BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 12 GCC corporates FIFA Club World likely to maintain Cup semi-fi nals conservative to be broadcast strategies this at drive-in cinema year: S&P in Lusail published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11816 February 6, 2021 Jumada II 24, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar welcomes election of Libyan interim authority Qatar skydive Qatar has welcomed the election of representatives of the interim executive authority in Libya, calling it a milestone in the path of struggle and sacrifices of the team sets brotherly Libyan people for the country’s stability and prosperity. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs stressed the need for all Libyan parties to adhere to Guinness the scheduled election date and work to achieve comprehensive reconciliation. It commended the eff orts of the UN Support Mission in Libya, and expressed Qatar’s wishes World Record that the election would pave the way for a comprehensive political solution that preserves the unity By Joey Aguilar tar Air Sports Committee and leader of the Libyan territories, respects HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, HE the Chief of Staff Reporter of the Qatar Skydive Team, told Gulf the rights of the brotherly Libyan Staff of Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem and HE the Commander of the Joint Times. people, and establishes a state of law Special Forces and head of the Qatar Air Sports Committee Major General Hamad bin Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri and other About the championship, he noted and civil institutions. Page 3 dignitaries at the opening of the 1st Qatar International Parachute Jumping Championship yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma atar skydive team, comprised that eight countries – Germany, Aus- of 25 parachutists, has set a tria, Denmark, Slovenia, Libya, Pales- QGuinness World Record for its tine, Morocco, and Qatar – are taking 263 referred to fi ve-point (25-canopy) formation yes- part in this latest edition. It will have prosecution over terday, marking the opening of the 1st two categories: four-way skydiving Qatar International Parachute Jumping formation and accuracy landing. Covid violations Championship at the Sealine area. In addition to a series of skydiving New guidelines issued for The team’s stunning performance performances, the opening also wit- A total of 263 people were referred was also posted by the Qatar Air Sports nessed a number of activities that en- to the Public Prosecution based Committee of the Joint Special Forces tertained attendees, including a horse on the Cabinet decision and Law on its social media pages such as In- show. Organisers urged spectators No.17 of 1990 regarding infectious Sport Day activities, events stagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snap- to adhere to Covid-19 precautionary diseases, and the preventive and chat, The championship will continue measures to ensure the safety of all, precautionary measures in place until February 11 from 7am to 5pm. and to prevent the spread of the virus. to limit the spread of Covid-19, the QNA matches, are not allowed, and sports participants have a green colour sta- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Al-Hammadi said the competition Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced Doha in which several teams compete in a tus on Ehteraz application. Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr forms part of the preparations for the yesterday. While the competent limited space are not permitted, in The committee said the non-im- Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah inau- World Parachuting Championships, authorities referred 224 people for addition to not allowing public at- mune groups, including people over gurated the event. HE the Chief of Staff which will be hosted in Doha in Novem- non-compliance with wearing masks, he National Sport Day Com- tendance in places of sports activities 60 and people with chronic diseases, of Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant ber. The upcoming championship is 39 were referred for violating the mittee has amended the con- during Sport Day. must be discouraged from attend- General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen expected to see the participation of the limit allowed in a vehicle, which is Tditions and guidelines for the All sports activities must take place ing places of sports activities for the al-Ghanem and HE the Commander of best parachutists from 45 countries, in- specified as four persons, including activities and events of the 2021 Na- in outdoor places, while indoor sports sake of their safety, indicating that the Joint Special Forces and head of the cluding the team from Qatar, according the driver, except for members of the tional Sport Day on Tuesday, after are prohibited, in addition to not al- providing meals in all public places Committee Major General Hamad bin to the Qatar Air Sports Committee. same family, the MoI tweeted. The co-ordination with the Ministry of lowing the holding of sporting events should be done under the guidelines Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri, as well as Like the FIFA 2022 World Cup, al- authorities have urged the public Public Health. in schools and clubs, the statement of the Ministry of Public Health with ambassadors from various missions, Hammadi stressed that the parachut- to adhere to the precautionary and Based on the decisions of the Council added. restrictions imposed on restaurants. and other dignitaries were present. ing competition is also a prestigious preventive decisions in force to of Ministers issued on Wednesday re- The committee called on all mem- The National Sport Day aims to “We are very happy and proud of to- and major sporting event. Offi cial Qatar protect them and others from the garding the plan to re-impose restric- bers of society practising sports to highlight the importance of sport, its day’s achievement, and we will contin- News Agency reported earlier that the spread of Covid-19 in the society, the tions due to the Covid-19 pandemic in take several preventive measures, moral and human values and health ue. There will be more achievements in Qatari national team trained in Portugal tweet added. Qatar to prevent its spread and in the such as wearing masks, except when benefi ts, as well as to educate citizens the future,” Abdullah al-Hammadi, to prepare for this and other upcoming interest of community safety, it was de- practising sports activity. It stressed and residents on the importance of member of the executive board of Qa- international competitions. Page 3 cided that all sports activities this year that a thermal examination must be sport in daily life and encourage them EU-Russia ties at ‘low will be individual only, such as running, conducted for practitioners of sports to practise it throughout the year. point’ over Navalny swimming, and cycling, the committee activity upon entering any area and The protocol fi le can be download- said in a statement yesterday. to prevent the participation of those ed and viewed by visiting the Min- Russia yesterday expelled It added that sports that re- whose temperature reaches more istry of Culture and Sports website diplomats from three European quire physical contact, such as ball than 37.8C, besides making sure that www.mcs.gov.qa countries for taking part in protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, after the European Qatar University research reveals Covid-oral health link Union said ties with Moscow had hit a new low. With EU foreign policy Patients with periodontitis (a type of chronic inflammation 568 Covid-19 patients and found that a significant number chief Josep Borrell in Moscow for a of the gums) were at least three times more likely to who suff ered severe complications and even death, had rare visit, Russia said it had declared experience Covid-19 complications regardless of age, advanced periodontitis. After adjusting for several factors diplomats from Poland, Germany gender and other conditions, a latest research by a Qatar such as patient’s age, gender and chronic diseases, the and Sweden persona non grata for University (QU) has revealed. The research team with Dr link between periodontitis and Covid-19 complications was participating in “illegal protests” on Nadia Maarouf, associate consultant from Hamad Dental statistically significant. Periodontitis is mostly caused by The flags of the eight participating countries flutter in the foreground as January 23 in support of Navalny. Center, was led by QU Professor Dr Faleh Tamimi, according poor oral hygiene and lack of maintenance of the dental parachutists descend during the opening of the 1st Qatar International Parachute Page 11 to a statement from QU. They investigated the records of condition. Jumping Championship yesterday (supplied picture). Straight from the horse festival More clinics open for

1 cancer care across Qatar 1 O NCCCR plans to expand its services this year

By Joseph Varghese The pain management clinic is espe- Staff Reporter cially for the palliative care patients to lead a good quality of life. We also re- cently launched a psychotherapy clinic he National Centre for Cancer to help the patients and the relatives Care and Research (NCCCR) at psychologically,” Dr al-Hassan said. THamad Medical Corporation, The offi cial said that there are more has expanded its services by launching projects to be introduced in 2021. He a number of new clinics while planning said, “We are planning to start home to introduce more services this year, visit for patient care. We will start a disclosed a top offi cial. Dr Mohamed Salem al-Hassan trial with 10 patients and check the “Our aim is to provide cancer care feasibility. This will help all those who across Qatar. Now we have established Public Health on the World Cancer cannot come to the hospital and we 37 extra clinics. We opened more clin- Day, marked annually on February 4. have created a unit for this.” ics in the NCCCR as well as in Al Wakra, “We have started three more clinics: “We will expand the pharmacy serv- Al Khor and Women’s hospitals. We Pain management clinic, palliative care ice as we have increased the clinics so A contender struts around the ring by the waterfront on Day 3 of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival — Title also plan to introduce more services clinic and pharmacy lead clinic. The that we can cope with the drugs re- Show yesterday. The show, with a total prize money of QR13mn, is being held by Katara together with Qatar Equestrian in 2021,” said Dr Mohamed Salem al- pharmacy clinic is the fi rst of its kind quirements of the patients. There will Federation, and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, and Qatar Foundation, and is a part of the festival, which is being held Hassan, medical director, NCCCR. in the country where a pharmacist sits be further improvement of the survi- under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The Title Show concludes today with Dr al-Hassan was speaking at a with a patient explaining the impact vor programme as well as the patient the Championship round. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam. SPORT Page 8 webinar organised by the Ministry of as well as the side eff ects of the drugs. discharge system,” he said.To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, February 6, 2021 QATAR Ministry looking to Thai PM meets Qatar’s ambassador recruit teachers in public schools for

Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha met yesterday with ambassador of Qatar to Thailand Ahmed bin Ali al-Tamimi. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations and new academic year issues of common concern. The positions the relevant tests and interviews successfully. Applicants for the in primary, special education teaching po- preparatory and sitions must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in special secondary schools education or any relevant major. Sri Lankan community are open for Qatari Alternatively, they must hold a Bachelor’s degree in kindergar- and non-Qatari ten plus a diploma/Master’s de- teachers gree in special education, or hold marks Independence Day a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic, English, Mathematics, Science he Ministry of Educa- (Physics, Chemistry, etc) or Biol- he 73rd Independence Day tion and Higher Education ogy plus a diploma/Master’s de- of Sri Lanka was celebrat- T(MoEHE) has announced gree in special education. Ted by the staff of the Sri that it is looking to recruit a number Interested candidates who Lankan embassy at the chancery of competent teachers in Qatar’s meet the above-mentioned com- premises in Doha on Thursday. public schools for the upcoming petency and experience require- The events of the day com- academic year of 2021-2022. ments are encouraged to visit the menced with the hoisting of The positions in primary, pre- statement notes. To meet the grade of ‘Very Good,’ or ‘Good’ Employment Portal to fi ll out the national fl ag and the singing of paratory and secondary schools requirements, Qatari applicants for Qatar University’s CED grad- required information and upload national anthem followed by two are open for Qatari and non-Qa- must hold a Bachelor’s degree in uates. Besides, candidates must the necessary attachments. Upon minutes silence in remembrance tari teachers from within Qatar, the relevant discipline from Qa- have relevant experience of at submitting the application, can- of the patriots who sacrifi ced the MoEHE said in a statement tar University’s College of Edu- least fi ve years in the respective didates will need to attach copies their lives to preserve and protect on its website. cation (CED) or otherwise, with a areas of specialisation. The ex- of the following documents: val- the freedom, unity, sovereignty The required disciplines in- minimum overall grade of ‘Good.’ perience requirement is reduced id passport, valid Qatari ID, duly and territorial integrity of the clude Islamic studies (male), In addition, Qatari candidates to a minimum of three years for attested university certifi cate motherland. social science (male), Arabic must submit their applications the graduates of CED, other Qa- (Bachelor’s) and duly attested Thereafter, multi-religious language (male and female), ICT through the National Employ- tar University colleges and local experience certifi cates, if any. observances were conducted by (male and female), mathemat- ment Platform (Kawader). universities. Shortlisted candidates will be religious dignitaries represent- ics (male), visual arts (male and As for non-Qatari candidates, The CED graduates must also employed on a local contracting ing Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and A moment from the Sri Lankan Independence Day event. female), general science (male), they must hold a Bachelor’s de- have a Qatari ID number. In ad- basis. The application process Catholic faiths. special education (male and gree in the relevant discipline dition, applicants must be 50 will be available for two weeks Independence Day messages ments expressed by Sri Lankan Lanka and Qatar and expressed female), physics (female) and from any formal education insti- years of age or below, have pro- from the date of publishing the of the Prime Minister Mahinda President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the hope that these ties would be physical education (male), the tution, with a minimum overall fi cient computer skills and pass announcement. Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister the National Independence Day strengthened in the years ahead Dinesh Gunewardena were read ceremony on the National Policy particularly in political, trade out in Sinhala and Tamil by the Framework of the Government and other fi elds. staff members of the mission. “Vistas of Prosperity and Splen- The ceremony was concluded Speaking at the occasion, dour”. Speaking further the am- with the serving of traditional Sri ambassador-designate M Mafaz bassador-designate emphasised Lankan delicacies and refresh- Al-Emadi inspects Qatar-backed Mohideen highlighted the senti- the friendly relations between Sri ments. hospital and care facilities in Gaza MoPH reports 398 new Covid-19 cases

QNA QNA Gaza Doha

E the Chairman of Qa- he Ministry of Public tar’s Gaza Reconstruc- Health (MoPH) reported Htion Committee Ambas- Tyesterday 398 new con- sador Mohamed al-Emadi made fi rmed cases of coronavirus an inspection tour of HH the (Covid-19), of which 371 were Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin from community and 27 from Khalifa Al-Thani Hospital for travellers returning from abroad Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, who are subject to quarantine. and Hamad bin Jassim Center for The ministry also reported the Integrated Rehabilitation Care. death of an 11-year-old child, Ambassador al-Emadi in- who was suff ering from chronic spected the progress of work at conditions and was receiving HH the Father Amir Hospital in the necessary medical care. The all its departments, praising the MoPH also recorded 153 recov- quality of services provided by eries from the virus during the the hospital. He appreciated the past 24 hours, bringing the to- eff orts of the administrative and tal number of cases recovered in medical staff working in it to Qatar to 146,627. All new cases provide service and treatment to have been introduced to isola- patients. tion and are receiving necessary He was also briefed on the Ambassador al-Emadi inspected the progress of work at HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa healthcare. most important services provid- Al-Thani Hospital in all its departments and Hamad bin Jassim Center for Integrated Rehabilitation Care Measures to tackle Covid-19 ed in the medical rehabilitation in Gaza. in Qatar have succeeded in fl at- departments such as the reha- tening the curve and limiting bilitation accommodation serv- spected Hamad bin Jassim Cent- mary care centre from other Al-Emadi stressed Qatar’s the spread of the virus and the ice, physical and occupational er for Integrated Rehabilitation centres is the integrated serv- keenness to continuously de- number of new daily cases and therapy, treatment of speech and Care, lauding the importance of ices provided to this category, velop the level of performance hospital admissions has been swallowing disorders, and the the service provided by the cen- starting from accommodation, and services provided by Qatari declining each week. However, work of the prosthetic depart- tre for people with special needs education and treatment to oc- projects in the Gaza Strip, in last month, there was a gradual ment in the hospital. with cerebral palsy. He stressed cupational training and other accordance with international and continuous increase in the Ambassador al-Emadi in- that what distinguishes the pri- services. standards. number of new daily infections.

More clinics open for cancer care across Qatar International experts learn about FIFA security procedures From Page 1 According to him, the entire team at the facility worked as a family to help the Dr al-Hassan said that the NCCCR is country during the pandemic of Covid-19. making use of the Recovery Centre (Bayat “It was absolutely necessary to con- Al Diyafa) as the facility needs more space. tinue the services of the NCCCR such as “Bayat Al Diyafa has 57 beds. This surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy helped us to admit more new patients at during the pandemic. We worked to re- the NCCCR and move the stable patients duce the patient waiting time in the out- to this facility providing more services patient department as well as people for new inpatients. We also made some waiting for chemotherapy. It was done changes to the existing practices and with zero cancellation and no delay in any formed new rules for admitting and dis- of the appointments for our patients,” said charging patients. Some senior offi cials the offi cial. take note of the patients and decide on Dr al-Hassan also said that a sub com- who should be admitted and discharged,” mittee was formed to initiate general he said. measures to minimise the risk of infection The NCCCR director said that the facil- and protect the patients and the staff . ity has introduced some of the latest and “The facility was renovated. The NC- The Legal Aff airs and Communication Unit of the Safety and Security Operations Committee (SSOC) for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has held a meeting more advanced technology for treatment. CCR expanded in space capacity as the with experts from the US, France and Germany. The experts are visiting Qatar to learn about the procedures for securing the ongoing FIFA Club World “We have introduced a new technique Day Care Unit capacity was increased Cup 2020. The meeting comes as part of the preparations made for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and activating international co-operation such as trigeminal neuralgia technique in from 16 to 52 and urgent care beds were and communication in line with the best practices to be applied by the committee, the SSOC said in post on Twitter. Lt-Colonel Khaled Ali al-Kaabi, deputy radiotherapy. This helps in pain manage- increased from six to 10. Effi cient utilisa- head of the Legal Aff airs and Communication Unit of the SSOC, and Captain Ali al-Neama, representative of the Planning and Monitoring Unit of the SSOC, ment. Adaptive radiotherapy, an advanced tion of the facility as well as improvement attended the meeting. During the meeting, the off icials presented the security readiness for the FIFA Club World Cup 2020, the planning mechanisms for the solution in treating cancer patients will of the patient services was executed. We tournament and ways to secure it. The committee had recently launched the Qatar Sports Security Information Point, the first centre of its kind in the region. be installed and commissioned in 2021,” daily see an average of 200 patients in the pointed out Dr al-Hassan. clinics,” he added. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 3 QATAR/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Qatar team sets world record at Parachute Jumping Championship

The 1st Qatar International Parachute Jumping Championship opened at the Sealine area yesterday. Qatar skydive team, comprising 25 parachutists, set a Guinness World Record for its five-point (25-canopy) formation at the event. The championship will continue until February 11 from 7am to 5pm. PICTURES: Jayan Orma

Lebanon to ease virus Libyans select surprise lockdown in four stages from Monday

Reuters return to what the situation Beirut had reached pre-lockdown,” he candidate for interim PM said. Diab is steering the govern- AFP led to the toppling and killing of Wolfram Lacher, from the Ger- ebanon will gradually ease ment in a caretaker role as the Geneva Gaddafi in 2011. Acting UN envoy man Institute for International strict coronavirus lock- country’s fractious politicians Stephanie Williams, who facili- and Security Aff airs (SWP), Ldown in force since Jan. 11 remain unable to agree on a new tated the week-long talks outside warned that “if this government in four two-week stages start- administration since he quit in ibyan delegates at UN-led Geneva, said she was “pleased to becomes operational at all, its ing from Monday, the country’s the aftermath of the Aug. 4 Bei- talks outside Geneva yes- witness this historic moment”. reach is likely to remain very lim- caretaker government said. rut port explosion. Lterday made the surprise “The importance of the decision ited,” adding that “the new ex- Lebanon imposed a 24-hour Caretaker Interior Minis- choice of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah that you have taken here today ecutive will have very little trac- curfew when cases spiked after ter Mohamed Fahmy said in as prime minister of a transition- will grow with the passage of tion, if at all, in the east.” lax measures over the Christ- the first two-week period of al unity government to take the time in the collective memory of Even if the appointments are mas holiday period sent infec- lighter restrictions starting on war-ravaged country through to the Libyan people,” she said after a step forward in the political tions soaring and pushed hos- Monday, those wanting to leave elections in December. the vote. process, the new executive will pital capacities to the limit. their homes would still need to He was chosen along with a Libya has been split between quickly have to assert its legiti- Lebanon is dealing with a apply for permission on avail- three-member presidency coun- a Government of National Ac- macy among myriad local po- devastating financial crisis that able electronic platforms. cil to head a unity administration cord (GNA) in Tripoli, and the litical actors, some of whom have has paralysed banks and the Details of which economic and steer the North African state eastern-based House of Repre- already distanced themselves lockdown faced resistance amid sectors can open in the coming towards the ballot box on De- sentatives, backed by military from the Geneva talks. It will also concerns over soaring unem- two weeks will be announced cember 24. leader Khalifa Haftar. Haftar in face the fact that multiple foreign ployment, inflation and pover- in a few hours, he said. Leba- Dbeibah, a Canadian-trained 2019 launched a months-long forces still have a presence on ty. In Tripoli, Lebanon’s poor- non recorded 3,107 new cases engineer from the city of Mis- campaign to seize Tripoli from Abdul Hamid Dbeibah delivering a speech via video link during a Libyan soil. est city, protests culminated on Thursday, with total cases rata and founder of the Libya al- pro-GNA forces, but was pushed meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). GNA prime minister Fayez al- last week in the burning of the reaching 312,269 and total Mostakbal (Libya of the Future) back eastwards last year, leading Sarraj, appointed at the end of a municipality building as dem- deaths at 3,397. movement, previously led the to an October ceasefi re and re- ister and three presidency coun- And in the fi nal run-off , previous UN process in 2015, was onstrators clashed with police. Yesterday, caretaker Health Libyan Investment and Develop- newed political eff orts for a more cil members, each representing Dbeibah’s list beat that of Fathi in offi ce for several months be- Caretaker Prime Minister Minister Hamad Hasan warned ment Company under dictator permanent peace. one of Libya’s three main regions. Bashagha, the GNA’s powerful fore he could even reach Tripoli Hassan Diab said in a statement the situation was still worrying Muammar Gaddafi . The vote is On Friday the Libyan Politi- East Libyan diplomat Mohamed interior minister, by 39 votes to by sea from Tunisia, due to secu- that while Sunday would be the with 98 deaths recorded on the part of a complex UN-led proc- cal Dialogue Forum, comprising Younes Menfi , a former ambas- 34. rity concerns. He has since grad- last day of total lockdown some day. ess aiming to build on a fragile 75 participants selected by the sador will head the council. His Key powerbroker Aguila Saleh, ually won the support of many restrictions would remain in “We need to return slowly ceasefi re and end more than a UN to represent a broad cross- deputies will be Moussa al-Koni, the speaker of the Haftar-allied militias, especially in the capital, place on Monday. with adherence to preventative decade of confl ict. section of society, chose between a Touareg from Libya’s south, parliament based in the eastern but never managed to impose “We will continue with regu- measures like mask wearing Libya has been torn by civil war proposed line-ups for the four and Abdallah Hussein al-Lafi , city of Tobruk, was not elected to his authority across the divided lations that will prevent the and social distancing,” he said. since a Nato-backed uprising leadership positions: prime min- from the western city of Zuwara. the transitional council. Analyst country.

Central Africa Pepper art extends state of Path clears for Nigerian to be emergency by six months fi rst woman head of WTO Parliament in the Central African Republic has approved a six-month extension to a state of emergency AFP as the best pick to lead the organ- in as US president, indicated that declared by the government Geneva isation but then-US president Washington had changed its po- to help combat armed groups Donald Trump’s administration sition. it accuses of seeking to mount maintained its opposition to her But the Western trade diplo- a coup. Prime Minister Firmin outh Korea’s trade minister appointment. The WTO head is mat said it was “easy to conclude Ngrebada, in a tweet, thanked abandoned her bid to head normally chosen by consensus that the reason (Yoo) is with- parliament for the vote, saying it Sthe World Trade Organisa- among all 164 member states, so drawing is that the US has sig- would “enable the government to tion yesterday, clearing a likely the process was left at a stand- nalled it is moving towards doing pursue long-term operations to path for Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo- still. exactly that.” secure the country.” The vote was Iweala to become the body’s fi rst Yoo’s departure leaves Okon- WTO spokesman Keith Rock- approved by oral consent, which female and fi rst African director- jo-Iweala as the only remaining well told AFP the next regular means that the number of MPs in general. candidate, but that does not au- meeting of the organisation’s favour or opposed is unknown, the Yoo Myung-hee had consult- tomatically mean the Nigerian General Council, where the lead- National Assembly’s press service ed with the United States — her will get the job. ership issue could be discussed, said. The state of emergency was prime backer — and other major “The selection requires con- was not scheduled until March 1. first declared for two weeks on countries and “decided to re- sensus, which in practice means But, he stressed, “another could January 21, after militia groups nounce her candidacy”, South that the US must declare that be called on short notice,” since tried to advance on the capital Korea’s trade ministry said in a they are joining the consensus the last meeting in October had Bangui ahead of presidential statement. around Ngozi,” a Western trade merely been suspended amid the and legislative elections the The process to name a suc- diplomat told AFP. deadlock. previous month. They were held cessor for Roberto Azevedo, who The US mission in Geneva Rockwell meanwhile said back by government forces, UN stepped down last August, has did not immediately respond to Seoul had yet to confi rm the peacekeepers and Russian and been deadlocked for months. questions about whether Yoo’s withdrawal of Yoo’s candidacy, Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motif at a gallery in Iwaya, Rwandan military personnel, Key WTO ambassadors tapped about-face, coming just two nor said whether it would en- Lagos, Nigeria. sent by their governments under Okonjo-Iweala back in October weeks after Joe Biden was sworn dorse Okonjo-Iweala. bilateral accords.

Probe finds $17mn hole in Covid funds

S Africa secures vaccines for at least 26mn people South African special investigators said yesterday that around $17mn in coronavirus funds was siphoned off last year through corruption, fraud and inflated prices for protective gear supplied to government hospitals Reuters thirds of its population, to reach people’s vaccines had been se- and departments. President Cyril Ramaphosa last year ordered a probe Cape Town herd immunity. Health Minister cured, Mkhize did not appear following revelations that government contracts were awarded to Zweli Mkhize told a parliamen- to include 12 million doses that politically-connected individuals and companies. tary committee it would take South Africa could access under In a televised address, chief investigator Andy Mothibi said that as outh Africa, hardest hit roughly three months to com- an African Union arrangement. A of November, a special tribunal had been asked to claw back a total by the coronavirus on the plete the fi rst phase of the vac- health ministry presentation said of $17.3mn (14.4mn euros) in taxpayers’ money. The probe revealed Scontinent, has secured cination plan focused on health- the J&J vaccine would cost $10 “flagrant and wanton disregard” of the law and an “insatiable pursuit enough Covid-19 vaccines for care workers. per dose and that a condition of of self-enrichment,” said Mothibi, who heads the government’s Special at least 26mn people and knows The next phase, which in- the deal was the establishment of Investigative Unit (SIU). where it will get the remaining cludes those aged over 60, those a no-fault compensation system “We need to recover monies and pay that money back to the state,” he does it needs, the health minister deemed essential workers and for adverse events. said. said yesterday. those with co-morbidities, could It said Moderna had off ered The SIU has asked the courts to freeze pensions and assets of entities Africa’s most industrialised take six months. “We don’t ex- 200,000 doses of vaccine at $30- and individuals implicated in the thefts. economy has recorded the most pect this plan to be smooth in its $42 a shot in the second quarter, Investigators unearthed a string of irregularities by state departments. Covid-19 infections and deaths implementation,” Mkhize said, with more available in the third They included overpayment for goods, wrong product specifications on the continent, at more than after some scientists and op- quarter. J&J’s is a single-shot and the awarding of contracts to companies not registered on the 1.4mn cases and more than position politicians criticised vaccine while the AstraZeneca, government’s central supplier database. 45,000 deaths to date. the government for not procur- A traveller is tested for the coronavirus disease at the Grasmere Toll Pfi zer and Moderna ones are “In some instances political pressure played a role in the procurement” It plans to start inoculations ing vaccines more swiftly. “It’s a Plaza in Lenasia, South Africa. double-shot. of protective gear, Mothibi said. soon, after receiving its fi rst mil- new programme, it’s a huge pro- South Africa has held talks Numerous suppliers failed to disclose their close connection to lion doses of the AstraZeneca gramme, to think that everything South Africa expects to get co-led by the World Health Or- with Chinese vaccine manufac- off icials responsible for awarding the contracts, and others used front vaccine from the Serum Institute is going to be smooth according another 500,000 doses from SII ganization, 20mn from Pfi zer and turers Sinovac and Sinopharm, companies to secure deals. Nearly 40 cases will be further investigated of India (SII) this week. It aims to to the letter of the plan I think we in the coming weeks, as well as 9mn from Johnson & Johnson. as well as Russia’s Gamaleya In- for possible prosecution for fraud, corruption and financial misconduct vaccinate 40mn people, or two- would be misleading you.” 12mn from the COVAX facility When calculating how many stitute, Mkhize added. charges. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, February 6, 2021 COMMUNITY Innovative duo turn rusting car into a prize-winning jewel z Abdullah al-Hajri and Ismail Waheed are proud of their product and say it is a one of its kind car in Qatar

By Mudassir Raja car got ready for the January Staff Reporter 2021 Qatar Custom Show. We took part in the show and won a prize. Also, we got the fi rst posi- here is no dearth of people tion in the Classic Japanese Cat- who love to have custom- egory,” said al-Hajri. Tised cars and motorbikes, The owners are happy to pos- besides ensuring old cars are sess the unique and rare car that made into working condition. they are not ready to sell. It is a hobby that many people “The most unique feature of cherish world over and Qatar is this car is that it is the only car no exception. of its type in Qatar. Also, it is rare Recently-held Qatar Custom in Japan and GCC countries. The Show saw an increasing number most important thing for us was of participants with their clas- to search for its registration doc- sically customised trucks, cars uments. When we were in search and motorbikes. The success- of the documents of the car, we ful event vividly manifested the found that it was bought from The rusting skeleton of the car in a junkyard in 2011. snowballing of interest in cus- Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Com- tom vehicles. pany and the fi rst owner of the One such car in the show was car was Saif Diyab al-Sulaiti. We Nissan Datsun Laurel 240L, got more interested in it when we made in 1980. There is an in- found out this information and teresting story about how two became more eager to rebuild it,” young men stumbled upon the said Ismail. rusting car in a junkyard and Al-Hajri has been attracted how they purchased the car Ismail Waheed (left), and Abdullah al-Hajri with their prize-winning car. towards the customisation of skeleton and gave it a beautiful cars for a long time and sees a shape in almost 10 years. The the Industrial Area and got im- uments or anything. They told its original shape. “For 10 years, rise in the trend in Qatar with car, co-owned by two friends – a mediately attracted towards the us that they bought this car for we were trying to fi nd its parts every passing day. Qatari and a Pakistani, won the idea of restoring the classic car QR200 and wanted to get rid of from diff erent countries like “I have been interested in fi rst prize in the Classic Japanese and giving it the original shape. it and recycle it for scrap. We told Japan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, customisation of classic Japa- Category during the custom “My friend Abdullah al-Hajri them that we can fi nd the docu- Kuwait and Oman. By November nese cars since my childhood. show. Abdullah al-Hajri and Is- and I came across this car in a ments for this car and off ered 2019, we had found all the parts The new generation of Qatari mail Waheed are proud of their junkyard in 2011. It had a totally them QR1,000. They agreed to that we needed and most of the citizens are getting more and The restored Nissan Datsun Laurel 240L, made in 1980. product and say it is a one of its rusted body. Most of the parts sell us the car afterwards,” Ismail parts were renewed. We started more interested in customisa- kind car in Qatar. were damaged. We still wanted told Gulf Times. working on this car in December tion of cars. I have come across pursue their passion for custom into a rare jewel that has in return They found the rusting re- to get the car but they told that It took almost 10 years for the 2019, and we were done with the a lot of people who get support cars. I am currently very happy to won me awards and recognition,” mains of the car in a junkyard in the car had no registration doc- car enthusiasts to bring it back to project in December 2020. The from their families or friends to revive a scrapped car and turn it al-Hajri added.

Campaign recognises work of DPS-MIS honoured for good performance in Grade 12 Asna Nafees, principal of indeed a glorious achievement healthcare heroes amid Covid-19 DPS-Modern Indian School and speaks volumes about the (DPS-MIS), recently received vision and mission of DPS-MIS. the award of excellence for Interactive sessions were outstanding academic results conducted with Dr Kiran at the 33rd CBSE Gulf Sahodaya Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of Principals’ Conference held on a Puducherry; Anurag Tripathi, virtual platform. CBSE secretary; Dr Joseph The inaugural session of the Emmanuel, director Academics; two-day conference, under Dr Biswajit Saha, director the aegis of Council of CBSE Training; Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Aff iliated Schools in the Gulf controller Examinations; and J Region, was addressed by K Yadav, Regional Off icer (Delhi Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, and Foreign Schools); to discuss Union Minister of Education, about major reforms planned India, in the presence of Manoj Principal Asna Nafees, received Examination-2019-20, DPS-MIS in curriculum, pedagogy, and Ahuja, CBSE chairman, and Dr the ‘Gulf Toppers Award’ student Najah Ismail bagged assessment. Ausaf Sayeed, ambassador on behalf of DPS-MIS for its the position of the Gulf topper The eff ective implementation of India to Saudi Arabia. The excellent performance in Grade in the science stream with an of the new National Educational forum honoured the eff orts of XII. aggregate of 98.6%. Receiving Policy was the focal point in the meritorious students for In the CBSE All India the award of excellence for most of the sessions during the the academic year 2019-2020. Senior School Certificate the eighth consecutive year is conference.

DPS-MIS holds safety pledge As part of the safety awareness teachers, students, security, programme, DPS-Modern administration staff and Indian School (DPS-MIS) subordinate staff in providing planned a variety of activities a safe and healthy learning for the academic year 2020-21 environment in the school. ‘Letters for Good’ is a campaign initiated by Riya Mahajan, a recently. The safety pledge by Anah One such activity – Safety Zahra Asim Merchant, student young student in Qatar, to say thanks to healthcare workers Pledge Taking – was held in the of Class-VIII/A, appealed to during the Covid-19 pandemic. Riya calls them healthcare school premises. The activity everyone to insist on safety in heroes and invites people of all backgrounds and age to share was conducted during the day-to-day life. All of the students class teacher’s period, after the who were present physically on handwritten letters, to recognise the contributions made by Morning Prayer, through the the day took the pledge from them. Gulf Times publishes one selected letter each week while public address system. their classrooms, and rest of the the rest of the letters will be sent by Riya to HMC for circulation The event started with prayer students, who were scheduled recitation by Ziya Fathima for online learning, took the among the healthcare workers. There is no limit to the number, Rasik of Class-VI/L followed pledge remotely. The other creativity, or personal feel to the letters, which should be by a speech on school safety members of the school, teachers, scanned and e-mailed to [email protected]. by Nikunj Nautiyal of Class- administrative staff , security Picture shows a letter written by Fiya Amrin. VII/E. He highlighted the and support staff also took the collective responsibility of pledge from their the school management, designated locations.

LIS students participate in Young SIFQ’s session on ‘Developing Science Ideas into Research Projects’ Innovator Award programme Loyola International cience India Forum Qatar (SIFQ) lawsone extracted from henna plant, School (LIS) recently conducted a webinar on he explained the science behind natu- participated in the S‘Developing Science Ideas into Re- ral dye used to colour hair and skin. The ‘Young Innovator search Projects.’ colouring is due to reaction of lawsone Award – 2020’ In the opening statement, the SIFQ with amino acids/proteins in the skin/ programme president welcomed all the attendees hair. This simple experiment turned recently and introduced guest speaker Dr Laksh- into research on lawsone and its deriva- conducted maiah Sreerama, Professor of Biochem- tives, having many biological properties by the Qatar istry with Department of Chemistry & including antibiotic and also for anti- Environment and Earth Sciences at College of Arts & Sci- Alzheimer’s disease. Certain lawsone Energy Research ences, Qatar University. derivatives are strongly coloured. Their Institute (QEERI). With a doctorate from Bangalore Uni- colours change when exposed to anions. There were almost versity, India and post-doctoral train- Accordingly, they can be used as sensors 350 entries for ing at University of Minnesota, USA, Dr for environmental testing as well as bio- the competition. Students during the programme. Sreerama has been a faculty member for metric/fi nger printing analysis. Five schools over 30 years. He has also served as the The webinar was well received by the were selected for each category. LIS was selected for intermediate toxicologist for the state of Minnesota in students and teachers. The session cul- category-I. USA. He has published more than 60 re- minated in an interactive Q&A session There were two rounds. The first round was poster-making and the search papers in internationally reputed and kindled the young minds to develop second one was virtual poster presentation and question/answer journals and presented over 100 research a love for scientifi c research. SIFQ envis- session. Anagha Jayaprakash, Nihal Ahmed and Sankalpa Peram papers in research conferences. with Government of India. Among the lightened the participants about how to ages working with the Indian education- from Grade-VI represented LIS. Their topic was ‘Solar Energy: Enjoy Dr Arvind Ranade graced the occasion audience were SIF founder member and evolve a science experiment with sim- al institutions in Qatar as well as bridg- More Eff icient Home.’ The students explained about how renewable as a distinguished guest. He is a scientist adviser Saseedharan along with over ple ideas into research project in a step ing science and research organisations in resources can be used in an eff icient way for a better future. They working for astronomy and space sci- 120 participants including school stu- by step process. In a thought-provoking India. It also strives to further strengthen also discussed how and why the world should switch to renewable ence communications in Vigyan Prasar, dents and teachers from various schools and elaborative presentation on the case Indo-Qatar ties in education, science resources. They focused on the benefits of solar energy and concluded Department of Science & Technology, in Qatar. In his talk, Dr Sreerama en- study started by a Grade-X student on and technology. that solar energy is the best way to save environment and money too. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 5 COMMUNITY Lankan expats welcome Gulf crisis resolution new ambassador to Qatar

uttalam Zahirians Foot- ball Club executive com- ‘augurs well for Pmittee representatives recently welcomed Mohamed Mafaz Mohideen, ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar, at the embassy premises. S M Isham Marikar, Putta- falconry business’ lam Zahirians president, along with other offi ce-bearers met By Mudassir Raja the ambassador and briefed Staff Reporter him about the activities be- ing conducted by Zahirians in Qatar, particularly the football alconry is an integral part camps, volunteer programmes of the heritage and culture and social events for the ben- gaging people in community Lankan community in Qatar. It Fof Qatar and other coun- efi t of Sri Lankan expatriates activities. He spoke specifi - is also a non-profi t and serv- tries in the region, with falconers as well as the society of Qatar cally about football and its im- ice-oriented organisation fo- forming a very special bond with in general. portance for the Sri Lankans. cused mainly on activities such their falcons. Ambassador Mafaz ex- The ambassador encouraged as social service, hosting char- Diff erent expatriate commu- pressed his pleasure over the Puttalam Zahirians to keep itable football events, working nities living in Qatar have also meeting with the visitors and their humanitarian work going. for humanitarian causes, and been showing deep and increas- congratulated the Puttalam Puttalam Zahirians is a famous helping people in distress and ing interest in learning more Zahirians members for en- football club among the Sri the underprivileged. and more about Qatar’s history, culture, and traditions. Falconry is one such practice that the ex- patriates take keen interest in, while learning more about the old Arab tradition. HMC honours Punarjani Falcon Souq in Doha has been one of the city’s major tourist at- tractions. Located adjacent to Souq Waqif, it has its own en- for community services trance and invites visitors to ex- plore the shops, falcons, and fal- Noor Mohamed with a falcon. PICTURES: Jayan Orma conry equipment. From October eam Punarjani recently to March, the season of falconry countries in the region. Falcon- were awarded for their in Qatar, falconers, falcon enthu- ers from these countries will Tcommunity services, siasts and tourists visit the market now be visiting Qatar that has especially for repatriation of to learn more about diff erent spe- the largest market of the fast fl y- chronic patients to various cies and the relevant equipment. ing birds.” parts of India for further treat- Noor Mohamed, Bangladeshi Noor, owner of Falcon So- ment from long-term care expatriate, has been associated danaseel Sale Center, has seen a units in Qatar. with the sale of falcons for about rise in demand for the falcon in As many as 25 patients have 40 years now. He has been in Qa- GCC countries since he started joined their families back in India. tar since 2008 and has a shop in the business. “I have witnessed They never expected to have the the Souq. Previously, he was deal- a very high demand. Population reunion particularly during the ing in falcons in UAE. has increased as well as the in- current health crisis. Punarjani “I have been into falconry for terest of the younger generations made necessary arrangements for 40 years. Initially, I used to sell in falconry over a period of time. the patients to travel from Qatar to chicken in UAE but got attracted Although the prices of diff er- their native places. Punarjani off ice-bearers receiving the award. towards the falcons after I saw a ent species have gone higher, yet Falcons at the shop. This included medical equip- compatriot dealing in the birds the demand is not scaling down. ment along with required doc- offi ce-bearer of Punarjani, were person of Geriatric Medicine of of prey. We purchase diff erent All those who purchase falcons among Qataris. Most of the birds species range from QR2,000 to tors, nurses and other per- honoured for the services and HMC. Punarjani president Ra- species of the bird from diff erent do not use the bird for hunting. are from farms in Europe. 1mn.” The shopkeeper also sells sonnel. Govind, member of co-ordination undertaken to ac- jeev Menon and secretary Rajesh countries and sell them in Qa- Many keep it as a pet at home, There are also many wild birds auxiliary equipment to falcon- Punarjani, was honoured with complish the process. Mangode were awarded for their tar.” The falcon dealer is upbeat mostly the young Qataris.” that mostly come from Pakistan, ers. “We sell hand gloves, eye- Hamad Medical Corporation’s The award was handed over by contributions towards facilitat- about the possibility of a rise in Sharing the names of diff er- Iran and Russia. The wild birds hoods, feet ropes and diff er- award for Social Services. He Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, director of ing diff erent activities of their business after the resolution of ent falcons, Noor said: “As per are high in demand for their ent training items. The falcon along with Viswanathan, an Long Time Care Unit and chair- team. the Gulf crisis. “All the dealers the demand for the bird, number speed and dexterity in hunting. owners also place rings with the in Qatar will benefi t from the one is shaheen, also called jubi- The demand for the bird name around the feet of the bird. development. Now, our falcons lee. There are other birds such has increased since Qatar has They also install a chip on the Pak Shamaa School holds workshop on graphite drawing can be taken to Saudi Arabia, as garmoosh, jibliya and herr. started diff erent falconry com- bird to trace it and to stop it from UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and other These are also very popular petitions. The price of diff erent getting lost.” Pak Shamaa International School and College recently organised a graphite drawing activity with Rehin Kader, Doha- based artist known for his work with charcoal and graphite QAST students become familiar with mainly focused on human portraits. The organiser of the art activity was Hajra Munir and students underwater robotics at Texas A&M varsity of Grade-IX, X, XI, and XII participated in the workshop. The activity was designed to tudents from Qatar Academy for Sci- circuitry and engineering design. We are de- give the beginners core skills differentiation of the lighter right technique of graphite. ence and Technology (QAST) learned lighted to have Texas A&M at Qatar lead our to enhance their shading skills and darker shades using The workshop was motivated Sabout the science and technologies be- students in this programme.” by using charcoal and graphite charcoal and graphite pencils; by the rising interest of hind remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) over The outcome of the course will enable stu- pencils. The other objectives techniques of holding the students in learning creativity fi ve weeks as part of the Engineering Heroes: dents to participate in the Qatar 2021 SeaP- of the workshop were to know graphite pencils in the right and by the expanded Ocean Scout academic enrichment pro- erch Challenge. and understand the different way; and drawing and shading possibilities of conceptual gramme delivered by Texas A&M University The international SeaPerch Challenge is shades of graphite pencils; of different shapes using the interrelationships. at Qatar (Tamuq). part of RoboNation, a leader in education- The innovative Engineering Heroes STEM al and competitive underwater robotics (science, technology, engineering and math) products that provides educational robot- outreach programme focused on the sci- ics kits and challenges for students of dif- MES KG section enjoys harvest of vegetables ence and technology of underwater vehicles, ferent ages. The kindergarten section of which are used in several industries and real- Tamuq was selected by RoboNation to be MES Indian School recently had life applications such as search and rescue, the official host for the SeaPerch Challenge a bounty harvest of vegetables inspecting underwater pipelines or exploring The innovative programme focused in Qatar based on the proposal submitted from the saplings that were shipwrecks. on the science and technology of by Gharib, who is a member of the SeaPerch planted and nurtured by the Ahmad al-Mannai, Grade-9 student, said: underwater vehicles. Regional Advisory Committee. children themselves. The “We learned how to be precise in our sketches As a result, a team from Qatar will par- students of both KG-I and KG-II and design. We learned to work in a team, and dent, said, “We learned new techniques to ticipate annually in the International Sea- were taken on a tour in the our plan is to make a simple ROV that is able build a ROV and rotate it. We faced many Perch Challenge starting in 2021. The 2021 vegetable garden, where they to move underwater and get things.” challenges and failed, but we had good team- competition will be conducted virtually. observed diff erent types of The Engineering Heroes: Ocean Scout work and we changed the sketch again and Tamuq dean Dr Cesar Octavio Malave vegetables. able to identify the colours and were also made known about programme was developed and delivered by again.” said that STEM programmes such as En- A small vegetable mart featuring the names of the vegetables, and the work-nature of a farmer, who STEM expert Dr Mohamed Gharib from Ta- Dr Gregory Moncada, QAST director, said: gineering Heroes offer students in Qatar a the produce from the garden learned about their vital roles in grows fruits and vegetables, and muq’s Offi ce of Engagement. “Engineering Heroes is an excellent intro- glimpse into how engineers work every day was set up in the KG hall. It was a sustaining the immune system the green grocer, the one who Noor al-Maadeed, another Grade-9 stu- duction to underwater ROVs, basic electronic to address challenges around the world. fruitful day as the children were and improving health. They sells them in the market.

VCUarts Qatar alumna reveals strategy for sustainability of high-end brands

he job requirements are clear: luxury footwear, leather goods, acces- dustry, it makes sense; the entire sec- member, introduced me to the same.” ered within a time frame that allows for you will be responsible for the sories and more. tor is built around the ability to analyse Tubailah’s job requires her to travel targeted marketing in Qatar. Tretail procurement of more than “Contrary to public belief, luxury and anticipate. It was a steep learning abroad, mostly to Europe, to hand-pick Tubailah explains how, like any 200 luxury labels; have the adaptabili- designers, vendors and consumers are curve, but VCUarts Qatar immersed clothes and accessories directly from product, reordering is based on de- ty to thrive on challenges; and, help the cautious of where and how they spend me into it.” the designers. It is a cycle that involves mand. But unlike fast moving con- organisation you’re working for – one money. This means retail managers The 25-year-old Jordanian – who is weeks of studying, analysing trends sumer goods that are in store for a year that earned a place on New York Times’ need to know their target audience; also a graduate of Qatar Academy Doha and markets, and preparing convinc- or more, allowing sellers the luxury of 2016 list of the World’s Coolest and their budgets, their tastes, and their – says that there isn’t a day when she ing discussion points to present to the periodically promoting products, the Most Cultured Malls – strike the right preferred brands to ensure that prod- does not apply what she learnt in uni- stakeholders she works with, all in the six-month fashion cycle leaves very balance between luxury and fi ne taste ucts are procured from outlets that of- versity, in her job. “My faculty intro- hope that the price, quality, fi nish, and little room for marketing. on one hand, and business sustainabil- fer value for money. That in turn, helps duced me to the essentials of fashion style of the ordered consignments ap- Prior to joining Al Hazm, and soon ity and digitisation on the other. avoid surplus stocks and losses, keep- business including ideation, pitching, peal to her customers in Qatar. after graduating from VCUarts Qatar, Meet Yasmeen Tubailah, retail buyer ing the business sustainable. product development, target audience, “Fashion trends in this region follow she developed her own label under and department manager at Al Hazm. “Additionally, the sense of imme- brand positioning, logo design, return the European market, albeit with slight her name ‘Yasmeen Tubailah’, off ering “Sound research-based strategy is diacy and accessibility of the digital on investment, and market research. I modifi cations,” she notes. ready-to-wear clothes. key to the sustainability and saleability world has resulted in customers who understood the need to create designs “Typically, there is a six-month lag Her current role required her to of high-end brands,” says the Virginia are well-informed of trends. Hence, based on cultural preferences, pur- between a trend appearing in Europe, temporarily shift her focus, yet she Commonwealth University School a digital presence has become para- Yasmeen Tubailah pose, age, gender, seasons, weather, and Qatar, with the Fall and Spring col- says she still managed to start two ven- of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) mount to a brand’s sustainability.” availability of materials, and of course, lection dominating the industry. This tures – named ‘Casi’ and ‘Shades’ – at Class of 2018 Fashion Design gradu- As she shares her business insight, sity. “I was surprised to learn there was budget. means a retailer needs to be nimble to Al Hazm, with ‘Casi’ off ering luxury ate, who currently oversees six stores Tubailah says that she became aware of so much more to the course than man- “Today, when I use specialised pro- pick up what’s in vogue, have the skills leather goods and mobile accessories, at Al Hazm that handles diverse retail just how complex the fashion industry nequins, measuring tapes, and mate- grammes to help me forecast fashion to explain to the designers exactly what and ‘Shades’ selling luxury eyewear segments including haute couture, fi ne is only when she was in her fi rst year at rials; that it’s all about research. And trends, I often recall my undergrad modifi cations need to be done to suit brands such as Gucci, Dolce & Gab- jewellery, ready-to-wear, kidswear, the Qatar Foundation partner univer- when you look at the global fashion in- classes where Sonali Raman, a faculty his or her clientele, and have it deliv- bana, and more.” Gulf Times 6 Saturday, February 6, 2021 COMMUNITY LEISURE/HOROSCOPE

Wordsearch Super Cryptic Clues Adam

Pooch Cafe

BARREL CARROT CURRENT FERRET GARRET HERRING MARROW PARROT SORROW TERROR WARREN FURROW BARROW CORRAL DERRICK SORREL Across Down HARROW HORROR MIRROR 1 Set free or let out again? (8) 2 Oriental festival on the first SURREY TURRET WARRIOR 6 Be successful in swindle (3) of November (7) 9 Publication for children? (5) 3 The day before a girl is 10 Titled Turk this month in found (3) Codeword opposition (7) 4 Rascal going to island for Garfield Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. 11 A bone can keep breaking! prawns (6) Squares with the same number in have the same letter (7) 5 Playwright admits art in- .in. Work out which number represents which letter 13 Gather in the morning on a volvement (9) steamship (5) 6 Stick with a fishy name? (5) 14 A hat for the country? (6) 7 Paper money produced by 15 The rest of Spain? (6) musician (5) 19 A basket an Indian has left 8 Get to know a sort of small behind (5) truck (4,2) 21 Stable men let Ross get 12 Lilacs Mae gathered - or upset (7) some other flowers (9) 22 Bizarre form of heater (7) 16 Fast bowler going round 23 A Greek poet’s pigeon? (5) front of transatlantic ship (7) 24 Fellow coming back to give 17 Take in first two letters silent assent (3) before brothers turn up (6) 25 Royalist going crazy on his 18 Enclosure for fuel entered own? (8) by Rolls-Royce (6) 19 Copper embargo for islander? (5) Bound And Gagged 20 Animal from eastern

Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles country (5) 23 A successful blow? (3)

Solution Sudoku

Answers Codeword Wordsearch

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a ٩x٩ grid. The grid is also divided into nine (٣x٣) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every .anone is repeated

Colouring Horoscope ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Add spark to your life today, Aries. It could be that things are getting People are apt to try to hit you square on the head with their Anchor yourself in practical matters before you try to prove your stale and boring. If so, consider the possibility that you simply aren’t ideas and thoughts today, Taurus, so be ready for the onslaught of point to others. There’s a great deal of primal energy rising within challenging yourself enough. Remember that you’re responsible information that may come your way. There’s a distinct advantage you today and searching for some sort of outlet. Be aware of for lighting your own fire. You have the perfect opportunity to get to listening to the whole spiel before you react with your own facts overextending yourself when it comes to issues of the mind. You something started today, so go for it. Feel free to get other people and emotions. The problem is that you’re going to be tempted to may be so anxious to prove your point that you end up losing sight to help. argue instead of calmly resolve the matter. of the reality of the situation. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Don’t take no for an answer today, Cancer. Know what you believe in Be a pioneer thinker today, Leo. There’s a noble courage in your Be aggressive and forceful when it comes to exerting your will, and stick with it. There’s a distinct advantage to holding true to your thoughts, so don’t let this quality go to waste. You will be surprised Virgo. Let others know that you won’t be a pushover. Your opinions inner nature. Don’t let others throw you off course with their views at how cutting edge you can be when you put your mind to it. are extremely important, and they need to be heard by the people on how things should be done. Be confident and don’t worry about Take a walk by yourself and contemplate the next major move that who matter the most. Have faith that whatever you say has the taking things over the top. There’s no such thing as excess today. you’d like to make in your life. Feel free to brainstorm bold ways to power to come true, especially when you enlist the help of those “The more the merrier” should be your motto. execute this plan. around you. Opportunity lies in joining hands with others. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Today may be one of those days in which you come to a four-way People would be foolish to challenge your thinking now, Scorpio. Your old ways of thinking have carried you quite far, Sagittarius, stop and no one knows whose turn it is. Don’t sit and wait for The power behind your words is volatile, and you may find yourself but you may now find that it’s time to seek a new platform for your everyone else to go first, Libra. If you know it’s your turn, be bold going to extremes in order to get your point across. Be careful about ideas. Look for more adventurous ways to express yourself. Break and make your move. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to signal others that making promises you can’t fulfill. It could be that you’re so adamant out of the old mold and try something new. Once you start in a bran- you’re going ahead. People might not be used to you taking such an about your point of view that you make up hyperbolic situations just new direction, there will be a great deal of support encouraging you aggressive role. to get your ideas across. to continue along that way. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

One quick phone call to a friend may turn into a long discussion It could be that you feel a bit of pressure today to start or create Move forward with your plan of attack today, Pisces. There’s an about the meaning of life, Capricorn. Be conscious of the fact that something that you aren’t quite ready for, Aquarius. There is anxious rumble within you that’s urging you to get going with a there’s a great deal of momentum building in your mind now. Once hesitation on your part that indicates you should take it slowly current plan. You have all the facts you need, so don’t hesitate any the dam breaks, you may soon have a giant flood on your hands. Be and learn more of the facts before you jump into the fray. Position longer. The power of the word is with you. You will be smooth, careful about releasing all this energy at once, even though you may yourself in such a way that you take control of the situation rather collected, and confident even in the most nerve-wracking situations. not seem to have a choice. than become a victim of it. Words will flow off your tongue with ease. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Australia plans to keep mandatory Google opens paid-for Australia news platform quarantine beyond vaccine rollout Australia yesterday said it would keep a mandatory two-week quarantine for all overseas visitors, even as vaccinations are rolled Reuters ment for Google and Facebook to Australian Community Media signed a deal with Google to be lishers, a government-appointed out across the country and the world. Chief medical off icer Paul Kelly Canberra pay Australian media companies didn’t immediately respond to the fi rst global news provider to arbitrator would decide the price. said there is still not enough evidence about vaccines’ ability to limit for content, unprecedented any- a request for comment. Google Google News Showcase. Reuters While Google’s public stance transmission to allow the dismantling of border controls that have where else in the world. said in a statement it looked is owned by news and informa- on potentially leaving the coun- virtually closed the country off from the world for almost a year. ech giant Google yesteray The tech fi rm, still lobbying forward to striking agreements tion provider Thomson Reuters try remains fi rm, Australia’s Most non-citizens are barred from entering Australia; there are strict launched a platform in the Australian government in with more Australian publish- Corp. Google declined to add Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said caps on how many residents can return each day and anyone who TAustralia off ering news private meetings, has previously ers, whose position has been bol- further comment when contact- Google’s approach had been does so must undergo two weeks of self-paid hotel quarantine. A few it has paid for, striking its own said was the legislation was “un- stered by Canberra’s aggressive ed by Reuters. Last month Google “constructive” in recent days thousand short-term visitors now enter the country every month, down content deals with publishers in workable” and would force it to push back against Facebook and and a French publishers’ lobby during private meetings. from more than one million before the pandemic began. a drive to show legislation pro- pull out of the country altogether Google. agreed to a copyright framework “The Prime Minister (Scott Kelly said that although preliminary data shows the AstraZeneca posed by Canberra to enforce if implemented. “This provides an alternative for the tech fi rm to pay news Morrison) and myself and (Com- vaccine does reduce transmission of the virus, the evidence was payments, a world fi rst, is un- With the legislation now be- to the model put forward by the publishers for content online, in munications Minister) Paul not yet conclusive enough for Australia to let its guard down. Asked necessary. fore a parliamentary inquiry, Fri- Australian government,” said a fi rst for Europe. Fletcher had a very construc- if quarantine would remain until further notice, Kelly said “yes”. “At Only rolled out previously in day’s launch of News Showcase Derek Wilding, a professor at the Under Canberra’s proposed tive discussion with the head of the moment, that two-week quarantine in hotels – as has been so Brazil and Germany, the News in Australia will see it pay seven University of Technology Syd- legislation, Google and Facebook Google just yesterday,” Fryden- successful up till now – remains regardless of vaccination.” Showcase platform was origi- domestic outlets, including the ney’s Centre for Media Transi- would have to pay Australian berg told reporters in Melbourne Prime Minister Scott Morrison meanwhile announced that the nally slated for launch last June. Canberra Times, to use their tion. “What remains to be seen is publishers and broadcasters for yesterday. government would very slightly ease the caps on overseas arrivals and But Alphabet Inc-owned Google content. Financial details of the if larger publishers sign on to the content included in search re- “In that discussion ... they re- look into expanding capacity at an existing government-run Outback delayed plans when Canberra content deals weren’t disclosed, product,” said Wilding. sults or news feeds as well. If they committed to Australia, we re- quarantine camp and developing more facilities. The news will come as moved to make it a legal require- and Canberra Times publisher Last month Reuters said it had failed to strike a deal with pub- committed [to the legislation].” a blow to Australia’s tourism industry, worth roughly US$50bn a year. Myanmar police step up arrests as protests grow

Reuters for the last three nights against Yangon Monday’s coup, media reported. People burn a portrait of Myanmar’s army chief Min Aung Hlaing in Eleven Media quoted Maung Yangon. Maung Aye, deputy head of the yanmar police arrested regional police force as saying another key aide of they were accused of breaking Mousted leader Aung San a law against “causing noise in Suu Kyi and media said at least public streets”. A teenager was 30 people had been detained over among others arrested elsewhere pot-banging protests against a over the noisy protests. military coup as shows of anger There has been no outpour- gathered pace yesterday. Inter- ing of people onto the streets in national pressure on the junta a country with a bloody history was also growing with the UN of crackdowns on protests, but Security Council calling for the there were signs of coup op- release of Suu Kyi and other lead- ponents growing bolder – with ers and US President Joe Biden dozens of youths parading in the considering sanctions on the rul- southeastern city of Dawei. ing generals. A campaign of disobedience The latest high-profi le detain- also gathered pace with some ee was 79-year-old Win Htein, a teachers joining work stoppages stalwart of Suu Kyi who was re- that began with doctors in gov- peatedly imprisoned during their ernment hospitals. Students at decades of struggling against Yangon’s Dagon University held A vendor wearing a red ribbon flashes the three-finger salute as she previous juntas that led to the a protest march on campus. “We Shops are decorated with red balloons during a campaign against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar. takes part in a campaign against the military coup in Yangon. unsteady transition to democ- don’t want this military coup racy that began in 2011. “We have which unlawfully seized power uphold democratic institutions Kyi, 75, has not been seen since national security adviser Jake meeting to discuss the situation. cording to the United Nations, been treated badly continuously from our elected government,” and processes, refrain from vio- her arrest in morning raids on Sullivan spoke by phone with It is unclear how eff ective sanc- include members of the military. for a long time,” he told Reuters said lecturer Nwe Thazin Hlaing lence, and fully respect human Monday. Police have fi led charges ambassadors from the Associa- tions would be as Myanmar’s Kirin said the coup had “shaken by telephone as he was being tak- at the Yangon University of Edu- rights, fundamental freedoms against her for illegally importing tion of South East Asian Nations generals have few overseas inter- the very foundation of the part- en away by police. “I have never cation. “We want the military and the rule of law.” and using six walkie-talkie radios (Asean), a 10-member bloc to ests that could be targeted. nership”. been scared of them because I coup to fail.” Language in the statement found at her home. which Myanmar – also known as The military does, however, Suu Kyi spent about 15 years have done nothing wrong my en- Army chief Min Aung Hla- nonetheless made no mention Biden said the United States Burma – belongs. have extensive interests in the under house arrest between 1989 tire life.” ing took power citing alleged ir- of a coup. China’s UN mission was working with allies and Sullivan earlier told a news domestic economy and could and 2010 as she fought for de- Reuters was unable to reach regularities in a November elec- said Beijing hoped the key mes- partners to address the generals’ briefi ng the Biden administration pay a price if foreign companies mocracy in a country that has police for comment on his arrest tion that Suu Kyi’s party won in sages in the statement “could be takeover. “There can be no doubt was looking at targeted sanctions that have invested over the past been under military rule for most or what charges could be brought a landslide. The electoral com- heeded by all sides and lead to a in a democracy force should nev- on individuals and on entities decade decide to pull out. Japa- of the past six decades. against him. In Myanmar’s sec- mission has said the vote was positive outcome”. Reuters was er seek to overrule the will of the controlled by the military.The nese drinks giant Kirin Holdings She remains hugely popular at ond city of Mandalay, 30 people fair. The 15-member UN Security not immediately able to reach the people or attempt to erase the leaders of Malaysia and Indone- said yesterday it is terminating home despite damage to her in- were arrested over pot-banging Council released a statement on Myanmar government for com- outcome of a credible election,” sia said Asean foreign ministers its alliance with a top Myanmar ternational reputation over the protests which have taken place Thursday stressing the “need to ment. Nobel Peace laureate Suu he said. The White House said would be asked to hold a special conglomerate whose owners, ac- plight of Rohingya refugees.

Dozens of Rohingya All lit up Key Pacifi c body refugees caught arriving in in crisis as Palau Malaysia Dozens of Rohingya, mostly women and children, were walks out caught as they arrived by boat in Malaysia last month after fleeing a refugee camp in neighbouring AFP Indonesia, police said yesterday. Koror, Palau Almost 400 members of the persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar arrived by boat in alau announced yesterday it was quitting the Pacifi c Islands Fo- Indonesia last year after perilous rum over a leadership row, threatening the future of a key group- journeys, and just over 100 now Ping in a region where China and the United States are vying for remain at a camp there. infl uence. Palau said its departure was prompted by the failure of its Many are believed to have preferred candidate to win election as the grouping’s secretary-gener- enlisted traff ickers to help them al, with four other Micronesian nations also threatening to withdraw make the sea crossing, including over the issue. women seeking to reunite with The 18-member forum is mostly made up of small island states their husbands in the Southeast along with Australia and New Zealand, and is a key element of the US Asian country. Relatively aff luent, allies’ diplomatic eff orts in the region. The fi ve Micronesian countries Muslim-majority Malaysia is the had argued it was their turn to select the forum secretary-general un- main destination for Rohingya der an informal arrangement that has stood for decades. fleeing misery in Bangladeshi But their preferred candidate was snubbed when former Cook Is- refugee camps. Police confirmed lands prime minister Henry Puna won a ballot for the post by a single to AFP that a boat carrying 36 vote on Thursday. “After recent events the government of the republic people – 31 Rohingya and five of Palau will be terminating its participation in the Pacifi c Islands Fo- Indonesians – was intercepted as rum,” the government said in a diplomatic note obtained by AFP. it landed on Malaysia’s west coast “The process regarding the appointment of the secretary-general on January 6. “They entered has clearly indicated to the republic of Palau that unity, regionalism Malaysia by boat from Tanjung and the Pacifi c Way no longer guide the Forum.” The other four mem- Balai (on Indonesia’s Sumatra bers of the Micronesian bloc -- the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, island) and landed at a beach,” A man walks underneath the festive decorations for the upcoming Lunar New Year at Chinatown area in Yokohama, Japan, yesterday. and the Federated States of Micronesia -- will hold a virtual meeting said Abdul Rahim Jaafar, the Monday to discuss following Palau’s lead. director of internal security at the A split in the forum’s ranks could provide an opening for China to Royal Malaysia Police. boost its infl uence with the sparsely populated but strategically im- The Rohingya migrants Nepal’s PM seeks public support for early election amid protests portant Pacifi c island nations. It would also risk diluting the Pacifi c’s numbered 17 women, seven men, strong message to the rest of the globe on climate change. Many of the five boys and two girls. They said was his “unconstitutional” colleagues were refusing to battle, the Himalayan nation of region’s small island states face being inundated by rising seas and the were detained and 21 have been Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma move to seek a fresh poll amid cooperate with him. Nepal was 30mn people, wedged between forum has been a pioneer in raising the issue on the world stage and charged for entering Malaysia Oli insisted yesterday he had the a pandemic-induced economic plunged into crisis on Dec. 20 India and China, will go to the demanding meaningful action. without valid documents, Abdul legal right to dissolve parliament crisis. “The prime minister has when Oli, who has two years of his polls, in two phases, on April 30 The grouping was established in 1971 as the South Pacifi c Forum, Rahim said. A further two people and said he was justified in calling the prerogative to dissolve the term left to run, declared he could and May 10. adopting its current name and expanding its membership in 1999. Just have been charged under anti- an early election in the face of parliament,” Oli told a crowd no longer work with rivals in his Oli’s critics – including many in this week, chairman Kausea Natano was congratulating the grouping traff icking laws. widespread opposition from gathered on a main road in the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), his own party formed in 2018 in for reaching its 50th anniversary and saying support from members Almost 1mn Rohingya live in within his own ruling Communist capital. dissolved parliament and called a merger of the United Marxist- remained solid. However, Micronesian nations have long felt their sprawling camps in Bangladesh, party. The 68-year-old prime minister, for a fresh election. Leninist party and the main north Pacifi c island states have been neglected in favour of their larger many of which were set up after a Oli was addressing thousands who is facing almost daily The Supreme court is now hearing Maoist party – say Nepal’s 2015 and more infl uential neighbours in the south. “What we have seen is bloody crackdown by Myanmar’s of supporters in Kathmandu, protests by political opponents more than a dozen petitions constitution, intended to preserve a south Pacifi c that looks down on the north Pacifi c and we fi nd that military in 2017 drove them into a day after leaders of a rival and rights groups, said he challenging the legality of that political stability, does not give the deeply unfortunate,” Federated States of Micronesia President David the impoverished South Asian party faction called a national had been compelled to take a action, with a verdict expected prime minister the prerogative to Panuelo told Australian radio in the wake of the leadership vote. country. strike to oppose what they tough decision because many this month. If Oli wins the legal dissolve parliament. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, February 6, 2021 WORLD

RULING DATA DISCLOSURE PEOPLE CRIME Canadian judge denies Lockdowns push Canada Intruder ‘gained access Mexican president tests Ex-governor accused bail to fashion designer jobless rate up to 9.4% to Joint Base Andrews’ negative for Covid-19 of torturing journalist

Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard was Canada shed 213,000 net jobs in January, The United States Air Force is investigating an Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez A former Mexican governor appeared in court yesterday denied bail by a judge in Winnipeg, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.6 intruder at Joint Base Andrews, the military facility Obrador has had a negative Covid-19 test, the on charges of ordering the torture of a journalist Manitoba, on a US extradition request over charges percentage points to 9.4%, amid new pandemic in Maryland that is home to Air Force One, the government said, less than two weeks after who accused him of links to a child pornography of sex traff icking and racketeering. Canadian police restrictions, the national statistical agency aircraft that flies the president. “An unauthorised the 67-year-old announced he had contracted ring. Mario Marin was detained on Wednesday in arrested Nygard in Winnipeg on December 14 said yesterday. It marked the country’s highest individual gained access to Joint Base Andrews,” a the virus. “I’m in good health already, I’m Acapulco and transferred to Cancun in connection at the request of US off icials under the countries’ unemployment rate since August of last base spokesperson said in a statement yesterday. recovering,” Lopez Obrador said in a video with the allegations dating back to 2005, the year extradition treaty. Nygard faces nine counts of year. The losses were all part-time jobs and “The incident is under investigation.” Joint Base message from the National Palace, adding that he became governor of central Puebla state. He sex traff icking and racketeering in the US. Nygard, concentrated in Quebec and Ontario retail Andrews is roughly 15 miles southeast of the an antigen test he took was negative. “We appeared before a judge and was formally accused who appeared in court by video, has denied the sectors hardest hit by new lockdowns to slow the White House in Washington, DC. No information have to move forward in this crisis, this health of the torture of award-winning investigative allegations. Justice Shawn Greenberg said she spread of a second wave of Covid-19, Statistics was immediately available about when the crisis, the pandemic, and the economic crisis,” journalist Lydia Cacho. The judge will decide on was concerned Nygard, 79, could tamper with Canada said. Employment in accommodation incident occurred or how close the individual he added. “We will be fine.” Lopez Obrador February 10 whether to grant house arrest to the witnesses if released. His lawyers had argued that and food services fell 8.2% in January. In retail got to the aircraft. The Air Force Off ice of Special was a heavy smoker until suff ering a major former governor. Marin had been a fugitive since poor health left Nygard vulnerable if he were to be trade it was down 7.4 % and in information, Investigations (OSI) is leading the investigation into heart attack in 2013, and has a history of heart April 2019, when a court in the southeastern state infected by the new coronavirus in prison. culture and recreation it fell 2.4%. the incident, the statement said. problems. of Quintana Roo ordered his arrest.

Republican stripped of Biden touts two posts

Reuters Washington muscular he US House of Repre- sentatives voted to strip TMarjorie Taylor Greene of two high-profi le commit- tee assignments, punishing the Republican congresswoman for foreign policy incendiary remarks that includ- ed support for violence against Democrats. In a test of unity for a House Republican caucus riven by divi- sion, nearly 95 % of Republicans voted to oppose the punishment in key speech after Greene expressed regret for remarks made before she entered Reuters it’s in our own naked self-inter- President Xi Jinping but diff er- offi ce but failed to apologise. Washington est.” ences over trade, Hong Kong Eleven Republicans joined Biden’s choice of the state de- and what the US military calls Democrats in a 230-199 vote to partment as venue for his fi rst Beijing’s destabilising and ag- approve the Democratic-backed S President Joe Biden big diplomatic address was an gressive behaviour in the South resolution, which stripped promised a new era after important symbol of the value he China Sea prompted a rift. Greene of her seats on the Uthe scattershot foreign places in career diplomats, who China, which is expanding its House Budget Committee and policy of his predecessor, Don- Trump largely saw as opponents. military and working to grow its the House Education and Labor ald Trump, declaring “America “American alliances are our infl uence around the world, is Committee. is back” on the global stage in his greatest asset. And leading with perhaps Biden’s biggest inter- “I have never encountered a fi rst diplomatic address as presi- diplomacy means standing national challenge as he begins situation like the one before us dent. shoulder to shoulder with our al- his presidency. He called Beijing now, where a member has made In his speech, Biden signalled lies and key partners once again,” “our most serious competitor.” such vile and hurtful statements, aggressive approaches to China Biden said. “We’ll confront China’s eco- engaged in the harassment of and Russia and urged Myanmar’s Biden in his early days has at- nomic abuses, counter its ag- colleagues and expressed sup- military leaders to halt their coup. tempted to repair what he has gressive, coercive action to push port for political violence,” “American leadership must called the damage to America’s back on China’s attack on hu- House majority leader Steny meet this new moment of ad- standing around the world, roll- man rights, intellectual property Hoyer said before the vote. “This vancing authoritarianism, in- ing back Trump policies. and global governance. But we’re is not about party. It’s about cluding the growing ambitions of He is working to revive the Iran ready to work with Beijing when whether or not you will vote for China to rival the US and the de- deal, and renewed US member- it’s in America’s interest to do decency and truth.” termination of Russia to damage ship in the Paris accord and the so,” he said. Hoyer walked across the and disrupt our democracy. World Health Organisation. Not all US allies may be happy at House fl oor, holding up a cam- We must meet the new mo- He challenged Russian Presi- the sharp turn in US foreign policy, paign photo showing Greene ment... accelerating global chal- dent Vladimir Putin. “I made including Poland, where Trump with an assault rifl e next to three lenges from the pandemic to the it clear to President Putin, in a once pledged to deploy US troops, Democratic congresswomen climate crisis to nuclear prolif- manner very diff erent from my or a host of nations that have criti- – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, eration,” said Biden. predecessor, that the days of the cised heavy-handed intervention Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar Trump angered European and US rolling over in the face of Rus- by Washington in the past. – and calling her their “worst Asian leaders with tariff s, frac- sia’s aggressive actions, interfer- “We are a country that does nightmare.” The vote to punish turing of global alliances, and ing with our elections, cyberat- big things. American diplomacy Greene, a fi rst-term lawmaker threats to withdraw US troops. tacks, poisoning its citizens, are makes it happen and our admin- from Georgia and ally of former He did little to push back over,” he said. istration is ready to take up the president Donald Trump, came a against a wave of authoritarian- Trump had initially sought a mantle and lead once again,” said day after the chamber’s Repub- ism in some countries. warm relationship with Chinese Biden. lican leader, Kevin McCarthy, After a Trump-inspired mob opted not to reprimand her. attacked the US Capitol on Janu- US set to accept more refugees Republicans mainly attacked ary 6, protesting Biden’s elec- the resolution as a “partisan tion win, foreign allies and rivals President Joe Biden said he up the country’s capacity to power grab” by Democrats and alike expressed doubts about the plans to raise annual refugee accept refugees in the face warned that punishing lawmak- health of American democracy. admissions to 125,000 in the of “unprecedented global ers for statements made before Biden’s speech was a full- coming fiscal year, a more need.” Biden has pledged to they entered offi ce would set a throated attempt to vanquish than eight-fold increase after restore the US’ historic role dangerous House precedent. those doubts, and convince former president Donald Trump as a country that welcomes McCarthy accused House Americans of the value of a slashed levels to historic lows. refugees from around the Speaker Nancy Pelosi of hypoc- forceful international approach. Biden also called for dozens world after four years of cuts risy for not taking similar ac- “Investing in our diplomacy of changes to US refugee to admissions under Trump. tion against Democrats for con- isn’t something we do just be- processing and vetting in The UN High Commissioner for troversial remarks and warned cause it’s the right thing to do a detailed executive order Refugees estimates there are that the vote would rebound on for the world,” he said. “We do it that advocates lauded. Biden 1.4mn refugees worldwide in Democrats once Republicans re- Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill yesterday after the House voted to in order to live in peace, security said the order would build urgent need of resettlement. take the majority. discipline the congresswoman. and prosperity. We do it because Trump not to testify Snow art Virginia lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty in impeachment trial Reuters punishment has declined in the Washington US. According to Gallup, support AFP “The president will not testify He said Trump, who now lives has dropped from 80% in the Washington in an unconstitutional proceed- in his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, awmakers in Virginia yes- 1990 to 55% in 2020. ing,” Miller said had little excuse to avoid testify- terday voted to make it the It is also being weighed at the The refusal came days before ing, and could no longer claim Lfi rst southern US state to national level. ormer president Donald the trial of the former leader on he was too busy overseeing the abolish the death penalty, a sig- Former president Donald Trump has refused to testi- one charge of “incitement to in- country, as was the White House nifi cant sign of waning support Trump, a Republican, resumed Ffy in his looming impeach- surrection” opens in the senate. position when he was still presi- for capital punishment across the execution of prisoners on ment trial after being called In his unprecedented second dent. the country as the practice is federal death row last summer by House prosecutors to give impeachment trial, Trump is ac- Raskin’s letter and the re- weighed at the federal level. after a 17-year hiatus, killing 13 evidence, branding the process cused of fomenting the attack by sponse set out the battle lines The state’s Democratic-led people convicted of murder. “unconstitutional.” his supporters on the US legis- for the never-seen impeachment House of Delegates voted 57-41 That followed six decades Trump’s lawyers ridiculed the lature one month ago, forcing a trial of an ex-president. on a measure to end the practice. which saw a total of three federal request in a letter by lead House halt to proceedings to certify op- The Democratic House pros- The senate passed the measure executions. prosecutor Jamie Raskin to an- ponent Joe Biden’s victory in the ecutors, or impeachment man- earlier this week, and governor Last year was the fi rst time the swer questions over the January November presidential election. agers, say the Republican leader Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said US government executed more 6 attack on the US Capitol as a Raskin said the trial will prove was “singularly responsible” for he will sign the repeal into law. people than all 50 state govern- “public relations stunt.” “Trump’s conduct was indefen- the Capitol attack, which left fi ve Virginia has conducted 1,390 ments combined. “Your letter only confi rms sible.” dead. “In a grievous betrayal executions since 1608, the most Democrat Joe Biden took of- what is known to everyone: you “His immediate refusal to tes- of his oath of offi ce, president Geometric formations in the snow are seen near Rongie in the US and 68 more than fi ce last month as the fi rst US cannot prove your allegations” tify speaks volumes and plainly Trump incited a violent mob to Lake in Schreiber, Ontario, Canada. The works are by a Texas, the state with the second president to commit to seeking to against Trump, attorneys Bruce establishes an adverse inference attack the United States Capitol,” retired headmaster seeking to beat pandemic doldrums. “I most executions. abolish the federal death penalty. Castor and David Schoen said in supporting his guilt,” he said in a they said. Trump’s team argued start with a shape – a hexagon, a square or a triangle – and Virginia last carried out an ex- Lawmakers in Congress are their reply. statement. in a fi ling on Tuesday that what- draw lines through it or intersecting circles,” said 62-year- ecution in 2017. asking him to support bills that While the attorneys did not Raskin had asked Trump, who ever he said in the days and hours old Kim Asmussen. He confessed to spending a lot of time Two men remain on Virginia’s would repeal the death penalty. say whether he would testify, a has maintained without evidence before the attack to encourage tinkering with sketches in advance, “because once you’ve death row, including Thomas The United Nations has long senior advisor to Trump, Jason that Biden won by massive fraud, supporters to reject Biden’s elec- made a mark in the snow you can’t erase it. It’s not like Porter, who was convicted of called for a moratorium on ex- Miller, said fl atly that he would to testify sometime next week, tion win amounted to constitu- drawing on a piece of paper.” killing a police offi cer in 2005. ecutions and urged its abolition not. before or during the trial. tionally protected free speech. Public support for capital worldwide. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 9 WORLD

VERDICT CRIME RULING ANNOUNCEMENT DECISION Scottish independence Police open probe as Indian court grants PayPal halts online High-speed Internet vote plea dismissed three killed in Scotland bail to comedian payment services in India restored in Kashmir

A Scottish court yesterday rejected a request for it Detectives in the west of Scotland have India’s top court yesterday granted interim bail Online payments giant PayPal yesterday said it The Indian government yesterday said it was to declare that the country’s devolved parliament launched an investigation after two women to a stand-up comedian who was jailed for more will halt domestic financial transactions within restoring high-speed mobile Internet in Jammu has the right to call a referendum on independence were killed, including one outside a hospital, than a month over allegations of hurting religious India, bowing out of a vast market buoyed by re- and Kashmir for the first time since August 2019, without the consent of the British government. and a man died in a car crash soon afterwards. sentiments during a show, court off icials said. The cent coronavirus restrictions. Multinational giants, when the authorities withdrew the special rights Judge Ailsa Carmichael said it would be “hypotheti- A 39-year-old woman was discovered in the car comedian, Munawar Faruqui, 30, was arrested including WhatsApp, Google and Alibaba, have of the region. “4G mobile Internet services being cal, academic and premature” to make a ruling on park of the Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, early last month following a complaint by the for months been locked in a tense battle over restored in entire Kashmir” local administra- the issue, which has increasingly seen London and southwest of Glasgow. She died at the scene son of a politician from Prime Minister Narendra the fast-growing digital payments market in the tion spokesman Rohit Kansal said on Twitter. Edinburgh at loggerheads. Even if she did, she said despite medical treatment. About 20 minutes Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleg- nation of 1.3bn, expected to be worth $500bn by Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister it “would not compel the Scottish government, later, a 24-year-old woman was found stabbed ing that he had made objectionable remarks on 2025. But PayPal yesterday said it would instead Omar Abdullah, tweeted his happiness at the the United Kingdom government, or the Scottish in a street in the town and died in hospital. A Home Minister, Amit Shah, during a show at a focus on developing more international sales for New Delhi government’s move on the Internet. Parliament to act in any particular way”, she added. 40-year-old man was found dead after a car cafe in the city of Indore. The Supreme Court yes- Indian businesses from April. “This means we will “4G Mubarak!” he said, using an Urdu word for Scotland held an independence referendum in crash nearby, Police Scotland said. Officers ruled terday said the allegations against Faruqui were no longer off er domestic payment services within congratulations. “For the first time since August 2014, in which Scots voted in favour of remaining out a link to terrorism but the hospital was put vague and granted him interim bail. Faruqui was India from 1 April,” the California-based company 2019, all of Kashmir will have 4G mobile data. part of the United Kingdom by 55% to 45%. under a lockdown for several hours. not immediately available for comment. added in a statement. Better late than never”. Energy bills to rise for about 15mn UK households

Guardian News and Media £50 a month more than a de- London cent home. If bills rise by around £100, millions of households have two stark choices: stay cold nergy bills will rise for or fall further into debt.” about 15mn households in Ofgem said the £23 allowance EGreat Britain from April would ensure that energy sup- after the regulator, Ofgem, lifted pliers could continue to supply the price cap on standard tariff s energy and off er payment plans back to pre-pandemic levels. or emergency fi nancial help to Ofgem said that for six months protect their customers – es- from April the price cap will in- pecially those in vulnerable cir- crease by £96 to £1,138 for 11mn cumstances. customers on a standard dual- “As the UK still faces chal- fuel energy tariff , and by £87 to lenges around Covid-19, during £1,156 for 4mn prepayment me- this exceptional time I expect ter customers. suppliers to set their prices com- The regulator blamed the petitively, treat all customers higher than expected rise on the fairly and ensure that any house- sudden increase in prices on the hold in fi nancial distress is given wholesale energy markets. access to the support they need,” It also added an extra charge to Brearley said. help energy companies recover “The government and Of- Lance corporal Amy Portman prepares to administer a Covid-19 vaccine to Edinburgh resident Michael Maddocks at a temporary vaccination centre set up at the Royal cash from households that have gem have been working with the Highland Showground near Edinburgh, Scotland, as more than 200 military personnel support the vaccination rollout across Scotland. been unable to keep up with their energy industry and consumer bills during the Covid-19 crisis. groups to support customers “Energy bill increases are through this diffi cult time and I never welcome, especially as urge anyone worried about pay- many households are struggling ing their energy bills to contact with the impact of the pandem- their supplier and access the help ic,” said Jonathan Brearley, the available.” chief executive of Ofgem. “We Energy suppliers are required All over-50s in Britain to have carefully scrutinised these to provide emergency credit to changes to ensure that custom- customers struggling to top up ers only pay a fair price for their their prepayment meters and energy.” to put those who are behind on The decision to lift the energy their bills on aff ordable repay- price cap for the fi rst time in two ment plans. years has dismayed consumer They should not disconnect get Covid jab by May: govt groups, which have warned that their customers. many households already face Alistair Cromwell, the acting Guardian News and Media ment published yesterday, set- said of the document: “This was vaccination programme is key, by the end of January – which mounting fi nancial diffi culties chief executive of Citizens Ad- London ting out plans to hold elections issued in error, and I believe the as any programme for reopen- was largely met – and to have because of the economic impact vice, said the energy bill increase in England on May 6, said phase Cabinet Offi ce have now with- ing the economy depends on done the same for the fi rst four of Covid-19. would hit millions of households 1 was expected to have been drawn this.” how long it takes to offer vac- most vulnerable groups, as far as The regulator’s decision to in- as the government prepared to owning Street has con- completed before then. Several minutes later, he cor- cinations to the groups who are those aged 70-plus and clinical- clude a £23 increase to help en- remove a £20-a-week Covid-19 fi rmed a timetable of ear- “Our public health response rected himself, saying: “It isn’t most vulnerable to coronavi- ly extremely vulnerable people, ergy companies claim back the benefi t through the universal Dly May for all UK adults – not least the vaccination pro- actually being withdrawn.” He rus. by mid-February. cash they have missed because of credit scheme aged 50 and older to be off ered gramme, which we plan will then conceded: “The Cabinet Over recent days there have One reason for caution is the unpaid bills has also raised con- “With a tough jobs market a fi rst coronavirus vaccination, have reached all nine priority Offi ce document is correct – been other confusing exchang- sense inside No 10 that Boris cerns that more consumers could and essential bills rising, now but only after it emerged in a cohorts by May – means that we what it says is correct – and the es at the daily Downing Street Johnson has previously over- be pushed into debt. is not the time for the govern- government document that No can commit to go ahead with prime minister will set out more media briefi ng in which report- promised in terms of timeta- Adam Scorer, the chief execu- ment to cut this vital lifeline,” 10 initially said was inaccurate these polls with confi dence,” details on February 15.” ers have attempted to pin down bles for a return to more nor- tive of the fuel poverty charity he said. and had been withdrawn. Chloe Smith, the Cabinet Offi ce Asked to confi rm the May what ministers mean by spring. mal life. National Energy Action, said the The regulator added that the No 10 had previously said minister responsible for elec- date, however, he repeatedly While the expected timetable Another caveat is that while increase could mean that “des- price cap, which is designed to only that the target for off ering tions, said in a foreword to the said: “As you know, and as the for people to be off ered vaccina- the current speed of vaccina- perate situations will become protect consumers from unfair initial vaccinations to the fi rst plans. PM has repeatedly said, our am- tions is of great interest to the tions is suffi ciently fast to meet a much, much worse”. He said: tariff s, would still help to save nine groups of people, phase 1 In sometimes confusing ex- bition is to off er all priority co- public, Downing Street has been May deadline – more than 2.5mn “People on the lowest incomes consumers up to £100 a year on of the programme, was “spring”, changes, asked about the date horts a vaccination by spring. wary in committing to sched- doses have been delivered in and in the worst housing are al- their energy bills compared with refusing repeatedly to be more at the daily briefi ng for political I’m not going to put a further ules beyond the target of off er- both of the last two weeks – this ways hit hardest. Heating a poor- typical energy price rises with- precise. journalists the prime minister’s timeline on this.” ing fi rst vaccinations to all older is dependent on continued sup- ly insulated home costs around out a cap. But a Cabinet Offi ce docu- deputy spokesperson initially The date for phase 1 of the care home residents and staff ply of the two vaccines. Indian farmers’ protest Pfi zer drops India attracts new supporters vaccine application Reuters vaccine is safe and generates an New Delhi immune response in its citizens. Reuters more than 10,000 farmers from Uttar Pradesh is India’s largest There are, however, provisions Bhainswal across the political and religious state and a critical battleground under India’s rules to waive such spectrum rallied in Uttar Pradesh state in elections. fi zer yesterday said it had trials in certain conditions. state yesterday to show their While Modi’s party com- withdrawn an application The US company, which was housands of farmers in a support for the protests. mands a comfortable majority in Pfor emergency-use au- the fi rst drugmaker to seek politically important In- Ramkumar Choudhary, a lo- parliament, the support for the thorisation of its Covid-19 vac- emergency approval in India Tdian state yesterday rallied cal leader from Bagpat district, protests from Uttar Pradesh’s cine in India, after failing to meet for its vaccine developed with in opposition to new agricultural said thousands more would head politically infl uential sugarcane the drug regulator’s demand for a Germany’s BioNTech, made laws, signalling growing support to Delhi unless the government farmers will be a worry. local safety and immunogenicity the withdrawal decision after for a months-long campaign to rolled back the laws. The farmers say the laws mean study. a meeting with India’s Central have the government reforms “Only 1% of people have come the end of long-standing sup- The decision means the vac- Drugs Standard Control Organi- scrapped. out of the villages so far. The port prices for their crops and cine will not be available for sale sation (CDSCO) on Wednesday. Angry at what they see as day we send 50% of our people, will leave them vulnerable to the in the world’s two most populous The drug regulator said on its legislation that benefi ts private there will be no place to move in whims of big buyers. countries, India and China, in website its experts did not rec- buyers at the expense of growers, Delhi,” he said after addressing They are demanding that the the near future. ommend the vaccine because of tens of thousands of farmers have the crowd of Hindu and Muslim laws be annulled. Both countries are running side eff ects reported abroad were been camped on the outskirts of farmers in Bhainswal village. The government says reform their immunisation campaigns still being investigated. the capital, New Delhi, for more Devender Singh, a sugarcane of the ineffi cient agriculture using other products. It also said Pfi zer had not pro- than two months, calling for the farmer who attended the rally, sector will open up new oppor- Unlike other companies con- posed any plan to generate safety withdrawal of laws introduced in said the agitation was drawing tunities for farmers and while it ducting small studies in India and immunogenicity data in In- September. widespread support. “100% of has off ered some concessions, it for foreign-developed vaccines, dia. Much of the initial support for farmers from all communities has ruled out withdrawing the Pfi zer had sought an exception “Based on the deliberations the protests has come from rice are joining the protest,” he said, laws. citing approvals it had received at the meeting and our under- and wheat growers from north- “Farmers are unable to make The protests have been largely elsewhere based on trials done standing of additional infor- ern India, particularly opposi- ends meet.” peaceful but fl ared into turmoil in countries such as the US and mation that the regulator may tion-ruled Punjab state. Hundreds of police, many on January 26 as some farmers Germany. need, the company has decided But in a sign of a growing armed and wearing riot gear, clashed with police in New Delhi People attend a grand village council meeting as part of a Indian health offi cials say to withdraw its application at challenge to the government of stood by, but there was no trou- and one person was killed and farmers’ protest against farm laws at Bhainswal in Shamli they generally ask for so-called this time,” Pfi zer said in a state- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ble. hundreds were injured. district in Uttar Pradesh, India, yesterday. bridging trials to determine if a ment. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, February 6, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mario Draghi and the Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor defence of democracy Amjad Khan

By Melvyn Krauss meeting Biden halfway. Continued P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Standford snubs of the sort represented by the rush to announce the EU-China CAI [email protected] will only cause more tension. 44350478 (News), ario Draghi, the European Of course, changing its mostly Central Bank’s former value-free trade policy will be a 44466404 (Sport), president, has been asked complicated business for the EU. None 44466636 (Home delivery) Mto form a government of of the Union’s southern countries is national unity in Italy at a pivotal mo- likely to be willing to take a tough line 44350474 ment. Coming so soon after Joe Biden’s against Russia. Political parties across facebook.com/gulftimes arrival in the White House, and with the board in Italy, for example, have the impending retirement of German been pro-Russia for years. Federica twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Draghi Mogherini, the EU’s previous high premiership means that French Presi- representative for foreign aff airs and dent Emmanuel Macron will no longer security policy, was notoriously soft on cut such a forlorn fi gure in Europe when Russia, particularly in her early years in standing up for the West and demo- the post. And Italy has always resisted GULF TIMES cratic values. maintaining the sanctions imposed on Donald Trump’s one-term US Russia following its illegal annexation presidency weakened those values, of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine. and the West remains saddled with UK Persuading the EU’s southern Prime Minister Boris Johnson, “Britain’s member countries to go along with a Power crunch: how Trump,” as well as a motley assortment trade policy that refl ects the Union’s of populist rulers in Hungary, Poland, Mario Draghi: tested leadership skills and unquestioned fidelity to democratic norms security interests will call for delicate Slovenia, and elsewhere. Given Draghi’s negotiations. But there are things that tested leadership skills and unquestioned in strongly condemning Russia’s The EU needs a trade policy that southern European member states Japan’s grid came fi delity to democratic norms, his arrival attempted murder and now jailing of recognises that trade is Europe’s want – such as Eurobonds, more lenient in the European Council may prove to the dissident Alexei Navalny, the EU best source of security leverage. For budget rules, protection for their banks, be as important for the future of Europe has mostly turned the other cheek. example, Merkel should now make or even a northern European fi scal close to blackouts and transatlantic relations as Merkel’s Instead of standing up to a threatened it clear to Putin that continued stimulus – that could be brought into departure. veto of the EU budget and recovery persecution of Navalny will jeopardise play. Facing external challenges like fund, the Union appeased Hungary’s the completion of Nord Stream 2, a Here is where Draghi could make a Japan’s worst electricity crunch since the aftermath of the Russia and China and internal threats authoritarian prime minister, Viktor controversial gas pipeline that will huge contribution. The “whatever it Fukushima crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s from its home-grown populists Orban, Trump’s former best friend deliver Russian supplies directly to takes” man who saved the euro has the recently liberalised power market, although some of the problems and authoritarians, a post-Merkel in Europe. Then, just weeks before Germany, bypassing Ukraine and experience and knowledge to mediate a appear self-infl icted. Europe needs leaders who are more in Biden’s inauguration, and ignoring Germany’s own Central European allies. grand bargain between Europe’s north Power prices in Japan hit record highs last month as a cold snap sync with the pro-democracy Biden his team’s pleas to wait and forge a The treatment of the EU’s and south: economic concessions in across northeast Asia prompted a scramble for supplies of liquefi ed administration. Having Draghi, who is common position on China, the EU increasingly authoritarian member exchange for a tough-minded trade natural gas (LNG), a major fuel for the country’s power plants. very pro-American, join the European announced the successful conclusion of states Hungary and Poland should be policy vis-à-vis Russia and China. Union’s core leadership will go a long seven years of negotiations with China just as tough. Failure to adhere to the In fact, aligning with the tougher Power companies urged customers to ration electricity to way toward achieving that. on the Comprehensive Agreement on rule of law should mean restriction stance on Russia and China that the prevent blackouts, although no outages occurred. So far, the EU has provided little Investment (CAI). of access not only to fi nancing from Biden administration seeks could lead The crisis highlighted how many providers were unprepared for evidence that it understands that One area of European policymaking the EU budget, but also to the internal to a political windfall for Europe. The such high demand. the United States is under new most in need of change, both at the EU market. The EU treaties, after all, are northern countries’ concessions on Experts say LNG stocks were not topped up ahead of winter and management, and that in Biden it has and national level, is what might be not a suicide pact; no country can be economic policy would strengthen EU snow disabled solar power farms. a partner who is better informed about called a “trade fi rst” approach to Russia permitted to destroy the Union from solidarity and accelerate north-south The hundreds of small power companies that sprang up after Europe than any president since Dwight and China. The numbers are not trivial. within. integration – objectives to which Draghi the market was opened in 2016 have struggled the most, saying Eisenhower. On the contrary, European Russia is the EU’s fi fth-largest trading The Biden administration has made has devoted most of his professional the government does not disclose the market data they need to governments and the EU have – thus partner, and the EU is Russia’s largest forging a common approach with its life. The Italians have fi nally made a far, at least – shown less willingness to trading partner, with turnover for goods allies to China and Russia a pillar of its brilliant choice. – Project Syndicate operate. co-operate with Biden than they did totalling €232bn ($279bn) in 2019. The foreign policy. Improved transatlantic The companies do not have their own generators, instead buying with Trump. EU’s trade defi cit with Russia (€57bn in relations, which Europeans said O Melvyn Krauss is Professor electricity on the wholesale market. Instead of standing with US 2019) is second only to its defi cit with throughout Trump’s presidency was Emeritus of Economics at New York Prices on the Japan Secretary of State Antony Blinken China. their goal, now depend on EU leaders University. The power crisis Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) hit a record high has led to growing of 251 yen ($2.39) per kilowatt hour in January, calls to restart equating to $2,390 per megawatt hour of more nuclear electricity, the highest on From moonshots to earthshots reactors record anywhere in the world. By Mariana Mazzucato to repeat earlier successes, let alone lesson for many governments that have collaborations also must be governed One megawatt hour is roughly what an average home in the US London achieve ambitious targets such as suff ered higher costs and lower quality in the public interest, and not repeat would consume over 35 days. those outlined in the Sustainable from outsourcing. the failures associated with today’s But the vast majority of the new, smaller companies are locked Development Goals (SDGs) and the Earthshots have much in common digital economy, which emerged in its into low, fi xed rates they set to lure customers from bigger players, ovid-19 has exposed the Paris climate agreement. with moonshots, but the two are not current form after the state provided crushing them fi nancially during a price spike like the one in myriad weaknesses of The Apollo programme demonstrated synonymous. Among their similarities, the technological foundation and then both require bold, visionary leadership neglected to regulate what was built January. modern capitalism. And in how a clearly defi ned outcome can many countries, past cuts to drive organisational change at all levels, from governments that have been on it. As a result, a few dominant Big More than 50 small power providers wrote on Jan 18 to Japan’s C social services and public health have through multi-sector public-private properly equipped to “think big and go Tech fi rms have ushered in a new age of industry minister, Hiroshi Kajiyama, who oversees the power amplifi ed the damage wrought by the collaboration, mission-oriented big.” algorithmic value extraction, benefi ting sector, asking for more accessible data on supply and demand, pandemic, while other self-infl icted procurement contracts, and state-driven Consider the Covid-19 vaccine. the few at the expense of the many. reserve capacity and fuel inventories. wounds to the state have led to inad- innovation and risk taking. Moreover, The collective spirit and outcome- Technology alone will never solve “By organising and disclosing this information, retail electricity equate policy co-ordination and imple- such ventures tend to create spillovers – driven approach to vaccine research social and economic problems. In providers will be able to bid at more appropriate prices,” said the mentation. Mass testing and tracking, software, camera phones, baby formula and development last year recalled the applying the moonshot principle to companies, led by Looop Co. production of medical equipment, and – that have far-reaching benefi ts. Apollo programme. complex challenges here on earth, They also called on Kajiyama to require transmission and education during lockdowns have all The original moonshot model off ers While technological breakthroughs policymakers must pay attention to myriad other social, political, distribution companies to pass on some of the unexpected profi ts suff ered as a result. insights and inspiration for pursuing can provide new tools, they are not By contrast, countries and states that “earthshots” today. For example, necessarily solutions in themselves. technological, and behavioural factors, from price spikes to smaller operators. have invested in their public-sector to achieve the 17 SDGs, we should Earthshots require attention to and capture a common vision across The industry ministry said it had started releasing more capabilities have performed much transform each into several clearly political, regulatory, and behavioural civil society, business, and public timely market data, and is reviewing the cause of the crunch and better overall. This has been most defi ned missions that would lay the changes. Safe and eff ective vaccines institutions. considering changes. striking in the developing world, where groundwork for more multisectoral, were created and tested in record time Thus, earthshots must also involve Japan reworked its power markets after the Fukushima nuclear Vietnam and the Indian state of Kerala bottom-up innovation. A plastic- through public-private collaborations, extensive citizen engagement. Carbon disaster in 2011, liberalising the sector in 2016 while pushing for stand out. free ocean, for example, will require with public investment proving neutrality, for example, must be more renewables. Instead of acting as investors of fi rst investment and innovation in areas as absolutely crucial. But a disparity in designed with citizens where they But Japan is still heavily reliant on LNG and coal, and only four resort, far too many governments have diff erent as marine transport, biotech, vaccine acquisition between high- live, such as social housing. By truly of 33 nuclear reactors are operating. become passive lenders of last resort, chemicals, waste management, income and lower-income countries adopting an inclusive stakeholder addressing problems only after they and design. That is what the Apollo appeared immediately and has only approach, a mission can develop into a The power crisis has led to growing calls to restart more reactors. arise. But as we should have learned programme did by sparking innovation deepened. powerful civic platform and an engine Kazuno Power, a small retail provider controlled by a during the post-2008 Great Recession, in aeronautics, nutrition, materials When it comes to an earthshot like of sustainable growth, as envisioned municipality of the same name in northern Japan, where abundant it costs far more to bail out national science, electronics, software, and global vaccination, technological in calls for a Green New Deal, Health renewable energy is locally produced, buys electricity from economies during a crisis than it does to other areas. innovation is only as useful as its real- for All, and plans to bridge the digital hydropower stations and JEPX. maintain a proactive approach to public A mission-oriented approach is not world application. “Vaccine apartheid” divide. During the crunch, the company had to pay nearly 10 times investment. about government “picking winners,” – rather than a People’s Vaccine – These lessons could not be more the usual price, Kazuno Power president Takao Takeda said in an Too many governments failed to but about choosing directions for would constitute a moral and economic relevant to the Biden administration, interview. heed that lesson. Faced with another change – like a green transition – that catastrophe. If pharmaceutical which will be able to tap the power Like most other new providers, it could not pass on the costs, society-wide challenge, it is now clear require investment and innovation in companies are serious about their of an existing entrepreneurial state that they have relinquished their proper many sectors. The full power of policy stated support for the principle of comprising organisations like the lost money, and folded. role in shaping markets, allowing instruments should be used to create stakeholder value, they should be Defense Advanced Research Projects The local utility has taken over its customers. public institutions to be hollowed out projects that elicit solutions from many sharing Covid-19 vaccine patents, data, Agency and the National Institutes of “There is a contradiction in the current system,” Takeda through outsourcing and other false diff erent willing actors. Nasa designed and know-how through the Covid-19 Health, which invests up to $40bn a said. “We are encouraged to locally produce power for local effi ciencies. The retreat of the public its procurement contracts to focus on Technology Access Pool, which remains year in drug innovation. consumption as well as use more renewable energy, but prices for sector has given way to the idea that goals, while encouraging bottom-up unused. There is now a huge opportunity these power supplies are linked to wholesale prices, which depend entrepreneurship and wealth creation solutions and including “no excess Governments, too, must truly to pursue industrial policies beyond on the overall power supply.” are the exclusive preserve of business profi ts” clauses and fi xed costs, so that embrace the principle of stakeholder traditional sectoral and technological The big utilities, which receive most of their LNG on long-term – a perspective endorsed even by those going to the moon involved sharing both value, which does not apply only to silos, and to restore mission-driven contracts, blamed the power shortfall on a tight spot market and who advocate “stakeholder value.” risks and rewards. This is an important corporate governance. Public-private governance in the public interest. A In fact, the more we subscribe to the modern industrial strategy aimed at a glitches at generation units. myth of private-sector superiority, Green Renaissance, for example, would the worse off we will be in the face of require all sectors – from artifi cial future crises. To “build back better” intelligence and transportation to from the current one, as US President agriculture and nutrition – to innovate To Advertise Joe Biden’s administration and many and pivot in a new direction. President other governments have committed John F. Kennedy had his moonshot. [email protected] to do, will require renewing the public Biden’s mission is to bring it home. – sector, not just by redesigning policy Project Syndicate Display and expanding the state’s organisational 44466621 44418811 capabilities, but by reviving the O Mariana Mazzucato, Professor narrative of government as a source of in the Economics of Innovation and Classified value creation. Public Value at University College 44466609 44418811 As I explain in my new book Mission London and Founding Director of the Economy: A Moonshot Guide to UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Subscription Changing Capitalism, landing a man on Purpose, is Chair of the World Health the moon required both an extremely Organisation’s Council on the Economics [email protected] capable public sector and a purpose- of Health for All and the author, driven partnership with the private most recently, of Mission Economy: sector. Because we have dismantled A Moonshot Guide to Changing © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved these capabilities, we cannot hope Capitalism (Allen Lane, 2021). Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 11 WORLD

Nornickel ordered to pay Russia expels diplomats $2bn over fuel spill over Navalny protests Reuters AFP/Reuters met with Russian Foreign Minis- In a statement yesterday, Bor- appropriate response”, while He blames Putin for the poi- and a pretext to silence him. Moscow Moscow ter Sergei Lavrov to discuss ties, rell said that he had learned of Poland said it could lead to the soning, a charge the Kremlin “It is clear to everyone that with the unspecifi ed number the decision to expel three Eu- “further deepening of the crisis denies. the truth is on my side,” he said, of diplomats “ordered to leave ropean diplomats in his meeting in bilateral relations”. Navalny was fl own to Germa- standing in a glass cage for de- power business owned ussia has expelled diplo- Russia in the near future”. with Lavrov. Poland summoned the Rus- ny to recover from the poisoning fendants in the Moscow court- by mining giant No- mats from three European The foreign ministry did not Borrell “strongly condemned sian ambassador over the deci- then arrested at a Moscow air- room. Arilsk Nickel must pay Rcountries for taking part provide details of how they had this decision and rejected the sion. port when he returned to Russia Borrell’s visit drew criticism 146.2bn roubles ($1.95bn) for in protests in support of jailed been involved in the protests, allegations that they conducted Lavrov said it was up to Brus- in mid-January. from some European capitals environmental damages in Si- Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, saying only that Russia expects activities incompatible with sels if it wanted to impose sanc- He was accused of violating worried Moscow would spin it beria caused by a fuel spill in the after the European Union said foreign diplomats to “strictly their status as foreign diplo- tions on Russia, but that the EU the parole conditions of a 2014 as evidence Brussels is keen to Arctic last May, a Russian court that ties with Moscow had hit a follow the norms of interna- mats”. was behaving more and more suspended sentence on fraud return to business as usual, with ruled yesterday. new low. tional law”. “I have conveyed to Minister like Washington in its use of uni- charges and on Tuesday jailed some in Europe calling for new The spill released 21,000 With EU foreign policy chief Russia has bristled at Western Lavrov our deep concern and lateral sanctions. for two years and eight months. sanctions on Russia. tonnes of diesel into rivers and Josep Borrell in Moscow for a backing for Navalny, President our appeal for his (Navalny’s) “We share the view that a He was back in court yester- The Kremlin also lashed out subsoil near the city of Norilsk rare visit, Russia said it had de- Vladimir Putin’s most promi- release and for the launch of an further deterioration of ties is day on separate charges of de- yesterday against what it called in Siberia, where the company is clared diplomats from Poland, nent opponent, accusing Europe investigation over his poison- fraught with negative and highly faming a World War II veteran, “aggressive and unconstructive based. Germany, and Sweden persona and the United States of inter- ing,” Borrell told the news con- unpredictable consequences,” which could see him jailed for an rhetoric” from the United States Greenpeace has compared the non grata for participating in fering in its domestic aff airs. ference. “Over the last years our he said. additional two years. this week. incident to the 1989 Exxon Val- “illegal protests” on January 23 “Our relationship is indeed in relationship has been marked by Borrell’s visit was the fi rst The hearing was adjourned to “We’ve already said that we dez oil spill off Alaska and Rus- in support of Navalny. a diffi cult moment,” Borrell told fundamental diff erences and a to Russia by a senior EU envoy next Friday, February 12. will not heed patronising state- sian President Vladimir Putin The West has fi ercely con- Lavrov during the talks, adding lack of trust.” since 2017, following years of The trained lawyer is accused ments of this sort,” said Putin’s voiced fury over the leak. demned Navalny’s arrest in that the relationship is “under German Chancellor Angela deteriorating relations sparked of describing people who ap- spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Nornickel did not immediate- mid-January, a crackdown on severe strain and the Navalny Merkel described the action as by Russia’s annexation of Cri- peared in a pro-Kremlin video On Thursday President Joe ly reply to a Reuters request for mass demonstrations by his case is a low point”. “not justifi ed”, while French mea from Ukraine in 2014. – including the 95-year-old Biden said the US will no longer comment. supporters, and a court ruling on The two men said there were President Emmanuel Macron Ties have further worsened veteran – as “the shame of the be “rolling over in the face of Its shares were down 0.7% in Tuesday to jail the 44-year-old hopes for co-operation in some “condemned” the decision. in recent months, after three country” and “traitors” in a June Russia’s aggressive actions” Moscow after the decision by the anti-corruption campaigner for areas, including on the coro- Sweden’s foreign ministry European labs concluded that tweet. and his offi cials said they would court in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk nearly three years. navirus pandemic, but the an- said the decision was “com- Navalny was poisoned with a In court, Navalny and his law- take action against Moscow over region, underperforming the Moscow announced the ex- nouncement of the expulsions pletely unfounded” and warned Soviet-designed nerve agent in yers said that the case against Navalny and for other “malign” benchmark index, which was up pulsions just hours after Borrell was unlikely to help. that it reserved the right “to an an attack in Siberia in August. him was politically-motivated behaviour. 0.7%. The court action was initiated by Russia’s environment watch- dog, which sought 148bn roubles from Nornickel’s power busi- ness, NTEC, for the damage. Teen held The company’s own estimate of the environmental cost was far lower, at 21.4bn roubles. in Norway The level of the court damages is unprecedented for Russia, in terms of an environmental pen- for plotting alty, and could send a message to industry that underinvestment in maintenance is unacceptable, attack analysts said. “One has to answer for what has been done,” Putin said in De- Reuters/AFP cember, when asked about Nor- Oslo nickel and the spill. Nornickel had already set aside $2bn for possible payment 16-year-old suspected of the damages which hit its net of preparing an attack in profi t for the fi rst half of 2020. ANorway was remanded in police custody for two weeks yesterday. Two killed in blast The PST security police said the teenager had been arrested at Pakistan rally on Thursday on suspicion of preparing “an act of terrorism”. At least two people were killed Bridal couture His public defender has called and two wounded when a bomb for his release. exploded during a pro-Kashmir Models present designs during the “He is not admitting to any rally in Pakistan’s southwest Hum Bridal Couture Week in Lahore crime,” lawyer Anders Berg Fe- yesterday. yesterday. Seen here are designs by vang told the public broadcaster, The demonstration was held to Faiza Rehman (above and right), NRK. mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, Ahson Shoaib (left), and Tabya Police did not reveal details of observed across Pakistan every (below). the suspected plan. February 5 in support of those The Syrian immigrant has living in Muslim-majority and been living in Oslo for several Indian-administered Kashmir. years and had begun prepara- Yesterday’s bombing took tions to carry out his attack, PST place in Quetta, the capital of spokesman Trond Hugubakken Balochistan province, near the told AFP. border with Afghanistan. “He is suspected of plotting “The timed-device was concealed an attack. It’s more serious than in a truck, which exploded when the usual cases of participation participants of the rally were in or attempted participation in marching on a road,” Ghulam a terrorist organisation,” he said. Qadir, a senior police off icial, said. No details were provided on Organisers of the rally were the intended target which, ac- reportedly using the truck as a cording to information provided stage to deliver speeches. to AFP, was in Norway. Qadir said that four people “He claims he is innocent and wounded in the attack were will ask to be released. His age is taken to hospital, where two not compatible with a detention succumbed to their injuries. order,” Berg Fevang told AFP. In a separate incident at a According to the VG newspa- pro-Kashmir rally in the city per, the teen is an Islamic State of Sibbi yesterday, 16 people supporter who came to Norway including three police off icers as part of a family reunifi cation. were wounded when unidentified “In recent years we have seen attackers hurled a grenade at the youngsters, including kids as crowd, off icials said. – AFP young as 13 or 14, being radical- ised in both far-right circles and radical (religious) circles,” Hu- Several hurt after gubakken said. “It’s a worrying trend.” gas explosion in The PST did not exclude fur- Bulgarian climber dies southern Germany Hungarian couple ‘imprisoned ther arrests. Also yesterday, Norwegian Several people have been police charged a 30-year-old on K2 expedition injured after a gas explosion French pensioner in shed’ Norwegian woman of Pakistani in Memmingen in southern origin, repatriated last year from Germany, daily Bild reported Syria’s Al-Hol camp for human- AFP said in a statement. yesterday, citing a police AFP the prosecutor’s offi ce. The accused took food and itarian reasons, with participat- Islamabad The Alpine Club of Pakistan spokesman. Budapest The trial is likely to begin drink once a day to the victim. ing in a terrorist organisation. also confi rmed the incident, The daily newspaper said that a within six months, he told AFP “Considering her situation saying that his body was later further explosion could not be on Thursday. to be hopeless, she did not try Bulgarian mountaineer recovered and fl own by a Paki- ruled out. Hungarian couple face The victim knew the de- to escape, but when the de- Swedish premier died during an expedi- stani military helicopter to the The Augsburger Allgemeine jail for locking up an fendants, who had gained her fendants were away, repeat- Ation on Pakistan’s K2, nearby city of Skardu. newspaper said that the Aelderly Frenchwoman trust over time before “tak- edly tried to call for help ... but reshuff les cabinet his team said yesterday, the Skatov is the second climber explosion occurred at the off ices in a garden shed near Siofok ing advantage” of her, said the in vain,” said the prosecutors. second to die on the world’s to die on K2’s slopes this season of the German Red Cross around in western Hungary for a year prosecutor’s statement. In March 2018, the vic- Sweden’s Financial Markets second highest mountain in after a Spanish mountaineer 0500 GMT yesterday, adding that and a half, prosecutors said. The couple then moved into tim’s absence was noticed by Minister Per Bolund will switch weeks. fell to his death last month. the authorities evacuated the “A 42-year-old man and his her house. her neighbours in Siofok, but jobs, becoming environment Seven Summit Treks – a Skatov’s death comes just area and that five people were 41-year-old wife have been In early 2018, the couple when the accused heard about minister and deputy premier in a trekking company leading the weeks after a team of Nepali injured, but most of them only charged with violating per- took the woman to an enclosed a police search, they moved reshuff le announced yesterday expedition – said that Atan- climbers made history on K2 slightly. sonal liberty,” said a statement garden outside Siofok. the woman back to her house by Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. as Skatov, 42, fell as he was when they became the fi rst to The explosion was probably due by the Siofok District Prose- There she was locked in a in Siofok, claiming that she Bolund, who is joint-leader of the changing ropes during his de- scale it in winter. to a defect gas line under the cutor’s Offi ce, which is seeking shed, measuring 6sq m and had returned home. Greens, will be replaced by party scent to basecamp. K2 is known as the “Sav- street where the building was a jail term of four years and six fi tted with metal grilles on the Once the police called off colleague Asa Lindhagen. “[It] seems some errors oc- age Mountain” because of its located, the paper cited police as months for both the accused. outside, which was uninsu- the search, the defendants re- The reshuff le was sparked by curred and he fell down. We punishing conditions: winds saying. The victim, a 71-year-old lated and equipped with a bed, turned the victim to the shed. the resignation of Isabella Lovin, had fi xed the mountain with can blow at more than 200kph Police were not immediately French national, “had lived in table, bedside lamp and radio, In September 2019, police formerly deputy prime minister new ropes” which were not (125mph), and temperatures available for comment on the Siofok since the 1990s”, said but lacked proper heating or discovered the shed after a and environment minister. – broken, Seven Summit Treks can drop to -60° Celsius. incident. – Reuters Gabor Csapo, a spokesman for sanitation facilities. tip-off and freed the victim. Reuters Gulf Times 12 Saturday, February 6, 2021 QATAR

Covid curbs in force A deserted Airport Park in Doha, cordoned-off The measures include closure of playgrounds ity of markets, closure of indoor amusement fitness equipment on Doha Corniche, and closed and exercise equipment in public parks, on parks and entertainment centres in commercial children’s play area at Al Wakra Family Park are seen beaches and at the Corniche, closure of food complexes, and of all indoor swimming pools yesterday, when a new set of coronavirus (Covid-19) courts in shopping centres and malls except for and water parks. restrictions, announced by the Cabinet on Wednesday. takeaways and deliveries, reducing the capac- PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam and Jayan Orma

Drive-in cinema to air FIFA Club World Cup semi-fi nals

he Qatar National Tourism Council initiative also refl ects the country’s passion for offi cer Berthold Trenkel said: “We continue our “A retro favourite, the drive-in during the (QNTC), in co-operation with the Doha sports in general and football in particular. successful partnership with the DFI to develop pandemic is being reimagined across the world, TFilm Institute (DFI), announced that The drive-in cinema will broadcast the fi rst entertainment experiences for citizens and resi- giving us new ways to experience fi lms, music, the two FIFA Club World Cup 2021 semi-fi nal semi-fi nal between Brazilian Libertadores Cup dents that contribute to domestic tourism while sports, and live performances.” A file picture of Drive-in Cinema in Lusail. games will be broadcast on February 7-8 at the champion Palmeiras and the Tigres UANL Con- focusing on adhering to safety measures due to To ensure a smooth entertainment experience DFI’s drive-in cinema in Lusail. cacaf’s Champions at 9pm on February 7. current circumstances.” at the drive-in cinema, every passenger above 18 The drive-in cinema opens one hour before The initiative provides fans with the oppor- Europe’s champion Bayern Munich will play DFI chief executive Fatma Hassan Alremaihi must show their Ehteraz. the games start to ensure smooth and organised tunity to support their teams, and enjoy the ex- its fi rst game against Africa’s Champions Al said: “Bringing audiences together at safe social Each ticket is valid for one car with a maxi- entry. citement and enthusiasm of football, without Ahly SC at 9pm on February 8. distances, the open-air experience of drive-in mum capacity of four individuals, all of whom Tickets to watch the two semi-fi nals on the violating social distancing or other coronavirus The drive-in cinema can accommodate 159 cinemas is a perfect way to bring the excitement must be above 12 years of age. drive-in screen in Lusail can be purchased at the precautionary measures. cars, and ticket are priced from QR120 to QR150. of the game to the community at a time when it’s Each car is allowed two chairs within the des- following link: https://www.dohafi lminstitute. Highlighting Qatar’s cultural diversity, this In a press statement, QNTC chief operating challenging for many to go to a game. ignated parking area. com/nowplaying

Poor visibility expected today as well Many parts of Qatar were covered in a dense fog places at first today, according to the Met off ice. The minimum and maximum expected today are that appeared yesterday afternoon, which The minimum and maximum temperatures 13C (Dukhan) and 29C (Abu Samra), respectively. dissipated by late evening. recorded yesterday were 11° Celsius (Sheehaniya) PICTURES: Jayaram, Shaji Kayamkulam, and Poor horizontal visibility is expected inshore at and 29C (Abu Samra), respectively. Shemeer Rasheed