MARCH 9, 1996 - 2021 Qatari media leaders laud The Peninsula’s achievements CELEBRATING

H E Sheikh Hamad bin H E Sheikh Abdulrahman Thamir Al Thani bin Hamad Al Thani Chairman - Qatar Media Chief Executive Officer of Corporation Qatar Media Corporation 25 years of great A reliable source journalism for readers

The content The YEARS The Peninsula has always Peninsula produced delivered its outstanding over a quarter of a news coverage to its century has always audience, drawing on the adhered to the An ideal platform for all free media environment standards of provided by the wise journalism of quality: he launch of The content, continuous leadership of the State of impartiality, accuracy, Peninsula newspaper improvement in Qatar. and balance. on the 9th of March, 25 production, and through its years ago, was an ability to respond to the he Peninsula is a renowned t gives me great pleasure to Timportant event and a correct needs of readers, their media platform that has extend to our colleagues in decision taken by the "Dar Al trends, tendencies and contributed to consolidating "The Peninsula" sincere Sharq Group" under the interests in various the nation’s progress. congratulations as you leadership of the group's political, economic, sports TWhile The Peninsula is marking its celebrateI another milestone in your Chairman at the time, His and cultural fields. 25th anniversary of foundation, the history. Excellency Sheikh Thani bin The Peninsula was newspaper has always provided its Over the past 25 years, The Abdullah Al Thani, may Allah launched in 1996, with information services for its Peninsula offered great journalism protect him. slogan of ‘Local Focus, audience in English, thereby to its readers of the English speaking The Peninsula has proven, Global Vision’, an community in Qatar and outside. through its media role and ability Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani approach that touches the cementing its position as a prominent Your newspaper depicted an to carry the media and national reality of the cultural diversity platform for communication with our enlightening image of Qatar and I message and take the position it bin Abdullah Al Thani of the Qatari society today, development partners from various am sure you will continue to do so in deserves as one of the leading Chairman of the Board of and the fact that the Anglophone communities in the State the future. Qatari newspapers, that the Directors of Dar Al Sharq Group demographic composition of of Qatar. The content The Peninsula decision of its establishment was Qatar, which today embodies The Peninsula has always produced over a quarter of a a correct decision based on an a miniature map of the global delivered its outstanding news century has always adhered to the insightful future vision and a demography, with all its coverage to its audience, drawing on standards of journalism of quality: sound reading of what the cultural, ethnic and linguistic the free media environment provided As Chairman of Dar impartiality, accuracy, and balance. country would witness in terms diversity and The Peninsula by the wise leadership of Qatar. Al-Sharq Group, I am I have no doubt that The of comprehensive developments remains the melting pot for all The newspaper has become a confident that the role Peninsula, whether in print or in fields of economy and urban this diversity, and a platform reliable source for its readers, as it played by The Peninsula online form, will exceed renaissance that is today have for all. has reported local and global news newspaper today, along expectations over the years to come. become living reality in our Since the ambition has no with a high level of professionalism, with its sister Wishing you all the best of country. limits to which it can stand, I and that its social media platforms newspapers - Al Sharq, success and prosperity! As Chairman of Dar look forward to seeing The have demonstrated its potential for Al Arab and Lusail - Al-Sharq Group, I am Peninsula newspaper achieve rapid news dissemination, which confident that the role played constitutes a very more progress and prosperity draw the admiration of its followers. by The Peninsula newspaper important media work. in the coming years, Allah The Peninsula offered The Peninsula will continue to today, along with its sister willing, and that its effort is not great journalism to its newspapers - Al Sharq, Al media vision it carries on limited to preserving its deliver the best information services readers of the English Arab and Lusail - constitutes a behalf of Qatar to the outside accomplishments and with the highest editorial standards to speaking community in very important media work, world. celebrate its silver jubilee, but its readers, and that it will keep up with Qatar and outside. Your and its role as an English The respect and rather to enhance its position the modern technological advances in newspaper depicted an langauge newspaper is appreciation that The and role in the Qatari, Gulf order to utilize them to enhance the enlightening image of inevitable; in particular if we Peninsula newspaper enjoys and international arena, quality of media production, ensuring Qatar and I am sure you look at its position and mission has only been achieved under a prosperous country prompt access to the information for its will continue to do so in within the renaissance the through concerted efforts, that enjoys security, peace and followers as well as meeting their the future. country is witnessing, and the innovation and creativity in stability. needs and aspirations.

Striving tirelessly for excellence and setting new milestones

will not hesitate to mention the Peninsula, and for the sake of truth in Qatar, a fact that made the communicate and provide ideas qualitative leaps achieved by (to tell the truth), I got unlimited newspaper the best choice for that help in developing work and The Peninsula Newspaper supports from the incumbents readers and advertisers. improving the quality of content to since start of its publication 25 (predecessors), and on top of them Today, The Peninsula achieve further progress. Iyears ago, specifically on March 9, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin newspaper is considered as an Our slogan is that ambition has 1996, in the field of journalism; its Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of important source of reliable and no limits, so we will work towards balanced steps towards progress to Board of Directors, who deserves credible news, correct information achieving more progress and media reach the peak of excellence. credit for what the newspaper has and coverage of news related to excellence. Journalism generally is known accomplished, through his guidance entities and individuals, and this The Peninsula will remain as a tough profession, but at the and sharing ideas from time to time. has earned it immense respect of objective in its presentation without Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi same time it is profession of To be transparent, frank and readers. bias in its coverage, and this will persistence where people search without exaggeration, The All these were not possible remain its approach, and let this Editor-in-Chief for truth. It is loved by those Peninsula newspaper has now without hard work, efforts, determination be a shining torch in journalists who learned and become the number one among planning and perseverance over the sky of excellence, success and The Peninsula like any understood the profession, and English newspapers in terms of its the past years. The time has come distinction. other daily strives to place enjoy getting exclusives reports. local news coverage, exclusive to reap the fruits of those efforts, as On this occasion, I extend my itself at the forefront, The Peninsula like any other stories and scoops. Thanks to Allah, the newspaper is ranked as a top thanks, appreciation and great daily strives to place itself at the that the newspaper is competitor to publication among newspapers in gratitude to all those who have thanks to the efforts of its forefront, thanks to the efforts of its local Arab newspapers in covering the State of Qatar. made great efforts to bring this team and leadership for team and leadership for years. It local news and its We renew our emphasis to newspaper to this level of years. It has been has been positioned in the place it comprehensiveness. continue to excel, innovate and advancement, especially my positioned in the place it deserves, and has become a well This is in addition to the further develop its editorial and colleagues, former Editors in-Chief deserves, and has become respected publication among its newspaper’s website and its artistic aspects, hoping to be at the and former and current journalists. a well respected sister English newspapers. applications on social media, which expectations of our readers. We Our march towards further publication among its I have entered into my sixth occupies top slot among news invite readers and admirers of The progress and excellence in all forms year as Editor in-chief of The websites in both Arabic and English Peninsula to constantly will continue. sister English newspapers. 1996 2021 CELEBRATING Former editors-in-chief share experience We renew our determination on this occasion

oday, we are Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al plague the print media celebrating the 25th Thani, realised. industry. anniversary of The Our decision was based on On this occasion, I can Peninsula newspaper, providing readers with the only renew my thanks and Twhich is published by Dar option of obtaining news and appreciation to the readers, Al-Sharq and its first edition information from reliable first and then to the Board of was released on March 9, 1996. sources in Qatar. Directors of Dar Al-Sharq for We wrote in its first issue Today, as we celebrate their continuous support, and that the decision to launch the keeping pace with this then to all the former and paper was to keep pace with development under the era of current journalists, YEARS the economic development the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim technicians and that the Father Amir, H H bin Hamad Al Thani, we administrators working in the renew our determination to newspaper, as they have Our decision was based on providing readers continue presenting new and provided a lot to enable with the option of obtaining news and useful things to our readers to obtain a distinguished readers despite distinguished newspaper in Abdul Latif Abdullah Al Mahmoud information from reliable sources in Qatar. the great obstacles that all aspects. CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group

A word of truth A proud history in my

n the twenty-fifth I wish The Peninsula and its journalism career anniversary of The team all success, as it Peninsula newspaper, I am applies scientific still remember pleased to express my foundations of publishing, when the Ogreat happiness at great while preserving the General development the newspaper has sobriety and frankness of Director of Dar made in its editorial and directorial the news that it publishes, Al-SharqI told me spheres; where Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi is for the satisfaction of the that he chose the leading The Peninsula with efficiency noble reader, and to convey name ‘The and capability, positioning the daily the true picture of what is Peninsula’ for the in the right place among media happening in the Qatari new English outlets in the State of Qatar and the society. newspaper that the world. He also did many efforts and Dar Al-Sharq was with perseverance developed the Dr. Ahmed Abdulmalik Peninsula delivers much such planning to publish, website of the newspaper. category of intelligent readers, their which I felt was Former Editor-in-Chief The memory takes me to the year discernment and culture. difficult to write in Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud 1999, when The Peninsula was taking The Peninsula has created a English without the first steps, and it was at the age accordance to the target community unique language in its handling of making errors, Former Editor-in-Chief of three years and its Editor-in-Chief and culture. events, making it the first English because in my took necessary measures to fully The direct expressions of English newspaper in Qatar. opinion it was a long Years passed, and by equip it, and make all arrangements language and less metaphoric usage I wish The Peninsula and its team name and a bit Allah's will, I became that any fledgling newspaper needs! of words and linguistic enhancers all success, as it applies scientific difficult to its Editor-in-Chief in I can say that dealing with a press makes the Editor-in-chief more foundations of publishing, while pronounce. 1997 and served until team in a language other than Arabic accurate, thanks to Allah, all these preserving the sobriety and Years passed, and is very different from dealing with requirements are available in the frankness of the news that it by Allah's will, I 2001, alongside my Arabic speaking team in an Arabic personality of my colleague Dr. publishes, for the satisfaction of the became its Editor-in- position as Editor-in- newspaper, taking into account the Khalid Al-Shafi. Not to mention that noble reader, and to convey the true Chief in 1997 and Chief of Al-Sharq differences in concepts and usage of the audience of The Peninsula is picture of what is happening in the served until 2001, newspaper. This vocabularies and terms in selective, and the messages that The Qatari society. alongside my position means that I was as Editor-in-Chief of running the English Al-Sharq newspaper. newspaper ‘The This means that I was running the English Peninsula’ and an newspaper ‘The Arabic daily at the We showed the world that Peninsula’ and an same time. It was a Arabic daily at the difficult matter, but it Qatar has a free press same time. It was a shaped my journalistic difficult task, but it experience. shaped my he Peninsula is worked as a family, delving journalistic experience. experience as well. The celebrating 25 years of deep into new ideas and stories. Dealing with two newspaper gained its own journalism. It’s an We had our finger on the pulse newspapers in two readers and followers important milestone, of readers. different languages for who continued to be loyal Tan occasion for pride and joy. It I was particular about different audiences, run to it with the passage of has also been a remarkable keeping the entire focus on by journalists of different days and years. journey in that journalism has local stories. We brought out a nationalities and different Now we are marking changed a lot in these two- Saturday special, which was Khalid Al Sayed cultures, was a great the 25th anniversary of and-a-half decades. very popular. We would choose challenge. I learned an The Peninsula as the Personally, it fills me with an important topic and do an Former Editor-in-Chief important thing at that time, memories pass quickly to pride that I was part of this long in-depth analysis of this subject which is that an official recall friends, journalists, journey of the newspaper. The on Saturday, running into two must carefully choose his problems, meetings, seven years I spent in the paper pages, talking to a broad I was particular about keeping assistants as they are the anger and joy, all of as editor-in-chief was one of spectrum of experts. the entire focus on local stories. ones who will lift the work which have passed and the best in my career – a period We also published a We brought out a Saturday pressure from and will will continue to be part of of self-discovery, learning, stylebook for The Peninsula, special, which was very make decisions on his the lives of its workers. experimentation and growth. I which was the first time a popular. We would choose an behalf. My greetings and worked with a team of highly newspaper in Qatar had done so. important topic and do an A group of young respect to everyone who talented and experienced Those were days when in-depth analysis of this subject people successively founded the newspaper, journalists who were excited online journalism was catching worked for the managed it, and worked about taking the newspaper up. We focused on promoting on Saturday, running into two newspaper, and they for it as all of them have forward. We showed the world the website, too, making it one pages, talking to a broad added a lot to it and the formed a history that they that Qatar had a free press. We of the best in the region. spectrum of experts. daily added to their should be proud of.

A newspaper that serves all segments of society

he Peninsula represents a The Peninsula's coverage The Peninsula's coverage of local works tirelessly to make The big journalism family and reflects local issues, communities compared to other Peninsula a great Qatari media a milestone in my social issues, and English newspapers and other organization and have contributed journalism journey. I non-Arabic languages. generously to its developments. exclusive articles on Tserved The Peninsula as editor-in- The Peninsula's coverage This is why The Peninsula is very chief before obtaining my PhD, public opinion. I wrote reflects local issues, social issues, close to my heart. and I resumed the same position articles for the opinion and exclusive articles on public We are happy to see that The after that. page of The Peninsula opinion. I wrote articles for the Peninsula will celebrate its Silver I am lucky to have led the during my service. opinion page of The Peninsula Jubilee. newspaper twice. Due to an Though I no longer work during my service. Though I no I wish for the newspaper's eight-year gap between my first with the newspaper, I longer work with the newspaper, I further success and for our great and second term, I worked with still contribute pieces still contribute pieces regularly family to keep serving those non- different staff, so I benefited in and on special occasions. I want Arabic speakers by providing regularly and on special Dr. Khalid Al Jaber both periods. to be connected with my big reliable and accurate information Perhaps what distinguishes occasions. I want to be family, The Peninsula. about the latest developments in Former Editor-in-Chief The Peninsula from other non- connected with my big The newspaper has made the Qatari society. Arabic newspapers is its Qatari family, The Peninsula. great leaps, and I would like to I want to thank everyone and touch. This newspaper does not thank the leaders who have those who have contributed to serve English speakers only, but contributed to the publication's making this daily a successful all segments of the society. it to address public opinion and value. newspaper that keeps pace with The newspaper has evolved relevant issues in the Qatari Besides, the staff from different the country’s rapid progress and over the years, which has enabled society. There's a big difference in nationalities and backgrounds development. MARCH 9, 1996 - 2021

Delivering credible CELEBRATING local news to readers he local reporting section functions as an essential link in the chain of news gathering and presentation in The Peninsula newspaper. Reporters are the face of the newspaperT to the readers, news-makers, and other stakeholders in Qatar and the region. Though saddled with a huge responsibility, the local news collection has seen its steady rise. Things took a turn for the better when Dr. Khalid Bin Mubarak Al-Shafi took over as the Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula in September 2015. His policies saw the newspaper evolve more towards its vision with a ‘Local focus, Global vision’. The local news section changed tremendously, the reporters increased, and their duties were redefined to unlock editorial potentials. The mix of bilingual reporters also aids the newspaper in its uniqueness. The front page of Reporting Arabic-themed events and programmes our first edition on TV and the radio creates a link between Arabic YEARS speakers and non-speakers. Besides, the diverse blend of journalists from different parts of the world arch 9, 1996, witnessed the birth of The facilitates access to the various communities in Qatar. Peninsula at a very significant period in the The reporting style also changed, and The country’s history. As the first ever editorial Peninsula channeled its reporting more towards on the front page read: “Qatar stands at the The paper’s nerve centre unearthing interesting local stories (features), making beginningM of a new age of prosperity and freedom.” a strong presence in the community. In the last five With the slogan “Helping You Make Sense of Your he General Desk of any several times depending on the years, by establishing their contacts at ministries, World” The Peninsula then promised not only to report newspaper is the nerve latest stories and updates. They diplomatic missions, various government and private news but “put value on it, helping (readers) give meaning centre of action. By the have to strictly follow the policy of institutions, The Peninsula has broken significant to the age (they) live in.” afternoon, after the editorial the newspaper, editing each copy exclusive interviews, bringing information closer to “It is our aim to become a vital part of the community staffT come into office it gradually to accommodate important and Qatar’s citizens and residents. of Qatar. We shall do that by providing you with a breadth becomes a beehive of activities, relevant points and details as much Also, the scope of work for news reporters of local reporting which will make The Peninsula essen- which will continue until the entire as possible, so that the readers get expanded from news collecting to page making and tial reading each morning,” the editorial added. edition goes to press for printing. a clear idea of what is happening editing to help them polish their skills. The very first issue of The Peninsula carried a front The staff in this section has a busy around them. Giving headline is a With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on the horizon, page lead story with the headline ‘Summit is last chance schedule everyday racing against major challenge as it plays the most and as Doha emerges as a global hub for sports, cultural, for peace’ on an important event shaping the future of the time to meet different deadlines for important role in making a reader to and knowledge exchange and becoming an international region. each page. go through the report. platform for political dialogue, the local reporting section’s ‘Wearing car seatbelts likely to be made compulsory’ Their main job includes copy Hence, if the headline is not role and duties also expanded. The day-to-day reporting and ‘QR2.3bn loan to fund gas projects’ were among the tasting (reading reports and deciding catchy, it will not be appealing to became more demanding and challenging, but the local other stories that appeared on the front page of the inau- on which one should be published the reader. Another task is editing reporting section delivers credible news to the readers. gural edition of The Peninsula. and what can be of low or no interest each report to avoid mistakes, Since the beginning of 2020, journalists worldwide have It has been a quarter of a century since the first issue to its targeted readership), selection unwanted words, grammar faced unprecedented challenges reporting the COVID-19 of The Peninsula was published. Its banner and layout of pictures, designing the page, correction, polishing and simplifying outbreak accurately and safely. Journalists at The Peninsula may have evolved from the first time it graced the news- displaying stories according to the language. After a page is made, were not immune to the situation. They faced the once- stands of Qatar, the extent of its coverage might have priority, editing and giving catchy several people such as proof reader, in-a-generation test with interpreting the scientific data, taken a new direction but it continues to live up to its headlines. For each sub-editor designer, section head etc. will check telling human stories, and creating public awareness. promise, and more. under their section head, it is a daily it and make necessary corrections As with any major breaking news story, a journalist’s With its current slogan “Local focus, Global vision”, challenge to do all these because if and finally after cleared by the first instinct is to find accurate information. In a sea of ‘Qatar’s Daily Newspaper’ remains true to the prom- they miss something they will be Managing Editor each page goes misinformation and misleading news, the local reporting ise it made 25 years ago of a “fair, balanced and objective made answerable the next day. back to the production to begin the section at The Peninsula is determined to report the right reporting” . They may do and redo a page printing process. information based on facts gathered from reliable sources.

The Peninsula staff during a group photo session with the Editor-in-chief Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi. 1996 2021 At the pinnacle of glory CELEBRATING

he Peninsula turns 25 and Ranjit Bhaskar, to name a took over as the Editor-in-Chief of today. It is a profound few. Many left shores for a better The Peninsula on September 14, moment for everyone. opportunity later but some stayed 2015. He joined the newspaper with A moment of happiness for long years. Each of them played the task of turning around a news- andT pride for all. The newspa- the role assigned to them with paper that existed in the market per underwent many changes their unique skills and efficiency. for years but few people knew. He ever since its launch by Dar Al Malcom Ward was followed by gave a facelift to the newspaper Sharq Group on March 9, 1996. George Abraham, a gem of a per- with a new approach. The achievements of the former son with an always-welcoming Employees who completed 18 Editors-in-Chief — Nasser Al Oth- persona, extending a helping hand years with The Peninsula were man, Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, Dr. to all and excellent communica- given Certificate of Excellence. It Ahmed Abdulmalik, Abdul Latif tion skills. With the need to target Mohammed Salim Mohamed was a moment of achievement, a Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Khalid the growing school-going student Acting Managing Editor recongnition of years of hardwork YEARS Al Sayed and Dr. Khalid Al Jaber, population, The Peninsula Young and dedication for the employees and their efforts to prop up the Editors came into being. Many new who received the award. newspaper during their time are faces joined the newspaper during made and sent. It was during his The Peninsula was the first to latter briefed the them about the evolution of the commendable. Each of them was his stint, some of whom still exist. time that weekend investigative publish two special supplements newspaper to its present stage, and the function- distinct in their own vision, way After his departure, Bala Chan- reports, written by the late Mobin on a monthly basis. TRAVEL & ing of the various sections. The online section and style. dran took the helm, to be followed Pandit, and Mohamad Iqbal on TOURISM was published for more saw expansion. The strength of the section was Looking back at the years gone by Parvez Khusro. It was during many issues made raves and was than three years until the blockade increased. Attention to every detail was reviewed by, very few have had the privilege the time of Rachel Morris that the popular among the readers. Oasis emerged, and PUBLIC HEALTH and implemented. Coverage of local news and to work with stalwarts, The Penin- newspaper introduced the graphic gave way and re-emerged as Doha has been continuing to date. In events, and global news increased. The Photogra- sula has ever seen. Here is a brief element in pages. The weekend Today. The online section was at its fact, during the early days of phers did their part by sending live coverages of overview of what I can recollect editions were four different sec- infancy during the time. COVID-19, The Peninsula was the all events. The Peninsula started receiving more from the time I joined the newspa- tions, including Oasis, a tabloid Supplements were the main- first to publish a special supple- hits and thus became the talk of the town in just per on August 15, 1997. special. stay of The Peninsula. The ment only on the pandemic. The a few months. Doha Today was revived to cater Malcolm Ward was the first After Khalid Al Sayed took the Advertisement Department led newspaper, has through the years, to needs of the diverse community. Also Pen Jun- Managing Editor. The team he helm, Parvez Khusro again took by Ali Wahba in the early years, covered all news related to coro- ior, a children's magazine, was launched, the first had was stellar. Mathew Lynch, charge for a brief period followed and later by Sushil Menon and his navirus, local and international, issue coming out in March 2020. Abdul Mannan, Ashok Dutta, Ravi by Hussian Ahmad. In the initial team to date gave the newspaper more than any other newspaper in Last but not the least, I take pride in prov- Kumar, Ashwin Honawar, Moiz year, a back office was started in enough revenues in the form of Ads Qatar, a feat unmatched. ing my loyalty and dedication in whatever roles I Mannan, the late Mobin Pan- Manila, Philippines, which was in the main newspaper as well as Dr. Al-Shafi maintained have been assigned with, in The Peninsula. dit (Let the Almighty rest his soul later shut down. This was fol- the many supplements it did almost excellent rapport with all embas- The Peninsula thanks all its readers and in peace), Roy George, Viswanath lowed by a similar back office in every month of any given year. sies. Many Ambassadors called advertisers for their trust, support and loyalty all Sarma, Ramaswamy, Sebastian, Mumbai where some pages were Dr. Khalid Bin Mubarak Al-Shafi on him at his office, where the through these years. On a mission to serve the Tracing the trail of evolution he Peninsula is passing support and media freedom nation and the readers a memorable milestone became a reality. today on the auspicious The Peninsula has always he first issue of The Peninsula occasion of its silver jubi- been keen on reports about the newspaper was published on lee.T There is, of course, much to monumental developments and this day 25 years ago, and many celebrate, but it is also an occasion progress that Qatar has been wit- journalists working today have to trace back the steps the news- nessing under the wise leadership witnessedT the publication of first edition. paper has taken throughout the in the country whether in the field Throughout these years each one of them last 25 years witnessing tremen- of diplomacy, education, health has added something to the building block dous changes and developments sector, infrastructure, sports or foundation which was laid on March 9, in the way news is imparted, stu- entertainment. 1996, to reach what the paper has obtained pendous progress in every field Roy George We are proud of creating new now in terms of progress and achieve- that Qatar has been achieving and Head of Editorial Section paths in professionalism traversing ments that make everyone proud of his/her the eventful years the world has the uncharted territories in news contribution. been witnessing. gathering and publishing, intro- The story of the development of the Mohammed Osman Ali As a member of the launch typesetting department. Then the ducing its readers to some areas for peninsula has kept pace with the economic Deputy Managing Editor team of The Peninsula, it gives me so-called ‘text-inputters’ used the first time in Qatar. development and the comprehensive ren- great joy and satisfaction when to type-set the copies, after that The newspaper ensured that aissance witnessed by the State of Qatar local news desk and business desk, were I look back to those days toiling it is the turn of the proof-read- it changed with passing times, by in the past 25 years. This proves that the established separately, and a bureau for in the office 12 hours on an aver- ers with their prying eyes to por sporting a new look time to time project of the newspaper then was right online news was established with provi- age everyday and burning a lot of over the copies to weed out mis- and carrying contents worthy of decision necessary to the market needs sion of necessary manpower and technical midnight oil every day and night takes. The corrected copies saved reading and social changes. The and the social and economic changes that support. to make a dream come true. After electronically, go back to the news readers trusted the The Peninsula accompanied the comprehensive develop- This was a necessary step in light of all the arduous preparations, there desk, where the sub-editors flow for breaking news, views, anal- ment of the country. the great importance that modern media came the dawn of the March 9, them on to the page, all done using ysis and features, and the paper Like other important projects that are and social media are enjoying, due to their 1996 with the first copies of the state-of-the-art Apple Macintosh offered them whatever they were planned to achieve long term targets, The ability to provide breaking news, and easy newspaper, a trend-setter which computers. looking for following the daily’s Peninsula has set its sights on specific goals access at any moment. All these features set new standards of journalism By the end of the last century strict layout and content pol- and objectives, to convey the media and do not exist in traditional media. in Qatar. came the electronic transmis- icy. The newspaper’s focus has national message. The newspaper has con- The role of journalists covering events Over the last two and a half sion of news and photos form wire always been Qatar, with the front stantly witnessed re-launching to appear has also been strengthened, in line with decades, the newspaper industry agencies and the reports filed by page carrying the most relevant with a new design and style, improve qual- the qualitative and quantitative increase in has undergone gigantic revolu- local reporters also turned elec- local reports every day and six to ity of content, and meet evolving needs and local news coverage. tion. The advent of the Internet tronic making the sub-editors seven inside pages dedicated to demands of its readers. Although the number of staff has and other IT tools and means life easy and sending the ticker the happenings inside the country. As an English newspaper in an Arab reduced compared to previous years, the revolutionised everything and machines and picture scanners to At the same time, it satisfied the country, where most of its news are in Ara- quality of work and achievements accom- the far-sighted management of the archives. demands from its vast readership bic, it needed professionals not only to plished indicate the efficiency of the staff The Peninsula has been quick to Dar Al Sharq, the publishers hailing from different parts of the compete with rivals, but also understand working in it. Numbers are not always a embrace and adopt every new of The Peninsula, has always been world with enough news reports the details of the multicultural and social big hurdle or a condition for success, but developments in the media field. keen on introducing every new and events coverage from their environment in which the daily serves to rather effectiveness of administration sys- I still fondly remember the technology in Qatar and with the countries. respect the values, customs and traditions tem and policies applied are key element, initial days, when we used to best press in the country, it could From 2016 onwards, The of society. Having bilingual journalists was and what the newspaper has achieved come to the office in the morn- give its readers a modern, easy on Peninsula was more keen on its also an advantage that benefited the news- during the past five years is the best proof ing and swim into the long paper the eyes reading experience. local coverage ensuring its read- paper and gave it flexibility and ability to to this. trail spewed out by several ticker With its crop of professional ers never missed any event, big or access news in various languages from dif- Journalism is a tiring profession as machines (teleprinters), carry- journalists, who enjoyed enough small, happening in Qatar. Under ferent sources. readers await every day new develop- ing reports from every corner freedom and support from the the current Editor-in-Chief Dr. During the past five years, the news- ments different from what they have been of the world. The first job every- management and Editors-in-chief Khalid Al-Shafi, The Peninsula paper witnessed a qualitative leap in many serviced before. It is also an interesting day was to cut the copies and keep who were at the helm of the news- always strived, and still does, to be aspects under its Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Kha- profession, because everyday journalists them in separate folders for each papers at different times, set new a true Qatari newspaper published led Al Shafi. Organisationally, its divisions stand for this challenge and meet these page of the paper. By the evening, standards of journalism in the in English, not an English newspa- were restructured, sections were split needs of different readers and thus con- the news desk transforms into a country with indepth, true-to- per published in Qatar making it a and new ones were established and staff tribute to the knowledge and the process busy beehive with several profes- the fact and balanced reporting newspaper with Local focus and reshuffled to get rid of administrative slack of nation building. The Peninsula under- sionals manually tasting, editing and coverage. The authorities of Global vision, as its slogan on the and improve productivity. Two sections, stands this mission very well. and sending the copies to the the country also extended enough masthead says. The Peninsula sports desk — playing to win! rom covering a lively football league in prominence to Beckham, or detailing the rise of Qatari sports hosting the football’s showpiece event next year. the mid-90s to keeping track of a hand- domestic sports stars like rally king Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah I was there when Qatar first announced its ful of international events on the Qatar events and read- or track and field king Mutaz Barshim, I have bid in March 2009 and cherish being there in that sports calendar, The Peninsula sports ers in Qatar a savoured every bit of this amazing journey. seminal moment to report on the historic FIFA pagesF — since the newspaper’s launch in March new perspec- The Peninsula remains the only newspaper vote in Zurich in December 2010 that announced 1996 — have always provided what the readers tive in terms of to exclusively cover the Olympic Games, FIFA that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. aspired to read — something different, some- insight. From events, tennis Grand Slams, golf majors and The Peninsula sports desk has met the chal- thing fresh, something insightful. three or four Formula One races to name a few and I have lenge of covering just about every event taking It has been a privilege to have been part of pages at first, had the singular honour of crisscrossing the place on Qatari soil for more than two decades this amazing journey since 1998. The same for- The Peninsula continents to report on all these events. with a simple journalistic formula — provid- mula of sports coverage continues even after a has also pro- To cover the Doha Asian Games in 2006, I ing news to people about their favourite teams quarter century of publication though the style duced a daily headed a team of 12 reporters and a separate and players. As they say, following sports is eve- format on The Peninsula’s sports pages have Rizwan Rehmat 8-page sports team of page-makers to capture the spotlight ryone’s business. The Peninsula sports desk undergone a sea change with coverage extend- Head of Sport Section pullout in the on Qatar’s capital city for more than two vigor- continues to do what it has always done — recap ing to nearly a 100 domestic and international years gone by. ous weeks in December that year. With the 2022 the previous day’s glorious sports moment in events taking place in Qatar every year. Whether it is interviews with global sports icons FIFA World Cup less than two years away, The fine print and it has been extremely rewarding Over the last decade, The Peninsula’s sports like tennis star Roger Federer, MotoGP leg- Peninsula continues to archive the country’s as Sports Editor to have overseen this amazing coverage has provided slick page layouts, giving end Valentino Rossi or soccer superstar David amazing journey that began in March 2009 to journey. Hamad Port Bautista Agut, wins award Gasquet clear for Economic first hurdles in Diversification Doha

Business | 01 Sport | 12

TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 25 RAJAB - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8556 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS

Qatar tops global Internet Amir receives verbal message from adoption list with 99% users Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques AYENI OLUSEGUN Some 2.88 million Internet users were recorded THE PENINSULA in Qatar in January 2021, an increase of 29,000 between 2020 and 2021. Qatar has ranked number one globally in Internet Adoption according to ‘The Global State Hootsuite report says Qatar has 2.87 million of Digital 2021’ report released social media users, equivalent to 98.8% of the by Hootsuite. The report total population as of January 2021. features in-depth profiles of more than 230 countries and Broadband connections ranging from 3G to 5G territories around the world. covers 87 percent of the population. With a population of 2.91 million in January 2021, over 99 percent of Qatar’s popu- Qatar’s mobile connections increased by 35,000 lation live in urban areas, and between January 2020 and January this year. 2.88 million Internet users were recorded in Qatar in January 2021, an increase of 29,000 the population use pre-paid ranked among the top five between 2020 and 2021, the connections, while fewer than countries globally in 2020 and report said. 29 percent use post-paid con- has won several laurels in Other countries with 99% nections. Broadband connec- Information and Communica- Internet adoption include tions ranging from 3G to 5G tions Technology (ICT) in 2020. Bahrain, Iceland, Kuwait, covers 87 percent of the One of the main highlights Norway, and the UAE. population. was the recognition by the The Hootsuite report also Meanwhile, Google Chrome World Economic Forum. In Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs H H Prince Faisal stated that Qatar has 2.87 recorded a 68.3 percent share December last year, the country bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, yesterday. million social media users, of web traffic, a year-on-year was ranked second in the Arab equivalent to 98.8 percent of increase of 8.6 percent, the world and ninth globally in ICT QNA — DOHA and international develop- Mosques to H H the Amir, the total population as of report said. Safari 16.8 percent, adoption as per the Global ments. wishing H H the Amir every January 2021. Qatar’s mobile Firefox (1.3%), (Samsung Competitiveness Report Special Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin The message was conveyed success, and the Qatari people connections increased by Internet 3.6%), Microsoft Edge Edition 2020 report by the Hamad Al Thani has received a by Saudi Minister of Foreign further progress and 35,000 (+0.8%) between (2.4%), Opera (1.4%), and World Economic Forum. verbal message from the Affairs H H Prince Faisal bin prosperity. January 2020 and January 2021, Internet Explorer (0,7%), other Qatar has also invested sub- Custodian of the Two Holy Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, For his part, H H the Amir raising the connections to 4.67 web browsers with 5.7 percent stantially in 5G technology, Mosques King Salman bin during a meeting with H H the entrusted H H Prince Faisal bin million and 160.6% of the pop- complete the list. allowing peak Internet con- Abdulaziz Al Saud of the sisterly Amir at the Amiri Diwan office Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud to ulation. The mobile connection Recently, the mobile nection speed to reach 1Gbps. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yesterday morning. convey his greetings to the Cus- figures are shown to exceed the Internet speed in Qatar was The 5G rollout has also accel- pertaining to the deep fraternal At the outset of the meeting, todian of the Two Holy total population because many ranked the fastest in the world erated the development of a relations between the two H H Minister of Foreign Affairs Mosques, wishing him good people use several mobile in December 2020, according more comprehensive commu- brotherly countries and ways of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia health and the Saudi people connections. to the Speedtest Global Index nications infrastructure in of enhancing them, in addition conveyed the greetings of the further progress and Over 70 percent of results. The country has been Qatar. the most prominent regional Custodian of the Two Holy prosperity. Mobile Air Quality Qatar: Global Program for Implementation of Doha Monitoring Declaration supports UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs Station moved to QNA — KYOTO Doha Declaration towards the aim of transforming the political vaccination achievement of the Sustainable Doha Declaration was able to make a clear pledges in the Doha Declaration centre in Lusail The State of Qatar affirmed that Development Goals(SDG), impact in the areas of crime prevention and into projects on the ground. the Global Program for the Advisor to the Minister of Interior criminal justice. He reviewed a number of Implementation of the Doha H E Major General Dr. Abdullah features of the global program of QNA — DOHA Declaration was able to make a Yusuf Al Mal stated that the global the Doha Declaration, including clear impact in the areas of crime program supported the The activities of the global program have that it is the largest program The Ministry of Municipality and prevention, criminal justice and achievement of the goals of the reached two and a half million people in implemented by UNODC and Environment, represented by has supported the implemen- sustainable development plan. It more than 190 countries. funded by one country, and it is the Monitoring and Environ- tation of the United Nations 2030 also implemented policies and the first time in the history of mental Laboratory Department Agenda for Sustainable Devel- programs that support socio-eco- More than 1.4 million students have bene- crime prevention conferences of the Environmental Affairs opment Goals (SDGs). nomic development and adopted fited from the educational materials of the that a political declaration of a Sector, in coordination with the In his speech to the high-level transparent, credible and resilient program, 170,000 people have benefited conference became the basis for health authorities and Hamad event taking place on the side- institutions, given the great link a practical program to assist Medical Corporation, moved lines of 14th United Nations Con- between the rule of law and sus- from capacity building activities countries, especially the devel- Mobile Air Quality Monitoring gress on Crime Prevention and tainable development. oping ones, to address the chal- Station to COVID-19 Drive- Criminal Justice in Kyoto, titled He added that based on the in order to build on the achieve- Global Program for the Imple- lenges posed by organised crime, Through Vaccination Centre in “Strengthening the rule of law long-term view of H H the Amir, ments of the 13th Crime Pre- mentation of the Doha Decla- corruption, drugs and terrorism Lusail. and justice”: the creative imple- and the State of Qatar’s belief vention Conference held in ration, in cooperation with the through four pillars: education, This step aims to monitor mentation of the global program in pluralism, international Doha in April 2015, the State of United Nations Office on Drugs sports, judicial integrity and the and control the air quality for the implementation of the cooperation and solidarity and Qatar launched, in 2016, the and Crime (UNODC), with the rehabilitation of prisoners. `P2 around the centre continuously and around the clock, as a spe- cialised team from the Environ- mental Monitoring Department MoCI receives up to 70 consumer Job contract ensures rights and the Environmental Labo- ratory conducted a prior study of domestic workers: Official of the site and chose the appro- protection related complaints daily priate place to monitor the air SANAULLAH ATAULLAH International Women’s Day. quality before moving the mobile SIDI MOHAMED Jassim said. contracts between the public THE PENINSULA “The Ministry is continuing station to it. These efforts come THE PENINSULA Speaking to Qatar Radio, he and private sectors. So far, 23 creating awareness on dif- within the framework of said that several cases of com- contracts were signed to raise The job contract for domestic ferent levels about the ensuring air quality according to The Ministry of Commerce and mercial fraud in foodstuffs have the strategic stock of several workers has set relations domestic law and rights and the highest international Industry (MoCI) receives been detected recently. He commodities, some of which between employer and liabilities of domestic helps,” standards, as well as the between 50 to 70 complaints stressed that the administration will help achieve food security,” domestic worker in a manner said Al Khater. important role in educating the daily related to consumer should be contacted in the he said. that protects rights of both In June 2020, the Ministry public about the importance of protection, according to the event of any violation to protect Sheikh Jassim indicated that parties based on the provision organised a programme to preserving the environment. Assistant Undersecretary for the consumer, whether through the Ministry now and after of the Labour Law No. 15 of mark the International Consumer Affairs at MoCI the hotline or the Ministry’s many crises have succeeded in 2017. Domestic Workers Day. “The Sheikh Jassim bin Jabor Al social media accounts. diversifying the sources of “The job contract explains Ministry also produced dif- Thani. He noted that 250 Concerning the strategic imported goods to be available working hours of domestic ferent awareness materials complaints are currently being stock law, Sheikh Jassim said and at reasonable prices. He help, weekly off days, overtime, such as video message on the processed as some may take that it came to be due to recent emphasised that increasing sick leave and liabilities of rights of housemaids, guide- three days to be resolved. events like the blockade and prices are based on many employer,” said Shaikha books, pamphlets for domestic “Some complaints are COVID-19. The legislator studies and is acceptable com- Mohammed Al Khater, Director workers and employers in resolved immediately. Others, decided that there should be a pared to other countries in the of International Labour Rela- cooperation with ILO and other ROUND OF 16 such as complaints related to law to increase the private sec- region. tions Department at MADLSA. organisations,” Al Khater TODAY 11PM QATAR TIME services and contracts, take tor’s strategic reserve to pre- Commenting on support for Al Khater was speaking in added. more time depending on the serve food security. local production, he said that a webinar on ‘Labour Reforms She said that the pamphlets Juventus Vs. Porto (1-2) complaint. According to the “The law specified several this has passed through many and Foreign Domestic Workers on the rights of housemaids were Borussia Dortmund Vs law, some grievances need the main commodities that require stages and significant self-suf- in Qatar’ jointly organised by prepared in 10 languages con- parties to be present for the the merchant to keep large ficiency in many vegetables, the embassies of US and taining guidance, details of infor- Sevilla FC (3-2) procedure to be legal,” Sheikh quantities according to fruits, and other commodities. Canada yesterday to mark mation in simple ways. `P2 02 HOME TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 PM receives message from Korea PM

Prime Minister meets US Charge d’Affaires Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani received yesterday a written message from Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, H E Chung Sye-kyun, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani met pertaining to relations between the two countries and means of enhancing and developing them. yesterday with Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Qatar, H E Greta The message was handed by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar, H E Kim Holtz. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between the two friendly countries Chang-Mo, during a meeting yesterday with H E the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. and aspects of their development in various fields.

368 booked for Qatar, Saudi Arabia discuss ties, ways to strengthen GCC COVID-19 QNA — DOHA This visit by top Saudi diplomat to violations Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Doha comes after the Al-Ula of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh QNA — DOHA Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani summit in the Kingdom of Saudi met yesterday with Minister of Foreign Arabia, as an affirmation of the The competent authorities Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strong fraternal relations between yesterday referred 368 people H H Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin the two peoples and the two to the Public Prosecution for Abdullah Al Saud, who is currently countries as well as the strong and violating COVID-19 precau- visiting the country. tionary measures. This visit comes after the Al-Ula sincere desire of the leaderships 342 people were referred summit in the Kingdom of Saudi of the two countries to strengthen to Prosecution for not wearing Arabia, as an affirmation of the strong Gulf and Arab unity. masks in places where they fraternal relations between the two are mandatory, while 25 were peoples and the two countries as well found violating the maximum as the strong and sincere desire of the During the meeting, they reviewed number of 4 people allowed leaderships of the two countries to bilateral cooperation relations in a vehicle including the strengthen Gulf and Arab unity and between the two countries and driver, except when they are develop the process of cooperation in strengthening the progress of the Gulf members of one family, and Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani a way that enhances security and Cooperation Council, in addition to the one person for not installing with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs H H Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud. peace in the whole region. latest developments in the region. Ehteraz app on mobile phone. Second vaccine shots being given at Over 150 film industry experts to health centres and drive-through point converge online at Qumra 2021 FAZEENA SALEEM both their first and second dose THE PENINSULA — DOHA broadcasters, and other industry through an innovative new THE PENINSULA MoPH has clarified that of the vaccine,” the Ministry professionals. format of Qumra this year. reiterated. Qumra, the Doha Film Institute The Qumra 2021 pro- “From developing concepts The Ministry of Public Health COVID-19 vaccination is by The COVID-19 vaccine is (DFI)’s annual talent incubator gramme includes 30 features, to completed projects, Qumra (MoPH) has clarified that invitation only. offered to other professionals for Arab cinema will welcome 12 shorts and 6 series including expands on the Institute’s COVID-19 vaccination is and key workers in different over 150 international industry 5 new Qatari features in devel- existing support activities by provided by invitation only ministries and industries. experts from 41 countries, joined opment. Fatma Hassan Alre- giving filmmakers unprece- according to the phased vacci- health conditions, people with “The COVID-19 Drive- by a number of prominent local maihi, Chief Executive Officer dented access to leading nation plan. moderate chronic medical con- through Vaccination Center in organisations for the seventh of DFI, said: “We are extremely decision-makers from around The Ministry has also ditions, additional healthcare Lusail caters only for people edition of the initiative, taking proud to support the out- the world to turn strong ideas emphasised the priority groups professionals and other key receiving their second dose of place online from March 12 to standing Qumra projects par- into reality and accelerate the eligible for COVID-19 vaccina- workers in different ministries the COVID-19 vaccine. Primary 17. ticipating this year, and success of standout projects tions and the process to get the and industries, including Health Care Corporation Along with the Qumra incredibly grateful to the ready to launch. The pro- vaccine. According to the Min- teachers and administrative (PHCC) will notify eligible Masters, guests include unfailing belief and commitment gramme’s growing acclaim is a istry, the COVID-19 Drive- staff in education. people if their second dose will acclaimed film directors, pro- of the industry experts who testament to our collective con- through Vaccination Center in “The vaccine is offered in be administered at the ducers, film festival directors, share our vision of a vibrant tribution to realisingthe ambi- Lusail is designated only for all 27 health centres by invi- COVID-19 Drive-Through programmers, consultants, fund global creative community. tious goal of giving volume to people receiving their second tation only according to the Center or a health center,” said managers, sales professionals, Despite a global pandemic, the unheard voices and showing the dose of the COVID-19 vaccine phased vaccination plan,” said the Ministry. acquisition heads, script experts, team at DFI have successfully world authentic perspectives and during the first dose people the Ministry. “People do not need a time- distributors, video on demand translated the commitment to from the region and the wider will be informed if the second “The targeted groups will specific appointment to attend (VoD) platforms and supporting promising talent world.” dose will be administered at receive an SMS invitation to the drive-through center, they drive-through centre or at a come to their health centre on can attend at any time during health centre. a specified date and time,” the operational hours on the due Qatar: Global Program for Implementation of Doha Declaration To clarify and to educate Ministry clarified. day of their second dose,” it the citizens and residents, the The Ministry has prioritised added. supports implementation of UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs Ministry has listed down a few vaccinating teachers and school Also it is possible to travel FROM PAGE 1 important points about the administration staff at Qatar abroad immediately after launched in April 2018 as part of the program’s COVID-19 National Vacci- National Convention Center receiving the second dose of a He said the activities of the global program activities. Major General Dr Abdullah Yusuf Al Mal nation Program in several (QNCC). COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry have reached two and a half million people in concluded that the State of Qatar is proud of the languages. “Attending QNCC is by invi- also further reiterated that more than 190 countries. More than 1.4 million achievements of the Global Program for the Imple- At present the priority tation only. The targeted groups exemption from quarantine students have benefited from the educational mentation of the Doha Declaration and encourages groups eligible for vaccinations will receive an SMS invitation arrangements apply as long as materials of the program, 170,000 people have member states to consider this program as a model are people aged 50 years of age to come to the vaccination the return date from travel is 14 benefited from capacity building activities and in their future support for the UNODC in and above regardless of their centre on the dates specified for days after the second dose. that the Global Judicial Integrity Network was accordance with the Kyoto Declaration. Job contract ensures rights of domestic workers: Labour official FROM PAGE 1 She said that the new employment Khalifa University moderated the “Now we are running an contract equalises the rights between webinar. The webinar was attended awareness campaign to provide domestic workers and workers by Ambassador Greta C Holtz, Chargé suitable work environment for this covered by the Labour Law. d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Qatar; sector. “The key advancement in new con- Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, H E We are monitoring the manpower tract is that it focuses on importance Stefanie McCollum; Elizabeth Tang, agencies and organised workshops to to have full transparency on tasks on General Secretary International educate them about the laws and reg- both for domestic workers and Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF); ulations and enhance their per- employer which reduce miscommu- Hala Ali from Legal Department of formance,” said Al Khater. nication in the employment rela- National Human Rights Committee To protect the rights health of tionship,” said Nasri. (NHRC); and Vani Saraswathi, Editor domestic workers during the outbreak She said that the new version also at Large and Director of Project, of COVID-19, Al Khater said that the brings equality between domestic Migrant-Rights.Org. Ministry launched a text messaging workers and workers under Labour Shaikha Mohammed Al Khater said campaign under which over 1,350,000 Law in different areas. “The first one that Qatari women registered their text messages were sent to housemaids is that it specifies clearly the regular strong presence in different sectors in 16 languages and 92,620 text working hours with a maximum of two with the support of political leadership. message to employers. A hotline hours over time and how this addi- This came following Qatar National service was also launched to receive tional hour is compensated on the Vision 2030, laws and regulations Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Qatar, Ambassador Greta C Holtz; complaints and remarks by domestic same level to other workers under which ensure equality and non-dis- Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, H E Stefanie McCollum; Director of International workers and employers round the Labor Law,” she added. crimination and support equal oppor- clock. She said that the new contract also Labour Relations Department at MADLSA, Shaikha Mohammed Al Khater; and tunity and empowering women by Alix Nasri, Technical Specialist at specified that domestic workers take other participants during the webinar. involving them in the journey of the International Labour Organization same sick leave benefits like any other development of Qatar, she added. (ILO) Project Office in Qatar, said that workers in Qatar which is a key notice,” said Nasri. She said that the coming days to create a system of Al Khater said that Qatari women the MADLSA has just introduced new improvement. “The new standard con- new version of standard contract has digital authentication for contract of occupy a number of ministerial port- version of standard employment con- tract brings clarity that both employers already been shared with private domestic workers on the pattern con- folio and key positions in the minis- tract for domestic workers which is a and domestic workers can terminate recruitment agencies and Qatar Visa tracts of other workers,” said Nasri. tries, judiciary, public prosecution, the great achievement. the contract based on a reasonable Centers. “We will be working in the Zara Parvez from Hamad Bin Shura Council. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 HOME 03 Shura Council members laud State's economic policies to support SMEs QNA — DOHA the meeting, praising the successful economic policies of the State, The Shura Council held its regular Shura Council also debated the reviewing the challenges these com- weekly meeting via video conference COVID-19 impact on SMEs and panies face and the possible solutions yesterday under the chairmanship of possible solutions. for them in order to play their Speaker H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin important role in supporting the Zaid Al Mahmoud, at the Council’s national economy. headquarters. After an extensive discussion, the During its meeting, the Council support SMEs at the beginning of the Council decided to refer the afore- discussed the conditions of small- and outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic mentioned topic to the Financial and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in to help them tackle the difficulties they Economic Affairs Committee to study Speaker H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud chairing the regular weekly light of the directives of Amir H H are facing due to the pandemic. it and submit a report thereon to the meeting of the Shura Council yesterday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to A number of members spoke at Council. Qatar participates in 14th UN Congress EAA Foundation continues education on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice investment in local community QNA — KYOTO THE PENINSULA — DOHA CEO of EAA; Sheikh Salman Bin QF, commented: “It is Qatar The State of Qatar is Hassan Al Thani, Chief Financial Foundation’s dedication to participating in the 14th Expanding higher education Officer at QF; and Dr Salem Al inclusivity in education, and to UN Congress on Crime opportunities for youth across Naemi, President of CNA-Q. removing obstacles that may Prevention and Qatar, Education Above All Sheikh Dr Khalid Al Thani prevent young people from ful- Criminal Justice, which (EAA) Foundation’s Al Fakhoora celebrated the new cohort of filling their goals and their began in the Japanese programme, in collaboration DFQ scholars, and highlighted: potential, that has led us to city of Kyoto and will with the Ministry of Awqaf and “We are looking forward to develop a portfolio of scholar- continue until March 12. Islamic Affairs, has awarded a seeing the students’ impact on ships and financial aid oppor- The State of Qatar is total of 59 students with a the future, seeing them raise the tunities that have opened the represented by a dele- Dynamic Futures Qatar Schol- status of Islam by equipping path to a quality, meaningful gation including Per- arship as part of the Qatar Schol- themselves with useful learning experience within the manent Representative arship Programme, in a virtual knowledge and sharing it, so universities based at Education of the State of Qatar to ceremony recently. that ceaseless charity continues City for so many talented, driven the United Nations and The DFQ scholarship aims and knowledge can go on for students from around the world. international organiza- to provide youth aged 17 to 25, generations to come.” We know that the QF students tions in Vienna H E who have spent most of their Dr Salem Al Naemi said: “We who have just received the DFQ Sultan bin Salmeen Al formative years in Qatar, with have great respect for Qatar scholarship will make us proud Mansouri, Ambassador access to higher education. They Foundation and the Education as they go on to make a of the State of Qatar to can apply to distinguished uni- Above All Foundation, and for difference.” Japan H E Hassan bin versities in the country, all partners who are working Talal Al Hothal, Director of Mohammed Rafi Al including Qatar University (QU), tirelessly to ensure education is EAA’s Al Fakhoora programme, Emadi, and Second Stenden University of Applied available to all with no said: “EAA supports millions of Secretary of the Qatar delegation participating in the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention Sciences - Qatar, College of the exception. Education is key to children and young people Embassy of the State of and Criminal Justice, which is taking place in Kyoto, Japan. North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q), creating a developed and inno- across the world to ensure they Qatar in Vienna Sheikh University of Calgary in Qatar vative society that will achieve have access to safe, quality edu- Abdulrahman bin (UCQ), and partner universities sustainable growth. College of cation. Today’s ceremony Nasser Al Thani. The State of Qatar is represented by a delegation including of Qatar Foundation (QF). the North Atlantic – Qatar is underlines this commitment and Minister of Justice Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United EAA proudly celebrated stu- proud to be part of this initiative solidifies the promise our DFQ and Acting Minister of dents from both the second and that provides education to those scholarship makes to the next State for Cabinet Affairs Nations and international organizations in Vienna H E Sultan bin third cohort in Thursday’s who lack the means to realise generation of leaders and H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Salmeen Al Mansouri and Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan virtual ceremony, following an their wish.” changemakers in Qatar. We are Jafali Al Nuaimi had H E Hassan bin Mohammed Rafi Al Emadi. earlier postponement due to As part of the partnership determined to provide life- participated in the COVID-19. The event was agreement with QF for the changing opportunities to opening session that attended by Sheikh Dr Khalid Al Dynamic Futures Qatar Schol- deserving youth, so that they can was held via video con- capacity as President of the 13th to Japan, stressing Qatar’s keenness Thani, Director of the General arship, QF is co-funding four of pursue successful and rewarding ference. He handed United Nations Congress on Crime on providing full support to the new Department of Endowments at the awarded scholarships. careers to support and over the banner from Prevention and Criminal Justice Japanese presidency for the success the Ministry of Awqaf and Sheikh Salman Bin Hassan Al- strengthen their the State of Qatar, in its which was hosted by Doha in 2015, of its tasks. Islamic Affairs; Fahad Al Sulaiti, Thani, Chief Financial Officer at communities.” 04 HOME TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 Deputy PM receives written message Qatar Airways celebrates Al Muraikhi from Paraguay Foreign Minister meets US Charge International Women’s Day d’Affaires THE PENINSULA — DOHA QNA — DOHA As part of Qatar Airways’ Al Darb On the occasion of International Women’s Qatarisation programme, over 300 Minister of State for Foreign Day, Qatar Airways celebrated females Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al who have been instrumental to the Qatari women have joined Qatar Muraikhi met yesterday with Group’s success. As part of Qatar Airways’ Airways to date. Charge d’Affaires of the United Al Darb Qatarisation programme, over States Embassy in Qatar H E 300 Qatari women have joined Qatar Greta Holtz. During the Airways to date, having actively partici- Projects, said: “Qatari Women are at the meeting, they reviewed coop- pated in building the airline’s remarkable forefront of leadership, able to innovate eration relations between the leadership and excellence in Qatar as well and re-shape the future of Qatar Airways two countries. as across the globe to date. and the country. We are pleased to see Starting with only 100 Qatari women the progress of the Al Darb programme in 2015, the Qatarisation programme now and its success in incentivising Qatari Ministry holds includes more than 300 ambitious ladies to take on challenging roles. We Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed women, offering them a unique oppor- expect that the number of Qatari ladies Women’s Day bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, received a written message from Minister of Foreign tunity to pursue their career aspirations, joining Qatar Airways in the framework Relations in the Republic of Paraguay, H E Luis Alberto Castiglioni, pertaining to and receive valuable educational and of the programme will grow exponen- Forum bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing them. The message was training programmes, and to support and tially in the following years, showcasing received by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, enhance their professional skills. Qatar Airways as a great workplace for QNA — DOHA during his meeting yesterday with Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to Today, more women choose to work highly motivated and skilled the State of Qatar, H E Angel Ramon Barchini Cibils. as engineers and pilots, playing a pivotal individuals”. The Ministry of Administrative role in Qatar Airways operations, and Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Development, Labor and shaping the future of the aviation industry Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Social Affairs, represented by in Qatar and globally. There are currently Awards, managed by the international Family Affairs Department, 30 Qatari women holding engineers’ posi- air transport rating organisation Skytrax. organised the International tions, as well as 4 cadet pilots, 4 pilots, It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Women’s Day Forum, with the and many more foreign female pilots. Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, participation of a number of Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recog- specialists in women’s affairs H E Akbar Al Baker, commented: “Qatar nition of its ground-breaking Business from the Ministry of Foreign Airways is committed to supporting Qatari Class experience, Qsuite. Qsuite is Affairs (MOFA), the United women to follow any career they want available on flights to more than 45 des- Nations Economic and Social to pursue and offering every opportunity tinations including Johannesburg, Commission for Western Asia for their professional development. Qatari London, New York and Singapore. (ESCWA), Hamad Medical women, bringing their Corporation (HMC), Qatar advanced education and University (QU), and the Social love for challenges, are Development Center (Nama), paying a major contri- one of the centers under the bution to Qatar’s success, umbrella of the Qatar Social empowered by the Al Work Foundation. Darb programmes educa- The participants of the tional aspect and profes- online forum entitled “Women sional guidance. Qatar in leadership: Achieving an Airways will continue equal future in a COVID-19 with its strategy to attract world” which coincides with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs female citizens, diversi- International Women’s Day, fying its workplace and discussed women’s efforts in receives credentials of Vietnam envoy ensuring Qatari women confronting the repercussions Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, received are fully integrated into of the Coronavirus (COVID- yesterday a copy of the credentials of Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of all operations and senior 19), as they were in front lines Vietnam to Qatar, H E Tran Duc Hung. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs leadership roles.” to address the pandemic There are currently 30 Qatari women holding engineering wished the Ambassador success in his duties, assuring him to provide all support Nabeela Fakhri, Senior whether in the medical field positions, as well as 4 cadet pilots, 4 pilots, and many more to upgrade relations between the two friendly countries to closer cooperation Vice President – Nation- or community organizations in various fields. alisation and Special foreign female pilots in Qatar Airways. and other leaders in various fields. They also reviewed the progress in women’s empow- erment and some of women’s Qatar University marks International Women’s Day work, their courage, and steadfastness in playing excep- THE PENINSULA — DOHA of Clinical Pharmacy and Mahasneh, Acting Associate tional roles in the history of Practice Department at College Dean for Research and their countries and societies. Qatar University (QU) marked of Pharmacy, QU, said: Graduate Studies, said: “Women Participants addressed the International Women’s Day “Women in QU have a clear role represent half of humanity, priorities of women’s full and (IWD) to celebrate the that is aligned with the vision without her, the picture is not effective participation and important roles occupied by of Qatar, with the faith in her complete, as a plane needs two decision-making in public life, thousands of women. ability to serve the community. wings to fly. The Muslim women eliminating violence against This year, International We should never forget the of the past have also played an them, empowering them, Women’s Day is being cele- names of the many female aca- undeniably pioneering role.” achieving gender equality, and brated under the theme ‘Choose demics and researchers in QU “Women are essential emphasizing the role and con- to Challenge’. Several female who proved themselves by con- members in the process of tribution of women in various professors at QU shared their tributing, facing challenges and building societies and nations, areas of society. sentiments on IWD. Indeed, orchestrating change, and who as they are active crucial women play a key role in all have left a special imprint.” partners. Since ancient times, aspects of society and their No one doubts the impor- women have played a variety Dr. Fatima Mraiche (left), and Dr. Banan Mukhalalati Public Prosecution presence brightens our future. tance of women in the com- of roles that have no limits. “As a female Associate Pro- munity. She is the mother, Women have and continue to attends meeting of fessor of Pharmacology and of Pharmacology & Pathophys- Over the past decades, the sister, wife and daughter. She participate and have a strong Pathophysiology and recently iology at College of Pharmacy role of women in Qatar society builds generations through her presence in various fields, IT officials in GCC the Section of Head of Research QU. has flourished notably due to innate maternal instinct. When without shedding their identity prosecution depts and Graduate Studies at the “Knowing that all my efforts Qatari women’s ability to thrive education became common- and values as Arabs and College of Pharmacy QU, I have will pave the way and benefit in various professional fields. place, women entered schools Muslims. It is essential to show QNA — DOHA been able to be both a pioneer others always makes my per- Women’s empowerment in the and earned their degrees and appreciation for woman and and a role model for others by sonal achievements more sat- community is due to the Islamic higher education degrees, their ability to build a com- The Public Prosecution partic- being present, following my isfying. As a woman, a known teaching, addressing both men which allowed them to take up munity and overcome ipated in the meeting of offi- passion and being authentic,” agent of change, it is essential and women and calling for the leading positions and advance numerous challenges,” said Dr. cials of the information tech- said Dr. Fatima Mraiche, Acting to believe in yourself and protection of women’s rights. society. Asma Al Attiyah, Department nology (IT) departments in the Head of Research and Graduate believe that what you do Dr. Banan AbdulRzaq While sharing her senti- Head of Psychological public prosecution agencies in Studies and Associate Professor matters,” Dr. Fatima added. Mukhalalati, Assistant Professor ments on IWD, Nisrin Sciences. the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), which was held Families urged to help elderly yesterday via video QRCS constructs district sewage conference. The Public Prosecution relatives get vaccinated was represented in the system in southern Gaza meeting by Manager of Infor- THE PENINSULA — DOHA years of age are more likely to mation Technology get sick, more likely to need THE PENINSULA — DOHA Department Maryam Haji National Health Strategy 2018- medical treatment, more likely Abdullah. The meeting 2022 Lead for Healthy Ageing, to require admission to ICU and, Adel Al Zaanoun, a resident of reviewed a number of topics, Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, has called sadly, more at risk of dying as a Gaza, stood in front of his home the most important of which upon family members to result of severe complications to watch the workers laying is reviewing the latest devel- support their elderly relatives from COVID-19.” sewage pipelines in his district, opments in the electronic pro- to get vaccinated against “The National COVID-19 waiting for the turn of his home grams used by the public pros- COVID-19. Vaccination Program is now to be connected to the new ecution bodies and making use Dr. Al Hamad explained that moving at pace and it is pleasing network, which will put an end of them, especially the video it is the responsibility of children to know that more than half of to many years of suffering. conference technology, in and family members of elderly Qatar’s elderly population have “It has been a tragedy over addition to exchanging infor- relatives to support them to get now received at least one dose the past decade,” said Al- mation between the public vaccinated. “Now that we have of the vaccine, with 61 percent Zaanoun. “In my neighborhood, prosecution agencies in the approved and effective vac- of people over 70 years of age there was no infrastructure at GCC countries. cines, elderly people have the and 55 percent of people over all. The soak pits are hazardous opportunity to become pro- 60 years of age having received to the population, with its pol- tected and live free from the at least one vaccine dose,” lution and constantly bad smell”. Shura Council threat of this virus. I ask anyone added Dr. Al Hamad. Supported by Qatar Red Workers laying sewage pipelines in Gaza. with elderly relatives who are Dr. Al Hamad said that Crescent Society (QRCS) for the Cultural Affairs not yet vaccinated to support getting vaccinated is easy: vac- benefit of 70,000 people living your elderly mother, father and cines are available in all 27 in southern Gaza City, this Coordination and Supervision resources to renovate the local Committee meets loves ones to get vaccinated and primary health centers and activity is part of a project to Department at the Gaza Munic- infrastructure. “By virtue of the get protected. Please ensure HMC homecare teams are vac- construct a sewage system in ipality, said it would reduce the new project of QRCS, we will be QNA — DOHA they understand that the vac- cinating housebound patients Gaza. It involves laying 7-km pollution and environmental able to regulate the discharge of cines are safe, and more than in the safety and comfort of wastewater collection and impact of soak pits dug by the wastewater in the area and con- The Information and Cultural 327,000 doses have been safety their own homes. She said drainage pipelines ranging 6-16 community, which made things nection to the PS11 station, inau- Affairs Committee of the Shura administered to the most vul- anyone over 60 years of age inches in diameter. even worse during the winter. gurated by QRCS in 2015. This Council held a meeting yesterday nerable people in Qatar.” should call Primary Health Care The $400,000 project is As soak pits mushroomed, way, we can minimize the envi- chaired by its Rapporteur H E Dr. Al Hamad highlighted Corporation on 4027 7077 to located in the vicinity of Gaza’s he indicated, the municipality ronmental risks caused by septic Saqr bin Fahd Al Muraikhi. The that older people have a signif- book a vaccination PS11 wastewater pumping personnel made extensive tanks and stop pumping committee studied the condi- icantly increased risk from appointment at a primary station. Eng. Khalil Mohamed efforts to solve this problem, untreated sewage into the sea,” tions of Qatar University in light COVID-19. “People over 60 health center. Shaqra, Manager of despite the lack of financial Eng. Shaqra explained. of the QU’s strategy. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 HOME 05 Qatar and Pakistan review QU researchers aim to restore coral reef THE PENINSULA – DOHA environmental conditions. sustainability of marine Accordingly, “RESTORE” and resources. These projects, joint military cooperation Qatar University (QU) “QataREEF” will be focused on developed in collaboration with researchers are working on a validating locally tested inno- TOTAL, the Ministry of Munic- series of interconnected vative restoration technologies ipality Environment as well as projects aptly titled “RESTORE” to support the recovery process SEABOOST, France and Nova and “QataREEF” aiming to of damaged coral reefs in the Southeastern University, bridge science to policy and Arabian Gulf. Qatar is an ade- Florida, US, also strengthens QU apply advanced scientific quate place to conduct such a collaboration with local knowledge and tools to project, mainly because the industry, government bodies achieving coral reef sustaina- Arabian Gulf has an extreme and international bility in Qatar and the region. environment. collaborators. Researchers at QU are using It is considered the hottest Dr. Radhouan Ben- an innovative approach sea in the world, therefore new through artificial reefs to create restoration technologies that ‘coral colonization’ to ensure will work here will be possibly the dispersion of coral. replicated elsewhere, consid- Coral reefs are one of the ering the warming of the most important natural assets world’s oceans. The Qatari seas in the Arabian region and par- are then considered a testing ticularly in Qatar. Increasing laboratory of how other seas natural and anthropogenic will behave in the future. The stressors in the last couple of “RESTORE” and “QataREEF” decades have resulted in overall research projects are aligned negative trends of coral cover with the University’s Research Dr. Radhouan Ben-Hamadou, and diversity across the region. Road Map and address Associate Professor of Marine As a result, urgent but science numerous objectives including based action needs to be taken mitigating impact of global Sciences in QU to conserve the remaining coral warming, protection of marine Hamadou, Associate Professor QNA – DOHA Chief of the Pakistan Naval Staff military cooperation relations reefs and restore the damaged resources, enhancing learning of Marine Sciences in QU, leads H E Admiral Muhammad Amjad between the two sides and ones. Although coral restoration and training of undergraduate the team of scientists based in Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Khan Niazi, who is currently means of enhancing them. The technologies have been and graduate students and Qatar. He says, “Our envi- Forces H E Lieutenant General visiting the country. meeting was attended by a evolving rapidly, there is a clear junior researchers in Qatar as ronment is our health, our food, (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al During the meeting, they number of senior officers in the need to combine and adapt res- well as developing a scientific our shelter and therefore we Ghanim met yesterday with reviewed the joint bilateral armed forces. toration protocols and guide- and technology provider should actively work to ensure lines to local species and leading role in the region for its sustainability. QA and Qatar Duty Free sponsor Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021

THE PENINSULA – DOHA tournament is one of two high we are delighted to be sup- In all, 28 players made the profile ATP Tour events hosted porting the Qatar Tennis Fed- entry list for the singles event Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty in the Middle East. eration as they welcome world- of this year’s ATP Tour 250 Free (QDF) are sponsoring the The prestigious tennis class tennis players.” series tournament, while 16 Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021, championship received the Qatar Duty Free Vice Pres- teams are taking part in the an annual star-studded Associ- ‘Tournament of the Year’ award ident Operations, Thabet doubles event. ation of Tennis Professionals in the 250 category on three Musleh, said: “Qatar Duty Free The award-winning airline (ATP) Tour event under way in occasions – 2015, 2017 and 2019 is proud to sponsor the 30th is proud to sponsor and support Doha until March 13. – as voted by ATP players. edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil top-level athletes such as Ons The ATP Tour event, being Qatar Airways Senior Vice- Open. Jabeur, the highest ranked Arab held at the Khalifa International President Marketing and Cor- This tournament is a major player in Women’s Tennis Asso- Tennis and Squash Complex, porate Communications, Salam event in Qatar’s sporting cal- ciation’s (WTA) history and features a total of 28 tennis Al Shawa, said: “Qatar Airways endar and Qatar Duty Free’s Qatar Total Open 2021 wildcard, players, including the Swiss is pleased to sponsor the Qatar longstanding relationship with as well as some of the world’s legend and 20-time Grand Slam ExxonMobil Open 2021, a Qatar ExxonMobil Open reflects biggest football clubs including champion Roger Federer, world renowned ATP Tour event that our ethos in the power of sport Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma, number four Dominic Thiem, unites some of the top global to bring people together and our Boca Juniors, FC Bayern and defending champion tennis players here in the heart commitment to the Qatar 2030 München, K.A.S. Eupen and Al Andrey Rublev. of Doha. As the national airline vision. welcoming the world’s leading we wish them a successful Sadd SC. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open sponsor of this championship, We look forward to players on the men’s circuit and tournament.” Qatar affirms proactive measures to protect children from all manifestations of violence

DOHA QNA – Qatar affirmed that it best ways to address issues of violence against children, and The State of Qatar affirmed that has been paying international best practices. it has been paying attention to attention to investing in It also addressed the global investing in building a strong building a strong society framework and evidence-based society and cohesive families and cohesive families in strategies aimed at eliminating in which healthy children grow which healthy children violence against children in all up and are free from all mani- settings, and made a number of festations of violence. grow up and are free important recommendations in In this regard it had adopted the from all manifestations this regard. concept of comprehensive of violence. He added that Qatar shares protection, which focused not the view of the Special Repre- only on identifying violations sentative on Violence against and punishing perpetrators, but Al Naama said that as part Children that the precautionary also taking proactive measures of the attention paid by the measures taken to confront the to protect and respond to all State of Qatar to the issue of coronavirus (COVID-19) pan- manifestations of violence. reducing violence against demic have contributed to the This came in the State of children, the Qatar Foundation exposure of children to more Qatar’s speech during the inter- for Education, Science and violence. active dialogue with the United Community Development, the In this regard and with the Nations’ Special Representative World Innovation Summit for emergence of signs of hope for of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Health (WISH), and the United the end of this crisis, Qatar calls on Violence against Children at Nations International Children’s for placing children at the top the forty-sixth session of the Emergency Fund (Unicef) of the priorities for recovery Human Rights Council. recently issued a paper entitled: efforts by responding to their The speech was delivered Addressing Violence Against needs, promoting their well- by Second Secretary of the Per- Children Through a Systems- being and safety, and manent Delegation in Geneva strengthening Approach, in addressing all kinds of violence Talal Al Naama. which the paper dealt with the against them, he added. Ooredoo is Silver Sponsor of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021

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Ooredoo announced it is to reprise its role as Silver Sponsor of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at this year’s event. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021, the 29th edition of the ATP 250 tournament, has kicked off yesterday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, and is ongoing until March 13 2021. The event attracts a large number of the world’s top players, who are keen to use the the 2020 Australian Open lifestyle is a key focus for us at opportunity to warm up for finalist. Ooredoo, as is helping to bring Grand Slam events later in the Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, as many high-profile interna- year. Multiple Grand Slam Director PR at Ooredoo, said: tional sporting events to Qatar winner Roger Federer has con- “We’re delighted to have our as possible. We look forward firmed he will challenge for the name linked with the ATP Tour to welcoming some of the trophy this year, joined by two- again in 2021 at this prestigious world’s greatest tennis stars to time Grand Slam winner stan event. Supporting events that Doha, and to seeing some Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem, promote a healthy, active awesome tennis!" 06 HOME TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 QNTC holds inspection campaigns at Sealine

THE PENINSULA - DOHA are included in the circular, with motorcycle tracks and the Qatar National Tourism Council maximum speed allowed (QNTC) has carried out two clearly stated. Modifications to inspection campaigns at the motorcycles that may affect motorcycle and four-wheel safety are not allowed, neither drive bike rental offices in are any modifications to the Sealine. exhaust. These measures help These inspections were prioritize the safety of renters carried out to ensure the prop- and campers and prevent envi- erties are licensed and com- ronmental pollution.” mitted to applying the provi- The circular outlines further sions of Circular No. (5)/2018, rules, including a stipulation which specifies operating that bike renters must be 16 Qatar Airways hails Al Sadd SC guidelines associated with years of age or older, with tourism transport activities, as younger patrons only allowed on QNB Stars League title win well as the terms and standards to drive suitable bicycles under of four-wheel drive bikes, des- the supervision of their parents. THE PENINSULA - DOHA continued success in future ignated for tourists for desert The licensee must also oblige competitions.” trips. A quad biker in Sealine. bikers to wear safety gear, and Qatar Airways, the Official With the recent QNTC launched the make sure that the right size of Partner, has congratulated Al announcement as the Official inspection campaigns in the helmets, shoes, and gloves, and Sadd Sports Club who claimed Airline for UEFA EURO 2020™, beginning of 2021. security and safety during the investments while preserving protective equipment are being their 15th QNB Stars League Qatar Airways continues to During the first campaign, winter camping season in the the safety of tenants and used. Drivers must wear seat- title after a thrilling 3-0 victory strengthen its presence in the 26 rental offices were notified Sealine. campers alike”. belts in vehicles accommo- against Um Salal. world of sport; with the likes of about existing violations, with Commenting on this Mohammad Al-Ansari, dating more than one Coached by Xavi Hern- FIFA, CONMEBOL, Paris Saint- final warnings issued during the occasion, Berthold Trenkel, Director of Tourism Licensing passenger. andez, Qatar’s most successful Germain, AS Roma, Boca second campaign. Chief Operation Officer at at QNTC, elaborated:“The ini- This inspection campaign club claimed the Falcon Shield Juniors, FC Bayern München, Rental offices that continue (QNTC said: “We work closely tiative follows Circular No. focuses on addressing safety with four games to spare, whilst K.A.S. Eupen and Al Sadd SC to violate license and safety with all public and private insti- (5)/2018, which lays out condi- concerns regarding motorcycle maintaining their unbeaten well placed in the carrier’s conditions will be shut during tutions to improve security and tions and regulations for and four-wheel bike rentals. league run. global football sponsorship the third campaign, which safety during the camping vendors. The licensee must As head of the tourism Goals from Baghdad portfolio, further representing started in February. season, and to enhance the keep periodic maintenance sector in the country, and a Bounedjah, Yusuf Abdurisag its alignment with the national QNTC is carrying out these visitor experience in Qatar. records that include the main- licensing authority, QNTC and Rodrigo Tabata clinched vision of Qatar. inspections in collaboration With a strong focus on tenance history of brake pads, focuses on providing safe, the win for the Wolves, Qatar Airways recently with the South Security Service Excellence, QNTC fuel and oil pumps, filters, bat- secure experiences. sweeping the domestic double became the first global airline Department, the General Direc- works with owners, helping teries, and other technical With the popularity of on their home turf. Al Sadd SC’s in the world to achieve the torate of Traffic, and The Min- them comply with requirements matters related to the safety of camping and associated activ- 15th league title is all the more prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 istry of Municipality and Envi- and obtain the necessary passengers and bikes.” ities, enforcing regulations is of praiseworthy after emerging Airline Safety Rating by inter- ronment (MME), represented by licenses. With safety and Al-Ansari continued: great importance, helping the winners with most goals national air transport rating the Department of Protection service key, we aim to help “Requirements related to the sector build offerings and scored, least goals conceded organisation, Skytrax. This and Wildlife, to improve vendors protect their storage of motorbikes and fuel assuage concerns. and exhibiting outstanding per- follows HIA’s recent success as formances throughout the the first and only airport in the season. Middle East and Asia to be Qatar Airways Group Chief awarded a Skytrax 5-Star Mandarin Oriental, Doha relaunches Liang restaurant Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, COVID-19 Airport Safety said: “The QNB Stars League Rating. THE PENINSULA - DOHA Sour Soup and then share a variety of sig- holds a special pride of place These recognitions provide nature dishes including Wagyu Beef Short in the annual Qatari football assurance to passengers across Mandarin Oriental, Doha has announced Ribs, Kung Pao Tiger Prawns and Wok- calendar, and we are delighted the world that airline health the re-launch of Liang restaurant. fried Spicy Chicken. to witness Al Sadd SC win their and safety standards are Located adjacent to Mandarin Oriental, Then there’s the traditional preparation 15th league title in such excep- subject to the highest possible Doha in Barahat Msheireb at the heart of of the exceptional Peking Duck, a roasted tional style. The club continues standards of professional, inde- Msheireb Downtown, the exciting res- whole duck presented to the diners and to set high standards in regional pendent scrutiny and taurant showcases authentic Cantonese served with steamed Peking-style pancakes and international competitions assessment. For full details of recipes and select traditional provincial – surely a unique treat in the region. and we are proud to have them all the measures that have been dishes from across China. To end on a sweet note, guests can as part of our diverse sporting implemented onboard and in The restaurant’s name, Liang, means delight to a selection of treats including the sponsorship portfolio. We look HIA, please visit qatarairways. “the beam of light reflected by the moon” chef’s signature Deep-fried Ice Cream. forward to witnessing their com/safety. in Chinese. As part of the authentic journey of Emphasising the moon as an iconic Liang, guests can enjoy witnessing the symbol in both Qatari and Chinese cultures, famous traditional tea performance. the restaurant’s name aims to celebrate this The certified tea master leads the tea Homeware Festival begins connection. Liang is decorated with atmos- performance using a long-spouted teapot pheric art and antiques from across China, combined with rare authentic Chinese arts at Doha Festival City including amorous elements such as poems of sequenced choreography and martial about the moon. arts, much to the delight of the audience. THE PENINSULA - DOHA Every cumulative QR200 Executive Chef Lam brings his expertise To create the most authentic Chinese spent at any of the Mall’s to elevate Liang as a unique Chinese cuisine restaurant in Doha, Mandarin Oriental, Doha Festival City yesterday outlets, will be eligible to win experience offering unparalleled Doha has partnered with Maxim’s Caterers launched the much anticipated grand prizes. authenticity. Ltd in Hong Kong. Maxim’s Group is known Homeware Festival showcasing Universal motors - Lotus, A certified tea master at Mandarin Oriental, Dishes are ideal for sharing amongst for leading the Chinese cuisine scene and the latest collections from a the official sponsor of the cam- Doha. friends gathering to share classic Dim Sum has been awarded a Michelin star. host of retailers, and offering a paign, will provide the first along with advanced wok cooking tech- Delegated by Maxim’s Group, Executive myriad of giveaways and an prize – a Lotus Evora 400 4x4, niques that highlight the flavours of the authentic Cantonese recipes and innovative Chef Lam masterfully created each recipe array of family-friendly activ- worth QAR439,000. fresh ingredients used. creations for lunch and dinner. Guests can according to the Maxim Group’s standards ities. Twenty-one more prizes The delightful menu showcases enjoy specialties starting with the Hot and of Chinese cuisine excellence. Running until April 8, the will include vouchers and gifts Homeware Festival will from a myriad of Doha Festival showcase the largest collection City participating retailers. of homeware retailers in Qatar For the first time in the Children from Qatar win at 14th Toyota Dream Car Art contest available at Festival City and country, the raffle draw will be their unique offering, suitable 100% digital, and the draw THE PENINSULA - DOHA for decorating, renovating or finale will be held on April 9 designing any home, from a when the winners will be Children from Qatar won prizes studio to a villa as well as any announced live on the mall’s in all the three categories at the office. large digital screen near Cup of 14th Toyota Dream Car Art As part of the Festival, mini- Joe, as well as online. Contest in the Middle East and exhibitions in the form of mock New retailers will soon join Central Asia Divisional contest room set-ups will be show- Doha Festival City homeware organized by Toyota Motor cased in the podiums dis- selection, including Maya Paris, Corporation. tributed throughout the Mall, a multibrand luxury furtniture The winners of the contest demonstrating the diversity of store, famous US furniture were announced at the virtual Festival City’s homeware brand Bernhardt, as well as award ceremony held recently offering as well as reiterating Ambiance, Eclipse, Tansy Mat- which was attended by officials Doha Festival City as the one tress and That’s Living kids from Toyota Motor Corporation and only choice for furnishing store. led by Akitoshi Takemura, and home decor shopping in Robert Hall, Doha Festival Division General Manager, Qatar. City General Manager, said: winning children, their parents Home to over 20 home fur- “We are delighted to launch the as well as representatives from nishing and accessories stores Homeware Festival and to offer Toyota dealers across the participating in the Festival, our visitors a unique oppor- Middle East and Central Asia including IKEA, ACE, MUJI that tunity to discover the vast and Division. are exclusive brands to the Mall, diverse range of homewares Takemura congratulated all Doha Festival City also boasts offering at the Mall.” the winners wishing them good the largest home section in the “We would like to invite all luck. region from Marks & Spencer. our guests to explore the Fes- Sohan Sandeep from MES Participating retailers also tival booths for each brand Indian School won the prize in The 14th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest Middle East and Central Asia virtual award ceremony. boast a variety of unique installed throughout the Mall’s the category 1 (below 7 years) concept stores including The nodes on the Ground and First for his dream car “TOYOTA H3” – 11 years) for his dream car Corporation. I appreciate Toy- Toyota hopes that this activity One, Butterfly Design, Antoine Floor, and discover the largest (Heal, Hope Happy). “History Finder Car”. ota’s initiative to encourage will help nurture the creativity Karam, Laura Ashley, Home homeware collections to Sohan wishes his dream car Nemsith believes his dream young artists around the world”. of the next generation of great Centre, Pan Emirates, Pottery embellish or refresh their home heals the wounded people in car will help to find monuments Nandana, student of Birla inventors, thinkers and Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West décor, and draw inspiration for war areas. that are submerged in the sea Public School won the prize for dreamers. Elm, and Mothercare who will new design solutions”, con- His Dream car is a hope for beds that are yet to be her dream car “Disaster Man- Qatar contest was held from also showcase their collections cluded Robert. elderly people and abandoned discovered. aging Car”. November 20 to December 15, in stylish minimalist room set In line with the preventative children. It provides food, med- Nemsithsaid “I am really She believes her dream car 2020. up spread throughout the Mall. measures set out by the author- icines, toys and books. The happy to be a winner in the can manage resources and R. K. Murugan, Acting Chief In addition, Villeroy & Boch, ities, Doha Festival City has vehicle runs on recycled fuel Middle East & Central Asia responsibilities for dealing with Executive officer, said that “as MADAM COCO, Karaca, H&M, introduced stringent health and from paper, plastic and glass Division of Toyota Dream Car all humanitarian aspects of one of AAB’s community -ori- Harvey Nichols, M&S, Tavola, safety measures throughout the wastes. Art Contest and thank my emergencies in order to lessen ented initiatives, the ‘Toyota Zara Home and W&B Home will mall for its staff and visitors. After receiving the award parents and teachers for their the impact of disasters. Dream Car Contest’ held a showcase their homeware This includes a thorough Sohan said “I am happy and inspiration and support. I also Toyota Dream Car Art special place in their hearts as items in a special-designed mall disinfection treatment on excited to receive this pres- thank Toyota Japan and Toyota contest invites children from all it involved children, the future glass pods until April 6. a weekly basis, robust cleaning tigious award for my Dream Qatar for organizing this event”. corners of the globe to share ‘guardians of the world’. To add more excitement to and sanitization operations Car. I love colours and I enjoyed Nandana Bijukumar, ideas about the future of He also showed the Com- the Festival, Doha Festival City during mall trading hours. drawing my dream car”. winner in the 3rd category (12 mobility by drawing their pany’s happiness in seeing the has partnered with the Qatar A total of 127 hand sani- Nemsith Nimpura from – 15 years) said: “I am really dream cars. increasing number of kids and National Tourism Council tizing stations have been Shantinikentan Indian School happy and honoured to receive Every great idea was born schools taking part in such a (QNTC) to run Festival City installed in the areas that have won the prize in category 2 (8 this award from Toyota Motor in the glimmer of a dream, and contest.” raffle draw offers (spend & win). commonly touched surfaces. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 07 Lebanon protesters block key roads AP — BEIRUT President Michel to have protesters close them again shortly afterward. Protesters angry with Lebanon’s Aoun blasted the In the southern village of ruling class blocked major roads road closures calling Abbasiyeh, a man poured leading to the capital yesterday, them “organised gasoline on his body and tried causing traffic jams and to set himself on fire before civil prompting the head of the acts of sabotage that defence members and soldiers country’s hospital union to warn aim to undermine intervened and sprayed his they were preventing oxygen body with water. supplies from reaching medical stability”. Aoun’s Tens of thousands have lost centres treating coronavirus comments came their jobs over the past year as patients. the economic crisis, the worst The days-long protests during a meeting in Lebanon’s modern history, come against the backdrop of a yesterday attended by was made worse by the spread crash in the local currency, an heads of the country’s of the coronavirus. According increase of consumer goods to the World Bank, the crisis is prices and political bickering security agencies expected to drag more than half A demonstrator stands near a burning fire blocking a road, during a protest against the fall in Lebanese between rival groups that has of Lebanon’s population into and economic and currency and mounting economic hardships, in Zouk yesterday. delayed the formation of a new poverty. government. financial officials. Sleiman Haroun, President President Michel Aoun of the Syndicate of Hospitals in around Lebanon and they On Saturday, Lebanon’s care- Michel Aoun on the shape of the blasted the road closures calling Lebanon, said that after a supply hospitals throughout the taker Prime Minister Hassan Diab Cabinet has stood in the way of them “organised acts of sab- comments were expected to two-day weekend when there country, including some in warned that the country was a new government’s formation. otage that aim to undermine lead to a crackdown against the is no oxygen distribution, some remote areas. quickly headed toward chaos and The local currency hit a stability.” Aoun’s comments protesters to force them to open hospitals are running low and Despite a weeks long appealed to politicians to put record law against the US dollar came during a meeting yes- the roads. urgently need supplies, espe- lockdown in Lebanon, cases of aside their differences in order on Saturday getting to close to terday attended by heads of the Starting in the early cially to treat COVID-19 coronavirus remain high in the to form a new government that 11,000 pounds on the black country’s security agencies and morning hours, small groups of patients. tiny country, with 2,377 new can attract desperately needed market. economic and financial demonstrators blocked the “This is not a joke. It is a cases registered on Sunday, foreign assistance. Lebanon has been hit by one officials. southern, northern and eastern matter of life and death,” raising the total cases since Feb- In October, former Prime crisis after another, starting He added that the army and entrances to Beirut with burning Haroun said urging protesters ruary last year to more than Minister Saad Hariri was named with nationwide protests in police “should fully perform tires and parked vehicles. In to allow vehicles carrying sup- 395,000. The virus has also to form a new Cabinet but five October 2019 that revealed a their duties and implement the other parts of Lebanon, soldiers plies of oxygen to pass. There killed 5,047 people, including months later, disagreements severe financial and economic law without hesitation.” His briefly opened some roads only are several oxygen plants 33 on Sunday. between him and President crisis. Arab League US embassy condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities stresses on REUTERS — DUBAI and the United States. The coalition said it exporter, was shaken by a big Saudi Arabia defend itself. women’s role in “The heinous Houthi destroyed 12 Houthi drones, attack on oil installations just a On Sunday, the Saudi-led The United States said yesterday assaults on civilians and vital without specifying locations in few kilometres from the facil- coalition said the Houthis decision making it is committed to defending infrastructure demonstrate lack the kingdom, and two ballistic ities targeted on Sunday, which were emboldened after the Saudi Arabia following drone of respect for human life and missiles launched towards Riyadh blamed on Iran, a Biden administration revoked QNA — CAIRO and missile strikes by Yemen’s disregard for peace efforts,” the Jazan. charge Tehran denies. terrorist designations on the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, US embassy in the kingdom said The Saudi defence ministry The 2019 attack, which was group imposed by former The Arab League affirmed the including on a Saudi facility in an Arabic-language Twitter later said it had intercepted an claimed by the Houthis but President Donald Trump’s importance of women’s vital to oil exports. post. armed drone coming from the which Riyadh said did not orig- administration and backed by presence in decision-making Saudi authorities said there “The United States stands sea before it could hit its target inate from Yemen, forced Saudi Riyadh. positions and their full and were no casualties or property by Saudi Arabia and its people. at Ras Tanura. Shrapnel from a Arabia to temporarily shut more Last week, the US Treasury effective participation in losses from Sunday’s attacks Our commitment to defend the ballistic missile fell near the res- than half of its crude output. Department imposed sanctions public life, stressing the need targeting an oil storage yard at Kingdom and its security is idential compound used by The United States later sent on two Houthi military leaders to eliminate all forms of Ras Tanura, site of a refinery firm.” Aramco. American troops and military in the first punitive measures violence, to achieve gender and the world’s biggest offshore The Houthis have been bat- The two sites in the Eastern equipment to bolster the king- against the group by Biden’s equality and empower all oil loading facility, and a resi- tling a Saudi-led coalition in Province are located on the Gulf dom’s air and missile defences. administration following the women. dential compound in Dhahran Yemen for six years in a con- coast across from Iran and near The Houthis have stepped spike in attacks on Saudi cities This came in a statement used by state-controlled oil flict largely seen as a proxy war Iraq and Bahrain, which is up attacks as the United States and battles in Yemen’s Marib by the League yesterday on giant Saudi Aramco. between Saudi Arabia and Iran. home to the US Navy’s Fifth and the United Nations are region. the occasion of the cele- The attacks, which drove The group said its operation Fleet. Yemen lies near 1,000km pushing for a truce to revive The Yemen war has killed bration of International Brent crude prices above $70 a on Sunday using 14 drones and southwest on the Gulf of Aden. stalled peace talks. tens of thousands of people and Women’s Day, which is barrel to their highest since eight ballistic missiles also Eastern Province has most Biden has declared a halt to pushed millions to the brink of observed on March 8 of each January 2020, come at a time attacked military targets in the of Aramco’s production and US support for offensive oper- famine. The Houthis say they year under the theme: of friction in the decades-old Saudi cities of Dammam, Asir export facilities. In 2019, Saudi ations in Yemen, but said Wash- are fighting a corrupt system “Women in leadership: alliance between Saudi Arabia and Jazan. Arabia, the world’s top oil ington would continue to help and foreign aggression. Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, to cele- brate what women around the ‘Syria crisis world have provided while After delays, Israel starts vaccinating Palestinian workers they were on the front lines could see at least to help address the AP — JERUSALEM pandemic. 6 million more The statement said that the After delays, Israel started COVID-19 pandemic showed vaccinating Palestinians who displacements’ that the presence of women in work inside the country and its decision-making positions in West Bank settlements ANADOLU — ANKARA times of crisis would positively yesterday, more than two affect the ability of govern- months after launching an At least 6 million more ments to respond to those immunization blitz of its own displacements can occur in crises, by developing policies population. Syria if the crisis continues for that reflect diverse life expe- Palestinian laborers who another decade, an inde- riences and touch on issues crossed into Israel at several pendent humanitarian group that directly affect women’s West Bank checkpoints said Monday. lives, such as education, received their first doses of the “The Syria crisis could see health, economic development Moderna vaccine from Magen at least six million more dis- and conflict resolution. David Adom paramedics. The placements over yet another In a statement on this vaccination drive orchestrated decade if the conflict, inse- occasion, Assistant Secretary- by COGAT, Israel’s military curity and economic deterio- General for Social Affairs at the agency coordinating gov- ration continue unabated,” Arab League Ambassador ernment operations in the West Norwegian Refugee Council Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said that Bank, had been beset by (NRC) said in a statement at the regional level, the postponements. announcing a new report on General Secretariat of the Some 100,000 Palestinian the issue. League of Arab States - Social laborers from the West Bank “Ten years since the start Affairs Sector, Women, Family work in Israel and its settle- of the biggest displacement and Childhood Department is ments, which are widely seen crisis since the Second World always keen to keep pace with internationally as illegal and an Palestinian labourers who work within Israel or its settlements in the occupied West Bank, wait to War , analysis by NRC shows the international community obstacle to peace. be vaccinated at an Israeli facility at Shaar Efraim crossing from Israel to the West Bank, yesterday. that on average, an estimated in celebrating International Major General Kamil Abu 2.4 million displacements Women’s Day to affirm com- Rukun, the head of COGAT, said — more than 40 percent — have occupying power, Israel is it will obtain its own vaccines occurred in and outside Syria mitment to achieving gender in a statement in Arabic that received two doses of the responsible for providing vac- through a World Health Organ- every year since the start of the equality and the advancement Israelis and Palestinians “live vaccine. But until Monday, cines to the Palestinians. Israel isation partnership with conflict,” said the statement. of women in the Arab region. in the same epidemiological Israel had provided few vac- says that under interim peace humanitarian organisations Some 467,000 people This year’s celebration is space” and that it was a shared cines for Palestinians in the accords reached in the 1990s, it known as COVAX. have returned home in Syria an opportunity to pay tribute interest to vaccinate West Bank and Gaza Strip, a does not have any such To date, the PA has acquired in the past year while 1.8 to the exceptional contribu- Palestinians. move that has underscored obligation. enough vaccine doses for only million people were newly dis- tions made by women in the Israel has administered over global disparities and drawn Israeli officials have said the 6,000 people in the West Bank placed, meaning for every global response to the 8.7 million doses of the Pfizer international criticism. priority is vaccinating Israel’s and the Gaza Strip, which are person who returned home COVID-19 pandemic in the vaccine to its population of 9.3 Human rights groups and own population first, while the home to nearly five million nearly four more people were Arab region from all sectors. million. Over 3.7 million Israelis many Palestinians say that as an Palestinian Authority has said Palestinians. displaced, according to NRC. Displaced Syrians around the region have lost hope for returning home and “were Syria President and wife test positive for coronavirus more concerned about how they will put food on the table AP — DAMASCUS minor symptoms consistent Syria, which marks 10 years severely tested even developed to witness the rollout. The for their families, pay the rent, with the COVID-19 illness. It of war next week, has recorded countries, has been a major health minister said the gov- or take care of medical Syrian President Bashar Assad said Assad, 55, and his wife nearly 16,000 virus cases in gov- challenge for Syria’s health care ernment procured the vaccines expenses than envisioning a and his wife have tested positive Asma, who is 10 years younger ernment-held parts of the sector, already depleted by from a friendly country, which future back home.” for the coronavirus, the presi- and announced her recovery country, including 1,063 deaths. years of conflict. he declined to name. “The longer this crisis is left dent’s office said yeserday, with from breast cancer in 2019, will But the numbers are believed to Syria began a vaccination It was not immediately clear unsolved, the more we expect both having only mild continue to work from home be much higher with limited campaign last week amid rising if Assad, who has been in power economic destitution to symptoms of the illness. where they will isolate between amounts of PCR tests being done, numbers of infection cases, but since taking over from his late become the prominent push In a statement, Assad’s two to three weeks. Both were particularly in areas of northern no details have been given father in 2000, or any of his factor for further dis- office said the first couple did in “good health and in stable Syria outside government control. about the process, nor have family members have been placement,” NRC Secretary PCR tests after they experienced condition,” it added. The pandemic, which has local journalists been allowed vaccinated. General Jan Egeland said. 08 VIEWS TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021

Established in 1996 Biden grasped what CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF the media did not DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] JENNIFER RUBIN DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR THE WASHINGTON POST MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected] A month ago, I wrote, “It may be that we have undergone a fundamental shift - among EDITORIAL Democrats and Republicans alike - about what they expect government to do that Biden’s Vaccination feat political opponents on the Hill have failed to grasp.” On YET another milestone for Qatar’s health care sector. Saturday, the Senate passed The State has ramped up its vaccination drive by President Joe Biden’s $1.9 opening more centers including the drive-through trillion rescue plan, supported centers. The Ministry of Public Health said 327,582 by roughly 70% of voters, US President Joe Biden makes remarks from the White House, while Vice-President Kamala Harris COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since largely intact. looks on, after his coronavirus pandemic relief legislation passed in the Senate, in Washington. the start of the National COVID-19 vaccination Program. The president pushed “Ten percent of Qatar’s adult population has already aside repeated media chiding pandemic on attitudes about only one who could have down. received at least one vaccine dose. It is very important that he was not being bipar- the role of government in delivered a huge win less than Third, success builds on that everyone completes the vaccine by having the tisan enough. In fact, as he helping the economy.” 50 days into his term. (“Biden success. As Biden turns to second dose to ensure its efficacy,” said Minister of observed in a victory lap Several points deserve is in some ways the ideal items such as infrastructure, Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari. speech on Saturday, “without emphasis. messenger for their spending Republicans may feel more Qatar is vaccinating its citizens and residents with the overwhelming bipartisan First, Biden has been con- blitz,” The Post reports. “A pressure to end their reflexive Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Both vaccines support of the American sistently underestimated by septuagenarian who spent obstruction. One wonders if have shown high levels of safety and efficacy. “Our people, this would not have the chattering class. He was four decades in Congress, the having bet against an over- decision to focus on the most vulnerable in the initial happened.” He continued, boring, a weak debater, too president is hard to portray as whelmingly popular rescue stages of the vaccination program has helped to ensure “Overwhelming public old, not progressive enough, a socialist or radical leftist - plan, swing-district and that we have been able to protect many of the high-risk, support - every public they said during the cam- even as he advances some swing-state Republicans want elderly population. We are now significantly expanding opinion poll shows over- paign. Biden and his team had ambitious expansions of gov- to keep turning up their noses our vaccination program and have seen an impressive whelming support for this the confidence and expe- ernment spending, including at the very economic pop- increase in the number of vaccines administered each plan. And for the last weeks, rience to ignore the trite, con- a major new child tax ulism they insist they support. week throughout the program,” the Minister addded. it’s shown that. Every public ventional and wrongheaded benefit.”) Just as he did in the In the 1930s, disaster struck Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health opinion poll shows the people “take” that Democrats were campaign, he rejected media and metastasized on the Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious want this, they believe it’s looking for a fire-breathing entreaties to respond to the Republicans’ watch; now, Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said: “Due to needed, and they believe it’s socialist in 2020. They knew latest outburst from the dis- similarly, the GOP may find the availability of more vaccines and the opening of addi- urgent.” Bipartisanship, the to ignore Twitter, ignore the graced and now former pres- out that opposition to vig- tional vaccination centers, including Qatar National Con- administration maintained, complaints about an “ambi- ident or from his hysterical orous governmental action is vention Center and the Lusail COVID-19 drive-through was not found in capitulating tious” vice president and enablers obsessed with irrel- a political loser that may keep vaccination center, we have been able to widen the eli- to Republicans whose paltry ignore sneering about his evant cultural memes. He them out of power until mem- gibility to include more sections of our population.” $650 billion plan failed to campaign from the basement. would not be knocked off ories of their gross misman- Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, National Health Strategy grasp the magnitude of the What pundits would like to message. agement fade. 2018-2022 Lead for Healthy Ageing, said: “More than dual economic and health chalk up to luck was in fact a The Biden team’s focus Biden will have huge chal- half of Qatar’s elderly population have now received threats. Bipartisanship was savvy, disciplined campaign. allowed them to woo back lenges ahead. He will run into at least one dose of the vaccine, with 61 percent of achieved in meeting the needs Second, the laser-like into line moderate Democrats opposition on his green people over 70 years of age and 55 percent of people of Americans who are eager focus that served him well in such as Sen. Joe Manchin III, energy plans. Republicans over 60 years of age having received at least one for active government. the election also helped him D-W.Va., who might irra- will seek to filibuster voting vaccine dose.” Getting vaccinated is easy: Vaccines The Washington Post’s secure the biggest progressive tionally deny a qualified reforms intended to thwart are available in all 27 primary health centers and HMC report underscores the shift in victory in history. As many woman of color a Cabinet their Jim Crow legislative homecare teams are vaccinating housebound patients the Overton Window: “The center-left Democrats argued spot or seek the limelight in onslaught in dozens of states. in the safety and comfort of their own homes. disparity between the during the campaign, the way holding up the deal to lower But now that Biden has one Priority groups eligible for vaccination include people reception to President Barack to win the biggest gains for the unemployment subsidy major victory under his belt aged 50 and above regardless of their health conditions; Obama’s 2009 stimulus plan progressives is to elect from $400 to $300. Frus- and the prospect of covid-19 people with moderate chronic medical conditions at any and President Biden’s is the someone from the center of tration is kept behind closed and economic recovery age; and additional healthcare professionals and other result of several seismic shifts the party. doors; the eyes of Biden’s col- ahead, the media might want key workers in different ministries and government insti- in American politics - the Biden might have been the leagues are invariably on to stop underestimating him. tutions, including teachers and administration staff in edu- most dramatic of which may only candidate who could making the most important He and his team seem to cation. Qatar has recorded one of the lowest COVID-19 be the apparent impact of the have won in 2020, and the deal when the chips are know what they are doing. mortality rates in the world. Medical teams across the healthcare system in the state are working tirelessly to curb the spread of the virus. The State is admin- istering the vaccines free to all people. It is just as Imagine the COVID-19 economy before Zoom and Amazon important as ever that people continue to wear their masks and follow all the precautionary measures BLOOMBERG wouldn’t exist (nor would any still the reality for many usefulness in the era of covid, because people are still being admitted to hospital other online marketplace), essential front-line workers, the advent of these software with COVID-19. Economists concerned about everyone would have to buy but through remote work, at companies utterly trans- slowing productivity have everything in physical stores. least some fraction of Amer- formed America’s ability to spent the past decade hotly Imagine the lines stretching icans managed to avoid it, weather a plague. debating the value of free around the block as impatient helping sustain much of the So we should think more digital services such as mask-wearing crowds stood economy. carefully about the value of D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR Google’s web search and six feet apart, waiting hours And without online com- free digital services. In recent decades, academics have EMAIL: [email protected] Amazon’s online store. But for the chance to buy some munication tools that allow those online services have toilet paper or soap. Not only you to see the faces of friends debated whether products proven their worth during the would this be an incredible and family and hear their that are free to users - Google, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Facebook, the basic versions FAX: +974 4455 7758 pandemic. And COVID-19 may inconvenience, it would voices, imagine how much ultimately push our society to increase the risk of infection. lonelier people would have of Amazon and Zoom and MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 learn new ways of using digital And because many people been during social distancing. Slack - create more economic technologies that accelerate would probably delay their Finally, imagine looking value than the official DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 productivity growth. purchases of furniture and for information about covid numbers record. Productivity Over the past year I’ve appliances until after the pan- without Google, Facebook growth has been slowing LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 been occasionally bombarded demic, the economy would and other disseminators of down in the last decade and a BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 with tweets casting doubt on suffer more. free online news. People half, which leads many people the value of software com- People would also have to would be glued to their tele- to ask how that can happen SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 panies. The allegation that go in to their offices. With no vision screens, waiting for when we have all this fab- online services didn’t help Zoom, Slack or other remote updates from the government ulous innovation. But produc- ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 with the pandemic came on management tools, the com- - and that would mean being tivity measurements depend email: [email protected] top of a preexisting concern - panies that currently have forced to listen to Donald on the price people pay for PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 prevalent among some econ- their employees working Trump’s fire hose of misinfor- things; if people don’t have to email: [email protected] omist, as well as critics of the from home would have had to mation. It would have taken pay, there may be value cre- technology industry - that either halt operations -- the public much longer to ation that the statistics miss. MARKETING: TEL: 4455 7657 these services add little to the hurting the economy even realize that masks actually Until now, those who email: [email protected] real economy. more grievously - or find helped reduce the spread of argue that online services But let’s do a scary little some way to bring them in. the virus. don’t create a lot of hidden ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 thought experiment. Try to People congregating in offices So when you think about value have had the upper FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] imagine what 2020 would would spread the disease, it, it’s pretty incredible that hand in the debate. Economist CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 have been like without especially before everyone these online services were Chad Syverson, for example, email: [email protected] Google, Amazon, Zoom, Slack realized the importance of invented just in time for a has argued convincingly that or any of the other online ventilation and the fact that once-in-a-century pandemic. digital services aren’t creating SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 services. It’s pretty terrifying. six feet of distancing isn’t Though some have pooh- huge amounts of unmeasured FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected] First, because Amazon enough. Of course, this was poohed Silicon Valley’s value.

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar I think it's absolutely tragic, the impact that this COVID-19 crisis has had on women, especially /Peninsula_Qatar low-skilled women and minorities.

/ThePeninsulaNewspaper Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary

+974 6698 6188 TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 09 Senegal opposition leader to be released pending trial AP — DAKAR Sonko’s supporters neighbors in West Africa over the past half-century. A Senegalese court cleared the vowed to start The opposition coalition way yesterday for opposition three more days known as M2D has urged leader Ousmane Sonko to be peaceful protests this week, released pending his abuse trial of demonstrations urging the president “to take in a case that already has sparked yesterday, and some concrete action to meet the deadly protests that threaten to indicated they would democratic demands of the erode the country’s reputation as Senegalese people.” Chief one of West Africa’s most stable push ahead even as among those was the release of democracies. the opposition figure Sonko, charged with rape and Sonko is widely seen as making death threats. President Macky Sall’s greatest was expected to be The demonstrations first potential political challenger in released from custody began Wednesday before Sonko’s the upcoming 2024 election and initial court appearance for ques- his supporters maintain that the later yesterday tioning on accusations of rape. allegations are aimed at after being formally He was detained on the way to derailing his political future. The the courthouse and arrested for ensuing protests, in which at charged. disturbing public order after hun- least four people were killed last dreds of his supporters clashed week, have been accelerated by Our client will go home,” with police who were blocking broader, long-standing griev- attorney Cire Cledor Ly told unauthorised protests. ances with Sall’s reporters. “We have had this Sonko, 46, finished third in administration. result thanks to the mobilization the 2019 presidential election Sonko’s supporters vowed of the people.” with just over 15 percent of the to start three more days of dem- The violence has been the ballots cast, drawing strong onstrations yesterday, and some worst unrest to hit Senegal in support from younger voters. Supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was arrested following assault accusations, indicated they would push ahead nearly a decade, as demon- However, his message of greater demonstrate in front of the court in Dakar, Senegal, yesterday. even as the opposition figure strators have sought to economic independence for was expected to be released undermine Sall’s business ties Senegal has attracted a wider from custody later yesterday with former coloniser France. audience amid the financial intentions yet. was once widely seen as the The leaders of Senegal’s after being formally charged. In recent days crowds have set hardships of the COVID-19 pan- While Sall has been credited heir apparent before he was Muslim brotherhoods on Security forces deployed fire to more than a dozen super- demic amid curfews and other with infrastructure and devel- charged with corruption the fol- Sunday urged protesters to early across the capital of Dakar markets opened by French movement restrictions. opment projects, his critics say lowing year. He ultimately spent show restraint in the days in a show of force aimed at pre- retailer Auchan, and have tar- Sall easily won re-election in that has come alongside the three years in jail before going ahead. “Every Senegalese has venting further unrest. As news geted Total gas stations. 2019 with more than 58 percent sidelining of political rivals. Two into exile abroad in Qatar. the right to express themselves of Sonko’s pending release The sight of burned-out cars of the vote. His opponents fear he other rising political stars have Former Dakar Mayor Khalifa on the situation in the country, spread, throngs of boisterous and boarded-up shops is a will seek to extend his mandate previously faced charges their Sall, seen as a top contender at but with respect for institutions supporters descended on the rarity in Senegal, which has with a third term as presidents in supporters said were politically one point for the 2019 election, and without the destruction of courthouse waving Senegalese never suffered the military neighbouring Guinea and Ivory motivated. was arrested in 2017 on cor- public or private property,” said flags. coups and dictatorships that Coast did last year though Sall has Karim Wade, the son of the ruption charges and later par- Serigne Mansour Sy. “We call “The conspiracy has failed. have destabilised so many of its not commented publicly on his president Sall defeated in 2012, doned after the vote took place. for peace and serenity.” Niger President Libya rival parliaments hold first joint Ethiopia: Jailed oppn Issoufou wins $5m African talks on proposed new unity govt leaders to end hunger leadership prize BLOOMBERG — TRIPOLI administrations. prime ministers. Five of the Libya’s New Government portfolios would be held by strike after 39 days REUTERS — DAKAR Libya’s two rival parliaments Faces Hurdles to End 10 Years women, including foreign began meeting for the first time of War Prime Minister-des- affairs and international coop- AP — JOHANNESBURG charges including conspiring to Niger President Mahamadou to discuss a proposed unity ignate Abdulhamid Mohammed eration, culture and justice, dismantle the constitution by Issoufou has won the 2020 Mo government that would lead the Dbeibah, who was chosen by according to a list seen by Attorneys for four jailed Ethi- force and other terror-related Ibrahim prize for African war-torn OPEC member until delegates to a United Nations- Bloomberg. opian opposition figures said offenses. The politicians say the political leadership by elections in December. supported forum in Geneva, The proposal also involves they were to end their hunger charges are politically fostering economic progress Monday’s joint session presented proposals to the head the restoration of an oil and gas strike yesterday after 39 days. motivated. while joining in regional involving lawmakers from the of the eastern-based par- ministry to work alongside the The lawyers said the health Some ethnic Oromos feel efforts to tackle the Islamist Tobruk-based parliament, liament, Aguila Saleh, last National Oil Corp and be of the politicians deteriorated their quest for more democratic militant threat. which backed eastern military month. headed by a representative of in recent days, and there were space and the freedom to He is the sixth head of state commander Khalifa Haftar, and Speaking before the session, western Libya. Mohamed Aoun, fears for their lives. choose their leaders has not in Africa to win the $5m the rival assembly headquar- Dbeibah urged parliament to a former Libyan representative “The four individuals have been fulfilled since Prime Min- award, to be paid out over 10 tered in Tripoli, the capital, is “put the interests of the nation to Opec, is Dbeibahs’s sug- decided to end the hunger ister Abiy Ahmed came to power years, and the first since Libe- taking place in the central ahead” by allowing his pro- gestion for the post, the list strike as of today (Monday),” in 2018. They accuse Abiy of not ria’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in coastal city of Sirte. posed government to begin shows. attorney Tuli Bayissa said. honouring his promises by 2017. The prize, founded by It’s the latest test of efforts work swiftly. He also warned, Forming a unified gov- The prisoners agreed to end arresting some politicians who Sudanese telecoms tycoon Mo to unify the North African in a recorded speech, that ernment in the country that’s their protest after a plea from returned to Ethiopia from Ibrahim, was not awarded nation that has been roiled by failing to approve the new home to Africa’s largest oil “elders and notable personal- abroad, including Jawar. between 2018 and 2020 due conflict since a Nato-backed administration in a vote could reserves would help stabilize ities,” another attorney, Ibsa Abiy on Sunday urged cit- to a lack of suitable revolt ousted dictator “obstruct the electoral process.” energy production, a key Gemeda, said. izens to choose whoever they candidates. Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Dbeibah’s proposal is for a gov- income source that’s been The prisoners said they want in the upcoming general Issoufou, who was first eventually leading to the estab- ernment of 27 ministries, six blighted by repeated clashes would not eat until the gov- election in June, but stressed elected in 2011 and re-elected lishment of duelling state ministers and two deputy and closures. ernment released all Oromo citizens should prioritize peace. in 2016, has distinguished political prisoners, authori- “Our goal is to conduct an himself by stepping aside after zation for political party offices election that will make Ethiopia two terms, unlike a handful of in Oromia to open and operate a winner. It will be a stage African leaders such as Ivory freely, and an end to the alleged wherein everyone has an equal Coast’s Alassane Ouattara and mistreatment of families of chance to convey messages,” Guinea’s Alpha Conde, who political prisoners during he said while inaugurating a changed constitutional term prison visitations, Gemeda said. new road project in the Amhara limits to run a third time. A request by the prisoners region, according to the state “In the face of the most to be treated at a private hos- affiliated Fana Broadcasting. “If severe political and economic pital was recently implemented we lose the election, we will issues, including violent after weeks of denial despite a peacefully hand over power to extremism and increasing court order to its effect. the winner and will make desertification, President The jailed politicians history. And if we win, we will Mahamadou Issoufou has led include Ethiopia’s media take Ethiopia to the prosperity his people on a path of mogul-turned-politician Jawar it deserves by working day and progress,” said Festus Mogae, Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, night.” chair of the prize committee Hamza Adane and Dejene Tafa. In recent weeks, some and a former president of They were arrested along with opposition parties like the Botswana. at least 16 others following the Oromo Liberation Front and “While challenges remain, killing of a renowned singer, the Oromo Federalist Congress Issoufou has kept his promises Hachalu Hundessa, in June party have hinted that they may to the Nigerien people and 2020. Amid outrage over the boycott the election, citing paved the way for a better killing, violence targeting “widespread harassment of future.” The number of ethnic minorities claimed the members, the closure of offices Nigeriens living below the lives of several dozen people, and even killings.” Abiy also poverty line has fallen to 40 mainly in the Oromia region. faces pressure to end hostilities Libya’s new Prime Minister Abdulhamid Mohammed Dheibah, arrives in Sirte yesterday. percent from 48 percent a The jailed politicians face in the region of Tigray. decade ago, Mogae said, and Niger had made headway in areas such as improving opportunities for women. Zimbabwe women battle gender discrimination amid pandemic Niger’s ruling party can- didate Mohamed Bazoum was AP — HARARE burdens. As International to wash clothes … all the household business by lockdown rules. as she stripped down an declared the winner of the Women’s Day is marked around work, you have to do it. That is a After a devastating resur- accident-damaged truck in election to succeed Issoufou last There are very few female truck the world yesterday, Zimbabwe’s challenge,” Manatse told The Asso- gence that saw an increase in need of repair. month, although the opposition drivers in Zimbabwe, but Molly women celebrate the progress ciated Press, as she prepared for a numbers of COVID-19 infections On paper, Zimbabwe has candidate decried the results Manatse doesn’t like to be they have made in tackling dis- 1,700km trip to neighbouring and deaths in December and progressive laws that guarantee and deadly protests broke out. singled out for her gender. crimination in the workplace and South Africa’s port city of Durban. January, Zimbabwe’s gov- women’s rights in the work- Landlocked Niger faces “It has always been known acknowledge more effort is She is the only female driver at a ernment is beginning to relax place and at home. The country multiple security crises, with as a male job, but don’t say I am necessary. trucking company that employs restrictions and businesses are is a signatory to international militants linked to al Qaeda a female driver. We are just In many instances, Zimba- 80 drivers, she said. trying to recover. However, it treaties supporting gender and Islamic State encroaching drivers, we do the same job,” bwean women have become Memory Mukabeta, 37, runs may be a longer road to recovery equality. But lack of implemen- from its western borders with insists 31-year old Manatse, a leaders to help this troubled a car repair shop, a vocation for businesses owned by women, tation, as well as trained cul- Mali and Burkina Faso, and the Zimbabwean truck driver southern African country traditionally viewed as a male especially in male-dominated tural practices that reinforce Boko Haram insurgency whose income helps take care grapple with the double trauma domain. Like Manatse, these sectors due to inherent prej- inequality mean women, who spilling over from Nigeria in of relatives who have lost jobs of COVID-19 and ongoing eco- days she is helping to support udice, said Mukabeta. make up 52 percent of the pop- the south. due to COVID-19. nomic deterioration. members of her extended From the moment she ulation of 15 million, still lag The spread of Islamist mil- From driving trucks and However, many women say family whose livelihoods have answers the phone, many behind in education, health and itancy has prompted a coordi- fixing cars to encouraging girls it is not easy to achieve equality been hit by the restrictions clients doubt her abilities, she work, according to the United nated response by West African living with disabilities to find their or professional recognition and caused by the virus. said. Nations Children’s Fund. countries which make up the places in society, women in Zim- they are often reminded of “Some of them are male rel- “They expect a male to UN Women projects that “8 G5 Sahel group, including babwe are refusing to be defined women’s traditionally subser- atives, they no longer have jobs answer,” she said. “You have to million more women than men Niger, and are supported by a by their gender or circumstance, vient role in Zimbabwe. so I take care of them,” said convince them. They will be will be pushed into extreme 5,000-strong French counter- even as the pandemic hits them “Once you get home they Mukabeta, who said at times she asking me so many questions, poverty” in sub-Saharan Africa terrorism force. hardest and imposes extra expect you to cook, they expect you has been forced to close her they will doubt me,” she said, in 2021 due to the pandemic. 10 ASIA TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 Protests rage in Yangon; youth trapped, 3 dead

REUTERS — YANGON In Geneva, the UN Two protesters died of gunshot wounds to the head in Thousands of people took to the human rights office the northern town of Myitkyina streets of Myanmar’s biggest voiced deep concern yesterday, witnesses said. At city in defiance of a night about the fate of the least one person was killed at curfew yesterday, chanting in a protest in the town of Phyar anger after security forces protesters trapped Pon in the Irrawaddy Delta, a besieged hundreds of young in Sanchaung. political activist and local media anti-coup protesters in one said. neighbourhood. Rights chief Michelle Earlier, protesters in some Western embassies Bachelet said they places had waved flags fash- appealed to the ruling military ioned from htamain (women’s junta to allow the protesters to should be allowed sarongs) or hung them up on leave Sanchaung, where they to leave safely and lines across the street to mark were cornered at the end of without reprisals. International Women’s Day. another day of bloodshed in Walking beneath women’s Myanmar in which at least sarongs is traditionally con- three protesters were killed appeal. sidered bad luck for men. elsewhere in the country. In Geneva, the UN human MRTV said such a display “Free the students in San- rights office voiced deep was severely insulting to Tear gas and fire extinguisher gas float around demonstrators during a protest against the military chaung,” people chanted in the concern about the fate of the religion in largely Buddhist coup in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, yesterday. streets in districts across the protesters trapped in San- Myanmar. The army took former capital, where daily pro- chaung. Rights chief Michelle power citing fraud in the ballot tests have taken place for more Bachelet said they should be last November that was won by EU preparing sanctions on Myanmar than a month against the Feb. allowed to leave safely and Suu Kyi’s National League for 1 coup which overthrew elected without reprisals. Democracy (NLD) - an accu- leader Aung San Suu Kyi. A spokesman for the junta sation rejected by the electoral military businesses, documents show In some areas, police used did not answer calls requesting commission. It has promised stun grenades and fired shots comment. another election, but without REUTERS — BRUSSELS would be its most significant against the two companies and to try to disperse protesters, Police said they would giving a date. response so far since the coup. their subsidiaries, saying they witnesses said. scrutinise family registration The military has brushed The European Union is EU diplomats said that parts gave the army extra sources of Live video from Sanchaung lists in the area to check for out- off condemnation of its actions preparing to widen its sanctions of the military’s conglomerates, revenue that could finance on social media showed pro- siders - threatening action and appears to be digging in to on Myanmar’s armed forces to Myanmar Economic Holdings human rights violations. testers running between the against anyone caught con- weather the crisis, as it has in target businesses they run, in Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar A Myanmar junta houses as stun grenades deto- cealing them. past periods of army rule. protest at the February 1 Economic Corporation (MEC), spokesman did not answer a call nated. “Almost 200 young pro- State television MRTV said: In a clampdown on inde- military coup, according to were likely to be targeted, seeking comment on the EU’s testers are still blocked by the “The government’s patience has pendent media that has been diplomats and two internal barring EU investors and banks plan to broaden its sanctions. police and soldiers there. Local run out and while trying to min- covering the protests, state tel- documents. from doing business with them. Last week, the EU said it and international community imise casualties in stopping riots, evision announced the licenses The measures, which dip- The conglomerates are was suspending development needs to help them now! most people seek complete sta- of five outlets had been lomats said could be agreed by spread throughout the economy funds to Myanmar, although it Please,” one protest leader, bility are calling for more withdrawn. EU foreign ministers on March from mining and manufacturing has so far declined to freeze Maung Saungkha, said on effective measures against riots.” Shops, businesses and fac- 22, would target companies “gen- to food and beverages to hotels, trade preferences to one of Twitter. According to the United tories closed across Yangon on erating revenue for, or providing telecoms and banking. They rank Asia’s poorest countries for fear The US Embassy said in a Nations, more than 50 people Monday after at least nine financial support to, the Myanmar among the country’s biggest tax- of hitting mainly female statement: “We call on those have been killed by security unions covering sectors Armed Forces”, said one of the payers and sought partnerships workers in the textile sector. security forces to withdraw and forces in the junta’s attempts to including construction, agri- documents dated March 5. with foreign companies as German Foreign Minister allow people to go home end the protests demanding the culture and manufacturing While the bloc has an arms Myanmar opened up during the Heiko Maas on Thursday said safely.” The United Nations release of Suu Kyi and other called on all Myanmar people embargo on Myanmar, and has democratic liberalisation. fresh sanctions were part of the office in Myanmar and the detainees and respect for the to stop work to reverse the targeted some senior military A UN fact-finding mission EU’s plans for economic pun- British Embassy made a similar election she won last year. coup. officials since 2018, the measures in 2019 recommended sanctions ishment in response to the coup. Australia suspends defence ties with Myanmar India seeks funds from

AP — YANGON defence training program with who were demonstrating in the Ari Ben-Menashe, who pre- Myanmar worth about A$1.5m capital, Naypyitaw. The pro- viously represented Sudan’s Quad alliance to match Australia has suspended its ($1.2.) over five years. The testers deployed fire extin- military leader and Zimbabwe’s defence cooperation with program had been restricted to guishers to create a smoke screen Robert Mugabe, spoke on Myanmar and is redirecting noncombat areas such as as they fled from authorities. Sunday from the US after China’s vaccine push humanitarian aid in the country English-language training. Meanwhile, thousands of returning from his second trip because of last month’s military Australian humanitarian aid protesters marching in Mandalay, in the past month to Myanmar. REUTERS — NEW DELHI/ from the Australian gov- takeover of the government and will be directed away from the country’s second-largest city, He said he was confident he WASHINGTON ernment. But a government the ongoing detention of an Myanmar government and gov- dispersed on their own amid can persuade the Biden admin- source said a global recovery Australian citizen. ernment-related entities. fears that soldiers and police istration to lift sanctions India has urged the United from the COVID-19 pandemic Australian Foreign Minister Instead it will focus on the were planning to use force to imposed on Burmese military States, Japan and Australia to was a policy priority for the Marise Payne said yesterday immediate humanitarian needs break up their demonstration. leaders who directed the coup invest in its vaccine production country and its Quad that diplomats and relatives had of the most vulnerable and poor Meanwhile, a Canadian- last month that deposed and capacity, an Indian government partners. only been able to contact eco- in Myanmar, including the Israeli lobbyist hired by Myan- detained Myanmar’s elected source said, as the so-called Australia is exploring a nomic policy adviser Sean Rohingya and other ethnic mar’s junta has said the ruling leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Quad alliance tries to counter number of options to work with Turnell twice by phone since he minorities, Payne said. generals want to get out of pol- He said the US and others China’s growing vaccine partners to enhance stability was detained in early February. Also yesterday, Myanmar itics and shift the nation away in the West have reduced diplomacy. and prosperity in the region, the She described the access as security forces continued to from China after they grabbed Myanmar’s political conflict to Beijing has committed source said. “very limited consular support”. clamp down on anti-coup pro- power in the widely-con- a black and white tale of mil- to provide at least 463 Japan’s Foreign Minister Australia announced late on testers, firing tear gas to break up demned coup against the itary repression against pro- million doses of its home- Toshimitsu Motegi told a news Sunday that it had suspended a a crowd of around 1,000 people nation’s civilian government. democracy activists. made COVID-19 vaccines conference on Friday that the through exports and dona- four countries discussed the tions across the world from “necessity and importance of New Zealand to Asia to Africa, Europe and international cooperation to Latin America, according to ensure equal access to vaccines buy enough Pfizer a calculations. for developing countries,” at the vaccines for Two senior Indian officials February meeting, but nothing said the Quad alliance, was decided. entire population grouping the United States, An Indian foreign ministry Japan, Australia and India, was spokesman did not respond to REUTERS — SYDNEY stepping up efforts to expand a request for comment. global vaccination to counter One of the two Indian New Zealand will buy addi- China’s growing soft power. sources, an official who has tional COVID-19 vaccines, India, the world’s biggest direct knowledge of Quad developed by Pfizer Inc and vaccine maker, believes it is alliance discussions, said the Germany’s BioNTech, which best placed to steer the effort, group had several meetings will be enough to vaccinate the they added. about global vaccination. whole country, Prime Minister Asked for comment, a US “India has more vaccine Jacinda Ardern said yesterday. State Department spokes- options than any other Asian The government has person did not refer to India’s country at this point of time,” signed an agreement to buy an request for funds or to China said the source, declining to be extra 8.5 million doses, enough but said Washington was named as he was not authorised to vaccinate over four million deeply focused on expanding to talk on the matter. “India people, Ardern said, adding the global vaccination, manufac- expects members of the Quad vaccines were expected to turing and delivery. alliance to pay to ramp up reach the country in the “Secretary (Antony) Blinken production. second half of the year. spoke with his Quad counter- A second Indian source said “This brings our total Pfizer parts on February 18 to discuss that at the February virtual order to 10 million doses or Women rally in Nepal cooperation on COVID-19 meeting, the Quad countries enough for 5 million people to response and recovery and discussed ways to “encourage get the two shots needed to be climate change, among other alternative medical supply fully vaccinated against Women take part in a rally demanding tax exemption during the International Women’s Day in issues,” the official said. chains, thereby implying less COVID-19,” Ardern said in a Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. There was no comment dependency on China”. statement. The government’s original agreement with Pfizer was for 1.5 million doses, enough to Female farmers in India protest against new farm laws vaccinate 750,000 people. Ardern said the decision to AP — NEW DELHI against the laws they say will leave speak from the stage and ticipate in the protests. forefront of the protests, which make Pfizer the country’s them poorer and at the mercy of chanted slogans against the Multiple rounds of talks have posed one of the biggest primary vaccine provider was Thousands of female farmers big corporations. Prime Minister laws. At least 17 took part in a between the government and challenges to Modi since he took taken after it was shown to be held sit-ins and a hunger strike Narendra Modi’s government says day-long hunger strike. farmers have failed to end the office in 2014. Many accom- about 95 percent effective at in India’s capital yesterday in the laws are necessary to mod- “Women are sitting here, stalemate. The farmers have panied thousands of male preventing symptomatic protests on International ernize agriculture. out in the open, in protest, but rejected an offer from the gov- farmers who arrived at the infection. Women’s Day against new agri- About 100 women wearing Modi doesn’t care. He doesn’t ernment to put the laws on hold for protest sites in late November New Zealand started its cultural laws. yellow and green scarfs sat care about mothers, sisters, and 18 months, saying they won’t settle and have since organized and national rollout of the Pfizer- The demonstrations were cross-legged in front of a make- daughters. He doesn’t care for anything less than a complete led protest marches, run BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine held at multiple sites on the fringes shift stage in Ghazipur, one of about women. That’s clear,” repeal. They fear the laws will make medical camps and massive last month and expects to of New Delhi where tens of thou- the many protest sites. Holding said Mandeep Kaur, a female family-owned farms unviable, soup kitchens that feed thou- inoculate its entire population sands of farmers have camped for the flags of farm unions, they farmer who travelled 1,100km eventually leaving them landless. sands, and raised demands for by the end of the year. more than three months to protest listened to female farm leaders from Chhattisgarh state to par- Women have been at the gender equality. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 ASIA 11 US envoy, Pakistan army chief discuss Afghan peace process

REUTERS — ISLAMABAD Pakistan is the third with government officials. country that US “Ambassador Khalilzad The US special envoy for Afghan- emphasized Pakistan’s con- istan and the commander of Nato Special Envoy Zalmay tinued important role in the forces there met Pakistan’s army Khalilzad has visited peace process, especially to chief yesterday to discuss the help Afghans achieve a Afghan peace process at a pivotal in the last week as political settlement and com- juncture for the stalled negotia- Washington looks to prehensive ceasefire,’ the tions. inject new life into statement added. Pakistan is the third country The US special envoy pro- that US Special Envoy Zalmay Afghan peacemaking posed a shake-up of the process Khalilzad has visited in the last with a US troop this week during visits to Kabul week as Washington looks to and the Qatari capital, Doha, inject new life into Afghan withdrawal deadline the venue for negotiations, peacemaking with a US troop looming in May. according to diplomatic and withdrawal deadline looming political sources. in May. Khalilzad shared a letter Khalilzad and General Scott with Afghanistan’s president Miller, the head of US forces player in Afghan peacemaking and top peace official, pub- and the Nato-led non-combat and has been acknowledged by lished in local media and ver- Resolute Support mission, met Washington for helping to bring ified by Reuters, which said A police officer blocks demonstrators holding a banner as they protest during the International General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the insurgent Taliban, in power Washington would ask the Women’s Day, in Manila, Philippines, yesterday. Pakistani army headquarters from 1996 to 2001, to the nego- United Nations to convene in Rawalpindi, according to the tiating table. foreign ministers and envoys media wing of Pakistan’s But the process has stalled from Russia, China, Pakistan, military. amid a resurgence of violence Iran, India and United States “to Filipinas denounce Duterte during “Matters of mutual and disputes over the agenda discuss a unified approach to interest, regional security and for negotiations, including supporting peace in ongoing Afghanistan Recon- ceasefire arrangements. Afghanistan”. International Women’s Day rally ciliation Process were dis- A statement from the US The State Department cussed during the meeting,” a Embassy in Islamabad said declined to confirm the letter’s REUTERS — MANILA the rotten, anti-people, pro- not to run for president to statement said. “The visiting Khalilzad had “stressed the veracity, but said on Sunday foreign interest, and macho- succeed him, because it was no dignitary greatly appreciated need to accelerate progress after it was published by media Hundreds of mostly women fascist presidency,” said Joms job for a woman. Pakistan’s role in the ongoing towards a just and durable that all options remain on the demonstrators rallied in the Salvador, Secretary General of But in a statement yes- peace process.” peace in Afghanistan” during table for its remaining 2,500 Philippine capital yesterday to Gabriela, a prominent women’s terday, Duterte said his gov- Pakistan is seen as a key the meetings with Bajwa and troops in Afghanistan. mark International Women’s organisation in the ernment could “proudly claim Day, and took aim at the coun- Philippines. that concrete, sustainable, and try’s President Rodrigo Duterte Duterte is known for his inclusive actions” had been for alleged rights abuses against informal speeches and often taken to create a better envi- Pakistan police kill five suspected separatists women. uses profanity and threats of ronment where women’s rights Protesters smashed an violence, offending some Fili- are respected. AP — ISLAMABAD counter-terrorism department Baluchistan, according to the effigy of Duterte with sledge- pinos, but also endearing him “Let us elevate women to said. police. hammers during a demon- to many, including women. their rightful place in society by Pakistani security forces, acting In a statement, it said police The raid came hours after stration near his residence in Since taking office in 2016, empowering every Filipina to on intelligence, raided a also seized a cache of weapons insurgents killed a sailor and Manila during which women’s Duterte has infuriated women’s break not only the barriers that suspected hideout of a separatist in the raid in the district of wounded two others in an attack activists denounced him for groups, who call him a misog- have long hindered them... but group in southwestern Balu- Mastung. The slain men were on a Pakistani Navy vehicle in what they called abusive ynist after he made jokes about also the backward mindset that chistan province yesterday, trig- members of the Baluch Liber- Baluchistan. The Baluchistan Lib- security policies. rape on several occasions. fuelled a culture of gender gering a shootout that killed five ation, a separatist group that eration Army claimed responsi- “We are facing a virus far Duterte recently said he oppression and inequality,” he insurgents, the province’s often targets police and troops in bility for the attack. deadlier than COVID and it is had told his politician daughter said. South Korea finds Philippine police kill 9 no link between COVID-19 vaccine insurgents in raids and deaths AP — MANILA rights group Karapatan said REUTERS — SEOUL many of those killed belonged Philippine police backed by to political and workers’ groups. South Korea said yesterday it military forces killed nine She said one slain couple who had found no link between the people over the weekend in a led a fishermen’s group was coronavirus vaccine and series of raids against suspected gunned down by police as their several recent deaths, as it communist insurgents, with 10-year-old son watched while ordered nearly 100,000 authorities saying the suspects hiding under a bed. foreign workers to be tested opened fire first. Others, National police chief Gen. after clusters emerged in however, said those killed were Debold Sinas denied the sus- dormitories. unarmed activists. pects were victims of extra- Health officials had been Police said yesterday that judicial killings. investigating the deaths of all of those killed were asso- “Those were legitimate eight people with underlying ciated with “communist ter- operations because they were conditions who had adverse rorist groups” and had shot at covered by search warrants,” reactions after receiving Astra- officers while being served Sinas told reporters. Zeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, search warrants. The suspects Renato Reyes of the left- but said they found no evi- Women's march died while being taken to hos- wing alliance Bayan said the dence that the shots played a pitals, police said. Supreme Court should look into Women carry signboards and chant slogans as they participate in the Women’s march, to mark the role. Police served at least 24 what he said was an alarming International Women’s Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, yesterday. “We’ve tentatively con- search warrants, mostly for pattern of authorities providing cluded that it was difficult to illegal firearms and explosives, questionable or fabricated establish any link between in a number of locations in details about suspected crim- their adverse reaction after Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and inals to judges, who then issue being vaccinated, and their Thailand jails three more protest Rizal provinces over the warrants. deaths,” Korea Disease Control weekend. Police said six other “A policeman makes a wild and Prevention Agency leaders for insulting monarchy suspects were arrested and nine allegation that you are in pos- (KDCA) Director Jeong Eun- escaped. session of just one hand kyeong told a briefing. REUTERS — BANGKOK defaming the king, queen, heir grounds they could re-offend, The killings immediately grenade and a judge will sign a South Korea began vac- and regent punishable by up to one of their lawyers, drew condemnations by left- search warrant that could lead cinating residents and Three Thai protest leaders were 15 years in prison. Krisadang Nutcharat told wing and rights groups, which to your arrest or death,” Reyes workers at nursing homes jailed yesterday pending their The criminal court denied Reuters, adding their trials demanded an independent said in a statement. and other at-risk individuals trial for insulting the country’s bail for Panusaya “Roong” Sith- were set for March 15. investigation into what some “That is how bad things at the end of February, with powerful monarchy, their ijirawattanakul, 22, Panupong Chanchai Chalanonniwat, described as executions of have become. Search warrants 316,865 people having lawyer said, after the state “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, 24, and deputy spokesman for the legitimate activists being have been weaponized to go received their first shots as prosecutor indicted 18 activists Jatupat “Pai Daodin” Boonpat- Office of the Attorney General, carried out under the guise of after unarmed activists.” of Sunday. for sedition over anti- tararaksa, 29, who faced named the three among 18 pro- a crackdown on rebels who Palabay blamed President South Koreans aged 65 or government rallies last year. charges of lese majeste and 10 testers indicted on Monday. have been fighting a Marxist Rodrigo Duterte, who she said older were not being given The jailed protesters had other offences including The rest were indicted for insurgency for the past five encouraged military and AstraZeneca’s vaccine after broken traditional taboos by sedition over a Sept. 19 protest sedition, breaching a ban on decades. police personnel to commit health regulators concluded criticising King Maha Vaji- near Bangkok’s royal palace. public assembly and related The Department of Justice acts with impunity through his that more data was needed to ralongkorn, risking prosecution The three denied all charges and were freed on bail, will investigate the deaths, offi- regular televised threats to kill confirm its efficacy among that under a strict lese majeste law charges, but the court rejected according to a document from cials said. insurgents and drug age group. that makes insulting or their bail request on the the court. Cristina Palabay of the traffickers. Thailand to reduce quarantine period for vaccinated travellers

REUTERS — BANGKOK but with coronavirus-free cer- however, prompting wide- After October, if Thailand tificates would be quarantined spread jobs losses and inoculates 70% of medical per- Thailand will from next month for 10 days, he said. business closures and contrib- sonnel and at-risk groups, there reduce its mandatory quar- “Foreigners travelling to uting to the country’s deepest could be more easing of antine from 14 to seven days for Thailand with vaccination cer- economic traction in over two restriction, Anutin said, adding foreigners arriving in the tificates in accordance with the decades. it was possible quarantine could country who have been vacci- requirements of each brands, The country received close be waived completely. nated against the coronavirus, will need to quarantine for only to 40 million visitors in 2019. Thailand has so far vacci- its Health Minister said seven days,” Anutin said, The new measures do not nated 27,497 people, mostly yesterday. referring to the doses needed apply to those travelling from medical workers, using the Vaccinations must be to be effective. Africa, who would still be Sinovac Biotech vaccine. It has administered within three Thailand’s flight limits, its subject to quarantine for two ordered 61 million doses in total months of the travel period and strict entry requirements and weeks due to concerns about of the AstraZeneca vaccine with visitors will still be required to mandatory quarantine for all other variants of the virus. mass vaccinations slated to Unloading vaccine show negative COVID-19 test arrivals have been central to its Vaccinated Thai nationals begin in June results within three days of success in limiting the spread without a certificate showing Anutin said the country Workers unload boxes of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that their departure, Anutin Charn- of the virus to just over 26,000 they are coronavirus-free need may need to order an additional arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, virankul told a news cases and 85 deaths. to spend one week in quar- 10 to 20 million doses, which it on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. conference. Those curbs have deci- antine after two negative tests could source from other Those not yet inoculated mated its vital tourism sector, in the country. producers. 12 EUROPE TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 Harry, Meghan interview shakes UK royal family

AP — LONDON Harry and Meghan oppressive institution. gave a deeply “I was trapped, but I didn’t Britain’s royal family was know I was trapped,” Harry absorbing the tremors yesterday unflattering depiction said. “My father and my brother, from a sensational television of life inside the Royal they are trapped.” interview by Prince Harry and Meghan, he said, “saved the Duchess of Sussex, in which household, depicting me.” the couple said they encoun- a cold, uncaring The younger royals — tered racist attitudes and a lack institution that they including Harry, Meghan, Prince of support that drove Meghan William and William’s wife to thoughts of suicide. had to flee to save Catherine — have made cam- The couple gave a deeply their lives. paigning for support and unflattering depiction of life awareness around mental inside the royal household, health one of their priorities. But depicting a cold, uncaring insti- interview has only served to Harry described a royal family tution that they had to flee to highlight what a lot of people completely unable to offer that save their lives. have known for years: The support to its own members. Meghan told Oprah Winfrey monarchy is rotten to the core “For the family, they very that at one point “I just didn’t and does not reflect British much have this mentality of want to be alive anymore” and values.” ‘This is just how it is, this is how Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in this had uncontrollable suicidal In the soul-baring interview, it’s meant to be, you can’t undated handout photo. thoughts. She said she sought Meghan, 39, admitted that she change it, we’ve all been help through the palace’s was naive at the start of her through it,’” Harry said. lethal,” Williams added. fear of a repeat of the fate of his relationship with his brother human resources department, relationship with Harry and Sympathy for the couple American actress Meghan mother, Princess Diana, who William, and said things got so but was told there was nothing unprepared for the strictures of poured in from the United Markle, a star of the American was covered constantly by the bad with his father that at one they could do. royal life. States, where the two-hour TV legal drama “Suits,” married press and died in a car crash in point Prince Charles stopped While most in Britain have Meghan, who identifies as interview was broadcast Harry, a grandson of Queen Paris in 1997 while being taking his calls. yet to see the interview, which biracial, described that when Sunday night. It will be shown Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle pursued by paparazzi. “There is a lot to work aired yesterday evening, anti- she was pregnant with son later in Britain, where some see in May 2018. Their son, Archie, “What I was seeing was through there,” Harry said monarchy group Republic said Archie, there were “concerns Meghan and Harry as a couple was born the following year. history repeating itself, but def- about his relationship with his the Winfrey interview gives a and conversations about how who put personal happiness In early 2020, Meghan and initely far more dangerous — father. “I feel really let down. clearer picture of what the royal dark his skin might be when ahead of public duty. Harry announced they were because then you add race in, He’s been through something family is like — and it’s not he’s born.” Tennis star Serena Williams, quitting royal duties and and you add social media in,” similar. He knows what pain pretty. Harry confirmed the con- a friend who attended Harry moving to North America, citing Harry said. feels like. And Archie is his “Whether for the sake of versation, saying: “I was a bit and Meghan’s wedding, said on what they said were the Both Meghan and Harry grandson. I will always love Britain or for the sake of the shocked.” He said he would not Twitter that the duchess’ words unbearable intrusions and racist praised the support they had him, but there is a lot of hurt younger royals this rotten insti- reveal who made the comment. “illustrate the pain and cruelty attitudes of the British media. received from Queen Elizabeth that has happened.” tution needs to go,’’ Graham Harry, born a royal prince, she’s experienced. They have settled in Santa II, Harry’s grandmother. In a rare positive moment Smith of the campaign group described how his wife’s expe- “The mental health conse- Barbara, California, and spoke “The queen has always been in the interview, Harry and said. rience had helped him realise quences of systemic oppression to Winfrey from their home in wonderful to me,” Meghan said. Meghan revealed their second “Some people will say ‘well how he and the rest of the and victimisation are devas- the upmarket Montecito area. But Harry revealed that he child, due in the summer, would you would say that,’ but this family were stuck in an tating, isolating and all too often Harry said he had lived in currently has a poor be a girl. EU commission ‘surprised’ by Belgium’s travel ban extension Norway sees 19% drop in marriages AP — BRUSSELS to our letters to member states, Under the Schengen Code, asked Belgium to replace it with sent to Germany, Belgium and from Germany, Belgium and member states can introduce more targeted measures.” Finland, the commission also due to pandemic The European Commission Finland,” said Christian Wigand, border checks at their internal Belgium, the centre of wrote to Denmark, Hungary expressed its astonishment the commission spokesman in borders on grounds of a serious European institutions and and Sweden. REUTERS & AP — COPENHAGEN yesterday following a decision charge of justice, equality and threat to internal security, but decision-making at European “Our goal remains to find by Belgian authorities to rule of law. “As far as Belgium the Belgian ban goes well level, represents a major cross- solutions as quickly as possible Norway saw a 19 percent drop prolong a ban on all non- is concerned, we have been sur- beyond the EU’s recommenda- roads, sharing borders with to guarantee the functioning of in marriages in 2020 essential travel as part of prised to read in the press a new tions for a common approach France, Germany, Luxembourg the single market and respect compared to the previous year, measures to combat the coro- prolongation of the ban on to travel measures during the and the Netherlands. The of European rights related to which had already seen the navirus pandemic. travel on Friday, while it was pandemic. The commission’s country of 11.5 million has been free movement,” Wigand told lowest figure since 1927. The EU’s executive arm had not mentioned in the letter to stance is that nonessential badly hit by the pandemic, with journalists. “We will analyse Norway’s statistics agency previously warned six member the commission we received the travel should only be more than 22,000 deaths answers from the respective said yesterday that the pan- states including Belgium that day before.” discouraged. related to the virus recorded so member states and examine demic and measures to their travel-limiting measures Prime Minister Alexander “The commission’s position far. The Belgian government quickly all options on the table.” counter it led to the fall. In aimed at slowing down the pace De Croo’s government intro- has not changed and is very considers the ban a crucial Wigand did not elaborate 2020, around 16,200 wed- of new infections could duced the ban at the end of clear,” Wigand said, insisting element of its strategy to avoid but the EU could decide to start dings were performed. undermine the principle of free January, first extended it until that restrictions should be pro- another surge of infections as proceedings for breach of EU On top of that, “the decline travel within the 27-member April 1 and further extended it portionate. “We don’t believe the current numbers seem to laws that could eventually lead of 3,000 marriages from 2019 bloc and the single market. last week until April 18 to cover that a ban on travel respects plateau. to sanctions against the six to 2020 is unparalleled and is “We have received answers the next school holidays. that principle and we have In addition to the letters countries. the largest decline from one year to another since 1919,” said Ane Margrete Toem- meraas of Statistics Norway. Italy surpasses 100,000 virus “Figures show that the coronavirus measures from deaths as new curbs planned March 12, 2020 caused many to postpone their wedding,” BLOOMBERG — ROME is now considering a hard Toemmeraas said. Whether it lockdown for several regions “leads to an increase in 2021, Italy’s total coronavirus-related while accelerating vaccina- as many of the postponed deaths surpassed 100,000 tions, according to an official weddings may take place this yesterday as a resurgence in the who asked not to be named dis- year instead, will become clear pandemic prompts Mario cussing confidential later on,” she added. Draghi’s government to discussions. Norway, a country of 5.4 consider additional restrictions. Milan and its surrounding million, has seen 74,545 virus Italy is the sixth country to region of Lombardy have cases and recorded 632 deaths. reach 100,000 deaths from the already shut down all schools On Sunday, Norwegian virus, one year after it became and restaurants and ordered Prime Minister said in a tele- the first Western nation to enter citizens not to leave their vised speech that Norway will into a lockdown. Daily infec- municipalities for anything likely need stronger restrictions tions are accelerating and other than work or health- to combat the latest resurgence reached a three-month high related reasons. Options on the in coronavirus infections. last week, pushing total cases table at national level now “Ahead of us is another hill above 3 million. include making more regions to climb, probably with tighter Draghi’s government has high-risk “red” zones, possibly national measures before we already extended existing for about three weeks. can ease and then lift the restrictions, including a ban on Daily fatalities were 318 restrictions,” Solberg said. travel between regions and a yesterday, taking the total to She did not outline which nighttime curfew. His admin- 100,103, with 13,902 cases. additional measures could be istration, advised by a panel of Deaths haven’t risen as fast as needed to curb the COVID-19 A woman gestures during a march on International Women’s Day in Bilbao, Spain, yesterday. scientific and medical experts, infections. outbreak however. Feminists in Spain decry far-right attacks Brussels to rename tram, bus stops after famous women AP — MADRID Over 100 protesters defied widened the both salary gap REUTERS — BRUSSELS the order by gathering — while between men and women and Women in Spain are marking staying at a distance from each the gap in any work-life Brussels’ public transport operator marked Inter- this year’s International other — in Madrid’s Puerta del balance. national Women’s Day yesterday by renaming Women’s Day with static Sol central square. They “Spain can’t continue to be 10 metro stations after famous women for one protests, bicycle fun rides and shouted “Enough with patri- built with women in the day, and pledging to permanently rename 17 bus other small-sized events to archal justice!” held banners margins, with a few that break and tram stops over the next three years to prevent gatherings that could against fascism and called for glass ceilings while the most “feminise” its network. trigger a new spike of corona- an end to violence and discrim- vulnerable continue on sticky The late US civil rights leader Rosa Parks, virus infections. ination against women. floors,” said Equality Minister girls’ rights champion Malala Yousafzai and teen Spain’s Constitutional Court Some activists have called Irene Montero, who was joined climate-change fighter Greta Thunberg were yesterday rejected last-minute for purple scarves to flood the by Prime Minister Pedro among those whose names were given for a day appeals by unions and women’s balconies and windows of Sánchez at an official Women’s to stops on the Belgian capital’s four-line subway rights groups to street protests Madrid. Day event. network. or marches in the Spanish Spain’s thriving feminist Far-right activists, mean- Transport operator STIB said in a statement People taking part in a protest to call for gender capital of Madrid, following movement has claimed a few while, have campaigned against that permanently renaming long-established sta- equality and demanding an end to violence against similar rulings by lower-level victories in recent years, gender violence laws that they tions and stops throws up practical challenges, women to mark the International Women’s Day courts. including the adoption of say discriminate against men. but it was committed to bringing more balance in Brussels, yesterday. The decision has enraged gender violence laws and Twin street murals cele- to its network over time. many who argued it was pos- forcing judicial reforms brating accomplished women STIB said that many public transport stops “At the time the names were chosen, society sible to raise their voice in favor regarding sexual abuse. Yet in politics, arts and science are named after men whose names are given to was different. Women did not have a role in of gender equality and against activists say the social and eco- were vandalised over the streets in those neighbourhoods, and there are society then, unlike today,” it said. “It was men discrimination without endan- nomic crisis triggered by the weekend in Madrid and a 14 times more streets named after men than who took the decisions and obviously they chose” gering public health. coronavirus pandemic has nearby city. women in Brussels. men’s names. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 EUROPE 13 Germany plans aggressive vaccine rollout after slow start

BLOOMBERG — BERLIN Germany will The J&J shot is expected to drastically speed be accepted at the European Germany will drastically level this week, EU internal speed up its coronavirus up its coronavirus markets chief, Thierry Breton, vaccination campaign and vaccination said on France 2 television. He aims to get shots to as many said that the EU would double as 10 million people a week campaign and aims its vaccine production and from the end of March. to get shots to as would see output of 90 million But such an ambitious many as 10 million to 100 million doses a month target, mentioned by Finance by the end of March. Minister Olaf Scholz late on people a week from Scholz said that vaccination Sunday, would require the end of March. centers and doctors will have Germany to turbo-charge a to handle millions of doses rollout that’s been under- every week in April, May and whelming so far. It’s distributed June. “And I have seen to it that about 7.3 million doses in total to data from the European this will be well prepared for,” since inoculations started ten Centre for Disease Prevention he said in an interview with Activists taking part in a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women, on International weeks ago, according to and Control. That’s just over a ZDF television. Women’s Day in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker. quarter of the 40 million doses Merkel has promised all Chancellor Angela Merkel the company has promised to Germans a first shot of Covid-19 has come under fire for the supply by the end of March. vaccine by the end of Sep- country’s slow campaign, which Governments are counting tember, as long as drugmakers Thousands of women march in Kiev has forced the government to on increased deliveries of stick to their delivery prolong lockdowns. existing vaccines, as well as commitments. against rising domestic violence The same issue is playing approval for others, to help Last week Merkel extended out across European Union accelerate the rollout. some curbs to March 28, but AP — KIEV yesterday's march in Kiev held During the pandemic, cases countries, pushing them to European Commission also unveiled a plan to grad- flowers and wore traditional of domestic violence in Ukraine sometimes take dramatic steps. spokesman Eric Mamer clar- ually relax restrictions. On Thousands of women marched Ukrainian national increased by almost half. Over Italy last week blocked a ified to journalists in Brussels Monday, book stores, flower through the center of Ukraine’s costumes. the past year, the police shipment of AstraZeneca Plc’s yesterday that the forecast for shops and gardening centers capital on International “The purpose of the march received 174,386 statements of vaccine to Australia, using a 300 million in the second reopened and more people Women’s Day to draw attention is to draw public attention to domestic violence. recently introduced EU regu- quarter takes all available vac- were allowed to meet up to domestic violence, which has how the situation of women has The marchers demanded lation for the first time. cines into account, including privately. risen sharply amid restrictions deteriorated, especially during Ukraine’s ratification of the AstraZeneca has so far those yet to gain regulatory But more easing steps imposed to block the spread of the pandemic,” said Daria Istanbul Convention, a Council delivered about 10.7 million approval, such as one from depend on a further slowdown coronavirus. Mizina, an Amnesty Interna- of Europe measure to combat vaccines to the EU, according Johnson & Johnson. in COVID-19 infection rates. Many of those in the tional Ukraine activist. violence against women. EU must take tough stance to counter Russia, says Romania FM Hungary races up EU vaccine BLOOMBERG — BUCHAREST strategy to deal with the meeting this month. followed a visit to Moscow last coronavirus vaccinations, which Kremlin should also seek to The EU has faced criticism month by its foreign-policy have taken on a geopolitical leaderboard as The European Union must take boost independent Russian for resisting calls by Navalny’s chief, Josep Borrell, during element, as an area where more a tougher stance against media and civil society, and aim allies to sanction billionaires which his counterpart, Sergei action is needed. Russia and virus deaths soar Russia’s “provocative and for a more “influential” EU role and bankers close to President Lavrov, disparaged the bloc. China are already shipping their assertive” relationship with the in solving regional conflicts, Vladimir Putin’s government, Aurescu said it’s clear Russia domestically developed shots to BLOOMBERG — BUDAPEST bloc, according to Romania’s such as the one between instead opting to penalize four doesn’t want to have a normal EU member state Hungary, as foreign minister. Azerbaijan and Armenia over Russians from the law- relationship with the EU. well as countries bordering the Hungary has raced to become Sanctions over the 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh, he said. enforcement sphere. While the While some sanctions may bloc, including Serbia and Mon- one of the European Union’s annexation of Crimea from “There’s clear room for US has initially followed suit, it’s not have had “a spectacular tenegro. “I hope the EU will leaders in COVID-19 vaccina- Ukraine and the recent poi- improvement and there’s a need also considering measures that effect,” a failure to impose any speed up its efforts to become tions as the country struggles soning of opposition leader for broader actions,” Aurescu could target oligarchs or the punishment “would have sent a present in these countries with to contain a worsening Alexey Navalny have had a said Friday by phone. He nation’s sovereign debt. totally negative signal to the inter- approved vaccines to avoid a epidemic that has produced limited impact, Bogdan Aurescu expects the EU Council to The EU’s response to Nav- national community,” he said. worsening of this vaccine one of the worst mortality said in an interview. A new discuss the issues at its next alny’s attempted assassination Aurescu singles out crisis,” Aurescu said. rates in the world. Prime Minister Viktor Orban severely tightened curbs, closing schools and Italian police accuse nearly all retail outlets from yesterday. Algerian man of role in The lockdown, along with a fresh batch of worsening virus data, dashed initial gov- 2015 Bataclan attack ernment plans for a quick vac- cination campaign to avert a third wave of the virus. REUTERS — ROME sentence in Bari for forging Hungary jumped to second documents. place in vaccinations per Italian police said yesterday “We tapped his phone capita in the EU, behind tiny they had evidence an Algerian because we had received a Malta. man in the southern city of Bari warning. We listened to him With more than 1 million was a member of the Islamic talking about the Finsbury Park jabs, Hungary has adminis- State (IS) militant group and mosque in London, where he tered 13.2 doses per 100 had helped the perpetrators of personally knew an imam,” people, compared with the a coordinated attack that killed Roberto Rossi, Bari’s chief pros- trading bloc’s average of 9.1. 130 people in Paris in 2015. ecutor, said. The gains were propelled by Athmane Touami, 36, who Finsbury Park, in north hundreds of thousands of was already in prison for sep- London, is one of Britain’s Chinese and Russian shots, arate crimes, was accused yes- biggest mosques. which haven’t been approved terday of providing counterfeit Italian police said they had in the EU and which drew crit- documents to the gunmen and evidence that during his time Phone box to become book exchange icism from some member bombers who attacked the at a Bari deportation centre, Workers remove the city’s last phone box to have it restored and turned into a book exchange point, states for the bloc’s unity. Bataclan concert hall, cafes, where he was sent before his in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. At home, Hungarians are restaurants and the outside of imprisonment, he had been facing the yearlong pandemic’s the Stade de France sports planning a return to France. highest daily infections over stadium. Bari, the capital of the the weekend, with reports of He and his two brothers Puglia region at the heel of Netherlands PM extends lockdown hospitals struggling to keep up were part of a group spe- Italy’s boot, is the country’s with the influx of coronavirus cialized in providing logistic gateway to the Balkans and the AP — THE HAGUE gains the upper hand over the countdown to three days of patients. support to Jihadist groups oper- Middle East. Prosecutors in the virus and more will be voting that start on March 15. The surge was seemingly ating in Belgium and France, city are particularly alert to the Dutch Prime Minister Mark possible.” Rutte said that the 9 pm to a surprise for the gov- according to Italian arrival of possible Jihadist Rutte yesterday extended the Rutte was speaking a week 4:30 am curfew that is part of ernment, which recently had magistrates. militants. country’s tough coronavirus before a parliamentary election the lockdown will remain in been discussing easing pre- British and French police “We have had similar lockdown until the end of the in the Netherlands at which he force through the election, vious curbs. had put him on a list of people investigations in the past... if month, but he added a note of is seeking a fourth term that when polling stations are open Hungary has the third- allegedly engaged in “activities one comes from Syria or Iraq hope to his message to a could make him the longest- until 9 pm, but people working highest Covid-19 fatality rate related to terrorism”, a this is the best way through pandemic-weary nation by serving Dutch leader. The pan- at or visiting voting booths in the world after Mexico and statement said. He was already Europe,” chief prosecutor Rossi predicting that a “tipping point demic is casting a long shadow won’t be fined for curfew Peru and is in fourth place in serving a two-year prison said. is coming when the vaccine over other issues in the breaches. deaths per capita after the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Italy, according Food delivery riders demand right to Johns Hopkins University Sweden: Court sentences woman for data. to be self-employed in Spain While Hungary doesn’t taking child to IS area in Syria break down data for intensive- AP — MADRID care units, the government reported that a record 806 AP — STOCKHOLM the woman, who was not her son away from his father in Food delivery workers protested across Spain, saying they would people are on ventilators, named, took the child to an area an arbitrary manner,” said the support a planned new law regulating their sector only if it allows double the number from two A southern Swedish court “where there was war and an court statement. them to remain self-employed. weeks ago. yesterday sentenced a woman environment characterized by In 2017, when the Islamic More than 2,000 delivery riders gathered to protest in at least It plans to triple the to three years in prison for the violent ideology of the State’s reign began to collapse, 10 Spanish cities, including Madrid and Barcelona, private news number of available ICU beds, taking her 2-year-old son to Islamic State group.” she fled from Raqqa - the city agency Europa Press reported. Chief Medical Officer Cecilia Syria in 2014, to an area that The court, which did not that was known as the capital The proposed legal changes are the latest affecting companies Muller said at a briefing was then controlled by the identify the woman’s nation- of the so-called IS “caliphate” and workers in the gig economy. yesterday. Islamic State group. ality, rejected her claims that - and was captured by Syrian Last month, Britain’s top court ruled that Uber drivers should The worsening outbreak is The woman, who lived in she had only intended to go to Kurdish troops, the Sydsvenska be classed as “workers” and not self-employed, in what was seen creating an opening for the the southern town of Land- Syria for a few days to see how daily wrote. She managed to as a major setback for the ride-hailing giant. opposition, which plans to skrona, has allegedly told the it was there and then return escape to Turkey where she Digital platforms offering food deliveries, such as Deliveroo, unify for next year’s election child’s father that she and the home. She also told the court was arrested with her son and Uber and Glovo, have boomed in Europe during the COVID-19 for the first time since Orban boy were only going on a that she had become interested two other children she had pandemic as people spend more time staying at home. swept to power in 2010. holiday to Turkey. However, in religion after the death of a given birth to in the meantime, The Spanish government initially consulted groups repre- After three landslide vic- once in Turkey, the two crossed close relative. with an IS foreign fighter from senting the workers as it drew up the new law, known as “ley tories for the ruling party, into Syria and IS-run “She intended to move to Tunisia, the daily wrote. She rider.” the majority of polls this territory. Syria with her son and settle was extradited from Turkey to But those groups now complain they are being ignored and year show it consistently The Lund District Court said there permanently, and took Sweden. that the legislation is overdue. behind. 14 AMERICAS TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 Biden’s giant stimulus to easily pass House: Democrats

BLOOMBERG — WASHINGTON Democratic aides unemployment rate tumbling to out stimulus cheques was said the looming 4.1% by year-end, from 6.2% in lowered to $80,000 from President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion February. They see employment $100,000 by the Senate, the bill package will sail through the March 14 expiration climbing by more than 6 million now made student-loan relief House when it takes up the bill of enhanced for 2021, making up much of the tax-free. A progressive attempt today, according to Democratic unemployment 9.4 million plunge in payrolls last to add a phased-in $15 lawmakers and aides, even after year. “Growth will be rip-roaring minimum wage to the package proposals progressives cham- benefits makes for a during the coming year,” Moody’s failed when eight senators in pioned were scaled back. strong disincentive Analytics chief economist Mark the Democratic caucus voted on The Senate’s changes to the for any rank-and-file Zandi wrote, citing additional Friday against waiving budget House-passed bill, made to fiscal stimulus, the end of the pan- rules to allow it in the bill. appease moderates and comply members to try to demic and consumers emerging Marathon negotiations on with parliamentary rules, force a renegotiation from lockdown. Friday night showcased the del- included dropping a proposed Democratic aides said the icate balance of power in the minimum wage increase but are with the Senate. That looming March 14 expiration of Senate, and the sway of mod- unlikely to prove enough to could risk missing enhanced unemployment ben- erates. Senate Majority Leader make progressive Democrats the deadline, with efits makes for a strong disin- Chuck Schumer contended with vote against it. centive for any rank-and-file a move by West Virginia Dem- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assistance lapsing. members to try to force a rene- ocrat Joe Manchin to back a can only afford to have four gotiation with the Senate. That GOP proposal to phase out the Democrats oppose a bill for it could risk missing the deadline, enhanced jobless benefits by to pass, if all members are trouble. What Democrat is going with assistance lapsing. mid-July. With Schumer arguing voting and Republicans are to vote against a bill that cuts Progressives who had that such a change could cause lined up in opposition, given her poverty by a third, expands expressed concern about any trouble in the House, Manchin party’s thin majority. Two Dem- child tax credits and SNAP, gives changes in the Senate so far are ultimately compromised, and ocrats joined a united GOP in $1,400 to 80% of their constit- holding their fire, with the Con- backed the deal to keep aid voting against the initial version uents?” said Budget Chairman gressional Progressive Caucus going until September. of the stimulus. John Yarmuth, a chief architect issuing a statement calling the Although most House Dem- Pelosi on Sunday predicted of the American Rescue Plan upper chamber’s changes ocrats have applauded the bill’s the bill will pass. “In two days, the bill. SNAP refers to a federal “minor”, The Senate reduced progressive elements, even with House will have a resounding, food-assistance program. weekly supplemental unem- the Senate changes, there is still hopefully bipartisan, vote for With Biden now cruising to ployment benefit to $300 per a chance for defections. justice,” Pelosi said in a letter to his first legislative victory less week through September 6, com- The White House is already her caucus on Sunday. “We can than two months after proposing pared with $400 through August engaged in crafting a “Build then send it to the president and his relief bill, economists have in the House bill. The new version Back Better” package that is US President Joe Biden watches as Dr. Deepika Duggineni, a Veterans move quickly to distribute its life- baked its effects into their fore- also now lets individuals earning expected include both infra- Affairs Medical Center clinical pharmacist, prepares a needle with saving resources.” Other senior casts for a stronger recovery in up to $150,000 to collect $10,200 structure investments and pro- vaccine at a clinic administering COVID-19 vaccines to US veterans lawmakers agreed. 2021. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in benefits tax free. gressive priorities like funding at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, DC, yesterday. “I don’t think there is any economists see the While the ceiling for zeroing for child and elder care. Task force calls for US New virus cases in US fall 12%; Capitol security upgrades vaccinations top and rapid-reaction force 2 million a day

REUTERS — WASHINGTON make the area inaccessible to REUTERS — NEW YORK the public. A task force report released The task force recom- The United States reported a yesterday recommended wide- mended the formation of a 12% decline in new cases of ranging security upgrades at “quick-reaction force” covering COVID-19 last week, while the US Capitol and the creation the entire city of Washington vaccinations accelerated to a of a quick-reaction force in under the command of the Dis- record 2.2 million shots per day, Washington, while calling the trict of Columbia National according to a Reuters analysis US Capitol Police poorly Guard by using military police of state, county and CDC data. prepared for the January 6 from across the United States New infections have attack on the building. on temporary rotations. dropped for eight weeks in a The 15-page report, com- The report noted that row, averaging 60,000 new piled by a group headed by Washington is a “prominent cases per day for the week retired US Army Lieutenant tourist destination, venue for ended March 7. Deaths linked General Russel Honoré, also many peaceful First to COVID-19 fell 18% last week recommended an upgrade to Amendment activities to 11,800, the lowest since late Mass vaccination in Mexico City Capitol Police intelligence (referring to the constitutional November and averaging capabilities and training. right of free speech), and a 1,686 per day. People wait to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination in Mexico The report was requested high-value target for foreign Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top City, Mexico, yesterday. by House of Representatives terrorists or domestic US infectious disease expert, Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the extremists, yet it has no dedi- has urged the nation to keep aftermath of the rampage by a cated QRF (quick-reaction most pandemic restrictions in Bolivian left Over 17 million Americans watched mob of former President force) for response to crises”. place until new cases fall to Donald Trump’s supporters The report called for giving under 10,000 per day. faces setback in Prince Harry, Meghan interview that left five people dead the commander of the DC Thirteen out of 50 states including a police officer. National Guard emergency reported more new infections local elections REUTERS — NEW YORK event in the United States. The task force was broadly authority help quell large-scale, last week compared with the Sunday’s interview was the critical of the US Capitol Police unexpected civil disturbances previous seven days, down REUTERS — LA PAZ Some 17.1 million Americans first given by the couple since department’s preparedness in “where prior authorization by from 29 states in the prior watched Oprah Winfrey’s they stepped back from the the run-up to the attack. The the president is impossible and week, according to the Reuters Bolivia’s leftist ruling party bombshell television interview British royal family a year ago. mob interrupted the formal local authorities are unable to analysis. New Jersey, New received an electoral setback with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan spoke of feeling sui- congressional certification of control the situation”. York and Rhode Island had the on Sunday when exit polls Meghan, broadcaster CBS said cidal while Harry said his President Joe Biden’s election There currently are about highest rates of new infections showed it had lost the possi- yesterday. father, Prince Charles, had let victory over Trump and sent 5,200 National Guard troops per 100,000 residents. bility of governing the most CBS said Sunday’s two- him down. lawmakers into hiding for their deployed to the Capitol until As of Sunday, 18% of the US populated cities in the country. hour interview, in which Harry It dominated the conver- own safety. “The USCP were March 12. Capitol Police have population has received at least In the midst of a second and Meghan accused the royal sation on social media, morning understaffed, insufficiently asked the Pentagon to extend one dose of a vaccine and 9% wave of coronavirus, the family of racism and of failing television shows and news- equipped and inadequately their mission. The report also has received two doses, center-right won the mayor- to protect them from negative paper front pages on Monday trained to secure the Capitol urged steps to improve some according to the Centers for alties of La Paz, Santa Cruz, media coverage, drew the in Britain and abroad. and members” of Congress, the of the most rudimentary Disease Control and Prevention. Cochabamba and El Alto, biggest audience for any enter- The hashtag #Harryand- report stated. security features of the Capitol, The country administered an which account for about 70 tainment special since the MeghanonOprah was among One recommendation such as hardening windows average of 2.2 million shots per percent of the Bolivian popu- Oscars telecast in February the top five trending items called for eventually replacing and doors in the building, hiring day last week, up from 1.6 lation. In all the country has 2020, which was watched by worldwide on Twitter during the temporary fencing erected hundreds more police officers million shots in the prior week. 11.3 million inhabitants. 23.6 million viewers. and after the broadcast, while around the Capitol after the and reconstituting a disbanded The average number of The ruling party’s rivals It was also the most- #Abolishthemonarchy was also attack with an “integrated mounted police unit. COVID-19 patients in US hos- won eight of the 10 main watched non Super Bowl event buzzing, with 11,200 tweets. retractable fencing system”. Following the September 11, pitals fell 16% to 44,000 last Bolivian cities and appeared on a Sunday in prime time in The couple’s interview There currently is no per- 2001 attacks, Capitol Hill week, the lowest since late set to take control of least four over a year, CBS said. The covered not just their tensions manent barrier around the security was tightened but still October, according to a Reuters of the nine provincial gover- National Football League’s with the royal family but also sprawling Capitol complex. was proven to be inadequate tally. Cumulatively, over norships, according to survey Super Bowl regularly draws an Harry’s disgust at the conduct Many lawmakers, while on January 6, despite expecta- 525,000 people have died from data released by local tele- audience of around 100 million of the British press, particularly demanding improved security, tions of potential violence days the virus in the United States, or vision channels Unitel, Red and is the highest-rated TV the tabloids. also have been hesitant to before the attack. one in every 621 residents. Uno and Bolivision. The left returned to power in Bolivia at the end of last year, when current president, Two-thirds of tropical rainforest destroyed or degraded globally: NGO Luis Arce, won the national election with a comfortable REUTERS — BRASILIA according to an analysis by the according to another report by that Brazil must take care of the or destroyed and since replaced 55.1 percent. He was backed non-profit Rainforest Foun- the World Resources Institute. forest,” said Ane Alencar, a by secondary forest growth, by former president Evo Humans have degraded or dation Norway. The Brazilian Amazon has geographer with the Amazon Rainforest Foundation Norway Morales. But increasingly destroyed roughly two-thirds of More than half of the been under intense pressure in Environmental Research said. Bolivian voters are looking the world’s original tropical rain- destruction since 2002 has been recent decades, as an agricul- Institute who was not involved That report’s definition for towards a new generation of forest cover, new data reveals - in South America’s Amazon and tural boom has driven farmers in the work. intact forest may be overly politicians. raising alarm that a key natural bordering rainforests. As more and land speculators to torch “Brazil has the biggest chunk strict, cautioned Tasso Azevedo, In the city of El Alto, long buffer against climate change is rainforest is destroyed, there is plots of land for soybeans, beef of tropical forest in the world and coordinator of the Brazilian a bastion of socialism, Eva quickly vanishing. more potential for climate and other crops. That trend has is also losing the most.” Southeast deforestation mapping initiative Copa, a former socialist party The forest loss is also a change, which in turn makes it worsened since 2019, when Asian islands, mostly belonging MapBiomas. The analysis only star who was pushed out of the major contributor of climate- more difficult for remaining right-wing President Jair Bol- to Indonesia, collectively rank counts untouched regions of at party for being too moderate, warming emissions, with the forests to survive, said the sonaro took office and began second in terms of forest least 500 square km as intact, was elected mayor, according dense tropical forest vegetation report’s author Anders Krogh, weakening environmental destruction since 2002, with leaving out smaller areas that to the exit polls. “We have representing the largest living a tropical forest researcher. enforcement. much of those forests cleared for may add to the world’s virgin shown that we are a new alter- reservoir of carbon. “It’s a terrifying cycle,” Krogh But the Amazon also repre- palm oil plantations. forest cover, he said. native,” she told reporters. Logging and land con- said. The total lost between just sents the best hope for pre- Central Africa ranks third, Krogh explained that this def- Election authorities have a version, mainly for agriculture, 2002 and 2019 was larger than serving what rainforest with most of the destruction cen- inition was chosen because smaller week to announce the official have wiped out 34% of the the area of France, he found. The remains. The Amazon and its tered around the Congo River tracts are at risk of the “edge results of Sunday’s vote, which world’s original old-growth rate of loss in 2019 roughly neighbors - the Orinoco and the basin, due to traditional and effect,” where trees die faster and was marred by long delays at tropical rainforests, and matched the annual level of Andean rainforest - account for commercial farming as well as biodiversity is harder to maintain many polling stations where degraded another 30%, leaving destruction over the last 20 years, 73.5% of tropical forests still logging. Forests that were defined near the edge of the forest. A forest lines formed as people waited them more vulnerable to fire with a football field’s worth of intact, according to Krogh. in the report as degraded had spanning 500 square km can fully to cast their ballots. and future destruction, forest vanishing every 6 seconds, The new report “reinforces either been partially destroyed, sustain its ecosystem, he said. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 AMERICAS 15 Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks: CDC

AP — NEW YORK The recommendations news to a nation that is under- also say that standably tired of the pandemic Fully vaccinated Americans can and longs to safely resume gather with other vaccinated vaccinated people normal activities,” said Dr. people indoors without wearing can come together in Richard Besser, president and a mask or social distancing, the same way — in CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson according to long-awaited Foundation and a former acting guidance from federal health a single household director of the CDC. officials. — with people “I hope that this new The recommendations also considered at low-risk guidance provides the say that vaccinated people can momentum for everyone to get come together in the same way for severe disease, vaccinated when they can and — in a single household — with such as in the gives states the patience to people considered at low-risk follow the public health for severe disease, such as in case of vaccinated roadmap needed to reopen the case of vaccinated grand- grandparents visiting their economies and commu- parents visiting healthy healthy children and nities safely,” said Besser, in a children and grandchildren. The statement. People march on the first day of jury selection for the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, on Centers for Disease Control and grandchildren. But Dr. Leana Wen called murder charges in the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, yesterday. Prevention announced the the guidance “far too cautious”. guidance yesterday. The CDC did not change its rec- The guidance is designed to large gatherings, and physically ommendations on travel, which Jury selection for Minneapolis trial address a growing demand, as distance themselves from discourages unnecessary travel more adults have been getting others when out in public. The and calls for getting tested vaccinated and wondering if it CDC also advised vaccinated within a few days of the trip. in George Floyd death delayed gives them greater freedom to people to get tested if they That could seem confusing to visit family members, travel, or develop symptoms that could vaccinated people hoping to REUTERS — MINNEAPOLIS difficulties finding impartial it is a very important matter,” do other things like they did be related to COVID-19. visit family across the country Minneapolitans in a case that Matthew Frank, an assistant before the COVID-19 pandemic Officials say a person is or abroad. The trial of former Minneapolis has convulsed a nation and in attorney general, told the court. swept the world last year. considered fully vaccinated two The new guidance also says police officer Derek Chauvin for which an image of the victim — Prosecutors feared picking a jury “With more and more weeks after receiving the last nothing about going to restau- the death of George Floyd was a selfie of Floyd faintly smiling when the number of charges was people vaccinated each day, we required dose of vaccine. About rants or other places, even delayed until at least today — has become an international still unresolved could make it are starting to turn a corner,” 31 million Americans — or only though governors are lifting morning as the judge contended icon of racial justice. easier for Chauvin to appeal a said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle about 9% of the US population restrictions on businesses, said with a last-minute order by a But that was delayed by the verdict later, Frank said. Walensky. — have been fully vaccinated Wen, an emergency physician higher court to reconsider adding Minnesota Court of Appeals, Cahill declined. Prosecutors During a press briefing yes- with a federally authorized and public health professor at an additional murder charge. which ordered Cahill to recon- then said they would ask the terday, she called the guidance COVID-19 vaccine so far, George Washington University The trial had been scheduled sider prosecutors’ request to Appeals Court to intervene to a “first step” toward restoring according to the CDC. who was formerly Baltimore’s to begin yesterday with the also reinstate a third charge, delay the trial. Cahill suspended normalcy in how people come Authorized vaccine doses health commissioner. screening of jurors to weigh third-degree murder, over the jury selection until at least today. together. She said more activ- first became available in “The CDC is missing a major murder and manslaughter defendant’s objections. Chauvin, 44, is charged with ities would be ok’d for vacci- December, and they were opportunity to tie vaccination charges in a case seen as a ref- Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s lead second-degree murder, which nated individuals once products that required two status with reopening guidance. erendum on police violence lawyer, told the court that carries a sentence of up to 40 caseloads and deaths decline, doses spaced weeks apart. But By coming out with such limited against Black Americans. Chauvin would soon ask the years in prison, and more Americans are vacci- since January, a small but guidance, they are missing the Chauvin appeared in court Minnesota Supreme Court to manslaughter. nated, and as more science growing number of Americans window to influence state and dressed in a navy blue suit and overturn Friday’s order, a Chauvin was released from emerges on the ability of those have been fully vaccinated, national policy,” Wen said, in tie, a white shirt and a black face process that could take weeks. jail on a $1m bond last October who have been vaccinated to and have been asking ques- an email. mask, jotting notes in a yellow Prosecutors from the Minnesota and will be tried in a courtroom get and spread the virus. tions like: Do I still have to The CDC guidance did not legal pad on the table before him. attorney general’s office urged in the Hennepin County Gov- The CDC is continuing to wear a mask? Can I go to a speak to people who may have Judge Peter Cahill of the the court to delay jury selection ernment Center, a tower in Min- recommend that fully vacci- club now? Can I finally see my gained some level of immunity Hennepin County district court until that issue was resolved. neapolis now ringed with fencing nated people still wear well- grandchildren? from being infected, and recov- set aside three weeks for jury “We’re not doing this to and concrete barricades for fear fitted masks, avoid The guidance was “welcome ering from, the coronavirus. selection alone, mindful of the interfere, to slow this down, but of disruption by protesters. Jill Biden helps US top court rejects case over ‘qualified immunity’ for police honour women REUTERS — WASHINGTON Howse, who was 20 at the time, eliminate the qualified immunity of excessive force in violation of even when courts determine from 15 nations is Black. The police involved in defense for law enforcement. The the US Constitution’s Fourth police actually violated a per- The US Supreme Court yesterday the 2016 incident are white. legislation, supported by most Amendment prohibition on son’s constitutional rights for courage sidestepped a chance to review Qualified immunity pro- Democrats and opposed by unreasonable searches and sei- Law enforcement profes- the scope of a legal defense called tects police officers and other Republicans, faces an uphill zures. The officers said they used sionals and some US conserva- AP — WASHINGTON qualified immunity that increas- types of government officials battle in the Senate.Howse’s case only the force necessary to tives have argued that qualified ingly has been used to shield from civil litigation in certain was featured in a Reuters inves- subdue Howse. The Cincinnati, immunity is essential for police First Lady Jill Biden says nearly police accused of excessive force, circumstances, allowing law- tigation into qualified immunity Ohio-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court to make quick decisions in dan- two dozen women the State turning away an appeal by a suits only when an individual’s published in December. of Appeals in 2020 granted the gerous situations without fear of Department honoured for their Cleveland man who sued after “clearly established” statutory The investigation illustrated officers qualified immunity, lawsuits. In recent months, the courage made an “intentional being roughed up by police while or constitutional rights have how the endorsement of this ruling that no “clearly estab- Supreme Court has signaled a decision” to persist and demand trying to enter his own home. been violated. Police use of defense by courts has denied lished” precedent showed that potential softening of its justice despite their fear. The justices declined to hear force has been closely scruti- Black Americans recourse to their actions were unlawful. approach to qualified immunity. The 21 women recognised the appeal by Shase Howse, nized following the May 2020 justice under a law enacted 150 In May 2020, a Reuters In two cases the justices yesterday with the depart- who said he was slammed to the death of a Black man named years ago specifically to protect investigation revealed how allowed inmates to sue prison ment’s International Women ground outside the house where George Floyd after a Minne- them from abuses by state and qualified immunity, under the guards who had been granted of Courage Award included he lived with his mother in a apolis officer knelt on his neck. local authorities in the post- careful stewardship of the immunity by lower courts from seven from Afghanistan who poor and mostly Black neigh- The US House of Represent- Civil War years. Supreme Court, has made it accusations that they violated the are receiving posthumous bourhood, struck in the back of atives last Wednesday passed Howse sued two police easier for police to kill or injure Constitution’s Eighth Amendment honors. The First Lady said the neck and jailed after police policing reform legislation that officers, Brian Middaugh and civilians with impunity by prohibition on cruel and unusual that the women’s stories make deemed his actions suspicious. among other provisions would Thomas Hodous, accusing them shielding them from lawsuits, punishment. it easy to think of them as “mythical heroes or angels among us” but that they’re also humans who want to enjoy Supreme Court dumps last life’s simple pleasures. “Some of these women of Trump’s election appeals have spent their lives fighting for their cause. Others are just REUTERS — WASHINGTON a pro-Trump mob stormed the starting out on a journey they US Capitol. didn’t ask for,” Biden said. The US Supreme Court In the Wisconsin case, “Some were called to yesterday disposed of the last Trump sued two days after the service, and some couldn’t of three cases brought to the state had certified its election escape it,” she said. “They are justices by former President results. He challenged several fighting for their own lives and Donald Trump challenging his Wisconsin election policies for their children. They want election loss, bringing a muted including one allowing the use to right the wrongs of our past, end to his futile quest in the of drop boxes for absentee to build a brighter future for courts to hold onto power. ballots during the COVID-19 everyone. They aren’t immune The court without comment pandemic. Both a federal judge to fear. No one is.” rejected Trump’s appeal chal- and the Chicago-based 7th US The ceremony was held lenging thousands of absentee Circuit Court of Appeals virtually and not at the State ballots filed in Wisconsin, an rejected the claims, noting in Department because of the election battleground that the part that Trump had waited too coronavirus pandemic. The 14 Republican businessman- long to sue. living awardees are from Students wear masks as they walk through the halls of York Suburban High School in York, Pennsylvania, turned-politician lost to Dem- Courts around the country Belarus, Cameroon, China, US, in this September 18, 2020 file picture. ocrat Joe Biden by more than rejected the cases brought by Colombia, Democratic 20,000 votes. Biden became Trump and his allies, some- Republic of the Congo, Gua- President on January 20. times in colorful terms. temala, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, NYC public high school students to It was the last of three peti- Trump has made — and Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, tions filed at the Supreme Court continues to make — false Turkey and Venezuela. “These near the end of Trump’s pres- claims that the November 3 women made an extraor- return to classroom on March 22 idency that the justices declined presidential election was stolen dinary choice, to persist, to to take up. The court on Feb- from him through widespread demand justice, to believe that, REUTERS — NEW YORK schools back fully in Sep- in-person classes prior to wide- ruary 22 turned away Trump’s voting fraud and irregularities. despite the obstacles and fear tember, period.” spread vaccinations. The move other two appeals - a second Republicans are now seizing on they faced, there is a future Public high schools in New York The mayor has made comes at a time when the Wisconsin challenge and one those same unsubstantiated worth fighting for,” Biden said. City will welcome students back restarting in-person instruction number of new COVID-19 cases relating to voting in Pennsyl- allegations in an effort to The First Lady said the for in-person instruction on a priority, even as health has sharply declined from a vania, another pivotal state impose new voting restrictions pandemic shows “how the March 22, Mayor Bill de Blasio experts have warned that post-holiday surge. Trump lost. Lower courts pre- in numerous states. things that connect us - our announced yesterday, the latest teenagers are more likely to The number of hospitalized viously had ruled against The Supreme Court yes- love for family and friends, our step by the United States’ spread the virus than younger patients fell below 40,000 on Trump in those three cases. terday also turned away hope that we will be together largest school system to open children, making the reo- Sunday for the first time since It already was clear that the another election-related case soon - transcend language and classrooms shuttered due to pening of public high schools October 20, compared with an high court, which includes three filed by Trump ally Lin Wood, distance.” She said that COVID-19. riskier than lower grades. all-time high of more than justices appointed by Trump, had who had asked the justices to diplomacy, “at its best, is a rec- “We have all the pieces we Students in Los Angeles, 132,000 recorded on Jan 6. no intention to intervene in the block the Jan. 5 Senate runoff ognition of this connection” need to bring high school back Chicago and other big cities have The improvement in part cases and others filed by his allies elections in Georgia. The court and that the US, under Pres- and bring it back strong, and, been shut out of the classroom reflects an acceleration of US because it did not act before never acted on the request and ident Joe Biden’s leadership, of course, bring it back safely,” since last year, as officials inoculation programs, with Congress on January 6 certified Democrats won both races, will support women around de Blasio told a news con- struggle to come to agreements three highly effective vaccines Biden’s victory. That formal cer- giving them narrow control of the world. ference. “We are bringing our with teacher unions on restarting now available. tification was interrupted when the Senate. TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2021 16

Vending machines help ease access to PCR tests in Japan

PRAYER REUTERS — TOKYO low number of PCR tests and as a result TIMINGS more and more people couldn’t tell PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING In Japan, convenience is king and whether they had a cold or the corona- getting tested for COVID-19 can be virus,” Takemura told Reuters. “Without highly inconvenient. Part of solution, PCR tests, no diagnosis is possible and I FAJR 04.33 am as it is for a range of daily necessities really felt we had to do more so that SUNRISE 05.50 am in Tokyo, has become the humble people could be diagnosed early and vending machine. isolate early.” Takemura said there was DHUHR 11.44 am Eager to conserve manpower and a huge response from the public when ASR 03.08 pm hospital resources, the government con- the machines were first deployed and MAGHRIB 05.42 pm ducts just 40,000 polymerase chain some needed to be emptied of money ISHA 07.12 pm reaction (PCR) tests a day, a quarter of twice a day. its capacity, restricting them to people Demand has since ebbed somewhat who are quite symptomatic or have had as a third wave of cases subsided amid a high chance of being infected. a state of emergency. New cases in Tokyo That’s led to the public to rely heavily have averaged around 250 over the past on private clinics or buying PCR tests by seven days compared with several days other means. of more than 2,000 in early January. Vending machines selling test kits Each vending machine holds about offer consumers the option of avoiding 60 testing kits which sell for 4,500 yen crowded clinics or having to wait for an ($40). Customers then mail off a saliva A vending machine selling a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the coronavirus appointment, said Hideki Takemura, sample for processing. disease operated by Takenoko ENT Clinic, is installed at the entrance of a ramen WEATHER noodle shop at Shibuya district in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. TODAY director of the Laketown Takenoko Ear “As a medical worker, I’d be very Nose and Throat Clinic which has set up happy if the number of tests decrease seven machines in the greater Tokyo along with cases,” Takemura said. world per capita, according to a trade tests have become increasingly available area. Japan has about 4.1 million vending group. to the public via sales at drugstores or “Japan was conducting a ridiculously machines in operation, the most in the In addition to vending machines, PCR over the internet.

19oC 29oC Malala partners with Apple to produce dramas, animation Minimum Maximum Moderate temperature daytime, REUTERS — NEW YORK bring new voices to this youngest-ever Nobel Peace cold by night. platform, to this stage,” Malala Prize laureate at age 17. In 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner told Reuters in an interview. “I she launched Assembly, a Malala Yousafzai is expanding hope that through me, more digital publication for girls and W ALRUWAIS : 17o → 28o her partnership with Apple Inc young people and girls will young women available on W ALKHOR : 16o → 26o to produce dramas, children’s watch these shows, get Apple News. She graduated W DUKHAN : 19o → 30o series, animation and docu- inspired.” Apple produced a from Oxford University in June. W WAKRAH : 16o → 28o mentaries that will air on the documentary about Malala in “I believe in storytelling tech giant’s streaming service, 2015 and teamed up with her because it has been part of my W MESAIEED : 16o → 28o the two said on Monday. Malala Fund in 2018 to promote life, it was my story that inspired W ABUSAMRA : 19o → 31o Malala, 23, and her new secondary education to girls so many people around the world production company Extracur- across the globe. to realize that not all girls have HIGH TIDE ricular join Apple TV+’s growing In 2009 at age 12, Malala access to education,” she said. On 01:21– 10:59 roster of content creators blogged under a pen name for the 110th anniversary of Interna- including Oprah Winfrey, the BBC about living under the tional Women’s Day, Malala said LOW TIDE 09:20 – 17:31 Steven Spielberg, Will Smith, rule of the Pakistani Taliban. In women around the world should Octavia Spencer and Jennifer 2012 she survived being shot in take a pause to appreciate all Aniston, the iPhone maker said the head by a Taliban gunman they had achieved. in a blog post on its website on Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai poses for photographs for campaigning against its “I want every girl and International Women’s Day. during the Education and Development G7 Ministers Summit in attempts to deny women woman to be proud of herself, “I hope that through this Paris, France, in this July 5, 2019 file picture. education. to be proud of all that she has partnership, I will be able to In 2014, she became the achieved in her life,” she said. Nasa Mars scientists spur girls to ‘reach for the stars’

THOMSON REUTERS the next gener- FOUNDATION — LONDON ation to reach for the stars”, With “one of the coolest jobs in she said. In the world”, Nasa rover operator Britain, women Vandi Verma (pictured), hopes make up about women’s high profile in the a quarter of latest Mars mission will inspire people working a new generation to pursue in STEM sub- careers in a sector traditionally jects, excluding dominated by men. medicine and Verma’s colleague Swati related fields Mohan made headlines around where women the world when she narrated outnumber the nail-biting landing of the found themselves the only men, according to WISE, an Perseverance rover on the Red woman in the room, she said. organisation campaigning to Planet following its perilous But things are changing. increase the number of women descent through the Martian Nasa, which aims to land in STEM professions. atmosphere. the first woman on the moon For engineering, the ratio is “It’s definitely inspired girls by 2024, is on a mission to even more skewed with women everywhere. It’s opened peo- boost diversity. Women made accounting for just over 10% of ple’s perceptions of who can be up 34% of the workforce in the workforce. a space engineer,” Verma told 2019, holding 18% of senior sci- Marwaha Madill, a project the Thomson Reuters Foun- entific posts, about treble the manager at a space exploration dation ahead of International figure for 2009, according to and robotics company in Women’s Day yesterday. the agency. Ottawa, Canada, said it was The space roboticist is oper- Verma said it was very crucial to change stereotypes ating the Perseverance - the exciting to see an increasing as many girls decided to move most advanced astrobiology lab number of applications from away from science as young as ever sent to another world - as women, adding that diverse 11 years of age. it roams Mars looking for signs teams led to more “creative, One way to get more girls of ancient microbial life. out-of-the-box thinking”. into STEM subjects was to tap “I really think I have one of But she said there was a into their desire to change the the coolest jobs in the world,” long way to go to encourage world for the better. said Verma, whose interest in more women into the STEM “There seems to be a dis- space —like Mohan’s—was professions - science, tech- connect between young fueled by a childhood love of nology, engineering and women... wanting to make a the TV series Star Trek. mathematics. difference in the world, and “When Mars is visible in the British space engineer knowing that they could make sky you look at that little dot Vinita Marwaha Madill - a really big positive impact and you think right now there’s founder of Rocket Women, through a career in science and a robot out there doing com- which aims to inspire women engineering,” she added. mands that I told it to do. That’s to choose STEM careers - said WISE spokeswoman Ruth pretty wild.” Verma, who has role models were vital. “You Blanco said images of “men in been driving rovers on Mars can’t be what you can’t see,” she hard hats and high-visibility since 2008, said the latest said, quoting astronaut Sally clothing” may be putting some mission would help answer Ride, the first US woman in girls off engineering and did not questions “that change what we space. reflect the breadth of jobs out know about our place in the “Seeing someone that looks there. Nasa’s Verma, who universe”. like you allows you to believe juggles driving the rover with Born in India, Verma that it’s possible to achieve your raising one-year-old twins - a studied electrical engineering goals,” said Marwaha Madill, boy and a girl, said unconscious at Punjab Engineering College whose own passion took flight bias was also a factor in shaping in Chandigarh before moving after watching Helen Sharman aspirations. to the United States, where she become the first British “Don’t make assumptions gaining a PhD in robotics from astronaut in space in 1991. about what a child may be Carnegie Mellon University. Women like Mohan, the interested in because of their When she joined Nasa in Mars mission’s guidance and gender or race,” she said. “Don’t 2004, female engineers often operations lead, will “inspire buy the Lego just for the boy.” 1996 2021 The Peninsula Online: Credible and CELEBRATING accessible source of news for millions he Peninsula Online platform has been successfully providing our readers extensive news coverage from around the world with a primary focus on life in TQatar. What started as a digital copy of the print version has now a life of its own and is one of the top websites in Qatar regardless of the genre. The growth our digital platform witnessed in the last few years has been phenomenal and we are in-debted to our readers for reposing their trust in us and helping us grow at such a fast pace by sharing our news links. 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Highlighting strength of Qatar’s economy

he Business News Section of balance of graphics, pictures and data. in the business pages. The readers are The Peninsula has evolved with The business news pages have graphs, pie kept abreast of the latest business news. growth of Qatar’s economy. The charts and numbers for graphics. Uses Since the start of its publication, the growth of Qatar’s economy was of such graphics have not only made our Business News Section has covered all the reflectedT in the comprehensive reporting pages attractive but have also made our important business development news in a by the Business News Section. pages easy to read for our readers. clear and succinct way. The business section has come a long The stories are jargon free and it The developments in the field of oil way in the last two and a half decades of has become very easy for the readers and gas, infrastructure, aviation, real its successful journey. However, the last to understand the complex issues in the estate, information technology and five years have been very crucial for the world of business and finance. Stories other crucial sector of the economy are business section as it underwent major on business pages have simple language. highlighted through comprehensive changes during the period. In the last Instead of using complicated business coverage of all the sectors of the economy. five years, the focus of reporting in the terminology and jargons, we use simple The business section has become a link business sections further shifted towards language so that even a common man can to connect global readers with the Qatar’s readers. The story on business and finance understand business stories. rapidly growing economy. When it comes are stories are written keeping readers in The Peninsula is playing a positive to knowing and understanding Qatar’s the mind. The business pages now have role in promoting local businesses and economy, the readers- local and global- become visually engaging for the readers. entrepreneurs. Prominence is given to turn to the business news section of The The business pages have the optimum local business leaders and companies Peninsula.

Doha - World’s most popular sports destination

atar’s sports landscape has Tennis Federation (QTF) put together include MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi, bid in Decemeber undergone a sea change in operations to bring the region’s first Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marequez and 2010, Qatar has built the last 25 years. From women’s WTA Tour event that was Andrea Dovizioso. and used four of its domestic eventually won by Swiss star Martina Track and field also remains at World Cup venues – Q fans watching national Hingis. Record crowds came in the heart of Qatari sports calendar the Khalifa Interna- leagues in football, volleyball, bas- through the turnstile at the iconic since 1997 when the first edition of tinal Stadium, Al ketball, handball and tennis etc in the Khalifa International Tennis and Doha Diamond League was staged. Janoub Stadium, 80s and early part of 90s, Qatar Squash Complex when the first Since then, Qatar has been the proud Ahmed Bin Al turned things around in the sports edition was staged. Monica Seles, hosts of the IAAF’s premier series at Stadium and Edu- industry at a grand scale to make Anastasia Myskina, Maria Sharapova, the start of every season. cation City Stadium. Doha the hub of sports in the world. Justin Henin, Victoria Azarenka, In December 2006, Doha put Another four sta- The change in sports landscape Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova are together the best and biggest multi- diums are expected since the mid-90s wasn’t achieved by some of the players to have won the disciplined sports gathering by to be completed and chance. Rather, Qatar worked on a tile in Doha. The Qatar Open – spon- hosting the 15th Asian Games. The made ready for use meticulous plan by bidding to host sored by Total – just completed its two-week sporting spectacle saw later this year. the 2006 Asian Games. The bid was 19th edition last week with Kvitova Doha host more than 10,000 athletes, Qatar's hunger for won in late 2000 and in the next half bagging her second trophy in Doha. officials and media folks. Qatar fin- staging sports event a dozen years, the Qatari capital built Qatar Cycling Federation also got ished 9th on the medals table with an will not stop after sporting infrastructure that would into the act and staged the massively overall tally of 32. Qatar 2022 as it has serve the country for the next five popular Tour of Qatar races - first for Building on the Asian Games lined up and planning decades at least. men in 2002 and later for women success, Qatar upped the ante and to host many other During this time, Doha continued riders in 2006. Belgian star Tom won the rights to host events that competitions including to host top international events like Boonen won the events five times world marvels at and the athletes the 2023 FINA the Qatar Open ATP Tour event - while British rider Mark Cavendish love to feature in. Events like 2008 - Swimming World which was first held in Jan 1993 when emerged winner on two occasions. In Asian Indoor Athletics Champion- Championships. German tennis legend Boris Becker the women’s series, Kirsten Wild was ships, 2008 Asian Youth Wrestling Last December, won the title. Similarly, Qatar the shining star during races in Qatar Championships, 2008 - Asian Doha once again bid Masters, a European Tour golf event winning six Tours. The Tour of Qatar Optimist Sailing Championships , for the Asian Games made its debut in 1998 and has been was staged for 15 straight years until 2009 Asian Fencing Championships, and won the rights to staged every year since then. Andrew the last edition in 2016. 2009 FIVB Club World Champion- host the 2030 edition Coltart, Paul Lawrie, Adam Scott, The glamour sports also included ships, 2009 ISF World Gymnasiade, 2016 UCI Road Cycling World Cham- after an Olympic Council of Asia vote Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Retief the region’s first ever MotoGP battle 2010 IAAF World Indoor Champion- pionships, 2018 FIG Artistic Gym- held in Muscat, Oman. Qatar has also Goosen, Thomas Bjorn and Sergio taking place at Losail International ships, 2010 ISAF World Junior 470 nastics World Championships, 2019 bid for the 2027 Asian Cup football Garcia are some of the top golfers to Circuit that was built in record time of Sailing Championships , 2011 AFC IAAF World Championships, 2019 tournament. win the Qatar Masters title. First the nine months. The first race was Asian Cup, 2011 Arab Games, 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, and the 2020 Recently, Qatar has also reaf- event was staged at the Doha Golf staged in 2004 and the iconic venue Asian Shooting Championships, 2014 FIFA Club World Cup. firmed commitment to host the Course but for the last two years, the now stages the first MotoGP race FINA Short Course World Champion- The biggest show – the 2022 FIFA Olympics and Paralympic Games in brand new Education City Golf every season and that too under ships, 2015 IHF Handball World World Cup – will be staged next year. 2032, and by all means the country Course is now playing host to Qatar lights. WorldSBK events and scores of Championships, 2015 Doha 2015 IPC It is a month-long event that is has potential of delivering spec- Masters. other two-wheel or four-wheel Athletics World Championships, 2015 expected to draw more than a million tacular event because of it's rich In 2001, after drawing massive events take place regularly at the World Amateur Boxing Champion- fans to what will be the region’s first experience in hosting the top-notch crowds to Qatar Open, the Qatar same venue. Among the winners ships, 2015 World Robot Olympiad, World Cup edition. After winning the events. 1996 2021 CELEBRATING Local reporting team — leading from the front

bjective, accurate and Peninsula in March 1996, it has its mettle by producing metic- comprehensive news worked hard to meet the ulous coverage of local news reporting of events, demands of the readers for local stories covering key areas like developments and news stories with a stamp-of- politics, development, health, Osituations taking place in Qatar credibility on them. education, diplomacy, human is the real strength of The The local reporting section rights, security and arts etc. Peninsula which makes it went through a major transfor- These are the tireless efforts popular and credible among its mation in last five years with of the local reporting team and readers while its exclusive hiring of more reporters to other editorial sections of The stories, interviews, special fea- translate newspaper’s ‘Local Peninsula - under professional tures have clearly given it an Focus’ slogan into distinctive command and passionate edge on other dailies. reality on country’s journalistic interest of Editor-in-Chief, Dr. A dedicated, passionate local landscape. Khalid Al-Shafi - that have Irfan Bukhari reporting team knows this very No doubt The Peninsula made the newspaper the leading Head of Local News Section YEARS well and since the launch of The local reporting team has proved English news daily in Qatar.

Impact of Editorial design A newspaper with

ewinding to past memories our daily deadline—which is some- is always sweet. I still thing that can be greatly rewarding. a difference remember the first day I Our current editorial design policy came to Qatar to work as a was initiated by our Editor-in-Chief he first time I had been to Qatar was Rgraphic designer. I was recruited by Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi and relaunched in 1993 to cover the FIFA World Cup The Peninsula Managing Editor on Sunday January 3, 2016. After all Asian qualifying tournament. Being Malcom Ward from India. As soon as I these years, I have gained immense the only journalist from India to landed here, I was provided an experience from working on the reportT the event, I was interviewed by Al accommodation at The Peninsula pages of the daily. Sharq Arabic newspaper, one of the prom- staff quarters at Najma. That time One thing to note from a design inent dailies in Qatar and a sister publication there were no mobile phones and strategy side is the inclusion of lots of of The Peninsula, of which I have been a part only a few Qtel payphones by the white space in our layouts. News- since 2006. street. We had to insert a few coins at Abraham Augusthy papers have always looked cluttered The journey is going on uninterrupted and P K Niaz the booth to call someone. I collected Head of Design Section in the past, but modern trends dictate when The Peninsula is proudly celebrating its Deputy Head of Editorial Section coins from the nearby grocery shops the generous use of white space that silver jubilee, I am overwhelmed with grat- to call my wife. People used to queue computers and softwares. Even our brings more importance to the images itude that it has become my longest tenure in the 36 years of my journalism at the telephone booth, and I waited printing press was the best in the and text on a page — thus creating an career. When I began my innings with The Peninsula, the newspapers in Qatar for my turn. This was the state of region. immersive experience. We also stay had a common Thursday off policy, something I couldn’t comprehend from a technology 24 years ago. A similar Editorial design is a subset of consistent on the use of fonts and journalist’s point of view! It was also the year when Qatar was hosting the Asian story can be found in my career too. graphic design. Traditionally, it has colours. When the body text suddenly Games, a feat no other Gulf nation has achieved. In those days, to become a graphic been referred to as the design for gets larger, it has an unconscious Very soon, the permanent Thursday holiday was cancelled and we started designer one had to be a creative newspapers, magazines, and books. impact on the readers. Not only does to keep up with the Asian Games fever. Our Games coverage was excellent and person — a very sound background as Editorial design has had a tre- it look messy, but it creates a visual being part of ‘team Peninsula’ was a memorable experience. But the most an artist was an absolute necessity. mendous impact on how written distraction from the message. We momentous thing was the certificate signed by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin When I started my career as a information is understood. An edi- avoid all messy and inconsistent Hamad Al Thani, who was the chairman of the organizing committee for the designer, we had to do everything torial designer has many things to design patterns. 2006 Asian Games. manually. To create a design piece, a think about—from typographic As an expatriate, working with an Some of the big newspapers in the region were either forced to close down lot of hard labour and skilful crafts- nuances, to elaborate layouts, to organisation for the past 24 years is or turned into digital editions due to drop in circulation and financial crises. But manship was involved. With the graphics and illustrations. The something great. I am very happy with The Peninsula had no such worries as it marched successfully throughout the launch of the Apple Mac in 1984 – ultimate goal of editorial design is to my job. It’s not a job, it’s my passion. years and stands atop in both the print and online editions as a reliable source often hailed as the first consumer GUI make publications attractive to When you follow your passion, nothing of news. (Graphical User Interface), a design readers, bring hierarchy, and make will bother you. I am incredibly The slogan, ‘world is at your fingertips’ embodies the major advancement revolution was afoot. The devel- them easy to read. thankful to my superiors, colleagues, in the information technology that enables people to know what is happening opment of the GUI had created a new At The Peninsula, our editorial friends and family. A very special thank around the globe minute by minute. However, getting local and official news dimension for graphic designers to design has evolved all these years to to our Editor-in-Chief Dr. Khalid Al- straight from the horse’s mouth is something that’s not ‘at your fingertips’! In master. That launched the golden age become one of the best of all publica- Shafi for giving me this opportunity to the absence of reliable local news we could face an unprecedented attack from for desktop publishing. tions in the country. With the write about the past 24 years of my fake news parading as fact. The Macs with the industry’s top guidance from the Editor-in-Chief Dr. career at this media organization. Here, The Peninsula has a vision. It is our Editor-in-Chief Dr. Khalid Bin softwares like Quark-Xpress, Adobe Khalid Al-Shafi, I am fortunate to lead With that I’d like to remember a Mubarak Al-Shafi’s idea that we should concentrate on local news. We have ded- Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop rev- the editorial design with a highly pro- quote from the great Italian designer icated our front page for local news coverage. Our mantra, ‘local focus, global olutionised the design and printing fessional team of news editors, Massimo Vignelli. “The life of a vision’ has its effect and The Peninsula is playing a leading role in this regard. industry. I feel so happy to have been reporters and photographers. For all designer is a life of fight. Fight English readers in Qatar rely on The Peninsula for unfiltered local updates. a pioneer in the field. The Peninsula these years, apart from the daily against the ugliness. Just like a The Peninsula has created a reading culture among Qataris and expatriates was always at the forefront of techno- newspaper, our team has produced a doctor fights against disease. For us, and this was attained due to the hard work and coordination of our prede- logical advancement. Even 25 years plethora of special publications, sup- the visual disease is what we have cessors, colleagues and current Editor-in-Chief. Readers are always our back, The Peninsula newsroom was plements and books. We often work around, and what we try to do is strength and pray that Almighty help us continue to serve Qatar and its people fully equipped with the latest under tremendous pressure to meet cure it somehow with design.” with quality journalism.

Maintaining production quality Helping to grow, online

passionate leader ener- ddepartments especially Advertising lose to two decades llate, we should verify gizes their team. aand Printing press for a smooth with The Peninsula eevery single news item Success never comes in wworkflow. means the news- ggoing up on our website. a day; it comes with Since a majority of readers have paper is more than WWe have more or less timeA and hard work. Dr Khalid Al aadvanced technology, The Peninsula Can office you go daily and sstuck to this over the Shafi, the Editor-in-Chief, and oonline edition has maintained a spend eight hours it has yyears. staff in different departments sstrong social media presence and is a become part of your life. The When one of our have proved this. All the suc- bbig part of the lives of Qatar resi- time spend at my desk has FFacebook followers sent a cesses of The Peninsula achieved ddents, providing the latest and intertwined so much with mmessage asking us to in the past 25 years would not bbreaking news, keeping readers up to the time away from it that vverify a news item he saw have been possible without the ddate. the distinction between the oon social media saying “we help of Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud, Sebastian T.K. Congratulations to The two is a blur. aalways check The Pramod Prabhakaran CEO Dar Al Sharq Group, and Head of Production Section Peninsula for completing 25 years! Working at The Peninsula Peninsula feed to verify if Head of Online Section Founder-Editor Malcom Ward — For the last 25 years, The has enriched me so much pro- some news is true or not” They led The Peninsula from the Peninsula has been the No. 1 news- fessionally and personally that made our chest swell with front. A special mention should be made of the paper in Qatar. I feel blessed to be part of this it has helped me grow as a better news pride and satisfaction. All the hard work Late Mobin Pandit, News Editor, for his bold team and have been working here for over 24 person and a human being. by the team over the years proved worth- stories that helped the newspaper gain promi- years at The Peninsula production and online As we started out with The Peninsula while in that one comment. nence in Qatar. department. Wishing The Peninsula’s incompa- Online department six years ago, as a This is what, as a professional news Regarding Production Department, we can rable success and unbeaten news coverage for team, we decided that our main motto will person, one lives for — earning the trust proudly say our team always keeps quality and years to come. I take this opportunity to wish the be “check the authenticity of the news, and respect of the reader. And that is what time deadline as per Editor-in-Chief's guidance. paper good luck. Congratulations on this special again and again.” we are trying to do and will continue to do We coordinate daily work with all other day. Happy anniversary The Peninsula! Even if we are a couple of minutes — one reader at a time.

Leading The Peninsula photography department

f you love what you do, you'll the back of the photograph which would Monica Seles arrived at the Doha Inter- anything and everything, following all never work a day in your life.” then go for scanning. national Airport for the Qatar Total beats serving Local, Business, Sports, “IThanks to The Peninsula news- Over time, the photography depart- Open Tennis in 2001. Seles' pictures Advertising and Online departments. paper, this dream of mine has been a ment evolved from black and white to were the first digital images used in The Leading The Peninsula photogra- reality for more than two decades for colour, from fully manual cameras to Peninsula. phy department for most past 15 years me. When I joined the then ‘recently fully automatic ones with ‘auto focus’ With the new DSLRs we were able has given me the greatest of pleas- launched’ one-year old English daily, we lens. When the digital revolution came to digitalise our archives from stacks of ure and sanctification. Overseeing the were still on black and white film rolls. about, we were the first newspaper in bound copies of old editions, to pdf files rapid development in Qatar in the last We had our own dark room to develop the country to use a Digital SLR camera stored on external hard drives. two decades also fills me with pride as film and print them. Once the prints that helped us get crisper images which The photography team is like the I keep archiving the amazing chances were ready, we’d use a typewriter to were also easier to archive. One exam- Swiss army knife of the newspaper, a that keep taking place in this amazing Qassim Rahmatullah Head of Photography Section write the caption, cut it out and stick it to ple of this is when American tennis star pretty much all-in-one team that covers country. 1996 2021 Envoys hail role of The Peninsula in CELEBRATING serving communities in Qatar Well-known for diverse and comprehensive coverage would like to ladder of success. It has news, reports and analysis I congratulate The always been keen on in a professional manner Peninsula newspaper extending bridges of and has comprehensive on its 25th anniversary, cooperation with all digital presence. stressing on this occasion countries, especially It is one of the best the importance of the role Turkey. newspapers, and strongly of the media in enhancing The newspaper is expresses Qatar in the citizens' awareness and distinguished by the English language. I wish providing information and diversity of issues and the newspaper more YEARS data. The Peninsula topics it covers, and its progress, success and newspaper seeks comprehensive monitoring achievements. excellence in work, which of local and international — Ambassador of is the best way to climb the events. It also provides Turkey, H E Mustafa Goksu

Immense contribution in The Peninsula has dedicated A window for Chinese coverage and welfare of following in Pakistani community community to know more Indian community about Qatar congratulate am delighted to Imanagement of The he Iknow that The Peninsula on the occasion T Peninsula of its silver jubilee edition. newspaper is Since that first edition in Peninsula is celebrating its 25th 1996, the newspaper has one of the anniversary on March established itself as a credible most 9, 2021. I convey my and respected source of news renowned hearty congratulations and opinion, not only about English to the whole team and Qatar but the region and the newspapers in wishing you many world at large. Our sincere Qatar, and I more successes. felicitations go out to not only read it every The Embassy of the owners, publishers and morning. Over India in Doha editors, but also the loyal Pakistani community due to its the years, The cherishes its close relation India per year on the subscribers and readers who extensive coverage not only of Peninsula has upheld the press values of with The Peninsula. The occasion of India’s have been associated with The events back home, but also of objectiveness, balance and truth, with a focus on newspaper has remained Independence Day and Peninsula over the past quarter community events that take Qatar with a global perspective. in the forefront in Republic Day. We look century. place here in Qatar. It tells the readers about Qatar’s social and publishing news on forward to continued The silver jubilee I am confident that The economic development, as well as what’s activities and achievements cooperation and exploring anniversary is a testament to Peninsula’s enduring legacy of happening in the region and around the world. It of the Indian community in new areas of collaboration the high journalistic and bringing news to the community has become a window and a bridge for the Qatar, and has contributed in times ahead that editorial standards maintained will continue to thrive. I, one Chinese community to know about Qatar. its part in the overall strengthen the close bonds by The Peninsula as well as the again offer you whole-hearted As China-Qatar friendship and cooperation welfare and goodwill of the of friendship between India talent of those who have congratulations, and wish The become closer, it is our sincere hope that The Indian community. I take and Qatar. Wish you a contributed toward the Peninsula another successful 25 Peninsula will carry on its unique success, and this opportunity to happy 25 and many more newspaper's growth and years, leading up to its golden publish more coverage of China, so that the appreciate and thank you feathers in your cap. development. jubilee. readers in Qatar could know more about a real for your efforts in bringing — Ambassador of India, The Peninsula has a — Ambassador of Pakistan, China. out two special editions on H E Dr. Deepak Mittal dedicated following in the H E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah — Ambassador of China, H E Zhou Jian

A reliable source of news in Crucial role in raising awareness A reliable, professional media Qatar and abroad and fight against pandemic outlet in Qatar

n the glorious would like to he Peninsula Ooccasion of the I express my most Tnewspaper is a 25th sincere message of modern, anniversary of the congratulations to The prestigious newspaper publication of The Peninsula for its 25th with its peculiar style, Peninsula, a very anniversary. The role operating in Qatar. popular English daily that this newspaper Prompt and objective newspaper in the State has played in the last coverage of significant Qatar, on behalf of the two decades and a half events on the agenda Nepali community and has been a key to keep of the country, the the Embassy of Nepal well-informed both region, and the globe in Qatar, I would like Qatari and expatriate with in-depth and to express sincere residents living in the comprehensive felicitations and congratulations to the Chairman, Dr. country. Following the motto of The Peninsula – Local analysis, are counted among the main reasons that made Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Khalid Al focus, Global vision – I believe that the newspaper has it appreciated by a wide range of readers. Shafi, the entire management team, and each and every played a major role in covering the most relevant In addition to that, the role of the media in contributing member of The Peninsula. international events as well as the local news. to the development of relations between nations and We are impressed by the way The Peninsula has grown Moreover I wish to highlight the key role of The states is certain. From this point of view, I think that The over the years as a reliable source of news and Peninsula in supporting the fight against the COVID-19 Peninsula newspaper has successfully participated by its information for the society, communities and individuals pandemic. Thanks to the media, social awareness has contribution in strengthening such relations. This year in Qatar and abroad. As you celebrate the Silver Jubilee, I been raised in order to share useful information to fight marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of this would like to much appreciate the tremendous the virus. The media has also been crucial to stop fake newspaper. The professional activity carried out during contribution The Peninsula has made in reinforcing the news regarding the pandemic. All in all, the local media, this period is the key to and herald of the future relations between Nepal and Qatar, especially at the including The Peninsula, has had a positive impact in distinguished position of this newspaper as a reliable and people-to-people level. sharing the many messages issued by the health influential media outlet in the Qatari press. On this We wish the newspaper every success on achieving authorities to keep social distance, to wear masks or to occasion, I sincerely congratulate the management and further glorious milestones while serving the country and enhance hygiene standards. Finally, I would like to wish all staff of The Peninsula newspaper and wish them all the its community. The Peninsula another twenty-five successful years. best and success in their future endeavours. — Ambassador of Nepal, H E Dr. Narad Nath Bhardwaj — Ambassador of Spain, H E Belen Alfaro — Ambassador of Azerbaijan, H E Rashad Ismayilov

A remarkable milestone for a Provides timely, regular Wide coverage of local, trusted newspaper updates on COVID-19 global events

irstly, let me ongratulations extend my congratulate The to The warmest FPeninsula for CPeninsula for I congratulations achieving such a 25 years of to The Peninsula on remarkable milestone activities! Press has its 25th anniversary. I in celebrating its 25 a key role in read The Peninsula years of its existence ensuring a every morning like and its Silver Jubilee. community is many other English The Peninsula properly informed speaking residents of being one of only a few and made aware of Qatar. I enjoy the English-language national and world widespread coverage newspapers, has been events, political of local, regional and one of the South changes and social global news, African Embassy's strategic partners by its regular developments. particularly of course The Peninsula’s regular reporting on publication of relevant and strategic information on the And especially in difficult times, when people turn to the strong relationship between Qatar and the UK. Embassy's social, economic, and political advances. media for information and news, The Peninsula made Supporting free media and high-quality, fact-based The Peninsula is one of the most important media the difference in continuing to provide timely and journalism remains a priority for the UK. In that context platforms whereby we keep our expat communities regular updates on health information and we look forward to continued and strengthened informed about our work and our bilateral relations with government's response to COVID-19. My best wishes for co-operation with The Peninsula and wish The Peninsula our host country, Qatar. a very special anniversary! every success in the exciting years ahead in Qatar. — Ambassador of South Africa, H E Faizel Moosa — Ambassador of Italy, H E Alessandro Prunas — British Ambassador, H E Jon Wilks 1996 2021 CELEBRATING The Peninsula began paving its way from success to success he success in journalism In this atmosphere which The Peninsula also took in today's world is not an was full of activity and into account the emergence of Teasy matter, especially openness to the world, The social media, which has for the print and daily press. Peninsula was born therefore become a new challenge for The Peninsula newspaper it had to assume its role the print media, and its since its inception twenty-five alongside other Arabic and website became the most years ago, established itself as English newspapers. The important website and got a prominent English newspaper began paving its many awards. newspaper in our country, way from success to success As the last Minister of Qatar. The period of the until it occupied a prominent Information in Qatar — Father Amir H H Sheikh position in the world of because the ministry was YEARS Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani journalism in Qatar and the abolished in 1995 as the name was a decisive stage Gulf in layout and content. of such ministries in the third The Peninsula newspaper characterised by ambition and H E Dr. Hamad bin As we know that the world was always being since its inception twenty-five continuous serious work for Abdulaziz Al Kuwari journalism which does not associated with censorship— I years ago, established itself as development in its various develop dies, The Peninsula followed the evolution of The a prominent English political, economic, social and Minister of State, and President of realised this and began to peninsula and I realises the newspaper in our country, cultural fields. Qatar National Library develop either in content or in development our media has Qatar. The period of the Qatar began its rapid layout. witnessed in general, obstacles development and opened up to With the development of it has faced, successes it has Father Amir H H Sheikh the world and was moving on All of this was in need of an our country's position in the achieved and the challenges Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani the political level to occupy an active and modern media world under its new leadership ahead. was a decisive stage international position and capable of following this represented by Amir H H I congratulate The characterized by ambition witness an unparalleled urban development. Also this period Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Peninsula on its 25th and continuous serious work renaissance to emerge as one of witnessed openness to the Thani, and the development of anniversary, its Editor-in- for development in its various the countries influencing world that required a media in education and knowledge in Chief, and technical and political, economic, social and energy, especially in the the English language in addition our country, the responsibility editorial staff, wishing them production and export of to the national language, doubled and The Peninsula continued success and cultural fields. liquefied gas. Arabic. had to take into account that. brilliance.

Outstanding dedication to covering the news Since inception, offer my warm congratulations The Peninsula newspaper The Peninsula is to The Peninsula newspaper, a has played an integral role in Ileading source of English news in disseminating the messages, providing rich Qatar, which has over the years achievements and events of exemplified outstanding dedication to covering the news of the nation Qatar University, and for that content to readers with honour, integrity and a long- we remain ever grateful. I standing commitment to the ethics commend The Peninsula for t is a and principals of journalism. being an honest and faithful pleasure for The Peninsula newspaper has medium in its role to inform me and my played an integral role in the public. colleagues disseminating the messages, Iworking at the achievements and events of Qatar Peninsula for continuously Qatar News University, and for that we remain advancing in its field and being an Dr. Hassan Al Derham Agency to extend ever grateful. As we mark 25 years honest and faithful medium in its our since its founding, I commend The role to inform the public. President of Qatar University congratulations to all the brothers working in The Peninsula newspaper on Youssef Ibrahim Al Malki the occasion of The Peninsula has its Silver Jubilee. General Manager of Qatar News Agency Also I express attracted English readers my pleasure and appreciation for the efforts of its editorial section for the We are confident achievements made by the newspaper and its great that The Peninsula success in fulfilling its national and community is on an upward mission and achieving its journalistic vision with path that can only high professionalism and commitment. make it reach the It is important to mention that the launch of The top in the coming Peninsula twenty-five years ago came to fulfil the requirements of a critical and important stage of years. the development and modernisation process that Marwan M. Kraidy being witnessed in various aspects of work and life Dean and CEO, NU-Q those who do not have an Arab in our beloved country Qatar. intellectual structure, if the The Peninsula newspaper was able to present A quarter of a content and topics do not convincing and rich press material for its readers, Dr. Kamal Hamidou satisfy those minds and tell taking into account that its establishment as a them the truth apart from the Qatari daily newspaper, published in the English century dedicated Head of the Department of propaganda. language, means an awareness of the importance Mass Communication, QU The Peninsula newspaper of reflecting details and challenges of this stage to to excellent has known in recent years how English readers in Qatar and abroad. to restructure itself in terms of It has succeeded in translating its slogan ‘Local journalism n the 25th anniversary editorial and design. It also focus, Global vision’ with great success and of the founding of The knew how to deal with achieved a pioneering position among the Qatari OPeninsula newspaper, important and global stories media and was distinguished in its national and n behalf of the Northwestern we have to congratulate its which make other social role through extensive press coverage of all University Qatar community, I editor-in-chief, editorial team international news agencies aspects of life that concern the citizens and Owould like to extend my and all the staff. and various international residents. congratulations to The Peninsula on The follower of this television stations to It is also important to mention newspaper’s role its 25th anniversary — a quarter of a newspaper — on this occasion re-broadcast those contents, in creating awareness during COVID-19 among century dedicated to excellent — has only to provide full some of which have reached non-Arabic speakers through comprehensive journalism and documentation of respect to its editorial section the ranks of the global press, coverage of all activities undertaken by various Qatar’s history, culture, and and all the staff. Also we have such as the interview — sectors in the country to raise awareness of the development. Under the leadership of to congratulate them for the conducted by Editor-in-Chief, dangers of pandemic and ways to curb its spread. Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, The qualitative steps that the Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi — of Since its inception, The Peninsula newspaper Peninsula has cultivated a reputation newspaper has made in its President of the Republic of has been able to provide high-quality content to its as a leading English-language journey, despite its young Turkey, Recep Tayyib Erdogan readers adding professional value to the media in newspaper with high-quality and inception. in October 2020. our dear country, Qatar. The newspaper and its reliable news. Its success in bringing This newspaper came with We are all confident that website, both, have won the respect of various Qatar stories to the global stage while the aim of meeting a real need The Peninsula is on an segments of readers through its keenness to also innovating its design and digital in the Qatari society for those upward path that can only continue updating and re-launching its versions footprint has ensured its success at a who can’t communicate in make it reach the top in the many times to appear with a new look and better critical time for journalists worldwide. Arabic, and it succeeded to coming years, and we are all content according to well-thought-out plans. In Congratulations to Dr. Al-Shafi and attract them, and even became confident that those who are 2017, The Peninsula won the prestigious Middle East the entire Peninsula editorial team one of the favourite responsible own all the Digital Media Award for its website from World from all of us at Northwestern Qatar. newspapers even among elements of successful Association of Newspapers and News Publishers diplomatic representations and leadership to move the (WAN-IFRA). international missions in Qatar newspaper forward, as they I renew my congratulations to all the newspaper Under the leadership and in the region. possess the insight and staff headed by Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi as of Dr. Khalid bin This would not have strategic planning, just as Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, and also to former Mubarak Al-Shafi, The happened without the editorial they possess full knowledge Editors-in-Chief who left their mark on the Peninsula has policy adopted by the of media affairs related to newspaper until it reached to current level since its cultivated a reputation newspaper to convey the facts international affairs and launch in March 1996, wishing it more successes as a leading English- in an objective way. diplomatic issues, all of which and achievements to serve our homeland and our language newspaper Anyone who knows the are factors that cannot be community, the success which is inspired by the secrets of journalism realises combined except to lead to steps of modernity, sophistication and with high-quality and how difficult it is to win the success. We wish The comprehensive renaissance under our wise reliable news. minds of Western readers or Peninsula a more success. leadership.