SunDay December 13, 2020 Rabi al-akhar 28, 1442 Vol.14 no. 5127 qR 2

Fajr: 4:48 am Dhuhr: 11:28 am partly cloudy Asr: 2:26 pm Maghrib: 4:46 pm High : 28°C LOW : 18°C Isha: 6:16 pm

World 8 Business 9 Sports 13 US approves Pfizer QFB acquires The Doha bolstered by vaccine as millions of Grand 2 office building world-class partners doses begin shipping in Arizona for 2030 Asian Games bid

Qatar National Day reflects values of unity, says PM vice areas, thanks to the implementa- Amir to meet Palestinian National Day shows the ● Qatar relied on highly-effective tion of strategies on the ground, with strategies to contain the high professionalism and according to president tomorrow strength of the bond pandemic and maintain the the development and modernisation between the citizens and safety of everyone living in plans based on providing human, ma- QNA will arrive in the country on the country terial capabilities, devices and equip- Doha Sunday for a working visit. the wise leadership that ● Qatar enjoys great security and ment, bearing in mind the importance HH the Amir and the puts its people’s interests stability, evident by its high of excellence and leadership. His Highness the Amir of Palestinian president will rankings in a number The PM noted that the ministry is State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim discuss bilateral relations above all other: PM of international indices overseeing a number of programmes bin Hamad Al Thani will meet and the ways to support and that came out of the second National president of the State of enhance them. QNA ● The country is moving forward Development Strategy 2018-2022, in Palestine Mahmoud Abbas They will also discuss Doha towards achieving all its addition to the strategy related to the on Monday. the latest developments in developmental goals, thanks main pillars of Qatar National Vision The Palestinian president Palestine. Prime Minister and Minister of Inte- to the wise leadership of 2030, by focusing on having a securi- rior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin HH the Amir ty performance that is in line with the Abdulaziz Al Thani has underlined that highest standards. the National Day of Qatar is an impor- ● Qatar’s foreign policy was He noted the constant improve- tant day in the memory of citizens, as characterised by independence ments made to the management of the Amir greets Kenya president it reflects the values of unity and car- and flexibility as it looked to ministry’s resources by adopting the His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad ries great significance in the hearts and serve national interests and most modern systems and technolo- Al Thani on Saturday sent a cable of congratulations to President minds of citizens and residents of the protect the country’s sovereignty gies in management, in addition to the of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta on the anniversary of his country. strong commitment to transparency country’s Independence Day. (QNA) Speaking to Qatar News Agency Al Thani, and all citizens and residents most to serve the country through self- and communication with the public. (QNA) to mark the National Day cele- on the occasion, expressing hope that less acts, particularly during this time He said the ministry worked on brations, the PM said the National Day the country would continue to enjoy se- that requires efforts to overcome crises, expanding the services available on its is a historic occasion when the founder curity and stability. and continues to provide one case study website or its mobile app, whether geo- of the state Sheikh Jassim bin Moham- He stressed that the National Day is after the other in overcoming crises in graphically or in terms of the type and med bin Thani laid the foundation for an important occasion that shows the all sectors. number of services, in an attempt to Bahraini cruiser stopped establishing the State of Qatar. strength of the bond between the citi- On the achievements of the Minis- save the time of service seekers. He said the National Day now zens and the wise leadership that puts try of Interior this year, the PM said the The PM noted that these efforts serves as an opportunity to seek inspi- its people’s interests above all other. ministry, like other state institutions, is were strongly rewarded by a huge leap inside Qatari waters ration in the sacrifices offered in order The National Day is a good occa- doing its best to provide high-quality in terms of reducing the amount of time QNA patrols found that there to build a nation that honours the prin- sion to be inspired by the wisdom of the services. required to complete different services, Doha were three sailors on board, ciples of freedom and sovereignty. founder as the country continues in its The ministry built on its achieve- in addition to improving the perfor- one Bahraini national and The PM congratulated His High- path of progress towards sustainable ments of the past few years by continu- mance of the different departments of- The Coasts and Borders the rest from one of ness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh development. ing to execute its strategy in 2020. fering these services. Security patrols the Asian nationali- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, HH the It also helps reflect on his journey, The ministry continued its achieve- stopped a Bahraini ties as they were Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa which sets an example for giving the ut- ments in the various security and ser- Continued on page 2  cruiser in the fishing using “Fasht Al-Dibel” traps.” area within the The MoI borders of the said the three Qatari waters by are being UK, Qatar have long-term 1.3 nautical miles, referred to the the Ministry of Interior competent prosecu- Attiyah announced on Saturday. tion to complete the financial partnerships: The MoI said, “The legal procedures against wins Hail Coasts and Borders Security them. Lord Mayor of London Baja 1 QNA Doha

Lord Mayor of London in the Field work of Qatar Census United Kingdom William Russell has described his visit to Qatar 2020 begins today as successful and fruitful. He said the city of London has long- The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) term partnerships with invest- will launch the field work for the final phase ment and financial institutions of Qatar Census 2020 on Sunday. The drive in Qatar. will continue until mid-January 2021, with In an interview with Qatar the participation of more than 2,000 field News Agency, he stressed on researchers. The field work involves collect- the close and historical relations Lord Mayor of London William ing and completing data on families and between Qatar and the United Russell. individuals, as the researcher will provide Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah held his nerve to set a second successive fastest time and seal victory in Hail Kingdom. Qatar is an important the head of the family with three options to complete his and his Baja 1, round four of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, on Saturday. The Toyota Hilux driver and friend of the United Kingdom, change and green growth, which family data, either through a direct interview with the researcher, his French navigator Matthieu Baumel stayed ahead of closest rivals Carlos Sainz and Stéphane Peterhan- and it is necessary to develop is imperative for the two coun- or through the enveloped paper form that will be distributed during sel to win the stage by 3min 20sec and seal a winning margin of 6min 10sec. page 14 financial, economic and commer- tries to develop partnerships in the field visit. (TNN) cial ties with it, especially since wider areas. the two countries are considered He said the volume of as financial centers at the world Qatari investments in the United level, he added. Kingdom amounted to about 40 The Lord Mayor of London billion pounds last year in energy Mowasalat to activate Apple Pay & Google Pay services in Karwa taxis said the two countries play a vital sectors, companies and proper- and pioneering role in building ties. He said a total of 1,134 QNA ers mobile payment solutions that are a more resilient global economy British companies and repre- Doha Customers with already compatible with the best international that takes into account the sentative offices are operating in activated Apple and Google standards. environment, the risks of climate Qatar. page 10 Mowasalat (Karwa), the primary Mowasalat CEO Fahad Saad Al transport service provider in Qatar, and Pay accounts will be able Qahtani said, “The customers are at QNB Group, the largest financial institu- to pay their Mowasalat taxi the very heart of our business, and tion in the Middle East and Africa, have and Limousine rides this directly resonates in the imple- collaborated on enhancing mobile pay- through the system, until mentation of latest technology. The Action against 66 for not wearing masks ment via Apple Pay and Google Pay. the service is approved for activation of Apple Pay and Google Pay The designated authorities on Saturday referred 66 people to The launching of Apple Pay and local banks, too services comes within our ongoing the Public Prosecution for not wearing masks in places where Google Pay, which secures payments efforts that we started with the brand they are mandatory. They also referred 5 others to the Public using Touch ID or Face ID on compat- new Karwa Taxi App. We constantly Prosecution for violating the rule of maximum four people ible iOS and Android devices, is an already activated Apple Pay and Google Under this partnership, Mowasalat embrace more digital solutions to in a vehicle including the driver, except for cases when they important step by Mowasalat and QNB Pay accounts will be able to pay their is the first merchant to enable this make our services easily and safely are members of one family. The measure is in line with the to promote payment through smart Mowasalat taxi and Limousine rides service in Qatar, while QNB will become available for all. In a nutshell – we are Cabinet decision, decree law no 17 of 1990 on infectious dis- devices. through the system, until the service is the Mastercard Payment Gateway on the way to make Mowasalat part of eases, and the precautionary measures in force in the country At the moment, customers with approved for local banks, too. Services provider, offering its custom- everyone’s everyday life.” to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). (QNA) 02 Sunday, December 13, 2020

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News in brief MoCI detects 37 violations in Deputy Amir congratulates Kenyan president The Deputy Amir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani on Saturday sent a cable of congratulations to President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day. (QNA) retail outlets in Al-Shahaniya PM sends congratulations to Kenyan president Tribune News Network Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Doha Saturday sent a cable of congratulations to President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta on the anniver- sary of his country’s Independence Day. (QNA) The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) detected 37 violations during an inspec- tion campaign on retail outlets Mada Center wins global prize for digital in Al-Shahaniya. The violations included non-compliance with public empowerment of people with disabilities and private requirements, and Qatar Assistive Technology plementation, advisory services cess. The centre also gives prior- failure to adhere to the precau- Center (Mada Center) has won and standardisation, making ity to empowering the education tionary measures. the UNESCO-Amir Jaber Al assistive technology available to sector to ensure a comprehen- The inspection, carried Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Prize users with disabilities, working sive educational system at all out in coordination with the for Digital Empowerment of with accessibility principles and levels and continuous learning Ministry of Interior, aimed to Persons with Disabilities for the promoting international coop- through information and com- monitor the degree of compli- year 2020-2021. eration. munication technology. ance with laws and resolutions Mada Center won the prize The committee also appreci- The UNESCO-Amir Jaber regulating commercial ac- in the organisations category for ated the centre’s role in address- Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah tivities, including law No 5 of The violations that were recorded included non-compliance with public and private requirements, and its role as centre and facilitator ing the coronavirus (COVID-19) Prize for Digital Empowerment 2015 on Commercial, Indus- failure to adhere to the precautionary measures. to consolidate the meanings of pandemic by providing tangible of Persons with Disabilities aims trial and Similar Public Shops, digital inclusion and build an ac- solutions that support the use to honour and reward the ex- and Street Vendors. crack down on violations. Ministerial decisions to com- www.moci.gov.qa to avoid legal cessible technological society for of more comprehensive infor- ceptional contributions made The inspection campaign The ministry vowed to petent authorities to take ap- accountability and penalties. people with disabilities, and for mation on issues of education, by individuals, organisations comes as part of the ministry’s not tolerate any negligence propriate measures in order to The ministry also urges all its important role in supporting culture and community devel- or institutions that have proven efforts to monitor and regu- in terms of meeting obliga- protect consumer rights. citizens and residents to report the government’s strategies, leg- opment. successful in promoting the late markets and commercial tions stipulated in Law No 5 of The ministry urges all mer- any violations or infractions islation and policies in this field. Mada Center provides a inclusion of persons with dis- activities across Qatar, and to 2015, and promised to intensi- chants and shopkeepers to related to registration and The committee responsi- number of targeted services and abilities in society, empowering monitor the degree of compli- fy its inspection campaigns to comply with applicable laws commercial licensing through ble for the prize commended activities to its strategic partners them and advancing their lives ance with laws and regulations crackdown on such practices. and regulations governing Call Center: 16001, Twitter @ Mada’s distinguished work in to enhance its role as a strategic by employing digital solutions governing commercial activi- The ministry said it would commercial activities, and to MOCIQATAR and Instagram research and development, im- enabler in the field of ICT ac- effectively and creatively. ties in a bid to uncover and refer violators of laws and review them on its website at MOCIQATAR. ‘MoI is committed to providing best services to all segments of society’ Continued from page 1  to provide the appropriate guidance focus has shifted to providing com- regarding the measures undertaken prehensive healthcare to citizens He stressed that the Ministry of by the state to contain the virus. and residents by developing the in- Interior (MoI) remains committed The PM highlighted the min- frastructure, and providing technol- to providing the best services to all istry’s efforts in encouraging the ogies that are necessary to provide segments of society in line with its public to interact with it digitally on good healthcare services, along with strategy of offering non-centralised its website or through the Metrash2 developing the human cadres in the services to the public through vari- app to help avoid crowding. He add- required specializations. ous digital platforms and geograph- ed that the ministry continues that He said the development in the ic locations. role in a bid to contain the spread of healthcare field was also a result As for the security field, the PM the virus, and to maintain the health of the focus on inaugurating many said the efforts of the ministry was and safety of all members of society, health facilities and institutions that reflected clearly in the low crime while also reminding the public of reflect the aspirations of the state in rates compared to international lev- the importance of adhering to the the field. els, particularly in terms of major precautionary measures adopted in On the economy, he said work is crimes. the country. ongoing to encourage local invest- He said the achievement is even Responding to a question on the ments, protect national products, more impressive given the increase state’s success in facing different and increasing production in or- in population growth seen over the challenges, the PM said the country der to reach self-sufficiency in food past few years. is moving forward towards achiev- and water security and satisfying He underlined that Qatar enjoys ing all its developmental goals, the needs for medicine. He added great security and stability, evident thanks to the wise leadership of that there was also ongoing work by its high rankings in a number of HH the Amir. He said the success to improve the business climate in international indices dedicated to was also a result of focusing on in- Qatar and increase tourism, not- the issue. Qatar was ranked as the frastructure projects, with the state ing that these sectors have become highest country in the Middle East placing a high priority on develop- more competitive and more capable and North Africa, and 27th in the ing an infrastructure that was state of attracting local and international world, in the Global Peace Index investments. 2020 which is produced by the In- On foreign policy and enhancing stitute for Economics & Peace. Qa- Qatar was ranked highest in the ties with the international commu- tar was also ranked the safest in the Middle East and North Africa, nity, the PM stressed that the state’s world during the first half of 2020 foreign policy was characterised by according to Numbeos crime index. and 27th in the world, in the independence and flexibility as it On combatting the coronavirus Global Peace Index 2020. Qatar looked to serve national interests (COVID-19), the PM said this year’s was also ranked the safest in and protect the country’s sover- National Day celebrations come at a the world during the first half of eignty. He stressed that the state time when Qatar and all countries 2020, according to the will continue to work on enhancing around the world are engaged in a Numbeos crime index ties with other friendly countries to battle to contain the COVID-19 pan- establish peace and security both demic, a struggle that have impact- regionally and internationally, par- ed all countries. of the art. ticularly when it pertains to facing He said Qatar, from the outset, He also noted that development terrorism and fighting extremism. relied on highly-effective strategies efforts focused also on other fields He also highlighted that Qatar’s that saw the state allocate all its like health, education, the economy belief in settling conflicts peacefully resources to contain the pandemic and social affairs, among others, in led the state to act diplomatically and maintain the safety of everyone addition to the commitment to de- and engage with countries and in- living in the country. veloping capable human cadres. ternational institutions to explain He said the Ministry of Inte- The PM highlighted the great the Qatari point of view, something rior assumed its responsibilities in leaps made in the education sector, that contributed in enhancing com- enhancing the efforts of protecting saying that the focus now is on pro- munication between Qatar, the re- society and containing the virus, viding quality education. He noted gion, and the world. by following up on the implemen- that the goal was realised through The PM added that opening up tation of the Cabinet’s decision in the constant revision of academic to the world and engaging with it to that regard, particularly the meas- curriculums, acceptance policies, improve ties helped build strong in- ures related to the Ministry of In- regulating the educational process, ternational relations based on mu- terior, in addition to the measures and sending distinguished students tual respect and avoiding interfer- announced by the Supreme Com- to continue their education abroad, ence in internal affairs. mittee for Crisis Management while also establishing prominent The PM concluded by saying He said the ministry fulfilled foreign educational institutions in that even with all those achieve- those roles and was keen on pro- Qatar. ments, there is a lot more to come viding the public with up-to-date He said that development in the thanks to the available expertise information on its website, in order health sector was following a simi- capable of achieving all the desired to avoid the spread of rumours and lar path to that of education, as the goals.

04 Sunday, December 13, 2020 Nation Qatar’s health system shows ability to combat pandemic: Muraikhi

QNA of Qatar’s long-term health Muraikhi said Qatar be- tries to combat the pandemic. after HH the Amir announced Doha policy and investment in de- lieves in the importance of He said the country is also October 2021 for the elections veloping the health system strong teamwork and careful working with the United Na- as the culmination of a new re- Qatar’s health system has with all its components, such coordination to move over- tions Development Program form process and the develop- proven its capabilities in the as health centres, hospitals, as come this crisis, stressing that in the Innovation Lab, which ment of the legislative process face of the COVID-19 pandem- well as the medical personnel. Qatar has strengthened its includes more than 47 coun- with wider participation of ic as it has recorded one of the He added that the theme ability to quickly respond to tries, to devise solutions to citizens, as an important step lowest death rates in the world of the forum reflects the chal- face the dangerous repercus- address the negative conse- to strengthen the traditions as a result of the efforts made lenges that the world faces as a sions of the pandemic. quences of the coronavirus of the Qatari Shura under the by the state and concerted ef- result of the ongoing pandem- He highlighted that Qatar pandemic, which include busi- national constitution promul- forts at all levels, Minister of ic, which calls for intensified has made financial contribu- ness, technological and medi- gated in 2004. State for Foreign Affairs HE cooperation at the bilateral tions of $140 million to multi- cal solutions for developing Muraikhi thanked Minis- Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi and multilateral levels to limit lateral health care institutions and emerging countries. ter of Foreign Affairs of Indo- has said. the negative effects of the pan- that work in developing vac- The minister reiterated nesia Retno Marsudi for the He was speaking at the demic. cines to ensure the efficiency Qatar’s continued support for well-organised forum in its 13th Bali Democracy Forum The minister referred to of health care, especially in the international institutions to 13th edition, which has turned held via video conference the appeal of the Amir His least developed countries, and develop the health sector to into a firm tradition that con- technology under the theme Highness Sheikh Tamim bin cines and medical equipment the importance of the health $20 million in support of the preserve the lives and stability firms the belief in the values ‘Democracy and the COVID-19 Hamad Al Thani to the inter- to all countries, especially in sector as the main pillar on Global Alliance for Vaccines of individuals. represented by democracy Pandemic’. national community for joint poor regions of the world. which the rest of the economic, and Immunization (Gavi), in He said Qatar is planning as a system that reflects the Muraikhi said the efforts action to ensure justice in He stressed that facing the social, educational and other addition to providing assis- to hold the first legislative core aspirations of the people have proven the effectiveness providing the necessary medi- coronavirus pandemic proved sectors are based. tance to more than 80 coun- elections for the Shura Council around the world. HBKU College hosts webinar on public and private partnerships with Univ of Maryland Tribune News Network Doha

The potential of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to finance infrastructure projects was the focus of a webinar hosted by the Programme for Social Policy Evaluation and Research (PROSPER) at the College of QC partners Lusail University in Public Policy (CPP), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). The Dr Anis Ben Brik virtual event was held in collabo- ration with the School of Public Global Business and Economics Policy at the University of Mary- Program at the Atlantic Council. humanitarian training, research land. Ensuring a broad range of ‘Using Public-Private Part- policy-oriented discussions, the Tribune News Network stems from the belief of Qatar role of Qatar and its institu- nerships to Finance Major Infra- webinar’s expert panel also fea- Doha Charity in the importance of tions in support of education structure Projects: Lessons for tured Dr Ehab Elsonbaty, senior cooperation that helps achieve worldwide. the MENA Region’ shed light on legal counsel, head of Govern- Qatar Charity (QC) and Lu- sustainable development goals, This agreement aims to realities, challenges, opportuni- ance and Government Affairs, sail University have signed strengthen humanitarian re- cooperate in various research ties, successes and failures of dif- Qatar Investment Authority; an agreement to collaborate sponse efforts and find solu- fields of common interest such ferent PPP models in the MENA Osama Suleiman, director, PPP in education and training, re- tions to problems in light of the as working on conflict issues, region. Comparative perspec- Unit, Ministry of Finance, Jor- search and studies related to increasing crises and disasters education, training, research tives highlighted the optimal dan; and Samira Ben Sik Ali, the development and humani- across the world, in addition to and applied studies related to tools that support PPP evalua- director, Tunisian Public Private tarian work. enhancing the capabilities of the development and humani- tion and decision-making. Partnership Agency. The agreement was signed human resources. tarian work. Dr Anis Ben Brik, associate Dr Ben Brik commented by Faisal Rashid Al Fahida, Marafie expressed delight The pact also included co- professor at CPP and founding after the webinar: “In keeping assistant CEO for the Pro- over the agreement concluded operation in organising work- director of PROSPER, jointly with our intention for PROS- grammes and Community with Qatar Charity in support shops and training courses, chaired the discussions with PER to develop a policy-relevant Development Sector at Qatar of education. multilingual translation, schol- Dr Douglas Besharov, director, research agenda driven by the Charity, and Sheikha Abdul She said that the pact would arships, vocational training Center for International Policy grand social policy challenges Raziq Marafie, vice-president contribute to achieving the Qa- and employment for Lusail Exchanges, University of Mary- facing Qatar and the MENA re- for Financial and Administra- tar National Vision 2030 and University students, in addition land School of Public Policy, gion, the webinar was an engag- tive Affairs at Lusail University, University HE Dr Ali bin Fe- Kuwari. the sustainable development to collaboration in training which featured experts from the ing and fruitful event. Our ongo- in the presence of Chairman of tais Al Marri and CEO of Qatar Speaking on the occasion, goals, noting that it highlights executive leadership of Qatar public sector and academia from ing collaboration with Maryland the Board of Trustees of Lusail Charity Yousef bin Ahmed Al Fahida said that the agreement the delightful humanitarian Charity by Lusail University. the MENA region, the US and University to host this webinar Europe. is one way in which we aim to Eminent speakers included bridge gaps between academia, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, deputy policymakers and practitioners assistant secretary for Research with a vested interest in under- and Technology, US Depart- standing the benefits and chal- Doha Institute and Mathaf to organise 3rd ment of Transportation; Dr lenges of public-private partner- Andreas Kopp, member of the ships.” Regulatory Scrutiny Board, Dr Besharov said: “When annual conference on Visual Arts Studies European Commission; Ziad properly designed and imple- Hayek, president of the World mented, public-private part- QNA video conferencing on Monday. The conference stems from major actor in reshaping the transformations they are going Association of PPP Units and nerships bring the expertise, Doha A number of researchers, the idea that the modern city city’s space and time. through in the wake of the pan- Professionals and vice-chair of efficiency and financing of the artists and workers at muse- built Mathaf as a reflexive The conference will also demic. the Working Party on PPP of the private sector to the financing Doha Institute for Graduate ums and galleries from across mechanism, and therefore the shed light on the current in- The second edition of the UN Economic Commission for and construction of major in- Studies will host, in cooperation the world will participate in the museum had to tell the story of tersections of the health crisis, conference, held from Novem- Europe; Dr Eyüp Vural Aydın, frastructure projects. We at the with the Arab Museum of Mod- conference, which will be or- the city through different visual, and how both the museum and ber 25 to 27, 2019, examined chairman of Istanbul Public- University of Maryland are hon- ern Art (Mathaf), the third An- ganised under the slogan ‘The architectural and temporal me- the city have been deeply and the various historical institu- Private Partnership Center of oured to partner with HBKU in nual Conference on Visual Arts Future Museum in the Future dia, so that the museum, with comprehensively affected by tional formations of technical Excellence; and Bart Oosterveld, this effort, which is focused on Studies 2020-2021 through City’. the passage of time, became a the pandemic and the radical schools. senior fellow and director of the the needs of the MENA region.” PICPA webinars discuss business ethics, fraud proofing

Tribune News Network DOHA

The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Doha LLC(G) con- ducted two consecutive weekly webinars on ‘Business Ethics and Business Fraud Proofing in Interesting Times’, recently. More than 50 PICPA mem- bers, associates and guests par- ticipated in the webinars led by the PICPA Doha President Alvin Polido. Robert P Lepon, chair- man of Medical Mission Group Overseas Filipino Expatriates Fraud proofing capability is The Fraud Triangle Theory ernance aims to minimise, if can be caught and sanctioned. During the second session, of Venetia Claire Flores, Abdul Hospital and Health Services not necessarily 100 percent ef- was postulated by Dr Donald not eradicate, fraudulent acts. The most effective control Lepon foregrounded the role of Ramin and John Vincent Gu- Cooperative and a multi-cer- fective he said, compared it to Cressey pointing out the causes However, he added, during this mechanism is the creation of business ethics in fraud preven- nita. tified professional with a wide “water-proof watches that you of SMEs, large-scale businesses interesting time these controls whistleblowing policy which tion, otherwise the company PICPA Doha LLC(G) is a range of experience in audit, cannot guarantee results”. and especially white-collar jobs and processes may cease to most of the states are mandat- will die. The “Ethics or Die” non-profit professional organi- controls and assurance services, “We need to fraud-proof collapsing due to financial pres- exist if not acted properly and ed in creating a Whistleblower topic talked about the Ethics sation registered in the Qatar was the keynote speaker. ourselves and our businesses/ sure, rationalisation and op- accordingly. He cited that the Protection Act. Impact of fraud Triangle, the Ethical versus Un- Financial Center Authority He opened the first session companies by strengthening in- portunity, resulting in a num- global impact of pandemic is is significant and can bring ethical Acts, Impact of Ethics (QFC) since 2018. Its members by throwing the attendees a ternal controls within the limits ber of business fraud that keeps the best example where billions down rich and powerful people, on Companies and its Share- and associates comprise of a di- curve asking them of the extent of materiality and cost versus on increasing and recurring. of people are affected. businesses and governments holders. verse mix of finance profession- of the initiatives in protecting benefits,” he said as he shared Lepon pointed out that “Anti-fraud or fraud proof- as he cited few proven contro- The webinar fostered en- als with a myriad of work expe- their businesses and compa- the Anti -Fraud Triangle or implementation of controls, ing analytics should be in- versies happened in the world,” gagement and interaction riences from different industry nies from fraudulent activities. C-365 Degrees concept. processes and corporate gov- stilled in the mind that anyone said Lepon. through the lively facilitation groups. Nation Saturday, December 13, 2020 05 QU hosts 2nd virtual 75 people donate blood Academic Excellence Week Fall 2020 at KPAQ’s medical camp Foundation Program

Tribune News Network dents innovative high-quality DOHA opportunities. Dr. Al-Awah also thanked the Academic Qatar University’s (QU) Excellence and Professional Foundation Program, under Development Committee of the Deanship of General Stud- the Foundation Program at ies, recently organised its ‘2nd Qatar University for their Virtual Academic Excellence valuable efforts in organising Week’ via the Microsoft Teams this event. platform. During the three-day The aim was to exchange event, the speakers discussed the expertise and good edu- recent developments in ELT cational practices of English research and presented and Language Teaching (ELT) in shared various ideas, experi- the context of the COVID-19 ences and research outcomes pandemic. The event included aimed at achieving learning training workshops focusing outcomes strategies and fur- on innovative methods of ex- ther enhancing student en- Vanimel. respectively. cellence that enhance online gagement in virtual learning General Secretary Gafoor Dr Mohammed Russell teaching and learning, with contexts. David Nunan, Pro- Calicut delivered the welcome from HMC, Shameer KP and the participation of research- fessor Emeritus of Applied Tribune News Network Al Rabeeh Medical Centre’s Al were given free medicines as address. Mohammad Arif from Raviputhukudi led the blood- ers and experts from local and Linguistics at the University Doha Wakrah Branch recently. well as a cholesterol level test, Naseem Al Rabeh Health Care donation camp. international universities, and of Hong Kong and one of the The camp was held to pro- blood-sugar test and flu vaccine. and Rauf Kondotty, a social Naseem Healthcare’s me- the participation of more than most distinguished educa- Kozhikode jilla Pravassi As- vide relief to those suffering from As many as 75 people do- worker, spoke on the occasion. mentos were handed over to 500 ELT faculty, teachers and tors in the world, presented sociation Qatar (KPAQ), in col- various health problems dur- nated blood in the camp. During the ceremony, Vasu Mohammad Arif, Dr Moham- specialists inside and outside the opening session and the laboration with Naseem Al Ra- ing the time of COVID-19 pan- Indian Community Benevo- Vanimel and KPAQ Women’s mad Russell, Dr Somasunda- Qatar. pioneer of student-based beeh Healthcare and Hamad demic, and included medical lent Forum (ICBF) President P Wing Convener Femi Ga- ram, Vasu Vanimel, Riyaz In line with Qatar Vi- learning in the 1970s. In the Medical Corporation (HMC), or- examinations by ENT, dental, N Baburajan inaugurated the foor handed over KPAQ Pre- Khan and PN Babu Raj. Abdul sion 2030, the Director of lecture, Professor Nunan dis- ganised a blood donation camp peadiatrics, internal medicine camp at a function presided mier Memberships to Dr So- Rahim P K proposed the vote the Foundation Program cussed this kind of learning and medical camp at Naseem and eye specialists. Participants over by KPAQ President Vasu masundaram and Dr Reena, of thanks. (FP), Dr. Hezam Al-Awah, and shared exciting insights pointed out that the event is from his own experiences considered to be one of the about the difficulties experi- most important activities enced by learners in different that the FP periodically holds educational settings and from for its faculty members and diverse cultural backgrounds. Qatar SportsTech concludes third the wider English language Several internationally rec- teaching community. He ognised speakers from Qatar, also stressed the importance the USA, Australia, Finland of such professional devel- and Hong Kong have mostly cohort of its Accelerator Program opment opportunities for spoken English to speakers of faculty members to further other languages in the field of Tribune News Network fan engagement apps, and e- cated mentors, QST has success- enhance their knowledge of teaching (TESOL). (TESOL). Doha sport talent development and fully accelerated a new batch of new academic content and The event covered topics as management among many oth- sportech talents, to join a myriad enhance their teaching tech- diverse as the revised learner- Qatar SportsTech (QST), a ers. of other startups who have al- niques. He added that the centered approach, sustaina- leading start-up accelerator Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Man- ready started registering growth participation of faculty mem- bility in distance learning, how and hub for innovative sports nai, Executive Director of Advi- and increasing their revenues in bers in such events demon- to increase student engage- technology companies, has an- sory & Incubation at QDB, said: Qatar”. strates the commitment of ment online, and the individu- nounced the completion of the “QST’s third cohort will play a Collectively, the third cohort Qatar University to offer its al vs. institutional response to third cohort of its accelerator vital role in supporting Qatar on has raised almost USD 6 mil- faculty members and stu- current educational needs. programme. QST’s intensive its path to positioning itself as a lion in funding and is currently three-month Accelerator Pro- leading sports hub globally. In- in late-stage talks with a myriad gram supported 10 innovative novative sportstech startups that of local QST partners to run pilot start-ups to accelerate their are bold enough to make a dif- tests and test their technologies. growth in order to further de- ference will reap significant ben- The pioneers will join another velop their solutions in the in- accelerated startups also had To celebrate the third co- efits from QST’s Accelerator Pro- 20 QST Accelerator alumni who dustry, in line with QST’s vision the opportunity to work closely hort, QST will hold the final gram, including access to a global have already raised significant to be a catalyst for reshaping with key players driving Qatar’s Demo Day on 14 December network of investors, as well as investments and worked with in- sports technology in the region sports and entrepreneurial eco- 2020 where each of the 10 start- many incentives to register their ternational brands and organisa- and beyond. systems, including QST’s found- ups will showcase their innova- company with 100 percent For- tions to accelerate their growth. The selected startups had ing partner, Qatar Development tions to QST’s partners and the eign ownership in Qatar.” The Demo Day will be broadcast the opportunity to engage in Bank (QDB), as well as strategic global mentoring and investor Heba Qadri Almasri, Man- live to the public at 9 AM Doha specialised workshops hosted partners including Startupboot- network. This cohort’s ground- aging Director of QST, also said: Time on Monday, 14 December by international experts; one- camp (SBC), Supreme Com- breaking innovations cover the “Despite these unprecedented 2020. Anyone wishing to at- on-one mentoring sessions with mittee for Delivery & Legacy most disruptive technologies, times and the current challenges tend is welcome to register here: more than 100 industry spe- (SC), Qatar Stars League (QSL), including coach-player wireless faced globally, we are proud of http:/qst-demo-day-2020. cialists as well as partners and beIN Media Group (beIN), MBK communication, drone and AI this cohort’s determination and eventbrite.com/ receive mentor support from Holding, Qatar Financial Centre remote health monitoring, vir- dedication, as well as the high Qatar SportsTech is a QDB, world-class professionals and (QFC), Aspire Zone Foundation tual reality fitness gaming plat- caliber of innovations they pre- powered by SBC, supported by global leaders in sportstech. (Aspire), and the Ministry of forms, gym and fitness tracking, sented. With support from our SC, QSL, beIN, MBK Holding, During the programme, the Commerce & Industry (MoCI) broadcast platforms and mobile esteemed partners and dedi- QFC, Aspire and MoCI. A snapshot taken during the ‘2nd Virtual Academic Excellence Week’ La Cigale Hotel set to mark Qatar National Day with special offers La Cigale Hotel, Managed by Accor is and pastries, known for its 70 types of planning an irresistible line-up of spe- chocolates and 180 selections of arti- cially crafted experiences to commemo- san cheese, will be offering Qatar Na- rate Qatar National Day (QND) 2020. tional Day hampers, perfect for gifts to On the occasion of Qatar National Day embrace the feeling of togetherness on 2020, guests will be welcomed all day- this auspicious day. long with Arabic coffee and dates served Aurelio Giraudo, cluster general by colleagues donning traditional attire manager of Banyan Tree Doha At La to honour the day and showcase the Cigale Mushaireb and La Cigale Hotel FBQ Museum to mark true Qatari hospitality. Managed by Accor, said: “We are very A number of activities are also proud to celebrate Qatar National Day QND 2020 with special planned to showcase the rich cul- this year as part of Accor Group. We tural heritage and cuisine of Qatar have a strong commitment to Qatar and heritage tour, art expo as Orangery Café Trottoir, the ideal we will always be part of this great na- location for a relaxing gathering tion, honouring its values and traditions Tribune News Network learn more about the rich Qa- with an option of an alfresco and in- and contributing to achieving its vision. Doha tari culture. door seating, is offering a special ala We are looking forward to welcoming The programme will be carte menu featuring Qatari delica- our guests to join our celebrations.” As part of the Qatar National from 3pm to 5pm on Decem- cies from December 11 to 19, includ- La Cigale Hotel, Managed by Ac- Day (QND) 2020 celebra- ber 18, and from 10.30am to ing grilled chicken with kabsa, slow cor, features 225 rooms and suites, tions, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qas- 12pm and 3pm to 5pm on De- cooked lamb shank thareed and sea- five well-appointed meetingrooms, sim Al Thani Museum (FBQ cember 19. food salona along with a variety of two grand ballrooms accommodating Museum) will host special During the two days, an traditional sweets. up to 2,000 guests, an indoor swim- programmes where visitors Arabic Calligraphy Souve- Le Cigalon will be offering a Tradi- ming pool, state-of-the-art fitness can learn more about Qatar’s nir will be showcased by the tional Qatar National Day Brunch fea- centre and spa, sauna, steam room history and the rich culture museum’s calligrapher at the turing a wide spread of sumptuous buf- and an executive lounge as well as of Qatari people through regular museum hours. fet for guests to enjoy a taste of the Qatari nine dining and entertainment out- marvelous collections, rare Visitors will also receive cuisine with a selection of local and in- lets from around the world, includ- artefacts and art pieces show- an opportunity to get their ternational delicacies and mouthwater- ing International, Mediterranean, cased at the museum that tell photographs taken in a tra- ing desserts on December 18 and 19. Oriental, Italian, Japanese and Leba- stories about the history of ditional Qatari majlis setting. La Cigale Traiteur, a gourmet ha- nese specialties, to the most glamor- Qatar from the past and up to From December 18 until ven offering a rich selection of home- ous nightlife spots that gather stylish the present. January 2, 2021, the museum made Arabic and International sweets crowds from across the city. (TNN) On December 18 and 19, will host a Qatari Art Exhibi- FBQ Museum will organize tion. Exceptional Qatari art the ‘Qatari Heritage Section and artefact selections from Tour’, where a tour guide FBQ Museum will be show- from the museum will meet cased in a special exhibition the visitors, helping them at The White Majlis. 06 Sunday, December 13, 2020

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

On Foreign Policy, It’s Not Biden Should Enlist The Enough For Biden To Be The Anti-Trump C-Suite To Strengthen, n choosing retired Army Gen Lloyd J Austin weapons program, Trump careened from as secretary of defense, President-elect Joe threatening Pyongyang with “fire and fury” to IBiden has filled most of the positions on a a humiliating personal courtship of Kim Jong Safeguard Democracy foreign policy team with reassuringly able and Un. The latter approach failed to produce a experienced nominees. Now the challenge is commitment by North Korea to dismantle its for Biden and his advisers to make good on his nuclear weapons program. promise that “America is back, ready to lead Biden has said his administration would There is a role – indeed a responsibility – for the business community the world, not retreat from it.” work with other nations, including China, to Austin, who must receive a waiver from advance the objective of a denuclearized North to take concrete steps to shore up a democracy that has been Congress to serve so close to his retirement as Korea. But the administration should also be a uniformed officer, would be the first Black open to the possibility of an agreement that under assault for the past four years person to serve in that position. He would join would freeze or contain North Korea’s nuclear a team that includes Secretary of State-desig- weapons program. Tom Coleman nate Antony J Blinken; Jake Sullivan, who will The new administration will also need to Tribune News Service serve as national security adviser; and Linda frame policies for dealing with Russia, China Thomas-Greenfield, a veteran diplomat who and Iran. s a candidate the previous two years will represent the United States at the United Russia’s annexation of Crimea, its med- and recently as president-elect, Joe Nations. dling in the 2016 US election, and its attempts Biden has been unfairly criticized In four chaotic years as president, Donald to intimidate America’s allies in the North At- by some in the conservative media Trump needlessly alienated America’s allies, lantic Treaty Organization have made it a pari- as being on the wrong side of the cozied up to dictators, scorned international ah in the eyes of lawmakers from both parties. Acapitalism vs. socialism economic debate. organizations, downplayed climate change, Biden has said that the US must keep Unfortunately, these pundits have winked at human rights violations, treated ca- NATO’s military capabilities sharp and “im- misunderstood Biden’s message. He does reer diplomats and military pose real costs on Russia for not want to adopt socialist economic poli- officers with contempt and its violations of international cies, but rather is mindful that the private confused his own interests norms.” He also said the US sector will thrive when its underlying po- with those of the nation. Both should “stand with Russian litical system is based on the rule of law Biden’s statements and his civil society” against Putin’s with a functioning democracy. appointments suggest that he authoritarian rule. But he also Here’s one case in point. “It used to be will follow a different path. has expressed support for the that corporate America had a sense of re- But the next president extension of the New START sponsibility beyond just CEO salaries and will need to be more than the treaty that places limits on US shareholders,” Biden told The Wall Street opposite of Trump if he wants and Russian nuclear arsenals Journal last month. “Corporate America to pursue a successful foreign and for the pursuit of addi- has to change its ways. It’s not going to re- policy. Gen Lloyd Austin III, commander of tional arms-control agree- quire legislation. I’m not proposing any.” To be sure, Biden should US Central Command. (TNS) ments. His administration That statement is very much in line with move to undo Trump’s worst should explore ways to calm the view of 181 chief executives of many of blunders, such as his reckless repudiation of tensions with Russia without abandoning US America’s largest companies, who in 2018 the Iran nuclear agreement and the Paris cli- allies or countenancing Russian aggression in overturned a 22-year policy statement that mate accord. But Biden and his team must also Ukraine. held a corporation’s principal purpose was President-elect Joe Biden does not want to adopt socialist economic policies, but rather is pursue — in a competent and consistent way On China, the president-elect has said that to maximise shareholder returns. mindful that the private sector will thrive when its underlying political system is based on the — initiatives that Trump was right to under- the US should “build a united front of US al- Acting on behalf of the Business Round- rule of law with a functioning democracy. take but bungled badly. They include winding lies and partners to confront China’s abusive table, an association of major corporations, down the US military presence in Afghanistan behaviors and human rights violations even they adopted a new “Statement of Purpose dysfunctional that it’s endangered both lose financially. and Iraq, engaging North Korea in talks over as we seek to cooperate with Beijing on issues of a Corporation” declaring that companies our democracy and the underpinning of America’s business leaders, working its nuclear program and responding to unfair where our interests converge, such as climate should not only serve their shareholders our economy. with the new Biden administration, could trade practices by China. change, nonproliferation, and global health but also deliver value to their customers, That’s because, once confidence in our shore up the foundation of our capitalis- Afghanistan poses a particular challenge. security.” Such a nuanced strategy is easier ar- invest in employees, deal fairly with suppli- democracy is eroded, there’s a very real tic system, offering improvements where Because of a last-minute decision by Trump, ticulated than accomplished, but Biden’s team ers and support the communities in which possibility of losing our economic and needed, but always mindful that both have US troops in that country — trainers, advi- is better equipped to try to execute it than they operate — and our country. commercial well-being. an obligation to put our democracy back sors and counter-terrorism forces — are set to the Trump administration, whose disdain for While this statement reflects support I believe that if Biden would reach out on track. Surely the corporate bosses join dwindle to 2,500 next month. The peace pro- multilateral approaches left the United States for a much-needed new approach to de- to these business leaders he would have top government officials in recognizing cess midwifed by the Trump administration without the allies and the leverage needed to fining a corporation’s purpose, it does a welcoming and enthusiastic partner that nations with dysfunctional govern- has made only halting progress, and Biden bring about real change. not go far enough. I believe the president- for the repairing of our democracy. Busi- ments and political systems are called ba- might feel pressed, including by some of his Finally, Biden has promised to advance hu- elect’s message is that there is a role — in- ness leaders recognise the loss of trust in nana republics for a reason. foreign policy advisers, to leave troops there man rights abroad. Biden will have to balance deed a responsibility to our country — for America by our allies. They have no doubt They are not democracies. And they are indefinitely if there is no political settlement. a commitment to human rights with other US the business community to take concrete had to repeatedly apologize for the embar- not home to any corporate headquarters. That would break faith with Biden‘s prom- interests. Like any president, Biden will face steps to shore up a democracy that has rassments of the Trump administration ise to end “forever wars.” His foreign policy unanticipated foreign policy challenges and been under continued assault for the past and understand our dysfunctional politi- (Tom Coleman was a Republican team should leverage its experience and dip- will have to modify his policies accordingly. four years. cal system is not good for their business. congressman from Missouri from lomatic skills — ideally in concert with NATO Fortunately, the caliber of the men and When too many of our political lead- Politicians have their political base but 1976 to 1993. He is an adviser to partners and other nations in the region — to women Biden has selected to shape US foreign ers fail to address the dangers to Ameri- so do business leaders. They are called Protect Democracy, an create conditions that would allow for further policy offers hope that the next administration can democracy, then another group must shareholders. Shareholders recognise the anti-authoritarian watchdog group, withdrawal, leaving a small force to protect the will respond thoughtfully to predictable and step forward to safeguard it. The business returns on their investments ultimately and has taught “The Intersection U.S. Embassy in Kabul. unpredictable problems alike. Amateur hour community is a group with a major stake depend on how well the nation’s system of of Business and Government in the In dealing with North Korea’s nuclear is over. in having a healthy governing system. And laws is functioning. If it becomes dysfunc- Nation’s Economy” at the New York so it should confront the reality that our tional because of breaches of our constitu- University graduate school (Tribune News Service) public sector has become so polarized and tional and legal boundaries, then they will of public service) Facebook Has Only Itself To Blame For Drastic Remedy Mark Zuckerberg and the company have proved again and again that they don’t take government mandates seriously

Joe Nocera for the company, Systrom and the Insta- still use their data to make oodles of money. Post put it at the time. Koum had long kept Tribune News Service gram board said yes. Zuckerberg has apologized a dozen the data of WhatsApp users private, but But when it sought to get the deal ap- times or more for some Facebook missteps Zuckerberg had decided the time had come ark Zuckerberg always knew. In 2012, proved by the Federal Trade Commission in and promised to do better. Nothing much for Facebook to start monetizing it. A What- when Instagram was 2 years old, with the US and the Office of Fair Trading in the changes. Facebook agreed to a settlement sApp that was divorced from Facebook M13 employees and no obvious path to UK, Facebook argued with a straight face with the FTC in 2012 over what the agency might well establish itself as an alternative profitability, Zuckerberg knew that the fast- that there was plenty of competition from called “privacy-related violations” — and to Facebook’s data practices. Indeed, that’s growing photo app was a potential threat to other photo apps like Camera Awesome. then had to pay a $5 billion fine seven what it was before it was acquired in 2014. Facebook Inc.’s social media dominance. And the two government agencies were also years later for violating the terms of that The same could be true of Instagram. They “Instagram can hurt us,” he wrote in convinced that because Instagram had no settlement. One reason to break up Face- wouldn’t compete with Facebook on price, an email. In an internal discussion about revenue, a merger with Facebook wouldn’t book is that less onerous remedies have obviously, but on all the other things social whether to buy Instagram — and other meaningfully add to its market share. The simply failed to make a difference. Face- media users care about. startups that might one day pose a threat two regulators took only four months to Facebook co-founder & CEO Mark Zuckerberg. book has proved again and again that it It’s no secret that government antitrust to Facebook’s social media monopoly — approve the deal. But of course they didn’t doesn’t take government mandates seri- cases are difficult to win in court, where he added, “The basic plan would be to buy know what Zuckerberg and Systrom knew. ploys a “buy-or-bury strategy that thwarts ously. As the economist Hal Singer put it judges have heavily favored consolidation in these companies and leave their products On Wednesday afternoon, the FTC and competition and harms both users and ad- in a tweet soon after the complaint was recent decades. Facebook will argue — as it running while over time incorporating the 48 attorneys general filed dual antitrust vertisers.” One would be hard pressed to filed, “There is no injunctive or behavio- already has — that it won government ap- social dynamics they’ve invented into our suits designed to undo the merger of Face- disagree. Venture capitalists are so fearful ral cure that can remedy this mess. Face- proval of the deals fair and square. core products.” book and Instagram — as well as Facebook’s of Facebook’s ruthless tactics they simply book’s anticompetitive conduct defies tra- But reducing Facebook’s power is one Kevin Systrom, Instagram’s co-founder, takeover of WhatsApp, another potential won’t fund startups that Zuckerberg might ditional (regulatory) approaches.” of the few issues that Republicans and knew something, too. He knew that anger- rival that it bought in 2014 for a staggering view as competition, no matter how insig- The second reason to break up Facebook Democrats agree on, and as my colleague ing Zuckerberg might cause the “wrath of $19 billion. (WhatsApp also had no revenue nificant. Thus is innovation stifled, as is is that it is the only way to create competition Tae Kim notes, David Cicilline, the chair Mark” to come down on his still-fragile and 55 employees at the time Facebook competition itself. in the social media business — and to create of the House antitrust subcommittee, company and cause Facebook’s founder to bought it.) This is a radical proposition — As a result, the plaintiffs contend, so- it instantly. Instagram now has more than 1 would be well served to craft a bill that go into “destroy mode,” as he put it in a text the US government hasn’t contemplated cial media consumers don’t have legitimate billion monthly active users. WhatsApp has would make it easier to curb the power message to one of Instagram’s early inves- breaking up a company since the Justice choices. If they don’t like Facebook’s pri- more than 1.6 billion. What’s more, before of the big technology companies, starting tors. Yes, Instagram might one day become Department sued Microsoft in 1998. But vacy policies, or if they want fewer ads, or Facebook bought them, the two companies with Facebook. As for the antitrust suits, a significant competitor to Facebook — but I’ve long believed that there is simply no are offended by Facebook’s unwillingness had much different approaches to matters breaking up Facebook isn’t just the right it was also possible that Facebook would other way to curb Facebook’s immense mo- to face squarely the amount of disinforma- such as privacy and even profitability. solution, it’s the only solution. clone Instagram’s technology and put the nopoly power. tion on its platform, what are their options? For instance, WhatsApp’s chief execu- startup out of business. So in April 2012, In the attorneys general complaint, Move to Instagram? Or WhatsApp? They tive officer, Jan Koum, left Facebook in 2018 (Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion when Zuckerberg offered to pay $1 billion the plaintiffs contend that Facebook em- are still in Facebook’s universe, which can after a “clash over data,” as The Washington columnist covering business)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Sunday, December 13, 2020 07

Iran, Turkey Kabul rocket spar over Iran executes opposition attacks kill Erdogan’s one civilian, poetry recital injure two dpa figure Ruhollah Zam Istanbul AFP Kabul A poem recited by Turk- Telegram channel. ish President Recep Tayyip Zam was convicted Amnesty has repeatedly A series of rockets struck Erdogan in Azerbaijan has of espionage for called on Iran to stop broad- Kabul on Saturday, killing kicked off a row between his casting videos of “confessions” one person and wounding home country and Iran, which France and an by suspects, saying they “vio- two, officials said, the sec- has accused Ankara of under- unnamed country in late the defendants’ rights”. ond such attack to rock mining its territorial integrity. Zam had lived in exile in the Afghan capital in less “We condemn the aggres- the region: IRNA France for several years be- than a month. sive remarks targeting our AFP fore being arrested by Iran’s Violence has surged president and our country on Tehran Revolutionary Guards under across Afghanistan in re- the pretext of a poem,” Er- unclear circumstances. cent months, with several dogan’s communications di- Iran authorities on Saturday Paris-based press rights deadly attacks carried rector Fahrettin Altun said in executed Ruhollah Zam, a for- group Reporters Without Bor- out in Kabul, despite the response on Saturday. mer opposition figure who had ders (RSF) said on Saturday it Taliban and the govern- In a statement on the lived in exile in France and was was “outraged” by the execu- ment engaging in peace presidential website, Altun implicated in anti-government tion. talks since September 12 claimed that Iranian authori- protests, days after his sentence RSF had previously in Qatar. ties had attempted to “distort” was upheld. claimed that Zam had disap- “This morning, 10 the context of the verse. State television said the peared on a trip to Baghdad rockets were fired from On Thursday, Erdogan “counter-revolutionary” Zam in October 2019, and accused the Labe Jar neighbour- recited a poem in the Azer- was hanged in the morning af- Iran of abducting him in Iraq hood of Kabul,” inte- baijani capital Baku about the ter the supreme court upheld to face trial back home. rior ministry spokesman division of territories predom- his sentence due to “the sever- Zam is one of several peo- Tariq Arian told report- inantly inhabited by Azeris ity of the crimes” committed ple to have been sentenced to ers. between Iran and Russia in against the Islamic republic. death over participation or He said three rockets the 19th century. Judiciary spokesman links to protests that rocked landed near Kabul airport Gholamhossein Esmaili had on Iran between 2017 and 2019. and seven in residential Tuesday said Zam’s sentence Navid Afkari, a 27-year- areas, leaving one civilian was upheld by the supreme old wrestler, was executed at dead and two wounded. court “more than a month ago”. a prison in the southern city of The barrage of rock- We condemn the aggressive London-based human Shiraz in September. ets on Saturday was the remarks targeting our rights group Amnesty Inter- File photo of Ruhollah Zam, a former opposition figure who had lived in exile in France. (AFP) The judiciary said he had second such attack in less president and our country national, in a statement after been found guilty of “volun- than a month in Kabul. on the pretext of a poem his verdict was confirmed, de- remove the account for inciting tary homicide” for stabbing to On November 21, eight scribed Zam as a “journalist RSF ‘outraged’ at Iran execution an “armed uprising”. death a government employee people were killed and 31 Erdogan’s communications and dissident”. Zam was charged with “cor- in August 2018. were wounded when 23 director Fahrettin Altun It said the confirmation Paris: Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders voiced ruption on earth” -- one of the Shiraz and other urban rockets hit the capital in marked “a shocking escalation “outrage” Saturday at the execution in Iran of Ruhollah Zam, a most serious offences under centres had been the scene of an attack claimed by the in the use of the death penalty former opposition figure who had been implicated in anti-govern- Iranian law -- and sentenced to anti-government protests at Islamic State group. Erdogan was addressing as a weapon of repression”. ment protests. The organisation, known by its French acronym death in June. the time. IS has also claimed a military parade to celebrate Iran’s Revolutionary RSF, said it had warned UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet and As his trial started, state Three young men were also two brutal attacks on ed- Azerbaijan’s territorial gains Guards announced the arrest Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in television broadcast a “docu- sentenced to death over links to ucational centres in the against Armenia in the disput- of Zam in October 2019, claim- Iran, since October 23 about Zam’s “possible execution”. “RSF mentary” about Zam’s “rela- deadly 2019 protests, but Iran’s capital that killed mostly ed Nagorno-Karabakh region. ing he had been “directed by is outraged at this new crime of Iranian justice,” the organisa- tions” with the Islamic repub- supreme court said last week students, including one on Iran slammed the poem France’s intelligence service”. tion tweeted. It charged that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali lic’s foes. that it would retry them at the Kabul University during as interference in its domes- State television said he was Khamenei was “the mastermind of this execution.” (afp) The broadcaster also aired request of their defence teams. which gunmen sprayed tic affairs and summoned the “under the protection of sev- an “interview” with him in Their sentences were ini- classrooms with bullets. Turkish ambassador. Turkey eral countries’ intelligence ser- July, in which he is seen say- tially upheld with the judici- Authorities blamed also summoned the Iranian vices”. country’s security”, insulting hardship. ing he believed in reformism ary saying evidence had been the attacks on education- top envoy late Friday. The official IRNA news the “sanctity of Islam” and in- Zam, who was granted po- until he was detained in 2009 found on their phones of them al centres on the Haqqani Erdogan’s remarks were agency said he was also con- stigating violence during the litical asylum in France and during protests against the dis- setting alight banks, buses and network, an affiliate of “based on illusions,” Iranian victed of espionage for France 2017 protests. reportedly lived in Paris, ran a puted re-election of ultra-con- public buildings. the Taliban. Foreign Ministry spokesman and an unnamed country in At least 25 people were channel on the Telegram mes- servative president Mahmoud Amnesty International said Afghan Vice President Said Khatibzadeh said on Fri- the region, cooperating with killed during the unrest in De- saging app called Amadnews. Ahmadinejad. Iran executed at least 251 peo- Amrullah Saleh said on day. the “hostile government of cember 2017 and January 2018 Telegram shut down the He also denied having in- ple last year, the world’s sec- his Facebook page on Sat- The Turkish leader unwit- America”, acting against “the that was sparked by economic channel after Iran demanded it stigated violence through his ond highest total after China. urday that he had received tingly recited a poem that “re- a warning from IS that it fers to the forcible separation would “transform Kabul of areas north of Aras from into a slaughterhouse for Iranian motherland,” Foreign Shiites” if any of the ji- Minister Mohammad Javad hadist group’s militants Zarif tweeted. S Korea reports highest number of new coronavirus cases arrested by government “NO ONE can talk about forces were executed. OUR beloved Azerbaijan,” he AFP control of the spread. Korea Disease Control and Moon Jae-in said in a state- centres will be set up in areas In recent months, added. Seoul Officials announced 950 Prevention Agency, prompt- ment, calling the situation with heavy movement of peo- Saleh and his aides have Iran is home to two re- new infections after sev- ing worries about a major “very grave”. ple including train stations. pushed for public trials gions that share that name, South Korea on Saturday eral days reporting numbers outbreak in the densely popu- “The government will Officials said infections of “terrorists” arrested in West and East Azerbaijan. reported its highest daily ranging from about 500 to lated area -- home to half the make utmost efforts using the linked to a church and a hos- connection with deadly Together with the province of number of coronavirus cases 600. country’s 52 million people. full administrative power” pital in the Seoul metropoli- attacks and for those Ardabil, the area is home to so far, with a surge centred Some 669 were reported “This is the last hurdle to bring the spread under tan area, as well as private found guilty to be hanged more than 11 million ethnic on the capital region sparking in the greater Seoul area on before the roll-out of vaccines control, he added. gatherings, drove up the tally publicly. Azeris. fears the country could lose Saturday, according to the and treatments,” President An additional 150 testing of cases. HK media mogul in court First foreign aid convoy reaches Tigray capital

AFP medical referral facility, Ayder on national security charge Geneva Hospital, in Mekele, which had a population of 50,0O0 before AFP A first international aid convoy the fighting started. Hong Kong arrived on Saturday in the capi- The intensive care unit and tal of Ethiopia’s Tigray region surgical theatre have had to Hong Kong media tycoon since fighting broke out more close due to the lack of medical and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai than a month ago, the Inter- supplies and electricity. appeared in court Saturday to national Committee of the Red In late November, the hos- face a charge under a sweeping Cross said. pital faced an influx of people new national security law that Seven Red Cross trucks wounded in the fighting and see him jailed for life. brought medicines and medical has struggled to provide care He is accused of collud- equipment for 400 wounded as for chronic and routine illness- ing with foreign countries by well as relief supplies “to fortify es, the ICRC said. calling on overseas govern- paralysed health care facilities” “Doctors and nurses have ments to sanction Hong Kong the Geneva-based ICRC said. been forced to make impossi- and China in response to the “It is the firstinternational Women carry sacks of wheat during a distribution of food organised ble choices of which services to crackdown on pro-democracy aid to arrive in Mekele since by the Ethiopian government in the city of Alamata on Friday. (AFP) continue, and which services to activism in the city. fighting erupted in Tigray more cut, after going weeks without Lai, 73, is the most high- Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai (centre) is led into than one month ago,” it said in remove the dissident regional year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on new supplies, running water, profilefigure charged under a police van in Hong Kong on Saturday. (AFP) a statement. authorities. Friday said his government was and electricity,” said Patrick the law, which has targeted the The international commu- Aid groups fear a humani- in charge of handling the hu- Youssef, ICRC regional director city’s pro-democracy move- ade, or engage in other hostile supporters shouted words nity had for weeks been call- tarian disaster is unfolding in manitarian response in Tigray. for Africa. ment but brought a semblance activities” against Hong Kong of encouragement, which he ing for aid access to Tigray to Tigray with Eritrean refugees The Red Cross aid, organ- “This medical shipment will of calm to the finance hub af- and China. returned with a heart-shape which access has been restrict- caught in the conflict. ised with the Ethiopian Red inject new stocks, help patients, ter months of often-violent Lai, dressed in a suit and hand gesture. ed since a government opera- Prime Minister Abiy Cross Society and the Ethiopian and reduce those impossible protests. calm throughout, said he ac- Lai’s popular Apple Daily tion started on November 4 to Ahmed, the winner of last authorities, would go to the main life-or-death triage decisions.” The police’s new national knowledged the charge. newspaper, citing sources, security department charged Chief Magistrate Victor said the bulk of the police case him on Friday with “collusion So, one of the six magistrates revolved around social media with a foreign country or with hand-picked by the city’s pro- posts and interviews Lai gave Dead, wounded reported after new incident external elements to endanger Beijing leader Carrie Lam to to Western media. national security” under the handle national security cases, It reported that the police in Nagorno-Karabakh NOTICE tough law imposed on the city said the prosecution needed allegations said Lai had fol- Yerevan: An apparent attack by Azerbaijani forces on a military post in NAME: RAMILA DILANKA by Beijing. The offence carries time to further investigate. lowed 53 people on Twitter in- the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh left multiple dead and at least DANTHANARAYANA a penalty of up to life impris- This included examining cluding US Secretary of State three wounded, local officials said onS aturday, just more than a month SRILANKAN PASSPORT:N7182909 onment. more than a thousand messag- Mike Pompeo, Taiwan Presi- after fighting settled down there. QATAR ID NO: 29414410819 The prosecutor told the es from Lai’s Twitter accounts, dent Tsai Ing-wen and a mem- Azerbaijani media had reported about a provocation by Nagarno-Kara- EMPLOYEE OF: National Car Company Is Leaving court that Lai broke the se- a number of media interviews ber of Britain’s Conservative bakh soldiers on Friday, shortly before the incident. It reported that one Qatar for good. Anybody having any claim against him curity law between July 1 and the tycoon gave, and a number Party, Luke de Pulford, and Azerbaijani soldier had been wounded then. December 1 by requesting that of overseas visits in relation to that he had 120,000 followers Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, according to the United Na- should submit the same to us within 3 days from the a foreign country or institu- calls for US sanctions against including Tiananmen student tions, but has been occupied by forces with ties to Armenia for decades. date of this notice. we will not be responsible for any tion, organisation or individu- Hong Kong and China. protest leaders Wang Dan and However, Azerbaijan launched an offensive this year that resulted in its claim whatsoever after this date. al “impose sanctions or block- After the hearing, Lai’s Wuer Kai Xi. reclaiming control of large chunks of the territory. (dpa) Contact: 44321424 / 25 08 Sunday, December 13, 2020 World UN chief urges global summit to declare ‘climate emergency’

AFP in his opening address to the hit last month by a pair of Donald Trump. President- London summit, which is co-hosted by monster hurricanes, as well elect Joe Biden plans imme- Britain and France. as India, which is battling in- diately to re-enter the accord, UN chief Antonio Guterres on “If we don’t change course, If we don’t change course, creasingly erratic weather pat- and has set a goal of carbon Saturday urged world leaders we may be headed for a cata- we may be headed for a terns and air pollution. neutrality by 2050. to declare a “state of climate strophic temperature rise of catastrophic temperature Business figures set to “We haven’t come close to emergency” and shape green- more than 3.0 degrees this rise of more than 3.0 speak include Tim Cook, the the bold action that’s needed, er growth after the coronavi- century,” he said. chief executive of Apple, which and today, we have no time to rus pandemic, as he opened “That is why today, I call degrees this century has committed to making its waste,” Biden said in a state- a summit marking five years on all leaders worldwide to de- UN chief Antonio Guterres whole supply chain carbon ment Saturday, reiterating since the landmark Paris clare a State of Climate Emer- neutral by 2030. a pledge to convene leaders Agreement. gency in their countries until But major economies in- of major economies for his The Climate Ambition carbon neutrality is reached,” “My message to you all is cluding Australia, Brazil and own climate summit within Summit, being held online, he added, arguing the recovery that together, we can use sci- South Africa are absent. 100 days of taking office next comes as the United Nations from COVID-19 presented a entific advances to protect our Brazil’s far-right President month. warns current commitments rare opportunity to recalibrate planet, our biosphere against a Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed Speakers at Saturday’s to tackle rises in global tem- growth. challenge far worse, far more European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels on Saturday. (afp) the scale of destruction to the summit were delivering short peratures are inadequate. British Prime Minister Bo- destructive, than even the cor- Amazon rainforest opened up video messages, with organ- The commitments made in ris Johnson told the climate onavirus pandemic,” he said. scientific progress would allow the most ambitious plans to by his climate-sceptic policies. isers saying they would an- Paris in 2015 were “far from summit that a traumatic year For its part, Britain was the creation of “millions” of accelerate their Paris prom- The United States, the nounce “new and ambitious enough” to limit temperature of pandemic was ending with acting on climate not because green jobs, Johnson added. ises. world’s second-largest pol- climate change commitments” rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the hope of vaccines coming it was a nation of “mung bean- Speaking slots were hand- These include Honduras luter after China, left the Paris and that there would be “no the UN secretary-general said on-stream. eating eco freaks” but because ed to countries that submitted and Guatemala, which were Agreement under President space for general statements”. French law on filming US approves Pfizer vaccine as police triggers third weekend of protests millions of doses begin shipping AFP tor, a reference to the new Paris “global security” bill which vaccine front came as infec- bans the “malevolent” pub- The US is seeking tions accelerated fast in North Thousands of protesters lication of images showing America and parts of Africa took to the streets in France the faces of police officers to inoculate 20 but started to stabilize in Eu- Saturday for a third consecu- in action. million people this rope and drop in Asia and the tive weekend of demonstra- Tensions mounted as Middle East. tions over a controversial night fell, with police using month alone Around the world more security bill that would limit water cannon to repel small AFP than 1.58 million lives have filming of the police. groups of black-clad protest- Washington been lost to Covid-19, accord- The authorities were gird- ers who threw bottles and ing to an AFP tally from official ing for further possible vio- other projectiles at the secu- The US green-lit the Pfizer- sources. lence after the last two such rity forces. BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine Brazil on Friday crossed protests in Paris ended in ri- Interior Minister Gerald late on Friday, paving the way 180,000 deaths, despite Presi- oting. Darmanin tweeted that 81 for millions of vulnerable peo- dent Jair Bolsonaro’s insist- In the capital, several people had been arrested in ple to receive their shots in the ence the crisis was at the “tail thousand protesters flanked Paris by mid-afternoon and world’s hardest-hit country. end.” on all sides by a huge deploy- said the police had to deal President Donald Trump But across the Pacific ment of riot police marched with some “ultra-violent indi- immediately released a video Ocean, New Zealand, which through the east of the city. viduals”. on Twitter, where he hailed the has been praised for its han- “Global repression, total Demonstrations were also news as a “medical miracle” dling of the virus, took its first regression,” read a placard held in Montpellier, Lyon and and said the first immuniza- tentative steps towards reo- held aloft by one demonstra- Lille. tions would take place “in less pening its borders with the tiny than 24 hours.” Cook Islands. It comes as infections A member of staff draws the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine out of a phial at the Southmead Hospital, Less good news arrived in across America soar as never Briston recently. (afp) South Korea -- a country pre- before, with the grim mile- viously held up as a model of stone of 300,000 confirmed how to combat the pandemic deaths fast approaching. Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses 180,000 -- which reported its high- The US is now the sixth AFP Bolsonaro drew criticism Barcellos warned the situa- est daily number of new cases country to approve the two- Rio de Janeiro from opponents this week for his tion could get worse still with the so far, with a surge centered dose regimen, after Britain, latest comments downplaying the holiday season and the southern around Seoul sparking fears Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia Brazil passed the grim mile- health crisis. hemisphere summer. the country could lose control and Mexico. stone of 180,000 deaths from “We’re at the tail end of the “There will be more people of the spread. The move came earlier Covid-19 on Friday, as experts pandemic. Compared to other circulating, without control meas- Officials there announced than expected and capped warned the country was undergo- countries in the world, our govern- ures and with many of our social 950 new infections after sev- a day of drama after it was ing a second wave of infections ment was the best, or one of the distancing policies now disman- eral days reporting numbers widely reported that the White despite President Jair Bolsonaro’s best, in handling it,” the far-right tled,” he told AFP. ranging from about 500 to House had threatened to fire insistence the crisis was at the leader said Thursday. Bolsonaro has been at odds 600. Food and Drug Administration “tail end.” Health experts disagreed. with health experts over how to And in China, where the A protester play drum during a demonstration against the ‘global chief Stephen Hahn if he did The Brazilian health ministry “The president is wrong. I respond to the pandemic since virus first emerged a year ago security’ draft law in Paris on Saturday. (AFP) not grant emergency approval reported 672 new deaths for a don’t know where he got that even before it arrived in the but has since been brought un- Friday. total of 180,437 since the pan- idea, but no indicator shows that” country of 212 million people der control, two cities on the Trump’s intervention rein- demic began, making the South the end is near, said Christovam with the first confirmed infection border with Russia reported serts politics into the scientific American country the second Barcellos, a researcher at Brazil’s on February 26. one local infection each, spark- News in brief process, which some experts to pass that threshold, after the leading public-health research He has downplayed the ing mass tests in both and a full have said could undermine United States. center, Fiocruz. new coronavirus as a “little lockdown in one of them. Britain readies navy to protect fishing if vaccine confidence. The curves for both infections In fact, infections are also ris- flu,” condemned the “hysteria” Countries which have ap- The US is seeking to in- and deaths in Brazil now show ing sharply again. They surpassed around it and pushed to use the proved the Pfizer-BioNTech Brexit talks fail oculate 20 million people this clear signs of an upward trend, the 54,000 mark on Friday, for drug hydroxychloroquine against jab meanwhile were prepar- London: Britain on Saturday readied armed Royal Navy ships to patrol month alone, with long-term after falling somewhat from late a total of 6.8 million since the Covid-19, despite a raft of studies ing for rollout, as the World its fishing waters if tempers flare after a “no-deal” Brexit as a make- care facility residents and August to early November. pandemic began. showing it is ineffective. Health Organization warned or-break deadline approached for talks with the European Union. Four health care workers at the of a potentially grim Christmas 80-metre (260-feet) vessels have been placed on standby to guard Brit- front of the line. season. ish waters from EU trawlers in case the two sides decide to abandon The government also said to 200 million, enough to im- Two other vaccine can- problems were detected in a Following Britain’s lead, efforts to secure a free-trade agreement on Sunday. The development on Friday that it is buying munize 100 million people didates stumbled Friday: test volunteer. the first vaccine shipments is part of increased contingency planning on both sides of the Chan- 100 million more doses of the with the two-shot regimen that France’s Sanofi and Britain’s And in Australia the de- to 14 sites across Canada are nel, and evokes memories of the “Cod Wars” with Iceland over fishing Moderna vaccine candidate, could be approved as early as GSK said their vaccine would velopment of a vaccine at the scheduled to arrive on Monday rights in the North Atlantic in the 1960s and 70s. Prime Minister Boris amid reports the administra- next week. not be ready until the end of University of Queensland was with people receiving shots a Johnson has said it is “very, very likely” the talks will fail, and Britain will tion passed on the opportunity Both frontrunners are 2021. abandoned Friday after clini- day or two later. revert to World Trade Organization (WTO) terms with its largest single to secure more supply of the based on mRNA (messenger In Peru, clinical trials of cal trials produced a false posi- Israel, which accepted its trading partner. European leaders have also been told the chances of Pfizer jab. ribonucleic acid), a major vic- a vaccine made by Chinese tive HIV result among subjects first shipment of the Pfizer vac- a deal are slim with both sides at loggerheads over rules to govern fair The purchase brings its to- tory for a technology that had drug giant Sinopharm were involved in early testing. cine on Wednesday, is target- competition and fishing rights in British territorial waters.D eal or no tal supply of Moderna doses never previously been proven. suspended after neurological The mixed news on the ing a rollout on December 27. deal, Britain will leave the EU single market and customs union on the evening of December 31, more than four years after a landmark refer- endum on membership of the bloc. Retired Admiral Alan West, who as chief of naval staff and First Sea Lord from 2002 to 2006 was Britain’s highest-ranking naval officer, said readying the Fishery Protection Squad- Court rejects Texas election challenge in new low for Trump ron, was a sensible move in case tensions spill over. (AFP) DPA considered a long-shot by tional republic. Perhaps law- Washington election law experts. The US President Donald abiding states should bond Gunmen attack school in Nigeria: Police lawsuit claimed widespread Trump departs the White together and form a union of The US Supreme Court on election fraud and sought House in Washington on states that will abide by the Lagos: Gunmen have raided a government secondary school in Friday rejected a lawsuit to invalidate the vote tallies Saturday. (AFP) constitution,” West said in a northern Nigeria’s Katsina state, police said on Saturday, in an apparent from the state of Texas seek- in four swing states won by statement. kidnapping attempt for ransom. Local people told AFP several students ing to invalidate president- Democrat Joe Biden: Geor- All 50 US states have were captured. The attackers on motorcycles stormed Government Sci- elect Joe Biden’s election gia, Michigan, Pennsylvania already certified their vote ence Secondary School at Kankara late Friday. “The bandits came on victory, marking a major and Wisconsin. tallies, and vote recounts in motorcycles firing sporadically and tried to enter the school,” said state defeat in President Donald The lawsuit filed by Texas Georgia and Wisconsin also police spokesman Isa Gambo. “Our men with the assistance of the Trump’s attempt to overturn Attorney General Ken Paxton reaffirmed Biden’s victory in army engaged them in a shootout lasting one and half hours.” The gun- his election loss. gained widespread support those states. men were forced to retreat and were being tracked, but the spokesman In a ruling, the court said among the outgoing Republi- On Monday, the Elec- made no mention of casualties. “We are still taking the roll call to de- it threw out the lawsuit for a can leader and his allies, who toral College vote takes termine if any student is missing,” he told AFP. Nonetheless, reinforce- lack of legal standing, saying continue to claim that the place. Every state casts their ments had been deployed to search for any missing students. “This Texas had “not demonstrated election was stolen despite electoral vote, according to morning some 200 students who fled for safety during the assault have a judicially cognizable inter- no evidence of major fraud. a disastrous series of court Allen West, chairman their popular vote tallies, returned to the hostel, “ he added. Local residents said the attackers est” for attempting to over- “The Supreme Court re- battles for the Trump cam- of the Republican Party in which will further cement had carried off students, but it was unclear how many. “The kidnappers turn results in other states. ally let us down. No Wisdom, paign, which has seen all of Texas, went as far as to say Biden’s win. fought with security personnel. While the fighting was ongoing another Trump appears to have No Courage!” Trump tweet- their attempts to overturn that the Supreme Court deci- Attorney General Wil- group went into the school and took away several students,” Nura no more viable legal avenues ed in response to the judges’ the November 3 election - sion could lead to the break- liam Barr, a key Trump ally, Abdullahi told AFP. “Some of the students who escaped returned to the to contest the election as decision. of which there have been up of the United States. recently said there was no town this morning but others took a bus home,” he said. “The school Biden is set to assume the He later wrote, “A Rigged more than 50 - systemically “This decision will have evidence of election fraud to is deserted. All the students have vacated.” Another resident, Ibrahim presidency on January 20. Election, fight on!” The rejected by judges around far-reaching ramifications the extent that it would alter Mamman, added that most of the students had escaped, “but some Texas’s bid was already Supreme Court ruling caps the country. for the future of our constitu- the outcome. were captured and taken away by the bandits”. (AFP) Qatar an ‘important friend’, must for UK to develop ties: W Russell pg 10

Sunday, December 13, 2020

30,046.37 10,446.06 46099.01 1,843.60 +47.11 pts -73.15 pts +139.13 pts Gold +0.34 % Brexit deal hopes dim, failure Dow QE sensex ‘very, very likely’ page 11 Price percentage Price percentage 24.09 Brent 49.97 -0.56 % WTI 46.57 -0.45 % Silver -0.01 %

QND celebrations QFB acquires The Grand 2 QIIB ties up with office building in Arizona Ooredoo to launch The Grand 2 office building is 100 percent leased to DoorDash under a 15-year triple net lease offers on personal Tribune News Network and car finance Doha

Qatar First Bank (QFB) on Tribune News Network Saturday announced it has ac- Doha quired The Grand 2 at Papago Park Center, a 358,800 square QIIB on Saturday announced foot newly completed state-of- the launch of a comprehensive the-art Class A office building, promotion on personal finance that is 100 percent leased to and car finance in partnership DoorDash under a 15-year tri- with Ooredoo as part of Qatar ple net lease. National Day (QND) celebra- Located in Tempe, Arizona tions, thereby culminating its of United States, The Grand 2 series of offers that included is part of the Metro Phoenix those related to real-estate market. and credit and debit cards. Commenting on the acqui- Through these offers, QIIB sition, QFB Chairman Sheikh aims to be part of Qatar Na- Faisal bin Thani Al Thani said, tional Day celebrations and “This transaction cements strengthen its relation with QFB’s new fee-based income customers and fulfill their business model implemented needs by offering loan promo- QIIB offers on the National to enhance QFB’s investment tions bundled with the best Day have become an annual management strategy, and term and benefits. tradition, where we focus further, strengthen its Shari- The comprehensive fi- every time on providing our ah-compliant US real estate nance promotion enables customers with new portfolio. The new strategy QIIB customers or the cus- continues to invest in hand- tomers of other banks who features and benefits picked Sharia-compliant real wish to transfer their salaries QIIB Deputy CEO Jamal estate assets that provide high- Located in Tempe, Arizona of United States, The Grand 2 is part of the Metro Phoenix market. and liabilities to the bank to Abdulla Al Jamal ly stable income to investors as obtain personal finance or well as upside potential.” car finance with competitive on ensuring that the National Developed and managed This transaction As always, QFB annual profit rates starting Day offers are available to all by Lincoln Property Compa- cements QFB’s new continues to hold true at 3.9 percent (2.08 percent customers namely citizens and ny, The Grand 2 is comprised fee-based income busi- to its commitment to fixed profit rate), with a grace residents with the best profit of a nine-story, best in class, ness model implemented to present the best in class, period of up to 12 months for rates available in the market, LEED Silver certified building enhance QFB’s investment highly vetted, cherry-picked Qataris and three months for in addition to applying favour- built in 2020 and a seven-level residents. able conditions, processing fi- parking structure providing management strategy, and investments with risk-adjusted The offer is valid from De- nance applications in a speedy 1687 parking spots. The Grand further, strengthen its returns to its clientele. We are cember 13, 2020 to January manner, and maintaining 2 has the capacity to house ap- Shariah-compliant US real delighted to have completed 31, 2021. high-quality services provided proximately 2000 DoorDash estate portfolio the acquisition of The Grand 2 During this period, cus- to customers.” employees, making it the com- tomers can win 18,000 No- Jamal expressed his thanks pany’s largest facility. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani Abdulrahman Totonji joom points from Ooredoo and appreciation to all QIIB Located within Papago for every car finance or per- customers for their loyalty and Park Center, a 350-acre, sonal finance of a value of trust in the bank, which is be- mixed-use development span- Dash was founded by Stan- recently announced a multi- cash flows and contractual Real Estate structured invest- QR100,000. ing continuously reflected by ning 2.6 MSF, the area is a ford University students in year marketing partnership rental escalations, located with- ment product which is expect- QIIB Deputy CEO Jamal its increasing customer base hotbed for multifamily devel- 2013 and has come a long way that makes it the official on- in an actively evolving market. ed to pay a 7 percent annual re- Abdulla Al Jamal said, “Our and the continuous growth of opment with 1,316 units and to become the leading on-de- demand delivery platform of Metro Phoenix is a thriving turn to its investors. As always, pride and belonging to our its various indicators. the exquisite high-end Papago mand prepared food delivery the National Basketball As- center of commercial and resi- QFB continues to hold true dear country is reflected by He also expressed his trust Hills retail center, providing a service that uses proprietary sociation ‘NBA’, WNBA and dential activity, with a young to its commitment to present honouring our National Day in in the positive outcome that plethora of on-site restaurants data and logistics services. NBA 2K League. and educated workforce. the best in class, highly vet- an innovative manner through the new offers will generate. for tenants. DoorDash serves 4,000 DoorDash’s revenue for the Phoenix Sky Harbor Interna- ted, cherry-picked investments providing our customers with Ooredoo PR Director Sa- DoorDash is a renowned cities and operates in the Unit- first nine months of the year tional Airport is just minutes with risk-adjusted returns to special offers that meet their bah Rabiah Al Kuwari said, American technology com- ed States, Canada and Aus- rose to $1.92 billion, compared away and is available via the its clientele and is delighted to expectations and fulfill their “We are delighted to be part- pany founded in Palo Alto, tralia. with $587 million in the same Metro Light Rail system. In have completed the acquisition various needs.” nering with QIIB on this excit- California, “Silicon Valley”. In 2019, DoorDash’s reve- period in 2019, according to addition, Papago Park Center of The Grand 2 at Papago Park He said, “QIIB offers on ing offer, one of our biggest DoorDash went public in the nue was $900 million and has its filing prospectus. It had 543 is located within two miles Center. the National Day have become in recent months. Rewarding second week of December this been gaining market share million total orders in the first from Arizona State University, “This comes a few months an annual tradition, where we our valued customers for their year and priced its IPO at $102 in 2020 despite COVID-19. nine months of 2020, com- home of 82,000 enrolled stu- after our acquisition of yet an- focus every time on provid- loyalty is a key priority for us, per share, well above initial DoorDash took the first spot pared with 181 million in the dents and ranked #1 most in- other successful structured ing our customers with new and to be able to do so with expectations. of the food delivery in the year-ago period. novative school in the country. investment product, Varsity features and benefits as part such a respected finance part- The stock opened for its USA in terms of total industry The Grand 2 at Papago Commenting on the acqui- Brands, which we were able to of our response to the ever- ner means we can offer access first day of trading on Decem- sales reaching 48 percent as Park Center provides QFB’s sition, QFB CEO Abdulrahman syndicate completely in a mat- changing dynamics of our to quality financial benefits as ber 9 at $182 and closed at of June 2020, surpassing the investors with an exception- Totonji said, “QFB is pleased ter of few days. It is a monu- customer needs and keep pace well as enabling members to 189.51, 85.8 percent above its likes of Uber Eats, Grubhub ally high-quality, risk-adjusted to have received exceptional mental achievement, one that with the development of finan- enjoy the best of everything IPO price reflecting a market and Postmates. investment opportunity with a demand for subscribing to its sets the tone for a strong 2020 cial services in general.” the Nojoom network has to value of $60 billion. Door- Furthermore, DoorDash long-term lease, strong in-place Shariah-compliant DoorDash finish and a great start to 2021.” He said, “QIIB focused offer.”

Qatari LNG allows PGNiG to develop business: Majewski Energy ties between Qatar and Poland have contributed significantly in creating a more competitive global gas market: Envoy

Tribune News Network partnerships, thus enhancing m³ of Qatari LNG annually. customers. The partner- Doha their economic security. For Speaking to Qatar Trib- ship between Qatargas and Poland that specifically refers une, PGNiG President Paweł PGNiG has also deepened Energy ties between Qatar to increasing the number of Majewski said that with a the friendly relations be- and Poland have contrib- natural gas supply routes to growing share of LNG in tween the peoples of Qatar uted significantly in creating Central and Eastern Europe.” PGNiG total annual gas im- and Poland. a more competitive global Poland and Qatar cel- ports of 14,85 bln m³, which The successful collabora- natural gas market, Poland’s ebrate their special relation- exceeded 23 percent in 2019 tion between PGNiG and Qa- Ambassador to Qatar HE ship in the field of energy and grew by more than 26 per- targas based on mutual trust Janusz Janke has said. on December 11 as on this cent year on year, the volume and reliability is a key factor In an interview with Qatar date in 2015, Qatargas char- of gas supplied by the eastern in achieving results and tak- Tribune on the fifth anniversa- tered Q-Flex vessel carry- route has been successfully ing on new challenges. “As a ry of the first-ever LNG cargo ing 210,000 cubic meters of reduced. This, in turn, has leader of the Polish natural delivery to the President Lech LNG, delivered the first cargo strengthened Poland’s energy gas market, PGNiG strives Kaczynski LNG Terminal in at the newly constructed LNG security, he said. for excellence – a quality Swinoujscie in Poland by Qa- receiving terminal in Poland. Majewski highlighted which only the most reput- targas, Janke said, “Thanks to According to a purchase that LNG delivered by Qa- ed and trusted partners can the close relationship in the agreement between Polish Oil targas allows the Polish ensure. Therefore, we have energy sector, both Poland and Gas Production Company company to develop its busi- partnered with Qatargas, the and Qatar work on new ven- (PGNiG) and Qatargas, which ness, increase diversification world’s largest producer of tures in other areas as well as will expire in 2034, Poland According to an agreement between PGNiG and Qatargas, Poland can import up to about 2.7 bn m³ of of the gas supply sources liquefied natural gas,” Ma- diversify their international can import up to about 2.7 bn Qatari LNG annually. and secure deliveries to the jewski said. 10 Sunday, December 13, 2020 Economy & Business Cuba to increase minimum salary fivefold, as it unifies currencies

AFP the convertible peso, which is 2019, with appliance and food ulate exports and decrease ration books will disappear, Havana pinned to the dollar and was stores which only accept that imports, increase the effi- with only a few subsidies be- introduced in 1994 to replace currency. ciency of national production ing maintained. Cuba will increase its mini- the US currency, phased out The value of the CUP could and close down inefficient Inflation is expected to mum wage fivefold as part of over the next six months. suffer against this strong cur- state-owned enterprises,” said soar so “it’s necessary to es- reforms due to come into ef- It will leave only the regu- rency. Vidal. tablish a minimum salary in fect on January 1 as it unifies lar peso that is worth 24 times Additionally, state enter- “We have to see how all the country that guarantees its two official currencies, the less. prises, which represent 85 this is done without unem- the satisfaction of basic neces- official gazette said on Friday. The idea is to make the Cu- percent of the economy and ployment and inflation ex- sities for the worker and his The large-scale reform ban economy more efficient receive a reduced rate of one ploding,” he added. family, as well as the scale of of salaries and pensions had and easier to understand for CUP to the dollar, will see pro- The government has al- salaries applicable to all work- been promised for years be- foreign investors. duction costs rise, leading to ready announced significant ers,” said the Labor Ministry fore President Miguel Diaz- It comes at a time when price hikes. wage increases to offset ex- in a resolution published in Canel announced it late on the country is reeling from But they will also be more pected high inflation. the official gazette. Thursday. toughened sanctions imposed Cuban worker shows 1 CUP (Cuban pesos - top) and 1 CUC (Cuban encouraged to export, which And it has warned that it As well as the new mini- It will see the minimum by the administration of US convertible pesos) in Havana. (Adalberto ROQUE/AFP) was not the case before. wants to remove most subsi- mum wage, there will be 32 wage increase from 400 to President Donald Trump and “The adjustment of the dies, which are essential for pay scales based on the type 2,100 pesos ($17 to $87.) from the drop in tourism and navirus pandemic. comes after the island rein- exchange rate, prices and sub- state companies but also for of work, up to a maximum of The reform will also see remittances due to the coro- The currency reform troduced the dollar in October sidies is fundamental to stim- Cubans. Eventually, it hopes 9,510 pesos. Thyssenkrupp says Qatar an ‘important friend’, must no to assistance from German govt for UK to develop ties: W Russell AFP in October to demand a res- Frankfurt cue plan from Berlin. But the government was Qatari investments German industrial giant never enthusiastic, despite in UK amount to £40 Thyssenkrupp has rejected their acquisition of stakes state participation to sup- in the airline Lufthansa and bn, says the Lord port it during the pandemic, tour operator TUI, which an option favoured by un- also had business ravaged Mayor of London ions but judged too costly by Covid-19. by management. “I don’t believe that na- QNA “State participation off tionalisation is the right Doha the table,” Klaus Keysberg, response at the moment,” the group’s financial direc- Germany’s Economy Min- Qatar is an “important tor, told the German daily ister Peter Altmaier said in friend” of the United Kingdom Rheinische Post on Friday. October on Thyssenkrupp. and it is necessary for the UK Keysberg blamed “high But national and region- to develop financial, economic costs” in the long term of al governments favour more and commercial ties with it, government assistance, traditional aid structures, Lord Mayor of London City “due to the interest pay- such as subsidies, or moves William Russell has said. ments and the terms of re- to convert to production of In an interview with the payment.” so-called green steel. Qatar News Agency (QNA) in Already weakened by Discussions will contin- Doha, Russel stressed on the years of cut-price competi- ue to find alternatives. close and historical relations tion from China in the steel A takeover of Thyssenk- between Qatar and the United industry, Thyssenkrupp has rupp’s steel activities is still Kingdom and further struggled with the on the cards. British steel said that developing the effects of the pandemic that giant Liberty, founded by ties was especially important caused business activity to industrialist Sanjeev Gupta, because the two countries are plunge. launched a takeover bid in considered key financial cen- The company said in October. tres and play vital and pioneer- mid-November it would cut Discussions are also ing roles in building a more re- an additional 5,000 jobs underway with Sweden’s silient global economy. as part of its restructuring SSAB and India’s Tata Russell described his visit plan, bringing the total to Steel. to Qatar as successful and nearly 11,000, to be spread An alliance with fellow fruitful in terms of the na- Lord Mayor of London City William Russell described his visit to Qatar as successful and fruitful out over several years. German steelmaker Salzgit- ture of the discussions he had Thyssenkrupp chief ex- ter to create a national steel with a number of state offi- worthy initiative to follow. in the UK amounted to about the important global sport- ecutive Martina Merz has champion is also being cials. He pointed out that the He also discussed climate £40 billion last year in energy ing event, especially after the not ruled out state assis- considered. But these op- City of London has long-term change and environment- sectors, companies and prop- completion of several world tance. tions won’t be decided until partnerships with investment related issues with the Qa- It is necessary to develop erties. cup stadiums and facilities The powerful IG Metall “spring 2021”, Thyssenk- and financial institutions in tari side. Russell pointed out financial, economic and A total of 1,134 partly or with environmentally-friendly union had organised rallies rupp said. Qatar. that while Qatar hosted the commercial ties with it, fully owned British firms are standards. He said he chose Doha as 2012 United Nations Climate especially because the two currently operating in Qatar, Expressing the willing- the destination for his first for- Change Conference (COP18), including 993 Qatari-British ness of the financial services eign visit since the COVID-19 United Kingdom will host the countries are considered companies, two representative sector in the UK to provide pandemic-induced lockdowns COP26 summit in Glasgow key financial centres at the offices, 104 fully-ownedB rit- technical assistance for a suc- because Qatar is an impor- next year. world level. ish companies, and 35 British cessful and sustainable edi- tant country for the UK. Dur- The Lord Mayor said he firms registered under the Qa- tion of the event, he praised ing his visit to Qatar, Russell was aware of the great impor- Lord Mayor of London City tar Financial Centre. Qatar’s announcement to met a number of officials and tance and care Qatar attaches William Russell Russell expressed opti- electrify up to 25 percent of discussed investment oppor- to issues related to the United mism that the UK and the its public transport bus fleet tunities — especially in ‘green’ Nations’ green agenda and the London financial districtby 2022. investments — ways to accel- sustainable development goals on reviving the world trade would be stronger after Brexit Russell affirmed the com- erate economic growth and and their fulfillment. and economy, international and the COVID-19 pandemic. mitment of the two countries sustainable development is- He reviewed the areas and development challenges in He shared the same optimism to developing their success- sues. prospects for banking coop- this regard, and the impor- about the global recovery post- ful partnerships and exploit- In this context, the Lord eration in the field of financial tance of joint action between pandemic. ing future opportunities to Mayor praised Qatar Nation- services between the two sides the two sides to overcome The Lord Mayor said the strengthen their cooperation al Bank issuing green bonds and as well as the commer- them in a way that also ben- FIFA World Cup 2022 to be in the mentioned fields and worth $600 million on the cial and financial opportuni- efits the world. held in Qatar would be a great other areas such as green fi- London Stock Exchange last ties that will positively benefit Russell indicated that the opportunity for the country to nance, technology and the fi- September, and said it is a both parties. He also touched volume of Qatari investments prove its ability in organising nancial services sector.

Carbon emissions fell 7% this year, but could rise: Research Work resumes on Nord Stream 2 pipeline AFP European nations like Poland, DPA release from her university. Berlin Trump’s administration has Ukraine and the Baltic states London Emissions had already repeatedly slammed are also fiercely opposed to been rising more slowly than Construction work re- Germany and European the pipeline, fearing it will Global carbon dioxide in previous years, she said, but sumed Friday on the disputed nations for their reliance increase Europe’s reliance (CO2) emissions caused by with the coronavirus pandem- Nord Stream 2 pipeline which on energy from Russia on Russian energy supplies, burning coal, oil and gas fell by ic, the drop became significant. is to bring Russian gas to Ger- which Moscow could then use seven per cent in 2020 com- “Whether this heralds a many, the project’s managers Shipping Management pub- to exert political pressure. pared with 2019, according to trend, however, depends heav- said, despite protests from the lished a notice to seafarers on Following the poisoning new research from European ily on how the measures in United States. the resumption of building of Russian opposition figure scientists. Covid-19 stimulus packages Work on the 10-billion- works on the final few kilome- Alexei Navalny earlier this The amount fell by 2.4 bil- play out around the world,” euro ($11 billion) pipeline had tres of the pipeline. year, there had been specula- lion metric tons to the current Pongratz stressed. been suspended for nearly a It warned them to avoid tion that Germany might pull level of 34 billion metric tons Whether the decline in year because of US sanctions the area up to “around Decem- the plug on the deal. of CO2, according to a tally by emissions will continue into signed off by US President ber 31, 2020”, and pointed out But sanctions imposed the Global Carbon Project pub- the future is impossible to as- Donald Trump in late 2019 that “anchoring or fishing is over the poisoning have so far lished in the journal Earth Sys- sess at this time, warns the that threatened asset freezes not permitted in the area of steered clear of affecting the tems Science Data on Friday. team, led by Pierre Friedling- and visa restrictions for com- the planned pipelines”. pipeline project. Data shows the decline in stein of the University of Ex- panies involved in the con- Confirming the resump- Work on the 10-billion-euro ($11 billion) pipeline, which had been Navalny was treated in a CO2 emissions was particu- eter in England. struction. tion of construction, Nord suspended for nearly a year because of US sanctions, has resumed. Berlin hospital and German larly large in the United States After falling because of the Trump’s administration Stream 2 said in a statement authorities concluded that he (down 12 per cent) and the EU global financial crisis, emis- has repeatedly slammed Ger- that “the pipelay vessel Fortu- ity stake in the project, the sent Gazprom’s stocks leap- had been poisoned with a rare (down 11 per cent). sions jumped five per cent in many and other European na will lay a 2.6 kilometre (1.6 international consortium in- ing 3.5 percent on the Moscow Novichok nerve agent devel- “Here, reduced emissions 2010 as the economy recov- nations for their reliance on mile) section of the pipeline volved in the pipeline includes stock exchange. oped by Russian authorities, from coal use and the effects of ered, they said. energy from Russia, with the in the German Exclusive Eco- European players such as Ger- German Chancellor Angela plunging relations with the pandemic-related restrictions There are fears that CO2 president himself calling Eu- nomic Zone in water depths many’s Wintershall and Uni- Merkel has held firm on the Kremlin to a new low. coincided,” said Julia Pongratz emissions will also jump in rope’s biggest economy a “cap- of less than 30 metres (100 per groups, the Dutch-British project despite facing heavy A Nordstream 1 pipeline, of Ludwig Maximilian Uni- 2021. By October 2020, emis- tive to Russia”. feet).” giant Shell, France’s Engie and criticism within and outside which runs along a similar versity in Munich, one of the sions were already approach- But on Friday, Germany’s Besides Russian giant Austria’s OMV. Germany over it. route to Nordstream 2, was in- study’s authors, according to a ing 2019 levels again. Authority of Waterways and Gazprom, which has a major- News of works resuming Besides the United States, augurated in 2011. Economy & Business Sunday, December 13, 2020 11

QNB economic commentary Deal or no deal, the legacy Brexit deal hopes dim, of Brexit will last for years

rexit is back in the news headlines failure ‘very, very likely’ around the world because time is Brunning out as the transition period expires at the end of the year. Probability of a no-deal is higher than of a deal, says European Commission chief The coronavirus crisis has made nego- tiations between the United Kingdom (UK) AFP and European Union (EU) more difficult, London especially when they had to take place via video conference. Perhaps more impor- A Brexit trade deal between tantly, the two sides are fundamentally op- Britain and the European Un- posed on three key issues: A level playing ion looked to be hanging in field, fishing, and how to govern the deal. the balance on Saturday af- The first key issue is the idea of a “level ter gloomy assessments from playing field”, which seeks to ensure busi- leaders on both sides of the nesses on one side don’t have an unfair Channel, with just hours left advantage over their competitors on the before last-gasp talks con- other. This is a feature of all trade deals, clude. but the EU is demanding that the UK sticks Prime Minister Boris to EU rules on workers’ rights, environ- Johnson and European Com- mental regulations and state aid to busi- mission chief Ursula von der nesses in particular. On the other hand, Leyen have given their nego- the British position is that the whole point tiators until Sunday before a of Brexit was to break free from following decision is made on whether common rules governing environmental to keep talking or give up. standards, working conditions and other The mood worsened after regulations. von der Leyen told EU leaders Second, the EU is pushing for con- at a marathon Brussels sum- tinued access to UK waters for its fishing mit there were “low expecta- boats in return for the UK retaining full tions” and the “probability of access to the EU market to sell fish caught a no-deal is higher than of a by British fishing boats. Whereas, British deal”. negotiators insist that the UK is now an Ireland and Germany tried independent state and will give its own to raise spirits, agreeing that fishing boats preferential access to British Financial Times to have told EU officials a pact was “difficult but still territorial waters. the he ‘cannot guarantee’ a Brexit trade possible”. A lorry passes stacked containers in the Belfast Harbour and docks area in Northern Ireland. (Paul Faith / AFP) The third key issue is how to govern deal. With one diplomat saying that “The But Johnson said it was any future agreement. The EU is pushing EU is ready to go the extra mile to agree on looking “very, very likely” that the end of a transition period difficult,” Road Haulage Asso- Britain. for the ability to take action against the UK a fair, sustainable and balanced deal. . . It is Britain would end up dealing following Britain’s departure ciation director Martin Reid Johnson again said fishing in any area of the agreement in response for the UK to choose between such a posi- with its biggest single trading from the bloc in January. told the Press Association. and the so-called level playing to breaches of any part of the agreement. tive outcome or a no deal outcome.” partner on World Trade Or- Logjams at the Felixstowe field were key issues, in par- Whereas, the UK is pushing for retaliation Rather than judging things by such ganization (WTO) terms from Last-minute turnaround? container port in eastern Eng- ticular a “ratchet clause” that for breaches to be restricted to the area of statements, our preferred indicator of the New Year. Whatever happens, Brit- land and elsewhere have al- would bind Britain to match the agreement in which the breach oc- the “state of play” regarding Brexit is the “If there’s a big offer, a big ain will leave the EU single ready raised fears of more to any future EU legislation. curred. exchange rate between the Euro and the change in what they (the EU) market and customs union, come, and delays in deliveries Von der Leyen told a post- The differences between the UK and Great British Pound (GBP). The GBP are saying then I must say that leading to the re-introduction to shops, businesses and in- summit news conference the EU on these three key issues are so funda- depreciated by around 18% when the UK I’ve yet to see it,” he told re- of border checks for the first dustry. But Johnson’s spokes- proposed “equivalence” rules mental that it will take significant efforts narrowly voted to leave the EU in 2016 and porters. time in decades. man said they were mainly would not be compulsory and and faith to agree on a deal before the end has never really recovered. This indicator The comments did noth- That has already raised caused by a “global spike” in Britain could act as it sees fit. of the year. It normally takes years to do a therefore does not suggest that progress is ing to inspire confidence in the prospect of heavy traffic demand for consumer goods “We would simply adapt trade deal but this process only has three likely in the near future. the British pound, which ex- clogging roads leading to sea- and the effect of the coronavi- the conditions for access to weeks left. Therefore, even if a free trade “Kicking the can down the road” has tended its losses on currency ports in southern and south- rus outbreak on shipping pat- our market accordingly,” she deal is agreed now, it will be rather a short- been the standard of European policymak- markets, dropping more than east England, as bureaucracy terns and container capacity. added. term compromise than a comprehensive ing for the last decade or more. UK Prime one percent against the dollar. lengthens waiting times for Brexit trade talks have Johnson’s spokesman said and long-term agreement. Minister Boris Johnson has staked his “Traders are turning their imports and exports. been deadlocked over the ex- that would still leave Brit- Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly reputation on not extending the transition back on the pound as the lan- Transport companies tent of EU access to British ain tied to decisions made in told the BBC that the UK would keep ne- period beyond the end of 2020. Therefore, guage being used now is more have also warned that Ire- fishing grounds and rules gov- Brussels. gotiating “for as long as we have available a No Deal Brexit is still on the table and is serious,” CMC Markets ana- land could see import vol- erning fair competition. In the event of no-deal time or until we get an agreement”. Talks a very real threat to the economic outlook lyst David Madden told AFP. umes shrink in the event of An EU official refused to Brexit, the Royal Navy is with the EU “often go to the last minute of for both the UK and EU, just as vaccines UK chief negotiator David new customs for goods routed rule out a last-minute “turna- ready to deploy four armed the last day”, he added, saying there was begin to offer hope of an escape to a new- Frost and his EU counterpart through Britain. round” for a deal, even after patrol ships as a “last resort” “still time”. Meanwhile the EU’s chief ne- normal from the lockdowns imposed by Michel Barnier are trying to “As an industry we’re look- the bloc published “no-deal” to protect Britain’s fishing wa- gotiator Michel Barnier is reported by the Covid-19. carve out a deal by Sunday, ing to plan ahead but there’s contingency planning in what ters, the defence ministry con- with just three weeks left until so many unknowns it becomes was seen as a warning shot to firmed to local media.

Chasing the Vax Uber jockeys to get early COVID-19 vaccine access for workers

DPA In a letter to Gov. Gavin Los Angeles Newsom on Thursday, Uber Technologies Chief Executive Dara Uber says its drivers should get Khosrowshahi said his ride-hailing priority access to the COVID-19 drivers deserve priority access to vaccine because they provide the vaccine because they “have crucial transportation to healthcare Essential Who’re essential been a lifeline to their communi- workers and the general public. ties. They have transported health- Teachers say they need prior- workers second? workers? care workers to hospitals, delivered ity access to the vaccine to keep The US rollout of COVID-19 vaccines Labor and professional food to people socially distancing at schools open and welcome stu- looks imminent. But supplies will be organizations for pilots, flight home, and helped local restaurants dents into classrooms. limited in the early going, so attendants, teachers, bus drivers, stay in business.” To ensure people Meatpackers say they should companies and trade groups are meat industry workers and bank don’t sign up as Uber drivers just get priority so they can provide ac- jockeying to push their workers tellers, among other groups, and to get early access to the vaccine, cess to safe and affordable food. closer to the front of the line. A some employers have begun to an Uber representative said access And waste workers say they could be given only to those who need the vaccine ahead of others federal panel of medical and public lobby for their members and have proof they have driven exten- so they can haul away garbage to health experts has recommended workers to gain quick access to the sively since March. prevent the spread of disease. that the firstA mericans to receive vaccine. The American Trucking A coalition of airline operators, The U.S. rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations should include front-line Assn. made the argument in a pilots, flight attendants and aircraft vaccines looks imminent. But sup- healthcare workers and nursing letter to the CDC that “it is mechanics wrote to CDC Director plies will be limited in the early go- home residents. The second group, imperative that truck drivers have Robert Redfield and Christopher ing, so companies and trade groups it recommended, should be Uber says its drivers should get priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine because prioritized access to the vaccine. C. Krebs, the now-fired director of are jockeying to push their workers essential workers. they provide crucial transportation to healthcare workers and the general public. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure closer to the front of the line. Security Agency, arguing that their A federal panel of medical and healthcare worker (lab workers and populations, including those most the CDC that “it is imperative that workers should get priority because public health experts has recom- and Prevention’s Advisory Commit- dentists, for example, are among vulnerable to COVID and most at truck drivers have prioritized ac- they “are critical to moving critical mended that the first Americans to tee on Immunization Practices - a the lowest priority), the size of the risk, and they know how, when and cess to the vaccine to minimize the medical supplies and profession- receive vaccinations should include panel of 15 healthcare experts - has population the healthcare worker’s where to reach them.” The CDC potential for supply chain delays als around the country.” For the front-line healthcare workers recommended that healthcare facility serves and the amount of and other public healthcare agen- and disruptions.” An alliance of last several months, the nation’s and nursing home residents. The personnel be protected first because risk the individual worker’s job and cies don’t track COVID-19 cases teachers, school superintendents airlines have touted the relative second group, it recommended, they are more likely than most to age entail. for every occupation, but medical and principals argued in a letter safety of flying during the pandem- should be essential workers. be exposed to the virus and that When it comes to the larger journal reports and government to the CDC that giving educators ic. But flight attendants and other But what exactly counts as an long-term nursing home residents population, local public health studies have noted a higher risk of priority in the vaccine distribu- airline workers say they should get essential worker? And will state should get priority because they are officials may base priority not on infection among some jobs, includ- tion will ensure that schools stay priority in the vaccination because and local health officials, who more likely to die from the disease. occupation but rather on other risk ing meatpackers, healthcare work- open, parents can return to work their risk of contracting the virus decide whether and how to imple- State and local officials can factors such as having an underly- ers and flight attendants. and students do not fall back on is much higher than that of their ment the federal panel’s recom- extend that rationale to additional ing health condition, being incar- Labor groups that have already their lessons.” As of last month, the passengers. mendations, decide to prioritize groups, but they also need to think cerated, being homeless, working pressed to be moved toward the CDC reported more than 277,000 “It’s our job to work numerous certain kinds of essential workers about how each group fits into the in a factory or living in a multi- front of the vaccine line argue ei- COVID-19 cases among school-age flights, interact with all of the peo- while requiring others to wait? larger population and how best to generational household, said Lori ther that their members are highly children. ple traveling, transit to and from Labor and professional organiza- protect the health and economy of Tremmel Freeman, chief executive exposed to the virus, such as flight The American Bankers Assn. work on public transportation, stay tions for pilots, flight attendants, their overall community. of the National Assn. of County and attendants and meatpackers, or said it has been advocating to in hotels, eat at restaurants or get teachers, bus drivers, meat in- California’s Department of Pub- City Health Officials. that they must be protected so they public health agencies that bank food in some way where we travel,” dustry workers and bank tellers, lic Health recently issued guide- “They know their populations can perform crucial functions to employees who come in contact said Sara Nelson, international among other groups, and some lines for the first wave of vaccina- intimately because of the public keep American society open, such with the public every day, such as president of the Assn. of Flight employers have begun to lobby for tions that closely mirror the CDC health programs they provide in as bank tellers and ride-hailing tellers, should be among the essen- Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO. “If their members and workers to gain panel’s recommendations. The de- those communities day in and day drivers. tial workers who get priority after we don’t get vaccinated as soon as quick access to the vaccine. partment added “subprioritization” out,” she said. “They understand The American Trucking Assn. healthcare workers and long-term possible, we are more likely to put The Centers for Disease Control guidelines based on the type of the various nuances of special made the argument in a letter to nursing home residents. more people at risk.” 12 Sunday, December 13, 2020 Economy & Business Disney flexes its streaming prowess with big content plans, and a price hike The company said it plans to bring more than 100 new titles per year to Disney+, representing a massive ramp up from its initial schedule

Tribune News Service including “Black Widow” starring Scarlett Johansson, a Buzz Light- Walt Disney Co. on Thursday un- year origin story from Pixar and an veiled its plan to supercharge its animated feature, “Encanto,” with streaming services, including a ro- music by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In a bust slate of shows from its “Star major reveal, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Wars” and Marvel franchises, origi- Kennedy announced that “Rogue nal movies and a new international Squadron,” the next “Star Wars” service to expand its reach beyond feature, is set to be directed by Patty family audiences. Jenkins. In a more than four-hour pres- Other films will go straight to entation for investors, analysts and Disney+ at no additional cost. Dis- press, Chief Executive Bob Chapek, ney was already planning to put Executive Chairman Bob Iger and a Pixar’s “Soul” on Disney+ on Dec. full bench of executives laid out an 25. Also slated for the platform aggressive plan to grow Disney+ and are features such as “Chip N’ Dale: other streaming businesses includ- Rescue Rangers,” an “Enchanted” ing Hulu and ESPN+ to as many as sequel starring Amy Adams, “Pe- 350 million combined subscribers ter Pan & Wendy” starring Jude in the next few years. Law, and “Pinocchio” starring Tom The company said it plans to Hanks. bring more than 100 new titles Disney+ additionally plans to per year to Disney+, representing continue its “Premier Access” strat- a massive ramp up from its initial egy, in which certain movies are schedule. made available to streaming sub- Disney said it has 10 Marvel scribers for an additional fee. The series, 10 “Star Wars” shows and computer animated “Raya and the 15 live action, animated and Pixar Last Dragon” from director Jen- shows in the works for Disney+. It nifer Lee will be released through teased upcoming series about “Star Premier Access for $30. Wars” fan-favorite Lando Calris- The company previously experi- sian, a live-action “Pinocchio” fea- mented with the new model by of- ture, a “Moana” show and a “Guard- fering the live action redo of “Mu- ians of the Galaxy” holiday special. lan” for $30 to Disney+ subscribers. In another display of confidence, Disney never released sales figures Disney said its would raise its price for the title, which was hobbled by for Disney+ in the U.S. by $1 to controversy because of shots taken $7.99 a month, starting in March. in a region of China accused of hu- The company said it will also man rights abuses. make some of its big films available The plan is less extreme than for streaming next year, preview- the one WarnerMedia announced ing a future when more of Disney’s last week to launch all of Warner movies premier in the home. Disney Bros.’s 2021 movies simultane- also touted upcoming original series Set in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, ‘The Mandalorian’ is one of the original series available at Disney+. (Lucasfilm Ltd./TNS) ously on HBO Max and in theaters. for Hulu, ESPN+ and its new inter- The strategy, which starts with the national Star brand. TVs. countless Baby Yoda memes later, stay at home orders, which have Christmas day with the release of Among the splashy announce- Iger, in a remarks filmed on a Disney looks well on its way to a done severe damage to other parts Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman ments: a new Stephen A. Smith soundstage at Disney’s Burbank stu- successful transition to a company of its business. Disneyland in Ana- 1984,” shook the film business as sports show for ESPN+, a series dio lot, said the success of Disney+ that brings its movies and TV shows We’ve clearly positioned heim has been shut down since a tacit recognition that the studio based on the “Alien” movie, a Roll- so far encouraged the company to directly to fans online. ourselves as the leader in the March and the movie studio has does not expect the theatrical expe- ing Stones series from FX, and the create a production lineup “much Disney on Thursday said Dis- direct to consumer space, and pushed films that were supposed rience to return in a significant way Kardashians bringing their reality more robust than initially antici- ney+ has 86.8 million subscribers as the truth is, we’re just getting to come out this year into 2021, in- for most of next year. TV shenanigans to Hulu. pated.” of Dec. 2, up from the 73.7 million it cluding Marvel’s “Black Widow.” “Flexibility is going to be a big The lineup comes as Disney+ “We’ve clearly positioned our- had as of Oct. 3. started. The company last month said dynamic going forward for us,” and its sibling streamers need fresh selves as the leader in the direct to Disney previously targeted 60 Executive Chairman Bob Iger it suffered a net loss of $2.8 billion Chapek said, noting that 80% of the content to continue to drive sub- consumer space, and the truth is, million to 90 million Disney+ sub- for the 2020 fiscal year, plummet- titles Disney announced Thursday scriptions, particularly after the we’re just getting started,” said Iger, scribers, as well as profitability for ing from a profit of $10.4 billion a are going direct-to-consumer. pandemic slowed productions. who oversees content efforts across the service by the end of fiscal 2024. total subscriber base for all its ser- year earlier. The pandemic led to a Key to Disney’s streaming strat- The Disney presentation Disney. Thanks to hits such as “The vices is expected to reach 300 mil- $7.4-billion reduction in operating egy outside the U.S. is its Star brand, amounted to a powerful statement But despite the daunting sched- Mandalorian” and the filmed ver- lion to 350 million in that time. income during the year, the com- which will encompass content from showing how serious the Burbank ule, Iger said the company is focused sion of “Hamilton,” a deep library of With all that additional growth pany said. Disney last month said Disney-owned channels and stu- entertainment giant is about grow- on quality, not quantity. “Quality animated classics and families be- and content comes bigger costs. it planned to lay off 32,000 workers dios that don’t fit Disney+’s family ing its direct-to-consumer prow- holds its value, and that has been ing stuck at home, Disney+ is well Disney Chief Financial Officer by the end of the first half of fiscal focused vibe, such as Disney Televi- ess. Disney and other companies our mantra since we began telling ahead of schedule. The company’s Christine McCarthy said annual 2021. sion Studios, FX and 20th Century including AT&T’s WarnerMedia, stories,” Iger said. broader streaming business has content expenses for Disney+ will While flaunting its content slate, Studios. The offering will launch Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Vi- The latest flex by Disney comes 137 million subscriptions, including hit $8 billion to $9 billion in fiscal Disney detailed plans for a flexible outside the U.S. in markets such as acomCBS are trying to boost their a little more than a year after then- 38.8 million at Hulu and 11.5 mil- 2024. film distribution strategy that al- Europe and Canada as an addition- streaming ambitions as the COV- CEO Iger launched Disney+ in a lion at ESPN+. Netflix, currently the leading lows it to choose whether to put al “tile” within Disney+, with added ID-19 crisis accelerates the public’s bold plan to adapt the company’s The company told analysts it streaming service, counts 195 mil- films in theaters or send them di- parental controls. In Latin America, move from in-person entertainment legacy entertainment brands for now projects Disney+ subscribers lion global paying members. rectly to living rooms. the company will offer a standalone options (like movie theaters) to the streaming age. Tens of millions to reach 230 million to 260 million Streaming has been a bright Many of Disney’s biggest mov- service, Star+, which will include phone apps and internet-connected of subscribers, one pandemic and through fiscal 2024.T he company’s spot for Disney during COVID-19 ies will continue to go to theaters, live sports.

Latest wind, solar deals make Amazon largest corporate buyer of renewable energy Tribune News Service U.S., will have the capacity to to 100% renewable energy, we produce 3.4 gigawatts of elec- Google had previously need energy storage,” Adler Amazon said it has become tricity. The company didn’t been the largest corporate said. the world’s largest corporate provide a figure for the cost of Technologies to store re- purchaser of renewable en- the projects. purchaser of renewable newable power, though, lag far ergy after signing agreements Since 2015, Amazon has energy, claiming that title behind the ability to produce Thursday to purchase energy backed a total of 127 such wind in 2019. Amazon’s new energy from solar panels and from 26 wind and solar pro- and solar deals, with a capac- projects, located in wind turbines. Solar-charged jects around the world. ity of 6.5 gigawatts — enough Australia, France, batteries strong enough to The procurement moved to power 1.7 million homes Germany, Italy, South power a house are expensive the Seattle commerce behe- in the U.S. for a year, though Africa, Sweden, the UK and only last for a few hours — moth’s goal of powering all of Amazon’s energy needs are and the US so when “5 p.m. comes, all the its operations with renewable far greater than the typi- coal-fired power plants light energy five years closer. cal American home. A large up again,” Adler said. “We are on a path to run- 100-megawatt data center, for for energy means that while His lab is working with ning 100% of our business on instance, uses as much energy procuring additional power Microsoft to store renew- renewable energy by 2025 — as 80,000 households, ac- from renewable sources is a ably generated energy at five years ahead of our origi- cording to data from the De- “major” step forward in fight- data centers that can later be nal target of 2030,” Amazon partment of Energy. ing climate change, the com- juiced back into the grid, and CEO Jeff Bezos said. “This Between its own projects, pany has more work to do on on other energy solutions for is just one of the many steps and sources of renewable en- sustainability, said Univer- power-hungry server farms. we’re taking that will help us ergy already feeding into the sity of Washington professor An Amazon spokesperson meet our Climate Pledge,” he electric grids powering Ama- Stuart Adler, who researches did not respond to a question added, referring to Amazon’s zon infrastructure, 42% of the energy storage at the school’s about whether the company is commitment to be carbon company’s operations in 2019 Clean Energy Institute. investigating energy storage. neutral by 2040. were powered by renewable As it stands, Amazon is The company’s deci- Google had previously energy. Since 2015, Amazon has backed a total of 127 such wind and solar deals. typically pumping energy sions about where to locate been the largest corporate But Amazon’s real estate from renewable sources into its physical infrastructure purchaser of renewable ener- footprint — and its need for including Whole Foods gro- according to a recent federal er cloud-computing providers the electric grid to replace also play a large role in Ama- gy, claiming that title in 2019. power — are growing fast. The cery stores. This year alone, securities filing. Meanwhile, like Microsoft and Google, the energy it uses from non- zon’s energy footprint, a 2017 Amazon’s new projects, company ended 2019 with Amazon has expanded its work-from-home policies and said Conan Lee, a data center renewable sources, like coal. Greenpeace report found, as located in Australia, France, 333 million square feet of fulfillmentcenter footprint by online schooling have led to analyst at commercial broker- Since wind turbines and solar some utility companies rely Germany, Italy, South Africa, warehouses, data centers, of- 50% to meet pandemic-driven rising demand for new data age JLL. panels don’t generate electric- more on renewable energy Sweden, the U.K. and the fice space and physical stores, surges in online shopping, centers from Amazon and oth- Amazon’s expanding need ity all the time, “to really get than others. Toyota’s Attiyah fends off fierce Mini challenge to win Hail Baja I SUNday, DECEMBER 13, 2020 page 14 Doha bolstered by world-class partners for 2030 Asian Games bid

Tribune News Network Doha

Doha’s bid for the 2030 Asian Games has been boosted by support from world- leading international partners including: Qatar Airways, beIN, Qatar Foundation, Aspire Academy, and Ooredoo each of which have fully committed to help Doha 2030 deliver the most spectacular and engaging Asian Games. The globally-recognised organiza- tions bring decades of specialised, best- in-class experience and expertise to Doha 2030 and reinforce the certainty Qatar’s state-of-the-art Aspire Dome multipurpose sports complex. the bid is ready to offer Asia. As a result, Doha 2030 will be able to focus on pro- viding a Games legacy that starts imme- ‘All of Asia will belong diately and benefits all Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Qatar Foundation, which is home to at Doha 2030’ some of the world’s leading educational institutes as well as world-class sporting Tribune News Network we also value and recognize facilities, will play a central role in ensur- Doha all that we can learn from our ing that Doha 2030 pushes boundaries brothers and sisters in the and focuses on bringing benefits to the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad OCA family. We will take all Asian Olympic family. Al Thani, the Qatar Olympic that on board so that we deliv- Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, Presi- Committee president and er a truly Asian, Asian Games, dent of Community Development, Chairman Doha 2030 Bid where every NOC benefits and Qatar Foundation, said: “Qatar Foun- Committee, has reached Mus- where we all belong.” dation and Doha 2030 share a com- cat, Sultanate of Oman, ahead Meanwhile, Iran’s canoe- mitment to providing opportunities for of the General Assembly of ing athlete Shahoo Nasseri people within Qatar, across the region, to Aspire from next year onwards so we staging world-class international sports the Olympic Council of Asia and Lebanon’s high jump and beyond to fulfil their potential, and can provide them with the best environ- events to the highest standards and I (OCA). He was received upon athlete Jean-Claude Rabbath a belief in the power of sport to em- ment to train ahead of the Asian Games have no doubt it would host an unforget- arrival by Sayyed Khalid bin have expressed their support power, inspire, and unify. 2030”. table Asian Games in 2030. At beIN we Hamad Al Busaidi, President for Doha 2030 Asian Games “Our support for Doha 2030 – in Qatar Airways Group Chief Execu- are fully prepared to share our expertise of Oman Olympic Committee. bid sharing their fond memo- the form of our knowledge, experience, tive, Akbar Al Baker, said, “Qatar Air- and help Doha 2030 provide an inter- Also arriving in Muscat ries from victorirs at the Doha infrastructure, and ethos as an organi- ways will ensure all of Asia can easily national platform that showcases Asia’s on Saturday was Ahmed Al Asian Games 2006. zation – reflects Qatar Foundation’s travel to Doha 2030. The national car- best athletes to a global audience.” Fahad Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Set to host the FIFA World role in driving innovation and foster- letes. The Aspire Zone Foundation a rier of the State of Qatar is committed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin President of Olympic Council Cup 2022, Doha and Qatar ing social development through sport tangible legacy product of the Doha to partnering with Doha 2030 to help Mohammed Al Thani, Deputy Group of Asia, for the OCA Execu- has hosted many interna- and education. We are proud to play 2006 Asian Games. deliver one of the most easily accessi- Chief Executive Officerand Chief Ex- tive meetings. tional and world meets since our part in Doha’s bid to host a 2030 Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, ble Asian Games ever hosted. Prior to ecutive Officer of Ooredoo Qatar at The OCA will announce 2006 including the 2019 FIFA Asian Games that celebrates Asia’s CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, said: COVID-19, we connected more than 165 leading telecommunications opera- the winning city to host the Club World Cup, the IAAF cultural diversity and leaves a true hu- “At Aspire Zone Foundation we have destinations via our award winning hub, tor Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo is excited Asian Games in 2030 on De- World Championships, the man and social legacy. Doha 2030 will some of the best venues and sports train- Hamad International Airport. Every by the prospect of working with Doha cember 16. 2015 Men’s Handball World also partner with Qatar Museums to ing and medical facilities in the world year we serve millions of tourists who 2030 to deliver the most technologi- The Doha 2030 Asian Championship, the 2015 AIBA highlight the importance of sport and and we are ready to partner with Doha come to visit Doha for its beautiful beach cally advanced Asian Games in his- Games Bid Committee’s World Boxing Championship, culture and organise associated events 2030 to put these facilities to the ben- resorts, cultural attractions and world- tory. Given the heart of Doha 2030’s twitter handle said, “Every- the 48th Artistic Gymnastics and activations that showcase the cul- efit of Asia’s athletes. Our commitment class sports, business and leisure facili- bid is the desire to connect Asia and one is very excited to have World Championships, the In- ture and traditions of Asia. to developing young athletes is fully ties. For 2030 we are ready to provide bring the continent together through the final chance to explain ternational Handball Federa- The internationally-known Aspire aligned with Doha 2030’s ambition to convenient and high-quality travel for sport, Ooredoo is an ideal partner; we how all of Asia will belong at tion Super Globe and the 2019 Zone Foundation, has state-of-the- help Asia’s NOCs prepare their strong- the OCA family so they can experience are committed to promoting a healthy, Doha 2030.” ANOC World Beach Games. art sports venues and through Aspire est ever Asian Games teams. As part of the magic of an Asian Games in one of active lifestyle for all as part of our Having hosted a highly Doha 2030 CEO and Academy is dedicated to the develop- the Doha 2030’s legacy programme we the world’s most welcoming cities.” corporate social responsibility strat- successful 15th Asian Games Qatar Olympic Committee ment of youth athletes. It is also home hope to have the opportunity to wel- Yousef Al Obaidly, beIN media group egy. Ooredoo’s contribution will be the in 2006, Doha as a Candidate Secretary-General Jassim Al to the world-leading sports medicine come Asian NOCs and their teams CEO added: “Doha provision of high- quality, reliable and City is keen and hopeful of Buenain has said: “Providing hospital Aspetar which provides has vast expe- secure telecommunications so that ath- playing host a second time to athletes with a safe and world- specialised, best-in- rience in letes, fans and all of the OCA family can the continental sporting ex- class environment to compete class support share in the joy of the Games.” travaganza. is always our first priority.” for ath- Recently sharing expertise Al Buenain has also said with the National Olympic recently that if Doha is elect- Committees (NOC’s), Doha ed to host in 2030, high level 2030 Chairman HE Sheikh safety protocols and state-of Joaan, said: “As we have al- the-art sporting facilities will ways made clear, our ambi- be offered to the participat- tion is for Doha 2030 to unite ing countries. “If Doha has Asian NOCs and celebrate our the honour of hosting the continent’s wonderful diver- 2030 Asian Games, our state- sity. We are stronger when we of- the-art venues will provide are together and when we sup- a gateway to certainty for the port and respect each other. In OCA family and for Asia’s ath- Doha, we have a lot of experi- letes that they can expect the Al Shaqab equestrian centre, one of the world’s finest facilities. ence we are ready to share but very best conditions.”

Unbeaten Ulsan Hyundai look to continue dream run against Vissel Kobe

AFC Ulsan will enter Sunday’s semi- the team to top Group G with Doha final as strong favourites to beat two matches to spare. Vissel Kobe. All of 120 minutes were not With seven wins from seven “Nobody knows if this is our enough to separate the sides but in Qatar, Ulsan Hyundai FC last game, but we have to leave Vissel Kobe players kept their know more of the same will help everything on the pitch and composure, scoring all their ef- them advance to the 2020 AFC show our quality on the pitch,” forts from the spot to seal a 7-6 Champions League final at the said Ulsan head coach Kim Do- penalty shootout win and book expense of Vissel Kobe at the hoon. “We will do our best to a date with Ulsan Hyundai. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at put in a great performance to- “Tomorrow we play against 1pm on Sunday. morrow.” an Ulsan Hyundai team whom The K League runners- Ulsan are in fine form and we know is a strong team with up have brushed off domestic have been able to carefully ro- quality players. Our prepara- heartbreak to emerge as the tate their squad throughout the tions for tomorrow’s match did form team of the AFC Champi- tournament, while Vissel Kobe Ulsan Hyundai (left) and Vissel Kobe teams after their respective AFC Champions League quarter-final wins in Doha on Thursday. not start after the quarter-final, ons League (East), scoring mul- have reached the final four de- we have been preparing for eve- tiple goals in all seven of their spite a relatively patchy record “We need to take control in at their best. We need to avoid 35-year-old veteran will be ary, defeating Yokohama F. Ma- ry step of this competition since Doha fixtures. of two wins, one draw and two midfield and be extra focused mistakes and be confident play- toasting a second AFC Champi- rinos on a penalty shootout, but we were in Japan, so we want Every challenge thrown losses since they arrived in Qa- in the box so we can take our ing our own football.” ons League title. ended the J1 League season in a to show our quality and play a their way has been navigated, tar last month. chances,” said Kim. While Vissel are appearing disappointing 12th place. good game,” said Miura. the most recent being the 2-0 The Japanese side also come “I hope our players will on the top Asian stage for the Vissel seek semis joy The league results contrib- Should Vissel Kobe reach win which eliminated the pre- into the clash less than 72 hours show their maximum energy on first time, this is Ulsan’s eighth After winning their first-ev- uted to the departure of German the final, they would become viously unbeaten Beijing FC in after an arduous 120-minute the pitch tomorrow. AFC Champions League cam- er Emperor’s Cup title in 2019 boss Thorsten Fink, who was the first debutants to achieve Thursday’s quarter-final, with battle against Suwon Samsung “We played in this stadium paign in 15 years, and they fa- to earn their AFC Champions replaced by former sporting di- that feat since Western Sydney Brazilian striker Júnior Negrão Bluewings, with a heavy injury before, so we know it. Regard- mously won the title in 2012. League debut, Vissel Kobe had rector Atsuhiro Miura just two Wanderers in 2014. They would scoring both goals. cloud hanging over FIFA World less of the dimensions, we have Lee Keun-ho remains from a 2020 domestic season full of months before the restart of the also extend a proud record for While that match was con- Cup winner Andres Iniesta of to show our game. It is a semi- that triumphant side and, ups and downs. continental campaign in Doha. Japanese clubs who have been sidered by many to be some- further concern for Atsuhiro final but the players also need should their seven-match win- The port city club added the A two-time AFC Asian Cup involved in every AFC Champi- thing of a 50-50 proposition, Miura’s side. to enjoy their game and play ning streak become nine, the Japanese Super Cup in Febru- winner with Japan, Miura led ons League final since 2017. 14 Sunday, December 13, 2020 Sports Attiyah in Toyota Hilux fends off fierce Co-driver Frenchman Mathieu Baumel with Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah during the Hail Baja I in Saudi Arabia.

Tribune News Network and relying heavily on Matthieu Baumel’s precise Hail (Saudi Arabia) navigation. He gradually extended that advantage as Mini challenge to the stage progressed to seal the win. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah held his nerve to set a Russian Vladimir Vasilyev moved ahead of Dutch- second successive fastest time and seal victory in man Bernhard Ten Brinke in the battle for the FIA Hail Baja 1, round four of the FIA World Cup for Baja Drivers’ titie. The duo finished Hail Baja 1 in fifth Cross-Country Bajas, on Saturday. and sixth positions and the outcome of the title race Despite opening the road on the 275.54lkm stage will now be decided at the final round onD ecember and having the extra burden of navigation, the Toy- 14-16. win Hail Baja I ota Hilux driver and his French navigator Matthieu Saleh Al Saif may have slipped behind Russia’s Baumel stayed ahead of closest rivals Carlos Sainz Denis Krotov (Mini) and into eighth in the overall and Stephane Peterhansel to win the stage by 3min standings, but the Saudi driver had the superb con- 20sec and seal a winning margin of 6min 10sec. solation of a useful victory in the FIA T3 category in Al Attiyah, said, “It was a good day for us. We be- his Can-Am. lieved in our speed. We opened the road but we only Erik van Loon (Toyota) and Miroslav Zapletal had one way and that was to push. We make incred- (Ford) rounded off the top 10, with Guillaume de Me- ible stage without mistake, no problems and no punc- vius finishing 1 th and second in T3 and Saudi driver tures. I am happy to win Baja 1. Now we have two Khalid Al Jafla taking 12th spot. days of rest. Baja 2 will be different but we try to do Poland’s Jakub Przygonski was fifthfastest on the our best. Third win in Hail and hopefully the fourth day and finished 14th after first day fuel issues. one is coming very soon.” Dutchman Kees Koolen finished in 13th place and Sainz and Peterhansel were closely matched first in the FIA T4 section in his South Racing Can- throughout the challenging stage in the two Am Maverick X3. new Mini John Cooper He was second best on the Works Buggies and reached day’s stage to a resurgent Aron the finish in second and third Domzala, but the Pole’s first overall. day woes had given Koolen a Double Dakar and WRC massive cushion and he duly series winner Sainz, said, “All closed the gap on his rival for is okay, no problem. We keep the FIA T4 title. planning and we will try a Khalifa Al Attiyah, the couple more things a day after brother of overall event win- tomorrow.” third-placed Pe- ner Nasser, was third in the terhansel, said, “Today was an category but technical issues interesting stage, a mix of fast thwarted Lorenco Rosa. tracks, sandy tracks and dunes Qatar’s Khalifa Al Attiyah in the T4 category. Czech driver Martop with a very beautiful landscape. He finished third. Prokop had been unable to “This two days of racing was start Hail Baja 1, but the for- interesting with a good level of organisation, good mer WRC star was permitted to take part in the road book and this is a great opportunity just before second leg of the National Rally for testing pur- the Dakar to do it.” poses. Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren delivered an- Five-time Hail Rally winner Yazeed Al Rajhi had other polished performance on his pre-Dakar test to to settle for fourth place on the first of the Bajas, the crush his amateur rivals in the motorcycle category. Saudi driver finishing 14min 48sec behind his win- The Frenchman won the stage by 23min 16sec from Results ning Toyota team-mate. Konrad Dabrowski to record a winning margin over “I enjoyed this rally as preparation for Dakar and the Pole of 48min 25sec. Saudi rider Mishal Al-Ghu- Hail Baja 1 – FIA (SS2 - unofficial): 13. Kees Koolen (NLD)/Jurgen van den Goorbergh (NLD) Can-Am Maverick X3 7hr 41min everything went well,” said Al Rajhi. neim finished a distant third. 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux 6hr 14min 27sec 43sec “First day we had a small issue and we didn’t take Riyadh Saud Al Shammeri won his second succes- 2. Carlos Sainz (ESP)/Lucas Cruz (ESP) MINI JCW Buggy 6hr 20min 37sec 14. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 7hr 48min 04sec 3. Stephane Peterhansel (FRA)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA) MINI JCW Buggy 6hr 23min 15. Khalifa Al Attiyah (QAT)/Paulo Ceci (ITA) Can-Am Maverick X3 7hr 49min 05sec too much risk today. I think the next race, we need to sive stage to confirm victory in the quad category on 26sec Hail Baja 1 – Bikes (SS2 - unofficial): improve a little bit in the soft and slow dunes because his Yamaha. Former Hail Rally winner Absulmajeed 4. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Ditk von Zitzewitz (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 29min 15sec 1. Adrien van Beveren (FRA) Yamaha 450 WRF 5hr 38min 22sec you do not need to push more. When you push more, Al-Khulaifi was second, 3min 52sec adrift, and Wali- 5. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Dmitro Tsyro (UKR) MINI JCW Rally 6hr 43min 02sec 2. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally Replica 6hr 26min 47sec you lose time.” ad Al-Nahath came home in third place. 6. Bernhard Ten Brinke (NLD)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 49min 56sec 3. Mishal Al-Ghuneim (SAU) KTM 450 Rally 6hr 57min 33sec 7. Denis Krotov (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing 7hr 07min 55sec 4. Anass Al Reheyani (SAU) KTM 450 7hr 22min 16sec The second stage began close to Jubbah and head- Al Mashna Al Shammeri won the National Rally 8. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Laurent Lichtleuchter (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 7hr 10min 19sec 5. Abdulhalem Al Mogeera (SAU) KTM EXC 450 7hr 40min 27sec, etc ed west of Hail before looping through the desert to by 28min 25sec from Mater Abdullah Al Shammeri. 9. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sebastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 7hr 12min 07sec Hail Baja 1 – Quads (SS2 - unofficial): finish close to the village of Q’na. There were two pas- Hail Rally Toyota 2020 is taking place under the 10. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 7hr 13min 45sec 1. Riyadh Saud Al Shammeri (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450 7hr 08min 14sec 11. Guillaume de Mevius (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) Can-Am Maverick X3 7hr 19min 2. Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi (SAU) Yamaha 700 7hr 12min 06sec sage controls after 147.29km and 261.46km. supervision of the Hail Regional Development Au- 08sec 3. Waliad Al Nahath (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700 7hr 52min 08sec The leading quartet were closely matched through thority in co-operation with the General Authority 12. Khaled Al Jafla (SAU)/Ali Mirza (UAE) Toyota Hilux 7hr 24min 57sec 4. Faisal Al Shammeri (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700 8hr 01min 33sec, etc. the opening checkpoints with Al Attiyah holding a for Tourism and National Heritage and the General slight advantage over Sainz, despite opening the road Authority for Sport.

Manchester derby fires Verstappen claims first pole blanks, Newcastle’s of season at Abu Dhabi Almiron scores in 20 secs AFP Quick-fire Almiron AFP most probably, on the Dane’s London At St James’ Park, New- Yas Marina (UAE) F1 career in the American castle were playing for the first team’s 100th Grand Prix. Manchester United failed to time since their match against Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Hamilton had his early ease the pressure on Ole Gun- Aston Villa was postponed due clinched his maiden pole posi- best lap deleted for exceed- nar Solskjaer after a limp dis- to a COVID-19 outbreak in tion of the campaign on Satur- ing track limits with a bumpy play in their 0-0 draw against their squad. day for the season-ending Abu ride over the kerbs. “Check the Manchester City, while Miguel Newcastle took less than a Dhabi Grand Prix. floor. I might have some dam- Almiron scored in 20 seconds as minute to grab the lead when The Dutch driver edged age,” he told Mercedes. Newcastle beat West Bromwich Almiron swept his shot past Valterri Bottas in second and After another run, the Albion 2-1 on Saturday. West Brom keeper Sam John- the Finn’s Mercedes team- champion was seventh and in Solskjaer faced calls for his stone. West Brom drew level mate Lewis Hamilton, who is the comfort zone to proceed to sacking after United crashed out five minutes into the second racing for the first time since Q2 as Verstappen, fastest in a of the Champions League with a half at St James’ Park. winning the championship af- Red Bull 1-2 in FP3, rose to sec- midweek defeat at Leipzig. Matt Phillips delivered a ter contracting coronavirus, in ond, three-tenths off Bottas. The beleaguered United low cross which was met by third for Sunday’s Grand Prix. As Q3 began, under full manager desperately needed defender Darnell Furlong, It was Verstappen’s firstpole floodlights around the track, an uplifting result in the Man- who lashed an unstoppable since the 2019 Brazilian Grand Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates with his team after the qualifying session on the eve of Stroll went first, but Norris set chester derby to win back low shot past Karl Darlow. Prix and the third of his career the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. (AFP) the early pace before being de- some support. But, with Paul Newcastle clinched the after clocking his best lap in one posed by Sainz. Pogba restored to the starting points in the 82nd minute minute and 35.246 seconds to Having said on Thursday Christian Horner whooped his best, following his illness. The Mercedes men, back line-up, United laboured to when Dwight Gayle met a su- beat Bottas by 0.025 seconds. he expected to claim ‘his seat’ with delight and described “Honestly, I am really to full power, re-joined the a drab draw that left them in perb cross by fellow substitute The top three were sepa- for third place again, Verstap- Verstappen’s lap as awesome. grateful to be back with the fray with Bottas shading Ham- seventh place. Jacob Murphy to head past rated by only 0.086sec, but pen was delighted. “Very well deserved for team – it’s been a difficult ilton for provisional pole, Ver- United have won just one of Johnstone. it was a disappointment for “I am very happy with that. Max,” said Horner. “He’s weekend getting back in the stappen splitting them for Red their last four games in all com- Newcastle’s second suc- Mercedes who missed out on Luckily, for me, everything threaded it together and rhythm,” the Briton said. Bull and Albon taking fourth. petitions and have only one win cessive victory lifted the gloom pole for only the second time came together in that final lap. nailed an amazing lap at the “I gave it my all. Congratula- Only 0.156 seconds cov- at Old Trafford in six Premier from their virus issues, but this year. Lance Stroll of the It seems like we have a decent end. He’s just made it happen tions to Max. It’s a great way for ered the top after their first League games this term. struggling West Brom stay Mercedes-powered Racing top speed this weekend so, himself. him to seal a year of great per- runs, during which Hamilton “In my time against Man- second bottom. Point team claimed the other. hopefully, this will work out “It’s been a long season on formances. We will give them a made a small error. chester City that’s the best Anwar El Ghazi’s last-gasp Lando Norris, equalling for tomorrow,” he said. Saturday afternoons, but to good run for their money.” It set up a classic finale performance we have had. penalty fired 10-man Aston his previous best, was fourth “It’s a long season for eve- finish the season on pole, we’ve Kevin Magnussen was the in which Hamilton went top, Not the best result but the best Villa to a dramatic 1-0 win for McLaren ahead of Alex ryone with a lot of races in a just got to convert it now.” first man out, followed by his only to be beaten by Bottas performance,” Solskjaer said. against Wolves. After two suc- Albon in the second Red Bull row so this was good for the Haas team-mate Pietro Fitti- and then a breathless Ver- “Its a mental challenge cessive defeats, Villa will hope and Carlos Sainz in the second whole team.” ‘Grateful’ Hamilton paldi, as the sun began to fall stappen with only seconds when that happens to you (go- they are back on track with just McLaren. His Red Bull team chief Hamilton said he gave it at the Yas Marina Circuit and, remaining. ing out of Champions League).” their second win in six games. Sports Sunday, December 13, 2020 15

HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, and Qatar Equestrian Federation President Hamad Abdulrahman Injaaz Stud’s Al Mustafiz team with HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, and Qatar Equestrian Federa- Al Attiyah with Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Naama group after they received the Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy. tion President Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah which won the National Day Cup at the QREC’s Al Rayyan Park on Saturday. Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Naama, Injaaz Stud’s Al Mustafiz win Late Sheikh Jassim Trophy and National Day Cup Tribune News Network Doha

HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, crowned the winners of the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy and Qatar Na- tional Day Cup at Al Rayyan Park on Saturday. While Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Namaa won the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy, Injaaz Stud’s Al Mustafiz won in the National Day Cup. Al Shaqab Racing mares and trainer Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle celebrated a one- two in the The Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy (Gr2 PA) (Far Bend) (3yo & older) as Soufi- ane Saadi guided Al Nasma to Al Mustafiz on way to winning the Qatar National Cup at QREC’s Al Rayyan Park on Saturday. a fantastic victory. Al Naama, who had lined the Thoroughbred Plate (3 Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Arabian Handicap (Far Bend) up for her longest distance Jockey Soufiane Saadi is ecstatic as Al Naama crosses the winning post to claim The Late Sheikh Jassim Year Olds) (Class 3) (Far Jehani’s More Than A Dream (95 & below), when Qatari in over a year at 2000m, and Bin Mohammed Al Thani Cup at Qatar Equestrian & Racing Club’s (QREC) Al Rayyan Park on Saturday. Bend) in thrilling fashion. brushed aside a forgettable last jockey Saleh Salem Al Marri stablemate Gtnah, ridden by Tomas Lukasek, who had season and a few lesser efforts guided the Mohammed Gas- Qatari rider Faleh Bughanaim, ward was up for the task as andre Nicolet), finished third. brushed aside a string of for- ridden the colt to a C&D victory early on this term to register his sim Ghazali trained colt to a were the only ladies in a high the 7yo landed the National Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri’s gettable finishes to win for the in the season opener in Octo- first win since January 2019. fine victory with a length and quality field. Day Cup Local Purebred Ara- Dark Pursuit (Pastoral Pur- first time in Qatar. ber, was in saddle again as the With Qatari rider Faleh a quarter to spare. Closer home, Al Naama had bian Conditions (Far Bend) in suits x Ogre) was well held on In the Thoroughbred duo went past the post three Bughanaim in the saddle in In the process, not only did a healthy gap on the other con- a thrilling finish. his last outing in November Handicap (Class 3) (Far Bend) quarters of a length in front of the Thoroughbred Handicap the bay horse lead a one-two tenders and she had little trou- Soufiane Saadi had his but a C&D return and a step (75-95), the Majed Mahadi Mickael Berto ridden Taxiwala. (Class 3) (Far Bend) (70-90), for the trainer, with Al Junood ble winning by a length and a mount midfield early on in the up in class turned out to be ex- Seifeddine trained gelding had Al Thumama Racing’s Life the Hamad Ahmed Al Malki in second spot, but also com- quarter, as Gtnah finished run- race, before picking up the pace actly opposite for the gelding. Alberto Sanna for company Of Riley went one better than Al Jehani-trained 7yo was im- pleted a hat-trick this season. ner up for the second straight on the home stretch and staying In the Thoroughbred Con- and the duo did enough in the his last outing to win for the pressive at the business end Al Shaqab Racing’s Al time behind her stablemate. on the heels of Alban Elie Marie ditions (Far Bend), the Stefa- miler to edge out Ivan Rossi first time in Qatar. of the 2000m run as he led a Efreeta (Dahess x Dormadora) Julian Colin Smart-trained De Mieulle’s wards, Barra and no Ibido trained 4yo was rid- ridden Monsieur Noir by three The Mohammed Hussain one-two for the trainer with made a spectacular debut in Ebraz (Amer x Massamarie) Aahil, who had taken a slight den by JP Guillambert for the quarters of a length at the post. Afroz trained colt had finished JP Guillambert ridden Supre- Qatar with a dominant win in rounded up the top three under advantage between themselves. first time. The sprinter started It was Al Mohalhal’s second runner up on many occasions matism in second place by a a miler. Tomas Lukasek, riding in the In the final 50m, dipping the six furlong run the widest victory overall from 30 starts. in the past even as a win elud- length and a quarter. The Alban Elie Marie De colours of HH Sheikh Moham- into his reserves, Al Mustafiz in Gate 10 but a minute and Al Wasmiyah Farm’s ed the colt. With Killian Leon- Salman Mohammned Ale- Mieulle trained filly was un- med bin Khalifa Al Thani. edged out Umm Qarn’s Aahil ten seconds later Guillambert Think Big (Night Of Thunder ard in the saddle for the first madi’s Djalnor stepped down stoppable in the Purebred Injaaz Stud’s Al Mustafiz (Munjiz x Daniah), ridden by and his partner had edged out x Avenue Montaigne) has only time, the bay horse managed to a mile for the first time in Arabian Maiden Plate (4 Year (AF AlBahar x Djimana) was Ronan Thomas, to win the lo- Alberto Sanna ridden Arabic finished in the top two since to produce a timely lunge at Qatar, but the result was still Olds) (Far Bend) as she surged running seven furlongs for cal Arabian feature by a neck, Channel by a neck for the bay his arrival in Qatar and the the post in a blanket finish to the same. The 4yo colt opened forward and was up and away the first time since a C&D win while Barra (Munjiz x Dani- horse’s sixth career win. Georges Mikhalides trained win the five furlong Thorough- his time in Qatar with wins on the home straight to go past almost two years ago. But the ah), helmed by Michael Forest Rashid Bin Mubarak Al- colt only improved his strike bred Handicap (Class 3) (Far over 2000m, and that run the post five lengths in front of Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki’s in the colours of Patrice Alex- jafali Al Naimi’s Al Mohalhal rate further when he landed Bend) (75-95) sprint by a nose. continued in the Purebred her rivals.

Longines Hathab Round Six Fit-again Rohit Sharma to Haidan excels on Miss Chili to win Big Tour join India tour in Australia AFP his participation in the Bor- Tribune News Network New Delhi der-Gavaskar Trophy. Doha Key batsman Rohit Sharma Pucovski ruled out, Harris Top Hathab Big Tour riders has recovered from a hamstring called up to Oz Test squad showed great form as Moham- injury and been cleared to join Will Pucovski was on Sat- med Saeed Haidan topped the India’s tour in Australia, the na- urday ruled out of Australia’s charts this time with his trusted tional board said on Saturday. first Test against India after mount Miss Chili in the sixth Media reports said the failing to sufficientlyrecover round of the Longines Qatar 33-year-old will fly to Aus- from a concussion, with Mar- Equestrian Tour Hathab sup- tralia on Sunday to start the cus Harris called up as his re- ported by The Social & Sport two weeks of quarantine that placement. Contribution Fund on Saturday. will see him miss the first two Pucovski had been expect- The close and absorbing of the four Tests that start De- ed to make his debut and open contest at Qatar Equestrian cember 17 in Adelaide. the innings in Adelaide from Federation’s Indoor Arena Sharma “completed his re- December 17 alongside the with a start list of 18 riders Amer Mohamad Al Hamidi, President, Qatar Endurance Committee, habilitation process at the Na- out-of-form Joe Burns after became close in the Big Tour awards Open Class winner Rashid Towain Al Marri. tional Cricket Academy in Ban- David Warner was ruled out | Table A, One round against galore and is now clinically fit,” with an injured adductor mus- the clock with jump off, Art. Mohammed Saeed Haidan astride Miss Chili during the Big Tour Results off, Art. 238.2.2 | 130/140cm the Board of Control for Cricket cle. But the 22-year-old, who 238.2.2 | 130/140cm class. action in round six of Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour at the Open Class | Accumulator with | Prize-Money: QR45,000 in India said in a statement. whacked back-to-back dou- But it was Haidan who rode Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Indoor Arena on Saturday. Joker, Art. 269.5 | 115/120cm 1. Rider: Mohammed Saeed The Mumbai Indians cap- ble centuries in the Sheffield with aplomb on his grey mare | Prize-Money QR25,000 Haidan; Horse: Miss Chili; tain has been at the national Shield this season, was struck going faultless in both the first a shade slower in the jump off Marri, who had finished second 1. Rider: Rashid Towaim Al Faults: 0; Time: 69.52secs; centre since November 19 af- on the helmet during a warm- round and the jump off with at 33.33secs to claim the third in the Medium Tour on Friday Marri; Horse: Lamm Addiction J.Off: Faults:0; Time: ter suffering a left hamstring up match between India A and win with a time of 69.52secs position. riding Lamm Addiction, topped Z; Points: 65; Time: 44.98secs; 31.89secs; Prize: QR11,250 injury during the Indian Pre- Australia A during the week. and 31.89secs respectively. Another seasoned rider Sal- the Open Class on the same Prize: QR6,250 2. Nasser Al Ghazali; Quel mier League. Due to his history of con- Nasser Al Ghazali on his man Mohammed Al Emadi on mount in the Accumulator with 2. Mohammed Sultan Al Suwai- Homme: 0; 68.87secs; 0; He had been given a de- cussion injuries, selectors are bay gelding Quel Homme too his well-known bay gelding The Joker, Art. 269.5 | 115/120cm di; Guilder’s Empire of The Sun; 32.44secs; QR9,000 tailed programme to follow taking no chances. was equally challenging but Toymaker erred in the jump off class. Mohammed Sultan Al 65 45.14secs; QR5,000 3. Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi; during the two weeks he will “Given the spate of inju- needed 32.44 secs in the jump getting a fault. While he still Suwaidi on Guilder’s Empire of 3. Saoud Mohammed Al Kuwari; Aslan 69; 0; 71.71secs; 0; be quarantined for in Austral- ries in recent weeks, we’re off and had to settle with sec- was the fatest in 29.83secs, The Sun finished second. Goedele VDV Z; 65; 48.75secs; 33.33secs; QR6,750 ia, the statement said. fortunate to be able to bring a ond place on the podium. the fault pushed him down to The Dressage leg of Lon- QR3,750. 4. Salman Mohammed Al Ema- Doctors will check Shar- player of Marcus’ calibre into Salmeen Sultan Al Suwai fourth in this round. gines Hathab round six will Big Tour | Table A, One round di; The Toymaker; 0; 68.90secs; ma’s fitness again after the the Test squad,” said National on bay gelding Aslan 69 was Earlier, Rashid Towain Al take place on December 26th. against the clock with jump 4; 29.83secs; QR4,500. quarantine and make a call on Selector Trevor Hohns. 16 Sunday, December 13, 2020 The Last Word HMC’s Allergy & Immunology Division first WCOE in GCC Tribune News Network and education to our commu- the country that caters to referrals per year on average. Doha nity. This prestigious designa- adults with allergic and im- A wide range of disorders tion demonstrates that we are munodeficiency diseases. is dealt with by the team, Hamad Medical Corpora- continually striving to provide “This division provides an including allergic rhinitis, tion’s (HMC) Adult Allergy patients with a quality health- essential range of testing and asthma, food allergies, drug and Immunology Division care service that meets the treatment options for our pa- allergies, different types of has been designated as a highest international stand- tients, and we are delighted to urticaria, atopic dermati- Centre of Excellence (WCOE) ards. The commitment of the receive this international rec- tis, hereditary angioedema, by the World Allergy Organi- team and their focus on deliv- ognition,” Dr Mansouri said. anaphylaxis, food-dependent zation, a worldwide alliance ering the highest standard of “This designation is a testi- exercise-induced anaphylax- of allergy and clinical immu- care to our patients is a great mony to the continued dedi- is, and primary immunodefi- nology societies. testament to this achieve- cation and quality of service ciency disorders. Minister of Public Health ment,” Dr Kuwari said. provided by the team. Our HMC’s Allergy and Im- HE Dr Hanan Mohamed The World Allergy Or- clinicians and nurses all work munology Service has also Al Kuwari highlighted the ganization is an interna- together to ensure that our been accredited as an Urti- achievement as another ex- tional umbrella organisation patients receive the highest caria Center of Reference and ample of Qatar’s continued whose members consist of quality care.” Excellence (UCARE) and an success in the journey to- 103 regional and national al- Currently, the service op- Angioedema Center of Refer- wards providing a world- lergology and clinical immu- This comes as another example of Qatar’s world-class healthcare system and high quality patient care. erates 21 clinics per week, in- ence and Excellence (ACARE) class healthcare system nology societies worldwide. cluding a Severe Asthma Clin- and the Global Allergy & through the delivery of high WAO Centers of Excellence research, training to various tain this status and joins simi- ant and head of department ic, Severe Urticaria clinic and Asthma European Network quality, international stand- (WCOE) support multidisci- stakeholders in allergy, asth- lar programmes in some of the and programme director of two Immunodeficiency clin- (GA²LEN). Besides, the Com- ard patient care. plinary scientific and clinical ma and clinical immunology. most well-known hospital and Fellowship Training Pro- ics. The facility includes an bined Allergy and Immunol- “The Adult Allergy and innovation, education and HMC’s Adult Allergy and health systems in the world. gramme, Adult Allergy and Allergy Lab, a research room ogy Fellowship Training in Immunology Division pro- advocacy worldwide, provid- Immunology Division is the Dr Maryam Ali Al Nesf Immunology Section, said and infusion service, and it HMC is an ACGME-I accred- vides essential care, support ing excellence in education, first inthe GCC region to at- Al Mansouri, senior consult- this was the only service in receives more than 2,500 new ited programme. Qatari artist depicts strong, VCUarts Qatar faculty, alumni and student soaring nation in wall mural bring 22-metre-wide public artwork to life Ailyn Agonia Tribune News Network DOHA Doha

Have you spotted the new Those driving through the mural adorning the walls of Doha Festival City Inter- Woqod Petrol Station in Fereej change are in for a visual treat Kulaib? The image of a mighty, – a giant mural designed by strong Arabian horse in bur- Michael Perrone, assistant gundy colour running like the professor, Painting + Print- wind alongside a white falcon is making (PAPR), Virginia the masterpiece of Qatari artist Commonwealth School of the Haifa Al Khuzaei. Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), Her work is among the a Qatar Foundation (QF) part- dozens of murals and street art ner university), and executed adding vibrancy and character by alumni and a student from to different walls across Qa- VCUarts Qatar. tar as part of Qatar Museum’s The 22-metre-wide art- (QM) JedariArt initiative. work was created as part of a Braving the heat and the public art project called ‘Je- challenges of working on a dariArt’, a collaboration be- massive wall as her canvas, tween Qatar Museums (QM), Haifa said her strong drive to the Supreme Committee of The artwork was created as part of a public art project called ‘JedariArt’. send out an inspiring message Beautification of Roads and about her country helped her to Public Places, QRail, Woqod my medical condition that light comes through at a cer- exact shades for her. enjoy the process of completing and the Fire Station: Artist in keeps me working remotely tain point of the day, it shines “For most of us, the larg- the project on time. Residence. The initiative in- from Vermont, has caused on that wall. Some of the lines est canvases we’ve painted “The inspiration of the vited artists from diverse back- me an unexpected profes- were created by me tracing the on would have been around mural is how Qatar has gone grounds and talents to create sional and personal loss. I shapes of light. two metres in width, and we through a difficult road but it murals and street art across miss my ‘Qatar Family’ and I “The mural here in Ver- did those in indoor studios,” was like what one can say as designated public spaces in am always on the lookout for mont is in variations of grey says Awad. “So, to paint a ‘a blessing in disguise’. This Haifa works on her mural at Woqod Petrol Station in Fereej Kulaib. Qatar, with the aim to make art new ways to stay connected, and blue. Working with Sara mural that measures approx- period helped us unite for the more accessible to everyone. while I am in this temporary, Foryame Lawler and Dimi- imately 22 metres in width, sake of the advancement of tain and challenging times in Perrone’s design was remote situation. trije Buugarski from QM, outdoors, in lovely weather, our country. In my proposed encouraging people to face brought to life by a VCUarts “Through the ‘JedariArt’ we thought the mural might was an entirely different ex- artwork, I focused on continu- problems and crises and high- Qatar team comprising of project, I hoped to cure some work better in Doha if it had perience altogether. ous pursuit of the development light solutions in an expres- Salma Awad, a PAPR Class of my longings for Qatar, by a brighter palette. So, I re- “It was the first time that of our country in all fields. The sive way. of 2020 alumna and the pro- working with my friends, stu- painted it digitally, making any of us alumni and students horse, in burgundy colour, Haifa is a former art teach- ject manager; Teslim Sanni, dents and other community the painting more lively and had executed a public art represents strength in mov- er with 20 years of experience Art History Class of 2020 members who have helped celebratory, much like the piece, and to complete it with ing forward. The white falcon at Qatar’s Ministry of Educa- and Technical Specialist for bring my design to life.” lighting on many buildings Michael giving us instruc- represents focusing and soar- tion and Higher Education. the project; Amna Al Muftah, Explaining the design’s throughout Doha. tions remotely from Vermont, ing high. These two elements She has participated in many PAPR Class of 2020; Alice concept further, Perrone add- “The main concept for added to the sense of enthu- represent the colours of Qatar’s local and international exhibi- Aslem, PAPR, Class of 2022; ed, “The composition of this the artwork was that, since siasm and excitement. The flag,” Haifa told Qatar Tribune Qatari artist Haifa Al Khuzaei tions, and had four personal and Maha Nasr, an Interior artwork is based on a mural I I couldn’t be in Qatar right project also triggered a pub- in an interview. exhibitions from 1984 to 2019. Design, Class of 2020 alumna did at my home in Vermont, now, this was a way for me to lic response – while we were She pointed out that, up opportunities to raise the The JedariArt initiative who was also the photogra- the US. As it’s an old building bring a piece of my Vermont- painting the mural, drivers through her work, she would level of Qatar art scene and to is being held in partnership pher and videographer for the from 1906, many of the walls self (the mural I created here), would slow down, shout out like to convey the message of beautify the streets of Qatar. with the Supreme Commit- project. The team was sup- are made of plaster, and over to my family/community in words of encouragement and being strong and overcoming “QM has an effective role in tee of Beautification of Roads ported by Parthivan K, man- time the plaster has cracked. Doha, giving them to ‘see’ my appreciation, and take pho- daily despair. “Even if the situ- encouraging artists to actively and Public Places, Qatar Rail, lift operator, Ashghal, and a “My wife and I repaired life here, through the mural. tos, before driving off. ation is frustrating, a person participate in all local and in- Woqod and the Fire Station: painter himself. the cracks, and they became And of course, having some “One of the unforgettable can overcome any problem ternational issues and motivate Artist in Residence. To date, Perrone noted how the the start of the drawing. I of those people help create/ moments, though, was when with determination and persis- them by initiating competitions the murals and street arts pro- artwork was a direct result started painting the repaired paint the mural in Qatar, – during one of our breaks tence,” she said. and educational courses by duced through the programme of him missing his family, crack lines as a way to begin makes it that much better for – Parthivan, the technician Commenting on the out- opening exhibitions and inter- can be viewed at Al Abraj Park, friends and the wider commu- the painting. Then, I slowly me, as a way of connecting my operating the man-lift, asked standing QM initiative that national participation. All this Al Asmakh area, Doha Festi- nity in Qatar. refined the composition,two worlds.” us if he could paint a seg- brings together artists to active helped raise and expanded the val City Interchange, Alkhor “As a resident of Qatar straightening lines, removing Perrone sent the digital ment; the huge smile on his urban areas to promote artis- level of local art and the taste of Interchange, Post Office Park, since 2013, I found myself in some and adding others. version of the proposed mural, face when we handed him a tic intervention, Haifa said the the audience,” said Haifa. 5/6 Park, 5/6 Flyover, Qatar a rather difficult situation,” he “There are lots of win- along with the colour scheme paint roller reinforced the programme has effectively mo- She also stressed the im- National Library Metro Station said. “The current pandemic, dows in our home – a former to Awad and the rest of the fact that the beauty of public tivated local artists to explore portant role of artists during and the Woqod Petrol Station our ‘remote learning’ situa- church building with Gothic team in Doha. Awad then had art lies in it being accessible their creativity as well as open these unprecedented, uncer- in Fereej Kulaib. tion at VCUarts Qatar, and shaped arches – so when the retail paint suppliers mix the to everyone.” QRCS supervises polio vaccination of 815,000 Syrian children

Tribune News Network the countryside of Aleppo, Tell experience in monitoring Doha Abiad and Ras Al-Ayn, where child vaccination campaigns the health sector is disrupted against infectious diseases. Its Personnel of Qatar Red and public health services are representation mission in Ga- Crescent Society (QRCS) in totally lacked due to the war ziantep, Turkey, holds inten- Syria have recently completed and COVID-19. sive in-house and on-the-field monitoring of the polio vacci- The monitoring process training courses to improve nation campaign in the north- comprised three phases: the monitoring, planning, ern part of the country, amid 1. Pre-campaign: the supervi- follow-up and reporting skills strict preventive measures sors visited the chief centres to among the observers, so that against COVID-19. make sure that the centres and they are qualified to accom- Implemented in cooper- equipment are well in place; pany the vaccinators wherever ation with the World Health 2. During campaign: QRCS they go. Organization (WHO) and supervisors examined vaccine Over the past few years, the United Nations Chil- samples, checked storage con- QRCS monitored many child dren’s Fund (UNICEF), the ditions for inconveniences, and vaccination campaigns in campaign covered a total of accompanied vaccinator teams Syria against polio, measles 815,000 children under the QRCS personnel ensured adequacy of vaccination hubs, validity of injections, good performance of vaccinators and safe outreach to children. to assess their performance at and rubella. It worked togeth- age of five years. health centers and households er with many UN agencies, It was an attempt to give in the underserved governo- trained team of QRCS person- outreach to children. reporting on the progress and and take notes; and international humanitarian oral polio vaccines to the rates of northern Syria. nel were deployed across the Other tasks of the monitor- final results and proposing 3. Post-campaign: The results organisations and local chari- children who had not been QRCS acted as a neutral target areas to ensure adequa- ing team included correcting recommendations. were analysed for lessons ties to protect millions of chil- covered by the previous cam- observer to make sure that the cy of vaccination hubs, valid- any procedures not comply- Among the areas covered learnt, which will be consid- dren in Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, paigns, towards the ultimate vaccination process meets in- ity of injections, good perfor- ing with the plan, applying the by the campaign were the dis- ered in future campaigns. Hama and other Syrian gover- goal of zero polio transmission ternational standards. A well- mance of vaccinators and safe coronavirus control measures, tricts and countryside of Idlib, QRCS has considerable norates.