QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture kicks off on Friday Stan on course with 7th straight victory over Chardy published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11421 January 8, 2020 Jumada I 13, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief Spectacular start to Shop Qatar 2020 QATAR | Phone call Amir, Trump discuss regional developments His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held yesterday evening a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump. During the phone call, they discussed developments of events in the region, especially the latest developments in Iraq, and ways to resolve contentious issues and reduce tension to ensure security and stability. The conversation also dealt with the strategic relations between the two friendly countries and ways to boost them. HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, HE Akbar al-Baker and other dignitaries at opening ceremony of Shop Qatar 2020 Models showcase creations by Qatari designer Hind al-Rumaihi on the ramp at yesterday. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed the opening ceremony of Shop Qatar 2020. QATAR | Offi cial Amir sends greetings By Joseph Varghese 2020, marks the start of a busy calen- mats, government offi cials and private ers, Shop Qatar brings the world to our source markets in the world,” he con- Staff Reporter dar of events, organised and supported sector leaders along with the festival’s country.” tinued. to Croatian president by QNTC in its eff orts to enrich the host and partner organisations were in “With almost 30 events and activa- Al-Baker noted there has been a His Highness the Amir Sheikh country’s tourism off erings. The open- attendance at the launch ceremony. tions, held over three weeks, we will huge increase in the number of tour- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and atar National Tourism Council ing show was a blend of opulence and Speaking at the event, al-Baker, said, present off erings from France, the ists to Qatar last year. “In 2019, Qatar His Highness the Deputy Amir (QNTC) launched Shop Qatar tradition in a distinctly Qatari manner. “This edition of Shop Qatar will com- home of art and fashion to the best of witnessed a double digit growth in the Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Q2020 with a spectacular cer- Prominent Qatari entrepreneur HE bine cultural authenticity with luxury the Middle East and Asia and then end number of visitors to the country. With al-Thani sent yesterday cables of emony featuring a magnifi cent fashion Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, and showcase our world-class retail on a high note with China where a host 2.1mn visitors, there was 17% increase congratulations to Zoran Milanovic show and a Chinese lion show at Bara- QNTC secretary-general and Qatar and entertainment off erings in style. of immersive celebrations will usher in in the number of visitors to the country on his victory in the presidential hat Msheireb yesterday evening. Airways GCEO HE Akbar al-Baker, From haute couture designers, to glo- a Chinese New Year, marking our com- compared to the previous year,” pointed elections in Croatia. In its fourth edition, Shop Qatar other dignitaries including many diplo- bally renowned artists and entertain- mitment to one of the largest visitor out the secretary-general. To Page 16 ‘Made in Qatar’ expo to be held in Kuwait next month he third edition of ‘Made in Qa- tar’ exhibition will be held in TKuwait from February 19-22, Qatar Chamber announced in a press conference held in Doha yesterday. The expo is organised by Qatar Chamber, in co-operation with the Ministry of Commerce and Indus- try and Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and in co-ordination with the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani told re- porters that the expo aims to promote Qatari goods abroad amid the success and demand of these products in the local market. He said the decision to hold the expo in Kuwait stems from Qatar Chamber board member and chairman of the Industry Committee Rashid “fraternal relations of both coun- bin Nasser al-Kaabi and QDB executive director of Business Finance Khalid tries” and “the fast-growing com- Abdulla al-Mana signing the partnership agreement for ‘Made in Qatar’ 2020 mercial relations between their pri- slated for next month in Kuwait. vate sectors.” Sheikh Khalifa said the Chamber is and businessmen and their Kuwaiti both nations’ economies, and increase keen on strengthening communica- counterparts with the aim of achiev- bilateral trade, which stood at QR1.5bn tion between Qatari manufacturers ing industrial partnerships to serve in H1 2019. To Page 5 ‘US expecting Iranian retaliation’ Americans to stay in Iraq Esper said it was “more than fair to had received what the US said was a say” the attack that Iranian military draft letter describing steps its military Soleimani was planning commander Qassem Soleimani was would take to “move out” of Iraq. imminent attack: Esper planning was to be executed in days The Pentagon had said an unsigned rather than weeks. draft version of the letter had been AFP/Reuters US President Donald Trump told mistakenly sent, but the Iraqi premier Washington reporters yesterday he would obey in- disputed that claim. ternational law on avoiding targeting In a televised cabinet meeting in cultural sites in military attacks, walk- Baghdad, Mahdi said he had received S Defence Secretary Mark Es- ing back a threat he made to Iran days signed and translated copies at 8pm per said yesterday that the earlier. local time on Monday. UPentagon fully expects that Trump on Saturday said the United However, Esper said the United States Iran will retaliate for the killing of States has targeted 52 Iranian sites, in- is not pulling its forces out of Iraq, deny- Islamic Revolutionary Guards com- cluding ones that are very important to ing that there is a signed letter from the mander Qasem Soleimani in a Baghdad Iranian culture, and would strike if Iran US side announcing an exit. drone strike last week. attacks Americans or US assets in re- Trump said that a US troop with- “I think we should expect they will sponse to the US killing of Soleimani. drawal from Iraq at this stage would retaliate in some way, shape or form,” Meanwhile, Iraq’s premier Adel Ab- be the “worst thing” for the country. Esper told reporters. del Mahdi confi rmed yesterday that he Page 5 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, January 8, 2020 QATAR FM receives phone call from Pakistani Minister receives credentials of Italian and Brazilian ambassadors counterpart HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday received a telephone call from Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi. They discussed the latest developments in the region and ways to resolve contentious issues. Shura Council committee approves draft law on railways The Services and Public Utilities Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday received copies of the credentials of the ambassador of Italy to Qatar, Alessandro Prunas, and the Brazilian ambassador to Qatar, its rapporteur HE Mohamed Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado. The Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs wished the two ambassadors success in their duties, assuring them of all support to upgrade bilateral relations between Qatar and bin Mahdi al-Ahbabi. During their countries. the meeting, the committee completed the study of a draft law on railways, in the presence of HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, and Director of the Off ice of Qatari publishers to enrich Doha International Book Fair the Minister of Transport and Communications Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Shahwani al-Hajri. QNA around the world. France will be new titles in both Arabic and prose; articles; human de- stories, sports, translation, Zekreet Publishing and Dis- At the end of the meeting, the Doha the guest of honour in the 30th English, while its pavilion is also velopment and studies. among others. tribution will also participate in committee decided to approve edition of the DIBF where the set to host a group of authors and “Rosa Publishing, the fi rst Managing Director of Lusail the exhibition with a selection of the aforementioned draft law Cultural Year Qatar-France 2020 book signing ceremonies. private Qatari publishing house, Publishing and Distribution more than 30 new titles cover- and submit its recommendations he 30 edition of the Doha is being celebrated. Communication and Special seeks leadership and excellence House Khalid Mubarak al-Du- ing scientifi c, cultural, religious thereon to the Shura Council. International Book Fair Head of Katara Publishing Projects Manager at HBKU Press in disseminating intellectual laimi said that the House has this and literary sectors, in addition T(DIBF), due to start to- House’ pavilion at DIBF Khalid Reema Ismael said: “At HBKU production for Qatari youth; en- year accomplished a set of valu- to law, history, translations and Qatar condemns morrow, is witnessing the larg- al-Mohannadi said in a state- Press, we always look forward to couraging reading throughout able and varied publications, as Qur’anic studies as well as the est participation of the Qatari ment issued by Katara, that Ka- participate in this event, which the knowledge society; advanc- it issued a series of works by sen- narrative fi eld. Nigeria explosion, private publishing houses, as tara Publishing House is exhib- provides an optimum opportunity ing Arab culture; and benefi ting ior Qatari and Arab writers.