BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 World No. 1 Djokovic to start 2019 Qatar forex reserves rise season in 1.7% to reach $46.5bn in September: QNB Doha published in QATAR since 1978 FRIDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11011 November 23, 2018 Rabia I 15, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Deputy Amir chairs QP Board of Directors meeting Father Amir visits traditional dhow festival His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Petroleum (QP), presided over the company’s board of directors meeting held at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. The board reviewed QP’s workflow, future growth strategy and approved the 2019 budget. During the meeting, His Highness the Deputy Amir gave directions His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday evening visited the 8th Katara Traditional to name the QP district buildings in West Bay as ‘Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah District’ in recognition of the former Dhow Festival being held at Katara beach. His Highness the Father Amir toured various pavilions of the participating Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry’s role and contribution to the development of the energy countries and saw cultural and heritage events such as the handicrafts market, marine life and crafts, and watched sector in Qatar. some performances of traditional marine folklore arts. Page 16 In brief ‘CIA has recording QATAR | Diplomacy Amir greets Aoun on ‘Comprehensive’ to prove MbS role in Independence Day His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah Khashoggi killing’ bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday Qatar-EU aviation sent cables of congratulations to Lebanese President Michel Aoun zFrance to sanction 18 Saudi citizens over murder on the anniversary of his country’s zDenmark suspends sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Reuters Trump said the CIA had not de- Khalifa al-Thani also sent a similar pact in fi nal stage finitively concluded that the crown Istanbul cable Prime Minister-Designate Saad prince was responsible, and said al-Hariri. he would stand by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Baker thanks EU for support amid blockade Turkish newspaper reported leadership because it was a key US QATAR | Sport yesterday CIA director Gina ally. Schools to be closed A Haspel signalled to Turkish The French foreign ministry said atar Airways Group Chief Ex- single market area,” Qatar Airways said mies, and I have no doubt we will suc- offi cials last month that the agency yesterday that it would impose during 2022 World Cup ecutive Akbar al-Baker has yesterday. ceed,” he said. had a recording of a call in which sanctions against 18 Saudi citizens The Education Ministry will grant Qthanked the European Union During the visit, al-Baker held suc- “We appreciate the openness and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince gave over the killing of Khashoggi. students leave during the 2022 (EU) “for the fl exibility and support cessful one-to-one meetings with understanding demonstrated by the instructions to “silence” Saudi jour- “These measures... aim to pro- FIFA World Cup, HE the Minister of provided to the State of Qatar under MEPs Ramon Tremosa, Jose Ignacio EU. We also thank the EU for the fl exi- nalist Jamal Khashoggi. hibit these individuals from enter- Education and Higher Education the current blockade.” Salafranca and Ismail Ertug at the Eu- bility and support provided to the State Asked about the report, a Turk- ing national territory and the entire Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali In a meeting with infl uential Eu- ropean Parliament. of Qatar under the current blockade.” ish offi cial told Reuters he had no Schengen area” of Europe, the min- al-Hammadi has announced. ropean Parliament members and top Al-Baker also met with European During the evening, some 16 MEPs information about such a recording. istry said in a statement. The minister was speaking on decision-makers of the European Commissioner and Vice President “enjoyed a VIP dinner” with key note Saudi Arabia has said Crown Prince A report from Stockholm said the sidelines of an event on Commission this week in Brussels, al- Maros Sefcovic, and Henrik Hololei, speeches in the Presidential Salon at the Mohamed bin Salman (MbS) had no Denmark was suspending the ap- Wednesday to mark the launch Baker also expressed appreciation for Director General, Mobility and Trans- European Parliament, with “impres- prior knowledge of Khashoggi’s kill- proval of future weapons and mili- of the countdown to hosting the the support extended to the national port for the European Commission. sive” views over the city of Brussels. ing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul tary equipment sales to Saudi Ara- World Cup on November 21, 2022. airline by top decision-makers of the “The support extended to our coun- This visit comes at a time when Qa- six weeks ago. bia, citing the murder of Khashoggi The event was a festival hosted by world’s largest single market area. try and airline by top European deci- tar and the EU are close to completing When asked about the recording and the Gulf kingdom’s role in the Yarmouk Independent Preparatory “The aim of the series of meetings sion-makers is truly valued and appre- the fi nal stage of the EU-Qatar Com- by reporters in Florida, US Presi- Yemen confl ict. School for Boys to mark the and VIP dinner in the heart of Europe ciated,” al-Baker said. prehensive Air Transport Agreement, dent Donald Trump said: “I don’t Foreign Minister Anders Samu- occasion. Page 2 was to strengthen the already robust “We come here today in the spirit which has off ered Qatar and Qatar Air- want to talk about it. You’ll have elsen said the decision also includ- relationships that the airline enjoys of pursuing enhanced aviation oppor- ways an “excellent platform to engage to ask them.” The CIA declined to ed so-called dual-use equipment, QATAR | Weather with key MEPs and to demonstrate tunities for our industries and busi- in candid discussions” with its Euro- comment when asked about the re- referring to civilian material that Qatar Airways’ commitment to the nesses, more options for travellers, and pean partners on the potential growth port. may have military applications Thundery rain likely European Union, the world’s largest long-term prosperity for our econo- and future co-operation between the “There is talk of another record- “and can be used to violate human on Sunday and Monday two parties. ing,” Hurriyet newspaper journalist rights,” a Foreign Ministry state- There is a chance of scattered With 617 weekly fl ights to Europe, Abdulkadir Selvi wrote in a column, ment said. thundery rain – moderate to heavy Qatar Airways fl ies an average of saying the purported call took place Meanwhile, Crown Prince Mo- – especially on Sunday and Monday, 91,000 passengers a week to more than between Prince Mohamed and his hamed bin Salman arrived in the associated with strong wind at times 50 key cities in the region. brother, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador United Arab Emirates yesterday at and low visibility, the Met off ice said Over the last 18 months, the airline to Washington. the start of a tour of several Arab yesterday. The rain forecast is based has further enhanced this by launch- “It is being said that CIA chief countries since the murder of jour- on expectations of the country being ing 15 new routes to Europe, including Gina Haspel indicated this during nalist Jamal Khashoggi. aff ected by a state of atmospheric Nice, Dublin, Malaga, Prague and Lon- her visit to Turkey,” he wrote, adding The prince, the country’s de facto instability due to the extension don Gatwick. that they had discussed Khashoggi, a ruler, is also expected to participate of low pressure from tomorrow Further route launches are planned critic of the kingdom’s de facto ruler. in a G20 meeting in Buenos Aires at until Tuesday. The prevailing wind in the next year including Lisbon and “It is being said the crown the end of the month which will be will be mainly Northeasterly to Valletta, which will take the total prince gave orders to ‘silence Jamal attended by leaders from the United Southeasterly, between 10-20 number of destinations in Europe up Khashoggi as soon as possible’,” in a States, Turkey and European coun- knots reaching 40 knots during to 56. call which was monitored by the US tries. thunderstorms. The wave height Qatar Airways launched its opera- agency, he said. King Salman asked his chosen is expected to range between tions to Brussels in January 2011 with Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi heir, known in the West as MbS, 3-5ft, rising to 15ft at times during five-times weekly service. This was consulate in Istanbul on October 2 in to conduct the tour “based on his thunderstorms. “Therefore all are increased to a daily service in Feb- an operation that Turkey’s President keenness to deepen the kingdom’s urged to be cautious, avoid marine ruary 2013 and increased again to an Tayyip Erdogan has said was ordered ties regionally and internation- activities and follow latest updates Al-Baker (second left) is seen with European Parliament members and top eight-times-weekly-service in De- by the highest level of Saudi leader- ally”, the Saudi Press Agency re- through daily weather forecast. decision-makers of the European Commission in Brussels. cember 2015. ship. ported.