www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 29 Challenges facing Al Attiyah seals Islamic banking crushing victory industry reviewed in Kuwait SUNDAY 27 MARCH 2016 • 18 Jumada II 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6748 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Desperate for aid Emir congratulates Rules relaxed Bangladesh President DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yester- day a cable of congratulations to for GCC driver’s President of Bangladesh Moham- med Abdul Hamid on his country’s Independence Day, reports QNA. licence holders Syria to restore ancient Palmyra and Nepal, for instance. Also, the demand for heavy vehi- DAMASCUS: Palmyra’s ancient Demand for heavy cle licenses is much more than those Roman temples and archway, vehicle driving for light vehicles due to the fact that blown up by Islamic State fight- licence on the so many infrastructure development ers last year, will be restored once projects are going on in the country Syria recaptures the city from the rise because of and they need more and more heavy ultra-hardline Islamist group, the infrastructure boom. vehicles, equipment and machinery. head of the antiquities authority Giving an idea, the driving school said yesterday. official quoted above, said his school Mamoun Abdelkarim said he received some 40 to 60 requests for hoped Palmyra would be retaken admission on an average daily and a within days, after government By Sidi Mohamed vast majority were for heavy vehicle forces fought their way into the The Peninsula training and licence. western and northern parts of Adel Salem, manager of Al Rayah the city, and promised to revive Driving School, said the ongoing the Roman-era monuments “as a construction boom in Qatar was Migrants and refugees reach out to get humanitarian aid at a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian message against terrorism”. DOHA: Expatriates holding driver’s pushing the demand for heavy vehi- border near the village of Idomeni, Greece, yesterday. → See also page 15 licence from other GCC states can go cle licensing up rather considerably. → See also page 8 directly for road test to be eligible to Talking of the pass percentage, obtain a Qatari driver’s licence. he said it was roughly 70 percent This privilege is available to in respect of both, heavy and light licence-holders from the US and vehicles. some European countries as well, About the computer test which Qatar firm to help develop Turkey’s solar industry said a senior official of a driving assesses a learner’s knowledge of school. traffic signs and rules, Salem said For the road test an aspirant is one could take the tests until one given only two chances to clear it. cleared it. However, after one fails By Satish Kanady diversification plans and the country’s increasing country’s energy mix. The cooperation will draw The old rule which allowed the fourth time an interpreter is The Peninsula solar energy requirements. Turkey is aiming to upon the strengths of QSTec and its partners licence-holders from other GCC made available to him. Currently, have over 3 gigawatts of installed solar capacity across several key areas including solar industry countries to get their licences interpreters are available for sev- and has expressed strong support for prioritising expertise, research and development collaboration directly converted into Qatari licence eral languages, including English, DOHA: Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) signed renewable energy investment and the involvement opportunities, solar energy applications, is done away with. Urdu and Hindi. Clearing the com- an MoU yesterday with Turkish state energy com- of the private sector to assist in the diversification investments as well as examining other areas of The rule regarding driving puter test is a must to be eligible for pany Elektrik Üretim Anonim Şirketi that will of Turkey’s energy sources. mutual interest where QSTec can make a positive licenses from countries other than ‘L’, parking and road tests. explore areas of mutual interest that aim to fur- Additionally, to enhance arrangements contribution to Turkey’s solar industry. those cited above hasn’t changed. “The new training system ther develop Turkey’s solar industry. The signing implementation QSTec has signed MoUs with QSTec has steadily been expanding its presence One must join a learner’s course ensures that people are more aware ceremony was held in the presence of Dr Khalid K. Turkish industrial groups, Bendis Enerji and within the global solar industry and its strategic at a driving school and take the full of road safety rules and the traffic Al Hajri - Chairman and CEO of QSTec and Ali Rıza Fernas Group, to cooperate in solar energy industry investments in key German solar companies have test if he holds driver’s license from law in general,” said Salem. Alaboyun – Deputy Minister of Energy and Natu- investments. With Turkey’s energy requirement turned it into a world leading integrated solar one of such countries like India, ral Resources; Turkey. forecast to increase at 6 percent per year until company. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka → Continued on page 6 The MOU addresses Turkey’s progressive energy 2023, solar energy will play a major role in the → Continued on page 2 Qatar’s medical Winning leap Obama tells Americans offices abroad linked with not to stigmatise Muslims Health Ministry AFP the idea of religious freedom. It’s also counterproductive,” he said. By Mobin Pandit “It plays right into the hands The Peninsula WASHINGTON: President Barack of terrorists who want to turn us Obama yesterday urged Americans against one another — who need not to stigmatise Muslims follow- a reason to recruit more people to DOHA: The Ministry of Public ing this week’s deadly attacks in their hateful cause.” Health, Finance Ministry, Hamad Brussels, saying that doing so is Obama made his remarks as the Medical Corporation (HMC) and “counterproductive” in the fight global community continues to reel Qatar’s medical offices overseas against radical Islam. from Tuesday’s attacks in Belgium, are being linked online. In his weekly media address, claimed by the Islamic State group, This is to ensure quick travel of Obama said Muslim-Americans which killed 31 dead, including two Qatari citizens needing specialist are “our most important partners in Americans, and wounded 300. treatment abroad. Qatar has med- the nation’s fight against those who “At least 14 Americans were ical offices in a number of places would wage violent jihad. injured, and we pray for their full overseas, including London, Wash- “That’s why we have to reject recovery, along with everyone else ington, Bonn, Cairo and Thailand. any attempt to stigmatise Muslim- affected by these attacks,” Obama The idea behind interlinking Americans, and their enormous said. The remarks by the Democratic the ministries of health, finance, contributions to our country and president follow controversial state- HMC and the overseas medical Qatari rider Rashid Towaim Al Marri astride Kannada on his way to winning the CSI2* — Competition our way of life,” Obama said. ments in the wake of the Brussels offices online is to make sure that 8, 145cm event at Katara in Doha yesterday. Al Marri won the event on the third and final day of the “Such attempts are contrary to bombings by the two top Republi- the procedures to send a Qatari QNB Doha Tour show jumping event. → See also page 30 our character, to our values, and to cans vying to succeed him in the patient for treatment to a foreign our history as a nation built around White House. land are quick. “This way the waiting time will be reduced and admission of a patient to a health- care facility abroad will be quick,” said Dr Ghalia Al Harmi, Director Scare scuppers Brussels ‘March Against Fear’ today of Medical Relations for Overseas Treatment at the Ministry of Pub- lic Health. Swift interaction among AFP to do so because of security fears. The authorities earlier asked for Interior Minister Jan Jambon said, “This week, we, Belgian citizens different bodies would ensure “We understand this request. The the march to be put off, perhaps for speaking in English. have been attacked, in how we live, that the financial, administrative security of our citizens is an abso- several weeks, to allow the police to In an earlier statement, the organ- our customs, our rights, our liberty,” and medical procedures to send BRUSSELS: The organisers of a lute priority. We join the authorities concentrate their resources on the isers said the march planned for today they said. patients abroad would be made “March Against Fear” planned for in proposing a delay and ask peo- investigation into the attacks which was meant to show that Brussels “The first reaction in such events easier, she said. today to mark the Brussels terror ple not to come this Sunday,” the left 31 dead and 300 wounded. and the country at large refused to is to withdraw but on reflection, attacks said they had cancelled the organisers said in a statement “We invite the citizens tomor- be intimidated by terrorism and that fear must give way to hope and the → Continued on page 6 event after the authorities asked them yesterday. row to not have this manifestation,” everyone stood together. defence of our values.” 02 SUNDAY 27 MARCH 2016 HOME Greetings sent to Bangladesh President on his country’s Independence Day Social responsibility forum opens The Peninsula & QNA H E Sheikha Hind bint DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday Hamad Al Thani, Vice- sent a cable of congratulations to Bangladesh President Mohammed Abdul Chairperson and CEO, Hamid on his country’s Independence Day. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Qatar Foundation, bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent a congratulatory cable to President Hamid.