www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 14 SPORT | 23 Fed keeps rates It’s make or breakreak unchanged and to for Qatar in AFCFC mmonitor global cues U23 play-off FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2016 • 19 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6690 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Independent Emir meets Italian President in Rome schools to see major changes ruled out the possibility of a down- sizing of employees following the The term restructuring. ‘Independent school’ The Specification and Stand- ardisation Authority — which was and the position of under the Ministry of Environment school operators and not mentioned in the new struc- ture of the Ministry of Municipality may be revoked and Environment — is expected to become an independent entity, said the daily. All new ministries will have The Peninsula an undersecretary and assistant undersecretaries. Nominations for the undersecretaries are expected to be forwarded to the Cabinet over DOHA: With the abolition of the the next two weeks. Supreme Education Council (SEC) The new Ministry of Public and the establishment of the Ministry Health, which has taken over the of Education and Higher Education, responsibilities of the Supreme the state-run Independent schools Council of Health (SCH), will also are expected to see major structural regulate the Primary Healthcare changes. Corporation (PHCC) that runs the The term ‘Independent school’ primary health centres across the may be cancelled and facilities may country and Hamad Medical Cor- remain as boys and girls schools, poration (HMC) that manages the according to Al Sharq. public hospitals. If this happens, the position This ministry will have an of school operators may also be undersecretary and three assistant revoked and the schools will be undersecretaries for public health. headed by directors/principals, said The new structure includes 18 the daily. departments under five administra- Quoting an official from the tive offices, including the Minister’s ministry, the daily said strategies Office. and work plans set by the SEC will The PHCC will continue provid- continue, including recruitment of ing integrated primary health care Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is welcomed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Presidential Quirinale Palace in teachers for the next academic year. services according to the ministry’s Rome yesterday. Both leaders held talks on relations between the two countries, means of enhancing them in various fields, especially the According to the plans, man- regulations and standards. economy and investment sectors, and regional and international developments. → See also page 2 power requirements will be reported by March and April. The official → Continued on page 2 AFC president renews support Sudanese President orders opening of border with South for FIFA 2022 Reuters The border was closed when relations dete- authorities to take all measures required to Darfur region and a separate but linked insur- riorated after the south seceded following a long implement this decision on the ground,” Sudan’s gency in Blue Nile and South Kordofan. South civil war, taking with it three quarters of the state news agency SUNA said yesterday. Sudan denies the allegations. QNA country’s oil, estimated at five billion barrels Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s gov- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir had KHARTOUM: Sudan’s President Omar Hassan of proven reserves, according to the US Energy ernment spokesman, said: “This is a positive unilaterally announced a normalisation of Al Bashir ordered the opening of his country’s Information Administration. move in a right direction because this is what relations on Tuesday in response to Al Bashir border with South Sudan for the first time since “President Omar Al Bashir issued a decree will lead to the normalisation of our relations agreeing to cut the transit fees for South Suda- DOHA: Asian Football Confed- the south’s secession in 2011, paving the way for today ordering the opening of borders with the with Sudan.” Khartoum accuses Juba, the cap- nese oil crossing Sudan’s territory via pipelines eration (AFC) President Sheikh better economic links between both nations. state of South Sudan and ordered the relevant ital of South Sudan, of backing a rebellion in its to the Red Sea last week. Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khal- ifa renewed his full confidence in Qatar’s capability to organise the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in accordance with the highest inter- Al Rayyan beat Umm Salal in QSL Abducted Al Jazeera national standards of regulation. He stressed that the whole Asian family stands alongside Qatar in its efforts towards bet- crew freed in Yemen ter organisation of the World Cup championship in the history of world football. The Peninsula & AFP conflict, journalists continue to be targeted. He was speaking during his Journalists should be able to do their work participation in activities which freely and without fear of harm, abduction held yesterday by the Supreme DOHA: Al Jazeera Media Network yester- or unlawful arrest,” he added. Committee for Delivery and day announced the release of Al Jazeera Fighters loyal to Yemen’s President Legacy (SC) to highlight latest Arabic news team kidnapped in the city of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi are battling Iran- developments in preparations for Taiz in Yemen. allied Houthi militia and loyalists of the hosting the global event . Correspondent Hamdi Al Bokari and country’s former leader in a war that has Sheikh Salman expressed sat- his crew — cameramen Abdulaziz Al Sabri raged for nine months and in which some isfaction over the pace of work on and driver Moneer Al Sabai — were released 6,000 people have been killed. infrastructure projects and estab- yesterday after disappearing 10 days back. Al Jazeera, whose reporting of the 2011 lishment of football pitches for the The identity of the kidnappers is not clear, Arab Spring uprisings won it millions of event and said it reflected sound but the three were tortured psychologically viewers in the Middle East, has seen many planning adopted by Qatar since on four occasions. “We are relieved that our of its journalists detained and killed in it offered bid to host the tourna- colleagues Al Bokari, Al Sabri and Al Sabai recent years in conflicts across the region. ment until the present time. have been released. They were doing their Meanwhile, in the southern city of Aden, He praised SC’s role in push- job of reporting the story from the besieged a suicide car bombing killed at least eight ing forward preparations for the city of Taiz and covering ongoing events people at a checkpoint outside the presi- World Cup and said the profes- Al Rayyan’s player Mohammed Juma scoring an attempt against the Umm Salal team during in Yemen,” said Dr Mostefa Souag, Act- dential palace. The dead included soldiers sionalism in its work represents a their Qatar Stars League match at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. Al Rayyan won 2-0. ing Director-General, Al Jazeera Media and civilians and at least 12 were wounded. fertile ground for the completion Pic: Baher / The Peninsula → See also page 21 Network. of all arrangements for the event. “It is tragic to see that in times of → See also page 4 02 FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2016 HOME Emir holds talks with Italian President in Rome President Sergio Mattarella expresses Italy’s full support for FIFA World Cup 2022 to be hosted by Qatar QNA ROME: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Presidential Quirinale Palace in Rome yesterday. Talks dealt with relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them in vari- ous fields, especially the economy and investment sectors. Mattarella said Italy welcomes Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, expressing full support for such an important global sporting event and praising Qatar’s worthiness to win right to host it. He also expressed his country’s keenness to cooperate in all that would lead to the success of the foot- ball tournament. Both leaders also discussed regional and international issues, Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani holds talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the presence of their delegations at the Presidential Quirinale Palace in Rome including developments in the Mid- yesterday. dle East, especially the situation in Palestine, Syria, Libya and Yemen, and international efforts to combat arrival at the palace. President of Sardinia Region Franc- Several members of the Emir’s areas, especially economic, cultural, situation in the Middle East, and the phenomenon of terrorism. The Emir attended a luncheon esco Pigliaru and reviewed bilateral delegation attended the meetings. scientific and sports fields. ways to achieve security, stabil- The meeting was attended by banquet hosted by Mattarella in his relations and means of enhancing The Emir also met Senate Pres- Grasso also affirmed full support ity and peace, in addition to global members of the delegation accom- honour at the palace. The Emir’s del- them. ident Senator Pietro Grasso, at of Italy to Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 efforts to combat terrorism. panying the Emir and senior Italian egation and top Italian officials were The Emir also met Claudio Des- Giustiniani Palace. FIFA World Cup. The meeting was attended by officials. present. calzi, CEO of Eni, the energy and gas They reviewed prospects for Both sides exchanged views on several members of the Emir’s del- The Emir was accorded an offi- At his residence in the Italian company, and discussed issues in the strengthening cooperation between latest regional and international egation and members of the Italian cial welcoming ceremony on his capital of Rome, the Emir also met field of energy. the two friendly countries in all developments, particularly the Senate. Ministries begin consultations Qataris granted visa on for selection of top officials arrival in Azerbaijan The Peninsula & QNA Continued from page 1 undersecretary’s office and offices for two assistant undersecretaries As per Emiri Decision No.