ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Thursday 3 April 2014 3 Jumadal II 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5623 Price: QR2 Global energy FIFA orders use to surge transfer ban 50pc: Al Sada on Barcelona Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Qatar gives 40 executives $1bn aid to Khartoum get jail terms KHARTOUM: Qatar will deposit $1bn in Sudan’s central bank, Khartoum said yesterday. The announcement by Finance Minister Badr El-Din Mahmoud came at the end of a for visa fraud visit to Khartoum by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Fifty firms referred to prosecution Mahmoud, speaking at Khartoum airport, said Qatar DOHA: More than 40 execu- operations to strictly implement also planned to invest in large tives of private companies, the law, he said. agricultural and energy projects including Qataris, were given The Department has formed in Sudan, whose economy has suf- prison terms for fraudulent visa two separate teams to ensure fered since South Sudan broke trade. A total of 50 companies the law is strictly implemented away in 2011, taking with it much were referred to the Public and that law-breakers are booked of Khartoum’s oilfields. Prosecution and 84 cases were and referred to the Prosecution “Sudan realised big economic registered for their alleged Department for further legal gains from the visit of the Emir involvement in ‘visa trading’. procedure. He added that these of Qatar today,” he said. The Qatari and expatriate steps have brought about positive Mahmoud said the deposit was executives will undergo jail terms results. the second part of an aid package of one year to three years. The Col Nasser said the Search and but declined to give details of the individuals and companies were Follow up Department is commit- first part. In a written statement, charged a total of QR4.27m in ted to strictly implementing the the Emir said his visit “comes to fines for violating Qatari law law. He sought the cooperation confirm the two countries’ desire (No. 4 of 2009) relating to expa- and support of individuals and for continued dialogue and coordi- triates’ entry, exit, residence and companies in their endeavour. nation on issues of mutual inter- sponsorship. “Employing absconding workers The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived yesterday in Khartoum on a day’s official visit to Sudan. The est”. REUTERS The Ministry of Interior (MoI) is illegal and those who attempt to Emir was welcomed upon arrival at Khartoum International Airport by Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir. Report, pictures on page 2 said yesterday it handled the employ or work in similar condi- victims of the visa racket in a tions would be booked under law humane way allowing more than any time”, he said. 1,000 workers to transfer their Information or queries about sponsorship to other agents. absconding workers are available Blasts in Cairo kill top police general The Director of the Search on 44695222 round-the-clock. and Follow Up Department, The Qatar Foundation for CAIRO: Two bombs target- police. The third bomb struck Mursi, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, said Al Serafi, and four other police- Col Nasser Muhammad Al Syed, Combating Human Trafficking ing security posts near Cairo close to the main gates, where he was leaving the military to men were wounded. said operations against illegal has set up offices near the lower University exploded in quick police investigators and journal- stand in a presidential election set “I was waiting for the bus when companies have proved that these courts, and also at the Labour succession yesterday killing ists had gathered, causing no for May. A fourth bomb placed in I heard two explosions. There was firms have a key role in the grow- Court, to keep track of cases filed a police general, followed by a casualties. a car parked near the university dust in the air and policemen ing number of illegal and abscond- by the victims of illegal visa trade. third blast as police and jour- The bombings were the latest was defused, security officials and were screaming,” said a witness, ing workers in the country. Their Last year, it said it was moni- nalists gathered at the scene. in a spate of attacks against the state television said. Sakta Mostafa. A police general large presence poses a serious toring at least 60 cases that have Witnesses said the blasts sent security forces since the army The Interior Ministry identi- at the scene told AFP that the threat to social security in the been filed in the courts against up a cloud of smoke and dust near overthrew elected Islamist presi- fied the slain officer as Brigadier bombs were concealed in a tree country. companies that are allegedly the campus, the scene of repeated dent Mohamed Mursi last July. General Tarek Al Mergawi. between two small police posts. The Department would involved in ‘trading work visas’. clashes in the past few months They came less than a week An assistant interior minis- AFP continue its inspections and THE PENINSULA between Islamist students and after the army chief who toppled ter, Major General Abdel Raouf See also page 7 PSG beat Chelsea Nasa snaps ties with Russia US tries to keep WASHINGTON: NASA has cut all contacts with Russia peace talks alive except for cooperation aboard the International Space Station, RAMALLAH: Washington is Palestinian officials said Israel’s according to an internal memo keeping up efforts to put Israel- failure to free the prisoners meant obtained by the online news site Palestinian peace negotiations Abbas was no longer bound to a The Verge yesterday. NASA did back on track despite “unhelp- commitment not to confront it not immediately return calls for ful steps” taken by both sides in at the United Nations and other comment. However, a copy of the the past day, a senior US official international bodies. memo posted online described said yesterday. The developments further com- a halt to travel to Russia by A surprise decision by plicated efforts by US Secretary NASA employees and to visits Palestinian President Mahmoud of State John Kerry to piece by Russians to NASA facili- Abbas on Tuesday to sign more together a three-way deal. ties and a freeze on exchange of than a dozen international conven- The talks were already in trou- email, teleconferences and video tions that could give Palestinians ble over the issues of Israeli set- conferences. “Given Russia’s greater leverage against Israel left tlements in the West Bank and violation of Ukraine’s sover- the United States searching for a East Jerusalem — land captured eignty and territorial integrity, way to keep the talks alive past an by Israel in the 1967 Middle East until further notice, the US gov- April 29 deadline. War — and Palestinian opposition ernment has determined that “Both sides have taken unhelp- to Netanyahu’s demand to recog- all NASA contacts with Russian ful steps over the last 24 hours. nise Israel as a Jewish state. government representatives are But neither party has given any Israel had said it first wanted a suspended, unless the activity indication...that they want to end Palestinian commitment to nego- has been specifically excepted,” the negotiations,” the senior US tiate past the original target date it said. The new policy does not State Department official told for a deal before freeing the last apply to “operational ISS activi- reporters in Brusssels. of the 104 prisoners it promised ties” or “multilateral meetings “We will spend the next few to release as part of US efforts to held outside of Russia that may Chelsea’s Willian (left) vies for the ball with Paris Saint Germain player Christophe Jallet during the UEFA days continuing to discuss with restart the negotiations last July. include Russian participation,” Champions League quarter final first leg match at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, yesterday. both parties the options for the Kerry had cancelled a planned added the memo. REUTERS Paris Saint Germain beat Chelsea 3-1. path ahead,” the official said. visit to the West Bank city of The Palestinians had handed Ramallah yesterday to meet Passengers’ role over to a UN representative and Abbas, saying it was important to other diplomats applications to keep the peace process moving but ruled out in MH370 join 15 international conven- “in the end, it is up to the parties”. Windows to be given free for phones tions. They include the Geneva Palestinians hope Abbas’s move Conventions, the key text of will give them a stronger basis PERTH/KUALA LUMPUR: international law on the conduct to appeal to the International Malaysian police have ruled out SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft Android platform. Microsoft’s services such as Skype and of war and occupation. Criminal Court and eventually involvement of any passengers Corp is to give away its move, announced at its annual Office. A senior Palestinian official, lodge formal complaints against in the disappearance of a miss- Windows operating system to developers conference in San Up to now, Microsoft has voicing frustration deepened by Israel for its continued occupation ing jetliner, while Australian makers of smartphones and Francisco, is an attempt to charged phone and tablet makers Israel’s failure to carry out a of territory seized in 1967, lands officials warned bad weather small tablets for consumers as broaden the small user base of between $5 and $15 per device to pledged release of several dozen they see as vital to an independ- and a lack of reliable informa- it seeks to make more of an mobile versions of Windows, in use its Windows system, as it has Palestinian prisoners, also said ent state.