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Qatar unveils fourth 2022 World Cup stadium

19 Dec 2020; MEMO: Qatar inaugurated the fourth of eight 2022 World Cup venues, the Al Rayyan Stadium, when the country hosted the Amir Cup final between Al-Sadd and Al-Arabi on Friday, Reuters reports.

Al-Sadd, coached by former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez, beat Al-Arabi 2-1 to lift their 17th Amir Cup title after Algeria forward Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice.

"It is a wonderful football stadium," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

Air India privatisation unlikely to conclude this fiscal

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Privatisation of Air India may spill into next fiscal year as the divestment process is unlikely to conclude in the remaining a little over three months of 2020-21, an official said.

Salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group and US-based fund Interups Inc were among "multiple" entities that put in preliminary bids last week for buying loss-making carrier Air India.

USA: Fight over Fed powers stalls USD 900 billion economic relief package

Washington, Dec 20 (AP-PTI) An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers foiled efforts on Saturday to lock down an agreement on an almost USD 1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package.

Saturday's deadlock was just the latest stumble in a partisan, months-long fight over pandemic relief and the lack of progress is backing lawmakers once again up against a government shutdown deadline Sunday night.

Delhi cold intensifies but protesting farmers undeterred

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Thousands of farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the Centre's new agri laws remained firm in their demands of repealing the legislations, even as the city recorded its coldest morning this season, with the mercury dipping to 3.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

According to the India Meteorological Department, a cold wave swept Delhi on Sunday.

Russia company TATNEFT to resume oil exploration in Libya, Syria

19 Dec 2020; MEMO: TATNEFT Company suspended its operations in Libya following the revolution of 17 February, 2011 – NOC

A Russian oil company intends to resume production and exploration operations in a number of sites in Syria and Libya, after its activities were halted following the events of the 17 February Revolution.

'Sanctions on Turkey aim to prevent Russia's influence, not undermine Ankara's military capabilities': Pompeo

19 Dec 2020; MEMO: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed that the aim of the sanctions on Turkey is to prevent Russia from gaining influence and not to undermine Ankara's military capabilities. Pompeo considers that the acquisition of the S-400 missile system: "Allows Russia to access Turkish forces and their defensive industries."

Modi offers talks to end India protests against farm reforms

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday defended India’s biggest farm reforms in decades but offered to “very humbly” hold further talks with farmers protesting against the laws they fear would erode their incomes.

Tens of thousands of farmers have blocked roads leading into New Delhi for the past three weeks demanding a repeal of laws that give them the option to sell directly to private companies.

The government says the change is necessary to boost farm returns and improve storage and other infrastructure.

Campaign to boycott UAE bank over ties to Israel

17 Dec 2020; MEMO: Activists on Wednesday launched an online campaign to boycott the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) over its cooperation with Israel's Leumi Bank which is involved in settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Popular Campaign to Boycott Zionist Enterprises said on Twitter that ADIB has concluded an agreement with Leumi Bank; which is on the United Nations list of companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements, and called for a boycott.

Pakistan returns $1 bln of Saudi Arabia's loan over Kashmir dispute

16 Dec 2020; MEMO: Pakistan has returned $1 billion to Saudi Arabia as a second instalment of a $3 billion soft loan, as Islamabad reaches out to Beijing for a commercial loan to help it offset pressure to repay another $1 billion to Riyadh next month, officials said on Wednesday according to a report by Reuters.

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