Sunday 8 June 2014 10 Sha’baan 1435 Volume 19 Number 6090 Price: QR2 QIIB gets Best Islamic Bank award 10 4 Business | 17 DAYS TO GO www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 UK media report triggers boycott campaign Citizens defend Qatar on social media, call for stopping investments in Britain DOHA: Recent corruption alle- been launched on Twitter, appar- could not even get a visa waiver he said, saying there is no harm far,” read a comment. not be any investigation and none gations made by the British ently by Arabs opposing the for Qataris entering the UK. in investing in private projects. Another said, if at all Qatar will be able to write about that,” newspaper Sunday Times against Qatari stand, questioning the “We still do not get the same Another respondent said the hos- loses the World Cup, it is not read another comment. Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup country’s right and capability to treatment that the British entering tile campaign was meant “to pres- going to have any negative impact There are also people who are bid has prompted some citizens host the World Cup. Qatar have been getting,” he wrote. sure Qatar to follow their demands on its people and its economy. not convinced about the benefits to launch a campaign on social Despite the concerns triggered In his column in a local Arabic and get their agenda implemented”. One commentator alleged that of hosting the World Cup. “I want media urging Qatar to stop by the Sunday Times report and an daily on Friday, Al Marzouqi said Since the Sunday Times report the British media have been paid to know if there is any religious, investments in the UK. ongoing investigation into the alle- that the campaign against Qatar was published, the Qatari social by elements hostile to Qatar. “They cultural, social or economic benefits The campaign in Arabic on gations, most citizens believe that was pre-planned. It comes from networking sites have been abuzz are making a final attempt but the from hosting this event,” wrote one, Twitter titled “No to investment Qatar will not lose the World Cup. the greed of some people to get with comments on the issue. championship will be held in Qatar lamenting that real estate prices in in Britain” has evoked a posi- “I don’t find any sense in a larger share in the billions of Many expressed surprise over despite all that,” read the post. Qatar are going sky high. tive response from a number of investing in this country (Britain). dollars worth projects in the FIFA’s decision to investigate the Another felt that the cam- “The situation could go from citizens. Noted Qatari writers It is only a waste of money and country, he noted. allegations, which they said were paigners are targeting some key bad to worse, if Qatar has to host and columnists as well as popu- support to the British economy,” Another campaigner — Miqdam not with good intentions. officials in FIFA and want to get two million more people,” said lar Qatari social networking wrote prominent Qatari column- Qatar — said the British media is Some suggested that Qatar more projects for their associates. another. Others, however, felt sites have also come out heavily ist Faisal Al Marzouqi, reacting trying to strip Qatar of its right should give up the World Cup on “We want Qatar to take legal that the World Cup is a prestige against the ongoing campaign to the Twitter campaign. to host the World Cup despite the its own as a sign of protest against action against the media because issue and despite some negative against Qatar led by a section of He also pointed out that despite huge Qatari investments in the UK. the move. “None will doubt our they are defaming the country with impacts, it could boost the coun- the British media. the huge Qatari investments in the “It is a big mistake to invest in capability to host the World Cup no solid evidence. If this happens to try’s economy in all sectors. A parallel campaign has also UK- worth about $44bn- Qatar government projects in London,” from what we have achieved so a European country there would THE PENINSULA Ooredoo targeted in Myanmar Cars to be seized for Military service for Emirati overtaking from right men made DOHA: The Traffic Department needs and wrong overtaking from compulsory has warned of stern action right side in roundabouts and against motorists overtaking intersections are among the most from right side as well as those common violations of the traffic DUBAI: The United Arab parking in slots dedicated for law. Both these violations involve Emirates President H H Sheikh the disabled. preventing others’ rights been Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Vehicles getting involved in clearly mentioned in the traffic yesterday issued a law imple- these two common violations law, he added. menting compulsory military repeatedly will face confisca- “Taking into account the rig- service for Emirati men. tion for a period of one month or orous consequences of these The state WAM news agency more, besides the fines stipulated two violations, the Traffic said the President had issued the by the law, the Department said Department will take strict federal law, which was published yesterday. actions and vehicles (involving in the official gazette. The UAE Brigadier Abdullah bin Nasser in these violations) will be con- had first said in January that it Al Thani, Assistant Director of fiscated for one month or more, would introduce the law. the Traffic Department, said the if repeated, along with imposing “The issuing of the law comes patrolling team has intensified the fine mentioned in the law,” with the goals of affirming the inspections all over the country said the official. instilling of the values of loyalty, to control these and other most Radars have been installed in affiliation and sacrifice in the common traffic violations. many of the roads in the country souls of the sons of homeland,” The department has also that are capable to easily detect WAM said. decided to launch a public aware- vehicles overtaking wrongly The law applies to all males ness campaign focusing on such from right side. This is a com- between the ages of 18 and 30 and issues that will go parallel with mon practice that contributes a A couple walks past an Ooredoo billboard in Yangon, Myanmar, yesterday. Anti-Muslim nationalists led by in good medical health. the inspection drive. lot to traffic jams in many areas, Buddhist monks launched a boycott of Ooredoo that plans to start providing mobile phone services in August. Men who have a high school He said parking at slots said the department. Extremist Buddhist monks launched the so-called 969 movement in 2012 which encourages boycotts of degree or its equivalent will serve reserved for people with special THE PENINSULA nine months, while those who do shops and services owned by Muslims. not have a high school diploma will serve for two years, WAM said. Participation for women, who can only serve for nine months, is optional and will require the Poroshenko vows not to give up Crimea approval of their legal guardians. Iran, US to hold first Military service will include KIEV: The Ukrainian greeted with a standing ovation. step towards full membership. training periods, military exer- President, Petro Poroshenko, He stressed the unity of And the 48-year-old promised cises and lectures on patriotism used his inaugural address to Ukraine, which is fighting a pro- an amnesty “for those who do not direct nuclear talks and security, WAM said, citing stress that the country would Russian separatist uprising in the have blood on their hands” in an the law. not give up Crimea, the Black east, and said it would not become apparent appeal to both separa- TEHRAN: Iran and the United official said the latest developments The London-based Inter- Sea peninsula that Russia a federalised state as advocated tist, pro-Russia insurgents and to States will on Monday and signal that “the talks are intensi- national Institute for Strategic annexed from it in March. by Moscow. the nationalist groups that oppose Tuesday hold their first direct fying”. The meeting is “a timely Studies estimates the size of the In a combative speech yester- Poroshenko also said he them. He said that he wanted nei- talks in decades, in an unprec- opportunity” to make progress, the UAE Armed Forces at 51,000, day following his swearing-in, intended to sign the economic part ther war, nor revenge. edented move toward securing US official said, stressed however with an army of 44,000, Navy Poroshenko said: “Crimea was, is, of an association agreement with THE GUARDIAN a comprehensive nuclear deal that the talks would be “consulta- of 2,500 and Air Force of 4,500. and will be Ukrainian.” He was the European Union, as a first See also page 10 between Tehran and the West. tions” that would feed into the P5+1 REUTERS The discussions will take place process, which resumes between in Geneva, with the US delegation June 16-20 in Vienna. led by Deputy Secretary of State The foreign ministry also said Jordan official Gunmen storm Iraqi university Bill Burns and Undersecretary two days of direct talks with Wendy Sherman, who is respon- Russia in Rome would immedi- proposed as UN sible for Iran negotiations. ately follow the US discussions. Iran will be represented at vice Iran’s meetings with the US rights chief foreign minister level in what is and Russia will be interpreted as the most senior direct bilateral the start of an all-out diplomatic UNITED NATIONS: UN contact on the nuclear issue so push to close glaring gaps that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon far.