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Friday 30 March 2018 | 13 Rajab I 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7481 | 2 Riyals Freedom to roam with Bill Protection! Terms & conditions apply

QP, partners win 4 PM attends Lekhwiya military parade exploration blocks QNA : Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa offshore Brazil Al Thani yesterday attended a military parade featuring all the THE PENINSULA tasks and duties of Lekhwiya The winning bids force as well as a practical imple- were announced mentation of the graduates of a DOHA: Petroleum has number of major training courses won exploration rights in four by Brazil’s that Lekhwiya recently held. offshore blocks in Brazil, as part National Agency of The parade, which took place of two bidding consortia. Petroleum, Natural at Lekhwiya force camp, started The winning bids were with infantry entourage carried announced by Brazil’s Gas, and Biofuels out by participants in the training National Agency of (ANP) at a public course for infantry and weapons Petroleum, Natural Gas, and trainers as well as the founda- Biofuels (ANP) at a public bidding session tional course of new entrants, bidding session held yes- held yesterday in then the descent of force per- terday in Rio de Janeiro. sonnel from the tower using Competing bids were sub- Rio de Janeiro. ropes, and the performance of a mitted to the ANP and the combat skills show, martial arts winners were announced the Brazilian authorities for and a special scenario for the throughout the course of promoting a transparent and release of hostages. The parade public session. efficient process, and our con- also included a variety of acted We are pleased with the sortia partners Petrobras and out operations for the protection outcome of the bid round, ExxonMobil for excellent col- of dignitaries and riot control. which has enabled an laboration on this opportunity. The military parade by Lekhwiya at the Lekhwiya force camp, yesterday. expansion of our footprint in We look forward to working CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Brazil, in one of the most pro- with our partners to create spective basins in the world. long-term, sustainable eco- This successful result is the nomic value for the project second in six months, and con- stakeholders,” Al Kaabi No plans to stitutes an important concluded. MoI: Don’t send work-related achievement in executing our The exploration blocks move airbase strategy of creating a large were offered as part of the scale, value-adding interna- Brazil Exploration Bid Round information via social media from Qatar: tional portfolio, while pursuing 15, which covered 70 blocks SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Latin America as an important across a wide range of geo- public about the dangers of traditional crimes were easy to core area for Qatar Petroleum,” logical basins of which the key THE PENINSULA these networks. He advised deal with, but electronic crime, US General said Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the areas of interest to QP were the public not to send or dissem- that also includes extortion, is QNA President & CEO of Qatar proven, prolific Santos and DOHA: The Ministry of Interior inate any personal information, one of the most serious crimes Petroleum. Campos basins. has warned against sending photos or films through social in modern times that requires a “I would like to take this work-related information media and to monitor children more efforts to curb them. He DOHA: There are no plans to opportunity to thank CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 through social media by dealing with these media added that conventional crime move the US airbase from the government employees. networks. has declined comparing to cyber State of Qatar, Commander It is risky to send work Al Kaabi said that although crime, describing cyber crimes of US Central Command Gen related information through it is easy to reach criminals in as dangerous because of its psy- Joseph Votel said. social media, especially most cases, many of these chological repercussions on the “We have no plans to “WhatsApp” by staff and crimes are perpetrated outside victim. depart the airbase in Qatar employees in government the country which creates dif- Captain Engineer Medawi and I am aware of some of departments, said Brigadier ficulty in tracking them. Saeed Al Qahtani, head of the these reports, I don’t know Jamal Al Kaabi, Director of the Al Kaabi added that these Department of Economic and where they come from,” Gen. Criminal Investigation crimes can be checked by raising Electronic Crimes Department Votel said. Department. awareness of the dangers, impact at Criminal Investigation He expressed thanks to Al Kaabi was speaking in a of these crimes and regulations Department, stressed on the the State of Qatar for sup- conference on law of combating about cyber crimes. need to educate the public and porting the efforts of the cybercrime organised by the This conference comes encourage them not to publish international coalition Ministry of Interior yesterday. within the Ministry of Interior’s their personal information and against terrorism, pointing He urged media and social keenness to maintain the not to over-portray their daily out that US is looking media influencers to spread security and safety of the com- life events or to use social media forward to continue rela- awareness about the dangers of munity and to ensure the safe networks at work. tionship with Qatar.

Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum. using social networks at work, use of the Internet. Gen Votel stressed that and to raise awareness among He pointed out that CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Qatar has been a good partner to the US in the region, hoping that some of the tensions are addressed and they will not have an Qatar Airways and Formula E mark partnership with head-to-head race impact on security. He added that the US THE PENINSULA just last week ranked the fifth Best of Qatar Airways to help us in continues its partnership Airport in the World by the inter- going places together.” with Qatar in order to DOHA: Qatar Airways yesterday national Skytrax World Airport Each of the exciting races protect the region and its released a breathtaking exclusive Awards 2018. were driven with Formula E and stability. The US Commander video of a head-to-head race Qatar Airways Group Chief DRAGON driver Jerome also stressed that is a between the Formula E Spark Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: D’Ambrosio, during which the major supporter of the Inter- SRT-01E race car and the airline’s “Qatar Airways strives to always first race commenced with a national Coalition’s opera- latest generation Boeing 787 be ahead of the curve when it fixed start line and ended with tions against terrorism, Dreamliner and Airbus A350 comes to its environmental cre- the aircraft taking off into the denying closing Incirlik aircraft, at the airline’s home and dentials and flying one of the skies above the State of Qatar. Airbase in Turkey. hub, Hamad International Airport most modern fleets in the sky. Earlier this year Qatar He said that Incirlik (HIA), to celebrate its partnership For our sporting partnerships, Airways and Formula E Airbase supports them in the with the electric street racing series. this is as important to us when announced the enhancement of war against ISIS and that the The head-to-head race, represented as a sponsor, which their partnership at a press con- US will continue operations showcased in the video to the is why we have chosen the future ference held in Doha, where from there. amazement of fans of the World’s of motor racing and Formula E Qatar Airways was named as the Regarding the Turkish Best Airline around the globe, first with their latest environmentally The video released by Qatar Airways. Official Title Sponsor of both the operations in the north of shows a race between the state- friendly technology, which they Paris E-Prix taking place in April Syria, he said that this issue of-the-art Airbus A350 upon combine into this exciting sport. Founder and Chief Executive charge. This breathtaking video and the New York City E-Prix is under discussion between takeoff alongside the latest-gen- We trust that our loyal pas- Officer of Formula-E, Alejandro demonstrates our shared which will take place in July, as the US and Turkish govern- eration electronic Forumla E sengers and fans of Formula E Agag, said: “It is great to be passion to strive for excellence. well as naming Qatar Airways as ments and that discussions series race car. This is swiftly fol- around the world will enjoy working with a partner who Formula E races take place in the Official Airline for both the are continuing at the diplo- lowed by a second spectacular watching this race, in antici- shares our values in sustaina- the heart of some of the world’s Rome and Berlin races taking matic level. race as a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pation of finding out exactly who bility, and Qatar Airways is a greatest cities, such as Paris place in April and May of this touches down at HIA, which was will win this thrilling event.” global brand who is leading this and New York, with the support year consecutively. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 02 HOME FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Prime Minister attends Lekhwiya military parade CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The military parade, in which trainees from the fraternal State of Kuwait took part, demonstrated the readiness of force personnel and the skills they obtained through constant training. In its training programs, Lekhwiya is keen to design them according to scientific basis that guar- antees that the training is related to the surroundings. It also seeks to provide the best levels of internal and external training, achieve all the tasks and duties, in addition to executing, fol- lowing up on and assessing all the courses and programs at the highest level of proficiency and efficiency. HE Public Security Director- General, Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, attended the parade along with Lekhwiya group leaders, a number of Ministry of Interior department directors, representatives of the Qatari armed forces and the assistant military attache at the Lekhwiya force personnel attending a parade at Lekhwiya force camp as well as a practical implementation of the graduates of a number of major training courses embassy of the fraternal State of that Lekhwiya recently held. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani attended het parade. Kuwait to the State of Qatar.

Health Ministry Qatar, Oman discuss ways to boost education ties intensifies drive

QNA on glaucoma The delegation contracting in educational best experiences of countries internal and external exchange presented the entities, and other matters such that are developed in the edu- program for teachers and fac- awareness DOHA: An educational dele- as marking and electronic cation field. ulty-related functions such as the experience of Oman’s QNA gation from Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Education surveys. He added that the Omani applied electronic employment discussed with officials from the Director of the Department delegation explained their coun- program, in addition to some Ministry of Education and Higher in the applications of Services at the Ministry of try’s developed expertise in systems related to administrative DOHA: The Ministry of Public Education the electronic appli- related to job shifting, Education and Higher Education, employment, human resources, issues and electronic exams held Health, in cooperation with cations in the education field and employment and Mohamed Malfi Al Hajri, said the electronic education and of teachers through presenting Hamad Medical Corporation the importance of both parties electronic exams for Omani delegation’s visit to Qatar methods to move teachers the components of Oman’s (HMC) and Primary Health to benefit from modern technol- comes within the educational between cities. e-portal. Care Corporation (PHCC) ogies in these sectors. teachers and school cooperation between both coun- For his part, Director- He added that the delegation organized a number of activ- The delegation presented the administrators. tries, especially that both edu- General of the Directorate- was also introduced to some of ities during the World experience of Oman’s Ministry cation ministries are interested General of Administrative Affairs the electronic systems used by Glaucoma Week 2018 (WGW), of Education in the applications in electronic applications in the at the Omani Ministry of Edu- Qatar’s ministry, noting that the which was held under the related to job shifting, educational field. He added that cation, Khalfan bin Abdullah Al visit achieved great mutual theme “Go Get Your Eyes employment and electronic The delegation also spoke the visit is also an opportunity to Ghaithi, said both sides discussed benefit through the exchange of Tested for Glaucoma, Save exams for teachers and school about the ministry’s experience be briefed on their experience in some of the technical systems ideas and experiences in the Your Sight”. administrators. in employment secondment, this field and to benefit from the used in the directorate on the mentioned areas. The ministry’s Director of Health Promotion and Non- communicable Diseases, Dr. Sheikha Al Anoud bint Mohammed Al Thani, said that A rare treat for musicophiles tonight at Katara WGW is held annually to raise awareness among community members about eye diseases RAYNALD C RIVERA Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Strauss’ The Council of Europe’s day reflects that cause blindness, especially THE PENINSULA Overture to Die Fledermaus, De Falla’s its own establishment in 1949, while the glaucoma. She said Qatar’s Ritual Firedance, Smetana’s Vltava (The European Union’s day is also known as keen attention to holding Moldau), Verdi’s Overture to La forza del Schuman Day and celebrates the historical awareness-raising activities DOHA: Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has destino, Nenov’s Toccata, Liszt’s Les declaration by French foreign minister stems from the fact that a rare treat for musicophiles tonight at preludes, and Enesco’s Rumanian Robert Schuman in 1950. glaucoma is the first cause of Katara Opera House playing a profusion Rhapsody. Concert-goers can look forward to blindness among the country’s of masterpieces by 10 of the best European Hailed as “a philosopher among con- Qatar Philharmonic’s next concert on population over the age of 50. composers in “A Tour of Europe” concert. ductors,” Bulgarian conductor Kam- April 13 featuring performances by the The Head of Non Commu- Under the baton of maestro Yordan dzhalov has a stellar international career winners of the first-ever Qatar National nicable Diseases Department, Kamdzhalov, the 101-piece orchestra will working with more than 50 orchestras Music Competition. With Elias Grandy as Dr Khuloud Al Ateeq Al take the audience on an epic journey around the world and numerous acco- conductor, this concert will feature young Mutawa, stressed the impor- across the continent through the music lades under his belt including the most musicians Prama Yudhistra and Mia Park- tance of early detection, which of Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Richard prestigious German music prize Echo Torchinsky on piano and Tricia Enlin Ng plays a key role in reducing the Wagner, Johann Strauss Jr., Manuel De Klassik for Concerto Recording of the on violin impact on visual ability and Falla, Bedřich Smetana, Giuseppe Verdi, Year, Best Opera Conductor of the Year More upcoming shows slated for this preventing the development of Dimitar Nenov, Franz Liszt, Georges by Deutschlandradio in and Musician of season are Elgar’s Enigma Variations on the disease to the stage of Enesco and Igor Stravinsky. the Year by The Bulgarian National Radio, Yordan Kamdzhalov. April 28, Brahms’ Second Symphony on visual disability or blindness, The concert commences with Prelude to name a few. In 2014, NASA and the May 5, Brahms’ Violin Concerto on May noting that many people with from Te Deum by French composer Char- International Astronomical Union named 9, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 on May glaucoma do not notice it until pentier and culminates with Stravinsky’s a planetary body after him. peace and unity in Europe. There are two 14. the disease develops to reach Suite from The Firebird. Sponsored by the Bulgarian Embassy separate designations of Europe Day: May Concert tickets are available at http:// advanced stages and sight sig- Completing the rich repertoire are in Qatar, the concert is held to mark 5 for the Council of Europe and May 9 for qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org/concerts/ nificantly and permanently Wagner’s Prelude to Act I from Die Europe Day, an annual celebration of the European Union. purchase_tickets. deteriorates. Festival of healthy food opens at Al Mazrouha Farmers’ Market

THE PENINSULA The festival aims at participated to the festival this educating people year making if special compared DOHA: A two-day festival of about proper nutrition to the previous year. healthy food under a theme of The purpose of the festival is ‘conscious youth for better health’ and healthy food free to educate people about healthy was opened at farmers’ market Al of chemicals, organic food and to encourage farmers to Mazrouha, Umm Salal yesterday. products and their produce organic agricultural The festival is being organised benefits. products, said Al Kulaifi. by the Ministry of Municipality and He said that the festival is Environment, represented by the being held in second year in a row Department of Agriculture Affairs culture, and raising public with intention to expand in in cooperation with the Com- awareness about healthy nutrition. coming years, adding that plans munity College of Qatar (CCQ). The festival aims at educating are afoot to hold healthy food fes- Many students from CCQ people about proper nutrition and tival in all farmers’ markets showcased their innovative healthy food free of chemicals, Community College of Qatar projects on healthy food. Healthy organic products and their ben- participated the festival to educate food meals are being distributed efits. The event aims at creating students about basics of the to visitors, said the Ministry in a awareness among people about nutrition and healthy foods to statement. healthy foods free from chemical make them healthy and fit , said Many individuals, including calling consumers to select healthy Dr Majid Ibrahim, Professor of women and housewives, partici- food items, said Yousef Al Khu- Nutrition at the College. pated in the festival. The visitors laifi, Director of Agricultural He said that the students pre- were briefed on innovative ideas Affairs Department at the pared projects based on their Yousef Al Khulaifi (third left), Director of Agricultural Affairs Department and Abdul Rahman Al for healthy diets with an emphasis Ministry. innovative ideas about healthy Sulaiti (second left), General Supervisor, Farmers’ Markets, at a stall in the Healthy Food Festival at Al on promoting a healthy food He said that more students foods and diets. Mazrouha Farmers’ Market, yesterday. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 HOME 03

Deputy PM, QU showcases research initiatives at ARC ’18 Uganda Minister

THE PENINSULA A number of faculty discuss ties and researchers from DOHA: Qatar University (QU) QU presented papers QNA participated in the Qatar Foun- at the conference. dation Annual Research DOHA: Deputy Prime Conference (ARC ’18), which was Minister and Foreign Minister held on March 19 and 20 at the faculty and researchers from QU H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Qatar National Convention presented papers at the con- Abdulrahman Al Thani met Center (QNCC), under the theme ference. They were Research yesterday with Minister of “Research and Development: Associate at QU College of Arts Presidency in the Republic of Focusing on Priorities and Deliv- and Sciences (CAS) Kira Uganda, Esther Mbulakubuza ering Impact”. Schipper, Post-Doctoral Mbayo, who is currently QU VP for Research and Researcher at VP Office for visiting Doha. Graduate Studies, Prof Mariam Research and Graduate Studies The meeting dealt with Al Maadeed, gave a presentation (VPRGS) Dr Maan Rachid, bilateral relations and means on QU’s innovative role in the Assistant Research Professor at to develop and promote them field of sciences and technology QU College of Engineering in addition to a number of and in promoting advanced (CENG) Dr Abdullatif Shikfa, regional and international research in line with the goals of research assistants at VPRGS issues of common concern. Qatar National Vision 2030. Naram Mhaisen, Hassan Tariq She said: “We have several and Dr Hamza Djelouat, Senior initiatives in the field of research Researcher at CENG Mohamed Al Attiyah, Hoke such as identifying research pri- Kharbeche, Associate Professor orities based on existing QU of Architecture at CENG Dr QU VP for Research and Graduate Studies, Prof Mariam Al Maadeed giving a presentation at the ARC ’18. explore topics research assets and compe- Hatem Ibrahim, Dr Ashraf Galal, tencies, providing support and Research Professor at Social and of interest enhancing quality of research Economic Survey Research international institutions. QU academic grants, accreditation, compromised vasodilation in approaches and outputs of Institute (SESRI) Dr Salma representatives were on hand at and its campus facilities and rats”, “Enhanced structural QNA research in humanities and Mawfek Khaled, and SESRI the QU booth to brief the large resources. and functional analyses of social sciences to maximize their Researcher Mohammad Al number of local and interna- Additionally, Qatar Uni- zebrafish cardiovascular impact on Qatar, and introducing Ansari. tional delegates and other vis- versity researchers presented systems”, and “Initial Results DOHA: Deputy Prime new high-quality graduate An exhibition, on the sideline itors on the organisation’s vision posters on various topics such from a Study on Greywater Minister and Minister of State programs”. of the event, featured booths and mission, degree programs, as “A high Carbohydrate diet Reuse: Economic Benefits and for Defence Affairs H E Dr Additionally, a number of presented by local and research, scholarships and increased adiposity and Public Opinions”. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah met with Chief Exec- utive Officer (CEO) of Airbus Defence and Space Dirk Nepal’s FM, Qatar’s envoy discuss ties Hoke. Discussions during the KPMG honoured as CSR meeting dealt with a number of topics and projects of Leader by Qatar CSR Report mutual interest.

THE PENINSULA QNA holds training on ‘Field DOHA: Qatar University (QU) hosted a ceremony to launch the 6th edition of Qatar CSR Report and Journalism the second CSR exhibition under the theme “Citi- zenship” on March 26. During the ceremony, KPMG Investigation’ was honoured as CSR Leader in recognition of its role in the development of CSR in Qatar, especially QNA in the education sector and its commitment to the UN Global Compact’s 10 principles. The ceremony was attended by Minister of DOHA: A training course Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin organised by Qatar News Jassim Al Thani, QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, Agency (QNA) on “Field the Ambassadors of Spain, India and Korea, in Journalism Investigation” addition to business and community leaders. concluded Thursday at QNA Ahmed Abu Sharkh, Country Senior Partner, rep- headquarters. resented KPMG in the ceremony and received the About 20 journalists CSR leadership Award from QU President. “We are from QNA and various proud to receive this prestigious award from Qatar Ahmed Abu Sharkh receiving the award. media departments in the University. Being responsible corporate citizens is country participated in the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of at the heart of what we do and we are committed are keen to gain exposure in the private sector and five-day course. Nepal, Pradeep Gyawali, with the State of Qatar’s Ambassador to giving back to society, in recognition of the oppor- broaden their understanding of International organ- QNA Director General tunities and support we have experienced in Qatar izations. We have also employed dozens of interns Youssef Ibrahim Al Malki to Nepal, H E Yusuf bin Mohamed Al Hail. During the meeting, over the past 40 years,” said Abu Sharkh. “As part and graduates each year from local universities and distributed certificates to the they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, of our CSR efforts, we believe in developing local our commitment to their development includes participants. means of boosting and developing them in addition to matters talent and have entered into agreements with some ongoing technical training and providing hands-on The training course, of mutual interest. of the country’s biggest businesses to provide val- experience, working on projects under the guidance which was addressed by the uable work experience for many young Qatari’s who and mentorship of our professional staff,” he said. media advisory at QNA Khalid Abdullah Zeyara, included several topics that dealt with press QP, partners win 4 investigation. US General: No plans to move airbase from Qatar The course also provided information on the sources exploration blocks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 has successfully liberated its territory from intention is to focus on other ISIS elements of journalism investigation offshore Brazil Commander of US Central Command ISIS organization and it is now moving to that must be dealt with. Gen. Votel called which depends on the dif- Gen Joseph Votel said that he visited a new phase. on concerned parties to implement ferent views of the journalist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 several countries during his recent tour About his short visit to Syria, Gen. ceasefire, take into consideration the and his or others experi- Qatar Petroleum won the explo- of the region which included , Votel explained that the goal of the visit humanitarian situation and find diplo- ences, the use of various ration rights for blocks 789 and 753 Oman, Iraq, Syria, the United Kingdom was to meet some allied forces there and matic efforts to bring about diplomatic research, reports, leaflets in the Campos basin as part of a con- and others, in order to look at how mil- effectively assess the situation through change instead of military option. and documents and the sortium comprising affiliates of Exx- itary preparations implement the new pol- their own views, adding that the United On the role of the international coa- writing of the investigative onMobil (Operator with a 40 percent icies and strategies, expressing pleasure States takes threats of the use of chemical lition forces to combat terrorism in the report. interest), Petrobras (30 percent with the latest progress made, especially weapons in Syria seriously. He pointed Egyptian region of Sinai, he said that the The course comes as an interest), and Qatar Petroleum (30 in the focusing on some consultations and out that there is strict supervision over the coalition forces do not directly participate implementation of an Emiri percent interest). assistance operations in Afghanistan and use of such weapons, especially if there in the operations of the Egyptian army in Decision that entrusted QNA Qatar Petroleum also won the the discussions of the ongoing efforts of are civilian targets. He also affirmed that Sinai, adding that they have good com- with holding training exploration rights for blocks 536 and the coalition. the main task of the coalition forces is to munication with their partners in courses for Qatari jour- 647 in the Santos basin as part of a Moreover, the Commander of US defeat ISIS organization, pointing out that and they recognize the operations that nalists in order to develop consortium comprising affiliates of Central Command underlined that Iraq with the complex situation in Syria, the are launched there. their capacities. ExxonMobil (Operator with a 64 percent interest), and Qatar Petroleum (36 percent interest). The relevant legal agreements, including the concession agreements, MoI warns against sending work-related info via social media are expected to be signed between the Brazilian authorities and the con- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 strict. He said that the pen- sortia members by November this alties stipulated in law may year. This is the second winning Qatar The Assistant professor of reach up to three years Petroleum bid in Brazil. In October law at Ahmed bin Mohammed imprisonment and a fine of QR 2017, Qatar Petroleum was part of a Military College Dr Anwar 500,000 stressing that there winning consortium with Shell, and Sidqi Al Moussada, called on are cases where the penalty National Offshore Oil Corpo- all sectors of the society to get has been increased. ration for exploration in the Alto de aware about the law on com- Mohammed Abu Zeid from Cabo Frio-Oeste block in the prolific bating cyber crimes, so that Criminal Investigation Santos hydrocarbon basin offshore everyone is fully aware of the Department alerted about Brazil. The block was offered as part nature of these crimes and the frauds and their types on of Brazil’s 3rd production sharing types and penalties of these social networking sites. bidding round, which covered 4 acts, pointing out that igno- He added cyber criminals blocks located in the “pre-salt rance of law does not exempt use many methods to perpe- polygon” region in the Santos and from punishment. trate crimes and phishing is Campos basins: Pau Brasil, Peroba, Dr Al Moussada explained one of the most serious way The dignitaries at the seminar on anti-cybercrime law held at the Department of Criminal Alto de Cabo Frio-Oeste, and Alto de that the penalties in the elec- of stealing private Investigation, yesterday. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA Cabo Frio-Central. tronic crimes act are very information. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Gazans pitch protest tents on border as tensions mount AFP The first protest Nations, some 1.3 million of will kick off today Gaza’s 1.9 million residents are GAZA CITY: Palestinians in Gaza when Palestinians refugees or their descendants. pitched tents near the volatile worldwide mark Land Khaled Al Batsh, part of the border with Israel yesterday committee planning the protest, ahead of a six-week protest camp Day, commemorating said tents would be located 500 under the gaze of wary Israeli the killing of six metres (yards) from the border, soldiers. unarmed Arab just outside the buffer zone The exceptional protest is protesters in Israel in between Gaza and Israel. dubbed “The Great March of 1976. Camping and Water facilities were being Return” and has the backing of protests in Gaza are installed and medical teams the Gaza Strip’s Islamist rulers deployed to allow people to stay . The protest comes amid expected to continue for long periods. rising tensions as the United until mid-May, around Organisers said tens of thou- States prepares to move its Israel the time the US is sands of people would attend Fri- embassy to Jerusalem. set to inaugurate its day’s protest, although it was not Organisers said it would be clear how the estimate was controversial new A family walks past tents pitched by Palestinians on the Gaza border with Israel, east of Jabalia, peaceful but Israeli officials are reached. Batsh said protestors embassy in Jerusalem. yesterday, ahead of a six-week protest camp. wary of a fresh flare-up along the were calling for Palestinians to enclave’s border. be allowed to return to land that Armed forces chief Lieu- today when Palestinians is now inside Israel. the Erez border crossing in the whirred into life. Another as the capital of their future tenant General Gadi Eisenkot has worldwide mark Land Day, com- “70 years ago we left and north to Rafah in the far south, organiser, Tahir Sawirki, said state. The Palestinian leadership warned of escalating tensions memorating the killing of six today we have decided to return near Egypt. Palestinians would gather today cut ties with the administration along Israel’s borders, “especially unarmed Arab protesters in Israel to our country,” he told AFP. Campers will be within sight in groups representing the of President Donald Trump after among the Palestinians”. in 1976. Camping and protests in But senior Hamas figure of the border, frequently towns they left in 1948. He said he announced the move. Eisenkot said reinforcements, Gaza are expected to continue Salah Bardawil said that while patrolled by Israeli soldiers. tens of thousands of meals On Wednesday, Israeli including more than 100 special until mid-May, around the time protesters might breach the On Thursday, around 20 would be prepared for more tanks fired at Hamas positions forces snipers, had been deployed the US is set to inaugurate its con- border, they were not planning family tents were pitched at a than 100,000 expected in Gaza after heavy gunfire from to the Gaza frontier and the army troversial new embassy in to do so. Hamas officials say they site near Erez, alongside two participants. the enclave, roadside bombs tar- was prepared for all scenarios. Jerusalem. will monitor the area beyond the larger community tents for per- The White House’s decision geting border patrols and an “We won’t allow mass infiltration Mid-May will also mark the camp sites to prevent protesters formances including the tradi- to recognise Jerusalem as incursion by three armed Pal- into Israel” or damage to the anniversary of the Nakba, or going too close to the frontier, at tional Palestinian “dabke” Israel’s capital, in a break with estinians, who penetrated some border barrier, he told the Yediot catastrophe, which saw hundreds least during the initial days of the dance. decades of international 20km into Israel before being Aharonot newspaper. “The of thousands flee their homes in protest. At another site, young men diplomacy, infuriated much of captured. Two more Pales- instructions are to use a lot of the 1948 war surrounding the Five main camp sites have were putting the finishing the Arab world. tinians armed with knifes were force.” creation of Israel. been set up, spanning the length touches on dozens of wooden Palestinians claim the city’s detained after sneaking across The first protest will kick off According to the United of the coastal territory from near toilets, while large generators Israeli-annexed eastern sector the border, the Israeli army said.

Six arrested in Idlib at heart of tense Russia-Turkey faceoff Kosovo over Gulen AFP links extradited appearing in HTS’s armour, starting with its loss of dozens of areas to a government to Turkey BEIRUT: The fate of Syria’s Idlib will offensive in Idlib’s southeast. REUTERS depend on Turkey’s ability to keep a lid In the meantime, former allies Ahrar on the jihadist-dominated tinderbox and Al Sham and Nureddine Al Zinki banded prevent an explosive Russian-backed together against HTS to form the Turkey- ISTANBUL/PRISTINA: SIX government offensive on its doorstep, backed Syria Liberation Front. Turkish nationals arrested in analysts say. The new alliance a few weeks ago Kosovo over links to schools Largely outside government control launched an assault against the jihadists’ financed by the Fethullah since 2015, the northwestern province is positions, taking back several areas Gulen movement that Ankara home to some 2.5 million people, including the towns of Ariha and Maaret blames for a failed 2016 coup including many rebels evacuated there Al Numan. have been extradited to after being defeated in other areas by But even as HTS control of Idlib has Turkey, Turkish state-run President Bashar Al Assad’s forces. dwindled to around 60 percent, it has news agency Anadolu said “Assad’s fiercest foes are being retained control of key political and eco- yesterday. gathered in Idlib, and there would be great nomic assets, says Sam Heller, an analyst Kosovo’s Prime Minister temptation for Russia to green light a at the International Crisis Group. Ramush Haradinaj said he regime offensive on the province,” Syria “It lost areas in the southern coun- was not informed about the expert Nicholas Heras said. tryside of Idlib but it retained the Bab operation to deport the six, But “Turkey needs Idlib to serve as a al-Hawa border crossing (with Turkey) which he said was carried out buffer against the war,” said Heras, a and control over the provincial capital by the secret service agency fellow at the Center for a New American The destroyed buildings in Harasta nearly a week after the regime forces retook the Idlib city,” he said. and police. Local media have Security. Since it erupted in 2011, Syria’s town from the rebels, in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, A civilian body that acts in the dubbed the move a conflict had drawn in myriad foreign yesterday. jihadist-led group’s interests has long “kidnapping.” forces, including Russia’s air force and levied taxes from shopkeepers, and has The Kosovo Interior Min- Iranian-backed militias on Assad’s behalf, refugee returns. “Turkey needs Idlib to jihadists. Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a tried to impose its will on local councils istry said the residence and Turkey in support of rebels. serve as a buffer against the war. If Assad group led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syrian in the province. permits of the six had been The conflict has killed more than tried to seize Idlib, at a bare minimum affiliate, dominates Idlib’s military scene Syria analyst Haid Haid says recent revoked after their arrest for 350,000 people and displaced more than hundreds of thousands of people would and civilian infrastructure. territorial losses have dented HTS’s “security reasons,” but it did not half the population, including more than be displaced, and they would have few Unless Ankara decides otherwise, standing. elaborate. Anadolu said the six three million across the border to Turkey. places to run to,” Heras said. analysts say, the group will probably They have “broken its military aura” were now in Turkish custody. It Already overwhelmed, Ankara is The incentive is clear for Turkey to retain influence in the province, where a as “a power that cannot be vanquished, identified them as Cihan Ozkan, determined to prevent more Syrians from prevent the chaos that would result from myriad of jihadist and other rebels have which had helped it scare off the other Kahraman Demirez, Hasan fleeing into its territory and even says it a regime assault -- but to do so, it will vied for power since 2015. factions,” said the research fellow at King’s Huseyin Gunakan, Mustafa wants to create conditions for mass have to rein in the province’s powerful But chinks have recently begun College London. Erdem, Osman Karakaya and Yusuf Karabina, and it said all were “senior members” of Gulen’s network. It said the six were Israel rejects resistance Kenya court fines minister and responsible for recruitment in Gulen’s network and icon’s conditional release helping those in Turkey leave the country amid a security ANATOLIA police chief in new showdown crackdown in which tens of thousands of people have AFP JERUSALEM: An Israeli court yesterday rejected a request for the Both orders were disre- citizenship by obtaining been sacked or jailed over “conditional release” of Raed Salah, the jailed leader of the Islamic garded and Miguna was put on Canadian citizenship several alleged Gulen links. Movement in Israel, according to Salah’s lawyer. NAIROBI: A Kenyan court fined a flight to Dubai late Wednesday. years ago -- at a time when dual Ankara accuses Gulen, a “Based on an appeal filed by the Israeli Public Prosecution the interior minister and police High Court Judge George citizenship was not allowed. US-based Muslim cleric, of against a decision by the Magistrates Court to release Salah, the Haifa chief yesterday after they defied Odunga fined the three men In February a court ordered orchestrating the July 15, 2016 District Court today rejected [the request for] his release,” Khaled orders to produce an opposition $2,000 (1,600 euros) each, authorities to allow Miguna’s coup attempt, and has Zbarqa said. Zbarqa attributed the decision to “political interference” politician in court, who was saying they had “violated the return, and issue him with a declared his movement a ter- in the case, saying that Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Arad instead deported for the second constitution for failing to obey travel document or allow him rorist organisation. He denies had personally called for keeping Salah behind bars. time in two months. the rule of law and court to enter on his Canadian any connection with the Two weeks ago, the Magistrates Court preliminarily approved A prominent but unelected orders.” passport, pending the hearing abortive putsch. Salah’s conditional release. The “conditions” included a ban on politician with the National A growing battle between of a petition he had filed to At its peak, the Gulen entering Salah’s hometown of Umm Al Fahm and other restric- Super Alliance (NASA), Miguna government and the judiciary defend his Kenyan citizenship. movement operated schools tions on his movement. Last summer, Israeli police arrested Salah Miguna was thrust into the spot- -- since the Supreme Court However, when Miguna in 160 countries, from in Umm Al Fahm — a Palestinian town in northern Israel — before light after his deportation last annulled President Uhuru Ken- arrived on Monday, he refused Afghanistan to the United convicting him of “inciting violence” and throwing him into sol- month, and his attempted return yatta’s election victory last year to apply for a six-month visa, States. Since the coup itary confinement. In February, a court in the southern city of to Kenya this week has seen the -- has seen authorities ignore enter on his Canadian passport attempt, Turkey has pres- Beersheba slapped the prominent resistance icon with a further nation gripped by political several court orders. or fill out forms to regularise his sured allies to shut down six months in isolation. theatrics. Miguna’s first expulsion nationality. Gulen-run establishments. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has slammed remarks As Miguna was held at the came after he was arrested for “He declined to sign entry “We have been facing by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman in which he said that airport for two days over the treason for taking part in the documents and tore them (up). enormous pressure from the if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was not willing to resume immigration spat, the high court mock swearing-in of opposition He stayed here for two days and Turkish authorities in the past peace talks with Israel, “someone else” would. “Friedman’s com- twice ordered Interior Minister leader Raila Odinga, who each time they were taken to weeks to take actions against ments constitute flagrant interference in palestine's internal Fred Matiangi, Police Chief insisted he was the rightful him he shouted back that he is Gulen schools and their staff,” affairs,” PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a Thursday Joseph Boinnet and a top immi- victor of last year’s elections. a Kenyan,” an immigration a Kosovo government senior statement. “The Palestinian people will not allow anyone to decide gration official to produce him The interior ministry said official said on condition of official said in condition of their fate,” he said. in court. Miguna had forfeited his Kenyan anonymity. anonymity. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 ISLAM 05 The treaties of Prophet Muhammad

BARBARA CASTLETON Rather than initiate religious observances. There will be no any conflict with those change to their rights and privileges. No ccording to Jewish and Christian populations, groups bishop shall be removed from his bish- tradition, a thousand years after who had largely lived in opric; no monk from his monastery, and AAbraham, the Jewish people were no priest from his parish. They shall all slaves, locked in perpetual servitude in harmony for generations, continue to enjoy everything they pre- Egypt before being led to freedom by Prophet Muhammad viously enjoyed great or small. No image Moses (peace be upon him). On their epic (PBUH) resolved to ensure or cross shall be destroyed. They will trek to Palestine, Moses broke the not oppress or be oppressed.” journey in the area around Mount Sinai. that they continued In a place and time where religion It was at its peak that Moses received to feel connected and and pagan beliefs were a major driver from God a set of covenants, or laws, protected by detailing the of conflict and almost perpetual warfare, etched into clay tablets. These 10 Com- mutuality of the support the covenants of the Prophet mandments became the foundation for Muhammad (PBUH) provided an a moral existence. each provided, first from umbrella of safety and freedom for hun- Over 1,000 years later, in 2 AH or the Prophet, the Islamic dreds of communities. In covenants 624 CE, the Prophet Muhammad (peace Nation, and his designated written for general societies, unlike the be upon him) wrote and granted a dif- successors or Caliphs, abbey on Mount Sinai which was an ferent covenant to the monks at the exclusively male population, Prophet Monastery of St Catherine, a 60-year- and then from the group Muhammad (PBUH) added previously old Christian abbey at the base of Mount specified in the treaty. unheard-of rights for women: Sinai. Though not commanding the “Christians must not be subjected to recipients to honour their mother and suffer, by abuse, on the subject of mar- father or desist in the creation of idols, anchored Morrow’s attachment to the have an additional rigorously authen- that included peoples of various sects. riages which they do not desire. Muslims the covenant from the Prophet demonstrated compassion and teachings ticated religious resource — the detailed As Dr. Morrow suggests in his book, “A should not take Christian girls in mar- Muhammad (PBUH) did something of Islam. Ashtiname — peace letters or covenants visionary long-term planner, the riage against the will of their parents unheard of in the annals of history — it Thirty years, several academic spoken by the Prophet and written down Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) understood nor should they oppress their families promised to protect the Christian monks degrees, and dozens of publications verbatim. that the spread of Islam could take cen- in the event that they refused their offers and residents of the region from any later, Dr. Morrow’s most recent work, Through dictation and diplomacy, turies. What he sought to create were of engagement and marriage. Such mar- incursions, attacks, or efforts to take The Covenants of the Prophet the Muhammad formulated treaties the conditions under which the seeds of riages should not take place without over the Christian pilgrimage site. It Muhammad (PBUH) with the Christians with most of the religious commu- Islam could be planted and watered, their desire and agreement and swore to protect the monks singularly of his Time, is shaking up both the nities on the Arabian Peninsula and thus enabling Muslim seeds to sprout, without their approval and consent. If and as a group wherever they were. Islamic and Christian worlds. Whether beyond. Some of the major covenants grow, and spread. If a population pre- a Muslim takes a Christian woman as Further, the contract vowed to allow all intentionally or circumstantially, the include: ferred to remain heathen, Christian or a wife, he must respect her Christian inhabitants to keep the religion of their treaty with the monks of Mt. Sinai and The Covenant of the Prophet Jewish, they were entitled to do so as beliefs. He will give her freedom to choice. The handwritten words on over a dozen other, similar documents, Muhammad (PBUH) with the Monks of long as they entered into a covenant listen to her [clerical] superiors as she parchment, signed with the Prophet’s had receded from religious con- Mount Sinai with the as protected desires and to follow the path of her (PBUH) hand-print bound the Islamic sciousness over the centuries and were The Covenant with the Christians of people.” Thus, rather than initiate any own religion.” nation to honour these promises “for all squirreled away amid thousands of Najran conflict with those populations, groups By bringing the Covenants of the time, even unto the Day of Judgment other papers in libraries scattered The Covenant with the Christians of who had largely lived in harmony for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to light in and the end of the world.” around Europe and the Middle East. the World I generations, Prophet Muhammad an age that sorely needs models of tol- Dr John A Morrow, academic, With their virtual burial, a message of The Covenant with the Christians of (PBUH) resolved to ensure that they con- erance, compassion, and community, researcher, scholar, teacher, a member peace, inclusiveness, and tolerance was the World II tinued to feel connected and protected Dr Morrow hopes to reach and influence of the Canadian Métis community, and lost. The Covenant with the Assyrian by detailing the mutuality of the support Muslims who may not be aware of the an activist, reverted to Islam at the age “No fear shall be upon them, nor Christians each provided, first from the Prophet, more global and far-reaching intentions of 16, while a high school student in his shall they grieve.” This verse from the The Covenant with the Christians of the Islamic Nation, and his designated of the Prophet (PBUH) and Christians native Canada. Still a teen, Morrow con- Holy Quran (2:62) refers to all the Persia successors or Caliphs, and then from the who may have relied too heavily on the tinued to research Islam through dozens monotheists of the Prophet’s time, The Covenant with the Armenian group specified in the treaty. one-faceted view of Islam promulgated of texts, and he came across an 18th- Jews, Christians, and Sabeans, and Christians Beyond protection, these covenants by the media. Invited to speak at con- century text written by Richard Pococke promises that these groups, being The Covenant with the Jews of outlined forbidden actions, that is acts ferences, churches, mosques, and insti- which described and translated parts of righteous in action, and aligned with Maqna which the Muslims in these areas were tutions from Dubai to California, Dr. the treaty the Prophet Muhammad Muslims in their belief in one God, The Covenant with the Yemenite prohibited from initiating. The rights and Morrow seeks to restore the trajectory (PBUH) had initiated with the Monks of would be protected. The above divine Jews privileges granted to the Christians of of benevolent statecraft instituted by the Mount Sinai. revelation, an edict transmitted to the The Covenant with the Najran, a place in what is now southern Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) over 1400 In one section of the document, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from God, Zoroastrians where Christianity took years ago. text reads, “That whenever any of the guaranteed a future of unity and safety. The Covenant with the Coptic Chris- root in the 4th century, are mirrored in monks in his travels shall happen to Nevertheless, as an essential feature tians of Egypt most of the other treaties as well: Barbara Castleton, MA, is a professor of settle upon any mountain, hill, village, of his nation-building efforts, the The Covenant with the Syriac “To the Christians of Najran and its English at South Seattle College. She is the or other habitable place, on the sea, or Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)went even Orthodox Christians neighbouring territories, God’s pro- co-author of Arabic, Islam, and the Allah in deserts, or in any convent, church, or further, creating documents meant to The Covenant with the Samaritans tection and the pledge of His Prophet Lexicon: How Language Shapes Our Con- house of prayer, I shall be in the midst serve vast populations living under The Covenant with the extend to their lives, their religion, and ception of God and has published several of them, as the preserver and protector Islamic rule as long as “the sea wets Zoroastrians their property. It applies to those who articles on Arabic sociolinguistics in peer- of them, their goods and effects, with the shells on the shore.” Over just a few years, the Islamic are present as well as those who are reviewed journals. my soul, aid, and protection…” These Due to those covenants, newly Ummah, or nation, expanded widely, absent. There shall be no interference sentiments and others like them explored by Dr. Morrow, Muslims now until it gradually encompassed territory with the practice of their faith or their www.aboutislam.net How to understand the Quran correctly SADAF FAROOQI characteristic of a powerless slave That is because they begin to distorted meanings derived from its continuing to recite and study the Quran in solitude before its all-powerful master. realise that they are reaching out to text. One must acknowledge and be with deep reflections and ponder; and steering clear ven though the Quran is According to the Quran itself, it Allah via the work of His creation, wary of the devils among jinn and of the company, writings and propaganda of the devils undoubtedly a glorious, unpar- is a source of guidance, yes, but only i.e. by reading the meanings of its text mankind who are working day and among the jinn and mankind who are striving to lead Ealleled book of guidance, for a person who believes in Allah in another language that was a night to mislead humankind from mankind astray with their anti-Quran efforts (such mercy, healing, and spirituality, why and becomes conscious of obeying human effort to decode the spoken the Right Path. They never tire in as anti-Islamic/Islamophobic atheists, agnostics, sec- do so many people, both Muslims and or disobeying Him i.e. the person word (kalam) of their Lord. their efforts to keep humans astray ularists, liberals, humanists, and apostates), are all non-Muslims, misinterpret its verses possesses taqwa: Although they are a great contri- and devoid of Divine guidance. necessary steps that someone needs to undertake as and do not get guided towards Islam, This is the Book; in it is guidance bution towards da’wah to non- However, it is easy for these part of a holistic approach towards understanding i.e. towards submitting themselves sure, without doubt, for those who Muslims, and were a monumental devils to mislead those humans who the Quran correctly in order to become close to Allah. humbly to Allah, even after reading are conscious of Allah. (2:2) stepping stone in the history of Islam are still far away from the Quran. It Say: “If the whole of mankind and Jinns were it and perusing it deeply and analyt- The Quran becomes a source of that helped spread the message of is with the religious Muslims that to gather together to produce the like of this ically, numerous times? peace, guidance and mercy for anyone the Quran far and wide, translations shaitan (satan) employs more Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, The state and purity of the heart of who seeks to become closer to Allah, of the Quran cannot impart that devious shenanigans in order to even if they backed up each other with help and a person greatly determines how fast but it is all the more so for those with unparalleled, soul-reaching, moving deviate them. support. (17:88) and how much they will receive a broken soul and a shattered will who effect that the kalam(audible words) One of the strongest plots that the guidance from the Quran once they want to turn back towards Allah in of the Arabic recitation of the Quran armies of Iblis use to mislead reli- start to read, study and ponder upon it. repentance and submission after they can have on a believer’s heart. giously inclined people, i.e. those It is the intention inside their have endured hardship, loss, grief or It is at this point that the ardent who study and propagate the Quran, hearts with which they approach the calamity in life. student of knowledge, who seeks to is to make them glean unauthentic Quran, which becomes the crucial Many a people come back towards interpret and ponder upon the Quran and baseless interpretations of the determining factor of whether this Glo- Allah after they encounter and endure more deeply, begins to seek ways to Quran text; to keep them involved rious book becomes a source of Divine extremely distressful and difficult sit- be able to understand the language in innovations; and to involve them guidance for them, or embodies uations and events in life, which they of the Quran – Arabic – directly. in useless, time-wasting arguments merely a written piece of text that they did not have the strength to bear And this he or she can only do with each other regarding the read to glean information about Islam, except with the strong helping hand when they enroll in a proper course meanings of the Quran. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon of Allah that they sought to grasp by under a teacher, i.e. attend in-person, The one who seeks to gain him), and poignant events in Islamic picking up the Quran and endeavoring one-on-one classes under a more deeper understanding of the Quran history. to decipher it. learned person or scholar, which must always remember that Allah In the Quran itself, Allah has Nevertheless, although reading deliver Islamic knowledge via has taken it upon Himself to protect described how the Quran guides only the translation of the Arabic text of formal, structured instruction. the Quran from deliberate distortion, those whose hearts are humble, sub- the Quran, and reflecting upon its This traditional method of seeking which all the previous Scriptures missive, and receptive to being meanings alone, in privacy, is very knowledge i.e. ta’leem, is one of the were subjected to by human beings, guided: Verily, in this is a Message beneficial for the believer who is new most reliable, effective, and surefire for personal gains. for anyone who has a heart, or who to the world of Islam and who does routes that a sincere student of the Therefore, when seeking to gives ear, and earnestly witnesses not yet possess greater, more in- Quran can acquire in their quest to reflect deeper into the meanings of (the truth (50:37) depth knowledge of Islam yet,- it is become closer to Allah via deep the Quran, it is important to bear in In essence, the light of guidance only the tip of the iceberg. reflection of His Book, the Quran. mind that this is the only Book of of the Quran does not enter a hard, There comes a point in the life of The last thing that I want to point Allah that has remained free from blackened heart that does not believe every student of Islamic knowledge, out as a very important factor that one deliberate errors or manipulations. in Allah or does not seek to be guided young or old, when reading the must give heed to while endeavouring Keeping a strict check on one’s towards Him, i.e. a heart that does translations of the Quran (and to reflect upon and understand the aqeedah (belief); joining the circles not harbor the burning desire to be hadiths) is just not enough for them. Quran, is the absolute necessity of of knowledge of only those scholars, guided towards God, nor has the sub- They start pining to understand the steering completely clear of any mis- teachers and du’at who are correct missive humility that is language of the Quran directly. interpretations of its verses and in their belief and ideology; 06 ASIA FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018

South China Anna Hazare Sea drills routine: China breaks fast after REUTERS BEIJING: China’s Defence Ministry said the military was carrying out routine training govt assurance in the South China Sea, but would not comment on the presence of China’s sole oper- IANS A delegation led by ational aircraft carrier there. Maharashtra Chief Dozens of Chinese naval NEW DELHI: Social activist vessels are exercising this Anna Hazare yesterday called Minister Devendra week with an aircraft carrier off his hunger strike after the Fadnavis met Hazare in a large show of force off Central government “in prin- and informed him China’s Hainan island in the ciple” agreed to his demands but that the Prime South China Sea, satellite refrained from providing a images show. roadmap on the implementation Minister’s Office was The images, provided by in a time-bound manner. “positive” about the Planet Labs Inc, confirmed a Hazare, who had earlier Chinese carrier group had demands. Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono (right) and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj attending a demanded the timeline along entered the important trade joint press announcement in Tokyo, yesterday. with the action plan, said the waterway as part of what the Narendra Modi government Chinese navy earlier described assured him that promises soon. It says the electoral as combat drills that were part would be fulfilled “soon” even reforms come under the Election India and Japan call for stable, of routine annual exercises. as he warned the government Commission’s jurisdiction,” The Liaoning carrier of another agitation if the action Hazare told the gathering of group last week traversed the is not taken in the six months’ around 3,000 protestors at the Taiwan Strait, according to the time. A delegation of Ministers iconic Ramlila Maidan. free & prosperous Indo-Pacific Taiwan defence ministry. led by Maharashtra Chief Min- “The government has said Chinese Defence Ministry ister Devendra Fadnavis met that the promises would be ful- spokesman Ren Guoqiang, IANS Hazare yesterday and informed filled soon. I will wait for six Kono said India was Japan’s emerged as the fastest-growing asked about the pictures of the him that the Prime Minister’s months. If the government fails most important partner in its Free large economy in the world, she ships in the South China Sea Office (PMO) was “positive” to do it till then, I will start agi- TOKYO: India and Japan on and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. said that under Prime Minister at a regular monthly news about the demands of setting up tation in September. However, Thursday called for a peaceful, “Our Free and Open Indo- Narendra Modi, India is strongly briefing, said the military was of a Lokpal at the Centre and Fadnavis says it will not even stable, free and prosperous Indo- Pacific Strategy and India’s Act committed to improving the “ease conducting routine drills in Lokayuktas in the states, imple- take six months. Let us see.” Fad- Pacific region following the Ninth East Policy should be further of doing business” and has “set line with annual plans which mentation of the M.S. Swami- navis said the Prime Minister’s India-Japan Strategic Dialogue merged,” he said. The remarks into motion many far-reaching were not aimed at any nathan Committee report for fair Office had in letter to Hazare co-chaired by Indian External assume significance given China’s changes to build infrastructure, country. crop prices and new electoral conveyed which components Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj belligerence in the South China reform the business environment “It’s aim is to test the reforms. would be considered while fixing and Japanese Foreign Minister Sea and attempts to increase its and promote education, skills and training capabilities of the Subsequently, Hazare broke Minimum Support Price (MSP) Taro Kono here. footprint in the Indo-Pacific economic development”. People’s Liberation Army and his seven-day long fast with a for agriculture produce. “Our Special Strategic and region. India and Japan, along “In my discussions with enhance their training capa- glass of juice in presence of Fad- “The central government Global Partnership has acquired with the US and Australia, are also Foreign Minister Kono, I empha- bilities. It is also aimed at navis, Union Minister of State for has been positive about Anna ji’s a broader significance in the part of the recently revived quad sized that in India’s transforma- improving combat abilities of Agriculture, Gajendra Singh demands. We have explained to current global context,” Sushma that seeks to work for peace and tional journey, we regard Japan the whole military,” Ren said. Shekhawat, Maharashtra Min- him the factors to be considered Swaraj said while jointly prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. as a natural partner.” Sushma ister Girish Mahajan among while fixing MSP. Also, a com- addressing the media with Kono. In her address, Sushma Swaraj said that India welcomes Amal Clooney to others. “The government has mittee has been constituted in “Our growing convergence on Swaraj said that in Thursday’s Japanese entrepreneurs with new agreed to give 1.5 times the input accordance with his demand of economic and strategic issues is Strategic Dialogue, she and Kono opportunities in flagship initia- defend scribes cost (for agricultural produce). more autonomy to the Com- important for peace, stability and discussed bilateral, regional and tives such as Smart City, Digital Also, government has said the mission for Agricultural Costs prosperity in the Indo-Pacific global issues of mutual interest. India, Start-Up India and many held in Myanmar Lokpal would be appointed and Prices (CACP),” he said. region,” she said. Stating that India has others. AFP

NEW YORK: British-Lebanese Sri Lanka human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, wife of Hollywood prison chief Govt feels heat of CBSE leak A-lister George, announced she will represent two Reuters IANS arrested over has given a comprehensive question paper outside a school two girl students said at the journalists detained in statement...,” intervened Law at Kailash Nagar (Gandhi Nagar) protest. Myanmar in a case that has 2012 massacre NEW DELHI: A day after the Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, for Rs8,000,” he said. It is said that question papers incensed global opinion. CBSE paper leak surfaced, Union who was also addressing the Another student of Class 12 for Maths of Class 10 and Eco- Myanmar reporters Wa AFP Human Resource Development press on Cabinet’s decision taken said paper were leaked for other nomics of Class 12 -- examina- Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday, but he too was subjects also. tions for which were conducted were arrested last December COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police faced a barrage of questions cut short for questions on stu- “Biology and Chemistry on Monday and Wednesday, and have been charged under arrested a top prison official from the media, which was not dents’ protest across the city. papers were also leaked. I got to respectively, this week -- were the Official Secrets Act, which over a massacre of 27 inmates satisfied with the comforting Even as the Minister know of people who were in circulation for days before could see them jailed up to 14 that became an icon of grave words of the Minister. responded to the media queries, offering question papers for they came to be acknowledged years. They had been investi- rights abuses under former “I can assure you that the students in considerable Rs16,000 if you wanted it a night as “leaks” by the board. gating the killing by security president Mahinda Rajapakse. culprits behind the leak won’t numbers exhibited their anger before and for Rs3,000 if you A flagrant act of recklessness forces and ethnic Rakhine Prisons Commissioner be spared. The police is already in the form of protest at Jantar wanted it on the morning of the on the part of board was also locals of 10 unarmed Rohingya Emil Lamahewage was on the job and just like it nabbed Mantar and raised slogans examination day,” the student observed when it went ahead Muslim men in the country’s arrested in connection with four people in the SSC scam, I against CBSE. of KIIT World School in Pita- with Class 10 Maths examination crisis-hit northern Rakhine the November 2012 am sure it will soon catch the “This is not right, CBSE mpura said. on Wednesday despite being State. “Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe bloodbath at the Welikada culprits in this case, too,” he said. should think of the students who “CBSE chief should be aware of the leak of Economics Oo are being prosecuted high security prison in “Besides, we have also con- didn’t have anything to do with sacked. Why is my money, a tax- paper and even filed an FIR on simply because they reported Colombo, police said. stituted an internal inquiry to the leak, before conducting a re- payer’s money, being spent on Tuesday. the news. I have reviewed the A police inspector was find out who leaked the papers,” examination,” Aman, a Class 12 the re-examination? Is this the An Special Investigation case file and it is clear beyond arrested on Wednesday for the Minister told the reporters student of a government school only way to make it just for all? Team (SIT) was formed on doubt that the two journalists involvement in the killings at before he was charged with at Gandhi Nagar, said. There should be some other way. Wednesday after the CBSE reg- are innocent and should be Welikada which happened another volley of questions. “I “Not just on social media, Let’s not make it easy for the istered two cases with the Crime released immediately,” when Lamahewage was the think the honourable minister people were seen selling the politicians,” a furious mother of Branch. Clooney said. prison superintendent. The arrests followed a reopening of the case in July last year following media reports that the killings were Over 25 million apply ordered by senior members of the former regime. Trouble erupted inside for Indian railway jobs the prison when police con- REUTERS ducted a sweep for drugs and inspection crews and other allegedly faced off with roles related to improving inmates trying to grab their NEW DELHI: More than 25 safety in the world’s fourth- weapons. million people, a number largest network. Armed troops called in to greater than Australia’s popu- “We’ve not been recruiting restore order opened fire lation, have applied for about for the last couple of years and killing 27 prisoners. Witnesses 90,000 positions on India’s attrition is already there. And have said they were killed state-run railways, underlining so we require people,” Ashwani execution-style after calling the challenge Prime Minister Lohani, chairman of the them out by name. Narendra Modi faces in railways board, said. The killings escalated providing millions of jobs ahead The Railway Recruitment international condemnation of an election in 2019. Board advertised for the posi- of Rajapakse, whose regime Modi’s flagship “Make in tions last month and since then had sanctions imposed for India” initiative to lift the share 25 million people have filed rights abuses in the final years of manufacturing in India’s $2 online applications from of Sri Lanka’s 37-year-long trillion economy to 25 percent around the country, Lohani ethnic war that ended in from about 17 percent and said. The closing date is 2009. create 100 million jobs by 2022 tomorrow. The recruitment Some of the inmates has so far failed to deliver on its drive would be the largest con- killed were being held in promise. The railway, which ducted by a state-run organi- India successfully launches GSAT-6A communication satellite custody over robberies at Sri currently employs 1.3 million sation since Modi took office India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F08) carrying GSAT-6A communication Lanka’s national museum and people, said it was filling up four years ago, struggling to satellite, that would provide mobile communication facilities, blasts off from the Satish Dhawan a temple, crimes allegedly tens of thousands of vacant find jobs for an estimated 1 linked to senior members of positions for engine drivers, million young people that enter Space Centre in Sriharikota, yesterday. Rajapakse’s regime. technicians, carpenters, track the labour force each month. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 ASIA 07

US lawmakers call Malala makes first visit to for continuing ties with Pakistan since attack INTERNEWS

AFP The 20-year-old was overcome with emotion WASHINGTON: Even as as she made a televised speech from the Prime Pakistan faces some hostility ISLAMABAD: Nobel peace Minister’s House in Islamabad, breaking down in in the ’ capital, laureate Malala Yousafzai there are lawmakers who returned to Pakistan yesterday, tears as she spoke of the beauty of her native suggest continuing a rela- saying tearfully that it was “a Swat valley and how she imagines the streets of tionship with Islamabad to dream” to come home for the first Pakistan from London and New York. encourage it to cooperate with time since she was airlifted to Washington in the war against Britain after being shot in the head terrorism. by a Taliban gunman more than Congressman Brad five years ago. Residents of Swat said they were in its children’s education, adding Sherman, who met Prime Min- The 20-year-old was happy to see her return. that the Malala Fund has already ister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in overcome with emotion as she “Parents who were scared in put more than $6 million into girls’ Washington earlier this month, made a televised speech from the 2012 are not scared in 2018, and education in the country. says that as a member of the Prime Minister’s House in Malala has played a great role in Earlier this month, a school House Foreign Affairs Com- Islamabad, breaking down in tears this,” said Shaista Hakeem, a opened in Swat that was con- mittee, he knows “the signifi- as she spoke of the beauty of her student at Swat University, who structed and funded with part of cance of US-Pakistan rela- native Swat valley and how she credited her academic career to her Nobel Prize money. tionship and the importance of imagines the streets of Pakistan Malala’s influence over families in “I hope that we can all join both the friendship between from London and New York. the region. Malala became a global hands in this mission for the bet- our two countries and our “Always it has been my dream that symbol for human rights after a terment of Pakistan,” she said. countries’ history of cooper- I should go to Pakistan and there, gunman boarded her school van But among the messages of ation”. “During his recent visit in peace and without any fear, I in Swat on October 9, 2012, asked welcome are pockets of intense to Washington, I had the can move on streets, I can meet “Who is Malala?” and shot her. criticism from some Pakistanis, opportunity to meet with people, I can talk to people. And I The Pakistani Taliban accused including hardline Islamists as Prime Minister Abbasi, and I Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (second left) with think that it’s my old home again... her of “anti-Islamic” activities and well as members of the conserv- look forward to continuing my activist and Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai (left) and her so it is actually happening, and I of “smearing” the militant group ative middle class who support work to bridge divides and am grateful to all of you.” in statements released after the education for girls but object to parents at the Prime Minister’s Office during her visit to Islamabad. strengthen our relationship.” She added: “I don’t cry much, attack. She was treated for her airing the country’s problems Sherman is among 35 US I don’t know why today.” The injuries in the British city of Bir- abroad. One leading Pakistani people here but her itinerary is not from going to school. But it was lawmakers who sent messages activist had arrived unannounced mingham, where she also com- journalist, Hamid Mir, issued a being disclosed due to security only after the shooting, and a sub- of support on the Pakistan Day, with her parents under tight pleted her schooling. plea for restraint when talking reasons,” foreign ministry sequent near-miraculous each underlining the impor- security overnight. Pakistanis The youngest-ever winner of about her visit, warning that neg- spokesman Muhammad Faisal. recovery, that she became a truly tance of a continued awakening to the news she was the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she ative reactions “will damage Paki- Malala began her campaign global figure. As for the militants engagement with Pakistan and back in the country flooded social has continued to be a vocal stan’s image”. aged just 11, when she started who attacked her: the man sus- appreciating the contributions media with messages of welcome, advocate for girls’ education while Other Pakistanis echoed his writing a blog — under a pseu- pected of actually firing the gun at of the Pakistani-American with many hailing her bravery — pursuing her studies at Oxford concerns on social media. donym — for the BBC’s Urdu Malala, named by officials as community to their adopted but others accusing her of a con- University. Malala met with Prime “Dear Pakistanis! Malala is not service in 2009 about life under Ataullah Khan, has long been homeland. spiracy to foment dissent. Malala Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi your enemy. Your enemies were the Taliban in Swat, which they believed to be on the run in Senator Bob Casey, a is widely respected internationally and later took questions from an those monsters who shot her point took over in 2007. Afghanistan, along with Pakistani member of the US Senate as a global icon for girls’ education, audience after her televised blank on her way to school,” wrote Opponents were murdered, Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, Finance Committee, says that but opinion is divided in Pakistan, speech, in which she also called Twitter user Shahira Lashari. people were publicly flogged for who ordered the attack. In 2015, the bilateral relationship also where some conservatives view for Pakistani unity and female Her schedule for the four-day supposed breaches of law, it was reported that eight of 10 “continues to be critical to the her as a Western agent on a empowerment. trip is being closely guarded. women were banned from going men who had been convicted over security and stability of the mission to shame her country. She said Pakistan must invest “She will be meeting several to market, and girls were stopped the attack had been cleared. South Asian region”. 16 years prison Pakistan plans to double Malaysia cuts Filipino extremist blamed for for Indonesian proposed fine bombings surrenders politician sought water storage capacity for fake news AP Lorenzana said Jamiri’s sur- AP AP INTERNEWS render, which came after nego- finance minister of Punjab who ZAMBOANGA: A senior tiations with authorities, “will JAKARTA: Prosecutors deliberated the draft of the policy KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s commander of the Abu Sayyaf hopefully bring the eventual demanded 16 years in prison ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will in detail. It was decided that the government cut the proposed extremist group blamed for collapse of the Abu Sayyaf for a senior Indonesian poli- double its water storage capacity draft with more inputs from fed- punishment in a bill prohib- bombings and kidnappings has group in Basilan,” the birthplace tician accused of playing a to at least 28 million acre feet erating units will be brought in iting fake news from 10 to six surrendered in the southern of the small but violent group, key role in the theft by offi- (MAF) of water from existing 14 the next meeting for approval. years in prison following an Philippines, the defense chief “and bring justice to the deaths cials of $170m of public MAF, increasing the storage As per the copy of draft of the outcry from rights groups said, expressing hope it would of thousands of soldiers.” money. capacity from 10 to 20 percent policy, the authorities in Pakistan and opposition lawmakers bring the “eventual collapse” of Emerging in the late 1980s Prosecutors also called of total water flows. will also carve out the plan of who say it aims to silence a key militant stronghold. as an offshoot of the decades- for fines and the seizure of This is revealed in the draft reduction of 33 percent in 46 dissent ahead of a general Nurhassan Jamiri surren- long Muslim separatist rebellion Setya Novanto’s assets if he document of National Water million cares feet river flows that election. dered with 13 of his men to in the south, the Abu Sayyaf lost fails to return $7.4m including Policy (NWP) tabled in Common are lost in conveyance. The The anti-fake news bill, army forces in southern Basilan its top commanders early in a $135,000 luxury “Richard Council of Interests (CCI) meeting decision makers will also come presented in parliament on province on Wednesday. They combat and descended on a Mille” watch that he allegedly that met with Prime Minister up with the plan to increase at Monday, is being debated by handed over 10 assault rifles bloody path toward terrorism received as part of the Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the least 30 per cent in the efficiency lawmakers and is expected and a large cache of ammu- and criminality. conspiracy. chair here this week. The CCI was of water use by produce more to be approved next week. In nition and were undergoing The United States and the Novanto was the former attended by chief ministers of crop per drop ensuring the addition to imprisonment, it questioning, military officials Philippines have blacklisted the speaker of Indonesia’s par- Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, gradual replacement and refur- also calls for a fine of up to said. Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist liament and senior member Balochistan and the bishing of irrigation system. 500,000 ringgit ($128,000). Defense Secretary Delfin organisation. of the Golkar party. Secrecy, delays surrounded Kim’s slow train to China REUTERS By Monday morning sighting rumours DF0002; the plate on the train used by and pictures were making the rounds on his father displayed DF0001. SHANGHAI/BEIJING: For a regime Chinese social media, before being North Korean state media showed obsessed with secrecy, North Korean blocked or deleted by censors, while Kim and his entourage, including his wife leader Kim Jong-Un’s decision to travel railway bureaus began warning travellers Ri Sol Ju, seated on stuffed pink sofas to Beijing on a distinctive green armoured to expect delays or cancellations on inside the train carriage with Song Tao, train was an all-but-dead giveaway that Monday and Tuesday. the head of the Chinese Communist Party’s he was making his first journey abroad The disruptions were noteworthy in international affairs department, during since assuming power in 2011. a country with a vast rail network that their inbound stop in Dandong. The historic visit sent officials scram- prides itself on its efficiency, with 98.8 There are at least two likely rail routes bling to obscure the identity of the 21-car percent of trains departing on time in 2016 between Dandong and Beijing, and an train and its occupants as it meandered and 95.4 percent arriving on schedule, and ordinary service takes at least 14 hours, across roughly 1,100km of track through prompted complaints online. according to Chinese railway timetables. northeast China, causing rare delays along Zhao Jian, a professor at Beijing Jia- The route is also covered by China’s high- the way and triggering a growing frenzy otong University who researches the speed trains, which travel on separate of speculation as it neared the Chinese country’s railway system, said Kim’s train tracks, in just over six hours. capital. travelled on the regular track network, But social media posts made by local The train arrived at Beijing Station on rather than on the tracks used by the railway bureaus and ordinary users on Monday afternoon and left the following North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un meets with the head of the Chinese Communist country’s high-speed trains. “Passenger social media suggest a surge in delays afternoon, with the identity of its occu- Party’s international affairs department Song Tao as Kim’s wife Ri Sol Ju looks and freight traffic would have been around the route from Dandong that pants only announced on Wednesday on, on a train in Dandong, China. affected,” he said. heads north to Shenyang, in the region morning — after it had crossed back into A person answering the official phone previously known as Manchuria. The route North Korea at the city of Sinuiju. line at Dandong station yesterday stressed then snakes west along the Hebei province Clues that something unusual was scaffolding had been set up on the we know for next time — if the train that everything had been “normal” this coast towards Beijing. afoot emerged in the border city of platform at Dandong’s train station, station is in lockdown then that means week, and asked, “who told you the station On Tuesday evening, a Twitter user Dandong, just across the Yalu River from blocking what is ordinarily an open view, Kim Jong Un has come to China,” Yao said. was closed?” with the handle “2018you333” posted a North Korea and linked to the isolated before two trains passed through the At least one Dandong hotel was told China has not disclosed the route grainy video of a train with a single hor- country by the Sino-Korea Friendship station between 10:20 and 10:40pm on by Chinese authorities not to book rooms taken by Kim in the train — green with a izontal stripe hurtling across an empty car Bridge. That bridge bears a single rail track Sunday night. facing the bridge, while tours from China yellow stripe resembling one used by his underpass, which the user said was taken which, it turned out, carried Kim’s train Yao Jun, who sells car parts in into the North were cancelled on Sunday, late father, Kim Jong Il, on his last visit to at the Shanhai Pass area, 300 km east of into China late on Sunday. Dandong, said the station was locked a source familiar with the matter said. A China in 2011. Based on photos from the Beijing and a major pass in the Great Wall The Daily NK, a Seoul-based website down again on Tuesday night, an unusual local resident said that a wedding party elder Kim’s visit, the only visible difference of China. staffed by North Korean defectors, occurrence. Kim returned to North Korea along the river on Sunday had been told between the two trains was a licence plate. “Let’s guess where this distinguished reported that boards supported by in the early hours of Wednesday. “Now not to set off firecrackers. The younger Kim’s licence plate showed guest is coming from!”, the post said. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL Advisory Council Speaker reviews Gulf crisis repercussions on sidelines of IPU meetings Beacon for the region QNA atar has been showing the way for other H E the Speaker of the Shura Qatar’s relationship with Hamas and countries in the region on how to bring in Council reviewed some other the Taliban, and said the State of Qprogressive labour reforms and bolster the he Speaker of the Advisory examples of violations of human Qatar hosted Hamas at the request of rights of workers. The concerned authorities have (Shura) Council H E Ahmed rights and freedom of expression, the United States to establish a been working tirelessly on these reforms for some bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al including the issuance by the four political dialogue during the Pales- time now and tangible results can be seen on the Mahmoud has met with the countries of laws that criminalise cit- tinian legislative elections won by T Hamas, and hosted the Taliban at the ground. heads of the (12+) parliaments, izens and residents of their countries Many important international bodies like the including European countries as well who sympathise with the State of request of the United States and International Labour Organization (ILO) and Inter- as Australia and Canada, and the Qatar. The penalties included 15 opened an office for Taliban in Qatar national Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have heads of parliaments of Latin years’ imprisonment for anyone to facilitate dialogue between them. praised Qatar for the policies that have been intro- American and Caribbean countries sympathetic to Qatar, as well as In response to a question con- duced for the benefit of workers, especially for those on the sidelines of the 138th General asking their citizens to leave Qatar cerning the continuation of Qatari- involved in the construction of 2022 World Cup Assembly meeting of the Inter-Par- within 15 days, and Qatari nationals Iranian relations, H E Speaker of facilities. liamentary Union. to leave their countries with the same Advisory Council said that Iran is Now the British Parliament has voiced its appre- His Excellency also met sepa- period. Qatar’s neighbor who opened the air- ciation regarding the steps taken by Qatar for the rately with head of the delegation of H E Al Mahmoud said during the space and marine area for the Qatari benefit of labourers. A British Minister in a comment the People’s Republic of China Wu meetings that the arbitrary measures movement, or Qatar wouldn’t have inside the parliament said that “Qatar is working Heng, and a number of members of of the siege countries included the been able to get out of its territory, very hard to make sure it produces a good World the Japanese delegation participating expulsion of Qatari students from and this requires in the future that Cup and a safe World Cup.” in the meetings of the General schools and universities and from States consider what if others Another MP, Alex Norris, as part of a question, Assembly of the Union. Makkah during the performance of decided to close their airspace, land, said in parliament that signif- During the meetings which were Umrah in Ramadan, where they were and marine to any State without a icant positive progress made attended by a number of members of ordered to leave Saudi Arabia. decision by the Security Council or by Qatar in areas relating to the Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin He added that the siege countries the United Nations. workers’ rights should be Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud pre- refused to accept payment of cur- He stressed that what happened Many important spread to neighbouring states. sented a detailed explanation to the rency and credit cards from Qatari in the Gulf region is illogical, the The Supreme Committee participants about the Gulf crisis banks, which led to the need to some purpose of the siege was the impo- international bodies for Delivery & Legacy (SC), since June 5, 2017, which started by citizens to borrow from others to be sition of guardianship of Qatar and like the International who are responsible for deliv- the hacking of the Qatar News able to pay their hotel bills. deprivation of sovereignty as well as Labour Organization ering the infrastructure Agency (QNA) website and publishing He said that these violations economic tightening. (ILO) and required for Qatar 2022 World fabricated statements attributed to included preventing citizens from His Excellency also answered Cup, has been introducing the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin movement between countries. another question concerning the International Trade many initiatives for workers Hamad Al Thani and the State of The violations were documented World Cup projects and the rights of Union Confederation welfare and is also keeping a Qatar denying these false accusations in a report by the Office of the United expatriate workers in the State of (ITUC) have praised hawk’s eye on all contractors and clarify Nations High Commissioner for Qatar, where he pointed out that Qatar for the and sub-contractors working its position, Human Rights, which visited Doha, international organisations were on their project to make sure followed by pointing out that the animals also invited to visit the State to see the sit- policies that have they are all following the strict the siege suffered violations as many of them uation of workers, stressing that been introduced policies and procedures put in countries died of thirst on the border after what the media of the siege countries H E Speaker of Advisory for the benefit of place for the benefit of every severing dip- being taken out, HE Al Mahmoud report on the workers situation in Council stressed that said. Qatar is incorrect. workers, especially worker on their projects. lomatic rela- They have also launched Qatar has surpassed tions with H E Speaker of Advisory Council As for the deaths among workers, for those involved a website recently, which is the siege imposed on it, Qatar Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al H E Al Mahmoud stressed that the in the construction dedicated to workers’ welfare. accusing it of Mahmoud said that the State of Qatar high figures that are mentioned are but Qatar is concerned of 2022 World Cup The site chronicles the various terrorism has not taken similar measures, in incorrect, referring to an agreement initiatives introduced by the about the humanitarian and imposing accordance with the directives of H H signed between the State of Qatar facilities. SC. issues between a blockade the Emir to ensure the dignity of resi- and the International Labor Organi- SC has implemented a families, because in the on it . dents in the State of Qatar. zation last November, and that the range of measures to safeguard workers involved He H E Al Mahmoud said that if Qatar International Labor Organization has in its projects, including appointing an external Gulf there are mixed explained wanted to do the same, there are asked the Gulf countries to follow the monitor, signing agreement with global trade union marriages (husband that “despite 250,000 Egyptians in Qatar, and if example of Qatar as a model in the bodies, introducing nutrition programme to educate from a country and the request they were similarly treated and treatment of expatriate workers. He workers about the importance of a healthy lifestyle of the State expelled, a crisis would occur in also pointed to the abolition of the among others. wife from a siege of Qatar Egypt, however they were treated sponsorship system in Qatar. All this effort is seen by concerned bodies and country) and they are from those with respect and the decision of their In a related context, H E Speaker they appreciate the progress like ILO did at its 331st brothers and sisters to countries to departure from Qatar was left to the of Advisory Council pointed out to his Session, where the governing body recognized the the Qataris and Qatar provide an directives of their government or at meeting with a delegation of progress made by Qatar and “welcomed its com- evidence to their own will and not by a decision Canadian parliamentarians who mitment to ensuring fundamental principles and does not want any H H the Emir of the Government of Qatar. recently visited Qatar. He said that rights at work for all workers.” harm happen to them, of the State His Excellency also pointed out the discussion with the Canadian del- While International Trade Union Confederation stressing the keenness of Kuwait, that the State of Qatar is still egation was fruitful and that the (ITUC) welcomed the steps taken by Qatar to reim- of the State of Qatar on the mediator exporting gas to the UAE and if Qatar Canadian independent civil society burse the recruitment fees of 30,000 workers, which in resolving had stopped it one-third of Dubai commission published a report after is a path breaking move in the region. the security and stability the crisis on and one-third of Abu Dhabi would be visiting the State of Qatar on the Doha has proved that they mean action and in of their countries and accusing in total darkness, which will nega- imposed siege and its consequences, the process has become a beacon for the countries the entire region, Qatar of ter- tively affect ordinary people, adding considering it illegal and contrary to in the region to follow. because what happens rorism, but although this is Qatar’s right under human rights and injustice. they did not the conditions of the siege, Qatar is He noted that the Canadian dele- to them affects it. submit any.” determined not to harm ordinary gation hailed the workers situation He people, and its belief to resolve the in Qatar, while a parliamentary pointed out dispute through dialogue and respect. committee from the British par- QUOTE OF THE DAY that after the pressure from the inter- H E Speaker of Advisory Council liament recently visited Qatar and national community, the siege coun- stressed that Qatar has surpassed the published a positive report on the tries submitted 13 demands to the siege imposed on it, but Qatar is con- workers status, in addition, criti- Turkey’s fight against Kuwaiti mediator, “which are unrea- cerned about the humanitarian issues cizing the siege and its effects on the terrorism in the Middle sonable and inconsistent with the between families, because in the Gulf State of Qatar and demanded the East, in Syria and in sovereignty and independence of the there are mixed marriages (husband lifting of it. Iraq not only secures State.” He said that “these demands from a country and wife from a siege About Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 have been rejected, including the country) and they are brothers and World Cup, H E Speaker of Advisory our own citizen, it also closure of Al Jazeera and other sisters to the Qataris and Qatar does Council said that there is a desire prevents an influx media.” not want any harm happen to them, from some that the State of Qatar of refugees into the “Such demands mean the confis- stressing the keenness of the State of give up hosting this event, as an cation of freedom of expression and Qatar on the security and stability of official in one of the siege countries Balkans and in Europe the restriction of press freedom, their countries and the entire region, said that if Qatar waived hosting the as well as terrorist which is unacceptable to the State,” because what happens to them World Cup in 2022, the siege will be activities. he added. He also referred to their affects it. lifted. demand to close the Iranian embassy His Excellency noted that Qatar For their part, the heads of parlia- in Doha and cut off military relations has become stronger after the siege, ments of the two groups, the head of Binali Yildirim with Turkey, “which were also as the growth rate in Qatar is now the the Chinese delegation and members Turkey’s Prime Minister rejected”, referring to the call of the highest in the region despite the siege of the Japanese delegation expressed State of Qatar to these countries for imposed on it. their understanding of the position of dialogue and without preconditions. H E Al Mahmoud spoke about the State of Qatar. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 OPINION 09 The cost of shifting from food security to food sovereignty

hile world population amount of food that is present in a element is the socio-cultural growth poses a grand country or area through all forms of dimension which arises if we challenge, food security domestic production, imports, food suppose that the food is physically Wissue became an stocks and food aid, in fact, this is available and the potential costumer important article in each national exactly how world food program has has enough money to buy the food Utilization is important development plan. Knowing our defined availability as an important while conversely a member of a par- current variables can help us to element of food security. As for me, I ticular social group or gender is pre- factor in food security address food security issues. I will have replaced this term with the word vented from having this food due to that covers a range MOHAMMED AL-SULAITI begin this article by reminding you of “assets” of each country. In order to religious and cultural reasons. The of aspects that very important readings and specula- address food secu-rity issue, it is ethical element of equality is lie on individual’s tions that have driven us to consider highly important to seek how to important too when we address food food security as a grand challenge. increase assets, more importantly, to security issues. understanding of what The current world population of 7.3 diversify assets as the second can The third element of food security foods to choose and billion is expected to reach 8.5 billion faster the first. As nations, our way of is utilization. Utilization in food how to prepare and by 2030, while world population pro- thinking should be shifted to how security is defined in the World Food store them. jected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 countries can be the sustainable Summit’s as the safe and nutritious according to demographic reports. So, source of food. In this context, cer- food which meets peoples’ dietary in front of this vast population growth, tainly there are ideas should be needs. The previous two elements on it is imperative to expand the food diminished and excluded such as food their own are not enough to consider “Food Security” while the first has availability network. import. I do not criticise here the idea when think about food sovereignty, the strength to ignite the aspiration There is no doubt that it is our of food import, as sometimes food people have the right to be assured of of nations. I think achieving responsibility dealing with food import can be the ideal solution. I safe and nutritious food. balance is the key solving for security issues centralise in our duty here insist on change our way of An important criterion of nutri- several environmental issues; bal- to study the whole food systems thinking to achieve the food tious food is to provide sufficient ancing in food production while wisely. The most important elements sovereignty. energy to enable individuals to carry conserving the environment, as in the food security lie on: availability, Secondly, accessibility is a con- out routine physical activities. Utili- the ecology itself means the accessibility, utilization and stability. troversial term in food security. zation also lies on ensuring safe water balance between different envi- Availability is the first element in Despite the introduction of accessi- and adequate sanitary facilities to ronmental bodies. food security. If we put this element in bility concept by Amaryta Sen in the avoid epidemic as well as aware-ness Utilization is important factor in a clearer context, we can abstract that early 1980s, unfortunately, accessi- of food preparation and storage food security that covers a range of availability in food security means the bility is still not commonly accepted procedures. aspects that lie on individual’s as an influencing element of food The last element in food security understanding of what foods to security. Generally speaking, accessi- is stability. The stability is the choose and how to prepare and bility is seen from three different important timeline in food security store them. Unfortunately, the dimensions including physical, eco- where the food must present at all political power is important player nomic and social access. times in terms of availability, accessi- in this issue, as social conflict and Physical dimension can be illus- bility and utilization. Regardless of civil strife can seriously affect food trated if food is available in one part condition, it is the most important production and lead to the loss of of a country with limited transport right for the individual to have a livestock which threats the global where that food cannot be delivered stable market. food security. Therefore, mixing to some areas suffering from a lack of To conclude, the cost of shifting to social conflicts and using the food food. While the economic dimension food sovereignty is by fully under- production as a political power can can be summarised in a situation standing the previous elements and lead to a dangerous path with dire when people can afford sufficient deal with them consciously. Here I consequences for a future food food, nevertheless, the idea that food suggest some recommendations security. insecurity arises when food is which may hold an amount of available but people are unable to accuracy. The writer is Environmental afford it. The logo of “Food Sovereignty” Scientist graduated from the The last part in the accessibility should be promoted as same as University of Nottingham.

omments made by Israel’s top expressing reservations to his expulsion non-Jews. political and religious leaders plan. Since the start of the calendar year, This week, Israel’s High Court will earlier this month are a dismal Israelis from all walks of life have regis- consider a petition by pro-refugee reminder of how little black tered their adamant opposition to the activists to permanently halt the depor- C D-RING ROAD lives matter in the country, and how planned deportations, scheduled to tations. So with his plan in possible peril, African refugees remain in mortal begin on April 1: doctors and artists, pro- Netanyahu described the refugees as POST BOX: 3488 danger, whether or not the government’s fessors and pilots, students andsurvivors worse than terrorists, in an obvious DOHA - QATAR plan to deport them is temporarily of the Holocaust. On Saturday night, a attempt to smear them as enemies of the [email protected] suspended. pro-refugee protest in Tel Aviv drewover state, in order to justify their impending DAVID SHEEN On March 17, one of Israel’s two chief 20,000 thousand people opposed to the expulsion. The last time that Netanyahu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE AL JAZEERA rabbis, Yitzhak Yosef, called black people expulsion. associated African refugees with ter- “monkeys” and the Hebrew equivalent But Netanyahu need not worry about rorists was at another very critical TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 of the N-word in his weekly sermon. It is amassing support for the deportation moment, when the fate of these refugees FAX: +974 4455 7758 highly unlikely that Yosef will face any plan. True, a recent poll proved that the hung in the balance. real repercussions for his racist com- majority of the Israelis that live in prox- In September 2014, Israel’s High Court MANAGING EDITOR ments. He was not demoted after saying imity to the African refugees - in the deemed Netanyahu’s anti-refugee policies TEL: 4462 7505 Greater Tel Aviv area generally, and in unconstitutional, and ordered the closure the slums of South Tel Aviv specifically — of the Holot desert detention centre the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4455 7769 oppose the expulsions. But outside of government had already rounded thou- that liberal bubble, Netanyahu has easily sands of African men into. Determined to LOCAL NEWS SECTION secured support for his plan. prevent the closure of the camp, a key TEL: 4455 7743 Black lives do not Netanyahu might not be losing sleep component of Israeli efforts to pressure over local opposition to the deportations, refugees to leave the country, Netanyahu’s BUSINESS NEWS SECTION but he is most certainly concerned by ministers raced against time to draw up TEL: 4462 7535 matter in Israel Jewish communities outside of Israel another version of the same racist law that starting to kick up a fuss. As news of Netan- would pass the muster of the High Court. SPORT NEWS SECTION yahu’s cruel decree reaches the main- In the month after the court ruling, TEL: 4455 7745 stream media outside of Israel, American Netanyahu associated refugees with ter- in a similar sermon exactly two years ago Jewish leaders are unable to ignore the rorists, when he announced special ONLINE SECTION that all non-Jews - Africans, Arabs, or issue any longer. Even some of the most screenings for visitors arriving from TEL: 4462 7501 otherwise — could only live in Israel if adamant defenders of the Israeli state and Africa. The new policy, he explained, was [email protected] they agree to serve the country’s Jewish its dispossession of the Palestinian people intended to prevent the entry of the population. have spoken out against the plan, calling it ebola virus, but was also “part of Israel’s PUBLIC RELATIONS It’s unclear if Yosef’s recent com- racist, and practically pleading with the general efforts to protect our borders TEL: 4455 7613 ments were directly connected to the Israeli government to scrap it. from illegal infiltrators and terror”. “Infil- [email protected] Israeli government’s impending Some rabbis are vowing to thwart trators” is the derogatory term used for expulsion of approximately 40,000 the expulsion plan by hiding African ref- years by Israeli officials to dehumanise ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT African refugees, mainly Christians and ugees in their homes, evoking the the African refugees. TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 Muslims from Eritrea and Sudan. The memory of Anne Frank, the iconic Needless to say, not a single African FAX: 4455 7870 government has already coerced more chronicler of the horrors of the Holo- asylum-seeker in Israel has ever been [email protected] than a third of the African refugee com- caust. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, charged with any terrorism offenses. The munity in Israel, over 20,000 souls, to Frank and her family temporarily baseless smear is intended to demonise CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT return to Africa. Israeli journalists have avoided being deported to the death the refugees, and to rally up support for TEL: 4455 7857 revealed in recent months that the gov- camps by hiding with the help of their expulsion. [email protected] ernment’s promises to secure status for them in Rwanda or Uganda were only a SUBSCRIPTION & ruse, devised to deport them back into a DISTRIBUTION stateless existence- with their ostensible TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 acquiescence. FAX: 44557819 To be fair, racist comments from [email protected] Needless to say, state-paid rabbis aren’t exactly a rarity in not a single African Israel. Israel’s other chief rabbi, Yisrael Lau, used the N-word to describe Black asylum-seeker in athletes on his very first day in office in All thoughts and views Israel has ever July 2013. But another anti-African expressed in these columns been charged comment made last week, by Israel’s are those of the writers, with any terrorism most powerful politician, was almost certainly timed to coincide with the gov- not of the newspaper. offenses. The ernment’s efforts to ethnically cleanse baseless smear the country of the refugees. All correspondence is intended to On March 19, Prime Minister Ben- regarding Views and demonise the jamin Netanyahu said in a public speech that the arrival of non-Jewish African Opinion pages should be refugees, and to refugees was “much worse” for Israel send to editor-in-chief rally up support for than “severe attacks by Sinai terrorists”. office or mailed to the their expulsion. Netanyahu’s comments come as citizens across the country have been publicly [email protected] 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Russia facing ‘global wave of revulsion’ AFP Yulia Skripal came the bench where the Skripals out of critical care were found, a pub and restaurant LONDON: Moscow is facing a yesterday following the pair visited, and the grave of “global wave of revulsion” in a swift improvement the former spy’s wife. response to the nerve agent The Daily Telegraph said attack on a former Russian spy, in her health. The yesterday the disclosure would Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris 33-year-old daughter “intensify the manhunt for the Johnson said. of former Russian would-be assassins” and “heap His intervention came after double agent Sergei further pressure on the Kremlin” British counter-terror police on for putting at risk anyone who Wednesday said Sergei Skripal Skripal is “improving visited the house. and his daughter first came into rapidly and is no The BBC’s security corre- contact with a nerve agent at longer in a critical spondent Gordon Corera said the their home address in Britain — highest concentration was found with the highest concentration condition. on the Skripals’ door handle and on the front door. could have been administered The March 4 attack on the three continents — there are through a “gloopy substance Skripals in the English city of countries who are willing to say which could have been smeared Salisbury has been met with a enough is enough.” on”. It would explain why the The Embassy of US, France, Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Lithuania, Germany, Sweden and Britain major response that has seen British police said around nerve agent may have been found are seen in Moscow, Russia yesterday. The countries that are to expel Russian diplomats along with more than 150 Russian diplomats 250 counter-terrorism detectives on the Skripals’ car or the res- expelled from countries around are working on the case, which taurant in which they had eaten, the numbers are as follows: France (4), Germany (4), Poland (4), Czech Republic (3), Lithuania (3), the world. could continue for months. he added. Haydon said the risk to Denmark (2), Italy (2), the Netherlands (2), Spain (2), Croatia (1), Romania (1), Estonia (1), Finland (1), British authorities have Around 500 witnesses have been the general public was low. Hungary (1), Latvia (1) and Sweden (1). blamed Moscow, which denies identified and police are looking Yulia Skripal came out of any involvement, and said a through more than 5,000 hours critical care yesterday following at that stage, she could not com- Britain has been backed by Nato said it will probe the scale of eco- Soviet-designed nerve agent of security camera footage. a swift improvement in her municate in any meaningful way, along with the US, 18 European nomic crime in Britain following dubbed Novichok was used in “We believe the Skripals first health. The 33-year-old daughter while her father could not com- Union nations and other countries claims the country -- in particular the poisoning. “The Kremlin came into contact with the nerve of former Russian double agent municate at all. International in expelling Russian diplomats over the London property market -- underestimated the strength of agent from their front door,” said Sergei Skripal is “improving experts from the Organisation for the attack. Moscow has already has become the “destination of global feeling,” Johnson said at Dean Haydon, Britain’s counter- rapidly and is no longer in a the Prohibition of Chemical ordered 23 British diplomats to choice” to launder money. It a speech in London. terror police chief. “Traces of the critical condition. Her condition Weapons arrived in Salisbury on leave Russia in response to the follows recent figures from the “These expulsions represent nerve agent have been found at is now stable”, said the hospital March 20 to verify Britain’s same move by London. Transparency International group a moment when a feeling has some of the other scenes detec- treating the pair since the March findings. Russia’s foreign min- Meanwhile, over £880m of estimating that £4.4bn worth of suddenly crystallised. “When tives have been working at over 4 attack. Sergei Skripal, 66, istry said Britain’s handling of the British property claimed to have British properties may have been years of vexation and provo- the past few weeks, but at lower remains in a critical but stable attack “suggests a possible been bought by Russians with bought with suspicious wealth — cation have worn the collective concentrations to that found at condition, Salisbury District Hos- involvement of the UK intelli- suspect money is to be investi- with more than a fifth, or £880m patience to breaking point, and the home address.” pital’s board said. gence services”, accusing London gated by a parliamentary inquiry. — of these purchased by when across the world — across Investigators had sealed off A court last week heard that, of a campaign against Moscow. The Treasury Select Committee Russians. Dutch voters say ‘no’ Paris suspect Abdeslam’s to new spy law trial verdict AFP greater ability to monitor dan- gerous groups such as jihadist next month THE HAGUE: Dutch voters organisations. AFP narrowly rejected a new law Although it is non-binding, giving security services greater Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who powers to spy on emails and supports the legislation, has BRUSSELS: Belgian judges will online data, the electoral vowed he will take the results hand down their verdict in council announced yesterday, of the referendum seriously. April in the trial of Salah unveiling final referendum Vice Prime Minister Kajsa Abdeslam, the last surviving results. Ollongren however said suspect in the Paris Islamist More than six million Thursday that the cabinet attacks, over a shootout in Dutch citizens out of some 13 would take its time to consider Brussels that led to his capture. million eligible voters cast the results, the ANP news The court in Brussels ballots in the national refer- agency said. announced that it will deliver endum last week on the con- It is also likely the last ref- the judgement on April 23, troversial legislation, set to erendum in the Netherlands as two months after Abdeslam come into effect on May 1. legislation to repeal the laws stood trial on charges of the After a 51.5 percent turnout under which they can be attempted murder of police — enough to validate the refer- organised are set to be passed Military exercise officers. He is being held in a endum’s results — 49.4 percent by the upper house of par- prison near Paris but was French Defence Minister Florence Parly rides in a speedboat as she attends a military exercise at voted down the law, while 46.5 liament soon. transported to the court for the Fusiller-Marins base, in Lanester, western France, yesterday. percent were in favour. The Dutch results come part of the hearing in Feb- “The referendum’s outcome amid a world-wide firestorm ruary, during which he pro- therefore is a rejection of the over the online hijacking of per- claimed he would only put his information and security sonal data including on social “trust in Allah”. services law,” council chairman media giant Facebook. The court made the Jan-Kees Wiebenga said. The US company has met French varsity dean suspended announcement after hearing “This means the gov- fierce criticism after it was an application from Belgian ernment will have to reconsider revealed that the personal data terror victims to be named as AFP the law. However, it’s not a of tens of millions of users was several universities over more showed several men, their faces civil parties in the case binding referendum,” he told a harvested by a British firm stringent university entrance concealed, hitting students in against Abdeslam over the press conference in The Hague. linked to Donald Trump’s 2016 MONTPELLIER: The dean of a requirements introduced by the theatre of the law faculty March 2016 gun battle. “The The referendum, triggered presidential campaign. university in the southern President Emmanuel Macron. with sticks and bats. verdict will be handed down by a group of Amsterdam stu- Last week’s referendum French city of Montpellier was Universities in Paris, Three people were injured on April 23,” presiding judge dents as a citizens initiative, went hand-in-hand with suspended yesterday after being Montpellier, Toulouse, Bor- in the skirmish. On Wednesday, Marie-France Keutgen told was held on March 21 alongside municipal elections in the accused of abetting a violent deaux, Nantes and Nancy have the university dean Philippe the Brussels court. municipal elections across 380 Netherlands in which results attack on students protesting all been affected to various Petel was arrested along with a Islamist gunman Rad- Dutch local councils. were fractured, with local education reforms that have degrees. The situation escalated professor on Wednesday, on ouane Lakdim, who shot dead The students were angered parties doing well, as well as sparked demonstrations at sharply in Montpellier, where suspicion of abetting or partic- four people last week in by what they saw as a bid by the eco-friendly leftist party campuses around the country. hooded men armed with bats ipating in the eviction. southern France, including a authorities to grab over-arching GroenLinks, which emerged In the past few weeks, pro- stormed a lecture theatre to dis- Several students claimed policeman killed after taking powers but proponents say it as the largest in several major testers have shut down or lodge students staging a sit-in. they recognised several pro- the place of a hostage, said will give security services cities. severely disrupted classes at Videos shared on Facebook fessors among the attackers. during the siege he was acting on behalf of the Islamic State group and demanded the release of Abdeslam. Prosecutors have recom- Italy parties meet, but obstacles to govt deal abound mended a maximum of 20 years in prison for Abdeslam, 28, and Soufiane Ayari, his REUTERS League, its more moderate ally cautiously positive tones there two houses of parliament last that it was the “people’s will” that 24-year-old co-defendant. Forza Italia (Go Italy!) and the are major obstacles in the way week many commentators saw he should get the job because The pair are being tried ROME: Italy’s political parties left-wing Free and Equal party. of forming a ruling coalition. the deal as paving the way to a 5-Star, with 33 percent of the on terrorist-related charges met yesterday to try to find The 5-Star’s Senate leader The 5-Star and the League 5-Star/League government. vote, got twice the support of the of attempted murder and common ground on forming a Danilo Toninelli said the talks each claim the right to name the However this solution, which League, on 17 percent. possession of banned government in the wake of this had been “constructive” and had prime minister and lead a gov- would alarm Brussels and Another stumbling block is weapons over the shootout month’s inconclusive election, focused on policies that could ernment — the former as the investors because of both parties’ the role of Forza Italia and its on March 15, 2016. Seven ahead of formal consultations win broad support in parliament, largest single party and the latter hostility to EU budget rules, now leader, four-times prime min- days later, suicide bombers with the president next week. such as measures to combat as the leading party in a conserv- looks threatened by mutual ister Silvio Berlusconi. 5-Star is from a cell linked to the The anti-establishment poverty, rather than on gov- ative coalition that won most par- vetoes. The first involves the fiercely hostile to Berlusconi, November 2015 Paris attacks 5-Star Movement, which won ernment posts. Forza Italia’s rep- liamentary seats. After their leadership: Salvini said this week who has a conviction for tax killed 32 people and wounded most votes at the March 4 resentative Anna Maria Bernini leaders, 5-Star’s Luigi Di Maio and it is not vital that he should be fraud and is on trial in another hundreds more at Brussels election, organised meetings in also said the meeting had been the League’s Matteo Salvini, joined prime minister, but Di Maio is case for allegedly bribing airport and a metro station in parliament with the far-right “useful”, but beyond the forces to elect the speakers of the less flexible. He said on Tuesday witnesses. the Belgian capital. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 EUROPE 11 Sarkozy to face trial for influence peddling REUTERS The case came about after Former French 2013 and March 2014, breaching the same charges. Influence- investigations into him politically investigators used phone-taps president Nicolas lawyer-client privilege. He used peddling can be punished in motivated. “All this energy PARIS: Former French president to examine separate allegations Sarkozy, who the mobile phone account under France by up to five years in wasted on ridiculous matters at Nicolas Sarkozy was ordered that late Libyan leader Muammar is embroiled in the alias “Paul Bismuth” only for prison and a fine of €500,000 a time when all our legal means yesterday to stand trial for Gaddafi funded Sarkozy’s cam- calls with lawyer Thierry Herzog. ($682,000). Sarkozy lost presi- should be dedicated to fighting influence peddling over accusa- paign. The investigators began several criminal Based on the intercepts, dential immunity from legal terrorism,” Olivier Marleix, tions he offered to help a prose- to suspect the former president investigations, denies Sarkozy, who still had political prosecution a month after he left Republicans lawmaker and long- cutor get promoted in return for had kept tabs on a separate case any wrongdoing and influence at the time despite office in June 2012. time supporter of Sarkozy, said. leaked information about a through a network of informants. has vowed to have having left office, is accused of Sarkozy, who was called One of the many factors that separate criminal inquiry. Yesterday’s development having discussed offering a pro- “president bling bling” by many played in 40-year-old Emmanuel Sarkozy, who is embroiled came just over a week after all cases dismissed. motion to a prosecutor in return due to his flashy style, has been Macron’s presidential election win in several criminal investiga- Sarkozy, 63, was told he was His lawyers said for tip-offs on another campaign dogged for years by accusations in May 2017 was a promise of a tions, denies any wrongdoing being formally treated as a they would appeal funding probe. of wrongdoing, but none has led clean break with traditional and has vowed to have all cases suspect in the election campaign That investigation, into accu- to a conviction. He is challenging French politics, often marred by dismissed. His lawyers said they investigation. yesterday’s decision sations that Sarkozy’s former an earlier order to stand trial on accusations of corruption. would appeal yesterday’s Sarkozy was president from to try him. party treasurer Eric Woerth and charges of illicit spending overruns Sarkozy’s predecessor, decision to try him. 2007 to 2012 but was defeated others exploited the mental during his failed 2012 campaign. Jacques Chirac, was convicted “Nicolas Sarkozy will... by Socialist Francois Hollande crime unless he is sent to trial. frailty of France’s richest woman, After being put under inves- in 2011, after his retirement, of calmly wait for the result of the when he ran for re-election. He Sarkozy’s lawyers had pre- Liliane Bettencourt, to extract tigation over the Libya probe, misusing public funds to keep motion for a declaration of inva- has since faced a series of inves- viously argued that magistrates political donations, was dropped Sarkozy went on prime time tel- political allies in phantom jobs. lidity. He does not doubt that tigations into alleged corruption, investigating the alleged secret without charges. evision to reject those accusa- That made the now ailing once again the truth will fraud, favoritism and campaign- Libyan funding exceeded their A source close to the inves- tions, which he said were making Chirac the first French head of triumph,” his lawyers said in a funding irregularities. powers and went on a “fishing tigation said that along with his life “hell”. state convicted since Nazi col- statement. His appeal will be Under French law, a suspect expedition” by tapping his con- Sarkozy, Herzog, and the pros- Sarkozy and his Republicans laborator Marshal Philippe heard on June 25, it said. is not formally charged with a versations between September ecutor would also face trial on party have repeatedly called Petain in 1945. Driver tries to ram Italy arrests five in Berlin soldiers as France market attack mourns terror victims investigation AFP AFP the square of the sleepy town yesterday, held a day after a VARCES-ALLIÈRES-ET- national tribute to officer Arnaud ROME: Italian police RISSET: A man driving a car with Beltrame in Paris led by Pres- yesterday arrested five people fake licence plates tried to ram a ident Emmanuel Macron. as part of an anti-terror raid group of soldiers out jogging in “You fell under the bullets linked to a Tunisian who southeast France yesterday, of terrorism and took with you staged a deadly attack on a security sources said, sparking the insouciance of a little town Berlin Christmas market in fears of a new attempted attack in Occitanie where no one 2016, Italian media reported. as the country mourns the expected to ever experience Anis Amri, a rejected victims of an Islamist shooting such happenings,” Trebes asylum seeker, had rammed spree last week. Mayor Eric Menassi told a stolen truck into the Speaking French and mourners at the gathering crowded square, killing 12 Arabic, the man first threatened attended by Prime Minister people and wounding about a group of soldiers at 8am in Edouard Philippe. 100 others. The Islamic State Varces-Allieres-et-Risset, near Security forces have been group claimed responsibility Grenoble, and then tried to run repeatedly targeted during the Royal visit for the attack on December down another group returning string of jihadist attacks that 19, 2016 -- its deadliest ever Britain’s Queen Elizabeth holds a bouquet after attending the Royal Maundy service at St George’s to their barracks from a jog, the have claimed the lives of over carried out in Germany. Chapel in Windsor, yesterday. sources added. 240 people around France in Amri, who had previously “The soldiers managed to get the past three years. At least six lived in Italy, was killed four up onto the pavement without security force members have days after the assault by being hit,” army spokesman been killed during that period. police in a Milan suburb. The Colonel Benoit Brulon said. The In last week’s attack, five detained yesterday are driver of the small Peugeot 208 Moroccan-born Radouane accused of activities linked to hatchback, who was accom- Lakdim fired at a group of UK Labour Party plunges into crisis “international terrorism” and panied by a woman, sped off policemen returning from a jog procuring false documents for AFP without causing any injuries. before storming the Super U supporters have been accused Immediately after the victory migrants, the Italian AGI news Prosecutors in Grenoble, a store and shooting dead two of a “complacent” approach to he was forced on the defensive agency reported. town in the foothills of the people. He also killed the pas- LONDON: A high-profile resig- the problem. for having once referred to The suspects included a French Alps, said the incident senger of a car he hijacked in nation in Britain’s main oppo- Corbyn started the week with Hamas and Hezbollah — groups Tunisian national from the city was not being treated as a ter- Carcassonne. sition Labour over its handling an apology for “pockets” of anti- that deny Israel’s right to exist -- of Latina, south of Rome, who rorist attack for the moment Beltrame intervened during of multiple anti-Semitism alle- Semitism in the party that was as “friends” at a discussion about had allegedly planned to and the motive remained the supermarket siege to take gations pitched the party into quickly rebuffed by British Jewish the prospects for peace in the provide Amri with fake identity unclear. One security source the place of a cashier Lakdim crisis yesterday on an issue that leaders who accused him of siding Middle East. papers to help him flee abroad, initially said that the driver was was using as a human shield. has stalked its hard-left leader with anti-Semites. They called a The latest crisis began last investigators told AGI. among two people arrested But after three hours of Jeremy Corbyn ever since he protest on Monday, saying week when Corbyn was forced The raids were carried around lunchtime in Grenoble, negotiations the gunman, who took charge. “enough is enough”. to apologise over a Facebook post out in several cities including but others later contradicted this claimed allegiance to the The resignation of Christine Around 500 demonstrators he wrote in 2012 in support of a Rome, Latina, and Naples. as the investigation continued. Islamic State group, slit Bel- Shawcroft, the official in charge gathered outside the parliament street artist whose mural, fea- Amri, who was 24 when The incident comes with trame’s throat before himself of cracking down on anti- in London, where they were met turing clear anti-Semitic sym- he was shot dead by police, France on edge after a jihadist being shot dead by police. Semitism in the party, was the with counter-protests by Jewish bolism, was due to be removed landed on the Mediter- rampage in the towns of Car- Paying tribute to Beltrame latest twist in a row that came to a Corbyn supporters, leading to following complaints. ranean island of Lampedusa cassonne and Trebes last week at a national ceremony in Paris, head this week when Jewish cam- heated exchanges and minor Corbyn made a latest in 2011 and spent four years where a 25-year-old gunman President Emmanuel Macron paigners held an unprecedented physical confrontations. attempt to quell the crisis by in prison in Sicily for killed four people, including said his act of self-sacrifice protest outside parliament. Members of the main rally giving a long interview to Jewish burning down a school. a policeman who took the would “remain etched in Scores of party members shouted “shame on you” and News. Corbyn revealed that In the aftermath of the place of a hostage in a super- French hearts”. Other deadly have been suspended, expelled “scum” at the group of around there had been 300 internal Berlin attack, Italian police market siege. assaults on police include the or forced to resign for making 50 Corbyn supporters, who party referrals for anti-Semitism raided several homes where The people of Trebes paid massacre at the Charlie Hebdo anti-Semitic statements since claim that the accusations lev- since 2015. Of that number, he Amri had reportedly stayed an emotional farewell to three satirical magazine in Paris in Corbyn became party leader in elled at Labour are politically said 150 were either expelled or in 2015 in an agricultural local victims at a ceremony in January 2015. 2015, but he and his far-left motivated. resigned. region southeast of Rome. Kin of Siberia blaze dead flay ‘inaction’ AFP shopping mall were children. cinema, the lights had gone out “The prosecutors received these and a fire had started. She said KEMEROVO: Relatives of some complaints and are working on that she ran to the top floor of the of the 64 people who died in the them. Now they will question rel- mall, where the cinema was Kemerovo shopping centre fire atives of the dead and establish located and found four firefighters in Siberia have lodged the timeline of events,” a local who said they could not go in. complaints with prosecutors activist, Maxim Uchvatov, said. “I fell on my knees and alleging inaction by firefighters Investigators will look into started begging: ‘Guys, save my at the scene as new details the firefighting equipment and children,’ to which they emerged of the tragedy. the timing of events, using cell answered indifferently: ‘We can’t Several people have submitted phone records, said Uchvatov, help you at all. We’re waiting for complaints “against emergency who had lost distant relatives a brigade of rescuers,” she wrote services and law enforcement in the fire. in her complaint. officers,” a spokesman for regional Among those to complain Previously investigators said prosecutors told Interfax news were couple Nadezhda Vos- the cinema doors had been agency yesterday. trikova and Igor Sabadash, who locked, apparently to keep out “In their view, due to the lost a daughter, daughter-in-law those without tickets. inaction of firefighters and and three grandchildren in the Vostrikov said most cinema- police, people were killed; they blaze, reported RBK daily. goers ran out but his family and lacked the necessary equipment Vostrikova wrote that her others were slower and when An aerial view taken with a drone yesterday shows people visiting a makeshift memorial in tribute to and skills,” the spokesman said. daughter Alyona phoned to say they reached the exit, the cor- the victims of a shopping mall fire in the industrial city of Kemerovo in western Siberia. Forty-one of the dead in the that they were locked in the ridor was full of thick smoke. 12 AMERICAS FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Venezuela jailbreak bid sparks blaze, 68 dead

AFP Venezuela’s prisons “I am a desperate mother. My suffer from dire son has been here a week. They CARACAS: A total of 68 people overcrowding and have not given any information,” died during an attempted jail- a shortage of basic Dora Blanco told local media. break in Venezuela after a fire Local news correspondents engulfed police holding cells in supplies, struggling wrote on Twitter that the facility one of the worst tragedies in under the deepening was tense Wednesday night. years in a notoriously violent and economic crisis that Venezuela’s prisons suffer overcrowded prison system. is gripping the once- from dire overcrowding and a Attorney General Tarek shortage of basic supplies, strug- William Saab gave the death toll wealthy country. gling under the deepening eco- in the pre-dawn mayhem at the nomic crisis that is gripping the police headquarters in northern have been named to investigate. once-wealthy country. Carabobo state, blaming a fire Photos taken by Nieto’s group Because of the lack of space thought to have been started showed the body of a man with in penitentiaries, convicts are deliberately. burns and firefighters trying to often sent to police holding cells Relatives of inmates at the General Command of the Carabobo Police waiting outside the prison in Carlos Nieto, head of a pris- put out flames. like the ones in Carabobo, meant Valencia, Venezuela. oners’ rights group called Una Relatives of those being kept to be used as temporary pens for Ventana a la Libertad (A Window in the detention center tried to suspects facing charges or court on Freedom), said that some pris- force their way in. After one hearings, where detainees are incident, he added. “All the police Two weeks ago, 58 detainees clash between rival gangs left 12 oners burned to death and others officer was injured by a tossed supposed to spend a maximum stations in Venezuela are facing escaped holding cells on Mar- dead and 11 injured in the Puente choked after setting fire to mat- stone, the crowd was dispersed of 48 hours. similar or worse conditions of garita Island after punching a Ayala prison in the eastern city tresses and stealing a guard’s gun by police firing tear gas. Nieto’s association estimated overcrowding, lack of food and hole in their facility’s wall. They of Barcelona. A month before in an attempt to break out. A video posted on Twitter that the temporary detention disease,” he said. were all soon recaptured. that, the remains of 14 people The dead included two showed dozens of people centers were overfilled by five The association said 65 In August 2017, a riot left 37 were found in a mass grave in women who were visiting the demanding information in front times their capacity. And what people died last year in the dead and 14 wounded in police the General Penitentiary of Ven- jail, the attorney general said, of police guarding the site. happened late on Wednesday in holding cells due to violence, cells in the southern state of ezuela, in San Juan de Los Morros adding that four prosecutors Women were seen crying. Carabobo is not an isolated malnutrition or tuberculosis. Amazonas, while an April 2017 in the country’s center.

Trump ousts Veterans Affairs chief, taps WH doctor to replace him Approval AFP Pentagon official Robert from Trump’s physical, Jackson command, is the president’s The Department of Veterans Wilkie would serve as interim said “he has incredible genes and nominee fully prepared to lead Affairs is the largest federal rating of WASHINGTON: US President department chief until Jackson that’s the way God made him.” such a massive bureaucracy?,” agency after the Pentagon, Donald Trump shook up his receives Congressional approval, VoteVets, a progressive organi- Chenelly asked in a statement. employing 360,000 people. Trump on cabinet once again, sacking the president added. zation, urged Senators to “ask Shulkin’s departure caps a Lack of funding has embattled Veterans Affairs Shulkin’s sacking had been him blunt, direct questions about dizzying month of changes to the weakened the hospital network Secretary David Shulkin and widely predicted after he was how the VA works” during his Trump cabinet, most notably the specifically dedicated to the the rise nominating White House doctor accused of spending $122,000 confirmation hearing. sacking of Rex Tillerson as sec- health of veterans -- a key con- AFP Ronny Jackson as his successor. on a nine-day trip to Europe with “We are concerned about his retary of state on March 13. stituency for Trump. “I am pleased to announce his wife, which included sight- readiness to assume control,” the Trump’s top economic And the system has come that I intend to nominate highly seeing at castles and taking in group wrote on Twitter. advisor Gary Cohn also exited under criticism from many vet- WASHINGTON: US President respected Admiral Ronny L. professional tennis matches. AMVETS Executive Director the White House after the pres- erans and organizations for Donald Trump’s approval Jackson, MD, as the new Sec- He was one of the few senior Joe Chenelly questioned ident announced plans to impose falling short, particularly in rating has ticked up, retary of Veterans Affairs,” said officials in the Trump adminis- whether Jackson, who has no tariffs on imports of steel and terms of psychiatric care. according to two recent polls Trump, who has also replaced tration who had also served experience in management, is aluminum, a policy Cohn did not Hundreds of thousands of — an increase that could be his secretary of state and during the presidency of Barack qualified to run a $200bn a endorse. veterans, many who served in due to rosier US economic national security advisor in the Obama. Jackson’s stock with year bureaucracy, the second And National Security Iraq and Afghanistan, suffer from data — but the Republican last month. Trump rose after he pronounced largest agency in the US Advisor HR McMaster was axed post-traumatic stress disorder. leader’s popularity still “I am thankful for Dr. David in January that the 71-year-old government. only six days ago, replaced by The 58-year-old Shulkin had remains below that of his Shulkin’s service to our country president was in “excellent” “With an official bio that the hardline Fox News pundit served as undersecretary of vet- predecessors. and to our GREAT VETERANS!” health. does not seem to contain any and former UN ambassador erans affairs for health under Trump’s rating moved up he said on Twitter. After releasing the results indication that he’s held a John Bolton. Obama. from 35 percent to 42 percent from February to March, according to CNN’s monthly opinion poll and another study jointly conducted by Lula denounces violence The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The two on poll campaign trail polls have a margin of error of 3.7-4.2 percentage points. AFP nearby with several hundred Management of the cheering supporters in Curitiba. world’s largest economy CURITIBA: Brazil’s former Denouncing Lula as a remains the strong point for leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula “scoundrel,” Bolsonaro told the the real estate mogul-turned- da Silva denounced violent crowd: “We can’t accept elec- president -- more Americans protesters during his presi- tions without Lula being locked (48 percent) now approve of dential campaign tour and up.” Bolsonaro, who has praised how he is handling the vowed he’d return to power torture and Brazil’s two- economy than disapprove (45 anyway. decade-long military dicta- percent), according to the In a day that laid bare the torship, didn’t mention Tues- CNN poll. raw divisions in Brazil ahead of day’s shooting incident. Instead The sweeping tax cuts October presidential elections, he repeated his campaign adopted by Congress in Lula angrily told a crowd of promise to loosen gun laws and December are also a high several thousand in the get tough on crime. “I want a... point for Trump: 46 percent southern city of Curitiba that all police that shoots to kill,” he said. of Americans polled approve TESS, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, is shown in this conceptual illustration. along his 10-day bus tour of the However, many other of the president’s fiscal policy, region he had been dogged by major politicians denounced the AP-NORC study reveals. anti-democratic opponents. the apparent attack on Lula. On the negative side, Trump Late on Tuesday, his convoy Center-right President Nasa resuming search for planets earns lower marks for his was shot at, he said, with three Michel Temer expressed “regret” trade policy and an attitude bullets hitting two buses, and said: “We need to reunite towards Russia that is seen as although no one was injured. Brazilians. We need to pacify the orbiting stars beyond solar system “too easy,” the CNN poll says. Earlier, people had thrown country. This wave of violence, REUTERS stones and eggs at his buses and this climate of ‘us against them,’ during the past 20 years, revo- between Earth and the moon while he was on stage. “I only cannot continue.” For 27-year- lutionizing one of the newest every two and a half weeks. US President know that they’re not democrats. old university professor Leticia WASHINGTON: The search for fields in space science. Kepler’s positioning system They’re more fascists and Nazis Mreuz, who turned out in world’s circling stars far beyond Nasa expects TESS to detect broke down in 2013, about four greets Roseanne than anything else,” he said. Curitiba to hear Lula speak, the our solar system will resume in thousands more previously years after its launch, and it has AFP Even as Lula spoke to his harassment during his campaign the coming weeks with Nasa’s unknown worlds, perhaps nearly run out of fuel. red-shirted supporters, oppo- swing spelled trouble. launch of a spacecraft scientists hundreds of them Earth-sized “So it’s perfect timing that nents positioned in buildings “I think Lula is the victim of hope will enlarge the known or “super-Earth”-sized -- no we’ll be launching TESS to con- NEW York: The return of hit overlooking the square tried to political persecution. This is a catalog of so-called exoplanets larger than twice as big as our tinue the great activity of sitcom “Roseanne” was a drown him out by banging pots time of fear,” she said. believed capable of supporting home planet. looking for planets around stars ratings triumph for its Trump- and letting off fireworks. Large When Lula left office after life. Such worlds are believed other than our sun and thinking voting star and the US pres- numbers of police stood by, two terms at the start of 2011, Nasa plans to send the Tran- to stand the greatest chance of about what it might mean for life ident is also apparently a fan, separating the rally from a he was Brazil’s most popular siting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, having rocky surfaces or in the universe,” Paul Hertz, calling to congratulate the smaller counter-protest held by president on record, having or TESS, into orbit from the oceans, and are thus con- NASA’s director of astrophysics, show’s actress on her success. a right-wing group. presided over a commodities- Kennedy Space Center in Florida sidered the most promising told reporters at a news briefing The first two episodes, Lula — who easily leads in fueled economic boom and aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket candidates for the evolution of in Washington on Wednesday. broadcast on ABC on Tuesday the polls despite fighting to winning plaudits for his social set for blast-off between April life, as opposed to gas giants TESS, roughly the size of a after a 21-year-old hiatus, avoid having to serve a 12-year policies. However, he inspires 16 and June on a two-year, similar to Jupiter or Neptune. refrigerator with solar-panel averaged more than 18 prison sentence for corruption equally passionate opposition $337m mission. Astronomers hope to end up wings, is equipped with four million viewers, reportedly — was defiant. “Save your and is blamed by the right and The latest Nasa astrophysics with anywhere from 10 to 30 special cameras to survey making it the highest-rated rockets for January 1, when I am many in the center for Brazil’s endeavor is designed to build on more rocky exoplanets for 200,000 stars that are rela- sitcom broadcast in more sworn in,” he said. slide into the mammoth “Car the work of its predecessor, the further study. The new probe tively near the sun and thus than three years. Actress Hours earlier, his closest Wash” corruption scandal that Kepler space telescope, which will take about 60 days to attain among the brightest in the sky, Roseanne Barr said the rival, right-wing former army has shaken the country over the discovered the bulk of some its highly elliptical, first-of-a- seeking out those with planets Republican called personally captain Jair Bolsonaro, met last four years. 3,500 exoplanets documented kind orbit that will loop TESS of their own. to congratulate her. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 CLASSIFIEDS 13

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For advertisements, call: 44557857 Pen.Mag Every Sunday - Thursday FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 HOME 15 Aspetar provides medical support to Samla Race 2018 THE PENINSULA doctors, three physiotherapists, a challenging event organised to three nurses and one massage test participants’ physical and DOHA: For the fourth consecutive therapist. These experts are split mental strengths, individual year, Aspetar, the orthopaedic and into three cars running alongside skills and overall fitness. The sports medicine hospital in Qatar, contestants to ensure all medical race trek extends across Qatar’s is providing round-the-clock care is readily available vast desert spaces. medical support to the 200 throughout the non-stop race. Supporting such events athletes competing in this year’s Aspetar has also positioned cements Aspetar’s leading role Samla Race 2018; a Desert a movable clinic and ice bath in the treatment and prevention Extreme Trek for athletes with an along the course to treat injuries. of local, regional and interna- adventurous spirit. A team of ambulances is also on tional athletes’ injuries across all The race, which began yes- standby to transfer patients in sports. Aspetar’s experts have terday and runs until April 1, an emergency. a wealth of experience in sup- involves a series of challenges In the weeks leading up to the porting athletes taking part in over a 200km trek that begins main race, Aspetar experts have major tournaments in Qatar in Zekreet and ends in Zubara organised workshops to educate and abroad, including the 24th Castle. The challenges include participants about the health risks Men’s Handball World Cham- running, shooting, swimming, they will face during the race, pionship in 2015, the 2015 AIBA cycling and kayaking. sharing tips on how to stay World Boxing Championships, Aspetar’s multidisciplinary hydrated and well-supplemented and the 2016 UCI Road World Aspetar’s medical team in Samla Race 2018. medical team consists of three with nutrients. The Samla Race is Championships.

‘Student’s Book Bank’ inaugurated THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Students India Qatar chapter has opened its blossoming voluntary program “Student’s Book Bank” for the new academic year. The function held in Youth Forum office at Hilal was inau- grauted by Youth Forum president Jamshid Ibarhim. Students India president Osama presided over the function. Programme conveners Thoufeeq Mambad, ‘Chaliyar Doha’ celebrates World Water Day Mohammed Shabeer (Vice President, Youth Youth Forum President Jamsheed Ibrahim Forum), Haris Puthukol (General Secretary, Youth inaugurating the “Student’s Book Bank”. BELOW: THE PENINSULA ICC general secretary Jutas Paul inaugurated Forum) and Students India representative Aamir Student volunteers collecting the books. program. All participants in the function took the addressed the gathering. DOHA: World Water Day, held on March 22 every pledge to conserve and protect water by reducing Students Book Bank is the voluntary service year, is about focusing attention on the impor- the usage and spreading the awareness. conducted by the Students India in coordination tance of water. The theme for World Water Day Chaliyar Doha president VCI Mashood lead with Youth Forum,where used academic text 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature- the oath. Hyder Chungathara presided over the books and guides are collected from students of based solutions to the water challenges we face function.Chaliyar Doha general secretary Abdul different schools and are distributed systemati- in the 21st century. Latif Faroke, Ashraf Chirakkal, Siddeeque cally to the needy. Students can donate as well as Chaliyar Doha, a well-known environmental Vazhakkad and Basheer Kuniyil delivered collect new sets of books from student’s Book organisation in Qatar, conducted discussion ses- speeches. Layis Kuniyil welcomed the gathering Bank. sions on significance of preserving water for a and Basheer Manikkadav delivered vote of thanks. Parents and students actively participated in better future. The meeting stressed about impor- Chaliyar Doha office bearers Manaf Edavanna, Ajmal donating books during the collection which com- and ends on March 31, officials said. Students/ tance of water and its conservation. The session Areekode, Kesavadas Nilamboor,Haseeb Akkode, menced from March 23 and concluded on March parents can collect the used books from 7pm till expressed concern about the “Day Zero” situation Zameel Chaliyam, Shanavas CP, Sidhiq CT, Jabir 27. Book Bank now has a large bundle of academic 10pm, at Youth Forum Office, Hilal (C-ring Road). of Cape Town and reminded that other cities in Beypore, Sunil Mathur, EA Nasser and Abi Chun- books from classes I-XII of all Indian schools. For location related information and queries, the world is in process of following Cape Town. gathara organized the program sessions. Distribution of the books began on March 28 contact 66739213, 30485351 and 44439319.

CROSSWORD NOVO Pearl Qatar ROYAL PLAZA VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER Tomb Raider (2D/Action) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30pm & Baaghi 2 (Hindi) 2:30 & 11:30pm 12:00midnight Real Player One 10:00am, 12:00noon, 12:45, 3:30, Peter Rabbit (2D/Animation) 1:45, 3:30 & 5:15pm 5:15, 6:15, 9:00, 11:10 & 11:45pm Ready Player One (2D/Action) 2:30 & 9:00pm Hurricane Heist (2D) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 6:00, Maan Jao Naa 5:00 & 9:30pm 8:00, 8:15, 10:00, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight Acrimony (2D) 10:15am, 2:45, 7:15 & 11:45pm 7 Days In Entebbe (2D/Thriller) 5:00 & 11:45pm Etlouly Barra (2D/Arabic) 12:45, 5:15 & 9:45pm My Perfect You (Tagalog) 7:00 & 9:15pm Baaghi 2 (2D/Hindi) 10:00am, 3:00 & 8:00pm Hurricane Heist (2D/Action) 7:15pm 7 Days In Entebbe (2D) 12:50, 5:50 & 11:00pm Etlouly Barra 7:00pm Talq Sena3y (2D/Arabic) 10:00am, 2:30 & 11:00pm Poomaram (Malayalam) 11:30pm Pacific Rim: Uprising (2D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:30 & 9:00pm Black Panther (2D/Action) 10:00am & 12:45pm Red Sparrow (2D/Action) 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm ASIAN TOWN Ready Player One (3D/IMAX) 11:00AM, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00PM Baghi 2 (Hindi) 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15pm, 12:00midnight & 01:00am Poomaram (Malayalam) 12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45, MALL 11:30pm & 02:00am IRA (Malayalam) 3:45 & 9:15pm Baaghi 2 (Hindi) 11:30am, 9:30 & 11:30pm Rangastalam(Telugu)12:15,12:30, 3:30, 6:45, 10:00pm& 01:00am Peter Rabbit (2D/Animation) 4:15 & 6:00pm Poomaram (Malayalam) 2:00pm Cake 2:00pm AL KHOR Rangastalam(Telugu) 4:30pm My Perfect You (Tagalog) 7:30pm Maan Jao Naa 4:45 & 11:30pm Peter Rabbit (Animation) 10:30am, 1:15 & 3:15pm Hurricane Heist (2D/Action) 7:45 & 9:45pm Ready Player One (Action) 10:30am, 6:00 & 11:30pm 7 Days In Entebbe (2D/Thriller) 9:30pm Pacific Rim (Action) 10:30am My Perfect You (Tagalog) 5:15 & 10:00pm Ready Player One (2D/Action) 2:15, 7:00pm & 12:00midnight Baaghi 2 (Hindi) 12:30, 3:30, 6:15, 9:15pm & 12:00midnight LANDMARK The Hurricane Heist 1:00, 7:45pm & 12:30am Poomaram (Malayalam) 3:15 & 8:45pm Rangastalam(Telugu) 2:00pm Poomaram (Malayalam) 2:00pm Baaghi 2 (Hindi) 5:00 & 11:30pm Peter Rabbit (2D/Animation) 2:15, 4:00 & 5:45pm ROXY Ready Player One (2D/Action) 7:30 & 11:15pm Peter Rabbit (Animation) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30pm Maan Jao Naa 4:30 & 9:15pm 7 Days In Entebbe (Thriller) 7:30pm Baaghi 2 (Hindi) 10:30am, 1:20, 4:10, 7:00 &9:50pm My Perfect You (Tagalog) 7:00 & 11:30pm Etlouly Barra 10:00pm Ready Player One (Action) 10:30am, 1:20, 4:10, 7:00 & 9:50pm Hurricane Heist (2D/Action) 9:30pm The Hurricane Heist (Action) 10:30am, 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30 & Yestserday’s answer 9:45pm Pacific Rim (Action) 6:30, 9:50 & 11:10pm FLIK Mirqab 7 Days In Entebbe 8:40pm Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Baaghi 2 6:20pm & 12:20am Black Panther 4:00pm Etlouly Heist 2:20 & 6:40pm Hurricane Heist 5:30, 9:10 & 11:15pm READY PLAYER ONE Pacific Rim: Uprising 4:20, 9:25 & 11:50pm My Perfect You 7:35 & 10:50pm Peter Rabbit 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:05 & 4:25pm Poomaram 5:15 & 9:15pm Ready One Player 1:30, 4:35, 7:40 & 10:45pm 3D 3:25, 6:30, 9:35pm & 12:35am Red Sparrow 6:40 & 10:00pm Sherlock Gnomes 1:50 & 5:00pm Tomb Raider 12:00noon,2:40, 8:30 & 11:00pm

When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. 16 MORNING BREAK FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 11 AM Huge chocolate statues spring up in Belgium SHOROOK 05. 28 AM REUTERS ZUHR 11. 39 AM MAGHRIB 05. 51 PM ASR 03. 07PM ISHA 07. 21 PM DURBUY: It sounds like a choc- oholic’s dreamland - giant sculp- tures of elephants and flamingos WEATHER TODAY all crafted from Belgian chocolate. The animal creations, up to 3 metres tall, are the centrepiece of an exhibition in Belgium of around 50 chocolate pieces by 40 international artists. The Choco- Palace festival, in the small city of Durbuy, southeast of Brussels, also features a chocolate river and stalls selling macaroons and choc- olate drinks. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Chocolate sculptures of a koala, elephant, eagle and a gorilla are seen during the chocolate The festival has already sculpture festival in Durbuy, Belgium yesterday. attracted more than 30,000 vis- itors and is set to draw in plenty more over the holiday weekend until it closes on April 8. Durbuy, with a population of around 10,000, light-heartedly bills itself as “the smallest city in the world”, and attracts sightseers from nearby Brussels and Lux- embourg. “The idea was to bring the biggest chocolate sculpture festival in the world to the smallest city in the world,” said Laura Trommelen, from PLG, the o o advertising group that has 24 C 35 C organised the festival. Minimum Maximum

Misty to foggy at places at first becomes relatively hot daytime with some scattered New frog clouds and dustyby night. Cracked it! Experts find answer HIGH TIDE 04:00 – 16:30 LOW TIDE 10:45 – 22:15 species found

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department in Venezuela to the knuckle-popping puzzle and Colombia AFP AFP “The sound that is But the mathematical model appears generated when one cracks to resolve this apparent contradiction CARACAS: Venezuelan and PARIS: It has puzzled scientists for over his or her knuckles is due by showing the sound can be produced Colombian scientists have 100 years but now they appear to have to the partial collapse of by partial collapse, the researchers said. identified a new species of frog cracked it: what, exactly, is it that causes Earlier studies using ultrasound had in the Perija mountain range that wince-inducing sound when you a cavitation bubble that’s reached a similar conclusion linking the shared by both countries that pop your knuckles? Love it or loathe it, in the fluid in the joint,” sound to changes in pressure in the joint is home to unusual species like knuckle-cracking is very common. explained Abdul Barakat, fluid. A 2015 paper suggesting it was this small amphibian. Earlier studies have established that a professor at the Ecole actually the formation of a bubble rather With multi-colored skin not all joints can be cracked, and that — than its collapse which caused the dis- and a distinctive song, the for that those that can — the act can’t be Polytechnique. So far, tinctive crack. Hyloscirtus japreria was dis- repeated for another 20 minutes. knuckle-cracking has not “We wanted to look at it mathemat- covered during expeditions But the source of the sound remained been shown to be beneficial ically because all the previous work was over the past decade living in a mystery. And “popping”, it turns out, based on observation or imaging, so we rivers and cascades at alti- is exactly what it is, researchers said yes- or harmful. Contrary to tried to build a mathematical model that tudes above 3,280 feet. terday after finding that the distinctive popular belief, medics say it described the physical phenomena that It was named in honor of cracking sound was caused by the col- does not cause arthritis. governed this,” Barakat said. the Japreria, a disappearing lapse of microscopic bubbles of joint “We showed that the collapse gave indigenous ethnic group in fluid in the hand. you the right signature sound.” Although the Perija in the northwestern Using a mathematical model Polytechnique. “It could be multiple it may not settle the debate once and for Venezuelan state of Zulia. alongside a geometrical representation bubbles, but we showed that the collapse all, the research is sure to trigger a spon- The frog’s discovery — of the joint, experts from Paris’ Ecole of a single bubble is sufficient to give you taneous bout of knuckle-popping. published in February in the Polytechnique and Stanford University the signature sound you get,” he said. “After publishing this paper, my peer-reviewed scientific in the United States simulated the events Although experts had initially linked daughter tried it out and now she cracks journal Zootaxa — brings to leading up to the crack. the sound to the collapse of knuckle her knuckles,” said Barakat, himself a 37 the number of species “The sound that is generated when bubbles back in 1971, their findings were knuckle-cracker. identified as belonging to the one cracks his or her knuckles is due to thrown into question after further So far, knuckle-cracking has not Hyloscirtus genus. the partial collapse of a cavitation bubble studies showed there were still bubbles been shown to be beneficial or harmful. Small in size, the males that’s in the fluid in the joint,” explained left in the fluid after the knuckles had Contrary to popular belief, medics say measure between 2.8 and 3.2 Abdul Barakat, a professor at the Ecole been cracked. it does not cause arthritis. centimeters (up to 1.25 inches) in length and the females from 3.5 to 3.9 centimeters. The journey that led to their discovery began in 2008. “Several years went by Astronomers find a galaxy without dark matter before we found enough evi- dence that it was a new AFP photographic survey, but it’s species,” biologist Fernando uniqueness didn’t come to light until Rojas-Runjaic, the coordi- PARIS: Stupefied astronomers unveiled the later. Dokkum’s team used the Keck nator of the study, said. first and only known galaxy without dark telescopes in Hawaii to track the Once they determined it matter, the invisible and poorly-understood motion of several star clusters — each was a “stream frog, we had to substance thought to make up a quarter of with about 100,000 stars — within the verify that it wasn’t a Hylo- the Universe. galaxy. scirtus platydactylus, another The discovery could revise or even upend The clusters, they found, travelled species found in the Perija in theories of how galaxies are formed, they at the same speed as the galaxy, itself 1994,” he added, The scien- reported in the journal Nature. moving through the Universe. Had tists recorded the find with “This is really bizarre,” said co-author there been dark matter, the clusters cameras and high-definition Roberto Abraham, an astronomer at the Uni- would be moving slower or faster. sound recorders to capture its versity of Toronto. “For a galaxy this size, it Abrahams recalls seeing the distinctive coloring and should have 30 times as much dark matter as graphic plot showing the motion of analyze its song. regular matter,” he said. “What we found is that DF2’s constellations for the first time, The sounds emitted by there is no dark matter at all.” “That shouldn’t and wondering if something was the frog, which can be heard be possible,” he added. amiss. “We asked ourselves where from 15 meters (yards) away, There are 200 billion observable galaxies, we had screwed up, if the measure- is one of its most distinctive perhaps more, astronomers estimate. Some ments were wrong,” he said. characteristics, said expe- The galaxy named NGC 1052-DF2, a large fuzzy-looking galaxy so diffused that 65 million light-years from Earth, NGC1052- “Then I suddenly realised the dition member Edwin Infante. astronomers call it a ‘see-through’ galaxy because its missing most, if not all of its DF2 — “DF2” for short — is about the same implications. That’s as close to an ‘Oh The H. japreria is also size as our Milky Way, but has 100 to 1,000 dark matter, is shown in this photo obtained from Nasa. My God’ moment as I got.” A galaxy characterized by a pale times fewer stars. entirely bereft of dark matter raises yellow dorsal area with tiny Dark matter’s existence is inferred from The discovery was made with a new cottage industry as astronomers struggle vexing questions that, so far, have dark brown spots and small the motion of objects affected by its gravita- kind of telescope developed by Abraham to explain their strange properties. “Eve- stumped astronomers. “It challenges reddish brown smudges. tional pull. “It is conventionally believed to and lead author Pieter van Dokkum of rything about them is a surprise, starting the standard ideas of how we think It also has whitish stripes be an integral part of all galaxies, the glue that Yale University. Unlike mirror-based with the very fact they exist,” Abraham galaxies work,” said Dokkum. in certain parts of its eyes, holds them together and the underlying scaf- devices, the mobile Dragonfly Telescope said. Up to now, the analysis of galaxies Figuring out how something as ears, thighs and feet. The folding on which they are built,” said co- Array is composed entirely of nano- has shown a fairly tight ratio of dark to big as a galaxy is held together frog’s iris is grey with a author Allison Merritt from the Max Planck coated lenses, 48 in all. “Conventional tel- ordinary matter. But this new class “is without dark matter will be difficult, slender black reticulation. Institute for Astronomy, in Germany. escopes are good at finding small, faint breaking all the rules,” he said. but understanding how it formed in Working with Rojas- So-called ordinary matter — including stars, objects. Ours is really good at finding large The first anomalies discovered were the first place will be even harder, he Runjaic, of the Caracas-based gases, dust, planets and everything on them — ones,” said Abraham. galaxies almost entirely composed of dark said. Whatever the explanation, a La Salle Natural History accounts for only five percent of all content in Indeed, over the last few years Dokkum matter. That was odd enough. But the real galaxy with no dark matter poses an Museum, were Colombian the Universe. Dark matter and dark energy com- and Abraham have used it to uncover a shocker was DF2, which has virtually ironic challenge to astronomers who biologist Fabio Meza-Joya prise the rest, and scientists have yet to directly whole new category of sparsely populated none at all. DF2 was first identified by question the very existence of the and Venezuelans Infante and observe either. “ultra diffuse galaxies” — and sparked a Russian astronomers conducting a substances, according to the study. Patricia Salerno. BUSINESS Friday 30 March 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 20

QSE listed firms QSE FTSE100 DOW BRENT Germany’s post QR38.56bn 8,573.99 7,056.61 24,272.48 $64.79 unemployment net profit in 2017 +20.85 pts +11.87 pts +424.06 pts +0.41 hits record lows 0.24% 0.17% 1.78%

Nominal GDP in Q4 up by 9.4% at QR160.88bn

THE PENINSULA DOHA: Qatar’s quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices (nominal) for the When compared to fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017 was estimated at QR160.88bn, previous quarter registering a year-on-year (Q3 of 2017) increase of 9.4 percent revised estimate compared to QR147.04bn, the of QR152.21bn, estimate of Q4 of 2016. When compared to pre- an increase of 5.7 vious quarter (Q3 of 2017) percent was noticed revised estimate of QR152.21bn, Qatari-Omani business cooperation recognised an increase of 5.7 percent was at QR95.67bn, which showed a noticed, preliminary estimates decrease of 0.4 percent over the The members of Qatari business delegation posing for a group photo with their Omani counterparts after being honoured at Economic released by the Ministry of estimate of Q4 2016 Vision Awards ceremony in Muscat, yesterday. The Qatari delegation included Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, Vice- Development Planning and Sta- (QR96.04bn). However, com- Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Chairman of the Public Works Authority, Dr Ali bin Hamed Al Mulla, and tistics show. pared to Q3 2017 revised Sayed Omar bin Hussain Al Fardan, CEO of Alfardan Group and others. The quarterly GDP at con- estimate, there has been a stant prices of 2013 (the real decrease of 6.4 percent in the GDP) in Q4 of 2017 QR204.22bn real GVA of this sector. shows a growth of 1.8 percent The nominal GVA estimate compared to QR200.69bn, the of Non-Mining and Quarrying estimate of Q4 of 2016. activities was estimated at QFMA & QFCRA sign MoU for cooperation However, compared to the pre- QR107.44bn in Q4 2017, which vious quarter (Q3 of 2017) showed an increase of 6.7 THE PENINSULA revised estimate of QR209bn a percent over the estimate of Q4 utive Officer of the QFC Regu- without being required to obtain to provide investment man- decrease of 2.3 percent was 2016 QR100.67bn. Compared latory Authority. any additional licence or an agement services for any recorded. to the previous quarter (Q3 of DOHA: The Qatar Financial Under the MoU, the QFMA authorisation from the other investment fund established in The nominal Gross Value 2017) revised estimate, an Markets Authority (QFMA) and and the QFCRA have established regulator. the State, including funds listed Added (GVA) estimate of Mining increase of 5 percent has been the Qatar Financial Centre Regu- a basis for cooperation on Under the MoU, an on the Qatar Exchange, without and Quarrying activities was recorded. latory Authority (QFCRA) matters relating to the licensing, investment manager licensed by being required to obtain a estimated at QR53.44bn in Q4 The real GVA of these activ- announced yesterday that they regulation and supervision of the QFMA will be permitted to second license from the QFMA, 2017, which shows an increase ities totaled QR108.55bn in Q4 have signed a Memorandum of investment management for manage the investment of an however, only by being regis- of 15.2 percent over the 2017, which shows a growth of Understanding (MoU) relating to funds established in the State investment fund established in tered at the QFCRA. The new estimate of Q4 2016 placed at 3.7 percent over the estimate investment management of and the Qatar Financial Centre the QFC without being required arrangement between the QFMA QR46.37bn. Compared to the of the corresponding quarter in investment funds established in (QFC). to obtain a second authorisation and the QFCRA will streamline previous quarter (Q3 of 2017) 2016 QR104.65bn. the State or in the Qatar Under the MoU, companies from the QFCRA, however only licensing requirements, make revised estimate, there has However, compared to Q3 Financial Centre (QFC). that are licensed by the QFMA by being registered at the QFMA. clear the regulatory require- been an increase of 7.1 percent 2017 revised estimate, the real The MoU was signed by or authorised by the QFCRA will The same arrangement will ments applicable to investment in the GVA of this sector. GVA of Non-Mining and Quar- Nasser Ahmad Al Shaibi, Chief be permitted to conduct apply to an investment manager managers, and accelerate the The real GVA of these activ- rying activities have increased Executive Officer of the QFMA investment management activ- authorised by the QFCRA, who development of asset man- ities in Q4 2017 was estimated by 1.6 percent. and Michael Ryan, Chief Exec- ities for investment funds under the MoU, will be permitted agement in Qatar.

Canadian firms establish council to boost economic ties Oil prices slip THE PENINSULA as US supply Bank. “It has taken years of hard DOHA: Aiming to boost work to get us to this point,” growth offsets economic and trade relations said CBCQ Board of Directors between Qatar and Canada, a Secretary and CNA-Q Chair of Opec support new business era has dawned Business Studies, Brenda in Qatar with the registration of Lockyer. “However, this is just LONDON: Oil prices slipped the recently-established the beginning. The formation of yesterday as another rise in Canadian Business Council the CBCQ means visibility and US inventories and Qatar (CBCQ) with the Qatar prominence in the Qatar production outweighed the Financial Centre (QFC). business sector.” prospect of Opec sticking to The Council’s goal is to “The Embassy of Canada is its output curbs for the rest provide a forum for Canadian looking forward to working of the year. Business Executives and other with the CBCQ to raise Canada’s Brent crude, the inter- invited members in Qatar to profile and further develop our national benchmark, identify, discuss and pursue brand here in Qatar,” said touched $71 a barrel on common interests regarding Canadian Ambassador. Tuesday, near its high for Adrian Norfolk (second left), Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, Youssef Mohamed Al Jaidah (second their activities. The CBCQ also “At this time, with the still the year, but has dipped right), CEO of the QFC, and other officials at the launch of CBCQ in Doha on Wednesday. aims to provide a forum for ongoing adaptations to the since then. June Brent crude members to network and changed economic geography futures were down 35 cents exchange information and Canada and Qatar. Members from Doha Bank, event were Adrian Norfolk, that the country has faced since at $68.41 by 1310 GMT, while experiences and pro-mote Attending the public launch College of the North Atlantic- Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, June 5th last year, there con- the May contract expiring on commercial, economic, tech- of the CBCQ on Wednesday 28 Qatar (CNA-Q),The Look Youssef Mohamed Al Jaidah, tinue to be considerable oppor- Thursday was down 25 nical, sport and cultural rela- March 2018, at an event held at Company, Stantec, Multiplex, Chief Executive Officer of the tunities and potential for cents at $69.28. WTI crude tionships as well as bi-lateral the Intercontinental Doha the and Apparel Qatar. QFC, and Dr R Seetharaman, Canadian and Qatari futures fell 11 cents to trade and investment between City Hotel, were Founding Among those present at the Chief Executive Officer of Doha partnerships.” $64.27. 18 BUSINESS FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 China warns US not to unleash trade ills on world REUTERS reflect that because much of the product is sent offshore for low value added Japan’s aluminium industry calls BEIJING: China warned the United States processing. yesterday not to open Pandora’s Box and The feedback from US & The source said the US semiconductor for US to scrap import tariffs spark a flurry of protectionist practices industry had not asked the Trump admin- REUTERS across the globe, even as Beijing pointed Chinese officials on the istration to urge China to buy more US to US goods that it could target in a deep- nature & extent of trade chips and had been told by senior US offi- Aluminium Association told a news ening Sino-US trade dispute. talks remains mixed, media cials that the US government had not TOKYO: Japan’s aluminium industry conference, adding that Japanese China could target a broad range of made such a request to Beijing. yesterday called for the United States to makers will also seek product US businesses from agriculture to aircraft, reports show. “We don’t need China to buy more scrap import tariffs on aluminium, exemptions. autos, semiconductors and even services chips,” the source said, adding that US claiming that they are against interna- Japan’s production of rolled and if the trade conflict escalates, the official dialogue and negotiations. The feedback industry was concerned about being tar- tional rules and pose a serious problem extruded aluminium is estimated to China Daily newspaper said in an edi- from US and Chinese officials on the geted by Chinese non-tariff barriers. for the industry and global trade and be 2.06 million tonnes in the year to torial yesterday. nature and extent of trade talks remains “It’s more about (Chinese) subsidies, economic growth. March 31, according to association President Donald Trump’s move last mixed, media reports show. IP protection, and cyber rules,” the source Last week, US President Donald data. Exports to the US are estimated week to slap up to $60bn in tariffs on The Financial Times reported only on said, referring to concerns over Chinese Trump temporarily excluded six coun- to be 31,000 tonnes out of total exports some Chinese imports has since provoked Monday that China had offered to buy retaliation. tries, including Canada and Mexico, of 203,853 tonnes. “We are also a warning from Beijing that it could more US micro-chips and move more China has long said it would like to and the countries of the European worried that aluminium products that retaliate with duties of up to $3bn of US quickly to finalise rules allowing foreign import more US high-tech goods, Union from higher US import duties are shut out by the United States may imports. firms to take majority stakes in Chinese including high-end chips, but has been on steel and aluminium that went into flood the Asian market,” Okada said. China’s biggest US imports are air- securities firms, citing people briefed on stymied by US export controls set on effect on Friday. The exclusion The association also issued its craft and related equipment, soybeans the negotiations. national security grounds. The Trump included most US allies, but not Japan. outlook for the metal in Japan in the and autos, with the total bill about $40bn Chinese customs data shows the US administration is accusing Chinese firms “We will ask the Japanese gov- business year starting April, predicting last year. accounted for just $2.6bn, or 1 percent, of stealing intellectual property and ernment to continue seeking a country demand for rolled and extruded alu- “The malicious practices of the United of China’s total semiconductor imports forcing US firms to share commercial exemption from the new US tariffs,” minium to fall 0.1 percent from the States are like opening Pandora’s Box, and last year by value, with suppliers in South secrets - allegations that China denies. Mitsuru Okada, chairman of the Japan current year to 2.05 million tonnes. there is a danger of triggering a chain Korea, Taiwan and Japan commanding Yesterday, China’s State Council, or reaction that will spread the virus of trade a bigger share. cabinet, said transfers of Chinese intel- protectionism across the globe,” a com- But a source in the US semiconductor lectual property rights to foreign investors Government approval will also be said on ThUSay the US approach to trade merce ministry spokesman said. industry said US companies have slightly will be reviewed if national security is needed for intellectual property transfers could trigger a domino effect and US trade The official line from China continues more than 50 percent of China’s market determined to be at stake, or if core tech- involving semiconductors, software and protectionism will only hurt US to be stern even as Beijing says it is all for for chips, though export data does not nological innovations are involved. agriculture. China’s commerce ministry consumers.

US exchange giant CME Group buys British operator NEX for £3.9bn

AFP issued in London. CME Group, services.” NEX Chief Executive which owns the Chicago Mer- Michael Spencer added the move LONDON: US exchange giant cantile Exchange, the Chicago to maintain CME’s European base CME Group has agreed to buy Board of Trade and the New York in London was a ‘tremendous’ British operator NEX for about Mercantile Exchange, added that boost to the sector, which con- £3.9bn in a deal aimed at cost- there was a ‘compelling strategic tinues to face uncertainty before cutting and diversifying their busi- and financial rationale’ for the Britain’s departure from the nesses, it said yesterday. deal. European Union in one year’s The cash-and-shares “At a time when market par- time. takeover offer, worth $5.4bn or ticipants are seeking ways to “CME’s decision to choose ¤4.4bn, valued each NEX share at lower trading costs and manage London as its European head- £10, Chicago-based CME risk more effectively, the acqui- quarters is also a signal of tre- announced in a statement. sition will allow us to create sig- mendous support for Britain’s NEX will shift headquarters to nificant value and efficiencies for financial services sector,” Spencer Chicago, but the combined our clients globally,” added CME said. company will keep its European Chairman and Chief Executive He added: “The combination headquarters in London in a Brexit Officer Terry Duffy. of NEX and CME will be an boost to Britain’s financial services “As one organisation, we will industry-changing transaction. iQiyi’s celebrates its IPO sector. be able to employ the comple- “Bringing together cash and “The boards of CME and NEX mentary strengths of each futures products and OTC services Yu Gong (centre), Founder and CEO of China-based iQiyi (IQ), rings the Opening Bell at Nasdaq are pleased to announce that they company, while diversifying our will be unique, offering clients MarketSite in Times Square with employees and investors in celebration of its initial public offering have reached agreement on the combined businesses across improved access to trading, (IPO) yesterday in New York City. terms of a recommended acqui- futures, cash and OTC (over-the- greater financial efficiencies and sition,” the pair said in a statement counter) products and post-trade highly valuable data sets.” GKN shareholders Trump assails Amazon on taxes & retail competition accept £8.1bn AFP tremendous loss to the US), and Trump has long been at odds all businesses’. During the 2016 takeover offer are putting many thousands of with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, campaign, Trump said the US WASHINGTON: US President retailers out of business!” The a vocal opponent of the Repub- online giant could have ‘a huge from Melrose Donald Trump (pictured) took aim comments came a day after a lican in the 2016 election cam- antitrust problem’ if he were yesterday at Amazon, claiming the report by the news site Axios that paign. Bezos is also the owner of elected, and suggested Bezos US online giant pays too little in Trump was ‘obsessed’ with the Washington Post, a frequent bought the daily newspaper as a AFP taxes and hurts other retailers. Amazon, believing the tech giant target of Trump over its news move to protect Amazon ‘so that “I have stated my concerns fails to pay enough taxes and gets coverage. they don’t have to pay taxes and LONDON: Shareholders in with Amazon long before the preferential treatment from the US On Wednesday, a White House don’t get sued for monopolistic British engineering group Election,” Trump tweeted. Postal Service. official declined to comment spe- tendencies’. GKN, a historic company that “Unlike others, they pay little The report said Trump’s cifically on the report but com- Bezos responded by offering made Spitfires and tanks or no taxes to state & local govern- wealthy friends complain that mented that the president ‘has said to send the Republican candidate during World War II, ments, use our Postal System as Amazon is killing shopping malls he’s always looking to create a to space with his Blue Origin space yesterday accepted an £8.1bn their Delivery Boy (causing and brick-and-mortar retailers. level playing field for exploration firm. (¤9.2bn, $11.4bn) takeover offer from investment firm Melrose. Melrose said it had received majority support from GKN shareholders for its France prepares ¤1.5bn push to QSE listed companies post final offer following a hostile QR38.56bn net profit in 2017 takeover battle that has lasted foster artificial intelligence research for over two months and AFP THE PENINSULA ignited a political debate over $30m in France, including at its closed trading at 8,573.99 the tactics used by the turna- Microsoft AI school opened this points yesterday. round specialist. PARIS: President Emmanuel month, which is targeting 400,000 DOHA: The 45 listed companies The volume of shares “We are delighted and Macron is to unveil yesterday a students over the next three years. at Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) traded increased to 9.84 grateful to have received bold plan to make France a centre Macron’s dinner guests have disclosed their financial million from 8.15 million on support from GKN share- of reference for artificial intelli- included Yann LeCun, the New results for the year ended Wednesday and the value of holders for our plan to create gence research, aimed at drawing York-based Frenchman who until December 31, 2017, posting a shares increased to a UK industrial powerhouse,” homegrown and foreign talent in recently ran the AI research lab at combined net profit of QR38.56bn QR299.75m from QR199.47m Melrose chairman Christopher a field dominated by US and Facebook. Also attending was for that period versus QR38.14bn on Wednesday. Miller said in a statement. Chinese players. Demis Hassabis of Britain’s for the corresponding period in From the 45 companies Business Secretary Greg The proposals, which Macron’s DeepMind -- creator of the 2016, an increase of 1.10 percent, listed on QSE, shares of 44 Clark has come under office said would be backed by AlphaGo system that in 2016 beat QSE said in a statement yesterday. saw trading yesterday. From pressure to intervene in the ¤1.5bn ($1.85bn) in public funds, an elite human player of the Vodafone Qatar’s financial these, 25 companies gained deal amid concern expressed follow months of interviews with specialists and industry leaders Chinese game ‘Go’ -- which will year changed from March 31 and 19 closed lower, reports by MPs over asset stripping AI experts worldwide by star convened as part of a conference open in France its first European to December 31. QNA. that could harm national mathematician Cedric Villani, now held in Paris yesterday, at which research centre. Therefore, the financial Indices of two sectors security given GKN’s defence a lawmaker in Macron’s Republic he was to outline his priorities. “Much of the discussion information represents only a ended in red and five sector industry role. On The Move (LREM) party. Both Fujitsu of Japan and centred on the best way to nine-month period. ended in green yesterday. QSE Clark has called for Villani’s report, presented South Korean giant Samsung accompany the huge changes The financial statements Total Return Index gained ‘binding’ agreements over Wednesday, calls for doubling the announced Wednesday that they made possible by artificial intelli- for all listed companies can be 0.24 percent to 15,105.76 Melrose’s proposal for the pay of young researchers and would set up AI research centres gence and their ethical implica- found on Qatar Stock points and QSE Al Rayan future of GKN. Melrose has engineers, and tripling the number in France, while Google said it tions, and to ensure they are ben- Exchange website, the Islamic Index increased 0.07 already committed to keep of students specialising in artificial would sponsor a dedicated AI eficial to humanity,” said Marie- statement added. percent to 3,549.24 points. GKN listed in London and intelligence over the next three chair at the country’s elite Poly- Paule Cani (pictured), who will Meanwhile, the QSE main QSE All Share Index added headquartered in Britain as years. Macron hosted a dinner technique engineering school. hold Google’s new AI chair, of the index gained 20.85 points, or from 0.21 percent to 2,525.17 part of a five-year pledge. Wednesday for about a dozen AI Microsoft said it would invest evening’s exchanges. 0.24 percent, when the bourse points. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 BUSINESS 19

QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE

QE INDICES SUMMARY QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON WORLD STOCK INDICES EXCHANGE RATE

QE Index 8,573.99 0.24 % 29-03-2018 Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low Currency Buying Selling Index 8,573.99 US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE Total Return Index 15,105.76 0.24 % All Ordinaries 5868.9 -30.3 -0.51 6256.5 5881 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index Change 20.85 UK QR 5.0894 QR 5.1600 % 0.24 - Price 2,194.02 0.07 % Cac 40 Index/D 5159.21 28.77 0.56 5567.03 5038.12 Euro QR 4.4595 QR 4.5214 YTD% 0.59 QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,549.24 0.07 % CA$ QR 2.7963 QR 2.8514 Volume 9,846,448 Dj Indu Average 23848.42 -9.29 -0.04 26616.71 20379.55 Swiss Fr QR 3.7838 QR 3.8369 QE All Share Index 2,525.17 0.21 % Value (QAR) 299,751,498.28 Hang Seng Inde/D 30093.38 70.85 0.24 33484.08 29129.26 Yen QR 0.03388 QR 0.03454 QE All Share Banks & Financial Trades 4,734 Services 2,796.74 0.07 % Up 06 | Down 37 | Unchanged 1 Iseq Overall/D 6598.84 49.63 0.76 7257.41 6410.26 Aus$ QR 2.7700 QR 2.8251 Ind Re QR 0.0554 QR 0.0565 QE All Share Industrials 2,886.66 0.13 % 28-03-2018 Kse 100 Inx/D 45489.62 316.63 0.7 45494.52 40169.62 Pak Re QR 0.0311 QR 0.0319 QE All Share Transportation 1,807.12 0.42 % Index 8,553.14 S&P 500 Index/D 2605 -7.62 -0.291661 2872.87 2532.69 Peso QR 0.0691 QR 0.0705 QE All Share Real Estate 1,833.19 0.27 % Change 140.84 SL Re QR 0.0232 QR 0.0237 QE All Share Insurance 3,102.84 1.85 % % 1.62 YTD% 0.35 GOLD AND SILVER Taka QR 0.0435 QR 0.0444 QE All Share Telecoms 1,091.30 1.08 % Volume 8,159,081 Nep Re QR 0.0346 QR 0.0353 QE All Share Consumer GOLD QR155.6707 per gramme Value (QAR) 199,471,502.73 SA Rand QR 0.3051 QR 0.3112 Goods & Services 5,402.81 1.05 % Trades 3,714 SILVER QR1.9121 per gramme

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED

Aarti Drugs-B/D 506 -7.35 2551 Dhampur Sugar-/D 136.65 -2.4 66397 Indusind-A/D 1795.6 7.7 40613 Mrpl-A/D 109.6 -1.75 41978 Aban Offs-A/D 159.25 -4 145957 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2082.45 -19.7 18522 J.B.Chemical-B/D 309 4.05 3030 Nagreeka Ex-T/D 27.5 -0.45 16840 LONDON Acc Ltd-A/D 1508.2 -16.3 12283 E I H-B/D 158 -1.95 18640 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 94.55 -4.95 5482 Nagreeka Ex-T/D 27.5 -0.45 16840 3I Group/D 869 0.4 435956 Aegis Logis-A/D 259.3 -2.45 9557 E.I.D Parry-A/D 276.45 -5.05 8420 Jagson Phar-B/D 26.8 -0.4 851 Nahar Spg.-B/D 86.5 -1.85 15804 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2491 -11 225219 Alembic-B/D 53.3 -2.9 60688 Eicher Motor-A/D 28201.7 -210.9 1114 Jamnaauto-B/D 78.65 -0.7 76568 Nation Alum -A/D 66.75 -0.85 588105 Barclays/D 204.75 -1.25 9661238 Alok Indus-T/D 2.99 0.14 1900995 Electrosteel-B/D 24.4 -1.05 87860 Jbf Indu-B/D 84.25 -6.4 112959 Navneet Edu-B/D 142.25 0.7 4297 Bp/D 479 7.6 9930052 Apollo Tyre-A/D 275.4 0.75 148118 Emco-B/D 10.3 -0.35 41752 Jct Ltd-X/D 2.77 -0.09 194978 Neuland Lab-B/D 707 -11.95 1165 Brit Am Tobacc/D 4112.5 28.5 1422708 Asahi I Glass-/D 331 -1.55 1942 Escorts Fin-Xt/D 4.63 0.22 5772 Jik Indust-T/D 0 0 0 Nrb Bearings-B/D 153.25 -1.65 4280 Bt Group/D 230.6 4.85 8502382 Ashok Leyland-/D 145.3 0.65 3678543 Escorts-A/D 818.35 -7.65 37132 Jindal Drill-B/D 150.2 -2.45 14469 O N G C-A/D 177.8 -1.8 163343 Centrica/D 143.6 2.15 7741491 Bajaj Hold-A/D 2623.95 12.95 6857 Eveready Indu-/D 372.1 4 2853 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 161.65 4.7 122219 Ocl India-B/D 1298.7 -28.45 1364 Gkn/D 425.5 2.5 1822190 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.48 -0.24 181127 F D C-B/D 256 2.6 7591 Jmc Projects-B/D 547.4 -14.05 2502 Oil Country-B/D 31.6 -1.2 8560 Hsbc Holdings/D 666 -3.7 5263439 Bata India-A/D 728 -11.35 44375 Federal Bank-A/D 89.35 -1.65 417434 Kabra Extr-B/D 117.9 -4.05 10261 Onward Tech-B/D 87 -3.1 5340 Kingfisher/D 293.3 2.8 3402459 Bayer Crop-A/D 4200 47.8 20929 Ferro Alloys-X/D 8.11 -0.4 147660 Kajaria Cer-A/D 567.25 -12.1 22998 Orchid Pharm-M/D 11.05 -0.55 59348 Land Secs./D 941.4 6.4 467402 Beml Ltd-A/D 1044.15 -19.1 29005 Finolex-A/D 650 2.1 2291 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 251.35 24.15 44364 Orient Hotel-B/D 41.7 -0.45 9837 Legal & Genera/D 261.3 3.9 4939800 Bhansali Eng-B/D 170.35 2.6 152813 Forbes-B/D 3094.8 18.15 6746 Kalpat Power-B/D 481.45 5.6 11875 Orient.Carb.-B/D 1010 -27.85 1409 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 64.88 -0.03 30708727 Bharat Bijle-B/D 1495 -44.6 3391 Gail-A/D 328.6 7.6 782781 Kalyani Stel-B/D 296.55 0.25 24220 Orient.Carb.-B/D 1010 -27.85 1409 Marks & Sp./D 271.6 4.4 2409852 Bharat Ele-A/D 142.05 -1.05 780226 Garden P -B/D 32.3 -0.6 1820 Kanoria Chem-B/D 66.25 -1.6 7151 Patspin India-/D 13.5 -0.15 19653 Next/D 4853 21 142836 Bharat Heavy-A/D 81.4 -1.35 364524 Godfrey Phil-A/D 820.95 -6.4 14236 Kg Denim-X/D 45.5 -2.65 23416 Punjab Chem.-X/D 389 -9 799 Pearson/D 755.4 4 480670 Bharatgears-B/D 169.95 -5.8 2393 Goodricke-X/D 299.4 -12.2 11426 Kilburnengg-X/D 74.05 -0.55 9368 Radico Khait-A/D 331.1 -10.5 131642 Prudential/D 1802 -37 1220517 Bhartiya Int-B/D 395.05 -13.5 1630 Goodyear I -B/D 1111.85 -24.65 5751 Kinetic Eng-Xt/D 68.7 -0.4 7863 Rallis India-A/D 236.55 9.95 47069 Rank Group/D 209.5 0 9141 Bom.Burmah-X/D 1168.95 -7.25 20774 Hcl Infosys-A/D 51 -1.3 337022 Kopran-B/D 55.15 -2.55 53269 Rallis India-A/D 236.55 9.95 47069 Rentokil Initi/D 275.4 4.2 1696261 Bombay Dyeing-/D 239.35 -2.85 710134 Him.Fut.Comm-A/D 25.9 -0.7 966245 Lakshmi Mach-A/D 6872.9 113.55 1362 Reliance Indus/D 433.85 -4.4 70760 Rolls Royce Pl/D 875.4 2.6 560268 Canfin Homes-A/D 485.05 -23.2 179054 Himat Seide-X/D 349.8 6.9 15546 Lakshmi Mill-X/D 3210 -137.55 143 Ruchi Soya-B/D 16 -0.4 310279 Rsa Insrance G/D 636.8 5.2 253406 Caprihans-X/D 87.7 1.35 4206 Hind Motors-T/D 7.05 -0.1 23017 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 39.85 0.55 2491 Saur.Cem-X/D 69.95 -0.55 22345 Sainsbury(J)/D 238.9 4.4 3228639 Castrol India-/D 205.1 2.75 64138 Hind Org Chem-/D 23.15 -0.3 43790 Lgb Broth-B/D 1056 -8.25 59 Savita Oil-B/D 1411 12.75 180 Schroders/D 3213 26 58448 Century Enka-B/D 301 -0.8 4082 Hind Unilever-/D 1335.9 3.4 95753 Lloyd Metal-X/D 15.95 0.25 493594 Tanfac Indu-Xt/D 113.55 -2.55 2272 Severn Trent/D 1860 12 400249 Century Text-A/D 1145.25 -9.2 22049 Hind.Petrol-A/D 344.15 -2.4 129004 Lumax Ind-B/D 2159.5 -10.05 3108 Tanfac Indu-Xt/D 113.55 -2.55 2272 Smith&Nephew/D 1337.5 -12 817474 Thirumalai-B/D 1718 -16.3 5142 Chambal Fert-A/D 162.6 -1.3 23075 Hindalco-A/D 214.2 -4.35 302176 Lupin-A/D 736.4 -11.7 99220 Smiths Group/D 1519 7 480972 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1827 5.05 67435 Lyka Labs-B/D 45.55 -0.75 8832 Til Ltd.-B/D 443.05 -14.55 1528 Chola Invest-A/D 1449.7 -17.15 10429 Standrd Chart /D 715.3 0.2 2071428 Chowgule St-Xt/D 12.2 -0.6 14089 Idbi-A/D 72.25 -4 9054856 Mafatlal Ind-X/D 261 -0.5 1123 Timexgroup-T/D 44.2 0.1 94168 Tate & Lyle/D 537.8 -2.2 988099 Cimmco-T/D 78 0.15 12452 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 1150 -14.35 1232 Mah.Seamless-B/D 426.5 -1.35 1654 Tinplate-B/D 187.65 -7.2 116893 Tesco/D 207.5 1.9 6518921 Cipla-A/D 543.25 0.25 53285 Ifci Ltd-A/D 19.75 -0.4 884162 Maha Scooter-B/D 2290 -0.4 706 Ucal Fuel-B/D 234.25 -6.65 16324 Unilever/D 3942 26.5 844855 City Union Bk-/D 174.85 5.6 24473 India Cement-A/D 141.65 -1.85 170982 Mangalam Cem-B/D 326.2 -7.95 1255 Ucal Fuel-B/D 234.25 -6.65 16324 United Util Gr/D 724.4 0.4 1288864 Colgate-A/D 1056.75 13.45 10303 India Glycol-B/D 452.25 -7.3 15795 Maral Overs-B/D 30.8 -0.95 5831 Ultramarine-X/D 274 -5.2 16612 Vodafone Group/D 195.6 1.72 12240254 Container Cor-/D 1239.45 14.05 9737 Indian Hotel-A/D 127.35 -2.3 301712 Mastek-B/D 528.55 -13.05 39344 Unitech P -B/D 5.56 -0.17 4055278 Whitbread/D 3708 -2 151928 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 196.05 -1.65 7146 Indo-A/D 86.15 1.25 60854 Max Financial-/D 448.25 -16.35 29153 Univcable-B/D 131.35 -0.05 4091 FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 BUSINESS 20 ‘The future is bright’ vows PM May on Britain’s tour REUTERS links rather than strengthen them. May, 61, has 12 months to plot LONDON: Prime Minister a successful course through dif- Theresa May promised Britain Britain is on course to ficult political and economic bright prospects outside the terrain. European Union yesterday as she leave the EU on March Brexiteers fret that the EU toured a country still profoundly 29, 2019, severing divorce is taking too long and divided about its future as the ties that helped could be reversed. Pro-EU cam- countdown to Brexit enters its paigners still push for a less final 12 months. define its national radical exit or a second Britain is on course to leave identity, its laws, & its referendum. the European Union at 2300 GMT international stature. A ComRes opinion poll pub- on March 29, 2019, severing ties lished yesterday showed 44 that helped define its national percent of people thought the identity, its laws, and its interna- nations of the United Kingdom, government’s handling of the tional stature over 46 years of and to paint a positive post-Brexit negotiations had been ‘a total New York Auto Show integration with European vision. shambles’. Only 29 percent were A 2018 GMC Sierra All Terrain X All Mountain concept vehicle is seen on display at the New York neighbours. “I am determined that our optimistic their households would Auto Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, yesterday. The people of Britain, the future will be a bright one,” she be better off after Brexit. world’s sixth-largest economy, said ahead of the roughly Britain’s economy has defied caused a major global shock in 1,280km trip ending in London. pre-referendum predictions of a 2016 by voting narrowly to quit Starting her tour in Scotland, swift plunge into recession, the EU after a fevered refer- May met workers in a textile buoyed in part by stronger global endum campaign that sharpened factory, focusing on the future growth. But longer term forecasts regional divisions, pitted young benefits she said Brexit could show growth grinding lower over Tunisia must improve investment against old and exposed a deep bring for trade. the next five years and lagging distrust between voters and the “I believe that we can nego- international rivals. climate to help economy grow: OECD political establishment. tiate a good agreement which is At home, May only has a In the 21 months since the tariff-free and as frictionless small majority in parliament and REUTERS referendum, May, who became trade as possible, so we maintain must find a way to corral her and lack of logistical services budget deficit and turn around an Prime Minister in the resulting those markets in the EU, but also Conservative Party, which is still were hampering investment to economy hit by turmoil following political chaos, has struggled to that we open up market around split over the best Brexit plan, into TUNIS: Tunisia must improve its boost the private sector. “Business the 2011 overthrow of autocrat El unite the country behind a single the rest of the world. Brexit pro- backing legislation that will business climate and cut red tape investment has dropped by more Abidine Ben Ali. The OECD said vision of Brexit. vides us with opportunities,” she prepare Britain for life outside the to attract more investment and than 5 percentage points of GDP that to stimulate investment the Voters’ disparate views on told broadcasters. bloc. create jobs, the Organization for since 2000, holding back the number of licenses and permits leaving are entrenched, and few The EU maintains that by That task has so far swamped Economic Cooperation and economy’s gains in productivity, needed to do business in Tunisia have any certainty about Britain’s leaving its single market and her government and its admin- Development (OECD) said job creation, growth and compet- had to be reduced, as should state long-term future. customs union, Britain will be istrative machine, leading to yesterday. itiveness,” the OECD said in the control of prices in some sectors. May will meet voters in making trade more difficult. accusations she has taken the eye In its first report on the North report. It forecast economic growth of 2.8 England, Scotland, Wales and EU Council President Donald off the ball on domestic policy African country’s economy, the Tunisia has been undertaking percent in 2018, roughly in line Northern Ireland on a whirlwind Tusk has remarked that any trade and given the socialist-led Labour Paris-based OECD said Tunisia economic reforms agreed with with the government’s own tour designed as a rallying cry for deal with Britain would be the Party a chance to build support had made progress on several the International Monetary Fund estimate, rising to 3.4 percent in the union between the four first in history to loosen economic ahead of a 2022 election. fronts but that regulation, red tape in return for loans to help cut its 2019.

Snap Inc said to Germany’s unemployment level hits record lows Vietnam’s economy cut 100 employees REUTERS expands more than year, which would be the fastest from advertising rate since 2011. Consumer sen- 7% in first quarter BERLIN: Germany’s jobless total timent rose unexpectedly heading BLOOMBERG dropped more than expected in into April, according to a GfK BLOOMBERG March and unemployment hit a survey released on Wednesday, SAN FRANCISCO: Snap Inc is record low, adding impetus to a as shoppers became more upbeat cutting another set of labour market that has already about their income and were HANOI: Vietnam’s economy employees, focusing this time become the linchpin of a more willing to spend. continued to post stellar on the advertising side of the consumer-led upswing. “Full order books and the growth in the first quarter, business after earlier trimming Household spending has strong growth of the global fueled by an export boom. staff in engineering and turned into the main source of economy make it unlikely that Gross domestic product content. growth in Europe’s biggest the job boom will come to an end rose 7.38 percent in the first The cuts total around 100 economy, propelled by rising in spring,” KfW Chief Economist quarter from a year earlier, workers, according to people employment, inflation-busting Joerg Zeuner said - though the the General Statistics Office familiar with the matter, and pay hikes and low borrowing Labour Office Head, Detlef Scheele (left) and Chief Economist at threat of a trade dispute with the said in Hanoi yesterday. represent the final step in a costs. KfW, Joerg Zeuner. United States had made firms far Vietnam has outper- restructuring process set in Federal Labour Office data less optimistic about future formed most of its Southeast motion in the fourth quarter. yesterday showed the seasonally million in February, seasonally unemployed at a time when business. Asian peers as export growth The people didn’t want to be adjusted jobless number fell by adjusted data from the Federal German firms are struggling with “The losers of a spiral of pro- remained resilient on the identified discussing internal 19,000 on the month to 2.373 Statistics Office showed unprecedented labour shortages. tectionism between the US and back of a global trade details. million, more than the 15,000 yesterday. In the coalition deal signed the EU would be consumers and recovery last year. And even “Late last year we asked forecast in a Reuters poll. “The positive development of this month, the centre-left Social employees on both sides of the though the trade outlook has senior leaders across Snap to Separately, data from the sta- the labour market continued in Democrats (SPD) persuaded Mer- Atlantic,” Zeuner said. turned more gloomy this look closely at their teams to tistics office showed that inflation March,” Labour Office Head Detlef kel’s conservatives to help inte- Household spending has also year amid rising tensions ensure they had the right accelerated more slowly than Scheele said. He said companies grate the long-term unemployed been helped by moderate between the US and China, resources and organisations to expected in March, suggesting that created more jobs with full social by creating 150,000 subsidised inflation, which has broadly the world’s two largest econ- support their missions,’’ Imran price pressures remain fairly benefits and were continuing to jobs at a cost of ¤4bn ($4.9bn). undercut average pay settle- omies, Vietnam expects to Khan (pictured), Snap’s Chief moderate despite the broad-based look for more staff. The rock-solid labour market ments to leave employees with sustain growth of about 7 Strategy Officer, said in a upswing and unprecedented The data showed that Ger- is likely to further boost con- more disposable income. percent. statement. “Tighter integration monetary stimulus. many’s prolonged upswing is now sumer confidence and household Yesterday’s preliminary Other details of the GDP and closer collaboration Unemployment dropped to also pushing down the once stub- spending in Europe’s biggest inflation data showed consumer report: Exports increased 22 between our teams is a critical 5.3 percent last month from 5.4 bornly high number of long-term economy, where domestic prices, harmonised to make percent in the first quarter component of sustainably percent in February, the lowest unemployed, which fell by 9 demand has taken over from them comparable with data from from a year earlier, while growing our business”. Snap, since Germany reunified in 1990. percent on the year to 845,000. exports as the main growth other European Union countries, imports rose 13.6 percent which operates the Snapchat Employment as measured by Opposition parties have driver. rose 1.5 percent year-on-year Consumer prices rose 2.66 app, cut around 120 engineers the International Labour Organ- accused Chancellor Angela Merkel The government has forecast after an increase of 1.2 percent percent in March from year earlier this month, saying it isation climbed to a record 44.59 of neglecting the long-term a 2.4 percent expansion for this in the previous month. earlier. wanted to maintain a high technical bar, according to an internal memo distributed at the time. In January, the company let about two dozen US consumer spending up slightly; jobless claims at 45-year low employees go on the content REUTERS side of its business. Those after a similar gain in January. It Reserve’s preferred inflation slowdown in consumer spending in February, the highest level moves fuelled further uncer- was supported by a rebound in measure. It has been below the in the first quarter after it surged since August 2017, from $471.3bn tainty for staff at a company WASHINGTON: US consumer spending on long-lasting goods, US central bank’s 2 percent target at an eye-popping 4.0 percent in the prior month. The saving that’s lost key executives and spending rose marginally for a such as motor vehicles, as was a since mid-2012. annualised rate in the fourth rate rose to a six-month high of released a widely criticised second straight month in rise in financial services and Economists believe the quarter. 3.4 percent from 3.2 percent in product redesign. February as households boosted insurance expenditures. annual core PCE price index could The tepid consumer spending January. The rolling cuts are in part savings, the latest indication that The increase in consumer accelerate to 1.9 percent in March added to data on trade, housing Income growth could pick up a response to over-hiring as the economy lost momentum in spending in February was in line as last year’s weak readings drop and business spending on as the labour market tightens Snap scrambled to build an the first quarter. with economists’ expectations. out of the calculation. The Fed equipment that have left econo- further, which should help to advertising business and But the economy’s funda- There was also a moderation raised interest rates last week and mists anticipating moderate eco- support consumer spending. release new products. mentals remain strong, with other in monthly inflation readings after forecast at least two more rate nomic growth in the first quarter. In a separate report yes- data yesterday showing the prices pushed higher in January. hikes this year. The Atlanta Fed is currently terday, the Labour Department number of Americans filing for The personal consumption Prices of US Treasuries and forecasting GDP growth rising at said initial claims for state unem- unemployment benefits dropping expenditures (PCE) price index US stock index futures held gains a rate of 1.8 percent in the Jan- ployment benefits dropped to more than a 45-year low last excluding the volatile food and after the data. The dollar was little uary-March period. The economy 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted week. A tightening labour market energy components rose 0.2 changed against a basket of grew at a 2.9 percent pace in the 215,000 for the week ended is expected to start driving up percent last month after currencies. fourth quarter. March 24, the lowest level since wages by the second half of this advancing 0.3 percent in January. The steady rise in inflation In February, personal income January 1973. year. That lifted the year-on-year last month also helped curb con- rose 0.4 percent, matching the The labour market is con- The Commerce Department increase in the so-called core PCE sumer spending. When adjusted increase of the previous two sidered to be near or at full said consumer spending, which price index to 1.6 percent, the for inflation, consumer spending months. Wages increased 0.5 employment. The jobless rate is accounts for more than two- biggest gain since February 2017, was unchanged in February after percent last month after climbing at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, not thirds of US economic activity, from 1.5 percent in January. The falling 0.2 percent in the prior 0.6 percent in January. too far from the Fed’s forecast of increased 0.2 percent last month core PCE index is the Federal month. That suggests a sharp Savings increased to $497.4bn 3.8 percent by the end of this year. SPORT Friday 30 March 2018 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 PAGE | 24 Full-strengthFul Al Sadd Australian cricket Del Potro grindsnds preparep for Al Wasl coach quits, captain down Raonic in clash breaks down in tears Miami Abdulla storms to fastest time in Abu Dhabi, confirms second spot

THE PENINSULA Adel said: “We pushed from the start today and decided to ABU DHABI: Qatar’s Adel take a risk. Suddenly we saw Abdulla confirmed second Shegawi. I think he had a flat tyre position in the T2 standings at the or something. We pass him and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with I pushed very hard to the end of the fastest time in the final the stage.” 218.57km selective section from “I was pushing the maximum Hameem to the south of Abu of the car. I didn’t even slow Dhabi yesterday. down when the engine temper- Driving a rented Nissan ature went a bit higher. Some Safari Y61 in insipid heat, the sections today were open and fast Qatar’s Adel Abdulla Qatari and navigator Nasser Al and, maybe, that helped to cool (right) and navigator Kuwari carded a stage-winning the car down,” he added. Nasser Al Kuwari time of 3hrs 23min 22sec and “The risk paid off because we celebrate after the managed to shave 11min 38sec won the stage today by over 11 final round yesterday. off rival Ahmed Shegawi’s minutes. This is fantastic for us. eventual winning margin of Second place is good with the sit- 45min 53.9sec. uation we had. We could not The performance also earned bring our car. I tried my best to Adel 12th in the overall standings do the race and collect maximum – a particularly impressive result points. To collect 36 points is very with a near-standard car on one important. of the toughest cross-country “Nasser, my co-driver, events in the world. managed everything in the right ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE – FINAL T2 POSITIONS AFTER SS5 1. Ahmed Al Shegawi (SAU)/Laurent Lichtleuchter (FRA) Toyota Land Cruiser 23hrs 17min 25.7sec 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT)/Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT) Nissan Patrol 24hrs 03min 19.6sec 3. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS)/Aldis Vilcans (LVA) Toyota LC 200 53hrs 21min 10.5sec FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – T2 standings after round 3 1. Ahmed Al-Shegawi (SAU) 75pts 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 69pts way. We were confident together was 37°C. It is too much in the to my sponsors, the Qatar Motor The next stop in the FIA

3. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS) 42pts in the car. The weather conditions dunes,” he added. and Motorcycle Federation World Cup calendar will be the 4. Alexey Titov (RUS) 25pts were very hot,” he said. “I also say thank you to my (QMMF) and Ooredoo Qatar and Qatar Cross-Country Rally in “Today, the air temperature team here on their good job and Nissan Qatar.” three weeks’ time. Russia 2018: Al Marri set to become first Qatari referee to officiate at World Cup

RIZWAN REHMAT FIFA also announced a full list of ref- employed by teams,” FIFA said on its THE PENINSULA erees who will feature in the 2018 World website yesterday. Cup. “Over the last three years, prepar- DOHA: Qatar’s Taleb Saleh Al Marri Six referees are from Asia whereas atory seminars have taken place for ref- (pictured) is set to become the first I am proud to be the first a total of 10 will represent UEFA, the erees and assistant referees focusing on Qatari referee to officiate at the FIFA referee to represent Qatar European football governing body. fair play, protecting players and the World Cup when he will serve as an in a World Cup: Taleb Saleh In total, the FIFA Referees Com- image of the game, as well as con- assistant referee in Russia this summer. mittee has selected 36 referees and 63 sistency and uniformity. Al Marri’s debut appearance in the Al Marri on Twitter assistant referees, representing 46 dif- “The selected FIFA World Cup match 32-nation event was confirmed yes- ferent countries, for the 2018 FIFA officials will attend another dedicated terday after FIFA released the final list Iran, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia World Cup, details showed seminar for two weeks in the second of referees and assistant referees who each will have two representatives in yesterday. half of April at the technical centre of will be seen in action at the June 14 to the list of 10 assistant referees. Other “The choice of the final group of the Italian Football Association in Cov- July 15, 2018 event. He will join nine AFC assistant referees are from the match officials selected to officiate at erciano, Italy.” other assistant referees representing the , the UAE and Japan. the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was The officials will be divided into two Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Al Marri featured as an assistant based on each referee’s skills and per- groups, which will also include video “I am proud to be the first referee to referee in the matches of the 2016 FIFA sonality, as well as his level of under- assistant referee (VAR) candidates,” FIFA represent Qatar in a World Cup,” Al World Club Cup held in Osaka in standing of football and ability to read added while announcing the list of Marri tweeted yesterday. December that year. both the game and the various tactics referees.

Three-way battle for QAL trophy This file photo shows action during a Qatar Amateur League match. THE PENINSULA third placed team will face Al Nasr Bidda wins against Al Khabayib same number of points and who currently leads the league and collects three points, while Al ranking, and as per tournament DOHA: Al Bidda, Al Nasr, and Al with 27 points, also today at Matar and Al Nasr draw and regulations, a playoff will be Matar will all have a thrilling close 5:10pm. collect 1 point each, Al Bidda organised at a later date to decide call today as they battle it out on In the first scenario where Al would be crowned QAL the champions of the QAL this the field of play to have a chance Nasr wins against Al Matar and champions. year. of lifting the much coveted Qatar collects three points, Al Nasr In the fourth scenario where The 13 teams competing in this Amateur League (QAL) trophy. would be crowned QAL cham- Al Bidda loses against Al Khabayib, year’s QAL are Qatar University, Al Bidda, who has so far col- pions regardless of the Al Bidda while Al Matar wins against Al Al Khabayib, Madinat Khalifa, The lected 26 points and are currently vs. Al Khabayib result. Nasr and collects 3 point, Al Matar Pearl, Al Nasr, Lusail, Al Thakhira, ranked the second placed team, In the second scenario where would be crowned QAL Al Thumama, Al Maroona, Al will face Al Khabayib, the seventh Al Bidda loses to Al Khabayib, and champions Bidda, Al Aziziya, Al Matar, and place team with 17 points, at 4pm Al Matar and Al Nasr draw, Al Nasr In the fifth scenario where Al Doha. at Al Arabi Stadium. would still be crowned QAL Bidda wins against Al Khabayib, A total of 390 players regis- Al Matar, who currently champions. and Al Matar wins against Al Nasr, tered for this year’s edition, from earned 26 points making them the In the third scenario where Al Al Bidda and Al Nasr will have the which 130 are Qataris. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Hat-trick hero Isco wants leading role at Real Madrid AP

BARCELONA: After scoring his first hat trick for Spain, Fran- cisco “Isco” Alarcon (pictured) thought the time was right to send a message to Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Isco wants to join Zidane’s untouchable group of first- choice players and regularly perform alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Luka Modric. The 25-year-old midfielder Al Sadd’s players during a said Spain coach Julen training session in Doha. Lopetegui “gives him life”. “When a footballer doesn’t feel like he has a leading role and consistent playing time with his club, the national team gives him life,” Isco said after starring in Spain’s 6-1 rout of Full-strength Al Sadd Argentina in a friendly on Tuesday. “I have the confidence of my coach here (with Spain). I still have the desire to keep tier. Zidane has preferred Mateo prepare for Al Wasl tie working, to improve, to be a Kovacic in two big games this starter with my club and with season, the home “clasico” FAWAD HUSSAIN the national side.” Zidane will against Barcelona that ended THE PENINSULA Algerian striker Baghdad decide whether to start Isco on in a 3-0 loss and a 2-1 victory Bounedjah will join the squad Saturday when Madrid visits at Paris Saint-Germain in the yesterday following his partic- Las Palmas. Champions League last-16. DOHA: Looking to maintain ipation with the Algerian With Madrid trailing league “At Madrid I don’t have the top spot in their group at the The two teams will clash on April 2 at national team in friendly leader Barcelona by 15 points, consistent playing time that a AFC Champions League, Qatari Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and Xavi’s games against Tanzania and perhaps the best guide to player needs but I know the giants Al Sadd will go all out Iran. Zidane’s plans for Isco will problem is mine, that I haven’t for a win against UAE’s Al Wasl side will be targeting full points against During the session, the come next week when the team been able to earn it,” Isco said. when the two teams meet in their counterparts to continue to lead team trained intensely amidst visits Juventus in the Cham- “I continue to work so I can Doha next week. an atmosphere of high spirits, pions League quarter-finals. show my coach he can count The two teams will clash Group C of AFC Champions League. as the team look to get the Zidane won back-to-back on me.” Zidane’s predecessors on April 2 at Jassim Bin Hamad crucial win against Al Wasl, Champions Leagues and last Rafa Benitez and Carlo Ance- Stadium and legend Xavi Her- Basra, Iraq last week. The the International Friendship which could possibly take season’s Spanish league by lotti also failed to use Isco as a nandez’s side will be targeting session witnessed the return Tournament that took place in them closer to the next round relying on a core group who regular starter. full points against their coun- of six players including Saad Basra, with the participation of the AFC Champions League. always start when fit. Lopetegui has been tight- terparts to continue to lead Al Dosari, Hassan Al Haydos, of Syria and hosts Iraq, Meanwhile, Khoukhi The former France great lipped about his plans for the Group C. Salem Al Hajri, Akram Afif, between 21st and 27th of Boualem has joined the team has stuck by those players World Cup in June but the signs ‘The Wolves’ are ahead of Pedro Miguel and Abdelkarim March. The U23 team played a for training after his recovery despite Madrid’s struggles in the are good for Isco. Iran’s Persepolis FC on the Hassan. friendly against Oman while from injury and the coaching Spanish league this season and He started both recent basis of goal difference as both Five other players who the U19 team held friendlies staff have been keen to get him an early exit from the Copa del friendlies. Following a 1-1 draw the sides have so far claimed returned after their partici- during their camp in the UK, in top shape for the upcoming Rey. at world champion Germany on 9 points from four matches. pation with the Qatar U23 team as part of the preparation for games. The best example is Karim Friday, Isco was Spain’s best The QNB Stars League include Meshaal Barsham, the upcoming AFC U-19 Elsewhere, it was con- Benzema, a player Zidane has player against Argentina and his (QSL) giants intensified their Hatem Kamal, Hussain Bahzad, Championship. firmed that Pedro Miguel will remained loyal to despite paltry treble gave him 10 goals in 27 training for the battle with an Meshaal Ibrahim and Hassan Iranian international be suspended for one domestic goal numbers. appearances for his country. extensive training session on Ahmed) while Ahmed Suhail, Morteza Pouraliganji also game, after the announcement There is also a second group “The manager doesn’t place Wednesday following the Bahaa Ellithy, Yousuf Abdul- joined the squad for training from the QFA disciplinary of players the coach picks from his trust in the player, it’s the return of their key players, razaq, Mohammed Waad after playing for his national committee following their depending on the opponent, player who has to place his trust who were busy with Qatar returned from U19 team duty. team in preparatory friendlies review of the red card incident individual form and on whether in the coach,” Lopetegui said. national team for International The senior Qatar national ahead of this summer’s FIFA in the QNB Stars League game he needs a break. Isco, despite “I hope (Isco) is happy at his Friendship Tournament in team had won World Cup in Russia while against Al Khor. showing for several seasons he club over the next two months is one of Europe’s top play- and then can come back and be makers, belongs to this latter with us.” Wenger’s desire for success still ‘big’ Arsene Wenger

REUTERS challenge. Arsenal are set to Wenger took charge of Bould added. “I admire him finish their 14th straight season Arsenal in 1996 and has led the immensely. He takes unbe- LONDON: Arsene Wenger’s without winning the league title club to three league titles and lievable stick off an awful lot appetite for success has not and Wenger said recently that seven FA Cup triumphs but has people and he’s just one of the diminished and the Arsenal calls for him to step down had failed to win in Europe. great managers. It’s a pleasure manager is doing a “great job” grown in the past few years Arsenal are sixth in the for me to sit next to him,” he at the London club, his assistant because of prejudice against league with 48 points from 30 said. Steve Bould has said. older managers. matches. Their hopes of sil- Midfielder Jack Wilshere was Bould, speaking in place of Asked if Wenger’s desire was verware lie in the Europa training without any problem an ill Wenger ahead of Sunday’s as strong as ever, Bould said: League where they face CSKA after missing England’s interna- Premier League game against “Absolutely, he is remarkable. Moscow in the quarter-finals tional friendlies against the Stoke City, said the 68-year-old Behind closed doors I’ve never next week. Netherlands and Italy last week was a great manager. met anybody who is as hungry “He’s doing a great job as far with a knee injury. Wenger has faced criticism and determined to win football as I’m concerned and he’s done Striker Alexandre Lacazette last month. Relegation- games. They beat Arsenal 1-0 in in recent seasons for the club’s games. It’s as big as I’ve ever a great job for an awful long is also back in full training after threatened Stoke are second from the reverse fixture earlier this failure to mount a serious title seen.” time,” former Arsenal defender minor surgery on his left knee bottom with 27 points from 31 season.

Hathab Series: Round 10

Riders are seen going through their paces during a training session yesterday ahead of the 10th round of the popular Hathab Series, organised by the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al Shaqab. Fans can see riders in showjumping and dressage competitions today and tomorrow at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena. Today, the action starts at 3:30pm while tomorrow riders will start competing at 10:00am. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 SPORT 23

Australia’s Steve Smith Somerset reacts during a press I’m so sorry: conference at the airport ditch in Sydney yesterday, after Memorable returning from South Africa. The distraught cricketer sporting Bancroft yesterday accepted full responsibility for a ball- AFP tampering scandal that has apologies shaken the sport, saying he LONDON: Somerset said was devastated by his “big AFP yesterday that disgraced mistake”. Australian batsman Cameron SYDNEY: When disgraced Bancroft would not be joining Australian cricketer Steve the English county side for the Smith faced the cameras in new season as the fallout Sydney yesterday with a from the cheating scandal tearful apology for a ball- gathers pace. tampering scandal, he Bancroft was banned for joined a small club of sports nine months by Australia stars who have very publicly after being caught on camera said sorry. using sandpaper to scratch Athletes have played the ball during the third Test the penitent for everything against South Africa in Cape from cheating at their sport Town. to cheating on a wife; from The 25-year-old opening pre-meditated assault on a batsman, who has played just Lehmann quits, Smith rival to simply losing. eight Tests, has said he will Here are five high- regret the incident “for the profile mea culpas: rest of my life”. Somerset director of GIANLUIGI BUFFON - 2017 cricket Andy Hurry said Ban- breaks down in tears Fans reacted with croft would not be the club’s shock and disbelief last year AFP overseas player for the 2018 followers. “I apologise for my when Italy failed to qualify season. part and take responsibility for for the football World Cup “We are currently under- JOHANNESBURG: Australian it.” for the first time since 1958 taking the process to recruit cricket coach Darren Lehmann In handing out their tough -- a failure dubbed an a replacement overseas said yesterday he would quit punishment, Australian cricket “apocalypse” by the nation’s player that best fits our needs after the final match of the chiefs bowed to uproar at home press. and will share an update in scandal-tainted Test series in where sportsmen and women “I’m not sorry for myself due course,” he said. South Africa after the team’s are held in high esteem and but all of Italian football,” former captain Steve Smith expected to act in the best an inconsolable team broke down in tears and interests of the game. captain Gianluigi Buffon How the world accepted complete responsibility CA’s response wasn’t enough said after the Azzuri missed for the ball-tampering incident. to save an estimated Aus$20m out on qualification for the reacted Smith was deeply emotional (US$15m) partnership with 2018 edition in Russia. “We as the man at the centre of a naming rights sponsor Magellan failed at something which also means something on a REUTERS storm that has rocked world which tore up its three-year con- cricket arrived back in Sydney tract yesterday after barely social level. There’s regret at finishing like that, not MATT PRIOR, former from Johannesburg after being seven months. banned for a year from the The financial cost for the because time passes.” England wicketkeeper sport. players is also growing with Buffon, one of the “Fair play Bancroft and “I take full responsibility, I sporting goods company ASICS greatest goalkeepers of the Steve Smith taking it made a serious error of ending its relationship with modern era, also head on and fronting up. judgement and I understand the Warner and Bancroft. Elec- announced his retirement That was hard to watch consequences. It was a failure of tronics giant LG axed Warner on from international football and can’t imagine what leadership,” Smith said, choking Wednesday, while Weet-Bix and after Sweden went through they’re going through. back tears as he was comforted Commonwealth Bank dumped at Italy’s expense. People make mistakes by his father Peter. Smith. but being able to own up “I know I will regret this for An emotional Bancroft said LANCE ARMSTRONG - 2013 and take responsibility the rest of my life. I am abso- he was ashamed when he Cycling star Lance Arm- takes guts.” lutely gutted. Cricket is my life arrived back in Perth. strong admitted in a 2013 and I hope it can be again. I’m “All I can do in the short term interview with Oprah HERSCHELLE GIBBS, former sorry. I’m absolutely is ask for forgiveness,” he said, Winfrey that he took per- South Africa batsman devastated.” while denying he had ever tam- formance-enhancing drugs “Hard scenes watching Within hours, Lehmann said pered with a ball before, in com- during his glittering career. the interviews with the 2 he was standing down despite ments echoed by Smith. “I made my decisions. ozzie (sic) blokes. Having Cricket Australia saying he had “This is the first time I have They’re my mistake. And I’m Head coach of the Australian cricket team Darren Lehmann reacts been through it all, take it no knowledge of the plot to alter seen this happen and it will sitting here today to during a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday at which on the chin and live with the condition of the ball in the never be happening again.” acknowledge that and to third Test in Cape Town. he announced his resignation after the forthcoming Test match Smith and Bancroft will not say I’m sorry for that,” the the consequences but against South Africa. Lehmann said he would quit after the final remain true to yourself.” “This will be my last Test as be considered for team lead- seven-time Tour de France head coach of the Australian match of the scandal-tainted Test series in South Africa. ership positions until a minimum winner told Winfrey. KEVIN PIETERSEN, former cricket team,” Lehmann, who of 12 months after the end of The American cyclist and cancer-survivor had all England batsman also had tears in his eyes, said. Cricket Australia have days of the Australian public their suspensions, and Warner his titles taken away over “Just seen @ “Saying goodbye to the banned Smith and vice-captain baying for blood. will never lead again. players was the toughest thing I David Warner from all interna- “What the public wants to Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will the scandal, which shat- stevesmith49’s press have ever had to do.” tional and domestic cricket for see is change. They want to see take over the Australian cap- tered his reputation as one conference. As a parent, Lehmann said “the feeling is a year while Bancroft was exiled you be a better person,” he wrote taincy for the fourth and final of the most widely-admired I’m gutted for him & his that Australian cricket needs to for nine months. in a column for the Sydney Daily Test starting in Johannesburg on athletes in the world for family! Shout me down if move forward and this is the Smith’s fall from grace has Telegraph. “They’ll support you Friday. both his sporting achieve- you want, but I’m speaking right thing to do”. been dramatic, and fast. if they see that, and they’ll The International Cricket ments and his philanthropic as a parent! It will get Even Prime Minister He was jeered as he made forgive you.” Council said it will review its work through the Lives- better mate!” Malcolm Turnbull has con- his way through Johannesburg Warner, a divisive figure punishment for ball-tampering trong Foundation. demned the team, describing airport on Wednesday sur- who was charged with devel- in light of the Australia scandal, HARSHA BHOGLE, Indian fielder Cameron Bancroft’s rounded by police and media oping the plot and instructing and warned the game is in TIGER WOODS - 2010 cricket commentator attempts to tamper with the ball with concerns over his mental Bancroft to carry it out, also danger unless decisive action is Golf superstar Tiger “Haven’t Australia made by using sandpaper as a state in the current heated broke his silence to say sorry and taken. Woods went on national enough of a spectacle of “shocking affront to Australia”. climate. admitted his actions had been ICC chief executive David television in 2010 to apol- Steve Smith? I’m blown Roughing up one side of the Former Australia great “a stain on the game”. Richardson, a former South ogise to his family after a by what he is being put ball would have given Australian Shane Warne, no stranger “Mistakes have been made African wicketkeeper, said the string of scandalous disclo- through.” bowlers an advantage by pro- himself to controversy, offered which have damaged cricket,” affair had been an sures about his private life, ducing more swing. the trio an olive branch despite he told his 1.6 million Instagram “eye-opener”. including the revelation that he was a serial cheat. “I know I have severely disappointed all of you. I have made you question ICC to review punishment for ball-tampering who I am and how I have done the things I did. I am AFP world -- not only Australia -- regards the sand” and address fans’ embarrassed that I have put ball-tampering in a very serious light. concerns. you in this position,” Woods LONDON: The International Cricket It goes to the spirit of the game,” said “The reaction all around the world said. “For all that I have Council will review its punishment for chief executive David Richardson. shows us that if we neglect the way done, I am so sorry. I have ball-tampering in light of the Australia “I must admit this has been an the game is played, cricket is itself in a lot to atone for.” cheating scandal, and warned the eye-opener for me personally. We danger,” he said. game is in danger unless decisive need to look at the penalty imposed, “We are going to ignore (that) at MARION JONES - 2007 action is taken. specific to ball-tampering. our peril... we don’t want to leave this US sprinter Marion Cricket Australia has banned “Around the world, ball-tam- lingering, and hope it will all go away.” Jones was sentenced to six captain Steve Smith and vice-captain pering is considered cheating... I think Richardson, a former South months in jail and banned David Warner from international and we need to look at it again, and this is African wicketkeeper, said cricket had for two years for using per- domestic cricket for a year while what has prompted this review.” been blighted by bad behaviour in formance-enhancing drugs opening batsman Cameron Bancroft The ICC review will look into recent weeks including ugly incidents before the 2000 Sydney was exiled for nine months over the player behaviour, the spirit in which of sledging, dissent against umpires’ Games -- and lying to US incident during the third Test in South the game is played and the code of decisions and now the ball-tampering federal investigators. Africa. conduct. episode. “It is with a great amount Under its current code of conduct, Richardson said the exercise, “This has been perhaps one of the of shame that I stand before the ICC was unable to impose more likely to be informed by respected worst periods in recent memory for you and tell you that I have than a full-match fine and a one-Test former players such as Australia’s consistently poor player behaviour betrayed your trust,” a tearful Australian cricketer David Warner talks to the media ban on Smith, unlike the more Allan Border, Indian Anil Kumble, and the global outcry in relation to the Jones said after pleading upon his arrival in Sydney yesterday. Warner apologised stringent penalty since levied by Shaun Pollock of South Africa and ball tampering is a clear message to guilty to the charges in yesterday for his part in a cheating scandal. Cricket Australia. West Indies’ Courtney Walsh, would cricket: enough is enough,” he wrote October 2007. “We’ve come to realise that the be an opportunity to “draw a line in in a blog post on the ICC website. FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 SPORT 24

I take full responsibility, I made a serious error of Steve Smith CRICKET CRICKET judgement and I understand Former Australian England vs New Zealand South Africa vs Australia the consequences. It was a cricket captain on the 2nd Test - Day 1 4th Test - Day 1

failure of leadership ball-tampering incident ACTION In Christchurch (22:00GMT-1d ) In Johannesburg (08:00GMT) TODAY’S

Basketball legend Ismail inspires schoolchildren THE PENINSULA said: “When I was your age, I never of the projects was incredibly high, played or liked basketball but from with the students encapsulating the DOHA: Qatar’s 3x3 basketball World the age of 14 I tried and never true spirit of Qatar and of the Champion Yaseen Ismail paid a stopped playing ever since. I would Olympics in their campaigns. surprise visit to Qatar International like to see you try the sport as well Yaseen was a professional bas- School (QIS) yesterday where he - come down to the Qatar Basketball ketball player for more than 20 inspired the students. Federation where I’m giving 3x3 years and helped Team Qatar win The legendary basketball star basketball classes.” multiple World, Asian, Arab and Gulf shared his experiences and advised “Sport is very important but titles. In 2014, he made history as the Grade-seven students who have balancing between studies and part of the 3x3 team that became been working hard on an Olympic exercise is vital to any athletes’ the Middle East’s first-ever World project in their English class for the success in life. Take advantage of Champions. Other titles he owns past term. the summer season - do not eat with the team include Asian Cham- Yaseen awarded prizes to the junk food, practice two hours a day pions, Arab Champions, 8-time Gulf best student projects, before and who knows you might become Champions and 8-time Emir Cup speaking to them about his achieve- a professional player one day!,” Champions. ments in basketball, the benefits of Yaseen said. The students were incredibly participating in sport and what it The students were assigned to excited by Yaseen’s visit and takes to make it to the top. He then work in groups and come up with inspired by his motivational words took them outside for a masterclass an advertising campaign for Qatar and basketball coaching and on how to perfect the basketball to host the Olympics. The students guidance. There were final oppor- shooting technique, with every were required to use different types tunities for selfies before he left student having the opportunity to of persuasive and descriptive writing so that the students could have shoot a hoop and gain tips from for their projects and come up with their own memories from the day Yaseen. creative ideas for the Opening Cer- that a basketball legend came to Qatari basketball legend Yaseen Ismail poses for a photograph with students during his Speaking to the students, Yaseen emony of the Games. The standard school. surprise visit to Qatar International School (QIS) yesterday. Del Potro streaks into Miami semis; Isner routs Chung REUTERS Unheralded MIAMI: Juan Martin del Potro remained on course for a rare Sunshine Double when he Collins outlasted Milos Raonic 5-7, 7-6(1), 7-6(3) in a marathon quarter-final at the Miami Open on stuns Venus Wednesday. Del Potro, who claimed the Indian Wells in quarters title earlier this month, fed off the energy of a Qatar junior tennis players with coach Anas Lamrani. raucous crowd that was firmly behind the AFP Argentine, wearing down the 20th-seeded Canadian in a match lasting almost three hours. MIAMI: Danielle Collins The clock had just struck midnight on an produced the performance of Qatar juniors in semis unusually cool evening when fifth seed Del a lifetime and pulled off an Potro finally dispatched Raonic. almighty shock at the WTA The Canadian was defeated despite not Miami Open on Wednesday, of West Asia Regional facing a single break point in the first two sets, sending Venus Williams before the contest took a bizarre twist at the crashing out 6-2, 6-3 to reach Qualifying event start of the decider when both players were the semi-finals. broken twice in a row. It was an amazing effort THE PENINSULA Order was soon restored as both men held from a 24 year-old qualifier campaign in the tournament for the next eight games, sending the contest in just her second season as with a 2-1 victory over to a deciding tiebreak, in which Raonic never a professional and her debut BEIRUT: The Qatar junior Tuesday. recovered after double-faulting to fall 2-0 appearance at Key tennis team qualified for the As per the draw held down. Biscayne. semi-finals of the U12 West Asia recently, the Qatari team were The result continued Del Potro’s hot streak, This was the first time in Regional Qualifying event after pitted in group (A) alongside after he won in California 10 days ago, beating two attempts Collins has beating Syria 2-1 on Iran, Syria and Yemen while Roger Federer in a compelling three-set final beaten a top 10 player, and Wednesday. Group (B) includes Lebanon, to claim a maiden Masters 1000 title. even the crestfallen world The qualifying event is Jordan and Iraq. The 2009 US Open champion is back to number eight Williams being held in Lebanon under The Qatari juniors are playing some of his best tennis in years after would find it impossible to the supervision of the Asian coached by Anas Lamrani and battling serious left wrist injuries that required admit Collins didn’t deserve Tennis Federation and the Ibrahim Al Sheraim is in charge three surgeries and threatened to curtail his to seal a meeting with French International Tennis Federation of the delegation at the event. career. Open champion Jelena until March 31. The two top teams in the He advances to face another big server, Ostapenko. Meshari Nawaf defeated qualifying event will quality to American John Isner, who overwhelmed South The previously unher- Gheith Salim of Syria in the first the 2018 ITF Asian U12 Teams Korean Chung Hyeon 6-1, 6-4 in an afternoon alded Collins, a Florida native singles match but his compa- Championships to be staged in match. who ended 2017 ranked triot Ghanim Al Sulaiti retired Kazakhstan in November. A fired up Isner yelled “Come on” and 167TH but came into this from the second match. Qatar claimed the first place pumped his fist when he broke Chung’s serve tournament as the 93rd best In the doubles, Qatar’s in the last year’s west Asian in the first set to race to a 3-1 lead, ending the player in the world, is cer- Meshari Nawaf and Nasser Al qualifying event held in Korean’s streak of 27 consecutive holds of serve. tainly having a March to Khelaifi recorded a 6-0, 6-0 Lebanon and took the second The 14th-seeded Isner cruised through the remember. victory over Gheith Salim and place in the ITF Asian U12 Team remainder of the 25 minute opener, in which As a wildcard she reached Majd Assem of Syria. Championships held in Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina returns a shot he fired seven of his 13 aces. the round of 16 in Indian The Qatari team began their Kazakhstan. against Milos Raonic of Canada during their quarter- The hour-long contest was all but over once Wells and has gone far better Chung sent a forehand long in the fifth game of final match of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis here with a fantastic run to the second set to hand Isner another break and Center on Wednesday in Key Biscayne, Florida. the last four having come Table Tennis: Al Gharafa meet a 3-2 lead. The 21-year-old was unable to find WTA AND ATP MIAMI OPEN RESULTS through qualifying. an answer to Isner’s booming serve in a match MEN That eclipsed the previous Al Shamal in Emir’s Cup opener where he failed to convert his only break point best result by a qualifier, QUARTER-FINALS opportunity and was himself broken four times. when Marion Bartoli made John Isner (USA x14) bt Chung Hyeon (KOR x19) THE PENINSULA Isner added that the hot and windy condi- the last eight in 2003. tions in Miami, where the courts are not par- 6-1, 6-4 Despite playing six ticularly fast but cause the ball to bounce high, Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x5) bt Milos Raonic matches to Williams’ three, DOHA: Al Gharafa will take on Al Shamal in the opening fixture suit his first-strike approach to the game (CAN x20) 5-7, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/3) Collins came into this of the Emir’s Table Tennis Cup 2018 on Friday, April 20. WOMEN perfectly. encounter having spent 24 The draw was revealed during a ceremony held at Ras Abu South African sixth seed Kevin Anderson QUARTER-FINALS minutes less on court than Aboud hall on Wednesday. In attendance were Mohammad faces Spanish 16th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x6) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR her American opponent (6 Abdullah Saleh, Secretary General of the Qatar Table Tennis Asso- the afternoon, before an evening match between x4) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) hours 58 minutes for Collins ciation (QTTA), Naji Al Aji, the QTTA Board Member, Mohammad German fourth seed Alexander Zverev and Danielle Collins (USA) bt Venus Williams (USA x8) and 7 hours 22 for Al Rumaihi, the QTTA Executive Director and Thani Al Zaraa, the Croatian 29th seed Borna Coric. 6-2, 6-3 Williams). QTTA Board Member. The tournament will conclude on April 26.