ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Sunday 22 December 2013 18 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5921 Price: QR2 Energy market Qatar fourth outlook stable: at Arab Karate Qatar, Saudi Championship Business | 17 Sport | 25 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Promoting tradition Qaradawi quits Rising housing Al Azhar varsity research body demand driving DOHA: Noted Islamic scholar, Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi, has quit a key Islamic research body of Al Azhar University, reports Al Sharq. Islamic Research up inflation Complex is an apex Islamic research body of Egypt. The Doha-based Islamic scholar had earlier this month resigned from 25,000 units to be built in 2014 the advisory body within Al Azhar. He was a member of Al Azhar’s DOHA: An estimated 25,000 Statistics for November reflect Supreme Clerical Committee. new housing units are expected that in a month alone rents have Al Azhar’s Islamic Research to come into the market in 2014 increased 0.7 percent. Complex has 50 members who are as demand would likely soar to a The prices of food, furniture, renowned scholars from different record between 20 and 25 percent textiles, entertainment, and schools of thought of Islam. Out in the year, says a prominent real healthcare services have also been of 50, not more than 20 members estate development company. under pressure as all these cat- An Emirati hands his falcon to a boy at the Liwa desert, 220km west of Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the should be from out of Egypt. THE PENINSULA The rising demand for hous- egories show an increase in vary- Mazayin Dhafra Camel Festival yesterday. The festival, which attracts participants from around the Gulf ing has already begun putting ing degrees. region, includes a camel beauty contest, a display of UAE handicrafts and other activities aimed at promot- pressure on rent prices that are, The cost of entertainment rose ing the country’s folklore. Arab League report in turn, driving inflation in the 4.4 percent, while that of furni- country. For example, the rent- ture and textiles by 4.2 percent. slams US security als of furnished residential units Food became 2.6 percent expen- were up 12 percent in 2013, Al sive in a year. Health services ideas for Palestine Asmakh Real Estate Development weren’t spared as they showed Company said. an increase of 2.1 percent. CAIRO: The Arab League yes- Over the next five years, devel- Rents, clubbed with energy and Qatar emergency aid to benefit terday rejected US proposals opers might add a total of 100,000 fuel, account for the largest weight that would allow Israeli soldiers housing units to the existing of 32.2 percent in the CPI basket, to be stationed on the eastern stocks, according to Al Asmakh. followed by transport and com- border of a future Palestinian “The demand for housing will munications, with a share of 20.5 1.5 million Syrian refugees state, underscoring the chal- continue to remain high in the percent — the latter also became lenge facing a US effort to wrap years to come,” said the company. 1.9 percent costlier in a year. DOHA: Under the directives of Meanwhile, Qatar launched include the Bekaa, Metn, Kesrouan up a peace deal by April. The demand for office space has The weight of food, tobacco the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim the fifth phase of its relief cam- and Jbiel regions, in addition to At an emergency meeting also been showing an upswing as and beverages in the CPI basket bin Hamad Al Thani Qatar paign targeting Syrian refugees in areas north and east of the Bekaa called at the request of Palestinian in the first half of 2014 it might is 13.2 percent. The three catego- has provided emergency assist- Lebanon who are experiencing a Valley, the northern Bekaa, Akkar, President Mahmoud Abbas, Arab look up at least 10 percent, the ries (rents, food, transport and ance that will benefit 1.5 million difficult humanitarian situation Tripoli, Dennie and Alia. League Secretary-General Nabil company said. communications) put together Syrian refugees. after the onset of winter. QRC distributed aid worth Al Arabi said there could be not Rising rentals are, in turn, add- account for three-fourth of the The assistance is to help the $68m to Syrian refugees in one Israeli soldier in the territory ing to inflationary pressure in the CPI basket. refugees living in camps and out- $60M CAMPAIGN Lebanon in the previous four of a future Palestine. country. Prices rose 2.8 percent Simply put, some 66 percent side to cope with the winter and The $60m campaign aims to stages, including ambulances, The report said the US security year-on-year until last November of a family’s monthly household alleviate their suffering. provide food, clothing and medi- a field hospital, health centres, proposals “achieved Israeli security driven largely by rents that soared expenses are incurred on rent, The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) cal aid to about 680,000 Syrian medicines and foodstuff. expansionist demands, and guaran- at double that ratio — at 5.6 per- food and transport and commu- has been assigned to coordinate refugees who are badly hit by the Qatar has also provided assist- teed (Israel’s) continued control of cent, ministry figures show. nications alone. The prices of all with the UN Refugee Agency severe cold wave in the Bekaa ance to Syrians displaced inside (the Jordan Valley) on the security Consumer Price Index (CPI) these categories have recently (UNHCR) in the delivery of the Valley and many other parts of Syria and on its borders with pretext”. It also described them as figures released by the Ministry been looking up. aid and to ensure it reaches the Lebanon. Turkey and Jordan. “an American retreat”. of Development Planning and THE PENINSULA needy as soon as possible. The campaign was expanded to THE PENINSULA REUTERS SUNDAY 22 DECEMBER 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Doha set to host GCC Digital Security Forum Minister underscores need to boost awareness on cyber crimes and explore defence of computer systems DOHA: The GCC Digital as a result of cyber crimes (ITU said yesterday. This forum also and financial markets, in addition threats, and prospects of coop- and networks are accompanied Security Forum to be held in Report). comes at a time when digital to solutions and services provid- eration between countries in the by some negative phenomena, Doha on February 4 and 5 will The total global direct cost defence strategies have reached ers in the field of digital security. region and between governments depicted in cyber crimes, which discuss cyber crimes, among of cybercrime reached $113bn the forefront of priorities of gov- The event is expected to attract and the private sector to enhance began to take multiple forms and other issues, which have caused up from $110bn and the average ernments, and public and private more than 400 participants from the protection of vital sectors shapes, and involve significant losses worth a whopping $1trn cost per victim of cybercrime institutions. 15 countries. and institutions, and provide a threats against individuals and globally last year. increased this year to $298 up The Forum will feature promi- The Forum focuses on digital safe environment to promote the institutions. We need to spread The Forum is being held by from $197 in 2012 (Norton nent speakers, including minis- security and its impact on various Internet Economy, e-commerce constant awareness of all that’s Meeza in cooperation with Al Cybercrime Report 2013). ters, top professionals and experts economic sectors and the role of and e-services in the Gulf region. happening within the field of Iktissad Wal Aamal Group under These numbers do not reflect from international organisa- governments in the development Dr Hessa Al Jaber said: digital security and constantly the patronage of the Minister of the true damage done to brands, tions and regulatory entities and of digital security systems within “Organising such forums high- explore means of defence and Communication and Information organisations, and entire markets, unions, leaders from the public institutions and companies. lights the importance of the protection; and further develop Technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan especially in the Middle East, a and private sectors and digital It will also discuss laws and issue of digital security and its digital security systems within Al Jaber. region that lacks accurate esti- security officials from vital sec- enforcements needed to prevent associated technological expan- institutions and companies, as It is estimated that as much as mation of losses resulting from tors such as the infrastructure, and fight digital crimes, new sions, as the technological devel- well as legislation and related $1trn was lost globally last year digital crimes, the organisers telecommunications, and banking trends and solutions for digital opment of information systems law.” THE PENINSULA New edition of HBKU students programme gets under way TAMU-Q, Woqod join to promote science DOHA: Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a mem- ber of Qatar Foundation has launched a new edition of the DOHA: Texas A&M University isdelighted to have had the support ‘Promising Students Programme’ to attract more Qatari at Qatar (TAMU-Q) and Woqod of Texas A&M at Qatar in help- students. has collaborated to promote sci- ing us solve a challenging indus- Geared at grade ten students who attend independent ence and engineering to Qatar’s trial application to extend the life schools, the programme aims to encourage the enrolment young students. of pavements and roads in Qatar.