ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 12 February 2014 12 Rabial II 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5973 Price: QR2 Barclays plans Hepburn wins to cut 12,000 time trial jobs this year in Doha Business | 17 Sport | 27 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Leaders join National Sport Day festivities Qatar celebrated yesterday its third National Sport Day on a grand scale with a great number of sporting events held across the country. LEFT: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in the activi- ties of Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation at Losail Shooting Complex and at Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre. CENTRE: The Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani riding a purebred Arabian camel at Um Ethnaytein. RIGHT: H H Sheikha Jawahir bint Hamad bin Suheim Al Thani, wife of the Emir, visited the Equestrian club headquarters, the Qatar Foundation for Orphans “Dreima’ and Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs. See also pages 2, 4 & 5 77 killed in plane crash River Thames flooded OULED GACEM, ALGERIA: A military trans- LONDON: Hundreds of homes were swamped Qatar sets standards to port plane carrying members of the Algerian armed by floods along the River Thames yesterday while forces and their relatives crashed into a mountain British Prime Minister David Cameron warned here yesterday, killing 77 people. State television that stricken communities were “in it for the showed footage of the wreckage of the plane and long haul”. Affluent towns and villages along the protect workers’ rights emergency crew scouring the forested area for Thames to the west of London have been trans- survivors and bodies. The Defence Ministry said formed into lagoons. More than 1,000 homes have said the crash was likely due to bad weather. been evacuated along the Thames. 2022 Committee releases Workers Welfare Standards Earlier report on page 7 See also page 11 DOHA: Qatar yesterday per room to a minimum standard Workers’ Welfare Committee released a set of standards to for cleanliness and hygiene. The conducted its first successful protect the rights of work- Supreme Committee has the right inspection of workers’ accommo- ers involved in mega projects to penalise contractors who fail dation for Al Wakrah Stadium. associated with the 2022 FIFA to comply with the mandatory This accommodation currently World Cup and announced Workers Welfare Standards. houses 38 workers, currently measures to hold the contrac- The committee said, in extreme engaged on Supreme Committee tors accountable for any breach. cases, it could terminate its con- construction projects. The Workers Welfare Standards, tract with a company that is con- The Ministry of Labour and released by the Supreme tinually breaching the standards. Social Affairs has intensified Committee for Delivery and However, “a focus is being placed inspections at labour accommoda- Legacy will address “some of the on working with contractors to tions. The Ministry increased the most critical concerns highlighted improve standards on a continu- number of trained labour inspec- in recent reports about working ous basis.” tors by 30 percent over the past and living conditions of workers in If the contractors do not six months and conducted 11,500 Qatar’s construction sector,” the demonstrate any improvement, spot checks in the past three committee said yesterday. there are legal mechanisms in months. A total of 306 compa- The standards require contrac- all contracts which allow the nies have been classified and their tors to set up bank accounts for Supreme Committee to step in performance will be published to their workers, which will help and fix the problem at the con- workers and owners. facilitate payment, creating an tractors’ expense. The commit- The release of the welfare stand- auditable transaction system that tee will report such incidents to ards coincided with the beginning will help the Supreme Committee the Ministry of Labour and Social of important work on the first pro- verify that all workers are being Affairs and the Central Tenders posed host venue for the 2022 FIFA paid in full and on time. Committee, jeopardising the World Cup in Al Wakrah. Four other The standards also include contractor’s ability to undertake stadia will be in different phases of comprehensive specifications for future projects in Qatar. construction throughout the year, workers’ accommodations, set- The committee has also ini- the committee said. ting clear guidelines for every- tiated several measures on THE PENINSULA thing from the number of beds the ground. On January 13, its Continued on page 3 Cyber law made stricter DOHA: The Advisory Council will be violating the law and Using forged bank cards for that approved Qatar’s draft law liable for punishments. online purchase, violations of “on combating cyber crime”, Hosting websites intended to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) with some amendments, has subvert the law of the land or for or any other kind of online frauds recommended an extensive spreading false news that may would be sternly dealt with. media campaign to raise aware- harm the country’s safety and Hosting porn websites and cir- ness about the law and punish- security would be prosecuted. culating, copying and producing ments for violations. Forging written documents with any kind of porn materials are The Council met on Monday the support of electronic systems liable for punishment under the and recommended scrapping the will also attract punishment. new law. “minimum punishment” clause Forging signatures online The office of the public prose- from the draft. and impersonating government cution is the competent authority According to the draft law, officials or making any attempt to investigate violations. which contains 54 articles and to wrongly give the impression It can seize electronic systems/ five chapters, those who try to that one represents any govern- gizmos used for committing the make illegal access or hack any ment body, would be violating frauds. THE PENINSULA sort of official data or website the law. Continued on page 3 WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar celebrates National Sport Day Leaders, officials and a large number of people take part in festivities at venues across the country DOHA: Qatar celebrated yes- terday its third National Sport Day (NSD) in a grand scale with a great number of sporting events across the country. Officials and the general public joined hands in a day filled with activities to promote sport cul- ture and healthy lifestyle. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in activities of Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation at Losail Shooting Complex and Al Shaqab equestrian centre. The Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took part in the celebrations by riding a purebred Arabian camel at Um Ethnaytein in the morning. H H Sheikha Jawahir bint Hamad bin Suheim Al Thani, wife of the Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated yesterday in a number of sport events to mark the National Sport Day. She visited the Equestrian club headquarters, the Qatar Foundation for Orphans “Dreima’ and Shafallah Center for Children with special needs. Al Thani, Secretary-General of was extended to a week and the a year-long weight loss contest by The Prime Minister and Qatar Olympic Committee, said, number of activities increased and QOC and VLCC. Interior Minister H E Sheikh “NSD gets better and better spread all over the country. “This year, we are expecting Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa each year and 2014 has taken the “This year, we increased sport more than 1,000 people, because Al Thani participated in jog- event to a new level. The whole activities, especially those for after the first edition people are ging and football games at Qatar nation should be proud. The Sport the young generation. The aim now more aware of the compe- Sports Club. Village has been a revelation this of this day is to encourage people tition, which is about promoting Ministers and officials were also year and allowed us to see some to participate in sport, increase health awareness and wellness,” seen at various venues around the exciting sparks of talent we can the number of people who play said Amanda Yaacoub, Area country. hopefully nurture into the next sport and educate them to pro- Technical Head-Slimming, VLCC. The Minister of Public Health H attracted thousands of partici- The Qatar Olympic Committee generation of Qatari athletes.” mote sport culture. I hope today She said the contest is open for E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani pants, including officials, youth (QOC) Sport Zone, the main hub QOC Director of Sports Affairs will be the start of their life in those with BMI above 30. said: “Today is a milestone for the centres, schools and private com- of the celebrations, saw thou- Committee, Khalil Al Jaber, sport.” VLCC and QOC will regularly people of Qatar. Healthy living for panies, among others. sands of people participating expressed satisfaction with the He praised efforts of sport fed- follow progress of the contestants all is our aim and through one of “Sport should be the slogan of in football, basketball, archery, turnout at the Sport Zone since erations opening their facilities to making sure they lose weight nat- the world’s most varied and excit- all and for all and has to be prac- shooting, table tennis, handball, it opened on Thursday. the public and the participation urally and not resort to pills or ing programmes of events we have tised by everyone. Sport is one equestrian and billiards games, “I am satisfied with the number of clubs outside Doha, including surgery.