BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar beat Iran to win Qatar scores high in AVC Cup govt eff ectiveness published in QATAR since 1978 THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10912 August 16, 2018 Dhul-Hijja 5, 1439 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief QATAR | Offi cial Amir congratulates Indian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also sent a similar cable to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pages 20, 24 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara yesterday. QATAR | Offi cial Amir sends greetings to Korean president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Qatar to support Turkish economy Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in on his country’s National Day. HE the Prime Minister with investments worth QR55bn and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa QNA at the talks in the capital Ankara. He added: “Our strong relations al-Thani sent a similar cable to Prime Doha/Ankara His Highness the Amir attended a with the Republic of Turkey enjoy a Minister Lee Nak-yeon. luncheon banquet held in his honour special status among our people.” by the Turkish president at the Presi- Erdogan said his meeting with the EUROPE | Politics is Highness the Amir Sheikh dential Complex. Amir was “very productive and posi- Turkey and Germany Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Upon his arrival at the Esenboga tive”. Hhas issued directives to sup- International Airport in Ankara on The Turkish president thanked the to enhance relations port the Turkish economy with a host a work visit, the Amir was received Amir and Qatari people for standing Turkish President Recep Tayyip of economic projects, investments by Turkey’s Minister of Energy with Turkey. Erdogan and German Chancellor and deposits worth a total of QR55bn and Natural Resources Fatih Don- “Our relations with friendly and Angela Merkel agreed in a telephone ($15bn) . mez, the Governor of Ankara Ercan brotherly country Qatar will contin- call yesterday to enhance bilateral This came in a meeting of His Topaca, the commander of the gar- ue to strengthen in many areas,” the relations. The two leaders discussed Highness the Amir with the President rison of Ankara Major-General Ah- president wrote on his Twitter ac- bilateral relations and a number of of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan at met Abis, Turkey’s ambassador to count. regional issues, mainly the situation the Presidential Complex in Ankara Qatar Fikret Ozer, Qatar’s ambassa- AFP adds from Ankara: “Qatar has in Syria, Turkish presidency sources yesterday. dor to Turkey Salem Mubarak Shafi pledged $15bn of direct investments told Anadolu Agency. The sources The Amir and the Turkish presi- al-Shafi, as well as members of the in Turkey,” presidential spokesman added that the two leaders agreed dent discussed strategic bilateral Qatari embassy in Turkey. Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter. to strengthen co-operation ties and relations. They also discussed ways His Highness the Amir Sheikh “Turkish-Qatari relations are based hold a meeting between Turkey to enhance bilateral co-operation Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani later left on solid foundations of true friend- and Germany in the coming days, in all fields, especially in economic Ankara. The Amir was seen off from ship and solidarity,” he said. noting that Merkel stressed that the and investment sectors, the latest Esenboga International Airport by Turkey and Qatar have become strength of the Turkish economy is regional and international devel- Fatih Donmez and other dignitaries. close economic and political partners important her country. opments, and exchanged views re- The Amir was accompanied by an in recent times. garding them. Both sides stressed offi cial delegation. A Guardian report said Turkey’s AFGHANISTAN | Unrest on the importance of resolving Later yesterday evening His High- beleaguered currency bounced back differences through dialogue and ness the Amir returned to Doha from from record lows yesterday after Qa- 37 killed in blast through diplomatic channels, in or- a working visit to Turkey. tar pledged to shore up the banking at Kabul school der to maintain the region’s peace In an interview with Anadolu sector. At least 37 people, the majority of and stability. Agency, Qatar’s ambassador to Tur- The lira rallied by 6% after the Qa- them students, were killed when The meeting was attended by key Salem bin Mubarak al-Shafi said: tari pledge and a separate move by a suicide blast ripped through members of the offi cial delegation ac- “The state of Qatar is always proactive Turkey’s central bank to boost the fi - a school in a Shia area of Kabul companying the Amir. It was attended in supporting its Turkish brothers.” nances of the country’s banks. yesterday, off icials said, the latest on the Turkish side by a number of The Amir’s visit, the diplomat said, A Turkish presidential source Translated into English, the tweet reads: assault on Afghanistan’s war-weary cabinet members. “will serve to confi rm the close links confirmed Doha’s pledge to “rapidly We stand by the brothers in Turkey who have stood up for the causes of the nation and capital. Around a dozen ambulances Turkish Finance Minister Berat Al- between the Qatari and Turkish peo- implement the $15bn investment stood by Qatar. As part of the important talks I held in Ankara today with HE President rushed to the Mawoud education bayrak and his Qatari counterpart HE ple and their common positions vis- package”, a TRT World report said. Erdogan, we have announced a collection of deposits and investment projects valued at centre in the western part of the Ali Sherif al-Emadi were also present à-vis the many challenges they face.” Page 2 $15bn in this country that has a powerful, productive, and solid economy. city, where students and relatives described pulling bloodied victims from the rubble of a classroom that had been crowded with teenagers preparing to go to university. INDIA | Weather ‘Qatar committed to enhance ties with Philippines’ Kochi airport closure QNA The meeting focused on discussing pines, to discuss the proposed conven- hits passengers Manila bilateral relations and the means to en- ing of the joint committee meeting on The closure of the international hance them, in addition to discussing a labour matters, investment opportu- airport at Kerala’s commercial number of issues of joint interest. HE nities, regional issues in the Gulf and capital Kochi until August 18 due to hilippine President Rodrigo Du- the Minister of Foreign Aff airs stressed other ways to further enhance bilateral heavy rains and floods in the south terte met yesterday with HE on the strength of ties, and on Qatar’s relations. Indian state has upset the travel Pthe Deputy Prime Minister and commitment to enhancing them along “Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed plans of thousands from Qatar and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mo- with increasing economic and political bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and I had a many more passengers transiting hamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in co-operation with the Philippines. fruitful discussion on advancing Phil- through Doha’s Hamad International Manila. His Highness the Amir Sheikh ippine-Qatar relations, covering all Airport. The runway and the parking At the outset of the meeting, HE the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will visit our foreign policy goals and address- area at the airport at Nedumbassery Minister of Foreign Aff airs conveyed the Philippines later this year, Philip- ing the needs of our nationals in Qatar,” near Kochi (Cochin International the greetings of His Highness the Amir pine online news portal philstar.com Cayetano said. Airport – CIAL), are flooded. Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to yesterday said, quoting Foreign Aff airs In their meeting, the foreign aff airs Airways in a communique yesterday the Philippine president, as well as the Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. secretary also conveyed the Philip- said it was suspending all flights to hopes of the Amir for further progress “We look forward to the state visit pines’ gratitude to Qatar for granting Kochi until August 18. The national and prosperity to the people of the of the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin royal pardon to 25 Filipino detainees carrier has advised passengers Philippines. Hamad al-Thani later this year, where during Eid al-Fitr. to use the ‘flight status tab’ on its For his part, Duterte sent his greet- he will surely be warmly welcomed by In April 2017, the Philippines and Qa- website or call Qatar Airways’ 24- ings to the Amir, and wished His High- President Rodrigo Duterte,” Cayetano tar signed agreements involving mat- hour call centre on +974-40230000 ness health and happiness and for the said yesterday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met with HE the Deputy Prime Minister and ters on culture, investment, technical or +91-7930616000 for the latest people of Qatar further progress and Cayetano met with his Qatari coun- Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Manila education co-operation and health information. Pages 2, 19 prosperity. terpart, who is on a visit to the Philip- yesterday.