Monday January 4, 2021 Jumada Al-Awwal 20, 1442 Vol.14 no. 5146 qR 2

Fajr: 4:59 am Dhuhr: 11:39 am fine Asr: 2:37 pm Maghrib: 4:58 pm High : 24°C LOW : 19 °C Isha: 6:28 pm

World 5 Business 8 Sports 12 India approves two Qatari stocks World judokas set to Covid-19 vaccines for begin 2021 on converge in Qatar for IJF emergency use positive note Doha Masters 2021

Qatar a pioneer in 65 years old and above now using technology to complete eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

MoPH lowers threshold Those aged 65 1st phase of COVID-19 census: PSA chief age for vaccine from years and vaccination programme QNA He pointed out that 70 years to 65 above and who runs until January 31 Doha more than 190,000 people have not yet completed their data elec- Planning and Statistics tronically via the link www. Tribune News Network been contacted appointment. Authority (PSA) President psa.gov.qa/census2020. Doha can now call Vaccinations at health centres Dr Saleh bin Mohammed aspx, and there is no for the hotline will only be given to people with pre- Al Nabit has said that Qatar field enumerator to visit The Ministry of Public Health 40277077 to arranged appointments. has a pioneering experience them. (MoPH) has lowered the threshold age book an All other community members in conducting online census “This is a very good num- for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 65 who do not meet the criteria for the and it is now at the forefront ber, and we look forward to years from 70 in the first phase of the appointment early phase of the campaign need to of countries that adopt new increasing the numbers on COVID-19 vaccination campaign. wait until their turn. technology to complete the the electronic census in the The first phase of the COVID-19 “The MoPH is working with the comprehensive census pro- remaining coming days of vaccination programme runs until an appointment. exposure to COVID-19. pharmaceutical companies to ensure ject according to the highest the census,” he added. January 31. The three categories who are eli- The MoPH said people who are the next shipment of vaccines arrives international standards. He said Qatar has ad- In a statement, the MoPH said that gible for vaccine are: people aged 65 eligible for the vaccination at this in Qatar as early as possible in 2021 In an interview with vance technological infra- those aged 65 years and above and years of age and above; people with stage will be contacted directly by and everyone who needs to be vacci- Qatar News Agency (QNA), structure, which allowed the who have not yet been contacted can severe chronic conditions as well as the Primary Health Care Corporation nated will be able to do so throughout Al Nabit said the electronic PSA to implement the Qatar now call the hotline 40277077 to book the healthcare workers with repeated by SMS or phone call to arrange their the year,” it said. census is being carried out 2020 census project in an in conjunction with the field ideal and unique manner census, which also uses the even when compared with highly advanced technolo- advanced countries. gies represented in hand- “We have advanced sys- held devices directly linked tems when talking about a MoPH warns of scam to administrative records technology-based census, and systems that help the but at the same time we are enumerator to complete the looking forward to greater calls seeking personal data required for the cen- progress,” he said. sus with ease, accuracy and confidentiality. Continued on page 2  info for Ehteraz app QNA Doha

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has warned citizens and residents against responding to telephone calls made by unknown persons requesting personal infor- mation, claiming that it is necessary for the Ehteraz mobile application. The ministry confirmed, via the Ehteraz application, that it did not assign any person or party to carry QA welcomes 53rd Airbus A350 out this procedure or communicate Qatar Airways (QA) has wrapped up 2020 with the delivery of its 53rd Airbus A350 on the final through calls. day of the year. The national carrier of Qatar is the largest operator of Airbus A350 aircraft with The MoPH has called on citizens and residents to 34 A350-900 and 19 A350-1000, reaffirming its position as the ideal choice for environmentally exercise caution and not to give any personal information conscious long-haul passengers. The A350-1000 is fitted with the airline’s multi award-winning or data over the phone to any person or entity claiming to PSA President Dr Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit speaks about Business Class seat, Qsuite, and will operate on strategic routes to and from Africa, the Americas, be assigned to do so by the Ministry of Public Health or the Qatar Census 2020. Asia-Pacific andE urope. page 3 health sector. The ministry stressed that all data and information related to the Ehteraz application and other services are fully secured and subject to absolute confidentiality in cooperation with the authorities concerned in the state. The Ehteraz application is a smartphone app developed to Qatar condemns protect society from the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It tracks the transmission chains of the COVID-19 spread, provides killing of French No free rides on Karwa buses from Jan 10 users with accurate information, and helps the specialized medi- soldiers in Mali Tribune News Network charged again as usual,” the cal teams to provide health care when needed. Doha company said. The rechargeable Karwa Starting from January Smartcard will still be valid 10, there won’t be any free and can be used as usual. rides on Karwa buses as the However, the Karwa Smart- company will start charging cards 24 hours limited and commuters for travel again. unlimited will not be sold Drive to remove abandoned Karwa was offering free through merchants or the bus rides to passengers after drivers anymore. vehicles in Al Shamal begins they restarted public bus ser- “You can conveniently pur- A joint campaign to remove abandoned vehicles in Al Shamal vice with 30 percent capac- chase the 24 hours unlimited Municipality began on Sunday. The campaign is being imple- QNA ity as part of gradual lifting QR Code Ticket through the mented by the Committee for the Removal of Neglected Cars Doha of COVID-19 restrictions on September 1. you that from January 10 Karwa Bus App,” the notifica- and the Management of Mechanical Equipment and General public transport system on “We would like to inform onwards our services will be tion said. Cleaning in cooperation with Al Shamal Municipality, as part of Qatar has voiced strong the Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s efforts to limit condemnation and denun- the phenomenon of abandoned vehicles that distort the public ciation of the killing of two view, in implementation of Law No 18 of 2017 regarding public French soldiers and the cleanliness. (TNN) page 16 injury of another in an explo- sive device in northern Mali. Drop in water, electricity usage in November In a statement on Sun- day, the Ministry of Foreign Tribune News Network ing November reached 3266.0 accident cases (86 percent), Affairs reiterated Qatar’s Doha GWh, a monthly decrease of A total of 598 traffic followed by severe injuries by firm stance on rejecting vio- 21.4 percent. cases were recorded 12 percent. lence and terrorism regard- The usage of water and elec- The total water consump- in November 2020, However, 12 deaths were less of motives and causes. tricity saw a significant de- tion reached 54825.3 Thou- recorded, equivalent to only 2 The ministry offered Qatar’s crease in November as com- sand m3 during November, a showing a monthly percent of total traffic accident condolences to the families pared to the previous month, monthly decrease of 8.1 per- increase of 12 percent cases. of the victims as well as the according to figures released cent. A total of 5,069 new vehi- government and people of by the Planning and Statistics The report said a total of and an annual decrease of 1.6 cles were registered in Novem- France, wishing the wound- Authority (PSA). 598 traffic cases were record- percent. ber, a monthly decrease of 10.7 ed a speedy recovery. The report said the total ed in November showing a Light injuries accounted percent and an annual decrease electricity consumption dur- monthly increase of 12 percent for the vast majority of traffic of 10.9 percent. 02 Monday, January 4, 2021

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Quick read CHIEF OF STAFF MEETS US DEPARTMENT Marine Environmental Monitoring Amir congratulates president of OF DEFENCE ATTACHE IN QATAR Programme 2021 1st phase begins Swiss Confederation The Ministry of Municipal- samples, the ministry’s field ity and Environment (MME) monitoring teams included The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on on Sunday started the first tourist, economic and indus- Sunday sent a cable of congratulations to President Guy Par- phase of the Marine Envi- trial areas, as well as marine melin on the occasion of assuming the presidency of the Swiss ronmental Monitoring Pro- reserves and coastal areas Confederation, wishing him success, and further development in gramme in Qatar for the year that are frequently visited by the relations between the two countries. (QNA) 2021. people, as the marine field The teams of the Moni- environmental scanning is Deputy Amir congratulates toring and Environmental conducted during winter and president of Swiss Confederation Laboratory Department in summer. MME started collecting sam- Field measurements and The Deputy Amir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al ples from the marine envi- their results are conducted Thani on Sunday sent a cable of congratulations to President ronment to analyse them and during the environmental Guy Parmelin on the occasion of assuming the presidency of the make the necessary meas- and the marine field scan- Swiss Confederation. (QNA) urements in various coastal ning, using the latest scien- Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces HE Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem marine water monitoring tific and international devic- NHRC chairman meets Afghan Independent met with US Chief Defence Officer and the Department of Defence Attache in Qatar Colonel David sites in Qatar. The first phase es specialised in field marine Human Rights Commission chairperson Casey on the end of his tenure as a military attache in Qatar. The Chief of Staff thanked the US military covers 14 of the coastal water readings and samples are attache for his efforts during his tenure in Qatar and wished him success in his future assignments. The sites in various regions of the collected from water, marine Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) meeting was attended by a number of officers of the Qatar Armed Forces.(QNA) country. sediments and seabed soil. Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri on Sunday held a meeting, via video During the collection of (QNA) conference, with Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission Shahrzad Akbar. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation and the means of exchanging expertise and experiences with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights. (QNA) Afghan FM meets ambassador of Qatar ‘HMC’s Al Wakra Hospital performs Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with Ambassador of Qatar to Afghanistan HE Saeed bin Mubarak Al Khayarin in Kabul on Sunday. During the meet- ing, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries about 570 hernia surgeries annually’ and other issues of mutual interest. The Afghan foreign minister thanked Qatar for its role in the Afghan peace process. (QNA) Al Wakra Hospital marks fifth anniversary as Center of Excellence for Hernia Surgery Tribune News Network form hernia surgeries have that we have at Al Wakra Hos- with weak abdominal muscles Doha earned the accreditation. Al pital. I’m proud of the team and may be more likely to get MoCI recalls Mercedes-Benz Wakra Hospital has also re- we have built and the level of a hernia. Inguinal hernias ap- Hamad Medical Corpora- ceived Center of Excellence ac- expertise we can offer our pa- pear in the groin and are more SLK CLASS model of 2007 tion’s (HMC) Al Wakra Hospi- creditations from the SRC for tients close to home,” said Dr common in men than women. tal (AWH) performs about 570 its Urinary Stone Center and Kadhi. A ventral hernia, including in- The Ministry of Commerce ministry to protect consum- hernia surgeries each year and Bariatric Surgery Center. He added, “Our surgical cisional hernia, occurs at the and Industry (MoCI), in coop- ers and ensure that car deal- has expanded its hernia sur- “The Center of Excellence programme is continuing to site of a surgical scar and is eration with Nasser Bin Khaled ers track vehicle defects and gery service since first being designation provides patients expand as we remain focused common in patients who have Automobiles, Mercedes-Benz repairs. accredited by the Surgical Re- with the confidence that they on providing each patient with had open abdominal surgery. dealer in Qatar, has announced The ministry said that it view Corporation (SRC), said are receiving the best possible an individualised approach Healthcare organisations the recall of the 2007 Mer- will coordinate the mainte- Dr Sabah Al Kadhi, medical care from physicians at an in- to their health problems. The seeking accreditation and reac- cedes-Benz SLK CLASS model nance and repair work with director of Al Wakra Hospital. stitution with a track record of introduction of the da Vinci creditation by SRC undergo an due to a potential defect in the the dealer and will communi- Five years ago, Al Wakra safety and that rigorous stand- Dr. Sabah Adnan Alkadhi Surgical System in 2016 has extensive self-assessment and driver’s airbag. cate with customers to ensure Hospital was designated as ards for delivering safe, effec- not only allowed us to perform on-site inspection process. The recall campaign is part that they have completed the a Center of Excellence for tive, evidence-based care have cal System was introduced as more hernia surgeries but also Dr Kadhi said the designa- of the ongoing efforts of the necessary repairs. (TNN) Hernia Surgery by the Surgi- been met,” said Dr Kadhi. part of the hospital’s robotic to get our patients back to tion remains noteworthy for cal Review Corporation, an “Our physicians and staff surgery programme. The da their regular life as quickly as his hospital as it demonstrates independent, patient-safety have always placed patient Vinci Surgical System is con- possible with less pain, small- a commitment to excellence organisation and the leading safety at the forefront and ob- sidered a breakthrough in er scars and a faster recovery.” and improving the health and Ministry recalls Ford administrator of quality im- taining this accreditation and minimally invasive surgery, A hernia happens when well-being of patients. provement and accreditation re-accreditation reflect and providing multiple advantag- part of an internal organ, usu- “Earning this certification F-MAX model of2019 programmes for surgeons and reiterate our commitment to es, including a monitor that ally the bowel, bulges through signifies our ability to consist- hospitals around the world. delivering high-quality sur- lets surgeons better see inside a weak area of muscle. Most ently deliver the safest, high- The Ministry of Commerce fender bracket which makes Dr Kadhi said that five gical care. In bestowing the a patient, a steady robotic arm hernias occur in the abdomen. est-quality care to hernia sur- and Industry (MoCI) , in co- both vulnerable to breaking. years on, he continues to feel accreditation for our hernia allowing for more precision Hernias are common, affect- gery patients here at Al Wakra operation with Almana Mo- The recall campaign comes proud of this facility for be- surgery programme, SRC rec- and a record of faster recover- ing men, women and children. Hospital. It signals that our fa- tors Company, dealer of Ford within the framework of the coming the first hospital in ognised our team’s dedication ies for patients. Most hernias are caused cility and surgeons are among in Qatar, has recalled Ford ministry’s efforts to protect the Middle East to receive to placing patient safety at the “Many people in our com- by a combination of muscle the best in the specialty and F-MAX model of 2019 due consumers and ensure that car the prestigious accreditation. forefront,” he added. munity don’t realise the excep- weakness and straining, such are dedicated to delivering the to weakness in the rear right dealers follow up on vehicle Worldwide, fewer than one He said four years ago, tional level of surgery skills, as with heavy lifting. How- highest level of care possible,” bracket and weakness in the defects and repairs. (TNN) percent of hospitals that per- the advanced da Vinci Surgi- knowledge and experience ever, some people are born he added.

QRCS sponsors major thoracic surgeries in Gaza Qatar’s population drops to 2.72 million Tribune News Network closure of crossings, which prevented the Islamic University of Gaza (IU-G). Qatar’s population decreased births by 10.3 percent compared in divorce certificates. The total Doha the travel of critical cases for treat- QRCS and the Palestinian Ministry from 2.77 million in November to October. On the other hand, number of marriage contracts was ment abroad. of Health (MOH) in Gaza are working 2019 to 2.72 million at end of No- 168 deaths were recorded during 390, whereas the total number of Dr Raed Al Arini, a thoracic surgery He described the visit of the Span- hard together to develop thoracic sur- vember 2020, the Planning and the same period, representing a divorces reached 193 divorce cas- consultant hired by the Qatar Red ish surgeon as a good opportunity for gery services in the Gaza Strip. Over Statistics Authority has revealed decrease of 25.7 percent com- es, the bulletin revealed. Crescent Society (QRCS) in Gaza, local medical staff to gain intensive one year, 810 thoracic surgeries have in the 83th issue of its monthly pared to October 2020. The bulletin shows that 14, along with Dr Diego González-Rivas, a practical experience, as he is one of the been performed at the Al-Shefaa Med- bulletin. Moreover, November 2020 512 people benefited from QR83 world-renowned thoracic surgery spe- world’s best physician-endoscopists ical Complex and the European Gaza According to the statistics, also experienced a monthly de- million social security in Novem- cialist, and Dr Firas Abu Akir, head of active in many countries. Hospital (EGH). In addition, there 2,305 live births were registered crease of 19.8 percent in marriage ber 2020, recording a monthly Thoracic Surgery and Endoscopy at the “Prof González-Rivas expressed were 180 endoscopic thoracic opera- in November 2020 with a de- contracts while it experienced a increase of 1.7 percent and 4.1 Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem, his admiration of QRCS’s programme tions in the Nasser Medical Complex crease in the total Qatari live monthly increase of one percent percent respectively. (TNN) carried out six advanced operations at of contracting him under the project under a project to support specialized the Al-Shefaa Medical Complex. of equipping the Specialised surger- surgical services in the Gaza Strip. These operations included the ies building with a state-of-the-art With a total budget of $1.4 mil- removal of pulmonary tumors and thoracic endoscope, which was used lion, the project also involves spe- ‘Qatar’s experience in electronic census very good’ the upper right lobectomy using new in the six surgeries at the Al-Shefaa cialised surgical interventions such technologies for the first time in Gaza. Medical Complex,” said Dr Arini. as cardiovascular surgery and ortho- Continued from page 1  and human capabilities of the state to conduct the census, paving the Dr Arini said the medical inter- During their two-day visit, the paedics, training programmes such and the unlimited support for the way for the 2020 census, which wit- vention carried out with the help of Spanish medical delegation hosted as the Master of Health Policy and “The online census is the future technology and communications nessed an important development Prof González-Rivas involved surger- an online seminar for 100 Palestin- Management and Anaesthesia and In- and all countries are racing to de- sector. He said the PSA had hoped in the statistical form and the tech- ies that had never been carried out in ian physicians and many medical stu- tensive Care Diploma, and support for velop this type of census, but there that the census would be fully elec- niques used in the handheld devices Gaza, in the midst of the blockade and dents from the Faculty of Medicine of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). are differences in the methodologies tronic this year, but there are ob- of field enumerators, as well as the adopted; some depend on the cen- stacles related to the response from development in connecting these sus by sample, and some conduct families to this type of census as handheld devices with the adminis- a complete census that includes most of them prefer to deal directly trative records that contain the data every facility, building, housing unit with the field enumerator to ask of citizens and residents. Nabit af- and family so that the data is more some inquiries about the statistical firmed that the preliminary indica- comprehensive and modern, and form despite the presence of a phone tors of the census are very good and this is the type approved in Qatar,” number for inquiries and questions show high turnout, saying that it is he added. Nabit pointed out that the for those who provide the data elec- because of the national awareness of experience of Qatar in the electronic tronically, and the ease of the elec- the importance of the General Cen- census is very good, and that it could tronic method. sus of Population, Housing and Es- be better. Regarding the experience of the tablishments project, in addition to He added that the ambition is 2010 census, the PSA president in- the well-managed handling of field much greater than what has been dicated that it was a good experience enumerators who have been well Qatar Red Crescent Society’s medical experts Thoracic endoscopy surgery in progress. done so far, thanks to the material in terms of relying on technology trained and carefully selected. Nation Monday, January 4, 2021 03 HBKU-CHLS highlights potential new applications for selective enzyme inhibitors in leading journal

a relatively well-studied multi- Drug Administration. With in- applications, including poten- Clinical significance of PDE5 inhibitors for domain enzyme, and how its creasing evidence that PDE5 tial treatment for cancer and design of novel therapies brought to the fore function is regulated, the ar- inhibitors could play a role heart disease, and as a result ticle focused on the clinically in managing a number of ad- there is an understandably Tribune News Network priya M Geethakumari, a post- relevant inhibitors that tar- ditional diseases, including heightened keenness for de- Doha doctoral fellow, and Wesam get the protein with the aim cancer and COVID-19 com- veloping novel PDE5 inhibi- S Ahmed, a PhD student in of better understanding the plications, clinical studies tors. Our study at the Biswas A valuable review of the struc- Biological and Biomedical Sci- structural bases of their affin- are warranted in order to ex- Lab aimed to fulfil a funda- ture of the PDE5 enzyme and ences at CHLS, both members ity and specificity. tend the therapeutic applica- mental aspect of such work, its interaction with clinically of the Biswas Lab, an interdis- The pharmacological in- tions of these inhibitors to a and that is to collate what we relevant inhibitors conducted ciplinary group engaged in un- hibition of PDE5 has already wider range of diseases. The know about this enzyme and by Dr Kabir H Biswas, an as- derstanding the mechanisms been demonstrated to have full published article can be its inhibitors in order to fully sistant professor at the College of cellular adhesion and sig- several therapeutic applica- viewed at: https://www.scien- understand their therapeutic of Health and Life Sciences nalling, and developing means tions. While they are designed cedirect.com/science/article/ indications. The publication is (CHLS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa to manipulate the same. Dr to inhibit PDE5, the inhibitors Dr Kabir H Biswas Dr Dindial Ramotar pii/S0753332220313214 therefore likely to prove very University (HBKU), has been Biswas’s laboratory employs a show different affinities and Dr Dindial Ramotar, pro- useful to researchers engaged published by the multidiscipli- variety of approaches includ- specificities against various tivity is critically important for The article also notes that fessor and head of the Division in this field and this aligns well nary ‘Biomedicine & Pharma- ing engineering precision bio- other PDE subtypes. Under- the design of novel, highly se- while PDE5 inhibitors have of Biological and Biomedical with CHLS’ ongoing interven- cotherapy’ journal. sensors and biointerfaces. standing how these inhibitors lective PDE5 inhibitors as well several therapeutic applica- Sciences, CHLS, said: “PDE5 tions to address the press- Dr Biswas co-authored the Reviewing the structure of interact with PDE5 and the as precision medicine-based tions, only three of these are inhibitors have shown their ing needs of the healthcare review article with Dr Anu- phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), structural basis of their selec- therapy. approved by the US Food and potential for multiple medical sector.” Qatar Airways Holidays launches additional Travel Bubble savings for Holidays between Qatar & Maldives Customers can benefit from additional savings of up to QR1,800 for quarantine-free holidays booked up to January 7 Tribune News Network 5, giving the opportunity to more citi- available within 15 minutes, and pas- Doha zens and residents of Qatar to book a sengers will be allowed to travel if well-deserved holiday to the Maldives negative Qatar Airways Holidays is celebrat- with no quarantine or self-isolation  Arrive in the Maldives, where no QA takes delivery of ing the New Year by offering Qatar’s upon return.” additional tests are needed, and take citizens and residents additional sav- All packages include return flights a transfer by speedboat directly to the ings of up to QR1,800 on its popular between Qatar and the Maldives on resort its 53rd Airbus A350 Travel Bubble Holidays packages to QA’s exclusive flights forT ravel Bub-  Return to Maldives airport via the Maldives, for bookings made up to ble Holidays customers, accommoda- speedboat transfer on the day of de- Qatar Airways wrapped up in the Middle East, Hamad tion system resulting in a low January 7. tion on a full board basis, return air- parture 2020 with the delivery of its International Airport.” ambient cabin noise level for a Customers can benefit from this ex- port transfers and all taxes.  Take a rapid PCR test upon arrival 53rd Airbus A350 on the final Environmentally con- more peaceful journey clusive offer by using the discount vouch- Customers will have access to all in Doha. If negative, return home with- day of the year. scious passengers can travel Due to COVID-19’s impact er code ‘maldivesdeal’. Due to high de- hotel facilities, be able to upgrade out the need to quarantine or self-isolate The airline is the largest op- with the reassurance that on travel demand, the airline mand, Qatar Airways Holidays extended their meal package, heavily discounted Customers can mail any addition- erator of Airbus A350 aircraft Qatar Airways continuously has grounded its fleet ofA ir- the travel period of its packages to the rates at retail outlets and flexible can- al questions to QRHtravelbubble@ with 34 A350-900 and 19 monitors the market to assess bus A380 as it is not environ- Maldives until February 5, with the last cellation policies. qatarairways.com.qa. More detail is A350-1000, reaffirming its both passenger and cargo de- mentally justifiable to operate departure date being January 31. Three high-end luxury properties available at https://www.qatarairway- position as the ideal choice for mand to ensure it operates the such a large, four-engine air- Travel Bubble Holidays packages including the Sandies Bathala Mal- sholidays.com/qa-en/offers/travel- environmentally conscious most efficientaircraft on each craft in the current market. are available to book on the Qatar Air- dives 4-star resort, Diamonds Thudu- bubble-holidays. long-haul passengers. The route. The airline’s internal ways Holidays website or from a local fushi Beach 5-star resort and Amaya A multiple award-winning airline, A350-1000 is fitted with the Qatar Airways is fully uti- benchmark compared the travel agent until January 15. Even Kuda Rah 5-star resort – each situated QA was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ airline’s multi award-winning lising its fleet of 53 A350 air- A380 to the A350 on routes though the Maldives is no longer part on their own private island – are ex- by the 2019 World Airline Awards, Business Class seat, Qsuite, craft to more than 45 destina- from Doha to Guangzhou, of the Green List countries published clusively available for guests travelling managed by Skytrax. It was also named and will operate on strategic tions in the airline’s network, Frankfurt, London, Mel- by the Ministry of Public Health, the from Qatar. ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, routes to and from Africa, the including Johannesburg, bourne, New York, Paris and Travel Bubble Holidays remains un- For the safety of themselves and ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Americas, Asia-Pacific and London, Melbourne, New Sydney. On a typical one-way affected and is the only safe and con- fellow travellers, all Travel Bubble Business Class Seat’, in recognition of Europe. York, Paris, Sao Paolo and flight, the airline found the venient gateway to the tropical islands Holidays guests must: its ground-breaking Business Class ex- Qatar Airways Group Singapore. A350 aircraft saved a mini- as no quarantine or self-isolation upon  Take a PCR test in Doha and get perience, Qsuite. Chief Executive Akbar Al Passengers travelling mum of 16 tonnes of carbon return is required for Qatar’s citizens a negative COVID-19 PCR test certifi- It is the only airline to have been Baker said, “Despite the chal- onboard Qatar Airways’ Air- dioxide per block hour com- and no Exceptional Entry Permit, cate issued no more than 72 hours be- awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline lenges of the pandemic, we bus A350-1000 can enjoy pared to the A380. quarantine or self-isolation upon re- fore departure. This is a requirement of the Year’ title, which is recognised continue to invest in our fleet, the widest cabin body of any The analysis found that turn required for Qatar’s residents. of the Maldives government as the pinnacle of excellence in the operating the youngest, most class with larger windows the A380 emitted over 80 QA Group Chief Executive Akbar  Sign a release form committing airline industry, five times. HIA was fuel-efficient and technologi- creating an extra spacious percent more CO2 per block Al Baker said: “We are pleased to offer to the terms and conditions of the ex- recently ranked ‘Third Best Airport in cally advanced aircraft in the feel, the widest seats of any hour than the A350 on each our popular Travel Bubble Holidays clusive Travel Bubble Holidays the World’, among 550 airports world- skies. This strategic invest- aircraft in its category with of these routes. In the cases packages at reduced rates as well as to  Take a rapid PCR test at Hamad wide, by the Skytrax World Airport ment in sustainable twin- generous room in all classes, of Melbourne and New York, extend the travel period until February International Airport. Results will be Awards 2020. engine aircraft has enabled advanced air system technol- the A380 emitted 95 percent us to continue flying during ogy, including HEPA filters, more CO2 per block hour the most challenging year in which deliver optimal cabin with the A350 saving around aviation’s history, helping air quality, renewing air every 20 tonnes of CO2 per block take over 3.1 million people two to three minutes for more hour. Until passenger de- home since the start of the comfort and less fatigue, LED mand recovers to appropri- pandemic. mood lighting which mimic a ate levels, Qatar Airways will “As global travel recovers, natural sunrise and sunset to continue to keep its A380 our passengers can rely on help reduce the effects of jet aircraft grounded, ensuring us to fly greener and smarter lag and the quietest cabin of it only operates commercially with more flights to more des- any twin-aisle aircraft that in- and environmentally respon- tinations via the Best Airport cludes a draft-free air circula- sible aircraft. (TNN) MoTC forum highlights AI’s role in driving digital transformation Tribune News Network care and education. Doha Qatar Charity’s interven- tion is qualitative in these ar- Qatar Charity (QC) eas where it restored the first launched the ‘Support Non- two temporary education cen- Formal Education Activities tres that provide non-formal (ALP Courses) for Out-of- education service (acceler- School Children’ project in ated education) in the north- northern Syria, in partner- ern and eastern countryside ship with the Syria Cross- of Aleppo. border Humanitarian Fund Qatar Charity has also ap- (SCHF) of the Office for the pointed qualified academic Coordination of Humanitar- personnel and trained them ian Affairs (OCHA). for ALP courses. It also dis- Some 1,200 st udents, tributed ALP textbooks, both girls and boys, are ex- school bags and stationery pected to benefit from the supplies to children and pro- project in Azaz and Al-Bab. vided psychological support The project aims to bring and case management ser- back children to schools by vices, in addition to activat- applying the accelerated ing a referral mechanism to learning method to reduce identify and respond to out- great response from children providing the necessary sup- riages, especially in camps, the education gap for the chil- of-school children. in the areas of intervention port for them. led to the deprivation of girls dren, using a special curricu- Qatar Charity also worked where the registration was A large number of Syr- of completing their education. lum (‘Curriculum B’ devel- on providing operating costs, completed in just one week. ian children became out-of- As the humanitarian catas- oped by UNICEF). Thus, the fuel for heating and transpor- Qatar Charity has coor- school due to the challenging trophe continued, the gap be- children will be able to attend tation for children with spe- dinated with the education economic conditions in the tween out-of-school children formal education next year cial needs. directorates to enrol the chil- country going through a pro- and those who are in school after receiving the necessary The project received a dren in public schools after longed crisis. Also, early mar- widened. 04 Monday, January 4, 2021 Nation 48 children learn ways to manage and control diabetes at QDA camp

Tribune News Network The objective of the camp dren.” Doha is to teach the children with The International Diabe- diabetes how to self-control tes Federation (IDF) decided The 21st Al Bawasil Diabetes the disease and avoid compli- in 2013 to adopt and rec- Camp organised by Qatar Di- cations in order to reach their ognise Al-Bawasil Diabetes abetes Association (QDA), a full potential. Camp as an International member of Qatar Foundation Commenting on the camp because it contains (QF), concluded on Saturday. event, QDA Executive Di- educational and awareness Due to the current health rector Dr Abdulla Al Hamaq programmes that can serve conditions, the camp’s activi- said, “Through our accumu- diabetic children around the ties have been carried out via lated experience in organis- world. the zoom platform. ing diabetes camps, we have The firstA l Bawasil Dia- Al Bawasil camp brought seen how the camps enhance betes Camp was held in Janu- together 48 children for the the confidence of children ary 1999, after which it has four-day programme of edu- and their parents as well as included educational work- experiences and enjoy enter- the mothers received a lot was contact with mothers been held every year since. It cation, activities and enter- develop their confidence and shops on diabetes care and tainment while giving them of supports, education and individually to solve the dif- has become one of the most tainment to help them deal the ability to take care of nutrition workshops that gifts. information from the asso- ficulties and challenges they important diabetes camps in with living with diabetes. themselves. This camp has allow the children to share “Through the workshop, ciation’s medical team. There face in caring for their chil- the region. Customers can now make online payments for Ooredoo services through Al Khalij Bank

Qatar Charity helps to fight Rana Al Asaad, Head of Personal Sabah Al Kuwari, Director PR blindness in northern Nigeria Banking at al khaliji Ooredoo Qatar Personal Banking at al khaliji, Tribune News Network (WHO) plan. awareness of the coronavirus and the addition to training and qualification New payments service said: “Our new partnership Doha In Sokoto, Kano and Yobe, the three ways to prevent it. of 50 doctors in modern eye surgery available, thanks with Ooredoo is one of the camps witnessed a great turnout as more According to Qatar Charity strategy methods, and the establishment of five to partnership with many ways in which we contin- Qatar Charity (QC) has implemented than 3,425 patients were examined and to combat blindness 2018-2022, in the centres and clinics specialised in eye dis- ue to expand the benefits that three campaigns to help reduce blind- 317 operations were performed. next five years, it will provide medical eases and surgery. Al Khaliji Bank are available to our customers ness in northern Nigeria, in coordina- In Sokoto, 1,209 patients were ex- services to eye patients in 14 selected Qatar Charity has contributed, in co- through online banking. Key to tion with the local government and the amined and 107 surgeries were per- countries, including Sudan, Niger, Bur- ordination with many partners, to alle- Tribune News Network the process of digitalisation of Ministry of Health. formed, while in Kano and Yobe states, kina Faso, Somalia, Kenya, Chad and viating the causes of visual impairment Doha our services and our industry is Qatar Charity worked to cover all 1,216 people benefited in each of them, Ghana, as well as Bangladesh, Indone- that lead to blindness in many countries through strengthening our lo- the needs of the beneficiaries’ medical as many cases were examined. Urgent sia, Yemen, Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan. through various programmes and activi- Ooredoo has announced that cal partnerships and using our care, including examinations, surgeries, surgery was performed for many pa- During the period, medical exami- ties such as implementing specialised its customers can now pay for combined synergies to serve the medicines and eyeglasses, based on its tients. nation and dispensing of medicines will medical camps for eye diseases in many Ooredoo services through their needs of our customers that are strategy to combat blindness 2018-2020 Doctors also gave educational lec- benefit one million eye patients and countries, including Yemen, Sudan and Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al evolving with the times, so they and the World Health Organization’s tures on preventing eye diseases and 60,000 surgeries will be performed, in Niger. khaliji) online banking. can benefit from a range of add- Following a partnership ed advantages. With Ooredoo agreement previously signed on board, we build a new bridge between Ooredoo and al-Khali- with customers, in an effort to ji, online payment services have always bring them the best in been enabled and Ooredoo the industry.” Bihar Social Forum hosts New Year meet-up customers can now use online Al khaliji Bank online bank- banking to make payments ing is available 24/7, allowing for Shahry, Qatar and Home customers to log in, pay bills Broadband bills, in addition to and recharge at any time, wher- recharging prepaid accounts. ever they may be. This way, they Speaking of the partner- can avoid queues at the bank ship, Sabah Rabiah Al-Kuwari, and make payments as needed, Director PR at Ooredoo, said: outside the hours of the branch “Giving our customers yet an- operation, in a way that is quick, other quick, easy and conveni- convenient and efficient. ent way to pay for our services Ooredoo is Qatar’s leading fits perfectly with our aim of communications company, de- complete customer satisfac- livering mobile, fixed, broad- Tribune News Network Greeting the gathering on tion, and – with the new pay- band internet and corporate Doha the occasion, BSF President ment services being online – is managed services tailored to Qatar Irfan Hasan urged all another step forward on our the needs of consumers and Bihar Social Forum Qa- residents from Bihar to join journey towards complete digi- businesses. As a community- tar (BSF Qatar) organised a BSF Qatar, assuring them of talisation. We’re delighted to be focused company, Ooredoo is ‘Grand New Year 2021 Party’ all help in times of adversities. working with such a renowned guided by its vision of enriching for expatriates from the Indian Dhiraj Kumar, ASO (La- financial institution as al khaliji people’s lives and its belief that state of Bihar. The meet was bour & Community Welfare), Aftab Alam, Mohammad Raza, and the lunch thereafter. aegis of the Embassy of India. and look forward to seeing our it can stimulate human growth held at the MIA Park in Doha was the chief guest at the event. Dilnawaz Alam, Imam Hus- BSF Qatar is affiliated to It is a non-profit organisation customers making good use of by leveraging communications with COVID-19 precautionary Committee members Di- sain and Devesh Karan led the the Indian Community Benev- functioning for the welfare of the service.” to help people achieve their full measures in place. wakar N Lal, Imtiyaz Ahmed, arrangements for the meeting olent Forum (ICBF) under the the expatriates from Bihar. Rana Al-Asaad - Head of potential. G4S Qatar organises clean-up campaign on Sealine Beach

Tribune News Network Doha

G4S Qatar organised a cam- paign to clean up the Sealine Beach, under the slogan ‘Keep Our Waterways Litter-Free’, as part of the organisation’s com- mitment to keep the nature un- polluted. Employees from G4S’ different divisions and branches voluntarily participated in the drive with zeal. ‘Keeps Our Waterway’s Litter-Free’ campaign aims to Dr Saif Alhajri, CEO G4S boost awareness among peo- Qatar, said, “We strongly be- ple from different walks of life, lieve that with the team effort including children, about re- within the company and with duction of waste at source and other governmental and non- usage of biodegradable items governmental bodies, we have instead plastic. Through its par- the capacity to make our world ticipation in the coastal clean- a better place for our offspring.” up drive, G4S Qatar hopes to in- A large number of beach- spire all employees and general goers also joined the G4S team public to care for and protect in the clean-up drive. HSE the surroundings by adopting Team handed over special gar- an environmentally-friendly bage bags to ensure waste seg- lifestyle, ensuring a high level of regation that made it easier to G4S Qatar employees participate in the Sealine Beach clean-up campaign as part of the organisation’s public health and quality living store and dispose-off the waste commitment to keep nature unpolluted. for the future generations. afterwards. World Monday, January 4, 2021 05

TURNING POINT? 100 killed in News attacks on in brief two western 19 die as roof collapses at India Niger villages cremation ground AFP New Delhi: At least 19 Niamey people died when a roof of a shelter at a cremation Around 100 people were facility in northern India killed by “terrorists” attacking collapsed on Sunday, police two villages in western Niger, said. The roof at the site, in the local mayor said Sunday, Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad the latest in a string of civilian district, came down when massacres that have rocked people had taken shelter the jihadist-plagued Tillaberi beneath the structure to get region. out of the rain. Many victims The attacks on the vil- were relatives of a local lages of Tchoma Bangou and resident whose last rites Zaroumadareye on Saturday were being conducted at the were waged by “terrorists who time, according to reports. came riding about a hundred Rescue workers were going motorcycles,” said Almou through the rubble to de- Hassane, the mayor of the termine if there were more Tondikiwindi commune that victims, police said. (dpa) administers both villages. “There were up to 70 dead in Tchoma Bangou and 30 Three executed in dead in Zaroumadareye,” he Iran for ‘terrorist’ told AFP, adding he had just acts and murder returned from the scene of the attacks. Tehran: Iran’s judiciary The two villages are 120 hanged two men on Sun- kilometres (75 miles) north of day for “terrorist acts” and the capital Niamey. another for murder and “There have also been Residents look as an artist gives finishing touches to a mural depicting frontline workers carrying a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine in Kolkata on Saturday. (AFP) armed robbery, the body’s 75 wounded, some of whom official Mizan Online news have been evacuated to agency said. The three Niamey and to Ouallam for were executed early Sunday treatment,” Hassane said. morning in the southeastern To carry out simultaneous Sistan-Baluchistan prov- attacks on the two villages, India approves two Covid-19 ince. Two were named as which lie seven kilometres Hassan Dehvari and Elias (four miles) apart, the attack- Qalandarzehi, arrested in ers split into two columns, the April 2014 after being found mayor added. with “a large amount of News first emerged of explosives” and weapons. the raids on Saturday, but it vaccines for emergency use The pair were convicted of was not yet clear how many the abduction, bombing, casualties there were. murder of security forces The two villages are in the India is the world’s second most infected nation with more than 10.3 mn cases and 150,000 deaths and civilians, and of working vast and unstable Tillaberi with the jihadist Jaish al-Adl region, which is located in the AFP India is the world’s second mon across the country. is making between 50 and 60 (“Army of Justice”) group, “tri-border” area, where the New Delhi most infected nation with more “No vaccine is 100 percent million doses a month of the As- Mizan said. (afp) porous borders of Niger, Mali than 10.3 million cases and al- effective so what is the guaran- traZeneca/Oxford vaccine. and Burkina Faso converge. India on Sunday authorised most 150,000 deaths, although tee that I won’t get the corona- Serum Institute chief execu- The area has for years been the emergency use of two coro- its rate of infection has come virus after I take the vaccine,” tive Adar Poonawalla tweeted Afghan spies foil targeted by jihadist assaults. navirus vaccines developed by down significantly from a mid- Sceptical over added 48-year-old sales man- following the approvals that the assassination bid Four thousand people AstraZeneca and Oxford Uni- September peak of more than ager Suman Saurabh. vaccine would be “ready to roll- on journalist across the three nations died versity and by local pharma- 90,000 cases daily. vaccination Anand Krishnan, a com- out in the coming weeks”. in 2019 from jihadist violence ceutical firm Bharat Biotech, The government has al- munity medicine professor at Bharat Biotech has yet to Kabul: Two members of and ethnic bloodshed stirred the country’s drug regulator ready held nationwide drills in A recent survey of 18,000 the All India Institute of Medi- complete its Phase III trials, but the Haqqani network who by Islamists, according to the said, paving the way for one of the country of 1.3 billion people people across India found that cal Sciences in New Delhi, said Drugs Controller General Som- wanted to assassinate a UN. the world’s biggest inoculation ahead of the mass vaccination 69 percent were in no rush to authorities needed to publicly ani said the company’s jabs were journalist in Afghanistan’s Seven Nigerien soldiers drives. drive and some 96,000 health get vaccinated release more data about the vac- approved for restricted use in eastern Khost province are were killed in an ambush in “The... vaccines of Serum workers have been trained to cine trials. the “public interest as an abun- under arrest, according to Tillaberi on December 21. Institute (AstraZeneca/Oxford administer the shots. “They have to share the re- dant precaution, in clinical trial a Sunday statement by the Travel by motorbike has vaccine) and Bharat Biotech are The World Health Organi- fears in India, like in other coun- sults of the trial and let scien- mode, to have more options for country’s spy agency. The been banned in Tillaberi since being approved for restricted zation welcomed the news. tries, about the safety of the tists come to their own conclu- vaccinations, especially in case assassins were on a mis- January in a bid to prevent use in emergency situations,” “The use of vaccine(s) in shots. sion and that way, the vaccine of infection by mutant strains”. sion to target a reporter at incursions by highly mo- the Drugs Controller General prioritised populations, along A recent survey of 18,000 hesitancy would be much less,” But he added to reporters a local broadcaster in the bile jihadists riding on two of India, V.G. Somani, said at a with continued implementation people across India found that Krishnan told AFP. after the briefing that the drug provincial capital, accord- wheels. briefing. of other public health measures 69 percent were in no rush to Both vaccines are to be ad- regulator would “never approve ing to the statement. The A landlocked state located Prime Minister Narendra and community participation get vaccinated. ministered in two doses and can anything if there is the slightest Haqqani network is be- in the heart of the Sahel, Modi tweeted that the fast-track will be important in reduc- “I was excited initially about be transported and stored at safety concern”. lieved to have close ties to Niger is also being hammered approvals were “a decisive turn- ing the impact of Covid-19,” the vaccine but not any more normal refrigeration tempera- “The vaccines are 100 per- the Taliban. Some experts by jihadists from Nigeria, ing point to strengthen a spir- WHO regional director Poonam because I don’t trust it. I am not tures. cent safe,” he said, adding that even consider the network the cradle of a decade-old ited fight” that “accelerates the Khetrapal Singh said in a state- going to be inoculated,” 58-year- The Serum Institute of In- side effects such as “mild fever, to be the militants’ military insurgency launched by Boko road to a healthier and Covid- ment. old banker Vijaya Das told AFP dia, the world’s biggest manu- pain and allergy are common for wing. (dpa) Haram. free nation”. The approvals came amid on Sunday, echoing fears com- facturer of vaccines, has said it every vaccine”. Anti-US chants as Iraqis mourn Gunmen kill 11 miners commanders killed a year ago in southern Pakistan AFP AFP Baghdad Quetta, Pakistan

Thousands of Iraqi mourn- Gunmen in southern Pa- ers chanted “revenge” and “no kistan have killed at least to America” on Sunday, one 11 workers at a remote coal year after a US drone strike mine, officials said on Sunday. killed Iran’s revered com- The victims of the attack mander Qasem Soleimani and in Baluchistan province were his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi from the minority Shiite Haz- al-Muhandis. ara community. Pro-Iranian supporters, “Dead bodies of the 11 many dressed in black, massed miners have been taken to a in Baghdad’s central Tahrir local hospital,” Khalid Dur- Square to also condemn Iraqi rani, a government official in Prime Minister Mustafa al- the area, told AFP. Kadhemi as a “coward” and an Ethnic Hazara make up “agent of the Americans”. most of the Shiite popula- The anniversary of the tion in Quetta, the capital of Members of Shiite Hazara community burn tyres during a protest Baghdad drone strike -- which Baluchistan -- the country’s after the killing of 11 workers of their community, in Quetta on brought Washington and Teh- largest and poorest region, Sunday. (AFP) ran to the brink of war in early rife with ethnic, sectarian and 2020 -- was also marked in Iraqi demonstrators lift flags and placards as they rally in Tahrir square in Baghdad on Sunday.(AFP) separatist insurgencies. and feet, took them out into No group has claimed re- recent days across Iran and by They are often targeted the hills and later killed them. sponsibility. supporters in Syria, Lebanon, eral Soleimani, who headed killed Soleimani, Muhandis which Washington has blamed by Sunni militants, who con- Both Durrani and the se- In a tweet, Prime Minis- Yemen and elsewhere. the foreign operations arm of and eight other men. for rocket strikes against its sider them heretics, though it curity official said the victims ter Imran Khan condemned The lead up to the com- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary By candlelight, they hon- embassy and troops in Iraq was unclear why the attackers belonged to the Hazara com- “the killing of 11 innocent coal memorations of the Shiite Guard Corps. oured their “martyrs” and con- -- has increasingly challenged targeted the coal mine specifi- munity. miners in Machh” as a “cow- Muslim commanders sharply Sunday’s Baghdad rally demned the American “great Kadhemi, whom it accuses of cally. Durrani said the mine was ardly inhumane act of terror- heightened regional tensions was a show of force for the Satan” at the site where nearby having helped plot the drone The attack, before dawn deep in the mountains. ism”. in the weeks before US Presi- armed groups, which despite walls are still pockmarked by strikes. on Sunday, took place in the It was not clear how ex- Liaqat Shahwani, a dent Donald Trump, who or- being formally integrated into shrapnel. This has brought to the far-flung and mountainous actly the miners were killed, spokesman for the provincial dered the killings, leaves the the Iraqi security apparatus “We tell America and the boil once more tensions in the Machh area while the miners he told AFP. government, confirmed the White House. have increasingly challenged enemies of Islam that they can war-battered and politically slept, Durrani said, adding The assailants fled after incident and told private TV In Iraq, the powerful, the Kadhemi government. inflict the greatest sacrifices fragile country which the Unit- that four other miners were the attack. Both officials said channel Geo that it was an act state-sponsored pro-Iranian Thousands of mourners on us, but we will continue to ed States invaded in 2003, injured and were being treat- police and members of the lo- of terrorism. Hashed al-Shaabi paramili- had Saturday night converged resist despite the bloodshed,” and which remains mired in ed at the local hospital. cal paramilitary force were on Though Pakistan’s mines tary network which Muhan- at the spot near Baghdad’s in- said Hashed supporter Batul economic crisis amid low oil A security official told AFP the scene, where a search op- are notorious for poor safe- dis commanded has led the ternational airport where the Najjar. prices and the coronavirus the attackers first separated eration had been launched to ty standards, such attacks angry vigils for him and Gen- US hit the two vehicles and The Hashed -- factions of pandemic. the miners, tied their hands trace the attackers. against miners are rare. 06 Monday, January 4, 2021

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

Boeing’s Task: Restoring Trust In The 737 Max How Texas Can Become It’s imperative for Boeing to ensure that The Next Silicon Valley 737 Max flies without accident in the months and years ahead to restore public’s faith in the company The state should ban noncompete employment clauses that stifle innovation and limit available talent for tech companies uilding an airliner is a remains to be seen. American long, complex and expen- says it will inform travelers be- Bsive undertaking with a fore boarding that they’ll be on simple purpose: safely trans- a Max — and will let nervous porting people from one place ones rebook. to another. When the Boeing Boeing did much to damage 737 Max made its maiden flight public confidence, as did the in 2016, it was billed as a mod- Federal Aviation Administra- ern, fuel-efficient version of a tion. A report by the inspector familiar workhorse. But any general of the Department of virtues became trivial when two Transportation said the corpo- of the planes crashed overseas, ration misled the agency about killing a total 346 people. After changes in the flight control sys- the second accident, in March tem, known as MCAS, which was 2019, governments around the blamed for each crash, and that world, including the United the FAA delegated most of the States, grounded the aircraft. certification process to Boeing. It was not just the future To limit costs to airlines, the of the 737 Max that was ques- company wanted to convince tioned, it was the fortunes of regulators that the new model Chicago-based Boeing. Aero- would require no new training space consultant Scott Hamil- for pilots. A Wall Street Journal ton said, “Boeing is facing the investigation found that “Boe- worst crisis in its 103-year his- ing repeatedly minimized the tory.” The company lost sales, risks posed by MCAS, without agreed to pay $50 million to the detailed scrutiny or pushback families of those who died and from US regulators.” When the still faces a stack of lawsuits. system malfunctioned on the Tesla Inc’s new factory in Austin could be the tip of the iceberg for Texas. Boeing replaced its CEO and fatal flights, sending the planes saw it share prices take a hit. into nosedives, the pilots were Noah Smith cause tech companies and venture capitalists Last Tuesday, the Max made unable to regain control. Before Tribune News Service Banning noncompetes would be want to take advantage of the deep pool of en- its official US return to the skies approving the return of the Max, inconsistent with Texas’ principles and gineering and managerial talent that exists in when an American Airlines 737 the FAA required changes in the exas is making another bid to become reputation as a defender of free markets. the area. Noncompetes lock that pool away; if Max began flying the route from flight control system, as well as America’s technology hub. It will be an Noncompete agreements are restrictions all your potentially best hires are legally pre- Miami to New York’s LaGuar- additional pilot training. uphill battle, to put it mildly. But one on the free movement of labor; they gum vented from working for you, you might as well dia Airport. Aboard were some If the Max proves itself by seemingly small policy tweak could give move your company out to the middle of Wyo- 100 passengers, including the providing accident-free ser- the state a big boost in its quest to lure up markets. Ultimately, the market is ming or the Philippines, where at least the rent president of the airline. It was vice in the months and years theT tech industry: banning the enforcement of more important than the prerogatives is cheap! a game effort to assure the pub- to come, Boeing should be noncompete agreements. of any particular company This is why Texas needs to change its law lic that the Max is as safe as a able to restore trust in its In the 1970s, Austin, Texas, established it- to make noncompetes unenforceable, like in plane can be. United, South- planes. In the meantime, this self as a technology cluster but never attained around, a company does a little bit of damage to California. Big businesses will probably lobby west and Alaska Airlines plan to tragic chapter should remind the heights of Silicon Valley or Seattle. To do the entire industrial ecosystem around it. Ideas against this move — from their own narrow return it to service in the com- everyone connected with that, a city needs a critical mass of talented are synergistic — they can be rearranged into vantage point, noncompetes seem like a good ing months. commercial aviation that there engineers, big employers and venture capital. different combinations and produce new tech- deal. But the small benefit they derive comes at Whether the public is ready is no substitute for safety. Now, the urban dysfunction of the San Fran- nologies, products and management techniques. the expense of the entire tech ecosystem. Each cisco Bay Area and a desire for lower taxes have Sometimes simply having the same employee in Texas company that makes its workers sign prompted some tech companies and investors a different working environment or role will al- noncompetes is helping itself at the expense to move from the Bay to Austin. Elon Musk’s low them to do great things. Fairchild Semicon- of the state itself. So the state needs to step in. companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are probably the ductor, for example, famously gave rise to a huge While Texas law discourages the agreements, most notable big companies making new in- number of spinoff companies that formed the they’re still enforceable when deemed “reason- vestments in the area, and Musk himself has backbone of the original Silicon Valley. able.” That’s not good enough. moved to Texas. Oracle and a smattering of That might not have been possible if Cali- Banning noncompetes would be inconsist- venture capitalists are also making the move. fornia had allowed the enforcement of noncom- ent with Texas’ principles and reputation as a This is good news for Austin, but so far it’s pete agreements. Scholars have cited Califor- defender of free markets. Noncompete agree- a trickle, not a flood. Tesla factories are nice, nia’s refusal to honor these clauses as a reason ments are restrictions on the free movement but if Austin is going to become a software and Silicon Valley became so dominant among U.S. of labor; they gum up markets. Ultimately, the startup hub on the level of Seattle or San Fran- tech clusters. In her book “Regional Advan- market is more important than the preroga- cisco, it’s going to need a lot more than that. As tage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley tives of any particular company. my colleague Justin Fox has written, the entire and Route 128,” researcher AnnaLee Saxenian In fact, Texas isn’t the only state that needs state of Texas has lagged badly in both areas. cites it as one big reason California was able to to ban noncompetes; every other state should So the Texas state government needs to pull overtake Massachusetts, which had a big head do the same. Many — including Massachusetts out all the stops in order to make sure the cur- start in terms of the technology industry. — are acting to limit the practice. Incoming rent trend accelerates. And one of the easiest Empirical studies back this up. A 2017 pa- President Joe Biden has even proposed a fed- things it could do would be to ban the enforce- per by economists Evan Starr, Justin Frake eral ban on noncompetes. If it could pass Con- ment of noncompete agreements. and Rajshree Agarwal finds that in states that gress, such a ban would put all the states on a Noncompete agreements restrain the ability enforce noncompetes, industries with more of more level playing field when it comes to luring of workers to move between companies in an in- these agreements “receive relatively fewer job tech away from Silicon Valley. dustry (or starting their own new venture). All offers, have reduced mobility and experience But Texas shouldn’t wait for Biden — it else equal, companies would like to be able to lower wages.” Another 2017 paper by econo- should act now. block their workers from moving to competitors. mist Jessica Jeffers finds that the reduced la- Ideas will inevitably leak between companies bor mobility caused by noncompetes reduces (Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion when employees move, even if proprietary tech- the number of new startups, especially in columnist. He was an assistant nologies are formally protected by intellectual knowledge industries. professor of finance at Stony Brook property law and nondisclosure agreements. And that gums up a whole tech cluster. University, and he (Tribune News Service) But by preventing these ideas from spreading Places like Silicon Valley exist precisely be- blogs at Noahpinion) When Will Cruising Return And What Will It Be Like?

Cruises will set sail from US ports by the second quarter of 2021, but the experience will be different Kerri Westenberg Passengers and crew will be test- protocols — cruise lines are working cate at least 60 days before venturing Tribune News service ed before boarding and at the end of to improve ships and adjust itinerar- out with commercial passengers. Ini- the voyage. No-touch temperature ies. Blank says there could be more tial sailings must last no longer than magine a cruise with ample room checking devices and hand sanita- regular sailings by April, though seven days. around the pool because the ship’s tion stations will be scattered around a return to a full slate of offerings After ships in other markets re- Icapacity is capped. The buffet ships. Masks will be worn. Dining in 2021 will depend on when cently returned to port with sick line, a hallmark of cruising, displays will require reservations for socially restrictions ease and the public passengers, the CDC issued a Level an impressive spread, but servers distanced tables. Behind the scenes, grows more confident. 4 travel notice suggesting that eve- scoop food onto plates to avoid the onboard medical staff will have Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ryone avoid traveling on cruise ships shared serving spoons. Ports of bolstered testing capabilities. and Royal Caribbean Group created worldwide because the risk of con- call are limited to islands owned by Most cruise lines currently a Healthy Sail Panel. The committee tracting COVID-19 in such a setting cruise companies. plan to relaunch in March, though of 11 experts created 74 best practic- is “very high.” According to Ted Blank, a trav- dates have been pushed back before es to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 Most of Blank’s cruise clients are el adviser and cruise expert in the and could be again if COVID-19 on ships. eager to go, but are booking a long Woodbury, Minnesota, office of worries persist. All cruise operators must re- way out. He said, “2022 looks to be Travel Leaders, cruises will set To assure the public — and meet ceive a certificate from the CDC. The a boom year.” sail from US ports by the second the demands of the Centers for Dis- agency requires that ships take mock His next cruise will be from New Most cruise lines currently plan to relaunch in March, quarter of 2021 — but the experience ease Control and Prevention and voyages to check safety practices. York to Hong Kong on Cunard Line’s though dates have been pushed back before and could will be different. the industry’s new health and safety Cruise lines must apply for a certifi- Queen Mary 2 — in January 2022. be again if COVID-19 worries persist. (TNS)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Monday, January 4, 2021 07

News Dozen US senators plan to in brief Bomb kills two French soldiers in Mali

Paris: Two French soldiers died when their vehicle hit an oppose Biden certification improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday, just days after three others were killed in similar fashion. Their deaths brought to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in AFP neuvering appears doomed. the West African nation since France first intervened in 2013 to Washington Democrats control the House, help drive back jihadist forces, according to army staff. President and many Republicans are ex- Emmanuel Macron “learnt with great sadness” of the deaths of A group of Republican senators pected to vote Wednesday for sergeant Yvonne Huynh and corporal Loic Risser in the Menaka led by veteran lawmaker Ted certification. region, his office said.H uynh, aged 33 and mother of a young Cruz said on Saturday they will The 11 senators conceded child, was the first female soldier killed in since the French challenge Joe Biden’s election that most Democrats and operation began in the Sahel region. Risser was 24. Both were win -- the latest last-ditch move “more than a few Republi- members of a regiment specialising in intelligence work. (afp) to support Donald Trump’s ef- cans” would likely oppose forts to undermine the vote. their initiative. The initiative, which ap- Among them is Republican Brazil wildfires surge again in 2020 pears certain to fail, flies in Senator Pat Toomey of Penn- the face of rulings in dozens of sylvania, whose state was a Rio de Janeiro: The number of wildfires in Brazil increased 12.7 courts and the findings by offi- battleground that helped tip percent last year to a decade-high, according to official figures cials in several key states, that Biden into the win column. Its likely to add to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro’s govern- there were no widespread vot- result is expected to be among ment over the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. There were ing problems. those contested on Wednes- a total of 222,798 wildfires across Brazil in 2020, the highest The Republicans’ state- day. number since 2010, according to the Brazilian space agency, ment, signed by Cruz and six “A fundamental, defining INPE. That included more than 103,000 fires in the Brazilian other current senators along feature of a democratic re- Amazon, an annual increase of nearly 16 percent, said INPE, with four senators-elect, as- public is the right of the peo- which uses satellite images to track fires and deforestation.I t serts that “allegations of fraud ple to elect their own leaders,” also included more than 22,000 fires in Brazil’s share of the and irregularities in the 2020 Toomey said on Twitter. Pantanal, the world’s largest wetlands, which were devastated election exceed any in our life- “The effort by Sens. Haw- last year by an annual increase of more than 120 percent. (afp) times.” US President-elect Joe Biden departs from St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, ley, Cruz, and others to over- The group said that when Delaware, on Sunday. (AFP) turn the results of the 2020 Congress convenes in a joint presidential election in swing Two women die in Sixth body found in session on Wednesday -- for objections on Wednesday. New US Congress to be sworn in states like Pennsylvania di- canyoning incident Norway mudslide, what normally would be a pro- A Republican member rectly undermines this right.” in Australia four still missing forma certification of Biden’s of the House of Representa- He added: “I voted for victory -- they will demand the tives, Louie Gohmert, has also Washington: The new US Congress convenes for the first President Trump and en- Sydney: Two women died af- Oslo: Rescue workers have creation of a special commis- announced his plan to op- time on Sunday amid threats by Republican senators to object dorsed him for re-election. ter being swept in a whirlpool uncovered a sixth body from a sion to conduct an “emergency pose certification, and more to the upcoming certification of the results of the presidential But, on Wednesday, I intend while canyoning in the Blue landslide that buried homes in 10-day audit” of the election than 100 House Republi- election. The House of Representatives will meet at noon (1700 to vigorously defend our form Mountains region west of Syd- a village near Norway’s capital results. cans reportedly will back his GMT) and vote to elect a new speaker. Nancy Pelosi is seeking of government by opposing ney, New South Wales police Oslo, police said Sunday, The statement says indi- challenge. re-election to the role. Newly elected and returning members this effort to disenfranchise said on Sunday. The bodies with four people still missing. vidual states could then con- Gohmert sought to further of Congress will then take their oaths of office. Lawmakers will millions of voters in my state of a 39-year-old police officer The body was recovered just vene special legislative ses- raise the stakes with a lawsuit be sworn in in groups at the US Capitol as a safety precaution and others.” and a 24-year-old internation- before 1 pm (1200 GMT), a sions and potentially revise that would have given Vice amid the still-raging coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have the Utah Senator Mitt Rom- al student were recovered by police statement said. Rescue their vote totals. President Mike Pence -- tra- narrowest majority in years in the lower chamber after losing ney, a vocal Trump opponent divers on Sunday, almost 24 teams still hope to find “An attempt to steal a land- ditionally in a ceremonial role seats in the November election. Control of the Senate is still and onetime presidential can- hours after the two women survivors four days after the slide win. Can’t let it happen!” in Wednesday’s session -- the undetermined and will be decided by two hotly-contested run-off didate who lost a 2012 White were swept into a whirlpool in tragedy occurred. A torrent of Trump tweeted Saturday. power to overturn the election elections in Georgia on Tuesday. (dpa) House bid to Barack Obama, the Wollangambe River, police mud shifted houses hundreds Posting a list of the 11 result. dismissed his colleagues’ ra- said. Witnesses said that of metres (yards), destroying senators, Trump added, “And Pence opposed that effort, tionale as “nonsense.” the 39-year-old woman was many of them, in the village after they see the facts, plenty and a federal judge in Texas on challenges will ensure that pro-Trump rallies in Washing- “The egregious ploy to re- swept into the whirlpool when of Ask, near Oslo, on Wednes- more to come... Our Country Friday rejected the suit. Congress must meet to hear ton next week encouraged by ject electors may enhance the she attempted to rescue the day. Search and rescue teams will love them for it!” On Saturday, a federal ap- the complaints. the president himself. political ambition of some, 24-year-old, who was tipped have been using sniffer dogs, They join Senator Josh peals court upheld that dis- The Congress sessions, As with Trump’s other at- but dangerously threatens our off her inflatable lilo when it helicopters and drones in a Hawley of Missouri, who said missal. sure to be contentious, will tempts to reverse his election Democratic Republic,” Rom- was also swept in. (dpa) bid to find survivors.(afp) earlier that he planned to raise The Hawley and Gohmert play out against a backdrop of defeat, the latest political ma- ney said in a statement. US TV news star Larry King hospitalised with Covid-19

AFP Washington

Veteran talk show host Larry King has been hospitalised with Covid-19, US media reported on Saturday. Citing a “source close to the family,” CNN reported that King, one of the network’s biggest stars, has been hospitalised for more than a week at Cedars Sinai Medi- cal Center in Los Angeles. King, 87, has Type 2 diabetes and has had a long history of medi- cal issues, including several heart attacks, lung cancer and angina, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. The legendary host is one of the most recognisable figures on US television, known for his signa- File photo of Larry King (AFP) ture rolled-up shirtsleeves, multi- coloured ties, suspenders and big celebrities Frank Sinatra, Marlon he began hosting “Larry King Now” glasses. Brando and Barbra Streisand. on Ora TV, an on-demand digital His list of interviewees has King hosted CNN’s “Larry King network that he co-founded. ranged from every US president Live” for 25 years, retiring in 2010. In 2013, he also began host- since 1974 to world leaders Yasser He continued to do interviews on ing a show called “Politicking with Arafat and Vladimir Putin, and his own website and then, in 2012, Larry King” on Ora TV. UK set for tougher rules as virus surge

AFP Starmer urged the prime minister within the next 24 hours.” London to immediately impose national Much of Britain is already under lockdown measures. strict regional rules to prevent the British Prime Minister Boris spread, although primary schools Johnson on Sunday warned the are set to reopen in most of the country to expect tougher restric- country when the Christmas holi- tions to combat spiralling coro- day ends on Monday. navirus cases, as a row flared over I understand people’s However, around one mil- whether schools should reopen. frustrations, I understand lion four to 11 year olds will learn “It may be that we need to do remotely after the government things in the next few weeks that people’s anxieties but there is no announced primary schools in will be tougher in many parts of the doubt in my mind that schools London, where case rates are par- country,” Johnson told the BBC’s are safe and that education is a ticularly high, would remain closed. The Andrew Marr Show. priority Johnson told parents elsewhere “I’m fully, fully reconciled to that they should “absolutely” send that.” Boris Johnson their young children to school when Britain recorded 57,725 new term begins. cases on Saturday, its highest total “I understand people’s frustra- of the entire pandemic, with a new “It’s no good the prime minis- tions, I understand people’s anxi- strain of the virus tearing across the ter hinting that further restrictions eties but there is no doubt in my country. are coming into place in a week or mind that schools are safe and that Health officials are concerned two or three,” he told British media, education is a priority. that the surging numbers could adding the virus was “clearly out of “We’ve really fought very hard overwhelm hospitals during their control”. throughout this pandemic across busiest time of the year. “So I say bring in those restric- the country to keep schools open,” Opposition Labour leader Keir tions now, national restrictions he added. How will Orlando recover from 2020? page 11

Monday, January 4, 2021

30,606.48 10,437.50 47868.98 1,895.10 +196.92 pts +1.54 pts +117.65 pts Gold +0.09 % US closes key tax evasion, Dow QE sensex money-laundering channel page 10 Price percentage Price percentage 26.41 Brent 51.80 +0.33 % WTI 48.52 +0.25% Silver -0.61 % Kuwari meets EXIM President Al Hajri takes over as QEWC GM from Jan

Tribune News Network Doha

Based on the decision of the board of directors of the Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), Moham- mad Nasser Al Hajri has been appointed as a member of the board of directors and general manager of QEWC with effect from January 1, 2021. Minister of State for Ener- gy Affairs and Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) Chairman HE Saad bin Sher- ida Al Kaabi has welcomed Hajri and wished him success Mohammad Nasser Al Hajri in performing his duties. Hajri holds a master’s de- dent for petrochemical and in- shareholding company estab- gree in gas engineering from dustrial projects development lished in 1990 in accordance the University of Salford in in Qatar Petroleum, vice chair- with the provisions of the Qa- the United Kingdom, and a man of the board of directors tar Commercial Companies bachelor’s degree in chemical of Industries Qatar and man- Law for the purpose of own- engineering from Qatar Uni- aging director of Qatar Steel ing and managing power gen- versity. He joined Qatar Petro- and has participated in the eration and water desalination leum in 1991. development of a number of plants and selling its products. Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari on Sunday met with Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President Hajri has more than 28 electricity and water projects It is one of the first private sec- Kimberly Reed and the accompanying delegation currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they stressed their commitment to collaborate years of long experience in en- and chaired the board of di- tor companies in the region globally for economic prosperity and security of the two countries. They agreed to strengthen communication regarding mutual investment ergy, oil and gas fields and has rectors of Ras Girtas Power that operate in the field of elec- opportunities to support economic development in the region, particularly in the infrastructure, energy and telecommunications. (TNN) held many senior positions. Company. tricity production and water He was executive vice presi- QEWC is a Qatari public desalination. P SA releases Nov bulletin Qatari stocks begin Property sales in 2021 on positive note Satyendra Pathak buyers at the end of the trad- Qatar rise 76.2% Doha ing session. “We are positive on Qa- Tribune News Network Qatar’s stock market rose tar in 2021 as the country Doha marginally on Sunday, start- looks attractive from a valu- ing 2021 on a positive note ation standpoint, offering The number and value of sold in line with the country’s eco- better risk-reward compared properties increased 2 percent nomic forecast. to other emerging markets. and 35.9 percent respectively The International Mon- Adding to that macro factors in November 2020 compared etary Fund (IMF) expects Qa- such as the arrival of vaccines, to October 2020 and 76.2 per- tar’s economy to swing back recovery in oil prices, and im- cent and 54.3 percent when to a growth of 2.7 percent this proved geopolitical environ- compared to November 2019, year from a 2.5 percent con- ment should help the market, according to the monthly bul- traction in 2020. going forward,” a market ana- letin for November issued by “Qatar will return to eco- lyst said. the Planning and Statistics nomic growth in 2021 with Meanwhile benchmark Authority (PSA) on Sunday. the help of growing natural indexes in the United Arab Al Wakrah Municipality gas production and a rebound Emirates climbed the most recorded the highest monthly in domestic demand,” the in the Middle East, tracking and annual increase, with 81 IMF said in its latest assess- global stock rallies on opti- properties sold for QR355.9 ment of the country’s finan- The QSE gained 1.54 points to close at 10,437.50 points on Sunday. mism surrounding the rollout million. cial health. of coronavirus vaccines. Furthermore, among the Total number of building permits in November reached 762, recording The Qatar Stock Exchange Out of the total seven the QSE Al Rayan Islamic The index in Oman also most notable changes is the a monthly increase of 4.2 percent and an annual rise of 13.2 percent. (QSE) general index gained sector indices, three sectors Index gained 0.10 percent rose, while the Saudi index increase in total deposits and 1.54 points when the bourse closed in the positive territo- to 4,273.84 points. QSE All dropped the most in the re- total credit at a monthly rate reached 762 during Novem- November 2019. On the other closed trading at 10,437.50 ry. The All Share Banks and Share Index was up 0.02 per- gion, with 20 out of its 21 sec- of 1 percent and 0.2 percent ber 2020, recording a monthly hand, cash equivalents includ- points on Sunday. Financial Services Index, the cent to 3,200.17 points. tors declining. Markets in Ku- respectively compared to Oc- increase of 4.2 percent and an ing commercial bank deposits The volume of shares All Share Consumer Goods Both Qatari individual wait and Bahrain were closed tober 2020), and an annual annual rise of 13.2 percent. attained for QR884.8 billion traded decreased to 95.29 and Services Index and the and institutional investors for a public holiday. increase of 6.5 percent and 9.7 As for the banking sec- during November 2020. The million on Sunday from All Share Real Estate Index remained bullish throughout Last week, emerging-mar- percent respectively compared tor, total broad money supply figure has recorded an an- 189.21 million on Thursday gained to support the general the day and accounted for ket stocks advanced to the to November 2019. (M2) recorded about QR583.1 nual increase of 6.5 percent and the value of shares de- index. 74.12 percent of the total buy highest level since 2007 amid Regarding the data of billion during November compared to November 2019, creased to QR141.54 million The QSE Total Return for the day. optimism over the vaccines buildings permits issued, 2020, an annual increase of when deposits recorded ap- from QR464.532 million in Index increased 0.01 per- The foreign institutional and as a slide in the dollar the total number of permits 3.5 percent compared with proximately QR830.5 billion. the previous session. cent to 20,065.75 points and investors also remained net boosted risk assets.

al khaliji to disclose 2020 Crude oil to hover above $60 in 2021 results on January 27 Agencies inventories are also declining height of the pandemic, oil 2021 will be the Opec+ oil pro- London due to strengthening demand and gas investment estimated duction policy and whether the Al Khalij Com- from Asia, which has added to at $131 billion that was slated alliance will ease the cuts before mercial Bank Brent Crude prices are set the general optimism about oil to be approved in 2020 were demand can absorb the addi- (al khaliji) on to average $50.67 a barrel in prices next year. shelved, some indefinitely. This tional supply. Sunday an- 2021, marginally down from Mamdouh Salameh, inter- could push oil prices to between The market will get the first nounced that its the level at which they traded national oil economist and pro- $80 and $100 by 2024,” Sala- glimpse into the Opec+ think- board of direc- early on the last trading day of fessor of Energy Economics at meh said. ing as early as today, the first tors will meet 2020, the monthly poll of ana- ESCP Europe Business School, He said the fourth factor is trading day of 2021. The min- on January 27, lysts and economists showed. UK, said he would go a step fur- the continued Opec+ produc- isters of the group are meeting 2021 to approve However, Goldman Sachs ther than Goldman and project particularly China and India. tion cuts until the end of the on today to discuss production and disclose sounded more bullish, pre- that Brent prices could average “Second, both the global first quarter of 2021.A nother from February. year-end 2020 dicting Brent to average $65 a $65-$70 a barrel in 2021. oil market fundamentals and reason is that “with outstand- “If Opec+ loosens the pro- results. (TNN) barrel in 2021. The investment Grounding his projections the global economy are be- ing debts approaching $1 tril- duction cuts too quickly, there bank cited mass vaccinations on a host of bullish factors, ing invigorated by the start of lion and a breakeven price of is a threat of a price setback. and the limited increase in pro- Salameh said in a note that the mass anti-COVID vaccination between $60 and $65 a barrel But if it is too cautious, a rift duction from Opec+ as factors global economy is projected to around the world. for most drillers, US shale oil could arise and US shale oil driving the favorable trend. grow in 2021 by 5.4 per cent “The underinvestment in could hardly expect to stage a production could rise again,” Goldman’s commodities compared with 3.3 per cent in oil and gas will put upward comeback soon.” Commerzbank analyst Carsten chief Jeffrey Currie said oil 2019 led by emerging markets pressure on oil prices. At the Another factor to watch in Fritsch said. Economy & Business Monday, January 4, 2021 09 OPEC sees oil outlook for first half of 2021 full of downside risks

Agencies according to remarks pub- duction flat,” said Amrita Sen, second half of 2021 but sectors Despite a pick up in prices lished by OPEC. co-founder of Energy Aspects such as travel, tourism, lei- towards the end of last year, OPEC sees plenty of downside OPEC+ will meet on Mon- think-tank. sure and hospitality could take the market levels for black gold risks for oil markets in the first day. OPEC’s leader Saudi Ara- years to reach pre-virus levels. remain uncertain. half of 2021, its secretary gen- In December, OPEC+ de- bia has suggested a more cau- OPEC+ was forced to cut After their last summit, eral said on Sunday, a day be- cided to increase production tious approach during previous production by a record amount from November 30-December fore meeting allies led by Rus- by 0.5 million bpd from Janu- meetings while OPEC member in 2020 as global lockdown 3, the OPEC+ members agreed sia to discuss output levels for ary as part of the 2 million bpd the United Arab Emirates and measures hammered fuel de- to increase production by half a February. gradual rise this year but some non-OPEC Russia have said mand. million barrels per day in Janu- “Amid the hopeful signs, members have questioned the they prefer a speedier increase. OPEC+ first cut output by ary. the outlook for the first half of need for a further boost due to “Curbs on social and eco- 9.7 million bpd, then eased cuts Also at that meeting the 13 2021 is very mixed and there spreading coronavirus infec- nomic activity remain in place to 7.7 million and ultimately to members of the OPEC cartel, are still many downside risks tions. in a number of countries, and 7.2 million from January. led by Saudi Arabia, and their to juggle,” said OPEC Secre- “Given fundamentals are there is concern about the The OPEC+ ministerial six allies, led by Russia, agreed tary General Mohammad Bar- weakening, it would be pru- emergence of a pernicious new meeting comes after oil con- to meet at the beginning of kindo. dent for OPEC+ to hold output strain of the virus,” Barkindo sumption tanked in 2020 due each month in order to decide He was speaking at a meet- steady and there is a prefer- said. to the Covid-19 pandemic and on any adjustments to produc- ing of experts of OPEC and al- ence among some of the big- He said the global economy a price war between Saudi Ara- tion volumes for the following lies, a group known as OPEC+, gest producers to hold pro- OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo could strongly rebound in the bia and Russia. month.

Business continuity, The pandemic has put Europe’s cybersecurity among top risks in 2021: IIA tourism cash cow on life support

Tribune News Network Once booming tourist hotspots, Croatia and Greece are now scrambling to reduce dependency on foreign guests Doha DPA Business continuity, cri- Belgrade sis management, cyberse- curity and data governance The recent consecutive boom have emerged as the top- years of Europe’s tourism in- rated risks for 2021, the In- dustry suffered a major blip in stitute of Internal Auditors 2020, when pandemic travel (IIA) has said in its report, restrictions left an otherwise “On Risk 2021”. rapidly growing sector sud- The expanding reliance denly gasping for government on technology and data support. drives these risks to the top Recent growth peaked in of the list, it said. 2018, when the industry gen- “The pandemic tested erated 10 per cent of the con- the organization’s ability to tinent’s economic output and resilience in the face of what 11 per cent of all employment, has been an unseen crisis More than half of global tour- scenario. There are signifi- IIA Board Member ism took place in Europe that cant existential challenges, Sundaresan Rajeswar year, the European Travel from cyber breaches, crisis Commission (ETC) said in its resolution, scandals, and jor risk with a new phase annual report. succession planning.” in identifying, acquiring, Growth continued in 2019, The growing sophis- upskilling, and retaining albeit at a slower pace, ETC tication and variety of cy- the right talent to achieve said, citing a “wobbly world berattacks continue to objectives. economy,” “US-China trade wreak havoc, often result- “Companies should disputes” and “fears around a ing in disastrous financial sharpen focus on mapping make-or-break Brexit.” Then impacts, the report said, and forecasting to under- came the pandemic, upend- adding that the cybersecu- stand and anticipate human ing all certainties. Beyond the rity threat depends on the capital requirements. In health sector, its devastat- weakest link in the organi- the near term, sourcing in- ing effects were felt nowhere zation, and the weakest link demand talent will be more as sorely as in the travel and is always people. complicated by enabling tourism industry. “Some cyberthreats are safe working environments. The ETC 2020 third quar- heightened by the sudden Further, candidates may ter report projected that tour- Croatia and Greece, the two European Union countries most dependent on tourists, have suffered the worst during the COVID-19 pandemic. relocation of employees also be reluctant to move ist arrivals in Europe would be to less secure work-from- roles, giving up the security down by 1 billion, or a 61-per- been through a roller-coaster good 2019,” Pinezic said. the government for continued a law early next year offering home environments and of their current position to cent decline Europe-wide. year of closings, reopenings “That provoked a ‘tourism assistance. However, most a seven-year, 50-per-cent tax an intense shift to e-com- join an unfamiliar organiza- While each country on the and reclosings. phobia’ and calls for measures emergency support measures break to businesses that reg- merce brought on by the tion amid economic uncer- continent lost income, the loss Hopes generated by a brief to effectively limit the growth are expiring at the end of the ister in Greece to perform re- pandemic response. Phish- tainty.” was felt most keenly by those opening up of the travel indus- of the sector,” he added. year. mote work, even if that work is ing attempts and malware Fraud, bribery, and most dependent on the tour- try in July were quickly scup- The proposals include Croatia has already re- not done for Greek clients. infections are seen as the the exploitation of opera- ism cash injection. pered by a resurgent infection higher taxes on small busi- ceived the first half of a Another law, due to be most likely threats to arise, tional and economic dis- Croatia and Greece, the rate. Overall, the country saw nesses, including the family 1.02-billion-euro (1.23-billion- presented to parliament in De- which shows the criticality ruption are the forces that two European Union coun- half of the 2019 volume of visi- hotels which form the back- dollar) EU package intended cember, will offer a massive, of staff behaviour, training, are putting businesses at tries most dependent on tour- tors, the vast majority Croa- bone of Croatian tourism, re- to save jobs across all sectors. 40-per-cent rebate to big film and awareness in mitigating heightened risk of financial ists, suffered the worst. tia’s traditional guests - Ger- strictive licensing and quotas However, the government companies, wooing them to cyber risk. This risk exam- crimes, IIA noted in the re- Tourism generates more mans, Czechs and Poles. on cruisers, particularly in has not yet signalled how it shoot - and bring their money ines a company’s ability to port. than one-fifth of both coun- The collapse in visitor the southern hotspot of Du- plans to continue support- - to Greece. prepare, react, respond, and “First, there is an in- tries’ economic output and numbers, Pinezic told dpa, brovnik. ing tourism, or presented any It’s possible that after a recover.” crease in ploys to capitalise both have reported a dizzying “came amid calls for broad Pinezic fears the proposed plans to reduce the country’s decade of almost constant Data governance is on using sophisticated digi- drop in tourism revenue. restructuring and warnings changes amount to Croatia dependency on the sector in financial crisis, Greece may surfacing as high risk with tal techniques. Second, the In Croatia, there had al- that the country relies on the shooting itself in the foot. Or, light of the pandemic. have learned that leaving it too business reliance on data efficacy ofcontrols is likely ready been calls before the volatile tourism industry too to put it another way, shooting Elsewhere, in Greece, the late to act can result in brutal expanding exponentially, to have been weakened. pandemic for a restructuring much.” In Croatia, where mass dead your own cash cow. government’s response ap- reforms simply being imposed complicated by advances in It may be more difficult to of the economy to lessen its tourism has in recent years “Tourism is always ex- pears more agile. from above. technology and changes in spot suspicious transac- dependency on tourism. overwhelmed a number of pected to deliver its part to all After seeing visitor num- During the early years of regulations requiring stra- tions or dubious customers However, those operating coastal hotspots, the industry levels of administration and bers plummet by 70 per cent the financial crisis, a whole tegic management of data given the disruption to op- in the industry say the anti- is at risk of becoming a victim never more than this year,” this year, the country is sig- new sector emerged of fast- collection, use, storage, se- erations and fraud monitor- tourism camp had missed the of its own success. he said. “But this year there nalling moves to attract other moving, digital enterprises. If curity, and disposition, the ing activity. Old-fashioned point. “As late as February, the was none and everybody was sources of financing. the pandemic prompts Greece report said. concepts like the segrega- Consultant Nedeljko Pin- 2020 season was expected to shocked.” Croatian hotel op- Conservative Prime Min- to pull off a similar feat, the “The pandemic caused tion of duties are a little ezic, who owns a hotel on the be the best ever, better even erators and other tourism- ister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has rest of Europe might do well to to collect sensitive personal more difficult to achieve Croatian island of Krk, has than the already exceptionally related businesses now look to said his Cabinet will propose follow its lead. information from employ- with process workarounds ees and customers than ever that people can take more before. Yet, data govern- easily in a remote working ance practices are regress- environment. ing, with fewer dedicated “As we look ahead to resources to data privacy. 2021, internal audit’s enter- “Disruptive innovation prise-wide perspective has and talent management are never been more necessary the most relevant risks. We to obtain a top-down view- are in an era of innovative point for insights into the business models fuelled by business and its risks dur- disruptive technologies. ing what remains a signifi- The impact of continued cantly challenging future. disruptive innovation had “Internal audit under- sustainability risks when stands how disciplines, vulnerable to competition. procedures, and protec- Organizations that embrace tions are embedded in the new technology and become company’s control environ- leading-edge trailblazers ment and what has changed will be best positioned to – intentionally or uninten- succeed. This will require tionally. Risk management 21st-century management needs to be continuous to that not only understands sense and anticipate what and leverages disruptive might happen and how it innovation but also nur- could affect the organi- tures it. This risk examines zation, and the agility to whether organizations are respond promptly and ef- prepared to adapt to and fectively. The success and capitalize on disruption.” sustainability of organiza- Talent management, it tions will seriously stay on said, is emerging as a ma- this step,” the report said. Tourism generates more than one-fifth of economic output of Croatia and Greece, and both have reported a dizzying drop in tourism revenue. 10 Monday, January 4, 2021 Economy & Business LA airport begins US closes key tax evasion, rapid COVID-19 testing for fliers money-laundering channel Tribune News Service provided electronically. Ap- pointments are strongly en- The law forces ‘beneficial owners’ behind shell firms to report their identities to the US Treasury’s FinCEN Despite a stay-at-home couraged for all three sites, order across much of Cali- but rapid testing appoint- AFP fornia and a plea from ments are filling up particu- Washington health officials to refrain larly fast, Erbacci said. from traveling amid the A trio of interim testing A major avenue for global worst surge of the corona- sites opened at the airport money laundering and tax virus to date, many people in mid-November, provid- evasion has been closed off by are still flying in and out of ing results within 24 hours. a new law requiring disclosure Los Angeles International Around 14,000 tests have of owners of US shell compa- Airport. been administered across nies used to hide billions of In an effort to make those sites. dollars. travel as safe as possible, The airport plans to roll The Corporate Transpar- LAX opened an onsite rapid out rapid antigen testing in ency Act was included in the COVID-19 testing site on about a week, officials said. US defence appropriations bill Thursday. Although COVID-19 passed into law by Congress Justin Erbacci, CEO testing is not a prerequisite late Friday, overriding Presi- of Los Angeles World Air- to fly out of LAX, some des- dent Donald Trump’s veto. ports, said the airport sup- tinations — including Ha- The law forces “beneficial ports the health advisories waii — do require negative owners” behind shell compa- that are in place. “But we PCR tests before traveling. nies to report their identities know that there are peo- Erbacci said the onsite test- to the US Treasury’s Financial ple who are traveling, and ing at LAX is a convenient Crimes Enforcement Network, there are people who have means to facilitate travel to or FinCEN. essential travel,” he said. those destinations. While the law still grants “We want to have this place Other airports — and them protection from public to help those people who even some airlines — are knowledge -- only the Treas- are traveling travel more also testing passengers. On ury and law enforcement will healthy and safe.” Flyrs Thursday, Tampa Interna- be able to access the FinCEN who prebook an appoint- tional Airport began offer- database -- transparency ad- ment at the recently built ing testing to all arriving vocates say it is a huge step lab, located across from and departing passengers against kleptocrats, organized Terminal 6, will receive re- on a walk-in basis. crime and rich tax evaders sults in three to five hours. United Airlines, Ameri- who have been able to anony- The lab, located in a ship- can Airlines, Hawaiian mously wash their suspect ping container, is currently Airlines, JetBlue Airways wealth through the world’s processing about 250 to and Alaska Airlines have all largest economy. 300 rapid tests a day, with announced plans to offer “For years, experts rou- The Corporate Transparency Act was included in the US defence appropriations bill passed into law by Congress late Friday, overriding President plans to ramp up to 1,000 either testing kits mailed tinely ranked anonymous shell Donald Trump’s veto. tests daily. to a passenger’s home or companies ... as the biggest Additional testing sites rapid tests taken at or near weakness in our anti-money helping people conceal their database will not be open to are at Terminal 2 and Tom airports. laundering safeguards,” said finances from law and tax en- US, a large conduit? the public or media, whose Bradley International Ter- Although local airports Ian Gary, executive director of forcement. efforts have produced the big- minal, which will provide saw steady increases in the FACT Coalition, which lob- ● The United Nations estimates that $800 billion to $2 gest stories about money laun- results in 24 hours. travelers determined to bied for the legislation. Property and art trillion is laundered through the global financial system every dering. The tests, known as spend the Christmas holi- “It’s the single most im- Gary Kalman, the US di- years. For example, the Interna- PCR tests, are administered day with family and friends, portant step we could take to rector of Transparency Inter- tional Consortium of Investi- with a nasal swab. Each travel did not increase as better protect our financial national, said the Corporate ● While much of the attention has focused on tax havens gative Journalists was behind costs $125, and results are much as officials predicted. system from abuse.” Transparency Act was “foun- like Panama and the Cayman Islands, experts say that the the explosive release in 2016 The United Nations esti- dational” for fighting money size of the US economy, and its ability to absorb billions of of the Panama Papers, some mates that $800 billion to $2 laundering. dollars without notice, has made it crucial for converting illicit 11.5 million documents detail- trillion is laundered through Despite geopolitical ten- ing secret companies set up in the global financial system sions, he pointed out that funds into legitimate assets. the Central American country. every years. money has flowed into the In that case, enforcement While much of the atten- United States from China and he said, the US is establishing FACT said the law could authorities around the world tion on has focused on tax ha- Russia because it was the easi- a “global norm” for the world’s result in a sharp drop in all- made use of the files made vens like Panama and the Cay- est place to launder it, through financial system. cash business transactions, public by reporters, which man Islands, experts say that properties, corporate assets, “By choking off access to especially in real estate, a fa- showed prominent politicians, the size of the US economy, securities and art. the advanced economies, you vored way for outsiders to celebrities and business peo- and its ability to absorb bil- “We are the easiest place in are making it much hard- move large sums into the US ple hiding money offshore. lions of dollars without notice, the world to set up an anony- er. You are upping the cost economy. Although they will have all has made it crucial for con- mous company,” he told AFP and the likelihood of getting FACT also says that anon- the new data, the US Treasury verting illicit funds into legiti- before the law had passed. caught,” he said. ymous companies underpin and law enforcement have lim- mate assets. “We are the dream of any The legislation sets penal- trade in counterfeit luxury ited capacity to comb through In early 2020 the Tax Jus- kleptocrat or criminal to hide ties for not reporting a compa- goods, pharmaceuticals and files themselves. Lab staff processes COVID-19 rapid tests at LAX testing lab in Los tice Network ranked the Cay- money.” ny’s beneficial owners of up to industrial equipment. “We think that the data- Angeles on Thursday. (Brian van der Brug//TNS) man Islands and the United By forcing company own- two years in jail and a $10,000 The legislation isn’t per- base should be public,” said States as the global leaders in ers to divulge their identities, fine. fect, say analysts. The FinCEN Kalman.

Should the COVID-19 vaccine figure into the future of flying?

law does.” It is possible airlines will require Could US airlines require a vaccine? Would the airlines How would airlines mon- vaccination before allowing entry do that? How would they do itor whether a traveler that? Should the public just has had the vaccine? submit and hang the ramifi- Several apps are in the Tribune News Service border entry or re-entry re- works, including the Travel quirements that are condi- cations? The answer to Pass from the International tional on proof of vaccination. each of those questions: a Air Transport Association, The vaccine for COVID-19 “It’s likely that other definite maybe. and CommonPass, in con- might be the beginning of the countries — and possibly air- junction with the Commons end of the pandemic, but for lines— will require vaccina- worried about the rapidity Project and the World Eco- airlines, it’s the beginning of tion against Covid-19 before with which the vaccines were nomic Forum. These apps the discussion about how and allowing entry. This already developed, which may not will tell you whether your re- whether a vaccine will factor happens with yellow fever have been helped by its “Op- cords are in line with require- into the future of flying. and polio in some parts of the eration Warp Speed” project ments at your destination. The discussion gained world.” name. They can be used for vaccina- momentum after Alan Joyce, Perhaps Joyce over- Instead, said Roger Dow, tion and testing information. chief executive of Qantas Air- reached, but other airlines chief executive of the U.S. Both say your information ways, said in November that could back that play. Travel Association, consider will remain private. the Australian airline will The questions become the vaccine just one part require passengers for inter- these: Could U.S. airlines re- of a multipronged effort to Should the public take national flights to receive the quire a vaccine? Would the stamp out the virus. The U.S. the vaccine? COVID-19 vaccine. airlines do that? How would addressed the threat of ter- That’s a personal choice. “Whether you’ll need they do that? Should the pub- The vaccine for COVID-19 prompts questions for airlines, and easy answers are hard to come by. rorism using a multilayered If you’re desperate to travel that domestically, we’ll have lic just submit and hang the (Christopher Reynolds/TNS) approach, and the country and the vaccines prevent to see what happens with ramifications? should consider the same for COVID-19, yes — assuming COVID-19 and the market, The answer to each of establish its own mandate. provisions in that act and cited figures from the Center this issue. the immunizations are safe but certainly for internation- those questions: a definite As private businesses, they (in the) regulations. Some of for Countering Digital Hate “We’ve got to get to a sit- (allergic reactions were re- al visitors coming out and maybe. can do so. It could be the those provisions are similar that showed that people who uation where it’s the vaccine, ported among some of the people leaving the country, Here are factors to con- same regarding the vaccine, to the ADA, in that passen- don’t believe in vaccines it’s testing, it’s protocols at firstrecipients in the United we think that’s a necessity,” sider as the vaccine begins its Hoffman said. gers may present a medical have an increased presence hotels, it’s travelers doing all Kingdom) and that proving Joyce said, according to CBS rollout. There would be excep- basis to be exempt from any on social media, including things,” he said as part of a you have been vaccinated is News. tions — “carve-outs,” she vaccine requirement to fly, the “31 million people (who) panel early this month on the easy and preserves your right Soon after his remark, Could airlines require a said — to take into account which airlines have to ex- follow anti-vaccine groups World Travel and Tourism to privacy. this turned up on the Qantas vaccine? already established protec- amine as a private employer on Facebook, with 17 million Council’s “One Voice: to Re- In the end, it’s about your website: “While the Austral- They could, said Sharona tions, including the Ameri- would.” people subscribing to similar covery and Beyond” webinar. freedom, oddly enough. Hav- ian Government strongly sup- Hoffman, a professor in the cans With Disabilities Act accounts on YouTube.” And finally, and perhaps ing to take a vaccine, like ports immunisation and will department of bioethics and and Title VII of the Civil Would the airlines re- Next, general skepticism most important, is “potential wearing a mask, impinges on run a strong campaign to en- co-director of the Law-Med- Rights Act of 1964. quire a vaccine? among Americans. About customer backlash airlines your freedom, some people courage vaccination, it is not icine Center at Case Western To that add the Air Car- A vaccine may be a bullet, 58% of respondents to a face, financially and repu- believe. For others, getting mandatory, and individuals Reserve University in Cleve- riers Access Act and Depart- but it is not necessarily the November Gallup poll said tationally, if they do insti- vaccinated is the key to re- may choose not to vaccinate. land. That doesn’t mean air- ment of Transportation regu- silver bullet. Why? they would take the shots, tute a vaccine requirement,” claiming your freedom and There may, however, be cir- lines will. lations, Mario R. Bordogna First, anti-vaxxers. Their an increase from previous Bordogna said. “These prac- lifting your spirits by letting cumstances where the Aus- Because there is no fed- of the Clark Hill law firm numbers appear to be grow- numbers in September that ticalities sometimes dictate you do what you love, which tralian Government and other eral mandate for mask wear- wrote in an email. “There are ing, a Lancet article re- said only half of Americans what happens a lot more in is travel. Now that’s a shot in governments may introduce ing, each airline was left to certain nondiscrimination ported. The medical journal would. The country remains the first instance than the the arm. Monday, January 4, 2021 11 Economy & Business

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to recede in 2021 as vaccines become available. But restarting Orlando’s tourism machine will be a monumental task, and experts don’t agree on how much longer the region and its hundreds of thousands of industry workers will suffer

How will Orlando recover from 2020? Tribune News Service Speigel, CEO of International Theme park capital of the world national Airport’s passenger count runs JimHillMedia.com and co- Orlando Theme Park Services. dropped 41% to about 29 million hosts The Disney Dish Podcast. Disney parks chairman Josh With a city population of more than 285,000, Orlando is in 2020 compared to 2019. THE 2021 RIDE LINEUP he year 2020 brought im- D’Amaro spoke of the theme the 77th largest city in the US, the fifth largest city in “You just don’t walk in and flip What could entice visitors ages of Orlando never seen park industry’s resilience in No- Florida, and the state’s largest inland city. Nicknamed the the switch and the next day and all back to the parks next year are before. vember. ‘City Beautiful’ because of its majestic fountain at Lake this comes right back on,” Speigel new thrill rides and the nostalgia Interstate 4, the eternally “Our industry is hurting, it’s Eola, it’s perhaps better known as ‘The Theme Park said. for Disney World’s 50th-anniver- traffic-clogged gateway to hurting from the presence of Capital of the World’. So far, the Orange County sary celebration. Tthe theme parks, was quiet. The COVID-19 in our communities,” County Convention Center has Busch Gardens will debut its Magic Kingdom, the world’s busi- D’Amaro said at a virtual conven- ● Mention the words Orlando, Florida to anyone and the phrase Magic canceled 67 conventions with an dizzying 206 foot-tall Iron Gwazi est park, was empty for months, a tion. “But unlike some industries Kingdom or Walt Disney immediately comes to mind. Smack dab in estimated economic impact of coaster that goes 76 mph. Sea- happy place that previously had impacted by the pandemic, ours the center of the Sunshine State is a resort area that plays host to 62 $1.71 billion and rescheduled 48 World Orlando gets the family- shut down for just a day or two for is here to stay, and it’s here to others amid the pandemic. Some friendly Ice Breaker coaster, too. hurricanes or other emergencies. grow.” million visitors annually eager to see not only Walt Disney World but major events are still going on as Universal is building its Juras- The coronavirus pandemic The theme parks, the life- also Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, planned, such as the recent AKC sic World VelociCoaster at Islands is expected to recede in 2021 as line of Orlando’s economy, have Gatorland and Wet n’ Wild, among other attractions. National Championship and a surf of Adventure that is set to open in vaccines become available. But struggled in the pandemic, and expo in January, said spokeswom- the summer and has generated a restarting Orlando’s tourism ma- so have the nearby hotels, restau- an Nadia Vanderhoof. buzz on social media as people fol- chine will be a monumental task, rants and rental car companies, all they can bring that back relatively dom, the parks’ adaptation of the Some question if Americans lowed the construction. and experts don’t agree on how of which endured mass layoffs. quickly,” said Robert Niles, a long- beloved musical, or the longtime are ready to splurge on lavish va- Universal declined to say when much longer the region and its In March, the Orange County time journalist who pens a regu- running Indiana Jones Stunt cations after the emotional scars it plans to continue construction hundreds of thousands of indus- tax collected on hotel rooms suf- lar column for California’s Or- Show. of 2020, where many felt the on Epic Universe, its third Or- try workers will suffer. fered the worst single-month ange County Register and a blog, “Some of these large cast mu- pain of losing a loved one to the lando theme park, after officials Disney should start to bounce crash in its 40-year history, fall- ThemeParkInsider.com. sical productions, (those) might virus, the isolation of being stuck at parent company Comcast an- back in the spring, Wall Street ing by $17.6 million, or 57%, from By spring, Boyd said he pre- take a little while because you at home, or the anxiety of losing nounced they are waiting for the analyst Bob Boyd predicts. By the the same month a year before. dicts the parks’ social distancing need to be able to show you’ve got their jobs. economy to improve before re- end of 2021, Boyd said Disney and By the end of 2020, revenue was rules will relax, allowing fireworks the income coming in to justify “There’s a huge challenge suming what’s estimated to be a the other theme parks could face rebounding. It generated $7.03 and other entertainment to “re- that type of expense,” Niles said. we’re facing in the psychological multibillion-dollar project. a new problem: Not being able to million in September, still far less awaken.” Will tourists come back? recovery from this stressful year,” “The folks in Comcast, the find enough employees to hire. than the $17.7 million brought in a “2021, especially the first half Some analysts say consum- Niles said. “We’re dealing with ones who will be signing the “The really, really good news year earlier. of 2021, I think it’s going be a sto- ers whose trips were disrupted in a widespread mental trauma on checks that trickle down to NBC we’ve had on the vaccine front ry of things becoming increasingly 2020 are eager to return to the a scale that we have not seen in Universal, they want assurances is actually quite a bit of hope for A whole new world more normal,” Boyd said. parks, which bodes well for Dis- the United States, probably since that this is actually going to work. later in the year,” said Boyd, who Since July, Disney World Already, as of Jan. 1, people ney, Universal Orlando and Sea- World War II ... Even for people And in fact, all eyes right now are follows theme parks at Pacific As- reemerged from the pandemic can start “hopping” between two World in 2021. whose response to stress is book a on February 2021, what happens set Management. shutdown in the spring as a differ- parks again. Disney has begun “There’s just so much pent- vacation to Orlando, a lot of them in Universal Japan when Super But Dennis Spiegel expects ent place. testing its fireworks displays, per- up demand to do the things we’ve are going to get there and just Mario Land opens up,” Hill said. 2021 will be “another bump in the Everyone wears masks. The haps a sign of what lies ahead. been unable to do for what’s get- they’re not going to feel the hap- “If it is the success that they think road” as he predicts the industry lines are spaced out, 6 feet apart. Other Disney World iconic ting close to a year,” said Jeremy piness that they thought they were it’s going to be, that will power the won’t fully bounce back for two And some of the things that experiences might prove more Bowman, an analyst at Motley going to feel.” decision to turn the key that much more years. In the meantime, he make Disney special, such as hug- challenging to bring back. Fool. After the vaccine is widely faster for Epic Universe.” wonders if more reductions could ging Mickey Mouse or watching Among the 32,000 Boyd predicts interna- available, shedding the 2020 Perhaps the biggest seller for come, like some parks operat- fireworks explode over Cinderella Disney layoffs this year tional travel to pick up mindset could take time, theme families to come to Disney World ing only five days a week to save Castle, are gone. were many Equity ac- starting in summer 2021. park reporter Jim Hill warned. is its 50th anniversary, Boyd said, money since there aren’t too many The resort hasn’t announced tors who performed Speigel is uncon- “How many of us are going to predicting the celebration could other things left to cut. when it will restore them, but in shows such as the vinced airline travel able to go, ‘OK, let me pull off my last up to two years tied to the Oct. “What do people do when they some theme park analysts say the Festival of the will recover swiftly. mask and stand within 6 inches of 1, 2021, date. travel, particularly for the family old ways of life pre-COVID could Lion King- Orlando Inter- somebody in line for the Haunted The milestone vacation to Orlando? They make reemerge soon. Mansion,’ ” said Hill, who helps Disney fire up that reservation four to “Things like fire- its machine “in a six months in advance. works, I think really big way,” he Some even further. said. And nobody’s doing that right now,” said SA paceman Anrich Nortje claims career-best 6-56 to destory Sri Lanka MONday, JANUARY 4, 2021 in Jo’burg page 14 World judokas set to converge in Qatar for IJF Doha Masters 2021 Tokyo Olympics qualifying event to begin Jan 11

Tribune News Network Doha

Preparations are in top gear as Qatar is once again set to host the world at the Inter- national Judo Federation (IJF) Doha Masters 2021 from Janu- ary 11 to 13 at the ultra-modern Multipurpose Hall at Lusail. The 2020 Tokyo Games qualifying event will feature 370 athletes - 203 male and Some of the judokas set for Doha at one of world’s airports. 167 female - from 68 countries representing five continental a lively and dynamic place world. Now here we are, willing federations namely the Afri- to discover and stage high- to continue our lives and con- can Judo Union, Judo Union performance events. We are tinue to promote our beloved of Asia, and European Judo very grateful to our highest au- sport, without anything or any- Union, Oceania Judo Union thorities for all their continued one preventing us,” he said. and Pan-American Judo Con- backing,” Al Muraikhi added. “In that regard, I would federation. France’s Teddy Riner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and ten-time world champion in the +100kg, is one of the stars featuring in IJF Doha The Doha Masters precedes like to thank the commitment The event is also part of the Masters 2021 — one of the qualifying events for Tokyo2020. the World Championships of the Qatar Judo Federation, World Judo Tour. The tourna- which Qatar will host in 2023. whose effort has been enor- ment will feature competition judoka, male or female, to do 48 kg division, and Belgium’s kg event at the 2019 African the strictest health protocols Al Muraikhi thanked the mous, ensuring everything is in seven categories for both so). In his 13-year career as Matthias Casse - the World Games held in Rabat, Morocco to the athletes and officials IJF President Marius Vizer ready on time. The Masters is, men and women. a professional judoka, Riner No.1 in -81kg and the 2019 Eu- is also set to strut her stuff at taking part in the prestigious for “his continuous support therefore, ready to begin! For the men, participants was only defeated eight times ropean Games gold medalist. the tournament. event. The safety of everyone and trust in allocating the or- The Doha Masters is a vital will contest in the -60kg, in elite international champi- Other stars on the list in- Qatar LOC director Eid is our topmost priority, and all ganisation of the Doha Mas- qualifying tournament for the -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, onships. clude Clarisse Agbegnenou Al Muraikhi said, “We are de- measures will not be spared, ters event and the 2023 World Tokyo Olympic Games, with -100kg and +100kg categories Also on the cards are Idalys of France - the 2016 Olympic lighted to welcome the world in partnership with the health Championships” to Qatar. the crème de la crème of the while the women will be in ac- Ortiz of Cuba - the 2012 Olym- silver medalist and four-time to Doha once again. We are ex- authorities, to ensure an inci- Meanwhile, Vizer praised World Judo Tour battling to tion in the -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, pic gold medalist in the +78kg world champion in the -63 kg tremely proud of being the host dent-free tournament. Qatar’s enthusiasm and com- earn the valuable points. -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78kg female category, Japan’s female category, and Egypt’s of this important tournament “We are quite aware that mitment to sports despite the “It will happen in Doha, a categories. Soichi Hashimoto - world No.1 Ramadan Darwish - a six-time which is a qualifying event for we need to put in a lot of effort complications stemming from place tied firmly to its history Top on the list of stars in the lightweight division and African champion in -100kg the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo to meet the specific needs and the COVID-19 pandemic. but that bets on the future, featuring in Doha is France’s four-time World Champion- and a bronze medalist at the Games. The tournament is expectations of all our stake- “As you all know, this is a with its avant-garde architec- Teddy Riner – a two-time ships gold medalist, Ukraine’s 2009 World Championship happening in an unusual time holders. We are very pleased to complicated year. The corona- ture, its green spaces and its Olympic gold medalist and Daria Bilodid - the 2019 World in Rotterdam. Tunisia’s Ni- occasioned by the global COV- welcome our best judokas and virus pandemic has forced us desire to be a hub of culture, ten-time world champion in Champion and the 2019 Eu- hel Cheikh Rouhou - the gold ID 19 pandemic. Still, Qatar guests in our hospitable city of all to modify established plans sports and business. This is the +100kg (the first and only ropean gold medalist in the medalist in the women’s +78 is more than ready to provide Doha. Doha has always been for the good of judo and the Doha!,” said Vizer. Defending champion Sainz wins first Dakar stage, Attiyah suffers one flat tyre to end up a steady 10th

AFP/TNN fledglingstandings, for anoth- First Stage Results Bisha (Saudi Arabia) er luminary of the rally world the 2021 Dakar had barely be- From Jeddah to Bisha: Auto Defending champion Car- gun before it was all but over. 1. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (ESP/ESP/Mini) 3 h 05:56 los Sainz won the first stage Nine-time world rally 2. Stephane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger (FRA/FRA/Mini) at 25 of the Dakar Rally on Sunday champion Sebastien Loeb in Saudi Arabia with the king- trails by more than 24 minutes 3. Martin Prokop/Viktor Chytka (CZE/CZE/Ford) 3:18 dom hosting motorsport’s after a day to forget. 4. Mathieu Serradori/Fabian Lurquin (FRA/BEL/Century) 6:33 most punishing event for the “I’ve rarely had such a ter- 5. Yasir Seaidan/Alexey Kuzmich (KSA/RUS/Century) 8:10 second year since its move rible stage,” the Frenchman la- 6. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi/Xavier Panseri (UAE/FRA/Peugeot) 8:13 from South America. Mini’s Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz mented, after three punctures. 7. Giniel De Villiers/Alex Haro Bravo (RSA/ESP/Toyota) 8:59 The Spaniard, a three- of Spain concentrates before In the motorbike category 8. Nani Roma/Alexandre Winocq (ESP/FRA/Brx) 9:39 time Dakar winner, covered a driving session on the eve of Australian Toby Price began the 277km special between technical checkup in Jeddah. (AFP) his quest for a third crown 9. Jakub Przygonski/Timo Goettschalk (POL/GER/Toyota) 9:46 Jeddah and Bisha in his Mini in style, taking the first stage 10. Nasser Al Attiyah/Matthieu Baumel (QAT/FRA/Toyota) 12:34. Buggy in 3hr 18min 56sec. Speaking soon after the honours by more than half a Moto Sainz, whose son Carlos stage, Attiyah said, “It wasn’t minute from Argentine Kevin drives for Ferrari in Formula easy for us to open. We were Benavides (Honda) and his 1. Toby Price (AUS/Ktm) 3 h 18:26, 2. Kevin Benavides (ARG/Honda) at 31, One, finished 25sec ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah of Toyota Gazoo Racing Team durng shakedown. losing time but we did good KTM teammate, Matthias 3. Matthias Walkner (AUT/Ktm) 32, 4. Sam Sunderland (GBR/Ktm) 2:03, French teammate Stephane navigation, only one mistake Walkner of Austria. 5. Lorenzo Santolino (ESP/Sherco Factory) 4:23, Peterhansel after a gripping It wasn’t easy for us to open. We were losing time and then we had one flat tyre. But the opening day 6. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA/Husqvarna) 4:35, 7. Franco Caimi (ARG/Yamaha) 4:48, see-saw battle which record Our speed wasn’t that good proved tough going for reign- 8. Skyler Howes (USA/Ktm) 5:25, 9. Luciano Benavides (ARG/Husqvarna) 7:37 (penalty 1:00), 13-time champion Peterhan- but we did good navigation, only one mistake and then we but we understand, the stage ing champion Ricky Brabec, sel appeared to have won until had one flat tyre. Our speed wasn’t that good but we was quite difficult. Honda’s American rider who 10. Martin Michek (CZE/Ktm) 8:10. Selected: 24. Ricky Brabec (USA/Honda) 18:32. Sainz stormed home to deny understand, the stage was quite difficult. “There were too many trailed in almost 20 minutes his celebrated rival. rocks which I have never seen behind Price after losing his tween Bisha and Wadi Ad-Da- endurance challenge moved Czech Martin Prokop Nasser Al Attiyah but we tried to maintain a way in the early part of the wasir featuring the first taste of to Saudi Arabia for the first (Ford) completed the first steady speed and I am happy 277km special. racing in dunes. time last year after a decade in day’s car podium. his French co-driver Mat- that restricted their speed. to be here,” he added. Monday’s second stage sees Launched in 1979 between South America. Qatar’s three-time cham- thieu Baumel had to endure a They, however, finished tenth, While Sainz leads Peter- competitors covering 685km, Paris and the Senegalese The rally concludes back in pion Nasser Al Attiyah and tough stage with one flat tyre 12:34secs behind the leader. hansel by eight seconds in the including a 457km special, be- capital Dakar, the celebrated Jeddah on January 15.

Three-time champion Toyota’s Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel of France compete Defending champion Mini’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during Stage 1 of the 2021 Dakar Rally during Stage 1 of the 2021 Dakar Rally between Jeddah and Bisha in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. (AFP) between Jeddah and Bisha in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. (AFP) Sports Monday, January 4, 2021 13 Dudu strikes as Al Duhail stay second, Gharafa fight back for a thrilling 2-2 draw with Qatar SC Tribune News Network Doha

Defending champions Al Duhail scored a narrow 1-0 win over Umm Salal 1-0 in Week 12 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium on Sunday to stay second on the points table, a point ahead of Al Gharafa, who fought back for a draw against Qatar SC. Eduardo Rodriguez (Dudu) scored the all-impor- tant goal in the 12th minute for the Red Knights. The result saw Al Duhail raise their tally to 24 points with their eighth victory and Umm Salal remain on 10 points following their sixth defeat. Going into the match, Umm Salal had not lost their Al Arabi players celebrate their 3-0 win over Al Khor in the QNB Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium on Sunday. last four games. However, they could not do much against to the half hour mark. reigning champions Al Duhail, The long session of hits who are in their usual selves of and misses came to end – via late after initial struggles. a VAR call in the 43rd minute Al Duhail had stormed – when Fadel on an assist by Eduardo Rodriguez (Dudu), who scored the all-important goal in the into the top four by beating Al Alejandro Galvez fired into the 12th minute for Al Duhail, celebrates at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Khor (6-1) in Week 10 and The lower right of the Al Gharafa Stadium on Sunday. Red Knights then beat Al Ahli goal. The referee used the VAR 5-3 to finish the first leg of the review to check the potential pouched by Qatar SC keeper. danger zone. tournament in third position. off-side call before allowing In the end, Al Arabi had Sabri Lamouchi’s side is (59th-minute penalty). the goal to stay. Al Arabi blank Al Khor 3-0 the last laugh as they put be- well on course to retain the ti- Qatar SC and Al Gharafa In injury time, Al Gharafa’s In another match of the day hind their disappointments tle even though they lag behind are now on 20 and 23 points Tameem Al Muhaza brought played at the Arabi Stadium, Al in the first leg and began the leaders Al Sadd on points. respectively. Belaili down with a rough slid- Arabi blanked Al Khor 3-0. second leg on a confident note Al Duhail dominated the The match kicked off in ing tackle resulting in a penalty. Mehrdad Mohammadi by achieving their third suc- ball with 65 per cent in the spectacular fashion with Belaili Qatar SC went 2-0 up as Belaili (18th minute), Mehdi Torabi cessive victory. Heimir Hall- first half. Abdullah Al Ahrak aiming for the goal on the sec- easily converted the spot kick. (38th minute) and Abdul- grimsson’s men had beaten Al set up Almoez Ali in the 39th ond touch a couple of feet away Trailing by two goals, Al rahman Anad (71st minute) Kharaitiyat 3-1 in Week 10 and minute, but the latter could from the half-line. His long- Gharafa hit back with two scored the goals as Al Arabi Al Sailiya 1-0 in Week 11. not find the target. range shot was not way off the quick goals in the second half. completed a hat-trick of wins. Al Khor now have their mark as the ball sailed above First, Al Janehi jumped The Dream Team now have back to the wall as The Knights Gharafa fight back to keeper Yousef Hassan’s head high to tap a cross into the net four victories and 15 points. have only one point more than hold Qatar SC 2-2 and landed on top of the net. from close range. Al Khor’s miseries com- bottom-placed Al Kharaitiyat. Al Gharafa fought back to As the players settled into Then, Kodjia converted a pounded as they crashed to Results: Al Duhail 1 (Dudu 12’) draw 2-2 with Qatar SC at the a groove, Al Gharafa’s Koo Ja- Action from the Al Gharafa-Qatar SC match which ended in a 2-2 draw. penalty kick awarded after he their seventh defeat and stood bt Umm Salal 0 Qatar SC Stadium. Cheol attempted a long-range was brought down inside the on seven points, very much in Qatar SC 2 (Ahmed Fadhel 41’, Qatar SC’s goals were shot in the 13th minute, close Hamed Ismail. Chased by an gerian midfielder Sofiane Han- box and the referee awarded the danger zone, as the tourna- Youcef Belaili 45+2’ (P)) vs scored by Ahmed Fadel (41st to the edge of the box, that Al Gharafa defender, Belaili ni – after a short cross from the penalty after a VAR review. ment entered the second leg. Al Gharafa 2 (Ahmed Al Ganehi minute) and Youcef Belaili went wayward. charged into the box but his Homam Elamin – also failed A quarter of an hour later, Both teams fought hard 53’, Jonathan Kodjia 59’ (P)) (45+2 penalty), while Al Belaili’s second serious header – lacking in speed – to find the net as he hit the ball Kodjia nearly scored a win- with the aim of bettering their Al Arabi 3 (Mehrdad Moham- Gharafa replied through goals attempt at goal – this time was parried away by the goal- straight to keeper Jassim Al ner from close range on a long position in the league, Al Arabi madi 18’, Mehdi Torabi 38’, from Ahmed Al Janehi (54th from close range – was made keeper in the 18th minute. Hail despite having time and cross from Hanni. However, to move up the ladder and Al Abdulrahman Enad 71’) minute) and Jonathan Kodjia possible by a long cross from Al Gharafa’s influential Al- space to work on his shot close Kodjia’s quick-footed drive was Khor to stay away from the bt Al Khor 0. Lampard braced for Lewandowski nets twice as Bayern roar Chelsea ‘pain’ after back to floor Mainz Man City masterclass should give them “self-confi- dence” to tackle their congest- AFP rhythm, we have to play a lot ed fixture list in the coming London of passes. We won the Premier weeks. League that way (in the past).” Mainz caretaker coach Jan Frank Lampard said Chelsea City were without Eder- Siewert insisted his side gave will have to go through “peri- son, Kyle Walker, Ferran Tor- their all, but “you have to re- AC Milan’s Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma jumps to grab ods of pain” to reach the stand- res and Gabriel Jesus due to a spect Bayern’s quality”. the ball during the Italian Serie A match against Benevento at the ards set by Manchester City coronavirus outbreak that led Joshua Kimmich marked Ciro-Vigorito Stadium in Benevento on Sunday. (AFP) after Pep Guardiola’s men out- to their clash at Everton on his return from a knee injury classed the Blues in a 3-1 win Monday being postponed. by bagging Bayern’s first, with at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Goalkeeper Zack Stef- Leroy Sane and Niklas Suele Ten-man AC Milan keep City brushed off a series of fen was handed his Premier scoring before Lewandowski coronavirus-related absences League debut, but was barely added two more goals to in- as goals from Ilkay Gundogan, tested despite Lampard being crease his league tally to 19. ahead of rampant Inter Phil Foden and Kevin De able to start £150 million trio Lewandowski, named last Bruyne killed the game as a Christian Pulisic, Timo Wer- month as FIFA’s player of the AFP “We’re ambitious, we’re contest inside 35 minutes. ner and Hakim Ziyech togeth- year, has now netted 22 times Milan not hiding it and we aim to win Victory lifts City to within er in attack for the first time. in all competitions for Bayern the next match as well against four points of Liverpool and Gundogan opened the this season. AC Milan stayed top in Serie A Juventus (on Wednesday),” Manchester United at the top Chelsea’s English head coach floodgates on 18 minutes when Mainz doubled their lead on Sunday with a 2-0 win over warned Pioli. of the table, but with a game in Frank Lampard reacts to their he spun just outside the area when centre-back Alexander midtable Benevento despite Nine-time reigning cham- hand on both to come. defeat in the English Premier and found the bottom corner. Hack headed home a free-kick playing an hour a man down pions Juventus, who are now Chelsea were expected to League against Manchester City Three minutes later Foden a minute before the break. and without injured star strik- seventh, are in action later challenge for the title them- at Stamford Bridge in London on doubled City’s lead with a Flick substituted Boateng er Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Sunday against Udinese. selves after a £220 million Sunday. Manchester City won the fine near post finish from De Bayern Munich’s Polish forward for Suele and switched Kim- City rivals Inter had moved At the San Siro, Martinez ($300 million) spending spree game 3-1. (AFP) Bruyne’s cross. Robert Lewandowski celebrates mich from midfield to right- ahead earlier with Lautaro and Romelu Lukaku com- in the transfer market, but a “For 10 minutes we were the 4-2 during the German first di- back for the second period. Martinez scoring a hat-trick bined to devastating effect for run of one win in six games where we are at because I good, then they started to vision Bundesliga match vs Mainz The result was almost in- in a dominant 6-2 victory over Inter who have now won eight has left them down in eighth, can see and I know the work play and we concede two poor 05 in Munich on Sunday. (AFP) stant as Kimmich headed Bay- lowly Crotone. league games in a row. seven points off the pace hav- it takes to be at the level Man goals,” added Lampard. “I felt ern’s first goal on 50 minutes, But Milan restored their The strike duo were in- ing played a game more than City showed today. it knocked us and we didn’t AFP then set up Sane to score six one-point advantage thanks volved in five goals although the leaders. “It’s normal that as a squad react.” Berlin minutes later. to a Franck Kessie penalty on midfielder Arturo Vidal was Roman Abramovich has we take little knocks along the Guardiola had only won On his 21st birthday, Mainz 15 minutes after a foul on Ante hauled off at half-time after dismissed plenty of Chel- way, now it is a test.” once in five previous visits to Robert Lewandowski netted midfielder Leandro Barreiro Rebic with Rafael Leao grab- conceding a penalty in a woe- sea managers in the past for Stamford Bridge as Barcelona twice as Bayern Munich roared had an own goal overturned bing an impressive second ful display. similar spells of form and the City click into gear and City boss, but his side back from two goals down when VAR spotted an offside from a tight angle shortly after Antonio Conte’s side had pressure in mounting on Lam- City had scored more than were cruising by half-time. to earn a 5-2 home win over Bayern player. half-time. been pegged back 2-2 at the pard to prove he can mould a twice in a league game just All 10 Chelsea outfield play- Mainz on Sunday which put “We were lucky that Mainz Stefano Pioli’s side held off break with Niccolo Zanellato talented squad of individuals once since their opening match ers were caught ahead of the ball the European champions back didn’t score the third goal,” the promoted southerners de- scoring first with a 12th-min- into a team capable of compet- of the season, but clicked into as De Bruyne released Sterling at the top of the Bundesliga. Kimmich later admitted. spite Sandro Tonali’s sending ute header for the rock bottom ing for major honours. gear after taking 10 minutes to run through on goal from in- Mainz’s 2-0 half-time lead However, the goals kept off on 33 minutes after his yel- Calabrians with the worst at- “There are periods of pain to find their rhythm in an un- side his own half and after the was wiped out within 10 min- flowing as Suele tapped home low card was changed to red tack in the league. we are going to go through. familiar formation with De England international hit the utes of the restart as Bayern a corner on 70 minutes. following a VAR review for a But Martinez picked up a That was painful in the first Bruyne the most advanced post, De Bruyne was first to re- netted five unanswered second- Lewandowski then con- high tackle on Artur Ionita. Lukaku cross to pull the hosts half for the players,” said Lam- forward in between Foden and act and slot home the rebound. half goals at the Allianz Arena. verted a penalty on 76 minutes Gianluca Caprari missed a level eight minutes later. pard, who publicly lambasted Raheem Sterling. Results The result leaves Bayern after Serge Gnabry had to be penalty after an hour for Ben- Martinez had a role in In- his side’s effort in a 3-1 defeat “We had a plan, we tried Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90+2) two points clear of second- helped off after being fouled in evento with Gianluigi Don- ter’s second just after half an to Arsenal last weekend. to play in a certain way and it Manchester City 3 (Gundogan placed RB Leipzig, who had a heavy tackle. narumma decisive in goal hour when Crotone defender “I’ll be the first to look at worked, the players were fan- 18, Foden 21, De Bruyne gone top after their 1-0 win at The Poland striker added as Milan stretched their un- Luca Marrone turned the ball myself today. When I look tastic in all departments,” said 34); Newcastle 1 (Carroll 82) Stuttgart on Saturday. his second, and Bayern’s fifth, beaten run to 27 games in the into his own net under pressure at this squad, I know there is Guardiola. “We are a team Leicester 2 (Maddison 55, Accoring to Bayern coach from close range seven min- league going back to March. from the Argentina forward. uplift in this team but I know that needs to play in a certain Tielemans 72). Hansi Flick, the fight back utes from time. 14 Monday, January 4, 2021 Sports Ganguly recovering: It’s ‘simple’ as Nortje and Elgar Doctors AFP Kolkata put SA on top against Lanka Indian cricket chief Sourav Ganguly was under observa- tion in hospital Sunday after a successful heart operation, Visitors shot out doctors said, as well wishes in- cluding from the prime minis- for 157; Hosts ter continued to pour in for the former star and captain. 148-1 in reply The 48-year-old, who heads the country’s powerful AFP cricket board, suffered a heart Johannesburg attack during his morning ex- ercise session on Saturday. South Africa fast bowler An- He was immediately taken rich Nortje said a simple game to Woodlands hospital in Kol- plan was the key after he de- kata, the capital of West Bengal stroyed the Sri Lanka batting state, where doctors found three line-up on the first day of the blockages in his arteries, one of second and final Testat the which needed a stent implant. Wanderers Stadium on Sunday. South Africa’s Anrich Nortje (left) celebrates with teammates after one “Sourav Ganguly is now sta- Nortje claimed career-best of his six scalps of Sri Lanka’s batsmen at the Wanderers Stadium in ble and without support of oxy- figures of six for 56 asS ri Lan- Johannesburg on Sunday. (AFP) gen after undergoing angioplas- ka collapsed to 157 all out after ty,” doctor Saroj Mandal told winning the toss and choosing reporters outside the hospital. to bat first on the pace-friendly Scoreboard “Genetic history and long- Wanderers pitch. Sri Lanka (1st innings) (Hasaranga), 9-151 (Chameera). term stress and other factors South Africa took full con- D. Karunaratne c De Kock b Nortje 2 Bowling: Ngidi 10-3-44-0, Nortje 14.3-1-56-6, K. Perera c Markram b Mulder 60 Sipamla 9-3-27-1, Mulder 7-3-25-3. may have caused the disease,” trol when they reached 148 for L. Thirimanne c Du Plessis b Mulder 17 South Africa (1st innings) Mandal said, adding that a one at the close, with opening South Africa’s Anrich Nortje dismisses Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka on the first day of their second Test at K. Mendis c Van der Dussen b Mulder 0 D. Elgar not out 92 seven-member medical team batsman Dean Elgar scoring the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday. (AFP) M. Bhanuka c Van der Dussen b Nortje 5 A. Markram c Mendis b A. Fernando 5 is monitoring his health. 92 not out. N. Dickwella c De Kock b Nortje 7 H. van der Dussen not out 40 D. Shanaka c De Kock b Nortje 4 Extras: (b4, lb4, w3) 11 A crowd of well-wishers “In the previous Test we Fernando with a full delivery ing stroke play, which brought ets as well as bowl dot balls,” W. Hasaranga c De Kock b Sipamla 29 remained outside the hospi- bowled maybe too wide and as the batsman backed away. him 11 boundaries. said Nortje, who sent Sri Lan- Total: (For 1 wkt, 37 overs) 148 D. Chameera c De Kock b Nortje 22 Fall of wicket: 1-34 (Markram). V. Fernando not out 2 tal waiting for updates about on both sides of the wicket,” Sri Lanka’s slump came af- “I was thinking any time I ka to lunch on a low note when Bowling: V. Fernando 10-0-40-0 (1w), A. Fernando A Fernando b Nortje 4 “dada”, a term used endear- said Nortje of South Africa’s ter a promising start. could get out. I was thinking if he had debutant Minod Bha- 10-2-30-1 (1w), Chameera 7-0-34-0, Shanaka 6-1- Extras: (lb5) 5 ingly for an elder brother in performance in the first Test With Kusal Perera hitting the ball is coming my way I am nuka caught at first slip off the Total: (All Out, 40.3 overs): 157 13-0 (1w), Hasaranga 4-0-23-0. Bengali. at Centurion, where they an aggressive 60, Sri Lanka going to hit it.” last ball before the interval. Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Karunaratne), 2-71 (Perera), To bat: F. du Plessis, Q. de Kock, T. Bavuma, W. Mulder, Prime Minister Narendra won by an innings despite Sri were on course to reach lunch The medium-paced Four wickets had fallen for 3-71 (Mendis), 4-80 (Thirimanne), 5-84 (Bhanuka), K. Maharaj, A. Nortje, L. Sipamla, L. Ngidi. Modi spoke to Ganguly on Lanka scoring 396 in the first with minimal damage on a Mulder, playing in his third 13 runs in four overs. 6-93 (Dickwella), 7-110 (Shanaka), 8-149 Toss: Sri Lanka. Sunday to inquire about his innings. pitch which invariably offers Test, slowed Perera’s momen- Nortje, who had made health and wish him a quick “We tried to make it a bit assistance to the bowlers on tum with a maiden over. the first breakthrough of the He had Aiden Markram Elgar, who made 95 in the recovery, the hospital said. simpler and get it into the the first morning. With the first ball of his match when he had Sri Lanka caught at second slip in an first Test, faced 119 balls and India’s record-breaking channel (outside off stump), Perera was caught at gully next over, Mulder had Perera captain Dimuth Karunaratne opening spell of one for 14 in hit 16 boundaries. batsman Sachin Tendulkar especially on a pitch like off the medium-paced Wiaan caught at gully. caught behind in the tenth seven overs. Nortje said he hoped South tweeted his support. this with the bounce,” said Mulder 20 minutes from the He followed up with the over, claimed four more wick- But Elgar batted confi- Africa would again make a big “Just got to know about Nortje. interval, sparking a calamitous wickets of Kusal Mendis and ets after lunch. dently and had solid support first innings total, following your ailment Sourav. Hope The plan worked so well collapse from 71 for one to 84 Lahiru Thirimanne in a spell Ajitha Fernando, making from Rassie van der Dussen their 621 at Centurion. each passing day brings you that nine of the Sri Lankans for five at the break. of three wickets for one run in his debut, bowled impres- in an unbroken second wicket “I would like us to bat all closer to a full and speedy re- were caught in the arc between ‘The ball was seaming three overs. sively at the start of the South stand of 114 which took South day tomorrow and maybe covery! Get well soon,” the wicketkeeper and gully before and there was bounce,” said “It is great to have a guy Africa innings, bustling in at a Africa to within nine runs of into the next day. There’s no cricket legend wrote. Nortje bowled last man Ajitha Perera, explaining his attack- like Wiaan, who can take wick- lively pace. the Sri Lankan total. rush,” he said. Jamieson takes five to ENGLAND ARRIVE IN SRI LANKA blunt Azhar’s battling 93

In a destructive three-over burst before lunch, Jamieson removed Abid Ali (25), Haris Sohail (one) and Fawad Alam (two) using his 2.3 metre (6ft 8in) frame to ruffle the batsmen with an awkward bounce which he mixed with testing full deliveries. The delivery that accounted for Alam was almost unplayable as it reared up forcing the batsman to put his hands up in a reflex action and the ball was gloved to wicketkeeper BJ Wa- tling. In the middle session Rizwan was in pun- ishing form with 11 boundaries on his way to 61 off 71 deliveries, before he was caught in two minds by a fuller Jamieson delivery that came back at him and an inconclusive shot was edged to Watling. After the tea adjournment, and once Henry had removed Azhar, Jamieson returned to see off Ashraf who was out for 48 when he edged a ball outside off stump to Ross Taylor at first slip. Taylor had earlier dropped Ashraf in the first over he faced. Zafar Gohar, on debut, reached 34 before Jamieson was back in action, this time to take the crucial catch at fine leg to giveS outhee his second wicket. Pakistan’s batsman Azhar Ali during his knock of Trent Boult mopped up the tail taking the 93 on day one of the 2nd Test against New Zealand wickets of Shaheen Afridi (four) and Naseem at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday. (AFP) Shah (12). England’s cricket team arrive at the Rajapaksa international airport in Mattala on January 3, 2021, as the team returned to Sri Lanka to play The New Zealand first innings will start two Tests abandoned in March due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. (AFP) AFP on Monday. Christchurch Players land in Mattala, undergo tests Kyle Jamieson took a five wicket haul as New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for 297, anchored by a sterling 93 from Azhar Ali on day one of the AFP their arrival. land Men’s Cricket, Ashley During the quarantine pe- second Test against New Zealand in Christch- Mattala (Sri Lanka) The England contingent Giles, said the team looked riod, the England squad will urch on Sunday. were driven in busses to a forward to playing at the sea- split into two teams in order Jamieson, in only his sixth Test, had the fig- England’s cricketers arrived nearby luxury hotel, officials side Galle stadium adjoining a to play a practice match, a SLC ures of five for 69, the third five-wicket haul of in Sri Lanka Sunday to resume said adding that a second ho- colonial-era fort. official said. his fledgling career. a Test tour cancelled in the ear- tel has been reserved to isolate “To play in Galle will be The local board, mean- New Zealand won the toss and bowled ly days of the COVID-19 pan- and treat any of the visitors who very special -- it is one of the while, confirmed that one if its first on the green strip and as Jamieson found demic, in what officials hope may test positive for the virus. iconic venues in world crick- employees had tested positive bounce and movement to claim four wickets at will be a “massive boost” for However, a spokesman for et,” he said in a statement. for the virus on Saturday, but one end, Azhar was defiant at the other as he match-starved cricket fans. the England team said Sun- “The past 10 months have his immediate contacts had established key partnerships for Pakistan. A British Airways charter day’s on-arrival tests returned been uncertain for us all, but not contracted the disease. After the early loss of Shan Masood, Azhar New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson (left) celebrates the flight carrying 40 passengers – negative, but players will iso- having international cricket “Sri Lanka Cricket will added 62 with Abid Ali, 88 with Mohhamad Ri- dismissal of Pakistan’s Zafar Gohar with teammate players and support staff –an- late themselves in rooms be- returning to Sri Lanka will be a continue to conduct its normal zwan and 56 with Faheem Ashraf. Henry Nicholls at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch ded in Mattala, in the south of fore another round of testing massive boost for cricket fans operations with the most es- After holding the innings together for 172 on Sunday. (AFP) the Indian Ocean island, where on Tuesday. all over the world.” sential staff present at the of- deliveries, Azhar was caught at first slip by Ross they underwent virus tests. “We will be tested again on -Bat for charity-The team fice, whilst the rest will work Taylor off the bowling of Matt Henry who was Scoreboard Joe Root’s men had the Tuesday morning,” the spokes- will not interact with locals, from home,” the board said called into the New Zealand side to replace Neil small airport to themselves as man said. “If all tests return but sign cricket bats which will after the discovery of the in- Wagner who broke two toes in the first Test. Pakistan (1st innings): S. Masood lbw Southee 0, Abid Ali c Southee b Jamieson 25, Sri Lanka has closed its airspace negative on Tuesday, we will be auctioned to raise money fected staffer in Colombo. Azhar Ali c Taylor b Henry 93, H. Sohail c Nicholls b Jamieson 1, F. Alam c Watling b It was an uncharacteristic shot from Azhar Jamieson 2, M. Rizwan c watling b Jamieson 61, F. Ashraf c Watling by Jamieson 48 Z. to scheduled commercial air- be able to train Tuesday after- for two charities supporting England abandoned their who, until then, had moved his feet and was Gohar c Jamieson b Southee 34, S. Afridi c Nicholls b Boult 4, M. Abbas not out 0 N. lines. Only a handful of repatria- noon for the first time.” victims of sexual violence in two-match Test tour of Sri prepared to leave most deliveries that did not Shah c Latham b Boult 12; Extras: (b2, lb9, w6) 17; Total: (All Out; 83.5 overs) 297 tion flights and charters are al- Airport staff in white haz- Sri Lanka, the British High Lanka in March on the second Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Masood), 2-66 (Abid Ali), 3-70 (Sohail), 4-83 (Alam), 5-171 (Rizwan), require a shot, and when there were edges they 6-227 (Azhar Ali), 7-260 (Ashraf), 8-282 (Gohar), 9-285 (Afridi), 10-297 (Shah). lowed into Sri Lanka since May mat suits sprayed the hands Commission said. day of a practice match as the fell safely. Bowling: Southee 23-7-61-2, Boult 20.5-3-82-2, Jamieson 21-8-69-5 (1w), Henry under strict health controls. and footwear of the visitors Sri Lanka Cricket said the pandemic spread. He went to the middle early when Tim South- 17-2-68-1 (5w), Mitchell 2-1-6-0. Toss: New Zealand. “We are very excited about and their luggage before they team’s hotel in the island’s They will now play their ee accounted for Shan Masood with a toe-crush- New Zealand: Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, the Galle Tests,” Root told a were allowed into the terminal southern district of Hambanto- two Tests starting on January Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, ing yorker in the third over and was there for the Trent Boult. small group of cameramen for coronavirus tests. ta will be off limits for locals as 14 at the Galle stadium with- carnage when Jamieson came into the attack. allowed into the terminal for Managing Director of Eng- part of quarantine regulations. out any spectators. Sports Monday, January 4, 2021 15

Al Gharafa, Al Sadd win beach volleyball league matches

Al Gharafa defeated Police SC 2-0, while Al Sadd got the better of Al Shamal 2-1 in absorbing league matches of Qatar Volleyball Asociation’s Men’s Beach Volleyball Championship 2020-21 played on Sunday. (TNN)

QBA men’s league: Al Sadd beat Inaugural QOC Beach Rayyan; Al Ahli edge Qatar SC Games conclude with exciting action Tribune News Network Khafji 2-1 (23-21, 12-14, 10-8) Doha while Al Adaam trounced Al Nojoom 2-0 (21-13, 21-18) to After two weeks of exciting claim the tournament’s cham- breach sports action, the cur- pionship trophy as well as the tains were drawn on the in- QR40,000 prize-money in the augural Qatar Olympic Com- volleyball event. The runners- mittee (QOC) Beach Games up of both events went home at the Aspire Park in Doha on with QR30,000, respectively. M. Abdul Aleem scored 43 points while T. Nix contibuted 22 as Al Saturday with the finals of the Aside from the crowning of Sadd scored a whopping 112-95 win over Al Rayyan in their Men’s men’s beach volleyball, men’s the day’s winners, the champi- League clash of the Qatar Basketball League at Al Gharafa Sports beach handball and the men’s ons of all the women’s events Club on Sunday. In another match of the league (below), Qatar Sports beach football held on the day. and the men’s basketball 3X3 Club were edged 72-21 by Al Ahli. N. Seydou scored the highest 30 Saturday’s event had in at- were also crowned on the day. points for the winners while B. Jaxen scored 27 for Qatar SC. (TNN) tendance various dignitaries Seashore, the wom- including QOC Secretary-Gen- en’s football winners, got eral HE Jassim bin Rashid Al QR30,000 aside from the Buenain, Secretary-General of championship trophy while the Maldives Olympic Commit- Team A7, the runners-up were tee HE Ahmed Marzooq, QOC rewarded with QR20,000. Sports Affairs Director Kalid Al Women’s handball cham- Jaber, President of Qatar Vol- pions, Al Shaqab, also went leyball Association Ali bin Gha- home with QR30,000 while nem Al Kuwari, President of runners-up Yasminat of the Qatar Handball Association Tunisia walked away with Ahmad Mohammad Al Shaabi QR20,000. Same was for vol- among others. QOC Secretary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain awards the men’s beach basketball winners. leyball which was won by Al One of the major high- Maha with Al Amal being the lights of the day was the highly runners-up. entertaining finalmatch of However, in the basketball the football event which saw 3X3 events, men’s champions Shahaniyah being crowned Al Ahlam were rewarded with the champions after staging a QR30,000 while Al Wakrah, dramatic comeback from 4-1 the runners-up got QR20,000. down to level the scores at In the women’s event, Qatar B 5-5 in the third period against who defeated Doha to claim Doha. They subsequently won the trophy got QR25,000 the game 8-6 after the result- while QR15,000 was for the ant penalty shootout. second-placed. The match, which the at- The QR470,000 total tending dignitaries and a ca- prize-money QOC Beach pacity crowd witnessed, had Games, a legacy event from all the trappings of a befitting the maiden ANOC World NBA ACTION final as it had all the fans glued Beach Games that Qatar suc- to their seat for most parts of cessfully hosted in 2019, saw the game as the players went about 500 male and female toe-to-toe against each other. athletes who competed in four The Doha team endued up events namely beach volley- rueing their several wasted op- ball, beach handball, beach portunities and some laxity at football and beach basketball their defence, especially in the 3X3. One of the many achieve- second period, which allowed ments from the competition Shahaniyah to come back into was the spotted talents, es- the game after being on the The women’s 3x3 bastketball team receives their prize from QOC Secretary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al pecially in the women’s event back foot most part. Buenain at the Aspire Zone on Saturday. where several under-16 and Aside from the trophy and under-17 players with poten- medals, Shahaniyah walked ners’ prize money while Doha In the handball event, Al ons and earned the QR40,000 tials to join the national teams away with the QR50,000 win- got QR40,000 for their effort. Edaid were crowned champi- prize money after defeating Al were discovered.​ Rockets lean on Wall in 102-94 victory over Kings AFP be 2-0 in my first two games.’’ prised with the immediate im- Oklahoma City Orlando, who have lost two Los Angeles Harden had 33 points in pact from Wall. beat Orlando straight after starting the sea- the New Year’s Eve game but ‘’Whatever expectations I Elsewhere, Darius Bazley had son 4-0., John Wall delivered a game- was a late scratch Saturday. had, he’s obviously exceeded 19 points and 12 rebounds to Orlando was just eight of high 28 points as the Houston The disgruntled American, them,’’ he said. lift the Oklahoma City Thun- 28 from the floor in the fourth, Rockets won their second who has asked for a trade, sat The Rockets seized their der to a 108-99 road win over missing all 10 of its three- straight game over the Sacra- out with a sore ankle, although first double-digit lead of the the Orlando Magic. point attempts. mento Kings 102-94, despite he has not been placed on the game, 92-81, early in the Bazley posted his second In Philadelphia, Ben Sim- playing without NBA all-star injury list. fourth quarter when David double-double of the season mons had a triple-double, and James Harden. Without Harden, Wall car- Nwaba and Gordon drained after making just one last sea- Joel Embiid tallied 19 points Eric Gordon replaced ried the offensive load for the back to back threes. son for the Thunder, who had and 14 rebounds as the Phila- Harden and scored 21 points, Rockets. He had missed their The Kings got to 92-83 six players in double-figure delphia 76ers dominated the while Christian Wood fin- first two games of the new with just over eight minutes scoring. Charlotte Hornets 127-112. ished with 20 points and 15 season because of Covid-19 left, but then cold shooting George Hill finished with Tobias Harris scored a rebounds for the Rockets, who restrictions and was out all of and turnovers resulted in 18 points, and Shai Gilgeous- team-high 24 points, and Sim- also beat the Kings 122-119 on last season because of injuries. them going scoreless for five Alexander had 16 for the mons finished with 15 points, New Year’s Eve. Sterling Brown came off minutes. Thunder, who snapped a 12 rebounds and 11 assists as ‘’I just put in a lot of hard the bench to score 11 points in De’Aaron Fox led the Kings three-game losing skid. the Sixers won their 12th con- work and dedication to get the win. with 23 points, while Buddy Nikola Vucevic scored a secutive game over the Hor- John Wall of the Houston Rockets puts up a basket during the fourth to this point,’’ Wall said. ‘’I Rockets coach Stephen Hield chipped in 17 points in team-high 30 points, while nets. Philadelphia has not lost quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center in couldn’t ask for a better start to Silas said he is pleasantly sur- the loss. Terrence Ross added 26 for to Charlotte since 2016. Houston, Texas, USA, on Saturday. (Getty Images/AFP) 16 Monday, January 4, 2021 The Last Word Virtual exhibition features 18 local artists breathe works of artist behind steel life into urban spaces installation on the Corniche with fascinating murals Ailyn Agonia DOHA The projects are part of Qatar Museums’ ‘Jedariart’ public art initiative Sabah Arbilli, a visual art- ist and master calligrapher whose stainless steel cal- ligraphic artwork adorns a prominent spot on Doha’s Corniche, is featuring 20 of his artworks in a virtual ex- hibition titled ‘Transcendent Text: Exploring Universal Values Through Islamic Cal- ligraphy’ which opened re- cently. The initiative, which runs until May 15, is organised by Qatar America Institute for Culture (QAIC) in part- nership with the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar. Tribune News Network murals that enrich the public uty chairman of the Supervi- key to increasing tourist at- In a newsletter, QAIC an- DOHA realm and encourage cultural sory Committee for Beauti- tractions and contributing to a nounced that the art event is dialogue. fication of Roads and Public vibrant and colourful city.” the organisation’s first vir- Sabah Arbilli’s stainless steel installation on Doha Corniche. Over the past month, Qatar- “We also extend our appre- Places in Qatar, said: “We are Participating artists in- tual exhibition. Founded in based artists have been mak- ciation to our valued partners pleased to be part of this ini- cluded Mubarak Al Malik, 2017, the independent non- ing their mark on designated and sponsors – the Supervi- tiative in which artists have Huda Basahal, Noura Al profit organisation aims to walls across Doha as part of sory Committee of Beautifica- transformed walls into works Mansoori, Dimitrije Bugar- cultivate artistic expression Jedariart, Qatar Museums’ tion of Roads and Public Plac- of art that address societal ski, Nada Khozestani, Sharefa and cultural dialogue from public art initiative, to acti- es, Qatar Rail, Woqod and the topics of relevance. These Al Mannai, Thamer Al Dos- the US, Qatar and the larger vate shared urban areas and Fire Station: Artists in Resi- public artworks, each with sari, Muna Al Bader, Fatima Arab and Islamic worlds. add meaning to the city’s walls dence – whose contributions their own individual charac- Al Sharshani, Michael Per- The exhibition aims to through curated murals and and support made Jedariart ter and message, will gain the rone and his team, Maryam Al tie ancient Quranic text with street art. a success. This month-long admiration of a multicultural Maadhadi, Shuaa Al Kuwari, the contemporary Univer- The public art initiative, initiative has enabled us to audience.” Abdulaziz Yousef, Abdulla Al sal Declaration of Human held in partnership with the further expand our public art Participating artists were Emadi, Alanoud Al Ghamdi, Rights that was first com- Supervisory Committee of reach, making art accessible selected following an Open Haifa Al Khuzaei, Maha Al posed by the United Nations Beautification of Roads and to the wider community and Call, in which aspiring and es- Jaidah and Aisha Al Fadhala. in 1948. Public Places, Qatar Rail and bringing to life more urban tablished artists in Doha were Abdulla Ali Al Mawlawi, “This 20-piece exhibi- The 20-piece exhibition features the works of Arbilli, whose vibrant Woqod and Fire Station: Art- spaces across the city.” requested to submit a proposal Communication and Public tion features the works of re- and vastly-technical paintings perfectly merge the beauty of colour ist in Residence invited 18 Striking new murals have detailing a concept for a mural Relations director at Qatar nowned master calligrapher and expression with the sacred art of Islamic calligraphy. Qatar-based artists to breathe been added to walls at Fire that takes into consideration Railways Company (Qatar and sculptor Sabah Arbilli, new life into walls in various Station, Al-Abraj Park, Doha the piece’s relevance to the Rail), said: “We are pleased whose vibrant and vastly- masterful calligraphy, each to his credit a series of out- locations across the city with Festival City Interchange, community and the message to cooperate with Qatar Mu- technical paintings perfectly featured piece depicts an ex- door installation pieces of murals that shine a light on Al-Khor Interchange, Doha the artwork aims to convey. seums for the Jedariart public merge the beauty of colour cerpt from the Holy Qur’an, free-standing stainless steel a variety of topics and spark Expressway, Post Office Park, Saud Al Dosari, Public art initiative. These artworks and expression with the sa- Hadith, or international con- sculptures. His works have constructive debate. 5/6 Park, 5/6 Flyover, Qatar Relations manager at Woqod, add an aesthetically pleasing cred art of Islamic calligra- ventions that “when interwo- been featured at the Islamic Architect Abdulrahman Al National Library Metro Sta- said: “As a socially responsi- touch to the Qatar National Li- phy. It specifically ties the ven depict how the human Museum of Australia and the Ishaq, director of Public Art tion, Abdulla Bin Hamad Al- ble Qatari company, Woqod brary and Msheireb metro sta- values listed within the Uni- condition isn’t just a shared United Nations. at Qatar Museums, said: “Qa- Attiyah District and the Wo- is honoured to be part of Je- tions and enrich the art scene versal Declaration of Human experience but a thing of Arbilli’s eye-catching tar Museums is proud to have qod Petrol Station in Fereej dariart, a Qatar Museums ini- in Qatar, serving as points Rights with the Qur’anic collective universal impor- artwork on Doha Corniche partnered with an immensely Kulaib. tiative that supports local art- of attraction for commuters Text that echoes a similar tance”. is among the favourite talented group of artists, who Expressing pleasure at ists and transforms the city’s while spreading Qatar Rail’s sentiment,” QAIC stated. Born in Iraq, Arbilli is selfie spots of joggers and each brought their unique being one of the partners of urban spaces into an outdoor message among the wider According to the organ- currently based in the UK walkers in the area, and is artistic style to life through Jedariart, Sara Kafood, dep- gallery. Such initiatives are community.” isers, the information pre- and Qatar and works as a the artist’s first large-scale sented in the exhibition has full-time artist mainly with public sculpture. It is in- been sourced from materi- Arabic calligraphy using a spired by a poem written by als provided by the NHRC. variety of mediums such as the founder of Qatar Sheikh Besides showcasing Arbilli’s paint and sculpture. He has Jassim Al Thani.

Campaign to remove abandoned vehicles in Al Shamal Municipality begins

Tribune News Network No 18 of 2017 regarding public the abandoned vehicles detect- Doha cleanliness. ed in the municipality.” The campaign was attended He pointed out that all aban- A joint campaign to remove by Hassan Khalifa Al Faihani, doned cars in the municipality abandoned vehicles in Al Sha- director of the Services Affairs have been monitored and the mal Municipality began on Department in Al Shamal Mu- campaign is being implemented Sunday. nicipality, a number of individ- to remove all of them in coordi- The campaign is being im- uals and patrols of the Lekhwiya nation with the committee. plemented by the Committee Force and the General Depart- He urged the public to co- for the Removal of Neglected ment of Traffic, municipality operate with the concerned au- Cars and the Management of employees and representatives thorities to accomplish the task Mechanical Equipment and of security authorities at the which aims to preserve the aes- General Cleaning in coopera- Ministry of Interior (MoI) and thetic appearance of the state. tion with Al Shamal Munici- Lekhwiya Force. He called on the owners of pality, as part of the Ministry Speaking on the occasion, abandoned vehicles to cooper- of Municipality and Environ- Faihani said, “Today’s cam- ate with the committee and get ment’s (MME) efforts to limit paign targets the Al Shamal Mu- rid of the vehicles to avoid legal the phenomenon of abandoned nicipality and its administrative accountability in implementa- vehicles that distort the public borders for a full week until the tion of Law No 18 of 2017 re- view, in implementation of Law completion of the removal of all garding public cleanliness.