ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Home | 3 Business | 14 Sport | 19 A goof-up by a Oil seesawed yesterday Tim Southee and Malayalam TV channel while heating oil rose Brendon McCullum led has led to confusion in as severe cold weather New Zealand to a huge members of the Indian crimped output at three win over England in the community in Qatar. US refineries. World Cup yesterday. SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2015 • 2 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6348 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 $12.5bn to be spent on housing until 2022 Oil fall won’t delay 2022 projects; Emir leaves Japan DOHA: An astronomical The minister was part of the closing ceremonies and the final $12.5bn is to be spent to cre- Qatari delegation that accompa- match of the 2022 tournament. ate adequate housing stocks in nied the Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim According to him, $3bn is being Qatar to cater to the growing bin Hamad Al Thani, on his official spent on building stadiums. At population ahead of the 2022 visit to Japan. least three workshops were held Fifa World Cup. Several top Qatari businessmen, as part of the meeting between the The sum (QR45.52bn), to be CEOs of private and public sector Qatari and Japanese businessmen. spent over the next seven years, corporations, heads of key state Various agreements were signed will also cover the basic infrastruc- institutions and agencies, among during the meeting, including one ture needed to create and support others, were in the delegation. on cooperation between Qatar the massive housing stocks. The minister was delivering University and a number of This was announced by the opening address at a meeting Japanese educational institutions. the Minister of Economy and held in Tokyo between the visit- The minister highlighted Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed ing Qatari businessmen and their Qatar’s economic diversifica- bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, Japanese counterparts to discuss tion plans and said efforts in this in Tokyo yesterday. business and investment opportu- regard were bearing fruit as the Addressing elite members of the nities in Qatar. non-hydrocarbons sector had a Japanese corporate world, Sheikh Sheikh Ahmed said Japanese share of almost 50 percent in the Ahmed reiterated Qatar’s resolve businesses and investors were wel- country’s economy. In 2013, its to complete all 2022-related come to take part in the develop- share in the GDP was 46 percent. projects despite the falling oil ment projects related to the 2022 The private sector’s contribu- prices. World Cup. tion to the economy is also rising Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatari ministers at a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and He said: “The projects linked to The total value of these projects rapidly as evidenced by its increas- 2022 are stimulants for the Qatari is a huge $200bn, of which nearly ing share in the GDP (from $33bn Japanese officials in Tokyo yesterday. economy and that’s why the World a fourth ($45bn) is being spent on in 2009 to $58bn in 2013). Cup fixture is so important for us”. Lusail City alone. Qatar’s trade surplus has amounted to $137bn in 2013. The total value of Qatar’s exports a big chunk of Japanese exports “Qatar is committed to com- The minister said that Lusail risen massively, from a mere Japan is one of Qatar’s major to Japan in 2013 was $40bn, while to Qatar. Vehicle imports totalled pleting all 2022-linked projects in City would house some 450,000 $23bn in 2009 to $110bn in 2013, trade partners and remains the the trade volume between the two $2bn in 2014, according to the time. None of these projects will people and the stadium being built due to fast-expanding exports. largest importer of Qatari oil and countries totalled $42bn during minister. be delayed.” there will host the opening and The revenue from exports gas. the year. Automobiles comprised THE PENINSULA Emir to visit US DOHA: The Emir H H MERS deaths Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad GCC chief denies reports on Egypt ties Al Thani will pay an official surge in visit to the United States, RIYADH: GCC Secretary- in the Riyadh Agreement and region and the world are going GCC countries also support all during which he will meet General Dr. Abdulateef Al in the Complementary Riyadh through and which require close military actions taken by Egypt President Barack Obama on Zayani has denied statements Agreement endorsed by leaders interconnection among nations. against terrorist groups in Saudi Arabia February 24. attributed to him about Gulf- of the GCC countries, who rec- The GCC Secretary-General Libya following the killing of 21 The two leaders will dis- Egypt relations. ognise the importance of cohe- noted that the GCC countries Egyptian Copts by Islamic State RIYADH: Deaths from the cuss relations between their Al Zayani stressed that the sion and integration with Egypt, had confirmed their full support militants in Libya, stressing that MERS virus have surged in two countries and means of GCC countries had always sought considering that the security and to Egypt and its people in the it was the inherent right of states Saudi Arabia, health ministry developing them further, and to support Egypt under the stability of Egypt represents the fight against terrorism and in the to maintain their security, inde- figures showed yesterday, after review regional and interna- leadership of President Abdel security and stability of the Gulf protection of its citizens both at pendence and the safety of their authorities warned of a sea- tional issues of mutual con- Fattah Al Sisi in all areas, add- states, particularly in the shadow home and abroad. citizens. sonal increase in Middle East cern. ing that such support was clear of the sensitive circumstances the Dr Al Zayani added that the QNA Respiratory Syndrome corona- QNA virus (MERS-CoV). The ministry recorded five deaths on Thursday alone, bringing to 16 the number since February 11. Snow in Jerusalem Wind, dust forecast today That figure compares with a single death from the virus in the DOHA: The meteorology department has said that the weather first 10 days of the month. could be windy and slightly dusty early this morning and visibility Saudi Arabia is the country could drop to 2,000 metres at places at times. There were chances hardest hit by the MERS virus, of scattered rains in northern parts of the country last night, said which was first identified in 2012. a forecast. The wind speed could go up to five to 30 knots at places A total of 899 people have been at times, both inland and offshore. infected in the kingdom, of whom 382 have died. Paediatric emergency to get bigger Doctor Abdul Aziz bin Saeed, who heads the centre coordi- DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation has plans to expand the Al nating the ministry’s response Sadd paediatric emergency centre. Some 13 beds are being added, to MERS, warned earlier this which will take the total number of beds at the emergency centre month that a surge in cases typi- to 58. New buildings are also being built to expand the facilities at cally occurs around this time of the centre to cater to the growing population. year, because of the risks posed by newborn camels. QU medical college to prefer Qataris The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited the preliminary DOHA: Qatari students are to be given preference in enrolment results of studies indicating that in the medical college being opened as part of Qatar University. people working with camels are Enrolment in the college begins today and ends in July. Students at increased risk of infection from who have scored a minimum of 85 percent marks in the 12th grade MERS-CoV, and young camels with biology, chemistry and physics as their main subjects are eli- are particularly susceptible. gible to apply. Some 400 students are expected to be enrolled, of Saeed said, “You have more which 50 are likely to be Qataris. Al Sharq said Qatari students will infected camels right now be given preference in enrolment, and after them expatriates will circulating.” be accorded preferential treatment. The ministry reported new THE PENINSULA cases from across the kingdom. Half of those who died were in Girls walk in snow outside Jerusalem’s old city yesterday. People in Jerusalem woke up to around 25 centi- their 70s or 80s. metres of snow after the second major blizzard of winter swept across the hilltop holy city. See also page 8 A public awareness campaign is continuing. The WHO urged peo- ple working with camels to pay Greece wins eurozone bailout deal particular attention to personal BRUSSELS: Europe yesterday granted Greece a crucial extension hygiene. April census to cover single workers to its massive debt bailout, ending weeks of tension, but at the cost Experts from WHO, the Food of huge concessions including a commitment to spell out reforms and Agriculture Organization and DOHA: Single workers living in to assess the requirement for pub- of Development Planning and within two days. other UN agencies are concluding labour camps and visitors to the lic facilities such as hospitals and Statistics. The 19 single currency finance ministers reached the hard-won deal a mission to Saudi Arabia after country staying in hotels and health centres, schools and roads. Modern methodology of data to end a stand-off pitting Greece against an angry Germany, suspicious “a surge in cases in the past few hotel apartments will be covered Some 260 researchers will fan collection will be used, so time and that the radical leftist government in Athens was looking to ditch its weeks,” WHO spokesman Tarik during the two-day mid-term out in the eight municipal areas of costs will be saved and accuracy austerity obligations.