VCUQ’S MOI HOLDS BAZM-E-URDU TASMEEM ARAB POLICE PAYS TRIBUTE DOHA DESIGN OFFICERS’ TO LAST MEET TO OPEN MEET MUGHAL TODAY EMPEROR PAGE 18 | DATELINE DOHA PAGE 23 | METRO MUSINGS PAGE 24 | CITY LIGHTS Weather Today PRAYER TIMING Fajr: 4:19 am Dhuhr: 11:42 am HAZY Asr: 3:08 pm Maghrib: 5:46 pm Sunrise 5:37 am Isha: 7:16 pm Sunset 5:48 pm High 32ºC Low 17ºC Wind 15 kts Visibility moderate Pressure 1011 mb Rel. humidity 51% Monday, March 21, 2011 Nationline EMIR MEETS ECUADOR’S MINISTER Emir receives message from Students to Cape Verde president THE Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani write world’s received a letter from the President of Cape Verde, Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires, regarding relations between the two coun- longest tries. The letter was handed over by Cape Verde president’s envoy Armando Duarte during a meeting with HH the Emir in Doha on Sunday. (QNA) letter to Emir AISHA SIDAHMED Diwan. Emir issues instruments DOHA Laram said, “The idea to of ratification write the world’s longest STUDENTS of Maymona letter came to us when HH THE Emir His Highness Sheikh Elementary Independent the Emir paid a visit to Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani issued School have launched a Egypt to offer his condo- an instrument of ratification novel project to write the lence to the family of a approving the draft agreement world’s longest letter of teacher who taught him between Qatar and the GCC Anti- The Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emiri Diwan appreciation to the Emir when he was a young boy. narcotics Criminal Information HE Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah with Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino Orca, in Doha, on Sunday. His Highness Sheikh We have contacted the offi- Centre, signed in Riyadh on Hamad bin Khalifa al cials of the Guinness Book January 31, 2011. HH the Emir Thani. Through this initia- also issued an instrument of ratifi- tive, they are likely to enter The letter will be cation approving a draft air servic- the Guinness Book of put on display on es agreement between Qatar and Records. the school cam- Georgia, signed in Doha on Addressing a press con- pus from April 18 February 15, 2011. (QNA) Alraslah team wins M-E’s ference on Sunday, Nadia to 27 to be Mohamad Laram, princi- signed by minis- pal of the school, said the ters, diplomats, Emir receives Thomson record-breaking letter will teachers, stu- Reuters official first Arabic school debate be 60 metres long and two- dents, nationals and-a-half metres wide. and residents. THE Emir His Highness Sheikh TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK “Through this letter, the Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani DOHA students will express their of Records in this regard. received Chief Executive Officer of appreciation to HH the We are sure the initiative Thomson Reuters Foundation Tom THE team of Alraslah School won Emir for his effort to boost held under the auspices of Glocer in Doha on Sunday. The the Middle-East’s first Arabic debate science and education in the minister of education meeting was attended by Deputy organised for high school students the country. The total cost and higher education will Prime Minister and Chairman of by the QatarDebate, an initiative of of the letter is expected to enter the record book as the the Emiri Diwan HE Abdullah bin Qatar Foundation, on Saturday. This exceed QR200,000,” she longest letter addressed to a Hamad al Attiyah. (QNA) debate, conducted as per the regula- added. leader.” tions of the world schools debate The letter will be put on Addressing the media, championship, was held after the display on the school cam- Huda al Suaidi, principal of Emir meets Egyptian release of the first Arabic handbook pus from April 18 to 27 to Al Rayan Independent intelligence chief on debate titled The Complete Guide be signed by ministers, School, said: “The letter is on the Art of Debate by QatarDebate diplomats, teachers, stu- not just an effort to enter THE Emir His Highness Sheikh in January this year. dents, nationals and resi- the record book but also to Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani The competition organised at Al dents. After people put in reflect our love for the received Intelligence Chief of Imam Al Shafaii Independent their signature, the letter country and its leadership. Egypt, Major General Murad School for Boys, Moayzer, witnessed will be handed over to HH The initiative will help in Muwafi, in Doha on Sunday. The an overwhelming response with 17 the Emir by the school instilling a sense of patriot- meeting was attended by Deputy teams from 16 schools taking part. principal and students dur- ism in the hearts of young Prime Minister and Chairman of The Alraslah School team, com- QatarDebate officials with the Arabic debate participants, in Doha, on Saturday. ing a meeting at the Emiri generation.” the Emiri Diwan HE Abdullah bin prising Mariyam, Marwa and Hamad al Attiyah. (QNA) Taqwa, recorded four wins and 1025 in Arabic, the entire QatarDebate had been training the students in the points to bag the first position while team was present during the contest. debate format and helping them to Amna Wahab School team of Soud Giving away the prizes to the win- get well versed with the debating QC to set up hospital after Yousra and Manar came a close sec- ners, Executive Director of structure for a very long time. We slain Al Jazeera cameraman ond. The third position went to QatarDebate Dr Hayat Maraffi said, are happy that our efforts have been Alaraqam School team of Asmaa, “It is a day of reckoning for fulfilled.” QATAR Charity (QC) will set up a Mayar and Reem. QatarDebate as one of our long cher- The debate aroused great interest hospital named after slain Al In addition to the winning teams, ished dreams has been fulfilled. Our among the students and the coaches. Jazeera cameraman Ali Hassan al the tournament also honoured 15 entire team has put in a lot of efforts While some coaches expressed hap- Jaber in Benghazi, Libya. The hos- top speakers of the competition. to make this event a success. We will piness over the performance of the pital will cost QR30 million. QC Mariyam from Alrasalah School with continue to popularise Arabic debate students, others proposed that it was will contribute QR5 million, while 294 points won the best speaker in the country and the region.” a good beginning for the Arabic the remaining will be funded award closely followed by Asem Dr Abdelatif Sellam, educational speaking students. One of them said, through donations. The charity has Ahmed from Doha School who won programme manager of “It is a fantastic idea and we expect Huda al Suaidi, principal of Al Rayan Independent School launched this project in recogni- the second position with 293 points. QatarDebate, said: “Our Arabic that it will be made a regular feature (left), with Nadia Mohamad Laram, principal of Maymona tion of the achievements of al Marwa from Alrasalah School got debate coaches had visited a large of QatarDebate in the coming years. I Independent School (right), at a press conference, in Doha Jaber. (QNA) third position. number of schools and had interact- think that it will be extended to other on Sunday. (MANEESH BAKSHI) Since it was the first tournament ed with students many times. They countries in the Middle East soon.” Sculptors protect environment with help of sand AILYN AGONIA “Creating a thing of beauty this marine species. We have Japan, South Africa and sever- Helena said that she devel- DOHA with sand is really challenging. sea turtle rescue area and I am al European countries. “The oped her passion for sand We know that the sculpture an active volunteer there,” she temporary nature of sand sculpting when she had an US-based sand sculptor will not last for long but still we said. sculptures really fascinates opportunity to work at the Lucinda Wierenga is one of work hard to make it. This is me. They are masterpieces Academy of Arts in the top 10 internationally- my first visit to Qatar. I find “Creating a thing of which are not going to last for- Amsterdam. “The nice thing renowned artistes who are the place beautiful with the beauty with sand is ever, but their beauty remains about sand is that it is a sus- working overtime to create people keen to know about really challenging. etched in the minds of the peo- tainable material. You can masterpieces at the Sands various art forms. But the We know that the ple who see them,” she added. build something and when it Kingdom event being held at strong winds in this country sculpture will not Like Lucina, Helena is dismantled you can build the Qatar Marine Festival in are really offering us a big chal- last for long but Bangert of Netherlands is also something again. You can Katara. Lucinda is the author lenge in creating our works.” still we work hard working on a sea turtle sand make big sculptures in no of the famous book Lucinda is working on a to make it.” sculpture. “I saw in the time,” she added. Sandcastles Made Simple: masterpiece featuring sea tur- Internet how they release Other sculptors taking part Step-by-Step Instructions, tles in line with the competi- Lucinda has been a profes- small turtles into the sea. My in the event are Americans Jill Tips, and Tricks for Building tion’s theme ‘Endangered sional sculptor for 25 years.