BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Samba clocks second-best Qatar and US discuss time in energy co-operation history published in QATAR since 1978 SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10866 July 1, 2018 Shawwal 17, 1439 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals FM meets UN chief Qatar’s e-payment In brief system handles ARAB WORLD | Relief aid Qatar donates QR50mn for university students in Gaza QR3.9tn in 2017 The Qatari National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza The country’s ‘payment tem in Qatar - QATCH – handles the posed on Qatar on June 5, 2017. announced yesterday that it had systems’ register growth, in fi nancial transactions, in Qatari riyals, QCB increased QMR deposit rates donated QR50mn to cover fees of among the banks within the country. twice during 2017 -once in March and the university students in Gaza Strip. terms of value and volume “Transactions under QATCH last again in June last year. The chairman of the committee, year increased in terms of both value The value and volume of transac- ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi, By Pratap John (9.2%) and volume (9.3%) over 2016,” tions through ATMs and PoS increased noted that Qatar continues to be a Chief Business Reporter QCB said. over the previous year in the local mar- pioneer in supporting the people Even though transactions processed ket while the same declined in the GCC of Gaza through a wide range of by SWIFT system saw only a slight region, QCB said. vital projects and services that atar’s secure electronic net- increase in value of 0.6% in 2017, the “The fall in GCC-wide value and contributed to the employment work payment system handled volume growth of 10.1% indicated that volume of ATM/ PoS transactions of thousands of graduates and Qa whopping QR3.9tn in 2017 more SWIFT transactions with similar could be a refl ection of decline in workers. Al-Emadi was speaking at a and registered growth both in terms of or less value per transaction took place cross-border movements, a fallout of ceremony held at Al Aqsa University value and volume compared to the pre- during 2017. the blockade. However, the impact was in Gaza City about Qatar relief grant vious year, according to Qatar Central This, according to QCB was also cor- neutralised quickly during the subse- to Gaza residents. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed Bank. roborated by the fact that electronic quent months,” QCB said. bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met in New York on Friday with UN Secretary-General Nearly 85% of the total value was cheques clearing (ECC) declined in The real-time gross settlement sys- AMERICA | Protest Antonio Guterres. The meeting discussed means to promote co-operation between through the internationally-recog- both value and volume by 3.9% and tem (RTGS) in 2017 processed on an Qatar and the United Nations in addition to the latest regional and international nised identifi cation code for banks 0.7%, respectively, in 2017. average 1,639 SWIFT transactions Thousands march against developments. Page 2 around the world - SWIFT or the Soci- “This amply demonstrates a clear and 587 high value (above QR250,000) Trump immigration policy ety for Worldwide Interbank Financial shift from paper-based instruments cheques transactions on a daily basis. Thousands of demonstrators, Telecommunication. (cheques) to electronic mode of trans- In case of SWIFT transactions, value baking in the heat and boiling mad The local NAPS or the National ATM actions,” QCB noted. of the transactions registered marginal at US immigration policy, marched & POS Switch (NAPS), which is an in- QMR deposit and loans activities increase by only 1.5% in comparison across the country yesterday to terface that hosts and settles all local processed through the payment and with the volume of transactions, which protest the separation of families France, Uruguay power retail electronic transactions fl ow- settlement systems declined both in grew by 11.1%. under President Donald Trump’s ing between banks in Qatar, handled a value and volume terms, compared to Unlike SWIFT transactions, both the hardline agenda. Directly across from similar share in terms of total volume the same in previous year that could volume and the value of the cheques the White House, demonstrators into last 8 of World Cup of transactions, QCB said in its 9th ‘Fi- be due to liquidity requirement by the transactions fell as compared to the filled Lafayette Square park in an nancial Stability Review’. banking sector during the initial period previous year by 7.4% and 11.1%, re- atmosphere of both indignation and Agencies The secure electronic network sys- of the “unjust blockade” that was im- spectively. To Page 3 sadness, before marching toward the Moscow Capitol. Page 8 ASIA | Accident wo of the world’s greatest foot- Flicker of hope in ballers saw their World Cup Tdream go sour as Lionel Messi’s search for Thai kids Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Rescue divers reached several Portugal crashed out of the tournament kilometres inside a flooded cave in Russia yesterday. yesterday where 12 boys and their PSG star Kylian Mbappe stole the football coach have been trapped show against Messi with a brace that for a week, off ering a flicker of hope helped France score a thrilling 4-3 win for the harrowing search. There over Argentina, while Edinson Cavani, has been no contact with the boys, another PSG star, also found the target aged 11 to 16, and their coach since twice to help Uruguay beat Portugal 2-1 they went into the Tham Luang cave in the last 16 stage. last weekend and were hemmed Uruguay will now meet France in the in by heavy rains that blocked the quarter-fi nals next Friday. entrance. The desperate, round- Cavani put Uruguay ahead in the the-clock search for the team has seventh minute when he evaded the Uruguay’s forward Edinson Cavani been beset by torrential downpours Portugal defence to meet Luis Suarez’s celebrates after scoring against Portugal that submerged tunnels near the pinpoint cross with a bullet header at yesterday. entrance, blocking divers from going the far post. in. Page 9 Pepe headed Portugal level in the matches, failing to improve his record 55th minute, the fi rst goal Uruguay of failing to score in all six World Cup have conceded in the tournament, but knockout matches he has played. Uruguay regained the lead seven min- Ronaldo had an opportunity around WORLD CUP utes later when Rodrigo Bentancur the half-hour mark to score from a free found Cavani and he curled a brilliant kick 30 metres out but could only hit fi rst-time shot past Rui Patricio from the wall. Yesterday’s results the edge of the penalty area. Earlier, teenager Mbappe scored two Portugal dominated possession but goals in four minutes to send a youthful France 4 Argentina 3 their attack did not have enough bite France charging into the quarter-fi nals. Uruguay 2 Portugal 1 to break through the Uruguay defence The 19-year-old forward’s electric twice, leaving their captain Cristiano pace caused Argentina problems all Today’s matches Ronaldo a frustrated fi gure throughout afternoon and his twin strikes helped Spain vs Russia, 5pm the match. France overturn a 2-1 defi cit at the Ka- Croatia vs Denmark, 9pm The Real Madrid forward could not zan Arena as they set up a meeting with add to his four goals in the fi rst two Uruguay. Sport Pages 1-4 Barwa launches QR105mn project to expand Al Khor sports facilities arwa Real Estate Group has 8,000sq m hypermarket and a 300sq m of Qatar’s workforce by providing them awarded Al Bader Construc- multipurpose hall. with integrated recreation and sports Btion and Steel Works with the Barwa said the infrastructure work facilities. construction of the QR105mn Al Khor includes the construction of an elec- The project’s recreational facilities Sports Facilities expansion project, tricity substation, internal roads, and are used on several occasions by sev- which is expected to be completed all services required from water, elec- eral government agencies and private within 18 months. tricity, sewage, irrigation, communi- companies. In addition, Barwa coop- In a statement, Barwa said the cations, surveillance cameras, internal erated with the Ministry of Interior to project is an extension of the Al Khor roads, parking lots, and pump rooms create an annual programme to cover Recreation Facilities project for work- with tanks for water, fi re, and gas. all national and sporting events. The ers at the Industrial Area of Al Khor According to Barwa, the Al Khor number of visitors who visited the City. The facility will be constructed Recreation Facilities project for work- project exceeded 500,000 in 2016, on a 69,757sq m plot, including an ers aims to raise the standard of living Barwa added. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, July 1, 2018 QATAR Deputy PM meets UN official UN’s top court urged to end UAE ‘climate of fear’ AFP British barrister Peter Gold- So Qataris are “too scared to past months by Human The Hague smith, acting for Doha, told the call hotlines to register their Rights Watch and Amnesty court. presence or their families’ pres- International have shown On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, ence for fear of reprisals.” “compelling evidence of he United Arab Emirates Bahrain, the UAE and other al- Goldsmith also contended what has happened, with has spread a “climate lies severed ties with Qatar, ac- that every proposed “trip to substantial pain infl icted,” Tof fear” among Qataris cusing it of backing terrorism, the UAE by a Qatari requires a Goldsmith argued.