Sofia, September 13 (QNA) – Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Anyu Angelov on Thursday said that military cooperation ties with Qatar has seen an increasing growth in the recent time, which was interpreted  in the cooperation agreement signed on Saturday as he visited Doha heading a Bulgarian defense ministry delegation.
The agreement focuses on training, technical and science issues in the military field between the governments of Qatar and Bulgaria, and contributed to improving the defensive abilities of the two countries, in addition to help achieve joint military projects, Angelov told QNA.
The Bulgarian official said he was honored to meet HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his visit, adding that they reviewed bilateral relations on all levels.
He  also noted that HH the Heir Apparent said he will follow up personally on the implementation of what was previously agreed on between the two countries, and welcomed the signing of the military cooperation agreement.
The agreement will provide a basis for joint work in specific programs for areas of military technical cooperation and developing and expanding cooperation in the military medical field, Angelov said.
Angelov discussed the prospect of holding joint military drills and trainings between the two countries as he met with Qatari Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General HE Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah. The duo also reviewed the means of activating bilateral cooperation, in addition to founding a Bulgarian-Qatari committee to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the agreement.
The Bulgarian minister extended an official invitation to HE Maj.Gen. Al Attiyah to visit Bulgaria’s military production factories. (QNA)

Cardiff, Wales, September 13 (QNA) – Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah has got something none of his FIA World Rally Championship rivals have: a medal from the London 2012 Olympics. And to prove it he brought it along to free practice for Wales Rally GB.
As well as being a multiple FIA title-winning rally driver, Al-Attiyah won a bronze medal in the men s skeet shooting section of the London Olympics back in the summer during a break from his WRC campaign in a Qatar World Rally Team Citroen DS3 WRC.
“I wait for this moment for a long time,” he said of his Olympic heroics. “Three times I have been in the Olympics but never before have I taken a medal. Now I have a bronze medal I am very happy because it really was not easy and I know a lot of good shooters who win world championships and world cups but never get an Olympic medal.”
He continued: “For this rally I have a good feeling and I am so happy to be here and to drive on gravel. We try to do our best in the race and to enjoy also. It will not be easy but at least we have a good car.”
Al-Attiyah, who is co-driven by Italian Giovanni Bernacchini, is currently 11th in the WRC standings. 
 Sebastien Loeb will be the first driver to select his road position for Wales Rally GB’s opening stages on Friday after he topped a dramatic Qualifying Stage in his Citroen DS3 WRC. Loeb, who is chasing his ninth FIA World Rally Championship drivers  title and Citroen s eighth makes  award this season, took 2m22.260s to complete the 3.91-kilometre stage at the Walters Arena complex north of the event base in Cardiff.
“It was a good run,” said the French ace and current WRC title leader. “I made one or two small mistakes but I am happy, it was not raining for me.”
But while Loeb has gained an early advantage in his bid for his fourth Rally GB triumph, rival Petter Solberg was left frustrated as it began to rain just as he was about to launch his Ford Fiesta RS WRC from the stage start.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said after losing out to Loeb by 0.051s. “The rain tap is turned on again at the start line  just like in Germany . I didn t know what the grip would be like and I was braking too early for some of the corners. It’s frustrating but I still have one aim and that is to win.”
With drivers picking their road position at the ceremonial start in Llandudno on Thursday evening in order of fastest to slowest, Solberg will select his place on the road after Loeb.
Mikko Hirvonen, in the second works Citroen, was third quickest with Citroen Junior Thierry Neuville – making his Rally GB debut – fourth fastest, +0.878s down on Loeb. Factory Ford pilot and last year’s winner Jari-Matti Latvala was fifth quickest, 1.133s slower than Loeb with Ford privateer Mads Ostberg completing the top six.
Matthew Wilson, contesting a Qualifying Stage for the first time in his career, was ninth fastest with Chris Atkinson the leading MINI John Cooper Works WRC driver in 11th place. The Australian reported sliding wide at one corner but was otherwise satisfied with his efforts.
Local children and government representatives will join each crew when they take to the start podium to choose their road position in Llandudno, a popular seaside resort in the north of Wales, from 19:00hrs local time on Thursday 13 September.
Prior to the starting ceremony, crews will take part in an autograph signing session in Llandudno from 17:30hrs. A display of iconic cars from the 80-year history of the event will also be on display on the town s promenade. Vehicles set to feature include Colin McRae s 2001 Ford Focus WRC.
The first special stage, Dyfnant 1, goes live at 08:13hrs local time on Friday.(END)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – The Emiri Diwan has mourned the death of late HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani who passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 57. The funeral prayer will be performed after asr (afternoon) prayer at the old rayyan mosque.
We ask Allah the Almighty, to let the deceased rest in peace and make paradise his last abode. (QNA)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – The Minister of State for Interior Affairs, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, met here today with the visiting U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder. Talks during the meeting dealt with means of promoting joint cooperation.  (QNA)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – Under the patronage of HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Central Bank, in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Development Planning and the International Monetary Fund, will host the Capital Markets Conference on the 18th and 19th September 2012.
The conference’s agenda presents a number of important and relevant topics, including Developing Bond Markets in Fiscal Surplus Countries; Role of the State in Developing Bond Markets; Motivation for Developing Debt Markets in the GCC Countries and Financing Infrastructure in the GCC Countries.  (QNA)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – Qatar Exchange index gained 95.99 points (1.13%) this week when the bourse closed at 8,563.19 points on Thursday. Trading value this week decreased by 30.69% to reach QR 2,107,965,155.75 compared to QR 3,041,298,567.32. 
Trading volume decreased by 41.35% to reach 77,100,524 shares, as against 131,460,425 shares while the number of transactions rose by 0.78% when it reached 18,037 compared to 17,897 transactions the previous week.
The market capitalization rose by 0.46% to reach QR 472,452,021,207.91 as compared to QR 470,299,577,223.05 at the end of previous week.
Real Estate led the trading value this week accounting for 56.14% of the total traded value. Banks and financial services accounted for 20.29%. Consumer goods and services accounted for 9.13% and industries accounted for 7.18%.
Real Estate sector led the trading volume this week with for 67.76% of the total traded volume. Banks and financial services accounted for 13.98%. The consumer goods and services accounted for 6.11% and telecoms accounted for 5.08%.
Banks and financial services led the number of transactions traded during this week with 33.12% of the total transactions. Real Estate accounted for 21.16%. Consumer goods and services accounted for 16.37% and industries accounted for 11.96%.
From the 42 listed companies 26 ended this week higher while 14 fell and two remained unchanged.
Ezdan Real Estate led the traded value this week with 42.34% of the total traded value. Barwa Real Estate accounted for 11.22%. Qatar National Bank accounted for 3.82%. (QNA)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – Perspectives on the ‘post-revolutions’ of the Arab economy and the challenges businesswomen are facing in the transitional period will be among the key topics discussed at the third Qatar International Businesswomen Forum to be held here on October 15 and 16 next month at the St Regis Hotel.
The Forum is being organised by the Qatari Business Women Association in collaboration with Interactive Business Network (IBN).
The political upheavals that have been sweeping the Arab world since the beginning of 2011 will continue to impact the course of economic and social developments in the region for many years to come, one of the key questions is whether this process of change underway will boost the political and economic role of women in the region.
Specifically, will Arab businesswomen be able to strengthen their leadership and executive positions in this environment of change and uncertainty.
The Third Qatar International Businesswomen Forum will engage in a discussion on these and many other topics of the hour, particularly through the informed opinions of a number of leading experts and activists from the Arab world and other countries.
As in its first two editions, the forum is also expected to attract wide participation from senior government officials, business leaders, financiers, economists, specialists, as well as representatives of civil society, NGOs, and women leaders in business and other professions and activities.
The main topics on the Forum’s agenda include:- Perspectives on the ‘post-revolutions’ of the Arab economy; Challenges facing businesswomen in the transitional period; Risk-reward scenarios for women entrepreneurs within prevailing cultural constraints.
Women engineers, businesswomen and corporate social responsibility; Investment and asset management strategies under conditions of uncertainty; NGOs and the empowerment of women: the record so far; Workshops on corporate governance in Arab companies and branding. (QNA)

Doha, September 13 (QNA) – The State of Qatar has congratulated HE Mustafa Abu-Shakour for being elected Prime Minister of the Libyan government and also congratulated the Libyan people of the impartial electoral process held there.
A statement the Emiri Diwan issued here on Thursday , said ,”the State of Qatar ,while welcoming the electoral process held amid an atmosphere of honest and transparent competition , hopes such a process would be a step forward toward  stability and prosperity of Libya.
”The State of Qatar, while congratulating the brotherly people of Libya for their success in laying another brick for the building of the modern state of institutions, is fully confident that the new elected leadership would spare no effort for providing security, stability and welfare to the Libyan people and restoring their role and position for the service of their nation”, said the statement. (QNA)