1996 - 2021 SILVER JUBILEE YEAR Minister of Upbeat Qatar Commerce and take on Industry meets ‘strong’ US Mayors Ireland Business | 01 Sport | 12 TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2021 17 SHA'ABAN - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8577 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Qatar, Congo sign several pacts in investment, trade Qatar and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign several agreements in the fields of promotion and protection of mutual investments, economic and commercial cooperation, avoidance of double taxation and prevention of financial evasion, maritime transport, air services etc. QNA — DOHA investments, a general agreement for economic and commercial cooperation, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al an agreement for the avoidance of Thani and President of the Democratic double taxation and the prevention of Republic of Congo and African Union financial evasion, an agreement in the Chairperson H E Felix Tshisekedi held field of maritime transport, in addition an official talks session at the Amiri to an agreement on air services. Diwan yesterday. The two sides also signed a mem- The session dealt with bilateral rela- orandums of understanding for the tions and ways to enhance and develop development and modernization of them, especially in the fields of maritime infrastructure, a memo- investment, economy, maritime and air randum of understanding between the transport and infrastructure, in addition governments of the State of Qatar and to ways to enhance and develop coop- the government of the Democratic eration between the State of Qatar and Republic of the Congo, a memorandum the African Union. of understanding in the field of civil During the session, views were aviation and meteorology, and a mem- exchanged on a number of regional and orandum of understanding between international issues of common Qatar Airways and the Democratic concern. Republic of the Congo. After the talks, H H the Amir and The session was attended by a H E the President witnessed the signing number of Their Excellencies the Min- Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and African Union Chairperson of a number of agreements and mem- isters. Their Excellencies members of H E Felix Tshisekedi witnessing the signing of an agreement at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. oranda of understanding between the the official delegation accompanying governments of the two countries, such the President also attended the session. reception ceremony was held for His luncheon banquet at the Amiri Diwan the accompanying delegation. The as the signing of an agreement on the The President arrived at the Amiri Excellency. in honour of the visiting President of banquet was attended by a number of promotion and protection of mutual Diwan earlier, where an official H H the Amir hosted yesterday a the Democratic Republic of Congo and Their Excellencies the Ministers. Qatar never hesitated to fulfil humanitarian duty: FM Amir and Saudi Crown Prince review QNA — DOHA international efforts aiming to facil- itate equitable access to vaccines, environment initiatives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister treatments and diagnostics for all of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh The exceptional circumstances the world is people around the world. QNA — DOHA Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al going through today threaten to undermine Based on its commitment to the Thani underlined that while the State the development gains achieved in the partnership with the international Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar attaches priority for main- past, and highlight the importance of community, the State of Qatar has held a telephone conversation with HRH Crown taining the health of all citizens and deepening interdependence between continued to provide initiatives and Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of residents, it continues its efforts at countries. contributions that alleviate the Defense of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the national level to address the burdens of common crises and H E Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al consequences of the coronavirus H E Sheikh Mohammed bin challenges. The State was keen on Saud. pandemic and it has not hesitated to Abdulrahman Al Thani allocating a large part of its devel- During the phone call which H H the Amir fulfil its role and humanitarian duty opment aid to the developing coun- received from HRH Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, at the regional and international level. tries and the least developed coun- the two sides reviewed the fraternal relations Addressing the virtual Meeting of tries, the Deputy Prime Minister and between the two countries and means of sup- Heads of State and Government on Minister of Foreign Affairs added. porting and enhancing them. the International Debt Architecture governmental and non-governmental Health Organisation on March 16, 2021 He said that the exceptional cir- They also reviewed the “Saudi Green Initiative” and Liquidity and Financing for the aid which the State of Qatar has pro- in recognition of its pioneering role, cumstances the world is going and the “Green Middle East Initiative” announced Development in the Era of COVID-19 vided since the beginning of the pan- aiming at supporting its 13th General through today threaten to by HRH the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi and Beyond, hosted by Canada, H E demic reached more than $256m. Program of Work and the Access to undermine the development gains Arabia, as well as the importance of joint action Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman In this context, Deputy Prime Min- COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator ini- achieved in the past, and highlight to meet the environmental challenges that the Al Thani said that the State of Qatar ister and Minister of Foreign Affairs tiative. In addition, Qatar allocated a the importance of deepening inter- region is going through. has offered urgent medical aid to noted that the State of Qatar signed a total contribution of $20m to the dependence between countries and H H the Amir expressed the State of Qatar’s about 88 countries to help them con- Core Contribution Agreement Global Alliance for Vaccines and adhering to the principle of coop- support for these initiatives and all efforts that front the pandemic, noting that the amounts to $10m with the World Immunization (Gavi) to support the eration and partnership. `P2 would achieve their goals. Gender equality and female UK variant a significant factor in recent ICU admission surge empowerment central to FAZEENA SALEEM Acting Chairman of HMC’s and said that vaccines being can therefore increase the rate THE PENINSULA Intensive Care Units. used in Qatar have been shown of spread of the virus though the He added: “To put this into to be effective at preventing community,” said the Ministry Qatar’s vision, success: GCO Health officials at the Ministry perspective, at the peak of the severe symptoms due to the UK on its twitter account. of Public Health (MoPH) and first wave in May 2020, we had variant. “Due to this highly trans- THE PENINSULA — DOHA aspects of life, including eco- Hamad Medical Corporation around 220 patients in intensive Qatar, like more than 70 missible element, the UK nomic and political decision (HMC) have said that the UK care. It is clear that people are countries around the world and variant has contributed to the Gender equality and female making. Qatar leads the region COVID-19 variant has been a becoming sicker and experi- in the region, is now seeing recent significant increase in empowerment are central to by nearly every gender equality significant factor in the recent encing more severe symptoms many cases of the new variant cases in Qatar,” it added. Qatar’s success and vision. indicator. rise in people admitted to in this second wave of the virus.” from the UK. According to the Ministry, Qatar is an outspoken advocate "This includes the highest intensive care units. In a separate post on “This new UK variant does clinical evidence appears to now for women’s rights at home and labour force participation rate In a post on social media, Twitter, MoPH has clarified not cause different symptoms in show that the UK variant can abroad, the Government for women, equal pay in the Director of Public Health at several facts about the UK infected people, but it is much cause more severe illness, Communications Office (GCO) government sector, and the MOPH, Dr. Mohammed Al Thani variant of the COVID-19 virus more highly transmissible and meaning that people infected with statement said yesterday in highest percentage of women explained that despite the the UK variant are more likely to response to Human Rights enrolled in university increased health risks pre- get very sick, require hospitali- Watch. programmes.” sented by the UK variant, DespiteDeespspitite thethhe increasedinncrc eaeasesed healthheheala thh risksrissksks presentedprereseentntede zation and, sadly, have more The Human Rights Watch “Education is the basis for people can still take proactive byby tthehee UUKK vavvariant,aririana t,t, ppeopleeooplp e caccanan sststillilill tattakeakeke chance of dying due to serious report inaccurately portrays equal opportunity and devel- steps to protect themselves and prpproactiveroaactctivve stsstepstepeps toto pprotectror teectct tthemselves.heh msmselelvev s.s complications from the virus. Qatar’s laws, policies and prac- opment. Qatar has invested greatly reduce their chances of “The two COVID-19 vac- tices related to women. The heavily to ensure all women getting infected and becoming Since the middle of cines being used in Qatar – accounts mentioned in the have access to quality edu- sick. March, the number Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna report are not aligned with our cation and opportunities in all “Since the middle of March, of people receiving — have both been shown to be Constitution, laws or policies. sectors, especially STEM the number of people receiving life-saving medical effective at preventing severe The government will inves- industries.