BUSINESS | 01 SPORT | 08 Qatar’s growing startup Dakar Rally 2020: ecosystem seeks more I know exactly private sector-led what to expect, investment funds says Al Attiyah Monday 30 December 2019 | 4 Jumada I 1441 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8121 | 2 Riyals Qatar National Library receives over 677,000 book lovers this year FAZEENA SALEEM According to QNL’s the community. The Library has THE PENINSULA latest newsletter, given the community access to a wealth of resources, including The love for reading and access 710,012 books were books, journals, electronic to information has grown signif- borrowed in 2019 and resources, and a full pro- icantly in Qatar which is evident the library received gramme of over 806 curated from the increasing number of 37,467 new members. events in 2019, including the members and borrowers at the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival Qatar National Library (QNL). The library also in Doha, Qatar’s first interna- According to QNL’s latest received a total of tional literature festival. The newsletter, 710,012 books were 677,023 visitors. Library has held 422 tours borrowed in 2019 and the including of the general Library library received 37,467 new and Heritage Library for 3,608 members. It makes available more than 1.5 participants. A total of 677,023 visitors million pages of historical Since its inception, QNL has came to the library in 2019, records on Qatar and the Gulf, promoted an open-door policy Hundreds of people took part in Qatar National Day activities at Qatar National Library. including several VIP guests such which were previously housed for all the residents of Qatar. as João Lourenço, President of in the British Library, and thanks Along with programmes for experimental period. Since then building welcomed 738,636 vis- Young Adults collection. The QNL Angola; Armen Sarkissian, to a partnership agreement researchers and academics, the to April 2018 the Library wel- itors. With more than one million Heritage Library collection Presidnet of Armenia and Amina between the two libraries, are library hosts various additional comed more than 200,000 vis- books borrowed since its includes rare and valuable items Jane Mohammed, Deputy Sec- now being used by scholars and activities that target all age itors, and held hundreds of opening, the Library registered related to Arab and Islamic civ- retary-General of the United students from anywhere in the groups, ranging from toddlers to events for visitors of all ages, 139,551 new members. ilization. Its collection has more Nations. world. senior citizens, regardless of ranging from early literacy pro- The library’s collection than 50,000 items, including The library’s use of online QNL is redefining what a their backgrounds. grams for children to research includes one million books in manuscripts, early printed books, resources is highly valued by library should be in the 21st The library initially opened workshops. English, Arabic, and other lan- historical maps, globes, photo- users. Qatar Digital Library century by hosting a variety of its doors to the public in Within the first year since the guages, complemented by a ded- graphs, and scientific received over 1.76 million views. events, activities and classes for November 2017 for an official, the iconic Library icated Children’s Library and instruments. QM, Sidra launch archaeological project Over 89,000 Qataris visit THE PENINSULA The project is part of a and its international collabo- cultural and biological history of Turkey in 11 months DOHA National Priority Research Pro- rators have identified more than Qatar. Such programmes are part gramme led by Sidra Medicine 2,000 burial mounds all over of an ongoing series of research THE PENINSULA tourists come to us in the A joint team from Qatar and funded by the Qatar National Qatar and have recorded them milestones that will place Qatar DOHA summer period of June to August Museums (QM) and Sidra Research Fund. in the Qatar Cultural Heritage at the forefront of international and the winter months of Medicine has launched an The Qatar Museums team is Information Management research.” Over 89,000 Qatari nationals trav- December to February.” archaeological excavation in the process of excavating pre- System. Twenty-four of these Direct genetic surveys of elled to Turkey from January to The number of international project that aims to understand Islamic burial mounds in the burial mounds are now the focus ancient populations are now November this year, making them tourists travelling to Turkey from the prehistoric population of Asaila area west of Umm Bab in of a joint collaboration between possible due to the ability to the second-largest tourist popu- January to November this year has Qatar. order to recover skeletal Qatar Museums and Sidra Med- study ancient DNA. Ancient DNA lation arriving from an Arab nation. climbed to 40.7 million tourists, The excavation is led by QM’s remains. The remains will then icine, which will take us one step studies allow scientists to trace According to the Turkish Cultural representing a 14.47 percent Director of the Department of be sent to the research labora- further in understanding prehis- the movements of populations and Tourism Office, 89,488 Qatari increase when compared to the Archaeology, Faisal Al Naimi, tories at University of Tor toric populations who lived in and individuals throughout nationals travelled to Turkey over same period last year. Contributing and its Head of Survey and Exca- Vergata and Sidra Medicine for Qatar.” much of human evolutionary this period, registering a 12.59 to this rise is a significant surge in vation, Dr. Ferhan Sakal. advanced paleoanthropological Dr. Tomei said: “The research history--even though these percent increase compared to the the number of visitors travelling The samples from the exca- and molecular analyses, division at Sidra Medicine has migrations happened thousands same period last year. in from neighbouring GCC nations, vation will be analysed by a team including the study of ancient invested in highly advanced DNA of years ago and sometimes “Shopping, medical tourism with the largest influx from from Sidra Medicine’s Research genetic material. Based on the sequencing technologies and we across continents. and gastronomy are some of the Kuwait, followed by Qatar. Department led by Dr. Sara analyses, the team from the Uni- are excited to partner with Qatar The research will also biggest draws for tourists visiting Of the nearly 41 million foreign Tomei, Manager of the Omics versity of Tor Vergata will Museums on this fascinating analyze bone collagen and tooth Turkey from the GCC countries,” visitors to Turkey so far this year, Core Research Labs and Pro- provide their expertise in under- study, which will be the first of its enamel, which will indicate the noted Salih Ozer, Attaché of the largest faction has travelled in fessor Dr. Cristina Martinez- standing the reconstruction of kind in the Gulf region. The type of foods consumed by indi- Culture and Information, Turkey. from Russia, with 6,694,453 visitors, Labarga, Associate Professor in migration and dietary habits. ground-breaking project applies viduals of that time and the local “Areas such as Istanbul, representing almost 16.5 percent of Molecular Anthropology from Commenting on the cutting-edge technologies to geology of the area, including Bursa, Yalova, Trabzon and the total number, and followed by the University of Tor Vergata, announcement, Al Naimi said: study ancient societies and where they lived and built com- Antalya are all popular with tourists from Germany, the UK and Rome. “Over the years, Qatar Museums advance our knowledge of the munities. `P2 Middle Eastern travellers. Most Bulgaria. `P4 FIFA praises Qatar’s track record in football this year QNA Cup win, Al Annabi (the victims were teams that repre- DOHA Maroons) were the highest sented Asia at Russia 2018: Saudi climbers in the World Ranking Arabia in the group phase, Korea The FIFA has praised the football in 2019 collecting not less than Republic in the quarter-finals, achievements of Qatar, which is 138 points over the course of the and Japan in the final, the report accustomed to organising global year and rose 38 places to 55th. said. sporting competitions, where the This time last year, they lay a Frontman Al Moez Ali lead latest of them, the 2019 FIFA lowly 93rd with many a daunting the Qatari charge with a tour- Club World Cup, showed what challenge ahead of them. Taking nament-record nine goals, the country can do when it them all in their stride, the beating the previous best of comes to welcoming champions Maroons have gone from eight, set by legendary IR Iran and provided a taster of what lies strength to strength in 2019. striker Ali Daei in 1996. And the in store at the 2022 FIFA World To say Qatar’s first AFC Asian Maroons were just as impressive Cup. Cup win was a major at the back, conceding just the FIFA said in a report, pub- achievement would be some- one goal, scored by Japan’s lished on its website under the thing of an understatement. Felix Takumi Minamino in the final. title 'A year to remember for Sanchez’s men won all seven of Qatar made their very first Spring Festival proves a roaring success Qatar', that this year has shown their games en route to the title, appearance in South America’s that the Qatari men’s national having failed to win a single premier club competition, A troupe presents a festive procession on one of the streets at Souq Wakra as part of the Spring Festival. team can be champions them- knockout match in their nine having been invited by CON- The festival is attracting hundreds of people to Souq Wakra and Souq Waqif.PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA selves, adding that thanks, in the previous appearances in the MEBOL to take part, along with main, to their historic AFC Asian competition.