Gold Hamilton heads for knighted in best year year-end in a royal decade honours Business | 13 Sport | 16 FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2021 17 JUMADA I - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8489 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Share unused data and minutes with the family Terms & Conditions Apply Amir exchanges New Year Ministry eases Festive welcome to 2021 restrictions on greetings with leaders of New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera recreational House as the clock ringed in 2021. friendly countries activities QNA — DOHA H H the Amir AYENI OLUSEGUN Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin wished the leaders THE PENINSULA Hamad Al Thani exchanged good health and cables of greetings yesterday As part of easing COVID-19 with Their Majesties, High- happiness and their restrictions on commercial nesses and Excellencies the peoples further entities, the Ministry of leaders of friendly countries on Commerce and Industry the occasion of the New Year, progress and (MoCI) announced yesterday wishing them good health and prosperity. that the fourth stage of gradual happiness and their peoples lifting of restrictions on recre- further progress and prosperity. ational activities in amusement Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Prime Minister and Minister centres and parks would begin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid from January 3, 2021, at 50 also exchanged cables of bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al percent capacity. greetings yesterday with Their Thani also exchanged cables of The MoCI also announced Highnesses and Excellencies greetings yesterday with Their in a tweet that the easing of crown princes and vice-pres- Excellencies heads of gov- restrictions would take place idents of friendly countries on ernment of friendly countries in three stages. the occasion of the New Year, on the occasion of the New The first stage, which goes wishing them good health and Year, wishing them health and into effect on January 3, will happiness and their peoples wellness and their peoples lift the restriction on outdoor further progress and further progress and playgrounds, kids' outdoor prosperity. prosperity. games, billiards, and bowling. The second stage on January 11 enables resumption of elec- tronic games and trampolines, while the third stage on Next Shura Council to have full powers: Official January 24 will ease curbs on bouncers, inflatable games, SIDI MOHAMED regions of Qatar. The Council will have powers to summon and ball pits. THE PENINSULA Therefore, the com- ministers and the prime minister, dismiss “Recreational activities mittee is keen to set ministers, and monitor the government’s manager shall adhere to the The upcoming Shura Council We, as a committee that prepares precise criteria that precautionary and preventive will have full legislative and the work for Shura Council enable everyone to financial management and approve the measures outlined by the Min- supervisory authority over the elections, have made sure that the participate.” budget. istry of Public Health and the government. next Shura Council represents all He said that the Ministry of Administrative The goal of electing members committee is consid- The Council will represent all regions of the Development, Labour and of the new Shura Council is to the regions of Qatar. Therefore, the ering the electoral country. Each of the 30 electoral Social Affairs,” the MoCI said enhance effective popular par- committee is keen to set precise constituencies and constituencies will have one member. in an infographic tweeted ticipation in managing the coun- criteria that enable everyone to their distribution. yesterday. try’s affairs and making decisions, participate.” Each electoral con- In order to ensure transparency, According to the Ministry, a senior official at the Ministry of stituency will have representatives of the candidates will be visitors will only be allowed if Interior (MoI) said yesterday. one member. Qatar their health status on the “The elections for Shura has been divided into allowed to witness the entire polling and vote Ehteraz app is green except for Council which will be held in 30 electoral constit- counting process. children under 10 years old. October this year represent a uencies according to Visitors who do not wear qualitative leap in Qatar’s devel- geographical Foreign funding of candidates will be banned, medical masks will be denied opment process. The Council can distribution. and 'vote-buying' will be penalised. entry. Those who are per- summon Ministers, including the The official said mitted in must have their Prime Minister, can dismiss min- that the entire process will be in front of the Candidates will have equal masks on all the time. isters, monitor the government’s polling process will eyes of the candidates and their opportunities in the media by Visitors’ body temperature financial management and be fully transparent. representatives, he added. allocating specific period must be checked at the approve the budget,” said Brig- Al Muraikhi noted “Any community body in whether in public or private entrance, which should not be adier Salim Saqr Al Muraikhi, said in order to Qatar, whether it is civil society media. above 38 degrees Celsius. Brigadier Salim Saqr Al Muraikhi, Director Director of Legal Affairs ensure transparency, organisations, the press or others, He said foreign funding for Social distance of at least two of Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry Department at the Ministry of representatives will will be allowed to express its candidates of the Shura Council metres must also be of Interior. Interior. be assigned to each opinion regarding the evaluation will be banned and there will maintained. In November last year, Amir candidate to ensure process of election," he said, be severe punishment for The Ministry also stressed H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Muraikhi said: “We, as a com- their right to monitor all polling “We want transparent elec- “buying votes”, he said. that entertainment com- Al Thani announced that the mittee that prepares the work process at the stations. tions,” he insisted, and said that The Shura Council elections panies’ owners should elections for Shura Council will for Shura Council elections, The results will be counted the elected member should rep- come as a continuation of the comply with circulars, deci- be held in October this year, 2021. have made sure that the next in front of the candidates, and resent the people who have comprehensive development sions, and directives issued Speaking to Qatar Radio, Al Shura Council represents all the therefore the entire electoral chosen him. process in Qatar. to combat the pandemic, including instructions for the gradual re-opening plan and the timeline announced by Katara opens new the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, as well as circulars and decisions issued by MoCI, the Ministry literary hub — ‘Ibn of Public Health, and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Rayb’ Cultural Street Social Affairs on the precau- tionary measures to prevent QNA — DOHA attract writers and intellectuals and reduce the spread of the and become a permanent disease. The Cultural Village Foundation meeting place for them. (Katara) opened yesterday the He hoped that its accompa- ‘Ibn Rayb’ Cultural Street which nying activities, which are is located behind Katara’s scheduled to take place after the amphitheater, in cooperation end of the COVID-19 pandemic, FUEL PRICE with the Qatari Publishers and would constitute a destination Distributors Forum. for writers, thinkers and culture Qatar Petroleum has announced Upon inspecting the lovers, befitting them and their the January 2021 fuel prices in pavilions of the publishing great and distinguished cultural Qatar on their website. houses participating in the cul- status. tural initiative, Katara General He added that Katara is Manage Dr. Khaled bin Ibrahim pleased to announce to its A view of ‘Ibn Rayb’ Cultural Street, the latest literary attraction at Katara. QR1.35 Al Sulaiti said ‘Ibn Rayb’ Cul- audience that the Ibn Rayb” PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA Price of super grade tural Street includes pavilions Cultural Street will receive vis- petrol for a litre for libraries and publishing itors until next summer in line creativity, science and various book fair since 1975. Launching this cultural ini- houses. with the precautionary other fields. He said the book fair is an tiative in cooperation with the QR1.30 It is not only a cultural street measures in place to prevent Director of Cultural Affairs important event with which all Qatari Publishers and Distrib- Price of premium grade or a marketplace for selling the coronavirus infection so that and Events at Katara, Khalid segments of society interact, utors Forum would enhance the petrol for a litre books, but rather an oasis of cultural pioneers, book lovers Abdul Rahim Al Sayed, said adding that the opening of the role of books in increasing com- thought and knowledge, a and those looking for new pub- that Qatar’s interest in books 'Ibn Rayb' Cultural Street in munity awareness and make meeting place for cultures and lications can visit its wings and and literature is nothing new, Katara is an extension of this them keep abreast of all that is QR1.30 cross-fertilization of visions, he acquire what they like of the as Qatar is the first Gulf accumulating cultural heritage emerging in various aspects of Price of diesel for a litre. said, expressing hope that it will distinguished titles in literature, country have regularly held a of the Qatari society. knowledge, he said. 02 HOME FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2021 QF’s WISE launches new initiative THE PENINSULA — DOHA PRAYER The importance of different TIMINGS segments of society coming PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMINNGG together to solve key global challenges, especially when it FAJR 04.57 am comes to developing innovative ways of doing things, has been SUNRISE 06.20 am underscored in 2020.