BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Queiroz all praise for Qatar Trump expresses optimism for China deal published in QATAR since 1978 MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11049 December 31, 2018 Rabia II 24, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief Amir receives Pakistan PM’s message Amir’s visits bolster ties QATAR | Weather Scattered rain likely today There is a chance of scattered rain today in Qatar, at times likely to be thundery in the north, the Met department said yesterday. The maximum temperature of 24C is expected in Mesaieed and Wakrah, followed by 23C in Doha, Al Khor and Abu Samra, and 22C in Ruwais and Dukhan. The minimum temperature of 16C is forecast in Al Khor, followed by 17C in Mesaieed and Wakrah, 18C in Dukhan and Abu Samra, and 20C in Doha and Ruwais. ASIA | Election Bangladesh’s Hasina set for landslide win Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was heading for a landslide win in a general election yesterday that was marred by opposition claims of vote-rigging and violence between rival supporters that killed at least 17 people. Hasina’s ruling Awami League party easily crossed the 151 seats required His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a verbal message from Pakistan Prime Minister to form a majority government, Imran Khan dealing with relations between Qatar and Pakistan and the ways to develop them. His Highness the Deputy Amir according to local TV station Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani received the message during a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Channel 24, which is compiling Qureshi at the Amiri Diwan. results from around the country. As See also Page 3 midnight approached, the Awami League and its allies had won 191 seats - some by tens of thousands of votes - while the opposition coalition had only five, the channel said. Page 7 Qatar fi scal position Mahaseel shopping AMERICA | Policy Graham to urge Trump to rethink Syria pullout festival starts today A senior Republican senator strengthens on oil, said yesterday that he would he third edition of the Ma- Qatari farms and the best varieties of be meeting with US President haseel shopping festival opens local dates. Donald Trump to urge him to Ttoday at the southern seaside The festival also off ers several enter- reconsider his plan to withdraw of the Cultural Village Foundation – tainment and awareness activities for all US troops from Syria and many gas revenues: report Katara. children and adults to enhance their from Afghanistan. “If we leave The market festival, which runs un- experience and to educate them on the (Syria) now, the Kurds will get til January 5, will be open from 9am to best practices while shopping. The ac- slaughtered,” Lindsey Graham said By Pratap John crease in central bank reserves.” It noted the “outfl ow of external fi - 9pm. A total of 22 Qatari farms, plant tivities will also include workshops on on ABC’s This Week, referring to Chief Business Reporter Recently, S&P affirmed Qatar’s nancing” for Qatari banks, primarily nurseries and six major national com- plantation and fl owers arrangement, in the Kurdish troops allied with US sovereign credit ratings at ‘AA- non-resident deposits and inter-bank panies specialised in producing and addition to some essential agricultural forces in Syria. “I’m going to ask /A-1+’. The strength of Qatar’s mac- placements - an impact of the block- selling sheep meat, poultry, eggs, dairy knowledge. the president to do something that he risk of capital outfl ows in- roeconomic resilience was the basis ade - was “off set by liquidity injec- products and natural juices will off er Mahaseel serves as a good market- President Obama would never do: duced by the regional blockade for the recent “stable outlook” on tions” from the Qatar Central Bank their fresh produce to visitors. ing platform for local farms, which of- reconsider.” He did not say when Ton Qatar has largely subsided the economy provided by interna- and repatriation into the domestic The market features Qatari farms fer reasonable prices for their produce. the two would be meeting. Page 6 with the “recovery of foreign reserves tional ratings agency. banking sector of about $40bn in the selling various types of fresh fruits The festival has proved to be immense- and the return to a current-account Meanwhile, EIU noted that “liquid- public sector, mostly the QIA assets and vegetables, fl owers and ornamen- ly popular among Qatar residents in its ASEAN | Calamity surplus” in 2018, according to the ity injections” from the QIA and “ac- previously held abroad. tal plants and local companies off ering two earlier editions with huge numbers Economist Intelligence Unit. cess” to international capital markets EIU said Qatar’s economic diversi- food products related to livestock, in of visitors thronging Katara for buying Landslides, fl ooding Moreover, reserves at the Qatar (albeit at rising premiums) will keep fi cation investment projects will sus- addition to natural honey produced by fresh, local goods. kill 56 in Philippines Investment Authority (QIA, the sov- domestic lenders “solvent” in 2019- tain robust growth until 2030, before Fifty-six people have been killed in ereign wealth fund) are suffi cient to 20. slowing thereafter. There remains landslides and floods caused by a maintain the currency peg to the dol- And the country’s banking sector potential for bursts of high growth if tropical depression that brought lar for several years, meaning that a risk rating is supported by “strong further gas export projects, beyond heavy rains over the eastern “devaluation remains a distant pros- liquidity positions” stemming from those planned for the mid-2020s, are Philippines, police and civil defence pect,” the EIU said in an overview. the rise in oil prices.Qatar’s banking approved by the government. off icials said yesterday. Eleven Qatar’s fi scal position (which is now sector remains “resilient and healthy” “Diversifi cation and the expansion people were still missing, while in a surplus) is also strengthening, be- with credit continuing to fl ow, ample of the services sector, funded by the more than 22,000 were displaced cause of an increase in oil and gas rev- liquidity and asset quality and profi t- state’s hydrocarbons wealth, will also by the landslides and floods in six enue, although spending on subsidies ability robust, S&P said while affi rm- provide opportunities for growth. provinces that bore the brunt of and wages will remain a “constraint ing the country’s sovereign ratings. The population will continue to in- the rains, the regional civil defence on the rating”. The ratings agency noted it does not crease, largely through immigration, off ice said. Fifty of the victims were In terms of the sovereign risk rating, expect the banks to need additional to 3.8mn in 2050. As a result, growth killed in five provinces in the region EIU said it “is supported by an increase government support, and non-resi- in real GDP per head will be much of Bicol, mostly due to landslides, in hydrocarbons export revenue in re- dent deposits have gradually returned slower than growth in real GDP,” EIU The market features Qatari farms selling various types of fresh fruits and vegetables, the off ice said. Page 13 cent months and a commensurate in- to the banking system. said. flowers and ornamental plants and local companies off ering food products. Al-Haydos says Qatar can put up best-ever show in Asian Cup By Anil John under Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, 2000 and 2011– but al-Haydos reck- al-Haydos, who has played about 115 Sports Editor who combines positivity with a strict ons the time has now come to go even matches for the national team, added. regimen that has turned the team into GT Exclusive further. The wins over Switzerland and oth- a determined and focused unit. “I think we can go beyond the er teams, he said, have only encour- assan al-Haydos is gung-ho In recent friendlies, Qatar shocked quarter-finals in the UAE. We have aged the team. about Qatar chances in the the world’s eighth-ranked team Swit- gyzstan in two pre-Asian Cup friend- very talented players and an excel- “There is no pressure on us (be- HAFC Asian Cup beginning zerland 1-0 besides playing out a 2-2 lies. They have another friendly, lent coach who has been with team cause of raised expectations). In fact in the UAE on January 5, saying the against Iceland, who had beaten Eng- against Iran, lined up for today. for one-and-a-half years,” al-Haydos the recent results have only motivated players have the ability to ensure the land to reach the quarter-finals of the Qatar’s performance at the con- told the Gulf Times in an exclusive in- us. We are satisfied with our prepara- nation’s best-ever show in the conti- 2016 UEFA European Championship tinental level, however, has been terview. tions. We hope to continue with our nental showpiece. before going down to France. patchy. In nine appearances in the “On top of that we have a very sup- strong performance in the Asian Cup. The Qatar captain’s confidence Over the past few days in Doha, Qa- Asian Cup so far, Qatar have reached portive national federation who are in We feel comfortable, we enjoy the stems from a series of positive results tar have also beaten Jordan and Kyr- Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos: confident the quarter-finals only twice – in sync with the team’s requirements,” game.” To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Monday, December 31, 2018 QATAR PM meets Pakistan’s foreign minister Farewell ceremony for Moroccan envoy HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khallifa al-Thani met Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his accompanying delegation yesterday.