Qatar Projects QR0.5 Bn Surplus Budget for 2020 Budgeted Expenditure Highest in QR11.5 Billion Earmarked for the Past Five Fiscal Years New Projects in 2020

Tuesday December 17, 2019 Rabi al-Akhir 20, 1441 Vol.13 no. 4818 qR 2

Fajr: 4:50 am Dhuhr: 11:29 am Asr: 2:27 pm Maghrib: 4:47 pm Isha: 6:17 pm

MAIN BRANCH LULU HYPER SANAYYA ALKHOR Business 16 Sports 19 Doha D-Ring Road Street-17 M & J Building QFC hosts key panel on Flamengo all set for their light rain MATAR QADEEM MANSOURA ABU HAMOUR BIN OMRAN High : 24°C Near Ahli Bank Al Meera Petrol Station Al Meera Islamic finance at Doha entry vs Al Hilal on a day LOW : 19°C alzamanexchange www.alzamanexchange.com 44441448 Forum of reunions

The world’s best footballers are here. And we’re loving it.

Amir meets Hamas chief Amir approves 2020 general budget Qatar projects QR0.5 bn surplus budget for 2020 Budgeted expenditure highest in QR11.5 billion earmarked for the past five fiscal years new projects in 2020

Satyendra Pathak Doha

The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on Monday issued Law No 26 of 2019 approving the The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met Dr Ismail Haniyeh, the Head of the Political Bureau of the Palestin- state’s general budget for the year ian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and the accompanying delegation at the Amiri Diwan on Monday. The meet- 2020. The law is effective as of Janu- ing reviewed the most important developments in Palestine. Dr Haniyeh briefed the Amir on the latest developments in ary 1, 2020 and shall be published in the Palestinian arena, especially the unfair blockade under which the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip are suffering. Dr the Official Gazette. Allocations to Salaries and Wages Haniyeh thanked the Amir for the valuable efforts undertaken by Qatar to support the Palestinian people. The Amir af- Qatar on Monday unveiled a sur- have increased to QR59 billion, up firmed the firm and supportive stance of Qatar for the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights.(QNA) plus budget of QR500 million for 2020. The budgeted expenditure for by 3.3 percent 2020 is the highest in the past five Ashghal is responsible for majority fiscal years. The expenditure is esti- of new projects amounting to mated at QR210.5 billion, up by 1.9 Amir holds percent compared to QR206.6 bil- QR8.5 billion lion in 2019. phone call with Too early to talk about The total revenue in 2020 is ex- Infra projects account for the largest pected to stay unchanged at QR211 bil- share of the major project expendi- US president lion, based on an oil price assumption ture in the 2020 budget real progress with of $55 per barrel. As a result, Qatar The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim expects a surplus of QR0.5 billion in The budget includes allocations for bin Hamad al Thani held a 2020 budget as compared to a surplus the development of 13 new housing telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia: FM of QR4.4 billion in 2019. areas for nationals US President Donald Trump In a statement on Monday, Min- on Monday. During the Tribune News Network istry of Finance said the highest tion of major approved projects,” the “It highlights the country’s com- phone call, they reviewed Doha budgeted expenditure in the past ministry said. mitment to complete the projects the strong strategic rela- five fiscal years reflects the coun- For next year, Qatar plans to on time in leading sectors, including tions between the two coun- Deputy Prime Minister and Min- try’s commitment to the completion spend QR90 billion on major pro- healthcare, education, and transporta- tries and the importance of ister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh of multiple development projects jects, a 0.6 percent increase from tion, along with those related to host- enhancing them. They also Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al across multiple sectors, including QR89.5 billion in 2019 with infra- ing of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 as discussed a number of is- Thani has said it was premature to those related to National Develop- structure accounting for the largest per the approved schedule,” it added. sues and the latest devel- talk about real progress with Saudi ment Strategy 2018-2022. part of project spending. The country also plans to award opments in the region and Arabia over the blockade but opening “The 2020 budget is designed Major Projects, which consti- new projects worth QR11.5 billion international arena. (QNA) channels of communication between to achieve efficiency in the current tute almost 43 percent of the total next year. Doha and Riyadh was a step forward. expenditure while maintaining the expenditure, represent the largest In an interview with Al Jazeera, allocations required for the comple- share of the overall budget. More on page 16  Sheikh Mohammed said it will take Qatar provides time to rebuild trust between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours after the air, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin support to UNRWA sea, and land blockade was imposed Abdulrahman al Thani. two and half years ago. 1 mn kilos of vegetables marketed in Qatar: Mahaseel Qatar, represented by the “We are still at a very early stage… a Turkish military base. Qatar Fund For Development There is some progress ... because we The FM said Qatar will not offer Mahaseel for Marketing and Agricul- farmers, with the aim to increase the (QFFD), and the United Na- have [broken] the stalemate with the any concessions that will “affect our tural Services Company (a subsidiary quantity and enhance the quality of their tions Relief and Works Agency Saudis,” he said. sovereignty and interfere with our of Hassad) on Monday said that it has local produce. “We are happy to market for Palestine Refugees in the Sheikh Mohammed said the ter- domestic or foreign policy”. marketed one million kilograms of local one million kilos of local vegetables Near East (UNRWA) signed an rorism accusation has been proved to “From our perspective, we want vegetables in the Qatari market, since since the beginning of the current agri- agreement to provide support have “no basis at all” by the interna- to understand the grievances and we the beginning of the current agricultural cultural season, and we are honored by aimed at protecting access to tional community. want to study and assess them, and season. About 160 local farms have the confidence that the local farms own- basic services for Palestinians The blockading countries have look for the solutions that can safe- registered with Mahaseel to benefit ers have placed in Mahaseel’s marketing affected by the conflict in demanded that Qatar cease interac- guard us in the future from any other from the marketing and agricultural services,” Hassad CEO Mohamed Badr Syria. (QNA) page 6 tions with their rival Iran, shut down potential crisis,” Sheikh Mohammed services provided by the company to al Sadah stated. page 17 Al Jazeera Media Network, and close added. National Day Parade at Corniche to begin at 9:30 am Tribune News Network Committee advised the public Doha wishing to attend the National Day Parade to take necessary Doha Metro extends hours of The National Day Parade will safety measures in anticipation begin at the Corniche in the of weather conditions and urged operation for QND celebrations morning of Wednesday, Decem- the parents to take care of chil- ber 18, the Security Committee dren and ensure their safety. Doha Metro will extend its hours of ed their journey to their final destination for National Day Events has an- He also stressed the impor- operation to help commuters celebrate by 1am,” the tweet said. nounced. tance of following the instruc- Qatar National Day (QND), Qatar Rail Doha Metro is also running a Speaking at a press confer- tions of the Organising Commit- has announced. temporary Metrolink service to Darb Al ence on Monday, Brigadier Ali tee and security men to facilitate From December 17 to December Saai, the main venue for QND celebra- Khajeem al Adhba, head of the access to event areas in the Doha 21, it will operate from 6am till 1am tions. The service will be available from Security Committee for Qatar Corniche, noting that there are and on Friday from 2pm to Joaan station on the Gold Line from National Day Activities and Di- special places for families. 1am. “Customers Dec 14 to Dec 20. The Metrolink will rector of Missions and Estab- Meanwhile, the Organising are advised that be available from 9am till 1pm lishments Security Committee, Committee of the Associated Ac- they should and further from 3:30pm said the National Day Parade will tivities of Qatar National Day Cel- have complet- to 10pm. (TNN) start at 9:30 am on December 18. Brigadier Ali Khajeem al Adhba, head of the Security Committee for Qatar ebrations will host 12 mega cul- He urged the people to be National Day Activities, announces the details of the National Day Parade tural, musical and sports events present ahead of time. Corniche at a press conference on Monday. on December 18 in 10 venues in Road will be closed from 6am. collaboration with Asian commu- He said 16 parking locations to and from Corniche in shuttle gathering points and enter the nities, companies and schools. have been specified for the public buses. He said people can also events area. to park their vehicles and move use the Doha Metro to reach the The head of the Security More on page 8 

Nation Tuesday, December 17, 2019 05

MAHMOUD MEETS OMANI SHURA VICE-CHAIRMAN

Speaker of the Shura Council HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al Mahmoud met Vice- Chairman of Oman’s Shura Council Dr Abdullah bin Ali Abdullah al Omari, on the sidelines of the second meeting of the Executive Council and 12th Plenary of the Asian Parliamen- tary Assembly in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday. They reviewed parliamentary cooperation between the two countries and the ways of enhancing them. The topics on the agenda of these meetings were also discussed. (QNA) Shura renews pledge to continue to work hard for country, citizens The Shura Council discussed a draft law on the unified economic registry QNA the high principles established by of the Penal Code issued by Law No Doha the late Founder Sheikh Jassim bin 1 of 2004, and the Code of Criminal Mohammed bin Thani will remain a Procedure promulgated by Law No THE Shura Council held its regular guide for the people of the country to 23 of 2004. After the discussion, weekly meeting on Monday under achieve greater progress, and pros- the council decided to refer the two the chairmanship of the council’s perity for the country and its loyal drafts to the Legal and Legislative Deputy Speaker HE Mohammed bin people. Affairs Committee to study them Abdullah al Sulaiti. The council then continued with and submit a report thereon to the At the beginning of the meeting, its agenda for the day, discussing a council. the council conveyed congratula- draft law amending some provisions Furthermore, the council dis- tions to the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim of Law No. 9 of 1987 on the Control cussed the report of the Financial bin Hamad al Thani, the Father of Narcotic Drugs and Dangerous and Economic Affairs Committee on Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Psychotropic Substances and Regu- Decree Law No. 24 of 2019 on regu- al Thani and the Deputy Amir HH lating their Use and Trade. After lating and managing the strategic Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al Tha- discussion, the council decided to stock of food and consumer goods. ni, as well as to the Qatari people on approve the draft law and refer its The council also discussed the the occasion of the National Day of recommendations on it to the Gov- report of the Internal and External the State. ernment. Affairs Committee on Decree Law The Shura Council renewed its The council also discussed a draft No 23 of 2019 amending some pro- pledge of loyalty to HH the Amir, law on the unified economic registry visions of Law No 21 of 2015 regulat- stressing commitment to continue to and decided to refer it to the Finan- ing the entry and exit of expatriates work hard to serve the interest of the cial and Economic Affairs Commit- and their residency in Qatar. homeland and preserve the coun- tee to study it and submit a report After the discussion, the council try’s gains, and to strive sincerely to thereon to the council. approved the two decrees and de- meet the aspirations of the citizens. The council discussed another cided to refer its recommendations The deputy speaker stressed that draft law amending some provisions regarding them to the Government. 06 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Nation

Quick read FM MEETS IRANIAN COUNTERPART, ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

Amir congratulates Kazakh president THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani sent on Monday a cable of congratulations to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his country’s Independence Day. (QNA) Deputy Amir greets Kazakh president THE Deputy Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al Thani sent a cable of congratulations to President of Kazakhstan Kassym- Jomart Tokayev on his country’s Independence Day. (QNA) PM congratulates Kazakh counterpart PRIME Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani met Monday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani sent a cable of congratulations to Mohammad Javad Arif, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. The meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation in addition to issues of common concern. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin on his country’s Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani also met on Monday with Ambassador of Italy to Qatar HE Pasquale Salzano, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The Deputy Independence Day. (QNA) Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked the Ambassador for his efforts in supporting and strengthening bilateral relations, and wished him success in his new duties. (QNA) HIA instructions to Qatar announces more aid for fight help ease travel of against blindness across Africa, Asia year-end travellers Qatar Fund for Development signs agreement with Dutch institution to support Syrian refugee youths Tribune News Network to download the ‘HIAQa- Doha tar’ mobile app available for QNA countries. Qatar supports Analysis both Android and iPhone Doha The signing of the agree- and Communication Center Hamad International Airport for updates and to make the ment was attended by Director for Children and Armed Con- (HIA) has advised its pas- journey more seamless with THE State of Qatar, represented General of QFFD Khalifa bin flict sengers departing during the real-time information about by Qatar Fund for Development Jassim al Kuwari and Director of QATAR Fund for Develop- end-of-year holiday period to flight status, baggage claim, (QFFD), on Monday, announced Spark Yannick du Pont. ment (QFFD) and the Office of be sure to check-in online, ar- time and direction to board- that the eye health initiative of Qatar-UNRWA pact to the United Nations Secretary- rive three hours prior to their ing gates, and food, beverage Qatar Creating Vision (QCV) will back Palestinians hit by General’s Envoy for Children flight, and use e-gates (if reg- and retail offers from Qatar expand across Africa and Asia in Syrian conflict and Armed Conflict signed a istered) to avoid queues and Duty Free (QDF). 2020. The additional donation QFFD and the United Na- funding agreement for the Cent- to continue enjoying com- Passengers have been re- was announced on the margins tions Relief and Works Agency er for the Promotion and Pro- fortable and seamless travel minded that check-in closes of Doha Forum 2019 which con- for Palestine Refugees in the tection of Children Affected by through HIA. 60 minutes prior to the de- cluded on Sunday. of eye tests for children in India anon for OCHA. Near East (UNRWA) have Armed Conflict in Doha. For the convenience and parture time. During secu- Implemented by the inter- and Bangladesh, where approxi- The signing ceremony was signed an agreement to provide The agreement was signed efficiency of the departing rity checks, passengers are national eye care charity Orbis, mately 473,000 children are attended by the Director General support aimed at protecting ac- by Director General of QFFD and returning passengers requested to ensure they are QCV will improve the access to blind, he said. of the Qatar Fund for Develop- cess to basic services for Pales- Khalifa bin Jassimal Kuwari and during the busy peak period, not carrying any prohibited eye care services for millions of Orbis UK Trustee and Spe- ment Khalifaal Kuwari and the tinians affected by the conflict in Special Representative of the access to the arrival and de- items such as liquids, aero- adults and children across the cial Envoy to the Middle East Under-Secretary-General and Syria. Secretary-General for Children parture terminal building sols, and gels and to pack any two continents. Dr Robert Walters said: “We Humanitarian Relief Coordina- The agreement was signed and Armed Conflict Virginia will be restricted to travel- liquid containers in a clear, In a statement, Director are proud of our strong partner- tor (OCHA) Mark Lowcock. Ac- by Director General of QFFD Gamba. ling passengers only between re-sealable plastic bag with General of QFFD Khalifa bin ship with the QFFD. Thanks to cording to this agreement, QFFD Khalifa bin Jassim al Kuwari and Under this agreement, Qa- 15:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs from each being 100ml or less. Jassem al Kuwari said: “Since their support, we’ve been able to will support the pooled funds as Acting UNRWA Commissioner- tar will support the Analysis and December 17 to December 22, New baggage wrapping cen- we began our journey with QCV, reach so many children whose a donor to help humanitarian General Christian Saunders, on Communication Center of the 2019. tres are located near row 3 we have reached more than futures were at risk as they aid agencies in Nigeria, Syria, the sidelines of the Doha Forum. Office of the Special Representa- Passengers have also been and 10 in the airport. 5.9 million children exceeding couldn’t see their books or the Jordan and Lebanon. Under this agreement, the tive of the Secretary-General for advised to use HIA’s self- Electronic items larger our goals. Through the second board at school.” Meanwhile, QFFD has donation will be used directly Children and Armed Conflict for service check-in kiosks and than mobile phones need to round of funding to solidify our QFFD to support coun- signed a MoUwith Dutch non- to sustain the agency’s educa- a period of three years, which self-service bag drops spread be removed from bags and partnership with Orbis, QCV try-based pooled funds for governmental organisation- tional services and maintain will open in Doha, with the aim across the terminal, which placed in trays for X-ray will continue to provide access OCHA Spark on the sidelines of Doha vocational and technical edu- of enhancing knowledge and will enable them to check- screening. Small vehicles to eye-care services and training Qatar Fund for Develop- Forum 2019, with the aim of cation and training courses for skills related to the protection of in, print boarding passes, tag powered by lithium batter- for doctors, teachers and comment has signedanMoU with supporting and empowering Palestinian refugees in Syria, children affected by armed con- their bags, and drop them at ies, such as hoverboards, are munity workers because there is the United Nations Office for the Syrian refugee youth as well as basic education services for flict in the region, raising aware- the bag drop swiftly before prohibited for carriage. Pas- still a long way to go.” Coordination of Humanitarian internally displaced persons students and support the provi- ness of the plight of children af- proceeding to border control. sengers are also advised to In the first phase of Qatar Affairs (OCHA) to support the (IDPs) in host communities by sion of basic health services to fected by war, and strengthening Passengers departing minimise travelling with pets Creating Vision, Orbis worked Country Based Pooled Funds in creating sustainable job oppor- 445,000 Palestinian refugees international cooperation to im- from HIA have been advised due to the holiday peak time. with partners to provide millions Nigeria, Syria, Jordan, and Leb- tunities in Syria and the host in Syria. prove their protection. A festival that inspires youths to act as ‘change-makers’ in society Generation Amazing Festival celebrates the power of football to unite communities for the better

AZF holds exclusive event for staff Tribune News Network pire Logistics and Aspetar to and their family. The event Doha mark the occasion. was sponsored by Saleh Al The event included a raf- Hamad Al Mana (Nissan, In- Young leaders take part in the Generation Amazing Festival programme at Qatar Foundation Oxygen Park in Doha on Sunday. ASPIRE Zone Foundation fle draw for the staff to expe- finiti, Renault), Qatar Insur- (AZF) celebrated Qatar Na- rience riding of a hot air balance Company (QIC), Rayyan Tribune News network leading up to the FIFA World world.” tional and entertainment tional Day by holding an ex- loon during the Qatar Balloon Water and Kidzania. Doha Cup Qatar 2022. Speaking about what experience, and will offer par- clusive event for AZF employ- Festival at Aspire Park, as well Aspire Zone will conclude Over 170 youth partici- youth participants can ex- ticipants the chance to apply ees at Aspire Parkon Monday. as distribution of vouchersfor the Qatar National Day on the The Generation Amazing pants from 12 countries - Qa- pect to gain from the festi- all the technical and personal Senior officials of the foun- Trampo Extreme among chil- evening of December 18. Festival 2019 aims to inspire tar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, val, Generation Amazing’s skills they acquired through- dation joined employees from dren to enjoy the sport. For more information, a generation of young lead- Pakistan, India, the Philip- Programme Director Nasser out the festival and will fol- AZF’s member organisations- The event also featured please visit www.aspirezone. ers to make a difference in pines, Nepal, Italy, Belgium, al Khori said, “Football for low several practice matches namely, Aspire Academy, As- other activities for the staff qa their communities from Qa- the UK and Brazil - will be Good workshops will teach and training sessions held tar, the Middle East, Asia, participating in the event. participants to build and throughout the festival. Europe and the Americas by Key highlights of the fes- design social development Youth will also be able to using the inspiring power tival include football for de- programmes around football take part in a training session of football to create social velopment workshops, a foot- infrastructure, event organi- to be delivered by Dutch foot- change. ball3 tournament, activities sation and community out- ball legend Johan Neeskens, The festival, which kicked led by youth ambassadors, a reach initiatives. The festi- while PSG Academy in Doha off at the Qatar Foundation’s FIFA Legends day, cultural val’s educational courses will will lead a series of training Oxygen Park on Sunday, will performances and celebrity take participants through the sessions for youth ambassa- run until December 19. footballer events for all youth fundamental principles of an dors and attendees. During This year’s festival will in attendance. active citizenship through their time in Doha, the partic- be the first of its kind in Qa- Generation Amazing Mar- football and project manage- ipants will also get the chance tar, celebrating social inclu- keting and Communications ment.” to meet and engage with for- sion and promoting gender Director Moza al Mohan- Khori added, “The festival mer Liverpool F.C. and Eng- equality as part of Generation nadi said. “We are excited to will be an exciting and engag- land striker Michael Owen. Amazing’s mandate of using launch the very first edition ing experience for some of The participants will also football to support the United of the Generation Amazing our most promising young get a chance to attend the Nations Sustainable Develop- Festival and welcome youth programme participants, as FIFA Club World Cup Qatar ment Goals and the Qatar Na- from Qatar and across the well as those interested in in- 2019 and watch Liverpool tional Vision 2030. world to come together to cel- spiring positive social change F.C.’s semi-final game, while Running alongside the ebrate the power of football, through the power of foot- a FIFA Legends day will fea- FIFA Club World Cup Qatar with a special thanks going ball.” ture talks, training sessions 2019™,the unique occasion to our strategic partners Qa- A football for good tour- and a match between star will be the kick-off event tar Foundation, FIFA Foun- nament will be the culmina- players and the young lead- within a series of festivals dation and street football tion of the festival’s educa- ers.

08 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Nation Marri meets Cote d’Ivoire minister MoI to organise QND events

Attorney-General HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al Marri for expatriates at 12 venues met on Monday with Minister of African Integration and Ivorians The programmes include cultural and entertainment shows as well as a cricket tournament Abroad of Cote d’Ivoire Ally Coulibaly. Dur- ing the meeting, they Meriam Jelliti exchanged views on a Doha number of issues and the ways to cement The Ministry of Interior (MoI), cooperation in the legal in association with the organis- field.(QNA) ing committee of the National Day celebrations, will host cultural and entertainment activities for expatriate communities at 12 locations across Qatar. The venues dedicated to Ministry of Interior officials at a press conference to announce QND activities for expatriate communities. Vodafone Passport service now the Qatar National Day (QND) activities are Wakra sports club In addition, various depart- Day 2019 Celebrations expects India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, covers more than 130 countries (field and indoor hall), Barwa Al ment of the MoI, in cooperation 150,000 visitors to the venues. Bangladesh and Nepal. Baraha, Asian Accommodation, the Ministry of Administrative Lt. Hamad al Johwail from ‘A full programme has been Tribune News Network der Vodafone’s Passport Pack. erating Officer Diego Camber- Asian Town, Cricket Stadium, Development, Labour and So- Public Relations Department prepared to provide an oppor- Doha This includes the region’s only os said, “We fully understand Lusail Sports City, Barwa Work- cial Affairs, will organise ‘safety of the MoI, President of Qatar tunity to thousands of commu- 5G roaming service in the UK, that the mobile nature of our ers Complex, Doha Stadium, and security awareness’ pro- Cricket Association Yousef al nity members residing in Qatar Vodafone Qatar is cementing launched just last month. customers requires an opera- Mukainis Barwa Village, Shah- grammes and free blood sugar Kuwari and representatives to share the joy of the National its position as the country’s lead- Vodafone Passport Pack lets tor that can provide more than haniya, and Sri Lankan School. check-ups. of various expat communities Day with Qatari citizens on this ing roaming provider on land, customers enjoy 1GB of data and fast and seamless connections The events will include During a press conference were also present at the press precious occasion,” added Lt sea and in the air with a series 100 minutes of roaming calls for -- an unlimited geographi- community-themed parades in held at the headquarters of the conference. Johwail. of enhancements to its roaming only QR100 per week. On top of cal network. As the country’s Asian Town, cultural and en- Civil Defence, Col. Mabkhut al Speaking of the targeted He also thanked the 34 products and services. this, with every Vodafone Pass- leading roaming provider on tertainment shows performed Marri from the Security Depart- audience for these events, Lt sponsors of the events and em- With the addition of new port Pack activation, customers land, sea and in the air, Voda- by orchestras and musicians, ment of the MoI said the organ- Johwail explained that each phasised the importance of so- countries, including Georgia, can roam worry free in the air fone Qatar is delighted to offer and an international cricket ising committee of the Associ- venue is dedicated to various cial responsibilities towards all Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fin- onboard 60 global airlines with unrivalled products and ser- tournament. ated Activities of Qatar National communities, including from nationals residing in Qatar. land, Iceland, Montenegro Unlimited In-Flight data -- the vices that allow our customers and Nepal, Vodafone Passport widest in-flight coverage -- at to stay connected no matter Pack now covers more than no extra cost. Customers on 5G where they are.” 130 countries, making it Qa- Unlimited Plans can also use As a testament to its world- tar’s widest reaching roaming their in-plan roaming data in- class roaming services, Voda- pack. Moreover, it remains the flight at no extra cost. fone Qatar is the only operator only roaming pack enabled on With the ocean covering 70 in the country that has been Pakistan’s leading artistes to all operators across each of percent of the planet, customers rated as a Premium Operator these countries. sailing with Vodafone Qatar will for its roaming services by the This also means customers be able to stay connected with GSMA Association, the world’s perform at 2 venues on QND on Vodafone Qatar’s Unlimited Vodafone Maritime roaming foremost authority on mobile 5G Postpaid Plans can enjoy up services, which is available in services. More information is to 75GB of roaming data in all more than 700 cruise ships. available at www.vodafone.qa/ the 130+ countries listed un- Vodafone Qatar Chief Op- roaming. Dusit Doha Hotel offers QND family packages Hashmat Sahar Nazaneen Anwar Khan Zeb Shazin Khan Dil Raj Pick up and drop off services available for Doha residents Tribune News Network Stadium on December 18. of Interior has invited us to demonstrate our love for Doha The artistes include be a part of Qatar Nation- Qatar. We are thankful to Pareshe Khan, Abid Gumari- al Day celebrations once the Ministry of Interior for Tribune News Network Pakistan’s leading artistes yane, Bakhtawar Qayoom, again. Like previous years, allocating two different lo- Doha will take part in an array of Dil Raj, Gulaab, Hashmat our community is taking cations for our events,” said cultural and entertainment Sahar, Khan Zeb, Nazaneen part in the celebrations with Chief Coordinator Janan Dusit Doha Hotel in West Bay’s Diplomatic activities as part of Qatar Anwar and Shazin Khan. great enthusiasm. We have Bangash. Area is giving Doha residents the chance to cele- National Day celebrations at “We feel privileged and tried our best to showcase The events will be held brate Qatar National Day on December 18 amidst Al Wakra Stadium and Doha honoured that the Ministry Pakistan’s rich culture and from 3pm to 9pm. luxury and convenience. A specially created celebratory family package from the modern, upscale hotel comes with a discounted suite rate, dining and spa benefits, a late check out and pick-up and drop off services for residents within the Qatari capital. With a room rate of QR1,812 per night, guests can choose between a Junior Suite with scenic West Bay views or a two or three-bedroom apart- ment all of which have open style kitchens and spacious living rooms. Offered for up to two adults and three children, the package includes a delightful breakfast Pareshe Khan Abid Gumariyane Janan Khan Bakhtawar Qayoom Gulaab at Taste, the hotel’s contemporary all-day international dining restaurant and a sumptuous din- ner at the signature Benjarong Doha restaurant where guests can savour its distinctive Royal Thai cuisine. the December 18 to 20 National Day weekend Mum and dad can get a break from the kids where guests receive a complimentary 30-minute EU-Qatar Friendship Group meets Italian-Qatari Friendship Group with an inclusive 60 minutes couples massage at cleansing and soothing milk and salt scrub when the hotel’s luxurious Devarana Spa which is set booking any 90-minute massage for QR700. QNA Qatari Parliamentary Friend- Legislative Affairs Commit- regulation of charitable work, over the hotel’s entire 29th floor. The Dusit Doha Hotel’s National Day package Doha ship Group, which is cur- tee of the Shura Council held in the presence of CEO of Qa- To ensure guests get the most out of their Na- is available from December 18, 2019 until Decem- rently visiting the country. a meeting on Monday, chaired tar Charity Yousef bin Ahmed tional Day break, the hotel is offering pick-up and ber 31, though bookings must be made before De- The EU-Qatar Friendship The meeting reviewed par- by its Rapporteur HE Nasser al Kuwari and Assistant CEO drop off services from addresses within Doha and cember 31, 2019. Group of the Shura Coun- liamentary relations between bin Rashid bin Saria al Kaabi. of the Governance Sector Mo- late check out until 6pm. All packages are subject to room availability cil, headed by HE Yousef the Council and the Italian The committee discussed a hammed bin Ali al Ghamdi. Meanwhile, Devarana Spa, which offers a upon making reservations, which can be made di- bin Rashid al Khater, held Parliament, and the ways to study of a draft law amend- The committee decided to wide range of beauty treatments and massage rectly through www.dusit.com/ddh or by calling a meeting on Monday with strengthen them. ing some provisions of Law complete the study of the draft therapies, is inviting guests to celebrate over +974 4004 4444. the delegation of the Italian- Besides, the Legal and No. 15 of 2014 regarding the law at its next meeting.

Manko Doha launches Mademoiselle night on Saturdays Tribune News Network Doha

Manko Doha, an award- winning Parisian ultra-lounge introduces the best Mademoi- selle night in town with exclusive launch partner, Ali Bin Ali Luxury. Manko Doha is a unique ultra-lounge concept with a chic Parisian atmosphere, weekly guest DJs from Paris, exceptional Nikkei cuisine and signature Pisco cocktails. Situated atop InterConti- nental Doha’s La Mar by celeb- Manko Doha is a unique ultra-lounge concept with a chic Parisian atmosphere, weekly guest DJs from Paris, exceptional Nikkei cuisine and signature Pisco cocktails. rity chef Gastón Acurio, Manko Doha offers a breathtaking redefine the nightlife scene by ing exclusive pieces from guest Luxury, created an unforget- cier, and Lalaounis. ruvian bites. Manko Doha will open location that complements the introducing a first-of-its-kind partners, with selected drinks table nightlife scene, featur- Experience a sophisti- Exclusive ladies-only ac- to public from 22:00. Book- nightlife scene with a dazzling Mademoiselle night, offering and bites. ing dazzling collections from cated, laidback evening at cess from 8pm to 10pm, part- ing can be made by calling view of Doha’s skyline. exclusive access to ladies from During the launch, Manko brands such as Pomellato, Manko Doha while sipping ner showcase will happen dur- +974 4484 4919 or email Manko Doha continues to 8pm to 10pm, while showcas- Doha, together with Ali Bin Ali Ulysse Nardin, Baume & Mer- on the finest cocktails and Pe- ing this time [email protected] Nation Tuesday, December 17, 2019 09

QA and SriLankan QA inaugural flight lands Airlines embark on codeshare expansion in Gaborone, Botswana Tribune News Network DOHA

Qatar Airways becomes the only non-African Qatar Airways (QA) will operator to offer flights to Botswana begin expanded codeshare cooperation with SriLankan Tribune News Network expanding its network in Af- Airlines from December 23. DOHA rica, and this new route - our The new codeshare agree- 23rd destination on the conti- ment will strengthen the two passengers – Colombo in Sri The first Qatar Airways (QA) nent - is another step towards airlines’ strategic partnership Lanka and Malé in the Mal- flight from Doha to Gaborone, achieving that goal. first initiated in 2016. dives. Botswana, touched down at Sir “We take great pride in be- The expanded codeshare Qatar Airways Group Seretse Khama International ing the first MiddleE astern agreement will be rolled out Chief Executive Akbar al Airport on Sunday. airline to fly to Botswana and in phases and once fully im- Baker said, “Since 2016, both The flight was greeted upon look forward to bringing tens plemented will allow SriLan- airlines have witnessed the landing by Vice-President of of thousands of passengers to kan Airlines’ passengers to significant benefits codeshare Botswana Slumber Tsogwane this wonderful country.” book travel to 33 additional cooperation has brought, and Minister of Transport and Acting Chief Executive Of- The flight was greeted upon landing by Vice-President of Botswana Slumber Tsogwane and Minister of Qatar Airways destinations in providing passengers with Communications Thulagano ficer of Civil Aviation Author- Transport and Communications Thulagano Segokgo. Europe, America and Africa. unrivalled service and seam- Segokgo. ity Botswana Kabo Phutietsile Combined with the two less connections. The expan- The airline will operate a said, “The new route by Qatar “The arrival of Qatar will nation of the year and the third to Gaborone with its Airbus airlines’ existing codeshare sion of codeshare cooperation three-time weekly service to Airways is expected to boost further boost and grow the in Africa during 2019, comple- 350-900, featuring 36 seats in agreement, this brings the to- between Qatar Airways and the capital city of Botswana Botswana’s aviation industry aviation industry and auxiliary menting the already popular Business class and 247 seats in tal Qatar Airways destinations SriLankan Airlines is a natu- and is the only non-African and create employment oppor- industries. It allows for im- routes to Mogadishu, Somalia Economy class. Passengers can offered under SriLankan Air- ral next step in strengthening airline to fly to the country. tunities and skills transfer for proved connectivity between and Rabat, Morocco. enjoy the next generation in- lines’ flight numbers to 53. our close partnership.” Qatar Airways Group Chief the aviation industry. It gives Botswana and Qatar many With Luanda, Angola to teractive on-board entertain- Phase one has opened for SriLankan Airlines Executive Akbar al Baker said, the country an opportunity to established routes. The spin- follow in 2020, the airline is ment system, Oryx One, with sale on Monday (today) for Chief Executive Officer Vi- “I am delighted to add Gabo- fully utilise and benefit from offs will facilitate growth of the making good on its promise a choice of up to 4,000 audio travel starting on December pula Gunatilleka said, “We rone to our global network of the investments in infrastruc- Botswana economy.” to grow throughout the conti- and video-on-demand options 23 with SriLankan Airline are delighted to strengthen more than 160 destinations. ture improvement completed The inaugural flight is Qa- nent. as well as complimentary Wi- passengers able to book travel the bonds of our long-time Qatar Airways is committed to in the recent past. tar Airways’ ninth new desti- The airline will operate Fi for passengers. to eight additional Qatar Air- partnership with our fellow ways’ destinations – Athens, oneworld member Qatar Air- Greece; Belgrade, Serbia; ways, and feel certain that the Brussels, Belgium; Dublin, valued passengers of both our QA announces new seasonal flights to Santorini in Greece, Dubrovnik, Croatia Ireland; Helsinki, Finland; airlines will reap the benefits Munich, Germany; Prague, of this close co-operation.” Tribune News Network services to begin on May 20, 2020. passenger destinations, further consoli- Czech Republic and Thessa- Qatar Airways began fly- DOHA Flights to Dubrovnik, Croatia, the dating our position as one of the world’s loniki, Greece. ing to Colombo, Sri Lanka airline’s second destination in Croatia most connected airlines. Qatar Airways’ passengers in 1994. Today, it is one of Qatar Airways (QA) has announced after Zagreb will start on April 20, 2020. “We also invite all passengers to will benefit from access to the airline’s most popular two new exciting Mediterranean des- The announcements followed just enjoy the extra capacity and flexibil- exciting new destinations in routes served by a four-time tinations to join its network in the first one day after the inaugural service to ity provided by the 66 additional weekly the Maldives thanks to the ex- daily service. In 2016, Qatar half of 2020, with many more to be an- Gaborone, Botswana that marked the frequencies we are adding to 20 exist- panded codeshare agreement. Airways and SriLankan Air- nounced in the coming months. ninth new destination launched by the ing destinations in our network. We are They will now be able to lines announced a codeshare The airline will also add 66 weekly airline in 2019. The airline also recon- dedicated to giving our customers more book travel on SriLankan agreement to provide greater frequencies to 20 existing destinations firmed Osaka, Japan will join its network options and flexibility when planning Airlines’ flights to the island connectivity and new destina- in its network due to strong market de- in 2020, with the inaugural flight depart- their business and leisure trips. These of Gan in Addu Atoll, the tions to their passengers. mand and the recent deliveries of more ing on April 6. new flights are being added in response southernmost point of the SriLankan Airlines serves fuel-efficient aircraft. Qatar Airways Group Chief Execu- to market demand and are testament to Maldives. The new destina- 109 destinations in 48 coun- The airline will be the first Gulf car- tive Akbar al Baker said, “We are pleased ted to offering our passengers as many our hard working team at Qatar Airways tion complements the exist- tries from its hub, Bandara- rier to begin direct flights to Santorini, to announce that Santorini, Greece and seamless one-stop connection choices as who continue to set the benchmark in ing SriLankan Airlines’ routes naike International Airport in its fourth destination in Greece after Dubrovnik, Croatia will be joining our possible. With the addition of these new the industry from customer service to ca- available to Qatar Airways Colombo (CMB). Athens, Mykonos and Thessaloniki, with global network in 2020. We are commit- routes, our network will expand to 170 tering and in-flight entertainment.” 10 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Nation Best Buddies marks National Day with several activities for members Commercial Bank, the Embassy of Japan and The Flower Shop supported the celebrations Tribune News Network Doha

BEST Buddies Qatar, in cooperation with the Commercial Bank of Qatar, the Embassy of Ooredoo celebrates QND Japan and The Flower Shop, held an array of activities for with host of promotions, its members to celebrate Qatar National Day. offers and fun activities The events included traditional celebrations supported Tribune News Network a host of extra benefits. Prices by Commercial Bank; a work- Doha for the iPhone 11 Pro starting at shop on the art of Origami QR4,049 and the iPhone 11 Pro held in partnership with the OOREDOO, Qatar’s leading Max starting at QR4,459, and Japanese Embassy; and an- telecommunications opera- customers will also get 18GB other workshop on floral art tor, is commemorating Qatar’s data absolutely free, along with held in cooperation with The disabilities in society through National Day 2019 with special a free one-year subscription to Flower Shop. artistic and cultural activities.” offers, promotions, exciting ac- Apple TV Plus, a beIN CON- Laalei Abu Alfain, executive The Flower Shop experts tivities and much more. NECT subscription and a 35 director of Best Buddies Qatar, held a floral workshop for 17 Fans of trivia will love the percent discount voucher for said: “Celebrating the National Best Buddies Qatar female daily Qatar National Day Quiz, Clear Coat smartphone protec- Day is an occasion for renewing members in which the lat- which sees a quiz question be- tion. our pledge of loyalty to the wise ter leant about the decorative ing posted daily on the Ooredoo A host of exciting celebra- leadership of Qatar. It’s a day flower arrangements. The flow- App between December 15 and tions will also be going on at to celebrate people’s solidarity ers used in the arrangement December 18. Customers will Katara Cultural Village where and their love and devotion to- contained the national colours get one chance to answer the Ooredoo is sponsoring events wards the country. We are glad of the Qatari flag- maroon and question correctly each day in such as the laser light show. to mark this great day for Best white. The flower arrange- order to get 500MB data free or, Manar Khalifaal Murai- Buddies Qatar members with ments prepared by members if they already have unlimited khi, director PR and Corporate intellectual and developmental were later presented to Mrs Abu data, 500 Nojoom points free. Communications at Ooredoo, disabilities to enlighten them Alfain, Aamal alMannai, CEO Free data is also on offer said: “Qatar National Day is a about Qatari culture, traditions of Qatar Foundation for Social with the photo competition on huge celebration for everyone and values, which are all about Work, and Best Buddies Qatar December 18; customers must in Qatar, whether citizen or ex- justice, benevolence, freedom management and officials. take a picture of the special Qa- patriate, and we are delighted and equality.” Ahmed al Ghafri, the co- tar National Day promotional to participate in the celebra- As many as 70 Best Bud- owner of The Flower Shop images on display using their tions with so many offers, pro- dies Qatar members partici- Best Buddies Qatar officials and children with floweres from The Flower Shop. said: “We are proud to be part Ooredoo App, and they’ll get motions and activities. We are pated in traditional Qatari of National Day celebration 500MB data absolutely FREE committed to supporting events dance performances and tions of National Day and to held the workshop on art of retary at the Embassy of Japan with Best Buddies Qatar mem- or, if they already have unlim- that promote community cohe- games. TheCommercial Bank see smiles on the faces of the origami for the male members in Qatar, said: “We are delight- bers with disabilities. The flo- ited data, 500 Nojoom points sion and preserve and promote officials distributed gifts to all participants with intellectual of Best Buddies Qatar in which ed to celebrate National Day ral art is a great opportunity free. Qatari culture. We are confident the attendees. and developmental disabili- they learnt about creating dec- of Qatar with members of Best to spread positivity and joy on Customers looking to buy a our customers will love both the Sarah al Ali from Commer- ties. Commercial Bank is one orative objects from colourful Buddies. While we strive to in- the National Day. We are keen new device can take advantage celebratory activities and the cial Bank commented: “On be- of the leading institutions in papers. The members were ea- troduce the Japanese culture to to continue collaboration with of special lower prices on the iP- extra value they’ll be getting half of the Commercial Bank, the field of charity and human- ger to discover a part of Japa- the people of Qatar, we highly Best Buddies Qatar on similar hone 11 Pro range, in honour of this National Day, and we wish we are pleased to be part of the itarian contributions.” nese art and culture. appreciate such initiatives that projects in future which aim at Qatar National Day 2019, with them a joyous celebration!” Best Buddies Qatar celebra- The Japanese Embassy Tamami Yoshida, first sec- aim at inclusion of people with developing values in society.” QFBA, Northumbria University celebrate Qatar National Day

QCS celebrates National Day with school children Organisation bears the treatment cost worth over QR13mn of around 1,070 patients from January to October 2019 Tribune News Network that the National Day provide- at a cost of approximately Doha san opportunity for Qatar’s QR13,822,000. It is expected citizens and residents to re- that by theend of this year, Qatar Finance and Business Academy and Northumbria University officlas during a ceremony to mark the National Day in Doha. QATAR Cancer Society (QCS) new their pledge of loyalty to 1,284 patients will be treated celebrated Qatar National Day- the leadership and celebrate with QCS support at an esti- Tribune News Network Khalid al Horr, CEO of QFBA. ness Academy said on the oc- ration with Northumbria Uni- by launching a public event for the occasion with pride and mated cost of QR16,590,000. Doha The celebration came as a casion: “Qatar National Day versity, promises to continue school children. dignity. , Pointing to the society’s keen- part of QFBA-Northumbria’s represents a landmark for our to remain dedicated to bring us The event aimed to intro- He added that the char- ness to treat all patients, and Qatar Finance and Busi- effort to reinforce its vision of nation’s history and people. It closer to achieving our goals, duce the students to the charity has not neglected one of there is not one patient on the ness Academy (QFBA) in col- becoming the leading institu- rests within the heart of every- by raising the national human ity’s mission, vision and its its main objectives since its waiting list. laboration with Northumbria tional player to fulfill the na- one as we cherish the present capital capabilities levels to role in community in terms of establishment in 1997, which Sheikh Dr Khalid said that University celebrated Qatar tion’s goals and ambitions by and past and look forward to preserve and build on the pro- promoting a culture of regular is to facilitate treatment of there is not a single patient on National Day, where the acad- providing a stream of qualified nothing short of a promising gress and achievements to ac- screening for early detection those cancer patients who are the society’s waiting list, add- emy’s various departments young professional contenders and bright future. On this day tualize the Qatar National Vi- of cancer and its prevention unable to meet the treatment ing QCS is keen to hold aware- and university students joined who will keep up with Qatar’s we express our eternal grati- sion 2030. Today, I would like through a variety of shows and costs. It is worth mentioning ness and educational cam- together to commemorate this economic and human develop- tude and pride for the progress to extent my sincerest gratitude competitions. that QCS has facilitated treat- paigns throughout the yearto year’s slogan “the path to ex- ment. and strides our nation has towards the nation and our stu- QCS Chairman Sheikh Dr ment of 1,070 cancer patients raise community’s awareness of cellence in difficult”. Dr Khalid al Horr, CEO achieved. Qatar Finance and dents for their efforts to organ- Khalid bin Jabor al Thani said from January to October 2019 cancer. The event featured Dr of Qatar Finance and Busi- Business Academy in Collabo- ise this special event.” Patriotism, fanfare highlight of Qatar Steel QND celebrations

Tribune News Network Hajri said: “I take this oppor- age of their country. It is also achievements and successes, Doha tunity to extend my sincerest an occasion to recall the lead- which has contributed in en- congratulations to the Amir ers who followed his steps in hancing the standing of Qatar Qatar Steel celebrated the HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad building Qatar as a modern both regionally and interna- Qatar National Day with a al Thani, the Father Amir His state proud of its identity, val- tionally as a comprehensive large number of employees as Highness Sheikh Hamad bin ues and firm principles in en- and sustainable development well as their families at the Qa- Khalifa al Thani, the Deputy hancing peace and harmony. model.” tar National Convention Cent- Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin “As we celebrate Qatar Na- Mohammed bin Nasser al er, commemorating this year’s Hamad al Thani, and distin- tional Day, we renew our de- Hajri stated that celebrating slogan ‘the path of excellence guished people including the termination to continue with the Qatar National Day is an is difficult’ on Monday. residents of Qatar.” achievements, make every ef- important occasion to renew The Managing Director He added, “Qatar National fort to promote the elevated loyalty, foster national values, and CEO of Qatar Steel, Eng Day is an occasion to recall standing of our nation, sup- and preserve the principles of Mohammed bin Nasser al the vision and journey of the port the comprehensive de- love, peace and goodness to Hajri and the executive leader- Founder of the State, the Late velopment path and achieve the world. He emphasised the ship team were present in the Sheikh Jassim bin Moham- more development, growth pride in belonging to the coun- celebration. med bin Thani”, “his timeless and prosperity for the peo- try under the leadership of the Speaking on the occasion, efforts and achievement, the ple and residents of Qatar”. Amir His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser al challenges he faced and his attention towards the youth of Qatar and encouraging them to maintain an elevated im- He added, “We are proud of Tamim bin Hamad al Thani.

caption Nation Tuesday, December 17, 2019 11

Bangladesh Embassy observes ‘Great Victory Day’

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Doha observed the ‘Great Victory Day’ on the embassy premises on Monday. Bangladesh’s Ambas- sador to Qatar HE Ashud Ahmed hoisted the national flag in the presence of a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates. A special prayer was also offered seeking salvation of the departed souls of martyrs, including the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members. In his speech on the occasion, Ambassador Ahmed recalled the great sacrifices of the martyrs of the Great Libera- tion War in 1971. He called on the Bangladeshis living in Qatar to represent the true spirit of Bangladesh in their activities and behaviour. (TNN) QBG plants over 1,800 trees New Italian visa centre as part of Ghars Campaign to open in Doha today Tribune News Network of the services of the centre. en to the promotion of Ital- DOHA “After opening last April ian tourist destinations, with The campaign aims to plant 2,022 trees in the lead up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 the new premises of the Em- providing the applicants The Embassy of Italy will bassy of Italy, we are proud with all travel information Tribune News Network Attendees were also gifted an open a new Visa Application to present the new Italy Visa they need,” the envoy added. Doha assortment of flowers. Centre in Doha for process- Application Centre, which The centre will be open Fatima Saleh al Khulaifi, ing visa applications from offers enhanced services in from Sunday to Thursday, The Qur’anic Botanic Gar- manager of QBG, said, “We residents in Qatar wishing a spacious and welcoming from 8am to 8pm. During the den’s (QBG) 2019 Ghars Cam- aim to enhance the value of to travel to the Schengen facility located in the heart holy month of Ramadan, the paign came to a close, with tree planting among members area with Italy as the main of the West Bay and close to opening hours will be further planting of more than 50 trees of society in Qatar by spread- destination. the Embassy,” said Ambas- extended in the evenings. by the Philippine Institute of ing awareness about the im- The centre will be offi- sador Salzano. The new visa centre is Civil Engineers and the Ameri- portance of gardens, plants cially opened on December “The centre has been operated by VFS Global pro- can Scouts, bringing the total and trees – the green lungs of 17 at 9am during a ribbon- carefully designed and fit- vider and is located at the number of trees planted to our planet. cutting ceremony by Ambas- out to offer an authentic Gate Mall, 6th Floor, Tower 1,859 since 2011. “One of our goals at QBG, sador of Italy to Qatar HE ‘Italian experience’ to all 3, in West Bay, which is The event, which was held through the Ghars Campaign, Pasquale Salzano as his final applicants by providing also accessible by the Doha in QBG’s Pilot Garden in Oxy- is to promote environmental act as Italian Head of Mis- a high level of customer Metro through the DECC gen Park, Education City, saw awareness – in line with the sion before departing from care and premium services station. more than 390 people plant mission of Qatar Foundation – Doha at the end of his ten- in order to meet different Appointments can be trees and learn more about while creating an educated, re- ure after the celebration of needs. The centre also of- booked online on the VFS the importance of green con- sponsible and globally-aware the Qatar National Day. fers a kids area,” he said. website https://www.vfs- servation. The event, held in QBG’s Pilot Garden in Oxygen Park, Education City, community.” Qatar residents who “The centre is conceived global.com/Italy/Qatar/in- A number of competitions saw more than 390 people plant trees and learn more about the QBG’s Ghars Campaign want to travel to Italy and to showcase the best Ital- dex.html also took place throughout the importance of green conservation. aims to plants 2,022 trees in the Schengen area for busi- ian style in terms of design, Helpline number: +974 day, where visitors learned the lead up to the FIFA World ness, tourism and study pur- comfort and quality of furni- 44231222, E-mails to: info. more about the flora recently den – an initiative by QBG, a -- while children were given Cup Qatar 2022. The 2020 poses can avail themselves ture. Special attention is giv- [email protected] planted in the Senses Gar- member of Qatar Foundation the opportunity to plant seeds. edition will kick off in March. QCRI-UN DPPA workshop explores QNL lecture discusses history of technologies for conflict prevention Qatar and British Indian empire Tribune News Network Doha Tribune News Network Doha QATAR Computing Research In- stitute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin The ‘Qatar, India & the Gulf: His- Khalifa University (HBKU), and the tory, Culture & Society’ exhibition, United Nations (UN) Department of currently open to the public at Qa- Political and Peace-building Affairs tar National Library (QNL), pro- (UN DPPA), recently convened UN vides insights into the long histori- political analysts and development cal relationship between Qatar and advisers in Doha for a workshop on the Indian subcontinent. how to use new technologies for con- In parallel with the exhibition, flict prevention and peacemaking. more about the UN’s operational tary-general to be more innovative, on December 10, the library organ- Commenting on the workshop, needs in data analysis for peacemak- this ecosystem allows us to create ized a talk by Dr James Onley, di- features items from the Heritage the lecture, said: “I have under- Dr Ahmed Elmagarmid, executive ing. We are currently exploring new space for new ideas and experiment rector of Historical Research and Library as well as materials from stood more about the historical director of QCRI, said: “QCRI is ways of supporting the UN’s conflict with new ways of informing and Partnerships at the library, on the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani connections between the Gulf re- proud of the partnerships and col- prevention work through our tech- measuring our work in conflict pre- fascinating yet mostly forgotten Museum, among other institu- gion and India thanks to this lec- laborations that we have built over nologies and expertise”, noted Dr vention, peace mediation and peace- history of Qatar and the British In- tions. The exhibition is part of the ture. It nicely complemented the the past 10 years. We are especially Ingmar Weber, research director for building.” dian Empire from 1916 to 1947. library’s celebration of the Qatar information I learned by visiting excited about our collaboration with social computing at QCRI. “The United Nations is entering The talk was followed by a guid- India 2019 Year of Culture. the ‘Qatar, India & the Gulf’ exhibi- the UN on using technology and in- Martin Waehlisch of UN DPPA the 75th year of its existence, which ed tour of the exhibition, which Sabika Shaaban, who attended tion here at the Library.” novation to improve people’s lives. said: “The collaboration with QCRI is an occasion for us to re-imagine Crucially, these activities will sup- and other regional partners is an and improve on how we do our work. port our scientists’ ongoing effort to opportunity for us to tap into the The training at QCRI is part of this create meaningful and socially rel- unique expertise in social computing effort”, underlined Daanish Masood evant innovations. and interdisciplinary research in the of the United Nations. “Over the past couple of years, Arab world. This cooperation is part The joint engagement of prac- we have worked closely with a range of an ecosystem of public, private titioners and scholars will result of UN organisations on data analysis and academic partners to learn from in further research projects, digi- for humanitarian crises and develop- one another about the use of new tal applications and used cases of ment challenges. We are pleased to technologies and other advances. new technologies and innovation support this workshop and to learn Following the call of the UN secre- for peace. Musical event to mark QND celebrations at Asian Town Closure on Bani Hajer underpass Tribune News Network THE Public Works Doha Authority ‘Ashghal’ has announced tem- A musical extravagan- porary closure on Bani za and qawwali featuring Hajer underpass from renowned Indian artistes Al Shahama Street to- will enthrall audiences wards Al Rayyan and on the eve of Qatar Na- Doha, starting from tional Day (QND). December 20 until De- The events are being cember 22, 2019, to en- organised by M/s SATCO able the asphalt works, International, in associa- as part of Khalifa Av- tion with the Ministry of enue Project. Interior. During the traf- The musical pro- fic change, which is tions, as shown on the take the exit ramp gramme will be held at two to be implemented in attached map. towards Al Wajba venues -- Asian Town and stand-up comedy, Bengali where more than 20 ar- at 5pm, according to MS “The programmes coordination with the From Al Shahama Internchange, make nearby Workers Accom- songs, Punjabi songs, qaw- tistes will be performing at Bukhari, a socio-cultural aim to make the expatri- General Directorate Street to Al Rayyan a U-Turn and then modation – presenting wali and Pushto songs. the two locations. activist and community ate community happy and of Traffic, road users and to Doha, com- continue on Dukhan a fusion of songs on one More than 20,000 peo- The musical pro- leader, who is also one of help them enjoy Qatar Na- on Al Shahama Street muters on Al Sha- road towards Doha or platform. The event will ple are expected to watch gramme, which is expected the leading figures behind tional Day with zeal, love will be directed to Al hama Street heading take second exit on feature Bollywood songs, the cultural programme to last 4 -5 hours, will start the programme. and affection,” he said. Wajba Interchange to towards Al Rayyan Dukhan Road towards reach their destina- or Doha will have to Al Rayyan. (TNN) 12 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Reports by Catherine W Gichuki For events and press releases email African Panorama [email protected] W or call (974) 4000 2222 Gichuki Join self-help groups and SACCOs to cultivate saving habits, ambassador tells Kenyan expats he Kenyan Ambassador to Qa- scooping medals in their disciplines.” tar HE Paddy C Ahenda has urged On a different note, the ambassa- Kenyan expatriates to join self-help dor said Kenya is not only an anchor groups and savings and credit co- to the fragile peace and security in the Toperative (SACCO) societies so that region, but is also a generous country they are able to save and invest. that works hard to build peace among The ambassador was speaking at its neighbours. “Our commitment to a the Kenyan National Day, popularly peaceful world is evidenced by Kenya’s known as ‘Jamhuri Day’, which is cel- leading role in various global peace ebrated on December 12. initiatives. As part of its contribution Speaking at the event, Ahenda said, to global peace, Kenya has had the “To Kenyans present here today, I ap- distinction of being a refugee-hosting plaud your unity and encourage that nation. It has been an overwhelming you continue in the same spirit. There responsibility but we continue to offer are various self-help groups and SAC- safe haven to our brothers and sisters COs, such as Corniche Diaspora Kenya unable to return home, or on transition Qatar Savings and Credit Cooperative to third countries, where they are able Society (Corniche Sacco) which are to make positive contributions to host good vehicles for galvanizing savings countries.” here in Qatar for investments back According to Ahenda, it is for these home. Our policy is to encourage the reasons, and based on its impeccable Diaspora to save and invest.” credentials that Kenya is seeking to join Kenyan expatriates, the ambas- the Security Council as a Non–Perma- sador noted, are hard working. He Kenyan Ambassador to Qatar HE Paddy C Ahenda nent Member for the 2021–2022 term thanked the Qatar Government for giv- at elections to be held in June, 2020. ing them a chance to contribute to the of the workforce that is contributing to Kenyan athletes participated in this “We believe we can make a positive development of this country. the phenomenal growth of this country. year’s events including the IAAF Doha contribution to global peace and secu- “There are over 30,000 Kenyan mi- I am proud that Kenyans working in Diamond League; IAAF World Athlet- rity with the ultimate goal of achieving grant workers here in Qatar and I want this country have proved themselves as ics Championships Doha 2019; and the necessary conditions for the attainment to sincerely thank the Government and talented, highly skilled and hardwork- annual Ooredoo marathon. “In all these of sustainable development. Our cam- Kenyan Ambassador to Qatar HE Paddy C Ahenda and other the great people of Qatar for providing ing.” championships, our athletes confirmed paign is themed ‘Peace and Security for dignitaries opportunities to our people to be a part Talking about sports, Ahenda said that we are indeed world beaters by Sustainable Development’,” he noted. Kenyan cultural group participates in FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019

The group performed at FIFA Club World Cup Fan Zone at Doha Sports Park recently. They enthralled the audience with typical Kenyan and African songs giving them a glimpse of the ambience of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. They performed songs such as Waka Waka (This is time for Africa), Jambo Kenya, and Tushangilie Kenya

HE Green Maasai Troupe (GMT), the Kenyan cultural group, has been taking part in the activities of FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, which kickedT off on December 9. GMT has been enthralling the audience through their sterling performances. The group performed at FIFA Club World Cup Fan Zone at Doha Sports Park recently. They enthralled the audience with typical Kenyan and African songs giving the audience a glimpse of the ambience of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. They performed songs such as Waka Waka (This is time for Africa), Jambo Kenya, and Tushangilie Kenya. Besides the fan zone activities, the group will perform at the stadium on December 18 and December 21, at the Khalifa Inter- national Stadium. The group is expected to enthrall the audience before the Monterrey versus Liverpool match kicks off during the semi finals on December 18. Besides, the group will also perform at Katara Community Festival on December 19. The group’s participation has been facilitated by the Supreme Committee for De- livery and Legacy. The leader of the group, Zacchaeus Njuguna, said they felt proud to be given such a platform to showcase their culture through the performances. “We are happy that we are able to reach out to many committee for this opportunity. “We are grate- communities in preparation for the FIFA munities who live in Qatar through our per- ful to be given these chances to perform.” World Cup in 2022.” formances. I believe that many people who The group meets every Friday at the He said the Kenyan community has live in Qatar enjoy our performance.” Embassy of Kenya for rehearsals. been working with the Supreme Committee “Thanks to these performances, we have Community leader John Ngurugwe, in various activities. “We have worked with been invited to perform on different occa- who has been working with the Supreme the Supreme Committee during the Qatar sions. We took part in Qatar Balloon Festi- Committee for this opportunity, said, “Get- Community Football League and many oth- val and we have been invited by Mowasalat braces other communities in their activi- makes us feel as being part of this society. ting this opportunity in an international er events. I am so grateful that our group to perform.” ties. “We really appreciate the way Qatar We don’t feel left out.” tournament is a great honour. It shows how was given a chance to perform at the Ara- Njuguna praised the way Qatar em- includes everyone in all their activities. This Njuguna thanked the Supreme Com- the Supreme Committee is working with bian Gulf Cup recently.”

Members of Kenyan cultural group Green Maasai Troupe (GMT) perform at FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 event in Doha, recently. Gulf / Middle East Tuesday, December 17, 2019 13 Turkey’s Erdogan threatens closure Two-state solution an ‘illusion’, of bases used by US military says Netanyahu challenger Saar DPA “Mr Prime Minister, the Speaking at a conference DPA He told the A Haber broad- will compromise the F-35 Tel Aviv primaries are not about us, in Jerusalem, Saar earlier Istanbul caster that Turkey would give stealth fighter jet. the candidates. Elections are said: “Throughout the world the appropriate response if NATO ally Turkey had Caretaker Prime Minister always about the people we they say that a two-state solu- Turkish President Recep “measures such as sanctions” planned to buy several of the Benjamin Netanyahu’s chal- serve. Let’s meet,” he said, to tion [to the Israeli-Palestinian Tayyip Erdogan does not rule are imposed on his country. jets but has been suspended lenger in the upcoming leader- discuss “tough” social prob- conflict] remains the path to a out the closure of two mili- Turkish Foreign Minis- from the F-35 joint manufac- ship race of Israel’s right-wing lems, bureaucracy, national [peace] agreement.” “I have to tary bases used by the United ter Mevlut Cavusoglu already turing programme over the de- Likud party has called a two- security and the legal system. say to you... Two states is an il- States in light of his country’s implied last week that Turkey fence deal with Russia. Ankara state solution “illusion,” the “I am waiting for you, Mr lusion,” he said. thorny relations with Wash- may resort to ending US ac- has nonetheless so far avoided Times of Israel reported on Prime Minister, anytime and “Between the Jordan River ington. cess to the bases in response strong sanctions in the spat. Monday. any place that you will decide and the [Mediterranean] sea Turkey could, “if neces- to US sanctions. “We see the status of our In a video message pub- on,” he said. Netanyahu’s sole there won’t be another inde- sary,” close its airbase in In- US senators are demand- forces in Turkey as a symbol of lished on his Twitter feed on challenger, spoke as he was pendent state.” As an alterna- cirlik and the Kurecik radar ing sanctions against Turkey our decades-long commitment Monday, lawmaker and former scheduled to formally an- tive to the two-state solution, station in the eastern province over Ankara’s purchase of the to work with, and help defend, education minister Gideon nounce his campaign in the Saar proposed autonomy and of Malatya, Erdogan said in a S-400 Russian air defence sys- our NATO Ally , Turkey,” a De- Saar called on Netanyahu to town of Or Yehuda, east of Tel economic alliances between televised interview on Sunday. tem, which Washington fears Recep Tayyip Erdogan fense spokesperson told DPA. face him in a televised debate. Aviv, on Monday night. Israel and Jordan.

PEACEFUL STREET RALLIES DESCEND INTO VIOLENCE News in brief

Russian, Syrian airstrikes kill 5, Protest-hit Lebanon postpones wound 21 civilians in Idlib: Monitor BeiruT: Russian and Syrian government airstrikes on areas in north-western Syria killed at least five civilians, including three children, a war monitor reported on Monday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said talks to select new premier the Russian planes targeted areas in the eastern countryside of Maaret al-Noumaan and Binish, while government helicopters AFP hit other areas in the southern countryside of Idlib province. Beirut Twenty-one people were wounded, the Observatory added. On April 30, the Syrian government, supported by Russian Lebanon’s president on air power, began a massive military offensive against rebels in Monday postponed consulta- the provinces of Hama and Idlib, forcing thousands of people tions to select a new prime to flee.S yrian government forces have since regained territory minister after weeks of largely from the rebels in the two provinces. (DPA) peaceful street protests de- scended into violence, leaving dozens wounded in clashes NATO faces most ‘complex security’ with security forces. environment in its history, says chief The government stepped down on October 29 in the face Kuwait CITY: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday the of unprecedented nationwide powerful western military alliance was facing the most “com- demonstrations demanding the plex security” environment in its history amid rising tensions complete overhaul of a political between member states. class deemed inept and corrupt. His words come after a NATO summit earlier this month in On Monday, the presiden- Britain exposed sharp divisions between leaders. cy announced that President “What we saw in London, at the leaders’ meeting, was that Michel Aoun had “responded there are differences between allies. But we demonstrated to the wishes of (caretaker) unity,” said Stoltenberg, speaking in Kuwait to mark 15 years prime minister Saad Hariri to of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. postpone parliamentary con- The ICI was launched by NATO to boost security links with sultations until Thursday De- the Middle East. cember 19”. “We demonstrated unity on NATO’s core task -- and that is Hariri’s office said the de- that we defend and protect each other, one for all and all for ferral came to avoid “a nomi- one,” Stoltenberg added. “In all these years, NATO has never nation without any major experienced a more complex security environment than it does Christian bloc taking part”. today,” Stoltenberg said. (AFP) It is not the first time the talks have been delayed. Parlia- mentary consultations had been UN Yemen envoy in Sana’a for talks scheduled for December 9 be- with rebels on Hodeida peace deal fore being pushed back a week. The names of various po- Sana’a: United Nations Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths arrived tential candidates to replace A Lebanese demonstrator kicks back a tear-gas canister during clashes with riot police in Beirut on Sunday. (AFP) on Monday in the rebel-held capital Sana’a for talks with the Hariri have been circulated in Houthis in an attempt to push forward a peace deal signed recent weeks, but bitterly divid- player with ministers in the out- “Hariri will not return”, but between Yemen’s rivals a year ago. ed political parties have failed going government, has repeat- Leading Lebanese daily asks for donations to survive escalated later, with demon- Griffiths arrived in the capital from Amman, a source at to agree on a new premier. edly dismissed the idea of an ex- strators throwing water bottles Sana’a airport told DPA. Cabinet formation can drag clusively technocratic cabinet. Beirut: Leading Lebanese daily An Nahar called on Monday in a and firecrackers at the secu- The Stockholm Agreement was reached in December 2018 on for months in the multi-con- Hezbollah chief Hassan half-printed front page for donations to help the paper survive. rity forces who responded with following UN-sponsored talks in Sweden between representa- fessional country, with Hariri Nasrallah said on Friday he “The newspaper that donated blood is now asking you to tear gas and water cannon. tives of the internationally recognized government and the Houthi taking almost nine months to would support a “government #donateink,” a sentence written on the front page reads. The Lebanese Red Cross rebels. The deal focused on a truce for Hodeida that included a reach an agreement with all of national partnership” that An Nahar called on its readers to support the independ- said it treated 45 people on province-wide ceasefire and the withdrawal ofH outhi fighters. political sides for the last one. did not exclude any of the ma- ent press and its journalists. “You are our ink.” The paper was site. “Twenty-eight people The agreement has not been fully implemented. The two According to a complex jor parties. He said it could be founded in 1933 by Jubran Tueini. His grandson, who carried the were transported to hospital,” sides also agreed to to exchange around 16,000 prisoners. (DPA) political system that seeks to headed by Hariri or someone same name, a prominent journalist in the newspaper and also a the organisation’s director maintain a fragile balance be- designated by the outgoing lawmaker, was assassinated in a car bomb in December 2005. George Kettane told AFP. tween religious communities, premier. Tueini, the grandson, was an outspoken critic of the Syrian On Monday, the Leba- Lebanon’s prime minister is Consensus on the name of government during its hegemony over Lebanon. An Nahar has nese army condemned the always a Sunni Muslim. a new prime minister is fre- been suffering financial difficulties since 2009 and it has been “widespread chaos” the night Earlier this month, the Sun- quently reached before parlia- forced to lay off several of its employees. (DPA) before, reporting “vandalism ni Muslim establishment threw mentary consultations begin. and destruction of private and Iran slams US for dreaming its support behind Hariri re- But Nasrallah warned par- public property”. turning, further angering pro- liamentary blocs had not agreed pendent experts. in the capital Beirut between Saturday evening had seen testers who have demanded a on a name and cabinet forma- The latest delay to the con- protesters and security forces. dozens of people hurt when up ‘imaginary enemies’ cabinet of independent experts. tion would be “no easy feat”. sultations on a new premier Rallies had begun peace- security forces used tear gas The powerful Shiite move- Hariri has said he would came the day after clashes fully with protesters waving and rubber bullets to disperse AFP have 10 times targeted areas ment Hezbollah, a key political only head a cabinet of inde- near the parliament building Lebanese flags and chanting demonstrators. Tehran where US soldiers and diplomats are based. The attacks Iran on Monday accused the have never been claimed. United States of dreaming US Secretary of State Mike up “imaginary enemies” af- Pompeo warned on Friday Iraq warns against ‘escalation’ after strikes on US interests ter Washington warned there there would be a “decisive re- would be a stiff response if US sponse” if American interests AFP escalation that will threaten all interests in Iraq are attacked. were harmed in Iraq -- an ally of Baghdad parties”, the statement added. “When politicians want to both Iran and the United States. “Unilateral decisions will absolve themselves of blame “We must... use this oppor- Baghdad cautioned on trigger negative reactions that they always make up an imagi- tunity to remind Iran’s lead- Monday against “an escala- will make it more difficult to nary enemy,” Iranian govern- ers that any attacks by them, tion” after a flurry of attacks on control the situation and will ment spokesman Ali Rabiei or their proxies of any identity, US interests in Iraq prompted threaten Iraq’s security, sov- told a press conference. Washington to warn of a “de- ereignty and independence,” “This is the American tra- cisive” response against Iran. he said. dition -- creating enemies and Tehran wields growing Abdel Mahdi, a close ally of projecting blame on an enemy. influence in Iraq, particularly Iran who also enjoyed cordial I think America should review This is the American through armed factions. relations with the US, resigned its policies in Iraq.” tradition -- creating enemies Since October 28, ten in early December after the two He added Washington’s and projecting blame on an rocket attacks have targeted months of unprecedented dem- aim was “to intensify a psy- enemy. I think America should areas where US soldiers and onstrations in the capital and chological war” against Teh- review its policies in Iraq. diplomats are stationed. Shiite-majority south in which ran, and that it was making They have not been around 460 people have died. accusations for which it has Iranian Govt Spokesman claimed, but the US has Negotiations are under “presented no evidence”. Ali Rabiei blamed Iranian-backed Shiite way to name his successor. If Washington went ahead paramilitary groups. “If the Iraqi government or Iraqi protesters gather at Baghdad’s Tahrir square during ongoing anti-government demonstrations on with implementing its threats On Monday, US defence state weakens, this will exac- Monday. (AFP) “it will receive a crushing ... re- that harm Americans, our allies secretary Mark Esper “ex- erbate escalation and chaos,” sponse”, Rabiei warned. or our interests will be answered pressed his concern” over the Abdel Mahdi told Esper, ac- in Iraq were now considered official toldA FP on condition The US has recently rein- The United States has ex- with a decisive US response,” strikes in a telephone call with cording to the statement. a more significant threat to of anonymity. forced its security at the em- pressed mounting concern Pompeo said in a statement. outgoing prime minister Adel Iran has gained overwhelm- American soldiers than the Is- The attacks have killed one bassy, according to an Iraqi about a flurry of attacks on “Iran must respect the sov- Abdel Mahdi, according to a ing influence in Iraq since the lamic State group (IS). Iraqi soldier and left others security source, who said “a Iraqi bases used by US troops, ereignty of its neighbours and statement from the premier’s 2003 US invasion brought “Abdel Mahdi fears that wounded as well as causing convoy of 15 American ve- several of which it has blamed immediately cease its provision office. In response,A bdel down Saddam Hussein. an American response to the material damage in the vicin- hicles each transporting ar- on Iranian-backed Shiite para- of lethal aid and support to third Mahdi “called on everyone to A US source recently told strikes... could turn into clash- ity of the US embassy in Bagh- moured trucks and weapons military groups. parties in Iraq and throughout spare no effort to prevent an AFP that pro-Iran factions es on Iraqi soil,” a senior Iraqi dad’s ultra-secure Green Zone. entered the Green Zone”. Since October 28, rockets the region,” he said. 14 Tuesday, December 17, 2019

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

No American Is Above The Rule Of Law Who Will Pay For The Damage President Trump’s actions for his personal gain meet the standard for high crimes and misdemeanours Done By Climate Change? set in the Constitution No new notable goals were set at the recent climate summit in Spain, not at least HIS country’s founders made clear no parative strength of parties, than by the real one is above the rule of law when they demonstrations of innocence or guilt.” We a pledge for any liabilities or financial support to recover from loss and damage Twrote Article II, Section 4 of the US Con- urge all members of the House and Senate stitution. They empowered Congress with to first consider the facts. Rabiya Jaffery nology, finance, and capacity-building the ability to impeach the president, vice In Trump’s case, credible witnesses tes- Tribune News Service following climate change-induced catas- president and all civil officers of the United tified that the administration, acting at the trophes — including both extreme weath- States for “treason, bribery or other high president’s behest, withheld $391 million in HE 2019 United Nations Climate er conditions and longer term impacts of crimes and misdemeanours.” aid allocated by Congress to help Ukraine se- Change Conference, which ended in climate change. “However, the Warsaw The evidence uncovered during the re- cure its borders from the ongoing threat of Madrid, Spain, has struggled to get International Mechanism has done little cent House Intelligence Committee hearings Russian invasion. The United States had al- countries to decide in crucial nego- on the ground so far and an important is clear. President Trump abused his power ready provided more than $1 billion in aid to tiations that ought to serve as step- aspect that ought to have been sorted out by withholding funds from Ukraine and Ukraine since Russian-backed separatists in- pingT stones for global climate efforts in during Madrid was how this mechanism then pressuring its president, Volodymyr vaded the country’s eastern border in 2014. the years to come. should be used. But not that much practi- Zelenskiy, to investigate a potential Demo- Then came the infamous July 25 phone This year’s conference, known as cal measures and solutions have been de- cratic opponent and a dis- call, in which Trump asked COP25, aims to complete negotiations cided on yet,” says Stacey. credited theory that Ukraine Impeachment serves as Zelenskiy to “do us a favour” on remaining outstanding issues, such as Developing countries have, however, interfered in the 2016 presi- by launching the investiga- the rules for international carbon markets been open to and are encouraging discus- dential election. He also ob- a reminder to this presi- tions of former Vice President (Article 6), necessary for implementing sions around insurance schemes as an structed Congress by block- dent, future presidents Joe Biden and the discredited the Paris Agreement that was agreed upon acceptable mechanism to tackle loss and ing testimony and refusing and the American peo- theory about Ukraine election in 2015. The Paris Agreement will come damage. “Insurance schemes have been to provide documents in re- ple that the founders’ meddling. Yes, the money was fully into force at the next COP, scheduled implemented in the past and they don’t sponse to House subpoenas. intent remains intact eventually sent to Ukraine, to be held in 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. benefit those that most need it so it is un- Trump’s actions for his but only after a whistleblower “COP26 will take place five years after certain if most developing countries are personal gain, identified by called attention to the presi- the Paris Agreement and will be the most open to this,” says Stacey. the House Judiciary Committee in its arti- dent’s effort to extort a foreign government important climate related summit since For instance a report by Development cles of impeachment, meet the standard for for the sole purpose of personal politi- it,” says George Stacey, from a climate Asia, an initiative of the Asian Develop- high crimes and misdemeanours set in the cal gain. This is exactly what the founders action NGO, Norvergence, who is observ- ment Bank (ADB), noted that approxi- Constitution. It is exactly the sort of “abuse feared when they wrote the impeachment ing the conference. “This conference [in tries that are facing the brunt of climate mately 16,600 extreme hazard events or violation of some public trust” that Alex- clause into the Constitution. Madrid] is important because member change, including from South Asia, have were recorded globally between 1980 ander Hamilton warned about in the Feder- Trump’s efforts to block the House in- states have a lot to sort out before Glas- pointed out that not enough is being done. to 2015. While over 56 percent of these alist Papers. quiry further strengthens the case against gow but so far not enough progress has “Study after study has shown that we events were recorded in “high and upper Trump should be impeached. the president. been made.” One key unresolved issue fo- are not on track to meet the Paris Agree- middle income countries,” over 76 per- Senate Republicans are unlikely to con- The second article of impeachment ac- cuses on trying to address climate-related ment goal of keeping rise in temperatures cent of fatalities were recorded in “lower vict Trump. Their willingness to ignore the cuses Trump of an “unprecedented” defi- loss and damage through an appropriate to within 2 degree Celsius from pre-in- middle and low income countries.” Col- president’s abuses makes impeachment by ance of subpoenas. Acting at the behest of response system. dustrial times,” stated India’s lead nego- lectively, these events resulted in dam- the House all the more essential. Ignoring the president, nine administration officials, “Climate-related loss and damage can- tiator, Ravishankar Prasad. “There is a ages costing about $3.2 billion. Almost all the behaviour would give tacit approval for including White House Chief of Staff Mick not be prevented by adaption measures and significant gap in what is being done and insured losses were recorded in high and Trump to continue putting personal gain Mulvaney, and four federal agencies refused includes both extreme weather conditions what requires to be done.” “But this crisis upper middle income countries. ahead of America’s best interests. Impeach- to cooperate with the investigation. This sort and slower impacts of climate change such is because the gap was allowed to expand “Pakistan has contributed less than 2 ment serves as a reminder to this president, of stonewalling, and defiance of the over- as the loss of land due to rising sea-levels,” by the developed countries. They did not percent of global emissions but is amongst future presidents and the American people sight role of Congress, cannot be tolerated — says Stacey. “These impacts are already deliver on their emission reduction tar- the countries that is being impacted the that the founders’ intent remains intact. not by Trump, nor by any future president. occurring and most developing countries, gets, they did not deliver on their commit- most,” says a delegate from Pakistan. “It As we head toward the Senate trial, it’s In July, during Robert Mueller’s probe, including those in South Asia, do not have ments to transfer finance and technology is the responsibility of developed coun- unfortunate that partisanship continues Trump argued that the Constitution gives the resources to deal with them.” South to developing countries. And they are not tries to compensate the victims in poorer to overshadow evidence. Hamilton also him “the right to do what I want.” Impeach- Asia ranks among the world’s most vul- on track to meet their targets even in the countries in order to ensure equity and warned us about this moment, when “there ing Trump will demonstrate to the presi- nerable to the impacts of climate change. post-2020 Paris framework,” he said. security.” “The main issues on COP25 will always be the greatest danger that the dent and the American people that no one In the summer of 2019 alone, over 5 mil- According to the Times of India, the agenda are all getting pushed to next decision will be regulated more by the com- is above the rule of law. lion people were displaced in India, Nepal, country witnessed the highest number of June. It’s quite disappointing to see that and Bangladesh during the monsoon, due climate deaths in 2018. Although the UN countries are still not taking the climate to floods and landslides; heatwaves killed has established funds dedicated to help- crisis seriously,” says Lina Yasin, a youth hundreds in India and Pakistan and also ing developing countries, they typically activist attending COP. “Honestly, why resulted in extreme droughts and water focus on adaptation. Developed countries did we even bother relocating to Madrid shortages that deprived millions of a se- — that have historically played a greater [after host Chile was forced to cancel]?” cure supply of water. role in worsening climate change condi- Other critical issues that are still being ne- One of the main discussions at this tions — do not want to set up another fund gotiated include climate markets, which year’s COP has focused on the demand of that deals with climate loss and damage, allow countries to offset their emissions many developing countries that a sepa- specifically,because it could imply liability by funding green projects elsewhere. rate fund be set up for compensating for any and all damage after harsh climate Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary victims of climate change. The push is conditions or an extreme weather event. of the United Nations Framework Con- being led by four sub-groups of the most At present, all parties have agreed vention on Climate Change within which vulnerable countries: the Least Developed upon and acknowledged the need for the annual climate change conference are Countries, the Alliance of Small Island “averting, minimising, and addressing held, made a passionate appeal to min- States, the Latin American group, and the loss and damage.” Any liabilities or fi- isters to make progress during the final Africa Group of Negotiators. But devel- nancial support to recover from loss and days of the COP: “On both a professional oped countries are not willing to classify damage remain excluded. The agreement and personal level, my message to you is loss and damage as a separate issue that also adopts the Warsaw International this: We need your decisions. We need needs climate financing. Mechanism for Loss and Damage, an in- your leadership. We are out of time.” A decision was to have been reached by stitution that was set up in 2013 to clas- the end of the first week of COP but coun- sify, address, and share responsibility for (Rabiya Jaffery is a freelance tries have so far remain undecided on how loss in developing countries. journalist covering climate, loss and damage should be handled. During The framework was designed to aid conflicts, and politics from the (Tribune News Service) negotiations, many delegates from coun- victims in developing countries with tech- Middle East and South Asia)

How Time Magazine’s Choice Of Person Of The Year Will Impact Business The selection of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg marks a tipping point: Now it’s all hands on deck for the environment Maureen Kline wide movement calling for urgent change. ucts during their lifecycle, reviewing the campus) is the most immediate sphere of Tribune News Service She has offered a moral clarion call to those sources of energy you use to run your of- influence a young person can have. who are willing to act, and hurled shame on fices and servers, and cutting back on your Whatever you do, it won’t be enough. ime Magazine doesn’t choose its ‘Per- those who are not. She has persuaded lead- transportation emissions. It might very Many companies started decades ago on the son of the Year’ lightly. The process ers, from mayors to Presidents, to make well mean factoring in a price on carbon. path to sustainability with a mandate to do Tbegins every Fall with nominations, commitments where they had previously While you’re at it, you will probably have less harm. Soon that became an opportunity followed by teams of researchers helping fumbled: after she spoke to Parliament to step up other sustainability programs to do more good. Now, the stakes are much to select the finalists. The winner can be a and demonstrated with the British envi- like waste management and elimination of higher. Your company will be expected to public figure, such as Mahatma Gandhi, a ronmental group Extinction Rebellion, the single-use plastics. commit to zero carbon emissions. It will be group, such as the Ebola fighters of 2014, UK passed a law requiring that the country Expect pressure from customers. expected to pay a carbon tax. You will be ex- or an inanimate object, such as the com- eliminate its carbon footprint.” Whether your clients are other busi- pected to take a stand publicly on environ- puter. But it always captures what is most Time notes that 60 countries in the nesses or end consumers, they are likely mental and social issues; your employees significant in the moment. past year have said that they will eliminate to examine your sustainability record with will demand that. And over time, you will be What Time’s editors realised this year, carbon emissions by 2050, and that as this a fine-tooth comb. It may sound counter- expected to turn your company into a regen- with their selection of 16-year-old Swedish year comes to an end the momentum for intuitive, but some young consumers will erative business, with only positive impacts. climate activist Greta Thunberg, was not implementing clean energy policy has in- want to know what your company is doing Where should you start? Take a look just that Thunberg was a popular figure creased dramatically. In the US, Califor- to reduce consumption, given that the con- at the environmental and human rights garnering attention from millions of peo- nia and other states are heavily focused on sumer culture itself is being perceived as a impacts you have now, both your own and ple around the world and mobilising youth emissions and on other aspects of environ- villain. Be prepared to be held to a much those of your suppliers. Figure out how to strike for action on climate change. They mental policy, as are many cities. A back- enon will impact your business: higher environmental standard. to map and measure these impacts. Once realised that her success meant that change lash against political correctness, including Be prepared to decarbonise. If so Expect employees to rise up in you have a sense of your footprint, you can is happening. high-profile complaints about water-sav- many cities, states and countries are com- protest. Greta has become a symbol of get creative. Your strategic planning and Time’s profile on Thunberg notes: “She ing toilets and energy-saving lightbulbs, mitting to reduce greenhouse gas emis- empowerment. Employees have demand- investment strategy should be looking at has succeeded in creating a global attitudi- rings hollow in the face of tangible effects sions, businesses will eventually be re- ed big-name companies such as Amazon market factors anyway, and these will need nal shift, transforming millions of vague, of climate change like fire and flooding. quired to do their part. This will include and Google act on climate, and yours will to include the Greta phenomenon. The middle-of-the-night anxieties into a world- Here are three ways the Greta phenom- reducing the carbon footprint of your prod- too. The workplace (or school or college cover of Time has spoken.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. US / Europe / Asia Tuesday, December 17, 2019 15

US will not accept N Korea’s nuclear deadline China’s Xi gives Hong Kong Taiwanese YouTuber loses China business DPA/AFP Biegun told reporters in Seoul: leader ‘unwavering support’ over Tsai interview Seoul “We have heard them all.” “It is regrettable that the AFP down as leader, but she re- Taipei: A popular Taiwanese A SENIOR US diplomat on tone of these statements to- Beijing ceived the backing of China’s YouTuber has found his access Monday said that Wash- wards the United States, the leadership during a visit to to China go up in smoke after ington would not accept an Republic of Korea, Japan and Chinese President Xi Jin- Beijing on Monday. a humorous video of him inter- end-of-year deadline set by our friends in Europe have ping told beleaguered Hong “The central government viewing the island’s president Pyongyang for concessions in been so hostile and negative Kong leader Carrie Lam on fully recognises the courage went viral. stalled talks over its nuclear and so unnecessary,” he said. Monday that she had Beijing’s and sense of responsibil- ‘Potter King’ released a programme, adding that the “The US does not have a “unwavering support” despite ity you have demonstrated in video over the weekend in North Koreans should return deadline, we have a goal.” another huge pro-democracy such an exceptional period in which he tried out some of to the negotiating table. Biegun was speaking rally earlier this month and Hong Kong,” Xi told Lam at his pick-up lines on President “It is time for us to do our alongside his South Korean her government’s thrashing the imposing Great Hall of the Tsai Ing-wen, who is seeking jobs - let’s get this done,” said counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, and at recent local elections. People. “We will continue to re-election in January and is Stephen Biegun, the US special later met with South Korean The city has been upend- provide unwavering support loathed by Beijing. representative for North Korea. President Moon Jae-in and ed by six months of massive for you to lead the SAR (spe- The video quickly went vi- “We are fully aware of the other members of the South pro-democracy protests that cial administrative region) ral, racking up more than three strong potential for North Korean leadership. have seen violent battles be- administration to govern ac- million views on Facebook and Korea to conduct a major US special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun (left) with Experts in South Korea fear tween police and hardcore cording to the law,” Xi said. 500,000 views on YouTube. provocation in the days ahead. South Korea’s vice foreign minister Cho Sei-young at the foreign min- that North Korea will lift its demonstrators, as well as Lam thanked Xi for his But the footage led to a To say the least, such an ac- istry in Seoul on Monday. (AFP) self-imposed moratorium on regular transport disruption. concern for the city’s situa- backlash -- the main complaint tion will be most unhelpful in nuclear testing and long-range Protesters have called for tion, “for his guidance for us, was references to Tsai as achieving lasting peace on the Pyongyang has issued a declarations in recent weeks, missile testing if no progress is the unpopular Lam to stand and for the trust and support.” president. (AFP) Korean Peninsula,” he said. series of increasingly strident and US special representative made before the deadline.

News France faces 12th day of transport in brief Belgian court delays Catalan separatists’ extradition case to 2020 Brussels: A Brussels court has postponed until February the strike over pensions overhaul cases of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and two others sought in Spain on charges of rebellion and sedition, Unions demand that President Macron drop his plan to forge a single pensions system out of the existing 42 schemes the Belga news agency reported on Monday. Puigdemont fledS pain following an outlawed October 2017 AFP referendum on independence. He was detained briefly in Ger- Paris many in 2018 before travelling to Belgium. Madrid has issued European arrest warrants for Puigde- French commuters endured mont, as well as fellow pro-independence politicians Antoni a twelfth day of misery on Comin and Luis Puig. All three are living in Belgium. (DPA) Monday as the government and unions traded blame for a crippling transport strike over Pakistan launches Philippine journalist a pensions overhaul that has vaccination campaign launches defence in put holiday travel plans at risk in push against polio government libel case for thousands. Some 630 kilometres (390 Islamabad: Pakistan on Manila: Philippine journalist miles) of traffic jams clogged Monday launched an anti-po- Maria Ressa said on Monday Paris and its suburbs during lio vaccination campaign as she would not be silenced the morning rush hour, nearly the total number of affected as she launched her defence double the average levels, as children rose to 104 in the against a libel charge that most metro lines were again current year, an official said. press advocates call an at- closed or operating just a “A five-day vaccination tempt to curb her news site’s handful of trains. campaign all across the critical coverage of President Across France, just one in country has been launched Rodrigo Duterte. three high-speed TGV trains from December 16,” said Her site Rappler has and one in four regional trains Zulfikar Babakel, a spokesper- written extensively and were running, though most son for Pakistan’s anti-polio often critically on Duterte’s cities were not enduring the programme. policies, including his deadly chaos seen in the capital. The campaign will target drugs war that rights groups “Until now I’ve been work- over 39 million children under say may amount to crimes ing from home or taking my the age of five with major fo- against humanity. car,” a man who gave his name cus on the province of Khyber “I can go to jail for 12 as Francois told AFP at the Pakhtunkhwa, the former Tali- years for this, that is the Saint-Lazare station in Paris, ban lands where many Islamic maximum sentence,” she told saying he had left home at just clerics still oppose vaccina- reporters outside court after before 5:00 am. tion claiming it’s a western the hearing, noting govern- “But the car is no longer conspiracy to sterilise Muslim ment investigators had initially an option, because of the cost Commuters wait for a train in Chatelet subway station during a strike of Paris’ public transports operator RATP and of the French state railway children. (DPA) dismissed the case. (AFP) but also because it’s exhaust- company SNCF employees, in Paris, on Monday. (AFP) ing.” Unions plan a fresh day of mass demonstrations the strike ends in a few days, on Tuesday and insist the Pensions chief resigns over undeclared funds it will not have time to get ser- E-cigarettes raise lung disease risks, government must abandon vice back to normal by Decem- but less than smoking, say scientists planned pension reforms that THE French official leading a controversial pensions overhaul stepped ber 25. they say could force millions down on Monday over a scandal involving undeclared payments, as a crip- “We are going to try to Washington: E-cigarette use significantly increases the risk of of people to work longer be- pling transport strike against the proposals entered its 12th day, imperil- make miracles happen” for developing chronic lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis, emphy- fore retiring. ling the holiday plans of thousands. the Christmas holidays that sema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a Mass walkouts are again Jean-Paul Delevoye became the target of unions’ ire after admitting begin on Saturday, SNCF’s long term study published on Monday that also found vaping was expected by teachers, hospital over the weekend that he had failed to disclose 13 private sector posts, Rachel Picard told the Paris- less harmful than smoking. workers and other public em- both paid and unpaid, in a recent asset declaration. ien newspaper over the week- The results of the research, published in the American Journal ployees as well as by lawyers One of his jobs, as president of the Parallaxe education think-tank, end. of Preventive Medicine, are unrelated to the recent outbreak of an protesting over plans to intro- paid nearly 5,400 euros ($6,000) a month on top of his ministerial salary “If the government drops acute lung disease that has killed more than 50 people. duce a single pension system -- money he should have forfeited under a 2013 political transparency law. its project and we start seri- Scientists at UC San Francisco examined publicly available that would do away with 42 Delevoye has said he will pay back the money, totalling more than ous talks on how to improve data that tracked e-cigarette and tobacco habits as well as new separate regimes. 120,000 euros since September 2017. (AFP) the system... everything will lung disease diagnoses in over 32,000 American adults from The government has said be fine,” Philippe Martinez of 2013 to 2016. They found that current and former e-cigarette it is willing to negotiate, in the hardline CGT union said users were 1.3 times more likely to develop chronic lung disease, particular a “pivot age” of 64 manuel Macron’s wide-reach- events like the year-end festiv- “irresponsible” of union lead- on Sunday. while tobacco smokers increased their risk by a factor of 2.6. that would grant rights to a ing reform drive. ities,” Environment Minister ers to “ruin vacations”. “Otherwise, the strikers For people who both smoked and vaped, the risks of devel- full pension, but has defended “Going on strike is legiti- Elisabeth Borne told France 2 Rail operator SNCF has will decide on what to do on oping lung disease more than tripled. (AFP) a key project of President Em- mate, but you can also respect television, saying it would be already warned that unless Thursday or Friday.”

British lawmakers to vote Fresh protests in India over citizenship law India marks Delhi this week on Brexit deal rape anniversary AFP The northeast, where even New Delhi: The parents of a DPA New Delhi allowing non-Muslims citizen- 23-year-old woman who was London ship is opposed by many locals gang-raped and murdered in Fresh protests rocked In- and which in recent days has Delhi demanded punishment British lawmakers are due to dia on Monday as anger grew been the epicentre of protests for the convicts even as me- vote on Friday about the Brexit over new citizenship legisla- with six people dead, also saw morials and events were held withdrawal agreement bill ne- tion slammed as anti-Muslim, fresh demonstrations. on the seventh anniversary of gotiated by Prime Minister after six people died in the Authorities there in As- the crime that shocked India Boris Johnson, a government northeast and up to 200 were sam’s main city Guwahati lift- and the world. spokeswoman said on Monday. injured in New Delhi. ed a daytime curfew but night- Jyoti Singh was assaulted Passage of the deal, which The law fast-tracks citizen- time restrictions remained, as and raped by five men and a allows Britain to leave the Eu- ship for non-Muslims from did internet curbs. Ten people juvenile on a bus on the night ropean Union on January 31, three neighbouring countries. remain in hospital with gun- of December 16, 2012. She is expected to be a formality Critics say it is part of Prime shot wounds, while 190 people died nearly two weeks later at after the Conservatives won Minister Narendra Modi’s have been detained. a Singapore hospital. a big majority in last week’s Hindu nationalist agenda to “The curfew is from 9:00 The day was marked by election. British PM Boris Johnson marginalise the 200-million pm to 6:00 am,” Assam fi- candlelight vigils and rallies Johnson’s Conservatives strong Islamic minority. nance minister Himanta in New Delhi and cities like won 365 seats in the 650-seat of their parliamentary arrivals Modi on Monday denied Biswa Sarma said. Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. parliament, giving them a ma- and meetings with other col- this, tweeting that the new Supporters and activists participate in a mass rally attended by Chief In the east in Kolkata, capi- The victim’s family organ- jority of 80 seats. leagues. Some, like Fay Jones, law “does not affect any citi- minister of West Bengal state and leader of the Trinamool Congress tal of West Bengal, more than ised a memorial in New Delhi. Parliament was to resume compared the experience to a zen of India of any religion”, Mamata Banerjee to protest against the Indian government’s Citizen- 10,000 people took part on “For the past seven years, its work on Tuesday, when first day at school. while accusing “vested interest ship Amendment Act, in Kolkata, on Monday. (AFP) Monday in a march led by state we have waited patiently for members elect speaker Lind- The official opening of par- groups” of stoking the “deeply premier Mamata Banerjee, a justice in the case. We lost our say Hoyle. The speaker must liament is due on Thursday, distressing” unrest. also seen as anti-Muslim were nai, Bangalore and Lucknow, firebrand Modi opponent. daughter in December. We de- then formally approve the gov- the same day that Queen Eliz- Rahul Gandhi, former op- “weapons of mass polarisation where hundreds of students -- Banerjee told the crowd mand that all four convicts are ernment’s timetable. abeth II is due to outline the position Congress chief, tweet- unleashed by fascists”. most of them Muslims, televi- the law would be implement- hanged this very month,” her Several of the new lawmak- government’s programme in ed that the law and a mooted On Monday fresh protests sion pictures indicated -- tried ed in her state “over my dead mother Asha Devi said. (DPA) ers on Monday tweeted images the so-called Queen’s Speech. nationwide register of citizens took place including in Chen- to storm a police station. body,” Indian media reported. Trade deal with China lifts US stocks into record territory page 18

tuesday, december 17, 2019

28,312.62 10,222.18 40,938.72 1,475.31 +176.59 pts -40.66 pts -70.99 pts Gold -0.07% QNB launches global innovation Dow QE sensex centre QNBeyond in Istanbul page 17 Price percentage Price percentage 17.09 Brent 65.51 +0.44% WTI 60.20 +0.22% Silver +0.46%

GROWTh ORIENTED BUDGET Qatar unveils QR210.5 bn budget for 2020, biggest in five years  Major projects comprise 43 percent of total expenditure  New projects worth QR11.5 billion will be awarded in 2020

Satyendra Pathak the budgeted headcount in- Doha crease necessary to operate Key notes from 2020 budget several recently completed Qatar on Monday an- projects, including schools, nounced QR210.5 billion ($58 ☛ The budget is expected to achieve a QR500 mn surplus university facilities, and billion) budget for 2020, its healthcare centers. Hiring re- highest spending in the past ☛ Revenues forecast at QR211bn based on an oil price quirements also increased in five fiscal years. other sectors such as transport The estimated expendi- assumption of $55 per barrel given the opening of the Doha ture of QR210.5 billion is up Metro,” the statement said. by 1.9 percent compared with ☛ Education sector is allocated QR22.1 billion in 2020 budget, The healthcare sector has QR206.6 billion in representing 10.5 percent of the total expenditure. been allocated QR22.6 billion, 2019. representing around 11 per- Revenues in 2020 are ex- ☛ cent of the total expenditure pected to stay unchanged at Projected launch of the Sharq Crossing Project linking Ras Abu in 2020. Major projects to QR211 billion, based on an oil Aboud and Westbay is expected to be completed within 4 years improve healthcare services price assumption of $55 per include expansion in Hamad barrel. While hydrocarbon ☛ Allocations for salaries and wages increased owing to new hiring Medical Corporation facili- revenue is estimated at QR168 ties and the establishment billion, the non-hydrocarbon in various sectors of several new healthcare sector is expected to generate centers. revenue worth QR43 billion in Education sector is allo- 2020. cated QR22.1 billion in 2020 As a result, Qatar expects budget, representing 10.5 per- a surplus of QR500 million in cent of the total expenditure. 2020 compared with a surplus Major projects in the educa- of QR4.4 billion in the previous tion sector currently underway year. include expansions in schools In a statement issued on and other educational facilities Monday, Ministry of Finance network. said the highest budgeted ex- The 2020 budget also in- penditure in the past five fis- cludes allocations for the de- cal years reflects the country’s velopment of 13 new housing commitment to the comple- areas for nationals providing tion of multiple development along with those related to Expenditure chapters 2020 Budget compared with 2019 different facilities such as wa- projects across multiple sec- hosting of the FIFA World Cup ter, electricity and sewerage tors including those related to in 2022 as per the approved networks, and roads. National Development Strat- schedule,” the statement said. The housing plan will cost egy 2018-2022. Infrastructure projects ac- QR12 billion over 5 years. New “The 2020 budget is de- count for the largest share of housing areas will be handed signed to achieve efficiency in the major project expenditure over to nationals after the com- the current expenditure while in the 2020 budget. There are pletion of the required infra- maintaining the allocations a large number of planned QR22.6 bn for healthcare structure as per the approved required for the completion of initiatives for highway and in- schedule. major approved projects,” the ternal roads development, ex- The healthcare sector has been allocated QR22.6 billion, The ministry said in the ministry said the statement. pansions of the existing roads representing around 11 percent of the total expenditure in statement that the budget for For next year, Qatar plans system, water and electricity 2020. Major projects to improve healthcare services include 2020 will contribute to the sus- to spend QR90 billion on ma- networks, sewerage networks, expansion in Hamad Medical Corporation facilities and the tainable development targets jor projects, a 0.6 percent in- and other public utilities. establishment of several new healthcare centres of the Qatar National Vision crease from QR89.5 billion in Funds are also allocated to 2030 that focuses on econom- 2019 with infrastructure ac- finance housing projects for works, landscaping, rainwater to decrease 10.3 percent to ic, social, human, and environ- counting for the largest part of nationals and landscape devel- drainage, and other utility and QR3.5 billion in 2020 from mental development. project spending. opment. maintenance services amount- QR3.9 billion in the previous “The budget also places sig- Major projects, which con- The main infrastructure ing to QR8.5 billion in total. year. Minor Capex will account nificant importance on provid- stitute almost 43 percent of the projects under construction As per the budget, current for 1.7 percent of the total ing funds for developing food total expenditure, represent include the completion of expenditure will increase by budget. security projects, establishing the largest share of the overall highways including Sabah Al of the country and the launch lion next year, the statement 3.4 percent to QR58 billion in Allocations to salaries and infrastructure and facilities in budget. Ahmad Highway, expansion of the Sharq Crossing Project said. 2020 compared with QR56.1 wages have increased to QR59 free zones, special economic “It highlights the country’s in the water and electricity linking Ras Abu Aboud and The Public Works Author- billion in 2019. Current ex- billion, up by 3.3 percent from zones, and industrial and lo- commitment to timely com- network, integrated infrastruc- West Bay expected to be com- ity (Ashghal) will be respon- penditure will account for 27.5 QR57.1 billion in 2019 and ac- gistics zones. These projects plete the projects in leading ture in existing urban areas, pleted within four years. sible for the majority of those percent of the total budget. count for 28 percent of the to- will support economic growth sectors, including healthcare, development in the sewerage The country plans to award infrastructure projects such Minor capital expenditure tal budget. and diversification,” the state- education, and transportation, networks in different regions new projects worth QR11.5 bil- as local roads, sewerage net- (Capex), however, is estimated “This growth is a result of ment said.

QFC hosts key panel on Islamic finance at Doha Forum

Tribune news network Financial Services Board; Mo- cus area poised for growth in doha hamad Akram Laldin, Execu- 2020 and beyond. tive Director, International “The panel also offered The Qatar Financial Centre Shari’ah Research Academy Islamic finance industry’s an excellent platform to dis- (QFC), which participated for for Islamic Finance (ISRA); total assets having grown cuss the latest insights in our the first time as a key spon- and Mohamed Damak, Sen- by a CAGR of 8 percent recently-launched 2019 Qatar sor in the 19th edition of the ior Director, Global Head of since 2015 to $129 billion Islamic Finance Hub report Doha Forum, has hosted a Islamic Finance, S&P Global in H1 2019 and more specifically the ways dynamic and engaging panel Ratings and was moderated in which Qatar has the neces- on Islamic finance during the by George Hay, Associate Edi- Qatar Financial Centre CEO sary foundation to take its Is- forum, a statement said on tor of Reuters’ Breakingviews. Yousuf Mohamed al Jaida lamic finance industry to the Monday. Jaida said, “The QFC is next level, with the industry’s QFC CEO Yousuf Mo- honoured to have partici- total assets having grown by a hamed al Jaida and Islamic pated in this year’s edition of international business and CAGR of 8 percent since 2015 financeexperts discussed the the Doha Forum which was policy leaders.” to $129 billion in H1 2019.” latest challenges and oppor- a pre-eminent and strategic Jaida added, “In addition, The QFC’s 2019 Qatar tunities across Islamic financ- platform to discuss the most the QFC’s panel at the Doha Islamic Finance Hub report, ing methods at the panel enti- pertinent challenges and op- Forum saw fruitful and en- entitled ‘Unlocking Cross- tled ‘Islamic Finance: Trends portunities of today’s world. riching discussions related Border Opportunities’, comes and Opportunities’. The Doha Forum is testa- to the Islamic finance field, as part of a series of research The panel session fea- ment to Qatar’s commitment which is particularly impor- the QFC publishes on trend- Qatar Financial Centre CEO Yousuf Mohamed al Jaida takes part in a panel discussion at Doha Forum tured Bello Lawal Danbatta, to promoting dialogue and tant to us as we believe that ing topics in the financial in Doha recently. Secretary-General, Islamic knowledge-exchange among Islamic finance is a key fo- sector. Economy & Business Tuesday, December 17, 2019 17

1 million kilograms of local vegetables marketed through Mahaseel

Tribune News Network marketing and agricultural support the private agricultur- ing programs: pre-contracting agricultural activity. Doha services provided by the com- al sector and not to compete and daily direct contracting, Moreover, the company pany to farmers, with the aim with it, thus, it provides mar- following specific conditions has developed a well-designed Hassad Food subsidiary to increase the quantity and We are honoured by the keting services to the farmers for each programme. work system to ensure an ef- Mahaseel for Marketing and enhance the quality of their confidence that the local through Mahaseel to ease the The pre-contracting pro- ficient process from receiving Agricultural Services Com- local produce. farms owners have placed burden of the marketing programme is a guarantee for the local produce, to sorting, pany has marketed one mil- Mohamed Badr al Sadah, in Mahaseel’s marketing cess on them, so their main fo- farmers to sell their produce packaging and marketing in lion kilos of local vegetables Hassad CEO said, “We are services.. cus become on increasing the at a fixed price, without any the local market, so the prod- in the Qatari market since the happy to market one million quantity and quality of their influence by the market sup- uct reaches the consumers in beginning of the current agri- kilos of local vegetables since Mohamed Badr al Sadah, production, to contribute to ply and demand factors, thus the best quality. cultural season. the beginning of the current Hassad CEO achieving self-sufficiency. ensuring a near-constant re- Mahaseel’s permanent Around 160 local farms agricultural season, and we Mahaseel is currently turn once achieved the agreed headquarters is scheduled to have registered with Ma- are honoured by the confi- owners have placed in Maha- Sadah emphasised that working with local farm own- upon quantities, so the farm- open in A’Sailiyah, before end haseel to benefit from the dence that the local farms seel’s marketing services.” Hassad continuously seeks to ers as per two types of contract- er’s main focus will be on the of year.

al khaliji revamps QNB launches global innovation website in bid to transform digitally centre QNBeyond in Istanbul Tribune News Network Doha The website has extensive The innovation centre will promote start-ups and FinTech companies as an accelerator and incubator information related to the Al Khaliji Commercial services of personal, com- Tribune News Network Bank, Qatar’s next genera- mercial, and corporate Doha tion bank, has launched its newly designed website banking as well as to QNB Group, the largest financial www.alkhaliji.com. investor relations institution in the Middle East and The completely re- Africa, has launched its global in- vamped website features world of banking by a click novation centre, QNBeyond, in Is- a sleek new design, im- of button. This website re- tanbul, Turkey. proved functionality, and design highlights our com- QNBeyond’s goal is to further enhanced banking content, mitment to creating the leverage and enhance the Group’s with a rich focus on the best banking experience innovation capabilities centred Bank’s mission to trans- possible for our custom- around future proofing the bank- form itself digitally. ers – whether online or in ing business with a focus on digi- The website has exten- branches,” said Fahad al talization and automation. sive information related Khalifa, Group Chief Ex- In addition, the newly launched to the services of personal, ecutive Officer, al khaliji innovation centre aims at promot- commercial, and corporate Bank. ing new start-ups and FinTech banking as well as to in- Digital banking is high companies as an accelerator and vestor relations. The new on the agenda of al khaliji incubator. website is live and avail- as it evolves to respond to The group has launched QN- able in English and Arabic the needs of its customers, Beyond in Turkey as the market languages and is compliant many of whom are today bears the largest potential across with all the disclosure re- looking for more improved QNB’s network to drive innova- quirements set forth under self-service alternatives. tion. With its vibrant FinTech the applicable laws and The Bank also recently community, Turkey has access to regulations. moved into a brand-new new talent pools, and has a well- “Internet has opened purpose-built headquar- advanced digitization and automa- enormous possibilities for ter, al khaliji Tower, in Lu- tion system. customers to explore the sail City. As part of its innovation strategy, QNB group aims to improve the banking experience for the next generation of our customers and beyond. This will ensure to continue to delight its customers, aug- ment its reputation, brand value, and maintain its leading position across the markets the group oper- ates in. The QNB group’s presence, through its subsidiaries and associate companies, extends to more than 31 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. It employs more than 29,000 staff, operating out of 1,100 locations. It has an ATM network of more than 4,300 machines. Commercial Bank sponsors 7th annual Boeing could suspend or Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest cut 737 MAX output: Report Tribune News Network Held on November 19, the tar’s national development in Doha contest sought to trigger the The contest has been support of the Qatar National entrepreneurial side of stu- organised in collaboration Vision 2030.” AFP In line with its focus on Qa- dents and spread awareness with the College of Speaking of the key role Washington tari youth and financial edu- on the importance of entre- Business and Economics Qatari youth plays in the cation, Commercial Bank has preneurial activities and community, Sah said: “This Boeing could on Monday an- sponsored the seventh an- the proper ways of develop- and the College of year, the Bank has invested nounce whether to further cut nual Innovation and Entre- ing and presenting business Engineering at Qatar and launched several pro- or suspend production of its preneurship Contest. This is models. University. grammes and campaigns tai- grounded 737 MAX plane, The the second consecutive year Potential future entrepre- lored for young Qataris, the Wall Street Journal reported the bank has sponsored the neurs from all colleges were latest being Sadara Youth. Sunday. event. invited to pitch their ideas event. Through such offerings, not Citing people familiar with The contest has been or- and projects before a com- Amit Sah, EGM, Consum- only are we supporting them, the matter, the Journal said ganised in collaboration with mittee of judges that includ- er Banking at Commercial but also providing them with the US firm’s management the College of Business and ed Enass Eid, Product Man- Bank, said, “We are delighted efficient tools meant to assist increasingly sees a produc- Economics and the College ager at Commercial Bank, to support Qatar University them in achieving their fu- tion pause as the most viable of Engineering at Qatar Uni- who represented the bank and to sponsor this event as ture dreams and ambitions, option. versity. during the final round of the an initiative that fosters Qa- every step of the way.” Boeing had already decided to reduce its production pace from 52 to 42 planes per Employees work on Boeing 737 MAX airplanes at the Boeing Renton month after two crashes led Factory in Renton, Washington. (File photo) (AFP) authorities around the world to ground the entire 737 MAX ing the fatal crashes, Boeing signal the plane’s grounding fleet in mid-March. has continued production, ac- could last longer than previ- Steve Dickson, head of the cumulating months’ worth of ously thought. Federal Aviation Administra- airplanes. Global regulators ordered tion, met Thursday with Boe- “We continue to work a halt to MAX flights following chief Dennis Muilenburg closely with the FAA and glob- ing the deadly Lion Air crash to express concerns the com- al regulators towards certifi- of October 2018 in Indonesia pany was rushing to get the cation and the safe return to and the Ethiopian Airlines dis- jets back in the air, the agency service of the MAX,” a Boeing aster in March, which together said. spokesperson said when asked killed 346 people. Boeing then acknowledged for comment by AFP. Boeing and the FAA have that the 737 MAX would not “We will continue to assess been under intense scrutiny return to the skies until next production decisions based on for their responses to issues year. The company had re- the timing and conditions of with the aircraft, including peatedly said it expected ap- return to service, which will be the flight-handling system in- proval for the planes to fly based on regulatory approvals volved in both accidents, the again before 2020. and may vary by jurisdiction,” Maneuvering Characteristics Though the MAX has not the spokesperson added. Augmentation System, or flown for nine months follow- A halt in production would MCAS. 18 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Economy & Business German economy to stagnate in final Trade deal with China lifts US quarter: Bundesbank stocks into record territory DPA Frankfurt

No growth is expected for the German economy at the end of the year, the Bundes- GDP growth bank said on Monday. “German economic out- Germany GDP increased by put could stagnate in the 0.1 per cent in the third last quarter of 2019,” the quarter of 2019 compared central bank said in its De- to the previous quarter. In cember monthly report. the second quarter there The German economy had been a decline of 0.2 continues to show itself per cent. At the beginning of “largely in two parts”: The domestic economy - above the year, Europe’s largest all consumption - is “sur- economy posted prisingly robust” thanks to 0.5-per-cent growth. For the good situation on the 2019 as a whole, the labor market, but industry various forecasts assume is weakening. around 0.5-per-cent International trade con- economic growth for flicts and the drama sur- Germany, after 1.5 per cent rounding Brexit are holding in 2018. back investments. “But there are now ini- tial cautious signs that in- may be lacking momen- dustry could stabilize in the tum, but the country should future,” the report said. not pursue stimulus pro- The order situation has grammes, the Federation of not deteriorated further, German Wholesale, Foreign exports have increased sig- Trade and Services (BGA) nificantly and business ex- said on Monday. All three main US stock indexes, the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, the broader S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq moved into record territory during morning trading. pectations in the manufac- “The causes are mani- turing sector have improved fold and so cannot be fixed somewhat, it said. with flash-in-the-panpro - AFP than-expected industrial The pound’s dip on Mon- The German economy grammes,” the organization London China sees strong industrial, production and retail sales day helped to boost London’s returned to growth earlier said. growth for November.” benchmark FTSE 100 in- this year, thanks in large It argued that the main Wall Street stocks pushed retail growth in November European stock markets dex that features a number part to the boom in con- brake on investment is not into record territory on Mon- also moved higher Monday, of multinationals earning in struction and rising con- missing money, but long day as investors absorbed a AFP Washington as well as a slow- led by London’s FTSE 100 dollars, which closed the day sumer spending. planning and approval time new US-China trade deal and Beijing down in global demand for its which benefitted from contin- with a 2.3 percent jump in Gross domestic product frames, as well as capacity Beijing released some upbeat goods. Industrial production ued post-election optimism value. (GDP) increased by 0.1 per bottlenecks. economic data. China enjoyed a better- increased 6.2 percent on-year and a dip in the value of the In the eurozone, Frank- cent in the third quarter of The mood among US and Chinese officials than-expected pick-up in last month, up from 4.7 per- pound. furt’s DAX 30 index climbed 2019 compared to the pre- wholesalers has slightly im- on Friday announced a partial the key retail and industrial cent in October and the best The pound surged Friday 0.9 percent to close just shy vious quarter. In the second proved, but is nowhere near trade deal, with Washington sectors in November, data reading in six months. after Prime Minister Boris of a record high. And the quarter there had been a de- good, according to the BGA. cancelling and reducing tar- showed Monday, providing a There was also posi- Johnson’s crushing election Paris CAC 40 won 1.2 percent, cline of 0.2 per cent. Revenues in the industry- iffs in exchange for Chinese further boost to Beijing after tive news for the country’s win, striking an 18-month briefly breaching the 6,000 At the beginning of the oriented parts of the sector pledges to increase purchases finally agreeing a mini trade shops, with retail sales up high against the dollar and points level for the first time year, Europe’s largest econ- are falling, while capacity of US exports and reform its pact with the United States 8.0 percent, compared with a more than three-year peak in 12 years. omy posted 0.5-per-cent utilization and orders are trade practices. last week. a 7.2 percent rise the month against the euro. The eurozone’s economy growth. also not proving satisfac- All three main US stock The readings come at the before. The figures exceeded The currency pulled back meanwhile remained at a For 2019 as a whole, the tory. indexes, the benchmark Dow end of a tough year for the expectations, with analysts on Monday on “UK servic- near standstill in December, various forecasts assume “Wholesalers intend to Jones Industrial Average, the world’s number two econo- surveyed by Bloomberg es and manufacturing PMI extending the worst quarterly around 0.5-per-cent eco- cut back their investments broader S&P 500 and tech- my, which is expanding at its predicting just 5.0 percent surveys slumping sharply”, performance since 2013, ac- nomic growth for Germany, accordingly and the inclina- heavy Nasdaq all moved into weakest rate for three dec- growth in industrial produc- said Joshua Mahony, senior cording to a closely-watched after 1.5 per cent in 2018. tion to employ people is also record territory during morn- ades as it is buffeted by the tion and 7.6 percent in retail market analyst at IG trading survey compiled by IHS In its latest economic diminishing,” the group ing trading. long-running trade war with sales. group. Markit research group. forecast, the Bundesbank warned. The Dow was up 0.6 per- “However, while the con- While the removal of un- also anticipates around It expects the wholesale cent at 1630 GMT. worse. deal will get finalised in early traction in both sectors is far certainty surrounding Brexit 0.5-per-cent growth this sector’s revenues to in- Market watchers said in- “A deal must still be signed, January as planned,” analysts from ideal, this is likely to be a allowed markets to breathe year and next. crease by 1.4 per cent in real vestors may be largely dis- including an agreement over a at Briefing.com wrote. short-term drop as businesses a huge sigh of relief, analysts In 2021, the Bundes- terms this year, followed by counting the chances the pro- translated text, but the market “For good measure, data held off until the election re- urged caution with the saga bank estimates stronger 1 per cent in 2020. cess could take a turn for the is evidently optimistic that the out of China showed better- sult became clear.” having some way to run. growth of 1.4 per cent. The wholesale sector is an important early indica- ‘Germany should not tor for Germany’s economic pursue stimulus’ development, according to The German Economy the BGA. Eurozone economy stuck in ‘malaise’: Survey

AFP The forecast only feeds ufacturing, where output Brussels into the gloom also predicted slumped at the fastest rate by the European Central Bank, since October 2012,” the re- The eurozone’s economy re- which downgraded growth in port said. mained at a near standstill the eurozone for next year to a By country, business activ- in December, extending the feeble 1.1 percent. ity fell for a fourth consecutive worst quarterly performance IHS Markit said its com- month in Germany, where since 2013, said a closely posite eurozone PMI, a key the economy has been desta- watched survey by the com- business indicator, stagnated bilised by the US-China trade pany IHS Markit. at 50.6 points in December, war and slumping demand for “The eurozone economy unchanged from the previous autos. closes out 2019 mired in its month. France outperformed Ger- worst spell since 2013, with A reading above 50 points many, though the survey indi- businesses struggling against to an expansion. The index’s cated that growth had ticked the headwinds of near-stag- decline showed business sen- lower at the end of the year. nant demand and gloomy timent remained just over the The French economy, despite prospects for the year ahead,” threshold into positive terri- a wave of anti-reform strikes, said Chris Williamson, the tory. is “providing a key area of sup- firm’s chief business econo- “The December malaise port to help keep the eurozone Send CV: obaidulkhan29@mist. was once again led by man- growing,” Williamson added. gmail.com

www.guide.com.qa

Needed AL - KHAIR BUYING TO LET LABOUR ACCOMMODATION & SELLING HOUSE Minutes from Ras Laffan 27 rooms measurin g 6x4 m kitchen Multi skilled driver for reputed HOLD USED ITEMS With large dining or recreations room. 31 showers, 29 company (Salary 4300 Qr + OT) Souq AL washbasins, 29asian, 10 european toilets, extra washing Who have (crane + mid truck + trailer Haraj – Najma MOHAMMED facilities, 1 room for office or security.Other open recreation license) can apply only. FAZLUL HAQUE spaces fully renovated, ready to occupy. Send CV: [email protected] SHOP NO : 241 P.O.BOX: 18408 Contact No. 55544212 ,55569189 WhatsApp: 0097477567702 55825687 - 44417251 I know all the players of Al Hilal except for one. I know their level of play. We are not expecting it to be an easy match. TUESday, DECEMBER 17, 2019 - Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus Flamengo all set for their entry vs Al Hilal on a day of reunions Semi-final to see both sides reunited with a familiar face

Tribune News Network Doha

The FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 reaches its halfway point with one of the tournament favourites making their entrance. Flamengo arrive in Doha determined to end a stellar year on the highest of notes. Having won their second Copa Libertadores after a 38-year wait, they added another Brazilian league title to their collection and are keen to keep the good times rolling.

Al Hilal’s French striker Bafetimbi Gomis will once again be the Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus (left), and Flamengo player Rafinha address the media ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 semi-final dangerman for the rivals in the semi-final on Tuesday. at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.

Friends 8.30pm & foe Flamengo vs Al Hilal The first semi-final of Qatar at Khalifa International Stadium 2019 will be a memorable occasion for every Flamengo and Al Hilal player, but especially for Colombian midfielder Gustavo Cuellar and Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus. Cuellar helped Mengao reach the quarter-finals of this year’s Copa Libertadores before being sold to the mote the re-match of Flamengo strike that took the Saudi out- Saudi side, while Jesus was vs LFC, but we want to focus on fit pastE sperance. The lead- in the Al Hilal hot seat before the task at hand in order for us ing goal-scorer in this year’s to qualify for the final. AFC Champions League, the joining the Brazilian giants In a tournament as short Frenchman came off the bench and overseeing one of the as this, where the margin for with 25 minutes remaining finest seasons in the error is so small, having an and took just eight minutes to club’s history. in-form striker can make the conjure up the winner, coolly difference between success flicking the ball up and over an On the downside, however, and failure. opposing defender and then Flamengo had a 28-game un- Flamengo and Al Hilal volleying home. beaten run ended on the final both have one in their ranks. Al Hilal’s hopes of upset- day of the season, a setback The Flamengo team from Brazil during their training session on Monday. Gabriel Gabigol Barbosa and ting Flamengo depend to a that will give hope to an Al Hi- Bafetimbi Gomis have each large extent on how he per- lal side that is looking to spring reach the quarter-finals of the ‘swap’ as he addressed all the players of Al Hilal ex- to win this trophy for the fans, scored eight goals in their last forms. a surprise and reach the final. this year’s Copa Libertadores the media ahead of the semis. cept for one. I know their level because not only are we rep- ten matches, some of them The match will be preced- The first semi-final of Qa- before being sold to the Saudi “We are focused on the task of play. Witnessing Al Hilal’s resenting our club and Brazil very special goals indeed. The ed by the battle for fifth place tar 2019 will be a memorable side, while Jesus was in the Al at hand, playing every game previous matches, it shows but the whole South American Brazilian scored the brace between host club Al Sadd and occasion for every Flamengo Hilal hot seat before joining as a knock-out match. This is how far they’ve come, and we continent, we want to make that secured the Copa Liber- Esperance, the team that occu- and Al Hilal player, but espe- the Brazilian giants and over- an important match for both are not expecting it to be an them proud,” he said. tadores for Flamengo, while pied that position in last year’s cially for Colombian midfield- seeing one of the finest sea- teams as the winner will be one easy match.” Rafinha said their attention the Frenchman’s most recent tournament. Dominant in Af- er Gustavo Cuellar and Portu- sons in the club’s history. step closer to the title,” he said. Flamengo player Rafinha was all on the pitch. “We are strike took his side through to rica, the Tunisians continue guese coach Jorge Jesus. Jesus, however, chose to About his knowledge of Al said his team was representing focused on playing against Al this semi-final. to come up short in the Club Cuellar helped Mengao focus on things at hand than Hilal, the coach said, “I know an entire continent. “We want Hilal, many media outlets pro- It was Gomis’ stunning World Cup. beIN SPORTS, Generation Amazing sign MoU for football development programme

Tribune News Network need, in line with the United at inspiring the next genera- Doha Nations Sustainable Develop- As Generation Amazing’s tion to participate in sport, ment Goals. official Media Partner, beIN regardless of gender, race, or beIN SPORTS, beIN MEDIA As Generation Amazing’s SPORTS will take part in the background.” GROUP’s flagship sports net- official Media Partner, beIN Generation Amazing Direc- work, has signed a Memoran- SPORTS will take part in the Generation Amazing 2019 tor of Marketing and Commu- dum of Understanding (MoU) Generation Amazing 2019 Festival which will be the nications, Moza al Mohannadi with the Supreme Committee Festival which will be the kick- kick-off event within a series said, “We are delighted and for Delivery & Legacy (SC)’s off event within a series of of festivals leading up to proud to sign this long term Generation Amazing pro- festivals leading up to 2022. 2022. The festival aims to strategic global partnership gramme, which uses football The festival aims to set new set new standards regarding which will see beIN SPORTS for development programmes standards regarding the use coming on board as our Media to educate young people of football for good to achieve the use of football for good Partner as we work towards across Qatar, the Middle East, total inclusivity regardless of to achieve total inclusivity our shared values and vision of Asia and the world. gender, religion, race or age. regardless of gender, reli- showcasing the inspirational beIN SPORTS and Gen- The Generation Amazing gion, race or age. power of football to change eration Amazing will work to- Festival 2019 kicks off from lives and communities for the gether over the coming years 15 to 19 December at Qatar better. With beIN SPORTS on several joint programmes Foundation’s Oxygen Park, are extremely excited to be and their fantastic broadcast and events in Qatar and across aiming to inspire a genera- partnering with Generation and communications reach the Middle East & North Afri- tion of young leaders to make Amazing to support and facili- we are confident that Genera- ca (MENA), including joining a difference in their commu- tate such inspiring initiatives. tion Amazing will be able to forces to reach, educate and nities from Qatar, the Middle Head of Sports at beIN SPORTS Jonathan Whitehead (left) and Director of Marketing and Communcations beIN SPORTS and Generation reach new audiences and in- empower over 1 million young East, Asia, Europe and the at Generation Amazing Moza al Muhannadi after signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Monday. Amazing share similar values spire an entire generation of people by 2022. Established in Americas, by using the inspir- when it comes to the positive young people in Qatar, across 2010 during Qatar’s successful ing power of football to create role that sport can play in so- the region and the world, and bid for the 2022 FIFA World social change. Lebanon, Pakistan, India, the in MENA and broadcasting next few years. ciety, and this partnership will empower them to change their Cup™, Generation Amazing Running alongside the Philippines, Nepal, Italy, Bel- across 24 countries in the re- On the strategic part- help both entities achieve their communities for the better. uses football for development FIFA Club World Cup Qatar gium, the UK and Brazil will gion, it is well placed to sup- nership with Generation positive common goals. For We look forward to a success- initiatives that teach social 2019, over 170 youth partici- be participating. port and showcase Generation Amazing, Jonathan White- beIN, this partnership repre- ful and inspiring partnership and life skills to address issues pants from 12 countries, in- With beIN SPORTS being Amazing’s work and inspire head, Head of Sports at beIN sents a key milestone for our with beIN SPORTS leading up in countries with an identified cluding Qatar, Oman, Jordan, the leading sports network even more people over the SPORTS MENA, said: “We beINSPIRED project, aimed to and beyond 2022.” 20 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Sports Keen to finish with a flourish, Al Sadd gear up for Esperance

5.30pm Al Sadd vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis at Khalifa International Stadium

Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez speaks to players during a training session at the Aspire Academy. (Right) Xavi and Al Sadd defender Abdelkarim Hassan at the pre-match conference of FIFA Club World Cup 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on Monday. ‘We need to adjust a few things to achieve better results. We face a very good side in Esperance (Sportive de Tunis),” says coach Xavi

Tribune News Network previous match, we have to “We didn’t have luck against Tunisians continue to come Doha now play for the fifth place. Monterrey. We will continue up short in the Club World “We are still excited to fin- to play with the same intensity Cup and Al Sadd would look to In a battle to emerge as fifth ish the tournament for us in and aim to finish with a win. push them hard too. best at FIFA Club World Cup the best way and with a good We are proud of our competi- Assistant coach of Esper- Qatar 2019, hosts Al Sadd image,” said the former Barce- tion but we have missed out on ance Mejdi Traoui, said, ““To- will lock horns with Esper- lona and Al Sadd player while one game, so we would want to morrow will be a match for ance Sportive de Tunis at the speaking at the pre-match compete again. We face a very the 5th place, we will be play- Khalifa International Stadium conference on Monday. good in Esperance (Sportive ing against a strong team and at 5.30pm on Tuesday. “I’m happy with the per- de Tunis). They are the cham- our objective will be to win While the 2019 Asian formance of the players, with pions of Africa, so it means the match. We want our pay- champions have been a de- the personality we have been something. ers to have a positive reaction lightful and attacking side playing but of course not en- “It will be difficult to win throughout the match.” exciting their fans, the loss to tirely happy because it’s a mat- this game. We will have to be Esperance goalkeeper Mexico’s Monterrey’s in the ter of results. And the result at the same level as the last Rami Jeridi said his team will previous match has left them wasn’t good, especially in the game in order to compete play for pride. “Wearing the somewhat scarred. More dis- last game (against Monterrey). against them. It’s a very good colors of Esperance gives the appointed themselves than in I believe we deserved more, at side, they have many good players a sense of pride, and their sterling abilities. least to be in the extra time. players and are working very to create history just like the Al Sadd coach Xavi Her- But we are also at the same well as a unit.” players before us.” nandez too expressed the fact, level as the other teams. On his part, Al Sadd’s star With the semis out of their but said that his team will con- “This is my opinion, but defender Abdelkarim Hassan minds, a fierce battle on the tinue to display their best and everybody will agree that we said, “We are under pressure pitch can surely be expected. provide their fans with a joyful compete and hard. Esperance’s players applaud their fans after their loss to AL Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 and as a player you will always While Esperance fans will finish to their participation in I am happy, maybe not quarter-final at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Saturday.( AFP) be under pressure, but we are light up the venue with flares, the tournament. so much positive but having used to it and it will not affect trust the Al Sadd fans to pro- “I would have wanted us to watched the match again, I adjust a few things to achieve “I’m very proud of the On his team’s touch-and- us moving on.” vide for a packed house at the be in the semi-finals but sine feel we could have been better better results, and we are on team and the competitiveness go luck in the five-goal thriller Esperance have been 44,000-capacity Khalifa Inter- we couldn’t get through in the than Monterrey. We need to the way to achieving that. that they have shown.” with Monterrey, Xavi said, dominant in Africa, but the national Stadium.

ExxonMobil Qatar and QTF launch promotional activities ahead of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2020

Tribune News Network enjoyed from our great part- Doha ner and premier supporter of tennis in Qatar – ExxonMobil ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar. We are grateful for the the Qatar Tennis Federation tremendous support over the (QTF) have launched a series years and we are delighted of promotional activities at a to have them has our major ribbon cutting ceremony that sponsor.” was held at Doha Festival City “We are delighted to host on Tuesday. The event marks another edition of the Qatar the launch of activities for ExxonMobil Open. It has been the Qatar ExxonMobil Open widely acknowledged that 2020, which will take place at each edition of the tourna- the Khalifa International Ten- ment is unique in its own right nis and Squash Complex from thanks to the great support January 6 to 11, 2020. we’ve enjoyed from the tour- Liverpool players during a training session at the Aspire Academy in Doha on Monday. The event was attended nament sponsor – ExxonMo- by senior officials from Exx- bil Qatar. QTF is grateful for onMobil Qatar and Qatar their support and we believe Tennis Federation, including: Saleh al Mana, Vice-President and Director of Government and Public that more lies ahead for the Liverpool to face Atletico in Saleh al Mana, Vice President Affairs for ExxonMobil Qatar; Tareq Zeinal, Secretary-General Assistant two great organizations as we and Director of Government of Qatar Tennis Federation; and Karim Alami, Tournament Director Qa- continue to lift tennis high in and Public Affairs for Exxon- tar ExxonMobil Open 2020 during the launch of promotional activities Qatar and in the region.” Champions League last 16 clash Mobil Qatar; Tareq Zeinal, at Doha Festival City on Tuesday. All the promotional ac- Secretary-General Assistant of tivities planned for this year’s AFP “It’s a tough one, but if you “We’re happy to go to Qatar Tennis Federation; and this outstanding tournament been growing in leaps and tournament fall under Exxon- Nyon (Switzerland) go through all of the draws, London, we have great expe- Karim Alami, Tournament Di- that we bring to Qatar every bounds and we are very grate- Mobil Qatar’s Energy in Mo- there are pretty much four or riences from there. Chelsea rector. year, what activities it in- ful to them for their continu- tion campaign – a campaign, Holders Liverpool will re- five potential finals already in are a dangerous team and we ExxonMobil Qatar is invit- cludes, how they tie into our ous support.” which aims to raise awareness turn to the scene of last season’s the last 16.” must take them extremely se- ing the general public to visit overall mission of support- “The support from Exxon- on the science behind sports Champions League triumph Pep Guardiola’s City, who riously,” said Neuer. its stands and take part in the ing the Qatar National Vision Mobil Qatar has helped in put- and tennis in particular, and after they were drawn against are trying to win a first Cham- Bayern forward Robert promotional activities at Doha 2030, and highlight Qatar’s ting Qatari tennis on the global supports ExxonMobil Qatar’s Atletico Madrid in the last 16 pions League crown, face a Lewandowski is the competi- Festival City, Novo Cinemas, position as a center for mega stage and we at the Qatar Ten- broader efforts to help build of the competition on Monday tough task against Real, the tion’s leading scorer this sea- The Pearl and Villaggio from sporting events.” nis Federation are grateful for human potentials through ed- and Manchester City face 13- record winners of Europe’s top son after netting 10 times in December 15. Visitors can take “We look forward to wel- this. The synergy between the ucation programs. time winners Real Madrid. club prize, for a place in the five group stage games. part in some exciting and fun coming thousands of tennis fans two organizations is a proof Through these efforts, Jurgen Klopp’s side will quarter-finals. Paris Saint-Germain, who activities that have been devel- to this wonderful event that fea- that there is no limit to what ExxonMobil Qatar is develop- travel to the Wanda Metropol- The two clubs met in the impressed in the group stage oped around science, technol- tures some of the biggest names can be achieved when people ing the scientists, engineers itano, where Liverpool lifted 2015-16 semi-finals, the fur- and will be trying to avoid a ogy, engineering and math- in tennis,” he added. are passionately committed and innovators that will help the trophy in June, for the first thest City have progressed in fourth successive last-16 exit, ematics (STEM) concepts. Zeinal said, “We are very to a course and we believe the support Qatar’s future knowl- leg of their tie against three- the tournament. That tie was will take on 1997 champions “We’re delighted to launch proud of our strategic part- partnership will continue to edge-based society, in line time runners-up Atletico. won 1-0 on aggregate by Real. Dortmund. promotional activities for the nership with ExxonMobil grow stronger with each pass- with the National Vision 2030. “Madrid is the place where However, Bayern goal- Barcelona will play Napoli Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2020 Qatar, which has continued ing year,” he added. ExxonMobil Qatar has also we only have fantastic memo- keeper Manuel Neuer has fond for the first time as the Cata- with our partner the Qatar to produce positive impact on On his part, Alami said, “It planned two competitions for ries, all of us, so that’s great, memories of London, where lan giants, five-time European Tennis Federation,” said Al tennis in Qatar over the years. has always been a pleasure to its social media followers on but this time we play Atleti- the Bavarians beat Borussia champions, attempt to move Mana. “These activities will The relationship between the host each edition of the Qatar Twitter and Instagram that will co there and it’s their home Dortmund in the 2013 final at on from last season’s painful give the general public an op- two noble organizations, QTF ExxonMobil Open particularly launch before the start of the ground,” said Klopp. Wembley. semi-final loss toL iverpool. portunity to learn more about and ExxonMobil Qatar, has with the great support we’ve tournament. Sports Tuesday, December 17, 2019 21

QCA President Yousef Jeham al Kuwari with Qatar T10 Cricket League winners Falcon Hunters, team owners, other QCA officials after the prize distribution at the Asian Town Stadium on Monday. Falcon Hunters Qatar T10 winners Kamran Akmal added 16 with Man of the match Chaudhry hits a Brief scores two sixes. Sadiq NM, who hit a Falcon Hunters beat Swift six and a four, got 12 in seven big six to pull off win in the final balls, while Mehmood also Gallopers by four wickets had 12 in 13 balls. QCA President Yousef Je- Tribune News Network a ball to spare, bringing joy to Swift Gallopers: 85 for seven (Kamran ham al Kuwari, other associa- Akmal 16 in 11 balls, Ali Imran 19 in 12 DOHA his teammates and fans, who tion officials and team own- were present in a large num- balls, Mohammad Imran 18 in 6 balls; ers were present during the Falcon Hunters skipper ber. He was aptly declared the Murad Khan 2/18, Iqbal Hussain dazzling prize distribution. Chaudhry 2/26) Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry man of the final as well. The organisers were worried Falcon Hunters: 87 for six in 9.5 overs smashed a glorious six and “It was a great game. We if the final would take place (Hashim Amla 18 in 21 balls, Salman clinched the inaugural Qa- knew the conditions well and or not, especially after the Butt 18 in 10 balls, Amad Butt 18 in 12 tar T10 Cricket League crown that helped us to assess the semi-finals were rained out balls; Tamoor Sajjad 12 in 5 balls; Ali with an exciting four-wicket game. It was a tough fight and on Sunday. But the weather Imran 2/8) victory against Swift Gallopers it went down to the wire. I Man of the match: Ibqal Hussain was kind enough and allowed at the Asian Town Stadium on give all praise to God for help- Chaudhry (Falcon Hunters) the match to go on without Monday. ing me hit the winning runs. I interruptions. In the final over, the win- dedicate the win to my father, The QCA president con- ners required 16 runs while who was in the stands, and my Earlier, Swift Gallopers, gratulated both the finalists chasing a modest 86-run tar- brother in Dubai, who watched batting first, failed to get as for playing well in the title get. All-rounder Tamoor Saj- the game on TV,” Chaudhry many runs as they would have clash and making it a close af- jad cracked a superb six and commented after the final. wanted. They were pegged fair. He thanked all the teams a four out of his 12 before get- Ali Imran, Mohammad back by Murad Khan and for trying hard during the ting out to Sufyan Mahmood Imran and Zain Uddin bowled Chaudhry, who got two wick- preliminary phase in a bid to off the third ball. impressively and put pres- Falcon Hunters captain Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry and team owners receive the Qatar T10 Cricket League ets each. Waqas Maqsood, reach the knockout stage. The atmosphere got more sure back on the rivals after winner’s trophy at the Asian Town Stadium on Monday. Amad Butt and Saad Bin Zafar “The game had a great tense as Murad Khan was able Amad Butt’s 14 out of 18 came snared one each. ambience, with thousands of to just place the ball for a single through a six and two fours off But regular loss of wickets The victory also exacted South African star player Ali Imran hit two sixes in people coming to watch it. I’m to give the strike to the skip- Mehmood in the sixth over. tilted the match towards Swift the revenge for Falcon Hunt- Hashim Amla said, “It was a his 12-ball knock to get 19, the very happy with how the final per. But Chaudhry had other Openers Hashim Amla and Gallopers. But Sajjad’s cameo ers who had lost the League great final and it fluctuated highest for Swift Gallopers. unfolded. I’m sure the second ideas and he blasted the very Salman Butt added 29 runs in and Chaudhry’s big hit hi- match to Swift Gallopers by wildly. But these games are like Mohammad Imran fired a six edition of the tournament will first ball that he faced over the 3.1 overs to give an encourag- jacked the crown from the op- six runs in an almost similar that. We held in there to get the and two fours in his fiery 18 be even better than this one,” rope to seal the triumph with ing start to Falcon Hunters. ponents. frantic finish. win. It’s a great feeling.” off just six balls and skipper Kuwari added. Salman stays tuned: Says trying Magid, Hussain advance in WPA world 9-ball Tribune News Network his best to make a comeback DOHA Qatar’s Bashar Hussain and Raajiv Tripathi Waleed Magid booked spots DOHA in the last 32nd round of the prestigious 2019 WPA World Pakistan’s reformed open- Nine-ball Championship after ing batsman Salman Butt feels their deserved victories in he has been doing his best in Doha on Sunday. a bid to return to the national Magid put up an impres- squad of which he was once sive performance to defeat the captain. His return, how- South Korean Woo Rio Song ever, depends on what the 9-5. head coach and chief selector His teammate Bashar Misbah-ul-Haq wants. Hussain beat Girco Bones of The left-handed opener the Phillipines 9-6 to reach the – in Qatar to compete for Fal- same round. con Hunters in the Qatar T10 Over 200 players repre- Cricket League – commented senting 45 countries from that he has been maintain- Pakistan’s Salman Butt (centre) at the QOC Head across the world are compet- ing good fitness and has been ing in the main round of this among the top three batsmen “The Pakistan batting must right. They treat the format prestigious event. Matches in progress during the WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in Doha. in Pakistan for a few years. get used to digging in. Nowhere players equally. Every since the Internation- in the world, a team is able to “You don’t see any top IPL al Cricket Council (ICC) allowed do well without a strong first- player or T20 player getting him to play the domestic game class cricket structure. an edge in anything. (Chetesh- in 2015, he has been among “You can’t build your Test war) Pujara is as big a star as the runs and finishing as one cricket on T20, or other shorter anybody else. Unless you ap- Tendulkar finds the hotel worker of the top batsmen. “I feel I’ve formats. It will never happen. preciate the skills of a player, been playing well for about four Also, Pakistan will have to you will not have people de- years in the domestic cricket. back the format specialists or veloping their game in differ- who gave him batting advice This year, I have had 800 plus in-form players. If we don’t uti- ent areas. runs in eight matches, though I lise the experience of the play- “If you start developing have figured in one match less, ers who are performing well in players for a particular format, afp according to the correct size and the compared to others. domestic cricket, you can’t im- most of players get attracted New Delhi amount of padding and I played.” “I’ve been working hard prove,” Butt added. to that. In India, all formats The hotel said it had found the worker and trying to stay fit as strong I The opener had a word of like the Test, One-Day, T10 A hotel worker whose unsolicited ad- and offered to set up a meeting, while an can be. But it (my selection) de- advice for Qatar about how to and first-class cricket are being vice helped the batting of cricket legend Indian news website also said it had lo- pends on what the head coach grow the game. “You may have given due respect and atten- Sachin Tendulkar has been located after cated the man. and the chief selector, who is T20 or T10 Leagues but with- tion. All their players are being the Indian superstar launched an appeal. “I asked him (Tendulkar) if I can give one person, wants,” he added. out a strong first-class struc- looked after well. The worker approached Tendulkar him a suggestion concerning cricket,” the Butt, who will stay back in ture, it is not possible to devel- “There is a huge gap in the about 19 years ago at the hotel where he worker, identified as a member of the se- Qatar after the T10 League and op the game. Four-day cricket earnings of the Pakistani play- worked in Chennai, saying he had noticed curity staff named Guruprasad, was quot- figure in the QatarN ational is the production house for all ers and those of top cricket he swung his bat differently when he was ed as saying by the ‘The News Minute’. Day celebrations match on De- formats of the game. In four- playing nations. You can’t wearing an arm guard. “I really wasn’t sure if he would lis- cember 18, said Pakistan need day game, you have to invest expect players to train in the Tendulkar, who was midway through ten to someone like me but he readily to support the format special- your time to become good.” morning and then do job in his record-breaking career at the time, agreed.” ists just like India has been do- Butt feels that Pakistan the day time for their liveli- said the advice was valuable as he re- The meeting apparently took place in ing, if they are to come back at cricket is suffering due to lack hood. This way you can just designed his arm guard and went from early 2001 during the Test series against the international level. of adequate financial resources. have part-time players, and strength to strength. Australia, when Tendulkar scored 126 in “We need to play first- “The Indian cricket has part-time players can’t be “I don’t think I had spoken about this the first innings inC hennai. class cricket regularly and the no financial issues. The game turned into world-beaters. You to anyone in the world. I was the only Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. The 46-year-old Tendulkar retired best performers must be given has grown so big financially need full-time professionals if person who was aware of that,” he said in in 2013 after scoring more than 34,000 chances (to play in the nation- that everything is taken care you want to develop the game a video posted on Twitter. room from the ground, carried my elbow runs in Tests and one-day internationals, al team). of. They are doing everything properly,” stressed Butt. “After that I actually came back to the guard and I re-designed my elbow guard including a record 100 centuries. 22 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Features MG ZS EV – Simply electrifying! carwale.com 148bhp and 353Nm of torque. Mind regular combustion engine are expen- you, this is an electric vehicle that we are sive to maintain, primarily due to more larming pollution levels and talking about, which means that there is moving parts that are prone to wear and the ever-rising cost of fuel had abundant torque right from the moment tear. On the other hand, the electric ve- encouraged the world to switch go. The ZS EV offers a driving range in hicle have fewer moving parts, thereby to electric vehicles (EVs). While excess of 340kms on a single charge and making it less susceptible to damages. most EV users have been happy the battery pack comes with IP67 protec- The electric version also does not re- aboutA cutting down on the expenses, tion which makes it water resistant and quire oil changes at regular intervals or they have always been left wanting for offers protection from dust as well. The gaskets for replacement, and most of more in terms of features and perfor- electric SUV is capable of sprinting from the updates will be available over the mance. MG Motor dares to break this 0-100kmph in just about 8.5 seconds. air. This makes the MG ZS EV a value monotony with its new-generation ZS The battery pack can be charged to for money proposition that delivers im- EV that not just focusses on saving the 80 per cent in 40 minutes with a 50 kW pressive performance without being too planet by reducing the carbon footprint DC fast charger. With a standard 7.4kW heavy on the pocket. but is also about having a lot of fun. charger, it takes about seven hours for There is a lot more than what meets the the car to be fully charged. The MG ZS Conclusion eye for the India’s first internet enabled EV has tuned to deliver the best of per- Unlike regular EVs that only focus on electric SUV. formance within the city as well as on the saving the planet, the MG Motor further highways. ups the game with a the ZS EV, which is Thrilling performance not just greener but also delivers impres- The electric motor is powered by a Easy to maintain sive performance that appeals to buyers 44.5kWh battery pack that produces Performance oriented cars with a of all group.

Toyota has created a car that Mercedes-Benz: 504,047 recalls Vauxhall: 373,529 recalls uses AI to sense a   driver’s state The figures come Vehicle recalls are The automaker has also included an from new analysis of common in the ‘air purification coating’ Driver and Vehicle automotive industry oyota has unveiled Artificial Standards Agency and are generally the concept “LQ” car DVSA figures by a result of the which will debut at intelligence the Tokyo Auto Show financial comparison Driving and Vehicle last October. program TThe car includes The car includes website Know Your Standards Agency “Yui,” an onboard artifi- ‘Yui’, an onboard cial intelligence program. artificial intelligence Money The most The program learns primarily from facial ex- program pressions and the driver’s ● The program learns ercedes-Benz fault in a vehicle consti- conversations with Yui, has topped a table tutes a safety defect. responding to preferences primarily from facial of car maker re- Vauxhall, which has and needs accordingly. expressions and the recalled driver’s conversations calls in the UK in recalled 1.63 million cars Toyota says it hopes the 2019 according to since 2014 has issued four introduction of the AI- with Yui, responding to knowyourmoney.co.ukM separate recalls of the Za- agent will create an emo- preferences and needs The premium Ger- cars of 2019 fira people carrier, all re- tional bond between the accordingly. man brand issued safety lated to ventilation system car and its driver. notices on 504,047 cars faults that have seen more Yui’s name is derived ● Toyota says it hopes over the last 12 months, than 100 cars burst into from the word “cue” in the introduction of the 130,000 more than Vaux- in the UK flames. that the automaker hopes AI-agent will create an hall (373529) cars, and BMW, which has issued this will signal the devel- emotional bond between ahead of Ford (354598) the second most recalls, opment of more vehicles the car and its driver cars , BMW (251821) cars has also been at the cen- that will increase the car- and Honda (122945) . tre of two major recalls. In and-driver relationship. fication coating” in theL Q. However, data shows 2018 it was forced to recall “With the LQ, we are Toyota claims “a newly that over the last five years 300,000 cars where an proud to propose a ve- developed catalyst coating Vauxhall has recalled more In 2014 only 725,398 electrical fault could cause hicle that can deliver a that decomposes ozone vehicles than any other cars were recalled, com- the car’s engine to cut out personalized experience, into oxygen on the radia- brand, followed closely by pared to 2,435,701 in 2019. suddenly. meet each driver’s unique tor fan, allowing ozone Mercedes’ rival BMW. However, 2019 represents In the same year it re- mobility needs, and near the ground surface, The figures come from a drop from a staggering called almost 300,000 build an even stronger a cause of photochemical new analysis of Driver and four million in 2018. diesel vehicles over a po- bond between car and smog, to be decomposed Vehicle Standards Agency Vehicle recalls are com- tential fire risk and in 2019 driver,” Toyota’s LQ de- as the vehicle moves,” ac- DVSA figures by financial mon in the automotive in- this was extended to cover velopment leader Daisuke cording to the release. comparison website Know dustry and are generally a another 27,000 cars. In Ido said in a prepared The LQ can fit four Your Money. It found that result of the Driving and fact, 2018 accounted for statement. passengers and has an there has been a sharp rise Vehicle Standards Agency 900,000 of the 1.6m cars The concept car’s tech- electric cruising range of in the number of safety re- (DVSA), or the manufac- recalled by the brand since nological advancement 300 kilometers,. The car calls since 2014. turer determining that a 2014. doesn’t stop at the inclu- is the next generation of FORD: 354,598 recalls sion of AI. The automaker, the Concept-i, which also in partnership with Aisin uses AI to learn driving Chemical Company and patterns and is slated to Cataler Corporation, has be used at the 2020 Tokyo also included an “air puri- Olympics.

BMW: 251,821 recalls Honda: 122,945 recalls

24 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 The Last Word

Deputy Amir chairs FM MEETS UN, US OFFICIALS second QU Board of Trustees meeting Board approves proposals on Ph.D degree in Law, Master’s degree in Finance QNA ing the approval of the propos- Doha al of the Ph.D degree in Law and the proposal of Master’s The Deputy Amir His High- degree in Finance. ness Sheikh Abdullah bin The Board also approved Hamad al Thani, who is also the establishment of the De- the chairman of the Board partment of Physical Educa- of Trustees of Qatar Univer- tion, the establishment of the sity (QU), chaired the second Department of Art Education, meeting of the QU Board of the reactivation of the art edu- Trustees for the 2019-2020 cation programme in the Col- academic year at the Amiri Di- lege of Education, the restruc- wan on Monday. turing of education diploma Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani on Monday met separately with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State The Board discussed the programmes and the restruc- for Arabian Gulf Affairs Timothy Lenderking and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov, on the sidelines of the 19th Doha topics on its agenda and took turing of the Master of Mate- Forum. The two meetings reviewed prospects for cooperation in addition to a number of issues of common concern. (QNA) appropriate decisions, includ- rials Science and Technology.

Qatar Participates in ICI 15th Anniversary: Letters and Qur’anic manuscripts Qatar participated in the 15th anniversary ceremony of the launch of Istanbul Coop- reveal insights into Qatar’s history eration Initiative at the NATO regional centre in Kuwait. Tribune News Network Qatar was represented at the Doha ceremony by Secretary-Gen- eral of the Ministry of Foreign Qatar National Library (QNL) pre- Affairs HE Dr Ahmed bin Has- sented a lecture, ‘Scripts From Qatar’s san al Hammadi. (QNA) History’, that took a closer look at personal letters from famous Qatari historical figures and the insights they reveal about the country’s history and social and economic life. Obaida Mohammed Saleh Banki, Cuba launches postal stamp to mark 30th the calligrapher who wrote ‘Mus’haf Qatar’, gave a presentation on ‘Mus’haf Al Zubarah’, the Qur’an manuscript anniversary of Qatar-Cuba diplomatic ties written in Qatar by Sheikh Ahmed bin QNA Mohammed Al Derbasti took part tion and members of the diplomatic Rashid al Muraikhi. It is one of the old- Obaida Mohammed Saleh Banki, the calligrapher who wrote ‘Mus’haf Qatar’, gave a Doha in the launching ceremony. corps accredited to Cuba. est examples of calligraphic writing presentation on ‘Mus’haf Al Zubarah’. The ceremony was chaired by In a speech during the ceremo- that has been found in Qatar. THE Cuban Ministry of Foreign Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign ny, Camejo underlined the strong His presentation was followed by The lecture was accompanied by a tory of Arabic calligraphy, and the Affairs has launched a commemo- Affairs Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo bilateral relations between Qatar a talk by Sheikh Khalid bin Ghanim al display of Qatari letters and signatures speaker showed examples of how it has rative stamp to celebrate the 30th in the presence of President of the and Cuba in various fields. Thani about his book ‘Journals of the of famous Qatari historical figures from contributed to the development of the anniversary of the establishment of Correos de Cuba Business Group For his part, the Qatari ambas- Rulers of Qatar’, in which he revealed the Heritage Library collection. modern art scene in Qatar. It is impor- diplomatic relations between Qatar Carlos Asencio Valerino, a number sador thanked the Cuban side for the deep significance of historical Ali Rashid al Saadi, an attendee at tant for new calligraphers to know the and Cuba. of officials from the Cuban Ministry the nice initiative, stressing the scripts for understanding Qatar’s his- the event, said: “The lecture presented history of this beautiful art to help im- Ambassador of Qatar to the of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry strong bilateral relations between tory. interesting information about the his- prove their skills.” Republic of Cuba HE Abdullah bin of Information and Communica- the two countries.

الفعــاليــــات املصـاحبـــة الحتفـــــاالت اليـــوم الوطنــــي 2019 Associated Activities of Qatar National Day 2019 Celebrations

Safety and security awareness programs by various departments of the ministry of interior in all venues Free Entry Special area for families Gifts for the public