BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 QNB Stars League on way to becoming Fast-paced growth of Qatar economy ‘expected Asia’s best to continue this year’ published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11435 January 22, 2020 Jumada I 27, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief Amir, Italian president hold offi cial talks QATAR | Sport Silver Shalfa winner of camel-racing festival The camel-racing festival for the sword of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani continued yesterday, with 46 races taking place. In the morning race, Zaafarana won first place. Its owner Abdullah Hamad won a Nissan Patrol XE. Second and third place winners received QR20,000 and QR15,000 respectively. In the afternoon session, Al Ghzail of Mohamed bin Sarea al-Kaabi won the first place receiving the Silver Shalfa and QR500,000. Mohamed Ghanem al-Hudaifi, owner of Maaza, won QR250,000 for securing the second place. Third place went to Salem Amer al-Madhoushi, who received QR150,000. Today, the fifth day of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Italian President Sergio Mattarella held a session of off icial talks at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. The session discussed the close bilateral relations between the two the festival, 39 races will take place. friendly countries and means of developing them in diff erent fields. The two sides exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common concern, especially the latest developments in the region. The session was attended by the ministers and members of the off icial delegation accompanying the Italian president. An off icial reception was held for President Mattarella upon his arrival at the Amiri Diwan. The Amir later QATAR | Aviation hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of President Mattarella and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by Sheikhs, ministers and businessmen. Page 16 Qatar signs agreement with aviation agency Qatar signed an agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on the collection and exchange of information on Crisis-hit Lebanon civil aviation safety in accordance Qatar, FIFA present with the EU Ramp Inspection Programme. The agreement was signed by HE the Chairman of names new govt Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Abdulla bin Nasser Turki joint World Cup 2022 al-Subaey and EASA Executive AFP Director Patrick Ky, in the presence Beirut of HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti at the ministry yesterday. Sustainability Strategy ebanon ended a painful wait yes- Page 2 terday by unveiling a new cabinet Lline-up, but the government was AMERICA | Impeachment O Developing human capital, safeguarding workers’ rights and delivering promptly scorned by protesters and innovative environmental solutions among the commitments outlined faces the Herculean task of saving a Clash over witnesses collapsing economy. as Trump trial opens More than a month after he was The historic impeachment trial eveloping human capital, safe- designated with backing from the of US President Donald Trump guarding workers’ rights and powerful Shia movement Hezbollah opened with fireworks yesterday Ddelivering innovative environ- and nearly three after his predecessor Lebanon’s new Prime Minister Hassan as Democrats angrily accused mental solutions are among the com- Saad Hariri resigned under pressure Diab speaking at a press conference. Senate Republicans of seeking a mitments outlined in the fi rst-ever from the street, Prime Minister Hassan “cover-up” without witnesses or new joint FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Sus- Diab’s cabinet of 20 ministers was an- Groups of demonstrators had gath- evidence. With the US leader facing tainability Strategy presented by Qatar nounced. ered in the streets of Beirut before the potential removal from off ice for and FIFA. The academic and former education cabinet was even unveiled, blocking off abuse of power, his close ally Mitch The issues and initiatives that form minister, who was little-known in Leb- a main street in the centre of the capital McConnell laid out ground rules the framework of the strategy, which anon until last month, insisted in his where violent scuffl es with the police that would block subpoenaing key was published yesterday, were identi- fi rst comments as premier that his cab- left dozens wounded over the weekend. witnesses or documents while each fi ed with the help of a thorough and inet was a technocratic one that would “We want a new Lebanon, a Lebanon side makes its case — potentially continuous consultation process with strive to meet protesters’ demands. with no corruption,” Charbel Kahi, a crippling prosecutors’ arguments. local and international stakeholders, “This is a government that represents 37-year-old farmer, told AFP as fellow Page 8 and thematic experts through surveys, the aspirations of the demonstrators protesters beat drums behind him. workshops, meetings and the circula- who have been mobilised nationwide for “They are not taking the Lebanese AMERICA | Health tion of drafts, the Supreme Committee The five pillars of the Sustainability Strategy. more than three months,” he said. people seriously with this govern- for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA He said his government “will strive ment,” he said. US announces fi rst said in a statement. Arab world for the fi rst time, in a fast- plement the event’s Sustainability to meet their demands for an inde- Hilal Khashan, a professor at the case of China virus Throughout the process, over 100 growing economy and in the most Strategy – the fi rst to be planned and pendent judiciary, for the recovery of American University of Beirut, argued US health authorities yesterday national and international govern- geographically compact area since the delivered jointly by FIFA, the host embezzled funds, for the fi ght against that the idea of a genuinely technocrat- announced the first case of a mental, non-governmental and private inaugural edition of the tournament country and the local organisers, rep- illegal gains.” ic government in Lebanon was “wish- person on American soil sickened sector organisations were consulted. in 1930. Qatar presents... unparal- resented in this case by the FIFA World The new cabinet is made up of little- ful thinking”. by a new virus that emerged in the Further, the development process for leled opportunities to leave a lasting Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22). known fi gures, many of them academ- “Behind every candidate, there is a central Chinese city of Wuhan, and the strategy also included a full human positive legacy beyond the event,” the The associated policy applies to all ics and former advisers, but protesters political party backing their nomina- intensified airport health screenings. rights salience assessment, a fi rst for a statement noted. functional areas and projects involved were quick to argue that the absence of tion,” he said. The man, a US resident in his 30s mega-sporting event. The path to achieve that ambitious in the preparations for and staging of the biggest names in Lebanon’s widely Paula Yacoubian, a former journalist who lives near Seattle, is in good “In less than three years’ time, the goal started fi ve years ago, when FIFA the tournament, in addition to post- reviled hereditary political elite was but and independent MP, scorned the new condition. FIFA World Cup will be held in the and the SC began to develop and im- event activities. To Page 16 a smokescreen. line-up as “patches on old clothes”. Contracts worth QR4bn awarded for infrastructure projects By Shafeeq Alingal try. All the contracts have been given to contracting companies concerned. sewage networks, 305km of stormwa- throughout the country. More projects development projects in the country. Staff Reporter Qatari companies. The Ashghal president signed the ter and groundwater drainage networks will be awarded to other areas,” he said. “There is no doubt that new projects The signing ceremony was held in new contracts with the representatives and 142km of treated sewage effl uent Sheikh Ali bin Hamad al-Thani, to develop the infrastructure are very the presence of Ashghal president of the awarded companies. The ar- (TSE) networks. chairman of QBS Construction, said important to the citizens. They pro- en contracts with a total value Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, eas concerned include Al Ebb, Leabaib, Al-Muhannadi said Ashghal gives Ashghal always encourages Qatari vide the citizens with an integrated of around QR4bn were signed Projects Aff airs director engineer Jeryan Nejaima, Al Duhail South, Umm top priority to infrastructure projects companies. “Qatari companies are infrastructure of rainwater and sewage Tfor Infrastructure Development Yousef Abdulrahman al-Emadi, Roads Lekhba, Al Mearad and Al Meshaf based on the directives of HE the Prime aware of the condition of the areas. So, drainage networks as well as advanced Projects of Citizens’ Sub-Divisions by Projects Department manager engi- South. Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh they are able to implement projects roads and other services,” he said. the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) neer Saoud Ali al-Tamimi, Central Upon completion, the projects will Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- better,” he said. QBS Construction Al-Emadi described the signing as yesterday. Municipal Council (CMC) vice presi- provide advanced infrastructure in- Thani. signed two contracts during the func- a continuation of the plan developed The proposed project will serve more dent Mohamed bin Hamad al-Attan, cluding 223km of roads, 325km of pe- “The signing is considered as the tion. by Ashghal to provide advanced infra- than 8,400 land plots across 10 areas in other offi cials from Ashghal, CMC destrian and bicycle paths, more than fi rst step in Ashghal’s plan for 2020 Al-Attan thanked HE the prime min- structure for citizens’ sub-divisions in the north, south and west of the coun- members and representatives of the 20,000 parking lots, about 192km of to develop the citizens’ sub-divisions ister for the great attention towards diff erent areas.