3rd Best News Website in the Middle East BUSINESS | 19 SPORT | 24 Apple CEO Cook Qatar plot all-out gets 74% assault on bonus boost Bahrain Friday 29 December 2017 | 11 Rabia II I 1439 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7390 | 2 Riyals Emir, President 17 road projects of Turkmenistan to be carried review ties mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Ereceived a phone call from President of Turkmen- out next year istan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, yesterday. The Peninsula Talks during the conversation dealt with the bilateral rela- he road networks in The illegal siege on tions and means of enhancing the country will get Qatar had no impact mutual cooperation, in addi- further boost next on the infrastructure tion to exchanging views on year as Public Works works as over 60 the various developments on Authority (Ashghal) the regional and international Twill start implementing 17 road percent of works arenas. The President also projects in 2018. achieved in 2017 by invited H H the Emir to visit A traditional Qatari band enthrals the crowd with their performance at Al Ahmed Square in The illegal siege on Qatar Turkmenistan, and the Emir Ashghal was carried Souq Waqif yesterday as part of the Souq Waqif Spring Festival. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula had no impact on the infra- out after June. welcomed the invitation. structure works as over 60 percent of works achieved in Qatar denounces 2017 by Ashghal was carried out after June, said the Authority Souq Waqif tours to let visitors explosion in yesterday in a statement. Doom Street, Muaither Street Dr Eng Saad bin Ahmad Al And Al Shafi street. St Petersburg Muhannadi, President of Ash- The plan will also include experience Qatari way of shopping ghal, said the keenness and the turning roundabouts to signal- support by Prime Minister and ised junctions. atar expressed its Interior Minister H E Sheikh During 2018, more than Raynald C Rivera Shop Qatar, which is organ- of maximum 15 people through strong condemnation Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khal- 210km of cycle ways will be The Peninsula ised by Qatar Tourism Authority the Souq, stopping along the Qand denunciation of ifa Al Thani given to the completed in expressways. A (QTA) for the second year, has a way to sample and learn about the explosion that targeted a authority and its projects main expressway project will xpatriates and tourists who number of new features which spices, incense, traditional food, supermarket in the Russian strengthens the determination be opened for tender during want to experience the include providing authentic art and clothes. city of St Petersburg and left to carry out Ashghal’s mission 2018, that will reduce traffic Etraditional Qatari way of shopping experiences to people The Men’s, Women’s and a number of people injured. with the highest quality and congestion in 22-February shopping will have the chance through tours of Souq Waqif, the Family tours will take different In a statement issued yester- according to the planned Road. through Souq Waqif shopping most popular traditional mar- routes where tourists can day, the Foreign Ministry schedules. Regarding drainage tours organised for the first time ket in the country. explore more about the items reiterated Qatar’s firm stance The Prime Minister had vis- projects, the President pointed as part of the upcoming Shop “We do whatever we can to they are interested in, said Al in rejection of violence and ited the headquarters of out that drainage work of 279 Qatar 2018. help residents and tourists know Shammari. terrorism no matter what the Ashghal on Wednesday. locations in different areas had The shopping tours will be more about Qatar by coming up Through the souq tours, motives and causes were. During the visit a compre- been accomplished in 2017 to conducted in partnership with with creative ideas to show Shop Qatar also shows support → See also page 10 hensive review of Ashghal’s reduce storming water there. Embrace Doha, a Qatari com- them what Qatar is,” said Al to local entrepreneurs. Thirty achievements in the current “Four new projects dedi- pany specialising in cultural Shammari. pop-up shops will be set up in Qatar condemns year and plan for projects in cated for pumping stations, events and sessions. “We don’t want to just pro- Mall of Qatar where small busi- 2018 was presented to the sewage treatment and Al Kara- “The Souq Waqif tours will vide information, we want nesses can showcase their Prime Minister. ana wastewater landfill let expatriates and tourists expe- people to experience Qatar and products and benefit from the Kabul bombings Ashghal President thanked reclamation and rehabilitation rience shopping the Qatari way. one way to do this is through the high footfall generated by the all Ministries and service insti- will go ahead in 2018, along We will teach them about the tours,” explained Al festival, while providing the atar expressed its tutions for their support and with the completion of other souq itself, about certain stations Shammari. mall’s visitors with an authen- strong condemnation cooperation in the implemen- three projects”, the President in the souq, what to buy and Individuals interested in tic Qatari experience. Qand denunciation of tation of its projects. added. from where, how to bargain - learning how to find their way Shop Qatar is also partner- the two bombings that tar- He stated that, in 2018, Ash- For building projects, the things that Qataris are interested through the traditional market- ing with Qatar Development getted a local news agency ghal will start implementing 17 President revealed that Ashghal in,” Amal Al Shammari, CEO of place can join either the Bank (QDB) to provide several and a cultural centre in the road projects, including Al Fur- had concluded the construction Embrace Doha, told The Women’s, Men’s or Family tours of the 30 pop-up shops to SMEs Afghanistan capital of Kabul ousiya Street, A-Ring Road, of 14 mosques, three health Peninsula. that will run between 5pm and incubated and supported by the and left a number of people B-Ring Road, Wholesale Mar- centres and 16 schools in 2017. “We’ll try to show them the 6.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays Bank. killed and injured. ket Street, Al Maadeed Street, Qatari side of shopping. This is and Saturdays. Al Khufoos Street, Umm Al → Continued on page 3 the main idea,” he said. The tours will guide groups → Continued on page 3 → Continued on page 3 Diplomats, visitors praise Mahaseel Festival Ministry releases list of 156 The Peninsula varsities for distance education THE MINISTRY of Education and Higher Education released yes- he second edition of the Mahaseel Fes- terday a list of 156 universities based in United States of America, tival, which is located in the southern United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The details of the list Tareaof the Cultural Village Foundation could be gained from www.edu.gov.qa . The students wishing to apply - Katara, continues to receive huge number will be required to obtain advance approval from the Certificates of visitors including ambassadors and Attestation and Equivalency Section. dignitaries. → Full report on page 3 Yesterday, Indonesian Ambassador Muhammad Basri Sidehabi, Moroccan Ambassador Nabil Zniber; Iraq Embassy Al Jazeera expresses solidarity with Charge d’Affaires Dr. Abdulsattar H Al Janabi; Kuwaiti Ambassador Hafiz Mohammad Al detained journalists in Myanmar Ajmi; Omani Ambassador Najib bin Yahya Al Balushi, Indian Ambassador P. Kumaran and l Jazeera Media Network Brand and Communications Yahya Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Under- condemns the arrest of stated, “Attacks on individual Secretary for Commerce Affairs at the Ministry AReuters reporters Wa journalists, media organisations, of Economy and Commerce visited the fes- Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and and press freedom are at a crit- tival. The dignitaries were received by Katara expresses its solidarity with Reu- ical point. The endeavour of General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al- ters and its journalists. The two uncovering the truth is under Sulaiti. They took a tour of the fair which they detained journalists worked on assault everywhere and every praised for the quality and variety of local reporting the military crackdown measure must be taken to ensure Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti accompanying Kuwait produce and products on display. against the Rohingya Muslims in journalists’ freedom and safety. Ambassador Hafiz Mohammad Al Ajmi and Oman Ambassador Najib bin Yahya Al The festival also saw a number of schools the Rakhine state of Myanmar. We call upon the Myanmar including a delegation of the Nomas Center Balushi during a tour of the fair at the Mahaseel Festival. According to Reuters, the authorities to release Wa Lone from Kuwait. The students enjoyed the activ- exact whereabouts of the two and Kyaw Soe Oo and we stand ities and workshops where they acquired in order to support and introduce the public and natural juices have also put up stalls at reporters is still unknown. in solidarity with our colleagues invaluable knowledge on agriculture. to local products. Qatari food companies spe- the festival. Abdulla AlNajjar, Executive at Reuters and elsewhere across Mahaseel hosts many local companies, cialising in the production of dates, milk, dairy → Continued on page 3 Director of Al Jazeera’s Global the world.” 02 HOME FRIDAY 29 DECEMBER 2017 Change of traffic on Orbital Road Al Muraikhi meets Indian Ambassador The Peninsula Orbital Road and Salwa Road to enable the construction of the southern Orbital Road and Dukhan New Orbital Highway and Truck he Public Works Authority, Road towards Lusail. The detour Route, one of Ashghal’s Express- ‘Ashghal’, will change traffic will be in effect on Sunday, Decem- way Programme projects.