Tuesday March 30, 2021 Shaban 17, 1442 Vol.14 no. 5219 QR 2

Fajr: 4:11 am Dhuhr: 11:39 am fine Asr: 3:07 pm Maghrib: 5:50 pm High : 30°C LOW : 21 °C Isha: 7:20 pm

World 5 Business 8 Sports 12 J&J to supply up to 400 million QNB Group gets ‘AA’ rating Upbeat Qatar seek a hat-trick of doses of COVID vaccine to Africa from MSCI ESG Research wins as they meet Ireland

Amir, Congo president hold official talks Qatar, Congo sign a slew of pacts to enhance ties Amir affirms Qatar’s full QNA Doha I discussed with support for Saudi Crown His Excellency His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar President Felix Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Tshisekedi, Prince’s ‘green’ initiatives President of the Democratic Republic of President of the Congo and African Union Chairperson Democratic Re- QNA relations between the two Felix Tshisekedi held a session of official public of Congo Doha countries and means of talks at the Amiri Diwan on Monday. and the African supporting and enhancing The talks dealt with bilateral rela- Union Chairperson, the ways to His Highness the Amir of them. tions and the ways to enhance them, support relations between our State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim They also reviewed the especially in the fields of investment, two countries in various fields. We bin Hamad Al Thani held a “Saudi Green Initiative” and economy, maritime and air transport also discussed ways to enhance telephone conversation with the “Green Middle East Initia- and infrastructure. HH the Amir and cooperation between Qatar and the HRH Crown Prince, Deputy tive” announced by HRH the Tshisekedi discussed ways to enhance African Union, and we exchanged Prime Minister and Minister Crown Prince of the Kingdom and develop cooperation between Qa- views on a number of issues of of Defence of Kingdom of of Saudi Arabia, as well as tar and the African Union. common concern. Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin the importance of joint action During the session, views were ex- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to meet the environmental changed on a number of regional and His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Presi- The two sides also signed an MoU on Monday. challenges that the region is international issues of common concern. dent of the Democratic Republic of Congo and African Union Chairperson Felix Tshiseke- for the development and modernisa- During the phone call going through. After the talks, HH the Amir and di witness signing of an MoU at the Amiri Diwan on Monday. See page 16 tion of maritime infrastructure, an which HH the Amir received HH the Amir expressed the Congo president witnessed the MoU between the governments of Qa- from HRH Crown Prince Qatar’s support for these signing of a number of agreements and the promotion and protection of mu- double taxation and the prevention of tar and the government of Congo, an of Saudi Arabia, the two initiatives and all efforts that memoranda of understanding between tual investments, a general agreement financial evasion, an agreement in the MoU in the fieldof civil aviation and sides reviewed the fraternal would achieve their goals. the governments of the two countries, for economic and commercial coopera- field of maritime transport, in addition meteorology, and an MoU between Qa- such as the signing of an agreement on tion, an agreement for the avoidance of to an agreement on air services. tar Airways and Congo.

Shura okays draft HRW report inaccurately portrays Qatar’s laws: GCO law on common Qatar offered medical aid insurance protection for GCC citizens Qatar an outspoken advocate to 88 countries to help QNA Doha them fight COVID-19: FM The Shura Council has ap- of women’s rights, says GCO proved the draft law on common insurance protection for GCC Tribune News Network hold prominent roles in all aspects business leadership positions ‘Qatar never hesitated citizens and referred its recom- Doha of life, including economic and po- across multiple sectors. Around mendations to the government. litical decision making. Qatar leads 20 percent of business records to fulfil its role and The Shura Council dis- The Government Communica- the region by nearly every gender in Qatar are registered by Qatari humanitarian duty’ cussed the report of the Legal tions Office (GCO) has reiterated equality indicator. This includes businesswomen – an increase from and Legislative Affairs Commit- that gender equality and female the highest labour force participa- 1,400 business records in 2015 to QNA tee on amending some provi- empowerment are central to Qa- tion rate for women, equal pay in nearly 4,000 in 2020,” it said. Doha sions of Law No 4 of 2007 en- tar’s success and vision. the government sector, and the Enshrined in Qatar’s Con- acting the Common System of “Qatar is an outspoken advo- highest percentage of women en- stitution is a prohibition on dis- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Extending Insurance Protection cate for women’s rights at home rolled in university programmes. crimination against women. The of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Moham- to Citizens of the Cooperation and abroad,” the GCO said in a government continues to enforce, med bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Council of the Arab Gulf States statement. introduce, and expand policies Monday said Qatar has offered urgent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of (GCC) working outside their In response to Human Rights that provide women with freedom medical aid to about 88 countries to Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed countries in any member state Watch (HRW) report, the GCO and agency to make their own de- help them confront the COVID-19 pan- bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. of the council. The draft law in- said, “The Human Rights Watch cisions. There is zero tolerance in demic. cludes adding one article to Law report inaccurately portrays Qa- “Education is the basis for Qatar for gender-based violence or “Qatar attaches priority for maintain- Health Organization on March 16, 2021 No 4 of 2007, stating that the tar’s laws, policies and practices equal opportunity and develop- domestic abuse. ing the health of all citizens and residents. in recognition of its pioneering role, employer is not obligated to pay related to women. The accounts ment. Qatar has invested heavily “As a government, we will con- While it continues its efforts at the na- aiming at supporting its 13th General end-of-service gratuity, according mentioned in the report are not to ensure all women have access to tinue to work together with human tional level to address the consequences Programme of Work and the Access to to the Labor Law promulgated aligned with our constitution, laws quality education and opportuni- rights organizations, civil society, of the coronavirus pandemic, it has not COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator ini- by Law No 14 of 2004, or the or policies. The government will in- ties in all sectors, especially STEM legislators and individuals to em- hesitated to fulfil its role and humanitar- tiative. Civil Human Resources Law Act vestigate these cases and prosecute industries. Women hold some of power women in Qatar and achieve ian duty at the regional and international In addition, Qatar allocated a total No 15 of 2016 or any work con- anyone who has broken the law.” the most influential and highest- progress for the wider communi- level,” Sheikh Mohammed said. contribution of $20 million to the Glob- tracts or special regulations. The GC said In Qatar, women paid jobs in Qatar. They also hold ty,” the GCO added. The FM was addressing the virtual al Alliance for Vaccines and Immuniza- Meeting of Heads of State and Govern- tion (GAVI) to support the international ment on the International Debt Archi- efforts aiming to facilitate equitable ac- tecture and Liquidity and Financing for cess to vaccines, treatments and diag- the Development in the Era of COV- nostics for all people around the world. UK variant behind spike in ICU admissions ID-19 and Beyond, hosted by Canada. Based on its commitment to the He said the governmental and non- partnership with the international com- QNA more severe illness. People in- governmental aid which Qatar has pro- munity, Qatar has continued to provide Doha Since the middle of March, fected with the UK variant are vided since the beginning of the pan- initiatives and contributions that allevi- the number of people more likely to get very sick, re- demic exceeded $256 million. ate the burdens of common crises and The United Kingdom COVID-19 receiving life-saving medical quire hospitalisation, admission In this context, the FM said Qa- challenges. variant has been a significant treatment in our intensive care units to intensive care and, sadly, have tar signed a Core Contribution Agree- factor in the recent increase in has more than doubled and we now more chances of dying due to se- ment worth $10 million with the World Continued on page 2  people admitted to intensive have over 280 people with COVID-19 rious complications from the vi- care units at HMC, according to in intensive care. To put this into rus,” Dr Mohammed said. health officials. perspective, at the peak of the first Director of Public Health at “Since the middle of March, wave in May 2020, we had around 220 the Ministry of Public Health the number of people receiving patients in intensive care.” (MoPH) Sheikh Dr Mohammed Qatari life-saving medical treatment in — Dr Ahmed Mohammed, Acting Chairman bin Hamad Al Thani explained woman our intensive care units has more of HMC’s Intensive Care Units that despite the increased than doubled and we now have health risks presented by the set to make over 280 people with COVID-19 UK variant, people can still take historic in intensive care. To put this into vere symptoms in the second wave strain of COVID-19, meaning proactive steps to protect them- QA plans to expand perspective, at the peak of the first of the virus,” said Acting Chairman that it is more easily passed from selves and greatly reduce their Everest wave in May 2020, we had around of HMC’s Intensive Care Units Dr person to person. But, perhaps, chances of getting infected and network to 140 plus 220 patients in intensive care. It Ahmed Mohammed. more worrying is that clinical becoming sick. ascent destinations (PG 16 ) is clear that people are becoming “The new UK variant is more evidence appears to now show (PG 12 ) sicker and experiencing more se- transmissible than the original that the UK variant can cause Continued on page 2  02 Tuesday, March 30, 2021

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Quick read PRIME MINISTER MEETS FIA PRESIDENT Amir sends condolences to Amir of Kuwait The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of condo- lences to Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Nouria Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, praying to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on her soul and to rest it in peace in paradise, and to grant the royal family patience and solace. (QNA) Deputy Amir sends condolences to Amir of Kuwait The Deputy Amir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of condolences to Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the death of Sheikha Nouria Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, praying to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on her soul and to rest it in peace in paradise, and to grant the royal family patience and solace. (QNA) PM sends condolences to Amir of Kuwait Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of condolences to Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sa- bah on the death of Sheikha Nouria Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, praying to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on her soul and to rest it in peace in paradise, and to grant the royal family patience and solace. (QNA) PM congratulates Ivorian counterpart Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to Patrick Jerome Achi on his appointment as prime min- ister of Cote d’Ivoire. (QNA)

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani met with President of the International Auto- ‘Qatar keen to allocate large part mobile Federation (FIA) and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt in Doha on Monday. During the meeting, they of aid to developing countries’ reviewed bilateral relations, especially in the field of road safety, and discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest. (QNA)

Continued from page 1  The FM expressed pride priority at the top of the global that Doha will host the 5th agenda due to the heavy dam- Qatar was keen on allocating United Nations Conference on age it inflicts on various sec- a large part of its development the Least Developed Countries tors in all countries, placing Moderna vaccine available at all aid to the developing coun- in January 2022, looking for- huge financial burdens, reduc- tries and the least developed ward to an active participation ing the financial space and ex- countries, he added. “The ex- and welcoming all to Doha. acerbating the debts in many ceptional circumstances the He thanked Canada and countries. 27 PHCC health centres, QNCC and world is going through today Jamaica, and the United Na- He stressed that the changing threaten to undermine the de- tions, for their efforts in hold- global landscape at the present velopment gains achieved in ing this important meeting, time should be a crucial point the past,” he said, highlight- and valued their important on the road to building a more drive-through vaccination centres ing the importance of deepen- initiative for financing devel- sustainable and comprehensive ing interdependence between opment in the period of the global economic model and en- Tribune News Network To date, there are no serious, countries and adhering to the pandemic and beyond, given hancing the ability of countries Doha long-term side effects associ- principle of cooperation and its importance in facilitating to withstand future crises. ated with receipt of these vac- partnership. a rapid and comprehensive This can only be achieved The Primary Health Care cines, which will be closely “This will not be possible global response in such excep- through increased investment Corporation (PHCC) is now monitored as their use ex- without devoting special atten- tional phase, and addressing in all sectors that meet the administering the Moderna pands.” tion to the needs and priorities the dangerous negative reper- needs of societies, doubled COVID-19 vaccine across all Currently, the Pfizer vac- of the developing countries, in cussions of the pandemic. support and international co- 27 health centres, as well as cine can be given to people particular the least developed The FM noted that the operation, and liquidity provi- at Qatar National Conven- aged 16 years and older while countries,” he said. pandemic continues to be a sion, he added. tion Center (QNCC), with Moderna’s is for use for those teams from Hamad Medical 18 and older. The availabil- Corporation (HMC) team ity of Moderna vaccines, along administering the vaccine with the Pfizer and BioNTech in Lusail City and Al Wakra vaccines, has enabled the ex- Pfizer and BioNTech, and Moderna vaccines Drive-Through Vaccination pansion of the vaccination centres. programme in Qatar and, as effective in preventing UK variant symptoms The Ministry of Public both types of vaccine are suit- Health (MoPH) issued emer- able for all priority groups, Continued from page 1  ant,” said Sheikh Dr Moham- is to follow all the COVID-19 gency use authorisation of those receiving vaccines are med Al Thani. precautionary measures: wear Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine MoPH follows similar authori- symptomatic COVID-19 infec- not offered a preference. “Very early on in the global “With more quantities of a mask, wash hands regularly, in February, the second COV- sation of Moderna’s vaccine by tion after two doses. The most The appointment process efforts to produce COVID-19 the vaccines now available in avoid large gatherings and ID-19 vaccine to be approved health agencies in the United common side effects recorded remains the same with PHCC vaccines, Qatar was clear that Qatar, the pace of the vaccina- maintain physical distancing. for use in Qatar by the MoPH. States, Canada, the European are injection site pain, fatigue, teams continuing to make di- it wanted to only procure in- tion programme has advanced The UK variant and other mu- Moderna’s COVID-19 vac- Union, the United Kingdom headache and muscle pain rect contact with people who ternationally approved, safe significantly. The most impor- tated strains of the virus, while cine was approved after the and Switzerland. with very few people report- meet the current eligibility and effective vaccines for its tant step that everyone can more highly transmissible, MoPH’s Department of Phar- Dr Samya Abdulla, execu- ing a fever. With the Pfizer and criteria and schedule them for population. The two COV- take to protect themselves from pass from person to person in macy and Pharmaceutical tive director of Operations at Moderna vaccines, side effects appointments. ID-19 vaccines currently be- COVID-19 is to get vaccinated the same manner as the origi- Control carried out an exten- Primary Health Care Corpo- are more common after the Interested people may reg- ing used in Qatar -- Pfizer as soon as they become eligible nal strain, so the standard pre- sive review of the vaccine and ration, said: “The Pfizer and second dose. ister to receive the vaccine via and BioNTech, and Moderna for the priority groups and are cautionary measures continue assessed the results of clinical Moderna vaccines have shown “These side effects are a the MOPH website after which -- have both been shown to be offered an appointment.” to play an important role in studies conducted on tens of equivalent degrees of efficacy, sign of the immune system they will then be contacted effective at preventing severe “The other way in which controlling the spread of the thousands of volunteers. both vaccines showed efficacy kicking in. They do not sig- when it’s their turn to have the symptoms due to the UK vari- people can protect themselves virus,” he added. This approval by the of 95 percent at preventing nal that the vaccine is unsafe. vaccine. HMC’s psychiatry residents achieve 100% pass rate in Arab Board Exams

Tribune News Network become fully qualified psychiatrists. demic efforts from the beginning. Margaret Allen and Adeel Ghaffar, Doha Dr Majid Al Abdulla, chairman The programme deployed five resi- and the rest of the team for their of Psychiatry and medical director of dents to work in different COVID-19 continued support for Mental Health Hamad Medical Corporation’s the Mental Health Service, praised sites for several months, providing Training Programme.” (HMC) Mental Health Service has the achievement, saying it was a tes- onsite assessment and counselling to The Mental Health Service, in announced that all of its medical tament to HMC’s commitment to patients as well as staff. collaboration with Medical Educa- residents in the Psychiatry Residency professional education and develop- The remaining residents were as- tion, expanded the professional spe- Training Programme have achieved ment of staff. signed to help cover clinical duties, cialisation opportunities for medical a 100 percent pass rate in the recent He said, “HMC has always been including the emergency depart- students by adding two new fellow- Arab Board Exams. dedicated to delivering a high stand- ment during on-call shifts to ensure ship programs. The Executive Leadership Team ard of education for our trainee patients received the best psychiatric The Learning Disability Fellow- commended the Programme Direc- doctors and we are determined to care possible despite the pandemic ship and Women’s Mental Health tor Dr Zerak Al Salihy and the resi- ensure that the calibre of psychiatry situation. Fellowship are important contribu- dents for the outstanding scholastic residents who have qualified trough Dr Abdulla expressed apprecia- tions to the professional education achievement despite the challenges HMC is on par with international lev- A group photo of the physicians tion for the support received from portfolio at HMC. In addition, efforts posed by the COVID-19 pandemic els. The strength of our training pro- HMC’s Medical Education Depart- are well underway in the develop- throughout most of 2020. gramme has resulted in more medi- students and we have seen many ap- proud of these residents, not only for ment. ment of a fellowship in Addiction Nine residents successfully cal students considering psychiatry plications for medicine at both Qatar having been able to do so well in their He said, “The Mental Health Medicine, which will have a positive passed part one of Arab Board exam, as their field of specialisation. University and Weil Cornell Medi- exams, but also because of the valua- Service has benefited hugely from impact on enhancing mental health which is taken two years into their “This year, around 30 students cine, which is an excellent outcome of ble support they provided during the the professional and collegiate sup- services. Residency; and five residents com- applied to join the psychiatry resi- our efforts.” height of the pandemic, when a lot of port received by all members of the Dr Zerak Al Salihy, senior con- pleted the second part of Arab Board dency programme, they are compet- He added, “We have remained clinical resources were redirected to Medical Education team. We are very sultant Geriatric Psychiatrist at exams, denoting the completion of ing for up to 10 placement vacancies. committed to promoting profession- focus on providing COVID-19 related thankful to Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, HMC and Psychiatry Residency Pro- the four-year training period and The psychiatry residency programme al education for young doctors, de- support.” deputy chief medical officer and di- gramme director, Mental Health Ser- their readiness to take the final clini- has become much more popular spite the significant challenges posed Psychiatry residents played an rector of Medical Education, as well vice, said that the strategic aim is to cal exams later this year before they among the new generation of medical by the coronavirus pandemic. I am important role in the COVID-19 pan- as his associate directors, doctors promote well-rounded psychiatrists. Nation Tuesday, March 30, 2021 03 Subaie meets with mayors from US cities to MURAIKHI MEETS BOSNIAN DEPUTY PM discuss municipal, environmental cooperation

QNA the Ministry of Municipal- Doha ity and Environment and the US cities in the fields Minister of Municipal- of municipal and environ- ity and Environment HE mental affairs and the ways Engineer Abdullah bin Ab- to develop them, especially dulaziz bin Turki Al Sub- in the fields of agriculture, aie on Monday met with food security, environ- a delegation of mayors of ment, climate change, in- cities in the United States frastructure and munici- of America on their visit to palities. the country. The meeting was also The delegation in- attended by Ambassador of cluded Mayor of Miami Qatar to the United States in Florida Francis Suarez, of America HE Sheikh Me- Mayor of Quincy in Illinois shal bin Hamad Al Thani, Kyle Moore and Mayor of Charge d’Affaires of the Rochester Hills in Michi- United States Embassy in gan Brian Barnett. Qatar HE Greta C. Holtz Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met with Deputy Prime Minister The meeting with the and a number of officials of and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Bisera Turkovic in Doha on Monday. During mayors reviewed aspects the Ministry of Municipal- the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. (QNA) of cooperation between ity and Environment. Ehsan continues to Shura Council Qatari-Asian Parliamentary offer assistance and counseling to elderly Group meets Malaysian parliament envoy QNA post-COVID’ which was held TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK help their children, nurses or do- Doha by the United Nations Eco- DOHA mestic workers learn how to deal nomic and Social Commission with them as they need special The Qatari-Asian Parlia- for Western Asia (ESCWA) in The Elderly Empowerment treatment. mentary Friendship Group cooperation with the League and Care Center (Ehsan), one The centre announced that it of the Shura Council, headed of Arab States and United Na- of the centres affiliated to Qa- started to receive new cases that by HE Rashid bin Hamad Al tions’ organisations operating tar Social Work Foundation, need support services and social Meadadi, on Monday held a in the Arab region, via virtual is continuing to provide social health counselling since the be- meeting with a delegation of communication technology. and health support and coun- ginning of 2021, during which the Parliamentary Friendship Discussions during the selling services to the elderly. approximately 1,300 beneficiar- Group Malaysia-Qatar of the forum focused on policies The services were launched ies were registered to receive the Malaysian Parliament via vir- and procedures required to last year, coinciding with the services provided by the team tual communication technol- accelerate the recovery from spread of the coronavirus through phone calls, text mes- ogy. the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the provision of sages and educational clips. During the meeting, they pandemic and make a real homecare services stopped. The team works to pro- reviewed parliamentary re- progress that enhances the Since the elderly need for vide support services and social lations between the Shura economic, social and environ- support and guidance contin- counselling for the elderly and Council and the Malaysian mental dimensions of sustain- ues, Ehsan wanted to develop their families, whether children Parliament and the way to able development in the Arab its services, especially after the or caregivers, and seeks to im- develop them. HE Rashid bin Hamad Al Meadadi met with a delegation from the Malaysian Parliament’s on Monday. region. support and social counselling prove psychological state of the Meanwhile, the Shura The Shura Council was team proved its success during elderly by communicating with Council’s Services and Pub- hammed bin Mahdi Al Ah- services within the country The Shura Council par- represented in this forum by the past year through communi- them and checking their gen- lic Utilities Committee held a babi. During the meeting, and decided to submit its rec- ticipated in a parliamentary HE Dr Hend bint Abd Al Rah- cation with elderly who needed eral health, enhancing their psy- meeting on Monday chaired the committee studied a draft ommendations to the Shura forum titled ‘Accelerating man Al Muftah, a member of to talk with specialists in social chological state, following their by its Rapporteur HE Mo- law organising healthcare Council. Progress on the 2030 Agenda the Council. service and health education health, social and psychological to improve their mood, reduce conditions, providing instruc- mental and social pressures, tions, advice and some videos and help them overcome some that train them to practice cer- of the problems and difficulties tain exercises related to physi- Ooredoo ties up with Starlink to launch shop, scan & win promotion they face in their lives, as well as otherapy and health care. Tribune News Network Nojoom members can par- to discover the prize points, Doha ticipate in the promotion by which will then be credited to visiting any Starlink branch their account. Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading or shopping online through Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, telecommunications provider, the Starlink mobile app or at Director PR at Ooredoo, has announced an exciting www.starlink.qa. said: “This is the latest in a new promotion in collabora- They will receive one No- line of incredible promotions tion with Nojoom partner joom Point for every QR2 for our Nojoom members, Starlink. spent, and when they spend as part of our drive to re- Customers who spend at a minimum of QR1,000, they ward our customers for their least QR1,000 at Starlink be- will receive a Nojoom Reward much-appreciated loyalty tween March 28 and April 28, Card. and achieve complete cus- 2021 will receive a Nojoom Each card will have a prize tomer satisfaction. We know Reward Card and up to 10,000 of 500-10,000 Nojoom Points our customers enjoy the op- Nojoom Points in addition to and customers need simply portunity to earn points and the chance to win thousands creases the attraction of the their regular reward points. scan the QR code on each card rewards, and offering them of Nojoom Points only in- Nojoom programme.” QRCS supports Palestine Red Crescent in COVID-19 control efforts

Tribune News Network gency Response Initiative medical equipment, under The purpose of the project chased and installed into 26 QRCS’ initiative to back the dor, Peru, and Panama. Doha in 22 countries across the strict preventive measures as is to upgrade PRCS’s ambulance vehicles engaged fellow National Societies in The list of activities con- world’s six continents. per the instructions of MOH. in the response, following 22 countries across six con- ducted by QRCS in support The representation mission The purpose of the pro- PRCS had issued an ap- capacity to fight the pan- the standard technical speci- tinents, aimed at protecting of those countries includes of Qatar Red Crescent Soci- ject is to upgrade PRCS’s peal for support, to be able demic, ease the burdens fications and applicable ten- 320,000 persons against the the provision of equipment ety (QRCS) in the West Bank capacity to fight the pan- to continue providing its on Palestine’s Ministry of dering procedures. virus, with a total budget of and supplies for health facil- and Jerusalem has executed demic, ease the burdens emergency medical services Health (MOH), and protect Based on the needs of QR2,236,827. ities, provision of medicines a COVID-19 response project, on Palestine’s Ministry of amid increasing numbers of 8,500 children, women PRCS, a list of medications The countries are Pales- and medical supplies, pro- working with the Palestine Health (MOH), and protect COVID-19 infections. The and men per month. and medical consumables tine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, tection for medical profes- Red Crescent Society (PRCS) 8,500 children, women and National Society is the main was developed and the con- Nepal, Tajikistan, Mongo- sionals and volunteers, pro- to control the outbreak of cor- men per month. ambulatory service provider tract was awarded to the lia, Laos, Vanuatu, Ethiopia, vision of food and shelter for onavirus in the West bank. To that end, QRCS pro- in the West Bank, taking the tion centres, in coordination winning bidder. All the con- Chad, Senegal, Mauritania, families worst affected by the With an overall budget vided medications and medi- patients to and among hospi- with MOH. tracted supplies were pro- Ivory Coast, Mali, Sierra Le- loss of income, and provision of $40,000, the project falls cal consumables at $10,320, tals. Some of its facilities are Under the project, 26 vi- cured on the delivery dates. one, Albania, Kosovo, Mon- of protective supplies such as under the COVID-19 Emer- as well as $23,400 worth of used as quarantine and isola- tal signs monitors were pur- This project is part of tenegro, Venezuela, El Salva- masks, gloves, sanitisers, etc. 04 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Nation

Indian forum to hold first virtual Indonesian community holds Kerala business expo today Santhosh Chandran who have businesses in India and DOHA provide opportunities for a large Qur’an recitation competition number of Indian expatriate en- Exploring business opportuni- trepreneurs in Qatar to explore in- ties both in Qatar and India, Ker- vestment opportunities in India.” ala Business Forum The virtual expo (KBF), an Indian will feature online expatriate forum exhibition of 12 par- of Kerala business ticipants in various community, will or- sectors, including ganise a virtual busi- hospitality, engineer- ness expo on Tues- ing, tourism, medical day (today). and different indus- The event, which trial sectors. will be held on digi- KBF has an excel- tal platform, will be lent track record in attended by former TS Chandran Doha for organising Director of Depart- business conclaves, ment of Industries workshops and semi- and Commerce in nars on various topics Kerala TS Chandran linked to business. and Counsellor, Po- “The event of this litical & Commerce kind, especially in Tribune News Network The competition is intended for participated in the competition. ganisers for successfully organising at Indian Embassy pandemic time, will DOHA Indonesian youth and children aged The organisers divided the par- the competition. Angeline Premalatha help young Indian en- six to 15. Being held since 2013, the ticipants into four areas, namely He hoped that by attending the as the chief guest. trepreneurs in Qatar In preparation to welcome the Holy annual competition is now in its sev- Doha, Mesaied-Mesra, Dukhan and competition, the Indonesian youth Speaking to Qa- to strengthen their Month of Ramadan, the Indonesian enth edition. Al Khor. They held the qualifying and children in Qatar will become tar Tribune, Presi- Angeline Premalatha business establish- Moslem Society in Qatar (IMSQA), The 2021 edition, however, was rounds in their own areas. more familiar with the Qur’an and dent of Kerala Busi- ments with emerging supported by the Indonesian Em- different as it was held in time of the The selected participants from would be able to promote the wis- ness Forum KR Jayaraj said, “This Qatar’s market,” Jayaraj said. bassy in Qatar and Indonesian COVID-19 pandemic. This is also the each area then competed in the dom or hikmah from Qur’an. is for the first time an Indian busi- The expo is scheduled for 6pm Community Association in Qatar first time the competition was held grand finale, which was held on As per result of the competition, ness forum is organising a virtual with Zoom ID: 91947144099 and (PERMIQA), organised a Qur’an virtually. March 20. Doha became the grand champion expo on digital platform in Qatar. Password: kbf. The event is ex- recitation competition, also known The participants, however, were Ambassador of Indonesia to Qa- and received a trophy from the The event will benefit members of pected to attract 250 business en- as Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an as enthusiastic as ever as hundreds tar HE Ridwan Hassan attended the Indonesian ambassador while Al the Indian business community thusiasts in Doha. (MTQ). of Indonesian youth and children grand finale. He applauded the or- Khor secured the second place. Marriott unveils PISQ Boys advance to semi-finals of Qatar directory for iftar Preparatory School Debate Championship Tribune News Network contest, finishing as one of and suhour deals Doha the League’s four best teams in 2020-2021. The PISQ Boys Pakistan International team has also advanced to the Tribune News Network mation. School Qatar (PISQ) par- 2021 QPSDL semifinals. Doha At Sheraton Grand Doha ticipated in the 2nd Qatar The Pakistan Internation- Resort & Convention Hotel, Preparatory School Debate al School Qatar (PISQ) girls’ Marriott International is Jamavar Doha offers carefully League (QPSDL) 2021. teams recently demonstrated making choosing where to curated Indian-inspired set The tournament was held their excellence once more eat during the holy month of menu for iftar that immerses online via Discord. with resounding success in Ramadan a lot easier with a into the country’s culture and PISQ’s three teams in- the school debate league dining directory for iftar and cuisine. clude: Team 1: Abdullah Ah- (QPSDL) for Girls. The PISQ suhour deals in Qatar. Iftar at Al Hubara Restau- san Rasheed, Hassan Elehi, girls’ teams finished second At More Cravings by Marriott rant takes a family-friendly and Ali Husnain Team 2: in the League. PISQ has also Bonvoytm, a one-stop plat- approach with an authentic if- Wali Sarfraz, Abdullah Ah- qualified for the QPSDL Na- form that brings together the tar buffet, serving various hot san Bashir, and Umer Aman tionals in 2021. Qatar’s best iftar and suhour, and cold mezze, live cooking PISQ’s representatives were PISQ Principal Nargis offers include two for one stations featuring ouzi, a sha- Abdullah Husain, Abdullah Raza Otho congratulated the deals available across all Mar- warma and saj station, along Aman, and Waleed on Team debating teams for their out- riott International hotels. with refreshing juices and sea- 3. standing performance in both Morecravings.com ena- sonal favourites. The tournament drew 34 the first and second QPSDL. bles guests explore dining Al Hubara Restaurant can debate teams from 18 schools. She praised the debaters and deals across all emirates and be contacted via Telephone The young debaters per- their coach’s dedication, en- making reservations, giv- number: +974 4485 3000 formed admirably in a tense thusiasm, and spirit. ing gourmand guests new For reservations and infor- places and flavours to explore mation at Jamavar Doha, visit: throughout the Holy Month https://www.morecravings. of Ramadan. com/venues/jamavar-doha At Sharq Village & Spa, a Al Hubara restaurant res- Toastmasters Int’l Area 2 concludes virtual annual conference Ritz-Carlton Hotel, explore a ervations and information Levantine inspired traditional are available at: https://www. iftar at Al Liwan Restaurant morecravings.com/venues/al- Tribune News Network Table Topics: Nizar, Shinto or be among the first to expe- hubara Doha Dignitaries District 116 Jose and DTM Balkrishna rience a scenic suhour at Iris Al Messila, a luxury col- Director DTM Thayalan K, Karande; Evaluation: Mo- Doha’s new terrace concept, lection Resort & Spa, Doha, Toastmasters Interna- District PQD Manzoor hamed Nizar, DTM Balkrishna which promises multiple cui- discerning diners can explore tional Area 2 concluded its Moideen and Division A Karande and Avirup Chandra; sines and interactive live sta- Deli Kitchen, an international virtual annual conference with Director DTM Subair Humorous: DTM Balkrish- tions with unique sea views. twist on Middle Eastern deli- speech contests in four catego- Pandavth lauded the na Karande, Tapasvikumar Al Liwa Restaurant can be cacies, or experience the new ries, which included Interna- Solanki and Sudakar Reddy. contacted through telephone Persian restaurant, Parisa Al tional Speech Contest, Evalu- conduct of the event Dignitaries District 116 Di- number: +974 4425 6666. 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Tribune News Network trial infrastructure, the impact making it more accessible and requires customized corrosion corrosion and environmental Doha of the region’s environmental understandable. solutions, and we believe it conditions presented was im- conditions on metallic alloy Dr Marc Vermeersch, Ex- is critical to raise awareness pressive. I was personally de- The Qatar Environment corrosion, corrosion manage- ecutive Director, QEERI, said: about the subject among the lighted because it was not only and Energy Research Insti- ment, and protection. “At QEERI, we believe in col- local community. We look about hearing from QEERI’s tute (QEERI), a division of She also discussed the re- laboration at all levels, and forward to continuing this in- corrosion expert, but also Hamad Bin Khalifa University search being conducted by the Majlis is our way to share formation exchange with the about sharing insights that we (HBKU), recently held its first QEERI’s Corrosion Center in what we do with the commu- students, industry players, and know: in that way, it was truly Science Majlis of 2021, titled this field, which includes work nity and to hear their feedback. members of the general public a sharing of ideas and learning ‘Is Corrosion a Cancer for Qa- on coating, corrosion inhibi- This two-way dialogue helps who attended the event.” from one another,” he said. tar’s Environment?’, as part tors, pipeline integrity man- us understand their perspec- She added: “Having the QEERI is dedicated to its of the institute’s goal to raise agement, reinforced concrete tive on the challenges related Science Majlis online gives us mission of raising awareness community awareness about corrosion, and corrosion un- to energy, environment, and the additional benefit of hear- about energy, water, and en- research related to energy, wa- der insulation. water, and in turn, allows us to ing from communities beyond vironmental research in Qatar ter, and environmental grand The Science Majlis pro- further customize our research Qatar, and that definitely add- and it continues to organize a challenges. vides a forum for QEERI ex- to provide tangible solutions ed value to the discussion. We variety of community and out- Dr Hanan Farhat, Senior perts and members of the for Qatar and beyond.” heard about corrosion mitiga- reach events. Dr Jenny Lawler, Research Director of QEERI’s community to engage in infor- Dr Farhat said after the tion practices that are happen- Senior Research Director, Wa- Corrosion Center, gave a talk mal discussions about energy, Science Majlis, “Corrosion is ing outside of Qatar too.” ter Center, will speak at the at the online event. Dr. Farhat water, and environmental is- one of those topics that often Rajah Kousikan, an inter- next Science Majlis in June outlined how corrosion costs sues that are important to the goes under the radar, despite national attendee from India, 2021. the region millions of dollars country. The forum is intend- the fact that it is pervasive and found the Science Majlis to Please visit qeeri.hbku. each year and how it can be ed to actively engage attend- affects everything around us.” be an eye-opening experience. edu.qa for more information mitigated. She spoke about ees of all ages by providing Qatar, with its unique environ- “The variety of hypotheses, on the Qatar Environment and corrosion and the long-term them with an insight into the Dr Hanan Farhat, senior research director of QEERI’s Corrosion Center, ment of high temperatures, statistics, field reality, observa- Energy Research Institute’s viability of urban and indus- research conducted at QEERI, during the Science Majlis 2021 event. dust, humidity, and salinity, tions, and information about work. World Tuesday, March 30, 2021 05

News J&J to supply up to 400 million in brief As cases surge, Philippines ramps up vaccine drive courtesy of China Manila: The Philippines expects to ramp up its vaccination doses of COVID vaccine to Africa drive with the arrival Monday of the first batch of government- purchased doses as more than 10,000 fresh COVID-19 cases, a new record, were tallied and a lockdown reimposed in Ma- J&J expects to provide its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use nila. President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the arrival of the first tranche of 1 million COVID-19 doses vaccines purchased from China. A total 25 million doses was being procured by the na- tional government from vaccine manufacturer Sinovac. Earlier this month, the country kicked off its vaccination programme with more than 1.5 million supplies donated by China and the World Health Organization’s Covax facility but only health work- ers were lined up for the jabs. “The arrival of these vaccines is very timely. As we finish vaccinating health care frontliners, we will be able to use this new batch of purchased CoronaVac vaccines to extend vaccination to vulnerable Filipinos - or those with pre-existing conditions and comorbidities - who are at most risk of severe COVID-19 and highest chance of dying,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. (dpa)

Nepal shuts all schools, colleges for four days over air pollution Kathmandu: Nepal’s Ministry of Education--during an emergen- cy meeting on Monday, has decided to close all educational in- stitutions till Friday owing to degrading air quality. The Emergency meeting chaired by Minister for Education, Science and Technol- ogy Krishna Gopal Shrestha, decided to close the educational institutions for this week, a release from the ministry informed. The release further states that universities and educational institutions which have been holding all sort of exams can con- tinue their operation adopting appropriate security measures. The Ministry also has requested parents to ensure children are mostly staying indoors, limiting their exposure to hazardous haze, that has shrouded Nepali skies in recent days. (ani)

UN calls for end to Indonesia church migrants’ arbitrary suicide bombers detention in Libya linked to IS group Tripoli: The regional office Indonesian police have of the International Organiza- said the suicide bombers tion for Migration (IOM) on who died in a blast outside Monday called for an end a Roman Catholic church on to the arbitrary detention of Sulawesi Island on Sunday migrants, as it reported that were a man and woman who One-shot doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are prepared at a clinic in Los Angeles, California recently. (afp) nearly 1,000 people were re- were members of a terrorist turned to Libya over the past network linked to the Islamic dpa many countries in Africa. lion doses, for a combined to- BLE study included the B.1.351 48 hours. “Over the past 48 State group. Kyodo News, Washington Johnson & Johnson ex- Act against tal of up to 400 million doses variant which was identified hours, nearly 1,000 migrants citing the police reported that pects to provide its single-shot through 2022. The availability in 95 percent of the Covid-19 were intercepted and re- the husband-and-wife pair US drug maker Johnson & COVID-19 vaccine on a not- variants of the vaccine in Africa is sub- cases in South Africa. turned to Libya by the coast were members of Jamaah Johnson announced its agree- for-profit basis foremergency ject to its approval or authori- Aspen Pharmacare, John- guard and coastal security. Ansharut Daulah, which was ment to provide up to 400 pandemic use. ● Johnson & Johnson said zation by the national regula- son & Johnson’s manufac- IOM teams were present at involved in the bombing of a million doses of its single-shot Alex Gorsky, chairman the data from its Phase 3 tory authorities of AU member turing and supply network all disembarkation points to cathedral in Philippines’ Jolo COVID-19 vaccine to the Afri- and chief executive oficer of study showed that the states. partner in South Africa, will provide needed assistance,” Island in January 2019 that can Union’s 55 member states. J&J said, “From the beginning vaccine can act against In Africa, there is an in- support vaccine shipments to the UN organization said on killed 23 people. At least 20 Further, Johnson & John- of this pandemic, Johnson & variants of significant creasingly severe impact of the AU member states and will Twitter, as reported by Sput- people were injured in the son, as announced earlier, ex- Johnson has recognised that concern COVID-19 amid the emergence also contribute to global avail- nik. UN migration spokesper- explosion that occurred when pects to enter into an Advance no one is safe until everyone and continued spread of a ability of the vaccine. son Safa Msehli added the two rode a motorcycle into Purchase Agreement with is safe, and we have been com- ● In Africa, there is an SARS-CoV-2 variant in South The Johnson & Johnson that the migrants ended the vicinity of a cathedral in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in mitted to equitable, global increasingly severe impact Africa. single-shot COVID vaccine was up “detained in appalling Makassar, the capital of South support of the COVAX Facility, access to new COVID-19 vac- of COVID-19 amid the Johnson & Johnson said granted Emergency Use Au- conditions.” (ani) Sulawesi Province. (ani) to provide up to 500 million cines.” emergence and continued the data from the Phase 3 EN- thorization by the US Food and doses of the vaccine to COVAX Under the latest deal with spread of a SARS-CoV-2 SEMBLE study showed that Drug Administration in late through 2022. African Vaccine Acquisition variant in South Africa the vaccine candidate protects February, Conditional Market- In December 2020, the Trust or AVAT, Janssen Phar- against COVID-19 related hos- ing Authorization from the Eu- company had entered into an maceutica NV, affiliated to pitalisation and death in broad ropean Commission on March agreement in principle with Janssen Pharmaceutical Com- states. geographic regions, including 11, and Emergency Use Listing US sanctions may force civilian Gavi. panies of J&J, will make avail- The delivery is expected to those with variants of signifi- from the World Health Organi- COVAX supports the initial able up to 220 million doses begin in the third quarter of cant concern. zation, that gives access in up nuclear power plant offline: Iran vaccination needs of 190 par- of its single-shot COVID-19 2021. AVAT has the potential Variants observed in an on- to 142 countries through the ticipating economies, including vaccine candidate to member to order an additional 180 mil- going analysis in the ENSEM- COVAX Facility, on March 12. dpa Moscow has consistently Tehran argued that Iran can use nu- clear energy for civilian pur- US banking restrictions could poses but cannot have a nuclear Horror and anger force Iran to shut down opera- weapons programme. Pakistani tions at the Bushehr civilian nu- US sanctions have plunged clear power plant, a top energy oil-rich Iran into an acute eco- president tests Afghans horrified after pregnant women die in attack officials said on Monday. nomic crisis during the past two “Because of [US] sanctions, years, exacerbated by the coro- positive for dpa province, militants attacked human rights activist Samira mortars at civilian houses. we have problems with bank navirus pandemic. Kabul a police officer late on Satur- Hamidi wrote on Twitter, However, government of- transfers, and if no solution is The country’s nuclear pro- coronavirus day while he was taking his adding the baby paid the cost ficials claim the blast was due found, we will even be forced jects have been affected as the The deaths of two pregnant pregnant wife to the hospital of just being born in the wrong to explosives hidden by an to stop work at the first unit of economy shrinks, AEOI chief dpa women in separate attacks in so she could deliver her child, part of the world. insurgent. Bushehr,” the deputy head of Ali Akbar Salehi has said. Islamabad two Afghan provinces prompt- an official told dpa. In eastern Khost province, “Images of women and Iran’s Atomic Energy Organiza- The Iran nuclear deal was ed many Afghans and human The police officer was another pregnant woman and kids targeted by international tion [AEOI], Mahmoud Jafari, negotiated in 2015 to prevent Pakistani President Arif Alvi rights activists to take to social wounded and his wife ar- her unborn child were killed, sponsored militia & [Afghan told the Isna news agency. the country from developing announced on Monday that he media on Monday to express rived dead at the hospital, and four children wounded, in National and Defense Forces] The Bushehr plant operates nuclear weapons, in exchange has tested positive for the coro- their horror and anger. but the doctors were able to an explosion inside a private are extremely disturbing,” as part of a joint nuclear pro- for the lifting of crippling eco- navirus, as the country strug- In the wake of the deaths, save the baby by conducting a house in Sabari district, an another Afghan civil soci- gramme between Iran and Rus- nomic sanctions. gles to control an exponential Afghans have begun to ques- Caesarean, a hospital source official who wished not to be ety activist Orzala Nemat sia. It serves civilian purposes, US president Donald increase in new daily infections tion the success of ongoing said. “Afghanistan is the only named told dpa. claimed, calling for a full and supplying energy to the two Trump, however, left the treaty amid a third wave of the pan- peace efforts. country where newborn babies The Taliban claims that immediate investigation of the southern provinces of Bushehr in May 2018 and reimposed demic. In one case, in Kandahar are welcomed with bullets,” pro-government forces lob incident. and Fars. heavy sanctions on Iran. Alvi said on Twitter that he had received a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and that the second one was due in a week. Meanwhile, Defence Min- As India celebrates Holi, new daily virus cases hit record high ister Pervez Khattak was also diagnosed with the virus. On March 20, Prime Min- 10,000 cases a day were re- than 12 million known coro- ister Imran Khan and his wife In the past 24 hours, the country has corded in India. But many navirus cases in India. In tested positive for the corona- recorded more than 68,000 new cases Indians are once again going absolute numbers, the giant virus. Khan has made a steady about as if there were no pan- country is thus the third most recovery and was advised to re- dpa demic, and the country is slip- affected by the pandemic - af- sume work. Earlier in the day, New Delhi ning of spring, were banned ter the United States and Bra- Pakistan put virus hotspots in in places like New Delhi and zil. India itself also produces over two dozen cities with high- Indians gathered across the Mumbai. Pictures and video from large quantities of coronavi- er infection rate under lock- country on Monday to cele- In addition, as in 2020, several locations showed rus vaccine for export, but the down and started the process brate Holi, the popular Hindu people were encouraged by the crowds of people without country’s own vaccination of vaccinating people aged 50 spring festival of colours, in government to stay home. masks throwing coloured campaign is progressing rela- and above. At least 4,525 new spite of the country’s alarming In the past 24 hours, there tively slowly. infections and 41 virus-related rise in coronavirus cases. have been more than 68,000 powder at each other and The country wants to offer deaths were reported by the Pictures and video from new cases in the country of smearing it on each other’s jabs to 300 million people by Health Ministry. The country several locations showed 1.3 billion people, figures from faces, as is tradition summer. So far, more than 60 has so far recorded 659,116 cas- crowds of people without India’s Health Ministry show. million doses have been ad- es and 14,256 deaths in total. masks throwing coloured Such high numbers were last ministered. Last month, Pakistan kick- powder at each other and recorded five months ago. ping into its second wave. India, a major supplier of started the vaccination of front- smearing it on each other’s At the peak of the first In the state of Maharash- the AstraZeneca jab, has al- line health workers, but the faces, as is tradition. wave last summer, the figure tra, which includes the finan- ready exported more than 60 campaign received a lukewarm However, such public cele- was in some cases more than cial metropolis of Mumbai, a million vaccine doses to more response as many are sceptical brations of the Hindu festival, 90,000 per day. new lockdown is being consid- than 70 countries - that is, sold about the vaccine, a gift from Revellers smeared in colour powder celebrate the Holi, the spring which celebrates the victory of At the beginning of the ered. them cheaply or even given China. festival of colours, on a street in India’s Guwahati on Monday. (AFP) good over evil and the begin- year, however, fewer than In total, there are more them away. 06 Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

Faster, Joe, Faster: Matching Vaccines Rising Gas Prices: A And People Needs To Look Under The Hood Happen Quicker Events that affect the supply and demand of oil in the US and around the world e knew on day two of Joe Speed counts. This isn’t the Indy make their way into the price displayed at the station Biden’s presidency that his 500, where the fastest finisher has Wgoal of vaccinating 100 million his face added to the Borg-Warner Nicolas Loris Americans by his 100th day in office Trophy. We’re racing to deliver more was setting the bar too low. By that shots faster to outrun the virus, he national average for a price of a gal- date, 16.5 million shots had gone out, which is rapidly mutating, perhaps lon of gasoline is quickly approaching $3. 6.5 million alone in the six days be- thwarting the vaccines. Some states are already there. Facebook forehand, and the daily rate of shots Medical studies haven’t con- memes and Twitter trolls have been quick was growing at a rapid clip. Biden firmed it yet, but scientists strongly to blame the change in administrations, supercharged the effort by directing suspect the Pfizer and Moderna and notingT that prices have jumped about 45 cents federal agencies to wield the power- Johnson & Johnson shots don’t just per gallon since President Joe Biden took office. ful Defense Production Act to accel- protect the person vaccinated from But is that really the case? erate manufacture of vaccines, PPE getting super-sick with COVID, they The reality is gas prices have been increas- and other COVID supplies. also likely stop transmission of the ing for nearly a year. Correlation can be a funny Now Biden’s setting a new goal, disease. thing. As Tyler Vigen, author of “Spurious Cor- aiming to vaccinate 200 million That means each vaccination is relations” points out, one can also find a strong Americans by May 1, nearly two- like laying another brick in a fortress correlation between the divorce rate in Maine thirds of the country’s population. wall we’re building to keep COVID and the per capita consumption of margarine. But just like his earlier goal, 200 mil- out. With enough vaccinations, likely As statisticians like to say, correlation is not lion doses in the next five weeks isn’t somewhere between 75% and 90%, causation. And as economists like to say, a bet- particularly ambitious. we reach the magical state of “herd ter place to look is supply and demand. More than 130 million shots have immunity,” when so many people Several factors influence theprice at the already been done. The US is aver- are vaccinated that the virus runs out pump, the largest being the price of crude oil at aging 2.5 million daily, a rate that’s of fresh hosts and stops reproducing, 43% of the cost. Although the US is the world’s nearly tripled under Biden. giving the protection of a vaccination largest oil producer, oil is a globally traded com- Even if the pace stopped accel- to everyone, including those who’ve modity. Therefore, events that affect the supply erating, the 200-million milestone not yet gotten the shot. and demand of oil in the US and around the The reality is gas prices have been increasing for nearly a year. would be done a full week before his A loftier, more inspiring goal world make their way into the price displayed 100th day in office. Biden should would be 250 million, even 300 mil- at the station. another 30 cents per gallon and make up 22% or climate benefit. aim higher. lion shots by May 1. In an effort to boost prices when they began of the retail price. In theory, the gas tax is an The poor legacy of market-distorting poli- falling sharply a year ago, the Organization of efficient user fee to maintain the National cies should serve as a warning for President the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Rus- Highway System. In practice, however, spe- Biden. While it is inaccurate to blame the sia agreed to continue curtailing production. cial interests siphon off gas tax dollars for current administration for the recent rise in Now, however, demand is picking back up. In projects like public transit, where the merits gas prices, actions made today will have long- the US, the deployment of the COVID-19 vac- of the project should be evaluated and paid for lasting impacts. We may not see the price im- cine and states easing lockdown restrictions at the state or local level. pacts of canceling the Keystone XL pipeline or have Americans traveling at the highest rate Americans pay higher “hidden costs” today banning new oil and gas lease sales on federal since the pandemic hit. from bad public policy decisions made decades lands reflected in the price today. But deci- Economic activity in other major energy- or even more than a century ago. For instance, sions that restrict supply now will have a price consuming countries, particularly China, has the Jones Act, passed in 1920, mandates that impact later. also increased. Consequently, the price of a bar- any goods shipped by water between two points Notably, restrictions on domestic produc- rel of crude is hovering around $60, nearly dou- in America must be transported on a US-built, tion and transportation will likely have the un- ble what it was a year ago. US-flagged vessel with a crew that is at least intended environmental consequence of relying Refining is the second-largest cost, mak- 75% American. By preventing foreign competi- on riskier modes of transportation like trail or ing up a quarter of the retail price for gasoline. tion, the Jones Act drives up costs for no ma- truck or offshoring production (and pollution) The recent severe cold snap in the Gulf Coast terial economic or national security benefit. As to other countries. not only reduced domestic crude production by a result of the policy, Southern Methodist Uni- The economic impact may not seem like all 10%, it also knocked 20% of the entire country’s versity professor James Coleman has pointed that much. A few pennies here and a few there. refining capacity offline. out, “northeastern US refineries pay more than Collectively, though, the price impacts of such In addition, spring is the season for refin- three times as much to ship oil from Texas rath- policies start to add up. Multiply it by the 337 eries to retool their operations to switch from er than from West Africa or Saudi Arabia.” million gallons of gas Americans consume each winter blends of gasoline to summer blends. Another hidden cost is the Renewable day, and it really starts to add up. As Americans The summer blend reduces smog-forming Fuel Standard, passed in 2005 and expanded continue to grasp with the economic fallout of components when fuel evaporates more in 2007. The policy mandates that billions of the pandemic, every penny should count. quickly in warmer weather. It’s also more ex- gallons of ethanol (primarily corn-based) be pensive to make, adding 5 to 15 cents to the blended into gasoline each year. A 2019 Gov- (Nicolas Loris is an economist who price depending on the region as states have ernment Accountability Office report found, focuses on energy, environmental, different standards. outside the Midwest, the mandate pushed fuel and regulatory issues as the Herbert Federal and state taxes, on average, add prices higher for limited, if any, environmental and Joyce Morgan fellow)

Mass Media Has Had Its Humpty-Dumpty Moment The right quit on leading news outlets years ago. The left seems to be well on its way

CHRIS REED did not say she would be “a na- higher percentage of residents. “end of history” moment for journal- tional hero” if she did so. But as illustrated by the current ism in which views that do not meet he events of recent months sug- These Republicans can quickly brouhaha over Substack — which litmus tests should not be heard — gest that the mass media has had recount mass media horror stories, offers paid subscriptions to the they’re not in the “collective inter- Tits humpty-dumpty moment and and some of their gripes seem legit. newsletters of individual writers, est,” you see. that America is well on its way to a There is nothing close to hard many of whom are journalists — Given the strength of the First time when not a single news media evidence showing a Trump-Vladimir the left’s critique of the media now Amendment, there always will outlet has the respect of a majority Putin conspiracy in 2016, and how goes beyond the still-popular Her- be dissent and strong push-back of Americans. could the leakiest administration in man-Chomsky view. against the view that journalism A September 2020 Gallup poll American history have suppressed In an era in which journalism has evolved to a “just our facts,” not showed only 10 percent of Repub- the evidence if it existed? jobs are fading away, one would a “just the facts,” standard. There is licans and 36 percent of independ- And in the previous presidential assume that journalists would cel- also a real chance that the cultural ents have a “great deal” or a “fair election, Republican nominee Mitt ebrate the emergence of a new plat- sway of this view far exceeds its ac- amount” of trust in the mass me- Romney took far more mass media form that helps individual writers tual power to force societal change. dia. The same poll showed 27 per- heat for his awkward reference to make a living. Instead, some are fu- If, for example, the reporting of cent of Democrats had “not very “binders full of women” then incum- rious. They say that since Substack CNN seems neutral on making col- much” or no trust in the mass me- bent President Barack Obama did paid advances to attract some writ- lege free to all — a foundational is- dia. Overall, 60 percent of Ameri- for pretending for weeks that the ers they don’t like, it is a loathsome sue for progressives like Elizabeth cans were skeptical or contemptu- Sept. 11-12, 2012, terror attacks on People show the great majority of Americans who lean right have given up on publisher akin to Breitbart — not Warren — there will no doubt be ous of the mass media. two US outposts in Benghazi, Libya, mass media outlets like CNN. But on the left, the discontent is also building just an innocent platform. A recent “Never CNN” Democrats. But it is This isn’t fair to the many were spontaneous reactions to an with mass media. Will “Never CNN” become a thing? piece about Substack in The New hard to imagine them bringing the journalists who are earnest anti-Muslim YouTube video — the Yorker included this striking obser- network down. straight-shooters. But on the protesters just happened to have encapsulated in “Manufacturing ries, and some of their gripes vation: “a cultural turn toward jour- Yet is also hard to exaggerate right, few if any Republicans were brought rocket-propelled grenades, Consent: The Political Economy seemed legit. Crime is mostly a nalistic individualism might not be how big a headache this all-the- surprised by the recent admis- anti-aircraft machine guns and of the Mass Media,” the 1988 young man’s game, yet the US in the collective interest.” news-we-see-fit-to-print dynamic sion by The Washington Post that truck-mounted artillery. book by Edward S. Herman and criminal justice system — even with In the larger context of the ar- creates for media companies that its huge January 9 scoop about But on the left, the mass me- Noam Chomsky. It argued that recent reforms — makes it brutally ticle, this looks like a call for the si- aspire to have broad audiences. That then-President Donald Trump’s dia face a much different reason to the media enforce a pro-corpo- difficult for young offenders to re- lencing of The Intercept co-founder 2020 poll that showed 60 percent of attempts to interfere in Georgia’s worry. Many Democrats — includ- rate, “neoliberal” worldview that deem themselves. Glenn Greenwald and Vox co-found- Americans don’t trust the mass me- vote count included two false- ing some journalists — no longer accepts an American status quo And on health care, it is deeply er Matt Yglesias, both on Substack dia? Many journalists may end up hoods — that, despite the Post’s want journalists to be earnest that is far too complacent about perverse that the US government after being pushed out of the very remembering it as the good old days. use of iron-clad quotation marks, straight-shooters. vast societal inequities. pays more per capita for subsi- liberal media companies they helped Trump did not tell a top election In the old days, the leftist Such Democrats could quickly dized care than nations with sin- launch. But it can be more broadly (Chris Reed is a columnist for official to “find the fraud,” and he critique of the mass media was recount mass media horror sto- gle-payer systems that help a far understood as implying this is an The San Diego Union-Tribune)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Tuesday, March 30, 2021 07 Trial of former police officer over Floyd’s death starts in US West Bank, Gaza Strip welcome donations of new vaccine doses dpa second-degree manslaughter, “George Floyd was living, Washington which could earn him another The killing of George Floyd breathing, walking and talking dpa also arrived in the Gaza Strip 10 years. had sparked weeks of just fine, until the police put Ramallah on Monday. Officials there ac- The murder trial of former The trial kicked off in Min- mass protests against rac- him face down and put him in cepted the receipt of doses of police officer Derek Chauvin neapolis with a statement by ism and police violence in handcuffs and put a knee on About 100,000 doses of the Russia-produced Sputnik kicked off in the United States prosecutor Jerry Blackwell, the US his neck for eight minutes and Sinopharm, a vaccine against V vaccine, a gift from the UAE. on Monday, 10 months af- who said Chauvin used “exces- 46 seconds,” said Ben Crump, COVID-19 manufactured in The arrival coincided with ter the death of George Floyd sive and unreasonable force” lawyer for Floyd’s family. China, arrived in the West the strip’s news that health au- following an arrest triggered and “betrayed his badge.” neck for over eight minutes Chauvin has pleaded not Bank capital of Ramallah on thorities there had for the first mass protests against police Floyd, a black man, died on while Floyd repeatedly said he guilty. Monday, the local Health Min- time come across the British violence. May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis could not breathe. The killing of George Floyd istry reported. variant of the coronavirus, Chauvin, a white man, is after his arrest on suspicion Blackwell said Floyd had had sparked weeks of mass That comes on top of more which is more contagious and facing charges including sec- of paying with a counterfeit been in handcuffs and plead- protests against racism and than 62,000 doses of the Bi- potentially more deadly than ond-degree murder, punisha- 20-dollar-bill. ed 27 times to be let go and police violence in the US, and oNTech/Pfizer vaccine distrib- the basic virus. ble by up to 40 years in prison Video footage showed breathe, but Chauvin did not the outcome of the trial is hot- uted through the international According to official fig- Brandon Williams wears a mask in the state of Minnesota. police officers pushing the relent. ly anticipated. COVAX initiative. Addition- ures, about 49,000 West Bank and pendant with the image of Other charges include unarmed 46-year-old to the According to the autopsy, Judge Peter Cahill expects ally, about 25,000 doses of residents and 20,000 Gaza his uncle, Floyd, in Minneapolis third-degree murder, with ground, after which Chauvin Floyd subsequently lost con- the trial will take about one the AstraZeneca vaccine are Strip residents have received at on Monday. (afp) up to 25 years in prison, and pressed his knee on Floyd’s sciousness and died. month. expected. New vaccine doses least one vaccine dose to date.

News in brief IS claims responsibility for attack on strategic Mozambican town Global condemnation after CAPE TOWN: Islamist terrorist group Islamic State on Monday claimed responsibility for an attack and siege that has lasted for days on Mozambique’s strategic coastal town of Palma. “[Islamic violence escalates in Myanmar State] fighters have taken control of the strategically important town of Palma and killed more than 55 Mozambican security dpa forces,” Islamic State said in a statement. Mozambique’s De- Bangkok Myanmar violence fence Ministry says at least seven people were killed during the ‘outrageous,’ US attack which began on Wednesday, when about 100 insurgents Countries across the stormed the gas-rich town in the volatile Cabo Delgado province. world have been looking for working on Human Rights Watch (HRW) meanwhile said numerous residents ways to respond to the brutal sanctions: Biden have been killed in the insurgency, while hundreds have fled the military crackdown in Myan- violence. Mobile phone signals have been disrupted, making it mar that has resulted in the dpa harder to obtain information about the situation. French energy deaths of hundreds of anti- Washington giant Total evacuated around 1,000 of its workers from the region. coup protesters. Total is leading a 20-billion-dollar foreign investment project at its Thailand was preparing US President Joe Biden on liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on the nearby Afungi peninsula. for a surge in refugees from Sunday called the military The project was halted in January due to ongoing insecurity and neighbouring Myanmar: “We violence in Myanmar “abso- an escalating insurgency, but Total recently announced it was are aware of our neighbour’s lutely outrageous” and said about to relaunch the project. The population in the oil-rich Cabo issues and are making con- Washington was working on Delago province has been suffering from brutal attacks for the siderations, but let’s keep it reacting with sanctions. past three years, in a simmering conflict that has cost an esti- internal for now,” Prime Min- The situation in Myanmar, mated 2,500 lives to date. (dpa) ister Prayuth Chan-ocha said which has seen almost on Monday. daily protests since a “We don’t want an exodus military coup in February, Doctors demand jailed dissident Navalny into our territory, but at the was “terrible,” Biden said receive medical attention same time we also have to con- in comments reported by sider human rights,” he said. journalists travelling with the Moscow: Dozens of Russian doctors on Monday launched an ap- Prayuth said authorities US leader on his return from peal for jailed dissident Alexei Navalny to receive medical attention will prepare areas to accom- Delaware to Washington. quickly, after reports surfaced of his back problems. In a video and modate refugees, but he de- Asked whether the open letter to the head of the prison authority, the doctors called for clined to elaborate on the de- US would respond with appropriate treatment to avert “the danger to his life and health.” tails. “Where will they go, how sanctions, Biden said “we’re The doctors called for a neurologist to be allowed access to Navalny many will there be - we’ll talk working on that now.” The and the application of modern diagnostic techniques. They also about that later,” he said. Relatives lead the funeral procession of one of three protesters, who were shot dead the day before amid bloodiest day of violence said the 44-year-old was still weak after surviving a poison attack Sittichai Jindaluang, gov- a crackdown by security forces on demonstrations against the military coup, in Monywa, on Monday. (afp) so far on Saturday - which with the nerve agent Novichok last August. They said the Kremlin ernor of Mae Hong Sorn prov- marked Armed Forces Day was not responsible for his medical care. Navalny himself said he ince in Thailand’s north, said United Nations said it was the effect, according to sources Russia, on the other hand, in Myanmar - reportedly left was being harassed in prison camp, adding that he has received on Sunday that his province “bloodiest day” since the Feb- from within the UN body on was among a small handful of 114 people dead. six reprimands, including one for getting up too early. He also has already seen around 2,200 ruary 1 coup. The nationwide Monday. countries to send representa- criticized the camp’s video collection as “idiotic.” His allies also refugees from Myanmar, and protests coincided with Armed A meeting on the topic be- tives to the military celebra- reported new instances of repression, for instance his supporter more are expected. Forces Day, which saw the hind closed doors was request- tion on Saturday, dispatching One has to look at it from Ivan Zhdanov said his 66-year-old father had been arrested on As of Sunday, 459 people military hold a large parade in ed for Wednesday. The coun- Deputy Defence Minister Al- this point of view,” he said. fabricated allegations. “They want to make my life hell,” Zhdanov have been killed in Myanmar the capital. cil had strongly condemned exander Fomin to the event. Fomin said during his visit wrote on Facebook. Navalny was sentenced to imprisonment at the for protesting a February 1 Thousands again pro- the violence on March 11 and Fomin’s presence however that Moscow wants to expand penal camp in early February for violating parole requirements from military takeover, according tested on Monday against the called for all those arrested to meant “absolutely no endorse- military cooperation with My- an earlier sentence while he was recovering in Germany from the to the Assistance Association military. According to local re- be released immediately. ment of these tragic events,” anmar. The South-East Asian poison attack. The dissident has blamed his poisoning on Russian for Political Prisoners moni- ports, the forces used rifles and A spokesman for the Ger- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry country already depends on President Vladimir Putin and said his imprisonment was a personal toring group. grenades against protesters. man government on Monday Peskov said Monday in Mos- Russia as a major arms sup- act of vengeance for surviving the attack. Germany, the European Many of the dead are The UN Security Council said that Berlin was demand- cow, according to the Interfax plier. Union and the United States have repeatedly called for Navalny’s youths and students. was planning to again discuss ing that military rulers im- news agency. Representatives from release and have imposed sanctions on Russia. (dpa) On Saturday alone, more the crackdown, after a con- mediately renounce the use “We have long-standing China, India and Pakistan than 100 people were report- demnation it issued earlier in of force and release prison- and quite constructive rela- also reportedly took part in Group of EU states work on passport ed to have been killed. The March seemed to have little ers at once. tions with Myanmar. the parade. to allow travel amid pandemic VIENNA: A group of EU members plans to present a list of priori- ties for the implementation of a scheme known as the green passport, which would facilitate travel in the bloc despite the Britain sets up sexual assault coronavirus pandemic. The green passports are to be implement- ed in a consistent and user-friendly way across borders, Austrian Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger said on Monday, after a hotline for school children meeting with 12 other EU tourism ministers in Vienna. The green passport is a certificate meant to contain information on the dpa sources told dpa on Monday, On Friday, London’s holder’s COVID-19 vaccination and test results or previous infec- London confirming a report byT he Metropolitan Police said it tions, in order to facilitate travel. Koestinger said that border-free Times newspaper. had received “a number of travel should be possible again in the European Union by sum- Britain is to set up a tel- It comes after thousands reports” regarding “specific mer, after speaking with her colleagues from countries including ephone hotline for school of testimonies were published offences” but did not give France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain. She also called for children to report allegations on a website called Everyone’s further details. consistent criteria for entry requirements across the EU, for in- of sexual abuse committed by Invited, where children as It added it had made con- stance regarding the acceptance of a negative coronavirus test to other pupils, after the murder young as 11-years-old shared tact with the schools named allow travel. Austria is especially dependent on tourism and has of Sarah Everard inspired experiences of sexual as- on the website to offer special- pushed for the EU’s green passport project. “The green passport many to come forward and sault or harassment by other ist support for victims. The financial director of Servier pharmaceutical laboratories, Olivier should be valid and readable at every airport and every hotel in share their experiences of pupils. More than 8,000 testi- Laureau looks on at Paris’ courthouse, in Paris on Monday. (afp) Europe,” Koestinger said. Koestinger said the planned time frame assault. Most of the reports have monies have been published for implementing the passport, which is due to be released at the Britain’s Department for come from pupils and former on Everyone’s Invited, posted European level on June 1, was ambitious. (dpa) Education is to launch the pupils at privately-funded anonymously on the site by its hotline in the coming days, schools in Britain. founder Soma Sara. French firm selling deadly diet medication Three-day snap lockdown for Australia’s handed large fine dpa have been responsible for the Paris deaths of at least 500 patients, Brisbane over cluster of seven local cases according to a study by the The French firmS ervier has medication security watchdog dpa Data from Monday showed ahead of a long weekend been handed a large fine for the in France. Sydney four new local cases and six starting Friday to mark the sale of Mediator, a weight-loss The watchdog was also detected in hotel quarantine. Easter holiday. medication that may have been fined 300,000 euros for not Australia’s Brisbane will go There are 73 active cases across In the rest of Queensland, responsible for the deaths of taking the medication off the into a three-day snap lockdown the state. gatherings at homes will be hundreds of people. market soon enough, although after four new locally acquired Queensland has seen a total limited to 30 people and mask- Servier has to pay 2.7 mil- its adverse effects were known, coronavirus cases were record- of 1,456 cases since the start of wearing rules will come back lion euros (3.17 million dollars) the judge ruled. ed overnight, the state govern- the pandemic. into force. and was found guilty of aggra- The pills, which are not sold ment announced on Monday. Palaszczuk said the lock- “We need to do this now vated deception, negligent bod- in France any more, are said to The state is concerned down across greater Brisbane to avoid a longer lockdown,” ily harm and manslaughter, a have caused damages to the car- about community transmis- would come into force at 5 pm Palaszczuk said. Paris court ruled on Monday. diovascular system. sion in Queensland’s capital on Monday (0700GMT) and She urged Australia’s other A former top manager of the Servier has always denied city after the British variant the public would only be al- states and territories to declare firm also received a suspended these claims. was detected in a cluster of Police officers patrol the Valley Mall in Brisbane on Monday.( AFP) lowed to leave home for essen- greater Brisbane a hotspot. sentence of four years. Mediator was originally cases - now totalling seven in- tial work, shopping, care duties Australia has recorded some In addition, the victims are brought to the market as a dia- fections - that emerged earlier infectious,” Queensland state clear where the infection was or exercise. 29,000 coronavirus cases and to receive a total of 160 million betes medication in the 1970s, this month. premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acquired, state health minister Schools will close from just over 909 COVID-19 deaths euros in damages. but it was often also prescribed “It’s the UK strain - highly said. In two of the cases, it is not Jeannette Young said. Tuesday. The move comes since the pandemic began. The medication is said to to curb appetite. Qatar’s Producer Price Index up 2.1% in February page 10

Tuesday, march 30, 2021

33,174.51 10,323.98 49008.50 1,711.80 +101.63 pts +132.42 pts +568.38 pts Gold -1.32 % QICCA’s Legal Week reviews Dow QE sensex arbitration updates in Qatar page 9 Price percentage Price percentage 24.72 Brent 65.05 +0.74 % WTI 61.54 +0.93 % Silver -1.57 %

Kuwari holds trade talks with US mayors QNB Group gets ‘AA’ rating from MSCI ESG Research

Tribune News Network Doha

QNB, the largest financial in- stitution in the Middle East and Africa, received a rating of AA in the MSCI ESG Rat- ings assessment, conducted by MSCI ESG Research. Regulator, authorities, policy makers and investors increasingly put more pres- sure on banks to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) related The QNB headquarters in Doha. factors. These represent risks and add additional complexi- it. The rating upgrade to AA ience to long-term ESG risks. ty for financial service provid- places QNB Group into the QNB Group’s presence ers to be identified, addressed top quartile of the ESG index, through its subsidiaries and and managed adequately. and confirms the Group’s associate companies extend to The rating recognises leadership in the banking sec- more than 31 countries across Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari received on Monday a delegation of US mayors currently visiting the country. QNB Group as a leader in its tor on this topic. three continents providing a The delegation included Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami, Florida, Kyle Moore, Mayor of Quincy, Illinois, and Bryan Barnett, Mayor of Rochester industry in managing ESG MSCI ESG Research is a comprehensive range of ad- Hills, Michigan. The meeting was attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to the United States of America HE Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani risks and opportunities. The leading research and data pro- vanced products and services. and Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Qatar Ambassador Greta C Holtz. During the meeting, the convening parties discussed ways rating is also a testament that vider measuring companies’ The total number of employ- to enhance cooperation in the commercial, investment, and industrial fields. They additionally touched on the opportunities available to QNB has developed a mean- performance on the grounds ees is more than 28,000 serv- increase trade exchange and develop investment and industrial relations between the two countries. Kuwari highlighted the economic poli- ingful sustainability strategy, on Environmental, Social, ing 20 million customers oper- cies that Qatar had adopted and the measures it had taken to abolish restrictions on foreign investment and create more opportunities for which addresses all topics and Governance (ESG) fac- ating through 1,000 locations, companies looking to invest in Qatar. of materiality and has been tors. MSCI ESG Ratings aim with an ATM network of more successful in executing upon to measure a company’s resil- than 4,300 machines.

Commercial Bank wins ‘Best Bank in Qatar’ award from Global Finance Tribune News Network seph D Giarraputo. Doha All selections were made by the editors of Global Finance after ex- Commercial Bank (CB), the tensive consultations with corpo- most innovative digital bank in rate financial executives, bankers Qatar, has been selected, for the and banking consultants, and ana- second time in four years, the lysts throughout the world. winner of the “Best Bank in Qatar In selecting these top banks, 2021” Award by Global Finance’s Global Finance considered factors editorial board. that ranged from the quantitative In previous years, winning objective to the informed subjec- Qatar Chamber First Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari, Qatar Chamber Board Member Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli at a meeting with institutions were honoured at tive. Objective criteria considered Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Doha on Monday. an awarding ceremony held dur- included: growth in assets, profit- ing the World Bank/IMF Annual ability, geographic reach, strategic Meetings. This year’s evaluation relationships, new business devel- opment, and innovation in prod- ucts. Subjective criteria included Congolese president seeks the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants, and others involved in the industry. investment from Qatar In previous years, winning institutions were honoured at an awarding ceremony held dur- Kuwari invites Congolese companies to invest in Qatar and build partnerships with Qatari firms ing the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings. If global conditions al- Tribune News Network The chamber strongly supports low, Global Finance will host this Doha and urges Qatari investors to invest event once again, and winners will in DR Congo, especially that Qatar be notified about the date and lo- Congolese President Felix Tsh- is attaching great importance to cation in advance. isekedi on Monday called on Qatari investment in Africa continent in Commercial Bank GCEO Jo- businessmen and investors to in- general and Congo in particular, seph Abraham said, “The pandem- vest in his country and benefit from he added. ic presented both a challenge and the opportunities it offers in various “Qatar has managed to achieve an opportunity to demonstrate sectors such as infrastructure, agri- a raft of accomplishments in all resilience and provide our clients culture, transportation, mining, ed- fields and is witnessing an inclusive with world-class banking services, ucation, and others, stressing that economic development thanks to particularly in the digital field. The his country is currently working to its wise leadership and sound eco- Digital push investment we have made in our improve the investment climate to nomic policies, turning the state business under our five-year stra- attract more foreign investments. into a regional and international Commercial Bank was able to tegic plan meant that Commercial Addressing Qatari businessmen business and investment hub. It swiftly adapt to the new Bank was able to swiftly adapt to at a meeting in Doha, Tshisekedi Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in Doha on Monday. has built a sophisticated infrastruc- operating environment and well the new operating environment praised Qatar’s interest in invest- ture developed free and industrial placed to capture the and well placed to capture the ment in Africa continent and in DR investors. and mining. zones and issued many economic fundamental shift in customer fundamental shift in customer be- Congo, terming Africa as the future Qatar Chamber First Vice- “This provides great opportuni- legislation and laws that created an behaviour towards digital that haviour towards digital that was of the world and humanity. Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed ties for investment and cooperation attractive climate for investment,” was accelerated by COVID-19 accelerated by COVID-19. I would “Africa is rapidly progressing bin Twar Al Kuwari, QC Board between us and opens the door to Kuwari said. like to thank our clients for their worldwide in the economic and Member Mohamed bin Ahmed Al several opportunities to promote Kuwari invited Congolese com- continued loyalty and patronage to political levels. It has enormous Obaidli and several Qatari busi- co-operation between Qatari com- panies to invest in Qatar and build of banks was exceptional in Global Commercial Bank and our staff for potential and natural and human nessmen were present during the panies and their Congolese coun- genuine partnerships with Qatari Finance’s 28-year history, given their dedication and innovation in resources,” he said. meeting. terparts,” he said. companies in almost all sectors, the unprecedented economic this challenging year.” The meeting touched on ways of Speaking on the occasion, Ku- Kuwari confirmed the interest such as industry, services, tourism, conditions wrought by the global Commercial Bank’s focus on enhancing trade relations between wari praised close relations be- of Qatari businessmen to explore banking, and others. He expressed pandemic. innovation and its pioneer role in both countries and exploring the tween Qatar and DR Congo. He the investment opportunities avail- hope that the meeting will lay the “Banks are playing a key role Digital Banking innovation have investment opportunities available said, “Despite strong relations, able in Congo and interest and sup- groundwork for both sides and rep- in economic recovery around the earned the bank over 15 awards in DR Congo. the trade volume between the two port of Qatar Chamber for boosting resent a push for more cooperation world. Our Best Bank awards in 2020 highlighting the bank’s The Congolese president em- countries is still modest and does cooperation between the private in the future. highlight the leaders in restoring efforts in innovation, digital bank- phasised that his country highly not correspond to the potential and sectors of both friendly countries, During the meeting, the Congo- growth and mapping a way for- ing, leadership, social media, cash welcomes the Qatari investments, facilities available both countries.” expressing the Chamber’s readiness lese side delivered many presenta- ward,” said Global Finance Pub- management, and transaction pointing out that there are plenty He said that DR Congo is rich in to help Congolese businessmen and tions highlighting investment op- lisher and Editorial Director Jo- banking. of opportunities and projects in untapped natural resources and has investors seeking to set up direct or portunities and sectors that might Congo that is available for Qatari enormous potential in agriculture joint ventures in Qatar. attract Qatari investors. Economy & Business Tuesday, March 30, 2021 09 QICCA’s Legal Week reviewed arbitration updates in Qatar on Day 2

Tribune News Network which was held on Monday, rapid mechanism for settling while Eng. Khalid bin Ahmed Doha was moderated by Dr Mansour disputes, urging Arab arbitra- Mubarak Al Nasr discussed Al-Saadi. tion institutions and QICCA to practical problems in ad-hoc The Qatar International Cen- Addressing the webinar, adopt the emergency arbitra- arbitration in Qatar, indicat- tre for Conciliation and Ar- lawyer Lahdan Al Mohan- tion in their rules. ing that it helps in speeding up bitration (QICCA) at Qatar nadi spoke about emergency Dr Mona Al Marzouki re- the settlement of commercial Chamber continued the activi- arbitration, stressing that this viewed the implementation of disputes and guarantees confi- ties of its ‘Legal Week’ on the type of arbitration, which is foreign arbitration awards in dentiality and specialization of second day with a webinar ti- adopted by major arbitration Qatar and conditions for im- experts, as well as it eases the tled ‘Arbitration Updates in the institutions to settle disputes plementing arbitration awards burden of the normal judiciary. State of Qatar’. that require swift solutions and issued outside Qatar, indicat- Nasr added that ad-hoc The virtual event, which urgent measures, enhances the ing that the interest in arbi- arbitration faces a number of will last until April 1 through investment environment, and tration is growing because of problems, including the ap- video conferencing, featured encourages more foreign in- the rapid pace of commercial pointment of the arbitral tribu- informative presentations and vestors. transactions. nal from the list of experts, the discussions examining many Mohannadi said emer- Lawyer Issa Al Sulaiti elab- lack of rules, and the absence of topics and issues related to ar- gency arbitration is consist- orated on the cases in which a specific mechanism for iden- bitration. ent with the nature of arbitra- Moderated by Dr Mansour Al Saadi, Day 2 of QICCA’s Legal Week saw informative presentations and a claim for annulment of an tifying the fees of the arbitral The second day’s session, tion itself as it is a flexible and discussions examining many topics and issues related to arbitration. arbitral award is accepted, tribunal.

51st GECF Lecture to focus on Russia’s Virtual Doha Islamic Finance climate change doctrine Conference begins today Tribune News Network from Saratov Cherny- Doha shevsky State University in Chemistry, Kulapin worked Minister of Commerce conference “virtually” due to The Gas Exporting Coun- in executive positions in Highlights the coronavirus pandemic. tries Forum (GECF), the Russia’s standardisation and Industry to He pointed out that global platform of the lead- authority, known as Gos- ● Dr Khalid Al Sulaiti: the crisis has significantly ing gas producing nations, standart, until 2002. From inaugurate the Qatar fifth largest Islamic changed the whole scene of will be hosting the 51st edi- 2002 to 2011, he was also conference that will finance market in the world the Islamic financial indus- tion of its GECF Gas Lecture at the helm of the country’s try, however, Qatari Islamic Series on Wednesday at 2 housing sector and energy go on until April 1 ● Dr Osama Al-Dereai: financial institutions have pm in the form of a webinar. complexes. Qatar’s Islamic fintech shown great resilience in the Featuring the Direc- The Russian Energy market valued at QR3.09 face of the challenges of the tor General of the Russian Agency is a federal state Tribune News Network pandemic by moving towards Energy Agency Alexey Ku- budgetary organisation un- Doha billion investing in fintech, enhanc- lapin, the lecture “The Rus- der the Ministry of Energy ● Talal Al-Khaja: Dukhan ing risk mitigation plans and sian Federation’s climate that provides implemen- Under the patronage of paying attention to cyberse- policy in the energy sector”, tation of the federal laws Prime Minister and Minis- Bank moving forward to curity, while focusing on in- will highlight the steps the related to energy conserva- ter of Interior His Excellency complete its digital novation to introduce new world’s biggest energy ex- tion and energy efficiency, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin transformation plan and Islamic financial instruments porter is taking to fight cli- and oversees the govern- Abdulaziz Al Thani, the sev- launch new electronic and products. mate change. ment’s activities in the field enth Doha Islamic Finance banking services He also highlighted that Kulapin was appointed of sustainable energy devel- Conference will be inaugurat- the latest available data re- to the position of Direc- opment. ed by Minister of Commerce ● Qatar’s Islamic financial veal that Islamic Fintechmar- tor General of the Russian The GECF lectures and and Industry HE Ali Ahmed institutions have shown ket size in Qatar has reached Energy Agency in October workshops feature policy- Al Kuwari on Tuesday. great resilience amid $849 million (3.09 billion ri- 2020 to facilitate the imple- makers and experts, who The virtual conference, coronavirus pandemic yals), amid expectations that mentation of the country’s are invited to share their titled, “Digital Economy and the sector will achieve a Com- Energy strategy up to 2035, knowledge and insights on Sustainable Development” ● COVID-19 significantly pound Annual Growth Rate of as well as the plans to har- contemporary issues re- will go on until April 1, 2021. changed the whole scene 19.6% to reach $2bn dollars ness and embed hydrogen lated to the gas industry It is being organised by of the Islamic financial (7.28 billion riyals) by 2025. engineering in the sector’s and its relationship with Bait Al-Mashura Finance industry Talal Al Khajah, Chief development. Prior to this, geopolitics, economy, and Consultations Company with Marketing and Communica- Kulapin held director level climate change. These ac- Dukhan Bank as the strategic tions Officer at Dukhan Bank positions in the Ministry tivities form part of the partner and exclusive spon- Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari (formerly Barwa), expressed of Energy since 2001, over- GECF long-term strategy to sor. It will be held on ZOOM delight at the fact that the seeing energy efficiency and promote natural gas as the platform, in line with the pre- bank has been sponsoring innovations. fuel of choice for sustain- cautionary measures against this conference since its first Graduating in 1992 able development. the spread of Coronavirus. edition, stressing that this Governmental bodies, inter- Doha’s hosting of the conference reflects its leadership in continuous support for the national organizations, finan- the Islamic finance sector, as Qatar is considered the fifth Doha Islamic Finance Con- cial and academic institutions largest Islamic finance market in the world with assets ference stems from Dukhan in the fields of economics, Bank’s firm belief in the im- financeand technology will exceeding $129 billion, constituting 33 percent of the portance of evaluating the Is- participate in the conference. country’s total financial system assets. lamic banking experience and As part of an academic Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, Vice Chairman, Bait discovering the features of the partnership with the College future that the bank believes of Sharia and Islamic Stud- Al-Mashoura Finance Consultations Company is promising. ies at Qatar University, the He said that the bank ef- College of Islamic Studies at forts remain focused on lead- Hamad Bin Khalifa Universi- ing massive transformation ty, and the University of Cen- across its operations and scal- tral Lancashire in the United The continuous support for the Doha Islamic Finance ing digitisation of its services Kingdom will also participate Conference stems from Dukhan Bank’s firm belief in the to meet customers’ increasing in the event. The conference is importance of evaluating the Islamic banking experience demand for digital banking expected to contribute to the and discovering the features of the future that the bank products and services in Qa- development of the Islamic believes is promising. tar, using its advanced tech- finance industry in Qatar and nology infrastructure, portfo- the world. Talal Al Khajah, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer lio of services, and innovative Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al at Dukhan Bank banking products. Sulaiti, Chairman of the Or- He pointed out that ganizing Committee and Vice Dukhan Bank seeks to fa- Global banks warn of possible Chairman of Bait Al-Mash- cilitate seamless payment oura Finance Consultations and to implement its vision losses from hedge fund default Company, said the conference and strategy trailing a digital was of special importance this Islamic Fintech market size in Qatar has reached $849 mil- transformation of banking Agencies A margin call is triggered year because it was taking lion (QR3.09 billion), amid expectations that the sector will services, products and trans- when investors borrow using place at a time when the world achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 19.6% to actions, that’s why it has up- Swiss bank Credit Suisse their stock portfolio as col- witnesses the repercussions of reach $2bn dollars (QR7.28 billion) by 2025. dated its mobile application said Monday it may have suf- lateral and have to make up COVID-19 pandemic. with the launch of Dukhan fered a “highly significant” the balance required by banks “That is why the Islamic Dr Osama Qais Al Dereai, Bait Al-Mashura Managing Director Pay (D-Pay), its contactless loss from a default by a U.S.- when the share prices fall and finance sector has to discuss and CEO payment platform. Addition- based hedge fund on margin the collateral is worth less. mechanisms to face the chal- ally, the bank has released calls that it and other banks Credit Suisse said that lenges related to the pandem- wristbands that will facili- made last week, while Japan’s “while at this time it is prema- ic while anticipating future to overwhelm the economic has turned to an accelerated governments to move towards tate payment under the D- Nomura said it could face a ture to quantify the exact size prospects.” scene. Having optimistic view revolution in the field ofe- protecting society from these Pay payment platform; and loss of $2 billion due to an of the loss resulting from this He pointed out that Doha’s about the end of the pandemic commerce and e-applications, impacts. Here, Islamic finance also launched Fitbit Pay and event with a U.S. client. exit, it could be highly sig- hosting of the conference re- and the start of a fragile eco- thus forming a model for a proves its excellence in con- Garmin pay contactless ser- Credit Suisse didn’t iden- nificant and material to our flects its leadership in the Is- nomic recovery, countries are significant and promising sidering the social and hu- vices during Qatar National tify the “significant” hedge first-quarter results, notwith- lamic finance sector, as Qatar seeking to draw up their poli- economy. This theme reviews manitarian aspects, thus pro- sport day celebrations. fund or the other banks af- standing the positive trends is considered the fifth largest cies to describe the economic models from the economies of viding a pioneering model of Khajah stressed that fected, or give other details of announced in our trading Islamic finance market in the recovery after the pandemic. this virtual world through the social solidarity models. This Dukhan Bank uses all its re- what happened. News reports statement earlier this month.” world with assets exceeding This theme discusses the fea- experiences of the owners of theme clarifies the role of the sources and capabilities to identified the hedge fund as Credit Suisse said that it plans $129 billion, constituting 33 tures of this expected econom- these projects and discusses sharing economy in overcom- provide the best banking ser- New York-based Archegos to issue an update “in due percent of the country’s total ic recovery, and highlights the most important legal and ing crises and achieving sus- vices and solutions that suit Capital Management. course.” financial system assets. what Islamic finance can pro- sharia controls governing the tainable development goals the needs of its customers. “Following the failure of Nomura said that on Fri- Sulaiti said the confer- vide at this stage through its transactions with this world, and reviews an advanced con- Likewise, the bank is commit- the fund to meet these margin day “an event occurred” that ence, in its 7th edition, has institutions and products. and then provides a forward- temporary experience of the ted to reviewing and evaluat- commitments, Credit Suisse could subject one of its U.S. three main themes. Sulaiti said the second looking vision for the future of Islamic social finance model, ing these services on an ongo- and a number of other banks subsidiaries to a losss of $2 The first theme is econom- theme is economies of the vir- this important sector. through which it highlights ing basis in order to provide are in the process of exiting billion based on market prices ic recovery after Crises, as the tual world, as the emergence The third theme is the role the importance of sharing and customers with an easy and these positions,” the company on Friday. Corona pandemic has had of the Corona crisis and im- of social finance in achieving social financing tools. convenient way to manage said. It didn’t identify the cli- its devastating effects on the position of social distancing sustainable development, as their financial transactions The Financial Times re- ent. The bank said “there will global economy, causing an restrictions, has changed the when the world appraised the Great Resilience at any time and from any- ported that Archegos had be no issues related to the op- unprecedented recession, so world’s preferences towards achievements of SDGs, reduc- Dr Osama Qais Al Dereai, where, in line withthe bank’s large exposures to Viaco- erations or financial sound- growth rates have decreased, safer virtual environments tion of societal gaps and erad- Vice Chairman of the Organ- promise to offer secure, sim- mCBS and several Chinese ness” of Nomura or its U.S. debt burdens have increased, for economic activities, and icating poverty; the pandemic izing Committee and Bait Al- plified, and seamless banking technology stocks and was hit subsidiary. investment has collapsed in a digital technology compa- indents to widen those gaps Mashura Managing Director experience to its customers as hard after shares of the U.S. The Archegos website was number of countries, and the nies have benefited from and dismissed millions of and CEO said the company it seeks to emerge as Qatar’s media group fell last week. not immediately available. state of uncertainty continues this approach, so the world employees, which prompted was organising the annual Bank of Choice. 10 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Economy & Business Ship wedged across Suez Canal freed Feb producer prices up 2.1% from the shoreline as index continues to soar Agencies resumed at 11:30 local time (09:30 GMT) when the tide The stern of a huge con- was due to rise. However, in the 12 months until February, the Producer Price Index showed a decline of 2 percent tainer ship that has been In a statement, the Suez wedged across the Suez Ca- Canal Authority said that Tribune News Network rose 1.3 percent in February products by 7.9 percent, ba- nal for almost a week has once the tide had reached Doha month-on-month, mostly on sic chemicals by 7.5 percent, been freed from the shore- 2m, rescue workers would the back of rise in prices of six juices by 6.4 percent, rubber line, officials say. aim to fully restore “the ves- Producer prices in Qatar groups — basic chemicals by and plastics products by 1.2 The course of the 400m- sel’s direction so it is posi- stayed in the inflationary ter- 5.8 percent, other chemical percent, dairy products by long (1,300ft) Ever Given tioned in the middle of the ritory in February as their in- products and fibre by 4.6 per- 0.5 percent and beverages by has been corrected by 80%, navigable waterway”. dex rose 2.4 percent month- cent, refined petroleum prod- 0.1 percent. However, prices according to the Suez Canal Traffic would resume on-month in keeping with ucts by 0.5 percent, rubber fell for cement and other non- Authority. once the ship was moved to its mostly upward trajectory and plastics products by 0.4 metallic products by 14.8 It added that further ef- a waiting area in a wider sec- since September. percent, grain mill and other percent, refined petroleum forts to move the boat would tion of the canal, the author- In the 12 months until products, and basic metals by products and other chemical resume later on Monday. ity said. A total of 367 vessels February, the Producer Price 0.1 percent each. However, products and fibre by 2.8 per- But the head of a com- are waiting to pass through, Index (PPI) showed a decline the sector saw prices decline cent each and grain mill and pany involved in the rescue and officials have saidit will of 2 percent, according to the in three groups — cement and other products by 0.4 per- efforts urged caution, warn- take three and a half days to Planning and Statistics Au- other non-metallic products cent. No change was noticed ing that completing the op- clear the traffic jam. thority. by 7.2 percent, dairy products in the beverages group. eration would not be “a piece “We will not waste one PPI, which measures ei- by 0.6 percent and beverages The PPI for electricity and of cake”. second,” Suez Canal Author- ther the average change in the by 0.1 percent. No change water, which constitutes 0.5 The Ever Given has been ity Chairman Osama Rabie price of goods as they leave was recorded in the manufac- percent of the index, showed blocking one of the world’s told Egyptian state televi- the place of production or turing PPI of paper and paper an increase of 7.4 percent busiest trade routes, forcing sion. as they enter the production The PPI for mining, which carries a maximum weightage of 72.7 per- products, and juices. month-on-month due to in- companies to reroute ships The CEO of the salvage process, covers goods related cent, saw an increase of 2.9 percent in February month-on-month. On a year-on-year com- creasing prices in electricity and causing long tailbacks of company involved in the res- to a range of products pro- parison, the manufacturing by 30.4 percent and water by hundreds of vessels. cue efforts told Dutch public duced domestically. February month-on-month crude petroleum and natural PPI of February edged up 0.8 3.3 percent. Year-on-year, The reports that the ship radio that the operation was The PPI for mining, which and a decline of 3.4 percent gas. percent. The major groups the index jumped 6.3 per- had been partially freed far from complete. carries a maximum weight- year-on-year. The PSA re- The manufacturing sec- that pushed the prices up in- cent on account of price rises raised hopes that traffic “We have movement, age of 72.7 percent, saw an port attributed the surge to tor, which has a weightage cluded basic metals by 18.7 in water by 10.2 percent and along the canal could re- which is good news. But I increase of 2.9 percent in increase in producer prices of of 26.8 percent in the index, percent, paper and paper electricity by 3.6 percent. sume within hours, clearing wouldn’t say it’s a piece of the way for an estimated cake now,” Peter Berdowski $9.6bn (£7bn) of goods be- said. ing held up each day. He explained that high- Rescue workers from pressure water would be the authority and the Dutch used to try and remove sand Greenfields showcases innovative products at AgriteQ company Smit Salvage used and clay from underneath tug boats to wrench the rear the bow of the ship, but if Satyendra Pathak of the ship from the canal that failed, then containers Doha bank. would have to be lifted in Alongside the tugs, an operation that could take Greenfields Sustainables, dredgers have been digging some time. an entity operating from Qatar out sand and mud from un- “The bow is still stuck Free Zone, showcased some of der the bow of the vessel. rock-solid at the moment in the most innovative products The stern, which had the slightly sandy clay,” he related to food and agriculture been 4m from the shore, was said. sector at the recently conclud- now 102m clear, the Suez The 200,000-tonne ed AgriteQ exhibition in Doha. Canal Authority said, adding Ever Given ran aground on Hogging the limelight was that the boat had been fully Tuesday morning amid high the autonomous vehicle that refloated. winds and a sandstorm that has been successfully deployed Efforts to move the boat affected visibility. and is working very well in one of the biggest farms in Qatar. “This autonomous vehi- cle can also be used for mate- rial movement outdoors and Dignitaries at the Greenfields Sustainables’ pavilion at the AgriteQ The autonomous vehicle Greenfields Sustainables displayed at indoors including malls, fac- exhibition held recently in Doha. the AgriteQ exhibition. tories, warehouses and other places,” GreenfieldsS ustaina- uct coupled with breakthrough percent natural and certified to Qatar. Contec Global Group has taken bles CEO Sandeep Jayaswal technology to Qatar under the organic. It has a unique food “We have aligned our ob- giant strides in empowering told Qatar Tribune. brand name Wiesmann-Ati . rinse and food preservative jectives with the Qatar Na- people towards addressing a “It has a rugged design, can Miracle Everyday range that helps increase the shelf life tional Vision 2030 for food vast spectrum of areas like e- operate anytime during the of products, which helps in- of fruits and vegetables by up to security. In the last two years, governance, secure technolo- day or night, has a unique re- crease the shelf life of fruits 50 days without refrigeration. we have worked closely with gies, mobile technology, ener- verse drive feature and works and vegetables by up to 50 It has a general-purpose disin- multiple farms in Qatar. Using gy, fintech and agriculture. in high humidity conditions,” days, was also showcased at the fectant that is certified against our natural bio-inputs, we have In a statement issued by Jayaswal said. exhibition. COVID-19,” Jayaswal said managed to increase yield, re- the company, Contec Global Contec Global, the parent “Greenfields is now bring- Since its inception in 2019, duce input costs and water us- Chairman Benoy Berry said, company of Greenfields Sus- ing in patented Australian ag- Jayaswal said, Greenfieldsage and improve soil quality for “Sustainable growth and de- This picture shows a tugboat pulling the ‘Ever Given’ container tainables, has tied up with Ati ritech and foodtech solutions Sustainables has endeavoured these farms,” he said. velopment in harmony with ship after it was fully dislodged from the banks of the Suez Canal. Motors from Bangalore to in- to Qatar under the brand name to bring sustainable biotech, In a journey spanning nature is the only way forward troduce this marvel of a prod- ‘Miracle Everyday’. This is 100 foodtech and agritech solutions nearly four decades, UK-based for our planet.”

Domasco launches King Long’s new Kingo Freezer Van in Qatar Tribune News Network with integrated circuit control for Doha easier operation is also conveniently Businesses that need to ensure located on the dashboard. Apart Domasco, an Al-Futtaim group from the driver, the van can also ac- company and exclusive distributor foodstuff are transported with commodate 2 other passengers in of King Long, has launched the New their freshness intact will the front on its spacious seats. Kingo Freezer Van in Qatar. appreciate this versatile vehicle The Kingo Freezer van comes For over three decades, King for its cooling temperature with a powerful 2.4L engine, 217nm Long has been at the forefront of range making it ideal to torque and 137 HP matted to a 5 R&D, manufacturing, sales and ser- speed manual transmission. The vices of large, medium sized busses transport foodstuff or goods mechanical hydraulic power steer- and vans with three manufacturing with varying cooling ing wheel is adjustable as per driver bases, including large and medium- requirements. convenience. sized bus base, van-manufacturing The Kingo Freezer Van also has base and city-bus base. Faisal Sharif, Managing Director an Anti-Lock Braking System with The Kingo Freezer van is ideal Domasco, King Long Electronic Brakeforce Distribution for the transport of frozen or fresh- to ensure wheels do not lock under keeping goods such as meat, fruits, perature range making it ideal to Sharif, Managing Director Domasco heavy braking and ensures that each vegetables, seafood, drugs etc. The transport foodstuff or goods with King Long. wheel gets the right amount of brak- van is functional with a cooling varying cooling requirements.” said The condenser and evapora- ing force. This ensures safety of the capacity in the range of -10 to 18 Faisal tor have a long operating life driver, passenger and cargo. Reverse degree Celsius. This refrigerated with low noise and radar with buzzle alarm, driver and transport vehicle is equipped with a high efficiency. passenger seat belts, brake liquid cooling unit and polyurethane heat The insides of alarm are some of the other safety insulated compartment of about the cooling com- features. 80mm thickness with the material partment have The Kingo Freezer Van is on dis- used being glass reinforced plastic. air guide chan- play at Domasco facilities at Markiya It is specially designed for optimal nels that ensure and Street 10 Industrial area. Cus- performance of good insulation and uniform cooling tomers wanting to enquire or book high strength. throughout the cab- the vehicle can call 8008123 for The rear door of the cooling in. more details. compartment opens upwards with The cockpit of the King Long is distributed in Qa- a secondary door to keep the in- van is equipped with tar by Doha Marketing Services sides airtight to prevent loss of cool a user-friendly dash- Company (DOMASCO), a leading air. This arrangement also provides board with a reason- multi-brand company in Qatar and a convenience for cargo loading and able layout of but- member of the Al Futtaim group. It unloading. The inside of the cooling tons and controls for has a diversified portfolio of passen- compartment is a spacious 3010 mm convenient opera- ger cars, motor bikes, commercial in length, 1500 mm in width and a tion and a tradition- vehicles, marine and power prod- height of 1450 mm. On the inside of someone being accidently trapped in foodstuff are transported with their al 4 spoke steering ucts, watches and electronics rep- the cabin there is an emergency call the cabin. freshness intact will appreciate this wheel. The control resenting some of the world’s most button to guarantee safety in case of “Businesses that need to ensure versatile vehicle for its cooling tem- panel for the freezer visible and award-winning brands. Economy & Business Tuesday, March 30, 2021 11 Coastal Qatar playing key role in run-up to 2022 The Doha-based engineering company is manufacturing the seats for six 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums in Qatar

Tribune News Network Doha

Coastal Qatar, a local engineering We do company that is supporting the ef- the forts of Qatar and the Supreme Com- whole mittee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) — package, right is playing a key role in the build-up to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022. from the design Coastal has been a leading engi- layout to the 3D neering firm in Qatar since 1979. Its models. We have main operations include construc- a team in-house tion, trading, steel fabrication, pro- which does the ject support and logistics. Coastal’s whole layout. work can be seen throughout the country, including at Hamad Inter- Coastal Qatar CEO national Airport, Qatar’s Ministry of Nishad Azeem Interior headquarters, Qatar Nation- al Museum, Qatar National Library and six Qatar 2022 stadiums. The company also produces a wide range of infrastructure prod- ucts. This includes the design, supply and installation of various aspects Coastal Qatar Company is manufacturing and installing seats for six of the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums in Qatar — Al-Bayt, Al-Janoub, Ahmed Bin Ali, Education City, Lusail and Ras Abu Aboud. That is as of flooring for a wide range of com- many as 250,000 seats, according to a contract signed by the company with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in April 2017. mercial and public spaces. They also supply products for industrial, ar- cluding loans, financing facilities or chitectural, interior and landscaping incubation through our initiatives projects. With Qatar rapidly devel- Jahiz 1 and Jahiz 2. We also offer oping into a major hub for sporting training, guidance and follow-up events in the region, Coastal has also services through our model fac- become a reliable source of sporting tory programme and others to fur- infrastructure products. ther develop companies’ industrial skills. We are also keen on making Qatar 2022 regional and global markets avail- Coastal played an important role able to them through Qatar’s export in the redevelopment of the first development agency, which is the tournament-ready venue, Khalifa bank’s export arm, and its various International Stadium. Their efforts initiatives.” included the fabrication, supply and delivery of secondary structural steel Strong experience work and cladding. They were also Both Azeem and Izmegna spoke responsible for installing premium highly of the collaboration and co- hospitality seats, as well as providing operation that Coastal have experi- the seats for the redeveloped acces- enced with the SC. As a company, sibility areas in the stadium. “We provided a few options to SC and entrepreneurs by providing local they are particularly proud to have “We do the whole package, right management and officials, and they opportunities to successful small and been given such levels of responsi- from the design layout to the 3D mod- selected the colour patterns you see medium enterprises to compete in bility with preparations for the next els. We have a team in-house which now in the stadiums. We then manu- We are pleased with the efforts global markets, further contributing World Cup. does the whole layout,” said Coastal’s factured the seats accordingly.” and achievements of Coastal and to the local economy. “Initially, I think it was a big CEO, Nishad Azeem. Like the SC, Coastal take particu- other Qatari companies in “We are pleased with the efforts decision by the SC to give a local On 5 April 2017, the SC awarded lar care in implementing sustainable planning and preparing for this and achievements of Coastal and company the six stadiums for seat Coastal the contract to manufacture practices with their seat manufactur- huge global sporting event.. other Qatari companies in plan- production,” said Izmegna. “When and install the spectator seating for ing. “We don’t waste anything from ning and preparing for this huge it comes to quality and other logisti- six World Cup venues: Al Bayt Sta- the plastic,” said Azeem. “Some- Jassem Ibrahim Al Mohammadi, global sporting event. Coastal is cal and technical aspects, it was re- dium, Al Janoub Stadium, Ahmad times, we have rejections, or when QDB Senior Relationship Manager just one of the many local compa- ally challenging at the beginning, as Bin Ali Stadium, Education City Sta- we are changing colours, we have nies that we are proud to represent they were checking our capabilities, dium, Lusail Stadium and Ras Abu some seats that end up being mixed and it serves as an inspiring suc- while from our side, we were try- Aboud Stadium. A total of 250,000 colours. All that is recycled and we 20 provided support on those pro- stadiums. cess story for all Qatari industrial ing to understand the requirements seats have been produced by Coastal, have a team that does all that.” jects. companies,” said Jassem Ibrahim that were very, very high. with the company overseeing all as- In the production of the specta- Home-grown production Al Mohammadi, QDB Senior Rela- “After we started delivering the pects of the production, from design Statistics tor seats for Qatar 2022, Coastal In line with Qatar National Vision tionship Manager. material, they saw our performance to venue installation. Coastal’s contribution to the has been producing 600 seats per 2030, Coastal’s efforts towards Qatar Al Mohammadi highlighted oth- and the quality of our product that “For Al Janoub, you see the sea redevelopment of Khalifa Interna- day, with 12 employees overseeing 2022 are seen as a success story in er programmes and services pro- was locally made with regional ma- waves, or at Ahmad Bin Ali, you have tional Stadium involved a workforce the work in the company’s highly- local manufacturing and production. vided by QDB to companies in the terials, but made to the highest of the lion’s head. All these colour pat- of 100 on the steel works and a fur- sophisticated manufacturing plant. Their endeavours were supported manufacturing sector. standards. When they saw the first terns were developed by Coastal at ther 40 employees installing the new A workforce of between 100 and 120 financially by Qatar Development He added: “We offer financing batch of deliveries, they were confi- a very early stage,” said Coastal’s premium hospitality and accessibil- has been responsible for the installa- Bank (QDB), whose vision is to de- and advisory programmes and ser- dent in our performance and in the Project Manager, Emad Izmegna. ity area seats. An additional staff of tion of the manufactured seats in the velop and empower Qatari projects vices for industrial companies, in- products we were delivering.”

China cuts taxes to boost semiconductor development Scale7 hosts Qatar’s first fashion and design Hackathon The challenges posed by offered to each team. Three Agencies Beijing has spent heavily Three-day event sees participants working the pandemic have led to the industry experts delivered in- over the past two decades to for solutions for fashion industry challenges acceleration and develop- spiring speeches to motivate China announced tax breaks build up a Chinese chip indus- ment of current trends in the entrepreneurs and shared Monday to spur growth of its try, but its makers of smart- fashion industry. To address their success stories. Four semiconductor industry fol- phones and other technology Tribune News Network ing together and brainstorm- Ideal platform these challenges, the areas of final presentations includ- lowing U.S. sanctions that still rely on the United States, Doha ing to create solutions for the discussions during the Hack- ing two on sustainability and alarmed the ruling Communist Europe and Taiwan for their most pressing challenges in The Scale7 Hackathon athon revolved around two two on customer experience Party by cutting off access to most advanced components. Scale7, the first fashion and the fashion industry today. offered the ideal platform for pillars. fought for the top slot. American processor chips for Then-President Donald design business incubator The Scale7 Hackathon of- entrepreneurs to compete, The first pillar was in- The two winning teams tech giant Huawei and some Trump cut off Huawei Tech- in Qatar founded by Qatar fered the ideal platform for build and develop exciting novation in customer ex- will receive four hours of other companies. nologies Ltd.’s access to U.S. Development Bank (QDB) entrepreneurs to compete, concepts. Winners will be perience by creating new mentorship to support the Leaders declared accelerat- processor chips and other tech- in partnership with M7, the build and develop exciting entitled to several benefits methods of communication, development of their appli- ing efforts to transform China nology in 2019 in a fight over creative and cultural hub concepts. Winners will be aimed at providing a wide researching the nature of cation for Scale7 Incubation into a self-reliant “technol- Beijing’s industrial ambitions. operating under Qatar Mu- entitled to several benefits range of support to fashion future stores, in addition program and access to Scale7 ogy power” to be this year’s Last year, Trump tightened seums, has successfully com- aimed at providing a wide and design entrepreneurs to creating new innovative Co-working space for two top economic priority after curbs by prohibiting global pleted Qatar’s first fashion range of support to fashion who are interested in fashion retail formats. The second months. Furthermore, each the tariff war with Washington suppliers from using U.S. tech- and technology virtual Hack- and design entrepreneurs technology and to grow and pillar harped on the sustain- active participant will receive highlighted its reliance on U.S. nology to make chips for Hua- athon, which was held be- who are interested in fashion ability aspect by focusing a certificate of participation. components for smartphones wei. That threatens to cripple tween March 12 and 14, 2021. technology and to grow and tap into the opportunities on the search for innovative Hackathons are a new and other industries Beijing its smartphone business, which Opening the doors of infi- tap into the opportunities within Qatar as well as global products, the mechanism of global trend in innovation, wants to develop. Chipmak- was the No. 1 global seller in nite opportunities for Qatari within Qatar as well as global markets. supply chains, in addition to whereby companies and indi- ers can import machinery and early 2020 but has dropped out entrepreneurs and those in markets. circular economy business viduals create unique ideas in raw materials tax-free through of the top five brands. the emerging fields of fash- The Hackathon featured for participating teams to models. a collective framework. They 2030, the Finance Ministry Political analysts expect lit- ion and technology innova- 4 main speakers, 7 mentors co-develop pioneering ideas Over 50 applications were have been praised by experts and other agencies announced. tle change in the U.S. position tion, the three-day event and an international jury that are viable enough to be received for the Hackathon. as high-impact, high-energy They did not say how large a under President Joe Biden, witnessed participation from consisting of 9 industry ex- transformed into real-world With 18 final active partici- drivers of meaningful tech- subsidy to manufacturers that who succeeded Trump in individuals and teams work- perts, providing a platform solutions. pants, 1 hour mentorship was nology innovation. might represent. January. QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Bale admits QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Wales’ World Cup qualifying could be his last page 14 TUESday, MARCH 30, 2021 Sheikha Asma aims to become first Qatari woman to climb Mount Everest

QNA Doha

Sheikha Asma Al Thani is aiming to become the first Qa- tari woman to climb Mount Everest in April/May this year as part of her drive to inspire women and young people in the region to challenge stereo- types and fulfill their dreams. Sheikha Asma will travel to Nepal on 1 April to begin her trek to Everest Basecamp I climb mountains because for acclimatization, before at- tempting to summit Everest in it challenges my limits. And mid-May if conditions allow. it is my hope that, by taking Everest represents the on the worlds highest toughest challenge yet on mountains, I can challenge Sheikha Asma’s journey to the stereotypical image of becoming the first woman from the Middle East to com- the traditional explorer plete the Explorers Grand and empower women and Slam, which involves climb- youth in the region to ing all of the Seven Summits challenge themselves and reaching the North Pole and dream bigger. and South Pole. She is only the third Qatari Sheikha Asma Al Thani to ever attempt the climb and, Sheikha Asma Al Thani will travel to Nepal on 1 April to begin her trek to Everest Basecamp for if successful, would become acclimatization, before attempting to summit Everest in mid-May if conditions allow. the first Qatari woman in his- tory to stand 8,849 meters the lives of so many. If they gree to the North Pole as part achieve such feats. Together above sea level. fall, they always get up and An avid adventurer, Sheikha Asma Al Thani has already completed three of an international team of we can all work to inspire the Sheikha Asma Al Thani try harder. And if they lose, of the nine Explorers Grand Slam challenges. In 2018, she became the women from across Europe next generation of women to said: “I have dreamed of they always rise stronger. Ul- and the Middle East, and the achieve their dreams,” said climbing mountains ever since timately, they inspire us all to first Qatari to ski the last degree to the North Pole as part of an interna- first Qatari woman to summit Sheikha Asma. I was young. A dream which be better versions of ourselves. tional team of women from across Europe and the Middle East, and the Aconcagua in 2019. Sheikha Asma Al Thani is has always been ignited by my “I climb mountains be- Prior to this, in 2014, she aiming to inspire women and love of sport and its ability to cause it challenges my lim- first Qatari woman to summit Aconcagua in 2019. Prior to this, in 2014, was among the first group of young people across the Mid- inspire. its. And it is my hope that, by she was among the first group of Qatari women to summit Kilimanjaro. Qatari women to summit Kili- dle East. “In my extensive work taking on the worlds highest manjaro. She is also a senior official within sport in Qatar, I have mountains, I can challenge the “This has been a journey of in the Qatar Olympic Com- seen first-hand the powerful stereotypical image of the tra- region to challenge themselves Sheikha Asma has already lenges. firsts, but this is not my focus. mittee and a key driving force impact that sport and its in- ditional explorer and empow- and dream bigger.” completed three of the nine In 2018, she became the My ultimate dream is to be the behind major Qatari sports credible athletes can have on er women and youth in the An avid adventurer, Explorers Grand Slam chal- first Qatari to ski the last de- first of many Qatari women to projects.

FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers friendly Upbeat Qatar seek a hat-trick of wins as they meet Ireland

Tribune News Network Doha

Having won against Luxem- bourg and Azerbaijan, World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar would be keen to score a hat-trick of wins in their friendlies when they take on Ireland in the Eu- ropean Zone FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers at the Nagy- erdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Tuesday. Following their 1-0 win over Luxembourg in the first match, Felix Sanchez’s men rallied superbly from being a Ireland’s head coach Stephen Kenny shouts instructions to his players goal down to beat Azerbaijan during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A qualification match 2-1, with captain Hassan Al against Luxembourg at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday. (AFP) Haydos scoring a brace. Going by Qatar’s and Ire- land’s current form, the for- Coach Kenny backs mer will hold the advantage. Ireland are on a terrible run of results and have yet to win his young guns a game during Stephen Ken- Al Annabi during their training session in Debrecen, Hungary, on Monday on the eve of their FIFA World Cup 2022 European qualifiers friendly against ny’s time in charge. They have Ireland. Qatar beat Luxembourg and Azerbaijan in their earlier matches. DPA enough and never will be. drawn four and lost six under London However, speaking ahead the former Dundalk manager. out good run,” he added. of Tuesday night’s friendly There were positive signs Sanchez hinted he will play Manager Stephen Kenny against Qatar in Debrecen, a in Ireland’s 3-2 defeat to Ser- a strong team – the one he has insisted his young guns defiantK enny said: “It would bia but Saturday night’s 1-0 fielded against Luxembourg will be Ireland stars as he at- be too easy for me to say that reversal to Luxembourg has last Wednesday. tempts to guide them through we’ll have long-term success compounded Ireland’s awful “I have an idea about the their World Cup misery. with this, but what I will say is run of form. team we will play but will take a Ireland followed a hard- that all of those players com- With Tottenham full-back final decision after today’s train- fought 3-2 Group A defeat in ing through, a lot of them are Matt Doherty and Enda Ste- ing. Whoever plays will have Serbia with a demoralising very talented. vens ruled out, 58th ranked to give their 100 percent. We 1-0 reverse at home to Lux- “There are some sugges- Qatar will fancy their chances always strive to work hard and embourg on Saturday evening tions that they’ll all end back against Ireland, who are 29th prepare our best to compete in to cement a start to the new playing in Ireland and that in FIFA rankings. the best possible way,” he said. campaign which has dramati- they’re not that talented. All With only five teams in Meanwhile, striker Almoez cally reduced their chances of those players that have come World Cup qualifying Group Ali said: “We hope to continue qualification. in - Dara O’Shea, Jason Knight, A, Qatar are playing the odd our good form. We want to Seven of the men who Jayson Molumby, Aaron Con- team out in each matchday as play as a team with collective played in those two games – nolly, Caoimhin Kelleher, they prepare to host the tour- and fighting spirit, which has Mark Travers, Dara O’Shea, Gavin Bazunu and all of those nament at the end of next year. been key for our success in the Aaron Connolly, Jayson players, they will all have good Despite Ireland’s woeful recent past. Molumby, Gavin Bazunu, Ja- careers at the top level. form and injury concerns, Qa- “It doesn’t matter who son Knight and Troy Parrott “They are going to be good tar coach Sanchez is expect- scores, the important thing is – were aged 22 or under, and players for Ireland in the fu- ing a ‘difficult confrontation’ Qatar coach Felix Sanchez (centre) expects a ‘difficult confrontation’ against a ‘strong team’ on Tuesday for the team to provide a de- among the criticism which has ture and they are talented against a ‘strong team’. despite Ireland’s woeful form and injury concerns. cent performance. Personally, engulfed Kenny and his play- players, and you will see them “There is no doubt that it I want to help the team and ers since has been a suggestion blossom – and other players is a difficult match against a recent defeats. That will mo- high level match, especially in their line-up. We will try to this is my goal and if I get the that some of the youngsters in- like Troy Parrott as well and strong team that will be look- tivate them,” the Spaniard from the physical point of provide the best possible level opportunity I will score goals troduced by the former Under- players I haven’t even men- ing to bounce back from their said on Monday. “I will be a view. They have good players in order to continue the good of course.” 21s boss are simply not good tioned,” he added. Sports Tuesday, March 30, 2021 13 Vinales & Yamaha: Heroes in Qatar again that the combination is here to It’s been a Ducati stranglehold in stay at the top of the Champi- onship for the foreseeable. recent years, but a repeat of 2017 Since winning his first race with Yamaha in Qatar at the sees the top gun take season-opener start of the 2017 season, it’s fair to say it hasn’t complete- honours under lights at Losail ly gone to plan for Vinales in Iwata blue. e’re back.” tararo were helpless from the Three wins in the opening Those were the front row as Bagnaia, Miller, five races was a dream start rousing words Zarco and even Jorge Martin to life as a Yamaha rider, but of Maverick Vin- (Pramac Racing) – from 14th five wins – including the latest laesW (Monster Energy Yamaha on the grid – shot into the first triumph – since the famous Le MotoGP) straight after he per- corner in P1, P2, P3 and P4. Mans encounter hasn’t been formed arguably his best pre- It was unreal to watch. But the icing on the cake. This mier class performance to date what happened next proved might be the start of what we to claim victory in the 2021 that Yamaha and Vinales have all came to expect though. Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar at turned a corner. It must be said that Yama- Losail International Circuit. Through the first sector, ha have always performed well And he’s not wrong. Vinales was P9. From there, in the Qatari desert: Vinales, The Losail International previously, it was probably Valentino Rossi and Jorge Circuit has only seen one game over in terms of a decent Lorenzo have all won at Lo- manufacturer win there in the points haul for Yamaha as bat- sail. But that shouldn’t take last two seasons. That is, of tling in a pack with different anything away from what we course, Ducati. Heading into machines is something that witnessed on the latest Sunday the opening race of 2021, the has been a huge weak point in under the lights. Let’s reiter- Italian manufacturer in the the last couple of seasons. So ate: it’s not the win that was capable hands of Francesco for Viñales to then pick each most impressive, it was the Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team rider in front of him off, not style of win that has raised teammate Jack Miller and Jo- look uncomfortable doing so, eyebrows. hann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and going on to win the race in Of course, lots can change were favourites to continue commanding fashion was sim- very quickly in MotoGP. the trend. What very few peo- ply stunning. There’s no doubt that every ple expected was a Vinales Yamaha’s game, and the rider will be stronger at the victory. Not because he isn’t victories we’ve seen from Losail International Circuit capable, but because Ducati’s Viñales in recent years, has Spaniard Maverick Vinlaes of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP celebrates with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar trophy at the Losail International next weekend, but Vinales has straight-line speed and off the been to get out at the front Circuit on Sunday. rekindled old feelings with his mark advantage seemed a bit from the get-go and run your YZR-M1. too much to overcome for the own race. Malaysia 2019 is the Both Vinales and Yamaha husband and a father to be. A back”, it looks like he really tararo’s title challenges on the Winning in such fashion Yamahas, especially after what prime example. It’s been the look like improved weapons stress-free Viñales is obviously means it. latest spec machinery went up sends out a warning shot to we saw in 2020. Many were trademark for years for the in 2021, and what was uplift- a very, very quick Viñales. The Spaniard won one race in smoke. the rest of the field, but we’re proved wrong. Iwata factory, and a lot of the ing to see was the Spaniard It might have only been last season but it was a largely To display such a perfor- only one race into a season. As the lights went out, time it’s worked. But after last speaking with such pride in Round 1 of the season, but disappointing year for both mance that is pretty much the A lot can change over the Ducati’s monsters roared into season especially, something the post-race Press Confer- we learned a lot from Qatar’s him and Yamaha in general. total opposite of what we’ve coming months. However, Turn 1 four abreast. Viñales needed to change. And seem- ence about how happy he is opener. Yes, they won seven out of 14 seen from Vinales and Yamaha Vinales has returned to action and teammate Fabio Quar- ingly, something has. with life at home. He’s now a When Vinales says “we are races, but Vinales and Quar- in recent years is a tell-tail sign with an almighty bang.

Roger Federer becomes Swiss Tourism ambassador Hamilton is ready for what could

winner is showcasing his fa- vourite places in the country on the myswitzerland.com be epic F1 fight with Verstappen website, with further market- ing activities to to start in April DPA time champion made the dif- in European cities, followed Sakhir (Bahrain) ference in the end. by the United States and the British paper The Guard- Asia/Pacific region. The Formula One season Lewis Hamilton won ian said that “Hamilton deliv- “Swiss Tourism and Rog- promises to be an exciting the season-opening ered an emphatic and salutary er Federer share countless one after world champion Bahrain GP with an reminder that if Max Verstap- values. Building this part- Lewis Hamilton barely held inferior car as his pen is to wrest the title from nership is a unique opportu- off Max Verstappen on Sun- Mercedes team the champion’s grasp he will be nity and very important for day in Bahrain. braces itself for a fought every inch of the way.” us,” Swiss Tourism director It will take some time to The 23-year-old Dutch- Martin Nydegger said in a judge whether Verstappen’s thrilling F1 title man actually managed to get statement. Red Bull team are really capa- fight with Max past Hamilton in an exciting Federer said: “I have been ble of dethroning Hamilton’s Verstappen’s finalebut exceeded track lim- all over the world. Switzerland Mercedes outfit after seven Red Bull its and had to hand the posi- has always remained my fa- years at the top but they seem tion back to the Briton who Swiss tennis great Roger Federer. vourite place. It is the country I to have a car that can finally then held on to win. miss most when I am travelling. give Mercedes a real fight un- “I had one shot and I just DPA “There is always a Swiss til the end. went outside of the track at Geneva flag when my name is men- “There is a long way to go, Turn 4 so I gave the position tioned. I was always very 22 (races) ... Holy crap! I will back, but by then my tyres Tennis star Roger Federer proud of that in my first 22 be grey by the end of this,” weren’t in a good state any has been named ambassador years on the tour, and it will Hamilton said. more to put the pressure on,” of the tourist board in his na- always stay that way,” he said. Verstappen meanwhile Verstappen said. tive Switzerland in order to Federer’s earnings from considered: “we’ll have 22 more Race stewards had pun- lure visitors back into country the partnership are to go to his opportunities to do better. ished drivers exceeding the after a massive drop owing to foundation that supports edu- “We have to look at the track limits at that spot be- the coronavirus crisis. cational projects in Africa and positives, we are taking the fore on the weekend but were The 20-time Grand Slam Switzerland. fight to Mercedes and I think Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen greets Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton on the podium after the initially lenient in the early that’s great, it’s good to start Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in the city of Sakhir on Sunday. (AFP) stages of the race which led to the season this way,” the some confusion. Dutchman added. The next duel comes on “We’ve got to do better, pull out extra in order to make “We need to be consistent Mercedes motorsport chief April 18 at the Emilia Romag- we’ve got to be smarter and the difference,” he said. in which messages are being No returning home until Toto Wolff said: “We have a na Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, how we navigate through our Red Bull had the faster car given. They need to be clear, real fight on our hands - and and Hamilton vowed he wants weekends with the fact that all weekend in Bahrain just they need to be sacred and end of season for Barty we’re all excited about the to prove again that he can also we don’t have the fastest car at as in pre-season training, but not a Shakespeare novel that prospect of a really close battle win races while not having the the moment but that’s all good team tactics and the experi- leaves interpretation (open),” not a lot of space in the season for these championships.” best car. for me, I don’t mind having to ence of the 36-year-old seven- Wolff said. to be able to do that just to get home for the two weeks,” said Barty. “So at this stage we’re planning to be away until after the US Open and potentially Jabeur shocks Kenin at Miami, Osaka gets w/o right to the end of season.” While Barty is no stran- DPA/WTA really play well and play my with 23rd seed Maria Sakkari, - prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-4 against ger to long periods away from Miami (Florida) game. I’m so proud that I won who dismantled qualifier Li- Kalinskaya, having trailed 3-0 home, she admitted settling today. It’s been amazing here udmila Samsonova 6-0 6-1. in the final set. into a stretch that could last Tunisan Ons Jabeur flipped in Miami. I’ve been practic- Naomi Osaka did not “I brought my fighting until November if the entire the script in the latest chapter ing hard... and I’ve just been raise a sweat en route into spirit and I could match the World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty season goes ahead, is taking of her recent rivalry with Sofia trying to get back to the best the last 16. The Australian level of fighting against Anna, of Australia. some getting used to. Kenin as she knocked out the game that I can be playing.” Open champion and second and very happy to go through “Without a doubt it was fourth-seeded American at the Meanwhile, for the third seed Osaka benefited from a these tough matches,” Mugu- Agencies something that was new to Miami Open on Sunday. time this past month, 2019 walkover after qualifier Nina ruza said following two hours, Florida me, new to try and wrap my Previously 0-4 against Miami Open runner-up Plisk- Stojanovic withdrew ahead of 41 minutes on court. head around and comprehend Kenin at WTA main-draw lev- ova went down 6-1 4-6 6-4 to Sunday’s clash due to a right “Doesn’t matter if you play World number one Ash Barty where we’re going to be away el, Jabeur struck 40 winners 29th seed Pegula. thigh injury. pretty or you play ugly, but you has said she will probably not for such an extended period,” and 11 aces to earn her third Australian Open quarter- Elise Mertens will face stay strong and you go through return home to Australia until said Barty, who is the defend- career win over a Top 5 player finalist Pegula conquered Osaka following the 16th these rounds. That gives me after the conclusion of the 2021 ing Miami Open champion as and advance to a fourth-round Ons Jabeur of Tunisia. Pliskova in Doha and Dubai seed’s 6-2 0-6 6-2 win against an opportunity to feel better season because of quarantine last year’s event was cancelled meeting with in-form Span- before repeating the feat in Anett Kontaveit. and to have another chance.” requirements in place to stem due to the pandemic. iard Sara Sorribes Tormo. seed Elena Rybakina 6-1 3-6 Miami on Sunday. Two-time Grand Slam Muguruza - who has the most the spread of COVID-19. Barty spent the last year in The Tunisian looked as 6-2 - will meet for a spot in the “I played her a lot the last winner Muguruza rallied past final appearances this season Barty, speaking after mak- her home country of Australia, though she might lose out to quarter-finals. three weeks, three tourna- Russian wildcard Anna Ka- with three, having won the ing the last 16 at the Miami mostly due to the COVID-19 Kenin for the fifth time in the “It was an amazing match ments,” Pegula said. linskaya at the WTA Premier Dubai Tennis Championships Open said the time needed to pandemic, and Miami will be past two years when she fell today. Honestly, I tried to play “I kind of expected her to event. However, Pliskova was and finished runner-up at the quarantine on either end of a her first tournament abroad behind 3-1 in the final set, but my game and play to take my play well there. Even when I tamed by nemesis Jessica Peg- Qatar Open and Yarra Valley journey to Australia would be since February 2020. rallied to win five of the last revenge because I’ve been los- was up I still felt like she could ula in Miami. Classic - will next face eighth too much of a challenge. “Tough playing tennis af- six games to close out a 6-4, ing a lot against Sofia,” Jabeur easily come back just because Spanish star Muguruza seed Bianca Andreescu. “Obviously with the quar- ter traveling again,” said Bar- 4-6, 6-4 win in one hour and said after the match. she plays so aggressive and dug deep to earn her tour- Former US Open champi- antine laws in Australia, we ty, 24, who added that a pair of 47 minutes. “She’s such an amazing she serves well.” After reeling leading 20th win of the sea- on Andreescu overcame fellow do our two weeks’ quarantine cancellations created “quite a Jabeur and Sara Sorribes player, but I was there, I was off the final four games, Peg- son. Former world number seed Amanda Anisimova 7-6 in a hotel, and there is actually wriggle around”. Tormo – who shocked 21st confident, I wanted to win and ula set up a last-16 showdown one Muguruza – the 12th seed (7-4) 6-7 (2-7) 6-4. 14 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Sports Germany win narrowly in Romania, top group DPA Berlin

Serge Gnabry’s first half goal ensured Germany won 1-0 in Romania on Sunday People take part in a Body Sculpt class, using weights at SJ’s Gym and stayed top of World Cup in Scunthorpe, north east England on Monday as England’s third qualifying Group J despite a COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were eased. (AFP) string of missed chances in Bucharest. Gnabry tapped in a 15th goal in 19 internationals in England eases the 16th minute but coach Joachim Loew watched in growing frustration as Ger- COVID-19 contact many failed to make the game safe through a combination of poor finishing and inspired restrictions, allows goalkeeping from Florin Nita. But with Romania tooth- less in attack, Gnabry’s solitary sports to resume strike was enough to keep Ger- many perfect in the group with DPA Britain is pending. two wins out of two before they London Johnson also reassured conclude their opening triple- Britons who were concerned header at home to North Mac- England has further about receiving their second edonia on Wednesday. eased its coronavirus con- dose of a COVID-19 vaccine “We have worked very tact restrictions to allow for due to issues surrounding the well against the ball and won larger outdoor meet-ups and vaccine supply. it well,” Loew told broadcast- team sports. “April is going to be the er RTL. “We had some good Germany’s midfielder Serge Gnabry (C) heads the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football against Romania in As part of Prime Minis- second dose month and it’s combinations. Bucharest on Sunday. (AFP) ter Boris Johnson’s road- very important everyone “If you can be critical, it map out of lockdown, which gets their second dose,” John- is the chance conversion - we ple task to score. The home keeper then At the other end, Germany on six points after Tigran was unveiled in February, son said. could have made the game “Important for us is the denied Leon Goretzka, who keeper Manuel Neuer, playing Barseghyan and Khoren Bay- groups of up to six, or two easier if we’d score the second three points,” said Gnabry. “In along with Leroy Sane played his 98th international the day ramyan struck in the second households, can now meet goal.” But Loew, one game the end it doesn’t matter how despite being a doubt with a after his 35th birthday, had half to shock Iceland 2-0. together outdoors. Tennis and basketball closer to leaving the German we got them. muscle injury, and made spec- only a couple of routine saves That followed an opening Minimal travel, but no courts, outdoor swimming job after Euro 2020 in sum- “We should have decided tacular saves from Gnabry and to make but Nicolae Stanciu win at Liechtenstein and they holidays, are allowed and out- pools, golf courses and mer, added: “Overall you can the match much earlier. We midfielder Ilkay Guendogan. almost stole a point when he carry their good form into a door parent and child groups sailing clubs can now all be happy, we have something have made life hard for our- Sane poked wide in the hit the side-netting after a home match with Romania in can meet with up to 15 parents reopen. Residents in to build on.” Kai Havertz was selves.” Havertz had seen the second half and substitute careless pass from Antonio midweek when Liechtenstein from Monday. England are expected to key to the only goal with his tone set for the game moments Timo Werner also failed to Ruediger. also host Iceland. North Mac- Tennis and basketball start playing football and run finding space on the right earlier when Nita saved his beat Nita with a clear sight Armenia are a surprise edonia thrashed Liechtenstein courts, outdoor swimming and cross giving Gnabry a sim- shot from a similar position. of goal. name level with Germany 4-0 in Sunday’s other game. pools, golf courses and sailing cricket matches outside clubs can now all reopen. as the country experienc- Residents in England es a wave of warm are expected to start playing weather this week. Manchester City’s football and cricket matches outside as the country experi- Italy clinch 2-0 win against Bulgaria record goalscorer ences a wave of warm weather England’s National Health this week. Service (NHS) had previously DPA Aguero to leave In Northern Ireland, six warned vaccination centres Rome club in summer people will be able to meet out- that there would be a “signifi- side from Thursday, while in cant reduction” in supplies. Italy won 2-0 away to Bulgaria DPA Scotland the “stay home” mes- British health department from an Andrea Belotti penalty Manchester sage will be lifted on Friday, sources however told dpa the and a Manuel Locatelli goal on allowing people to leave their delays were not unusual and Sunday, clinching a second win Manchester City striker homes for other reasons than due to vaccine “batches requir- to go top in Group C on their Sergio Aguero will leave the school, work, health, exercise ing further testing to ensure path to the 2022 World Cup. club this summer when his or food shopping, though they the highest safety standards.” Italy beat Northern Ireland contract expires, the Premier should stay near their homes. The sources added the lag was 2-0 in Thursday’s campaign League outfit have confirmed. In Wales, the “stay home” also not to due to action from opener and are ahead of Swit- The Argentina internation- message has already been the European Union, after zerland, who won 1-0 at home al is City’s record goal-scorer lifted. London and Brussels recently to Lithuania in the other Sun- having amassed 257 goals in During a briefing with faced issues regarding vaccine day fixture, on goal difference. 384 appearances since arriv- journalists on Monday, John- exports by British-Swedish “All games are tough, par- ing from Atletico Madrid in son gave some updates re- pharmaceutical company As- ticularly against teams like Bul- the summer of 2011 and is the garding the vaccine roll-out in traZeneca. garia, who sat deep and looked highest-scoring overseas play- Britain. During the briefing, John- for counter-attacks,” Italy coach er in Premier League history. Johnson said pharmaceu- son also said questions regard- Roberto Mancini said. “We are Aguero, who turns 33 in tical giant GlaxoSmithKline ing overseas travel from June at a moment in the season when June, is most famous for his (GSK) will help US firm No- 21, as originally foreseen in his players may be tired but we did added-time goal in the final vavax with the final stages of lockdown roadmap, would be not suffer and scored after cre- league match of the 2011-12 manufacturing its Covid-19 answered in an update to the ating some chances.” Belotti Italy’s midfielder Manuel Locatelli celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup season against QPR which se- vaccine at its Barnard Castle country on April 5. struck from the spot after Daniel Qatar 2022 qualification match against Bulgaria at the Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia on Sunday.( AFP) cured the club’s first Premier facility in the north-east of More than 30.4 million Dimov floored him late in a tight League title. England. people have received their first first half of the Group C match at Immobile came on for Be- “This period is not easy as Xherdan Shaqiri, but were de- In addition to becoming The shot’s approval in coronavirus jab in Britain so far. Sofia’s Vasil Levski stadium. lotti and forced Plamen Iliev’s some of us have been hit by cor- layed in taking kick-off as a goal the club’s record goal-scorer After the break the Azzurri tough save in stoppage time. onavirus, including myself. Un- was fractionally too high and – which he achieved by over- had no problems from the hosts’ “We tried some penalties fortunately many people have had to be replaced. taking Eric Brook’s 78-year re- lacklustre comeback efforts and this week and I was the desig- been infected and I want to wish “We haven’t played with cord with a goal in the 4-2 win missed a telling chance when nated shooter,” Torino striker a prompt recover to all those each other for four or five at Napoli in 2017 – he also has Belotti misfired after his lob Belotti said. who are suffering.” Italy play months and only had a few days a Premier League high 12 hat- came off the post. “It was important to unblock their third qualifier at Lithuania to train together, so it hasn’t tricks which he achieved with Substitute Locatelli scored a difficult game. Then the ball on Wednesday when Northern been easy,” Shaqiri told SRF. a treble against Aston Villa in his first goal for Italy on 83 took a strange spin when I hit Ireland welcome Bulgaria. “All things considered, I January 2020 to surpass Alan minutes, controlling a Loren- the post and then I missed [on Switzerland needed only think we’ve done very well to Shearer’s landmark. zo Insigne pass to fire into the the rebound]. Too bad because I two minutes to open the scor- start the qualifying campaign Aguero has won four far corner. would have enjoyed a brace. ing against Lithuania, through the way we have.” Premier League titles. Bale admits Wales’ World Cup qualifying could be his last

DPA ful” last week when outlining a massive thing in football. London his end-of-season plans to see Whether you are the best play- Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (left) scores past Andorra’s goalkeeper out the final year of hisR eal er or the worst, confidence as Iker during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification match vs Andorra Gareth Bale admits his in- Madrid contract. a footballer, especially for me, in Warsaw, on Sunday. (AFP) ternational career could be “Obviously, there’s no hid- is one of the most important drawing to a close with Wales’ ing we are getting older and things. current World Cup qualifying possibly it is the last campaign. “Playing in the final third Pole star Lewandowski out of campaign possibly his last. “If it is, then it won’t you need to take risks, you Wales play the Czech Re- change my mindset. I’m going need to feel good about your- England clash due to injury public in Cardiff on Tuesday to be 100 per cent committed self and to be able to beat a de- seeking their first points in like always. fender, shoot and score goals. DPA Treatment of such injuries Group E after an opening de- “We still have a big tourna- “I wouldn’t say it’s a must- Warsaw usually takes between five and feat to Belgium. ment to play in the summer win match, but we want to win 10 days, the statement on Mon- Bale and company still and then continue with these the match. Poland and Bayern Munich day said. Lewandowski scored have this summer’s delayed qualifiers after. “We don’t want to start a striker Robert Lewandowski twice in Poland’s 3-0 qualifier European Championship fi- “I’m purely focused on the campaign off with two losses will not play in Wednesday’s win against Andorra on Sunday nals to look forward to, but present and what is happening straight away. World Cup qualifier against before being substituted in the Tottenham’s Wales captain now. Wales forward Gareth Bale (left) passes the ball leading to a goal for In the last Euros cam- England due to injury, the Pol- 63rd minute with the injury. will be 33 by the time of the Whatever will happen in Wales during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match against paign, we started with a win ish football association PZPN He will now return to Mu- 2022 World Cup finals in the future will happen.” Bale Belgium at the Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven on March 24. (AFP) but we had two defeats on the said in a statement. nich to undergo further treat- Qatar. had a slow start to his Spurs bounce. Medical examination re- ment. Bundesliga leaders Bayern “I haven’t really thought return on a season-long loan as many games in February have opened their campaign “We’re not thinking of los- vealed that a ligament in Lewan- visit RB Leipzig in a table topper too much past this campaign,” from Real after arriving with and early-March, and says he by beating Estonia and draw- ing. Us experienced lads, we dowski’s right knee has been Saturday and face being without Bale said on Monday, insisting “a little problem in my knee”. has the “form and speed” to ing with Belgium. understand it’s not a sprint, damaged and playing in the their league top scorer who has he had not been “disrespect- But he scored six goals in trouble Czech opponents, who Bale said: “Confidence is it’s a marathon.” game could make things worse. netted 35 times. Sports Tuesday, March 30, 2021 15

Al Rayyan, Al Ahli spikers make 2021 Amir Cup Volleyball semi-finals

Al Rayyan and Al Ahli have moved into the semi-finals of 2021 Amir Cup Volleyball. While Al Rayyan eased past Qatar SC with a 3-0 win (25-23, 25-13, 25-22), Al Ahli booked their spot in the semi-finals prevailing 3-1 (25-12, 19-25, 25-18, 25-20) over Al Wakrah at the Qatar Volleyball Association Hall on Monday. beIN’s exclusive A B de Villiers says he’s offers for 2021 ‘all packed’ to join RCB summer of sport ANI in the camp. for viewers New Delhi “Rivals till yesterday, DC family from today @Rishabh- Tribune News Network mentary access to beIN CON- Royal Challengers Banga- Pant17, @sambillings and @ Doha NECT, a monthly $20 bonus lore’s (RCB) AB de Villiers on TC59 as they join the camp credit on the “beIN On De- Monday said that he is “all for #IPL2021,” Delhi Capitals Following its recent an- mand Store’ and ‘beIN Box Pf- packed” to join the franchise tweeted. Also, India spinner nouncement of new sports and fice channels’. for the upcoming edition of the Ravichandran Ashwin, all- entertainment packages in Viewers who subscribe Indian Premier League (IPL). rounder Axar Patel and West MENA, global sports and en- now for the Premium package “All packed to join the @ Indies batsman Shimron Het- tertainment broadcaster beIN will get a free PVR Plus box royalchallengersbangalore myer assembled at Delhi Capi- MEDIA GROUP has launched and free delivery. This package team for the IPL,” de Villiers tals’ team hotel in Mumbai. exciting, limited time offers, includes access to the UEFA wrote on Instagram. “The players will be in allowing sports fans to enjoy Champions League and Eng- RCB skipper Virat Kohli quarantine for one week,” the the most exclusive champion- lish Premier League, as well has already begun his prepa- franchise said in a statement. ships of the summer while sav- as the latest entertainment ration for the cash-rich league. As per BCCI’s SOPs for ing on subscription fees. content. With 91 channels of Earlier in the day, he shared a IPL 2021, all players (except Subscribers can avail of sports and entertainment, glimpse from his workout rou- for those from the India-Eng- early bird offers to get three- subscribers also get compli- tine. “No rest days. From here land series), support staff, month complimentary access mentary access to beIN Con- on its all about speed #IPL,” and management entering to the ULTIMATE package nect and a monthly $16 bonus Kohli tweeted. the bubble need to undergo a when subscribing to watch credit on “beIN On Demand RCB is set to play the IPL seven-day quarantine. UEFA EURO 2020 and COPA Store’ and ‘beIN Box Pffice 2021 opener against Mumbai Every individual will be AMERICA 2021. channels’. Indians on April 9 in Chennai. tested multiple times during Other offers also allow Mohammad Al Subaie, this period, and upon returning viewers to save four months’ Acting CEO of beIN MENA Skipper Morgan, Gill join Rishabh Pant, Tom Curran and Sam Billings of the Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2021. the negative results, they will worth of subscription fees said, “The new beIN packages KKR camp in Mumbai be allowed to come out of their when subscribing to watch are designed to provide maxi- Young Indian batsman be seen arriving at the team’s the negative results, they will soft signals when referring a rooms and commence outdoor UEFA Euro 2020, Copa Amer- mum value to subscribers, and Shubman Gill, pacer Prasidh hotel on Monday. be allowed to come out of their decision to the third umpire. training and practice sessions. ica 2021 and Total Africa Cup these summer offers provide Krishna and skipper Eoin “From one bubble to an- rooms and commence outdoor On Sunday, the Delhi-based of Nations, Cameroon 2021. yet another opportunity for Morgan on Monday joined the other. A special delivery from training and practice sessions. Billings, Pant, Curran join franchise announced the ap- In addition, subscribers can our audiences in the region to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Pune arrived this afternoon,” IPL will begin on April 9 Delhi Capitals’ camp pointment of former India save up to six months’ worth further enhance their sports camp for the IPL. KKR tweeted. with Royal Challengers Banga- Star Indian batsman wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra as the of subscription fees on the ‘Ul- and entertainment experi- Indian players Gill and On Sunday, KKR head lore (RCB) and Mumbai Indi- Rishabh Pant and England team’s assistant coach. On his timate’ package, and enjoy the ence. With a summer of major Prasidh, and England skip- coach Brendon McCullum ar- ans locking horns in the tour- players Sam Billings and Tom appointment, Ratra in a state- UEFA EURO 2020, Total Af- sporting events approaching, per Morgan were with their rived in Mumbai ahead of the nament opener. KKR will play Curran on Monday joined Del- ment, said: “I am honoured to rica Cup of Nations, Cameron our special offers allow sub- respective national teams till upcoming edition of the IPL. their first game on April 11 hi Capitals camp. join Delhi Capitals as an assis- 2021, Copa America and FIFA scribers to enjoy their favour- Sunday for the three-match As per BCCI’s SOPs for against SunRisers Hyderabad. Earlier in the day, former tant coach. This is a very excit- World Cup Qatar 2022. ite sporting events, along with ODI series and have now IPL 2021, all players (except Also, the Board of Control Australian skipper and Delhi ing team to work with, abundant Current subscribers ben- complimentary access to our joined the KKR squad for the for those from the India-Eng- for Cricket in India (BCCI) has Capitals head coach Ricky with talent. I am grateful to the efit from some of the above top packages. From the UEFA IPL. Morgan had missed the land series), support staff, done away with soft signals Ponting and bowling coach Delhi Capitals management for offers, as well as free access to Euro 2020 to Copa America final twoO DIs of the series and management entering the for the upcoming IPL. In its James Hopes arrived here to giving me this opportunity.” Copa America 2021 when add- 2021, AFCON and FIFA World against India in Pune because bubble need to undergo a sev- updated playing conditions join the team’s squad for IPL Delhi Capitals will be- ing the UEFA Euro 2020 to Cup Qatar 2022, the best time of an injury sustained during en-day quarantine in hotels. for this year’s IPL, accessed 2021, beginning April 9. Delhi gin their IPL 2021 campaign their subscription. to subscribe to beIN is now.” the firstO DI. Every individual will be by ANI, the BCCI clearly stat- Capitals posted a picture of against Chennai Super Kings In addition, newly joining As part of its new packag- KKR shared pictures of the tested multiple times during ed that the on-field officials Pant, Billings, and Tom Cur- (CSK) at the Wankhede Sta- subscribers will be offered a es, beIN is offering its popular players in which the trio can this period, and upon returning would not be allowed to give ran announcing their arrival dium in Mumbai on April 10. free 4K Media Server with in- TV-Everywhere services via its stallation included when they OTT beIN Connect platform to subscribe to the ULTIMATE more subscribers, maximizing package. This package offers value to viewers of the Kick- Honduras, the ultimate beIN experience Off, Premium, and Ultimate Qatar-Kosovo U-23 friendly ends in 2-2 draw with 100 channels of exclu- packages through thousands Mexico book sive content and 4K ultra-HD of hours of catch-up television, tickets to viewing. It includes compli- and 24/7 streaming. Tokyo Olympics QNA Mexico City

Honduras booked a place in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament for the fourth consecutive time winning the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament semi- finals on Sunday. Honduras secured their place at the 2020 Tokyo Olym- pics after a 2-1 win over the United States. Also booking a ticket were Mexico who defeated Canada 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from winger Uriel An- tuna and defender Johan Vasquez. Honduras will face Mexico in Tuesday’s final. The eight-team tourna- ment was originally scheduled to be held in March 2020 but The U-23 Qatar National football team drew 2-2 with Kosovo in their friendly match held at Aspire on Monday. The match comes as part of the was postponed because of preparations for the AFC U-23Asian up qualifiers, scheduled for October. COVID-19. 16 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 The Last Word

Amir holds official talks with president of Congo

The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of Congo and African Union Chairperson Felix Tshisekedi held a session of official talks at the Amiri Diwan on Monday. They also witnessed the signing of a number of agree- ments and memoranda of understanding between the governments of the two countries. Upon arrival at the Amiri Diwan, the president of Congo was accorded an official reception ceremony.(QNA)

QA unveils summer schedule QU, General Tax Authority with plans to expand network sign MoU for cooperation Tribune News Network The MoU aims to enhance to more than 140 destinations Doha cooperation between the two parties to exchange Tribune News Network Africa: Abuja (ABV), Accra (ACC), Ad- Qatar University (QU) has information and experienc- DOHA dis Ababa (ADD), Alexandria (HBE), Algiers signed a Memorandum of Un- (ALG), Cairo (CAI), Cape Town (CPT), Casa- derstanding (MoU) with Gener- es to raise efficiency under Qatar Airways has announced its summer blanca (CMN), Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Djibou- al Tax Authority (GTA) for coop- comprehensive quality schedule, maintaining its position as the lead- ti (JIB), Durban (DUR), Entebbe (EBB), Jo- eration in the areas of interest. standards according to the ing international carrier providing reliable hannesburg (JNB), Kigali (KGL), Kilimanjaro The MoU was signed by Dr legislation and law global connectivity. (JRO), Lagos (LOS), Luanda (LAD), Maputo Hassan Al-Derham, president of Having never stopped flying throughout (MPM), Mogadishu (MGQ), Nairobi (NBO), QU, and Ahmed bin Issa Al Mo- tant partnership between the the pandemic, the airline has worked diligent- Seychelles (SEZ), Tunis (TUN), Zanzibar hannadi, chairman of GTA. two institutions with common ly to be the world’s leading airline for safety, (ZNZ). The MoU aims to increase goals.” innovation and customer experience. By the Americas: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), cooperation between the two Dr Al-Derham also said peak of the IATA Summer Season, the nation- Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), sides to exchange information Dr Hassan Al-Derham, president of QU, and Ahmed bin Issa Al Mohan- that QU is keen to support and al carrier of Qatar plans to operate over 1,200 Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Montreal and experiences to raise effi- nadi, chairman of GTA, at the agreement-signing ceremony. strengthen ties with the General weekly flights to more than 140 destinations. (YUL), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), ciency under comprehensive Tax Authority to establish coop- This has been recognised with multiples San Francisco (SFO), Sao Paulo (GRU), Seattle quality standards according to employees of the two institu- ing of this agreement, Dr eration in various fields related awards, including being the first global airline (SEA), Washington D.C. (IAD). the legislation and law. tions, field training for students, Hassan Al-Derham said, “The to the scientific, administrative, in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star Asia-Pacific: Adelaide (ADL), Ahmedabad The two parties affirmed organising conferences, work- signing of this memorandum technical, and research fields. COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax, in (AMD), Amritsar (ATQ), Auckland (AKL), their endeavour, through sign- shops and other activities that comes within the framework Al-Mohannadi praised the addition to Qatar Airway’s hub, Hamad Inter- Bali (DPS), Bangalore (BLR), Bangkok (BKK), ing the agreement, to achieve work on development, knowl- of QU’s constant endeavour to role of QU in serving the Qa- national Airport (HIA), being the first airport Brisbane (BNE), Calicut (CCJ), Cebu (CEB), its objectives, which include; ex- edge and tax awareness, and cooperate with all institutions tari labour market by graduat- in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Chennai (MAA), Clark (CRK), Colombo change experiences and develop conducting studies and applied interested in supporting the ing scientifically and practically Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rat- (CMB), Dhaka (DAC), Goa (GOI), Guangzhou educational programmes that research that achieves the goals university’s march towards the qualified students with all the ing in December 2020. (CAN), Hangzhou (HGH), Hanoi (HAN), Ho serve both parties, training and of the two parties. betterment of the Qatari com- theoretical and practical experi- Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Chi Minh City (SGN), Hong Kong (HKG), building experiences among Commenting on the sign- munity. This is a very impor- ences the market needs. Akbar Al Baker said, “We are proud to lead Hyderabad (HYD), Islamabad (ISB), Jakarta the recovery of international aviation, imple- (CGK), Karachi (KHI), Kathmandu (KTM), menting the highest standards of bio-safety Kochi (COK), Kolkata (CCU), Kuala Lumpur and hygiene and investing in the latest inno- (KUL), Lahore (LHE), Male (MLE), Manila vations to simplify travel and restore passen- (MNL), Melbourne (MEL), Mumbai (BOM), ger confidence during the most challenging New Delhi (DEL), Perth (PER), Peshawar QC lays foundation stone for Kosovo health centre period in aviation’s history. (PEW), Phuket (HKT), Seoul (ICN), Singa- “Having never stopped flying throughout pore (SIN), Sialkot (SKT), Sydney (SYD), To- The project is expected to benefit 4,000 pople, with QR645,000 funding from QC the pandemic, we have used our unrivalled kyo Narita (NRT), Trivandrum (TRV). experience and modern, fuel-efficient fleet Europe: Adana (ADA), Amsterdam to operate a sustainable and reliable network (AMS), Antalya (AYT), Ankara (ESB), Athens our passengers, trade partners and corporate (ATH), Baku (GYD), Barcelona (BCN), Bel- customers can rely on. We also continue to grade (BEG), Berlin (BER), Bodrum (BJV), offer the largest international network, in- Brussels (BRU), Bucharest (OTP), Budapest cluding launching seven new destinations, to (BUD), Copenhagen (CPH), Dublin (DUB), provide the connectivity our passengers and Edinburgh (EDI), Frankfurt (FRA), Hel- cargo customers need.” sinki (HEL), Istanbul (IST), Istanbul Sabiha He adde, “As the global vaccine rollout be- (SAW), Izmir (ADB), Kiev (KBP), Larnaca gins to gather pace, we look forward to a grad- (LCA), London (LHR), London Gatwick ual easing of entry restrictions throughout (LGW), Madrid (MAD), Manchester (MAN), 2021 and welcoming back our millions of pas- Milan (MXP), Moscow (DME), Munich sengers on board the World’s Best Airline.” (MUC), Mykonos (JMK), Oslo (OSL), Paris Qatar Airways continues to expand its (CDG), Prague (PRG), Rome (FCO), Sofia network of destinations, offering more flights (SOF), Stockholm (ARN), Tbilisi (TBS), Vi- to international destinations than any other enna (VIE), Warsaw (WAW), Yerevan (EVN), Tribune News Network pality will contribute the rest. “We in Qatar attach great tance to their brothers in Ko- airline. By the middle of summer 2021, Qa- Zagreb (ZAG), Zurich (ZRH). Doha Speaking at the ceremony, importance to strengthening sovo, praising the role of Qatar tar Airways’ plans to rebuild its network to Middle East: Abu Dhabi (AUH), Amman the minister of health thanked relations with Kosovo in the Charity in implementing the more than 140 destinations, including 23 in (AMM), Baghdad (BGW), Basra (BSR), Beirut Qatar Charity (QC), with sup- the people in Qatar for their various fields.T oday, we are projects. Africa, 14 in the Americas, 43 in Asia-Pacific, (BEY), Dammam (DMM), Dubai (DXB), Erbil port from benefactors in Qatar, continuous assistance, espe- in this municipality to sign an He added that this is a time- 43 in Europe and 19 in Middle East. Many cit- (EBL), Isfahan (IFN), Jeddah (JED), Kuwait laid the foundation stone for a cially for this health centre that agreement for a humanitarian ly project, especially in light of ies will be served with a strong schedule with (KWI), Mashhad (MHD), Muscat (MCT), health centre in Kosovo in the will contribute to improving project, which is a gift from the the coronavirus pandemic. daily or more frequencies. Najaf (NJF), Riyadh (RUH), Salalah (SLL), presence of Minister of Health the basic health infrastructure people of Qatar to our brothers Qatar Charity’s projects in Qatar Airways destinations operating by Shiraz (SYZ), Sulaymaniyah (ISU), Tehran Armend Zemaj and Ambas- in the region. in Kosovo through Qatar Char- Kosovo cover different seg- the peak of IATA Summer Season 2021: (IKA). sador of Qatar to Albania and He also thanked QC for ity,” he said. ments of society, benefiting Kosovo HE Ali bin Hamad Al its uninterrupted cooperation He also noted the support orphans, people with special Marri. with the municipalities, point- provided by Qatar to Kosovo needs and low-income fami- A cooperation agreement ing out that the Qatari peo- and its people over the years in lies. The number of those was signed between Qatar ple have previously provided the various sectors such as the sponsored by Qatar Char- Charity and the municipality of health assistance in the most health, education and housing, ity has reached nearly 3,350. Ferizaj to establish the centre. challenging time of the corona- wishing for continued coopera- In the field of education and The QR860,000 project is virus pandemic. tion between the two countries. training, more than 5,000 expected to benefit some 4,000 HE Ali bin Hamad Al Marri Mayor of the municipality people have benefited from people. Qatar Charity will pro- affirmed special relations be- Agim Aliu applauded HH the the Qatar Training Center, vide a fund of QR645,000 for tween the two countries and the Amir, government and people which was established and is the project, while the munici- Qatari and Kosovar peoples. of Qatar for providing assis- run by Qatar Charity.