BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Al-Attiyah clinches fourth FIA INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-9, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 QFC receives huge REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-7, 12-16 World Cup response from global 22,830.68 8,253.34 50.94 ARAB WORLD 10 CLASSIFIED 8-12 +69.61 +40.48 +1.36 INTERNATIONAL 11-21 SPORTS 1-8 fi rms despite blockade title +0.31% +0.49% +2.74% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10603 October 11, 2017 Muharram 21, 1439 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Al-Kuwari leads in 2nd round of voting for Unesco head atar’s candidate, HE Dr Ha- mad bin Abdulaziz al-Ku- Qwari, emerged as the leading contender after two rounds of vot- ing to pick the next head of the Unit- ed Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), AFP reported yesterday. France’s Audrey Azoulay, a former culture minister like HE Dr al-Ku- wari, was in second place among the six candidates still in the running to replace outgoing Unesco director- general Irina Bokova. HE Dr al-Kuwari garnered 20 votes from the 58 board members gathered in Paris, according to re- sults posted on Twitter by board chairman Michael Worbs of Ger- many yesterday. Thirty votes are needed to clinch the nomination to head the Paris- based Unesco. There were 13 votes for Azoulay in the secret ballot, Worbs tweeted. In third place was Egyptian career diplomat Moushira Khattab with 12 votes. China’s Tang Qian and Viet- nam’s Pham Sanh Chau each scored fi ve votes, while Vera El Khoury of Lebanon won three. Three candidates have dropped out of contention. QATAR | Offi cial His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with a section of the graduates. FM meets UN chief’s humanitarian envoy HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- Thani met yesterday with the UN Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy Dr Ahmed bin Mohamed Emir graces Qatar University al-Muraikhi. The meeting discussed the relations between Qatar and the United Nations, besides topics of common concern. The foreign minister said Qatar is committed to supporting the UN’s eff orts to address humanitarian crises graduation ceremony and is looking forward to further co-operating with the UN in By Joseph Varghese for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdul- achievements of the university as well from their universities at the block- “They are the development and the humanitarian aid, especially in areas Staff Reporter lah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, several min- as its role in empowering the young ading countries, and did not take any empowerment of the transition process of conflict. On his part, al-Muraikhi isters, QU president Dr Hassan al-Der- generation in meeting various chal- action against the students from the within the higher education system in appreciated Qatar’s support to ham, a large number of distinguished lenges such as the present one which siege countries. They were able to con- Qatar; to be recognised as a provider of the UN, especially the $40mn atar University (QU) celebrated guests, members of QU leadership, he described as “ the unfair and illegal tinue their education as normal,” he student-centred, practical, research- co-operation agreement between the male students’ graduation deans, parents and students took part blockade imposed on Qatar.” explained. based, competency-based and tech- Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) Qfor the Class of 2017 yesterday in the event. “As we celebrate the graduation of “The university also contributed to nology-based learning in support of and Off ice for the Co-ordination of at a special ceremony in the presence of Among the graduates, 79 highest- this distinguished batch of students, facing the blockade and its eff ects by entrepreneurship; the preparation of Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA). His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim achieving students of GPA 3.50 and our country is witnessing an obvi- providing in collaboration with many lo- graduates with an integrated person- bin Hamad al-Thani who was the guest higher were honoured by His Highness ous challenge -”the unfair and illegal cal institutions eff ective studies that ad- ality and with the values that would EUROPE | Politics of honour at the event. the Emir and the graduates received blockade imposed on Qatar”. Qatar’s dressed the illegal blockade imposed on maximise their impact and eff ective Held at Qatar National Convention their certifi cates from the university reaction to the blockade revealed the Qatar, and throughout many seminars, role; to excel in relevant and measura- Catalan leader puts Centre, this was the 40th and the larg- president. This year’s highest scorer country’s wise governance that comes workshops and panel discussions that ble research that provides solutions and independence on hold est batch of students to graduate from with GPA 4.00 was computer engi- from its “deep and strategic national engaged academics and experts from all drives forward knowledge and innova- Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont the university with 775 male students neering student Naram Sultan Mhais- vision”, under the leadership of His over the world. Additionally, the univer- tion; to be recognised as a sustainable stepped back yesterday from graduating in diff erent subjects from en. His Highness the Emir also posed Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin sity provided its students with cultural institution and a reference of excel- making an immediate declaration various colleges of the university. The for a group photo with the graduates. Hamad al-Thani,” noted al-Derham. opportunities to increase their awareness lence in line with the highest standards of independence after a banned women’s graduation ceremony will Excited and joyous parents, rela- “Qatar University is committed to on the blockade and its impact from a of professionalism and discipline; and referendum, calling for more time take place today. tives and friends cheered the graduates play an eff ective role during this phase legal, political, economic and social per- to create eff ective partnerships with for talks with Madrid to resolve HE the Prime Minister and Interior as they received their certifi cates and and assumed over the past period a spective,” continued the offi cial. local and international stakeholders to Spain’s worst political crisis in Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser greeted them with fl owers and garlands part of its national duty and responsi- Dr al-Derham also pointed out that enrich education, promote research, a generation. In a speech to bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Deputy after the ceremony. bility. The university accommodated Qatar University’s Strategic Plan 2018- and stimulate socio-economic devel- regional lawmakers in Barcelona, Prime Minister and Minister of State Dr al-Derham highlighted the the Qatari students who were expelled 2022 has identifi ed six goals. opment,” he added. Page 24 Puigdemont said he had assumed “the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent republic” after the October 1 vote. But the 54-year- old asked the Catalan parliament 3rd phase of T22 launched to “suspend the eff ects of the ‘Blockade founded on jealousy’ independence declaration to initiate he Qatar General Electric- are three prizes for schools that re- dialogue in the coming weeks.” ity & Water Corporation (Kah- duces electricity and water consump- Doha Gulf crisis was fabricated to take the statement to Reuters that the UAE’s Page 16 Tramaa), which spearheads the tion remarkably. There is an award for Agencies 2022 FIFA World Cup away from Qatar. charge was desperate and “weak”. National Programme for Conserva- the best video containing a national “The Gulf crisis could end if Doha The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain QATAR | Reaction tion & Energy Effi ciency “Tarsheed,” awareness message related to reducing forfeited hosting the World Cup,” Lt severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties has launched the third phase of Tar- energy consumption, posted via so- he UAE’s demand that Qatar give Gen Dhahi Khalfan, Deputy Chairman with Qatar in June, accusing it of spon- Storming of Al Aqsa sheed22 (T22) project in co-operation cial media platforms with the special up the World Cup shows “their of Police and Public Security, Dubai, soring Islamist groups, a charge Doha Mosque condemned with Supreme Committee for Delivery hashtag of Tarsheed 22: #T22_2017 Tillegal blockade is founded on had said. Gargash said the offi cial had denies. Egypt has also joined the boycott. Qatar has strongly denounced and & Legacy (SC). and #Tarsheed22_2017. petty jealousy, not real concerns”, the been misunderstood in media coverage. Kuwaiti and US attempts to ease the condemned the storming of Al Aqsa The third phase of T22 is to be im- The other awards are for the school government communications offi ce Khalfan’s comments have come un- row have yielded little progress. Mosque by hundreds of settlers. In plemented in fi ve stages until 2022, it that organises most number of visits yesterday said. der massive attack for its sheer and The World Cup is the centrepiece of a statement, the Foreign Ministry was announced at the fi rst induction to the Kahramaa Awareness Park for its “Their weak attempts to tie the host- overt threat to Qatar hosting the ambi- a carefully crafted strategy to project described the act as a dangerous meeting held at Kahramaa Awareness students, the school that designs and ing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to their tious sport event. Qatar onto the global stage via sport. In violation and another provocation Park for managers of 22 new inde- publishes most number of paintings with illegal blockade show their desperation Further linking the 2022 World Cup the run-up, Qatar is scheduled to host of the feelings of millions of Muslims pendent schools selected by Ministry conservation messages with a national to justify their inhumane action,” it to the illegal and unjust boycott, Gar- events across diff erent sports aimed at around the world.