Doha today issue 1 by BG Media London

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SUNDAY 01/11/2015

DOHA TODAY UK COMMITTED TO ENSURING GULF SECURITY: FOREIGN SECRETARY HAMMOND

He noted that he had briefed HH the Emir on the last preparations for talks and ideas put forward for discussion and possibility of convincing the Iranian party to change its position in order to reach an agreement to end the crisis there. The UK Foreign Secretary said that he also reviewed with HH the Emir situation in Yemen, stressing that both Qatar and the United Kingdom share a same concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation there. The UK Foreign Secretary said that he also reviewed with HH the Emir situation in Yemen, stressing that both Qatar and the United Kingdom share a same concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation there.

The meeting also tackled political process in Libya, which reached a point, he described as" disappointing ", that the political agreement has become very complicated, Hammond added. On the outcome of his talks with Saudi officials , Hammond said that there is a common and strong bilateral relations between his country and Saudi Arabia in all fields, as there are many issues to be discussed. He pointed out that he had discussed with his Saudi counterpart, the latest developments of Vienna Meeting on situation in Syria in light of Saudi Arabia's...... Continued on Page 4

First Lady Michelle Obama to Travel to the State of Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

As part of the Let Girls Learn initiative, the First Lady will make stops in Doha and Amman; the First Lady will also visit US military service members stationed at Al Udeid Air Base as part of the Joining Forces initiative... Continued on Page 11

Qatar Joins Brookfield's $8.6 Billion Manhattan West Project

Brookfield Property Partners LP and Qatar Investment Authority formed a joint venture on Manhattan West, an $8.6 billion mixeduse project under construction on New York’s far west side. Continued on Page 13

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

EMIR

Table of Contents 2 - Emir

HH THE EMIR, MAURITANIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS BILATERAL TIES, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

3 - Government

Doha, October 30 (QNA) - HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held talks with P resident Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania at Al Bahr Palace, this afternoon.

4 - World 6 - Gulf News 10 - Doha News 12 - Business 14 - Tourism 15 - Culture

During the session of talks, HH the Emir and the Mauritanian President discussed bilateral ties between the two countries and ways of enhancing them as well as a number of issues of common concern, particularly the latest developments in the region.

16 - Life 17 - Sport

Doha Today Issue 1 | 01/11/2015 Online Free Magazine

Later, HH the Emir hosted a luncheon in honor of the Mauritanian President and his accompanying delegation.

Doha weather

Source : www.qna.org.qa

HH THE EMIR MEETS U.K. HH THE EMIR RECEIVES PHONE CALL FROM US PRESIDENT SECRETARY OF STATE

Doha, October 29 (QNA) - HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Thursday morning met at his Emiri Diwan office with Secretary of State of the United Kingdom Philip Hammond and the delegation currently accompanying him on a visit to the country.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of boosting and developing them in addition to discussing a set of issues of mutual concern, notably regional and international developments. Source : www.qna.org.qa

Doha, October 29 (QNA) - HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani received Thursday evening a telephone call from President Barack Obama of the United States of America. Discussions during the call dealt with bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, and ways of enhancing them, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international developments , especially the Palestinian issue in light of the continued Israeli aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque and flagrant violations of the Holy City of Jerusalem. HH the Emir and the US President also discussed the importance of accelerating efforts in order to take practical and serious steps to find a just solution

to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the principle of twostate solution, as well as to stop the violation of the sanctity of AlAqsa Mosque and the need to move the stalemate in the peace process. Discussions also dealt with the latest developments in Syria and international efforts underway to spare the region and the world the dangers of terrorism and to reach a political solution to the crisis there to achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people's demands and to preserve the unity of its territories. HH the Emir reiterated Qatar's support for these legitimate demands. Source : qna.org.qa

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

GOVERNMENT

QATARI FOREIGN MINISTER PARTICIPATES IN VIENNA MEETING ON SYRIA Vienna, October 30 (QNA) Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah participated in the expanded meeting to discuss a political settlement to the Syrian crisis, on the level of foreign ministers of the countries concerned, which was held today in Vienna. The meeting was attended by delegations representing Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, UAE, Jord a n , G e r m a ny, Fr a n c e , Egypt, Italy, Britain, Iraq,

Lebanon, China, Oman as well as the UN Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura and the High Representative of the European Union Federica Mogherini. The meeting is to discuss specific proposals to activate the political process in Syria, and also aims to trading between all regional and international parties in order to launch a political process to resolve the Syrian crisis based on Geneva 1 Source : www.qna.org.qa

U.K., QATAR HOLD SECOND MEETING IN LONDON QATARI, SAUDI AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS HOLD TALKS ON SYRIA

Qatar's Minister of Fore i g n A ff a i r s H E D r. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir and Foreign M i n i s t e r o f Tu r k e y Feridun Sinirlioglu held a session of talks this evening before the begin-

United Kingdom and Qatar leaders gathered for the second meeting of the biannual Qatar-U.K. Sharaka bilateral dialogue Friday. The meeting, attended by Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood and Qatari Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Rumaihi, took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth office in London. "It has been a privilege to co-host the second Sharaka dialogue in London with Qatar, with whom the U.K. has enjoyed a close partnership for many years," Ellwood said.

"These meetings are instrumental in maintaining an open and productive dialogue." Delineating a number of agreements they came to during the meeting, Ellwood said,Â "We have agreed to strengthen our cultural exchanges, cooperation on security issues and engagement around investment. We also agreed to work closely together to resolve ongoing conflicts in the region, tackle terrorism and counter extremism, in particular tackling the threat posed by ISIL." Source: www.gulfnewsjournal.com

ning of the Vienna meeting on Syria. During the meeting, they exchanged views on Syria and ways to coordinate positions with regard to political solution, which the Syrian people are looking for. Source : www.qna.org.qa

WORLD

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

UK COMMITTED TO ENSURING GULF SECURITY: FOREIGN SECRETARY HAMMOND

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that his country is committed to ensuring security of the Gulf and supporting the GCC countries. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Hammond pointed out that his country has a fully commitment to the security strategy for the Gulf region which will crystallize actually in the next few months. At the end of his visit to Doha, Hammond affirmed that the situation in Syria and the Russian military intervention and Vienna's talks planned to be kicked off tomorrow was the core issue in his meeting with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani. He noted that he had briefed HH the Emir on the last preparations for talks and ideas put forward for discussion and possibility of convincing the Iranian party to change its position in order to reach an agreement to end the crisis there. The UK Foreign Secretary said that he also reviewed with HH the Emir situation in Yemen, stressing that both Qatar and the United Kingdom share a same concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation there. The meeting also tackled political process in Libya, which reached a point, he described as" disappointing ", that the political agreement has become very complicated, Hammond added.

On the outcome of his talks with Saudi officials , Hammond said that there is a common and strong bilateral relations between his country and Saudi Arabia in all fields, as there are many issues to be discussed. He pointed out that he had discussed with his Saudi counterpart, the latest developments of Vienna Meeting on situation in Syria in light of Saudi Arabia's great role for resolving this crisis in addition to the strategic situation in the Gulf region and the Yemeni issue. UK Foreign Secretary said that he had met King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and reviewed with him the overall strategic issues in the region, bilateral relations between the two countries and the regional status quo. On his country's vision towards current situation in Syria after the Russian military intervention, the British official stressed that the situation in Syria is still catastrophic ,where civilians are suffering and most of them are forced to flee the country thus exacerbating the refugee crisis that we are trying to address . He said the Russian intervention constitutes a threat to opposition forces and working to divide them , pointing out that the United Kingdom is seeking to continue its support to the moderate opposition to ensure the continued strength of the opposition on

the ground and so are not dislodge by Russia under a pretext of fighting Daesh group. Hammond said 85% of Russian air attacks were not targeting Daesh group and this fact cannot be denied by Russia. With regard to the ability of the moderate Syrian opposition to fill the political vacuum in Syria, UK Foreign Secretary said Bashar alAssad must go and the moderate opposition will not hold any settlement agreement with him. He said that the Syrian opposition at the moment is fighting Daesh group and the Syrian regime and what we must do is to ensure a political solution to end this war and double efforts of all the forces to eliminate Daesh group, but in order to reach this point we have to reach a political agreement to pave the way for a transitional stage in Syria, away from Bashar al-Assad's regime. On Britain's strategy with regard to the Syrian refugees crisis, the UK Foreign Secretary said the European Union has launched a system for the redistribution of Syrian refugees within Schengen states, noting that Britain is not a member of Schengen zone and has a certain position with the European Union with regard to the migrants issue, that is to distance itself from that crisis.

However, the British minister added that the UK announced that it will receive 23000 refugees currently at the UN refugee camps in each of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, and this number will focus on those who could not cross into Europe namely elderly people, the sick, pregnant women and children. On the situation in Iraq and the possibility of the recurrence of the Russian scenario, Hammond said he will not expect a Russian intervention in Iraq "as it will be futile because the coalition forces are waging effective air raids and are not in need of additional support.'' He ruled out that the Russian would have the intention to deploy land forces in Iraq, praising in this regard Iraq's Prime Minister statement Haider Al Abadi that he will not allow the spread of non-national forces in the straggle against Daesh. Hammond said our position is clear, if the Russian are ready to work with us and with the other parties in the fight against Daesh, they are welcomed provided that the war would only against Daesh and would not be a cover for another purpose such as they are doing in Syria where they claim to be fighting Daesh but actually they are protecting Bashar Al Assad. Source : www.qna.org.qa

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

WORLD

ISRAELI COURT CHARGES PALESTINIAN CHILD WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER Bethlehem, October 30 (QNA) Israel's Jerusalem District Court on Friday indicted 13-year-old Palestinian Ahmad Manasra on charges of attempted murder following an attack on two Israelis on Oct. 12 in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported. The stabbing attack took place near the illegal Pisgat Zeev settlement in East Jerusalem, with Israeli police reporting that two Israelis, aged 13 and 21, were seriously injured. Ahmad's 15-year-old cousin, Hassan, was shot dead at the scene by Israeli forces, while Ahmad was knocked over by a car and seriously wounded.

CHINA REITERATES IT WILL NOT ACCEPT SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION CASE

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China reiterated that it would neither participate in or accept a case at an arbitration court in the Netherlands over the disputed South China Sea. China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said the court’s ruling "isn’t valid and isn’t binding on China."

"On issues related to territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China doesn’t accept any proposal that’s forced upon China, and doesn’t accept disputeresolution plans that involve unilateral appeals to a third party," the ministry said. Source : www.qna.org.qa

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

GULF NEWS

QATAR

BAHER MOHAMED MAKES EMOTIONAL RETURN TO QATAR A tearful Baher Mohamed, one of three Al-Jazeera journalists imprisoned in Egypt, called for the release of all reporters unlawfully jailed as he made an emotional return to Qatar. Pardoned and released last month, Mohamed was greeted by more than 100 clapping and cheering colleagues at the broadcaster’s headquarters

UAE

in Doha. The 32-yearold said the jubilant welcome gave him “goosebumps”. He was visibly emotional and wiped tears from his eyes as he was presented to work colleagues and shown a video message of congratulations from fellow staff. “It felt amazing today. I felt lots of love and joy,

I even got some goosebumps and I teared when I was standing in front of everybody, seeing and feeling this love,” Mohamed told AFP. “It was so hard, I totally lost it.” He said he could never have imagined meeting his Jazeera colleagues again because he had to “kill his dreams and hopes” in jail.

Mohamed was pardoned and released by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after spending more than 420 days in prison on charges of fabricating “false” news in support of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, which the army removed from power and outlawed in 2013. Source : gulf-times.com

PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL SLIGHTLY IN DUBAI AND ABU DHABI

Month on month rents fell by 0.76% and 1.4% year on year, the data also shows. Apartment rental prices increased 1% compared with July but are 1.1% below August Residential property prices in 2014 while villa rental priced Dubai have fallen by 9.9% year fell 0.6% month on month and on year and 0.75% month on are down 2.9% year on year. month while rental prices are also down, according to the latest In neighbouring Abu Dhabi index data. A breakdown of the property prices decreased figures from the REIDIN index 0.17% month on month and shows that apartment prices fell are down 3% year on year. 10.4% year on year and are down Apartment prices registered 0.55% month on month while a 0.46% decrease in August villa prices fell 8% year on year 2015 and are down 3.7% year and 1.45% month on month in on year while villa prices inAugust. On the sales front apart- creased by 0.14% month on ment transactions were down for month but are down 2% compared to the previous year. both apartments and villas.

Rents fell 0.23% month on month but are up 0.5% compared to August 2014. The data shows that for apartment rental prices fell 0.22% month on month and are down 0.8% year on year while villa rental prices fell 0.04% month on month and are up 2.2% year on year. Meanwhile, data from the Dubai Land Department suggests that the market is still attracting international buyers. Foreign investment into the property sector across Dubai increased to Dh53 billion in the first half of 2015. In Abu Dhabi a new decree has been issued to regulate and improve transparency in the emirate’s real estate sector, requiring brokers and developers to be licensed and introducing rules to protect buyers of projects that are not yet completed.

The rules, due to come into being soon, cover property advertising and marketing and introduce a means for complaints to be submitted and resolved more easily. All real estate developments must be registered with the government along with sales transactions listing the buyer. It means that new developments cannot be promoted or sold until they receive government approval and for unfinished projects, payments by buyers will be held in a separate, ring fenced account, while brokers will not be allowed to represent more than one party in a single transaction. Source : dubaionline.media

OMAN HAS HUGE DEMAND FOR HUMAN CAPITAL OMAN

Oman and the GCC in general has the highest demand for human capital and will become one of the fastest growing regions in terms of economic growth by 2025, consulting firm Tetros has said. With over a decade of experience operating across three countries worldwide, experts at

Tetros believe that finding the right executives to lead the innovation of tomorrow will be the key driver to supporting the talent drive across Oman and the GCC. Currently in the capital for the GOV HR Summit 2015 in Abu Dhabi, UAE on October 28th, Safa Hijazeen CEO of Tetros, the global Human Capital consultancy firm that focuses on China and emerging markets such as the GCC said: “An intensified war for talent has taken over the Middle East region, which is experiencing phenomenal economic growth. The successful development of human capital in vital sectors such as

Tourism and Hospitality, Construction and Finance is vital to not only meet the demand for the country’s ambitious plans, but also sustain that growth in years to come.” According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2015, The Omani economy is transforming rapidly, and progress is being made with respect to diversification and job creation. As a result the government is currently enhancing efforts to attract investment and an opening of the economy at the regional and global level. Safa continues, “With the UAE preparing for Expo 2020 and Oman planning

$112 billion dollars worth of projects by 2020, the GCC market is moving forward in leaps and bounds and the need for the right human capital to drive this growth forward is now.” According to the World Economic Report 2015, Oman’s Economic transformation is creating a competitive platform for all economic players. Progress with a range of gas based industrial projects also support the Sultanates prospects, marking the advancement of the country’s diversification program and demand for human capital urgently required by Oman’s rapidly growing labor force. Source: www.timesofoman.com

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

GULF NEWS

EIGHT OF THE 12 SURVIVING SONS OF COUNTRY'S SAUDI ARABIA MONARCH SUPPORT MOVE TO OUST KING SALMAN

Eight of the 12 surviving sons of Saudi Arabia's founding monarch are supporting a move to oust King Salman, 79, the country's ailing ruler, and replace him with his 73-year-old brother, according to a dissident prince. The prince also claims that a clear majority of the country's powerful Islamic clerics, known as the Ulama, would back a palace coup to oust the current King and install Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, a former Interior Minister, in his place. "The Ulama and religious people prefer Prince Ahmed - not all of them, but 75 per cent," said the prince, himself a grandson of King Ibn Saud, who founded the ruling dynasty in 1932. Support from the clerics would be vital for any change of monarch, since in the Saudi system only they have the power to confer religious and therefore political legitimacy on the leadership.

The revelation suggests there is increasing pressure within the normally secretive Saudi royal family to bring to a head the internal power struggle that has erupted since King Salman inherited the throne at the beginning of this year. The prince, who cannot be named for security reasons, is the author of two recently published letters calling for the royal family to replace the current Saudi leadership. In 1964 King Saud was finally deposed after a long power struggle, when the majority of senior royal family members and the Kingdom's religious establishment spoke with one voice and withdrew their support. The prince says something similar is going to happen again soon. "Either the King will leave Saudi Arabia, like King Saud, and he will be very respected inside and outside the country," he told The Independent. "Alternatively Prince Ahmed will become Crown Prince, but with control of and responsibility for the whole

country - the econo my, o i l , a r m e d forces, national guard, interior ministry, secret service, in fact everything from A to Z." Unhappiness at King Salman's own diminishing faculties - he is reported to be suffe r i n g f ro m A l zheimer's disease h a s b e e n c o mpounded by his controversial appointments, the continuing and costly war in Yemen and the recent Hajj disaster. Earlier this week the International Monetary Fund warned that Saudi Arabia may run out of financial assets within five years unless the government sharply curbs its spending, because of a combination of low oil prices and the economic impact of regional wars. The King's appointment of his favourite son, Mohammed bin Salman, 30, to the novel post of Deputy Crown Prince in April, and the decision to make him Defence Minister enabling him to launch a proxy war in Yemen against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who forced the pro-Saudi

former President to flee - have heightened tensions. He is said to have assumed too much power and wealth since being elevated to this position. "Any paper or phone call to his father goes through him," said the prince. The current Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, 56, a nephew of King Salman, is also unpopular. Prince Ahmed, the man most family members support to take over the throne, is the youngest son of the Kingdom's founder by his favourite wife, Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi. He was deputy interior minister for 37 years and spent four years responsible for the religious sites in Mecca before being appointed Interior Minister in 2012. He left the post five months later, officially at his own request, and was replaced by Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, now the Crown Prince. The dissident prince claims Prince Ahmed left after a disagreement about the treatment of political detainees.

"Prince Ahmed wants to introduce reforms like freedom of thought, cleaning up the justice system and freeing political prisoners who don't have anything to do with terrorism," he said.

He is religious but open-minded, he knows English and follows the world news." The current King's third wife, Fahda Al Hithlain, is said by the prince to be another key figure. "Many political "She is Mohammed p r i s o n e rs h ave bin Salman's mother been in prison and has influence on since before 2001 his father," he said. "The King is in love because of their with her and so he is wise opinion and in love with Mohamtheir moderate Is- med bin Salman." lamic views. However, because of If Prince Ahmed ill health she has rehas the authority portedly spent little he will allow such time in Saudi Arabia recently. people out." The struggle to rePrince Ahmed, who move King Saud has a Master's de- took several years gree in political sci- and led to tension ence, is favoured by between Saudi Araclerics and by others bia's main armed within the royal fam- organisations - the ily because of his pro- army, interior minisfessional experience try and national and moderate life- guard - before finally style, according to he left without bloodthe prince. shed. The prince ex"The eldest brothers pects the same will want him because he happen this time. is healthy and wise, "It is a kind of interand he has been nal revolution. clean all his life. We want financial He is not in trouble and political reform, w i t h g a m b l i n g , freedom of thought women, drink or and cleaning the jusdrugs. tice system, freeing "Prince Ahmed likes the political prisonthe desert, hunting ers and proper Isand sitting by the lamic sharia," he Red Sea or in Taif, by said. / indiatimes.com the mountains.

GULF NEWS

BAHRAIN TO INVEST OVER $800M IN AVIATION PROJECTS BAHRAIN

Large-scale investment in Bahrain’s infrastructure is under way to increase passenger-handling capacity at the country’s international airport, alongside efforts to expand ancillary services. In mid-August the government announced an $815m upgrade of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) aimed at raising handling capacity from 4m passengers per year to at least 17m by early 2019. The project is expected to strengthen Bahrain’s transport connectivity with other destinations in the region, and is set to be bolstered by a $10bn investment in a second land link to Saudi Arabia, incorporating both road and rail services. The new causeway to Saudi Arabia, scheduled for completion in 2022, will connect Bahrain to the rest of the $200bn GCC rail network, according to local media reports. Expanded capacity Divided into seven parts, the upgrades at BIA call for the addition of a new passenger terminal – complete with 24 air bridges to facilitate passenger movement to and from aircraft, new arrival and department lounges, and expanded aprons. The plan also calls for the construction of related infrastructure, such as utilities and road links. The project will dovetail with other developments currently under way, including construction of a new fuel farm complex, which is expected to improve safety and allow for more efficient aircraft fuelling. Work on BIA’s new facilities will begin next year, according to local media reports, with development contracts to be assigned by December. Financing is set to come from both national and regional sources, with substantial funding from the GCC Support Programme for Bahrain, a $10bn fund established in 2011 by members of the regional bloc to bolster Bahrain’s economy. Gulf Air to benefit In line with the broader infrastructure improvements at BIA, national flag carrier Gulf Air is also poised to see a major increase in capacity after years of restructuring. In early September transport officials announced plans for Gulf Air to purchase up to 50 new Airbus aircraft, with the carrier expected to place its final orders at the Bahrain International Airshow in January. The decision came after discussions between French president Francois Hollande and King Ha-

mad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the latter’s visit to Paris in September. With France’s Airbus pegged as preferred supplier, the deal provides opportunities for further economies of scale in terms of maintenance operations. Gulf Air’s existing fleet comprises 28 Airbus jets – six A330s and a mixture of 22 A32s and A321s. Announcing the planned fleet expansion, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, minister of transportation and telecommunications, underscored Gulf Air’s role as a strategically important national infrastructure asset and a key part of the kingdom’s wider programme of economic development and diversification. “Optimising Gulf Air's fleet is an ongoing process and a critical component of its current and long-term strategic business direction,” he said in early September. Given the often lengthy delay between aircraft orders and delivery – a period that can run as long as five years for some models – the fleet upgrade should coincide well with the opening of the expanded facilities at BIA, the airline’s home base. Gulf Air’s re-fleeting programme comes after the company posted its strongest financial results in a decade. After several years of heavy losses – which reached BD211m ($559m) in 2011 – the airline is nearly back in the black, with losses scaled back to BD62.7m ($166.2m) in 2014 and passenger revenues up 15.4% year-on-year. The steady improvement is thanks in part to ongoing restructuring, including the addition of high-value routes to Europe, India and the Middle East, and a strategic shift away from low-value transit traffic. In-sourcing to add value With major carriers in the region increasingly turning to ancillary services, such as engineering or consultancy to diversify revenue sources, Gulf Air is also working to establish an aircraft maintenance system, leveraging local engineering skills. By conducting service work in-house rather than flying aircraft to offshore centres, in-sourcing could also provide further cost savings, in addition to expanding Gulf Air’s earning potential as Bahrain moves towards becoming a maintenance hub, serving other regional and international carriers. Oxford Business Group is now on Instagram. Follow us here for news and stunning imagery from the more than 30 markets we cover. Source : www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

KUWAITI PAVILION

The Kuwaiti pavilion at Expo Milan 2015 has won the international award for construction art; selected as one the top lucrative display corners at the international fairground, garnering more than double the votes the Italian pavilion got, which came second. The award steering body said on its website that the Kuwaiti pavilion drew admiration of the majority of voters, garnering 20.73 percent of the votes for distinguished architectural design among 54 pavilions. The Kuwaiti stands got more than a fifth of the votes, more than double those given to the Italian corner, which took 9.67 percent. Brazil, in the weeks-long contest, got 9.35 percent of the votes, coming third, followed by Britain with 7.17 percent and then Bahrain with 4.95 percent.

The award for the most impressive pavilion is due to be delivered at the final ceremony on Oct 31. It will be attended by the Italian premier and representatives of 145 participating countries. The contest is organized by the Italian National Institute of Architecture, the national construction association, the Italian National Association of Architects and Builders, designers of projects and cities, and the Italian association of construction companies. Judges base their rulings on the success of blending distinctive architectural techniques with genuine innovative shapes and structures. The Kuwaiti pavilion, d e s i g n e d by t h e renowned Italian architect Italo Rota, depicts the challenge of nature in

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

GULF NEWS

WINS AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTION ART

KUWAIT

KUWAIT TODAY Kuwait, blending heritage with manifestations of modernization. In remarks to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Rota expressed pride for earning the international award, noting that his past visit to Kuwait proved fruitful, enabling him to fathom the Kuwaitis’ traditions, their genuine personalities and accomplishments, namely their successful investment in human resources. Mazen Al-Ansari, the top person in charge of the Kuwaiti corner, echoed identical sentiments of pleasure, expressing gratitude to the strategists who selected such a talented and well-known architect to build the stands and structures, showing Kuwait from attractive perspectives. The architect Rota, Ansari said, succeeded in narrating the exceptional Kuwaiti history, the bedouins’ simple life, the renaissance and the modern life, noting that the sails’ panorama at sundown has drawn many visitors. The Kuwaiti pavilion, themed “Challenges of Nature”, is situated at a vantage location close to the German and US showplaces. The Kuwaiti location oc-

cupies a 1,423-sq-m section with a 1,100-sq-m facade. The threestorey structure is 12 meters in height. It has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors, some two weeks ahead of the fair’s closure. Number of daily visitors often exceeds 11,000, much higher than its accommodation capacity. Kuwait has exerted great efforts to ensure its successful participation in this international public relations event. Top officials have visited the Kuwaiti corner where the structure and shapes, along with briefings by the staff, provide a clear picture about Kuwait, its history, heritage and struggle of its people in old and modern times. Among the basic themes portrayed at the fair is the Kuwaitis’ success to build a modern state and provide all necessities for inhabitants, including water resources largely by desalinating seawaters, as the country is located along the coast in the northernmost part of the Gulf. Expo Milan 2015, themed “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” opened on May 1. Source : www.kuwaittimes.net

BREAKING NEWS KUWAIT

DOHA NEWS

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

MAURITANIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN DOHA President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania arrived in Doha today on a short visit to Qatar. The Mauritanian President and his accompanying delegation were greeted upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Kubaisi, and Mauritania's Ambassador to Qatar Sidi Ould Mohamed Laghdaf . Source : www.qna.org.qa

20 SERVICES TO BE ADDED TO GCC E-GOV PORTAL New 20 services will be launched on GCC egovernment services portal, Hassan Jassim Al Sayed, Assistant Undersecretary of Government Information Technology Sector at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR), said. In a press statement on the sidelines of the 16th meeting of the GCC e-Government Executive Committee held in Doha, Al Sayed stated that the meeting has discussed a set of services to be added on the portal. Some of such services are targeting the public as priority to the ones related to companies establishment licenses, unified visas, residents move among GCC countries and other services that cover tourism, education and health sectors. According to Al Sayed, the meeting, which will conclude today, also discussed activating the role of e-government in GCC countries and services such as networking elink to be used by GCC government bodies for any future e-link. Source : www.gov.qa

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

DOHA NEWS

INTERIOR MINISTRY LAUNCHES 15 NEW ELECTRONIC SERVICES The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday launched a set of new electronic services on its web site, in completion of the stages of technological development, according to the ministry's strategy in this area. The 15 new services include some services provided by the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Expatriates Affairs and the others provided by General Directorate of Traffic. The new services cover the areas of changing visa types, amending visa details, activating and renewal of e-Gate service, travel transaction enquiry, travel transaction record, issuing damages vehicles certificates, issuing vehicle clearance certificate, driving license first owner certificate, ownership transfer, ownership certificate.

Also significant plate number certificate, exported vehicle certificate and previously owned vehicle certificate. Director General of General Directorate of Traffic Brigadier Mohamed Saad Al Kharji launched the new services. The launch of these electronic services comes in the framework of Qatar's digital strategy which aims at expanding the services provision outlets and keeping pace with the technological development by employing the Internet, networks and software. With the new services launched today, the number of electronic services offered by the Ministry of Interior to the individuals and organization has exceeded 50 electronic services in the different areas. Source : QNA

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO TRAVEL TO THE STATE OF QATAR AND THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN As part of the Let Girls Learn initiative, the First Lady will make stops in Doha and Amman; the First Lady will also visit US military service members stationed at Al Udeid Air Base as part of the Joining Forces initiative As part of Let Girls Learn, the First Lady will visit Doha, Qatar and Amman, Jordan from November 1-7, 2015. In Doha, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), addressing an audience of education leaders from the region and around the world about global girls’ education and the Let Girls Learn initiative. Since 2009, WISE has brought together leaders annually to explore concrete steps t o i m p rove e d u c a t i o n worldwide. As part of the Joining Forces initiative, Mrs. Obama will also visit service members stationed at Al Udeid Air Base. In Amman, the First Lady will visit a school constructed with USAID funding and technical support.

Mrs. Obama will meet with adolescent girls attending the school, deliver remarks and commend Jordan for its generosity and commitment to educating all children living within its borders. Due to the conflict in Syria, many schools in Jordan are educating increasing numbers of Syrian students alongside the children of the Jordanian communities hosting them. Girls in countries affected by conflict are nearly twice as likely to be out of secondary school, and the United States is working closely with Jordan to support this influx through ongoing educational cooperation and assistance. While in Jordan, the First Lady will visit Petra -- one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world -- where she will highlight Jordan’s rich history and cultural heritage. The First Lady will also participate in official meetings in both Doha and Amman. Source : www.whitehouse.gov

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

BUSINESS

QATAR TAKES PART IN 28TH SESSION OF ARAB TRANSPORT MINISTERS COUNCIL The Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti led Qatar's delegation to the event. Speaking at the opening session, HE Al Sulaiti, Chairman of the 27th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of T r a n s p o r t , e xplained that the aim of these meetings is to develop Arab cooperation in various areas of the transThe State of Qatar took part in the 28th port sector, through developing and enSession of the Council of Arab Ministers hancing technical efficiency of the onof Transport held Wednesday in the shore and offshore transport network Arab Academy for Science Technology among Arab countries , so as to strength and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) communication, facilitate the transmisheadquarters in Alexandria, the Arab sion of the factors of production, goods Republic of Egypt. and reduce transportation costs.

HE Al Sulaiti thanked the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, the Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport for hosting the 28th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Transport and the 55th Session of the Executive Office of Arab Ministers of Transport. He also thanked the Arab Transport Ministers for their efforts in making the previous 27th session a success. HE Al Sulaiti then handed over the Presidency of the 28th Session 28 of the Council of Arab Transport Ministers to Lebanon's Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ghazi Zaiter, wishing him success in his mission. The meeting discussed developing Arab cooperation in the field of transportation, while also agreeing on joint coordination programs with specialized Arab organizations. Source : QNA

RASGAS AWARDS TWO MAJOR CONTRACTS FOR HELIUM 3 PROJECT

RasGas has awarded the Helium 3 Project’s Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EP C) Agreement, for the Helium 3 Project to Air Products and Chiyoda AlMana respectively. This milestone reasserts Qatar’s position as one of the world’s leading helium producers and exporters. The new Helium 3 plant, which is expected to produce up to 0.4bn standard cubic feet of liquid helium per annum, will be located in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City and is expected to become operational in early 2018.

In addition to being awarded the SPA contract for the long-term hel i u m s u p p ly, Air Products was also awa rd e d t h e technology licence to supply the helium licensor package equipment for the new Helium 3 plant. Air Products is one of the major players in the helium industry with strong logistical capabilities, robust global experience, and local knowledge and expertise. Qatar Petroleum (QP) president and CEO, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, described the signing of the agreements as an important building block for Qatar’s Helium 3 project, which symbolises QP’s policy and continuous efforts to utilise Qatar’s hydrocarbon resources and create added value for its national economy. Al-Kaabi also thanked RasGas for its efforts in achieving Helium 3, thus contribut-

ing to the optimisation of Q a t a r ’ s N o r t h F i e l d r esources, and realising the elements of the Qatar National Vision 2030 to build a better future for generations to come. The Helium 3 Project will be managed and operated by RasGas on behalf of Barzan shareholders, QP and ExxonMobil in recognition of RasGas’ vast experience in the execution and operation of helium plants in Qatar. “The Helium 3 project’s source of supply is unique, with extraction processes unlike any of the previous two helium plants. This is a new achievement for RasGas, and I am pleased with our ability to leverage existing available capabilities in the country,” said Hamad Mubarak al-Muhannadi, RasGas CEO. RasGas also manages and operates Ras Laffan Helium 1 and 2. “Helium 2 set a brilliant prod u c t i o n re co rd wh e n i t reached 100% production capacity less than a year after its startup,” RasGas said. Helium is essential to many applications such as magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI); fibre optics and semiconductor manufacturing; metallurgy; breathing atmospheres for deep diving or unique blood gas medical mixtures; lifting for high altitude scient i f i c re s e a rc h b a l l o o n s , blimps; and other advanced applications. Market studies show that the world demand for helium has increased by 2.7% since 2013. With a projected helium demand growth forecast, the Helium 3 Project would contribute toward filling the supply gap that the global helium market might experience in the future. Air Products has an existing relationship with RasGas in other business and markets, and a successful history of accomplishments in Qatar. Air Products previously supplied the natural gas liquefaction technology, key liquefaction equipment, and helium extraction boxes for all the 14 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains for RasGas and Qatargas, as well as the large air separation plant for Oryx GTL, which are all located in Ras Laffan. Source : www.gulf-times.com

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

BUSINESS

QATAR JOINS BROOKFIELD'S $8.6 BILLION MANHATTAN WEST PROJECT

Brookfield Property Partners LP and Qatar Investment Authority formed a joint venture on Manhattan West, an $8.6 billion mixed-use project under construction on New York’s far west side.

Office-building values in big cities such as New York are 56 percent higher than they were at the previous peak in 2008, according to Moody’s Investors Service and Real Capital Analytics Inc.

Plans for the 7 millionsquare-foot (650,000-squaremeter) development call for five buildings, including a 62-story, 844-unit residential tower that’s already in progress and a 67-story office skyscraper that will be anchored by the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and is scheduled for completion in 2019. Qatar Investment Authority will acquire a 44 percent stake in the project, the companies said in a statement Wednesday. The deal expands the sovereign wealth fund’s global investments, which include acquisitions this year of London’s Canary Wharf Group and parent Songbird Estates Plc, both in partnership with Brookfield. Investors from around the globe are gravitating to Manhattan real estate as a safe place to park cash, pushing prices to records.

‘Early Bird’ “I don’t think anybody invests in New York real estate today expecting 20 or 30 percent returns,” Michael Cohen, tri-state regional president for brokerage Colliers International, said in a phone interview. “I’m sure that safety is a factor, but they’re also something of an early bird,” he said of Qatar Investment Authority, because development of the far west side is just beginning. Manhattan West is part of a wider effort to draw the Midtown business district farther toward toward the Hudson River, led by Related Cos.’s $20 billion Hudson Yards development over the Metrop o l i t a n Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Authority train depot, immediately west of Brookfield’s project.

Plans for the area, stretching from 28th Street to 43rd Street, include 26 million square feet of offices, 20,000 housing units, 2 million square feet of retail and 3 million square feet of hotel space, according to the Hudson Yards Development Corp. website. Last month, the MTA opened a $2.4 billion extension of the 7 subway line into the Hudson Yards area, a key part of the city’s commitment to the success of the area’s transformation. Brookfield said in April it would start building its 1 Manhattan West office tower after signing a lease with Skadden, Arps for 550,000 square feet -- about a quarter of the skyscraper. That jump-started construction at the project, bounded by 31st and 33rd streets and Ninth and 10th avenues.

Qatar Investments Sovereign wealth funds are increasingly seeking ways to make direct investments in real estate to circumvent the fees and terms of traditional private equity funds.

Qatar Investment Authority opened a New York office in September to better access deals in the U.S. and to manage its growing investment portfolio in the country. Qatar has said it plans to invest $35 billion in the country over the next five years to diversify its assets. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is the world’s ninth-largest, with assets exceeding $250 billion, according to the Londonbased Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, and the biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Earlier this month, Qatar Investment Authority expressed an interest in buying a minority stake in Swiss-based Glencore Plc’s agriculture business, according to three people familiar with the conversations. The fund’s direct-investment arm is already one of Glencore’s largest shareholders. The fund has also pared some investments amid the slump in oil prices. Two weeks ago, Qatar Investment Authority said it sold its 10 percent stake in German construction company Hochtief AG for 540 million euros ($615 million), its third disposal in three months. Source : www.bloomberg.com

TOURISM

WHY DOHA GETS SO LITTLE RAIN I’m often asked why it rains so little in Qatar. After all, the peninsula of Qatar is surrounded by water, so why aren’t there endless rain showers like there are in other hot parts of the world? Some friends of ours have just come back from a holiday in Kuala Lumpur where it rained every day. In Doha, however, it hardly ever rains. D o h a i s n ’ t t h e o n ly coastal city which is very dry. The capital of Peru also lies on the coast and sees even less rain than Doha. In fact Lima has the unenviable title of the driest capital city on earth. Whilst Doha bathes in 75mm (2.95 inches) of rain in a year, Peru’s capital receives a scanty 13mm (0.51 inches). The reason Lima is so dry, despite its coastal position, is because the water that laps the shore is very cold. If the sea were warm, then moisture from the sea would evaporate into the air above it. The warmth would heat the air from below, causing humid air to rise. This air would cool as it rose and, as cold air can’t hold as much moisture as warm air, the moisture would condense into huge towering thunderstorm clouds and trigger rain. In Lima’s case, however, the cold coastal current suppresses the rainfall, creating a desert all the way along the coast. The other reason that Lima is so dry, is due to the immense mountain range which lies to the east of the city. The Andes ensure that any rain that attempts to reach Lima from the east is blocked. With mountains blocking the rain from the east, and the cold current suppressing the rain from the west, Lima rarely sees rain.

In Doha, however, there must be a very different reason for our lack of rain. There are no mountains nearby to inhibit the rain, and the sea surrounding Doha is shallow so gets very warm in the summer months. In fact, for five months of the year the average sea temperature is over 30C (86F). So what is it that causes our lack of rain?

The answer to the riddle lies in the location of Qatar on the globe and how the sun moves during the year. Currently, the sun is tracking southwards, ready for the northern hemisphere’s winter. Later in the year, towards the end of December, the sun will reach its most southerly point, directly over the Tropical of Capricorn (23°30’ S). Conversely in June, the sun arrives at its most northerly point, the Tropic of Cancer (23°30’ N). When the sun is directly overhead, the ground warms quickly and also heats the air above it. This causes the air to rise, creating showers. If you look at a satellite picture of the globe, there is a line of thunderstorms that extends all the way round the world. There are a few breaks in it, and a few regions where the showers are more intense, but you can trace it around the globe. It follows the sun north for t h e n o r t h e r n h e m isphere’s summer, and southwards again for the winter. After the air has risen and produced the towering thunderstorms, it becomes much drier.

It then flows away, heading northwards or southwards, towards the Poles. However, the air is cooling all this time, and it doesn’t get as far as the Poles. In fact, it doesn’t get even nearly that far. If you look at a map and point out some of the major desert regions, you will see that many of them are in a line. In the southern Hemisphere, the Great Victorian Desert in Australia, the Kalahari desert in southern Africa, and the Atacama Desert all lie on one line; and in the northern hemisphere, the enormous Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula and North American’s Chihuahuan Desert all lie in another. This isn’t a coincidence. The dry air slowly descends around 30°N and 30°S and this is the latitude of many major deserts. The descending air suppresses rainfall, ensuring that even if there is hot, humid air near the surface, which would normally be perfect for the formation of showers, the descending dry air high in the atmosphere inhibits any from forming. Qatar lies on 25°N and is also affected by the descending air. It prevents all but the most vigorous storms making it to us, many simply petering out as they cross Saudi Arabia. Between now and April, there is a greater chance of seeing a storm in Qatar as we are now in the wet season. ‘Wet’ is obviously a loose term, as the descending air will still affect us, so sunshine will still be the predominant type of weather. This ensures that most of us will still think that Doha is a very dry city, unless, of course, you co m e f ro m L i m a , i n which case it may seem like it never stops raining. www.gulf-times.com

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

NAKILAT REPRESENTS QATARI MARINE INDUSTRY IN SINGAPORE DURING GASTECH 2015

Nakilat, the shipping arm of Qatari’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector is at the Gastech 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Singapore this week, representing the Qatari marine industry. Representatives from Nakilat at the event are highlighting Nakilat’s place at the core of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport industry. Through its joint ventures: ship repairers N-KOM, ship builders Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) and towage operators Nakilat- SwitzerWijsmuller (NSW) at the Erhama bin Jaber al Jalahma shipyard in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Nakilat has become synonymous with sea transport and its related industries in Qatar. The dynamic ability to scale its operations is something that has generated a significant amount of interest from visitors to the event. Other exhibitors are often impressed by Nakilat’s approach to long-term projects. Nakilat is at Gastech to promote its world-class fleet and its facilities at Qatar’s Port of Ras Laffan, which have earned a well-deserved reputation as a global centre of excellence. Source : www.qatarisbooming.com

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SUNDAY 01/11/2015

QATAR FOUNDATION, QATAR SCIENTIFIC CLUB AND RAYTHEON EXTEND MATHALIVE! EXHIBITION

Following the overwhelming success of its Qatar debut, Raytheon’s interactive math and science exhibit MathAlive!, organised and hosted at the Qatar Scientific Club in collaboration with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), will be extending its stay in Doha from 5 November to 10 December, following a one week stopover in the country in October. The MathAlive! exhibit’s stopover at QF and the Qatar Scientif ic Club is part of the Foundation’s ongoing mission to encourage learning and education, and to foster an environment conducive to unlocking human potential and in line with QSC’s aspirations to encourage innovation across a number of scientific fields and create unique l e a r n i n g e x p e r iences for Qatari youth. T h e e x h i b i t e xtended its dates following a successful run at Qatar University at the beginning of October, where the exhibit’s school attendance record for the Gulf region exceeded more than 3,600 students from 118 schools in just eight days.

CULTURE

During its debut run in Qatar, The MathAlive! exhibit also introduced a brand new and unique interactive football module specifically designed for Qatari youth, named ‘Penalty Block’,in recognition of the country’s dedication and passion for football ahead of hosting t h e 2 0 2 2 F I FA Wo r l d C u p .T h e f irst-of-its-kind simulator gives eight – 14-year-old s t u d e n t s a n u nmatched virtual experience to explore some of the mathematical concepts behind Qatar’s national sport. As one of the main pillars of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), QF Research &Development (QF R&D), is charged with the Qatar National Res e a r c h S t r a t e g y, dedicated to making Qatar a leading center for research and development excellence and innovation. QF R&D is home to Qatar National Research Fund, a leading scientif ic research funding organization, Qatar Science & Technology Park, an international hub for technology innovation and commercialization. www.qatarisbooming.com

2015 WISE TO TAKE PLACE IN DOHA FROM 3 - 5 NOVEMBER This year’s World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) will be held in Doha, Qatar, from 3 – 5 November under the theme ‘Investing for Impact: Quality Education for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’. The programme aims to explore the relationships among education, entrepreneurship, and economy; with participants addressing ways to strengthen education systems, develop ‘job-ready’ talent pools to counter persisting inequality, and support wider economic progress. Established in 2009 by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Co m m u n i ty D eve l o pment (QF), WISE will bring together more than 1,500 innovators, including educational thinkers and practitioners, representatives of governments, NGOs, business leaders, and social entrepreneurs. Designed to address the challenges of education through innovation and collaboration, it is a testament to QF’s commitment to unlocking human potential and establishing a knowledge-based economy. WISE 2015 will be the first global conference following the United Nations General Assembly and the ratification of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and will provide a platform for examining emerging innovations, scalable solutions, and emerging models of education financing. Education Above All (EAA) founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, will be hosting the second day Plenary addressing the impact of violence and conflict on education and effective responses.

Confirmed speakers and attendees include Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa; Hon. Julia Gillard, Former Australian Prime M i n i s te r, a n d B oa rd Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE); H.E. Princess Mabel Van Oranje, Board Chair, Girls Not Brides; Dr Claudia Costin, Senior D i r e c t o r, E d u c a t i o n Global Practice, The World Bank Group; and Khalid Alkhudair, Founder and CEO, Glowork. Reflecting Qatar’s commitment to the global partnership for development, WISE 2015 will present three new features: The Learning Lab: In partnership with the Supreme Education Council, WISE will offer Qatarbased school children aged 12 – 14 years old, and their teachers, the opportunity to participate in the Learning Lab; an area dedicated to innovative and interactive pedagogies. Located in the ‘Majlis’, the exhibition area at the centre of the event, the Lab will comprise three workshops, with hands-on activities facilitated by partnering institutions, including Lego. The WISE Research Reports: WISE has partnered with leading researchers from Qatar and around the world to produce a series of reports, which will be revealed at the Summit. T h e re p o r t s fe a t u re action-oriented policy research on key topics relevant to the theme of the 2015 WISE Summit.

The Qatar Zone: Also located in the ‘Majlis’, the Qatar Zone has been conceived to encourage meetings and discussions among Summit participants and key Qatari education institutions partnering with WISE. These include Qatar Foundation, the Supreme Education Council, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar University, and Teach for Qatar, among others.

A highlight of the Summit will be the announcement of the 2015 WISE Prize for Education Laureate at the Opening Session. Currently in its fifth year, the WISE Prize for Education will be presented at the Summit to an individual or a team in recognition of an outstanding contribution in education. Additionally, this year, WISE 2015 will include a focus on the education challenges of the MENA region. It will feature a panel on closing the skills gap in the region, and a roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities of education reform. Interested attendees are The reports are designed encouraged to join the to bring key topics to the Summit discussions on forefront of the global edu- Twitter and Instagram: cation debate, and reflect #WISE15, or follow WISE the priorities of the Qatar on Facebook and LinkeNational Research Strat- dIn. egy. www.qatarisbooming.com

SUNDAY 01/11/2015

LIFE

FILM DIRECTOR SAM MENDES ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LATEST JAMES BOND FILM SPECTRE Braced to unleash Spec- Are you confident that some tre onto the world, all very strong mysteries have that’s left for the artful been preserved? director is to sit back and see how audiences Yes, we’ve managed to react to the “very big get this far, so yes. With ideas” he’s been fighting Skyfall, we were terrihard to keep secret for fied that the death of M the better part of two was going to be revealed years, he tells Dave Cal- b e f o r e t h e m o v i e opened. It actually was houn. in a tabloid months beHow do you deal with all fore. But there were so the rumours around the many wrong rumours making of a Bond movie? that nobody picked up on that one as they It sounds peculiar, but thought it was just anyou have to embrace it. other rumour. These movies are a dialogue with their audi- What were the toughest acence. It’s not a dialogue tion scenes to pull off this that just takes place in time? the two and half hours you’re watching the The opening in Mexico movie. It begins two, City is pretty full on. three years earlier and it And London is, too. Try staging a sequence on evolves. the River Thames at They will review and night when it’s unlit. It’s comment on everything very difficult. We lit it up from the choice of title, like a Christmas tree. car, cast, actor, poster There were 28 generaimage, first trailer, sectors along the banks. But ond trailer. That’s an im- that ignores a massive portant part of making night-time car chase in the film. You have to ac- Rome. And a huge Alknowledge it’s a two- pine sequence, both of way process. On the which challenge anyother hand, you have to thing in the last movie seal yourself off from for technical difficulty. too many opinions as it does affect what you’re What’s new about Daniel Craig’s Bond this time doing. You must have known that round? He’s not an actor the title Spectre would raise ever to tread water, is he? rumours that Blofeld was No, he is the opposite of treading water. He has no back as the villain… neutral gear. He’s found a Yes, of course… great balance in this And you know, the movie. He fully inhabits movie will reveal all in the role now. There is a wisdom and vulnerability that regard. as well as the credibility of You want to present someone who can kill a some mysteries that are man. The darkness is pregoing to be solved by sent, but there’s also roseeing the movie. When mance in this film. He you’re making a detec- spent most of the last tive story, who wants to movie playing catch-up. go in knowing who the Here, he’s the main driver murderer is? of the story and much I’m not being coy, I just more proactive. He’s don’t want to ruin peo- given much more to do. ple’s enjoyment of the film. timeoutdoha.com

SCH LAUNCHES CANCER REGISTRY

The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has launched the Qatar National Cancer Registry to provide integrated national data on all cancer cases diagnosed each year from all public and private health sectors. A new electronic data reporting programme has been developed for the registry by the SCH staff. The registration of cancer cases will be carried out electronically by hospitals, as well as by laboratories and private diagnostic centres. The information will then be scientifically c h e c k e d a n d r eviewed. The registry’s database is connected with other relevant entities to ensure that the data is updated.

Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, assistant secretary general for Policy Affairs at SCH said it will provide comprehensive information about cancer cases in the country which can be used for the purposes of health planning and development and scientific research. Dr Faleh noted that the registry is one of the significant outcomes of the National Cancer Strategy which has achieved remarkable progress since its launch in 2011. He said the registry now employs qualified staff who have achieved an international accreditation to register cancer cases. The Qatar National Cancer Registry is part of the National Cancer Programme at the SCH.

The programme provides the framework that defines the national approach to dealing with cancer in Qatar and is based on the National Cancer S t r a t e g y. T h e p r ogramme aims to reduce the burden of cancer in the country while ensuring that the best services in the world are delivered to patients to improve outcomes. Qatar is among a few countries in the region whose cancer data has been accepted by the World Health Organisation, which reflects the high quality of data collected on health issues in Qatar. The Qatar cancer data was published in the 10th edition on cancer cases by WHO (Ci5-X) issued by International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC). www.gulf-times.com

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SUNDAY 01/11/2015 DOHA TO HOST ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) announced that the Qatari capital, Doha, will organize the Asian Athletics Championships 2019, while the Indian Ranchi will organize the Asian Athletics Championships in 2017.

SPORT

MARIA LYLE WINS 100M T35 SILVER AT IPC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DOHA

The decision was made during the AAA council meeting held recently in the Manila, at the headquarters The Asian Athletics Association .The meeting by Qatari Dahlan Al Hamad, the AAA President . Source : QNA

DOHA 2015: PREVIEW OF THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF COMPETITION

Martina Caironi lines up in the f inal of the women’s 100m T42 at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships on Friday 30 October having eased up over the line in world record time in the previous day’s heats in Doha, Qatar. The Italian set a new world record of 15.01 in the heats at the city’s Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium – and even then she eased up over the line. Whilst Caironi clearly is in form this year and goes into the race as defending champion, she will have to watch out for Germany’s Vanessa Low, who beat Caironi to long jump gold on Thursday 22 October. Poland’s Barbara Niewiedzial has also looked in terrific form so far this championships and she is on track for a third world title in today’s 400m T20 final, having already won the 800m and 1,500m. Chile’s Cristian Valenzuela will be hoping to secure his second title in Doha after winning the 5,000m T11 four days ago, this time in the men’s 1,500m. But he will have to watch out for the likes of Brazil’s Odair Santos, the man who beat him to gold in

Lyon two years ago. Watch out too for Turkey’s Semih Deniz who is ranked third in the world this year. Another man out to secure double gold in Doha is Ireland’s Michael McKillop. The defending champion and world record holder will be the man to beat in the men’s 1,500m T37 having already secured the 800m title in Doha. In the women’s 1,500m T13, Tunisia’s Somaya Bousaid may have clocked the fastest time so far this season - 4:26.88 – b u t E l e n a Pa u t ova should not be dismissed either. The Russian leads the T12 standings this year and was the 1,500m T12 champion two years ago in Lyon, France. Out in the field, the men’s high jump T44 should once again provide plenty of excitement as Poland’s Maciej Lepiato and Great Britain’s Jonathan BroomEdwards go head to head once more. Two years ago it was Lepiato who came out on top, with a then world record leap of 2.13m. biting final saw both athletes clear 2.15m before the Pole clinched gold with a 2.17m clearance. www.paralympic.org

MARIA LYLE OF GREAT BRITAIN COMPETES IN THE WOMEN’S 100M T35 HEATS ON DAY EIGHT OF THE IPC WORLD Fifteen-year-old Maria Lyle claimed silver for Great Britain in the women’s 100 metres T35 at the IPC World Championships in Doha, setting a European record of 13.92 seconds in the process. Lyle qualified in a championship-record time of 14.57sec in the first heat before the Australian Isis Holt improved that with 14.19 to qualify fastest for the final. Holt then went even better in the final to set a world record of 13.63 but the double European champion Lyle did enough to finish second in a personal best, ahead of Australia’s Brianna Coop. She was nevertheless left pondering what might have been. “I’m happy with the time considering I had a bad start,” she said. “I tripped slightly in my first few strides, unfortunately. “That is something I’ll have to work on with my coach.

[Tabo Huntley] – we’ll have to focus on a lot of technical things. I’m going to have a hard winter training session to make sure I’m in even better shape for Rio next year. “I would have liked to have won the gold medal but it wasn’t to be. I tried my best.” Sophie Hahn secured silver in the women’s 200m T38 and Shaun Burrows won bronze in the men’s 400m T38 to take Britain’s medal tally to 26 on day eight in Qatar. Hahn, who was pipped to the gold by Russia’s M a r g a r i t a G o n c h arova, clocked a personal-best time of 26.82 while her British team-mate Olivia Breen also claimed a PB by finishing fourth in 28.06. “I am very happy because I didn’t expect to get a personal best,” Hahn said. “Margarita [ G o n c h a r o va , w h o won the gold and set a world record of 26.61] is a fantastic athlete

and I think her endurance got the better of me today.” Earlier in the session, Burrows clocked 53.45 to finish third in the men’s 400m T38 behind Colombia’s Dixon de Jesus Ho o ke r Ve l a s q u e z , who won in 52.62, while South Africa’s Union Sekailwe secured the silver medal i n a s e a s o n’s b e s t 52.78. “I can’t believe I won a medal,” Burrows said. “My legs feel like jelly now but it was a very good race. I’m happy with a personal best and it gives me confidence for the 100m.” Elsewhere, Jordan Howe was fifth in the men’s 100m T35, Graeme Ballard narrowly missed out on the medals in the men’s 100m T36 by finishing fourth and Je n ny M c L o u g h l i n also ended up fourth in the women’s 200m T37 in 30.05. / The Guardian

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VISIT QBBF www.bulgarianbusiness.org.uk www.facebook.com/QatarBulgariaBusinessForum

The Qatar-Bulgaria Business Forum (QBBF) is a London based NGO