BUSINESSBUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 History beckons for Qatar in Asian Champions QNB sees Fed rate hikes until 2020 League published in QATAR since 1978 SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10775 April 1, 2018 Rajab 15, 1439 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Chief of Staff visits Rafale squadron QP raises In brief non-Qatari QATAR | Offi cial Emir condoles with Kuwait’s leader His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim ownership bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of limit to 49% condolences to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al- O Woqod, QEWC, GIS, Sabah, on the death of Sheikh Sabah MPHC to approve increase al-Mohamed al-Sabah al-Mohamed al-Sabah. in foreign ownership limit QATAR | Offi cial atar Petroleum has announced Emir sends greetings raising the non-Qatari owner- Qship limit in the energy sector to president of Peru companies and in its subsidiaries listed His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim on the Qatar stock Exchange to 49%, bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness and raising the shareholder ownership the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah HE the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major-General (pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, yesterday visited the Qatari limits in these companies to no more bin Hamad al-Thani sent on Friday Rafale squadron located at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in France. He met French military off icials to discuss bilateral relations than 2%. Qatar Petroleum president & CEO Saad cables of congratulations to Martin and the means to enhance them. He was accompanied by Qatar’s military attache in France and a number of ranking armed Qatar Petroleum has also asked the Sherida al-Kaabi Vizcarra on the occasion of taking forces off icials. companies concerned to take the nec- the oath as the president of Peru. essary measures and steps to imple- sion to raise the non-Qatari ownership ment this decision. limit in the energy sector companies QATAR | Motoring Hence, Qatar Electricity and Water and in its subsidiaries listed on the Qa- Company, Woqod, Gulf International tar Stock Exchange comes amidst the Fuel prices down Services Company and Mesaieed Pet- growing strength of the national econ- by Dh5 in April rochemical Holding Company will take omy, in which Qatar’s energy industry Fuel prices will come down by Dh5 ‘Gulf crisis hit image of the necessary steps within the coming plays a major role.” a litre for gasoline premium, super weeks to approve the increase in the Al-Kaabi added: “We believe this and diesel in Qatar this month, foreign ownership limit to 49% in ac- decision will give more strength to Qa- April price announced by Qatar cordance with the applicable regula- tar Stock Exchange, and will contribute Petroleum showed yesterday. QP tions and procedures. to its development to be a leading re- said 95-octane super will cost GCC as a stable bloc’ Woqod will increase the sharehold- gional fi nancial centre and an attractive QR1.90 a litre this month compared er ownership limit to 1%, while Gulf fi nancial destination to local and global with QR1.95 in March. Premium International Services and Mesaieed investments.” petrol (91-octane) will be QR1.80 a O 6th Doha Forum for Policies and Strategies opens Petrochemical Holding Company will Industries Qatar has recently in- litre compared with QR1.85. Diesel increase this limit to 2%. creased its foreign ownership limit to would be priced QR1.85 compared QNA by all.” He said the Kuwaiti mediation the Middle East is at a critical stage Qatar Petroleum president & CEO 49% in line with Qatar Petroleum di- with QR1.90 in March. Fuel prices in Doha has received regional and international threatening the coexistence of peoples Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said: “The deci- rectives. Qatar were allowed to fluctuate in support. of countries which have various ethnic response to changes in the global The offi cial said: “This crisis has re- and religious components. He said is- market from May 2016. The monthly he Gulf crisis came as a rude percussions on the strategic, econom- sues that have been burning for years revision in local fuel prices followed shock and it had a big negative ic and social level, in addition to the have turned the Middle East into a ma- the government’s decision on fuel Timpact on the Gulf Co-opera- repercussions on the map of regional jor humanitarian crisis that calls for subsidy reforms in Qatar. tion Council (GCC) countries, a senior and international alliances. This cri- urgent action with the spirit of inter- Palestinians observe day of Qatari offi cial has said. sis has resulted in diff erent levels of national responsibility. He said these EUROPE | Crisis He said the stable image of the Gulf ethics of political and media action. confl icts have to be settled ensuring states for decades has been badly shak- It has reached the social side and in- the return of the displaced people and mourning; UN calls for probe Diplomats pack bags en. “After the GCC emerged as a col- volved peoples in this crisis, breaking refugees to their countries, cities and aft er expulsions lective force that could fi ll the strate- family bonds.” The Gulf crisis tops the villages. DPA homes in present-day Israel. Russian and US diplomats packed gic vacuum in the region following the forum’s agenda this year. In the fi rst session titled “The Im- Tel Aviv Funerals were taking place in Gaza their bags yesterday amid a Arab revolutions and managed to lead The two-day event is organised by plications of the Gulf Crisis and its for those killed in the largest single- diplomatic crisis between Moscow joint Arab action in many fi les, the Gulf the Center for Strategic Studies of the Future Prospects”, speakers pointed day casualty rate in the enclave for a and the West, with post-Cold War crisis has caused great concern for the Armed Forces in collaboration with out that the siege imposed on Qatar he Palestinian Authority de- number of years. In the West Bank, tensions peaking in the wake stability of the Gulf states and the Arab the Arab Center for Research and Pol- and the region’s other crisis will have clared a national day of mourn- shop owners closed in certain areas to of a nerve agent attack on a nation,” Major General Dr Hamad Mo- icy Studies. serious consequences and diffi cult Ting yesterday after at least 16 mark the mourning day. former Russian spy in Britain. The hamed al-Marri, Director of the Center Held under the patronage of HE the economic, political and social di- Palestinians were killed by Israeli Palestinian President Mahmoud Ab- tit-for-tat expulsions came after for Strategic Studies said. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister mensions, which will have signifi cant troops during a mass protest in the bas said Israel has full responsibility for Russia demanded yesterday that In his speech at the opening of of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid negative eff ects that are currently Gaza Strip the previous day. the deaths. Britain further slash its diplomatic the 6th Doha Forum for Policies and bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, the forum unseen. The UN has called for an independ- However, Israeli offi cials accused the presence as a crisis in ties between Strategies yesterday Major General brings together experts, thinkers and They lauded Qatar for opening its ent investigation into the deaths, which Islamist Hamas movement that rules Moscow and the West escalated. al-Marri said realising the serious- decision-makers, as well as represent- doors to the citizens of the countries Israel says occurred when its soldiers Gaza of engaging in deliberate provo- The call came after 23 British ness of the crisis, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh atives of international and non-gov- that have imposed a blockade on it, were responding to rioting. cations. diplomats were kicked out of Russia Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah ernmental organisations from around and for showing no discrimination. More than 1,400 people were in- Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor earlier this month and is seen as has launched a mediation eff ort. “De- the world to discuss various current They stressed the need to work to jured, including from live ammuni- Lieberman said that soldiers acted Moscow’s retaliation to the mass spite the diffi culties and obstacles en- issues, through sessions addressing achieve complete independence from tion, shelling and tear gas, during with “professionalism and determina- coordinated expulsion of Russian countered during the process, the emir the challenges and events in the Mid- regional alliances and work to estab- mass marches near the Gaza Strip tion just as we expected them to” and diplomatic staff by the UK’s allies. of Kuwait made strenuous eff orts to dle East. lish new alliances with regional forces. border for the rights of Palestinian slammed those demanding an inquiry Page 19 resolve the crisis, an eff ort appreciated Maj Gen al-Marri said stability of Page 4 refugees unable to return to their as “hypocrites.” Page 14 Tawar Mall opens, off ering shoppers a unique experience By Joey Aguilar munity to visit the mall and support Spar Hypermarket also opened its Staff Reporter their local business owners. fl agship and largest store in Qatar at the He stressed that the event marked mall, off ering a wide array of food and a remarkable moment for him and his non-food items.