BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 5 Qatar private sector Farmers seek exports reach ministry’s support over QR5bn in to increase honey fi rst quarter: QC production in Qatar

published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11945 June 15, 2021 Dhul-Qa’da 5, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

‘Ancestral Meadows: A Matter of Trust’ is slogan for QND 2021

ncestral Meadows: A Matter of “ Oh, how many caravans have of the land, coexisting with its nature, Trust, is the slogan for the 2021 the colours of its soil and sea, the sea- passed by, Qatar National Day (QND). The sons, and they explored its depths so A Leaving behind vestiges of the announcement by the State National that it formed their personality and Day Celebrations Organising Commit- fluctuations of the times, identity. tee yesterday comes as part of the QND Abodes our sights are “The union of the sea and land refl ects mission to promote loyalty, solidarity, accustomed to as the seasons a special feature of this environment, in- unity and national pride, it was ex- slip by, tertwining the Qatari people with these plained in a statement. Our meadows ornamented with two blessings and providing their liveli- The new slogan is based on the po- herbs” hood. They would go to the sea to dive in etry of the founder of Qatar, Sheikh the summer, and pasture in the winter. Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, and For pearls, they voyaged the vast ocean represents the strong relationship of “Qataris have always been wise and with wisdom and courage, and believed Qataris to their environment since courageous, believing that life is lived that life is lived through interaction with time immemorial: “Oh, how many through interaction with others. They others. They welcomed ships from dis- caravans have passed by, travelled in the land that Allah gave tant lands arriving at their shores with Leaving behind vestiges of the fl uc- them, taking care of it without extrav- generosity and hospitality. tuations of the times, Abodes our sights agance. “Despite the challenges of living in are accustomed to as the seasons slip by, “Their attachment to their envi- the desert with the scarcity of water Our meadows ornamented with herbs.” ronment increased their love for their and plantation, they found inspira- The Qatari people mirror the sim- homeland and their sense of belong- tion and insight, and were able to make plicity of their environment, and the ing and pride in it, which is apparent in the desert bloom with their patience. gentleness of their morals and humility their songs and poems. The beauty of their cultivated land in- is rooted in the gentleness of the land, “The new slogan reiterates that Qa- creased their creativity and deep po- the committee stated. taris were raised by the characteristics etry.” Page 12

Amir sends message to Pakistan PM His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim FM, Egyptian counterpart bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a written MIA to enhance facilities, message to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, pertaining to review bilateral relations bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them. The message was reinstall collection galleries handed over by Qatar’s ambassador and regional co-operation Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani during his meeting with Museum will reopen in autumn 2022 with upgraded spaces and Khan at the Prime Minister’s Off ice in more accessible, engaging and learning visitor experience Islamabad yesterday. (QNA) HMC announces new he Museum of Islamic Art be excited to welcome the public back visitor policy (MIA), one of the world’s pre- to the Museum next year.” Tmier institutions of Islamic MIA director Dr Julia Gonnella Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) art, announced yesterday that it will said: “I am honoured to lead this ex- has announced an updated visitor embark on a facilities enhancement traordinary institution into its next policy for non-Covid-19 hospitals. project and reimagine and reinstall its chapter, embarking on an enhance- Visiting hours for such facilities will permanent collection galleries to pro- ment project that supports our new be from 12.30pm-8pm daily, HMC vide a more accessible, engaging and masterplan and provides the curato- said in a tweet yesterday. All other educational experience. rial team with the opportunity to re- Covid-19 precautionary measures MIA, an architectural masterpiece envision how we present the world- remain in place. Page 3 designed by I M Pei, which opened in MIA will reopen in autumn 2022. renowned permanent collection. 2008, is renowned as a platform for “This enhancement will benefi t E the Deputy Prime Minister developments of the Palestinian cause Novavax Covid vaccine international dialogue and exchange. tablishing other major museums and generations of visitors, providing an and Minister of Foreign Aff airs and the current situation in Libya. It is currently closed and will reopen galleries and presenting acclaimed even more meaningful experience of HSheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- The two sides stressed the impor- 93% eff ective in US trial in autumn 2022 ahead of the FIFA exhibitions of local, regional and in- artistic masterpieces across the entire rahman al-Thani met yesterday with tance of coordinating the regional ef- Novavax Inc yesterday said its World Cup Qatar 2022. ternational artists,” said HE Sheikha Islamic world.” Egyptian Minister of Foreign Aff airs forts to reach solutions that guarantee Covid-19 vaccine was 93% eff ective, MIA was the fi rst institution opened Al Mayassa. The reimagining of the collection Sameh Shoukry, who is currently vis- the security and stability of the region including against a variety by Qatar Museums under the leadership “In looking toward increased visi- galleries will introduce a compre- iting the country. and encourage joint co-operation. of concerning variants of the of its Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Ma- tation at MIA, as Doha becomes more hensive visitor trail, create expanded During the meeting, they reviewed During the meeting, HE the Deputy coronavirus in a large, late-stage US- yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. and more popular as a destination for interpretive materials to help con- bilateral co-operation relations be- Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign based clinical trial. The study of nearly “The opening of the Museum of Is- international sporting events and cul- textualise the masterworks, and pro- tween the two brotherly countries, es- Aff airs noted the positive develop- 30,000 volunteers in the United lamic Art was a transformational mo- tural tourism, we decided this was an vide new mobile and child-friendly pecially in the fi eld of investment, and ments in the relations between the two States and Mexico puts Novavax ment for Qatar, marking the nation’s ideal time to refresh the iconic build- resources to make the Museum more the exchange of support in international countries, stressing that these devel- on track to file for emergency emergence as a new cultural hub for ing and look anew at how our perma- accessible for families and younger forums, in addition to the latest devel- opments enhance the security and sta- authorization in the United States and the region and paving the way for es- nent collection is displayed. We will visitors. To Page 12 opments in the region, particularly the bility of the region. To Page 2 elsewhere in the third quarter of 2021. Czech, Poland shine as Qatar to rebuild Beirut hospital Spain, Sweden draw Patrik Schick scored one of the Erdogan upbeat after Biden talks most remarkable goals in European Championship history as the Czech Republic beat Scotland 2-0 urkish President Tayy- yesterday to get their Euro 2020 ip Erdogan sounded campaign off to a flying start. In Tupbeat after his fi rst other matches yesterday, Slovakia face-to-face talks with Joe edged out 10-man Poland 2-1 while Biden, though he announced Spain and Sweden played out a no major breakthroughs in goalless draw. Sport Page 1 the awkward relationship be- tween the two allies, at odds m over Russian weapons, Syria, T Libya and other issues. Er- o a dogan characterised his talks t with the new US president on d the sidelines of a Nato summit c in Brussels as “productive and a h sincere”. “We think that there y’ are no issues within US-Tur- e key ties, and that areas of co- s s operation for us are richer and larger than problems,” he said. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with US President Joe Group F: Hungary Turkey, with the alliance’s Biden on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Brussels, yesterday. second-largest military, has vs Portugal (7pm, angered its allies in the West- recognised the 1915 massacre purchase of the Russian S-400 Budapest) Qatar, represented by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), signed a memorandum of ern military alliance by buying of Armenians as genocide - a surface-to-air missiles. understanding with the Lebanon, represented by the Ministry of Health, to reconstruct the old Russian surface-to-air mis- position that angers Turkey President Biden said he Group F: France vs building of the Karantina Hospital in Beirut. The MoU comes within the framework of the pledges siles and intervening in wars in - and stepped up criticism of held “positive and produc- Germany (10pm, made by Qatar after the explosion at Beirut Port last year, to provide aid to Lebanon, and to Syria and Libya. Turkey’s human rights record. tive” talks with his Turkish follow up on its previous pledges, in implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir As president, Biden has Washington has already re- counterpart, much of it just Munich) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at Paris International Conference, allocating $50mn to support adopted a cooler tone than moved Ankara from the F-35 between the two of them to predecessor Donald Trump to- fi ghter jet programme and im- discuss how to proceed on a (All timings are Qatar time) the brotherly Lebanese people. The MoU aims to reconstruct and equip Building (B) of Beirut Governmental Hospital - Karantina, which was completely damaged as a result of the explosion. wards Erdogan. Biden quickly posed sanctions over Turkey’s number of issues. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 QATAR

Labour minister meets head of UNOCT

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, who is currently visiting the country. FM, Egyptian counterpart review bilateral relations

From Page 1 public and private sectors. through its chairmanship of the For his part, Shoukry expressed Ministerial Committee of the Arab HE the Foreign Minister renewed Egypt’s thanks to Qatar for holding League, wishing success to the HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs and Chairman of the National Committee for Qatar’s thanks to Egypt for its the emergency consultative Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Combating Human Traff icking Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro met yesterday with Head of the United Nations efforts that contributed to the meeting on the Renaissance Dam of Foreign Aff airs in this regard and Off ice of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Dr Aynabat Atayeva. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of joint recent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in Doha. expressed his thanks to Qatar for co-operation, issues related to combating terrorism and ways to support and develop them. and stressed the leading role of The Egyptian foreign minister its care of the Egyptian community. the Egyptian community in the commended the eff orts of Qatar (QNA)

Al-Muraikhi meets ambassador of Niger

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met yesterday with Niger’s ambassador to Qatar Hassan Embarak Boubacar. During the meeting, bilateral co-operation relations between the two countries were reviewed.

The meeting in progress. Council approves draft laws on Shura polls, FIFA rights

QNA  Council discusses draft law on combating Doha conflict of interest

he Shura Council yesterday ap- Legal committee meeting employee must arrange his/her per- proved draft laws on the Coun- sonal aff airs and interests in a man- Tcil’s elections and rights related The Shura Council’s Legal and ner that prevents any confl ict with to FIFA, the international governing Legislative Aff airs Committee held the public interest or with the duties body of football, Qatar News Agency a meeting yesterday, chaired by its or responsibilities of his/her position (QNA) reported. Rapporteur HE Nasser bin Rashid bin or job. The draft law specifi es cases of This came at the Council’s regular Sarea al-Kaabi, Qatar News Agency confl ict of interest and mechanisms weekly meeting held via videoconfer- reported. During the meeting, the for combating confl ict of interest, as encing yesterday under the chairman- committee studied a draft law on well as penalties for anyone who vio- ship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Ab- combating conflict of interest and lates its provisions. dullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud. decided to complete the study at its After discussion, the Shura Council The Council was briefed on the re- next meeting. decided to refer the aforementioned port of the joint committee of the In- draft law to the Legal and Legislative ternal and External Aff airs Committee Aff airs Committee for study and to and the Legal and Legislative Aff airs trademarks, and the deposit of works submit a report thereon to the Coun- Committee on a draft law pertaining to and audio recordings, performances cil. the Shura Council’s electoral system. of performers and FIFA radio pro- HE the Speaker of the Shura Coun- After discussing the two reports, the grammes, with the Intellectual Prop- cil briefed the Council on the ongoing Council approved the two aforemen- erty Protection Department at the preparations for the opening of United tioned draft laws as received from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nations Offi ce of Counter-Terrorism esteemed government, QNA said. and specify the procedures to be taken (UNOCT) Programme Offi ce, which The Council also reviewed the re- regarding the registration”, the QNA is concerned with parliamentary en- port of the Legal and Legislative Af- report states. gagement in preventing and combat- fairs Committee on a draft law on the Meanwhile, the Shura Council yes- ing terrorism, which will be inaugu- protection of trademarks, copyright terday discussed a draft law on com- rated on Wednesday in Doha with the and rights related to FIFA. The draft bating confl ict of interest. The draft participation of a number of senior law “includes 12 articles and its provi- law includes fi ve chapters and 29 ar- parliamentarians in the world and sions require the registration of FIFA ticles. According to its provisions, the senior offi cials of the United Nations.

Chief of Staff meets UK’s senior defence offi cial

HE the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met with Defence Senior Adviser to the Middle East at the British Defence Ministry Lieutenant General (Pilot) Martin Sampson, who is currently visiting the country. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of military co-operation between the two countries and means of promoting them further. The meeting was attended by a number of senior off icers in the armed forces. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 15, 2021 3 QATAR

Qatari-Saudi Follow-up Committee holds its third meeting in Riyadh FM sends message to Saudi counterpart Qatar in FAO meeting

The Qatari-Saudi Follow-up Committee held its third meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs in Riyadh yesterday. The meeting was chaired on the Qatari side by HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Aff airs for Regional Aff airs Ali bin Fahad al-Hajri, and on the Saudi side by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs for Political and Economic Aff airs Ambassador Eid al-Thaqafi. The committee’s meetings come in implementation of the will of the two countries’ leaderships, and in accordance with what was included in Al-Ula Declaration, and to strengthen the bonds of the relationship between the two brotherly countries. (QNA)

Qatar participated in the 42nd session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is held Saudi Minister of Foreign Aff airs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah al-Saud received a written from 14-18 June. Ambassador of Qatar to Italy and Permanent message from HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Representative to the United Nations Agencies in Rome Abdulrahman al-Thani, pertaining to the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki chaired Qatar’s delegation them. The message was handed over by Acting Charge d’Aff aires of Qatar’s embassy in Riyadh participating in the session. Representatives of 193 member Hassan bin Mansour al-Khater, during his meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Aff airs countries of FAO will participate in the conference, which will Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim al-Khuraiji. take several decisions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, climate changes, high prices of agricultural foodstuff s, and a decrease in agricultural food production in many countries, especially in the HMC announces Near East and North Africa. updated visitor policy QRCS strengthens bonds with Deputy PM meets UK’s senior defence official for non-Covid hospitals HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met with Defence Senior Adviser Al Quds Fund and Endowment to the Middle East at the British Defence Ministry Lieutenant General amad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced an updated (Pilot) Martin Sampson, who is currently visiting the country. During visitor policy for non-Covid-19 hospitals. “Visiting hours for the meeting, they reviewed aspects of military co-operation between HHamad Medical Corporation non-Covid-19 facilities will be QNA the two countries and means of enhancing them, as well as the latest from 12.30pm to 8pm daily,” HMC said in a tweet yesterday. Doha developments in the region. All other measures remain in place, which are as follows: Visitors are required to display the green Ehteraz status, wear a mask and undergo a temperature check before entry. E the Secretary-General  Only one visitor is allowed at a time for a maximum of one hour, of Qatar Red Crescent Cote d’Ivoire minister with a maximum of three visitors a day during public visiting hours. HSociety (QRCS) ambas- Escorts are not allowed. sador Ali bin Hassan al-Ham-  Food, fl owers, drinks and chocolates are not allowed to be brought madi met with a delegation from meets Qatari diplomat into the facilities. Al Quds Fund and Endowment, Children under 15 years old are not permitted to visit patients. headed by Munib Rashid al- Visitors are not permitted in the designated Covid-19 hospitals - Masry, Chairman of the Board of Communicable Disease Center, Hazm Mebeireek General Hospital, Directors. The Cuban Hospital and Mesaieed Hospital. The meeting focused on dis- cussing ways of humanitarian co- operation to support the stead- MME in GCC contact with EU meeting fastness of Jerusalemites and provide for their living needs. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) participated The guests thanked QRCS in the co-ordination meeting of the GCC point of contact with the for its distinguished eff orts and European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk achievements for the benefi t of Mitigation Centers of Excellence through visual communication the Palestinian people in the city Ambassador Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi met with a delegation from technology, in the presence and participation of the UN Interregional of Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Al Quds Fund and Endowment, headed by Munib Rashid al-Masry. Crime and Justice Research Institute and representatives of the the Gaza Strip, expressing their EU. The objective of the annual meeting is to identify the latest deep sorrow over the bombing of umbrella of the International Red body established in 2015, as an developments in regional co-ordination in the field of risk reduction, its representative offi ce in Gaza Cross and Red Crescent Move- initiative aimed at empowering share challenges, obstacles, and future plans to confront those during the recent Israeli aggres- ment. This co-operation includ- and strengthening the steadfast- challenges. Representative of Qatar’s point of contact at the EU sion on the Strip. ed the support for Al Makassed ness of the Palestinian people in Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Aff airs, African Center of Excellence Engineer Hamad Salah Ibrahim stressed It also highlighted the fi rm role Islamic Hospital, the provision of Jerusalem and working to achieve Integration and Ivorians in the Diaspora of Cote d’Ivoire Kandia that Qatar has benefited greatly from the EU’s initiative to reduce of Qatar in supporting the Pales- ambulances, the repair of homes, development in the various sec- Kamissoko Camara met with charge d’aff aires at the embassy of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks, as workshops tinian cause, through the close and the economic empowerment tors in the Holy City, in a manner Qatar in Cote d’Ivoire Fahd bin Mohamed al-Khayarin. During the and co-ordination meetings were held between the GCC countries humanitarian co-operation be- of needy families. that preserves the national iden- meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations between and EU experts, and the experiences of European countries in tween QRCS and the Palestinian Al Quds Fund and Endowment tity and Palestinian steadfast- the two countries. various fields were held. Red Crescent Society, under the is an independent development ness in Jerusalem. More Georgian Qatar Charity lays foundation organic produce for health facility in Somalia

atar Charity (QC), with the support of benefac- for Qatar: envoy Qtors in Qatar, has laid the foundation stone for a health centre in Hamar Weyne district By Joey Aguilar Doha) and I hope this is a good of the Somali capital, Mogad- Staff Reporter sign because after pandemic we ishu. need to come back to our normal The foundation stone-laying lives as we lived before and to be ceremony was attended by the eorgia is expected to add able to travel,” he said, adding governor of Banaadir region and more organic products that many Qatari and residents mayor of Mogadishu, Omar Mah- Gand meat, particularly have visited Georgia in recent moud Mohamed Filish, deputy lamb, to the Qatari market in the years. mayor of Mogadishu and head of near future as demand continues The envoy lauded the Qatar Social Aff airs Basma Amir Shek- to increase, ambassador Nikoloz government in preventing the eti, the director of Health at the Revazishvili has said. spread of Covid-19 and its vac- Banadir Regional Administration, “I see the big potential in cination process which he de- Mohamed Mahamud Adow, and many kind of berries. We have a scribed as “going on perfectly.” Hamar Weyne district commis- lot of production of blueberries, “Many people are vaccinated sioner Abdikadir Mohamed Ab- strawberries, and now the season which means they are able to dikadir, in addition to many local is coming. I hope this is a good travel safely and I think the Gov- offi cials and dignitaries. opportunity and also Georgian ernment of Qatar did an amazing The 400sq m centre will have a lamb is of high demand in Qatar, Georgian ambassador Nikoloz job to fi ght this pandemic, to help reproductive health department, and it is of high quality. I see a Revazishvili. many other countries fi ght this an emergency department, doc- big potential in this as well,” the pandemic,” he stressed. tors’ rooms, a laboratory, a vac- envoy told reporters on the side- who are keen on Georgian lamb He also highlighted the strong cination room, a pharmacy and Off icials at the foundation stone-laying ceremony. lines of Georgian Food Festival and further increasing Georgia’s and friendly relations between administrative offi ces. The cen- opening recently. meat exports to Qatar. The en- Qatar and Georgia saying that tre is expected to provide health of Health and Human Services The ongoing event, being held voy also announced that Qatari high-level visits took place be- services for nearly 20,000 people to ensure the eff ective participa- at LuLu stores across the country citizens and residents who have fore the Covid-19 pandemic last in the district and surrounding tion of Qatar Charity in health in co-operation with the Embas- been fully vaccinated can now year. areas, QC has said in a statement. projects in accordance with the sy of Georgia in Qatar, showcases travel to Georgia visa-free and “I do hope in future we will Filish thanked the people of sectoral strategy and the minis- a wide range of Georgian prod- quarantine-free. Parents who even enhance our bilateral co- Qatar for their continuous sup- try’s priorities. ucts such as grocery food, meat have been fully vaccinated are operation in every fi eld, in econ- port, and QC for its humani- The co-operation between the and meat products, smoothies, required to show a negative PCR omy, trade, business to busi- tarian and development eff orts ministry and QC includes build- organic juices, fruits and vegeta- test for their children travelling ness, political, among others,” aimed at helping the needy and ing and repairing health centres bles, among others. with them. Revazishvili said. improving social services for the and hospitals, providing them The envoy said the festival is He said the embassy has been He noted that trade volume benefi t of the Somali people. He with necessary medical equip- off ering around 50-60 diff er- receiving numerous calls from between the two countries is also noted that Qatar Charity ment and ambulances, distrib- ent Georgian products and plans travellers in Qatar asking about increasing annually to around has been a strategic partner of uting medicines to them, and “to bring a lot of Georgian taste travel regulations. Currently, 5-10%, but he expects that with Banaadir since it started work- training medical staff in Somalia. to Doha” soon. “I think we have Qatar Airways operates daily such initiative (Georgian Food ing in Somalia. The governor said Hamar Weyne district’s health a niche in organic products and fl ights to Georgia and the em- Festival) and other initiatives, the health centre aims to allevi- centre, which is under construc- we have now diff erent compa- bassy is in talks with the airline to fi gures would be even higher by ate the suff ering of the poor and tion, is an extension of the previ- nies representing here who are have fl ights to another Georgian the end of the year and the years needy, improve health services ous eff orts made by Qatar Chari- off ering organic fresh juice and city, Batumi, which is also a very to come. The envoy said the em- and achieve development in ar- ty in building and running health smoothies,” he added. popular touristic destination, bassy will participate in a Qatar eas that lack basic services. centres. More than 12 health cen- Revazishvili noted that they according to Revazishvili. tourism event in November to In 2019, QC signed a co-op- tres have been completed over are also working with Widam “You only need two hours and promote Georgia as a destina- eration and partnership agree- the past years in various Somali and other Qatari companies 30 minutes to reach Tbilisi (from tion. ment with the Somali Ministry regions and cities. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 QATAR QIB introduces all-new version of its mobile app

atar Islamic Bank (QIB), bank’s vision and commitment within the app for a seamless reach out to their relationship milestone towards the full digi- Qatar’s leading digital towards simplifying custom- and intuitive customised ex- manager for help and to book a tisation of all our products and Qlender, has launched an ers’ banking experience and perience. All transactions can branch visit when needed. services, in line with our bank- all-new version of its mobile giving them full control of their now be completed within a few The minimalistic design fa- wide digital transformation pro- app, paving the way for intro- finances. steps and customers will reap cilitates the completion of all gramme initiated to improve our ducing new and innovative fea- The new QIB mobile app fea- the benefits of the advanced transactions without inter- customer experience and expand tures in the near future. tures easy-to-use English and and secured data systems to ruption, thus ensuring that our digital services,” said Bassel Creating a simplified and Arabic interfaces, secure and avoid filling or re-entering customers are capable of locat- Gamal, QIB’s group chief execu- more engaging user experi- smart biometric login, self- pre-registered information. ing all the resources and infor- tive. ence, the revamped version registration, smart shortcuts, A smart button is introduced mation they need in only a few The QIB mobile app contin- adopts a convenient, “step by and a combo navigation panel to help customers view their quick steps. “The mobile app has ues to register more than 1.5mn step”, approach with enhanced that allows customers to find net worth, access special of- now become the primary chan- logins on average per month, navigation to enable easy and all the offered products and fers like instant finance and in- nel for our customers as it off ers making it the channel of choice full access to the bank’s dig- services in simple steps, and stant credit cards, and redeem instant service, convenience and through which more than 80% ital services. It aligns with the get the help they need quickly their Absher rewards points, or maximum security. This is a key of retail transactions are made. WWRC launches Covid-19 vaccination awareness among pregnant and breastfeeding women The meeting of the off icials.

The centre has initiated creased risk of preterm birth.” both in-person and virtual The Joint Committee on Vac- counselling sessions cination and Immunisation (JCVI) in the UK have also up- Lebanese Army commander omen’s Wellness dated their advice very recently, and Research Center and the current advice is that all W(WWRC) has initiated pregnant women should be of- awareness and counselling ses- fered the Covid-19 vaccine at the thanks Qatar for support sions to promote Covid-19 vac- same time as the rest of the pop- cination among pregnant and ulation. The same advice applies he Commander of the of the QFFD, Faisal Mohamed and health projects, as part breastfeeding women, as well as for breastfeeding women, she Lebanese Army, General al-Emadi, representing Qatar of implementation of the di- women trying to get pregnant, added. Dr Khenyab said that it is TJoseph Aoun, has ex- Red Crescent Society (QRCS), rectives of His Highness the with the aim to support them to important for all pregnant wom- pressed thanks and gratitude Nawaf Abdullah al-Hammadi, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- make informed decisions based en (high and low risk) to con- to Qatar, for the valuable as- representing Qatar Charity and mad al-Thani, on allocating on accurate and evidence-based sider being vaccinated against sistance and generous support Ali al-Mutawa, counsellor at $50mn to support the broth- information before they receive Covid-19 because pregnancy to his country and its citizens, the Qatari embassy in Lebanon. erly Lebanese people, during the vaccine, QNA reported. alters the body’s immune system in the wake of the explosion at General Aoun said that the the Paris conference. These educational sessions, (except weekends) in two desig- 100,000 pregnant women have and generally aff ects a pregnant the Beirut Port, QNA reported visit of the QFFD delegation is During the meeting, sen- being conducted through both nated places within the hospi- been vaccinated, mainly with woman’s response to viral infec- from Beirut. highly appreciated due to the ior officers in the Lebanese physical and virtual sessions, of- tal’s Outpatient Department on Pfi zer and Moderna vaccines, tions in general, causing in some This came during his meet- situation faced by Lebanon, Army Command reviewed fer counselling about the safety the fi rst fl oor, while the virtual and no notable safety concerns cases more severe health risks. ing yesterday with HE Direc- and said it is the best evidence the results of the restoration and effi cacy of Covid-19 vacci- counselling is conducted via a have been identifi ed. Dr Salwa Abu Yaqoub, Chair tor-General of Qatar Fund for of Qatar’s keenness on Leba- and reconstruction process nation, risks, answers common hotline number, 33438436, Sun- Speaking about this initiative, of Obstetrics at WWRC, says Development (QFFD) Khalifa non and its people. in the Beirut area affected by questions frequently asked and day to Thursday from 8am-2pm, Dr Najat al-Khenyab, deputy that there are numerous benefi ts Jassim al-Kuwari, in the pres- HE al-Kuwari reiterated the port explosion, the tasks the importance of getting vacci- to answer any further queries medical director and National of vaccination for those preg- ence of Qatar’s ambassador Qatar’s support to Lebanon, of the Army Command in this nated in order to ensure women about Covid-19 vaccine. Health Strategy 2018-2022 Lead nant and breastfeeding and said to Lebanon Mohamed Hassan and asserted that QFFD will context, and the work mecha- and their babies are adequately This is in addition to virtual for Healthy Women Leading to these include reducing the risk Jaber al-Jaber. The meeting implement the announced nism and distribution of aid protected against the virus. webinar sessions which will Healthy Pregnancies, stated that of acquiring the disease, reduc- was attended by a delegation development, educational to those affected. The Ministry of Public Health start in a few days, said Dr Gamal it was in line with the updated ing the risk of having a severe ill- in Qatar on its website empha- Ahmed, a senior consultant in recommendations by the World ness while pregnant and requir- sised that the approval of safe Obstetrics and Gynecology, who Health Organisation (WHO). ing hospitalisation or intensive and eff ective Covid-19 vac- is leading the sessions. “The WHO new guidance care; reducing the death risk cines, with widespread uptake Dr Gamal said in Qatar, Pfi z- states that pregnant women are from the disease; reducing the Gang busted for attempt to smuggle gold throughout the population, is er-BioNTech and Moderna are at a higher risk of severe Cov- risk of having a preterm baby; The Al Shamal Security the best hope of ending the pan- the two vaccines that will be id-19, compared with women reducing the risk of transmission Department has arrested demic and for life returning to off ered to pregnant and breast- of childbearing age who are not of infection to other household a gang of four Asians, normal. The physical counsel- feeding women. pregnant, and Covid-19 has members and passing the newly after they tried to smuggle ling sessions are held every day He added that in the US, over been associated with an in- gained immunity to the baby. gold out of the country by turning it into powder. This was informed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) through its Twitter handle yesterday. MoPH: Total Covid-19 recoveries increase to 217,143 The gang was busted on a tip-off received by the police. The arrest he Ministry of Public of the first accused was Health (MoPH) reported 367 referred to made after carrying out a Tyesterday, 78 new con- prosecution for search and investigation. fi rmed cases of Covid-19 among Covid violations During interrogation, he the community and 79 among confessed and informed powder were also found in procedures. The competent travellers, QNA reported. The designated authorities about the rest of the addition to financial invoices authorities at the MoI have The MoPH recorded 199 re- referred 367 people to the accused, who were caught of the gold. The accused and urged the public to co-operate, coveries from the virus during prosecution for violating the with the gold bars. The the seized items were referred by reporting such cases to the the past 24 hours, bringing the preventive and precaution- tools and devices the gang to the competent authorities authorities on suspicion, to total number of cases recovered ary measures enforced by the used to convert gold into to initiate the relevant reduce such crimes. in Qatar to 217,143. country to contain the spread of The ministry also reported Covid-19, the Ministry of Interior two new deaths of patients (MoI) said yesterday. Among aged 45 and 59, who had chron- them, 296 people were referred ic diseases and received the to the prosecution for not wear- necessary medical care. ing masks in places where they Bid to smuggle tobacco products foiled The MoPH issued a state- are mandatory, 48 for gathering ment on Covid-19 develop- in closed places, 19 for not main- ments in Qatar, which said the taining safe physical distancing, following: two for not installing the Ehteraz The Maritime Customs National Covid-19 Vacci- app and two others for violating has foiled an attempt nation Programme Data: the rule on the number of pas- to smuggle 570kg of 2,813,022 Covid-19 vac- sengers allowed in a vehicle. tobacco products to cine doses have been adminis- Qatar, the General tered since the start of the pro- Authority of Customs gramme one dose of the vaccine tweeted. The substance 17,931 Covid-19 vaccine 94.6% of over 60 (the most was hidden in a cargo of doses have been administered vulnerable population group) electrical cables. in the past 24 hours have been vaccinated with at 68.2% of the eligible popu- least one dose, while 88.3% lation has now received at least have received both doses

Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science conducts ICT seminar

he Qatar National Com- National Committee for Educa- Nofal, member of the National awareness, and technology and and Yemen Dr Anna Paolini referred to the 17 sustainable mittee for Education, tion, Culture and Science Dr Ha- Programme for Artifi cial Intel- information education to achieve said she is pleased to celebrate development goals, and stressed TCulture and Science, in mada Hasan al-Sulaiti, Director ligence from the Sultanate of sustainable development. the World Telecommunication importance of co-operation. co-operation with the Unesco of Unesco’s Doha Offi ce Dr Anna Oman Mohamed al-Naabi and On this occasion, Secretary- and Information Society Day Sarah al-Husseini from the offi ce in Doha, organised a vir- Paolini, Omani National Com- Mada Assistive Technology General of the Qatar National (WTISD) in Qatar and to discuss Ministry of Transport and Com- tual seminar on Information and mittee for Education, Culture Center’s Al Dana al-Mohannadi. Committee for Education, Cul- the most important ways to raise munications made a presenta- Communication Technology for and Science expert Dr Khalid At the beginning of the semi- ture and Science Dr Hamada awareness of the importance of tion titled, “The Contribution achieving the Sustainable De- al-Balushi, Qatar University’s nar, Educational and Cultural A participant in the seminar. Hasan al-Sulaiti said the Cov- new technologies in develop- of the Smart Qatar Programme velopment Goals on the occasion Dr Mayamin Altae, the Ministry Aff airs Researcher from the Qa- id-19 pandemic has revealed ing and changing our societies (Tasmu) to Artifi cial Intelligence”, of World Telecommunication of Transport and Communica- tar National Committee Ashwaq importance of the digital infor- the importance of information and economy. Dr Mayaman al- and spoke about the programme, and Information Society Day, tions in Qatar’s Sarah al-Hus- al-Kubaisi reviewed the objec- mation society, and the pursuit and communication technology Taie from Qatar University par- which aims to improve the stand- QNA reported. saini, Director General of the tives of the seminar, which as- of progress towards achieving and its vital role in accelerat- ticipating in a presentation on ard of living for citizens and con- The seminar was attended by National Agency for Information pires to provide policy and deci- the 2030 Agenda for Sustain- ing people’s needs. Director of technological development and tribute to achieving economic di- Secretary-General of the Qatar Safety from Tunisia Mohamed sion-makers information on the able Development, community Unesco Offi ce for the Gulf States sustainable development goals, versifi cation via technology. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 15, 2021 5 QATAR Qatar F&B sector ‘poised for strong recovery’

By Joey Aguilar the region) to recover,” he told empt from quarantine”. nated and the public continues thing and all the measures taken world, if you don’t have enter- Staff Reporter reporters on the sidelines of a re- A detailed quarantine exemp- to adhere to the Covid-19 pre- by all the malls and public plac- tainment or restaurants, footfalls cent event. tion criteria for individuals vac- cautionary measures, people es”. will be negligible as people will The Ministry of Public Health cinated against Covid-19 in GCC now feel safer and are confi- “Qatar is so advanced, the vac- come to the mall, pick up a cer- atar’s retail and food and (MoPH) had announced that countries is posted on the minis- dent to visit malls and shop- cination and preventive meas- tain item and leave. beverage (F&B) sectors “GCC citizens, their families and try’s website. ping centres. ures are working extremely well. “Whenever you open enter- Qare poised for a strong household workers are allowed “Easing Covid-19 restrictions “Fully vaccinated means you While other countries went for tainment (options), whenever recovery from the Covid-19 pan- entry to Qatar at any time, pro- on travel to Qatar from the GCC will feel more comfortable. We full lockdown, Qatar’s strategy you open F&B (outlets), people demic with the phased lifting of vided they follow the travel and has had a very positive impact. have started seeing a lot of devel- was very smart. We never went would like to come and min- restrictions and the decision to return policy”. We at MoQ are witness to this. opment and traffi c in the malls,” for a full lockdown and still the gle, have dinner, lunch, coffee, allow the entry of vaccinated na- The MoPH added that “ful- We have Al Rayyan Hotel, and Sarkis said. cases have been very low,” he which is definitely going to help tionals and residents from other ly vaccinated GCC citizens have seen a lot of nationalities He lauded the eff orts of the noted. increase the traffic and eco- GCC countries, Mall of Qatar who have received any of the from other GCC countries visit- MoPH, Ministry of Commerce Sarkis expressed confi dence nomic activity in the country,” general manager Emile Sarkis Covid-19 vaccines recognised ing our malls – dining and shop- and Industry and other govern- that footfall at malls will surge he said. said. in Qatar with at least 14 days ping,” Sarkis said. ment agencies concerned in pre- once entertainment centres and During the past four months, “There’s no doubt it’s going to since the last dose and those He pointed out that as a venting the spread of Covid-19, restaurants in Qatar are fully he noted that MoQ opened more have a very positive eff ect. I think presenting an official vaccina- large percentage of the popu- saying “certainly, they are doing opened. “In all the malls, not than 30 new stores, including re- Qatar will be the fi rst country (in tion card or certificate are ex- lation in Qatar has been vacci- Emile Sarkis a great job, monitoring every- only in Qatar but anywhere in the nowned restaurants.

‘Covid-vaccinated to Doha College’s Al Wajba Campus Farmers seek MME enjoy more privileges’ support to increase unveils Graduates’ Wall By Ayman Adly Staff Reporter he fi rst graduates from honey production Doha College’s Al Wajba eople vaccinated Tcampus waved goodbye against Covid-19 will to their classmates and teach- hile demanding steps Pcontinue to enjoy more ers. The pandemic dictated that to increase honey privileges in the upcoming they spend far less time than Wproduction in Qatar, phases of the lifting of re- expected on the campus they farmers have urged the Ministry strictions as they have taken had so eagerly anticipated for a of Municipality and Environ- the necessary protection good portion of their secondary ment (MME) to chalk out a com- for themselves and society, education. prehensive plan that will help Hamad General Hospital’s To extend the students’ them. medical director Dr Yousef presence for longer than their Engineer Abdul Rahman al- al-Maslamani told Qatar TV physical presence in the cam- Obaidan, vice chairman of the yesterday. pus, Doha College unveiled board of directors of Al-Waha “However, unvaccinated Dr Yousef al-Maslamani a “Graduates’ Wall” made of Farm, told local Arabic daily Ar- Engineer Abdul Rahman people pose a risk for them- their photos, which will stay rayah that farmers are facing al-Obaidan selves and others and need to “It has also been con- on the Secondary Library multiple challenges and the MME take more precautions for the fi rmed that the speedy vac- frontage until their younger should put forward a plan to help “We are looking to establish a protection of all,” he said. cination drive against Cov- peers reach the same milestone them address these woes in order department for bees and honey Regarding the issue of id-19, has had a great eff ect next year. to increase honey production and production in the farm and are more relaxations of the in protecting the society and Doha College staff and teach- ensure proper marketing. constantly working on develop- Covid-19 restrictions in gen- dramatically reducing daily ing methods swiftly adapted to “The honey and beekeeping ing it. We started with four hives, eral, especially the wearing rates of infections,” the offi - prepare students for an entirely Doha College’s Class of 2021 as seen on the Graduation Wall. sector is not a stand-alone sector, increased them to eight until of facemasks, Dr al-Masla- cial pointed out. new process of admission to but rather a supportive sector for reaching 50 this season. Besides, mani explained that a scien- “As vaccination rates in- further education. The students Dr Steff en Sommer, principal others. They really have every the agricultural sector. Therefore, we are currently working on sup- tifi c committee follows the crease, the number of infec- received off ers from many repu- of Doha College, stated on the reason to be very proud of what most farms have beehives that are plying beehives for home gardens related updates closely and tions drop and there should table universities from the UK occasion: “We are exceedingly they have achieved for them- harvested thrice per season and to produce honey and we follow the already announced plan not be any objection in mov- and around the world, where proud of our graduates of 2021. selves and for the school. farmers are looking to increase up from the beginning to the is expected to proceed as ing to the next phase of the they will study everything They’ve had a very diffi cult “We could not have settled in production. They are facing vari- production,” he said. scheduled due to a consider- lifting of Covid-19 restric- from medicine, mathematics, 6th Form with AS and A Lev- our new campus as well as we ous challenges, including ensuring Al-Obaidan observed there able drop in the daily rate of tions, but this still need to be geoscience, psychology, drama, els cancelled, they were in and have, had our graduates not set proper prices for summer pro- are great diffi culties in import- infected cases. decided and announced of- law, sports rehabilitation, as- out of lessons because of Cov- the tone as fervently and with duce of fruits that are cultivated ing bees. However, he stressed that fi cially by the strategic com- trophysics, politics, engineer- id-19 measures, they adapted as much zest as they did during to support honey production,” al- The process of shipping bees the strategic committee con- mittee concerned,” he said. ing, English literature and a lot to blended learning and remote these exceptional times. They Obaidan said. and getting customs clearance cerned is yet to make an offi - Dr al-Maslmani also re- more. learning. will forever be remembered for “We plant a number of trees takes between seven to 10 hours. cial announcement regarding iterated that preventive and Many students of Class 2021 “During this very diffi cult the impact they’ve had on our that bees feed on in preparation “This results in the death of some the start of the next phase of precautionary measures had been in Doha College right time, Doha College did as well as fi rst few steps here in the Al for increasing the number of bee- bees while the rest are left in a state the lifting of restrictions. The against Covid-19 will con- from their preschool year, so it always has done, and our 6th Wajba campus. We wish them hives from 50 to 100. We planted of fatigue. The process is long and strategic plan to address the tinue as it is now for visiting this was the fi rst and only school Form excelled in it; they were all the very best for the future. cantaloupe in four greenhouses it needs to be resolved,” he said. situation since the Covid-19 patients at Hamad Medical they ever attended. role models like we have seen no They will go far, we know.” covering an area of 32,000sq m Establishing bee-breeding pandemic outbreak and the Corporation’s hospitals even to feed the bees in summer. But nurseries in Qatar, similar to second wave in particular, after more restrictions are we found after the feasibility those in Europe, is the only solu- helped greatly in containing lifted. study that the current prices for tion in his opinion, in this regard. the situation, he said. “The measures are in honey will not cover production “The absence of packaging fa- Dr al-Maslamani thanked place for the protection of costs,” he explained. cilities and laboratories for honey the public for their com- the patients as they are more Al-Waha Farm, according to him, analysis is another challenge. The mitment and abiding by the vulnerable to infection and has 50 beehives that produce 350kg analysis of honey gives the farm preventive and precaution- HMC would not like to see honey per season and it’s planning owner a classifi cation for his prod- ary measures, which helped any infection brought into to increase the number of beehives uct and a certifi cate that is printed in the drop in daily infection the hospital from outside,” he to 100 next season and then to on the product indicating that it is cases in the country. added. 200 within three years to produce of high quality and this encourages 1,400kg honey per season. the consumer,” he explained. Manhattan wardrobes recalled

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Home Centre, dealer of Manhattan wardrobes in Qatar, has announced the recall of Manhattan Wardrobe 5-door (Black), due to incidents of accidental falling of the glass (mirror) pasted on wardrobe door. The recall campaign comes within the framework of the MoCI’s continu- ous eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that dealers follow up on products defects and repairs. The MoCI urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commer- cial Fraud Department, which processes complaints, inquires and suggestions through the following channels: Call centre: 16001, e- mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQA- A worker shows a honey bee hive frame. TAR, MoCI mobile app for android and iOS: MOCIQATAR. The Class of 2021 during a Zoom meeting. Qeeri discusses international corrosion standards for oil and gas industry Qatar Environment and Energy Research research director for the Corrosion Centre at Institute (Qeeri), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa Qeeri. University, recently hosted a meeting of the The virtual meeting of Working Group 11, Working Group 11 of the ISO Technical Com- which witnessed the participation of over 27 mittee (TC) 67, tasked with managing and international corrosion and coating experts, developing worldwide standards for corro- reviewed some of the current corrosion and sion protection of materials, equipment, and coating standards, discussing modifications off shore structures used by the petroleum and and proposals for new standards. natural gas industries. Qeeri Corrosion Centre, one of the first in TC 67 is a joint standards committee between Qatar to focus on mitigating the challenges the International Organisation for Standardisa- related to corrosion, undertakes projects tion (ISO) and the International Association that are based on industry demands and of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). Qatar is includes research, development, and innova- represented in both organisations by industry tion projects, technical consultancy, and Workers extract honey from the frame. experts, including Dr Hanan Farhat, senior service delivery. Participants at the meeting. Shafallah Center participates in UN conference in New York

QNA The virtual conference dis- Talfat, presented their working nism of work in the sports ac- to ensure the continued provi- es for members at home. A number ticipation in many global and re- Doha cussed the right to practise mod- paper, which included a presenta- tivities unit at Shafallah and the sion of sports activities to all of direct virtual training sessions gional games and championships ifi ed sports activities for persons tion and introductory presenta- plans and programmes for its those affi liated with the centre. were implemented with the af- for the Special Olympics for both with disabilities, believing in tion on the sports activities unit affi liates, which included sports The services provided con- fi liates in co-ordination with the winter and summer. he Shafallah Center for the importance of this aspect, at Shafallah and the services and events and tournaments organ- sisted of: fi lming a group of modi- parents, and a virtual tournament He reviewed the achievements Persons with Disabilities the goals that can be achieved programmes provided, whether ised by the unit, such as the an- fi ed sports videos using simple was organised for the affi liates in of Shafallah’s employees in these Tyesterday participated in through sports activities and internal or external. nual ice skating festival and the tools that can be provided in every football and bowling. posts since Shafallah’s fi rst par- the 14th session of UN Confer- the precautionary arrangements Dr Talfat also reviewed the annual bowling championship. home, and creating an online li- Dr Talfat highlighted aspects ticipation in Ireland in 2003. ence of States Parties to the Con- and measures that were followed modifi ed and adapted types of Dr Talfat confi rmed, through brary containing all the videos of co-operation and the close He also confi rmed that prepa- vention on the Rights of Persons during the Covid-19 pandemic. sports and activities according to the submitted working paper, through the sports activities unit relationship between Shafallah, rations are underway for Shafal- with Disabilities, held in New In this regard, the director of the the type of disability practised by that Shafallah has taken many channel on Microsoft Teams in or- the Qatar Paralympic Committee lah’s participation in the Special York under the theme of right to treatment services department at the Shafallah’s affi liates. precautionary measures during der to help parents view the chan- and the Qatar Special Olympics, Olympics Winter Games, to be education. the Shafallah Center, Dr Mohamed He also reviewed the mecha- the Covid-19 pandemic in order nel and implement sports exercis- and pointed out the centre’s par- held in Russia in February 2022. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

Protest over fuel shortage in Yemen UN rights offi ce expresses concern over serious violations by Tunisian police

Reuters chichi said the offi cers involved reform the security apparatus. Tunis were arrested and the incident Last week, a man arrested by was unacceptable. “These se- police on suspicion of dealing rious and repeated violations drugs died few hours after. he United Nations hu- since the beginning of the year The family accused the po- man rights offi ce in Tu- reveal continuing dysfunctions lice of beating him to death. Tnisia said yesterday it is within the internal security Tunisia’s interior ministry has concerned about repeated al- services,” the United Nations denied the allegation. legations of serious violations human rights offi ce in Tunisia A decade on from a revolu- by the Tunisian police, amid said in a statement. tion against poverty, injustice violent protests against police During protests in January, and police state, Tunisia has abuse that rocked the capital the police arrested more than made progress towards democ- for six nights. 2,000 people, most of them racy but its economic problems The protests erupted after a minors. Human rights organi- have worsened which sparked video showing police stripping sations said that hundreds of repeated protests. and beating a young man trig- them were subjected to ill Human rights activists said gered widespread anger. treatment and torture. The in- police abuses have threatened The video prompted criti- terior ministry said that viola- to undermine the democratic cism from political parties, lo- tions are individual and do not gains made since the overthrow cal human rights organisations represent a systematic policy of President Zine El Abidine and President Kais Saied. of the ministry, and years ago Ben Ali’s repressive regime a Prime Minister Hichem Me- it launched a programme to decade ago.

Yemeni healthcare workers protest against severe fuel shortages outside the United Nations off ice in the rebel-held capital Sanaa, yesterday. Govt gives emergency nod for Iran-made vaccine

AFP that production of the vaccine had started in ear- Tehran ly June, with “around three million doses” pro- duced so far. Bodies of 25 migrants Iran has been devastated by the coronavirus ran said yesterday it had given emergency ap- pandemic, which has killed more than 82,000 proval for a domestically produced vaccine, people with over 3mn infected, according to of- Ias it battles the Middle East’s deadliest coro- fi cial fi gures widely seen as understating the toll. navirus outbreak. Strangled by American sanctions that have Iranian media reported that the move aimed to made it diffi cult to make money transfers to for- recovered off Yemen make up for a lack of imported vaccines and al- eign fi rms, Tehran says it is struggling to import lowing people already inoculated with a fi rst jabs vaccines for its 83mn population. to receive a second. The health ministry says more than 4.3mn “The Barekat (blessing) vaccine has received people have received a fi rst vaccine dose since emergency use permission and it will be added the campaign began in February, but fewer than a to the national vaccination programme from next million have received the two jabs necessary to be after boat capsizes week,” said Health Minister Said Namaki, quoted fully inoculated. Iranian media have warned that on his ministry’s website. a lack of supplies could cancel out the benefi ts AFP on board was unclear. The UN’s in the water 10 miles from the In April, at least 42 migrants The vaccine, with the full name COVIran of the initial jabs if people are unable to receive a Hodeidah International Organisation for shores of Ras al-Ara,” added an- died off Djibouti after the cap- Barekat, was developed by a powerful state- second dose in the required time frame. Migration confi rmed to AFP that other. size of their boat which had left owned foundation known as Setad. An offi cial Iran is running clinical trials on four other vac- a boat sank in the area but said it Migrants often find them- from Yemen, according to an from the foundation told state news agency IRNA cines against Covid-19. he bodies of 25 migrants was still trying to establish the selves stranded in Yemen, IOM report. were recovered off Yemen details of the incident. which is mired in the world’s They were likely among those Tyesterday after the boat Despite the grinding war in worst humanitarian crisis after who try to return home after that was carrying them capsized Yemen, migrants continue to six years of conflict. finding themselves stranded or Sudan open to conditional interim deal on Ethiopia dam with up to 200 people on board, travel there in the hopes of fi nd- The beaches of Ras al-Ara are detained. a provincial offi cial told AFP. ing work in Saudi Arabia and among the areas most targeted The IOM reported this month Sudan is open to a partial interim agreement on need for any agreement to be comprehensive, Fishermen who found the other neighbouring oil-rich by smugglers. that 5,100 immigrants ar- Ethiopia’s multi-billion-dollar dam on the Blue but Abbas’s comments mark a potential shift in bodies said that they were fl oat- states whose economies depend Earlier this month, local rived in Yemen so far this year, Nile, with specific conditions, Irrigation Minister Sudan’s position. ing in the waters of Ras al-Ara in on millions of foreign labourers. people appealed to Yemen’s in- while 35,000 travelled in 2020 Yasir Abbas said yesterday, Reuters reported. “ conditions include the signing-off of everything the southern province of Lahij, The fi shermen said the vic- ternationally recognised gov- and 127,000 in 2019 before the While Ethiopia is pinning its hopes of economic that has already been agreed on in negotiations,... an area so rife with human traf- tims, found in the Bab al-Man- ernment to intervene, saying outbreak of the coronavirus development and power generation on the provisions to ensure that the talks continue even fi cking. dab strait that separates Djibouti the area had become a free- which suppressed demand for Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), after the filling scheduled for July, and the nego- “The boat overturned two from Yemen, appeared to be of for-all for human traffickers labour in the Gulf states. The Egypt fears it will imperil its water supply and tiations adhering to a definite timetable,” Abbas days ago and was carrying be- African origin. without any action from the UN agency often sends migrants Sudan is concerned about the impact on its own told a news conference, citing a time crunch. tween 160 and 200 people,” “We found 25 bodies of Afri- authorities. back to their home countries water flows. Sudan and Egypt agreed last week Ethiopia has said it will begin a second filling said Jalil Ahmed Ali from the cans who drowned when a boat In recent months, dozens of from Yemen. But it said in April to co-ordinate eff orts to push Ethiopia to negoti- of the reservoir behind the dam during the Lahij provincial authority, cit- carrying dozens of them sank off migrants have died in the Bab that more than 32,000 migrants, ate “seriously” on an agreement on filling and rainy season this summer. Talks overseen by ing information given by Yemeni the Yemeni shores,” said one of al-Mandab strait, a major route mostly from Ethiopia, were still operating the GERD. the African Union, aimed at reaching a binding smugglers. the fi shermen. for international trade but also stranded in the Arabian Penin- Cairo and Khartoum had been aligned on the agreement, have repeatedly stalled. The fate of the other people “We saw the bodies fl oating for human trafficking. sula country.

Zambia’s former president Kaunda hospitalised ‘Diamond rush’ Trauma helpline takes calls from Zambia’s founding father and former president Kenneth Kaun- grips SA village da has been admitted to hospital for an undisclosed illness, his Gaza during confl ict and beyond off ice said yesterday. In a terse after discovery of statement, it said Kaunda, 97, “has been unwell and was admitted Reuters to... Maina Soko Medical Centre,” unidentifi ed stones Ramallah a military hospital in the capital Lusaka. It gave no further details. Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 Reuters said yesterday it was sending he distressed caller was on years, taking the helm after the Kwahlathi a team comprising of geo- the line from Gaza when country gained independence logical and mining experts Tan explosion drowned out from Britain in October 1964. to the site to collect samples his voice and the line suddenly The statement said Kaunda was ore than 1,000 for- and conduct an analysis. went dead. asking Zambians and the interna- tune seekers yes- A formal technical report For counsellors at the Sawa 121 tional community to pray for him Mterday fl ocked to will be issued in due course, (One-to-One) Palestinian hel- “as the medical team is doing the village of KwaHlathi in the department said. pline in Ramallah, it is a grimly everything possible to ensure South Africa’s KwaZulu- The lack of an analysis of familiar end to calls in times of that he recovers”. Kaunda, popu- Natal province in search of the stones has not deterred confl ict, most recently during larly known by his initials of KK, what they believed to be the fortune seekers as long the 11-day hostilities between was head of the main nationalist diamonds after a discovery lines of parked cars on both Israel and Hamas in May. party, the left-of-centre United of unidentifi ed stones in the sides of the gravel road could “You don’t know if they’re still National Independence Party area. be seen just a few metres alive or not,” Sawa co-founder (UNIP). While in power he hosted The people travelled from from the open fi eld, where Ohaila Shomar told Reuters at many of the movements fighting across South Africa to join the young, old, female and her call centre offi ce in Ramal- for independence or black equal- villagers who have been dig- male dug through the soil lah, in the occupied West Bank. ity in other countries around the ging since Saturday, after a with picks, shovels and forks “This is the most diffi cult region, including South Africa’s herd man who dug up the to fi nd riches. thing. We keep thinking about African National Congress (ANC). fi rst stone on an open fi eld, South Africa’s economy them and what happened to Some nicknamed him “Africa’s which some believe to be has long suff ered from ex- them.” Gandhi” for his non-violent, quartz crystals, put out the tremely high levels of unem- Sawa — “Together” in Ara- independence-related activism in word. The discovery was a ployment, trapping millions bic — fi elded around 37,000 the 1960s. But Kaunda’s popularity life changer, said one digger in poverty and contribut- calls during the May violence, Trauma helpline counsellors in Ramallah receive calls from Gaza after the 11-day conflict, in Ramallah at home waned as he became Mendo Sabelo as he held a ing to stark inequalities that twice its usual workload, with in the occupied West Bank. increasingly autocratic and handful of tiny stones. persist nearly three decades concerns such as safety, miss- banned all opposition parties. He “This means our lives will after the end of apartheid in ing children and unexploded which saw 253 Palestinians killed ing the previous wars came back the phones for a maximum of 20 eventually ceded power in the first change because no one had 1994. bombs added to the helpline’s by Israeli air strikes and 13 peo- again because they’re living the hours a week to prevent coun- multi-party elections in 1991, losing a proper job, I do odd jobs. The coronavirus pandem- usual pleas for help with domes- ple in Israel killed by Palestinian same crisis that they’ve lived sellor burnout, but Sawa offi cial to trade unionist Fredrick Chiluba. When I returned home with ic has made it worse. Some tic abuse, child protection and rockets and missiles, medical of- through before,” said Khader. Noor Nazzal said the gratitude In later life he regained stature as them, (the family was) really people have started selling mental health problems. fi cials said. Jalal Khader, direc- Relying on funding from hu- of callers made a diffi cult job one of Africa’s political giants, help- overjoyed,” said the 27-year the stones, with the starting Some callers were seeking tor of Sawa in Ramallah, said manitarian organisations in- worthwhile. “When we leave and ing to mediate crises in Zimbabwe old father of two. price ranging from 100 rand shelter during Israeli air strikes that although the fi ghting has cluding Medecins du Monde hear the feedback that they give and Kenya. He became an Aids Unemployed Skhumbuzo ($7.29) to 300 rand. or used Sawa’s free line to pass stopped, the real support work Switzerland and the Austrian us — how much you gave me re- campaigner, announcing publicly Mbhele concurred, adding: The provincial govern- messages to their family because is only just beginning after four Development Agency (ADA), lief, how much you reassured me at the peak of the pandemic that “I hadn’t seen or touched a ment has since requested all they had no phone credit, coun- wars between Israel and Gaza Sawa will continue to provide and gave me hope for life, this one of his sons had died diamond in my life. It’s my those involved to leave the sellors said. fi ghters since 2008. emergency post-war support for gives us the motivation to off er from the illness. fi rst time touching it here.” site to allow authorities to An Egyptian-brokered truce “It’s as if the trauma and cri- another six months. something even better and con- The mines department conduct a proper inspection. on May 21 ended the fi ghting ses that they went through dur- Staff are limited to answering tinue with our work,” she said. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7 WORLD

TRIAL POLICY CRIME OBITUARY DECISION Man charged with Indigenous Canadian names One dead after man Oscar-nominated actor Special force to protect terrorism for truck attack allowed on documents drives into crowd Ned Beatty dies, aged 83 Brazil’s Yanomami people

Canada is pressing terrorism charges against a Indigenous Canadians will be able to use their A woman was killed and three others injured when The prolific and Oscar-nominated character The Brazilian government yesterday authorised the man accused of mowing down a Muslim family traditional names on off icial documents such as pass- a man drove into a crowd of demonstrators who actor Ned Beatty, known for roles in Network, employment of the National Security Force (FNS) to with a pick-up truck, prosecutors said yesterday, ports, the government said, in the wake of a scandal were protesting the shooting death by US Marshals Superman and Toy Story 3, died on Sunday protect the Yanomami indigenous people and their in an attack denounced as “terrorist” by Prime at residential schools. The recent discovery of 215 of a Black man in Minneapolis, police said yesterday. aged 83. “Ned passed away from natural causes reservation lands for 90 days in the northern state Minister Justin Trudeau. Four members of the unmarked graves of indigenous students at a former Police said the man, who may have been under Sunday morning, surrounded by his family and of Roraima bordering Venezuela. The measure by Afzaal family - a man and his wife, their teenage residential school in the province of British Columbia the influence of drugs or alcohol, drove his vehicle loved ones,” Shelter Entertainment Group tal- the justice ministry published in the off icial gazette daughter and his mother - were out for a walk in has again put a spotlight on Canada’s past racist poli- into a group of protestors shortly before midnight. ent manager Deborah Miller said. “Ned was an follows increasing attacks with firearms by illegal London, Ontario on June 6 when a truck driver cies. “Indigenous children stolen from their families “Protesters pulled the suspect from the vehicle iconic, legendary talent, as well as a dear friend, wildcat gold miners who have invaded Yanomami ploughed into them on purpose, according to to be forced into the residential school system had and, from reports of witnesses, began to strike the and he will be missed by us all.” The Kentucky lands on Brazil’s largest reservation. More than authorities. Prosecutors revealed in a brief hear- even their very names stolen from them,” Immigra- driver,” the Minnepolis police said in a statement. native made his big-screen debut in the 1972 20,000 miners are illegally prospecting on the ing that they were adding terrorism charges to tion Minister Marco Menticino said at a press briefing. “Off icers arrived and took custody of the driver.” A film Deliverance. That film, in which Beatty won reservation and polluting rivers with mercury used the four counts of premeditated murder and one He raised the example of one young Inuit girl named woman was taken to hospital in critical condition attention for his performance in a humiliating to separate gold from ore. Since the beginning of of attempted murder levelled last week against Masek who became Alice, saying “she would not and died of her injuries, police said. The driver of the rape scene, started a film career which would the year, there have been at least eight attacks by 20-year-old Nathaniel Veltman, 20. hear her original name until she returned home.” vehicle was also hospitalised. continue until 2013. miners on Yanomami communities.

Food banks brace Fire at plant sparks evacuation for demand as Republicans end jobless benefi ts

Guardian News and Media expire. According to Schryver, Washington as the public health crisis in the US over coronavirus is settling down due to a high level of vacci- ood banks in many states nations, the economic and other across the US are bracing tied crises are likely to take much Ffor a surge in demand for longer for people to recover from. food aid due to Republican gov- “When the great recession ernors ending federal extended happened in early 2008, 2009, unemployment benefi ts early in that really impacted the work a move that will hit millions of we do and the people we serve. American families. We saw a huge increase in food Several states across the US insecurity during that time and have started to voluntarily end it took us 10 years to get back to federal extended unemployment food insecurity rates from before benefi ts, as Republican gover- the recession,” added Schryver. nors in at least 25 states have an- Wendi Jones of Independence, nounced intentions to do so. Missouri, lost her job at a local Missouri, Alaska, Iowa and school district in January and her Mississippi were the fi rst states family has relied on food banks as to cancel federal unemployment she is still going through arbitra- aid on June 12, with the rest of the tion to start receiving unemploy- Jacques Ackerman (right) and his wife Leigh Ackerman watch as an industrial fire burns at Chemtool Inc in Rockton, Illinois, yesterday. The chemical fire at the plant, states following suit through July ment benefi ts. Every time she which produces lubricants, grease products and other fluids, has prompted local evacuations. 10, several weeks before federal has tried to contact Missouri’s benefi ts guaranteed by the Amer- department of labour to receive ican Rescue Plan are scheduled to an update, she is told there are expire on September 6. still delays due to the pandemic, The cuts will end or reduce and she is upset Missouri is can- benefi ts for about 3.9mn unem- celling federal extended benefi ts ployed workers. while delays and backlogs that Food insecurity among Ameri- are preventing her from receiv- cans surged during the coronavi- ing benefi ts have remained un- rus pandemic and has remained resolved. signifi cantly higher than pre- “Going from a two-income McConnell ‘unlikely to let pandemic levels. family, to one income with no According to US Census Bu- severance or unemployment has reau data, more than 19.3mn been so hard,” said Jones, whose adults said in late May their family doesn’t qualify for food households didn’t get enough assistance through Snap because food to eat sometimes in the of her husband’s income.“We’ve Biden fi ll top court seat’ previous seven days, compared been able to navigate food pan- to 8.5mn adults who didn’t get tries in our area but the most enough to eat at some point important pantry, the USDA Reuters McConnell could return as That enabled Donald Trump, until after Trump was elected as Court,” Democratic senator Ed through all of 2019. Farmers to Families Food Box Washington majority leader if Republicans the winner of the November “the single most consequential Markey said on Twitter. “We are still distributing about programme, ended at the end of regain control of the Senate in 2016 election, to appoint con- thing I’ve done in my time as Some Democrats have pro- a million to a million-and-a-half May. the 2022 midterm elections. servative Justice Neil Gorsuch majority leader of the senate.” posed expanding the number of more meals each month than “That has been another hard S Senate minority Leader McConnell, serving as major- in 2017. McConnell made confi rma- justices in order to end the Su- we did pre-Covid,” said Teresa blow because now I have to pay Mitch McConnell yes- ity leader, blocked Democratic Democrats accused McCon- tion of Trump’s conservative ju- preme Court’s conservative ma- Schryver, advocacy manager for for milk, cheese and such and it’s Uterday said President Joe former president Barack Obama nell of hypocrisy last year when dicial nominees a high priority. jority. Some liberal activists have the St Louis Area Food Bank in not cheap … I have no idea what Biden would not get a Supreme from fi lling a vacancy left by the he allowed the senate to confi rm Trump appointed three jus- called on liberal justice Stephen Bridgeton, Missouri, which pro- we’re going to do.” Court nominee confi rmed in death of conservative justice Trump’s conservative Supreme tices, also including Brett Ka- Breyer, at 82 the court’s oldest vides services for residents in Florida food banks are prepar- 2024 if Republicans regain con- Antonin Scalia in February 2016, Court nominee Amy Coney vanaugh, to the Supreme Court, member, to retire now while the Missouri and nearby Illinois. ing for more need also. “With the trol of the chamber and a vacan- saying it would be improper to Barrett to replace liberal justice which now has a 6-3 conserva- senate remains in Democratic “We might see a spike again in unemployment benefi ts level be- cy arises during that presiden- confi rm a Supreme Court nomi- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died tive majority. hands. July and August as we’re losing ing reduced, it will no doubt put tial election year. nee during a presidential elec- in September about six weeks Democrats denounced Mc- Biden during the election the unemployment benefi ts here hardship on a large population “It’s highly unlikely. In fact, tion year. before the 2020 presidential Connell’s comments, with some campaign vowed to name a in Missouri, so we might be do- here in central Florida. no, I don’t think either party, if McConnell and his fellow election. even using them to solicit cam- Black woman to the court, which ing 2m meals again for a couple of “It is impossible to say how it were diff erent from the presi- Senate Republicans refused Trump, a Republican, was de- paign donations. “McConnell is would be a historic fi rst. months.” The food bank also ex- much of an impact, but, it can- dent, would confi rm a Supreme to consider Obama’s nominee feated by Biden, a Democrat, in already foreshadowing that he’ll The 100-seat senate is cur- pects a surge in requests for help not be positive,” said Dave Krep- Court nominee in the middle — Merrick Garland, who now the election and Democrats also steal a third Supreme Court seat rently split 50-50, with Demo- in applying for Snap benefi ts cho, CEO of the Second Harvest of an election,” McConnell told serves as Biden’s attorney gen- took control of the senate. if he gets the chance. He’s done crats in control only because – often known as food stamps – Food Bank of Central Florida in syndicated talk radio host Hugh eral — in a move with little prec- McConnell described his de- it before, and he’ll do it again. Vice President Kamala Harris as the unemployment benefi ts Orlando. Hewitt. edent in US history. cision to keep Scalia’s seat open We need to expand the Supreme wields a tie-breaking vote.

Top dog Action pledged over secret NSA whistleblower surveillance of lawmakers released from prison Guardian News and Media to heal the trauma of incarcera- Washington tion”. AFP cratic lawmakers probing possi- The justice department also Winner was sentenced to fi ve Washington ble collusion between the Trump seized records of reporters from years in 2018, after being con- election campaign and Russia. CNN, The Washington Post and eality Winner, a former in- victed of leaking the report. “There are important questions The New York Times without telligence contractor con- Aged 26, she was the fi rst S attorney-general Mer- that must be resolved in connec- their knowledge. Rvicted of leaking a report person charged by the Trump rick Garland yesterday tion with an eff ort by the depart- The secret surveillance took about Russian interference in the administration under the Espio- Upledged to take action ment to obtain records related to place as Trump faced investiga- US election in 2016, has been re- nage Act over a document leak. against any offi cials who may Members of Congress and Con- tions by special counsel Robert leased from prison. She pleaded guilty as part of a have violated the justice depart- gressional staff ,” Garland said. Mueller and the House Intelli- Winner’s attorney, Alison deal. ment (DoJ) guidelines with secret “I have accordingly directed gence Committee — where Schiff Grinter Allen, made the an- Prosecutors said Winner, who surveillance of Democratic law- that the matter be referred to the was then the top Democrat — into nouncement via Twitter, saying was working for a defence con- makers. inspector general and I have full whether his election campaign the former National Security tractor, Pluribus International “Political or other improper confi dence that he will conduct a colluded with Russia and wheth- Agency (NSA) contractor had Corporation, printed a classi- considerations must play no role thorough and independent inves- er Trump tried to obstruct the been released into a residential fi ed document that showed how in any investigative or prosecuto- tigation,” he said. probe. re-entry programme for good Russian military intelligence rial decisions,” Garland said in a “If at any time as the investi- It is not known if Trump explic- behaviour. hacked at least one voting soft- statement. gation proceeds action related itly told the justice department to In a statement, Allen said: ware supplier and attempted “These principles that have to the matter in question is war- investigate Schiff and Swalwell “We are relieved and hopeful. to breach more than 100 local long been held as sacrosanct by ranted, I will not hesitate to move and his former attorneys-general Her release is not the result of election systems before polling the DoJ career workforce will be swiftly.” - Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr - have the pardon or compassionate day in 2016. vigorously guarded on my watch, Democratic congressmen denied knowledge of the subpoe- release process, but rather the The document was the basis and any failure to live up to them Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell nas. time earned through exempla- of a story published on a news will be met with strict account- have said that Apple was ordered Nancy Pelosi, Democratic ry behaviour while incarcer- site, the Intercept, about an hour ability.” to hand over their phone records speaker of the House of Repre- Wasabi, a Pekingese of East Berlin, Pennsylvania, is ated.” before the department of justice Garland’s statement comes af- as well as those of family mem- sentatives, demanded on Sunday held by his owner and handler David Fitzpatrick after Allen said Winner was still announced Winner’s arrest in ter revelations that the justice de- bers as Trump fought a fl ow of that Sessions and Barr testify winning the Best in Show at the 145th Westminster barred from making public state- June 2017. partment under former president damaging leaks about his 2016 before Congress about what she Kennel Club Dog Show at Lyndhurst Mansion in ments, and she and her family Winner said she took respon- Donald Trump had sought phone election campaign’s links to Rus- called a “rogue” justice depart- Tarrytown, New York, US. had asked for privacy “during the sibility for “an undeniable mis- records of journalists and Demo- sia. ment operation. transition process as they work take that I made”. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 BRITAIN UK’s fi nancial watchdog goes real-time to catch online criminals

Reuters against a surge in fi nancial scams Online financial scams have surged are not as widespread as more it a “credit” on future warnings. cial media fi rms and to consider London after pandemic lockdowns sent traditional banking fraud, which Britain has proposed an “online if Google was itself guilty of fraud more people online. since pandemic is often done by tricking custom- harms” law but it does not re- by advertising scams. The FCA issued 1,200 con- FCA pays Google to publish warnings ers into giving away passwords quire social media companies Google has said it has robust ritain’s fi nancial regulator sumer warnings last year about or making transfers, but they are to check on the validity of fi rms fi nancial products and services has to make daily sweeps scams advertised via social me- about online adverts growing quickly. advertising fi nancial products. policies, and has been adding Bof the Internet to warn dia platforms by fake companies  Watchdog says Google has offered Last year, victims of invest- The FCA wants such checks to be more requirements on advertis- about online scams in real time that are not regulated by the ment scams who referred to a made obligatory under the new ers. and keep pace with fraudsters watchdog, double the amount in ‘credit’ on warnings social media platform lost 63mn law. Steward said the ball was now who are often based outside the 2019, Steward told parliament’s  FCA says social media must stop pounds ($89mn), according to “The irony of us having to pay in the court of social media fi rms country, one of its offi cials said Treasury Select Committee. the UK’s Action Fraud, almost a social media to publish warnings to come up with ways to tackle yesterday. “We are now issuing warnings scams or face legal action 10th of the 784 million lost to fi - about advertising they are re- scams. “We shall see how suc- Mark Steward, the Financial straight away, we are conducting nancial fraud. ceiving money from is not lost on cessful they really are. The proof Conduct Authority’s (FCA) di- sweeps several times a day of the Faster warnings limit the Steward said, meaning lenders The FCA is also paying Google us,” Steward said. will be in the pudding. If the rector for enforcement, said the Internet and issuing warnings number of victims and banks could be unwittingly aiding fraud to publish the regulator’s warn- Lawmaker Anthony Browne proof is not in the pudding, then warnings have become a cor- within 24 hours so they are up to should be checking who is on the by taking payments on behalf of ings and Steward said the US urged Steward not to be over- we are going to have to take ac- nerstone of the watchdog’s fi ght date,” he said. list in case they are customers, criminals. Online fi nancial scams social media giant had off ered awed by the deep pockets of so- tion of a diff erent kind,” he said. Johnson delays easing lockdown citing Delta risk

Reuters  Last stage of roadmap out of lockdown delayed London  Extra time used to speed up vaccine programme  rime Minister Boris John- More infectious Delta variant cited for decision son delayed his plans to  Without action hospitalisations could surge Plift Covid-19 lockdown re- strictions by a month yesterday, warning that the more infectious Delta variant meant if he did nothing thousands more people might die. Under the fi nal stage of a plan outlined by Johnson in February, he had hoped to lift most social restrictions on June 21, meaning pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and other hospitality venues could fully reopen. That much-antic- ipated step was pushed back to July 19. “I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer,” Johnson told a news conference. “As things stand, and on the evidence that I can see right now. I’m confi - dent that we will not need more than four weeks.” The extra time would be used to speed up Brit- ain’s vaccination programme – already one of the world’s fur- thest advanced – by shortening the recommended time between Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to 10 Downing Street after giving an update on the doses for those aged over 40 to coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic inside the Downing Street Briefing Room in central London yesterday. eight weeks from 12 weeks. The situation would be re- enth highest number globally. Despite Monday’s delay, the govt Protesters fly a Union flag as a smoke bomb goes off at a gathering outside Downing Street as they viewed on June 28, which could Yesterday’s decision was based demonstrate against government lockdown restrictions, 5G and Covid-19 vaccinations in central allow the reopening to be brought on scientifi c modelling which lifted some restrictions on the number London yesterday. forward, although Johnson’s showed that, if the reopening of guests allowed to attend weddings, spokesman said that was con- went ahead as planned, under sidered unlikely. In recent weeks some scenarios hospitalisations and will continue pilots of crowds at there has been fast growth in new could match those in March last sporting events and theatrical shows cases caused by the Delta variant, year when ministers feared the fi rst discovered in India. Health health system could be over- making their own policy. There allowed to attend weddings, and offi cials believe it is 60% more whelmed. are no plans to extend new sup- will continue pilots of crowds at transmissible than the previous A study earlier on Monday port to businesses as a result sporting events and theatrical dominant strain and scientists showed the Delta variant dou- of the delay. “We deliberately shows. have warned that it could trigger bles the risk of hospitalisation, extended most support well Deutsche Bank estimated last a third wave of infections. but two doses of vaccine still into the autumn because of the week that a four-week delay On Monday, Britain recorded provide strong protection. Un- known uncertainty,” the prime would temporarily reduce gross 7,742 new Covid-19 cases and like in March 2020, the increase minister’s spokesman said. domestic product by around three deaths. Johnson said Brit- in hospitalisations was likely to Britain’s furlough programme 0.25% – a fraction of the historic ain was seeing cases growing be among younger people who supports just over 2mn jobs and 9.8% slump recorded in 2020. by about 64% per week and the require shorter treatment and are is due to continue until the end The government had stressed number of people in hospital in- less at risk of dying. Neverthe- of September. But from July em- any easing of restrictions would tensive care was rising. “By being less, the risk of increased pres- ployers will have to pay 10% of be irreversible, meaning it would cautious now we have the chance sure on the health system meant furloughed staff ’s wages, rising always act with caution. in the next four weeks to save that the tests the government set to 30% in September. The hos- It comes despite Britain having many thousands of lives by vac- out for going ahead with the reo- pitality industry has also called one of the fastest vaccine rollouts cinating millions more people,” pening had not been met. for an extension of other sector- in the world. More than 41mn he said. Johnson sets Covid-19 restric- specifi c aid. people have received their fi rst Britain has offi cially reported tions for England, with devolved Despite Monday’s delay, the shot and nearly 30mn have had almost 128,000 deaths since the administrations in Scotland, government lifted some restric- both doses – about 57% of the start of the pandemic, the sev- Wales and Northern Ireland tions on the number of guests adult population. Protesters hold up placards at a protest against government lockdown restrictions. Two jabs mostly prevent hospitalisation ‘World ‘way off track’ on climate’

AFP Britain, which hosted the ple the use of hydrogen boilers. with Covid Delta variant, says UK body London weekend G7 leaders’ summit, It called for more investment in will also anchor the COP26 UN off shore wind plus carbon cap- climate gathering in Glasgow in ture and storage. “Put simply: AFP which fi rst emerged in India. The Head of immunisation Mary search showed there was only a orld eff orts to tackle November. “We’ve now got just the best way to inspire global ac- London increase is again raising con- Ramsay said: “These hugely im- small diff erence after two doses. climate change are under fi ve months to go until the tion on decarbonisation is to lead cerns about the potential strain portant fi ndings confi rm that the Simon Kolstoe, senior lecturer in W“way off track”, the UK hosts COP26,” Danker told the charge right here at home,” on hospitals, prompting calls to vaccines off er signifi cant protec- evidence-based healthcare at the head of Britain’s main business the CBI’s virtual climate confer- Danker added. “Nothing less wo doses of Covid-19 vac- postpone a planned lifting of all tion against hospitalisation from University of Portsmouth, said lobby group said yesterday after ence. “We have what remains of than unprecedented unstoppable cines are “highly eff ec- social distancing curbs on June the Delta variant.” the inoculation programme was a G7 pledge to step up action. this decade to fundamentally re- action from the UK government, Ttive” in preventing hos- 21. Further investigations were clearly working. Tony Danker, director-general shape the world economy, halve in partnership with us in UK pital admission with the Delta The restrictions have been in under way to determine the level Nearly 57% of the UK’s adult of the Confederation of Brit- carbon emissions and limit the business, will be enough. variant, Public Health England place since January, when the of protection against death from population has had two doses, ish Industry, also urged the UK global temperature increase to 1.5 “It’s in our hands to set the said yesterday. Alpha strain of the coronavi- the Delta variant, PHE said, but according to government statis- government to speed up greener degrees. world on an irreversible path to Scientists said two jabs of rus, which was fi rst identifi ed in added that it was expected to be tics. But he added: “We can only housing, energy and transport “The scale of this challenge net zero by 2050.” The 2015 Paris the Pfi zer/BioNTech vaccine Kent, southeast England, spread “high”. be confi dent in lifting all restric- measures to help meet its car- has always been seismic... The climate agreement aims to limit stopped the need for in-patient rapidly. The public health body looked tions once we know that the link bon-slashing goal. world has no room for failure. global temperature rises to less treatment in 96% of cases. With The government, which began at 14,019 cases of the new variant between large-scale infections The assessment comes after The climate crisis is worsen- than two degrees Celsius (3.6 a double dose of the Oxford/ a mass-vaccination programme in England between April 12 and and hospital admissions has been the Group of Seven rich nations ing and currently we are way off Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial AstraZeneca shot, the rate was with the Pfi zer/BioNTech jab in June 4. Previous analysis indi- broken. on Sunday vowed to deliver a track.” levels and to pursue eff orts to go 92%, PHE added. December last year, is pushing for cated that one dose of vaccine is “The vaccine certainly seems “green revolution” that cuts The CBI also argued that Brit- down to 1.5 degrees. Experts be- The fi ndings were published more people to get two jabs. PHE 17% less eff ective in preventing to be doing its job in breaking this emissions, halts and reverses ish Prime Minister Boris John- lieve this can be achieved only as Britain grapples with a surge said the vaccine eff ectiveness for a person developing symptoms link but a few more weeks to get biodiversity loss, and reaffi rms son must adopt a new buildings by the world reaching net zero in coronavirus cases, most of the Delta variant is comparable to from the Delta variant than the more people vaccinated certainly their pledges to go carbon neutral strategy to make homes more en- carbon emissions by 2050, a goal which were of the Delta strain, that for the Alpha strain. Alpha one. But the latest re- seems like a sensible option.” by 2050. ergy effi cient, citing as an exam- which was reaffi rmed by the G7. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 15, 2021 9 WORLD

CONTROVERSY CLAIM CONTROVERSY OFFBEAT CRITICISM Nuke plant operators China minorities ‘targeted Junta trial of Myanmar’s Man with 39 wives Ardern pans mosque release gas to fix issue in organ harvesting’ Suu Kyi gets under way dies in India attacks film amid backlash

Gas was deliberately released from a nuclear power UN rights experts said they had received “credible The trial of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu A 76-year-old man who had 39 wives and 94 chil- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern plant in southern China as operators work to fix information” that detainees from ethnic, linguistic or Kyi got under way yesterday, more than four months dren and was said to be the head of the world’s yesterday criticised a planned movie about her an issue at the facility, its French part-owner said religious minorities in China may be being forcibly after a military coup, with junta witnesses testifying largest family has died in northeast India, the response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks yesterday following a US media report of a potential subjected to forced organ harvesting. The 12 inde- the Nobel laureate flouted coronavirus restrictions chief minister of his home state said. Ziona Chana, as poorly timed and focused on the wrong subject. leak. CNN said the US government is assessing a pendent experts, who are mandated by the United and illegally imported walkie-talkies. Near daily the head of a local Christian sect that allows po- The US-backed film They Are Us has sparked an report of a leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant Nations but do not speak on its behalf, said they protests have rocked Myanmar since the generals’ lygamy, died on Sunday, Zoramthanga, the chief intense backlash among New Zealand Muslims, in populous Guangdong province after Framatome, were “extremely alarmed” by the organ harvesting February 1 putsch. A mass uprising has been met minister of Mizoram, said in a tweet. With a total with community leaders slamming the project for a French firm that partly owns it, warned of an “im- allegations. They said they had heard that detained with a brutal military crackdown that has killed more of 167 members, the family is the world’s largest, pushing a “white saviour” narrative. Ardern said the minent radiological threat.” EDF, the majority owner members of minority communities may be forcibly than 850 civilians, according to a local monitoring according to local media, although this depends attacks — when a white supremacist gunman ran of Framatome, said the plant’s number one reactor subjected to blood tests and organ examinations like group. The junta has brought an eclectic raft of on whether you count the grandchildren, of amok at two mosques, killing 51 and seriously injur- experienced a build-up of noble gases in its primary ultrasound and x-rays, without informed consent — charges against the Nobel laureate, including claims whom Ziona has 33. Winston Blackmore, the head ing another 40 — remained “very raw” for many circuit, which is part of the cooling system. The gas something other detainees are not required to do. she accepted illegal payments of gold and violated a of a polygamous Mormon sect in Canada, has New Zealanders. She said filmmakers had not leaked after the coating on some fuel rods had The exam results are then registered in a database of colonial-era secrecy law. Journalists were barred from around 150 children from 27 wives — 178 people consulted her about the movie, which is set to star deteriorated, said an EDF spokesman. living organ sources for transplants. proceedings in the court in the capital Naypyidaw. in total. Australia’s Rose Byrne as the centre-left leader. Manila again Duterte extends Covid curbs in capital suspends scrapping of US troops pact

Reuters tional Studies, said there would Manila be frustration in Washington and most of the Philippine govern- ment. he Philippines has again “It isn’t the worst possible suspended a decision to scenario, obviously, but Philip- Tscrap a crucial agreement pine offi cials were really signal- governing the US troop presence ling that they were confi dent in the country, its foreign min- they had reached a deal Duterte ister said yesterday, amid con- would get on board with, and tinuing maritime pressure from instead everyone has to remain China. in limbo for at least another six The Pentagon welcomed the months,” he said. announcement from Manila - the Poling said he did not think third suspension of the decision there was any substantive issue covering the two-decade-old holding up an agreement. Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) “It is now as simple as Duterte Fourth year medical students observe social distancing as they line up before entering the building, following the resumption of limited face-to-face classes amid the that had been due to expire in doesn’t seem to want it, but eve- coronavirus disease, at the University of Santo Tomas, in Manila, Philippines, yesterday. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday extended partial coronavirus August — but analysts said there ryone else does. curbs in the capital and nearby provinces until end-June, and placed more areas under tighter quarantine measures because of rising infections and high hospital would be disappointment in both “If he won’t reverse course but occupancy. countries that it was not renewed. he also doesn’t want to waste Philippine Foreign Minister political capital on an unpopu- Teodoro Locsin said the suspen- lar decision heading into elec- sion would be for a further six tion season, then kicking the can months while President Rodrigo down the road is his preferred Duterte “studies, and both sides option.” further address his concerns re- Duterte told Washington last garding, particular aspects of the year he was cancelling the deal agreement”. amid outrage over a senator and The Philippines is a US treaty ally being denied a US visa, but ally and several military agree- he has repeatedly suspended the ICC seeks probe into ‘war on ments are dependent on the VFA, expiration date. which provides rules for the ro- The latest suspension comes tation of thousands of US troops at a time of continued tensions in and out of the Philippines for between Manila and Beijing over war drills and exercises. disputed waters in the South Having the ability to rotate in China Sea and a US announce- drugs’ killings in Philippines troops is important not only for ment last week that the Philip- the defence of the Philippines, pines would be among countries AFP crackdown, but the court said Britain’s Khan will be sworn drug operations conducted since other “inhumane acts” dating but strategically for the US when that would receive millions of The Hague it could still investigate crimes in tomorrow with a host of chal- July 2016, the latest offi cial data back as far as 2011, it said. it comes to countering China’s Covid-19 vaccines it is donating. committed while it was a member. lenges in his inbox including a show. Many suspects had been put increasingly assertive behaviour Ties between Washington and “I announce that the prelimi- probe into Israel and the Palestin- Human rights groups estimate on “drug watch lists” by local of- in the region. its former colony have been com- he International Criminal nary examination into the situ- ian territories. the number of dead could be sev- fi cials and then visited by police “The department welcomes plicated by Duterte’s rise to power Court’s chief prosecutor ation in the Republic of the Phil- Duterte’s drug crackdown has eral times higher. at their homes, which often ends the government of the Philip- in 2016 and his frequent condem- Tyesterday sought a full in- ippines has concluded and that I drawn international censure and The ICC’s Bensouda said the in a deadly shooting that offi cers pines’ decision to again sus- nation of US foreign policy and vestigation into crimes against have requested judicial authori- prompted the ICC to launch its court “does not take a position on claim was self-defence. pend termination of the Visiting embrace of China, which has nev- humanity during the Philippines’ sation to proceed with an inves- preliminary probe three years ago. any government’s internal poli- The tough-talking president Forces Agreement,” Pentagon ertheless continued to pressure his war on drugs, in one of her last tigation,” Fatou Bensouda said in Duterte’s drug war is his signa- cies” to combat drugs but that it has repeatedly claimed the ICC spokesman John Kirby said in a country’s maritime boundaries. acts before stepping down this a statement. “I have determined ture policy initiative and he de- was acting under its mandate to has no jurisdiction over him and statement. Manila has repeatedly pro- week. that there is a reasonable basis to fends it fi ercely, especially from investigate war crimes and crimes that he will not co-operate with “We value the Philippines as tested what it calls the “illegal” Fatou Bensouda is asking judg- believe that the crime against hu- critics like Western leaders and against humanity. what he has called an “illegal” an equal, sovereign partner in and “threatening” presence of es at the world’s only permanent manity of murder has been com- institutions which he says do not “The available information in- probe. He even threatened to ar- our bilateral alliance. Our part- hundreds of Chinese “maritime war crimes court to authorise a mitted...in the context of the gov- care about his country. dicates that members of the Phil- rest the former ICC prosecutor nership contributes not only to militia” vessels inside its exclu- probe into allegations that police ernment of Philippines ‘war on He was elected to offi ce in 2016 ippine National Police, and others Fatou Bensouda. the security of our two nations, sive economic zone. unlawfully killed as many as tens drugs’ campaign”, she said. on a campaign promise to get rid acting in concert with them, have Bensouda however said previ- but also strengthens the rules- Jose Manuel Romualdez, Ma- of thousands of civilians between Gambian lawyer Bensouda, of the country’s drug problem, unlawfully killed between several ous cases showed that “the court based order that benefi ts all na- nila’s ambassador to Washing- 2016 and 2019. whose term of offi ce ends today, openly ordering the police to kill thousand and tens of thousands retains jurisdiction over crimes tions in the Indo-Pacifi c.” ton, told Reuters this month the Manila pulled out of the ICC said “any authorised investiga- drug suspects if their lives are in of civilians” during the period that are alleged to have occurred Greg Poling, a maritime se- VFA had been revamped to make in 2019 after the ICC launched tion in the Philippines will fall danger. under investigation. on the territory of that state dur- curity expert at Washington’s it “acceptable” and “mutually a preliminary examination into to my able successor, Mr Karim More than 6,000 people have The court would also inves- ing the period when it was a state Center for Strategic and Interna- benefi cial” to both countries. President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug Khan, to take forward.” been killed in over 200,000 anti- tigate allegations of torture and party” to the ICC. India eases coronavirus Mice menace Lanka arrests captain rules as new cases dip over ship fi re pollution AFP Act,” a police offi cial said. Colombo Tyutkalo, whose passport had Reuters tions in the world after the US, opened. Bus services remained previously been seized, will re- New Delhi with 29.51mn cases and 374,305 suspended until June 21. turn to the court, which has ju- deaths, according to ministry In Bengaluru, the capital of he Russian skipper of a risdiction over maritime issues, data. Authorities in Delhi al- neighbouring Karnataka state container ship that caught on July 1, he added. any Indian states eased lowed all shops and malls to re- and a major tech hub, traffi c re- Tfi re and burned for almost The passports of the chief en- coronavirus restric- open although gyms, salons, cin- turned to the streets as authori- two weeks before sinking off Sri gineer, Oleg Sadilenko, who is Mtions yesterday includ- emas and parks remained shut. ties allowed the partial re-open- Lanka’s coast has been arrested also a Russian national, and chief ing the capital Delhi, where au- City Chief Minister Arvind ing of businesses though strict and is expected to be charged offi cer Peter Anish, an Indian, thorities allowed all shops and Kejriwal said that markets and night and weekend curfews re- with marine pollution, police were also seized. malls to open, as the number of restaurants would be carefully mained in place. said yesterday. All three were questioned by new infections dropped to the watched this week. India’s top tourist attraction The island nation is seek- police after a criminal probe was lowest in more than two months. “If we see coronavirus cases the Taj Mahal will reopen tomor- ing $40mn in damages from launched. Experts have cautioned are going up, we will have to re- row, the government said, two the operators of the ship, which Police told a Colombo mag- against a full re-opening as India impose strict restrictions,” Kejri- months after it was shut. released tonnes of plastic raw istrate last week the local agent has vaccinated only about 5% of wal said in a televised address on One of the New Seven Won- materials that swamped local of X-Press Pearl had deleted e- its estimated 950mn adults with Sunday. ders of the World, the Taj Ma- beaches in what offi cials called mails vital to the investigation. the necessary two doses, leaving Hospitals in Delhi had strug- hal was shut down in March last the “worst marine disaster” in The ship reported an onboard millions vulnerable. gled to provide oxygen cylinders year as India imposed one of the the country’s history. acid leak to its Sri Lanka repre- Infections peaked in India in and beds to patients last month world’s strictest lockdowns at Vitaly Tyutkalo, the captain sentative Sea Consortium Lanka, May with about 400,000 new as infections surged but ear- the start of the pandemic. of the Singapore-registered MV which in turn failed to alert local cases a day but that dropped to lier this month, the city allowed The monument of love reo- X-Press Pearl, was arrested at his authorities, the state prosecutor 70,421 new infections reported businesses to bring back 50% of pened in September with restric- A child chases mice from a wheat hold into a hotel in the capital Colombo yes- had said. Sri Lankan environ- yesterday, the lowest daily in- employees and they partially re- tions on the number of visitors water-filled tub acting as a trap on Col Tink’s farmland terday and faced the high court mentalists earlier sued the gov- crease since March 31, health sumed public transport. before shutting again in mid- in the New South Wales’ agricultural hub of Dubbo. before being released on bail. ernment and the ship’s operator ministry data showed. In the southern state of Tamil April. After surviving years of crippling drought, farmers in “No formal charges were X-Press Feeders for allegedly The number of deaths went up Nadu, known for automobile The Taj Mahal is in the north- eastern Australia are locked in a months-long battle laid, but he was produced be- failing to prevent the disaster. by 3,921, the data showed. manufacturing, some businesses ern state of Uttar Pradesh, which with hordes of mice that are pouring through fields fore court on suspicion that he The vessel has been sub- India has had the second- were allowed to bring back 50% was badly hit during the massive and devouring hard-earned crops. has committed an off ence under merged in seas off Colombo since highest tally of Covid-19 infec- of employees and salons re- wave of infections and deaths. the Marine Pollution Prevention June 2. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Djokovic reignites GOAT debate after French Open win

Novak Djokovic’s French Open triumph, which made him only the third man to win all four majors twice and took him halfway to a rare calendar Grand Slam, has reignited the debate over who is the greatest male player of all time. The 34-year-old Serb wrapped up his second Roland Garros title and 19th Slam trophy with victory from two sets down over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, 12 years his junior. It was a triumph built on the foundations of his epic semi-final win against 13-time champion Rafael Nadal, Of peanuts and monkeys only the Spaniard’s third loss in Paris in 16 years. Now Djokovic is just one Slam away from the record of 20 jointly held by Nadal and Roger Federer. (The following piece is a part of from a family of business who had to HR director replied “what if we trained employees — by earning their loyalty. Djokovic added the 2021 French Open to his 2016 the Weekly Reading Initiative at the flee France during the Second World them and they stayed — what can we On the other hand, when Commercial Bank) War and was born in France. He has achieve then?” referring to the impact of development is seen as a cost and a triumph in Paris and is the first man in 52 years to claim been the founder and owner of many those trained employees to the business. burden, and employees are expected all four majors twice and third overall after Rod Laver and multimillion-dollar companies like Cost-cutting is a healthy to work like machines, you will often Roy Emerson. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company mindset for any sustainable find organisations driven by fear, He also has a record nine Australian Opens, five at and ZTV, the most viewed TV channel business. However, cheapness with a centralisation of the decision- in India. is an attitude that has negative making process, people holding on to Wimbledon and three US Opens and has won six of the The expression speaks volumes about impact on any given business. their pay, a blaming culture and most last seven Slams he has contested. the importance of skills, competency, There is a fundamental difference probably big windows for corruption. Seven of his 19 Slam wins have come since he turned 30 experience, and most importantly between them; one aims to allow The non-developing (cheap) and he has time on his side. organisational results as a skilful the organisation to be lean and organisations might achieve very fast workforce is one the most important active, and the other pushes the results in the short term, but their Djokovic is a year pillars of any organisation since organisation to be unwise and sustainability will surely be on the Seven of his 19 younger than Nadal and employees solve problems, manage the fearful! One allows people to line in the long term. On the other has the best part of six capital, generate the value, and achieve think about what they spend their hand, the organisations (Learning Slam wins have years on Federer. organisational goals. resources on and consider investing Organisations) which focus on their However, lately organisations and in new ideas or needs, the other employees’ well-being, invest in come since he Should Djokovic defend leaders tend to mistake cost mindset with makes people reluctant to spend developing their skills, and give great his Wimbledon title and cheapness, resulting in a negative working money and, in return, restricts their importance to organisation culture turned 30 and he triumph again in New atmosphere, a corrupt workforce, and thinking to what they know already. and values, will achieve big results, York, he would become incompetency leading the show. In other words, one is like looking with a huge impact on the community has time on his Employees’ well-being and at the horizon and the other is being — beyond their geographic location or only the third man after development are as important as value shortsighted and seeing no further even their own employees. Don Budge in 1937 and By Mohamed Ahmed al-Hammadi side Doha generation for any given organisation. than their own nose! “Pay Peanuts, get monkeys” is a true Laver, in 1962 and 1969, The CEO and Director of Hilton Hotels Eventually, all executive leaders’ story, seen in a lot of organisations to complete the calendar Grand Slam. was challenging his managers to cut the mindsets and attitudes cascade down which tried to underestimate the famous French businessman cost of operations and he was surprised to employees, and if the desire to importance of human asset or tried to It is not just at the Slams where Djokovic is tightening named James Goldsmith was to see that the highest running cost was nurture skills and develop mindsets outsmart the need for skill and talent his grip on the race to be crowned the sport’s greatest. A quoted for the outstanding proposed by the HR director for Learning exists at the top, you will find a in their organisation either thanks to Djokovic has 36 Masters titles, the same as Nadal. expression: “If you pay peanuts, you & Development. When he asked why, the positive and vibrant environment a lack of leadership vision or shallow However, he is the only man to have captured all nine of get monkeys.” HR director replied by saying “people for employees to be creative and working culture. There is a huge element of truth choose us and stay with us for our innovative without the fear to ask a the series and the only one to have won all of them twice. to that expression as it is a result of learning environment”. When the CEO question or suggest a new idea. That The author is Unit Head, National He has spent more time as world number one than his experience from the French/British asked “what if we cut that cost and let is how you can get an optimal return Development|National Talent two main rivals with his 325th week at the top which businessman and politician. He came them leave if they don’t wish to stay, the on the investment you make in your Development. started yesterday. Djokovic was also the first of the ‘Big Three’ to break the $100 million prize money barrier. Sunday’s win took him to the brink of $150 million. In head-to-heads, he has the advantage. His epic win over Nadal on Friday took him to 30-28 over the Spanish Big changes under Georgia’s new election law star while he is 27-23 against Federer. However, there are still areas where Djokovic lags behind. By Nathan Layne in November; nearly two-thirds of Washington the 1.3 million absentee votes cast in His career total of 84 titles is behind Nadal’s 88 and Georgia went to Biden. Federer’s 103. He still has some way to go to beat Jimmy The law will also require voters Connors’ all-time record of 109. eorgia Governor Brian Kemp this for the first time to provide proof of Djokovic’s status as the best of all time also has to be year signed into law sweeping identify when requesting an absentee Gvoting restrictions sponsored ballot. judged in the context of the sport’s history. by Republicans, with potentially big More than 272,000 registered voters Many regard Australia’s Laver as tennis’s supreme implications for how elections are don’t have a driver’s license or state ID power, arguing he would have collected many more than administered in the battleground state on fi le with election offi cials; most are his 11 Slams had he not been banished between 1963 and in 2022, and the US presidential contest Black and live in Democratic-leaning of 2024. counties, according to an analysis of 1967 for turning professional. Proponents say the legislation is voter data by the Atlanta Journal- Should Djokovic win Wimbledon next month and go to needed to safeguard elections and Constitution. 20 majors, he will still have some distance to make up on restore voters’ faith in the process. the best women players of all time. Opponents say it was born out of State Election Board the Republican Party’s “Big Lie,” the The law created a new chair of the Margaret Court tops the all-time list with 24 Slam titles, false claim that Democrat Joe Biden’s State Election Board, fi lling a post Serena Williams has 23 while Steffi Graf retired on 22. defeat of incumbent President Donald previously held by the Secretary of Djokovic may beat all these records, but the GOAT Trump in November was the result of State with a “nonpartisan” executive debate still won’t go away. widespread fraud. appointed through the state legislature. Below are some of the law’s most A man holds a banner with the voting quote and photo of John Lewis during a Republicans currently control the consequential changes, according rally against the state’s new voting restrictions outside the Georgia State Capitol in legislature. to interviews with a dozen county Atlanta. (Reuters) The law also gives the State To Advertise leaders of the Democratic Party, Election Board the ability to suspend Republican officials and election the four counties which encompass and Absentee ballots county election officials for poor [email protected] experts in Georgia. surround Atlanta, and which contain Previously, a voter could request an performance or violations of state more than a third of the state’s Black absentee ballot as early as six months election regulations. Democrats Display Drop boxes population — will shrink by three- prior to an election and up until the worry that provision will allow the 44466621 44418811 The law limits each county to one fourths to 23, based on the latest voter Friday before an election. The new law Republican-controlled board to drop box per 100,000 active registered data. cuts the window by more than half to install Republican partisans to oversee Classified voters or one for each early voting Moreover, the law says drop boxes 67 days. election counts. 44466609 44418811 location, whichever number is smaller. must be placed inside early voting The law also makes it illegal for Republicans say guardrails are built The change will lead to a sharp drop sites or at elections offices, and that election offi cials to mail absentee ballot into the law to prevent quick or easy Subscription from the 330 drop boxes used across the they can only be used during early applications to all voters, as Secretary of removal. Such an action requires a state in November. voting hours. In 2020, by comparison, State Brad Raff ensperger, a Republican, minimum of three violations of election [email protected] The biggest impact will be felt in the drop boxes could be placed outdoors did ahead of the state’s June 2020 rules or demonstration of “gross most populous counties. For instance, and made available to voters 24 hours primary election as the coronavirus negligence” or “malfeasance” over the the total number of drop boxes in a day and through the evening of pandemic raged. Mail voting proved span of two consecutive elections. — © 2021 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett — Election Day. particularly popular among Democrats Reuters Gulf Times Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11 WORLD For Putin, summit with Biden is all about gaining recognition When Vladimir Putin meets into that,” said Mark Galeotti, a Joe Biden for their first summit professor of Russian studies at tomorrow the Russian leader University College London. will not be looking for progress “Just the meeting itself is on arms control, the lifting of already a win.” sanctions or even an apology Biden proposed the summit for the US president saying he in April, after Russia sparked is a “killer”. Western alarm by massing tens Putin already got what he of thousands of troops on its wanted: the summit itself. border with Ukraine. After a week of meeting allies Off icials and state media in from the G7, European Union Moscow hailed the invitation as and Nato, Biden will end his a victory for Putin, framing the first major foreign trip with talks as the latest in a series of Putin in Geneva. historic summits dating back to Tensions between Moscow and the Cold War. Washington are at their highest “The summit shows Russia is in years over a long list of a player in the big leagues,” disputes — from cyberattacks said Alexander Shumilin of the and election meddling to the Russian Academy of Sciences. jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei “That is how they see it in the Navalny and designation of his Kremlin, and in the West too.” countries return home and other would be less impulsive than organisations as “extremist” No-one expects the meeting diplomats expelled in recent predecessor Donald Trump. groups. to be friendly, especially months, with Russia in May With co-operation off the A room in the “Villa La Grange” where US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are Expectations for the talks after Biden in his first months formally designating the United table, observers say, Biden scheduled to have a meeting in Geneva. They will meet amid the biggest crisis in ties between their are low, with off icials on both in off ice announced new States as an “unfriendly state”. and Putin will be happy to two countries in recent history. (AFP) sides repeatedly saying the sanctions on Moscow and told The only bright spot in settle for moves towards a two leaders are unlikely to find a journalist he agreed with relations was an agreement in more predictable form of seen as a positive sign, experts Don’t wait for that. The conflict of a summit, while Biden can much common ground. a description of Putin as a February to extend the New confrontation. say, as would promises of joint is chronic and it is futile to talk move on to other things. But for Putin, experts say, “killer”. Start nuclear treaty — the last “Relations between Russia eff orts on cybersecurity. about it.” “Biden simply wants to... box Biden’s invitation to hold the Biden is promising to talk remaining arms reduction pact and the United States have On rights issues like the fate of The White House said on up Russia and put it on a shelf, summit was enough, a sign of tough with his Russian between Russia and the United become irrational,” said Fyodor Navalny, or on Russia’s backing Saturday the two leaders he doesn’t want to be devoting the respect for Russia that he counterpart by raising States. Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of for separatists in Ukraine, no will not hold a joint press attention to this, he has other has always craved in more than accusations of state-sponsored Putin told NBC News ahead the influential journal Russia in one is holding their breath. conference, with Biden issues, about Covid, about two decades in power. cyberattacks and election of the summit that the Global Aff airs. “Putin has made it 100% clear speaking solo to journalists China,” Galeotti said. “One of the absolutely crucial meddling, abuse of human relationship with the United “There is confrontational that he does not see the United after the talks. Putin is likely to “He’s going to want to more or drivers of (Putin’s) foreign rights, harbouring ransomware States was at “its lowest point anarchy. Now they want to States as a judge or guide on speak separately to Russian less say to Russia: ‘Back off , as policy is a sense of having to gangs and sabre-rattling with in recent years” but that he move into a structured system, human rights,” independent journalists. long as you don’t do anything restore Russia to its rightful Ukraine. hoped “career man” Biden — more reminiscent of the Cold Russian political analyst Masha In the end, Galeotti said, Putin that really forces me to act, place in the world, and these The tensions have seen who he previously met when War.” An agreement for further Lipman said. will be able to fly back to then I’m not going to pay too kinds of events absolutely play ambassadors from both Biden was vice-president — talks on arms control would be “A breakthrough in Ukraine? Moscow basking in the glory much attention to you.’”

Belarus parades opposition journalist before the media

Franak Viacorka, an adviser to the opposition’s leader in exile Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. “Let’s Biden rallies Nato allies not forget, he’s a hostage.” “This isn’t a press conference but a scene out of Kafka, or Orwell,” he added. There was an international uproar when the Athens-to-Warsaw Ryanair flight against China challenge Roman Protasevich during a on which Protasevic and his briefing for journalists and diplo- Russian girlfriend Sofia Sapega mats organised by the Ministry were travelling was intercepted Russia, China seek to drive a wedge in alliance, alleges US of Foreign Aff airs of Belarus in by a Belarusian fighter and Minsk yesterday. (AFP) forced to land in Minsk. The  West should not meddle in our affairs, retorts Beijing European Union has imposed The opposition journalist sanctions including assets captured by Belarus after the freezes and visa bans and told Reuters tics to Africa meant nuclear-armed Nato flight he was on was diverted European operators not to use Brussels had to be prepared. to Minsk was paraded before Belarusian air space. But two “China is coming closer to us. We see the media yesterday, in a scene senior off icials at yesterday’s them in cyberspace, we see China in Afri- the opposition denounced as news conference reiterated the ato leaders warned yesterday that ca, but we also see China investing heav- Kafkaesque. Roman Protasevich off icial line in Minsk that the China presents “systemic chal- ily in our own critical infrastructure,” he has already appeared in two flight had to be diverted because Nlenges,” taking a forceful stance said, a reference to ports and telecoms controversial videos in which they had received a bomb threat towards Beijing in a communique at Joe networks. he confessed to alleged crimes from the Palestinian group Biden’s fi rst summit with an alliance that Stoltenberg also said the leaders had — confessions dismissed by Hamas. Donald Trump openly disparaged. agreed to increase their contributions to the opposition and his family Several Western leaders have The new US president has urged his the alliance’s common budget. The vast as made under duress.In dismissed this version of events, fellow Nato leaders to stand up to China’s bulk of military spending in Nato is han- yesterday’s news conference, notably German Chancellor authoritarianism and growing military dled separately by member countries. which was organised by the Angela Merkel who described it might, a change of focus for an alliance G7 nations meeting in Britain over foreign ministry, the 26-year- as “completely implausible”. created to defend Europe from the Soviet the weekend scolded China over human old activist said he was in good Belarus has been shaken by Union during the Cold War. rights in its Xinjiang region, called for health. He also said he had not unprecedented mass protests The language in the summit’s fi nal Hong Kong to keep a high degree of au- suff ered any ill-treatment in since the disputed re-election communique, which will set the path tonomy and demanded a full investiga- jail since his May 23 arrest and last year of Alexander for alliance policy, came a day after the tion of the origins of the coronavirus in imprisonment. “Never mind what Lukashenko, who has ruled since Group of Seven (G7) rich nations issued China. he says,” tweeted opposition 1994 with the support of Russia. a statement on human rights in China US President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference after the Nato summit at the China’s embassy in London said it was and Taiwan that Beijing said slandered its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) headquarters in Brussels yesterday. (AFP) resolutely opposed to mentions of Xin- reputation. jiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it Police detain 19 after failing to “China’s stated ambitions and asser- will meet Russian President Vladimir Pu- not be back in the White House in four said distorted the facts and exposed the tive behaviour present systemic chal- tin on Wednesday in Geneva, said China years. “sinister intentions of a few countries get free burgers in Pakistan lenges to the rules-based international and Russia were trying to split the trans- “The leadership of the (US) Republican such as the United States”. order and to areas relevant to alliance atlantic alliance and that, while he was Party is fractured and the Trump wing “China’s reputation must not be slan- A group of police off icers in Pakistan flipped out when a takeaway security,” Nato leaders said in the com- not seeking confl ict with Russia, Nato of the party is the bulk of the party, but dered,” the embassy said yesterday. joint refused to hand over free burgers, detaining all 19 staff at the munique. would respond if Moscow “continued its it makes up a signifi cant minority of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson branch. Workers at the trendy chain Johnny & Jugnu in the eastern Biden also told European allies that harmful activities”. American people”. said there were risks and rewards with city of Lahore were rounded up and held for seven hours overnight the alliance’s mutual defence pact was a He described Putin as tough and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Beijing. “I don’t think anybody around on Saturday, leaving behind unattended kitchens and hungry “sacred obligation” for the United States bright. at her last summit of the alliance before the table wants to descend into a new customers. — a marked shift in tone from his pred- “Russia and China are both seek- she steps down in September, described Cold War with China,” he said. “This is not the first time something like this has happened with ecessor, Trump, who had threatened to ing to drive a wedge in our transatlantic Biden’s arrival as the opening of a new From China’s investments in European our kitchen teams at our restaurant, but we want to make sure this withdraw from the alliance and accused solidarity,” Biden said. He also pledged to chapter. She also said it was important ports and plans to set up military bases is the last,” the fast food chain said in a statement published on Europeans of contributing too little to support Ukraine in its confl ict with Mos- to deal with China as a potential threat, in Africa to joint military exercises with social media. The beef started when staff at the restaurant refused a their own defence. cow, although he was non-committal on while keeping it in perspective. Russia, Nato is now agreed that Beijing’s “request from a very high profile special guest”. “I want all Europe to know that the whether Kyiv could one day join Nato. “If you look at the cyber threats and rise deserves a strong response, although Restaurant staff told AFP that most of those arrested were young United States is there,” said Biden. “Nato “We are going to put Ukraine in a po- the hybrid threats, if you look at the co- envoys said that would be multi-faceted. people, including many university students. is critically important to us.” sition that they will be able to maintain operation between Russia and China, you Allies are mindful of their economic Following outcry among fans, nine police off icers involved were Biden stopped at the Nato headquar- their physical security,” Biden said, with- cannot simply ignore China,” Merkel told links with China. Total German trade suspended yesterday, senior provincial police off icial Inam Ghani said ters’ memorial to the September 11, 2001, out giving more details. reporters. “But one must not overrate with China in 2020 was more than 212 on Twitter. “No one is allowed to take the law into his own hands,” attacks on the United States by al Qaeda While there are still diff erences in it, either - we need to fi nd the right bal- billion euros ($257 billion), according to Ghani said. Pakistan’s police off icers are infamous for corruption and militants, when Nato triggered its Article strategies on how to deal with China ance.” German government data. Total Chinese for demanding kickbacks from local businesses. 5 for the fi rst and only time. Under the ar- across the West, Biden said Nato was In Nato’s glass and steel headquarters holdings of US Treasuries as of March Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a reform of ticle, the alliance treats an attack on one united under US leadership. “America is on the outskirts of Brussels, Secretary- 2021 stood at $1.1 trillion, according to Punjab’s police force, saying “cronies” had been appointed by member state as being an attack on all. back,” he said, seeking to reassure Euro- General Jens Stoltenberg said China’s US data, and total US trade with China in politicians to control police stations. Later at a news conference, Biden, who peans that a Trump-like populist would growing military presence from the Bal- 2020 was $559 billion. Biden should have met me before Putin summit: Ukraine leader

AFP White House in July. age of military assistance for Kyiv. creased this could result in a mas- aspirations for Nato and EU mem- Kyiv has already criticised ing democracy in Europe”, he said. Kyiv “It would be better to have this After a lull last year, fi ghting sive war.” The confl ict in eastern bership. the bloc’s decision not to invite Zelensky also accused Russia meeting before the summit,” Ze- escalated at the start of 2021 and Ukraine — including the escala- “I believe this is not nice,” he Ukraine to a Nato summit in Brus- of delaying his proposed meeting lensky, 43, said in an interview in April Russia amassed 100,000 tion of tensions over the past few said. “When you bang your head sels yesterday. with Putin to discuss the confl ict krainian leader Volody- with three international news troops near the Ukrainian border months — is expected to be high against the wall for seven years, Zelensky expressed his dis- in eastern Ukraine. myr Zelensky said yester- agencies, including AFP. and in Crimea, prompting warn- on the agenda in Geneva. saying ‘well, you see that there’s a appointment in the “tiredness” “I believe that today — I don’t Uday that Joe Biden should Zelensky said he did not expect ings from Nato. Speaking in Russian and war, can you support us?’ and you of Kyiv’s Western allies with his know the reasons for it — they have met him before the US presi- Putin and Biden to come up with Russia later announced a pull- Ukrainian during the hour-long get an answer ‘we support the de- country’s problems, accusing are delaying this meeting,” the dent’s fi rst summit with Russia’s a solution to Ukraine’s confl ict at back, but both Washington and interview, Zelensky said his coun- sire, but...’, you can get unwilling- them of being “unfair” to Ukraine, Ukrainian leader said, express- Vladimir Putin as they could re- the summit. Kyiv say that the withdrawal has try was ready to join Nato. ness in a few years,” Zelensky said. when it comes to questions of ing hope that a date would be set solve nothing on Ukraine without “It is not possible to decide for been limited. “We are fi ghting a war. This is Ukraine, which applied to join joining the EU, the distribution of soon. Kyiv’s involvement. Ukraine,” he said. “So there won’t Zelensky estimated that more proof we are ready to join. the US-led alliance in 2008, is vaccines against the coronavirus “I believe that a meeting with Zelensky spoke as the US and be a concrete result.” than 90,000 Russian troops re- “We are proving every day that pressing Western powers for more or fi nancial assistance from the the Russian president is una- Russian leaders prepare to meet in Zelensky is seeking Washing- mained along Ukraine’s borders we are ready to be in the alliance support as it seeks to deter any International Monetary Fund. voidable.” In April, Zelensky in- Geneva tomorrow. ton’s support for Ukraine’s seven- and said tensions could still esca- more than most of the EU coun- new aggression from Moscow. Instead of constantly demand- vited Putin to meet in eastern Earlier this month Biden year war with Russian-backed late. tries.” But Nato members remain re- ing reforms as a condition of sup- Ukraine but Putin appeared to reaffirmed US support for separatists. “Any escalation could lead to a The Ukrainian president also luctant to embrace Ukraine as port, “everyone must be more shoot down that off er, saying the Ukraine’s territorial integrity On Friday, the Pentagon an- confl ict,” he said. “If the number accused the West of being unwill- they want to avoid ratcheting up fl exible and understand that we Ukrainian leader was welcome in and invited Zelensky to the nounced a new $150 million pack- of troops near our borders has in- ing to discuss in detail Ukraine’s tensions with Russia. are at war and that we are protect- Moscow “any time”. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 QATAR ‘Ancestral Meadows: A Matter of Trust’ State National Day Celebrations Organising Committee announces 2021 Qatar National Day slogan

s part of the Qatar Na- it formed their personality and of the globe. There is no doubt able development for all future pride, honour and national be- tional Day mission to identity. that preserving it is the respon- generations. longing. Apromote loyalty, solidar- The union of the sea and land sibility of all those who live on The 2021 National Day slogan It is a commemoration of the ity, unity and national pride, the refl ects a special feature of this this blessed land, exchanging comes within the State National founding of Qatar by Sheikh Jas- State National Day Celebrations environment, intertwining the love for love. Our celebration Day Celebrations Organising sim bin Mohamed bin Thani on Organising Committee yester- Qatari people with these two of the National Day this year Committee’s mission to enhance 18 December 1878 CE. day announced the updated slo- blessings and providing their is inspired by our loyalty to the loyalty, solidarity, unity and na- It is he who laid the foun- gan for the 2021 Qatar National livelihood. legacy of our forefathers in pre- tional pride, and emphasises the dations of the modern Qatar, Day: Ancestral Meadows: A They would go to the sea to serving their homeland, thank- values of the committee, which uniting the country under his Matter of Trust. dive in the summer, and pasture ing Allah through their action include partnership, inspiration, leadership, to become a single, The new slogan is based on the in the winter. above word for the cultivation creativity and transparency. cohesive and independent state. poetry of the founder of Qatar, For pearls, they voyaged the of this gifted land. And with The slogan refl ects the as- The National Day creates an Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin vast ocean with wisdom and this, we will have rendered the pirations of the National Day opportunity to magnify the glo- Thani, and represents the strong courage, and believed that life is trust to its people: the coming towards long-term impact, rious deeds of the founders, who relationship of Qataris to their lived through interaction with generations.” not temporary excitement, and endured diffi culties and paid a environment since time imme- others. HE Abdullah bin Abdulaziz serves to highlight the role of heavy price to achieve the unity morial. They welcomed ships from bin Turki al-Subaie, Minister of national symbols, and infl uential of their homeland. distant lands arriving at their Municipality and Environment, members of society, by focusing It emphasises the identity and Oh, how many caravans have shores with generosity and hos- said that the interest of his min- on highlighting their princi- history of the state. passed by, pitality. istry in environmental issues ples and values, headed by the It also embodies the ideals and Leaving behind vestiges of the Despite the challenges of liv- comes as an affi rmation of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mo- hopes upon which the state was fl uctuations of the times, ing in the desert with the scarci- importance of its role in provid- hamed bin Thani. established, in addition to pro- Abodes our sights are accus- ty of water and plantation, they ing a healthy life for everyone It refl ects the values of Qatari moting loyalty, solidarity, unity tomed to as the seasons slip by, found inspiration and insight, living on its land, in line with the society based on Qatari society and pride in the Qatari national Our meadows ornamented and were able to make the desert wise leadership’s interest in de- since its inception. identity. with herbs. bloom with their patience. veloping resources. The slogan raises aware- This instils and ignites a de- The beauty of their cultivated The natural resources are ness of the younger generation sire for everyone to celebrate the The Qatari people mirror the land increased their creativity guided by the Qatar National Vi- about the meaning of loyalty, memory of these founders and simplicity of their environment, and deep poetry. sion 2030 and the development solidarity and unity and in- evoke their ancient history. and the gentleness of their mor- The Qatari people walk the plans and strategies that have stils it in them through spe- December 18th is a day in als and humility is rooted in the land which Allah has blessed and emerged from it, insofar as it has cific activities, introducing the which children and grandchil- gentleness of the land. entrusted them with. harnessed all its energies to work authentic Qatari heritage and dren remember the heroism and Qataris have always been wise They saw this blessing and constructively towards achiev- history, not reducing an era of history of their ancestors and and courageous, believing that vowed to take care of this gift, ing a sustainable environment, history to a day of celebrations, their role in building the modern life is lived through interaction building their homes using stone preserving and restoring ecosys- but focusing on events of his- State of Qatar. with others. and hide, all with deep rooted tems. torical origins, to be directly It is through their heroic jour- They travelled in the land that humility to refl ect their appre- HE al-Subaie added that Qa- linked to national identity and ney that Qatar succeeded in Allah gave them, taking care of it ciation of Allah. hamed bin Thani that inspired “With this distinguished be- tar, under the wise leadership of distinctive traditions, con- achieving the unity of the nation without extravagance. Their gratitude towards Allah the National Day slogan. ginning, Sheikh Jassim began His Highness the Amir Sheikh necting us to the past. and affi rming its sovereignty, Their attachment to their en- was clear through their actions one of his poems, and this is Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has It refl ects the values of loyalty, until now as a country that en- vironment increased their love above their word. The emotional dimension simply an example of the rela- attached great importance to the solidarity and unity in contem- courages intellectual renais- for their homeland and their The attachment of Qataris For his part, HE Salah bin tionship between Qataris and environment and sustainable porary form, and embodies na- sance. sense of belonging and pride to their environment enhanced Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, their environment. This deep development, represented in the tional concepts and values on Thus, this day reverberates in it, which is apparent in their their love for their homeland and chairman of the State National emotional dimension remains inclusion of this fi eld as one of the ground through specifi c ac- with all the people of Qatar to songs and poems. their sense of belonging and na- Day Celebrations Organising present in our lives, and it lives the most important pillars of the tivities, through the interaction express their feeling of love, The new slogan reiterates that tional pride. Committee and Minister of on in our relationship with the Qatar National Vision 2030. of citizens and residents during pride, gratitude and loyalty to Qataris were raised by the char- As such an important part of Culture and Sports, began his sea in summer and land in win- To this aim, clear plans and the National Day of the State. the State and its founding leader, acteristics of the land, coexisting their lives, the environment has intervention with two verses by ter. This environment has not programmes have been drawn The National Day is laden Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin with its nature, the colours of its been a central theme in their an- Qatar’s Founder Sheikh Jassim been held back on love or gen- up to protect the environment many implications of sacrifi ce, Thani, and take an oath of loy- soil and sea, the seasons, and thems and poems, such as the bin Mohamed bin Thani, may erosity to this day, and its pro- and its natural balance, in order generosity and giving, as well alty and obedience to the leader they explored its depths so that verse of Sheikh Jassim bin Mo- Allah rest his soul. visions have reached all corners to pursue inclusive and sustain- as highlighting the meaning of of the state.

Indian envoy takes part in ICC, MME tree-planting event Ministry issues guidelines for licences and permits to conduct youth activities

QNA Doha

he Ministry of Culture and Sports, represent- Ted by the Youth Aff airs Department, is preparing to launch a package of youth serv- ices to be added to the sports and cultural services currently provided by the ministry. Director of the Youth Aff airs Department Maha al-Rumaihi said that this is the fi rst time that a launch is being done for special services for the youth sector, aimed at promoting and organising youth work through the issuing of youth services licences and setting a frame- Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s Public Parks work for regulating the rights, Department assistant director Mohamed Ibrahim al-Saada planted trees in a ceremony at Mamoura Park duties and responsibilities of yesterday. Indian embassy first secretary (consular and community aff airs) S Xavier Dhanraj and governing those wishing to engage in spe- body members of the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) were also present at the event organised by the ICC in cial activities in the youth sec- collaboration with the Public Parks Department as part of its World Environmental Day celebrations. ICC tor; in addition to raising the events, a service for granting a published on the ministry’s eral controls and requirements conducted a week-long event of planting saplings at multiple locations across Qatar. level of the services’ quality, certifi cate of qualifi cation to website, to allow those inter- for granting permits to organ- Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mittal, appreciated and congratulated the Public Parks Department’s eff orts developing them and qualify- engage in youth activities, a ested to learn in detail about ise youth events, and the steps in promoting tree plantation across the country with a target of one million saplings. He highlighted that ing those in charge of providing licensing service for a private each of the youth services that for obtaining a license to en- the whole population of Qatar will get the benefits of promoting a green environment and reiterated the these services through specifi c youth centre, and a service for will be provided. gage in special activities in the commitment of the Indian community towards achieving the objectives of this year’s theme “Ecosystem standards that guarantee qual- licensing undertakings to or- Head of the Youth Work youth sector. The second part Restoration”. ity and reliability; and opening ganise youth activities. Organisation and Develop- contains a description of the new areas and opportunities In order to introduce the ment Section Nasser al-Jabri special activities in the youth for those wishing to invest and services, their conditions and explained that the guideline sector, the special require- work in this sector. the steps for providing them, contains two parts. The first ments for obtaining approval Al-Rumaihi noted that the the Youth Aff airs Department includes the general controls for the practice of activities, MME distributes environment-friendly bags to fishing boats youth services which the min- prepared a guideline for grant- and requirements for the min- as well as the requirements for istry will launch during the ing licenses and permits to istry’s approval to engage in granting a certificate of quali- coming period include a per- conduct activities in the youth activities related to the youth fication to practice youth ac- mit service for setting up youth sector. The guideline has been sector, in addition to the gen- tivities.

MIA to enhance facilities, reinstall collection galleries

From Page 1 MIA will once again col- building upon two recent pub- laborate with the French in- lications of collection high- The galleries will be organ- terior design and architecture lights and the development of ised according to broad his- fi rm fi rst retained by I M Pei, its online collection, which will torical and cultural themes, Wilmotte & Associés. ultimately comprise all works periods and geographic ar- Throughout the project, the in MIA’s holdings. eas. Many newly acquired and Museum’s Education Centre All other spaces – including conserved works of art will be will remain open and continue the galleries, gift shop, café, on view with a large percent- to serve the needs of the com- and IDAM restaurant – will be age displayed in the Museum’s munity ‘both onsite and online’. closed to the public for the du- permanent galleries for the MIA’s Google Arts & Culture ration of the project. fi rst time, alongside the mas- platform off ers digital access As part of Qatar-USA 2021 terpieces for which the MIA is to more than 200 objects in its Year of Culture, a special known internationally. collection and a virtual walk- exhibition of exceptional The enhanced and expanded through of the Museum and a textiles from the MIA’s col- amenities will ease visitor fl ow new 3D tour on Matterport will lection, co-organised with to serve a larger audience with be available from mid-June via The Freer Gallery of Art and The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s (MME) Fisheries Department has distributed a reframed entrance and up- the MIA website. Arthur M Sackler Gallery, the environment-friendly bags to the fishing boats and ships’ owners and their workers as an alternative to grades to the Museum’s cafés MIA will also continue to MIA galleries will be organised Smithsonian’s National Mu- the plastic bags currently used in transporting bread. The move is part of the MME’s ongoing eff orts to and retail locations. All im- produce new resources to make according to broad historical seum of Asian Art, will debut preserve the marine environment and guarantee the sustainability of its resources. provements to the building are its collection accessible beyond and cultural themes, periods in Washington, DC in the fall in keeping with I M Pei’s vision. the confi nes of the museum, and geographic areas. of 2021.