ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Home | 2 Business | 18 Sport | 25 Qatar Foundation Euro sinks close India sweep to host youth to 12-year to untroubled forum on crime low against 8-wicket win prevention. the dollar. over Ireland. WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 • 20 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6366 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir meets German Vice Chancellor Qatar budget Motorists told surplus at QR100bn DOHA: Qatar’s budget surplus to move cars stood at more than QR100bn by the end of January 2015, despite the sharp decline in global oil prices. Qatar also managed to achieve after accident QR160bn current account sur- plus in the balance of payments during the first nine months of Overtaking from right very common 2014, said QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al BY SIDI MOHAMED on an experimental basis to see Thani here yesterday. The glo- its effect. bal economic landscape has DOHA: Overtaking from the Meanwhile, the findings of a seen the emergence of new eco- right side is the most common study conducted by Qatar Road nomic, financial and political traffic rule violation, followed by Safety Studies Centre show that challenges that left a negative use of mobile phones by motor- Al Shamal Road was the most impact on the global economy ists while driving, a seminar vulnerable in terms of acci- growth. Global financial markets was told yesterday. dent-related deaths as some experienced huge volatility dur- The other most frequent mis- 54 people died in four years on ing the period. International oil take made by motorists is that this highway between 2010 and prices declined to a historical low. in minor accidents, they refuse 2013. THE PENINSULA to remove their cars and block Al Mamoura in Doha ranked Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs See also page 17 the traffic. second with a toll of 40 in the and Energy Sigmar Gabriel at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. This is an offence which same period. attracts a fine of QR1,000 and a Madinat Khalifa was next with deduction of three points. Traffic a death toll of 36, followed by officials said they will now impose Al Rayyan at 32. fines on such offenders. Areas in the South (Al Wakra, Saudi bans entry for Umrah in private cars “You can take a picture and Messaieed) had a toll of 29 in the remove your car from the acci- period while in Old Airport area dent site or better still, don’t take of Doha, 24 people perished in DOHA: A Saudi ban on for- until the end of Ramadan, which “People intending to go for past one week from people who a picture and remove your car road mishaps between 2010 and eigners entering the Kingdom falls in summer. Many people, Umrah now have two options — had originally planned to go in and park it in the nearest avail- 2013. for performing Umrah in pri- especially expatriates in Qatar they can go by air or by bus. In their cars. able slot.” The toll was only seven in vate vehicles has hit a number and other GCC countries, pre- both cases, they need to make “We are conducting Umrah “The traffic police will inves- Dukhan. of aspiring pilgrims in Qatar. ferred to go for the pilgrimage the arrangements through a tour trips this month coinciding with tigate and fix the responsibility,” Figures also show that a third People travelling by road to in private cars, due to lower operator,” said a source. the Indian school holidays. All our road safety awareness official, (33 percent) of those who died in Saudi Arabia for Umrah are now expenses and the convenience Most tour operators conduct- seats are full and we are not in Abdul Wahed Al Anzi, told road accidents between 2011 and required to go with an author- it offers while travelling with ing Umrah trips by road charge a position to accommodate new the seminar on road safety at 2013 were aged 20 to 29 years, and ised tour operator (Muqawil) in families. QR900 per person including people,” he said. Darb Al Sai. Al Anzi said that the another 32 percent were in the their buses, industry sources have Many pilgrims also take the accommodation and transport, An Arab expatriate said he traffic department has begun road age group of 30 to 39. People aged disclosed. opportunity to visit friends and but this may go up with an was planning to go for Umrah safety lessons for drivers from less than 20 comprised 16 percent Several expatriates here who relatives staying elsewhere in expected increase in demand, in his car but changed his mind companies. of the dead. left for Umrah in their cars with- Saudi Arabia, which will not be he added. when he knew about the new rule “They can send their drivers to Most accidents (55 percent) out knowing about the new rule possible with the new rule. Representative of a commu- from the tour operators about a us for those lessons.” took place on Thursdays, Fridays were turned away at the Abu The new decision will appar- nity organisation that conducts week ago. Replying to a question about and Saturdays (weekend), with Samra border post over the past ently lead to a surge in bookings Umrah trips for expatriates in “I have got the visa and now I reduction of speed to 80km per Friday topping the list with a 20 few days, said the sources. with the authorised tour opera- collaboration with an authorised am planning to go by air,” he told hour on February 22 Road, the percent share of the total. The Umrah season has started tors and a possible increase in the tour operator said they have got this daily last evening. official said it was being done THE PENINSULA in Saudi Arabia and will continue tariffs, say industry sources. several new enquiries over the THE PENINSULA INSIDE Show turns into tragedy Page 9 Qatar starts building The falsehood of the Egyptian media By Dr Rabia bin 1,000 homes in Gaza Sabah Al Kuwari GAZA: A Qatari official visit- “Today we are starting the $1bn The central ing a Gaza neighbourhood heav- (effort),” Amadi told reporters as markets stink ily bombed in last summer’s he stood in the rubble of a hospi- war with Israel said yesterday tal destroyed during the 50-day By Khalid Abdulla the country had begun a project Gaza war. Al Ziyara to rebuild 1,000 homes as part Cogat, the Israeli military office of a $1bn aid pledge. that coordinates the movement of Mohammad Al Amadi, head of goods into Gaza, said the cement the Qatari Committee to Rebuild shipments were being handled by QA buys hotel near Gaza, said that earlier in the day the Western-backed Palestinian Israel had allowed four truckloads Authority. The PA exercises lim- Heathrow Airport of cement into the Gaza Strip so ited self-rule in the West Bank, that the planned construction of which Israel took in a 1967 war. the dwellings could begin. REUTERS DOHA: Qatar Airways has purchased the Sheraton Skyline hotel in Britain. The hotel will continue to be managed by Starwood under the Sheraton Budget term extended to Dec brand. The Sheraton Skyline, a DOHA: A law passed yester- Number 2 of 2015 issued by Emir four-star property situated in day extends the current state H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Bath Road, and a short distance The wreckage of one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air near Villa Castelli, in the Argentine province budget until 2015-end, and Al Thani vests the authority in from all Heathrow Airport ter- of La Rioja, yesterday. The accident killed 10 people, including three French sports stars, participating in a stipulates that from next year the finance ministry to prioritise minals, has 350 rooms. reality TV show. See also page 28 the financial year shall follow development projects and set See also page 17 the Gregorian calendar. standards for their prioritisa- The present budget was to tion if state entities responsible lapse on March 31 as Qatar for identifying and implement- had been following an April-to- ing those projects fail to do so, CIA tried to hack iPhone, iPad systems: Report March fiscal year. or even if they prioritise and the The budget year is being ministry doesn’t agree. changed to January-December The law asks the finance FRANKFURT: CIA research- software application development documentary maker Laura introduced its first iPhone and to seek compatibility with minister to issue the bye-laws ers have worked for nearly a tool, to create surveillance back- Poitras. It said the latest docu- continued through the launch of the financial year of private and until such time existing decade to break the security doors into programs distributed ments, which covered a period the iPad in 2010 and beyond, The companies. rules will apply. The law has protecting Apple phones and on Apple’s App Store. from 2006 to 2013, stop short Intercept said. Also, global monetary and seven chapters and 45 arti- tablets, investigative news site The Intercept has in the past of proving whether US intelli- Breaching Apple security was banking institutions follow the cles and another seven arti- The Intercept reported yester- published a number of reports gence researchers had succeeded part of a top-secret programme Gregorian calendar. cles talk of the help the finance day, citing documents obtained from documents released by in breaking Apple’s encryption by the US government, aided by For the extended 2014-15 ministry may need from enti- from NSA whistleblower whistleblower Snowden.