BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 S&P reassigns ‘A- Handball: Qatar with stable outook’ ready for tough rating for QLM Japan clash at Life and Medical IHF Worlds today Insurance published in QATAR since 1978 SUNDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11796 January 17, 2021 Jumada II 4, 1442 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir, Belarus leader exchange greetings His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani exchanged HMC resumes greetings with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In their cables face-to-face of greetings, the Amir and the Belarusian president expressed satisfaction over the level of the close Qatari-Belarusian relations over the past decades, confirming outpatients their keenness to continue supporting and strengthening them in various fields. Russia to restart fl ights appointments to Qatar, other countries The Russian authorities yesterday amad Medical Corporation said flights between Moscow and the HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and other dignitaries attend the special concert by QPO and the (HMC) has announced a return capitals of Qatar, Finland, Vietnam Afcent Band, marking the off icial launch of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture. Introducing Friday evening’s concert Hto face-to-face appointments and India, suspended since the early were HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani and ambassador Greta C Holtz. for outpatient clinics, as the country weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic, continues with the gradual lifting of would restart from January 27 after restrictions imposed due to the Cov- certain epidemiological criteria were id-19 pandemic. met, Reuters reported. A statement As part of the gradual return to nor- shared following a meeting of the mal, HMC outpatient appointments government’s coronavirus HQ said Qatar-USA 2021 Year of will be conducted face-to-face with the four countries were seeing fewer physicians in clinics, the corporation than 40 new cases per fortnight per has said in a statement. 100,000 people. HMC will continue to off er virtual clinics for some follow-up appoint- US capitals on edge Culture offi cially launched ments or repeat prescriptions. Patients Dr Abdulla al-Ansari for armed protests will be contacted by Nesma’ak about O their appointment and whether their status and have their body temperature Washington, DC, was locked down Inauguration marked by joint concert featuring Qatar upcoming appointment is face-to-face taken prior to entry. Only patients with and US law enforcement off icials or a virtual appointment. an appointment will be admitted to geared up for pro-Trump marches Philharmonic Orchestra and US Air Forces Central Band HMC’s chief medical offi cer Dr Ab- HMC facilities. in all 50 state capitals this weekend, dulla al-Ansari said it was the appro- “If a patient is experiencing any erecting barriers and deploying n the presence of HE Sheikha Al ture is intended to enhance cultural ington, DC, under the leadership of priate time to return to face-to-face Covid-19 symptoms on the day of thousands of National Guard troops Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa and artistic exchange and exemplifi es HE Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al- appointments. your appointment, including fe- to try to prevent the kind of violent Ial-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar the renewed commitment of the two Thani and with the partnership of our “Early on in the pandemic, we made ver or chills, shortness of breath or attack that rattled the nation on Jan Museums, the Qatar-USA 2021 Year nations to foster mutual understand- colleagues and friends in the United the decision to conduct outpatient ap- cough, we request they do not attend 6. The FBI warned police agencies of Culture was offi cially inaugurated ing and promote intercultural dia- States, whose distinguished ambas- pointments and other services virtu- and call 16060 to reschedule,” HMC of possible armed protests outside at Katara - the Cultural Village Op- logue,” the statement notes. sador Greta C Holtz honoured us ally – this was essential to protect our said. all 50 state capitol buildings starting era House on Friday with a special The launch follows the signing of a with her presence at the concert, we patients, visitors and the wider pub- HMC continues to off er a range of yesterday through President-elect concert by the Qatar Philharmonic co-operative agreement on September expect this Year of Culture to deepen lic from the spread of Covid-19,” ex- virtual services via the 16000-hel- Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan 20, Orchestra (QPO) and US Air Forces 14, 2020, between Qatar and the US the understanding between the peo- plained Dr al-Ansari. pline, including: fuelled by supporters of President Central Band (Afcent Band). during the 2020 Qatar-United States ple of our two nations, expressing our “As we start to gradually return to Medication delivery: patients Donald Trump who believe his false The event was hosted by Qatar Mu- Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC. shared humanity and strengthening normal, it has been decided to resume can also still opt to have their medi- claims of electoral fraud. Page 11 seums and the US embassy. The Year of Culture programme was the already substantial ties between in-person appointments where clini- cation refi lls delivered to their homes Introducing Friday evening’s con- launched in 2012 with Qatar-Japan Qatar and the United States.” cally appropriate. Measures will be in for a small fee to save visiting an HMC India starts huge cert were HE Salah bin Ghanem bin 2012, followed by Qatar-UK 2013, Ambassador Holtz said: “The Year place to ensure social distancing and pharmacy. Nasser al-Ali, Minister of Culture Qatar-Brazil 2014, Qatar-Turkey 2015, of Culture programme provides an appropriate time between appoint- Mental health helpline: a team of vaccination drive and Sports; Sheikh Meshal bin Ha- Qatar-China 2016, Qatar-Germany extraordinary framework within ments.” mental health professionals is available India kicked off one of the world’s mad al-Thani, ambassador of Qatar 2017, Qatar-Russia 2018, Qatar-India which our two nations can come to- “Follow-up appointments – for to support people experiencing stress largest coronavirus vaccination drives to the United States; and ambassador 2019 and Qatar-France 2020. gether to celebrate our longstanding example for medication refi lls - will and anxiety and other emotional dis- yesterday as the pandemic spread Greta C Holtz, chargé d’aff aires, US Commenting on the concert, HE relationship and forge new connec- continue to be conducted virtually tress. at a record pace and global Covid-19 embassy in Qatar. Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “Music tions through people-to-people ex- through telephone consultations. We Urgent Consultation Service: deaths surged past 2mn. Page 9 The concert marked the beginning truly is a universal language, speaking changes. Nothing could better sym- would like to thank our patients and people with urgent but non-life- of a year of specially curated exhibi- directly to the heart, as we learned bolise the Year of Culture’s spirit of the community for their support and threatening conditions can call the tions, festivals, bilateral exchanges once again through this stirring inau- harmony than this musical collabora- patience during the pandemic.” service and speak to a team of doc- and events to be held in both nations, gural concert for the Qatar-USA 2021 tion between the Qatar Philharmonic All patients attending appointments tors who can provide health-related Saudi FM: QM said in a statement yesterday. Year of Culture. With the warm col- Orchestra and the US Air Forces Cen- in HMC Outpatients Departments will advice and information and assess embassy to “The Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Cul- laboration of our embassy in Wash- tral Band.” To Page 12 be required to show their Ehteraz app symptoms. reopen in Qatar soon ARTIC in six-property deal with Marriott International Saudi Arabia expects to reopen its embassy in Doha in the com- ing days, the kingdom’s foreign on the quality of assets and premi- minister has said, Reuters reported All six hotels expected to open in 2021 um experience they provide to our yesterday. guests. These six new agreements It is just a matter of logistics, Faisal l Rayyan Tourism Investment Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal al- were signed in line with our reputa- bin Farhan told journalists in Riyadh (ARTIC) has signed an agree- Thani, vice-chairman of ARTIC, said: tion of always being committed to when asked about embassy reopen- Ament with Marriott Inter- “We welcome the signing of these six maintaining the highest standards of ings. Full diplomatic relations will national to operate six properties in new agreements. The completion of quality and design in all our assets, resume, he added. prime locations across Qatar. fi ve new projects within 2021 will be a making ARTIC a preferred collabo- This comes following a recent deal The hotel openings are anticipated fi rst for Qatar’s hospitality sector and rator for a well-established, world- to end a three-year-old dispute be- to mark the introduction of fi ve new further enhance ARTIC’s position as leading operator such as Marriott tween four Arab countries and Qatar. brands in the country: Autograph Col- a leading player in the sector and sup- International.” The Al-Ula Declaration was signed lection, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Ele- porter of the development of Qatar’s He added: “It is with pleasure that during the GCC Summit recently ment by Westin, Le Meridien and Mar- tourism industry.