ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Thursday 20 June 2013 11 Shaaban 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5736 Price: QR2 Vodafone Qatar England reach revenue rises Champions by 25pc Trophy final Business | 22 Sport | 32 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Standing protest Afghanistan to Call to set age boycott US talks with Taliban KABUL: Afghan President limit for loans Hamid Karzai said yesterday his government would not join US peace talks with the Taliban and halted negotiations with Washington on a troop pact, to Qataris underscoring the fragile nature of hopes for a negotiated peace in Afghanistan. Youth splurging on foreign trips The United States and the Taliban have said officials from DOHA: Several citizens have Giving loans just for enjoyment is both sides will meet in Doha today called on the authorities to fix not justified,” said Al Malki. in a step forward for a stutter- an age limit for disbursement of She said the government should ing peace process after 12 years personal loans to curb extrava- not repay unnecessary loans on of bloody and costly war between gant spending by Qatari youth behalf of the indebted, which will US-led forces and the insurgents. on foreign trips in summer. further encourage the practice in But Afghan officials, angered by They urged the Qatar Central the community. the opening of a Taliban political Bank (QCB) to impose stricter She urged citizens to explore office in Doha on Tuesday, said rules for personal loans to ensure tourism opportunities here the US had violated assurances that they are used wisely. instead of travelling abroad all it would not give official status to A member of the Central the time. “Every grown up per- the insurgents. Municipal Council (CMC) has son has the right to apply for a Meanwhile, an official source Turkish protesters stand on the Red Crescent square during a ‘duranadam’ (standing person) protest in suggested 30 as the age limit, loan. The only solution to address at the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Ankara yesterday. Riot police clashed briefly with groups of anti-government protesters in two Turkish cit- while some other citizens want this problem is to raise awareness Affairs told Qatar News Agency it to be 25. through the media and encourage ies, but there was no fresh unrest in Istanbul where demonstrators switched to silent protests after a heavy that the office, which was opened “The banks are interested only people to spend their vacation in crackdown. See also page 13 yesterday is the Political Bureau in profits. They just want to bene- Qatar,” said Al Malki. of the Taliban Afghan in Doha, fit from personal loans. The Qatar Several citizens talking to and not the political bureau of the Central Bank must impose strict a local Arabic daily recently Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. conditions to make it difficult for expressed similar views, while India’s CBSE steps in to curb tuitions The source added that the offi- people less than 30 years to take calling for an age limit of 25 for cial name, that was agreed upon personal loans,” CMC vice chair- personal loans. with respect to the opening of this man Jassim Al Malki told The The Qatar National DOHA: Indian schools in Qatar teachers at the Birla Public School have a negative impact on the office, is the Political Bureau of Peninsula. Development Strategy 2011-2016 that have given a free hand (BPS). “CBSE has banned private quality of coaching in school. Taliban in Doha. “Qatar is the best country in had disclosed plans to set limits to teachers to conduct pri- tuitions since 2010. We will take “In most cases, parents insist The AFP in a late night the Gulf in terms of salaries. on personal loans based on an vate tuitions will face action, action against any school that is on private tuitions to help chil- despatch quoted the State People should learn to spend their individual’s income to address a senior official of the New found promoting this practice,” dren score higher marks. There Department as saying yester- income wisely,” he added. the deepening debt crisis in the Delhi-based Central Board of said Joshi, addressing a news con- is unhealthy competition in this day that the US has not sched- He said that the habit of taking country. Secondary Education (CBSE) ference at the BPS yesterday. regard. CBSE is actually try- uled talks with the Taliban, after personal loans for overseas trips According to data given in the said yesterday. He was reacting to a special ing to curb the race for marks,” reports that discussions with the is growing among Qatari youth. strategy report, three quarters CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi, story published by The Peninsula said Joshi. He said the CBSE group could begin this week in Prominent Qatari psychologist of Qatari families were in debt, who is on a visit to Qatar, also earlier this week on the tuition had introduced the grading and Doha. “Reports of a meeting being Dr Moza Al Malki said it is a pity most of them burdened with loans said he will take up the issue of menace in Qatar. continuous evaluation system in scheduled or on the books aren’t that many Qatari youth are relying exceeding QR250,000. low teachers’s salaries of affili- He, however, said CBSE can Class X to eliminate the prac- accurate,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki on personal loans to travel abroad. The five-year plan targets to ated schools here with their investigate the issue only if it tice of ranking students based on told reporters, saying Washington “Personal loans should be given halve the number of Qatari fami- managements. receives a complaint. marks. had “never confirmed” the date only for emergencies like treat- lies in debt by 2016. Joshi is in Doha to attend an The board has banned private THE PENINSULA and place of any specific meeting. ment or to solve a financial crisis. THE PENINSULA orientation workshop for CBSE-i tuitions mainly because it can Continued on page 6 AGENCIES Promotion Starts From 20/06/2013 To 22/06/2013 Purchase Limit May Apply, Offer Valid Till Stocks Last. Till Stocks Valid Offer Limit May Apply, Purchase 50 50 Promotion Date 18/06/2013 To 06/07/2013 THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatari, British composers wow crowds Wael Binali’s Earth and The Oryx, Unicorn make Scottish premiere EDINBURGH, UK: The Ambassador to London, Khalid Musical Celebration of Qatar Rashid Salem Al Homoudi Al UK Year of Culture 2013, organ- Mansouri, said: “Music is a power- ised by the Qatar Museums ful and inspirational tool, and this Authority (QMA) featuring (Qatar UK 2013) Year of Culture, the Royal Scottish National is giving us the opportunity to fur- Orchestra (RSNO) and Scottish ther promote cultural dialogue and premieres by renowned Qatari build bridges between societies and and British composers, has communities in both countries.” impressed the audience at the Maestro Paul Goodwin con- city’s magnificent Usher Hall. ducted the RSNO as well as The Scotsman proclaimed British cellist Guy Johnston, who that the event was “made for an performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto impressive combination.” “with exquisite and authoritative The Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Stage at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh during the Qatar UK 2013 Concert. In his welcome speech, Qatari lyricism” (The Scotsman). The audience also heard “In all three of his pieces, it was composers, Wael Binali and David Edinburgh’s The Choir of St instantly evident why [Binali] Heath, and Duncan Ferguson, Mary’s Cathedral, led by Duncan meets with success as a film com- Choir Master for the Choir of St Ferguson, perform Handel’s majes- poser…the orchestral textures and Mary’s Cathedral. tic Zadok the Priest. International colours are often pure escapism, Working with Qatar UK 2013 pianist Amira Fouad played com- complete with dramatic drum rolls the composers and musicians were poser David Heath’s exciting new and extravagant harp glissandi.” empowered to share their talent, piano concerto El Hedeiya - The Both composers have expressed knowledge and experience with Gift with percussionist Gary a great sense of enthusiasm and an inspired, standing room only Kettel, conducted by the composer honour to be working together audience, and provide the context himself. dedicating their works to the for the concert that followed. The Qatari composer Wael Binali’s Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture. pre-concert talk also highlighted Earth and The Oryx and the Amira Fouad, Artistic Director the ways in which the QMA con- Unicorn had Scottish premières of Qanas Productions, hosted the tinues to partner with world-class with the RSNO and several of his concert’s over subscribed Pre- educational institutes of learning, works were arranged and linked Show talk. including the RSNO, composers together by David Heath. She was joined on stage for a and musicians. The Scotsman commented: lively discussion with the featured THE PENINSULA QFCHT sheds light on forced labour DOHA: Qatar Foundation for The lecture was delivered take the form of the forced labour, Combating Human Trafficking by legal expert at QFCHT Dr according to the International (QFCHT) yesterday held an Mahmoud Said, who tackled a Labour Organisation estimates. awareness lecture for about 350 number of topics, including the He pointed to the criminali- workers on “forced labour in national and international legis- sation of Qatari legislation to light of Qatari national law on lative framework on combating this criminal pattern in accord- combating human trafficking, the exploitation of workers in ance with Article II of the Anti- at the Workers Health Centre forced labour, saying most cases Human Trafficking Law No.