Sunday January 27, 2019 Jumada Al-Awwal 21, 1440 Vol.12 no. 4527 qR 2

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Business 12 Sports 16 Businesses must file Excise Tax We want to keep going: returns by January 31, says GTA Almoez

‘Amir’s visit to deepen Attiyah dedicates Dakar title to Amir - relations’ is Amir’s first stop in a tri-nation tour that begins today

QNA of visits, all of which have contrib- Seoul uted to the promotion of the bilateral relations to the level of a strategic The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin partnership, led by the -Korea Hamad al Thani’s visit to South Ko- High-level Strategic Cooperation rea on Sunday is set to deepen the Committee established in 2012. bilateral relations and widen the ar- Terming as a key pillar of eas of cooperation, Qatar’s top dip- the bilateral relations, the envoy lomat in the country has said. Long-standing ties said the official visit of the Amir The Amir would meet South would broaden the scope of the Korea’s President Moon Jae-in and ● The diplomatic ties between Joint Strategic Cooperation Com- discuss means of developing the bi- Qatar and South Korea date back mittee, which has been set up to lateral relations and issues of com- to 1974, with Doha opening an promote trade and investment be- mon concern. embassy in Seoul in 1992. tween the two countries. South Korea is Amir’s first stop The visit is also expected to give in his tri-nation Asia tour that also ● High-level official visits have impetus to inter-nation collabora- includes visits to and . played a key role in developing tion in agriculture, science and tech- In a statement to the Qatar the Doha-Seoul relations to its nology, defence and security, educa- Agency (QNA), Duhaimi said the current level, particularly the tion, health and medical services, Amir’s South Korea visit would add Amir’s visit in 2014 Duhaimi said. The Amir HH Sheikh met with Qatar’s star sports talent Nasser al Attiyah, who won the 41st “qualitative momentum” to the rela- Qatar and South Korea already edition of Rally Dakar 2019, at Al Bahr Palace on Saturday. The Amir congratulated Attiyah on winning the Dakar title for tions. It would also pave the way for ● The two countries also have have an agreement, which ensures the third time and wished him further success. Attiyah expressed his thanks and appreciation for the warm reception of broader cooperation between compa- had several ministerial-level hassle-free healthcare services to the Amir, gifting His Highness the award as a gesture of gratitude for the support he has received in all his sports achieve- nies in the two countries, especially in exchange of visits Qatari citizens and allows exchange ments. (QNA) the energy sector, the envoy noted. of medical expertise between the South Korea is one of the main two countries. economic arteries in Asia and Qa- “Since then, the relations be- The two countries also have ac- tar’s second largest economic part- tween the two countries have devel- tive collaboration in the fields of ner. It is also the second largest oped greatly,” Duhaimi said. culture, media and sports. Recently, importer of Qatari LNG. Given this Exchange of high-level official a delegation of Qatari high-school context, the ambassador said, a visit visits have played a key role in de- students visited a number of uni- Qatar- Year of Culture by the Amir to this “dynamic region” veloping the Doha-Seoul relations versities, research centres and mu- would provide new meaning to the to its current level, the envoy said, seums in South Korea. A few Qatari diplomatic and political relations noting the Amir’s 2014 visit of South students have also lived with some to begin on Feb 4 in Qatar between the two countries. Korea in particular. That year, the Korean families in that country The diplomatic ties between two countries signed 12 agreements to better understand the Korean Qatar and South Korea date back and MoUs. culture. Satyendra Pathak According to the organisers, en- to 1974, with Doha opening an em- The two countries also have had Doha try to the musical show will be by bassy in Seoul in 1992. several ministerial-level exchanges See also page 4  ticket bought. The Qatar-India Year of Culture Given that the musical event cov- 2019 will officially kick off in Qatar ers a number of items from India, on February 4 with an exclusive per- Qatar and other countries, the organ- formance by schoolchildren show- isers said, it would be a fitting tribute , US end casing India’s cultural richness for a to the immense diversity that India A splash of colour in Doha select audience in Doha, India’s top offers and also to the links between 6-day talks, agree to diplomat in Qatar said on Tuesday. India and Qatar in the field of culture Indian Ambassador to Qatar and music. meet next month HE P Kumaran said the same pro- In the mid-February, a special Doha The six-day talks, hosted by Qatar, gramme highlighting the essence of programme called ‘Festival of India’ between Taliban negotiators and United India will be staged on February 5 for sponsored by the Indian government States officials in Doha concluded on general public in Qatar. nership with Qatar Philharmonic will be organised. The programme Saturday. The Qatar-India Year of Culture Orchestra at the Al Mayassa Theatre will feature a range of visual arts and The two sides discussed substantives 2019, which officially began in India in Qatar National Convention Centre performances such as classical dance issues to bring in national reconciliation with ‘The Monsoon Wedding The (QNCC) on February 8 as part of the and music, both Indian and west- and peace in , said Dr Mutlaq Musical’ on January 17, is specially culture year, he said. ern, as well as cinema and theatre, a bin Majid al Qahtani, Special Envoy of the designed to promote mutual under- The performance will bring to- source in the Indian embassy said. Foreign Minister for Combating Terrorism standing, recognition and apprecia- gether Qatar Philharmonic Orches- The month will also see a high- and Mediation of Dispute Settlement. tion between India and Qatar. tra artistes and several Indian mu- energy show ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ In a statement to QNA, he said during With the announcement of India sicians for the first time to attempt by a troop from Mumbai, the source the discussions, the time-frame for the as the official partner nation for the a fusion of the Indian and Arabian said. negotiations was discussed as well as 2019 Year of Culture by Qatar Muse- music styles. According to a statement issued issues of troops withdrawal and achieve- ums, the envoy said, an exciting array Together, they will perform earlier, a landmark exhibition show- ment of national reconciliation in a sus- of activities including dance perfor- ‘Theme from Bombay’, ‘Spirit of casing Qatar’s rapid social and urban A record-breaking 10,000 people participated in ‘The Color Run’ or ‘the tainable manner. The two sides agreed to mances, musical presentations, film Thunder’,’ Four Seasons’, ‘Music transformation through the eyes of Happiest 5K on the Planet! — a flagship public health campaign by continue talks next month in Doha, pend- festivals, painting and photography from Chaudhvin Ka Chand’, ‘Cyclist talented up-and-coming artists from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and Sahtak Awalan — in Doha ing agreement on these core issues. exhibitions, food festivals, fashion Theme’, ‘From Shafallah Suite: The the country in various parts of India on Saturday. page 20 Qahtani called on all regional and in- shows, calligraphy exhibitions, tex- Oryx and The Unicorn’, ‘Cry of Rose’, is one of the main highlights of the ternational parties to unite and coordinate tiles exhibitions and yoga will take ‘Café Fluid’ by Naveen Kumar, ‘Med- Qatar-India Year of Culture. peace efforts in Afghanistan and avoid place in both the countries over the ley of Tollywood and Bollywood’, The Indian embassy official said distracting efforts. He stressed the impor- next 12 months. ‘Ave Maria: Symphonic Music on that dates, venue and other details tance of supporting the efforts of the State The inaugural programme on Indian Bansuri’, ‘Fantasy Flute’ by about upcoming events to be held 42 dead in coalition strikes on IS’s last of Qatar and its strategic allies to achieve February 4-5 will be followed by Naveen Kumar and music from Ba- as part of the culture year will be an- holdout (PG 10 ) peace and stability in Afghanistan. (TNN) performance of fusion music in part- hubali by MM Keeravani. nounced at regular intervals. Saudi website tries to mock Qatar, gets trolled by readers instead

name RT said. the semi-final of the Asia Cup, and hatred do with people. dullah. “What we have is this Saudi’s Asian Cup defeat by Qatar seems “The Qatari team is try- will play in Copa America, and Congratulations Team Qatar backwardness and degenera- ing to develop itself and we have the biggest sports chan- and wish you (all success) in tion of our press.” to have only intensified the onslaught cannot help but ridicule and Qataris are people who nel. Look at where we are and the Asian cup.” World Cup 2022 hosts spread empty rhetoric,” he work hard. They are going where they are.” Another Saudi user, Za- Qatar will face Argentina in Tribune News Network ticipation in the football tour- added. to host the World Cup, have While some highlighted hir Hashim, says: “We have this year’s Copa America. The Doha nament. ’s humiliating reached the semi-final of the motives behind the con- stupid media run by empty tournament starts in Brazil on The report pinned the defeat to Qatar in the quarter- cocted report, others took the minds. Qataris are our broth- 14 June. An online newspaper in Sau- blame squarely on Qatar be- final of the ongoing Asian Cup the Asia Cup, will play in opportunity to congratulate ers. The differences between Qatar, who along with Ja- di Arabia is being massively ing “too far away” from South a few days ago seems to have Copa America, and have Qatar for making the region us are political that are cre- pan are guests at the tourna- trolled by its own readers after America — a premise so flimsy only worsened the onslaught. the biggest sports channel. proud. ated by the leaders.” ment in Brazil, will be playing it ran a report that tried to rid- and flawed that it triggered a “Our team left the Asian Look at where we are and “The (Sabq) report con- Some Twitter users even in their first tournament out- icule Qatar’s participation in volley of abuses and mockery Cup in the second round. It where they are. firms that the Saudi press is had some advice: focus on side of Asia. the upcoming Copa America online. didn’t surprise our media. All still living in adolescence and Saudi team’s failures and Since 1993 Conmebol — 2019 in Brazil. “I really hope that a day they did was praise the failed Mohammed, a Twitter user that its journalists are still re- help them get better rather the South American Football Sabq, which has 13 mil- will come when our stupid sports officials,” a Twitter ceiving orders on what they than getting preoccupied with Combination — have invited lion followers on Twitter, has media, which is only good at user who identifies himself as should write about,” a user childish vanities. two teams from elsewhere in published a report that al- irony, cynicism and ridicule, Bander said. “Qataris are people who work wrote on Twitter. “Qatar work to develop the world to play in each Copa leged “resentment in South will have a full rehab,” a Twit- Mohammed, another user, hard. They are going to host Another Twitteratti, Man- their team and to bring pride to make up the numbers for a America” against Qatar’s par- ter user who goes by the user- had something similar to say: the World Cup, have reached sour, said, “This is what envy to their people,” said Abu Ab- 12-team tournament.