Angry Birds World entertainment park opens at DFC...Apr 28, 2019 · Thamer Al Thani. This came...

Volume 24 | Number 7875 | 2 RiyalsSunday 28 April 2019 | 23 Sha'baan 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa

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BUSINESS | 14 SPORT | 18

Thiem stuns Nadal to reach Barcelona final

Qatar Mining Company’s steel

plant in Algeria to open by Q4, 2019

Gulf crisis ‘has threatened the security and stability of GCC’

SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA

H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), and Chairman of Board of Directors of Al Jazeera Media Network, has said that the Gulf crisis has threatened the security of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, their stability and prevented them from facing or resolving challenges in the region.

He said that due to ongoing Gulf crisis, the GCC states were not in a position to play an influ-

ential role in the region. “Before this crisis, the Guf

citizens aspired to see more GCC cooperation and many steps were planned like unification of the Gulf currency and passport. But the crisis shattered every-thing and damaged confidence among the GCC countries to the extent that the leaders of the GCC are no longer able to meet even,” said H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani.

This came yesterday during the 13th Al Jazeera Forum which is being held at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort under the topic ‘The Gulf: From Crisis to Decline of Strategic Influence’, in the presence of a number of politi-cians, intellectuals and decision-makers from around the world to exchange views without tutelage.

“The GCC crisis is considered the biggest Gulf crisis despite various crises experienced by the region in the past. Its impact is no longer limited to the political and socio-economic impact but extends to the strategic dimension of the entire Gulf system,” he

pointed out while addressing the opening session of the forum.

He also said that there is a fear among some countries of the region that siege-like situation

could be repeated with them in the future, stressing that the siege countries did not achieve their goals but all were among sufferers from the crisis. �P3

H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation, and Chairman of Board of Directors of Al Jazeera Media Network, during the opening ceremony of Al Jazeera Forum yesterday. PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

More people buying grocery online in QatarSACHIN KUMAR THE PENINSULA

Online groceries shopping is rising in Qatar, taking benefit of country’s strong Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and high-income population. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the top items being bought online thorough online applica-tions (apps) in Qatar.

“When we were starting Suncart, the biggest feedback we received was that people might order non-food or packaged food online but will never order fresh fruits, vegetables or meat online” Khawaja Jaffer, Founder & CEO, Suncart — an app for food delivery — told The Peninsula.

“To our surprise, 18 out of the top 25 sold items are from the fruits and vegetables cat-egory, people enjoy the high-quality fruits and vegetables sourced and delivered through Suncart,” added Jaffer.

With rising demand for delivery of food items, several apps have come up in Qatar for food items delivery.

Along with Suncart, several

other players such as Baqaala, Getit, Jeeblina, Beelivery are some of the other players jos-tling to create space for them-selves in Qatar’s fast growing e-commerce market.

Suncart app features over 8,000 grocery items including fresh fruits, vegetables, household, personal care, baking and cooking, baby, pet care and many more.

With in the next two-three month, Jaffer aims to increase the number of items in Suncart to 1,500.

“While placing the order, users can select from five delivery slots during the day for same-day or next-day delivery (i.e: 12noon-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm, 6pm-8pm, 8pm-10pm),” he said.

“Grocery is the most basic consumer need, and we believe that accessibility for all types of customers should be priori-tised," he said.

"We are proud that Suncart is the only grocery delivery venture, which is servicing all of Doha and its surrounding municipalities from Day one,” claimed Khawaja. �P2

H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of QMC, said that due to ongoing Gulf crisis, the GCC states were not in a position to play an influential role in the region.

02 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019HOME

Amir greets King

of Netherlands

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

and Deputy Amir H H

Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad

Al Thani sent yesterday

cables of congratulations

to King Willem-Alexander

of the Netherlands, on the

occasion of his country’s

National Day. The Prime

Minister and Interior Minis-

ter, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin

Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani,

also sent a cable of con-

gratulations to the Prime

Minister of the Netherlands,

Mark Rutte.QNA

OFFICIAL NEWS

Amir congratulates

President

of South Africa

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh

Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani

and Prime Minister and Inte-

rior Minister H E Sheikh

Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha-

lifa Al Thani sent yesterday

cables of congratulations

to the President of South

Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, on

the occasion of his country’s

Freedom Day.QNA

Amir condoles with

President of VietnamDOHA: Amir H H Sheikh


and Deputy Amir H H Sheikh


sent yesterday cables of con-

dolences to the President of

the Socialist Republic of Viet-

nam, Dr. Nguyen Phu Trong,

on the death of former Viet-

namese President Le Duc

Anh. The Prime Minister and

Interior Minister, H E Sheikh


lifa Al Thani, also sent a cable

of condolences to the Prime

Minister of the Socialist

Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen

Xuan Phuc.QNA

Amir greets President

of Sierra LeoneDOHA: Amir H H Sheikh




sent yesterday cables of

congratulations to the Presi-

dent of the Republic of Sierra

Leone, Julius Maada Bio, on

the anniversary of his coun-

try’s Independence Day.

The Prime Minister and Inte-

rior Minister, H E Sheikh


lifa Al Thani, also sent a cable

of congratulations to Chief

Minister of the Republic of

Sierra Leone, Prof. David John

Francis.QNA

Amir congratulates

President of TogoDOHA: Amir H H Sheikh




sent yesterday cables of con-

gratulations to the President

of the Togolese Republic,

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe,

on the anniversary of his

country’s Independence Day.

Prime Minister and Interior

Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah

bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani

also sent a cable of congrat-

ulations to the Prime Minister

of the Togolese Republic,

Komi Selom Klassou.QNA

Amir condoles with

Philippine PresidentDOHA: Amir H H Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh


and Prime Minister and Inte-

rior Minister H E Sheikh


lifa Al Thani sent cables of

condolences to the President

of the Republic of the Philip-

pines Rodrigo Duterte on the

victims of the earthquake that

struck several parts of the

Philippines, wishing a speedy

recovery to the injured.QNA

Minister of Culture honours Qatari delegation for their performance at Arab Robotics ChampionshipTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, recently honoured the Qatari delegation participated in the 13th Arab Robotics Champi-onship in Jordan and Interna-tional Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva for winning prizes.

H E the Minister appreciated the efforts of the Qatari youth and their constant aspiration to raise the name of Qatar in various fields of science, youth, culture and sports which reflect the superiority of Qatari youth and their ability to achieve cre-ativity and innovation in various fields. H E the Minister stressed

the keenness of the State of Qatar to support its youth and always work to enable it to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.

It also reflects Qatar’s keenness to invest in its youth, which is inspired by the values of previous generations in crea-tivity and contribution to the development of society. For their part, the Qatari youth thanked the Minister and appreciated the support of the State and its efforts to empower them and provide them with a full oppor-tunity to realise their aspirations. The Qatar team participating in the 13th Arab Robotics Champi-onship in Jordan won the first place in the research. The Qatari team part ic ipated in

International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, won four

gold medals out of five innova-tions that the Qatari delegation

took part in. The fifth invention was awarded the silver medal.

The Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, with the Qatari delegation that participated in the 13th Arab Robotics Championship in Jordan and International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva at a ceremony honouring them for winning prizes.

Commander of Amiri Naval Force attends graduation of 2018-2019 training yearTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Acting Commander of Amiri Naval Force Brigadier General (Naval) Hamad Mohammed Al Dosari attended yesterday the graduation of the training courses for the 2018-2019 year.

The training period included four courses. The first is officers’ main war course, which plays a key role in preparing officers in the operational and tactical mil-itary aspects.

The second is for naval officers, and is one of the foun-dational courses in the field of

operations that recruits have to take.

The third is the individuals’ foundational operations course, where recruits receive training for navigation as well as getting a general overview on commu-nications instructions. The fourth is a naval rehabilitation course, which is the first course that members of the naval force have to pass. In it, they get to know the basics of different administrations and work places. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Al Dosari handed out the certificates to the graduates.

Angry Birds World entertainment park opens at DFC

THE PENINSULA DOHA

The world’s first Angry Birds World entertainment park marked its grand opening at Doha Festival City, welcoming guests into Qatar’s unique indoor and outdoor desti-nation.

Home to the world-famous Angry Birds flock, the 17,000 square metre nest brings a riot of fun for the whole family. Following

the launch of its indoor section last year, the park extends the same excitement to its enchanting outdoor section, as part of the second phase. One of the much-anticipated attractions is the Super Slingshot.

At 42 metres in height, this imposing structure is hard to miss.

Themed around the classic bird-flinging gameplay, the slingshot catapults guests more than 60 meters into the air, offering a truly heart-pounding experience.

Red’s House, as featured in The Angry Birds Movie, will delight guests with its quirky style while indulging little ones in sand play

activities. The Raft Battle takes guests on a voyage from the Bird Island to an interactive cinematic experience. For a hearty dose of thrill, guests can climb aboard the Angry Coaster – a fast and furious ride that twists through the air.

Adventure enthusiasts can head to the park’s City Studio. The bustling adventure hub allows vis-itors to test their strengths with a range of activities involving wall climbing, parabolic slides, roller gliders and ropes course.

Once indoors, visitors can enjoy exhilarating rides with Blast Bomb, a drop and twist tower that features free-fall motion from a height of 11 metres, or Red Alert, a 360-degree spin ride or a laser tag battle. Amidst the range of attrac-tions, the park also boasts the world’s first indoor/outdoor karting track and The Big Tree, a multi-level creative playground offering a variety of edutainment work-shops for little ones, in addition to exciting challenges such as ropes course and zip line. Visitors can

keep the energy soaring at the Trampoline Universe, comprising a basketball court, foam pit and a kids’ court.

Ali Bin Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Attia, Deputy CEO of Leisure, owner of Trimoo Parks, the company operating the enter-tainment park, said: “This is a proud moment for us, we are extremely delighted to open our doors to a first-of-its-kind indoor outdoor destination in Qatar and the World.”

“The Angry Birds celebrate their 10-year anniversary this year, but our work has just begun in terms of expanding the brand’s footprint and establishing multiple touchpoints with our fans worldwide,” said Simo Hämäläinen Head of Brand Licensing at Rovio Entertainment.

Robert Hall, General Manager of Doha Festival City, said: “Angry Birds World is a family favourite and we believe that our visitors will have more reasons to enjoy it with the opening of the Outdoor park.”

A view of the world’s first Angry Birds World entertainment park at Doha Festival City.

More people buying grocery onlineFROM PAGE 1

With strong IT infra-structure, high-income popula-tions and high level of smart-phone penetration, online buying in Qatar is set to grow exponentially in Qatar. The e-commerce market in the country is set to grow exponen-tially in coming years. Qatar’s e-commerce market is expected to witness a sharp double-digit growth over the next few years. The combined size of e-com-merce transactions, which stood at QR4.36bn ($1.2bn) in 2017, is estimated to reach around QR11.65bn by 2022.

“Though up-scale areas like Pearl Qatar or West Bay had the highest order density, the service is also seeing great demand from Doha downtown areas and various family compounds all over Doha, especially Duhail. Further, Western, Qatari & Indian females dominate their user profile, though men are also strong users in the mix,” explained Khawaja Jaffer (pictured).

E-commerce in Qatar is already on the rise now with more and more consumers pur-chasing various types of goods and services online, including restaurant food, taxi/limo rides, electronics, cosmetics, clothes and shoes.

“Buying groceries on your own is a time consuming effort because you have to pick fresh and good quality vegetables. Home delivery of groceries by online apps is a good option for me as it saves my time and efforts,” Subhash Ghosh, mar-keting officer with IT company told The Peninsula.

Following the launch of its indoor section last year, the park extends the same excitement to its enchanting outdoor section, as part of the second phase. One of the much-anticipated attractions is the Super Slingshot.

03SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 HOME

The President of Qatar Olympic Committee, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, with the winners of the 2019 Qatar Camel Challenge Festival at Al Shahaniya camel racetrack.

Chief of Staff inspects Saqr 21 military exerciseTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces H E Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem checked yesterday on Saqr 21 military exercise, which is carried out by the Amiri Air Force.

His Excellency communi-cated with all the air bases par-ticipating in the exercise using

video conference, to stand on the latest developments of the exercise.

He also listened to a briefing by acting director of operations and training Brig-adier General (Pilot) Saad Shaheen Al Sarea Al Kaabi, who is also head of the Saqr 21 eval-uation team, deputy head of the Saqr 21 evaluation team Brig-adier General Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Zaman, and by acting

commander of fighter aircrafts Brigadier General Khalid Nasser Hazaa Al Shahwani. Saqr 21 is divided into two sec-tions, the first is Command Battle Simulations (CBX), and the second is IFX. It takes place from April 23-30 with partici-pation from US Air Force, Turkish forces, the Ministry of Interior, Coast Guard, Amiri Naval Force, and Joint Special Force.

H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani (third left), Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation and Chairman of Board of Directors of Al Jazeera Media Network, with Khalid Mashri (third right), President of High Council of State in Libya; Dr Mostefa Souag (second left), Acting Director-General of Al Jazeera Media Network, and other officials during the opening ceremony of Al Jazeera Forum at Sheraton Doha yesterday. PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

Gulf crisis ‘has threatened the security and stability of GCC’

FROM PAGE 1

The President of the High State Council of Libya, Khalid Al Mishri, stressed that the problem of Gulf crisis is due to attempts of some countries to control other countries which do not agree with their policy.

“The GCC was considered by all Arabs as a model for major regional projects especially in the context of Gulf consensus that was non-existent in other Arab countries. The economic, social and geographical proximity was

the biggest factor that augured the Council’s success,” he added.

Al Mishri mentioned that the Gulf states, which tried to control Qatar, were also trying to end the democratic experiment in Libya and the rest of the Arab countries. “They stand against revolutions and even provoke wars with their proxies.” For his part, the member of Grand National Assembly of Turkey and former deputy chairman of Justice and Devel-opment Party, Mehdi Akkar, said in his speech that the situation

where the GCC countries had reached was highly complicated in light of the crisis that under-mined the security and stability of the region.

In the first session of the Forum that was held on theme ‘The Gulf relations’, the speakers noted that the Gulf crisis could continue longer as there were no positive signs from the siege countries and Doha had also rejected the ‘list of demands’ presented by the blockading states.

Innovative approaches on Neurodegenerative research sought at QBRI symposium THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), recently hosted the First Symposium on ‘Neurodegener-ative Diseases: Innovations in Biomarker Discovery Towards

Personalised Medicine’, which provided a comprehensive overview of the development and discovery of biomarkers to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

The symposium brought together local and international clinicians and researchers from diverse career and educational backgrounds to discuss various

topics through a series of panel discussions and presentations. Among the main discussion points of the symposium were devel-oping diagnostic tools for Parkin-son’s and Alzheimer’s.

Speaking on the event, Dr. Omar El-Agnaf, Executive Director of QBRI, said: “We are witnessing an increase in the

prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. This has served as a catalyst for neurosci-entists and researchers to seek out innovative approaches to treating the various disorders that fall under the umbrella of neuro-degenerative diseases.

Delegates from numerous international institutions,

including Hamad Medical Cor-poration, QBRI, University of Gothenburg, Weill Cornell Med-icine-Qatar, Newcastle Uni-versity, Oxford University, and the University of Rhode Island spoke on a range of key neurodegener-ative topics.

Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Director, Neuroscience Program,

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, said: “As an invited Canadian neuroscientist and guest speaker, the symposium showcased an impressive building, which most of us can only dream of working in with a clever design, generous space and a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y platforms.”

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A-G signs MoU with University of Hassan II Casablanca

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Hassan II Casablanca in the Kingdom of Morocco, aimed at cooperation in the academic field. The memorandum of understanding was signed by Attorney-General H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, and Acting-President of Hassan II University Dr Abdel Rahim Al Khalidi, at the University’s premises in Casablanca. The MoU provides for the implementation of some of the academic programmes of the University Hassan II Casablanca in the State of Qatar, as well as benefiting from the University’s expertise in support of the programmes agreed upon between the two sides.


President of Armenia receives credentials of Qatari EnvoyQNA YEREVAN

The President of the Republic of Armenia, Dr Armen Sark-issian, has received the creden-tials of Mohammed bin Hamad Al Fuhaid Al Hajeri as Ambas-sador Extraordinary and Plen-ipotentiary of the State of Qatar (non-resident) to the Republic of Armenia. The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Armenian President, and H H’s wishes for good health and happiness to the President and further progress and prosperity to the government and people of Armenia. For his part, the President of Armenia entrusted the Qatari Ambassador to convey his greetings to H H the Amir, wishing the best of health and happiness and the State of Qatar further development and prosperity.

Languages Institute of the Qatari Armed Forces concludes 2019 season coursesQNA DOHA

The Languages Institute of the Qatari Armed Forces cele-brated yesterday the gradu-ation of a number of its courses of the 2019 training season, in the attendance of Commander of Recruits Training Institute Major General Rashid Nasser Al Hajri, and Director of the Languages Institute Brigadier General (Pilot) Hassan Abdullah Ahmed Al Abdullah.

A total of 46 recruits from different units of the armed forces attended the courses, including 19 from Mongolia.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Al Hajri handed out prizes and certificates to the graduates, and honoured the teachers.

An award being presented to an official at the conclusion of the training courses at Languages Institute of the Qatari Armed Forces.

The President of the Republic of Armenia, Dr Armen Sarkissian, receiving the credentials of Mohammed bin Hamad Al Fuhaid Al Hajeri as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar (non-resident) to the Republic of Armenia.

Ahlibank organises free health day for employeesTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Ahlibank, a leading Qatari-owned financial institution, organised a free Health Day for the Bank’s employees at the Head Office in Al Sadd, in collaboration with West bay Medicare.

The Ahlibank Health Day, an initiative to help employees create a better health awareness and lifestyle, included medical assessments for vital signs such as Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar conducted by West Bay Medicare Doctors. A specialist nutritionist was also available to measure fat mass, muscle

mass, and body water levels. Ahlibank’s Head of Mar-

keting and Communication, Khaled Al Zou’bi said: “The Ahl-ibank Health Day was organised to help our employees build awareness of health risks and provide them with information on how they can make changes to enhance their health and life-style and health tips during Ramadan.

Khaled Al Zou’bi further added: “These medical assess-ments will improve our employees’ awareness about health and well-being and support them on all aspects of w o r k r e l a t e d h e a l t h promotion.”

An Ahlibank employee receiving a medical assessment.

Ooredoo hosts IoT conferenceTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Ooredoo, the region’s leading enabler of digital business innovation, saw strong turnout at its mega event showcasing Qatar’s Internet of Things (IoT) present and future, with hundreds of C-suite exec-utives experiencing how the IoT can accelerate digital transformation.

Attendees from the public, private, and academic sectors experienced how Ooredoo’s end-to-end IoT solutions and services can transform industry ver-ticals – such as agriculture, manufacturing, con-struction, government, healthcare, tourism and hos-pitality, Smart Cities, and transportation.

For example, the IoT can enable real-time and predictive services in Smart Cities, managing mega-events, autonomous vehicles that can reduce traffic congestion, smart ports that can enhance throughput, virtual check-in for hotels, robotic surgery, and con-nected farms. Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief Oper-ating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Strong turnout at our IoT Conference and Exhibition where we show-cased how Ooredoo, with 5G-enabled Supernet, is the preferred partner for Internet of Things solutions that can enable digitaisation. The IoT is a key transformation agent for Qatar’s organisations, and during the IoT Conference we demonstrated how our solutions can enable them to gain real-time insights that can drive business competitiveness, transform customer expe-rience, and enrich their daily business lives.”

Ooredoo showcased IoT Connect for managed connectivity, IoT Builder, a secure platform running on Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT platform, and Fleet Management, one-stop-shop solutions for transpor-tation, logistics and supply chain innovation.

Al Kubaisi, added: “Our IoT solutions provide the building blocks for Qatar’s organisations to easily adopt IoT. Connected things to collect data for IT systems and apps, secure and customised managed

connectivity, and global partners with the skills and experience to ensure IoT success.” Partners exhib-iting at the event included Ericsson, ALTRAN, EnrichAI, and Software AG. Selected customers, such as Qatar Building Company and Q3Smart Systems, also joined Ooredoo in presenting how Ooredoo IoT solutions effectively support their business strategies. Business customers can leverage the Ooredoo Advantage, making Ooredoo “Best for Business”, thanks to its breadth and depth of talent, best fixed and mobile net-works, broadest portfolio of ICT services and solu-tions, and trusted partner for 60 years.

An official at the IoT event.

Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer of Ooredoo, said: “Our IoT solutions provide the building blocks for Qatar’s organisations to easily adopt IoT. Connected things to collect data for IT systems and apps, secure and customised managed connectivity, and global partners with the skills and experience to ensure IoT success.”

QRCS launches relief response to Iran floodsTHE PENINSULA/DOHA

In an immediate response to the heavy rainfall and subsequent flash floods in many parts of Iran, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has started an emergency intervention operation to help the victims.

A relief delegation was sent from Doha to assess the needs, supervise the early response process, and coordinate with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Just after the disaster, the Disaster Infor-mation Management Center (DIMC) was acti-vated to keep updated about the situation and coordinate with international partners.

Within a few days, a relief delegation was deployed to the affected regions, where the dis-aster lasted for over a month, with dozens killed and almost half a million displaced. The disaster management specialist delegation comprised Jassim Al Emadi, Fatimah Al Mohannadi, Saleh Al-Ghanem, and Aiham Al-Sukhni. Upon their arrival at Iran, they started the assessment and response arrangements. They met Morteza Salimi, head of the Relief and Rescue Organi-zation of IRCS, to discuss the damage and how to help the victims. Then, they took a tour at IRCS’s relief item manufacturing plant.

In Ahvaz, the capital city of Khuzestan Province, south-western Iran, the delegation held meetings with relief teams, visited the prov-ince’s only mental health hospital, and went also to IRCS’s prosthesis manufacturing plant.

Dr. Ali Khodadadi, Managing Director of the Khuzestan provincial Red Crescent branch, reviewed with the team the needs in the coming short period and how to meet them. Dr. Nazari, Head of General Health Directorate in Khuzestan, talked about the short- and long-term medical requirements, highlighting the risks of water-borne diseases, particularly in the summer.

Over 20 tonnes of dates sold out on FridayTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Over 20 tonnes of dates were sold out on Friday at 2019 International Dates Exhibition which is being held at Souq Waqif.

The Ministry of Municipality and Envi-ronment said in statement that around 6,000 people visited the exhibition on Friday. Since

the beginning of the exhibition, during three days a total of over 62.7 tonnes dates were sold out and about 14,000 people visited the exhibition.

The exhibition will remain open today (Sunday) from 9am to 9pm. About 150 exhib-itors from Qatar and abroad are showcasing varieties of dates at the exhibition, which will conclude on May 4.


Ten tower plots in Floresta Gardens up for sale: UDC THE PENINSULA DOHA

United Development Company (UDC), one of the leading Qatari public share-holding companies and the master developer of The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands, announced yesterday the launch of the sales for 10 tower plots in Floresta Gardens precinct.

Land plots on sale in Floresta Gardens cover medium-rise res-idential towers, each consisting of 15 floors and approximately 125 to 140 residential units for each tower. Each land plot spans an area of 3,500 square-metres with

built-up areas ranging between 37,000 square metres and 41,000 square metres per plot.

All the 10 plots offer distinctive waterfront views that increase the attractiveness of the offering among potential investors and future residential unit clients.

Floresta Gardens, the Medi-terranean-inspired precinct, offers a variety of community living options with beautiful waterfront and public realm views and access to a retail centre and facilities.

Once completed, Floresta Gardens will accommodate 5,000 residents within 10 mid-rise res-idential towers and 114 villas from

three gated villa compounds. The launch of sales in Floresta Gardens reflects the attractiveness of the distinctive project and confirms the soundness of UDC’s strategies, future growth plans and its ongoing efforts to further bolster the attractiveness of The Pearl-Qatar through distinctive lifestyle offerings that cater to the different needs of the Company’s clients and investors alike.

UDC is a leading Qatari public share-holding company with a mission to identify and invest in long-term projects contributing to Qatar’s growth and providing good shareholder value.

A graphic view of Floresta Gardens, The Pearl-Qatar design.

Baladna sponsors education conferenceTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Baladna Food Industries, Qatar’s largest local producer of fresh dairy, sponsored the Education Conference 2019 which took place on April 24-25 at Qatar National Convention Center.

The conference was inau-gurated by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. Baladna’s sponsorship of the conference comes under its commitment to serve the Qatari community and in line

with Qatar National Vision 2030. Dr Kamel Abdallah, Chief

Executive Officer of Baladna Food Industries, said, “Baladna Food Industries takes pride in being the sponsor of the Edu-cation Conference 2019. The conference aims at creating a dialogue between various edu-cation stakeholders in the country and internationally to promote educational values that make a difference. This, in turn, will enhance the standards of education provided to the future generations of Qatar and the world.”

Students during a visit to Baladna booth.

Nurses in Qatar feel supported at work THE PENINSULA DOHA

A survey conducted by the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), has revealed that a strong support mechanism is in place for nursing professionals in Qatar.

Initial findings of the 2018 survey were presented at the recent Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare (MEF).

They show that 89 percent of the nurses surveyed believe that they receive organisational support for learning and con-tinuous improvement; 88 percent say there is sufficient teamwork within the units they work in; and 73 percent feel they are provided with management support in pro-moting patient safety. WISH con-ducted the survey to investigate nurses’ perceptions of patient

safety culture in Qatar. A WISH report published in 2015, titled ‘Transforming Patient Safety: A Sector-Wide Systems Approach’, highlighted gaps and barriers to achieving the goal of zero harm to patients. The findings of the global report led the WISH research team to conduct the Qatar-focused study.

Further research was carried out by WISH at MEF, with nurses filling out a survey on migration patterns and language barriers in the hospital environment, and all delegates at the conference invited to share their opinions on men in nursing. WISH also hosted a workshop titled ‘Creating a Culture of Safety: The Role of Nurses’ at the conference.

By using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), a tool originally used to assess patient safety amongst nurses in the US, WISH conducted a total of 167 surveys. The surveys

measured perceptions on patient safety culture, including commu-nication openness, feedback about errors, and staffing.

Maha El Akoum, Head of Content at WISH, who led the research project, said: “This study gives us a general overview of the perceived safety culture among nurses in Qatar. Our results show that patient safety culture is gen-erally well-executed, with overall positive responses to the different measured composites.” “However, it is always important to avoid complacency. The WISH 2015 report highlighted that around the world patient safety is often mistakenly regarded as something to ‘fix’ rather than to ‘evolve’, and that error reporting should be viewed as a strategy that allows healthcare professionals to learn from mistakes and that allows for continuous improvement in safety culture that is routinely monitored.”

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Hundreds of mental healthcare professionals and key stake-holders in Qatar’s mental health community gathered this weekend for Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) fifth annual Symposium on Community Mental Health Services in Qatar.

Iain Tulley, CEO of HMC’s Mental Health Service and Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022 Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing, stated that a key focus

of this year’s symposium was the Mental Health Law, which was first articulated in the Qatar National Mental Health Strategy 2013-2018.

“Focusing on mental health and wellbeing is hugely important, so too is safeguarding the rights of individuals who require mental health treatment. The passing of the Mental Health Law in Qatar was a major step forward in ensuring the rights of citizens and residents when they require treatment,” explained Tulley.

As part of the implementation

of the Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022, the Ministry of Public Health has set out a plan to promote mental health and wellbeing and improve access to mental health services, with a national target to ensure 40 percent of services are offered in the primary and community set-tings by 2022. Dr. Mohamed Ali Siddig Ahmed, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director of the Community Mental Health Services, said HMC is continually striving to provide more services that are based on the needs and

the wants of the population, adding that in the majority of cases this represents more care in com-munity-based settings.

Two of the keynote speakers were eminent authorities in their respective fields. The first distin-guished guest speaker was Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said from Oman, who spoke about mental health awareness. The second international guest speaker was Dr. Clementine Maddock, who presented an international per-spective on implementing mental health legislation.

Experts, officials and other guests at the symposium organised by HMC on mental health care.

Meet highlights Mental Health Law advancements

Qatar’s quality care for expatriate workers lauded

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Abdullatif Al Mahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group, has praised the quality of care being provided to the workers from different nationalities in Qatar, stressing the importance of laws and regulations issued by Qatar.

Al Mahmoud stressed that expatriate workers and residents are partners in achieving the develop-mental renaissance in the country, and all of them, either blue-collar or skilled workers, have made great efforts in this regard.

He also praised the support from all ministries and institutions, concerned with labour and workers issues, to ensure the success of the International Workers’ Day, which will be held on May 1 under the patronage of the Minister of Administrative Devel-opment, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro, and the participation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The celebration of the International Workers’ Day will be held under the theme “Qatar’s

Contributions to Protect Rights of Workers” and the centenary of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and it is a message to the workers home and abroad that Qatar is always providing all the com-forts and legal and human protection for workers, Al Mahmoud pointed out.

It also comes as an extension of the conference launched by the Dar Al Sharq six years ago in 2013 and continues to succeed successfully in its various community initiatives in the areas of social respon-sibility, protecting workers and supporting chari-table work, he said.

“The success of Dar Al Sharq in this regard stems from our commitment to the wise vision of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, through the directives contained in Qatar National Vision 2030, which defined the need for legal legislation and pro-cedures,” Al Mahmoud said.

He also said that Dar Al Sharq has launched several initiatives to support the rights of expatriate workers and these initiatives were supported by the ministries and national institutions and other insti-tutions interested in supporting labour rights initia-tives. He said that Dar Al Sharq, which is the largest media institution in Qatar, has direct channels of com-munication with foreign communities, and publishes eight local newspapers in languages of peoples of the world such as English, Hindi, Malayalam, Sinhala, Urdu, Filipino, Nepalese and others.

Regarding the role of sponsors, he praised their role and its importance in the success of the activ-ities of the celebration of International Workers’ Day. The celebrations have been sponsored by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Tadmur Holding.

Abdullatif Al Mahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group

Abdullatif Al Mahmoud, CEO of Dar Al Sharq Group, stressed that expatriate workers and residents are partners in achieving the developmental renaissance in the country and all of them, either blue-collar or skilled workers, have made great efforts in this regard.


CNA-Q hosts SafeJam 2019 to encourage youth participation in OSH fieldTHE PENINSULA DOHA

A gathering of Youth Champions for Occupational Safety and Health, has wrapped up after two days of activities at College of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q).

The event saw close to 30 university and college students from across Qatar work together to increase both the awareness and active participation of young people in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) field.

SafeJam 2019 was hosted by CNA-Q, and organised by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA) and the Inter-national Labour Organisation

(ILO), with support from CNA-Q and Sparks, the initiator of SafeJams.

“We were extremely proud to host this important event,” said CNA-Q Dean of Health Sci-ences Andrea Smilski. “The issue of safe workplaces is vital in Qatar, and forums such as these allow our students to exchange

valuable ideas, and practices.”Teams of Youth Champions

will be developing new ways of

tackling OSH issues by imagining innovative new products and services and by solving problems

in a creative, experimental and collaborative spirit.

“SafeJam highlights the

important role young people can play in strengthening the culture of Occupational Safety and Health in Qatar,” said Jaber Al Merri, Senior Occupational Health and Safety Specialist at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.

“By involving young people, SafeJam 2019 brings new per-spectives, energy and insight into developing solutions to Occupational Safety and Health issues,” said Houtan Homay-ounpour, Head of the ILO Project Office for the State of Qatar.

The results of SafeJam 2019 will be announced and shared during the International OSH Conference, which opens today, Sunday, in Doha.

The event saw close to 30 university and college students from across Qatar work together.

Chevrolet Camaro 2019 arrives in showrooms across Middle EastTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Taking Chevrolet Middle East’s 2019 lineup to a stirring level, the Chevrolet Camaro 2019 has finally landed in the Middle East. The car is now available for sale across Chevrolet dealerships in the region.

“Restyled and reinvigorated, the 2019 Camaro now offers cus-tomers more choices and new technologies than it ever did before. Delivering various person-alisation options, the 2019 model allows buyers to truly customise their Camaro. The car brilliantly balances driving fun, refinement and value without compromising on its legendary performance cre-dentials.” said Ahmed Soudodi, Head of Brand, Chevrolet Middle East.

The 2019 Camaro boasts new front-end styling on LT and SS models, including the fascia, grille, dual-element headlamps, hood

and new LED signature lighting which put a new face on the 2019 Camaro. The ZL1 model retains its airflow optimised front-end styling, while the RS package also receives unique headlamps and lighting signature.

The Camaro LT is equipped with a standard 3.6L V-6 engine. The Camaro SS comes with a 6.2L

LT1 direct-injected Small Block V-8 rated engine at 455 hp (339 kW) and 617Nm of torque. The Camaro ZL1 is powered by the LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine rated at 650 hp (485 kW).

At the rear, new LED tail lamps are incorporated in a more sculptured execution of Chevro-let’s signature dual-element

design. Red lenses are featured on LT, with RS, SS and ZL1 featuring dark-tinted neutral-density (clear) lenses.

The expanded portfolio of accessories and performance parts includes second-generation ground effects, a black wing spoiler, fuel door with exposed carbon-fiber insert, black Camaro fender badges, cold-air induction kits, RECARO performance seats, Brembo six-piston front brake upgrade kit and more.

Additionally, the 2019 Camaro comes with new wheel designs and enhanced navigation and infotainment systems. Drivers can also benefit from a full-display rearview camera mirror as well as the new Forward Collision Alert, enhancing the safety for all occupants.

The All New Camaro 2019 is available exclusively with Jaidah Automotive in Qatar at the main Chevrolet Showroom at Jaidah Square.

Delivering various personalisation options, the 2019 model allows buyers to truly customise their Camaro.

QAC bags ‘Best Mid–Size SUV’ award and‘Best Pick-Up’ for Montero Sport and L 200THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Automobiles Company, the authorised general distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Qatar, accompl ished another achievement wining two top awards from Qatar Car of the Year Awards, organised by Maqina.

Mitsubishi Montero Sport has received the “Best Mid – Size SUV” award while the recently launched all-new L 200 received the ‘Best Pick-Up’ Award. The awards ded-icated to SUV vehicles, light trucks, commercial vehicles and sedan took place Mondrian Hotel in Doha, with the participation of vehicles from various brands in Qatar. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport was acknowledged as best mid-size SUV thanks to its capa-bilities on roads and off-road, high

levels of safety, as well as modern technology features. It is the ideal vehicle for family adventures, due its spaciousness and 7 seats cabin.

The new Mitsubishi L200 pickup, recently launched in Qatar, was recognised for its dura-bility, reliability and comfort. The pick-up received huge acclaim from 4x4 fans thanks to its manual transmission and capabilities to meet the demands of corporates.

Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al Thani, Operations Director – Auto, at Nasser Bin Khaled Group: “These awards clearly demon-strate the effort of Qatar Automo-biles Company to bring in to Qatar the best vehicles in all segments. This is part of our plans and strategy to accomplish our goals on the medium and long term. Besides, these awards motivate us

to develop our operations for the best of our country”.

Commenting on the awards, Hesham Al Sahn, General Manger, Qatar Automobiles Company, the authorised general distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Qatar, said: “This another milestone for Qatar Automobiles Company and Mit-subishi motors in Qatar. With our Montero Sport and L 200 light truck, we reiterate our strong position in the relevant segments. On behalf of QAC and Mitsubishi Motors, we thank the organizers for this valuable event’.

Haitham Ebef, Mitsubishi Brand Manager, expressed his proudness of receiving two awards for two Mitsubishi vehicles: “Mitsubishi Montero Sport is again proving its leading position in the SUV segment. It is gaining acknowledgment across

the world and is considered one of the best vehicles whether on roads or off-roads. The all-new L 200 pick-up that we recently launched in Qatar is a multi-purpose light truck that exceeds expectations We are happy to be appreciated and receive such out-standing awards”.

Montero Sport is ideal for

adventure and speed. Adventure calls from the well-appointed cockpit, which surrounds you with solid craftsmanship, supportive comfort, intelligent features and a wide-open view. From refined meters to sophisticated floor console, every feature is fine-tuned to enhance driving pleasure and keep you in confident control.

All the cars are available now in Mitsubishi Motors Showroom on Salwa road. Customers can visit the showroom at Salwa Road from Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 9pm and on Friday from 5pm to 9pm, and Al Khor Showroom from Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to 8pm, and on Thursday from 8am to 3pm.

The QAC officials receiving the award at the event.

Georgetown’s IEDM program registration deadline draws nearTHE PENINSULA/DOHA

Between visits to a refugee camp, the department of civil defence, and the Ministry of Public Health in Jordan, students from Geor-getown University’s International Executive Masters in Emergency and Disaster Management program had time to reflect on the intense planning and inter-insti-tutional cooperation involved in responding to a crisis.

Farukh Azad, a current IEDM student who also works as manager of Digital Transformation at Ooredoo, recently concluded the Amman, Jordan, residency of the program and recalls, “through these on-site visits, we learned about the complexities of public health and humanitarian crises from both a local and regional perspective.”

Developing multiple perspec-tives is a key advantage in today’s

globalised world. The IEDM program helps the next generation of global leaders prepare for and respond to a wide variety of natural, technological, and man-made disasters. The program offers a blend of virtual learning and five on-site international res-idencies that provide critical hands-on experience and engagement opportunities with leading experts in the field across diverse environments.

Students also gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and constraints to navigating roles, responsibilities, and resources across and within international borders. These are critical skills needed as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup and other major global events, and to ensure the resilience of any organization in the effort to prevent, protect, mit-igate, and respond to emergencies and disasters.

Teams of Youth Champi-ons will be developing new ways of tackling OSH issues by imagining innovative new products and services and by solving problems in a creative, experimental and collaborative spirit.

07SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Cyclone Kenneth devastates MozambiqueAP PEMBA

Mozambique’s government urged many people to imme-diately seek higher ground yesterday in the wake of Cyclone Kenneth, fearing flooding and mudslides in the days ahead as heavy rain lashed the region.

At least five people were killed, the government said. Mozambique’s disaster man-agement agency said one person had died in Pemba city and another in hard-hit Macomia district, while resi-dents on Ibo island said two people died there. Details on the fifth death were not immediately available.

Nearly 3,500 homes in

parts of the country’s north-ernmost Cabo Delgado province were partially or fully destroyed, with elec-tricity cut, some roads blocked and at least one key bridge collapsed. Some schools and health centres were damaged. Nearly 700,000 people could be at risk, many left exposed and hungry as waters rise.

“There’s a very intense strip of destruction where the wind first made impact in coastal districts,” Nicholas Finney, response team leader with the aid group Save the Children, told The Associated Press after visiting Macomia district. The team found people in shock in a region where a cyclone had never

been recorded in the modern age. Terrified children and traumatised parents “face a huge task to start to rebuild,” he said.

Rain is forecast over the next several days, and Mozambique’s meteoro-logical authority said the storm could potentially move back out to sea and intensify again, Finney added. “It doesn’t look good, quite hon-estly,” he said of the risk of flooding. As water levels rose, Mozambican author-ities asked residents of Mecufi and Chiure districts and parts of Macomia and Muidumbe districts to imme-diately seek higher ground. Some rivers in the region have burst their banks in the

past, notably in 2000.Cyclone Kenneth arrived

late Thursday, just six weeks after Cyclone Idai ripped into central Mozambique and killed more than 600 people. This was the first time in recorded history that the southern African nation has been hit by two cyclones in one season, again raising con-cerns about climate change.

The remnants of Kenneth, which packed the power of a Category 4 hurricane, could dump twice as much rain as Idai did last month, the UN World Program has said.

Some forecasts warned of as much as 9 inches of tor-rential rain, or about a quarter of the average annual rainfall for the region.

A family in the village of Nacate, south of Macomia, cook a meal surrounded by their destroyed home, yesterday, after the cyclone Kenneth hit the area.

Every election is an exam, opportunity: ErdoganANATOLIA ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey’s ruling party had succeeded in local elections held last month. “Every election is an exam, struggle and an opportunity for assessment. We substantially succeeded in the March 31 local elections,” said Erdogan, addressing a gathering of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in capital Ankara.

He noted that the AK Party got 44.4% of the votes which is the second highest rate of their party in terms of local elections to date. He called the mayoral elections of Istanbul questionable, adding: “All doubts must be eliminated so that the people feel relieved.” He also referred to the documents which showed that there was a very serious organised set-up in Istanbul polls.

Recalling the opposition party’s concerns over objections to Istanbul poll results, Erdogan termed the situation “tragicomic” as the party has the right to

challenge the results according to the electoral law. Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31 in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other offi-cials for the next five years.

Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), took oath as mayor of Istanbul earlier this month, amid AK Party’s agitation over voting irregularities. Erdogan refuted rumours that the AK Party had given up hope on the Istanbul results, stating that the party will continue its legal struggle.

Speaking about the events of 1915, he said the Armenian relo-cation was neither a genocide, nor a great disaster, which took place under troublesome conditions a century ago. “Millions of

Armenians would not be living across Europe, US, North Africa,

Caucasus, if allegations against us were true,” Erdogan added.

Erdogan named several com-munities which were exposed to

“real genocide” including millions of Muslims in Palestine, Myanmar and Bosnia.

Turkey objects to the pres-entation of the incidents as “gen-ocide” but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties. Ankara has repeatedly proposed the cre-ation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to tackle the issue. Erdogan said the legitimacy of Turkish measures taken against terror threats in Iraq and Syria is indisputable.

Speaking about recent differ-ences with the US, he said: “We will continue taking steps to clear terror swamps in Syria and procure S-400 and similar security entrenchments.”

Ankara decided in 2017 to purchase the Russian S-400 system. US officials have objected to the deal, claiming that the S-400 would be incompatible with Nato systems and expose US F-35 fighter jets — which Turkey also has a deal to buy — to pos-sible Russian subterfuge.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets the attendees during his party’s 28th Consultation and Evaluation Camp in Kizilcahamam district of Ankara, Turkey, yesterday.

South Africa marks Freedom DayAP KWA-THEMA

Calls for more jobs for South Africa’s black majority and respect for the rights of all section of the community marked Freedom Day celebrations yesterday commemorating the 25th anniversary of the end of apartheid.

Singing and dancing punctuated one gathering of about 3,500 people on the out-skirts of Johannesburg.

A quarter-century ago South Africa’s blacks finally were able to vote, bringing democracy to the country. But long after the brutal apartheid system of racial dis-crimination, speakers said many still struggle to find a decent life.

“What is the meaning of freedom if many people in a township are unem-ployed?” asked David Makhura, premier of Gauteng province, which includes South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria. “What is the meaning of freedom if you don’t have a job? Or if you

don’t have a house or land?” Makhura said the government of the African National Con-gress party is working to get title deeds for black South Africans: “The land must belong to our people!”

Kwa-Thema, a black township that was prominent in the struggle against apartheid, joined the Freedom Day celebrations as the anniversary was marked in a low-key way across South Africa. Much attention was focused on the upcoming elections on May 8. The rally was marked by the bright yellow, green and black colours of the ruling ANC party of the late Nelson Mandela, who was crucial in the decades-long fight to end apartheid.

“There are many social ills that we are dealing with.” President Cyril Ramaphosa marked Freedom Day at a rally in Makhanda in Eastern Cape province. “On this day 25 years ago, we founded a new country defined by the principles of equality, unity, non-racialism and non-sexism,” Ram-aphosa said.

US airstrike on IS in Somalia kills 3AFP / WASHINGTON

US forces in Africa have launched an airstrike against the Islamic State group in Somalia, just weeks after another strike killed the militant group’s second in command there.

Three IS militants were killed in the strike in the Golis Moun-tains in northern Somalia, the US Africa Command, or Africom, said in a statement.

“This airstrike eliminated ISIS-Somalia members staged in a remote location in northern Somalia,” said Major General Gregg Olson, Africom’s director of operations, using the abbre-viation for the Islamic State in Somalia.

22 Syrian govt troops dead in militant attacks in AleppoAFP BEIRUT

Attacks by two militant groups killed at least 22 Syrian government troops and mili-tiamen in the northern province of Aleppo yesterday, a war monitor said.

Thirty others were wounded in the assaults by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and its ally Hurras al-Deen, which remains affiliated to the global militant network, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The attacks in the southern and southwestern countryside of Aleppo province were launched shortly after midnight and trig-gered clashes that continued until

dawn, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

He said the fighting subsided after Russian aircraft struck mil-itant positions in the area, prompting the fighters to pull back. Eight militants were killed, he added.

Russia aircraft also carried out strikes in neighbouring Hama province yesterday, killing five civilians, the Observatory said.

On Friday, Russian strikes killed 10 civilians in Idlib province, the hub of territory held by the militants of HTS in northwestern Syria. Russia and Turkey in Sep-tember inked a buffer zone deal to avert a massive government offensive on the Idlib region, but the deal has never been imple-mented. The region of some three

million people has come under increasing bombardment since HTS took full control of it in January.

The latest Russian air raids came after two days of talks on the Syrian conflict between Turkey, Russia and fellow gov-ernment backer Iran in Kaza-khstan earlier this week.

The three governments expressed concern over the growing power of HTS in Idlib and parts of adjacent provinces, and determination to cooperate to eliminate the militant group.

The civil war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it began with the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Former Ethiopian president Gidada dead at 75AFP / ADDIS ABABA

Former Ethiopian president Negasso Gidada has died in Germany where he was under-going medical treatment for an unspecified illness, state broad-caster EBC reported yesterday.

Negasso, who was 75, was president between 1995 and 2001 and was the first head of state after Ethiopia adopted a new constitution transforming the country into a federal state, with increased autonomy given to the different regions.

Before he stepped down in 2001, Negasso publicly fell out with the then prime minister, Meles Zenawi. In 2015, Negasso was elected to parliament as an independent, but then joined the opposition three years later.

More recently, he was reha-bilitated by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Demo-cratic Front, to which he was appointed an adviser in 2017.

Russia considers Idlib offensive ‘unnecessary’ANATOLIA MOSCOW

Russia considers a military offensive in the Syrian province of Idlib “unnecessary” because of possible civilian casualties, President Vladimir Putin said yesterday. However, Russian air forces will continue to provide support to the Syrian army as part of its fight against terror, Putin said, speaking at a news conference following the Belt and Road forum in Beijing.

“In principle, I do not rule this [offensive] out, but today together with our Syrian friends, we believe that this is inappro-priate, given this humanitarian component,” he said.

Putin also commented on the establishment of the Syrian

constitutional committee. He said Russia and Turkey had pre-pared a list of candidates for the committee, but former UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, refused to approve it because of six persons.

Russia and Turkey then replaced those six persons, but there are still difficulties.

“Reaching a complete con-sensus is quite a challenging task due to the lack of unity within the opposition with its multiple points of view and diverse groups.

“Still, we will work with all opposition groups patiently and persistently in order to ensure that this committee is formed since this is the only way to lay the foundation for a large-scale political process,” he said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the crowd during the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Freedom Day, in Makhanda, yesterday.

Erdogan said the legitimacy of Turkish measures taken against terror threats in Iraq and Syria is indisputable.

If sanctions pressure does increase, it’s not at all clear that Iran is going to return to the bargaining table to redo the deal, and even less clear that it will give President Trump a better deal than it got with President Barack Obama.

BEN BLANCHARD & BRENDA GOH REUTERS

08 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019VIEWS

How is Trump’s Iran policy supposed to work?

The Trump administration’s post-JCPOA (Joint Compre-hensive Plan of Action) strategy is to put Iran’s economy in a

stranglehold, by among other things, ending waivers for allies that purchase Iranian oil. There are a few serious problems with this strategy.

First, it’s not clear that five powers (China, Japan, India, South Korea and Turkey) that are the intended targets of the pressure campaign will all comply. “The Iranian economy is already reeling from sanctions that have also led to a shortage in critical medicine, and Ira-nian-backed militias have been forced to tighten their payrolls,” the New York Times reported. “By retracting its oil exemptions, the Trump administration is encroaching on China’s energy security even as Washington is trying to strike an all-important trade deal with Beijing. The United States also needs China’s help in controlling North Korea’s nuclear weapons development.”

In an essay for NPR, Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky argue that the United States will not be able to drive Iranian oil exports to zero:

“Saudi Arabia and the UAE are unlikely to sustain higher production levels for very long, out of concern for

stability in oil markets. Iran’s “heavy oil,” which many coun-tries need for refined oil products, cannot be replaced by Saudi light crude. Turkey, China, India and possibly some European allies will find ways to work around U.S. sanctions for both eco-nomic and geopolitical reasons. And

Iran can reduce oil supplies leaving the Persian Gulf. It has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, and could conduct cyber operations against oil infra-structure on the other side of the Gulf.”

Moreover, if sanctions pressure does increase, it’s not at all clear that Iran is going to return to the bargaining table to redo the deal, and even less clear that it will give President Trump a better deal than it got with President Barack Obama. Iran, after all, has been muddling along under the cloud of

sanctions on and off for decades. Having divided the United States from its negotiating partners (or rather watched as Trump divided the alliance) and seen Trump abandon anti-Assad allies in Syria, it reasonably or not sees less reason to capitulate.

Suzanne Maloney writes that Trump’s long-stated position is “based upon his conviction that his background in wrangling real estate deals will enable him to extract a better bargain from the Islamic Republic than more than a decade of diplomacy and coercion applied by his Republican and Democratic predecessors managed to produce.”

However, it is far from clear Iran will be willing to reenter talks - or that the rest of the administration would even welcome such an overture. Indeed, the administration sometimes sounds as though it expects the Iran problem to be resolved through regime change, without a rational plan to accomplish that.

Miller and Sokolsky observe: “Both Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton are longtime champions of regime change. The 12 demands Pompeo issued last year to Tehran were, for all practical purposes, a demand for Iran’s surrender on the nuclear deal, its regional behavior, its testing of ballistic missiles and other Iranian practices the U.S. doesn’t like.” That’s not happening anytime soon. In the meantime, “Iran is in no hurry to negotiate, preferring to wait Trump out in hopes he will be a one-term pres-ident and the next administration will

return to the nuclear deal.”A long-standing and wrongheaded

assumption - that we can bring the regime to its knees by unyielding eco-nomic pressure alone - has guided presidents of both parties, but especially Republicans. Miller and Sokolosky warn:

“The Iranian regime remains legit-imate in the eyes of millions of Iranians, has been in place for four decades, retains tremendous repressive power, enjoys the support of Russia and China and faces no organized opposition on the ground. It is fantastical thinking to believe that Washington could get rid of the regime. If internal changes come, they will be driven primarily by Iranians themselves. In fact, Trump is likely to leave before the mullahs do. “The Trump administration can cause Iran severe pain, but it cannot trigger massive internal unrest that that will precipitate the collapse of the regime or a funda-mental change in Iran’s regional behaviour.”

So if the administration isn’t entirely sold on negotiations as opposed to regime change, and the Iranians are unlikely to deliver a diplomatic victory to a president that could be gone by or before 2020, what’s the game plan? That’s got a lot of veteran negotiators and experts scratching their heads, especially since the Trump team has simultaneously let up pressure on Iran by, for example, bugging out of Syria. Miller tells me, “If they really are serious about getting Iran back to [the] table they would have to consider actually negotiating, which means give and take.

JENNIFER RUBIN THE WASHINGTON POST

QUOTE OF THE DAYWe should consider digital connectivity,

mobility of labour and transfer of skills, cultural

links and knowledge and innovation

connectivity to further expand the scope of

Belt and Road Initiative.

Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan

China puts gentler face on Belt and Road, hits back at critics

China sought to put a gentler face on its massive plan to rec-reate the old Silk Road at a summit that ended on Sat-

urday, saying it must do more to explain the programme and boost sus-tainability even as state media hit back at critics. President Xi Jinping has made the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it is formally called, one of the cornerstones of his administration. But it has run into opposition in some countries over fears that opaque financing arrangements lead to unsustainable debt and that it is more about promoting Chinese influence than bringing development.

China has at times reacted angrily to such doubts, tending to characterise critics as harbouring anti-Chinese prej-udice and wishing to contain the coun-try’s rise, while overlooking what Beijing says are genuine good intentions.

The Belt and Road scheme seeks to build a modern version of the Silk Road to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale infra-structure projects.

On Friday, Xi told foreign leaders - including close allies such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan - that the initiative must be green and sus-tainable, adding that the plan would deliver “high-quality” growth for all.

Meeting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Xi said Belt and Road was about promoting mutually bene-ficial, win-win international cooper-ation, not a “you lose, I win” scheme, according to a read-out from China’s Foreign Ministry.

“We must explain this point to the world, to win even greater under-standing and support,” the ministry paraphrased Xi as saying. China has been keen to show that Belt and Road is even winning acceptance in Western nations, especially after Italy became the first G7 country to sign on last month. Britain’s finance minister, France’s foreign minister and Ger-many’s economy minister all made the trek to Beijing for the event. Those countries reminded China of the need for high standards and transparency.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the summit that the

success of Belt and Road projects “will depend on our determination to keep our commitments”. “Commitment to openness, commitment to trans-parency, commitment to fair compe-tition and, of course, commitment to environmental sustainability as well,” he said. British Chancellor Philip Hammond said that for Belt and Road to be successful it had to deliver “the highest international standards of transparency, of governance, but also of environmental integrity”.

“President Xi made a speech this morning in which he committed China to all of those things and set out his vision for the next stage of Belt and Road and we will be looking very care-fully at how that is operationalised,” he said on Friday.

Even Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of another good Chinese friend, Myanmar, said Belt and Road had to take into account realities on the ground. “The projects must not only be economically feasible but also socially and environmentally responsible and, most importantly, they must win the confidence and support of local com-munities,” she told the summit.

Qatar is among the first countries that supported initiative of the Belt and Road project that aims for wider links between Asia, Africa and Europe.

CHAIRMANSHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

[email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED

[email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED OSMAN ALI

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ESTABLISHED IN 1996

EDITORIAL

Qatar supports strategic project

The strategic ties between Qatar and China got a further boost with Qatar’s participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. A Qatari del-

egation consisting of Minister of Transport and Communi-cations H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti and Minister of Com-merce and Industry H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, partici-pated in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, on Friday that was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

A number of leaders and representatives from 37 counties attended the Forum. The event also attracted around 5,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 80 international organizations, covering regions from five continents and multiple players such as governments, civil societies, business communities and academia.

Qatar is among the first countries that supported initi-ative of the Belt and Road project that aims for wider links between Asia, Africa and Europe. As Qatar looks the Belt and Road Initiative from a strategic standpoint to link it with its infrastructures such as ports and airports, it has signed several agreements and MoUs that support the

initiative. This will have positive

impacts on Qatar’s economy and supports its plan to becoming a key strategic and economic hub in the region and the world,” according to H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti. The Silk Road, which helps reduce time and cost for transporting goods, will contribute to cre-ating new industrial cities and communities in a way that sup-ports growth and common ben-efits for countries on its path,” said Al Kuwari.

Qatar with its advanced world-class infrastructure in seaports, air transport and air-

ports and logistic projects will make it one of the major hubs and enhance its economic relations with several coun-tries beyond the region.

The Chinese President noted the success of the initiative in expanding the global economy, providing new platforms, improving governance and providing opportunities for people to prosper. The Chinese and Arab sides are natural partners in the construction of the Belt and Road where the two sides have signed the executive declaration of the Arab-Chinese partnership in the construction of the project.

Qatar is one of the first countries to support and express its willingness to take part in its implementations is closely involved in the interconnection of facilities with China. Qatar Airways operates 49 direct flights a week to seven Chinese cities and two direct sea routes were also opened between Hamad Port and the ports of Shanghai and Guangzhou in China for the transport of goods and consumables. There are about 200 Chinese companies in Qatar, mostly of them engaged in the engineering, contracting, IT, trade and services sectors, some of which have participated in vital projects of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 World Cup.

China is Qatar’s third largest trading partner and second largest source of imports and the volume of trade between the two countries has grown by 30 percent in 2018 reaching about $14.5bn.

Arabian Gulf


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InternationalWorkers’ Day

Under the patronage of: H E Minister of AdministrativeDevelopment, Labor and Social Affairs and the participation of theInternational Labor Organization (ILO)

On the occasion of the International Workers’ Day celebration and the Centenary of International Labor Organization, the Modern Standards, Practices for Protection of Workers’ Rights and New Legislation issued by the State of Qatar supported by International Organizations will be discussed in order to highlight the role of ��

Qatar contributes to the Protection of Workers’ Rights and ILO Centenary

International Workers’ Day

Tel.:+974 - 44660036

Fax:+974 - 44657169

Mobile:+974 - 50095454

10 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019ASIA

India issues travel advisory for its nationals visiting Sri LankaIANS NEW DELHI

India yesterday issued an advisory asking its nationals to avoid “non-essential travel” to Sri Lanka where the situation continues to be precarious in the wake of last Sundays terror attacks.

“In view of the prevailing security situation in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of terror attacks on April 21, Indian nationals intending to travel to Sri Lanka are advised not to undertake non-essential travel,” the advisory issued by the External Affairs Ministry said.

The Indian advisory added: “In case of those undertaking essential/emergency travels, they can contact the High Commission of India in Colombo or the Assistant High Commission in Kandy/Consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna in case of requirement of any assistance.” The advisory said the helpline numbers of the Indian High Commission are available on the mission’s website.

15 dead as Sri Lanka forcesraid militant hide-out

AFP COLOMBO

Fifteen people including six children died in a battle between Sri Lankan security forces and suicide bombers who blew themselves up in the latest fallout from the Easter attacks, police said yesterday.

Three men set off explosives that killed themselves, three women and six children inside what was believed to a militant hideout near the eastern town of Kalmunai on Friday night.

“Three other men, also believed to be suicide bombers, were found dead outside the house,” police added in a statement. The three outside were shot dead by security forces, police officials added. Security forces tried to storm the

house and a one-hour long gun battle ensued before the explo-sions, a military official said.

A civilian was also killed in the crossfire during the night-time raid near the predominantly Muslim town, with hundreds of families later fleeing their homes.

Police and troops have stepped up raids after the Islamic State group claimed responsi-bility for the suicide attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels, which killed least 253 people and injured 500. Kalmunai is in the same region as the home town of the militant

Zahran Hashim who founded the group accused of staging the attacks. The operation followed a tip-off that people linked to the attacks were in the town, 370km east of the capital.

Video on state television showed explosives, a generator, a drone and a large quantity of batteries inside the house.

The clashes came hours after security forces raided a nearby location where they believe Hashim and the other bombers recorded a video pledge of alle-giance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi before

carrying out the attacks.Police said they found an IS

flag and uniforms similar to those worn by the eight fighters for the video. IS released the video two days after the attacks.

Authorities named Hashim’s group, National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), as the perpe-trators of the attack, but announced on Friday he had been killed in the bombing of the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo.

The government is on the

defensive over its failure to heed a foreign intelligence warning that NTJ was planning suicide bombings on churches.

Police chief Puji th Jayasundara became the second top official to resign over the blunders on Friday, after top defence ministry official Hemasiri Fernando also stepped down. Sri Lanka’s Catholic leader, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, has said he felt

“betrayed” by the government’s failure to act on the warnings. Prime Minister Ranil Wick-remesinghe apologised on Friday. “We take collective responsibility and apologise to our fellow citizens for our failure to protect victims of these tragic events,” the PM wrote on Twitter. Amidst fears of attacks, the Roman Catholic church has suspended all public services across the country until security is guaranteed.

Security personnel seen at the site of an overnight gun battle, between troops and suspected Islamist militants, on the east coast of Sri Lanka, in Kalmunai, yesterday.

Prayers for Bangladeshi boy who died in Sri Lanka attackAP DHAKA

More than 1,000 people gathered in Bangladesh’s capital yesterday to remember an 8-year-old Bangladeshi boy who was killed in one of the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka.

They raised their hands seeking blessings for Zayan Chowdhury while many of his relatives cried at a prayer session

in Dhaka. Zayan was with his father having breakfast at a hotel restaurant when it came under attack. His father was critically injured in the explosion and is being treated abroad. His mother and younger brother were safe as they were in the hotel room during the attack.

The boy, who was vaca-tioning with his family, was the grandson of a top ruling Awami League party leader and former

Cabinet minister who is a cousin of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Zayan was buried on Wednesday in Dhaka after his body was flown back home.

Zayan’s grandfather Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was joined yesterday by Hasina’s advisers and several Cabinet members as an imam led the prayer at a play-ground in Dhaka’s Banani area. Selim shared fond memories

with Zayan, his voice choking several times.

He condemned extremism and said his grandson was a victim of the mindless campaign of violence that rocked Sri Lanka.

“Please pray for my Zayan,” he said. As the imam recited holy verses from the Quran, the gath-erers said “amen” loudly, seeking blessings.

“Allah, Zayan is the victim of cruelty, he has died as a

martyr. Please save Bangladesh and the rest of the world from the extremists who campaign for violence,” the imam announced through loud-speakers. “Please help our hon-ourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina so that she can crush the extremists,” he said. Bangladesh has been hit by militants in recent years. Following the Sri Lanka attacks, Hasina urged Bangladeshis to stay alert.

Indian Bollywood actor Sunny Deol joins the roadshow in support of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Ajmer parliament seat, Bhagirath Choudhary, in Ajmer, Rajasthan yesterday, ahead of the fourth phase of India’s general election.

Campaigning ends for fourth phase of LS pollsIANS NEW DELHI

Campaigning came to an end yesterday in 71 constituencies spread over nine states, mostly in the Hindi heartland, which will go to the polls tomorrow in the fourth phase of the mega seven-phase electoral exercise.

As the silence period began, election rallies and street corner meetings ended in 17 constitu-encies in Maharashtra, 13 each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, six in Madhya Pradesh, six in Odisha, five in Bihar and three in Jharkhand. While campaigning ended at 6pm in all seats going to polls in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Maharashtra and Bihar, it ended

at 4pm in the three Jharkhand constituencies.

In Madhya Pradesh, while it ended at 6pm in the Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla and Chhindwara constituencies, it ended at different times between 4 and 6pm in different assembly segments of the Balaghat parlia-mentary constituency owing to security reasons.

In this phase, the BJP would be defending 45 of the 71 seats it won in 2014 Lok Sabha elections — all the 13 in Rajasthan, 12 in Uttar Pradesh, five in Madhya Pradesh, three in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, eight in Maharashtra and one in West Bengal. Biju Janata Dal won all six in Odisha, the Trinamool Congress six in West Bengal and the Samawadi Party one in Uttar Pradesh.

IANS CHHINDWAR, MADHYA PRADESH

A c t o r - t u r n e d - p o l i t i c i a n Shatrughan Sinha has stirred a controversy by saying that Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah had the “biggest” role in India’s Independence and progress, evoking sharp attack from the BJP.

Addressing a public rally in

support of Congress candidate and Madhya Pradesh Chief Min-ister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul Nath on Friday in Sausar, Sinha said Congress “family” belongs to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi who played the “biggest and the most significant role” in India’s progress and Independence.

“This is the reason why I have come here. I have joined the Congress for the first and last time and will not turn back now,” said Sinha, who recently joined the Congress after quitting the BJP. Sinha made the remarks in presence of Kamal Nath, who despite sharing the same stage, said yesterday that he did not hear any such thing.

“I did not hear any such

comment. If you are saying then he must have said it but I did not hear it... I must have been talking to other people at that time,” the Chief Minister said as the con-troversy erupted.

BJP President Amit Shah raked up the issue while addressing a rally in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constit-uency and slammed Sinha for praising Jinnah. “Shatrughan

Sinha has just gone to the Con-gress. Now he says that Jinnah was also a great man like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The Congress leaders are praising Jinnah, who has divided the country. It is their character,” Shah said. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, when asked about the issue at a press conference, said it was for Sinha to explain.

Shatrughan stirs controversy over Jinnah remarks

Global software ‘glitch’ leaves Air India passengers strandedAFP NEW DELHI

Thousands of Air India passengers were stranded at airports across the world yesterday, after a software “glitch” left those travelling with the state-run airline unable to check in, officials said.

More than 80 domestic and international flights were delayed for six hours because of a problem with the company’s check-in software that brought operations to a halt, causing further flight delays across the globe.

“Our check-in software experienced a glitch following a

routine software upgrade. It was resolved after six hours,” Air India spokesman Praveen Bhat-nagar said.

Bhatnagar said most of the delays were on its domestic circuit and they were “doing eve-rything possible to clear the backlog”.

There were no flight

cancellations and the airline expects operations to be back to normal by early evening, the spokesman said.

India’s aviation industry is in choppy waters after one of the country’s largest private carriers, Jet Airways, last week halted its operations indefinitely following refusal by lenders to pay it cash

to run day-to-day operations.The state-owned loss making

Air India operates more than 450 fights a day across the globe, with a majority of them domestically. Hundreds of furious passengers took to social media to complain about the widespread disruption, posting pictures and videos of passengers waiting at check-in

counters. “Thousands stranded at the airport for over 3 hours. No updates. No one to talk to. Terrible service,” a traveller posted on Twitter from Delhi International airport.

Yesterday’s software mal-function is a repeat of a similar outage in June last year that caused flight delays globally.

IANS PALGHAR, MAHARASHTRA

An ailing senior technician working with the beleaguered Jet Airways committed suicide by jumping off his building terrace, police said here yesterday. “Shailesh Singh was suffering from cancer and was in great pain. He had been discharged from hospital after undergoing chemotherapy earlier this week. He ended his life on Friday afternoon,” Tulinj Police Station Senior Inspector Daniel Ben said. To a question, Ben said the police are not aware of the Singh family facing any financial problems due to the airlines crisis. Singh, 45, is survived by his wife, two sons, including one working in the airlines’ operations department, and two daughters, and the police have registered an acci-dental death case with investi-gations underway.

Ailing Jet technician commits suicide

IANS HYDERABAD

Another Intermediate student committed suicide in Telangana yesterday, taking the toll to 20 since the Board of Intermediate Education last week announced the results, which were marred by goof-ups. In the latest incident, a 17-year-old girl immolated herself in Naray-anpet district. Depressed after failing in one subject in the 12th standard examination, Sirisha committed self-immolation at her house in Dhanwada block of Narayanpet district, about 160km from Hyderabad. Her parents had gone to the fields when she took the extreme step. The family members said she was depressed after failing in zoology.

Another Telangana student ends life

Three men set off explosives that killed themselves, three women and six children inside what was believed to a militant hideout near the eastern town of Kalmunai on Friday night.

11SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 ASIA

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (left), Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades (centre), and other leaders at a family picture in Leader’s Roundtable Session of 2nd BRI Forum at International Convention Centre, Yanqi Lake, in Beijing, yesterday.

CPEC transforming Pakistan: ImranINTERNEWS BEIJING

Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a source of trans-formation for Pakistan and the country was privileged to have been an early partner of China.

PM Imran attended the Leaders’ Roundtable meeting at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International

Cooperation in Beijing and was welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping upon arrival.

“President Xi Jinping has given the BRI vision to break barriers, connect people, inte-grate economies and share prosperity,” the Prime Minister said. “Pakistan is privileged to have been an early partner of China ... CPEC is not a trans-action, rather it is a transfor-mation of our society,” the Premier asserted.

Xi says more nations joining BRI; $64bn deals signedAFP BEIJING

Chinese President Xi Jinping said yesterday $64bn in deals were signed at a summit on his Belt and Road Initiative and more nations would join the global infrastructure programme as he sought to ease concerns over the colossal project.

Xi and 37 world leaders wrapped up a three-day forum in Beijing with pledges to ensure that projects on the new Silk Road are green and financially sustainable following concerns about debt and environmental damage.

“We are committed to sup-porting open, clean and green development and rejecting pro-tectionism,” Xi told journalists at the end of the forum, without taking questions.

His signature foreign policy

aims to reinvent the ancient Silk Road to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through massive

investments in maritime, road and rail projects - with hundreds of billions of dollars in financing

from Chinese banks.But critics say the six-year-

old project is a plan to boost Bei-jing’s global influence, riddled with opaque deals favouring Chinese companies and saddling nations with debt and environ-mental damage.

The US, India and some European nations have looked at the project with suspicion. Washington did not send any representatives to the meeting.

“This year’s forum sends a clear message: more and more friends and partners will join in the Belt and Road co-operation,” Xi said.

A document released after the meeting showed that Equa-torial Guinea, Liberia, Luxem-bourg, Jamaica, Peru, Italy, Bar-bados, Cyprus and Yemen were the latest countries to join the club.

Xi said enterprises will be the

main driver in all Belt and Road projects and market principles will apply, with governments providing a supporting role.

“This will make the projects more sustainable and create a fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign investors,” Xi said.

Xi said that business leaders meeting at a side event signed some $64bn worth of deals during the forum, without pro-viding details. At the picturesque Yanqi Lake outside Beijing, leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America gathered to issue a joint communique.

The gathering included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, whose nation became the first G7 member to join Belt and Road, and Paki-stan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.

China’s President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives for a press briefing at the end of the final day of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, yesterday.

Pakistan to deploy female infantry engagement team to CongoINTERNEWS NEW YORK

The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi yesterday said Pakistan was deploying a female infantry engagement team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speaking during a debate in the General Assembly on Sexual Violence, Lodhi said, “Pakistan has achieved the goal of deployment of 15 percent female

staff officers in peacekeeping missions, thus fulfilling its responsibilities in accordance with the uniformed gender parity strategy and Security Council resolutions.” “Our professional peacekeepers to the UN, including our female peace-keepers, continue to set the highest standards in fulfilling peacekeeping mandates, and protecting all vulnerable seg-ments of the population, including women, from violence in some of the most dangerous

and complex conflict situations around the world”, she said.

The Pakistani Envoy con-tinued, “One of the most effective ways to prevent conflict-based sexual violence is to eliminate the breeding grounds that are spawned by unresolved dis-putes.” She also called to fully integrate gender perspectives in the UN’s peace-building paradigm.

“By leaving disputes unad-dressed, the Security Council runs the risk of acting selectively

and displaying a blind spot for some of the most vulnerable women who suffer dispropor-tionately from violence perpe-trated by foreign occupation,” she said.

The Pakistani Ambassador pointed out that while Security Council was leading global efforts to eliminate the scourge of conflict-related sexual vio-lence, women, especially young girls, continued to carry the main burnt of physical and psycho-logical abuse and trauma.

Alice Wells to visit Islamabad this weekINTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

Pakistan and the United States are expected to hold an important session of talks from this week in Islamabad.

According to diplomatic sources, a US delegation, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador Alice Wells, will arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss economic and business relations.

Sources said Pakistan has also made regional security affairs as part of the agenda for the talks. The representatives are also expected to review various options for promoting relations and mutual cooper-ation between the two countries. Last year in November when Ambassador Wells visited Pakistan, Islamabad and Wash-ington agreed to continue efforts to promote shared objectives of peace and stability in the region and diversify bilateral rela-tionship. She met Finance Min-ister held delegation-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting took stock of the understanding reached between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and US Secretary of State to rebuild the relationship based on mutual trust and respect, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

Moon-Kim summit anniversary markedAFP SEOUL

North and South Korea yesterday struck different notes as they marked the first anni-versary of a summit between their leaders that fuelled a whirlwind of diplomacy which has died down amid deadlock over Pyongyang’s denucleari-sation.

Kim Jong Un and President Moon Jae-in held their first meeting on April 27 last year in the Demilitarised Zone dividing the peninsula amid a rapid dip-lomatic thaw, paving the way for a historic summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June.

But one year later, little progress has been made on

North Korea’s nuclear weapons, with Pyongyang and Wash-ington deadlocked since a second summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi in February broke down without a deal.

Moon, who brokered the first meeting between the two mercurial leaders, has tried to salvage the diplomacy although the North has remained largely unresponsive.

North Korea did not respond to the South’s invitation this week for yesterday’s ceremony at Panmunjom .

Instead, the North’s Com-mittee for the Peaceful Reunifi-cation of the Country, which handles inter-Korean relations, urged Seoul Saturday to take “more active measures” to improve ties.

A screen shows a picture of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of Panmunjom declaration, outside of the Peace House at the southern side of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone, South Korea, yesterday.

Japan kicks off unprecedented long holidayAFP TOKYO

Japan yesterday kicked off an unprecedented 10-day holiday, including celebration days for the imperial transition, as airports were packed with record travellers while people queued at teller machines in the cash-dominated nation.

Japan is preparing for the abdication of Emperor Akihito on Tuesday the day before Aki-hito’s eldest son, 59-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, takes the throne.

The long holiday for the famously hard-working Jap-anese combines two cele-bration days with the tradi-tional “Golden Week” in May.

While many plan to com-memorate the national cere-monies across the country, others are seizing the rare opportunity for a trip at home and overseas.

A record 60,700 people were expected to go abroad from Narita airport, Tokyo’s main gateway, yesterday, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said. Domestic holidaymakers formed long queues for Shinkansen bullet services at Tokyo station to return home or go sightseeing, while highways were crowded with vehicles in a major exodus from the capital.

Pakistan wants BRI nations toestablish tourism corridorANATOLIA ISLAMABAD

Pakistan yesterday suggested the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries to establish tourism corridor for cultural and tourism exchanges between the members countries.

Addressing the leaders’s roundtable meeting of second BRI forum in Beijing, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan praised the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiative and said BRI would break barriers among the countries to connect people and integrate economies and share prosperity.

“I feel that to further boost connectivity and benefits under

the BRI umbrella, we should con-sider further areas including digital connectivity, mobility of labour, cultural links to assist the development of tourism which increases jobs and small busi-nesses,” Imran suggested.

Explaining the multibillion China-Pakistan Economic Cor-ridor (CPEC), Imran added that it was a collection of projects in road, rail, energy and other

fields, aimed at overcoming constraints and achieving growth.

BRI, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network con-necting Asia with Europe and Africa. Currently 126 countries and 29 international organisa-tions of the world have signed the documents and became part of the initiative.

“We are building highways, modernising railroads, setting up power plants, establishing a port, and establishing Special Eco-nomic Zones. And a new port is connecting regions and even-tually continents,” the Prime Minister explained.

Highlighting the importance of his country, Pakistani Premier said his country lied at the cross-roads of important regions and throughout their history, they have connected ideas, cultures, and commerce.

“Connectivity has been a part of our heritage and CPEC is giving it modern shape in the

21st Century. As our region becomes more linked and pros-perous, my expectation is that we will find it easier to find common solutions for long-standing problems,” Imran hoped.

He said that the connectivity of Gwadar Port with China’s Xinjiang region will provide a

shorter route for China’s imports compared to the South China Sea, reduce the cost for Chinese companies, and develop western China as well.

The $64 billion mega-project signed in 2014 aims to connect China’s strategically important northwestern Xin-jiang province to Gwadar port

through a network of roads, railways, and pipelines to transport cargo, oil, and gas.

The economic corridor will not only provide China cheaper access to Africa and the Middle East but will also earn Pakistan billions of dollars for providing transit facilities to the world’s second-largest economy.

PM Imran said: “Connectivity has been a part of our heritage and CPEC is giving it modern shape in the 21st Century. As our region becomes more linked and prosperous, my expectation is that we will find it easier to find common solutions for longstanding problems.”

12 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019EUROPE

Spain goes to the polls today REUTERS MADRID

The leaders of all of Spain’s main political parties invited their supporters on Friday night to prepare for power, as campaigning for one of the tightest national elections in decades drew to a close.

No single party will get an overall majority in today’s ballot, and opinion polls suggest all five leading contenders have a real-istic chance of playing a role in government.

Divisive and often ill-tem-pered, the election has been fought mainly on emotive topics - notably issues of national identity linked to Catalonia’s drive for independence - with the economy taking a rare back seat. With campaigning having ended at midnight, party leaders remained mostly non-committal about potential alliances after the vote - though Spain’s political landscape has effectively coa-lesced around two distinct elec-toral blocs, one on the left and the other on the right.

Outgoing Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez - who made overtures to far-left Podemos during a televised debate on Tuesday - cited US President Donald Trump in warning supporters against allowing a right-wing alliance to take office.

That would be formed of three parties and include radical new-comer Vox, part of a broader far-right movement that has already entered government in some European countries, notably Italy.

“No one gave Trump any chance of becoming President and he is. No one thought (far-right Jair) Bol-sonaro would become President of Brazil, and he has,” Sanchez told a crowd of around 3,000 in the working class Madrid suburb of Vallecas.

Under the most optimistic scenario for the Socialists, Sanchez could stay on as leader of the euro zone’s fourth largest economy with just Podemos as an ally. But most polls have shown them likely to need backing from smaller nationalist

parties, notably from Catalonia, which would seek concessions that Sanchez - labelled a traitor by the right for being open to dialogue with secessionists - might find hard to swallow.

Official opinion polls ended on Monday, with up to four in ten voters still undecided.

The main rightist challenger, Pablo Casado of the conservative PP party, said his party was the best option for removing Sanchez from office, and urged those on the right to vote tactically.

Spain’s Prime Minister and Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) candidate Pedro Sanchez attends an electoral campaign closing rally in Valencia, Spain.

Moscow hints at simplifying nationality process for all UkrainiansAFP BEIJING

Moscow is “thinking” of making it easier for all Ukrainians to obtain Russian citizenship, Pres-ident Vladimir Putin said yesterday, after it earlier moved to grant passports in the coun-try’s separatist east, causing uproar in Kiev.

“We are actually thinking about providing citizenship in a simplified order to all citizens of Ukraine, not only residents of the Lugansk and Donetsk republics,” Putin told the press during his visit to Beijing, referring to the unrecognised separatist republics governed by Moscow-backed rebels. This week Putin

signed a decree allowing people living in the breakaway regions to receive a Russian passport within three months of applying for one.

The conflict between the Ukrainian government and breakaway rebels began after Moscow annexed Kiev’s Crimea peninsula in 2014. The war has claimed some 13,000 lives.

The latest declaration sparked more condemnation in Kiev. “Russia wants further escalation and chaos in Ukraine and therefore continues to com-plicate the rules of the game,” Dmytro Kuleba, Kiev’s per-manent representative to the Council of Europe, wrote on

Twitter. Putin’s decree came just days after Ukraine elected comedian Volodymyr Zelensky as President. The actor, due to be inaugurated by early June, called for more international sanctions against Russia in response.

“This is another clear confir-mation for the world of Russia’s real role as an aggressor state, waging war against Ukraine,” his press service said in a statement this week.

Zelensky - a political novice - has pledged to “reboot” peace talks with the separatists that also involve Russia and the West.

Putin has not congratulated Zelensky on his election win but

said he is ready to talk with a new Ukrainian leadership.

he said yesterday that he wanted to “understand” Zelen-sky’s position on the conflict.

The Russian leader said Moscow will meet all “social responsibilities to our new cit-izens of Russia”.

After they receive a Russian passport, residents of eastern Ukraine will be eligible for “social payments, pensions and their increase, everything will be fulfilled,” he said.

Such payments would not strain the Russian budget, he added, saying it is “theoretically possible” for residents in the sep-aratist territories to receive both

a Russian and Ukrainian pension.“These people still live under

bullets and have shells explode sometimes in their gardens,” Putin said. The EU condemned Moscow’s passport scheme, calling it a fresh assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and saying Russia sought to “destabilise” Ukraine after its presidential election.

This week Kiev appealed to the UN Security Council to take action to oppose Putin’s decree. Ukrainian Ambassador Volo-dymyr Yelchenko told a council meeting that the decree was “simply illegal” and amounted to a “creeping annexation” of eastern Ukraine.

SAS pilot strike continues, more flights grounded across ScandinaviaREUTERS STOCKHOLM

Scandinavian airline SAS cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled for today as a pilot strike entered its second day, disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers.

SAS pilots went on strike on Friday as wage talks broke down, grounding around 70 percent of the airline’s flights and hitting some 170,000 people over the weekend alone.

“We deeply regret that our customers are affected by the ongoing pilot strike,” SAS said in a statement on Saturday out-lining its flight cancellations for the rest of the weekend.

“Due to the strike another estimated 64,000 passengers will be affected when 587 flights are cancelled across Scandinavia.” SAS has taken steps such as offering free food to passengers waiting to find alternative flights at airports across Scandinavia, but several travellers complained on social media that they were unable to reach the airline’s cus-tomer services. “Hey SAS I’ve been trying to contact you for a day now,” one wrote on Twitter, to which SAS responded: “Our customer service is answering the phone as fast as they can. Try

again”. The flag carrier, which is part-owned by the Swedish and Danish governments, has said it is prepared to resume negotia-tions but warned that meeting pilots’ demands would have dire consequences for the company. The aviation industry’s employer body in Sweden has said pilots demanded a 13 percent wage hike, despite what it called already high average wages of 93,000 Swedish crowns a month.

The SAS Pilot Group, a union body representing 95 percent of the airline’s pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, says that the dispute concerns more than simply wages, pointing to demands for more predictable and transparent working hours.

Analysts at Sydbank have estimated that the strike is costing SAS 60-80 million Swedish crowns ($6.3 million to $8.41 million) per day, which would effectively wipe out the airline’s expected net profit for the year were it to last two weeks. The strike at SAS does not affect flights operated by its partners, which make up roughly 30 percent of all depar-tures. The airline said it was offering passengers booked on flights through May 1 to reschedule free of charge.

17 dead in east Ukraine coal mine blastAFP KIEV

The death toll from a coal mine blast in a separatist eastern region of Ukraine rose to 17 yesterday, rebel authorities said.

The gas blast on Thursday ripped through the mine in Yurievka village in the self-pro-claimed republic of Lugansk, which broke away from Kiev in 2014 and is run by Moscow-backed rebels.

“The tragedy took the life of 17 miners,” Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the unrecognised Lugansk republic, said on Twitter.

He added that the bodies of all the miners that died have been recovered.

Earlier the death toll accounted to 13, with another

four people missing. Pasechnik called the explosion at the Skhidcarbon mine a “terrible tragedy” and declared April 29 a day of mourning.

Russia’s Emergency Situa-tions Ministry sent mine rescuers to the separatist territory after it requested help, it said in a statement.

The Lugansk news agency said the mine was closed in 2014 due to the conflict between Kiev’s forces and the Russia-backed separatists, but was reo-pened in 2018.

Most of Ukraine’s coal is produced in its eastern region, where the ongoing fighting has cost some 13,000 lives.

Kiev has tried to boost the operations of other pits under its control in the west of the country.

Cyclists lay down as they take part in the Extinction Rebellion protest at the Tate Modern in London, Britain, yesterday.

Assange’s lawyers file ‘extortion’ complaint in Spanish courtAFP MADRID

Julian Assange’s lawyers have filed a court complaint in Spain against a group of Spaniards they allege extorted the WikiLeaks founder and Ecua-dor’s Foreign Ministry, a source in his defence team said yesterday.

Assange, who for seven years lived holed up in London’s Ecuadoran embassy where he had taken refuge to avoid extra-dition to Sweden on rape accu-sations, was arrested on April 11

after Quito terminated his asylum.

The 47-year-old founder of WikiLeaks, which exposed eve-rything from US military secrets to the wealthy’s tax evasion, is now awaiting sentencing for breaching his British bail con-ditions in 2012.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the complaint was against “a group of Spaniards who allegedly engaged in extortion and the Embassy’s employees and Ecua-dor’s Foreign Ministry.” The source added an investigation

was ongoing and alleged “espi-onage” in the embassy against Assange, refusing to give further details.

According to Spanish media reports, four Spaniards have videos and personal documents of Assange.

Online daily eldiario.es said they somehow got these via an alleged spying system set up in the embassy that included security cameras and employees taking photos of all documents handled by Assange.

They allegedly tried to extort three million euros ($3.3 million)

out of WikiLeaks not to publish any of it, Spanish media report.

Eldiario.es, which had access to the written complaint that was filed to Spain’s top-level National Court, says Assange’s lawyers also accuse Ecuador of spying on him.

The National Court could not comment when contacted.

That contrasts with Ecua-doran President Lenin Moreno’s version of events.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he alleged Assange had tried to set up a “centre for spying” in Ecuador’s

embassy. Last year, Quito cut his Internet and mobile phone access, accusing him of breaking “a written commitment” not to interfere in its and allies’ foreign policies.

The move infuriated Assange, who sued the gov-ernment for violating his “fun-damental rights” by limiting his access to the outside world.

Now in prison in Britain, Assange is also fighting a US extradition warrant relating to the release by WikiLeaks of a huge cache of official documents.

Yellow vests protesters clash with French policeREUTERS PARIS

French police fired tear gas to push back protesters who tried to march towards the European Parliament building in the eastern city of Strasbourg yesterday, on the 25th consec-utive weekend of protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.

The so-called ‘yellow vests’ protesters were back on the streets across France two days after Macron outlined policy proposals including tax cuts worth around 5 billion euros ($5.58 billion) in response to the protests.

The protests, named after motorists’ high-visibility jackets, began in November over fuel tax increases but has morphed into a sometimes violent revolt against politicians and a government they see as out of touch.

Many in the grassroots movement, which lacks a lead-ership structure, have said Macron’s proposals did not go far enough and most of what he announced lacked details.

Around two thousand pro-testers had gathered near the seat of European Union insti-tutions in Strasbourg, where organisers had planned make the protest international by symbolically marching to the parliament building, a month ahead of EU-wide parlia-mentary elections.

Previous yellow vests pro-tests in Strasbourg had mostly been peaceful.

Fearing violence and destruction of public buildings that has sometimes marred the demonstrations, authorities had banned protests and barricaded the neighbourhood where the parliament and other EU insti-tutions are located.

A Reuters witness said police fired several canisters of tear gas to push back the demonstrators.

French television showed some hooded protesters throwing back stones and other objects at the police.

In the capital Paris, which has witnessed some of the worst violence in past protests, yesterday’s demonstration was mostly calm.

Most polls have shown Socialist Workers’ Party likely to need backing from smaller nationalist parties, notably from Catalonia.

Protest in London

13SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 AMERICAS

Warrant out for ringleader of N Korean embassy raid in MadridREUTERS LOS ANGELES

US authorities are focused on Southern California in their manhunt for a one-time human rights activist accused of leading a violent takeover of North Korea’s embassy in Spain, according to a federal arrest warrant unsealed on Friday. Adrian Hong Chang is wanted by Spain in connection with the alleged embassy raid in February, but his lawyer denounced the US Justice Department for seeking his arrest and extradition based on “the highly unreliable accounts of North Korean government witnesses.” The warrant, citing information from Spanish authorities, describes Hong Chang as the mastermind of a raid by seven individuals on the North Korean Embassy in Madrid on February 22 that began with Hong Chang posing as a visiting businessman.

He and six fellow intruders, armed with knives, iron bars, machetes and imitation pistols, then stormed the embassy, restrained and physically beat the charge d’affaires and several other employees and held them captive for several hours before fleeing the com-pound, according to the warrant. They got away with computer equipment and a mobile phone stolen from the embassy, which Hong Chang, also known as Adrian Hong, presented days later to the FBI in New York after fleeing back to the United States, the warrant says. A Spanish judicial court said earlier this week that the FBI later handed the material over to Spanish authorities who have since returned it to Pyongyang’s mission in Madrid.

The incident at the embassy came at a sensitive time, just days ahead of a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that abruptly col-lapsed without the two men reaching a deal on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry denounced the incident as a “grave terrorist attack” and cited rumors that the FBI was partially behind the raid. The US State Department has said Wash-ington had nothing to do with it.

Goods delays at US border worries MexicoAFP MEXICO CITY

Mexico has expressed fresh concern to the United States about delays in the movement of goods and people across their border, after becoming Wash-ington’s biggest trade partner for the first time earlier this year.

The diplomatic note from the Foreign Ministry on Friday is the latest sign of tension between the north American neighbours since President Donald Trump last month threatened to close the border if Mexico didn’t stop illegal immigrants from reaching the US.

“During the month of April there has been an economic

impact to Mexican and American companies caused by the delays in customs,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The situation on the border “negatively impacts trade as well as the sources of employment and consumers in both coun-tries,” it said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, in the first two months of the year Mexico was “for the first time in history” the main trading partner of the United States, with goods worth $97 billion changing hands.

Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that from January to November 2018, bilateral trade was worth $527 billion.

Some 80 percent of Mexico’s

exports are to the United States.In March Washington

ordered the re-assignment of 2,000 customs officers to support the border patrol in the processing of a wave of migrants seeking to enter US territory. The stepped-up surveillance has sparked delays in processing the passage of goods and people.

Tens of thousands of Central Americans have traversed Mexico in so-called “caravans” in the hope of reaching the United States. Trump says the migrants are a threat to US national security and has demanded that Mexico detain them and send them home. He has also threatened to close the border if Mexico doesn’t act.

Trucks wait in a long queue for border customs control to cross into the US, in one of the main roads of Tijuana, Mexico.

Lula says Brazil governed by ‘gang of madmen’ AFP RIO DE JANEIRO

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday said the country was governed by a “gang of madmen” in his first interview from prison, where he is serving an almost nine year sentence.

The leftist ex-leader, 73, reiterated his innocence and told newspapers El Pais and Folha de Sao Paulo he is “obsessed” with “unmasking” those behind his conviction, which has seen him

incarcerated for the past year for bribery and money laundering.

“I know very well the place history holds for me. And I also know who will be in the dumpster,” said Lula, charis-matic as ever in video clips pub-lished by Spanish newspaper El Pais’s Brazilian edition.

The interview is the first Lula has given since he was arrested in April of last year.

“It can’t be that this country is governed by this gang of madmen... the country doesn’t deserve that and above all the

people don’t deserve that,” Folha de S. Paulo reported Lula as saying of President Jair Bol-s o n a r o ’ s f a r - r i g h t administration.

Bolsonaro entered office in January, defeating Workers’ Party candidate Fernando Haddad, who replaced Lula after he was banned from running.

Lula was convicted as part of Operation Car Wash, a wide reaching probe into corruption surrounding state oil firm Petrobras.

But from the start, Lula has maintained he is the victim of a

campaign to prevent a leftist leader from returning to power.

This week, an appeals court reduced his 12 year sentence to eight years and 10 months.

The ruling could mean Lula is eligible for “semi-open” prison later this year. Lula is also appealing a second sentence of almost 13 years handed down in February for accepting reno-vation work by two construction companies on a farmhouse in exchange for ensuring they won contracts with Petrobras. If that sentence is upheld, it will be added to the previous one.

Colombia peace tribunal orders capture of former FARC leader

AFP BOGOTA

A Colombian tribunal has ordered the capture of a senior former FARC guerilla commander for violating a peace treaty that ended half a century of armed conflict.

It follows President Ivan Duque’s election last year on a pledge to roll back some aspects of the 2016 peace deal that saw FARC transformed into a political party -- which he sees as too soft.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) was set up to try former combatants and hand out alternative sentences to prison time if they confess their crimes, compensate victims and pledge never to resort to vio-lence again.

But in a shift away from leniency, it revoked the parole granted to Hernan Dario Velasquez Saldarriaga - also known as “El Paisa” - and ordered his detention.

Martinelli seeks to vote from Panama jailAFP PANAMA CITY

Former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli has asked to be allowed to vote from prison in next month’s elections, days after authorities barred him from standing as a candidate.

The 67-year-old is in jail awaiting trial on a raft of charges after being extradited from the United States last year where he fled in 2015 to evade arrest. Mar-tinelli was put forward as a can-didate for both mayor of Panama City and a national assembly seat by his Democratic Change party in elections scheduled for May 5.

EU slams Trump’s withdrawal from arms trade treatyAFP BRUSSELS

The European Union warned yesterday that US President Donald Trump’s rejection of a UN treaty designed to regulate the global arms trade would hamper the global fight against illicit weapons trafficking.

“A decision by the US to revoke its signature would not contribute to the ongoing efforts to encourage transparency in the international arms trade, to prevent illicit trafficking and to combat the diversion of conven-tional arms,” said the EU’s chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini.

“The EU will continue to call on all states, and in particular the major arms exporters and importers, to join the Arms Trade Treaty without delay,” she said. Trump said on Friday the United States would not abide by the 2013 treaty aimed at reg-ulating the global arms trade, calling it “misguided” and an encroachment on US sovereignty.

The US Senate never ratified the treaty after former President Barack Obama endorsed it. Trump said he was revoking his predecessor’s signature.

Mogherini said the EU viewed the pact - which seeks to regulate the flow of weapons to conflict zones - as key to “contributing to international efforts to ensure peace, security and stability.

“All 28 Member States have joined the ATT and are deter-mined in pursuing its objectives and its universal ratification and

implementation,” Mogherini said. The treaty, which entered into effect in December 2014, requires member countries to keep records of international transfers of weapons and to pro-hibit cross-border shipments that could be used in human rights violations or attacks on civilians.

While 130 countries origi-nally signed the treaty, only 101 have ratified it. Those include major powers like France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The world’s largest arms traders, the United States, China and Russia, have not joined.

“The unregulated arms trade continues to cause major suf-fering in many parts of the world, fuelling conflicts, ter-rorism and organised crime,” Mogherini said.

“Small arms and light weapons kill around 500,000 people every year, in addition to the victims of other conven-tional weapons.” Trump has already withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement on curbing Earth-warming carbon emissions, signed by most of the world’s nations.

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro take part in a demonstration called by the presidency to celebrate Venezuela’s official exit from the Organization of American States (OAS), at the Bolivar Square in Caracas, yesterday.

Sunken Venezuelan migrant boat was ‘overloaded’AFP CUMANÁ, VENEZUELA

A fishing vessel that sank while carrying Venezuelan migrants to Trinidad and Tobago was overloaded, a survivor said as the search continued for some of the missing persons.

The boat sank in the southern Caribbean early on Wednesday with 33 people aboard, nine of whom were plucked from the sea by fish-ermen, an opposition lawmaker said.

“There were too many pas-sengers,” 22-year-old survivor

Yusbreilys Merchan said Friday after she was taken ashore.

The woman said she had boarded the boat in the coastal town of Guiria in northeastern Sucre state. “After we left, one of the engines had problems, but we insisted that we keep going,” she said.

US Border Patrol beginsfingerprinting childrenAP HOUSTON

US border authorities say they’ve started to increase the biometric data they take from children 13 years old and younger, including fingerprints, despite privacy concerns and government policy intended to restrict what can be collected from migrant youths.

A Border Patrol official said this week that the agency had begun a pilot program to collect the biometrics of children with the permission of the adults accompanying them, though he did not specify where along the border i t has been implemented.

The Border Patrol also has a “rapid DNA pilot program” in the works, said Anthony Porvaznik, the chief patrol agent in Yuma, Arizona, in a video interview published by the Epoch Times newspaper.

Spokesmen for the Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security did not return several messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on both programs.

The Border Patrol says that in the last year, it’s stopped roughly 3,100 adults and children fraudulently posing as

families so they can be released into the US quickly rather than face detention or rapid deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security has also warned of “child recycling,” cases where they say children allowed into the U.S. were smuggled back into Central America to be paired up again with other adults in fake fam-ilies - something they say is impossible to catch without fin-gerprints or other biometric data.

“Those are kids that are being rented, for lack of a better word,” Porvaznik said.

But the Border Patrol has not publicly identified anyone arrested in a “child recycling” scheme or released data on how many such schemes have been uncovered. Advocates say they’re worried that in the name of stopping fraud, agents might take personal information from children that could be used against them later.

“Of course child trafficking exists,” said Karla Vargas, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project. But she warned against implementing “a catch-all” policy that could reduce the rights of people who are legally seeking asylum.

EU chief envoy Federica Mogherini says the bloc views the pact as key to “contributing to international efforts to ensure peace, security and stability”.

Venezuela celebrates leaving OAS

BUSINESSSunday 28 April 2019

PAGE | 15 PAGE | 16Qatar Steel

honours long-service

employees

Ghosn’s trial to be delayed possibly until next year

QFB eyes US, Europe and other new marketsMOHAMMAD SHOEB THE PENINSULA

Qatar First Bank’s (QFB) efforts to achieve sustainable growth and turnaround its financial and business performance have started bearing positive results.

The QSE-listed Bank, under its newly adopted strategy, is working on shifting its operating model from asset management to fee income on structured products and diversifying its investments and operations to new markets, including the US, Europe and other promising markets, said a senior official of the Bank.

QFB recently reported a net profit of QR3.2m attributable to equity-holders for the first three-months of this year ended March 31, 2019, against a net loss of QR47.1m in the same period of 2018, as well as a 71 percent increase in revenues of QR57.5m, compared with QR33.6m in the same period of 2018.

“The new strategy which was approved about a few months

ago, is all about strengthening the Bank’s performance and profitability for its shareholders, which is going to turnaround the Bank’s performance,” Abdulla bin Fahad bin Ghorab Al Marri (pictured), QFB’s Vice-Chairman told The Peninsula.

Al Marri added: “We faced some difficulties during the last two years and now we have almost exited and cleaned up most of our stressed assets and changing our business strategy into fee-based model and also introducing some selective

private equity products that will be shared with our investors.” In addition, QFB is also trying to provide some financial advisory services to some of its investors for certain requirements for investment outside the region, including the Western Europe and the United States.

On the possibility of QFB entering new sectors to have new stream of revenues, he said that QFB is entering new sectors geographically as the Bank in the past had concentrated its oper-ations within the region aiming to tap the high growth potential.

The QFB, according to its Annual Report 2018, has exited from nearly a dozen stressed businesses and investments located in many countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Turkey and other markets.

“Unfortunately due to the recent political situation it became difficult for Qatari financial institutions to operate in a competitive way. Therefore, we are concentrating more in

Qatar, exiting the other regional markets and expanding our operations in some more prom-ising markets in Europe and the US,” noted the Vice-Chairman.

He also noted that QFB earlier was focusing on the private equity model, but it is now trying to have asset under management, providing products which are solid in terms of good returns and also creating funds for technology, real estate and other sectors.

Commenting about the investment-friendly legislations that has been attracting interests of foreign investors into Qatari economy, especially the free-zone areas, he also echoed that the blockade came as a blessing in disguise which made Qatar a dynamic market as a result of various reforms and new laws introduced by the government. More investors are now coming from outside and taping the fast growing business opportunities, and QFB is working in close cooperation and partnering with some of them.

Qatar Mining Company’s steel plant in Algeria to open by Q4 2019THE PENINSULA DOHA

The Board of Directors of Qatar Mining Company held a meeting and discussed the progress of the company’s important develop-mental projects and growth strategy, including the company’s upcoming steel plant in Algeria, which is set to become operational before the end of this year.

The Board also issued needful recommendations and took important decisions with regard to the company’s activities.

The meeting, which was pre-sided over by the Board’s Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, appreciated the efforts of the Chief Executive Officer and the company’s team in developing their current projects and initia-tives aiming to maximize the benefit and outputs in line with the vision and mission of the company.

Qatar Mining Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the

State of Qatar, was established in 2010 with the aim of implementing targeted high-value development investment projects in the mining and mineral sector and becoming a multi-product international mining company by 2024.

Among the company’s objec-tives is to secure the supply of raw materials for existing industries in Qatar and to focus on investment in commodities for which domestic and international demand is high. In 2012, Qatar Mining Company established one of its major sub-sidiaries, Qatar Steel International, which owns 49 percent of the Algerian-Qatari Steel Company, the owner of the largest iron and steel plant in the region, located in Algeria’s Jijel, 359 km east of Algiers, the largest Arab joint project in Algeria. The iron and steel plant in Baalara built an area of about 216 hectares, making it the largest steel industrial complex in Algeria and the region.

Sheikh Faisal said that the

project is the first of the fruits of the cooperation agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Algeria in 2013. In January 2014, the legal framework was signed to establish an Algerian- Jigel. Then, in March 2015, the foundation stone was laid and the starting point of the con-struction of the industrial complex was given by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh

Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and the former Prime Min-ister of Algeria. The project was entrusted to major companies from Italy, China and others with global experience in the com-pletion of such projects.

The CEO of Qatar Mining Company, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, revealed the accelerated pace of construction work on its project, the Belara Steel and Steel

Plant currently being implemented in Algeria, which is being imple-mented in partnership with the Algerian government for the estab-lishment of the Algerian Qatari Steel Company. The factory is about 96 percent complete.

The project will be completed and fully operational in the fourth quarter of this year (Q4 2019), with the direct reduction unit entering the service and pro-duction as it is considered to be one of the largest direct reduction units in the world.

He also praised the Board of Directors of the Algerian-Qatari Steel Company and the company’s executive management team. At the same time, the factory will be designed to operate and produce the plant as soon as possible. The plant will produce 2 million tonnes of reinforcing steel of various sizes according to the needs of the local Algerian market with a convenient possibility to export some quan-tities to the international markets.

The Algerian steel company has good reputation in the world steel market. He pointed out that the iron and steel factory started in 2017 to obtain quality and safety certificates from the world’s leading specialised bodies as part of the company’s efforts and its readiness to export steel to inter-national markets.

It is worth mentioning that this steel plant project uses the latest technologies available worldwide. Maintaining safety and envi-ronment is a priority of the Algerian-Qatari Steel Company

Al Obaidly said that the number of employees in the factory currently reached more than 750 working staff, waiting for access to 1,800 workers directly with the completion of the rest of the project and the project will create more than 5000 indirect jobs, which will con-tribute greatly to the operation of the people of the region and cre-ating additional jobs.

Board’s Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani

CEO of Qatar Mining Company, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli

Project Qatar 2019 kicks off tomorrowTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Project Qatar 2019 is to host 15 international pavilions at the 16th edition of the premier exhibition specializing in construction and all related industries, alongside a conference, which opens tomorrow. This year’s event is expected to draw 20,000 visitors at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

Year on year, Project Qatar continues to attract the biggest global players in the construction market and provide unparalleled opportunities to secure deals with decision makers in the Qatari market. This edition is expected to be the most diverse to date, with over 500 exhibitors and 34 countries represented.

The countries represented at this year’s 15 official national pavilions include Algeria, Austria, Belgium, China, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Kuwait, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The pavilions offer brands and com-panies from the same national markets the opportunity to jointly introduce their services and products to the Qatari market.

Speaking on behalf of the event organisers, IFP Qatar, Haidar Mshaimesh, Acting General Manager, said: “The international pavilions offer a central showcase for global and local companies to maximize exposure for their services, products, expertise, and tech-nology, and it is also easier for buyers to locate key suppliers. The pavilions have long been one of the biggest contributors to the success of Project Qatar, and the increase in the number of international pavilions this

year certainly promises a pos-itive impact on Qatar’s con-struction sector.” Considered Qatar’s largest exhibition for construction materials, equipment, and technology, Project Qatar is also the longest established event where global and local construction firms can showcase their latest services, products, and equipment, expand their market presence, and forge new business relations.

Ghassan Oueijan, Managing Director of Nakheel Landscapes, Outdoor Turnkey Solution Sponsor, said: “It is a great opportunity to be part of the 16th edition of Project Qatar as one of the main sponsors. This event has proven itself to be an ideal platform to attract new busi-nesses as we showcase our range of activities which have been transforming Qatar’s land-scapes for 21 years. Most of the main governmental infra-structure projects are almost completed or are under con-struction. We believe that beau-tification and maintenance works will be our primary activity during the coming years, to make the country greener for the residents and millions of expected visitors.”

Shakeel Khan, Head of International Sales and Country Head Qatar, Karss Paint Indus-tries (Pvt.) Ltd. (Happilac Paints), Exclusive Paints Sponsor, said: “We believe that B2B platforms are the easiest way to evaluate market trends and explore business opportunities, as we look forward to more business ahead of us. Project Qatar is a prestigious event and we are proud to be part of it, and also to represent Pakistan at the exhibition.”

Qatar 2022 to bring QR6.43bn to F&B sectorLANI ROSE R DIZON THE PENINSULA

Hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 is likely to bring a one-time boost of QR6.43bn to Qatar’s Food & Beverage (F&B) sector, according to the latest Sector Analysis by the Middle East Credit Rating Agency (MERatings).

Citing the Food and Beverage Services Sector in Qatar 2018 study which was con-ducted by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), MERatings said that hosting of the mega sporting event in 2022 will bring an estimated additional tourists of 3.1 million to the country with an average spending of QR288 per person per day spent on F&B for a stay ranging from three to eleven days.

In its Food and Beverage Services Sector in Qatar 2018 study, the QDB also said that

the total revenue of F&B outlets in the country is estimated to increase to QR14.26bn in 2026 from QR6.99bn in 2016, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent. This growth is largely in line with the projected growth of the population and annual increase in tourist arrivals during this period.

The report added that 62 new upscale hotels, including a mix of four stars, five stars, and seven stars are scheduled to com-mence operations in Qatar by 2020. With each hotel likely to have an average of three F&B outlets, the report said 186 new F&B outlets could also be established in upscale hotels by 2020.

The study also said the eight stadiums expected to be commissioned by 2020 to host

the Fifa World Cup 2022 will also serve as key locations for F&B outlets such as cafes, Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), kiosks and mobile food trucks in particular.

Metro stations for the Doha Metro Project, which will open to the public by 2020 with 37 stations for its first phase and completed with 72 stations by 2026 will also serve as key locations for upcoming F&B outlets such as cafes, casual dining, QSRs, and cafeterias.

According to the study, fine dining segment in Qatar is estimated to grow to QR1.37bn by 2026 from QR675m in 2016. There were 142 fine dining outlets operating in Qatar, which accounted for 4.8 percent of the country’s total F&B outlets, the report added.

15 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019BUSINESS

10,451.13 -6.43 PTS0.06%

QSE FTSE100 DOW BRENT

7,428.19 −5.94 PTS0.080%

26,543.33 +81.25 PTS0.31% Dow & Brent before going to press

$62.80 -2.41

MARKETWATCH

Qatar Development Bank opens registration for ‘ROWAD Award 2019’THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has announced the opening of registration for the second edition of Qatar Entrepre-neurship award “ROWAD Award 2019”. This prestigious spon-sorship is a testament to Qatar’s wise leadership’s keen interest in building the country’s entre-preneurship ecosystem towards achieving economic diversifi-cation for sustainable devel-opment, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Besides, Qatar topped the global entre-preneurship environment, according to the Global Entre-preneurship Monitor (GEM) report featuring 56 countries, which also confirms the leader-ship’s keenness in promoting entrepreneurship and integrate it into the national economy.

ROWAD Award aims to promote the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among SMEs in Qatar, which will provide an ideal platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their creative ideas and innovations which will play a vital role in developing the economy.

On the launch of the second edition of ROWAD, Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO, Qatar Development Bank, said:

“We are honored by the patronage of His Highness the Emir for the ROWAD Award 2019, which indicates H H’s interest in supporting the Qatari entrepreneurs and SMEs. The first edition of ROWAD Award selected 25 projects among 500 applicants as a nominee for the award. We were witness to their entrepreneurial brilliance, inno-vative streak, and their con-tinuous efforts to serve the needs of the local market, which helped them become the most deserving of the award among the rest.”

The award categories for this year include “Best Micro-business award” for those business that have been success-fully operating for 2+ years with a growth vision, has a specific action plan, and a proof of financial performance; “Best SME award” is to recognize business operating for 3+ years with a clear and specific growth plan, has demonstrated its financial performance for two years, and adopts innovative ways to reach customers, product development or pro-duction process; “Self Suffi-ciency Award’ is SMEs that have made significant contributions to Qatar’s Self-Sufficiency, by meeting the local market need and reduce dependence on imports; and “Best Exporting SME award” will be awarded to successfully exported product(s) for a defined period of time. Besides, the event will also see a new category “Innovative Solution Award” to business that provides unique innovative products and services and create solutions to enhance eco-nomical, social, or technological needs, either local or global, or was able to rely on innovative solutions in production methods, marketing or customer access.

Only Qatari Citizens can apply for these awards with no age restriction. Business should be SMEs as per the unified SMEs definition. They will need to submit audited financial report of the company or indicating its financial position for a specified period (the period varies according to the award category as described above), providing proof of the use of innovative methods both in reaching cus-tomers or developing the products or the production process itself. Winners of the 2017 award are NOT eligible to apply for the 2019 Award.

Qatar Steel honours long-service employees

THE PENINSULA DOHA

In a special ceremony, Qatar Steel Company (Qatar Steel) honoured 202 of its long-service employees, who have completed 10 – 40 years of work, in acknowledgement and appreciation of their efforts, commitment and dedication in serving the Company throughout the years.

Qatar Steel Managing Director & General Manager Mohammed bin Nasser Al Hajri, departmental managers and senior staff were present.

On the occasion, Mohammed bin Nasser Al Hajri said: “Qatar Steel has a long of tra-dition of holding this ceremony to recognise long-service employees in appreciation of their efforts and dedication throughout their years of service.” “This annual recognition tradition is the way the Company expresses its pride in its technical and administrative staff with excellent expertise and skills in various fields”, added Al Hajri, “It represents a motivation for employees to give their best in order to enable Qatar Steel to realise its strategic goals and contribute positively to promoting health and safety standards at

workplace.We, further, believe such efforts will con-

tribute to enhancing the employee’s partic-ipation at workplace, promoting per-formance level, adding to the ambition of outstanding employees for holding key posi-tions at Qatar Steel and playing a significant role in enhancing the Company’s success and contributions to the national economy and Qatar’s burgeoning trajectory.” Mohammed bin Nasser Al Hajri presented certificates to the recognised employees for their out-standing performance over the previous years.

Senior management of Qatar Steel with the long-serving employees.

Auto Class Cars receives ‘Best Affordable Sedan Award’ for MG 6THE PENINSULA DOAHA

Auto Class Cars, the authorized general distributor of MG in Qatar, received the ‘Best Affordable Sedan Award’ for the new MG 6 sedan from ‘Qatar Car of the Year’ Awards which was organized by Maqina Magazine.

The awards which was ded-icated to a wide range of cars’ categories took place at the Mondrian Hotel in Doha, with the participation of vehicles from various brands in Qatar.

The new MG 6 received the award due to its high-end tech-nology, unique design and affordable price, making it at the top in its segment.

Sheikh Faleh Bin Nawaf Al Thani, Operations Director for Auto at Nasser Bin Khaled Group said: “Since the relaunching of MG in Qatar, Auto Class Cars is accomplishing huge success and regaining the confidence of cus-tomers in this brand. It is now one of the favorite choices of drivers. Thanks to our strong relation with MG, we will unite our effort to supply the Qatari market with best vehicles that meet the needs of individuals and corporates”.

Hesham Al-Sahn, General Manager of Auto Class Cars, also said: “We are pleased to receive this award that best acknowledges MG6 and its profile. This is an

amazing sedan that meets the needs of the drivers in terms of design, technology and afforda-bility. We welcome all customers in our showroom to experience this car and thank the organizers of the awards for this initiative”.

Karim Monier, Head of Mar-keting at Auto Class Cars added: “The MG6 gained the confidence of the customers and enhanced their appreciation in the MG brand. It is a fundamental result of the marketing plans of SAIC Motors Middle East. Besides, this award will boost the position of MG6 as one of the best sedans”.

The sleek, dynamic profile of the all-new MG 6 is boosted by carbon fibre trim on the front bumper, headlamps featuring a

‘London Eye’ design concept, twin chrome exhaust pipes and a ‘Star Rider’ front grille, which takes inspiration from the brand’s expressive design language. The sporty, premium vibe continues inside the cabin with a smartly configured dashboard and central console, complemented by stylish leather-wrapped seats boasting a black and red interior on top-of-the-range models.

The MG 6 is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo engine, mated to a 7-speed Dual Clutch Trans-mission (DTC) with paddle shift option, for smooth, effortless performance. This efficient petrol unit delivers maximum power of 169hp and maximum torque of 250Nm.

Qatar expected to add 30 MTPA to global LNG production in 2025-26SATISH KANADY THE PENINSULA

The year 2018 witnessed an important change of direction in the commissioning of new LNG projects. Stronger global market conditions led to new LNG projects getting approval in the past year. A larger volume of new proposed production received FID (final investment decisions) in 2018 than in the prior 3 years combined, MENA Advisors noted in its latest report.

According to the report, Qatar is expected to add 30 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) to the global LNG production in 2025-26, taking the global production to over 500 MTPA, up by over 60 percent from 2008.

A total of 21.5 MTPA (6 percent of existing capacity) received FID in 2018 and a further 15.6 MTPA reached FID in February 2019 with a number of other large US projects expected to reach FID this year.

According to MENA Advisor,

the global LNG market had a good year in 2018. LNG trade grew 10 percent, following on from strong growth of 12 percent in 2017. In particular, demand from Asia, mainly China and South Korea, grew strongly as the region looks to natural gas to reduce the neg-ative impact on air quality of other energy sources, mainly coal.

Additionally, most LNG prices globally followed an upward trend in 2018, thanks to strong demand

growth and also as a result of higher oil prices, which has a knock-on impact on the LNG market.

The new commissions come in addition to 101 MTPA of pro-duction capacity that is already under construction, equivalent to 26 percent of 2018 production capacity, having been commis-sioned before the sharp drop in oil prices in 2014. Additionally, LNG spot prices have softened during 2019 due to a slowdown in demand from Asia. However, analysts at the MENA Advisors argue that the global LNG market will not be oversupplied, at least in the next seven years.

“Facilities already under con-struction mean that there should be a fairly sharp increase in pro-duction capacity in 2019 and 2020, before plateauing in 2021-24. Most of these new additions will come from the US and Australia. We expect Qatar to add 30 MTPA in 2025-26, taking global production to over 500 MTPA, up by over 60%

from 2018,” they said.For this additional capacity to

be fully utilised, demand would need to grow at just over 6 percent. This is not out of line with historical demand growth, which has averaged 6.4 percent since 2000, nor with recent demand growth, which has risen to an average of 11 percent over the last two years as Asian countries have voraciously switched to gas as a cheap and clean source of energy. Addi-tionally, many countries, mainly China and India, continue to build out regasification facilities, which are needed to receive LNG, in a positive indication for future demand growth. Despite these strong drivers, slower growth in the global economy, especially China, could lead to slower growth in demand for LNG. However, even if demand growth fell short and grew at 3 percent per year on average out to 2026, this would be sufficient to maintain the utilisation of production capacity in 2018, which was 80 percent.

Hyundai IONIQ Electric earnsmaximum 5-star ‘Green Car’ ratingTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Hyundai has achieved the maximum possible score in the first official New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that rates vehicles for their environmental performance, Skyline Automotive W.L.L., which is the official distri-bution partner of Hyundai Motor Company in Qatar, has announced.

The inaugural Green NCAP, hosted and supported by the European New Car Assessment Program, rated 12

cars from nine manufacturers, using tests designed to reflect real-world driving conditions. Hyundai’s IONIQ Electric achieved the maximum five stars, with only one other vehicle – the BMW i3 – sharing the highest rating.

As an electric vehicle, IONIQ Electric scored 10 out of 10 points in a ‘clean air’ index. It also scored 8.5 out of 10 on an ‘energy efficiency’ index, which reflects the effi-ciency with which the vehicle converts its energy source into movement. This includes factors such as power train

losses, aerodynamic drag, tire friction and vehicle mass, which all affect how much energy is used to move the car forward.

“Hyundai is making great investments in sustainable mobility, so it is very satisfying to see one of our green models rated so highly for meeting important environmental goals. NCAP testing has trans-formed road safety by empowering car buyers to make informed purchasing decisions, and the Green NCAP will give consumers the same type of quick and easy ref-erence point when comparing different models for sustain-ability,” Hyundai’s Head of Operations for the Middle East and Africa Headquarters has said.

In its assessment, Green NCAP noted that as an all-electric model, the IONIQ Electric’s emissions were zero, and that energy effi-ciency for the IONIQ is also very good. Testing found that energy consumption did not exceed 20kWh/100km in any of the tests, including in a high-load highway test, dem-onstrating that full electric propulsion is the greenest means of transportation cur-rently available.Hyundai IONIQ Electric car

Officials receiving the award.

Qatar is expected to add 30 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) to the global LNG production in 2025-26, taking the global production to over 500 MTPA, up by over 60 percent from 2008.

Election results in Indonesia likely positive for structural reformsTHE PENINSULA DOHA

On 17 April 2019, for the first time in Indonesia’s history, the pres-ident, the vice-president, and members of the People’s Consult-ative Assembly (MPR), were elected on the same day. This took place in a massive general election in which 190+ million voters were eligible to participate. While official results are expected to be released by the General Election Committee only by May 22, repu-table quick-count surveys suggest a comfortable re-election of the incumbent, President Joko Widodo, popularly known as ‘Jokowi.’ With an estimated 55 percent of the vote or a 9 percent advantage over his rival, former military general Prabowo Subianto, Jokowi will likely be confirmed for another five-year term (2019-2024). Importantly, the coalition of parties supporting Jokowi is also expected to have taken 60 percent of the popular vote, which should guarantee a majority in parliament (MPR) and be supportive for economic reforms.

Markets are interpreting the election results as a positive outcome. Investors were con-cerned about the opposition’s plan to cut corporate and per-sonal income taxes, which would have affected government rev-enues and pushed up yields. Moreover, Prabowo’s nation-alism, including his stance against Chinese investment projects in the country, was also a cause for concern, given its negative implications for infra-structure development. Whereas Jokowi was the embodiment of continuity and stability.

With the re-election out of the way and a strong coalition backing his new term, Jokowi will likely be in a better position to take on vested interests and push

through a comprehensive eco-nomic reform agenda. Our analysis delves into Indonesia’s structural reforms and assesses recent progress and current chal-lenges to some of its main points, including business environment, infrastructure spending, foreign direct investment (FDI) liberali-zation, subsidy reform and labor market flexibilization.

Improvement in business environment was one of the most important successes of Jokowi’s first term. Indonesia has made good progress with several de-regulation initiatives and reform packages to reduce red tape and simplify business procedures. From 2014 to 2018, Indonesia has leapt up 47 places in the World

Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. Despite the improve-ments, further progress is nec-essary in order to increase com-petitiveness, especially as key Asean neighbors still present more competitive business envi-ronments than Indonesia.

Infrastructure spending is another area in which good progress has been made. One of Jokowi’s first steps as president was to cut inefficient fuel sub-sidies and re-direct resources to infrastructure investments. Over Jokowi’s term, infrastructure spending increased by an average of 30 percent a year. Continued growth in infra-structure spending is necessary to address existing infrastructure gaps vis-à-vis Asean peers.

FDI liberalization and subsidy reforms is where recent policies have been a mixed bag. While reforms have removed foreign ownership caps in 35 sectors, there are still restrictions in a broad-base of sectors. In addition, the recent forced

nationalization of the Grasberg copper and gold mine from a US-based firm did not bode well with investors. In terms of subsidies, the government had taken advantage of the crash in oil prices in 2016 to cut spending in energy subsidies. This was a pos-itive initiative that contributed to reduce energy subsidies from 3.6 percent of GDP in 2015 to an average of 1.3 percent over the last four years. However, as oil prices recovered, the government started to employ state-owned entities (SOE) to effectively shoulder the financial burden of enforcing de facto price controls, partially undermining both SOE governance and previous progress in subsidy reform.

Less progress has been made with labor market reforms. Labor protection in Indonesia is very strong, so over-stringent dismissal procedures and sev-erance payments need to be revised. Manufacturing wages in Indonesia are significantly higher than in the Philippines or Vietnam. Labor market ineffi-ciency, including high redun-dancy costs and low flexibility of wage determination, makes it difficult for Indonesia to follow the successful path of other Asian economies in developing labor intensive manufacturing.

Indonesia has clearly made some progress with reforms, but the pace has been rather slow and fraught with ebbs and flows, so more effort is needed to support competitiveness and continued growth. A solid coa-lition behind Jokowi’s second term will likely create political space for positive change. All in all, the recent election can be interpreted as a way forward to continue the reform agenda.

QNB Economic Commentary

Ghosn’s trial to be delayed possibly until next yearAFP TOKYO

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn’s (pictured) trial, which was expected to begin in September, will be delayed, local media said yesterday, hinting that it may not start this year.

The 65-year-old tycoon, currently on bail, is preparing for his trial on four charges of financial misconduct ranging from concealing part of his salary from shareholders to syphoning off Nissan funds for his personal use.

The Tokyo District Court had pro-posed to start his trial in September during its pre-trial meetings with his defence lawyers and prosecutors, news reports said, quoting unnamed sources.

But the court told the lawyers and prosecutors on Friday that it had retracted the plan without proposing a new time frame, Kyodo News said, adding that the move could mean the trial will not start this year. The court also decided not to separate the trial for Ghosn, his close aide Greg Kelly and Nissan - all indicted on the charge of violating the financial instru-ments law by underreporting Ghosn’s compensation, according to Kyodo. His lawyers have so far demanded he be tried separately from Nissan and have voiced fears he will not receive a fair trial.

The Sankei Shimbun also said prose-cutors gave up filing an appeal to the Supreme Court against his bail, a move to erasing a chance of his return to jail unless he is arrested again on fresh charges. Imme-diate confirmation of the news reports was not available. On Thursday, Ghosn exited his Tokyo detention centre after accepting bail of $4.5m under strict conditions, including restrictions on seeing his wife.

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

CROSSWORD

Athiran ( transl. The moist one) is a 2019 Malayalam-language psychological horror film directed by deb-utant Vivek and scripted by P. F. Mathews from a story by Vivek.

ATHIRAN

Avengers: Endgame (2D/Action) 2:00, 4:15,

5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 8:00, 10:45 & 11:15pm;

Athiran (2D/Malayalam) 2:00 & 9:00pm

Strike (2D/Animation) 2:30pm

Missing Link (2D/Animation) 4:15pm

Layl Khariji (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm

Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2D/Malayalam)

11:30pm

Avengers: Endgame (2D/Action) 2:00, 5:00,

7;30, 8:00 & 11:00pm

Athiran (2D/Malayalam) 2:15pm

Strike (2D/Animation) 2:30, 4:45 & 6:30pm

Layl Khariji (2D/Arabic) 6:30pm

Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2D/Malayalam) 8:15 & 11:00pm

Kanchana 3 (Tamil) 11:15pm

Madhura Raja (2D/Malayalam) 4:30pm;

Athiran (2D/Malayalam) 4:00, 5:30, 6:30, 9:00, &

11:00pm;

Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2D/Malayalam)

2:30, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm;

Lucifer (2D/Malayalam) 6:15pm

Madhura Raja (2D/Malayalam) 9:15pm

MALL

LANDMARK

ASIAN TOWN

Avengers: Endgame (2D/Action) 1:00, 4:30, 8:00 & 11:30pmAthiran (2D/Malayalam) 10:30am, 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15 & 12:00midnightOru Yamandan Premakadha (2D/Malayalam) 10:45am, 2:00, 5:15, 8:30 & 11:45pm

AL KHOR

ROXY

FLIK Mirqab Mall

Kalank (2D/Hindi) 10:30am, 1:40, 5:00, 8:20, 8:45, 11:40pm & 12:00midnight; Mera Naam Shaji (2D/Malayalam) 11:00, 1:45, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:30pm; The Curse of Llorona 1:10, 2:15, 5:00, 6:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:15pm; Missing Link (2D) 11:00, 12:50, 2:40, 4:40 & 6:40pm; Shazam! (Action) 10:30am, 11:30am, 3:10, 4:20pm & 12:00midnight

Avengers: Endgame (2D/Action) 10:10, 10:35, 11:00am, 11:25, 11:50, 12:15, 12:40, 1:05, 1:30, 1:55, 2:20, 2:45, 3:10, 3:35, 4:00, 4:25, 4:50, 5:15, 5:40, 6:05, 6:30, 6;55, 7:20, 7:45, 8:10, 8:35, 9:00, 11:30, 9:25, 9:50, 10:15, 10:40, 11:05, 11:55pm & 0:20amStrike (2D/Animation) 10:35 & 11:00pm

Kanchana 3 (Tamil) 2:15 & 11:15pm Strike (2D/Animation) 2:15pmAvengers: Endgame (2D/Action) 4;15, 5:00, 7:30, 8:15 & 11:00pmAthiran (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 & 11:30pmOru Yamandan Premakadha (2D/Malayalam) 5:15 & 8:15pmLayl Khariji (2D/Arabic) 9:30pmBoar (2D/Horror) 11:30pm

ROYAL PLAZA

16 SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019BUSINESS

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17SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 CLASSIFIEDS

SPORT English Premier League:

Burnley vs Manchester

City

English Premier League:

Manchester United vs

Chelsea

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

18SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019

I don’t know why people are saying I am having a bad

season. I won the Australian Open, right?

Naomi Osaka hits back at her critics after win over Donna Vekic in Stuttgart.

TO

DA

Y’S

AC

TIO

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Pakistan’s U-19 trip to Sri Lanka postponedREUTERS LAHORE

Sri Lanka has postponed a tour of Pakistan’s under-19 team following the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed 253 in the island country, a cricket board (SLC) source said yesterday.

The Pakistan under-19 side, captained by Rohail Nazir, was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 30 to play two four-day matches, followed by three one-dayers. Galle and Hambantota were the venues for the matches.

“The request was to postpone it for a short time,” the source said referring to last Sunday’s attack.

“Discussions are ongoing with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) (and) Sri Lanka Cricket is trying to bring Pakistan to play the tournament at a later date.

“It will depend on the PCB and the SLC will also look at the security situ-ation before taking a final decision.”

There were more deaths in Sri Lanka after a shootout between troops and suspected militants erupted on Friday evening in Sainthamaruthu in Ampara district, to the south of the town of Batti-caloa, site of one of the Easter Sunday blasts.

Authorities have warned there could be more attacks targeting reli-gious centres following the bombings, which shattered the relative calm that Bud-dhist-majority Sri Lanka had enjoyed since a civil war against mostly-Hindu ethnic Tamil separatists ended a decade ago.

The US State Department, warning that terrorist groups were con-tinuing to plot attacks, urged citizens to recon-sider travel to Sri Lanka.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action during a qualifying, yesterday.

Bottas takes Baku pole after Leclerc crashesREUTERS BAKU

Valtteri Bottas snatched pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix yesterday in an incident-packed qualifying session that saw Mercedes lock out the front row and Ferrari favourite Charles Leclerc crash out.

The Finn lapped the six-km Baku street circuit in one minute, 40.495 seconds, just 0.059 seconds faster than team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel, the sole Ferrari driver chasing pole after Leclerc crashed out in the second phase of qualifying, will line up in third place after his fastest lap was 0.302 seconds off Bottas’s pace.

Hamilton had been fastest after the first flying laps in the third and final phase but Bottas found the extra speed just when it mattered.

“It was a nice feeling getting it done on the last lap,”

said the Finn, after the eighth pole position of his career and second in a row.

The 29-year-old also started the previous race in China from the front.

“I managed to hit the sweet spot,” added the Finn.

Hamilton’s second-fastest time gave Mercedes their third front-row lockout of the season, leaving the German marque well-placed to extend their streak of three straight one-two finishes in as many races.

“Ferrari have looked incredibly quick,” said Ham-ilton, who won in Baku last year and leads Bottas by six points in the overall standings.

“This is a massively great result for us. We came here, we didn’t have an upgrade so for us to lock out the front row, it puts us in a great position for tomorrow. Pace-wise we are closer in race trim,” added the five-times champion.

Ferrari had started the session looking dominant after Leclerc had led every practice session.

However, the Mon-egasque -- fired up after being ordered to move over for Vettel in China and denied a maiden Formula One win by engine trouble in Bahrain -- hit the wall. He will still start ninth, however.

With the session running late after two lengthy red-flag delays, and with temperatures dropping and no slipstream, Vettel was unable to extract the lap time from his Ferrari.

“It was quite tricky, the track cooled down, it was dif-ficult to find the right balance,” he said. “In the end, I had a good lap but I had no tow.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, fastest in the second phase of qualifying, was fourth ahead of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez -- the only driver to have stood on the Baku podium more than once.

Russian Daniil Kvyat was sixth for Toro Rosso ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Gio-vinazzi set the eighth-fastest time but the Italian will drop 10 places after being hit with an engine-related grid penalty.

Team mate Kimi Raikkonen will therefore move up to eighth.

Robert Kubica brought out the first red flag, the Pole ploughing his Williams into the barriers at exactly the same spot as Leclerc in the opening phase.

That crash was the latest blow on a difficult weekend for struggling Williams with rookie George Russell striking a loose manhole cover in Friday practice and wrecking his car.

Several other drivers,

including Vettel and Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg clipped the barriers or had close escapes at the same turn eight.

Bottas was on course for victory in Baku last year when a blown tyre three laps from the end handed it to Hamilton instead.

No driver has won from pole so far this season while retired champion Nico Rosberg in 2016 is the only driver to have converted pole to victory in Baku.

The Finn lapped the six-km Baku street circuit in one minute, 40.495 seconds, just 0.059 seconds faster than team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Thiem stuns Nadal to reach finalREUTERS BARCELONA

Dominic Thiem knocked favourite and 11-times champion Rafael Nadal out of the Barcelona Open with a stunning 6-4, 6-4 victory in yesterday’s semi-final, avenging his defeat by the Spaniard in last year’s French Open final.

The Austrian will meet 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev in today’s final after the Russian also pulled off a surprise by edging out fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a tight match.

Thiem had lost his last two matches against world number two Nadal, at Roland Garros as well as a thrilling five-setter in the US Open quarter-finals, but he won their last meeting on Spanish soil, beating the Mal-lorcan in last year’s Madrid Open.

The Austrian, ranked fifth in the world, broke Nadal to take a 3-2 lead in the opener and held in the next game thanks to a stunning crosscourt forehand winner before seeing out the set.

He broke Nadal again in the fifth game to lead 3-2 and edged towards victory by taking a 30-15 lead before Nadal pulled himself back into contention by winning

the next three points. Thiem was serving for the match but Nadal dug deep to earn three break points only to lose each one, Thiem levelling the game with

an ace after a marginal call from the umpire.

He sealed his fourth career victory over Nadal in 12 matches with a softly-struck

backhand which the Spaniard had no chance of reaching, ending Nadal’s chances of a fourth consecutive Barcelona Open title.

Twice Barcelona champion Nishikori beat Medvedev in the final of the Brisbane Interna-tional in January but the Russian took an early advantage by breaking the world number seven in the seventh game.

Medvedev comfortably saw out the set but was pegged back by the Japanese, who won five games in a row to take the second set and make an ideal start to the decider.

Medvedev, ranked 14th, soon broke back to level the match and as both players consistently held their serve a tiebreak looked inevitable.

But Medvedev earned the first match point with a down-the-line winner and needed only one opportunity, clinching an entertaining match that lasted two hours and 25 minutes when Nishikori found the net with a forehand.

Today’s final will be Medvedev’s third of 2019 but his first final on clay.

Austria’s Dominic Thiem returns

the ball to Spain’s Rafael Nadal during

their ATP Tour Barcelona Open

semi-final match in Barcelona,

yesterday.

The Austrian will meet 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev in today’s final after the Russian also pulled off a surprise by edging out fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a tight match.

Barcelona OpenSemi-finals

Dominic Thiem (AUT x3) bt Rafael

Nadal (ESP x1) 6-4, 6-4

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x7) bt Kei

Nishikori (JPN x4) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Budapest OpenSemi-finals

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt Laslo Djere

(SRB x5) 6-4, 6-2

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Pierre-Hu-

gues Herbert (FRA) 6-2, 6-2

Istanbul OpenSemi-finals

Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bat Bar-

bora Strycova (CZE) 6-2, 6-1

Petra Martic (CRO x6) bt Margarita

Gasparyan (RUS) 6-1 - retired

Injured Osaka pulls out; Kvitova through to finalREUTERS STUTTGART

World number one Naomi Osaka has pulled out of yester-day’s semi-finals at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart after failing to recover from an abdominal injury she suffered in her quarter-final match.

The top seed’s withdrawal gives her opponent Anett Kon-taveit a walkover and the Estonian goes through to today’s final where she will face the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova.

“I’m really sorry I’m not able to compete for the semis today,” Osaka said.

“I unfortunately got injured yesterday and I was waiting till today to see if I could get better.

“But unfortunately, I didn’t. I’m really sorry for everyone that came out and I hope to see you next year.”

The two-times Grand Slam champion had pulled off an epic comeback from 1-5 down in the final set on Friday when she beat Croatian Donna Vekic 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) despite struggling on the clay surface, making 45 unforced errors.

Yesterday’s other semi-final went the distance as world number three Kvitova beat Kiki Bertens 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 in an engrossing physical battle that clocked two hours.

Both players exchanged breaks of serve early in the opening set and the pair looked to use every inch of the court and the indoor stadium with one of Kvitova’s lobs hitting the roof of the Porsche-Arena to give Bertens the point.

Bertens then saved set points on her serve, preventing Kvitova from breaking her, to take the first set into a tiebreak.

But Kvitova controlled pro-ceedings to win the decider.

However, Bertens raised her game in the second set and stormed back into the match with a mixture of powerful baseline shots and delicate chips which had Kvitova scampering around the court to keep up with the Dutchwoman.

Kvitova regained control and broke twice in the final set to take a quick 5-0 lead, putting Bertens on the back foot with deep cross-court shots. The Czech even employed serve-and-volley to take points off her bewildered opponent.

Bertens never recovered and despite successfully serving to stay in the match and getting on the scoreboard, Kvitova served out to win the match and book her place in the final.

Czech’s Petra Kvitova returns

the ball to Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens during their semi-final,

yesterday.

Stuttgart GP Semi-finals

Anett Kontaveit (EST x8) bt Nao-

mi Osaka (JPN x1) - walkover

P. Kvitova (CZE) bt Kiki Bertens

(NED x6) 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-1

19SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2019 SPORT

THE PENINSULA DEAD SEA

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah survived a suspension scare on the first run through the Amar special stage and went on to secure a record-breaking eighth successive and 13th outright victory in the Jordan Rally yesterday.

Seemingly coasting to victory with a massive lead of over five minutes in their Autotek-run Volkswagen Polo GTI R5, Al Attiyah and French co-driver Mat-thieu Baumel were forced to limp through two stages with broken suspension and sufficient repairs were made to enable the duo to reach the finish with an eventual winning margin of 4min 08.2sec on this second round of the 2019 FIA Middle East Rally Champi-onship (MERC).

The result marked Al Attiyah’s 71st MERC win in the 212-event history of the regional series since its inception in 1984. Baumel has now won 19 MERC rallies.

Al Attiyah said: “Today was a special day for us. We had a few problems but we managed to fix everything. I am so happy to win and to lead the Middle East Cham-pionship after winning in Qatar and now here in Jordan. The suspension issue was a worry. We had three gravel shocks (shock absorbers) and one tarmac one and the balance was completely different. It was not easy to have all the parts because this was a new car.”

Fellow Qatari Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and British co-driver Mar-shall Clarke were waiting to pounce if Al Attiyah’s troubles

worsened and the Škoda Fabia R5 crew finished second and main-tained the pressure on their rivals in the title race. Their consolation was winning day two and col-lecting an additional champi-onship point.

Al Kuwari said: “We are happy to finish second. We knew that Nasser was going faster every

time. We are happy with our pace with different tyres and a different set-up. It was difficult to start a proper rally after such a long time. By the end of the season, I hope to have our speed again.”

The Jordanian crew of Marouf Abu Samra and Malek Hariri were rewarded with a podium finish in their Ford Fiesta R5, the Amman

driver enjoying his return to the international spotlight as he con-firmed another top three finish for the host nation.

Kuwait’s Meshari Al Thefiri and Qatari navigator Nasser Al Kuwari were the class of the MERC 2 field. The defending champion was able to ease his pace over the closing kilometres

and still managed to cross the finish line in fourth overall with a massive winning margin of 1hr 04min 25.2sec.

Lebanon’s Henry Kahy con-tinued the defence of his MERC 3 title in impeccable style with a fine category win and fifth overall with Jordanian co-driver Musa Djiy-erian in his nimble Škoda Fabia.

Al Attiyah seals record win in Jordan2019 JORDAN RALLY

POSITIONS AFTER SS21 (TOP 4)

1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu

Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Pole GTI R5:

3hrs 00min 48.5sec

2. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (QAT)/Marshall

Clarke (GBR) Škoda Fabia R5: 3hrs 04min

56.7sec

3. Marouf Abu Samra (JOR)/Malek Hariri

(JOR) Ford Fiesta R5: 3hrs 06min 27.6ec

4. Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al

Kuwari (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X:

3hrs 20min 08.8sec

2019 FIA MIDDLE EAST RALLY

CHAMPIONSHIP

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 2:

1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT) 77pts

2. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (QAT) 61pts

3. Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT) 33pts

4. Marouf Abu Samra (JOR) 25pts

5. Hamed bin Eid Al Thani (QAT) 24pts

6. Nasser Khalifa Al Atya (QAT) 19pts

7. Khalid Al Suwaidi (QAT) 16pts

Today was a special day for us.

We had a few problems but we

managed to fix everything. I

am so happy to win and to lead

the Middle East Championship

after winning in Qatar and now

here in Jordan: Al Attiyah

Nilangshu Dey, President of Indian Sports Centre (second right) addressing the media during a press conference held in connection with the 2nd Inter-Community Beach Volleyball Festival, yesterday. The Tournament which will be open for amateurs, will be held at Al Gharafa Beach Volleyball Facility (Qatar Olympic Academy) on May 2 and 3 with the participation of 30 teams from 15 countries. Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) and Indian Sports Centre (ISC) are jointly organizing the tournament. (From left) Ashik Ahmed, Volleyball and Handball Secretary, ISC, Mohd Habibun Nabi, General Secretary, ISC and Captain Hussain Imam Ali (right), Technical Director at QVA are also seen. PICTURE: QASSIM RAHMATULLAH/THE PENINSULA

2nd Inter-Community Beach Volleyball Festival on May 2-3

Kipchoge stands in way of Farah’s London Marathon glory

AFP LONDON

Mo Farah (pictured above) says turning his attention to running marathons has helped him get his mojo back as he prepares to take on world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge on the streets of London today.

Four-time Olympic champion Farah turned his back on the track in 2017 to concentrate on long-distance road running, finishing third in London last year and claiming the European record when winning his first marathon in Chicago in October.

Farah will be keen to focus on the race after the run-up to the event was dominated by an extraor-dinary feud with Haile Gebrselassie, which has seen the pair publicly swap accusations about events at the retired Ethiopian’s hotel.

The Briton said his duel with Kenya’s Kipchoge is good for the profile of the sport.

“Eliud is a great athlete, he’s won so many mara-thons and I’ve won a lot of medals on the track but this is the next quest of my career. I really believe I can run well and win more major marathons,” he said.

Kipchoge shattered the world record in the mar-athon in Berlin last Sep-tember, clocking 2hr 01min 39sec to shave 78 seconds off the previous mark.

The Kenyan, chasing a fourth title in London, has won 10 of the 11 races he’s contested over the dis-tance, including the 2016 Olympic title.

West Ham stun ‘tired’ Spurs; Cardiff in relegation dangerAFP LONDON

Mauricio Pochettino admitted Tottenham are suffering from fatigue after Michail Antonio fired West Ham to a 1-0 victory yesterday, while Cardiff’s 1-0 loss at Fulham leaves them in severe danger of relegation from the Premier League.

Pochettino’s side had won all four matches at their new £1bn Tot-tenham Hotspur stadium.

But Antonio’s clinical second half strike ended that run as the West Ham winger became the first visiting player to score in the plush arena.

Third placed Tottenham’s second defeat in their last three Premier League games put a dent in their bid to finish in the top four.

They hold a three-point lead over fourth-placed

Chelsea and are four points ahead of fifth placed Arsenal, with both teams in action on Sunday.

It was a frustrating warm-up for Tottenham’s Champions League semi-

final first leg against Ajax in north London on Tuesday.

Blaming Tottenham’s hectic fixture list for their defeat, Pochettino said: “We cannot put away the circumstance. They arrived fresh and ready to compete, for us it is completely different.

“We were tired. We knew that it was going to be tough because it was a derby, but we have to move on.

Third bottom Cardiff are three points from safety and would be effectively condemned to relegation if fourth bottom Brighton beat New-castle later on Saturday.

A Brighton win would move them six points clear of Cardiff with a vastly superior goal difference and both teams having two games to play.

Cardiff had only themselves to blame for a lacklustre display against already relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel netted Fulham’s winner when he took Cyrus Christie’s pass and produced a superb finish from 25 yards in the 79th minute.

Neil Warnock’s men almost snatched a draw in stoppage-time when Junior Hoilett side-footed against the bar.

Southampton sealed their sur-vival in a dramatic 3-3 draw against

south-coast rivals Bournemouth at St Mary’s.

Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history after 7.69 seconds against Watford in midweek and the Irish forward struck again, this time after 12 minutes, to put Southampton ahead with a low shot.

Dan Gosling equalised for Bournemouth eight minutes later from Callum Wilson’s pass and the visitors were in front in the 32nd minute.

David Brooks crossed for Wilson to fire home after South-ampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn could only push it into his path.

James Ward-Prowse bagged Southampton’s equaliser from 20 yards in the 55th minute and Matt Targett made it three in the 67th minute, his effort ranking as the 1000th scored in the Premier League this season.

Wilson salvaged a point for Bournemouth with his 86th minute equaliser, but Southampton, seven points above the bottom three, are assured of staying up.

Wolves gained a measure of revenge for their FA Cup semi-final defeat against Watford as they beat the Hornets 2-1 at Vic-arage Road.

West Ham’s Ryan Fredericks in action with Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen (foreground) during their Premier League match played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Britain, yesterday.

Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to win a record-breaking eighth successive and 13th outright victory in the Jordan Rally yesterday.

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel celebrate with podium winners and officials after winning the Jordan Rally, yesterday.

Title boost for Bayern as 9-man Dortmund lose to Schalke 4-2AP DORTMUND

Nine-man Borussia Dortmund blew a chance to return to the top of the Bundesliga after losing at home to Schalke 4-2 yesterday, giving a huge title boost to Bayern Munich.

Second-placed Dortmund, which lost Marco Reus and Marius Wolf to straight red cards around the hour mark, remained a point behind Bayern, which visits Nuremberg today.

There are three rounds left after the weekend.

Mario Gotze scored the opening goal, and Axel Witsel pulled Dortmund to 3-2 behind after the red cards, but Breel Embolo bagged the insurance goal two minutes later for Schalke.

Jadon Sancho set up Gotze’s opener in the action-packed Revierderby and, in the cele-bration, the England international was hit by a pocket lighter thrown from the crowd, but the winger was able to continue.

Daniel Caligiuri, with two, and Salif Sane scored Schalke’s other goals.

Third-placed Leipzig beat Freiburg 2-1 to secure Champions League soccer next season. Leipzig was 10 points ahead of Ein-tracht Frankfurt, which drew with Hertha Berlin 0-0 and occupied the fourth and last spot for Champions League qualification.

Also, Fortuna Duesseldorf beat Werder Bremen 4-1, last-placed Hannover defeated Mainz 1-0, and Stuttgart earned its first win in eight weeks when it beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-0.

Rajasthan beat HyderabadIANS JAIPUR

A good bowling effort followed by some valuable top-order contribution with the bat helped Rajasthan Royals seal a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium yesterday.

Ajinkya Rahane (39), Liam Livingstone (44 off 26) and Sanju Samson (48 unbeaten off 32) contributed effectively while Steven Smith also chipped in with 22 runs to help their side cross the line with five balls to spare.

For Hyderabad, Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan and Khaleel Ahmed picked a wicket each.

Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 161/3 in 19.1 overs (Sanju Samson 48 not out; Liam Liv-ingstone 44; Shakib Al Hasan 1/26) beat Sun-risers Hyderabad 160/8 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 61; David Warner 36; Jaydev Unadkat 2/26)

SPORTSunday 28 April 2019

PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19Injured Osaka

pulls out; Kvitova through

to final

Qatar’s Al Attiyah seals 13th outright title win at Jordan Rally

Hathab Series: Al Qadi seals Big Tour gloryTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Popular Qatari rider Saeed Nasser Al Qadi emerged as the Big Tour winner of this season’s Hathab Equestrian Tour while Al Salam secured the team title after 12 rounds in the championships.

Al Qadi accumulated a total of 194 points to top the overall standings as the six-month long competition came to a conclusion yesterday.

Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Qatari and Asian Equestrian Federations, expressed his pleasure as chairman of the joint organising committee after another successful season of the popular series.

“The series has helped promote equestrian sport, thanks to the efforts of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, who took the ini-tiative to launch the series,” Al Attiyah said.

“We have learned a lot from another season which was successful throughout all legs,” he added.

Meanwhile, Al Qadi’s closest opponent, Faleh Suwead Al Ajami won the final leg of the series yesterday, but fell 11 points short of champion Al Qadi in the overall points tally.

French show jumping star Cyrine Cherif was placed third in the standings with 181 points after finishing fourth yesterday at the Al Shaqab Indoor Arena.

Qatari rider Jaber Rashid Al Amri sealed the Medium Tour title with a brilliant win on Canavaro De Muze (ET), adding 30 points to take his tally to 197. The Qatar Equestrian Feder-ation-owned stallion clocked a time of 64.08 secs to win yesterday’s second round of the Medium Tour, Two rounds with jump off (120/130cm) event, as Al

Amri bagged QR5,000 following his final win of the Hathab Series this season.

Al Amri’s closest rival Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi was faster than the winner yesterday (58.24), but his 11-year-old gelding Colibri 19 made four errors on his way to complete the routine. He was placed second behind

Al Amri on the last day of the final leg but fell seven points shy of the champion rider.

Big Tour champion Al Qadi booked the third place on the podium after clocking a time of 61.59 secs (four errors) on Daydreamer EC.

Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, the rider who excelled in the final round

of the Hathab Series with back to back Big Tour wins on Friday and the penul-timate day, was placed fourth on Numero Uno - T, and that lifted him to the third spot in the overall points table in the Medium Tour.

In the Small Tour, Mohammed Al Ghazali, another promising Qatari rider, could not book a podium spot in the final round of the Series, but he collected 22 points to finish at the top of his class in the overall standings. Al Ghazali had won on five occasions throughout the Hathab season and had collected 199 points after 12 rounds.

Yesterday’s Small Tour winner Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi was four points behind the champion in the points table. Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi, with 176 points, was placed third in the overall rankings.

Team champions Al Salam had secured 197 points after competing in 11 rounds and their season was studded with four wins. Team Al Shaqab were placed second with 194 points while Power Steel won the third place in the overall standings with 183 points.

Jessica Waldon won the Dressage - Level 1 while Mohammed Al Marri emerged Dressage - Level 2 champion of the hugely popular series.

Qatari youngster Fahad Abed and Mutlaq Al Hajri emerged Future Riders Level 1 and 2 champions in the 12-leg series which was jointly organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab.

The champion riders of the second edition of the Hathab Equestrian Tour pose for a photograph with Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Qatari and Asian Equestrian Federations, and QEF and Al Shaqab officials yestertday.

Al Ahli and Al Shahania move into Amir Cup quarter-finalsTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Al Ahli and Al Shahania advanced to the quarter-finals of Amir Cup after winning their respective third round matches at Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, yesterday.

Mohsine Moutaouali’s goal in the first half proved enough for Al Ahli, who knocked out Qatar SC from the prestigious tournament with a 1-0 victory.

Just before the half-time whistle, Moutaouali converted a penalty kick with a calm kick on his right side, completely beating Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim Adel Al Hail, who jumped on the opposite direction.

In the second half, Qatar SC led by star Samuel Eto’o made several attempts to level the score but Al Ahli put a good defence to retain their lead till the final whistle to set quarter-final date with Al Sailiya.

Earlier, Iranian national Ramin Einollah was the star for Al Shahania as they bounced back after conceding goal to claim a 4-1 victory over Al Markhiya. Einollah produced an assist and scored a brace to craft the resounding victory.

However, Al Markhiya were the first to score with Ouday Khaled scoring the first goal after a mistake from Avaro Meijia in 17th minute. The Al Markhiya captain was returning the ball to goal-keeper Amer Ahmed from outside the circle without knowing Khaled was just behind him, who sneaked through and grabbed the ball, comfortably beating the goalie.

Al Shahania bounced back after 10 minutes when Vacquez Luciano made no mistake on a penalty kick, beating Muntazar

Khuroob on his left. They made it 2-1 through

Kesse Jean, who connected the ball into cage from goalmouth from a brilliant lofty pass by Khaled from the right side.

With Al Shahania leading 2-1, Khaled scored a brace, showing his free kick expertise to take his side on top.

First of Khaled’s goals came in the 65th minute on a clinical kick just a few metres outside the circle, with goalkeeper had

no chance to block. The Iranian then scored from left side of the circle on another spectacular free kick, two minutes later to take things beyond Al Al Markhiya’s reach.

Al Shahania will meet defending champions Al Duhail in the quarter-finals.

On Friday, Al Arabi and Al Gharafa marched into the quarter-finals after claiming victories against Umm Salal and Al Khor respectively.

Al Shahania’s Ramin Einollah celebrates with team-mate Reza Najafi after scoring his second goal against Al Markhiya during the third round of the Amir Cup at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, yesterday.

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