,593 20.19 20.19 -0.12 -0.59 214 269,485 5,409,515.80 MRDS - Mazaya 1.275 1.275 1.241 1.276 160,000 1.259 1.251 48,000 1.259 1.259 -0.016 -1.25 174 6,636,608 8,342,932.669

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

QE Index 10,544.54 -0.97 % 28-01-2021 Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Currency Selling (QAR) Buying (QAR) QE Total Return Index 20,271.53 -0.97 % Index 10,544.54 Dow Jones Industrial Average 30,303.17 -633.87 -2.05% US$ 3.6500 3.6305 Australian Dollar AUD 2.87 2.8 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index - Price 2,396.47 -1.12 % Change -103.34 S&P 500 3,750.77 -98.85 -2.57% Bangladeshi Taka BDT 0.0455 0.042 % -0.97% Nasdaq Composite Index 13,270.60 -- --% QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,275.24 -1.12 % Canadian Dollar CAD 2.92 2.85 YTD% +1.04 FTSE 100 Index 6,513.76 -53.61 -0.82% QE All Share Index 3,237.79 -0.70 % Volume 223,582,414 Euro EUR 4.5 4.4 DAX Index 13,542.55 -77.91 -0.57% QE All Share Banks & Value (QAR) 638,817,711.05 Indian Rupee INR 0.052 0.05 CAC 40 Index 5,454.34 -5.28 -0.10% Trades 10,886 Japanese Yen JPY 0.0357 0.035 Financial Services 4,217.80 -0.59 % Malaysian Ringgit MYR 0.92 ---- Up 15 | Down 32 | Unchanged 01 Nikkei Stock Average 225 28,197.42 -437.79 -1.53% QE All Share Industrials 3,251.45 -0.55 % Hang Seng Index 28,550.77 -746.76 -2.55% Nepalese Rupee NPR 0.033 0.031 27-01-2021 QE All Share Transportation 3,474.67 -1.37 % Shanghai Composite Index 3,505.18 -68.17 -1.91% Pakistani Rupee PKR 0.02326 0.02273 Index 10,647.88 Philippine Peso PHP 0.0785 0.076 QE All Share Real Estate 1,856.42 -1.85 % ASX All Ordinaries Index 6,917.60 -142.60 -2.02% Change +8.54 Pound Sterling GBP 5.08 5 QE All Share Insurance 2,495.59 -0.61 % % +0.08% Singapore Dollar SGD 2.77 2.7 QE All Share Telecoms 1,122.65 -0.02 % YTD% +2.03 GOLD AND SILVER South African Rand ZAR 0.243 0.232 Volume 191,512,090 QE All Share Consumer GOLD QR227.00 per gramme Sri Lankan Rupee LKR 0.0197 0.0185 Goods & Services 8,118.63 -0.89 % Value (QAR) 542,283,976.61 Swiss Franc CHF 4.18 4.1 Trades 10,694 SILVER QR3.03 per gramme Turkish Lira TRY 0.5 Sport FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 15 Al Attiyah the man to beat as Sheikh Suhaim eyes strong show on debut Stage set for Qatar International Rally THE PENINSULA — DOHA

The 2021 Qatar International Rally roars into life at Katara this evening with the cere- monial start podium set to be held at 8:15pm before teams will tackle two runs and two laps of a purpose-built super special stage from 9:30pm. Then, ahead of an impressive field of drivers and co-drivers from 12 nations are two days of high-speed com- petition across the northern deserts of the State of Qatar that Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani will make the opening round of the FIA Middle East Rally Cham- rally star Kris Meeke to get up pionship (MERC) such a close and personal with the challenge. challenges he will face on his Run under the rigorous pro- MERC debut. tocols put in place for the The Ulsterman and his COVID-19 pandemic, all nec- regular WRC navigator essary precautions have been Sebastian Marshall are rallying taken. Teams have now com- in a privately-entered Škoda Nasser Saleh pleted their reconnaissance of Fabia Evo run by Sports Racing Al Attiyah tests his the desert special stages and Technologies (SRT). VW before the Qatar attention turns to setting the “It is nice to see the Qatar International Rally. cars up in preparation for the desert on a small test in the SRT rigours that lie ahead over the Škoda” said Meeke. weekend. “It looks nice to drive here, Motorsport-run Volkswagen Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani a new challenge in more open Polo GTi R5 after spending works for the Qatar Olympic and fast terrain. For sure, I need much of January battling his Committee, but international good notes on the recce to way across the sand dunes of rallying is a far cry from the understand the road and see the Saudi Arabia to finish second in member of the Qatari Royal visibility of the stages and make the Dakar Rally in a Toyota Family’s normal day-to-day good lines. It’s a big challenge Hilux. routine. Al Thani has decided to to race the guys with Qatar Al Attiyah won the Qatar venture into the world of motor experience, but I’ll bring my International Rally for the 14th sport and has teamed up with best to the stages.” SRT is a time when it was last held in Motorsport Italia to run a Škoda Latvia-based operation and 2019 and that marked the first Fabia Evo with co-driver works in numerous motor regional success for the Hamad Al Yafei. sporting disciplines, including Volkswagen. Sheikh Suhaim has never special stage rallies and cross- That victory set the winner taken part in a rally before and country events, and is also of a record-breaking 75 MERC has never driven competitively running Qatar’s Khalid Al- event wins up for his 15th either. Suwaidi on his home event. regional title and he made it 16 He’s not expecting to be Al Suwaidi teamed up with during a 2020 season that was pushing his R5 rivals at all and Adel Abdulla to finish fifth in the shortened with the onset of the the goal is to finish the rally and 2019 rally and the 2012 Kuwait COVID-19 pandemic. gain experience over some of International Rally winner has Qatar’s Nasser Khalifa Al the most challenging desert returned on this occasion with Atya and Abdulaziz Al Kuwari terrain in the Middle East. He the Portuguese co-driver Hugo and Oman’s Abdullah Al Rawahi managed to work with his team Magalhães. drive the other three R5s in a Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani’s new team. and test the car for the first time The latter finished ninth and formidable line-up that opens earlier this week. third in MERC 2 with Abdullah the door for some fascinating He moved into senior FIA with technical advice from Cross-Country Rally, but are a The big guns at the head of Al Kuwari at the Qatar Interna- competition over the weekend. officialdom throughout the Feghali. welcome inclusion in the MERC. the entry list have also found tional Rally in 2019. Al Atya was a regular com- early 2000s and made a return The pairing finished 10th This weekend’s Qatar Inter- time to carry out a shakedown Defending regional petitor in the MERC throughout to the hot seat a few years ago and fourth in MERC 2 in Qatar national Rally will be held under test in an area of desert close to champion Nasser Saleh Al the 1990s and finished as and has been a regular sup- in 2019 and Al-Rawahi finished the chairmanship of QMMF the Losail Sports Arena. Attiyah also made use of the runner-up in the title race to the porter of the regional rally as runner-up to Nasser Saleh President Abdulrahman Al- This marked an excellent opportunity to get back behind late Sheikh Hamed bin Eid Al- series ever since. Al-Attiyah in last year’s MERC. Mannai, senior committee opportunity for international the wheel of his Autotek Thani in 1993. Al Atya teams up with Leb- The new FIA T4 category is member Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari anese co-driver Georges now permitted on gravel rounds and the QMMF’s Executive 2021 QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY – LEADING STARTERS (TOP 10) Nader in a Ford Fiesta R5 run of the MERC and, subject to Director Amro Al Hamad. 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 by Motortune under the man- scrutineering checks, Qatar’s Today vehicles will be 2. Kris Meeke (GBR)/Sebastian Marshall (GBR) Škoda Fabia R5 agement of 14-time Rally of Khalid Al-Mohannadi (Polaris), checked for compliance with 3. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/James Fulton (IRL) Škoda Fabia R5 Evo Lebanon winner Roger Lebanon’s Jad Al Aawar FIA technical checks in scruti- 4. Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (MERC 2) Feghali. (Can-Am) and the talented neering at Losail. Subject to 5. Henry Kahy (LEB)/Carlos Hanna (LEB) Škoda Fabia 1.6 Al Rawahi is a young talent Saudi driver Saleh Al-Saif conforming with the require- 6. Abdullah Al-Ruwahi (OMN)/Ata Hmoud (JOR) Ford Fiesta R5 on the MERC scene and grad- (Can-Am) will give their light- ments, crews will then head to 7. Nasser Khalifa Al Atya (QAT)/Georges Nader (LEB) Ford Fiesta R5 uated from MERC 2 to drive a weight vehicles an airing in the Katara for the start ceremony 8. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Škoda Fabia R5 fully-fledged R5 car. desert. and opening super special stage. 9. Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani (QAT)/Hamad Al-Yafei (QAT) Škoda Fabia R5 Evo The Omani is working with These cars are normally There will also be a National 10. Jassim Al Muqahwi (KWT)/Thamer Al Mutairi (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (MERC 2) his Oman Rally Team and Jor- seen on cross-country events, Rally category running behind danian navigator Ata Al Hmoud such as the Dakar or the Qatar the main event. Late wickets spoil South Africa’s good work Australian Open players begin REUTERS — KARACHI (2 not out), the pair looking Pakistan wicketkeeper to push South Africa towards Mohammad Rizwan leaving quarantine Aidan Markram and Rassie a total that will give them takes a catch to van der Dussen produced something to defend in dismiss South Africa's patient half centuries but Pakistan’s fourth innings. Dean Elgar off Yasir REUTERS — MELBOURNE Pakistan grabbed three late Their situation looked a Shah's delivery during wickets as South Africa lot brighter 30 minutes third day of first Test Australian Open players were given the reached 187 for four in their before the close but Paki- in Karachi. green light to begin exiting COVID-19 second innings at the close on stan’s spinners grabbed quarantine yesterday after spending day three of a see-saw first three big wickets as the two weeks strictly confined to a biose- Test in Karachi. shadows lengthened on the curity hub. The tourists lead by 29 day. The first group among the 960 runs and have wiped out a Markram (74 from 224 players, coaches and officials isolating first innings deficit after they balls) put on 127 for the at three Melbourne hotels were allowed trailed by 158 having earlier second wicket with Van der to leave from 6 pm local time (0700 yesterday bowled Pakistan Dussen (64 from 151) to get GMT), with the rest expected to depart out for 378. their team into the lead, but by Sunday, Victoria state health offi- Captain Quinton de Kock the latter was caught at silly cials said. has yet to score and will mid-off by Abid Ali from the Players isolating in South Australia resume on the fourth bowling of leg-spinner Yasir state, including Novak Djokovic and morning with night- Shah (3-53). Serena Williams, were also to be watchman Keshav Maharaj The tourists were dealt a released ahead of an exhibition tour- nament in Adelaide today. SCOREBOARD Players will be free to move around South Africa 1st innings 220 105-2 (1nb), Ngidi 17-1-57-2 (3nb), Maharaj 32.2-4- the cities and surrounding regions so Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 308-8) 90-3 (3nb), Linde 13-4-38-0, Markram 3-0-10-0 long as they abide by local social dis- Imran Butt c sub b Rabada ...... 9 South Africa 2nd innings tancing restrictions. Abid Ali b Rabada ...... 4 A. Markram c Abid b Nauman ...... 74 Australia has not had a case of com- Azhar Ali c de Kock b Maharaj ...... 51 D. Elgar c Rizwan b Yasir ...... 29 munity transmission for 11 straight days Babar Azam lbw b Maharaj ...... 7 R. van der Dussen c Abid b Yasir ...... 64 Shaheen Shah Afridi b Nortje ...... 0 Faf du Plessis lbw b Yasir ...... 10 and residents have regained most of Fawad Alam c Bavuma b Ngidi ...... 109 K. Maharaj not out ...... 2 further blow when Faf du blow on the hand. He never Rabada (3-70) picked up his their pre-COVID freedoms. Mohammad Rizwan c du Plessis b Ngidi ...... 33 Q. de Kock not out ...... 0 Plessis (10) was trapped leg looked settled after that and 200th Test wicket when he Faheem Ashraf b Nortje ...... 64 Extras (lb1, nb6, w1) ...... 8 before wicket by the dan- was caught by wicketkeeper bowled Hasan Ali (21), Hasan Ali b Rabada ...... 21 TOTAL (75 overs, for four wkts) ...... 187 gerous Shah, but worse was Mohammad Rizwan off Yasir. becoming the fourth youngest Nauman Ali lbw b Maharaj ...... 24 Still to bat: T. Bavuma, G. Linde, K. Rabada, A. The first group among the 960 players, to come as the set Markram X-rays have revealed no player to reach the Yasir Shah not out ...... 38 Nortje, L. Ngidi coaches and officials isolating at three Extras (b1, lb7, nb10) ...... 18 Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Elgar), 2-175 (Dussen), was dismissed in the next fracture. milestone. Total (119.2 overs, all out) ...... 378 3-185 (Du Plessis), 4-185 (Markram) over, also caught at silly mid- Pakistan’s lower order But the final Pakistan pair Melbourne hotels were allowed to leave Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Abid), 2-15 (Butt), 3-26 Bowling: Shaheen 13-1-48-0 (3nb), Hasan 12-1-50- off, though from the bowling frustrated the visitors in the of Yasir (38 not out) and from 6 pm local time (0700 GMT), with (Azam), 4-27 (Shaheen), 5-121 (Azhar), 6-176 0 (2nb), Nauman 20-7-27-1 (1nb), Yasir 24-6-53-3, of Nauman Ali. morning session as they took Nauman (24) added 55 for the (Rizwan), 7-278 (Fawad), 8-295 (Ashraf), 9-323 Asrfa 6-3-8-0 the rest expected to depart by Sunday, (Hasan) Toss: South Africa, elected to bat Opener Dean Elgar (29) the attack to the bowlers. final wicket before the latter Victoria state health officials said. Bowling: Rabada 27-7-70-3 (nb3), Nortje 27-4- Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK) was the other wicket to fall After they resumed on was leg before wicket to having earlier taken a nasty 308 for eight, seamer Kagsiso spinner Maharaj (3-90). Sport

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 LateL wickets spoil South Africa’s good work TheT wicket has started to take turn and there is also ssome bounce for the spinners. Tomorrow, we will try to bbowl them out quickly so that we do not have to chase ththat many runs for victory.

PakistanP spinner Yasir Shah Sport | 15

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H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day at Al Rayyan Park

H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle (T/B) Noor Al Hawa, Mon’nia and Tarek Horse: Noor Al Hawa (FR), Trainer: Georges Mikhalides, Jockey: Alberto Sanna H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA) Mon'nia (FR), Julian Smart, Tomas Lukasek Du Soleil clinch top honours H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (4YO P/A) Tarek Du Soleil (FR), Deborah Mountain, THE PENINSULA – DOHA Qatar Olympic Committee President, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani gestures after Faleh Bughanaim presenting His Excellency’s Rifle to Ali Bin Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah - representative of H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Noor Al Hawa, Mon’nia and Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned Noor Al Hawa. Trophy (P/A) Tarek Du Soleil yesterday Ateej (USA), Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento clinched top honours on the H H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Trophy (T/B) Thani Rifle Day by winning the Dominus (IRE), Stefano Ibido, Alberto Sanna feature races in the eventful H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani 29th Race Meeting at the Al Trophy (L T/B) Rayyan Park. Black Pearl (QA), Bader Al Balushi, Soufiane Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Saadi Al Hawa (FR) stormed to fourth H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani victory in a row, winning the H Trophy (3YO T/B) E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Soldierpoy (GB), Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Thani Rifle, with jockey Alberto Jason Watson Sanna getting a lucrative win in H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday’s final race. Trophy (T/B) The Georges Mikhalides- Izzthatright (IRE), Zuhair Mohsen, Marco trained 8YO horse recorded a Casamento length win over Hellenistique, Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup ridden by jockey Marco Casa- Khatafaynee (QA), Julian Smart, Tomas Lukasek mento in the $100,000 race to Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate pocket $57,000 with the Khanoor (QA), Zuhair Mohsen, Marco runners-up receiving $22,000. Casamento Seeyoubyme, with Ivan Rossi, 5YO mare defeated Al Naama, Thani Trophy – yesterday’s received $22,000 while team Trophy (P/A). There was also a in the saddle grabbed third spot helmed by Soufiane Saadi by 3L third feature race - after First Classs, who finished third, tough fight in the $40,000 H E for a prize purse of $11,000. to win $57,000. Team Al Naama defeating Hadjira De Flauzins got richer by $11,000. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright to win In yesterday’s penultimate bagged $22,000 for second - helmed by Casamento, who In first of yesterday’s several Thani Trophy (T/B), which saw in the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin feature race, Tomas Lukasek finish with team Ginkeau, sealed his hat-trick of title wins races offering $40,000 as prize Dominus (IRE), with Sanna in Hamad Al Thani Trophy to rode H E Sheikha Yasmeen bint steered by Sanna to third place earlier last evening. The Debbie money, jockey Casamento the saddle, taking the title with claim top prize of $22,800 in Mohammed bin Khalifa Al getting richer by $11,000. Mountain-trained and Eng. clinched first of his three titles a half-length win to bag top the $40,000 race. The Zuhair Thani’s Mon’nia to victory in Ridden by Faleh Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik- by guiding Jassim Ghazali- prize of $22,800. Mohsen-trained 9YO gelding $100,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Bughanaim, Tarek Du Soleil owned colt’s neck win lent the trained 8YO horse Ateej to Soufiane, teaming up with was in fine form as it outpaced Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 topped the $100,000 H E side a handsome winning purse ¼-length win at the H E Sheikh Black Pearl, registered thrilling Taxiwala, helmed by JP Guil- PA). The Julian Smart-trained Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al of $57,000. The runner-up side Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani 1/2 –length win in the 1850m lambert. Also yesterday, H H run victory to win the H E Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Sheikh J’oaan Bin Hamad Al Al Thani’s homebred Khata- Thani Trophy (L T/B). The Bader faynee clinched the Local Al Balushi-trained 5YO gelding Purebred Arabian Novice Cup lent his team a top prize of $22, defeating AJS Berline by a length 800 in the $40,000 in the 7f run to bag top prize in competition. the $20,000 race. Lukasek was There was success for Khalifa at the helm of 5YO horse trained Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Soldierpoy by Julian Colin Smart. too as the Jason Watson-rode In the $10,000 Local gelding recorded a neck win over Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate Thunderstone, ridden by Sanna, – yesterday’s first race – Ali bin to capture the $40,000 H E Thamer bin Ali Al Mehshadi’s Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani homebred Khanoor emerged Representatives of Tarek Du Soleil celebrate after their Jockey Alberto Sanna guiding Noor Al Hawa to win the H E Sheikh Joaan Trophy (3YO T/B). victorious with Casamento in H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani 4YO P/A victory. Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle (T/B). Earlier, Casamento rode the saddle. Al Duhail can reach FIFA Club World Cup final, says Ali Afif

THE PENINSULA – DOHA the ticket for FIFA Club World Cup Japan Duhail received a bye into the second 2011. round of Qatar 2020 when their first- Al Duhail star Ali Afif is ready to make his Though he missed Al Sadd’s 2-1 win round opponents Auckland City, pulled second appearance at the FIFA Club World over ES de Tunis and a 4-0 semi-final out due to the nation’s coronavirus in exactly a week, but with a different team defeat to Barcelona – Afif came on for the restrictions. this time. last 18 minutes of the match for third place Afif and Al Duhail will now face the The former Al Sadd player who made against host team Kashiwa Reysol, a game reigning African champions Al Ahly. his first appearance in the premier club com- Al Sadd won 5-3 on penalties. Afif told FIFA.com that Al Ahly is one of petition a decade ago, told FIFA.com that A month after his maiden FIFA Club the biggest sides in Africa, but Al Duhail will believes this time Al Duhail can do what his World Cup appearance, Afif joined Lekhwiya set their eyes beyond the February 4 clash previous team couldn't. Club, which later became Al Duhail SC. Since which will take place at the Education City “I’m delighted to be one of the few then, he has been playing a key role in his Stadium. Qatari players to play in the Club team's success, helping "They were named the continent’s club World Cup twice, which is not some- the club to win six of the 20th century. We’ll see what happens thing many players can say,” Afif told QNB Stars League against the African champions but it’s 11 FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. title. versus 11,” he added. “It’s always pleasing to Al Duhail's latest “If we beat Al Ahly, we’ll then play equal records but we’ve got title win came last Bayern Munich, but we have to face the the ability to reach the final season which African champions first. We have to prepare FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers: Qatar to and go one step eventually and focus on how to play them because further than Al Sadd earned them they’re a great side too,” Afif said. host 3 groups in February window did in 2011. We need a place at the Afif was part of the Qatar team that won a bit of luck to do that. FIFA Club the country’s first ever AFC Asian Cup title THE PENINSULA – DOHA And when it comes to World Cup in 2019 and now his aim is to use his expe- knockout matches you also Qatar rience and help his young Al Duhail team- The location of Group A games in the upcoming February window need to use your head some- 2020. mates make history. of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers has been changed to Doha. times,” Afif, brother of Al Sadd Al “I’d like to thank Al Sadd, Al Duhail and The FIBA Regional Office Asia yesterday confirmed the change star Akram, added. the Qatar Football Association for showing of the original venue - Clark, Philippines - to Qatari capital due Afif, aged 23 then, played faith in me and my football career. I’ll use all to the extension of the travel ban imposed by the Filipino author- an important role for Al Al Duhail's Ali Afif my experience for the good of the team. It ities. FIBA had earlier announced the change of Group B venue Sadd who won the AFC celebrates with a makes me really happy that the players are to Doha from Tokyo, Japan. Group E (Qatar, Iran, Syria and Saudi Champions League title team-mate in this proud of me and proud of having me by their Arabia) matches will also take place in Doha. The qualifiers will which helped them book file photo. side at Al Duhail,” Afif said. be held from February 17-23.