Sunday December 20, 2020 Jumada Al-Awwal 5, 1442 Vol.14 no. 5133 qR 2

Fajr: 4:52 am Dhuhr: 11:31 am p artly cloudy Asr: 2:29 pm Maghrib: 4:49 pm High : 25°C LOW : 18 °C Isha: 6:19 pm

World 7 Business 8 Sports 13 Italy, England brace for Qatar’s Industrial Glitter Queen, SoldierPoy Christmas lockdowns as Production Index shine in Oaks and Europe battles virus surge increases 3% in October Al Rayyan Stakes

Trump congratulates Amir on National Day Qatar to receive first Proud of our indispensable batch of COVID-19 ties with Qatar, says Trump vaccine tomorrow: PM PM directs health sector to provide the vaccine to everyone in accordance with health standards Tribune News Network Doha Under the directives of His Qatar will receive its Highness the first batch of the coronavi- Amir, the first shipment rus (COVID-19) vaccine on of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, Prime Minister will arrive in Qatar on and Minister of Interior HE Monday. This is an Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani has an- important step on the nounced on Twitter. road to containing the “Under the directives of epidemic and gradually His Highness the Amir, the returning life to normal. first shipment of the COV- —Prime Minister and ID-19 vaccine will arrive in Minister of Interior HE QNA the two countries and their commit- American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar on Monday, and I have Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Doha ment to deepen and strengthen them. and for hosting the Afghan peace nego- directed the health sector to The US president, in his message, tiations, as well as increasing cultural provide it to everyone in ac- bin Abdulaziz Al Thani His Highness the Amir of State of Qa- said that Qatar continues to prosper exchange between the two countries, cordance with our health tar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and develop under the leadership of including the American participation standards,” the PM said on received a cable of congratulation from HH the Amir, and the US appreciates in Qatar Year of Culture 2021. Saturday. of Public Health for Sports be administered in two doses US President Donald Trump on the oc- the cooperation of Qatar on several The US president also expressed “This is an important step and Emergency Affairs, last three weeks apart. casion of the National Day. major bilateral, regional and economic pride in the partnership with Qatar, on the road to containing the week said the first batch of He had said priority will The US president expressed his sin- issues with regard to continuing peace saying that he is proud of the long-es- epidemic and gradually re- the coronavirus vaccine devel- be given to the elderly people, cere congratulations on behalf of the and stability in the region. tablished and indispensable partner- turning life to normal,” the oped by Pfizer and BioNTech those with chronic diseases government and the American people, The US president thanked HH ship with Qatar, and looks forward to PM said, expressing pride in and the frontline healthcare praising the close relations that unite the Amir for the great support for the developing cooperation in the future. the success of the plan to con- workers in giving the vaccine. front the disease. General population will “We renew our thanks start getting the vaccines to our medical teams and all gradually from January. those involved in it,” the PM Qatar’s proactive meas- added. ures to tackle COVID-19 have C ommander of Amiri Guard Qatar’s health officials had succeeded in flattening the Qatar condemns earlier said that the COVID-19 curve and limiting the spread inaugurates Lusail camp vaccine will arrive in Qatar by of the virus and the number of Afghan bombing the end of this month. new daily cases and hospital Dr Abdul Wahab Al Mu- will arrive in Qatar before the admissions is continuing to QNA sleh, Advisor to the Minister end of December and it will decline each week. Doha

Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the bombing, which targeted a gathering for reciting the Holy Quran in Ghazni Action against 69 for not wearing masks Province, Afghanistan, and resulted in deaths and QNA 17 of 1990 on infectious diseases, injuries. Doha and the precautionary measures In a statement on in force in the country to contain Saturday, the Ministry of The designated authorities on the spread of the coronavirus Foreign Affairs reiterated Saturday referred 69 people (COVID-19). Qatar’s firm stance on to the Public Prosecution for The designated authori- rejecting violence and terrorism not wearing face masks in ties have called on the public regardless of motives and causes. places where they are to adhere to the precautionary The statement offered Qatar’s mandatory. measures in place to ensure condolences to the families of victims The measure is in line with their safety and the safety of as well as the government and people the Cabinet decision, decree law no others. of Afghanistan, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery. The Commander of the Amiri Guard, Major General Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani, has inau- gurated the Amiri Guard camp in Lusail, in conjunction with the National Day celebrations. The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Commander of the Amiri Guard, the Inspector General, assistants to the Commander of the Amiri Guard, a number of senior officers, as well as the Vice President of Private Engineering Office Muhammad MutlaqA l Qahtani, Qatar embassies, and a number of senior engineers at the Private Engineering Office. After the inauguration ceremony, the Commander of the Amiri Guard toured the camp, where he was briefed on Ulsan Hyundai wins 2020 consulates continue the training fields, the operations center, the lecture halls, the departments, the barracks, QND celebrations (PG 2 ) and other facilities and services in the camp. (QNA) page 16 AFC Champions League

National blood donation campaign launched QNA “We want to encourage to ensure there is the right Doha citizens and residents to save blood available for patients a life and give blood today,” who need it.” Hamad Medical Corporation’s said Dr Einas Al Kuwari, Chair- Dr Al Kuwari said the (HMC) Qatar Blood Services person of the HMC Depart- campaign will also see mobile has launched a nationwide ment of Laboratory Medicine blood donation teams tour the campaign to encourage and Pathology. country until April 2021. citizens and residents to “Giving blood saves lives. This is in addition to the become regular blood donors. The blood you give is a lifeline two Blood Donor Centers in Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea beat Persepolis of Iran 2-1 in the 2020 AFC Cham- Uder the slogan - Qatar It’s in in an emergency and for peo- operation - one next to Hamad pions League (ACL) final at Al JanoubS tadium on Saturday, to lift the trophy for Our Blood, the campaign was ple who need long-term treat- General Hospital and a new lo- the second time in their history. Junior Negrao scored twice, helping Ulsan have a launched at Katara Cultural ments. We need new blood cation at the Surgical Specialty strong comeback from a 1-0 deficit in the thrilling final. page 11 Village on Saturday. donors from all backgrounds Center. page 2 02 Sunday, December 20, 2020

Contact US: Qatar Tribune ı EDITORIAL ı Phone: 40002222 ı ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING ı Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha.

HMC launches national blood donation campaign Tribune News Network and residents to save a life and give Blood Donor Centers in operation – “Over the past 12 months, there and our mobile teams,” Dr Kuwari Doha blood today,” said Dr Einas Al Ku- one next to Hamad General Hospi- has been around 35,000 voluntary said. “Our teams have also stepped wari, chairperson of the HMC De- tal and a new location at the Surgical blood donors which, while on par up precautionary measures to ensure Hamad Medical Corporation’s partment of Laboratory Medicine Specialty Center. with 2019, needs to be increased that every blood donation is safe dur- (HMC) Qatar Blood Services has and Pathology. “Giving blood saves “Without blood donors, many as we prepare for the World Cup ing the pandemic to include manda- launched a nationwide campaign to lives. The blood you give is a life- patients simply would not be alive 2022,” she said. tory pre-screening before entering encourage citizens and residents to line in an emergency and for people today. We are sending out a mes- Dr Kuwari added that, in light the blood donation sites, as well as become regular blood donors. who need long-term treatments. sage that we are all connected in this of COVID-19, more stringent meas- regular cleaning and disinfection of The campaign was launched at We need new blood donors from all great country and through our blood ures were in place to ensure the all surfaces and equipment.” Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) backgrounds to ensure there is the donation, each individual can con- safety of both donors and recipients. More information about Qatar on Saturday under the slogan ‘Qa- right blood available for patients tribute to a sustainable blood sup- “Giving blood has continued Blood Services, donating blood in tar…It’s in Our Blood’. Two blood who need it.” ply,” she said. Dr Kuwari said there throughout the pandemic. We ask all Qatar and where to donate is avail- donation buses emblazoned with the Dr Kuwari said the campaign was a lot of public support from in- our donors to take sensible precau- able at the new website: https:// new identity of Qatar Blood Services will also see mobile blood donation Dr Einas Al Kuwari, chairperson of the dividuals, companies and commu- tions and be assured that we will look www.hamad.qa/en/hospitals-and- were present at the launch. teams tour the country until April HMC Department of Laboratory Medi- nity groups, but more was needed to after you when you are with us to services/qatar-blood-services/pag- “We want to encourage citizens 2021. This is in addition to the two cine and Pathology. ensure self-sufficiency. donate – both at our Donor Centers es/default.aspx ‘National Day is occasion to renew determination Qatar embassies, consulates to build a modern state’ continue celebrations of QND QNA QNA Doha Doha

Minister of Transport and Com- The diplomatic, consular and rep- munications Jassim bin Saif Al Su- resentative missions of Qatar con- laiti has said that the Qatar National tinued celebrations of the National Day is a dear annual occasion to re- Day, which falls on December 18, in new the determination to complete commemoration of the founder of the ancestral march towards build- the state Sheikh Jassim bin Muham- ing a modern state that looks for- mad bin Thani under the slogan ‘We ward to the future and adheres to its praise you, the Lord of the Throne, heritage. We accept your judgment in all ac- He stressed that celebrating the HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti tions’. National Day is a clear embodiment Heads of the diplomatic, consu- of the bonds of love and the values of provided by the wise leadership, are lar and representative missions of robust interconnectedness between taking accelerated development in Qatar abroad sent their greetings the people and their wise leadership. all aspects, adding that the ministry to the Amir His Highness Sheikh Ambassador of Qatar to the Philippines HE Dr Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki with guests. In a state to Qatar News Agency continues to develop plans and pro- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the to the Philippines held a celebration (QNA) on the occasion of the Na- grammes to achieve sustainability Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin two countries, which were reflected occasion of the National Day, wish- on the occasion of the National Day. tional Day, Sulaiti said that this for these two vital sectors in order to Khalifa Al Thani and all the Qatari in the cultural field, especially in ing the Qatari people under the wise Secretary of Foreign Affairs of memory calls for pride in belonging achieve a prosperous future for the people on this occasion, wishing Qa- light of the important role played by leadership progress and prosperity. the Philippines Teodoro Locsin, to this generous land, with its rich state’s economy as well as for future tar more progress and prosperity. the Arab cultural house ‘Al-Diwan’ In Tehran, the Embassy of Qatar Assistant Secretary of State of the history established by the ancestors generations. The diplomatic celebrations in as a bridge between the Arab and in Iran held a celebration on the oc- Philippines for the Middle East and since the founder Late Sheikh Jas- The forward-looking vision and the capitals and cities around the German cultures. casion of the National Day. African Affairs Leslie Baja and Chief sim bin Mohamed bin Thani, who sound directives of HH the Amir world witnessed the participation of In Mogadishu, the Embassy of The celebration was limited to of Staff of the Secretary of Foreign charted the state’s path of develop- have enabled the government to high-level officials, which reflected Qatar in Somalia celebrated the Na- the participation of the members of Affairs of the Philippines Irene B. ment, growth and prosperity, fol- face all crises through its prompt Qatar’s distinguished relations with tional Day. the mission. Ambassador of Qatar to Natividad attended the ceremony. lowed by the wise leadership of the response to challenges, the minister various countries. In his speech on the occasion, Iran HE Mohammed bin Hamad Al The guests were received by Am- country. said adding that Qatar has always In Berlin, the Embassy of Qatar Ambassador of Qatar to Somalia Hajri received congratulatory calls bassador of Qatar to the Philippines The minister and all the employ- been a successful model in manag- in Germany held a virtual celebra- HE Hassan bin Hamza Hashem ex- and cables from officials, business- HE Dr Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki. ees of the Ministry of Transporta- ing any challenges it faces. tion on the occasion of the National pressed pride in the great achieve- men and media personnel in Iran. In Dushanbe, the Embassy of tion and Communications congratu- He said the ministry continues Day. ments made by Qatar during an In Kabul, the Embassy of Qatar Qatar in Tajikistan celebrated the lated the Amir His Highness Sheikh to develop programmes that will In a speech on the occasion, exceptional period in which the in Afghanistan held a celebration on National Day. Participation in the Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the contribute to promote the name of Ambassador of Qatar to Germany whole world suffers from the COV- the occasion of the National Day. celebration was restricted to mem- Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Qatar in all fields in order to achieve HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Moham- ID-19 pandemic effects, pointing to The celebration was limited to bers of the mission due to the health Khalifa Al Thani on the occasion. Qatar National Vision 2030. med Al Thani stressed that the cel- Qatar’s pioneering efforts in sup- Ambassador of Qatar to Afghanistan measures to limit the COVID-19 He added that the occasion is an He said the ministry has devel- ebration of the National Day is not porting many countries around the HE Saeed bin Mubarak Al Khayarin, spread. opportunity to renew determination oped the communications and in- limited to the anniversary of the world to confront the COVID-19 members of the diplomatic mission In Asuncion, the Embassy of to continue building on previous formation technology sector in line founding only, but rather the cel- outbreak. and administrative staff due to the Qatar in Paraguay held a virtual cel- achievements and to make efforts to with the requirements of national ebration of the achievements made The ambassador affirmed that COVID-19 conditions. ebration on the occasion of the Na- raise the nation, support the devel- development and to secure and im- during the process of construction the Qatari-Somali relations are wit- In Tirana, the Embassy of Qatar tional Day. opment and comprehensive renais- prove the efficiency of the techno- and development under the wise nessing a great development at all in Albania held a virtual celebration In his speech on this occasion, sance process, and achieve further logical and information infrastruc- leadership of the Amir His High- levels and fields. on the occasion of the National Day. Acting Charge d’Affairs at the Em- development, growth and prosperity ture. The ministry has worked on ness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al He received congratulatory mes- In his speech, Ambassador of bassy of Qatar in Paraguay Said for the Qatari people. updating its strategy in an integrated Thani. sages from senior officials in the So- Qatar to Albania HE Ali bin Hamad bin Hamad Al Marri referred to the He said the ministry will contin- manner that includes the structural The strength of the bilateral re- mali government and ambassadors Al Marri stressed that December achievements of the state under the ue its efforts to provide systems of integration of the strategies adopted lations between Qatar and Germany accredited to Mogadishu on this oc- 18 is a day of pride in the country’s wise leadership in various fields and transportation and communication for both the transportation and tele- is based on a solid foundation of casion, expressing their admiration past, the glory of the prosperous its prominent role at the interna- according to the highest and latest communications sectors, along with friendship, respect, cooperation and for the great achievements made by present and optimism for a promis- tional level. international standards that provide updating the indicators standards common interests, the ambassador Qatar in various fields under its wise ing future in all fields at the national In Addis Ababa, the Embassy of safe and reliable services, and con- and the mechanisms for evaluating said, adding that the political will of leadership. and international levels. Qatar in Ethiopia celebrated the oc- tribute to the economic and social achievements, he said. both countries in developing bilater- The government of Somalia, rep- The celebration included deco- casion of the National Day. development as well as the quality of He emphasised that the bodies al relations was evident in the com- resented by the Ministry of Foreign rating the facade of the University Ambassador of Qatar to Ethio- life and environmental sustainabil- operating under the ministry’s um- mon visions regarding the regional Affairs and International Coopera- of Tirana with the Qatari flag and pia HE Hamad bin Mohammed Al ity in Qatar. brella play a pivotal role in achieving and international challenges to con- tion, sent a cable of congratulations launching fireworks in the colours of Dossary held a celebration in which The minister noted that the the ministry’s strategic objectives to solidate peace around the world. to the leadership of Qatar and the the Qatari flag in the sky at the cen- members of the embassy, the mili- transport and communications sec- support and enhance national devel- He praised the strong political Qatari people, in which it expressed tre of the Albanian capital, Tirana. tary attach and the mission’s staff tors, owing to the unlimited support opment plans. and economic relations between the its warmest congratulations on the In Manila, the Embassy of Qatar participated. QRCS deploys medical services at all QND celebration venues Tribune News Network against the coronavirus pandemic, ambulances. Doha as well as their dedicated contribu- The Workers’ Health Centers in tions to the efforts to protect the Doha (Mesaimeer Al-Hemailah, and Qatar Red Crescent Society country against risks. Fereej Abdul-Aziz), including (de- (QRCS) was actively involved in the QRCS’s Medical Affairs Divi- partments of Urgent Cases, outpa- celebrations of Qatar National Day sion’s Medical Emergency Services tient clinics, laboratory, X-ray, and (QND) by deploying medical teams (EMS) were mobilised to medically pharmacy), continued to work 24/7 across the country. cover the public at the venues of cel- during the QND holiday. This year, QRCS’s medical profes- ebration. QRCS deployed 92 medi- The clinics and ambulance ser- sionals, volunteers and relief workers cal staff, 10 drivers, four supportive vices also went on at the Mekaines were honoured at the QND parade in staff, 33 ambulance vehicles, one Quarantine Motel. The Workers’ the presence of the Amir His High- emergency vehicle, one 4×4 type Health Center in Zekreet worked ness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al ambulance, two official vehicles, normally during morning shift only. Thani and top public figures. one jet ski and one motorbike across All these health facilities are op- Invited for the first time, QRCS’s all QND celebration venues. the ambulance and medical services gency Operation Center, there were in addition to the EMS support and erated by QRCS under the supervi- personnel were recognised for their According to a report issued by covered the celebrations areas. two medical dispatchers to regulate logistics team stationed there with sion of the Ministry of Public Health heroic achievements in the fight QRCS’s Medical Affairs Division, At the headquarters of the Emer- the activities of ambulance vehicles, four medical staff and two type II (MoPH). Nation Sunday, December 20, 2020 03 Mosaic marking QF’s 25 years Sabah Al Kuwari, Director PR of youth empowerment unveiled Ooredoo Qatar The mosaic comprises images of HH Sheikha Moza, HE Sheikha Hind and thousands of QF students

Tribune News Network Qatar National Day, a mo- the future of Qatar and the Doha saic image of Her Highness world. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, The mosaic reflects how For the past 25 years, Qa- Chairperson of QF, and Her QF’s unique ecosystem tar Foundation (QF) has un- Excellency Sheikha Hind brings together children and locked human potential and bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice young people from Qatar contributed to the sustain- Chairperson and CEO of QF, and throughout the world to able development of Qatar with thousands of students learn, explore, discover, cre- Ooredoo signs deal through education, science from the organisation’s ate, innovate and thrive in and research, and commu- schools and universities has an environment that empow- nity development. been unveiled, illustrating ers them to become lifelong with Ahlibank to allow To mark this milestone, its commitment to investing learners, change-makers and and as the nation celebrates in the young people who are the leaders of tomorrow. customers to access more transactions VAFI joins hands with Radio Suno/Olive to host art expo via digital channels Tribune News Network transactions for our custom- Tribune News Network Doha ers. We know time is precious, Doha and being able to take care of Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading everyday transactions quickly, The Visual Art Forum India telecommunications operator, easily and efficiently is a huge (VAFI) recently organised an has announced an extension help to many. Complete cus- art exhibition titled ‘Sketches of its agreement with Ahlibank tomer satisfaction is a key goal of Qatar’, facilitated by Qatar’s to enable its customers to use at Ooredoo and we’re proud to favourite FM stations Radio the bank’s digital channels to do whatever we can to make Suno and Radio Olive. recharge Ooredoo’s products our customers’ lives that little Sixteen artists took part and services. bit easier, especially now in in the expo with 35 paint- As well as being able to such unusual times.” ings celebrating the glory and use the existing Hala and Bill Abdulaziz Khalid Al-Khat- beauty of Qatar. The paint- Payment services available er, Chief Operating Officer at ings were displayed at the with Ahlibank, Ooredoo cus- Ahlibank, said: “We want to foyer of Radio Suno & Radio tomers who are banking with give our customers the most Olive in Doha. The exhibition was cu- The event was not open to Ahlibank can now access the personal banking experience The event was held to rated by VAFI President Dr the public in view of the COV- Ooredoo Data Recharge ser- and by adding Ooredoo re- mark the Qatar National Day Sreekumar Padmanabhan who ID 19 pademic. However, the vice through online and mo- charge services we are deliv- 2020 celebrations. is a medical doctor and a well- radio stations’ directors joined bile banking at Ahlibank. ering on our promise to allow The participating artists known artist in Qatar. the VAFI artists and interacted This means being able to customers to bank anytime, included Mahesh Kumar, The event will be published with them. recharge data, postpaid and anywhere. The extension of Sageer P M Salih, Shilpi Ma- on the radio station’s digital The artists had the oppor- prepaid accounts quickly, eas- this partnership with Ooredoo thur, Reena Badrinath, Prem platform on December 18, Qa- tunity to explain their vision ily and efficiently in real time will make it easier for our cus- Chokli, Kavita Murali, Siji tar’s National Day. The video and rationale of their individ- via Ahlibank’s digital chan- tomers to recharge data, post- john, Mahima Gupta, Shweta recording will be both in Ma- ual work of art. Participating vided by Radio Suno/Olive language radio station in Qatar nels. paid and prepaid accounts. Singh, Vasu Vanimel, Archa- layalam and Hindi. artists were gifted with certifi- and Qatar government. and still remain the largest. Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, Customers need to simply na Bhardwaj, Santu Govind, Radio Suno/Olive has cates. Radio Suno/Olive has VAFI is affiliated to the Director PR at Ooredoo, said: choose the Ooredoo option Richa Bahl, Ravindran, Devy- more than 200,000 organic The Executive Committee played a pivotal role in sup- Indian Cultural Center func- “We’re delighted to have ex- under bill payments when they ani Bisht and Dr Sreekumar followers on their Facebook and the VAFI member-artists porting the arts in Qatar. Radio tioning under the aegis of the tended our agreement with log in to Ahlibank’s online and Padmanabhan. platform alone. appreciated the support pro- Suno/Olive is the first Indian Indian Embassy in Qatar. Ahlibank to include yet more mobile banking.”

HIA CELEBRATES QATAR NATIONAL DAY

Hamad International Airport’s (HIA) staff members and stakeholders stood together in gratitude to honour Qatar’s National Day and the frontline workers who have been battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and whose perseverance and commitment have enabled the airport to continue its operations as the gateway to Qatar and the world, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. (QNA)

HILTON DOHA THE PEARL RESIDENCES CUTS CELEBRATORY CAKE

In celebration of Qatar National Day, General Manager of Hilton Doha The Pearl Residences Hassan El Wahidi and Vice- President of Hotel’s Owning Company First Qatar Real Estate Michael El-Jarouch, were joined by the team of the hotel to cut Qatar National Day celebratory cake in the property’s lobby. (TNN) 04 Sunday, December 20, 2020 Nation Carrefour marks Qatar’s National Day with Qatari Festival Tribune News Network Doha

In celebration of Qatar Na- tional Day, Carrefour Qatar hosted a Qatari Festival — an event spotlighting local farm- ers by featuring their pro- duce across a select number of Carrefour stores. The fes- tival took place at Carrefour City Center, Villaggio, Land- mark and Mall of Qatar from December 16 to 19. Encouraging customers to buy local, the event pro- moted food items including fresh fruits, vegetables, bev- erages and chilled products sourced from local Qatari producers and suppliers. The festival reiterates Car- refour’s strong commitment to investing in the growth the opportunity to buy fresh new iPhone 12 Pro, as well ers and 10 local farms across cally producers and farmers. bati, QADCO and Agrico. ket since 1999, Carrefour and prosperity of its indus- high-quality products at the as gift cards worth over the country to help support In addition, a wide range of Carrefour Qatar’s con- aims to continue giving back try, communities and the lo- best possible value. QR50,000. them in growing their busi- vegetables such as zucchini, tribution to the Food Safety through on-going support of cal economy. By highlighting To add to the festivities, Backing local farmers nesses and distributing their cucumber, tomato, eggplant, Programme for the past three the local market, thereby con- locally sourced produce, Car- contests were held across and suppliers is important produce. In fact, Carrefour fresh herbs, cauliflower, cab- years has played a considera- tributing to the nation’s eco- refour Qatar is encouraging all four hypermarkets in to safeguarding the local Qatar stocks 95 percent of bage and green beans on offer ble role in the country’s move nomic and environmental de- customers to become more collaboration with Habaieb supply chain. In this regard, its poultry, 60 percent of its at Carrefour are sourced from towards self-sufficiency and velopment, both of which are aware of where their food Radio. Lucky customers Carrefour actively collabo- flour and 95 percent of its local farms, namely, Safwa, food security. key pillars of the government’s comes, while providing them walked away with a brand- rates with 20 local produc- pre-packaged bread from lo- Khodra, Mazzrati, QT fa, Na- A main player in the mar- vision for 2030. Galeries Lafayette Doha celebrates QND with Msheireb Properties lights up for QND focus on local talent Msheireb Tram Tribune News Network hosts Qatari musical Doha performances Galeries Lafayette Doha celebrated Qatar National Day Tribune News Network (QND) by dressing up in the Doha Qatari colours, evoking the pride that the day entails. Msheireb Properties, the The highlight of the celebra- leading sustainable real estate tions were the store windows developer, celebrated Qatar designed exclusively in collabo- National Day 2020 with deco- ration with Qatari artist Aisha rations and events to mark the Al Thani. A lover of traditional holiday while ensuring a safe Arabic calligraphy, Aisha loves and festive visit for people. presenting culture through her Until December 20, designs. Her exclusive calligra- Msheireb Downtown Doha’s Qatar National Day celebra- music direct access to the thou- app which provides fun and The environmentally conscious phy for Galeries Lafayette Doha, streets will be draped in Qa- tions, was the activation of the sands of people walking the eco-friendly Qatar National development blends tradition- in striking gold and maroon, de- tari flags and lights. The entire Msheireb Tram as a musical city streets. Day fireworks shows, which al Qatari heritage and aesthet- picts the QND slogans through façade of building of M7 will platform, providing Ardha Also, in partnership with are part of Msheireb Properties ics with modern technology. the years. The calligraphy art shine brightly with the Qatar singers and musicians the op- Vodafone Qatar, Msheireb and Vodafone Qatar’s sustain- From design and planning to merges all the words into one National Day logo. Kahraba portunity to play traditional Downtown Doha is hosting an ability practices. the delivery of infrastructure larger artwork representing the Street and Sikkat Wadi Street music while the Tram moved augmented-reality firework Msheireb Downtown Doha and transportation, through artist’s vision of the unity of will be displaying themed light- seamlessly across the city dis- show which adds a unique is the world’s first sustainable to improving overall lifestyle, people in Qatar. Through her ing, festive flags and pillars in trict. The battery-operated, touch to the celebrations. Geo- downtown regeneration pro- the city aims to provide a place creativity, Aisha tells a wonder- lectable ingredients is reflective white and maroon colours until sustainable Msheireb Tram has targeted to the areas in Msheir- ject, reviving the old commer- where it is enjoyable to live, ful story of the founding fathers of the vibrant Qatari culture. January 3, 2021. the ability to have its windows eb Downtown Doha, consum- cial heart of the city through work, shop, visit and spend and how their everlasting prin- Each dish is a gastronomical One of the highlights of the removed, giving the musician’s ers can download a specialised a new architectural language. time with family and friends. ciples and values still resonate delight and equally satisfying for to this day. the eye and soul. Speaking about the exhibit, As part of the ongoing cel- Aisha said, “This art of mine rep- ebrations, Galeries Lafayette resents my love for my country, Doha hosted the exclusive Qatar. It’s about family, home launch of a new fragrance from Vodafone offers unique AR experience for and solidarity. I think Galeries the brand of Qatari influencer Lafayette Doha has done a beau- Abdulla Al Abdulla. The fra- tiful job in portraying the emo- grance has been created espe- Msheireb Downtown Doha visitors on QND tions this day involves. From cially for Qatar National Day and the choice of colours, which are is sure to add to the spirit of the Tribune News Network culturally relevant, to the idea occasion. Doha of the QND slogans timeline, all Kevin Gerard Pender, gen- were very well thought through. eral manager of Galeries Lafay- Powered by Vodafone It was the perfect theme to de- ette Doha, said: “We have always Qatar’s world class 5G net- pict my art. taken pride in the Qatari heritage work, visitors to Msheireb “It is very gratifying to know and Qatar National Day is one of Downtown Doha on Qatar that I have done it to celebrate the most celebrated occasions in National Day (QND) enjoyed my country. Also, it is interest- our store. Our celebrations re- an exclusive one-of-a-kind ing and fun seeing my ‘classical’ flect our pride in our identity and Augmented Reality (AR) ex- form of calligraphy merged as an embody the nation’s values. Our perience. art form with fashion.” store, windows and special items Developed by Vodafone The theme of the celebra- at our F&B outlets have all been Qatar specifically for QND tions is also reflected in exclusive planned and designed to cel- celebrations, the app called dishes created for the occasion ebrate this great nation. The col- ‘Vodafone AR’ allowed us- at the restaurants and cafes in laboration with Aisha Al Thani ers to enjoy a specular AR Galeries Lafayette Doha. Lim- and Abdulla Al Abdulla not only fireworks and drone display ited-edition desserts and a sa- reinforce Galeries Lafayette’s above the skies of Msheireb. voury item have been carefully commitment to support and With its simple interface, ing their own fireworks. Msheireb Downtown Doha the many ways 5G can in- and fireworks show in Qa- designed and include traditional highlight local talents but also users were able take photos Vodafone Qatar said, and engage the public in an novate and enhance people’s tar, Vodafone AR represents ingredients from Qatar and the creates a unique experience, and videos of the show, share “We’re delighted to have innovative way. Powering experience of events and oth- another milestone for Voda- region. which is intrinsically Qatari, for them on social media and been able to celebrate Qatar AR applications such as the er forms of entertainment.” fone Qatar in the space of This fusion of the right, de- our clients.” even participate by launch- National Day this year with Vodafone AR is just one of As the first AR drone digital innovation. MES marks Qatar National Day Tribune News Network Doha

MES Indian School students recently cele- brated Qatar National Day with enthusiasm and fervour on the virtual platform in their respective classrooms. During the special virtual-mode assemblies in all sections of the school, students delivered speeches glo- rifying the successful emergence of Qatar on all fronts. Arabic and English songs, dance per- formances by students in the traditional Qatari outfit, and activities such as drawing photos, and student paperwork gave a spe- cial touch to the celebration. Quiz competi- tions were also held in classrooms where students were strongly challenged. The As- MES Indian school students watch Qatar National Day parade of the armed forces during a sembly’s highlight was an exclusive video virual-mode assembly in all sections of the school on Friday. presentation of the important landmarks and rich cultural heritage of the country. dar congratulated the students on the cel- and the joyful spirit they had shown for the MES Indian School Principal Hameeda Ka- ebration that reflected their love for Qatar host country. World Sunday, December 20, 2020 05

News Five rockets fired at US air base in Afghanistan in brief AFP “Rockets were fired to- idential areas in the capital. grinding war. Kabul wards Bagram Airfield this 480 civilians killed by Taliban in The group also claimed The Taliban has carried Hospital fire kills morning. Initial reporting is past three months brutal attacks on two separate out near-daily attacks target- 9 coronavirus A major US air base north of there were no casualties and educational centres in Kabul ing Afghan forces that have patients in Turkey Kabul was targeted in a dawn the airfield was not dam- that killed dozens of people, left hundreds of security per- rocket attack on Saturday but aged,” the official said. Kabul: Taliban militants killed at least 487 civilians in the most of them students. sonnel killed or wounded. Istanbul: Nine people there were no casualties or No group immediately past three months, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday. Saturday’s attack came Attacks by the militants were killed on Saturday damage to the airfield, offi- claimed responsibility for the Nearly 1,050 others were wounded in Taliban attacks across a day after 15 children were had killed nearly 500 civil- after a fire broke out at an cials said. attack, and the Taliban de- the country, ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said. killed when an explosives- ians and wounded more than intensive care unit treat- Five rockets were fired at nied any involvement. The group conducted 35 suicide bombings and 507 mine laden motorbike blew up near 1,000 others over the past ing Covid-19 patients in Bagram Airfield at 6:00 am, The jihadist Islamic State explosions, the ministry added. The Taliban rejected the report a religious gathering in east- three months, the interior southern Turkey, state news said Parwan province spokes- group previously claimed as government propaganda. The conflict in Afghanistan killed ern Ghazni province. ministry said on Saturday. agency Anadolu reported. woman Waheeda Shahkar, responsibility for a similar and wounded 26,025 children between 2005 and 2019, Afghan officialsblamed Earlier this week in Qatar, An oxygen cylinder exploded adding that police had de- rocket attack on the base in Britain-based charity Save the Children said in a report in the Taliban for the blast. General Mark Milley, the US at the privately-run Sani fused another seven rockets April. November. Violence has surged in Af- chairman of the Joint Chiefs Konukoglu Hospital in the mounted on a vehicle used in In recent months, IS has According to UN figures, a total of 5,939 civilians were ghanistan in recent months of Staff, held a rare meeting city of Gaziantep, the report the attack. claimed several assaults in killed and wounded in the first nine months of this year, 31 despite the government and with Taliban representatives, said. Eleven patients at A NATO official also con- Kabul, including two deadly per cent of whom were children. (dpa) the Taliban launching peace calling on them to reduce vio- the unit were transferred to firmed the assault. rocket attacks that struck res- talks to end the country’s lence in Afghanistan. other hospitals for the dura- tion of the investigation into the explosion, Gaziantep Governor Davut Gul said on Twitter. Nearly 74 percent of all intensive care beds Tensions in Armenia across Turkey are occupied due to the coronavirus pan- India coronavirus demic, according to govern- as thousands mourn ment data. (dpa) Karabakh victims Suicide bomber kills 3 in NE cases pass 10 mn AFP “Sometimes it seems that Nigeria: Sources Yerevan all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism de- Kano: A teenage girl killed However, new cases fall sharply with just over 25,000 cases in 24 hours Armenian Prime Minister stroyed,” he added. at least three people when Nikol Pashinyan led on Satur- The opposition has called she blew herself up in a day a thousands-strong march the 45-year-old leader a “trai- crowd in northeast Nige- in memory of those killed in tor” for agreeing to end the ria’s Borno state, militia clashes with Azerbaijan as the war on Azerbaijan’s terms. and humanitarian sources Caucasus country began three Pashinyan, whose wife and told AFP on Saturday. “We days of mourning amid per- son were at the front during evacuated three dead bod- sisting tensions. the conflict, has said he has ies and two people who Pashinyan has been un- no plans to quit and the peace were seriously injured from der huge pressure from the deal was Armenia’s only op- the scene,” said aid worker opposition to step down after tion, ensuring Karabakh’s sur- Abubakar Mohammed. The nearly 3,000 Armenians have vival. attack happened in the been killed in six weeks of Many critics said on Sat- town of Konduga, about clashes with Azerbaijan over urday the leader should stay 38 kilometres (24 miles) the breakaway region of Na- away from the memorial cem- from the regional capital gorno Karabakh. etery where the procession Maiduguri. The attacker set As Armenia began three headed. off her explosives among a days of mourning for the vic- “He must not desecrate group of men at a hangout tims of clashes on Saturday, the graves of our children,” next the local chief’s home, the opposition kept up pres- Misak Avetisyan, who lost a said Ibrahim Liman, an anti- sure on Pashinyan to resign son in the war, told reporters. jihadist militia leader who over the handling of the con- The grief-stricken father said gave the same toll. (afp) flict and what they say is a the prime minister should get humiliating peace deal with down on his knees and “beg Azerbaijan. for forgiveness”. Philippines storm: Accompanied by top of- Many critics chanted Two dead, ficials, Pashinyan led a thou- “Nikol the traitor” as authori- hundreds flee sands-strong procession to a ties dramatically beefed up se- memorial complex in the capi- curity at the cemetery. Manila: At least two people tal Yerevan where victims of The war ended in Novem- were killed and hundreds the conflict are buried. ber with a Moscow-brokered forced to flee their inundated “The entire nation has been peace agreement that saw the homes in the Philippines as through and is going through a Armenians cede swathes of torrential rain triggered flood- nightmare,” Pashinyan said in territory to Azerbaijan which ing and landslides in the a video address ahead of the has been backed by close ally storm-battered archipelago, memorial march. Turkey. officials said on Saturday. Huge waves smashed into A health worker collects a swab sample from a shopper for the Covid-19 coronavirus testing at a makeshift testing booth in New Delhi on a coastal village on Lapu- Saturday. (AFP) Lapu island in the central province of Cebu on Friday AFP of India’s, has been report- Health ministry officials Pak summons Indian diplomat night, wiping out dozens of New Delhi ing upwards of 200,000 new Vaccine task were expected to meet the houses and leaving around cases daily in recent weeks, 10 Election Commission -- which over attack on UN observers 290 people homeless, India surged past 10 million times as many as India. The 10-million mark came carries out vast state and na- Mayor Junard Chan said on coronavirus cases on Satur- India’s fatality rate is also as the world’s second-most tional polls -- as they map out dpa trolled by Pakistan and India. Facebook. (afp) day, official data showed, the considerably lower -- less than populous nation gears up how to distribute the shots, Islamabad The UN observers were second highest in the world half that of the US. for the colossal and the Press Trust of India re- on their way to meet with the although new infection rates Residents in the capital challenging task of starting ported on Thursday. Pakistan summoned a victims of the Indian cease- Thailand sees appear to have fallen sharply New Delhi told AFP they were Experts have cautioned senior Indian diplomat on fire violation. Both the ob- in recent weeks. still worried but were more to vaccinate the population that the country could strug- Saturday to protest an al- servers remained unharmed record 548 new next year virus cases The number of cases in- comfortable than before about gle because of its weak cold- leged ceasefire violation and and were evacuated by the creased by just over 25,000 leaving their homes. chain infrastructure -- needed the “deliberate targeting” of Pakistani army. Bangkok: Thailand report- in 24 hours, according to the “Obviously the fear levels coronavirus is still out there.” for keeping vaccines refriger- United Nations observers in Inter Services Public Re- ed 548 new confirmed coro- health ministry, while the to- have come down over time. In- The 10-million mark came ated -- particularly in poor and the disputed Kashmir region. lations (ISPR), the military’s navirus cases in connec- tal number of deaths from the itially, it was more scary,” said as the world’s second-most densely populated urban areas “It was communicated media wing, released photos tion to its largest seafood virus in India now stands at housewife Huma Zaidi, 46. populous nation gears up for and remote rural regions. to the Indian side that the that showed bullet holes in a market on Saturday. The 145,136. “But we are still taking pre- the colossal and challenging “All the experience that brazen act was a flagrant vehicle bearing UN markings. new infections were linked In September, the vast na- cautions like wearing masks task of starting to vaccinate India has in vaccinating is on violation of established in- An Indian decision in Au- to a 67-year-old seafood tion of 1.3 billion people had when going out and avoiding the population next year. the much smaller game of an- ternational norms and repre- gust last year to strip the part vendor who tested positive been recording daily new cases social gatherings.” The government aims to nual vaccinations of children,” sented a complete disregard of Kashmir it controls of its on Thursday in Samut Sak- of almost 100,000 and looked India has lifted restrictions inoculate 300 million people Satyajit Rath, an immunolo- for principles enshrined in special autonomous status hon province near Bangkok, on track to surpass the United on most activities to boost the initially, with health workers gist at the National Institute of the United Nations Charter,” has triggered fresh tensions said Opas Karnkawinpong, States as the worst-hit coun- struggling economy, although and other frontline staff ex- Immunology, told AFP. the Foreign Ministry said in a and deadly skirmishes. chief of the Disease Control try. some states and territories pected first in line. “I’m not sure that India’s statement. “This year alone, India Department, during a live But the outbreak has accel- have reimposed curbs. India has yet to approve public healthcare systems are On Friday, Pakistan ac- has committed 2,992 cease- television broadcast. “More erated in the US and appears “I plucked up my courage any vaccines but several drug- sufficiently developed... Even cused Indian troops of “delib- fire violations to date, result- than 90 percent of the to have lost momentum in and went out for lunch for makers have applied for au- mildly below-freezing require- erately” opening fire on a NU ing in 27 deaths and serious confirmed cases showed no India, despite the country be- the first time in six or eight thorisation, including Astra- ments (for vaccine transporta- vehicle carrying two observ- injuries to 249 innocent ci- or few symptoms, and most ing home to some of the most months,” said Simpy Dhar, 44, Zeneca, which has partnered tion and storage) are likely to ers on the Pakistani side of vilians, including 92 women were migrant workers,” he crowded cities on the planet. a language instructor. with India’s Serum Institute, prove extremely challenging in the Line of Control (LoC), a and 68 children,” foreign of- said. (dpa) The United States, with a “However, my fear is not the world’s largest vaccine the rural hinterland’s health- de facto frontier that divides fice spokesperson told weekly population a quarter the size eliminated completely. I know maker. care system services.” Kashmir into two parts con- press briefing on Friday. C Africa accuses ex-president of attempting coup Japan ‘Twitter killer’ to forgo appeal against death sentence Bangui: Leaders of the three main armed rebel groups occupying large AFP users who had posted com- Shiraishi targeted internet “I want to get married. I areas of the Central African Tokyo ments about taking their own users who had posted want to find a marriage partner Republic announced a coali- lives, telling them he could help while I am in jail.” tion on Saturday, while the A Japanese man dubbed the them with their plans -- and comments about taking His lawyers have argued he government accused former “Twitter killer” who was sen- even die alongside them. their own lives, telling should receive a prison sentence president Francois Bozize of tenced to death for the mur- While the 30-year-old has them he could help them rather than be executed because an “attempted coup” ahead ders of nine people has report- admitted killing and butcher- with their plans -- and his victims, aged between 15 of next week’s elections.The edly said he will forgo an appeal ing his young victims -- all but even die alongside them and 26, had expressed suicidal rebels’ announcement could against the verdict but wants to one of whom were women -- his thoughts on social media and so further fuel tensions already get married before his demise. lawyers have begun procedures had consented to die. on the rise in the troubled On Tuesday a Tokyo court to appeal to a higher court. nervous about the verdict be- But a judge dismissed that country before the presiden- handed down the death penalty But Shiraishi, who has been cause “it was obvious”. argument and handed down tial and legislative vote on to Takahiro Shiraishi for killing detained since his arrest three While voicing his readiness the death penalty for the 2017 December 27, where the and dismembering nine victims years ago, told the Mainichi to accept the punishment, he crimes, saying the case had opposition fears massive he met on the social media plat- Shimbun that he plans to drop expressed a wish to get married. “provoked great anxiety in soci- electoral fraud. (afp) form. further legal action. “Now, I want to meet an or- ety, because social networks are Shiraishi targeted internet He said he had not been dinary girl,” Shiraishi said. so commonly used”. The court sketch drawing shows Takahiro Shiraishi (centre). (AFP) 06 Sunday, December 20, 2020

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

MacKenzie Scott Gifts A Financial One Presidential Lifeline For HBCUs Leader At A Time magine being one of the chosen ard University, Spelman College and ones, told out of the blue that your or- Morehouse College are often the go-tos In the face of Russian cybersecurity attack when Trump remained silent, Biden’s words that Iganization is one of the recipients of for donors. the enormous generosity of MacKenzie Scott’s funding is unique not only ‘I will not stand idly’ gives assurance that America still has one presidential leader at a time Scott, the novelist, philanthropist, busi- for its size, but because it will change the nesswoman and ex-wife of Amazon CEO game for lesser-known HBCUs. Jeff Bezos, whom she helped start the Morgan, Bowie and UMES have Martin Schram company. You get to share in $4.2 bil- all said they will use their newfound Tribune News Service lion given to 384 organizations. We can funding largely to boost their endow- only imagine the excitement — and the ments. Morgan’s endowment, which t happens every time our presidency is envy it has probably sparked in others. University President David Wilson said transitioning from one party to the other. Among the lucky recipients were was $18 million when he arrived at the Sooner or later, one of the Incomings pro- three Historically Black Colleges and school about a decade ago, will nearly claims something that sounds, to oversen- Universities in Maryland, who collec- double; that’s key to his goal of growing sitive incumbent ears, a bit too much like tively split $85 million. Morgan State the university into one of the “top tier Ipolicymaking. And then, one of the Outgoings University received $40 million; Bowie public research universities in the na- reflexively dishes out this oldest chestnut: State University, $25 million; and the tion devoted to researching issues ger- “America only has one president at a time.” University of Maryland Eastern Shore, mane to urban and marginalized com- But throughout this past week, as pan- $20 million — the largest gifts each of munities.” It mostly will be used to seed demic-besieged Americans saw increasingly the institutions had ever received. Scott the university’s first-ever unrestricted perilous news that a major new Russian also donated generously to several other endowment fund. Bowie’s endowment cybersecurity attack has put us at “grave HBCUs around the country. was just over $9 million before Scott’s risk,” we began to doubt that old chestnut. The unprecedented donations give gift, and the president of UMES told Because, each time we looked to President the universities a much needed leg up delmarvanow.com that the university’s Donald Trump’s White House for the assur- in the exclusive, and some might go as endowed resources will increase from ance and leadership only a commander in far as to say elitist, world of college en- $30 million to about $50 million. It is chief can provide, all we heard back was the dowments meant to create investment money the schools could need as the sound of silence. that universities can tap state faces budget cuts and to Perhaps we have one less president than for generations. Typically make up for years of underfund- we thought. (Or, to be precise: Perhaps we the principal goes un- ing by the state. have one fewer fully functioning president — touched and reinvestment The funding needs of HB- one who is on the job, in touch with reality, on the earnings is used CUs have been an issue in Mary- safeguarding our security and not wallow- for scholarships, research land for some time. Alumni of ing in self-pity — than we know we need to programs, professorships, Maryland’s four HBCUs, which have.) We know the world cannot feel safe facilities and other univer- also includes Coppin State Uni- with a POTUS who’s gone AWOL. sity needs. As the Ameri- versity, sued the state over the Trump has never been known as the can Council on Education lack of funding to the schools strong silent type. In Helsinki, back at the US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint news conference following wrote in a recent report: more than a decade ago, and a summit of 2018, Trump’s words made him their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. (TNS) “An endowment keeps giv- MacKenzie Scott. (TNS) judge ordered the state to come world-famous. He stood beside Vladimir ing over time.” It can help up with a compensation plan. Putin and spoke the words he knew would expanded all week. Politico reported that world witnessed the week’s bad news spool- institutions weather tough economic The Maryland General Assembly, in a please his dictatorial pal: He discounted among the agencies the Russians had suc- ing out while the onetime leader of the free times, such as today’s pandemic-chal- decisive vote last session, came to an all US intelligence conclusions that Russia cessfully penetrated were the Energy De- world remained stuck on mute, we all got a lenged environment. The bigger the en- agreement to pay the schools $580 mil- cyber-influenced the 2016 US election and partment and National Nuclear Security sample of the sort of presidential leadership dowment the more a university can do, lion over 10 years, and it looked like an helped make Trump what he is today – and Administration, which maintains the US that is less than five weeks away. such as offering more lucrative financial end to the 13-year lawsuit was finally in took Putin at his word. “President Putin says stockpile of nuclear weapons and weapons “I want to be clear: My administration packages to students. sight. Unfortunately, Gov. Larry Hogan it’s not Russia,” Trump explained. “I don’t grade material. will make cybersecurity a top priority at eve- But the size of public and private vetoed the legislation, and the General see any reason why it would be.” While Trump remained uncharacteris- ry level of government — and we will make HBCU school endowments lag behind Assembly didn’t override it. A December Beginning last Sunday, when the news tically silent, his own former homeland se- dealing with this breach a top priority from those of non-HBCUs by at least 70%, ac- court deadline was missed, and legisla- about the Russian cyberattacks first broke, curity adviser, Tom Bossert, spoke out ur- the moment we take office,” President-elect cording to a 2019 report by the Ameri- tors said they will take up the issue again reports about just what the Russians were gently in a New York Times op-ed: “If it is Joe Biden said in a statement. can Council on Education. It’s not that this coming session. able to do, how easily they seemed to have Russia, President Trump must make it clear “We will elevate cybersecurity as an im- HBCU alumni aren’t charitable. In fact, They’d do well to also look at the defeated our vaunted national defenses and to Vladimir Putin that these actions are un- perative across the government, further African Americans tend to donate more distribution of funds within the bill and the danger it now poses for us all, grew with acceptable. … An intrusion so brazen and of strengthen partnerships with the private of their earnings, some research has consider a more equitable allowance. exponential severity. this size and scope cannot be tolerated by sector, and expand our investment in the found. But they don’t have the same The Coalition for Equity and Excellence By Thursday, the Cybersecurity and In- any sovereign nation. We are sick, distract- infrastructure and people we need to defend legacy wealth and current earning po- in Maryland Higher Education, the frastructure Security Agency issued a public ed, and now under cyberattack. Leadership against malicious cyberattacks …” tential as alumni at traditionally white group that filed the lawsuit, has said that statement that said the attackers had pen- is essential.” America’s 46th president added: “Our institutions, so the donations aren’t Coppin and UMES would get too small etrated US agency systems since March and Americans also got to experience the sort adversaries should know that, as president, as big; six-figure gifts aren’t common- of a share, which would make it harder that the breach “poses a grave risk to the of Republican presidential leadership that I will not stand idly by in the face of cyber place. Non-alumni, such as foundations for the schools to recover from past in- Federal Government and state, local, tribal, might have been. The GOP’s 2012 presiden- assaults on our nation.” and corporations, are also less likely to equities. The group has also questioned and territorial governments as well as criti- tial candidate, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, And so it goes. It’s a long-awaited shot give to HBCUs, sticking instead to es- the criteria for new funds each year. cal infrastructure entities and other private forcefully told SiriusXM radio: “I think the of relief heard round the world: In a true tablished institutions with the greatest It’s beyond time that HBCUs were sector organizations.” White House needs to say something aggres- global leadership sense, America still has name recognition. Unfortunately, that adequately funded. Scott’s gift cer- The attackers gained access through sive about what happened. This is almost as one presidential leader at a time. often means institutions with already tainly helps, but it doesn’t relieve the third-party contractors at a software com- if you had a Russian bomber flying undetect- financially healthy endowments.E ven state of its responsibility to make up pany called SolarWinds Orion, that then ed over the country, including over the na- (Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist among HBCUs, powerhouses like How- for past wrongs. penetrated the cybersecurity firm FireEye, tion’s capital, and not to respond in a setting for Tribune News Service, is a veteran that had government agencies as their cli- like that is really stunning.” Washington journalist, author and TV (Tribune News Service) ents. The list of compromised agencies And mainly, as Americans and an uneasy documentary executive) Education In A time Of Pandemic: Not Making The Grade Since it’s anyone’s guess how soon life will get back to normal, we can’t wait any longer for the system to fix itself

Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey M Burke students earning D’s and F’s in the the education a child received dur- Tribune News Service first semester has increased, dou- ing the pandemic has been depend- bling in some cases, in comparison ent on the attendance boundary in hen it comes to her daughter school assignment did little to help to the last school year. which that child’s family lives. At Emerson’s education, Sarrin the Warfields — or thousands of Yet across the US, many school the same time, so many of the is- WWarfield says, she’s “in it to other students around the US dur- districts, especially those in large sues plaguing education during the win it.” ing the COVID spring … and then metro areas, still remain closed to pandemic — and for that matter, the When Emerson’s assigned COVID summer and fall. In the in-person learning for some if not entire century leading up to the pan- school in South Carolina announced beginning of the 2020-2021 school all grades and may not reopen at the demic — are rooted in policies that plans for virtual learning this fall, year, officials in some of the larg- start of 2021. fund school systems, rather than in- Sarrin says she asked herself, “What est districts in the country reported According to the Pew Research dividual students. if we just made this in my backyard significant enrollment changes from Center, 72% of parents in lower- Allowing dollars to follow chil- and made a school?” After talking the previous school year, especially income brackets report being “very” dren directly to any public or pri- with friends who have children the among younger students. or “somewhat” concerned this fall vate school of choice is a critical same age as Emerson, Sarrin said, Officials in Mesa, Arizona, re- that their children are “falling be- emergency policy reform that states “Let’s do it. Instead of it being a cra- ported a 17% decrease in kinder- hind in school as a result of the dis- should pursue. Such a policy change zy idea, let’s own this process and be garten enrollment after the first ruptions caused by the pandemic.” is overdue. really intentional about doing this two weeks. In Los Angeles, Super- ficials in large cities and even those try. Loud calls for change would be With thousands of students not Since it’s anyone’s guess how and make it happen.” intendent Austin Beutner reported representing entire states simply re- heard. in class, even virtually, and falling soon life will get back to normal, we Sarrin is one of the thousands a 3.4% decrease in enrollment, but ported having no contact with many But life during the pandemic is grades among those who are attend- can’t wait any longer for the system of parents around the country who said another 4% of students couldn’t students. anything but normal. ing, who can blame them? to fix itself. formed learning pods when as- be found, making the change closer Under normal circumstances, Likewise, if more students For taxpayers and policymak- signed schools closed. By meeting to 7%. Figures are similar in Bro- if thousands of children who were around the country were failing — ers looking for lessons in the pan- (Jonathan Butcher is a senior in small groups with friends’ and ward County, Florida, and Houston. once in school suddenly were no- say, twice the figure from last year demic, the utter failure of school policy analyst in Heritage’s neighbours’ children, these pod In large school districts, these per- where to be found, this would be an — this would also be worrisome, assignment systems to provide Center for Education Policy. families could try to keep at least one centages amount to over 10,000 issue of national concern. Hearings right? From Los Angeles to Hou- quality-learning options to all stu- Center Director Lindsey M of part of their child’s life from being children per district. would be held, and officials would ston to Chicago to Fairfax, Virginia, dents, especially the most vulner- Burke, PhD, is Heritage’s upended because of COVID-19. Some of these changes can be demand to know what is happen- school officials and researchers are able, is clear. Will Skillman Fellow The time-honored practice of attributed to learning pods. But of- ing with schools around the coun- now reporting that the proportion of The quality and consistency of in Education)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Sunday, December 20, 2020 07 Trump says cyberattack Italy, England brace for ‘under control,’ plays down Russian role Christmas lockdowns as AFP Washington

President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed a Europe battles virus surge massive cyberattack on US Victims government agencies, declar- ing it “under control” and un- Roughly 80 percent of the with pre-existing conditions. dercutting the assessment by affected customers are Europe has become The United States on his own administration that located in the US, Microsoft the first region in Friday authorised Moder- Russia was to blame. president Brad Smith said in a na’s COVID-19 vaccine for “I have been fully briefed blog post, with victims also the world to pass emergency use, paving the and everything is well under found in Belgium, Britain, 500,000 deaths way for millions of doses of control,” Trump tweeted in his Canada, Israel, Mexico, Spain a second jab to be shipped first public comments on the and the United Arab Emirates from COVID-19 across the hardest-hit coun- hack, adding that “Russia Rus- try in the world. sia Russia is the priority chant AFP The United States is the when anything happens” and and that thwarting it would be London first nation to authorise the suggesting without offering “highly complex.” two-dose regimen from Mod- evidence that China “may” also President-elect Joe Biden Millions of people in Eng- erna, now the second vaccine be involved. has expressed “great concern” land and Italy will celebrate to be deployed in a Western “There could also have been over the breach while Senator Christmas under tough new country after the one devel- a hit on our ridiculous voting Mitt Romney, a Republican, coronavirus restrictions an- oped by Pfizer and BioNTech. machines during the election, blamed Russia and slammed nounced Saturday as Europe Millions of doses will start which is now obvious that I won what he called the “inexcusable battled a winter surge in infec- shipping out as early as this big, making it an even more silence” from the White House. tions and Switzerland became weekend from cold-storage corrupted embarrassment for Among the government the latest country to approve a sites outside Memphis and the USA,” he added, in his lat- agencies affected, according virus vaccine. Pedestrians walk past a COVID-19 information display board in London on Saturday. (AFP) Louisville. est baseless allegation of mass to media reports, are the State Europe has become the With the United States now fraud in the November 3 vote, Department, the Treasury, the first region in the world to US authorises Moderna as second registering more than 2,500 which was won by Democrat Commerce Department, the pass 500,000 deaths from deaths a day from COVID-19, Joe Biden. Homeland Security Department COVID-19 since the pandemic COVID-19 vaccine senior US officials including Trump’s response came and the National Institutes of broke out a year ago, killing AFP immense challenges ahead, Vice President Mike Pence a day after Secretary of State Health -- as well as the Energy more than 1.6 million world- Washington including scaling up manufac- stepped up to receive early vac- Mike Pompeo said in an inter- Department, and the National wide and pitching the global turing, distribution, and the cinations on Friday. view that the attack -- which Nuclear Security Administra- economy into turmoil. The United States on Friday monumental task of vaccinating Pence’s public inoculation cyber experts say could have tion, which manages the nuclear Among those testing posi- authorized Moderna’s COVID-19 hundreds of millions of Ameri- was the most high-profile at- far-reaching impact and take weapons stockpile. tive this week for coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, cans.” tempt yet at persuading vac- months to unravel -- was “pret- Microsoft said on Thursday was French President Emma- as the country grapples with a Meharry Medical College cine-skeptic Americans to join ty clearly” Russia’s work. that it had notified more than 40 nuel Macron, but his office said brutal winter surge that is killing President James Hildreth, who a national effort to halt a pan- “There was a significant ef- customers hit by the malware, on Saturday his condition was over 2,500 people a day. was part of a panel of experts demic that has infected more fort to use a piece of third-party which security experts say could stable and his examinations The US is the first nation to convened by the FDA to discuss than 74 million worldwide. software to essentially embed allow attackers unfettered net- were giving reassuring results. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris authorize the two-dose regimen, approval matters, said Thursday President-elect Joe Biden, code inside of US government work access to key government Italy on Saturday an- Johnson in London on Saturday. now the second vaccine to be it was a “remarkable achieve- who will take office on Janu- systems,” Pompeo told the Mark systems and electric power grids nounced a new regime of (AFP) deployed in a Western country ment” to have developed and ary 20, announced he would Levin Show on Friday. and other utilities. restrictions until January after one developed by Pfizer authorized the Pfizer and Moder- take the vaccine, also in pub- He was referring to widely Roughly 80 percent of the 6 that included limits on and BioNTech. na vaccines within a year. lic, on Monday. used security software from affected customers are located people leaving their homes “With the availability of two The Pfizer and BioNTech In Europe, Slovakian Texan firm SolarWinds. in the US, Microsoft president more than once a day, clos- It is with a very heavy heart vaccines now for the prevention vaccine was approved by Britain Prime Minister Igor Matovic The US Cybersecurity and Brad Smith said in a blog post, ing non-essential shops, bars I must tell you we cannot of COVID-19, the FDA has taken on December 2, followed by sev- became the latest high-profile Infrastructure Security Agency, with victims also found in Bel- and restaurants and curbs on continue with Christmas as another crucial step in the fight eral other countries including figure to test positive for OC V- without identifying the source gium, Britain, Canada, Israel, regional travel. against this global pandemic,” the US last week. Less-vetted ID-19 a week after attending of the hack, said Thursday that Mexico, Spain and the United “It’s right that they prohibit planned Food and Drug Administration inoculations have also been a European Union summit in the attack poses a “grave risk” Arab Emirates. departures after 20 December Boris Johnson (FDA) chief Stephen Hahn said. rolled otut in China and Rus- Brussels. if it means travelling in safety,” President Donald Trump -- who sia. The United States alone The summit is believed to Claudia Patrone, a 33-year-old has frequently taken credit for has seen more than 310,000 be where Macron also caught lawyer, told AFP as she got off your approach.” the fast pace of vaccine devel- people die from coronavirus the virus. Macron’s diag- a train in Milan. Residents in the affected opment -- tweeted: “Congratula- infections and is currently wit- nosis on Thursday led to a News in brief “I took the test before areas will have to go into lock- tions, the Moderna vaccine is nessing a brutal winter surge, host of European leaders and leaving, I stayed locked in my down at least until December now available!” with nearly 115,000 people French officials rushing into Toronto ‘incel’ van attack not due house, I didn’t see anyone. 30, Johnson said, cancelling Joe Biden, who defeated hospitalized, according to the self-isolation. to ASD: prosecutor The measure is right if eve- out earlier plans to temporar- Trump in November’s presiden- Covid Tracking Project. Millions Macron, who is working in ryone respects the rules and ily relax virus restrictions over tial elections and is due to take of doses will begin shipping out self-isolation from an official Toronto: A Canadian man inspired by the misogynist “incel” move- guarantees safety.” the festive period so that up to office in January, hailed the as early as this weekend from residence outside Paris, “is still ment to kill 10 people by ploughing a van into pedestrians in Toronto British Prime Minister Bo- three households could mix. news as “another milestone” cold-storage sites outside Mem- presenting the same symp- was aware of his actions and cannot claim criminal irresponsibility, ris Johnson also announced a Europe -- the epicentre of in the fight against the virus. phis and Louisville, overseen by toms of the COVID-19 illness prosecutors said. Alek Minassian had pleaded “not criminally respon- new “stay at home” order for the pandemic earlier this year But he also warned of “the logistics firm McKesson. (fatigue, coughing, stiffness)”, sible” due to his autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the start of his London and southeast England -- is once again seeing grow- said a brief statement on Sat- trial last month for the April 2018 attack that killed eight women and -- an area including around a ing cases with officials fearing Europe is expected to start Swiss regulators on Satur- urday, signed by his doctor. two men and injured 16 others. “This is about a person who commit- third of England’s population an explosion in infections after a massive vaccination cam- day give the green light to the In Australia, a cluster of ted mass murder who happened to have ASD, not that the ASD made -- to slow a new strain of the the Christmas holidays as fam- paign after Christmas follow- Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine -- the cases on Sydney’s northern him commit murders,” Crown attorney Joe Callaghan told the court in virus that he said was “up to 70 ilies gather. ing the United States and Brit- 16th country to do so and the beaches grew to 38, with resi- Toronto on Friday. percent more transmissible”. A year after the pandemic ain which have begun giving first in continental Europe -- dents ordered to stay home “He always had an understanding, an awareness -- more than “It is with a very heavy first emerged in the Chinese jabs with an approved Pfizer- with immunisation set to start from late Saturday other than awareness -- that from society’s perspective, his choice to kill was heart I must tell you we can- city of Wuhan, the rapid roll- BioNTech shot, one of several within days. for essential reasons. wrong.” Minassian faces 10 charges of premeditated murder and 16 not continue with Christmas out of vaccinations is now seen leading candidates. “Those who are particu- New South Wales state of attempted murder following the rampage where he drove a rented as planned,” Johnson told the as the only effective way to end Russia and China have also larly vulnerable will have pri- Premier Gladys Berejiklian van at high speeds along two kilometres (more than a mile) of roads nation in a televised briefing. the crisis and the economically started giving out jabs with ority,” Health Minister Alain pleaded with Sydney’s more and sidewalks, indiscriminately targeting passers-by. Just prior to “Alas when the facts devastating lockdowns used to their own domestically pro- Berset said in a video tweet, than five million residents to the attack, he posted on Facebook: “The incel rebellion has already change, you have to change halt its spread. duced vaccines. namely the elderly and those remain in their homes. begun,” and referenced American mass killer Elliot Rodger who com- mitted a similar attack in California. (AFP) France charges four over attack on former Charlie Hebdo offices

US planning to close last consulates in Russia P aris: French authorities have charged and detained four Pakistanis AFP spokesperson told AFP. Ten diplomats assigned to spokesperson added. sia was “pretty clearly” behind suspected of links to a meat cleaver attack by a compatriot outside Washington The decision followed con- the consulates will reportedly The closures would leave a devastating cyberattack on the former offices of the CharlieH ebdo weekly that wounded two peo- sultation with Ambassador be relocated to the US embas- the embassy in Moscow as the several US government agen- ple, the national counter-terrorism prosecutor’s office said Friday.T he Donald Trump’s outgoing John Sullivan and was part of sy in Moscow, while 33 local United States’ last diplomatic cies that security experts said four male suspects, aged 17 to 21, were in contact with the attacker, administration is planning “efforts to ensure the safe and staff will lose their jobs. mission in Russia. could allow attackers unfet- said a source familiar with the case. They are suspected of being to close the two remaining secure operation of the U.S. The State Department Moscow ordered the clo- tered access to critical IT sys- aware of the attacker’s plot and inciting him to carry it out, according US consulates in Russia, the diplomatic mission in the Rus- did not confirm the numbers sure of the US consulate in tems and electric power grids. to another judicial source close to the investigation. Three of them State Department confirmed sian Federation,” the spokes- involved but said the “result- St Petersburg in March 2018 Yohannes Abraham, ex- were charged on Friday with taking part in a terrorist conspiracy and on Saturday, as President- person said. ing realignment of personnel during a diplomatic spat ecutive director for the Biden placed in pre-trial detention. The fourth had already been charged on elect Joe Biden prepares to CNN reported that a State at U.S. Embassy Moscow will sparked by the poisoning of transition team, said the hack Wednesday. Two were arrested in the southwest Gironde department, take office amid high ten- Department letter to Congress allow us to advance our for- Sergei Skripal on British soil. was of “great concern” and a third in the northern port city of Caen and the last in the Paris re- sions with Moscow. this month said the move was eign policy interests in Russia It was unclear whether the that the Biden administration gion. “They share his ideology and one of them expressed his hatred The US will close its con- a response to “ongoing staffing in the most effective and safe closures would happen before would meet any cyberattacks of France a few days before the action,” said one of the sources. sulate in the far eastern city challenges for the US Mission manner possible. January 20, when President- with a response inflicting News of the charges comes two days after a Paris court convicted 13 of Vladivostok and suspend in Russia in the wake of the “No action related to the elect Biden takes office. “substantial cost.” accomplices of the jihadist gunmen who massacred Charlie Hebdo operations at its post in 2017 Russian-imposed per- Russian consulates in the Secretary of State Mike Russia has denied any in- staff in January 2015. (AFP) Yekaterinburg, a department sonnel cap on the US Mission.” United States is planned,” the Pompeo said Friday that Rus- volvement in the incident. New York Times admits ‘institutional failing’ over ‘Caliphate’ podcast AFP perpetrating a terrorist hoax. Huzayfah as a member of IS. Baquet described it as an tor experienced in the subject New York Chaudhry claimed in “Ca- “I think this guy, we now “institutional failing,” saying matter,” it read. liphate,” which won a Peabody believe, was a con artist, who newsroom leaders, including “In addition, The Times The New York Times said Award, that he had traveled to made up most if not all that himself, had not provided the should have pressed harder to Friday that its award-winning Syria in 2016 and personally he told us,” Dean Baquet, the project with the appropriate verify Mr. Chaudhry’s claims podcast “Caliphate” failed carried out at least two execu- Times’ executive editor, said in scrutiny. before deciding to place to meet editorial standards, tions and witnessed other acts an audio interview published The Times said it would so much emphasis on one admitting it was unable to of violence. by the paper Friday. not be withdrawing the individual’s account,” the note corroborate a Canadian’s claim The account caused an The Times said the two- series. Instead, on Friday, it added. that he executed people for the uproar in Canada’s parliament, month review had concluded uploaded a new editor’s note “Caliphate” marked a foray Islamic State group. with opposition Conserva- that the 12-part podcast featur- to the podcast’s site explain- into narrative audio reporting The newspaper launched an tives expressing outrage that ing award-winning correspond- ing its failings. Callimachi for the Times, which is increas- investigation into the 2018 se- Chaudhry was living freely in ent Rukmini Callimachi, who will stay on, but be moved to ingly seen as a major revenue ries after authorities in Canada Ontario province after making has frequently reported on IS, another beat. stream for the paper. in September charged 25-year- the terror claims. “gave too much credence to the “From the outset, ‘Cali- The show became a major old Shehroze Chaudhry -- the Chaudhry said he had taken false or exaggerated accounts” phate’ should have had the hit, rising to the top of the File photo of the New York Times building in New York. (AFP) podcast’s central figure -- with on the nom de guerre of Abu of Chaudhry. regular participation of an edi- Apple podcast charts in 2018. US blacklists Chinese firms including chip giant SMIC page 10

Sunday, December 20, 2020

30,179.05 10,478.61 46960.69 1,888.90 -124.32 pts -2.08 pts +70.35 pts Gold -0.08 % Ethics taking centrestage of business Dow QE sensex strategy, says Seetharaman page 9 Price percentage Price percentage 26.03 Brent 52.26 +1.48 % WTI 49.10 +1.53 % Silver -0.57 % QIIB updates its mobile app with new features Tribune News Network application as a response to Doha the developments in the bank- ing market and the increasing In view of the major digital needs for remote banking ser- transformation of the bank’s vices by our customers.” retail and corporate banking He said, “We are commit- services, QIIB on Saturday ted to providing our customers announced a new major addi- with high-quality service and tion to the bank’s mobile ap- excellent delivery, and we are plication and internet banking pleased to invest in a banking services for individuals and technology that copes with the corporates. best international standards The new update includes and meets customer expecta- the provision of additional tions in order to leverage from new services that meet cus- the digital age that facilitated tomer expectations to avail the access to most banking of a broader list of services Omar Abdelaziz Al Meer and non-banking services.” through alternate channels. Meer said, “QIIB has The new features enable the details of their minors’ stepped up efforts in the field customers to use their credit accounts that are linked to of alternate channels with the or debit cards more broadly, their accounts through mobile recent major update to mobile via QIIB mobile banking and banking application. banking having been launched internet banking. Such fea- The update of corporate last August. Today, we an- tures include, among others, internet banking has enabled nounce the application of new Compared to October 2019, the IPI of ‘Manufacturing’ decreased by 0.7 percent in October this year. activating or deactivating a companies to easily review major development to mobile card, requesting a replace- and print their account state- banking and internet banking ment for a lost card, and re-is- ments directly from corporate services for individuals and suing a damaged card, in a way internet banking. corporates. And we will con- that saves customers valuable In addition, new curren- tinue our efforts to reach the Qatar’s IPI increases time and efforts. cies were added to interna- highest level in the banking Furthermore, the new up- tional transfers through the sector in the field of alterna- date adds new features related internet banking and mobile tive channels.” to the customer’s account banking. Meer said, “QIIB’s devel- statement and debit or credit Commenting on the launch opment of digital channels 3 percent in October card account statement, as it of the mobile banking and in- does not apply only to mobile allows customers to review, ternet banking application, banking and internet bank- issue and print their account QIIB Business Development ing but also branches out to IPI of mining, manufacturing increase 3.8% and 0.3% respectively in October statements, for a period of and Alternate Channels Sec- cover other channels such as two years, through the mobile tor Head Omar Abdelaziz Al call centers and ATMs. There Tribune News Network The index of ‘Mining’ by 3.5 percent, ‘Manufac- However, an increase wa banking application and Inter- Meer said, “In our endeavour is a plan to provide digital self- Doha showed an increase of 3.8 per- ture of food products’ by 3.3 s recorded in ‘Manufacture of net banking. Customers can to improve customer experi- service in the bank’s branches cent in October compared to percent and ‘Manufacture of rubber and plastics products’ download their account state- ence and in an aim to expedite to raise the awareness of the The Industrial Produc- the previous month as a result chemicals and chemical prod- by 12.6 percent, ‘Manufacture ment in PDF format. the process of digital transfor- importance of digital banking tion Index (IPI) for October of the increase in the quanti- ucts’ by 1.5 percent. of Cement and other non- In an aim to target the mation, which we have come services and provide custom- this year amounted to 103.1 ties of ‘Crude oil petroleum However, a decrease was metallic mineral products’ by group of customers who are a long way so far, we have de- ers with a smooth banking points, an increase of 3 per- and natural gas’ by 3.8 per- recorded in ‘Manufacture of 4.1 percent, ‘Manufacture of minor, the new update dedi- cided to launch a number of experience that replaces the cent compared to the previ- cent, while ‘Other mining and beverages’ by 7.7 percent, fol- food products” by 2.5 percent, cated a new service that allows services through QIIB mobile need for long waiting hours at ous month and a decrease of quarrying’ showed an increase lowed by ‘Manufacture of ba- and ‘Manufacture of chemi- customers to easily review banking and internet banking the branches.” 0.9 percent when compared of 2.3 percent. sic metals’ by 6.1 percent, and cals and chemical products’ by to the corresponding month When compared to the ‘Manufacture of refined petro- 0.1 percent. in 2019, according to a report corresponding month of the leum products’ by 3.1 percent. A decrease of 19.4 percent issued by the Planning and previous year, the IPI of ‘Min- On the other hand, in terms was noticed in the production Statistics Authority (PSA) ing’ increased by 0.7 percent. of annual change, compared of ‘Electricity’ in October 2020 on Saturday. The index of ‘Manufactur- to October 2019, a decrease of from the previous month, The Industrial Produc- ing’ showed an increase of 0.3 7.4 percent was recorded. The while the annual decrease tion Index consists of three percent in October compared decrease was mainly affected when comparing with October main components- ‘Mining’ to the previous month. The by decline in ‘Printing and 2019 was 15.5 percent. with a relative importance of group showed an increase in reproduction of recorded me- A decrease of 4.9 percent 83.6 percent, ‘Manufactur- ‘Printing and reproduction of dia’ by 80.6 percent, followed was noticed in the production ing’ with a relative importance recorded media’ by 19.7 per- by ‘Manufacture of refined of ‘Water’ in October 2020 of 15.2 percent, ‘Electric- cent, followed by ‘Manufac- petroleum products’ by 30.8 from the previous month. ity’ with a relative importance ture of Cement and other non- percent, ‘Manufacture of basic Comparing with the cor- of 0.7 percent, and ‘Water’ metallic mineral products’ by metals’ by 14.4 percent, and responding month of last with a relative importance of 9.6 percent, ‘Manufacture of ‘Manufacture of beverages’ b y year, an increase of 0.6 per- 0.5 percent. rubber and plastics products’ 8.8 percent. cent was recorded.

ICC Qatar webinar explores potential of 5G for businesses

Tribune News Network speakers shared their insights last 15 years, Ooredoo has nature,” Gordon said. Doha on the mobile industry and its supported and enabled a Gordon reiterated that significant development over number of major global collective action and contin- The International Chamber the last few decades. sporting events. For the 2019 ued multi-stakeholder en- of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qa- “We are pleased with our Emir Cup Final, Ooredoo gagement is essential for all tar) held a webinar entitled participation in this webi- equipped the stadium with users to fully benefit from the ‘Realising the potential of 5G nar, where we discussed the the latest mobile technolo- promises of 5G. technology from a business importance of 5G in promot- gies to provide the best cus- Qatar Chamber and ICC perspective’ on Wednesday. ing the development of busi- tomer experience making the Qatar International Relations The webinar began with nesses and telecom sector, 2019 Emir Cup Final the first and Chamber Affairs Director presentations from GSMA providing consumers with major sporting event with 5G Sheikha Tamader Al Thani, Middle East and North Af- advanced, innovative and coverage.” who also addressed the we- rica Head Jawad Jalal Ab- reliable services and contrib- “Ooredoo is involved in a binar, said the current COV- bassi, CRA Standards and uting to achieving socio-eco- number of strategic projects ID-19 pandemic has made Next Generation Technology nomic benefits delivered by a in Qatar, largest one being 5G technology more essential Section Head Salma Al Su- digital economy. In addition, Experts participate in a webinar organised by ICC Qatar. the Smart Nation Platform. than ever, enhancing com- laiti, Ooredoo Government we discussed the importance Additionally, in 2022, Qatar munications and providing Accounts Assistant Direc- of the cooperation between ters accompanying the 5G technology to mitigate the said, “businesses can enjoy will host one of the biggest access at a time when going tor Hassan Al Emadi and the regulators, policymak- architecture need to be ad- impact the pandemic has had media-rich applications with sporting events in the world, digital is necessary for most concluded with a question ers, system integrators, tel- dressed,” she added. on the business community. low latency and high speeds the FIFA World Cup. ‘Expect businesses and workplaces. and answer session moder- ecom service providers and Abbassi shared a presen- “We are now leveraging in fixed-grade service over Amazing’ is the key slogan She said, “Digital trans- ated by ICC Innovation for other stakeholders to ensure tation on the Middle East and the latest technology, such 5G network, enabling the and Ooredoo will collaborate formation is key to sustain- All Hub Deputy Director the smooth deployment of North Africa Region mobile as 5G, to enable transforma- most creative use of the best and join the nation in making able economic growth and Charly Gordon. 5G and achieve the economic economy, and the trends and tion which was not possible in communication, education this a reality,” Emadi said. development and has be- Through the knowledge- benefits of 5G technology,” best practices in stimulating before” Emadi said. and entertainment, all while Webinar participants also come a vital lifeline to many sharing online event, ICC said Salma Al Sulaiti. 5G enabled economic growth. He said, “Ooredoo’s 5G allowing the spirit of innova- heard from Gordon. “5G will SMEs worldwide during the Qatar members and the “The timely and success- During his presentation, network provides an oppor- tive enterprise to maximise be the formidable engine of pandemic.” business community were ful deployment of 5G re- Emadi explained how 5G tunity to give customers ac- its potential.” innovation, competitiveness Sheikha Tamader also able to recognise various quires a clearly defined policy technology could be lever- cess to high-speed connectiv- Emadi outlined a few on- and sustainable economic highlighted that ICC Qatar practical opportunities that framework and a strategy to aged to enhance connectiv- ity even in the most remote going projects in which Oore- growth provided that busi- will continue to bring knowl- could be harnessed, by all ensure the efficient roll out, ity as a result of the faster areas of Qatar.” doo, a global telecommunica- nesses of all sizes and all edge solutions to the Qatari industry sectors, from one of and in order to ensure that network speed, enable digi- Emadi showcased the ad- tions provider, is leveraging sectors can properly harness business community through the latest technologies. the technology is fulfilling its tal transformation and how vances made in Qatar with 5G technology. its empowering effects and these multi-stakeholders During the webinar, the promises, all security mat- Ooredoo was able to use the regards to 5G technology. He “In Qatar and over the navigate its transformational knowledge sharing sessions. Economy & Business Sunday, December 20, 2020 09

QNB economic commentary COVID-19 vaccines key for Ethics taking centrestage strong global recovery in ’21 of business strategy, says he global economy is in the middle about the current vaccine developments of what could be one of the most and their economic consequences. Tdramatic economic recoveries in dec- First, the development of several vac- ades. After the Covid-19 shock produced cines is key to mitigate availability risks the sharpest and deepest slowdown on re- and provide flexibility to supply chains, Doha Bank’s Group CEO cord in Q2 2020, aggressive policy stimu- which is essential for emergency mass lus and the temporary containment of the immunization plans. The effort to vac- pandemic led to a significant rebound last cinate the globe relies on a plethora of Dr R Seetharaman virtually addresses global conference organised by ICAI quarter. But the global economy is not out professionals and infrastructure networks, of the woods yet. As the pandemic contin- including pharmacists, nurses, chemists, ues, new cases of severe epidemics could factory workers, truck drivers, pilots, data create “double dip recessions” or signifi- scientists and bureaucrats. Coordination cant slowdowns to the recovery process. efforts are critical and all of the many and A sustained global economic recovery complicated links of the chain have to requires a more durable solution to the hold. With different vaccines using differ- Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, that means ent technologies and supply chains, the the development of effective vaccines and vaccine provision infrastructure becomes their deployment for mass immunization more robust and less prone to disruption. globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no clarity yet as to the percentage of people who need to have antibodies or be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19. But the general assumption from infectologists is that a large percentage of the global population needs to be vaccinat- ed to break major chains of transmission, lowering the overall amount of virus able to spread in the whole population. Vaccine development is not a trivial matter. In fact, it is a long, complex pro- cess, which in normal circumstances can last more than 10 years and involve a com- bination of public and private entities. But Tribune News Network ing shareholders’ wealth, the 2021. Qatar and other regional downturn than in the United the emergency caused by the pandemic Doha focus of business organizations economies had witnessed eco- States in the first half of the led to an unprecedented mobilization of now is on socially-responsible nomic reforms to recover from year. Inflation in the advanced resources for the development of a vaccine As corporates move away from activities. Environmental is- the COVID-19 as oil fell this economy group is projected at record speed. So far, according to the profit-firstmentality, ethical sues are now openly discussed year. at 0.8 percent in 2020, ris- WHO, there are 52 candidate vaccines in reasoning is taking centrestage by the business world. Frame- “Qatar central bank came ing to 1.6 percent in 2021 as clinical evaluation. of business strategy, Doha work of Corporate Governance up with various measures to the recovery gains hold. In the Importantly, after months of research, Second, most countries facing severe Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman has improved considerably. combat the risk of the corona- emerging market and develop- several Covid-19 vaccines were set for Covid-19 epidemics are mature advanced said while virtually addressing Business ethics is no more con- virus pandemic, including the ing economy group, inflation is emergency use authorisation on the back economies with vast resources, strong an international conference sidered as an undesirable trans- National Response Guarantee projected at 5 percent this year, of outstanding results from late stage institutions and powerful administrative organised by the Institute of gression into the functioning of Programme to help private declining to 4.7 percent next development efficacy trials. At the time of systems, which favours their capacity to Chartered Accountants of India business organizations. Instead firms meet their immediate year.” writing, five vaccines have already been acquire and distribute the vaccines en (ICAI) recently. organizations themselves are payroll and rental fee payment Prospects for China are developed with efficacy rates above the masse. This includes Europe and the US, The conference was at- taking it seriously and now con- requirements.” much stronger than for most 50% threshold required by key regulators. some of the most vulnerable countries to tended by India’s ministers, sider it as good for business,” In May 2020, the public- other countries in this group, This includes vaccines developed in the Covid-19, due to their demographics (older parliamentarians, World Bank Seetharaman said. private partnership law was in- he said, adding that Oil ex- US, Europe, Russia and China. And there population) and their inability to contain professionals, and senior busi- According to UNCTAD, The troduced, he said, adding that tended gains toward $50 a is more to come, as several other vaccines the early spread of the virus. As highly con- ness executives and manage- coronavirus crisis is pushing the Private sector is expected to barrel after OPEC+ reached are expected to achieve similar trial results nected countries with more cases immu- ment professionals of Indian critical economic, social and leverage from this new law. a compromise deal to gradu- soon. The efficacy of the new Covid-19 vac- nize their populations, the global spread of Blue-chip companies. environmental development Sharing insights on global ally taper production cuts this cines has so far proven to be significantly Covid-19 should slow rapidly. “Business does not enjoy targets beyond reach, he said. economies, he said according month. 2020 has been a his- higher than the efficacy of traditional flu Third, global mass immunization is any special status and morality The organisation’s online to IMF’s October 2020 data, toric year for gold and silver as vaccines. likely to produce strong pent-up demand is as much applicable to it as to annual update tracking pro- global growth is projected at unprecedented stimulus meas- Laboratories and pharmaceutical in key economic sectors, particularly anything else; and rules of eth- gress on a range of indicators 5.2 percent in 2021. The ad- ures around the world were un- companies are already ramping up vac- services and activities that rely on face-to- ics and morality are as much in- of the UN’s sustainable Devel- vanced economies growth is leashed on financial markets. cine production. According to Dr. Moncef face interactions. This will favour tourism, trinsic to business as the rules opment Goals (SDGs) shows projected to strengthen to 3.9 The dollar index is at 90.46 Slaoui, director of the US Operation Warp aviation, restaurants, entertainment, and of economy and free markets,” that poverty, inequality, the percent and emerging and levels and is expected to fall Speed, vaccine availability in the US will medium and small businesses. Seetharaman added. He was climate crisis, unsustainable developing economies are ex- further as fed continues its increase very rapidly, including 35-40 All in all, Covid-19 vaccines are a major talking about accountancy pro- production and other pressing pected to recover by 6 percent monetary easing, he said. “Cru- million doses this month, 60-70 million tailwind for the global economy in 2021. fession and its role in accelerat- challenges require even more in 2021. cial negotiations to secure a in January 2021, 90-120 million doses in Assuming no major problems in the mass ing global economic growth. urgent action due to COVID-19, “The US economy is pro- post-Brexit trade deal between February and more than 150 million doses production and distribution of vaccines, Ethics and good govern- he added. jected to contract by 4.3 per- the UK and the EU expected to per month after March. A ramp up in the global economy is expected to gradu- ance play a key role in account- Sharing insights on regional cent in 2020, before growing happen. Global markets have production and availability is also expected ally “re-open” in the second and third ancy profession, he noted. economies, Seetharaman said, at 3.1 percent in 2021. A deeper surged in recent times after fall globally. quarters of 2021, which should accelerate “Profit is no longer con- “Qatar economy is expected to contraction of 8.3 percent is in April 2020 due to hopes of This piece dives into three main points the economic recovery. sidered as the sole objective of contract by 4.5 percent in 2020 projected for the euro area vaccine, cheering Joe Biden’s business. Instead of maximiz- and recover by 2.5 percent in in 2020, reflecting a sharper win in US election.” German economy ends year with surprise gain in business confidence DPA a previously estimated 90.7 in said this week it expects the In particular, helping to Berlin November. nation’s economy to gain mo- drive the Ifo index higher in Based on a survey of 9,000 mentum in the second quarter December was a strong gain in The German economy has executives across Germany, the next year as the Covid-19 vac- We are confident that the the institute’s index measuring ended tumultuous year on a gain in the December Ifo index cine is rolled out. German economy will the mood among executives in positive note with business brought to an end two consecu- As a result, after contract- Germany’s key manufacturing confidence posting a surprise tive monthly falls, raising hopes ing by a hefty 5.4 per cent this outperform its peers. sector. jump amid signs of industry re- that Europe’s biggest economy year, Deutsche sees the Ger- Claus Vistesen, chief Eurozone Manufacturers’ assess- silience in the face of the ongo- might also avoid a contraction man economy rebounding by economist with the Pantheon ments of their current situation ing coronavirus crisis. in the fourth quarter. 4.5 per cent in 2021. Macroeconomics group rose to the highest level since The Munich-based Ifo “The lockdown is hitting The Ifo’s December gain January, Ifo said. “Optimism institute said on Friday its individual sectors hard,” said reflected a pickup in industry about the coming months also closely watched business cli- Ifo President Clemens Fuest. leaders’ assessment both of of the pandemic. increased noticeably,” it said. mate index rose to 92.1 points Germany has launched a tough their current business condi- “We are confident that the The manufacturing indus- this month from an upwardly new round of health measures tions and six months down the German economy will out- try’s strong showing in the Ifo revised November reading of to head off a renewed surge in track. perform its peers,” said Claus report was also in line with the 90.9, pointing to a sharp eco- coronavirus cases. At a reading of 91.3, the Vistesen, chief Eurozone econ- solid gains in hard data for the nomic rebound from the pan- “However,” said Fuest, “the executives’ assessments of cur- omist with the Pantheon Mac- sector at the start of the fourth demic in the months ahead. German economy as a whole is rent business conditions is now roeconomics research group. quarter with factory orders, Analysts had forecast a proving resilient.” Germany’s at its highest level since March Passers-by walk along the near-empty Neue Wall upscale shopping This is despite the uncertainty production and exports rising drop in December to 90.0 from biggest bank Deutsche Bank and the onset of the first wave mall in Hamburg on December 18. (Axel Heimken/AFP) of the coming months, he said. in October. Economic recovery ‘not yet solid’: China Virus-linked lending programme AFP fection, and China is likely to economy on an even keel, the Beijing be the only major world pow- meeting said. extended by Bank of Japan er to record positive growth Officials also said they China said its economy had this year. would prevent “the disor- AFP extended the end-date for those added, referring to the exten- yet to fully bounce back from But officials at this week’s derly expansion of capital”, Tokyo measures by six months to Sep- sion of the lending programme. the coronavirus pandemic Central Economic Work Con- strengthening a new anti-mo- tember 2021. Speaking later, bank boss and pledged financial support ference, presided over by nopoly push. The Bank of Japan extended It made no change to its ul- Haruhiko Kuroda emphasised for recovery efforts at the end President Xi Jinping, said the It follows Beijing’s recent an emergency virus-related tra-loose monetary policy, how- its commitment to its long- of a key annual policy meeting global recovery would be “un- signs of displeasure with the lending programme but kept ever -- keeping the key interest standing policies, including the on Friday. stable and uneven” and sig- growing power of the coun- its monetary easing policy un- rate at minus 0.1 percent and still-distant goal of two percent The country suffered its nalled a fiscal policy focused try’s tech giants, with draft changed Friday, as the coun- the 10-year government bond inflation. first contraction in decades on maintaining economic sta- A man wearing a face mask and antitrust rules last month try faces a record spike in new yield target at 0.0 percent. “We’re not going to revise this year in the wake of a pub- bility. a plastic bag on his head rides suggesting more regulation Covid-19 cases. “Japan’s economy has the two percent inflation goal,” lic health crisis that prompted “We must be clearly aware a bicycle on a street in Wuhan. for the sector is on the hori- In May, the central bank picked up, but the pace of im- he told reporters. drastic lockdowns in Wuhan that there are many uncer- (Hector RETAMAL/AFP file) zon. launched a new lending scheme provement is expected to be “In regard to the inter- -- the central industrial city tainties in the evolution of the China has moved to clip aiming to channel funds to only moderate while vigilance est rate level, it is expected to where the virus first emerged pandemic and external envi- broadcaster CCTV. the wings of its fast-growing small and medium-sized busi- against the novel coronavirus hover at the level of the current late last year -- and sent fac- ronment, and the foundation Beijing will boost finan- online platforms, earlier nesses suffering from the eco- continues,” the central bank long and short-term rates or tory activity into a nosedive. for our country’s economic re- cial support to technological halting the planned record- nomic fallout of the coronavi- said. lower. Its economy has since im- covery is not yet solid,” said a innovation, small business smashing $34 billion IPO of rus pandemic. “Financing, mainly of “We don’t plan on revising proved after authorities man- statement from the three-day and green projects into the Ant Group, the financial arm At a two-day policy meet- firms, is likely to remain under the negative interest rate ei- aged to largely contain the in- summit published by state new year in efforts to keep the of e-commerce giant Alibaba. ing, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) stress for the time being,” it ther,” he said. 10 Sunday, December 20, 2020 Economy & Business Fed says largest US banks can withstand economic crisis

Agencies tal levels, however, the Fed is period of next year, “both divi- levels of capital” even as they Washington continuing its restrictions on US Fed has eased rules on dends and share repurchases faced an uncertain outlook. dividend payouts. major banks meant to pro- will be limited to an amount “The banking system has The US Federal Reserve The results, part of a stress tect the financial system based on income over the past been a source of strength dur- found that the largest US test performed on the largest during COVID-19, allowing year.” ing the past year and today’s banks have “strong capital lev- 33 banks, found that while share buybacks and divi- Firms not earning income stress test results confirm that els” and are able to withstand banks could weather a severe won’t be able to pay dividends large banks could continue to a severe global economic downturn, they could face over dends to resume in cer- or make share repurchases, lend to households and busi- downturn. 600 billion dollars in losses. tain circumstances. the central bank said. nesses even during a sharply Following the favourable “The results of the Decem- Shortly after the an- adverse future turn in the assessment, the Fed on Friday ber 2020 stress test show that severe but plausible risks.” nouncement, JPMorgan Economy,” Fed Vice Chair for said it would loosen restric- firms maintain strong capital The central bank this year Chase said it would repur- Supervision Randal K. Quar- tions on companies to buy levels under two hypothetical ordered 34 major US banks to chase $30 billion in shares les said. back their shares, a practice severe scenarios,” The Federal suspend share buybacks in the starting in the first quarter. The Fed normally con- that was restricted as the pan- Reserve said in its report. “The last two quarters of 2020 and The Fed also released re- ducts one stress test a year, demic rattled the economy. scenarios feature severe global to limit dividend payments. sults of its second banking but added a second in 2020 The loosening of share downturns with substantial The US Federal Reserve on Friday said it would loosen restrictions on However on Friday the stress test of the year, which given the pandemic and the buybacks shows the Fed’s stress in financial markets that companies to buy back their shares, a practice that was restricted as Fed modified its regulations, found that financial institu- United States’ entry into a re- confidence in the banks capi- serve to capture a broad set of the pandemic rattled the economy. saying for the January-March tions “generally had strong cession.

Tesla to join elite S&P 500 index, US blacklists Chinese firms shaking up Wall St including chip giant SMIC AFP it expects a record shift of New York some $80 billion with the entry of California-based Announcement in Tesla is set to join an Tesla. the final weeks of elite group of companies The change could also in a key Wall Street index, encourage “active” portfo- Trump’s term comes a move which gives greater lio managers who measure after relations be- prominence to the high- their performance against flying electric carmaker the benchmark index to tween Washington and forces money manag- buy Tesla to keep pace. ers to reshuffle their port- But some analysts say and Beijing sour folios. these changes may have The company founded already been priced into AFP by Elon Musk becomes Tesla and that buying pres- Washington part of the Standard & sure for Tesla could dimin- Poor’s 500 index on Mon- ish. The United States on Friday day, which means that in- And skeptics say Tesla announced it has imposed ex- vestment funds based on could see a long-overdue port controls on dozens of Chi- that index will be holders correction from its dizzy- nese companies including the of the stock. ing gains. country’s biggest chipmaker, Tesla stock has already “We recommend in- SMIC, restricting its access to seen a spectacular rise this vestors not weight Tesla US technology over its alleged year of 680 percent, and shares in their portfolio ties to China’s military. with a market capitaliza- in equal proportion to the The announcement in the tion of some $600 billion it S&P because Tesla shares final weeks of President Don- will be the richest company are in our view and by vir- ald Trump’s term comes after to enter the prestigious tually every conventional relations between Washing- S&P index. metric not only overval- ton and Beijing soured under It is the ninth most ued, but dramatically so,” his administration, which saw valuable firm in the world, said Ryan Brinkman of the US start a trade war with just behind Facebook. JP Morgan in a research China and expand its list of Even though its car note. sanctioned entities to a few production is modest com- Pierre Ferragu of New hundred Chinese companies pared with rivals, Tesla’s Street Research offered a and subsidiaries. growth prospects have cautious view, noting that In a statement, Commerce SMIC, which has received billions of dollars in support from Beijing and is at the heart of its efforts to improve the country’s technological self- spurred investors to push “the market is probably Secretary Wilbur Ross said the sufficiency, is set to get its access to US technology restricted over its alleged ties to China’s military. up its value so that it’s getting ready for S&P 500 designations, which restrict US now worth more than Gen- inclusion, and this prob- companies’ abilities to do busi- dignity of ethnic and religious the Chinese firm’s ability to eral Motors, Ford, Toyota, ably supported the stock ness with the firms, are over minority groups,” Ross said. Beijing slams US blacklisting acquire materials for produc- Honda, Fiat Chrysler and greatly in recent weeks and an array of charges including “Commerce will act to en- Beijing on Saturday accused the United States of “bullying” af- ing chips of 10 nanometers or Volkswagen combined. months.” human rights abuses, the ac- sure that America’s technology ter Washington announced export controls on dozens of Chinese smaller, the best class in the - Portfolio shuffling -As This could lead to a tivities of the Chinese military, -- developed and produced ac- firms over alleged ties to China’s military. The announcement industry. a result of the change in the pullback for Tesla, accord- particularly in the South China cording to open and free-mar- -- in the final weeks of President DonaldT rump’s term -- comes Also targeted was drone S&P, stock index mutual ing to Ferragu. Sea, as well as theft of US tech- ket principles -- is not used for after relations between Washington and Beijing soured under his manufacturer DJI “because of funds and exchange traded But the analyst said nology. malign or abusive purposes.” administration, which saw the US start a trade war with China its complicity in human rights funds -- favored by many Tesla may still be a good The new US restrictions SMIC has received billions and expand its list of sanctioned entities to a few hundred Chi- violations within China,” the small investors -- will need long-term bet, setting a target 77 companies and affili- of dollars in support from nese companies and subsidiaries. China’s commerce ministry on official said. to hold Tesla shares in pro- price target for Tesla in ates including 59 in mainland Beijing and is at the heart Saturday said it “firmly opposes” the move, which will affect the That company holds some portion to its weight in the 2025 at $1,200, compared China, among them SMIC, as of its efforts to improve the country’s biggest chipmaker, SMIC, and vowed to “take necessary 70 percent of the global drone index, which is currently with $655 at the close on well as SMIC’s Hong Kong unit country’s technological self- measures” to safeguard Chinese companies’ rights. (AFP) market, and the US Depart- around one percent. Thursday. and entities in more than half sufficiency. ment of the Interior last year This could force some Jefferies analyst a dozen other countries from In a call with reporters, way to avoid the designation. said. grounded its fleet of the com- significant reshufflingPhilippe Houchois said Bulgaria to France and Paki- a senior Commerce Depart- “We’re adding SMIC to “We simply no longer pany’s drones amid rising se- since Tesla is replacing Tesla poses some unique stan. ment official said Washing- the entity list mostly because could stand by and watch our curity concerns over Chinese Apartment Investment, challenges for investors be- “China’s corrupt and bul- ton has evidence that SMIC we need to make sure US in- adversary using our technolo- electronics. with a value of just 0.02 cause of how it is shaking lying behavior both inside has worked with the Chinese tellectual property and manu- gies to support its military ca- On January 20 Trump is percent of the S&P index. up the auto sector with its and outside its borders harms military on developing short- facturing capabilities are not pabilities.” set to hand power to Presi- S&P Dow Jones Indi- electric vehicles (EVs) and US national security interests, and medium-range ballistic being used by SMIC’s clients The designation means dent-elect Joe Biden, who has ces, which manages the a different way of doing undermines the sovereignty missiles and exoskeletons for to continue to support the US companies must apply for said he would maintain his index of the 500 firms, said business than rivals. of our allies and partners, and soldiers, but had been in talks military-civil fusions efforts a license before exporting to predecessor’s trade policies, violates the human rights and with SMIC for months on a within China,” the official SMIC, and specifically targets at least at first. China introduces new Post-Brexit talks grind on as fish spat threatens deal rules for foreign investors AFP they currently catch in UK wa- competition conditions for our AFP national security”, accord- Brussels ters. Britain is understood to businesses,” he said. Beijing ing to the National Develop- be holding out for getting back - ‘Concerns’ Britain not ment and Reform Commis- EU and UK negotiators much more than half. ready -The urgency of reach- Foreign investors in Chi- sion (NDRC), which did not pressed on with talks on Sat- The UK has suggested this ing a deal is being driven nese industries from de- specify what activities would urday with no sign of them compromise last for three home by scenes of long lines fence to tech will from next be seen as having such an ef- breaking an impasse over years before it is renegotiated, of trucks at the freight rail link year face an extra layer of fect. post-Brexit fishing rights in whereas Europe is holding through the Channel tunnel as scrutiny to ensure their ac- The announcement comes time to save a trade deal. out for seven. “It’s all down to British companies frantically tivities do not undermine na- nearly a year after China’s Fishing is now the main numbers now,” the second Eu- stockpile. tional security, the country’s new foreign investment law obstacle to any pact that could ropean diplomat said. A group of UK MPs warned top economic planner said came into force, promising be in place on January 1 to pre- The EU’s pointman in on Saturday that Britain has Saturday. to give local and foreign com- vent an economic jolt on both the talks, Michel Barnier, has not installed the complex IT Under the new rules, panies equal treatment in the sides of the Channel as Britain consulted member states that systems and port infrastruc- overseas investment in Chi- Chinese market. leaves the single market. share fishing waters with Brit- ture needed to ensure trade nese industries related to the The NDRC said the rules, “It remains very blocked,” ain, but has been told to stand with the EU runs smoothly. military will automatically be which will take effect on Jan- one EU diplomat told AFP. his ground. Some disruption is inevi- reviewed. uary 18, were intended to “ef- Another said Brussels had The European Parliament table whether a deal happens But forays into agricul- fectively prevent and dissolve made Britain its last offer on has highlighted a deadline Fishing is now the main obstacle to any pact between the UK and EU or not. ture, energy, transport, in- national security risks while fishing access and it was down of midnight (2300 GMT) on that could be in place on January 1 to prevent an economic jolt on Outside the single market, ternet and financial services actively promoting foreign now to UK Prime Minister Bo- Sunday to receive a deal for both sides of the Channel as Britain leaves the single market. British and European traders will only face a review if they investment”. ris Johnson to decide whether review if MEPs are to ratify it will have to fill out import- involve the acquisition of 50 China said Friday it was he wants a deal. before the end of the year. The second diplomatic source echoing words used by Barnier export, health and tax forms to percent of a Chinese compa- in the last stretch of talks “If Britain doesn’t accept Their UK parliamentary said Britain effectively had un- a day earlier. send and receive goods. ny, or will significantly affect on a landmark investment the latest EU offer of it will counterparts are in recess, til the end of the year to make But, he told French radio, A deal would lighten that the business. agreement with the Euro- be a ‘no deal’ over fish,” he but can be recalled within 48 its mind up. talks will not be called to a halt burden by removing tariffs, Investors in those cases pean Union that would al- warned. hours to do likewise. France’s European affairs even if they go past Sunday. but there would still be traffic must submit to a govern- low the bloc’s member states Barnier has proposed EU But EU capitals are not minister, Clement Beaune, “We won’t do that because snarls as checks on truck loads ment review determining greater access to the lucrative fishermen giving up nearly a binding themselves to the Eu- warned that time left to get a what is at risk is whole sectors and drivers’ papers are carried whether their moves “affect Chinese market. quarter of the value of the fish ropean Parliament’s deadline. deal was “a matter of hours,” like fishing, like sustainable out. Josh Hazlewood claims five as India shot out for lowest ever Test score, Australia win by 8 wickets SUNday, DECEMBER 20, 2020 page 14 Ulsan Hyundai emerge Asian Champions League winners

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President, Qatar Football Association awards the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy to Ul san Hyundai’s Yoon Bit-garam at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday. Yoon Bit-garam named 2020 AFC CL’s MVP

AFC Yoon, 30, admitted that South Korea’s Ulsan Hyudai players celebrate with the trophy after winning the AFC Champions League final against Iran’s Persepolis at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday.( AFP) Doha going behind shook Ulsan Hyundai, especially as they Yoon Bit-garam’s phenom- had dominated possession. enal form in the 2020 AFC “We were a bit down after Negrao stars with a double in final against Persepolis Champions League saw the conceding but after Junior Ulsan Hyundai FC midfielder scored the first goal, we went win the Most Valuable Player into the break with renewed (MVP) award following the energy. The coach analysed conclusion of the final at the Al and explained to us how we Janoub Stadium on Saturday. have to tackle the second Yoon played a pivotal role half. For us as players, we just in Ulsan Hyundai winning the wanted to follow the coach’s trophy for a second time as instructions and be disciplined he contributed four goals and and that was the secret to win- marshalled the engine room ning the game. superbly as the Korea Republic ‘Persepolis played a lot side lifted the AFC Champions of long balls into the box but League trophy with a 2-1 win we tried to defend as a team over Islamic Republic of Iran’s and were able to keep them at Persepolis FC in the final. bay,” said Yoon. “This is the happiest mo- Yoon paid tribute to his ment of my career and the teammates, saying he would Ulsan forward Junior Negrao (right) celebrates his goal with midfielder most meaningful day in my not have enjoyed such a Won Du-Jae during the AFC Champions League final.( AFP) life. It was very difficult be- successful tournament if not cause we conceded the goal for them. first, but we tried to chase it “I could not have won this back as soon as possible and award without my teammates. we tried to show our energy to Everyone played their role, we score,” said Yoon. came together as a team and “We proved we are eager to wanted to enjoy our football. win this title. We are very hap- “I cannot be fully satisfied FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa present the py with the fact that we could with my performance here; winners’ trophy to Ulsan Hyundai captain at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday. (AFP) lift the trophy. I would like to I always have to push myself thank our fans who are follow- to be better and better and go AFP club scene since 1993. ing us in Korea even though it higher. I would like to dedi- Doha Persepolis had topped from is really late now in Korea. I cate the award to my team- Asia’s west zone in Qatar’s bio- would like to thank the man- mates who helped me and we Ulsan Hyundai Motors won secure bubble after the Covid-19 ager who gave me a lot of trust tried to enjoy the competition the Asian Champions League pandemic forced the Asian from the start of the season.” together.” for the second time in history Football Confederation to halt after a Junior Negrao double the tournament in March. gave them a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, the Iran’s Persepolis on Saturday. 2019 champions, were kicked The South Korean giants out during the group phase also achieved the feat in record after a spate of coronavirus in- fashion, winning their ninth fections in the squad left them consecutive match in the tour- without enough fit players, eas- nament to equal their winning ing Persepolis’ path to the final. streak of 2012 when they won While Ulsan had played Persepolis fans cheer ahead of the AFC Champions League final between Iran’s Persepolis and South the title for the first time. eight games in 23 days in Doha Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday. (AFP) But this time they were before Saturday’s final, Perse- even more emphatic, scoring polis had three weeks off and huk to the bottom left corner. Ulsan had their tail up after playing for Seongnam Illhwa at least two goals in each match only arrived in Qatar a few days Ulsan, however hit back in that but they required another Chunma. on their way to the title, an un- ago. The Iranians though bat- the fourth minute of first-half VAR-assisted penalty to score That year his team squan- precedented achievement in the tled gallantly on Saturday, not stoppage time after they were their second goal in the 55th dered a 3-1 first leg away win tournament. only keeping the marauding awarded a VAR-assisted pen- minute advantage to suffer a 5-0 thrash- Persepolis missed out on Ulsan forwards at bay but also alty when Ahmad Noorollahi Mehdi Shiri handled the ing by Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad the Asian crown for the second drawing first blood at Qatar’s Al fouled Yoon Bit-Garam inside ball as Ulsan pressed forward at home to finish runners-up time in three years, having lost Janoub Stadium, built for the the box. and this time Negrao made no “I am very proud of this Ulsan Hyundai players celebrate with coach Do-Hoon Kim after winning to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in 2022 World Cup. Negrao couldn’t believe mistake from the spot, sending team. The players did their best. the AFC Champions League final at Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday.( AFP) the final in 2018. At the stroke of half-time, his luck as goalkeeper Hamed goalkeeper Lak in the other di- I would like to thank the club This was the fifth time in Ulsan defender Park Soo-ho Lak blocked his spot-kick with rection. who trusted me a lot,” said Kim, history that a team from Iran lost his balance in the midfield a full-stretch dive, but the ball Coach Kim Do-hoon who also paid his respects to his Scoreline had fallen at the final hurdle and Mehdi Abdi displayed great rebounded in the Brazilian’s couldn’t hide his emotions after father who died this year. Ulsan Hyundai 2 (Junior Negrao 45+4’, 55’ (P)) bt of Asia’s premier competition, awareness to steal the ball and direction and he was left with guiding Ulsan to victory, hav- “My father passed away this Persepolis 1 (Mehdi Abdi 45’). thus extending the country’s ti- produce a brilliant solo run be- the easiest of tap-ins to score his ing experienced the pain of los- season but I am sure he was tle drought on the continental fore beating goalkeeper Jo Soo- sixth goal of the tournament. ing the 2004 final when he was watching over us from above.” 12 Sunday, December 20, 2020 Sports

The Al Sadd team celebrates with the Amir Cup trophy after receiving it from His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday. Al Sadd beat Al Arabi 2-1 in the final to claim the prestigious title a 17th time.

Life in Qatar, my coaching philosophy and the FIFA 2022 World Cup project

By Xavi Hernandez to the point where it has now positively im- all, players must enjoy playing football and the pacted more than 500,000 people across ten best way to enjoy football is to have the ball, ith less than two years until the countries. Some of the projects have included create lots of chances and score lots of goals. World Cup is hosted in the Middle When you walk around Doha and meet building football pitches in refugee camps This is how I lived it as a player, and it is how WEast and Arab world for the first the locals, their passion for football is and implementing sustainable programmes I want my players to experience the game un- time, excitement is really starting to build clear. I must admit that I like practically which ensure the facilities are used effective- der my management. here in Qatar. The country has promised to everything about living in Qatar. The ly. I have attended pitch launch ceremonies From my time here, it is clear that football put on a spectacular show for football fans weather is amazing, with sunshine in Jordan and India – and the impact they is developing very well in Qatar. The World and having seen the pace of development have on communities is huge. Cup project meant that they had to really fo- since I moved here in 2015 – on everything almost every day, and it is a very relaxing While I had initially only planned on cus on developing not only top-class facilities from stadiums and accommodation, to road place to work as the people are really staying in Qatar to finish my playing career, and stadiums to host the tournament, but a and rail infrastructure – I’ve every confi- respectful and friendly. It’s also a very when I was presented with the opportunity national team capable of competing on the dence that it will be an incredible tourna- the programmes put in place to deliver posi- safe country with very little crime, so to take over as the manager of Al Sadd I was biggest stage with the world’s best teams. As- ment for both players and fans. tive social change beyond 2022. is a great place to raise a young family. delighted. My family and I had really grown pire Academy, which launched back in 2004 I moved to Qatar to join Al Sadd and pro- When you walk around Doha and meet to love Qatar and the way of life over here, to help develop footballers and other athletes long my playing career. It was a huge decision the locals, their passion for football is clear. so it was a brilliant chance for me to take in the country, has been a huge success. The for me and my family to move from Barcelo- I didn’t really know what to expect when I the weekend, there are lots of nice things to the first step in my managerial career and new generation of players coming through in na, my home city, and a club I love so much, first moved here as it was a completely new do. I often go out to eat at one of Doha’s many oversee a squad with a number of promising Qatar are improving a lot. I can see this im- to start again in a whole new part of the world. experience for me, leaving Barca after 25 nice restaurants, such as Lo Spaghetto, which players likely to feature for the Qatar nation- provement with my own players at Al Sadd At the time, my passion for playing the years, to go to a new part of the world with is great for Italian food, or to Bibo, a Span- al team in 2022. Having played for Al Sadd, and it is a privilege to work with them every game was as strong as ever, but deep down, I a different culture and traditions. But I must ish restaurant, for a taste of home. The beach I knew it would be a fantastic place for me to day and help them grow in confidence. knew I would no longer be able to contribute admit that I like practically everything about hotels here are amazing and a great place to transition to life on the touchline and help With the current rate of development and as much as I would have liked on the pitch at living in Qatar. The weather is amazing, with relax at the weekends, although recently with develop some of these players. having recently won the AFC Asian Cup, I a club like Barca, where every game is a must sunshine almost every day, and it is a very the football season in full flow I haven’t had as It took some time to adapt to my new life think Qatar can compete very well at their first win. When I learned about the World Cup relaxing place to work as the people are real- much time to enjoy this aspect of life in Qatar! as coach but I’m enjoying it very much. My World Cup in 2022. Football culture is grow- project in Qatar by speaking to friends such ly respectful and friendly. It’s also a very safe Since moving to Qatar, I have also had philosophy is the same as when I was a player. ing at a tremendous speed here and I think the as Raul, who had already played here, I was country with very little crime, so is a great the opportunity to work on some incredible I like football to be played in a positive way. As World Cup will help take the game to the next truly impressed by what the country wanted place to raise a young family. charitable initiatives. One of the projects – a player I liked having the ball, keeping pos- level – not only in Qatar but in the whole Arab to achieve both on and off the pitch by host- Since moving here, I have got to spend lots Generation Amazing – has become very close session, going on the attack and creating as region. While eventually the time will come ing the tournament. of quality time with my wife and two young to my heart. It uses the power of football to many chances as possible. I believe in a pos- for me to take the next step in my managerial It was a great opportunity for me to con- children. As training takes place in the even- empower and educate young people and session-based game, played at a high tempo, career, for now, I’m focused on enjoying my tinue playing football while also playing a role ing most days, I have time to take my daugh- teach important life skills. The programme and I like my players to understand the im- time here and making the most of the oppor- in a bigger, national project – with the aim of ter to pre-school every day and then spend the recently celebrated its tenth anniversary portance of playing as a team. Everyone has tunity to play a small role in Qatar’s exciting achieving great things off the pitch through rest of the morning playing with my son. At and it has been a pleasure to watch it grow to defend together and attack together. Above journey to 2022. (SC.QA)

Q&A with Hani Taleb Ballan ‘VAR as a tool helps add fairness, integrity and value to football’

o football player, club or ing for everybody and all those the video match officials who How do you think the ref- I’m very proud of our referees, Nassociation emerged from football lovers, those who are are participating in our compe- erees have dealt with this because they have done this. 2020 without feeling the impact passionate about football in titions in the AFC. This training new way (pandemic and of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Asia, to see football coming was done by having seminars bio-secure bubbles) of life? This competition has taken Asia’s elite referees have also back to life again, and for the in Kuala Lumpur before the The pandemic has affected place in three stadiums been forced to adapt to what most prestigious club competi- pandemic, and then, when the everyone including football- which will be used for the quickly became the new normal. tion to be concluded in Qatar. pandemic started, we have con- ers, businesses, and referees, 2022 FIFA World Cup. Do From their own domestic com- When the pandemic started all tinued taking this responsibility but we ask the referees, al- you think the referees have petitions to the AFC Champions sport activities, in some coun- of exchanging the knowledge of ways, to do even more than felt an extra motivation? League, the continent’s match tries, were put on hold, and in the referees and preparing them what is expected. In the West and East, we officials have shown diligence some countries, they were ter- for such a tournament like the Of course, it’s not easy to be have concluded the potential and professionalism and played minated, but it was very impor- West and the East (AFC Cham- in a bubble-to-bubble bio-frame candidates for the Qatar World a key role in keeping the game tant to resume the most pres- pions League). but again and again, our refer- Cup in 2022, and for our ref- alive during the most difficult of tigious AFC competition. AFC Referees Committee Deputy Chairperson Hani Taleb Ballan. “In August, we’ve completed ees have taken this big respon- erees to be able to touch base circumstances. During the clos- The only way to conclude a virtual training for four days sibility. They have sacrificed a with three stadiums that I ing stages of the ongoing AFC this competition was with a cen- football? cannot see on the field of play. for all the referees to refresh lot to bring football back to life would say are world-class sta- Champions League in Doha, tralised venue. Thanks to the The VAR is a very important It adds fairness to the game, it them again, to simulate situa- in Asia. diums – Education City Sta- AFC Referees Committee Dep- help of Qatar, working together tool that will assist and help the adds integrity to the game and tions, basically to train them on I would like really to dium, Khalifa Stadium and Al uty Chairperson Hani Taleb with the AFC, we have conclud- referees to make the correct de- also it adds value, for using such the line of interventions. This thank all the referees for Janoub Stadium – which will Ballan joined us to share his ed the competition as a whole. cision, when needed. Of course, an advanced technology, in AFC four-day cause in August was their commitment. I would be used in the World Cup, I thoughts on the competition, So, thanks very much to Qatar we have started using the VAR competitions, which will help to very important. like to show my appreciation can feel the inspiration that VAR and how Asia’s refereeing and the AFC for their efforts to in the AFC in national team make the competitions as suc- “We have also, since March, for all their commitment, for refereeing in these stadiums fraternity has navigated a year conclude the competition. competitions. We used it in the cessful as possible. established a training panel – all the rigorous work they has given our referees. of unprecedented challenges. Asian Cup in 2019, and again for our educator panel - that again have done and their disci- Although we have had no The VAR (Video Assistant the AFC U23 (Championship) What steps were under- and again, every week, get in pline throughout the bubble- spectators, this has simulated Excerpts: Referee) was used for the in Thailand in 2020 and we taken to prepare referees touch with the referees, simu- to-bubble bio-framework. refereeing on the pitch on a first time in an AFC club have started using it in our club for the use of VAR? late situations with referees and They have taken it seri- World Cup stadium, and it is On Qatar’s role in success- competition. As a former competitions from the quarter- “The use of VAR has to fol- train the referees online, so they ously, of course there is pres- an inspiration for all of them. It ful completion of the 2020 referee, how important do final round.I t is a tool that can low a systematic process. Rigor- can always be ready, mentally sure, but this is what refereeing gives them, I would say, an ex- AFC Champions League you think it is to have this help the referees to take a re- ous training has been done in and knowledge wise, for the is all about, making the right tra drive, that they would like to Of course, it’s a great feel- additional tool in modern ally critical decision which they preparing the referees and all competitions. decisions under pressure, and be back here in 2022. (AFC) Sports Sunday, December 20, 2020 13

Minister of Culture and QATAR INTERNATIONAL DERBY Sports Meets Iranian Counterpart Glitter Queen, SoldierPoy shine in Oaks and Al Rayyan Stakes

Tribune News Network Doha

Faleh Suwayed Al Aja- mi’s Glitter Queen (Night Of Thunder x Ile Flottante) brushed aside a forgettable Guineas outing from a month ago to race to a smashing vic- tory in the Qatar Oaks (F) (QA Gr 3) (Far Bend) (3yo TB) at HE Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali met with QREC’s Al Rayyan Park turf HE the Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Masoud Sultanifar, and on Saturday. his accompanying delegation during his visit to the country to attend The Hamad Ahmed Al the AFC Champions League final match on Saturday. During the meet- Malki Al Jehani-trained filly ing, they reviewed aspects of joint cooperation between the two coun- had finished 10th over a mile tries and ways to support and develop them in the sports field.(QN A) in the Gr 3 Guineas after a promising third in the Oaks Trial earlier in November. Saturday’s step up in dis- tance to 2000m, however, did not seem daunting as Ronan Thomas raced his fourth win- ner of the day to consolidate his top spot in the jockeys’ standings. Thomas had his mount stay on the rails midfield early on before dropping back in the order briefly.H owever, com- ing off the bend, Glitter Queen Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President, Qatar Equestrian Federation, with the winning team of Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami’s Glitter Queen upped the pace and surged which won the QA Gr 3 Qatar Oaks for 3YO Thoroughbred fillies on turf at QREC’s Al Rayyan Park on Saturday. forward to win by two and three quarters lengths in front of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s She’s Our Queen (Toronado x Dyna Bowl), ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain. West Asia Football Federation Gassim Mohammad Ghazali-trained Forced (Le- holds General Assembly thal Force x Danehill Revival) was ridden to third by Marco Tribune News Network During the meeting, the Casamento in the colours of Doha minutes of the previous Gen- Meshaal bin Ali Al Attiyah. eral Assembly were reviewed, Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Ku- The West Asian Football Fed- which was approved by the wari’s SoldierPoy (Sepoy x eration (WAFF) held its 10th federations’ representatives. Lamps Of Heaven) had shown regular General Assembly The General Assembly was promise with two Class 2 wins meeting on Saturday in which also briefed on the Federa- in his first two starts in Qatar, Secretary-General Mansour tion’s Executive Committee the last one being a month ago Al Ansari represented Qatar report, which included all the over seven furlongs. Football Association (QFA). activities that took place since On Saturday, the bay horse Member countries Jor- the last meeting until now, landed the Al Rayyan Stakes dan, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi which had many tournaments, (Far Bend) (2yo Thorough- Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Oman, administrative actions, train- breds) to complete a hat-trick. Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon ing and refereeing courses and With French star jock- and Yemen joined in via video workshops in various fields. ey Julien Auge astride, the communication. The General Assembly Mohammed Hussain Afroz HE Adnan Dirjal, Iraq’s Minister of Youth and Sports, hands the Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, then reviewed the financial saddled gelding started the Ronan Thomas rides Hamad Al Jehani’s trainee Glitter Queen to Al Rayyan Stakes trophy for Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s winner President of WAFF, chaired statements of WAFF ( 2017, packed 16-strong C&D run victory in the QA Gr 3 Qatar Oaks for 3YO Thoroughbred fillies. SoldierPoy to Al Rayyan Stakes representative. the meeting, where he praised 2018 and 2019), the financial from Gate 2, and tracked the the significant role of all mem- receivables, the 2021 budget leaders early on. Coming off grab the lead and then held on 20th Race Meeting - Qatar Derby Festival rowly missed out on victories ber federations in promoting and the expected revenues the bend, Auge gave his mount to beat Tomas Lukasek ridden but that changed this time football in its various sectors, and expenses. All of the de- the go ahead and Soldierpoy Challenge De Ghazali, owned QATAR OAKS (F) (QA Gr 3) (Far Bend) Casamento round. whether during the past years cision were approved after responded, surging forward by HH Sheikh Mohammed Winning horse: Glitter Queen (GB), Trainer: Hamad LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN PLATE (3 Year Old In the Purebred Arabian Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani, Jockey: Ronan Thomas Fillies) (Far Bend) or the recent period Corona Khalil Al-Salem, the WAFF and building a healthy lead, bin Khalifa Al Thani, by two AL RAYYAN STAKES (Far Bend) Alf Lyla (QA), Julian Colin Smart, Tomas Lukasek Plate (3 Year Old Fillies) (Far pandemic sweeping the globe. General Security, gave a de- eventually winning by four lengths at the post. Soldierpoy (GB), Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Julien Augé PUREBRED ARABIAN PLATE (3 Year Old Fillies) (Far Bend) Bend), Muqla kept her line WAFF President praised tailed explanation indicating and a half lengths. Umm Qarn’s Al Khisah QATAR OAKS (F) (Far Bend) Muqla (FR), Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas coming out of Gate 1 and went the efforts of the 12 federa- the AFC’s support and steps Abdulhadi Mana Al (Toast Of New York x Bint Al Al Efreeta (FR), Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (Far Bend) past the post one and a quar- QATAR OAKS (F) (Far Bend) Mkayns (FR), Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, Ali Khalid Al tions for their transparent and WAFF, in partnership with Hajri’s Jimmy Speaks (Zof- Sahra) stayed unbeaten rac- Al Khisah (QA), Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas Mosallam ter length ahead of stablemate pioneering contributions that the civil federations, took to fany x Gale Song), ridden by ing to her second consecutive SAWDA NATHEEL STAKES (Fillies & Mares)(Class 2) LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (Far Bend) Yaqhar, ridden by Soufiane always seek to improve the overcome challenging finan- Ivan Rossi for Stefano Ibido, C&D victory. (Far Bend) Qatar Gold (QA), Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, Marco Saadi. football system in their respec- cial circumstances. was second ahead of Injaaz The Alban Elie Marie De Unbutton (GB), Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, Marco CasamentoAl Rayyan Al Shaqab Racing’s tive countries. The proposed amend- Stud’s Pom Malpic (Pomella- Mieulle-trained filly partnered Mkayns (Dahess x Kado De The meeting stressed that ments to the WAFF’s Articles to x Havanna Lady), helmed with the jockey to claim the In the six furlong sprint, Smart’s ward had stepped up Ghazal) and jockey Ali Khalid the COVID-19 pandemic had were also approved, the most by Tomas Lukasek for Ali Qatar Oaks (F) (Far Bend) the British recruit had Marco in distance lining up in Gate 1 Al Mosallam combined well impacted football negatively, important of which was the Yousuf Al Kubaisi. (3yo Local TB Fillies). Casamento for company on for the miler under Tomas Lu- for their second straight out- which motivated WAFF to formation of a board of direc- Al Shaqab Racing’s Al The bay filly was unstoppa- her Qatar debut and despite a kasek. The bay filly stayed on ing together landing a C&D make additional efforts to com- tors to consist of the president, Efreeta (Dahess x Dormadora) ble out of Gate 1 as she build a wider start than most, Unbut- and surged forward to build a victory. pensate for the interruptions. two vice-presidents, at least was trainer Alban Elie Marie considerable advantage to win ton claimed the lead making comfortable gap on the home After shedding her maiden WAFF intensified its ad- one board member (female), De Mieulle’s fourth winner as by five and a quarter lengths in good use of a weight advan- straight, winning by two and status earlier this month, the ministrative activities by a person representing the the bay filly landed the Qatar front of Injaaz Stud’s Tham- tage to win by a length in front a half lengths in front of Al- Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle holding a series of workshops WAFF in the Executive Office Oaks (F) (Far Bend) (4yo PA ina, ridden by Jason Wat- of Luchador, ridden by Alberto exander Reznikov ridden AJS trained 4yo lined up for anoth- and training courses covering of the AFC and seven board Fillies) comfortably. son for Mohammed Hussain Sanna in the colours of Khalifa Beirut. er six furlong sprint, this time all fields. members in the WAFF. The win was third for jock- Afroz. The win was third on bin Sheail Al Kuwari. Umm Qarn’s Muqla the Purebred Arabian Handi- ey Ronan Thomas who had the day for De Mieulle. Al Shahania Stud’s Alf Lyla (Tabarak x Sarahmina) went cap (Far Bend) (75 & below). also guided the filly to a victory Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Ku- (Mared Al Sahra x Ultafa Al one better than her last two The filly, despite a weight on her mile long Qatar debut wari’s Unbutton (Cable Bay Maury) went one better than C&D outings to shed her maid- disadvantage, had little trou- in a maiden a week ago. x Undress) led a one-two for her debut outing last month to en status in fine fashion. ble making an impressive Al Rayyan unveil Laurent Blanc A step up in distance to trainer Gassim Mohammad land her first win. Helmed by Ronan Thomas down the middle of the track to 2000m did not upset the 4yo’s Ghazali in the Sawda Natheel In the Local Purebred on all three runs in Qatar so win by one and a half lengths. as their new head coach credentials around Al Rayyan Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (Class Arabian Plate (3 Year Old Fil- far, the Alban Elie Marie De The win was the apprentice Park as she surged forward to 2) (Far Bend). lies) (Far Bend), Julian Colin Mieulle saddled 3yo had nar- jockey’s tenth this season.

Messi equals Pele goal record but Barca lose more ground AFP is impressive.” that always likes to attack and Madrid But Messi was eventually score goals, but there are also left frustrated on Saturday as times when you have to defend Lionel Messi scored his a dogged Valencia forced a and control the game. 643rd goal for Barcelona on draw to leave Barcelona eight “But the race for the title is Saturday to equal Pele’s record points behind leaders Atletico not yet lost, we are far behind, of goals for a single club as the Madrid, who beat Elche 3-1 but it’s a very complicated Spanish giants were held 2-2 earlier in the day. season for everyone. In two by Valencia. “There were times tonight months, the situation may be Messi, 33, headed in from with good football, we had to- totally different.” Jordi Alba’s cross after his tal control of the match, espe- Barcelona started slowly first-half penalty was saved to cially after leading 2-1 where and went a goal behind to equal the mark set by the Bra- we tried to get the third, but Mouctar Diakhaby’s unchal- zilian great for Santos. there were also times when lenged header from a corner “These figures are impres- we lost the ball in the danger after half an hour. sive, we will never have a play- zones,” added Koeman. Antoine Griezmann Al Rayyan SC presented their new Head Coach Laurent Blanc on er so effective at this club,” ad- “What worries me is that earned the penalty that led to Saturday. Former France and Paris Saint-Germain boss has ended his mitted coach Ronald Koeman. sometimes the team doesn’t Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi in action during the Messi’s record-equalling goal four-year exile from management by returning to coaching the Qatari “That’s why he is the No.1. know what the game is about. Spanish League match against Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium when the France attacker was club. Blanc has signed a deal for year-and-a-half. What he’s done for this club, it “We know we’re a team in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) nudged over by Jose Gaya. 14 Sunday, December 20, 2020 Sports OVAL AND OUT AT ADELAIDE Indian press, ex-players rue ‘massacre’

AFP came back really hard this New Delhi morning,” he tweeted. “That is the beauty of The Indian press and former Test cricket. It’s NEVER over players savaged the national till it’s over. India was out- cricket team on Saturday af- classed in the 2nd half. Con- ter they slumped to their low- gratulations to Australia!” est-ever score in a “humiliat- Former India pacer Irfan ing” and “jaw-dropping” Test Pathan said though he was defeat in Australia. “very disappointed”, adding: India were bundled out “We all expect the Indian for 36 in the second innings team to play better cricket.” of the first Test in Adelaide Kris Srikkanth, a former as Australian pacemen Josh India opener, captain and Hazlewood and Pat Cummins selector, was similarly unfor- put the visitors to the sword. giving. In cricket-crazy India, “All the hard work done The Times of India dubbed by india in the 1st innings the performance and the de- lost by pretty pathetic bat- feat – the hosts cruised to an ting in a span of 20 overs! eight-wicket victory on just Congrats @CricketAus,” the third day – the “massacre Srikkanth tweeted. in Adelaide”. “Time for our boys to dig “India did almost eve- deep and put a decent total on Australia’s Josh Hazlewood bowls to the Indian batsman as India is dismissed for only 36 runs on the third day of their first Test at the Adelaide Oval in Australia on Saturday.(AFP) rything right on Day 2,” the the board for our bowlers!” paper said. “Day 3 however Parthiv Patel, another saw the Aussie fast bowlers former player, called it “In- especially Josh Hazlewood dia’s most shameful perfor- and Pat Cummins come out mance”. with a vengeance.” “Players like Virat Kohli, India slump to lowest ever score The Indian batting per- Hanuma Vihari, Ajinkya Ra- formance -- no player even hane, have all played on the reached double figures -- was biggest of stages, “ Patel told a “jaw-dropping act of meek Cricbuzz. surrender,” the paper said, “Even if you are facing as Australia clinch first Test calling Hazlewood with his Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins, stellar figures of five for eight someone could have put AFP including a six to win the match. massive wicket of Kohli. the “wrecker-in-chief”. their heads down and at least Adelaide Matthew Wade made 33 The superstar batsman The Indian Express won- stitched one partnership.” and Marnus Labuschagne six had smacked Cummins for dered if the “summer of 36” A devastated India crashed to with Steve Smith not out one. four but was gone the next ball was “Indian cricket’s lowest Some sympathy their lowest ever score of 36 Cummins wasted no time after a review, caught by debu- point”, adding tongue-in- Indian batting great Sunil on Saturday as Australia ran removing nightwatchman tant Cameron Green as he at- cheek that the players had Gavaskar defended Kohli’s riot to win the opening Test Jasprit Bumrah for two in the tempted a cover drive. at least “buried the ghost” of men, saying that any batting in Adelaide by eight wickets second over of the day, tempt- At 19 for six, India were 1974, when the previous re- side would have struggled after Josh Hazlewood and Pat ing him to push at a slower ball in real danger of making their cord low of 42 was set. against Australia’s “simply Cummins produced a bowling that popped back up to him. lowest ever score and when Forty-six years ago when superb” bowling attack. masterclass. That brought the stub- Wriddhiman Saha (4) chipped India were thrashed by Eng- “I mean, any team that India started the third day born Cheteshwar Pujara to a Hazlewood delivery to Mar- land at Lord’s, that innings is all-out for its lowest Test of the pink-ball Test on nine the crease. He saw off an over nus Labuschagne and Ravi at least saw one player – score since the time it started for one and with a 62-run lead, from Cummins, but that was Ashwin was out next ball it be- Eknath Solkar making 18 not playing cricket, that’s never looking to build a competitive as good as it got for the veteran came a reality. out – reach double figures, good to see,” Indian media second innings total for the who fell without scoring. A four from Hanuma Vi- the paper recalled. quoted Gavaskar as telling hosts to chase. WRECKERS-IN-CHIEF: Australia’s Josh Hazlewood (left) is applauded by Cummins, the world’s hari spared them some shame, The Republic TV channel Channel 7. But their hopes were left in fellow paceman Pat Cummins for his five-wicket haul (5-8) against India number one Test bowler, sent taking India past New Zea- on its website called the bat- “But having said that, if tatters by a wicket with bounce at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Cummins took 4-21. (AFP) down a delivery that had to be land’s all-time low. ting performance “humiliat- any other team had been fac- and deviation as Hazlewood played and Pujara caught an But Vihari (8) didn’t last ing”, with the middle order ing that kind of bowling, they took 5-8, including his 200th more Tests, starting in Mel- India’s previous Test low edge that carried to wicket- much longer, caught by Paine of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat would have also got out.” Test wicket, and Cummins bourne on Boxing Day, with- was 42 against England at keeper Paine. with Hazlewood again doing Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane Australian spin legend 4-21. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine out him. Ajinkya Rahane will Lord’s in 1974. Their 36 was It left India on 15 for three, the damage to complete an ex- “badly exposed”. Shane Warne hailed the claimed five catches as the assume the captaincy. the joint fourth lowest of all and it only got worse with open- cellent five-wicket haul, before Virat Kohli said he was “outstanding” bowling but bowlers found the edge. “It’s very hard to put those time, with New Zealand’s er Mayank Agarwal back in the Mohammed Shami was forced confident that the team would also expressed some sympa- “I didn’t expect it to come feelings into words,” said a dis- 26 facing England in 1955 at pavillon five balls later for nine, to retire hurt after a Cummins bounce back, but the talis- thy for the visitors. that quick, I was expecting a consolate Kohli. “We had a lead Auckland the worst ever. again caught by Paine on Ha- thunderbolt hit his right arm. manic Indian skipper is now “Have to feel for the Indi- real dogfight,” said skipper of 60-odd when we arrived, and The carnage left Australia, zlewood’s opening delivery. “Everything went to plan,” returning home to be with his an batsman as never saw that Paine. “To hang in, give our then just collapsed. We played who scored 191 in the first in- Hazlewood and Paine said Hazlewood. “Patty (Cum- Bollywood star wife for the coming - it was one of those bowlers a chance, and then two days of good cricket to get nings, needing 90 to win, with again combined to get rid mins) set the tone and I just birth of their first child. days where the batsman turn up and start the day the in a position and then just lose out-of-form Joe Burns hitting a of Rahane for nought, after followed suit. To join the With Kohli absent, and nicked everything & didn’t way we did, full credit to our it in an hour. It really hurts.” confidence-building 51 not out, which Cummins picked up the 200th club is pretty special.” a “question mark” over the play and miss at all ! Unbe- bowling attack again. fitness of key batsmanR ohit lievable,” Warne tweeted. “It’s nice to get off to a Sharma, “Team India have a Former India pacer R P good start. Chuffed with the Scoreboard lot to think about,” the Times Singh expressed optimism way we bowled in this Test.” India first innings 244 (V. Kohli 74, C. Pujara 43, A. Rahane 42; W. Saha c Labuschagne b Hazlewood 4 M. Wade run out 33 of India said. about the rest of the four- It was an incredible Indi- M. Starc 4-53, P. Cummins 3-48) R. Ashwin c Paine b Hazlewood 0 M. Labuschagne c Agarwal b Ashwin 6 match series: “We have an collapse, with no batsman Australia 1st innings 191 (T. Paine 73 no, M. Labuschagne 47; U. Yadav not out 4 S. Smith not out 1 Gracious Tendulkar bounced back in past and reaching double figures during R. Ashwin 4-55, U. Yadav 3-40) M. Shami ret hurt 1 Extras: (lb1, nb1) 2 Former India great this team can do that too.” a capitulation that lasted less India 2nd innings (overnight 9-1) Extras: 0 Total: (For 2 wickets, overs 21) 93 Sachin Tendulkar was gra- But former England cap- P. Shaw b Cummins 4 Total: (For nine wickets, 21.1 overs) 36 Did not bat: Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (capt), Pat than 22 overs, in contrast to M. Agarwal c Paine b Hazlewood 9 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Shaw), 2-15 (Bumrah), 3-15 (Pujara), 4-15 Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. cious about the defeat, con- tain Michael Vaughan was their battling first innings’ 244. J. Bumrah c & b Cummins 2 (Agarwal), 5-15 (Rahane), 6-19 (Kohli), 7-26 (Saha), 8-26 Fall of wickets: 1-70 (Wade), 2-82 (Labuschagne). gratulating the Australians. having none of it. That included skipper Vi- C. Pujara c Paine b Cummins 0 (Ashwin), 9-31 (Vihari), 9-36 (Shami - retired hurt). Bowling: Bumrah 7-1-27-0, Yadev 8-1-49-0, Ashwin 6-1-16-1. “With the way India “Told ya ... India are go- rat Kohli, who fell for four V. Kohli c Green b Cummins 4 Bowling: Starc 6-3-7-0, Cummins 10.2-4-21-4, Hazlewood 5-3-8-5 Result: Australia won by eight wickets batted & bowled in the 1st ing to get hammered in the and now heads home for the A. Rahane c Paine b Hazlewood 0 Australia 2nd innings Toss: India. innings, they were in the Test Series ... #AUSvIND #4- birth of his first child, leaving H. Vihari c Paine b Hazlewood 8 J. Burns not out 51 Australia lead 4-Test series 1-0. driver’s seat, but the Aussies 0,” he tweeted. his stunned team to face three 7-star Liverpool run riot Kohli confident India will bounce back AFP as Arsenal slump Adelaide India captain Virat Kohli AFP ham in midweek. insisted on Saturday he was London Roberto Firmino and Mo- “very, very confident” his team hamed Salah scored twice would bounce back from their Liverpool sent a chill- while Takumi Minamino, Sa- worst-ever batting display, ing warning to the rest of the dio Mane and Jordan Hender- blaming a poor mindset for Premier League on Saturday, son also found the net. the side throwing away the smashing seven goals past Klopp has repeatedly be- first Test against Australia. Crystal Palace as Arsenal’s cri- moaned the fixture schedul- Compounding their prob- Although the scorecard sis deepened following defeat Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder ing that requires teams to play lems, Kohli will now head India captain Virat Kohli congratulates Australia skipper Tim Paine at made for dismal reading, Koh- at Everton. Mohamed Salah (right) celebrates Saturday lunchtime kick-offs home for the birth of his first the end of their first Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.(AFP) li said he had never been one Jurgen Klopp’s champi- scoring his team’s sixth goal after Wednesday evening child, missing the final three to dwell too long on the past. ons – despite being dogged against Crystal Palace at Selhurst games, but his side suffered no Tests, while fast bowler Mo- “I am confident that the falling so quickly that “no one “Playing at the highest by injuries this season – are Park in London on Saturday. (AFP) hangover from their exertions hammed Shami has been sent team is going to bounce back could make any sense of it”. level, there will definitely be five points clear of neighbours against Spurs. for scans for a right arm injury. strong in Melbourne and a “To be honest there were collapses again and again and Everton after humiliating Pal- son pacesetters Everton beat Despite this, Kohli said few of the guys are going to some good balls but the ball we have to accept our mistakes ace 7-0 at Selhurst Park. them 2-1 at Goodison Park to Results: Crystal Palace 0 Liver- they could fix their problems realise their true characters didn’t do anything drastic. I and understand what we have It is the first time theR eds climb to second in the table, pool 7 (Minamino 3, Mane 35, before the second Test in Mel- and how they can step up think it was the mindset, it was to work on,” he said. “We don’t have won an away match in while Manchester City edged Firmino 44, 68, Henderson 52, bourne next week. for the team. I don’t think we very evident,” he said. “It felt feel we are vulnerable to getting the English top flight by a past Southampton 1-0. Salah 81, 84) “I definitely would have have ever had a worse batting like the runs were so difficult bowled out so cheaply ... I don’t margin of seven goals in their Klopp’s men built on the Southampton 0 Manchester loved it if we had won this performance so we can only go to come by and the bowlers got think it is anything alarming.” illustrious history. momentum gained from their City 1 (Sterling 16) game, with me leaving, but this upwards from here.” confident.I think it was a com- The second Test in Mel- Arsenal, by contrast, are in last-gasp win in the top-of- Everton 2 (Holding 22-og, Mina is Test cricket and anything can Kohli admitted India lost bination of lack of intent and bourne if from Dec 26, fol- deep trouble after early-sea- the-table clash with Totten- 45) Arsenal 1 (Pepe 35-pen). happen at any stage,” he said. their way, with the wickets the bowlers hitting their areas.” lowed by Sydney and Brisbane. Sunday, December 20, 2020 15 Success Story Qatar’s construction sector poised for strong growth: China Railway GM China Railway 18th Bureau Group emerges as one of the most successful global firms in Qatar’s construction market Satyendra Pathak Doha China’s ‘Speed

atar’s construction sector is well- and Quality’ positioned for growth as the coun- China Railway 18th Bureau try’s economy is solid and there are Group has achieved major numerous large-scale infrastruc- success in Qatar with the ture projects underway in prepa- completion of some of the Qration for the FIFA 2022 World Cup and iconic projects within eight to achieve the goals of the 2030 Qatar Na- tional Vision, China Railway 18th Bureau years of its operation in the Group General Manager Hualin Jiang country has said. ● China Railway 18th Bureau Group “Despite potential headwinds stem- has won three prestigious contracts ming from the COVID-19 crisis, the out- in 2020 alone look for Qatar’s construction market re- mains bright and one of the best in the ● As part of the building and GCC region with investor-friendly poli- landscape package contract, China cies,” Jiang told Qatar Tribune. Railway 18th Bureau has undertaken “Qatar has developed a very good sys- works on Gewan Island’s common tem for local and international construc- basement structure tion companies to operate smoothly in the country. The country’s labour law, tender ● The vigorous development of China law, and commercial law are very inves- Railway 18th Bureau Group over the tor-friendly,” Jiang said. years is the result of the trust of China Railway 18th Bureau Group, Qatari entities in the company which provides general contracting and trading services, has achieved major suc- cess in Qatar with the completion of some China Railway 18th Bureau Group GM Hualin Jiang (left) with China Railway 18th Bureau Group Acting GM Ruiming Duan. of the iconic projects within eight years of Besides stadiums and other non-resi- its operation in the country. dential construction, he said, Qatar is also “China Railway 18th Bureau Group making a significant investment in the Qatar Company was incorporated in Qatar expansion of the country’s road and rail on May 14, 2012. Since the inception of the network, as well as other infrastructure. company in Qatar, China Railway has un- “Qatar will continue to witnesses a lot dertaken eight vital engineering projects of infrastructure projects in the future,” in Qatar,” Jiang said. he said. “We have completed the iconic Les He said that Qatar has also emerged Maisons Blanches Compound project and as a big renovation and redevelopment CP4 underpass project in Lusail,the Vehicle market. Inspection project in Abu Samra and struc- “Lots of renovations and redevelop- ture work for Oasis Hotel Project, a support- ment plans are going on in Qatar. This ing project for FIFA 2022 Football World is such a huge market, which requires Cup, are also complete as per schedule,” knowledge and expertise. This is where he said. China Railway 18th Bureau Group fits in. A subsidiary of China Railway Con- This is one area that will give another fillip struction Corporation Limited, one of the to the construction sector in the country,” world’s most powerful and largest inte- he said. grated construction group, ranking the “A lot of construction works supported 54th among the Fortune Global 500 in by the government are going on in Qatar. 2020, and the 14th among the China 500 The Oasis Hotel Project. The Gewan Island project. These government-led projects and ini- in 2020 as well as 3rd among ENR’s Top tiatives make Qatar different from other 250 Global Contractors in 2020, China for the decoration of Qatar Oasis Hotel on tar’s government for supporting construc- International Airport, Qatar Free Zone, countries in the region. All these factors Railway 18th Bureau Group has emerged the basis of our good work on the project tion firms in running their operations warehousing parks and other facilities make Qatar’s construction sector well- as one of the most favourite international earlier,” he said. smoothly despite the COVID-19 crisis in have made it easier for construction com- positioned for growth and we want to be a companies in Qatar’s construction mar- “Gewan Island project awarded to us the country. panies to source and store materials in part of this growth,” Jiang said. ket with its expertise in the construction by UDC is one of the most prestigious pro- “Thanks to the timely intervention of bulk,” he said. “In the future, we will continue to of railway, metro, bridge, tunnel, high- jects that we are working on currently,” Qatar’s government to check the spread of Looking forward to 2021, Jiang said, maintain an atmosphere of open com- way, high-rise tower and building, air- Jiang said. COVID-19 in Qatar, we did not stop work China Railway will continue to join the munication and remain committed to port, seaport, power plant, infrastructure, As part of the building and landscape even for a single day on our projects in the tender of prestigious Qatari entities like upholding trust and sincere cooperation and others. package contract, China Railway 18th country. There was no disruption in sup- Ashghal, Kahramaa, UDC and private with owners and contractors and assist As an international construction con- Bureau has undertaken works on Gewan ply of construction material despite the firms to build a beautiful Qatar. Qatar’s government in advancing the tractor, Jiang said, China Railway 18th Island’s common basement structure, pandemic,” Duan said. “We are looking to add contracts ‘National Vision 2030’ plan. We believe Bureau Group inevitably uses ‘China’s including services and finishes to all 15 Being a Chinese company, he said, worth QR500 million every year to our in the strength of the team. And this is Speed and Quality’ to deliver quality work buildings and 20 villas being developed China Railway has the privilege of import- portfolio. In the next five years our aim what makes the difference when it comes on time. by UDC. ing construction materials from different is to add QR2.5 billion to our annual to making amazing things possible in “The vigorous development of China Despite the COVID-19 crisis, he said, sources in China to Qatar directly. turnover,” he said. Qatar,” he said. Railway 18th Bureau Group over the years China Railway 18th Bureau Group has Basic construction materials like con- While a number of projects are on “China and Qatar have enjoyed good is the result of the trust of Qatari entities in won three prestigious contracts in 2020 crete, cement, sand, gypsum and others the verge of completion, he said, Qatar is relations over the year. We want to take our company,” he said. alone including Enabling Works Package are sufficiently available in Qatar, Duan still spending tens of billions of dollars on this relationship forward by participat- It is this trust, he said, that China Rail- of Lusail Residential Tower project for The said, adding that rest of the materials for sporting, transport, and tourist infrastruc- ing in major projects in Qatar. We are a way 18th Bureau Group was awarded an- Commercial Bank PSQC. fit-outs are easily available from markets ture to ensure the country is ready in time financially strong company and we want other contract for Qatar Oasis Hotel. China Railway 18th Bureau Group like India, Turkey and China. for the massive influx of people during the to support Qatar in creating world-class “We won the Phase-1 project contract Acting GM Ruiming Duan praised Qa- “Development of Hamad Port, Hamad mega sporting event. infrastructure,” Jiang said.

A general view of Les Maisons Blanches Compound developed by China Railway 18th Bureau Group in the Lusail City. 16 Sunday, December 20, 2020 The Last Word Amiri Guard commander inaugurates Lusail camp

QNA and a number of senior en- and equipment in the camp Doha gineers at the Private Engi- buildings and the modern se- neering Office. curity and technologies and Commander of the Amiri After the inauguration systems that contribute to Guard Major-General Hazza ceremony, the commander of improving the performance bin Khalil Al Shahwani in- the Amiri Guard toured the of the Amiri Guard. augurated the Amiri Guard camp, where he was briefed The inauguration of Lu- camp in Lusail. on the training fields, the op- sail camp is part of the contin- The ceremony was at- erations centre, the lecture uous development efforts that tended by the Deputy Com- halls, the departments, the the Amiri Guard is witness- mander of the Amiri Guard, barracks and other facilities ing, whether at the level of its the Inspector-General, as- and services in the camp. facilities or work mechanisms sistants to the Commander During the tour, he was in its departments and groups of the Amiri Guard, a num- also briefed by the Inspector- in line with the renaissance ber of senior officers, as well General of the Amiri Guard the country is witnessing un- as the Vice-President of Pri- Brigadier-General Mishaal der the wise leadership of the vate Engineering OfficeM u- Muhammad Al Attiyah Amir His Highness Sheikh hammad Mutlaq Al Qahtani about the advanced facilities Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. HBKU QEERI announces winners HBKU’s CHLS collaborates on computational analysis of Young Innovator Award 2020 for COVID drug repurposing

Over 600 students participated in the contest aimed to promote science & research among youth Tribune News Network measure against COVID-19, research- Doha ers are working day and night to iden- Tribune News Network tion School, Nuaija. Junior Category tify drugs that attenuate inflammation Doha 2: First: Athif Sherif from Olive In- The College of Health and fibrosisin infected ternational School; Second: Carlene and Life Sciences (CHLS) patients with mild to se- More than 600 students partici- Rosales Campit Bocalig from Phil- at Hamad Bin Khalifa vere acute respiratory pated in the second edition of the ippine School Doha; Third: Hiba University (HBKU) par- syndrome. Young Innovator Award competi- Mehek from The Next Generation ticipated in a major col- The team’s rigorous tion organised by the Qatar En- School, Ain Khaled. laborative research pro- data-driven computa- vironment and Energy Research Intermediate Category 1: First: ject using computational tional analysis, which Institute (QEERI) at Hamad Bin Unica De Vera, Sulwan Rohing approaches to identify integrated three types of Khalifa University (HBKU). and Daniela Suson from Philippine drug-recovering opportu- data, provides the largest Students from local, community, School Doha; Second: Mohammed nities for COVID-19 treat- set of pre-clinical candi- and international schools in Qatar Tareq G A Al Sharshani and Mo- ment. dates and the US Food displayed their insights on the topic hammed Amer J N Alhumaidi from Dr Georges Nemer, and Drug Administration of mitigating climate change. Qatar Academy Al Khor; Third: professor at CHLS, pro- (FDA) approved drugs The competition for the Young Nour Osama Mousa Awad and Al- vided substantial genomic Dr. Georges Nemer with known safety pro- Innovator Award 2020 saw partici- maha Khalid A A Mohd Al Hamadi guidance and was part files to be further inves- pating students categorised as Jun- from Iqra English School for Girls. of a research team led by Dr Nehme tigated for treatment with COVID-19. ior, Intermediate and Senior based Intermediate Category 2: First: El-Hachem, a computational systems The study confirmed that the drugs on their age, with each category fur- Simrah Salman and Maryam Fatima biology researcher, Faculty of Medi- identifiedinterfere with the molecular ther split into two. Junior categories from The Next Generation School, cine, American University of Beirut, characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infec- (6 to 7 and 8 to 9 years) showcased Al Daayen; Second: Ali Othman A Lebanon, and CHU Sainte-Justine tion. Further clinical studies of these artwork, Intermediate (10 to 11 and A Al-Maraghi, Salman Ahmad A A Research Centre; Dr Moutih Rafei, FDA-approved candidates, such as 12 to 13 years) produced research Al Jehani and Salem Khalid S A Al professor of pharmacology, immu- monotherapy or in combination with posters, and the Senior category (14 Hajri from Qatar Leadership Acad- nology and physiology, University of an antiviral regimen such as remdesi- to 15 and 16 to 17 years) presented competition gives us hope for a bet- overall winners challenging, accord- emy; Third: Rashid Mohammed Al Montreal, Canada; along with Dr Ma- vir, could lead to promising outcomes research projects related to the ter future. The jury and our QEERI ing to jury panellists. Ghafri and Abdulla Abdulrahman zen Kurban, professor of dermatol- in COVID-19 patients. theme of mitigating climate change. scientists are equally impressed by Dr Noama Shareef, senior Haidar from Qatar Academy Al ogy, and biochemistry and molecular Dr Edward Stuenkel, founding More than 350 teams submitted the work produced by these talented wastewater engineering and capac- Wakra. genetics at the American University of dean, CHLS, said: “What the research entries for the preliminary round young people.” ity building specialist at Center for Senior Category 1: First: Kevin Beirut, Lebanon; and other senior in- highlights is the need for more data- and each category had five finalists The finals, held virtually over International Migration and De- Davis and Anna Jerry Manathra ternational researchers. Their paper, driven discoveries of the type that chosen by jury panels made up of two days, were attended by teach- velopment, Frankfurt, Germany, from Rajagiri Public School, Doha; Integrative Transcriptome Analyses proved vital for COVID-19, where QEERI research staff. ers, parents and the wider com- said: “The work showcased by the Second: Tejaswi Manoj and Sam- Empower the Anti-COVID-19 Drug there was a need for an immediate In his opening address, QEERI munity, who showed their support students was of very high quality, ridhi Bhardwaj from DPS Modern Arsenal, has been published in iSci- call of action. The nature of the chal- Executive Director Dr Marc Ver- for the students. They were mod- thoroughly researched and creative. Indian School; Third: Abdul Ahad, ence, a leading interdisciplinary open lenge we faced was such that collabo- meersch highlighted the promo- erated by competition coordinator Congratulations to all the winners Rayhan Mahetar and Nabeel Chou- access journal. ration and a wide range of clinical tion of science and research among and QEERI’s PR, Communica- and participants.” gle from Gems Wellington School. The study was motivated by the insights and immunology expertise young people as a fundamental tions and Outreach Specialist Dil- The winning Young Innovators Senior Category 2: First: Sooriya- urgency of the global pandemic and proved vital, aligning with the value component of QEERI’s mission. He raz Kunnummal. are as follows: selvan Narendran and Manogna Jayi the difficulties in developing new drug we place on trans-disciplinary collab- said, “We believe that youth have a The judging panel included Junior Category 1: First: Quinn from DPS Modern Indian School; candidates for effective treatment of orations at CHLS. It is our hope that crucial role to play in bringing about QEERI’s management and senior Feodore Dela Cruz Esperanzate Second: Jhaznine Mangalino, Vi- COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. To the research findings will encourage sustainable positive changes. The staff, as well as industry experts from Philippine School Doha; Sec- anca Pujante and Alexie Ibanez from meet this need, the re-use of drugs de- us to think more creatively about how immense creativity, scientific re- from the field of sustainability. ond: Qarylle Claudet Dela Cruz from Philippine School Doha; Third: Ju- veloped for the treatment of other dis- we can use computational analysis as search capability and the quality of The exceptional quality of work Philippine School Doha; Third: Sa- wairiya Mohammed and Neha Alex eases represented a rapid approach. a viable avenue to validate potential work that we have seen during the presented made the selection of rah Suhaib from The Next Genera- from MES Indian School. Although vaccination is a preventive therapeutic targets.” Qatar Charity marks International Human Solidarity Day today

Tribune News Network refugees around the world. The ceived praise from the people Doha current “Warmth and Peace” and the officials. The “Peace for Winter Campaign aims to reach Sudan” campaign raised a total Qatar Charity (QC) will join nearly 1 million people in 19 of QR89 million, under the su- the world today to mark the In- countries across Africa, Asia and pervision of the Regulatory Au- ternational Human Solidarity Europe at a total cost of approxi- thority for Charitable Activities Day (IHSD), which is observed mately QR66 million. (RACA), and in partnership with on December 20 every year. The campaign focuses on Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red The IHSD is an interna- countries in crisis and excep- Crescent Society (QRCS). tional annual opportunity to tional circumstances, as well QC provided relief aid to raise public awareness of the as those facing harsh winters those affected by the massive importance of solidarity and with temperatures below zero. explosion that has rocked the to encourage new initiatives to It seeks to provide assistance port area of Lebanon’s capi- eradicate poverty. in the areas of food, shelter, tal, Beirut. The emergency as- QC is one of the leading in- health and education, as well sistance comes as part of the ternational organisations work- as to provide winter bags to ‘Lebanon in Our Hearts’ drive, ing to promote and strengthen orphans sponsored by Qatar aimed at extending helping international solidarity between Charity in Kosovo, Palestine, on phone interviews conducted the pandemic. In cooperation community-based isolation gees in Jordan. hands to the affected in Leba- peoples, especially in times of Nepal, Pakistan, Bosnia and by Ipsos. with the UN High Commis- units in northern Syria to ben- As part of the “Peace for Su- non in the time of adversity. adversity. It is keen to extend Herzegovina, Albania, Tunisia, QC has provided $24 mil- sioner for Refugees (UNHCR), efit 2,800 people at a total cost dan” campaign, the field teams Total donations made humanitarian aid to those in Lebanon and Jordan. lion in health assistance to QC has provided $1.5 million in of $1.6 million. of QC, with funding and coop- during the “Lebanon in Our need all over the world. QC was chosen as one of nearly 60 countries around the emergency assistance to Syrian QC and the United Nations eration from the Qatar Fund for Hearts” campaign amounted As a gesture of social soli- Qatar’s top 10 most support- world to help them fight coro- refugees across Lebanon. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Development (QFFD), distrib- to more than QR94 million. darity with the vulnerable, QC ive brands that participated in navirus. Since the start of the QC, in cooperation with have signed two grant agree- uted urgent food and shelter aid Three planes carrying relief aid launches a winter campaign supporting the country dur- pandemic, QC has been keen the UN Officefor the Coordi- ments totalling $2 million to to those affected by the worst were sent as part of the cam- every year to help ease the suf- ing the current coronavirus to contribute to international nation of Humanitarian Af- provide water, sanitation and floodthat hit Sudan in a century. paign, in partnership with QC fering of displaced people and (COVID-19) pandemic, based efforts to reduce the spread of fairs (OCHA), has set up 14 hygiene services to Syrian refu- The aid provided by QC re- and Qatar Airways.