PHILIPPINES | Page 15 SPORT | Page 2 Late strikes rock Sri Lanka INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 20 COMMENT 17, 18 as Kiwis REGION 4 BUSINESS 1 – 7, 9 – 12 Recurring fl ood nightmare 17,232.04 9,912.92 34.68 ARAB WORLD 4 – 5 CLASSIFIED 8 – 9 -263.80 +50.89 -0.27 INTERNATIONAL 6 – 16 SPORTS 1 – 12 in typhoon-battered nation fi ght back -1.51% +0.52% -0.77% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9941 December 19, 2015 Rabia I 8, 1437 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief OFFICIAL | Diplomacy Emir and Eritrean president hold talks HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani left Asmara yesterday after a short visit to Eritrea. During the visit, the Emir held talks with President Isaias Afewerki at the presidential palace. They reviewed co-operation between the two countries and ways of developing them in various HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad fields and discussed a number of bin Khalifa al-Thani arrive to watch the National Day parade on the Corniche. HH the Emir and HH the Father Emir interact with people after the parade. regional and international issues of common interest. Later, the Eritrean president hosted a luncheon in honour of the Emir. The Emir and his accompanying delegation later left Asmara. They were seen off by Afewerki, a number of ministers and Qatar’s ambassador to Eritrea Mohamed Rashid al-Humaidi. Page 2 A proud day for Qatar QATAR | Football Al-Thawadi rejects By Joseph Varghese its regular course, several dhows, in- Staff Reporter cluding some equipped with advanced Zwanziger criticism facilities, sailed across the Doha Bay. Secretary General of the Supreme A number of patrolling vessels of the Committee for Delivery and Legacy atar yesterday celebrated the coastguard also joined the celebra- (SC) Hassan al-Thawadi yesterday National Day with grandeur tions. dismissed a former FIFA off icial’s Qand gaiety. The celebrations After the parade, HH the Emir and criticisms of Qatar’s human rights included a large number of events and HH the Father Emir walked along the record. He said Theo Zwanziger entertainment programmes across the parade route and greeted the crowd. of Germany had never visited country. They shook hands with people, hugged Qatar to see what was going on A ceremonial parade, cultural and children and waved to the crowd. for himself. Al-Thawadi said Qatar sports activities by several expatriate Meanwhile, diff erent areas such as had announced changes to the groups, festivities at several locations Darb Al Saai, Katara, and places where kafala system. “We therefore reject and fi reworks were some of the high- expatriate communities organised comments made by Theo Zwanziger lights. events attracted a large number of peo- that are misleading and not based In the morning HH the Emir Sheikh ple. At Darb Al Saai, which opened on on first hand knowledge of Qatar,” Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the December 8, the heritage of the coun- he said. “We have met Zwanziger Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa try is on display at several booths of the and personally invited him to come al-Thani, HH the Emir’s personal rep- participating organisations. The fes- to Qatar so that he can gain an resentative HH Sheikh Jassim bin Ha- tivities on the historic ground will con- understanding of the eff orts we are mad al-Thani and a number of other clude tomorrow. making to improve the environment dignitaries and ministers attended the The Ministry of Interior in co-ordi- A cavalry contingent takes part in the Qatar National Day parade yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam for workers in the country. Unlike parade on the Doha Corniche. nation with several expatriate commu- some German experts who have The stretch where the parade took nities organised a number of cultural visited Qatar to form their own place was fi lled with thousands of citi- and sports events at four diff erent lo- opinion of our construction sites, he zens and residents who had converged cations of the country, ensuring wide has never visited Qatar.” there early in the morning. participation and involvement of tens The National Day parade started of thousands of spectators. ECONOMY | Shake-up with the national anthem, a recitation The events were held at Al Wakrah Saudi Arabia plans from the Holy Qur’an followed by an Sports Complex, Al Rayyan Sports 18-gun salute. Complex, Barwa’s Al Khor Workers’ economic reforms The splendid parade that began Sports Complex and Asian Town in the Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince at 8am with the entry of a colourful Industrial Area. has privately outlined plans to cavalcade of thorough-bred Arabian Some of the events started on Thurs- reshape the economy to withstand horses and camels also featured a set day while most of the competitions and low oil prices, sources said, in what of paratroopers who descended on entertainment programmes were con- could be the biggest policy shake-up the Corniche after performing aerial ducted yesterday. According to MoI, since the kingdom’s economy was stunts. more than 40,000 people attended the last hurt by cheap oil over a decade The parade also showcased the mili- events. The participating schools and ago. The strategy was presented by tary strength of the country, display- workers presented a number of por- Mohamed bin Salman at a meeting ing an impressive array of sophisti- traits inspired by nature in Qatar. They this week with senior off icials, cated arsenal of the army, air and naval also performed a number of songs businessmen and economists. It forces. in celebration of the National Day. includes state spending reforms While the parade was progressing on Pages 2, 3 and 20 and privatisations in the world’s top oil exporting country, the sources said. The plans are expected to be made public in the next few weeks. Business Page 1 Fireworks light up the night sky over Doha Corniche yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma US | Confl ict Obama cites steady progress battling IS President Barack Obama yesterday said there were signs of steady progress in the US-led campaign against Islamic State militants and that they would eventually be defeated. “We’re going to defeat ISIS and we’re going to do so by systematically squeezing them, cutting off their supply lines, cutting off their financing, taking out their A traditional dhow approaches the Katara beach yesterday as part of the leadership, taking out their forces, celebrations. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil taking out their infrastructure,” Obama said at a news conference. Working hours The Ministry of Interior yesterday announced the working hours for tomorrow, which has been declared a national holiday. The ministry said authorities such as Passports and Expatriates Aff airs, Traff ic Department and Criminal A military helicopter flies past Doha Corniche Evidence and Information carrying the Qatar National Flag and another flag Department will work from 8am bearing the picture of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim to 12noon. An aerobatic show leaves a smoke trail in the Qatari colours of maroon and white Yachts with their sails in the Qatari colours were a treat for the eyes bin Hamad al-Thani during the National Day parade yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma during the National Day parade. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Gulf Times 2 Saturday, December 19, 2015 QATAR Niger president Emir in Eritrea Teach For Qatar makes learning congratulated HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent a cable of fun and engaging at Darb Al Saai congratulations to the president of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, on the occasion of his each For Qatar is partici- By making learning an en- about their experience at the country’s national day. pating in the Supreme gaging experience, the activity Teach For Qatar space and Qatar HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh TEducation Council’s as a whole aims to remind the National Day using a hashtag. Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani also tent at Darb Al Saai to celebrate public of the vital role a pas- By training young leaders to sent a cable of congratulations Qatar National Day. sionate teacher can have in im- positively impact students inside to Niger President Mahamadou Off ering visitors a glimpse pacting student learning, the the classroom, Teach For Qatar is Issoufou on the occasion of his of the country’s educational statement notes. a local non-government organi- country’s national day. history, the tent is reminiscent Teach For Qatar’s corner in sation that provides passionate The Prime Minister and Interior of school days from the past, the children’s play area at Darb graduates and young profession- Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah according to a statement. Al Saai, which concludes to- als with an opportunity to give bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani Decorated with old teaching morrow, includes colourful and back to the country by placing sent a cable of congratulations materials and desks, the Teach interactive oversized letters them in independent schools for to Mahamadou Issoufou on the For Qatar classroom contains and numbers where kids can a two-year teaching and leader- occasion of his country’s a 3D projection of a teacher play, climb and have fun while ship development programme. national day. who conducts a science les- participating in a challenging Applications for the Teach son through a fun, interactive educational competition. For Qatar 2015-2017 Fellowship experiment. Visitors are encouraged to post are now open.